quod Domini Magnates ac Comunitates Comitatuum Civitatum Burgorum concesserunt Domino Regi c. granted to the King for the Voyage of John King of Castile and Leon Duke of Lancaster into Spain and safe keeping of the Sea and Marches of Scotland a Tenth and Fifteenth and half a Tenth and Fifteenth the 10th and 15th to be paid at Candlemas and the half 10th and 15th to be paid at Midsummer for the receipt and expending whereof there were special Treasurers appointed in Parlement and Supravisors to see it done And this 2 Ibm. Voyage into Spain was agreed and granted by the King Prelates Noblemen Great Men and Communities aforesaid in full Parlement In the King's Entrance into 3 Knighton col 2675. n. 50. Scotland the King conferred several Honours upon the Persons following at Hounslow-Lodge in Tividale says the Record which were confirmed in this Parlement The King's Unkle 4 Rot. Parl. 9 Ric. II. n. 14. Several Titles and Honours confirmed in Parlement Edmond Earl of Cambridge being created Duke of York was confirmed in that Title and had from the King 1000 l. a Year to support his Dignity to be paid out of the Exchequer to him and his Heirs Male until the King could settle Lands upon him and his Heirs of the like Value Then also was 5 Ibm. n. 15. Thomas Earl of Buckingham and Essex the King's Unkle being created Duke of Gloucester confirmed in that Title with the like Gift and Settlement to support his Dignity Michael de la Pole 6 Ibm. n. 16. being created Earl of Suffolk was confirmed in that Dignity and had for the support of his Honour 20. l. a Year out of the Farm of the County and 500 l. a Year out of the Estate of the former Earl which had escheated to the King for want of Heirs after the Decease of the Queen and Isabelle Countess of Suffolk The Earl of 7 Ib. n. 17. Oxford being created Marquess of Dublin was confirmed in that Title by consent of the Prelates Lords and Commons and had by the same consent the Land and Lordship of Ireland c. except some Royalties belonging to the Crown paying 5000 Marks yearly into the Exchequer In this Parlement the 8 Ib. n. 32. The Commons Petition the King's Houshold might be viewed every year and if need were Regulated Commons Petition the King That the State of his Houshold might be viewed every year by the Chancellor Treasurer and Clerk of the Privy Seal and what was amiss to be mended at their Discretion And also That the Statutes of ancient time made concerning the Houshold might be kept and duely executed in all their Points As to the first Article of the 9 Ib. Ro. The King's Answer Petition The King will do it when he please As to the second Le Roy le Voet The King Willeth It was also then Enacted 1 Ib. n. 33. That all Lords and other Persons having any Lands on the Marches beyond Tine do dwell thereupon saving that the King may shew favour when he please The Commons desired to know 2 Ib n. 39. who should be the King 's Chief Officers and Governors of the State of the Kingdom The Answer 3 Ib. Ro. was The King hath enough sufficient Officers at present and will change them at his pleasure On Easter 5 Knighton col 2676. n. 30 40 50 60. A. D. 1387. The Duke of Lancaster's Day next following the Duke of Lancaster with his Wife came to take his Leave of the King to whom he gave a Crown of Gold and the Queen gave another to his Wife and the King commanded all about him to call and Honour him as King of Spain 6 Ibm. Voyage into Spain and what he did there On the 9th of July all things being prepared for the Expedition he set sail with 20000 Men for Spain whereof in the Marshall's Roll 2000 were Men at Arms and 8000 Archers in which Army several very great Men were the Chief Officers 7 Ib. col 2677. n. 10 20. He had with him his Wife Constance the Eldest Daughter of Peter King of Castile c. for his Tyrannies called the Cruel who died without Issue Male by whom he claimed that Kingdom and Katherin his only Daughter by her and Two Daughters by his first Wife Blanch Daughter and Heiress to Henry Duke of Lancaster Philip and Elizabeth Peter King of Castile was Son of Alphonso the Sixth King of Castile c. upon whom Henry II. a Bastard Son of Alphonso usurped the Kingdom He Married his Daughter Philip by his first Wife Blanch to the King of Portugal and his Daughter Katherin the true Heiress of the Kingdom of Castile by his Wife Constance to John the Son of Henry the Bastard and Usurper 8 Walsingh f. 342. n. 30 40. but so as if they had no Issue the Inheritance of the Crown was to be and remain to the Son of Edmond Duke of York Brother to the Duke of Lancaster who had Married Isabel the Younger Daughter of King Peter the Cruel Upon these Terms and a mighty Sum of Money paid by Henry the Bastard to the Duke and an Annuity of 10000 l. a year to him and his Dutchess Constance for their Lives a Peace was concluded between the Vsurper and the Duke and the Affair of Castile or Spain settled after which he went into Aquitan and stayed there and in Spain more then Two years and then returned into England in the beginning of November 1389. Knighton 9 Ut supra says the Money paid down to the Duke of Lancaster was an immense Sum and that he was told by one of his Family and Retinue in this Voyage that for the second Payment the King of Spain sent him Forty seven Mules laden with Gold in Chests 1 Walsingh f. 323. n. 60 c. Knighton ut supra n. 40 50 60. As he sailed into Spain he landed some Forces in Britany and relieved Brest that was then besieged by the Duke of that Country This year Writs were issued for calling a Parlement on the First of October at Westminster dated 2 Rot. Clause 10 Ric. II. M. 42. Dors The Duke of Suffolk Michael de la Pole Aug. 8. wherein Michael de la Pole Earl of Suffolk and then Chancellor of England was impeached by the Commons in several Articles 3 Rot. Parl. 10 Ric. II. n. 6. impeached by the Commons The first and chief Article was That he was Sworn as Chancellor to procure the Profit of the King That he purchased of the King Land Rents and Tenements to a great value contrary to his Oath not considering the Necessity of the King and Kingdom and that he being Chancellor at the time of the Purchase caused the yearly Rent of the Lands to be undervalued very much in deceit of the King The residue of the Articles were much of the same Nature for Deceiving
f. 403. n. 10. A. D. 1273. He receives the Homage and Service of his Vassals there and went into Aquitan to Receive the Homage and Service of his Vassals there in which he found much difficulty from several that Refused to do their Feudal Duties to him but chiefly from 2 Ibm. n. 20. and Mezer. Fr. Hist f. 315. A. D. 1272 3. The Viscount of Bearn denies his Homage He is forced to do it Gaston Monaco Viscount of Bearn who because a Predecessor or two had done Homage and Sworn Fealty to the King of Aragon and he had been much obliged to Alphonso the Second then King denied his Homage King Edward seised upon his Person and kept him Prisoner among his Retinue from whence making his Escape he was driven out of his Country And upon an Appeal to King Philip as Soveraign Lord of Aquitan or Guyenne in favour of King Edward He compelled Gaston to hold his Lands of him In the Second year of his Reign having settled his Affairs beyond Sea 3 Mat. West f. 467. n. 20. A. D. 1274. The King comes for England he took Ship at Bologn in Picardy and landed in England on the 25th of July At his landing Gilbert Earl of Glocester and John Earl of Warren received him more Honourably then other Nobility conducting him to their Castles of Tonebridge in Kent and Rigate in Surrey where they Treated and Feasted him with great Jollity many days On the 19th of August he and his Queen Elianor were 4 Ibm n 30. He and his Queen Crowned at Westminster Crowned at Westminster by Robert Kilwarby Arch-Bishop of Canterbury Alexander King of Scots and John Duke of Britan being present Toward the middle of October following he issued out 5 Pat. 2 Ed. I. M. 6. He makes inquiry after the Rights of his Crown his Military Tenants and Civil Officers c. whether they had done their Duties Writs of Inquiry by the Oaths of Twelve Legal Men to Two Commissioners in every County to Inquire what his Royalties and the Liberties and Prerogatives of his Crown were who were his Tenants in Capite and Military Service and how many and what Fees they held of him Of his Tenants in Antient Demeasn how they had behaved themselves and in what Condition their Farms were Of Sheriffs Coroners Escheators Bayliffs and their Clerks whether they had Extorted Money from any Man by reason of their Office had Wronged any Man or Received Bribes for Neglecting or being Remiss in their Offices c. The whole Inquiry containing 34 Articles About the beginning of November the King of France sent to the King of England to * Append. n. 6. A. D. 1275. The King summoned as a Peer of France appear in his Parlement to be holden on the Morrow of the Quindene of the Feast of St. Martin in Winter that is November 26. to be at the Tryal of a Case between Robert Duke of Burgundy on the one part and Robert Earl of Nevers and Yobend his Wife on the other part concerning the Dukedom of Burgundy and the Appurtenants Who by reason of his Weighty Affairs in his own Kingdom sent Maurice He sends his Excuse de Credome Otto de Grandison and Roger de Cliff to make his Excuse with his Commission or Letter of Credence dated at Westminster November 11. He was summoned as a Peer or great Vassal of France By his Writ dated at 6 Cl. 3. Ed. I. M 21. Dors A. D. 1275. The Parlement Prorogued before meeting Woodstock the 27th of December following he Prorogues his General Parlement he propounded to have holden 15 days after the Purification to the Morrow of the Octaves of Easter Quia Generale Parliamentum nostrum Quod cum Prelatis Magnatibus Regni proposuimus habere London ad Quindenam Purificationis Beatae Mariae Virginis proximo futur Quibusdam certis de causis prorogavimus usque in Crastinum claus Paschae proxim sequent c. Teste Rege apud Woodstock 27 die Decemb. Directed to Robert Arch-Bishop of Canterbury In which Parlement holden upon the Monday after Easter in the year 1276 he made Excellent Laws both for Church and State and for the Ease and Benefit of both The Preamble whereof here follows 7 Stat. at Large 3 Ed. I. A. D. 1276. Excellent Laws made both for Church and State These be the Acts in French the Establishments of King Edward Son to King Henry made at Westminster at his first Parlement General after his Coronation on the Monday of Easter Vtas in French on the Morrow of the Close of Easter which was the same day the 3d year of his Reign By his Council and by the Assent of Arch-Bishops Bishops Abbats Priors Earls Barons and all the Commonalty of the Realm being thither summoned because our Sovereign Lord the King had great Zeal in the French Will and Desire to Redress the State of the Realm in such things as required Amendment for the common Profit of Holy Church and the Realm and because the State of the Realm so in the French and of Holy Church had been evil kept and the Prelates and Religious People of the Land grieved many ways and the People otherwise Intreated then they ought to be and the Peace less kept and the Laws less used and the Offenders less punished then they ought to be by reason whereof the People of the Land feared the less to offend The King hath Ordained and Established these Acts in the French Things underwritten which he intendeth in the French understandeth to be necessary and profitable for the whole Realm First the King Willeth and Commandeth That the Peace of Holy Church and of the Land be well kept and maintained in With a saving to the King of the Rights of the Crown all Points and that common Right be done to all as well Poor as Rich without Respect of Persons This Statute is called Westminster the First and contains 51 Chapters and the 50th was A 8 In Tottel's Magna Charta 't is Chap. 49. in Mag. Charta Printed 1602 't is Chap. 50. saving to the King of the Rights of his Crown notwithstanding these Grants were made to the Honour of God and Holy Church for the common Good of the People and the Ease of such as were Grieved Thomas Wickes says this Statute was made by the Advice of the Lawyers Jurisperitorum 9 Chronic. 1. 102. Regni sui co-operante Consilio by which he gained the Hearts and Affections of the Plebesans Quo corda plebeiae multitudinis inaestimabili sibi Dilectionis sincertitate conjunxit Toward the latter end of July 1 Ib. f. 103. Gasto de Bearn submits himself Gasto de Bearn before-mentioned was sent to the King by the King of France who submitting himself and giving Security after a short Imprisonment was permitted to go into his own Country About 2 Ib. f. 104. Simon Montfort's Daughter and Prince Lewellin's Mistress made
with his Noblemen he was called again and had this Answer 9 Fol. 439. N. 10. The King's Answer to the Pope's Letter That having received the Pope's Admonition concerning the State of the Kingdom of Scotland it was the Custom of England That in such Affairs all whom these concerned ought to be advised with And the present Business of Scotland having Relation to the State and Right of the Kingdom of England there were many Prelates Earls Barons and Great Men not then with him in the Army concerned in it without whose Advice he could not Answer fully Yet that he intended as soon as could to Consult and Deliberate with the Absent as well as Present and by their common and joint Determination send the Pope an Answer And for this Reason at the same Time and Place when he issued his Writs for the Calling of a Parlement to meet on the Octaves of St. Hilary for Receiving of the Perambulations of the Forests the King wrote also 1 Claus 28 Ed. 1. M. 3. Dors Hâ— Sumons many Clergy-men Lawyers to the Parlement at Lincoln to some of his own Clercs several Deans of Cathedral Churches several Archdeacons Officials and others that had the Best Reputation for Lawyers in those times to come to this Parlement for that he would then have special Conference and Treaty with Lawyers and others of his Council about the Right and Dominion he and his Ancestors had in the Kingdom of Scotland and to the same Purpose he 2 Ibm. And sends to the Universities for their best Lawyers wrote to the Chancellors and both Vniversities to send to this Parlement the most Expert and Knowing Men in the Written Law which were sent accordingly And further he sent his Writs 3 Ibm. M. 3. Dors to several Deans and Chapters to several Abbots Priors and their Convents the Chiefest of the Nation to search their Archieves and send to this Parlement To advise about his Title to Scotland all their Chronicles in which was to be found any thing concerning the Kingdom of Scotland to make good his Title to it Upon Reading the Pope's Bull by the King's Order and truly Interpreting of it to the Barons in Parlement there was much The Resolution of the Barons with their Letter to the Pope concerning his Pretences to the Kingdom of Scotland Debate amongst the Lawyers whether how or after what manner this Bull or Letter should be answered as appears by an old Parlement Roll in the Tower in the 29th of this King and truly Printed in Mr. Pryn's Ed. 1. what of it remains Fol. 885. whereupon it was Resolved by the Barons * See this Letter in M. West F. 443. N. 30 40 c. Walsi f. 85. N. 10 20 30 c. Dugdales Summons to Parlements f. 31 32 33 34. from the Record in the Exchequer with all the Barons Names Printed at Oxford in Latin and English 1678. with the Names of the Earls and Barons the Cuts of their Seals of Arms. to write to the Pope and let him know That in Temporals the Kingdom of Scotland by no manner of Right whatever belonged to the Church of Rome at any time That it was an ancient Fee or Feudal Right of the Crown and Kings of England and that the Kingdom and Kings of Scotland have been Subject only to the Kings of England and no other and further That the Kings of England concerning their Rights in that Kingdom or other Temporalities have never answered or ought to answer before any Ecclesiastic or Secular Judge by reason of his Royal Dignity and Custom to the contrary in all Ages And to signifie to him That having diligently considered his Letters it was and for the future should be the common unanimous and unshaken Resolution of all and every one of them That their Lord the King concerning his Rights in Scotland or other his Temporal Rights should in nowise answer judicially before him or send Proxys or Commissioners to him especially when it would manifestly tend to the Disinheritance of the Crown of England and Dignity Royal and the Notorious Subversion of the State of the Kingdom to the Prejudice of their Liberties Customs and Paternal Laws which by their Oaths they were bound to Observe and Defend and by the help of God would maintain them with their whole Force or Power nor would they permit the King to do such strange and unheard of things if he should attempt it Wherefore they Reverently and Humbly beseech his Holiness favourably to permit the King peaceably to possess his Rights Liberties Customs and Laws aforesaid without Diminution or Disturbance In Testimony whereof they put to their Seals 104 for themselves and the whole Community of the Kingdom Dated at Lincoln the 12th of February A. D. 1301. in the 29th of Ed. 1. A. D. 1301. 29 Ed. 1. This Business was first Dispatch'd That as soon as might be when the six Months after the King had received the Pope's Bull should be Elapsed in which he had appointed the King to send Commissioners to him the Pope might receive Satisfaction why they did not come At the same time the Perambulations of the Forests the main Business for which this Parlement was called according to the purport of the preceding Writ were Exhited therein and as 't is contained in the 4 Rot. Perambulationum Forestar 29 Ed. 1. in Turrâ— A. D. 1301. 29 Ed. 1. The Perambulations of the Forests Settled and Confirmed See the Ordinance of the Forest made the 33d year of this King in the Statutes at Large Record the Community of the Kingdom Granted the King a Fifteenth Part of their Moveables they should have at Michaelmas next coming and he Confirmed them with this Clause Quod quicquid per istas Perambulationes ponitur extra Forestam Remaneat extra Forestam Residuum remaneat Foresta secundam metas bundas in perpetuum That is whatever by these Perambulations was Deforested should remain so and what was then allowed to be Forest according to the Metes and Bounds then set out should be so for ever These Letters Patents or Confirmations of all the Perambulations bear date at Lincoln Feb. 14. in the 29th of his Reign Thus were the two Charters and the Great Business of the Perambulations of the Forest fully Settled and Confirmed When the Laity gave this Fifteenth Robert Archbishop of Canterbury The Laity gave a xvth for this Confirmation The Arch-Bp for the Clergy would not do any thing without the Pope's Licence would grant Nothing for the Clergy not of the Temporalities annexed to the Church without the Pope's special Licence Pro hoc confirmationis effectu concesserunt Comites Barones Regi quintam decimam partem bonorum suorum mobilium in Festo Sancti Michaelis proximo tunc futuro sed Robertus Archiepiscopus Cantuariensis pro Clero nihil voluit concedere neque de Temporolitate annexa Ecclesiae sine Licentia Summi Pontificis
Record aver upon the Causes of the said Award And we are bound by the Oath we made at our Coronation and obliged to do Right to all our Subjects and to redress and cause to be amended all Wrongs done to them when we are required according to the Great Charter by which we are not to sell or delay Right and Justice to any one and at the pressing Advice and Request of the Prelates given us for the safety of our Soul and to avoid Danger and for to take away an ill Example for the time to come of such Undertakings and Judgments in the like case against Reason Wherefore we seeing and knowing the said Process and Award made in the manner aforesaid to be as well to the Prejudice of us the Blemishment or Hurt of our Crown and Royal Dignity against us and our Heirs as against the said Hugh and Hugh and for other reasonable Causes of our Royal Power in a full Parlement at York by the Advice and The Award made void by Assent of the whole Parlement Assent of the Prelates Earls Barons Knights of Counties the Commons of the Realm and others being at our Parlement at York pur le Conseil lassent des Prelatz Countes Barons Chevalers des Countez le Commun du Royalme altres a nostre dit Parlement a Everwyk Estauntz do wholly null and defeat de tut Anentissoms Defesoms the said Award of the Exile and Disheritance of the said Hugh and Hugh and all things in the Award quant que cel Agard touche and do fully remit and reconcile the said Hugh the Son and Hugh the Father to our Faith and Peace and to the Estate they had and were in before the making of the Award in all Points And we Award That they have again reeient Seisin of their Lands and Tenements Goods and Chattels c. And we Will and Command That where this Award is enrolled in any Places of our Court it be cancelled and annulled for ever And so the Roll was cancelled and crossed and remains so at this day with this Memorandum written under the Award Les choses susescrites sont anenties e chaunceles per force dun Agard que se sit au Parlement le Roy a Everwyck a treis semains de Pasch lan du Regne nostre Seign Quinsime sicome est contenue en un Roule que est consu pendant a ceo Roul en le Mois de May prochien These things above written are nulled and cancelled by force of an Award made in the Parlement at York held three Weeks after Easter in the 15th Year of the Reign of our Lord as 't is contained in a Roll sowed to and hanging at this Roll in the Month of May. In 4 Great Stat. Roll. from Hen. III. to 21 Ed. III. M. 31. Biblioth Cotton Claud. D. 2. f. 232. a. The Ordinances examined and annulled in Parlement A. D. 1322. 15 Ed. II. this Parlement at York the Prelates Earls Barons and the Commons of the Realm amongst which were the Ordainers then alive there assembled by the King's Command caused to be rehearsed and examined the Ordinances dated the 5th of October the 5th of Edward II. And for that by Examination thereof it was found in the said Parlement That by the things which were Ordained the King's Power was restrained in many things contrary to what was due to his Seignory Royal and contrary to the State of the Crown And also for that in times past by such Ordinances and Provisions made by Subjects over the Power Royal of the Antecessors of the Lord the King Troubles and Wars came upon the Realm by which the Land or Nation was in danger It was accorded and established in the said Parlement by the Lord the King the Prelates Earls Barons and all the Commonalty of the Realm at that Parlement assembled That all those things Ordained by the Ordainers and contained in those Ordinances from thenceforth for the time to come should cease and lose their Force Virtue and Effect for ever And that from thenceforward in no time no manner of Ordinances or Provisions made by the Subjects of the Lord the King or his Heirs by any Power or Commission whatever over or upon the Power Royal of the Lord the King or his Heirs or against the State of the Crown shall be of value or force But the things that shall be established for the Estate of the King and his Heirs and for the State of the Realm and People may be treated accorded and established in Parlement by the King and by the Assent of the Prelates Earls Barons and Commonalty of the Realm as hath been accustomed This Year the King raised an Army and about the Feast of St. James marched into Scotland the Scots fearing his Power went over the Scots Sea 5 Tho. de la Moor f. 596. n. 20. 30. The King raiseth an Army against the Scots and goesin Person The Army bâ—ffled The Scots invade England plunder and burnt almost as far as York ultra Mare Scoticum se conferunt that is Edinburgh Frith carrying with them and destroying all the Victuals on this side and in a short time the King returns into England his Army not having wherewithal to subsist The Scots come over the Frith and follow him by Night-marches and almost surprized him in his Camp in Blackmore-Forest but he escaping with a few they took the Earl of Richmond and the King of France his Envoy with many others and waste the Country with Fire and Rapine almost as far as York they burnt Ripon and compounded with Beverly for 400 l. Sterling and returned home laden with Spoils 3 Wals Hypoâ— Nâ—ustr f. 503. n. 40. Hist f. 17. n. 50 f. 18. lin 1 c. The King Kingdom of Scotland send to Rome to take off the Excommunication and Interdict but prevail not The Two Cardinals 6 sent from the Pope in the 10th of the King as there noted to make Peace between the Two Nations of England and Scotland and Reconcile the King and Earl of Lancaster but their Negociation being without Effect in Scotland Excommunicated Robert Brus King thereof and put the whole Kingdom under Interdict for their Perfidiousness to the King of England To take off both the 7 Ibm. f. 505. n. 30 40. Hist uâ— suprâ— Bishop of Glasco and the Earl of Murray were sent to Rome by King and Kingdom but prevailed not Satisfaction not having been given to the Pope nor King and Kingdom of England Whereupon Robert Brus desired of the King of England a Truce 8 De la Moor ut supra A Truce for 53 years between England and Scotland which was granted to him for Thirteen Years Philip the 9 Mexer Hist f. 345. Fair of France left Three Sons who all Reigned after him Lewis the Eldest Reigned but Nineteen Months to him succeeded Philip called the Long he Reigned Five Years and Six Weeks 1 Ibm. f
at St. Pauls about sending some of their own Order to the King and Queen as Mediators of Peace between them The Bishop of Rochester dissuaded his going into the City or beyond the Thames to Treat being then at Lambeth telling him the Hearts of the People were against the Bishops and that they hated them imputing all the Evil that had happened in the Nation to their Sloathfulness Foolishness and Ignorance Next day they met at Lambeth and Resolved to send Two The Bishop of Winchester was willing to go for one but could not get a Companion 2 Ibm. All sorts of Citizens meet at Guildhall and contrive how to put to Death the Bishops of London and Excester and the King 's other Justices Die Mercurii proximo ante Festum St. Lucae convenerunt apud la Gyld-Hall c. On Wednesday before St. Luke the Citizens great and small majores minores met at the Guildhall where they contrived how they might take and put to Death the Bishops of London and Excester and the King 's other Justices and how they might Plunder the Merchants Mercatores in Civitate depraedarent taking the occasion of the Queen's coming 3 Ibm. The Queen comes to London All her Enemies that adhered not to her accepta occasione de adventu Reginae quod Reginae adhaerere noâ—entes proditores Regni publice censerentur because those that would not adhere to the Queen were publickly Reputed Traytors to the Kingdom The Justices were then met at the Friers Preachers and the Bishop of Excester was flying to St. Paul's Church they caught him at the Door beat and grievously wounded him and drew him through the Streets and Lanes to the Great Cross in Cheapside where the Sons of the Devil Filii Diaboli Virum fidelem providum discretum ac Regno valde necessarium truculenter decapitarunt Beheaded a Faithful Wise and Discreet Man and very useful to the Nation And further says Tunc conturbata est tota 4 Ibm. Those who were called the Queen's Enemies were plundered all the Nation over Terra in circuitu impii ambulantes animalia alia bona pacificorum quos hostes Reginae dixerant sub tali colore ubique depraedantes abduxerunt Then the whole Nation was in confusion and the Wicked calling peaceable Men the Queen's Enemies and under that colour took away and plundered their Goods The King not thinking himself safe there had left London before the Queen came thither and finding 5 De la Moor f 598 n. 50. The King goes into Wales by such as he had sent to make a Discovery that almost all the Nobility afrighted with false Reports tota fere Regni Communitas falsis territa rumoribus had come in to the Queen went in 6 Ibm. Sets H. Spenser the Father to defend the Town and Castle of Bristol Wales and having appointed Hugh Despenser the Father then Earl of Winchester to defend the Town and Castle of Bristol went with Hugh the Son then Earl of Glocester Robert Baldock and few others to 7 Ibm. Wals f. 125. n. 10. The King lay close in the Abby of Neath in Glamorganshire Chepstow and there took Ship intending for the Island of Lundy or Ireland but the Wind being cross he could make neither and having undergone much Hardship at Sea he landed and got to the Abby of Nethe in Glamorganshire where he lay close In the mean time the Queen followed him with her Army and sent these Letters abroad to command and draw in the People to her Assistance 8 Ibm. Append n. 69. The Queen's Letter by which she commanded and drew in the People to her Assistance Isabel by the Grace of God Queen of England Dame of Ireland Countess of Pontif or Ponthieu and we Edward Eldest Son to the Noble King of England Duke of Guyen Earl of Chester Pontif and Monstroil or Monstrevil and we Edmond Son to the Noble King of England Earl of Kent To all those to whom these Letters shall come Greeting Whereas 't is notoriously known That the State of Holy Church and the Realm of England are many ways blemished and abased by the Evil Counsel and Abett of Hugh le Despenser who by Pride and a Desire to Lord it and set himself over all others hath taken upon him Royal Power against Right Reason and his Allegiance and in like manner made use of all the Evil Counsel of Robert Baldock and others his Adherents so as Holy Church is reviled and shamefully put under great Subjection Her care of Holy Church and the Prelates of Holy Church and the Prelates of Holy Church spoiled of their Goods against God and Right Holy Church defamed and dishonoured many ways and the Crown of England destroyed in divers manners in Disheritance of our Lord the King and his Heirs the Great Men of the Realm by the Envy and wicked Cruelty of the said Hugh many of them without Fault and without Cause put to shameful Death some Disherited others Imprisoned Banished and Exiled Widows and Orphans wrongfully forejudged of their Right and the People of the Land by divers Tallages and undue Exactions very often burthened and by divers Oppressions grieved without Mercy By which Offences the said Hugh hath shewn himself an open Tyrant and Enemy to God and Holy Church to our most dear Lord the King and to the whole Realm And we and many others with us and in our Company who have long been estranged from the good Pleasure of our Lord the King by the false Suggestions and Evil Procurement of the aforesaid Hugh and Robert and their Adherents are come into the Land to raise the State of Holy Church and the Realm and to defend the People from these Mischiefs and grievous Oppressions and to maintain to our Power the Honour and Profit of Holy Church and our Lord the King and the whole Realm as abovesaid Wherefore we command and pray you for the Common Profit of you and every one of you to be Aidant to us at all times and in all places and by all the ways you know or can that the things abovesaid may be speedily brought to a good Effect and End For know certainly That all we and all those with us will not undertake any thing that shall not be for the Honor and Profit of Holy Church and of the whole Kingdom as in time you will see and find if God please Given at Wallingford the 15th Day of October in the Twentieth Year of the Reign of our most dear Lord the King From Wallingford she marched to Oxford and so in a short Bristol taken time to Bristol which she besieged and soon took and the next day after she came thither 9 De la Moor f. 599. n. 50. H. Despenser the Father drawn and hanged Hugh Despenser the Father Earl of Winchester was Drawn and Hanged upon the Common Gallows without Hearing or Trial on the 1 Aist Sacr.
other Prelates and Great Men of England became bound with you for great Sums upon Vsury The 1 Ibm. f. 31. second thing charged upon him in the King's Letters he says was yet more wonderful That when the Ninth was granted he promised effectually to assist in the levying of it but that by reason of the nonperformance of that Promise when before Tournay he was forced to consent to a Truce contrary to his Mind To this he said the whole Subsidy for the Ninth for the first Year was assigned to his Creditors before his second Passage as might appear by the Assignations themselves and therefore it was manifest that he neither promised to send nor could send any thing to the Siege of Tournay especially not knowing when it began To the 2 Ibm. third thing That the Necessities and great Streights he was in were brought upon him by his Fault Negligence and Malice as also of his other Officers some of whom he was forced to remove and imprison others lest his Friends that were with him and Allies beyond Sea should leave him And when desiring to have a better Information of his Affairs he sent for him c. The Arch-Bishop affirms he made no Promise 3 Ibm. to send Money to him and therefore such as Warred in his Service could not complain of his Fraud or Negligence And professing again how diligent he had been and faithful both then and at all times in his Service he says 4 Ibm. f. â—2 as concerning his Faithful Friends and those that accompanied him in his Enterprizes beyond Sea who desired a fit Remedy to be applied to those ill Services that brought him into those Inconveniences and Misfortunes it was to be believed according to their Words that as culpable or guilty of any Fault they were to be punished by just not arbitrary Process Then as to his Two Messengers first Nicholas Cantilupe bringing the King's Letters of Credence he only cited and enjoyned him to go into Brabant to pay the King's Debts and stay there while they were paid so that if he had been summoned to have been at London with the King as his Letters intimated he must have been here and beyond Sea at the same time As to Ralph de Stafford he came without Letters and by bare Word cited him to come to the King affirming he ought not to fear any Treachery 5 Ibm. and says this notwithstanding that tho' the King's Letters of Conduct at first view seemed sufficient for his coming to staying at and returning from his Councils if he had been summoned as he was not yet the same day he received these Letters of Conduct the Sheriff of Canterbury brought him the King 's Writ to appear at London before the King and Council upon a Contempt So as tho' the King's Letter gave him free liberty of returning yet by the King 's Writ he was of necessity to fall into his Enemies hands 6 Ibm. quod non decuit nec decuisset Regiam Majestatem which became not nor could become Royal Majesty Nevertheless he was and should always be ready to answer what should be objected against him before the Prelates and Peers saving his State and Order Statu nostro Ordine semper salvis As to what was 7 Ibm. 34. charged upon him for publishing Sentence of Excommunication and commanding it to be published against the Violators of Ecclesiastic Liberty and the Great Charter to blacken the King's Reputation defame his Ministers and traiterously move Sedition amongst the People and to withdraw the Affections of the Earls Barons Nobles and Great Men from the King because it seemed to affix the Crime of Treason upon him in which case no King or Temporal Lord could be his competent Judge he protested openly and publickly by these Presents That what he said or should say he intended not to prejudice his State in any thing but wholly to decline Trial by any Secular Judge whatever 8 Ibm. Quia praemissa proditionis crimen in Caput nostrum retorquere videntur quo casu Rex nullus vel Dominus Temporalis judex noster competens esse potest sicut satis Superius est ostensum protestamur palam publice per Presentes Quod dicta vel dicenda in nullo Statui nostro prejudicare intendimus in hac parte sed judicis cujuscumque Secularis examen totaliter declinari At last as to 9 Ibm. f. 35. his Prodigality in giving away the Revenues of the Crown to undeserving Persons and wasting the Product of them and converting the King's Treasure to his own use he utterly denies it asserting again his Innocence and the great Service he had done the Labour and Expences he had been at for the Crown And near his Conclusion he says Haec 1 Ibm. 36. ad Libellum famosum responsa sufficiant in praesenti This may suffice for Answer to the scandalous Libel at present and wisheth for the King's Honour it had neither been wrote or published The King 2 Ibm. f. 36 37 38 The King 's Reply to the A. Bp.'s Answer replied very briefly to this Answer reproves him for his insolent and undutiful Language tells him how much he Honoured and Revered his Spiritual Fathers and that he ought not to overlook their Offences when he saw them tending to the Danger of him and his Government And shews him his Mistake when he complained he was condemned of Capital Crimes being absent and unheard as if he in those Letters wrote in his own Vindication only had proceeded criminally against him and forbids him and all other Bishops to publish any Sentences of Excommunication or other things against the Rights of his Crown or derogatory to his Royal Dignity and Prerogative as they had been always used by his Progenitors During this Controversie between the King and Arch-Bishop A Parlement called there was a Parlement called to meet at Westminster on Monday next after the Quinden of Easter the Writ of Summons in ordinary bearing Date March 3. at Wedestoke 3 Claus 15 Ed III. Part 1 M. 37. Dors A. D. 1341. In this Parlement the Arch-Bishop appeared and humbled himself to the King 4 Rot. Parl. l. 3. p. 8. The A. Bp. humbles himself to the King and begs pardon le dit Ercevesque se humilia a nostre Seignieur le Roy requesting his Favour and Good-will to which the King received him and for which the Prelates and Great Men gave him all possible Thanks they could think of And then the Arch-Bishop prayed the King That having been defamed through the whole Kingdom he might be Arraigned before his Peers in full Parlement qil puisse estre aresnez en pleyn Parlement devant les Piers which the King granted quen chose le Roy ottroia but said he would that the Business touching the State of the Kingdom and Common Benefit should be first dispatched Afterwards 5 Ibm. n. 43. A Committee appointed
and other Burthens by the Pope lately made To the Slander Dishonour and Depression of the whole Church of England and Disinheriting of our Lord the King and his Crown and other Nobles of the Kingdom and in Offence and Destruction of the Laws and Rights thereof and most grievous Damage of his People and Subversion of the State of the whole Realm against the Will of God and the good Design of the Founders of these Benefices and against the Provision Ordinance Accord Decree and Consideration aforesaid made by his Grandfather and and Council and they pray the King he would please to have regard to the Church of England to the Indemnity and Disinheriting of himself the Earls Barons Nobles and Commonalty and Ordain Remedy He by assent of the Earls Barons and Nobles and the Commonalty of his Realm Provided Ordained Accorded Decreed and Considered That as well within the Franchise of the Cinque-Ports as other-where upon the Sea Coasts and thro all the Counties of the Kingdom as well within Franchise as without open Proclamation should be made That none of what Estate or Condition soever he was be he Stranger or Denizen should from henceforward bring or cause to be brought upon grievous forfeiture to the King Letters Bulls Process Reservations Instruments or other things prejudicial to the King or his People to deliver to Arch-Bishops Bishops Abbats Priors Earls Barons or any others within the Realm and that none by virtue of such Provisions or Reservations receive Benefices of Holy Church and that none upon the forfeiture aforesaid receive or take such Letters Bulls Process or Instruments touching such Provisions and Reservations nor by reason thereof make Institution or Induction or any other manner of Execution of them and that none do or suffer to be done any other thing that may be prejudicial to the King or his People or Blemish the Rights of his Crown or the Provisions Ordinances Accords Decrees and Consideration beforesaid And also it was further agreed That diligent search should be made in all Places needful for all and every one coming into the Kingdom and that all who shall be taken by such Search or Enquest to be taken or by other Information bringing Letters Bulls Process Reservations Instruments or other things prejudicial to the King or his People and all those who by them receive any Benefices and place themselves in or be received into them And also those that by Authority of such Letters Bulls Process Reservations or Instruments shall or do make any Appeals Citations or Process against the Patrons of the Benefices or those they have Presented or any others or shall Prosecute or cause to be Prosecuted in any Court whatever where they have done or procured to be done any thing in prejudice of the King or the Earls Barons Nobles and Commonalty aforesaid or of the Provisions Ordinances Accords Decrees and Consideration and against the Proclamation and Inhibition aforesaid shall be taken and arrested by their Bodies and the Letters Bulls Process and Instruments upon such Provisions and Reservations shall be taken from them or others wherever they are to be found and sent before the King's Council with their Bodies that brought them into England Wales Ireland or the County of Chester or Prosecuted any Execution of them with the Bodies of all others that shall be taken and arrested for the cause abovesaid to take and receive what the Court shall award and that hereupon Writs to that purpose be sent thro the whole Realm According to this Agreement a Proclamation and Writs were issued but without effect for in the Parlement 1 Clause 18 Ed. III. Part 1. M. 14. Dors next year which began Eight days after Holy Trinity the Commons prayed the King 2 Rot. Parl. 18 Ed III. n. 33. That the Provisions Ordinances and Accord made in the Parlement of the 17th year of his Reign concerning the Provisions and Reservations de la Court de Rome of the Court of Rome might be confirmed and made a perpetual Statute It was also 3 Ib. n. 36. ordered That the King present to the Prebends Dignities Churches and Chappels of such as lived in his Enemies Countreys or seize them into his Hands and employ the Profits in Defence of the Land and Holy Church except so much as should maintain the Houses and provide for Divine Service 4 Ib. n. 37. and that any one who should bring any thing prejudicial to this Order from beyond Sea should be taken and carried back again And further That these Writs and Proclamation were of no effect it appears by another 5 Append. n. 99. Proclamation this year directed to the Sheriffs of London in which all these Provisions Ordinances and Agreements are recited and in which it is said further That some Provisors such as had received Benefices c. by the Pope's Provisions as well Strangers as Denizens their Proctors and Messengers not considering the said Provisions Ordinances Concords Decrees Proclamation and Inhibitions nor the Punishments contained in them had brought Letters Bulls Process Reservations and Instruments into the Kingdom prejudicial to the King and his People and had delivered them to Arch-Bishops Bishops Abbats Priors and others as well Denizens as Strangers to be Executed since and contrary to the Proclamation and Inhibition aforesaid and the Arch-Bishops Bishops and others receiving them by virtue thereof admitted and inducted very many Provisors and their Proctors or Substitutes into Benefices which they possessed to the disinheriting and intolerable prejudice of the King his Crown and People against the Form of the Provisions Concords Decrees Considerations Proclamation and Inhibitions aforesaid And you that is the Sheriffs of London have attempted somewhat against that Proclamation and Inhibition and have hitherto neglected to obey our Command therein at which we are much troubled and then he comes to the Inhibition according to the Points of the former Agreement Provision and Ordinance including all those that admitted or inducted any into Benefices according to the Pope's Bulls and Reservations under the greatest Forfeiture that could be made and concludes They should so behave themselves in the Execution of this present Proclamation and Command as he might not have cause to prosecute them as Favourers of his and the Kingdom 's Enemies Witness the King at Westminster the 30th of January in the Eighteenth year of his Reign of England and of France the Fifth By the King and the whole Council In the same manner all the Sheriffs of England received the King's Commands That they put in Execution the Proclamation in their several Counties and Shires and also Bartholomew de Burghersh Constable of Dover Castle and Keeper of the Five Ports In a Parlement holden on the 8th of September in the 20th of his Reign by Leonel his Son Guardian of England 6 Rot. Parl. 20 Ed. III. n. 30. the Commons Petition that the Alien Monks might be made to go out of England before Michaelmass next
of such Reports of the Land was a manifest and very Traytor for such Debates might turn to the Destruction of the Kingdom for ever and he prayed that a good Ordinance and a just and speedy Punishment might be provided in that Parlement for such Talkers and Inventors of Evil Reports or Dreams sur tieux parlours trouvours de mesongs to avoid such Mischiefs for the time to come but for the time past all should be forgiven as to his own Person After this 1 Ibm. n. 17 18. The Commons pray Three things of the King and Lords First That Eight continual Counsellors may be appointed for that the King at present was Innocent and of Tender Age for the amendment of several Mischiefs and the Salvation of the Realm which was then in greater Danger then ever it was before the Commons prayed the King and Lords of Parlement for Three things especially First That they would in that Parlement Appoint and Name Eight Persons of divers Estates to be the continual Counsellors of the King for the Business of the Kingdom together with the King's Officers to be such Persons as best knew and most diligently would and could take pains in the amendment of the Mischiefs and for the good Government and Salvation of the Realm and the Commons might know the Names of those Counsellors which also may be the Expenditors and Directors of what was to be given toward the Wars Secondly That they would please to 2 Ib. n. 19. Secondly Such to be appointed as were to be about the King's Person Name and Appoint in that Parlement such as should be about the King's Person People of Virtuous and honest Conversation that might Educate him accordingly and that the Charge of the King's House might be born with the Revenue of the Crown so as what was granted for the Wars might only be employed that way Thirdly That the 3 Ib. n. 20. Thirdly That the Land might be observed Common Law and other Statutes and Ordinances of the Land might be Observed Ratified and Confirmed and the People Governed by it and that it might not be defeated with Masterships and Singularities of any about the King c. saving in all things the Regalities and Dignity of the King to which the Commons would not any prejudice should be done any way by their Demands The Answer to these Demands 4 Ib. in the end of the number The general Answer was That the Prelates and Lords would Advise together commanding the Commons to return to their place commandant as communes de retournir a lour place and Treat of their other Charges given to them tretir de lours autres â—â—arges a lours douez between that time and Thursday next a quel jour ils furent commandez a retournir en parlement c. to hear the Answer to their Requests The first 5 Ibm. n. 21 22. The particular Answer to the first Request Request of the Commons was Repeated before the King and Lords and by them granted so as the Chancellor Treasurer and Keeper of the Privy Seal Justices of the one Bench and the other and all other Officers of the Realm may execute their Offices without the presence of such Councellors who by Advice of the Lords were 6 Ib. n. 23. Nine the Bishops of London Carlisle and Salisbury the Earls of March and Stafford Messires Richard de Stafford and Henry Lescrop Banerets and Messires John Deverose and Hugh Segrave Bachelors Which 7 Ib. n. 25. Nine Prelates Earls and others chosen in Council for this year esluz en conseil pur ceâ—â— An were Sworn before the King himself to do what they were chosen for in the presence of many Lords of Parlement As to the Second Request to 8 Name and Assign such as To the second Request should be about the King's Person the Lords of Parlement there answered That it seemed to them for many Causes too heavy and hard a Request trop chargeant dure Request to place any Person about the King that should not well please him or to Remove any Officer or Servant if it were not by his Express Will and for notable fault to be proved against such Officers and Servants Wherefore the Lords would not willingly meddle with these Matters peront les Seigneurs ne verroient voluntres entre mettre To the other 8 Ib. toward the end of the number part of this Request the Lords Answered They would by good Deliberation speak with the Great Officers of the King's Houshold and if by their advice it could be done saving the State and Honour of the King what they desired should be performed For the 9 Ib. in the end of the number To the Third Third at present it seemed reasonable to all the Lords it should be granted The Lords and Commons * Ib. n. 27. Two Fifteenths and Two Tenths granted perceiving the great danger of Destruction the Nation was in by reason of the great Wars as well by Sea as Land for the defence of the Kingdom and resistance of its great Enemies granted to the King Two Fifteenths without Cities and Burghs and Two Tenths within Cities and Burghs for Two years praying the King That as well the Money of the Tenths and Fifteenths as the Tenths granted by the Clergy and Money for the Subsidy of Wooll might be in the keeping of Especial Treasurers by the King 's Appointment which were William Special Treasures appointed to receive them Walworth and John Philypot Merchants of London who were to give an Accompt of their Receipts and Disbursements in manner as the King and his great Council should order In this 1 Ib. n. 41 42 43. Parlement Alice Perrers was brought into the Lords House where Sir Richard Lescrop Steward of the King's Houshold by the Command of the Prelates and Lords Recited in the presence of the said Alice an * See this Ordinance here in the 50th of Ed. III. Alice Perrers accused in Parliament Ordinance made in the Parlement holden at Westminster in the 50th of Edward the Third That no Woman especially Alice Perrers should prosecute any Business in the King's Courts by way of Maintenance upon pain of forfeiture and Banishment out of the Kingdom and the said Seneschal or Steward surmised to the said Alice and the Lords That she had incurred the pain of it and forfeited against the Ordinance in Two Points First That Sir Nicholas Dagworth was ordered by the King's Council to go into Ireland upon several great Matters profitable to the King and his Realm the said Alice after the Ordinance made perswaded the King and procured at the Court at Havering by her singular Suit That the said Nicholas should be countermanded and his Voyage staid to the great damage of the King and Realm Secondly That one Richard Lyons for certain Misprisions of which he was Convict in the said Parlement submitted himself to the King's Grace viz. his
side they intended to have burnt the City of London and to have divided all the Rich Goods found there amongst themselves This he affirmed to have been their Design as he desired God would help him at his going out of the World W. Walworth and other chief Citizens of London Knighted and then had his Head struck off For their Good Service in destroying Wat Tiler preserving the City and giving him Assistance the King Knighted 1 Stow's Annals p. 463. William Walworth Major John Philpot Nicholas Brembre and Robert Laund Aldermen and gave to Sir William Walworth 100 l. per Annum Land and to the other 40 l. per Annum to them and their Heirs for ever And not long after Knighted Nicholas Twiford and Adam Francis Two other Aldermen In the 2 Wals f. 278. n. 50. 279. lin 4. time of these Insurrections and Rebellions the Duke of Lancaster was in Scotland where he concluded a Truce for Two Years before they heard of the Tumults and Riots in England 3 Ibm. n. 30 40. A two Years Truce with the Scots A Quarrel between the D. of Lancaster Earl of Northumberland In his return he was denied Entrance into Berwic by the Earl of Northumberland which mightily incensed him against the Earl On the 16th of July 4 Rot. Claus 5 Rot. II. M. 40 Dors A Parlement called Writs were sent forth for a Parlement to meet at Westminster on Monday after the Exaltation of Holy Cross or 14th of September which was afterwards Prorogued to the 5 Ib. M. 39 Dors morrow of All-Souls which was Monday when it was 6 Rot. Parl. 5 Ric. II. n. 1. Adjourned to the next Day many Lords and Prelates being absent and so unto Wednesday when by reason of the Quarrel between the Duke of Lancaster and Earl of Northumberland who came to the Parlement with great Force of Armed Men and Archers the King They came to the Parlement with great Force of armed Men. caused the Parlement to be Adjourned unto Saturday in which 7 Wals f. 280. n. 40 50. The K. ends the Quarrel time the King composed the Differences between them and ended the Quarrel The Cause of Summons was 8 Rot. Parl. 5 Ric. II. n. 8. The cause of Summons declared to be That they might consider how to procure the Quiet and Peace of the Nation and settle it after the late Tumults and Insurrections to confirm or repeal the Revocation the King had made of the Grants of Liberty and Manumission by Force and Coertion obtained by the Natives Bond-Tenants and Villains That the King was much indebted and in great Necessity for Money to maintain his Court and the Wars The whole Parlement Lords and Commons 9 Ibm. n. 13. The Liberties and Manumissions of the Villains c. repealed by Authority of Parlement declared the Grants of Liberties and Manumission to Natives Villains and Bond-Tenants to be by Coertion in Disheritance of them and Destruction of the Realm and therefore to be null and repealed by Authority of Parlement The Commons 1 Ibm. The Commons desire certain Prelates and Lds. to treat with them The King prayed the King to have certain Prelates and Lords to comune with them about their Charge for that the Matters very highly concerned the State of the Realm and it was much to the Purpose to have their Advice The Answer 2 Ibm. n. 14. grants their Request was They should give in the Names to the King in Writing of such as they desired that he might advise about it Which was done and the King granted their Desire le Roy lour Grantast al Effect qils furent Demandez And the Commons further * Ibm. n. 16. The Commons pray the King the Prelates by themselves the Great Lds. by themselves and the Kâ—s by themselves and the Justices by themselves might treat about their Charge and their Advice reported to theâ— This was contrary to the Practice and Custom of Parlement which the K. would have observed prayed the King That the Prelates by themselves the Great Lords Temporal by themselves the Knights by themselves the Justices by themselves and all other Estates singly might be charged to treat and comune about their Charge and that their Advice might be reported to the Commons To which it was answered Tha the King had charged the Lords and other Sages to comune and treat diligently upon the said Matters But the ancient Custom and Form of Parlement had always been That the Commons should first report their Advice upon the Matters given them to the King and Lords of Parlement and not on the contrary and therefore the King would that the ancient and good Customs and Form of Parlement should be kept and observed After the Commons had conferred 3 Ibm n. 17. The Commons complain of the ill Government of toâ— Kingdom with the Lords they returned into the Parlement and made great Complaint of the ill Government of the Realm which if not amended the Kingdom would be in short time ruined They complained of the Government about the King's Person his Court the over-great Number of his Servants of the Chancery Kings-Bench Common-Pleas Exchequer of grievous Oppressions in the Country par la Outrageouse Multitude de Braceurs des Quereles Mainteinours qi sout come Roys en Pais que Droit ne Loy est a poy fait c. by the great Multitude of Bracers of Quarrels and Maintainers who behaved themselves like Kings in the Country so as there was very little of Law or Right and of other things which they said were the cause of the late Commotion Rumor and Mischiefs of the Land and requested they might be amended The King 4 Ibm n. 18. Certain Lords and others assigned to survey and examin the Government of the King's Person and Kingdom These Lords and others were assigned and chosen by the King See n. 27. by Advice of the Lords and his Council granted that certain Prelates Lords and others should survey and examin the Government of his Person and Court and to think of sufficient Remedies The Persons chosen to make this Enquiry were The Duke of Lancaster the Elect of Canterbury the Arch-Bishop of York the Bishops of Winchester Ely Excester and Rochester the Earls of Arundel Warwic Stafford Suffolk and Salisbury the Lords Zouch Nevil Grey of Ruthin and Fitz-Walter Monsieur Richard le Scrop Monsieur Guy de Bryan and others autres 5 Ibm. The King's Confessor not to come to Court The King's Confessor was charged to abstain from coming to and remaining at Court by the Request of the Commons and Assent of the Lords The Commons 6 Ibm n. 19 20 21 22 23. The Commons Petition the Duke of Lancaster and others assigned to appoint Officers c. Petition the Duke of Lancaster and others assigned by the King to that purpose to place the most valued Officers about the
the King but in less Matters except one wherein he was charged That by his fault some of the Tax given last Parlement was diverted to other Uses then for which it was given so as the Sea was not so well Guarded as it ought to have been To this he Answered 4 Ib. n. 7. His Answer to the Articles That while he was Chancellor he neither purchased any Lands of the King nor did he give any to him unless when he made him an Earl yet confessed he had 400 Marks a year of the King by way of Exchange for so much he had by inheritance out of the Customs of Hull whereof some part was assigned to him by one Tydeman de Limbergh and others before he was Chancellor and some part came to him by Descent and his Brother in Law Sir Richard le Scrop shewed the said Earl by his Valiant Acts in sundry Battles and his Worthy Behaviour and Counsel in several Offices at home did justly deserve what he had He Answered to every Article 5 Ib. n. 10. The Commons not satisfied with his Answer he sufficiently proveth the Oath had another intendment then what was then put upon it and further proveth that notwithstanding his Oath he did both lawfully take and buy But the Commons were not satisfied with his Answers and therefore at their Request by the King's Command he was Arrested and committed to the Constable of England and afterward let to Mainprise and had further 6 Ib. n. 13. The Judgment against him Judgment That for Breach of his Oath contained in the first Article all the Lands he had of the King's Gift in that Article should be seised into the King's Hand to have to him and his Heirs for ever together with all the Mean Profits and Issues of the same saving to him the Name and Title of an Earl and 20 l. a year granted out of the Profits of the County of Suffolk 7 Ib. n. 14 15 16. The like Judgment was given in every Case and Article where he was charged with Deceit of the King Sitting this Parlement the King was at 8 Knighton col 2681. n. 30. The King sent for to come to Parlement by the Duke of Gloucester and Bishop of Ely Eltham his presence was desired there and by assent of the whole Parlement Thomas Duke of Gloucester and Thomas Arundell Bishop of Ely were sent to him who saluting him on behalf of the Noblemen and Commons related to him their Thoughts or Requests in Words to the same sense that the Historian writes their Speech in 9 Ibm. Qui salutarent eum ex parte procerum Communium Parlementi sui sub tali sensu verborum ei referentes vota eorum and then begins Their Speech to the King upon this Occasion the Speech which was in such Language as Subjects in any times did not use towards their Kings and Princes so that 't is most probable Knighton was both the Author of the Words and Speech as indeed most Historians are of the Speeches and Orations found in them 1 Ib. n. 40 50 60 c. The Speech reckons up all King Richard's Faults most severely and what Wicked and Evil Counsels he followed and what desperate Courses he intended to pursue in delivering what he had in France to and putting himself under the Protection of that King threatning him several times with an old Statute and a laudable and approved Custom they had which could not be gainsayed to warrant what they said to him and urged him to perform 2 Ib. Col. 2683. I. 1. And at last the Speech-maker whether the Duke of Glocester or Thomas Arundell Bishop of Ely or Knighton tells King Richard they had one thing more to intimate to him on behalf of the People in these Words 3 Ib. I. 3. Habent enim ex antiquo Statuto de facto non longe retroactis temporibus experienter quod dolendum est habito si Rex ex maligno Consilio quocunque vel inepta Contumacia aut Contemptu seu proterva voluntate singular aut quovis modo irregulari se alienaverit a populo suo nec voluerit per jura Regni Statuta ac laudabiles ordinationes cum salubri Consilio Dominorum procerum Regni gubernari Regulari set Capitose in suis insanis Consiliis propriam voluntatem suam singularem proterve Excercere extunc licitum est eis cum Communi assensu consensu populi Regni ipsum Regem de Regali solio abrogare propinquiorem aliquem de stripe regia loco ejus in Regni solium sublimare That is For the People have it by an old Statute and by * The Case of Edw. II. Fact which cannot be expressed without Grief by Experience not very long since committed That if a King by any Malignant Counsel whatever or foolish Contumacy or Contempt or froward arrogant Wilfulness by any singular or irregular Means did alienate himself from his People nor would be Governed or Ruled by the Laws Statutes and Laudable Ordinances of the Kingdom with the wholesom Advice of the Lords and Noblemen but like a Blockhead frowardly exercise his own singular Will in his Mad Counsels then it was lawful for them with the Assent and Consent of the People of the Kingdom to Dethrone that King and place in the Throne in his stead some one more near a-Kin to him of the Royal Family On the 24th of October next following Thomas Arundell Bishop of 4 Clause 10 Ric. II. M. 35. The great Officers of State changed Ely was made Chancellor in the place of the Earl of Suffolk and on the same day John Gilbert Bishop of Hereford was made 5 Pat. 10 Ric. II. p. 1. M. 16. Treasurer instead of John de Fordham Bishop of Durham John de Waltham was also made Keeper of the Privy Seal In the 6 Pat. 10 Ric. II. p. 1. M. 7. Eleven Commissioners appointed to Govern the Kingdom Their Names Patents of this year of his own free-will at the Request of the Lords and Commons the King changed these Great Officers and further by advice and assent of the Lords and Commons in full Parlement in aid of the good Government of the Kingdom the good and due Execution of the Laws and in Relief of his own Estate and that of his People he appointed Eleven Commissioners William Arch-Bishop of Canterbury Alexander Arch-Bishop of York his Uncles Edmond Duke of York and Thomas Duke of Glocester William Bishop of Winchester Thomas Bishop of Excester Nicholas Abbat of Waltham Richard Earl of Arundell John Lord Cobham Richard Lescrop and John Devereux to be his great and Continual Council for one year next coming after the date And Power of these Letters Patents by which he gave them Power to Survey and Examine all his Officers Courts Houshold and the Government of the whole Kingdom To receive all his Revenue as also all Subsidies Taxes
the King and Lords to Record their Default and proceed to Judgment Thereupon 2 Ibm. the King and Lords Deliberate upon their Demands until next day being Tuesday when the Justices Serjeants and other Sages of the Law of the Kingdom and also the Sages of the Law Civil were charged by the King to give their Loyal Counsel to the Lords of Parlement how they should proceed in the Case of Appeal The said Justices Serjeants and Sages of both Laws having Deliberated answered the Lords in Parlement That How they were to be Tryed they had noted and well understood the Tenor of the Appeal and that it was done neither according to the Order of one Law or the other Upon which the Lords in Parlement Deliberated and by the common assent of the King and Lords it was declared That in such high Crimes which touched the Person of the King and the State of the whole Realm perpetrated by Persons that were Peers of the Realm with others the Case could not be brought under other Judicature then that of Parlement nor other Law then the Law and Course of Parlement and that it belonged to the Lords in Parlement their Franchise and Liberty of ancient Custom of Parlement to be Judges in such Cases and to Judge of such Cases by the assent of the King to the 3 Ibm. intent that the King and Lords of Parlement shall not be Ruled or Governed by the Civil Law and also that so high a Case should be no where Tryed but in Parlement by Process or Order used in any Inferior Court of the Kingdom which Courts are but the Executors of the ancient Laws and Customs of the Realâ—â— and Ordinances and Establishments of Parlement and the Lords were advised by assent of the King That this Appeal was made and affirmed well and duely Stated and the Process of the same good and effectual according to the Laws and Course of Parlement Upon which the Appellants press the King and Lords again to Record the Default and that Nicholas Brembre who was only in Custody might be brought to answer The Appealed were again called to come and Answer to the said Appellants and came not nevertheless the King and Lords advised for their better Deliberation until the Morrow being Wednesday the 5th of February at which time the said Appellants prayed the King and Lords in Parlement they would Record the Default of the Appealed as before Whereupon the Arch-Bishop of Canterbury for himself and all other Bishops his Suffragans and all other Lords Spiritual of his Province made 4 Ibm. and Append. n. 108. Protestation and delivered it in Writing into Parlement for the saving of their Right of Peerage Sitting and Voting in Parlement tho at present there were such Matters there in Agitation as by the Sacred Canons they might not be present Then the Appealed 5 Ibm. The Appealed appear not by Command of the King and Lords were solemnly called to appear as before and the Appellants alledging they had full notice of the Appeal and the King and Lords being satisfied it was so by reason they came not their Default was Recorded whereupon the Duke and Earls Appellants prayed the King and Lords as before they might be Judged Convict of the High Treasons contained in the Appeal and the said Nicholas brought to Answer The King and Lords took time to Consider and Examine the Articles whether they could give such Judgment in this Case as should be to the Honour of God the Honour and Profit of the King and the whole Kingdom The King Commanded the Lords to Examine the Articles who did with great labour and diligence until Thursday the 13th of February and then declared many of the Articles contained Treason as the First Second Eleventh Twelfth Fifteenth and Sixteenth as also the Eighteenth Twenty ninth Thirtieth Thirty first Thirty second the Thirty seventh Thirty eighth and Thirty ninth were Treason And then upon due Information of their Consciences pronounced the Appealed Guilty and Judged them to be 6 Ibm. Their Judgment Drawn and Hanged as Traitors and Enemies to the King and Kingdom and that their Heirs should be Disherited for ever and their Lands Tenements Goods and Chattels forfeited to the King and that the Temporalities of the Arch-Bishoprick should be taken into the King's hands And for that the like Case had not been seen in the Kingdom concerning the Person of an Arch-Bishop or Bishop the Lords would Advise by Assent of the King what they may best do for the Honour of God and of Holy Church and the Safety of the Laws of the Land Then the Duke and Earls Appellants prayed Sir Nicholas Sir N. Brembre brought to answer Brembre might be brought to Answer and on Monday the 17th of February the Constable of the Tower brought him into Parlement 7 Ibm. where the Articles of Appeal were read to him to which he pleaded Not Guilty in any Point of them and said he was there ready to make good what he said by his Body as a Knight ought to do The Lords answered Battel did not lie in that Case and that they would examin the Articles touching the said Nicholas and take due Information by all true necessary and convenient Ways that their Consciences might be duly informed what Judgment to give in this Case to the Honour of God the Honour and Profit of the King and his Kingdom as they would answer it before God according to the Course and Law of Parlement During this Examination on Wednesday the 19th of February Sir Robert Tresilian was taken and brought into 8 Ibm. Sir R Tresilian taken and brought into Parlement Parlement and being asked if he had any thing to say which had happened since Judgment passed upon him why execution thereof should not be made for that he had nothing to say it was commanded he should be carried to the Tower and from thence drawn through the City of London and forward to the Gallows at Tyburn and there to hang by the Neck and that the Execution should be done by the Marshal of England taking to his Assistance the Major Sheriffs and Aldermen of London And he was Executed the same Day On the morrow 9 Ibm. Sir N. Brembre Sentenc'd and Executed which was the 20th Day of February Sentenc'd and Executed Sir Nicholas Brembre was brought into Parlement when the Lords by diligent Examination due Proof and Information found him Guilty of High Treason and they Awarded by Assent of the King as a Traitor and open Enemy to the King and Kingdom he should be Drawn and Hanged his Heirs for ever Disherited and his Lands Tenements Goods and Chattels forfeit to the King And he was Executed on the same Day and in the same manner as was Robert Tresilian It was the Intention 1 Ibm. The Parlement Judge the King innocent notwithstanding the Appeal and Articles of all the Lords of Parlement Spiritual and
Temporal as well the Lords Appellants as all others and by them agreed That considering the tender Age of the King before that time and the Innocency of his Royal Person that nothing contained in the Appeal nor in any Article thereof nor in the Judgments given should be accounted any Fault or Dishonesty in his Person in no manner for the Cause abovesaid nor should turn in Prejudice of his Person by any Contrivance or Interpretation whatever but that the false Treason and Default abovesaid should be charged upon the Appealed and that the Judgments given against them should have full Force and Virtue notwithstanding any thing could be said or alledged to the contrary Upon 2 Ibm. Several others impeached by the Commons Monday the 2d Day of March next following Sir Robert Belknap late Chief Justice of the Common Bench Sir Roger Fulthorp Sir John Holt Sir William Burgh late his Companions of the same Bench Sir John Cary late Chief Baron of the Exchequer and John Loketon late Serjeant to the King were accused and impeached by the Commons in Parlement for putting their Hands and Seals to the Questions and Answers aforesaid by the Procurement of the Appealed and Convicted Persons of Treason to cover and affirm their High Treasons c. pour coverer affermir lour hautes Tresons a Copy whereof was exhibited and read before them and they were answered as was surmised by the Commons in the said Copy and they answered They could not gainsay it but that the Qustions were such as were asked them but the Answers were not such as they put their Seals to Sir Robert 3 Ibm. Sir R. Belknap his Excuse Belknap pleaded That the Arch-Bishop of York in his Chamber at Windsor told him That he devised the Commission and Statute c. That the King hated him above all Men and that if he found not some way to make void the Statute and Commission he should be slain as a Traitor He answered That the Intention of the Lords and such as assisted at the making of them was That they should be for the Honour and good Government of the State of the King c. That he twice parted from the King dissatisfied and was in doubt of his Life and said the Answers were not made by his Good-will but contrary to his Mind by the Threats of the Arch-Bishop of York Duke of Ireland and Earl of Suffolk and that he was Sworn and Commanded in the Presence of the King upon pain of Death to conceal this matter as the Counsel of the King And prayed for the Love of God he might have Gracious and Merciful Judgment Sir John Holt 4 Ibm. Sir J. Holt made the same Excuse alledged the same matter of Excuse and made the same Prayer Sir William 5 Ibm. Sir W. Burgh and Sir J Cary the same Burgh and Sir John Cary pleaded the same matter of Excuse and made the same Prayer Sir Roger 6 Ibm Sir R. Fultâ—orp and J. Loketâ—n the same Fulthorp and John Loketon make the same Excuse and Prayer To which 7 Ibm. Notwithstanding their Excuses the Commons pray they may be Judged Convicted and Attainted as Traitors the Commons answered They were taken and holden for Sages in the Law and the King's Will was That they should have Answered the Questions as the Law was and not otherwise as they did with Design and under colour of Law to Murder and Destroy the Lords and Loyal Lieges who were Aiding and Assisting in making the Commission and Statute in the last Parlement for the good Government of the State of the King and Kingdom and therefore the Commons pray they may be Adjudged Convicted and Attainted as Traitors Upon 8 Ibm. which the Lords Temporal took time by good Deliberation to examin the Matter and Circumstances of it and for that they were at and knew of the making of the Statute and Commission which they knew were made for the Honour of God and Their Judgment for the good Government of the State of the King and whole Kingdom and that it was the King's Will they should not have otherwise Answered than according to Law and had Answered as before They were by the Lords Temporal by the Assent of the King adjudged to be Hanged and Drawn as Traitors and their Heirs Disherited their Lands Tenements Goods and Chattels to be forfeit to the King On 9 Ibm. J. Blake impeached Tuesday March 3. John Blake and Thomas Vsk were brought into Parlement and first John Blake was impeached by the Commons That being retained of Council for the King drew up the Questions to which the Justices made Answer and contrived with the Persons Appealed that the Lords and others the King 's Loyal Lieges that caused the Commission and Statute to be made in the last Parlement to have them indicted in London and Middlesex for Treason and that they might be arrested and falsly traiterously and wickedly murdered and that he was aiding and advising in the Treasons aforesaid to the Appealed Then Thomas 1 Ibm. T. Usk accused Vsk was accused for procuring himself to be made Vnder-Sheriff of Middlesex to the end to cause the said Lords and Loyal Lieges to be Arrested and Indicted as hath been said before and was Aiding and Counselling the Appealed in the Treasons aforesaid John 2 Ibm. Their Answers Blake answered he was retained of Counsel for the King by his Command and sworn to keep secret his Advice and whatever he did was by the King's Command whom he ought to obey And Thomas Vsk gave the same Answer Whereupon the Lords Temporal took Deliberation until the morrow being the 4th of March when the said John and Thomas were again brought into Parlement and good Advice and Deliberation having been taken by the Lords pronounced them Guilty of the things whereof they were accused 3 Ibm. And Judgments And whereas they alledged for their Excuse the King's Command it made their Crime the greater for that they knew well that the Appealed and Adjudged accroached to themselves Royal Power as said is before and it was their Command and not the King 's and then the Lords Awarded by Assent of the King they should both be Drawn and Hanged as Traitors and open Enemies to the King and Kingdom and their Heirs Disherited for ever and their Lands Tenements Goods and Chattels forfeited to the King and they were Executed the same Day On 4 Ibm. Sir â— Bâ—â—â—nâ—p and 5 others Friday the 6th of March Sir Robert Belknap Sir Roger Fulthorp Sir John Holt Sir William Burgh Sir John Cary and John Loketon were brought into the Parlement and the Lords were advised That they were at the making of the Commission and Statute in the last Parlement and Sir John Cary knew well they were made to the Honour of God and the good Government of the State of the King and the whole Kingdom and so on as before And then
they had Judgment again passed on them as before By the Mediation of the Bishops had their Lives spared and at that very Moment came the Arch-Bishop of Canterbury and all the Bishops of both Provinces and prayed the Lords Temporal the Execution as to their Lives might be respited that they might obtain their Lives of the King He ordered Execution should be stayed and granted them their Lives As to the other part of their Sentence that was to remain in force and their Bodies in Prison during the King's Pleasure until the King by Advice of the Lords should direct otherwise concerning them On the same 5 Ibm. The Bp. of Chichester and the King's Confessor impeached Friday Thomas Bishop of Chichester and the King's Confessor impeached and accused by the Commons That he was present at the Places and Times when the Questions were put to the Justices c. and the Answers made and excited them by Threats to answer as they did knowing the false Purposes and Treasons designed by the Traitors adjudged and aided and assisted them and would not make Discovery to any of the Lords that caused the Commission to be made last Parlement whereby Remedy might have been had for the Safety of the King and Kingdom 6 Ibm. To which the Bishop answered of his own free Will That he did not excite them to do or say any thing And further said They were not excited or charged to say any thing but what the Law was And touching the Concealment of the Treasons he had made such Assurance and Affiance as he could not discover And said further That the Traitors were about the King and had such Power over him before he had so great Interest in the King as to prevent such Mischiefs as might come upon him The Commons replied He had upon the Matter confessed himself Guilty and prayed he might be Attainted Upon this Answer of the Bishop the Replication of the Commons and all Circumstances of the Accusation the Lords took time to give such Judgment as might be for the Honour of God and Profit of the King and Kingdom 7 Ibm. Sir S. Burley and 3 others impeached During which time on the 12th of March Simon Burley Kt. John Beauchamp of Holt Kt. John Salisbury Kt. and James Barners Kt. were brought into Parlement and at the Request of the Commons impeached The Articles exhibited against them were Sixteen 8 Ibm. The Articles against them The first Article in the Appeal was the first Article in this Impeachment In the second Article they are accused as Traitors and Enemies of the Kingdom for that they knew of all the Treasons in the Appeal mentioned and that they were Aiding Assisting Counselling and Assenting to all the Traitors attainted and that Simon Burley and John Beauchamp were Principal Actors in all the Treasons In the eighth Article they were accused for Conspiring and Designing with the Five Appealed to destroy and put to Death those who were Assenting to the making of the Commission and Statute in the last Parlement The rest are of less moment but all relating to the Articles of the Appeal 9 Ibm. They all answer Not Guilty The Commons replied They were Guilty The Lords take time to examin and consider the Impeachment Upon this and the Bishop of Chichester's Impeachment the Lords Temporal until Friday the 20th of March on which Day the Parlement was Adjourned unto the Monday next after or on the morrow of the Quinden of Easter or 13th of April On which Monday the Lords Temporal took time to Deliberate upon these Matters until the 5th of May when Simon Burley was brought into the Parlement and the Lords by due and sufficient Examination and Information found him Guilty of what he was Impeached in the eighth Article which had been adjudged Treason and by Assent of the King Awarded he The Judgment against Sir S. Burley who was executed should be Drawn Hanged and his Head Chopped off The King Pardoned his Drawing and Hanging but his Head was Chopt off the same Day on Tower-Hill His Heirs were Disherited for ever and his Lands Tenements Goods and Chattels forfeit to the King as part of the Judgment On the 12th of 1 Ibm. The 3 others had the same Judgment and executed March John Beauchamp John Salisbury and James Barners were brought into Parlement and had the same Judgment Beauchamp and Barners had their Drawing and Hanging Pardoned and had their Heads struck off on Tower-Hill and were all Executed on the same 12th of March. On the same Day the 2 Ibm. Judgment against the Bp. of Chichester Bishop of Chichester was sent for into Parlement where the Lords Temporal found him Guilty of Treason as it was laid in the Impeachment and by Assent of the King they Awarded his Heirs should be Disherited his Lands Tenements Goods and Chattels forfeit to the King and the Temporalties of his Bishoprick seized into the King's hands As to his Person the Lords would advise what to do for the Honour of God and Holy Church and the Safety of the State of Prelacy and of the Laws of the Land And then in the same Parlement it was 3 Ibm. He was with 6 others banished into Ireland Ordained That this Bishop Sir Robert Belknap Sir Roger Fulthorp Sir John Holt Sir William Burgh Sir John Cary and John Loketon should be sent into Ireland to several Towns and Places there to remain during their Lives 4 Ibm. Their allowance from the King by Order of Parlement And it was also then Ordered That Sir Robert Belknap and Sir Roger Fulthorp for their support during their Lives should have Forty Pounds a Year Sir John Holt and Sir William Burgh Forty Marks a Year Sir John Cary and John Loketon Twenty Pounds a Year of the King's Gift and each of them to have Two Servants to wait on them And that the Bishop of Chichester might have annually Forty Marks for his Sustenance during his Life if any of his Friends would give him so much Upon 5 Stat. at Large 11 Ric. II. c. 1. Four Petitions of the Commons Râ—â— Pâ—rl 11 R c. II part 1. n. 37. That the Commission and Statute should be confirmed Also what the Duke of Glocester Earls of Warâ—â—â— Arâ—â—dâ—â— Dâ—â—by and Nottingâ—â—m did Petition of the Commons the Ordinance and Commission made the last Year were confirmed and all that was done in that Parlement and also what the Duke of Glocester Earls of Warwick and Arundel did and all that the same Duke and Earls with the Earls of Derby and Marshal or any of them did or any other of their Company or of their Aid or of their Adherents or any of them by their Assemblings Ridings Marchings in Arms Appeals and Pursuits as things done to the Honour of God the Safety of the King Maintenance of his Crown and Safety of the whole Kingdom And also in pursuance of the same Petition had
under the protection of their Franchises and were detained by the Inhabitants of those Places might have power to enter such Places and seize and bring away their Villanes The Answer was the same with the foregoing According to the Request of the Commons the 7 Walsingh f. 347. n. 10 20. Mezeray f. 413. The Truce between England and Fr. continued for a year longer Duke of Lancaster went into France to Treat of a final Peace he was splendidly received at Amiens by the King and chief Nobility of that Kingdom who met him there The Issue of the Treaty was That the Truce should continue for One year longer for the Observation of which both Kings made Oath The King about this time wanted Money and sent to the City of London to borrow a Thousand Pounds who 8 Knighten Col. 2740. n. 10. c. Walsingham ut supra n. 50. c. The City of London deny to lend the King a Thousand Pounds And almost killed a Lumbard that lent it him denied to lend him it and abused and beat a Lumbard so grievously that offered to lend it as they near killed him for this and other things by advice of a great Council held at Nottingham their Liberties were seized and being convinced they had forfeited them Their Liberties seised The Major and Sheriffs imprisoned Their Liberties restored by the Mediation of the Duke of Glocester the Major and Sheriffs were sent to Prison and Sir Edward Dalyngrug was made Guardian of the City On the Assumption of the Virgin Mary or 15th of August the King with a great Train of the Nobility with his Queen went into the City where he was most Honourably and Nobly Received and Presented both himself and Queen and not long after by the Mediation of Friends especially the Duke of Glocester the Liberties of the City were Restored with Power of choosing a Major as before In the Parlement holden on the Quindene of St. Hillary in the The Earl of Arundel against the Duke of Lancaster Seventeenth of this King the Earl of Arundel declared several things the King had done for the Duke of 9 Rot. Parl. 17 Ric. II. n. 11. A. D. 1393 1394. He asks the Duke's Pardon in Parlement Lancaster that were against his Honour and Profit but they were such as the King answered them all himself and justified them and he was by the King and Lords ordered to ask his Pardon in full Parlement which was done The King Lords Knights of Honour and Justices in this Parlement 1 Ib. n. 16. The King Lords c. assent to a Peace to be made with France assented to a Peace so as the King did not make Homage Liege and saving also and always the Liberty of his Person and the Crown of England and of his Lieges of the same Kingdom and that he and his Heirs might Resort and have Regress to the Name Title and Right of the Crown and Kingdom of France if the Peace should be broken by his Adversary and his Heirs and also That such Moderations and Modifications should be made that no Consiscation that is seisure of the Dutchy of Guyen might happen Knighton says this was only a Truce for Four years and four months as well by Sea as Land Col. 2741. n. 20. The King charged the Commons to give their 2 Ib. n. 17. Advice in this Matter They Answer by a Schedule given in by the Hands of Mr. John Bussy their Speaker wherein the said Articles of Peace between the King and his Adversary of France were read and partly understood by them and they had considered Three Three Points too high for the Commons to give their Advice in Points that were too high for them upon which they dare not Treat or give Advice to wit Homage Liege Soveraignty and Resort yet referring all and giving their Consent for the good of Peace to what the Lords Knights of Honour and the Justices had consented to before so as Homage should be done for and have Relation to the Dutchy of Guyen only and in no wise to the Crown and Kingdom of England What the Articles of this Peace were it doth not appear upon the Parlement Roll. But the next year by Edward Earl of Rutland Thomas Earl Marshall and of Nottingham and Messire William Lescrop Commissioners for the King of England and the Dukes of Berry Burgundy Orleans and Burbon or any other Two or three of them Commissioners for the King of France * The Original in the Chapter House at Westminster there was a Truce general by Sea and Land agreed for 28 years which was to begin at Michaelmass 1398 when the Truce at Leulingham and the prolongations of it were to end During which Truce all taking of Prisoners Goods and Chattels Fortified Towns Fortresses and other Places all Pillagings Robberies Burnings Demolishing Houses and Walls destroying Fruit Trees and others and all other Feats of War tout autre faits de Guerre were to cease between the Kingdoms Lands and Seigneuries on both Parts and between the Kingdoms Lands Seigneuries and Subjects of their Friends Allies Aydants and Adherents whatsoever And that there should be freedom of Intercourse Commerce Trading and Merchandising between the People and Subjects of one Party and the other In this Truce there is not any mention of Homage Liege Soveraignty or Resort The Treaty Agreement and Articles thereof was Ratified by the King of France on the Eleventh of March 1395 and was afterwards Ratified by the King of England and the Ratifications Exchanged in the year 1396 when on the Feast of St. Simon and Jude or 28th of October both Kings at an Interview not far from Calais sware to the performance of them John Duke of 3 Ib. 20 21. The Dukes of Lancaster and Glocester pray Judgment against Sir Tho-Talbtt and others for Conspiring their Deaths Guyen and Lancaster Steward of England and Thomas Duke of Glocester Constable of England Petition the King and Lords for Judgment against Sir Thomas Talbot and others not named for Conspiring their Deaths and raising Force to do it in the County of Chester That they would Declare the Nature of the Offence and ordain Punishment for it The King was informed and advised the Matter contained in the Bill or Petition was open and High Treason and that it touched him and all the Realm and he and all the Lords Judged and Declared it to be so And because the Matter contained in the Bill of Complaint was notorious and open known to the King and Lords and all the States of Parlement and thro' the whole Kingdom and therefore it was ordered and awarded that Writs should issue returnable into the Kings-Bench to take his Body That Proclamation should be made for him to render himself to stand to the Law if not he was to be holden for Convict as attainted of Treason and all who received him were to incur the same Pain and
of God Amen I Richard by the Grace of God King of England and France and Lord of Ireland do Absolve the Arch-Bishops Bishops and other Prelates whatsoever of Churches Secular or Regular of what Dignity Degree State or Condition they are Dukes Marquesses Earls Barons Vassals Valvassores and my Liege Men whatsoever Ecclesiastick or Secular by whatever Name they are called from the Oath of Fealty and Homage and all others to me made and from all Bond of Ligeance Regality and Government or Command by which they have been or may be bound to me and them their Heirs and Successors for ever from the same Obligations Oaths and other Things whatsoever I free release and quit and make them free absolved and quit as to my Person according to the whole Effect of the Law which may follow from the Premisses or any of them And I do purely freely of my own accord simply and absolutely in the best Manner Way and Form that I can by this Writing Renounce wholly Resign and by Word and Deed put from me and recede for ever from all Royal Dignity and Majesty the Crown and Lordship and the Power of the said Kingdoms and Lordship and other my Dominions and Possessions which may any way belong to me and to all Right Colour of Right and Title Possession and Dominion that I ever had have or may have in the same or any of them also the Government and Administration of the said Kingdoms and Lordship and all mere and mixt Empire in the same and to all Honour and Royalty therein saving to my Successors Kings of England in the Kingdoms Dominions and Premisses for ever their Competent Rights And I do Confess Acknowledge Repute and truly of certain Knowledge Judge my self to be insufficient for the Government of the said Kingdoms and Dominions and for my notorious Demerits not unworthily Deposed And I Swear by these Holy Gospels of God by me Corporally touched That I never will Contravene this Resignation Renunciation Dimission and Cession or will any way oppose them in Word or Deed by my self or others nor will suffer them to be opposed or contravened as much as in me is publickly or privately but the same Renunciation Resignation Dimission and Cession will for ever hold firm and will firmly hold and observe them in the whole and every part as God and his Gospels help me Ego Richardus Rex antedictus propria manu hic me subscribo I King Richard beforesaid write my self with my own Hand And 5 5 Ib. n. 14. presently he added to his Renunciation and Cession That if it was in his Power the Duke of Lancaster should succeed him but seeing it was not he desired the Arch-Bishop of York and Bishop of Hereford who he had appointed to declare his Renunciation and Cession to the States of the Kingdom to intimate his Will and Pleasure to them and as a further Mark of his Intention he pulled his Signet Gold Ring off his own Finger and put it upon the Dukes desiring it might be made known to all the States of the Kingdom On the Morrow 6 6 Ib n. 15. being Tuesday the Feast of St. Hierom the Parlement met in Westminster-Hall where the Arch-Bishop of York and Bishop of Hereford publickly declared the King's Cession and Renunciation with the Subscription of the King's Hand and also the delivery of the Signet to the Duke of Lancaster The Cession and Renunciation was first read in Latin then in English and the States and People there present were asked if for their own Interest and the Profit of the Nation they would admit the Cession and Renunciation they unanimously answered They would admit it After 7 7 Ib. n. 16. which Admission it was publickly proposed That besides that it would be much expedient and advantageous to the Nation and to take away all scruples and sinister suspicions that many Crimes and Defects committed by the said King during the time of his Government for which as confessed in his Cession he might be worthily Deposed might be drawn up in Writing and publickly read and declared to the People The Tenor of all which Articles is such Here the Entry upon the Roll is confused and impertinent and such must be the Translation The Form 8 Ibm. of the Oath which the Kings of England usually take at their Coronation follows which is exacted and received from them by the Arch-Bishop of Canterbury as it is contained in the Pontifical Books of the Arch-Bishops and Bishops Which Oath was received from Richard King of England the Second after the Conquest by the Arch-Bishop of Canterbury and afterwards Repealed as may be found upon Record in the Rolls of Chancery Thou 9 Ib. n. 17. shalt wholly preserve the Peace of the Church and People of God and Concord in God according to thy Power and shall Answer I will preserve them Thou shalt cause to be done in all thy Judgments equal and right Justice and Discretion in Mercy and Truth according to thy Power and shall Answer I will do it Thou dost Grant that just Laws and Customs are to be holden and dost Promise to Protect and Confirm them to the Honour of God which the Communalty have chosen according to your Power and shall Answer I Grant and Promise To these such Questions may be added which are just which the King is to Confirm by his Oath upon the Altar before all Persons The Objections against the King concerning his Deposition do follow FIrst 1 1 Ib. n. 18. It is Objected to King Richard That for his Evil Government by giving the Goods and Possessions of the Crown to Unworthy Persons and indiscreetly dissipating of them and for this cause imposing grievous and intolerable Burthens upon the People and otherwise committing other innumerable Evils Having by his Assent and Command by the whole Parlement chosen and assigned certain Prelates and other Lords Temporal who with all their Power should faithfully labour at their own Costs about the just Government of the Kingdom made a Conventicle of his Accomplices proposing to impeach of High Treason the said Lords Spiritual and Temporal so imployed about the Government of the Kingdom and violently drew the Justices of the Kingdom to Confirm his Wicked Purpose for fear of Death and Torment of Body endeavouring to destroy the said Lords Secondly The same 2 2 Ib. n. 19. King lately at Shrewsbury caused to come before him and others that favoured him in a Chamber many Persons and the greater part of the Justices where by Threats and divers Terrors he induced caused and forced them singly to Answer to certain Questions on his behalf touching the Laws of his Kingdom against their Will and otherwise then they would have answered had they not been forced By Colour of which Answers the same King propounded to have proceeded to the Destruction of Thomas Duke of Glocester the Earls of Arundel and Warwick and other Lords with whom
Pleasure being absent and not called to answer without any reasonable Cause confiscating all his Goods against the Laws of the Land and all Justice by which he incurred Perjury Further the King intending to palliate his inconstancy by flattering Words endeavoured to cast the Injury done him upon others Whence the Arch-Bishop having Discourse with the King the Duke of Norfolk other Lords and Great Men lamenting said He was not the first had been Banished nor should be the last for that he thought within a short time the Duke of Norfolk and other Lords would follow him and constantly told the King That the Consequences of the Premisses would fall upon his own Head at last To which the King as if he had been astonished presently answered he thought it might so happen he might be expelled his Kingdom by his Subjects and further said if it should be so he would go to the Place where he was and that the Arch-Bishop might believe him he shewed him a great Jewel of Gold which he would send to him as a Token that he would not defer his coming to the Place where he was And that the same Arch-Bishop might have greater Confidence in him he sent to him advising him That he should privately send all the Jewels belonging to his Chapel to be safely kept lest under the colour of the Judgment of Banishment they might be seised it being so done the King caused the Goods to be put in Coffers which he caused to be Locked and Sealed by one of the Arch-Bishops Clerks by whom he sent the Keys to him and afterwards caused the Coffers to be broken taking the Goods and disposing of them as he pleased The same King also faithfully promised the Arch-Bishop That if he would go to the Port of Hampton in order to go out of the Kingdom that by the Queen's intercession he should be recalled And if it should so happen as he should go out of the Kingdom yet after Easter next coming without fail he should return into England nor should he any way loose his Arch-Bishoprick This he faithfully Promised Swearing to it touching the Cross of Thomas the Martyr Arch-Bishop of Canterbury Which Promises notwithstanding the King caused the Arch-Bishop to go out of the Kingdom and wrote to the Pope for his Translation and thus and otherwise by the Frauds and Cheats of the King was the Arch-Bishop a Man of good Faith craftily Circumvented These were the Thirty three Articles read in the Parlement against King Richard And because it seemed 7 Ib. n. 51. to all the States of the Kingdom it being singly and in common propounded to and asked of them That these Causes of Crimes and Defects were sufficient and notorious to Depose the same King his Confession also and other things considered contained in his Renunciation and Cession all the States aforesaid unanimously consented to proceed to the Deposition of him for the greater Security and Tranquility of the People and Profit of the Kingdom and accordingly appointed certain Commissioners the Bishop of Asaph the Abbat of Glastonbury the Earl of Glocester the Lord Berkeley Thomas Erpyngham and Thomas Grey Knights and William Thirnyng Justice to pronounce Sentence of Deposition against King Richard from all Royal Dignity Majesty and Honour in the Name and by Authority of all the States as in like Cases according to the ancient Custom of the Kingdom had been observed The Commissioners take upon them their Charge and the Commission being drawn up in Writing the Bishop of Asaph read it in these Words In the Name of God Amen 8 Ib. n. 52. We John Bishop of Asaph John Abbat of Glastonbury Thomas Earl of Glocester Thomas Lord Berkeley Thomas de Erpyngham and Thomas Gray Knights and William Thirning Justiciary by the Spiritual and Temporal Peers and Great Men of the Kingdom of England and by the Communities of the same representing all States thereof being specially deputed Commissioners for the things underwritten duely considering the many Perjuries Cruelty and many other Crimes committed by King Richard in the time of his Government and publickly Exhibited and Recited before the States which were so publick notorious manifest and famous as they could no way be denied and also his Confession acknowledging and truely of his own certain knowledge judging himself to have been altogether insufficient for the Government of the Kingdoms and Lordship aforesaid and that for his notorious Demerits he was worthy to be Deposed which things by his own Will and Command were published before the States Having had diligent Deliberation upon these things for the greater Caution to the Government of the Kingdoms and Dominion aforesaid the Rights and Appertinences of the same in the Name and Authority to us committed do Pronounce Decree and Declare that very Richard to be Deposed deservedly from all Royal Dignity and Honour and for the like Caution we Depose him by our Definitive Sentence in this Writing expressly inhibiting all and singular Arch-Bishops Bishops and Prelates Dukes Marquesses Earls Barons Knights Vassals and Valvassors and all other Men and Subjects of the said Kingdoms and Dominion or Places belonging to them for the future to obey the said Richard as King Furthermore the said States 9 Ib. n. 53. desiring there might be nothing wanting which was or might be required in this Matter being severally asked agreed to certain Persons to be their Proctors or Agents named by the Commissioners to go to King Richard to resign their Homage and Fealty had been made to him and give him notice what had been concerning his Deposition and Renunciation And presently it appeared from the 1 Ibm. Premisses and the Occasion thereof That the Kingdom of England was vacant when Henry Duke of Lancaster rising from his Seat and standing so right up as he might sufficiently be seen of the People humbly crossing himself in his Forehead and Breast first calling upon the Name of Christ challenged the Kingdom of England being void with the Crown and all its Members and Appertinences in his Mother Tongue lingua materna in this Form of Words In the Name of Fader 2 Ibm. Son and Holy Ghost I Henry of Lancaster chalenge this Rewme of England and the Croune with all the Membres and the Appurtenances al 's I am descendit by ryght lyne of the Blode coming fro the Gude Lord King Henry therde and throghe that ryght that God of his grace hath sent me with helpe of my Kyn and my Frendes to recover it The which Rewme was in poynt to be ondone for default of Governance and undoying of the gude Lawes After this Claim 3 Ibm. n. 54. as well the Lords Spiritual as Temporal and all States there present were asked one by one what they thought of it who without any difficulty or delay unanimously consented the Duke should Reign over them and immediately so soon as he shew the States of the Kingdom King Richard's Signet which he gave him as
Regaly in the Cases aforesaid and in all other Cases attempted against him his Crown and Regaly in all Points to live and die 3 Ibm. And further they pray the King and him require by way of Justice That he would ask all the Lords in Parlement as well Spiritual as Temporal severally and all the States of Parlement What they thought of the Cases aforesaid Whereupon the Lords Temporal so asked answered every one by himself That the Cases aforesaid were clearly in Derogation of the King's Crown and of his Regaly as it was well known and had been a long time known and that they would be with the Crown and Regaly in these Cases especially and in all others which shall be attempted against them in all Points with all their Power The Answer of the Lords Spiritual to the King's Demands much to the purpose of that of the Lords Temporal will best appear from the Arch-Bishop's Protestation so called upon the Parlement-Roll as 't is transcribed in the Appendix n. 118. and there translated After which Answers given 4 Ibm. the King by Assent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal at the Prayer of the Commons Qrdained and Established That if any Purchase or Pursue or cause to be Purchased or Pursued in the Court of Rome or elsewhere any such Translations Processes and Sentences of Excommunications Bulls Instruments or any other things which touch the King against him his Crown Regaly or Kingdom as is aforesaid and they that bring them within the Realm or receive them or make thereof Notification or any other Execution within the Kingdom or without they their Notaries Procurators Maintainers Abetters Fautors and Counsellors shall be put out of the King's Protection their Lands and Tenements Goods and Chattels forfeited and also attached by their Bodies if to be found and brought before the King and his Council there to answer or that Process be made against them by Praemunire facias io manner as it is Ordained in other Statutes of Provisors After this there is nothing further that I have seen about these Controversies the Pope being quiet all his Reign yet I shall take notice of some things done by the King relating to these Affairs which were omitted in their due Place He caused James Dardain 5 Rot. Claus 12 Ric. II. M 39. Dors the Pope's Collector in England to Swear he would be Faithful to him and his Crown That he would not do permit or procure to be done any thing Prejudicial to him his Kingdom Laws and Rights And that he would not put in Execution any Papal Letters or Mandates or permit them to be put in Execution that were Prejudicial to the King his Regaly or Royalty Laws or Rights or to his Kingdom That he would not receive or publish any of the Pope's Letters but such as he should deliver to the King's Council as soon as he could That he would not send any Money or Plate out of the Kingdom unless he had special Licence from the King or his Council nor that he would introduce any Novelties by or without Command without the King's Licence And that he would keep the King's Laws and Rights without violation This Oath was taken August 27. in the 12th of Richard II. before his Council as appears by the Record it self Then he wrote to 6 Ib. 13 Ric. II. part 1. M. 17. De decimis Papae non solvendis William Arch-Bishop of Canterbury That he could not but know that he was bound by Oath for the Conservation of the Rights and Customs of the Kingdom and for the Indemnity and Right Government of his People and also that no Impositions upon the People could be made or levied any ways whatsoever without Common Counsel or Consent of the Kingdom And further That he had been Petitioned by the Commons lately assembled in Parlement at Westminster to provide Remedy against the Impositions upon the Clergy at that time published and exacted by the People And also that any one that should bring in any Pope's Bulls to levy such Impositions or create such Novelties not formerly used which might bring Damage to him or his Kingdom nor should publish such Impositions and Novelties or collect or levy them should be adjudged and suffer as a Traitor to him and his Kingdom And it was granted by him with Assent of the same Parlement nothing should be levied or paid that might tend to the Burthen and Damage of the Kingdom or Liege People This notwithstanding he was informed of a new Imposition upon the Clergy by the Pope which by his Authority or the Authority of his Suffragans by his Command was to be levied without Common Advice and Assent of the Kingdom which he might not suffer to be done saving his said Oath And then Commanded by the Faith in which he was bound to him and under forfeiture of all he could forfeit to revoke all that had been done for the levying and exacting of this Imposition and to return what had been paid and levied enjoining him not to pay or contribute any thing to this Subsidy or Imposition under the foresaid Faith and Forfeiture Witness the King at Westminster the 10th Day of October The like Writ and of the same Date 7 Ibm. was directed to the Arch-Bishop of York and all the other Bishops of England as also to the Guardians of the Spiritualities of the vacant Bishoprics and several Collectors of this Imposition The like Writ was likewise directed to James Dardain then the Pope's Nuncio Rex 8 Ibm. Jacobo Dardain Nuncio Domini summi Pontificis in Anglia c. to desist in exacting of this Imposition sub forisfactura Vitae Membrorum under the Forfeiture of Life and Members and all things he could forfeit Witness as before This Imposition was the Payment of a Tenth by the Clergy to the Pope by him laid upon them as appears by the Todding or Title of the Record De Decimis Papae non solvendis Concerning Tenths not to be paid to the Pope In the 14th of his Reign 9 Ibm. 14 Ric. II. M. 13. Dots De Proclamatione he caused Proclamation to be made through England to call from Rome under forfeiture of Life and Member and all they could forfeit many Persons that went thither to procure the Nulling and Vacating of divers Statutes made by him and his Progenitors with Consent of Parlement for the Common Profit of the Kingdom and to perpetrate many other Evils there to the Contempt and Prejudice of his Person to the great Damage of the Kingdom and People and to the manifest Cassation of the Laws and Customs thereof That they should be in England by the Feast of St. Martin in Winter or 11th of November at furthest And that no Man of what State or Condition soever he was should bring any Pope's Bulls Processes or Instruments for the Adnulling or Vacating of any the Statutes Laws or Customs aforesaid or obey them or put them in
delivered your Letters into his own Hands and having openly and plainly Expounded your Letters and Command to me and shewn the Authority of it before him and his Great Men I admonished the King to the performance of Three Things 1. That he should restore and cause to be carried to the Places from whence it was taken the whole Money of the Tenths with such readiness and alacrity as might expiate the Crime of taking it away 2. That for the future he should forbear such Actions adjoining That tho the Apostolic Elementy retained him in the number of her Dearest Sons yet if he should be afterwards found in such Offences she neither could nor would with-hold from him the Rod of Correction Non posse eam nec velle virgam ei Correctionis subtrahere lest sparing the Man it should assent to those Divine Affronts or Injuries it had not Corrected Ne parcendo homini Divinis Injuriis quas non corrigeret assentiret 3. That he should not trouble or prosecute those that had the Money in keeping Quibus silenter Reverenter auditis c. To which he having patiently and reverently heard them and having deliberated with those about him he thus answered To the First That there was no necessity of the Pope's sending his Letters or the Arch-Bishop to him in this Case when as he had Two Months since commanded the Money to be restored To the Second That he intended no undue thing nihil indebitum intendebat against the Church for the future To the Third He said he wondred why it should be put upon him not to Molest the Guardians of the Money when it was always his firm purpose not to do injury to any Innocent Person When he sent this Account of his Proceeding to the Pope he also advertised him That it was affirmed by such Testimony as ought to be believed that the King had restored the Money but of that he could not write him the precise Truth unless from those that knew the Weight Number and Measure of it Nisi per illos qui ipsius noverunt Pondus Numerum Mensuram This Answer of the Arch-Bishop to the Pope is dated the 29th of November While the King 3 Mat. West f. 411. n. 50 A. D. 1284. King Ed. II. Born remained in Wales for the Establishing and Settling his own and the Nation 's Affairs there his Son Edward who succeeded him was born at Caernarvon on St. Mark 's Day where he continued until toward the latter end of April the year following and then having finished his Work 4 Ib. f. 412. n. 30. A. D. 1285. he came into England and was received at London in great Triumph the last day of that Month. Matthew of Westminster Reports That the King of 5 Ibm. n. 40 50. France Philip IV. called the Fair not long after his Father's Death sent his Ambassadors to King Edward to come over into France and employ his Mediation for a Peace between himself and the Kings of Arragon and Spain He complied with his desire and on the 24th of June passed the Sea and was attended with many Bishops A. D. 1286. Earls and Barons and was received Honourably by the King and Nobles of France and Conducted to St. Germans where he staid some time and demanded the Lands which his Grandfather King John had lost and obtained Ten thousand Pounds Sterling of the King of France to be yearly paid at the Tower of London together with some Arrears for Normandy which was his Inheritance Mezeray's Story is otherwise he 6 F. 322. A. D. 1286. says ever since the Death of Philip III. Edward King of England had omitted no Endeavour to confirm the Treaties with his Successor In the year 1286 landing in France about Pontieu he was received at Amiens by several Lords sent from the King to meet him from thence he came to Paris where he was Magnificently Treated and was present at the Parlement which was held after Easter and went from thence to Bourdeaux The apparent Cause of his Voyage was the Desire he had to compose the Business of the King of Arragon with the King of France because Alphonso the Eldest Son and Successor of Peter had Married or Espoused his Daughter Elianor He forgot not likewise then to press earnestly he might have some Consideration for Normandy and those other Countreys which both his Father and himself had Renounced but could obtain nothing in either of these Points Being at Burdeaux he solemnly Received the Ambassadors of the Kings of Aragon Castile and Sicily all Enemies to France which gave no little Jealousie to King Philip Thus the French Historian And there is nothing to be found of his Mediation or what Effect it had He staid in France above Three years without doubt to Transact his own Affairs And at his 7 Mat West f. 414. n. 10. A. D. 1289. King Edward punished his Justices for Bribery Return Aug. the 4th he made a Progress through England and punished his Justices that had taken Bribes in his absence perverted Judgment and committed Errors according to the quantity of their Faults Alexander III. King of Scotland died 8 Buchan rer Scot. lib. 7. f. 85. a. n. 10. Printed at Edinburgh A. D. 1582. Alexander K. of Scots dies by a fall off his Horse on the 19th of March 1285 and before himself all his Children died his Daughter Margaret was Married to Eric King of Norwey who by him left one only Daughter named Margaret called the Maid of Norwey Heiress to the Crown of Scotland Alexander thus dead without Issue except this Grandchild and she then in Norwey with her Father there was a Convention of the States of the Kingdom at Scone in which they Treated of creating a new King and settling the State of the Kingdom 9 Ib. lib. 8. in mitio f. 86. a. n. 10. in quo conventu de novo Rege creando Statu Regni componendo ageretur which King 's creation as the Author expresseth it was only providing a Husband for the Maid of Norwey as appears by the following Story where were chosen Six Guardians Six Guardians or Governors of the Kingdom chosen Margaret the Maid of Norwey his Grandchild and Heir or Governors of the Kingdom to Rule it in the Name of Margaret the Maid of Norwey as will presently appear To whom King Edward knowing the Grandchild of his Sister King Alexander's Queen the only Child of the King of Norwey and sole Survivor of Alexander's Posterity to be the Lawful Heir of the Kingdom of Scotland sent Messengers thither to require her for a Wife for his Son 1 Ibm. n. 20. A Match propounded between her and Edw. II. Edwardus Anglorum Rex gnarus suae sororis neptem Regis Norwegiae filiam unam ex Alexandri posteris esse superstitent eandemque Regni Scotorum legitimam haeredem legatos ad eam deposcendam filio suo uxorem in Scotiam Misit To
proceed in this Match the Popes 2 Pat. 17. Ed. I. M. 3. Cedula intus de facto Norwegiae Dispensation was procured they being Cousin Germans to legitimate the Marriage This obtained King Edward writes to Eric King of Norwey 3 Ib. M. 4. Cedula about this Affair assuring him That the Guardians the Great Men Prelates and the whole Community of the Kingdom of Scotland had unanimously consented to it And the King of Norwey 4 Ib. M. 3. 4. A Treaty about that Match wrote to King Edward and sent Commissioners there named to Transact with him That by his Advice and Assistance his Niece might be obeyed as Queen and Heir of Scotland and that she might Govern as Kings do in other Kingdoms Vt ipse apponeret auxilium consilium qualiter praedictae Reginae nepti suae obediretur ut Domina Regina haeres Regni Scotiae quod ipsa inde Ordinare possit pariter Gaudere prout aliis faciunt Reges Regnis 5 Ibm. King Edward wrote also to the Guardians of Scotland to send Commissioners to Treat with those of Norwey about the Emendation Peace and Quiet of that Kingdom and ordering the State of the Queen reformatione Status Reginae who sent them accordingly with whom he joined Commissioners of his own All these Commissioners named in this Instrument met at Salisbury on the 26th of October where and when it was agreed First That the Queen and Heir 6 Ibm. The Articles of that Treaty Regina Haeres should come into England or Scotland before the Feast of All-Saints next coming if she had no reasonable Excuse free from any Contract of Marriage or Espousals for which the Commissioners of Norwey did undertake Secondly That if she came so into England King Edward promised That when Scotland was so secured in Peace and Quiet as she might safely go thither and stay there if the Scots required he would send her thither free from all Contracts of Marriage and Espousals so as the Scots before they should receive her gave good Security to him and the King of Norwey they would not Marry her without their Consents Thirdly The Scots Commissioners likewise promised for themselves and the Nation they would secure it before she came thither 7 Ibm. Quod inibi ut in suum Regnum venire poterit pro suae voluntatis libito Commorari prout ipsius Terrae vera Domina Regina Heares Quodque de premissis omnes securitates praestabunt quae rationabiles fuerint quas dicti Duntii Norwegiae ipsos facere posse dicunt That she might come and remain there at her pleasure as true Lady Queen and Heir and that concerning the Premisses they would give all Rational Security that the Commissioners of Norwey should say they might give Fourthly If any of the Guardians or Officers of Scotland were suspected they should be Removed 8 Ibm. and new ones put in their Places by the Commissioners of Norwey and Scotland and such as the King of England should appoint for that purpose and if the Scots and Norwegians could not agree in this Matter then the English Commissioners were to determine what was to be done and not only in this but in all Matters whatsoever that should happen in settling the State and Reformation of Scotland For the performance of all this it was 9 Ibm. agreed there should be a great Meeting of the English and Scots at and near Rokesburgh at Midlent next following where the Scots were to give Security for the Performance of these things and for the Emendation of Scotland before such as the King of England sent thither 1 Ibm. To this Agreement in Three Parts Two in French for the English and Scots and a Third in Latin for the Commissioners of Norwey The Respective Commissioners set to their Seals and it was Dated at Salisbury on Sunday the Feast of St. Leonard i. e. November 6. 1289. By his Letters 2 Append. n. 9. King Edward writes to the Nobility of Scotland to assist the Guardians dated the same day at Clarendon directed to the Prelates Great Men and the whole Community of Scotland King Edward Requires them to obey and be assisting to the Guardians who were appointed in the Name of his Kinswoman Queen Margaret to Govern that Kingdom This securing Scotland to the Right Heir and making it in so quiet a Condition as it might receive her with safety and providing her an Husband was the ordering of the State of the The meaning of Buchanan's King-Creation Kingdom and King-Creation as Buchanan artificially insinuates in his Republican Expressions For further facilitating of this intended Marriage and that it might proceed with the Assent and Approbation of the Guardians Bishops Abbats Earls Barons and whole Community of Scotland King Edward 3 Pat. 18 Ed. I. M. 8 9. A. D. 1290. confirmed to them certain Articles agreed on by special Commissioners on both Parts The English Commissioners on behalf of the King and his Heirs Granted First That they should Have Vse and Enjoy their Laws Liberties Concessions of King Edward for promoting the Match between his Son and the Heiress of Scotland and Customs they had before Enjoyed Secondly That if Edward and Margaret should die without Heirs the Crown should Revert to the next Heir of the Kingdom Thirdly That the Kingdom of Scotland might remain separated divided and free in it self from the Kingdom of England without subjection by its true Bounds and Limits as it had been before time This was Granted with a saving of the King 's Right before this Treaty Fourthly That the Chapters of Cathedral Collegiate or Conventual Churches might not be compelled to go out of the Kingdom to ask Leave to Elect or Present their Elects or to do Fealty to the King of Scotland nor any Tenents in Capite or other Persons forced out of the Kingdom to do their Homage Fealty and Services or prosecute any Suits or other things which were used to be done there but that they might be done in their usual Places before the Chancellor of Scotland or Vice-Roy Fifthly That the Parlements for what concerned Scotland might be holden within that Kingdom The King was to 4 Ibm. Swear to the Observation of these Things And the Commmissioners promised further That he should oblige himself and Heirs to make Restitution of the Kingdom in the Case aforesaid in 100000 l. Sterl to be paid to the Church of Rome in Aid of the Holy Land and That he should Consent the Pope might constrain him and his Heirs by Excommunicating them and interdicting the Kingdom as well to the Restitution as Payment of the Money if he did not It was lastly 5 Ibm. Agreed and Promised by the English Commissioners That King Edward at his own Charges should procure the Pope to confirm these Articles within a year after the Marriage of Edward and Margaret and that
our own Good Will without all manner of Force do Grant to Receive right from him as Sovereign Lord of the Land and we Will also and Promise That we will have and hold firm and stable his Act and he shall Enjoy the Realm to whom it shall be adjudged before him In Witness whereof we have set our Seals to this Writing Made and Granted at Norham the Tuesday after the Ascension in the Year of Grace 1291. This done 8 Rot. de Superioritate Regis Angliae in Regno Scotiae ut Supra The Rights of the Pretenders to the Crown of Scotland how to be tryed The King and his Council treated with the Prelates Noblemen and Competitors for the Crown of Scotland how this Business might be best proceeded in and also the Reformation of the State of the Nation It was agreed by the Vnanimous Consent of the Noblemen and Prelates of both Nations Nemine Contradicente That John Baliol and John Comyn should chuse Forty Persons and Robert de Brus should chuse other Forty fit Persons whose Names should be delivered to the King three Days after viz. on the Fifth of June to whom he was to add Twenty Four or more or less who should Hear and Discuss the Rights of all the Pretenders to make a Faithful Report thereof to him That he might give the Definitive Sentence All this was done on the Second and Third of June but because by the Letters-Patents of Recognition or Instrument above he had not sufficient Power to put in Execution his Sentence to whomsoever the Kingdom should be adjudged unless he were in actual Possession thereof 9 Ibm. The Competitors came before him on the 4th of June and very many of the Bishops Earls Barons Knights and Noblemen of both the Kingdoms when he had Possession given him of the Kingdom and Castles of Scotland by the Competitors with the Consent of the Community of the same Kingdom Nemine Contradicente according to the following Instrument or Writing To all those who shall see or hear this present Letter 1 Ibm. The King had the Possession of Scotland given him in order to the Declaring who had most Right and putting him in Possession We Florence Earl of Holland c. as before Greeting in GOD Whereas we have Given and Granted with one assent of our own Good Will without Force to the Noble Lord Edward King of England That he as Sovereign Lord of the Land of Scotland should Judge Try and Determine the Claims and Demands we intend to propound and aver for our Right in the Kingdom of Scotland and to Receive Right before him as Sovereign Lord of the Land promising to have and hold his Act firm and stable and that he should Enjoy the Kingdom to whom he should give it But for that the said King of England cannot make any manner of Cognisance or accomplish his Judgment nor put his Judgment in Execution nor the Execution take Effect without the Possesssion or Seisin of the same Land or the Castles thereof we Will Grant and Assent That he as Sovereign Lord to perform the Things aforesaid shall have Seisin of all the Land and Castles in Scotland until Right be done to the Demandants upon Condition That before he be put in Possession he shall give sufficient Security to the Demandants to the Guardians and Community of the Kingdom of Scotland to Restore it and the Castles with all the Royalty Dignity Seignories Franchises Customs Rights Laws Vsages and Possessions and all manner of Appurtenances in the same State and Condition they were when he received them saving to the King of England the Homage of Him that shall be King So as they may be Restored within two Months after the Day the Right shall be Determined and Affirmed and that the Profits of the Nation which shall be Received in the mean time may be kept in the Hands of the Chamberlain of Scotland that now is and one to be joined with him by the King of England so as the Charge of the Government Castles and Officers of the Realm might be deducted In Witness whereof we have set our Seals to this Writing Made and Granted at Norham on Wednesday after Ascension in the Year of Grace 1291. On the Fifth of June 2 Ibm. The Names of the Examiners of the Titles of the Competitors delivered to the King the Names of the Eighty elected to Examine Hear and Report the Rights of the Competitors were delivered to the King on the Sixth they were ordered to appoint the Place and Day for their Examination and Hearing the Petitions of the Demandants Petitiones Petentium and Discussing their Right 3 Ibm. Berwick the Place of Meeting for that Purpose Berwick upon Tweed was appointed for the Place which the King accepted but not agreeing on the Time the King as Superior and Direct Lord of the Kingdom by the Unanimous Consent of the Prelates and Noblemen of both Kingdoms there present appointed the Second of August a Peremptory Day for the Competitors to propound their Titles On the 11th of June 4 Ibm. The Guardians of Scotland deliver their Guardianships to the King c. the Bishops of St. Andrews and Glasco John Comyn Lord of Badenaugh and James Seneschal or Stewart of Scotland the then Guardians of the Kingdom and all the Castellans or Constables of Castles delivered up their Guardianships and Bayliwicks to the King as Superior Lord Suas Custodias Bâ—llivas Domino Regi c. reddiderunt and when he had received them he committed the Guardianship of the Kingdom to the He makes the same Persons Guardians same Persons to Govern it under him and in his Name 5 Ibm. and presently the Bishops and Noblemen of Scotland by the King's Command chose Alan Bishop of Cathnes their Chancellor and presented him to the King who allowed him and adjoined Walter of Agmundesham his Clerk to him as an Associate and on the next day they were both Sworn These things done 6 Ibm. Fealty Sworn by the Guardians and Pretenders to the Crown the Guardians and Pretenders to the Crown and all and singular the Bishops and other Ecclesiastick Prelates Earls Barons Great Men and the Communities of Cities and Burghs there present that were bound to do and Swear Fealty to the King had notice to do it on the Morrow to the King of England as Superior and Direct Lord of Scotland in the same place where they were then assembled in the Green Plain beyond the River Twede in the Bounds of Scotland 7 Ibm. which was done and Sworn accordingly and then the King caused his Peace to be proclaimed publickly From this 13th of June to the 3d or 4th of August all the Bishops Earls Barons Noblemen And whole Kingdom of Scotland Free-Tenents or Tenents in Military Service Communities and all others that were bound to do and Swear Fealty to the King of Scotland Qui fidelitatem Domino Regi Scotiae
to the Precept he had recovered Seisin by the Jugment of the Guardians When John King of Scotland disseised him again of the same Lands and Tenements and that he might not further prosecute his Right imprison'd him and caused an unjust Judgment to be given against him in Contempt of the King of England and Superior Lord of Scotland and to his own great Damage The King of Scots 5 Ibm. f. 158. The King of Scots appears appeared before the King and his Council in his Parliament after Michaelmas and denied all Contempt of the Lord his King and said he had not Day to Answer the said Magdulph who Replied He had that very Day appointed him to Answer by the King 's 6 Ibm. fol. 154 155. the Writ it self The Particulars of the Pleadings on both sides Writ delivered to him by the Sheriff of Northumberland at Strivelin on the morrow after St. Peter in Bonds that is the 2d of August which sufficiently appeared by the Return of the Sheriff and the King of Scots being asked whether he had the Writ delivered to him by the Sheriff confessed it and was then urged to answer 7 Ibm. f 158. when He said he was King of Scotland and that he dare not Answer to Magdulph ' s Complaint or any thing that concerned his Kingdom without the Advice of his Subjects sine Consilio * These Probi homines could not be the Common or Ordinary People proborum hominum Regni sui and Magdulph demanded Judgment against him as saying nothing 8 Ibm. f. 159. Then he was told by the King he was his Liege-Man and did unto him Homage and Fealty for the Kingdom of Scotland and was ordered to come thither to answer or say why he would not or ought not to answer before him and he said as before The K. of Scots dare not Answer without advice of his People That he Could not nor Dare answer to any thing that concerned his Kingdom without consulting his People inconsultis probis hominibus Regni sui Vpon this he was told he might require another Day he answered He would require none It was then agreed That the Principal Plea belonged to the King and that he made no Defence against Magdulph 9 Ibm. and because he would not require Day or shew Cause why he ought not to Answer in Elusion of the King's Jurisdiction and Superiority it was Judged a Contempt and Disobedience to him and that Three of his Principal Castles of Scotland should be Seized into his Hands and so remain till he had given Satisfaction for his Contempt and Disobedience But before the Pronounciation of the Sentence he came before the King and his Council and made Supplication to the King with his own Mouth ore suo proprio and Delivered it unto him with his own hand in Writing in 1 Ibm. f. 159 160. He Petitions K. Edward for leave to advise with them and for longer time French to this purpose Sire jeo suy vostre home du Royalme de Escoce c. Sir I am your Man of the Realm of Scotland and pray you for what I am come hither for which concerns the People of my Kingdom as well as my self That you would forbear me while I speak with them that I may not be surprized for want of Advice for that those that are with me will not nor ought to advise me without others of the Realm and when I have advice from them I will answer at your first Parlement after Easter and will behave my self towards you as I ought to do The King advising hereupon at the Instance of the Great Men of his Council and with the Consent of Magdulph granted his Prayer and gave King Edward grants his Request him Day until his Parlement after Easter on the Morrow of the Holy Trinity This is what is to be found in Ryley's Parliament Pleas about this Case and now we return to the Record again Which 2 Rot. de Superioritate Regis Angliae c. ut supra The K. at War with France and Wales Parlement at St. Edmunds-Bury A. D. 1295. 23 Ed. 1. tells us That on that Day the Parlement ceased or was not holden Parliamentum cessavit sive non tenebatur for that the King was Engaged in War lately raised against him in divers Countreys as with the King of France in Gascony and with the Welsh in Wales Yet the suit between the King of Scots and Magdulph which had begun before the Justices of the King's-Bench in Parlement was Continued and Prorogued Loquela c. Continuata fuit Prorogata To the Parlement next to be holden which was afterwards Summoned to be at St. Edmunds-Bury on the Feast of St. Martin in Winter that is November 11. which was in the 23d Year of King Edward and in the Year from the * The Publick Notary that Drew up this Record always begins the Year at Christmas Nativity of the Lord 1295. The King of England 3 Ibm. Magdulph prosecutes his Plea in that Parlement The King of Scots appears not but sends his Excuse was at St. Edmunds-Bury that day and there held his Parlement where Magdulph strenuously prosecuted his Plea But the King of Scots instead of appearing in Person sent the Abbot of Abirbrothok with other Noblemen of that Kingdom to King Edward with Letters to Excuse him that neither then or before he appeared in his Court in the Parliaments by passed at the Day given or appointed him Quod nec tunc nec prius juxta quod Diem habuerat ad Curiam suam in praeteritis Parliamentis accesserat Excusavit pretending certain Causes of Excuse that he could not come in his own Person This Abbot 4 Ibm. The Abbot and others that came to Excuse the K of Scots Demand Satisfaction for Injuries done them The Answer to their Demands and those that came with him brought not only an Excuse but a Quarrel and Demanded of King Edward Satisfaction for many and great Injuries Oppressions and Grievances sustained by the Scots from his Subjects To whom after deliberation this Answer was given That the King of England for certain Causes was coming toward the North parts and that the King of Scots should then have sufficient Recompence to his own Content for all Injuries could be proved done to the Scots by his Subjects of England and then appointed him a Day in the same Parlement by the Continuation and Prorogation of the Justices representing his Person against Magdulph the First Day of March next following The King of Scots summoned to appear at a Parlement at Newcastle at Newcastle upon Tyne Then expecting his being there enjoyn the Abbot and those with him to give Notice to their King he should then Personally appear to Treat with the King of England about the Premisses and other Things touching the State and Tranquility of both Kingdoms and their Inhabitants While the King was
than Eternal Majesty they acquiesce in such Abuses without Authority from the Apostolic See We therefore desiring to obviate such Acts with Advice of our Brethren by Apostolic Authority do Ordain That those Prelates Ecclesiastics Religious or Secular of what State Order or Condition soever they be who shall Pay or grant to Pay any Taxes or Impositions an Half a Tenth Twentieth an Hundredth or any other Part or Portion whatever of the Revenues of their Churches or Goods to Lay-men under the Name of an Aid Assistance Lending or Gift or under any other Pretence or Colour whatsoever without the Authority of the same See Also those Emperors Kings Princes Dukes Earls Barons Great Men Captains Officers and Governors by what Names soever they are known or any other of what State or Condition soever that shall Impose Exact or Receive such things or shall Arrest Seize or presume to take the Goods of Ecclesiastics deposited and secured in Churches or that shall Command them to be Arrested Seized or Taken likewise all who Knowingly shall give any Advice Assistance or Favour in these Matters for that very Thing and in that Moment shall incur the Sentence of Excommunication The Communities or Vniversities or Bodies-Politick that shall be Guilty of these things we put under Ecclesiastic Interdict strictly commanding the Prelates and Church-men by Virtue of their Obedience and under pain of being Deposed that they acquiesce not in these things without Express Licence of the said See And that under Pretence of any manner of Obligation Promise or Concession now made before this Constitution Prohibition or Precept shall come to their Knowledge or afterwards they shall not Pay or the foresaid Seculars Receive any thing any manner of way And if they do Pay or the others Receive that very Moment in doing it they shall fall under the Sentence of Excommunication nor shall they be absolved from Excommunication or Interdict without special Licence and Authority from the Apostolic See unless at point of Death For we intend not by Dissimulation to pass by such an horrid Abuse of the Secular Powers Notwithstanding any Privileges under any Tenor Form or Conception of Words whatever Granted to Emperors Kings and others abovesaid which we will not shall any way help him or them against the Premisses Therefore no Man may lawfully Dare to do any thing contrary to this Constitution Prohibition or Precept Dated at St. Peter's in Rome the 6th of the Kalends of March in the Second Year of our Pontificate That is February 24th 1296 in the 24th of Ed. 1. Notwithstanding the Clergy denied the King an Aid according to this Papal Prohibition yet he proceeded in his War and made 6 Confederatio inter Regem Comitem Flandriae pat 25 Ed 1. Part. 1 M. 18. The Confederacy between K. Ed. and the E. of Flanders a Confederacy with the Earl of Flanders against the King of France Complaining That he being a Peer of France and in Homage to the High and Puissant King Philip he oppressed and used him according to his own Will contrary to Reason Justice and his own Desert and therefore because he was so Strong and Powerful not acknowledging any Superior by Advice of his Prelates Earls and Barons he made Alliances and Covenants with his Friends to endure from that time forward for Ever a touz jours perpetuelement and particularly with the Earl of Flanders First That if the King of France or his Heirs should make War The Articles upon him or his Heirs then the King of England should Aid and Assist him against the King of France and all his Assistants by his Allies beyond Sea and by his own Subjects Faithfully and according to his Power Secondly That the Earl of Flanders and his Heirs Earls of Flanders and their Allies should Aid the King of England his Heirs and Allies in the same manner and that within two Months after notice from the King of England in this present War he was to make upon the King of France Thirdly That neither the King of England nor his Heirs nor the Earl of Flanders and his Heirs should make Peace Truce or Sufferance i. e. Cessation of Arms with the King of France and his Heirs without the Assent Grant and Consent of each other Fourthly That the Earl of Flanders might better and more surely sustain and undergo so great an Affair and so great a War as he had Covenanted to do against the King of France his Allies and Assistants Et pur ceo que cuens de Flandres peust mieuz plus surement sustenir endurer si grant bensoign si grant fais de Guerre come il convendra contre le Roy de France é ses Alliez é ses Aidantz King Edward granted for him and his Heirs to the Earl of Flanders and his Heirs every Year during the War Sixty Thousand * Four of these Livres made a Pound Sterling so that this was the value of 15000 l. Sterling Livres of Black Turnois or other Current Money at Two Payments within the Earldom of Flanders Chescun an Durant le susdit Guerre seissante Mile Livres de Turnois Noirs c. at every Payment Thirty thousand Livres the First to begin at Christmas 1297. an Noel qui serra l'an de Nostre Seigneur Mil deux centz quatre vintz é Diseseptz and the Second at the Nativity of St. John Baptist following These Payments were to endure so long as the War should endure Fifthly That these Alliances made between them might no ways be defeated neither by the Command of or Purchase from the Pope or any other nor for any thing that might be any ways Obtained or Granted without their joint Consent Ne par Commandement ne par purchaz D'Apostoille ne d'autri ne pur choise qui sait impetree ne ottrogee c. and if any thing was obtain'd it was agreed on both Parts to Reject and not use it For the Faithful Performance of this Agreement King Edward solemnly Sware to the Earl of Flanders by his Proxies Monsieur Hugh le Despenser and Monsieur Walter Beauchamp Steward of his Houshold And by that Oath he further Agreed and Covenanted with the Earl of Flanders That his Son Edward when he was of Age should Grant Agree to and Confirm this Form of Alliance and Confederacy Which was Dated at Ipswich and Sealed with his Seal on the Morrow of Epiphany or the 7th of January 1296. in the 25th of his Reign Et pur ce totes ces choses soinet plus seurez tenuz Gardez mieux plus fermement nous en noun de sovenance de Tesmoignage avous cestes presentes Letters fait seale◠de nostre Seal Les queles jurent faites Donees a Gippewiz lendemain de la Epephany l'an de Grace Mil deux centz quatre vintz sesse de nostre Regne vintisme quint. The Record is long and Tautological but this is the very Substance of it
speciali as the Record hath it After the Transaction and Settling of these Two great Affairs those whom the King employed had time from the Chronicles sent to this Parlement from the Monasteries to make a * See Mat. Westm f. 439. n. 20 30 c. Wals f. 81 c. Rot. Claus 29. Ed. I. M. 10. Dors Printed in Ryley's Placita Parliamentaria Append f. 596. The King's Title to Scotland sent to the Pope with a Narrative of the Perfidiousness of the Scots Deduction of his Right and Title to Scotland which was Historical and almost the same but more full and particular than that which was delivered to the Scots when he claimed the Superiority and direct Dominion over Scotland in the 19th of his Reign This was sent in a Letter from the King to the Pope with a Narrative of the whole Nation of Scotland having done Homage and sworn Fealty to him and owned and acknowledged him to be their King and Supreme Lord several times and what they had done against their Oaths invading burning spoiling and wasting England when they thought fit and also cautioning the Pope against the false Insinuations and Suggestions of the Scots concluding with a Petetion That he would have a Paternal Care and Affection to his Royal Rights Dated at Kemsey or Kynardesey the 7th of May A. D. 1301. if the Year began at Christmas if on Lady-day or 25th of March then 1302. in the 29th of his Reign The King at the Request of the King of France had granted the Scots a Truce which was to end at Whitsunday next coming as says the 5 Claus 29. Ed. I. Dors M. Dugd. Summons to Parl. f. 35. Writ by which he Summoned the Earls Barons and Knights such as he pleased to meet him at Berwic in the Feast of St. John Baptist with their Horse and Arms and to go with him against the Scots His Rebels and notorious Traytors to Repress their Rebellion and Pride so the Record Contra Scotos Rebelles nostros notorie proditores ad ipsorum Rebellionem Proterviam reprimendam This Summons was dated at Lincoln Feb. 14. in the 29th of Ed. 1. on the same Day he confirmed the Perambulations This Year the King made his Eldest Son Edward 6 Wals f. 79. n. 10. Matth. West f. 433. n. 50. Prince of Wales Earl of Chester Prince of Wales and Earl of Chester with which the Welshmen were well pleased as being born at Caernarvon in their own Country In Scotland he makes his 7 Pat. 29. Edw. I. M. 2. intus Claus 29. Ed. I. M. 3. Dors Procurators or Proxies to the Pope Walter Bishop of Litchfield and Coventry Amadeus Earl of Savoy Otto de Grandison Kt. and Gerrard Arch-Deacon of Lichfield to desire him speedily to put an end to all Differences between him and the French King and to complete the long-deferred Treaty of K. Edw. sends Procurators to the Pope to complete the Treaty of Peace between him the K. of From. Peace according to the Form of his Pronunciation or Decree made by virtue of the Compromise unto him but the Pope was not at leisure The Commissions or Procuratory Letters are dated at Glasco Aug. 24. in the 29th of his Reign The King staid all Winter in Scotland 8 Wals £85 n. 50. A. D. â—301 30. Ed. I. where many of his Military Men lost their Horses for want of Forage After Christmas he again at the Instance of the King of France 9 Ib. â— 86. â—in 3. He grants the Scots a Truce Granted the Scots a Truce until the Feast of All-Saints next coming and toward the Spring having settled things in Scotland returned into England All the Arguments the King used by Letters and Messages to the Earl of Savoy and Otto de Grandison 1 Claus 30. Ed. I. M. 15. Dors Two of the King's Procurators to the Pope refuse the Employment who were best acquainted with the State of his Affairs and Differences between him and the King of France could not persuade them to undertake this Embassie or Procuration to the Pope and therefore he 2 Ibm. The other two proceed committed the whole Affair to the Bishop and Arch-Deacon to hear for him and in his Name the Pope's Pronunciation Will and Pleasure in those things that then were not declared and determined between them by virtue of the Compromise made by both into his Person 3 Ibm. Ad audiendum pro nobis nostro nomine Pronunciationem vestram Voluntatem Beneplacitum super his quae inter Regem Franciae nos per vos i. e. the Pope virtute Compromissi c. restant pronunciandae facienda This Letter and new Commission was directed to the Pope to give him notice of the Refusal of the First two the Earl 30. Ed. I. and Knight and dated at Darlington in the Bishoprick of Duresm March 5. in the 30th of Edw. I. In April following Roger le Bigod Earl of Norfolk and Marshal of England granted and quiet claimed for his Heirs 4 Rot. Claus 30. Ed. I. M. 14. Dors The Earl-Marshal grants his Lands c. to the King and his Heirs to the King and his Heirs for ever All his Castles Towns Mannors Lands and Tenements in England and Wales except the Mannors of Sterington Wylton Thornton and Leversham with the Advousons of the Churches and all other their Appurtenances in the County of York and the Mannors of Acle and Castre with their Appurtenances and the Advouson of the Church of Geldeston in the County of Norfolk with the Knights Fees Advousons of Religious Houses and Churches Hundreds Honours Liberties and all their Appurtenances by what Name soever they should be called so as neither he nor his Heirs nor any one in his Name should have any Right or Claim in them Which Grant was Dated at the Abby of St. John's in Colchester the 12th of April in the 30th of Ed. I. He also made a Grant 5 Ibm. Also his Goods to the King of all his Goods and Chattels upon and in those Castles Mannors Towns c. except upon the Mannors and Lands before excepted Dated at the same Time and Place And made Letters of Attorney of the same Date to several Persons in every 6 Ibm. County where he had Lands to give Livery and Seisin accordingly Further at the same Place and on the same Day he restored remitted and quiet claimed for him and his Heirs to the King and his Heirs for ever all the 7 Ibm. He Releases and gives up his Earldom and Marshalship Right Honour and Dominion he had by the Name of Earl in the County of Norfolk and the Marshalcie of England with every thing thereunto belonging Lastly he restored remitted and quiet claimed the 8 Ibm. Castles of Bristol and Nottingham which he was to have held for Life by the Grant of the King so as he nor any one in his Name
That if he or they should ever be in War against him or How and in what manner he bound himself to be true and faithful to him and his Heirs them or Ayding or Advising any of their Enemies secretly or openly that then their Bodies Lands Tenements and all they had or could have should from that time be forfeited to the King and his Heirs in such manner as neither he nor his Heirs might claim them at any time And further he Granted for him and Heirs That if at any time it should happen they should be against the King or his Heirs as aforesaid That the Arch-Bishops Bishops or any other Prelates of England or Scotland as many and such as the King or Heirs would without Cognisance of the Cause or any manner of Admonition Warning or Contradiction of any one might give the Sentence of Excommunication against him and his Heirs and put all his Lands under Interdict In Witness whereof he Sealed these Letters Patents A. A. 1306. 34 Ed. I. in the Priory of Canons at Lanercost 23d of October A. D. 1306. and of the King's Reign the 34th Done in the presence of five Barons two Knights and four Clerks with Two Publick Notaries allowed by the Pope to attest it On the 3d of 1 Claus 34 Ed. I. M. 2. Dors A Parlement for the setling of Scotland and Business concerning the State of the Kingdom November being then at the Priory of Lanercost in the County of Cumberland near Carlisle the King issued his Writs of Summons for a Parlement to meet at that City on the Octaves of St. Hillary or 20th of January This Parlement was called for the Settling and Establishment of Scotland and for other Business concerning the King and the State of the Kingdom as appears by the Writ What was done concerning Scotland I find not the Business of the Kingdom was besides the hearing many Petitions and dispatch of much private Business the great Oppression of Churches and Monasteries 2 Stat. of Carl. Riley's Placita Parl. f. 312. Cok. 2. Institut f. 580. The chief Business of the Kingdom was to prevent the Tallage and Tribute imposed upon English Monasteries by Foreign Abbats The Oppression of Monasteries as was shewed by the grievous Complaints of the Great and Noblemen arose from the imposition of Tribute by their Superiors as then called from beyond the Seas as especially by the Abbats of the Orders of Cisteaux Clâ—ny Praemonstratum of St. Augustin and Benedict who under pretence of visiting them here in England as being the Heads of their Orders imposed upon them divers grievous and importable Tallages Rents and Tributes contrary to the Laws and Customs of the Kingdom by which means what had been Charitably given to Pious Vses and for the increase of Divine Worship was turned into a Wicked Tribute not pleasing to God in censâ—m Reprobum est conversum wherefore by the Advice of the Earls Barons Great Men Chief Men and other Noblemen and the Communities of his Kingdom in his Parlement at Westminster in the 33d year of his Reign Ordained in that Parlement That no English Abbats c. should pay Taxes or Tallages to Forreign Houses or Abbats he Ordained and Determined That no Abbat Prior Master or Guardian or any other Religious Person of what State Condition or Order soever he was under his Power and Dominion should pay any Rent Tallage Tribute or Impositions charged upon them by their Superiors the Abbats Priors Masters Wardens of Religious Houses or Places or agreed between themselves Nor that they should go beyond Sea to visit such Monasteries or under any pretence whatsoever so as the Goods or Revenue of their Monasteries might any way by Exchange or Merchandize be conveyed out of the Kingdom upon pain of grievous Punishment to such as should do contrary to this Statute in contempt of the King's Prohibition Further the King inhibited all and singular Foreign Abbats Priors The King's Inhibition to Foreign Abbats c. to Exact such Contributions Masters and Wardens of Religious Houses under whose Subjection and Obedience the Houses of the same Order were in his Dominions that they should not impose any Payments or Burthens upon them under forfeiture of all they had in his Dominions or could forfeit for the future Yet by these Statutes and Ordinances it was not the King's 3 Riley â—t supra f. 314. The King intended not by that Institution to extinguish the Visitation of those Monasteries c. intention to exclude the Abbats Priors and other Forreign Religiose from the Office of Visiting only in those things which belonged to Regular Observance and the Discipline of their Order provided that such Visitors took nothing from the Monasteries Priories or Houses they Visited or carried any thing out of the Kingdom but their moderate and reasonable Expences These Ordinances and Statutes 4 Ibm. tho they were made in the 33d of Edw. I. as abovesaid yet the Publication of them was suspended until this Parlement at Carlisle that they might proceed with more Mature Deliberation after which and a full Debate with the Earls Barons aliis Nobilibus Communitatibus The King Ordains and Determines in making a Law Regni sui and other Nobles and the Communities of his Kingdom by their Unanimous Consent Ordinavit Statuit he Ordained and Determined this Statute should take place from the First day of May next coming And sent it to all the Sheriffs in England to be published 5 Ibm. as a Law made for the common Benefit of the People and Melioration of the State of the whole Kingdom Ad Communem populi utilitatem totius Dominii nostri meliorationem Witness the King at Carlisle the 20th of March in the 35th of his Reign 35 Ed. I. The other great Business was the Consideration of the 6 Append. n. 39. Petitions of the Nobility against the Exactions of the Pope Petitions exhibited by the Earls Barons Great Men and Community of the whole Kingdom of England for the State of the Crown of the Lands of Scotland Wales and Ireland and the whole Community aforesaid concerning divers new intolerable Grievances Oppressions Injuries and Extortions done to and brought upon the Earls Barons Great Men and Community by the Authority and Command of the Pope and by Mr. William Testa his Clerk or And his Clerk William de Testa Nuncio or by his Commissaries Ministers or Vicegerents in his Name The Articles or Heads 7 of the Petitions were First The The Articles of the Petitions Extravagant Number of Provisions of the best Spiritual Preferments given to Italians other Forreigners and Non-Residents to the great prejudice and disinheritance of the Founders Benefactors and their Successors and to such as had the Right of Advowson and the Gifts of such Preferments Secondly The Rents and Revenues of Religious Houses which the Pope intended to apply to the use of divers Cardinals Thirdly
and Arms 15 days after the King had begun and holden his Parlement when they made the Award against the Two Spencers and concealed it from the King who knew nothing of it until the Hour they came with it to Westminster with Force and Arms so as the King could not hinder the passing of it which was to this effect To the Honour of God and Holy Church and of our Lord the King for the Profit of him and his Realm and to maintain Peace amongst his People and the Estate of the Crown the Prelates Earls Barons and other Peers of the Land and Communes of the Realm do shew against Sir Hugh le Despenser Father and Son That whereas Sir Hugh the Son at the Parlement at York 7 3 Weeks after Michaelmas Claus 12 Ed. II. M. 28. in cedula was Named and it was there Agreed he should be Chamberlain to the King in which Parlement it was Agreed That certain Prelates and other Great Men should be with the King by turns at several Seasons of the Year the better to advise him without whom no great Business ought to pass The said Sir Hugh the Son drawing to him his Father who was not by Order of Parlement to be near the King or to be one of those Counsellors between them both have usurped Royal Power over the King and his Ministers and the Government of the Kingdom to the Dishonour of the King the Injury of the Crown and Destruction of the Kingdom Great Men and People and have done the Wickednesses under-written in contriving to turn the Heart of the King from the Peers of the Land that they may have the sole Government thereof 1. That Sir Hugh the Son made a Bill or Writing whereby he would have had Sir John Gifford of Brimmesfield Sir Richard de Greye and others entred into a Confederacy to have forced the King to do what he would have him and had almost done it The Tenour of the Bill is under written 2. Homage and the Oath of Allegiance is more by reason of the Crown than of the Person of the King and bound him more to the Crown than the Person and this appeared for that before the Crown descends there is is no Allegiance due to the Person Expectant Wherefore in case the King carries not himself by Reason in Right of the Crown his Lieges are bound by Oath made to the Crown to remove the King and the State of the Crown by Reason and otherwise the Oath ought not to be kept Then it was demanded whether the King was to be dealt with by Suit of Law or by Rigour par Suit de Loy ou par Aspertee By Suit of Law it could not be for he had no Judge In which case if the King 's will be not according to Reason and that he maintains nothing but Errour therefore to save their Oath and when the King will not redress what is injurious to the People they must proceed with Rigour for he is bound by Oath to Govern his Lieges and his Lieges are bound to Govern in Aid of him and in Default of him 3. Also upon the Application of the Great Men and People unto him his Answer was according to the Pleasure of these Two in turning the King from his Duty against his Oath and the Hearts of the Great Men and People against their Liege Lord. 4. Also by their evil Contrivance they will not suffer the Great Men of the Realm nor Good Counsellers to speak with or come near the King to advise him nor the King to speak to them unless in their presence and hearing or of one of them and when they please they usurping Royal Power and Sovereignty over the Person of the King to the great Dishonour and Peril of him the Crown and the Kingdom 5. Also to attain to their Wickedness Covetousness and Disinheriting the Great Men and Destruction of the People they put out Good and Agreeable Ministers placed by Assent and put in others False and Wicked of their Party who will not suffer Right to be done as Sheriffs Escheators Constables of Castles and make Justices not understanding the Law as Sir Hugh the Father Sir Ralph Basset Sir Ralph Camois and Sir John Inge and others their Friends who caused to be indicted by false Jurors of their Alliance the Peers of the Land as the Earl of Hereford Monsieur Giffard of Brimmesfield and Monsieur Robert de Monshall and other good People to get their Lands 6. Also they falsly and maliciously advised the King to raise Arms against his People in Glocestershire contrary to the Great Charter and the Award of the Peers of the Land and by their false and evil Counsel would have made War in the Land for their own proper Quarrel to the Destruction of Holy Church and the People 7. Also whereas the Earl of Hereford and the Lord of Wigmore i. e. Mortimer by the King's Command were assigned to make War upon Lheuelin Bren who had levied War against him in Glamorganshire when the Earl of Glocester's Lands by reason of his Death were in the King's hand and Lhewelin had rendred himself into the Lords hands to the King's Grace and Pleasure and upon that Condition delivered him to the King who received him accordingly but when these Lords were out of the Country these Two the Father and Son usurping Royal Power took Lhewelin and carried him to Cardiff after that Sir Hugh the Younger was seized thereof as of his Share of the Earl of Glocester's Estate one of whose Daughters and Heirs he had married pretending to a Jurisdiction where none was in this case and there caused him to be Drawn Hanged Beheaded and Quartered feloniously for things done in the time of King Henry And also took upon them Royal Power and Jurisdiction which was appendant to the Crown in Disheritance of the Crown and Dishonour of the King the said Lords of Hereford and Mortimer and in ill Example and great Peril in the like case in time to come 8. Also they ill advised the King to take into his hands the Lands and Goods of Sir Hugh Audely the Son who was fore-judged without due Process contrary to the Law of the Land by the Covetousness of the said Hugh to get some of those Lands and by other false Compassments contrived to have the Lands of Sir Roger Dammory and for having him attainted for entring into Glocestershire in Disheritance of the Peers of the Land 9. Also that whereas the King had granted by his Letters Patents to the Earl of Warwick in full Parlement at Westminster That after his Death his Executors should have his Lands until his Heir was of Age which Grant after the Earl's Death was confirmed by the King at Lincoln at the Request and Assent of the Peers of the Land in Parlement the said Sir Hugh the Father procured his Son to cause the King to repeal this Grant without cause and to give to the said Hugh the Father
to the Prior and Convent against him which he desired might be read Which was done by order of the Prior and the Contents of them published in the English Tongue Against and makes his Defence which the Arch-Bishop in every Point defended his Innocence and then admonished the People to pray for the King Queen and their Children and to those that should do so devoutly and also pray for the State of Holy Church being penitent and sorry for their Sins he granted Forty Days Indulgence from Purgatory And the next Day being the Chair of St. Peter at Antioch or the 22d of that Month 9 Ibm. the Abbot of St. Augustines in Canterbury to whom and his Convent the like Letters had been sent published The Abbot of S. Augustines published them to the Disadvantage of the A. Bp. them to the People expounding them in Hatred to the Arch-Bishop in odium Archiepiscopi that so the People might have an ill Opinion of him The very same Complaints against this Arch-Bishop the King 1 Rot. Rom. 14 Ed. III. M. 4. The King sent to the Pope to remove him out of the Kingdom sent to the Pope tho' in somewhat smoother Language in some parts of the Epistle and requests he might be by him removed out of the Kingdom for preserving the Peace of it and preventing other Dangers that might be feared to ensue if he staid there Dat. apud Langele 14 die Martii The Arch-Bishop wrote an Answer to the King's Letter which bears this Title 2 Hist Sacr. vol. â— f. 27. The A. Bp.'s Answer to the King's Letter which he cal's a famous Libel Excusatio Archiepiscopi ad famosum Libellum The Excuse or Answer of the Arch-Bishop to the slanderous Libel addressing himself by way of Preface to the King telling him There were two things by which the World was Governed the Holy Pontifical Authority and the Royal Ordained Power of which the Charge of the Priests was the greatest and highest inasmuch as they were in the last Judgment to give an account of Kings Wherefore he ought to know that they depend upon the Judgment of Priests who might not be directed by their Wills for who could doubt but Christ's Priests were to be thought the Fathers and Masters of Kings Princes and all faithful People 3 Ibm. Reverendo Domino suo Edwardo Dei gratia c. Duo sunt quibus principaliter regitur iste Mundus Sacra Pontificalis Autoritas Regalis Ordinata Potestas in quibus est pondus tanto gravius sublimus Sacerdotum quanto de Regibus illi in divino reddituri sunt examine rationem Et ideo scire debet Regia celsitudo ex illorum vos dependere judicio non illos ad vestram posse dirigi voluntatem Quis enim dubitat Sacerdotes Christi Regum Principum omniumque fidelium Patres Magistros censeri And he proceeds to inform him that many Bishops had 4 Ibm. f. 28. Excommunicated Kings and Emperors and also to inform him what Good Kings were to do and how to behave themselves toward Bishops and what Reverence Honour and Respect was due to them And he complains that the Honour due to him in regard of his Dignity and as he was his Father was turned into Disgrace Devotion into Reviling and Reverence into Contempt sed proh dolor c. Honor nobis exhibendus conversus est in Opprobium Devotio in Blasphemiam Reverentia in Contemptum whilst his Epistles sealed with the Royal Seal but more truly slanderous Libels 5 Ibm. dum Epistolas vestras Regio sigillo Signatas quin verius Libellos famosos dictated and written by his Enemies containing many Crimes falsly imputed to him were sent to the Bishops of his Province Deans Abbots Priors their Convents and Chapters to be published to his and would to God not to the injury of him too in nostram utinam non in divinam injuriam By which unthought of that he might not say detestable Fact Royal Power presumed to Judge the Lord God in his Servants and Priests and he seemed to condemn him his Spiritual Father and greatest Peer of the Land against the Order of God Human Law and natural Reason not called not convicted by Record and unheard to the Danger of his Soul and as an ill Example to the manifest Prejudice of all the Peers of England At last making great Profession of his Affection to him and the great Services he had done him he comes to his Answer here following That 6 Ibm. f. 29. whereas he accused him That when the Kingdom of France was devolved to him by Right of Succession he importuned him to make a League with the Almain to recover his Rights and was only to find expert Soldiers and he would find Money which failing you were you say forced to contract great Debts upon Usury 7 Ibm. To this he said That in the beginning of his Government when he was Bishop of Winchester it was known by whose Counsel he was Governed That when the Kingdom had devolved to him by Hereditary Right and so judged in the Parlement at Northampton the two Bishops of * Adam Orlâ—ton Worcester Coventry and Litchfield were sent into France to Claim that Kingdom in your Name and to hinder the Coronation of Philip de Valois which Embassie was the greatest occasion of the War We at that time were not employed in any of your Affairs but were hated at Court for what cause God knows Afterwards when it pleased your Majesty to call me with others of your Privy Council to transact the Publick Affairs we considering the Danger of Mens Souls Bodies and Goods by a devouring War endeavoured with all our Power to make Peace between the Two Kingdoms but 8 Ibm. f. 30. after all Endeavours for Peace proved insuccessful and Philip had made War upon you then in a Parlement at Westminster called for that Purpose seeing the Obstinacy of Philip it was agreed you should League with the Germans or Almains and others As for the Payment of the Expences of this War there were Agreements made with certain Merchants in a Council at Stamford which are to be found in Chancery which if observed together with other Subsidies granted both by Clergy and Laity and the great Customs of Wooll not only in our own but in the Opinion of all the Council had been sufficient for the whole War if well managed 9 Ibm. And your Majesty knows well that these Agreements were not broken or changed by us nor did the Subsidies come to our hands because after your first Passage we staid not in this Kingdom but with the Reverend Fathers the Cardinals and Bishop of Durham went into France to treat of Peace often going backward and forward from and to your self then in Brabant and afterward when there was no hopes of Peace staid some time with you there and were made Partakers of your Necessities and with
Cressy where was placed an Army to oppose him which he routed killed 2000 and took a great number of Knights and Esquires the rest fled to Abbeville From hence King Edward marched leisurely toward 3 Ibm. Cressy in Ponthieu his Army burning and harassing the Country where the King of France joined Battel with him on Saturday the 26th of August 4 Walsingh f. 166. n. 30. The Victory was obtained by the English There were slain on the French side 5 Avesb. ut supra What Great Men were slain the King of Bohemia the Duke of Lorrain the Earls of Alanson Flanders Lewis of Blois the Earl of Harecourt Geoffry of Harecourt's Elder Brother and his Two Sons the Earls of Albemarl and Savoy the Archbishop of Nismes and Bishop of Sens six German Earls and many other Earls Barons and Lords The 6 Froiss l. 1. c. 130. English Army was ranged in Three Battles the Prince of Wales headed the first the Earl of Northampton the second and the King himself the third 7 Ibm. The King of France fled only with five Barons Sir John of Haynault who had left King Edward's Service Sir Charles of Montmorancy the Lord of Beaujew the Lord Daubery and the Lord Montfort to Bray Castle and so to Amiens On Sunday morning came several 8 Ib. c. 31. The number of the slain Reinforcements and great Bodies of Frenchmen to their King's Army as they thought not knowing what had been done who were all routed many taken and great numbers stain That day in the afternoon King Edward sent to have the dead viewed and numbred 9 Ib. c. 32. In that Battel by Two Barons and Three Heralds At their return to the King they gave him an account of Eleven great Princes Fourscore Banners 't is Froissard's Word Twelve hundred Knights and more than Thirty thousand Ordinary Men. From Cressy the King marched to 1 Avesb. f. 109. b. c. 55. A Parlement called Calais and laid Siege to it on the Third of September Upon his last passage into France 2 Rot. Parl. 20 E. III. n. 6. the King and Lords that accompanied him and also the Great Men of his Counsel that were in England agreed and ordered there should be a Parliament summon'd to meet at Westminster on the Munday next after the Nativity of the Virgin Mary 3 Ibm. The King sâ—nds to inform the Parlement of his success and progress in France To this Parliament the King sent from the Siege of Calais Bartholomew Burghersse John Darcy his Chamberlain Mr. John de Thoresby Keeper of his Privy Seal and John de Carleton to inform them of the State of his Affairs and to propound and declare some things to them in that Parliament that concerned the Honour of God and the Church the Defence and Quiet of the Kingdom of England and his War in France and also other things that were to be done These Letters of Credence or this Commission 4 was dated before Calais on the 4 Ibm. 7th of September and directed to the Arch-Bishops Bishops Abbots Priors Earls Barons and other his faithful Subjects in Parliament aliis fidelibus suis in Parliamento suo c. which when read Bartholomew Burgersse for himself and Companions pur lui pur ses compaignons in presence of the Guardian of England Leonell the King's Son the Prelates and other Great Men there named 5 Ib. n. 7. shewed the Graces God had given to the King to the Great Men and others with him after their landing at La Hogue monstra les graces que Dieu avoit donez a nostre Sir le Roi c. by a short Account of his Progress and Success in Normandy the Battle of Cressy and his besieging of Calais from whence he resolved not to depart until he had taken the Town and that then he would draw toward his Adversary pursue his Quarrel and not return into England until he had ended the War beyond Sea with the help of God 6 Ibm. And to desire an Aid For the accomplishment of which things the said Messengers a queu chose pour faire les ditz messages prierent c. prayed the Prelats Great Men and Commons that they would Treat and Advise about an Aid and Means to perfect that which had been so graciously begun for that by common assent in Parliament at the time when the King 7 Ibm. undertook this War they all promised that they would assist him with their Bodies and Goods to their power touz lui promistrent qils lui eideroient de corps d'avoir a lour poair At the same time they produced an Ordinance 8 Ibm. The Ordinance of Normandy produced in Parlement or Agreement made by the King's Adversary and some Great Men of France and Normandy to destroy the whole Nation of England and the English Language And to put this Design in Execution the Earl of Eu then Constable of France and the Chamberlain of Tankerville were to raise a great Army for that purpose but as it pleased God they were both taken at Caen and many of their Men there killed and taken so as the intended destruction of the English was defeated This Ordinance is 9 Ib. n. 8. enter'd upon the Parliament Roll and there in the Todding called L'Ordinance de Normandie The Ordinance of Normandy 'T is pretty long but the most Material things were That the King of France his Eldest Son John Duke What it was of Normandy as General with the Nobles and others of that Dukedom should pass into England with Four thousand Men at The design to invade and conquer England Arms Knights Esquires and Men of good Estate and Forty thousand Foot And if this Invasion could not be made that year then it was to be the next year and so in any other year at a convenient time during the War Or if this Invasion should not be made the Country of Normandy was to serve him with the same number of Men at Arms and Twenty thousand Foot in any other place where the King Duke or either of them should be in Person It was 1 Ibm. How England was to be divided in case of Conquest also agreed That if by God's assistance England were Conquered the Conquest should be made in the Name and Honour of the Duke and that all that the King of England enjoy'd should be his as King and Lord with all his Rights and Honours And what the Nobles Barons and other Seculars possessed was to be enjoy'd by the Church Barons Nobles and Noble Towns of Normandy que les Nobles les Barouns autres Seculars y on t serra demorra as Esglises as Barouns Nobles as Noble villes de Normandie That the Pope and Church of Rome should safely enjoy what they had without diminution and that whatever had been taken from the Scots by War or otherwise should be restored fully and entirely without delay
the Pope under his Great Seal and the Peers and Great Men of the Land under their Seals That he would cease from putting these Burthens upon the Nation and revoke what he had done And if any of the Peers or Great Men would not Seal such a Letter the Commons would not hold him a Well-wisher to the King's Profit or theirs And in case the Pope should not comply with what was desired they pray the King to encourage and maintain such as should and would endeavour to remove this Burthen and put such out of his Protection as would not They also pray him to Command all the Peers and Great Men of the Land to stay at this Parlement quietly until these things should be perfected and sealed as above Et la Comune pri a nostre Seigneur le Roy qil voille comander as touz les Piers Grantz de la Terre qils demoergent en pees a le Parlement tanque ceste choses soient perfaites enseales sicome desus est dit And for the great Damage that might happen in the mean time he would please to grant his Prohibitions to the Ministers and Proctors of the Great Bishops not to meddle in this matter until the Pope had wrote back his Pleasure The 8 Ibm. Ro. Answer to this was That the King understood the Mischief and would that the Great Men and Commons should order Remedy and Amendment and he would agree to it voet que entre les Grantz les Comunes soit ordeigner Remedie Amendment il sacorder And also the King would and agreed That Letters should be wrote to the Pope about this matter as well by himself as also by the Great Men and by the Commons And 9 Ibm. n. 10. then the Earls Barons and other Nobles and the whole Communalty of the Realm puis fu prier a nostre Seigneur le Roy en ce Parlement par Counts Barons autres Nobles tote la Comunalte du Roialme prayed the King That for to avoid and set aside the Damages Grievance and Oppression of the People and Holy Church of England de Seint Eglise d'Angleterre which were done there by the Reservations and Provisions of the Court of Rome par Provisions Reservations de la Court de Rome as well of Benefices as of First-Fruits and by Impositions of Tenths and other Burthens in Disheriting as well the King and his Crown as the said Earls Barons and other Nobles he would please to command to be considered certain Petitions of the Earls Barons and Commons of the Realm in the time of his Grandfather in his Parlement holden at Carlisle in the 35th Year of his Reign and also the Agreement and Judgment made upon them in that Parlement Their Prayer was granted and search was ordered to be made in the Rolls and Remembrances of the said Parlement where amongst other things it was found That upon the shewing of the Earls Barons and Commons their Petitions The Statute of Provisors made at Carlisle Ed. I. That Holy Church in this Nation had been founded in the State of Prelacy by his Grandfather and his Progenitors the Earls Barons and their Antecestors to inform the People in the Holy Faith and for Prayers Alms and Hospitality to be made done and kept in the Places where the Churches were founded for the Souls of the Founders and their Heirs and all Christians And that certain Possessions and Lands in Fee and Advowsons to a very great Value were assigned to the Arch-Bishops Bishops Abbots Priors and other Houses of Religion by your said Grandfather and his Progenitors Earls Barons and other Great Men of the Realm and their Ancestors and that they in the time of Vacancy of such Prelacies and Houses as Lords and Advowees or Patrons had and ought to have the Presentments and Collations of all manner of Benefices of the Advowry or Patronage of such Prelates to give them to Englishmen * Writ of the King's Council who had Great Place with his Grandfather and the Great Men abovesaid for their Knowledge and Advice when they had occasion to make use of them And that the Pope that then was had appropriated to himself the Gifts of such Possessions and Benefices by his Provisions and Reservations and gave and granted Dignities Prebendaries and Churches to such as never Resided in England and to Cardinals and others as well Strangers as Englishmen which could not Reside here as if he had been true Patron and Advowee of Right as he was not For which things if they should be suffered within a short time there would be no Benefice in the Gift of such Prelates but by such Provisions would be in the Hands of Strangers contrary to the Will and Intent of the Founders and so the Elections of Arch-Bishops and Bishops would fail Prayers Hospitalities and Alms which ought to be performed would cease and his Grandfather and other Lay Patrons in times of vacancy would lose their Presentments and Collations and the said Council would * For want of Bishops and able Dignified Persons of his own Nation of which then the King's Council mostly consisted perish and the Goods of the Nation in a great measure carried out of the Kingdom to the undoing of the State of the Holy Church of England de seinte Esglise Dengleterre and the Disinheriting of his Grandfather and his Crown des autres Nobles du dit Roialme and of other Nobles of the Realm and in Offence and Destruction of the Laws and Rights of the Kingdom to the greatest Damage and Oppression of the People and Subversion of the State of the whole Nation contrary to the Will and Ordinance of the first Founders By the Assent of the Earls Barons Nobles and Commonalty considering intirely the Errors and Damages aforesaid in the said Parlement of Carlisle it was Provided Ordained Decreed and Considered That the forenamed Grievances Oppressions and other Damages and Errors aforesaid from thenceforth should not be suffered to be done in any manner Whereupon the said Grandfather by his Writs forbad all such as it concerned to attempt or do any thing that might turn to the Blemishing of his Royal Dignity or in prejudice of the Nobles or his People and further he commanded all the Sheriffs by his Writs That if by Enquests taken any could be found doing to the contrary they should take their Bodies and bring them safely before him at a certain day to answer as well to him as others that would complain against them and to do further and receive what the Court should award in this Case Wherefore our Lord the King Edward the Third in this present Parlement at the Suit of the Commonalty making Suggestion by their Petition before him and his Council of many Errors Damages and Grievances that many times happened by such Provisions and Reservations as well of Benefices as First Fruits and other things whatsoever Of Impositions of Tenths
Ambush who commanded his Men not to hurt any of them and by a safe Conduct from Sir Hugh Caverley delivered them all to The Britans offer to yield their Towns and Castles to the English him without Ransom and informed him That if he would land it would much please the Lords and Inhabitants of the Country who were ready to deliver unto him their strong Towns and Castles if he would remain there for the Guard of the Country who Excused himself and said he had other Matters to prosecute and could not then satisfie their Desires The Duke of Britan by his own Subjects with the assistance A League Offensive and Defensive between King Richard and the Duke of Britan. of the King of France had been forced out of his own Country in the time of Edward the Third and was now in England and made a very strict League Offensive and Defensive with King Richard between them and their Subjects and no Peace to be made with France but by mutual Consent The Original being in the Old Chapter-house at Westminster Dated March 1. in the Year of Grace 1379 at Westminster Before this 7 Rot Clause 2 Ric. II. M. 13 Dors A Parlement called on the 16th of February Writs were issued for a Parlement to meet 15 days after Easter in which the Lords and Commons considering the great Necessities of the Kingdom the Malice of it's Enemies of France and otherwhere upon Condition the Mark upon every Sack of Wooll and the 6 d. in the Pound which was given in the last Parlement at Gloucester should be remitted did then grant 8 Rot. Part. 2 Rich. II. n. 13. The Subsidy of Wooll c. granted And a Sum of Money upon particular Persons the Subsidy of Wooll for one year after the Feast of St. Michael next coming of every Sack of Wooll as it had been granted before the Parlement at Gloucester and likewise a Sum to be paid by divers Persons of the Kingdom as there ordered and named For which see the Appendix Numb 102. Not long after this Parlement the 9 Walsingh f. 225. n. 50. The Duke of Britan called home A. D. 1379. and 3d of Ed. III. A great Mortality in the North. Britans called home their Duke who was convoyed by Sir Thomas Percy and Sir Hugh Calverley and landed at a Port near St. Malo on the 4th day of August where and in all Places he was received with a mighty Welcome and strange Rejoicings as well of the Lords and Great Men as Common People This Summer there happened 1 Ib. f. 228. n. 10 20 30. The Scots harrass and plunder the Country a great Mortality of People in the North parts of the Kingdom whereby the Country became almost desolate The Scots took this advantage invaded the Borders harrassed robbed and plundered the same killing many of the People that were left alive driving away vast numbers of Cattel scarce leaving any thing behind them not so much as Hogs which they never drove away before About the 2 Ib. f. 231. n. 50. f. 232. n. 10 20 c. A Fleet and Army to assist the Duke of Britan. Feast of St. Nicholas or 6th of December this Third year of the King a Fleet with an Army to assist the Duke of Britan against the King of France who had invaded his Country and taken several of his Towns and Castles was to have passed into that Dukedom under the Conduct of Sir John Arundel Sir Hugh Calverley Sir Thomas Percy Sir William Elinham Sir Thomas Morews Sir Thomas Banestor and many other Knights and Esquires great Soldiers so soon as they were out at Sea there arose an horrible Tempest which scattered the Fleet and The Fleet destroyed by Tempest drove them they knew not whether Sir John Arundel's Ship was lost and himself drowned as likewise Twenty five more and above 1000 Men Sir Thomas Percy Sir Hugh Caverley and Sir William Elinham with others of Note hardly escaped At the same time says 3 F. 335. n. 40. The French and Spanish Fleet destroyed by the same Tempest Walsingham the Spaniards and French had brought together a mighty Fleet out of France Spain Portugal and other Countreys subject to them to hinder the landing of the English in Britany but met with the same Storm and Tempest and lost more Men and Ships then the English did On the 20th of October last past the King had sent forth 4 Rot. Clause 3 Ric. II. M. 32. Dors A Parlement called Writs for a Parlement to meet on Monday next after St. Hillary or the 14th of January wherein the Commons by their Speakers 5 Rot. Parl. 3 Ric. II. n. 12. A. D. 1380. The Commons pray the Continual Council may be discharged The Five great Officers not to be changed until next Parlement pray That the Prelates and other Lords of the Continual Council may be discharged and no such to be retained seeing the King was of good Discretion and Stature de bone Discretion Bel Stature in respect of his Age which agreed with the Age of his Grandfather at the time of his Coronation who then had no other Counsellors but the Five Principal Officers of his Realm Praying further Those Five Officers that is to say the Chancellor Treasurer Guardian of the Privy Seal Chief Chamberlain and Steward of the Houshold not to be renewed or changed until the next Parlement They likewise 6 Ibm. n. 13 14. A Commission of Inquiry into Courts the State of the King's House Receits and Expences c. Pray a Commission to certain Commissioners to Survey and Examin in all Courts and Places the State of the King's Houshold the Expences and Receits in all the Offices c. This was granted and a Commission made to the Earls of Arundel Warwick and Stafford William Latimer Guy Bryan and John Montacute Banerets John Hastings John Gildesborough and Edward Dalyngrugge Knights William Walworth and John Philpot Citizens of London and Thomas Graa Citizen of York c. Then the 7 Ib. n. 16. The Lords and Commons grant a Fifteenth and half and Tenth and half For an Expedition into Britany Lords and Commons perceiving the King and Kingdom were set round with Enemies who with great Force endeavoured all they could as well by Land as Sea to destroy them both and further to extinguish the English Language therefore for the Defence and Safety of the Kingdom and for the good Success of the Expedition ordered into Britany and Destruction of the said Enemies grant freely tho it was very hard to be born to the King One Fifteenth and half without Cities and Burghs and One Tenth and half within Cities and Burghs with Prayer That his Subsidy and what was remaining of that given the last Parlement might only be applied to the Expedition into Britany and no where else Considering also 8 Ib. n. 17. The Subsidy of Wooll and granted a further time
The Bishop of Norwich his 2d Offer Accepted by the King and his Council and approved by the Commons having had time to consider of his first Profer makes a second To serve the King one Year with 2500 Men at Arms and 2500 Archers well Arrayed and Mounted for the whole Fifteenth granted by the Laity of which Number 1000 Men at Arms and 1000 Archers should be ready to pass the Sea for the Relief of Gaunt and the Country of Flanders within 20 Days after the first Payment and that he would take upon him to pay the Charge of Shipping and other Charges 5 Ibm. This Profer was accepted by the King and his Council and much approved of by the Commons This Bishop some time before had received 6 Wâ—â—s f. 291. n. 30 40. The Bishop of Norwich had Bullsfrom Pope Urban for a Croysado against the Anti-Pope Clement Bulls from Pope Vrban for a Croysado and to sign all with the Cross that would go with him into France for the Destruction of the Anti-Pope who called himself Clement and to Sanctifie the War against all his Adherents which were the 7 Knighton col 2671. n. 20 30 c. The Ladies give their Jewels Necklaces Rings c. toward this Croysado French Scots Flemings and many other Nations By virtue of these Bulls he collected a great Sum of Money besides Jewels Necklaces Rings Dishes Spoons and other Silver Implements especially of Ladies and other Women And many gave 8 Ibm. to be pardoned and absolved from their Sins beyond their Ability as it was believed to obtain the Benefit of Absolution and Pardon for their Sins For otherwise they were not absolved unless they contributed according to their Ability Many found Men at Arms others Archers and many went in their own Persons The Form of Absolution was this By Apostolic Authority to me committed 9 Append. â— 105. The Form of the Absolution I do Absolve thee A. B. from all thy Sins which thou dost with a contrite Heart confess or would confess if thou didst remember them and give thee a Full Remission of them the Retribution of the Just and do promise the Increase or Addition of eternal Salvation And I Grant to thee the same Privileges that are Granted to such as go to the Defence of the Holy Land and do impart to thee the Benefit of the Prayers and Suffrages of the Holy Catholic Church To publish this Croysado and to absolve according to this Form there were a sufficient number of Preachers sent beyond Sea and all England over besides all the Mendicant Friers to stir up the People to contribute with a Clerc to take the Names and receive Money of the Contributors not omitting Labourers Knighton Col. 2673. Toward the latter end of 1 Wals f. 298. n. 30 40. The Bishop passeth beyond Sea with his Army May the Bishop passed the Sea with his Army staid a few Days at Calais besieged Graveling and took it by Assault Dunkirk yielded without much trouble where some Flemings joining with the French and Britans to the number of 30000 came toward the Town 2 Ibm. f. 301. lin 11. Knight ut supra n. 50 60. His great Success He besieged Ypre against whom the Bishop tho' but with a small Number in respect of theirs marched out of Dunkirk and gave them Battel taking many and killing 3000 Walsingham says 12000. Afterwards he took in Cassal Dixmude Burburgh Fern Newport and Popering Then he besieged the 3 Knight ib. His Army left the Siege and revolted from him Town of Ypre a long time assaulted it often and was always repulsed and beaten off and at length without his Knowledge the Army left the Siege and Revolted from him The Battering Engines were all left behind with one great Gun called Canterbury-Gun 4 Ibm. col 2672. lin 3. cum una magna Gunna vocata Gunna Cantuariensis The Bishop followed his Army and went to Dunkirk with Sir Hugh Caverse and part of it and from thence to Gravelin Sir Thomas Trivet Sir William Elingham and others went to Burburgh with other part of the Army and fortified it 5 Ibm. n. 10 20 30. The King of France takes Burburgh The King of France comes suddenly upon them with a great Army besieged the Town assaults it and was beaten off with loss Yet within few Days they treated and yielded the Town to the King of France upon Condition to march away with Horse and Arms and all their Goods and so they did to Calais After 6 Wals f. 304. n. 50. f. 305. n. 10 20 30. and Gravelin Burburgh was taken the French Army marched before Graveling and summoned the Bishop to yield the Town The French offered him 15000 Marks to quit the Town with liberty to demolish it and to depart and go whither he would and all with him with all their Goods He desired Time to consider of the Terms and appointed a Day to give his Answer and in the meant time sent to England for Relief which not coming at or before that Day he accepted the Terms levelled the Town to the ground and came for England after Michaelmas And thus ended the Croysado or the Pontifical War Before the Return of the Bishop of Norwich Writs Dated the 20th of August had been 7 Claus 7 Ric. II. M. 37. Dors A. D. 1384. A Parlement called The Reasons of calling it given in the Writ of Summons sent forth for a Parlement to meet on Monday before All-Saints In which Writs notice was given That by Advice and Assent of the Council the Parlement was called for their Mediation and Assistance in a Treaty of Peace to be had then between the King his Kingdom Dominions and Subjects on the one part and Robert King of Scotland his Lands Dominions and Subjects on the other part and for other Difficult and Urgent Business which concerned him the State and Defence of the Kingdom and Church of England Sir Michael de laPole then Chancellor 8 Rot. Parl. 2 Ric. II n. 3. The same and other Causes of Summons declared by the Chancellor shewed the Causes of Parlement to be for that the Truce with the Scots was to end at Candlemas next and whereas the Duke of Lancaster had been sent to renew it he was returned and brought back That the Scots would send Commissioners to London to manage the Treaty about it Another Cause was 9 Ib. n. 4 5 to provide against Three Powerful Enemies Spain France and lately Flanders And here he offered several Reasons to prove it was better for us to begin and make War upon them than they upon us or suffer them to invade us Further shewing That these Wars were not to be imputed to the King seeing that with the Crown they descended to him And the last Cause was 1 Ib. n. 6. for the Maintenance of good Laws and Security of the Peace when he put them in mind of
Richard Earl of Arundel and Surrey Thomas Earl of Warwic and Thomas Earl-Marshal did accuse and appeal Alexander Arch-Bishop of York Robert de Vere Duke of Ireland and Michael de la Pole Earl of Suffolk saying I. That as False Traitors and Enemies to the King and Kingdom taking Advantage of his tender Age and the Innocency of his Person informed him and put upon him for Truth false things of their own Invention against Loyalty and Good Faith and made him entirely their own so as they had his Love firm Faith and Credit while he hated his Loyal Lords and Lieges by whom he ought to have been Governed And encroaching to themselves Royal Power in Disfranchising the King en Defranchisantz nostre dit Seigneur le Roy blemishing his Sovereignty and lessening his Prerogative and Royalty and made him so Obedient as he was Sworn to be Governed Counselled and Conducted by them by virtue of which Oath they kept him in Obedience to their false Imaginations and mischievous Deeds contained in the following Articles II. Also whereas the King is not bound to make any Oath but on the Day of his Coronation or for the Common Profit of himself and Kingdom the aforesaid Alexander Robert and Michael False Traitors and Enemies to the King and Realm made him Swear and Assure them That he would Maintain Support and Live and Die with them And also whereas the King ought to be of more free Condition than any other of his Kingdom they have put him more in Servitude than any one against his Honour Estate and Royalty against their Legiance as Traitors to him III. Also the said Robert Michael and Alexander by the Assent and Counsel of Robert Tresilian false Justice and Nicholas de Brembre false Knight of London by their false Contrivance would not suffer the Great Men of the Kingdom nor good Counsellors to come near the King nor would suffer him to speak with him unless in their Presence and Hearing accroaching to themselves Royal Power Lordship and Soveraignty upon the Person of the King to the great Dishonour and Peril of the King the Crown and his Realm IV. Also the said Alexander Robert Michael Robert Tresilian false Justice and Nicholas de Brembre false Knight of London by their false Wickedness evilly advised the King so as his appearance he ought to make to the Great Lords and his People Liege and the Favours and Right to which they requested his Answer were not to be obtained but at their Pleasure and Allowance in staying the King from his Duty and against his Oath and turning the Hearts of the Great Lords from him with Design to estrange his Heart from the Peers of the Land to have amongst them the sole Government of the Kingdom V. Also by the said Encroachment of Robert de Vere Duke of Ireland and Michael de la Pole by the Advice and Counsel of Alexander Arch-Bishop of York caused the King without Assent of the Kingdom by their Abetments without any Deserts of the Persons to give divers Lordships Castles Towns and Mannors as well annexed to his Crown as others as the Land of Ireland the Town of Okeham and the Forest thereof and other Lands which were the Lord Audley's and other great Estates to the said Robert de Vere and others whereby they are greatly enriched and the King become poor and had not wherewith to support and bear the Charges of the Kingdom unless by Impositions Taxes and Tributes put upon his People in Disheriting his Crown and undoing the Realm VI. Also by the Encroachment of the said Alexander Robert and Michael by the Assent and Advice of Robert Tresilian false Justice and Nicholas Brembre false Knight of London caused the King to give divers Lands Mannors Tenements Reâ—â—â— Offices and Bailiwics to People of their Kinred and other Persons of whom they received great Bribes and also to make them of their Party in their false Quarrels and Purposes as in the Case of Robert Manfield Clerc John Blake Thomas Vske and others to the undoing of the King and Kingdom VII Also Robert de Vere c. Michael de la Pole c. Alexander Arch-Bishop c. by Assent and Counsel of Nicholas Brembre c. encroaching to themselves Royal Power caused the King to give very great Sums of Gold and Silver as well of his own Goods and Jewels as the Treasure of the Kingdom as Tenths Fifteenths and other Taxes granted by divers Parlements to be expended in Defence and Safeguard of the Kingdom and otherwise which amounted to the Sum of 100000 Marks and more to Robert Vere Duke of Ireland and others And further they caused many good Ordinances and Purposes made and ordained in Parlements as well for the Wars as Defence of the Kingdom to be interrupted to the great Injury of the King and Kingdom VIII Also by the said Encroachment and by great Bribes taken by the said Robert Michael and Alexander divers Persons not sufficient or fit had the Guard and Government of divers Lordships Castles and Countries of War as in Guyen and otherwhere as well on this side as beyond the Sea whereby the People and Countries of those Parts Liege and Loyal to the King for the greater Part were destroyed and great Dominions of late rendred into the hands and possession of the Enemy without Assent of the Realm which were never in the hands of the Enemy since the Conquest of them as in the Marches of Scotland and otherwhere in Disherison of the Crown and great Injury of the Realm as in the Case of Harpedene Craddock and others IX Also by the Encroachment of the foresaid Alexander Robert Michael Robert and Nicholas divers People have been hindred of the Benefit of the Common Law of England and put to great Delays Losses and Costs and Statutes Judgments justly made upon the necessary Causes in Parlement have been reversed and nulled by Procurement of the said Misdoers and Traitors and this by Reason of the great Bribes by them received to the greatest Injury of the King and Kingdom X. Also the Five aforesaid accroaching to them Royal Power as false Traitors to the King and Kingdom caused and counselled the King to grant Charters of Pardon for horrible Felonies and Treasons as well against the State of the King as of the Party against the Law and Oath of the King XI Also whereas the Great Lordship and Land of Ireland hath been beyond Memory Parcel of the Crown of England and the People thereof for all that time have been the King's Lieges without mean to him or his Royal Progenitors and our Lord and his Noble Progenitors King 's of England in all their Charters Writs Letters and Patents and also under their Seals in Augmentation of their Names and Royalty stiled themselves Lords of Ireland the foresaid Robert Duke of Ireland Alexander c. Michael c. as false Traitors to the King by the said Encroachment gave Advice that the King inasmuch as was in
Salisbury John Lancaster Knights with other People with them to go into France to put in Execution this Wicked Purpose and Treason which Safe-conducts were ready to be produced XXXIII Also the foresaid Nicholas Brembre false Knight of London by Assent and Advice of Alexander c. Robert de Vere c. Michael c. and Robert Tresilian false Justice encroaching to themselves Royal Power as before some of them went Personally into London and without the Assent and Knowledge of the King there openly in his Name made all the Crafts of that City to be Sworn to hold and perform divers Matters not Honest as is contained in the said Oath upon Record in Chancery and amongst other things That they should keep and uphold the King's Will and Purpose to their Power against all such as were or should be Rebels or against the King's Person or his Royalty and that they were ready to live and die with him in destruction of all such who did or should design Treason against the King in any manner and that they should be ready and come readily to their Mayor for the time being or that afterwards should be when and what hour they should be required to resist so long as they lived all such as did or should design any thing against the King in any of the Points aforesaid at which time the King by Evil Information of the said Misdoers and Traytors and by the false Answer of the Justices firmly held the said Lords and others who contrived the Statute Ordinance and Commission to be his Rebels Enemies and Traytors which Information was then unknown to the People of London and also That by obscure Words contained in the Oath the Intent of the Misdoers and Traytors was to engage the People of London to raise their Power to destroy the Loyal Lords XXXIâ— Also the said Nicholas Alexander Robert de Vere and Michael Traytors to the King and Kingdom encroaching to themselves Royal Power of their own Authority without Warrant from the King or his great Council caused to be proclaimed thro' the City of London That none of the King's Lieges should Ayd or Comfort Richard Earl of Arundell and Surry a Peer of the Land and one of the Lords of the King 's great Council during the Commission or to sell him Armor Victuals or other things necessary and to avoid all of his Party as Rebels upon forfeiture of whatever they could forfeit to the King shewing a Patent from the King for making such Proclamation in of the King 's Loyal Lieges XXXV Also the said Nicholas Brembre by Assent and Counsel of Alexander Robert de Vere and Michael made to be proclaimed in the City of London That no Person should be so hardy to speak one Word of ill of the said Misdoers and Traytors upon pain to forfeit whatever they could forfeit to the the King also encroaching to themselves Royal Power XXXVI Also the said Five Traytors to the King and Kingdom caused the King to send to his Council certain Persons to be Sheriffs thro' the Kingdom named to him by the Evil-Doers and Traytors to the intent they might make such Parlement Knights as they should name to the undoing of the good Loyal Lords and the good Commons and also the good Laws and Customs of the Kingdom XXXVII Also the Five Misdoers and Traytors during the time of Protection to hinder the Appeal falsely Counselled and caused the King to Command by his Letter divers Knights and Esquires his Sheriffs and other his Ministers of divers Counties to levy and assemble all the Power they could to come with the Duke of Ireland against the Lords Appellants to make sudden War upon and destroy them XXXVIII Also during the time of Protection of the said Robert de Vere c. Michael c. Alexander c. Nicholas c. caused the King by his Letters to notifie to the Duke of Ireland they were all appealed of Treason by Thomas Duke of Glocester Constable of England Richard Earl of Arundell and Surry and Thomas Earl of Warwick and how he had given them day until the next Parlement and how he had taken into his special Protection both Parties with all their Goods and Chattels and it was further contained in the King's Letters That if the Duke of Ireland had sufficient Power he should not cease to march on with all his Force to come to him and soon after they caused the King to write to that Duke That he should take the Field with all the Force he could get together and that he would meet him with all his Power and that he would adventure his Royal Body with him and that he was in great danger and also the whole Nation if he was not relieved by him and this the Duke ought to discover to all the People with him and that the King would pay all his Wages and Costs and of all the People assembled with him By force of which Letters the Wicked and Traiterous Excitations as well of the Duke and his Adherents and all the other Misdoers and Traytors he raised a great number of Men at Arms and Archers as well in the Counties of Lancaster and Chester and in Wales as other Places of the Kingdom to destroy and put to death the Lords and all others who ordered and assented to the making of the Statute Ordinance and Commission to the Ruin of the King and his Kingdom XXXIX Also the said Robert de Vere Duke of Ireland false Traytor to the King and Kingdom assembled a great Power of Men at Arms and Archers in Lancashire Cheshire Wales and many other Places to the intent to have Traiterously destroyed with all his Power the said Lords Thomas Duke of Glocester Constable of England Henry Earl of Derby Richard Earl of Arundel and Surry Thomas Earl of Warwick and Thomas Earl Marshal and other the King's Lieges to the Undoing and Ruin of the King and whole Kingdom and so Rod or Marched with a great Force of Men at Arms and Archers from the County of Chester to Radcot-Bridge accroaching to himself Royal Power Displaying the King's Banner in his Army against the State of the King and his Crown This Impeachment was Exhibited on Monday the first 1 Rot. Parl. 11 Ric. II. Part 3. This Roll is not numbred The Appealed summoned to appear day of the Parlement being the 3d of February when the Lords Appellants affirmed they were ready to prove every Article as it should be awarded in Parlement to the Honour of God the Honour and Profit of the King and the whole Realm whereupon the Appealed were called in Parlement before the King and Lords to appear and make Answer to the Appellants and the same Demand of their Appearance was made in Westminster-Hall and at the great Gate of the Palace of Westminster to come and Answer the Appellants and because they came not being so solemnly called the Duke of Glocester and the other Appellants prayed
the beginning of December the King was at Reding 1 Ib. n. 40. He reconciles the King and Great Men. where he called a great Council The Duke of Lancaster being there reconciled the Mind of the King to the Great Men and their Minds to him and so as they seemed after the Dissolution of the Council to depart satisfied The King while he was at Reding issued his 2 Rot. Clause 13 Ric. II. M. 5. Dors A. D. 1390. A Parlement called The King declared to be of Age. Writs on the 6th of December for a Parlement to meet at Westminster on the Monday next after the Feast of St. Hillary William of Wickham Bishop of Winchester was then Chancellor who by the King's Command in opening the Cause of Summons before all the Estates declared the 3 Rot. Parl. 13 Rich. II. n. 1. And takes upon him the Government King of full Age and that he intended to Govern his People in Peace and Quiet and to do Justice and Right to all Men and that as well the Clergie as Layty should enjoy all their Liberties On the 20th of 4 Ib. n. 6 7. The Chancellor and Treasurer quit their Places as also all Privy-Counsellors January and Fourth day of the Parlement the Bishop of Winchester delivered the Seal to the King and the Bishop of St. David's being Treasurer delivered the Keys of the Exchequer to the King and all the Lords of the Council prayed the King to be discharged and that others might be put in their Places When they were discharged they required openly in Parlement That if any Person could he would Complain of any thing ill done by them both Lords and Commons affirmed all things well done Whereupon the King delivered the Seal again to the Bishop of Winchester and the Keys of the Exchequer to the Bishop of The King receives them again into their Places and the Privy-Council St. Davids and received those to be his Counsellors that were so before together with his Vncles of Lancaster and Glocester and made Protestation That for any thing then done he would at Pleasure retain or put out of their Offices those Counsellors In this Parlement 5 Ibm. n. 21 22. John Duke of Lancaster made Duke of Aquitan John Duke of Lancaster was made Duke of Aquitan by the King with Consent of the Prelates Lords Temporal and Commons to hold the Dukedom of the King as of the King of France saving only to him as to the King of France the Direct Dominion Superiority and Resort of the same Dutchy He there did Homage to the King and Humbly and Heartily Thanked him for it and the Honour he did him and declared That tho' he could not maintain the State of the Dukedom in time of War without the Ayd of the King and Realm yet he would do what he could to the utmost The King told him the Charges should be born as between the Duke and his Council should be agreed To which the Commons affented The King by assent of 6 Ib. n. 23. Edward Son to the Duke of York made Earl of Rutland The Two Arch-Bishops and Parlement created Edward the Eldest Son of the Duke of York Earl of Rutland and gave to him during the Life of his Father 800 Marks issuing out of the Castle Town and Dominion of Okeham in that Shire and the Office of Sheriff The Arch-Bishops of Canterbury and York for themselves and whole Clergy of their Provinces made their Protestation in open Parlement 7 Ib. n. 24. Clergy's Protestation not to assent to any Law made against the Pope they intended not nor would assent to any Statute or Law to be made against the Pope's Authority which at their Request was entered upon the Roll. In the 8 Rot. Parl. 14 Ric. II. n. 1. A. D. 1391. Parlement on the Morrow of St. Martin or 12th of November in the Fourteenth of this King the Bishop of Winchester Chancellor declaring the Cause of Summons took notice of the Truce with France and that about Candlemass the King would send to make a final Peace The Duke of 9 Ib. n. 12. The Dukes of York and Glocester desire 1000 l. a year to be settled on each of them York and Glocester desire the King's Assistance of a Thousand Pounds a year to each according to his Promise in Tale special He ordered the Justices to draw such Assurance and commanded they might be readily paid And it is to be remembred 1 Ib. n. 15. The Prelates Lords and Commons pray That if any thing had been done against his Prerogative it might be redressed Fait a Remember c. That the Prelates Lords Temporal and Commons prayed the King in full Parlement That the Royalty and Prerogative of him and his Crown might always be safe and preserved and that if any thing had been done or attempted contrary to them it might be Redressed and Amended and further That he should be as Free in his time as any of his Noble Progenitors Kings of England were in their times Which prayer seemed Honest and Reasonable to the King and therefore granted it in all points The Judgment against 2 Ib. n. 36. The Judgment against John of Northampton repealed John of Northampton late Major of London Repealed upon the Petition of the Commons and Oath made by the then Major and all the Aldermen of London That he was not guilty of the Treasons c. for which he was condemned These things done the Lords and Commons 3 Ib. n. 37. The â—ords and Commons Thank the King for his Good Government c. gave humble Thanks to the King for his good Government and his Zeal shewn to them and he gave them Thanks for the Grants to him made In the Parlement holden on the 2d of November in the 15th of King Richard the 4 Ibm. 15 Ric. II. n. 15. A. D. 1392. The Duke of Lancaster sent into France to Treat of Peace Commons propound to the King Monsieur de Guyen that is the Duke of Lancaster to go Treat with his Adversary of France about a Peace and it was granted The Commons Petition the King That no Native or 5 Ib. n. 39. The Commons Petition Villans may not purchase Land in sec nor send their Sons to School The King's Answer Villan of Bishops Abbats or other Religious Persons might purchase Lands in Fee and That no Villan might put his Son to School whereby he might obtain Learning and this for the maintenance and safety of the Honour of all the Freemen of England To this it was Answered Le Roy sad visera The King will Advise which was a Denial The Knights of Shires 6 Ib. n. 51. The Knights of Shires Petition Villans may not have the Privilege of Cities and Burghs The King's Answer Petition the King and Lords That such Lords whose Villans went from them into Cities and Burghs where they lived as Freemen
Ib. n. 10. Sir Thomas Pâ—râ—y general Procurator for the Clergy Arch-Bishops and the Clergie of both Provinces constituted and appointed Sir Thomas Percy their Procurator as by their Instrument doth appear The Commission and Statute made upon it in 6 Stat. at Large 21 Rich. II. Cap. 2. This agrees with the Record The Commission and Statute made in the 11th year of the King Repealed the Eleventh year of this King are repealed and made void at the prayer of the Commons as being made Traiterously by constraint and compulsion against the King's Will his Royalty Crown and Dignity and it was Ordained and Established by the King with the Assent of the Lords and Commons That no such Commission or the like should be made and that he that should indeavour or procure any such to be made or the like in time to come c. being thereof duely Convict should suffer as a Traytor The Pardon 's granted to the Duke of 7 Râ—t Parl. 21 Rich. II. n. 12 13. The Pardons to the Dâ—ke of Glocester Earls of Arundel and Warwick made void Glocester and Earls of Arundel and Warwick in the Parlement of the Eleventh of this King are made void as done by force only against the King's Will as also the Pardon granted to the Earl of Arundel at Windsor in the 17th year of this King is revoked and annulled On the * Ib. n. 14. The Commons declare with the King's Leave their intent waâ— to accuse Persons during the 〈…〉 of this Parlement They hâ—â— the King's Leave 20th of September the Commons made Protestation to the King in full Parlement That tho they would shew and declare certain Matters and Articles they had then Advised of and Agreed amongst themselves nevertheless it was and is their Intent and Will by Leave of the King to accuse and impeach Person or Persons as often as they should think fit during the time of this Parlement ne nit meins il feust est lour intent volonte par conge de nostre Seigneur le Roy d'accuser empescher person ou persons a taunts de foitz come leur sembleroit affair durant le temps de cest present Parlement And they prayed the King he would please to accept their Protestation and that it might be entered of Record on the Parlement Roll which the King granted and commanded it to be done Then on the 8 â—â—â— 15. The Arch-Bishop of Canterbury accused of Treason same day before the King in full Parlement they accused and impeached Thomas Arundel Arch-Bishop of Canterbury of High Treason for that he being Chief Officer of the King to wit his Chancellor when he was Bishop of Ely was Traiterously aiding procuring and advising in making a Commission directed to Thomas Duke of Glocester Richard Earl of Arundelâ— and others in the Tenth year of the Reign of the King and made and procured himself as chief Officer of the Realm to be put into it to have Power with the other Commissioners to put it in Execution Which Commission was made in prejudice of the King and openly against his Royalty his Crown and Dignity and that the said Thomas put in Vse and Execution the said Commission Also for that 9 Ibm. the said Thomas Arch-Bishop in the Eleventh year of the King procured and advised the Duke of Glocester and the Earls of Warwick and Arundel to take upon them Royal Power and to Arrest the King's Lieges Simon Burley and James Barners and Judge them to Death contrary to the Will and Assent of the King and upon this the said Commons pray the King the said Thomas may be put in safeguard in an honest manner And the King 1 Ibm. said because the Accusation and Empeachment touched so high a Person and Peer of the Realm he would be advised Also the Twenty first day of 2 Ib. n. 16. The Commons pray Judgment against the Arch-Bishop of Canterbury September next following the Commons prayed the King That as they had Empeached and Accused the Arch-Bishop of Canterbury that he had assented or was in the Contrivance to cause the Commission to be made qil feust d'assent de fair fair la dit Commission on the Nineteenth of November in the Tenth year of the King and of the Execution of the same which was expressly against the King his State and Dignity That he would please to Ordain such Judgment against him as the Case required Hereupon the King caused to be Recorded in Parlement That the Arch-Bishop was before him in the presence of certain Lords and confessed que en la use de la dit Commission il soy misprist luy mist en la Grace du Roy. That he was mistaken or erred in the use of the Commission and put himself under the King's Grace Whereupon the 3 Ibm. He was adjudged Traytor and to be Banished King and all the Lords Temporal and Monsieur Thomas Percy having sufficient Power from the Prelates and Clergie as appeared upon Record in the said Parlement adjudged and declared the Article which the Arch-Bishop confessed to be Treason and touched the King himself and also judged and declared him a Traytor and thereupon it was awarded in Parlement That he should be Banished out of England his Temporalties seized and his Goods and Chattels forfeited to the King who was to appoint the time of his Exile And then the King 4 Ib. n. 17. assigned him time of Passage from the Eve of St. Michael until Six weeks next following from the Port of Dover into France and further That he should forfeit all his Lands Tenements and Possessions which he had in Fee Simple by Descent Purchase or otherwise at the day of the Treason committed or after or that any one held to his use to the King and his Heirs for ever The Commons interceeded with the King for his Favour toward such as were named in the 5 Ib. n. 26. The Commons interceed with the King for such as were named in the Commission and did not act Commission and made Commissioners but neither procured it consented to it or acted in the Execution of it Three whereof were alive the Duke of York the Bishop of Winchester and Richard Lescrop Knight and Four dead William late Arch-Bishop of Canterbury Alexander late Arch-Bishop of York Thomas late Bishop of Excester and Nicholas late Abbat of Waltham whose Loyalty and Innocency was acknowledged in Parlement The Declaration whereof was made a Statute by the King with the Advice and Assent of the Lords at the Prayer of the Commons They further 6 Ib. n. 27. humbly beseech the King That he would please to consider how at the time when Thomas Duke of Glocester Richard Earl of Arundel and Thomas Earl of Warwic did rise soy leverent and march against their Allegiance and the King The Commons move the King in behalf of the Earls of Derby and Nottingham the said
he was very Angry especially because they desired him to be under Good Government but by Divine Providence and the Resistance and Power of the said Lords the King could not bring his Design to effect Thirdly When the Lords 3 3 Ibm. n. 20. Temporal in Defence of themselves resisted his Malice and Craft the said King prefixed a Day for the Parlement to do them and others Justice who upon Faith and Confidence therein remained quietly in their own Houses the King privately with his Letters or Commission sent the Duke of Ireland into Cheshire to raise Arms against the said Lords Great Men and Officers of the Commonwealth Publickly exciting his Banners against the Peace he had Sworn to from whence Homicides Captivities Dissentions and other infinite Evils followed in the whole Kingdom for which cause he incurred Perjury Fourthly That although the said 4 4 Ibm. n. 21. King had Pardoned the Duke of Glocester the Earls of Arundel and Warwic and all their Assistants in full Parlement and for many Years had shewn chearful Signs of Peace and Love towards them yet the same King always bearing Gall in his Heart taking Opportunity caused to be seized the Duke of Glocester and the said Earls of Arundel and Warwic and sent the Duke to Calais to be imprisoned under the Keeping of the Earl of Nottingham one of his Appellants and without Answer or lawful Process caused him to be strangled and inhumanly and cruelly murdered The Earl of Arundel Pleading his Charter of Pardon and Demanding Justice in Parlement was encompassed with great Numbers of Armed Men and had his Head Damnably struck off and committed the Earl of Warwic and Lord Cobham to Perpetual Prison confiscating their Lands against Justice the Laws of the Land and his express Oath giving them to their Appellants Fifthly At the time 5 5 Ibm. n. 22. when in his Parlement he caused the Duke of Glocester and Earls of Arundel and Warwic to be adjudged that he might more freely exercise his Cruelty upon them and in others fulfil his injurious Will he drew to him a great multitude of Malefactors out of the County of Chester who marching up and down the Kingdom with the King as well within his own House as without cruelly killed his Lieges beat and wounded others plundering the Goods of the People refusing to pay for their Victuals violating and ravishing Men's Wives and other Women And although Complaints were made to the King of these Excesses yet he took no care to apply Remedy or do Justice in them but favoured those People in their Wickedness confiding in them and their Assistance against all others of his Kingdom wherefore his Good Subjects had great matter of Commotion and Indignation Sixthly Though the said 6 6 Ib. n. 23. King caused Proclamation to be made through the Kingdom That he caused his Unkle the Duke of Glocester and the Earls of Arundel and Warwic to be Arrested not for any Rebellious Congregations or marching with Horse within the Kingdom but for many Extorsions Oppressions and other things done against his Regality and Royal Majesty And that it was not his Intention that any of their Company at the time of the Congregation and Marchching with Horse aforesaid should for that Reason be Questioned or Disturbed Yet the same King afterwards in his Parlement Impeached the said Lords not for Extorsions Oppressions or other things aforesaid but for Rebellious Tumults and Congregations and Marching with Horse adjudged them to Death and caused many of their Company for fear of Death to make Fine and Ransom as Traitors to the great Destruction of many of his People and so he craftily deceitfully and maliciously Deceived the Lords their Followers and People of the Nation Seventhly After many of these 7 7 Ibm. n. 24. Persons who had paid their Fines and Ransoms and had obtained his Letters Patents of full Pardon yet they received no Benefit by them until they made new Fines for their Lives by which they were much impoverished And this was much in Derogation to the Name and State of a King Eightly In the last 8 8 Ibm. n. 25. Parlement holden at Shrewsbury the same King propounding to Oppress his People subtilly procured and caused to be granted That the Power of Parlement by Consent of all the States of the Kingdom should remain in some certain Persons who after the Parlement should be Dissolved might Answer the Petitions depending in Parlement then undetermined under pretence whereof they proceeded to other General Matters touching that Parlement ac-according to the King's Will in Derogation to the State of Parlement great Disadvantage to the Kingdom and a pernicious Example And that these Actions might seem to have some Colour and Authority the King caused the Rolls of Parlement to be changed and blotteed contrary to the Effect of the Grant aforesaid Ninthly Notwithstanding the said King at his 9 9 Ibm. n. 26. Coronation sware That he would do in all his Judgments equal and Right Justice and Discretion in Mercy and Truth according to his Power yet the said King without all Mercy rigorously amongst other things Ordained under great Punishments That no Man should intercede with him for any Favour toward Henry Duke of Lancaster then in Banishment in so doing he acted against the Bond of Charity and rashly violated his Oath Tenthly That though the 1 1 Ibm. n. 27. Crown of England the Rights of the Crown and Kingdom it self have been in all times so Free as the Pope or any other Foreign Power had nothing to do in them yet the said King for the confirming of his erroneous Statutes supplicated the Pope to confirm the Statutes made in his last Parlement whereupon he obtained his Apostolic Letters or Bull wherein were contained grievous Censures against all such as should presume to contravene them All which things are known to be against the Crown and Royal Dignity and against the Statutes and Liberty of the Kingdom Eleventhly Though Henry now Duke of Lancaster 2 2 Ibm. n. 28. by the King's Command exhibited his Bill or Accusation against the Duke of Norfolk concerning the State and Honour of the King and duly prosecuted it so as he was ready to make it good by Duel and the King had ordered it yet the same King put it by and without any lawful Cause Banished the His own Father John D. of Lancaster was the First Commissioner in this Judgment in Parlement See Pleas of the Crown 21 Ric. II. Duke of Lancaster for Ten Years against all Justice the Laws and Customs of the Kingdom and the Military Law Damnably incurring Perjury Twelfthly After the said King had graciously granted 3 3 Ibm. n. 29. to the now Duke of Lancaster by his Letters Patents That while he was in Banishment his Attorneys might sue for Livery of any Inheritance might fall to him for which Homage was due which should be respited for a
reasonable Fine he injuriously revoked those Letters Patents against the Laws of the Land incurring Perjury Thirteenthly Notwithstanding it had been Ordained 4 4 Ibm n. 30. That every Year the King's Officers with the Justices and others of his Council should Nominate and Chuse the Sheriffs of all Counties according to their Discretion yet he Commanded others of his Party and such as would do as he would have them to be Sheriffs to the great Grievance of his People contrary to the Laws of his Kingdom notoriously incurring Perjury Fourteenthly That whereas 5 5 Ibm. n. 31. the said King Borrowed several Sums of Money from Lords and others by his Letters Patents promising faithfully to pay them at a certain Term he did not perform his Promise whence his Creditors were much grieved and not only they but many others thought him an unfaithful King Fifteenthly Whereas the Kings 6 6 Ibm. n. 32. of England used to live upon the Revenues of the Kingdom and Patrimony of the Crown in time of Peace without Oppression of his People yt the same King during his whole time gave the greatest part of his Revenue to unworthy Persons and imposed Burthens upon his Subjects as it were every Year by which he excessively oppressed his People and impoverished his Kingdom not employing these Goods to the Advantage of the Nation but prodigally wasting them in Ostentation Pomp and Glory owing great Sums for Victuals and other Necessaries of his House though his Revenues were greater than any of his progenitors Sixteenthly The same King 7 7 Ibm. n. 33. not willing to keep and protect the Just Laws and Customs of his Kingdom but do what he pleased when those Laws were declared to him by the Justices and others of his Council desiring Justice might be done accordingly he said expresly with an austere Countenance That the Laws were only in his Mouth and Breast and that He only could Make and Change the Laws of this Kingdom And being so seduced he would not permit Justice to be done to many of his Lieges but by Threats and Terrours forced many to cease from the Prosecution of Common Justice Seventeenthly That whereas 8 8 Ibm. n. 34. Laws made in Parlement do always bind until revoked by another Parlement yet the same King desiring to enjoy such Liberty as no Laws might bind him and to do what he pleased he cunningly procured such a Petition on behalf of the Community of his Kingdom to be exhibited in Parlement and to be granted That he might be as free as any of his Progenitors before him By colour of which Petition and Grant he often commanded and caused many things to be done contrary to the Laws not revoked doing expresly and knowingly against the Oath taken at his Coronation Eighteenthly Though it had been Ordained 9 9 Ibm. n. 35. That no Sheriff should continue in his Office above a Year and could not be again Chosen to that Office in three Years after the same King for his singular Profit and sometimes for the Benefit of others suffered some Sheriffs to remain in their Offices for two or three Years contrary to the Tenour and Effect of the Statute incurring Perjury and this was Notorious Publick and Famous Nineteenthly Although by Law and 1 1 Ibm. n. 36. Custom the People ought to be free to Chuse Knights to represent them in Parlement to propound their Grievances and provide Remedies for them yet the said King that he might obtain his own rash Will in his Parlements directed by Writs often to the Sheriffs to send such as he Named some of whom he induced by Favours others by Threats and Terrours others by Bribes to consent to things Prejudicial to the Kingdom and grievous to the People and especially by granting to him the Subsidy of Wooll for his Life and another Subsidy for certain Years too much oppressing the People Twentiethly the same King 2 2 Ibm. n. 37. that in all things he might act Arbitrarily unlawfully made and commanded all the Sheriffs to Swear beyond their usual Oath That they would obey all his Commands sent to them under the Great Seal Privy Seal or Signet and in case they should know any in their Bailiwics or Jurisdictions should speak any Ill publicly or privately to the Disgrace or Scandal of the King's Person they should arrest and commit them to Prison there to remain while they received other Commands from the King as it might be found upon Record which Practice might likely tend to the Destruction of any of his Subjects 21. The same King 3 3 Ibm. n. 38. that he might supplant his People and get their Estates to enrich himself caused the People of Sixteen Counties by Letters under their Seals to submit to him as Traitors by colour of which he obtained of them great Sums of Money to procure his Favour And although to please the People those Letters Obligatory were restored to them yet their Procurators had full Power to bind themselves for them to the King which he caused to be done and so deceived his People and subtilly extorted their Goods from them 22. Although the same King 4 4 Ibm. n. 39. Sware at his Coronation to Preserve the Liberties granted to the Church of England yet by reason of his Voyage into Ireland he by his Letters Commanded many Religious Persons Abbats and Priors some to send him Horses others Waggons others great Sums of Money and by his way of Writing he forced many by Fear to comply with his Demands whence they were impoverished and oppressed in manifest derogation to Ecclesiastic Liberty by which Pretext he incurred Perjury 23. In many Great 5 5 Ibm. n 40. Councils when the Lords and Justices were charged to Counsel him faithfully in things t ha touched his own and the State of the Kingdom they were often so sharply rebuked and reproved that they dare not speak Truth in giving Advice concerning the State of the Kingdom 24. The Treasure 6 6 Ibm. n. 41. Reliques and Jewels of the Crown which ought to be preserved in the Treasury for the Honour of the King and Conservation of the Kingdom if any thing might happen the said King carried with him toward Ireland without the Consent of the States of the Kingdom whence the Kingdom had been greatly impoverished if God had not otherwise provided for the taking of those Goods from him against his Will And further he caused the Records concerning the State and Government of his Kingdom to be rased in great Prejudice of his People and Disinheritance of the Crown and very likely as it was believed for the Support of his ill Government 25. He was so Variable 7 7 Ibm. n. 42. and Dissembling in Words and Writing and so Contrary to himself specially in Writing to the Pope Kings and other Lords without and within the Kingdom and also to his Subjects that no Man living knowing
what he was could confide in him yea he was reputed so Unfaithful and Inconstant that he was not only a Scandal to his own Person but to the whole Kingdom and all Strangers that knew him 26. Though the Lands Tenements 8 8 Ibm. n. 43. Goods and Chattels of all Free-men by the Laws of the Land ought not to be seized without Forfeiture yet the said King intending to enervate those Laws in the Presence of many Lords and others of the Community of the Kingdom he often said and affirmed That the Life of every Subject his Lands Tenements Goods and Chattels were his to be disposed as he pleased without Forfeiture which was altogether against the Laws and Customs of his Kingdom 27. Although it had been made a 9 9 Ibm. n. 44. Law which had hitherto been confirmed That no Free-man might be taken c. nor any ways destroyed nor that the King should proceed against him but by lawful Trial of his Peers or the Law of the Land yet according to the Will Command and Appointment of the said King very many of his Lieges being maliciously accused for having spoken publickly or privately Words that might tend to the Scandal and Disgrace of the King's Person were taken imprisoned and brought before the Constable and Marshal in the Court Military where being accused they could not be admitted to give any other Answer than Not Guilty and could defend themselves no otherwise than by their Bodies their Accusers being young Men Iusty and sound whereas they were old impotent lame and infirm from whence not only the Destruction of Lords and Great Men but of singular Persons of the Community of the Kingdom very likely might have followed When therefore the said King willingly contravened this Law it was no doubt but he incurred Perjury 28. Altho the People of 1 1 Ibm. n. 45. England by virtue of their Ligeance were sufficiently bound to their King and if they offended in any manner he might Correct and Punish them by the Laws and Customs of the Kingdom yet the said King desiring to supplant and too much oppress his People that he might more freely execute and be able to follow the Fancy of his foolish and unlawful Will he sent his Letters into all Counties of his Kingdom That all his Lieges as well Spiritual as Temporal should take certain Oaths in general which were too burthensome to them and which very likely might cause the final Destruction of his People and that under their Letters and Seals they should confirm these Oaths Which Command the People obeyed lest they should incur his Indignation and for fear of Death 29. When the Parties 2 2 Ibm. n. 46. contending in the Ecclesiastick Court in Causes merely Ecclesiastick and Spiritual indeavoured to procure Prohibitions to hinder Process in the same from the Chancellor of England who out of Justice refused to grant them yet the same King often granted them under his Signet wickedly infringing the Church Liberties granted in Magna Charta which he had Sworn to Preserve damnably incurring Perjury and the Sentence of Excommunication Pronounced by the Holy Fathers against the Violators of Church Liberties 30. The said King in Parlement 3 3 Ib. n. 48. compassed about with Armed Men without Reasonable Cause or Legal Process contrary to the Laws of the Kingdom Banished Thomas Arundel Arch-Bishop of Canterbury and his Spiritual Father being then absent by his Contrivance 31. Upon perusal of the said 4 4 Ib. n. 48. Kings Will under his Great Seal Privy Seal and Signet there was in it this Clause Also we Will That the Debts of our House Chamber and Wardrobe being paid for which we allow Twenty thousand Pounds and the Leprose and Chaplanes we appointed to be maintained at Westminster and Bermondsey for which we allow Five or six thousand Marks The Residue of our Gold shall remain to our Successor upon Condition he Approves Ratifies Confirms Holds and causeth to be Holden and Observed all Laws Statutes Ordinances and Judgments made had or done in the Parlement held at Westminster on the 17th of September in the 21st of our Reign and continued or adjourned to Shrewsbury and all things done at Coventry on the 16th of September in the 22d of our Reign as also what was done at Westminster on the 18th of March in the same year by Authority of the same Parlement But if he shall Refuse to do these things then we Will that Thomas Duke of Surrey Edward Duke of Aumarle John Duke of Excester and William le Scrop Earl of Wiltshire my Debts c. as aforesaid being paid shall have the said Residue for the Defence of the Statutes Ordinances Judgments and Stabiliments aforesaid to the utmost of their Power yea to Death if it be necessary Upon all which things we burthen their Consciences as they will Answer it at the Day of Judgment By which Article it appears evidently That the same King endeavoured pertinaciously to maintain those Statutes and Ordinances which were Erroneous Wicked and Repugnant to all Law and Reason not only in his Life but after he was Dead neither regarding the Danger of his Soul or the utmost Destruction of his Kingdom or Liege People 32. In the Eleventh year of the said 5 5 Ib. n. 49. King Richard at his Mannor of Langley in the presence of the Dukes of Lancaster and York and many other Lords desiring as it seemed That his Uncle the Duke of Glocester there also present might Trust and have Confidence in him of his own accord Sware upon the Venerable Sacrament of the Lords Body placed upon the Altar That he would pardon unto him all things which were said to be committed against his Person and that he should never receive any Damage for them yet afterwards the said King notwithstanding this Oath caused the Duke for those Offences horribly and cruelly to be Murdred damnably incurring the Guilt of Perjury 33. After a Knight of the Shire 6 6 Ib. n. 50. who had a Vote in Parlement impeached the Arch-Bishop of Canterbury publickly before the King and all the States of the Kingdom upon certain Defects committed against the King with little Truth as 't was said Altho he offered presently to answer what was objected against him and desired to be admitted by the King so to do sufficiently trusting as he said to demonstrate his Innocency yet the same King contriving by all the Ways and Means he could to oppress and reduce to nothing the State of the Arch-Bishop as the Event shewed kindly spake to and earnestly desired him that he would say nothing then but expect a more fit time That day being past for five days and more together the King deceived him advising and perswading him not to come to Parlement but to remain at his own House promising that in his absence he should not receive injury but the said King in that Parlement Banished the Arch-Bishop during his
a Token of his Intention as was said before the Arch-Bishop taking King Henry by the Right Hand led him to the Royal Throne and when the same King had Kneeled and Prayed a while before it the Arch-Bishop of Canterbury the Arch-Bishop of York assisting him placed him therein the People for great Joy Shouting mightily When the Shouting was over 4 Ib. n 55. the Arch-Bishop of Canterbury made a short Preachment or Collation as 't is called upon the Roll his Text or Theme was Vir dominabitur Populo 1 Sam. c. 9. v. 17. The English Version of the whole Verse according to the Vulgar Edition runs thus And when Samuel saw Saul the Lord said unto him Behold the Man whom I spake to thee of this same shall Rule over my People Iste dominabitur Populo meo In this Collation he makes a Comparison between King Richard who he makes a Child and his whole Government a Childish Acting and King Henry a Perfect Wise Man In this Comparison he makes use of several Places of Scripture but how properly or how to the purpose belongs not to this Place to say At length he insinuates That by Childish Government the Nation had been in great Danger but now they were freed from it because a Man will Reign to wit he that says not as a Child but one of Perfect Reason I came not to do my own Will but the Will of him that sent me that is God And therefore we may not only say of this Man That he will think of things in Wisdom but also as a Man and not as a Child In sensu cogitabit circumspectionem Dei He will in earnest think of the Circumspection or Providence of God id est circumquaque diligenter aspiciet ut Dei voluntas non sua fiat that is he will look diligently every way about him that God's Will not his own may be done and so in the Place of a wanton Child a Man Rules over the People and such a Man that it may be said The King shall Reign and he shall be a Wise Man and do Judgment and Justice in the Land Which Collation ended 5 Ib. n. 56. King Henry to quiet the Minds of his Subjects said publickly these Words SIRES I Thank God and zowe Spirituel and Temporel and all the Astates of the Lond and do zowe to wyte it es noght my Will that no Man thynk that be waye of Conquest I wold Disherit any Man of his Heritage Franches or other Ryghts that hym aght to have no put hym out of that that he has and has had by the gude Lawes and Custumes of the Rewme except those Persons that has ben agan the gude Purpose and the comune Profyt of the Rewme And forthwith 6 Ib. n. 57. it being considered that the Throne being Vacant by the Cessation and Deposition of King Richard the Power of all the Justices Sheriffs and other Officers through the Kingdom ceased lest Justice might be delayed to the Grievance of the People he Named his Principal Officers and Justices who took the usual Oaths And forthwith Proclamation was made by the King's Command That on Monday next after the Feast of St. Michael a Parlement should be held in that Place and that on Monday next following on the Feast of St Edward the Coronation should be at Westminster and that who claimed any Service then might put in their Petitions before the Steward Constable and Marshall of England where they should receive full Justice And for the shortness of Time assigned for the Sitting of the Parlement the King made Protestation it was not his Intention it should be any Prejudice to the States of his Kingdom or that it should be made an Example for the future but that it was only for the Profit of the Kingdom and specially to spare the Labour and Expences of his Lieges and that the Grievances of the People might have speedy Remedy All which things being finished 7 Ibm. n. 58. the King rose from his Throne and beholding the People with a chearful Countenance departed and the same Day in the White Hall in Alba Aula he had a great Entertainment for the Noble and Gentlemen who were there in great Numbers These things were done on Tuesday the 30th of September And afterwards on the next day 8 Ibm. being Wednesday the Deputies or Proctors before mentioned went to Richard late King in the Tower as they had been enjoined William Thirnyng Justiciary for himself and Fellow-Proctors in the Name of all the States and People notified to Richard and fully declared the Admission of his Renunciation and the Manner Cause and Form of the Sentence of his Deposition and presently Resigned the Homage and Fealty that had been made to the late King Richard as follows The Words 9 9 Ibm. n. 59. which William Thirnyng spake to Monsieur Richard late King of England at the Tower of London in his Chamber there on * * Note this Wednesday was Octob. 1. Wednesday next after the Feast of St. Michael the Archangel SIRE IT is wele known to zowe That ther was a Parlement somond of all the States of the Reaume for to be at Westmynstre and to begynne on the Teusday in the morrow of the Fest of Seint Michell the Archaungell that was zesterday by cause of the whiche Sommons all the States of this Lond were there gadyrd the whiche States hole made thes same Persones that ben comen here to zowe nowe her Procuratours and gafen hem full Auctorite and Power and charged hem for to say the Wordes that we sall say to zowe en her Name and on their Behalve that is to wytten The Bishop of St. Assa for Ersbisshoppes and Bisshoppes the Abbot of Glastenbury for Abbotes and Priours and all other Men of Holy Chirche Seculers and Rewelers the Erle of Gloucestre for Dukes and Erles the Lord of Berkeley for Barones and Banerettes Sire Thomas Irpyngham Chamberleyn for all the Bachilers and Commons of this Lond be South Sire Thomas Grey for all the Bachilers and Commons by North and my Felawe Johan Markham and me for to come with hem for all thes States And so Sire these Wordes and the doying that we sall say to zowe is not onlych our Wordes bot the Wordes and the Doyings of all the States of this Lond and our Charge and in her Name And he answered and said That he wyst wele that we wold not say but as we were charged Sire ze remembre zowe wele That on Monday on the Fest of St. Michell the Archaungell ryght here in this Chambre and in what Presence ze Renounsed and Cessed of the State of Kyng and Lordeship and of all the Dignite and Wyrshipp that longed therto and assoiled all zour Lieges of her Legiance and Obeysance that longed to zowe uppe the Forume that is contened in the same Renunciacion and Cession whiche ze redde zour self by zour Mouth and affermed it by zour Othe
and zour own Writing upon which ze made and ordeyned zour Procurators the Ersbysshopp of Zork and the Bysshopp of Hereford for to notifie and declare in zour Name thes Renunciacion and Cession at Westmynstre to all the Stotes and all the People that was ther gadyrd bycause of the Sommons forsayd the whiche was done zesterday by thes Lordes zour Procuratours and wele herde and understonden thes Renunciation and Cession were pleinelich and frelich accepted and fullich agreed by all the States and People forsayd And over this Sire at the instance of all thes States and People there were certain Articles of Defauts in zour Governance redde there and though we le herd and pleinelich understonden to all the States forsayd hem thoght hem so trewe and so notoric and knowen that by the Causes and by mo other os thej sayd and having consideration to zour owne Wordes in zour own Renunciacion and Cession that ze were not worthy no sufficient ne able for to Govern for zour owne Demerites os it is more pleinerlich contened therein hem thoght that wos reasonable und cause for to Depose zowe and her Commissaries that her made and ordeined os it is of Record ther declared and decreed and adjudged zowe for to be Deposed and Pryved and in dede Deposed zowe and Pryved zowe of the Astate of Kyng and of the Lordeship contened in the Renunciacion and Cession forsayd and of all the Dignity and Wyrsshipp and of all the Administration that longed therto And we Procuratours to all these States and People foresayd os we be charged by hem and by hir Auctorite gyffen us and in her Name zelde zowe uppe for all the States and People soresayd Homage Liege and Feaute and all Legeance and all other Bondes Charges and Services that longe therto And that non of all thes States and People fro this tyme forward ne bere zowe Feyth ne do zowe Obeysance os to thar Kyng And he answered and seyd That he loked not therafter but he seyd That after all this he hoped that is Cosyn wolde be good Lord to hym And further to compleat his Design on the 1 Rot. Claus 1 Hen. IV. part 1. M. 37. Dors Summons of Parlement 30th of September he by Information of the Arch-Bishop That by the Acceptation of the Renunciation of King Richard his Cession and Deposition this Parlement was determined issued in his own Name Writs to the Lords and for Elections of Members Knights Citizens and Burgesses of the House of Commons to meet on Monday next following being the Day of St. Faith and all this to be done and Returns made in six Days time So as these were the same Members who had been Summoned by King Richard to meet on the morrow of St. Michael as appears beyond Contradiction from the Writs 2 Append. n. 114. for their Expences which were Dated on the 19th of November the last Day of the Parlement and they were allowed their Expences for Fifty one Days besides the time of coming to and returning from Parlement in which Fifty one Days was included the 30th of September and all the Days between that and St. Faith's Day the 6th of October to make up the Number In this Parlement 3 Rot. Parl. 1 Hen. 4 n. 1. Pronunciation du Parlement or Declaration of cause of Summons The Cause of Summons Summoned and Holden at Westminster by King Henry IV. on Monday the Day of St. Faith which was the 6th of October in the first Year of his Reign sitting on his Royal Seat in the Great Hall at Westminster in the Presence of him and all the Lords Spiritual and Temporal and Commons and many other Gentlemen and Commons in great Number Thomas de Arundel Arch-Bishop of Canterbury declared the Cause of Summons and rehearsed how on Tuesday last past on the morrow of St. Michael King Richard II. after the Conquest summoned his Parlement to be then holden which Summons was of no force or effect by reason of the Acceptation of the Renunciation made by King Richard and the Deposing of him as without doubt he had informed King Henry before he issued his Writs for this Parlement And then proceeds That on the same Tuesday 4 Ibm. n. 2. in Presence of King Henry the Lords Spiritual Temporal and Commons he shewed that this Honourable Kingdom of England being the most abounding Angle with Riches had been a long time Governed by Children and the Counsels of young People so as the Kingdom was in point of Perdition and great Desolation and Mischief mightily to be lamented if it had not been that Almighty God of his Great Grace and Mercy had sent a Knowing and Discreet Man for the Government of the Nation who by the Aid of God will be Governed and Counselled by the Sages and Ancients of his Kingdom for the Aid and Comfort of himself and the whole People And said further That Men ought especially to consider how this Honourable Kingdom could so long continue under such mischievous Government Waste and Destruction which if it had been under Good and Just Government by Sage and Sufficient Counsel as it ought of Right it would have been in Riches Goods and other Advantages the most considerable of any Kingdom in the World 5 Ibm. n. 3. Et sur ceo mesme Lercevesque prist pur son Theame le Parole de Machabeorum primo in disent Incumbit nobis ordinare pro Regno And then the Arch-Bishop took for his Theme the Words in the first of Machabees saying Incumbit nobis ordinare pro Regno 1 Mac. Chap. 6. Vers 57. They are the last Words of a very long Verse and nothing to his Purpose nor what went before or what follows after The English Version is thus The Affairs of the Realm depend upon us But to go on with his Harangue Incumbit nobis ordinare pro Regno cest a dire c. That is to say It is the King's Will to be Counselled and Governed by the Honourable Sages and Discreet Persons of his Kingdom and by their Common Counsel and Assent do the best for the Government of himself and his Realm not desiring to be Governed by his own Will voluntary Purpose or singular Opinion but by Common Advice Counsel and Assent as abovesaid And the same Archbishop said further mesme Lercevesque dit outre There was not such a Kingdom in the World that could live without the Assistance of other Kingdoms so Honourably so Graciously and so Fully si honourablement ne graciousment ne plentiousment as might the Honourable Kingdom of England which God keep safe and maintain 6 Ib. n. 4. And upon this he alledged certain Authority saying Quod inter omnia regna hoc principatum tenet Of all Kingdoms this is the chief and shewed That to the Government of every Kingdom Three things especially were required that is to say Justice The Observation of the Laws And that every Person should rule
and govern himself according to his Estate and Degree alledging many Causes for which this Kingdom ought to be graciously cherished and held in the greatest Honour And said further it was the King's Will to make good these Three things by the help of God and further said That it was the King's Will in especial that Holy Church should have and enjoy all her Liberties and Franchises and that all the good Statutes and Ordinances made in the time of his Noble Progenitors should be firmly observed and kept and that all the Lords Spiritual and Temporal Cities and Burghs and all others should have and enjoy their Liberties and Franchises according to the Grants made by his Noble Progenitors abovesaid And that no Man ought to speak of or Censure any thing done this Parlement for it was the Will of the King in his Faith and Conscience to do equal Justice to all Parts according to the Will Ayd and Grace of God given unto him This was the Arch-Bishops Discourse upon his Theme 7 Ib. n. 5. And then he told the Lords and Commons That on Monday next King Henry by the Grace of God purposed to be Crowned at Westminster for the Performance of which Solemnity Advice and Deliberation ought to be had in divers manners the mean time and therefore on behalf of the King he requested them to continue the Parlement de continuer cest Parlement until Tuesday the Morrow after the Coronation and after that day forward the King would use his Diligence for the Exploit of Parlement que de celle jour en avant mesme le Roy ferroit sa diligence pur lesploit de Parlement that is for the Dispatch of Parlement Business Whereupon by the King's Command Henry Percy Earl of Northumberland and Constable of England asked all the Lords Spiritual and Temporal and Commons if they agreed to the Continuance who severally Examined queux ont severalment examinez agreed to the said Continuance After this follows the Names of the Triers of Petitions in Parlement and the whole Process against Richard the Second tho Transacted on Michaelmass-Day and the day following a Week before this Parlement began as hath been shewn And immediately the 8 Rot. Parl. 1 Hen IV. n 66. The Parlement 21st of Rich. II. annulled whole Parlement of the 21st of Richard the Second with all Circumstances and Dependences thereupon were revoked and annulled for ever And the Parlement holden 9 Ib. n. 67. The Parlement of the 11th of Richard II. confirmed in the Eleventh year of King Richard the Second was revived and confirmed to be kept according to the effect and purport of the same as being for the good and common profit of the Kingdom pur le bien comune profit du Roialme The Lords and others 1 Ib. n. 68. The Lords and others Judged 21st of Rich. II. restored c. and their Heirs c. that were fore-judged in the 21st of Richard the Second are restored to the same State and Condition they were in at the time of their Judgments given Upon 2 Ib. n. 71. Henry's Eldest Son made Prince of Wales and Heir of the Crown the Motion of the Arch-Bishop of Canterbury the Lords and Commons having severally been asked about the King's Eldest Son answered and assented That Henry his Eldest Son should be made Prince of Wales Duke of Cornwall and Earl of Chester and also if his Father should dye he being alive they would accept him as Right Heir of the Kingdom and Crown and obey him as their King and Liege On Thursday the 23d of October 3 Append. n. 115. the Arch-Bishop of Canterbury on behalf of the King charged all the Lords Spiritual and Temporal and all others there being upon their Allegiance that what should be then spoken or propounded should be kept secret and no ways discovered to any Man living and then it was demanded by the Earl of Northumberland for the security of the King and all the Estates of the Kingdom what should be done with King Richard to keep him in safe-guard saving his Life which the King would have done by all means To which Question all the Lords Spiritual and Temporal whose Names do there 4 See Appen as above King Richard ordered to be imprisoned follow being severally Examined answered it seemed to them he should be put into safe and secure Guard and in such a Place where there was no Concourse of People and that he be kept by sure and sufficient Persons and that none that had been Servant to him should be about his Person and this should be done in the most secret manner that might be Upon propounding this Question Thomas Merks Bishop of Carlisle gave his Reasons against these Proceedings in the following The Bishop of Carlisle's Speech thereupon Speech as it is to be found in the First Part of Sir John Hayward's 5 P. 100 101 102 c. The Speech Life of Henry the Fourth Printed at London 1599. This Question Right Honourable Lords concerneth a Matter of great Consequence and Weight the determining whereof will assuredly procure either safe Quiet or dangerous Disturbance both to our particular Consciences and also to the Common State Therefore before you resolve upon it I pray you call to your Considerations these Two things First whether King Richard be sufficiently Deposed or no Secondly whether King Henry be with good Judgment or Justice chosen in his Place For the first Point we are to Examine Whether a King being lawfully and fully instituted by any just Title may upon imputation either of Negligence or of Tyranny be Deposed by his Subjects Secondly What King Richard hath omitted in the one or committed in the other for which he should deserve so heavy Judgment I will not speak what may be done in a Popular State or in a Consular in which although one beareth the Name and Honour of a Prince yet he hath not Supream Power of Majesty but in the one the People have the highest Empire in the other the Nobility and Chief Men of Estate in neither the Prince Of the first sort was the Commonwealth of the Lacedemonians who after the Form of Government which Licurgus framed often-times Fined oftentimes Fettered their Kings and sometimes Condemned them to Death Such were also in Caesar's time the Petty King 's of every City in France who were many times Arraigned upon Life and Death and as Ambiorix Prince of Leodienses confesseth had no greater Power over the People then the People had over them Of the second Condition were the Roman Tranquil in Caligula Tacitus in prooemio Emperours at the first of whom some namely Nero and Maximinus were openly condemned others were suddenly surprized by Judgment and Authority of the Senate and such are now the Emperours of Germany whom the other Princes by their Aristocratical Power do not only restrain but sometimes also remove from their Imperial State Such are also
the Kings of Denmarke and Swevelande who are many times by the Nobility dejected either into Prison or into Exile Such likewise are the Dukes of Venice and of some other Free States in Italy and the chief Cause for which Lewes Earl of Flaunders was lately expelled from his Place was for drawing to himself Cognisance in Matters of Life and Death which high Power never pertained to his Dignity In these and such like Governments the Prince hath not Regal Rights but is himself subject to that Power which is greater then his whether it be in the Nobility or in the Common People but if the Soveraign Majesty be in the Prince as it was in the Three first Empires and in the Kingdoms of Judea and Isreal and is now in the Kingdoms of England France Spain Scotland Muscovia Turkey Tartaria Persia Aethiopia and almost all the Kingdoms of Asia and Africk altho for his Vices he be unprofitable to the Subjects yea hurtful yea intolerable yet can they Lawfully neither harm his Person nor hazard his Power whether by Judgment or else by Force for neither one nor all Magistrates have any Authority over the Prince from whom all Authority is derived and whose only Presence doth silence and suspend all inferiour Jurisdiction and Power And as for Force what Subject can attempt or assist or counsel or conceal Violence against his Prince and not incur the high and heinous Crime of Treason it is a common saying Thought is free free indeed from Punishment of Secular Laws except by Word or Deed it break forth into Action Yet the secret Thoughts against the Sacred Majesty of a Prince without attempt without endeavour have been adjudged worthy of Death and some who in Auricular Confession have discovered their Treacherous Devices against the Person of their Prince have afterwards been Executed for the same All Laws do exempt a Mad Man from Punishment because their Actions are not governed by their Will and Purpose and the Will of Man being set aside all his Doings are indifferent neither can the Body offend without a corrupt or erroneous Mind yet if a Mad Man draw his Sword upon his King it hath been adjudged to deserve Death And lest any Man should surmise that Princes for the Maintenance of their own Safety and Soveraignty are the only Authors of these Judgments let us a little consider the Patterns and Precepts of Holy Scripture Nebuchadnezzar King of Assyria wasted all Palestine with Fire and Sword oppugned Hierusalem a long time and at last expugned it slew the King burnt the Temple took away the Holy Vessels and Treasure the rest he permitted to the Cruelty and Spoil of his Unmerciful Soldiers who defiled all Places with Rape and Slaughter and ruinated to the Ground that flourishing City After all the glut of this Bloody Butchery the People which remained he led Captive to Chaldea and there erected his Golden Image and commanded That they which refused to Worship it should be cast into a Fiery Furnace What Cruelty what Injustice what Impiety is comparable to this And yet God calleth Nebuchadnezzar his Servant and promiseth him Hire and Wages for his Service And the Prophets Jeremiah and Baruch did write unto the Jews to pray Jerem 25. 9. Ezceh 29 18. Jerem. 29. 7. Baruch 1. 11. for the Life of him and of Baltazzar his Son that their days might be upon Earth as the days of Heaven And Ezechiel with bitter Terms abhorreth the Disloyalty of Zedechia because he revolted from Nebuchadnezzar whose Homager and Tributary he was What shall we say of Saul Did he not put all the Priests to Execution because one of them did Relieve Holy and Harmless David Did he not violently Persecute that his most Faithful Servant and Dutiful Son in Law During which Pursuit he fell twice into the Power of David who did not only spare but also Protect the King and reproved the Pretorian Soldiers for their Negligent Watch and was touched in the Heart for cutting away the lap of his Garment and afterwards caused the Messenger to be slain who upon Request and for Pitty had lent his Hand as he said to help So did Domitian put to death Epaphroditus Nero's Libertine because he helped Nero although in Love to kill himself So did Seâ—erus kill all the Killâ—rs of Pertinax his Predâ—â—â—ssâ—r and likewise Vitellius did put to Death all the Murderers of Galba Theophilus Emperor of Graecia caused all those to be sâ—ain who had made his Father Emperor by killing Leo Armenius And Alexander the Great put to cruel Execution those that had sâ—ain Darius his Mighty and Mortal Enemy forward the voluntary Death of that Sacred King As for the contrary Examples as that of Jehu who slew Jehoram and Ahazia Kings of Israel and Juda they were done by express Oracle and Revelation from God and are no more set down for our imitation then the Robbing of the Aegyptians or any other Particular and Priviledged Commandement but in the general Precept which all Men must ordinarily follow not only our Actions but our Speeches also and our very Thoughts are strictly charged with Duty and Obedience unto Princes whether they be Good or Evil The Law of God ordaineth Deut. 17. 12. Psal 105. Exod. 22. 28. Act. 23. 5. Roman 13. 1 13. Titus 3. 1. 1 Pet. 2. 13 14 17. 2 Tim. 2. 2. That he which doth Presumptuously against the Ruler of the People shall dye And the Prophet David forbiddeth to touch the Lords Anointed Thou shalt not saith the Lord rail upon the Judges neither speak Evil against the Ruler of the People And the Apostles do demand further That even our Thoughts and Souls be obedient to Higher Powers And lest any should imagine that they meant of good Princes only they speak generally of all and further to take away all doubt they make express mention of the Evil. For the Power Rom. 13. 2. John 19. 11. and Authority of Wicked Princes is the Ordinance of God and therefore Christ told Pilate That the Power which he had was given him from above and the Prophet Esay calleth Cyrus being a Prophane and Heathen Prince the Lord 's Anointed Esay 45. 1. For God stirreth up the Spirit even of Wicked Princes to do his Will and as Johosaphat said to his Rulers they execute 2 Chron. 36. 22. not the Judgment of Man but of the Lord in regard whereof David calleth them Gods because they have their Rule and Psal 28. Authority immediately from God which if they abuse they are not to be adjudged by their Subjects for no Power within their Dominion is superior to theirs but God reserveth them to the sorest Tryal Horribly and suddenly saith the Wiseman Sap. 6. shall the Lord appear unto them and a hard Judgment shall they have The Law of God commandeth That the Child should be put to Death for any contumely done unto the Parents But what if the Father be a Robber
Christus flest and blode And furthermore we beleve that the hole body of Christ is hole in the Sacrament and hole in everyche partye of the Sacrament of the autere And also we beleve that Christ is verayliche in the same Sacrament in his bodely presence to savacion to alle hem that worthelyche receyven that same Sacrament to hem that unworthelyche receyven to her dampnation and this oure beleve and in this we bene thorou grace of God we will dye in remission of our synnes And therefore we pry alle cristen men to whom this confession schal come to that Èe bere us witness of this beleve at the day of dome before the heyÈest judge Jhesu Christ and pray for us for charite In the Name of God Amen Y John Aston Prist unworthely required of my Lord the Erchebishop of Canturbery the nyntene day of June in the Èer of grace c. ut supra in the hous c. to say what I felyde in the matyr of the Sacrament of the autere Y have knowlechyde Èit I do that the selfe bred that the Prist holdes in his hondes is made thorou the vertue of the Sacramental wordus verely the self cristus body that was borne of the maden Marye and takun and suffrede deth on the Crosse and thre days lay in the sepulcre and the thridde day ros from deth to the lyve and steyed up into Heven and syttes on the ryght hond of God and in the day of dome schal come to dome the quikke and the ded and over this I beleve generally alle that holy writte determynet in worde and in understonding or what ever holy Kirke of God determynes of all this when I was required specially to say what I felde of this proposition Material brede leves in the Sacrament aftur the Consecration I make this protestation that I never thouÈt ne tauÈt ne prechide that proposition For I wote wele that the mater and speculation thereof passes in heyÈte myn understondyng and therefore al 's mykele tellys openly for to leve in this matyr I beleve and of this matyr or of any other touching the ryght beleve of holy Kirke that is nouÈt expresside in holy writte I beleve as our modur holy Kirke beleves and in this belyve I will dye and of this thing I beseke all men and alle wymmen to whom this confession come to to bere me witnesse before the highest juge at the day of dome As Wyclifs Followers increased very much their Opinions multiplied and they Published and Preached different Opinions one from another 9 Col. 2657. n. 60. 2658 2659 2660 2661. The same Author notes above Sixty he heard preached at Leâ—â—esteâ— different from or over and above what were first published by Doctor Wyclif And further this Author Reports 1 Col. 2706. n. 60. 2707 2708. That the number of the Lollards mightily increasing they also taught many new and very strange Opinions Twenty five he notes whereof several not taught before amongst which with some others the Sixteenth is that of the Quakers about Swearing Quod non licet aliquo modo jurare it is not lawful to swear in any manner and when they witnessed any thing these were their Words I am sykyr it is soth I am sure it is Truth Or thus Without doubt it is so All I find further of the Wyclyfists or Lollards in this Reign are chiefly several Writs or Commissions upon the Arch-Bishop's Petition granted to him and his Suffragans and others to imprison the Preachers and Dispersers of Errors and Heresies Pat. 9. Ric. II. M. 12. Also a Commission to certain Persons to search for and seize Books containing Heresie c. and bring them before the Council and make Proclamation That none should buy or sell them under Pain of Imprisonment and to arrest and imprison all such as complied not with the Proclamation Pat. 11. Ric. II. M. 20. There were many in the City of London about this time that frequented Conventicles in Private Places where the Opinions and Conclusions of VVyclif and his Followers were Debated and Taught The King sends his Writ to the Major and Sheriffs of London to make Proclamation from time to time within the City and Liberties That no one of whatever State Degree Sex or Condition they might be should presume to make any such Conventicles or Meetings under pain of forfeiting whatever they could forfeit and imprisâ—nment of their Bodies during the King's Pleasure Claus 15. Ric. II. M. 18. Dors in all these Writs and Commissions King Richard took upon himself the Title of Defender of the Faith in these Words as an Introduction to what he would do against Errors and Heresies Nos zelo fidei Catholicae cujus sumus esse volumus Defensores We for the Zeal of the Catholick Faith of which we are and will be Defenders I shall mention one Record more of a Memorandum of an unusual Oath taken by some of this sort of Men when they relinquished what they had defended and taught and returned to the Practices Opinions and Vsages of the then Church Be it remembred 2 Clause 19 Rich. II. M. 1â— that on the First day of September in year of the Reign of King Richard the Second after the Conquest the 19th VVilliam Dynett Nicholas Taylour Nicholas Poucher and VVilliam Steyâ—our of Nottingham personally appearing in Chancery every one by himself took an Oath in the Form following I VVilliam Dynett befor yhowe Worschipfull Fader and Lord Archbishop of â—borke and yhour Clergie with my free will and full avysede swere to God and to all his Seyntes upon this holy Gospelle that fro this day forthward I shall worship ymages with preyng and offeryng unto hem in the worshipp of Seintes that they be made after And also I shall never more despyse pygremage ne states of Holy Chyrche in no degree And also I shall be buxum to the Lawes of Holy Chyrche and to yhowe as myn Arch-Bishop and to myn other Ordinaries and Curates and keep tho Lawes upon my power and meynteyn hem And also I shall never more meynteyn ne techen ne defenden errours conclusions ne techynges of the Lollards ne swych conclusions and techynges that men clepeth Lollards Doctryne Ne I shall her books ne swych books ne hem or ony suspect or diffamede of Lollardery resceyve ne company withall wittingly or defend in tho Matters And if I know ony swych I shall withall the hast that I may do yhowe or els your ne r officers to wytten and of her bokes And also I shall excyte and stirr all tho to good Doctrine that I have hindered with myn Doctryne upp my power And also I shall stonde to your declaration wych es heresie or errour and do thereafter And also what penance yhe woll for that I have done for meynteyning of this false Doctrine I shall fulfill it and I submit me thereto up my power And also I shall make no other Glose of
Execution was done thereon And for that his Oath the Right of the Crown of England his Reasons and Claims as also the Right Reasons and Claims of all others might be safe He tho' the Commissioners had brought to him what they had done yet because the Prelates Earls Barons and all other Great Men of the Kingdom in whose presence he would have his own and the Reasons of others propounded and heard according to whose Advice he intended to proceed especially for that they were bound with him by Oath to Observe and Maintain the Laws or Rights of the Kingdom and his Crown Jura Regni Coronae Nostrae were not then present with him And for that likewise those who were to propound their Reasons concerning this Matter had no notice of it without whom a good End could not be put to it and because this Business might be Dispatched without further Delay willing to have Conference and Treaty with the Prelates Earls Barons and Gentlemen aforesaid and with others of the Community of the Kingdom upon this Affair and other arduous Matters touching himself and the state of the Kingdom he Commanded firmly The Sheriffs commanded to send to this Parlement the same Knights Citizens and Burgesses that were in the last enjoining him to cause to come before him at his Parlement at Lincoln in the Octaves of St. Hilary next coming two Knights of his Country or Baylywick That is to say those which came for the Community of the County by his Precept to the last Parlement and also the same Citizens and the same Burgesses for all the Cities and Burghs within his Bayliwic and if any of them were Dead or Infirm then to cause others to be chosen and come in their stead so as that they might be present at the Day and Place aforesaid with full Power to hear and do what should be then ordained for the common Profit of the Kingdom And to cause to be allowed to the same Knights Citizens and Burgesses their reasonable Expences in coming to staying at and going from the Parlement and further he commanded the Sheriff publickly to make Proclamation in the County That all those who would put in any Exceptions against the Perambulations should appear before him in Parlement to shew them Witness the King at the Rose September 26. in the 28th Year of his Reign This is the Full of the Writ of Summons in English wherein the Reasons are given why the Perambulations could not be Received and Considered sooner The Writs to the Bishops Earls and Barons were in the same Form and Words as to the Reasons c. In like manner he 1 Ibm. wrote to the Sheriffs of all Counties there particularly named as well those that had Forests in them as others except Cheshire which then sent no Members to Parlement He 2 Ibm. M. 2. wrote also to the Commissioners that made the Perambulations to be at this Parlement and bring with them those Perambulations and all things that concerned them Amidst these importune Pressures of the Nobility 3 Walsingh f. 78. N. 20. The K. marcheth into Scotland with an Army The Scots demand their K. John Baliol and to Redeem their Lands Both their Requests denied They appear in a mighty Body yet fly before the King the King marched with an Army into Scotland and coming into Gallowey the Great Men of the Scots desired him to permit John Baliol peaceably to Reign over them and that he would suffer them to Redeem their Estates of such English as he had given them to declaring if he would not they would themselves as well as they could But he granted neither of their Petitions Within few Days after the Scots with their Leaders appeared in a mighty Body thinking to Surprize the King and his Army but he and his Son marching toward them they fled to the Hills and Woods About this Time the Scots knowing all things Saleable at Rome richly Present or Bribe the Pope moving him for his Advice and Assistance against their Lord the King of England Scoti cognoscentes 4 Ibm. N. 30 40. The Scots apply themselves to the Pope for Advice and Assistance against K. Ed. Romae omnia venalia Donis Dominum Papam uberrimis ditaverunt petentes ab eo Consilium pariter ac auxilium contra Dominum suum Regem Angliae The Pope complies makes the Archbishop of Canterbury his Legat sends him Letters to deliver to the King with order to shew him his Commands In 5 Ibm. and Mat. West f. 435 346 437. He makes the A. B. of Canterbury his Legate to the King and by his Letter claims Scotland as the Right of the Church of Rome which he Claims the Kingdom of Scotland as belonging to the Church of Rome by full Right pleno jure Requires and Exhorts him in the Name of God to Discharge out of Prison and Restore to their former Liberty all Bishops Clercs and Ecclesiastic Persons and to remove all his Officers whom by Force and Fear he had appointed to Govern that Nation under him and Willed him if he pretended any Right to the Kingdom of Scotland or any Part of it not to omit to send Commissioners fully instructed within six Months after the receipt of his Letters to his presence he being ready to do him Justice as his beloved Son and inviolably to observe his Right if he had any Bringing back and reserving by the Tenor of these Letters all Questions Strifes Controversies whatsoever between him the Kingdom of Scotland the Prelates Clercs and Secular Persons which then had been were or might be for the future to the Cognisance and Determination of the Roman See Decreeing it void if any thing should be attempted to the contrary Dated at Anagni the 5th of the Calends of July or 27th of June A. D. 1300. in the 28th of Ed. 1. The Archbishop was full of Obedience and very quick in repairing He readily obeys the Pope's Commands to the King who was then in Scotland 6 Ibm Fol. 438. l. 2. in the A. Bishop's Letter to the Pope or Certificate what he had done in this Affair And persuades the King to comply with the Pope's Letter preparing for his Journey immediately upon the Receipt of the Pope's Commands and came to him August 25th being then at Dinner in the midst of his Army who appointed him the next Day for the Delivery of the Message which was done and the Pope's Letters presented to the King before Edward his Son the Earls Barons and Knights of his Army in great Multitude who causing them to be Read publickly were patiently heard of all when the Archbishop a sure Friend to the Scots Encouraged the King and Persuaded him 7 Ibm. N. 50. in the same Letter as he says himself by all Ways and Means he could or knew to Obey and Comply with all things in those Letters Then 8 Ibm. withdrawing by the King's Command while he Deliberated
he was True Pope and as so and Head of Holy Church ought to be Accepted and Obeyed And to this all the Prelates Lords and Commons Agreed The next Year the People 3 Stat. at Large 3 Ric. II. c. 3. Complained and Petitioned shewing That Cathedral and Collegiate Churches Abbeys and Priories and other Benefices of the Kingdom were filled with Men of another Language and of strange Lands and Nations and sometimes Enemies of the King and Kingdom which never made Residence in the same or perform'd the Charge thereof Whereupon the King by Advice and Common Assent of all the Lords Temporal Ordained That none of his Liege People of what Condition soever they were should take or receive any Procuracy Letter of Attorney Farm or other Administration by Indenture or in any other manner of any Benefice within England but only of the King's Subjects without his special Licence by Advice of his Council nor send out of the Kingdom any Gold Silver or other Treasure or Commodity by Bill of Exchange Merchandise or any other manner And those that did the contrary to incur the Pain and Punishment contained in the Statute of Provisors This Prohibition upon Complaint and Petition of the Commons by Assent of the King and Lords Temporal proved ineffectual for the End intended and therefore it was reinforced And it was agreed by the King in his 7th Year the Lords Temporal and Commons that the same 4 Ib 7 Ric. II. c. 12 Roi. Paâ—l 7 Ric. n. II. 49. Statutes shall keep his Force and Effects in all Points and that all Aliens that have purchased or shall purchase any Benefice Dignity or Thing of Holy Church and in his Proper Person take Possession of the same or use it himself within the Kingdom to his own Benefit or of any other without special Licence of the King shall be comprised in the same Statute But this Reinforcement had not its due Effect 5 Ibm. 12 Ric. II. c. 15. and therefore it was Ordained and Assented That no Liege-man of the King of what Estate or Condition that he be great or little should pass over the Sea or send out of the Realm of England without special Leave of the King himself to provide or purchase for himself Benefice of Holy Church with Cure or without Cure And if any do and by virtue of such Provision accept by him or any other any Benefice of the same Kingdom that at that time the same Provisor shall be out of the King's Protection and the same Benefice void so that it should be lawful to the Patron as well Spiritual as Temporal to present to the same an able Clerc at his Pleasure Nor could this hinder Provisions Gifts and Sale of Benefices of all sorts by the Pope for in the 6 Ibm. 2d Statute made 13 Ric. II. c. 2. Rot. Parl. n. 32. next Year the Commons require the King the Statute of Provisors made in the 25th of Edward I. might be recited in Parlement and then it was Ordained and Established That if any make Acceptation of any Benefice of Holy Church contrary to that Statute and duly proved and be beyond Sea he should abide Exiled and Banished out of the Realm for ever and his Lands and Tenements Goods and Chattels forfeit to the King And if he be within the Kingdom he should be also Exiled and Banished and incur the same Forfeiture and avoid the Realm within six Weeks next after such Acceptation And if any one receive such Person after that six Weeks he shall be Banished and incur the same Forfeiture And it was then also 7 Ib. c. 3. Rot. Parl. n. 44. Ordained and Established That if any Man brought or sent within the Kingdom or the King's Power any Summons Sentence or Excommunication against any Person of what Condition that he be for the cause of making Motion Assent or Execution of the Statute of Provisors as above he should be Taken Arrested and put in Prison and forfeit all his Lands and Tenements Goods and Chattels for ever and moreover incur the Pain of Life and Member And if any Prelate make Execution of such Summons Sentences or Excommunications That his Temporalties be taken and abide in the King's hands till due Redress and Correction be thereof made And if any Person of less Estate than a Prelate of what Condition that he be make such Execution he should be Taken Arrested and put in Prison and make Fine and Ransom by Discretion of the King's Council Notwithstanding this Care and these Laws made against the Pope's Practices in this Kingdom 8 Ibm. 16. Ric. II. c. 5. Rot. Parl. n. 20. the Commons in the Parlement in the 16th of this King shewed unto him grievously Complaining That forasmuch as he and all his Liege People ought of Right and of old time were wont to Sue in the King's Court to recover their Presentments to Churches Prebends and other Benefices of Holy Church to which they have Right to Present the Conisance of Plea of which Presentment belongeth only to the King's Court of the old Right of his Crown used in the time of his Progenitors Kings of England and when Judgment was given in the same Court upon such a Plea and Presentment the Arch-Bishops Bishops and other Spiritual Persons which had Institution of such Benefices within their Jurisdictions were bound and had made Execution of such Judgments by the King 's Commands all the time aforesaid without interruption for no Lay Person could make such Execution and also were bound of Right to make Execution of many other of the King's Commands of which Right the Crown of England hath been peaceably seized until this Day But now of late divers Processes have been made by the Bishops of Rome and Censures of Excommunication upon certain Bishops of England because they had made Execution of such Commands to the open Disherison of the Crown and Destruction of the King his Laws and all his Kingdom if Remedy be not provided 9 Ibm. They further Complain of the Pope's Translation of Bishops from Bishoprick to Bishoprick and sending some out of the Kingdom who were fit to be of the King's Council and able to give him Advice without his Assent and against his Will 1 Ibm. So that the Crown of England which hath been so free at all times That it hath been in Subjection to no * So the Words in the Parlement-Roll 16 Ric. II. n. 20. Earhtly Sovereign but immediately Subject to God and to none other in all things touching the Regaly or Royalty of the Crown should be submitted to the Bishop of Rome and the Laws and Statutes of this Realm by him defeated and destroyed at his Will in perpetual Destruction of the King his Crown and Regaly and all his Realm which God forbid Wherefore they 2 Ibm. declare That they and all the Liege Commons of the Kingdom would be with the King his Crown and