him sailed ouer and subdued withall assuming to himselfe and sonne the Sirname Britannicus And honoured Plautius with his presence in his Triumphs for Britaine giuing him the right hand ascending the Capitoll and besides graced diuers Captaines that serued vnder him in that warre with Triumphall Ornaments So great an esteeme was held of the Conquest of so small a part of this Iland 13 But the Silures that is those of South-wales could not be brought to beare the Romish yoke of subiection who besides their owne courage relied much vpon the strength and valour of their Prince Caractacus whose Coine we haue heere expressed a man which had waded thorow many dangers and in many aduentures both prosperous and luckie had gotten such reputation that hee was preferred before all the British Captaines This Generall knowing his owne strength vnable to match the enemie by policie thought to supplie that want and hauing aduantage of the Countrey remooued the warre vnto the Ordouices which is now North-wales where all ioined to him that either feared or disdained to hold peace with the Romans Heere he chose a place to encampe his host euen on the top of a hill naturally defensed from accesse and where any doubt was there he stopped vp all passage with heapes of stones in maner of a Rampire neere the foot whereof ran a Riuer with a foord somewhat dangerous and not easily found where a troope of his best souldiers were set in order to receiue the Enemie The more to animate their mindes the Leaders went about exhorting and encouraging the Souldiers taking all occasions of feare from them and putting them in hope with all inducements of resolution especially Caractacus who coursing hither and thither protested that day and that battle should bee the beginning either of a recouered libertie or else a perpetuall seruitude and bondage and euer hee called vpon the names of his valiant Ancestors who formerly had chased Caesar the Dictator out of the I le by whose valour they were deliuered from Hatchets and Tributes and enioied freely their wiues and childrens bodies vndefiled The Souldiers also themselues shewed as great forwardnesse and as Echoes redoubled his words vowing according to the Religion of their Countrie neuer to yeeld for wounds or life which they all were ready to sacrifice in the cause of their liberties This their apparant resolution much appalled the Romans cheerefulnes and most of all the Captaines and Leaders who before their faces saw the Riuer on both sides of them had the hanging hils and the Fort commodious for the enemie but deadly vnto them all which notwithstanding the common Souldiers despised and demanded the battle Ostorius whose studie was chiefly to performe the parts of a Generall passed the Riuer with some little difficultie and leading his Armie vp to the Rampire was met with such a showre of darts that many therewith were wounded and slaine Yet at length breaking downe those rude compacted stones ioined battle with the enemie and afront came close to handy strokes wherein the Britaines hauing better courage then armour for they had neither headpeece nor coat of defense were sore galled with their Iauellings and two-handed swords and so disordered that they betooke themselues to flight 14 This victorie as it was almost vnexpected so was it made famous by the taking of Caractacus wife daughter and brethren and himselfe flying for succor and protection to the Brigantes was as we haue before shewed by Cartismandus their Queene betraied and deliuered into the hands of the Conquerours after his nine yeeres most generous resistance Whereupon his fame being carried ouer the Ilands and spread abroad thorow the Prouinces was also renowned in Italie and they desired to see him that so many yeeres had contemned their forces Neither was his name meanly esteemed of at Rome for whilest Caesars worth and power was there commended a more glorious conceit was held of the conquered Caractacus and against his comming to the Citie the people from all parts were assembled as to behold some notable and most rare spectacle The Emperours Guard in armes and good order were placed in the field before the Campe thorow whom the Captiues and Trophies were carried and presented after this manner first the vassals of Caractacus going formost bowed their bodies to the people as they passed and seemed by their ruefull countenances to discouer the sense of their calamitie The caparisons his chaines and other spoiles gotten in the warres were carried after them Then Caractacus his brethren wife and daughter followed and last of all himselfe whose attire and stout behauiour filled the peoples eies with wonder and delight His bodie for the most part was naked and painted with figures of diuers beasts Hee ware a chaine of iron about his necke and another about his middle the haire of his head hanging downe in curled lockes couered his backe and shoulders and the haire of his vpper lip parted on both sides lay vpon his breast Neither was his behauiour lesse noted then the strangenesse of his habit for he neither hung downe his head as daunted with base feare nor craued mercie as the rest but with a confident spirit and bold countenance held on till he came before the Imperiall Seat where making his stand and a while beholding Caesars Maiesty at last with great courage spake to this purpose 15 If my moderation in prosperitie had beene answerable to the greatnes of my birth and estate or the successe of my late attempts to the resolution of my minde I might haue come to this Citie rather as a friend to be entertained then as a Captiue to be gazed vpon neither wouldst thou disdaine to haue receiued me on termes of amitie and peace being a man of roiall descent and a Commander of many warlike Nations But what cloud soeuer hath darkened my present lot yet haue the Heauens and Nature giuen mee that in birth and minde which none can vanquish or depriue mee of I well see that you make other mens miseries the subiect and matter of your triumphs and in this my calamitie as in a mirror you now contemplate your owne glory Yet know that I am and was a Prince furnished with strength of men and abiliments of warre and what maruell is it if all bee lost seeing experience teacheth that the euents of warre are variable and the successe of policies guided by vncertaine fates As it is with me who thought that the deepe waters like a wall inclosing our Land and it so situated by heauenly prouidence as in another world might haue beene a sufficient priuilege and defense for vs against forraine inuasions but I now perceiue that the desire of soueraignty admits no limitation and if you Romans must command all then all must obey For mine owne part while I was able I made resistance and vnwilling I was to submit my necke to a seruile yoke
the winning of France In which inward warre among our selues hath beene so great effusion of the ancient noble blood of this Realme that scarcely the halfe remaineth to the great infeebling of this noble Land beside many a good Towne ransacked and spoiled by them that haue beene going to the held or comming from thence And peace long after not much surer then warre So that no time there was in which rich men for their money and great men for their Lands or som or other for som feare or some displeasure were not out of perill for whom trusted he that mistrusted his owne brother whom spared he that killed his own brother or who could perfectly loue him if his owne brother could not what maner of folke hee most fauoured we shall for his honour spare to speake of howbeit this wot you well all that who so was best bare alway least rule and more suite was in those dayes vnto Shores wife a vile and abhominable strumpet then to all the Lords in England except vnto those that made her their Protector which simple woman was well named and honest till the King for his wanton lust and sinnefull affection bereft her from her husband a right honest substantiall yong man among you And in that point which in good faith I am sorry to speake of sauing that it is in vaine to keepe in counsell that thing which euery man knoweth the Kings greedy appetite was insatiable and euery where ouer all the Realme intollerable for no woman there was any where yong or olde rich or poore whom hee set his eie vpon in whom hee liked any thing either person or fauour speech pace or countenance but without all feare of God or any respect of his owne honour murmur or grudge of the world he would importunately pursue his appetite and haue her to the great destruction of many a good woman and great dolour to their husbands and other their friends which being honest people of themselues so much regard the cleannesse of their hoâ—…e the chastitie of their wiues and their daughters that they had rather loose all they had besides then to haue such a villany done against them And albeit that with this and his other importable dealings the Realme was in euery part annoyed yet specially you heere the Citizens of this noble Citie aswell for that amongst you is most plenty of all such things as minister matters to such iniuries as for that you were neerest at hand seeing that neere heereabout was commonly his most abieing And yet you bee the people whom he had a singular cause well and kindly to entreat as any part of the Realme not onely for that the Prince by this noble Cittie as his speciall Chamber and the speciall well renowned Citie of his Realme much honourable fame receiueth amongst all other nations but also for that yee not without your great cost and sundry perils and ieopardies in all his warres bare euen your speciall fauour to his part which your kind mindes borne vnto the house of Yorke sith he hath nothing worthily acquitted there is one of that house that now by Gods grace better shall which thing to shew you is the whole summe and effect of this our present errand It shall not I not well need that I rehearse you againe that yee haue already heard of him that can better tell it and of whom I am sure you will better beleeue it and reason is it so to bee I am not so proud to looke therefore that you should recken my words of as great authoritie as the Preachers of the word of God namely a man so learned and so wiâ—…e that no man better wotteth what he should say and thereto so good and vertuous as he would not say the thing which hee wist hee should not say in the Pulpit namely into the which no honest man commeth to lye which honourable Preacher you well remember substantially declared at Paules Crosse on Sunday last past the right and title that the most excellent Prince Richard Duke of Gloucester now Protector of this Realme hath vnto the Crowne and Kingdome of the same For as the Worshipfull Doctor substantially made knowne vnto you the children of King Edward the fourth were neuer lawfully begotten forasmuch as the King leauing his very wife Dame Elizabeth Lucy was neuer lawfully married vnto the Queen their mother whose blood sauing that he set his voluptuous pleasure before his honour was full vnmeet to be matched with his and the mingling of those bloods together hath bin the effusion of great part of the noble blood of this Realme Whereby it may well seeme the marriage was not well made of which there is so much mischiefe growne For lack of which lawful coupling as also other things which the said worshipfull D. rather signified then fully explaned and which things shall not be spoken for mee as the thing wherein euery man forbeareth to say what hee knoweth in auoyding displeasure of my noble Lord Protector bearing as nature requireth a filiall reuerence to the Dutchesse his mother For these causes I say before remembred that is for lacke of other Issue lawfully comming of that late noble Prince Richard Duke of Yorke to whose royall blood the crowne of England and France is by the high authoritie of Parliament entailed the right and title of the same is by the iust course of inheritance according to the common law of this Land deuolued and come vnto the most excellent Prince the Lord Protector as to the very lawfully begotten sonne of the fore-remembred noble Duke of Yorke Which thing well considered and the great knightly prowesse pondered with manifodle vertues which in his noble person singularly abound the nobles and commons also of this Realme and specially of the North part not willing any bastard blood to haue the rule of the Land nor the abusions before the same vsed any longer to continue haue condiscended and fully determined to make humble petition to the most puissant Prince the Lord Protector that it may like his Grace at our humble request to take vpon him the guiding and gouernance of this Realme to the wealth and encrease of the same according to his very right and iust title Which thing I know well hee will be loth to take vpon him as he whose wisedome well perceiueth the labour and study both of minde and body that shall come therewith to whomsoeuer so will occupie the roome as I dare say he will if hee take it Which roome I warne you well is no childs office and that the great wiseman well perceiued when hee sayd Vaeregno cuius Rex puer est Woe is that Realme that hath a childe to their King Wherefore so much the more cause wee haue to thanke God that this noble Personage which so righteously is intituled thereunto is of so sad age and so great wisedome ioyned with so great experience which
Peace he had found most faithfull for his Warres and so arriued at the Mount Grampius where the Britaines had lodged themselues before and as men nothing deiected by the vnfortunate chance of the former battaile had now prepared themselues attending only for Reuenge or Seruitude And being taught that common danger must be repelled with mutuall Concord by Leagues and Embassages they assembled the power of all their Cities together aboue thirtie thousand armed men as by view was taken besides an endlesse number of youth which daily flocked vnto them and many lustie Old men renowmed in the former warres and bearing the Badges due to their honour at what time Galgacus for vertue and birth of all the Leaders the Principall man seeing the multitude hotly demaund the Battell is said to haue vsed this or the like speech 8 When I behold this present Assemblie and consider the cause of this instant necessitie I haue reason to presume that this day and this our agreement in consent will giue a happie beginning to our freedome and an end of troubles vnto our Iland For wee which inhabite these furthest Promontories know no Land beyond vs whereunto wee may flie nor no Seas left vs now for safetie the Romane Nauie thus as you see surueying our Coasts So that combat and armes which men of valour desire for honour the very dastard of force must now vse for his securitie Wee that are the flower of the British Nobilitie and are seated here in the vttermost part of the I le saw neuer yet the borders of those Countries which serued in slauerie our eies being vnpolluted and free from all contagion of Tyrannie Our former Battailes fought with the Romanes had their euents yet so that refuge and hope rested still in our hands wee haue hitherto liued in libertie whereas none beside vs are free vs hitherto this Corner and secret recesse hath defended now the Vttermost point of our Land is laid open and things the lesse they haue beene within knowledge the greater the glorie is to atchieue them But what Nation is there now beyond vs what else see we but Water and Rocks and the Romanes within Land-lords of all nay rather Robbers of all both in Land and Sea whose intollerable pride by humble subiection in vaine shall wee seeke to auoid If the Country bee rich they seeke to winne wealth if poore to gaine glorie but neither East nor west can satisfie their greedie affection much lesse this cold North can set an end to their desires To kill to spoile and take away by force that falsely they terme Empire and Gouernement and when all is made a waste wildernesse that they call Peace Most deare vnto man are his Children and blood but those are pressed for their warres and serue as their slaues we know not where our Goods are their tributes our Corne their prouision our Wiues Sisters and Daughters in Warre violently forced in Peace vnder title of friends and guests shamefully abused and our own Bodies worne consumed in pauing of Bogs and other seruile drudgeries with thousands of stripes and many indignities more Slaues which are borne to bondage are sold but once and after are fed at their Owners expences but Britanie daily buyeth daily feedeth and is at charges with her owne Bondage We are the last to be conquered and therefore is our destruction most sought as being the most vile in account No Fields we haue to manure no Mines to be digged no Ports to trade in and to what purpose then should they reserue vs aliue Besides the Manhood and fierce courage of the subiect pleaseth not much the iealous Soueraigne and this Corner being so secret and out of the way the more securitie it yeeldeth vs in them it workes the greater suspition Then seeing all hope of sauour is past let vs take courage to defend and maintaine our owne safetie as well as our honour The Icenians led by a Woman fired the Colonie forced the Castles and if that luckie beginning had not beene ended in a carelesse security the Southerne Britaines might with ease haue shaken off the yoake We as yet neuer touched neuer subdued and borne to bee free not slaues to the Romans wee I say now are to make proofe of our valour and to shew in this encounter what men Caledonia hath reserued for her selfe And do you thinke that the Romanes are as valiant in Warre as they are wanton in Peace I assure you nothing lesse for not by their Vertues but by our Iarrings they are growne into fame and of the enemies faults they make vse to the glory of their owne Armie composed we know most of diuers Nations and therefore as in prosperitie they hold not alalwaies together so doubtlesse if fortune turne aside their seruices will appeare vnlesse you suppose the Gauls and Germanes and to our shame be it spoken many of our owne Nation which now lend their liues to establish a forraine Vsurper bee lead with hearts affection whereas contrariwise it is apparant that Terrour and Distrust weake workers to conserue loue are the onely cause which once remoued then those that haue made an end to feare will soone begin to hate All things that may incite vnto victorie are for vs the Romanes haue no Wiues to harten them on if they faint no Parents to vpbraid them if they flie most of them haue no Countrie at all or if they haue it is by intrusion taken from others A few fearefull persons stand here before vs trembling and gazing at the strangenesse of the heauen it selfe at the Sea and at the Woods whom the Gods haue deliuered mewed vp and fettered into our hands Let not their braue shewes of glistering Gold or Siluer any way dismay you which of themselues neither offend nor defend And be you well assured amongst our enemies wee shall finde many on our side The Britaines will agnize their owne Cause The Gauls will remember their wonted libertie and former estate And the rest of the Germanes will leaue and forsake them as of late the Vsipians did What then shall we feare The Castles are emptie the Colonies peopled with aged and impotent persons the free Cities discontent and in factions whilest those which are vnder obey with ill will and they which doe gouerne rule against right Here you see before vs is the Generall and the Armie on each side Tributes Seruitudes and other miseries inseparable which whether we shall continue for euer or cast off subiection as free-borne Britaines it lyeth this day in this Field and your approued manhoods Wherefore I beseech you in ioyning Battell beare in your Minds your worthy Ancestors your Selues and following Posterities which if you faile shall for euer liue in subiection and slauerie 9 This speech was so vehemently deliuered and so cheerefully of them all receiued that with songs and confused acclamations after
they shew themselues to be fraile men but onely those things wherein without scruple we ought to imitate them and therefore they are wiselie and warilie to be praised that Gods prerogatiue may be reserued intire to himselfe 43 Some other learned men there were who liued neere to that time whose censure was farre sharper then that Monks Such were some of those Diuines of Paris mentioned by Caesarius the Monk who saith The Question was debated to fro amongst the Doctors in the vniuersitie of Paris whether Thomas were damned or saued amongst whom Rogerius the Norman auowed that hee deserued death and damnation for his contumacie against his King the Minister of God but Petrus Cantor alleadged that his Miracles were signes of his saluation c. An indeede if all bee true which one man hath written in fiue bookes containing his 270. Miracles wee cannot but acknowledge him both the greatest Saint and the meriest too that euer gotte into heauen so ridiculous are many things recorded of him As that of Ailwardus who for stealing of a great whetstone which the Author that writes it best deserued beeing depriued of his Eies and Virilities by sentence of Law vpon praier to S. Thomas he had all restored againe Yea euen a Bird hauing beene taught to speake flying out of her cage and ready to be seized on by a Spar-Hauke said onely S. Thomas helpe mee and her Enemie fell presently dead and shee escaped and belike reported it Of which great power in this Saint how canne wee doubt sith wee read that euen in his life time the * Virgin Marie her selfe was contented to bee his Semster and sowed his shirt with red silke Many of which kind of follies if that word be sharp enough might bee heere inserted were not our present argument more serious and these forgeries fit onely for Monks to endite children to read and fooles to beleeue 44 The report of the tragicall outrage on the Arch-bishop comming to the old King at Argenton in Normandy there was no kind of sorrow into which without respect to Maiestie or State hee fell not and not without cause as knowing how plentifull an Hydra of mischiefes vpon the opinion of his priuitie with the fact would rise if not preuented But the murtherers fearing least this their fact would displease the king in whose reuenge they did it fled into the North and abode one whole yeere in the kings Castle of Knaresborough in Yorkeshire perhaps by fauour of the yongue king none of them dying for the fact by way of iustice because the Clergie exeÌ„pting themselues from the bonds of ciuill Laws the punishment of a Priest-killer as by some it appeareth was not then the death of the Body by execution of capitall sentence but of Soule by Excommunication till about the twentie third yeer of this king it was at the instant suite of Richard Arch-bishop of Canterburie and of the Bishops of Winchester Elie and Norwich yeelded that such persons should also suffer losse of life 45 The king therefore vpon protestation to submit himself to the iudgement of such Cardinals Legats as the Pope should send to inquire of the fact kept his Realme from Interdiction though the king of France the Archbishop of Seâ—…s and Theobald Earle of Blois had outgone his Embassadors with their inflaming letters conteining the descripion of that Parricide 46 Henry therefore among so many perplexities rising out of the Archbishops murther saw no way so ready for the calming his owne perturbations or for the auerting mens thoughts from the consideration of that scandalous tragedie as to vndertake some great and noble enterprise which now offered it selfe very seasonably For Ireland a verie spatious and plentifull Iland and lying commodiously for the vses of the English burned in it self with ciuill diuisions kindled among the petty Kings and Princes thereof while Rotherick the Great called O Conor Dun Prince of Connaught abusing his power and the aduantage of the times to the oppression of his Neighbours sought to make himselfe the vniuersall King thereof hauing already inuaded the Title Stile of KING AND MONARCH OF IRELAND And this his purpose was much aduanced by the fatall and familiar errour of proceedings in like cases for the Irish Princes either through distrust or pride forbearing to vnite their forces against the common enemy while each prouides for one they are all as it were ouer-come 47 Moreouer Dermot Mac Murrgh in that time of the Irish Pentarchie or fiue-fold Kingdome hauing secretly stolne away the wife of Rotherick a light woman and consenting or plotting rather vrging the rape it selfe added to Rotherickes ambition a iust desire of reuenge for so notable impudent and publike iniurie so much the more odious in Dermots person for that hee was old neyther was this all for the causes of this change were higher 48 The onely disposer and translator of Kingdomes is God in Ireland to moue him to offence without which no Kingdom is transferred against the people thereof all such sinnes abounded as commonly forgoe the greatest changes for not onely the manners of the Nation were extremely corrupted but the Christian faith it selfe decaied barbarisme ouerrunning the one and more then superstitions the other But it may seeme by some Authors that King Henries particular inducements to that Action were both an ancient title vnto that Kingdome deriued from his ancestors the kings of England for many ages before him and many vnsufferable wrongs by their Piracies vnto the English Nation buying and selling their Captiues and vsing Turkish tyranny on their â—…dies which made the Irish Clergy themselues confesse that they had deserued no other then that their land should bee transferred to that Nation whom they had so cruelly handled Notwithstanding king Henry who knew how great and dangerous tumults the Popes had raised on small occasions thought his way would bee much easier if he went onward with the Popes good fauour which hee easily obtained so liberall is his holinesse of that which is none of his for à fee viz. a penny yeerely to bee paid to Saint Peter of euery house in Ireland Touching which point Rossus of Warwick no Protestant I assure you saith That Englands King is not bound to rely on the Popes graunt for Ireland nor yet to pay that taxe because hee had claime to that Kingdome by an hereditary right and that the Pope had no temporall interest therein as his fauorites pretend the often-mentioned Monke of Newborough can tell vs who saith that Nunquam externa subiacuit ditioni Ireland was neuer subiect to any forraine command 49 God Almighty therefore did now put it into the heart of Henry for the reforming of that kingdome to make a Conquest thereof hauing in his infinite wisedome before hand fitted all circumstances needfull to concurre for inducing so warie and frugal a Prince
posterity The conquest of Dublin being speedily and most happily atchieued not long after Dermot Mac Murgh Father in law to the Earle whom the Irish for his affection to the English call Dermot Ningall that is Dermot the Strangers friend breathed his last at Fernys dying plenus dierum 59 The fame of these successes wafting ouer the Irish seas and comming to the King made him resolue to passe in person thither that he might haue the honor of the Conquest and not approuing such forwardnes in the Earle who as some say went against his expresse commandement and indeed Giraldus who liued at that time cals his leaue no better then an Ironicall leaue and for that hee knew not to what insolency such faire fortune might in time allure as also for that they seemed to handle the Natiues too rigorously thereupon hee forbids by his Proclamations any vessell to carry any thing out of his Dominions into Ireland and commands all English to returne before Easter and leaue off their attempts or their estates in England should be seised for the King By which Edict these affaires were brought into fearefull extremity which was changed into better condition by the trauell of Herucius de Monte Marisco on the behalfe of the Earle and the aduenturers who finding the King in Glocestershire with an Army for Ireland appeased his displeasure vpon these termes That the King should haue the head City of the Kingdom Dublin with the adiacent Cantreds with all the Coast townes and Castles the rest to remaine to the Conquerours to hold of the King and of his Heires and so to bee vnder his protection as Subiects ought and as they were before which subiection it seemed to the King they ment to haue renounced 60 The Kings goodly Nauy lay in Milford hauen to which as hee iournied hee thundred against the Welsh Nobility comming to entertaine him for suffering Strongbow to depart At last being imbarkt he had a faire Gale which set him safe in Ireland with all his Forces at Waterford where first hee commits to prison Robert Fitz-Stephen whom the Citizens presented bound hauing held him in custody vnder color of doing good seruice because hee had entred Ireland without the Kings particular leaue yet soon after the King released him but depriued him of Weisford and the territories Then takes he the homages of such petty Kings and principall persons of the Irish as repaired dismissing them in honourable sort meaning to winne them by gentle and not exasperating courses and marching through Ossyrie to Dublin he takes ô Rotherick the King of Connaughts homage by Hugh Lacie and William Fitz-Aldelm last ly at Dublin he kept his Christmas in Royall state which to behold very many of the Irish Princes came thither 61 Mindfull now of his duty to God the Iland being calme and silent through the presence of such a mighty Monarch the most noble King of England and triumphator of Ireland as mine Author stileth him causeth a Synode to be holden at Cassils for reformation of the Irish Church where amongst sundry other constitutions to which the Irish Clergy did willingly submit it was decreed That all the Church-lands and their possessions should be altogether free from the exaction of secular men that from thenceforth all Diuine things should be handled in euery part of Ireland in such sort as the Church of England handleth them For saith the Constitution it is most iust and meete that as Ireland hath by Gods mercy obtained a Lord and King out of England so also that from thence they should receiue a better forme of life and maners then heretofore they vsed 62 The King continuing his politicke iealousies and thinking Strongbow to be as yet too great draws from his dependency Raimund Milo Cogan William Makarel and other of the best Captaines makes them his owne by bounty But before hee could fully establish that Kingdome the inseparable euil fate thereof which would neuer suffer it to enioy the blessed benefite of exact ciuility other affaires which he esteemed more necessary call him away and therefore hauing left Hugh Lacie at Dublin hee sets saile for England vpon Easter Monday and landed happily at Saint Dauids in Pembrookeshire from whence with all speed hee posteth into Normandie 63 In Normandy there attended for his arriuall two Cardinals sent as Legates at his owne request for taking his purgation concerning the death of the Archbishop of Canterbury whereof vpon oath that hee was no way consenting to that cruell and sacrilegious reuenge and declaring withall his infinite sorrow for hauing in his anger giuen occasion by rash words for others to doe that deede and giuing further oath to performe enioined penances he was by them absolued The condition of his absolutions were That hee should at his owne charge maintaine two hundreth Souldiers for an whole yeere for defence of the holy land That he should suffer Appeales to be made freely That hee should reuoke all customes introduced to the preiudice of the Churches liberty That he should restore and make vp the possessions of the Church of Canterbury That hee should freely receiue all such as were in banishment for Beckets cause c. Not long after Thomas was canonized by Pope Alexander and so not onely the victorie clearely giuen him against King Henry but a triumph also 64 Now beganne the wombe of rebellion and vnnaturall conspiracies to disclose the mischiefes which were ordained to exercise this right redoubted King and Warriour â—…hatched here at home by the malice some say of Eleanor his Queene at such time as hee was absent in Ireland so that as one writes God stirred vp the Kings owne bowells against himselfe Causes of this vnhappie dissention there were many First a Queene and Wife violentlie vindicatiue for wrong done vnto her Bed by the King who was immoderatlie addicted to varietie of loues then Ambition in an euill-naturd Child and lastlie pernicious Actors and instruments who for their owne ends nourished this cursed mischiefe so as if we should out of our stories recapitulate the seuerall occasions taken by the sonne against the father wee should rather shew you the colours then the causes For none of those causes which his Son pretended seemed great enough with men that feare God to beare out such continuall diuisions as followed 65 The head of this conspiracy was verie great and iustly verie terrible for on the side of King Henry the sonne there were the Kings of France and Scotland Richard and Geffrey two yonger sonnes of the King of England whom by their mothers perswasions they forsooke to follow the yongue King Dauid the Scotish Kings brother Philip Earle of Flanders a Peere of France and a potent Prince Matthew Earle of Boloigne Theobald Earle of Blois Hugh Earle of Chester Robert Earle of Leicester Hugh Bigot Earle of Norfolke Roger Mowbray and other great ones
sonne Iohn first in the Catalogue of the Conspirators against him in that action hee bitterly cursed the howre of his birth laying Gods curse and his vpon his sonnes which hee would neuer recall for any perswasion of the Bishoppes and others but comming to Chinon fell there grieuously sicke and feeling death approch hee caused himselfe to be borne into the Church before the Altar where after humble confession and sorrow for his sinnes hee departed this life 100 It shal not in contempt of humane glory be forgotten that this puissant Monarch being dead his people presently left him and fell to spoile all he had leauing him naked of whom one saith trulie and grauely Verè melmuscae c. Surely these flies sought honey these wolues a Carcase these Ants grain for they did not follow the Man but the spoile and bootie Neither must it be vnremembred that the fierce and violent Richard now heire of all comming to meete his Fathers body roially adorned for the buriall according to the Maiestie of his estate the very Corse as it were abhorring and accusing him for his vnnaturall behauiours gushed forth bloud whereat Richard pierced with remorse melted into flouds of teares in most humble and repentant maner attending vpon the remaines of his vnfortunate Father to the Graue His Wife 101 Eleanor the Wife of King Henry was the eldest of the two Daughters and the sole Heire of William Duke of Aquitaine the fift of that name the ninth in succession sonne of Duke William the fourth her Mother was Daughter to Raimund Earle of Tholoâ—…se and her great Dowrie was motiue first to King Lewis who had two daughters by her Mary and Alice and after to King Henry to marry her There are of the French Historians who report that king Henry had a former wife and that shee bare vnto him Prince Henry but Writers of our owne affaires and some also of the French acknowledge but onely Eleanor for his Wife Certain it is that king Henries times were much famoused by two Women of much differing qualities the one was his renowmed Mother Matildis whose Epitaph thus comprised part of her glory Ortu magna viro maior sed maxima prole Hic iâ—…cet Henrici Filiâ—… Sponsa Parens Here Henries Mother Daughter Wife dothrest By Birth much more by Spouse by Child most blest The other was this Eleanor his Wife the first cause of these bloudie Warres which long after continued as hereditary betwixt England and France yea and the bellows of that vnnaturall discord betwixt her husband and his sonnes Shee much out-liued her husband as a bad thing stickes longest beeing so happie as to see three of her sonnes aduanced to the Crowne and so vnhappie as to see two of them in their graues for she liued till King Iohns time His Issue 102 William the eldest sonne and first child of King Henry and Queene Eleanor his wife was borne before his father was King and while hee was but Duke of Normandy in the eighteenth yeere of the raigne of King Stephen 1152. and the fourth yeere after his father beeing then King and in the second yeere of his raigne the Nobilitie of England sware vnto him their fealtie as to the heire apparant of the Kingdome at the Castle of Wallingford in Barkeshire but he deceased the yeere following being the third of his fathers raigne and the fift of his owne age 1156. He was buried in the Monastery of Reading at the feete of his great Grandfather King Henrie the first 103 Henrie the second sonne of King Henry and Queene Eleanor beeing borne the last of Februarie 1156. was their heire apparant after the death of his brother William was Duke of Normandie Earle of Aniou and Maigne and was crowned King of England at Westminster by Roger Arch-bishop of Yorke the fifteenth of Iulie 1170. His wife was Margaret daughter of Lewis the Yonger King of France married to him at Nuburgh in Normandy the second of Nouember 1160. crowned Quene at Winchester by Rotrocke of Warwicke Arch-bishop of Roan the 21. of Nouember 1163. and suruiuing him was remarried to Bela King of Hungarie He died without issue before his father at Marcell in Tourâ—…ine the eleuenth of Iulie the twentie sixe yeere of his fathers raigne 1182. and was buried in the Church of our Lady at Roan 104 Richard the third sonne of King Henrie and Queen Eleanor was born at Oxford in the Kings Pallace there called Beau-Mount in September the fourth yeere of his fathers raigne 1157. He proued a Prince of great valor and was therefore surnamed in French Cuer-de-Lion in English Lions-Heart hee was created Earle of Poyton and had the whole Dutchie of Aquitaine for which he did his homage to King Lewis the Yonger of France in the eighteenth yeere of his fathers raigne 1170. yet afterward he conceiued some discontentment against his father and maintained warres vpon him but was reconciled againe into his loue and succeeded him in his Kingdome 105 Geffrey the fourth sonne of King Henrie and of Queene Eleanor was borne the twentie third of September in the fifth yeere of his fathers raigne 1159. Hee married Constance daughter and heire of Conan Duke of Britane and in her right was Duke of Britane and did his homage to his brother Henry for the same Dutchie and receiued the homages of the Barrons of the same hee died at Paris in the thirtie two yeere of his fathers raigne 1186. the nineteenth of August and is buried in the quire of our Ladies Church there hee had issue Arthur Duke of Britane borne after his fathers decease the heire apparant of King Richard and by some supposed to bee made away by King Iohn and also Eleanor called the Daâ—…sell of Britane who died in prison in the raigne of King Henrie the third 106 Philip the fifth sonne of King Henrie and Queene Eleanor may bee mistrusted to be mistaken by Antiquaries of our time as misunder-standing the ancient writers who mentioning the birth of Philip the Kings sonne might by good likelihood be thought to meane Philip sonne of Lewâ—… the Yonger King of France who was borne about this time and was after King of the same Countrey But Mr Thoâ—…as Talbot an exact trauailer in genealogies hath not onely set him downe in this place amongst the children of this King but also warranteth the same to bee done with good authoritie howsoeuer it is apparant his life was verie short 107 Iohn the sixth and yongest sonne of King Henrie and Queene Eleanor was borne in the thirteenth yeere of his fathers raigne in Anno 1166. hee was iestinglie surnamed by his father Sans-terre in English without Land because hee was borne last as if there had beene nothing left for him Notwithstanding soone after hee was created Earle of Mortaigne and had more-ouer by degrees the Earledomes of Cornwall and Glocester the Counties of Derby and Lancaster the Honors of Wallinford and Nottingham the Castles of
a new as firme a league as they could during that martiall pilgrimage 18 Tancred was at that time king of Sicilia by vsurpation after the death of William who had married Ioan sister of king Richard whom at that time vpon displeasure and quarrell being prisoner Tancred set at liberty sending her in honourable manner to her brother and did yeeld to sundry Articles and also present paiments of ample summes Feare wrought on both parts for Richard being among strangers and not very sure of the French seised vpon a strength of the Griffons people much redoubted in those parts till the arriuall of the English in a tumult tooke the City of Messana it selfe where he displaied his Enâ—…ignes till for the French Kings loue hee was content to disaduance them and to entrust the City to the Knights Templars and Hospitalers vntill Tanâ—…red had fulfilled all such things as Richard did challenge to bee due being many 19 Vpon great deliberation therefore the Sicilan King made answere that hee had already paide to his sister late Queene of that Iland a very great quantity of coine in recompence of her Dowry or Ioincture and would satisfie all his other demands concerning the Legacies intended by his Predecessor king William to the Father of king Richard as far as hee ought according to the custome of that kingdome and thereupon gaue vnto him for the quit-claime of his sisters Ioincture twenty thousand ounces of gold and farther to bee acquitted of all other claims pretences as also in consideration that Arthâ—…r Duke of Britain nephew next heire of king Richard if Richard died without issue shold take to wife the daughter of K. Tancred he paid him other twenty thousand ounces of gold and of his owne accord and for King Richards loue and for the loue of the English Nation which saith our Author was then in greatest reputation through the kingdome of Sicilie as also to bee the more assured of performance he gaue him other twenty thousand ounces of gold besides afterward foure great Ships called Vrsers 〈◊〉 fifteene Gallies 20 King Richard on the other side not to bee wanting to any matter which in honor and equitie might bee expected of him besides letters Patents hee put in vpon their Oaths for his sureties two Arch-bishops and two Bishops of his owne there present and twentie great Lords and principall men his subiects whose names because many of their posterities doe yet stand are heere inserted out of the saide letters Patents as they are vpon record in Houeden Iordanus de Hâ—…z his Constable Wilielâ—…us de Curci Richardus de Camuilla Girardus de Talebot Robertus Sabluil Guido de Croâ—…n Guarinus filius Geroldi Bertramus deVerdun W. Chamberlangus de Tankeruile Robertus de Nâ—…uo-burgo Hugo Bardolf Wigain de Cheresburg Gilbertus de Wascuil Hugo le Bruin Iohannes de Piller Amaâ—…ri de Muntford Andreas de Châ—…uenni 〈◊〉 de Forz Gaufridus de Rancuâ—…e Amaâ—…ri Torell and other not named 21 Moreouer for finall assurance he offereth that Pope ClemeÌ„t should vndertake for performance of his part in the said agreement and that the said Clement would accordingly vndertake hee requests him by most officious letters giuing him leaue without any reluctation to put his dominions vpon any his breach vnder seuerest censures 22 This peace and accord being happily thus concluded King Tancred hauing most roially and louingly feasted the King of England for three daies and three nights in a Castle of his discouered vpon the way at Tauernium in his returne a foule and vnprincely conspiracie of Philip whome one of our Writers cals the vain-glorious King against the head and safety of King Richard which comming to bee scanned betweene the two Kings the French charged the English with picking of quarrels and added that vnlesse Richard maried his sister Alice according as hee ought hauing beene contracted long before together he would be his enemy while he breathed whereunto King Richard being pressed did replie That his sister during the time of her abode in England had a child by his Father Henry King of England which he was ready to proue by many witnesses there present so that King Richard had farre more cause then a suspition of dishonesty which some write to refuse the marriage This falling out so shamefully Philip vpon certaine conditions betweene Richard and him left him at liberty to take a wife where he thought good but neuer as it may seeme forgaue him his euill will while they two liued together 23 And because acts of Christian remorse and humility are too rare among the Great ones of this vaine world it were a crime to pretermit the exemplar humiliation of this famous General K. Richard at this time who to vse my Authors words inspired with diuine grace and studying to fitte himselfe for the great attempt he had in hand was stung at the soule with so iust compunction for his sinnes that calling before him his Archbishoppes and Bishoppes into a Chappell at the house where he was lodged without the walles of Messana hee blushed not to make a penitent confession of his manifolde excesses humbly praying God of mercy and them as his subordinate Ministers of Absolution God saith Houeden respected him with eies of Mercy and gaue him a penitent heart so that from thenceforth hee proued a man fearing God eschuing euil and doing good O foelicem illum c. O happie he who so fals that he may rise more strong O happy he who after penitence relapseth not into fault and ruine 24 Wherupon addicting his mind to diuine contemplations meditation of the christian Church whose Champion now he was hee desired conference of one Ioachim a CisterciaÌ„ Abbot whose great learning and deepe vnderstanding in the Scriptures with an opinion of a Propheticall inspiration made him so famous ouer the world that King Richard sent for him being theÌ„ in Calabria neer Sicilie whom at his comming he heard preaching and expounding the Apocalypse of S. Iohn touching the afflictions of the Church and of Antichrist which saith hee was then borne and in the City of Rome and shall bee aduanced in the See Apostolicke of whom the Apostle said he should extoll himselfe aboue all that is called God and that the seuen Crownes were the Kings and Princes of the earth which obeyed him Surely neere about this very time hapned that in Rome which might seeme to giue great probability to that Abbots opinion especially if Emperours and Kings bee truely called Gods ouer whom Antichrist also should extol himself for in the same moneth that Richard left Messana was the Coronation of Henry the Emperour and his Empresse Constantia in S. Peters Church where Pope Celestine the very next day after his own consecration to the Papacie sate in his Pontificall chaire holding the Emperiall golden Crowne betwixt his feete and the
vs goe on they cannot escape the hand of God In all aduentures she was one and formost The English lost at this siege the Earle of Salisbury the Lord Molins the Lord Pâ—…ynings and many other But doe not rashly beleeue Serres in saying that of all sorts were slaine in such Sallies as the martiall Virgine made eight thousand Our Writers say but sixâ—… hundreth The Lord Talbot marched away with aboue nine thousand whom Ioan would not suffer the French to pursue In memory of this admirable deliuerance they of that City erected a monument where Charles the seuenth king of France and Ioan the Martiall maide were represented kneeling in Armour eleuating their eyes and handes to heauen in signe of thankes and acknowledgement 17 There was an interchangeable taking and recouering of Townes and places of importance vpon both sides The Lord Talbot tooke Lauall and the Earle of Suffolke puts himself into Iergeaux Thither the Duke of Alanson with Ioan and other great Captaines come which they force by assault Sir Alexander Pool the Earles brother was slaine with many others in the fight the Earle himselfe remained prisoner The Duke added some other places to this Conquest soone after his numbers are augmented by the repaire to him of Arthur Constable of France the Earle of Vandome the Lord Dalbret and others so that now their whole Army contayned about twenty and three thousand men With these they encounter the Lord Talbot who had scarce the fifth part of their numbers at a village called Patay whom they charged so sodainely that his Archers had no time to fortifie their battels after their manner with a Palizado or empaâ—…ement of stakes so that the chiefe fight must bee made vpon horsebacke After three houres bloudy resistance the English were put to the worst The Lord Scales the Lord Hungerford Sir Thomas Rampstone and euen the Lord Talbot himselfe being first wounded in the backe were taken The footmen enforced to trust to their swords vnder the shelter of such horsemen as remained retreated in order and came to a place of safety The English lost aboue a thousand the French aboue 600. This blow shooke the whole fabricke of the English greatnesse in France at the very foundations awaking multitudes euen of those who before had vowed fealty to the English and now had colour of diuine warrant for violating that vow to ioyne with the victors for the recouery of common liberty There followed the present reuolt of sundry townes neither was it long before Charles himselfe issues out in Armes recouers the City of Aunerre and Reims where according to the Maides direction hee was solemnly crowned King Hitherto shee might bee thought propheticall and fortunate It should seeme now that the chiefe part of her imployment was accomplished yet she flourished a while longer The Duke of Bedford to buttresse the shrinking state of English affaires in France and to encounter euill fortune in the face vpon the vnpleasant newes of Orleance rescued and Talbots taking musters his whole present forces which made aboue ten thousand English besides certaine wings of Normans with these he marcheth out of Paris and opposeth himselfe to the Current of Charles his new hopes who meant to attempt that City some of whose Citizens held strict and secret correspondence with him But vpon this affrontment he suspended the execution of that design hauing as then no hope to atchieue it The Regent returnes to Paris Ioane the Pucell disswaded Charles from fight 18 Places of speciall note as Campeigne and Beauuois yeelded themselues voluntarily to Charles The Regent hauing setled the Estate and Garrisons of the Chiefe City passeth into Normandy to prouide for a safe retreat there if perhaps the English by the ineuitable will of God should bee enforced to quit their other holdes and dominions which hee began to suspect for that he had intelligence of a secret purpose which the French pursued to winne the Burgundians from King Henries side While the Regent was absent vpon this occasion Charles got the Towne of Saint Denis a neighbour to Paris though hee held it not long by practise From thence he sends the Duke of Alanson and Ioane to trie their friends and fortunes at Paris They found not hoped successe for the English gaue them so rough an encounter that Ioan her selfe was wounded and the rest with much slaughter driuen to fall off The Regent hearing of these attempts entrusteth the Coast-Townes of Normandy to the care of Richard Duke of Yorke and Roan the Capitall City of that Dutchy to Edmund Duke of Sommerset himselfe speedes to Paris where he commends the souldiers and Citizens for that they had not imitated the disloyaltie of their Neighbours New supplies came out of England The next enterprize was to reduce Campeigne to obedience Iohn of Luxemburg with Burgundians and some English besiegeth it Here the glory of Ioan vnfortunately ended for comming to the rescue shee entred indeed but afterward sallying forth her troupes were beaten and her selfe being betrayed say her fauourers taken prisoner by the said Burgundian Knight who for the value of her ransome ten thousand pounds Turnoys and three hundreth Crownes yeerely rent deliuered her vnto the English The siege was notwithstanding raysed they sent her to Roan where she about nine or ten moneths after was burnt to death Claelia was saued by Porsenna and it is not to be doubted but that the magnanimity of the English would haue spared her had they not found it necessary to deface the opinion which the French euen with superstition had conceiued of her Our Writers shew how the course of her life being legally examined by the Bishoppe of Beauois in whose Diocesse shee was taken and shee thereupon for sorcerie bloudshed and vnnaturall vse of manlike apparrell and habiliments contrary to her sex condemned to die was notwithstanding vpon her solemne abiuring of such her lewd practises pardoned her life till againe conuicted of periurious relapsing though acknowledging her selfe a strumpet and fayning to be with child she deseruedly vnderwent that punishment which she sought to delay The rumor of her end and the ignominious cause thereof was somewhat incommodious to the affaires of Charles It was thought that the comming of King Henry to Paris would be much more 19 Hee had already with great solemnity receiued the Crowne of England at Westminster being about nine yeeres olde a most fashionable and waxen age for all impression either of good or bad The next yeere after his Coronation in England he passeth ouer into France there also to receiue the diademe thereof The Constableship of England was before his departure assigned by Patent for terme of life to Richard Duke of Yorke which gaue him a more feeling of greatnes and secretly whetted his ambitious appetite vpon this occasion One Iohn Vpton of Feuersham in Kent Notarie accused Iohn Down of the
vpon that string and then said hee to the Queen that he nothing doubted but that those Lords of her honourable kinne which as yet remained vnder arrest should vpon the matter examined doe well inough and as towards her noble person neither was neither could be any ieopardy 34 Whereby should I trust that quoth the Queene in that I am guiltlesse as though they were guilty in that I am with their enemies better loued then they when they hate them for my sake in that I am so neere a kin to the King and how farre they be off if that would helpe as God grant it hurt not and therefore as for me I purpose not as yet to depart hence And as for this gentleman my sonne I minde that he shall be where I am till I see further for I assure you for that I see some men so greedy without any substantiall cause to haue him makes me much more fearefull to deliuer him Truly Madame quoth he the more vnwilling that you be to deliuer him the more vnwilling other men be to suffer you to keepe him least your causelesse feare might cause you farther to conuey him and many there be that thinke he can haue no priuiledge in this place which neither can haue will to aske it nor malice to deserue it and therefore they reckon no priuiledge broken though they fetch him out which if you finally refuse to deliuer him I verily think they will so much dreadhath my Lord his vncle for the tender loue he beareth him lest your grace should hope to send him away 35 Ah sir quoth the Queene hath the Protector so tender zeale that he feareth nothing but least he should escape him thinketh he that I would send him hence which is not in plight to send out and in what place could I account him sure if he be not sure in the Sanctuary which there was neuer Tyrant yet so diuelish that durst presume to breake And I trust God is as strong now to withstand his aduersaries as euer he was But my sonne can deserue no Sanctuary and therefore he cannot haue it Forsooth he hath found out a goodly glosse by which that place that may defend a thiefe may not saue an innocēt but he is in no ieopardy nor hath no need thereof would God he had not Thinketh the Protector I pray God hee may proue a Protector thinketh hee that I perceiue not whereunto his painted Processe draweth It is not honorable that the Duke abide here It were comfortable for them both that he were with his brother because the King lacketh a play fellow forsooth I pray God send them both better playfellows then him that maketh so high a matter vpō so trifling pretext as though there could none be found to play with the King but his brother that hath no list to play for sicknes come out of Sanctuary out of his safegard to play with him As though Princes as yong as they be could not play but with their Peeres or Children could not play but with their kindred with whom for the most part they agree much worse then with strangers But the Childe cannot require the priuiledge who tolde him so he shall heare him aske it if he will Howbeit this is a gay matter suppose hee coulde not aske it suppose hee woulde not aske it suppose hee woulde aske to goe out if I say hee shall not if I aske the priuiledge but for my selfe I say he that taketh him out against my will breaketh the Sanctuarie Serueth this liberty for my person onely or for my goods also you may not take hence my horse from me and may you take my child from me He also is my ward for as my learned Councell sheweth me sith he hath nothing by discent holden by Knights seruice the law maketh his mother his Gardian Then may no man I suppose take my ward from me out of Sanctuary without the breach of Sanctuary And if my priuiledge could not serue him nor he aske it for himselfe yet sith the law committeth to me the custodie of him I may require it for him except the law giue a child a Gardian only for his goods and lands discharging him of the cure and safe-keeping of his body for which only both lands and goods serue And if examples be sufficient to obtaine priuiledge for my child I need not farre to seeke them for in this place in which now we be and which is now in question whether my child may take benefit of it mine other sonne now King was borne kept in his Cradle and preserued to a more prosperous fortune which I pray God long to continue And as you all know this is not the first time that I haue taken Sanctuary For when my Lord my husband was banished and thrust out of his Kingdome I fled hither being great with Child and here I bare the Prince and when my Lord my husband returned safe againe and had the victory then went I hence to welcome him home and from hence I brought my babe the Prince vnto his father when hee first tooke him in his armes And I pray God that my sonnes Pallace may be as great a safegard vnto him now raigning as this place was sometime to the Kings enemie In which place I intend to keepe his brother since mans law serueth the Gardian to keepe the Infant The law of nature wils the mother to keepe her child Gods law priuiledgeth the Sanctuary and the Sanctuary my sonne sith I feare to put him in the Protectors hands who hath his brother already and were if both failed inheritour to the Crowne and the cause of my feare hath no man to doe to examine But yet I feare no further then the law feareth which as learned men tell me forbiddeth euerie man the custody of them by whose death hee may inherit lesse land then a Kingdome I can no more but whosoeuer he be that breaketh this holy Sanctuary I pray God shortly send him need of a Sanctuary when hee may not come to it for taken out of Sanctuary I would not that my mortall enemy were 36 The Lord Cardinall perceiuing that the Queene waxed euer the longer the further off also that shee beganne to kindle and chafe and speake more biting words against the Protector and such as he neuer beleeued and was also loath to heare hee said to her for a finall conclusion that he no longer would dspute the matter but if shee were content to deliuer the Duke to him and to the other Lords present he durst lay his body and soule both in pledge not onely for his surety but also for his estate And if she wou'd giue a resolute answere to the contrary he would forthwith depart therewithall and shift who so would with this businesse afterward for he neuer intended more to moue her in that matter in which shee thought that hee and all others also saue herselfe lacked either witte or truth wit if they