or hazard the other but the word of a Prince was of great weight and therefore sith hee had granted a safe conduct to the â—arle of March and his company it were an impeachment to his honour without just cause to violate the same Vpon this answer the King of Scots did presently proclaime open warre against the King of England with bloud fire and sword King Henry thought it policy rather to beginne the warre in his enemies Countrey then to expect it in their owne because the Land which is the seat of the warre doth commonly furnish both sides with necessary supply the friend by contribution and the enemy by spoile Therefore sending certaine Troopes of horsemen before him both to espy and to induce an uncertaine terrour upon the enemy hee entred into Scotland with a puissant army wherewith hee burnt many Villages and Townes cast downe diverse Castles and ruined a great part of the Townes of Edenborough and Lith sparing nothing but Churches religious houses so that in all places as hee passed the spectacle was ougly and grisly which he left behind him bodies torne in pieces mangled and putrified limmes the aire infected with stinck the ground imbrued with corruption and bloud the Countrey wasted the Grasse and Corne troden downe and spoiled insomuch as a man would have said that warre is an exercise not of manhood but of inhumanity They that fled before the army filled all places with feare and terrour extolling above truth the English forces to diminish thereby their shame in running from shame In the end of September the King besieged the Castle of Maydens in Edenborough wherein were David Duke of Rothsay Prince of the Realme and Archibald Earle Dowglasse the inconstancy of the one and ambition of the other were principall causes of all this warre During this siege Robert Duke of Albony who was appointed Governour of the Realme because the King was sick and unable to rule sent an Herauld unto Henry assuring him upon his honour that if hee would abide but six dayes at the most hee would give him battaile and either remove the siege or looâ—e his life The King was well pleased with these tidings and rewarded the Herauld with a gowne of silke and a chaine of gould and promised him in the word of a Prince to abide there and expect the Governour during the time by him prefixed The six dayes passed almost six times over and no more newes was heard of the Governour either by presence or by messenger Winter came on and victuaile failed the Countrey was cold and fruitlesse and it rained every day in great aboundance so that partly by hunger partly by distemperature of the weather the Souldiers beâ—anne to dye of the Flixe it is very like that these accidents stayed the Governour from performing his promise for policy was against it to hazard his men in the field when Winter and want two forceable foes had given the charge upon his enemies certaine it is that they moved the King to remove his siege and to depart out of Scotland without any battaile or skirmish offered Both the Wardens of the Marches were all this time in Scotland with the King upon which advantage the Scots did breake into Northumberland and burnt certaine Townes in Bamborough Shire The English-men were speedily up in armes but the Scots more speedily made their returne or else no doubt they had beene mette with and encountered Againe when King Henry had discharged his army the Scots being desirous not so much of life as of revenge made a sudaine road into England under the conduct of Sir Thomas Halibarton of Dirleton and Sir Patrick Hebburne of Hales but all the harme which they wrought did rather waken then weaken the English-men and they themselves were somewhat encouraged but nothing enriched by that which they got Not long after Sir Patrick Hebburne being lifted up in desire and hope resolved to undertake a greater enterprize the people which are easily led by prosperous successe in great Companies resorted to him but hee was loath to have more fellowes in the spoile then hee thought should need in the danger therefore with a competent army of the men of Loughdeane hee invaded Northumberland where hee made great spoile and loaded his Souldiers with prisoners and prey There was no question made what perill might bee in the returne Therefore they marched loosely and licentiously as in a place of great security not keeping themselves to their ensignes and order but the Earle of Northumberlands Vice-warden and other Gentlemen of the borders in good array set upon them at a Towne in Northumberland called Nesbit The Scots rallied as well as the suddainnesse did serve and valiantly received the charge so that the battaile was sharp and cruell and continued a good time with great mortality In the end the enemies rankes grew thinne as being rather confusedly shuffled together then orderly and firmely compacted and when the Vice-warden felt them weake in the shock and yeelding under his hand with a company which hee purposely retained about him for suddaine dispatches and chances of warre hee fiercely charged and disordered them Sir Patrick Hebburne being cleane destitute both of Counsaile and courage ranne up and downe from one place to another commanding many things and presently forbidding them againe and the lesse of force his directions were the oftner did hee change them anon as it happeneth in lost and desperate cases every man became a Commander and none a putter in execution so the rankes loosed and brake and could not bee reunited the victour hotly pursuing the advantage Then might you have seene a grievous spectacle pursuing killing wounding and taking and killing those that were taken when better were offered every where weapons and dead bodies and mangled limmes lay scattered and sometimes in those that were slaine appeared at their death both anger and valour Sir Patrick Hebburne thought of nothing lesse then either fleeing or yeelding but thrusting among the thickest of his enemies honourably ended his life Many other of his lineage and the flower of all Loughdeane were likewise slaine There were also taken Sir Iohn and William Cockburne Sir Wilâ—iam Basse Iohn and Thomas Habâ—incton Esquires and a great multitude of common souldiers On the English side no great number was slaine and those of no great service and degree And with these troubles the life and raigne of King Henry the fourth ended FINIS Hist. Minor Maâ— Paris Matth. Paris Hist. Major Hist. S. Albani Chron. de Dunest â—oan de Wallingford Chron. dâ— Litchfield Guaâ— de Coven Mat. Paris Hist. Minor Chron. â—â—â—tri Pectaâ—vien Mat. Paris Cicero in Cattal sive Orat. prima Lib. Bermonsey vitâ— Ahhatis Albani Regis Roffen Annalis de â—ly Claus. anno 37. H. 3. M. 26. Chron. Hall Chron. Litchf Mat. Paris Roger Wendâ—ver Chron. Ioan. Sulgrave Chron. Reâ—ding H. Knighton Moh Leycest Wil. de Risharger Lib. Monastery Ramsâ—y Claus. anno 42. Hen. 3. Chro. London Wil. de Risharger Mat. Paris Wil. de Risharger Barth Coron Chron. Norwic. Chron. Worc. M. Paris Wendover Wallingford Paris Wil de Risharger Chron. S. Albani Gual de Covenary Wil de Risharger Chron. Litchf Hist. Minor Wil. de Risharger Epist. Robert Lincolne Matth. Paris Regis Roffen Iohan. de Wallingford Chron. de Litchf Claus anno 46. 47. Hen. 3. Claus anno 37. Hen. 3. Wil. de Rishanger Claus. anno 9. â—ib 3. Parl. Oxâ—on Matth. Paris Chron. Worc. Chron. Litâ—hf Claus. aâ—â—no 49. Hen. 3. Chron. S. Albani Regis Roffen Rot. in Scrio Wil. de Rishanger Scacar Rot. â—egiâ— in Scâ—â—a 56. H. 3. Wallingford Wil. de Rishaâ—ger Chron. de Dunst. Ordâ—â—at inter Rec. Lond. Chron. Origin sub â—â—gillo Chron. Luchf Wil. dâ— Rishaâ—geâ— Chr. Britanniae Chron. Dunst. Wil. de Risharger Rot. part 53. H. 3. M. 51. Rishanger Io. Tuxeter Mon. Bury Rot. Cart. 51.52 Hen. 3. Claus. 52. H. 3. M. 29. Chron. Dunst. Ordinat author Reg. aulae Glaus 53. Hen. 3. Rishanger Pat. 53. 54. Hen. 3. Comment de Trail bâ—ston Barth Coâ—on Chron. Norwic. Crostino Purificationis 1388. 1389. 1390. 1392. 1393. 1397. 1398. Tranquil in Caligula Tacitus in Proaemio Ier. 25 9. Ezech. 29 18. Ier. 29 7. Bacuch 1.11 * * So did Domitian put to death Epaphroditus Neroes libertine because he helped Nero although in love to kill himselfe So did Severus kill all the killers of Pertinax his Predecessour and likewise Vitellius did put to death all the murtherers of Galba Theophilus Emperour of Grecia caused all those to bee slaine who had made his Father Emperour by killing Leo Arâ—â—nius And Alexander the great put to cruell execution those that had slaine Darius his mighty and mortall enemy Deut. 17.12 Psal. 105. Exod. 22.28 Act. 23.5 Rom. 13.1.13 Tit. 3.1 1 Pet. 2.13 14 17. 2 Tim 2.2 Rom. 13.2 Iohn 19.11 Cap. 45.1 2 Chron. 36.22 2 Chron. 19.6 Psal. 28. Sap. 6. Quintil. in declam Cic. offic lib. 1. Nehem 9.37 Alphons a casâ— in lâ—b de baerâ—s in verb. Tiran Dom Sot lib. 5. de just jur q. 1 artic 3.
dreaming more upon the imaginary humours of licencious Soveraignty But it fell out nothing so for now every man beganne to estimate his owne worth and to hammer his head on every designe that might enlarge his power and command Then beganne the great men to rent from the body of the Crownes and regall Signiories all such royall Suitours as neighboured any of their owne seats whereto they enforce their service and so as the Record saith Ad sectas indebitas servitutes intollerabâ—les subditos Regis compulerunt Thus raising meane manners to become great Honours and renting a sunder the regall Iustice they made themselves of so many Subjects whil'st they lived in duty Totidâ—m Tiranni as the booke of Saint Albans saith when they had left their loyalty Magnas induxerunt Magnates Regni super subditos Regis servitutes oppressiones which they bore patiently for excesse of misery having no ease but Custome made men willing to lay the foundation of servitude by the length of sufferance which found no ease or end untill the quiet of this Kings raigne Mountford Glocester and Dispencer the heads of this Rebellious designe having by the late provisions drawne to the hands of the twenty foure Tribunes of the people the entire mannaging of the Royall State and finding that power too much diâ—perced to worke the end of their desires forst againe the King to call a Parliament where they delivered over the authority of the twenty foure unto themselves and create a Triumvirate non constituenda Republicae causa as they first pretended for their owne ends and so in the interest of some private contented the publike was stayed but to make a speedier way to one of them as it fatally did to become Dictator perpetuus Ambition is never so high but shee thinkes still to mount that station which seemed lately the top is but a step to her now and what before was great in desiring seemes little being once in power These three elect nine Councellours and appoint Quod tres ad minus alternatim semper in curia sint to dispose of the custody of Castles Et de aliis Regni negotiis the chiefe Iustice Chancellour and Treasurer with all offices Majores minores they reserve the choyce of to themselves and bind the King to this hard bargaine upon such strong security that hee is contented under the great Seale and Oath to loose to them the knot of Regall duty whensoever hee assumeth to himselfe his Regall dignity Liceat omnibus de Regno nostro contra nos in surgere ad gravamen nostrum opem operam dare at si nobis in nullo tenerentur This prodigy of fortune of whom shee had set a pittifull example of her inconstancy finding no part of his Soveraignty left but the bare Title and that at their leave beggeth succour from Vrbane the fourth against his disloyall Subjects The Pope by his Bull cancelleth his Oath and contract and armed him with Excommunications against all those that returne not with speed to their due and old obedience since promises made by men which cannot say they are at liberty are weake and force hath no power to make just interest The Lords on the other side that had imped their wings with Eagles feathers and liked no game now but what was raked out of â—he ashes of Monarchy made head against their Soveraigne and to mate him the better called in aid some French forces Thus the Common-wealth turned againe her sword into her owne bowels and invited her ancient Enemy to the funerall of her liberty so that it was a wonder shee should not at this time passe under a forraine servitude And though these men were more truly sensible of their owne disgrace then of others misery Yet found they no better pretext for private interest then that of the publick And therefore at the entry of this Warre they cried liberty although when they came neere to an end they never spake word of it At Lewis the Armies met where the King endeavours a reconciliation but in vaine for perswasions are ever unprofitable when Iustice is inferiour to force The sword decides the difference and gave the two Kings and their eldest Sonnes Prisoners The person now as well as the regall power thus in the hands of Mountford and Glocester found neither bound of security nor expectation of liberty but what the emulous competition of greatnesse which now beganne to breake out betweene these mighty Rivals gave hope of for Leycester meaning by ingrossing from his partner to himselfe the person of the King and to his followers the best portion of the spoile to draw more fruit from this advantage then it should in fellowship yeeld dissolved the knot of all their amity Thus equall Authority with the same power is ever fatall wee see to all great actions For to fit minds to so even a temper that they should not have some motions of dissenting is impossible Mountford having thus broken all faith with his confederates and duty to his Soveraigne left the path of moderation and wisedome to come to the King by that of pride and distrust To him he telleth that his armes and ends had no other object ever but order of the State and ease of the people that hee did not in this carry affection against duty but well knew how to reine his desires to his just power and so no lesse to his Majesties content if hee would bee ruled which was to command the Fortes and Castles of his now opposite Glocester and the rest into his hands It was hard to this King thus to take a Law from his inferiour but necessity in Soveraigne affaires doth often force away all formality and therefore this poore Prince who now at the Victors discretion seemed to have beene onely raised to shew the inconstancy of fortune and vanity of man suited himselfe with incomparable wisedome according to the necessity of the time Neither did humility wrong Majesty when there was no other meanes to containe Spirits so insolent but dissembling Hee therefore summoneth in his owne person the forts of his fastest friends to yeeld to his greatest enemies This hee enters in shew as his lodging but in effect his prison and saw himselfe forced to arme against his friends and to receive now Law from him to whom hee lately thought to give it Thus Leycester is become a darling of the Common rout who easily change to every new Master but the best durst not saile along his fortune by the light of his glory Christall that fairely glistereth doth easily breake and as the ascent of usurping royalty is slippery so the top is shaking and the fall fearefull To hold this man then at the entry of his false felicity fully happy was but to give the name of the Image to the mettle that was not yet molten for by this the imprisoned Prince was escaped and
Bishop of Salisburies servants named Romane meeting in Fleet-street with a Bakers man bearing horse-broad tooke a loafe out of his basket and by rude demand of the one and rough deniall of the other chollar so kindled betwixt them that Romane brake the Bakers head Hereupon the Neighbours came forth and would have arrested the Bishops lusty yeoman but hee escaped and fled to this Bishops house The Constable followed peaceably and demanded a quiet delivery of the Offendour but the Bishops men shut the gates against him that no man could come neere Then much people flocked together threatning to breake open the gates and fire the house unlesse Romane were brought forth unto them What said they are the Bishops men priviledged or is his house a Sanctuary or will hee protect those whom hee ought to punish if wee may bee shuffled off in this sort not onely our streets but our stops and our houses shall never bee free from violence and wrong This wee will not endure wee cannot it standeth not us in hand Herewith they approached the gates and beganne to use violence but the Major and Sheriffes of the City upon advertisement of this tumult came amongst them crying out that it was not courage but out-rage which they shewed whereby they would procure both danger to themselves and displeasure against the whole City that although wrong had beene received yet they were not in the men nor this the meanes to redresse the same So partly by their perswasions partly by their presence and authority they repressed the riot and sent every man away with streight charge to keepe the peace Here was yet no great harme done and the quarrell might have beene quieted without more adoe had not the Bishops stirred therein and kindled the coales of unkindnesse a fresh For the Londoners at that time were not onely suspected secretly but openly noted to bee favourers and followers of Wickliffes opinions for which cause they were much maliced of the Bishops and many of their actions interpreted to proceed from another mind and tend to a worse end then was outwardly borne in countenance and shew and some matters of chance were taken as done of purpose Therefore the Bishop of Salisbury called Iohn Waltham who was also Treasourer of England made a grievous complaint of this attempt to Thomas Arundel Archbishop of Yorke and Lord Chancellour affirming that if upon every light pretence the Citizens might bee suffered in this sort to insult upon the Bishops without punishment without reproofe and blame they would bring into a hazard not onely the dignity and state but the liberty also of the whole Church did they not lately take upon them the punishment of adulteries and other crimes appertaining to Ecclesiasticall jurisdiction maliciously alleaging that the Bishops and their Officers either being infamous for those vices themselves did winck at the same in others or else by covetous commutation did rather set them to sale then carefully represse them Did they not rudely and unreverently breake open the doores upon the Archbishop of Canterbury and interrupt his proceedings against Iohn Astone an open follower of Wickliffe and doe wee thinke that this is the last indignity that they will offer no surely nor yet the least and if this boldnesse bee not beaten downe our authority will fall into open contempt and scorne and bee made a common foote ball for every base Citizen to spurne at Hereupon they went together to the King and so incensed his displeasure against the Londoners being prepared thereto by former provocations that hee was in the mind to make spoile of the City and utterly to destroy it But being perswaded to some more moderation in revenge first hee caused the Major and Sheriffes and many of the chiefe Citizens to bee apprehended and committed to divers severall Prisons then hee ceazed all the liberties of the City into his hands and ordained that no Major should any more bee elected but that the King should at his pleasure appoint a Warden and Governour over the City This office was first committed to Sir Edward Darlington who for his gentlenesse towards the Citizens was shortly after removed and Sir Bauldwike Radington placed in his roome Also the King was induced or rather seduced by the Archbishop of Yorke Lord Chancellour to remove the Tearmes and Courts to wit the Chancery the Exchequer the Kings bench the hamper and the Common pleas from London to bee kept at Yorke where the same continued from Mid-sommer in the yeare 1393. untill Christmasse next following to the great hinderance and decay of the City of London At the last the King upon earnest intreaty of the Duke of Lancaster and the Duke of Glocester called the Londoners before him at Windsore where having first terrified them with the presence and shew of a great number of armed men hee caused all the priviledges of the City both old and new to bee brought forth whereof hee restored some and restrained the rest yet the Londoners were not fully restored to favour neither recovered they at that time either the person or dignity of their Major Shortly after the King went to London at whose comming the Citizens changed all their griefe into gladnesse as the common sort is without measure in both entertaining him with such joyfull triumphes and rich presents as if it had beene the day of his coronation They supposed with these great curtesies and costs to have satisfied his displeasure but they found themselves farre deceived for they were not fully restored to their liberties againe untill they had made fine to pay unto the King tenne thousand pounds Thus did the Londoners manifest in themselves a strange diversity of disposition both licentiously to commit offence and patiently to endure punishment having rashnesse and rage so tempered with obedience that they were easily punished who could not possibly be ruled Yet for this cause so soone as first occasion did serve against the King they shewed themselves either his earnest enemies or faint friends King Richard in the nineteenth yeare of his raigne passed the Seas to Calis the French King also came downe to Ard betweene which two Townes a place was appointed and tents erected for both the Kings to meet After large expences on both sides and great honour done by the one King to the other a surcease of armes was concluded betweene them for thirty years and King Richard tooke to wife Lady Isabel the French Kings Daughter being not above seven or eight yeares old The Duke of Glocester was so offended both with this friendship and affinity that hee lost all manner of patience exclaiming that it was more meet to bee in armes then in amity with the Frenchmen who being inferiour to the English in courage did alwayes over-reach them in craft and being too weake for Warre did many times prevaile by peace that now they had got into their hands many Townes and Holds appertaining to the Crowne of England they were willing to conclude
of Lancaster Grandfather to the King by the mothers side when he served in the wars of King Edward the third beyond the seas together with this Prophesie that the Kings which should bee annoynted therewith should bee the Champions of the Church Duke Henry delivered this oyle in a golden violl to Prince Edward the eldest sonne of King Edward the third who locked up the same in a barred Chest within the Tower with intent to be annoynted therewith when he should be crowned King but the Prince dying before his Father it remayned there either not remembred or not regarded untill this present yeare wherein the King being upon his voyage into Ireland and making diligent search for the Iewels and Monuments of his Progenitors found this Violl and Prophesie and understanding the secret was desirous to bee annoynted againe with that oyle but the Archbishop of Canterbury perswaded him that both the fact was unlawfull and the precedent unseen that a King should be annoynted twice whereupon he brake off that purpose and took the violl with him into Ireland and when he yeelded himselfe at Flint the Archbishop of Canterbury demanded it of him againe and did receive and reserve the same untill the coronation of King Henry who was the first King of this Realme that was annoynted therewith I am not purposed to discourse either of the authority or of the certainty of these prophesies but wee may easily observe that the greatest part of them either altogether fayled or were fulfilled in another sense then as they were commonly construed and taken During the raigne of King Henry the fourth execution by fire was first put in practise within this Realme for controversies in points of religion in any other extraordinary matter hee did as much make the Church Champion as shew himselfe a Champion of the Church but afterwards his successors were intitule Defendars of the faith and how in action they verified the same I refer to remembrance and report of later times Now it had beene considered that the title which was derived to King Henry from Edmund whom they surnamed Crouchbacke would be taken but for a blind and idle jest for that it was notorious that the said Edmund was neither eldest sonne to King Henry the third as it was plainely declared by an act of Parliament nor yet a mishapen and deformed person but a goodly Gentleman and valiant Commander in the field and so favoured of the King his Father that hee gave him both the heritages and honours of Simon Mountfort Earle of Leicester of Ferrare Earle of Darby and of Iohn Baron of Monmuth who to their owne ruine and destruction had displayed seditious ensignes against the King And further to advance him to the marriage of Blanch Queene of Naverne hee created him the first Earle of Lancaster and gave unto him the County Castle and Towne of Lancaster with the Forrests of Wiresdale Lounsdale New-castle beneath Linne the Manner Castle and Forrest of Pickering the Manner of Scaleby the Towne of Gomecester of Huntendone c. with many large priviledges and high titles of honour Therefore King Henry upon the day of his Coronation caused to bee proclaymed that hee claymed the kingdome of England first by right of conquest Secondly because King Richard had resigned his estate and designed him for his successour Lastly because hee was of the blood royall and next heyre male unto King Richard Haeres malus indeed quoth Edmund Mortimer Earle of March unto his secret friends and so is the Pyrate to the Merchant when hee despoyleth him of all that he hath This Edmund was sonne to Roger Mortimer who was not long before slaine in Ireland and had beene openly declared heyre apparent to the Crowne in case King Richard should dye without issue as descended by his Mother Philip from Lionell Duke of Clarence who was elder brother to Iohn Duke of Lancaster King Henries Father and therefore the said Edmund thought himselfe and indeed was neerer heyre male to the succession of the Crowne then hee that by colour of right clayming it carried it by dint of force But such was the condition of the time that hee supposed it was vaine for him to stirre where King Richard could not stand Whereupon hee dissembled either that hee saw his wrong or that hee regarded it and chose rather to suppresse his title for a time then by untimely opposing himselfe to have it oppressed and depressed for ever to this end hee withdrew himselfe farre from London to his Lordship of Wigmore in the West parts of the Realme and there setled himselfe to a private and close life Idlenesse and vacancy from publike affaires he accounted a vertue and a deepe point of wisdome to meddle with nothing whereof no man was chargeable to yeeld a reckoning In revenues hee was meane in apparell moderate in company and traine not excessive yet in all these honourable and according to his degree so that they which esteemed men by outward appearance only could see in him no great shew either of wit and courage in his mind to be feared or of wealth and honour in his estate to bee envied And thus whilest a greater enemy was feared hee passed unregarded making himselfe safe by contempt where nothing was so dangerous as a good opinion and taking up those coales in obscurity for a time which shortly after set all the Realme on fire King Henry presently after his coronation created his eldest sonne Lord Henry being then about xiii yeares of age Prince of Wales Duke of Cornewall and Earle of Chester and soone after he created him also Duke of Aquitaine Afterwards it was enacted by consent of all the states of the Realme assembled together in the Parliament that the inheritance of the Crownes and Realmes of England and of France and of all the Dominions to them appertaining should bee united and remaine in the person of King Henry and in the heires of his body lawfully begotten and that Prince Henry his eldest sonne should be his heyre apparant and successor in the premises and if hee should dye without lawfull issue then they were entayled to his other sonnes successively in order and to the heyres of their bodies lawfully begotten The inheritance of the Kingdome being in this sort setled in King Henry and in his line it was moved in the parliament what should be done with King Richard The Bishop of Caerliel who was a man learned and wise and one that alwayes used both liberty and constancy in a good cause in his secret judgement did never give allowance to these proceedings yet dissembled his dislike untill hee might to some purpose declare it therefore now being in place to be heard of all and by order of the house to be interrupted by none hee rose up and with a bold and present spirit uttered his mind as followeth This question right honourable Lords concerneth a matter of great consequence and weight the determining whereof will assuredly procure