preferred before Warre yet he willingly entred at all times into the Lists of Warre when necessitie or good reason persuaded him to arme When his estate was most quiet The King exercised his souldiors in warlike negotiations in the time of greatest peace and freest from Warres abroad or ciuill disturbances at home hee would now and then vpon the suddaine raise an Armie and transport them either into Normandie or into Britaine Angeou or other places subiect to the Dominion of himselfe or of his sonnes And himselfe in person vsed to goe with them And in those places he exercised them in fortifications trainings and lyings in the field and with other Martiall discipline By meanes whereof he setled those Countries in peace and with good Gouernment made warlike businesses familiar to his Souldiers and then returned without blowes into England The commoditie of his so doing By these meanes when troubles hapned he little feared because his men were aptly inured to those things which most properly belong vnto the warres 1174. Henry the second Conquereth Ireland In the nineteenth yeare of his Raigne because the Irish Nation attempted to depriue him of certaine Territories in that Iland which were left vnto him by his predecessors hee sailed thither with a mightie Armie and fought many victorious battailes against fiue Kings which at that time raigned there All which he subdued and made subiect vnto himselfe and became the sole Lord of all that Countrie and annexed that Title vnto the Title of his Crowne The Kings sonne twice Crowned King in his fathers dayes and returned honourably into England Such was the surpassing loue of this worthie King to his eldest sonne Henrie That he caused him and his wife Margaret the daughter of the French King to be twice solemnly Crowned in the presence of his people himselfe the second time for that day leauing the Title of a King and seruing as a Sewer at his sonnes table whereat his proud sonne made no wonder A proud and an vnthankfull Sonne but publikely affirmed That his father was nothing thereby dishonoured For that he was onely the sonne of an Empresse But he himselfe was the sonne both of a King and also of a Queene Warres betwixt England and France Many Iarres and quarrels in his later dayes arose betwixt King Henry the father and Lewys the French King which at length were decided by sharpe and bloudy warres In all which most vnnaturally Henry Geffrey and Iohn the Kings sonnes and most vndutifully Robert Earle of Leicester Vnnaturall children and Hugh Earle of Chester together with William then King of Scots tooke part with the French against the King In all which notwithstanding King Henry by noble valour and courage did preuaile and vpon submission granted Pardon to his sonnes and all the rest Yet were his sonnes after grieuously punished by God God plagued them For Henry died before his father in the prime and flower of his strength And Iohn his sonne who was after King was poysoned by a Monke Yet these vnnaturall Rebellions by his owne children vnto whom he had extended if wee may beleeue reports more then the loue and affection of a worthy father King Henrie sorrowing for his childrens rebellions dieth so inwardly perplexed his minde that surfeiting vpon bitter passions occasioned by their reuolt he fell into a dangerous Feuer which the more vexed him because Richard his sonne had then raised an other broyle against him And within foure dayes after hee died in Normandie when he had Raigned almost fiue and twentie yeares and was buried at Founteuerard in France The historie of this Kings Raigne King Henries description approueth him to haue been learned wise politicke iust and valiant And that which not a little augmenteth the number of his praises albeit hee were oftentimes engaged in many businesses Some of them concerning his warres in France Normandie Angeou Ireland and in other places A rich King who taxed not his people And some of them respecting his politicke rule and Gouernment at home yet he neuer imposed nor leuied vpon his Subiects any extraordinarie taxe or payment whatsoeuer Yet left he vnto his successor more then nine hundred thousand pounds in siluer and in gold besides his Plate Iewels Houshold-stuffe 900000. l. and prouision for the warre And though in most things prosperitie made him happie His vnhappinesse yet in three things especially he was most vnfortunate and vnhappie The first was the vnnaturall disobedience and rebellious reuolts of his owne children The second was his inordinate fauour and vnquenchable lust towards Rosamond his vnseparable Concubine His incontinencie with the faire Rosamond his Concubine who being admirably faire but wantonly conditioned alienated and estranged his best affections and loue wholly from the Lady Elianor his most renowned wife and made his desires subiect nay slauish vnto her will So that whilst shee liued shee was seldome from his right-hand And being dead hee caused her with great solemnitie and pompe to bee sumptuously buried at Godstow besides Oxford Fixing on her Tombe this Epitaph Rosamonds Epitaph Hic iacet in Tumba Rosa Mundi Non Rosa-munda Non redolet sed olet quae redolere solet And the third was the irreconciliable dissension and strife The Historie of the Kings troubles with Thomas Becket which hapned betwixt himselfe and Thomas Becket the proud and insolent Archbishop of Canterburie The which beginning in the tenth yeare of his Raigne was prosecuted seuen yeares after with great asperitie and bitternesse on either partie as briefely it shall appeare Theobald Archbishop of Canterburie for what desert few did know in such sort fauoured Thomas Becket a Londoner borne of ordinarie parentage that he made him Archdeacon of his owne Church And beeing able to obtaine anie thing of the King which he did reasonably craue hee procured him to be remoued from one Dignitie vnto another vntill at length he was made Lord Chancelor of the Realme Thomas Becket made Lord Chancelor This high honour so puffed vp Thomas Becket with the winde of Pride and vaine-glorie that now he thought few or none exceeded him for his honour and for his vertues Yet did he carrie himselfe with such regardfull obseruance and dutie to the King that he augmented his Estate with the gift of large Territories and Possessions which daily made him the more confident of the continuance of his great fortunes Thomas Becket is made Archbishop of Cāterbury His vnthankfulnesse He is inuested at Rome He is made the Popes Legate He proudly surrendreth his Chancelorship the great Seale At length Theobald died and the King preferred Thomas Becket to succeed him But he being most vnthankfull and resolued as it seemed to play his prankes secretly and without leaue trauelled vnto Rome and was inuested by Pope Innocent the second of whome hee receiued his Pale and was made a Legate And then he returned into England and
vnder the Great Seale The Nobles are offended The Kings Title to France first broched hee was condemned to die in the same manner which he had deuised for the execution of Sir Hugh Spencer the yonger And Queene Isabel being most honourably prouided for and attended on was sequestred into a strong Castle where shee liued more then thirtie yeares after and then died In the fifth yeare of King Edwards Raigne his personall appearance in kind and friendly sort was required by Philip de Valoys king of France and vncle to the yong Queen that is to say brother to Iane Countesse of Henalt who was mother to K. Edwards wife together with his Homage Fealtie for his Duchie of Guyan For the performance whereof he departed hence and was with much triumph magnificence receiued entertained feasted in France But his homage and his fealtie he would and did only confesse by words and would not doe them in such solemne and submissiue fashion as they were demanded Whereat the French King was so inwardly moued that King Edward at his departure from the French Court might well perceiue that his welcome was more respected and honoured then his going from thence Assoone as the King came home by new Embassadors his homage was againe required to be performed with all solemnitie and due rites And therupon to giue some contentment to the French King it was sent vnto him in an instrument in writing vnder the great seale Whereat the Lords and Peeres repined much affirming that the crowne of France in the right of Queene Isabel his mother did belong to him and that therefore hee might iustly haue refused to haue done vnto him any homage at all Not long after these businesses thus ended King Edward by his Embassadors required Dauid the yong King of Scots The King requireth the Castle of Barwicke to bee restored It is denyed by the King of Scots and his Homage denied also being his brother-in-law to restore vnto him his Castle of Barwick and to doe him homage for his kingdome But Dauid stoutly returned answer that his father by conquest and by his sword wonne that Castle and that he had receiued it by discent from him and therefore would hold and keep it as his owne And touching the kings demand of his homage for the kingdome of Scotland his answer was that his Father neuer acknowledged any such seruice that king Edward had released it if any had been due And that therefore he would not confesse any tenure of king Edwards crowne The King warreth in Scotland The King preuaileth Barwicke is recouered The high spirit of the King would not suffer him thus to bee slighted and shaken off for he resolued to make himselfe the Lord of both For which cause he marched with a strong Armie into Scotland and quickly subdued the better the greater part of that kingdome with small resistance And hauing fortifyed for his own vse the Castles and Townes of best defence he returned and came to Barwick where the Towne after a strong siege was by composition surrendred into his hands Edward Baylyol Crowned King of Scotland And then he crowned Sir Edward Baylyol king of Scotland and committed the gouernment of the Towne of Barwick vnto his charge and returned into England with much honour The King in person setleth the Gouernement of Scotland But before two yeares more were expired he passed againe with an armie into Scotland placed his new king in his throne and receiued his homage and reinuested diuers English Lords and gentlemen of such Lordships and Territories as by reason of the kings dishonorable peace with the Scots when he first began to raigne had been taken from them Dauid flyeth into France These disasters and aduerse fortunes which inseparably accompanied Dauid the deposed king compelled him to flie into France where after two yeares continuance his heart was cheered with faire promises and his necessities were relieued plentifully with large and ample supplies of all things needfull and conuenient He returneth with an Armie into Scotland he also obtained an Armie with which hee sailed into Scotland his hopes fairely promising that ere long he should bee a king againe But he was much deceiued For king Edward hauing certain intelligence of his of the French kings endeuours prouided effectually for the encounter Dauid is ouerthrowne by King Edward and marched into Scotland with a strong Armie where hee fought often with fortunate successe against Dauid and the French kings forces and at length by battaile obtained an honourable victorie and securing the gouernment of that kingdome according to the rules of wisdome and of policie he returned joyfully into England Robert de Arthoys comes into England In the tenth yeare of this kings raigne Philip de Valoys then king of France sentenced the Earledome of Arthoys from Robert De Arthoys vnto Maud Countesse of Burgondie Aunt to the said Robert which censure so incensed the said Earle that in his heat he vttered these wordes By me was he made a King and by me he shal be againe deposed For which offence The King requites his former kindnesse he was throughout all France proclaimed to be a traytor to the crowne so that to preserue his life hee was compelled to flie into England where in regard of his fidelitie and honourable seruice performed to Queene Isabel and to the king himselfe when they were both in France he was with all complements of kindnes and heartie loue receiued and entertained by king Edward who knowing him to be right valiant hardie wise and not forgetting to requite fauours extended to him in his distresse created him Earle of Richmond He is Created Earle of Richmond and so entirely loued him that whilest he liued he neuer attempted anie great and important matter without his counsell and aduice This noble Knight ceased not to informe the King of his Title to the Crowne of France By Queene Isabel his mother who was the daughter of Philip the Faire which appeared to stand thus Philip the Hardie had issue two sonnes Philip the Faire King Edwards title to the Crowne of France and Charles de Valoys Philip the Faire had issue three sonnes all which successiuely were Kings and died without issue Male that is to say Lewes the tenth Philip the fifth sirnamed the Long Charles the fourth He had also one daughter which was named Isabel Queene of England and married to the Kings Father named Edward the second And Charles de Valoys the second sonne of Philip the Hardie was father vnto Philip de Valoys who raigned then in France Charles de Valoys and of this Charles it is noted that he was the sonne of a King The brother of a King The vncle of a King and the father of a King that himselfe was no King According to the Lawes of France the Crowne was to descend to the Issue Male and no woman
son Henry tooke part with King Henry the sixt and in his quarrell he was slaine at Towton field but Henrie his sonne fled with the king into Scotland Iohn Lord Mountacute brother to Richard Earle of Warwick was by king Edward the fourth created Earle of Northumberland E. 4. but the said Henry Percy obtained the kings fauour by his friends mediation so that Iohn Lord Mountacute surrendred his Patent to the King And was created Marques Mountacute Henry Percy was by King Edward the fourth E. 4. restored to the Earledome of Northumberland and was slaine by the Common People there because he leuied a tax for the King which much displeased them Henry Percy Lord Percy Crockermouth Petworth Poynings Fitz-Payne and Brian his sonne succeeded and was Earle of Northumberland Henry Percy his sonne enioyed all those honorable titles and possessions and died without issue Iohn Dudley Earle of Warwick and Viscount Lissle Lord Basset Tyes was created Duke of Northumberland by King Edward the sixt and lost his head in the raigne of Queene Mary Thomas Percy being the heire male of the house of the Earles Percies was restored by Queene Mary Q. Ma. to the Earledome of Northumberland and for default of issue male of his bodie it was entayled to his Brother Henry Percy and to the heires males of his body And whilest Queene Elizabeth raigned the said Thomas died without issue male Henry Percy his brother according to the aforesaid entailement was Earle of Northumberland and died Henry Percy his sonne is now Lord of Petworth Crockermouth Poynings Fitz-Paine and Brian and Earle of Northumberland Nottingham VVIlliam Peuerel base sonne to the Conqueror Conq. was by him created Earle of Nottingham and of Darby William Peuerel his sonne was Earle of Nottingham and Darby Robert Earle of Ferrers in Normandie K. Steph. and Lord of Tedbery in Staffordshire was by King Stephen created Earle of Nottingham William his sonne was Earle of Nottingham and by King Iohn he was also created Earle of Darby Iohn de Mowbray was by King Richard the second R. 2. created Earle of Nottingham and died without issue Thomas de Mowbray his brother was by K. Richard the second R. 2. first created Earle of Nottingham and then Duke of Northfolk hee was challenged by Henry of Bullingbroke Duke of Hereford to a single combate for his false reports to the King and was banished and died in his exile Thomas Mowbray his sonne was Earle of Nottingham and executed for treason with Richard Scroop Archbishop of Yorke In the Raigne of King Henry the fourth Iohn Mowbray his brother was by King Henry the sixt created Earle of Nottingham H. 6. and Duke of Northfolke Iohn Mowbray his sonne was Earle of Nottingham Warren and Surrey and Duke of Northfolke Iohn Mowbray his sonne enioyed all those honours and died without issue male R. 3. William Lord Barkley being one of his Generall heires was by King Edward the fourth made Viscount Barkley and by King Richard the third he was created Earle of Nottingham and by King Henry the seuenth Marques Barkley Henry Fitz-Roy the base sonne of King Henry the eighth and of Elizabeth Blount was by the same King created Earle of Nottingham H. 8. and Duke of Richmond and died without issue Charles Lord Howard of Effingham was by King Iames created Earle of Nottingham Oxford EDgar Atheling the sonne of Edward the Out-law who was the sonne of Edmund Ironside was at the Conquest Earle of Oxford and was by the Conqueror depriued of that honour Mauld Awbrey de Vere was by Mauld the Empresse created and by her sonne King Henry the second confirmed Lord High Chamberlaine of England in feee and Earle of Oxford Awbrey de Vere his sonne enioyed those honors and dyed in the dayes of King Iohn without issue Robert de Vere his brother was High Chamberlaine of England and Earle of Oxford and sided with the Barons in their warres against King Iohn when they tooke part with the Dolphin of France by reason of the Popes Curse Hugh de Vere his sonne was high Chamberlaine of England and Earle of Oxford he was Viscount Bolbeck and Lord Samford Robert de Vere his sonne succeeded in those Honors Robert de Vere his sonne enioyed the same and dyed without issue Iohn de Vere the sonne of Alphonsus de Vere brother to the last Robert was Lord Samford Vicount Bolbeck High Chamberlaine of England and Earle of Oxford Thomas de Vere his sonne held all those honorable dignities Robert de Vere his sonne being Lord Samford Viscount Bolbeck Earle of Oxford and high Chamberlaine of England was by king Richard the Second created Marques of Dublin and Duke of Ireland he died without issue Awbrey de Vere his Vncle was Lord Samford Viscount Bolbeck and Earle of Oxford But the inheritance of his high Chamberlainship of England hee voluntarily surrendred to king Richard the Second who gaue it to his halfe brother Iohn Holland Duke of Exeter Richard de Vere his sonne was Lord Samford Viscount Bolbeck and Earle of Oxferd Iohn de Vere his sonne enioyed those Honors He and his eldest sonne Awbrey de Vere were attainted and executed in the time of king Edward the Fourth Iohn de Vere his sonne was by King Henry the Seuenth H. 7. restored to the honors of Bolbeck Samford and Scales was made high Chamberlaine of England and Earle of Oxford Iohn de Vere his Nephew by George his brother succeeded him in all those Honors and dyed without issue Iohn de Vere the sonne of Iohn de Vere who was the sonne of Robert de Vere who was brother to Iohn de Vere the twelfth Earle of Oxford of that name who was Father to the before named George enioyed all those dignities Iohn de Vere being the heire male of that Familie was the sixth Earle of that Christian name He was also Lord Samford and Badilsmere Viscount Bolbeck and high Chamberlaine of England Edward de Vere his sonne enioyed all those Honors Henrie de Vere his sonne is Lord Samford and Badilsmere Viscount Bolbeck High Chamberlaine of Engl â—d and Earle of Oxford Pembroke WAlter Gifford was by the Conquerour Conq. created Earle of Pembroke and Buckingham Walter Gifford his sonne succeeded and died without issue Gilbert de Clare was by King Stephen created Earle of Pembroke Richard de Clare surnamed Strongbow being his sonne was Earle of Pembroke and died without issue male K. Iohn William Marshall Earle Marshall of England was by King Iohn created Earle of Pembroke William Marshall his sonne enioied all those honours and died without issue Richard Marshall his brother succeeded him and was slaine and died in Ireland without issue Gilbert Marshall his brother was Earle Marshall and of Pembroke and died without issue Walter Marshall his brother was Earle Marshall and of Pembroke and died without issue William de Valentia the sonne of King Iohns wife Isabel and of her
subdued 6. He plucks downe Churches Religious houses and Townes for his pleasure in hunting to make the New Forest and enacteth tyrannicall Lawes for the preseruing of his Game 5. His eldest sonne Robert Curthois rebelleth and puts him to the worst in Normandie but is reconciled 7. He warreth in France successefully 7. He falleth sick and repenteth of his crueltie to the English Nation and dyeth but his body can hardly obtayne a place to bee buried in pag. 8. King WILLIAM RVFVS HIs crueltie to the English Nation 10. Hee flattereth them in his distresse but requiteth them vnthankfully when his turne is serued 10 11. The Welshmen doe rebel 11 12. His valour 13. Hee pilleth and pooleth the Church 14 15. He yeeldeth when the Pope peremptorily commandeth 15. He is fortunate in his warres in Normandie 15. In the New-Forest which his Father had made by the ruine of many Churches Religious houses and Townes 5. Hee was slaine being mistaken for a Deere as he hunted 16. King HENRY the First HIs policies and Lawes 18. He yeeldeth to the Pope and restoreth Church liuings dignities and liberties not for conscience sake but because Robert his eldest brother troubled him for his Crowne 18. He invadeth Normandie and preuaileth and plucketh out his brothers eyes 20 21. Hee curbeth and ransacketh the Church Church-men and makes them pay for enioying of wiues whether they haue wiues or no. 20. Anselme and Thurstone appeale against him to the Pope and he yeeldeth 20 23. He is patient and very thankefull 24. He is lasciuious he surfetteth and then dyeth 24. King STEPHEN HEe vsurpeth the Right of Mawld the Empresse and breaketh his oath 27. He is very liberall 28. He refuseth and releaseth the paiment of Dane-gilt and of all other taxes he honoreth the Clergie and giues vnto them large restitution and exempteth all Clergie men from the authoritie of the Temporall Magistrate 28. Mawld the Empresse invadeth and taketh him prisoner he is enlarged for the Duke of Glocester The Empresse is besieged in Oxford and escapeth by a policie in the snow 29. He is againe inuaded by Henrie Short-Mantell the Sonne of Mawld the Empresse Prince Eustace his sonne is drowned They two compound and King Stephen dyeth 30 31. King HENRY the Second HIs great courage 34. He refineth the Lawes and deuiseth the Circuits in which Nisi prius and other law causes are decided 34. He destroyeth Castles to preuent Rebellions 35. He reseiseth things giuen by his Predecessors 35. He exerciseth his people in martiall Discipline in times of Peace 35. Hee Conquereth Ireland 36. His children are rebellious and punished by God 36. His Riches 37. His amorous affections to Rosamond 37. He is vexed by Thomas Becket who is slaine 37. He is accursed 40. He doth Penance He is whipt And dyeth 42. King RICHARD the First FOr his valour hee is termed Cuer de Lyon 44. His piety and compassion to his Mother and to distressed prisoners 44. His bountie 45. Hee warreth gloriously in the holy Land 45. He winneth Cyprus twice pag. 46 47. Iarres arise betwixt him and the French King and Leopold Archduke of Austria wherupon they depart and doe leaue him 46 47. He is stiled King of Ierusalem 47. By swimming he saueth his life but is taken Prisoner Ransometh himselfe and returneth into Normandie from the holy Land Hee warreth successefully against the French King in his owne Country and returneth into England 48. To pay his Ransome and to relieue his wants he ransacketh Religious houses and reseiseth such things as formerly he sold to get mony 49. He besiegeth the Castle of Chalons and is reuengefully wounded to death He taketh the Castle Pardons the offendor slaies all the rest and then he dyeth 49. King IOHN PHILIP the French King raiseth against him Arthur Plantagenet who demāds the crown 51 The King goeth twice into Normandie and puts the Frenchmen to flight 52 53. He looseth Normandie 53. 1202. His quarrell and vnspeakeable troubles with the Pope 53. Hee forbiddeth all appeales to Rome 54. Foure of his owne Bishops doe interdict him and he seiseth vpon their lands and goods Hee is accursed and his kingdome is by the Pope giuen to Philip the French King He taketh an Oath of Allegeance of his Subiects He inuadeth the Scots and they doe submit themselues 55 56. Philip of France prouideth to inuade him but looseth three hundred ships 56. King Iohn without the knowledge of his Nobilitie or Counsell submitteth himselfe on his knees to Pandulphus the Popes Legate and resigneth to him to the Popes vse his Kingdom and his Crown and after a few daies receiues it as a gift 56. His people doe despise and forsake him 57. Lewys the Dolphin in his Fathers Right by reason of the Popes donation inuadeth England The Pope accurseth him and his father and protecteth King Iohn and his kingdome Hee also accurseth such of the Nobilitie of England as sided with the French by reason whereof the Commons robbe rifle and forage both their goods and lands Miserie makes them to submit themselues 57. The Dolphin is expelled 58. The King hath peace and is poisoned by a Monke 59. King HENRY the third LEWYS the Dolphin disturbs him in England The French attempt to inuade but are ouerthrowne at Sea 63. They are accursed absolued and doe leaue this kingdome The king restoreth the ancient Lawes 63. He warreth in Angeou and elsewhere 63. And concludeth a Truce 64. His Barons and he doe iarre but are reconciled 64. The league with France is broken 64. King Henrie hath the worse in the new warres 65 66. Hee warreth with his Barons 66. Insanum Parliamentum 66. The commission of the twelue Peeres 66. They exercise their Authoritie 67. It is confirmed wherefore the King sayleth into France 67. * 1258. He releaseth his Title and his Right in Normandie and is confirmed Duke of Guyan 68. He procureth two Bulls from the Pope The Lord chiefe Iustice is displaced 68. He publisheth the Popes Bulls against the twelue Peeres and the Londoners take an Oath to assist him 69. The Barons raise an Armie and doe write vnto the King and he answereth them 69. The Barons Armie is ioyfully receaued into London 70. The controuersie is referred to the French King who is accused to be partiall 70 71. The Barons fight with the Prince and doe ouerthrow him 71. Richard King of the Romans being wronged is angrie 71. * 1262. The bataile of Lewis in which the Barons tooke the two Kings and Prince Edward prisoners and more then twentie thousand men were slaine 73. An agreement is made and the Prince is one of the Hostages The commission giuen to the 12. Peeres is confirmed and the Hostages are enlarged 73. A discord betwixt the Earles of Leicester and Glocester 73. Occasioned the ouerthrow of the Barons in the battaile of Euersham 74. ** 1263. The Barons are executed 74. The Commission of the twelue Peeres is by Parliament dissolued
And the King for reuenge resolued to haue burnt the Citie of London 74. But it is redeemed by sute and by money 75. The Earle of Glocester with the base off-skome of London do much mischiefe But by the Prince his entreatie all is pardoned 76. The Earle of Glocester is by the King furnished to goe a warfare in the holy land Hee giues it ouer And Prince Edward vndertaketh it he is trecherously wounded but recouereth The King dyeth and he returneth with much honor into England 77. King EDWARD the First THe French King feareth his valour and therefore inuiteth Lluellen to rebell against him in Wales 79. By promises that hee shall marie with the Ladie Eleanor the banished daughter of the banished Earle of Leicester who for succour was his guest 80. The King taketh her in her passage towards Wales the King marcheth towards Lluellens Armie He submitteth himselfe sweareth to be loyall and is wiued 80. He rebelleth againe and he and his brother are both beheaded 81. King Edward is chosen as soueraigne Lord to decide the controuersie and debate touching the Right to the Crowne of Scotland which many Competitors do striue for 81. That Kingdome is surrendred into his hand and he decides the doubt and conferres the Kingdom vpon Iohn Bayliol 83. Hee strippeth the Church and Church-men and is disliked of them especially for enacting of the Statute against Mortmaine 82. Iohn Bayliol being vngratefull inuadeth England But King Edward winnes from him the Castle and Towne of Barwike and slayeth 25000 of his Men. 83. He surrendreth Scotland and King Edward gouernes it by a Lieutenant and placeth all Officers of state therein 84. The Scots rebell againe and are subdued 84. They rebell once more Thirtie and two thousand of them are slaine 85. They doe homage and fealtie to King Edward 85. Iohn Bayliol at the Popes request is set at libertie his subiects doe againe rebell against England The King entreth into Scotland and the Castle of Eastervlnie in which the Scottish Nobilitie for their safeguard inclosed themselues being summoned is yeelded to King Edward 85. Hee sweareth them to his obedience and for a monument of his victories he bringeth from thēce the Chaire in which their Kings were vsually Crowned 86. Hee enquireth of the extortions done by his Officers and correcteth them 86. Prince Edward is committed to prison and his vnthriftie Companion Pierce Gaueston is banished 86. Wales and Cornwall are giuen to the Prince 86. The Pope claymeth the soueraigntie of Scotland but King Edward reiecteth and scorneth his claime Robert le Bruze vsurpeth in Scotland so that King Edward the fourth time goeth in his owne person into Scotland The Vsurper flyeth into Norway and King Edward dyeth 86 87. King EDWARD the Second HE breakes his Oath and recals Gaueston Hee doateth on Gaueston Makes him Earle of Cornwall and hee doth all in all whereat the Nobles are displeased 89 90. The King through Gauestons wicked counsell liueth lewdly and forsaketh the Companie of the Queene 90. Gaueston hath the custodie of the Kings Iewels and conueies many of them into Ireland 90 The people murmur at Gauestons authoritie and wicked courses The King reiects good counsell Yet at last Gaueston is banished into Ireland The King comforts him and sends him money and Iewels 91 The King is so sad for his departure that at the request of the Nobilitie in hope of amendment he is recalled 92 By reason of his insolencie hee is againe banished into Flanders but is recalled and waxeth more scornefull then he was before 92 The Lords despairing of redresse doe strike off his head 92 The King to despight his Nobilitie entertaineth the two Spencers who are worse then Gaueston and doe perswade him to more leaud and vngratious courses 92 The King and his Nobles doe not agree Robert le Bruze taking aduantage by the Kings euill gouernment vsurpeth in Scotland He is againe crowned King and ouerthroweth king Edward 93 Iohn Poydras is discouered to be a counterfet and is put to death 93 Barwike is betraied to the Scots 93 The Scots do ouerthrow King Edward the second time 94 The King being intreated will not put the Spencers from him 94 The Nobles in Parliament doe stand on their Guard 95 The Spencers are banished for euer 95 The Nobles complaine for the younger Spencers Piracies but the King maketh sport at it and recals them from their exile They scorne the Barons who fight but are ouerthrowen 96 Twentie and two Barons are beheaded 97 The elder Spencer is made Earle of Winchester and Sir Andrew Harkley by whose principall seruice the Barons were ouerthrowen and who was made Earle of Carlile consorting with the Scots who had almost taken the King and enforced him to flie lost his head 98 The Queene being oppressed by the Spencers goeth into France and carrieth the Prince with her Shee is well entertained by the French King her brother But he is bribed by the Spencers and so is the Pope who conspire her deliuerie to King Edward And shee with her sonne doe flie into Arthoys 99 The Queene and Prince doe land in England The Nobles repaire to her with an Armie and the King is strangely taken prisoner The Earles of Arundel and Winchester are beheaded 100 And Hugh Spencer the younger being carried to London is disgraced and cruelly executed as a Traitor 100 The King is committed deposed his sonne is crowned and the old King is murdered by the practise of Sir Roger Mortimer who was too familiar with the Queene For which offence shee was honourably imprisoned thirtie yeares and more before shee died 105 King EDVVARD the third HE goeth with an Armie into Scotland to correct them for their insolencie in his fathers daies The Natiues flie into the woods and the King returneth 103 Hee concludeth a dishonourable peace with Scotland by the counsell of Sir Roger Mortimer whom he createth Earle of March and marieth his sister Iane to the King of Scots sonne named Dauid He releaseth the Tenure Soueraigntie homage and the fealtie of Scotland and deliuereth vp the great Charter called Ragman which testified their tenure of the Kings of England 104 The Earle of March procureth the Kings vncle the Earle of Kent to be beheaded and is himselfe executed as a Traitor 104. 105 The King and the French King doe iarre about the Kings homage for the Duchie of Guyan 105 The Kings title to the Kingdome of France was now first broached 105 He recouereth Barwicke from the Scots and maketh Edward Bayliol King 106 In his owne person he settleth the gouernment of Scotland 106 The King seekes aid of forraine Princes for his French wars 107 And is by fauour made Vicar Generall of the Empire and is thereby enabled to winne Iaques Dartuell with the Flemings and the Princes of Germanie to ioine with him 108 He filleth his coffers 108 The French King staieth his Armie from going to the Holy Land to fight with England 108 King Edward
transporteth his Armie into Flanders and ioining with his consorts he marcheth into France with 27000. men The French King takes the field 108 Iane Countesse of Henault mother to the Queene of England and sister to the French King parts the fray without blowes 109 * 1339. King Edward quartereth the Armes of France and coines his money with the like stampe 109 Hee taxeth his people and borroweth much money 109 As hee passed towards Sluce with his Armie hee met with and ouerthrew the French Nauie 110 Hee with his associates doe besiege Tournay But the saide Countesse procures a Truce 111 The Scots doe rebell The King marcheth against them A truce is made but they doe breake it They doe inuade and burne Durham 111 The valiant exploit of Sir William Montague The Castle of Ronsborough is besieged The King marcheth against the Scots and they flie 112 He concludes a truce with them Hee returnes proclaimes a Feast and martiall exercises and sports 113 Subsidies are granted but Commissioners are made to receiue and to imploy it 114 * 1344. Hee deuiseth the noble Order of the Garter 114 Iaques Dartuell is murdered because hee would haue disherited the Earle of Flanders to preferre the Blacke Prince 114 By his death King Edward lost the Flemish aide But hee is the more resolued in his attempts 116 The French King besiegeth Aguilon with 100000. men The King takes Harflew Louiers Cane and many other things and harroweth and burneth in Normandie at his pleasure 117 He passeth with his Armie ouer the Riuer of Some 118 The battaile of Cressey 119 * 1345. The numbers of slaine men and prisoners 121 King Edward besiegeth Calice and the French K. with 200000. men could not releeue it The King winnes it and peopleth it with his owne Nation 123 The Scots inuade England in the Kings absence and King Dauid is taken prisoner 123 The King himselfe surpriseth the Frenchmen who came to receiue Calice 124 The Calicians take Guyens 125 The Blacke Prince winneth the battaile of Poyters and brings King Iohn and his younger sonne prisoners into England 126 The whole English Armie is made rich 128 The Dolphin allowes not his fathers agreements with King Edward 128 Hee is enforced to craue peace which is granted vpon conditions 129 The King relinquisheth the French title and right 129 A taxe leuied by the Blacke Prince and the not paying of his Souldiers occasioned his great losses in Guyan Aquitaine c. 130. 131 Whereto ciuill dissention must be added 132 The Earle of Pembroke is taken at Sea 132 The Kings euill Officers 133 The Blacke Prince dieth 134 The King dieth 134 King RICHARD the second THe summarie of his euill gouernment 135 Wat Tilars Rebellion 137 Their insolencie and madnesse 137 Their entertainment in London 138 They doe burne rifle and commit Sacriledge 138 Their behauiour at the Tower and at Mile-end-greene 139 Their Captaine is slaine They prepare for reuenge but doe flie 140. 141 Fifteene hundred of them are executed 141 The Kings euill Counsellors 142 Fifteenes in a Parliament are denied 142 The Lower House will depart except the King in person will come to them 142 Michael de la Pole is displaced from his Chancellorship 144 Commissioners are appointed to order the Kings Officers and the King sweareth to obserue it 144 The Commissioners are reputed to be Traitors 145 The Scots and French doe make a bad voyage into Wales and in the meane time the King with 68000. men spoileth Scotland 145 The Frenchmen well rewarded by the Scots 145 The French King prepares an Armie of 1200. Ships to inuade and to conquer England and King Richard makes incredible preparations to confront him 146 The French Armie vanisheth and comes to nought 147 The petition of the Nobilitie is denied by the King Wherefore they doe raise an Armie 147 The King cannot get an Armie out of London 148 On the Kings faire promises the Armie is dismissed Hee performes nothing so that a new Armie is leuied and receiued into London 149 The Duke of Ireland flieth is slaine by a Bore and is buried like a King 149 The Kings fiue euill Counsellors and some Iudges are condemned as Traitors 149 Iohn of Gaunts iourney valour and fortunate successe in Spaine 150 The King marieth the French Kings sister and deliuers vp Brest for which his Vncle the Duke of Glocester reproueth him but his death is plotted and hee is murdered 151 The flattering Speaker of the Parliament grosly deifieth the King 151 A strange Commission 152 The King in his vanitie will be stiled Prince of Cheshire 152 The Duke of Norfolke vntruly informeth the King against his cosen Henrie Bollingbroke Duke of Hartford for which hee is challenged to a single combat 153. 154 They are both banished 154 Iohn of Gaunt dieth and his son Henrie Bollingbroke now Duke of Lancaster in the Kings absence in Ireland landeth in England and raiseth an Armie The King returneth and leuieth his forces 155 But his people daily shrinke and steale away from him by meanes whereof he submitteth himselfe to the Duke 155 Articles are proposed against him for his euill gouernment which are by him confessed vnder his hand in the Parliament Hee resigneth his Kingdome and is deposed Henrie of Bollingbroke is crowned King And King Richard valiantly resisting is wickedly murdered 160 King HENRY the Fourth IOHN Bishop of Carlile stoutly reproueth King Henries doing openly in the Parliament house 163 The Crowne is entailed 164 Treason at Oxford 164 The Traitors flie and are executed 165 Owen Glendor rebelleth 166 And taketh Roger Mortimer the rightfull heire apparant to the Crowne prisoner and the King refuseth to ransome him 166 The Scots rebelling are ouerthrowen by Henrie Hotspurre who will not deliuer his prisoners to the King 167. 168 The Frenchmen doe aide the Welsh Rebels in shew but doe flie to their ships when the King commeth 167. 168 The Percies doe ransome Roger Mortimer and ioining with Owen Glendor they intend to make him King 169 They leuie an Armie and doe publish Articles against K. Henry The Scots doe aide them but are all ouerthrowen And in that battaile the King himselfe slew six and thirtie men 1401. 171 Dowglas is enlarged without ransome 171 Glendor is forsaken of his companions and is famished in the woods 172 The Duke of Orleance his challenge is stoutly refused by King Henrie 172 And disgraced 173 The Duke of Britaine is commanded by the French King to abandon the siege of Calice 173 Diuers Lords doe practise a Treason which is discouered and most of them are put to death 173 The King warreth againe prosperously in Scotland 173 Hee was in danger to bee taken on the Thames by French Pirates 174 Sir Ralphe Roksbie Sheriffe of Northumberland valiantly ouerthrew the Northerne Rebels and chopt off their heads before the Kings comming thither 174 He createth his younger sonnes Dukes and prepareth to warre in the Holy Land but falleth dangerously
sicke 174 His speech to the Prince his son when he seised on the Crowne 174 He dieth 175 King HENRY the Fifth THis King was vnmeasurably wilde in his fathers daies and was imprisoned and disgraced for striking the Lord Chiefe Iustice on the eare 177 But being King he enriched his loose companions but banished them perpetually from his Court 177 He chose the grauest wisest and best experienced men to be of his Counsell of Estate 177 Hee reformeth the Clergie and the Lay people and erecteth Castles to curbe the Scots 178 A motion was made in Parliament to dissolue religious houses But the Clergie reuiuing the kings title to the kingdome of France and being bountifully liberall doe turne the streame into that channell 178 The King demandeth that Crowne but is scoffed by the Dolphin whom he girdeth by a replie 179 The King leuieth an Armie The French King desireth peace The King yeeldeth on certaine conditions which are denied 180 The Queene is made Regent And as the King is ready to depart his destruction is conspired But the Treacherie was reuealed and the Traitors were put to death 180 The King landeth in Normandie and taketh Harflew His Armie being but 15000. men falleth sicke and is oppressed with many wants Yet the King resolueth to march by land vnto Calice 181 * 1414. He winneth the most famous and the most memorable Battaile of Agencourt 182 The French prisoners were vnwillingly yet miserably slaine 185 He giueth God publike thankes 186 And returneth into England with his great prisoners 186. 187 The new Constable of France is ouerthrowen 187 The French doe besiege Harflew and their Nauie of 500. ships is ouerthrowen And Iohn Duke of Bedford raiseth the siege 188 Ciuill dissention among the French Nobilitie doth further the successe of K. Henries wars 189 Great summes of money are chearfully giuen to the King to maintayne his invasion 189 Nine Carricks of Genoa and Tonque and Cane are taken by the English 191 Most Townes in Normandie doe become English 192 Roan is besieged by the king 192 A proud Roanist dareth him he replies and takes the Citie 197 The French Nobles are outwardly reconciled but not in heart 198 * 1416 Normandie is wonne by King Henrie 198 He marieth the Lady Katherine sister to the French King and is made Regent of France a 1519 is proclaymed Heire apparant to that Crowne 199 200 201 202 203 204. The Kings brother the Duke of Clarence Regent of Normandie and France b 1420 is betraied and slaine in the battaile of Blangy 205 206 The Earle of Mortaigne succeedeth in his charge 207 The King warreth againe in France 207 The Dolphin raiseth his siege from Chartiers and flyeth fearefully from place to place 208 The King falleth grieuously sick exhorteth his Nobles to vnitie and concord and to bee especially carefull to retain the friendship and loue of Philip Duke of Burgoine 209 Hee commends vnto them his yong Infant and their King Directs them for their proceedings in France and then dieth King HENRY the Sixth FRance contemneth the infancie of King Henry 211 Iohn Duke of Bedford is made Regent of France and Humfrey Duke of Glocester is made Protector of the Kings person and of the Realme of England 212 The Regent winneth Townes daily 212 The Parisians are trecherous 213 * 1424 The battaile of Vernoile 215 The Earle of Salisburies valour and name is feared 216 A strange ouerthrow of the French 216 They doe bragge and runne away 217 Townes and victories are daily wonne by the English 218 219 Orleance is besieged and offered to Philip Duke of Burgoine but the Regent will not consent thereto and for that cause the said Duke reuolteth to the French King 221 The battaile of Herings 221 The siege of Orleance is abandoned 222 The Duke of Alanson ouerthroweth the English slayeth the Earle of Salisbury and taketh prisoners the Earle of Suffolke and the Lords Talbot Scales and Hungerford and many others 222 Charles causeth himselfe to bee crowned King of France and is sommoned to a battaile by the Regent hee flyeth cowardly and is hunted from place to place but all in vaine 223 Diuers Nobles of France doe revolt from King Henrie 224. The French King assaults Paris and is well beaten 224 The Parisians doe flatter but are trecherous 225 King Henrie is crowned King of France in Paris 225 England is wondred at for her puissance 225 Treason discouered 226 A Rebellion in Normandie 226 The noble Regent dieth 228 And from the time of his death the English gaine little but doe loose much both in Normandie and in France Richard Duke of Yorke is made Regent 229 Paris is reuolteth 229 Calice is besieged by the Duke of Burgoine 229 But he flyeth in the night 230 The Earle of Warwick is made Regent 231 The French King flyeth in the night 233 Ponthois is taken by the English 234 A parley for peace 234 The Articles proposed are disliked 235 A cruell Armie and a huge on the French part 235 Much is gotten daily and much is daily lost beyond the Seas 235 A truce with France for eighteene moneths 237 An vnworthy marriage concluded for the King by the Duke of Suffolke without Commission 237 Which was the Dukes ouerthrow 246 He will haue his Acts and Counsels registred in Parliament 238 The cause of the losses of France * 1466 Normandie Aquitaine c. 238 The descriptions of the King and Queene 239 The good Duke of Glocester is remoued by the Queen from the Protectorship and is murdered 240 The French wars are neglected and the Truce is broken on both parts 240 Townes are lost Roan yeeldeth to the French King 241 The English are ouerthrowne in field 242 Cane is yeelded to the French King 243 The Duke of Suffolke is accused of treason and banished 244 But is taken at Sea and beheaded 246 The policies of the Duke of York to attaine vnto the Crowne Iack Cade the Rebell flyeth and is proscribed and slaine 247 A pacification but fained betwixt the King and the Duke of Yorke 248 The Duke is accused imprisoned for treason but is enlarged 248 Guyan and Aquitaine are yeelded to King Henrie but are regained by the French 249 The warres betwixt the King and the Yorkists 249 The King is ouerthrowne and taken prisoner in the battaile of * 1454 S. Albons and in Parliament the Duke of Yorke is made Protector 250 Marchant strangers are rifled in London 251 A policie against the Yorkists but it is discouered 252 The King labours for peace but each part dissembleth 252 New Armies are raised 254 The Lords doe flie in the night and are proclaimed traitors 255 The Kings ships twice taken out of Sandwich by Iohn Dynham and the Yorkists 256 The battaile of a 1459 Northampton in which the Queen is ouerthrown and the King is taken prisoner 257 The Duke of Yorks proceedings in Parliament against King Henrie 258 The
Crowne is setled by Parliament The Scots ouerthrow and doe sley the Duke of Yorke in the b 1460 battaile of Wakefield 259 The yong Duke of York winneth the field of Queene Margaret 260 He is by the Queen ouerthrown and the King is enlarged 260 The Dukes newe Armie consisting of 49000. men the Queens new Armie consisting of 60000. men The c 1460 Queene is ouerthrown in the battaile of Towton 260 The King to winne fauour with the king of Scots deliuereth to him the Castle and the Towne of Barwike and the Duke of Yorke is crowned King 261. King EDWARD the Fourth IN Parliament hee repealeth all former Acts which attainted him and his friends of high treason 263 He is troubled by wars raised against him by Queene Margaret in which he preuaileth 265 He taketh especiall * 1462 care for the Common-weale 266 King Henrie is taken prisoner 266 The Earle of Warwick becomes his Enimie because he wronged him in the choice of his wife 267 George Duke of Clarence taketh part with Warwick against his brother King Edward 268 The a 1467 Yorkshire-men doe rebell 269 King Edward is taken prisoner and escapeth 271 The discommodities of Warre 272 A new b 1468 Rebellion in which the Rebells were ouerthrowne 273 Warwick and Clarence flie to Calice and finde bad entertainment 274 Prince Edward sonne to King Henrie the sixth marieth the second daughter of the Earle of Warwick 275 Clarence secretly revolteth to King Edward his brother 275 Warwick landeth in England where his forces doe so encrease that king Edward flieth 277 King Henrie is enlarged and by Parliament the crowne is intailed to him 277 King Edward landeth in England and breaketh his oath made to the citizens of Yorke 278 Hee and his Armie are ioyfully receiued into the citie of London 280 Hee triumpheth victoriously at Barnet field 280 The Queene Margaret leuieth another Armie and is ouerthrown in the battaile of Tewkesbury 282 King Henrie being murdered is brought open faced into S. Pauls Church 283 King Edward hath new wars in France and the Duke of Burgoine breaks promise with him 285 A peace for nine yeares is concluded for which the Duke of Burgoine is angrie with the King who cares not for it 286 The bountie of the French King to the English Armie 288 Henrie Earle of Richmond is by the Duke of Brittaine deliuered to King Edwards Ambassadours but Peter Landoys freeth him 289 The Duke of Clarence being a prisoner is murdered 290 King Edward changeth the forme of his gouernment and by executing of penall statutes he enricheth himselfe but looseth his peoples loue 290 He hath new warres with Scotland but on certaine conditions he grants him peace 291 The French King breaks all his Articles annexed to the last concluded peace wherefore King Edward leuieth a new Armie but falleth sick and dyeth 292 The Description of King Edward 297 King EDWARD the Fifth HE was a child when his father dyed 297 His Vncle Richard Duke of Glocester aimeth to haue his crown 299 He practizeth mischiefe against the Queene Mothers kindred 300 He betrayeth them and bereaueth them of their liues 301 307 The Queene Mother with her children taketh Sanctuarie 302 The Duke of Glocester is made Protector 302 By subtiltie he getteth the yong Duke of Yorke out of prison and sends the King and him to the Tower vnder pretence of greater safetie 302 Hee with the Duke of Buckingham practizeth their destruction 304 305 His villany at the Tower 306 His friend the Lord Hastings is beheaded because hee will not consent to that murder 307 Doctor Shawes flattering sermon 308 Richard Duke of Glocester is made King 309 King RICHARD the third KIng Richard by base flatterie endeuoureth to make a bad matter good 311 Doctor Morton Bishop of Ely is committed to the custodie of the Duke of Buckingham 311 King Richard is despised by the French king 312 The two young Princes by the villanous procurement of King Richard are murdred 312 The reasons which might haue disswaded him from that wickednesse are examined 313 His only sonne by death is taken from him 315 Doctor Morton by flatterie insinuateth himselfe into the inward loue and familiaritie of the Duke of Buckingham and hauing with him resolued on the destruction of king Richard hee escapeth and flyeth into Flanders from whence hee giues good intelligence of all King Richards proceedings to Henrie Earle of Richmond 315 Hee moueth him to marrie the Lady Elizabeth eldest daughter to King Edward the Fourth which hee protesteth to doe 317 King Richard had almost gotten into his hands the Earle of Richmond but Peter Landoys freeth him 317 The Duke of Buckingham and the K. do leuie two strong Armies but the fight is deferred by a sodain floud The Welshmen forsake the Duke he flyeth he is proscribed he is betraied by his owne seruant and looseth his head 318 Peter Landoys would haue betrayed the Earle of Richmond to king Richard but hee and his doe escape hardly into France where they are comforted and aided 320 King Richard by flatterie and bribes gets King Edward the Fourth his children into his owne possession and maketh loue to his owne Neece the said Lady Elizabeth 322 His owne wife sodainly dyeth and he reviueth his incestuous sute to his said Neece who wittily protracteth that businesse 323 False newes from France makes him secure 323 The Earle of Richmond landeth in England and the King and he are with their Armies in Bosworth field 323 King Richards people cleaue not to him 324 Hee is desperate in fight but is slaine by the Earle himselfe and his body is vsed with great despight by the common people 324 325 Henrie Earle of Richmond is proclaimed and crowned King by the souldiers in the open field wher his Enimie lay dead And in the same place Hee with his whole Armie doe thanke GOD. 325 King HENRY the Seuenth KIng Henrie the Seuenth as he had sworne vniteth the two diuided houses of Lancaster Yorke by his mariage with the Lady Elizabeth King Edward the Fourth his eldest daughter 327 He causeth the Crowne to be intayled 328 He maketh Yeomen of his Guard and is thankfull to his friends 327 He repaieth the French King the Duke of Britaigne 328 He repealeth Acts of Attainders makes good lawes and granteth a generall Pardon 328 He suppresseth Rebells 329 Lambert the counterfaited Earle of Warwick by force and policie is taken 329 330 331 King Henrie the Seuenth takes part with the Duke of Britaigne against the French King 332 333 The Earle of Northumberland leuying of a Tax is slaine by the people 333 334 The Rebells flie and are punished 334 Maximilian being aided by King Henrie the Seuenth comes not forth yet King Henrie alone warreth against the French King 335 The King demaunds a Benevolence 335 He besiegeth Bullein and granteth a peace 336 Perkin Warbeck the counterfaited Duke of Yorke vexeth king Henrie 337 He is supported
deerest friends in an awfull regard of his loue THE HISTORIE OF KING WILLIAM RVFVS WHEN William the Conqueror died Robert his eldest sonne being in Germanie accommodated himselfe with great sufficiencie to those affaires and businesses wherewith his father had entrusted him so that by means of his absence the Conquerors last Will and Testament the furtherance by Lanfrank then Archbishop of Canterburie who by reason of his great learning and singular vertues was verie deere and reuerend in the peoples eyes and by manie costlie gifts enlarged with vnaccustomed bountie 9. Septemb. 1087. William his younger brother was crowned King But not long after Duke Robert repining that his right by force and injustice should be made a prey to him that did vsurpe ANNO 2. Duke Robert warreth in England and purposing to regaine by his presence that which by his absence he had lost came into England guarded with a braue Armie of vnconquered Normans and manie French whome Philip their King had waged for his aide But such was the Dukes milde and flexible disposition though he were passing valorous and bold that he rather enclined himselfe to a peaceable composition A composition betwixt the two brothers which was gently craued by his brother than by the effusion of much bloud to possesse himselfe of this Crowne so that in the end being fairely promised That if he suruiued he should succeede and accepting the graunt of three thousand marks by the yeare he tooke a friendlie leaue and returned well pleased and safelie vnto his owne Duchie The King oppresseth the English Nation by Taxes and other cruelties The King by these meanes more strongly fixing his foote in the possession of this Kingdome and being better assured of his establishment than he was before began forthwith to tread in his fathers steppes and with like oppressions and seueritie to humble the haughtie courage of the English and finding by the Rules of Policie That Plentie puffeth vp and that Penurie robbeth such as are hardie of the chiefest Requisites which might enable them to resist imposed on them manie vnusuall Payments and intolerable Taxes which by his greedie ministers and sawcie officers were leuied with such despight and crueltie that thereby they might well perceiue that he meant nothing more than to cut the nerues and sinewes of their strength An old Bishop made a young Earle About the same time Odo his vncle being Bishop of Bayon repaired into England where by reason of the Kings regardfull affection towards him he found such welcome and friendly entertainment that he was created Earle of Kent The old Bishop and young Earle presuming too much on his Nephewes loue and mounting his conceits aboue the height of a conuenient pitch tooke vpon him more authoritie to rule than either a stranger or a subject in wisedome should affect which altered the pleasantnesse of the Kings countenance into frownes and made him much lesse esteemed than otherwise he would haue beene The Kings vncle rebelleth The Bishop whose heart was haughtie and whose minde aspired to more than ordinarie greatnesse so inwardly grudged that the Line of Soueraigne Majestie should tye him short that openly he did rebell and in such sort by the helpe of the English Normans distempered the soundnesse of the Commonweales Peace with manie turbulent and dangerous mutinies in sundrie places of the Land that the King contrarie to his naturall disposition and contrarie to the former Rules of his Policie was compelled to strengthen his owne part by the English Nation The King through necessitie flattereth the English whome with better vsage fairer speeches releasement of injurious Taxes and great gifts he made so firme and faithfull to him that by their assistance he more than well hoped to preuaile And such was his new courtesie and kindnesse to manie of the reuolted Lords that leauing the Bishop and his associates they adhered firmely vnto the King These fractions and these disorders in the publike State begot new conceits in Malcolyne King of Scots The Scots rebell who on the suddaine railing a faire Armie of aduenturous men of warre inuaded the Northren parts of this Kingdome The newes whereof appalled not the King but rather it inspired him with a spirit of such inuincible courage that marching first against the Bishop and his complices The Bishop is ouerthrowne with an high hand he obtained a quicke victorie and enforced the vnwise Bishop his vncle to abiure the Land And forthwith being mounted aloft vpon the wings of Furie ANNO. 3. The Scots ouerthrowne and scorning to be checked by resistance he rushed with such manlike violence vpon the hardie Scots that the greatest numbers of them were quickly slaine in the field and Malcolyne was not onely compelled to acknowledge his subiection The Scots subiection by renewing of his former Oath but willingly he became a Pentioner to the King In the sixt yeare of his Raigne his prosperitie was interrupted by the obstinate Rebellion of Rees the last King of the Welchmen ANNO. 6. The Welchmen rebell and are subdued who so infested him with broken warres that for many moneths together being vrged to fight with Mountaines to which vpon all enforcements they fled in stead of combating with men he could finde no rest But such was his resolution his valour and vndaunted courage to withstand the strongest push of all extremities that in the end he slew their King and by a glorious victorie he better secured the subjection of the Welchmen than any of his predecessors had done before Not long afterwards The Scots rebell againe Malcolyne the King of Scots being vnkindly and disgracefully denied accesse to the English Court where he intended a friendly conference vpon many matters of great weight and consequence returned into Scotland and being infected with a million of discontents the disease of his passions published it selfe with much danger to the Northren parts which he inuaded with a strong Armie spoyling robbing burning wounding and killing without controlment in all places as he listed vntill he besieged a strong Castle which for manie daies was valiantly defended by Robert Mowbray then Earle of Northumberland who at length seeming to yeeld to the frowardnesse of his disasterous fortune and comming out of his Castle gate well mounted with the keyes thereof fastened vnto his launce The King of Scots slaine and making low obeysance to the King in token of his submission and dashing his spurres into his horse he ranne vpon the King and with his launce in stead of tendering him the keyes he pierced out his eye and slew him on the place Which hauing done he escaped flying like the winde leauing the dismayed Scots behinde him to lament their irrecuperable losse and with much sorrow to returne into Scotland with their breathlesse King As on the Sea-shore one waue succeedes another so in humane affaires there is no end of troubles No sooner was this businesse concluded but another
did begin For Robert Duke of Normandie conceiuing himselfe to be much wronged by a supposed breach of the Kings former promises resolued to transport a faire Armie into England for the regayning of his Right but the King purposing rather to aduenture offensiue Warres abroad A good Policie than with assured losse to defend himselfe at home gathered a strong power of able and willing men of warre with which he sayled into Normandie The French strengthen Robert Duke of Normandie against the King But Philip of France so friendly backed the Duke in those employments that the English forces found themselues too weake to doe him any harme So this vnexpected resistance compelled the King to cast his plot into a new mould and by sleight and policie to effect that which by open violence he could not doe Wherefore not making himselfe ouer-much beholding to long deliberation he sent many of his chiefest Commanders into England who with more than ordinarie diligence and speede in short time waged a strong Armie of twentie thousand men who being readie to be embarked were vnexpectedly greeted with this faire offer A politike and a pleasing Taxe That such of them as would seuerally giue tenne shillings to the King towards his leuying of new forces in Normandie should be dismissed from that journey This demaund in regard of each particular giuer was not great but the entire value thereof when it was collected amounted to a good summe because there were few or none who by this payment procured not their discharge And the French King being secretly corrupted with the gift of the greater part of this money made present choise rather to shrinke from his kinde friend Quid non Regina pecunia than to assist him at his neede so that the good Duke being left alone and yet accompanied with the sensible apprehension of his owne defects and making a vertue of his necessities contented himselfe to subscribe to the commaund of his aduerse fortune A composition For making an enforced Peace with his brother and pawning to him his Duchie of Normandie for tenne thousand pounds himselfe in person with other Christian Princes waged warres in the Holy Land The Welchmen rebell As soone as the King was returned into England the Rebels in Wales summoned him to a new Warre which he vndertooke with great celeritie and with much valour But the craggie Mountaines the steepie Hils the thicke Woods and the watrie Marishes vnto which the Welchmen vsed continually to flye vpon euerie feare of danger so toyled and tyred the English forces that the King to encrease his strength and to furnish himselfe with more fitting meanes to subdue those Rebels was compelled without honour to returne But those his new preparations were interrupted by another Rebellion in the North The Earle of Northumberland rebelleth which was occasioned and conducted by Robert Mowbray Earle of Northumberland who madly expressed the malecontentednes of his disordered passions because the King as he conceiued had not requited his seruice done vpon Malcolyne the King of Scots with any worthie or condigne reward A couragious King But such was the haughtie spirit and courage of the King that those vnexpected troubles which benummed the senses of the vulgar did set an edge vpon his valour making him to scorne feare and to entertaine hope and animating him with a setled resolution to dare fortune to doe her worst For he no sooner saw his reuolted subjects of the North The Rebels subdued but he loaded them in such sort with blowes and wounds that such as fled not he made a prey vnto death or made them miserable examples to their friends who might bemoane them but could not release them of their losse of Eares Eyes Hands Noses or Feete Thus did the King beate downe their pride and tooke the Earle as hee fled and sent him to the Castle of Windsour where hee was committed to a strong Prison Then did the King with new strength march againe into Wales The King could not subdue the Welchmen in two Expeditions but his former mishaps were presidents to his later successe For albeit that Furie made him more aduenturous than Reason gaue him warrant in regard that his magnanimous spirit could not digest the counter-checks of such a scattered Rabble yet when hee had weakened his strength and impaired his Armie by the losse of manie valiant men vpon the vast and desolate Mountaines which affoorded him nothing but Repentance he was enforced farre against his will the second time to returne leauing the Welch Rebels vncorrected and therefore exceedingly emboldened in their sinne Whose insolencies bred in the King such a strong resolution to reuenge that foure yeares after when they suspected not any approaching danger he sent against them the two Earles of Shrewsburie and of Chester with a strong Power The Welchmen sodainely inuaded are ouerthrowne who finding them rioting in the Isle of Anglesey set vpon them slew diuers wounded more suffered few to escape and such as were taken prisoners were eyther executed with manie Torments or dismembred with such Depriuements as happened to the Rebells in the North. ANNO 10. Now when the King by the helpe of the English Nation had obtained many memorable victories against the Scots Welchmen and the Northren Rebels An vngratefull King and by their assistance had in such sort established his affaires that all feare of future perils was quite banisheâ— imitating the example of some vnthankfull Mariners who by the goodnesse of a sound Ship hauing escaped the boisterous rage of an hideous Tempest will leaue her in the Roade subject to the furie of the windes and to the violence of the waters Hee not onely forgot his honourable atchieuements by their meanes but vnthankefully he requited them who had freed him from manie vnspeakable dangers For as in former times so now againe he dis-heartened them The English Nation is miserably oppressed by manie intollerable exactions new impossitions and mercilesse oppressions turning their longings after Libertie into a seruile Bondage their expectations for Fauour into Despaire and their Plentie into such Pouertie that though those Times gaue them leaue sorrowfully to bewayle their griefes yet Hope administred to them no comfort for Reliefe Yea such was his impietie Extreame couetousnesse in a King and such was his couetous desire by all vnjust meanes to enrich himselfe that impiously he sold for money the greatest and the best Promotions both in Church and in Commonweale and did prohibite Anselme then Archbishop of Canterburie to assemble any Conuocations or Synods for the well ordering of the Clergie or for the correcting of such as did offend without his leaue and licence by meanes whereof he secretly filled his coffers with much Treasure The Archbishop of Canterburie robbed rifled These indignities and these irreligious practises were sharpely reprehended by Anselme yet found he no reformation of those monstrous abuses Wherefore being
payments and demaunds imposed vpon them by the two former kings He gaue free libertie to the Nobles and Gentlemen of this Realme for their pleasure Flatterers banished the Court. and better recreation to inclose Parkes for Deere and free Warrens for their Conies and such like Game And as Traitors to his Vertues State and kingly Gouernment he exiled and banished from his Court and Presence all base Flatterers Nicenesse in Behauiour Luxuriousnesse in Conuersation Sumptuousnesse in Apparell and Superfluitie in Dyet He ordained punishments by death for all such as violently spoyled or robbed in the High wayes With indefatigable trauell and paine hee corrected and reformed the monstrous Pride intolerable Couetousnesse and secure Negligence and Slouth of the Clergie He recalled from Banishment Anselme and restored him to his Archbishopricke of Canterburie and gaue him full power to assemble Conuocations and Synods at his pleasure The King leaueth the inuesture of Bishops to the Pope for the amendment of such things as were vnsufferable in the Church He left vnto the Pope his power and authoritie to inuest Bishops by giuing to them the Ring the Crosse and the Pastorall Staffe All such Ecclesiasticall Promotions and Dignities as by the lewd aduice and counsell of Reynulph Bishop of Durham his brother had seized into his owne hands and conuerted to his owne vse he voluntarily and freely conferred vpon Honest Graue Learned and Worthie Men and committed the said Bishop a prisoner to the Tower of London R bert Duke of Normandy inuadeth England from whence he afterwards escaped and eagerly incited Robert Duke of Normandie by the Sword to lay his clayme to this kingdome Who thereupon to maintaine his demaund in that behalfe raysed a strong Armie which he intended with all conuenient expedition to transport into this Realme But as king Henrie by those precedent prouisions had endeared himselfe in the Peoples loue so had he the more confirmed it by taking to wife Mawlde the sister of Edgar King Henries title made stronger by his marriage King of Scots and daughter vnto Malcolyne by Margaret his wife sister to Edgar Adelinge who died without issue and daughter to King Edward the sonne of Edmund Iron-side the victorious and valiant King of the Saxons When Duke Robert with his Armie was arriued in England the noyse of Trumpets the sound of Drummes and the swarming multitudes of well-approued Souldiors fit for the Warre affoorded none other thing but a fearefull expectation of much trouble But as a threatening lowring Cloud is sometimes dispersed by a faâ—â—e shining Sunne so these approaching conflicts by the discreete mediation and counsell of worthie friends were suddenly preuented and a friendly peace A peace concluded betwixt the two brethren betwixt the two brothers was louingly concluded vpon such like conditions as formerly had beene agreed on in William Rufus his daies whereat the Norman Lords were much displeased and returned discontented with their Lord. But such were the malignant spirits of the Enuious The King inuadeth and preuaileth in Normandie or such was the greedie disposition of those who were Couetous or so eager was the Kings appetite to enlarge his Dominion that manie great quarrels for small and trifling causes began vpon the suddaine to present themselues vnto those two brethren Insomuch that King Henrie passed with a sufficient and a well-ordered Armie into Normandie where he was assisted by manie of the Dukes discontented Nobles By meanes whereof The Duke is forsaken by his Nobles and Gentrie the King in sundrie skirmishes and conflicts so preuailed that with little danger and small resistance hee chased the forsaken Duke from place to place and wonne from him the Cities of Roan Cane Valoys and manie others and then hee returned into England with much honour The Duke perceiuing that his Lords and Gentrie refused to giue him anie helpe and that the Kings Estate Strength and Riches so encreased that no hope of recouerie by striuing and by strugling was left vnto him submitted himselfe to his two Enemies Time and Fortune the scornefull deluders of such as repose their confidence vpon them and came secretly and priuatly into England presented himselfe to the King his brother and referred to his owne censure and will both himselfe his Duchie and all Debates and Controuersies whatsoeuer But the King eyther because hee knew that the Duke was too vnconstant The Dukes submission is scornefully despised or for that some secret whisperers had prepared him to prejudicate his brothers Truth and honest Meaning with an estranged countenance and a disdainefull eye departed vnkindly from the distressed and perplexed Duke coyly refusing to accept of his submission which in all humilitie by him was profered The Duke returneth and the King followeth The Duke being pierced to the heart that his misfortunes should so much wrong him returned with all expedition into his owne Countrey resoluing That in the open Field he would rather die as a valiant man than thus be trampled on by Dishonour and by Disgrace And the king conjecturing rightly what he pretended followed him with many thousands of men and so often he encountred the weake Duke with his great strength The Duke is taken and his eyes are put out that within few dayes he tooke him and brought him as a prisoner into England where because he hearkened to Natures enticement which persuaded him to seeke his libertie and to practise his escape both his eyes by the kings commaundement were plucked out After which time he liued as a miserable and as a wretched captiue more than the space of twentie yeares At length being dead in Glocester he was buried A Rebellion by the Earles of Shrewsburie and of Mortaigne About the same time Robert Belasme Earle of Shrewsburie trayterously did rebell but wanting Wealth Wit Courage and Strength the foure Champions of the strongest Field he was enforced to flye into Normandie Where finding William Earle of Mortaigne and of Cornwall much displeased with the king for that as he surmised he kept from him vnjustly the Earledome of Kent he so much insinuated himselfe into his loue and counsels that easily he persuaded him to rebell So both of them joyning both their forces together they made a goodly shew as if they would work wonders They are taken and imprisoned But small opposition enforced them to take a plaine view of their rash errors and leauing that which they had to make hard shifts for the safegard of themselues Wherein their ill successe was a just reward for their foule offence for by the kings Power they were taken and by him held as prisoners whilest they liued New troubles betwixt the King and the Archbishop of Canterburie about the Temporalties of the Clergie and inuesture of Bishops The king hauing now cast anchor as he was resolued in a safe harborow and nothing fearing the blasts of any Fortune which might attempt to shake his settlement in this
kingdome and finding that manie inconueniences did daily presse him with much dishonor and disgrace because he intermedled not with the Temporalties of Bishoprickes when they were vacant nor with the inuesture of Bishops as his Ancestors had done and being informed That those things were inseparable incidents vnto his Crowne and that his neglect to vse them depriued him not of his Right vnto them resolued That he would not any longer forbeare to chalenge and to put in practise those things which so justly did belong vnto him Whereat Anselme the Archbishop of Canterburie was much displeased and did vtterly refuse to consecrate such new Bishops as had receiued their Inuestures from the king But Gerald then Archbishop of Yorke cheerefully performed that Ceremonie vpon the kings commaund This new quarrell transported Anselme the second time from England vnto Rome Anselme goeth to Rome the second time complaineth to Pope Pascal the second The Archbishop preuaileth where he complayned to Pope Paschal the second of those and of manie other wrongs all which were controuerted and debated with the strongest oppositions on either partie But two yeares after Anselme with the licence and fauour of the king returned and in a Synod of the Clergie holden by him in London by the Popes authoritie it was enacted That from thenceforth no Temporall man should giue Inuesture to any Bishop by the Crosse and Ring Within three yeares after Anselme died and the Temporalties of that Dignitie being seized into the kings hands The King entreth vpon the Temporalties of the Archbishop of Canterburie were for the space of fiue yeares taken receiued and conuerted to the kings vse And if at anie time as hee was often hee were entreated by the Bishops to conferre that See vpon some other his answere was That he onely kept it for a sufficient and a worthie man In the yeare of our Lord one thousand one hundred and eight hee erected the Bishopricke of Ely The Bishoprick of Ely founded in Anno 1108. and endowed it with large and honourable Possessions which wonne him much fauour with the Pope and procured him the loue of his owne Clergie Thus when the King for a few yeares had enjoyed the benefite of an happie Peace Normandie inuaded and held all Normandie subject to his owne commaund his tranquilitie and his pleasure were enuied by Lewis le Grosse then king of France who first of all procured Fulke Earle of Angeou vpon a weake pretence to seize vpon the Countrey of Mayne and then animated Baldwyne Earle of Flanders to declare against the king in Armes for the with-holding of a yearely pension of three hundred markes which the Conquerour gaue onely vnto Baldwyne the fifth Earle of Flanders during his life But the same had afterwards beene payd to his Sonne and Nephew by the courtesie of the succeeding kings because the Conquerour had beene well assisted in his Warres with England by the said Baldwyne the fifth All these made strong preparations to inuade the Kings Duchie of Normandie But the newes thereof rowsed the King from his bed of ease The King sayleth into Normandie preuaileth filled him full with Princely resolutions occasioned him to passe the Sea with an Armie of rough and tough Nobles Gentrie and common Souldiors And shortly after his landing loosing no time he set vpon the Earle of Angeou and his associates And after he had beaten him soundly on euerie side he enforced him to saue himselfe by a shamefull flight Another victorie And neere vnto the Towne of Nice which was surprized and holden by the King of France King Henrie encountred the other two This Battaile was made famous by the continuance of nine houres and was on all parts fought with such eager and manlike resolution that albeit the King of England wonne the Field and had the long chase of his flying enemies yet he boldly and truly would confesse that hee then fought not for victorie but for his life A peace is concluded At length when the heat of Anger was well quenched and when manie lay cold on the floore of death who in their life times had blowne the coales of contention betweene those foure Princes A Mariage they all were reconciled vnto peace and the King married to his eldest sonne William the daughter of the said Fulke But in their journey towards England the said young Princes Richard and Marie Countesse of Perch two others of the Kings children his Neece Lucie A great misfortune with her husband the Earle of Chesier and more than an hundred and fourescore others were vnfortunately drowned by the carelesse folly of the drunken Mariners Drunkennes This vnexpected newes being accompanied with manie millions of sorrowes and of dolefull passions much grieued the King but made him not heartlesse as most Princes would haue beene in the like case The Kings admirable patience For Wisdome had sufficiently instructed him with patience to sustaine and beare those burthens which could not by any meanes be shaken off And likewise the King was at that time affoorded but little leisure to fixe his cogitations on those mishaps because the obstinate Rebellion of the Welchmen drew him vnwillingly into a new Warre For when he saw and perceiued that though he were a King yet vrgent necessitie commaunded him to Armes and that Iustice did require him by the Sword to judge and to execute those lewd and gracelesse Malefactors The Welchmen rebell and are subdued hee marched with a strong Power into Wales when the Rebels trusting ouer-much to their owne valour which little or nothing at all helpeth in Treasonable Plots and Imployments resolued to abide the vtmost push of their fortune which yeelded to the King a speedie and a successefull end of those Warres For with little danger and as small a losse he gaue them the ouerthrow and permitted the wastfull deuouring swords of his associates to surfet vpon the carkasses of those Rebels whome neither gentle vsage nor former executions of that nature could persuade to performe those duties which good subjects doe owe vnto their Prince Then returned the King loaden with much honour Maulde the kings daughter married to the Emperour Henrie the fifth and was joyfully receiued by all his people especially by Mauld his daughter whome he forthwith sent to be married vnto the Emperour Henrie the fifth her affied husband with a princely portion of Siluer and of Gold which in the nature of a Taxe was leuied vpon the common people of their Land which he tooke for an ayde towards her marriage And the same custome Aid purfiâ—e marrier for the marriage of the eldest daughter of the Kings of this Realme hath beene and is continued vnto this day At the same time he deuised and ordered the manner and fashion of a Court in Parliament Anno 1114. The High Court of Parliament fâ—â—â—t established at Salisburie in April appointing it to consist of the three
Treasure of his vncle The Kings liberalitie the last deceased King Which hee closed not vp in Chests or in Bagges as idle Archers doe their Arrowes in their Quiuers when for their honest recreation they should shoote but with a large and an open hand hee bountifully disposed of them among such as eyther by Armes or by Counsell were best likely to stand him in the greatest stead He also created sundrie Noblemen and dignified manie others with the honourable Title of Knighthood whose loue by those meanes he procured And because benefits receiued doe more please the vulgar and common sort of People than Right or Reason can doe he therefore released vnto them the Dane-gelt and all other extraordinarie Burthens and Exactions whatsoeuer causing a large Charter thereof and of the mitigation of the Seueritie and Penalties of sundrie Lawes to be made and bound himselfe by a solemne Oath to keepe and to obserue the same He also renounced the future Seisures of all Ecclesiasticall Dignities and Promotions Priuiledges graunted to the Clergie when they should become vacant Hee gaue to the Church and Church-men such gracefull and profitable Priuiledges and Immunities as they would demaund And among other things he freely exempted them from the authoritie of the Temporall Magistrate for all offences whatsoeuer except the Ordinarie should bee pleased that hee should deale therewith Finally he endeuoured to doe all things justly and pleasing vnto all Castles and Fortresses erected To preuent suddaine Eruptions Rebellions and Incursions tending to the generall disturbance of the common Peace by hauing manie strong and fortified places for good defence himselfe erected manie Forts Fortresses Bulwarkes and Castles and licenced his Nobles and his Gentrie and Clergie to doe the like He gaue vnto Dauid the King of Scots and vncle to Mauld the Empresse because hee should not second her in her demaunds The Scots flattered by the King or warlike attempts the whole Prouince of Cumberland and created his eldest sonne Henrie Earle of Huntingdon Yet notwithstanding not long after in her quarrell hee entred into the Northren parts of this Kingdome The King of Scots ouerthrowne by the Archbishop of Yorke which hee tormented with fire and sword But in the end he was encountred by Thurston then Archbishop of Yorke who compelled him being pursued with vnspeakable dangers to flye into Scotland and to leaue behinde him dead vpon the ground more than tenne thousand men of his Armie In the sixt yeare of his Raigne Mauld the Empresse Mauld the Empresse landeth in England being accompanied with her base brother Robert Earle of Glocester landed with an armie in England and was quickly strengthened and emboldened in her Enterprise by the plentifull accesse of manie of the English and of Raynulph Earle of Chester with a lustie crew of bold and forward Welchmen Hereupon the King imposing no confidence in delay but Experience instructing him that aduised Expedition is the chiefest enabler of good successe leuied a strong armie and marched with good resolution against the Empresse and her Forces who greeted him with such Musicke as her warlike Troupes did gallantly present So that a cruell and a bloudie Battaile with equall hopes for manie houres was fought betweene them But at length King Stephen ouerthrowne the Kings common Souldiors striuing faintly and as cowards rather endeuouring to saue themselues by flight than manfully to defend their King did basely leaue the King who with his Nobles and Gentrie scorning to turne their backes maintained their part with as much courage as manhood could affoord King Stephen taken prisoner till in the end the King was taken and committed to the Castle of Bristoll where hee remayned a prisoner about the space of three moneths and was at the last deliuered King Stephen is set at libertie to free the Earle of Glocester who had beene taken and was imprisoned by the Queene After this victorie thus obtained the Empresse with manie honourable Triumphs and Solemnities was receiued into the Cities of Circester Oxford Winchester and London The Londoners attempt to surprize the Empresse But the Londoners desiring the Restitution of King Edwards Lawes and not obtaining their request consulted to surprize the Empresse and to deliuer her vnto the King By meanes whereof good counsell aduised her to flye which suddainely she did and came vnto Oxford Where within few dayes and vnexpectedly shee was enuironed with a strong Siege So that despaire of good successe dis-heartening her The Empresse besieged in Oxford and teaching her a readie meanes for her escape taking the benefit of the Snow which at that time lay thicke vpon the ground she with her chiefest complices apparrelling themselues in white linnen secretly issued forth A politike flight and posting with all speede towards the Sea they embarked themselues and sayled into Normandie Manie yeares together after these turmoyles this Realme enjoyed a blessed Peace And in the seuenteenth yeare of this Kings Raigne died the most valorous and hardie knight Raynulph Earle of Chester Henry Short-Mantel heire apparant to the Empresse and so did Geoffrey Plantagenet husband to the Empresse And Henrie surnamed Short-Mantle her eldest sonne tooke to wife Elianor the daughter and heire of the Earle of Poytou which Elianor not long before for neerenesse in bloud and after she had borne him two daughters was diuorced from Lewis the seuenth then King of France So that Prince Henrie was now Duke of Normandie in the right of his Mother Earle of Angeou by descent from his Father and Earle of Poytou in the right of his wife by whome not long after he also had the Earledome of Tholouse This worthie Prince by manie of his friends and valiant men of Warre who longed to haue employment in so faire a journey was incited to leuie a strong armie and to transport them into England and by their helpe and the assistance of other wel-willers to attempt the recouerie of his Right and the rather for that king Stephen and Eustace his onely sonne did now begin to warre vpon manie of those who held their Castles for the Prince his vse His strong Expectation and hope to be enthroned in this Kingdome through the fauour of diuers Lords and Commons of this Realme easily persuaded him to lend a listening eare to their whisperings So that to giue vnto them good content and to forward the attayning of his owne desires Henry Short-Mantel inuadeth England hee raysed a strong power of willing and able men of Warre Which beeing brauely conducted by noble Captaines well skilled in those Affaires arriued safely in England where King Stephen and his sonne disdained to be idle for they had prouided with an equall strength to encounter him Both armies had daily newes the one from the other they threatned much did somewhat but it was but little Yet in those Expeditions Eustace the kings sonne by misaduenture was vnfortunately drowned Prince Eustace drowned
was in great disfauour with the King But he taking little notice of the Kings dislike contrarie to the Kings pleasure vpon the suddaine surrendred to the King his Chancelorship and the great Seale The King enquired diligently for the cause why he so did But such was his obstinate follie and vnthankfulnesse that he would not reueale it vnto anie These jarres betweene the King and the Archbishop emboldened the baser and the worser sort of the Clergie to commit manie great and horrible sinnes and offences for which they receiued small punishment because though their transgressions were Murthers Manslaughters Thefts and Robberies yet they being to be tryed and adiudged by men of their owne profession were too too much winked at So that by meanes of their carelesnesse the Commonweale was much wronged The Clergies temp rall offences made subiect to be tried before the Temporall Iudge Wherefore the King summoned and assembled his High Court of Parliament In which that Law made by king Stephen which exempted the authoritie of the Temporall Iudge to meddle with anie Ecclesiasticall persons for anie crime by them committed whatsoeuer was abolished and the ancient Lawes of this Realme vsed in the times of Henrie the first and of others the kings Progenitors and which were commonly called Auitae Leges were reduced to their former validitie and force Auitae Leges But in these proceedings the king was much crossed and interrupted by the obstinate and bold frowardnesse of Thomas Becket and of some few other Bishops who vnaduisedly made themselues partakers of his Faction But after manie Conferences Disputes and Consultations touching those businesses all the Bishops Becket onely excepted ratified and subscribed those newly reuiued Lawes Becket would not giue way to those Laws But Becket would not by anie meanes assent thereunto except hee might insert this Clause Saluo ordine suo Which words would clearely haue annihilated the life and substance of those Lawes His Exception Saluo iure suo This his follie made the king to bite his lippe and to say little So that the other Bishops much fearing to what end the kings extraordinarie displeasure and discontentment would tend did priuately commune with the Archbishop and prayed him for the preuenting of future mischiefes to submit himselfe whereunto he gaue his free consent Becket is persuaded and sweareth to those Lawes and as the rest had done so did he take a solemne Oath to giue allowance to those Lawes The king forthwith altered the strangenesse of his countenance into pleasing and familiar lookes he spake kindly vnto Becket and assured him of his former loue And being wise and politike and purposing to assure the Peace of future times whilest oportunitie did serue hee caused a tripartite Instrument to be drawne betwixt himselfe and the two Archbishops testifying this Submission and this Oath Two of which parts were forthwith subscribed by the King and by the Archbishop of Yorke But Thomas Becket falling into the relapse of his former follie did not onely refuse to doe the like Becket again withstandeth those Lawes but expressed great Repentance for the former Oath which he had taken And not so contented he secretly informed the Pope thereof and of his inward sorrow for that sinne Becket is absolued by the Pope The Pope not onely absolued him of that Oath and enioyned him to some priuate Penance but hee also required him without yeelding stoutly to persist with a strong Resolution in his opinion Hereupon the kings anger towards Becket daily encreased more and more And when this newes from Rome was diuulged Beckets temporalties seized by the King He is called to an accompt for 30000 marks and refuseth to accompt his Majestie seized into his owne hands all such Temporall Lands and Promotions as hee had giuen in former times vnto Becket and required him to render him an account for thirtie thousand Marks which to his vse he had receiued when he was Chancelor of this Realme But boldly hee affirmed That the king had frankely and freely giuen it vnto him and that therefore hee would not enter into anie such account Whereupon the king to satisfie himselfe His mouables are seized made a seizure of such moueable goods as appertained to him Thus whilest the Wheele thus turned Thomas Becket without the kings Licence transported himselfe secretly vnto Rome Becket goeth to Rome and the king thereby perceiuing that Becket intended nothing more than to incense the Pope against him sent his Embassadours and Letters vnto Rome The Pope denieth the Kings request and by them he signified vnto the Pope how reasonable his owne demaunds were and how peruersely Thomas Becket had refused to obey And therefore he entreated the Pope that he might be depriued of his Place and Dignitie protesting That he would prouide for him and his in some other kind He threateneth the king But the Pope not onely denied his request but with thundering termes he threatened to send two Legats into England who should curse the King and all his Realme except on their demaund hee restored the Archbishop both to his Place and Dignitie and also to all such Lands and Mouables as by the Kings commandement had beene taken from him And in the meane time hee commended Becket to the Abbot of Pontinyack where hee was gently receiued and kindly entertained as a Monke The Kings anger against Becket But when the King perceiued into what corner the winde did blow and that the Pope had filled Becket with the blasts of pride and vaine-glorie he being more and more exasperated sent vnto the said Abbot and required him to turne Becket out of his house or otherwise he protested he would not leaue one Monke of his Order in all France The King forbiddeth accesse from the Pope into England He also published certaine Iniunctions against the Pope and all Cardinals and Legates which without his Licence should presume to enter into his kingdome He also depriued Thomas Beckets nearest and choisest friends of all such Promotions Lands and Substance as they did enioy and banished them out of the Realme Beckets friends are banished because with counsell and with money they had joyned with him in this his obstinacie against the king This round and bitter course more troubled Becket then all other precedent passages whatsoeuer And to encrease his griefe the Abbot of Pontinyacke fearing the euent of the Kings displeasure if he submitted not himselfe to his command gently perswaded Becket to leaue his house The French King vnderhand animateth the Pope Whereof when Lewis the French King heard albeit his daughter Margaret was married vnto Henrie the yong King yet he procured him better entertainment elsewhere and secretly wrote in his behalfe vnto the Pope The King sayleth into France He conferreth with Becket His offer to Becket King Henrie desiring to see an end of these troubles if by any meanes conueniently hee might vpon
the suddaine sailed into France And in the French Kings presence hee conferred with Becket oftentimes and made him this offer That if at last hee would take the said Oath againe and would subscribe the said Instrument Tripartite as himselfe and the Archbishop of Yorke had done to the other two He should then returne into England Graced with the Kings especiall fauour and that hee should enioy his place and dignitie and be in ample sort restored to all things taken from him and whereof iustly hee had beene depriued And that the like bountie should be extended to his exiled friends But he proudly answered that if the king would consent that hee might so sweare and subscribe with this exception Saluo honore Dei Salua honore Dei he then would yeeld But this exception displeased the King more then all the rest had done For then hee perceiued plainely that Becket intended thereby to expresse That those Lawes tended to the dishonour of Almightie God and that therefore hee had a purpose no longer to obey them notwithstanding he should subscribe and sweare then he should please Beckets proud resolution But Becket told him proudly and plainely That hee feared none but God and that sith those his Lawes were derogatorie to the auncient customes and priuiledges of the Church and robbed God of his honour the King in seeking to establish them should not haue his owne will whilst he liued The King failing of his purpose returned into England and not long after two Legates came to him from Rome Two Legats sent to interdict the king to interdict him from comming to the Church vntill he had in all things whatsoeuer restored Becket according to the Popes commaunds High displeasure transported the King into Normandy where he conferred againe with Becket but found him still the selfe-same man He sayleth into Normandie but finds no alteration in Becket The King is pleased that Becket shall returne into England The King would faine haue Becket dispatched And being desirous to set an end of those troubles hee gaue him way and consented to his returne and came againe into England And not long after Becket followed the King But the King muttringly repined that among all such as he had aduanced there was not one who would endeuour to rid him of so dangerous and malapert an enemie He also receiued a strange welcome of Henrie the young king who exiled him from his Court and confined him to his owne house in Canterburie because in his absence the king in his Parliament desiring that his said sonne should be crowned King the Bishop of London and three other Bishops vpon the kings commandement had performed those ceremoniall Solemnities and were suspended by Becket because they presumed so to doe without his leaue and could not be absolued by Becket although he had beene entreated therein by both those kings And within foure dayes after Becket by foure gracelesse malefactors was wickedly murdered in his owne Church Thomas Becket murdred whereof the king was accused by the Pope but he denied it vpon his oath The King accused Yet in regard of his former muttering speeches which by all conjecture hastened his end the king submitted himselfe to the Popes Censure The Kings Penance Who enjoyned him to warre three yeares in person in the Holie Land which he redeemed by erecting three Houses of Religion He was also enjoyned to goe from London to Canterburie bare-footed to visit Beckets Shryne which he did and suffered himselfe to be scourged with roddes by euerie Monke there He is whipped And thus the king had a bad end of all those Troubles THE HISTORIE OF KING RICHARD THE FIRST RICHARD the eldest sonne liuing of Henrie the second being in Normandie when his Father died succeeded in his Throne And because those Countries wanted settlement and required a longer time of his presence aboue all other things he was most carefull for the enlargement of Queene Elianor his Mother A good sonne but an euill husband who by her deceased husband was committed to strait Imprisonment because shee loathed and would not endure his lasciuious course of liuing with his wanton Rosamond but sharpely reproued him for the same And because shee was euerie way vertuous discreete and wise Queene Elianor is made Regent of England hee committed the whole Gouernment of this Realme in his absence to her care And because her owne Experience had informed her what anguish and what sorrow poore helpelesse Captiues did endure shee set at libertie all such as were imprisoned for ordinarie offences Non ignara maâ—i miseris succurâ—ete discit or for small Debts which her selfe did pay and administred the Common-weales affaires with great Moderation Integritie and Iustice vntill her sonne the king came home and was with all Solemnitie and strange Triumphs annointed and crowned king This king imitating the milde disposition of his mother and commiserating the troubles of such as were afflicted freed out of euerie Prison all such as were his Debtors A mercifull King or were enthralled for anie transgression which concerned himselfe and whome without injustice done to others he might acquite And in the whole course of his Gouernment he so prouided that Iustice with Mercie should be extended vnto all Too much honor elateth He heaped manie Honors and profitable Promotions vpon his brother Iohn whome he created Earle of Lancaster and gaue vnto him the Prouinces of Nottingham Deuonshire and Cornwall and married him to the sole and onely Daughter and Heire of the Earle of Glocester from whome he receiued the Lordship of that Countrey These great and kind fauors required that he should be thankfull But oftentimes it happeneth that as the addition of too much Oyle extinguisheth the Lampe which otherwise would burne and yeeld her light and as the ouer-abundance of too much water falling vpon a Wheele maketh it the lesse seruiceable for the vse to which it is employed So the conferring of too much Honor and of too manie Titles of Dignitie vpon such as are not capable of them all altereth and changeth their milde and gentle dispositions and maketh them altogether vnthankefull for those benefits which they haue receiued And oftentimes they are incited and prouoked thereby to affect things of higher consequence and moment than are fitting and to conjecture that the greatest fortunes are most agreeable to their Estates So that they neuer cease to attempt great things which in the end will rather be hurtfull to them than doe them anie good An vnthankfull brother This proued true betwixt the king and his brother Iohn For when the king had powred on him plentifull showers of his bountie and great abundance and had aduanced him in Honor and in Estate aboue all others his thoughts mounted aboue the Moone and made him vnnaturally and vnthankfully to affect the Crowne and to boast That his endowments were sufficient and fitting for a king And though
French king vntill at length taking a priuate view of the besieged Castle of Chalons neere to Lymoys The King warreth in France he was descried by a common souldior who so grieuously wounded him with an arrow that within three dayes after he died when he had raigned almost nine yeares and was buried at Founteuerard in France at his fathers feet He is slaine After hee was wounded as is before mentioned hee wonne the Castle by terrible assaults and caused all such as he found therein to be slaine except the malefactor who being demanded by him how he dared to shoot vnto the person of a king made answere That in those Warres he had lost his father and his brother Vltio Diuina and that he was exceeding glad that fortune had so assisted him in his reuenge Then when he expected nothing but a present terrible death The King pardoneth him who slew him the king gaue him his pardon and caused him to be safely conducted out of his Armie In the beginning of this Kings Raigne certaine Out-lawes to the number of one hundred and more being resolued and desperat men whose chiefest leaders were named Robin Hood and Little Iohn robbed and spoyled in diuers places of this Land Robin Hood and Little Iohn They neither hurted nor much wronged anie except they would runne themselues into danger by resistance They attempted against none Honest Theeues but against such as being rich gayned by vsurie or gaue no entertainement by good Hospitalitie to their Neighbours and to the poore They spared all women and were bountifull benefactors to such as stood in need Thus they continued diuers moneths vntill their chiefest Leader Robin Hood by meanes of a sharpe sicknesse being let bloud and being betrayed bled himselfe to death And then the whole Rout of this theeuish Companie was dispersed and the Malefactors secretly repaired home to their owne houses THE HISTORIE OF KING IOHN IOHN PLANTAGENET Earle of Lancaster in his owne Right and Earle of Glocester in the right of his wife and being the yongest sonne of King Henrie the second succeeded and was crowned king albeit that Arthur Plantagenet his nephew Arthur Plantagenet was lawfull heire and sonne to Geoffrey his elder brother was then liuing The whole course of this Kings Gouernment was accompanied with continuall troubles and his two Persecutors were Pope Innocent the third The Kings two persecutors and Philip the second then King of France The French King feared the greatnesse of Englands strength and the prosperitie of this Kingdome was hurtfull vnto his eyes The French king taketh part with Arthur against King Iohn and glad he was if at anie time the least occasion would offer him some seruice to further his designes against King Iohn For proofe hereof he protested a world of loue to the said Arthur informed him of his Title to the Crowne of England and of his vndoubted right to the Duchies of Normandie and of Britaine animated him to rayse his spirits and to aduance his courage to winne them all If he were destitute of Friends which might aduise and counsell him he and his Nobles would supplie that want if he stood in need of Siluer and of Gold to feede and to nourish the great bodie of that Warre he should be supplyed with sufficient store And if he would haue valiant men to fight for him and for those his Rights hee would supplie him with manie thousands who should aduenture to spend their best bloud in his Quarrels These large and friendly proffers which indeede proceeded rather from a jealousie which the French King had of himselfe by reason of King Iohns Greatnesse than from anie inward affection or heartie loue which hee bare vnto Arthur the lawfull and the rightfull Heire of this Crowne and the longing desire which made this young Gallant hopefull of those great atchieuements persuaded him verie easily not onely to accept of the French Kings friendship but also to vse his aide So that partly by the helpe of the Normans and partly by the French Kings meanes Arthur Plantagenet leuieth an armie hee leuied a puissant Armie and wonne diuers places both of Worth and of Strength in Normandie But the Kings Lieutenant and his other Agents in that Duchie defended themselues valiantly persisted in their Duties and fought it out diuers times King Iohn goeth into Normandie with an Armie vntill King Iohn himselfe came into that Countrey with a strong Armie and fought manie cruell Battailes with his Nephew But oftentimes it falleth out that by Warre which is the enemie of Peace Peace it selfe is procured For when those two Princes had exchanged store of blowes and when their Armies had made hauocke each of other and death had drenched her selfe in their bloud they entred into certaine Capitulations for Peace A peace is concluded which for a short time gaue them some respit of breathing But the same was againe interrupted by Philip the French King The peace is broken by the French kings meanes who promised Arthur a doubling of his strength and fed him with much assurance of prosperous successe and made him confident to renew those Warres And hereupon the French King carried a faire Armie into Normandie with which hee spoyled ransacked and depopulated manie places in that Duchie But King Iohn who wanted nothing but money to encounter with so peruerse an enemie was warned by his Lords Gentlemen and the inferiour sort of his common people That shame would wait vpon him for his neglect in suffering his Honour to be trampled on and his Territories in such sort without blowes to be taken from him And to whet the dull edge of his courage The Englishmens forwardnesse to buckle with the French deiected by reason of his wants they voluntarily and freely granted him a large Taxe to support his necessitie and euerie lustie Ladde boldly proffered his seruice to buckle strongly with the French By these meanes King Iohn was quickly furnished and strengthened both with Money and with Men King Iohn passeth into Nâ—rmandie the second time with an Armie and with a strong Armie he landed in the Duchie of Normandie where his numbers were euerie day augmented by the repaire of manie thousands who were well appointed and did resolue with him to expect the same lot and the same fortune And not long after the two Armies met and fought together with such desperate boldnesse The two Armies fight that each of them tooke pleasure to giue blowes wounds death Each of them rejoyced in the ruine of the other and those solemne spectacles of sorrow which would haue made others sad gaue them occasion of much mirth But things which are violent cannot long endure This fearefull storme must bee changed into a pleasant calme The Frenchmen flye And so it was For the Frenchmen were discouraged and fled and Arthur the Kings Nephew and the rightfull Heire vnto his Crowne Arthur is sent
secret plot or open violence and hostility he could expell or murther him These were the fruits of this vnholy holy Father the Popes Religion and Gouernment And this vsurping arrogancie was a badge of his vnsufferable pride in that he presumed to do what no earthly creature can do nor what a Christian ought to attempt to do against the Annointed of God and against such a one as the Almightie hath placed in a Kingdom to gouerne and to rule his people The King confronteth the Pope and his Legats The King was not as yet terrified with this Thunder but was in good hope that all those Fulminations would quickly flash and as soone vanish away as the Lightning doth And being thoroughly resolued to confront the Pope and his busie Legats in contemning them and their greatest power He taketh an oath of his people he took a solemne oath of his Subiects for his defence and their faithfull seruice And then with a strong Armie he entered into Scotland against King Alexander the second because he had receiued supported and maintained diuers of his Clergie He carrieth an Armie into Scotland and others who adhering to the Pope and magnifying his vsurped authoritie within this kingdome had forsaken the King and as Rebells and Out-lawes fled vnto him for succour The Scots submit themselues But the Scotish King perceiuing that Fire and Sword gaped greedily to deuoure both him and his Countrie submitted himselfe with great humilitie and reuerence to king Iohn and without further trouble hee was reconciled to his Grace and Fauour The French king hoping and endeuoring to possesse himselfe of the Popes gift which was not his to giue and gladding his owne heart that now he had gotten some colour to warre in England vppon king Iohn The French King prepareth for England prouided a great Armie to inuade this Realme But by the wisedome valour and circumspection of the king and by Gods assistance Three hundred of his Ships are taken three hundred of his Ships being loaden with Corne Victualls and other requisits for the warre were surprised and by meanes thereof king Philip was at that time robbed of his vaine hope King Iohn fainteth The Pope notwithstanding ceased not but euer and anon hee accursed the king againe and againe insomuch that he feared lest vtter ruine and his ouerthrow did attend him Wherfore suddenly He asketh pardon and resigneth his kingdom to the Pope without the consent of his Nobles or aduice of his Councell of Estate vpon his knees before Pandulphus the Legat hee confessed his disobedience to the Pope craued Pardon and by a publique Instrument in writing vnder his hand and seale hee resigned his Crowne and his kingdom to the Pope which Pandulphus kept the space of foure daies to the Popes vse The Pope regranteth And then he gaue the Kingdome and the Crowne againe to King Iohn and to his heires reseruing a Tenure thereof to the Church of Rome with an yeerely tribute of one thousand marks This base submission and subiection of his The King is despised and forsaken so alienated from him the deere affection of diuers of his Nobles and men best skilled in Chiualrie that they reuolted from his seruice and fled vnto his enemie the French King whose head was building of Castles in the aire and who made new and large preparations and prouisions to make Lewes his sonne the sole King and Monarch of this Kingdome And when all things were in a readinesse Prince Lewes of France inuadeth the young Prince with a strong Armie came into England and was oftentimes encountred with sharpe blowes but yet he did much harme And the Pope being by his Legats informed in what case King Iohn and his Realme stood required the French King and Prince Lewes his sonne and all others who adhered to their part of what estate or condition soeuer they were forthwith to desist and cease from all hostilitie and warre because both King Iohn and his kingdome were reconciled to his fauour and to the Church and the Crowne of his Realme was holden of the See of Rome Contention between the Pope and the French King So that by conscience and by the lawes of God and of Men he ought to be protected and defended by him and by his authoritie and power But the French refused to obey affirming That no king without the free consent of his Nobles Prelats common people could giue vnto any other his kingdom nor the protection of his Subiects which were committed to him by God and consequently The Pope curseth that this kingdome was not holden of the Church of Rome nor ought to be defended or protected by her This answere so startled the Pope whose will may not willingly meet with the least resistance that incontinently he sent Guallo the Cardinall of St. Martins into this Realme who accursed Philip the French king and Prince Lewes his sonne and such of the English Nobilitie as took part with them and all their Complices and adherents The wiser sort among them little respected what was done by the said Cardinall but the common people The effects of the said curs and the ordinarie degree of Souldiers whose deuotions more depended vpon feare then vpon their knowledge were so amazed and daunted with those sharp and sudden curses that leauing their Leaders and the Field they returned home to their houses and to their Ships Robbery stealth and oppression And the poore Natiues of this Realme knowing that diuers great Lords were vnder the censure of this curse entered into their houses fields and grounds robbing and spoyling and bearing and driuing away whatsoeuer they could find and take they being so far off from doubting or disputing with their owne consciences whether therein they did well or no Popish blindnesse that they supposed their so doing tended immediatly to the glorie of Almighty God and that their stealths and Robberies were meritorious and pleasing in his sight The reuolted Lords are distressed By these means those Lords and Nobles were much perplexed and pinched with great distresse and were likely to be starued to death because they wanted all necessaries belonging vnto life and knew not how to relieue their owne wants Neither durst anie other by reason of those Curses and of their Treasons to relieue them They submit them elues So that at length when all friends and when all other remedies did faile Necessitie which is the most imperious Commander of all those ouer whome she tyrannizeth enforced them to prostrate themselues at the Kings feet to confesse their vndutifull reuolt and to craue his pardon They are pardoned and receiued into fauor The King who by nature was gracious and full of pitie and being more willing to forgiue than to punish such as in the highest measure had offended him albeit he had by their assistance giuen to his enemies beene oppressed with infinite miseries
and had found more fidelitie and seruice in strangers borne than in those his owne subjects in milde and in gentle sort accepted of their submission pardoned their transgressions and restored them to their Honors and to their Lands Peace And by these meanes this Realme was disburthened of the French Nation and a quiet peace began to salute the King and his people who now found some leysure to looke vp and to refresh themselues as Fishes doe in a faire calme after they haue beene tumbled and tossed in the Waters by an vnquiet Storme 1212. The Councell of Lateran The Pope intending to make these his proceedings with King Iohn in England a president vnto other Princes assembled a generall Councell at Lateran wherein hee published them all at large together with the said kings Grant of his Kingdome to the Pope Princes excommunicated and their Prouinces and Kingdomes interdicted and his said regrant and the Tenure thereof to be of the Church of Rome And in the same Councell Otho the Emperour Peter king of Arragon and Raymond Earle of Tholouse and diuers other Princes were excommunicated and others were interdicted together with their Kingdomes and their Prouinces for Heresie as it was pretended A Popish Policie But the certaine scope of this craftie and cunning packing tended to none other end than onely to make temporall Princes subiect to the Popes correction and consequently to enrich himselfe and his successors Auricular Confession Transubstantiation Damnation with their spoyle In the same Councell also Auricular Confession and Transubstantiation were established and decreed and therein it was enacted That such as spake euill of the Pope should be damned in Hell and that no man should be Emperour Emperour vntill he had sworne his Homage to the Pope and had receiued his Crowne from him And thus all these troubles hauing had from the fourth yeare of King Iohns Raigne as long a continuance as the Troian Warres were at last ended Peace after tenne yeares warre But the Clergie would in no sort bee heartily reconciled to the King For such was their secret grudge and spleene towards him that vnder the colour of much seruice and dutie as hee lay in the Abbey of Swansteede not farre from Lincolne hee was poysoned by a Monke of the Order of Saint Bernard who to make his match sure King Iohn is poysoned and to auoid jealousie and suspition first dranke vnto the King and poysoned himselfe for companie And thus died King Iohn when he had raigned aboue seuâ—nteene yeares and lyeth buried at Winchester In the seuenth yeare of his Raigne hee transported a puissant armie of valiant men of armes and common souldiors 1205. into Ireland Ireland and with great resolution and courage he reduced that Nation to their former obedience from which with insolent obstinacie they had reuolted And in the ninth yeare by a new Charter 1208. A Maior in London hee enabled the Citizens of London to make their annuall choice of a Maior and of two Shirifes for the better Gouernement of that Citie And the yeare following London Bridge the Bridge of Stone was there built ouer the Riuer of Thames This King was verie wise politike and wonderfull valiant 1209. not to be subdued but by Death A descriptiâ—n of King Iohn nor wearied with anie Trauaile nor would be discouraged with more than ordinarie Dangers Hee fought manie successefull Battailes both at home and abroad yet was hee not alwayes fortunate For by meanes of the Popes quarrellings Philip of France wonne from him the greatest part yea almost his whole Duchie of Normandie and vexed him exceedingly at home in his owne Kingdome Hee was liberally bountifull and benigne to all Strangers but sparing in his gifts to his owne subiects And some reason hee had to be the more close-handed towards them because the most of them better louing France than their owne Countrey and caring more for the French King than for him who was their Soueraigne Lord and Master gaue him little stomack and courage to aduance them as otherwise no doubt hee would haue longed and desired to haue done Hee left behinde him foure sonnes viz. Henrie who succeeded him Richard who was elected King of the Romans William of Valentia and Guido Disnay and three daughters viz. Isabell married to Fredericke the Emperour the second to William Marshall Earle of Worcester and the third to the Earle of Leicester THE HISTORIE OF KING HENRIE THE THIRD AFTER the death of King Iohn Henrie his sonne being of the age of nine yeares was crowned King and the Protection of him A Protector and of this Realme was committed to the Earle of Glocester who hauing married one of the Kings aunts and being well learned politicke and wise temperate and valiant administred the Lawes and Iustice vprightly to the people So deepe an impression had confidence made in the hearts of Philip of France and of Prince Lewis his eldest sonne The French King againe inuadeth England that the Kings Minoritie Traiterous friends and their owne good fortune would make them the Soueraigne Lords of this kingdome that no former Commandements or Curses from the Pope preuailed to make them vtterly to abandon and to forsake this kingdome For their Hope 's fed them with this conceit that their new repaire hither and the daily disturbance and trouble which by their meanes should vnjoynt the Peace and the good Gouernment of this Commonweale would and in the end should shake it with a continuall feauer and make it hopelesse of all recouerie or reliefe sauing onely by their meanes And vpon this Proiect they landed fresh forces within this Land But the new Protector was not idle in his charge For his Preparations were expedited with great celeritie and judgement and with such forces as he had leuied he manfully opposed himselfe against all Encounters of the French The Welchmen take part with the French and of the Welch which obstinately adhered to the French part But the best successe by Warres in a distempered and in a mutinous Estate giues little cause of boasting to eyther part For the slaughter of manie friends and kinsfolke affoording the Victorie cannot chuse but bring with it a sorrowfull remembrance of their vntimely end and beget manie wishes that their vndutifull Errors hauing beene reformed they were aliue againe The Pope curseth again Honorius the Pope being truly informed how obstinately the French and the Welch Nations being assisted with some English daily warred and spoyled within this Realme not onely confirmed the authoritie of Guallo the Legate but by him he thundred more sharpe and terrible Curses against them all than formerly hee or his predecessors had done Whereunto hee added new Excommunications Depriuations and other bitter Censures of the Church of Rome His curses are not cared for Hereupon Prince Lewis with his confederates seemed to be peacefull for a while and made an outward shâ—w
and solemnely surrendred his whole Kingdome into King Edwards hands Who forthwith sent the said Scottish King with a strong Guard to the Tower of London but gaue him large allowance both of Libertie and of Attendance and of his Diet. And then he committed the Gouernment of that Kingdome vnto Iohn Warrayne Earle of Sussex and of Surrey and made Sir Hugh Cressingham his High Treasurer and William Earnsley his chiefe Iustice of that Kingdome The King placeth a Gouernour ouer Scotland And hauing confined some of the Rebellious Peeres of Scotland within the Marches of England hee returned triumphantly and with great honour And then King Edward vsing great expedition and much policie for the refreshing and for the renewing of his Armie King Edward sayleth into Flanders and assisteth the Earle thereof transported it into the Territories of Guy then Earle of Flanders against whome Robert Earle of Arthois by the procurement and with the assistance of the French King made sharpe warre And the French King intending to hasten King Edwards returne into England to saue himselfe and his owne Countrey animated the Scots to rebell againe And they because they were factious and readie to doe vnto France all seruice vpon all commaunds The Scots rebell though with the hazard of their liues and of their lands without anie feare or fore-cast of their future miseries did put themselues in Armes But King Edward purposing to greete the French King and his Forces with a Souldiors welcome appointed Henrie Percie Earle of Northumberland and manie other Lords and Gentlemen of the best ranke The Scots are subdued for the repressing of that Rebellion who so manfully banged the Scots that they enforced them to flye out of the field and pursued them with a mercilesse slaughter and reduced the rest to their former dutie and obedience The French King dared not to fight with King Edward The French King perceiuing that his practise with the Scots wanted his hoped successe was not desirous to trie his strength with King Edward in the open field but reposing more confidence in his wit than in his valour hee proposed verie honourable conditions of amitie and loue which by King Edward were accepted and then a generall Peace was proclaymed betwixt them all And thus those Warres by King Edwards meanes and assistance receiued a short end A Peace is concluded which made a shew of long continuance with the expence of much bloud London is restored to her liberties After the Kings returne into England hee restored to the Citizens of London their Liberties which for manie vndutifull misdemeanors had remained forfeited in his hands for the space of twelue yeares The Scots rebell againe And forthwith hee ledde all his Forces into Scotland where a new Rebellion madly raged and could not be suppressed without much strength And being more willing that the execution of Iustice vpon few for examples sake should rather reclayme the multitude than that the Sword should wastfully consume them he required the deliuerie of their Leaders A mercifull King and offered his free pardon to the rest But their froward dispositions preparing them to much more miserie than as yet they had endured animated them obstinately to arme themselues and in warlike fashion to bid Battaile to the King Insomuch that his Highnesse finding his fauours to bee neglected and perceiuing that all extremitie was to be vsed The battaile of Fanrike The Scots are ouerthrowne 28. Englishmen slaine 32000. Scots are slaine set vpon them with such furie and violence that with the losse of eight and twentie of his followers and with the slaughter of two and thirtie thousand of the Scots hee enforced the rest to yeeld and taking a new Oath for their Fealtie and Homage he appeased that Countrey and to the great joy of all his people he returned againe into England Where vpon the earnest entreatie and request of Pope Boniface the eight hee enlarged Iohn Baylyol Who trauailed into France Iohn Baylyol set at libertie to take a view of his Lordships there which according to his owne name were called Baylyols Lands King Edward had no sooner finished these Troubles The Scots doe rebell againe but the Scots were in Armes againe So that the third time hee entred with a great Power into that Countrey where none were so daring or so hardie as to endure his presence The King leadeth an Armie into Scotland But the greater number of the Earles Barons and chiefest Gentlemen of that kingdome had withdrawne themselues into the strong Castle of Estryuelyne which was by them so strengthened that in their judgements it was impregnable This Castle was long besieged by the King Estryueline is besieged in which the Nobles are but to little purpose and hee much doubted least his continuance in that seruice would affoord him but little honor in the end Wherefore to make a tryall how farre his Inuention would take place he caused two paire of Gallowes to be set vp in the Castles view The Kings Policie and with the sound of a Trumpet did proclayme his free Pardon if the besieged did yeeld themselues within three daies but denounced death vnto them all by hanging without respect of Honor A Proclamation or of Person if obstinately they enforced him to continue a longer Siege And hereupon the besieged although they were so strongly immured that they might boldly haue trusted vpon their strong defence yet because they distrusted to be relieued Estryuelyne is yeelded they reposed their confidence in the Kings word and submitted both the Castle and themselues to his grace and mercie The Scots do swear their obedience to K. Edward whereof they had good proofe For taking new oaths for the performance of their obedience and dutie in future times he set them free and at libertie and the like oaths he tooke of all Iustices Mayors and other Officers of Townes Cities Castles and Forts and hauing disposed all things in a comely and in a peaceable order for the good gouernement of that Kingdome The Scottish chairn hee returned into England and brought with him for a memoriall of his great victorie a Chaire of stone in which the Kings of Scotland by common custom receiued their Enstallment and their Crowne which Chaire remaineth in the Kings Chappell at Westminster among the faire Monuments of our famous Kings of this Realme Assoone as King Edward was returned from his iourney he caused a general enquirie which was termed Troile Baston to be made throughout his Kingdome Troy-baston of the misdemeanours and oppressions of his Officers of all sorts A memorable deed done by a worthie King so that the number of the transgressors was such and so great were their offences and their fines so heauie that with their money the King filled his emptie coffers to the brimme discharged his old scores which were very great by reason of his warres in Wales
Scotland the Low Countries Gascoyne Guyan and elsewhere and then he displaced those corrupted Officers and placed better in their steads The Prince is committed to prison and Pierce Gaueston is banisht Cornwall and Wales giuen to the Prince 29. 1300. Peace betwixt England and Scotland The Scots doe sweare obedience The Popes claime to be high Lord of Scotland and his command to King Edward About the same time Doctor Langton then Bishop of Chester complained grieuously to the King vpon Edward the yong Prince who by the lewd aduice and instigation of Pierce Gaueston his loose and gracelesse companion brake forcibly into his Parke and made hauocke of his game for which the Prince was committed to prison and Gaueston was banished the land and required not to return on paine of death And the next yeere after Edmund Earle of Cornwall sonne to Richard King of the Romans died without issue so that that Earldome reuerted to the Crowne which together with the Principalitie of Wales the King gaue vnto Prince Edward his eldest sonne and heire apparant to his Crowne In the three and thirtieth yeer of King Edwards raigne a generall peace was proclaimed betweene England and Scotland and Robert le Bruse and many other knights Lords and Earles of that Country came into England and voluntarily swore their fealtie and their homage to the king yet before one yeare was fully expired the said Lord Bruse and many others secretly procured from the Pope an instrument in writing by which the Pope made claime to the kingdome of Scotland as holden of his Church of Rome and the king was thereby peremptorily required to surcease from all demands of Tenure and of Soueraintie ouer it The Kings message to the Pope But the king by the aduice of his Nobles signified by his Embassadors to the Pope That the Signiory and Lordship of the said kingdome of Scotland did only belong to the kings of England and not vnto the See of Rome nor vnto any other and therefore he prayed him to reuoke his said Instrument and vniust claime for that both hee and his Nobles were resolued to maintain his right and lawfull inheritance therein with the vtmost expence of their goods lands and liues But whilst those things were thus handling Robert le Bruse doth vsurp in Scotland The King in his owne person the fourth time subdueth the Scots The vsurper flieth into Norway The King dieth Robert le Bruse by the Popes consent caused himself to be crowned king of that Realm which occasioned king Edward the fourth time to enter into Scotland with a puissant Armie where he so largely extended his valor and with the sword so fiercely deuoured the Inhabitants which ioynd with their vsurping king that they were compelled with extraordinarie tokens of subiection and humilitie to yeeld themselues to the kings mercie And Robert le Bruse finding no meanes to make good his false title to that Crown secretly withdrew himselfe and fled into Norway where he remained vntill king Edwards death which happened soone after when hee had raigned victoriously almost thirty fiue yeeres THE HISTORIE OF KING EDVVARD THE SECOND AFTER the Kings death his sonne Edward succeeded and was crowned King His tall and comely Personage An euill King graced with outward Majestie seemed to promise manie blessings to ensue But his Maners being grossely corrupted by lewd and gracelesse companions were so lasciuious and vnbefitting the condition of a King that he became burthensome to his Nobilitie and almost a skorne to his inferior subjects For hee neglected the societie and the counsell of such as were wise and graue and consorted himselfe with his owne Minions by meanes whereof he put in practise euerie loathed thing wherein hee could either take pleasure or expresse his follie So that his euill Gouernment made his Kingdome to be vnfortunate and himselfe a president of wretchednesse to succeeding Ages as in the discourse of his Historie it will more particularly appeare No sooner was his head adorned with his Imperiall Crowne Pierce Gaueston but his heart longed for Pierce Gaueston the wicked corrupter of his youth and the professed enemie of all honestie and vertue For albeit that he was exiled by the last King The King breakes his Oath to recall Gaueston who tooke an Oath of this his Successor neuer to permit him vnpunished to come backe againe into England yet the remembrance of his villanies consorting with the Kings bad nature and euill disposition was a quicke messenger for his returne Pierce Gaueston is all in all And his arriuall so aboundantly replenished the Kings conceits with extraordinarie joy that nothing else in comparison of it gaue him anie contentment Neither could anie man besides him expect for anie gracefull entertainement from the King The Nobles tell the King of his Oath The Noble men who perfectly knew how wickedly this Gaueston was enclined perceiuing that the King doted on him and that his affections towards him were vnlimited being perplexed with inward griefe and fearing the Ruine which through his insolencie threatened the subuersion of the whole Realme emboldened themselues to put the King in minde of his oath But as his conscience troubled him not for the breach thereof So their disliking encreased his desires towards Gaueston and to make him great For Gaueston alone and none but Gaueston was likely to doe all in all and frowne hee that frowne would the King cared not who was displeased hee was resolued that Gaueston should be great And therefore hee first Lorded him with the Baronie of Wallingford Gaueston is aduanced and soone after he created him Earle of Cornwall and made him the sole and onely Commander ouer his Iewels and his Treasure In which Office so absolute was his power and so cunning was his craftie head to prouide in the time of his prosperitie for aduerse fortune which might ensue that secretly he conueyed beyond the Sea a faire Table and Tressels He conueyes the Kings Iewels out of the Realme all made of beaten gold and manie rich and precious Ornaments and Iewels to the great hurt and prejudice of the King and of this Realme Hee also tooke much pleasure to feede the Kings fancies with great varietie of new delights The King liueth loosely and lewdly and by his example hee enured him to Banquet Drinke and to Carowse beyond measure And his dishonest persuasions and enticements made him carelesse of the Bed and of the societie and fellowship of Isabell his Religious and vertuous Queene the daughter of the French King Philip the faire and sister to his Successor Charles the fourth and trayned him to the adulterous consortship of wanton Curtizans and shamelesse Whores The Queene in vaine seeketh to reclaime the King The Queene who sorrowed hereat beyond measure reposed all means for redresse of those her vnsufferable wrongs in her prayers vnto God and in her modest wooings for her Kings loue But all her endeuours
could inherit the Crowne but King Edward in regard that he was a Male though the descent of the Males was interrupted by a Female viz. by Queene Isabel his mother pretended that in right the Crowne of France was his and could not be depriued thereof by humane lawes The state of this question standing thus Sir Robert de Arthois Earle of Richmond daily whispered it into the Kings eare and with such forcible reson and perswasions so vrged the same that now the King beganne to thinke on nothing more then how to attaine to the Crowne of France Secrecie is the best fartherer of great negotiations The Counsell of the Earle of Henalt is craued Aâ—de promised to the King The King is made Vicar generall of the Empire This busines as it was of extraordinarie waight and importance so it required the best secrecie vntill it were plotted wel For which purpose K. Edward by priuate messengers letters craued the aduice counsel of the Earle of Henalt his wifes father and brother-in-law to the French King and of Sir Iohn of Henalt Lord Beaumont his brother and of sundrie other great States and Princes of the Empire who not only counselled him by his sword to prosecute his right but made him offers of their assistaÌ„ce by their best means They also procured King Edward by a solemne instrument in writing to bee created the Vicar Generall of the Empire by reason whereof he had the power to command the Nobles and the common people of those Countries to further his purpose and his doings ANNO 11. Whilest these things were thus contriuing in England and whilst king Philip de Valoys little thought that his kingdome and Crowne were aimed at The French King maketh incredible prouision to Warre in the Holy-land or that his strength should bee trâ—ed with English warres he by the importunitie of Pope Benedict the eleuenth prepared such an Armie to haue made warres in the Holy-land as neuer before was conducted by anie Christian Prince He also committed the gouernment of his kingdome vnto his eldest sonne Iohn Duke of Normandie To whom by reason of his youth hee added for assistance a discreet wise and a graue Councell And when he had thus prouided and setled all thinges needfull for his huge armie The French King altereth his purpose and for the maintenance therof for three yeares space the reports of king Edwards claime and purpose began as a sodaine storme to breake forth and to be knowne Wherupon king Philip assuring himselfe that in his absence the English Armie would very litle regard such forces as should be left behinde and that his departure would encourage manie who hunted after nouelties and change rather to make offers of their seruice to his enemies He prepareth against England then to performe that dutie which by subiects was due vnto their king And knowing That it would be a ridiculous thing by dangerous attempts to winne honour abroad and to neglect the safetie of his owne kingdome and estate at home he desisted on the sodaine from prosecuting his journie into the Holy land and prepared strongly to defend himselfe against king Edward King Edward fils his Coffers and his claime And on the other side king Edward to the ende that nothing might be wanting when time should serue By manie politike deuices leuied such inestimable summes of monie Want of Money in England That for want of coyne among the common people a fat Oxe was sold for a noble a fat sheep for six pence sixe Pigeons for a pennie and a quarter of wheat for two shillings When he had thus done hee with Queene Philip his wife sailed into Flanders The King and Queene doe saile into Flanders where they remained all that winter and at Antwerp The king oftentimes conferred at length concluded with the Princes and States of Germanie and of those Prouinces He enleageth himselfe with the Germans and Belgicks vpon all things touching his said intended warre So that after his returne hee leuied a strong Armie King Edwards Armie which with his assisting friends consisted of seuen and twentie thousand chosen fighting men with which strength he landed in France King Edward landeth in France when the Sommer was almost spent The French King taketh the field The French king hauing an Armie which consisted of threescore thousand souldiors and being accompanied with the three kings of Behayne Nauarre and of Scotland with fiue Dukes Six and twentie Earles and more then foure thousand Lords and knights brauely entred into the field where hee found king Edward sufficiently prouided to shew himselfe a valiant man But whilest each Armie gazed on the other A woman parteth a great affray and expected manie houres which part should giue the first stroke of the battaile Behold and wonder and a strange wonder For betwixt both those Kings vpon the motion and through the mediation of the Ladie Iane Countesse of Henalt sister to King Philip and mother to King Edwards wife not a blow was giuen but on a sodaine Both the Armies were dissolued and King Edward with his friends and Nobles returned into England In the fourteenth yeare of King Edwards Raigne ANNO. 14 1339. The Germans incorporate themselues with King Edward in his Warres Vpon what conditions the Flemings ioyned with King Edward Hee quarters the Armes of France The French doe burne in England hee sayled into Flanders where at Brusels he met with the greater number of the Princes of Germanie who of their owne accords with heartie loue and forwardnesse incorporated themselues with king Edward in those his warres against France And at the instance of the king the said Princes entreated the Flemmings to joyne with them in that Enterprize and seruice whereunto they seemed willing to condiscend if king Edward would entitle himselfe king of France and would quarter the Armes of France with the Armes of England and would as king of France release vnto them a bond of two millions of Floreynes wherein they stood obliged not to wage anie warre against the king of France Whereunto the king yeelded and did performe all thinges according to their desires And thus hee consorted to his part the Germans and Flemmings in those affaires by promises oathes and by a solemne instrument in writing vnder their hands and seales Whilest king Edward was thus busied abroad the French kings Nauie landed many thousand men at Southhampton who ransacked the Towne and consumed it with fire and the like outrage and crueltie they exercised in the Countries thereunto adioyning The king immediately vpon his returne out of Flanders Summoned his high Court of Parliament in which A Parliament that nothing needfull might be wanting to furnish and to maintaine his warres with France a Subsidie of the fifth part of all his Subiects moueable goods was granted to him and the ninth part of their Corne A great Taxe Together with a large custome
vpon Wolles to bee paid two yeares before hand The leuying of which Taxe turned the prayers of the People into Curses The King borroweth Money because they were altogether vnwilling to pay the same Hee also by way of lone borrowed huge summes of money of his richest Subiects and the Citie of London disbursed for him twentie thousand markes New coine with the French arms quartred King Edwards Fleet and Armie The battell of Sluce The King also coined great store of siluer and of gold on which he quartered with his owne the Armes of France in the first place and instamped him thereon King of England and of France He also prepared a fleet of two hundred Saile of Ships and throughly appointed them to the proofe and then he leuied an Armie often thousand selected men of warre all which he embarqued and passing with them towards Sluce he fortunatly met with the French fleet which consisting of Frenchmen Piccards Genowayes and of other Nations amounted to the number of fortie thousand men The Kings victory at Sea among which were they who not only had robbed and rifled many English Marchants on the narrow Seas but also had burned South-hampton and the Countries thereabout as lately you haue heard The King being full of magnanimitie and valour resolute in his purposes and reckoning of the French as of his subiects and inferiours in Armes especially vpon the Seas and hopping by his good successe not onely to winne honor among the Princes and States of his confederacie and purposing if hee might to strike a terror in the French Nation concerning those warres set vpon their whole Nauie with such an incomparable courage and bold spirit that after a long a fierce and a bloudie fight very few or none of the French Ships escaped but were by him either taken or sunke into the Sea King Edward landeth at Sluce The King on his part hauing receiued but little losse his prisoners he sent into England but himselfe the next day landed at Sluce where he was triumphantly receiued by the Inhabitants and Countrey who with great ioy and infinit commendations congratulated his happie and victorious successe He rides to Gaunt And from thence he rode to Gaunt where his Queene lay And about the space of one moneth after hee being accompanied with seuen Earles eight Bishops eight and twentie Baronets two hundred Knights A huge Armie foure thousand men of Armes and nine thousand Archers of his owne Nation and with the Duke of Brabant who commanded twentie thousand of his followers and with Iaques Dartuell the famous Fleming Iaques Dartuell a famous Fleming who conducted threescore thousand men of those Prouinces and with the Duke of Guelders the Marquesse of Muse the Earles of Iullers Mouns Sauiens and of Henault the Lord Faulquemont and many thousand Almaines He strongly besieged the Citie Tournay which was with great resolution and valor manfully defended for the space of tenne weeks Tournay besieged in al which time the French King appeared not for their defence But by the importunat mediation of the aforenamed Iane de Valoys mother to the Queen of England to the Duchesse of Iullers and to the then Earle of Henalt A huge Armie was dissolued vpon the motion of a woman and sister to the French King a truce was concluded for one yeere which was afterwards renewed for one yeare more Thus was the siege broken vp and euery one returned to his owne home Now whilst the King had thus employed himselfe in the Low-countries and in the Empire and in France The Scots reuolt from their King and from king Edward The Scots disliking Edward Baylyol their King because hee would not in any sort oppose himselfe against the King of England who so highly had aduanced him and leauing to him onely the name but no honour due to a King rebelled against king Edward And gained into their possessions almost all things whatsoeuer which hee in his former Warres had wonne from them But king Edward scorning to bee checked by the lawlesse disobedience and insolencie of the Scots The King leadeth a huge Armie into Scotland leuied an Armie of sixe thousand horsemen and fortie thousand on foote with which he marched into Scotland And those Inhabitants hauing intelligence of these vnresistable preparations and and being apprehensiue of their owne weaknesse craued and obtained a Truce for foure Monethes vpon condition to surrender to king Edward A Truce whatsoeuer in his absence they had taken from him And also to submit themselues if within that time Dauid their deposed King returned not out of France for their defence But before the time of Truce was expired Dauid returned secretly and being safely landed in Scotland The Scots inuade England he raised an Armie of more then threescore thousand men with which hee entred into Northumberland spoyling robbing wasting burning and killing without compassion in all places whereon hee set his foote New-Castle is besieged vntill hee came to New-Castle vpon Tyen which hee girded about with a strong siege But in the depth of the night two hundred resolued gallants issued foorth A bold brauado And vpon the suddaine entred into the Earle of Murrayes Tent which they ransacked slewe many and caried the said Earle a way with them to the great amazement and terrour of the Scottish Campe. The day appearing was their true informer of all things which in the night had hapned The siege is raised And Dauid purposing a bloudy reuenge for this dishonour done vnto him caused the Castle to be continually assaulted But the Scots were manfully repulsed by the defendants whose vndaunted spirits had banished all feare In so much that Dauid being vnwilling to spend there too much time in vaine raised his siege and marched to the Citie of Durham Durham taken burnt which he tooke ransacked and burnt and slew all the men women and children which did inhabite and were found there From thence the Scottish Armie marched forth and passed by the strong Castle of Rowsbrough A valiant exploit by Sir William Mountagew which then belonged to the Earle of Salisburie who was a prisoner in France In this Castle was his faire and admirably beautifull Lady and it was kept by Sir William Mountagew his brother who for his wisedome and for his valour was a most renowned Knight When he had narrowly viewed the Scottish March hee expected their vtmost furie in their returne and therefore hee determined to giue him a present taste of his man-hood So that he issued forth with fortie Horsemen well appointed and fell vpon their Rereward and slew of them more then two hundred and tooke from them one hundred and twentie horses which were loaden with the richest of those booties which they had taken at Durham and safely returned and caried them into the Castle The Castle of Rosbrough is besieged Dauid disdaining thus to bee beaten by so
rich Townes of Cheirbrough Mount-brough and Quarenâ—ue and the Castle there Then King Edward marched foorth in great strength through that Countrie Normandie harrowed by King Edward being hedged in on the one side by his Marshall the Lord Harcourt and fiue hundred chosen men of warre which hee commanded and by his other Marshall on the other side with a like number And with such seueritie ransacked spoiled burned and haâ—owed all places as he passed by The English Armie is rich The English Armie increaseth that euerie coÌ„mon souldier was now a rich man and the Kings Armie was encreased and now consisted of nineteene thousand fighting men with which he pitched before the city of Cane in which were the Earles of Tankeruile and of Ewe Besides the Earle of Guyens who being high Constable of France had gathered and brought vnto that place manie braue and approued men at Armes and made a flourishing shew as if hee meant to issue forth and to giue battaile to the King But feare possessing his heart he made but a faint resistance The Citie of Cane is taken and in short time and with litle losse the Citie was taken and ransacked by the English souldiers who conueighed all their spoiles into England Sir Thomas Holland Loureys is taken Why King Edward medled with no walled Townes nor Castles in the Prouince of Eureux In the yeelding vp of this Citie First the three Earles submitted their fortunes to Sir Thomas Holland a valiant English Knight who had but one eye of whom the King bought them for tenne thousand markes in Gold and receiuing them as prisoners into his Armie hee marched to the Towne of Loures which hee quickly won and then entred into the Prouince of Eureux all which he wasted spoiled and burned without pittie the walled Townes Cities and Castles only excepted with none of which hee medled â—east by them his strength should bee deminished before hee met with the French King who had solemnely sworne and protested that King Edward should not returne into England before a battaile fought between them Many towns wonne by the English After this King Edward in his march wonne Gisours Vernon Saint Germans in Lay Mountrell Saint Clowde Rely and the whole Countrie about Roan Pont de' Larch Nants Newlench Robboys Fountaine Poys and Vimew in all which places he found but weake resistance King Philip of France hauing true intelligence that King Edward with al his Armie was within two leagues of Paris The French King forsaketh the Parisians left that Citie and went to S. Dennis where his Armie lay perswading the Parisians that King Edward dared not to looke them in the face but they beleeued him not and feare made them greatly displeased with their king Those of Amyens are slaine and taken Neere about the same time Sir Godfrey Lord Harcourt being one of King Edwards Marshals encountred with certaine Burgesses of Amyens whom the French king had appointed to come vnto Paris for the better defence therof if neede should so require and though they defended themselues with much valor yet at length twelue hundred of them were slaine and the rest being taken prisoners were brought vnto the king The English Armie so eagerly pursued the happinesse of their fortune That they possessed the whole countrie through which they passed yea euen to the gates of Aubeuile The English Armie is inuironed on the suddaine and of Saint Valary yet were they vnawares enuironed with the Riuer of Some on the one side and with the French Kings armie consisting of more then an hundred thousand men on the other side The place wherein he was promised him no manner of aduantage if he should fight but many inconueniencies presented themselues vnto him So that hee consulted with his Prisoners if anie of them could direct him to any Ford where he might transport his Armie among whom one who was named Gobyn of Grace Gobyn of Grace directed him to a conuenient passage But when the King came thither it was defended by twelue thousand of the French Kings Armie Yet notwithstanding when the Sea was ebbed King Edward with the Prince and the whole Armie did put themselues into the water and so did the French men on the other side King Edward passeth through the riuer of Some and slaughtereth the French so that they all encountred pell mell in the midst of the Riuer and fought with such desperate resolution on either part that manie a man was striken downe being slaine or by that meane was drowned But at length the Frenchmen being much wasted by the sword fled and the Englishmen slaughtered them in the Chase a full league and more And now approached the time in which this journie made by king Edward and his sonne was to be blessed with much honor and happinesse or to be vnfortunate The famous and victorious Battaile of Cressey though hitherto it had proceeded well For the French king being resolued to bee reuenged without pitie and in regard that his Armie contained in number more then six times as manie fighting men as king Edward had and making no doubt Great oddes but that a triumphant victorie should preuent all future danger of Englands claime to the French Crown marched with all his strength in good order of battaile against king Edward Who knowing that only the sword was then to decide the controuersie and to pronounce the judgement entred into a spacious field neere vnto Cressey where he did set his whole Armie in good order and diuided it into three battailes All which hee so imparked behind with carriages and carts that no man was easily able to interrupt or to endanger them in the Reareward The Battaile of the Blacke Prince And when the battaile should begin the first Companies were conducted by the yong Prince who was assisted by the Earles of Warwicke and of Canford and by the Lords of Harcourt Stafford Manny De Lauarre Chandoys Clifford and Bourchier Sir Reynold Cobham Sir Thomas Holland Sir Roger Neuill and manie other Lords knights and Gentlemen of name And in that battaile were eight hundred men at Armes Two thousand Archers and one thousand other lustie and good Souldiers The second battaile was directed by the Earles of Northampton The second Battaile of the English and of Arondel who were accompanied with the Lords Rose Lygo Willoughby Basset Saint Awbin Myleton and De La Sell and by manie other Lords knights and Gentlemen And in this battaile there were eight hundred men at Armes and twelue hundred Archers And the third and maine battaile being placed betwixt the other two was led by the king himselfe who was assisted by many Earles Lords knights Esquires and Gentlemen of the best ranke The Kings Battaile And in that battaile there were seuen hundred men at Armes Two thousand Archers and tenne thousand other common souldiers well approued and expert men of warre The English Armie hauing exercised
themselues in prayer vnto God and moderatly refreshed themselus with som meat and some drinke laid themselues downe vpon the ground thereby to comfort and to ease themselues before they fought But the Frenchmen although they proudly bragged and profferd manie shewes yet for that day they wanted courage to beginne the fight Fifteene thousand Genowayes ouerthrowne But the next morning the French king commanded that fifteene thousand Genowayes with their Crosbowes should giue the first onset vpon the Prince his battaile But eyther for want of skill or else in making king more hast than good speed their disorder was so foule and so grosse That by the English Archers the greater part of them were slaine The maine Battaile of the French Armie is disordered and the rest were soone defeated and compelled to retire In which so violent was their hast and posting that in rude heapes they rushed into the French kings maine battaile and disordered it but were by their owne friendes without mercie put vnto the sword The Prince his Battaile receiueth the Frenchmen to their paine And though the French Armie by reason of their disorder not to bee repaired had little warrant for good successe yet being emboldned by reason of their multituds and being sharp set vpon reuenge aduanced themselus and charged gallantly vpon the English Armie but bent their chiefest strength against the Prince his battel who receiued them with such furie and hardie blowes that thousands of them almost in a moment were made Bond-slaues vnto death The benefit of good order For still the Prince his battaile remained entire and vnbroken By meanes whereof hee made prodigall expence and hauocke of the Frenchmen who being first broken could not obserue anie order at all nor helpe themselues by any ingenious pollicie of Warre And though they fell in great numbers before the Prince his battaile yet their new and copious supplies which alwayes succeeded those who were slaine gaue no leasure nor respit at all to the Prince nor to his assistants to take any breathing Much lesse to refresh themselues So that the braue Prince though he were full of incomparable valour and resolution yet being distressed for want of breath and of some reliefe hee sent to haue some helpe and succour from the King The King would not relieue the Prince his Sonne who inquired of the messinger if he were aliue who answered that he was Then quoth the King report to him from me that he expect no aide For this shall be the day in which hee shall winne his spurres or else shall loose his life For in life or in death hee shall ingrosse to himselfe the whole honour and glorie of this day When Prince Edward was informed what the King had said being vrged by sharp necessitie and animated with fresh hopes of a famous Victorie Hee with his companions in Armes renewed their strength and redoubled their manlike courage And wholly reposing their trust The French Armie is ouerthrowne and confidence in Gods goodnesse and in the edges of their hungrie swordes they fought with such vndaunted spirits that the Frenchmen beganne to flie and were so eagerly pursued That the greater part of their whole Armie lay breathlesse vpon the ground And in the Chace the two Marshals of England encountred with a multitude of the Inhabitants of Beuoys Reignyer An other French companie is slain Aubeuile and of Roan of whom seuen thousand were slaine and the rest by flight had much adoe in sauing of themselues And the next day the said Marshals were recharged by the Archbishoppe of Roan and by the Grand-Pryor of France No misfortune goeth alone who conducted a strong Armie to aide their king They not knowing that the Battaile was alreadie fought and the field lost by their friends With these new forces the English men encountred and contended so proudly that quickly they beganne to flie and were almost all wasted by the sword The number of Prisoners and of such as were slaine So that within the compasse of those two dayes there were slaine on the French part eleuen Princes fourescore Baron twelue hundred knights and more then thirtie thousand souldiours of the common sort And the French king himselfe by speedie flight very hardly escaped with his life The King giues away all the spoyles The whole bootie of this field the king frankly bestowed vpon his Nobles Gentrie and on his whole armie and caused the dead bodies of all such as were honorable and of note to be taken vp The Kings charitie and caried them with him vnto Mountrell where they were buried with much solemnitie and great honour Now when king Edward perceiued King Edward besiegeth Callice that the French king made no preparation at all for a new supply to encounter him hee marched towardes Callice burning spoiling and rifling all places as he passed by The Towne and Castle hee intended not to assault For as it would haue beene full of danger so hee knew the strength thereof to bee such that in assaulting it hee should both loose his labour and his men It therefore gaue him good content Two hundred thousand men in the French Kings armie The French to gird and to compasse it round about with a strong siege Which when he had continued a full whole yeare the French king with a huge army of two hundred thousand men marched towardes Callice But finding euerie passage and way in such warlike sort to bee garded and defended that he could not approach vnto the English armie Hee challenged king Edward to maintaine his honour Kings Challenge by fighting with him a battaile in the Field But king Edward by reason of his long siege hauing spent much Treasure and the Towne and Castle of Callice wanting manie things needfull King Edwards answere and necessary for their reliefe made this answere That his manie and great Victories in France and elsewhere sufficiently cleared him from the suspition of Cowardize and that seeing he had trauelled and spent so much time and monie for the winning of Callice the French king should open all passages by force and then make triall of his Strength before that Towne The French Armie Cashired or otherwise might returne Whereupon the French King not finding any meanes how he might releeue Callice cashired his Armie and retired leauing poore distressed Callice to the mercie of King Edward who daily expected when it should bee yeelded into his hands The Scots inuade England in the Kings absence The Queene fights with them Iohn Copland taketh the King of Scots are ouerthrowne Iohn Copland would not deliuer his Prisoner to the Queene Now whilest the King thus lay before Callice Dauid of Scotland with an Armie of fiftie thousand men by the procurement and furtherance of the French King entred into England and did much harme But the Queene with her Armie consisting only of twelue thousand valiant men confronted him in the
with three hundred men at armes vnder the Banner of Sir Walter of Mannie brake forth out of the Castle and furiously rushed vpon the Frenchmen who attended for better newes But when they did perceiue that they were deceiued they resolued to acquit themselues like men and for an houre and more so they did But when manie of them were slaine the rest fled and were thus depriued both of their manie and of their hope In this conflict the King himselfe encountred hand to hand with the Lord Eustace of Rybamount Sir Eustace Lord Rybamont a right hardie and valiant knight and was by him twice stooped on his knees But skorning to yeeld to anie base conceit or froward Fortune hee aduanced himselfe so nobly A noble King and in such sort redoubled his courage and his strength that in the end he tooke the said Sir Eustace prisoner with his own hand the said Lord not knowing with whom he had so sharply contended But the King making him to know all released him without Ransome promised him future fauours and dismissed him with a Princely reward About the same time the French king Philip of Valoys died The French King dieth ANNO 24. Iohn is Crowned King of France The Kings Victorie at Sea Guyens is yeelded to the Callicians ANNO. 25 ANNO. 27 A Duke of Lancaster Created How Iohn of Gaunt became Duke of Lancaster A Combate appointed betweene the Duke of Lancaster and the Duke of Brunswicke A reconciliation The Marts for England remooued from the Flemings and his sonne was crowned King In the beginning of his Raigne hee created Sir Charles a Noble man of Spaine Earle of Angolesme because he entred into the narrow Seas on the French behalfe with a powerfull Fleet and miserably spoiled robbed and rifled the English Marchants and exposed them to much crueltie With him king Edward fought and compelled him to flie hauing lost manie of his chiefest men and two and twentie of his best ships And about the same time the Castle of Guyens was yeelded to the Kings people of Callice and in the seuen and twentieth yeare of his Raigne hee created his Cousin Henrie of Bullinbrooke who was Earle of Darby Duke of Lancaster with whose daughter and heire the kings sonne Iohn of Gaunt afterwards married and was Duke of Lancaster in her right He also created Sir Roger Stafford Earle of Stafford The said Duke vpon some misinformation that hee should publish some disgracefull wordes of the Duke of Brunswicke was by him challenged to a single Combate before king Iohn of France whereof hee gladly accepted and at the appointed time they both being throughly fitted for that purpose entred with hautie courage into the Lists for the triall of their cause But they both of them were reconciled by the French King to the great contentment and honour of the Duke of Lancaster notwithstanding that he was an Englishman and a subject to his Enemie King Edward during the time of the aforesaid Truce had vsed all friendly meanes to reconcile the Flemmings and to draw them from the French to his owne part but finding that al his endeuours proued vaine and that no courtesie could winne them hee withdrew from them all his Marts for Marchandizing which Iaques Dartuell had procured for them Which thing in a short time became exceeding hurtfull and prejudiciall to the Flemmings And now the time of the former Truce with France being long since ended King Edward leuied a puissant Armie of his most expert and approued men of warre The Blacke Prince landeth in Gascoyne with an Armie which hee committed to the charge and Gouernment of his sonne the Noble and Valorous Prince of Wales sirnamed the Blacke Prince Who being accompanied with manie Earles Lords Knights and Gentlemen of name He preuaileth The French King lâ—uieth a huge armie departed out of England and landed in Gascoyne where hee ransacked spoiled burnt and consumed Villages Townes Cities Forts and Castles in all places as hee passed by without any resistance or defence But King Iohn of France intending to â—op this Torrent and making no doubt but that the multitude of his souldiers should giue him an easie Victorie ouer so small a Companie as the Prince conducted Ten thouâ—anâ— men only 〈◊〉 English Armie which exceeded not tenne thousand men Leuied a huge Armie which hee assembled from all places subiect to his Dominion And being accompanied with Philip his yonger sonne and with the Flower of all the Chiualrie of France He marched with great strength ANNo 30 1355. The Battaile of Poyters against the Black Prince whom he found neere vnto Poyters readily prepared in the field to receiue him The French armie was diuided into foure Battailes who as their turnes or lots came fought with much valour but with little vse of their great skill For the thicke shot of the English Archers galling vnmeasurably their great Horses was the cause that quickly they brake their order and their array which suddenly bred such a totall disturbance in the whole armie The French men are disordred that themselues as waues of water doe in a turbulent and in a tempestuous Sea ouerwhelmed each others so that such as were downe were troden to death by their owne friends who could not auoid them such as would presse forward to make good proofe of their valour were repressed by such as did retire And such as did recoyle were stopped and hindred of their purpose by those who could not choose but resist their comming backe Notwithstanding the French Kings owne Battaile which was better ordered then all the rest encountring with that Battaile of the English armie in which the Prince of Wales was performed most rare and wonderfull feates of Chiualrie King Iohn is a most valiant Prince which to the vtmost of their powers they encreased being extraordinarily animated thereunto by the matchlesse valour and fortitude of their King who like a worthie Knight for his surpassing valour and courage exceeded all his Nobles for performance of that day The Braue valour and resolution of the English But the Blacke Prince and his Battaile whom no disorder troubled striuing almost beyond the abilities of men to winne honour and to saue them selues remained vndaunted spirits And as dangers pressed forth so did they with incomparable manhood driue them backe againe making the Frenchmen know by their miserable experience that they could not so much as dreame of any flight The Blacke Prince his vow nor of yeelding but were so greedie of the best honour that nothing but Death or Victorie could content them The Prince himselfe vowed that through the helpe of Almightie God he would that day performe the part of a good Knight And to say the truth such were his vnmatchable deedes of armes so hautie was his spirit so pleasing was his example and so cheerefull were his encouragements to his whole armie that euery one among them striuing to imitate his valour
and to winne his fauour redoubled his strength The French Armie is ouerthrowne and with such resolution fell vpon the Frenchmen that they were compelled to giue backe and were so violently pursued that the battaile in which their King fought was now opened and in such sort disordered that the Englishmen entred into the midst of them wounding and killing on euerie side with little or no losse or danger to themselues And at length King Iohn and his yonger Sonne are taken Prisoners by Sir Dennis Morbecke King Iohn scorning to leaue the field yeelded himself his sonne Philip prisoners vnto Sir Dennis Morbeck a Knight of Saint Omers who for a murder forsooke his Countrie and serued for wages with the Blacke Prince In this battaile there were slaine verie manie great men of the Nobilitie and Gentrie of France and aboue ten thousand others Too much desire of Honour and too much couetousnesse The French King is ill vsed were the causes that the French King being thus taken was ill vsed For by reason that more than ten Gentlemen laide seuerall claimes vnto him as to their Prisoner hee was vnciuilly drawne from one to another not without some perill to his life but telling them that he was so great a Lord that hee could make them all rich they were better pleased and brought him to the Prince Who with great reuerence bowed himselfe before the King How the Black Prince receiued and entertained the French King and his Sonne The Blacke Prince bringeth the French King and his Son Prisoners into England Sir Dennis Morbecke reuiued his heauie spirits with cheerfull and with comfortable words feasted him and Phillip his yonger Sonne attended duetifully at his Table lodged him in his owne bed Prouided for him most honourable attendance Supplied all things about him which were wanting and brought them both from thence vnto Burdeaux and from thence into England where hee was ioyfully and royally receiued and wel-commed by the King and Queene and by the Nobilitie of this Kingdome and was entertained with as great magnificence and curtesie as he could expect or wish for And vpon King Iohns owne confession the honour of his taking was by King Edward adjudged to Sir Dennis Morbeck who for his great and good seruice was much thanked and bountifully rewarded by the King In this Battaile besides such as were slaine There were taken prisoners seuenteene Earles thrice as manie Barons Prisoners and so great a number of Knights and Gentlemen of name and of note that euerie English common souldier who had fewest prisoners had two all which A bountifull Prince together with the wohle spoiles of the field the Prince frankely and freely gaue to his companies who valiantly had wonne them by their swords The English Armie are made rich So that there was not a poore man in the English armie but euery one of them had as much Gold and as much Siluer Plate and Iewels as gaue him good contentment for his paines And such was their store and such was their plentie of those thinges that rich and costly Armours and such like warlike prouisions were not taken vp nor cared for at all How the French King was disposed of The French King for a while liued at the Sauoy which by King Edward was sumptuously furnished and beautified with all things necessary for so great a guest And from thence he was remooued to the Castle of Windsor where hee feasted hunted hawked and did all things according to his owne pleasure and will for the space of two yeares the King and the Blacke Prince as often as anie leasure gaue them leaue repairing thither and gladding him with their cheerefull and most friendly companie and with the varietie of manie pleasing sports By meanes whereof true and heartie loue and affection did knit them fast together so that they concluded a friendly Truce to continue for the space of two yeares The honourable prosperitie of King Edward and of the Blacke Prince And thus were King Edward and the Noble Prince his sonne honoured and blessed by Almightie God with such triumphant successe in their warres both in Scotland and in France they then possessing for their Prisoners at one time the Kings of those two Kingdomes and Philip the French Kings younger sonne and many Dukes Earles and Barons as none other Princes in Christendome then were King Dauid of Scotland is released And Dauid the King of Scots after tenne yeares of imprisonment in England was enlarged for a ransome of one hundred thousand pounds to be paid in fiue yeares And vpon his oath neuer againe to beare armes against England and vpon his Homage and Fealtie done for that Kingdome ANNO. 32 and vpon his faithfull promise to doe his best to procure the Nobilitie of Scotland to doe the like he was enlarged and set free ANNO. 33 The Dalphin allowes not his Fathers conclusions King Iohn of France committed to the Tower Not long after King Edward and the King of France entred into a parley for a longer time of Truce But their conclusions and agreements were vtterly disliked by his eldest Sonne Charles then Regent of France and Duke of Normandie and by the whole Baronie of that Countie Whereupon King Edward with all expedition and conuenient speed made greater preparation to make Warre there then hee had done at anie time before And hauing committed the French king and his sonne Philip with honorable attendance close prisoners to the Tower of London himselfe with the Blacke Prince his sonne transported thither a puissant Armie ANNO. 34. King Edward and the Black Prince doe land a puisant Armie at Callice The Regent Dolphin sueth for Peâ—ce and landed at his Towne of Callice and from thence hee marched strongly vnto Rhemes where he besieged the Castle seuen weekes but did not winne it in the end From thence he marched towards Paris and Chartres wasting burning and killing in all places as he passed so that hee compelled the Regent and the Nobilitie of France to become earnest petitioners vnto him for peace which they obtained vpon these Articles ensuing 1. FIrst that King IOHN should pay for his ransom The Articles of the Peace fiue hundred thousand Pounds of sterling money 2. Secondly That from thencefoorth No King of France should aide or assist The Ransom any King of Scotland in any Warre or Rebellion against England And that no King of England should from thencefoorth take part with the Flemings in any expedition or Warre against France 3. Thirdly That the Kings of England should haue and for euer enioy freely without homage and in their owne right their Territories in Gascoyne and in Guyan with the Precincts Castles Forts Townes and Cities of Poyters and Perygrot The Earledomes of Bygrot Poytiau and Guyens the Citie of Lymoges Tharbes Guaire Agen Angolesme Agenoys Rauerne and Caours The Lordship of Xantes Caumesin Hammes Ouy and Mountrell with the
Seigniories of Callice Marguise Sandgate and Coloigne 4. And lastly That in regard thereof King EDWARD The Title to the Crowne of France is relinquished As well in the behalfe of himselfe as of his Successours Kings of England should vtterly renounce and leaue both the name and title to the Kingdome of France And for the performance of these Articles ANNO. 34 How the obseruation of this Peace was ratified The King and Prince returne into England Charles the Regent of France and the Prince of Wales in the presence of six Knights of either Nation receiued the holy Sacrament at the high Altar and then King Edward and his sonne returned into England and were with all complements of loue and kindnesse entertained and feasted at the Tower of London by the French King who was conueyed from thence to Callis The French King feasteth them The two princes sweare Hostages where according to agreement he remained foure moneths and then King Edward repaired to him and both of them at a high Masse solemnly swore to obserue performe and keepe the said Articles and the peace And King Iohn for the hostages of his Ransome deliuered to King Edward foure Dukes seauen Earles ten Barons many Knights and two of the worthiest Burgesses of euery great Citie in France and tooke a most friendly leaue of the King and of the Prince of Wales and departed towards Boleine King Iohn was a prisoner foure yeares he hauing remained a prisoner more then foure yeares And King Edward with his sonne returned into England bringing with them their honorable Hostages who were with all humanitie and kindnesse feasted and entertained by the King and by his Nobilitie and were permitted freely to vse all sports pastimes and exercises for pleasure and contentation as they pleased ANNO. 37 Three Kings doe visite King Edward King Iohn dieth in England The Blacke Prince liueth in Burdeaux ANNO. 40 The causes of King Edwards future losses in those Countries Peter King of Castile is deposed by Henry the Bastard King Charles the fifth taketh part with Henrie the Bastard The Blacke Prince being victorious resetleth Peter in his Kingdome About two yeares after king Edward was at one time visited for loue and kindnesse onely and for no businesse at all by three Kings that is to say by king Iohn of France Dauid the king of Scots and by the king of Cyprus and were with all munificent bountie and liberalitie feasted and honored by the King but king Iohn fell sick and dyed in the Sauoy and his body was conuayd vnto S. Dennis in France where with great pomp and princely ceremonies it was buried The next yeare following the noble Prince of â—ales and his wife being very gallantly attended and prouided went vnto Burdeaux where he liued and gouerned the kings Prouinces thereabout and elsewhere in France to the great contentment and good liking of the Nobles and commons of those Countries In the fortith yeare of king Edwards raigne an vnfortunate businesse was taken in hand by the valiant Prince of Wales which albeit it were performed with great resolution and was rewarded with deserued honor yet within few yeares by reason of a future accident it was the occasion that king Edward lost a great part of his territories in France and it was thus Peter the true and lawfull king of Castile was in the field ouerthrowne put to flight and dispossessed of his Crowne by Henry his Bastard Brother who was assisted by Charles the fifth the sonne of Iohn the deceased king of France This poore distressed king in his wants and miserie repaired to the Prince of Wales for ayd who for his restoring and vpon large and faithfull promises of liberall pay and great rewards conducted an armie into Castile And albeit that the Spanish and the French forces were in number four times more then the Princes were yet in a bloudie battaile the most of them were slaine and the rest were put to flight And king Peter was againe restored to his Crowne and setled in his kingdome by the Prince who returned againe to Burdeaux with great honor But not long after Henry the Bastard Henrie the Bastard taketh and slaieth Peter Peters two heires married to Iohn of Gant and Thomas of Woodstocke The want of pay was the Prince his ouerthrow This Taxe mard all being newly supplied with fresh forces warred with such great furie and violence vpon king Peter that he subdued him and to preuent all future claymes and troubles which he might make he caused him to be put to death But his two daughters and heires were after marryed vnto Iohn of Gaunt Duke of Lancaster and to Thomas of Woodstock two of king Edwards sonnes By reason of king Peters death the Prince his souldiours being hopelesse to receiue their promised pay and large rewards and being oppressed with many wants daily petitioned the Prince to supply their need But he finding none other meanes to support their necessities nor being stored with money to relieue their pouertie imposed contrary to the customes of those Countries diuers Taxes vpon the inhabitants of Aquitaine which so highly did displease them that the Lords thereof complained of this sharp noueltie to the French king who flatly contrary to the Articles not long before concluded on for peace betwixt England and France arrogated to himselfe the Soueraignty ouer the Prince The French King breakes the League and his Dominions in France and sommoned him to appeare before him at Paris So that the peace and those agreed Articles were broken by the French king The Prince sommoned to appeare at Paris Warres proclaimed Almost all do reuolt from the Prince The mutabilitie of fortun An vnfortunate yeare and warres were againe proclaymed betweene England and France But before the Prince of Wales could enable his forces for a strong defence the inhabitants of those Countries for the most part reuolted from him and dayly yeelded their Townes Cities Forts and Castles into the hands of the French king So that king Edward who for the space of forty yeares together was most honorable and more fortunate then any other Christian Prince by gayning of incredible victories vpon the Scots and French Nation within the compasse of one yeare without blowes lost almost all his Commaund in those Prouinces which by the said agreement and articles of peace were allotted and by solemne oath assured vnto him King Charles of France forgetting what he had sworne ANNO. 43 The French Name and pleasing himselfe thus quietlie to be made the Lord of all those Countries which were assigned to king Edward conceiued strong hope not only to defeat him vtterly of all these Countries but also to vex him at home in his owne kingdome And for that purpose he furnished a strong Nauie with which he kept the Narrow Seas But king Edward to driue those forces back againe sent his sonne Iohn of Gaunt Duke of Lancaster Iohn of Gant with an
discontented King The historie of the Kings euill gouernment at home is pursued The petition of the Nobilitie The Kings fiue euill Counsellors whome his Lords with all humilitie and submissiue modestie petitioned and desired Newly to ratifie and to confirme his former promise and his Oath and to thrust from him Michael de la Pole Robert de Vere Alexander the lewd Archbishop of Yorke Robert Treselian his chiefe Iustice and Sir Nicholas Brembre of London who were generally tearmed to be the Kings wicked counsellors and to banish out of the Land all those soothing and flattering Iudges who to please the King had subscribed to the Nullitie of the said Commission and had censured all such as procured it to be traitors to the King and to his Crowne But the Kings affections were so strongly riueted and annexed vnto those fiue and so confident was he that both himselfe The King denyeth their petition and they and his said Iudges had done well in their proceedings at Nottingham and at Couentrie that in plaine tearmes hee denyed them their request And thereupon the Lords for their owne safetie and to support the peace and to preuent the ruine and the destruction of the Commonweale raysed a strong Armie of their friends and of such as vtterly disliked those disorders in the King The Nobilitie rayse an Armie and came to the Citie of London being fully resolued that they themselues would put in execution those things which the King vpon their reasonable and just request and petition had refused to yeeld vnto Wicked aduice giuen by the fiue wicked Counsellors But whe◠〈◊〉 fiue wicked Counsellors perceiued throughly what was p◠〈…〉 and meant they then endeuoured to persuade the King to â—â—â—â—ender Callice and all his other Lordships and Territories in Bâ—â—â—â—ce to the French King and confidently to relye vpon his aide â—â—assuring him That in so doing hee should obtaine two glorious and pleasing victories the one ouer all his Warres by setling of his Estate in a perfect peace and the other ouer his Noblemen who striued as lewdly they pretended to make him subject and seruile to their wils The King would not hearken to that counsell And though in all things besides their counsels were his Oracles yet the King would not at anie hand hearken to this motion and yet he was determined by one meanes or other to curbe and to abridge the strength of his Nobilitie who striued to reforme such things as were amisse And that his purpose might therein be effected especially he enquired of the Maior of London The King requireth an Armie from the Londonners How manie able armed men that Citie could conueniently set forth who certified him That fiftie thousand such might easily and in a short time be prepared and spared there Whereupon the King commaunded him with all expedition to send him such an Armie which forthwith he endeuoured to performe The graue 〈◊〉 Citizens o◠〈◊〉 London 〈◊〉 resist the 〈◊〉 vnwise Mâ—â—or But when the grauest and the wisest Citizens had maturely considered of this businesse they interrupted his proceedings and told the King That they might not be employed in warlike manner against his Lords who for his Majestie and Honor and to preserue his Kingdome from ruine and from destruction had vsed all faithfull and good meanes to remoue from his Person those his wicked Counsellors who onely for their owne commoditie and aduancement had hazarded the whole estate of his Kingdome by aduising and by counselling of him to rule and to gouerne vnaduisedly according to their pleasures and after their lewd and lawlesse wills The Kings gentle message to the Lords The King perceiuing by this Message that his inferiour subjects would in those Troubles adhere vnto the Lords seemed a little to restraine his violent affections and did informe the Lords That he would assemble his High Court of Parliament in which those fiue fauorites of his should be answerable to all Objections whatsoeuer and should if they were conuicted receiue such punishment as should by the publike censure of the House be inflicted on them This vnexpected and good Message so throughly contented the Barons The Lords doe cassâ—er their armie The King performes not his promise He licenceth the Duke of Ireland to raise 5000 men to defend himselfe The Lords do renew their armie The Duke swimmes on horsebacke ouer the Thames He is slaine by a wilde Beare How the King honored his dead corps that presently they disfurnished themselues of all their warlike Forces and were most thankfull for it to the King But as the Winde so was he suddainely changed For in stead of performing what hee had promised hee freely licenced Robert de Vere Duke of Ireland to leuie fiue thousand men for his owne particular guard and defence And the Barons perceiuing thereby that it was high time for them to looke vnto their owne safetie with incredible celeritie and expedition renewed their strength and vpon the suddaine so strongly enuironed the said Duke betwixt their armie and the Riuer of Thames that they compelled him for the preseruation of his life by swimming on horsebacke to passe ouer vnto the other side from whence he presently fled into France in which Kingdome about fiue yeares after as he hunted hee was slaine by a wilde Boare But such was the Kings affection towards him whilest he liued that he caused his dead carkasse to be embalmed and to be brought into England and to be apparrelled in princely Ornaments and Robes His necke to be compassed with a massie chayne of Gold his fingers to be couered with Rings and his Funerals to be solemnized with all magnificence and pompe Now when the said Duke of Ireland was compelled by swimming on horsebacke as you haue heard to saue himselfe and was fled into France the Barons executed some of his chiefest consorts for an example vnto others Some of the said Dukes consorts executed The Barons armie is with ioy receiued into London but suffered the multitude to disperse themselues and required them with all speed to repaire to their owne houses But the said Barons conducted their owne armie to London where they were receiued with much joy And such was the bountifull entertainment which they found there that they might thereby assure themselues of their heartie welcome The King who kept his Court in the Tower of London was well pleased to admit of a conference with the Lords In which it was concluded That a Parliament should be summoned A Parliament Which being orderly assembled the Kings wicked Counsellors and some of the aforesaid Iudges were required personally to appeare But they came not thither The fiue wicked Counsellors and the Iudges condemned as Traitors yet were they after great debating and disputing of that businesse condemned of high Treason to the King and to the Commonweale And not long after Sir Iohn Earle of Salisburie and Sir Nicholas Brembre lost their heads
sorrow he had not procured a mitigation of his punishment For hee was confined into the I le of Wight where contrarie to the Kings promise hee endured such miserie and was so grieuously oppressed with the griefe which hee sustained by reason of his great wants that he quickly died But the good Duke of Glocester the Kings Vncle being vnsentenced was sent to Callice where according to the Kings directions Thomas Mowbray Earle of Nottingham betwixt two feather-beds caused him to be smothered to death for which good seruice he was afterwards made a Duke This being done the King procured the Vpper and the Lower Houses of Parliament to make an example without precedent by granting full and absolute authoritie vnto six or eight such persons as he should nominate finally to determine all such causes and to enact them as then remained vndiscussed and not ended there This act not only made him proud but to serue his present turnes he nominated for that purpose such as to please his humour decreed manie thinges which were dishonourable to the King and hurtfull to the Common-weale The King will be called Prince of Cheshire The King also to please his Guard who for the most part were Cheshire men of ordinarie parentage and of base birth caused himselfe verie ridiculously to bee stiled Prince of Cheshire as if it had beene more honourable for him to be such a Prince then to be the King and Monarch of the whole Realme And to adde more strength and liking vnto those thinges which then were done amisse the King bestowed manie honorable dignities vpon some of his best liked Noble-men So that his Cousin Henrie of Bullingbrooke sonne and heire apparant to the Kings fourth Vncle Iohn of Gaunt Duke of Lancaster and who was at that time Earle of Darby was by him created Duk of Hartford his Cousin Edward Plantagenet being Earle of Rutland Creation of Noblemen was created Duke of Aubemarle and Thomas Mowbray Earle of Nottingham was made Marshall of England and Duke of Norfolke and the Earle of Kent was created Duke of Surrie and Sir Iohn Holland his brother being Earle of Huntington was made Duke of Exeter and the Earle of Somerset was created Marquesse Dorset and the Lord Spencer was made Earle of Glocester the Lord Neuil Earle of Westmerland the Lord William Scrope Earle of Wilshire and the Lord Percie was created Earle of Worcester and vpon all these he bestowed many great Lordships Mannors and large reuenewes which of late did belong to his murdred vncle Thomas of Woodstock sometimes Duke of Glocester and vnto the said two deceased Earles of Arundell and of Warwicke He also granted his free pardon to all offendors whatsoeuer A craftie Pardon which inabled the King to much mischiefe fifteene only excepted whom he would not nominate By which vngodly and craftie pollicie hee hedged his Nobilitie â—ound about with continuall feare and made them most seruile and most base For if anie one of them in anie high measure had offended him hee would then pronounce him to bee one of those fifteene who were excepted out of his free and generall pardon and then would put his life vpon triall for supposed and surmised Treason It happned about this time ANNO. 22 that Henrie Bullinbrooke Duke of Hartford and Cousin to the King The Kings Cousin desireth reformation in the King by his friend Tho. Mowbray Duke of Norfolke whom the King did fauour extraordinarily was much grieued daily to heare such slanderous reports as were too commonly noysed of the King partly vpon his too much libertie which beyond the Lawes hee challenged in the course of his Gouernment and partly by reason of his vniust and vnskilfull managing of the weightie affaires and businesses of his Kingdome And though affection by meanes of his neere consanguinitie with the King moued him heartily to wish for and to desire a present reformation of those euills yet could hee not better deuise how hee might effect that which hee so much craued than by making vse of his great familiaritie and acquaintance with Thomas Mowbray Duke of Norfolke who had an extraoâ—dinarie interest in the Kings fauour Wherevpon very priuately and in great secrecie as vnto a most kind and louing friend he imparted the causes of his griefe in that behalfe vnto the said Duke and earnestly entreated him vpon fit opportunitie and at his leasure and as from himselfe seriously to informe the King of the said reports and withall to entreate his Highnesse to extend more grace and more fauour to those Lords who for his honour and the Kingdomes good had both incurred his displeasure and also were with too much extremitie condemned of High Treason But the Duke of Norfolke who more respected his owne preferment than the kings honour and strongly presumed that hee had now gotten fit meanes to advance himselfe by his friends fall related all his sayings to the King A false and an vnfaithfull friend in the rudest and most vnciuill maner which he could deuise and added manie things to his relation which were vntrue and neuer spoken thereby aggrauating an offence which was not committed and incensing the king with high indignation to vow reuenge and punishment when the Duke of Hartfords fidelitie and loyall seruice deserued great thankes and a good reward The King is angrie The Duke of Hartford answereth for himselfe The king was so much vexed and enraged by meanes of these tidinges that nothing could giue him anie contentment in anie thing vntill his Cousin the Duke had made his answere therevnto And being sharply pressed thereunto by the king Such things as in that secret and friendly manner hee had desired might bee reformed he both confessed and iustified But the vntrue suggestions which falsly and malitiously were added he denied The Combat challenged and accepted And to cleare himselfe of them hee challenged the Duke of Norfolke to a single Combate which was by him accepted and consented vnto by the king But when the appointed day was come and the two Dukes were within the Lists readily prepared and aduanced themselues each toward the other for the encounter The King would not permit them to proceed but banished the Duke of Norfolke for euer Banishment who shortly after died at Venice and his Cousin the Duke of Hartford hee exiled for six yeares King Charles the sixt Whereupon Hee sayled into France and was honourably receiued by King Charles the sixth Father to the Queene of England King Richards wife who so effectually iustified him in his said actions and doings and so highly affected his Descent his Personage his Wisdome his Vertues and his right Noble Conditions that he would haue bestowed vpon him in marriage the Daughter of his Vncle the Duke of Berrie if his Sonne-in-law King Richard by extraordinarie sollicitations and by vnusuall meanes had not beene the hinderer thereof Iohn of Gant dieth Not long after this Dukes Banishment his
Armie And King Henrie to withstand him did the like But the English Armie landing in those Countries before the French King was in a readinesse and being boldly commanded and conducted by the Lord Percie Earle of Worcester vnto Sir Thomas Knowles the King of Englands Lieutenant there The French King giueth ouer his enterprise and they hauing taken the fealtie and the homage of the Lords of those Prouinces for their obedience and alleageance vnto King Henrie caused the French King to change his mind and dishonourably to disband all such companies as hee had leuied Yet for all this King Henrie still distrusting the weakenesse of his vsurped title and endeuouring to support it with a more sure foundation entreated the French King Charles the sixt to giue in marriage his daughter Isabel sometime King Richards wife vnto his eldest sonne Henrie Marriages with France are seldome fortunate Prince of Wales But her father obseruing that marriages betwixt England and France were but seldome fortunate denied the kings request whereupon she was conueied into France with Princely attendance and great honour And not long after shee was married to her Cousin Charles the eldest sonne of Lewes Duke of Orleance her Vncle. The aforesaid Treason conspired against the king by the aforesaid Lords and the late preparations of the French King first to haue inuaded the Kingdome of England and secondly to haue wrought wonders in Aquitaine and in Guyan and the frequent speeches which euerie where were vttered touching the manner of the Kings attaining to the Crowne animated the Welchmen and the Scots to shew themselues troublesome neighbours vnto the King Owen Glendor rebelleth For in Wales Owen Glendor a bold Squire with manie hundreds of his lawlesse and vnciuill companions entred into Armes and did much harme in the Marches which bordered neere vnto them Against whom Edmund Mortimer taken and sharply imprisoned the Lord Gray of Ruthen and Edmund Mortimer who was the true and rightfull Heire of the Crowne conducted their Forces and fought with him But they both were taken Prisoners and the said Edmond was by him kept close in a darke Dungeon which was both cold and vnhealthie where hee was ouerburdened with daily wants and much miserie All which were with the greater extremitie laid vpon him because king Henrie his Cousin should bee enforced the sooner to redeeme him with a great Ransome Wherein because the King was too too slacke and negligent hee was entreated and vrged by his Lords The King would not redeeme him but especially by the distressed Earles kinsmen the Percies But vnto them all he turned the deafe eare rather desiring his destruction then holding it safe for him to set him free The Scots also inuaded the Northerne parts of this Kingdome The Scots inuade but King Henrie with a puissant Armie entred into their Countrie and reuenged his wrongs euerie where with fire and sword at his owne pleasure The king curbeth them But because the Winter was extraordinarily wet and cold hee dissolued his Armie and with great honour victoriously he returned backe But as soone as hee was gone the angrie Scots being in number twentie thousand at the least entred with barbarous crueltie into England vpon the Northumbers The Scots againe doe inuade Henrie Hotspurre ouerthroweth them His great Prisoners but were gallantly encountred by Sir Henrie Hot-spurre the sonne and heire apparant of Henrie Percie Earle of that Prouince who with tenne thousand lustie and braue men gaue the Scots such a bloudie ouerthrow that he slew of them more then tenne thousand in the field and tooke aboue fiue hundred Prisoners among whome Mordake Earle of Fyffe Archibald Earle Douglasse Thomas Earle of Murrey and Robert Earle of Angus were the chiefe The next yeare following ANNO. 1. The Frenchmen spoyled by a storme at Sea the French King sent for Wales to assist Owen Glendor in his rebellious enterprises twelue hundered Lords Knights and Gentlemen of good accompt that they might be leaders and directors to those disordered Traytors But the winds not being answerable to their desires were so contrarie at the Sea and a storme so violently encreased that twelue of their greatest shippes with all their men and furniture were swallowed into the Sea and the rest with great difficultie returned into France This misfortune so animated the English Nation The English doe deride the French that they beganne euerie where to talke of and to iest at the French King because all his warlike expeditions had still beene vnfortunate and disastrous and though they threatned much Twelue thousand Frenchmen sent into Wales yet alwayes they vanished as a cloude The report whereof so whetted and exasperated his resolutions to doe some memorable seruice that forthwith hee sent vnto the said rebelling Welchmen an armie of twelue thousand men who safely landed and ioyned with ten thousand of that Nation The King marched into Wales This Armie occasioned King Henrie to prepare soundly for his safetie For hee was well assured that if anie neglect or want of skill or of courage should giue them the least aduantage whatsoeuer then his Crowne would be shaken and manie miseries would threaten his ouerthrow Wherefore hee in his owne person marched with a strong and with a compleat Armie into Wales But assoone as the Frenchmen had certaine notice of his comming they thought it was high time for them to aduise what course to take perchance not because they were distrustfull of their owne valour and resolution but because the inconstancie of that turbulent and fickle Nation when danger did appeare affrighted them fully with feares and with doubts least they would flie into the Woods and craggie Mountaines and forsake them when they should craue the best performance of their helpe The Frenchmen flie to their ships And so strongly did this doubtfull feare possesse them that suddenly like men amazed and heartlesse they ranne vnto their ships and not hauing performed anie manner of seruice whatsoeuer disgracefully and cowardly they returned into France The King is victorious without blowes Hereupon the Welch Rebelles desperatly shifting for themselues fled euerie man his owne way so that king Henrie found those Traiterous multitudes dispersed and quite vanished and would not be fought with Wherefore hee dissolued his great armie and returned in peace without blowes The King marrieth the Dutches of Britaine The King makes great friends abroad ANNO. 3. The King requireth the Percies to deliuer to him their Scotish Prisoners They refuse it The Percies resolue to set Edmond Mortimer at libertie and to restore him to the Crown Afterwards King Henrie tooke to wife Iane the widdow of Iohn the deceased Duke of Brittaine and gaue Blanch his eldest daughter in marriage vnto William Duke of Bauier the sonne and heire apparant of the Emperor Lewes of Bauier And some few yeares after hee matched Philip his yongest daughter with the King of Denmarke For his daily
released by the King without ransome hauing slaine more than six thousand of his enemies of which thirtie and six fell by his own sword obtained a famous victorie And because the Earle Douglas in a single combate with the King himselfe performed the part of an approued and of a worthie knight the King granted him his libertie without ransome The next day following the King and all his armie with great deuotion and reuerence gaue thankes vnto Almightie GOD for their good and honourable successe Thanksgiuing vnto God The Earle of Worcester is beheaded and then he caused the Earle of Worcester to be beheaded and manie others being ring-leaders in that Rebellion to be drawne hanged and quartered and did set their heads vpon London Bridge The Prince marcheth into Wales Owen Glendor forsaken by his companions He is famished to death And the King intending forthwith to pursue and prosecute his good fortunes for the surer setling of his estate in future time sent the Prince of Wales and his whole armie into Wales But when hee came thither his chiefest enemie Owen Glendor was vtterly forsaken by his whole companies and shrowded himselfe in the Woods and being compassed round about by the Princes forces who eagerly hunted to apprehend him hee was miserably famished to death and manie of his associates being taken were put to death and then the Prince returned joyfully to the King The Earle of Northumberlands voluntarie submission Now whilest the Prince was thus busied in Wales Henrie Percie Earle of Northumberland came of his owne accord and submitted himselfe to the Kings mercie protesting and swearing with manie oathes That he was neuer made acquainted nor intermedled in those Treasons And though the King conceiued not the least thought which might excuse him yet for that time hee entertained him with smooth words and with a smiling countenance and suffered him to come and to goe at his pleasure because he had in his possession the Castle of Barwike and other places of great strength A Chalenge sent by the Duke of Orleans to king Henrie When all these Troubles had found an end Lewis Duke of Orleance brother to the French King being prowd and vainglorious sent a Chalenge to King Henrie requiring him with one hundred chosen men at armes of his Kingdome in some indifferent and conuenient place to fight with him and with the like number of Frenchmen for honours sake But the King with great discretion and wisdome made him this answere King Henries discreet answere That his former actions in warlike employments could clearely acquite him from the infamous name and title of a Coward And that Kings ought not to be so carelesse of their Countries and of their people whome GOD had committed vnto their charge and gouernment as to fight for anie cause except it were for the furtherance or for the maintenance of true Religion or in defence of their Rights or to defend their Kingdomes from forraine enemies or to reuenge their wrongs and for such like important causes And also that a Soueraigne and an annointed King by the Lawes of Armes and of Honor was not bound to answere anie Chalenge in the field except it were made vpon good cause by his Equall in Dignitie and in Office And yet hee further added this That hee would at all times be verie readie to repulse and to represse anie violence or wrong which the Duke should dare rashly or vnaduisedly at anie time to attempt against him or anie of his people The Duke A rash attempt had a disgracefull end being ouer-passionate when he receiued this discreet and mild answere with all expedition besieged the Towne of Vergie in Guian and remained there for the space of three moneths and somewhat more In which time hee offered manie sharpe assaults and much violence but receiued as manie stout repulses as he could well endure And in the end hauing lost manie of his best men and chiefest friends he was compelled disgracefully to raise his siege and to returne into France The Duke of Burgoine also supposing that the instabilitie of king Henries estate at home The Duke of Burgoyne attempteth the regaining of Callice could not permit him to leaue his Kingdome and to warre abroad obtained leaue of the French King to attempt the regaining of Callice to the French For which purpose he procured a puissâ—nt Armie in which he had six thousand valiant men at armes fifteene hundred crosbowes and twelue thousand ordinarie Souldiers on foot But when the French Kings Councell were informed of the great preparations made in England by King Henrie to defeat them and had maturely considered of the difficultie yea almost of the impossibilitie of this attempt the said Duke was commanded to desist from his intended seruice He is required to desist whereat hee was much grieued and did coniecture that the proud Duke of Orleans and some others had discouraged the King in that businesse because they were iealous that by his valour hee would winne too much honour and renowne Experience teacheth vs that as the highest Trees are subiect most to bee hurted by a storme ANNO. 6. A new Rebellion secretly plotted but discouered so the greatest Estates are in greatest danger to be shaken by Enuie An euident poofe therof appeared plainly in the whole course of this Kings Raigne For no sooner was hee freed from one mischiefe but incontinently he was threatned by another And though he had now escaped the great dangers of two former Treasons and Rebellions and had beene victorious ouer the Scots and the Welch Rebels and had out-faced the French who if they had dared would haue attempted high Atchieuements at Callice and in Aquitaine and in Guian yet was he now againe in hazard to haue beene turmoiled with an other Ciuill Warre at home which secretly was plotted and contriued by Henrie Percie Earle of Northumberland Richard Scrope Archbishoppe of Yorke Thomas Mowbray Earle Marshall and by the Lords Hâ—stings Faulconbridge and Bardolf and by diuers others But as in such like cases it often falleth out The King sodainely surpriseth the Traitours so this Traiterous Conspiracie was secretly reuealed to the King who came so vnexpectedly with an Armie into the North that ere anie man reported the newes of his comming hee surprized the said Lords the Earle of Northumberland and the Lord Bardolf excepted and strake off their heads But the said Earle fled into France from whence hee came afterwards into Scotland The Prince warreth in Scotland prosperously where hee was promised to be aided against the King But to preuent such mischiefes as those intendements did threaten the Prince of Wales was sent into Scotland with an Armie where he burnt and spoiled without controlment at his owne will and pleasure and recouered to the Kings vse the Castles of Barwicke and of Anwicke and enforced the Scots to craue a truce which was granted vnto them for a few monethes and then
as their free and as their franke gift The French businesse silenceth all others This motion and this businesse was so much applauded by the King his Nobles and the inferior sorts of his people and the great summe of money which was offered so well contented them all that the said Petition was thereby lulled fast asleepe and nothing was now debated and spoken of but the meanes how England might recouer France This Parliament being ended the Duke of Exeter vncle to the King the Archbishop of Dublyn the Lord Gray high Admirall of England Embassadors sent to require the Crowne of France Charles the sixt and the Bishop of Norwich being attended with fiue hundred Horse were sent Embassadours to the French king Charles the sixt By these the King required the peaceable deliuerie of that Kingdome together with the whole Duchies of Aquitaine Normandie and of Angeou and the Counties of Poytou and of Mayne and made this offer That if without the effusion of their peoples bloud the French King would yeeld to his demands hee then would be pleased to take to his wife the Ladie Katherine his daughter and would endow her with all the said Duchies and Prouinces and would be tractable to all things tending to the French kings honour and estate But if hee refused to deliuer him his Patrimonie and Inheritance without blowes then hee assured him That hee would attempt the gayning of them by his Sword and would in those Countries afflict those people with such oppressions as were too too rife and common in the Warre The vnexpected strangenesse of this motion and quicke message so amazed the French king and his Nobilitie The French king craueth further time to make his answere The Dolphin scoffeth the King that without sound and good deliberation they were vnable to returne anie answere but craued a longer time with promise shortly to send his Embassadors concerning that businesse to the King But the Dolphin despising the youth of King Henrie and holding him vnfit to attempt a matter of so high a consequence sent vnto him as a present a Tonne of Tennis Balls insinuating thereby that it was more agreeable to his yeares to sport himselfe among nimble laddes in a Tennis Court than to dreame of the winning of so potent a kingdome as France was The King although otherwise he would haue beene persuaded by reason kindly to haue censured of the French kings request The Kings couragious speech and of his promise yet because the Dolphin so basely skorned him protested in his angrie moode That ere manie moneths should be spent he would if GOD assisted him tosse so manie balls of yron within that kingdome that the strongest Rackets in France should be too weake to returne them For this purpose he leuied a strong and a puissant Armie whereof King Henrie leuieth a great Armie The Dolphins motion for peace when the Dolphin had intelligence because the charge of those affaires by reason of the French kings weakenesse and infirmitie was committed to his care and prouidence he sent Embassadors to king Henrie to informe him That if hee would desist from his purpose and would liue in amitie and in peace with that Nation and would take his sister the Ladie Katherine to his wife hee then should haue and receiue with her a large summe of money with some small Territories and Possessions in that kingdome King Henries answer Those Embassadours were honourably receiued kindly entertained and royallie feasted by the King at his owne table But for an answere he returned That except the French King with his said daughter would giue vnto him the Dutchies of Aquitaine Normandie Angeow and all other small Segniories to him and to his Crowne iustly appertaining and belonging hee would not disband his armie nor waue his title to the Crowne of France but would attempt by fire and sword to winne it if he might King Henrie fortifieth against the Scots The Queene mother is made Regent of England ANNO. 3. 1414. King Henrie defieth the K. of France Treason against King Henrie Assoone as the French Embassadours were departed The King who proposed none other end to his endeuours but an assured trust in God and in a thousand hopes of conquest and of victorie placed a strong power vpon the marches of Scotland to keepe them in order in his absence And hauing throughly furnished himselfe and his armie with all needfull preparations and hauing made the Queene his mother the Regent of his Kingdome and assisted her with a graue and with a prudent Counsell hee sent his letters of Defiance to the French King and beganne with great alacritie and courage to proceed in this his royall iournie But as greatest dangers are then most frequent when securitie seemeth to banish all feare so when King Henrie perswaded himselfe that he was most sure and safe in the middest of his braue armie euen then hee was in a greater hazard of his life then if hee had beene in France among the throngs of his mortall and professed Enemies For Richard Earle of Cambridge brother to the Duke of Yorke and Henrie Lord Scrope and Sir Thomas Gray three of the most approued Captaines of this Kingdome being treacherously engaged by great rewards conferred on them by the Dolphin of France conspired to deliuer him into the French Kings hands or else to murder him in his owne Tent. The treason is discouered Miraculously was this intended villanie reuealed to the King who grieued the more thereat because hee should want the aidefull assistance of three such valiant men of Warre as gaue him much assurance of good successe But when they were apprehended and brought into his presence their open confession of that conspiracie The traytors are executed and treason which otherwise would fully haue beene proued against them hastned their publike sentence of death and as Traytors they were executed the next day The King landeth with his army in Normandie Harflew besieged and taken Assoone as the wind serued the King transported his armie in an hundred and fortie shippes and landed in Normandie before Hareflew vpon the Riuer of Seyne and besieged it on euerie part for the space of seuen and thirtie dayes And though the French army which was conducted by the Dolphin made manie faire proffers to raise the siege yet durst they not come too neere But the Towne hauing beene manie times sharply assaulted was yeelded to King Henrie who sacked it and ransomed the inhabitants and with great plentie of siluer and of Gold and manie costly thinges he enriched all his owne Companies Great sicknes in king Henries Armie and hauing placed as Captaine there his Vncle Thomas Duke of Exeter and as his Lieuetenant Sir Iohn Fastolf with fifteene hundred souldiers and fiue and thirtie gallant Knights he resolued to go vnto Callice by land to rest there because the winter being now more wet approching sooner at that time then vsually it
8 1419. Philip Duke of Burgoine the sonne and heire of the deceased Duke insomuch as that in his dumpish and melancholie passions and in the heat of his furie he once determined to seperate himselfe from the bed and companie of his guiltlesse wife onely because she was sister to the Dolphin But being more grauely aduised by his Counsellors as his sorrowes waxed faint so his affection towards her encreased strength and shee was entertained with his best loue This new Duke of Burgoine and Earle of Flanders He attempts to conclude a Peace being verie wise and politike behaued himselfe courteously and friendly to King Henrie and practised all means by which he might conclude a firme and a setled Peace betwixt the Kings of England and of France And in those his endeuours he was the more powerfull First because his wife was daughter to the said French King His means to further it Secondly because his wiues sister the Ladie Katharine who could doe all in all with Isabell the Queene her mother passionately longed to be espoused to King Henrie Thirdly for that the said Queene who by the Dolphin was depriued of all her Treasure as formerly you haue heard could not endure to heare of him nor could abide his presence Fourthly because the Dolphin was more subtile cunning craftie and reuengefull than politike wise and valiant And lastly because this late horrible and inhumane Murder made him odious and infamous yea to his owne friends This Peace being againe and againe consulted and debated on betwixt the Queene the Duke and diuers of the greatest Nobilitie in France vpon the one part and the Embassadors of King Henrie vpon the other part and being brought to some maturitie and ripenesse it was resolued That King Henrie should meete with Charles the sixt the French King Queene Isabell his wife and with the Ladie Katherine An enterview and their Nobilitie and Councell at Troys in Champaine which with all expedition hee did being accompanied with his two brothers Thomas Duke of Clarence and Humfrey Duke of Glocester and with the Earles of Warwike Salisburie Huntingdon Longeuyle Tankeruyle and Ewe and diuers other noble and great men But to preuent the worse and to foresee dangers before they happened King Henrie is guarded by his Armie A Peace is concluded The King is married and proclaymed Regent and Heire apparant of Frāce he was soundly guarded with fifteene thousand men And within few dayes after their enterview a firme Peace was proclaymed and the King with honourable solemnitie and triumphant sportings was married to the said Ladie Katherine and was published to be the onely Regent and Heire Apparant to the Crowne of France in both those Kingdomes The chiefest Articles in briefe were these The Articles on which the Peace was concluded 1. FIrst That the two Great High and Mightie Princes King Charles and Queene Isabell should be entitled the Father and the Mother of King Henrie and should be by him and by his wife honoured and respected with that reuerence which such an alliance did require 2. Item That the said King Charles during his life should hold and enioy quietly and in peace his Royall Dignitie Crowne and Reuenewes of all France And that all Writs Processes Commissions and all such like Proceedings should passe vnder his Name and Seale as King And that the said Queene Isabell if she suruiued her husband should hold and enioy during her life her Title and Estate and all such Lordships Rents and Reuenewes in France as of late were holden and enioyed by Queene Blanch sometimes the wife and Dowager of King Philip great grandfather to King Charles 3. Item That Queene Katherine should haue in England a Dower of twentie thousand markes by the yeare vnto which she should be enabled and assured with all conuenient speede 4. Item That during the life of King Charles King Henrie should not in anie wise be styled with the name and dignitie of the king of France and that the French king whilest hee liued should write him and entitle him in French thus Nostre trechier filz Henry Roy Dengleterre Heretere de France And in Latine thus praeclarissimus filius noster Henricus Rex Angliae Haeres Franciae 5. Item That after the death of King Charles the Crowne and kingdome of France should wholly and entirely come he and remaine to king Henrie and to his Heires for euer 6. Item That in regard that king Charles by reason of his manifold infirmities occasioned by much sicknesse was made vnapt and vnable to administer by his owne directions the affaires and businesses of his kingdome king Henrie should be Regent and should rule and gouerne France as he pleased for the kings honour and for the profit and commoditie of that Region and Common-weale 7. Item That the Court of Parliament of France should be kept and bee ordered in like sort and should bee supported with the same Priuiledges Customes Estate and Power as in all former times had beene vsed and accustomed 8. Item that king Henrie should carefully and faithfully doe his best endeuour to assist as well the Peeres as the people in the attayning and getting of all such things as in right and by the Lawes and Customes of that kingdome did belong vnto them and should protect and defend all the Rights Preheminencies Lawes and Possessions of the Clergie of the kingdome of France 9. Item That King Henrie should support and preserue all the subiects of France against all forraine Enemies suppresse and beat downe all intestine and in-bred Quarrels Debates Insurrections and Ciuill Warres encrease the prosperitie and peace of France and administer Iustice without partialitie vnto all sorts and degrees of people whatsoeuer 10. Item That King Henrie should place into the Roomes and Offices of Iustice and of Receits and of Gouernment such persons as shall be wise discreet faithfull and sufficient to minister and to manage those things which should be committed to their charge 11. Item That King Henrie should speedily endeuour with his best helpes to reduce the Dolphin and the Earle of Arminake late Constable of France to the obedience of King Charles and all such others as did with them rebelliously maintaine ciuill Dissentions in the Common-weale 12. Jtem That King Henrie should cause all the Peeres Nobles Gentrie Clergie Townes Cities and Burgesses of France to take a corporall Oath for their obedience to King Charles during his life And after his death to King Henrie and to his heires And to admit none other Regent or King nor to conspire any thing against his or their Persons or Estates but should reueale all mischiefes which should be contriued and practised for his or their hurt or destruction 13. Item That such Possessions as King Henrie should winne from anie person disobedient to King Charles excepting onely in Normandie should bee employed and conuerted vnto the onely vse and benefite of the French King But if the offendours doe
voluntarily and chearefully take the aforesaid oath then the said Possessions to bee frankely and freely restored vnto them 14. Item That after the death of King Charles the Duchie of Normandie and all others conquered by King Henry should be obedient and bow vnder the commaund of the Scepter and Crowne of France 15. Item That King Henrie should not burden the subiects of France with any Taxes or Jmpositions but in cases of great and vrgent necessitie and then onely the same to be assessed and leuied according to the custome and manner of France and not otherwise 16. Item That after the death of King Charles the two Kingdomes of France and of England should alwaies soueraignely be ruled and commanded by one Man and not by two Kings and that neither of those kingdomes should be subiect the one to the other but each of them should still retaine vse and enioy their particular Customes Liberties Priuiledges Preheminences Immunities and Lawes 17. Item That all care should bee taken and all prouision made that the subiects of each kingdome as brethren and friends should liue in mutuall loue amitie and peace and each of them to procure by their best meanes the welfare and prosperitie of the other 18. Item That neither the said French king nor king Henrie should conclude any Peace nor make any truce with the falsely entitled Dolphin except they both and the said Philip Duke of Burgoine did all three consent and agree in one so to doe 19. Item that none should be appointed to attend the Person of king Charles but Frenchmen and such as himselfe or his owne Councell should make choise of And that from time to time he should be resident and dwell at his pleasure in the most eminent places of his kingdome 20. And lastly that both the said kings vnder their Letters Patents and all their Nobilitie Clergie Gentrie Cities and Comminalties by Instruments in writing vnder their hands and seales should ratifie and confirme the said Articles and Agreements And that they all should solemnly sweare and vow to maintaine them in all points to the vttermost of their abilitie and power The Articles are proclaymed in England and in France These Articles and these Agreements being thus concluded were ordered accordingly and then with all conuenient expedition were proclaymed both in England and in France The two Kings and all their Nobles and other subjects of account were solemnely sworne to obserue and to maintaine them And then they both They are ratified by solemne Oaths being accompanied with Iames the young but valiant King of Scots the Duke of Burgoine the Prince of Orange one and twentie Earles fortie and fiue Barons and a multitude of Knights Gentlemen and braue souldiors of France of England and of Ireland wasted such Countries and besieged and tooke such strong and well defenced Townes and Castles within the Duchie of Burgoine The King warreth in Burgoine as sided and sorted with the Dolphin As first of all the Towne of Seyne after it had beene besieged fifteene dayes and the Castle there after it had held out six weekes then Molyn vpon the Riuer of Seyne which they tooke after they had enuironed it full seuen moneths and in it were apprehended the Lord Barbason The murderers of Iohn Duke of Burgoine are executed the chiefe Commaunder there and diuers others who were agents and actors in the murdering of Iohn the Proud Duke of Burgoine all which were by the French King sent from thence vnto Paris vnder the guardship of Thomas Duke of Clarence who was newly made chiefe Captaine of that Citie by King Charles The Duke of Clarence is made Captaine of Paris And within few dayes after the said offendors were legally tryed conuicted sentenced and put to death for the said Murder Then the two Kings with their two Queenes and their Nobilitie and Companies went vnto Paris King Henrie is proclaymed Regent and Heire apparant to the Crowne of France where King Henrie was proclaymed Regent and Heire Apparant to the Crowne of France and so was he not long after in London In Paris the two Kings kept their Christmas The French King being verie sickly and weake maintained small Hospitalitie But King Henrie with such heroicall Magnificence rich Plentie and liberall Entertainment so feasted the Nobles Gentrie and Citizens of both the said Kingdomes and was so open-handed to all sorts and degrees of people King Henrie winneth the loue of the Frenchmen that his State and Majestie was admired and his Princely courtesie fast bound vnto him the hearts of the Frenchmen to yeeld vnto him all manner of obedience and of seruice Whilest the two Kings thus remained in Paris The Dolphin and the other murderers are banished a great Assembly by their Authoritie was conuocated thither In which they both sate as Iudges and before them the Duchesse of Burgoine late Wife to her slaine Husband by her Aduocate appealed Charles the late Dolphin and seuen others as murderers of her Lord. But no defence was made for them And not long after a Court of Parliament was kept there In which a solemne Proces was awarded against the Dolphin and the rest of the Accused to appeare at the Marble Table in Paris at an appointed day But they all fayled to obserue that commaund And thereupon they were by the said Court banished the Realme and all the Territories of France and were also depriued of all Honors Names Titles Dignities Preheminences and Possessions whatsoeuer When the late Dolphin had intelligence thereof hee went into Languedock and comforted himselfe with his old friend the Earle of Arminack The Dolphin is aided by his old friend the Earle of Arminake sometimes Constable of France who not only assisted him in his great distresse with Money Munition and with Men but also in his owne person did him all reuerence and tooke his part against all such as professed themselues to bee his Enemies These things being thus accomplished the two Kings their Queenes and Nobles sorrowfully departed each from other And King Henrie King Henrie â—th the state of Frâ— with his Queene went vnto Roan where hee receiued Homage of all his Nobles in the Duchie of Normandie And among others of the Earle of Stafford to whome hee had giuen the Earledome of Perch The Duke of Clarence is made Lieutenant Generall of France and 〈◊〉 Normandie The King the Queene came into England The Queene 〈◊〉 crowned And of Arthur of Britaine vpon whom hee had bestowed the Countrey of Iurye Hee also made his brother Thomas Duke of Clarence Lieutenant Generall both of France and of Normandie and of that Duchie hee made the Earle of Salisburie Deputie to the said Duke And then hee with Queene Katherine his wife departed vnto Amiens and from thence to Callis and so came into England Where they were receiued and entertained with as much triumphant and true joy as could be by subiects expressed towards
tyre out his Armie to pursue him Wherefore hee returned ouer the Riuer of Loyre and tooke eyther by force or by voluntarie yeelding manie Townes and Castles vnto his owne vse Pâ— Henry is borne About the same time Queene Katherine was deliuered of a Sonne at Windsour who was named Henrie Of whose birth as soone as the King had notice he said vnto the Lord Fitz-Hugh his Chamberlaine The Kings words I HENRIE borne at Monmouth shall remaine but a short time and gaine much but HENRIE borne at Windsour shall raigne long and lose all The King who for manie weekes together had besieged the well-defended Towne of Meux in Bry enforced it to bee yeelded into his hands and thereupon all the Townes and Fortresses in the Isle of France in Lanuoys in Bry and in Champaigne did the like The Dolphin entreth into the Duke of Burgoines countrey When the Dolphin vnderstood that the King with his Armie was departed farre away from him hee raysed another Armie and entred into the Duke of Burgoines Countries wasting and consuming it with Sword and with Fire and straitly besieged the Citie of Cosney Cosney is besieged which by composition was to be yeelded to him if it were not rescued within tenne daies Of this Agreement notice was sent by the Duke of Burgoine to the King with a request That he would send a power conuenient for the remoue of the said Siege The King goeth to relieue Cosney Whereupon the King in his owne person being accompanied with a gallant companie marched towards that Citie to set it free But as he trauelled on the way he fell so sicke that he was vnable to trauaile anie further The King falleth sick So the charge of that expedition was committed to his brother Iohn Duke of Bedford whose passage forth was noysed to the Dolphin to be with such an high courage and souldior-like resolution that the Dolphin fearing to grapple with him raysed his siege The Dolphin sayeth and most dishonourably retyred himselfe and his Armie into Berry And thus was that Citie rescued and deliuered by the English The King by reason of his encreasing sicknesse waxing more weake and feeble was carried vnto Boys in Vyncennes where within few dayes he was summoned by Death to depart into another world But before he died The Kings Speech before he died he called vnto him his two brothers Iohn Duke of Bedford and Humfrey Duke of Glocester the former hee made Lieutenant Generall of Normandie and Regent of the kingdome of France and the other he made Protector of England and of his sonnes owne person Hee embraced his approaching end comfortably in regard that though his time had been but short yet it was beautified with matchlesse fame and honour which longer continuance being the professed enemie of stabilitie might haue changed He exhorted them and his Nobles who then were present to maintaine true and heartie loue and friendship with his noble and faithfull friend Philip Duke of Burgoine and neuer to be at variance with him Hee persuaded them to nourish and to cherish an vnseparable vnitie and faithfull friendship among themselues to be faithfull and louing to his young infant sonne and their succeeding king Henrie and by all meanes to bee helpefull ayding and assisting to his most sad dolorous and mournefull Queene to preserue and to maintaine by Wisdome Policie and Armes those things which he by valour and GODS furtherance had honourably wonne and gotten Neuer to conclude any peace or amitie with the late Dolphin and Duke of Alanson vntill they were enforced to submit themselues to his sonnes grace and mercie Finally he thanked Almightie GOD who had made him Religious Vertuous Honest and Victorious The King died and died the last day of August in the yeare of our LORD GOD 1422. in the eight and thirtieth yeare of his Age when hee had raigned but nine yeares fiue moneths and foure and twentie dayes And his bodie being conueyed into England was buried among his noble Progenitors at Westminster with extraordinarie solemnitie and great pompe THE HISTORIE OF KING HENRIE THE SIXT KIng Henrie the fifth died when his sonne Henrie was but nine months old 1422. 1 A yong king but well gouerned Yet was hee so fortunate in his beginning that his Youth and Gouernment were worthily supported by his three vncles Humfrey Duke of Glocester who when the King was crowned was made Protector both of his Person and also of his Realme Iohn Duke of Bedford who was established Regent of France and Thomas Duke of Exeter who graced all his actions with much wisdome and great valour Needfull it was that the new Protector and the Regent should make the vtmost tryall of their sufficiencies to the World For whereas in the end of the Kings fathers dayes France is vnwilling to remain English the Nobilitie of France incorporated themselues to the English Nation and heartily enuied the Dolphin King Charles about this time died and the vnconstant Frenchmen began to play an Irish game For on a suddaine manie of those dissembling and fained friends renounced their duties and obedience to King Henrie and vtterly neglecting the performance of Oathes of Allegeance made vnto him they reuolted and not onely adhered to Charles their new King but by all sinister practises and meanes they endeuoured to extirpe the English Nation among them if they might The Regents Policies The Protector at home by the aduise and counsell of the Statists plotted manie Proiects for the retayning of the Kings inheritance in Normandie and in France and for that purpose he furnished the Regent with store of Souldiours Siluer and of Gold The Regent also leuied a strong Armie in Normandie among his choysest and chiefest friends whome by substantiall arguments and sound reasons hee persuaded to perseuere and to continue loyall to his Master and not to be wearied with anie labour or daunted with anie danger because a peacefull and a blessed conclusion should make them rich and fortunate and winne to them the loue and fauour of their young King as hee encreased in wisedome and in yeares And on the other side Charles the new King spared not anie paines but did the like insomuch that nothing but tyrannizing Warre and the vnchristian effusion of much bloud was thought vpon And to begin those Troubles the French King sent the Lord Grandeuyle Pont-Melance taken with a selected companie to Pont-Melance which standeth on the Riuer of Seyne which hee surprized and slew the most part of them whom he found there before anie notice of his approach gaue anie warning to the English garrison to defend it The Earle of Salisburie a famous man Thomas Montacute the Earle of Salisburie for his admired courage and expert managing of martiall actions was at that time more fitly to be compared to a choise Roman than to anie other who liued in his dayes To this Earle the Regent commended the regayning
Counsell But because the most of them were Clergie-men they afforded no manner of redresse where at the Protector was much displeased But to requite him with more vexation and a greater trouble they caused the Lady Eleanor his wife The Protectors wife condemned for witchcraft to be accused and conuicted for conspiring of the Kings death with Witches and such like gracelesse people for which shee was inforced three times to doe publike Penance in the Citie of London and afterwards shee was committed to perpetuall Imprisonment But diuers of her condemned associates were Executed and put to sundrie kinds of death And now to returne to the French Warres King Henrie in regard of former seruices and of future hopes of the like performance Created the Lord Iohn Talbot Earle of Shrewsburie Iohn created Earle of Shrewsbury A worthy Captaine and sent him into Normandie with three thousand selected men for the better securing of that Duchie In which expedition hee worthily demeaned himselfe and wonne much Honour This yeare the Countesse of Coming in Guyen died without issue and her inheritance was claimed by the French King And likewise the Earle of Arminacke pretended himselfe to be her next heire A mariage offered to King Henrie And to strengthen himselfe the better to gaine his right he offered his Daughter in marriage to King Henrie with the gift of much money and with the surrendring into his hands of all such Territories and possessions within the Duchie of Aquitaine and Guyen as either by Conquest or by discent did belong vnto him The King is offered to the Earle of Arminaks daughter This offer was willingly hearkned vnto and accepted by the King who by his Ambassadors was publikly offered to the said Lady But the French King minding rather to preuent dangers before they come then to remooue them after they were hapned so suddenly inuaded the said Earles Countries and Dominions with an Armie that with small or no resistance hee quickly made himselfe the Owner of them all The King refuseth her The newes whereof so altered and changed the minde and the affections of King Henrie towards his offered Lady that he would neuer after be perswaded to hearken vnto or to thinke vpon that match The grieued compassion which forraine Princes tooke vpon the lamentable distresse of poore France because the bloud of Christians was so vnmeasurably and so vnmercifully shed in those warres incited them to mediate both these Kings to make a friendly peace which was not effected according to their endeuours and desires A truce for eighteene moneths The Earle of Suffolke solliciteth another mariage for King Henry without authority giuen to him A dishonorable match propounded and concluded Reasons why this match was disliked but a truce only was concluded for eighteene moneths In the handling whereof the Earle of Suffolke not warranted by his Commission nor making his associates acquainted with his purpose sollicited a mariage betwixt his Lord and master King Henry and the Lady Margaret cosen to the French King and daughter vnto Reyner Duke of Angeow being the titularie King of Sicilie Naples and Ierusalem With her hee made no demand for any money because her father was but poore nay which was much worse hee consented that if the said mariage might be effected King Henry should freely and frankly release vnto her father all his right and title to the said Dutchie of Angeow and to the Country of Mayne The Lords of France were quickly wonne to hearken to this motion and King Henry was glad at the heart that he should haue for his wife such a faire and fresh Lady as the Earle of Suffolke could neuer praise enough But the Protector strongly opposed himselfe against this match terming her descent to be but Titularie and vrging much the pouertie of her father and told the King that his honour and reputation would receiue many scandals if he should reiect the Earle of Arminaks daughter vnto whom with all due ceremonies he was publikely affied and also that his losse would be lamentable if he released his lawfull and iust title to the Dutchie of Angeow and to the Country of Mayne according to the Earle of Suffolkes vnaduised offer But all his reasons as friuolous were reiected and his counsell was not cared for But the King to gratifie and to please such of his Noble-men as therein enclined themselues to his humour Creation of Lords bestowed on them new Dignities and honours For Iohn Lord Holland Earle of Huntingdon was created Duke of Exeter as his father had beene Humfrey Earle of Stafford was made Duke of Buckingham Henry Earle of Warwicke was made Duke of Warwicke and the said Earle of Suffolke was created Marques of Suffolke Which Marques being very honourably accompanied with great troupes of Lords The new Marquesse fetcheth the yong Queen The King is maried Ladies and other personages of great worth and honour went richly prouided into France and according to his condition receiued the Lady Margaret from the French King and from Reyner her father and conueied her with great pompe and princely magnificence into England where within few daies after she was maried to the King and crowned Queene Now as the prefixed time for the truce drew towards an end so King Henry perceiued that this his new alliance with the French King promised him not any certaintie that it should be enlarged or that he should haue peace For in France fresh supplies were hourely prouided to reuiue the former warre and euery day offered euident demonstrations that nothing was more to be expected then blowes Wherefore to encounter those preparations with the like prouisions the King assembled his high Court of Parlament A Parliament The Marquesse of Suffolks oration His motion in which the Marques of Suffolke in a powerfull glozing and tedious Oration extolled his owne deserts aboue the skies as well in his seruice in the French warres as also in mouing and in concluding the late truce and the Kings mariage He also admonished his Highnesse and the two houses there assembled what preparations for warre were made in France and how behoouefull it was for the King to doe the like And vpon this motion proceeding from his haughtie pride and ambitious minde the whole assemblie became humble suters to his Maiestie A Record made of his acts that not only his said admonition and aduice but also all his said former seruices and doings might in most ample sort be registred among the Rolles of Parliament for the perpetuallizing of his honour and of his name which with wonderfull applause was consented vnto and shortly after he was created Duke of Suffolke He is made a Duke Yet for all this before many yeares were expired he was in the same place accused conuicted and condemned for sundrie treasons Humana caduca misprisions and offences for which he was exiled taken and without law put to death as hereafter wee shall
the Duke of Yorke what the Duke of Somerset had done whereat he was so highly displeased The Duke of Yorke maliceth the Duke of Somerset that he neuer ceased priuatly and openly to practise vntill the said Duke of Somerset deseruedly had lost his head For this insupportable and vnfortunate losse of the Dutchie of Normandie the Queene and the Duke of Suffolke were first secretly blamed by the whispering common people of this kingdome who afterwards by open slanders and with publike reprochfull speeches exclaimed and accused the said Duke of many notable trecheries and grosse treasons 1450. which chiefly consisted of these particulars Treasons obiected against the Duke of SVFFOLKE FIrst That by his wicked and vngodly meanes the Duke of Glocester was depriued both of his Protectorship and of his life 2 Item that by his appointment such Counsellors of State were placed about the King and Queene as aduised all things for their gaine and not for the profit of the Common-weale 3 Item that the Queene and the said Duke ruled the whole kingdome as they listed so that by reason thereof all things succeeded ill and hurtfull to this kingdome 4 Item that the said Duke was the meanes and occasion that the Kings right to Aquitanie and Guyan were yeelded vp which weakned and at length lost all the Duchies of Aquitanie and of Normandie 5 Item that he had maried his sonne Iohn to the Lady Margaret sole daughter and generall heire to Iohn Duke of Somerset and had reported that she was the next heire to the Crowne of England if King Henry hapned to die without issue 6 Jtem that he had perswaded the Earle of Dumoys and other great Lords and Officers of France to transport an Armie into this Realme to destroy the King and consequently to make his said sonne Iohn successor to this Crown and kingdome 7 Item that he procured the Duke of Orleance to be set at libertie for a ransome contrary to the commandement and the last Will and Testament of King Henry the fifth by whose means after wards the affaires of France were made more powerfull and fortunate then formerly they had been and King Henries forces were daily enfeebled and made more weake thereby in those Countries 8 Item that he had counselled the said Duke before his departure out of England to perswade the French King to augment and to increase his armie and to make sharper warres both in Normandie and in France against King Henry who so did by which meanes the King lost all his possessions in those Countries 9 Item that assoone as he came Ambassador into France he secretly informed King Charles of the chiefe points of his Commission and instructions by meanes whereof he grew obstinate and refused to conclude any peace 10 Item that the said Duke at his last being in France reuealed to the French king the weaknesse of King Henries prouisions to withstand him by meanes wherof the Frenchmen became more bold and hardie in those warres 11 Item that boastingly and foolishly he had reported in the presence of many noble and honourable personages that he had as high a place in the Counsell house of France as bee had in England and that by reason of his especiall interest in the French Kings loue hee could dispossesse the neerest and the greatest of the French Kings Counsellours if hee were disposed so to doe 12 Item that when men money and munitions were in a readinesse to be transported into France to aide and to assist King Henries forces there the said Duke being wickedly corrupted and being a secret friend to the kings enemies caused them to be kept at home by meanes whereof the kings armies in those Countries wanting due and necessary supplies were vanquished both in Normandie and in France 13 And lastly that by meanes of his great fauour with the Queene he had deceitfully and fraudulently enriched himselfe with the kings lands and treasures and had procured to himselfe a monopolie of all the greatest offices for his owne gaine These and many more foule and treasonable Articles were in full Parliament publikely obiected against him and laid vnto his charge all which hee faintly denied but could scarce cleare himselfe of one of them The Queens pollicie to helpe the Duke of Suffolke The Queene to preuent the Duke of Suffolkes further perill and danger because she entirely loued him caused him to be committed to the Tower where hee had libertie at his owne will and then concluding the Parliament vpon a sudden shee not onely enlarged him but restored him into high fauour with the King so that he proudly ietted and swaggered as formerly he had done The Commons are displeased A rebellion but appeased The common people repined much thereat and spake scandalously and reprochfully of the Queene and of her gouernment and some of them wickedly rebelled making a turbulent mate nick-named Blew-beard their chiefest Captaine But this insurrection was quickly nipped in the budde their ring-leaders were put to death and the rest of them receiued friendly admonition and the Kings gratious pardon The King and Queene intending to reconcile all discords and to giue some better contentment to the Commons held a Parliament at Leicester The Parliaments request But their purpose failed them for the lower house instantly importuned the King that iustice might be done vpon the Duke of Suffolke and also vpon his associating Conspirators Iames Fynes Lord Say and Lord Treasurer of England Iohn Bishop of Salisburie and vpon some others The King to pacifie this broile and to weaken their importunitie by doing of something wherewith hee thought hee should please them exiled the said Duke for fiue yeares The Duke is exiled He is taken at Sea and beheaded But as he sailed towards France he was taken by an English man of warre who landed him vpon Douer Sands and chopt off his head on a boats side And thus was the guiltlesse bloud of Humfrey the good Duke of Glocester in some measure reuenged and the rest of those delinquents were sequestred from their Offices and imprisoned by the King The Duke of Yorke intendeth to claime the Crowne His practises to further it Whilest these things were thus in handling the Duke of Yorke albeit resiant in Ireland sollicited and procured his allies friends in England by some secret plottings pretending some other ends to set on foot his claime and title to the Crowne hee being lineally descended from Philip the daughter and heire of George Duke of Clarence who was the elder brother of Iohn of Gaunt great grandfather to King Henry the sixth And first of all it was whispered priuately reported that the Kings wits were weake the Queens heart ambitious the Kings Counsellors of State not wise enough to rule and that all France Normandie and Aquitaine were lost because God blessed not the vsurped succession of King Henry Vpon these speeches too too commonly diuulged A Rebellion in Kent Iacke Cade
fight which vnfortunately he did for in lesser time then the space of one houre himselfe with almost three thousand of his companie were slaine and his younger sonne Edmund Earle of Rutland being but twelue yeares old kneeling vpon his knees and desiring mercie was cruelly and wickedly stabbed to the heart by the Lord Clifford who horribly did sweare that by that act he would be reuenged for his fathers death And the rest of that small Armie being discomforted confusedly ranne away and saued themselues by flight The Queene who had taken the Earle of Salisburie prisoner caused his head to be stricken off and executed many others The Earle of Salisburie beheaded all whose heads to despight the Yorkish Faction she caused to be set vpon the walles of the Citie of Yorke Which reuengefull deede not long after was requited by the ruine and destruction of the King the Queene the young Prince and of the greater number of such as fauoured and assisted the house of Lancaster and opposed themselues against the rightfull and iust claime of the Duke of Yorke as hereafter we shall heare The new and braue Duke of Yorke being informed of this ouerthrow The new Duke of Yorkes victorie and of his fathers death augmented his Armie which was but small and consisted only of three thousand men with which hee fought with the Kings halfe-brother Iaspar Earle of Pembroke Owen Tuthar his father Iames Butler Earle of Ormond and of Wiltshire and their companies And almost at their first encounter those two Earles fled foure thousand of their friends were slaine many others were taken prisoners Owen Tuthar beheaded The Queenes Armie preuailed The King is enlarged and among them Owen Tuthar father in law to King Henry was one who with some others were incontinently put to death But the Queenes Armie neere about that time hauing fought with the Duke of Norfolke and all his forces compelled them to flie to leaue King Henry behinde them whereat she conceiued much ioy This victorie at the first made her insolent and proud but when she vnderstood how well the young Duke of Yorke had preuailed and that his Armie was now winged with the Earle of Warwickes Regiments and Companies shee with her adherents retired backe into the Northerne parts of this Realme and raised a huge Armie of threescore thousand men The Queenes Armie of 60000. men The Duke of Yorkes Army of 49000. men Towton field 36000. Englishmen slaine The Dukes victorie and neere vnto a Towne called Towton Edward Duke of Yorke the noble and victorious Richard Earle of Warwicke and almost nine and fortie thousand men met with the Queenes Armie where they fought a cruell and a fierce battaile in which more then six and thirtie thousand Englishmen were slaine among which were the Earles of Northumberland and of Westmerland the Lords Dacres Welles and Clifford Sir Iohn Neuil Andrew Trollop and many others The two Dukes of Somerset and of Exeter saued themselues by flight but the Earle of Deuonshire with sundrie moe were taken prisoners The King and the Queene with Prince Edward their onely sonne fled to the Castle of Barwicke and from thence into Scotland where they were courteously receiued and friendly entertained by the young King In recompence of which fauours and in hope of future assistance Barwicke deliuered to the King of Scots King Henry deliuered vnto him the Castle and Towne of Barwicke which the Scots not only much desired but with exceeding great losse and detriment had oftentimes but still in vaine attempted to make their owne This victorie being thus happily obtained the Duke of Yorke rod triumphantly to the Citie of Yorke from whose walles hee tooke the heads of his deceased father and of his friends and causing the Earle of Deuonshire and some others to be executed Execution hee set vp their heads in the same places King Henry being hopelesse of all other helpe and assistance The Duke of Yorke commeth triumphantly into London sent the Queene his wife and the young Prince their sonne to her father Reyner the Titularie King of Sicilia Naples and of Ierusalem praying to vse his best endeuours and diligence to procure him aide and succour from the French King And in the meane time he himselfe remained in Scotland patiently expecting the euent of his future Fortunes THE HISTORIE OF KING EDVVARD THE FOVRTH EDVVARD Duke of Yorke hauing ouerthrowen the King Queen and hauing slaine and executed many of his greatest enemies at Towton Field Edward the Fourth proclaimed and crowned King returned triumphantly to the Citie of London and was proclaimed King of this Realme the fourth day of March and was crowned the nineteenth day of Iune then next following In the beginning of his Raigne he remoued from all Offices all such as were voiced to be the oppressors of his people and carefully prouided that all things might be ordered well for their commoditie and profit And in his high Court of Parliament many things were established and enacted for the peace and welfare of the Common-weale A Parliament And all former Statutes which had beene made by the last King Acts for treasons repealed and conuicted him and his adherents of High Treason were defaced cancelled and made void The Earle of Oxford and Sir Awbrey Vere his son and some other Counsellors to King Henry the Sixth Execution being attainted of sundrie treasonable practises lost their heads And to strengthen his part with powerfull and with faithfull friends he created his two brothers George Duke of Clarence Lords created and Richard Duke of Glocester and Sir Iohn Neuil brother to the Earle of Warwicke he created Lord Montacute and Henry Bourchier who had maried the Ladie Elizabeth Aunt vnto the King and was brother vnto Thomas Bourchier Archbishop of Canterburie was created Earle of Essex and William Lord Fawconbridge was made Earle of Kent The Duke of Somerset Sir Ralphe Percie and diuers others being the Kings inueterated enemies perceiuing this settlement of the State Some of the Kings enemies submit themselues but afterwards doe reuolt and finding no hope for reliefe but onely in the Kings grace and mercie voluntarily and humbly submitted themselues to his Highnesse whereupon they receiued his pardon and were entertained with his loue Queene Margaret who with the Prince her sonne was abiding in France by her fathers meanes procured from the French King certaine ships and an aide of fiue hundred men The Queene landeth and flieth into Scotland with which she arriued safely in England at Tyne in the North Country But her successe was vnfortunate for by the Kings friends foure hundred of them were taken prisoners and ransomed and the rest were slaine and the Queene her selfe fled and with much difficultie went into Scotland where shee found such fauour and such friendship that many a lustie Scot accompanied her the King and the Prince their sonne to the Castle of Barwicke where she
endeuours and so industrious was King Edward who was compelled by necessitie to make prouision for his owne safetie that hee leuied a strong Armie and went forth with an high courage and with princely valour against the Rebels of his Countrie But being informed that all the Countries Cities Townes and places thorow which his enemies passed were aiders to their fortunes and hearing them oftentimes with loud voices to crie King Henry King Henry A Warwicke A Warwicke and distrusting vtterly the inconstant mindes and dispositions of his owne souldiers his heart failed him The King flieth in the night so that in secret manner and in the night with eight hundred of his best friends he left his Armie and posted into Lincolnshire and when all his hopes of helpe and succour there were spent in vaine they being altogether destitute of money and other prouisions needfull for a iourney into a forraine Countrey tooke shipping and sailed into Holland purposing to remaine with the Duke of Burgoine vntill they might haue good meanes for their returne and to be reuenged on the Earle of Warwicke and of all other their mortall enemies As soone as it was certainly knowen that King Edward was fled a rude multitude of factious Kentishmen delighting tumultuously and in a braine-sicke manner to fish in troubled waters came to the Gates of the Citie of London and would haue entred it A rebellion in Kent but being resisted in their purpose they rifled and robbed the Suburbes burnt diuers houses murdered many people and at Radcliffe and Lime-house they did the like Warwicke subdueth them But by the Earle of Warwickes power and endeuours they were quickly ouerthrowen and punished sharply for their offence which wonne him much fauour and loue among the better sort of the common people The Earle afterwards came to the Tower King Henry is enlarged where he not onely enlarged the deposed King Henry but in most triumphant fashion conducted him thorow the Citie of London to Pauls Church And when he had concluded his deuotions and performed his offrings as the Kings of this Realme haue beene accustomed to doe hee was brought to the Bishops Palace where he kept his Court with great magnificence and much bountie Hee also assembled his high Court of Parliament at Westminster A Parliament Aâ—taindors in which the late King Edward the Fourth and all his principall adherents were attainted of High Treason and all their goods and possessions were confiscate and giuen to the King The Duke of Clarence was by the same authoritie published to be the next heire of the deceased Richard late Duke of Yorke The Duke of Clarence aduanced his father And albeit that hee was but his second sonne yet all that Duchie was settled in him and in his heires The Crowne entailed The Crowne also was entailed to King Henry and to the heires males of his bodie and for default of such issue to the said Duke of Clarence and to his heires Iaspar Earle of Pembroke was also restored to his honour and his lands and so was Iohn Earle of Oxford and many others And the Earle of Warwicke and the Duke of Clarence who were enstiled friends to the King and friends to the Common-weale were established and made chiefe rulers in all things vnder the King The Queene dares not to put into the Sea When these affaires were thus ordered Queene Margaret with the Prince her sonne and their whole traine shipped themselues But so violent were the raging stormes and so furious was the troubled sea that albeit many profers were made yet durst they not to aduenture for that time Whereupon the common people of this Realme of whom the Queene was not beloued murmured and muttered saying that God was not pleased that such a woman as had occasioned so many battailes and such slaughters and executions in England should returne thither to plot more trecherie and to deuise more mischiefe The Duke of Burgoine furnisheth King Edward with money men munition and ships The Duke of Burgoine although he entreated King Edward and his friends kindly yet because hee himselfe had warred with France and feared lest the Earle of Warwicke would busie him with a new warre sent word to King Henry that hee would not in any sort assist his enemie for his returne into England Yet not long after when he vnderstood that King Edwards friends by daily messengers and by letters importunated his returne and had by their faire promise strengthned him with good hopes of fortunate successe hee deliuered to him fiftie thousand Floreines of gold and furnished him with eighteene tall and warlike ships in which he had only two thousand souldiers for seruice on the land 1470. With these small forces hee sailed into England and landed at Rauen-spurre in the Countie of Yorke where his expectation failed him very much King Edward landeth in England A small hope For few or none resorted to him for his helpe but all men there acknowledged themselues to be the friends and subiects of King Henrie This checke though it much troubled him yet was hee not vtterly dismaied thereby for meere necessitie and danger enforced him to march to the Citie of Yorke And in his passage thither He only claimeth his Duchie of Yorke he published to the people and to the inhabitants of that Citie that he came not to lay any claime or to make any challenge to the Crowne but intended only to possesse himselfe of his Duchie of Yorke of which vniustly hee was depriued wherein he affirmed hee ought by the lawes of equitie and right to be assisted and succoured by them and by all good men He sweareth it to the Citizens of Yorke They receiue him and releeue him The Citizens at his first repaire denied his entrance but by reason of a solemne oath which he tooke before them that he only intended the regaining of his Duchie and would remaine a true faithfull and an obedient subiect to King Henry he was receiued entertained and monied at his owne will But when he had staied in that Citie a day or two hee forgat the oath which so lately hee had sworne for hee placed a strong Garrison within the Towne He breaketh his oath He getteth money and wogeth souldiers He had neuer risen by all likelihood if he had beene defeated by the Marquesse and enforced the inhabitants to furnish him with many requisites and prouisions for an Armie And then leauing the Citie which was by strength reserued to his vse he hired souldiers euery where for money as he passed by towards London And in his march he came within foure miles of the Marquesse Montacute his old familiar and trustie friend who being accompanied with braue troupes and companies of valiant men of warre to encounter him gaue vnto him free passage without resistance to march forth so that by easie iournies hee came to Nottingham where diuers Nobles and Gentlemen who fauoured his
right and title to that Crowne and Kingdome The King and his Counsell thereupon quickly resolued to vndertake that businesse principally for these reasons 1. First because the Crowne of France was not ambitiously but iustly desired by the King who thought hee had good right and title thereunto 2. Secondly because French warres enriched English souldiers 3. Thirdly because those warres kept them at home and gaue them not any libertie to inuade this Realme 4. Fourthly because the French King had assisted Queene Margaret the Earle of Warwicke and their Complices against King Edward in the late Ciuill Warres 5. And fifthly because the said French King made warres vpon the Duke of Burgoine who had formerly aided King Edward for the regaining of his Crowne and Kingdome A beneuolence craued by King Edward But because money wanted for the defraying of so great a charge King Edward without a Parliament craued a beneuolence to be freely enlarged to him by his Subiects who gaue him some money but with an euill will Yet among others a rich yet a sparing and a nigardly widow did cheerefully giue vnto him twentie pounds A mery iest The King himselfe who was present but to her vnknowen perceiuing that vnexpectedly shee had bestowed vpon him so good a summe did not only giue her thankes but merily came and kissed her telling her that for her money shee should kisse a King The old woman was so much gladded with that courtesie that shee told the King his kisse was worth more money and therefore she added twentie pounds more to the former summe The King hauing in a readinesse before Douer a Fleet of fiue hundred ships and boats and hauing a puissant and a compleat Armie of fifteene hundred men at Armes on horsebacke The King transporteth an Armie for France and fifteene thousand tall Archers besides all such as attended for other needfull seruices departed from England and landed safely at Calice where hee was receiued with great honour and state But he was much greeued because the Duke of Burgoine vpon whose motion and at whose entreatie and promise to be met by him at Calice with two thousand men at Armes The Duke of Burgoine breaketh promise and aids him not hee came thither trifled with his whole Armie in the siege of Nuyce which he was not likely to winne and at length after much time spent in vaine had sent all his forces to Berroys in Lorrayne to be reuenged vpon Reyner Queene Margarets father Duke of that Prouince for that hee had vsed foule and vnseemely words towards him when he lay at the siege of Nuyce whereas if the said Duke of Burgoine had ioined with King Edward against the French King and with the Duke of Britaine who sided with King Edward they would haue put into hazard of winning the whole kingdome of France Yet King Edward with his owne Companies marched by Bollen to Perone into the Duke of Burgoines Countrey He breakes his promise againe where the said Duke had not made any manner of prouision for the refreshing of the English Armie according to his promise but suffred them to lie without his Townes in the cold and in the open fields whereat they were all displeased From thence king Edward with the said Duke marched towards S. Quintens which was secretly promised to be deliuered to him by Lewys of Luxenburgh Hee was Earle of S. Paul and Constable of France The King is kept out of S. Quintens great Vncle to king Edwards wife But when they came before it their entrie was not only denied but sallies were made vpon them and the great Ordinance plaied from the Towne vpon the kings Armie so that plainly he perceiued that nothing was to be obtained there without blowes To these breaches of promise was added one vnkindnesse more by the Duke of Burgoine who to visit his Armie A peace is concluded for nine yeares which then lay in Berroys in Lorrayne vnexpectedly left king Edward and rode thither leauing word behinde that hee would come vnto him with his whole Armie as soone as he should be able The French king being politicke and wise and knowing that if all those his enemies should ioine their strengths against him they would put him in hazard of his estate and being informed that king Edward was highly discontented by reason of the Duke of Burgoines vnfaithfull vsage and knowing that he beganne to feele the extremities of a winter warre mediated a friendly conference and a firme peace which by their Commissioners was effected for nine yeares in this sort The Articles of peace FIrst it was agreed that the French King should forthwith pay to King Edward towards his forepassed charges threescore and fifteene thousand Crownes and also the summe of fiftie thousand more for an yearly pension so long as King Edward liued 2. Secondly that the French King within one yeare should send for the King of Englands daughter the Ladie Elizabeth into France and marie her to the Dolphin for whose maintenance the French King should for nine years space pay yearly to them fiftie thousand Crownes and at the end of those yeares should deliuer to them the quiet and peaceable possession of the whole Duchie of Guyen 3. And thirdly that the Lord Haward and Sir Iohn Cheney master of the Horses should staie as hostages with the French King vntill the whole Armie had quited France and were landed in the Kingdome of England Reasons mouing King Edward to conclude this peace To these propositions King Edward and his Counsell consented for these reasons 1. First as the Duke of Burgoines promises were seldome or neuer honestly performed so with the King whom hee had drawen into those Countries and into those warres hee did but gloze and faine 2. Secondly because the Earle of S. Paul Constable of France did but dissemble when hee protested to deliuer to King Edward the Towne of S. Quintens which he did not but offered violence to his Armie in stead thereof 3. Thirdly because the winter which approched sharply would haue enforced him for that time to haue returned dishonourably into England 4. And last of all because the late Ciuill Warres had consumed most of his best souldiers and chiefest Leaders and the greatest part of his treasure so that King Edward was hardly able to maintaine a great Armie any long time But the Duke of Glocester and his friends who mortally hated the French King striued much to disswade King Edward from these conclusions but all in vaine for those Articles were scaled and published the money was paid both the Kings in a familiar and kinde enteruiew by their solemne oathes had sworne to obserue and keepe them and hostage were deliuered accordingly It is to be noted The Duke of Burgoine stormeth at this peace that within this peace the Dukes of Burgoine and of Britaine were included if they would consent thereunto But when this newes was told to the Duke of
Burgoine he with all celeritie and speed possible hasted to King Edward and in his melancholie mood he told him His obiections that it was in a high measure dishonourable for him to returne into England not hauing burnt in France one poore cottage nor hauing slaine as much as a flie with his whole Armie He told him also that his Ancestors King Edward the Third and King Henry the fifth neuer passed into France to demand their right but that they obtained and won it victoriously with their swords and swore that King Edward had lost more glorie and honour by his infamous peace made with France then he had won by all his victories in nine battailes which he had fought and that he himselfe so scorned the French Kings malice and his power that he would and did absolutely refuse to be included in the said dishonourable league vntill six moneths were fully ended after King Edwards Armie was landed againe in England The King seeing the vnfaithfull Duke so angrie The Kings answere made him this replie That King Edward the Third and King Henry the Fifth entred into France with their Armies of their owne accord to gaine their inheritance and not otherwise nor for any other purpose which they performed with true valour and wisdome And that hee himselfe would neuer haue departed out of that Kingdome vntill he had done the like if hee had come thither in that manner of his owne accord But quoth hee I vndertooke this iourney vpon your request for your aide and to assist you and your Territories by plucking downe the pride of France and the claime which I made to that kingdome was at this time only published to giue mee some colour to helpe you And albeit you vaunt much of your owne strength and doe seeme little to regard the French King and his anger yet me thinkes you cannot well forget how by his strength and power he hath wonne from you the faire Citie of Amyens and the strong pile of S. Quintens and other Castles and Townes within your dominions which notwithstanding all your crakes and brags you neither dare to attempt nor can againe winne You know likewise that your selfe and mine Vncle of Luxenburgh to traine mee into France promised to mee mountaines of gold but they quickly changed into snow and are now dissolued into water If your faith your offers and your promises had beene honestly performed I would sooner haue lost my life and haue aduentured for you my Crowne and Kingdome rather then I would haue beene found vnfaithfull or vnthankfull to you But if any thing be amisse you your selues haue beene the occasioners thereof and therefore you may thanke none others And so farewell Hereupon the angrie Duke in a pelting chafe tooke his horse and rode away And from that time forward they neither loued nor saw one another The French Kings bountie to the English Armie After the aforesaid Articles were concluded and sealed and a little before the enteruiew betweene the two Kings the French King of his owne bountie sent into the English Armie one hundred Wagons loaden with the best wines which he could procure and licenced the souldiers for the space of three or foure daies to disport and recreate themselues within the Citie of Amyens and at their comming thither they found many Tables thorowout both sides of the streets richly and plentifully furnished with great store of costly dishes both of flesh and fish and many Gallants and Bon-companions of purpose were chosen to make them mirth and to attend them so that nine thousand English armed men were within the same Citie at one time But when the French King was informed how great a number of them were within the walles of so strong a Towne hee reproued and condemned his owne kindnesse and feared lest hee might loose it by reason of his great loue and by that meanes might occasion more iarres betwixt England and his Kingdome of France But the Englishmen disdaining to be found false or vnthankfull merily passed away the time with the Frenchmen and hauing sufficiently solaced and refreshed themselues they departed out of the Citie and quietly returned to their owne Campe. And the French King being well pleased with this their honest and plaine dealing The French Kings bountie to the English Captaines The King arriueth in England sent vnto the English Captaines rich presents in plate and in coined siluer and gold And then King Edward with his whole Armie returned to Calice and from thence into England where hee was cheerefully receiued with much ioy And thereupon the aforesaid Hostages receiuing great gifts and honourable vsage were set at libertie and returned home The French King if hee might would faine haue excluded the Duke of Britaine out of the former league But in regard that the young Earle of Richmond was in his possession and whose returne into England to make challenge to the Crowne King Edward euer feared he would not in any sort agree thereunto And not long after Henry Earle of Richmond deliuered by the Duke of Britaine to K. Edwards Ambassadors King Edward by his Ambassadours with much entreatie rich gifts and vpon solemne protestation that he only intended to marie one of his owne daughters to the said Earle obtained his deliuerie to those messengers who being glad at the heart that they had obtained what King Edward so instantly desired tooke their leaue of the Duke of Britaine and brought the young Earle of Richmond to S. Malloes where they were enforced to stay expecting a faire and a good winde But in the meane time Good counsell the Duke being informed by Iohn Cheuelet his true and faithfull seruant that the said mariage was but colourably pretended to get the young Earle into King Edwards hands and that his death was certainly pretended if hee could bee brought home and being also told that his honour would perpetually be obscured by so foule a deede the said Duke could neuer be at rest vntill Peter Landoys his chiefest Treasurer attempted the repossessing of him with the said young Earle Whereupon the said Peter repaired to S. Malloes Peter Landoys recouereth the Earle of Richmond into the Duke of Britaines possession and pretended much loue and familiaritie with the English Ambassadours with whom hee pleasantly conuersed and spent his time But in the meane season the seruants of the said Peter being thorowly instructed for that purpose conueied the said Earle into a Sanctuarie whose priuiledges might not by any meanes be infringed The Englishmen vnderstanding what had hapned were much displeased and condemned the said Treasurer for this vnfriendly practise and too much skill But hee on the other side assigned the whole fault to their owne negligence and follie And by this meane the harmelesse and sillie Sheepe was deliuered from the Woolfe And thus was King Edward defrauded and beguiled of his money and of his hopes But vpon the Dukes faithfull promise that the
against his owne Subiects Prouision against the Scots wherefore to preuent that emminent and like danger he by his letters required Thomas Lord Howard Earle of Surrey and Richard Fox sometimes Bishoppe of Exeter and then promoted to the See of Durham to raise a strong Armie and to withstand the Scots if they endeauoured to attempt any such thing vntill he sent another power to aid and to assist them which thing should with all celeritie and diligence be performed assoone as hee had vanquished the Cornishmen who so desperately opposed themselues against him Now as the King imagined so fell it out true indeede The Scots inuade England For the Scots proudly insulting at his troubles and expecting the worst that hee could doe when hee should bee in peace at home resolued by anticipating warre to enrich themselues with new Rapines and Spoiles and to make hauocke vpon the Borderers that by meanes thereof they might the more weaken him and the better enable themselues to make resistance when time and opportunitie should serue With the same resolution the King of Scots and his Armie againe entred vpon the English Pale But ere they could proceede farre or doe much harme the aforesaid Earle and Bishoppe and manie other Nobles Knights and Gentlemen of the North assembled themselues and their friends to the number of twentie thousand fighting men and marched boldly towardes the Scottish Armie vnto which when they drew neare their King vpon good occasion being timerous and feareful retired hastily The Scots flie and fled into his owne Countrie But the English forces with braue courage and manly resolution entred into his Kingdome The English Armie hauaketh in Scotland and battered assaulted wonne and razed to the ground many of his strongest Townes Castles and Holds and were not resisted albeit the Scottish King with all his Armie was not distant from them aboue one mile Only hee challenged the field the next daie which was accepted but in the night before hee raised his Armie and dispersed them who ranne into the Woods and high Mountaines and were to no purpose pursued and hunted by the Englishmen six or seuen daies But so barren was that Countrie and so poore and destitute of all good things and so vnseasonable was the weather there which abounded with continuall Raine Wind Snow Haile Thunder and Hideous stormes and tempests that the Earle and the Bishop returning brake vp their Armies and themselues went to Barwick where they attended directions from the King Whilest these thinges were thus in action Peter Hyalus who was sent Embassador from Ferdinando King of Castile to mediate a peace betwixt the kings of England and of Scotland A truce with Scotland Perkin Warbeck is sent out of Scotland The peace with France newly ratified could not effect that businesse according to his mind Yet a Truce was concluded betwixt them to endure for certaine yeares conditionally that Perkin Warbecke were forthwith banished and exiled out of that Countrie The French King also at the same time sent his Embassadors into England to ratifie the former peace established betwixt the King and him which was performed with much honour and solemnitie to the great contentment and ioy of all the People of both those Kingdomes The English trade is restored to the flemings and their ioy thereas Likewise Philip the Arch-Duke of Austria and Duke of Burgoine sonne to Maximilian King of the Romans by his Embassadors importuned the restitution of the English trade and the returne of the Marchants into his Countrie of Flanders because his subiects were exceedingly impouerished by them did obtain his sute whereat such comfort was conceiued that when the Englishmen were for trade returned againe vnto Antwerpe they were receiued into the Citie with solemne Processions Princely Triumphs Sumptuous Feastings Rare Banquettings and with the expression of great loue and of much ioy And thus was King Henrie at this time made fortunate and happie for he enioyed peace and friendship both at home and abroade sauing only with Perkin Warbeck Perkin Warbeck saileth into Cornwal who ceased not to vexe and trouble him for a while to his owne ouerthrow and destruction For being compelled to forsake Scotland and vnderstanding that though the Cornishmen had lately been ouerthrowne yet were they not pacified or appeased he with foure ships only and with sixe score ragged landing Souldiers and no more sailed into Cornwall where hee was receiued by the rusticke The Cornish men rebell and doe take Perkin Warbecks part Exeter is befieged and meanest sort of the Inhabitants of that Prouince with ioyfull acclamations and with good welcome And within few dayes after they aided him with three thousand men With these and with some others he marched Eastwards and came as farre as the Citie of Exeter where hee vsed manie persuasiue and rethoricall arguments and speeches to incite the Inhabitants voluntarily to become his subiects and to surrender the Citie into his hands But finding that the fidelitie of the Cittizens was constant and vnremoueable from their King And that their resolutions to indure extremities if otherwise they could not be auoided was strongly setled and vnchangeable they besieged the Citie round about And because they wanted artillerie and great Ordinance to make batteries vpon their walles therefore with Ladders Crookes Ropes and other Engines they desperately attempted to scale them in manie places at one instant But still and euery where with manlike Courage and with approoued Valour they were repulsed ouerborne and tumbled into the Ditches and deepe Trenches with which that Citie is enuironed on all parts So that in those assaults many of those Rebels with great obstinacie lost their liues Now when they perceiued Fire encountred by fire that those their attempts daily failed and succeded not they desperately approached vnto the Citie gates which they endeuored by manie slights to open or to ouerthrow But when none of their practises could preuaile then they caused great fires to be kindled against thē so that by consuming of them they might make an easie passage entrance into the Citie This stratagem of warre because it was vnusuall did at the first somewhat abash the Cittizens But they considering with themselues that base cowardlinesse was the betraier of true manhood and that perfect valour despaired not in any danger assumed the hearts of vndaunted men and by their endeuourous attempts and imploiments they ceased not to prouide for their owne present safetie insomuch that with fire they encountred fire and made greater fires within their Gates then the Rebels did without which they maintained by adding store of matter and of fewell for a long time vntill that with rampiers bankes bulwarks and other defensiue fortifications they had secured those places from the entrie of their enemies When this their practise auailed not then they againe busied the Citizens with daily scalings and climings against their walles But the inhabitants so confidently persisted to
Earle of Surrey was no idle person in this businesse But being aided and assisted by his eldest sonne the Admirall who vnderstanding of his Fathers preparations for those warres came from the Sea to New-castle and brought with him one thousand Mariners and lustie fighting men and by the Lords Dacres Clifford Conyers Latymer Scrope Ogel and Lomley and by Sir Edward Stanley Sir William Bulmer Sir Nicholas Apple-yard Sir William Sydney Sir Stephen Bull Sir Iohn Everningham Sir Henrie Sherborne Sir Thomas Metham Sir Marmaduke Constable Sir William Percy Sir Christopher Ward Sir Philip Tylney Sir William Gascoyne Sir Thomas Barkeby Sir Walter Griffeth Sir George Darcy Sir Christopher Pickering Sir Thomas Butler Sir Guy Dawney Sir Iohn Booth Sir Iohn Rowcliffe Sir Iohn Stanley Sir Iohn Normauile Sir Lionel Percie Sir Iohn Willoughby Sir Edward Echingham and Sir Brian Stapleton Knights and by Ralfe Brearton Iohn Laurence Brian Tunstall Richard Bold Iohn Donne Iohn Bygod Iohn Claruis Thomas Fitz-Williams Brian Stapleton Robert Warcop and Richard Cholmley Esquires and by many other Gentlemen or worthie reputation and great valour 26000. fighting men And hauing in his Armie six and twentie thousand men able and fit for warre he marched towards the King of Scots and vpon the ninth day of September in the yeare of our Lord God 1513. in a Field which was called Flodden Flodden field both the Armies came in view each of other The English forces being marshalled in good order made two maine battailes both which were politickly and strongly guarded by their wings And the Scottish Armie was diuided into foure battailes The Scots are ouerthrowen All these after some few skirmishes and the expence of much shot both small and great ioined together pell mell and fell to handie strokes and made such an incredible expression of their manhood by the indifferent exchange of blowes and wounds that many a strong and lustie man was quickly depriued of his life Nobilitie and Gentrie were no priuiledges to protect any man from danger nay from death insomuch that King Iames himselfe fighting couragiously among his people as a common souldier The King of Scots is slaine triumphed ouer the dead carcases or such as by his sword hee had prepared for the graue But in the end he himselfe was also slaine and so were two Bishops twelue Earles fourteene Lords and twelue thousand Knights Esquires Gentlemen and common souldiers of the Scottish Nation And on the English part fifteene hundred and no more were slaine Thus was this Field wonne by the blessing of Almightie God and by the victorious courage and true manhood of the Earle of Surrey and of his sonne and of such Nobles Knights Gentlemen and braue souldiers as in that battaile approued themselues hardie and strong in Armes And the suruiuing Scots finding their chiefest helpe and safetie to consist in the agilitie and nimblenesse of their light heeles forsooke the Field and with more then posting speede they fled and returned with heauie hearts into their owne Countrey King Henry after his returne into England bountifully rewarded such as in France and against the Scots in England Noblemen created had done him the best seruice and some of them he aduanced to higher places by giuing to them an increase of dignitie and of honour For he created Thomas Howard who was then Earle of Surrey Duke of Norfolke and the Admirall his sonne was made Earle of Surrey Sir Charles Brandon being Viscount Lysle was made Duke of Suffolke Sir Charles Somerset being then Lord Harbert and Chamberlaine to the King was created Earle of Worcester Sir Edward Stanley was made Lord Mountegle And the Kings Almoner Thomas Wolsey was created Bishop of Lincolne which fauour hee vnthankfully requited The enclosures about London throwen downe to his owne ruine as hereafter wee shall see In the end of this yeare the inhabitants of Islington Hoxston Shordich and of other Townes and Villages bordering neere to the Citie of London inclosed their Champion Fields in which the Citizens were accustomed for their recreation and pastimes sake to walke runne shoot leape and to vse such like sports at their willes and pleasures with high hedges and wide ditches because they would more priuately appropriate the commodities of those grounds vnto themselues But multitudes of the meaner sort of the Citizens issued forth with mattockes spades shouels and such like tooles of husbandrie with which they ouerthrew the said hedges filled vp those ditches and leuelled the said grounds vsing in them their former exercises and pastimes and so they are enioied at this day 1514. 6 Not long after the Kings returne into England the before named Prior Iohn with his Gallies and some Foists being well manned and prouided Prior Iohn landeth but is well beaten arriued in Sussex and landed in the night and burnt a poore Village named Brigh-helmston But being discouered himselfe wounded in the face with an arrow and diuers of his men slaine he with the rest were compelled to runne into the Sea out of which being drawen into their vessels they returned with small gaine Spoiles in Normandie by Sir Iohn Wallop But to requite their boldnesse the Lord Admirall of England with some few ships and eight hundred souldiers besides the Mariners sent Sir Iohn Wallop to the Sea whose often landing in Normandie was very preiudiciall to the inhabitants for he burnt one and twentie of their Villages and Townes and many boats and ships which were ancoured in Traport and in other Hauens ransacked the Countrey and slew much people And much wondring there was how with so small a number he could land so often and performe such great things A peace concluded The French king marieth with the Kings sister The old French King Lewys the twelfth vnderstanding that the Flemings would not according to their former agreements receaue into their Countrie the goodly faire and vertuous Ladie Marie sister to King Henrie to be espoused vnto Charles the yong Prince of Castile because the Spaniards had not consented to that match by his Embassadors craued peace and became an earnest suter to the King that shee might be his wife whereupon to settle loue and amitie betwixt those two Kings and their kingdomes and to make the said Lady so great a Queene and that shee might be endowed with an yearely pension of ten thousand marks during her life and might againe returne into England if the French King died The King and the said Ladie consented and yeelded to his request And therupon the Duke of Longvyle and such other Frenchmen as had beene taken at the battaile of Tyrwyn were now released and set free And within few dayes after the said Ladie being by the King and Queen accompanied to Douer and there shipped and attended on by Thomas Duke of Norfolke Thomas Marques Dorset and his foure brethren the Earle of Surrey the Lords De la ware Barnes and Mountegle Sir Mawrice Barkley Sir Iohn
Peche Sir William Sandes Sir Thomas Bulleyn Sir Iohn Carre and by many other Knights Gentlemen and Ladies of great worth Shee landed at Bollen where with great magnificence and honor shee was receiued by the Dolphin and by many Lords of France who brought her to Abuyle where shee met with and was married to the King And within few dayes after at Paris The French King dyeth Francis the First The French Queen returneth into England The peace with France renewed shee was crowned Queene The French Nation thinking their King and Countrie to bee happie who to their Queene had the fairest Ladie in the world And at her Coronation the Dolphin vpon a generall challenge formerly made by himselfe Charles Brandon Duke of Suffolke Thomas Gray Marques Dorset his foure brethren and two others against all commers erected many honorable and martiall games as the lusts Turnay Barriers and such like All which were performed with great valour and to the great pleasure of the King and Queen But within twelue weeks after the said mariage King Lewys dyed and Francis the first succeeded him in that kingdome And by the Duke of Suffolke the said Queene Mary was brought againe into England where he won her loue All the deeds and actions of Cardinall Wolsey touching this storie are here set together because the discourse of the rest would otherwise by them be too much interrupted and maried her with the Kings consent In the seuenth yeare of King Henries raigne the former peace betwixt him and King Lewys the twelfth was renewed and confirmed with King Francis the first and great amitie and loue was exchanged betweene those two kings It now so chanced that Thomas Wolsey who was borne of base Parentage in the Towne of Ipswich and was first made the Kings Almoner then Bishop of Lincolne and then of the Priuie Counsell succeeded the Archbishop and Cardinall of Yorke who was named Doctor Benbrike in the said Archbishoprick And not long after hee was made Cardinall of Yorke by the mediation and procurement of those two Kings And now because the Kings affections towards him were extraordinarie His authoritie aboue all others eminent his couetousnesse insatiable and his excessiue Pride and Ambition boundlesse and vnlimitted which made him bold and peremptorie to doe all in all From henceforth for many years all things were cōmanded and gouerned according to his directions will vntill his monstrous oppressions and sawcie practizes brought him to ruine and to destruction And least his deedes and his actions by often interviewing should interrupt the other discourse of other occurrences and negotiations hapning in this Kings Raigne We haue therefore thought it conuenient yea necessarie to prosecute the Historie of his proceedings to a conclusion before wee intermedle much with the Narration of other passages and things He intermedles in other mens offices This prowd Cardinall so egerly hunted after authoritie and power to rule and to command all others that not contenting himselfe with his owne offices though they were great Hee intruded malepertly into the Enquirie and determining of such things as properly belonged vnto others but especially into the Chancelorship of this Realme He is made Lord Chancelor The Archbishop of Canterbury vnto whom it appertayned was much troubled with those his intermedlings But being old and perceiuing that the Kings affections were fast bound to his humours and that to crosse with him it was the readie way to crosse himselfe he therefore deliuered vp the Great Seale into the Kings hands who no sooner accepted of it but hee bestowed it vpon Wolsey which fauour and dignitie might well haue satisfied his prowd humour but nothing could For now he being an Archbishop a counsailor of Estate a Cardinall Chancelor of England and the Kings especial Fauourite directed all commanded all and did all He being thus imperiously great Required an accompt of the Captaines Treasurors and other Officers of the kings warres so that some of them who by the Kings conniuence had gotten much by excessiue Bribes excusing themselues He demands accompts and enriched him selfe thereby Hee erecteth new Courts Inriched him and left themselues poore Others whose Estates were more powerfull to please him shared that which vniustly they had gotten And some others who had deceiued the King and had prodigally spent all had nothing left and therefore were punished publikely and exposed to open shame He also erected sundrie Courts of equitie which might more truly be termed Courts of Iniquitie vnder a colour and pretence to heare and to determine the cases of distressed and poore people By meanes whereof the seates of Iustice belonging to the cōmon Lawes were little frequented for a while and by them he gained a masse of treasure to himselfe vntill the people perceiuing that by them hee waxed rich and they poore and that the Sentences and Iudgements of those Courts were not finall but controlable They of their owne accord forsooke them and commended their Controuersies to the censure of the common Lawes In the ninth yeare of King Henries raigne 1517. 9 Pope Leo sent vnto him Cardinall Campeius as his Legate to solicite him as likewise he had done to the Kings of France Spain By subtiltie he is made a Legate and the Princes of Germanie to make warre vpon the Turks But so outragious was the ocean of Wolseys pride that because he knew that Campeius in regard of his power Legantine was to haue the Precedency of place when they two met hee cunningly informed him by certaine Bishops who went vnto him to Calice vnder a fained colour to visite him that his iourney would not be successefull but come to none effect except Wolsey were ioyned in equall authoritie with him in that businesse wherevpon Campeius with all expedition dispatched Messengers vnto Rome by whom within fortie dayes hee receiued a new Commission by which Wolsey was also made the Popes Legate and Commissioner as well as he Cardinall Campeius Then was Campeius admitted to come into this Realme and both those two Legates within few dayes after repayred to the Kings Court at Greenwich hauing two siluer Crosses and two Pillars of the same mettel two Axes gilted with fine gold two imbrodered Cushions borne before them But the Cardinall of Yorke preferred his elder brother to the inferiour place And by an eloquent Oration which by an Italian was made vnto the King he was informed of the substance of their message But to make answere therevnto The King desired respit for a few dayes in which he might be advised and counselled in that matter The Court Legantine Then did Wolsey by his authoritie Legantine erect an honorable Court without the Kings notice or licence and called it the Legantine Court By the authoritie whereof he visited all Bishops and their Diocesses and other Clergie men punishing such as were poore and vnable to giue bribes but enriching himselfe by the enforced bountie of such as had
store of money and of faults By the same authoritie Wolseys intollerable pride hee also sequestred vnto himselfe the probate of all Wils and Testaments and such was his intollerable pride by reason of his Legantine authoritie that when before and after meat he washed his greasie fists he was at his Lauatorie attended and serued by Dukes and Earles for that purpose This his example of hawtinesse made the Clergie of this Land so prowd and insolent that their industrious labours which formerly they applyed to the studies of morall Vertues and of Diuinitie were now imployed to deuise curious fashions in their behauiour in their apparell and in their dyet 1520. King Henrie and his Queene in the twelfth yeare of his Raigne resolued to trauaile into France for loue and friendships sake to glad themselues with the societie of the French King King Henrie and his queen goe into France Francis the first and of his Queene For which iourney it cannot well bee reported what cost in apparell what prouision for attendance what furniture for horses what charges for iewells and what preparations for rare banquetings and Princely gifts were made both in England and in France And when the appointed time drew neare the King and the Queene being accompanied with the Cardinall of Yorke and with many Dukes Earles Lords Knights Gentlemen and faire Ladies of principall reckoning and accompt sayled from Douer and safely came to Calice and the French King and his Queene with their Royall and goodly traine came to Arde. And because it was intended that the peace which was betwixt the two Kings should be inlarged and confirmed King Henrie appointed the Cardinall to goe before him to the French King and to conferre with him touching that matter For which purpose hee gaue vnto him by his Letters Patents Two large commissions vnder the great Seale of his Kingdome of England full power and absolute authoritie in all points to doe therein as he himselfe listed The Cardinal going to the French king The Cardinall being infinitely prided by reason of this vnreasonable and vnlimited authoritie and power which hee had gotten tooke his iourney towards Arde being attended on by some hundreds of Lords Knights Esquires and Gentlemen all which were clothed in crimson Veluet and ware chaines of gold and with as many Yeomen and Groomes whose apparell was made of rich Skarlet Now when he came vnto Arde hee was Royally entertayned by the French King and also by all the Nobilitie of his Court who gaue their attendance on the King But when the French Counsell had viewed his Commission and the vnlimited extent thereof The French King by their aduise and counsell graunted to him the like authoritie and commission A Princely meeting in all respects vnder the great Scale of France which hee dissemblingly refused vntill hee was licenced by King Henry to accept thereof After this great honour vnto him done both the said Kings and their Queenes met together diuers daies in the Valley of Andren where they feasted banqueted cheered and gladded each other and with great bountie communicating their rich gifts each one to the other and to the great men and Ladies of each others Nation they tooke an vnwilling and a friendly leaue and King Henry with his Queene and honorable traine returned to Calice and from thence into England where they were receiued with much ioy But in the meane time the Cardinall so earnestly gaped after honour and the reuerence of the people that hee did little or nothing touching the said peace Now must wee vnderstand that all places and all Countries were filled with the frequent reports of warre to be made betwixt the Emperour and the French King The Cardinals â—arâ—e Commission with both which Princes King Henry was in league by meanes whereof King Henry sollicited amitie and peace Whereupon it was concluded that the Commissioners of those three great Princes should meet together at Calice where that matter should be debated and concluded if possibly it might be King Henry the more to honour and to exalt his Cardinall gaue vnto him and to the Earle of Worcester and to the Lords S. Iohn Ferrers and Harbert and to the Bishops of Durham and Elie and to Sir Thomas Bulleine Sir Iohn Peche Sir Iohn Hussey Sir Richard â—yngfield and Sir Henry Guilford Knights and vnto such others as hee made Commissioners for that purpose as large and as ample power and authoritie touching that businesse as by any meanes could be deuised or by any words be vttered and then being fully furnished and prouided this proud Cardinall with his Colleagues whom hee respected as his vnderlings passed to the Tower Wharfe thorow the Citie of London The Carâ—â—naâ—â— is â—â—â—ored and in his passage was met by the Lord Maior Aldermen and by the Companies in their seuerall Liueries who did vnto him all honour and reuerence and then proceeding forwards he with the rest of the Commissioners and their Attendants tooke their Barges landed at Grauesend and comming to the Citie of Canterburie the Arch-bishop The Cardinal is receiâ—ed with Prâ—â—â—ssiâ—n The King 〈◊〉 he should bee honoured and the prime ones of the Clergie of England met the proud Cardinall without the Cities Gates with a solemne Procession and magnified him as a King Then being shipped at Douâ—r he with his companie safely arriued at Calice where hee was too much elated and made too arrogantly proud by receiuing of too much reuerence and honour yet all was done by the Kings command Thither also resorted the other Ambassadors and betwixt them often conferences were had But the Commissioners of the Emperour were stiffe and the French were stout The Cardinall goeth to the Emperors Court The proud Cardinall not contenting himselfe with such honors as formerly had beene giuen to him would needs proclaime and publish his greatnesse in the Emperour Maximilians Court at Brudges where hee hoped to receiue the greater esteeme because hee had with him the Great Seale of the Kingdome of England He had the great Seale of England with him which neuer before that time any Chancellor dared to transport beyond the Seas out of this Realme For this purpose hee entreated some few daies absence of the Commissioners of the two other Princes that in the meane time he might visit the Emperour for hee pretended that their personall presence and conference might greatly further and expedite that businesse Wherefore being accompanied with foure hundred and threescore horse hee passed by Graueling His great state The Emperor meeteth him Dunkerke Newport and by Odenburgh and was euery where met and saluted by the Noblemen and Gentrie of those Countries And comming towards Brudges hee was met one mile out of the Towne by the Emperour himselfe and by the Prime and Flower of all his Court where the Emperour did him the more reuerence principally for two causes First because hee was informed of the large extent of his
of the Kings royall person And this conceit so pleased him that he now and then would babble and reueale it to some of his inward and familiar friends and some of them discouered it to his destruction and vtter ouerthrow Likewise this hope framed him to a more ambitious course in his cariage and made him negligent of his seruice and dutie to the King insomuch that his Maiestie by his Letters required him with all conuenient expedition priuately to repaire vnto the Court But as he was in his Barge vpon the Thames hee was by Sir Henry Marney Captaine of the Kings Guard who had with him an hundred of the Kings Yeomen subiect to his command attached and arrested of high treason and as a prisoner conueied to the Tower And being afterwards legally and according to the due forme of Law indicted by sundrie Knights and Gentlemen for that as much as in him lay he had conspired and contriued the Kings death to make himselfe his successour hee was brought to a Barre at Westminster Hall before the Duke of Norfolke high Steward of England and his chiefest Iudge And hauing holden vp his hand he was arraigned of treason vpon the said indictment and pleaded thereunto that hee was not guiltie and did referre himselfe for his triall to God and to his Peeres who were these the Duke of Suffolke the Marquesse Dorset the Earles of Oxford Deuon Darbie Shrewesburie Essex Worcester and Kent and the Lords De la Ware Fitz-Warren Willoughbie Harbert Cobham Brooke and Morley These Noble men in the presence of the Prisoner had witnesses face to face who were all prisoners for concealments of the same offence and deposition in writing which when they had done they arose from the Bench retired into a priuate roome and after a short absence returned againe to their places and the Duke of Buckingham being againe brought vnto the Barre the said Lords one by one protested with great solemnitie and protestations on their honour that they thought him to bee guiltie according to the indictment And thereupon the Lord high Steward with many teares pronounced against him that iudgement which against meaner offenders in that nature is giuen Whereupon hee was taken from the Barre and hauing an Axe borne before him with the edge thereof turned towards him because he had his iudgement to die he was conueied by water to the Temple staires and was there receiued on land by Sir Nicholas Vaux and Sir William Sands both Baronets who conducted him thorow the Citie of London to the Tower and within two or three daies after he was beheaded on a Scaffold at the Tower Hill About the same time the King himselfe wrote and published in the Latine tongue a booke against Martin Luthers Assertions The King writeth against Martin Luther Disputes and Arguments touching Indulgences and the Sacraments of the Church for which cause he was by the Pope enstiled Defensor Fidei Defender of the Faith Yet some doe affirme that he was so entituled in requitall of the aide and succour which by the gift of excessiue summes of money when he and his Cardinals were prisoners to the Emperour was extended to him and them Defensor Fidei We haue alreadie heard how that Cardinall Wolsey being sent to Calice to ratifie and to confirme the Peace which not long before was concluded there betwixt the Emperor the two Kings The French King first breaketh the peace did therein little good And wee must now know that the first breach of that peace was made by the French King who began to warre sharply on the Emperor both by Sea and Land And because he suspected that King Henrie partly for affinities sake and partly by reason of the condition of part-taking annexed to the said peace did secretly side with the Emperor against him therefore he dealt thus vnkindly with King Henrie 1 First of all contrarie to his faith and promise hee sent Iohn Duke of Albanie into Scotland to raise new warres The French King wrongeth King Henry and many mischiefs against this Realme to the end that the King might not haue any leisure to ioyne with the Emperour and to make warre vpon him 2 Secondly he detayned and kept from the King that yearely Tribute which for Normandie Aquitaine and other the Kings inheritance in those Countries was due and payable by the Kings of France 3 Thirdly contrarie to his promise and safe conduct giuen to the Marchants of England no warre betwixt the two Kings being proclaimed he seised on all their wares and marchandizes in Burdeaux and committed them to prison 4 Fourthly vpon the Seas he riffled robbed and spoiled the Marchants of England daily and vpon complaints promised liberall restitution but made none 5 Fiftly he refused to pay to Queen Mary Dowager of France her yearly pension contrarie to the agreement made betwixt king Henrie and the whole estate of France 6 And last of all neglecting his Hostages and making a wilfull breach of his promise he would not pay those summes of money which were concluded to be paid for the surrendring and yeelding vp of the Citie and Castle of Tourney into his hands King Henries course for requitall These iniuries and wrongs first of all procured the King to make generall Musters through his whole kingdome and then to apparell prouide and furnish his Nauie Royall and to commit them to the charge and gouernment of the Earle of Surrey his high Admirall the scourger of the French King for all his faults To him hee gaue ample and large commission to vexe and to annoy the French King and his Subiects both by Sea and Land He also restrained the French Embassador of his libertie not permitting him to goe abroad without his leaue He also caused the marchandizes wares goods and money of all Frenchmen within his kingdome not being Denizens to be attached to his owne vse Also hee committed their bodies to Gaoles and Prisons vsing them in the like sort as his Subiects and Marchants were misvsed in France A French Armie vanisheth King Henrie being informed that the French King hauing leuied an Armie houered vp and downe neare vnto the marches of Calice to preuent danger and to meet with him at all assaies sent many thousands of gallant and braue Souldiers to the Sea which were by the Admirall receiued into his Fleet so that vpon any occasion or neede they might quickly bee set on land But when they perceiued that Calice was not in any hazard for that the French Armie was vanished and dissolued then the Admirall because he loathed to be idle landed many of his men vpon the coast of Brittaine Morleys taken burnt and with great confidence and resolution conducted them to Morleys where a principall gate of the Citie being battered and beaten open with some great shot the braue English men boldly entred in riffled ransacked and spoiled the town and by the cōmandement of the Admirall they consumed it
with fire razed it to the ground This seruice was by diuers Gentlemen so gallantly performed that in honour thereof the Admirall dignified with the honour of Knighthood these worthy Gentlemen Francis Brian Iohn Russel Anthonie Browne Iohn Rainsford George Cobham Giles Hussey Richard Cornwal Iohn Cornwallis Thomas Moore and some others And daily other braue and warlike exploits were still made and performed in Brittaine neare vnto the Sea coasts Of which it will be too tedious to make particular relation neither will wee much busie our selues with the discourse of such things as hapned betwixt the Emperour and the French king in their warres because they doe not properly belong to the Historie of this kingdome The King who was informed that the Duke of Albanie intended to invade the Northren marches of his Realme commanded the Lord Roos The Scots are troublesome and the Lord Dacres of the South by an anticipating warre to enter into the Borders of Scotland with a slight Armie which they did and burnt fourescore Hamblets Villages and Townes razed and destroyed diuers Castles Bulwarkes and Towers forraged their fields and without any encounter returned into England The King likewise made the Earle of Shrewsbury Lieftenant generall of the North whose charge was to make strong prouision to withstand all sodaine invasions which the Scots should attempt to make And likewise hee leuied an Armie of twelue thousand men Another Armie sent into France which hee commended to the Gouernement of the Admirall for the supply and maintenance of his warres in France Thus the King being daily imployed and wanting money to defray his charge by way of loan vpon priuie Seales Priuie seales hee borrowed of the Citie of London twentie thousand pounds And of many others great summes of money In all Shires and Prouinces within his kingdome whereat his Subiects much grieued But afterwards they were much more displeased thereat because the said loanes by an Act of Parliament They are released were clearely released to the King And yet for all this Wolsey by strange commissions and by other vnlawfull meanes without the Kings consent or notice endeuoured to raise and to leauie more money as formerly wee haue heard The Admirall who maugre his Enemies Braue seruice in France hauing landed his Armie at Callice Marched from thence and passed in good order of Battaile ouer Newnam Bridge wasting spoiling burning and ransacking sundrie Townes Villages Castles and Forts as namely Selloys Brunbridge Senkerke Frynge Blanioy Dorlans and other places as they passed by so terrified the people that they would not abide his sight And in those seruices these Gentlemen as chiefe Captaines Chiefe Gentlemen of seruice and worthie of the best praise are principally to be noted Sir William Sands Sir William Fitz-William Sir Maurice Barkley Sir Iohn Wallop Sir Richard Ierningham Captaine Coo and Captaine Thwayts The three former of them among other imploiments were by the Admirall sent with three thousand men to the strong Towne of Marquison which was newly builded fortified and well defended for a while But at length they tooke it ransacked it and vtterly consumed it with fire The like they did at the Townes of S. Iohns Rhode and Temple A great bootie and with great spoiles returned to their Generall Then all the Armie being collected the Admirall marched vnto Calice and brought thither with him 14000. Sheepe 1400. Oxen and Kine 1300. Hogges and 700. Horses Geldings and Mares And then hee commended and rewarded his souldiers dissolued his Armie and with great honour and in the especiall fauour of his Soueraigne he returned into England The Scots inuade Whilest these things were thus ordered in France the Kings professed enemie Iohn Duke of Albanie Protector to the young King and of his Realme by the procurement of the French King leuied a great Armie purposing with fire and sword to haue entred into the West Marches of England But the Lord Dacres and the Lord Roos and many other Knights and Gentlemen hauing carefully prouided and wel furnished an Armie of eight and twentie thousand men They will not fight to make head against him and likewise the Earle of Shrewesburie hauing leuied another Armie of great strength and appearing boldly into the Scots sight the Scots began wisely to doubt of their successe and the rather because the most of them knew not the cause or ground of that quarrell and therefore would not fight but leauing to assist their Captaine they returned home and were not pursued by the English who by their Commission were not authorized to inuade but to defend themselues The Duke of Suffolke warreth in France Bell Castle The next yeare Charles Brandon Duke of Suffolke was sent to Calice with an Armie of thirteene thousand men with which he marched forth burning spoiling foraging without compassion vntill he came to the strong Castle of Bell which after many gallant and braue assaults was yeelded and razed to the ground Thither repaired to the Dukes Armie Aide from the Emperor as seruants to the Emperour three thousand footmen and fiue hundred horsemen being Burgundians Flemings and of their neighbouring Nations all which besieged the strong Towne of Bray Bray which was well fortified and furnished with goodly Ordinance and with two thousand men This Towne they tooke not by composition but by assault But because the Frenchmen themselues had first fired it and were runne away the Englishmen and their friends besides the winning of it receiued small commoditie thereby Then with vndaunted courage they passed ouer the Riuer of Some into France Roy. and to them vpon seuerall summons were yeelded vp the Townes of Roy and Lyhome Lyhome Mount dedyer But they were compelled to besiege the warlike Towne of Mount dedyer in which were two thousand men and fiue hundred horse This Towne they daily battered with the continuall shot of their great Ordinance so that it was made assaultable and then the Frenchmen vpon composition to depart with bagge baggage and with their Armes yeelded the Towne to the Dukes forces in which there was exceeding plentie of costly linnen arras tapestrie bedding and of choice houshold stuffe Afterwards they tooke the Castle of Boghan Boghan which had not the Marishes beene excessiuely hardned by a continuall frost was not accessable nor pregnable by any strength This Castle they razed to the ground because it was not commodious to their seruice These atchieuements being thus manfully and honourably performed the English souldiers by reason of the extremitie of the weather and the sharpnesse of the Winter English souldiers returne without leaue of the Generall long nights and short daies were altogether vnwilling to proceed any further at that time and the rather for these two other causes First for that the Duke of Burbon who was reuolted from the French King to the Emperour came not according to his promise to the Dukes Armie with ten thousand men
by meanes whereof when the ship turned the Ordinance ran backe to the one side and bare the port holes vnder water so that the sea violently and abundantly flowed in and in a moment swallowed vp both ship Captaine Men Ordinance and all other things there to the great griefe and sorrow of the King himselfe and of all such as were present and beheld it The Lord Dambalt high Admirall of France being by certaine poore Fishermen whom he had taken informed that the King in his owne person being accompanied with an infinite number of valiant men of warre expected and longed to be made victorious and rich by their landing feared to hazard all his fortunes in so desperate and hot a seruice Wherefore be hoised Ancors and without Fame or Honor returned basely into France Now must wee know The Scots invade England that no sooner was King Henrie departed out of England to the siege of Bullein as wee haue heard but the Scottish Nation obseruing their old custome entred riffled spoiled and burnt many Houses Villages and small Townes in the marches of England without pitty Wherefore King Henrie after his returne resolued to correct their madnesse and their folly and to take reuenge for those iniuries and wrongs And for that purpose he sent the Noble Earle of Hartford into that Kingdome An Armie sent into Scotland with an Armie of twelue thousand men where hee hauoked Men Townes Castles and the Countrie in such a furious and fierce manner that the Scots were extremely damnified thereby and thousands of them were vtterly vndone About the same time the valiant Lord Lisle Lord high Admirall of England Treport entred into and landed within the Hauen of Treport and burnt the suburbs of that towne and many other houses Villages and Townes which bordered vpon the Sea coasts And at his returne from thence as a rich prey he caried with him many Ships Barges Boats and Vessels which he found there Now like as after many ruffe and boisterous stormes a sweet and a delectable calme doth follow so after these busie conflicts and martiall contentions The Duke of Northfolke and the Earle of Surrey committed whereof wee haue already taken a perfect view A peace was louingly concluded and ioyfully proclaymed betweene the two kingdomes of England and of France But this joy as in humane affaires it often hapneth was quickly checked with an other sorrow for the most victorious faithfull and euer to be honored Captaine the Duke of Northfolke and his sonne the most illustrious Earle of Surrey both which in this Kings raigne performed many memorable and braue seruices in Scotland England and in France were sodainely apprehended and sent vnto the Tower For none other thing but because they quartered and bare in their Escoucheon certaine Armes which were pretended properly and only to belong vnto the King and Prince which Armes notwithstanding they and their Auncesters timeout of minde had so borne without controlment reproofe or check For this offence the said Earle was indicted of high Treason arraigned thereon and tryed by a Iurie of Knights and Gentlemen The Earle of Surrey beheaded and not by his peeres because he was no Lord of the Parliament by whom he was found guiltie and then receiued his iudgement and lost his head to the great griefe and sorrow of many thousands who lamented the causelesse death of such a worthy man as had so well deserued of the King and of the common weale The King dieth But the Duke his father by reason of the Kings sicknesse and death which followed shortly after was preserued by God from that danger for better fortunes He is described The Presence of this King was amiable and Princely for hee was somewhat more then ordinarie tall strongly limmed proportionably composed faire in his complexion nimble and full of agilitie in his yonger yeares and alwaies as resolutely valiant as a man might bee Hee had a pregnant and a sharpe wit and was generally held to bee well learned because hee could and vsed to speake well He was exceeding humble and passing stout applying the former to gentle spirits and opposing the latter against prowd insolent and rough Mates He was bountifull and magnificently liberall if occasion so required Yet in regard that hee was a man He was not free from all faults For he was too too much familiar and conversant with wanton and light women And delighted too much in varietie and in change as most men did coniecture because he had sixe wiues From two of them he was seuered because his mariages were held to be void frustrate and of no force other two of them for the obiected crime of incontinencie lost their heads A fifth died in her child-bed and the sixt escaped fairely by his death Finally hee oftentimes much pleased himselfe to be ouer-familiar in the swaggering companie of loose Fellowes yet in most respects he was a famous a worthie and a most noble King Thus ended he his life and thus doe I conclude this Historie of these twentie Kings hoping that some other who shall be better able will with more sufficiencie write the rest FINIS THE SVCCESSIONS OF THE DVKES AND EARLES OF THIS KINGDOME OF ENGLAND FROM THE CONQVEST vntill the twelfth yeare of the famous Raigne of the mightie Monarch King IAMES THE FIRST THOV SHALT LABOR FOR PEACE PLENTIE LONDON Printed by W. Stansby for Henrie Fetherstone 1615. Princes of VVales since the Conquest Iohn Speede 97 1 EDward Caer-Nervon sonne to King Edward the First afterwards king Edward the Second 2 Edward of Windsour sonne to king Edward the Second afterwards king Edward the Third 3 Edward the Black Prince sonne to king Edward the Third 4 Richard of Bordeaux sonne to the Black Prince afterwards king Richard the Second 5 Henrie of Monmoth sonne to king Henrie the Fourth afterwards king Henrie the Fifth 6 Henrie of Windsour sonne to king Henrie the Fifth afterwards king Henrie the Sixth 7 Edward of Westminster sonne to king Henrie the Sixth 8 Edward of Westminster sonne to king Edward the Fourth afterwards king Edward the Fifth 9 Edward Plantagenet sonne to king Richard the Third 10 Arthur Tuther sonne to king Henrie the Seuenth 11 Henrie Tuther sonne to king Henrie the Seuenth afterwards king Henrie the Eighth 12 Edward the sonne of king Henrie the Eighth afterwards king Edward the Sixth 13 Henrie the sonne of king Iames. 14 Charles the sonne of king Iames. THE SVCCESSIONS OF THE DVKES AND EARLES OF THIS KINGDOME OF ENGLAND From the Conquest vntill the twelfth yeare of the famous Raigne of the mightie Monarch King IAMES the First Albemarle and Holdernes EVDO Sonne to the Earle of Champagne married one of the Conquerours sisters Conq. and was by him created Earle of Albemarle and of Holdernes Stephen their sonne succeeded and was Earle of Albemarle and of Holdernes William surnamed Le Grose being his sonne succeeded K. Steph. and was Earle of Albemarle
Dorset Conq. OSmond a Norman being by the Conquerour created Earle of Dorset dyed without issue Thomas Beauford the sonne of Iohn of Gaunt Iohn of Gaunt called all his Children by that Wife by the name of Beaufords by Katherine Swinsford his third wife was by king Richard the Second created Earle of Somerset and Marques Dorset which latter dignitie was taken from him in Parliament in An. 1. H. 4. Iohn Beauford his brother was Earle of Somerset only and was afterward by king Henrie the Fourth created Marques Dorset H 4. and by king Henrie the Sixt hee was created Duke of Somerset His daughter and heire named Margaret was married to Edmund Tuther Earle of Richmond and they two had issue king Henrie the seuenth Edmund Beauford his brother was Earle of Somerset and by king Henrie the Fifth hee was created Earle of Mortoigne in Normandie and by king Henrie the Sixt Marques Dorset H. 6. and Duke of Somerset Henrie Beauford his sonne was Earle of Mortaigne Marques Dorset and Duke of Somerset and dyed without issue Thomas Grey the sonne of Sir Iohn Grey knight and of the Lady Elizabeth his wife and widdow who was afterwards married to king Edward the Fourth E. 4. was by the same king created Marques Dorset he was also Lord of Groby Astley Bonduile and Harrington Thomas Grey succeeded his Father in those honors Henrie Grey his sonne being Lord Ferrers of Groby Lord Harrington Bonduile and Astley was after his fathers death Marques Dorset and by king Edward the Sixt he was created Duke of Suffolke and was executed in Queene Maries raigne Thomas Sackvile Lord Buckhurst and Lord Treasuror of England was by king Iames created Earle of Dorset K. Ia. Robert Sackvile his sonne was Lord Buckhurst and Earle of Dorset Richard Sackvile his sonne is Lord Buckhurst and Earle of Dorset Essex GEoffrey de Magna Villa otherwise Mandevile K. Steph. was by king Stephen created Earle of Essex Geoffrey his sonne was Earle of Essex and dyed without issue William his brother was Earle of Essex and dyed without issue Geoffrey Fitz-Pearce otherwise Ludgarshall married Beatrice the heire of the said William Mandevile K. Ioh. and was by king Iohn created Earle of Essex shee had by him two sonnes Geoffrey and William whom at his wiues request hee named Mandeviles according to the name of their Grand-father Geoffrey Mandevile their sonne was Earle and dyed without issue William Mandevile his brother was Earle and died without issue H. 3. Humfrey Bohun was by King Henrie the Third created Earle of Essex and of Hereford Humfrey Bohun his sonne succeeded in those honors Humfrey Bohun his sonne was Earle after him Humfrey Bohun his sonne was Earle of Essex and of Hereford Iohn Bohun his sonne was Earle and dyed without issue Humfrey Bohun the sonne of William Bohun who was the sonne of the last Humfrey was Earle of Essex Hereford and Northampton and died without issue Male. And Eleanor his eldest sister was maried vnto Thomas of Woodstock one of the sonnes of king Edward the Third E. 3. Thomas of Woodstock the sixt sonne of King Edward the Third was by his father created Earle of Essex Buckingham Hereford and Northampton and by his Nephew king Richard the Second he was created Duke of Glocester and murdred in prison at Calice because he had warned the king friendly of his faults Humfrey Plantagenet his sonne succeeded in those Earledomes and dyed without issue Male. Henrie de Bargo Caro otherwise Bourchier being Earle of Ewe in Normandie who was the sonne of William Bourchier who by king Henrie the Fift was at Maunt in Normandie created Earle of Ewe was by king Edward the Fourth E. 4. created Viscount Bourchier and Earle of Essex his sonne William had issue Henrie and dyed whilest his father liued Henrie Bourchier was Viscount and Earle and died without issue H. 8. Thomas Cromwel was by King Henrie the eighth made Lord Cromwel and was by him created Earle of Essex but lost his head H. 8. William Parre was by king Henrie the eighth made Lord Parre of Kendall and Earle of Essex and by king Edward the Sixt he was made Marques of Northampton and dyed without issue Walter Deuereux Lord Ferrers of Chartly and Viscount Hereford was by Queene Elizabeth Q. Eliz. created Earle of Essex Robert Deuereux his sonne was Lord Ferrers of Chartly Viscount Hereford and Earle of Essex Robert Deuereux his sonne was restored to all his fathers honors by king Iames the First K. Ia. and now liueth Exeter Iohn Holland halfe-brother to King Richard the Second R. 2. was by him created Earle of Huntington and Duke of Exeter Hee was executed because he conspired against King Henrie the Fourth Thomas Beauford one of the sonnes of Iohn of Gaunt H. 4. by his third wife Katherine Swinford was by his brother K. Henry the Fourth created Earle of Dorset and Duke of Exeter He died without issue Iohn Holland the sonne of the aforenamed Iohn H. 6. was by King Henrie the Fifth restored to his Earledome of Huntington and by King Henrie the Sixth to his Duchie of Exeter Henry Holland his sonne was attainted when King Edward the Fourth raigned and was drowned on Calice Sands Henry Courtney Earle of Deuonshire H. 8. was by king Henrie the Eighth created Marquesse of Exeter and lost his head Thomas Cecil Lord Burleigh K. Iames. was by King Iames the First created Earle of Exeter and yet liueth Glocester WIlliam Fitz-Eustace Conq. being by the Conquerour created Earle of Glocester died without issue Robert Fitz-Hamon Lord of Astreuile in Normandie Conq. was by the Conquerour created Earle of Glocester William Fitz-Hamon his sonne was Earle of Glocester Robert de Millent base sonne to king Henry the First H. 1. was by him created Earle of Glocester He died without issue H. 2. Iohn Plantagenet the sonne of king Henry the Second was by his father created Duke of Glocester But hee was afterwards King of England Geoffrey Mandeuile the last of that name Earle of Essex K. Iohn was by King Iohn created Earle of Glocester and died without issue Almericus Earle of Eureux K. Iohn was by King Iohn created Earle of Glocester and died without issue Gilbert de Clare being Earle of Hartford H. 3. was created Earle of Glocester by King Henry the Third Richard his sonne was Earle of Clare and Glocester and Hartford Gilbert de Clare his sonne had those three Earledomes Gilbert de Clare his sonne was Earle of Hartford Clare and Glocester and died without issue male E. 1. Ralphe Mounthermer who maried Ione of Acres one of the daughters of King Edward the First and who was widow to the last Gilbert de Clare was by the same King created Earle of Hartford and Glocester and died without issue E. 2. Pierce Gaueston a Gascoigne borne was by King Edward
second husband Hugh de Brun H. 3. was by his halfe-brother King Henrie the Third created Earle of Pembroke Aymer de Valentia his sonne was Earle of Pembroke and was by King Edward the First made Vice-roy of Scotland and died without issue Laurence Lord Hastings was by King Edward the Third created Lord of Abergauenny and Earle of Pembroke Iohn Lord Hastings and Abergauenny was Earle of Pembroke Iohn his sonne succeeded and died without issue Humfrey Plantagenet the youngest sonne of King Henry the Fourth H. 5. and brother to King Henry the Fifth was by his brother created Earle of Pembroke and Duke of Glocester He was also Protector to his Nephew King Henrie the Sixth and died without issue H. 6. William de la Pole was by King Henry the Sixth created Earle of Pembroke Earle Marquesse and Duke of Suffolke Iaspar of Hatfield the second sonne of Owen Tuthar and of Queene Katherine his wife widow to King Henry the Fifth and being halfe-brother to King Henry the Sixth H. 6. was by him created Earle of Pembroke and by King Henry the Seuenth Duke of Bedford He died without issue E. 4. William Herbert was by King Edward the Fourth made Lord of Cardisse and Earle of Pembroke and was slaine at Banbarie field William Herbert his sonne succeeded and resigned the said Earledome to King Edward the Fourth Edward the Prince being sonne and heire apparant to King Edward the fourth E 4. was by his father created Earle of Pembroke Flint and March He was King Edward the Fifth Anne Bullen H. 8. who was afterwards maried to King Henry the Eighth was by him created Marchionesse of Pembroke and lost her head William Lord Herbert sonne to Richard Herbert who was brother to the last Earle William E. 6. was by King Edward the Sixth created Earle of Pembroke Henry Lord Herbert his sonne succeeded in those honours Williom Lord Herbert his sonne is Lord of Cardiffe Fitz-Hugh Marmion and S. Quintens and Earle of Pembroke Richmond EVdo was by the Conqueror made Lord of Middleham and Earle of Richmond Conq. Allen Fergaunt surnamed The Red being his sonne was Lord of Middleham and Earle of Britaine and of Richmond He died without issue Allen surnamed The Blacke being his brother succeeded him and died without issue Stephen his brother possessed all those honours Allen his sonne by descent enioied the said dignities Conan his sonne succeeded him and had issue Constance Geoffrey Plantagenet the third sonne of King Henry the Second maried the said Constance and was in her right Earle of Richmond Arthur Plantagenet his sonne was Earle of Richmond and died without issue Ralphe Blundeuile being Count Palatine of Chester K. Iohn was by King Iohn created Earle of Richmond Peter Earle of Sauoy who built the Sauoy H. 3. was by King Henrie the Third created Earle of Richmond Iohn de Dreux Duke of Britaine sonne to Iohn the first Duke of Britaine was by King Edward the First created Earle of Richmond E. 1. Iohn de Dreux his sonne was Earle of Richmond Iohn de Dreux his sonne succeeded and died without issue Robert de Arthoys sometimes Earle of Arthoys but disinherited by Philip de Valoys the French King E. 3. was by King Edward the Third created Earle of Richmond Iohn Plantagenet the sonne of King Edward the Third being surnamed Iohn of Gaunt being Duke of Lancaster E. 3. was by his father created Earle of Richmond Henry of Bollingbroke his sonne was Duke of Lancaster and Hereford and Earle of Richmond vntill he was King Henry the Fourth Ralphe Lord Neuil of Rabie Castle the first Earle of Westmorland was by King Henry the Fourth created Earle of Pembroke for his life only H. 4. Iohn Plantagenet Duke of Bedford and brother to King Henry the Fifth H. 4. was by his father created Earle of Richmond He died without issue H. 6. Edmund of Hadham called Edmund Tuthar the eldest sonne of Owen Tuthar and of Queene Katherine his wife the widow of King Henry the Fifth and daughter to Charles the Sixth of France and halfe brother to King Henry the Sixth was by him created Earle of Richmond He maried Margaret the daughter and heire of Iohn Beauford Marquesse Dorset and Duke of Somerset who was the sonne of Iohn Beauford who was the sonne of Iohn of Gaunt by Katherine Swinsford his third wife and had issue Henry who was king Henry the Seuenth Henry Tuthar their sonne was Earle of Richmond vntill hee obtained the Crowne and was King Henry the Seuenth H. 8. Henry Fitz-Roy base sonne to King Henry the Eighth was by him created Earle of Nottingham and Duke of Richmond and died without issue in the sixteenth yeare of his age Rutland EDward Plantagenet the sonne of Edmund of Langley the fifth sonne of King Edward the Third and Duke of Yorke was by his cosen King Richard the Second created Earle of Rutland R. 2. and Duke of Albemarle After his fathers death he was Duke of Yorke and was slaine at Agencourt field Edmund Plantagenet brother to Edward who was afterward King Edward the Fourth was Earle of Rutland and died in his childhood without issue being slaine H. 8. Thomas Mannors Lord Roos of Hamlake Beluoyr and Trusbut was created Earle of Rutland by King Henry the Eighth Henry Mannors his sonne succeeded his said father Edward Mannors his sonne enioied those honours and died without issue male Iohn Mannors his brother succeeded him Roger Mannors his sonne enioied those honours and died without issue Sir Francis Mannors his brother is now Lord Roos Hamlake and Trusbote and Earle of Rutland Ryuers RIchard Wooduile of Grafton Knight maried Iaquet the widow of Iohn Duke of Bedford Regent of France and daughter to Peter of Luxenburgh Earle of S. Paul He was by King Henry the sixth made Lord Ryuers Afterwards king Edward the Fourth maried his daughter the Ladie Elizabeth Grey the widow of Sir Iohn Grey deceased by whom he was made Lord Treasurer of England and Earle Ryuers He and his sonne Iohn were slaine by the Commons in an vprore Anthonie Wooduile his sonne being Lord Scales and Earle Ryuers was by King Richard the Third beheaded vniustly at Pomfret Castle and died withour issue Richard Wooduile his brother succeeded him in that Earledome and died without issue Salisburie STephen Patrick of Eureux was by the Conquerour created Earle of Salisburie Conq. William his sonne was Earle of Salisburie and died without issue male William Longspée the base sonne of King Henry the Second by the faire Rosamond Clifford his Concubine R. 1. was by King Richard the First his halfe-brother created Earle of Salisburie William Longspee his sonne was Earle of Salisburie after his father and was slaine in the warres in the Holy Land Henry Lacy was by King Henrie the Third created Earle of Salisburie H. 3. and died without issue Thomas Plantagenet the sonne of Edmund
Crowch-backe being Earle of Lancaster was also Earle of Salisburie Lecester and Lincolne and died without issue Henry Plantagenet his brother was Earle of Salisburie Lecester Lincolne and Lancaster Henry Plantagenet his sonne was created Duke of Lancaster He was also inheritor to all those Earledomes His daughter and heire called Blanch was maried to Iohn of Gaunt and from them descended the house of the Lancastrians E. 4. William Mountague Lord of the I le of Man was by King Edward the Fourth created Earle of Salisburie William Mountague his sonne being Lord of the I le of Man and Lord Mounthermer was also Earle of Salisburie and died without issue Iohn Mountague sonne to Sir Iohn Mountague brother to the said William was Lord Mounthermer and Earle of Salisburie Hee with others conspired the death of King Edward the Fourth at Oxford and was slaine Thomas Mountague his sonne was Lord Mounthermer and Earle of Salisburie Richard Neuil the second sonne of Ralphe Neuil who was the first Earle of Westmorland H. 6. maried Alice the eldest daughter and coheire of the said Thomas and was by King Henry the Sixth created Earle of Salisburie He was taken prisoner in the battaile of Wakefield by Queene Margaret wife to King Henry the Sixth and lost his head Richard Neuil his sonne was Earle of Salisburie and of Warwicke also in the right of Anne his wife who was the daughter and heire of William Beauchampe Earle of Warwicke This was that great Earle of Warwicke who deposed and raised King Henry the Sixth and was slaine at Barnet Field by King Edward the Fourth Richard Pole a Knight of Wales maried Margaret Plantagenet the daughter of George Duke of Clarence brother to King Edward the Fourth which the said George begot on Isabel the eldest daughter and coheire of the last Richard Earle of Warwicke and Salisburie She was by Parliament in the fifth yeare of King Henry the Eighth restored to those Earledomes H. 8. but in Parliament in the one and thirtieth yeare of King Henry the Eighth shee with Gerthrude the widow of Henry Courtney Marquesse of Exeter Reynold Pole Cardinall being her sonne and others were attainted of treason and she lost her head She was the last of the name and royall stocke of the Familie of the Plantagenets out of which had issued successiuely fourteene Kings of England Robert Cecil the second sonne of William Cecil Lord Burleigh and Treasurer of England was by King Iames created Lord Cecil of Essendeu in Rutlandshire Viscount Cranborne in Dorsetshire and Earle of Salisbury William Cecil his sonne is now Lord of Essenden Viscount Cranborne and Earle of Salisbury Shrewsburie EDrick a Saxon sirnamed the wilde being Earle of Shrewsbury was by the Conqueror dishinherited Roger de Mountgomery Earle of Belesme in Normandy Conq. was by the Conqueror made Earle of Arundel and of Shrewsbury Hugh de Mountgomery his sonne succeeded and died without issue Robert Mountgomery his brother being Earle of Shrewsbury and of Arundel was taken by king Henry the first and depriued of his eyes Iohn Lord Talbot Strange Blackmore Furnivall and Verdon H. 6. was by Henry the sixth created Earle of Shrewsbury Iohn Talbot his sonne succeeded in those honors Iohn Talbot his sonne was Lord c and Earle of Shrewsbury George Talbot his sonne was Lord c. and Earle of Shrewsbury Francis Talbot his sonne was Lord c. and Earle of Salisbury George Lord Talbot his sonne succeeded in those honors Gilbert Lord Talbot his sonne is Lord Talbot Strange Blackmore Furnival and Verdon and Earle of Shrewsbury Somerset OSmond Bishop of Salisbury was by the Conqueror Conq. made earle of Somerset William de Mohun was by King Henry the first H. 1 created Earle of Somerset Reynold de Mohun in King Iohns time K. Ioh. receiued the inheritance of his Grandfather Earle William and was created Earle of Somerset he was disinherited by King Henry the third because he tooke part against him with the Barons in their warres Iohn Beauford the sonne of Iohn of Gaunt by Katherine Swinsford his thitd wife was by King Richard the second created Earle of Somerset and Marques Dorset but the latter of those two hee voluntarily did renounce H. 5. Henry Beauford his sonne was Earle after him Iohn Beauford his brother was created Earle of Somerset by K. Henry the fifth H. 6. Edmund Beauford his brother was Earle of Somerset and by king Henry the sixt was created Marques Dorset and Duke of Somerset and was slaine at Saint Albons by Richard Duke of Yorke Henry Beauford his sonne was Duke of Somerset hee revolted from King H. the sixth to King Edward the fourth and afterward from King Edward the fourth to King H. the sixth and was by the Yorkish faction taken Prisoner at Hexhamfield and lost his head Edmund Beauford his brother was Duke of Somerset and being taken prisoner at Tewkisbery-field by king Edward the fourth he lost his head and had no issue H. 7. Edmund Tuther a yonger sonne to king Henry the seuenth was at fiue yeares of his age created Duke of Somerset and died without issue at that age Henry Fitz-Roy base son to king H. the eight was created earle of Nottingham and Duke of Somerset and Richmond and died without issue Edward Seymour Earle of Hartford was by his Nephew King Edward the sixth created Duke of Somerset and lost his head Sir Robert Carre was by king Iames created Viscount Rochester Earle of Somerset Southampton BEavoys was at the Conquest Earle of Southampton E. 1. H. 8. William Gobion was by Kng Edward the first created Earle of Southampton and died without issue male William Fitz-William was by King Henry the eight created Earle of Southampton and died without issue male E. 6. Thomas Wryothesley Lord Chancelor of England was by King Henry the eighth created Baron of Tichfield in Hamshire and by King Edward the sixt hee was created Earle of Southampton Henry Wryothesley his sonne was Lord Tichfield and Earle of Southampton Henry Wryothesley his sonne is Lord Tichfield and Earle of Southamton Stafford RAlph Stafford was by King Edward the third E. 3. created Earle of Stafford Hugh Stafford his sonne succeeded in that Earledome Thomas Stafford his Grandchild by Ralph his sonne was Earle of Stafford William Stafford his brother was Earle of Stafford after him Edmund Stafford his brother was Earle and died without issue Humfrey Stafford his sonne was Earle and by king Henry the sixt he was created Duke of Buckingham and was slaine in Yorkeshire in the said kings quarrell Humfrey Stafford his son was dignified with those honors Humfrey Stafford his sonne H. 7. succeeded and was beheaded by king Richard the third Edward Stafford his son was restored by king Henry the seuenth and lost his head in the raigne of king Henry the eighth Suffolke RAlph Glandvile Lord of Bromhelme H. 2. was by king Henry the second created Earle
Armie landeth at Callice and marcheth to Burdeaux He beates the French King ANNO. 44 An other Armie sent into France The English doe preuaile with an armie into Callice who to the terror and spoyle of the Frenchmen marched from thence vntill he came to Burdeaux to the Prince his Brother without opposition or resistance wasting and hauoking in all places as he passed by sauing that he was once met with and encountred by king Charles who being soundly beaten was enforced to retire and to giue free passage to the Duke King Edward as much as in him lay though hee beganne to grow old yet he was very carefull of those affaires For as soone as his sonne Iohn of Gaunt was gone out of England hee sent another Armie vnto Saint Omers which was conducted by Sir Robert Knowles who marching through those adiacent Countries with fire and sword depopulated it yea almost vntill he came to the Citie of Paris And then hee marched into the Earledome of Angeou where hee wonne the strong Townes of Vaas and Ruylly and sundrie others thereabout But the French king being informed that there was great dissention in the English armie betwixt Sir Robert Knowles and the Lords Fitz-water and of Grauntson rushed vpon them sodainly with an armie and finding their mindes diuided and their forces by great disorder broken Dissention caused the Englishmens ouerthrow preuailed against them and slew about one thousand Englishmen Whereupon the said Townes which they had taken were againe yeelded into the French kings hands He also following the good hap of his fawning Fortune sent another armie into the Prouince of Guyan ANNO. 45 where the Prince was weakly assisted and his Townes and Castles daily reuolted from him King Edward being much perplexed with the common reports of his declining Fortune ANNO. 46 and being resolued to doe his best to preuent the worst assembled his high Court of Parliament at Westminster A ParliameÌ„t wherein to supply his wants and to giue better strength and furtherance to his French Warres the Temporaltie with much cheerefulnesse granted him a Subsidie of fifteene thousand pounds A Subsidie granted and the like summe hee requested of the Cleargie who were contented to giue him faire words but no monie Whereat he was so much displeased The Clergie will grant none The Clergie disgraced ANNO. 46 The Earle of Pembroke defeated and taken at Sea that wheras at that time the Bishops and the Cleargie men were chiefly honoured with all Places and Offices of Honour and of Profit and of Commaund disgracefully hee depriued them and dismissed them all and placed more thankfull Subjects of the Laitie in their roomes King Charles had now besieged the Towne of Rochell almost one whole yeare For whose reliefe and to remoue the siege king Edward sent the Earle of Pembroke with an armie to the Sea but hee was encountred fought with and put vnto the worst by Henrie the vsurper of Castile who in fauour of the French king and thankfully to requite his former loue when hee assisted him against king Peter kept the narrow Seas with a strong Fleet. In this fight the Earle himselfe and one hundred and threescore others were taken Prisoners manie men were slaine The French King winnes Rochell c. and the rest who escaped returned altogether discomforted into England And vpon the certaine report of this disaster The Towne of Rochell Angolesme Xants and Saint Iohns of Angley and diuers other Prouinces were giuen vp vnto the French king Sir Iohn de Mountford Duke of Brittaine perceiuing that good successe accompanied the French king in all his actions beganne to feare ANNO. 47 Iohn of Gant and the Duke of Britaine oppose themselues against the French King They waste the Countrey ANNO. 48 left in the height of his prosperitie he would attempt some quarrell against him Wherefore Hee fortified his Countries and then came into England and offred his assistance to K. Edward who forthwith leuied a strong armie and commited it to the gouernment of his sonne the Duke of Lancaster Who being accompanied with the Duke of Brittaine landed at Callice and with sword and fire wasted the whole Countrie vntill hee came to Burdeaux where the Duke of Lancaster found his brother the Prince of Wales exceeding sicke who made him Gouernour of all King Edwards Prouinces And hauing scene all such Noble men as hee could command Iohn of Gant is made Gouernour The sicke Prince commeth into England ANNO. 49 ANNO. 50 to take their solemne oathes for the performance of their duties and obedience to his brother the Duke he sailed into England After whose arriuall three parles for peace betwixt England and France were entertained vpon the motion and by the mediation of Pope Gregorie the eleuenth But not one of them was made fruitfull with any fortunate successe In the last yeare of King Edwards Raigne in a Parliament holden at Westminster the King required a Subsidie from the Cleargie and from the Temporaltie of his Kingdome towards the supporting of his warres The Lower house of the Parliâ—ment complaine vpon the K ngâ— euill Officers But the Lower house of that assembly complained grieuously against the Lord Latimer chiefe Chamberlaine to the King and of manie other of his Officers for that they not only misled the King in his old age but also vnthriftily spent and consumed the Treasure of his Kingdome Wherefore they refused to yeild vnto the kings demand except those euill Officers might bee displaced and better men setled in their roomes Which being by the king through the important perswasions of the Prince consented vnto he cheerefully obtained his demand And now approched the ends of these two famous .1376 and most worthie Princes the Father and the Sonne For the Prince of Wales died the eight day of Iune The Blacke Prince dieth in the yeare of our Lord God one thousand three hundred threescore and sixteene when hee had liued fortie yeares and lieth buried at Canterburie The King restoreth his euill Officers And no sooner was hee dead but king Edward verie vnaduisedly to his great dishonour and to the great discontentment of his people remoued from him such new Officers as in the late High Court of Parliament were established and placed neere about him and restored the Lord Latimer Richard is Created Prince of Wales Duke of Cornwall and Earle of Chester King Edward dieth and all the rest to their former Offices and places And finding himselfe exceeding weake by reason of his sharp and grieuous sicknesse he created his Nephew Richard Sonne to the Prince deceased Prince of Wales Earle of Chester and Duke of Cornwall and committed the Regencie of his kingdome to his son Iohn of Gaunt Duke of Lancaster died when he had raigned fiftie yeares and somewhat more THE HISTORIE OF KING RICHARD THE SECOND RICHARD the second being the Son and heire of the Blacke Prince ANNO. 1. 1377.
the said thirteene Commissioners and manie others to bee guiltie of High Treason because they had compelled the king against his will and conscience to ratifie the said Commission by his oath and vnder his Great Seale And then they went to Couentrie where the said Iudges by an instrument in writing vnder their hands and seales declared and confirmed their opinions touching those matters to be agreeable and consonant to the Lawes of this Realme Now for a while must we leaue the king and his Nobilitie perplexed with manie euill conceits each of the other and studying vpon the future euents of those former conclusions and will informe the Reader that the time of Truce betwixt England and France was more then fully ended The French Lords and Gentlemen come to animate the Scots against England Their course entertainment They inuade England They make a troublesome iournie into Wales King Richard with an army of 68000. men entreth and spoileth Scotland and that the French king to beget more broyles at home sent his Admirall into Scotland with a thousand Lords knights and Gentlemen compleatly armed and furnished with armour and with weapons sufficient for one thousand more But such was their course and homely entertainment that vpon their first arriuall the Common people abandoned their companie making no manner of reckoning or accompt of them nor relieuing of their wants with any thing which was needfull but suffered them to be oppressed with as manie miseries as strangers being in a forraine and in a poore Countrie were able to endure vntill they ioyned with the Scottish armie which consisted of thirtie thousand men And with them they entred into England and did much harme But when they were informed that the king with eight thousand men at armes and threescore thousand Archers trauailed hard iournies to encounter with them they then forsooke their ordinarie march and passages and went ouer the high and craggie Mountaines into Wales where they committed manie vile and wicked outrages which turned little to their commoditie and gaine But in the meane time king Richard with fire and sword entred into Scotland where being vnresisted he rifled and burnt the Townes and Cities of Eden-burgh The French and Scots return into that wasted Countrie Saint Iohns Estreuelinge Dondée and manie others and returned home And the Scots and Frenchmen retyred themselues into Scotland where by reason of the late hauock and ruines of that kingdome the French Gallants were worne out with more necessities than before The great miserie of the Frenchmen For neither could or would the Townes or Countrey affoord them anie helpe and the apparant hazard of their liues by the violence of the poore distressed Scots did altogether terrifie them from foraging abroad How the Scots abused and wronged them And in the end to adde vnto them greater affliction than all the rest the Scots compelled their meanest Gentlemen without their horses and vnarmed and pennilesse to returne into France but kept as pledges or as pawnes the Admirall and such as were honourable and great vntill a full reckoning and an amends were made vnto them for all such losse and damages as by the English armie they had sustained affirming That the French king had engaged Scotland in those warres not for themselues but to serue his owne turne and in his seruice The King of France is enforced to redeeme his subiects The French king though angred at the heart to be thus abused yet finding none other meanes to enlarge the Admirall and such other great men as he had employed in those Warres sent to the Scots as much money as was demanded and thereupon the French Admirall Barons and Gentry were dismissed and returned home hauing small cause to bragge of their successe or of their entertainment in that journey The French King dreameth to conquer England But the French king intending to relieue himselfe and to wrecke his anger vpon England resolued to transport into this kingdome such an Armie as should make an absolute Conquest of this whole Land And to further his prouisions therein he imposed manie grieuous and intolerable Taxes on his people which were not leuied without much grudging and great trouble His whole Fleet consisted of more than twelue hundred saile of shippes 1200. shippes The number of his men was extraordinarie and exceeding great and such were his prouisions that among Christian Princes the like before was seldome seene or heard of The great Armie of the English King Richard who was verie valiant and cared not for his approach was readily prepared to giue him a welcome with tenne thousand gallant men at armes and with more than one hundred thousand fighting men besides such as furnished his braue Nauie on the sea and besides all such as for the defence of Callice were sent thither Homo ponit disponit autem Deus Experience teacheth vs That the greatest preparations for anie Expedition whatsoeuer are made in vaine if the thing to which they are intended and directed be not seconded by GODS fauor as by this example it shall appeare For when the French souldiors were departed from their owne dwellings The disorders of the French souldiors and trauelled disorderedly towards the place where their shippes lay they robbed and spoyled in all Prouinces and in all Countries through which they passed with greater furie and with more violence than commonly the English or anie other forraine enemie accustomed to doe The men and the enterprise are accursed by the oppressed people So that the inhabitants of all places subject to their crueltie and vnciuill outrage were not onely in the highest degree displeased and discontented but by solemne imprecations they cursed both them and the action likewise which they had in hand And when those loose companions came into the Low-Countries where the Fleet was The French Armie are in great miserie such were their wants of all things needfull to relieue them by reason of their excessiue numbers and by reason of the long absence of the Duke of Berrey the French kings vncle who hasted not thither nor liked well of that journey although it altogether depended vpon his furtherance and presence that first they sold their armor and their weapons then their horses They sell all and last of all their clothes to prouide them meat And when all those means failed them then they daily yea hourely The Armie is dissolued committed such violence and such outrages in those Countries without controlment that they became hatefull and odious to the inhabitants Parturiunt Montes nascitur ridiculus Mus. and at length the King their master being vtterly discouraged by his said vncle in this attempt dissolued his whole Armie And thus at one instant almost he lost both his honor and his hope his money and manie great things besides And the end of those his great designes affoords vs libertie to returne againe to our highly displeased and
and Robert Tresilian the chiefe Iustice was hanged at Tiborne and the rest of those Iudges had beene hanged in like sort Execution if vpon the importunate and vncessant request of the Queene their liues had not beene redeemed by their banishment Banishment And thus were the threatnings of ciuil wars conuerted into some assurance of prosperitie and of peace ANNO. 12 The Scots do inuade But the next yeare following the Scots inuaded this realme and did much harme against whom great preparations were made by the King who resolued to recompence his owne damage by iust and seuere reuenge A Truce betwixt England France and Scotland for seuen yeares ANNO. 13 Iohn of Gant goeth with an Armie into Spaine But the wisdome and discretion of manie great Estates were such that a Truce was concluded to endure for three yeares betwixt England France and Scotland which shortly after was enlarged for foure yeares more So that now all matters betwixt those three Kingdomes and their Kings being blessed with tranquilitie and with peace the Kings fourth Vncle Iohn of Gaunt Duke of Lancaster was suffered by the King to leuie a strong Armie which hee transported into Spaine where he demanded his right to the Kingdome of Castile in the behalfe of Constance his wife who was the eldest daughter of Peter the deposed and slaine king ANNO. 14 How his bran attempts succeeded there His two Daughters are married to the Kings of Spaine and of Portingall In those Warres the Duke and his Armie performed manie honourable seruices and with the assistance of the king of Portugale so preuailed that to conclude a sued for peace the king of Spaine married with Constance the Dukes eldest daughter by his said wife and gaue vnto him eight Waggons loaden with massie Gold and secured him and his wife of the yearely payment of ten thousand Markes during both their liues And then the Duke went into Portugale where he married Anne his yonger daughter to the king of that Countrie and then returned into England with great riches and much honour ANNO. 16 Lawes against the Popes vsurped Authoritie This time of peace betwixt England other nations bred some quarrelling betwixt the king and the Pope who vsurped too too much authoritie and iurisdiction within this Realme Wherefore to preuent such mischiefes as this intolerable sufferance mght beget in a Parliament vpon graue and great aduise it was enacted That the Popes pretended authoritie within this kingdom should cease and be determined and that no appeale for anie matter or cause whatsoeuer should from thenceforth bee made to the See of Rome vpon the penaltie of a premunire which did extend to perpetuall imprisonment and to the forfeiture of the Lands and goods of such as contrarie to that law presumed to offend ANNO. 17 In the seuenteenth yeare of king Richards Raigne his faire and vertuous Queene Anne died ANNO. 19 And about two yeares after the king married the Ladie Isabel daughter to the French king Charles the sixth By reason whereof a peace was concluded betwixt those two kings King Richard marrieth the French kings daughter A Peace for thirtie yeares Brest is yeelded vp The Duke of Glocester reprooues the King for it The death of the Duke of Glocester the Kings Vncle is plotted A Machauillian pollicie Ambition makes euill Princes confident that their Vertues doe deserue much The King intendeth the destruction of his Barrons being gulled with an vntrue report Certaine Lords surprised A ParliameÌ„t A grosse flâ—ttering Speaker The Archbishop of Canterburie is accused of Treason How the king wronged the Archbishop to endure for thirtie yeares And king Richard being too kind but too little aduised of his owne accord and free will surrendred and gaue vp to the Duke of Brittaine the strong Towne and Castle of Brest which verie much grieued and discontented his Nobilitie especially his Vncle Thomas of Woodstocke Duke of Glocester who told him plainly that it was not conuenient that without blowes with the said Duke of Brittaine hee should haue departed with that strong Towne and Castle which his ancestors had wonne with the expence of much bloud Whereat the king was so much displeased that in his heart hee causelessely vowed seuere reuenge and in this his hastie passion he was abused and furthered by such of his Fauourites as enuied the estate the vertues and honour of the Duke causing strangers to informe the king flateringly and malitiously that diuers of the Princes Electors intended to haue made him Emperor had not some others of them gainsaid it and alleadged that he was altogether vnfit to gouerne the dispersed Segniorieâ— and Dominions of the Empire who could not rule and command his owne subiects at home The greedie desire which king Richard had to bee magnified and made great by being dignified with the name and power of the Empire and his strong reliance vpon the vntrue report which was suggested vnto him by such as only endeuoured to whet his anger against his Lords armed him with subtletie and with a heartie desire to circumuent his Barons though it were done with the breach of his oath and with the shipwracke of his honour So that pretending much loue and fauour towards them but especially to the Duke of Glocester his Vncle and to the two Earles of Arondell and Warwicke hee caused them to be apprehended when as they imagined they had least cause to feare And hauing so done he assembled his High Court of Parliament In which his basest and his grossest flatterer the speaker of the Lower House named Sir Iohn Bush who was a man of a most proud insolent and aspiring spirit irreligiously profanely and dishonestly in a formall and in a tedious speech attributed vnto the King the highest titles of diuine honour and therefore condemned almost to Hell all such as traiterously had conspired against his Maiestie Among whom hee particularly impeached Thomas Lord Archbishop of Canterburie sitting next vnto the King who made no answere at all thereto because the King himselfe vnder pretence of more then ordinarie loue and fauour had priuatly enioyned him vnto silence and vnto future absence from that Assembly promising and protesting that nothing should be attempted or done against him by anie meanes Yet notwithstanding for want of his presence and of his answere to the said vntrue obiections he was with the Kings consent banished this Realme He is banished Warwicke and Arundell are condemned as Traytors Arundell is beheaded Salisburie is banished and dieth miserably The Duke of Glocester murdered at Callice by Thomas Mowbray Earle of Notingham A weake parliament to grant such an vnreasonable Commission And the two Earles of Arundell and of Warwicke were also condemned of High Treason and shortly after the former of those two lost his head And so had Thomas Beauchamp Earle of Warwicke if by his humble confession of thinges vntrue and vpon his great submission steeped in teares and much
with his whole strength before the Towne of Vernoyle in the prouince of Perch where he falsely informed the inhabitants That at Yurye hee had fought with the Regent defeated his Armie slaine thousands Policie taken many prisoners freed that Towne and had compelled him by swift riding to prouide for the safetie of his owne life This false report soone made the Duke owner of that Towne Yury wonne and his Retreat made the Regent Lord of Yurye and as soone as sound prouisions were made to strengthen it the Regent with his whole Armie marched vnto Vernoyle where meeting with the French cowards and with diuers Scots who did assist them hee compelled them to engage their fortunes by a bloudie battaile in a pitched field The fight was cruelly maintained for the space of three houres But in the end the Englishmen The battaile of Vernoyle with the losse of one and twentie hundred of their common souldiors wonne the honour of that day and slew of their enemies fiue Earles two Vicounts one and twentie Barons and more than seuen thousand other men besides two thousand and seuen hundred Scots who were sent thither by their King But the Duke of Alanson himselfe with many Lords Knights and Gentlemen of Name The Frenchmen are ouerthrowne were taken prisoners And the Towne of Vernoyle without Assault or Batterie was surrendred into the Regents hands Vernoyle is regayned who hauing fortified it with a strong Garrison commanded by their worthie Captaine Sir Philip Hall marched to the Citie of Roan where hee was receiued with many triumphant Shewes And from thence he came to Paris where his kinde entertainment proclaymed his welcome and his honour This ouerthrow so weakened the French King that none other Prouinces or Territories but onely Burbon Aluerne Berry The English doe preuaile Poytou Towrayne part of Angeou and Languedoc could giue vnto his Royall Person anie warrant of safetie and assurance Yet least he should want the true honors belonging to a King in the Citie of Poytiers hee established his High Court of Parliament and his Chancerie The French King laboureth his owne establishment with the publike vse of his broad Scale and of all other things needfull and requisite for the due administration of his Lawes and the distribution of Iustice The Earle of Salisburie winneth many Townes The Regent taking the aduantage of his late victorie sent into the Countrey of Mayne an Armie of tenne thousand men which with great resolution were brauely conducted by the valorous and prudent Earle of Salisburie who quickly wonne the strong Citie of Mauns and the Townes of Saint Susan le Fort Saint Barnard and manie others And from thence he went into Angeou where with the Sword hee performed such and so manie wonders His name is feared that the verie Name of Salisburie became terrible in all France 1425. 4 The perfidious Earle of Richmond whome King Charles had newly made High Constable of France intending to make himselfe famous in the minoritie of his Gouernment raised an Armie of fortie thousand men which consisted of Britons French and Scots The Siege of Saint Iames. with which he besieged the strong Towne of Saint Iames in Beuyon which was defended only by six hundred Englishmen who hauing resolutely endured many sharpe assaults and hard bickerings A miraculous ouerthrow vpon a suddaine issued boldly out of the Towne and proclaymed their approach with an hideous shout of Saint George Salisburie Saint George Salisburie and fell vpon the multitude of their enemies like a storme This terrible crie and the inconsolable feare and terror which made them thinke that the Earle of Salisburie with his Armie had secretly conueyed himselfe into the Towne for their rescue so amazed and daunted the faint-hearted multitude that casting away their Armour abandoning all Order and entertaining nothing but Despaire they leapt headlong into the Riuer In which many of them were drowned more were slaine some were taken prisoners and the rest who ranne away left vnto this little handfull all their Tents foureteene Peeces of Ordnance fortie barrels of Powder three hundred Pypes of Wine two hundred Pypes of Bisket and of Flower and two hundred Peeces of Raisins and Figges fiue hundred Barrels of Herrings much Armour and manie other things A poore reuenge The New Constable intending to redeeme his honour with some better fortune recollected and furnished his Armie with which hee marched into the Countrey of Angeou where without resistance hee burnt a few of the smallest poorest and most vnworthie Villages of that Prouince This childish Seruice puft him vp with much pride and made him to imagine that he was now a warlike man though his owne Nation and all others did publikely mocke and scoffe at his grosse follie Whilest thus the Regent and his Captaines daily triumphed in France a dangerous and an vnkind jarre brake forth at home Variance betweene the Protector and his vncle the Bishop of Winchester betwixt the Protector and his vncle Henrie Bishop of Winchester and Lord Chancelor of England which threatened the breach of the Peace and Tranquilitie of this Kingdome and Commonweale For the appeasing whereof the Regent hauing made the Earle of Warwike his Lieutenant Generall and hauing set his affaires and businesse in good order came into England Where in a Court of Parliament the differences betwixt them were discouered arbitrated and the quarrell ended to the great comfort and contentment of their friends In honour whereof It is appeased the King kept a solemne Feast in which the Regent dubbed the King a Knight The King is dubbed Knight The King also inuested manie of his Great subjects with the same Dignitie and created his cousin Richard sonne to Richard late Earle of Cambridge Duke of Yorke and restored Iohn Mowbray who was Earle Marshall to his fathers Duchie of Norfolke Creation of Lords And in this meane time the Earle of Warwike approued himselfe to be a worthie Commander ouer his great charge and conquered manie things in Mayne and prepared to fight a set battaile whereunto he was challenged by the French But their threatnings were but brags and their courage fell downe into their heeles For A French bragge a little before the appointed time they basely and cowardly ranne away When all things were thus quieted at home the noble Regent being accompanied with his vncle the Bishop of Winchester returned into France And vpon the request of his brother in law 1426. 5 The Duke of Alanson is ransomed the Duke of Burgoine hee set at libertie the Duke of Alanson for the ransome of two hundred thousand crownes The most part of which money he would haue giuen backe againe A worthie Duke if the said Duke would haue sworne his homage to King Henrie which he refused to doe and did affirme That the whole world should not alienate his faith from King Charles nor his dutie from his
them The Londoners refuse to receiue the Lord Scales and told the Lord Scales that hee was able enough without his helpe or counsell to keepe that Citie which by the King was committed vnto his charge whereat he was much displeased and went to the Tower from which hee much wronged and damnified the inhabitants of London The King to defend himselfe The King marcheth towards the Lords and to master his rebellious enemies being accompanied with the Dukes of Somerset and of Buckingham and many other Lords Knights Gentlemen and a strong Armie marched towards them And though the King himselfe for necessities sake was personally present yet his minde and cogitations were more religiously bent to his praiers and his desires affected nothing more then quietnesse and peace But the Queene whose heart was manly The Queene encourageth and threatneth and whose anger threatned death with souldier-like termes and speeches cheared vp her followers debased their enemies promised rewards if they deserued well and the seuerest of all punishments to such as fled At length neere vnto the Towne of Northampton the two Armies met the Earle of March being very frolicke The Armies doe meet The battaile of Northampton and in the heat and flower of his youth by the aduice and counsell of the Earle of Warwicke ordered his Armie for the battaile The Queene and her adherents did the like The fight quickly beganne and fiercely continued somewhat more then two houres but at length the Earles became victors The King is ouerthrowen Ten thousand men slaine Slaughter slew more then ten thousand men on the kings part among which were Humfrey Duke of Buckingham Iohn Talbot Earle of Shrewesburie Thomas Lord Egremont Iohn Viscount Beamond and many others The Queene with the Duke of Somerset and diuers others Flight taking with them the young Prince fled into the Bishopricke of Durham where they hoped to raise a new Armie or resolued in default thereof to goe into Scotland and to remaine there vntill fortune and their friends should inable them to recouer what they had lost The King taken prisoner The Tower is deliuered to the Lords The King who was left behinde was taken prisoner and conueied by the Earles with great pompe and much honour vnto London and at their comming thither the Tower was deliuered into their possession by the souldiers against the liking and good will of the Lord Scales who attempted to flie from thence disguised in a Whirrie But being discouered by the Water-men he was by them taken The Lord Scales beheaded by the Water-men Tho. Thorpe taken and imprisoned The Duke of Yorke commeth into England A Parliament What the Duke of Yorke did and said in the Parliament house The Duke of Yorkes title and made shorter by the head and his body was negligently left vpon the sands And Thomas Thorpe the second Baron of the Exchequer who mortally hated the house of Yorke purposing in the habit of a Monke with a shauen Crowne to flie vnto the Queene was taken and brought to the Earle of Warwicke who sent him to the Tower where hee remained long after The Duke of Yorke being speedily informed of this victorie left Ireland and came to London and procured a Parliament to be assembled in the Kings name and in the presence of all the Lords in the Vpper House hee sate himselfe downe in the Imperiall Seat and in an eloquent and powerfull Oration hee discouered to the Nobles his rightfull claime and title to the Crowne he being the sonne and heire of Anne the daughter and heire of Roger Mortimer Earle of March sonne and heire to Philip the sole daughter and heire of Lionel Duke of Clarence the third sonne of King Edward the Third and elder brother to Iohn of Gaunt who was father to the Vsurper King Henry the Fourth who was father to King Henry the Fifth who was father to the King who was vntruly named King Henry the Sixth Englands plagues He also related vnto them that because God blessed not his vnlawfull gouernment therefore the Common-weale of England had beene plagued with many mischiefes As first by the murdering and by the executing of many honourable and great Lords Secondly by the slaughter of thousands of the common people in France Normandie and elsewhere Thirdly by ciuill and bloudie warres at home Fourthly by the losse of all Territories beyond the Sea belonging to the Crowne of England excepting Calice and the Marches thereof Fifthly by sudden incursions made by the Frenchmen and by the Scots And lastly by all manner of violence 1460. extortion and oppression practised vpon the poorer sort And in his conclusion hee craued no fauour vnlesse that iustice gaue them warrant The title to the Crowne settled by act of Parliament nor quiet possession of the Crowne except they found his descent and title to be infallibly true When the Lords and the Commons there assembled had with mature deliberation and good aduice debated soundly of this important businesse it was by them all enacted that King Henry should so long as he liued retaine the name and honour of a King and that the Duke of Yorke should be proclaimed to be the heire apparant of the Crowne and should be the Lord Protector both of the Kings person and also of his dominions and countries and that the said Duke should haue the present possession of the Crowne of this Realme deliuered vnto him if at any time King Henry or his friends allies or fauourites in his behalfe attempted the infringing of the said Acts which were agreed and confirmed by their oathes The Duke of Yorke hauing by these meanes gotten the gouernment of the Kings person and of all his dominions into his hands The Lords in Scotland refuse to come to the Duke of Yorke dispatched his letters into Scotland in the Kings name requiring the Queene the Dukes of Somerset and of Exeter the Earle of Demonshire the Lords Clifford and Rosse and such other great men as were fled and remained in that Kingdome to repaire with all expedition to the Kings presence They come on with a great Armie But they all not onely refused to obey this peremptorie command but with an Armie of eighteene thousand Englishmen Scots they marched boldly towards the Kings Court. Whereupon the Duke of Yorke with his younger sonne the Earle of Rutland and the Earle of Salisburie leauing the King in the custodie of the Duke of Norfolke and of the Earle of Warwicke and being accompanied with no more then fiue thousand men directed his iourney towards the Queene They are encountred The battaile of Wakefield Haste made waste The Duke of Yorke ouerthrowen and slaine A blâ—udie fact and met her neere to the Towne of Wakefield where no perswasions or good aduice could preuaile but the Duke of Yorke who euery houre expected the approch of Edward Earle of March his eldest sonne with a strong Armie would forth with
but applied them about Marcelles and by them they had no helpe And secondly because the Burgundians Flemings and their companions hauing Carts Waggons and other carriages and being neere vnto their owne Countries tooke and were able to carrie away the greater and the better part of all their spoiles and yet they would seldome fight as the Englishmen were compelled and enforced to doe The Duke not knowing what allowance the King would giue to the dissoluing of the Armie without his consent sent the Lord Sands and Sir Richard Ierningham to the King to informe him of the state of his Armie and also to know his pleasure touching the breaking of it vp But the King would not in any sort assent to their returne but prepared the Lord Mountioy with an Armie of 6000. men money and store of victuals and of other necessaries to hasten vnto their aide But before the returne of those two messengers the souldiers without the Dukes leaue wilfully departed home thorow Burgundie and Flanders And because the greater number of them had so done The Armie is dissolued therefore the Duke was compelled to breake vp his whole Armie whereat the King was highly displeased for a while but at length finding the Duke and chiefest Captaines faultlesse they returned home and were by his Maiestie receiued into his especiall grace and fauour The Scots are againe busie Whilest the Duke of Suffolke was thus busied in France the Duke of Albanie raised another Armie of 80000. men But to resist and to fight with them the Lord Admirall and Treasurer of England marched forth with an Armie of fortie thousand But the Scots not well enduring the sight of such powerfull and well appointed enemies presently ran away and would not strike one stroke And had the Earles commission beene enlarged and giuen them leaue to haue followed them into their owne Countrie vndoubtedly the Scots had receiued a fatall blow at that time but by quicke message A truce the Queene of Scots who was the Kings eldest sister againe obtained a truce so that in the meane time a triall might be made whether a peace woulde be concluded and agreed on or no. Betwixt the Marches of Bulleyn and of Calice diuers feats of Armes were euermore valiantly performed for honors sake in which sometimes the vanquished were againe victors and such as preuailed now were by and by ouercome The Duke of Albanie perceiuing that the Nobilitie of Scotland would no longer endure that hee being a Frenchman borne and next to the King the inheritor of that Crowne should haue the rule and gouernement of their King and Countrie The Duke of Albanie forsaketh Scotland Feared least any mischiefe might befall him or least by some deuise he should be deliuered to the King Wherefore hee secretly fled into France vpon whose departure much peace and quietnesse ensued betwixt the King and that kingdome For the Queene and Nobles of the Realme of Scotland The Scots desire peace by their Embassadors desired Peace And that the Ladie Marie who was then the only daughter of King Henrie and Heire apparant to his Crowne might be giuen in mariage to Iames their yong King To this motion it was answered that touching the said Peace if honorable and fit conditions might be proposed and concluded the King would willingly assent thereto But concerning the other point of their demaund hee said That hee was not yet resolued how to dispose of his said daughter for that shee was but yong yet in the end a peace was assented vnto and proclaymed in both those Realmes Likewise the Ladie Margaret Duches of Sauoy The Emperours Regent craueth peace and great Aunt to the Emperour and in his absence the Gouernour of the Low Countries by her Embassadours proposed to his Maiestie these requests First that the Lady Marie his daughter might bee giuen in mariage to the Emperour who longed for her with his best affections and respected her with his heartie loue Secondly that because the Emperour intended to giue vnto her for her Dowrie the Provinces of the Low Countries his desire was that forthwith shee might be sent thether to officiate the Protectorship of them in his absence Thirdly that such summes of money as the King intended to giue vnto her as her mariage portion might presently bee disbursed for the maintenance of the Emperors warres And last of all that the King himselfe would be pleased in his owne person the next spring to enter with a Royall Armie into France vpon the territories of the French King who in contempt of them both did diuers iniuries and wrongs vnto their Subiects and had made the first breach of the Peace which was concluded and by their oathes confirmed betwixt them three But because King Henrie was secretly displeased with the Emperor for that he by the raising and enhauncing of the prices and value of this gold and other coines within the Prouinces of the Low Countries had politikely drawne the greatest part of his money out of this Realme and in some other things had not respected him as his inleagued friend therefore hee only returned thanks for a fashions sake but made answere That his daughter was too yong to be maried to the Emperour and was as yet vnfit to be coupled with any Prince At the same time also the French King by his Embassadours The French desire to renew the peace desired that the said Ladie might bee espoused to his sonne the Dolphin And that the former peace betwixt the King and him might be renewed and reviued during both their liues These his motions to speake truly were best receiued and digested and were most likely to haue taken place if the French king him selfe and his children had not shortly after beene taken prisoners by the Duke of Burbons Armie and by the Marques of Pescarie as he lay at the siege of Paura where he lost fourteen thousand men and was defeated although he had then in his Armie almost fiftie thousand men The King in danger of death Among these friendly motions for peace and mariages an euill chance hapned to the King For one day as he hawked for his recreation and delight hee offered to leap ouer a wide and a watrie ditch but his staffe brake in sunder and his head pitched fast into the clay so that hee had assuredly dyed there if a footman of his owne named Edmund Moody had not quickly plucked his head out of the dirt About this time dyed the most Noble and Victorious Thomas Howard Duke of Norfolke and was honourably buried at Thetford in his owne Countrie The King who for a long time had wantonly conversed with a beautifull and a lasciuious Gentlewoman of his Court named Elizabeth Blunt begate on her a sonne Noble men created who by the King was called Henrie Fitz Roy This yong Gentleman being now of the age of sixe yeares was by the King created Earle of Nottingham and forthwith Duke
of Richmond And at the same time the Lord Henrie Courtney Cosen german to the King was made Marques of Exeter the Lord Henrie Brandon the eldest sonne of the Duke of Suffolke and of the French Queene Marie his wife being but two yeares old was created Earle of Lincolne Sir Thomas Manners Lord Roos was made Earle of Rutland and Sir Henrie Clifford was created Earle of Cumberland and Sir Robert Ratclife Lord Fitz Water was made Earle of Sussex and Sir Thomas Bullein the Treasurer of the Kings houshold was made Lord Rochford And thus in regard of great seruices honorably performed the king requited them with such honours as were answerable to their deserts and callings The French were humble to serue their owne turnes The Queene Regent of France foreseeing what present misery was likely to ruinate that Estate and Kingdome if in time by carefull prouidence it were not preuented sent Monsieur de Bryond chiefe President of Paris and some other Lords Ambassadors into England who not only according to their commission in a most submissiue and an humble sort confessed the iniuries and the wrongs done by the French Nation to King Henry and to his subiects both by sea and land in the absence of King Francis but for a requitall and satisfaction thereof and for the arrerage of his tribute they made offer to pay vnto the King the summe of twenty hundred thousand crownes whereof fiftie thousand pounds sterling should be paid in hand and fitting securitie should bee giuen for the rest they also promised the continuance of the said tribute and assumed to pay Queene Marie her dowrie and all the arrerages thereof if the King would grant them peace and receiue them into his loue and fauour The King and his Counsel hauing seriously considered of these motions and large offers for many important causes assented to their requests Peace concluded and caused those his conclusions and agreements to be proclaimed solemnely both in England and in France and receiued both money and good securitie accordingly But betwixt King Henrie and his nephew the Emperour by the subtill practises and craftie jugglings of Thomas Wolsey Cardinall of Yorke warres were denounced with euill termes Warres betweene the Emperor and King Henry but little or nothing was done thereon sauing that in England Spaine and in the Low-Countries the Merchants of either Nation and their goods and substance were attached to the infinite losse and damage of them all but vpon seuerall truces oftentimes concluded and againe broken they were released and againe arrested Merchants vexed wherby the ancient saying of the Poet was truly verified Quicquid Delirant Reges Plectuntur Achiui When Princes iarre and for reuenge doe seeke The meaner sort must pay for their dislike But in this place we must now obserue That in regard of those often concluded truces and in regard of the peace which vnited the kingdomes of England France and Scotland in one minde little or nothing worthie of our discourse more then hath formerly beene written hapned in sixe of the next ensuing yeares for the greater part of that time was spent and consumed in debatings enquirings ordering handling and disposing of the businesse of the Kings marriage with the Ladie Katherine of Spaine sometime his brothers wife And now the King who in a manner was wholly guided and directed by the priuate aduice and counsell of his chiefe fauorite Thomas Cromwel somtimes seruant to Cardinall Wolsey whom he had made a Baron and a Counseller of State The Popes authoritie curbed proceeded daily more and more to diminish nay by succeeding degrees clearely and absolutely to abrogate and to make voide the claimed power and authoritie of the Pope within this Realme In so much that in his Parliament he procured it to be enacted for a law That the penaltie of the Premunire should bee inflicted vpon the bodies lands and goods of euery such person as for any matter thing or cause whatsoeuer appealed to the See of Rome or did procure from thence any Processe Citation Inhibition Suspension Sentence or Iudgement whatsoeuer And in the next Session of the same Parliament to please and to content him the whole Clergie of this kingdom freely submitted themselues to the King touching their Spirituall and Ecclesiasticall affaires and busines and the Pope was vtterly depriued of all Annates and first fruits which formerly for Bishoprickes and other spirituall promotions and dignities had vsually been payed vnto him and likewise to establish and to confirme the lawfulnes of his marriage with Queene Anne and to settle the inheritance of his Crowne vpon her issue he procured it by Parliament to bee enacted That his former mariage with his brothers wife was absolutely void The Kings marriage made voide The Crowne entailed and of none effect in Law because it was contrarie to the Law of God and that the Popes dispensation had none effect or power to make it good and by the same Act the Crowne of this kingdome was entailed to the King and to his heires of his bodie out of which the Ladie Marie was inclusiuely excluded and to this Act all the Lords Burgesses there present were particularly sworne B. Fisher sauing Doctor Fisher Bishop of Rochester and Sir Thomas Moore Knight sometimes Chancellor of England who some few yeares before disliking the Kings proceeding against Queene Katherine Sir Thomas Moore and against the authoritie and iurisdiction of the Pope had deliuered vp the great Seale of England into the kings hands These two not only refused to sweare as the rest did but publikely contested and protested against the said Act of Parliament which nullified the kings said first mariage by reason of the Popes dispensation giuen to inable the same and to make it lawfull For which causes the said Bishop and Knight were sent vnto the Tower where they remayned vntill as Traitors they lost their heads They are beheaded for denying of the kings Supremacie in Ecclesiasticall things and causes and attributing it to the Pope of Rome of which the kings supremacie a Statute was made in Parliament the next yeare after About this time diuers treasonable practizes by malicious and lewd Conspirators were surmised and intimated to haue beene intended and contriued against the kings person by the Lord Dacres of the North. The Lord Dacres And thereupon he was Indicted and arraigned but the guiltlesse and well affected Lord with such a temperate boldnesse and with such a modest courage so discreetly and so wisely defended his innocencie against those false suggesters that he was freely acquited and discharged from all suspition and from all blame But by the whole Parliament Elizabeth Burton nick-named the holy maid of Kent and her Companions in mischiefe who vnder an hipocriticall shew and shadow of Religious deuotion The holy maid of Kent and of holinesse had conspired the Kings death being attainted and condemned were executed as Traitors according to