into Farmes for their particular vses and necessities and the residue of them they graunted or leased to their slaues and seruants thereby creating Manors and entitling themselues the Lords of them The King also vpon those his gifts proportioned those grounds diuiding them into Hydes of Land euery Hyde containing twentie acres and eight Hydes making a whole Knights fee. The Tenures which he reserued were Knights seruice in capite by meanes whereof his Tenants were enioyned to doe him manie necessarie and honorable Seruices either in his Warres or to his Royall person For the performance whereof he tooke their Oathes in publike Courts both of Homage and of Fealtie And by reason of this kinde of Tenure he disposed of the bodies of their Heires in marriage as he listed and retayned in his custodie and Wardship to his owne vse their whole Inheritance vntill they accomplished their age of one and twentie yeares Which Tenures are continued at this day And by his example others of great possessions did the like And thus may we plainely see as in a Mappe the perfect Modell and Description of his rigorous and sharpe Gouernement wherein he rather practised the licentious power of an insolent Conqueror than the gratious kindnesse of an annointed King By meanes whereof many feared few did loue him and such as pleased him best were many times in great hazard vpon small occasions to be frowned on ANNO. 2. In the second yeare of his raigne by reason of his Taxes which exceeded beyond measure the inhabitants of Northumberland and of Deuon Taxes caused Rebellions did rebell But such was his valour and expedition that ere they were aware thereof his forces like a loftie Sea or a whirling Wind rushed violently vpon them and easily subdued them to their paine ANNO. 3. And not long after Swanus then King of the Danes being animated and set on edge by the daily perswasions and enticements of such English Nobles The Danes inuade and are put to flight as to preuent their owne ruine and destruction were fled to him for succour arriued with a strong Armie in the North where the inhabitants endeuoring the enjoyment of their former libertie with bold courage assisted them in their inuasion But the King almost no sooner saw them than he compelled them vpon the loosing hand to flye vnto their shippes And to reuenge the infidelitie of the English he vtterly spoyled and harrowed their best and most fruitfull Lands The English are plagued lying betwixt Yorke and Durham So that by reason thereof for the space of nine yeares after those grounds lay wast and vnmanured and great numbers of people of all ages died miserably with famine and with want ANNO. 4. The next yeare after he summoned a generall Conuocation of his Clergie In which with much asperitie and bitternesse he accused diuers and sundrie graue and learned Bishops Abbots Priors and Religious Prelates of many surmises faults and offences for which he vtterly deposed and depriued them both of their Dignities Goods and Liuings all which he conferred vpon such as either through his fauour or for great summes of money were able to procure them These fearefull presidents of insufferable cruelties Another Rebellion prouoked Marcarus and Edwyn then Earles of Northumberland and of Mercia together with Egilwynus then Bishop of Durham to rebell But the King like a Lyon encountring their weaker forces draue Edwyn into Scotland where trecherously he was murdered He tooke Marcarus and imprisoned him in the Tower of London where manie yeares after he remained with little hope of his deliuerance And the Bishop being a prisoner in the Abbey of Abbington was cruelly famished to death At this time great strife touching the Primacie arose ANNO. 7. The Primacie of Canterburie ANNO. 9. betwixt the Archbishops of Canterburie and of Yorke which continued almost two yeares But at length Thomas was adiudged to be subordinate to Lanfrank then Archbishop of Canterburie and the other submitted himselfe accordingly In the twelfth yeare of this Kings Raigne at a great Synod holden at Paules Church in London some Bishopricks were translated from one place to another as Selwy vnto Chichester ANNO 12. Bishoprickes translated Kyrton vnto Exeter Wells vnto Bath Shirborne vnto Salisburie Dorchester vnto Lincolne and Lichfield vnto Chester Oswald Bishop of Salisburie ANNO 13. Secundum vsum Sarum was a most deuout and religious man he deuised a certaine forme of Prayers to be daily vsed in his Church which was so generally liked by the Clergie that they were published in bookes and vsed in other Churches Whence proceeded the common saying of Secundum vsum Sarum In the fifteenth yeare of this Kings Raigne by the instigation ANNO 15. and with the assistance of Philip the French King Robert his eldest sonne rebelled in Normandie A Rebellion in Normandie which occasioned his father to goe thither with an Armie But he was so stiffely encountred in the field that by his sonne he was vnhorsed and in great perill of his life But he rescued him againe reconciled himselfe receiued pardon and the King with much losse returned againe into England And within few yeares after ANNO 20. to be reuenged of manie iniuries and wrongs to him done by the said Philip from Normandie The Conqueror inuadeth France hee carried a puissant Armie into France where with fortunate successe and with abundance of crueltie he slew burnt spoyled and ransacked his People Townes and Countrey But so much was he trauelled in those affaires and so extreamely did he heate himselfe in those eager conflicts that presently he fell sicke and within few daies after he died The Conqueror falleth sicke and dieth after he had much sorrowed and lamented for the Tyrannies which he had exercised on the English Nation and at last he was buried at Cane in Normandie in the Abbey of S. Stephen which himselfe had builded But his Funerals were interrupted by a Norman Gentleman This dead dogge could not bite who would not permit him to be interred there vntill a satisfactorie recompence was vnto him giuen for that soyle which the Conquerour had vniustly taken from him Thus this victorious Conquerour whose minde was not to be confined with one Kingdome whilest he liued could being dead hardly obtaine a place to be buried in He left behinde him one daughter named Adela and three sonnes Robert to whome he gaue his Duchie of Normandie William surnamed Rufus because his complexion was verie redde and Henrie both which successiuely were Kings The description of the Conqueror He was of an indifferent stature strongly composed in his limbs and comely in his behauiour sterne of countenance and of an vndaunted spirit resolute in all his actions quicke in his Expeditions wise discreet and politike in the managing of his affaires and businesse He banqueted and hunted verie much coueted all oppressed such as he subdued to keepe them low and alwaies held his
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
he wanted oportunitie yet he resolued to push hard for the Crowne if Time and Fortune would present it to him This king for his inuincible valour and haughtie courage was esteemed to be almost matchlesse in the Christian world so that he was surnamed Cuer de Lyon Cuer de Lyon or the Lyons Heart And to say the truth he was such a one as vpon good aduice and counsell dared to attempt anie thing if it were honourable to be atchieued and possible to be done His fathers Treasure enriched him exceedingly with great store of Siluer and of Gold And such was his contempt of Riches A bountifull King and such was his Bountie to such as either deserued well or left in him anie impression of Noble worth that he bestowed on them great Gifts with such alacritie and cheerefulnesse that in short time he vnbowelled all his Bagges and Chests little foreseeing that future Businesses might require the expence of more than the great Plentie which was left vnto him and that when he wanted he should be enforced to make hard shift to relieue himselfe In the beginning of his Raigne The King resolueth to warre in the Holy Land vpon the Popes motion the Pope sollicited him with strong perswasions and manie promises of his Blessings to wage Warre in his owne person against the Turkes in the Holie Land and to attempt the winning of Ierusalem from the Infidels and vnbeleeuing Men who maliciously opposed themselues against the Incarnation Passion and Ascension of Christ Iesus Which journey he vndertooke because Frederick the Emperour Frederick Philip Leopold and Philip the second surnamed Augustus king of France Leopoldus then Archduke of Austria and manie other Christian Princes had engaged themselues both with Men Money and all other Prouisions to further those Attempts And thereupon he entred into Couenants with the king of France and the rest of that Vnion Their Couenants and Agreements That their generall meeting should be in Sicilia and that such Wealth and Bootie as GOD and good Fortune should make them Owners of should equally be shared and diuided among them and theirs These things being thus concluded although the kings profuse Expences and great Gifts exceeding measure had made him bare and needie yet would he not burthen his People with anie Taxe to supplie his wants The King in his wants would not taxe his people But raysing great summes of Money out of his owne Estate among other things he sold his Castles of Barwick and of Rokesbrough to the king of Scots for tenne thousand pounds and the Lordship and Earledome of Durham vnto Hugh then Bishop of that See for much money He leuieth money of his owne State He also enriched himselfe with Siluer and with Gold by the Sale of sundrie Honors Lordships Manors Offices Priuiledges Royalties and other things vnto such as parsimonie and sparing had made Owners and Possessors of great plentie and did protest His willingnesse to vndertake this voyage That for the performing of so great and honorable a Seruice he was not vnwilling to sell his Citie of London if anie were of abilitie to buy it rather than he would be chargeable vnto others And thus the king hauing furnished himselfe with all prouisions fit and necessarie for his journey and hauing leuied a strong Armie in which were manie Lords William Longchamp made Regent of England Knights and Gentlemen whose resolutions encreased his hopes of good successe he committed the principall Gouernment of his Kingdome vnto William Longchampe then Bishop of Ely who not long after was made the Popes Legate The King departeth And then he sayled with his whole Armie to the Isle of Cyprus which with braue courage after manie hot and dangerous Encounters hee wonne and sold the same to the Knights Templars for thirtie thousand Marks He winnes Cyprus and sells it for 30000 marks And from thence according to his former appointment he transported his Armie into Sicilia where he met with Philip the French king and vpon their first enter-view they pleased each other with manie passages of familiaritie and of loue But this faire Sunne-shine was quickly vayled and couered with a cloud of skorne and discontentment A iarre betweene the King and Philip King of France For when the French king was denyed to haue anie part or share with king Richard in his atchieuement of the Isle of Cyprus both because hee was absent when it was taken and also because it was affirmed by king Richard That their Couenant extended onely to such things as they should winne and gayne in the Holie Land he waxed angrie and vsed manie high and disdainefull tearmes and made publike shew of inward discontent King Richard neglected the French Kings anger All which king Richard did set at nought and told him to his face That doe what he dared he should not be a partner in that Bootie It stood not with king Philips honour to waxe cold so soone in this great Enterprize whereon the eyes of all the Christian World were fixed and dastardly to returne home But howsoeuer hee had disposed of himselfe and of such Forces as hee commanded yet king Richard was resolued to goe forth so that Necessitie enforcing them to some agreement they proceeded in their Iourney The Christian Princes doe preuaile In which they all and their Confederates performed manie honourable and wonderfull deedes of Armes terrifying and daily diminishing the Turkes Numbers and Forces with continuall slaughters and giuing them but little leysure or courage to resist And among manie other strong Townes Forts Castles and Garrisons of great strength and importance which they conquered they wonne after a long and a sharpe Siege by maine Batteries and resolute Assaults Acon wâ—on the stoutly defended Citie of Acon Vpon the walls whereof a forward knight aduanced the Banner and the Colours of Leopold the Archduke of Austria King Richard trampleth on Leopolds colours But king Richard skorning that too much Grace and Honour should be done vnto the Duke and his owne deserts be thereby blemished he hauing first of all entred into the Citie ranne vp vnto the Wall plucked downe that Banner and those colours and trampled them with his feete Wherat the French King was much displeased and gaue his tongue libertie to speake great things The French King is angrie But King Richard neglecting his frownes and laughing at his discontent affirmed that in so doing hee had onely righted himselfe of those Iniuries which were done to him And that if any were disposed to looke sower thereat hee was carelesse of his anger King Richards courage and in the field would be ready to maintaine his doings against any The French King swelling at the heart to see King Richard thus carelesse resolute and bold The forces of the Empire and of the French King and of Leopold do leaue K. Richard And seeming to distrust least by some secret
as if hee onely waited for a fit oportunitie to depart Yet in the meane time king Philip his father with great care and cost prepared new Forces for his aide and shipped them for this Realme But Hugh de Burgh being a man prouident Hugh de Bergh preuaileth on the sea and truly valiant and being chiefe Master of the fiue Ports hauing fitted a strong Fleete of good Shippes and furnished them to the proofe with choice Mariners and expert men of Warre encountred them brauely vpon the Sea and with such hardie blowes so fiercely did assayle them that beeing altogether vnable to resist him they submitted themselues and all their Shippes vnto his mercie The French are absolued and doe returne This noble Exploit being thus attended by Victorie forthwith drew Prince Lewis to a milde entreatie of Peace So that being absolued by Guallo and receiuing good summes of money to further his returne he surrendred all such Forts Castles and Townes as hee had taken and with his companies sayled into France leauing his English friends who had supported his Estate and part in all these Warres to the censure of the Lawes and to end their miserable dayes with sundrie executions and strange deaths The Common-weale being now suffered to breath A Parliament and hauing found some leisure to prouide fitting medicines to cure such maladies as distempered her estate required that a Parliament might be sommoned which was graunted King Edwards lawes restored and in it the ancient Lawes of King Edward were reduced and restored to their former vigor and strength And the Grand Charter in those dayes called Magna Charta comprising sundry laws Magna Charta which were both easefull and commodious to the common people was ratified and confirmed And whereas the Wardships of the heires of such of the Kings tenants as died Warships marriages Ann. 902. Ann. 1056. seized of any lands by them holden in Knights seruice was graunted to King Edgar during their minorities and their marriages were afterwards granted to King Edward the Confessor Those lawes which a long time had lien asleepe were now reuiued and awaked and were restored to their former vse In the same Parliament also a voluntarie Taxe was frankely giuen to the King A voluntarie Taxe partly to discharge such debts as former warres had occasioned and partly to leuie new forces to be conducted by Richard the kings brother for the recouering of Poyters and of Gascoyne which of late yeers most iniuriously and with too much violence had been vsurped and taken from King Henries predecessors by the French King The Parliament being ended the said Taxe An Armie transported into Gascoyne c. with great celeritie and without contradiction by any was soone leuied so that the Kings Coffers were replenished with siluer and with gold and all requisits were carefully prouided and a gallant Armie of couragious men of warre were assembled and safely transported Richard recouereth Poyters and Gascoine With which Richard the Kings brother did almost wonders subduing where he found resistance and seizing vpon Lordships Towns Forts Castles and other defenced places quietly and without blowes where no head was made against him So that within few moneths such was his valor and good fortune he recouered both those Prouinces wholly for the king and returned with much honor into England But the kings absence from those places The French King winneth Poyters Perigot c. ministred opportunity to the French king to be vnfriendly and daily to make wars roads incursions and inuasions into those Prouinces which without colour of right he endeuored to subdue So that hee refusing no aduantage which might in any sort further his desires suddenly led a new Armie into Poyters and quickly made himselfe the Lord thereof And then he marched into Pierigot and Aluerne and other places in Guian where he did the like But king Henry sent thither another Armie A new Army transported with which his brother Richard Earle of Cornwall fought many cruell and sharpe battailes and in the most of them Fortune assisted him with good successe and all things afforded him great hopes A peace is concluded that hee should recouer whatsoeuer in his absence had been lost But in the height of all these broyles a friendly peace was concluded betwixt the two Kings and Richard returned safely into England The causes of dislike betwixt the K. and his Barons These troubles being thus ended and peace gladding the hearts of all such as had been tired with those warres vnkinde iealousies began to breed much hart-burning betwixt the King and his own Barons for that as they conceiued the King reposed little confidence in their faith neglected their seruice and societie and applied himselfe and his fauours wholly vnto strangers whom neither alliance nor Countrie bound to performe any dutie towards him nor would be found trustie when the hand of his bountie and liberalitie was closed vp The King reconcileth himself to his Barons And the King perceiuing their discontent entered into the secret closet of his owne breast and tooke a strict examination of his owne dealings And finding them to bee such as iustly might displease he reformed his error remoued the causes of those dislikes and louingly reconciled himselfe to his Nobles Iohn Scot Earle of Chester dieth About this time Iohn Scot Earl of Chester died without issue male hauing foure daughters heirs From them the king resumed into his own hands that Earledom and all the Territories belonging thereunto which he augmented with large additions of yearely reuennues and many Regall Priuiledges Liberties and Honours And for a recompence and by way of exchange he gaue vnto those Ladies many Honors Lordships Castles and Mannors which exceeded their owne in true value And hauing married Prince Edward Chester and Wales annexed to the Kings eldest sonnes his sonne to Elyanor sister vnto the King of Spain he gaue vnto him the Prouince of Guyan the Lordship of all Ireland and created him Earle of Chester and Prince of Wales which two later dignities he then annexed to the eldest sonnes of the Kings of this Realme The murdering of the King is attempted And not long after a Clerk dwelling in Oxford counterfeiting a kind of madnesse attempting to murther the King for which purpose in the depth of the night he crept in at the window of the Kings chamber in which most commonly hee lodged But failing of his purpose because the King lay not then there hee was taken examined confessed his villanie and by the course of law being condemned he was put to a cruell death The French King breaks the league We haue heard before that a peace was concluded between the Kings of England and of France but the French kings were alwaies secretly or openly malicious to the Kings of this Realme because they had certaine Territories and Prouinces in France which bordered on their Countries And
this malice made them little respectiue of the sanctitie of such solemne Oathes and honest promises as more strongly than bonds of yron should binde Kings For no sooner was anie gappe open into which they might thrust a foote nor anie oportunitie were it neuer so little was offered but that they threw behind their backes the remembrance of all Truces Leagues and Conuentions of Peace whatsoeuer and made all things to be lawfull which either by sleight or by violence they could enterprise or doe And as common experience oftentimes made it manifest so did it now For about the foure and twentieth yeare of King Henries Raigne Lewis the ninth with a deuouring Armie entred into Guyan Lewis the ninth inuadeth Guyan and spoyled and wasted that Countrey in all places where hee came And King Henrie intending their quicke reliefe and purposing if he might to regaine all Normandie and such other Prouinces as the kings of France vnjustly had detained from him sayled thither with a puissant Armie King Henrie carrieth an armie thither and oftentimes bickered with his enemies against whome sometimes he preuailed and at other times had the worser hand Yet his haughtie courage abandoned all feare and no perils whatsoeuer could make him shrinke for in all those skirmishes he performed stout resolution and the noble valour of a worthie king But Fortune no further fauouring those his endeauours He steppeth the French Kings courses but beats him not back than onely enabling him to stop the French Kings proceedings hee returned into England But shortly before his departure the French king married his brother Alphonsus vnto the daughter of the Earle of Tholouse and gaue to him the Earledome of Poytiers and all king Henrie Territories in Aluerne and plotted cunningly to haue procured the Earle of March to doe him homage for such Lands as hee affirmed he held of the said Earledome of Poytiers But hee stoutly refused to yeeld vnto him anie such dutie or seruice And this his denyall so enraged the French king The Earledome of March is inuaded by the French that he entred with an Armie into the Earledome of March and daily spoyled it without sparing But king Henrie hauing carefully employed his labors to withstand this violence and hauing raised a faire Armie which himselfe conducted transported it vnto Burdeaux And not farre from thence due preparations on all parts being made both the Armies met in which the bloud of the most valiant men of Warre was freely sold and dearely payed for But in the end Fortune extending more fauour to the French King Henrie leaues the field than to King Henrie he was enforced with the losse and slaughter of his best men to leaue the Field The Earle of March submits himselfe And the Earle of March grieuing at this mishap and being loth that King Henrie should be engaged in a greater danger submitted himselfe and obtained Peace on faire conditions with the French King And then King Henrie returned into England and married one of his sisters vnto Alexander then King of Scots because hee would the better assure himselfe of his friendship in time of neede 41. 1256. The Barons Warre And now began those mischieuous broyles and turmoyles within this Realme which vntill the kings death daily yea almost hourely vexed and molested him and his whole kingdome For the King of later yeares lending too pleasing an eare to manie lewd and euill Officers whome aboue all others he best loued and fauored The causes thereof and by whose counsell and aduice both himselfe and his whole Estate was guided and directed made little account and reckoning of the best of his subiects loue and tooke from them in diuers things such libertie and freedome as by the Lawes and Ordinances of this kingdome they justly claymed and ought to haue enioyed Hee also pinched his people with manie vnnecessarie Impositions and grieuous Taxes which by those lewd and bold Officers were with much rigor and sharpenesse leuied to their great dislike And the king following their humours assembled his High Court of Parliament in Oxford In which his designes were altogether crossed and the prosecution of businesses was so vnfortunate to the whole Estate of this Realme that ab euentu it was euer after named Insanum Parliamentum Insanum Parliamentum or the Madde Parliament For when multitudes of such as were grieued swarmed thither and complained of manie iniuries and wrongs which daily did oppresse them the Lords and the Commons endeauouring to redresse what was amisse established manie things profitable as they intended them for the Commonweale but highly derogating from the Prerogatiue of the king The Kings Prerogatiue crossed And to the end that those things which they had so contriued and concluded should be inuiolably kept and obserued choise was there made of twelue of the grauest and most worthie persons of this kingdome whereof the Earles of Leicester and of Glocester were the chiefest and they were stiled with the title of Les douze Piers Les douze Piers. or the Twelue Peeres to whom complete and absolute authoritie and power was largely giuen to support and to maintaine those Lawes For which cause they publikely receiued their Patent and a solemne Oath All which was sealed and ratified by the King himselfe The King ratifieth their Commission although vnwillingly he did it So that the Parliament being ended the said Commissioners began by strict execution to giue life vnto those Ordinances and Lawes For which purpose The Commissioners displace the Kings Officers and Attendants they first of all dismissed and did clearely thrust from their Places Offices and Attendance manie of the Kings meniall seruants and appointed others in their stead And this their doing was aboue all other things most distasted and grudged at For the King perceiuing that such as waited on his person should rather be trusted by others than by himselfe and that hee himselfe should be furthest off from chusing such as should be neerest vnto him waxed infinitely melancholie and sad And hoping that vpon further aduice and counsell hee should receiue better contentment and be more kindly vsed 43. 1258. Another Parliament hee assembled another Parliament in which with great griefe and extraordinarie Passion he complained of the hard measure which was offered to his owne Person by the Twelue Peeres So that much labour was taken by his neerest friends The King complaineth not onely to abolish their Authoritie and Power but also to cancell and to make void those new Ordinances and Lawes But such was the determinate resolution of the Lords in generall and of the Commons of that Assemblie The former Lawes and Ordinances are confirmed that in stead of pleasing the King with Reformation answerable to his desires they ratified and confirmed whatsoeuer was formerly concluded on and by the Archbishop of Canterburie and nine other Bishops of this Kingdome A Curse a solemne Curse was
publikely denounced against all such as either by Direction or by Armes or otherwise withstood or hindered the execution of those Lawes or the Authoritie of the Twelue Peeres These new proceedings so much augmented the Kings furie and implacable discontent that euen those things The King is full of indignation which by his naturall disposition hee chiefely delighted in were by him loathed and detested most And to the end that he might procure and purchase more contentment and joy abroad than hee could finde at home hee sayled into France He sayleth into France to visite King Lewis the ninth by whome he was with all gentlenesse and courtesie receiued and lodged in his owne Palace where hee was feasted as a friend and honoured with all accomplements appertaining to a great King And at the same time hee concluded a Marriage betwixt Iohn Duke of Britaine and one of his owne Daughters Normandie surrendred to the Kings of France by King Henrie The French King also held a Grand Parliament of Estate in which he protested publikely That his conscience was much grieued for that vnjustly and without Title hee detained from King Henrie his Duchie of Normandie and such other Territories in France as in right he ought to enioy And on the other side King Henrie intending to conclude an inuiolable Peace with so deare a friend and to remoue from him all future scruples of his conscience in that behalfe frankely and freely surrendred to him the said Duchie King Henrie is made Duke of Guyan together with the Lordships of Angeou Poytiers and Mayne And in the same Parliament with great solemnitie and honour hee receiued againe to himselfe and to his heires the said three Lordships with the style of the Duke of Guyan for which he did his Homage in that Assemblie Discord betweene the Prince and the Duke of Glocester Whilest these things thus proceeded in France a publike Quarrell vpon some secret displeasure conceiued by reason of the execution of those curbing Lawes began to breake forth betwixt Edward the young Prince and the Duke of Gloucester which by the Barons was stoutly suppressed vntill the Kings returne by whome they were not long after reconciled and made friends The King procureth two Bulls from Rome The King being vexed at the heart because his Regall Authoritie was diminished by the Twelue Peeres and not finding anie redresse thereof at home endeauoured to procure some remedie thereof by his friends abroad And for that purpose with the great expence of much Coyne and with rich and costly Gifts hee secretly obtained two Bulls from Pope Alexander the third by both which the King himselfe and all others who had formerly sworne to obserue and to maintaine those new Ordinances and Lawes and to support the Proceedings and the Authoritie of the twelue Peeres were freely absolued from their Oathes Yet the twelue Peeres not hauing anie notice of those Bulls ruled all and were so busily employed about their charge that the King had little or nothing at all to doe They had but small leysure to recreate themselues with anie sports but the King had time ynough to play for hee was a King in name but not in Authoritie nor in Power The Lord chiefe Iustice displaced Among others Sir Hugh le Spencer being then Lord chiefe Iustice of England and an especiall fauourite with the King administred the Lawes of this Realme not according to Equitie and Right but after his owne fancie and will and such was his indiscreete carriage of most things which belonged vnto his Office and to his place that the Twelue Peers farre against the Kings minde remoued him and supplied his roome by Sir Philip Basset a man well learned wise vertuous and discreet They also dismissed such Sherifs and Iustices errants as the King had made and bestowed those offices vpon others Iustices errants and Sherifs displaced The Popes Bulls are published by the King so that the king being vnable any longer to endure those indignities and deepely repining to be euery houre disgraced and crossed by his owne subiects resolued presently to make vse of the Popes Bulls for which purpose he caused them with great solemnitie and reuerence to be proclaimed in sundry eminent places in England Ireland and in Wales and therewithall he commanded straighty That all such of what estate condition He countermandeth the authority of the Twelue Peers The Londoners are sworne to obey and to aide him and degree soeuer they were as did from thenceforth by word or by deede support and maintaine the said Ordinances and Lawes or the authoritie of the said Twelue Peers should be committed to strong prisons and should not be enlarged but by his especiall notice and consent He also took a solemne oath in the Citie of London of all such as were twelue yeeres old or more to be true faithfull and ayding to him and to his heires and did perswade himselfe that by this means he should from thenceforth haue his owne will But he was much deceiued therein for such was the resolution of his Barons to the contrary that they protested they would rather die then cease to vphold all those things which in so honorable an assembly they had solemnly sworn to maintaine And some of them coniecturing The resolution of the Barons and peraduenture not without good cause that the King in priuat contriued som desperat plot The Barons raise an Armie to set himselfe at libertie by their ruine repaired to the Marches of Wales where they raised a strong Armie and furnished it with all things needfull and conuenient for the warre And standing thus vpon their Guard yet resolued to abstaine from all violence Their Letter to the K. except necessitie which obeyeth no King nor laws should vrgently compell them to take a sharper course They addressed their Letters in most submissiue and humble sort and sent them to the King protesting with many oaths their dutie and their seruice to his Grace and entreating his Highnesse for the honour of Almightie God for his owne soules health and for the welfare and happinesse of his people and Kingdome vtterly to defie except his Queene and Children all such as either counsailed him The King makes them no answer or did themselues intend to suppresse the Ordinances and laws which were established at Oxford or the authoritie and the power which for the Common-weales prosperitie was graunted to the Twelue Peeres The King hauing read those Letters was much displeased and returned not any answer to the Barons The Barons march toward London wherfore they maintained a stout march towards London vnder a Banner richly and beautifully flourished with the Kings Armes And as they passed by the houses or possessions of such as fauoured the Popes Bulls they robbed spoyled wasted burnt and consumed them with fire holding them for vndoubted enemies to the King and to his Crowne And when they approached neere to the Citie
that quarter where the Prince serued And to saue themselues from his furie vpon his comming thither they raised their siege from the Citie of Acon The siege of Acon raised which for a long time they had continued with more then a hundred thousand men And seeing that his death could not be hastened by force and violence in the open field The Prince was villanously wounded they attempted it by poysonings and other secret villanies which tooke no effect But at length a dogged Sarazen grieuously wounded him with an enuenomed Knife yet after much paine and great danger hee escaped death But in his absence his father King Henrie died and was buried at Westminster The King dieth when he had raigned more then fiftie and six yeers whereof the Prince was quickly informed and therfore by great iournies hee safely returned with great honour into ENGLAND THE HISTORIE OF KING EDVVARD THE FIRST WHEN Edward surnamed Longshankes was informed of his fathers death he made quick preparations for his returne from the Holie Land The new King returneth from the Holie Land and by great journeyes trauailed vntill he came into England where with the generall applause both of his Nobles and common People hee was crowned King when he was of the age of fiue and thirtie yeares Wee haue heard how when The French kings practise against King Edward and where Symon de Mountford Earle of Leicester Henrie his eldest sonne and sundrie other Barons were slaine in the last Battaile betweene them and the last King And it is true that after his ouerthrow the Ladie Elianor his daughter with manie others of his allies and kinsfolkes were sentenced to Exile and departed into France where they were courteously receiued by the French king Philip the third surnamed the Hardie whose kind entertaining of them proceeded not so much from his owne bountie and naturall disposition to Liberalitie as it did from an opinion which hee conceiued That in so doing hee should gaine the loue and good liking of manie English Lords who being discontented with the last Kings Gouernment were not well pleased with his sonne who had crossed them in most of those affaires And moreouer he knew the noble valour and courage of King Edward to be so eminent that it was now high time to craue counsell of Wisdome and of Policie how and by what meanes he might preuent him from making himselfe more great And because Reason and common Experience taught him That hee whose owne house is on fire will rather imploy his endeuours to quench that flame than to set his enemies house on fire also hee therefore practised secretly with Lluellen the most valiant Lluellen of Wales sueth to the French King to haue in marriage Elianor the exiled daughter of the late Earle of Leicester and greatest in dignitie among the Welchmen that he with those inhabitants would rebell if at anie time anie Warres were but likely to be attempted against the French Nation by King Edward And this his plot was much furthered by the exile of the aforesaid Ladie Elianor who being by reason of her misfortunes in the disposing and power of the French King was with great importunitie desired in marriage by the said Lluellen to whome vpon those conclusions and agreements especially shee was sent with honourable attendance and rich gifts She is sent towards Wales But king Edward being secretly informed both of the said purpose and of her passage towards Wales wisely preuented his owne danger and intercepted her on the Sea She is taken at Sea and detained her as his prisoner By meanes whereof Lluellen whose best Rhetoricke to persuade was by open Warre and Rebellion entred into the field with manie thousands Lluellen rebelleth who were more readie to robbe and to steale than to reclayme themselues and to be mindfull of their dutie to their Prince The King rayseth an Armie The King likewise on his part purposing to make his first voyage terrible to the Welchmen for examples sake to that fickle Nation leuied so strong an Armie that by all conjectures the Welchmen were altogether vnable to resist him And it seemed they thought so too For their chiefest Captaine and Leader partly for the loue which he bare to his longed-for Ladie and partly to preuent those fatall dangers which knocked at his dore vnexpectedly submitted himselfe to the Kings Grace Lluellen voluntarily submitteth himselfe and yeelded himselfe to be disposed of wholly and onely at the Kings pleasure and vowed and protested with manie great and solemne Oathes That his obedience should be constant Lluellen voweth and sweareth loyaltie and his sword alwaies readie to serue the King both against France and against all others in future time if he might be made happie with the Kings fauour and haue the enjoyment of his Ladie Lluellen is pardoned fauored and wiued The King whose heart was euer enclined to mercie and more desired by affabilitie to winne an enemie than to conquer him by blowes and supposing that his loue to his Mistresse would be a stronger bond to strengthen his allegeance than anie other thing freely granted him his pardon his fauour and his wife And thus those Warres which menaced the death of manie thousands were quietly ended without the effusion of anie bloud But within few yeares after Lluellen Lluellen rebelleth by the wicked persuasions and enticement of his brother Dauid a man more contentious than prouident and lesse valiant than mutinous and yet one whome the King did extraordinarily loue and fauour rebelled against the King and fought with Sir Roger Mortymer manie sharpe and aduantagious battailes Lluellen and his brother are taken and beheaded But at length Gods judgements hastening Traytors to a shamefull end both of them were taken and their heads as Trophies of the victorie were sent vnâ—â— the King who caused them to be set vpon the Tower of London for a terror vnto others and there they remained long after But notwithstanding all this yet the naturall disposition of the Welchmen so strongly preuailed and so blind they were and vnable to foresee their owne ruine The Welchmen rebell againe and againe that within few moneths after they rebelled twice and by manie slaughters and strange executions they were subdued and compelled to obey And because their Warres were rather maintained and cherished by shiftings and by startings into the huge and vast Woods which made those Rebels more disordered They are subdued and confident to saue themselues when greatest danger did approach the King caused those Woods to be hewen downe Their woods are burned and to be consumed with fire By meanes whereof they were reduced to a more ciuill kinde of life They become more ciuill and began to practise diuers commendable Occupations Arts and Sciences and tooke some pleasure from thenceforth to liue like honest men In the eighteenth yeare of King Edwards Raigne The King of Scots breaketh
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
their owne Countrey receiued the ouerthrow and hauing seene the slaughter of manie thousands in his Armie among which were Gilbert de Clare Earle of Glocester The King receiueth a great ouerthrow and two and fortie other Lords and more than threescore knights and Baronets besides two and twentie men of Name who were taken prisoners hee was compelled for his owne safetie shamefully to flye and with dishonourable successe to returne againe into England The King flyeth Where he was eftsoones perplexed and put to much trouble by the vntrue and desperate attempt of one Iohn Poydras a Tanners sonne dwelling in Exeter Iohn Poydras discouered and executed who boldly affirmed himselfe to be the truly begotten sonne of the last king and said That he was changed in his Cradle by his Nurse for a Carters child and offered diuers colourable proofes for the same and among the rest he strongly instanced vpon the vnworthie and base conditions of the king sorting to none so fitly as vnto one of obscure and of common birth This his clayme and bold assertions quickly abused the eares and the hearts of the vulgar and drew manie of them for want of wisdome and obedience to flocke vnto him as to their king But at length he was apprehended and hauing confessed his Treason and his folly and being arraigned conuicted and condemned hee was executed according to his deserts At the same time also Barwike betrayed to the Scots the strong and almost impregnable Castle of Barwike was trecherously betrayed into the hands of Robert le Bruse the vsurping king of Scots and such a generall scarcitie of all sorts of Victuals and such a Murreine of all kinds of Cattell so punished the people A famine Theeues beare great sway that the like before among them was neuer seene And diuers notorious and bold Theeues to the number of two hundred at the least being cloathed in Friers weeds of gray without respect of person or of sexe The Scots inuade England robbed and spoyled the Inhabitants of the North. But in the end they were taken and according to their deserts were put to death The Scots also raised a new Armie and with great violence and furie they entred England The Famine grieuously increaseth where besides the great afflictions occasioned by that watre the Inhabitants of those Countries were so pinched and plagued with famine that in many places those who liued scarcely sufficed to interre their dead and the rest to preserue their liues were compelled to sustaine themselues in the great extremitie of their hunger by eating of Rats Mice Cats Dogges Horses and such like The King is ouerthrown the second time by the Scots A miserably distressed people The King intending to suppresse the Scots and to correct them for their insolencie and folly encountred them with his whole Armie but receiued a notorious ouerthrow and being scornfully checked and disgraced by his bold and sawcie enemies hee returned home again with great ignominie and shame leauing his poore subiects in the North so miserably distressed and vnrelieued as euer any people were forsaken by an vnworthie and a carelesse King The vse of this History Of these disgraces and of these troubles we make this profitable vse That as the heroicall vertues of excellent Princes are crowned with many blessings from aboue so for the iniquitie and hainous transgressions of wicked and vngodly Kings both themselues and their people likewise are seuerely punished by God before whom Princes must fall as well as the common subiects except their true and heartie repentance being ioyned with the amendment of their liues doe in season procure his mercie and his fauour The Nobles endeuour reformation The Peeres and the Nobles of this Kingdome perceiuing that the diseases of the Common-weale did daily encrease and growe more dangerous determined like good Physitians narrowly to search out the causes of these maladies and to finde some remedie to cure them before it were too late They complain on the two Spencers The miserable examples of all kinds of wickednesse which presented themselues vnto their view emboldned them to informe the King That the two Spencers and their misguiding of the State by whom only and by none other the King was counsailed and directed were the immediat occasioners of all those mischiefes and calamities which miserably afflicted and tormented the whole Kingdome They plainly tolde him That such was their interest in the Kings person and in his gouernment of his people that they were bound in honour and for conscience sake to informe his Highnesse of all such misdemeanors committed by any of his subiects as tended to the subuersion of the State and the disturbing of the common peace therof and then they became importunat sutors to his Maiestie That he would be pleased to put from him the two Spencers who corrupted him with monstrous vices and made him altogether carelesse of those duties which by Almightie God were required at his hands They told him likewise That as subiection belonged to the people so the King was bound to protect them and that vnconscionably and most dishonorably he had left his Commons in the North to the rage and rigor of the Scots The resolution of the Nobles touching the two Spencers and to all extremities of hunger and of other wants and that if he pleased not vpon their humble entreaty and request to cassier those two gracelesse Counsailors of their places and from his seruice they then must and would presume to doe it though it were with the hazard and perill of their owne liues The king could not choose but hearken to this grieuous and true report For as it was founded and grounded vpon conscience and on duetie so was it maintained with a constant resolution to reforme that which was amisse He bit his lip thereat and his countenance proclaimed his discontentment The King frowneth on his Nobles Inwardly he meditated and deuised how he might surprise those Noble-men who most of all stomacked the two Spencers whom so immoderatly hee did loue yet inwardly his tongue gaue the Barons a pleasing answere so that hee forthwith sommoned his high Court of Parliament A Parlamēt and pretending a reformation of all things that were conceiued to be amisse he gladded the hearts of his Nobles and Commons exceedingly But the Lords and Barons although they reioiced much that the time would shortly come The Nobles do stand vpon their guard in which these matters should be substantially debated on yet were they iealous and suspected lest the king intended their surprisal in that solemn meeting wherfore the greater numbers of them repaired vnto London beeing strongly garded with a braue Armie of sufficient and gallant men which were all cloathed in a like Liuerie whereat the king was highly displeased but most of all it grieued him that hee knew the Barons would haue their owne wil by taking and separating from him the two
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
Prince Edward of England the great Lord and master of those Countries Malum consilium consultori pessimum And to effect what therein hee did intend hee called a generall Councell of the Lords and great men of those Territories and appointed the place of their meeting to bee at Sluce where hee also procured the presence of king Edward and of the Prince his sonne To draw these States together he proposed nothing publikely but the necessitie of a sound conference touching their proceedings with the King of England against France And within the Hauen there the place of Councel was in King Edwards great ship called the Katharine But vnexpectedly to the Flemish Lords Iaques Dartuell discoursed boldly and at large of the great Honour Prowes and valour of King Edward and of the yong Prince his Sonne And by many circumstances and deuised arguments hee endeauoured to extenuate the worth of their owne Earle as being altogether vnfit and vnable to be a Lord of so great a coÌ„mand and in the conclusion of his speech hee strongly striued to perswade them all to depose the Earle Loys and his posteritie and to adde an inuincible strength to their Estates by electing and chusing the Prince of England to be their Master and great Lord. The Nobles and the great men of Flanders being now made eare witnesses of Iaques Dartuells attempt Displeasing Counsell And inwardly detesting to leaue vnto a future age a memoriall of such treacherous infidelitie and wrong made answere that albeit no people in the world did more then they respect King Edward Nor more affect the aduancement and the Honour of the Prince his Sonne Yet this motion could not preuaile except the Natiues and common people of those Countries who had as large an interest as they in the deposing of the said Earle and in the disposing of his Lordship and command would willingly assent thereto And though in their heartes they intended and ment nothing lesse yet to make faire weather for the present time They told the King that they liked the motion exceeding well and that they would foorthwith depart vnto the seuerall places of their habitations and would informe the people of this proiect and do their best endeauours to perswade and to incourage them to consent thereunto And hauing promised the King that at the end of one Moneth they would returne againe with their full answere to the said motion And hauing mutually performed all complements requisite for a kind farewell they departed thence But when this newes was diuulged and when it was publikely knowne what Iaques Dartuell had proposed No trusting to the peoples fauour Iaques Dartuell is hated and murdred both he and his practise were inwardly detested and so hated that he was not esteemed to be a true borne Fleming who had the least inclination to giue any furtherance thereunto Yet notwithstanding such was the great confidence which this great Commaunder reposed in the fauour of the common people and such was the resolution of him whose authoritie before that time was vnlimited and whose prosperitie was equall to the greatnesse of a potent King that his presence would worke wonders and change the minds of the common people That to make triall of his power in that behalfe he came to Gaunt But as he passed through the streetes he might well perceiue that his entertainment was nothing correspondent to his former wel-comes and that the countenances of the Inhabitants bewrayed their inward contempt and loathing both of him and of his despised motion And no sooner was hee entred into his house but by many thousands of mutenous and armed Swaggarers it was compassed round about and then was hee rayled on with the foulest words and reuiled with the most bitter termes that either their hearts could deuise or their tongues vtter So that hee perceiued that it auailed him not to looke bigge nor to presume by his authoritie to appease their rage Wherefore at a great window of the house hee began mildly and with humble termes to pleade in his owne excuse and promised to giue them a full satisfaction vpon what grounds points and reasons he had vnaduisedly conceiued that motion But the sight of him whom in former times they loued and honoured as an Angell was now so lothsome and so vile and his words were so vnpleasing to them that with dirt and stones they beate him from the window King Edward looseth many powerfull friends assaulted his house brake it open entred in and slaughtered him with a thousand wounds And thus died that great Commander of the Flemings who for his power and absolute authoritie among them had neuer his equall in those Countries And by these meanes King Edward not onely lost a sound and a potent friend But euer after that time the hearts of the Flemings more fauoured the French King then they did him At the same time also his noble and worthy friend and vncle Sir Iohn of Henalt Sir Iohn of Henalt reuolteth to the French Lord Beamont reuolted from him and adheared to the French King because King Edward vpon some priuate vnkindnesse conceiued did with-hold and keepe from him a Pension which for his faithfull and good seruice hee had formerly giuen and duly paid vnto him And though King Edward did daily growe more strong in his hopes A valiant King to possesse himselfe of the Crowne of France yet the losse of some great friends being his associates in those Warres made him indeede more weake yet those his misfortunes so little auailed to discourage him that it increased his magnanimitie and his resolutions to maintaine those his Warres with the greater helpes of his owne strength ANNO. 20 Aguillon is besieged by 100000. men Now was the King informed that Iohn the eldest Sonne of the French King had strongly besieged the Castle of Aguillon in Gascoyne wel-neere with an hundred thousand men within which were the Noble Earle of Pembroke and the renowned Knight Sir Walter of Manny and diuers others of especiall note and place The King transporteth an Armie into Normandy Whereupon King Edward leuied the number of fourteene thousand men which he and the Prince his Sonne being accompanied with eight Earles fifteene Barrons and a great number of braue Knights and gallant Gentlemen by the aduice and counsell of Sir Godfray Lord Harcourt a French banished Noble man of great wisdome and wonderfull valour in the Warre caried into Normandie and with them he besieged the rich and strong Towne of Harflew Harflew is taken but because the English Armie seemed terrible in the sight of the Inhabitants it was not defended but the King tooke it without blowes and gaue the spoyle thereof to his common Souldiers so that he filâ—ed their Purses with Crownes and thereby prepared them with the greater courage Diuers towns and Castles are taken and resolution for more dangerous attempts So that within few dayes after hee wonne rifled and spoyled the
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
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
and aged eleuen yeares and somewhat more was crowned king of England in the yeare of our Lord God one thousand three hundred and seuentie seuen In the whole course of his euill Gouernment King Richards euill manners and bad Gouernment he neglected his Nobilitie and taxed his Subjects to enable himselfe to giue prodigally vnto his ill deseruing Fauorites Hee was too too resolute in his follies and refused to bee reproued or reformed He also despised the sage aduice and good directions of his wisest and best Counsellors and wholly plotted all his courses by the wicked and gracelesse projects of his base companions whom hee raised to more honourable Estates then befitted the meanes of their condition So that they fell by their own weight and he himselfe in the end was enforced to endure the extremitie of his hard fortune For being first disgraced by his Cousin Henrie of Bullingbrooke Duke of Lancaster and sonne and heire to his Vncle Iohn of Gaunt hee was at length by him with the general consent of a whole Parliament deposed from his Crowne commited to Prison and afterwardes wickedly murdered as in this discourse of his disordered Gouernment more amply it shall appeare The Frenchmen burne diuers townes in England In the first yeare of king Richards Raigne Charles the French king presuming much on his Minoritie and being aided by the Spaniards landed in the Southwest and in the South-east parts of this kingdome and ransacked and burnt the Townes of Plymouth Dartmouth Portsmouth Rye and some other Townes and Villages coasting vpon the Sea and would haue done more mischiefe if by the kings Vncle Edmund of Langly Earle of Cambridge and by the Earles of Buckingham and of Salisburie they had not beene fought with and beaten to their ships Alexander Ramseyes desperate attempt and successe At the same time also by the instigation of the French king one Alexander Ramsey an approued Scottishman at armes with fortie of his Company in the depth of the night suddenly and desperately scalled the wals of the Castle of Barwicke and finding the Captaine and all his souldiers securely sleeping he tooke it without blowes and intended also to haue surprised the Towne But the inhabitants hearing an extraordinarie noyse and tumult in the Castle and indeuouring to preuent a feared mischiefe hewed away the stayes of the Draw-bridge on the Townes side so that when the Scots did let fall the Draw-bridge the chaines brake and the Bridge fell into the Castle Ditch By meanes whereof the Scots could not issue out but were imprisoned by their owne Victorie This necessitie enforced them as well as they were able to fortifie the Castle which on the kings behalfe was soone besieged and assaulted by tenne thousand men who after many feates of Armes performed brauely by the assailants and after much valor with high courage shewed by that small number of valiant Scots wonne the Castle and receiued not one of them to mercie but onely their Captaine Alexander Ramsey The Frenchmen land in England And not long after the Frenchmen landed againe in England and did much harme at Douer Wynchelsay Hastings and at Grauesend and returned with their booties into France But to preuent like future mischiefes and to reuenge those injuries done to the King and his Realme by the French King ANNO. 3. A Parliamēt This Taxe caused much trouble An Armie sent into France A Parliament was assembled at Westminster In which a Subsidie of foure pence for euery man and for euery woman within this Kingdome being aboue foureteene yeares of age was granted to the King The leuying whereof procured much heart-burning which not long after brake forth and endangered the whole State of the Common-weale Yet with that monie great prouision was made and an armie of eight thousand men was sent into France vnder the command of Thomas of Woodstock the Kings Vncle who passing ouer the faire and great Riuers of Soame Oyse and Marne spoiled and burnt all the Countries and ransomed the inhabitants vntill he came into Brittaine where he was receiued by the Duke Iohn Mountford with all friendly entertainment and much joy And now began a Rebellion in England which was exceeding hazardous to the whole kingdome For Iohn Wall a factious Priest ANNO. 4. perceiuing that the inferior sort of the people much murmured and grudged at the payment of the aforesaid Subsidie A great Rebellion in England Iohn Wal was the beginner of this Rebellion His wicked course in perswading by secret conferences in all places where he came informed the Bondmen Villaines Slaues and such others as were pinched with penury and with want that by descent and parentage from Adam all men were of one condition and of equall worth and that the Lawes of this kingdome were iniurious and vniust which did set so great a difference betwixt men as to make some of them great Peeres Potentates and Lords and in geuing to some others large authority and commaund and in enlarging of great possessions and store of riches vnto some and in commanding others to be base seruile beggars and to enioy litle or nothing at all And therefore with traytrous reasons he perswaded them either by faire meanes or by open insurrection and ciuill warre to prouide for their owne liberties and to releeue their owne wants This lewd and damnable doctrine so infatuated and infected the Rusticks from Shire to Shire that at length it was spread in the Citie of London where the meanest and the basest sort being a multitude who egerly enuyed the prosperitie of the more worthie inhabitants and greedily coueted to be enriched with their substance were in great hope by Rebellious mutening to make vtter hauoke and spoyle of all things at their pleasure And to effect that which they intended such as were most desperatlie inclined among them informed the headlesse multitude in th◠Countries round about them that if they would come thither and ioyne with them the whole Citie of London should be at their command So that incredible numbers of brainsick turbulent and traytrous people prepared to flock thither from Kent Essex Sussex Bedfordshire and from many other places Of this rude and raskall rout Watt Tyler Iohn Wall Iack Straw and Iack Shepheard Captaines in this Rebellion Wat Tylar who by his profession was a Taylor was made Captaine to command the rest and the said Iohn Wall Iack Straw Iack Shepard and some others were made chiefe directors and their leaders And Stiling themselues The Kings men and the seruants of the Common-weale of England they marched towards London beating downe the houses and rifling all the moueables of all such as were professors of the Law How they passed towards London and compelling all Knights and Gentlemen either to flye before their comming or to be partakers in this vprore They also sent vnto the King who then lay in the Tower requiring him to come and to speake with them The King went
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
father Iohn of Gaunt Duke of Lancaster Vncle to the king died the descent of which Dutchie would haue made the said Duke a potent Prince But the king refreshing his humours with new practises of secret reuenge and that hee might keepe him lowe vniustly seized vpon all the Lordships The King wrongeth Henrie the new Duke of Lancaster and Possessions belonging to that Dutchie and vpon all the moueables of his said deceased Vncle and shared and distributed them among his Sycophants and wicked Counsellours Which tyrannous and wrongful dealing so much displeased his vncle the Duke of Yorke and his cousin the Duke of Aumarle Edmund of Langley and Edward his sonne More wicked Counsellors to the King Scrope Bushe Bagâ—t Greeâ—e The King farmeth his Kingâ—â—me and sayleth into Ireland The Iourney câ—st h m â—â—s Crowne and his life ANNO 23 The Duke of Lancasâ—â—r landeth in England His companies encrease to a strong Armie He is râ—ceiued iâ—to Loâ—â—â—â— He 〈◊〉 into the Wâ—â—â— King Riâ—â—â—â— returâ—â—â—â— He 〈…〉 Three of the w â—ked Counsellors wâ—re bâ—â—eaded The Kings 〈…〉 and 〈◊〉 to the Dukâ— that presently they left the Kings Court and retyred themselues to their owne houses At this time King Richard was wholly mis-led and lewdly directed in all his doings and negotiations by his principall fauourites Sir William Scrope Earle of Wilshire Sir Iohn Bushe Sir Iames Bagot and Sir Henrie Greene by whose aduice without the consent of his priuie Counsellors of Estate he leuied a strong Armie farmed to them for certaine yeares his whole Kingdome and all his Reuenues belonging thereunto and sayled into Ireland where hee behaued himselfe so valiantly that hee subdued that rebelling Nation and by his seueritie he compelled them to be willing to obey But in his absence his banished cousin Henrie of Bullingbroke Duke of Hartford and of Lancaster together with his old friend and exiled companion Thomas Archbishop of Canterburie returned into England to make clayme to his Duchie of Lancaâ—ter His first landing was in the North where such was the singular loue and the great affection of the Noblemen and of the common sort of people towards him partly in regard of his noblenesse and vertues and partly in regard of the Kings disordered courses in his gouernment that they all with extraordinarie chearefulnesse and alacritie flocked vnto him well armed and in great troupes So that within few dayes his companies were encreased to a strong Armie with which hee marched peaceably and in good order vnto London and was receiued entertained and feasted there with much honour and great joy And from thence he went into the Westerne parts of this Kingdome the people in all places where hee came being heartily gladded with much contentment with his doings But in the meane time King Richard who was returned and had quickly leuied great forces which hee conducted against the Duke perceiuing that euerie day his subjects fled from him and voluntarily offered their seruice to the Duke and being certainely informed that Sir William Scrope Earle of Wilshire Sir Iohn Bushe and Sir Henrie Greene three of his wicked Counsellors and vpon whome he most of all relyed were taken and had lost their heads despairing of anie safetie to be gained by force and violence of his owne accord hee came vnto his cousin the Duke of Lancaster confessed publikely his owne insufficiencie and weakenesse to rule and to gouerne well praysed the Dukes rare and singular vertues and his absolute worthinesse to be a King and proffered to make him an absolute Surrender of his whole Kingdome if hee would accept thereof A faint refusall But the Duke though hee much affected the wearing of a Crowne yet because hee hoped that the fauour of the Nobilitie Gentrie and of the common People would freely cast that burthen and Dignitie vpon him with greater safetie and assurance of continuance refused to accept thereof and protesting with manie pleasing speeches That he onely desired to enioy his owne Patrimonie and to reforme such things as were amisse hee caused the King with verie honourable and respectiue attendance to be guarded to the Tower of London The King is sent to the Tower and then hee assembled a Parliament in which among sundrie other things were publikely proposed these ensuing Articles concerning the euill Gouernment of the King The Duke summoneth a Parliament Articles proposed in Parliament against the King 1. INprimis That hee would not permit the said Duke of Hartford who was so much wronged for his good aduice and counsell touching the Kings Gouernment to fight the Combate against the falsely accusing Thomas Mowbray Duke of Norfolke and yet banished him vniustly for six yeares 2. Item That albeit vnder the Great Seale of his Kingdome he had licenced the said Duke of Hartford at his departure out of England to make his Atturney to proceed for him in his causes of Law yet hee being gone the King would not permit anie man to deale for him in his absence 3. Item That verie vncharitably he prohibited all his Nobilitie and all others to be sutors vnto him for the said Duke of Hartfords returne from his vniust banishment vpon the forfeiture of their liues and goods 4. Item That after the death of Iohn of Gaunt the Kings vncle father to the said Duke and Duke of Lancaster hee had wrongfully seized into his hands all his moueables whatsoeuer and had diuided and shared them among his gracelesse and wicked Counsellors and had also by like iniustice seized all the possessions of the said Duchie of Lancaster which rightfully did belong to the said Duke of Hartford into his owne hands and kept the profits thereof to his owne vse 5. Item that colourably as a good friend to Thomas Arundell Archbishop of Canterburie who was falsly accused of high treason to the King as he sat next to him in the higher house of Parliament hee persuaded the said Archbishop to make no answer at all in defence of the said accusation nor repaire anie more to the same house protesting that neither the said accusation nor his silence nor his absence should be hurtfull or preiudiciall vnto him and yet banished him out of the Realme not hauing examined the said surmised treason 6. Item that whereas his Chancellour had refused in an vniust matter to grant a prohibition vnder the great Seale of England the King himselfe to peruert the due course of Iustice and of right granted the said prohibition vnder his priuie seale and straitly required that it should be executed and obeyed 7. Item that most vnnaturally and cruelly hee had procured Thomas Mowbray to smother to death betwixt two fetherbeds the Kings most noble and most renowned vncle Thomas of Woodstock Duke of Glocester when wrongfully and without anie good cause hee was a prisoner at Callice and afterwards dignified the said murderer first with the Earldome of Nottingham then with the Office of the Marshall generall of England and last of all
made him Duke of Norfolk he being altogether vnworthie of so great honor 8. Item that the King to further his last Expedition for Ireland without law without iustice tooke from the Clergie and many Religious houses great store of monie plate iewels and rich ornaments not hauing the owners consent so to doe 9 Item that in the same iournie without the approbation of his Counsell of Estate hee carried with him into Ireland the plate and rich iewels belonging to the Crowne which might haue tended to the great inpouerishment of this Realme 10 Item that in euerie Shire he had secret Intelligencers vpon whose bare information that ane man had repined at the Kings bad gouernement the partie so accused without examination or triall was enforced to procure his pardon by the payment of a grieuous fine 11 Item that by the lewd aduise of his wicked Counsellours hee had deuised manie subtle and craftie Oathes by meanes whereof manie of his honest Subiects had beene vndone 12 Item that by the like aduise and counsell he procured Ruffians and desperate companions to accuse rich but weake men of sundrie falsly-supposed crimes and imagined offences and by meanes thereof enforced them to redeeme the combate with much monie 13 Item that he gaue large gifts vnto wicked and lewd companions who malitiously to aduance their owne Estates animated him against diuers of his Barons who only desired a good reformation of his euill gouernment and imposed diuers Taxes vpon his people to enrich them 14 Item that hee had procured such Records to bee cancelled and imbeselled as testified his extortions and his oppressions vniustly imposed vpon his people 15 Item that he had oftentimes said that the Lawes of his Kingdome were in his owne breast and that vpon this opinion hee had put to death manie of his noble men and some of his inferiour subiects without iust cause 16 Item that most of his writings and letters vnto foraigne Princes and Estates were so craftie ambiguous doubtfull and vncertaine that they could not relie confidently vpon anie thing which he had written 17 Item that in his Parliament holden in the one and twentieth yeare of his Raigne his Cheshire Guard who onely were permitted and suffered to weare weapons committed many Robberies and Murders and yet not one of them was punished or reproued for the same 18 Item that to insinuate fauour with those loose and lewd companions the King had basely and fondly dishonoured his High Estate and Soueraigntie by entitling himselfe The Prince of Cheshire 19 Item that whereas in the same Parliament sundrie great Lords intended liberally and dutifully to haue spoken of such things as were not well ordered to the end that they might haue beene reformed the King in such sort threatned them that for feare of ensuing dangers they held themselues silent and spake not at all 20 Item that hee exacted great fines from the wealthiest of his Subiects for adhearing to the Barons notwithstanding that in full Parliament he had before granted them his free pardon 21 Item that by himselfe and his owne authoritie he had displaced diuers Burgesses of the Parliament and had placed such other in their roomes as would better fit and serue his owne turne 22 Item that contrarie to his solemne Oath and instrument in writing vnder the great Seale of his Kingdome Hee had not only disallowed the Commission granted in the same Parliament to the thirteene Lords to enquire of and to reforme the great abuses and the apparant misgouernment of the Common-Weale But also had exiled beheaded and otherwise executed diuers Noble Men and others who for the Kings honour and for the safetie and welfare of the Common-Weale had procured the said Commission or had executed the said Authoritie according to the trust and confidence in them reposed 23 Item that whereas hee had caused certaine Lawes in the same Parliament to bee made for his owne gaine and to serue his owne turne hee procured the Popes Bulles to curse such as should withstand or disobey them which thing greatly tended to the derogation of his Crowne and was done expressely against his owne law made against the Authoritie of the Pope within this Realme but seuen yeares before 24 Item that hee had displaced lawfull and good Shiriffes and had elected others whom he suffered to continue and to hold the said Office two yeares together and more because their vniust oppressions augmented and encreased his gaine King Richard confesseth all the Articles The transcript of all these Articles and Obiections were by both the Houses of Parliament authentically sent vnto the king who not only confessed them to bee true and acknowledged his owne insufficiencie to rule and to gouerne better but also by a plaine He resignes his Crowne King Richard is deposed Henrie Duke of Lancaster is made King Thomas Arundell restored to the Archbishopprick of Canterburie and exact instrument in writing vnder his hand and Seale hee resigned his Crowne and kingdome to his Cousin Henrie of Bullinbrooke Duke of Lancaster which being read publikely and beeing generally ratified approoued and confirmed by the Lords Spirituall and Temporall and by the Commons in the same Parliament assembled they deposed king Richard and made the said Duke king And his true and faithfull friend and his companion in Banishment Thomas Arundell Archbishoppe of Canterburie being then and there restored to his place and dignitie installed the said Henrie in the kingly Throne And the late King Richard was sent to Pomfret Castle there to bee safely kept and with Princely honour to bee maintained but verie shortly after by the new kings direction and commaundement who feared least his Estate might bee shaken so long as Richard liued hee was wickedly and villanously assaulted in his Lodging King Richard is cruelly murdered by Sir Pierce Exton and eight other armed men from one of which with a Princely courage hee wrested a browne-Bill and therewith slewe foure of his Mischieuous and Vngodly Assailants He was very valiant and with admirable resolution fought with all the rest vntill comming by his owne Chaire in which the base Cowardly Knight himselfe stood for his owne safetie hee was by him striken with a Polle-axe in the hinder part of his head Though hee were an euill King yet no religion warranted those vniust proceedings so that presently he fell downe and died And thus was hee wicredly and treacherously murdered and his bodie buried at Langley but was afterwardes remoued vnto Westminster where it now lieth THE HISTORIE OF KING HENRIE THE FOVRTH ALTHOVGH the Crowne of England ANNO. 1. 1399. in right if Richard the deposed king should die without issue was by succession to descend vnto Edmund Mortimer Earle of March the Son and heire of Edmund Mortimer by Philip his wife who was the daughter and heire of Lionel Duke of Clarence the third sonne of Edward the third Yet his Cousin Henrie of Bullinbrooke Duke of Hartford and
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
Gentlemen of great valour and much worth Iohn Duke of Bedford rayseth the siege The Duke shortly after his departure being happily conducted by a pleasing wind fell vpon the French fleet who in the view of the Towne of Harflew fought couragiously as men resolued to winne honour But being vnable to make good what they intended they were at length vtterly vanquished and ouerthrowne with an incredible slaughter of their men and great numbers of them being taken were sent Prisoners into England And thus was the Towne of Harflew happily rescued and deliuered from the Frenchmen For when the Constable perceiued that all their Sea-forces were defeated and in a manner consumed hee raysed his Siege and with a heauie heart marched dishonorably vnto Paris and the Duke of Bedford hauing new victualled manned and fortified the Towne returned with great applause and much honor into England These disasterous misfortunes rushing euerie day vpon the French Nation Secret quarrellings among the French Nobilitie rather animated the Nobilitie of France to seeke meanes to reuenge their priuate quarrels and grudges one against the other then as prouident and worthie Peeres to vnite their forces for the defence and protection of their Countrey by means whereof King Henrie fares the better a wide Gappe was opened to King Henrie with lesser danger to attempt great matters against the Peace and Estate of that Kingdome And to further his designes in those Negotiations hee assembled his High Court of Parliament at Westminster A ParliameÌ„t In which he himselfe pithily and effectually discouered his Right and Title to the Crowne of France The Kings Speech the often Injuries which the Frenchmen had done from time to time to the English Nation his blessed and fortunate Successes in those Warres the new Dissentions and secret reuengefull Grudges which diuided the hearts and the strength of the Frenchmen and his vndoubted hopes of winning both honour and profit if by the sufficient disbursement of Money and of Treasure his preparations might be furthered and supported with all speed This Speech being graciously and artificially contriued was so plausible and pleasing Great sums of monie quickly anâ—â—arefully raised and the Kings heroicall intendements were so well receiued and digested by all sorts of people who were then present that not onely a great summe of money with franke and free consent was granted to him but the same was quickly leuied with great loue and much ease The King being much encouraged in his French businesse by the forward bountie of his louing subjects prepared a strong Fleet furnished it with men and all things needfull and embarked therein a strong Armie of lustie experienced souldiors but sent before him to skowre the Seas Iohn Earle of Huntingdon sonne to that Duke of Exeter Another victorie at sea by Iohn Holland Earle of Huntingdon who was beheaded in the daies of King Henrie the fourth This lustie Gallant being at all points readily prouided met luckily with nine Carricks of Genoa which for money were waged to serue the French King with those he encountred and fought stoutly yet for a while with variable hopes of the successe but in the end hee sunke into the Sea six of them and tooke the other three being stored with great store of Money and much Treasure and brought them with his prisoners to the King The King with his Armie landed in Normandy This argument of good speeding much encouraged King Henrie who with his copious Armie of gallant and lustie Lads departed out of England and landed safely in Normandie before the strong Castle of Tonque which by him was besieged and wonne by strong assaults Tonque is taken by assault and yet hee receiued the besiedged to his mercie When the Normans knew that King Henrie was arriued in their Countrie The Normans flye into the walled Townes and of his taking of that Castle they fled as men amazed with bagge and baggage into their walled Townes and so did all the souldiors which were placed euerie where for the defence and protection of those Countries so that without resistance King Henrie marched forth and pitched before the Citie of Cane The Citie of Cane is besieged which was exceedingly well manned and throughly prouided of Victuals Armour and Munition of all sorts for manie moneths Diuers assaults were fiercely made and the walls were oftentimes skaled with desperate resolution by the English and the Normans with no lesse valour and stout courage defended the Towne to the great damage of their enemies vntill at length King Henrie to saue the liues of manie valiant men who otherwise must needes haue died in that Seruice proclaimed Mercie to the besieged if they would yeeld The Citie refuseth all compositions But their hopes to bee relieued and the trust which they reposed in their owne valour persuaded them to refuse all compositions whatsoeuer Whereupon many terrible assaults were fiercely made and repulsed The walls of the Citie were in many places vndermyned the Englishmen with vndaunted courage rushed into the Towne partly through the walls and partly ouer them Cane taken by assaults so that in the end although the Normans to their continuall praise and commendation performed the parts of worthie and faithfull souldiors yet their Towne was wonne and all of them forsaking their armour and their weapons fell vpon their knees and humbly craued mercie of the King Which was not by and by granted to them because they had obstinately refused it before yet some refreshing words of comfort gladded their heauie hearts so that they hoped the worst was past Then the King caused all the Townesmens Armour to be heaped together in the Market place and to be defended by a strong Guard Thanks giuen vnto God which being done with all the residue of his Armie hee entred with great solemnitie and reuerence into the chiefest Church and on their knees with true humilitie and deuotion they yeelded their heartie thanks vnto Almightie GOD for that Victorie This dutie being thus performed Townesmen executed and strong Watches being placed in euerie quarter of the Citie the King vpon the next morning assembled all the inhabitants at their Senate or Councell-house where he censured the principals of such as obstinately refused his fauour when it was offered to sundrie deaths fined and ransomed others and diuided the riches and the best things which were found there among his souldiors The souldiors are enriched who in those assaults had made sufficient triall of their vndaunted courage and bold valour At this time the Earle of Arminack High Constable of France The Dolphin wanting money taketh it from the Queene his mother together with Charles the Dolphin who was much grieued for his troubled Countrey proposed to themselues sundrie projects for the defeating of King Henrie and finding the want of money to be their chiefest impediment the Dolphin by the Constables aduise tooke from the Queene his mother a
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
them to reuolt and yeeld to King Charles By meanes whereof King Henrie as hee was counselled sayled with a puisant Armie from Douer 1431. 10 King Henrie crowned in Paris and arriued at Calice And taking Roan in his way Hee marched vnto Paris where hee was with all beseeming requisities annointed and crowned King of France and receiued homage and fealtie vpon the Othes of the Nobles Gentlemen and common People of that Citie These French warres were famous in all the Westerne parts of the world And the more were they spoken off because men generally did wonder how it was possible that so small an Iland England admired at as England was should for so many yeares together so grieuously torment and scourge so large so populous and so potent a Kingdome as France was and put it to the worst At length and after frequent mediations vsed by Eugenius the Fourth then Pope of Rome and by many other Christian Princes Such great hopes as made the fairest shew of an happie Peace An vnperfect Truce vanished quite and came to nothing sauing that an vnperfect Truce for sixe yeares was consented vnto which lasted but a while For shortly after King Henries returne into England Vnfortunately it hapned that the Ladie Anne wife vnto the Regent The Regents wife dyeth and sister to the Duke of Burgoine died And not long after hee married the faire and fresh Ladie Iaquet daughter vnto Peter Earle of S. Paul The Regent newly maried and thereby allied himselfe to the ancient and honorable Familie and house of Luxenbourgh and from thenceforth the great loue The Regent looseth a good friend which for many yeares had made the Regent and his brother in law the Duke of Burgoin fortunate happie waxed faint and feeble by meanes whereof the Duke won nothing and the Regent became lesse powerfull then he had beene in former times 1432. 11 The Truce broken The solemnities of this mariage were no sooner finished but that the six yeares truce which was so lately concluded was quite broken and warre began to threaten the effusion of much bloud For the aduerse part by secret vnderminings and trecherous perswasions possessed it selfe daily of many of the Regents Castles and Townes and iustified that manner of proceeding by affirming That politike gainings without blowes infringed not any Truce and so farre off were the Frenchmen from restoring those things which by those subtleties they had gained that to procure more Treason discouered they secretly conuaied two hundred Souldiers into the Castle of Roan hoping to haue surprized it but the treason was reuealed and the Conspirators were with maine strength beaten into the Dungeon From whence they were sentenced some to the Gallowes others to death by cruell torments others to sharpe imprisonment and such of them as sped best were for great ransomes and summes of money set at large 1433. 12 Talbots name was terrible in France These coales quickly kindled the fire of rage in so much that either partie made it selfe strong by the speedie supply of a new Armie And the Regents forces were much augmented by Iohn Lord Talbot who was of late redeemed out of prison who though hee brought with him out of England but only eight hundred chosen men at Armes yet his name and his presence more terrified the Frenchmen The Frenchmen would not fight then halfe the English Armie besides Oftentimes the two Armies by their neare approch striued to out-face and to daunt each other And twice the Regent boldly challenged the Frenchmen to entertaine the fight but they only made faire shewes to performe much and seemed as if they thirsted to make themselues famous by their manhood yet in two seuerall places and at two times they fled in the night and would not in any sort hazard their Fortunes in the field Now A Rebellion in Normandy whilest the Regent was thus carefully employed abroad the Rustickes of Normandie treacherously attempting to shake off the English yoke which was neuer burthensome vnto them rudely armed themselues and marched towards Cane exercising much violence and crueltie in all places where they did preuaile The Rebels are subdued But they were speedily encountred and ouerthrowne by the Earle of Arundell and the Lord Willoughby who slew more than a thousand of them and tormented their rebellious Leaders and Captaines with sundry sorts of deaths but permitted the baser sort to return home The Earle of Arundell slaine This noble and couragious Earle purposing to reseise for King Henrie the Towne of Rue which grieuously punished the Countries of Ponthew Arthois and Bolenois perceiued as hee marched that an old decayed Castle called Gerbory neere vnto Beauois was newly reedified and made strong This Castle hee assaulted with great courage but being mortally wounded on the ancle with the shot of a Culuerine hee was taken prisoner from the ground but within few daies after he died About the same time the Duke of Burbon who about eighteene yeares before was taken prisoner at the battaile fought at Agencourt paied his ransome of eighteene thousand pounds The Duke of Bourbon is ransomed and dieth but died in London the same day in which hee intended to set forwards towards France In the end of the raigne of King Henrie the Fifth The Regent and the Duke of Burgoine haue stout stomacks we may reuiew or remember what a precise charge and command that King gaue to his Brethren and to his Nobles neuer to loose the amitie and friendship of Philip Duke of Burgoine and this Historie maketh mention how carefull they haue beene euer since to obserue his counsell in that behalfe but the busie tongues of Tell-tales and of foisting Flatterers obtayning credit where reprehension was more fitting preuailed in such sort That the said Duke causelesly waxed iealous and his loue was cold towards the Regent Tale-bearers or Tale-tellers yet through the perswasions and by the mediation of their honorable friends an enteruiew to reuiue their friendship was procured and S. Omers was the place appointed for that purpose But when they both had made their entrance into that Towne The Duke of Bedford because he was Regent and the sonne brother and Vncle vnto Kings expected the prioritie of visitation by the Duke but he because he was the Lord and Soueraigne of that Towne supposed that he should be checked for dishonorable basenesse if hee should first repaire to the Regents lodging These conceits touching their preheminence and superioritie were very likely to distemper their humors more then formerly they had beene For the preuenting whereof their friends endeuoured to perswade them both to meete together in some indifferent place But the Regent refused to yeeld thereunto So they departed and left the Towne The Duke of Burgoine forsakes the Regent beeing both displeased and discontented with each others haughtinesse of spirit and great stomacke And forthwith the Duke of Burgoine entred into
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
Normandie and Aquitaine being all lost and no warres now busying the Nobilitie of this Realme franke and free libertie was thereby giuen to the Duke of Yorke The Yorkish Conspiracie grieuously to complaine to diuers Lords of the greatest power of the manifold trecheries and treasons of the Duke of Somerset as formerly he had done And at the same time Richard Earle of Salisburie being the second sonne of Rafe Neuil Earle of Westmerland whose daughter the Duke of Yorke had maried and Richard his sonne who hauing maried Anne the sister and heire of Henry Beauchampe first Earle and afterwards Duke of Warwicke and in whose right he was created Earle were men of prime honour and of great power and for their valour and their vertues were especially obserued and regarded both of the Nobles and also of the Commons of this Kingdome but chiefly Richard the sonne Earle of Warwicke whose courtesie wisdome and true manhood had gained him much loue These two Earles among others faithfully ioined themselues and their fortunes with the Duke of Yorke and his and chiefly by their meanes and good assistance he preuailed as in the sequell of this Historie it shall appeare When the Duke of Yorke had thus strengthned himselfe with these noble and powerfull friends he caused the Duke of Somerset to be arrested of high treason in the Queens great Chamber from whence he was drawen and conueied to the Tower The Duke of Somerset is arrested for treason and shortly after in the Parliament the Duke of Yorke accused him of all those treasons which are formerly mentioned But because the King indeed fell sicke or fained himselfe for the Dukes good to be diseased The Parliament breaketh off suddenly The Duke of Somerset is enlarged and made Captaine of Calice the Parliament was suddenly adiourned and the King by many protestations faithfully promised that he should answer those accusations at some other time But within few daies after hee was not onely by the Queene set at libertie but was graced with the Kings especiall and publike fauour and was made chiefe Captaine of the Towne and Castle of Calice whereat the Nobilitie the common people grudged much and exclaimed vpon the vniust proceedings of the King and Queene The Duke of Yorke and his associates supposing that their proiect would still be crossed if they remained quiet expected faire proceedings against the Duke of Somerset by the ordinarie course of Law The Duke of Yorke leuieth an Armie resolued once againe to shew themselues with an Armie in the field and by open warre not only to reuenge themselues vpon their enemies but also to settle the Crowne vpon the Duke of Yorkes head For which purpose they raised a puissant Armie within the Marches of Wales and confidently directed their march towards the Citie of London The King meeteth him with an Armie The battaile of S. Albons The King is ouerthrowen The King and his Counsell fearing lest the Duke of Yorke and his complices would finde too many friends if they came thither met them with another Armie at S. Albons and betwixt them a doubtfull and a bloudie battaile was fought from which the Duke of Buckingham and Iames Butler Earle of Ormond and of Wilshire fled and Edmund Duke of Somerset Henry the second Earle of Northumberland Humfrey Earle of Stafford sonne and heire to the Duke of Buckingham Iohn Lord Clifford and more then eight thousand Lords Knights Gentlemen and common souldiers were slaine on the Kings part He is taken prisoner and the King himselfe was taken prisoner and brought to the Duke of Yorke The King is vsed reuerently A Parliament The Duke of Yorke is made Protector And albeit hee might then haue put him to death and by that meanes might quietly haue possessed himselfe of the Crowne yet because his rising in Armes pretended none other thing but the reforming of some great abuses in the Common-weale hee reuerenced him with all dutie brought him with great honour vnto London where he praied him to assemble his high Court of Parliament which he did by that great Counsell honorable estate the Duke of Yorke was made Protector of the Kings royall person and of his Realme The Earle of Salisburie is made Chancelor The Earle of Warwicke is made Captaine of Calice Their good gouernment the Earle of Salisburie was made Lord Chancelor of England and his sonne the Earle of Warwicke was made Captaine of Calice And thus all the regiment of the ciuill estate of this Common-weale was settled in those former two and the disposing of warlike affaires and businesse was conferred on the third In the administration of which Offices they shewed no iniustice vsed no briberie oppressed no man were indifferent to the poore and rich and ordered all things in a most commendable and praisefull fashion to the good contentment of most of the Nobilitie Gentrie and Commons of this Realme But Humfrey Duke of Buckingham who in the battaile at S. Albons had lost his eldest sonne and Henry Beauford the new Duke of Somerset who then also lost his father with reuengefull mindes and inraged spirits informed the Queene that this faire and glozing shew was vsed but as a subtill meane to set the Crowne of England vpon the Duke of Yorkes head That the Kings life and his sonnes was secretly conspired That her vnfortunate miseries approched neere vnto her And that all would bee starke naught except the subtiltie and cunning of those three Lords were wittily preuented and their haughtie and ambitious stomackes were with force and violence subdued and beaten downe Hereupon the Queene and they assembled a great Counsell at Greenwich The Duke of Yorke and the Earle of Salisburie are remoued by the Queen Aspoile on the Merchant strangers in London by the authoritie whereof the Duke of Yorke and the Earle of Salisburie were remoued from their gouernment This sudden alteration bred many broiles in the Common-weale For the English Merchants in London perceiuing that the Common-weales gouernment was vnsettled quarrelled with the Venetians and Italians who dwelt among them and by their trading in merchandizing and by their parsimonie and sparing waxed rich and depriued them of their chiefest meanes to liue Those strangers they rifled and robbed for which offence not without much trouble and difficultie the principall offenders were corrected or put to death The Frenchmen also being diuided into many warlike Fleetes landed The Frenchmen land and burne The Scots inuade They flie home robbed and burnt some Frontier Townes within this Realme And the Scots being conducted by Iames their King did much harme to the Duke of Yorkes Countries in the North. Against whom the Duke himselfe marched with a braue Armie But the Scots fearing the sequell of their vnaduised inuasion suddenly fled and returned into their owne Countrey The Queene dissembleth with the Yorkish Faction The Queene who now ruled the King and almost all other
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
fled into Britaine to Duke Francis who gaue them courteous entertainment and kindly supplied all their wants The French King apprehending this as a fit occasion offred to him to quarrell with the Duke of Britaine because hee longed to possesse his Countrey without any parley or conference touching that matter proclaimed warres against him And before it was notified that he had raised an Armie he entred into Britaine and planted a strong siege before the strong and faire Citie of Nantz And by his Ambassadors hee importuned King Henry either to take his part or as a Neuter to giue aime vnto them both But King Henry being at the first doubtfull what course to take King Henry mediateth a peace because hee had receiued much comfort and many courtesies from them both resolued at the last to requite some part of both their loues by mediating of a friendly peace which with his vtmost endeuours he laboured to effect The French King who was both wittie and craftie made an outward shew as if he seemed heartily to desire it and was thankfull for it although in truth and in deede hee intended nothing lesse But the Duke of Britaine following the directions of his French guests refused plainly to consent vnto that motion And within few daies after Some English doe aide the Duke Edward Lord Wooduile Captaine of the I le of Wight and vncle to the Queene without the Kings knowledge or licence being accompanied with foure hundred of his most expert and skilfull souldiers sailed into Britaine for the Dukes aide And soone after his arriuall and neere vnto Fongiers a battaile was appointed to bee fought betweene King Charles and the Britons And the more to haue terrified the French seuenteene hundred Britons being clad in coats with red crosses as if they had beene Englishmen were ioined to the Lord Wooduiles companies and were subiected to his command But the contrarie was to the Frenchmen too well knowen Then at the appointed time and place the two Armies met together The Britons are ouerthrowen The Lord Wooduile is slaine and fought fiercely for a season But in the end the poore Britons being found counterfets as they were and their whole Armie being vnable to resist so great a puissance as encountred them were slaine together with the Lord Wooduile and the greater number of his associates and the victorie fell to the French part Within few daies after K. Henry aideth the Britons against the French King in England it was concluded by Parliament that albeit King Henry had louingly beene aided by the French King for the recouerie of his Crowne yet in regard that the Duke of Britaine for many yeares together had in all friendly gentle and liberall sort entertained protected and maintained him when he was vnable to releeue himselfe and likewise because it was considered that if King Charles should winne and annex that Duchie to the Crowne of France himselfe and his posteritie might and were likely to proue bad neighbours to this Kingdome King Henry should take part with the Dude of Britaine This businesse being so determined An armie is sent into Britaine the King sent into that Prouince an Armie which consisted of eight thousand men vnder the conduct of the Lord Brooke And for the maintenance of those warres A Taxe which occasioneth a Rebellion a taxe by the same Parliament of the tenth pennie of the value of all the moueable goods and chattels of the Subiects was granted to the King No sooner was the English Armie arriued in Britaine but the Duke who had beene long sickly died A sudden peace is concluded and therefore vpon a composition made betwixt his Nobles and King Charles hee was affied to the Ladie Anne the sole daughter and heire to the deceased Duke who was formerly betrothed to Maximilian King of the Romans and so was the said French King likewise assured to the Ladie Margaret daughter to Maximilian And thus the British warres were at an end and the Englishmen hauing only seene thar Countrey and done nothing returned safely into England Now must we vnderstand that the Rustickes and rurall Swads of the Countie of Yorke and of the Bishopricke of Durham A Rebellion not onely refused peremptorily to pay any part of the Taxe which was granted to King Henry for the maintenance of the British wars but also that in a most rebellious fashion they boldly rushed vpon and cruelly murdered Henry the fourth Earle of Northumberland The Earle of Northumberland is murdered who by the King was appointed to cause the extracts of that Subsidie to be leuied by distresse vpon the goods of all such as he found slacke or obstinate in those paiments which when they had done trusting to their owne strength and numbers they beganne a ciuill warre so that as they passed thorow those Countries they forcibly compelled Gentlemen and others to take their parts The King to represse and punish the Ring-leaders of this tumultuous insurrection sent against them a strong and a well prouided Armie vnder the especiall command of Thomas Earle of Surrey who hauing beene taken prisoner as hee fought for King Richard at Bosworth field was now enlarged and deliuered out of prison and receiued into the Kings fauour and the King himselfe in his owne person followed after him But the foolish Rebels as men amazed The Rebels flie witlesse and wanting counsell to direct their actions and cowardly distrusting their owne power and abilitie to resist threw off their armour shifted hardly to saue themselues and fled euery man to his owne home But the King who resolued by seuere executions to terrifie such others as otherwise were likely to contemne him They are punished and to despise his gouernment by exquisite and sharpe enquiries found out and apprehended the chiefest authors of this mischiefe who in sundrie places of this Realme were punished by death But the multitude and the baser sort obtained the Kings gratious fauour 1490. The British Nobles calling to minde that their young Duchesse was espoused first vnto Maximilian King of the Romans and secondly to Charles the French King and perceiuing vpon more sound consideration that the French King would alwaies beare a heauie hand ouer them if indeed he were once maried to her began to reuolt from their promise and to resist his intention and desire by strength of armes But the Frenchmen according to their custome being more victorious by their prodigall gifts then by their true valour corrupted the British Nobilitie and such Matrons as daily attended vpon their young Duchesse in such sort that King Charles got her into his possession And then he published that his owne former contract with the Ladie Margaret daughter to Maximilian King of the Romans and also that the other contract made by the said Maximilian with the said Duchesse of Britaine were nullities void and frustrate in the Law for that the said two Ladies at the times of those
charge and maintained their houses and families was taken from them And thereby they were also disabled to entertaine such and so many Iourney-men couenant seruants and apprentices as they had formerly done Neither could or would they giue to such as they had such large and liberall wages pensions and rewards as was expected by them for their paines and seruice These extremities occasioned multitudes of Apprentices and of Iourney men without the procurement or allowance of their Masters to runne with great violence and furie to the Stilliard in London where they brake vp and robbed many Ware-houses and shops and rifled whatsoeuer did come athwart their hands And besides all this they offred much violence in a strange manner to the Easterlings being the owners of those commodities and wares vntill the comming thither of the Lord Maior with a band of armed men both terrified them and also made them flie Of these malefactors some were taken and imprisoned in the Tower and due examination being taken of them and of their offence the principall Ring leaders among them being in number about fourescore were continued prisoners for many weekes But in the end they all were freed and receiued the Kings Pardon About the same time the before named Sir Robert Clifford vpon his repentant motion Sir Robert Clifford forsakâ—th Perkin Warbecke A notable policie and by the mediation of his friends at home procured leaue for his returne and pardon for his offence so that when notice was giuen of his landing the King appointed him to meet him at the Tower that there before him and his Nobilitie hee might discouer plainly and at large the whole practise deuice and purpose of the Ladie Margaret and of her base nephew Perkin Warbecke and of all other the Conspirators in that businesse And this place of meeting aboue all others the King in policie appointed because if any of his Lords or great ones were by the said Sir Robert Clifford accused as being guiltie of that offence they might without blowes or ciuill warres be apprehended and committed in the same place The Knight at his first appearance in the Kings presence humbly kneeled downe confessed his transgression expressed many true signes of heartie and vnfained repentance and receiued the Kings fauour Among the great men attending on the King Sir William Stanley is accused by Sir Robert Clifford he onely accused Sir William Stanley whereat the King much maruelled because he not only entirely loued him but also had by his bounteous liberalitie increased his possessions made him honourable and Lord Chamberlaine to his owne person This fault was so plainly and so particularly discouered before the King that the accused Gentleman not being able to excuse himselfe was forthwith committed to prison Sir William Stanley is beheaded and within few daies after being by the due course of Law condemned for examples sake vnto others he lost his head Yet for all this so desirous were many of nouelties others of spoiles some of reuenge and others of ciuill warres that they began to speake contumeliously despightfully and too too leaudly against the King But for this maladie he quickly prouided a double remedie First by making of himselfe strong with such Forces as he had leuied and secondly by taking of a strait account and by seuere punishing of some of those whose tongues as Rasours had deepely wounded his honour and his good name And by their ensamples hee reduced the rest to more conformitie and compelled them to obey He also sent an Armie into Ireland vnder the command of Sir Edward Poâ—nings to correct and punish with great seueritie such of the Irish Nation An armie is transported into Ireland as two yeares before had giuen and assistance to Perkin Warbecke But the offenders being for the most part wilde rude barbarous and sauage people delighting in war and being neuer better contented then when they were tumultuous and in horrid actions assembled themselues in great multitudes and according to their vse and fashion they ranne into the woods mountaines and bogges whom the Knight was the more vnable to pursue because the Nobilitie of that Iland who promised to send him much aid performed nothing which carelesnesse he imputed to Gerald Earle of Kyldare who as he was a man by his birth possessions and friends most powerfull among the Irish so was he chiefe Deputie of that Countrey to the King Him vpon the false and slanderous accusations of his malignant enemies the Knight apprehended as a Traitor and brought him into England But before the King his fidelitie and his innocencie freely deliuered him from further trouble and danger so that being graced thanked and rewarded for his true and honourable seruice he was not only enlarged but obtained the continuance of his Deputation as before Perkin Warbecke landeth some of his men in Kent In this meane time Perkin Warbecke being by the Ladie Margaret furnished with a Fleet of ships and being accompanied with Roagues Vacabonds Slaues Theeues Robbers Murderers Banke-rupts seditious Varlats and with the off-scumme of many Nations came vpon the Kentish Coast where they cast Anchors and landed some of those Vassals who endeuoured to informe themselues whether the people determined to follow poore Perkin Warbecke or no. The answer made by the multitude who began to rise in armes gaue good contentment for outwardly they firmely promised vntill death to support and to maintaine him and his quarrell against the King But when by faire words and soothing speeches they had trained those Rascals vp into the land His men are slaine and executed they fiercely set vpon them slew many and tooke one hundred and threescore prisoners whom they deliuered into the custodie of Sir Iohn Peachy high Sheriffe of that Prouince who railed them in ropes like vnto horses drawing carts and conueied them in that fashion to the Citie of London where they receiued their trials and were executed in sundrie places of this Realme And the counterfeited Duke of Yorke expecting better fortune at another time returned into Flanders to his pensiue and carefull Aunt He returneth into Flanders where because he supposed that delaies would proue dangerous and that much lingring would be vnprofitable for him he speedily collected such numbers of base and vnworthie Pesants as by necessitie were compelled to enter into his seruice which being done He landeth in Ireland he embarked them hoised his Anchors and sailed into Ireland purposing with those wilde and sauage men to augment his numbers and then to land in the Westerne parts of this Kingdome But when experience assured him that hee might haue men enow He commeth into Scotland but little armes hee then resolued not to make warre by the helpe of such as were naked wherefore he left them and came into Scotland and presented both himselfe and his cause to Iames the Fourth who at that time was very young and swaied the Scepter of that Kingdome The Scots although
good respects hee cheerefully consented to his request First because by all likelihood and probable coniecture this mariage would establish a perpetuall peace betwixt those two Kingdomes And secondly because if issues males and females failed of the bodies of his two sonnes then the Kingdome and the Crowne of this Realme descending to the said Ladie Margaret and to her issue would draw the Scottish King into England as vnto an estate of greater power magnificence honour and riches whereas if she were ioined to a Prince equall or exceeding her father in those respects this Kingdome would then wait vpon the greater and more worthie and so might be guided gouerned directed and commanded by a Deputie or a Substitute which would bee derogatorie from the maiestie of such a Monarchie and Common-weale These Halcyon daies Prince Arthur dieth which made King Henry fortunate and happie were suddenly exchanged into daies of heauinesse and of sorrow for Prince Arthur within fiue moneths after he was maried departed out of this troublesome and transitorie vale of miserie and was buried with great pompe and incredible lamentation both of the Nobles Gentlemen and common people in the Cathedrall Church within the Citie of Winchester by whose decease without issue his brother Henry Duke of Yorke without Creation was Prince of Wales 1502. as vnto him of right that dignitie did belong and appertaine and the next yeare after he was created Earle of Chester by his Father The King not long after by an honorable attendance of Lords Knights Ladies and men and women of especiall note and qualitie sent his eldest daughter the Ladie Margaret into Scotland to her espoused husband Iames the Fourth who receiued her vpon the limits of his owne Kingdome from the Earles of Surrey and Northumberland and was the next day maried to her in his Citie of Edenburgh 1503. to the great reioicing of the people of both those Nations Now when King Henry had thus ouercome his enemies and the Rebels and had settled himselfe in peace 1504. hee determined to plucke downe the high stomackes and stout courage of his people The King taketh aduantage of forfeitures vpon Penall Lawes supposing that their wealth and riches occasioned their rebellions and was the cause that many enormous insolencies were done and committed in the Common-weale And by that meane hee also intended to enrich himselfe And the plot whereby he intended to effect it was by taking of the aduantage of the breach of Penall Lawes Empson and Dudley And the principall charge of that polling businesse hee committed to Sir Richard Empson and Edmund Dudley men learned in the Law but ready enough to execute the Kings commands in a worser matter if occasion did so require These two being attended by troupes of base Informers Promoters Catch-poles Cheaters Knaues and cousening Rascals Many are vndone prosecuted and persecuted many of the Kings good Subiects to their vtter ruine and ouerthrow insomuch that many people in euery Shire of this Kingdome by their oppressions waxed poore and were vtterly decaied in their estates But the Kings Coffers were filled his Bagges were stuffed and those two gracelesse and cruell Cormorants got to themselues the Deuill and all But no remedie there was to cure this maladie for the King authorized them and they so rigorously and so vnconscionably executed their tyrannie that no man could assure himselfe that hee was free and without the danger of their lash 1605. In the 21. yeare of K. Henries raigne Elizabeth Q. of Castile wife to Ferdinando K. of Aragon and Spain died without issue male of her bodie so that her Kingdom not being deuidable among sisters according to the custome of that Countrie discended to her eldest daughter the Ladie Iane The King and Queene of Castile doe come into England by a storme wife to Philip Arch-Duke of Austria and Duke of Burgoine so that hee being King of Castile in her right prepared a Nauie of strong and well appointed ships and entred into the Sea purposing to take the possession of his new Kingdome But by the violence of an outragious storme himselfe with his Queene was driuen into Waymouth in Dorset shire where at his landing hee was receiued by Sir Thomas Trenchard a worthie Sir Thomas Trenchard entertaineth them at his house and a compleate Knight who instantly importuned the King to accept of the entertainment of his house vntill King Henrie were certified of his being there which courteously he did Whereof when he had louingly accepted hee was conducted thither and feasted like as hee was a King The Knight forthwith sent diuers Posters to King Henrie who being much gladded by this newes because the said King and he were vnfained and faithfull friends They are entertained by the King forthwith sent for his better direction and attendance the Earle of Arundell and some others who inuited him and his Queene and their Companie to the Kings Court which was then at his Castle of Windsor of which great courtesie he accepted with a kind hart and as he came within fiue miles of the Castle he was met by the Noble Henrie Prince of Wales who was accompanied by diuers Earles Lords Knights and Gentlemen of choice reckoning aad account and within halfe a mile of his iournies end the King himselfe with the greatest part of his Nobilitie Ladies and Personages of great worth and honour being richly apparrelled and brauely mounted met him likewise where kind salutations and friendly greetings proceeded from the heart and were performed with most exquisite complements of loue that by any could be imagined From the Kings Castle of Windsor the King conducted him and his Queene to the Citie of London where nothing was omitted that anie deuise or cost could make sumptuous thereby to expresse the heartie welcome of such beloued guests And thus when with great contentment mirth and pastime the King and he had spent some dayes they renewed the League which was betwixt them and taking kind farewels each of other the said King and Queene imbarked themselues againe lanched into the Sea and safety arriued according to their owne wils But not long after King Philip and his wife died and that Kingdome discended to Charles his eldest sonne From this time forwards King Henrie waxed sickly weake 1506. and infirme and by meanes thereof the two scourgers of the Common-weale Empson and Dudley tooke larger libertie to extend their villanies then was giuen to them and did oppresse torment and vex the People of this land But when the King perceiued that his time was short 1507. hee depriued them of their authoritie remitted and pardoned all offences committed against his penall Lawes and enlarged all prisoners The King waxeth sickly His deeds of charitie which were in durance for any offence treason and murder excepted only he also paid the debts of all such as for trifling and smal summes were prisoners in any Ward and gaue certaine
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
commission granted by King Henry And secondly because the great seale of the Kingdome of England was in those Countries borne with great state before him which seemed to be the chiefest marke and badge by which King Henry would expresse the extraordinarie trust confidence which he reposed in him when as in truth and indeed hee foolishly and vnaduisedly caried the said Seale with him for his owne glorie without the Kings leaue so that in his absence no Sherifs could be made nor any Writs Commissions or Patents could bee sealed which wronged many particular men and was very preiudiciall to the present estate of the whole Kingdome His Oration Within a day or two after the Cardinals comming to Brudges the Emperour with his Counsell and Wolsey with his Associates seriously disputed and debated of the causes of the iarres and wars intended betwixt his Maiestie and the French King But when the Cardinall perceiued that the Emperour without restitution vnto him made of such of his Castles Forts Townes Cities and Territories as by the French King were detained from him would not incline to any peace hee then like a learned and like a wittie Oratour discoursed largely of the happinesse of peace and of the vnspeakable and insupportable miseries of bloudy war and forgat not to shew vnto the Emperour the kingly strength and puissance of his Soueraigne both in men and also in horses ships armour ordinance and all other materials for the warre And further adding that in regard of the league which was betwixt those two Kings his Lord and master should be vrged to take part with the French King if any violence by any other Prince should be offered to him The Emperour The Emperors answer acknowledging all to bee true whatsoeuer the Cardinall had spoken touching the benefits of peace the incommodities of warre answered that God who had giuen honors and possessions vnto Emperors Kings had includedly in the same gifts appropriated such an inheritable right in them vnto those to whom they were so giuen that he doubted not but with the pleasure of Almightie God they might not onely defend and keepe them with the sword from all Vsurpers and Intruders but might also by force and violence regaine them if iniuriously and besides right they were kept and detained And seeing that all Kings and Princes were bounden to support right and to suppresse al iniuries wrongs he said he doubted little of his vncle King Henries helpe and comfort if betwixt himselfe the French King there were no peace to be made without blowes The Emperors greeuances He also informed the English Commissioners that when his forces hee being at that time but Arch-duke of Austria had ouerthrowen the Armie of K. Charles the eighth at Gingate then the said King to procure his peace desired and espoused the Lady Margaret his daughter now wife to the Duke of Sauoy and vpon the same conclusion of the said mariage hee gaue with her to the said French King a good portion in money with diuers Townes and Castles in Piccardie which were still detained and kept from him notwithstanding that the said King Charles perfidiously refused afterwards to marie her and sent her home He told them likewise that he himselfe being lawfully betrothed vnto the Lady Iane the yong Duches of Britaigne hee trecherously gate her from him and tooke her to his owne wife He shewed them also that whereas the Duke of Gueâ—ders was his Subiect and ought to liue vnder his homage and obedience he by the procurement of the now French King stood out as a Rebell Refusing to be reformed without blowes Hee complained also that the French King trecherously surprized from the house of Castile the Realme of Naples but should restore it againe by friendship or by warre Thus when the Emperour had discoursed and had made an end of speaking the Cardinall replyed little leauing him to his owne will and taking a friendly and a kinde farewell hee returned to Calice where hee againe but more coldly then before debated with those Embassadours vpon the conclusions of a peace But when he perceaued that no such matter could be effected hee tooke his leaue and returned into England and was gratiously welcommed as a friend and liberally feasted as a stranger by the King In the fifteenth sixteenth and seuenteenth yeares of King Henries Raigne this prowd Cardinall vnder the colour of the Kings partaking with the Emperor in his warres against the French king of his owne authoritie and without the Kings commandement granted forth Commissions vnder the great Scale of England into euery Shire and Prouince of the Kingdome and directed them to the principall and chiefest men He granteth strange commissions for taxes and gaue vnto them priuate instructions how and in what sort they should proceed and demeane themselues in the execution of that businesse And by the same Commissions euery man was required to depose the certaine and true value of his Estate And then Of euery fiftie pounds and vpward there was demanded foure shillings the pound And for euery pound aboue twentie and vnder fiftie two shillings And for euery pound aboue twentie shillings vnder twentie pounds twelue pence The payment thereof to bee in money or in plate And in London hee made himselfe the chiefe Commissioner In which he behaued himselfe insolently as a Tyrant not so much to enrich the King as to stuffe vp his owne purse The like Commissions he granted forth against all the Clergie of this Land of whom he demanded foure shillings the pound of all their liuings The commons will not obey These vniust proceedings grieued the Clergie and common People at the heart and generally they refused to submit themselues in that busines Their reasons 1. First because those Commissions were not established nor were grounded vpon the Lawes of this Kingdome and common-weale 2. Secondly because the execution of them would be a dangerous president against the libertie and freedome of this kingdome in time to come 3. Thirdly because many mens credits exceeded their estates and to discouer their inabilities either vpon their oathes or otherwise it might and would tend to the subuersion and vtter ouerthrow both of them and of their Families 4. And lastly because the thing demanded and required to be paid was so much That not one man among ten generally had that value in money or in plate though hee were worth much more And therefore if the King by force of these Commissions should get into his hands all his Subiects plate and money they then should for necessities sake be constrayned to barter and to exchange and chop Lead for Clothes Tinne for Bread and Cloth for Cheese But these reasons preuailed not with the Cardinall but contrariwise he being by a generall Petition entreated to perswade the King to deâ—ist from that course and by the Lawes to deuise some other made this froward and sullen answer That he would
as if the kings Maiestie had beene his inferior and at his command 3 Item That to induce the Pope to giue vnto him a power legantine he in his letters for that purpose had this phrase ecclesia Anglicana facta est in reprobum sensum The Church of England is become reprobate whereby hee vnchristianly disgraced and abominably slandred the Church of England as being faithlesse And that therefore necessity did instantly vrge and require that by a power Legantine to be granted vnto him it might be reduced to a right beliefe 4 Item That when hee was sent an Ambassador to Calice there to conferre with the Ambassadors of the Emperor and of the French king Hee carried with him without the kings leaue the great Seale of this kingdome and from thence he also caried it into Flanders to the Emperors court for his owne honor and vaine glorie 5 Item That without the kings knowledge or consent he had sent a commission sealed with the great Seale of England to Sir Gregorie de Cassado authorizing him thereby in the kings name to conclude a peace betwixt the Duke of Ferrara and the kings Maiestie 6 Item that he being filthily powdred with the french pocks by reason of his excessiue lecherie and dishonest life did oftentimes presume to talke with and to cast his vnholsome breath into the kings face 7 Item That to magnifie his owne power both at home and with forren Nations he caused a Cardinals hat to be stamped on some of the the Kings coine without his Maiesties appointment or consent 8. Item that hee would not suffer the Kings Clerke of the market to execute his office in S. Albons because the same Towne was parcell of his Abbey 9. Jtem that to obtaine his dignities and to continue the loue and fauour of the Pope and of his Cardinals towards him hee had in sixteene barrels conueied to Pope Clement the seuenth and to his Cardinals toward their redemption out of prison wherein after the sacking of Rome they were kept by the Emperour Charles the fifth and to the French king in the Popes behalfe to make warres vpon the Emperour so much gold as did amount to the summe of two hundred and fortie thousand pounds at one time and incredible summes of other money at other times to the great impouerishing of this kingdome and Common-weale and to enrich the king againe had of his owne accord sent out such Commissions into all Shires within this kingdome for the exacting of infinite summes of money as quenched the peoples loue towards the king and made them rebelliously to disturbe the peace of this kingdome in Norfolke and elsewhere These Articles and many more being comprised in the said booke Wolsey confesseth the Articles the Cardinall by a subscription written with his owne hand frankly and freely confessed and submitted himselfe to the Kings mercie About the same time the King for honourable and good seruice created Sir Thomas Bulleine who was Viscount Rochford Earle of Wilshire Noblemen created and Viscount Fitz-water was made Earle of Sussex and the Lord Hastings was created Earle of Huntingdon The King because he was informed that the Emperour and the Pope were together in Bononie sent thither as Ambassadors the said Earle of Wilshire and some others An ambassage protesting that the question touching his mariage was not begotten nor motioned by him nor by his consent but first by the President of Paris who receiued it as he affirmed from the Counsell of Spaine and since by the grauest and the best learned Diuines within his Kingdome and not vpon any dislike which he conceiued against his Queene nor for any desire to change and therefore hee earnestly intreated them The King craueth a sentence that for the clearing of his troubled conscience the same matter might one way or other receiue a speedie and a finall end by a sentence or iudgement declaratorie in the Consistorie of Rome The Emperour said little but onely answered that the iudgement of the Law should content and satisfie him in that point And the Pope said that when he came to Rome the matter should receiue an end but yet hee meant nothing lesse for hee knew right well that if he pronounced sentence against the dispensation granted by Pope Iulie his predecessor although hee knew well that it was flatly against the Law of God then the Popes future dispensations would be little or nothing at all respected or regarded And hee likewise knew that by giuing of sentence against the Queene he should againe make the Emperour his enemie who was now newly become his friend Thus this vnthankfull Pope flattered and dallied with the Kings Ambassadors making them hopefull but in vaine yet with this answer they returned to the King who fearing lest the Pope and his Cardinals would indeede by long delaies abuse and dallie with him imploied diuers Lords and the greatest Diuines within his Kingdome at his exceeding great costs and charges to trauell into all the Vniuersities in the Christian world and there to be resolued of their opinions touching the validitie or nullitie of his said mariage And when they all returned they brought with them twelue Instruments sealed with the publike Seales of so many Vniuersities and also the opinions of sundrie great and famous learned men The opinion of Vniuersities by all which it appeared that they agreed and consented in one that the Kings mariage with his brothers wife was vtterly void and contrary to the Lawes of God and man notwithstanding the dispensation of the Pope Wolsey is licensed to goe to Yorke The King at this time by the aduice of his Counsell licensed Wolsey to liue within his Diocesse of Yorke for which cause he went thither But diuers of his seruants by their friends meanes got into the Kings seruice among whom Thomas Cromwell being a wise and a discreet man was one whom the King entertained with publike demonstration of his good affections towards him and of his fauour The Cardinals Colleges Now though such of the Cardinals lands as he intended to haue bestowed vpon his two Colledges were clearely forfetted vnto the King yet his Maiestie in regard of his great loue which he bare to learning and vnto learned men bestowed the same wholly vpon his Colledge founded in Oxford called the Cardinals Colledge but then newly named the Kings Colledge but now it is called Christs Church And the other of his Colledges founded at Ipswich the King destroied as being vnprofitable and seruing to no purpose The King being secretly informed that the Cardinall had gotten a Bull from Rome to curse him 1530. except hee would restore him to all his goods lands and dignities A Bull from the Pope A proclamation and that none but hee no not the King himselfe should for any offence whatsoeuer correct or punish any Clergie man proclaimed that all prouisions appeales and instruments within the space of one yeare next before
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
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
then would doe as he thought good but if they refused so to doe he then protested to visit the Towne and them with all the extremities which were incident to such a warre This quicke answere so little pleased the Townesmen that they returned purposing to resist and so they did But by strong batteries and fierce assaults their gates and their walles were beaten downe and entred so that many thousands of the Scots were slaine their riches were possessed by the English Armie and a great part of that Citie was consumed by fire Now whilest the Armie was thus busied there came vnto them from the King foure thousand English horsemen so that when the spoiles and booties were by the souldiers imbarked and by water sent into England the English Armie coasted thorow a great part of those Countries vnfought with burning killing and foraging in all places as they pleased so that they hauing taken ransacked and burnt a good part of the Citie of Edenborough Holy-rood house and the Kings Palace there and hauing rifled and defaced the Townes of Leyth Haddington Dumbarre Dyrlaw Broughton Dudiston Beuerton Markle Hatherwike Bowland Blackborne West-Crage Chester-fels Stone-house Trauent Trapren Belton Butterden Raunto Enderleigh Crawenden Shenston the Fycket East-barne Kyrklandhill Quickwood part of Muskelborough and many other Villages besides Abbies Monasteries and Religious Houses which particularly wee cannot name they returned powerfully with rich booties and with the only losse of fortie men into England Two Armies sent into France And thus did King Henry in some sharpe measure correct and punish the vnstable dealings of the Scots Which troubles when he had finished hee then forthwith made such plentifull preparations to inuade France that he sent vnto the French Kings Dominions two strong Armies of which the one was commanded by the Duke of Norfolke and by the gentle Lord Russel who was then newly made Lord Priuie Seale who therewithall besieged the strong Towne of Muttrell where they lost much time Muttrell besieged and abandoned and much labour and were enforced to leaue it in the end And the other of the said two Armies was commanded by the Duke of Suffolke with which the said former Armie inbodied it selfe and then they all encamped about the strong and warlike Citie of Bulleine Bulleine is besieged and after many sharpe conflicts and hot skirmishes they first tooke the Old man and shortly after base Bulleine To this siege King Henry himselfe being attended by many a worthie man repaired and after his comming thither The King commeth to Bulleine so long as the light gaue leaue for the space of one whole moneth together he caused the walles of the Towne and Castle so cruelly to be battered and the Towne it selfe to be so beaten and the breaches and the trenches to be so furiously assulted that the walles in many places lay almost leuell with the ground No house escaped vnhurted and the Inhabitants with continuall labour vexation Bulleine is yeelded and trauell were almost tired and worne out so that at length vpon composition that all the Souldiers and Inhabitants should safely depart with bagge and baggage the strong and stately Towne and Castle of Bulleine was deliuered into the Kings hands out of which issued vpon the said agreement threescore and seuen horsemen fifteene hundred threescore and three footmen eight hundred Gunners fourescore and seuen men who were hurt and nineteene hundred twentie and seuen men women and children they all being in number 4444. soules But many who by reason of their greeuous wounds could not depart were found and well cherished and releeued in the Towne Now whilest the King thus lay at the siege of Bulleine King Henry returneth the Emperour without the Kings knowledge or consent secretly concluded a peace with the French King whereat King Henry much greeued so that after hee had taken an exact order for the repairing and fortifying of that Towne and Castle bee dismissed his Armie and with great ioy honour and triumph he returned into England And because his daily warres which required continuall supplies had wasted and consumed his treasure Iohn Stow. 993. which for the preuenting of future mischiefes and in especiall such as were daily offred vnto him by the Scots he endeuoured to augment hee therefore demanded a Beneuolence of all his Subiects both Spirituall and Temporall For which purpose Sir Thomas Wryothesley A Beneuolence Lord Chancellor of England the Duke of Suffolke and others of his Maiesties Counsell of Estate sitting as Commissioners in Bainards Castle in London taxed the Citizens and Inhabitants according to their wisdomes and discretions And because one Alderman whose name was Richard Read refused to pay what they had ordered Alderman Read he was therefore by them required on a great paine personally to serue the King in his warres against the Scots which cheerefully be performed and was with many others taken prisoner and detained by his enemies vntill that for his ransome hee was enlarged and set free The Dolphins successe After the King was departed home the Dolphin taking the benefit to a darke night came with a great power so suddenly into Base Bulleine that he tooke it But such as fled and had saued their liues being aided by the souldiers of the vpper Towne and Castle came fiercely on the Dolphin and so manfully assailed him that to saue himselfe and his he in all the haste departed and left the Towne with his great losse The French are ouerthrowen Within few daies after Monsieur de Bees came on the other side of the water before the Towne with an Armie of fifteene thousand men and began to erect a Fortresse there But by the valiant Earle of Hartford the Viscount Lisle the Lord Gray and diuers others they were assailed fought with and shamefully put to flight and were compelled to leaue behinde them their Ordinance Tents and other good prouisions to their great ignominie and reproch The French King intending to worke wonders in England by way of a reuenge for that his strong Towne of Bulleine was lost sent to the Sea a mightie Fleet The French Kings Nauie doth nothing of two hundred tall ships and seuen and twentie strong Gallies all which were stuffed as it was reported with threescore thousand men All these came in good order and ancoured before the Isle of Wight and were oftentimes beaten with the great Ordinance which the Admirall of England liberally bestowed on them But as the English Fleet passed out of the Hauen of Portsmouth into the Sea a stately strong and a goodly ship named the Marie Rose The Marie Rose drowned belonging to the King in which was Captaine Sir George Carew Knight with more then foure hundred men besides was drowned almost in an instant by the grosse follie of the Gunners and of the Mariners the former of them hauing left their Ordinance vntrigged and the latter hauing left the vnder port holes open
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
a child without issue Edward Fines Lord Clinton was by Queene Elizabeth Q. Eliz. created Earle of Lincolne Henrie Fines Lord Clinton the sonne of the said Edward was Earle of Lincolne after his Father and yet liueth March EDwin a Saxon at the time of the Conquest was Earle of March hee with Marcarus and Swardus kept the Isle of Waight against the Conqueror and was banished Roger Mortimer Lord Mortimer of Wigmore E. 3. was by king Edward the Third created Earle of March and was executed for Treason Roger Mortimer the sonne of Edmund Mortimer who was the sonne of the said Earle Roger E. 3. was by the same king restored to the Baronie of Wigmore and to the Earledome of March. Edmund Mortimer his sonne married Philip the daughter and heire of Lionel Duke of Clarence the third sonne of king Edward the Third and was Earle of March and from them two did descend the heires of the Familie of Yorke Roger Mortimer their sonne was Earle of March and of Vlster in Ireland and by king Richard the Second was proclaimed heire apparant to the Crowne of England and was slaine long after in Ireland Edmund Mortimer his sonne was Earle of March and after one and twentie yeares imprisonment in Wales and elsewhere he died without issue Richard Plantagenet Earle of Cambridge was the sonne of Edmund of Langley Duke of Yorke the fift sonne of King Edward the third hee maried Anne the sister and heire of the said Edmund daughter to the said last Earle Roger and in her right he was Earle of March and they two had issue Richard Duke of Yorke who was father to King Edward the fourth Richard Plantagenet sonne to Richard Earle of Cambridge was Earle of March and Duke of Yorke and had issue Edward the fourth Edward his sonne was first Earle of March then by his Fathers death he was Duke of Yorke and by his victorie at Barnet field hee attained the Kingdome of England and was King Edward the fourth Mountgomery K. Ia. SIr Philip Herbert Knight the second sonne of Henry late Earle of Pembroke and younger brother to William Lord Herbert now Earle of Pembroke was by K. Iames created Earle of Mountgomery Northfolke RAlph Waer at the time of the Conquest was Earle of Norfolke and Suffolke and fled for treason Conq. Ralph Bygot President of the East Angles was by the Conqueror created Earle of Northfolke but hee was disherited for conspiring against him H. 1. Hugh Bygot was by King Henry the first created Earle of Northfolke Roger Bygot his sonne was Earle after him Hugh Bygot his sonne was Earle of Northfolke Roger Bygot his sonne succeeded in that Earledome Roger Bygot his Nephew vizt the sonne of his brother Robert was Earle of Northfolke and dyed without issue E. 2. Thomas Plantagenet surnamed Brotherton who was a yonger son to King Edward the first and brother to King Edward the second was by his brother created Earle of Northfolk he had one daughter and heire who was named Margaret Iohn Lord Segraue maried the said Margaret they two had issue Margaret R. 2. which Margaret was by King Richard the second created Duchesse of Northfolke after her husbands death and then she maried Iohn Lord Mowbray Thomas Lord Mowbray their sonne R. 2. was by King Richard the second created Earle of Nottingham Marshall of England and Duke of Norfolke hee dyed without issue Hee complained of Henry of Bullinbrooke to King Richard the second and should haue fought a combate with him but died at Venice in his banishment Thomas Lord Mowbray his sonne was neuer Duke of Northfolk but was in his fathers life time only Earle of Nottingham and was executed for treason with Richard Scroop Archbishop of Yorke by King Henry the fourth and his brother Iohn succeeded their father and was Marshall of England Earle of Nottingham and Duke of Northfolke Iohn Lord Mowbray his sonne was Earle of Nottingham Warren and Surrey High Marshall of England and Duke of Northfolke Iohn Lord Mowbray his sonne succeeded his father in all those honourable Dignities he died and had issue Anne Richard Plantagenet Duke of Yorke and second sonne to King Edward the fourth was maried in his childhood to the said Anne and was in her right possessor of all those honors But he was murdred by his Vncle King Richard the third and died without issue The said Anne also died without issue whereby all the Lordshippes of the Mowbrays by course of inheritance was devolued to Iohn Lord Howard and to William Lord Barkley Iohn Lord Howard who by his mothers side R. 3. was discended from the before named Mowbrayes was by King Richard the third created Duke of Northfolke and lost his life in the said Kings quarell at Bosworth field H. 8. Thomas Howard his sonne who by King Richard the third was made Earle of Surrey was created Duke of Northfolke by King Henry the eighth Thomas Howard his son succeeded and was Duke of Northfolk Thomas Howard the sonne of Henry who was the sonne of the last Thomas Duke of Northfolke was Duke of Northfolke and Earle Marshall of England He was also in the right of his wife Marie the eldest daughter of Henry Fitz-Allen Earle of Arundell Northumberland MArcarus at the time of the Conquest was Earle of Northumberland and Lincolne he with others kept the I le of Wighte against the Conqueror and was taken dyed in prison and had no issue Conq. Robert de Cumine was by the Conqueror created Earle of Northumberland but was slaine by the Northumbers Conq. Gospatrick was created Earle of Northumberland by the Conqueror but he tooke it from him againe Conq. Waldrofe was by the Conqueror created Earle of Northumberland but lost his head for treason Conq. Walcher Bishop of Durham bought the Earledome of Northumberland of the Conqueror and died without issue Conq. Robert de Mowbray was by the Conqueror created Earle of Northumberland but he rebelled and lost it Steph. Dauid Prince of Scotland sonne to King Malcolme the third was Earle of Northumberland Cumberland and Huntington Henrie his sonne assoone as his father was King enioyed all those Earledomes Malcolme his son was Earle of Northumberland and of Cumberland and Huntington William his brother succeeded him in his Kingdome and was Earle of Northumberland Cumberland and Huntington he warred against King Henry the second was taken Prisoner ransomed and lost those honors R. 1 Hugh de Puddsey Bishop of Durham was by King Richard the first created Earle of Northumberland and died without issue R. 2. Henry Percy was by King Richard the second created Earle of Northumberland hee was father to Henry surnamed Hotspurre who was slaine in their rebellion against King Henry the fourth H. 5. Henry the sonne of Henry Hotspur was by King Henry the fifth restored to the Earledome of Northumberland Henry Percy his sonne was Earle of Northumberland Hee and his
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
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
small a number forth with retired and with continuall assault so sharply oppressed the besieged for many dayes that hee scarcely gaue them leasure to take breath By meanes whereof they were almost tired and so worne out that small hope of long resistance was left vnto them except they were in due time rescued and relieued by the King To giue his Highnesse intelligence whereof it was resolued That one of them in the depth of the night must giue a desperate aduenture through the Scottish Campe. This proiect seemed so full of imminent perill and danger A braue attempt with fortunate successe that euery one of the inferiors refused the attempt So that the braue Knight himselfe considering aduisedly in what case the Castle stood and pitying the distressed estate of the comfortlesse Countesse his sister who expected nothing but villainous abuse if it were yeelded with a setled resolution vndertooke the iourney And being gallantly mounted vpon a swift courser he speedily posted through all the thousands of his enemies And in the morning hee informed Dauid by such passingers as hee did meete that very quickely hee should heare newes of him againe The Castle is brauely assaulted and defended The siege is raised The Scots knowing that it was no time to linger and yet being desirous to reuenge the great disgrace which their Armie had receiued againe and againe furiously assaulted the Castle and in them they performed many braue feates of Armes which witnessed their eager longing to haue wonne it but they were still repulsed and beaten backe with many incredible slaughters of their Souldiers The King comes to late for the Scots are gone and were compelled to raise the siege and with great speede to hasten into their owne Countrie King Edward the very day of their departure had trauelled a long and wearie iourney thinking to haue met them there But he failed of his purpose for which hee was much grieued Yet by the mediation of diuers Honourable personages A Truce a Truce was concluded on for a few Moneths But to be enlarged for two yeares if the French King without whose leaue the Scots could make no Peace would consent thereto The French King liked the motion well and gaue freedome to the Earle of Salisburie For whom the Earle of Morret was by kiâ—â— Edward set at libertie And though king Edward tooke but little pleasure in this Truce The causes why the King consented to this Truce yet he was the more easily drawne to consent thereto because at the same time he had Warres in France Gascoyne Poyters Paynton Britaine and else where All which daily consumed as much Treasure as he could get The king when hee perceiued that the Scots were gone from the Castle disarmed himselfe and with ten The King makes loue to the Countesse of Salisburie or twelue Lords and Knights entred into the Castle where the excellent beautie and modest behauiour of the sweete Countesse of Salisburie so inflamed his heart that by secret and amorous wooings he endeauoured to perswade her to ease his passions with her loue But the vertuous Lady first with milde and kind intreaties Shee cares not for it and afterwards with quicke and nipping reprehensions striued to make the king to see his owne errour But such was his desire and her denials were so peremptorie and resolute That discontentedly the King left her cashired his Armie and returned backe againe And hauing for many yeares together beene vexed The King keepes a solemne Feast and toyled in sundrie Warres hee intended to recreate himselfe his Lords his knights and chiefest Martialists with such pastimes and sportings as men of Warre tooke greatest pleasure in Wherefore hee proclaimed a solemne Feast to continue many dayes and generally inuited therunto the valiant men of his owne and of forraine Nations and Kingdomes proposing the exercise of feates of Armes Strangers repaire into England at the appointed time By meanes whereof many Noblemen and such as were of best renowme for Chiualrie repaired into England from many Countries excepting France and were with all magnificence courtesie and loue receiued and entertained by the King Martiall sportings and by all his Court But in those heroicall sportings by an euill and an vnfortunate accident Sir Iohn Lord Beamount The Lord Beamount slaine a valiant Knight of this Realme who formerly had taken the last King and Sir Hugh Spencer the yonger in a fisher before the Castle of Bristoll was slaine This Royall feast and these warlike pastimes ANNO. 18. A ParliameÌ„t The Prince of Wales is Created being thus finished a Parliament was assembled at Westminster wherein the king Created his eldest Sonne Edward Prince of Wales and vnto him was giuen by a free and generall consent Commissioners for the imployment of the Subsidie money foure fifteenes by the Laitie and three by the Clergie but with this condition that no part thereof should be conuerted vnto any other vse then only to the furtherance of the warres of France And certaine Lords and some others of principall note were then selected to whom the only care and charge of that imployment should belong ANNO. 19 The next yeare following king Edward to increase vertue and valour in his Nobles to enlarge his Amitie and Friendshippe with the States and Princes of forraine Countries deuised and established a new order of knight-hood confining the number of them to twentie and six of which himselfe and his Successors were to be Presidents and called them knights of the honourable Order of the Garter The order of the Garter deuised and established The Rites and Ceremonies of which order are euery yere solemnized with Princely magnificence in the kings Castle at Windsor to Gods glorie and the honour of all such as are dignified with that degree And thus king Edward hauing a while recreated himselfe with such Princely delights as exercised his Martialists in feates of Armes to the pleasure and good contentment of his people He now beganne againe to thinke vpon his affaires with France and to make his Forces better knowne to the Frenchmen then formerly they had beene An Armie sent into Gascoyne For which purpose he leuied a faire Armie which by his Cousin the Earle of Darby was landed and directed in Gascoine with such discretion and with such valour that hee not only acquited himselfe right nobly by way of defence against Philip the French king but daily wonne from him his Cities Townes Castles and his Forts and filled his hands so full that whilest the said Earle remained there hee laboured in vaine to catch at anie thing which belonged to king Edward Iaques Dartuell At the same time Iaques Dartuel whom fortune from a low beginning had raised to the greatest command that euer any man before him had in Flanders notwithstanding that Loys their Earle then personally did liue among them secretly purposed to disherite the said Earle and to make
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
of that Towne in the siege whereof hee spent three moneths Pont-Melance regained but at length it was yeelded into his hands and the Lord Grandeuyle by a solemne Oath promised his faithfull and perpetuall seruice to King Henrie but reuolted as soone as he was set at large Sens is taken From thence the said Earle marched into Champaigne besieged and tooke the Towne of Sens and deuoured the surprized souldiors with the Sword The Parisians craue protection The vnconstant Parisians more coueting to make an outward shew of their fidelitie to the English than to be true indeede sent diuers of their greatest and grauest Citizens into England to craue protection and defence against King Charles Who were receiued not onely with a chearefull welcome heartie thankes and bountifull entertainement but also were promised the fruition of much happinesse if they persisted loyall vnto King Henrie About that time the Regent meeting at Amiens with the Dukes of Burgoine and of Britaine 1423. 2 A League renewed The Regent marrieth renewed the League formerly concluded betweene them And to make it the more firme and sure hee married the Ladie Anne of Burgoine sister vnto the Duke The triumphant Shewes and Pastimes which were prepared to augment the honour of this Match The Parisians are vnfaithfull and conspire with the French king persuaded the Parisians in his absence that the Regent attended nothing but Iolitie and Mirth Which conceit of theirs made them trecherously to inuite their longed for King Charles to come vnto them and to receiue that Citie into his hands This newes brought comfort to his soule The trecherie discouered So that hee appointed the day when his desire should bee effected in that businesse But as it euer falleth out where many are of counsell nothing can be secret so some of those Conspirators acquainted the Regent with euerie particular of this Plot Who with his Armie posted vnto Paris with greater expedition than may well be credited and entred into the Citie gates before anie notice was giuen of his repaire thither For this Conspiracie manie of the chiefest confederates were executed publikely with sundrie kinds of death And from thenceforth he mastred the Parisians with English Garrisons The Regent curbeth the Parisians and replenished their Castle Towers Fortresses and Places of Defence and Strength with such English Souldiors as solaced themselues in being froward Commanders and imperious Rulers of the inhabitants of that Citie And likewise by strong Assaults and enforced Compositions hee wonne the two Castles of Pacy and Coursay Pacy and Coursay wonne by the English which were not farre from it both which hee strengthened in like manner Whilest these things were thus acted the Lord William Steward Constable of Scotland the Earle of Ventadore The siege of Crauant is raysed and manie others with a strong Armie besieged the strong Towne of Crauant within the Territories of Burgoigne But the Earle of Salisburie with an Armie of fifteene thousand men rushed fiercely vpon the besiegers and with the losse of one and twentie hundred of his companies and with the slaughter of eight thousand of his enemies hee raysed the Siege and gayned libertie to the Towne The Earle vpon his returne to Paris was substituted vice-Regent of the Countries of France Bry Champaigne and Sir Iohn Fastolfe an approued Knight in Arms was appointed to be Deputie in the Duchie of Normandie Which worthie Captaines performed such noble deedes of Chiualrie and obtayned such vnexpected victories as made them famous their Followers rich and their Countrey renowned in all Kingdomes In the meane time whilest the Protector prouidently endeuoring to preuent the encreasing strength of the Kings enemies in France and to secure the tranquilitie and peace of this Common-weale at home The King of Scots ransomed for a small ransome hee enlarged Iames the young and martiall King of Scots who for manie yeares had beene a prisoner And receiuing of him in the Kings behalfe his homage and his fealtie for Scotland He doth homage for Scotland hee gaue to him in marriage by the consent of all the English Nobilitie the Ladie Iane daughter to the deceased Earle of Somerset and cousin german to the King He is an excellent Prince but vnfaithfull and vnthankefull This gallant Prince by meanes of his excellent Learning and Education in feats of Armes vnder the last King Henrie was better enabled to rule a Kingdome than any of his progenitors did before him In so much that making the best vse of those heroicall vertues with which he was adorned he reduced that Realme into extraordinarie Ciuilitie made his souldiors expert in warlike discipline and his Nation more learned than euer they had been before his dayes Yet was he altogether vnfaithfull and vnthankfull to England his nearest and his dearest friend Prouision an Armie sent into France The Protector who was wise and industrious neuer suffered the Regent in France to complaine of any want For as in former times so now he sent vnto him an Armie of tenne thousand men with much Treasure The Regent and his assistants daily wonne Townes Cities Castles and Forts with prouident policie and true valour But the French King by grosse Flatterie cunning Deuises secret Treacherie Valour was encountred by trecherie and couert Dealings among others possessed himselfe of the strong Townes of Crotoy and some others which were suddainely regayned for true Manhood was encountred with Subtletie and approued Valour with Treacherie and Craft The Duke of Britaine and his brother doe reuolt The Duke of Britaine fearing least the Regent growing strong would at length be Lord of his Countrey basely and perfidiously reuolted to the French King And so did his brother Arthur Earle of Richmond who by King Henrie the fifth was created Earle of Yurye in Normandie Yury in Normandie besieged and made Gouernor of that Towne Whereupon the Regent besieged it and with many secret Mynes violent Batteries and fierce Assaults made it so subject to apparant dangers that the besieged concluded to yeeld it vp if at an appointed day they were not relieued by the French King The Regents resolution For the Regent being throughly resolued to purchase his peace with a short and with a sharpe warre determined to abide battel what force soeuer should be sent to relieue the miseries of that distressed Towne And to further his purpose in that behalfe hee freely permitted messengers to be sent vnto his enemies to informe them of the conclusion which he had made Within few dayes after the Duke of Alanson with sixteene thousand Frenchmen approched neare to the English Campe A cowardly French Armie who did put themselues into a readinesse to receiue him But according to the French fashion he made manie bragging shewes to performe much but on a suddain he cowardly quited the place Vernoyle besieged and wonne by a false report not giuing any one blow and pitched
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
Lord Hastings who litle dreamed that he should in the like maner haue died at the same time This Execution being thus dispatched the Protector caused those Armed to seise vpon the Cardinall Archbishop of Yorke and vpon the Bishop of Elie and vpon the Lord Stanley and some others all which were seuerally committed to seuerall Prisons in that place And presently the Protector and the Duke of Buckingham A had shift thrusting themselues into vile and vncomely harnesse as if necessitie had compelled them to shift themselues into the first and worst that came vnto their hands They sent for diuers worthie Citizens of London and required them with all posting speed to repaire thither which they did And vnto them the Protector passionately related that his death was conspired and that his life should haue beene taken from him as he sate that morning in Counsell with the Lords by the Lord Hastings and by his wicked complices if by sudden force and violence he had not preuented that mischiefe and so much they were required to tell their friends that they might haue true notice of the cause of this sudden broile and execution in the Tower And within two houres after that the Lord Hastings was depriued of his head a solemne and a long Proclamation written with a faire hand in parchment and being vnder the Great Seale of England was brought into the Citie and with great solemnitie proclaimed there by an Herald of Armes But by all circumstances it was coniectured by all wise men that the same was indited written and sealed some daies before Doctor Shaas Sermon Thus when the wicked Protector had impiously cut off the heads of those Lords who would still haue kept him backe from doing of too much mischiefe if they had liued hee caused Doctor Shaa a man more learned then vertuous and as wicked in practises as the Protector was who did instruct him in a Sermon the Sunday following at Pauls Crosse to blazon the honourable birth and parentage of the Protector to relate his vertues to commend his valour to weaken the fame and honour of the deceased King Edward by reason of his lasciuious wantonnesse with Shores wife and with many others to bastardize all his children as being borne in adulterie and out of lawfull mariage for that King Edward was solemnly contracted as he affirmed vnto the Ladie Elizabeth Lucie whom he begat with childe before such time as hee maried with the Ladie Elizabeth Grey and also because hee was in the person of Richard the great Earle of Warwicke before his said mariage affied vnto the Ladie Bona sister to Carlot the wife of the French King He also accused the Protectors owne mother of great incontinencie when King Edward and George Duke of Clarence his two elder brothers were begotten And thus he striued to make euery one crooked besides himselfe who was most crooked of all And in conclusion the Doctor applying his speech to the worthinesse and goodnesse of the Protector he supposed that the people could not chuse but receiue him for their vndoubted soueraigne Lord and King and therefore hee striued to prepare the multitude to haue shouted out when the King came in and to haue cried King Richard King Richard but he failed of his purpose for euery man was silent and more surprised with wonder then with applause to see and to perceiue how cowardly how vnnaturally and how wickedly these affaires and businesses were carried not to continue the Protector to be a subiect any longer but to be a King And the next day in the Guildhall of London the Duke of Buckingham by like arguments endeuoured to make the Protector the rightfull and vndoubted heire and inheritor of the Crowne The Duke is now King Richard And albeit that the Townesmen tooke no contentment in this message nor did by their voices assent to that which to them was deliuered yet against their willes the Duke of Buckingham procured them the next day to goe with him and with many other Lords to Baynards Castle to the Protector where they offred to receiue him for their lawfull King and praied him to vndergoe that burden But oftentimes he refused to grant them their request But at last he granted it And thus he gained and wonne by their perswasions his hearts desire THE HISTORIE OF KING RICHARD THE THIRD WHen King Richard had taken vpon him the gouernement of this Kingdome and was crowned instead of noble and prince like courtesie Cowardly dissimulation be applied himselfe to all basenesse striuing thereby but all in vaine to winne the loue and fauour of his people And not seeming to take any notice that the Lord Strange son and heire apparant to the Lord Stanley intended to raise an Armie in the North because his father had beene wronged and was then imprisoned by the King but pretending that he loued him when he might punish him hee did not only set him at libertie but also made him the Steward of his owne house He also enlarged the Archbishop of Yorke D. Morton committed but committed Doctor Morton Bishop of Elie as a prisoner to the Duke of Buckingham who was afterwards a principall meanes of his confusion and of King Richards destruction as in the sequell of this Historie more particularly it shall appeare Nobles created The King to make himselfe strong by conferring of great honours vpon others created his onely childe Edward who was of the age of ten yeares Prince of Wales and Iohn Howard who was both valiant in the field and wise in counsell was by him created Duke of Norfolke And Sir Thomas Howard his eldest sonne was made Earle of Surrey The Lord William Barkley was aduanced to the Earledome of Nottingham And Francis Lord Louel whom he entirely loued was made Viscount Louel The French King despiseth King Richard And when hee had as hee imagined so surely settled his estate that froward fortune could not change it by his Ambassadors he made offer to Lewys the French King to conclude a peace But Lewys so much detested his bloudie cruelties and his murders that hee would not vouchsafe to see the Ambassadors which hee sent nor to heare the message which they brought This frumpe and some others so pinched him at the heart and the Deuill tooke such an aduantage of him by reason of his ambitious and wicked minde that he supposed he could neuer be reputed and truly honoured as a King so long as his two harmelesse and poore nephewes drew any breath as though so horrible and so execrable and bloudie a murder could winne him loue and reputation among his discontented people The two yong Princes are murdered Thus whilest his head forged this vile and villanous conceit he made his progresse towards the Citie of Glocester as if hee only intended by his presence to honour that place from whence his former title of dignitie was deriued strongly perswading himselfe that if this vngodly and
inheritable to the Crowne This lesson with the daily repetitions of his heroicall Pedegree hee so inculcated into his young Scholar that hee was as able and as ready to discourse thereof as if by inspiration that knowledge had beene infused to him from aboue The Irish were too credulous Thus when this subtill Priest had prepared his Pupill for his purpose he transported him into Ireland where hee first vented and spred abroad this false and vntrue noueltie among the wilder and more barbarous sort of that fickle and busie Nation who being too too credulous and flexible to any change gaue to the youth all honour and reuerence as vnto their soueraigne and liege Lord. And within few daies after diuers of the Nobilitie of that Countrey were taken in the same net of follie and beleeued as the Commons did among whom the Lord Chancellor Sir Thomas Gerandine was the chiefe who hauing had much familiar conference with the young counterfet and finding his amiable aspect the trimme composure of his bodie his princely presence his pregnancie of wit his sufficient learning his ingenious capacitie his quicke spirit his discreet speech and seemely complements to be answerable and fitting to a Prince not onely censured him to bee the true and the vndoubted sonne and heire of the Duke of Clarence and pitied his estate but endeuouring to doe him good disbursed vnto him for the enlargement of his expenses traine and honour diuers and sundrie great summes of money and perswaded many other great Lords of Ireland to doe the like He also with great speed and secrecie informed the Ladie Margaret The malice of Margaret Duchesse Dâ—wager of Burgoine to K. Henry sister to King Edward the Fourth and Duchesse Dowager vnto Charles the deceased Duke of Burgoine and the supposed Aunt of this counterfet of his being there And albeit that shee was well assured that this newes was false yet because being of the house of Yorke shee mortally hated and enuied King Henry who was the head and the chiefe of the Familie of Lancaster she not only gladded her heart to heare thereof but also pleased her conceits with infinite delectation that now an opportunitie was presented to her to execute her furie vpon King Henry and that shee might by this plot if it succeeded well enlarge her true Nephew the young Earle of Warwicke and make him King First of all therefore shee caused the false report of this young counterfet to bee noised thorowout England that thereby shee might vnsettle the mindes of such as were credulous and might be inclined to take his part She also published that the Irish Nobilitie and Nation had not onely receiued him for their Lord and Soueraigne and would take his part but also that shee her selfe would strengthen his attempts with money men and armes to the vttermost of her power These vaine and fabulous reports carried vnto her into Flanders Francis Lord Louel and her nephew the Earle of Lincolne sonne and heire to Iohn de la Pole Duke of Suffolke and of Elizabeth one other of the sisters of King Edward the Fourth The Traitors land in England Sir Thomas Broughton and some others and after many speeches and much conference touching those affaires and businesses the Duchesse caused to be leuied in her Country about two thousand men which were conducted by Martin Sward an approued Captaine of great resolution and much skill All these with quicke expedition sailed into Ireland and ioined with Sir Thomas Gerardine the Chancellor who was in a readinesse with more then two thousand men of his owne Nation and they all determined to transport themselues into England with all speed Wee may not imagine that King Henry who was valiant prouident and wise was secure carelesse or negligent in these affaires and weightie businesses A politicke act For to the end that certainly it might bee knowen that Lambert was but a counterfet hee caused Edward the young Earle of Warwicke to be publikely brought thorow the streets of London from the Tower vnto Pauls Church where infinite numbers of the Nobilitie Gentrie and Commons of this Kingdome had the sight and view of him and many of them spent some time in conferring with him The King prepareth against Lambert Lambert landeth in England He also made great preparations to repell and to subdue all such as in Lamberts aide should either attempt any ciuill warre or inuade his land And thus when he had ordered all things well these forraine powers arriued neere vnto Lincolne where they expected more succour then they found or were in any possibilitie to haue But when the King was informed that they were come he marched towards them with a constant resolution to trie the vtmost of his fortune in the field insomuch that it was now too late for those Inuaders to step backe for vrgent necessitie did require The battaile of Stoke that either they must flie fight or yeeld But the truth is though they were not strong yet they were no cowards The Irish people were strangely actiue and passing valiant but they wanted Armes and their braue resolution so animated their courage that with haughtie stomackes and Lions hearts they ioined in battaile with the King But within lesse space then one houre Lambert is ouerthrowen the vnprouided and vnfurnished Irish with their Captaines the Earle of Lincolne Francis Lord Louel Sir Thomas Gerardine Martin Sward Lambert is made a Skullian and then the Kings Faulconeâ— and Sir Thomas Broughton were all slaine and the rest submitted themselues to the King who pardoned their offence and committed the Priest Sir Richard Symond vnto perpetuall imprisonment and his counterfeited Pupill being first abased in the Skullerie was within few yeares after chiefe Faulconer to the King Then was the Kings wife with all honour and princely solemnities crowned Queene The Queene is crowned D. Morton made Archbishop of Canterburie and Lord Chancellor and a Cardinall and Thomas Bourchier Archbishop of Canterburie died and was succeeded by Iohn Morton Bishop of Elie who was also made Lord Chancellor of this Kingdome and not long after hee was dignified with the Hat and habit of a Cardinall by Pope Alexander the Sixth Now though King Henry through the benefit of a generall peace at home was made fortunate and happie yet forraine iarres among his neighbours prouoked him to new imploiments vpon this occasion The French King quarrelleth with the Duke of Britaine Charles the French King hauing warred successefully against Maximilian King of the Romans complained that he was much wronged by Lewys Duke of Orleance who had married the Ladie Iane his sister and was his next heire apparant to the French Crowne for that hee with some others tooke part against him with his enemie But in the end when King Charles had affied himselfe to the Ladie Margaret daughter to Maximilian and had concluded a peace betweene themselues the said Duke of Orleance and his complices
vp in the imitation of all princely entertainment complements and behauiour so that all such as beheld him and his Heroicall Qualities pronounced their sentence that bee was descended of a Noble Familie and that some extraordinarie Fortune was at hand and attended to make him more happie then a thousand others Thus when this Ladie had procured her counterfeited Idoll to bee adored and wondered at by reason of his maiesticall carriage and behauiour she informed him that vnder the name of Richard Duke of Yorke second sonne to King Edward the Fourth her brother shee intended to aduance him to the Crowne of England and to make him King which that she might with the more ease and facilitie effect shee secretly and so substantially taught him in the whole Pedigrees of the Houses of Lancaster and Yorke that within few daies no Englishman was more expert and cunning therein then he Perkin is aided by the Irishmen When shee had thus furnished him according to her will shee caused him to be transported into Ireland where he made himselfe knowen among those Nobles to bee by his birth a great Prince and therin he so artificially demeaned himselfe that by the whole Nation of the Irish he was receiued reuerenced and maintained as their soueraigne and rightfull Lord. The French King sendeth for Perkin Warbecke About the same time the French King who daily expected the landing of an English Armie within his Duchie of Britaine or in some other place subiect to his dominion as formerly wee haue heard intended to disturbe the intention and purpose of King Henry by setting vp of another King in this Realme for which purpose hee sent for Perkin Warbecke into France and promised with all kinde of friendly entertainment to receiue helpe releeue and succour him vntill hee had inuested him into his right and Kingdome No sooner was this mocke-prince come to the French Court but such was the generall applause of the Frenchmen and so extraordinarie was their madnesse and braine-sicke ioy that the poore Swad could in no wise chuse but imagine strongly that hee was borne to be a King But in the middest of his flattering vaine and foolish hopes the aforesaid peace betwixt the two Kings of England and of France was concluded and this young Nouice fearing lest he should be deliuered to King Henry ran secretly away Perkin flieth out of France The Duchesse honoureth and maintaineth him and came to his Titularie Aunt the Duchesse of Burgoine who receiued him with great ioy and much honour giuing vnto him princely entertainment filling his purse with gold clothing his bodie with costly and with rich apparell and appointing thirtie gentlemen of worth and qualitie as his Guard to giue their daily attendance vpon his fantasticall person Her practise for assistance in England Then shee caused it newly to be published in England that her Nephew Richard Duke of Yorke was yet aliue and liued in her Court and that he according to his right and title to the Crowne of England as being the heire male of the House of Yorke expected the assistance of all his true and louing subiects towards his attaining thereof Perkin is fauoured in England No sooner did this newes wax common among the Vulgar but it was generally beleeued by them and also by diuers others of better ranke and fashion insomuch that many for malice onely and for grudge which they conceiued against the House of Lancaster others because they deemed themselues not to be sufficiently rewarded for their aduentures in King Henries warres against King Richard others because they were ambitious and saw none other meanes to raise their fortunes others because their fancies were easily deluded by nouelties and deuised newes and others because they delighted to fish in troubled waters determined to take his part And vpon that resolution the Conspirators by secret combination sent Sir Robert Clifford a man of much valour wisdome Sir Robert Clifford and great discretion into Flanders to enquire and to search out the truth of the conception birth and parentage of this new-found Duke This Knight after his arriuall and when hee had conferred againe and againe with the busie-headed Duchesse of Burgoine touching this businesse and with an obseruing eie had beheld the young counterfet and had communed oftentimes with him perswaded himselfe that he was the very true naturall and yongest sonne of King Edward the Fourth and so he certified his friends in England by his letters and by meanes thereof euery day fresh reports gat greater strength and credit among such as were willing to be partakers in his fortunes King Henries preparations against Perkins inuasion Wherefore as a sharpe Feuer suffreth not the Patient to take any rest so this fantasticall dreame and vaine imagination troubled King Henry aboue measure and wisedome made him prouident to prepare for future stormes so that he strongly guarded and fortified all places which bordered vpon the Sea and by his letters hee informed the Burgundians and Flemings of the vanitie and falsitie of this deuised foolerie and of this fained King vsing his best meanes both to preuent all ciuill wars and also to withstand all inuasions which might bee attempted against his Crowne and Kingdome And to make himselfe more strong 1493. 9 hee selected and appointed diuers men of wisdome and of worth secretly to flie out of England into Flanders to the Duchesse and to this fained Duke A wittie policie that by their meanes and endeuours bee might haue true intelligence of such as being of name and qualitie conspired to ioine with this ignoble counterfet vpon whose information and after legall trials the chiefest actors in that businesse as Traitors were put to death King Henry also recounting how that by the late breach of promise Maximilian the King of the Romans failed to assist him in his warres against Charles the French King and finding that his sonne Philip Arch duke of Austria and Duke of Burgoine secretly fauouuoured the attempts of the Ladie Margaret concerning Perkin Warbeckes conspiracie The English Mart is remoued from Flanders to Calice A restraint of wares and merchandizes remoued his Mart of English merchandizing from Flanders to his owne Towne of Calice and also he prohibited all men whatsoeuer to bring any Flemish commodities or wares into this Kingdome This restraint notwithstanding the bribing Easterlings were vnder hand permitted to bring into England what they would And likewise King Maximilian and his sonne by strong Edicts forbade and published the confiscation of all English commodities as leather tallow woolles lead tinne and such like if they were brought into those Countries An assault on the Flemings in London This restraining of the Kings owne subiects and that libertie which was allowed to those strangers vexed and greeued the English Merchants at the heart and so it did many others for by meanes thereof a great part of their trade which in former times supported their
outwardly pretended to vnite them to the English forces But as a Riuer growing outragious by the abundance of much raine ouerfloweth the low adiacent grounds so this Armie with great violence and strength vnexpectedly rushed into the vnprouided Territories of Nauarre surprised the Citie of Pampalona and treacherously without blowes or resistance subdued the greatest part of that Kingdome which without right or title the Spaniards doe hold and enioy at this day And although that King Ferdinando by this vniust and deceitfull practise had easily attained to the height of his ambitious desires concerning that conquest Ferdinando aâ—â—â—râ—s no helpe or assistance at last yet did hee continue false and vnkinde to the English Armie whom he assisted not at the last but suffred them for the space of foure moneths to be oppressed with a thousand wants and to be consumed by the flux and other calamities in the open field by meanes whereof the common souldiers being heartlesse The Englishmen returne home without leaue and hopelesse of better vsage from the King of Aragon forsooke the field and without the licence of their Generall returned straglingly into England And thus was K. Henry grosly abused and wronged by his father in law the second time Whilest the English Armie was thus vnkindly deluded in Biskey the right valiant Knight Sir Edward Howard Lord Admirall of England Sir Edward Howard plagueth the Brittons and a younger sonne to the Earle of Surrey with a well appointed Fleet of ships which were well furnished with braue and lustie men kept and commanded the Narrow Seas daily tooke the French Merchants oftentimes landed in sundrie places within the Duchie of Britaine forraged their Fields ransacked their Villages and their Townes set them on fire and enriched his companies with great spoiles The Brittons dare him but run away The Brittons being hourely endammaged and knowing that no better fortune would attend them except by true valour and manhood they encountred the English assailants braggingly dared the Admirall into the Field of which challenge he ioifully accepted although that with six and twentie hundred and no more he was to fight against more then ten thousand men And incontinently with martiall skill and policie hee ordered his battaile in the open field But when the Brittons approched neere and with iudicious eies beheld the order and the courage of the English souldiers their hearts fainted their Leaders retired their common souldiers fled and would not once looke on an English face The King sendeth him more aid The King being aduertised of the valour of his Admirall and of the haughty courage of his men intending to giue them strength which should bee answerable to their desires did send vnto them some of his ships royall many others which were well ordinanced and plentifully manned both for the Sea also for the Land When the Admirall was thus prouided and had reduced all his ships into one Fleet He fighteth at Sea with the French Fleet. within few daies after he met and fought with the French Nauie at which time death was despised in regard that euery man sought by bloud to purchase honour and renowne vntill the Regent of England and in her Sir Iohn Carew of Deuonshire and Sir Thomas Knyuet with seuen hundred more and the great Carricke of Brest and in her Sir Pierce Morgan and nine hundred men of warre both those ships being fast grapped together were vnfortunately burnt The Regent and the Carricke are burned slaine and drowned in the Sea The view whereof being vnusuall was so terrible that whilest men fearfully looked on the fight ceased and the Frenchmen scattering themselues returned into the Sea The French King to make his match the better with the English Nauie augmented the number of his ships and men The French Fleet entreth into the Hauen of Brest and sent them thorowly prouided with ordinance powder shot and other necessaries into the Hauen of Brest And King Henry who scorned that his Admirall should be oppressed with a greater strength then he should be well able to resist rigged vp the most part of his Royall Fleet and some others King Henry augmenteth his Fleet. which safely arriued in Bartram Bay within the Duchie of Britaine With these and with all the rest the braue Admirall attempted to assaile the French Bottoms as they lay at ancors within the Hauen of Brest But as he was entring in the foremost ship which Arthur Plantagenet did command was splitted in sunder vpon a rocke which made the rest doubtfull to proceed except with better guidance they might safely enter in The French Captaines perceiuing the Englishmens intent The Frenchmen doe fortifie the Hauen ancoured as neere to the Castle of Brest as they were able and placed foure and twentie old Flemish Hulkes towards the mouth of the Hauen betwixt themselues and the English Fleet which they appointed to bee set on fire and to bee vnmoared when the ships of England did approch towards them that by them they might bee endangered They also raised and fortified diuers Rampiers and Bulwarkes vpon the entrance of the Hauen from which their great Ordinance might play vpon their enemies The Lord Admirall of England doubting lest the Hauen of Brest was too shallow to support his ships of greatest strength and burden The Admirall in Boats entreth into the Hauen and finding that the French cowards meant nothing lesse then to expresse their manhood by a resolute encounter resolued with oared Barges to be rowed into the Harbrough and there to doe some memorable exploit vpon his enemies ships With this determination which more manfully then aduisedly he did put in practise hee with such an haughtie courage and with such violence assailed the three great Gallies of the Rhoads He taketh the three Gallies of the Rhoads which were brought thither by a gallant Knight named Prior Iohn that hee wonne them quickly and possessed them as his owne But when the Frenchmen perceiued that the English Barges were gone out of the Hauen and were returned to their owne Fleet they then with great numbers of well armed men rushed into the said Gallies where the braue Admirall with that small remnant which were with him defended themselues a long time with great courage But being ouer-mastered and too much wearied with fresh supplies which euery minute did assaile them He is drowned the greater part of his men were slaine the Admirall with a pike was violently borne ouer boord and drowned in the Sea and the rest of them were taken prisoners by their enemies And thus were they ouerthrowen who if they had beene more prouident and better counselled might haue triumphed in their victories And within few daies after the Lord Thomas Howard the eldest brother of the said deceased Knight His brother is made Lord Admirall was by the King made Admirall who with all the extremitie of warre became a cruell reuenger of his brothers
that time procured or which at any time from thenceforth should be procured from the See of Rome whereby the authoritie royall and prerogatiue of the King might in any iot be lessened or diminished should be vtterly void and frustrate in all respects and that the procurers of them should be punished at the Kings will The proud Cardinall Wolsey writes to Rome scorning to bee humbled and trodden downe and purposing to set new broiles and disturbances in the Common-weale to molest the King wrote secret letters to the Pope and to his Cardinals to animate and to exasperate them against the King And they vnderstanding in what a disgracefull plight the Cardinall then stood encouraged him not to faint The answere nor to shew himselfe a coward and a heartlesse man by yeelding to the peruersnesse of his present fortune promising his restauration and that for his sake the King should be effectually crossed in his weightie businesse betwixt the Queene and him Hereupon the Cardinall began to take heart His pride and nothing doubting but that hee should againe bee aduanced if not by the Kings consent yet volens nolens and against his will made great preparation for his enstalment into his Archbishopricke at Yorke which hee intended to solemnize with such magnificence and pompe as the like before had neuer beene seene in that place For which purpose he erected in that Cathedrall Church a stately seat of an extraordinarie height not much vnlike to a Kings Throne He also wrote to the Nobles Knights and chiefest Gentlemen in the North many fawning flattering and kinde letters entreating and inuiting them at a prefixed day to accompanie him at his Instalment to the Citie of Yorke where he prouided for them great cheere not sparing any cost The King who was aduertised what he had written to Rome and what answer was made thereunto and perceiuing that he intended with extraordinarie pompe and state to be installed for which his doings hee had no licence from his Maiestie imagined and therein hee was not deceiued that those great preparations were made of purpose and in an out-facing fashion to confront him Wolsey is arrested Wherefore to preuent his said instalment he sent a commission vnder his great Seale of England whereby he required Henrie the sixt Earle of Northumberland to attach and to arrest the body of the said Cardinall to bring him to the Castle of Sheffield and there to deliuer him to the safe custodie and keeping of the Earle of Shrewsbury which he did Although the Cardinall prowdly checked him and told him that hee was a member of the College of Cardinals in Rome and that neither the King nor any other temporall Prince vnder heauen could or ought to intermedle with him for any cause or matter whatsoeuer Yet for all this assoone as he was gone all his plate His goods are attached goods horses and houshold stuffe were seised on to the Kings vse his Officers were discharged and his Phisitian Doctor Augustine was by Sir Walter Welsh one of the Kings chamber convayed to the Tower Assoone as the King was informed of the executing of his commission he sent Sir William Kingston the Captaine of his Gard and Constable of the Tower with certaine Yeomen of his Gard to fetch the Cardinall to that prison The sight of this Messenger more danted and appaled the Cardinall then all the rest For now he was right well assured that his head was in great danger This feare made him to fall into a sudden sicknesse so that purposely as it was coniectured to dispatch himselfe out of this life hee tooke a purgation which was more strong He dyeth then the weaknesse of his nature could controll by reason whereof he dyed two nights after Thus liued and thus died this Cardinall who was Prowd and Ambitious Wanton and Lecherous Rich and Couetous a Lyar and a Flatterer His description a Tyrant and Mercilesse Forgetfull of his beginnings Disdainefull in his prosperitie and wretched in his end Whose death made the King ioyfull his Nobles iocund and the People glad The Clergie feared the Premunire Hee being thus dead the King by his Councell was informed that all the Clergie of England were guiltie of the Premunire because in all things they had supported and maintayned the authoritie 100000 pounds The Kings Supremacie acknowledged and power Legantine of the Cardinall Wherefore to preuent a mischiefe before it fell vpon them They gaue to the King for their redemption and for their pardon the summe of one hundred thousand pounds And by a publike instrument in writing subscribed and scaled by all the Bishops and Fathers of the Church they plainly voluntarily and willingly acknowledged the King within his owne Kingdomes and Dominions to be the supreme Head of the Church as well in all matters Ecclesiasticall as in all Temporall things and cases whatsoeuer Yet not long after the King diminished their number and their strength as hereafter it shall appeare The Cardinall being thus gone Opinions shewed the King intending nothing lesse then to dance attendance in the Court at Rome caused the said instruments procured from so many Vniuersities together with the opinions of so many learned men and of his two Vniuersities of Oxford and of Cambridge publikely to be shewed in both the houses of his Parliament which being done by diuers honourable Lords both spirituall and temporall he caused them to bee shewed to the Queene and the question to bee demanded of her whether she would relinquish her appeale to the See of Rome and referre her selfe and her cause to any Nobles and Bishops within this Kingdome whose answere was that she would not whereupon the King resoluing in his conscience The King marieth Anne Bullen that his said mariage was void in Law began to bend his loue and kinde affections to a goodly faire and beautifull Ladie in his Court named Anne Bullen Her hee created a Marchionesse of Pembroke and after tooke her to his wife And some few moneths after The King is diuorced from Queene Katherine the Arch-bishop of Canterburie being accompanied with the Bishops of London Bath Lincolne and some others together with diuers Doctors Aduocates Proctors and Officers of the Ecclesiasticall Court repaired to Dunstable where the Princesse Dowager for so shee was then called lay Her the Arch-bishop peremptorily ascited personally to appeare before him in a case of matrimonie The Author returneth to the historie which is interrupted by the relation connecting together of the deeds and actions of Cardinall Wolsey and the like he did for fifteene daies together And then vpon the default and contumacie of the said Princesse the Arch-bishop pronounced the said mariage being against the Law of God to be meerely and vtterly void the Popes dispensation notwithstanding Hauing discoursed of all things memorable which were done by Thomas Wolsey Cardinall of Yorke and concluded the contention touching the mariage of King
of Suffolke William Glandvile his sonne being Lord of Bromhelme was Earle of Suffolke Gilbert Glandvile his sonne enioyed those Honors Ralph Glandvile his son was Lord Bromhelme and Earle of Suffolke and died without issue William de Vessey who maried Mauld his Daughter and Heire E. 2. was by King Edward the second created Earle of Suffolke Robert de Vfford who married Sarah daughter and heire of the said William was by King Edward the third E. 3. created Earle of Sufolke William de Vfford his son being Lord of Eay and Framlingham was Earle of Suffolke Michael de la Poole a man more rich then honorably discended R. 2. was Chancelor to king Richard the second R. 2. and by him created Earle of Suffolke and was banished as a corrupter of him by his lewd counsell he died with griefe at Paris Michael de la Poole his son was Lord Wingfield and Earle of Suffolke and dyed at the siege of Harflew Michael de lâ— Poole his son succeeded his father but died within one moneth after H. 6. William de la Poole his brother was Lord Wingfield and Earle of Suffolke he was by king Henry the sixt created Earle of Pembrooke then Marques of Suffolke and last of all Duke of Suffolke hee was banished taken at Sea and lost his head on a boats side Iohn de la Poole his sonne was Lord Wingfield Earle of Pembrooke and Duke of Suffolke Edmund de la Poole his sonne was of a turbulent disposition in the fifth yeare of Henry the eighth he was executed for treason H. 7. Charles Brandon the sonne of Sir William Brandon knight who was Standard-bearer to the Earle of Richmond in Bosworth field was slaine by king Richard the third was by Henry the seuenth made Viscount Lisle H. 8. and hauing maried king Henry the eight his second sister Mary Queen Dowager of France he was by Henry the eight created Duke of Suffolke Henry Brandon his sonne was Earle of Lincolne and Duke of Suffolke and died without issue Henry Grey Lord Ferrers of Groby Lord of Astley Harington Bonvile being also Marques Dorset and hauing maried Francis who was one of the Daughters and Coheires of Charles Brandon E 6. was by king Edward the sixth created Duke of Suffolke and was attainted of treason whilest Queene Mary raigned their daughter was the Lady Iane who maried Guilford Dudley the fourth son of the Earle of Northumberland K. Ia. who lost her head Thomas Lord Howard of Walden second sonne to Thomas the last Duke of Northfolke was by king Iames created Earle of Suffolke Surrey Rufus William Warren Earle of Warren in Normandie maried one of the Conquerors daughters named Goundred and was by king William Rufus created Earle of Surrey William Warren his sonne succeeded and was Earle of Surrey William Warren his sonne was Earle and dyed without issue male William de Blois sonne to king Stephen being Earle of Mortaigne Bolloigne and Eagle and being Lord of Lancaster maried Isabel the daughter and heire of the last Earle William and was in her right Earle of Surrey and died without issue Hamlyn Plantagenet brother to king Henry the second maried the said Ladie Isabel and was in her right Earle of Surrey and king Henry the second created him Earle of Warwick William Plantagenet their sonne was Earle of Surrey and of Warwicke Iohn Flantagenet his sonne was Earle of Surrey Warren and Sussex and died without issue male Iohn Flantagenet his brother succeeded him in those Earledomes and died without issue Edmund Fitz-allen Earle of Arundel maried Alice the daughter of the aforesaid William and was in her right Earle of Surrey and of Warren Richard Fitz-allen their sonne was earle of Arundel Surrey and Sussex Richard Fitz-allen his sonne was earle of Arundel Surrey and Sussex Thomas Fitz-allen his sonne was earle of Surrey Arundel and Sussex and died without issue Thomas Holland R. 2. halfe brother to king Richard the second was by him created earle of Kent and Duke of Surrey Edmund Holland his sonne was earle and Duke Iohn Lord Mowbray sonne to the Duke of Northfolke was discended from the earles of Warren and Surrey H. 6. and was by king Henry the sixth dignified with those honors and also after his fathers death he was Duke of Northfolke Thomas Howard the sonne of Iohn Howard R. 3. whome King Richard the third had created Duke of Northfolke was by the same King created earle of Surrey and by king Henry the eighth Duke of Northfolke Thomas Howard his sonne E. 4. by Anne daughter to king Edward the fourth was by the same King created earle Marshal of England and earle of Surrey Henry Howard earle of Surrey was in his fathers life time attainted and executed and had issue Thomas Thomas Howard his sonne was Duke of Northfolke Q. Ma. and earle of Surrey after his Grandfathers death being restored by Q. Mary Philip Howard his sonne was Earle of Surrey and of Arundel Thomas Howard his sonne is Earle of Arundel and of Surrey Sussex H. 2. VVIlliam de Albaney was Earle of Sussex and of Arundel by his mariage with Queene Adeliza the widdow of king H. the first which Earledomes were her joynture and those honours were giuen to him by king Henry the second William de Albaney their sonne succeeded and was Earle VVilliam de Albaney his sonne was Earle of Sussex and of Arundel William de Albaney his sonne succeeded his father Hugh de Albaney his brother enioyed those Earledomes and died without issue Iohn Plantagenet the seuenth Earle of Surrey was Earle of Sussex and died without issue male Iohn Plantagenet his brother enioyed those honours and died without issue H. 8. Robert Ratclife Lord Fitzwater Egremount and Burnel was by King Henry the eighth created Viscount Fitzwater and Earle of Sussex Henry Ratclife his sonne enioyed all those honors Thomas Ratclife his son was Lord Viscount and Earle and died without issue Henry Ratclife his brother succeeded in those dignities Robert Ratclife his sonne is Lord Egremount and Burnel Viscount Fitz-water and Earle of Sussex Warwicke TArquinius a Saxon was Earle of Warwick at the Conquest hee was banished and died without issue Conq. Henry Beamount alias Newburgh brother to Robert Earle of Millent and of Leicester was by the Conqueror created Earle of Warwick Roger Beamount alias Newburgh his sonne was Earle of Warwick William Beamont alias Newburgh his sonne was Earle of Warwick Walteran Beamount alias Newburgh his brother was Earle of Warwicke after him Henry Beamount alias Newburgh his sonne was Earle of Warwicke Thomas Beamount alias Newburgh his sonne succeeded his father Iohn Marshall maried Margerie the sister and heire of the said Thomas and was Earle of Warwicke in her right but died without issue Iohn de Plessetis the second husband of the said Margerie was in her right Earle of Warwicke Hugh de Plessetis their sonne succeeded and died without
sonne and heire vnto Iohn of Gaunt the yonger brother of the said Lionel was elected and crowned king And forthwith hee created his eldest sonne Henrie Prince of Wales Duke of Cornwall and Earle of Chester and summoned his High Court of Parliament in which an order was prescribed and set downe for the safe keeping and for the honourable attendance and maintaining of Richard the late king But his deposing imprisonment and all the former proceedings which were had against him Iohn Bishop of Carleyl condemneth the former proceedings against King Richard were in the same Assembly publikely condemned and reprooued by Iohn Bishop of Carlile as hatefull vnto God trayterous towardes the wronged king and infamous among good men For he auerred boldly That if he were not a good king yet more iniurie was done vnto him then ordinarily is done to Murderers and to Theeues because they are not as he was condemned before they had made their answere to the obiected crime before Iudges which were indifferent The Bishop of Carleyl is attached and pronounced their iudgement vpon good proofe But assoone as hee had ended his speech he was attached by the Earle Marshal and committed to strait Prison in the Abbey of Saint Albons And then among manie other things in the same Parlament done the Crowne of England was entailed to King Henrie The Crowne is Entayled and to his heires for euer Treason plotted to be acted at Oxford Assoone as this Parliament was ended such of the greatest Lords as made the fairest shew of publike applause and ioy for the High dignitie which King Henrie did possesse conspired by Treason to take away his life at a solemne Iusts to be holden in the Citie of Oxford whereunto the King was inuited and promised to bee present because hee conceiued that the same Triumph was so appointed for his honour and for his delight This Treacherie was cunningly plotted and contriued by the Conspirators who by Indentures vnder their handes and seales had bound themselues each vnto other both for secrecie and also for the resolute effecting and performing thereof all which they solemnly confirmed by their Oathes The confederates The Confederates in this Treason were the Kings Cousin German Edward Plantagenet Duke of Aumarle sonne and heire apparant to Edmund of Langley Duke of Yorke Thomas Holland Duke of Surrie and Iohn Holland his brother Duke of Exeter both which were halfe brothers to King Richard Iohn Montague Earle of Salisburie Hugh Spencer Earle of Glocester Sir Thomas Blunt and one Magdalen who was sometimes a Chamber-wayter to the deposed King and both in stature and in countenance and in his behauiour was not much vnlike him All these Conspirators the Duke of Aumarle onely excepted met at Oxford at the appointed time being strongly guarded and honourably attended The Treason was strangely discouered by lustie Archers and other valiant men But the absence of the said Duke was by his Associates wondred at for which their was good cause For as hee sate at Table with the Duke his Father one Labell of a part of the said Indentures appeared at his bosome by which the olde Duke drew forth the whole writing And hauing read the same hee caused his Horse to bee made readie because hee intended with all poasting speed to make this newes knowne vnto the King But his guiltie The Duke of Aumarle confesseth all to the King and perplexed Sonne perceiuing that his Father would reueale this secret and knowing that now the least delay might extraordinarily hasten his danger being brauely mounted with all celeritie he out-rode his Father and came to Windsor Castle to the King who was preparing for his said iournie and without anie tedious discourse or lingring ceremonies He is pardoned hee reuealed to his Maiestie the whole conspired Treason and freely obtained his owne pardon It now behoued the King to change his course and so hee did For presently he rode to the Tower of London The King raiseth an armie where he tooke a present and a perfit view of all such thinges as were behoofefull and necessarie to an Armie And then he leuied a strong power purposing to defend himselfe and to surprise those grand Traytours if he might But when the Conspirators were informed that all their Plot and Treason was reuealed Magdalen was King Richards counterfeit They caused the said Magdalen to bee attired in Royall Robes and to faine and affirme himselfe to bee King Richard And with him and all their Troupes which were verie warlike and strong they marched towardes London resoluing to oppose themselues in the field against the king But king Henrie knowing that those Lords both in bloud and for their power The King marcheth towards the Traytors were more then ordinarily great was not ignorant that his best meanes to represse and vanquish them consisted in the quickest expedition and dispatch which hee could make Wherefore with a bold and with a kingly courage hee marched speedily towardes them with twentie thousand wel-armed men The newes of the kings approach being voiced among the companies which were conducted by the conspiratours so perplexed The Traiterous Lords are left by their companions and so amazed them that verie cowardly they ranne away and left those Lords comfortlesse and destitute of all aide So that the most of them were apprehended and not long after were put to death in sundrie places of this kingdome The Lords flâ—e and are taken and executed and the rest being surcharged and ouer-burdned with feare and sorrow not long after dyed Thus was king Henrie happily deliuered from this danger And lest the like Treason for king Richards sake might at an other time bee attempted against his person he caused him to bee murdered in the Castle of Pomfret Charles the sixt resolueth to releue his Sonne in-law King Richard as in the end of the discourse describing his Raigne and Historie more particularly it doth appeare When the French King Charles the sixt Father-in-law to king Richard was truely informed what had beene done in England hee was much grieued at the vnsufferable wrongs which were done vnto him and did intend as a faithful friend in his extremities to relieue his lamentable Estate and to be pittied miseries And for that purpose hee sent his letters of defiance to king Henrie and brought an Armie Royal into Piccardie with which he resolued to make sharp Warre within this Realme He desisteth when he heareth of King Richards death A French Armie An English Armie But when hee certainly knew that the poore distressed and afflicted King was dead and that it was too late to doe him anie good hee dissolued his Armie and proceeded no further in that businesse Yet to reuenge those wrongs hee was verie hopefull to surprise manie Townes Cities and Castles in Aquitaine and in Guyan And to effect the same not long after hee leuied other Forces encreasing them to a great