the same year made Constable of Dover-Castle Warden of the Cinque-ports for Life and Admiral of the Seas for the South North and West-Coasts He was likewise one of the Founders of the most Noble Order of the Garter and departing this Life without issue 2 Decem. 34 E. 3. lyeth buried betwixt two Pillars on the South part of the Cathedral Church of Saint Paul in London before the Image of our Lady where he had a Noble Monument which was usually called Duke Humphreys Tombe He had summons to the Several Parliaments from 24 unto 34 Edw. 3. inclusive And for his residence in the City of London built a fair house in the Parish of S. Andrew near Baynard's-Castle which by his Executors being sold to King Edward the third was afterwards made use of for the Kings great Wardrobe I now returne to Thomas the succeeding Earl born in Warwick-Castle having to his Godfathers Thomas Earl of Lancaster and Henry his Brother with Thomas de Warington Prior of Kenilworth This Thomas was not two years old at his Fathers Death yet who had the Custody of him during King Edward the second 's Reign I find not Most like it is that Hugh le Despencer the great favorite of that time having a grant of his Lands as hath been observed had also the tuition of his person But certain it is that in 12 Ed. 2. which was about three years after his Fathers death the King wrote to the Pope that there having been great Contention and Discord betwixt Guy de Beauchamp Earl of Warwick then lately deceased and Roger de Mortimer Lord of Wigmore touching certain Lands in the Marches of Wales he desired for the future appeasing of them that this Thomas thus in minority should marry one of the Daughters of the same Roger de Mortimer and therefore besought his Holiness for a special Dispensation to that purpose by reason they were allied together in the third and fourth degrees of Consanguinity And in 18 of his Reign sent other Letters to the Pope representing the animosities and discontents amongst divers of his Nobles with the dangers imminent to the whole Realm thereby and for the quieting whereof desired his Dispensation for several intermarriages of their Children which otherwise by reason of their near alliance to each other in blood could not be lawful and in particular instanced for this Thomas the young E. of Warwick and one of the Daughters of Edmund Earl of Arundel Howbeit notwithstanding these last Letters the first became most prevalent as I shall shew by and by for in order thereto the Lord Mortimer in 1 Edw. 3. obtained the custody of Warwick-Castle and the rest of his lands untill he should come to full age but in 3 E. 3. the King being minded to do him a special favor as the words of his precept do import accepted of his Homage though he was not then of full age commanding that he should have Livery of all his Fathers Lands and the next ensuing year admitted him to the Sheriffalty of Worcestershire which was of his inheritance as also to his Office of Chamberlain in the Exchequer with power to appoint whomsoever he should think fit for the executing of both those services in such sort as in his ancestors times had been used And in 5 E. 3. made him Governor of the Isles of Gernsey Serke and Aureney And now that he arrived to years of Action he was scarce ever out of some great and memorable imployment for in 7 Edw. 3. he attended the King in his Scottish Expedition at which time Edward de Baillol did Homage to King Edward for the Realm of Scotland with the adjacent Isles In 9 Edw. 3. he was again in the Warrs of Scotland and had the Guardianship of the Marches then committed to his trust In 10 Edw. 3. he continued still there And in 11 Edw. 3. was the principal person in Commission to conferr with those of the Nobility and others who were marching into that Realm and to declare unto them the Kings pleasure as to their actings and stay there All this being whilest he lived a Batchelor for in 12 Edw. 3. the King having in satisfaction of a great summe of money which he owed to Roger Lord Mortimer for the time he was his Lieutenant of Ireland granted unto him the benefit of the marriage of this Earl he thereupon took to Wife the Lady Catherine Mortimer his Daughter In 13 Edw. 3. he was with King Edward at Uyronfosse and commanded in a Wing of the Army there drawn up to give Battle to the French After this his marriage viz in 14 Edw. 3. he attended the King in that expedition then designed for Flanders in which passage the King obtained a notable Victory at Sea upon the French Fleâ—t that lay to obstruct his landing there In 15 Edw. 3. he was at that famous Feast and â—usts held at London by King Edward for the love of the Countess of Salisbury And in 16 Edw. 3. in order to a Voyage-Royal which the King intended for France was sent with the Bishop of London and some others as Commissioners to treat with the Kings friends and allies in Brabant and Flanders touching that affair and likewise with Philip de Valois upon other particulars In the same year being in that expedition then made into Britanny he had an assignation of an hundred and twenty sacks of Wooll for the wages of fourscore men at Arms himself accounted one Baneret eighteen Knights threescore Esquires and an hundred Archers on Horseback and being at the Siege of Nants Skirmished so stoutly with the Army upon a Sally then made that they were forced in again The next ensuing year he marched into Scotland with Henry Earl of Lancaster for raising the Seige of Loughmaban-Castle whereof William de Bohun then Earl of Northampton was Governor And before the end thereof was sent with the Earl of Lancaster and others to the Pope for ratifying the peace then concluded on betwixt King Edward and Philip de Valois In 18 Edw. 3. he had a grant of the Sheriffalty of Warwick and Leicestershires for terme of his life and was the same year constituted Marshal of England In this year likewise he went again into France and continued in the Warrs there the greatest part of the next ensuing year In 20 Edw. 3. he attended the King in another expedition thither where ariving with him at Hoggs in Normandy in the Month of Iuly he manifested his valor to admiration by making the first attempt there with one Esquire and fix Archers though he had but a weak Horse with which and those few men he encountred with an hundred Normans whereof he slew sixty thereby making way for the Army to Land And in the
William de Braose Son to Philip de Braose Lord of Buelt held the Lands of Brecknock and Went for the whole time of K. Hen. 2. Ric. 1. and King Iohn's Reigns without any disturbance until he took to Wife the Lady Maud de St. Walerie who in revenge of Henry de Hereford caused divers Welsh men to be murthered in the Castle of Bergavenny as they fate at meat And that for this and some other pickt quarrel King Iohn Banished him and all his out of England Likewise that in this Exile Maud his Wife with William called Gam his Son were taken and put in Prison where she died the tenth year after her Husband fought with Wenbunnyn in Elvail where he slew above three thousand Welsh And goeth on thus An. 1208. 10 Ioh. which agreeth with what Matth. Paris hath delivered upon this matter all England and Wales being interdicted by the Pope upon the sixth Kalends of May King Iohn seized upon the Lands and Castles of this William de Braose and Banished him and his as before hath been said And that whilst he was thus in exile Peter Fitz Herbert obtained of the King the third part of his Lands at Brecknock viz. Blenlevenny Talgard and Walashire Moreover that after this Giles one of the Sons of this William then Bishop of Hereford as his next Heir outed Peter in regard he had no just title to that Estate And not long after that this Bishop Giles being reconciled to the King and thereupon readmitted to the Possession of those Lands enjoyed them all his time and died in Ann. 1215. leaving them to his Brother Reginald But after all these various relations let us now hear the substance of the King 's own report which is upon Record though with a little mistake for it runs in the name of King Henry the second Whereas it should be King Iohn Geffrey Fitz-Piers who is one of the Persons mentioned therein being then Iusticiarius Angliae and not in King Henry the second 's time This William de Braose being indebted to the King in the Summe of five thousand marks of Silver for the Province of Munster in Ireland which had been demised to him and paying nothing at all of five years though he had made divers promises and appointed his own times and being moreover indebted for the Ferme of the City of Limeric for five years also and having paid no more then an hundred pounds which he delivered at Roan in part of what was due It was resolved that according to the Custom of this Realm and the Law of the Exchequer there having been full five years neglect his Chattels should be distreined for satisfaction therein Whereof having notice he caused them to be conveyed out of the way so that no distress at all could be found command was therefore given to Gerard de Achiis the King's Bailiff for Wales that for this debt he should distrein his Goods within that Territory Whereupon Maud de Haia Wife to this William and William Earl Ferrers his Nephew as also Adam de Port who had married his Sister with other of his friends came to the King then at Gloucester and intreated that he might be admitted to his presence to give him satisfaction in the premisses Which being granted and the King immediately removing to Hereford he there attended him and delivered up three of his Welsh Castles viz. Haie Brecknock and Radnoure to be held by the King untill those debts were paid and satisfaction given for his transgression within such a compass of time as then was assigned him at his own request laying moreover all his Lands in England to pledge for performance of what he thus undertook and likewise giving Hostages viz. his Son William de Braose the younger and one of the Sons of Reginald de Braose as also four of the Sons of some of his Tenants Notwithstanding which he made no performance at all in any of his promises but after some time when Gerard Acbiis the Kings Bailiff unto whom the King had committed the custody of those Castles sent to the Constables of them that they should repair to him for receipt of their pay which he used to make Monthly unto them this William having advertisement of their absence brought his two Sons William and Reginald with a multitude of the Countrey people and attempted enterance into each of them and when he saw that he could not effect what he aimed at went to Leominster in Herefordshire burnt half the Town and slew and wounded divers of the Kings Officers and inhabitants thereabouts Likewise discerning that Gerard de Achiis thereupon began to raise the Countrey he fled with his Family into Ireland and was there entertained by William Marshall Walter Laci and Hugh Laci though he was the Kings Enemy and for forfeiture of all he had here in England had left the Kingdom but that William Marshall and the rest to excuse themselves signified to the King that they would undertake he should come in within a certain time limited and make satisfaction for those his Offences and in case he failed so to do they would not harbour him any longer nor suffer him to stay in Ireland Howbeit this promise being not observed by any of them the King raised an Army with purpose to go into Ireland but whilest he was making such preparation this William came to the Kings Officers there and craved of them safe conduct to come into England to make his peace with the King Whereunto they assented taking his Oath that he would so do but no sooner was he landed in Wales having left his Family in Ireland then that he endeavored to do more mischeif In the mean time the Kings Fleet wherein his Army was being come to Pembroke William Earl Ferrers repaired thither and having obtained leave from the King to know the purpose of this William returned answer that he desired to come nearer so that he might by his immediate Messenger have speech with him Which being granted he came to the water side at Pembroke and made offer of forty thousand marks to purchase his peace and to have restitution of all his Castles and Lands as well in England as in Wales which had been seised on for those his Rebellious Exploits Whereunto the King answered That he knew full well it was not at all in the power of William to perform what he had so offered but rather of his Wife then in Ireland and that he should have safe conduct to go thither to confer with her and his friends there concerning the Fine he had proposed and to ratifie such Agreement as should be made betwixt them and if they should not accord thereupon to return again into Wales in the same condition he then stood But to this not consenting he stayed in Wales and after the King was gone into Ireland did more mischeif by burning of Houses Maud de Haya his Wife likewise hearing that the King was arrived in Ireland fled
William de St. Iohn then in Arms with the Barons for his better Support in the King's Service And some years after this viz. in 10 H. 3. upon that Demand made by Otto the Pope's Legate in the Great Council then held at Westminster for Supply of his Holinesses Necessities of two Prebends in every Cathedral and of a certain Portion out of every Monastery whereunto the Prelates gave no suâ—ficient Answer coming thither with some other Messengers from the King who then lay sick at Merleberge he straitly forbad them to subject their Lay-Fees to the Church of Rome whereby the King might be deprived of the Services due to him for them In 14 H. 3. upon Collection of the Scutage of Kery he answered xxxv Marks for the moytie of the Fees of Hubert de Rie To the Canons of Walsingham in Com. Norff. he gave the Advowson of the Church of Tymelthorp Also to the Knights Templars one Hide of Land in Roele And having married Aliva the Sister and Heir to Isabell de Crâ—ssi departed this Life in 19 H. 3. leaving Issue Iohn his Son and Heir who doing his Homage and giving Security for his Relief had Livery of his Lands viz. of the Mannor of Haselbergh in Com. Somerset Hengham and Folsham in Com. Norff. and Norton in Com. Northampt. Which Iohn died in 27 H. 3. Whereupon William his Son and Heir had Livery of his Inheritance Of which William all I have seen is That in 49 H. 3. he took part with the Rebellious Barons and died at that time leaving two Sons viz. Iohn and William then under Age who in 50 H. 3. through the Mediation of William de Say obtain'd the King's Pardon for their Father's Transgression and had permissions to enjoy his Lands with what other Possessions they had by the Gift of Aliva their Grandmother or any other This last-mentioned Iohn died in 12 E. 1. being then seised of two Parts of the Mannor of Messingham in Com. Linc. the third Part thereof being held then in Dower by the Wife of David Son of Gryffin as also of the Mannor of Asâ—ekebâ— in the same County Hokeryng the Head of the Barony of Rye Buxton Swanton Bantham Folesham with the Advowson of the Church Hengham and the Advowson of the Church of Binetre all in Com. Norff. leaving William his Son and Heir then five years of Age. Which William in 34 E. 1. was in the Wars of Scotland and had Summons to Parliament amongst the Barons from the second to the seventh year of King Edward the Second's Reign inclusive and departed this Life about that time leaving Issue Iohn who in 7 E. 2. attended Queen Isabell into Scotland and the next year following doing his Homage had Livery of his Lands lying in the Counties of Norff. and Linc. But died in 10 E. 2. being seisâ—d of the Mannor of Assakby in Com. Linc. Hokeryng and Buxton in Com. Norff. held of the King in Capite by Barony as of the Barony of Rye as also of the Mannor of Hengham in the same County leaving Hawise his Sister and Heir then the Wife of Robert de Morle fifteen years of age Which Robert doing his Fealty the same year had Livery of the Lands of her Inheritance and Ela his Wife surviving who had for her Dowrie an Assignation of the Mannors of 〈◊〉 and Hâ—ngham and the third part of certain Lands in Aslakby Anthorpe Greyby Milnthorpe Leighton and Kirkby paying xix l. yearly to the before-specified Robert and Hawise out of the Mannor of Hengham Which Ela afterwards became the Wife of Robert Fitz-Payn ¶ I now come to William Mareschall Brother and Heir to that Iohn who died in the time of King Richard the First as hath been already observed The first mention I find of this William is in 28 H. 2. at which time young Henry who had behav'd himself rebelliously towards the King his Father lying on his Death-bed with great Penitence and thereupon receiving Absolution from the Bishops there present delivered to him his Cross as his most familiar Friend to carry to Hierusalem This William obtain'd from King Ric. 1. upon his first coming into Enâ—land after the Death of his Father King H. 2. Isabell the Daughter and Heir to Richard Earl of Strigul in Marriage together with that Earldom And being thus advanced to that Honour bore the Royal Scepter of Gold with the Cross on the Head of it at the solemn Coronation of that King Moreover soon after this King Richard purposing a Journey to the Holy-land having constituted Hugh Bishop of Durham and William Earl of Albemarle Chief Justices of England amongst others as Assistants in the Government he assigned this Earl for one and at the same time made Henry Mareschall his Brother Dean of Yorke who afterwards was Bishop of Exeter Shortly after which upon that Agreement made betwixt King Richard and the King of France for their joynt engaging in that Holy War which was concluded on in a great Council held at London with the Embassadors of the King of France this Earl William was one of those who by Oath undertook for King Richard's Performance of what was then agreed on viz. to meet at Uiseliac in the Clause of Easter next ensuing and thence to go forwards on that Journey Furthermore in 2 R. 1. upon the Reconciliation of that great Contest which was betwixt Iohn Earl of Moreton the King's Brother and William de Longchamp Bishop of Ely then Chancellor of England and left Principal Governour of this Realm in King Richard's absence the Custody of Notingham-Castle was committed to this William But that Accord not being observ'd on each part the Chancellour procur'd the Pope's Excommunication against those who favoured the Earl of Moreton amongst which this Earl William was one Who thereupon being sensible of the danger which might ensue by these Differences went to the King then in Sicilie on his Journey for it appears that the King thereupon sent the Archbishop of Roan over into England who had Wintered with him giving command by his Letters That in case those things which had been reported to him of the Chancellour's Insolencies were true he should be substituted Vicegerent in his stead as also that this Earl and Geffrey Fitz-Piers should be associated to him for their Assistance in that great Trust. But when he came into England he durst not deliver those his Letters to the Chancellour In 2 R. 1. this Earl William gave a Fine of two thousand Marks to the King for the moytie of the Lands of Walter Giffard sometime Earl of Buckingham And thereupon obtain'd a Grant together with Richard
all his Tenants in the Counties of Berks. Wiltes Somerset Dorset Suthampt. Bedf. Buck. Cantabr Hunt Essex Hertf. Kent Northampt. Norff. Suff. Oxon. Glouc. Wigorn. Heref. and Suss. And in 8 H. 3. was made Governour of the Castles of Cardigan and Caermerthyn But in 10 H. 3. upon that Difference which hapned betwixt the King and Richard Earl of Cornwal touching a certain Lordship belonging to the Earldom of Cornwal which the King had given to Waleran Teutonicus id est Teys this William then a sworn Friend to the Earl stuck stoutly to him in that Quarrel Which being in a short time reconciled the King's Countenance towards him cleared up again as appears by that Confirmation made to him in 14 H. 3. of the Mannors of Brabourne Sutton Kemesey Linton Norton Folesham Wanting and Severne-Stoke as also of the Mannor of Tudington excepting C s. per Annum Lands which William Longespe had therein and the Mannor of Shr ... which belong'd to the Earl of Perch to hold by the Service of five Knights Fees provided that in case Alianore his Wife Sister to the King should survive him that them she should enjoy them during her natural Life In this fourteenth year of Henry the Third being made Captain-General of all the King's Forces in Britanny and then personally in the Wars there the King of Connacht in Ireland having knowledg thereof rais'd a great Power and did much Spoil upon the English until by the Forces of Geffrey de Marisco then Justice of Ireland and others he was utterly vanquished But upon the King 's Return from those Parts he sent this Earl with the Earls of Chester and Albemarle and some considerable Power for the keeping of those Rebellious People in awe This Earl William for the health of the Soul of William his Father and Isabell his Mother confirm'd all the Grants of his Ancestors to the Monks of Tinterne in Wales adding of his own Bounty all his Lands and Woods of Pochlenny set forth by Metes and Bounds He likewise Founded the House of Friers-Preachers at Kilkenny in Ireland And having married Alianore the Sister of King Henry the Third who surviving him made her Vow of Chastity but afterwards became the Wife of Simon Montfort Earl of Leicester departâ—d this Life without Issue in Anno 1231. 15 H. 3. and was buried in the New-Temple at London 18 Cal. Maii near to the Grave of his Father Whereupon Richard Mareschall his next Brother returning into England about the Month of August following together with the Earls of Britanny and Chester repaired to the King then in Wales and presenting himself to him as Heir to his Brother thus deceased offered to perform his Homage and whatsoever else could justly be required of him for that Inheritance But the King by the suggestion of Hubert de Burgh then his Councellor and Justice of England saying he had Information That thâ— Wife of his Brother was then great with Child and that till the truth thereof was manifest he would not hearken to him Moreover telling him he had heard that he had been conversant with his Enemies in France commanded him forthwith to avoid the Realm protesting That if after xv days time he should be found in England he would cast him into Prison Whereupon he hasted into Ireland where the rest of his Brothers and the whole Souldiery there received him with much joy and delivering up to him all his Castles did Homage to him Having therefore proceeded thus far he entred upon the Castle of Pembroke with the whole Honour thereto appertaining and raising all the Power he could resolv'd to get his Inheritance by force if otherwise he could not obtain it Whereupon the King fearing a publick Disturbance accepted his Homage and Fealty and restored to him all his Rights he paying the accustomed Relief And likewise directed his Precept to the Sheriff of the County of Bedf. That he should make Livery to Alianore the Widow of the late deceased Earl of the Mannors of Luton and Tudington formerly belonging to the Earl of Perch to hold for her Life of which Mannors the late Earl her Husband died seised As also to the Sheriff of Kent for the Mannors of Sutton Kemesing and Brabourne And to the Sheriff of Berks. for the Mannor of Newbirie part of the Possessions of the same Earl of Perch So likewise of all those Lands which did belong to Baldwin de Bethun whereof William his Father had been possess'd by the Gift of King Henry the Third But I return to Richard This Richard though Earl of Pembroke had for the most part the Title of Earl-Marshal attributed to him as is evident from M. Paris an Historian of that Time Yet we do not find that any Person had that Title by Creation till Thomas Moubray Earl of Notingham was honour'd therewith in 9 R. 2. In 17 H. 3. this Earl Richard thus reconciled obtain'd a Grant from the King of the Inheritance of the Hundred of Aure in Com. Glouc. But about this time the King keeping his Christmass at Worcester by the Advice of Peter de Rupibus Bishop of Winchester removed all his English Officers from their Employments at Court and placed Poictovins and other Outlandish Persons in their stead amongst which Sir William de Rodune Knight Marshal of the King's House under this Earl Richard then called the Great-Marshal was one Which did so highly disgust our Earl Richard that he boldly addressed himself to the King intreating That he would reform those Miscarriages which threatned ruine to himself and the whole Realm Soon after which a Great Council being held at Westminster he came to London and lodg'd at his Sister's House viz. Isabell the Wife of Richard Earl of Cornwall Brother to the King by whom he received Advertisement That there was a Design to seise upon him and deliver him up to the King whereby he must expect no other than to be used as Hubert de Burgh late Justice of England had been Which so startled him that he forthwith got away by night and fled into Wales Whereupon the King grew so highly incensed that he caused his Houses and Lands to be wasted and his Castles to be besieged Moreover the Bishop of Winchester corrupting his Friends so that they forsook him he was constrain'd to betake himself to Leoline Prince of Wales and the Great Men of that Country But so it hapned that being thus in Hostility with the King one of his Castles so besieg'd held out in such sort as that the King thinking it dishonourable not to win it sent some of his Bishops to this Earl to let him know That in case he would render it up he
preceding the Feast of All Saints reserving to himself two of his Castles in Kales viz. Kaermerden and Cardigan To go on therefore with my Story of him This Walter having taken part with his Brother Richard in that Insurrection whereof I have already made mention after his death in 18 H. 3. had pardon for that Transgression and was accepted to Favour having Restitution of his Lands which were seised on for the same viz. Goderich Castle c. And at length viz. in 26 H. 3. his Brother Gilbert being thus dead without Issue had special Livery of his Office of Marshal with all the Liberties thereto belonging in as ample manner as William his Brother sometime Earl of Pembroke formerly enjoy'd it with a Grant of the Castles of Cardigan and Caermerdin which the before-specified Gilbert his Brother formerly had of King Henry the Third's Gift Moreover the same year he had Livery of all those Lands which were of the Dowrie of Margaret his Wife Daughter of Robert Quincy Widow of Iohn Earl of Lincolne and Constable of Chester her late Husband And in 27 H. 3. paid a Relief to the King for those Lands which Hawyse de Quincy Mother of the said Margaret held in Capite About this time also he gave up unto the King the Castle of Bolingbroc in Com. Linc. and all the Lands in Lincolâ—sh which were of the Inheritance of Hawyse de Quincie his Wifes Mother And in Anno 1244. 28 H. 3. the King calling together all the Great Men of England and desiring a Pecuniary Aid from them alledging the great Expence he had been at in Gascoigne the preceding year certain of the Bishops being then made choice of as a Committee for the Clergy this Earl was one of those appointed for the Laytie to consider thereof But in Anno 1246. 30 H. 3. 8 Cal. Dec. he died at Castle Goderich And soon after him Anselme his Brother and Heir departed this Life at Strigull viz. upon the Nones of December a Youth of singular comeliness and hopes being the last of the five Sons of the Renowned William Mareschall late Earl of Pembroke of whom I have already spoke at large their Mother as 't is said Prophetically foretelling their Deaths in this sort and were both of them buried at Tinterne not far from Strigul amongst divers of their Noble Ancestors Which deplorable loss of them all successively without Issue was then much taken notice of Wherefore some did attribute it to God's especial Judgment by reason that when William the first Earl was a great Commander in Ireland and according to the Practice of Souldiers exercised such Cruelties of Fire and Sword as usually accompany that Course of Life he took away by violence two fair Mannors from a Reverend Bishop there and possess'd himself of them as the Acquisition of War and that the Bishop after frequent and earnest Entreaties for their Restitution without any effect did thereupon pronounce the Sentence of Excommunication against him for that Fact which he contemn'd Moreover it is said That after this the same Bishop of Fernes who had been a Monk of the Cistertian Order and an Irish-man by Birth made a Journey to the King then at London and grievously complaining of the Injury done affirm'd That he had not Excommunicated him without desert and therefore besought the King That by his Authority and Command and for the health of the Soul of that Earl he might have restitution of those Lordships so taken from him as is before expressed whereby that Earl though thus dead might have the benefit of Absolution Whereupon the King then very pensive desired the Bishop that he would go to his Grave and absolve him and that then he would satisfie his desire Whereupon the Bishop went and the King himself with him and spoke as followeth Oh William who liest here buried and shackled with the Fetters of Excommunication if those Lands which thou most injuriously didst take from my Church be restored with full satisfaction either by the King or any of thy Kindred or Friends I then absolve thee otherwise I ratifie that Sentence to the end that being wrapt up with thy Sins thou maist remain condemn'd in Hell And that the King being much displeased at these his Expressions blaming him for his Rigour he answered Sir I pray you marvel not that I am moved he hath despoiled my Church of her chiefest Revenue The King therefore privately advertised the eldest Son of the Earl and Heir to all his Lands whereof he was then possess'd as also some of his Brothers That by restoring them they should in mercy release his Soul But thereunto William return'd this Answer I do not believe that my Father took them injuriously in regard that what he did being done in the time of War was a Lawful Acquisition and therefore if the old doting Bishop hath pronounced his Sentence unjustly his Curse will fall upon himself For my part quoth he I will not lessen my Patrimony descended to me by Inheritance my Father died seised thereof and I have justly entred upon it Whereunto all his Brothers concurred Furthermore That the King taking notice of their obstinacy being then young and under Tutelage forbore to displease them But the Bishop hearing thereof was much grieved taking more offence at their Contumacy than of the Injury first done by their Father and going to the King said Sir What I have spoke I have spoke and what I have written is not to be reversed The Sentence therefore must stand The Punishment of Evil-doers is from God and therefore the Curse which the Psalmist hath written shall come upon this Earl of whom I do thus complain viz. His Name shall be rooted out in one Generation and his Sons shall be deprived of the Blessing Increase and Multiply Some of them shall die a miserable death and their Inheritance shall be scattered And this thou O King shalt behold in thy own Life-time yea in thy flourishing Youth Having spoken thus much in the bitterness of his spirit he departed thence leaving him enthrall'd with that Curse Whereupon it hapned that in few years after all his Sons died without Issue ¶ Of this Family also was Iohn Mareschall who took to Wife Margery the Sister and Heir to Thomas Earl of Warwick which is all that is memorable of him but not Brother to William Mareschall Earl of Pembroke as some say for that Earl was Brother and Heir of another Iohn as is already manifested and of an elder time I therefore suppose that he was his Nephew How long he had been Husband to that great Heir before the death of Thomas Earl of Warwick her Brother I cannot say but certain I am That he lived but a short while after for he was dead 9 Ian. next following as appears by the King's Mandate then dated and directed to the Archbishop of Yorke and others
Morning Roger Bishop of London being told how they had dragg'd him out of the Chappel went immediately to the King and boldly rebuk'd him for thus violating the Peace of Holy Church saying That if he did not forthwith free him of his Bonds and send him back to that Chappel whence he had been thus barbarously taken he would pronounce the Sentence of Excommunication against all who had an hand therein Whereupon the King being thus made sensible of his fault sent him back to the same Chappel upon the fifth Calend of October but withal directed his Precept to the Sheriff of 〈◊〉 and Hertfordshire upon pain of death to come himself in Person as also to bring with him the Posse Comitatus and to encompass the Chappel to the end he should not escape thence nor receive any manner of Food Which the Sheriff accordingly did making a great Ditch as well about the Bishop's House as the Chappel resolving to stay there for forty days The Archbishop of Dublin therefore hearing of this his hard usage notwithstanding the King had strictly forbidden any to move for him or make mention of him being his old and â—ure Friend addressed himself to the King and earnestly importun'd him that in stead of this Cruelty towards Hubert he would exercise what he had a mind farther to do to him upon himself Whereunto all the Answer he could obtain was That he would put him to his choice either to abjure the Realm for ever or to submit to perpetual Imprisonment or else openly to acknowledge himself a Traytor To which hard Proposals Hubert returned That though he had done nothing worthy thereof he would be content to quit the Kingdom for a time but not abjure to return Whilst things were thus in agitation the King being advertised that Hubert had deposited great Treasure in the New Temple at London he sent for the Master there and strictly question'd him thereof Who did acknowledge That he had certain Moneys committed to him and his Fellows Trust by Hubert but what it was he knew not Whereupon the King requir'd the delivery thereof to him affirming That it had been fraudulently taken out of his Treasury But to this Demand the Templars unanimously answered That they would not deliver it without his consent who had deposited it with them It being therefore thus in the Protection of the Church the King sent his Treasurer with the Justices of the Exchequer to Hubert thus in Fetters in the Tower of London to require the Money for the King's behoof To whom Hubert made answer That he should freely submit himself and all that he had to the King's Pleasure and forthwith directed the Templars to deliver up the Keys thereof to the King to do what he should think fit Whereupon the King caused the Money to be counted and put into his own Treasury taking an Inventory thereof Upon view therefore of what was thus deposited they found great store of Plate both of Gold and Silver much Money and divers Jâ—wels of very great value Which being made publick and the King urged that having thus discovered his Fraud he ought to condemn him to some evil death he answered He hath been a faithful Servant to my Vncle King Richard from his Childhood and afterwards to my Father King Iohn as I have heard And although he hath dealt ill with me I shall not put him to death I had rather be accounted a sottish and remiss King than a cruel Tyrant and a Man of Blood against him who hath undergone many Perils in mine and my Ancestors Service But I do more doubt the Evils which are not yet manifest are greater than the good that he hath done to us and the Realm And having express'd himself thus compassionately towards him was pleas'd that for his necessary Support he should enjoy all the Lands whereof he had been possess'd either by the Grant of King Iohn or by his own Acquisition Hubert therefore being told of this was much reviv'd and appointed one Laurence a Clerk of St. Albans who had approved himself a faithful Servant to him in his greatest Miseries to be his Steward of them And soon after this being Bailed from his strict Imprisonment by Richard Earl of Cornwall the King's Brother William Earl Warren Richard Mareschall Earl of Pembroke and William Earl Ferrers he was sent to the Castle of Devises there to be kept by four Soldiers of those Earls Where being committed to the Dungeon id est the Keepe of that Castle there was another Soldier sent by Iohn Earl of Lincolne to be his Keeper in stead of that who first had the Charge of him And after another in stead of him who belong'd to Richard Earl of Cornwall the King's Brother with special Command That no one might have access to him and that the Person who brought his Meat should not approach nearer to him than the Gate of that Tower wherein he was so strictly kept It is said of this Hubert That when he lay under this great Affliction hearing of the death of the Earl of Chester which hapned at Wallingford 5 Cal. Nov. Anno 1233. who was one of his greatest Enemies he fetch'd a deep Sigh and said God have mercy on his Soul and calling for his Psalter stood devoutly before the Cross ceasing not before he had sung it all over for the health of his Soul But shortly after this the King's Heart somewhat relenting he obtain'd a full and free Pardon for his Flight and Outlawry as also a Grant that his Heirs should freely enjoy all the Lands of his own Inheritance but as to such which he had otherwise obtained they should stand to the King's Favour and Kindness and such Terms as the King should think fit the King retaining all those of his own Demesn which through his Bounty he had bestow'd on him and likewise the Castle of Montgomery with other Castles in England and Wales Whereupon by a special Grant he quitted his Title to the Office of Justice of England obliging himself by Oath to make no Claim thereto In consideration whereof within few Months following he had Restitution of the Castle of Hornby as also of the Mannor of Hatfeild Peverell in Com. Essex of the Grant of William de Mandevill Earl of Essex of the Borough of Sutherton the Mannors of Newenton and Rugham in Cim Norff. and Suff. of his own Inheritance of the Mannors of Wiâ—mgay Stowe Roubeton and Fineberge with the Appurtenances which were part of the Lands of Beatrix de Warren formerly his Wife in those Counties of the Mannors of Aspele and Henlawe in the Counties of Buck. and Bedf. which he had of the Grant of Reginald de St. Walerie with a vast proportion of Lands in divers other Counties the Particulars whereof
for brevity I omit the King only reserving to himself the Castles of Skenfret Grosmunt Bewchastell and Horneby with their Appurtenances and all the Cattel and Stock upon those Lordships Which Grant bears date 13 Nov. 18 H. 3. But ere long the King's Countenance towards him did alter again For in February next ensuing he directed his Precept to the Sheriff of Essex to make Livery of the before-specified Mannor of Hatfeild Peverell unto Robert Passelew to the end that with the Rents and Issues thereof certain Clerks viz. Roman Italian and others who had suffered by Oppression from this Hubert might have Satisfaction suitable to their respective Injuries As also to the Sheriffs of divers other Counties to deliver Possession unto the same Robert of the greatest part of the Lordships and Lands before-specified for the like purposes so that by this means he was again left in a very bare condition Moreover the Bishop of Winchester eagerly thirsting after his death he being still Prisoner in the Castle of the Devises sollicited the King that he might be Governour thereof whereby he might have the fitter opportunity to murther him Having therefore private intimation of this mischievous Design he made it known to his Keepers who compassionating his Condition permitted one of the Soldiers to carry him over the Castle-wall in the Night-time unto the Parish-Church Which Soldier esteeming the Merit great in suffering with him attended him to the High-Altar and there staid But those who were then upon the Guard hearing of his Escape hasted after him with Lights and Clubs and finding him prostrate before the Altar with the Cross in his Hands hurried him again with violence to the Castle and there put him into stricter Custody Whereof when the Report came to the Bishop of Salisbury's Ears he forthwith came to that Castle and requiring those Violators of Sanctuary to restore him again to the Church they answered That they had rather he should be hang 's than themselves For which disobedience the Bishop first excommunicating them took with him Roger Bishop of London and some other Bishops and went to the King to whom he made a great Complaint of the Injury done not departing till he had obtain'd his Liberty But to little purpose for being sent to the Church again the King commanded the Sheriff to besiege him there and to starve him to death Being therefore in this desperate condition the Soldiers had some compassion on him and took him thence to some of his Friends who putting him into a Military Habit convey'd him into Wales unto the King's Enemies where he arriv'd upon the third Calend of November But not long after this the King being at Wodstoke on his Journey towards Gloucester hearing of the death of Richard Mareschall Earl of Pembroke for which he much lamented thence came to Gloucester where he met with Edmund Archbishop of Canterbury and some other of the Bishops then sent to him from London who there acquainted him That they had treated of Peace with Leoline Prince of Wales but so as that there should in the first place be a Reconciliation betwixt him and all his Nobles who having adhered to Leoline had been banish'd the Realm by the instigation of Evil Counsel Which being justly effected the Peace then treated of was like to be the more durable Whereupon the King caus'd all those who had been so banish'd to be sent to Gloucester upon the Sunday preceding Ascension-day viz. 4 Cal. Iunii there to receive his Grace and Favour Amongst which this Hubert being one had a fair Reception Howbeit not long after this viz. in Anno 1237. 21 H. 3. the King grew highly offended with him again in regard that Richard Earl of Gloucester then in Minority had clandestinely wedded Margaret his Daughter without Licence the King having design'd to marry him to a near Kinswoman of his own But being at length satisfied that this was without the knowledge of Hubert upon promise of a Sum of Money he was pacified Shortly after which there was likewise a Reconciliation made by the Bâ—shop of Winchester and him as also with those other betwixt whom there formerly had been great Animosities Whereupon though it appears that he was the chief and only Man who stuck to the King when others had variance with him as being then guided rather by Aliens than by the Nobles of his own Realm nevertheless the next ensuing year the King began to quarrel with him again requiring from him vast Sums of Money charging also upon him the many Enormities and Excesses of others on purpose that in case he should die under this Obloquie he might with the better colour seise upon all his Lands Amongst which he laid to his charge That he had Traiterously corrupted the Daughter of the King of Scotland who had been committed to his Tutelage by King Iohn Also That he lost Rochell and all Poictou sending over Bags full of Stones and Sand in stead of Coin for the Soldiers there Besieged having stollen away the Money Moreover That he had Traiterously suffered the Castle of Bedford to be lost and that whilst he was under his Tutelage he had consum'd his Treasure converting it to his own use and bought Lands of great extent therewith Also That in the Wars of Britanny against the French by his Treachery a great part of the English Army was lost Likewise That he had caused a Marriage privately to be made with Richard de Clare Earl of Gloucester and his own Daughter thereby machinating Treason against the King himself Furthermore he told him That he had perniciously hindred his Marriage with a Noble Lady privately insinuating to her and her Father That he was silly dishonest tainted with Leprosie deceitful forsworn and more weak than a Woman cruel to his own Subjects and wholly carried away by the allurements of Women And besides all this farther laid to his charge That he had destroy'd his Woods in those Forests where he had to do and that on a time being at his Palace of Wodstoke alone with him in his Chamber he drew his Knife upon him to cut his Throat And in conclusion sharply told him That for this his Insolence he deserv'd not onely Hanging but Drawing also Whereupon bowing himself he said Sir I was never Traytor to you nor your Father and did evidently demonstrate it by sundry Particulars Nevertheless to satisfie the King and appease his wrath he was there adjudged to give up four of his chiefest Castle viz. Bewcastle Grosmunt Skenefrith and Hafeild to the end he might enjoy the rest of his Possessions quietly This was in 24 H. 3. where the Record of that year doth express That
And in the month of Iuly brought her over with a great power unto Portsmouth whence having carried her to Arundell Castle where she had honourable reception from Queen Adeliza her Mother-in-law Widow of King Henry the First and then Wife to William Earl of Arundell he rode with ten Knights and as many Archers on horse-back first to Walingford and thence to Gloucester divulging her arrival to Brien Fitz-Count at Walingford and Milo Constable of England at Gloucester Which news was so acceptable to them that they forthwith prepared to arm on her behalf Then he marched to Worcester and upon the seventh Ides of December took that City Likewise in Aprill following at the instance of Raphe Painell he entred Notingham and having Plundered the Inhabitants Burnt the whole Town And in Anno 1141. 5 Steph. sailing into Normandy carryed with him certain Hostages from divers Noblemen of England who were friends to the Empress desiring that the Earl of Anjou her Husband should there keep them and come over himself for recovery of this Kingdom as the right of his Wife and Son After which viz. the next ensuing year having advertisement that King Stephen had beleagur'd Lincoln which the Earl of Chester then held for the Empress he came with a great power of the Welch aâ—d joyning with others to raise the Siege commanded the Rear of that Army And when both sides were drawn out for Battel made an Oration to the Souldiers First telling the Earl of Chester his Son-in-law who offered to lead on the Army that Being a person noble of Birth and excelling in Valour the Honour to strike the first stroke was not unworthy of him but quoth he that which incites me to fight is the madness and perjury of the King who had sworn Fealty to the Empress in the time of King Henry the First wherefore there being no retreat we must either conquer or dye It is therefore necessary that he who hath no other refuge should have recourse to his Valour Behold said he against whom it is that you are to fight and what manner of men they are Here is against you the Earl of Mellent a most deceitful person having iniquity in his heart fraud in his lips and sloth in his actions Next there is the Earl of Albemarle a drunkard but no Souldier and then there is Simon Earl of Northampton a man of words only who never makes performance of his promise c. Soon after which the fight began and was fiercely maintained for a while on each part but at length the King seeing his Army routed yielded himself to this Earl and was sent Prisoner to Bristoll Upon which success the Empress being too much elated came first to Cirencester so to Winchester where she was solemnly received with Procession by Henry de Blois the King's Brother then Bishop there and afterwards to London with purpose to treat of the state of the Realm where she had very honourable reception by the Citizens but application being made to her by the Queen Wife of King Stephen that the King her Husband might be enlarged on condition that he should render the Kingdom to her and live retiredly in some Cell or perpetually to travel as a Pilgrim she would by no means yield thereto On the other side the Citizens Petitioning her that they might enjoy the Laws of S. Edward and not be obliged to those promulged by her Father which they said were grievous she utterly refused to hearken to them Whereupon the people growing enraged resolved to seise upon her of which having advertisement she forthwith sent away her Houshold-stuff and fled to Oxford where she expected a full Rendezvous of all dispersed Souldiers and commanded that the King then in Prison at Bristoll should be more strictly kept and put in Fetters and so after a few days with this Earl of Gloucester her Brother she marched to Winchester and besieged the Castle there in which the Bishop then was Who seeing his condition sent to the Queen and those of the Nobles that were friends to King Stephen to come speedily to his relief Which accordingly they did and after them the Londoners whereby a powerful Army was soon got together which blocking up all Avenues to the City kept Provisions from the Besiegers and so galled them by frequent skirmishes as that being thus distressed on the one side and allarm'd by divers bold sallies from those within the Castle on the other by whom likewise a great part of the City was fired she sent three hundred of her men to Werwell-Abbey six miles distant there to erect a Fort by which means the Royalists might be so disturbed as that some Provisions might with more security be brought to her But this attempt took no good effect for the Royalists being made aware of it came suddenly to Werwell and making great slaughter amongst those who had begun that work occasioned such a consternation upon the Empress and her party that they were forthwith necessitated for prevention of their ruine to break through the Enemy by flight Which that she her self might the more securely do she crept into a Coffin and caused it to be carried as a dead Corps to Gloucester But upon that her flight this Earl passing thence another way was pursued closely and at Stoubregge taken together with the Earl Warren and many others and thereupon brought to the Queen by the Bishop of Winchester she being then in that City whence she sent him by William de â—pre who then had the power of Kent to be imprisoned in Rochester-Castle After which though offer was soon made to release him in exchange for the King he would not hearken to it but at length about the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy-Cross yielding thereto they were both of them set at liberty Being thus again at large and the King endeavouring to Besiege Walingford where the Empress then was assisted by the Earl of Chester and Hugh Bigod he hindred that design Thence he followed the King to Winchester and beat him off the making a Castle which he intended there and shortly after that sailed into Normandy where finding that Earl Geffrey had reduced that Country and was preparing to march into Anjou to pursue those who were then in Rebellion he previled with him to come into England with all his power and rescue the Kingdom his Wife and Children's Inheritance out of an Usurpers hands Whereupon with Henry his Son and some of his choicest Souldiers they landed at Warham Howbeit when they came thither this our Earl of Gloucester receiving Advertisement that King Stephen had then
Conway Castle and Office of Governour of that Town And about the end of August won the Castle of Harlow by assault it being one of the strongest Forts throughout all Wales Shortly after which he was made choice of for one of the Knights Companions of the most noble Order of the Garter Whereunto I shall add what I find farther memorable of him from a certain Manuscript Book in the Custody of Edward now Lord Herbert of Chirbury viz. Vpon the advancing of William Herbert to be Earl of Pembroke and his Instalment at Windsore King Edward the Fourth commanded the said Earl and Sir Richard his Brother to take their surnames after their first Progenitor Herbert Fits Roy and to forgo the Brittish manner whose usage is to call every man by Father Grandfather's and Great-Grandfather's name And in regard the English Heralds were ignorant of the Welch Descents the King was pleased under his great Seal unto Yvan ap Kytherch ap Evan Llhoyd of Cardiganshire Esq to summon before him at the Castle of Pembroke the eldest Heralds and Bards in South-Wales to certifie the Linage and stock of the said Earl and his Brother which was accordingly done the twelfth day of August An. 1462. by Howel ap David ap Evan ap Rice Evan Brecva Evan Deuliun and Howell Swerdwall the chief men of skill in Pedegrees in all South-Wales Who being led by warrant of old Dâ—ctors-Books Records of Court Barons Histories and Wars of Princes Books of Remembrances found in the antient Abbies of Strata Florida Books of Pedegrees of Howell Morthey of Castle Dolwyn Esq the Roll of Morgan the Abbot and several other Books and Warrants of Authority as also by the Evidences of this Earl they presented to his Majesty their Certificate in four several languages Brittish Latine English and French viz. The said Honourable Earl is named William Herbert a Noble Knight Son of Sir William Son of Thomas Son of Guillim Son of Jenkyn Son of Adam Son of Reginald Son of Peter Son of Herbert the Son of Herbert a Noble Lord descended of the Royal blood of the Crown of England for he was Son natural to King Henry the first Son of William commonly called the Conquerour But in Iuly the next ensuing year 9 E. 4. upon that Insurrection in the North on the behalf of the Lancastrians made by Sir Iohn Coniers Knight Robert Hillyard who call'd himself Robin of Riddesdale and others to the numbeâ— of twenty thousand he was sent by the King with eighteen thousand Welchmen Humphrey Stafford Earl of Devonshire having also six thousand good Archers to assist who meeting at Banbury in Com. Oxon. in order to an encounter with the Enemy at that time not many miles distant and there falling at difference for lodging Devonshire forsook him in discontent so that this Earl adventuring Battel with those Northern Men at a place called Danes-moorâ— near Edgcote in Northamptonshire about three miles from Banbury upon the 26. of Iuly was there utterly vanquisht and taken prisoner five hundred of his Men being slain upon the place Whence being carried to Northampton with Richard his Brother he was there together with Richard Widvile Lord Rivers and Iohn his Son beheaded by the command of George Duke of Clarence and Nevill Earl of Warwick who both of them not long before had revolted from King Edward to the other side But others varying this relation in some circumstances do say that this Earl did the more readily obey the Kings command in marching against these Northern Men thus risen on the behalf of the Earl of Warwick to revenge himself against that Earl in regard he had been his only hindrance in obteining the wardship of the Lord Bonvile's Daughter and Heir for his eldest Son and that being accompanied with his Brother Sir Richard Herbert a valiant Knight and above six or seven thousand Welchmen well furnish'd he advanced forwards to encounter with them Also that to assist him with Archers Humphrey Lord Stafford of Southwike then named but not created Earl of Devonshire by King Edward was sent in hope that he would serve valiantly in that quarel who had with him eight hundred Archers Likewise that when these two Lords were met on Coâ—swould and heard that those Northern-Men were on their way to Northampton the Lord Stafford and Sir Richard Herbert with two thousand Welchmen well horsed rode forth before the main Army to see the order of the Enemy and at length under a wood side espying them passing forward suddainly fell on their Reer but that the Northern Men turning about put the Welch to a total rout and took many of them prisoners and thereupon retreated towards Warwick to look for aid of the Earl who being then newly come from Calais with his Son in Law the Duke of Clarence was raising Men in aid of his Friends and Kindred Moreover that at that time also King Edward was busy in raising Men to the aid of this Earl of Pembroke but that before either partie receiv'd succour from their friends or Partakers both these Armies met by chance in a fair plain by Edgcote where there are three Hills not of equal bigness lying almost in a triangle Of which the Welch got that towards the West hoping to have recovered the East-Hill also the Northern Men encamping on the South-Hill But the difference which hapned betwixt this Earl and the Lord Stafford at Banbury as hath been noted causing the Lord Stafford with his Men to forsake him he lost the day and being taken suffered death at Northampton as before is observed Nevertheless before he suffered death with his own hand-writing he made his Testament bearing date the very day following that Battel 27 Julii out of which I have thought fit here to exhibite some part as I find it on record In nomine Iesu. Item I to be buried in the Priory of Bergavenny undre charge bytwene my Faders Toumbe and the Chancell And the cost that should hâ—ve be at Tynterne to be sett upon the Chancell as my Confessor c. shall say and you my Wife and Brother Thomas Herbert c. And Wyfe that ye remember your promise to me to take the ordre of Wydowhood as ye may be the better Mayster of your owne to performe my wylle and to helpe my Children as I love and trust you c. And that C. Tonne of ... be yeven to make the Cloyster of Tynterne c. and xxl. to the Grayfreres where my Body shall lygh and that my Body be sent for home in alle hast secretely by Mr. Leisone and certain Freres with him c. To Dr. Leisone ten marks a yere to singe for my soule during his life c. Item to two Prestes to be found to syng afore the Trinitie at Lanteliowe for my soule and for all there soules slayn in the felde for two yere c. Item that my Almâ—shouse have as much livelode