thousand marks which he tooke to his owne vse by way of confiscation for his disloiall demeanor This ingratitude of the king wounded the bishops hart insomuch that taking thought for the losse of his houses and monie he pined awaie and died within a while after The quarrell which was first picked at these bishops rose by occasion of a fraie betwixt the bishops men and the seruants of Alaine duke of Britaine about the taking vp of Inues at their comming to Oxenford In which fraie one of the dukes men was killed his nephue almost slaine and the residue of his folkes sore beaten and chased Herevpon were the bishops first committed to ward and afterward handled at the kings pleasure as partlie ye haue heard ¶ Héere by the way good reader thou hast one example worthie to be marked of fickle fortunes inconstancie whereof the poet speaketh verie excellentlie variat semper fortuna tenorera Diuerso gaudens mortalia voluere cafis Nam qui scire velit cur hunc fortuna vel illum Aut premat aut sursum tollat nimis arduae quaerit Terrarum siquidem est illi concessa potestas Maxima huic illam praesecit Iuppiter erbi For this Roger bishop of Salisburie was in the daies of William Rufus a poore préest seruing a cure in a village néere the citie of Caen in Normandie Now it chanced that the lord Henrie the kings brother came thither on a time and called for a préest to say masse before him Whervpon this Roger comming to the altar was by and by readie and quicke at it and therewithall had so speedilie made an end thereof that the men of warre then attendant on the said lord Henrie affirmed that this préest aboue all other was a chapleine meet to say masse before men of warre bicause he had made an end when manie thought he had but newlie begun Herevpon the kings brother commanded the preest to follow him insomuch that when oportunitie serued for his diligent seruice and readie dispatch of matters when Henrie had atteined the crowne he was by him aduanced to great promotions as first to be Chancelour of England after bishop of Salisburie growing still into such estimation that he might doo more with the king than any other of the councell But to returne to king Stephan who after he had thus imprisoned the aforesaid bishops manned those castles which he tooke from them with his owne soldiers in like maner as he had doone all the rest which he had taken from the rebels that he might the better withstand the empresse and hir sonne whose comming line 10 he euer feared He began also to shew himselfe cruell towards all men and namelie against those that had chieflie furthered his title to the obteining of the crowne ¶ This as manie tooke it came to passe by the prouidence of almightie God that those should suffer for their periuries which contrarie to law and right had consented to crowne him king In déed he wist not well whom he might trust for he stood in doubt of all men bicause he was aduertised by credible report that the empresse sought for aid line 20 on all sides meaning verie shortlie to come into England For this cause also he thought good to procure the fréendship of Lewes king of France which he brought to passe by concluding a mariage betwéene his sonne Eustace and the ladie Constance sister to the said Lewes But within a few yeares after this Eustace died and then was Constance maried to Raimond earle of Tholouse In the meane time namelie on the first daie of September a councell was holden at Winchester line 30 wherein earle Alberike de Ueer pleaded with great eloquence the kings case in excuse of his fault for imprisoning the bishops which was sore laid to his charge by his owne brother the bishop of Winchester being also the popes legat who togither with the archbishop of Canturburie and other bishops had called this councell for that purpose Howbeit they got nothing of the king but faire words and promises of amendment in that which had béene doone otherwise than equitie required which promises were vtterlie vnperformed and so the councell brake vp line 40 In the moneth of Iulie the empresse Maud landed here in England at Portesmouth went strait to Arundell which towne togither with the countie of Sussex hir mother in law Adelicia king Henries second wife wedded to William de Albenay held in right of assignation for hir dower There came in with the empresse hir brother Robert and Hugh Bigot of whom ye haue heard before Some write that the empresse brought with hir a great armie to the intent that ioining with Ranulph line 50 earle of Chester who tooke part with Robert erle of Glocester bicause the same Rob. had maried his daughter she might fight with king Stephan and trie the battell with him Other declare that she came to England now at the first but with a small power as seuen score horssemen or men of armes as we may call them in hope of Gods assurance who seldome faileth those that fight in a rightfull cause and againe vpon trust of aid of fréends who for the line 60 benefits receiued at hir fathers hands would be readie to go against king Stephan Wherevpon hir brother earle Robert leauing his sister in the castle of Arundell rode with all spéed vnto Glocester thorough his enimies countrie not taking with him past 12. men of armes and as manie archers on horssebacke that vpon his cōming thither he might leuie an armie with so much speed as was possible Now when he came to Glocester though the citie was kept with a garison of soldiours placed there by king Stephan yet the townesmen after they heard that their earle was approched to the gates they droue out the garison receiued him into the towne where he remained a time partlie to assemble an armie and partlie to practise with other townes and castels thereabouts to reuolt vnto his sister Amongst all other the earles sonne Brian and Miles of Glocester were right ioifull of the news of the empresses arriuall and gladlie prepared themselues to fight in defense of hir cause In the meane time king Stephan hauing knowledge of the landing of the empresse and other his enimies came strait to Arundell where he besieged hir in the castle and spent his labour certeine daies in vaine about the winning of it Howbeit at that present he did not preuaile for there were certeine with him who in fauour of the empresse bare him in hand that it was not possible to win that fortresse and therefore aduised him to raise his siege and suffer the empresse to be at libertie to go to some other place where he might with more ease and lesse damage get hir into his hands The king not perceiuing the drift of those secret practisers followed their counsell Wherevpon the
so long as he bare the scepter The lord Reginald Graie of Ruthen by reason of his manour of Ashleie in Norfolke couered the tables and had for his fees all the tableclothes as well those in the hall as else-where when they were taken vp notwithstanding a petition exhibited by sir Iohn Draiton to haue had that office The same lord Graie of Ruthen bare the kings great spurs before him in the time of his coronation by right of inheritance as heire to Iohn Hastings earle of Penbroke Iohn erle of Summerset by the kings assignement bare the second sword before him at his coronation albeit that the said lord Graie of Ruthen by petition exhibited before the lord steward demanded the same office by reason of his castell tower of Penbroke and of his towne of Denbigh Thomas earle of Arundell cheefe butler of England obteined to exercise that office the daie of the coronation and had the fées thereto belonging granted to him to wit the goblet with which the king was serued and other things to that his office apperteining the vessels of wine excepted that laie vnder the bar which were adiudged vnto the said lord steward the said earle of Arundels claime notwithstanding The citizens of London chosen foorth by the citie serued in the hall as assistants to the lord cheefe butler whilest the king sate at dinner the daie of his coronation and when the king entered into his chamber after dinner and called for wine the lord maior of London brought to him a cup of gold with wine and had the same cup giuen to him togither with the cup that conteined water to allay the wine After the king had drunke the said lord maior and the aldermen of London had their table to dine at on the left hand of the king in the hall Thomas Dimocke in right of his moother Margaret Dimocke by reason of the tenure of his manor of Scriuelbie claimed to be the kings champion at his coronation and had his sute granted notwithstanding a claime exhibited by Baldwin Freuill demanding that office by reason of his castell of Tamwoorth in Warwikeshire The said Dimocke had for his fees one of the best coursers in the kings stable with the kings saddle and all the trappers harnesse apperteining to the same horsse or courser he had likewise one of the best armors that was in the kings armorie for his owne bodie with all that belonged wholie therevnto Iohn lord Latimer although he was vnder age for himselfe and the duke of Norfolke notwithstanding that his possessions were in the kings hands by his atturnie sir Thomas Graie knight claimed and had the office of almoner for that daie by reason of certeine lands which sometime belonged to the lord William Beuchampe of Bedford They had a towell of fine linnen cloth prepared to put in the siluer that was appointed to be giuen in almes and likewise they had the distribution of the cloth that couered the pauement and floors from the kings chamber doore vnto the place in the church of Westminster where the pulpit stood The residue that was spread in the church the sexten had William le Uenour by reason he was tenant of the manor of Liston claimed and obteined to exercise the office of making wafers for the king the daie of his coronation The barons of the fiue ports claimed and it was granted them to beare a canopie of cloth of gold ouer the K. with foure staues foure bels at the foure corners euerie staffe hauing foure of those barons to beare it also to dine and sit at the table next to the king on his right hand in the hall the daie of his coronation and for their fees to haue the forsaid canopie of gold with the bels and staues notwithstanding the abbat of Westminster claimed the same Edmund chambers claimed and obteined the office of principall larderer for him and his deputies by reason of his manour of Skulton otherwise called Burdellebin Skulton in the countie of Norfolke Thus was euerie man appointed to exercise such office as to him of right apperteined or at the least was thought requisit for the time present On mondaie then next insuing when the states were assembled in parlement order was taken that by reason of such preparation as was to be made for the coronation they should sit no more till the morow after saint Edwards daie On the sundaie following being the euen of saint Edward the new king lodged in the Tower and there made fortie six knights of the Bath to wit thrée of his sonnes the earle of Arundell the earle of Warwike his sonne the earle of Stafford two of the earle of Deuonshires sonnes the lord Beaumont the lord line 10 Willoughbies brother the earle of Staffords brother the lord Camois his sonne the lord of Maule Thomas Beauchampe Thomas Pelham Iohn Luttrell Iohn Lisleie William Haukeford iustice William Brinchleie iustice Bartholomew Rachford Giles Daubenie William Butler Iohn Ashton Richard Sanape Iohn Tiptost Richard Francis Henrie Persie Iohn Arundell William Strall Iohn Turpington Ailmer Saint Edward Hastings Iohn Greislcie Gerald Satill Iohn Arden line 20 Robert Chalons Thomas Dimocke Hungerford Gibethorpe Newport and diuerse other to the number of fortie and six On the morow being saint Edwards daie and the thirtéenth of October the lord maior of London road towards the Tower to attend the king with diuerse worshipfull citizens clothed all in red and from the Tower the king rode through the citie to Westminster where he was consecrated annointed and crowned king by the archbishop of Canturburie line 30 with all ceremonies and roiall solemnitie as was due and requisit Though all other reioised at his aduancement yet suerlie Edmund Mortimer earle of March which was coosine and heire to Lionell duke of Clarence the third begotten sonne of king Edward the third Richard earle of Cambridge sonne to Edmund duke of Yorke which had married Anne sister to the same Edmund were with these dooings neither pleased nor contented insomuch that now the diuision once begun the one linage ceassed not to line 40 persecute the other till the heires males of both the lines were cléerlie destroied and extinguished At the daie of the coronation to the end he should not séeme to take vpon him the crowne and scepter roiall by plaine extorted power and iniurious intrusion he was aduised to make his title as heire to Edmund surnamed or vntrulie feined Crookebacke sonne to king Henrie the third and to saie that the said Edmund was elder brother to king Edward the first and for his deformitie put by from the crowne line 50 to whom by his mother Blanch daughter and sole heire to Henrie duke of Lancaster he was next of blood and vndoubted heire But because not onelie his fréends but also his priuie enimies knew that this was but a forged title considering they were suerlie informed
sir Iohn Greie and William Porter with twelue hundred archers They tooke shipping at Douer landed at Sluis from whence with speedie iournies in the latter end of this twelfth yeare of king Henries reigne they came to Arras where they found the duke of Burgognie of whom they were ioifullie receiued from thence he appointed them to go vnto Peron where he assembled a power also of his owne subiects and remoouing from thence he marched through the countrie by Roie Bretueill Beauois and Gisors till he came with his armie vnto Pontois where he remained about the space of thrée wéeks From Pontois the two and twentith of October the duke of Burgognie marched towards Paris and passing the riuer of Saine at Pont Meulene he staid not till he came to Paris into the which he entred the 23 of October late in the euening The duke of Orleance laie at the same time at saint Denis with the more part of his armie the residue kept the towne of S. Clou where a bridge laie ouer the riuer of Saine On the 9 of Nouember with hard sharpe fight the Englishmen gat the towne of saint Clou with the bridge slue drowned nine hundred souldiors that were set there to defend that passage besides 400 that were taken prisoners They tooke also aboue 12 hundred horsses which they found in the towne with great riches whereof the men of warre made their profit Among other prisoners sir Manserd de Bos a valiant capteine was taken and shortlie after put to death as diuerse other were which the Burgognians bought of the Englishmen that had taken them prisoners The tower that stood at the end of the bridge could not be woone At an other bickering also it chanced that the Englishmen vnder the leading of the earle of Angus or Kime had the vpper hand and tooke manie prisoners whom the duke of Burgognie would that they should haue béene likewise put to death as traitors to their countrie but the said earle of Angus answered for himselfe and the residue of the Englishmen that they would rather die all in the place than suffer their prisoners to be vsed otherwise than as men of war ought to be that is to haue their liues saued and to be ransomed according as the law of armes required and by that meanes they were preserued The duke of Burgognie hauing the world at will for the duke of Orleance immediatlie after the losse of saint Clou departing from saint Denis got him into the high countries sent home the Englishmen with hartie thanks and great rewards This yeare the king created his brother Thomas Beauford earle of Dorset and his sonne the lord Thomas of Lancaster that was lord steward of England and earle of Aubemarle he created duke of Clarence Iohn duke of Burgognie hauing now the gouernance both of the French king and his relme so persecuted the duke of Orleance and his complices that finallie they for their last refuge required aid of king Henrie sending ouer vnto him certeine persons as their lawfull procurators of the which one was called Albert Aubemont a man of great wit learning audacitie to offer in name of the confederates vnto the said king Henrie and to his sonnes certeine conditions which were made and concluded the yeare of our Lord 1412 the eight of Maie The names of the chiefe confederats were these Iohn duke of Berrie and earle of Poictou Charles duke of Orleance and Ualois erle of Blois and Beaumont lord of Coucie and Ach Iohn duke of Bourbon and Auuergne earle of Clearmont forest and Lisle lord of Beauâ—eu and Casteau Chinon Iohn duke of Alanson Barnard earle of Arminacke and others The effect of the articles which these confederats were agréed vpon touching their offer to the king of England were as followeth The articles of couenants which they offered to the king of England line 10 line 1 FIrst they offered their bodies finances and lands to serue the king of England his heires and successors in all iust causes and actions sauing alwaies their allegiance knowing that he would not further inquire of them 2 Secondlie they offered their sonnes and daughters néeces and nephues and all other their kinsfolks to be bestowed in marriages according to the line 20 pleasure of the king of England 3 Thirdlie they offered their castels townes treasures all their other goods to serue the forsaid king 4 Fourthlie they offered their fréends alies and well-willers to serue him being the most part of all the nobles of France churchmen clearkes and honest citizens as it should well appeare 5 Fiftlie they offered to put him in possession of the duchie of Guien which they were readie to protest to belong vnto the king of England in like and line 30 semblable wise in libertie and franchises as any other king of England his predecessor had held and inioied the same 6 Sixtlie that they would be readie to recognise the lands which they possessed within that duchie to hold the same of the king of England as of the verie true duke of Guien promising all seruices and homages after the best maner that might be 7 Seuenthlie they promised to deliuer vnto the king as much as laie in them all townes and castels line 40 apperteining to the roialtie and seigniorie of the king of England which are in number twentie townes and castels and as to the regard of other townes fortresses which were not in their hands they would to the vttermost of their powers helpe the king of England and his heires to win them out of his aduersaries hands 8 Eightlie that the duke of Berrie as vassall to the king of England and likewise the duke of Orleance his subiect and vassall should hold of him by homage line 50 and fealtie the lands and seigniories hereafter following that is to saie the duke of Berrie to hold onelie the countie of Ponthieu during his life and the duke of Orleance to hold the countie of Angulesme during his life and the countie of Perigourt for euer and the earle of Arminacke to hold foure castels vpon certeine suerties and conditions as by indenture should be appointed For the which offers couenants and agreements they requested of the king of England to condescend vnto these conditions insuing line 60 The conditions which they requested of the king of England FIrst that the king of England as duke of line 1 Guien should defend and succor them as he ought to doo against all men as their verie lord and souereigne and speciallie vntill they had executed iustice fullie vpon the duke of Burgognie for the crime which he committed vpon the person of the duke of Orleance 2 Secondlie that he should assist them against the said duke of Burgognie and his fautors to recouer againe their goods which by occasion of the said duke and his fréends they had lost and béene depriued of 3 Thirdlie that he should likewise
had shewed and begun But although monsieur de Uauclere sware in the said Philips presence trulie to take king Edwards part yet he sent priuilie to the earle of Warwike lieng at Whitsanbaie that if he landed hee should be taken and lost for all England as he said tooke part against him the duke of Burgognie and all the inhabitants of the towne with the lord Duras the kings marshall and all the retinue of the garrison were his enimies The earle hauing this aduertisement from his feigned enimie with his nauie sailed toward Normandie and by the waie spoiled and tooke manie ships of the duke of Burgognies subiects and at the last with all his nauie and spoiles he tooke land at Diepe in Normandie where the gouernor of the countrie friendlie welcomed him and aduertised king Lewes of his arriuall The French king desirous of nothing more than to haue occasion to pleasure the erle of Warwike of whom the hie renowme caused all men to haue him in admiration sent vnto him requiring both him and his sonne in law the duke of Clarence to come vnto his castell of Ambois where he men soiourned The duke of Burgognie hearing that the duke and earle were thus receiued in France sent a post with letters vnto king Lewes partlie by waie of request and partlie by way of menacing to dissuade him from aiding of his aduersaries the said duke and earle But the French king little regarded this sute of the duke of Burgognie and therefore answered that he might and would succour his friends and yet breake no leage with him at all In the meane time K. Edward made inquirie for such as were knowne to be aiders of the earle of Warwike within his realme of whom some he apprehended as guiltie and some doubting themselues fled to sanctuarie and other trusting to the kings pardon submitted themselues as Iohn marques Montacute whom he courteouslie receiued When quéene Margaret that soiourned with duke Reiner hir father heard tell that the earle of Warwike was come to the French court withall diligence shée came to Ambois to sée him with hir onelie sonne prince Edward With hir also came Iasper earle of Penbroke and Iohn earle of Oxford which after diuerse imprisonments latelie escaped fled out of England into France and came by fortune to this assemblie These persons after intreatie had of their affaires determined by meanes of the French king to conclude a league and amitie betweene them And first to begin withall for the sure foundation of their new intreatie Edward prince of Wales wedded Anne second daughter to the earle of Warwike which ladie came with hir mother into France After which mariage the duke and the earles tooke a solemne oth that they should neuer leaue the warre till either king Henrie the sixt or his sonne prince Edward were restored to the crowne and that the quéene and the prince should depute and appoint the duke and the earle to be gouernors conseruators of the common wealth till time the prince were come to estate Manie other conditions were agréed as both reason the weightinesse of so great businesse required Whilest these things were thus in dooing in the French court there landed a damsell belonging to the duchesse of Clarence as she said which made monsieur de Uaucléere beleeue that she was sent from king Edward to the duke of Clarence and the line 10 earle of Warwike with a plaine ouerture and declaration of peace Of the which tidings Uaucléere was verie glad for the earles sake But this damsell comming to the duke persuaded him so much to leaue off the pursute of his conceiued displeasure towards his brother king Edward that he promised at his returne into England not to be so extreme enimie against his brother as he was taken to be and this promise afterward he did kéepe With this answer the damsell returned into England the earle line 20 of Warwike being thereof clearelie ignorant The French king lent both ships men and monie vnto quéene Margaret and to hir partakers and appointed the bastard of Burbon admerall of France with a great nauie to defend them against the nauie of the duke of Burgognie which he laid at the mouth of the riuer Saine readie to incounter them being of greater force than both the French nauie and the English fléet And yet king Reiner did also helpe his daughter with men and munition line 30 of warre When their ships and men were come togither to Harflue the erle of Warwike thought not to linger time bicause he was certified by letters from his friends out of England that assoone as he had taken land there would be readie manie thousands to doo him what seruice and pleasure they could or might And beside this diuerse noble men wrote that they would helpe him with men armor monie and all things necessarie for the warre and further to aduenture their owne bodies in his quarell line 40 Suerlie his presence was so much desired of all the people that almost all men were readie in armour looking for his arriuall for they iudged that the verie sunne was taken from the world when hée was absent When he had receiued such letters of comfort he determined with the duke and the earles of Oxford and Penbroke bicause quéene Margaret and hir sonne were not yet fullie furnished for the iournie to go before with part of the nauie and part of the armie And euen as fortune would the nauie of the duke of Burgognie at the same time by a tempest line 50 was scattered driuen beside the coast of Normandie so that the earle of Warwike in hope of a boune voiage caused sailes to be halsed vp and with good spéed landed at Darmouth in Deuonshire from whence almost six moneths passed he tooke his iournie toward France as before ye haue heard When the earle had taken land he made proclamation in the name of king Henrie the sixt vpon high paines commanding and charging all men able to beare armor line 60 to prepare themselues to fight against Edward duke of Yorke which contrarie to right had vsurped the crowne It is almost not to be beléeued how manie thousands men of warre at the first tidings of the earles landing resorted vnto him King Edward wakened with the newes of the earles landing and the great repaire of people that came flocking in vnto him sent foorth letters into all parts of his realme to raise an armie but of them that were sent for few came and yet of those few the more part came with no great good willes Which when he perceiued he began to doubt the matter and therefore being accompanied with the duke of Glocester his brother the lord Hastings his chamberlaine which had maried the earles sister and yet was euer true to the king his maister and the lord Scales brother to the quéene he departed into Lincolneshire And bicause he vnderstood that
was displeased and so returned to Brecknocke to you But in that iournie as I returned whither it were by the inspiration of the Holie-ghost or by melancholious disposition I had diuerse and sundrie imaginations how to depriue this vnnaturall vncle and bloudie butcher from his roiall seat and princelie dignitie First I santised that if I list to take vpon me the crowne and imperiall scepter of the realme now was the time propice and conuenient For now was the waie made plaine and the gate opened and occasion giuen which now neglected should peraduenture neuer take such effect and conclusion For I saw he was disdeined of the lords temporall abhored and accurssed of the lords spirituall detested of all gentlemen and despised of all the communaltie so that I saw my chance as perfectlie as I saw mine owne image in a glasse that there was no person if I had béene gréedie to attempt the enterprise could nor should haue woone the ring or got the gole before me And on this point I rested in imagination secretlie with my selfe two daies at Tewkesburie From thence so iournieng I mused and thought that it was not best nor conuenient to take vpon me as a conqueror For then I knew that all men and especiallie the nobilitie would with all their power withstand me both for rescuing of possessions and tenures as also for subuerting of the whole estate laws and customes of the realme such a power hath a conqueror as you know well inough my lord But at the last in all this doubtfull case there sprang a new branch out of my head which suerlie I thought should haue brought forth faire floures but the sunne was so hot that they turned to drie wéeds For I suddenlie remembred that the lord Edmund duke of Summerset my grandfather was with king Henrie the sixt in the two and thrée degrées from Iohn duke of Lancaster lawfullie begotten so that I thought sure my mother being eldest daughter to duke Edmund that I was next heire to king Henrie the sixt of the house of Lancaster This title pleased well such as I made priuie of my counsell but much more it incouraged my foolish desire and eleuated my ambitious intent insomuch that I cléerelie iudged and in mine owne mind was determinatlie resolued that I was indubitate heire of the house of Lancaster and therevpon concluded line 10 to make my first foundation and erect my new building But whether God so ordeined or by fortune it so chanced while I was in a maze either to conclude suddenlie on this title to set it open amongst the common people or to keepe it secret a while sée the chance as I rode betweene Worcester and Bridgenorth I incountered with the ladie Margaret countesse of Richmond now wife vnto the lord Stanlie which is the verie daughter and sole heire to lord Iohn duke of Summerset my grandfathers line 20 elder brother which was as cleane out of my mind as though I had neuer séene hir so that she and hir sonne the earle of Richmond be both bulworke and portcullice betwéene me and the gate to enter into the maiestie roiall and getting of the crowne Now when we had communed a little concerning hir sonne as I shall shew you after and were departed shée to our ladie of Worcester and I to Shrewsburie I then new changed and in maner amazed began to dispute with my selfe little considering line 30 that thus my earnest title was turned to a tittell not so good as Est Amen Eftsoones I imagined whether were best to take vpon me by election of the nobilitie and communaltie which me thought easie to be done the vsurper king thus being in hatred and abhorred of this whole realme or to take it by power which standeth in fortunes chance and difficile to be atchiued and brought to passe Thus tumbling and tossing in the waues of ambiguitie betwéene the stone and the sacrifice I considered first the office dutie and line 40 paine of a king which suerlie thinke I that no mortall man can iustlie and trulie obserue except he be called elected and speciallie appointed by God as K. Dauid and diuerse other haue beéne But further I remembred that if I once tooke on me the scepter and the gouernance of the realme that of two extreame enimies I was dailie sure but of one trustie friend which now a daies be gone a pilgrimage I was neither assured nor crediblie ascerteined such is the worlds mutation For I manifestlie perceiued that the daughters of king Edward line 50 and their alies and freends which be no small number being both for his sake much beloued and also for the great iniurie manifest tyrannie doone to them by the new vsurper much lamented and pitied would neuer ceasse to barke if they cannot bite at the one side of me Semblablie my coosine the earle of Richmond his aids and kinsfolks which be not of little power will suerlie attempt like a fierce greihound either to bite or to pearse me on the other side So that my life and rule should euer hang line 60 by a haire neuer in quiet but euer in doubt of death or deposition And if the said two linages of Yorke and Lancaster which so long haue striued for the imperiall diadem should ioine in one against me then were I suerlie mated and the game gotten Wherefore I haue cléerelie determined and with my selfe concluded vtterlie to relinquish all such fantasticall imaginations concerning the obteining of the crowne But all such plagues calamities and troubles which I feared and suspected might haue chanced on me if I had taken the rule and regiment of this realme I shall with a reredemaine so make them rebound to to our common enimie that calleth himselfe king that the best stopper that he hath at tenice shall not well stop without a fault For as I told you before the counfesse of Richmond in my returne from the new named king méeting me in the high waie praâ—ed me first for kinred sake secondarâ—lie for the loue that I bare to my grandfather duke Humfrie which was sworne brother to hir father so mooue the king to be good to hir sonne Henrie earle of Richmond and to licence him with his fauour to returne againe into England And if it were his pleasure so to doo she promised that the earle hir sonne should marrie one of king Edwards daughters at the appointment of the king without anie thing to be taken or demanded for the said espousals but onelie the kings fauour which request I soone ouerpassed and gaue hir faire words and so departed But after in my lodging when I called to memorie with a deliberate studie and did circumspectlie ponder them I fullie adiudged that the Holie-ghost caused hir to mooue a thing the end whereof she could not consider both for the securitie of the realme as also for the preferment of hir child and the destruction and finall confusion of the common enimie king
king Richard entered into a treatie also of aliance for the concluding of a marriage betwixt the duke of Rothsaie eldest sonne to the king of Scots and the ladie Anne de la Poole daughter to Iohn duke of Suffolke and the duchesse Anne sister to king Richard which sister he so much fauoured line 30 that studieng by all waies and meanes possible how to aduance hir linage he did not onelie thus seeke to preferre hir daughter in marriage but also after the death of his sonne he proclamed Iohn earle of Lincolne hir sonne and his nephue heire apparant to the crowne of England disheriting king Edwards daughters whose brethren as ye haue heard he most wickedlie had caused to be murthered and made awaie The king of Scots standing in néed of freends line 40 although not so greatlie as king Richard did willinglie consent to that motion of marriage first broched by king Richard insomuch that it tooke effect and by commissioners was passed and concluded in maner as in the historie of Scotland it likewise appeareth But albeit that by this league and amitie thus couenanted and concluded it might he thought that all conspiracies coniurations and confederacies against king Richard had béene extinct especiallie considering the duke of Buckingham and his alies line 50 were dispatched out of the waie some by death and some by flight and banishment into farre countries yet king Richard more doubting than trusting to his owne people and freends was continuallie vexed and troubled in mind for feare of the earle of Richmonds returne which dailie dread and hourelie agonie caused him to liue in dolefull miserie euer vnquiet and in maner in continuall calamitie Wherefore he intending to be reléeued and to haue an end of all his doubtfull dangers determined line 60 cléerelie to extirpate and plucke vp by the roots all the matter and ground of his feare and doubts Insomuch that after long and deliberate consultation had nothing was for his purpose and intent thought either more necessarie or expedient than once againe with price praier and rewards to attempt the duke of Britaine in whose territorie the earle of Richmond then abode to deliuer the said earle into his hands by which onelie meanes he should be discharged of all feare and perill and brought to rest and quietnesse both of bodie and mind Wherefore incontinent he sent certeine ambassadors to the duke of Britaine which tooke vpon them beside the great and ample rewards that they brought with them into Britaine that king Richard should yearelie paie and answer the duke of all the reuenues rents and profits of the seigniories lands and possessions as well belonging and apperteining to the erle of Richmond as to anie other noble or gentleman which then were in the earles companie if he after that time would kéepe them in continuall prison and restraine them from libertie The ambassadors furnished with these and other instructions arriued in Britaine and came to the dukes house where with him they could haue no maner of communication concerning their weightie affaires by reason that he being faint and weakened by a long and dailie infirmitie began a little to wax idle and weake in his wit and remembrance For which cause Peter Landoise his cheefe treasuror a man both of pregnant wit and great authoritie ruled and adiudged all things at his pleasure and commandement for which cause as men set in authoritie be not best beloued he excited prouoked against him the malice and euill will of the nobilitie of Britaine which afterward for diuerse great offenses by him during his authoritie perpetrate committed by their meanes was brought to death confusion The English ambassadors mooued their message and request to Peter Landoise and to him declared their maisters commandement instantlie requiring and humblie desiring him in whose power it laie to doo all things in Britaine that he would freendlie assent to the request of king Richard offering to him the same rewards and lands that they should haue offered to the duke This Peter which was no lesse disdeined than hated almost of all the people of Britaine thought that if he did assent satisfie king Richards petition and desire he should be of power and abilitie sufficient to withstand and refell the malicious attempts and disdeinfull inuentions of his enuious aduersaries Wherefore he faithfullie promised to accomplish king Richards request desire so that he kept promise with him that he might be able to withstand the cankered malice of his secret enimies This act that he promised to doo was not for anie grudge or malice that he bare vnto the erle of Richmond for as you haue heard before he deliuered him from the perill of death at saint Malos when he was in great doubt of life and ieopardie But as cause ariseth we euer offend and that curssed hunger of gold and execrable thirst of lucre and inward feare of losse of authoritie driueth the blind minds of couetous men ambitious persons to euils and mischéefs innumerable not remembring losse of good name obloquie of the people nor in conclusion the punishment of God for their merits and deserts Which vengeance of God for such falshood was more to be feared than the gaie offers of the king to be desired for the one was sure to fall the other was likelie to faile Wherefore it is wisedome to make choise of a fréend by the rule of the wiseman to be obserued in wine which is drunke with pleasure when it is old Neither dooth it stand with a mans safetie to trust a freend too farre for occasions maie fall out wherby he shall become an enimie as the poet saith Hostis erit forsan qui tuns hospes erat But fortune was so fauourable to the publike wealth of the realme of England that this deadlie and dolorous compact tooke none effect or place For while posts ran and letters were sent to and fro for the finishing of this great enterprise betwéene king Richard and Peter Landoise Iohn Morton bishop of Elie soiourning then in Flanders was of all this craftie conueiance certified by his secret and sure fréends Wherefore he sent Christopher Urswike which at that verie season was come out of Britaine into Flanders to declare to the earle of Richmond how all the deceit and craftie working was conueied and compassed giuing him charge to counsell and aduise the earle in all hast possible with all his companie to retire out of Britaine into France When these newes were brought to the earle he then kept house in Uannes and incontinent dispatched againe Christopher Urswike vnto Charles the French king requiring him that he and his might safelie passe into France Which desire being obteined line 10 the messenger shortlie returned to his lord and prince The earle well perceiuing that it was expedient and necessarie with all spéed and diligence to looke to this weightie matter calling verie few to counsell he made inquirie
séene in the said citie two elephants a nature of creatures which happilie had not béene séene in Italie since the triumphs and publike plaies of the Romans Emanuell king of Portingall sent to pope Leo the tenth a verie honorable ambassage and withall presented him with these huge and statelie elephants which his ships had brought by sea from India their entring into Rome was celebrated with a verie great concourse of people some woondering at the strange forme and stature of the beasts some maruelling to what vses their nature inclined them and some coniecturing the respects and purposes of such a present their ignorance making their woonder farre greater than their reason No lesse adoo was there at the bringing of the cardinals hat who on a sundaie in S. Peters church at Westminster receiued the same with the habit the piller and other such tokens of a cardinall And now that he was thus a perfect cardinall he looked aboue all estates which purchased him great hatred and disdaine on all sides For his ambition was no lesse discernable to the eies of the people than the sunne in the firmament in a cléere and cloudlesse summer daie which procured against him the more hatred among the noble and popular sort for that his base linage was both noted and knowne in so much that his insatiable aspiring to supereminent degrees of dignitie kindled manifest contempt and detestation among such as pretended a countenance of good will and honorable dutie vnto him though in verie deed the same parties if fréelie and without checke they might haue spoken their fansie would haue intituled him a proud popeling as led with the like spirit of swelling ambition wherwith the rable of popes haue béene bladder like puffed and blowne vp a diuelish and luciferian vice in the iudgements of men abhominable and in the sight of God most damnable as the poet in this distichon trulie witnesseth Dij superi fastum fastum mortales abhorrent Hac homini leuitas displicet atque Deo After the end of the parlement sir Edward Poinings laboured to be discharged of the kéeping of Tornaie bicause he could not haue health there and so he was discharged and sir William Blunt lord Mountioy was sent thither to haue that roome and for marshall was appointed sir Sampson Norton Immediatlie vpon their comming thither chanced a great riot raised by the souldiers so that to appease them the lord Mountioy was put in ieopardie of his life In conclusion to quiet them sir Sampson Norton was banished the towne for euer but what the matter was I haue not found rehearsed by anie writer After that the citie was appeased and euerie thing thought to be forgotten diuerse of the offendors were executed and diuerse banished the towne some fled and were confined both out of England and the towne After the parlement was ended the king kept a solemne Christmasse at his manor of Eltham and on the Twelfe night in the hall was made a goodlie castell woonderouslie set out and in it certeine ladies and knights and when the king and queene were set in came other knights and assailed the castell where manie a good stripe was giuen and at the last the assailants were beaten awaie And then issued out knights and ladies out of the castell which ladies were rich and strangelie disguised for all their apparell was in braids of gold fret with moouing spangls of siluer and gilt set on crimsin sattin loose and not fastned the mens apparell of the same sute made like Iulis of Hungarie and the ladies heads and bodies were after the fashion of Amsterdam And when the dansing was doone the banket was serued in of two hundred dishes with great plentie to euerie bodie This yéere the new league accorded betwixt king Henrie the French king was openlie proclaimed through the citie of London by a trumpet Margaret quéene of Scots eldest sister to the K. came this yere into England at Harbottell castell was deliuered of a daughter begot by hir second husband the line 10 lord Archembald Dowglasse earle of Angus This daughter was called at the fontstone after hir mother Margaret The said quéene after the death of hir late husband king Iames married the said earle of Angus without consent of hir brother king Henrie or other of hir friends chéeflie as some haue thought for hir sonnes sake doubting if she should not haue taken hir choise at home she should haue maried in some other place and so haue béene sequestred from hir sonne whose bringing vp apperteined line 20 now chéeflie vnto hir But such contention rose shootlie after in Scotland amongst the lords that both she and hir husband were glad to séeke succor in England at hir brothers hand who was contented to releeue them assigning them the said castell of Harbottell to lie in with apparell and all other necessaries till his further pleasure should be knowne The eightéenth daie of Februarie this yeere year 1518 the ladie Marie daughter to king Henrie the eight was borne at Gréenewich This was she that afterwards was line 30 quéene of this realme married the king of Spaine This yéere also died the king of Aragon father to the queene for whom was kept a solemne obsequie in the cathedrall church of Paules As ye haue heard the last yéere how the quéene of Scots with hir husband was come for succor into England and laie at Harbottell in Northumberland till the kings pleasure was to send for them so now know you that he like a naturall brother sent for hir and hir husband to come to his court for their line 40 solace for the which kindnesse the earle humblie thanked the king and promised to giue his attendance on the queene his wife to the court Wherevpon the king sent William Blacknall esquier clerke of his spicerie with siluer vessell plate and other things necessarie for the conueiance of hir and sent to hir all manner of officers for hir estate conuenient Now when she was readie to depart she asked for hir husband but he was departed into Scotland and left hir alone nothing remembring his promise line 50 Which sudden departing much made hir to muse howbeit the lords of England greatlie incouraged hir to kéepe hir promise with the king hir brother Now when she was somewhat appeased she set forward and in euerie towne she was well receiued so on the third day of Maie she made hir entrie into London riding on a white palfreie which the quéene of England had sent vnto hir behind sir Thomas Parre richlie beséene and with a great companie of lords and ladies she rode through the citie to Bainards line 60 castell and from thence she was conueied to Gréenewich and there receiued ioiouslie of the king the quéene the French quéene hir sister and highlie was she feasted And when the king heard that the earle of Angus hir husband was departed he said it was
horsse towards the sea side and comming vnto Canturburie rested there and there declared to the people what had chanced vnto the pope and caused the moonks of Christes church to sing their Letanie after this maner Sancta Maria ora pro Clemente papa c. Then he exhorted the people to fast and praie for the popes deliuerance accordinglie as he had alreadie sent commissions vnto all the bishops within the realme to follow that order which was to fast three daies in the weeke and to vse in euerie parish solemne processions The eleuenth of Iulie the cardinall tooke shipping at Douer and landed the same daie at Calis from whense he departed the two and twentith of Iulie and with him was the bishop of London Cutbert Tunstall the lord Sands chamberleine to the king the earle of Derbie sir Henrie Guilford sir Thomas Moore with manie other knights and esquiers in all to the number of twelue hundred horsse and of carriages there were foure score wagons and three score mules and sumpter horsses He that is desirous to vnderstand with what honour this triumphant cardinall was receiued in all places as he passed thorough Picardie by order giuen by the French king maie read thereof at large in the chronicles of maister Edward Hall At Amiens he was receiued by the French king himselfe and by his moother with all other chéefe péeres of France There was nothing forgot that might doo him honour or pleasure But to the effect of his businesse After he had shewed his commission they fell in councell and in the end grew to a full conclusion of a league to be accorded and established betwixt the kings of England and France the couenants and articles whereof were drawne and written vp in a faire charter which was sealed in solemne wise and deliuered vnto the cardinals by the kings owne hand After this it was agréed that Odet de Fois commonlie called monsieur de Lawtrech should go into Italie with a puissant armie to procure the popes deliuerance expell the emperours power out of all the partie of Italie if he refused such reasonable offers articls of agréement as were drawen should be exhibited to him In this armie went sir Robert Ierningham Iohn Carew of Hakam 80 other English gentlemen which were sent by the cardinall from Amiens When the armie was assembled the cardinall deliuered the monie which he had brought out of England with him in barrels with the which the armie was paid two moneths before hand the surplusage was deliuered to sir Robert Ierningham which was called treasuror of the wars This armie was called in Latine Exercitus Angliae Gallorum regum pro pontifice Romano liberando congregatus that is to saie The armie of the kings of England and France gathered for the deliuerance of the bishop of Rome and so was it reputed In this meane time the English ambassadors sir Francis Poins and Clarenceaux the herald were come into Spaine and there to the emperour in the towne of Uale Doliffe the sixt of Iulie deliuered the kings letters and further declared their message as they had in commandement The emperor made to them a courteous answer for that time and said he would take counsell in the matter and then shuld they receiue further answer and in the meane time they might repose them Within a daie or two after he called to him doctor Lée that was the kings ambassadour legier there with him the said sir Francis Poins and said to them My lords we haue perceiued the king your maisters demands which are line 10 weightie and of great importance Wherefore we intend with all spéed to write to the king our vncle and when we haue receiued answer from him we shall deliuer you of such things as you require praieng you in the meane time to take patience The emperour protracted time of purpose bicause he was loth to answer directlie to such grieuous and most irkesome complaints bicause he gessed by the course of things that the French king would shortlie be constrained to agrée to those conditions of peace line 20 which he at the first had offered But the French king the cardinall being togither at Amiens amongst other things determined there betwixt them in counsell deuised further what articles of offer should be sent to the emperour which if he refused then open defiance to be made vnto him in name of both the kings The articles were these in effect 1 First that the French king should paie for his ransome 25000 crownes one writer calleth it two millians 2 Also that he should release all the pension that he had in Naples with all the right of the line 30 same 3 Also that he should neuer claime title to the dutchie of Millane 4 Also he should release the superioritie of Flanders for euer and the right which he had to the citie of Torneie 5 Also he should release all the homages of all persons within those countries 6 Also to withdraw his armie out of Italie 7 Also to forsake the aid of the Switzers against the emperour 8 Also to take no more part with Robert de la March against the emperor 9 Also neuer to aid the king of Nauarre against line 40 him although he had maried the kings sister 10 Also neuer to aid the duke of Gelderland nor to chalenge the same dutchie 11 Also to aid the emperor with ships and men to his coronation 12 Also to marie the ladie Elenor quéene of Portugall sister to the emperor 13 Also that the Dolphine should marie the said quéenes daughter 14 Also that if the French king had anie children male by the said quéene then the dutchie of Burgognie to remaine to line 50 the said child being male 15 Also that the French king should be fréend to the emperour his fréends and enimie to his enimies These with manie other articles which were not openlie knowne were sent to the bishop of Tarbe and to the vicount of Thuraine ambassadours with the emperour from the French king Other articles were also sent to the English ambassadours being in Spaine as to mooue the emperour to some reasonable end with the French king and that the king of line 60 England would release vnto him all the summes of monie due to him as well by the emperour Maximilian his grandfather as himselfe and take the French king as debtor for the same If he would not agrée to these offers then was it accorded that the French king should marrie the ladie Marie daughter to the king of England and they both to be enimies to the emperour When all these things were concluded the cardinall tooke his leaue of the French king his moother and with great rewards returned comming to Richmond where the king then laie the last of September In October there came ambassadours from the French king into England the lord Annas de Montmerancie great
lord Maxwell or rather of Oliuer Sincler as the Scots affirme boasting to tarrie as long in England as the duke of Norffolke had tarried in Scotland And so on fridaie being saint Katharins euen they passed ouer the water of Eske and burnt certeine houses of the Greues on the verie border Thomas bastard Dacres with Iacke of Musgraue sent word to sir Thomas Wharton lord line 60 Warden for the king vpon the west marches to come forward to succour them But in the meane while the Scots entring verie fierclie the aforesaid two valiant capteins bastard Dacres and Musgraue manfullie set vpon the Scots with one hundred light horsses and left a stale on the side of a hill wherewith the Scots were woonderfullie dismaied thinking that either the duke of Norffolke with his whole armie had béene come to those west marches or that some other great power had beene comming against them when they saw onelie sir Thomas Wharton with three hundred men marching forward toward them But so it fortuned at that time vndoubtedlie as God would haue it that the Scots fled at the first brunâ— whome the Englishmen followed and tooke prisoners at their pleasure for there was small resistance or none at all shewed by the Scots Amongst others that were taken we find these men of name the earle of Castill and Glencarne the lord Maxwell admerall of Scotland and warden of the west marches the lord Flenung the lord Sumerwell the lord Oliphant the lord Greie sir Oliuer Sincler the kings minson Iohn Roâ—â—o lord of Gragie Robert Erskin son to the lord Erskin Carre lard of Bredon the lord Maxwelles two brethren Iohn Leslâ—ie bastard son to the earle of Rothus George Hume lard of Hâ—mitton Iohn Maieland lard of Wike castell Iames Pringell Iames Sincler brother to Oliuer Sincler Iohn Carmell capteine of Craiforth Patrike Hebborne esquire Iohn Seton esquire son in law to the lord Erskin William Seton esquire Iohn Steward cousin to the king Iohn Morrowe esquire Henrie Droumont esquire Iames Mitton esquire Iohn Cormurth esquire capteine of Gainsforth Iames Mitton esquire and other esquiers and gentlemen beside the earles and lords before mentioned to the number of two hundred and aboue and more than eight hundred other persons of meaner calling so that some one Englishman yea some women had thrée or foure prisoners They tooke also foure and twentie peeces of ordinance foure carts laden with speares and ten pauilions with other things of price so that this might well be said to be the handie worke of God and the verse of the psalme verified Contemplans dixi Haec est mutatio dextrae Numinis excelsi mortalia cuncta gubernans The king of Scots tooke such griefe and inward thought for his ouerthrow and also for the murther of an English herald that was slaine at Dunbar by one Léech an Englishman the which for the rebellion in Lincolnshire was fled into Scotland that he fell into a hot ague and thereof died although manie reported that he was at the bickering and receiued there his deaths wound and fled there with into Scotland But of his death and of the birth of his daughter ye may see more in the historie of Scotland Of these prisoners before named one and twentie of them were brought to London and on the ninetéenth of December entred into the citie by Bishops gate and so were conueied to the tower where they remained for the space of two daies and vpon saint Thomas daie the apostle being the one and twentith of December they were conueied to Westminster sir Iohn Gage constable of the tower riding before them and the lieutenant of the same tower riding behind them They rode two and two togither and eight of them being earls and lords had new gowns of blacke damaske furred with blacke conie cotes of blacke veluet and doublets of sattin with shirts and other apparell bought new for them at the kings charges Thus being solemnelie conueied through the stréets of London vnto Westminster they came before the councell sitting in the Starchamber and there the lord chancellor declared to them their vntruth vnkindnesse and false dissimulation declaring further how the king had cause of war against them both for denieng of their homages and also for their traitorous inuasions made into his realme without defiance and for keeping his subiects prisoners without redemption contrarie to the ancient laws of the marches for which dooings God as they might perceiue had scourged them Howbeit the K. more regarding his honor than his princelie power was content to shew them kindnesse for vnkindnesse and right for wrong And although he might kéepe them in streict prison by iust law of armes yet he was content that they should haue libertie to be with the nobles of his realme in their houses and so according to their estates they were appointed to dukes earles bishops knights and gentlemen which so interteined them that they confessed themselues neuer to be better vsed nor to haue had greater cheere in all their life times line 10 The earle of Cassils was appointed to be with the archbishop of Canturburie the earle of Glencarne with the duke of Norffolke the lord Fleming with the lord priuie seale the lord Maxwell with sir Anthonie Browne the lord Sumerwell with the lord chancellor the lord Oliphant with sir Thomas Lée Oliuer Sincler with the duke of Suffolke Robert Erskin with the bishop of Westminster the lord Montâ—th with sir Antonie Wingfield the lord Montâ—th with sir Rafe Sadler George Hume with the line 20 earle of Hertford the lord of Gragie with sir Thomas Cheincie the lard of Gredon with maister Gosâ—wike Henrie Maxwell with sir Richard Long Thomas Craâ—ford with sir Arthur Darcie Patrike Hebborne with sir Thomas Wriothesleie Iames Pringell with sir Richard Rich Iohn Matland with sir Edward North the lord Greie Iames Sincler and Iohn Lisleie were appointed to men of such credit as were thought méet to answer for their safe keeping The two and twentith of December tidings line 30 came of the king of Scots death and vpon S. Iohns daie in Christmas weeke the foresaid lords of Scotland were brought to the court which was then at Greenwich where they had great cheare and went before the king to the chappell and were lodged within the court Herevpon ye must consider that whereas the king of Scots had left no issue behind him in life but onelie one daughter the king and his councell perceiuing a meane now offered whereby without line 40 warre the two realmes might be vnited these Scotish lords hauing first made the motion themselues for a mariage to be had betwixt prince Edward and their yoong queene the king required their helpe vnto the furtherance of that matter which might be a great benefit to themselues their countrie This they promised faithfullie to doo and aswell by themselues as by their friends to bring the same so effect so much as the
Richard to marrie his daughter Alice howbeit at this entervew line 10 of the two princes by the helpe of the cardinall and other Noble men of both sides they agreed to be freends and that if they could not take order betwixt them to end all matters touching the controuersies depending betwixt them for the lands in Anuergne and Berrie and for the fée of Chateau Raoul then should the matter be put to twelue persons six on the one side and six on the other authorising them to compound and finish that controuersie and all other which might rise betwixt them For the French line 20 king these were named the bishops of Claremount Neuers and Trois and three barons erle Theobald Robert and Peter de Courtneie the kings bretheren For the king of England were named the bishops of Mauns Peregort and Naunts with three barons also Maurice de Croume William Maigot and Peter de Mountrabell At the same time also both these kings promised and vndertooke to ioine their powers togither and to go into the holie land to aid Guido king of Ierusalem whome the Saracen Saladine king of Aegypt line 30 did sore oppresse with continuall and most cruell war This doone the French king returned home and king Henrie came to Uernueil where he made this ordinance that no man should trouble the vassall or tennant as we may call them for his lords debt After this king Henrie went into Berrie and tooke Chatean Roux or Raoul and marching towards Castre the lord of that towne came and met him on the waie surrendring into his hands the line 40 daughter of Rafe de Dolis latelie before deceassed whome the king gaue vnto Baldwine de Riuers with the honour of Chateau Roux or Raoul Then went he vnto Graundemont where Audebert earle of March came vnto him and sold to him the whole countrie of March for the summe of fifteene thousand pounds Anionin twentie mules and twentie palfreis The charters of this grant and sale made and giuen vnder the seale of the said earle of March bare date in the moneth of September Anno Christi line 50 1177. Then did the king receiue the fealtie and homages of all the barons and knights of the countrie of March after he had satisfied contented and paid the monie vnto the earle according to the couenants The king this yeare held his Christmas at Angiers year 1178 and meaning shortlie after to returne into England he sent to the French king for letters of protection which were granted and sent to him in forme as followeth line 60 The tenour of the French kings letters of protection LVdouicus rex Francorum omnibus ad quos praesentes literae peruenerint salutem Nouerit vniuersitas vestra quòd nos recipimus in protectione custodia nostra totam terram Henrici regis Angliae charissimi fratris nostri in cismarinis partibus sitam si contigerit eumin Angliam transfretare vel peregrè proficisci Ita planè vt quaÌ„do balliui sui de terra transmarina nos requisierint bona fide sine malo ingenio eis consilium auxilium praestabimus ad eiusdem terrae defensionem protectionem Actum apud Nicenas The English wherof is thus Lewes king of France to all those to whom these present letters shall come greeting Know all ye that we haue receiued into our protection custodie all the lands of Henrie king of England our deare brother lieng and being in the parts of this side the sea if it chance him to passe ouer into England or to go any waie foorth from home so that when the bailiues of his lands on this hither side the sea shall require vs we shall helpe them and counsell them faithfullie and without male-engine for defense and protection of the same lands Giuen at Nicens Shortlie after king Henrie returned into England from Normandie and at Woodstocke made his sonne Geffrey knight This yeare pope Alexander sent into all parts legats to summon the bishops and prelates to a generall councell to be holden at Rome in the beginning of the Lent in the yere next following Whereabout two legats came into England the one named Albert de Suma who had in commission to summon them of England and Normandie and the other called Petro de Santa Agatha who was appointed to summon them of Scotland Ireland and the Iles about the same wherevpon obteining licence to passe through the king of Englands dominions he was constreined to sweare vpon the holie euangelists that he should not attempt any thing in his legatship that might be hurtfull to the king or his realme and that he should come and visit the king againe as he returned homewards This yeare on the sundaie before the natiuitie of S. Iohn Baptist being the 18 of Iune after the setting of the sunne there appeared a maruellous sight in the aire vnto certeine persons that beheld the same For whereas the new moone shone foorth verie faire with his hornes towards the east streightwais the vpper horne was diuided into two out of the mids of which diuision a burning brand sprang vp casting from it a farre off coles and sparks as it had beene of fire The bodie of the moone in the meane time that was beneath séemed to wrest and writh in resemblance like to an adder or snake that had béene beaten and anon after it came to the old state againe This chanced aboue a dozzen tiâ—es and at length from horne to horne it became blacke In September following the moone being about 27. daies old at six of the clocke a partile eclipse of the sunne happened for the bodie thereof appeared as it were horned shooting the horns towards the west as the moone dooth being twentie daies old The residue of the compasse of it was couered with a blacke roundell which comming downe by little and little threw about the horned brightnesse that remained till both the hornes came to hang downe on either side to the earthwards and as the blacke roundell went by little little forwards the hornes at length were turned towards the west and so the blacknesse passing awaie the sunne receiued his brightnesse againe In the meane time the aire being full of clouds of diuerse colours as red yellow greene and pale holpe the peoples sight with more ease to discerne the maner of it The king this yeare held his Christmasse at Winchester at which time newes came abroad of a great wonder that had chanced at a place called Oxenhale year 1179 within the lordship of Derlington in which place a part of the earth lifted it selfe vp on high in appearance like to a mightie tower and so it remained from nine of the clocke in the morning till the euen tide and then it fell downe with an horrible noise so that as such as were thereabout were put in great feare That péece of earth with the fall was swallowed vp leauing a great déepe pit in
enterprise And so obteining of king Charles a small crew of men and borrowing certeine summes of monie of him and of diuerse other his priuate freends for the which he left as debter or more likelie as a pledge or hostage lord Thomas marquesse Dorset whome he halfe mistrusted and sir Iohn Bourchier he departed from the French court and came to the citie of Rone While he taried there making prouision at Harfleet in the mouth of the riuer of Sene for all things necessarie for his nauie tidings were brought to him that king Richard being without children now a widower intended shortlie to marie the ladie Elizabeth his brothers daughter and to prefer the ladie Cicilie hir sister to a man found in a cloud and of an vnknowne linage and familie He tooke these newes as a matter of no small moment and so all things considered it was of no lesse importance than he tooke it for For this thing onelie tooke awaie from him and all his companions their hope and courage that they had to obteine an happie enterprise And therefore no maruell though it nipped him at the verie stomach when he thought that by no possibilitie he might atteine the mariage of any of K. Edwards daughters which was the strongest foundation of his building by reason whereof he iudged that all his fréends in England would abandon and shrinke from him Wherefore making not manie of his counsell after diuerse consultations he determined not yet to set forward but to tarie and attempt how to get more aid more fréends and more stronger succours And amongst all other it was thought most expedient to allure by affinitie in his aid as a companion in armes sir Walter Herbert a man of an ancient stocke of great power among the Welsh who had with him a faire ladie to his sister of age ripe to be coupled with him in matrimonie And for the atchiuing of this purpose messengers were secretlie sent to Henrie earle of Northumberland which had before maried another sister of sir Walter Herberts to the intent that he should set forward all this deuise and purpose but the waies were so narowlie watched and so manie spies laid that the messenger procéeded not in his iournie and businesse But in the meane season there came to the earle a more ioifull message from Morgan Kidwellie learned in the temporall law which declared that Rice ap Thomas a man of no lesse valiantnesse than actiuitie and Iohn Sauage an approoued capteine would line 10 with all their power be partaker of his quarell And that Reginald Breie had collected and gotten togither no small summe of monie for the paiment of the wages to the souldiers and men of warre admonishing him also to make quicke expedition and to take his course directlie into Wales The earle of Richmond bicause he would no longer linger and wearie his fréends liuing continuallie betwéene hope and feare determined in all conuenient hast to set forward and caried to his ships armor weapons line 20 vittels and all other ordinances expedient for warre After that all things were in readinesse the earle being accompanied onelie with two thousand men and a small number of ships weied vp his anchors and halsed vp his sailes in the moneth of August and sailed from Harfléet with so prosperous a wind that the seuenth daie after his departure he arriued in Wales in the euening at a place called Milford hauen and incontinent tooke land and came to a place called Dalle where he heard saie that a certeine line 30 companie of his aduersaries were laid in garrison to defend his arriuall all the last winter And the earle at the sunne rising remooued to Hereford west being distant from Dalle not full ten miles where he was ioifullie receiued of the people and he arriued there so suddenlie that he was come and entered the towne at the same time when the citizens had but knowledge of his comming Here he heard newes which were as vntrue as they trulie were reported to him in Normandie that Rice ap Thomas and Iohn Sauage with bodie and line 40 goods were determined to aid king Richard While he and his companie were some what astonied at these new tidings there came such message from the inhabitants of the towne of Penbroke that refreshed and reuiued their frosen harts and daunted courages For Arnold Butler a valiant capteine which first asked pardon for his offenses before time committed against the earle of Richmond and that obteined declared to him that the Penbrochians were line 50 readie to serue and giue their attendance on their naturall and immediat lord Iasper earle of Penbroke The earle of Richmond hauing his armie thus increased departed from Hereford west to the towne of Cardigan being fiue miles distant from thence While the souldiers were refreshing and trimming themselues in their campe strange tidings sproong among them without anie certeine author that sir Walter Herbert which laie with a great crue of men at Carmarden was now with a great armie readie to approch and bid them battell With line 60 which newes the armie was sore troubled and euery man assaied his armour and prooued his weapon and were prest to defend their enimies And as they were in this fearfull doubt certeine horssemen which the earle had sent to make inquirie and search returned and reported all the countrie to be quiet and no let nor impediment to be laid or cast in their iournie And euen at the same time the whole armie was greatlie recomforted by reason that the comming of Richard Griffith a man of great nobilitie the which notwithstanding that he was confederate with sir Walter Herbert and Richard ap Thomas yet at that verie instant he came to the earle of Richmond with all his companie which were of no great number After him the same daie came Iohn Morgan with his men Then the earle aduanced forward in good hast making no repose or abode in anie one place And to the intent to passe forward with sure and short expedition he assaulted euerie place where his enimies had set anie men of warre which with small force and lesse difficultie he brieflie did ouercome vanquish And suddenlie he was by his espials ascerteined that sir Walter Herbert and Rice ap Thomas were in harnesse before him readie to incounter with his armie and to stop their passage Wherefore like a valiant capteine he first determined to set on them and either to destroie or to take them into his fauour and after with all his power and puissance to giue battell to his mortall enimie king Richard But to the intent his fréends should know in what readinesse he was and how he procéeded forward he sent of his most secret and faithfull seruants with letters and instructions to the ladie Margaret his mother to the lord Stanleie and his brother to sir Gilbert Talbot and to other his trustie fréends declaring to them
he perceiued his sisters good will towards the said duke and that he meant then to haue bestowed hir vpon him but that a better offer came in the waie But howsoeuer it was now he wan hir loue so as by hir consent he wrote to the king hir brother méekelie beséeching him of pardon in his request which was humblie to desire him of his good will and contentation The king at the first staid but after long sute and speciallie by meane of the French quéene hir selfe and other the dukes fréends it was agreed that the duke should bring hir into England vnmarried and at his returne to marrie hir in England but for doubt of change he married hir secretlie in Paris at the house of Clugnie as was said After he had receiued hir with hir dower appointed all hir apparell iewels and houshold stuffe deliuered they tooke leaue of the new French king and so passing thorough France came to Calis where she was honourablie interteined and after openlie married with great honour vnto the said duke of Suffolke Doctor West as then nominated bishop of Elie remained behind at Paris to go through with the full conclusion of a new league betwixt the king of England and the new French king ¶ The court lieng at Gréenewich the king and the quéene accompanied with manie lords and ladies road to the high ground of shooters hill to take the open aire and as they passed by the waie they espied a companieof tall yeomen clothed all in gréene with gréene hoods and bowes and arrowes to the number of two hundred Then one of them which called himselfe Robin hood came to the king desiring him to sée his men shoot and the king was content Then he whisteled and all the two hundred archers shot and losed at once and then he whisteled againe and they likewise shot againe their arrowes whisteled by craft of the head so that the noise was strange and great and much pleased the king the quéene and all the companie All these archers were of the kings gard and had thus apparelled themselues to make solace to the king Then Robin hood desired the king and quéene to come into the greene wood and to sée how the outlawes liued 〈◊〉 king demanded of the queene hir ladies if they durst aduenture to go into the wood with so manie outlawes Then the quéene said that if it pleased him she was content Then the hornes blew till they came to the wood vnder shooters hill there was an arbor made of boughes with a hall and a great chamber and an inner chamber verie well made and couered with floures swéet hearbs which the king much praised Then said Robin hood Sir outlawes breakefasts is venison and therefore you must be content with such fare as we vse Then the king and quéene sat downe and were serued with venison and wine by Robin hood and his men to their great contentation Then the king departed and his companie and Robin hood and his men them conducted and as they were returning there met with them two ladies in a rich chariot drawen with fiue horsses and euery horsse had his name on his head and on euerie horsse sat a ladie with hir name written On the first courser called Caude sat Humidite or Humide On the second courser called Memâ—on road ladie Uer. On the third called Pheton sat ladie Uegetiue On the fourth called Rimphon sat ladie Pleasant On the fift called Lampace sat sweet Odour And in the chaire sat ladie Maie accompanied with ladie Flora richlie apparelled line 10 and they saluted the king with diuerse goodlie songs and so brought him to Gréenewich At this maieng was a great number of people to behold it to their great solace and comfort The same after noone the king the duke of Suffolke the marquesse Dorset and the earle of Essex their bardes and bases of gréene veluet and cloth of gold came into the field on great coursers on whome waited diuerse gentlemen in silke of the same colour On the other side entered sixtéene lords and gentlemen all apparelled richlie after their deuises line 20 and so valiantlie they ran their courses appointed after that they ran volant one as fast as he might ouertake another which was a goodlie sight to sée and when all was doone they departed and went to a goodlie banket This summer the king tooke his progresse westward and visited his townes and castels there and heard the complaints of his poore communaltie and euer as he road he hunted and liberallie departed with venison This yeare in September the king being at his line 30 manour of Oking after his returne from his progresse which he made that yeare into the west parts the archbishop of Yorke came thither to him Whilest he soiourned there a letter was brought to the said archbishop from Rome aduertising him that he was elected cardinall which letter incontinentlie he shewed to the king disabling himselfe in words though his intent was otherwise and so the king did incourage him and willed him to take that dignitie vpon him and called him from thensefoorth my lord line 40 cardinall But his hat bull nor other ceremonies were not yet come In Nouember the king assembled his high court of parlement at Westminster wherein diuerse acts made in the sixt yeare were reformed and altered and especiallie the act of apparell and the act of labourers as by the booke of statutes more plainelie appéereth At the end of this parlement doctor Warham archbishop of Canturburie and as then lord chancellour perceiuing how the new lord cardinall medled line 50 further in his office of chancellorship than he could well suffer except he should aduenture the kings displeasure for this and for other considerations gaue vp his office of chancellor into the kings hands and deliuered to him the great seale which incontinentlie was deliuered by the king vnto the lord cardinall and so was he made lord chancellor He was no sooner in that office but he directed foorth commissions into euerie shire for the execution of the statutes of apparell and labourers and in all his dooings shewed line 60 himselfe more loftie and presumptuous than became him ¶ And he himselfe on a daie called a gentleman named Simon Fitz Richard and tooke from him an old iacket of crimsin veluet and diuerse brooches which extreame dooing caused him greatlie to be hated and by his example manie cruell officers for malice euill intreated diuerse of the kings subiects in so much that one Shinning maior of Rochester set a yoong man on the pillorie for wearing of a riuen or gathered shirt In the end of Nouember the cardinals hat was sent into England which the gentlemen of Kent receiued and brought to London with such triumph as though the greatest prince in Europe had béene come to visit the king much like that of the people at Rome in the yeare 1515 when were
flieth into England 518 a 60. Gospatrike ¶ Sée Gospatrike Guido ¶ Sée Guido Erle Hastings of Penbroke as he was learning to iust is wounded to death 467 b 20. Helias ¶ Sée Helias Henrie of Essex dishonoured 67 a 10. Henrie of Huntington his valiantnesse 50 a 10. Herbert of Penbroke prepareth against the earle of Warwike 672 a 60 b 10. Holland of Huntington 465 b 60. A great exploit doone by him against the French 558 b 50 c. Holland of Kent in fauour with Henrie the fourth he marrieth a daughter of a lord of Millain 532 a 40 50. Sent to the sea with an armie 534 b 20. Hugh of Chester deceseth 105 b 10. Hugh of March commeth ouer to Henrie the third and offereth him seruice 209 a 10. Worketh to induce the Normans and Poictouins to fauour king Henrie the third 210 a 40. Hugh of Montferrat taken prisoner 42 b 20. Hubert de Burgh created earle of Kent and whie 209 b 60. In Henrie the thirds displeasure note 211 b 10. Escapeth out of prison and taketh sanctuarie 217 a 30 c. He is brought backe restored to sanctuarie rescrued conueied into Wales discharged of his office of chéefe iustice taks sanctuarie reléeued by the Londoners apprehended cast in prison and banished 215 a 50 c. Hubert of Morienne and his daughter sold for monie 84 a 60 b 10 Erle Iasper of Penbroke 678 a 60. Beheadeth Roger Uaughan passeth ouer into Britaine with his nephue 693 a 50 60. Iohn of an ambitious nature 132 a 40. No fréend to the bishop of Elie 132 a 10. In armes to vsurpe the kingdome 137 b 60. Purposed to seize vpon the kingdom in his brothers absence 134 b 50. Submitteth himselfe to his brother Richard the first and craueth pardon for his offense 146 b 60. Pardoned of all his rebellions 147 a 10. Iohn Scot of Chester poisoned by his wife his foure sisters 220 b 60. Iohn of Mortaigne licenced to returne into England 121 b 10 Erle Lambert ¶ Sée Lambert Lacie of Lincolne deceaseth his buriall his request on his death bed 320 b 30 Erle Mandeuill of Essex licenced to go into the holie land 101 a 10. William of Essex taken 56 a 20. Marchar of Mercia ¶ Sée Marchar Marshall of Penbroke his oration in the assemblie of péeres 197 a 40 Recouereth his castelles taken by the prince of Wales 205 a 30. Killed with a fall from his horsse 228 b 60. Deceaseth his buriall 202 a 60 213 b 60 Mathew of Bullongne 87 b 10. Wounded and dieth 88 b 40. Montacute of Salisburie a politike man and valiant 598 b 60. Miles of Hereford 51 b 10. Deceaseth 56 a 10. Mortimer of March his good seruice in Ireland 440 a 30. Slaine by the wild Irish his issue 448 b 10. Last erle of March of that name deceseth without issue note 590 a 10. Montgomerie ¶ Sée Montgomerie Mowbraie ¶ Sée Mowbraie Mulbraie ¶ Sée Mulbraie Erle Neuill of Westmerland c Prepareth to resist the kings enimies his subtill policie 529 b 40 50. Persuadeth king Henrie the fift vnto the conquest of Scotland 546 a 40. Neuill of Salisburie his issue 641 b 60 Erle Patrike of Salisburie slaine 75 b 30. Persie of Northumberland created 1133 a 60. Warden of the whole marches 875 b 50. Sent to the seas 455 a 50. Lieutenant of Calis 475 b 10· Conspireth with Owen Glendouer 521 b 50 522 523. Restored 545 a 20. Beheaded at Yorke 1257 a 20. Murthered himselfe in the Tower 1403 b 50 A quest of inquirie vpon the fact 50 1404 all Buried in the Tower b 20. The whole maner of killing himselfe b 40 c to 1419 a 10. Persie of Worcester leaueth the king and flieth to the duke of Lancaster 500 a 10. Sent ouer into Gascoigne to appease the people 518 a 10 20. Petwike of Perch 67 b 10. Philip of Flanders 87 b 10. A meane to make peace betwene the kings of England France 114 a 60. His deuotion at Thomas Beckets toome 100 b 60. Doth homage to the king of England 103 b 60. His release made at Henrie the seconds request 95 a 60. Plantagenet of Warwike son and heire to George duke of Clarence committed to the Tower 762 a 10 Erle Rafe ¶ Sée Rafe Raimond of Barzelon 67 b 10. Of Tripolis 129. Ranulph of Chester taketh his wife the duchesse of Britaine prisoner 150 b 20. Laieth séege to Montsorell castell 199 a 60. He raiseth his séege 199 b 20. Returneth from the holie land 202 b 20. Goeth into the holie land 202 b 40. Deceaseth thrise married the partition of his lands his exploits 215 b 40. Reinold of Cornwall base sonne to king Henrie the first departed this life 95. b 40. Reinold Greie of Kent 1227 b 40. Deceaseth 1258 a 20. Richard obeieth his father Henrie 109 a 60. Seizeth vpon his father Henrie the seconds treasure 111 a 30. Is rebelled against he inuadeth the earle of Tholous lands 112 a 60. Reuolteth from his father vnto the French king 113 a 50. Richard of Chester vnder king Henrie the firsts tuition 32 b 10. He his wife drowned 41 b 10. Richard of Clares submission 92 b 20. Richard of Cornwall returneth out of Gascoigne 209 a 40. Departeth from the court secretlie ioineth himselfe with the erls of Chester and Penbroke 209 a 60. King of Almaine deceaseth his buriall and issue 275 a 60. His sonne murthered b 20. Richard of Essex 961 a 60. Richard of Glocesters submission 92 b 20. Richard of Glocester dieth 95 b 50. Richard of Poitow king Henrie the seconds son his victorie against the Brabanders 98 b 50. His sharpe assalt of Talburgh 104 a 10. Robert of Derbie 92 a 20. Robert of Glocester Henrie the firsts base sonne 37 a 50. An enimie to king Stephan 48 b 50. Described 53 a 10. Commeth to Glocester 51 a 60. Father in law to Iohn king Richards brother 117 a 30. Taken prisoner 54 a 50. Dieth 56 b 50. Robert of Lecester famous and valiant 134 a 50 60. Put to flight 89 a 30. Taken prisoner 144 b 40 90 a 40. Offer for his ransome 146 b 40. Robert Dudleie created baron and erle 1207 a 60 b 10. Inuested into the order of saint Michaell 1209 a 20. ¶ Sée Erle of Leicester Robert of Mellent rebelleth against king Henrie the first 42 b 10. Robert of Richmond against the Frenchmen his martiall acts in danger to be slaine 359 b 10 c 60. Robert de Belesme of Shrewesburie rebelleth 30 a 30. Robert de Uéere owner of Hidingham castell 190 b 50. Robert passeth ouer into Normandie 55 a 20. Roger Fitzmiles of Hereford 66 a 10 Erle Saier de Quincie of Winchester 199 a 60. Seimor of Hereford lieutenant of the North goeth against the Scots 961 b 30. His answer to the prouost of Edenborough 962 a 30. Simon of Hampton 51 b 60 52 b 20. Dieth 60 b 10. Simon of Huntington dieth 108 a 20. Simon of Leicester maried
had taken from the bishop bicause he had shewed himselfe an vnstedfast man in the time of the ciuill warre and therfore to haue the kings fauour againe he gaue to him two line 20 thousand marks with condition that his castels might stand and that his sonne Henrie de Putsey aliàs Pudsey might enioy one of the kings manor places called Wighton After this the king went to Oxenford and there held a parlement at the which he created his sonne Iohn king of Ireland hauing a grant and confirmation thereto from pope Alexander About the same time it rained bloud in the I le of Wight by the space of two daies togither so that linen clothes that hoong line 30 on the hedges were coloured therewith which vnvsed woonder caused the people as the manner is to suspect some euill of the said Iohns gouernement Moreouer to this parlement holden at Oxenford all the chéefe rulers and gouernours of Southwales and Northwales repaired and became the king of Englands liege men swearing fealtie to him against all men Héerevpon he gaue vnto Rice ap Griffin prince of Southwales the land of Merionith line 40 and to Dauid ap Owen he gaue the lands of Ellesmare Also at the same time he gaue and confirmed vnto Hugh Lacie as before is said the land of Meth in Ireland with the appurtenances for the seruice of an hundred knights or men of armes to hold of him and of his sonne Iohn by a charter which he made thereof Also he diuided there the lands and possessions of Ireland with the seruices to his subiects as well of England as Ireland appointing some to hold by seruice to find fortie knights or men line 50 of armes and some thirtie and so foorth Unto two Irish lords he granted the kingdome of Corke for the seruice of fortie knights and to other three lords he gaue the kingdome of Limerike for the seruice of the like number of knights to be held of him his sonne Iohn reseruing to himselfe to his heires the citie of Limerike with one cantred To William Fitz Adelme his sewer he gaue the citie of Wesseford with the appurtenances and seruices and to Robert de Poer his marshall he gaue the citie line 60 of Waterford and to Hugh Lacie he committed the safe keeping of the citie of Diueline And these persons to whome such gifts and assignations were made receiued othes of fealtie to beare their allegiance vnto him and to his sonne for those lands and possessions in Ireland in maner and forme as was requisite The cardinall Uiuian hauing dispatched his businesse in Ireland came backe into England and by the kings safe conduct returned againe into Scotland where in a councell holden at Edenburgh he suspended the bishop of Whiterne bicause he did refuse to come to that councell but the bishop made no account of that suspension hauing a defense good inough by the bishop of Yorke whose suffragane he was After the king had dissolued and broken vp his parlement at Oxenford he came to Marleborrough and there granted vnto Philip de Breause all the kingdome of Limerike for the seruice of fortie knights for Hubert and William the brethren of Reignold earle of Cornewall and Iohn de la Pumeray their nephue refused the gift thereof bicause it was not as yet conquered For the king thereof surnamed Monoculus that is with one eie who had held that kingdome of the king of England being latelie slaine one of his kinsemen got possession of that kingdome and held it without acknowledging any subiection to king Henrie nor would obeie his officers bicause of the losses and damages which they did practise against the Irish people without occasion as they alleadged by reason whereof the king of Corke also rebelled against the king of England and his people and so that realme was full of trouble The same season quéene Margaret the wife of king Henrie the sonne was deliuered of a man child which liued not past thrée daies In that time there was also through all England a great multitude of Iewes and bicause they had no place appointed them where to burie those that died but onelie at London they were constreined to bring all their dead corpses thither from all parts of the realme To ease them therfore of that inconuenience they obteined of king Henrie a grant to haue a place assigned them in euerie quarter where they dwelled to burie their dead bodies The same yeare was the bodie of S. Amphibulus the martyr who was instructor to saint Albone found not farre from the towne of S. Albones and there in the monasterie of that towne buried with great and solemne ceremonies In the meane time king Henrie passed ouer into Normandie hearing that the old grudge betwixt him king Lewes began to be renewed vpon this occasion that whereas king Henrie had receiued the French kings daughter Alice promised in mariage vnto his sonne Richard to remaine in England with him till she were able to companie with hir husband king Henrie being of a dissolute life and giuen much to the pleasure of the bodie a vice which was graffed in the bone and therefore like to sticke fast in the flesh for as it is said Quod noua testa capit inueterata sapit at leastwise as the French king suspected began to fantasie the yoong ladie and by such wanton talke and companie-kéeping as he vsed with hir he was thought to haue brought hir to consent to his fleshlie lust which was the cause wherefore he would not suffer his sonne to marrie hir being not of ripe yeares nor viripotent or mariable Wherefore the French king imagining vpon consideration of the other kings former loose life what an inconuenience infamie might redound to him and his bethought himselfe that Turpe senex miles turpe senilis amor and therefore déemed iustlie that such a vile reproch wrought against him in his bloud was in no wise to be suffered but rather preuented resisted withstood Herevpon he complained to the pope who for redresse thereof sent one Peter a preest cardinall intituled of saint Grisogone as legat from him into France with commission to put Normandie and all the lands that belonged to king Henrie vnder inderdiction if he would not suffer the mariage to be solemnized without delaie betwixt his sonne Richard and Alice the French kings daughter The king aduertised hereof came to a communication with the French king at Yurie vpon the 21. of September and there offered to cause the mariage to be solemnized out of hand if the French king would giue in marriage with his daughter the citie of Burges with all the appurtenances as it was accorded and also vnto his sonne king Henrie the countrie of Ueulgesine that is to say all the land betwixt Gisors and Pussie as he had likewise couenanted But bicause the French king refused so to doo king Henrie would not suffer his sonne
king could require Wherevpon the king was not onelie contented to release them home but also highlie rewarded them with rich line 50 and costlie gifts of sundrie sorts in most bountifull wise as Anglorum praelia noteth verie well saieng Praeterea ex auro captucos corquibus ornat Et sumptum vestes argentum donat aurum The thirtith of December they departed from the court and the morrow after eight of them dined with sir Iohn Cotes then lord maior of London and the rest with the shiriffes and had verie great â—heare On Newyeares daie they departed from line 60 London homewards towards Scotland year 1543 and rode to Enfield to sée the prince and there dined that day greatlie reioising as by their words and countenance it séemed to behold so proper and towardlie an impe From thence they kept on their iournie till they came to the north parts where they found the duke of Suffolke the kings lieutenant there and with him remained till such pledges were come forth of Scotland as it was couenanted they should leaue behind them The duke then after he had receiued the hostages permitted them to depart and so they returned into Scotland where they were gladlie welcomed by their kinsmen and friends With them went also the earle of Angus who had béene banished Scotland and hauing remained here in England a long time receiued of the kings fée a thousand marks by yeare and likewise his brother sir George Dowglas who had fiue hundred markes yearelie likewise of the kings gift They were now both restored home into their countrie and that as was said by the kings last will The said earle of Angus and diuerse of the lords that had beene prisoners here in England were made of the priuie councell of the realme by the earle of Arraine that was chosen gouernour to the yoong quéene and of the realme as next heire apparent notwithstanding that the archbishop of saint Andrews and cardinall of the sée of Rome enimie mortall vnto the king of England for the popes cause and partlie set on by the French king had forged a will expressing how the king had made him gouernour associat with two earles of his affinitie as well of the queene as realme contrarie to the lawes of Scotland Wherevpon the said earle of Arraine according to his right as he pretended with the helpe of his friends tooke vpon him the authoritie of gouernor and put the said cardinall in prison and deliuered sir Robert Bowes and the other English prisoners by their bonds according to the custome of the marches All this yeare was neither perfect peace nor open warre betwixt England and France but the merchants ships were taken and robbed on both parts and at length merchants goods were seized and the ambassadors of both realms staied Howbeit shortlie after the ambassadors were deliuered but the merchants still were robbed and no warre proclamed In the end of this yeare came from the gouernor of Scotland as ambassadors sir William Hamilton and Iames Leirmouth the secretarie of Scotland whose message was so meanlie liked that they were faine to send an herald into Scotland for other ambassadors and so came hither the earle of Glencarne and sir George Dowglas but whatsoeuer their answer was sir George returned in post and within twentie daies came backe againe with an answer that was well liked of But shortlie after they brake promise and went from that which they had couenanted greatlie to their reproch Wood was sold verie deare in the winter season of this yeare and likewise vittels both flesh and fish grew to an high price towards the spring by reason as was thought of the vntemperate wet summer last past causing great death among cattell A quarter of mutton was sold for two shillings or seuen grotes a lambe at thrée shillings or thrée and foure pence which afore that time was esteemed scarse woorth sixteene pence Against Easter at a court of aldermen kept in the Guildhall the twentith of March 1542 it was enacted by the lord maior and his brethren that the maior and shiriffs should be serued at their tables but with one course at dinner and supper in their houses the maior to haue but seuen dishes at the most at one messe for his owne table and the shiriffs and euerie other alderman but six dishes vpon paine to forfeit for euerie dish fortie shillings at euerie time when they offended in this ordinance Also that the sargeants and yeomen of their houses should haue but thrée dishes at dinner or supper the swordbearers messe onlie excepted which should be allowed to haue one dish more It was also enacted that from the feast of Easter then next insuing neither the maior nor his brethren should buie anie crane swan or bustard vpon paine to forfeit for euerie foule by them so bought twentie shillings the offense to be tried by oth if it should be presented In the beginning of this yeare on Trinitie sundaie was a new league sworne betwéene the king and the emperour at Hampton court either of them to be friends to the others friends and enimies to the others enimies ¶ In this yeare also a proclamation was made whereby the people were licenced to eate whit meats in Lent but streictlie forbidden the eating of flesh Wherevpon shortlie after the earle of Surrie with diuerse lords knights and gentlemen were imprisoned for eating of flesh in the same Lent contrarie to the said proclamation The eight of Maie one Léech sometimes bailie of Louth who had killed Summerset one of our heralds line 10 of armes at Dunbar in Scotland was drawne to Tiburne and there hanged and quartered And the twelfe of Iune Edward Leech his brother and with him a priest for the same fact were likewise executed at Tiburne This yeare the first cast péeces of iron that euer were made in England were made at Buckesteed in Sussex by Rafe Hoge and Peter Bawd The third of Iune came to the court from the realme of Ireland thrée Irish lords Obrin Macke William a line 20 Burgh and Macke Gilpatrike In Iulie the said Obrin was created earle of Townon Macke William a Burgh earle of Claurickford and sir Dunon Obrin was made baron of Ebrankie and so with rewards they tooke leaue and returned The same moneth also the Scotish ambassadors returned with great rewards The twelfe of Iulie at Hampton court the king maried the ladie Katharine Par widow late wife vnto the lord Latimer deceased and then she was nominated quéene and so proclamed line 30 In the parlement holden this yeare at Westminster a subsidie was granted to the king to be paied in thrée yeares Euerie Englishman being woorth in goods twentie shillings vpward to fiue pounds paied foure pence of euerie pound From fiue pounds to ten pounds eight pence From ten pounds to twentie pounds sixtéene pence From twentie pounds and vpward of euerie pound two