to the King of England and peace with a reconciliation is concluded betweene him and his sonnes But with more reseruation on his part then had beene by the former treatie offered as hauing now more of powre and the aduantage of fortune and yet yeelding so much as shewed the goodnesse of his Nature was not ouer swayed by his ambition all his proceeding in this warre witnessing that necessity did euer worke more then his will And at the signing of the Charter of this Peace when his sonne Henry would haue Vide Append. done him homage which is personall seruice he refused to take it because hee was a King but receiued it of Richard and Geffrey Yet after this Henry the sonne to free his father of all scruple became his Liege-man and swore Fealty vnto him against all men in the presence of the Archbishop of Rouen the Bishop of Bayeux the Earle Mandeuile and a great Nobilitie At the concluding this Peace the Earle of Flaunders yeelded vp to King Henrie the Father the Charter made vnto him by the Sonne for his remuneration and had another confirmed for the pension hee had yearely out of England before this warre which was one thousand Markes out of the Eschequer afterward granted vpon condition of Homage and for finding the King of England yearely fiue hundred souldiours for the space of fortie daies vpon summons giuen This businesse ended the Father and Sonne make their Progresses into all their Prouinces on that side to visit and reforme the disorders of Warre and to settle their affaires there Richard is sent into Aquitaine and Geffrey into Brittaine vpon the same businesse and there left with their Counsells to looke to their owne The two Kings Father and Sonne shortly after returne into England where reformation 1175. Anno. Reg. 21. in the Gouernment needed as much as in France and here had the Archbishoppe of Canterburie sommoned a Councell of the Clergie wherein were manie enormities of the Church reformed as may bee seene in the Canons of that Synod The King supplies all Vacancies and giues to Iohn de Oxenford that great Minister Vide Append. of his the Bishopricke of Norwich then takes hee into his hands all the Castles hee could seize on amongst other the Towre of Bristoll which was rendred by All Vacancies supplied by the King the Earle of Glocester and was neuer in his hands before Hee takes penalties both of Clerkes and Lay-men who had trespassed his Forests in time of Hostility for which hee is taxed of wrong Richard Lucy Iustice of England hauing warrant by the Kings precept to discharge them for the same But the profit which they yeelded him made him take the stricter regard therein For after the death of Alain de Neuile which had beene chiefe Iustice of all the Forrests of England hee deuides them into diuers parts appointing to euerie part foure Iustices whereof two to bee Clerkes and two Knights and two Seruants of his Houshold to bee Keepers of the Game ouer all other Forresters either of the Kings Knights or Barons whatsoeuer and gaue them power to implea according to the Assiese of the Forrest The King beeing at Yorke there came vnto them William King of Scots with almost all the Bishoppes Abbots and Nobilitie of Scotland and confirmed 1176. Anno. Reg. 22. the Peace and finall concorde which had formerly beene in the time of his imprisonment at Faleise in Normandie before all the greatest Estates of both Kingdomes the Tenour whereof is to bee seene in Roger Houeden After this a Councell is called at Windsor whither repaire certaine Bishoppes Vide Append. of Ireland and the Chauncelour of Rodoric King of Conaught for whom a finall concord is concluded vpon doing Homage Fealty and a tribute to bee paide which was of euerie tenne Beasts one sufficient Hide within his Kingdome and those Prouinces that held thereof Within a while after a Councell or Parliament is assembled at Nottingham and by aduice and consent thereof the King caused The Kingdome to bee deuided into sixe parts and constitutes for euerie part three Iustices itinerants causing them to The Kingdom deuided into sixe parts for Iustice. take an Oath vpon the Holie Euangelists faithfullie for themselues to obserue and cause inuiolablie to bee obserued of all his Subiectes of England the Assises made at Claringdone and renued at Northamton which Assises were chiefly for Murther Vide Append. Theft Roberie and their receiuers for deceipts and burning of Houses which facts if found by the Verdict of twelue men the accused were to passe the tryall of Water Ordeil Vide Append. whereby if not acquitted their punishment was losse of a legge or banishment that Age seeming to hold it a greater example of a Malefactor miserably liuing then of one dead for as yet they came not so farre as bloud in those cases And yet wee finde in the raigne of this King that one Gilbert Plumton Knight accused for a Rape before Ranulph de Glanuile chiefe Iustice of England desirous sayth Houeden by vniust sentence to condemne him was adiuged to bee hanged on a Gibbet whereunto when hee was brought and in the hands of the Executioner the people ranne out crying that an innocent and iust person ought not so to suffer Balduin Bishoppe of Worcester a religious man and fearing God hearing the clamor of the people and the iniury done to this miserable creature came foorth and forbad them from the part of the Omnipotent God and vnder paine of Excommunication that they should not put him to death that day being Holy and the Feast of Saint Mary Magdelene whereupon the excution was put off till the morrow That night meanes was wrought to the King who commanded a stay to bee made till other order were taken being informed that for the enuie which Glanuile bare to this Plumton hee was desirous to put him to death in regard hee had married the danghter of Roger Gulwast an inheritrix whom hee would haue had Reiner his Shriefe of Yorkeshire to haue had which act leaues a foule staine of Iniustice vpon the memory of this Chiefe Iustice Glanuile in the time of whose Office a tract of the Lawes and Customes of the Kingdome of England was composed which now passes vnder his name The charge giuen for businesses in these Assises consisted but of very few points Vide Append. besides those felonies and was especially for taking Homage and Ligeancie of 1177. Anno. Reg. 13. all the Subiects of England demolishing of Castles the Rights of the King his Crowne and Eschequour The multitude of actions which followed in succeeding times grew out of new transgressions and the increase of Law and Litigation which was then but in the Cradle William King of Sicile sends and craues to haue Ioan the Kings daughter in marriage William King of Sicile matches with Ioan the Kings Daughter Rog. Houed Vide Append. Whereupon the King calls a Parliament
the person of the sonne of a Prince or any other Nobleman that we read of in our Historie But this example made of one of another grew after to bee vsuall to this Nation And euen this King vnder whom it began had the bloud of his owne and his brothers race miserably shed on many a scaffold And iust at the sealing of this Conquest Alphonsus his eldest sonne of the age of 12. yeares a Prince of great hope The death of the Prince Alphonsus is taken away by death And Edward lately borne at Carnaruan an Infant vncertaine how to prouo is heire to the Kingdome and the first of the English intituled Prince of Wales whose vnnaturall distruction wee shall likewise heare of in his time But thus came Wales all that small portion leaft vnto the Brittaines the auncient Wales vnited to England possessors of this Isle to bee vnited to the crowne of England Anno Reg. 11. And strange it is how it could so long subsist of it selfe as it did hauing little or no ayde of others little or no shipping the hereditarie defect of their Auncestors no Alliance no confederation no intelligence with any forraine Princes of powre out of this Isle and being by so potent a Kingdome as this so often inuaded so often reduced to extremitie so eagerly pursued almost by euery King and said to haue beene by many of them subdued when it was not must needs shew the worthinesse of the Nation and their noble courage to preserue their libertie And how it was now at last gotten and vpon what ground wee see But the effect proues better then the cause and hath made it good For in such Acquisitions as these the Sword is not to giue an Account to Iustice the publique benefit makes amends Those miserable Mischiefes that afflicted both Nations come hereby extinguished The Deuision and Pluralitie of States in this Isle hauing euer made it the Stage of bloud and confusion as if Nature that had ordained it but one Peece would haue it to bee gouerned but by one Prince and one Law as the most absolute glory and strength thereof which otherwise it could neuer enioy And now this prudent King no lesse prouident to preserue then subdue this Prouince established the gouernment therof according to the Lawes of England as may bee seene by the Statute of Ruthland Anno Reg. 12. This worke effected and settled King Edward passes ouer into France vpon notice of the death of Philiple Hardy to renue and confirme such conditions as his State Reg. 13. Anno. 1286. required in those parts with the new King Philip 4 intituled le Bel to whom he doth Homage for Acquitaine hauing before quitted his claime to Normandie for euer And afterwards accommodates the differences betweene the Kings of Sicile and Aragon in Spaine to both of whom hee was allied and redeemes Charles entituled Prince of Achaia the sonne of Charles King of Sicile prisoner in Aragon paying for his ransome thirtie thousand pounds After three yeares and a halfe being abroade hee returnes into England which must now supply his Coffers emptied in this Voyage And occasion is given by the generall Reg. 16. An. 1289. complaints made vnto him of the ill administration of Iustice in his absence to inflict penalties vpon the chiefe Ministers thereof whose manifest corruptions the hatred to the people of men of that profession apt to abuse their Science and Autoritie the Necessitie of reforming so grieuous a mischiefe in the Kingdome gaue easie way thereunto by the Parliament then assembled wherein vpon due examinations and proofe of their extortions they are fined to pay to the King these summes following First Sir Ralph Hengham Chiefe Iustice of the higher Bench seuen thousand Marks Sir Ralf Henghans a chiefe Commissioner for the gouernment of the Kingdome in the Kings absence Sir Iohn Loueton Iustice of the lower Bench three thousand Markes Sir William Bromton Iustice 6000 Markes Sir Solomon Rochester foure thousand Markes Sir Richard Boyland 4000 Markes Sir Thomas Sodington two thousand Markes Sir Walter Hopton 2000 Markes these foure last were Iustices Iâ—enerants Sir William Saham 3000 Markes Robert Lithbury Master of the Rolls 1000 Markes Roger Leicester 1000 Markes Henry Bray Escheater and Iudge for the Iewes 1000 Markes But Sir Adam Stratton Chiefe Baron of the Exchequer was fined in 34000 Markes And Officers fined for briberie extortion Thomas Wayland found the greatest delinquent and of the greatest substance hath all his goods and whole estate confiscated to the King Which were it but equall to that of Sir Adam Stratton these fines being to the Kings Coffers aboue one hundred thousand Markes which at the rate as money goes now amounts to aboue 300 thousand Markes A mighty treasure to bee gotten out of the hands of so few men Which how they could amasse in those daies when Litigation and Law had not spred it selfe into those infinite wreathings of contention as since it hath may seeme strange euen to our greater getting times But peraduenture now the number of Lawyers being growne bigger then the Law as all trades of profit come ouerpestred with multitude of Traders is the cause that like a huge Riuer dispersed into many little Rilles their substances are of a smaller proportion then those of former times and Offices now of Iudicature peraduenture more piously executed Of no lesse grieuance this King the next yeare after eased his people by the banishment of the Iewes for which the Kingdome willingly granted him a Fifteenth Hauing before in Anno Reg. 9. offred a fift part of their goods to haue them expelled The banishment of the Iewes but then the Iewes gaue more and so stayed till this time which brought him a greater benefit by confiscating all their Immouables with their Talleis and Obligations which amounted to an infinite valew But now hath he made his last commoditie of this miserable people which hauing beene neuer vnder other couer then the will of the Prince had continually serued the turne in all the necessarie occasions of his Predecessors but especially of his father and himselfe And in these reformations that are easefull and pleasing to the State in generall the Iustice of the Prince is more noted then any other motiue which may bee for his profit And howsoeuer some particular men suffer as some must euer suffer yet they are the fayrest and safest waies of getting in regard the hatred of the abuses not only discharges the Prince of all imputation of rigor but renders him more beloued respected of his people And this King hauing much to doe for money comming to an emptie Crowne was driuen to all shifts possible to get it and great supplies wee finde hee had alreadie drawne from his Subiects As in the first yeere of his Raigne Pope Gregorie procured him a Tenth of the Clergie for 2. yeeres besides a Fifteenth of them and the Temporalty In the third likewise another Fifteenth of
had receiued The Arch-bishop called to account for the King of certaine Bishopricks and Abbeys during their vacancies which amounted to the summe of three thousand Markes For these accounts he alledged How the King knew well he was discharged before his election to the Sea of Canterbury and how the Prince the Barons of the Exchequer and Robert de Lucie Chiefe Iustice of England had made him his acquittance for all accounts and Secular receipts in the behalfe of the King and so free and cleered was he chosen to the administration of that Office and therefore would pleade the same no more The King notwithstanding vrging to haue iudgement passe against him both for this his late attempts and disobedience he was commanded the next day to attend his Censure The morning before he was to appeare he celebrates early with great deuotion the Masse of Saint Stephen Protomartir which hath these words Etenim sederunt Principes aduersum me loquebantur and so committing his cause to God sets forward to the Court in his Stole his blacke Canonicall hood carrying the Crosse in his right hand and guiding his horse with the left The people seeing him come in this fashion flocke all about him he entring the great Chamber sate downe amongst them the King being within in his Priuie Chamber with his Councell from whom first came forth the Bishop of London and much blames him for comming so armed to the Court and offered to pull the Crosse out of his hand but the Arch-bishop held it so fast that he could not Which the Bishop of Winchester seeing sayd to London Brother let him alone he ought well to beare the Crosse London replies You speake brother against the King and it will be ill for you After this comes forth the Arch-bishop of Yorke the heate of whose antient hatred saith Houeden would not suffer him to speake in peace and rebukes him very sharply Roger Houeden for comming in that fashion as if to a Tyrant or heathen Prince and told him that the King had a sword sharper then his Crosse and if hee would bee aduised by him hee should take it from him Canterbury replies the Kings sword wounds carnally but mine strikes Spiritually and sends the soule to Hell After much debate the Archbishoppe Becket inuayes against this violent proceeding against him How no age euer heard before that an Archbishop of Canterbury had beene adiudged in any of the Kings Courts for anie cause whatsoeuer in regard both of his Dignity and place and for that hee is the Spirituall Father of the King and all other his subiects Then to the Bishops you see the world rageth against mee the enemy riseth vp but I more lament the Sonnes of my Mother fight against mee If I should conceale it the age to come will declare how you leaue mee alone in the battaile and haue iudged against mee being your Father though neuer so much a sinner But I charge you by vertue of your obedience and perill of your Order that you bee not present in anie place of iudgement where my person or cause comes to bee adiudged And here I appeale to the Pope charging you farther by vertue of your obedience that if anie Temporall man laie handes on mee you exercise the Sentence of the Church as it becomes you for your Father the Archbishop who will not shrinke howsoeuer nor leaue the flock commitmitted vnto him Then were all these great complaints of his contempt Disobedience and Periury exhibited and aggrauated against him before the Assembly and they cried generally Complaints against the Archbishop hee was a Traytor that hauing receiued so many benefits at the Kings hands would refuse to doe him all earthly honour and obserue his Lawes as hee had sworne to doe The Bishops likewise seeing all thus bent against him renounced their Ecclesiasticall obedience vnto him cited him to Rome and condemnes him as a periured man and a Traytor Then the Earle of Lecester accompayned with Reginald Earle of Cornwall came to the Archbishop and charged him from the King to answere to what was obiected vnto him or else to heare his iudgement Nay sonne Earle sayd he first heare you It is not vnknowne to your selfe how faithfully I haue serued the King and how in regard thereof hee preferred mee to the place I haue God is my witnesse against my will For I knew mine owne infermities and was content to take it vpon mee rather for his pleasure then Gods cause therefore now doth God withdraw himselfe and the King from mee At the time of my Election hee made mee free from all Court bondage and therefore touching those things from which I am deliuered I am not bound to aunswere nor will I. How much the soule is worthier then the bodie so much are you bound to obay God and mee rather then any Earthly Creature neither will Law or Reason permit the Sonnes to condemne the Father and I refuse to stand either to the Iudgement of the King or anie other person appealing to the presence of the Pope by whom onely on Earth I ought to bee adiudged committing all I haue to Gods protection and his and vnder that authority I depart out of this place And so went hee out and tooke his Horse not without some difficultie in passing and many reproches of the Kings seruants The Archbishop disguised sled out of the Kingdome Being gotten out of the Court a great multitude of the common people reioycing to see him deliuered and diuers of the Clergie conuayed him honourably to the Abbay of Saint Andrewes whence disguised by the name of Dereman hee escaped ouer into Flanders and so into France This businesse of the Church I haue the more particularly deliuered according to the generall report of the Writers of that time in regard it laie so chayned to the Temporall affaires of the State and bewrayed so much of the face of that Age with the constitution both of the Soueraignty and the rest of the bodie as it could not well bee omitted Besides the effects it wrought in the succeeding raigne of this Prince the vexation charge and burthen it layed vpon him for manie yeares is worthie of note and shewes vs what spirit had predomination in that season of the World and what Engines were vsed in this Oppugnation Presently vpon the departure of this Great Prelate the King sends ouer to the King of France Gillebert Bishop of London and William Earle of Arundell to intreat him not onely to forbid the Archbishop his Kingdome but to bee a meanes to the Pope that his The King sends Ambassadors to the Pope cause might not bee fauoured by the Church being so contumacious a rebell as he was against his Soueraigne Lord. The King of France notwithstanding this intreaty sends Frier Francis his Amoyner vnder hand to the Pope to beseech him as he tendred the honour of holy Church and the ayde of the Kingdome of France to support
intelligence with the Archbishop of Collen As Iohn of Oxford Richard Iuechester Richard de Lucie Iosslin Balliol Alan de Neuile and with these all such as had entred vpon the goods of the Church of Canterbury which hee called the patrimony of the Crusifex and the foode of the poore and these were Ralph de Brocke Hugh Saint Clare and Thomas Fitz Barnard Thus are both sides busied in this drie warre wherein though there were no sword yet it gaue vexation ynough And yet this was not all the worke that tooke vp the Kings time for during this dissention the Welsh againe reuolt and to supresse them he spent much labour with The King represses the Welch the losse of many great men and was himselfe in that daunger as had not Hubert Saint Clere receiued a wounde for him by an Arrow aymed directly at his person hee had there finished his part In this expedition hee is sayd to haue vsed extreame crueltie After this hee passes into Normandie to bee neere his businesse which now lay all on that side And first to entertaine the opinion of Pictie though hee were falne out with the Pope hee obtaines at an Assembly of his Bishops and Barons of Normandie 1166. Anno. Reg. 13. two pence in the pound of euery mans Lands and goods to beepayde that yeare 1166. and a penny of euery pound to be payde for foure yeares following which was leuied for the reliefe of the Christians in the Holy warre and sent vnto them Then hee raises forces and takes in certaine Castles in the Countrey of Maine and Marches of Brittaine from diuers Lords and Barons that had disobayed him And whilst he was busie abroade Mathew sonne to the Earle of Flanders who had married the Lady Marie Abbesse of Ramsey daughter to King Stephen had by her the Country of Bologne attempted something on the Coast of England either to try the affections of the people or to make spoyle and booty but without any effect at all the King being to mighty for any such weake vndertaker And to distend his powre yet wider falls out this occasion Conan Earle of Britaine dies and leaues one onely daughter which hee had by his wife Constance daughter to the King of Scots to succeed him in his State The King of England being then in armes vpon the Marches of Brittaine deales with the Guardians of the young Ladie to match her to his third sonne Geffry The nobility of that Country being then of a rough and haughty disposition giuen to fewds and perpetuall quarrelling one with another were wrought vpon and a side is wonne of such as could doe most in this businesse which is effected to the great contentation of the King of England This fell out to be in the 13 yeare of his raigne wherein as some write died his Mother Maud the Empresse a Lady of an high and actiue Spirit illustrious by her birth but more by her first match and most by her sonne whom she liued to see established in all these mighty States in the glory of Greatnesse Peace Fertile in issue hauing now The death of Maude the Empresse had 4 sonnes and 3 daughters linkes of loue and strength oftentimes in priuate families though seldome in Princes and shee left him in the best time of his daies before any great tempest ouertooke him Three yeares after this hee imployes most in France about the ordering and cleering the bounds of his Dominions from vsurpation or incrochments of neighbour Lords whom his greatnesse held all in awe and they must haue no more then hee would especially hee settles and reformes the State of Brittaine which was much out of order and in muteny about the late Match which being appeased hee keepes a solemne Christmas at Nants and Royally feasts the Nobilitie of the Countrey 1169. Anno. Reg. 16. Then returnes he into England where least Peace by reason of his long and often absence might afflict and corrupt his subiects he lookes to that Diuine and Almighty worke of Kings the administration of Iustice appoynting certaine commissioners as Syndicqs to examine the abuses and excesses committed by his Officers and grieuously Extortion and Bribety punished punishes the Shriefes of the Land for extortion and bribery His Easter he keepes at Windsor whither repaires vnto him William King of Scots who lately succeeded Malcom his brother and brings with him his younger brother Dauid both to congratulate the King of Englands returne and also continue his claime to those peeces in the North which hee pretended to bee vniustly detained from that Crowne The King entertaines him as hee had done his brother with faire words and tells him How it was not in his powre to doe any thing therein without the consent of the State in Parliament which if hee would attend there should bee that course taken as hee hoped might giue him satisfaction In expectation whereof this King came often into England and once attended the King in an expedition into France as his Predecesor had done But now all this while the wrath of the Church continues and the clowde hangs still ouer him dayly threatning the great thunder-bolt Although it seemes the Pope of himselfe was not verie forward to proceede to that extremity but would gladly haue quieted the Archbishoppe otherwise Who hee sayd had taken an ill time for this businesse the King being mighty and the Church in trouble and therefore writes The Pope writes to the Bishops of England he his letters to the Bishop of London and Hereford willing them to deale effectually with the King and to admonish him to desist from intruding vpon the liberties of the Church and to restore the Archbishop to his Sea and Dignity The Bishops wisely answere the Popes Letter in substance thus Wee haue sayd they done your Holinesse message and as much as was decent for the Maiestie The Bishops answere to the Popes Letter if a King instantly vrged him to satisfie your desire made by vs and if hee had erred from the way of truth and Iustice that hee would not delay to returne thereunto that hee would not inhibit such as were desirous to visit the Church of Rome hinder Appeales oppresso Churches and Churchmen or suffer others so to doe that hee would call home our Father the Archbishoppe c. and persist in the workes of Pietie that hee by whom Kings raigne might preserue vnto him his temporall Kingdome and giue him an eternall in Heauen and that vnlesse hee would yeelde to your Holy admonitions you who had hitherto indured could in patience forbeare no longer Besides we added this of our selues how it was to bee feared if hee amended not his errours his Kingdome would not long stand nor his prosper The King receiued your admonitions with manie thankes much Temperance and Modestie and answeres to euerie point First hee protested that in no sort hee auerted his minde from your Holinesse nor euer purposed so to
married the Lady Berenguela and caused her to bee Crowned Queene These mischiefes suffred these two famous Isles of Christendome in the passage of these mighty Princes against Pagans who peraduenture would haue as well vsed them for their goods and treasure as these did but Armies and powre know no inferior friends it was their Fate so to lie in the way of great attempters who though in the cause of Piety would not sticke to doe any iniustice From hence passes this famous king to the Holy Land with the spoyles and treasure of three noble rich Islands England Sicile and Cyprus besides what Normandy and Guien could furnish him with all and there consumes that huge collected masse euen as violently as it was gotten though to the exceeding great renowne of him the nation Heere for the better vnderstanding this businesse it is not amisse to deliuer in what sort stood the Estate of those affaires in Asia which so much troubled these mighty Princes and drew them from the vtmost bounds of Europe thus to aduenture themselues and consume their Estates It was now foure score and eight yeares since Godsrey of Bologne Prince of Lorraine with his company recouered the Citie of Ierusalem with the Countrey of Palestina and a great part of Siria out of the hands of the Sarazins obtayned the Kingdome thereof and was Crowned with a Crowne of Thornes in example of our Sauiour raigned The State of Palestina one yeare died and left to succeed him his brother Baldwin who gouerned eighteene yeares and left the Crowne to another of that name Balwin de Burgo who raigned thirteene yeares and left a daughter and his Kingdome in dissention Fulke Earle of Aniou marries this daughter and enioyes the Kingdome eleuen yeares and left two young sonnes Baldwin and Almerique Balwin raignes foure and twenty yeares and after him his brother Almerique twelue and leaues Baldwin his sonne to succeed him who being sickly and dispayring of yssue made Baldwin his Nephew sonne to the Marquesse of Monferrato and Sibilla his Sister his successor and commits the charge of him with the administration of the Kingdome to Raymond Earle of Tripoly whom Guy de Lusignan who had married Sibilla the Widdow of Monferrato put from that charge and vsurped the Gouerment and at length the Kingdome not without suspition of poysoning the young King Raymond making warre vpon him Lusignan drawes in Sultan Saladin of Egipt to his ayde who glad of that occasion to augment his owne State destroyed them both with their Kingdome and wonne the Citie of Ptolomeide Asoto Berytho Ascalon and after one months siege the Citie of Ierusalem foure score and eight yeares after it had beene conquered by Godfrey Now to recouer this confounded State come these two Great Kings from a farre and a different clyme with an Army composed of seuerall Nations and seuerall humours English French Italians and Germaines against a mightie Prince of an vnited powre within his owne ayre neera at home bred and made by the sword inured to victories acquainted with the fights and forces of the Christians and possessed almost of all the best peeces of that Countrey And heere they sit downe before the City of Acon defended by the powre of Saladin The Kings of England and France besiege Acon which had beene before besieged by the Christians the space of three yeares and had cost the liues of many worthy Princes and great personages whose names are deliuered by our Writers amongst whom I will remember these few of especiall note Conradus Duke of Suenia sonne of Frederic the Emperour which Frederic was also drowned comming thither with the Earles of Perch Puntif and olde Theobald Earle of Bloys that famous Stickler betweene the Kings of England and France Stephen Earle of Sancerre the Earle of Vandosme Bertoldus a Duke of Germany Reoger and Ioselin Earles of Apulia c. And lastly Phillip Earle of Flaunders and of our Nation Baldwin Archbishoppe of Canterbury Robert Earle of Leicester Ralph de Glanuile Chiefe Iustice of England Richard de Clare Walter de Kime c. And notwithstanding all the forces of these two kings they held out foure monthes after and then rendred themselues vpon composition At their entring into the Citie the Ensignes of Leopold Duke of Austrich beeing planted on the walles were with great scorne taken downe by the commandement of King Richard and those of the two Kings erected which bred great rancour and was afterward the occasion of much mischiefe to the king of England Besides during this siege diuers stings were ministred or taken of displeasure and malice betweene the two kings apt to bee set on fire by the least touches of conceipt The king of France full of disdaine for the reiection of his Sister and the marriage of the king of England with Berenguela besides competition of honour which their equality was subiect vnto made any iot of the least disproportion thereof a wounde without cure And daylie occasions in so great hearts fell out to worke the same The Article of equall deuiding their gaines in this voyage concluded between them is questioned The king of France claimes halfe the Isle of Cyprus the king of England halfe the Treasure and goods of the Earle of Flaunders whereon the King of France had seised and therein neither is satisfied Then are there two pretenders to the Crowne of Ierusalem Guy of Lusignan and Conrade Marquis of Monferrato Guy pleads the possession thereof which he had by his wife Sibilla the King of England takes part with Guy the King of France with Conrade And with these differences are they kept in imbroylements and continually distempered in so much as by their owne heats and the contagion The Kings of England and France dangerously sicke of the Country they fell into a most daungerous sicknesse that cost them both their haire being more then they got by the voyage But being recouered the King of France had no longer will to stay there where hee saw no more likelihood of honour or profit and at home hee knew was better good to be done with lesse danger and the rather by the death of the Earle of Flaunders whose state lay so neere as it tooke vp part of his whereof he had a purpose to abridge his successor and therefore craues leaue of the King of England for without leaue of each other it was couenanted neither of them should depart to returne home which King Richard was hardly wonne to grant in respect he knew the daunger it might worke him in his absence to let such an offended Lyon loose But in the end through the earnest sollicitation of the King of France and his assurance The King of France departs from the Holy warre confirmed by Oath not to doe anything offensiue to his Dominions in France during his absence he yeelds thereunto And so departs this great Prince leauing the Earle of Borgogne Lieutenant of his forces And King Richard betakes him
breake the truce made with the King of France who was now too strong for them to doe any good c. Notwithstanding many of the greatest Peeres drawne by faire promises and their owne hopes for recouerie of their Estates so preuaile as the action is resolued on and an Ayde demaunded for the same The very motion for money was so distastefull as presently all the Kings supplies made from the beginning of his raigne are particulerly againe opprobriously rehersed as the 13. 15. 16 and 40 part of all mens moueables besides Carucage Hydage Escuage Escheates Amercements and such like A repetitiō of the Kings supplies formerly made which could not but fill his Coffers Then the Popes continuall exactions with the infinite charge for those who vndertooke the Holy warre are likewise repeated Besides they declare how the 30 leuied about foure yeares past in regard it was to bee layde vp in certaine Castles and not to bee issued but by the allowance of foure of the Peeres was as they held it yet vnspent the King to their knowledge hauing had no necessarie occasion to imploy the same for the vse of the Common-wealth for which it was graunted and therefore resolutely they denyed to yeeld him any more Whereupon the King comes himselfe to the Parliament and in most submissiue manner craues their ayde at this time vrging the Popes letter which hee had procured to sollicite and perswade them thereunto But all preuailed not their vow made to each other not to disseuer their voyces or to be drawne to a disvnion held them fast together In so much as the King is driuen to get what hee could of particular men either by guift or loane and vses such meanes as notwithstanding The King carries ouer 30 Barrells of siluer into France he carries ouer with him thirty Barrells of sterling coyne and taking with him his Queene leaues the gouernment of the Kingdome to the Archbishop of Yorke hauing first for his better quiet at home contracted a match betweene his daughter Margueret yet an infant and Alexander eldest sonne to Alexander 3 King of Scots to whom he commits the gouernment of the Marches This second expedition into France had no better successe then the first For therein The Kings second expedition into France he likewise consumed his treasure vpon strangers discontented the English Nobility was deceiued in his trust by the Poictouines who failed him with his money and after more then a whole yeares stay the Lords of England leauing him was driuen to make a dishonorable truce with the King of France And after hauing beene releeued with much prouision out of England and another imposition of Escuage hee returnes puts the Iewes to another redemption exacts of the Londoners is visited by his An imposition of Escuage with another redemption of the Iewes wiues mother the Countesse of Prouince who bringing with her Zanchia her daughter is to adde to his other expencesses sumptuously feasted a marriage solemnized betweene the young Lady and Richard Earle of Cornewall whose wife was late dead and he returned from the Holy warres The olde Countesse at her returne is presented with many rich guifts hauing besides The Countesse of Prouince mother to the Queen comes ouer into England to the great charge of the Kingdome receiued an annuall pension of 4000 Markes out of England for fiue yeares passed in consideration of a pact made that King Henry should after her discease haue the Earledome of Prouince But shortly after her returne home she disappoints him of that hope and bestowes the same with her youngest daughter Beautrix on Charles the French Kings brother who was after King of Naples and Sicile So that she liued to see all her foure daughters Queenes Richard Earle of Cornwall comming afterward to be elected King of the Romans Meanes now vpon these profusions to haue fresh supplie of Treasure was 1244. Anno. Reg. 28. onely by way of Parliament which is againe in Anno Reg. 28. assembled at Westminster and therein the Kings wants and the present occasions vrged for the necessarie defence of the Kingdome hauing now to doe with Wales and Scotland whose Princes lately reuolting ioyne together to annoy the same but nothing could bee effected 12 Parliament without the assurance of reformation and the due execution of the Lawes notwithstanding the King comes againe himselfe in person as before and pleades his owne necessities Here they desire to haue ordayned that foure of the most graue and discreet Peeres should be chosen as Conseruators of the Kingdome and sworne of the Kings Councell both to see Iustice obserued and the Treasure issued and these should euer attend about the King or at least 3 or 2 of them Besides that the Lord Chiefe Iusticiar and the Lord Chancellor should bee chosen by the generall voyces of the States assembled or else bee one of the number of those foure Besides they propound that there might bee two Iustices of the Benches two Barons of the Eschequer and one Iustice for the Iewes and those likewise to bee chosen by Parliament That as their function was publike so should also be their Election But whilst these things were in debating the enemy of mankind and disturber of Peace the Deuill saith Mat. Paris hindred the proceeding by the comming of Martin a new Legat sent from the Pope with a larger powre then euer any before to exact vpon the State which hee supposed now to haue beene so wrought and ready as the Kings turne being seru'd his likewise should bee presently supplied But making too much haste before the first had passage hee frustrates his owne desire and receiues a most peremptory repulse of the whole Kingdome in so much as his Agent was disgracefully returned home with this displeasing message That the Kingdome was poore had great warres the Church in debt not able to yeeld any more Besides this course was of daungerous consequence to this State which alone seemed exposed to the Popes will and therefore seeing a generall Councell was shortly to bee held at Lyons if the Church would bee relieued it were fit the same should bee done by a generall consent in that Councell Besides at this time the Emperour Frederic by his Letters which were openly read Vide Append. The Empetor Fredericks letters to the King in this Assembly first intreates as before he had oftentimes done that the Pope might haue no supplies out of England which he sayd were only required to ruine him whom contrarie to all Pietie and Iustice hee had oppressed by seizing vpon his Cities and Castles appertayning to the Empire And for many yeares notwithstanding his often submission and desire of Peace proceeded in all foule and Hostile manner against him both by the sword and vniust excommunications And seeing hee could obtaine no due hearing hee had referred his cause to bee arbitrated by the Kings of France and England and the Baronage of both Kingdomes And therefore
that began it could not end it That Rancor which the Sword had bred and the perpetually-working desire of Reuenge of wrongs that euer beget wrongs lasted almost three hundred yeares And all the Successors of this King euen to the last before this blessed Vnion haue had The occasion of the warres betweene England and Scotland their shares more or lesse in this miserable affliction both to their great exspence of treasure extreame hindrance in all other their designes Although the intention of this Great and Marshall King for reducing this whole Isle vnder one gouernment was Noble and according to the Nature of powre and greatnesse that euer seekes to extend it selfe as farre as it can yet as all such Actions hath much of iniquity so had this and we see it was not force or the Sword could effect it God had fore-decreed to make it his owne worke by a cleaner way and ordained it for an vnstained hand to set it together in peace that it might take the more sure and lasting hold which otherwise it could neuer haue done Violence may ioyne Territories but neuer affections together which onely must grow voluntarily and bee the worke of it selfe And yet no doubt it was in the designe of this King to haue obtained it in the fairest manner he could As first shewes his seeking to match his sonne Edward with Margaret daughter to the King of Norway grand-child and heire to the last King Alexander who dying an Infant soone after her grandfather disapointed his hopes that way and draue him to haue recourse to his Soueraignty which being opposed he was forced to take the way of Violence both to maintaine his owne honor and to effect what hee had begunne Whereof the miserable euents were such as now we may well spare their memorie and be content those bloudy Relations should bee razed out of all Record but that they serue to shew vs the wofull calamities of our seperation and the comfortable blessings wee inioy by this our happy Vnion Neither doth it now concerne vs to stand vpon any points of Honor whether of the Nations did the brauest Exploites in those times seeing who had the better was beaten neither did the ouercommer conquere when hee had done what he could That little which was gained cost so much more then it was worth as it had beene better not to haue beene had at all And if any side had the Honor it was the inuaded Nation which beeing the Weaker and Smaller seemes neuer to haue beene subdued though often ouercome Continuing notwithstanding all their miseries resolute to preserue their Liberties which neuer People of the World more Noblie defended against so Potent ritch a Kingdome as this by the which without an admirable hardinesse and Constancie it had beene impossible but they must haue beene brought to an vtter consternation For all what the Powre of this Kingdome could doe which then put all the strength to doe what it could was shewed in this Kings time Who now vpon this defection of King Baliol and his League made with France Counter-leagues with all the King Edward combines with other Princes Princes he could draw in eyther by gifts or Allyance to strengthen his partie abroad As first with Guy Earle of Flanders with whose Daughter hee seekes to match his Sonne Edward Then with Adolph de Nassaw the Emperor to whome he sends Fifteene thousand pounds Sterling to recouer certaine Lands of the Empire which Adolph claymed in France He had likewise married one of his daughters to the Duke of Barr who pretends Title to Champaign another to Iohn Duke of Brabant All which with many other confining Princes hee sets vpon the King of France who had for Certaine spoiles committed on the Coast of Normandy by the English and no redresse obtayned summoned King Edward as owing Homage to that Crowne to appeare and answere it in his Court which hee refusing to doe is by an Arrest condemned to forfeyt all his Territories in France And an Armie is presently sent forth to seize vppon An Army sent into France the same led by Charles de Valois and Arnold de Neele Constable of France Burdeaux with diuers other Peeces of importance are taken and fortified For the recouerie whereof the King of England sends ouer his Brother Edmond Earle of Lancaster Another into Scotland the Earles of Lincolne and Richmond with eight and twentie Bannerets Seauen hundred men at Armes and a Nauie of three hundred and Sixtie Sayle And notwithstanding all this mighty chargde and Forces imployed in those parts King Edward sets vppon King Baliol refusing vppon Summons to appeare at his Court at Newcastle standing vpon his owne Defence and enters Scotland with an Armie sufficient to Reg. 24. Anno. 1297. Conquer a farre mightier Kingdome consisting of Foure Thousand men at Armes on Horse and Thirtie Thousand Foote besides 500. Horse and one Thousand foote of the Bishop of Duresme intending here to make speedy worke that hee might afterward passe ouer Sea to ayde his Confederats and bee reuenged on the King of France Berwick is first wonne with the Death of Fifteene Thousand Scotts our writers report more but nothing is more vncertaine then the number of the slaine in Battaile and after that the Castles of Dunbarre Roxborough Edenborough Sterling and Saint Iohns Towne were wonne or yeelded vnto him King Baliol sues for peace Submits King Edwards victories in Scotland himselfe takes againe his Oath of Fealtie to King Edward as his Soueraigne Lord. Which done a Parliament for Scotland was held at Berwick wherein the Nobilitie did likewise Homage vnto him confirming the same by their Charter vnder their hands and Seales Onely William Dowglasse refuses content rather to endure the misery of a Prison then yeelde to the subiection of England King Baliol Notwithstanding his submission is sent Prisoner into England after his Foure yeeres dignitie I cannot say Raigne For it seemes hee had but little Powre and King Edward returnes from this expedition leauing Iohn Warrein Earle of Surrey and Sussex Warden of all Scotland Hugh Cressingham Treasorer and Ormesley Cheife Iustice with Commission to take in his Name the Homages and Fealties of all such as held Lands of that Crowne And heere this Conquest might seeme to haue beene effected which yet was not Reg. 25. Anno. 1298. It must cost infinite more Blood Trauaile and Treasure and all to as little effect And now the French businesses that require speedy helpe are wholly intended For which King Edward calls a Parliament at Saint Edmonds Bury wherein the Citizens and Burgesses of good Townes graunted the eighth part of their goods and other of the people a twelfth part But the Clergie vpon a prohibition from Pope Boniface that no Tallage or Imposition layde by any lay Prince vpon whatsoeuer appertained to the Church should bee paide absolutely refuse to giue any thing Which Prohibition may seeme to haue beene procured by
Country but being not able to resist the Kings forces in the field they with all the great men in those parts and that side of France recouered the Castle of Dole where they fortified and kept themselues till King Henry the Father came in person besieged and tooke it and with them about foure score Lords men of name and action Whereupon all the rest of the Countrey yeelded themselues This ouerthrow being of such import so terrified the aduersaries as they negotiate a Peace and a Parle is appointed betweene Gisors and Try wherein the King of England though hee had the better of the day condiscended to make offer to his sonne of halfe the reuenues of the Crowne of England with foure conuenient Castles therein or if hee had rather remaine in Normandy halfe the reuenues thereof and all the reuenues of the Earledome of Aniou c. To his sonne Richard hee offers halfe the reuenues of Aquitaine and foure Castles in the same To Geffrey the Land that should come vnto him by the daughter of the Earle Conon Besides hee submitted himselfe to the arbitration of the Archbishop of Tarento and the Popes Legates to adde any allowance more as in their iudgements should be held fit reseruing vnto himselfe his Iustice and royall powre which yeelding grants shewed how much he desired this peace But it was not in the purpose of the King of France that the same should take effect for such peruersnesse and indignitie was offred to King Henry in this Treaty as Robert Earle of Lecester is sayd to haue reproched him to his face and offered to draw his sword vpon him so that they breake off in turbulent manner and their troupes fell presently to bickering betweene Curteles and Gisors but the French had the worse The Earle of Leicester with an Army makes ouer into England is receiued by Hugh Bygot into the Castle of Fremingham Richard de Lucy chiefe Iustice of England and Humfrey Bohun the Kings Constable being vpon the borders of Scotland hearing thereof make truce with the King of Scots And haste to Saint Edmondsburie where the Earles of Cornwall Glocester and Arundell ioyne with them they encounter the Earle of Leicester at a place called Farnham ouerthrew his Army slue tenne thousand Flemings tooke him his Wife and diuâ—â—s great prisoners which were sent vnto the king in Normandie who with his Army was not thereidle but dayly got Castles and Forts from his Enemies vntill Winter constrained both kings to take truce till Easter following and the like did the Bishop of Duresme with the king of Scots for which hee gaue him three thousand Markes of siluer to bee payed out of the Lands of the Barons of Northumberland The Spring come on and the truce expired king Henrie the Sonne and Phillippe Earle of Flaunders are readie at Graueling with a great Armie for England 1174. Anno. Reg. 20. The King of Scots is entred Norththumberland and sends his brother Dauid with a powre to succour the remnant of the forces of the Earle of Leicester which held the Towne of Leicester but without successe for Richard Lucy and the Earle of Cornwall had before rased the Citie and taken Robert Moubray comming likewise to ayde those of the Castle King Henry the Father vpon his Sonnes preparation for England drawes his forces Henry the fathers arriuall in England from his other imployments and brings them downe to Barbfleet ariues at Southampton with his prisoners Queene Elioner Margueret the wife of his sonne Henry the Earles of Leicester and Chester and from thence goes to Canterbury to visit the Sepulcher of his owne Martyre and performe his vowes for his victories And they write how comming within sight of the Church Hee alights and went three miles on his bare feere which King Henry visits Beckets Sepulcher with the hard stones were forced to yeeld bloudie tokens of his deuotion on the way And as if to recompence the merit of this worke they note How the verie daie when hee departed from Canterburie the King of Scots to bee ouerthrowne and taken at Alnwick by the forces of the Knights of Yorkeshire which are named to bee Robert de Stuteuile Odonel de Humfreuile William de Vescy Ralph de Glanuile Ralph de Tilly and Bernard Baliol. Lewis King of France hearing of King Henries passage into England and the taking of the King of Scots calls backe Henrie the sonne and the Earle of Flaunders from Grauelin where they stayed expecting the winde and besieged Roan on all sides sauing that of the Riuer The whilst King Henrie is quieting and settling the State of England where hee had first the Castle of Huntingdon rendred vnto his mercie sauing the liues and members of the defendants then the Castles of Fremingham and Bungaie which the Earle Bygot helde by force of Flemings for whom the Earles submission could hardly obtaine pardon but in the ende they were sent The King of Scots his prisoner home From thence hee goes to Northampton where hee receiues the King of Scots his prisoner and the Castles of Duresme Norham and Aluerton rendred into his hands by the Bishoppe of Duresme who for all his seruice done in the North stood not cleere in the Kings opinion There came likewise thither Roger de Mowbray yeelding vp himselfe with his Castle of Treske the Earle Ferrers his Castles of Tutsburie and Duffield Anketill Mallory and William Diue Constables of the Earle of Leicester the Castles of Leicester Montsorill and Groby so that within three weekes all England was quieted and all without drawing of sword which in those manly daies seemed only reserued for the field This done and supplied with one thousand Welshmen King Henry with his prisoners the King of Scots the Earles of Leicester and Chester passes ouer into Normandie to the releefe of Roan where those thousand Welshmen sent ouer the riuer Siene entred and made way through the Campe of the King of France slue a hundred of his men and recouered a wood without any losse of theirs After which exploit the King of England causing the gates of the Citie to be set open the Barracadoes taken away the trenches they had made betweene the French Campe and the Cittie to bee filled King Henry fauours the French army vp againe with rubbish and timber marched foorth with troupes to prouoke the enemy but without any answere at all In the end the King of France sends away the weakest of his people before and followed after with the rest vpon sufferance of the King of England by the mediation of the Archbishop of Sens and the Earle of Bloys who vndertooke that hee should the next day come to a parle of peace which hee performed not But shortly after seeing this action had so little aduantaged either him or those for whom hee pretented to haue vndertaken it hee imployes the former Agents The King and his sonner reconciled as the Charter of Peace shewes Reg. Houed againe
Norwich Bath Salisbury Ely Chester and others which came vnto him to Rouen where hee commits the especiall charge of this Kingdome to William Longshamp Bishoppe of Ely vnder the Title of Chiefe Iustice of England and giues him one of his Seales and the Custodie of the Towre of London and confers vpon Hugh Bishop of Duresme the Iustice-ship of the North from Humber to Scotland with the keeping of Windsor Castle which after gaue occasion of dissention to these two ambitious Prelates impatient of each others greatnesse Hugh Bardolph William Marshall Geffrey Fitz Peter and William Brewer are ioyned in commission with the Bishop of Ely And least his brother Iohn whose spirit hee well vnderstood might in England worke vpon the aduantage of his absence hee first caused him to take an Oath not to come within this Kingdome for the space of three yeares next following Which after vpon better consideration hee released leauing him to his libertie and naturall respect But hereby hauing giuen him first a wound by his distrust his after regard could neuer heale it vp againe nor all the Honours and State bestowed on him keepe him within the limmits of obedience For this suspition of his Faith shewed him rather the waie to breake then retaine it whensoeuer occasion were offered and the greater meanes hee had bestowed on him to make him content did but arme him with greater powre for his designes For this Earle Iohn had conferred vpon him in England the The great Estate left to Earle Iohn Earledomes of Corwnewall Dorcet Sommerset Nottingham Darby Lancaster and by the marriage with Isabell Daughter to the Earle of Glocester had likewise that Earledome moreouer the Castles of Marlborow and Lutgarsall the Honours of Wallingford Tichill and Eye to the valew of foure thousand Markes per annum besides the great commaunds hee held thereby which mighty Estate was not a meanes to satisfie but increase his desires and make him more daungerous at home Then the more to strengthen the reputation of his Viceroy the Bishop of Ely the King gets the Pope to make him his Legate of all England and Scotland and to the end his Gouernment might not bee disturbed through the emulation of another hee confines the elect Archbishoppe of Yorke his base brother whose turbulency hee doubted to remaine in Normandie till his returne and takes his Oath to performe the same Hauing thus ordered his affaires hee sends backe into England this Great Bishop furnished with as great and absolute a powre as hee could giue him to prouide necessaries for his intended iourney Wherein to please the King hee offended the people and committed great exactions Clerum populum opprimebat Exactions by the Viceroy confundens fasque nefasque saith Houeden Hee tooke of euery Cittie in England two Palfryes and two other Horses of seruice and of euerie Abbay one of each likewise of euery Mannor of the Kings one of each for this seruice And to shewe what hee would prooue hee tooke the Castle of Windsor from the Bishoppe of Duresme and confined him within his Towne of Howedon questions his Authoritie and workes him much vexation and for all his meanes made to the King ouertopt him The King takes order for a Nauie to conuay people and prouision to the Holy land and commits the charge thereof to the Archbishop of Auxere and the Bishop of Bayon Robert de Sabul Richard Canuile which done both Kings the latter end of Iune with their powres together take their iourney to Lyons where their numbers growing so great as bred many incomberments and distemprings betweene the nations they part companies the King of France takes the way of Genoua by Land the The Kings quarrell in the lsle of Sicile King of England of Merseilles where after he had stayed eight daies expecting in vaine the comming about of his Nauie withheld by tempest hee was forced to hire twentie Gallies and ten other great vessels to transport him into the Isle of Sicilia The King of France takes shipping at Genoua and by tempest was driuen to land in the same Isle and arriued there before the King of England where those mighty companies of both these powrefull Kings fell fowle on each other and themselues taking part with their people enter in quarrell and rancor so that being of equall powre and stomacke and alike emulous of honour and reuenge they began to shew what successe their enterprise was likelie to yeeld The King of France repayring his wracked Nauie and the King of Englands long staying for his forced them both to Winter in Sicilia to the great pesture and disturbance of that people themselues and theirs William late king of Sicile who had married Ioane sister to the King of England was dead which made the intertaynment of the English there the worse and Taneredi base sonne of Roger grandfather to that William was inuested in the kingdome contrary to the will of the late King dying without yssue and the fidelitie of the people sworne to Constantia the lawfull daughter of the sayd Roger married to Henry King of Almaine sonne to the Emperour Frederic Barbarossa by which occasion Tancredi was forced to vse all meanes to hold what hee had gotten by strong hand and had much to doe against the Emperour and his sonne Henry The King of England after great contention with him to make the conditions of his sisters dowre the better enters into league with Tancredi against all men to preserue his Estate and gets in conclusion 20000 Ounces of Gold for his Sisters dowre and 20000 more vpon a match to bee made betweene Arthur Earle of Brittaine sonne to Geffrey his next brother who was to succeed him in the Crowne of England if himselfe died without yssue and the daughter of Tancredi At the opening of the Spring both kings hauing beene reconciled and new Articles The Kings reconciled of Peace and concord signed and sworne the King of France sets first forward to the Holy Land but the king of England stayes in Sicile vntill Whitsontide after And during his abode which might therefore bee the longer his Mother Queene Elionor who in her youth had well knowne the trauaile of the East came vnto him Berenguela fianced to King Richard bringing with her Berenguela daughter to the king of Nauarre who has there fianced vnto him Which done Queene Elionor departs home by the way of Rome and the young Lady with the Queene Dowager of Sicile take their iourney with the king who sets forth with an hundred and thirty ships and fifty Gallies and was by tempest driuen to the Isle of Cyprus where being denied landing he assailes the Isle on all sides subdues it palces his Granisons therein and commits the custody of the same to Richard de Canuile and Robert de Turnham taking halfe the goods of the Inhabitants from them in Lieu whereof hee confirmed the vse of their owne Lawes And here our Histories say hee
had none two Markes for a licence The Collection whereof the Archbishop of Canterbury commits to his brother Theobald Walter Besides another new seale the old being lost by the Vice-Chancelor at the taking of Cirpus brings in a new exaction But the proceeding in the pleas of the Crowne and extorting of penalties Anno Reg. 9. By Hugh Bardolph Roger Arundle and Geffrey Hatchet Iustices Itenerants for Lyncolnshire Nottinghamshire Darbyshire Yorkeshire Northumberland Cumberland and Lancaster was of a higher straine of exaction and more profound as hauing more of time and presumption vpon the peoples sufferance of whom when once trial was made that they would beare were sure to haue more layd on them then they were able to vnder goe And with these vexations saith Houeden all England from Sea to Sea was reduced to extreame pouerty and yet it ended not heare another torment is added to the confusion of the Subiects by the Iustices of the Forests Hugh Neuile chiefe Iustice Hugh Wac and Ernise de Neuile who not onely execute those hidious lawes introduced by the Norman but impose other of more tyranicall seuerity as the memory thereof being odious deserues to be vtterly forgotten hauing afterwards by the hard labour of our noble ancestors and the goodnes of more regular Princes beene assuaged and now out of vse Besides in the same yeare this King imposes 5 shil vpon euery Hide or Plough-land which contayned an hundred Acres for the leuying whereof a most strict course was taken Likewise he required by his Vicegerent the Archbishop of Canterbury that the people of England should finde three hundred Knights for one yeare to remaine in his seruice or so much money allowing for euery Knight three shillings per diem Against which Hugh Bishop of Lyncoln opposes and saies that he would neuer yeeld to the Kings will in this for the detriment it might be to the Church and example to posterity that should not complaine thereof and say our Fathers haue eaten sowre grapes and the childrens teeth are set on edge and turning to the Archbishop wished him that he would doe nothing whereof he might be a shamed This Archbishop so husbanded the Kings businesse that in Anno Reg. 7. he yeelded Vudecies centena millia Marc. Houed an accompt vnto him that hee had Ieuied of the Kingdome within the space of two yeares eleuen hundred thousand Markes of siluer which considering that time is a most remarkeable summe And now as the first act of this King was his violent violent proceeding in a businesse of Treasore with Stephen Thurstan Seneshall of Normandy so was it likewise the last and the cause of his distruction for Widomare Viscont of Limoges hauing found a great treasure of siluer and gold in the ground sends a good part thereof to the King which he refuses laying clayme to the whole Widomare denying the same the King layes fiege to his Castle where he imagined the treasure was hid they of the Castle being but weake offered to render the same their liues members and Armor saued which the King would not yeeld vnto but swore that hee would sack the Castle and hang them all Wherevpon desperatly they resolue to stand to their defence King Richard with Marchard generall of the Brabanzons going about the Castle to view what place was sitiest for an assault Bertramd Gurdun from the walls shot a barbed arrow that hit the King in the arme with such a deadly blow as he was presently sent to his lodging notwithstanding commands he his forces to prosecute the assault without intermission which they did and tooke the Castle putting to execution all the defendants except Bartram who by the Kings command was reserued But the arrow drawne out with great torture left the head behinde which being by a rude Chirurgion after much mangling the flesh hardly cut out brought the King to dispaire of life and to dispose of his Estate leauing to his brother Iohn three parts of his treasure and the fourth to his seruants Which done he willed Bertram Gurdun to be brought vnto him of whom he demanded what hurt he had done him that prouoked him to doe this mischiefe to whom Bertram replies thou hast killed my father and my two brothers with thine owne hand and now wouldest haue slaine mee take what reuenge thou wilt I willingly indure what soeuer torture thou canst in flict vpon mee iu respect I haue slaine thee who hast done such and so great mischiefe to the world The King notwithstanding this rough and desperate answere caused him to be let loose and not onely forgaue him his death but commanded 100 shillings The death of King Richard sterling to be giuen vnto him but Marchard after the King was dead caused him to be hanged and flayed This was the end of this Lyon-like King when he had raigned nine yeares and 9 monthes wherein hee exacted and consumed more of this Kingdome then all his predecessors 1599. Anno. Reg. 10. from the Norman had done before him and yet lesse deserued then any hauing neither liued here neither left behinde him monument of Pietie or of any other publique worke or euer shewed loue or care to this Common-wealth but onely to get what hee could from it Neuer had Prince more giuen with lesse a doe and lesse noyes then hee The reason whereof as I haue said was his vndertaking the Holy warre and the cause of Christ with his suffring therein that made the Clergie which then might doe all to deny him nothing and the people fed with the report of his miraculous valour horrible incounters in his voyage abroade and then some victories in France were brought to beare more thē euer otherwise they wold haue don Then had he such Ministers here to serue his turne as preferred his before the seruice of God and did more for him in his absence then euer peraduenture hee would or could haue done for himselfe by being here present For both to hold their places and his good opinion they deuise more shifts of rapine then had euer bin practised before in this Kingdom cared not so he were satisfied what burthen they layd on the Subiect which rent torne by continuall exactions was made the more miserable in that they came betrayed with the shew of Religion Law the maine supporters of humane societie ordayned to preserue the state of a people not to confound it But the insolent ouercharging the state in these times gaue occasion to the future to prouide for themselues Excesses euer procute alterations And the Successors of this King were but little beholding vnto him for out of his irregularitie their boundlessnes came to bee broght within some limits Yet what this King wold haue proued had his daies allowed him other then this rough part of warre we know not but by the operation of a poore Hermits speech made vnto him we are shewed that he was conuertible For being by him vehemently vrged to be
for that he would not haue also their repulse he sodainly goes thither himselfe in Person enters the Chapter house as a Bishop or Prior gets vp into the Presidents Chayre begins a Sermon and takes this text Iustice and Peace haue kissed each other and therevpon vses these words To mee and other Kings and to our Princes and Iusticiars who are to gouerne the people belong the rigor of Iudgement and Iustice to you who are men of quiet and religion peace and tranquillity and this day I heare you haue for your owne good beene fauorable to my request Iustice and Peace haue kissed each other Once I was offended with you for withstanding me in the election of William Rale your late Bishop a man I liked not but now I am friends with you for this and will both remember and reward your kindnesse As by a woman came distruction to the world so by a woman came the remedy I to satisfie my wife desirous to prefer her vnkle William Valentine disquieted and damnified you so now willing to aduance my brother by the Mother will reconcile my selfe vnto you c. And you are to consider how in this citty I was borne and in this Church Baptised Wherefore you are bound vnto me in a straighter bond of affection c. Then commends he the high birth and good parts of his Brother and what honor and benefit they should haue by electing him but concludes with some threatning So that the Monkes seeing him thus to require the Bishopricke held it in vaine to deny him and Athelmar is elected though with this reseruation if the Pope allowed thereof Shortly after followes the memorable cause of The cause of Sir H. Bath Sir Henry de Bath a Iusticiar of the Kingdome and an especiall Councellor to the King who by corruption had attayned to a mighty Estate and is said in one circuit to haue gotten 200. pound land per annum he is accused by Sir Phillip Darcy of falsehood in the 1251. Anno. Reg. 35. Kings Court and the King so incenced against him as in the Parliament about this time holden in London Proclamation is made that whosoeuer had any action or complaint against Henry de Bath should come and be heard one of his fellow Iusticiciats accused him of acquitting a malefactor for a bribe The King seeing the friends of the accused strong breakes out into rage protesting that whosoeuer would kill Hugh de Bath should be acquitted for the deed but afterward he comes pacified by the Earle of Cormwale and the Bishop of London who vrged the daunger of the time the discontentment 15 Parliament of the Kingdome aud how the proceeding in such a manner with one of his councell whom hee had vsed in so great businesse would discourage others to serue such a maister who vpon malicious accusations should so for sake them whose places were euer exposed to enuy and detraction And thereupon Sir Henry is released paying 2000 Markes and after restored to his former place and fauour The mariage of Margueret with Alexander K. of Scots solemnizedat at Yorke The King keeping his Christmas at Yorke the marriage is solemnised betweene Alexander King of Scots and Margaret his Daughter the ryot of which feast with the vaine expences of apparell the note of a diseased time is discribed by our author who amongst other things reports how the Archbishop gaue 60. fat Oxen which were spent at one meale besides that feast cost him 4000. Markes which shewes the pouerty of the Church was not so great as it was pretended to be seeing when they would shew their glory they could finde what they denyed at other times The Pope Sollicites the King to vndertake the Crosse and so doth Alphonsus King of Castile Offering to accompany him in Person to reskue the King of France Who The King of France prisoner with the Soldian hauing euen emptied his country both of Treasure and nobility was now taken prisoner by the Soldan and held in miserable captiuity A ransome collected for him in France with great vexation is by tempest cast away on the Sea other meanes are made for treasure which could not easely be had the captiue king offers to restore Normandy to the King of England so he would come to his rescue Which the nobility of France takes ill and disdaine the weakenesse of their King vpon the Popes sollicitation The King of England vnder takes the Crosse. the grant of a Tenth of the Clergy and Laytie for 3. yeares to come the king of England vndertakes the Grosse rather it seemes to get the money then with any purpose to persorme the iourny Which had it beene collected would saith Paris haue amounted to 600. thousand pound to the vtter impourishing of the Kingdome which was that they both sought but by seuerall waies for many now began to discouer that the Pope by this imbarking the Princes of Christendome in this remote and consuming warre to wast them their nobility and Kingdome was onely but to extend his owne power and domination The king by Proclamation calls the Londoners to Westminster and there causes 1252. Anno. Reg. 36. the Bishops of Worcester and Chichester to declare his intention and exhort the people to vndertake the crosse and attend him but few are moued by their perswation onely 3. knights and they of no great note are nominated whom the king presently in open view imbraces kisses and calls bretheren checking the Londoners as ignoble mercenaries for that few of them were forward in this action notwithstanding hee there takes his Oath for performing of the same and to set forth presently vpon Midsommer day next In taking this oath hee layes his right hand on his brest according to the manner of a Priest and after on the booke and kist it as a lay man A parliament about this tenth graunted by the Pope but not the people is called at London the Bishops are first delt withall as being a worke of piety to induce the rest they absolutely refuse the same then the Lords are set vpon they answere The Bishops and Lords deny the K. the Tenth granted by the Pope what the Bishops who were first to giue their voyce consented vnto they would allow the same this shufling put the King into so great rage as hee draue out all that were in his chamber as he had beene mad Then falls he to his former course to preswade them a parte sends first for the Bishop of Ely deales with him in all milde and kind manner recounting the many fauours he had receiued at his hands how forward hee had found him heretofore to supply his occasions and intreats him now to giue good example to others c. The Bishop replies he was glad at any time to haue done him acceptable seruice but in this for himselfe to goe from that forme the vniuersality of the state had determined he held it a dishonest act and therefore