to our father in their rights Customes priuiledges freedomes franchises belonging or due vnto them in all manner of places now or in time comming subiect to our father 10. Also that we shall to our power trauell truly diligently to see that Iustice be administred in the same Realme of France according to their lawes Customes and rights of the same Realme without personall acception and that we shal keepe and hold the Subiects of the said Realme in tranquility and peace to our power and shall defend them against all manner of violence and oppression 11. Also that we to our power shall prouide that able and profitable persons shall execute the offices aswell of Iustices and other offices belonging to the gouernance of the demaines of the Realme of France for the good and peaceable Iustice of the same and for the administration that shall be committed vnto them 12. Also that we of our power so soone as it may commodiously be done shall trauaile to put into obedience of our said father all manner of Cities Townes Castels places Countreys and persons within the Realme of France disobedient and rebels to our sayd father syding with them that bee called the Daulphin or Armagnac 13. And that we may the more commodiously and freely exercise and fulfill these things aforesaid it is accorded that all worthy Nobles and estates of the same Realme of France aswell spirituals as temporals and also the Nobles Citizens Burgesses and Cominalties of France in obedience at this day to our said father shall make these Oathes vnto vs. 14. First to vs hauing the faculty exercise disposition and gouernance of the foresaid common profit at our hests and commandements these shall meekly and obediently obey in all manner of things concerning the exercise of Gouernment in the same Realme 15. Also that the worthy great and noble estates of the said Realme aswell spirituals as temporals Citizens Burgesses and Comminalties of the same Realme in all manner of things well and truly shall keepe and to their power shall doe to be kept in asmuch as to them belongeth or to any of them all those things that be appointed and accorded betweene our foresaid father our mother and vs. 16. And that continually from the death and after the death of our said father Charles they sha be our true liegemen and our heires and they shall receiue and admit vs for their liege and Soueraigne and very King of France and for such to obey vs without opposition Contradiction or difficulty as they be to our father during his life And neuer after this Realme of France shall obey to man as King and Regent of France but to vs to our heires Also they shall not be in Counsell helpe or assent that we loose life or limme or be taken with euill taking or that we suffer harme or diminution in person estate worship or goods but if they know any such thing to be contriued or imagined against vs they shall let it to their powers and shall doe vs to witten thereof as hastily as they may by themselues by message or by letters 17. That all manner of Conquests that shall be made by vs in France vpon the disobedient in the Dutchies of Normandy shall be done to the profit of our said father and that to our power all manner of Lands and Lordships that be in places to be conquered belonging to persons obeying to our forefather which shall sweare to this present accord shall be restored to the same persons to whom they belonged 18. That all manner of persons of the holy Church beneficed in the Dutchie of Normandy or any other places in the Realme of France subiect to our father and fauouring of the parts of the Dukes of Burgundy which shall sweare to keepe this present accord shall peaceably inioy their benefices of holy Church in the Dutchie of Normandy or in other places next aforesaid 19. Likewise that all manner of persons of holie Church obedient to vs and beneficed in the Realme of France and places subiect to our father that shall sweare to keepe this present accord shal enioy peaceably their benefices of holy Church as is aforesaide 20. Also that all manner of Churches Vniuersities and studies generall all Colledges of Students and other Colledges of holy Church being in places now or in time comming subiect to our father or in the dutchy of Normandy or other places in the realme of France subiect to vs shall enioy their rights possessions rents prerogatiues liberties and franchises belonging or due to them in any manner of wise in the said Realme of France sauing the right of the Crowne of France and of euery other person 21. Also by Gods helpe when it happeneth vs to come to the Crowne of France the Dutchy of Normandie and all other places conquered by vs in the said Realme shall bow vnder the Commandement obeisance and Monarchy of the Crowne of France 22. Also that we to our power shall see recompence to be made by our said father without diminution of the Crowne of France to persons obeying him and fauouring the party of Burgundy to whom Lands Lordships Rents and possessions belongeth in the said Dutchie of Normandy or other places in the Realme of France conquered by vs hitherto giuen by vs in places Lands gotten or to be gotten in the name of our said father vpon rebels and inobedients to him and if so be that such manner of recompence be not made to the said persons in the life time of our said father we shall make that recompence in such manner and places of goods when it happeneth by Gods grace to the Crowne of France and if so be that the Lands Lordships Rents or possessions belonging to such manner of persons in the said Dutchie and other places bee not giuen by vs the same persons shall be referred to them without any delay 23. And during the life of our father in all places now and in time to come subiect to him letters of common iustice grants of offices giftes pardons remissions and priuiledges shall be written and proceed vnder the name and seale of our said father And forasmuch as some singular case may fall that may not be foreseene by mans wit in the which it may be necessary and behouefull that we write our letters in such case if any hap for the good and surety of our father and for the gouernment that belongeth to vs as is aforesaid and to auoid perils which otherwise might fall to the preiudice of our said father to write our letters by the which we shall command charge and defend after the nature and quality of the need in our fathers behalfe and ours as Regent of France 24. Also that during our fathers life we shall not call nor write vs King of France but shall verily absteine from that name so long as our said father liueth 25. Also that our said father during his life shall
England to certifie the King of these designes And it seemeth Pope Innocent the fourth was of the same minde when as Matth. Paris writeth hee said Verè hortus deliciarum est Anglia verè puteus inexhaustus est Et vbi multa abundant de multis multa possunt extorqueri c. Certes the Kingdome of England is the very Paradise of pleasures a Well which can neuer bee drawen drie where many things doe abound and whence many things may bee extorted c. With which his conceit he was afterward so farre transported with a longing desire as hee made great meanes and earnest suit to the King of England as the said Author writeth ad ann 1250. that hee might come into England to see that Country which was euery where so much renowned In a word BRITAINE is so rich in commodities so beautifull in situation and so resplendent in all glory that if the Omnipotent as one hath said had vouchsafed to fashion the world round like a ring as he did like a globe it might haue beene most worthily the onely Gemme therein Whose Vallies are like Eden whose Hilles are as Lebanon whose Springs are as Pisgah whose Riuers are as Iordan whose Walles is the Ocean and whose defense is the Lord IEHOVAH 12 The body then of this Imperiall Monarchie sheweth not onely the greatnesse of it selfe in it selfe but also extendeth her beautifull branches into many other Countries and Kingdomes farre iacent and remote This greatnesse is made the more sensible for that the Iland in times past sustained at once no lesse then eleuen Kings in their royall estates all of them wearing Crownes and commanding great powers Such was the Heptarchie of the Saxons seuen Kingdomes seated on the South of Seuerius his Wall Two Kingdomes thence had their sites in that Northerne part and their seuerall Kings of Scots and Picts ruling on both sides the Clude euen vnto the Deucaledonian Seas And two Kingdomes if not more diuided into North and South and their Kings of the ancient Britaines ruling the West part of this Iland beyond the Clawdh Offa or Offa his Ditch commonly called WALES 13 The Ilands likewise belonging to this Empire had Kings of their owne as that of Man the Orcades and in Ireland at one time fiue Kings raigning together France also is annexed and so was Cyprus sometimes with some Prouinces of Syria subdued by King Richard the first surnamed Caeur-de-lion And at this present in the new World of America a Colonie of BRITAINES is seated in that part now called VIRGINEA whereby the borders of our Soueraignes command and most rightfull title may bee inlarged the Gospell of Iesus Christ further preached which no doubt will in time be imbraced to the saluation of many and great honour to the BRITAINES And that the borders of this most roiall Tent haue beene wide spread in former times White of Basingstocke is of opinion who affirmeth that the limits of the British Empire in old time was from the Orcades vnto the Pyrenean Mountaines And that King Athelstan after his conquest of those Northerne parts with that of Denmarke wrote so his title which further is confirmed by the Charter of King Edgar for the foundation of the Cathedrall Church at Worcester wherein likewise he so stiled himselfe The inlargement whereof we pray to be accomplished especially in those parts where God is not knowen according to the saying of the Prophet that the curtaines of our habitations may bee further spread with increase on the right hand and on the left and that our seed may possesse those GENTILES and dwell in their Cities whereby the ninth Nation may bee conuerted vnto CHRIST as eight others before this time by English-men haue beene THE NAMES THAT HAVE BEENE ATTRIBVTED VNTO THIS ILAND OF GREAT BRITAINE CHAPTER II. AS touching the first Inhabitants and originall Names of this Iland things so farre cast into the mistie darknesse of obscuritie and obliuion that there is no hope left vs so lately born to discouer them especially knowing that the first Inhabitants being meerely barbarous neuer troubled themselues with care to transmit their Originals to posteritie neither if they would could haue done being without Letters which only doe preserue and transferre knowledge vnto others And say they had letters yet was it not lawfull for them to commit their affaires to writing as Cesar doth testifie of the Druides the only wise and learned men among them that had the managing both of Iustice and religious Rites And had they committed these things to writing yet doubtlesse had they perished in the reuolutions of so many ages as are passed and so many conuersions or euersions of the State Gildas and Nintus the Britaines first Historians confesse plainly that they had no vnderstanding of the ancient affaires of this Iland but from forraine Writers and neither that aboue two hundred and odde yeeres before the birth of our Sauiour Christ. At which time Polybius a most graue Writer and an attendant vpon Scipio saith that the Regions Northward from Narbona as this is were vtterly vnknowen and whatsoeuer was written or reported of them was but a dreame And therefore vntill such time as the Romane Writers reach foorth their hands to direct vs wee shall wander as without a guide and shall seeme to heape more rubbish vpon former ruines 2 Yet let this bee granted that the Originall names of Countries and Prouinces were first assumed from their possessors whereof Iosephus in the seuenth Chapter of his first Booke of Antiquities is a sufficient Witnesse who in the dispersion of Noahs sonnes and his nephewes nameth the Countries according to their families So did the children of Dan name Laish after their father Iair his Cities that he conquered in the Land of Gilead and Iudea from Iudah whose King was of him And that this also was the practise of the Gentiles Perionius doth shew who saith that himselfe knew no Nation in the earth which would not haue their names either from their Prince Captaine or King the example whereof hee inserteth that Spaine was so named from Hispalus Italy from Italus and the like 3 And accordingly from Samothes the sixth sonne of Iapheth whom Moses calleth Mesech the brother of Gomer and of Iaâ—…an whose seed is said in the tenth of Genesis to haue replenished the Iles of the Gentiles is brought by some Authors into this Iland the yeere after the generall Flood two hundred fiftie and two where he seated and gaue Lawes to his people and left to his posteritie the name thereof to bee called Samothea after his owne But sith the credit of this Samothes and his Samothea ariseth onely from a small and new pamphlet bearing the name of Berosus the Chaldean bolstred out vnder a shew of aged Antiquitie and thrust into the world vnder the countenance of the ancient Historian himselfe I meane not
learned Monks who then liued for such Authors onely wee will heerein follow as shall bee vnpartiall one of which testifies that the Pope about that time calling a Councell at Tours and the King giuing Licence to his Arch-bishops and Bishops to goe thither Becket secretlie surrendred his Arch-bishopricke which hee had receiued from the Kings hand into the Popes hands The other saith Becket himselfe confessed that not Canonicall Election did call him but publick power droue him in nor the will of God but mans pleasure placed him in the roome Howsoeuer these beeing memorable arguments of the Kings exceeding loue let vs now see how this great Prelate endeuoured to deserue it or how hee chanced to lose it 12 Great and flourishing was the state of the English Church Comon-wealth at this season the quiet of both which the King studied hoped to establish by the vndoubted assistance of his great fauorite Becket whose coūsel authority he knew might much further his princely designs especially touching affaires of the Church and abuses of Church men which then were grown to a dangerous height wherof let vs heare the Monke of Nuborough speake It was declared in the Kings presence how that Clergy mē had cōmitted aboue a hundred murthers vnder his raign wherewith the King highly offended hee was in punishing of them somewhat too vehement but the blame of the Kings too much earnestnes must lie on the Prelates in as much as they gaue the cause thereof for whereas sacred Canons ordaine that Clerks found guilty not onely of hainous and grieuous sinnes but also of lesser should bee degraded and thousands of such were in the Church of England like innumerable chaffe amongst a little good corne yet very few such for these many yeeres haue beene depriued The Prelates for sooth while they bestirre themselues rather to vphold the liberties dignities of Clerks then to chastice and cut off their vices thinke they doe God and his Church good seruice in protecting from publike Discipline such hainous offenders whom by duty of their places they ought to correct according to the Canons censure whereby they through their impunity hauing liberty to doe what they list haue neither feare of God whose iudgement they thinke is farre off neither of men in authority sith on the one side their Prelates neglect to reforme them and on the other side they are thus exempt by their order from the temporall Iurisdiction 13 This being the state of the Church and Realme wherein some were so iniured without remedy and others so iniurious without coertion as if neither sort were in condition of Subiects the King who was a man of excellent Wisedome Constancy and Zeale tooke especiall care of quickning the publike Discipline and the rigour of ancient lawes which thus lay neglected for which end hee had setled choise Ministers of Iustice through all parts of his land and vpon complaints brought him by his Subiects of the remissenes and other defects of his Iudges hee accordingly by his princely prouidence applied remedies and chastised the delinquents The like remissenes to censure it no harder was complained of in his Spirituall Iudges occasioned by a murther committed by a Priest of Sarum Diocesse whom the Archbishoppe commanded to be depriued put into an Abbey whereby he was freed from sharper punishment intended by the Kings Iusticiaries with which and some other like affronts of his Archbishop the King conceiued no little displeasure as requiring that Iustice should be ministred to all alike without partiality seeing this apparantly to tend vnto the ruine of all roiall gouernment the Archbishop on the other side stood no lesse peremptory on the immunities of his Clergy and See yea so farre as that hee challenged from the Crown to the Kings great offence the custody of Rochester Castle and other Forts which the King for securing his state had resumed into his owne hands 14 This maine controuersie betwixt Regnum Sacerdotium the Crowne and the Mitre Houeden who then also liued thus summarily deliuers The King would that all such of the Clergy as were deprehended in any Robberie Murther Felonie burning of houses and the like should bee tried and adiudged in his temporall Courts as Lay-men were against which the Archbishops resolution was that all Clergy men so offending should bee tried onely in the Spirituall Courts and by men of their owne coate who if they were conuict should at first be onely depriued of their office and benefice but if they should againe be guilty of the like they should then bee adiudged at the Kings pleasure The King finding himselfe to bee hereby but a Demi-King depriued of all Soueraignety ouer one half-deale of his Kingdome and perceiuing Beckets stiffenesse in thus contesting with his Soueraigne to bee no way mollifiable by whatsoeuer his old fauours or fresh perswasions notwithstanding resolued to put nothing in execution which should not first bee ratified and strengthned with consent of his Bishops of whose ready assent to so iust demands hee had no cause to doubt who thereupon assembling at Westminster the King tooke both offence there at the Archbishops thwarting his desires and occasion also to establish sundry other Articles which hee called his Grandfathers Customes peremptorily vrging Becket to yeeld thereunto without any such reseruation of sauing in all things his order and right of the Church wherewith he would haue limited his assent 15 The points in those Ordinances which the Archbishop principally stucke at as himselfe did set them downe in his letters to the Pope and his owne Suffragan Bishops within the Diocesse of Canterbury were principally these 1. That none should appeale to the See of Rome for any cause whatsoeuer without the Kings licence 2. That it should not be lawful for any Archbishop or Bishop to depart the Realme and repaire to the Pope vpon his summons without the Kings licence 3. That no Bishop should excōmunicate any one whomsoeuer holding of the King in chiefe or put any other of his officers vnder Interdict without the Kings licence 4. That Clerks criminous should bee tritried before seculardudges 5. That it should not be lawfull for a Bishop to punish any one for periurie or faith-breach 6. That the Laity whether the King or other should hold pleas of Churches Tithes c. 16 These points so neerely touched the Papal Soueraignty and Church-Liberties that the resolute Metropolitane mainely opposed his whole powers against them Henry also persisted as his Grandfather Henry the first had done who hauing a like warre with Anselm his Archbishop was so vehement therein as hee would not suffer him to returne into England though after some yeeres banishment vnlesse hee would absolutely bind himselfe to obserue not his Fathers Customes onely but his brothers also who were the two fatall Williams the Conquerour and Rufus 17 Many reasons moued
to such an enterprise which thus tooke beginning 50 Dermot Mac Murgh beeing in possession of his fatall Helen the adulterous wife of Rothericke was pursued so eagrely with the reuenging sword of his enemie who howsoeuer wounded in heart with the abuse of his Bed reioiced in the colour and occasion ministred therby for him to seise vpon the flourishing Prouinces of Leinster as hee was driuen to flie from place to place and at the length to quitte his kingdome also the subiects whereof his tyrannie and vices had vnsetled in their affections toward him Thus desperate of help at home his last deliberations were to draw in forreine aides the necessity of his case requiring it and for that purpose finally resolues to repaire to the court of the wise and potent Henrie King of England beeing then in Aquitain neither could Dermot but knowe that it had heeretofore beene in Henries designes at such time as hee ment to subdue it for William of Angion his yongest brother and also because his present Dominions did halfe as it were enuiron it In which hopes he was not deceiued for Henrie listened therunto verie willinglie as to a thing which hee had indeede some yeeres before proiected 51 King Dermot therefore was heard in his suite But because the thing as at that time neither seemed great enough for such a Prince as Henrie to vndertake directly nor as yet was held sufficiently discouered to his hand that therefore the Ice might be broken by inferiour meanes and aswell the conueniences as inconueniences sounded to the depth without engaging the roiall person name or power it was by the Kings letters permitted to Dermot the exiled Prince to draw what aduenturers or voluntaries either the commiseration of his estate or other respects of pietie profit or delight in armes could allure to the action Now whether it were for that he whose Countreis lay toward the coasts of Wales and within ken vpon a cleere day by commodity thereof might entertaine intelligence aswell as trafficke with the inhabitants of those parts or for that the fame of their Cheualrie did inuite or for that his acquaintance at his arriuall grew there first or for that these and many other circumstances mette in this accident sure it is that Dermot raised his first and principall succours from among the English Colonies there 52 The Welsh had then in their hands a valiant Gentleman of Norman race one Robert Fitz-Stephen who by Gilbert de Clare was entrusted with the defence of the towne of Cardigan but through treachery the Towne being surprised Robert was also deliuered vp to Rhese ap Gruffin Prince of South Wales who would hearken to no other endentments of his liberty but onely that he should for euer abandon his possessions in Wales Whereupon the oportunity of Dermots quarrel giuing hopes of new fortunes immediately hee entred into contract with the Irish king promising by a certaine day to come to his succour with as many Voluntaries as his remaining fortunes or the hope of the voiage could stirre which he did accordingly performe leauing it very disputable whether with more successe or courage But Dermot well knowing that the fortunes of this Gentlemā to whose valor nothing see med impossible were vnable to vndergo the whole weight of the vnknowne worke had formerly dealt with that renowmed Lord Richard of the house of Clare Earle of Pembrooke surnamed Strong-bow the man whom the Fate of Ireland did expect 53 Dermotes perswasions to the Earle were of this kind That the enterprise besides the facultie thereof was full of pietie honour Iustice and commoditie That it appeared so to King Henry himselfe by whose leaue hee was free to gather what forces he could That hee was driuen out by the cruell ambition of Neighbours treacherie of wicked Subiects That Leinster was a Kingdome and though but a part yet cleerely the best and richest part of Ireland That multitudes offered themselues to his aid but his cares were not onely for a Generall to lead them but for one to whom hee might leaue his kingdome also That the Earle was he as the onely man in whose person all the respects of birth honour bounty valour youth and fortunes did happily meete That the Earle in his conceit did dwell but narrowly considering what hee was worthie of pent-vp in the straights of an Earledomes title for whom a great Kingdome was not great That they who would not allow Leinster for a kingdome did forget that England once was broken into lesser states and if Dermot were not a King neither then were Ella Cissa Vffa Sigbert Crida and the rest in the Saxon seuen-headed gouernment that the quantity of Dominion made more or lesse strong but not more or lesse a King That he was rightfull King of Leinster as Sonne and Heire to Murgh King of Leinster that if hee must forgoe his inheritance it should be to such as had done him no wrong and were worthy of it to Richard Strong-bow and his followers and not to Rothericke and Rebels That hee was not vnking'd though vnkingdom'd that Eua his daughter Eua the pearle and starre of Ireland should indeed be Eua to his enemies to bring vpon them death and iust confusion that yet in defeating the Tyrant Rotherick of his hopes by plā ting Earle Richard and his Forces hee should prouide for his Country not destroy it That if it did fall out otherwise yet his disloiall people had their iust deserts who obiecting vices to their Soueraigne did themselues commit vile treasons Indeed quoth he I was neuer such a King as that I was not also a Man But for those matters betweene God and me here is now no place to account for though his iustice hath found me out yet his mercy hath left me more friends at home then the number measure of my sinnes deserue My quarrell is most iust as against most wicked rebels and vsurpers Restore me then my Lord by your puissance to my natiue soile and my lawfull rights therein restore with me Religion and Discipline to the ancient splendor thereof which was not greater in any Realme about vs then in Ireland reduce the stray enlighten our ignorance polish our rudenesse and let not such abundant matter of merite and immortall glory escape you God himselfe will prosper the enterprise holy Church hath long since approued it and vpon such Authors what can miscarry And though in thy noble and Christian courage nothing can weigh so much and these I see work mightily yet to satisfie all respects Thou shalt haue far larger territories then here Thou canst possesse and goodly lands to distribute for reward among thy friends and followers My last offers now shall not shew a more desire to vse thy forces then a loue to thy person vertues They are not trifles I propose but that of which God himselfe doth seeme to me to haue
thus celebrated Mira cano Sol occubuit Nox nulla secuta est A Wonder strange I write the Sun did set yet was no Night Meaning that though Henry were dead yet the glory and happinesse of the land was not thereby clouded for that Richard was another Sunné and in some respects farre the more bright and farther shining of the two as hauing for honour of Christian Cheualrie wholy consecrated his warlike minde and actions to the seruice of God and readuancement of the Crosse of Christ dishonoured by the Infidels in Asia in which enterprise hee was so feruently zealous that from the time of his Fathers death in whose vowes it had beene hee 〈◊〉 scarse any thing else disposing the affaires of his Estate but not carelesly as some would impose as of things which did but onely vnder-serue and conduce to the maine and principall end of aduancing his Sauiours glory whereunto hee iudged that action did tend 2 Hauing therefore ordered his weightier businesses in 〈◊〉 and other his transmarine Dominions in â—…gland by his letters set the Queen his Mother at liberty from that captiuity wherein her late husband the king had long detained her who sensible of others woe by her owne did afterward exercise many works of mercy in that kind he cuts ouer hither aswell to receiue all the rights of Soueraignety and to settle the same as also to leuie meâ—…nes for proceeding in his intended holy voiaâ—…e together with Philip king of France and other Christian Potentates 3 And though before his Coronation most Writers doe not call him a King yet sure it is that he and others did immediately and vnquestionably vpon the first accruement of the interest which was at his Fathers last gaspe exercise all the offices of the roiall power for so hee restored Robert Earle of Leicester to his whole estate So plaine it is that our Gouernment allowes not the dangerous conuulsions emptie spaces of an Interregnum such as in meer electiue States are coÌ„mon if not continual 4 But in nothing more could this noble Prince shew his iudgement though he were otherwise Sagacis ingenij of a sharpe and searching wit then in this That hee banished from his familiarity as my Author saith hated all those of what profession so euer they were who had forsaken his Father and both retained and enricht those other who had loially stood for him against himselfe in al assaies 5 At his Coronation which was most magnificently performed at Westminster by Baldwyne Archbishop of Canterbury the pointes of the Oath which hee made to God and the Kingdom of England at the Altar vpon the holy Euangelists before the Prelates Nobles and whole people were these 1. That all the daies of life he would beare peace honour and reuerence to God and holy Church and the Ordinances thereof 2 That in the people to him committed hee would exercise right iustice and equitie 3. That hee would blot forth naughty lawes and peruerse customes if any were brought vpon his Kingdome and would enact good lawes and the same in good faith keepe and without mal-Eâ—…gyn Which oath being most solemnly taken and the sacred vnction performed the Archbishop standing at the Altar forbad him on the behalfe of Almighty God to assume that honour vnlesse hee had a full purpose to keepe what hee had sworne whereto Richard assenting and with his owne hands humbly taking the ponderous Crowne Imperiall from off the Altar in signification as is probable that hee held it onely from God hee deliuers it to the Archbishop who thereupon accomplished all the Ceremonies of Coronation 6 Which Act was accidently hanâ—…eld and auspicated with the bloud of many Iewes though vtterly against the Kings will who in a tu mult raised by the Ocean were furiousliè murthered which though it were afterward punished by the Lawes might seeme a presage that this Lion-hearted King as his by-name Ceur-de-Lion did import should bee a speciall destroier of the Enemies of our Sauiour 7 After counsell therefore first moouer in all worthy enterprises Money was in his first and chiefest cares for raising whereof to furnish the intended pilgrimage he fold morgaged estated and by a thousand princely skills as if he should neuer 〈◊〉 come againe added incredible heapes to those huge sums which hee had scruzed out of Stephen de Turnham his fathers Treasurer amounting to eleuen hundred thousand pounds sterling if some say true all hoorded by King Henry What could indeed be said enough for such a voiage and it was a cogitation woorthy so glorious a purpose so to order his estate as if hee were not to returne at all because looking-backe doth vnbend and soften resolutions 8 As for men and soldiers the Prelats Friars and other Preachers had stirred vp innumerable by their manifold exhortations the Arch-bishoppe of Canterburie hauing trauailed through Wales in person for that purpose going afterward with the King to Palestine where also he died in pulpits and priuate conferences sounding nothing but the Crosse and Passion of Christ calling the world to reuenge his cause vpon the Pagans and setting soules oâ—…re with vehement gestures actions and perswasions But the â—…ngdome of England he ordered thus 9 The onely maine danger of the 〈◊〉 abâ—… 〈◊〉 in his brother Iohn Earle of 〈◊〉 of whose ambition hee was some what 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 knowing that King Henrie not long before his death had intended the Crowne to him to conquer therefore his appetites with bountie and munificence and to take away all murmuration in him for want of Princelie competencies King Richard did as it were share the Realm with him giuing him sixe Earledomes Cornwall Dorset Sommersette Nottingham Derby and Lancaster besides Castles Honors Manors Forests and much other riches and finallie the Earledome of Gloster with the Heire of that Countie to bee his Wife though the Arch-bishop of Canterburie forbad the Nuptialls alledging shee was within degrees of consanguinitie 10 But lest through euill nature or aduise Earle Iohn should conuert those so great gifts to the subuersion of the bestower Hee entrusted him with no part of the Regall power as the Key and secret of his proper safetie but laide the maine burthen of Gouernment vpoÌ„ William Longchamp Bishop of Ely chiefe Iustitiar and Lord Chancellor of England and Papall Legate a person out of all suspition for aspiring to the Crowne whereby was conferred vpon him whatsoeuer either King or Pope could grant for accomplishment of his authoritie so that he might well be stiled Prince and Priest of England as hee was one the most powerfull subiect for the time that perhaps this Realme hath had for though the King had as it were ioined with him in Commission one Hugh Bishop of Durham for the parts of England beyond Humber yet as it hapned in the Consulship of Caesar and Bibulus that nothing was reported
as were vacant alienating them from his estate that hee was onely to be called a King in name rather then for any riches which he had that his Ancestors magnificent Princes abounding in all sorts of worldly glorie and wealth heaped to themselues inestimable treasures out of no other meanes but the Rents and Profites of the Kingdom 31 The King stung with this iust reprehension beganne by their instructions to call the Sheriffes of Shires Baylifes and other his Officers to a strait account for all such receites as appertained to the Exchequor thrusting some out of their places and wringing out of all their full spunges store of coine till hee satisfied himselfe both for the arrerages and interest Out of Ralph Briton Treasurer of his Chamber hee screwzed a thousand pounds and also put him from his place into which by the Bishoppe of Winchesters suggestion who now predominated in Court hee substituted Peter de Oriuail a Poictouine the Bishoppes Nephew or Sonne if Paris say true and so saith hee the Kings coffers otherwise empty and leane were by these means stuffed againe though not to their full surfet For these were but preparatiues to a farther scrutinie and ransacke intended against the Earle of Kent whom vpon the Bishoppes suggestion the King remoued from the Proto-Iustitiarishippe or high office of his Chiefe Iustice and put in his place Sir Stephen Segraue a Knight onely in name Then is a strict and captious account demaunded of the Earle of Kent for all such things as he was in any sort chargeable with as 1. For such receipts or debts as were due to King Iohn or to this King Henry himselfe 2. For the meane profites of such lands as the King was seised of from the day of the death of the first great William Earle of Pembroke his Iustitiar and Marshall whither those lands were in England Wales Ireland or Poictou 3. For such Liberties or free Customes which the King had in Forrests Warrens Counties and else where and how they were kept or alienated 4. For such things as the King lost by Huberts negligence 5. For the wronges and dammages offered to the Romane and Italian Clerks and to the Popes Nuncios against the Kings will by authority of Hubert who would take no order to correct the misdoers as by vertue and nature of his place hee was obliged 6. For the many escuages comming by Carrucages gifts and presents or for the rents of Custodies belonging to the Crowne 32 To all which heades the Earle answered that hee had the Charter of the Kings Father by which hee was freed from giuing any account eyther for things passed or to come and that hee had giuen such proofe of his fidelity vnto King Iohn as he would not endure to heare him make an account Peter Bishoppe of Winchester replyed hereunto that such a Charter after the death of King Iohn had no force and therefore the Fathers Charter and graunt of Priuilege was no reason why he should not stand accountant to the Sonne This defence for money dangers in this sort trauersed or auoyded they labored to draw him in for his head by charging him with sundry Articles sounding treasonable as 1. That Hubert had disswaded the Duke of Austria from matching his Daughter with the King who sought it 2. that he had hindred the King from entring vpon forrain lands to him belonging whereby the King Peeres and People consumed their Treasures vainely 3. that hee had enticed the Daughter of the King of Scots whom King Iohn had entrusted to his custody meaning himselfe to marry her traiterously defiled the noble yong Lady whom he married in hope to bee King of Scotland in her right if shee suruiued her Brother 4. that hee had stolne out of his Iewel-house a precious stone of wonderfull value whose vertue was to make him who had it inuincible in Battle that he gaue that stone to Lewelin prince of Wales the Kings enemie 5. that he by his letters had caused Lewelin to hang William de Breuse 33 The Earle much preplexed with these accusations whither true or false could hardly obtaine a short respite to make his answere Thus that Hubert say the Monkes who for loue of the King and defence of the Kingdome had prouoked the hatred of all the great Lords now being forsaken of the King is left sole and solitarie without friends or comfort Onely Luke Archbishoppe of Dublin neuer fosooke him but with prayers and teares besought the King on his behalfe but could not bee heard against so great opposites on so great pretenses When the cry was thus vp and that the world saw it was no superficiall displeasure into which the Earle was faln with the mutable King there rise forth many accusations sauouring of much malignity round about vpon hope to oppresse bury Hubert vnder them for euer as 1. that he had poisoned the two noble Earles of Salisbury and Pembroke 2. that hee had also procured Falcasius de Brent and Richard Archbishop of Canterbury to be made away 3. that by Sorceries and Enchantments hee had drawne the King to fauour him aboue all other 4. that in the victory gotten against the French by Sea hee forceably tooke many Prisoners from the Kings Sailers and made his benefite of their ransoms contrary to right and that hee had spoiled and disinherited many 5. that hee had without triall vniustly put to death Constantine for which excesse the Citizens of London required iustice against the said Hubert The King hereupon makes Proclamation through the City that all such as could charge Hubert with any wrong should repaire to Court and there receiue immediate redresse This strange course of proceeding did so appale and terrifie the Earle that hee forthwith fled to the Priorie Church of Merton in Surrey where among the Chanons hee sheltered his head for a time 34 The King with his Prelates and Peeres meeting at Lambeth at the day appointed for Huberts answere hee being made to beleeue that the King would put him to a most soule death durst not appeare or peepe forth of his sacred refuge The Londoners were assembled in Armes by the Kinges commaund to the number of about twenty thousand vnder banners displayed to dragge the Earle out of Sanctuary but vpon the Earle of Chesters wiser Counsell the prey was taken out of the hands of a bloudy multitude who mortally hated him for Constantines death and they returned againe to their City The Archbishoppe of Dublin still performing the office of a true friend ouerslips not this occasion and by his importunity obtayned day for Hubert till about Twelfe-tide then next ensuing and the King for his assurance during the Interim giues him letters Patents Hubert thinking himselfe secure for the present is now vpon his way toward his wife at the Abbey of Saint Edmund in Suffolke but his enemies so preuailed by their suggestions
that Sir Godfrey de Crancumb Knight with three hundred armed men was sent to apprehend the Earle in Essex Hee hauing intelligence of their approach fledde into a Chappell at Brentwood which adioyned to his lodging from whence those rough Souldiers haled him hee holding in one hand a Crucifix and in the other the Sacrament and sent for a Smith to make for him shackels of yron But when the Smith vnderstood that it was for Hubert de Burgh Earle of Kent he refused vttering such words if Mathew Paris doe not Poetize as did well shew that honourable thoughts are somtimes found in the hearts of men whose fortunes are farre from honour for hauing first drawne a deepe sigh hee said Doe with mee what yee please and God haue mercy on my soule but as sure as the Lord liues I will neuer makeyron shackles for him but will rather die the worst death that is For is not this that most loyall and couragious Hubert who so often hath preserued England from being destroyed by strangers restored England to England He who faithfully and constantly serued his Soueraigne Lord King Iohn in Gascoigne Normandy and else where that he was compelled to eate the flesh of horses whose high courage euen Enemies admired he that so long defended Douer Castle the Key of England against all the exquisite sieges of the French and by vanquishing them at Sea brought safety to the Kingdome What need I rehearse his excellent doings at Lincolne and Bedford Let God be iudge between him and you for vsing him so vniustly and inhumanely repaying good with euill nay requiting his most excellent deserts with the worst recompence that can be But Sir Godfrey and his blacke band regarded not such speeches but otherwise binding the Earle hard they set him on horsebacke and so conuayed him to the Tower of London 35 This breach of Sanctuary being made knowne to Roger Bishoppe of London whose Diocesse it was he confidently tels the King that if the Earle were not restored to the Chappell hee would excommunicate all the Authors of that outrage The Earle is accordingly restored but the Sheriffes of Essex and Hertford at the Kings commandement with the powers of their counties besiege the Chappell so long that at last they hauing cast a Trench about it that none might goe in or out the Earle was compelled to come forth and render himselfe bearing all things with an equall mind as one that had a cleare conscience before God which hee professed to haue While the Chappell was thus beset round the Kings indignation was so violent that hee forbad all men once to make mention of Hubert in his hearing No maruaile then if it bee said that the Princes indignation is death The Archbishoppe of Dublin neuerthelesse was not deiected but with praiers and teares besought the King who remained as yet inexorable Huberts enemies possessing his soule and senses Hubert therefore is againe imprisoned in the Tower There was no sacrifice as it seemes could appease the Kings iâ—…e but that of the Earles Hoord of gold and other riches which the Knights Templars had in their custodie vpon trust without Huberts consent refused to deliuer Hubert therefore willingly yeelds which when the Depositaries did giue vp the value seemed incredible This hoording perhaps was Huberts crime whereof being thus purged he had hope to recouer out of these deadly pangs and conuulsions of fortune and himselfe to bee made capable of curing Well the king obtains this precious booty but his enemies would haue his bloud also saying sith hee was conuicted of theft and fraud it was meet he should die a most shamefull death It seemes they thought that the verie finding of so much treasure was a conuiction of fraud in the getting and that the King must bee interpreted to haue lost whatsoeuer the Earle had gained But the displeasure of the King was mollified with this golden balme for hee answered them thus Hubert from his childhood hath as I haue heard faithfully enough serued my vncle King Richard and my Father King Iohn and if he haue done ill towards me hee shall neuer therefore die an euill death For I had rather be reputed a foolish or a negligent King then a cruell Tyrant or a bloudy man toward him who hath long serued mee and mine ancestors nor will I weigh more his euill deedes which are not as yet manifest nor proued true then all his good deeds which are plainelie knowne to the Realme and to vs all Hereupon Hubert had all such lands granted vnto him as eyther King Iohn had giuen or himselfe had purchased There vndertooke for him to the King as sureties the Earles of Cornwall and Warrenn Marshal Ferrars and himselfe was committed to the Castle of Deuises there to abide in free Prison vnder the Custody of foure Knights belonging each of them to one of these foure Earles This Court-storme thus in part ouerblowne let vs take our standings to view what other weather followed and what countenance of things in this Kingdome did next present it selfe to the world 36 The King being naturally as it seemes addicted to repose himselfe vpon some one mans counsell was now wholy swayde by Peter de Rupibus Bishoppe of Winchester who had therefore wrought the Earle out of grace that hee might soly raigne and predominate in the gentle King Which the better to effect the Bishoppe procures him to displace the English Officers and in their roomes to surrogate Poictouines and Britons who comming ouer to the number of about two thousand he stuffes his Castles with them and in briefe did as it were wholy entrust himselfe his treasures strengthes and the Realme to them So that Iudgements were committed to the vniust Lawes to the Out-lawes Peace to Wranglers and Iustice to wrong-dâ—…ers Such as would haue praied redresse for these abuses were interrupted and put off by the Bishoppe of Winchester Among them who were remoued from their places in Court was one Sir William de Redune a Knight and Deputy Marshall to Richard Earle of Pembroke This was to the Earle very displeasant which ioyned with a consideration of the publike cause and danger he associates vnto him certaine of the great Lords as was the fashion of those Lording times vpon euery discontent and in the Company of them aduanceth confidently to the King whom in the hearing of many hee reproueth for that he had through sinister aduise called in the Poictouins to the oppression of the Realme of his naturall subiects of their Lawes and Liberties humblie therefore hee beseecheth him that hee would spedily reforme such abuses which threatned the imminent subuersion both of the Crowne and Kingdome which if hee did not himselfe and other Lordes would so long withdraw their attendance as he entertained Strangers The Bishoppe hereunto makes answere That the King might well and lawfully call in what Strangers himselfe
great displeasure hee had conceiued seeking vtterly to ruine him till afterward by means of the Papall authority hee was restored and in a faint sort reconciled 4 The thing which suited best with his youthfull affections to wit the marriage of young Isabel daughter of Philip the Faire King of France he performed with wonderfull magnificence at Bolein at which solemnity were present besides all others The King of France Father to the Bride The King of Nauarre his sonne The King of Almaine The King of Sicill Marie Queene of France Margaret Queene Dowager of England her daughter The Queene of Nauarre There was also present as no Sunne-shine but hath shadow Peirs of Gaueston the beloued Minion of this Edward whose reentertainement the dying King had so seriously forbidden whom notwithstanding together with his own new wife he brought into England 5 This fatall fauourite of this young King was a stranger borne but a Gentleman and in regard of good seruice done by the Father of Peirs in Gascoigne brought vp at old king Edwards owne appointment with this Prince from whom not to derogate in any point as if hee had without some appearances of worth and value embraced Peirs it is certaine by that which a Knight and seruitor of this very King hath left written that he had a sharpe witte in a comely shape and briefly was such an one as wee vse to call very fine Neither yet was he vnhardie in Arms but of commendable performance whereof saith de la Moore hee gaue proofe against the Scots to whom hee was alike hatefull as to the English till hee was recalled to satisfie such as saith their Courtier did enuie his graces and good successe but of his Christian or morall vertues which onely make men truly commendable there is great silence in Authors though not of his vices wherof wee shall haue occasion enough to speake hereafter 6 At the Coronation of the King and Queen which the Lords would haue empeached had hee not promised reasonably to satisfie them about Gaueston none was neere to Peirs in brauery of apparrell or delicacie of fashion which and for that the King gaue him S. Edwards Crowne to carrie in that pompe greatly encreased the offence of the Lords against him But hee that hauing a King to backe him knew no other means to extinguish hatred but by daring it to the vttermost spared not afterwardes to scoffe and reproach the principall Peeres calling Thomas Earle of Lancaster Stage-plaier Aimerie de Valence Earle of Pembroke Ioseph the Iew because hee was pale and tall and Guy Earle of Warwicke the blacke dogge of Ardern all whom and others he at a Turneament by him proclaimed and holden handled vilely 7 But King Edward was dayly more and more possessed with the familiarity of Peirs who to establish his interest in the vnprudent Prince by sensualities and riotous practises filled the Court with buffons parasites and the like pernicious instruments drawing Edward from the thought of al great enterprises in accomplishment of his fathers will or discharge of his particular dutie to all sorts of vnworthy vanities and sinnefull delights while himselfe in the meane space reuelled in all outward felicity wasting the riches of the Kingdome or conuerting them to his priuate vses For fearing belike that the time might come againe to vndergoe banishment hee transported much treasure into forraine parts and much hee had to transport for not onely by the sale of his fauour with the King to which there was no speeding approach but by Gaueston who vsed to peize the gifts more then the causes but also by the kings prodigality hee had whatsoeuer could bee powred vpon him for though it might seeme incredible he both gaue him his iewels and ancestors treasure and euen the Crowne it selfe of his victorious father not sticking to professe that if it lay in him hee should succeed him in the kingdome 8 The Lords who for reuerence of the King sate downe by their priuate iniuries in hope there would be a season in which their Soueraign might by timelie and sweet admonitions recouer the vse of himselfe not thinking it tollerable to bee now any longer silent and the rather lest that Peirs farther abusing his greatnesse should bring in Forreiners not onely to the preiudice of the English lawes and customes but of their authority also and places preuailed so much with the King in a Parliament holden at London where sundry prouisions concerning the liberties of the people and execution of Iustice were enacted and by corporall oath confirmed by the King himselfe that among them the decree of Gauestons perpetuall banishment was by the king ouercome with a meere necessity for satisfaction of the Kingdome to whom the said Earle of Cornwall was odious vnwillinglie suffered to passe and the king was thereupon regratified with a Subsidie of the twentieth part of the subiects goods The king also tooke his Oath not to reuoke the said Earle of Cornwall frō banishment if it may be called a banishment wherin he had the kingdom of Ireland entrusted to his charge and for the securing thereof against rebels was furnished with men money by the king 9 Yet forgetting that those affections which oftentimes deserue praise in a priuate person are subiect to much construction in a publike and neglecting both his deceased fathers so solemne adiurations and also his owne oath as carelesse of the sequele hee cals Earle Peirs home with whose loue hee was most fondly and most passionatelie transported and as if hee had receiued some diuine benefite gaue him most ioyous welcome at the Castle of Flint in Northwales and bestowed vpon him for wife Ioan of Acres Countesse of Glocester his sisters daughter resoluing with himselfe to retaine his Gaueston maugre all his Earles and Barons or for the loue of him to put his Crowne and life in perill when time should serue In which whether the king or his fauourite shewed lesse discretion it is not at the first sight easily determinable it being as vnsafe for the one with so offensine behauiour to affect immoderate shew and vse of grace as for the other to the iniury of his name and realme to bestow the same 10 The contemptibilitie and vanitie of this effeminate argument detaines vs longer then for the qualitie thereof were fitting did not so much mischiefe issue out of it For Peirs of his owne nature insolent being thus aboue reason or his own dareings aduanced to alliance with the bloud royall was so far from all amendment as hee rather seemed to striue to outgoe himselfe in his former courses consuming so much of the kings treasure and meanes that he had not wherewith to defray ordinarie charges or to pay for the necessaries of his Court The young Queene also tooke herselfe not to be a little wronged by this vngracious mans predominancie thereof
for what else can we call the same since that they betraide thereby their Soueraignes Crown and Life to speedie destruction let it by this in part appeare and moue the world the rather to pitty the seduced 46 Among them who were condemned for rising with the Earle of Lancaster there was one of a meane Familie for whose life neuerthelesse because hee had once serued in Court and was pleasing to some of the Grands or Potent fauourites therein many interceded and pressed the king so farre on his behalfe that he brake out into these most vehement words A plague vpon you for cursed whisperers malicious backe-biters wicked counsellors entreat you so for the life of a most notorious knaue who would not speake one word for the life of my neere Kinsman that most noble Knight Earle Thomas Had hee liued wee and our whole Realme should haue had speciall need and vse of him This fellow the longer hee liues the more villanies he wil commit as hauing already filled my Kingdome with his desperate outrages By the soule of God hee shall therefore die the death he hath deserued 47 By this then it is euident that these tragedies against the Lords were exploited by others in which it is plaine that this King otherwise so deuout to God so noble and so full of naturall good propensions was fatally ouer-wrought by wicked counsell though hee therein bee inexcusable for good nature as wee call it cannot satisfie for publike errours But the condemned man was forth with put to death accordingly the King being most highlie offended that none had entreated him on the Earles behalfe whom saith Walsingham he did in wardlie loue Neuerthelesse he had not long before created the elder Spenser Earle of Winchester and deckt the plume of his fortunes with a toppe-feather taken out of the said late Earle of Lancasters estate that is to say with the Castle and honour of Donington parcell of the Earledome of Lincolne Hauing thus farre shewed the originall of the mischiefe wee will hasten now to the last Act or Catastrophe of our Edwards tragedie onely wee will first remember some intercurring matters 48 You haue heard before how that the Cardinals sent from the Pope had in fauour of the English put Scotland vnder Interdict wherefore King Robert now at last dispatched the Bishop of Glascow and Thomas Randolfe Earle of Murrey to Rome for obtaining release and absolution but they returned without effecting it Whereupon King Robert moued to haue a truce for thirteene yeeres which King Edward accordingly granted and the Pope then absolued the Scots The matters of Scotland seemed thus to be sufficiently prouided for during that time and the rather for that somewhat before the motion for truce the King had caused the newly created Earle of Carlile Andrew de Herkley to be degraded hanged drawne and quartered for treason which hee was conuinced to haue entred into with the Scots vpon whom he had before done speciall seruices as hauing for that cause the Castle and Citie of Carleil committed to his gouernment The truce with Scotland being thus confirmed the King makes his progresse through the Counties of Yorke and Lancaster and the Marches of Wales from whence the late seditious had their nourishments taking wise carefull courses for ministration of Iustice there and preuention of like inconueniences by punishing their Authors seuerely And Iustices void of all corruption were appointed else-where 49 In the meane space the new King of France Charles the fifth a most earnest enemie to the English mens possessions there sought occasions of quarrell with King Edward who while hee consuled at home how to order that affaire the yong L. Roger Mortimer one whom the Diuell saith our Courtier reserued to kindle new dissention with and to stirre vp a most miserable ciuill warre hauing corrupted his Keepers or as some others write hauing potioned them with a sleepy drinke escaped out of the Tower of London getting ouer clearely without any empeachment into France 50 The Spensers both father and sonne the one thus created Earle of Winchester and the other Earle of Glocester aspiring to the fulnesse of command and desirous to leaue nothing in their eye which might stumble their sway with the King failed not to beget immortall enmities both against themselues and the King The Queene tooke their carriage so heinously because besides other things they had abridged her meanes of maintenance while themselues abounded in all riches and magnificence as shee complained That the daughter and sole heire of the king of France was married to a gripple miser and that being promised to be a Queene shee was become no better then a waiting woman liuing vpon a pension from the Spensers 51 Thus was the matter and as it were the Embrion of their common destruction laid and begun in the impotencie of a womans will to helpe out the which with shrewd drifts and directions they encrease her side with Adam Bishoppe of Hereford by stripping him out of all his Temporalties as a Traitour for that hee had supported the Mortimers in the Barons quarrell This Adam saith our Knight was a man of most subtle witte and in all worldly pollicies profound daring to doe great things and factious withall who for this cause conceiuing deepest hate and therefore easily growing deare to the Queene made a great secret party To which Henrie Burwash Bishoppe of Lincoln who for like causes had beene kept from his temporalties about two yeeres ioyned himselfe Neither would the Spensers auarice suffer them to weaken the multitudes of their enemies for they sold the Kings gracious fauour to such as had beene in the Barons quarrell at so great rates that they by granting away lands and Manours to the said Lords Spensers for their pardons c. verie many of the Nobles were empouerished To be short the royall power being in the hands of the Spensers and Roger Baldock Chancellour or of their Creatures and Fauourites this other faction had the generall discontentments of the Realme to worke vpon for their aduantage 52 The King thus guiding himselfe and hauing sent his Brother Edmund Earle of Kent vpon notice of the first troubles with Forces into Gascoigue who gaue some little stay for a time to the French proceedings till they might otherwise bee prouided for it came to this point at last that whereas the King had a purpose to haue gone in person into France the Spensers who were afraid to bee seuered from his person the onely reuerence whereof they knew to bee their safegard and yet not daring to attend him thither or stay behind perswaded the King contrary to the minds of all the rest that the Queene who sought it should goe and negociate her husbands affaire in France She did so and whereas before her departure things were in great extremity betweene the two Nations insomuch that all the French were banished out of
by the Duke of Bury one of the French Kings vncles to frustrate this enterprize he alleaged that the King of England had mustred ten thousand horsemen and one hundreth thousand Archers for his defence whereas the Admirall Iohn de Vienna affirmed that hauing seene the forces of the English they were but eight thousand horsemen and threescore thousand foot and he might well say hauing seene for though Aemylius bring him in speaking to the French King and vaunting that he had encountred them yet nothing is truer then that the English returned out of Scotland without the least offer of battell The Admirall was willing indeed to haue fought but when he saw our Armie from the hil-tops his furie gaue place to reason 50 While the Armie was vpon the way toward Scotland the Kings halfe-brother the Lord Iohn Holland wickedly slew the Lord Stafford sonne to the Earle of Stafford not farre from Yorke being vpon his iourney to the Queene whose fauoured Knight he was For which heinous homicide the King seised vpon his whole estate denying to his mothers most earnest praiers any pardon or grace for his brother Which was to her so greeuous that within fiue or sixe daies after shee gaue vp the Ghost at Wallingford The young Lord tooke Sanctuary at Beuerley and the King by his iustice herein wanne the hearts of the said Earle of Stafford the Earle of Warwick the Lord Basset and other great men of Staffords kindred and friends neither did this empeach at all the present voyage 51 The Scots and French in Scotland seeing themselues vnable to withstand such forces had so retired themselues and all their goods that when the English should come they as Walsingham pleasantly saith could see no quicke things left but onlie Owles That which was greene in the fields the horses deuoured or trampled down yet such harme as the materials of buildings were capable of was done Edenburgh also and the noble Abbey of Mailrosse were fired The Duke of Lancaster perswaded the King to march beyond the Frith or Scottish Sea as his great Ancestors had done to seeke out his enemies but he very suspicious that the Duke gaue him this counsell with a purpose to betray him to destruction by famine and want which he was there to looke for expressed much displeasure and returned The Dukes wordes notwithstanding and behauiour were tempered with much duty and modesty but that would not serue till the Lords peeced their affections together by intercession in the best manner the time would suffer But the English host was scarce returned and discharged when the Scots and French sodeinely powred themselues forth vpon our Countrey and did whatsoeuer hurt the shortnes of time in their incursion could permit 52 To resist and endammage the French there were appointed Admirals for the narrow Seas the Master of Saint Iohns and Sir Thomas Percie Knight the Earle of Northumberlands brother who did nothing worthy their fame or place Only the Townesmen of Portsmouth and Dart maund forth a few ships at their owne perill and charge wherewith entering the riuer of Sein vpon which the renowned Citties Roan and Paris are situated suncke some of their enemies ships tooke others and among them one of Sir Oliuer de Clisson's the goodliest that France had The successe answered their hopes and they were enriched with the spoiles of their aduersaries whom thus they compelled to beare the charge of their proper mischiefe 53 Meanewhile that the French lay at Sluse attending the approch of their kings vncle the Duke of Burie who fauoured not this enterprize of inuasion but sought aswell by delaies as by perswasion and authority to make it frustrate they of Gaâ—…t had gotten the Towne of Dam by the good liking of the Inhabitants to whom the French gouernment was odious For recouery whereof the French King drew his armie prepared against England to the siege of Dam which the same being first secretlie abandoned after a moneths siege and many repulses giuen to the French was by him recouered This and other things did so protract the great expedition intended that after wast of infinite treasure Charles returned home without hauing seene England which was by these meanes most graciouslie freed by God from so dangerous and greatly-feared an impression But that the English might the better endure the same Iohn King of Portugall hauing lately in a great and bloodie battell where some of the English deserued well of him ouerthrowne the Castilians and thereby setled his estate sent into England sixe Gallâ—…ys throughly well appointed for Sea-seruice though as God would there was no need of them 54 Of those French which after the Cloude of warre at Sluce was dispersed into ayte passed ouerland into their Countreys many were taken and slaine by the Gauntiners Their nauie was not lesse vnfortunate for at one time the English of Callis tooke of them eighteene and the rage of weather brake and sunke diuers so that this Brauado was not onely costly to the French by reason of the charges but hurtfull in the losse of time men shippes and hoped glorie Such are the euents of humane enterprises where God is not pleased to giue successe The English thus deliuered from feare make a road into France out of Callis and with a prey of foure thousand sheepe and three hundreth head of great cattell besides an hundreth good prisoners returned safe to their Garrison 55 The multitude of memorable things which present themselues to vs in the liues of our English Monarches is such that if wee did not vse choise and in their relation breuity wee should not relieue our Readers of that molestation with which the vaste volumes of former labours doe oppresse the memorie The Laitie at the Parliament now holden at London had yeelded to aide the King with a Fifteenth vpon condition that the Clergie should succour him with a Tenth and an halfe against which vniust proportion William de Courtney Archbishop of Canterbury most stifly opposed alleadging that the Church ought to bee free nor in any wise tâ—… bee taxed by the Laitie and that himselfe would rather die then endure that the Church of England the liberties whereof had by so many free Parliaments in all times and not onely in the raign of this King been confirmed should be made a bond-maide This answere so offended the Câ—…mons that the Knights of the Shires and some Peeres of the land with extreme fury besought That Temporalities might bee taken away from Ecclesiasticall persons saying that it was an Almesdeed and an Act of Charity so to doe thereby to humble them Neither did they doubt but that their petition which they had exhibited to the King would take effect Hereupon they designed among themselues out of which Abbey which should receiue such a certaine summe and out of which another I my selfe saith a Monke of Saint Albans heard one of those Knights confidently sweare that hee
King is a Parallel There are named to haue been present at this wofull-ioyfull Act Arundel Archbishoppe of Canterburie Richard Scrope Archbishoppe of Yorke Iohn Bishoppe of Hereford Henry Duke of Lancaster who in this serious play must seeme as if hee were but a looker on the Earles of Northumberland and Westmerland the Lords Burnell Barckley Ros Willoughby and Abergeuenie the Abbot of Westminster c. 112 In their presence Richard as yet a King and in his Tower of London but not otherwise then as a prisoner reades the Instrument of his surrender with a seeming chearefull countenance as if he were glad the hower was come in which hee might taste what it was to be a priuate man and hauing otherwise first done and said what then he could to put all right out of himselfe subscribes it with his hand but prayes that his Cosen the Duke of Lancaster might succeed him in the regall gouernement and in token that it was his desire for he must seeme to desire what hee could not hinder hee plucked off his Signetring and put it vpon the Dukes finger Then did he constitute the Archbishoppe of Yorke and Bishop of Hereford his Procurators to declare to the whole Body of Parliament what he had done how willingly where euery one except the loyal magnanimous Bishop of Carleol being particularly asked did particularly accept of the resignation Neuerthelesse it was not thought inough to haue his Crowne vnlesse they also published his shame Thirty and two Articles are therefore openly but in his absence read of all which it was said for then men might say what they listed that he had confessed himselfe guilty In the front was placed his abuse of the publike treasure and vnworthy waste of the Crown-land whereby he grew intollerably grieuous to the Subiects The particular causes of the Dukes of Glocester and Lancaster the Archbishop of Canterburie and Earle of Arundel filled sundry Articles They charged him in the rest with dissimulation falshood losse of honour abroad in the world extortions rapine deniall of Iustice rasures and embezelling of Records dishonourable shifts wicked Axiomes of state cruelty couetousnesse subordinations lasciuiousnesse treason to the rights of the Crown periuries and briefly with all sorts of vnkingly vices and with absolute tyranny 113 We may be assured that nothing could then be obiected so vntrue or incredible but would haue gone for current and vndenyable with affections so throughly prepared Hereupon it was concluded that in all those thirty and two Articles hee had broken the Oath of Empire taken at the Coronation al the States of the Kingdom strange that so many should so concurre in disloyalty vnder pretence of equity being asked what they thought did hold that those causes seemed notorious and sufficient to depose King Richard Commissioners were therefore nominated by consent of the whole house to pronounce the sentence of Deposition which were the Bishop of Asaph the Abbot of Glassenbury the Earle of Glocester the Lord Barkly William Thyrning Chiefe Iustice of the common Pleas and some others The forme of pronuntiation was IN THE NAME OF GOD AMEN We Iohn Bishop of Saint Asaph Iohn Abbat c. Commissioners specially chosen by the Lords spirituall and temporall of the Realme of England and Commons of the said Realme representing all the States of the said Realme sitting in place of iudgement c. 114 The definitiue sentence of Deposition giuen thus in open Parliament there were further named certaine persons amongst whom William Thirning Chiefe Iustice of the Cōmon Pleas was thoght the fittest man by whose lawlesse mouth that vniust doome should be deliuered to the King and who on the behalfe of the Realme should renounce to the said Richard the fealties and homages heretofore made vnto him and to make relation of the whole manner and causes of their proceedings The Regall seate was now reputed void whereupon Duke Henrie riseth from his place and stands vpright that hee might be seene of the people then signing himselfe with the signe of the Crosse vpon the forehead and breast and inuocating the name of Christ he challenged the Crown and Realm of England with all the members and appurtenances His words are said to be these In the name of God Amen I Henry of Lancaster claime the Realme of England and the Crowne with all the appurtenances as comming by the blood royall from King Henry and by that iustice which God of his grace hath sent to me by the helpe of my kinfolke and friends for recouery of the said Realme which was in point of perdition through default of Gouernment and breach of lawes 115 Which challenge and claime being thus made all the States of the Kingdome doe with one consent grant that the said Lord Duke should reigne ouer them The Archbishop of Canterbury brother to the late Earle of Arundel takes him then by the right hand and the Archbishop of Yorke the late Earle of Wiltshires kinseman being his assistant placeth him in the royall throne with the generall acclamation and applauses of the people Lastly in full complement of the present solemnity the Archbishoppe of Canterburie that we may see how the Diuinity as well as the Law of those times were degenerated into temporizing Policie made a Sermon vpon these words in Samuel A Man shall raigne ouer the People By occasion whereof hee describeth out of the holy Scriptures the happinesse of that Kingdom which is gouerned by a man and the infelicity of those Realmes where a Child whether in age or discretion weeldes the Scepter The euill whereof as they had dangerously felt vnder the late King so they hoped abundantly to enioy the other in King Henry To all which the whole Auditorie ioyously answered Amen Then rose the affable new Monarch among a few other words hee gaue the world to vnderstand that none should thinke hee would as by way of Conquest disinherite any man certaine bad members onelie excepted 116 From henceforth hee was taken for King and all Writs issued and went forth in his name which disorderly matters being orderly related to the deposed Prince in the Tower by Thirning the Chiefe Iustice hee onely vsed these words That hee looked not after such things but quoth he my hope is that after all this my cosen will bee my good Lord and friend The Archbishop otherwise inexcusable in those proceedings yet in his said Sermon seemeth grauely and truly to haue described the cause of this effect for quoth hee the child or insipient which are with him aequiparable drinketh the sweet and delicious words vnaduisedly and perceiueth not intoxication which they beene mingled with till hee bee enuironed and wrapped in all dauger as lately the experience thereof hath beene apparant to all our sights and knowledges and not without the great danger of all this Realme Being thus brought downe to the show and littlenesse of a priuate man wee leaue
of the Norrices Bulkeley Grust Bould and other Gentlemen he was forbidden to land at Bewmaris or to haue any refreshment affirming that he the Duke of Yorke was against the Kings intent and as a Traitour The King stoupes so much as to answere the letter letting him to knowe That the suspition vniuersally conceiued of his behauiours moued those effects neuer thelesse in regard of the humble obedience which was now protested he for the easing of the Dukes heart doth declare repute and admit him as a true and faithfull subiect and as his welbeloued Cosen The Duke then aduanceth his practise one step further and writes to the King that Iustice might be done vpon all persons of what degree soeuer which were guilty or noised to be guiltie of treason aiming at the Duke of Sommerset whom he doubted not to ouerwhelme with sleights and calumnics as hee and his had done the Duke of Suffolke 57 The King is contented such weake or treacherous counsels he relied vpon that Sommerset for his satisfaction should be commanded Prisoner to his owne house and Yorke hauing first dissolued his armie should come in person and put himselfe into the Kings hand When he was come he exhibites a great complaint against the pride and auarice of the Duke of Sommerset and cunningly accusing none but him he seekes the good-will of all others A cunning drift as any considering that hereby he deriued vpon his enemie all the enuie of the people and left him single to withstand the effects Sommerset a Prince of great spirit and wit not thinking it reasonable as well in regard of his owne honour as the Commonwealthes interest to endure such indignity presents himselfe to the King against his accuser and resoluing not to be tender-mouthed in the so apparent perill of the King and Realme whose quiet was vndermined answeres Yorke face to face and in plaine termes accuseth him of highest treason as hauing conspired to depose the King and take vpon himselfe the Soueraignty vehemently vrging That the Duke of Yorke might be committed and arraigned to the intent that by his deserued death and the disenablement of his sonnes Ciuill warre might be extinguished praying finally that God would not suffer the enemie of the Kingdome to escape the hand of iustice 58 This had in likelihood beene done but that the publike faith seemed to stand engaged for the Dukes indemnitie he hauing come in vpon the Kings word and also for that the hearts of men were not well assured to the King which by executing Yorke would perhaps haue beene more vnsetled because not looking into the depth of the Kings perill it would haue beene thought that he had beene destroied to gratifie Sommerset and not to secure the Realme There was hope likewise to recouer Aquitain for that Burdeaux had offered to returne Lastly the Dukes sonne and heire Edward Earle of March afterward King was reported to be ready with a great force of Welshmen to succour his father Vpon these and other reasons the Duke is no longer restrained as vpon Sommersets most weighty accusations he had beene and to assure the gentle and indulgent King of his allegiance he makes his submission and solemnely TAKES HIS OATH to bee true faithfull and obedient subiect This was done vpon the tenth of March in the Church of S. Paul in London the King himselfe and most of the chiefe nobility being present as the Dukes of Buckingham Norfolke Sommerset nine Earles the Vicounts Beaumont and Wels manie great Barons Of the Clergy the Cardinall of Yorke the Archbishop of Canterburie the Bishops of Winchester Elie and London 59 Let vs view the forme and words of this Caution vpon which King Henrie measuring other mens hearts by his owne aduentured to repose his life and Kingdome which are these I Richard Duke of Yorke confesse and beknown that I am and ought to be humble subiect and liegeman to you my Soueraigne Lord King Henry the sixt and owe therefore to beare you saith and truth as to my Soueraigne liege Lord and shall doe all daies to my liues end and shall not at any time will or assent that any thing be attempted or done against your most noble person but wheresoeuer I shal haue knowledge of any such thing imagined or purposed I shall with all speed and diligence possible to me make that your highnesse shall haue knowledge thereof and ouer that doe all that shall possible be to me to the withstanding and let thereof to the vttermost of my life I shall not any thing take vpon me against your roiall estate or obeisance that is due thereto nor suffer anie other man to doe as farre forth as shal be in my power to let it And also shall come at your commandement whensoeuer I shall be called by the same in humble and obeisant wise but if I be letted by any sicknesse or impotencie of my person or by such other cause as shall be thought by you my Soueraigne Lord reasonable I shall neuer hereafter take vpon me to gather any rowt or to make any assemblie of your people without your commandement or licence or in my lawfull defence in interpretation or declaration of the which my lawfull defence I shall report me at all times to your highnesse and if the case require to my Peers nor any thing attempt against any of your Subiects of what estate degree or condition that they be But whensoeuer I find my selfe wronged and agrieued I shall sue humbly for remedie to your highnesse and proceed after the course of your lawes and none otherwise sauing in mine owne lawfull defence in manner abouesaid and otherwise haue to your highnesse as an humble and true subiect ought to haue him to his Soueraigne Lord. All these things abouesaid I promise you truly to obsâ—…rue and keep by the holy Euangelists conteined in the booke that I lay my hand here vpon and by the holie Crosse I here touch and by the blessed Sacrament of our Lords body that I shall now with his mercie receiue And ouer I agree me and will that if at any time hereafter as by the grace of our Lord God I neuer shall any thing attempt by way of feate or otherwise against your roiall Maiestie and obeisance that I owe thereto or any thing take vpon me otherwise then is aboue expressed I from that time forth be vnabled held and taken as an vntrue and openly forsworne man and vnable to all manner of worship estate or degree he it such as I now occupie or any other that might in any wise grow to me hereafter And this I haue here promised and sworne proceedeth of mine owne desire and free volunt and by no constraining nor Coaction In witnes of all which things aboue written I Richard Duke of Yorke aboue write subscribe with mine owne hand and seale This Oath he also tooke at Westminster and Couentree at sundrie times Who now can consider the effects of