Treason and to be punished without Remission or Connivance And further That one King do not Receive the Enemies of the other but preserve their Honour Reciprocally And that King 1 Ibm. Edward on his Part deputed no body to Bruges at the time appointed to make the Exchange of the Treaty and Renunciations 2 Ib. f. 694. A. B. That instead of delivering the Fortresses and Garrisons he held in France at his own Charge as he was expresly bound by the Treaty he kept many in his own Name under pretence of Wages due to the Soldiers as then unpaid and seized upon others and continued the War in effect by those of his Party who changed their Names and called themselves Companions who would not yield the Places they held without an unreasonable Redemption or Payment for the quitting of them Further That he took no notice of the Difference between his Son-in-Law John Montfort and Charles Earl of Blois concerning the Dutchy of Bretagne as by the Treaty he was equally bound to do as the King of France was but suffered the War to continue there to weaken the Force of France and to prevent the Return of the Companions into England lest that might have been too great Charge and Trouble to him That he never kept his Faith with France Lastly That he had done Homage and sworn Fealty to the King of France as to his Superiour Lord for the Dutchy of Aquitan Earldom of Ponthieu c. Mezeray 3 Fol. 388. writes That King Edward thought himself absolute Soveraignt in Guyen by the Treaty of Bretigny but as on his side he had not Disbanded his Soldiers and moreover he had committed divers Hostilities the King of France pretended that Treaty was null and void and that therefore he remained still a Vassal to the Crown And that it was upon this foot that All the Lands the King of England held in France declared so feit and to be confiscated for Rebellion Contempt and Disobedience he sent to declare War against him And afterwards his Parlement being assembled on Ascension-Eve sitting in his Seat of Justice made a Decree by which for Rebellion Contempt and Disobedience they declared forfeit and confiscated all those Lands the King of England held in France But beyond this Pretence in the Declaration of the Confiscation of the Dukedom of Aquitan against King Edward and the Prince of Wales by Charles V. King of France Dated at Vincennes the 14th of May 1370. it is positively affirmed That the Superiority and Resort of the whole Dukedom of Aquitan and the other Lands delivered and assigned to the English by that Treaty were especially and expresly reserved to his Father himself and Successors See the Instrument it self in Codex Juris Gentium Diplomaticus Fol. 229. Paragraph 1. wherein they are said to have violated the Peace they solemnly Sware to maintain and for that their Rebellion there so called their Contempt and Vsurpation of the Superiority and Resort of the Dukedom of Aquitan and other Lands and many other Crimes there mentioned that Dukedom c. was decreed Confiscate and to be annexed to the Crown of France The War being open the King 1 Claus 43 Ed. III. M. 24. Dors A. D. 1369. Summoned a Parlement to meet on the Octaves of Holy Trinity or the next Sunday after that Feast being May 27. this Year 2 Rot. Parl. 43 Ed. III. n. 1. A Parlement called The cause of Summons The King Prelates Dukes Earls Barons Knights Citizens and Burgesses being in the Painted Chamber the Bishop of Winchester then Chancellor shewed the cause of Summons telling them That the King in all his great Business touching himself and the Kingdom had in all times done and wrought de tout temps ad fait overs c. by the Counsel and of the Great Men and Commons of the Realm who he found in all his Affairs Good and Loyal for which he thanked them and would not any thing should be unknown to them He further told them That with their Advice and An account of the Transactions between K. Edward and his Adversary of France Counsel he had made Peace with his Adversary of France upon certain Conditions That he should cause to be delivered unto him certain Lands and Countries beyond Sea and also pay him certain Sums of Money at certain times appointed in the Peace and that he should lay aside the Use of Resort in all the Lands and Countries of Gascon and all the Lands and Countries which the King held beyond Sea and that he was to part with the Name and Title of the King of France for the same time pur His unfaithful Dealing with K. Edw. mesme le temps That his Adversary had wholly failed to make Delivery of the Lands and Countries so Agreed to be Delivered by the Peace and of his Payment also That nevertheless he had received the Appeals of the Earl of Armynak the Lord de la Bret and others which were the King's Lieges in Gascon and by virtue of their Appeals had caused to be Summoned the Prince of Gascoigne to appear before him at Paris le Prince de Gascoigne dapparer devant luy a Paris c. the first Day of May last past to Answer their Appeals against the Form of the Peace 3 Ibm. n. 2. And further That he had sent a great Number of Men at Arms and others into the Countries of Gascoigne and there by force had taken Towns Castles Fortresses and other Places killed some of the King's Liege People taken others and imprisoned them in expectation of great Ransoms The like also he had done in Ponthieu And because of these things done in the Principality against the Form of the Peace 4 Ibm. n. 3. the Prince sent solemn Messengers to inform the King he had called to him the most Wise Men of the Principality and treated with and propounded to them whether by reason of these things he might not by Right and Reason retake upon him and use the Name of King of France who answered and affirmed the King might do it by Right and Good Faith de Droit bon Foi 5 Ibm. Upon which Point the Arch-Bishop of Canterbury and the other Prelates were charged by the King furent chargez par le Roy to treat and shew their Advice and Counsel lour Avys Conseil On Wednesday following the 6 Ibm. n. 8. King Edward by Advâ—câ— of Parlement retakes upon him the Title and Name of King of France Arch-Bishop and Prelates after mature Deliberation had upon the Charge with one accord answered and said respondrient desoient That the King for the Causes above-said might retake and use the Name of King of France by Right and good Conscience To which Agreed the Dukes Earls Barons and other Great Men and Commons in full Parlement a ce 7 Ibm. accorderent les Ducs Countes Barons autres Grants
Silver to be paid in Nine Years by equal Payments the first whereof to begin at the Purification of the Virgin next coming after the Date of the Treaty or within Fifteen days after and to be made at Berwic if in the hands of the English otherwise at Norham-Castle in Northumberland not far from thence 2. That there should be a Truce upon sufficient Security by Instruments and Oaths between King Edward and all his People of England Scotland and the Isle of Man and David de Bruys and all the other People of Scotland and their Adherents by Land and by Sea in all Places without Fraud or Deceit until the said Sum was fully paid and that Edward de Baliol and other his Allies and Adherents should be comprised within the Truce 3. That all People of one Part and the other during the Truce A Truce for 9 years between England and Scotland with the Articles might Negociate and have intercourse one with another by Land and by Sea except Castles and Fortified Towns and Places And that if during the Truce any Country Town Land Burgh Possession Castle or Person of what Estate or Condition soever he was at the Day of making this Agreement should be taken or received into the Faith or Peace of one Party from the other soit pris ou receu de une Foi ou Pees a lautre that full Restitution should be made without Delay Contradiction or Fraud the same Hour they were demanded 4. That for the Payment of the Money according to the Agreement David was to send Twenty Hostages into England who were Twenty of the Eldest Sons and Heirs of the Earls and Best Men of Scotland named in this Article to remain there until the Money was paid c. 5. That the said David and the other Great Men of the Kingdom of Scotland as well Bishops and Prelates as other Lords of the Land should be bound by Letters and Oaths in the best manner and form could be devised for the Payment of the Money and Observation of the Truce And that the Merchants and Comunes of Aberdeen Dundee Perth and Edinburgh should be bound accordingly for themselves and all other Merchants of that Kingdom for the Performance of the Payment and Truce 6. That if the said David or others that should be bound for the Payment of the Money should fail of Payment of any of the Terms then the Body of David was to be re-entred into the Castle of Norham within three Weeks after every Failure there to remain until the Sum was paid 7. That if there should be any Rebels in Scotland against David item in cas que auscuns Rebelx Descoce soient contre le dit David they should not be received maintained ir supported by any in the Faith of King Edward Or if any in the Faith of King Edward should rise or rebell against him or his Officers he should not be received maintained or supported by the said David or any in his Faith or Legiance 8. By the Advice and Assent of the Prelates Great Men and Sages of the Kingdom King Edward accepted the Treaty and promised and granted in Good Faith That if David the Prelates Great Men and others of Scotland of his Party would observe and perform as much as belonged to them the Things treated and agreed upon That he would also keep and perform and cause to be observed the same without Fraud or Deceit according to the Purport of the Treaty In Witness and Confirmation whereof King Edward made his Letters Patents Dated at Westminster on the 5th of October This Treaty and all others before proved ineffectual 2 Hect. Boeth f. 326 b. n. 50. A new Treaty because the Scots would not consent to the Terms and Conditions of the Release Yet the Endeavours and Mediation before mentioned were continued and on the Third of October this Year Commissioners on both sides met at Berwic for King Edward 3 Rot. Scot. 31 Ed III. M M. 2. Dors A. D. 1357. The Commissioners on both sides John Arch-Bishop of York Thomas Bishop of Duresme Gilbert Bishop of Carlisle Henry de Percy Ralph Neville Henry le Scrope and Thomas Musgrave For Robert Steward Guardian of Scotland and the Prelates Lords and Commons of that Kingdom William Bishop of St. Andrews Thomas Bishop of Catness Patrick Bishop of Brechin Chancellor of Scotland Patrick Earl of March Robert de Irskin and William de Levington Knights When it was Agreed 1. That King David should be Released set Free and Ransomed for The Articles of a 10 years Truce K. David to be released an Hundred thousand Mercs Sterling Money to be paid yearly by Ten thousand Mercs the first Payment to begin at Midsummer then next following 2. That there should be a Truce kept and observed in England Scotland and the Isle of Man until the Money was paid And That Edward de Baliol and all King Edward's Allies should be included in this Truce 3. That for Payment of his Ransom Twenty Hostages should be delivered by King David there named in the Conditions of their Delivery 4. That King David the Prelates and Peers of Scotland should This and the former Truce to be observ'd be bound by Writing and Oath for Payment of the Money and Observation of the Truces 5. That if the Money was not paid as agreed they should be obliged to return the Body of King David who was to remain Prisoner while it was paid according to every Term of Payment These and some other Articles were the Conditions upon which he was released after more than Eleven Years Imprisonment King David was no sooner returned into Scotland after his Deliverance but he began to chastise 4 Hect. Boeth ut supra n. 60 70 80. K. David punished such as deserted him at the Battel of Durham such as deserted him and left the Field at the Battel of Durham And first he deprived Robert Stewart of the Right of Succession and declared Alexander Sutherland who was his own Sister's Son his Successor Robert Stewart being Son to the Daughter of the First Wife of Robert Brus and caused all the Nobility of Scotland to Swear Fealty to him But Alexander dying soon after he established Robert Stewart in the Succession according to his Right and caused the Nobility again to Swear Fealty to him He took away part of the Earl of the Marches Estate another Great Officer in the Army and punished others according to their Deserts It is not much to the Purpose of this History what the Troubles The Troubles and Confusions in France during King John's absence and Confusions were in France and the Miseries of that Nation during King John's Captivity or rather his Absence only from the French People they may be seen in the French Historians by such as desire to know them The bold Behaviour of the Provost of the Merchants and Parisians against the Dauphin the Insolence of the Rustics against the
Grands by their great Devotion and Gifts to Holy Church were in peaceable possession to give the Churches and Benefices as Holy King Edward gave the Bishoprick of Worcester to St. Wulstan and afterward by Devotion of the Kings it was granted and by the Court of Rome confirmed That the Cathedral Churches should have free Election of their Prelates so as the Bishopricks by true Election and other Benefices of Holy Church were given Charitably not out of Covetousness or by Simony to the most Worthy of the Clergy of Strictest Lives and holy Conversation that could be found such as would reside upon their Benefices Preach Visit and Confess their Parishioners and spend the Goods of Holy Church to the Honour of God and in Works of Charity according to the Devotion and Intent of the Donors And so long as these good Customs were used the Kingdom was prosperous the People good and Loyal there was Peace and Quiet and sufficient of Treasure Grain Cattle and other Riches but since these good Customs have been perverted Covetousness and Simony advanced the Kingdom hath been full of Adversities le Roialme ad este plien des diverses adversitez as Wars Pestilence Famine Murrein amongst Cattle and other Grievances whereby the Kingdom was so much empoverished and destoyed that there were not the Third part of the People or other Things in it for the Cause abovesaid and what follows Also it is to be thought on That no Man in the World who loved God Holy Church the King and Kingdom of England but had great Reason to think Sorrowfully of things and Weep That the Court of Rome that was wont to be the Fountain Root and Source of Sanctity and Destruction of Covetousness Simony and other Sins had so craftily by little and little more and more in process of time gained the Collations of Bishopricks Dignities Prebendaries and other Benefices of Holy Church in England of which the Pope always received the Tax or First Fruits and by his Bulls made several Translations that he might get the more by which Means and by other Payments and Charges the Bishops became so much in Debt to the Court of Rome that they sold the Timber of their Bishopricks had Ayd of their Poor Tenants and the Clergy and all Methods were taken to destroy the Church and Realm of England Also it ought to be thought on That there are many that when they have purchased one Benefice of the Court of Rome and payed the Tax or First-fruits and the Brokers of Benefices residing in the Wicked City of Avinion en la pechere use Cite D'Avenon they let them to Farm and send the Rents to their Brokers to purchase more and greater Benefices even as a Caitif or miserable Person not worth or good for any thing by Simony or Brokage shall be preferred to Churches and Prebendaries to the Value of 1000 Marcs whereas a Doctor of Decrees and a Master in Divinity must be satisfied with a small Benefice of 20 Marcs So as Clercs lose all their Hopes of being advanced as such And for the same cause People forbear to put their Children to School so as the Clergy fails which is the Support of the Church and our Holy Faith declines and comes to nothing Also it ought to be thought on That Strangers Enemies to this Land and others beyond Sea have Benefices Riches and Rents of Holy Church in England which never saw or will see their Parishioners whereby the Service of God and Holy Church and all Works of Charity are neglected the Parishioners like to suffer in Body and Soul their only care being to get the Profits of their Benefices out of the Kingdom And so it is that Holy Church is more destroyed by such wicked Christians than by Turks and Saracens Also it is to be thought on That the Law of Holy Church is such that the Benefices of Holy Church ought to be given freely out of pure Charity without Price or Prayer without the Gift of Gold Silver or any thing else And that Law and Reason will that what is given by Devotion to Holy Church ought to be spent to the Honour of God according to the Devotion and Intent of the Donour and not out of the Realm upon their Enemies Also it is to be considered That God committed his Sheep to the Pope to Pasture and not to Shear them and that the Lay Patrons followed these Examples and sold their Churches as God was sold to the Jews who put him to Death Wherefore they desired the King would please to observe this was the 50th Year of his Reign which was called the Year of Jubilee the Year of Grace and Joy and it would be the greatest Grace and Joy that ever happened to this Kingdom and the most pleasing to God and Holy Church and all those that love them if the things above-said were laid to heart and agreeable Remedy provided for them And then propounded the King and Great Men should write to the Pope as had been before ordered in Parlement The King's Answer was That he had ordained sufficient Remedy before by Statutes and otherwise that he was then applying to and pressing the Pope concerning this matter and was fully resolved to do it from time to time until he had performed their Desires as well concerning the things comprised in this large Bill next foregoing as that which was to follow which was very near the same The Title of this Bill in the Todding or in the Margin of the Parlement-Roll is Bill encontre le Pape le Cardinaux The Bill against the Pope and Cardinals and the other which follows this on the Roll and was almost the same had this Title The Bill and Articles against the Pope and Clergy Billes Articles encontre le Pape le Clergy To both which the King answered as above It is worth notice That though the Second Bill was near the same with the First yet in that the Commons informed the King 9 Rot. Parl. 50 Ed. III. n. 45. 104. there were several Spies who resided in London who had their Spies and Informers in all parts of the Kingdom that gave them notice when any Dignities or great Benefices were void that they might send to the Cardinals and other Persons residing in the Court of Rome to purchase them of the Pope Seeing in these Complaints there hath been so often mention made of Provisions and Reservations for the better understanding thereof here follows the Translation of one of them according to the true Form John Bishop 1 Append. n. 101. the Servant of the Servants of God to the future Memory of the thing Whereas we have understood That the Church of Rochester by the Death of Thomas * Thomas de Windham he died the last of Feb. 1316. See Gâ—dwin Bishop thereof is at present void We for the good Estate of that Church intending the Provision of it for this Turn for certain Causes that have persuaded us
side they intended to have burnt the City of London and to have divided all the Rich Goods found there amongst themselves This he affirmed to have been their Design as he desired God would help him at his going out of the World W. Walworth and other chief Citizens of London Knighted and then had his Head struck off For their Good Service in destroying Wat Tiler preserving the City and giving him Assistance the King Knighted 1 Stow's Annals p. 463. William Walworth Major John Philpot Nicholas Brembre and Robert Laund Aldermen and gave to Sir William Walworth 100 l. per Annum Land and to the other 40 l. per Annum to them and their Heirs for ever And not long after Knighted Nicholas Twiford and Adam Francis Two other Aldermen In the 2 Wals f. 278. n. 50. 279. lin 4. time of these Insurrections and Rebellions the Duke of Lancaster was in Scotland where he concluded a Truce for Two Years before they heard of the Tumults and Riots in England 3 Ibm. n. 30 40. A two Years Truce with the Scots A Quarrel between the D. of Lancaster Earl of Northumberland In his return he was denied Entrance into Berwic by the Earl of Northumberland which mightily incensed him against the Earl On the 16th of July 4 Rot. Claus 5 Rot. II. M. 40 Dors A Parlement called Writs were sent forth for a Parlement to meet at Westminster on Monday after the Exaltation of Holy Cross or 14th of September which was afterwards Prorogued to the 5 Ib. M. 39 Dors morrow of All-Souls which was Monday when it was 6 Rot. Parl. 5 Ric. II. n. 1. Adjourned to the next Day many Lords and Prelates being absent and so unto Wednesday when by reason of the Quarrel between the Duke of Lancaster and Earl of Northumberland who came to the Parlement with great Force of Armed Men and Archers the King They came to the Parlement with great Force of armed Men. caused the Parlement to be Adjourned unto Saturday in which 7 Wals f. 280. n. 40 50. The K. ends the Quarrel time the King composed the Differences between them and ended the Quarrel The Cause of Summons was 8 Rot. Parl. 5 Ric. II. n. 8. The cause of Summons declared to be That they might consider how to procure the Quiet and Peace of the Nation and settle it after the late Tumults and Insurrections to confirm or repeal the Revocation the King had made of the Grants of Liberty and Manumission by Force and Coertion obtained by the Natives Bond-Tenants and Villains That the King was much indebted and in great Necessity for Money to maintain his Court and the Wars The whole Parlement Lords and Commons 9 Ibm. n. 13. The Liberties and Manumissions of the Villains c. repealed by Authority of Parlement declared the Grants of Liberties and Manumission to Natives Villains and Bond-Tenants to be by Coertion in Disheritance of them and Destruction of the Realm and therefore to be null and repealed by Authority of Parlement The Commons 1 Ibm. The Commons desire certain Prelates and Lds. to treat with them The King prayed the King to have certain Prelates and Lords to comune with them about their Charge for that the Matters very highly concerned the State of the Realm and it was much to the Purpose to have their Advice The Answer 2 Ibm. n. 14. grants their Request was They should give in the Names to the King in Writing of such as they desired that he might advise about it Which was done and the King granted their Desire le Roy lour Grantast al Effect qils furent Demandez And the Commons further * Ibm. n. 16. The Commons pray the King the Prelates by themselves the Great Lds. by themselves and the Kâ—s by themselves and the Justices by themselves might treat about their Charge and their Advice reported to theâ— This was contrary to the Practice and Custom of Parlement which the K. would have observed prayed the King That the Prelates by themselves the Great Lords Temporal by themselves the Knights by themselves the Justices by themselves and all other Estates singly might be charged to treat and comune about their Charge and that their Advice might be reported to the Commons To which it was answered Tha the King had charged the Lords and other Sages to comune and treat diligently upon the said Matters But the ancient Custom and Form of Parlement had always been That the Commons should first report their Advice upon the Matters given them to the King and Lords of Parlement and not on the contrary and therefore the King would that the ancient and good Customs and Form of Parlement should be kept and observed After the Commons had conferred 3 Ibm n. 17. The Commons complain of the ill Government of toâ— Kingdom with the Lords they returned into the Parlement and made great Complaint of the ill Government of the Realm which if not amended the Kingdom would be in short time ruined They complained of the Government about the King's Person his Court the over-great Number of his Servants of the Chancery Kings-Bench Common-Pleas Exchequer of grievous Oppressions in the Country par la Outrageouse Multitude de Braceurs des Quereles Mainteinours qi sout come Roys en Pais que Droit ne Loy est a poy fait c. by the great Multitude of Bracers of Quarrels and Maintainers who behaved themselves like Kings in the Country so as there was very little of Law or Right and of other things which they said were the cause of the late Commotion Rumor and Mischiefs of the Land and requested they might be amended The King 4 Ibm n. 18. Certain Lords and others assigned to survey and examin the Government of the King's Person and Kingdom These Lords and others were assigned and chosen by the King See n. 27. by Advice of the Lords and his Council granted that certain Prelates Lords and others should survey and examin the Government of his Person and Court and to think of sufficient Remedies The Persons chosen to make this Enquiry were The Duke of Lancaster the Elect of Canterbury the Arch-Bishop of York the Bishops of Winchester Ely Excester and Rochester the Earls of Arundel Warwic Stafford Suffolk and Salisbury the Lords Zouch Nevil Grey of Ruthin and Fitz-Walter Monsieur Richard le Scrop Monsieur Guy de Bryan and others autres 5 Ibm. The King's Confessor not to come to Court The King's Confessor was charged to abstain from coming to and remaining at Court by the Request of the Commons and Assent of the Lords The Commons 6 Ibm n. 19 20 21 22 23. The Commons Petition the Duke of Lancaster and others assigned to appoint Officers c. Petition the Duke of Lancaster and others assigned by the King to that purpose to place the most valued Officers about the
f. 403. n. 10. A. D. 1273. He receives the Homage and Service of his Vassals there and went into Aquitan to Receive the Homage and Service of his Vassals there in which he found much difficulty from several that Refused to do their Feudal Duties to him but chiefly from 2 Ibm. n. 20. and Mezer. Fr. Hist f. 315. A. D. 1272 3. The Viscount of Bearn denies his Homage He is forced to do it Gaston Monaco Viscount of Bearn who because a Predecessor or two had done Homage and Sworn Fealty to the King of Aragon and he had been much obliged to Alphonso the Second then King denied his Homage King Edward seised upon his Person and kept him Prisoner among his Retinue from whence making his Escape he was driven out of his Country And upon an Appeal to King Philip as Soveraign Lord of Aquitan or Guyenne in favour of King Edward He compelled Gaston to hold his Lands of him In the Second year of his Reign having settled his Affairs beyond Sea 3 Mat. West f. 467. n. 20. A. D. 1274. The King comes for England he took Ship at Bologn in Picardy and landed in England on the 25th of July At his landing Gilbert Earl of Glocester and John Earl of Warren received him more Honourably then other Nobility conducting him to their Castles of Tonebridge in Kent and Rigate in Surrey where they Treated and Feasted him with great Jollity many days On the 19th of August he and his Queen Elianor were 4 Ibm n 30. He and his Queen Crowned at Westminster Crowned at Westminster by Robert Kilwarby Arch-Bishop of Canterbury Alexander King of Scots and John Duke of Britan being present Toward the middle of October following he issued out 5 Pat. 2 Ed. I. M. 6. He makes inquiry after the Rights of his Crown his Military Tenants and Civil Officers c. whether they had done their Duties Writs of Inquiry by the Oaths of Twelve Legal Men to Two Commissioners in every County to Inquire what his Royalties and the Liberties and Prerogatives of his Crown were who were his Tenants in Capite and Military Service and how many and what Fees they held of him Of his Tenants in Antient Demeasn how they had behaved themselves and in what Condition their Farms were Of Sheriffs Coroners Escheators Bayliffs and their Clerks whether they had Extorted Money from any Man by reason of their Office had Wronged any Man or Received Bribes for Neglecting or being Remiss in their Offices c. The whole Inquiry containing 34 Articles About the beginning of November the King of France sent to the King of England to * Append. n. 6. A. D. 1275. The King summoned as a Peer of France appear in his Parlement to be holden on the Morrow of the Quindene of the Feast of St. Martin in Winter that is November 26. to be at the Tryal of a Case between Robert Duke of Burgundy on the one part and Robert Earl of Nevers and Yobend his Wife on the other part concerning the Dukedom of Burgundy and the Appurtenants Who by reason of his Weighty Affairs in his own Kingdom sent Maurice He sends his Excuse de Credome Otto de Grandison and Roger de Cliff to make his Excuse with his Commission or Letter of Credence dated at Westminster November 11. He was summoned as a Peer or great Vassal of France By his Writ dated at 6 Cl. 3. Ed. I. M 21. Dors A. D. 1275. The Parlement Prorogued before meeting Woodstock the 27th of December following he Prorogues his General Parlement he propounded to have holden 15 days after the Purification to the Morrow of the Octaves of Easter Quia Generale Parliamentum nostrum Quod cum Prelatis Magnatibus Regni proposuimus habere London ad Quindenam Purificationis Beatae Mariae Virginis proximo futur Quibusdam certis de causis prorogavimus usque in Crastinum claus Paschae proxim sequent c. Teste Rege apud Woodstock 27 die Decemb. Directed to Robert Arch-Bishop of Canterbury In which Parlement holden upon the Monday after Easter in the year 1276 he made Excellent Laws both for Church and State and for the Ease and Benefit of both The Preamble whereof here follows 7 Stat. at Large 3 Ed. I. A. D. 1276. Excellent Laws made both for Church and State These be the Acts in French the Establishments of King Edward Son to King Henry made at Westminster at his first Parlement General after his Coronation on the Monday of Easter Vtas in French on the Morrow of the Close of Easter which was the same day the 3d year of his Reign By his Council and by the Assent of Arch-Bishops Bishops Abbats Priors Earls Barons and all the Commonalty of the Realm being thither summoned because our Sovereign Lord the King had great Zeal in the French Will and Desire to Redress the State of the Realm in such things as required Amendment for the common Profit of Holy Church and the Realm and because the State of the Realm so in the French and of Holy Church had been evil kept and the Prelates and Religious People of the Land grieved many ways and the People otherwise Intreated then they ought to be and the Peace less kept and the Laws less used and the Offenders less punished then they ought to be by reason whereof the People of the Land feared the less to offend The King hath Ordained and Established these Acts in the French Things underwritten which he intendeth in the French understandeth to be necessary and profitable for the whole Realm First the King Willeth and Commandeth That the Peace of Holy Church and of the Land be well kept and maintained in With a saving to the King of the Rights of the Crown all Points and that common Right be done to all as well Poor as Rich without Respect of Persons This Statute is called Westminster the First and contains 51 Chapters and the 50th was A 8 In Tottel's Magna Charta 't is Chap. 49. in Mag. Charta Printed 1602 't is Chap. 50. saving to the King of the Rights of his Crown notwithstanding these Grants were made to the Honour of God and Holy Church for the common Good of the People and the Ease of such as were Grieved Thomas Wickes says this Statute was made by the Advice of the Lawyers Jurisperitorum 9 Chronic. 1. 102. Regni sui co-operante Consilio by which he gained the Hearts and Affections of the Plebesans Quo corda plebeiae multitudinis inaestimabili sibi Dilectionis sincertitate conjunxit Toward the latter end of July 1 Ib. f. 103. Gasto de Bearn submits himself Gasto de Bearn before-mentioned was sent to the King by the King of France who submitting himself and giving Security after a short Imprisonment was permitted to go into his own Country About 2 Ib. f. 104. Simon Montfort's Daughter and Prince Lewellin's Mistress made
his Army could not pass it part of which was cut down and a very large and wide Way made into Lewelin's Country where he Built the two Castles of Flint and Rothelan seised the Welshmen's Lands and Goods and wasted their Country drave them into their usual place of Retreat the Mountains of Snowdon and with the assistance of the Men of the Five Ports took the Anglesey taken Isle of Anglesey The Prince of Wales finding himself not able to resist the Force of the English desired Peace which was 5 Walsingham f. 48. n. 10 20. Granted unto him upon the following Articles 1. That all English Prisoners should be Released freely without Peace granted to the Prince of Wales and the Articles claiming any thing from them 2. That for this Peace and the King 's Good Will he should pay at the King's pleasure 50000 l. Sterling 3. That Four Cantreds and all the Lands Conquered by the English except Anglesey should be and remain to the King and his Heirs for ever And for Anglesey the Prince was to pay to the King 1000 Marks every year The first Payment to begin at Michaelmass then at hand and for his Ingress or Entry upon it 5000 Marks and if the Prince died without Heirs the King to have the Possession of it 4. That he should come into England to the King at Christmass to do his Homage 5. That all the Homages in Wales should be to the King except of Five Barons that lived in the Confines of Snowdon because he could not be called Prince unless he had some Barons under him for his Life but after his Death the Homages of those Five Barons should remain to the King and his Heirs for ever For the Security and Observation of these Articles he delivered to the King 6 Ibm. Security for the performance of Articles Ten Hostages of the best Persons in Wales without being restrained or disinherited And the best Men of every Cantred and of Snowdon by Consent of the Prince were to Swear upon the Holy Reliques That whensoever the Prince broke any of these Articles unless upon Admonition he corrected himself they would Estrange themselves abalienarent se ab eo and become his Enemies in all things they could Also besides these things 7 Ibm. he was to satisfie his Brothers for the Injuries he had done them they were Three Owen and Roderic whom he had put into Prison and David whom he had forced to fly into England The Laity as an Aid towards this War 8 Ibm. n. 20 30. gave the King the 20th part of their Goods If the Reader desires to be better informed or to see this Welsh Affair in a clearer light let him look back into the Life of Hen. III. fol. 578 579 580. and fol. 663. D. E. F. c. Upon this Peace 9 Ibm. n. 30. Leolin Marries the Daughter of Simon Montfort Eleanor the Daughter of Simon Montfort was given in Marriage to Lewelin by the King whose Prisoner she had been The Solemnity was performed at his Charge and He with his Queen was present at it About this time 1 Ibm. n. 40. A. D. 1279. The Earldom of Pontieu the Inheritance of the Queen of England the Countess of Pontieu the Queen's Mother died who had been Queen of Castile whose Inheritance the Earldom of Pontieu descended to her Daughter with whom the King passed the Seas about the Feast of Ascension and was Honourably Received by his Cousin Philip King of France and the most Powerful of his Kingdom at Amiens 2 Alezer f. 319. A. D. 1279. The King and Queen do Homage for several Countreys in France The King gives up his Right in Normandy who there received the Homages of the King and Queen of England for the Countries of Agenois Limosin Perigord Xantoigne in Aquitan and the Earldom of Pontieu in Picardy and other Lands and delivered unto them the Perpetual Possession of them For this King Edward gave up all his Right in the Dutchy of Normandy only reserving 30 Livers of Paris to be paid Annually out of the Exchequer It was in this year that so great a number of Jews were Hanged and Fined for Clipping and Falsifying the King's Coin as appears by some Writs about this Matter tho' the Story is placed by Math. Westminster in the year before He says 3 F. 409. n. 20. Jews Hanged for Clipping and Counterfeiting the King 's Coyn. in the Month of November all the Jews in England were taken and imprisoned in one day for Clipping and Counterfeiting the King's Money who accused many Christians as guilty of the same Crime They were Legally Tried and Convicted before Special Justices appointed for this Service viz. Walter Heliun and John Cobham as the Writs inform us as Pat. Roll. 7. Ed. 1. M. 1. de domibus A. D. 1279. Judaeorum suspensorum vendendis for the Sale of the Jews Houses that were Hanged as Escheated and Pat. 7. Ed. 1. M. 11. de potestate vendendi Domus Redditus Judaeorum Dampnatorum Power given to sell the Houses and Rents of the Condemned Jews Also Pat. 7. Ed. 1. M. 1. de finibus a Judaeis recipiendis for the Receiving Fines of the Jews such as Compounded for their Felonies and Faults 4 Ibm. There were no less then 280 of both Sexes Hanged in London and in other Cities of England Maxima multitudo a very great number besides such as were Fined The Friers Preachers in England who desired to Preach to the Preachers to Convert the Jews Obstinate Jews thereby to Convert them to the Christian Faith and turn them from their Wicked Practices and Unbelief applying themselves to the King obtained a 5 Pat 8. Ed. I. M. 27. A. D. 1280. Writ to all Sheriffs Bayliffs and other Liege People to admonish and induce the Jews in all Places to come and hear their Preaching without Blasphemy or Disturbance at such times as the Friers Preachers should direct The Title of the Writ in the Margin of the Roll De praedicando Judaeis about Preaching to the Jews And to promote their Conversion and for their Support when Converted 6 Ibm. Part. 1. M. 15. Dors orintus Maintenance granted to the Converted Jews the King granted that toward their Maintenance they should have half the forfeited Estates of the Jews distributed for their Maintenance and the other half should go to the House of Converts now the Rolls in Chancery-Lane London for the Support of Converts there and further that the Moiety of the forfeited Estates of the Jews and all Deodands be distributed in Alms according to the Patent pro sustentatione Judaeorum Conversorum for the Sustentation of the Converted Jews Yet for all this Incouragement the Preachers made no Work of They remain obstinate and unconverted it the Jews remained so still they were the same Vsurers and Brokers accounted then Wicked People as before and the same Infidels Only some Poor
Jews rather to get a Livelihood then out of Affection to Christ or Christianity pretended to be Converts for about Ten years after they were all Banished the Kingdom as appears by these Writs De Judaeis Regno Angliae Exeuntibus Of the Jews going out of England Claus 18 Ed. I. M. 6. And De passagio conductu Judaeorum Angliae for the Passage and Conduct of the Jews of England Pat. 18 Ed. I. M. 14. In the Tenth of this King 7 Mat. West f. 410. n. 50. A. D. 1282. The Welsh surprise the King 's Justitiary Lewelin Prince of Wales and his Brother David on Palm-Sunday night surprised the Lord Roger de Clifford the King 's Justiciary there killed many of his Servants wounded bound and sent him Prisoner to the Mountain of Snowdon committing great Ravages killing the People and destroying a great part of the Marches The King scarce believing the News at first upon better Information sent the Barons of the Exchequer and Justices of the Bench Justiciarios de Banco to Shrewsbury to put the Laws in Execution and followed them with an Army built a large Bridge over the River Conwey of Boats or as the Historian says Ships and possessed himself of the Country about Snowdon and gave many Shares of those Lands to his Barons and others that had faithfully assisted him Over this Bridge many of the Nobles of the King's Army passed out of Anglesey to view and observe the Country who affrighted with the Multitude and Clamour of the Welsh coming upon them hasting to return from whence they came were drowned in their Passage The Welsh incouraged by this Accident which they would have a Miracle non infortunio sed miraculo ascribentes pressed their Prince to Act like a Man of Courage and it would not be long e're according to Merlin's Prophecy he should wear the Crown of Brute Whereupon with a great Army he descended into the Plains and left his Brother David to defend the Mountains Where Edmund the Son of the Famous Roger Mortimer then dead with some other Marchers set upon them and without considerable damage to themselves The Welsh routed Lewlin's Head struck off slew a great number of the Welsh in which Conflict Lewelin's Head was struck off presented to the King and sent to London and set upon the Tower Walsingham 8 F. 50. n. 10 20. A. D. 1283. Relates this Story in the year 1283 the 11th of Edward I. and that this Battle was six days before the Feast of St. Lucy that year and says that the Welsh besieged Rothelan Castle now Radland in Flintshire and that upon King Edward's coming towards them they quitted the Siege and retired Tho. Wikes Reports it in the year 1281 and varies also from the others in the Story it self and whether any of them be true in that or not certain it is they are all false in the time as is evident from the Records hereafter cited The King 9 Append. n. 7. to the Sheriff of Norf. and Suff. Greeting Whereas Lewelin the Son of Griffin and other Welshmen his Accomplices and our Enemies and Rebels have so often in the times of us and our Progenitors disturbed the Peace of England and do still continue in the same Course And for that by the Advice of our Great Men and the whole Community of the Land we propound finally to repress their Rebellion and Instability so as it shall not be in their power to disturb the Peace of the Nation when they please altho it seems to be a very great Charge and Difficult Vndertaking We Command you that you cause to come before us on the Octaves of St. Hillary i. e. Jan. 20. at Northampton or before our Commissioners all those of your Bayliwick that have 20 l. a year and upwards who are able and fit to bear Arms who are not at present with us in our Expedition against the Welsh And Four Knights of each County for the Four Knights summoned to meet for every County For every City Burgh and Mercat Town two Men. Community of the same Counties having full power from them and also of every City Burgh and Mercate Town Two Men Duos homines for the Communities of the same to hear and do those things which on our behalf we shall cause to be shewn unto them c. Witness the King at Rothelan the 24th day of November in the 11th year of his Reign The like Precept was to the Sheriffs of all Counties in England to cause to meet c. at Northampton except to the Sheriffs of Yorkshire Cumberland VVestmerland Northumberland and Lancashire who were Commanded to cause c. to meet at York The like Precept was to the * Rot. Wall 11 Ed. I. M. 4. Archbishop of Canterbury to cause all his Suffragans Abbats Priors and other Prefects of Religious Houses Procurators of Deans and Chapters of Collegiate Churches to come before the King or his Commissioners at the same time and place to hear and do as before and further to give their Counsel and Assistance happily to finish what he had begun to the Praise and Honour of God the Magnificence of his Fame ad magnificentiam nostrae famae to the perpetual Peace and Tranquility of the whole Kingdom Witness as before The like was to the Arch-Bishop of York for the Meeting of the Clergy of that Province at York After this the King wrote 1 Rot. Walliae 11 Ed. I. M. 4. De potestate data petendi procurandi subsidium Regis in Expeditione Regis Wall The King demands a Subsidy and injoins the form of it Pope Nich. died Aug. 22. 1280 and Martin IV. succeeded Febr. 22. the same year Walsingham says it was in the year 1281 and according to Truth to the Venerable Fathers in Christ the Bishops Abbats Priors Deans Chapters of the Cathedral and Collegiate Churches of the Province of York and their Proctors To the Knights Freemen Communities and all others of every County beyond Trent that were to meet on the Octaves of Hillary or 20th of January then near at hand That for the Suppressing of the Welsh c. and Establishing a perpetual Peace in England which he intended with his whole Heart he had given Power to the Arch-Bishop of York and Anthony Bek Arch-Deacon of Duresm his Secretary to ask and procure in his Name according to the Form to them by him delivered and injoined a Subsidy to his Use of his Subjects of every Bishoprick and County beyond Trent plenam damus potestatem petendi procurandi nomine nostro juxta formam per nos eis inde Traditam injunctam subsidium ad opus nostrum c. Commanding and Requiring them to give Credit to what the Arch-Bishop and Anthony should say about the Premisses and to perform what they should propound to them on his behalf Ex parte nostra Witness the King at Rothelan the 6th day of January in the 11th of his
Carlisle 15 days after Midsummer and to make the Expedition more great and glorious he Knighted 1 Ibm. And Knighted 300 Sons of Noblemen c. with his Son on Whitsunday at Westminster Three hundred young Gentlemen the Sons of Earls Barons and Knights that had wherewithall to maintain their Honour and gave them their Military Garments out of his own Wardrobe 2 Ibm. The Scots Routed and put to Flight Many of the Scots Tried for Perjury and Rebellion and Hanged These with the Prince were to march with him into Scotland against his Enemies They set forward on the morrow of Holy Trinity but before they came there the Earl of Pembroke had fought with and routed the Scots and put their King to flight at Metfen near St. John's Town or Perth 2 or 3 days after Midsummer In this Battel many were killed and many of Note taken 3 Ib. f. 455. n. 40 50. and f. 456. n. 10 20 30. The two Bishops and Abbat the Contrivers of the Rebellion taken most of which were Tryed and Hanged for Perjury and Rebellion Afterwards the King Prince and many Great Men went into Scotland when some received them Honourably others left their Habitations and fled The Army roving up and down after the Fight pursued the Fugitives some they killed others they took alive amongst whom were the Two 4 Ib. f. 455. n. 30. The Bishop of St. Andrews sent Prisoner to Winchester Castle Bishops and the Abbat armed under their Surcoates These were sent into England and imprisoned The Bishop of St. Andrews was sent to the Sheriff of Hampshire to be kept in Winchester Castle as the King's Enemy Rebel and Traytor and by the 5 Append. n. 38. The Sheriff of Hampshire charged with him Mittimus or Warrant he was to be kept in the strongest Tower of the Castle and safely and securely put in Iron Fetters under Penalty of the Sheriffs forfeiting all his Goods Lands and Tenements if he made his Escape By the Warrant no Man was to see or speak with him but such as the Sheriff should appoint to attend him And for further Security the Sheriff was to take as many Landed Men of the Vicinage as he thought fit to assist him and the Custos or Warden of the Castle as his Guard under the same Penalty with the Sheriff if he Escaped The Bishop of Glasco was sent to the Castle of Porcester in the same County by a Mittimus or 6 Claus 34 Ed. I. M. 6 intus The Bishop of Glasco sent to Parchester Castle Warrant in the same Form and Words as also was the Abbat of Schone sent to the 7 Ibm. Castle of Mere in Wiltshire by the like Mittimus directed to the Sheriff of that County The Pope being informed of the Murder of John Comyn by his 8 In Turri Lord. 34 Ed. I. and Pryns Ed. I. f. 1122. The Pope Excommunicates the Murderers of John Comyn Bull directed to the Arch-Bishop of York and Bishop of Carlisle ordered them to Excommunicate Robert Brus and all his Complices until they made Satisfaction and deserved Absolution And the King made Inquisition 9 Mat. West â— 456. n. 10. in Scotland by Men of Credit per fide dignos homines who and what Persons committed the Murder and were present at the Coronation of Robert Brus and took them almost all and put them to death And for the greater * Claus 34 Ed. I. M. 3. Dors in French and Rilâ—y's Appen f. 510. Ordinances made by King and Council for the security of the Peace of Scotland Security of the Peace of Scotland it was agreed by the King and his Council That the Guardian of Scotland should cause to be proclaimed in all Cities Burghs and Mercate Towns and in other Places where he thought fit That all such who were against the King in the last War and were not come to his Peace and others who committed Felonies and other Crimes for which they ought to lose Life or Member and were not taken should be apprehended by any Persons where ever they came and to that purpose to Levy Hue and Cry with Horn and Mouth and pursue them with force from Town to Town Country to Country County to County until they rendred themselves or were taken dead or alive and that those who neglected to do this should lose all their Goods and be imprisoned during the King's Pleasure The Guardian was likewise to inquire after the Receivers of such Persons that they might have such Justice as they deserved It was then also Accorded That all those who were Guilty and Abettors of the Death of John Comyn should be Drawn and Hang'd and those that advised and assented to it and those who after the Fact knowingly and willingly or freely received them should have the same Judgment And those that were guilty of his Death that were or should be taken by force in this War against the King should be Hanged or have their Heads cut off and their Receivers to have the same Judgment And all that were against the King in the War at any time as well before as in and after the Battel of Metfen those who were the most notorious and dangerous of them should be put in Prison where the King should appoint and not to be released but by his Order And those who willingly were of the Party of Robert Brus or were aiding advising procuring or persuading the People to Rise contrary to Law and were thereof Convicted whether Clerks or others were to be imprisoned during the King's Pleasure And it was Agreed That the People of Scotland who were forced to rise against the King in this War should be Fined as the Guardian should see cause and according to their Offence and for the greater Authority and Execution of this Agreement the King caused it to pass under his Seal of Scotland In the same Roll and Membrane there is the Acknowledgment The Senesch or Steward of Scotland his acknowledgment of his Crimes against King Edward made by himself of the Heinous Crimes and Offences of James the Steward of Scotland against his Liege Lord King Edward against the Homage and Fealty he did and sware to him and against his Ligeance whereupon he rendred and submitted high and low and in all things his Body Lands and Tenements and all he had or might have to his Will who of his special Grace Restored to him all he held in Scotland for which being free delivered out of Prison and in his own full Power he again did Homage and and made Oath of Fealty as he had done in the 24th of his He renews his Homage and Fealty Reign and for the sure keeping and performing his Homage and Oath in all Points he bound his Body his Heirs Lands Tenements all he had or could have high and low and in all things to the Will of the King and his Heirs And Willed and Granted for him and his Heirs
Merchants of Friscobald's of Florence who Rented the King's Customs of Wooll Wooll-fells and Leâ—ther and had done so in the Ed. I. Paâ— 35. Ed â— M. 17. Dors Emery and those of his Company of Friscomband should render an Account of the Treasure he had received as he was ordered within the Quinden or 15 days after St. Michael or the Bodies and Goods of that Company which were found in the Power of the King should be arrested and Emery declared and holden the King's Enemy and used as such if he was found in the King's Power on this side or beyond the Sea 22. For that Monsieur Henry de Beaumont to the Damage and Dishonour of the King had received of him the Kingdom of Man after it had been Ordained otherwise by the Ordainers and other Rents Lands Franchises and Offices and procured for others Lands Rents Tenements Franchises and Offices against such Ordinance And for that he gave evil Counsel contrary to his Oath it was Ordained he should be outed the King's Council for ever and not to come near the King unless he were summoned to Parlement or in War if the King would have him or by common Assent of Arch-Bishops Bishops Earls and Barons in full Parliament and that all his other Lands should be seized into the King's hands until he should be satisfied the full Value of what he had received of those Lands given him by the King contrary to their Ordinance and if he contended against this Ordinance then for ever to be Disinherited of all Lands of the King's Gift 23. That it was found by the Examination of Prelates Earls and Barons That the Dame de Verscy had procured the King to give to Sir Henry Beaumont her Brother and others Lands Franchises and Offices to the Damage and Dishonour of the King and open Disherision of the Crown Et ausint procure Demander hors Lettres Desus la Targe contre ley lentention du Roy It was Ordained she should go to her House within 15 days after St. Michael next coming without ever returning to Court to stay there and for all these things aforesaid and for that the Castle of Bamburgh was Parcel of the Crown it was Ordained it should be re-taken into the King's Hands and should not be given to her or any other without the Pleasure and good Will of the King 24. That Acquittances should be allowed for Debts paid and Accounts made in the Exchequer and if the Treasurer and Barons of the Exchequer allowed them not or made them not in due form the Plaintifs should have Remedy upon Petition in Parlement 25. For that common Merchants and many other People are received to Plead in the Exchequer Pleas of Debt and Trespass by reason they are avowed by Officers of the place more than before which ought not to be whereby Accounts and other things touching the King are often delayed and the People much grieved it was Ordained That for the future no Pleas should be holden in the Exchequer but such as concerned the King and the Officers of the Exchequer and their Menial Servants And if any be received by Avowry of the Place to Plead therein contrary to the Form abovesaid such as are Empleaded shall have their Recovery in Parlement 26. Also For that the People are much grieved that the Marshal and Steward hold many Pleas which belong not to their Office it was Ordained they should not hold Plea of Frank Tenement or Debt or Covenant or Contract nor the Common Pleas of the People but only Debts and Trespasses of the Court or King's House within the Verge and Contracts and Covenants of such as belong to the Court and no others and that they should be speedily Pleaded from day to day and ended before the King passed out of the Limits of the Verge where the Trespass was done and if Pleas were held otherwise they should be null and such as were grieved might have Redress by Recovery of Damages in the Kings-Bench by Writ out of Chancery 27. For that before that time many Felonies had been committed within the Verge which were not punished because the Coroners of the Country were not permitted to Enquire of such Felonies but only the Coroners of the Houshold who were Partial The Country Coroners without the Verge were to be joined with them in the Case of Murder especially c. 28. For that the People were much grieved that some Persons Bandied together to Kill and Rob them by reason the King by Evil Counsel gave them their Pardons against the Law It was Ordained That for the future no Charters of Pardon should be granted for any manner of Felony but in Case where the King might do it by his Oath Process of Law and the Custom of the Land and if any other were granted it should be void 29. For that many People are delayed of their Demands in the King's Court i. e. Bench because the Parties alledge they ought not to Answer the Demandants without the King and also many of the People grieved by the King's Officers against Right of which Grievances Men can have no Remedy but by frequent Parlements it was Ordained That the King hold a Parlement once every year or twice if there be need and in convenient place and in those Parlements those Pleas which were so delayed and those where the Justices should be of divers Opinions Recorded and Determined and in the same manner Bills i. e. Petitions should be delivered and ended in Parlement according to Law and Reason 30. That Money shall not be altered without great occasion and then by common Advice of the Baronage in Parlement 31. All Statutes made in Amendment of the Law and for the Profit of the People by the King's Ancestors shall be kept and maintained as before and ought to be according to Law and Reason if they were not contrary to the great Charter the Charter of the Forest or these Ordinances and if so then to be null and void 32. That the Law or Common Right be not delayed by Letters of Privy Seal and such Letters to be void if procured 33. Contains an Interpretation of the Statute of Acton Burnel 34. Concerns the Case of Appellants or Appealors and the Sheriffs and Gaolers Practices thereupon now almost antiquated 35. That no Man be appealed of Felonies maliciously or Outlawed in the Country where he hath no Land or Tenements nor put to Death or Disherited by such Suit or Outlawry he rendring himself to the King's Prison c. 36. For the abatement of Appeals in Suits and Slight Cases in Murder and Robbery if the Appellees were acquitted they should recover against the Abettors and Appellors according to the Statute 37. Against Protections for the Delay of Suits as well in Pleas of Land as of Debts and Trespasses by such as feigned themselves in the King's Service That the Plaintiff or Demandant discovering the Deceit to have Damages awarded him at the Discretion of the Justices and the
August in the A. D. 1319. 12th of King Edward After this Indenture in the same Record we have an Account what was done in the succeeding Parlement concerning the Contents of it And now at the 2 Ibm. beginning of this Parlement 3 Rot. Claus 12 Edw. II. M. 28. in scedula The Request of the Prelates Earls and Barons made to the King in Parlement summoned on the 25th of August to meet at York three weeks after Michaelmas this Indenture was read in the presence of all assembled in the Parlement and all things in it diligently considered the Prelates Earls and Barons agreed to Pray and Request the King for the Honour of himself and the Profit of him and the Realm That for the great Business that concern him and do happen from day to day he would please to assent That Two Bishops One Earl One Baron and One Baron or Baneret of the Family of the Earl of Lancaster in his Name and for him should be present and remain with him by Quarters of the year to Deliberate The Parlement is for Proceeding according to the Indenture with and Advise him in due manner and that they might Deliberate and Advise about all considerable Matters out of Parlement until a Parlement should otherwise Determine concerning them and so as nothing of these things should be Debated without the Counsel and Assent of the Prelates Earls and others which remained with the King according to the Form of the said Indenture and if any thing was done otherwise it should be void according to the same Indenture The King understanding this Request and desiring to be Advised by all ways which may or ought to make for the Honour The King alloweth it and Profit of him and his Realm and considering that when he received the Government he found Scotland in War against him and since that there hath been War in Ireland and many other Disturbances have happened in his Dominions for which he thought it necessary to have with him the greatest and most sufficient Advice he did agree and willed to have Prelates Earls and Barons to advise him in the Form aforesaid and so as his Ministers should always perform their Offices according to the Law and Usage of the Kingdom And whereas it was contained in the Indenture That the Prelates Earls and Barons there named had undertaken by the Assent of the King That he should make to the Earl of Lancaster his People or Party and Followers Releases and Acquittances of all manner of Felonies and Trespasses against his Peace until the day of St. James this year and that the Charters of Release and Acquittances should be absolute without Condition and if better Security could be found for them in the next Parlement they should have it and also confirmed by the King and his Baronage The King by Assent of the Prelates Earls Barons and Comonalty He Pardons the Earl of Lancaster c. of his Realm in his said Parlement granted Pardon to the Earl of Lancaster and his Followers of the Suit of his Peace and whatever belonged to him by reason thereof of all manner of Felonies and Trespasses committed against the Peace unto the 7th day of August last past and Pardon of Outlawry to those that should demand it if any had been pronounced against them before the making of their Charters And Commanded the Bishop of Ely then his Chancellor That he should make Charters under his great Seal absolute and without Condition for for the Earl of Lancaster and such as he should by his Letters Name to the Chancellor Also whereas in the same Indenture it was contained That the And granted the Ordinances should be kept Ordinances should be Holden and Kept as they had passed the Great Seal the King Willed and Granted that they should be so kept and that all these things should be written upon the Parlement Roll and sent to the Chancery to be inrolled there and from thence to both Benches to be inrolled there By the 4 Claus 15 Edw. II. M. 14. Dors in cedula Hugh Despenser the Son the King's Chamberlain Award against the Despensers it appears that Hugh the Son was named and agreed to be the King's Chamberlain in this Parlement De la Moor says in the same year i. e. 12th of Edw. II. he was made Chamberlain by the Consent of the Prelates and others because they knew the King hated him yet he by Prudence and Obsequiousness soon changed his mind and obtained his Affection when they prosecuted him with the greatest Hatred 5 F. 594. lin 5. Anno igitur sequenti Praelatorum consensu aliorum quorundam Hugo Despenser filius constitutus est Regis Camerarius quem eo libentius in hunc locum promoverunt quia eum Regi Exosum The Character of the Spenser's Father and Son Cognoverunt At vero is prudentia obsequio haud multo post dirempto Regis animo eum in sui amorem facile Commutavit unde illi odio eum vel maximo prosecuti sunt Then 6 Ibm. and n. 10. speaking of his Father he Reports him to be a Person of great Integrity Wise in Counsel Stout in Arms whose Confusion and Ignominious End was caused by his Inordinate Love towards his Son a Person of a Brave Presence Proud Spirit and Wicked Life causing by his Ambition and Covetousness Widows and Orphans to be Disinherited and Noblemen to be put to Death by which he hastened his own and his Father's Destruction These are the short Characters given of both the Dispensers by this Historian and a brief Account how the Son came to be Chamberlain In the year following I have not read or seen any thing worth noting In the 14th of this King William de Braiosa a Baron in the Walsingh Hist f. 113. n. 20. The reason of the Discontent of some Barons Marches of Wales and a Spend-thrift who propounded to sell part of his Estate called Gowerland that descended to him by Inheritance to several Lords The Earl of 7 Ibm. Hereford because it was nigh his Lands agreed with him for it The Two Roger 8 Ib. n. 30. Mortimers because it lay near their Lands thought it convenient for them and knowing nothing of his former Bargain agreed with him also for the Land The Lord John 9 Ibm. Mowbray who had Married his only Daughter and Heir thought himself sure of it by Inheritance 1 Ib. n. 40. This Land held of the King in Capite and could not be sold without the King's License and lying on every side next the Lands of Hugh Despenser the Son then his Chamberlain he obtained Leave of the King to Purchase it and then bought it of the Owner 2 Ib. n. 40 50. A Confederacy between the Earl of Lancaster and a great number of Barons against the Despensers See the Revocation and Adnullation of the Process and Award against the Two Spencers
here following The Barons Kill and Imprison the Tenants and Servants of the Spensers This so provoked these Barons and especially the Earl of Hereford that he Complained of the Injury done him to Thomas Earl of Lancaster and they Two drawing a great number of the Barons to them made a Confederacy to live and dye for Justice and destroy Traytors and especially both the Hugh Despensers Father and Son In pursuance of this Confederacy the Earl of Hereford the Barons there named Monsieur Roger de Mortimer the Nephew and the Uncle Monsieur Roger Damory Monsieur John de Mowbray Monsieur Hugh de Audeley the Father and the Son Monsieur Roger de Clifford Monsieur John Giffard de Brimmesfield Monsieur Morice de Berkeley Monsieur Hen. de Tyes Monsieur John Maltravers and many others of that Alliance on the Feast of the Invention of Holy Cross or 3d of May entred into the Lands of Hugh the Younger in Wales while he was with the King doing his Office as Chamberlain by Force and Arms and killed 3 Ibm. They burn pulldown and destroy their Houses and Castles some of his Servants and Tenants others they kept in Prison and some they suffered to be Ransomed burnt pulled down destroyed or defaced all his Houses and Castles and took and carried away the Goods of all sorts which they found upon his Lands or in his Houses and Castles to a very great value 4 Ibm. They carry away their Goods of all sorts From hence they rambled up and down the Country and went into Glocestershire Wiltshire Hampshire and all Counties where Hugh the Father had Lands and begun their Work on Barnaby-day or 11th of June at his Mannor of Fastern in Wiltshire and in all his Lands Houses and Castles and in all things behaved themselves as they had done in those of the Son When they had done these Mischiefs they marched to Sherborn And enter into a Confederacy in Dorsetshire where was at that time Thomas Earl of Lancaster whose the Castle was and others and on Sunday after Midsummer-day they entred into a new or confirmed the old Confederacy The Confederacy of the Earls and Barons against Hugh and A. D. 1320. Hugh le Despenser This Indenture Witnesseth That on the Sunday next after the Feast From the French Copy in the Register of Christ-Church Canterbury f. 242. of St. John Baptist in the 14th Year of the King at Sherborn in Elemede in the presence of the Arch-Biship of York the Bishops of Durham and Carlisle the Earls of Lancaster and Aenegos it was considered That Hugh le Despenser the Father and the Son had ill counselled and moved the King to the Dishonour and Damage of him and of his Kingdom and having heard and understood the Reasons of the Earl of Hereford Roger de Mortimer the Nephew and Vnkle Note That the Addition of Monfieur is put before every of these Names Hugh de Audely the Father and Son Roger Dammory John de Mowbray Maurice de Berkeley Roger de Clifford Henry de Teys John Giffard Thomas Mauduit Gilbert Talbot and other Great Men and others of the Marches i. e. of Wales And notice of Information having been given to the Earls of Lancaster and Aenegos Monsieur Robert de Holland Fonk de Estrange Stephen de Here also the same Addition is put before every of their Names in the French Copy Segrave William le Latimer John Devery John de Harrington Adam de Swimnington William de Kyme Marmaduke de Tweng Richard Walleys Robert Pierpount Ranulph Dacre Edmund Deyncourt Thomas Willeby William de Penington Ralph de Nevill Giles de Trumpyton John de Beker Adam de Hodeleston Michael de Haverington Adam de Everingham William Trussel Robert de Rigate Robert de Richer John de Clifford Henry de Bradbourn Nicholas de Langeford John de Brekeworth Thomas Wycher John de Cliff Thomas de Longuevillers Edmund de Nevill Gaslelin Daniel That the Earl of Hereford Monsieur Roger de Mortimer and other Great Men of the Marches and others above-named have begun Quarrels and Complaints against Monsieur Hugh the Father and Son and that 't is done to the Honour of God the Honour and Profit of the King and of his Kingdom And it seemed to them all that the Oppressions could not be taken off from the People until they had Hugh the Father and Son in their possession or they were banished And it was with one Assent of them all there whoever they were That the Quarrels or Complaints before named should be maintained to the Honour of God and of Holy Church to the Profit of the King the Queen and their Children and the Safety of the Crown and People And so as the Earl of Lancaster and other Great Men which began this Quarrel will maintain it so the Earl of Aenegos and all named after him with them will maintain it with all their Power And whenever the Earl of Lancaster and other Great Men shall leave the Quarrel the Earl of Aenegos and all those named after him may leave it without being accused or questioned for it And to maintain these things the Earls of Aenegos and all others after him put to their Seals This was the part of the Indenture Agreed and Sealed to by the Earl of Aenegos From whence they march to St. Albans plundering Victuals 8 Wals Hist f. 114. n. 10 20 30 40. every where in their March and oppressing the Poor 5 Per viam diripientes ubique Victualia Pauperes Terrae Gravantes from whence they sent the Bishops of London Salisbury Ely Hereford and Chichester then at St. Albans to make Peace to the King at The Barons come to St. Albans and send 5 Bishops to the King to Banish the a Spensers The King's Answer to the Bishops London not only to send Hugh and Hugh the Two Traytors from his Court but also out of the Kingdom The King's Answer was That Hugh the Father was beyond Sea in his Service and Hugh the Son was at Sea for the Guarding of the Cinque-Ports according to his Duty and that according to Right and Custom they ought not to be Banished without answering for themselves The King had 6 Rot. Claus M. 5. Dors 14. Ed. II. He summons a Parlement The Barons came to London with Horse and Arms And keep a Council by themselves come not to the Parlement at Westminster And then made the Award against the Despensers as appears by the Revocation as above The Award made by the Barons against the Spensers fummoned a Parlement on the 15th of May to meet three Weeks after Midsummer or the 15th of July at Westminster The Barons upon the receipt of the King's Answer go to London with Horse and Arms notwithstanding the King had commanded them to come to the Parlement in due manner there they held a Council by themselves and came not to Westminster as they were summoned but remained in London with Horse
349. dying on the 3d of January at Bois de Vincennes A. D. 1322. The Youngest Brother Charles called the Fair 2 Ib. f. 350. Charles the Fair King of France succeeded him and was Crowned at Reims on the 11th of February following A. D. 1322. all the Peers of France assisting at that Solemnity but the King of England and Earl of Flanders This King not long after sent his Envoys 3 Wals Hist f. 119. n. 20. f. 20. n. 10. to cite King Edward to come and do his Homage for the Dukedom of Aquitan and Earldom of Panthieu The King sent wholly to excuse himself or for but a time to delay it by Advice of his Council 4 De la Moor f. 596 n. 20 30 c. He summons K. Edward to do him Homage who made his Excuse the Earl of Kent and Arch-Bishop of Dublin they were honourably received by the King of France but returned without obtaining what they were sent for The King of France took these Excuses for a Denial and sent his Unkle 5 Ibm. De la Moor. n. 40 50. which the K. of France took for a Denial and sends to seize the Dutchy of Aquitan and Earldom of Ponthieu A Truce between the two Kings while a Peace made Charles of Valois an Enemy to the English for the Disobedience of King Edward in not doing his Homage to seize the Dutchy of Aquitan and Earldom of Ponthieu He took Possession of Agen and some other Parts of that Dukedom and went to the Town of Regle or Reole which was Fortified and the Earl of Kent the King's Brother in it which was yielded and upon a Treaty between them Two a Truce was made while the Two King's might agree upon a Peace In the mean time the King accused Adam 6 Wals Hist f. 119. n. 30 40 50. The King accused Adam Bishop of Hereford His Excuse for not answering Bishop of Hereford in Parlement for Treason for assisting his Enemies and Traytors He said he was a Consecrated Bishop and Member of Holy Church and could not answer to so hard a Charge without the Consent of the Arch-Bishop of Canterbury who was his Judge next to the Pope and the other Bishops his Peers The Arch-Bishop and Bishops hearing what he said implored the King's Favour for him who not granting their Request they challenged him as a Member of the Church A few days after the King renewed his Accusation when the Arch-Bishops of Canterbury York and Dublin with Ten other Bishops came to the Place of Judgment and took away their Brother without making Answer enjoining all Men in the Name of God not to lay violent hands upon him Anathematizing all that should do it After this the King being much moved caused him to be Tried by a Jury of his Country who found him Guilty whereupon all his Lands and Temporalities were seized The 7 Claus 1. Ed. 3. Part 1. M. 13. intâ—â—â— His Crimes Record by which he was Restored to his Temporalities in the First of Edward III. reciting the Record of his Trial in the Country gives a more particular Account of his Crimes which informs us That by Inquisition taken at Hereford before the Justices of the Kings-Bench it was presented That Adam Bishop of Hereford was of the Confederacy of Roger de Mortimer of Wigmore who was then reputed an Enemy and Rebel to the King his Father and that he sent certain Men at Arms to his Assistance and then being accused for these things before the Justices and his Father He pleads he cannot answer without offending God and Holy Church nor without leave of the Pope He is found Guilty by Inquisition he alleged that without offending God and Holy Church and without leave of the Pope he could not or ought to answer nor ought the Justices to proceed to take the Inquisition and though the Bishop submitted not to the Inquisition yet the Justices went on and for that it was found by that Inquisition that the Bishop was of the Confederacy of the said Roger and sent to his assistance Men at Arms It was adjudged by the Justices he should as convict remain in the Custody of the Archbishop of Canterbury and that his Lands and Tenements Goods and Chattels should His Lands Tenements c. Adjudged to be Seised be seized into the King's Hands and remained so seized until the Date of this Record by which they were restored Witness the King at Westminster the 16th of February in the First of his Reign After this Judgment given by the King's Justices this 9 De la Moor f. 597. thro' out He upon that Judgment endeavours to revive the Hatred of the Nobility against the Spensers And incense the Queen against them and the King her Husband Bishop used all means to revive the Hatred of the Nobility against the Spensers now laid asleep and incensed the Queen against them upon pretence they advised the King to reduce her Family to a less Number and Retrench her Expences which being a Lady affecting Prodigality caused her Hatred not only toward the Spensers but also toward her Husband He made use of the Opportunity he had in many private Conferences about the times and incited and increased her Indignation as did likewise the Bishop of Lincoln and both Bishops advised her to take an Opportunity of making a Visit to her Brother the King of France and her Vncle Charles de Valois and beg their advice and help against the Spensers which if she obtain'd all things would succeed according to her Desire At this time 1 Ibm. The King intended to pass into France about a Treaty of Peace according to the Truce made between Charles of Valois and the Earl of Kent when he delivered up Reole as was noted before a Peace was to be treated of between the two Kings for which purpose the King intended to pass the Sea himself but the Earls of Winchester and Glocester for such were now the two Spencers dissuaded him lest being left at home without Is dissuaded him or if they should accompany him into France they might fall into the Hands of their Enemies 2 Ibm. The Queen makes means to go into France upon the same Affair In the mean time the Queen by her Flatteries urged the King that she might be sent upon this Message promising to do all things according to his Desire by the assistance of the two Bishops Lincoln and Hereford and others of the Noblemen the King was prevailed with to send her into France where she was kindly received by And obtains her Desire her Brother and Uncle Dum causam mariti agit while she Transacted her Husband's Business who staid upon the Goast all the time of Lent and Summer for more easie receiving Letters from and sending to her Ea interim 3 Ibm. and Walsingh F. 121. N. 40 50. suas res agit In the mean time she did her own Business
of the Marches of Wales and the Butler of Ireland Earl of Ormond 4 Ibm. To this Parlement the Earl of Lancaster the Lord Wake and other Noblemen came not tho' they came armed near to the Place 5 Knighton col 2554 n. 10 20 c. They raise an Army for the Queen against the Earl of Lancaster These new Earls and their Adherents raised a great Army for Queen Isabel against Henry Earl of Lancaster and other Great Men who had not consented to their wicked Deeds and with a great Force of English and Welsh marched to Leicester and there plundered and spoiled the whole Country The Earl of Lancaster was then in the South parts of the Nation with great Force and marching toward Roger Mortimer and his Army encamped near Bedford intending to give him Battel where the King 's two Unkles 6 Ibm. â—â— 40 50. The King 's two Unkles leave the Earl of Lancaster Thus deserted he makes his Submission Thomas of Brotherton and Edmund Earl of Kent left him and submitted themselves to the Queen-Mother and Mortimer Seeing himself thus deserted he made his Submission to the King before the whole Army and was by the Mediation of Simon Arch-Bishop of Canterbury and other Bishops reconciled to him 7 Claus 3 Ed. III. M. 31. Dors making Oath with others in his Company and giving Security by Recognisances That he nor they should attempt any thing upon the Bodies of the King the two Queens nor of any others great or small of their Council or that were about them nor should do or procure to be done any Evil Injury or Damage unto them privately or openly nor Assent to the doing thereof On the 25th of 8 Claus 4. Ed. III. M. 41. Dors A. D. 1329. A Parlement at Winchester January the First Day of the Fourth Year of his Reign the King Summoned a Parlement to meet at Winchester on the Sunday before St. Gregory or 13th of March where on 9 Wals f. 129. n. 20 30. The Earl of Kent adjudged to death in that Parlement For intending to deliver his Brother K Ed. out of Prison the morrow of that Feast or 12th of that Month the Earl of Kent was seized and adjudged to Death 'T is not agreed amongst the Historians about the Cause of his Death Most report it was for his Designing to set his Brother King Edward II. at Liberty being then as was reported and by him supposed to be living and Prisoner in Corf-Castle In the Articles against Mortimer presently to be mentioned 't is urged upon him That he was the Author of the Report to the Earl of his Brother 's not being dead and that he invented it to trick him out of his Life Edmund Son and Heir to Edmund Earl of Kent and his Mother Margaret Countess of Kent * Rot. Parl. 4 Ed. III. n. n. 11 12. His Son restored to the Blood and Lands of his Father requiring the Record made against the said Earl might for the Errours therein be revoked set forth in their several Petitions That his Father and her Husband was informed by Roger Mortimer Sir John Maltravers and other his Accomplices That King Edward was alive after he was Murdered with design to deceive him into a pretended Contrivance with them to release and deliver him out of Prison for which he lost his Life and Estate in the Parlement at Winchester as Mortimer confessed to the People at his Death and that he died wrongfully Whereupon Edmund was Restored to the Blood and Lands of his Father and the Countess to her Dower might have hapned out of regard to the King departed and went toward their own Countries grieving that they might not speak with or advise their Liege Lord as they ought 4. Also The said Roger by the said usurped Power caused the King to march forcibly against the Earl and other Peers of the Land which were appointed to be with the King to Advise him and so prosecuted them with Force that the said Earl and some others of his Company that wished Good to the Kingdom submitted to the King's Grace saving to them Life and Member and that they might not be Disherited nor have too great a Fine set upon them yet he caused them to be Fined so grievously as half their Lands if sold right out would only pay it and the others he caused to be driven out of the Nation and their Lands to be seized against the Form of the Great Charter and Law of the Land 5. Also Whereas the said Roger knew well the King's Father was Dead and Buried he by others of his Party in deceivable manner informed the Earl of Kent that he was alive wherefore the Earl being desirous to know whether it was so or not used all the good ways he could to discover the Truth and so long as the said Roger by his usurped Royal Power caused him to be apprehended in the Parlement holden at Winchester and so pursued him as in that Parlement he procured his Death Also The said Roger by his usurped Royal Power caused the King to give to him and his Children and Confederates Castles Towns Mannors and Franchises in England Ireland and Wales in Decrease of the Revenues of the Crown 7. Also The said Roger in deceivable manner caused the Knights of Shires at the Parlement at Winchester to grant to the King one Man at Arms of every Town of England that answered in Eyre by Four and the Provost at their cost for a Year in his War in Gascoign which Charge he contrived for the Advantage of himself and Party in Destruction of the People 8. Also The said Roger by his Power caused Summons to be sent to many great Knights and others That they should come to the King where-ever he was and when they came he caused them to be charged to prepare themselves to go into Gascoign or Fine at his Pleasure which Fines were for the Benefit of him and his Party 9. Also The said Roger falsly and maliciously made Discord between the King's Father and his Queen and possessed her That if she went to him she should be killed with a Dagger or otherwise Murdered And by this way and his other Subtilties he so ordered it that she would not come at her Lord to the great Dishonour of her Son and self and great Damage to the whole Realm perchance in time to come which God forbid 10. Also the said Roger by his Usurped Royal Power had caused to be taken for him and his Party the King's Treasure as much as he pleased without Tale in Money and Jewels in destruction of the King so as he had not wherewithall to pay for his Victuals 11. Also the said Roger by the said Power caused to be shared by him and his Confederates the 20000 Marks which came out of Scotland for the Articles of Peace without any thing received by the King 12. Also the said Roger by his Royal Power received
at Berkele when he was Murdered The said Thomas saith That at the time of the Murder of the Murder of the said * Note That so often as Ed. the II. is any way mentioned in this Record he is acknowledged to have been King at the time of his Murder King he was sick at Bradelye without the said Castle and knew not what was done nor was consenting thereunto and thereupon put himself upon his Tryal by Twelve Knights named in the Record who found him Not Guilty nor that he fled or withdrew himself upon it but that he placed under him Thomas de Gurney and William de Ocle to keep the King by whom he was Murdered he had Day given him to hear his Judgment in next Parlement and the mean time was committed to Ralph Nevill Steward of the King's Houshold In this 4 Rot. Parl. 4 Ed. III n. 13. Richard Son to the Earl of Arundel restored to Blood Lands and Goods Parlement Richard Eldest Son to the late Earl of Arundel prayeth to be restored to Blood Lands and Goods seeing his Father was put to Death not being tried by his Peers according to the great Charter and the Law of the Land But because the Attainder was confirmed by Parlement at Northampton he mended his Petition and prayed to be restored of the King 's meer Grace and he was accordingly restored Also in the 5 Ib n. 14. A Thousand Pounds per Annum given to William Montacute for taking Mortimer without Bloodshed same Parlement the Prelates Earls and Barons pray and advise the King to give and grant 1000 l. per Annum to William Montacute and his Heirs for his Service in quietly taking Roger Mortimer Earl of March and his Confederates without Bloodshed a 1000 Marks whereof was to be out of the Lands of Mortimer Upon the same Prayer and Advice his Assistants 6 Ib. n. 15. His Assistants were likewise Rewarded Edward Bohun had 400 Marks per Annum to him and his Heirs Robert de Vfford 300 and John Nevill 200. In the 5th year of his Reign the King called a Parlement at A. D. 1331. Westminster to 8 Cl 5 Ed. III. M. 7. Dors Part. 1. meet on the morrow after Michaelmas The Bishop of Winchester being Chancellor 9 Rot. Parl. 5 Ed. III. n. 2. A Parlement called about the Business of France and Ireland And to ordain how the Peace might be kept declared the cause of Summons to be concerning the Dutchy of Aquitan and the King's Lands beyond Sea whether Peace should be made or other Issue put to the Dissentions between the King 's of England and France by reason of the said Lands and also about the Business of Ireland concerning the King's going thither to be advised by his Lieges in that Nation and likewise to ordain how the Peace might best be kept When also it was agreed That the King's Business ought to be dispatch't before any other auxint illoeques The King's Business in Parlement to be dispatch't before any other feust Accorde que les Busoignes le Roi deusseient primerement estre exploitez einz ce que Rien feust fait de nully autre Busoign The Chancellor further 1 Ib. n. 3. The Lords Advise the King to an Amicable Treaty with the King of France about the Dutchy of Aquitan c. applied himself to the Arch-Bishop of Canterbury and all the other Prelates Earls Barons autres Grantz and other Great Men for their Advice whether they thought it best for the King to proceed with the King of France by way of Process or War or Amicable Treaty They all agree in the 3d way by amicable Treaty with the King of France for the Restitution of Aquitan seeing the two former might prove dangerous and to that purpose the Bishops of Winchester Worcester and Norwich two or one of them as the King pleased with the Lords Beaumont Percy and Montague Monsieur Geofry Lescrop and Maistre John de Shordich were to be sent to the King of France As to the Business 2 Ib. n. 4. The Lords Advise the King to go in Person to Ireland of Ireland it was agreed by the King Prelates Earls Barons and other Great Men in the same Parlement si est accorde par nostre Seigneur le Roi Praelates Countes Barons autres Grantz en Mesme le Parlement c. That the King should provide himself to go thither as soon as he could and that in the mean time he should send over some Great Men with Men at Arms to aid the Justices and other Liege People against such as opposed the Government In this Parlement 3 Ib. n. 9. The Queen Mother to have Lands and Rents of the value of 3000 l. a year assigned her the King by assent of the Prelates Earls Barons and other Great Men and at their Request granted That the Queen his Mother not being well paid according to her mind Three thousand Pounds trois mill livres yearly which she was to receive out of the Exchequer for her support should have Lands and Rents of the value assigned to her Then for keeping of the Peace it was 4 Ib. n. 10. An Agreement how the Peace was to be kept agreed in full Parlement by the King Prelates Earls Barons and other Great Men of the Kingdom par nostre Seigneur le Roi Praelat Countes Barons autres Grantz du Royalme en pleyn Parlement chescun des ditz Grantz eut especialment examine assentat c. every one of the said Great Men having been especially Examined and Assenting That no Great Man of the Land for the future shall retain maintain or avow openly or privately by himself or others any Robber Evil-Doer endicted of Felony or Fugitive for the same nor any sued to Exigend Common Transgression or of Evil fame and the said Great Men promised with all their Power to assist the Justices Sheriffs and other the King's Officers in the Execution of Judgments and other things that belonged to their Offices as well against Great Men as others of what Condition soevery they were On the 27th of January in the 6th of his Reign the King issued his 5 Rot. Claus 6 Ed. III. M. 36. Dors A. D. 1331. A Parlement called Writs for a Parlement to meet on the Monday after St. Gregory or 12th of March reciting in the Summons the Cause of calling it which the Chancellor more fully declared 6 Rot. Parl. 6 Ed. 3 n. 5. To advise the King whether he should go to the Holy Land with the King of France To wit That the King of France and many other Kings and Princes quamplures alii Reges Principes so in the Writ had ordered his going toward the Holy Land in that present Month of March and that it much pleased him to have the Company of the King of England for the greater performance against the Enemies of God and for
c. The number of Sacks agreed upon was 20000 for which the Merchants were to pay the King 40 s. per Sack Custom besides the Price of the Wooll beyond Sea 1 Ibm. pur equitter e rt ses dettes pur les ploit de ses grosses busoignes to discharge his Debts and for the Exploit of his great Affairs And it was left to the King's Choice and his Counsels beyond Sea whether the Flemings 2 Ib. n. 11. or Almans should be paid with the Money was to be received of the Merchants Soon after King Edward 3 Rob. Aves p. 90. b. c. 30 31. with the assistance of the Duke of Brabant the Earl of Haynault whose Forces then passed under the name of Flemings as in the Parliament Roll and the Communities or Governments of Bruges Gaunt and Ipres besieged Tournay from which Siege he wrote 4 Append. n. 87. a. He besieged Tournay and wrote to the King of France to Philip of Valois without any Title or addition That he had besought him by Messages and all other ways he knew reasonable to restore his Rightful Heritage of France and for that he saw he would not do him Reason he had enter'd into the Country of Flanders as Sovereign Lord thereof signifying to him That by the aid of Jesus Christ and power of the Country his own People and his Allies he would put a short end to his Claim if he would approach him and advance towards him But for that Two so great Armies as there was on both sides could not long continue together without great damage to the People and Country which thing every Christian And sent a Challenge to him to determin the Quarrel and their Claims by Duel between their Two Bodies c. ought to avoid especially Princes and Governors of the People he desired a brief period might be put to the Matter and to avoid the Deaths of Christians the Quarrel being between themselves that the discussion of their Claims might be determined by and between their two Bodies And if he would not consent to this way then that it might be ended by Battel between them and an hundred of their best Men on either side And if he would not take one of these then that he would assign a certain day within ten days after the date of this Letter to fight Army with Army before the Town of Tournay This was his desire not out of Pride or Disdain but that the will of Jesus Christ might be shewn between them for the greater repose amongst Christians Given under his Great Seal at Clyn in the Field the 27th day of July in the 14th year of his Reign of England and first of France To this Letter he had the following Answer returned * Ib. 87. b. The King of France his Answer to King Edward's Letter and Challenge Philip by the Grace of God King of France to Edward King of England We having seen your Letters brought to our Court from you to Philip of Valois in which were contained certain Requests made to Philip of Valois and for that your Letters were not directed or the Requests made to us as clearly appears by the Tenor of them we ought not to have given you any Answer nevertheless because we understand by the said Letters and otherwise that you are entred into our Kingdom of France doing great damage to us our Realm and our People without Reason not regarding what a Liegeman ought to observe toward his Lord for you have entred into our Homage Leige and recognized us King of France according to Reason and promised such Obedience as Men ought to promise to their Liege Lord as appears more clearly by your Letters Patents sealed with your Great Seal which we have by us Our intention therefore is when it shall seem good unto us to drive you out of our Realm and that we may be able to do this we have firm hope in Jesus Christ from whom all our Puissance c. Given in the Fields near the Priory of St. Andrew under our Privy Seal in the absence of our Great Seal the 30th of July in the year of Grace 1340. Hereupon Philip of Valois 5 Ib. Avesh ut supra p. 91. c. 33. Philip of Valois brought a great Army into the Field but dare not fight The English burn and destroy 300 Cities Towns and Villages And kill a vast number of French of all sorts Both Armies in great want of Forage and Victuals brought a very great Army into the Field as was thought to raise the Siege but he kept at such a distance off the English Army being afraid as says the Historian to engage them that he could not be provoked to fight tho the Earl of Haynault the Lord Walter Manny and Reginald de Cobham the King's Marshal and other Officers of the Army were sent with Parties from the Siege who wasted the Country destroy'd and burnt three hundred Cities Towns and Villages within six Leagues round Tournay and killed of the French Fourteen Barons Sixscore Knights and more then Three hundred Men at Arms. At last both Armies being very numerous and in great distress for want of Forage and Victuals and the King of England especially in very great want of Money the Two Kings consented to a Treaty of Truce until Midsummer next following 6 Ib. p. 91. b. c. 34. The King of England in great want of Money Commissioners on both sides to Treat of a Truce The Commissioners for the King of England were the Duke of Brabant the Duke of Guelderland the Marquiss of Juliers and Monsieur John de Haynault Lord of Beaumont Those for the King of France were John King of Bohemia and Earl of Luxenburgh Adulph Bishop of Liege Raoul Duke of Lorrain Ame Earl of Savoye and John Earl of Arminiac who concluded a Truce between the Two Kings their Aidants and Allies 7 Ibm. upon the ensuing Articles 1. That no prejudice or injury be done by either Party to the The Articles of the Truce other during the Truce and Respite 2. It was agreed That the Two Kings their Aidants and Allies whosever they were should remain in the same possession and seizin they were in at that time of all their Goods Lands and Possessions they held or had acquir'd any manner of way during the Truce 3. It was agreed That during the Truce the Kings their Assistants and Allies whoever they were might safely go out of one Country into another and the Merchants with all manner of Merchandise and all other People with their Goods might go and come as well by Land as Sea and Water as freely as they used to do at other times paying their Passage Money Tolls and Customs as anciently due The Barons and others of Gascoigny in the Dutchy of Guien to be comprised in this Article 4. It was agreed That neither of the Kings should procure or cause to be procured by themselves or
had imprisoned Clercs and others against the Laws of the Land his Coronation-Oath and against the Great Charter the Infringers whereof were by the Prelates of England and the Pope's Bull which he had by him excommunicated Which things he had done to the great Danger of his Soul and Detriment of his State and Honour He tells him he had pronounced Excommunicate all such about him that were Favourers of Treason Flatterers of and imposed upon him and as his spiritual Father beseecheth him to hold them as such some of which by their Sloth and Wicked Service and Advice lost Tournay And requested him to call together the Prelates Great Men and Peers of the Land to see and enquire in whose hands the Wooll Moneys and other things then remained which since the beginning of the War had been granted to him for maintaining thereof and by what means and whose default he lost Tournay and punish the Offenders in all things according to Law And as to what concerned him saving always the Estate of Holy Church and his own Order he was ready in all Points to submit to the Judgment of his Peers This Letter was Dated at Canterbury the First of January In the same Month 1 Ib. f. 151. n. 30 40 c He wrote also to the Chancellor of England to preserve the Liberties of the Church he wrote to Robert Bouser a Lay-man late made Chancellor of England in the place of the Bishop of Chichester to preserve the Liberties of Holy Church and the Laws of the Land entire And to let him know that the Ninth had levied and destreined for it upon Prelates and others of the Clergy who were not bound to pay it as those that 2 Rot. Parl. 14 Ed. III. Part 2 n. 14. 17. paid the Tenth granted to the Clergy and held nothing of the King by Barony or were obliged to come to Parlement and also exacted the Tenth of such as were bound to pay the Ninth oppressing the Clergy contra Deum Justitiam against God and Justice Exhorting and requiring him in the Lord hortamur in Domino requirimus not to permit the Religious and Clergy to pay otherwise than according to the Form of the Grant of the Taxes nor give his Advice or Assent to any thing in prejudice of the Great Charter or that might tend to the Subversion of Church-Liberties declaring if he should make out any Writ Commission or Precept to that purpose he should not omit to exercise such Power as Holy Church had permitted him He 3 Wals f. 152 n. 10 20 c. The A. Bp. declaimed in a Letter to the King all those Excommunicate wrote also to the King and his Council after this manner Domino nostro Regi Consilioque suo ac omnibus singulis dicti Consilii sui Personis monstramus nos Johannes permissiones divina Cantuariensis Archiepiscopus totius Angliae Primas sedis Apostolicae Legatus c. To our Lord the King and his Council to all and every one of them We John by Divine Permission Arch-Bishop of Canterbury and the Pope's Legate do declare all those that do Arrest Who imprisoned Clercs Clercs put them in Prison and detain them against their Wills are Excommunicated by Canon Which Sentence he published in the or oppressed the Church Church of Canterbury and caused it to be published by all his Brother Suffragans or Bishops of that Province After the Denunciation of which Sentence several Clercs there named were taken and imprisoned in prejudicium Dei Ecclesiae Sanctae in prejudice of God and Holy Church against the Laws and Privileges of all Clercs and to the danger of their Souls who did such things or gave Advice or Assent to the doing of them Wherefore he beseeched the King to preserve untouched the Rights and Privileges of Holy Church and forthwith release the Clercs and others that had been imprisoned against the Great Charter the Laws of the Land and Privileges of such as were detained And further beseeched all of the King's Council who had presumed to advise the King to commit such things qui talia committendi consilium Regi dare presumserunt not to hinder the Release of those that were kept in Prison He also declared That the King's Ministers or Officers of what Condition soever who entred the Granges Houses and other Places of Arch-Bishops Bishops Ecclesiasticks or other Religious without the Consent of their Bailiffs and took and carried away their Goods and all those that commanded these things to be done were involved in the same Sentence of Excommunication He wished the King would vouchsafe to apply a fit Remedy for he could not dissemble but that against such as his Pastoral Office required it of him by his Brother Bishops of the Province he should execute what was his and their bounden Duty Yet it was not his Intention that the King Queen or their Children should be comprehended in this Judgment or Sentence of Excommunication as far as by Law or Right they might be excused 4 Ibm. n. 50. nostrae tamen Intentionis non existit Dominum nostrum Regem Dominam Reginam aut Liberos eorundem dictis Sententiis involvi seu comprehendi quatenus de jure poterunt excusari As he had resolved 5 Ib. f. 153. n. 20 30 40 c. he wrote to all the Bishops of his Province 6 Ibm. f. 154. n. 30. and commanded them to declare Excommunicate all such as deprived Churches of their Rights or by Malice infringed or disturbed their Liberties or free Customs and those especially that violated the ancient Liberties and free Customs of his Church of Canterbury or in any manner diminished them or did any thing contrary to its Privileges Also those that disturbed the Peace and Quiet of the Kingdom or that gave Advice or Assistance to or favoured them Also those who by any Art or Trick whatsoever quacunque arte vel ingenio should violate break diminish or change any of the Liberties and free Customs contained in the Great Charter or Charter of the Forest privately or openly by Word Deed or Advice or the ancient Liberties and free Customs granted by them to the City of London should be declared Excommunicate And then he directs them to proceed in the same manner against all such as imprisoned Clercs or entred into the Houses Granges Ba c. of Arch-Bishops Bishops c. as above The King moved with this Behaviour of the Arch-Bishop 7 Ibm. f. 154. n. 30 40. â— The King's Letter concerning the A. Bp. of Canterbury and his Crimes wrote to the Bishop of London and the Prior and Chapter of Canterbury in harsh and severe Language how he had been used by the Arch-Bishop and charged him with many great Crimes as that being exalted to the Throne in his Nonage desiring to be directed by sound Counsel believing him in Fidelity and Discretion to exceed all Men and using him as the
D. 1334. the Writs for a Parlement King on the 20th of April issued his Writs for a Parlement to meet on Monday next after the Octaves of Holy Trinity or 7th of June that Year The next Day the Names of the Lords were read and examined 2 Rot. Parl. 18 Ed. III â— 5. before the King in Parlement item soient les nouns des Seigneurs c. to see who were come who not and the Names of those who were not come were given to the King in Writing that he might order such Punishment as The absent Lords to be punished at the King's Pleasure The cause of Summons declared he pleased pour ordainer lieu punissement come lui plerra On Thursday the Chancellor declared the Causes of Summons to be concerning the Truce made in Bretagne and the Breach thereof in seven Articles and begins 3 Ibm. n. 6. thus Seigneurs en les Trewes prises accordez affermez par serement en Bretaigne entre autres pointz c. Lords in the Truce made agreed and confirmed by Oath in Bretagne amongst other Articles it was agreed 1. That the Truce should be kept in Bretagne between the Kings and their Adherents entre les Rois lour Adherantz notwithstanding the Right they both claimed in the Dutchy 2. Also That none who were under the Obedience of one of the Kings en obedience dun des Rois should come under the Obedience of the other King del autre Roi during the Truce 3. That there be no renewing of Injuries against one part or other in prejudice of the Truce while it continues 4. Also That the said Lords their Adjutors and Coadjutors and Allies whatever they be do remain in such Possession and such Seisin as then they had of all their Benefices Lands and Possessions des toux lour benefitz terres possessions which they held or had any ways obtained during the Truce 5. Also That what was promised to the Earl of Montfort before and within the City of Vannes might be performed 6. Also If any one in Gascoigne or otherwhere continuing the Truce move War against their Neighbour or Enemy who shall be in the Interest of either Party then the said Kings ought not to meddle in it by themselves or others directly or indirectly que le ditz Rois ne se devient mellez par eux ne par autre droitement ne noun droitement 7. That to none of either Party shall any Gift or Promise be made directly or indirectly to make War during the Truce And against these Articles several things have been done 4 Ibm. Things done against the Truce as the King's Council have been informed par ascunes de Bretaigne by some of Bretagne First That some of the Allies of him that calls himself the King of France have taken and imprisoned many Men at Arms of the Allies of our King and some they sent into France to remain in Prison there during the Pleasure of the King's Adversary Also the said Adversary caused many Knights Esquires and other Persons of Bretagne Chevaliers Esquiers autres gentz who were known to be in the Legiance and Obedience of our King before the Truce made and were comprised in it and ought to have been protected by it to be carried to Paris and there put to death against the Assent and Decree of the Members and others of his Counsel in his Parlement and some he caused to be murdered in their own Country falsly and maliciously against the said Truce and against his Oath And the said Adversary sent Men at Arms and Foot to a great number into Gascoigne and Bretagne who after the Truce made took Castles Towns Mannoros and Fortlets and seized Lands and Possessions being in the Possession and Obedience of our King esteantz en la possession en obedience de nostre Seigneur le Roi at the time of the Truce made in which amongst other things it is contained That no new thing should be attempted during the Truce es queâ—oc entre autres choses est contenuez que rien serroit attemptez de novell durantes mesmes les Trewes And further 5 the said Adversary endeavours by all ways he can or knows to take and seize all the Lands and Possessions which our King hath beyond Sea and to procure his Allies in Brabant Flanders and Almain or Germany to leave him and hath a firm purpose as our King and Council have certainly been informed or have understood to destroy the English Language and to possess England which God forbid if a forcible Remedy be not applied to his Malice si est il inferme propos a ce que nostre Seigneur le Roi son conseil ont intenduz en certeyn a destruire la Lange Englois c. On the other side dautre part the 6 Ibm. Scots who are the said Adversaries Allies have openly declared That when he gives them notice they will not observe or regard the Truce but march into England and do what Mischief they can Wherefore the King 7 Ibm. prays and charges pur quoi nostre Seigneur le Roi pria chargea les Prelates c. the Prelates Earls Barons and Commons That these things considered they would give him such Advice and Assistance as was necessary for the saving his and their own Rights and Honour Which things being 8 Ibm. n. 7. recited by the Arch-Bishop les Prelates Counts Barons les autres des Commons prierent c. the Prelates Earls Barons and others of the Commons pray That they may deliberate till Monday next following And from that Monday 9 Ibm. n. 8. because they had not then fully deliberated they pray till Wednesday the Vigil or Eve of St. John Baptist upon which day the Arch-Bishop and Ten other Bishops Five Abbots Two Priors Eight Earls Six Barons all there named and the Commons of the Realm assembled in the White Chamber les Commons du Roialme assemblez en la Chambre blanche c. in the presence of the King having regard to the great Mischiefs and Dangers which may come to the King and all his Subjects and Allies if the Malice of his Adversary was not stopt and considering the great Charges which the Great Men and the Commons of England had been at and suffered by reason of the War continuing so long by false Truces and Sufferances and seeing openly that an end of the War or so good a Peace The Parlement prays the King to make an end of the War by Battel or Peace as ought to be cannot be made without great force of Men and great Power they pray the King with one Assent and every particular Person of the Great Men for himself si prierent touz dun assent chescune singulere persone de Grantz a par lui c. that he would make an end of the War either by Battel or by a convenient Peace if it might
be had And that when 1 Ibm. n. 9. And nâ—t to lay aâ—â—de his Voyage for the Pope's Letters the King should be ready to pass beyond Sea to take what God should give him pur prendre ce que Dieux lui durra upon the Exploit of this Business he would not for the Letters or Command of the Pope or any other lay aside his Voyage until he had made an end one way or other The which Prayer the King fully granted a quele preere le Roi ottroia pleynement but because it could not 2 be done without a great and agreeable Aid the Arch-Bishop Bishops Prelates and Procurators of the Clergy of the Province of Canterbury granted to the King a Triennial Aid for this Voyage granted by the Clergy and Commons Tenth les ditz Commons le samaday apres granterent nostre Seigneur le Roi pur mesme la cause deux Quinzismes de la Commonalte de la Cerre deux dismes des Citees Burghs And the said Commons granted to the King for the same cause Two Fifteenths of the Commonalty of the Land and Two Tenths of the Cities and Burghs And 3 Ibm. n. 10. after that the said Commons granted another Fifteenth apres le dite Commune grantent une autre quinzisme See for the Conditions of these Grants in the Statutes at large 18 Ed. III. translated exactly from the French on this Roll n. 14. to n. 23. which Statute was made from the Petitions of the Commons and the Answers to them and 't is called in the todding on the Roll the Charter of the Commons la Chartre enseale par la Comune and also for the Statute or Charter for the Clergy bearing Date July 8. in the 18th of his Reign which gave them many Privileges n. 24. to n. 32. In both these Statutes which are now in a manner become obsolete 't is said the Great Lay-men granted to pass and adventure themselves with the King and therefore they are not found upon the Roll to be Taxed The residue of this Year was spent in 4 Walâ— f. 164. n. 30. Froys l. 1. c. 100. Ashmâ—le f. 182. Tournaments and other Military Exercises at Dunstable Smithfield and especially at Windsor in Feastings Revellings Dancing and all manner of Jollity But it was not long after the beginning of the next Year that King Edward 5 Avâ—â— p. 103. a. c. 48. III news from Bretagne received news of what had been done in Bretagne how the Noblemen who adhered to him there were put to death and what havock and depopulation had been made in those Places under his Subjection Whereupon William de Bohun Earl of Northampton had 6 Rot. Franc. 19 Ed III. Part 1. M. 24. The King sent Defiance to Philip of Valois Commission Dated April 24. to defie Philip of Valois as a Truce-breaker his capital Enemy Persecutor and unjust Vsurper of his Inheritance the Kingdom of France And as what was done in Normandy and Bretagne against the Truce had been declared to be so by the Parlement so he wrote 7 Rot. Rom. 19 Ed. III. M. 2. n 4. He wrote 'to the Pope complaining of him to the Pope on the 26th of May following almost the same thing and made grievous Complaints to him of Philip de Valois having in the highest manner broken and dissolved the Truce The effect of his Letter the Pope repeats in his Bull or Answer to it the Original being in the Cotton Library 8 Cleopâ—tra E. 2. The Effect and Contents of K. Edward's Letter to the Pope That for avoiding the Dangers and Damages that might arise by reason of the Dissentions and Wars between Edward III. and the Illustrious King of France as the Bull hath it inter te fili carissime ac carissimum in Christo filium nostrum Philippum Regem Franciae Illustrem he had offered many ways of Peace that he might apply himself as he much desired to the Service of his Redeemer beyond Sea but was always delayed with fair Words and Treaties without effect to his great Damage His second Complaint was after a Narrative of the Truce made before Vannes That when he returned into England and had left a few Men only in Bretagne and sent his Commissioners to treat before his Holiness about a Peace as related before he received news which pierced his Soul That certain Noblemen of Bretagne were by Command of Philip taken carried to Paris and put to death And also of the great Ravage and Depopulation made in Bretagne Gascoigne and other Places 3dly That he endeavoured by crafty and secret Treaties to draw his Allies and Subjects from him and procured other things to be attempted against the Truce by Sea and Land Therefore he thought it utterly dissolved by his Adversary And now since the Time of Treaty was ended and no rational way of Peace appearing nor were the things attempted against the Truce reformed or amended but rather multiplied although by his Holiness's Letters the said King had been often required to reform them not to say any thing of his Legate that was sent into Bretagne to cause the Truce to be observed yet took the contrary part and blamed him that he did not what he ought toward an Accommodation he thought himself excused by God Holy Church and the People if seeing he could have no other Remedy in a just Cause he declared the Truce dissolved by Philip and defied him as above and renewed the War again protesting he would attempt nothing that might offend his Holiness or the Apostolick See which he desired and ought to revere or that might do Injury to any one but only with Moderation to defend himself and prosecute his Rights asserting what he did was for want of other Remedy and against his Will offering Peace when he might have a good one or by good means cum habere poterit bono modo The Pope's Answer to this Complaint begins with a most obliging The Pope's Answer to K. Edward's Complaints Compellation calling God to Witness Fili dilectissime novit 9 Ibm. Altissimus qui scrutator est cordium cognitor secretorum c. Most beloved Son the Most High knows who is the Searcher of Hearts and understands all Secrets that he had faithfully endeavoured to procure a Peace between him and the King of France without partiality and would not yet spare any Pains for the effecting of it And he tells him That those who wrote his Letters probably understood not the Truth of the Affair for that there were some things put in them and some things left out which caused notable He tells him he had not done according to the Truce Errors It was agreed by the Truce That there should be some of the Royal Blood Commissioned to Treat on either side in his Presence and though the King of France had sent several of the Royal Blood and many Prelates of great Authority as it
do the same The day of the Date and Month of this And promiseth his utmost Assistance Bull are not legible but the year is being the Fourth of his Pontificate which was the 19th of Edward III. Yet this he thought not sufficient to make his Case known to the World but first declaring his Title to the Crown of France the same as when he first claimed it he drew up what he had wrote King Edward again declares his Title to France to the Pope into a Manifesto and publisht it with this Title 9 Rex omnibus ad quod praesentes hae literae pervenerint salutem c. The King to all Men to whom these Letters or this Manifesto 9 Avesbury p. 103. a. c. 48. And put forth a Manifesto or Declaration shall come Greeting c. Which were dated at Westminster the 14th of June in the 19th year of his Reign over England and over France the Sixth Datae 1 Ib. p. 104. b. apud Westmonasterium 14 die Junii Anno Regni nostri Angliae decimo nono regni vero Franciae sexto About Michaelmas following 2 Ib. Du Chesne f. 661 662. He sends an Army into Gascony and takes 47 Towns great and small King Edward sent Henry Earl of Derby Son of Henry Earl of Lancaster with the Earl of Pembroke and Sir Walter Manny into Gascony with a considerable Force where he took the strong Town Bruggerac at the first assault and forty six other Towns great and small which Philip de Valois had injuriously taken and detained from the King of England the last of which was the Town and Castle of Auberoche After which the Earl of Derby with the Earl of Pembroke and Sir Walter Manny retired to Burdeaux upon notice whereof the Earl of Laille King Philip's Lieutenant in Gascogne brought together a great Force and besieged Auberoche To the Relief whereof the Earl of Derby coming he obtained a great Victory and took many Noblemen and great Officers After Easter 3 Avesbury p. 105. a. c. 50. Du Chesne f. 663. D. A. â— 1346. 20 E. III. next year John Duke of Normandy Son and Heir to Philip of Valois besieged the Town of Agâ—illon in Guien in which was a strong Garrison placed by the Earl of Derby and well provided For the relieving of this place and to reinforce King Edward the Prince of Wales and many Noblemen the Earl of Derby King Edward raised an Army and in Person with the Prince of Wales then Seventeen years of Age and many of the Nobility intended to pass into Guien but the Wind being cross and the Weather stormy he was persuaded 4 Ib. Du Chesne Aves by Geoffrey of Harcourt an Outlaw and Exile of France Lord of St. Saviours the Viscount in Constantin in Normandy and one of Land with an Army in Normandy his Marshals to land in Normandy and he did so on the 12th of July being Thursday land at La Hogue What he did after his landing and in his march toward Caen and of his taking of that City and other things Avesbury 5 Ib. p. 105. a. c. 51. hath delivered in a Transcript of the Journal of Michael de Northburg an able Clerk and one of King Edward's Counsellors who went and was with him all the while Where he landed 6 Ibm. What he did there after his Landing for the unshipping of his Horse and refreshing of himself and Army and baking of Bread he stay'd six days While he stayed there a Party went off to Barfleur and burnt the Ships in that Harbour Eight of which had Castles before and behind des queux huit avoient chastiel devant decere After the Party left the Town the Mariners burnt it The first of the King's March was to Valoignes where he stay'd only one night and found sufficient Refreshment From thence he marched to Carenten where were found plenty of Wine and Victuals Much of this Town was burnt notwithstanding the King did what he could to preserve it From hence he marched to St. Lo where the People with some Soldiers seemed to make resistance in this place he found a thousand Tun of Wine besides great store of other Goods Next night he lodged in an Abby and his Army was quartered about him in Field Villages son host as villes champestres entour luy which in Parties made inroads into the Country robbing and destroying five or six miles about every day and burning Towns in many places chivacherent les gentz del host robbantz destruantz cinque od sis lieus environ toutz les jours arderent en plusors lieus Three or four days after his removal from this Abby he came before Caen in which were the Constable of France and the Chamberlain of Tanquerville with a great Force for its defence The King took it by assault with a great slaughter of Knights Esquires and other People and made Prisoners the Constable and Chamberlain with 500 Knights and Six or sevenscore Squires In the Town were found Wine Victuals and other Goods and Chattels without number furent troue en la ville vines victualles autres biens chatieux santz nombre When the King removed from Hoges 7 Ib. in the same Journal Qu. whether not Rothness How he burnt and destroyed the Country there were about 200 Ships stay'd there which sailed to Rothmasse and went on Shore and burnt the Country two or three Leagues lieues within the Land and took much Goods and brought them to their Ships From whence they went to Cherburg a good Town where was a strong Castle and noble Abby all which were burnt as were all things and Towns upon the Sea Coasts from Rothmasse to Hostrem upon the Haven of Caen about Sixscore English miles There were then also burnt Sixty one Ships of War with fore-Castle and hind-Castle ount ars 61 niets de guerre od chastel devant derere with 23 Cayers and other small Vessels of about 30 Tuns From Caen he marched to Poissy upon 8 Avesb. p. 100. c. 54. the River Seyn where he repaired the Bridge that was broken down and passed the River on the morrow of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary or 16th of August after he had defeated several great and strong Parties who came to hinder his passage and killed many of them The Bridges were every where broken down and guarded to hinder his passage so that he could not march very fast and therefore he had time to plunder and ravage the Country to burn most of the good Towns and Villages he past thro or came near as may be seen in Froissard 9 L. 1. c. 122 123 124 125 126. and Du Chesne 1 F. 664 665. At length he came to the River Soam in Ponthieu and Picardy which he passed at a Ford called Blanchtaque between Abbeville and the Sea 2 Avesb. p. 109. a. c. 54. The Battel of
hereafter declared The City Castle and Earldom of Poictiers with the whole Land and Country of Poictou together with the Fief of Thouars and Land of Belleville the City and Castle of Xaintes and the whole Land of Xaintonge on this side and beyond the River of Charente the City and Castle of Agen and the Land and Country of Agenois the City and Castle and whole Earldom of Perigort and the Land and Country of Perigeux the City Castle and whole Earldom of Limoges the Land and Country of Limozin the City and Castle of Cahors and the Land and Country of Cahorsin the City and Castle and Country of Tarbe and the Land and Earldom of Bigorre the Earldom Land and Country of Gaure the City and Castle of Angolesm and the Earldom Land and Country of Angolesmois the City and Castle of Rodes the Land and Country of Rovergne And if there be any Lords as the Earl of Foix the Earl of Armagnac the Earl of Lisle the Earl of Perigort and Viscount of Limoges or others which hold any Lands within the Bounds of these Places they shall do Homage to the King of England and all other Services and Devoirs due by reason of their Lands in the same manner they did in times past The First Article was corrected and in instead of the Words Those in Soveraignty in Soveraignty were inserted these Those in Fee in Fee 2. Also the King of England shall have all that any of the Kings of England anciently held in the Town of Monstruel upon the Sea with their Appurtenances 3. Also the King of England shall have all the County or Earldom of Ponthieu entirely save and except That if any thing of the said County or Appurtenances have been alienated by the Kings of England for the time being and to other Persons than the Kings of France the King of France shall not be obliged to render them to the King of England And if the said Alienations have been made to the Kings of France for the time being without mean and he doth possess them at present they are entirely to be released to the King of England except the Kings of France had them by Exchange for other Lands of the Kings of England then both were to release But if the Kings of England for the time being had alienated any thing to other Persons than to the King of France and afterwards they came into his hands he shall not be obliged to render them Also if the things abovesaid owe Homage the King of France shall convey them to others who shall do it for the King of England And if they do not owe Homage the King of France shall appoint a Trustee or Tenant to perform the Devoir within one Year after he shall part from Calais 4. Also the King of England shall have the Castle and Town of Calais the Castle Town and Seigneurie of Merk the Towns Castles and Lordships of Sangate Colongue Hames Wale and Oye with Lands Woods Marshes Rivers Rents Lordships or Seigneuries Advowsons of Churches and all other Appurtenances lying between the Meeses and Bounds following That is to say from Calais by the Course of the River that goes before Graveling and also by the Course of the same River round about Langle and by the River which goes beyond the Poil and by the same River that falls into the great Lake of Guisnes and so to Fretun and from thence by the Valley about the Hill Calculy inclosing that Hill and so to the Sea with Sangate and all the Appurtenances 5. Also the King of England shall have the Castle Town and County or Earldom of Guisnes with all the Lands Towns Castles Forteresses Places Men Homages Lordships Woods Forests and the Rights of them as intirely as the Earl of Guisnes lately dead had them at the time of his death and the Churches and good People being within the Limits of the County of Guisnes of Calais and Merk and other Places abovesaid shall obey the King of England as they obeyed the King of France or Earl of Guisnes for the time being All which things of Merk and Calais contained in this and the precedent Article the King of England shall hold in Demain except the Heritages of the Churches which shall remain to them intirely where-ever they be and also except the Heritages of other People of the Country of Merk and Calais lying out of the Town of Calais to the value of an Hundred Livres of yearly Rent or under of Current Money of the Country which shall remain to them But the Habitations and Heritages being in the Town of Calais with their Appurtenances shall be to the King of England in Demain to dispose of them at his pleasure and also the Inhabitants in the County Town and Lands of Guisnes shall enjoy all their Demains intirely and shall wholly be returned to them saving what hath been said concerning the Borders Meets and Bounds in the precedent Article 6. Also 't is agreed the King of England and his Heirs shall have and hold all the Isles adjacent to the Lands Countreys and Places before named together with all other Isles which he holds at present 7. Also 't is agreed the King of France and his Eldest Son the Regent for them their Heirs and Successors as soon as they can without deceit and at furthest by the Feast of St. Michael in one year after the same Feast next coming shall render tranfer and deliver to the King of England his Heirs and Successors all Honours Obediences Homages Ligeances Vassals Fees Services Recognisances Mere and Mixt Empire and all manner of Jurisdiction high and low Resorts Safeguard Collations and Patronages of Churches and all manner of Seigneuries and Soverainties and all the Right they have or can have appertains or can appertain to them by what Cause Title or Colour of Right soever or to the Kings and Crown of France by reason of the Cities Counties Towns Castles Lands Countreys Isles and Places before named and all their Appurtenances and Dependances and every one of them where-ever they are without retaining any thing to them or their Heirs and Successors or to the Kings or Crown of France And also That the King and his Eldest Son should send their Letters Patents to all the Arch-Bishops Bishops and all other Prelates of Holy Church and to the Earls Viscounts Barons Noblemen Citizens and others of the Cities Lands Countreys Isles and Places before-named that they should obey the King of England and his Heirs and their certain Command in the same manner they had obeyed the Kings and Crown of France and by the same Letters they should quit and absolve them after the best manner they could from all Faiths Homages Oaths Obligations Subjections and Promises made by any of them to the Kings and Crown of France in what manner soever This Article was corrected The Word Resorts being left out in the Correct Copy and these Words or Sentence and all manner of
Seigneuries and Soverainties and these Words or Sentence without retaining any thing to them or their Heirs and Successors or to the Kings or Crown of France also the last Words in what manner soever 8. Also it is agreed That the King of England shall have the Cities Counties Castles Lands Countries Isles and Places before named with all their Appurtenances and Dependences where-ever they are to hold to him his Heirs and Successors heritably and perpetually in Demain as the Kings of France held them and in the same manner saving what hath been said above in the Article of Calais and Merk and also the Cities Castles Counties Lands Countreys Isles and Places before named Rights Mere and Mixt Empire Jurisdiction and Profits whatever which any Kings of England held there with their Appurtenances and Dependences any Alienations Donations Obligations or Incumbrances had or done by any of the Kings of France in Seventy years from that time by whatsoever Cause or Form it was all such Alienations Donations Obligations or Incumbrances are now and shall be wholly annulled repealed and made void And all things so given alienated or incumbred shall be really rendred and delivered to the King of England intirely and in the same Condition they were Seventy years since or to his special Deputies as soon as they may without fraud and at furthest before Michaelmass next come twelve-months to hold them heritably and perpetually and to his Heirs and Successors except what is said in the Article of Ponthieu which is to remain in its force and saving all things given and alienated to Churches which shall peaceably remain to them in all Countries before and after named so as the Parsons of the Churches pray diligently for the Kings as for their Founders wherewith their Consciences shall be charged 9. Also it is agreed the King of England shall have and hold all the Cities Counties Castles and Countreys above-named which anciently the Kings of England had not in the same Estate as the King of France and his Sons hold them at present 10. Also it is agreed That if within the Limits of the Countreys the Kings of England anciently possessed they should now have any thing that was not then theirs of which the King of France was in possession on the 19th of September 1356 they shall be and remain to the King of England and his Heirs as above-said 11. Also it is agreed That the King of France and his Eldest Son the Regent for them and their Heirs and for the Kings of France and their Successors for ever as soon as they could without deceit and at furthest before Michaelmass 1361 should render and deliver to the King of England his Heirs and Successors and transfer to them all the Honours Ligeances Obediences Homages Vassals Fees Services Recognisances Oaths Right Mere and Mixt Empire all manner of Jurisdictions high and low Resorts Safeguards and Seigneuries which can or may belong in any manner to the Kings or Crown of France or to any other Person by reason of the King or Crown of France at any time in the Cities Counties Castles Lands Countreys Isles and Places above-named or in any of them their Appurtenances and Appendances whatsoever or in Persons Vassals Subjects or whosoever of them be they Princes Dukes Earls Vicounts Arch-Bishops Bishops and other Prelates of the Church Barons Noblemen and others whosoever without reserving or retaining any thing to them their Heirs and Successors or to the Crown of France or others whatever it be whereby they their Heirs and Successors or any Kings of France or other Person under pretence of the King and Crown of France may challenge and demand any thing in time to come from the King of England his Heirs and Successors or upon any of the Vassals and Subjects aforesaid by reason of those Countreys and Places Also all the before named Persons their Heirs and Successors shall for ever be the Liegemen and Subjects of the King of England his Heirs and Successors and that he and they shall hold all the Persons Cities Counties Lands Countreys Isles Castles and Places afore named and all their Appurtenances and Appendances and they shall be and remain to them fully perpetually freely in their Seigneury Soverainty Obedience Ligeance and Subjection as the Kings of France had and held them in any time past and that the said King of England his Heirs and Successors shall have and hold perpetually all the Countreys before named with their Appertenences and Appendences and other things before named with all perpetual Franchises and Liberties as Soveraign and Liege Lord as Neighbour to the King and Realm of France without acknowledging any Soveraign or performance of any Obedience Homage Resort Subjection and without doing in any time to come any Service or making Recognisance to the King or Crown of France for the Cities Counties Castles Lands Countreys Isles Places and Persons before named or for any of them This Article was Corrected and at least Two Parts of Three left out of the Corrected Letter as then called or Copy the whole Article there being no more then what follows Also it is agreed That the King of France and his Eldest Son the Regent for them and their Heirs and for the Kings of France and their Successors for ever as soon as they can without fraud and at furthest before Michaelmass 1361 shall render and deliver to the King of England his Heirs and Successors and transfer to them all the Honours Ligeances Obediences Homages Vassals Fees Services Recognisances Oaths Right mere and mixt Empire all manner of Jurisdictions high and low Safeguards and Seigneuries which can or may belong in any manner to the Kings or Crown of France or to any other Person by reason of the King and Crown of France ou a aucun autre person a cause du Roy de la Coronne de France at any time in the Cities Counties Castles Lands Countreys Isles and Places above-named or in any of them their Appertenences and Appendences whatsoever or in Persons Vassals Subjects or whosoever of them 12. Also it is agreed That the King of France and his Eldest Son shall renounce expressly all Resorts and Soveraignties and all the Right they have or can have in all those things which by this Treaty ought to belong to the King of England And in like manner he and his Eldest Son shall renounce expressly all those things which by this Treaty ought not to belong or be delivered to him and all demands he makes of the King of France and especially to the Name and to the Right of the Crown of the Kingdom of France and to the Homages Soveraignty and Demain of the Dutchy of Normandy the Dutchy of Tourain the Counties of Anjou and Main the Soveraignty and Homage of the Dukedom of Bretagne and the Homages and Soveraignties of the Country and County of Flanders and all other Demands he can or shall make of the King of France for
Party which shall be executed by the Two Kings and in case they cannot end the Controversy in half a year then the Two Principal Parties of Blois and Here seems to be some inconsistency in this part of the Article but it is a true Verbal Translation from the â—râ—nch Montfort shall do what seems best to them and the Friends of one Part and the other shall assist which Part they please without hinderance of the said Kings or without receiving any Damage Blame or Reproach from them and if it happen that one of the Parties will not appear before the Kings or their Deputies at the time appointed and also in case the Kings or their Deputies shall declare an Accord between the Parties and shall give their Opinion of the Right of one Party and either of the Parties will not consent to and obey the Declaration then the said Kings shall be against him with their whole Power and in Ayd of the other which shall comply and obey But the Two Kings shall not in any Case in their proper Persons or by others make War upon one another for the Cause aforesaid and the Soveraignty and Homage of the Dutchy shall always remain to the King of France 22. Also That all the Lands Towns Countries Castles and other Places delivered to the King shall enjoy such Liberties and Franchises as they have at present which shall be confirmed by the said Kings or their Successors so often as they shall be duly required if they be not contrary to this Accord 23. Also the King of France shall render or cause to be rendred and confirm to Monsieur Philip of Navarre and to all his Adherents after this time as soon as may be without Deceit and at furthest within a Year after the King of France shall be gone from Calais all the Towns Fortresses Castles Lordships Rights Rents Profits Jurisdictions and Places whatever which he in his own Right or in Right of his Wife or his Adherents held or ought to hold in the Kingdom of France And that he shall not do them any Damage or Injury or reproach them for any thing done before that time and shall pardon them all Offences and Misprisions for the time past by reason of the War and for this they shall have good and sufficient Letters so as the said Monsieur Philip and his Adherents return to their Homage and perform their Devoirs and be Good and Loyal Vassals 24. Also it is accorded That the King of England may give for this time only to whom he please the Lands and Heritages that were Mons Godfrey de Harecourt's to hold of the Duke of Normandy or other Lords of whom they ought to hold by Homage and Services anciently accustomed 25. Also it is agreed That any Man or Country under the Obedience of one Party shall by reason of this Accord go under the Obedience of the other Party he shall not be impeached for any thing done in time past 26. Also it is agreed That the Lands of the Banished and Adherents of one Party and the other and the Churches of one Party and the other and all those that are disherited and outed of their Lands or charged with any Pension Tax or Imposition or otherwise in any manner charged by reason of the War shall be restored entirely to the same Rights and Possessions which they had before the War began and that all manner of Forfeitures Trespasses or Misprisions done by them or any of them in that time shall be wholly pardoned and these things to be done so soon as they well can or at furthest within one Year after the King shall leave Calais except what is said in the Article of Calais and Merk and the other Places named in that Article except also the Viscount of Fronsac and Mons John Gaillard who are not to be comprised in this Article but their Goods and Heritages shall remain as they were before this Treaty 27. Also it is agreed That the King of France shall deliver to the King of England as soon as well he may and at furthest within one Year after his Departure from Calais all the Cities Towns Countries and other Places above-named which by this Treaty ought to be delivered to him 28. Also it is agreed That upon Delivery of the Towns Fortresses and whole County of Ponthieu the Towns Fortresses and whole County of Montfort the City and Castle of Xainctes the Castles Towns Fortresses and all the King held in Demain in the Country of Xaintogne on both sides the River Charente the City and Castle of Angoulesme and the Castles Fortresses and Towns which the King of France held in Demain in the Country of Angoulmois with Letters and Commands of Releasing of Faith and Homage to the King of England or his Deputies He at his proper Cost and Charge shall deliver all the Fortresses taken and possessed by him his Subjects Adherents and Allies in the Countries of France of Anjou of Main of Berry Avergne Burgoigne Champaigne Picardy and Normandy and in all other Parts and Lands of the Kingdom of France except those of the Dutchy of Bretagne and those Countries and Lands by this Treaty which ought to be and remain to the King of England 29. Also it is agreed That the King of France shall give up and deliver to the King of England his Heirs or Deputies all the Towns Fortresses Castles and other Lands Countries and Places before named with their Appertenances at his proper Costs and Charge And also if he shall have any Rebels or Disobedient that will not render and give up to the the King of England any Cities Castles Towns Countries Places or Fortresses which ought to belong to him the King of France shall be bound to cause them to be delivered at his own Expence And likewise the King of England shall cause to be delivered at his Expence the Fortresses that by this Treaty ought to belong to the King of France And the said Kings and their People shall be bound to Aid one another when they shall be required at the Wages of the Party that shall require it which shall be one Florin of Florence a Day for a Knight and half a Florin for on Escuyer and to others And it is Agreed That if the Wages be too small in regard of the Rate of Provisions or Victuals in the Countries they shall be ordered by Four Knights chosen for that purpose Two of one Party and Two of the other 30. Also it is agreed That all the Arch-Bishops Bishops and other Prelates and Men of Holy Church by reason of their Temporalties shall be subject to that King under whom they hold their Temporalties and if they have Temporalities under both Kings they shall be subject to each King for the Temporalty they hold of him 31. Also it is agreed That Good Alliances Amities and Confederacies be made between both the Kings and their Kingdoms saving the Conscience and Honour of one
50000 l. the said Great Men and Commons les ditz Grantz Comunes granted of every Parish within the Kingdom of England Cxviâ—s the Sum of 22 s. 3 d. first granted being comprised therein except the County of Chester and the Church Lands which were Taxed to the Tenth so as always the Parishes of greater value should be contributary to those of less value The 3 Ib. n. 12 13. Commission of this Grant was read before the King Great Men and Commons and the Names of the Collectors given in by the Knights of the Shires and also the Names of the Lords and others that were assigned to see the Tax was duely and reasonably Assessed and Levied and the Petitions of the Commons that were not answered in the preceding Parliament were answered in this Council amongst which this following is very observable For that 4 Ib. n. 15. it had been declared to the King in this present Parlement by all the Earls Barons and Commons of England That The Commons Petition that Lay-men and no others might be made the great Officers of the Kingdom the Government of the Kingdom had for a long time been managed by Men of the Church whereby many Mischiefs and Damages had happened in time to come in Disherison of the Crown and to the great Prejudice of the Kingdom It would please the King That Laymen of sufficient Abilities and no others might for the future be made Chancellor Treasurer Clerc of the Privy Seal Barons of the Exchequer Chamberlanes of the Exchequer Controller and other Great Officers and Governors of the Kingdom and that this Matter might be so Established that it might not be Defeated or any thing done to the contrary in time to come saving to the King the Election and Removal of such Officers yet so as they should be Lay-men The King's Answer was 5 Ibm. He would do in this Point what The King's Answer seemed best to him by Advice of his Council The Members of this great Council were 6 Rot. Clause 25 Ed. III. M. 29. Dors The Members of the great Council at Winchester four Bishops four Abbats six Earls six Barons and such and so many of the Commons as the King named in his Writs to the Sheriffs which were of the last Parlement for Kent there were only 7 Ibm. Thomas Apuldrefeld one of the Knights of the Shire Edmund Horner one of the Citizens of Canterbury and John Fynchynfeld one of the Citizens of Rochester About this time 8 Froys c. 295. John Duke of Lancaster Married Constance the Eldest Daughter of Peter the Cruel King of Castile c. the true Inheritrix of that Kingdom and took upon him the Title of King in her Right * Ib. John Duke of Lancaster's Title to Castile 9 Ib. c. 296. Whereupon Henry the Bastard of Castile made a League Offensive and Defensive with the King of France 9 After Michaelmas he came for England for Instructions how to carry on the Affairs of Aquitan leaving Governors and Deputies in Guien and Poictou his Wife and her Sister Isabel who was afterward Married to Edmond his Brother Earl of Cambridge came with him And this Winter 1 Ibm. Two Armies to be sent into France were divers Councils holden about the Affairs of Aquitan and other Parts in France and how the War was to be maintained there next Summer at last it was resolved there should be Two Armies sent thither one into Guien and another by the way of Calais In the Spring 2 Rot. Vasc 46 E. III 〈…〉 Henry the Bastard of Castile assists the King of France with a Fleet. the Earl of Pembroke was made Lieutenant The Earl of Pembroke Lieutenant of Aquitan of Aquitan and was ordered to go by Poictou into Guien with a Fleet and Forces and to land at Rochell The King of France knowing what was designed in England sends to Henry the Bastard of Castile to assist him with a Fleet who sent one greater and far more powerful than that of England 3 Froysard c. 297 298 299. A. D. 1372. The English Navy destroyed The Earl of Pembroke taken Prisoner The Two Fleets met at the Entrance of the Bay of Rochell on the 22d of June where they fought two days most of the English Navy was destroyed or taken and the Earl made Prisoner The Rochellers saw all this but gave no assistance to the English tho demanded of them The Ship also was sunk in which the Treasure was for the payment of the Soldiers in Aquitan The Earl of Pembroke was sent Prisoner into Spain to Henry the Bastard who about 4 Walsingh y prodig Neustr f. 530. n. 10. He dies three years after sent him to Bertrand Guesclin for a Sum of Money he owed him The Sum of his Ransom was agreed on at Paris but coming for England to raise the Money being very weak he died before he reached Calais and the Constable of France lost the Price of his Redemption After this Fight at Sea and the Destruction of the English Fleet 5 Froysard c. 304. Rochell declares for the King of France Rochell declared for the King of France and all Rochelois In Poictou the Constable reduced many Towns and Forts and besieged 6 Ib. c. 305. Mezer. f. 392. The Town of Thovars forced to Capitulate The Terms granted unto them Thovars whither most part of the Lords and Chief Men of that Country were retired as to a Place of Security In a short time they were forced to Capitulate and Agree That they should put themselves their Lands and the City under the Obedience of the King of France unless upon their sending to the King of England he himself or one of his Sons came with an Army to relieve them by next Michaelmas-day The Messengers 7 Froysard as above King Edward resolved to go into France with an Army sent from Thovars informed the King Prince and Council of the Condition of Poictou and Xantonge and especially of that Place The King resolved to go over himself and was advised to take with him that Army which was to march into France by the way of Calais 8 Ibm. He summons the Noble and Military Men to pass with himself and Prince of Wales and besides he sent forth Summons for a very considerable number of the Military Men and many of the Nobility to be ready to pass the Sea with him and the Prince of Wales into Poictou On 9 Rot. Clause 46 Ed III. M. 12. Dors A. D. 1372. Prayers made for success Monday August 30. Orders having been given for Publick Prayers to be made in all Churches for good success upon the Voyage he took Ship with many of the chief Nobility and with 400 Vessels 1 Froysard as above The Voyage unhappy by reason of contrary Winds of all sorts sailed toward the Coast of France and Poictou but the Wind was always contrary so as he could
in Aquitan tant en nostre Roialme de France come in Aquitaigne and other where giving him Power to take and receive in his Name and by his Authority to his Peace Grace Obedience and Subjection all the Cities Towns Burghs Castles Fortresses and Places in those Parts and their Inhabitants that would come and return into his Peace Grace c. and to remit and pardon all manner of evil Practices The great Power given unto him toutes maneres de Malefices Trespasses Excess Theft Homicide and all manner of Treasons To re-call all Banished and Exiled Persons and to re-establish and render to them all their Goods they had forfeited and to restore them entirely to their Countries with all their ancient Privileges they were used to enjoy To give to those that deserved well in his Wars Towns Castles Fortresses Lands and Rents c. in Heritage during their Lives or for Years according to their Deserts To raise Forces Taxes Subsidies and Aids for the Wars to collect and to levy them To shorten this full long and extraordinary Grant and Commission he had Power to do whatever he could do himself if present It was Dated at Westminster June 12. 1373. and 47th of his Reign of England c. The Duke of Lancaster having this Power 2 Claus 57 Ed. III. M. 25. Dors Prayers having been made for his good Success 3 Mezeray f. 393. Froys c. 310 311. arrived with an Army at Calais on the 20th of July which he divided into three Bodies or Battels marched through and pillaged Artois Picardy Champagne Fores Avergne and Limosin and so into Guyen and to Burdeaux where he came about Christmas with a shattered and His ill Conduct unserviceable Army having 4 Wals f. 187. lin 16. lost many Men and most of his Horses for want of Rest Victuals and Forage without any Battel or considerable Engagement Mezeray 5 F. 393. The King of France his Policy reports it to have been the constant Resolution of this King of France not to hazard any main Battel against the English but directed his Forces should be so lodged every Night as next Morning to follow them always galling and disturbing them falling upon their Parties and Detachments keeping so near them as to prevent their being supplied with Provision and Forage and by that means to defeat great Armies by in marching his Army little and little and make them unserviceable which was the present case The Duke of Lancaster though he marched Triumphantly in the beginning yet toward the latter end of his March being constantly followed and attended by the Dukes of Anjou and Burgundy and Constable of France his Army was baffled without Fighting and mightily weakened While the Duke of Lancaster marched thus through France Summons to Parlement from Calais to Burdeaux his Father Summoned a Parlement to meet on the morrow of St. Edmund the King or 21st of November which was that Year on Monday In the Writs of 6 Rot. Claus 42 Ed. III. M. 13. Dors A. D. 1373. Summons to the Sheriffs were these unusual Clauses being enjoyned to cause to be Chosen Two Dubbed Knights or the most Worthy Honest and Discreet Esquires of the County and the most expert in Feats of Arms and no others 7 Ibm. What Knights Esquires Citizens and Burâ—â—sses were to be chosen Quod de Comitatu tuo Eligi facias duos Milites Gladiis cinctos seu Armigeros de dicto Comitatu Digniores Probiores in actibus Armorum Magis Expertos Discretos non alterius Conditionis And of every City of that County Two Citizens and of every Burgh Two Burgesses de Discretioribus magis Sufficientibus qui in Navigio ac in Excercitio Merchandisarum noticiam habent meliorem of the most Discreet and Sufficient who had the greatest Skill in Shipping and Merchandizing The King Prince Prelates Earls Barons Great Men and Commons being assembled in the Painted Chamber le Roi Prince Prelatz Countes Barons Grantz Comunes en la Chambre de Peinte assemblez Sir John Knivet then Chancellor declared the cause of Summons 8 Rot. Parl. 47 Ed. III. n. 2. The cause of Summons declared The Peace broken by the French telling the Lords and Commons they knew well That after the Peace between the King and his Adversaries of France apparently broken by them the King had many times sent great Numbers of Men at Arms and others over Sea to recover his Rights and to restrain the Malice of his Enemies and lately had sent his Son the King of Castile and Leon and Duke of Lancaster with many great Men and others in great Number to oppose the Malice of his Adversaries * This must be in the beginning of their March and before the Armies of France attended their motion and hindred their glorious and easie Progress who by their Good and Noble Conduct queux par my lour bon noble Government and Feats of Arms have done great Damages and Destructions to his Enemies as they knew well to the great Honour Quiet and Tranquillity of the King the Clergy and all others of the Kingdom That the Sum granted last Parlement to the King in Aid of his Wars tho' great and heavy upon the People yet the King exponded a great Sum of his own more than that Further 9 Ibm. n. 3. That the Great Men and others who ventured their Lives and Fortunes for and to defend them from their Enemies ought to be well refreshed and comforted with Force and Aid many ways busoignent bien de estre refreschez confortez de Force de Eide par plusors vies and that as speedily as might be as it was well known to many of them who had been in the same Condition The Enemy of France makes himself strong c. That also the Enemy of France made himself as strong as he could not only by his own People and Allies but by Strangers of divers Countries and by all the ways he could both by Land and Sea Wherefore he said the King beseeched and charged them 1 Ibm. n. 4. par quoi nostre Seigneur le Roi vous supplie charge That considering the Perils and Damages might happen to the Kingdom and all the People for these Causes they would consult upon the matter and give the King such Advice as might be for the Safety of him the Kingdom and themselves And further said 2 Ibm. The King willeth That all Petitions and particular Business remain in suspence until his was dispatched That the Business requiring speedy dispatch the King would that all manner of Petitions and other particular Business might remain in suspence until this had a good Issue Le Roi voet que toutees manere de Petitions autres singulers Busoignes de moergent en suspens tanque cette soit mys a bon fin And then commanding the Commons commanda as Comunes
and other Burthens by the Pope lately made To the Slander Dishonour and Depression of the whole Church of England and Disinheriting of our Lord the King and his Crown and other Nobles of the Kingdom and in Offence and Destruction of the Laws and Rights thereof and most grievous Damage of his People and Subversion of the State of the whole Realm against the Will of God and the good Design of the Founders of these Benefices and against the Provision Ordinance Accord Decree and Consideration aforesaid made by his Grandfather and and Council and they pray the King he would please to have regard to the Church of England to the Indemnity and Disinheriting of himself the Earls Barons Nobles and Commonalty and Ordain Remedy He by assent of the Earls Barons and Nobles and the Commonalty of his Realm Provided Ordained Accorded Decreed and Considered That as well within the Franchise of the Cinque-Ports as other-where upon the Sea Coasts and thro all the Counties of the Kingdom as well within Franchise as without open Proclamation should be made That none of what Estate or Condition soever he was be he Stranger or Denizen should from henceforward bring or cause to be brought upon grievous forfeiture to the King Letters Bulls Process Reservations Instruments or other things prejudicial to the King or his People to deliver to Arch-Bishops Bishops Abbats Priors Earls Barons or any others within the Realm and that none by virtue of such Provisions or Reservations receive Benefices of Holy Church and that none upon the forfeiture aforesaid receive or take such Letters Bulls Process or Instruments touching such Provisions and Reservations nor by reason thereof make Institution or Induction or any other manner of Execution of them and that none do or suffer to be done any other thing that may be prejudicial to the King or his People or Blemish the Rights of his Crown or the Provisions Ordinances Accords Decrees and Consideration beforesaid And also it was further agreed That diligent search should be made in all Places needful for all and every one coming into the Kingdom and that all who shall be taken by such Search or Enquest to be taken or by other Information bringing Letters Bulls Process Reservations Instruments or other things prejudicial to the King or his People and all those who by them receive any Benefices and place themselves in or be received into them And also those that by Authority of such Letters Bulls Process Reservations or Instruments shall or do make any Appeals Citations or Process against the Patrons of the Benefices or those they have Presented or any others or shall Prosecute or cause to be Prosecuted in any Court whatever where they have done or procured to be done any thing in prejudice of the King or the Earls Barons Nobles and Commonalty aforesaid or of the Provisions Ordinances Accords Decrees and Consideration and against the Proclamation and Inhibition aforesaid shall be taken and arrested by their Bodies and the Letters Bulls Process and Instruments upon such Provisions and Reservations shall be taken from them or others wherever they are to be found and sent before the King's Council with their Bodies that brought them into England Wales Ireland or the County of Chester or Prosecuted any Execution of them with the Bodies of all others that shall be taken and arrested for the cause abovesaid to take and receive what the Court shall award and that hereupon Writs to that purpose be sent thro the whole Realm According to this Agreement a Proclamation and Writs were issued but without effect for in the Parlement 1 Clause 18 Ed. III. Part 1. M. 14. Dors next year which began Eight days after Holy Trinity the Commons prayed the King 2 Rot. Parl. 18 Ed III. n. 33. That the Provisions Ordinances and Accord made in the Parlement of the 17th year of his Reign concerning the Provisions and Reservations de la Court de Rome of the Court of Rome might be confirmed and made a perpetual Statute It was also 3 Ib. n. 36. ordered That the King present to the Prebends Dignities Churches and Chappels of such as lived in his Enemies Countreys or seize them into his Hands and employ the Profits in Defence of the Land and Holy Church except so much as should maintain the Houses and provide for Divine Service 4 Ib. n. 37. and that any one who should bring any thing prejudicial to this Order from beyond Sea should be taken and carried back again And further That these Writs and Proclamation were of no effect it appears by another 5 Append. n. 99. Proclamation this year directed to the Sheriffs of London in which all these Provisions Ordinances and Agreements are recited and in which it is said further That some Provisors such as had received Benefices c. by the Pope's Provisions as well Strangers as Denizens their Proctors and Messengers not considering the said Provisions Ordinances Concords Decrees Proclamation and Inhibitions nor the Punishments contained in them had brought Letters Bulls Process Reservations and Instruments into the Kingdom prejudicial to the King and his People and had delivered them to Arch-Bishops Bishops Abbats Priors and others as well Denizens as Strangers to be Executed since and contrary to the Proclamation and Inhibition aforesaid and the Arch-Bishops Bishops and others receiving them by virtue thereof admitted and inducted very many Provisors and their Proctors or Substitutes into Benefices which they possessed to the disinheriting and intolerable prejudice of the King his Crown and People against the Form of the Provisions Concords Decrees Considerations Proclamation and Inhibitions aforesaid And you that is the Sheriffs of London have attempted somewhat against that Proclamation and Inhibition and have hitherto neglected to obey our Command therein at which we are much troubled and then he comes to the Inhibition according to the Points of the former Agreement Provision and Ordinance including all those that admitted or inducted any into Benefices according to the Pope's Bulls and Reservations under the greatest Forfeiture that could be made and concludes They should so behave themselves in the Execution of this present Proclamation and Command as he might not have cause to prosecute them as Favourers of his and the Kingdom 's Enemies Witness the King at Westminster the 30th of January in the Eighteenth year of his Reign of England and of France the Fifth By the King and the whole Council In the same manner all the Sheriffs of England received the King's Commands That they put in Execution the Proclamation in their several Counties and Shires and also Bartholomew de Burghersh Constable of Dover Castle and Keeper of the Five Ports In a Parlement holden on the 8th of September in the 20th of his Reign by Leonel his Son Guardian of England 6 Rot. Parl. 20 Ed. III. n. 30. the Commons Petition that the Alien Monks might be made to go out of England before Michaelmass next
Ambush who commanded his Men not to hurt any of them and by a safe Conduct from Sir Hugh Caverley delivered them all to The Britans offer to yield their Towns and Castles to the English him without Ransom and informed him That if he would land it would much please the Lords and Inhabitants of the Country who were ready to deliver unto him their strong Towns and Castles if he would remain there for the Guard of the Country who Excused himself and said he had other Matters to prosecute and could not then satisfie their Desires The Duke of Britan by his own Subjects with the assistance A League Offensive and Defensive between King Richard and the Duke of Britan. of the King of France had been forced out of his own Country in the time of Edward the Third and was now in England and made a very strict League Offensive and Defensive with King Richard between them and their Subjects and no Peace to be made with France but by mutual Consent The Original being in the Old Chapter-house at Westminster Dated March 1. in the Year of Grace 1379 at Westminster Before this 7 Rot Clause 2 Ric. II. M. 13 Dors A Parlement called on the 16th of February Writs were issued for a Parlement to meet 15 days after Easter in which the Lords and Commons considering the great Necessities of the Kingdom the Malice of it's Enemies of France and otherwhere upon Condition the Mark upon every Sack of Wooll and the 6 d. in the Pound which was given in the last Parlement at Gloucester should be remitted did then grant 8 Rot. Part. 2 Rich. II. n. 13. The Subsidy of Wooll c. granted And a Sum of Money upon particular Persons the Subsidy of Wooll for one year after the Feast of St. Michael next coming of every Sack of Wooll as it had been granted before the Parlement at Gloucester and likewise a Sum to be paid by divers Persons of the Kingdom as there ordered and named For which see the Appendix Numb 102. Not long after this Parlement the 9 Walsingh f. 225. n. 50. The Duke of Britan called home A. D. 1379. and 3d of Ed. III. A great Mortality in the North. Britans called home their Duke who was convoyed by Sir Thomas Percy and Sir Hugh Calverley and landed at a Port near St. Malo on the 4th day of August where and in all Places he was received with a mighty Welcome and strange Rejoicings as well of the Lords and Great Men as Common People This Summer there happened 1 Ib. f. 228. n. 10 20 30. The Scots harrass and plunder the Country a great Mortality of People in the North parts of the Kingdom whereby the Country became almost desolate The Scots took this advantage invaded the Borders harrassed robbed and plundered the same killing many of the People that were left alive driving away vast numbers of Cattel scarce leaving any thing behind them not so much as Hogs which they never drove away before About the 2 Ib. f. 231. n. 50. f. 232. n. 10 20 c. A Fleet and Army to assist the Duke of Britan. Feast of St. Nicholas or 6th of December this Third year of the King a Fleet with an Army to assist the Duke of Britan against the King of France who had invaded his Country and taken several of his Towns and Castles was to have passed into that Dukedom under the Conduct of Sir John Arundel Sir Hugh Calverley Sir Thomas Percy Sir William Elinham Sir Thomas Morews Sir Thomas Banestor and many other Knights and Esquires great Soldiers so soon as they were out at Sea there arose an horrible Tempest which scattered the Fleet and The Fleet destroyed by Tempest drove them they knew not whether Sir John Arundel's Ship was lost and himself drowned as likewise Twenty five more and above 1000 Men Sir Thomas Percy Sir Hugh Caverley and Sir William Elinham with others of Note hardly escaped At the same time says 3 F. 335. n. 40. The French and Spanish Fleet destroyed by the same Tempest Walsingham the Spaniards and French had brought together a mighty Fleet out of France Spain Portugal and other Countreys subject to them to hinder the landing of the English in Britany but met with the same Storm and Tempest and lost more Men and Ships then the English did On the 20th of October last past the King had sent forth 4 Rot. Clause 3 Ric. II. M. 32. Dors A Parlement called Writs for a Parlement to meet on Monday next after St. Hillary or the 14th of January wherein the Commons by their Speakers 5 Rot. Parl. 3 Ric. II. n. 12. A. D. 1380. The Commons pray the Continual Council may be discharged The Five great Officers not to be changed until next Parlement pray That the Prelates and other Lords of the Continual Council may be discharged and no such to be retained seeing the King was of good Discretion and Stature de bone Discretion Bel Stature in respect of his Age which agreed with the Age of his Grandfather at the time of his Coronation who then had no other Counsellors but the Five Principal Officers of his Realm Praying further Those Five Officers that is to say the Chancellor Treasurer Guardian of the Privy Seal Chief Chamberlain and Steward of the Houshold not to be renewed or changed until the next Parlement They likewise 6 Ibm. n. 13 14. A Commission of Inquiry into Courts the State of the King's House Receits and Expences c. Pray a Commission to certain Commissioners to Survey and Examin in all Courts and Places the State of the King's Houshold the Expences and Receits in all the Offices c. This was granted and a Commission made to the Earls of Arundel Warwick and Stafford William Latimer Guy Bryan and John Montacute Banerets John Hastings John Gildesborough and Edward Dalyngrugge Knights William Walworth and John Philpot Citizens of London and Thomas Graa Citizen of York c. Then the 7 Ib. n. 16. The Lords and Commons grant a Fifteenth and half and Tenth and half For an Expedition into Britany Lords and Commons perceiving the King and Kingdom were set round with Enemies who with great Force endeavoured all they could as well by Land as Sea to destroy them both and further to extinguish the English Language therefore for the Defence and Safety of the Kingdom and for the good Success of the Expedition ordered into Britany and Destruction of the said Enemies grant freely tho it was very hard to be born to the King One Fifteenth and half without Cities and Burghs and One Tenth and half within Cities and Burghs with Prayer That his Subsidy and what was remaining of that given the last Parlement might only be applied to the Expedition into Britany and no where else Considering also 8 Ib. n. 17. The Subsidy of Wooll and granted a further time
that the Subsidy of Woolls Leather and Woollfells was to end at Michaelmas next coming and that from thence the King was not able to endure the great Charges he was to be at to maintain the War in the Marches of â—alais Brest Cherburgh in Gascoigny Ireland and the Marches of Scotland they grant him the same Subsidies from the time they were to end until Michaelmass next after praying the King there might not be a Parlement to charge the Poor Commons until a year after Michaelmas next coming The Scots toward the latter end of this 9 Walsingh f. 240. n. 30 40. A. D. 1380. The Barbarity of the Scots in Cumberland and Westmerland Summer invade Cumberland and Westmerland raging killing and burning every where and driving away as the Historian says it was reported 40000 of all sorts of Beasts and went to Penreth where was then a great Fair and Conflux of People they killed some carried away others Captive and with them all the Goods of the Town and Fair. The Earl of Northumberland was preparing to 1 Ibm. drive them out of the Country and Borders and force them to make Satisfaction Which was to be considered on the March-Day or do the same things in Scotland when he received a Prohibition from the King not to do any thing but to expect the March Day which was a day appointed for the English and Scots to meet every year and adjust things done by either Nation upon the Borders In the same year 2 Mezeray f 398. The Death of Charles King of France on the 16th of September died Charles the Fifth King of France called The Wise On his Death-Bed he left the Regency to his next Brother the Duke of Anjou directing him to make some Agreement with the Duke of Britan if possible His Eldest Son 3 Ibm. f. 400 401. His Son Charles succeeds him Charles succeeded him being then about Twelve years of Age and was Crowned at Rheims on the 4th of November At this time there were great 4 Ib. and f. 402 403. Great Tumults and Disorders in France Tumults and Disorders in France by reason the Duke of Anjou had not taken off the Imposts as his Brother had Commanded on his Death-Bed but settled new ones especially upon the City of Paris The like 5 Ibm. and Walsingh f. 241. n. 20 30. The same in Flanders Mutinies Confusions and Tumults were then in Flanders by the Seditious People against their Earl especially those of Ipre and Gaunt having received great Provocations from him as Walsingham relates it After the 6 Froysard c. 360. Disaster of the Fleet and Army under the Command of Sir John Arundel Sir Thomas Percy c. the Duke of Britan this Summer about Whitsuntide sent to the King for Assistance against the King of France Thomas of Woodstock Earl The Duke of Britan sends to the King for Assistance of Buckingham 7 Ibm. as General the Earl of Stafford and many Barons Knights and Esquires of great Note and Skill in Arms were appointed and retained for this Expedition and 8 Ibm. landed at Calais on the 19th of July 1380 and marched from thence into Britany thro' Champagne and other Countreys by small Marches without any considerable Disturbance 9 Ib. c 363 and 365. wasting the Countreys as they went staying 2 3 4 days or more at every place or good Town where they rested and took up their Quarters When they came near Britany the Englishmen wondered they 1 Ib. c. 368. The Duke's negligence heard not from the Duke the Earl sent to him Sir Thomas Percy and Sir Thomas Trivet who met him on the way going to the Earl When they came together at Rennes they resolved to besiege Nantes as the most obstinate and Rebellious 2 Ib. c. 369. The English besiege Nants Town in Britany the Duke to assist the Earl in this Siege with his whole Force The English remained 15 days at Rennes to make themselves ready and went before the Town They within the Town had notice of these things who sent to the Duke of The Duke 's further Negligence Anjou to send them some French Officers and Soldiers to join with them for the Maintenance of the Place and they had them The English lay before 3 Ib. c. 374. They raise the Siege Nantes Two months and four days and never heard of the Duke or his Men when on the day after New-years-day they raised the Siege and marched towards Vannes where the Duke was and there and several other Towns near upon the Coast of Britany the English were Quartered all Winter 4 Ibm. The Earl's intention was at the Spring to march into France and to that purpose sent into England for more Forces The King and his Council approved his Design and engaged to send another Army to land at Cherburgh in due time to join him All this while the Duke had 5 Ibm. The Duke of Britan makes his Peace privately with France had Commissioners at Paris privately making his Peace with the Duke of Anjou which was concluded upon these Articles First it was agreed That the Duke of Britan should provide Ships to carry back the English into their own Country Secondly That the Garrison of Cherburgh The Articles of that Peace which was with the Earl before Nantes should if they would return thither by Land and have Safe Conduct Thirdly That after the departure of the English the Duke to go into France and do his Homage and Fealty to the French King as his Natural Lord. 6 Ibm. Soon after this Agreement the Duke came to Vannes and privately acquainted the Earl with it excusing himself by the obstinacy of his People and that otherwise he must have lost his Country 7 Ibm. On the 11th of April the Earl with the English set Sail from Vannes and other small Ports near and came for England About Michaelmass 8 Holinshed f. 428. and Walsingh f. 244. n. 20 30. The Duke of Lancaster went with a great Force into the North parts And did nothing the Duke of Lancaster the Earls of Warwick and Stafford with other Lords and great Soldiers with a great Force went into the North Parts to Account with the Scots for their late Invasion and lay so long in Northumberland as they ruined the Country more then a Scottish Irruption would have done They made a Truce with the Scots for half a year and so returned bringing nothing from Scotland but some Horses which they divided amongst themselves On Monday next after the 9 Ro. Parl. 4 Ric. II. n. 1 2. A Parlement at Northampton Feast of all All-Saints there was a Parlement holden at Northampton which was adjourned until Thursday at which time the Arch-Bishop of Canterbury then Chancellor tho many Temporal Lords were absent in the Marches of Scotland with the Duke of Lancaster declared the Causes of their
vast Number of such People under the Conduct of John Littister a Dier of Norwich took upon them the same Pretences and were the very same in all their Actions These compelled the Lord Scales Sir William Morley Sir John Brewes Sir Stephen Hales and Sir Robert de Salle to remain with them who seemed to do and allow what they did except Sir Robert Salle who publickly condemning and abhorring what they did had his Brains beat out The other were Litister's Favourites who now called himself King of the Commons who had his Royal Who stiled himself King of the Commons and had his Royal Officers Officers amongst whom Sir Stephen Hales was his Carver These Rebellious People whether they were wearied with or repented of what they wickedly had done and confidered what they must do sent Two of the Knights Sir William Morley and Sir John Brewes with Three of their own in whom they put most Confidence to the King where-ever he should be to obtain a Charter of Manumission and Pardon and that it might be more large than the Charters granted to other Counties They had given them a great Sum of Money which had been received of the Citizens of Norwich to preserve their City from Burning Slaughter and Plundering that they might thereby obtain what they desired Henry Spencer 2 Ibm. n. 50. f. 264 n. 10 20 30 40. The Conduct Courage and Bravery of H. Spencer Bishop of Norwich Bishop of Norwich being then in Rutlandshire hearing of this Insurrection in Norfolk was coming thither with eight Lances only and a few Archers at Icklingham near Barton-Mills he met with the Two Knights and their Three Companions going to the King and upon strict enquiry finding out the Three Traitors he presently caused their Heads to be cut off and proceeded into Norfolk where the Military Men and Gentlemen came to and marched with him to North-Walsham where the Rebels were encamped he with the Force he had with him being the first Man that charged the Enemy affaulted their Trenches and obtained the Ditch The Fight was sharp for a while but the Rabble soon fled In the pursuit many of them were killed Litister The chief Movers of this Rebellion drawn hanged and beheaded and the Chief Movers of this Rebellion were taken who were Drawn Hanged and Beheaded with many others thro' the whole Country by which means it was reduced into a peaceable Condition 3 Col. 2639. n. 10. Knighton says this Martial Bishop did the same things in Cambridge and Huntington-shires if so 't is more than probable he also reduced those of Bury St. Edmonds and the whole County of Suffolk being part of his Diocese into good Order Commissions of Oyer and Terminer The Countries where these Insurrections and Tumults were being now pretty quiet Commissions of Oyer and Terminer were Issued for the Trials of the Chief Contrivers and Managers of them 4 Wals f. 267 n. 10 20 30. for the Trial of the Rebels Those taken in London tried before the Lord Major J. Straw and others beheaded Those of London and such of Kent Essex Sussex Norfolk and Suffolk as were found within the Liberties of the City were Tried before the Lord Major of whom the Chief were John Straw John Kyrkeby Alan Treder and John Starling who Gloried that he Murthered the Arch-Bishop These had their Heads cut off and several others not named At St. Albans 5 Ibm. f. 276. n. 30 40. Gryndecobbe Cadyndon John the Barber and 15 others hanged at St. Aâ—bâ—â—s William Gryndecobbe William Cadyndon and John the Barber with 15 others were Condemned Drawn and Hanged Of the Chief Men of the Town were Imprisoned Richard Walyngford John Garlek William Berewill Thomas Putor and many other of the ordinary sort Of the Country were imprisoned 80 Persons who afterwards by the King's Mercy were set at liberty John Ball 6 Ib. f. 275 276. John Ball a Priest hang'd drawn and quartered also a Priest was taken at Coventry and brought to St. Albans where he was adjudged to be Hanged Drawn and Quartered and was executed on the 15th of July having been some Days Reprieved by the Mediation of the Bishop of London 7 Ib. f. 275. n. 10 20. His Speech on Black-heath to the Malefactors This Man had Preached to please the People above Twenty Years He made a Speech to the vast Multitude of Malefactors at Black-heath and took for his Subject the Old Rime Whan Adam Dalfe and Eve Span Who was than a Gentleman From which he inferred 8 Ib. n. 30 40. The Heads of his Speech That by Nature all Men were equal That Servitude was introduced by the injust Oppression of Wicked Men against the Will of God for if God had intended to have created Servants in the beginning of the World he would have appointed who should have been Servants and who Lords or Masters advising them to consider that then was the time given them by God in which they might shake of the Yoak off Servitude if they would and enjoy their long-desired Liberty And to this end further advised them to be Stout and hasten to procure it first by killing all the Great Men of the Kingdom then the Lawyers Justices and Jury-men and lastly to destroy all such as they knew would be injurious to them for the future So as then they might acquire Peace and Security and there would be equal Liberty the same Nobility the like Dignity and the like Power amongst them This Speech with the 9 Ibm. f 265. n. 20 30 40. John Straw's Speech and Confession at the time of his death Confession of John Straw at the time of his death discovers the full Intention of these Riots Rebellions and Tumults He said that when they assembled at Black-heath and sent to the King to come to them their Purpose was to have slain all the Knights Esquires and Gentlemen that came with him and to have carried the King with them from Place to Place that the Rabble might with greater Boldness come to them when they should see him as it were the Author of their Insurrections That when there should have been great Numbers got together in all Countries they were to have killed the Lords or Knights who were able to advise against or resist them especially the Hospitalers At last they were to have killed the King and all Bishops Monks Canons and Rectors of Churches that were Endowed and had Lands and Possessions sparing only the Friers Mendicants who were sufficient to celebrate and perform Divine Rites thro' the whole Nation These things done when there had been none Greater none more Potent none more Knowing than themselves they would have made such Laws as they pleased by which the People were to be Governed They intended also to have made Kings as Wat Tiler in Kent and in every other County One. On the Night also of that Day whereon Wat Tiler was killed the poor Rabble being on their
and Traitors by their false Imaginations Deceits and Accroachments abovesaid Which Securities and Oaths were against the Good Laws and Usages of the Land and against the Oath of the King to the great Ruin and Dishonour of the King and Kingdom XX. Also by force of such Bonds and Oaths all the Realm was put into great Trouble by the said Evil-doers and Traitors and in peril to have suffered many importable Mischiefs XXI Also to bring about their Traiterous Purposes the said Five caused the King to go into several Parts of the Kingdom for some long times whereby the Lords assigned by the said Ordinance Statute and Commission could not Advise with him about the Business of the Kingdom so as the Purport and Effect of the Ordinance Statute and Commission were Defeated to the great Ruin of the King and Kingdom XXII Also the said Robert de Vere Duke of Ireland by the Counsel and Abet of the other Four Traitors accroaching to himself Royal Power without the King's Commission or other sufficient usual Warrant made himself Justice of Chester and by himself and Deputies held all manner of Pleas as well Common as of the Crown and gave Judgments upon them and made Execution thereof and also caused many Original and Judicial Writs to be sealed with the Great Seal used in those Parts And also by such Accroachment of Royal Power he caused to rise with him a great Part of the People of that Country some by Threats others by Imprisonments of their Bodies some by seizing of their Lands others by many Dishonest Ways by colour of the said Office and all this to make War upon and destroy the Lords and other the King 's Loyal Lieges in undoing the King and whole Realm XXIII Also the said Traitors Robert de Vere c. Alexander c. Michael c. by the Counsel and Abet of Robert Tresilian and Nicholas Brembre incroaching to themselves Royal Power caused to be delivered John de Blois Heir of Britan who was Prisoner and Security to the King and Kingdom without Assent of Parlement and the King 's Great Council and without Warrant to the great Strengthening of the Adversary of France the great Ruin of the King and Realm and against the Statutes and Ordinances aforesaid made in the last Parlement XXIV Also the said Five Traytors caused the King to have a great Retinue of late of divers People to whom he gave Badges which was not done in ancient time by any Kings his Progenitors that he might have Power to perform their false Treason aforesaid XXV Also the aforesaid Five Misdoers and Traytors in full accomplishment of all their Treasons aforesaid and to make the King give Credit to them and their Counsel and hold them more Loyal and greater Sages then others of his Kingdom and the more to colour their false Treasons they caused the King to make come before him in several Places of the Kingdom divers Justices and Lawyers Robert Tresilian Robert Belknap John Cary John Holt Roger Fulthorp William Burgh his Justices and John de Loketon Serjeant at Law and with them John Blake Referendary and others which Justices Serjeant and John Blake being asked in the presence of the King by the Misdoers Whether the foresaid Ordinance Statute and Commission were made in Derogation of his Royalty and Prerogative or not and divers other Questions To which they answered in manner following Be it Remembred That on the Twenty first day of August in the Eleventh year of King Richard the Second at the Castle of Nottingham before the King Robert Tresilian Chief Justice and Robert Belknap Chief Justice of the Common-Pleas John Holt Roger Fulthorp and William Burgh Knights Justices Associate of Robert Belknap and John Lokeson the King's Serjeant at Law in the presence of the Lords and other Witnesses underwritten personally there being were required by the King upon their Faith and Allegiance to answer faithfully to certain Questions and speak the Law concerning them according to their Discretion First It was demanded Whether the new Statute Ordinance and Commission made in the last Parlement at Westminster The Opinion of Judges c. concerning the Statute and Commission did derogate to or from the King's Royalty and Prerogative They unanimously answer It did especially for that they were contrary to the King 's Will. 2. Also it was demanded How those were to be punished that procured the Statute Ordinance and Commission to be made They unanimously answer With Death unless the King would shew them favour 3. Also it was demanded How they were to be punished that Excited the King to Consent to the making of that Statute Ordinance and Commission They unanimously answer as to the last Question 4. Also they were demanded How they were to be punished that forced or straitned the King qui compiderunt sive Arctarunt Regem to consent to the making of the Statute Ordinance and Commission They unanimously answer They were deservedly to be punished as Traytors Likewise they were demanded How they were to be punished who hindred the King from Exercising those things which belonged to his Prerogative and Royalty They also unanimously answer They were to be punished as Traytors 5. Also it was demanded Whether after the Parlement was met and the Business of the Kingdom and the Cause of the Meeting of the Parlement by the King's Command declared and certain Articles appointed by the King upon which the Lords and Commons ought to proceed if the Lords and Commons would proceed upon other Articles and not upon the Articles limited by the King until they had the King's Answer to their own Articles notwithstanding the King had injoined them to the contrary Then Whether the King ought to have the Government of the Parlement and indeed to govern effectually so as upon the Articles limited by the King they ought first to proceed Or Whether the Lords and Commons ought first to have Answer from the King to their own Articles before there were further Proceedings Nunquid Rex debeat habere in ea parte Regimen Parliamenti de facto Regere effectum quod super Articulis limitatis per Regem primo debeant procedere vel an Domini Comunes primo debeant habere Responsum a Rege super Articulis per eosdem expressis antequam ulterius procedatur They unanimously answer That in such Case the King should have the Government and so in order in all other Articles touching the Parlement to the end of the same and if any one acted contrary to this Government of the King he was to be punished as a Traytor 6. Also it was demanded Whether the King when he pleased might not Dissolve the Parlement and Command his Lords and Commons to depart from thence They unanimously answer He might and if any one afterward proceeded as in Parlement against the King's Will he was to be punished as a Traytor 7. Also it was demanded Whether when the King pleased to Remove
the King and Lords to Record their Default and proceed to Judgment Thereupon 2 Ibm. the King and Lords Deliberate upon their Demands until next day being Tuesday when the Justices Serjeants and other Sages of the Law of the Kingdom and also the Sages of the Law Civil were charged by the King to give their Loyal Counsel to the Lords of Parlement how they should proceed in the Case of Appeal The said Justices Serjeants and Sages of both Laws having Deliberated answered the Lords in Parlement That How they were to be Tryed they had noted and well understood the Tenor of the Appeal and that it was done neither according to the Order of one Law or the other Upon which the Lords in Parlement Deliberated and by the common assent of the King and Lords it was declared That in such high Crimes which touched the Person of the King and the State of the whole Realm perpetrated by Persons that were Peers of the Realm with others the Case could not be brought under other Judicature then that of Parlement nor other Law then the Law and Course of Parlement and that it belonged to the Lords in Parlement their Franchise and Liberty of ancient Custom of Parlement to be Judges in such Cases and to Judge of such Cases by the assent of the King to the 3 Ibm. intent that the King and Lords of Parlement shall not be Ruled or Governed by the Civil Law and also that so high a Case should be no where Tryed but in Parlement by Process or Order used in any Inferior Court of the Kingdom which Courts are but the Executors of the ancient Laws and Customs of the Realâ—â— and Ordinances and Establishments of Parlement and the Lords were advised by assent of the King That this Appeal was made and affirmed well and duely Stated and the Process of the same good and effectual according to the Laws and Course of Parlement Upon which the Appellants press the King and Lords again to Record the Default and that Nicholas Brembre who was only in Custody might be brought to answer The Appealed were again called to come and Answer to the said Appellants and came not nevertheless the King and Lords advised for their better Deliberation until the Morrow being Wednesday the 5th of February at which time the said Appellants prayed the King and Lords in Parlement they would Record the Default of the Appealed as before Whereupon the Arch-Bishop of Canterbury for himself and all other Bishops his Suffragans and all other Lords Spiritual of his Province made 4 Ibm. and Append. n. 108. Protestation and delivered it in Writing into Parlement for the saving of their Right of Peerage Sitting and Voting in Parlement tho at present there were such Matters there in Agitation as by the Sacred Canons they might not be present Then the Appealed 5 Ibm. The Appealed appear not by Command of the King and Lords were solemnly called to appear as before and the Appellants alledging they had full notice of the Appeal and the King and Lords being satisfied it was so by reason they came not their Default was Recorded whereupon the Duke and Earls Appellants prayed the King and Lords as before they might be Judged Convict of the High Treasons contained in the Appeal and the said Nicholas brought to Answer The King and Lords took time to Consider and Examine the Articles whether they could give such Judgment in this Case as should be to the Honour of God the Honour and Profit of the King and the whole Kingdom The King Commanded the Lords to Examine the Articles who did with great labour and diligence until Thursday the 13th of February and then declared many of the Articles contained Treason as the First Second Eleventh Twelfth Fifteenth and Sixteenth as also the Eighteenth Twenty ninth Thirtieth Thirty first Thirty second the Thirty seventh Thirty eighth and Thirty ninth were Treason And then upon due Information of their Consciences pronounced the Appealed Guilty and Judged them to be 6 Ibm. Their Judgment Drawn and Hanged as Traitors and Enemies to the King and Kingdom and that their Heirs should be Disherited for ever and their Lands Tenements Goods and Chattels forfeited to the King and that the Temporalities of the Arch-Bishoprick should be taken into the King's hands And for that the like Case had not been seen in the Kingdom concerning the Person of an Arch-Bishop or Bishop the Lords would Advise by Assent of the King what they may best do for the Honour of God and of Holy Church and the Safety of the Laws of the Land Then the Duke and Earls Appellants prayed Sir Nicholas Sir N. Brembre brought to answer Brembre might be brought to Answer and on Monday the 17th of February the Constable of the Tower brought him into Parlement 7 Ibm. where the Articles of Appeal were read to him to which he pleaded Not Guilty in any Point of them and said he was there ready to make good what he said by his Body as a Knight ought to do The Lords answered Battel did not lie in that Case and that they would examin the Articles touching the said Nicholas and take due Information by all true necessary and convenient Ways that their Consciences might be duly informed what Judgment to give in this Case to the Honour of God the Honour and Profit of the King and his Kingdom as they would answer it before God according to the Course and Law of Parlement During this Examination on Wednesday the 19th of February Sir Robert Tresilian was taken and brought into 8 Ibm. Sir R Tresilian taken and brought into Parlement Parlement and being asked if he had any thing to say which had happened since Judgment passed upon him why execution thereof should not be made for that he had nothing to say it was commanded he should be carried to the Tower and from thence drawn through the City of London and forward to the Gallows at Tyburn and there to hang by the Neck and that the Execution should be done by the Marshal of England taking to his Assistance the Major Sheriffs and Aldermen of London And he was Executed the same Day On the morrow 9 Ibm. Sir N. Brembre Sentenc'd and Executed which was the 20th Day of February Sentenc'd and Executed Sir Nicholas Brembre was brought into Parlement when the Lords by diligent Examination due Proof and Information found him Guilty of High Treason and they Awarded by Assent of the King as a Traitor and open Enemy to the King and Kingdom he should be Drawn and Hanged his Heirs for ever Disherited and his Lands Tenements Goods and Chattels forfeit to the King And he was Executed on the same Day and in the same manner as was Robert Tresilian It was the Intention 1 Ibm. The Parlement Judge the King innocent notwithstanding the Appeal and Articles of all the Lords of Parlement Spiritual and
If a Murderer If for all excess of Villanies odious and execrable both to God and Man Surely he deserveth the highest degree of Punishment and yet must not the Son lift up his Hand against him for no Offence is so great as to be punished with Parricide but our Country is dearer unto us then our Parents and the Prince is Pater Patriae the Father of our Country and therefore more Quintil. in declam offic lib. 1. sacred and dear to us then our Parents by Nature and must not be violated how Imperious how Impious soever he be Doth he Command or Demand our Persons or our Purses we must not shun for the one nor shrink for the other for as Nehem. 9. 37. Nehemiah saith Kings have Dominion over the Bodies and over the Cattle of their Subjects at their Pleasure Doth he enjoin those Actions which are contrary to the Laws of God we must neither wholly obey nor violently resist but with a constant Courage submit our selves to all manner of Punishment and shew our Subjection by Enduring and not Performing Yea the Church hath declared it to be an Heresie to Alphonsâ— a Castro in lib. de haeresi in Verb Tyrannus Dom. Sâ—to lib. 5. de just jure hold that a Prince may be Slain or Deposed by his Subjects for any Disorder or Default either in Life or else in Government there will be Faults so long as there are Men and as we endure with Patience a Barren year if it happen and unseasonable Weather and such other Defects of Nature so must we tolerate the Imperfections of Rulers and quietly expect either Reformation or else a Change But alass good King Richard what such Cruelty What such Impiety hath he ever committed Examine rightly those Imputations which are laid against him without any false Circumstance of Aggravation and you shall find nothing objected either of any Truth or of great Moment It may be that many Errours and Oversights have escaped him yet none so grievous to be termed Tyranny as proceeding rather from Unexperienced Ignorance or Corrupt Counsel than from any Natural and Wilful Malice Oh! how shall the World be pestered with Tyrants if Subjects may rebel upon every pretence of Tyranny How many good Princes shall daily be suppressed by those by whom they ought to be supported If they Levy a Subsidy or any other Taxation it shall be claimed Oppression If they put any to Death for Traiterous Attempts against their Persons it shall be exclaimed Cruelty If they do any thing against the Iust and liking of the People it shall be proclaimed Tyranny But let it be that without Authority in us or Desert in him King Richard must be Deposed yet what Right had the Duke of Lancaster to the Crown Or what Reason have we without his Right to give it to him If he make Title as Heir unto King Richard then must he yet stay until King Richard's Death for no Man can succeed as Heir to one that Liveth But it is well known to all Men who are not either wilfully Blind or grossly Ignorant that there are some now alive lineally descended from Lionel Duke of Clarence whose Offspring was by Judgment of the High Court of Parlement holden the Eighth year of the Reign of King Richard declared next Successor to the Crown in case King Richard should die without Issue Concerning the Title from Edmund Crouchbacke I will pass it over seeing the Authors thereof are become ashamed of so absurd Abuse both of their own Knowledge and our Credulity and therefore all the Claim is now made by Right of Conquest by the Cession and Grant of King Richard and by the general Consent of all the People It is a bad Wooll that can take no colour but what Conquest can a Subject pretend against his Sovereign where the War is Insurrection and the Victory High and Heinous Treason As for the Resignation which King Richard made being a pent Prisoner for the same Cause it is an Act exacted by force and therefore of no force or validity to bind him and seeing that by the Laws of this Land the King alone cannot alienate the ancient Jewels and Ornaments pertaining to the Crown surely he cannot give away the Crown it self and therewithall the Kingdom Neither have we any Custom that the People at Pleasure should Elect their King but they are always bound unto him who by right of Blood is right Successor much less can they confirm and make good that Title which is before by Violence usurped for nothing can then be freely done when Liberty is once restrained by fear So did Scilla by Terrour of his Legions obtain the Law of Velleia to be made whereby he was created Dictator for Fourscore years and by like Impression of Fear Caesar caused the Law of Servia to be promulged by which he was made Perpetual Dictator but both these Laws were afterwards adjudged void As for the Deposing King Edward the Second it is no more to be urged than the Poysoning of King John or the Murdering of any good and Lawful Prince We must live according to Laws and not to Examples and yet the Kingdom was not then taken from the Lawful Successor But if we look back to Times lately past we shall find that these Titles were more strong in King Stephen then they are in the Duke of Lancaster for King Henry the First being at large Liberty neither restrained in Body nor constrained in Mind had appointed him to succeed as it was upon good Credit certainly affirmed the People assented to this Designment and thereupon without Fear and without Force he was Anointed King and obtained full Possession of the Realm Yet Henry Son of the Earl of Anjowe having a nearer Right by his Mother to the Crown notwithstanding his Father was a Stranger and himself born beyond the Seas raised such rough Wars upon King Stephen that there was no end of spoiling the Goods and spilling the Blood of the unhappy People besides the ruines and deformities of many Cities and Holds until his Lawful Inheritance was to him assured It terrifieth me to remember how many Flourishing Empires and Kingdoms have been by means of such Contentions either torn in pieces with Intestine Division or subdued to Foreign Princes under Pretence of Assistance and Aid and I need not repeat how sore this Realm hath heretofore been shaken with these several Mischiefs and yet neither the Examples of other Countries nor the Miseries of our own are sufficient to make us to beware O Englishmen worse bewitched than the foolish Galathians Our unstayed Minds and restless Resolutions do nothing else but hunt after our own Harms No People more Hated Abroad and none less Quiet at Home In other Countries the Sword of Invasion hath been shaken against us in our own Land the Fire of Insurrection hath been kindled amongst us And what are these Innovations but Whetstones to sharpen the one and Bellows to blow up the