A Chronicle of the Kings of England from the Time of the Roman Government

Acts done in the c • ntention between the King and his Barons.

NOw King Henry very proud to have his younger son a King as well as his brother, calls a Parliament, wherein he brings forth his son Edmund, clad in Sicilian habit, and • else the Parli • meant, that for advancing this son of his to the kingdom of Sicily, he had bound himself under covenant of losing his kingdom in the sum of an hundred and forty thousand Markes, and hoped they would not think much to aide him with money for so great an advancement: but the Parliament stood firm to their usual condition of Margna Charta ; so as that might be confirmed, they were content to give two and fifty thousand Marks, but this gave the King no satisfaction. The year after, another Parliament is holden at London, wherein upon the Kings pressing them again for means to pay his debts to the Pope; the Lord's tell him plainly, they will not yield to give him anything for any such purpose; and give their reasons, and withal repeat their own grievances, his breach of promise, the insolency of his brothers, and specially William de Valence, who had given the lie to the Earl of Leycester, and no right done him in it; and many such things, which the King hearing, and not able to deny, humbles himself, and tells them how he had often by ill counsel been seduced; but promiseth by his Oath which he took on the Tomb of Saint Edward, to reform all those errors. But the Lord's not well knowing how to deal in this business, as being divided between a desire to satisfy the King, and a desire to be satisfied themselves; and knowing withal the variableness of the Kings nature, they get the Parliament to be adjourned to Saint Barnabies day, and then to assemble at Oxford. In which mean time, the Earls Gloucester, Leycester, Hereford, the Earl Marshall Bigod, Spenser, and other great men confederate, and provide by Arms to effect their desire: and here is the foundation laid of those bloody wars that ensued between King Henry and his Barons. And now the King being put to his shifts for money, gets the Abbot of Westminster to put his Seal and that of his Covent to a Deed Obligatory, as a surety for two hundred Markes; making account, that by his example, others would be drawn to do the like: but his trusty servant Simon Passeleve being employed to other Monasteries, and telling them amongst other reasons to persuade them, that the King was Lord of all they had, they only answered; they acknowledged indeed the King to be Lord of all they had, but yet so, as to defend, not to destroy the same: and this was all he could get of them. The Prince also in no less want then his Father, is driven to mortgage his Town of Stamford, Brahan, and many other things, to William de Valence, a Poictouin, whereby appeared the disorder of the time, when the Prince was in want, and strangers had such plenty. And now is the Parliament assembled at Oxford, whither the Lord's come attended with large trains: and here they begin with the expostulation of the former Liberties, requiring that the Chief Justiciar, the Chancellor and Treasurer may be ordained by public choice; and that the twenty four Conserva • ours of the kingdom may be confirmed, twelve by the election of the Lord's, and twelve by the King, with whatsoever else made for their imagined security. The King seeing their strength, and in what manner they required these things; swears solemnly again to the confirmation of them, and causeth the Prince to take the same Oath. But the Lord's left not here, the Kings brethren, the Poictouins, and other strangers must presently be removed; and this also, though with some little opposition, was at last concluded: and thereupon the Kings brethren and their followers are despoyled of all their fortunes, and • xiled by proscription under the Kings own hand, directed to the Earls of Hereford and Surrey. But now sickness and mortality happening to many great ones, it is imputed to poisons, supposed to have been prepared by those strangers proscribed; the Earl of Gloucester in a sickness, suddenly lost his hair, his teeth, his nails; and his brother hardly escaped death: which made many to suspect their nearest servants, and their Cooks: Walter Scoynie the Earl Steward, is strictly examined, committed to prison, and afterward without confession, is upon presumptions only executed at Winchester: Elias a converted Jew, is said to have confessed, that in his house the poison was confected; but it was when he was a Jew, and not a Christian. Every man that had received any wrong by those strangers, now put up their complaints, and are heard. Guydo de •• chfort a Poictouin, to whom the King had given the Castle of Rochester, is banished, and all his goods confiscate. William Bussey, Steward to William de Valence, is committed to the Tower of London, and most reproachfully used. Richard Gray, whom the Lord's had made Captain of Dover Castle, is set to intercept whatsoever the Poictouins convaied that way out of England ; and much treasure of theirs, and of the elect of Winchester is by him taken, besides great sums committed to the new Temple are found out, and seised for the King.

And now the new Chief Justiciar Hugh Bigod, brother to the Earl Marshall, (chosen this last Parliament by public voice) procures that four knights in every Shire should inquire of the oppressions of the poor, done by great men; and certify the same, that redress might be made. Also order was taken against corrupting of justice; when yet notwithstanding this pretended care of the public, it is noted by the Writers and Records of that time, how the Lord's were themselves but as • otidem tyranni, enforcing the services of the Kings tenants that dwelt near them. But to make their cause the more popular, it was rumored that the King stood upon it, that his necessity must be supplied out of the estates of his people, whether they would or no: which the King hearing, sends forth Proclamation, declaring how certain malicious persons had falsely and seditiously reported, that he meant unlawfully to charge his subjects, and subvert the Laws and Liberties of the kingdom; and by these false suggestions, averted the hearts of his people from him: and therefore desires them not to give credit to such per • urbers: for that he was ready to defend all Rights and Customs due unto them: and that they might rest of this secured, he caused his Letters to be made Patents. But now Montford Gloucester, and Spenser, enforce the King to call a Parliament at London, where they get the authority of the twenty four to be estated wholly upon themselves, and they alone to dispose of the custody of the Castles, and other businesses of the kingdom: and here they bind the King to lose to them their Legal obedience whensoever he infringed his Charter. At this time intelligence was given to the Lord's, that Richard King of the Rom • ns had a purpose to come into England ; and the Lord's suspecting he would come with power to aide the King his brother, take order for guarding the Ports, with intent to hinder his landing: but finding his train to be but small, accompanied only with his Queen, two German Earls, and eight knights: upon his promise to take their propounded Oath, they admit him to land; but would nether permit the King (who came thither to me • e him) nor himself to enter into Dover Castle. At Canterbury they bring him into the Chapter house, where the Earl of Gloucester standing forth in the midst, calls out the Earl, not by the name of King, but Richard Earl of Cornwall ; who in reverent manner coming forth, taketh his Oath in these words. Hear all men, that I Richard Earl of Cornwall, do here swear upon the holy Evangelists, that I shall be faithful and diligent to reform with you the Kingdom of England, and • e an effectual Coadjutor to expel all Rebels and disturbers of the same; and this Oath will inviolably observe, under pain of losing all the Land I have in England: so help me God. But though this Earl came home but weak and poor, yet upon his return the King takes heart, and seeks all means to vindicate his power: and first sends messengers secretly to Rome, to be Absolved from his enforced Oath; and to have the more assurance from the King of France, he makes an absolute resignation of all his Right to the Duchy of Normandy, and the Earledomes of Anjou, Poitou, Tourene, and Maine: in regard whereof, the King of France gives him three hundred thousand pounds (some say Crowns) o • Anjouin money; and gran • s him to enjoy all Guyen, beyond the River Garo • ne, all the Country of Xan • oigne to the River of Charente, the Country of Limousin and Quercy, for him and his successo • rs, doing their homage to the Crown of France, as Duke of Aquit • i • e. And now was the King of France made Arbiter of the difference between King Henry and his Barons, who gives sentence against the Barons concerning the Provisions at Oxford ; but of their side concerning King John's Charter: by which nice distin • tion, though he did but leave the matter as he found it: (for those Provisions, as the Lord's pretended, were grounded upon that Charter) yet did his sentence draw many away from the party of the Barons, amongst whom was Henry son to the Earl of Cornwall, Roger Clifford, Roger de Leisbourne, Haimo Lestrange, and many others. But the Earl of Leycester, notwithstanding this revolt, recovers the Town and Castle of Gloucester ; constrains the Citizens to pay a thousand pounds for their redemption; goes with an Army to Worcester, possesseth him of the Castle, thence to Shrewsbery, and so comes about to the I will of Eli, subdues the same, and grows exceeding powerful. The King doubting his approach to London, falls to treat of a Peace, and a Peace is concluded upon these conditions; that all the Castles of the King should be delivered to the keeping of the Barons; the Provisions of Oxford should inviolably be kept; all strangers by a certain time should avoid the kingdom, except only such as were licensed to stay. The Prince had fortified Windsor Castle; but Leycester coming to besiege it, he treats with him for Peace, which is refused, and the Castle is rendered to him.

The King at this time, to win time, convokes another Parliament at London, wherein he won many Lord's to take his part; as namely the Prince Richard his brother, Henry his son, William Valence, with the rest of his brothers lately returned, and with them the King marcheth to Oxford, whither divers Lord's of Scotland repair to him; as John Commin, John Baylioll, Lord's of Galloway, Robert Bruce, and others: also many Barons of the North; Glifford, Percey, Basset, and others. From Oxford he goes to Northampton, where he took prisoners, Simon Montford the younger, with fourteen other principal men; thence to Nottingham, making spoils of such possessions as pertained to the Barons in those parts. And now the Kings side grows strong, which the Earls of Leycester and Gloucester seeing, they write to the King, protesting their loyalty, and how they opposed only such as were enemies to him and the kingdom, and had belied them. The King returns answer, that themselves were the perturbers of him and his State, and sought his and the kingdoms destruction; and therefore defies them. The Prince likewise and the Earl of Cornwall send letters of defiance to them. Yet the Barons continue to mediate a Peace, and send the Bishops of London and Worcester, with offer of thirty thousand Markes to the King, for the damages done in these wars, so as the Statutes of Oxford may be observed; but this offer is not accepted. The Earl seeing no remedy, but it must be put to a day; takes his time to be earlier ready then was expected, and supplies his want of strength with policy, placing on the one side of a hill near Lewis, where the battle was fought, certain Ensigns without men, in such sort, as they might seem a far off, to be Squadrons of succors to second those he brought to the encounter, whom he caused all to wear white Crosses, both for their own notice, and the signification of his cause, which he would have to be thought for justice. Here the fortune of the day was his, the King, the Prince, the Earl of Cornwall, and his son Henry, the Earls of Arundell and Hereford, with all the Scottish Lord's, are taken prisoners; the Eale Warren, William de Valence, Guy de Lusignan, the Kings brothers, with Hugh Bigod Earl Marshall, save themselves by flight: five thousand (some say twenty thousand) others are slain in the battle. A year and a half is Simon Montford in possession of his prisoners, carrying the King about with him to countenance his actions, till he had gotten all the strongest Castles in the kingdom.

And now comes Erinnys and sets debabte between the two great Earls of Leycester and Gloucester, about their Dividend: Leycester is taxed to do more for his own particular then the common good; his sons also presuming upon his greatness, grew insolent: whereupon Gloucester discontented, forsakes that side, and betakes him to the Prince; who lately escaping out of the Castle of Hereford, had gotten a power about him to try the fortune of another battle. The revolt of this Earl being great in it self, was greater by its example; for now many others revolted likewise: and the Earl of Leycester seeing the improvement of the Princes forces, who was now with his Army about Worcester, though he • awe his own disadvantage, yet imbattels in a Plain near Ev • sham to encounter him, and noting the manner of the approach of the Princes Army, said • o those about him; These men come bravely on, they learn it not of themselves, but of me; and seeing himself likely to be be • et, and overlaid with multitude, he advised his friends, Hugh Spenser, Ralph Basset, and others, to shift for themselves; which when they refused to do, then (saith he) let us commend our souls to God, for our bodies are theirs: and so undertaking the main weight of the battle, perished under it • and with him are slain, his son Henry, eleven Barons, with many thousands of common Soldiers. And thus ended Montford the great Earl of Leycester, highly honored in his life, and more highly should have been after his death, if the people might have had their will, who talked of Miracles enough to have made him a Saint.

And now is King Henry by this victory of his son, at liberty; who together repair to Winchester, where a Parliament is convoked, and all who adhered to the Earl Montford are disinherited, and their estates conferred on others, at the Kings pleasure; the Londoners also have their Liberties taken from them. But though the death of Montford gave a great wound to the party of the Barons, yet it was not mortal, at least not mortal presently, for there remained relics that kept it alive a good while after. Simon and Guy de Montford, sons of the Earl of Leycester, and other of the Barons, take and defend the I will of Eli: the Castle of Killingworth held out half a year, till their victuals failed; and then yielded upon conditions to have their lives and goods saved: and many others there were, resolute and desperate persons, strongly knit and fastened together, though now shortly upon dissolving. For after the Parliament at Westminster, the King with an Army going against them, and being at Northampton, Simon and Guy de Montford submit themselves to him: but when the Earl of Gloucester opposed the restoring them to their estates, they were fain to fly the kingdom, and make their fortunes in other Countries, as indeed they did; the younger in Italy, the elder in France, where they were Propatours of two great Families. Their mother was banished shortly after the battle of Evesham, a Lady of eminent note, as being the daughter and sister of a King; and yet of more note for her patient bearing of adversity, or rather for her making a benefit of adversity; for by this means she betook her self to the veil of piety, and died a Nun at Montarges in France.

Three years after this, the disinherited Barons held out, till at length, conditions of render are propounded; but here the Council are divided in opinion: Mortimer and others stated in the possessions of the disinherited, are against restoration; alleging, it were injustice to take from them the rewards of their service. Gloucester, and the twelve ordained to deal for the peace of the State, are earnest for restoration; alleging, it were hard measure to grant them their lives, & not their livelihoods: but not prevailing, in great discontentment Gloucester retires from Court, sends messengers to warn the King to remove strangers from his counsel; and observe the Provisions at Oxford, as he promised at Evesham : otherwise that he should not marvel if himself did what he thought fit. Hereupon John de Warren, Earl of Surrey, and William de Valentia are sent to the Earl of Gloucester : who though they could not persuade him to submit to the King; yet thus much they got of him under his hand and seal, that he would never bear Arms against the King or his son Edward, but only defend himself, and pursue Roger Mortimer and his other enemies. And now a Parliament is convoked at Bury, wherein many demands are made by the King and the Legat, and all for money from the Clergy; but all denied, that nothing but denials are done in this Parliament. After this, the Legat employs Solicitours to persuade the disinherited Lord's which held the I will of Eli, to return to the faith and unity of the Church, and to the peace of the King, according to the form propounded at Coventry: to which the Lord's make answer, that they never opposed the unity of the Church • but the • varice of Church-men that were put in authority; and that they never opposed the King, but for the good of the kingdom: and then required that the Provisions of Oxford might be observed, and pledges be given them for their security. Hereupon the year after, the King prepares a mighty Army, and Prince Edward with bridges entering the I will of Eli, shuts them up so, that he constrains them at last to yield; also the Earl of Gloucester coming to London with an Army, is by the Legat once again persuaded to render himself to the King, and upon forfeiture of twelve thousand Markes if ever he should raise any commotion again, is reconciled. Now remains Lewilin and the Welsh, to be chastened for aiding of Simon Montford ; but the King going against them with an Army, they give him two and thirty thousand pounds Sterling, and so make their peace. And here was an end of the first wars between the Kings of England and their Barons. The next year after the Popes Legat Ottobon signs with the Croysado both the Kings sons, Edward and Edmund, the Earl of Gloucester, and divers Noble men induced to undertake the Holy war, by the solicitation of him and the King of France: who nothwithstanding his former calamities endured in that action, would once again adventure it: and because Prince Edward wanted means to furnish himself out, the King of France lends him thirty thousand Markes upon a mortgage of Gascoyne. And now whilst this preparation is in hand, King Henry labors to establish the peace of the kingdom, and to reform the excesses which the war had bred; and the same year assembles his last Parliament at Marleborough, where the Statutes of that title were enacted. Neare two years it seems to have been after the undertaking the Cross before Prince Edward set forth; but then taking his wife Eleanor with him, though young with child, he set forward; and in the voyage, when many of his people seemed desirous to leave him • and return home, he is said to have stricken his breast, and sworn; that if all his followers forsook him, he would yet enter Acon, or Ptolemais ; though but only with his horse-keeper Fowin. Shortly after Richard King of the Romans died, and the year following King Henry.

Of his Taxations, and ways for raising of money.

NEver son was more like a Father in anything, then King Henry was like his Father King John, in this point, for raising of money; for he trode directly in all his steps, if he added not something of his own. King John had great Subsidies granted him by Parliament, for any great action he undertook, so had King Henry. King John resumed the lands aliened from the Crown, so did King Henry. King John made benefit of the vacancy of Bishoprics and Abbeys, so did King Henry. K. John took great Fines of many for crimes not proved, but only supposed, so did King Henry. King John made benefit of a new Seal, so did King Henry. King John extorted great sums from the Jews, so did King Henry. And one way more he had to get money, which perhaps his Father had not, and that was by begging, as he told the Abbot of Borough ; It was more Alms to give money to him, then to the Beggar that went from door to door. Indeed Taxations in this Kings Rain may be reckoned amongst his Annual Revenues, for scarce any year passed without a Parliament, and seldom any Parliament without a Tax; or if any sometimes without, it was then cause of the greater Taxation some other way; as when he took of the Londoners for having aided the Barons, twenty thousand Markes.

Of his Laws and Ordinances.

IN this Kings Rain were ratified and confirmed the two great Charters of Magna Char • a, and Charta de Foresta: also in his time were enacted the Statutes called of Merton, of Oxford, and of Marleborough. Also stealing of cattle, which before was but Pecuniary, he made capital: and the first that suffered for the same, was one of Dunstable ; who having stolen twelve Oxen from the Inhabitants of Colne, and being pursued to Redburne, was by a Bailiff of Saint Albons, according to the Kings Proclamation, condemned and beheaded. And it may seem strange that in these times so much blood should be shed in the field, and none upon the scaffold; for till the twenty sixth year of this King, that one William Marisc, the son of Geoffrey Marisc, a Noble man of Ireland, being condemned for Piracie and Treason, was hanged, beheaded, and quartered; there is no example of that kind of punishment to be found in our Histories. Particularly in this Kings Rain was made that Statute, by which the Ward and marriage of the heirs of Barons within age, is given to the King. Also in this Kings Rain the Pleas of the Crown were pleaded in the Tower of London. All Weares in the Thames are in this Kings time ordained to be plucked up and destroyed. Also the Citizens of London are allowed by Charter, to pass Toll-free through all England, and to have free Warren about London, also to have and use a common Seal. Also it was ordained that no Sheriff of London should continue in his office longer then one year, which they did before for many. In the five and twentieth year of this King were Aldermen first chosen within the City of London, which then had the rule of the City, and of the Wards of the same, and were then yearly changed, as now the Sheriffs are. It was in this Kings time allowed to the City of London, to present their Major to the Barons of the Exchequer to be sworn, which before was to be presented to the King, wheresoever he were. In his time the clause No • obstante (brought in first by the Pope) was taken up by the King in his grants and writings. Also in this Kings time, William Bishop of Salisbury, first caused that custom to be received for a Law, whereby the Tenants of every Lordship are bound to owe their suite to the Lord's Court, of whom they hold their Tenements.

Affaires of the Church in his time.

AFfaires of the Church for matter of Doctrine, were never more quiet then in this Kings Rain; for now all Heresies accounted of the time, especially the Albigenses were in a manner suppressed by the Arms of the King of France, not without the Vote of the King of England, who forbore to make war upon him in tenderness to this service; but for matter of manners, they were never more turbulent: for now Abbeys were fleeced, Sanctuaries violated, Clergy-men outraged, Bishops themselves not spared; and all for greediness of money, or for revenge. Ottobone the Popes Legat here in England, lying at the Abbey of Oseney, there happened a difference between his servants and the Scholars of Oxford ; in which contention, a brother of his was slain, and the • Legat himself fain to fly into the Steeple for safeguard of his life: whereupon afterward being gotten from thence by the Kings safe conduct, he thundered out curses against the Scholars, and interdicted the University, so as the Colleges grew desolate, and the Students were dispersed abroad into other places, for the space of half a year: till the Monks of Oseney, and the Regent Masters of Oxford were fain to go bare-foot and bare-head through London, as far as Durham house, where the Legat lay; and there upon their humble submission, and great men's intercession, they were absolved, and the University restored to its former estate. But of this Ottobone, it may not be impertinent to relate a little further; that going afterward out of England, he came by degrees, after the death of Innocent the fifth, to be Pope of Rome himself, by the name of Adrian the fifth, and died within fifty days after his election. Amongst affairs of the Church, may be reckoned the Ulcers of any member of the Church: such a one as in this Kings time brake out most loathsome; for one procuring five wounds to be made in his body, in resemblance to the five wounds in Christ's body, took upon him to be Christ, and had gotten a Woman, that took upon her to be the Virgin Mary ; who continuing obstinate in their madness, were adjudged to be immured and shut up between two walls, to the end (no doubt) the contagion of their filthiness should spread no further. In this Kings time, a little novelty was first brought in by Pope Innocent the fourth, who ordained that Cardinals should wear red Hats: something perhaps for mystery, and something for distictnion.

Works of piety done by him, or by others in his time.

THis King caused a chest of Gold to be made for laying up the Relics of King Edward the Confessor, in the Church of Westminster. He built a Church for converted Jews in London : also an Hospital at Oxford, for passengers and diseased persons: also the new Coventuall Church and the Chapel of our Lady at Westminster, whereof he laid himself the first stone: also the hou • e of Black-Friers in Canterbury. In his time, Ela Countess of Salisbury, founded the Abbey of Lacok in Wiltshire; Richard Earl of Cornwall, founded Hayles a Monastery of Cistersian Monks near to Winchcombe in Glocestershire: Reginold de Moun, Earl of Somerset, and Lord of Dunster, founded the Abbey of Newham in Devonshire: Ranulph the third Earl of Chester, and Lord of little Britain, built the Castles of Chartley, Bestone, and the Abbey of Dela Cresse: Sir John Mansell the Kings Chaplain, founded a house of Regular Canons near to Rumney in Kent: William de Albineto Earl of Arundell, founded the Priory of Wimondham: William Brunc, a Citizen of London, and Rosia his wife, founded the Hospital of our Lady without Bishopsgate in London: And Isabel Countess of Arundell, founded the Nunnery of Marran near to Linne. Friers Minors first arrived at Dover, nine in number, whereof five remained at Canterbury, and there built the first Covent of Friers Minors that ever was in England: the other four came to London, who increasing in number, had a place assigned them in Saint Nicholas Shambles ; which John Iwyn, Mercer of London, appropriated to the use of the said Friers, and became himself a Lay brother. Also in this Kings time the new work of Saint Paul's Church in London was begun. If it were piety in the Jew, who falling into a Privy upon a Saturday, would not be taken out that day, because it was the Jews Sabbath: It was as much piety in the Earl of Gloucester, that would not suffer him to be taken out the next day, because it was the Christian Sabbath; and when the third day he was taken out dead, whose piety was the greater? A strange accident upon an act of piety, is related in this Kings time; which if true, is a Miracle, if not true, is yet a Legend, and not unworthy to be read: that in a time of dearth, one man in a certain Parish, who allowed poor people to relieve themselves with taking Corn upon his ground, had at Harvest a plentiful crop; where others that denied them, had their Corn all blasted, and nothing worth. In this Kings time also, Hugh Balsamus, Bishop of Eli, founded Saint Peters College in Cambridge. Hubert de Burgh Earl of Kent, was buried in the Church of the Friers Preachers in London, to which Church he gave his Palace at Westminster, which afterward the Arch-bishop of York bought, and made it his Inn; since commonly called York place, now White-Hall.

Casualties happening in his time.

AT one time there fell no Rain in England, from the first of March to the Assumption of our Lady; and at another time there fell so much Rain, that Holland and Holdernes in Lincolneshire were over-flowed and drowned. In the seventeenth year of his Raign, were seen five Suns at one time together; after which followed so great a Dearth, that people were constrained to eat horse flesh, and barks of Trees: and in London twenty thousand were starved for want of food. Also in his time the Church of Saint Mildred in Canterbury, and a great part of the City was burnt. Also the Town of New-Castle upon Tine was burnt, Bridge and all. And though it may seem no fit place to tell it, yet here or nowhere it must be told; that in this Kings time there was sent by the King of France, the first Elephant that ever was seen in England.

Of his Wife and Children.

HE married Eleanor, the second of the five Daughters of Raymond Earl of Provence, who lived his Wife thirty seven years, his Widow nineteen, died a Nun at Aimesbury, and was buried in her Monastery. By her, he had six Sons, and three Daughters: of his Sons, the four youngest died young, and were buried, three of them at Westminster, and the fourth in the New Temple by Fleetstreet. His eldest Son Edward, surnamed Longshanke, of his tall and slender body, succeeded him in the kingdom. His second Son Edmund, surnamed Crouch-back, of bowing in his back, (as some say) but more likely of wearing the sign of the Cross, (anciently called a Crouch) upon his back, which was usually worn of such as had vowed voyages to Jerusalem, as he had done. He was invested Titular King of Sicily and Apulia, and created Earl of Lancaster ; on whose person originally the great contention of Lancaster and York was Founded. He had two Wives, the first was Avelin. Daughter and Heir of William Earl of Albemarle, by whom he left no issue. The second was Queen Blanch, Daughter of Robert Earl of Artois, (Brother of Saint Lewis King of France ) Widow of Henry of Champaigne King of Navarre: by her he had issue three Sons, and one Daughter. His eldest Son Thomas, who after his Father was Earl of Lancaster, and having married Alice, Daughter and Heir of Henry Lacie Earl of Lincoln, was beheaded at Pomfret without issue. His second son Henry Lord of Monmouth, who after his Brothers death was Earl of Lancaster, and Father of Henry the first Duke of Lancaster : his third Son John ; who died unmarryed. His Daughter Mary married to Henry Lord Percy, Mother of Henry the first Earl of Northumberland. This Edmund died at Bay in Gascoyne, in the year 1296. when he had lived fifty years, whose body half a year after his death was brought over into England and entombed at Westminster. Of King Henries three Daughter, the eldest Margaret was married to Alexander the third, King of Scotland, by whom she had issue, two Sons, Alexander and David ; who died both before their Father, without issue, and one Daughter Margar • t Queen of Norway, Wife of King Erike, and Mother of Margaret the Heir of Scotland and Norway, that died unmarryed. The second Daughter of King Henry was Beatrice, borne at Burdeaux, married to John the first Duke of Britain, and had issue by him, Arthur Duke of Britain, John Earl of Richmont, Peter ; and Blanch married to Philip Son of Robert Earl of Artois, Eleanor a Nun at Aimesbury, and Mary married to Guy Earl of S. Paul • she deceased in Britain, and was buried at London, in the Choir of the Gray Friars within Newgate. The third Daughter of King Henry, named Katherine, died young, and lies buried at Westminster, in the space between the Chapels of King Edward and Saint Benet.

Of his Personage and Conditions.

HE was of stature but mean, yet of a well compacted body, and very strong: one of his eyelids hanging down, and almost covering the black of his Eye: For his inward endowments, it may be said, he was wiser for a man, then for a Prince; for he knew better how to govern his life then his Subjects. He was rather Pious then Devout, as taking more pleasure in hearing Masses then Sermons, as he said to the King of France, He had rather see his Friend once, then hear from him often. His mind seemed not to stand firm upon its Basis, for every sudden accident put him into passion. He was neither constant in his love, nor in his hate; for he never had so great a Favorite whom he cast not into disgrace, nor so great an Enemy whom he received not into favor. An example of both which qualities was seen in his carriage towards Hubert de Burgh, who was for a time his greatest Favorite, yet cast out afterward in miserable disgrace, and then no man held in greater ha • red, yet received afterward into grace again. And it is memorable to hear with what crimes this Hubert was charged at his Arraignment; and • pecially one: That to dissuade a great Lady from marriage with the King, he had said, the King was a squint-eyed Fool, and a kind of Leper, deceitful, perju • ed, more faint-hearted then a Woman, and utterly unfit for any Noble Ladies company. For which, and other crimes laid to his charge in the Kings Bench, where the King himself was present; he was adjudged to have his Lands confiscate, and to be deprived of his title of Earl; yet after all this, was restored to his estate again, and suffered to live in quiet. He was more desirous of money then of honor, for else he would never have sold his Right to the two great Dukedoms of Normandy and Anjou to the King of France for a Sum of money. Yet he was more desirous of honor then of quietness, for else he would never have contended so long with his Barons about their Charter of Liberty, which was upon the matter, but a point of Honor. His most eminent virtue, and that which made him the more eminent, as being rare in Princes, was his Continency; for there is nothing read, either of any ba • e children he had, or of any Concubine he kept.

Of his Death and Burial.

THough he had lived a troublesome life, yet he died a quiet death; for he had • etled Peace in his kingdom, and in his Conscience. For being at Saint Edmundsbury, and finding himself not well at ease, he made the more hast to London ; where calling before him his Lord's, and specially Gilbert de Clare, Earl of Gloucester ; he exhorted them to be true and faithful to his Son Prince Edward, who was at that time far from home, and therefore had the more need of their care, which consisted chiefly in their agreement one with another. And then, his sickness increasing, he yielded up his Soul to God, on the sixteenth day of November, in the year 1272. when he had lived threescore and five years, Raigned five and fifty, and was buried at Westminster, which he had newly Builded.

Of Men of note in his time.

OF Martial men famous in his time there were many, but three specially who obscured the rest: The first was William Marshall Earl of Pembroke, memorable for the great care he had of King Henry in his minority, and more memorable for the little care, that Destiny had of his Posterity; for leaving five Sons behind him, they all lived to be Earls successively, yet all died without issue: So as the great name and numerous Family of the Marshals came wholly to be extinct in that Generation. The second was Richard de Clare Earl of Gloucester, who in a Battle against Baldwyn de Gisnes, a valiant Fleming, employed by King Henry, himself alone encountered twelve of his Enemies, and having his Horse slain under him, he pitched one of them by the leg out of the saddle, and leapt into it himself, and continued the fight without giving ground, till his Army came to rescue him. An Act that may seem fitter to be placed amongst the Fictions of knights Errant, then in a true Narration. The third was Simon Montford, a man of so audacious a spirit, that he gave King Henry the lie to his face, and that in presence of all his Lord's; and of whom it seems, the King stood in no small fear: for passing one time upon the Thames, and suddenly taken with a terrible storm of Thunder and Lightning, he commanded to be set ashore at the next Stairs, which happened to be at Durham House, where Montford then lay, who coming down to meet the King, and perceiving him somewhat frighted with the Thunder, said unto him, Your Maj • sty need not fear the Thunder, the danger is now past: No Montford (said the King) I fear not the Thunder so much as I do thee. Of men famous for Sanctity of life, there were likewise many in his time, but three more eminent then the rest, Edmund Arch-bishop of Canterbury, Richard Bishop of Chichester, and Thomas Arch-deacon of Hereford ; All three either Canonized, or at least thought worthy to be Canonized for Saints. To these may be added Robert Grosshead Bishop of Lincoln, who Translated the Testaments of the twelve Patriarchs, out of Greek into Latin; which through envy of the Jews never came to the knowledge of Saint Jerome, wherein are many Prophesies of our Savior Christ. Of men famous for learning there were likewise many in his time; of whom, some left works behind them for testimonies of their knowledge in divers kinds, as Alexander Hales a Friar Minor, who wrote many Treatises in Divinity; Ralp • Coggeshall, who wrote the Appendix to the Chronicle of Ralph Niger; Randulph Earl of Chester, the third and last of that name, who compiled a Book of the Laws of England; Henry Bracton, who wrote the Book commonly called by his name, De Consuetudinibus Anglicanis: and besides these, Hugh Kirkestead, Richard of Eli, Peter Henham, John Giles, and Nicholas Fernham, excellent Physicians; Richard surnamed Theologus, and Robert Bacon, two notable Divines; Stephen Langthon, Richard Fisaker, Simon Stokes, John of Kent, William Shirwood, Michael Blaunpaine, John Godard, Vincent of Coventry, Albericke Veer, Richard Wich, John Basing, Roger Waltham, William Seningham, and others.

Of his coming to the Crown,

A S soon as King Henry was dead and buried, the great Lord's of the Land caused his eldest Son Prince Edward to be proclaimed King: and assembling at the New Temple in London, they there took order for the quiet Governing of the kingdom, till he should come home. For at this time he was absent in the Holy Land; and had been there above a year when his Father died. But we cannot bring him home without telling what he did, and what he suffered in all that time, and in his return; for at his first coming thither, he rescued the great City of Acon, from being • urrendred to the Souldan; after which, out of envy to his Valour, one Anzazim a desperate Saracen, who had often been employed to him from their General, being one time, upon pretence of some secret message, admitted alone into his Chamber, with a poisoned knife gave him three wounds in the Body, two in the Arm, and one near the armepit, which were thought to be mortal, and had perhaps been mortal, if out of unspeakable love, the Lady Eleanor his Wife had not sucked out the poison of his wounds with her mouth, and thereby effected a cure, which otherwise had been incurable: and it is no wonder, that love should do wonders, which is it self a wonder. And now being disappointed of Aides that were promised to be sent him, and leaving Garrisons in fit places for defense of the Country, he with his Wife Eleanor takes his journey homewards, and first passing by Sicily, was there most kindly received by Charles King of that Island, where he first heard of his Fathers death; which he took more heavily far, then he had taken the death of his young Son Henry, whereof he had heard a little before; at which when King Charles marveled, he answered, that other Sons might be had, but • nother Father could never be had. From hence he passeth through Italy, where much honor is done him both by the Pope and other Princes; and then descends into Burgoigne, where by the Earl of Chalboun, a stout man at Arms, he is challenged at a Turneament, with a pretence to solemnize his presence, but with a purpose indeed to disgrace his person; and though Prince Edward in many respects might justly have refused it, yet the nobleness of his mind would not suffer him to pass by any occasion of showing his valor and in this 〈…〉 as he made it appear, that • ame had been no 〈…〉 the report it ma • e of hi • . And here a great part of his English Nobility met 〈◊〉 ; from whence he passeth into France, where the King Philip his • ear Cou •• (as being Sister Sons) entertains him with great solemnity: and graceth his solemnity with so much courtesy, that it won Prince Edward vol • ntarily to do him homage for the Territories he held in France ; & this voluntarines in Prince Edward, won the King of France again to grant quietly unto him, all the Lands in France that belonged to him; and so these two great Kings by reciprocal courtesy effected that, which thei • Predecessors by force could never effect. From her 〈◊〉 , passeth through A • uitaine, and having there taken homage of his Subjects, and set all things in order, he set Saile and arrived in England, above a year after the death of his Father: a long time for plotting of mischief, and a strong temptation to plotters of mischief; if all the causes of quietness had not concurred: but such was the worthiness of Prince Edwards person, and such the undoubtednesse of his Title, that as there could be no Competitour, so there would be no Oppugner • And indeed the Divine Providence had shown a special care over him from his Child-hood! whereof one or two Examples will not be unfit to be related. One was this, that being yet but young, and playing one time at Chess with a Friend, in the midst of his game, without any apparent occasion, he removed himself from the place where he sat, when suddenly there fell from the roof of the house a great stone, which if he had stayed in the place but never so little had beaten out his brains. Another Example of the Divine Providence over him, (though it happened afterwards) was this: Having prepared a great Fleet of Ships for a journey into Flanders, and being at Winchelsey, where the Ships were to meet; it happened that riding about the Harbor, his Horse frighted with the noise of a Windmill, which the wind drove violently about, skrambled up and leapt over the Mud • wall of the Town, so as neither the King nor the Horse was to be seen, but everyone judged the King could not choose but be thrown and killed; yet such was the Divine Providence over him, that the Horse lighted upon his feet, and the King keeping the Saddle returned safe. And under the wing of this Divine Providence, he had now passed all the dangers of his tedious Journey; and being safely come to London, was on the fifteenth day of August in the year 1274. Crowned at Westminster, together with his Wife Queen Eleanor, by Robert Kilwarby Arch-bishop of Canterbury : where five hundred great Horses were let loose, for any that could take them; and yet the outward solemnity was not more great, then the inward joy was universal, every man rejoicing, not only at a change, which of it self is pleasing, but at a change so much for the better, as this was like to be.

Of his Acts done after he was Crowned.

THe Acts of this King after he was Crowned, may not unfitly be divided into five parts: His Acts with his Temporal Lord's; His Acts with his Clergy; Then with Wales ; Then his Acts with Scotland ; And lastly with France. And first, concerning his Lord's, he gave them good contentment in the beginning of his Rain, by enlarging their liberties, and granting them easier Laws, for which purpose he called a Parliament, wherein were made the Statutes called of Westminster the first, so as he had no difference with them, till toward the end of his Rain, as shall be shown hereafter. In the next place, concerning his Acts with his Clergy, he began with them betimes; for having lived to be of good age, three or four and thirty years old, in his Fathers Rain, he observed in that time, that their power was too predominant, and therefore thought fit to clip their wings; at least to keep them from farther growing: which he did by these means: First, in the sixth year of his Rain, he deprived many chief Monasteries of their Liberties, and took from the Abbot and Covent of Westminster, the Return of Writs granted them by the Charter of his Father, King Henry the third. The next year after he got to be enacted the Statute of Mortmaine, to hinder the increase of their Temporal Possessions. In the second Statute of Westminster, he defalked the Jurisdiction of Ecclesiastical Judges; and growing more upon them, he required the moity of all their Goods, as well Temporal as Spiritual, for one year. Then calls he a Parliament of his Nobles at Salisbury, without admission of any Church-men in it: And it is worth the noting, that Marchian his Treasurer, acquainting him that in Churches and Religious houses, there was much treasure to be had, if it might be taken; he made no scruple of it, but caused it to be taken and brought into his Exchequer. But finding his Prelates not well contented with it, to please them again, he bids them ask something of him, wherein they should see how much he favored them. And they asking of him to repeal the Statute of Mortmaine, that had been made so much to their hindrance; He answered, that this was a Statute made by the whole body of the Realm, and therefore was not in his power, who was but one Member of that Body, to undo that which all the Members together had done; and perhaps whatsoever they should have asked else, he would have had an answer to redeem his Offer. And thus much concerning his Clergy.

In the next place are the Welsh, who had themselves begun with the King: For their Prince Leolyn being summoned to attend at his Coronation, refused to come; and afterward at more leisure, being required to come and do his Homage, he stood upon terms of safe conduct, pretending doubt to be used, as his Father Gryffin had been; who upon hard usage in the Tower, seeking to make escape, fell from the Walls and brake his neck. But indeed it was always a Custom with this Nation, at every change of Princes in England, to try conclusions, hoping at one time or other to have a day of it, and to change their yoke of bondage into liberty; for which they were never better Provided then now; especially (which is the greatest matter in War) having a Valiant Prince to be their Leader. But there happened an accident which took off their edge at this time: For the Lady Eleanor, a Daughter of the late Earl Simon Montford, whom Prince Leolyn extremely loved, being passing out of France into Wales, was by the way upon the Sea taken by English ships, and brought to King Edward, and for the love of her, Prince Leolyn was content to submit himself to any conditions: which besides subjection of his State, was to pay fifty thousand pounds Sterling, and a thousand pounds per annum during his life; and upon these conditions the marriage with his beloved Lady was granted him, and was solemnized here in England, whereat the King and Queen were themselves present. Three years Leolyn continued loyal, and within bounds of obedience, in which time David, one of his Brothers, staying here in England, and found by the King to be of a stirring Spirit, was much honored by him; Knighted, and matched to a rich Widow, Daughter of the Earl of Darby, and had given him by the King besides, the Castle of Denbigh, with a thousand pounds per annum : though (as it was afterwards found) he lived here but in the nature of a spy: For when Prince Leolyns Lady was afterward dead, and that he (contrary to his Conditions formerly made) brake out into rebellion, then goes his Brother David to him, notwithstanding all these Favors of the King: and they together enter the English Borders: Surprise the Castles of Flynt and Rutland, with the person of the Lord Clifford, sent Justiciar into those parts: and in a great Battle overthrew the Earls of Northumberland and Surrey, with the slaughter of Sir William Lyndsey, Sir Richard Tanny, and many others. King Edward advertised of this Revolt and overthrow, being then at the Vyzes in Wiltshire, prepares an Army to repress it; but before his setting forth, goes privately to his Mother Queen Eleanor, lying at the Nunnery of Aimesbury, with whom whilst he conferred, there was one brought into the Chamber, who feigned himself (being blind) to have received his sight at the Tomb of King Henry the third: A • soon as the King saw the man, he remembered he had seen him before, and knew him to be a most notorious lying Villaine, and wished his Mother in no case to believe him: but his mother, who much rejoiced to hear of this Miracle, for the glory of her husband, finding her son unwilling that his Father should be a Saint, grew suddenly into such a rage against him, that she commanded him to avoid her Chamber: which the King obeys; and going forth, meets with a Clergy man, to whom he tells the story of this Impostor, and merrily said; He knew the justice of his Father to be such, that he would rather pull out the eyes (being whole) of such a wicked wretch, then restore them to their sight. In this mean time the Arch-bishop of Canterbury had gone of himself to Prince Leolin, and had labored to bring him and his brother David to a re-submission, but could effect nothing; for besides other reasons that swayed Prince Leolin, the conceit of a Prophesy of Merlin, that he should shortly be Crowned with the Diadem of Brute, so overweighed him, that he had no care for peace, and shortly after no head: for after the Earl of Pembroke had taken Bere Castle, which was the seat of Prince Leolin, he was himself slain in battle; and his head cut off by a common Soldier, was sent to King Edw. who caused the same to be Crowned with Ivy, and to be set upon the Tower of London ; And this was the end of Leolin, the last of the Welsh Princes, betrayed (as some write) by the men of Buelth. Not long after his brother David also is taken in Wales, and judged in England to an ignominious death: First, drawn at a horse tail about the City of Shrewsbury, then beheaded, the trunk of his body divided, his heart and bowels burnt, his head sent to accompany his brothers on the Tower of London, his four quarters to four Cities, Bristow, North •• pton, York, and Winchester: A manifold execution, and the first shown in that kind to this kingdom, in the person of the son of a Prince, or any other Noble man that we read of in our History. It is perhaps something which some here observe, that at the sealing of this conquest, King Edward lost his eldest son Alphonsus, of the age of twelve years, (a Prince of great hope) and had only left to succeed him, his son Edward lately borne at Carnarvan, and the first of the English, entitled Prince of Wales, but no Prince worthy of either Wales or England. And thus came Wales to be united to the Crown of England, in the eleventh year of this King Edwards Rain; who thereupon established the government thereof, according to the Laws of England, as may be seen by the Statute of Rutland, in the twelfth year of his Rain.

The work of Wales being settled, King Edward passeth over into France, upon notice of the death of Philip the Hardy, to renew and confirm such conditions as his state in those parts required, with the new King Philip the fourth, entitled the Faire; to whom he doth homage for Aquitaine, having before quitted his claim to Normandy forever. After three years and a half being away in France, he returns into England ; and now in the next place comes the business with Scotland, and will hold him woe • ke at times as long as he lives, and his son after him. Alexander the third, King of Scots, as he was running his horse, fell horse and man to the ground, and brake his neck, and died immediately • by reason whereof (he leaving no issue, but only a daughter of his daughter Margaret, who died also soon after) there fell out presently great contention about succession. Ten Competitors pretend title, namely, Erick King of Norway, Florence Earl of Holland, Robert Bruce Earl of Anandale, John de Baylioll Lord of Galloway, John de Hastings Lord of Abergeveny, John Cumin Lord of Badenaw, Patrick de Dunbarre Earl of March, John de Vescie, Nicholas de Sul • s, William de Ross ; all or most of them de • cending from David Earl of Huntingdon, younger brother to William King of Scots, and great Uncle to the late King Alexander. This title King Edward takes upon him to decide, pretending a Right of Superiority from his Ancestors over that kingdom and proving it by authority of old Chronicles, as Marianus Scotus, William of Malmesbury, Roger de Howden, Henry of Huntingdon, Ralph de Luceto, and others; which though the Scottish Lord's who swaied the Interregnum opposed, yet are they constrained for avoiding of further inconveniences, to make him Arbiter thereof, and the ten Competitours bound to stand to his award. Two are especially found, between whom the • ight lay, John de Baylioll Lord of Galloway, and Robert Br • ce ; the one descending from an elder daughter, the other from a son of a younger daughter of Alan, who had married the eldest daughter of this David brother to King William. The controversy held long, twelve of either kingdom learned in the Laws, are elected to debate the same at Berwick ; all the best Civilians in the Universities of France are solicited to give their opinions; all which brought forth rather doubts then resolutions: whereupon King Edward the better to sway this business by his presence, takes a journey Northward; where being come as far as Lincolnshire, he lost his beloved wife Queen Eleanor: and thereupon going back to see her Funeral performed at Westminster: that done, he returns presently to his Scottish business. And now six years were passed since the death of King Alexander, and yet nothing concluded in this controversy; whereupon King Edward deals privately with Bruce, (who had the weaker Title, but the more friends) and promiseth him, if he would swear fealty and homage to the Crown of England, he would Invest him in that of Scotland. But Bruce answers, he was not so d • sirous to rule, as thereby to infringe the liberties of his Country. Whereupon with the like offer he sets upon Baylioll, who having better right, but less love of the people, and more greedy of a kingdom then honor, accepts the condition; and thereupon is Crowned King at Scone, hath fealty done him by all the chief Nobility, except Bruce: comes to New-Castle upon Tyne, where King Edward then lay; and there, with many of his Nobles, swears fealty, and doth homage to him, as his Sovereign Lord. Which act done to secure him, overthrew him: for being little beloved before, hereby he became less: such as stood for Bruce, and others of the Nobility (tender of the preservation of their Countries liberty) took stomach against him; and not only for this, but shortly after for his injustice in the case of the Earl of Fife, one of the six Governors in the time on the Interregnum, who had been slain by the Family of Alberneth ; the brother of which Earl prosecuting Law before King Baylioll, in his high Court of Parliament, and having no right done him (King Baylioll giving judgment of the side of the Alberneths ) he appeals to the Court of the King of England: whereupon King Baylioll is summoned, appears, sits with King Edward in his Parliament till his cause was to be heard, and then is cited by an Officer to arise, and to stand in the place appointed for pleading; then he craves to answer by a Procuratour, but is denied, and thereupon descends to the ordinary place, and defends his cause himself: which indignity (as he took it) so incenseth him, that he returns home with a breastfull charged with indignation; meditates revenge, renues the ancient league with France, confirms it with marriage of his son Edward, to a daughter of Charles brother to King Philip, glad in regard of late offenses taken against the King of England, to embrace the same; which done, Baylioll defies King Edward, renounceth his Allegeance, as unlawfully done, being not in his power, without consent of the State, to do any such Act. Hereupon brake out that mortal dissension between the two Nations, which consumed more Christian blood, and continued longer then ever quarrel we read of did, between any two people in the world. For he that began it, could not end it, but it lasted almost three hundred years, and was never thoroughly abolished, till the late blessed union wrought by him in whom Wisdom and Virtue, Right and Power concurred all to make it firm. And now the fatal Chair in which the Kings of Scotland used to be Inaugurated, seems to recover its secret operation, according to ancient Prophesy: that whither soever that Chair should be removed, the kingdom should be removed with it; and this Chair King Edward caused to be brought out of Scotland to Westminster, and to be placed there amongst the Monuments, where it still continues. But now King Baylioll being summoned to appear at New-Castle, and refusing to come; King Edward enters Scotland with an Army, consisting of four thousand horse, and thirty thousand foot, besides five hundred horse, and one thousand foot of the Bishop of Durham. Berwicke is first won, with the slaughter of fifteen thousand Scots ; (our Writers say more) and after that, the Castles of Dunbarre, Roxborough, Edinbough, Sterli • g, and Saint John's Town; and now King Balioll sues for Peace, submits himself, takes again his Oath of Fealty to King Edward, as his Sovereign Lord: which done, a Parliament for Scotland is held at Berwicke, where the Nobility likewise did Homage to him, confirming the same by their Charter, under their hands and seals: only William Dowglasse refuseth; content rather to endure the misery of a Prison, then yield to the subjection of the King of England. But King Baylioll, notwithstanding his submission, is sent prisoner into England after his four years Rain in Scotland ; and King Edward returns home, leaving John Warren Earl of Sussex and Surrey, Warden of all Scotland; Hugh Cressingham Treasurer, and Ormesloy Chief Justice, with Commission to take in his name, the Homages and Fealties of all such as held Lands of that Crown. But this continued not long, for King Edward being absent in France, the Scots fell upon the Officers he had left; slew Sir Hugh Cressingham with six thousand English, recovered many Castles, and regained the town of Berwick, and all by the animation and conduct of one William Walleys, a poor private Gentleman, (though Nobly descended) who seeing his Country without a Head, and thereby without a Heart (all the great men, either in captivity or subjection • assembles certain of as poor and desperate estate as himself, and leads them to attempt upon whatsoever advantages they could find to annoy the English, and having therein good success, it so increased both his courage and company, that he afterward came to be the general Guardian of the whole kingdom; and was in possibility to have absolutely redeemed his Country from the subjection of the English, if the speedy coming of King Edward had not prevented him. For now King Edward, to bring his work near together, removes his Exchequer and Courts of Justice to York, where they continued above six years; and thither he calls a Parliament, requiring all his subjects that held of him by knights service, to be ready at Roxborough by a peremptory day: where there assemble three thousand men at Arms on barded horses, and four thousand other armed men on horse without bards, with an Army of foot answerable, consisting most of Welsh and Irish, besides five hundred men at Arms out of Gascoyne ; and with this power he makes his second expedition into Scotland: the Earls of Hereford and Norfolk, with the Earl of Lincoln, led his Vauntgard at the famous battle of Fonkirke, where the shouts of the Scots were so great, that King Edwards horse frighted withal, cast him off, and brake two of his ribs; which notwithstanding he gets up again, goes on, and gets the victory; wherein are reported to be slain two hundred knights, and forty thousand foot of the Scots: but William Walleys with some few, escaped to make more work. And here again that kingdom might seem as if quite overthrown. Most of the estates of the Earls and Barons of Scotland (with their titles) that had stood out, were bestowed on the English ; and a Parliament is called at Saint Andrew's, where all the great men of that kingdom, except only Walleys, once again swear Fealty to the King of England. It seems swearing of Fealty was with the Scots but a Ceremony without substance, as good as nothing: for this is now the third time they swore Fealty to King Edward ; yet all did not serve to make them loyal: for not long after, comes the news of a new King made and Crowned in Scotland: Robert Bruce Earl of Carrick, son to that Bruce who was competitour with Baylioll, escaping out of England, becomes Head to the confused Body of that kingdom: and perceiving John Cummyn (who had a title himself) to go about to bewray his intentions to King Edward ; he finding him at Dunfrayes, sets upon him, and murders him in the Church. Whereof as soon as King Edward heard, he sends Aymer de Valence, Earl of Pembroke, and the Lord's Clifford and Percie, with a strong power to revenge the death of Cummyn, and to relieve his Wardens of Scotland ; who upon Bruces revolt, were all retired to Berwicke, whilst himself prepares an Army to follow: wherein to be the more nobly attended, he caused Proclamation to be made, that whosoever ought by their Paternall succession, or otherwise had means of their own for service, should repair to Westminster, at the Feast of Pentecost, to receive the Order of knighthood, and a Military Ornament out of the Kings Wardrobe. Hereupon three hundred young Gentlemen, all the sons of Earls, Barons, and knights, assemble at the day appointed, and receive Purples, silks, Sindons, Scarffes, wrought with Gold or Silver, according to every man's Estate. For which train (because the Kings House was too little, by reason a part of it had been lately burnt) room is made, and the Apple trees cut down at the new Temple for their Tents, where they attire themselves, and keep their Vigile. The Prince (whom the King then likewise knighted, and gave him the Duchy of Aquitaine, kept his Vigile with his Traine at Westminster, and the next day girds these three hundred knights, with the Military Belt, in such manner as he himself had received it. Which done, the King before them all makes a Vow, that alive or dead, he would revenge the death of Cummyn upon Bruce, and the perjured Scots : Adjuring his Son and all the Nobles about him, upon their Fealty, that if he died in this Journey, they should carry his Corps with them about Scotland, and not suffer it to be interred, till they had vanquished the Usurper, and absolutely brought the Country to Subjection. The Prince and all the Nobles promise upon their Faith, to employ their uttermost power to perform his Vow: and herewithal he sets forth with a potent Army, presently after Whitsuntide, and makes his last Expedition into Scotland, in the four and thirtieth year of his Rain.

The Earl of Pembroke, with that power sent before, and aid of the Scottish party, had before the King arrived in Scotland, defeated in a battle near Saint John's Town, the whole Army of the new King, and narrowly missed the taking of his Person, but he escaping in disguise, and sheltering himself in obscure places, was reserved for greater Battailes, his Brothers Nigell, Bruce, and shortly after, Thomas and Alexander a Priest, were taken and Executed after the manner of Traitors at Berwicke. And now King Edward had done for Fighting, all was now for Executions, and indeed his desire of Revenge made him inexorable, and vow to spare none of what degree soever. The Earl of Atholl, (though of Royal blood, and allied unto him) was sent to London, where all his preferment was, to have a higher pair of Gallows then the rest. The Wife of Robert Bruce, taken by the Lord Ross, is sent Prisoner to London, and his Daughter to a Monastery in Lindsey. The Countess of Boughan, who had been aiding at Bruces Coronation, is put into a wooden Cage, and hung out upon the walls of Berwicke for people to gaze on. But though Bruces party was thus dejected, and himself at this time appeared not, but shifted privily from place to place, in a distressed manner, (attended only with two Noble Gentlemen, who neeer forsook him in his misfortunes, the Earl of Lenox and Gilbert Hay ) yet gives he not over, but gathers new Forces, with which he suddenly assailes the Earl of Pembroke at unawares, gives him a great defeat, and within three days after chaseth the Earl of Gloucester into the Castle of Air, where he besieged him, till by the Kings Forces he was driven again to his former retire. Whereupon King Edward, who had spent his Winter at Carlisle, in July following with a fresh Army enters Scotland himself, but falling into a Dysentery or Bloody-flix, at Borough upon the Sands he ended his life: and thus ended King Edwards troubles with Scotland, but not England's troubles, which are more to come, then yet are past.

But though this business of Scotland never left King Edward till his dying day, yet it had been upon him but as an Ague, sometimes putting him into violent heats, and sometimes leaving him in a quiet temper, with such a vicissitude, that when he had quietness with Scotland, he had troubles with France, whereof the time is now to speak. It is well known, that Philip King of France, Father of the present King, and Edward King of England were near Cousins, the Sons of two Sisters; and it hath been shown before at King Edwards returning from the Holy Land, and passing through France, what extraordinary kindness and mutual courtesy passed between them, that one would have thought neither they no • theirs should ever have fallen out: and perhaps never should, if they had been private men, and not Princes. For private men may easily continue Friends, as having none to consider but themselves; but Princes hardly, as having besides themselves, their Subjects to consider. And though they be the Subjects oftentimes that make the Quarrell, yet they are the Princes that must maintain it. And besides, between Princes there can never be but jealousies, and where jealousies are, every trifle makes a quarrel. And this was the case of these two Kings, certain of the King of England's Subjects, had upon the Coast of Normandy done spoil to some Subjects of the King of France : and this difference of the Subjects made a difference between the Kings, while each of them standing in defense of his own, fall out themselves; and for a beginning the King of France summons King Edward, as owing homage to that Crown, to appear and answer it in his Court. And King Edward, though voluntarily before he had done it in a way of Courtesie, yet being now impetiously commanded, he refuseth it: upon which refusal, all his Territories in France are condemned to be forfaited, and an Army is presently sent to seise upon the same, led by Charles de Valois, and Arnold de Neele, Constable of France. Burdeaux ; with divers other Peec • s of importance, are taken from him. And now King Edward well knowing what danger it was to have so powerful an Adversary; endeavors first to strengthen himself with Friends abroad, seeks to match his Son Edward with a Daughter of Guy Earl of Flanders : Marries one of his Daughters to the D • ke of Barr • , who pretended Title to Champaigne ; another to John Duke of Bra • ant ; sends fifteen thousand pounds Sterling to Adolph de Nassaw the Emperor, for recovery of certain Lands which he claimed in France ; and with all these and many other con • ining Princes, he sets upon the King of France, and then sends over his Brother Edmund Earl of Lancaster, the Earls of Lincoln and Richmond, with eight and twenty Banners, seven hundred men at Arms, and a Navy of three hundred and sixty Saile. In the mean time the King of France, having had intelligence of the intended alliance between King Edward, and Guy Earl of Flanders, sends for the said Earl (as if knowing nothing thereof) to come with his Wi • e and Daughter to make merry with him at Paris : where instead of Feasting him, he makes him Prisoner, and takes from him his Daughter, in regard he sought (being his Vassall) to match her with his capital Enemy. The Earl excuseth it the best he could, and by much mediation is released himself, but not his Daughter; whereupon the Earl, presuming upon aide from King Edward, takes Arms, and defies the King of France ; who thereupon comes with an Army of sixty thousand against him: which caused King Edward, with all speed possible to relieve this distressed Earl; and so leaving the Government of the kingdom in his absence, to the Bishop of London, the Earl of Warwick, and the Lord's Reynold, Grey, and Clifford ; with five hundred Saile, and eighteen thousand men at Arms, he passeth over into France, but finding the Country distracted into many popular Factions, and the King of France daily getting upon them, (having already won Lisle, Douay, Courtray, Burgess and Dam ) and the Emperor Adolph failing to send him aide as he had promised, he fell into great perplexity: and having stayed the whole Winter at Gaunt, where by reason of many outrages committed by his Soldiers, he was so affronted by the Gauntois, that his own person was not without some danger; He thereupon in the Spring of the year, concludes a Truce with the King of France for two years, takes his sister Margaret to Wife, and affianceth the Daughter of the same King to his Son Prince Edward, and so returns into England : And these were all the troubles King Edward had with France.

But now must something be spoken of troubles with his Lord's at home, whereof this was the beginning: In a Parliament at Salisbury, the five and twentieth year of his Rain, the King requires certain of his Lord's to go to the Wars in Gascoyne ; which needed a present supply by reason of the death of his Brother Edmund : but the Lord's make all their excuses, every man for himself: Whereupon the King in great rage threatened, they should either go, or he would give their Lands to others that should. Upon this Humfrey Bohun Earl of Hereford, High Constable, and Roger Bigod Earl of Norfolk, Marshall of England, make their Declaration, that if the King went in Per • on they would attend him; otherwise not. Which answer offended the King more, and being urged again, the Earl Marshall protested he would willingly go thither with the King, and march before him in the Vauntguard, as by right of inheritance he ought to do; But the King told him plainly, he should go with any other, though he we •• not himself in Person • I am not so bound (saith the Earl) neither will I take t •• t journey without you. The King swore by God, Sir Earl, you shall either go or h •••• And I swear by the same Oath (said the Earl) I will neither go no • hang • and so without leave departs. Shortly after the two Earls assemble many Noble men, and other their Friends, to the number of thirty Bannere • s, so as they were fifteen hundred men at Arms, well appointed, and stood upon their Gu •• d • The King like a prudent Prince, who knew his times, prosecu • es them not as then, b •• lets the matter pass, in regard that his business called him presently into Flanders ; when being ready to take ship, the Arch-bishops, Bishops, Earls, Barons, and the Commons send him a Roll of the Grievances of his Subjects, concerning his Taxes, Subsidies, and other Impositions, with his seeking to force their services by unlawful courses: to which the King sends answer, that he could not a • t • r anything without the advice of his Council, who were not now about him, and therefore required them, seeing they would not attend him in his Journey, (which they absolutely refused to do, though he went in Person, unless he had gone into France or Scotland ) that they would yet do nothing in his absence, prejudi • iall to the peace of the kingdom; and that at his return, he would set all things in good order to their contentment. But having taken his Journey, and being held there with long delays, to his exceeding great expenses, he was forced to send over for more supply of Treasure; and thereupon gave order for a Parliament to be held at York by the Prince, and (because of his Minority, for he was then but sixteen years of age) by such as had the manage of the kingdom in his absence: and to the end he would not be disappointed of aide, he condescends to all such Articles as were demanded, concerning the great Charter: Promising from thenceforth never to charge his Subjects otherwise then by their consents in Parliament, and to pardon all such as had denied to attend him in this Journey. After this, in the 27. year of his Rain, a Parliament is called at Westminster, wherein the promised Confirmation of the two Charters, and the allowance of what disafforestation had heretofore been made, was earnestly urged, and in the end with much ado Granted; and that with omission of the Clause, Salva Iure Coronae nostr • : which the King labored to have inserted, but the people by no means would agree, and the perambulation of the Forests of England was then committed to three Bishops, three Earls, and three Barons. But some years after, in the two and thirtieth year of his Rain, King Edward begun to show his resentment of the stubborn behavior of his Nobles towards him in times past; and so terrifies Roger Bigod, Earl Marshall, that to recover his favor the Earl made him his Heir • in Possession; (though he had a Brother of his own living) reserving only to himself a thousand pounds per annum, during his life. Of others likewise he go • great sums for the same offense; The Earl of Hereford escaped his fine by death. But the Arch-bishop of Canterbury, (whom he accused to have disturbed his Peace in his absence) he sends over to Pope Clement the fifth, (who succeeded Bonifac • ) that he might be crushed with a double power. This Pope was Native of Burdeaux, and • o the more regardful of the Kings desire; and the King • the more confident of his favor; which to entertain and increase, King Edward sends him a whole furnish of all vessels for his Chamber of clean Gold: which great gift so wro • ght with the Pope, that he untied the King from the Covenant made with his Subjects concerning their Charters, confirmed unto them by his last three Acts of Parli • meant, and absolved him from his Oath: A safe time for Princes, when they mighttye themselves in any obligation to their Subjects, and afterward for a bribe to the Pope be untied again.

His Taxations, and ways for raising of money.

IF Taxations may suffer degrees of comparison, it may not unfi • lie be said of these three last Kings, that King John was in the Positive; his Son Henry the third in the Comparative: and this King Edward in the Superlative. For not only he far exc • eded th • two former, but he hath left a spell to all that come after, forever coming near him: but then under the name of Taxations, we must include the ways he took for raising of profit. But first in the way of Parliament. In the first year of his Rain, was granted him a tenth of the Clergy for two years, besides a fifteenth of them and the Temporalty. In his fifth year, a twentieth of their goods towards the Welsh wars. In his seventh, the old money was called in, and new coined, in regard it had been much def • ced by the Jews ; for which 297. were at one time executed in London : and this brought in profit of no small value. In his eleventh year, he had a thirtieth of the Temporalty, and a twentieth of the Clergy, for his wars in Wales. In the thirteenth, Escuage, forty shillings of every knights Fee. In his fourteenth year, he had a thousand Markes of certain Merchants Fined for false weights. In his nineteenth, the eleventh part of all movables of the Clergy, and shortly after a tenth for six years. In his twentieth, William Marchyan then Lord Treasurer of England, perceiving great riches to be in Churches and religious houses, put it so into the Kings head, that they were all brought into the Kings Treasury. In the eighth year of his Rain, he sent ou • his Writ Quo Warrant • , to examine by what title men held their lands; which brought him in much money, till John Earl of Warren, being called to show his title, drew out an old rusty Sword, and then said, He held his land by that, and by that would hold it to death; which though it made the King desist from his Project, yet he obtained at that time a fifteenth part of the Clergy. In his seventeenth year he Fined all his Judges for corruption: Sir Ralph Higham Chief Justice of the higher Bench, in seven thousand Markes: Sir John Loveton Justice of the lower Bench, in three thousand Markes: Sir William Brompton, in six thousand Markes: Sir S • l • mon Rochester, in four thousand Markes: Sir Richard Boyland, in four thousand: Sir Walter Hopton, in two thousand: Sir William Saham, in three thousand: Robert Lithbury Master of the Rolls, in one thousand: Roger Leycester, in one thousand: He •• y Bray Escheatour, and Judge for the Jews, in one thousand: but Sir Adam Stratt •• chief Baron of the Exchequer, in four and thirty thousand: and Thomas Wayland (found the greatest Delinquent, and of the greatest substance) had all his goods, and whole estate confiscated to the King; and himself banished out of the kingdom. In his eighteenth year he banished the Jews ; of whom there was at that time above fifteen thousand in the kingdom, who had but all their goods confiscate • leaving them only means to bear their charges in going away.

In his four and twentieth year, he commanded a new Subsidy to be levied upon all sarplers of Wooll going out of England: as likewise with Fels and Hides. In his five and twentieth year, he calls a Parliament at Saint Edmundsbery, where is granted the eighth part of the goods of good Towns, and of other people the twelfth. As for the Clergy, they desire to be excused, and refuse to contribute, in regard of their many late payments; as in the two and twentieth year of his Rain, they paid the mo • ty of their goods: and in his three and twentieth year, he sei • ed into his hands, all Priories aliens and their goods: besides he had a loan of the Clergy, which amounted to an hundred thousand pounds: but notwithstanding upon this refusal of the Clergy, the King puts all Clergy men out of his protection, whereby they were to have no Justice in any of his Courts; (a strain of State beyond any of his Predecessors) which so amazed them, that in the end, the Arch-bishop of York, with the Bishops of Durham, Eli, Salisbury, and Lincoln, yielded to lay down in their Churches, the fifth part of all their goods towards the maintenance of the Kings wars; whereby they appeased his wrath, and wer • received into grace. But the Arch-bishop of Canterbury, by whose animation the rest stood out, had all his goods seised on, and all the Monasteries within his Diocese, taken into the Kings hands, and Wardens appointed to minister only necessaries to the Monks, conve • ting the rest to the Kings use: at length by much suite, and Abbots and Priests, giving the fourth part of their goods, redeem themselves, and the Kings favor. In the six and twentieth year of his Rain, at a Parliament holden at York, is granted him the ninth penny of the goods of the Temporalty: the tenth penny of the Clergy of the Diocese of Canterbury, and of York the fifth: and in this year also he raised the Imposition upon every sack of Wooll, from a noble to forty shillings. In his two and thirtieth year he sends out a new Writ of Inquisition, called Traile-baston, for intruders on other men's lands; who to oppress the right owner, would make over their land to great men; for Batterers hired to beat men, for breakers of Peace, for Ravishers, Incendiaries, Murderers, Fighters, false Assisours, and other such Malefactours: which Inquisition was so strictly executed, and such Fines taken, that it brought in exceeding much treasure to the King. As likewise did another Commission at the same time, sent forth to examine the behavior of Officers, and Ministers of Justice; wherein many were found Delinquents, and paid dearly for it. At this time also he called his Lord's to account for their stubbornness some years before, in denying to attend him into Flanders ; which brought him in profit answerable to their greatness that were called. After all this, in his four and thirtieth year, there is granted him the thirtieth penny of both Clergy and Laity, and the twentieth of all Merchants towards his journey into Scotland. And this may be sufficient to show his Taxations to have been in the Superlative degree. And yet besides these, he had no small benefit by Silver Mines, which in his time were found in Devonshire.

Of his Laws and Ordinances.

IN the first year of his Rain were made the Statutes called of Westminster the first. In his twelfth year were made the Statutes of Acton Burnell. In the fourteenth year of his Rain were made the Statutes called Additamenta Glocestriae. He ordained such men to be Sheriffs in every County, as were of the same County where they were to be Sheriffs. He ordained that Jews should wear a Cognisance upon their upper Garment whereby to be known, and restrained their excessive taking of Usury. In his time was also Enacted the Statute of Mortmaine. In his twelfth year, in the Quindenes of Saint Michael, the Justices Itinerants began to go their general Circuits. In his time new pleces of money were coined, and half pence of Silver came to be in use, which were before of base metal. In his time, three men for rescuing a prisoner, arrested by an Officer, had their right hands cut off by the wrists. In his time all Jews were banished out of the Realm. This King by Proclamation prohibited the burning of Sea-coal in London and the Suburbs, for avoiding the noisome smoke. In his eleventh year the Bakers of London were first drawn upon Hurdles, by Henry Waleys Major; and Corn was then first sold by weight. In this Kings time the title of Baron which had before been promiscuous to men of estate, was first confined to such only as by the King were called to have voice in Parliament.

Affaires of the Church in his time.

IN his time, at a Synod holden at Reading by the Arch-bishop of C • nterbury, it was ordained according to the Constitutions of the General Council, that no Ecclesiastical person should have more then one Benefice, to which belonged the Cure of souls: and that every person promoted to any Ecclesiastical Living, should take the Order of Priesthood within one year after. In his time lived and died Pope Boniface the 8. of whom his Predecessour had Prophesied: Ascendes ut Vulpes, Regnabis ut Leo, Morieris ut Canis.

Works of Piety done by him, or by others in his time.

THis King Founded the Abbey of the Vale Royal in Cheshire, of the Cisteaux Order. In his time John Baylioll King of Scots, built Baylioll College in Oxford : also in his time, Walter Marton Lord Chancellor of England, and after Bishop of Rochester, Founded Marton College in Oxford, who was drowned passing over the water at Rochester, being at that time no Bridge there, as now there is. In his time was finished the new work of the Church of Westminster, which had b • ene threescore and six years in building. In his time was laid the Foundation of the Black-Friers besides Ludgate, and of Baynards Castle: also in his time, his second wife Queen Margaret began to build the Choir of the Gray-Friers in London. In his time was begun to be made the great Conduit in London, standing against the Church called Acres in Cheape. In his time Henry Walleys, Major of London, caused the Tonne upon Cornhill, to be a Prison for night-walkers: and also built a house called the Stocks, for a Market of fish and flesh, in the midst of the City. In this Kings time, Edmund Earl of Leycester, the Kings brother, Founded the Minories, a Nunnery without Aldgate. This King built the Castle of Flint in Wales, and the Castle of Beaumaris in the I will of Anglesey, and the Castle of Carnarvan by Snowdon. Also in this Kings time, John Peckham Arch-bishop of Canterbury, Founded a College of Canons at Wingham in Kent.

Casualties happening in his time.

IN the second year of this Kings Rain, there happened the greatest rot of Sheep in England that ever was known, which continued five and twenty years; and came (as was thought) by one infected Sheep of incredible greatness, brought out of Spain by a French Merchant into Northumberland. In the fifteenth year of this Kings Rain, Wheat was sold for ten Groats a Quarter; where the next year after there was so great a Dearth, that it was sold for eighteen pence the Bushel. In the seventeenth year of his Rain, there fell so much rain, that Wheat was raised from three pence the Bushel, to sixteen pence; and so increased yearly, till at last it was sold for twenty shillings the Quarter. And this year the City of Carlisle, and the Abbey with all the houses belonging to the Friers Minors, was consumed with fire. In his one and twentieth year, a great part of the Town of Cambridge, with the Church of our Lady, was also burnt. In the seven and twentieth year of his Rain, his Palace at Westminster, and the Monastery adjoining, were consumed with fire. The Monastery of Gloucester also was burnt to the ground. In this year also, an Act of Common Counsel, by consent of the King, was made concerning victuals; a fat Cock to be sold for three half pence, two Pullets for three half pence, a fat Capon for two pence half penny, a Goose four pence, a Mallard three half pence, a Partridge three half pence, a Pheasant four pence, a Hearon six pence, a Plover one penny, a Swan three shillings, • Crane twelve pence, two-Woodcocks three half pence, a fat Lamb from Christmas to Shrovetide, sixteen pence; and all the year after for four pence.

Of his Wives and Children.

HE had two Wives, his first was Eleanor, daughter to Ferdinand the third King of Spain ; and was married to him at B • res in Spain: who having lived with him six and thirty years, in a journey with him towards Scotland, at Herdeby in Lincolneshire she died; in whose memory, and as Monuments of her virtue, and his affection, King Edward caused Crosses with her Statue to be erected in all chief places, where her Corps in carrying to Westminster, rested: as at Stamford, Dunstable, Saint Albons, Waltham, Cheapside ; and lastly, at the place called Charing Cross: she was buried in Westminster, at the feet of King Henry the third, under a fair Marble Tomb, adorned with her Portraiture of Copper guilt. By this wife, King Edward had four sons and nine daughters; his eldest son, John ; his second, Henry ; his third, Alphonsus ; died all young in their Fathers time: his fourth son, Edward, called of Carnarva • , because borne there, succeeded him in the kingdom. Of his daughters, the eldest named Eleanor, was first married by Proxy to Alphonsus, King of Aragon ; but he dying before the marriage solemni • ed, she was afterward married at Bristow, to Henry Earl of Barry in France ; by whom she had issue, sons and daughters. Joan the second daughter of King Edward and Queen Eleanor, borne at Acon in the Holy Land, was married to Gylbert Clare called the Red Earl of Gloucester and Hereford ; by whom she had issue, sons and daughters. She survived her husband, and was re-married to the Lord Ralph Monthermere, Father to Margaret the mother of Thomas Montacute, Earl of Salisbury ; from whom the now Viscount Montacu • e is descended. Margaret the third daughter of King Edward and Queen Eleanor, was married to John Duke of Brabant. Berenger and Alice, their fourth and fifth daughters, dying young and unmarried. Mary their sixth daughter, at ten years of her age, was made a Nun in the Monastery of A • mesbury in Wiltshire, at the instance of Queen Eleanor her Grandmother, who lived there. Elizabeth their seventh daughter, was first married to John Earl of Holland, Zealand, and Lord of Freezeland ; he dying within two years, she was afterward married to Humphrey Bohun Earl of Hereford and Essex, Lord of Breknok, and High Constable of England ; by whom she had issue, sons and daughters. Beatrice and Blanch, their eighth and ninth daughters, died young and unmarried. King Edwards second Wife was Margaret, eldest daughter of Philip King of France, called the Hardy, and sister to Philip called the Faire; at eighteen years old she was married to King Edward, being above threescore; yet at the unequal years she had issue by him, two sons and a daughter: their eldest son was borne at a little Village in Yorkshire called Brotherton, and was thereof called Thomas of Brotherton : he was created Earl of Norfolk, and Earl Marshall of England, after Roger Bigod, who died without issue. Their second son Edmund, was borne at Woodstock in Oxfordshire, and of the place was so called: he was created Earl of Kent, and married Margaret daughter of John, and sister of sole Heir of Thomas Lord Wakes of Lydell in the County of Northampton ; by whom he had issue two sons and one daughter: his sons Edmund and John, died without issue; his daughter Joan, for her beauty called the Faire maid of Kent, was married first to William Montacute Earl of Salisbury, and from him divorced; was re-married to Sir Thomas Holland, in her Right Earl of Kent, and by her, Father of Thomas and John Holland, Duke of Surrey, and Earl of Huntingdon: and lastly, she was the Wife of Edward of Woodstock, the black Prince of Wales ; and by him Mother of King Richard the second. This Earl Edmund was beheaded at Winchester, in the fourth year of King Edward his Nephew. Eleanor, the daughter of King Edward by his second Wife Margaret, died in her childhood.

Of his personage and conditions.

HE was tall of stature, higher then ordinary men by head and shoulders, and thereof called Longshanke ; of a swarthy complection, strong of body, but lean; of a comely favor; his eyes in his anger, sparkling like fire; the hair of his head black and curled. Concerning his conditions, as he was in war peaceful; so in Peace he was warlike, delighting specially in that kind of hunting, which is to kill Stagges or other wild beasts with Speares. In continency of life, he was equal to his Father; in acts of valor, far beyond him. He had in him the two wisdoms, not often found in any, single; both together, seldom or never: An ability of judgment in himself, and a readiness to hear the judgment of others. He seemed to be a great observer of opportunity (a great point of wisdom in any, in Princes greatest) and that he could bear an injury long, without seeking to revenge it; as appeared by his carriage towards the Earl Roger Bigod, whom when he saw his time, he called to account for an affront he had offered him di • ers years before. He was not easily provoked into passion, but once in passion, not easily appeased, as was seen by his dealing with the Scots ; towards whom he shown at first patience, and at last severity. If he be censured for his many Taxations, he may be justified by his well bestowing them; for never Prince laid out his money to more honor of himself, or good of his kingdom. His greatest unfortunatenesse was in his greatest blessing; for of four sons which he had by his Wife Queen Eleanor, three of them died in his own life time, who were worthy to have out-lived him; and the fourth out-lived him, who was worthy never to have been borne.

Of his death and burial.

IN his last expedition into Scotland, being at Carlisle, he fell sick; and lying in his death-bed, he sent for his son Edward: to whom, besides many admonitions to Piety; he commanded three things specially: that he should carry his bones about with him through Scotland till he had subdued it: that he should send his heart into the Holy Land, with sevenscore knights to that war, and the two and thirty thousand pounds he had provided for that purpose; and that he should never recall Gaveston from banishment: and soon after of a dysentery or Bloody-Flix, he died at Borough upon the Sands, the seventh of July, in the year 1307. when he had Raigned four and thirty years and seven months, lived threescore and eight years: Being dead, his Corps was brought to Waltham Abbey, and there kept the space of sixteen weeks, and after, on Simon and Jude’s day buried at Westminster.

Men of Note in his time.

OF Martial men there were many, these specially: John Earl of Warren, who opposed the Kings Inquisition by Quo Warranto: and Roger Bigod, who gave the King an affront to his face. Of learned men also many, specially these; John Breton bishop of Hereford, who compiled a book of the Laws of England, called l • Breton: Thomas Spot a Chronographer: John Eversden a writer of Annals, and of this Kings Rain: Gregory Cairugent a Monk of Gloucester, and a writer also of Annals. John Peckham a Franciscan Frier, made Arch-bishop of Canterbury, who writ many excellent works: John Read an Historiographer: Thomas Bungey a Frier Minor, an excellent Mathematician: Roger Bacon a Franciscan Frier, an excellent Philosopher and Mathematician: Robert Kilwarby Arch-bishop of Canterbury, and after made a Cardinal: also Ralph Baldock Bishop of London, who writ a Chronicle of England in the Latin tongue: but above them all, though of another Country, Thomas Aquinas, borne of a Noble Family, whose works are too famous to be spoken of; who going to the Council holden at Lions by Pope Gregory the tenth, died by the way.

Of his Acts before, and at his Coronation.

E Dward of Carnarvan, eldest Son of King Edward the first, succeeded him in the kingdom; and never did Prince come to a Crown with more applause of Nobility and People; and there was good cause for it: For he had been trained up in all good courses for Piety and Learning; he had seen the Government of his Father, from whose Example he could not but have learned many good Lessons; he had been initiated in the ways of State, having been left Governor of the Realm, and presiding in Parliament in his Fathers absence; and he was now three and twenty years old, a fit age for bearing the weight of a Scepter; and yet for all these advantages, there wanted not fears of him in the minds of many, who could not but remember what pranks he had played not long before; how he had broken the Bishop of Chesters Park, and in most disorderly manner had killed his Deere, for which both himself had been committed to Prison, and his Friend Pierce Gaveston banished the Realm: and if he did such things being but Prince, what might not be feared of him coming to be King? For seldom doth advancement in honor alter men to the better; to the worse often, and commonly then, when it is joined with an Authority that sets them above controlment. Neither yet was their fear more out of what they had seen, then out of what they saw; for where he should have endeavored to accomplish the charge his Father had given him in his death-bed, he seemed to intend nothing less: nothing more then wholly to break it; for he presently called home Pierce Gaveston from banishment; and the two and thirty thousand pounds, which his Father had specially appointed for the Holy War; either all or the most of it he be • towed upon Gaveston: and for carrying his Fathers bones with him about Scotland ; it had been well if he had suffered them quietly to be laid at rest in England ; for after the Corps had been kept above ground, sixteen weeks in the Abbey of Waltham, and that the Bishop of Chester, Walter Langton, the then Lord Treasurer, and Executor of his Fathers Will, was busy in preparing for his Funerals; he sent the Constable of the Tower to arrest him, and imprison him at Wallingford, seising upon all his Goods, and giving them to Gaveston ; and all for old grudges. And (that which seemed a high strain of incongruity) before he had seen performed his Fathers Funerals, which was not till the 27. of October following; he entered into Treatie of his own Nuptials, forgoing over to Boleigne, on the two and twentieth of January, he married Isabell, the Daughter of Philip the Faire, King of France : which Marriage was honored with the presence of four Kings, the King of France himself, the King of Nav • rre his Son, the King of the Romans, and the King of Sicily : and three Queens besides the Bride, Mary Queen of France, Margaret the Dowager Queen of England, and the Queen of Navarre : and yet did Gavest • n exceed them all in bravery. This was observed by the Lord's of England : and thereupon when his Queen and he came afterward to be Crowned, they went unto him, signifying what a heinous transgression of his Fathers will it was to call home G • veston ; and seeing the charge was no less given to them then to him, if he did not perform it they would; and therefore unless he would remove Gaveston from the Court and kingdom, they would hinder his Coronation from proceeding: which struck such a damp to Prince Edwards spirits, to think what a disgrace it would be to him; if so many of his great Friends being present, Charles of Valois, the King of Frances Brother, the Dukes of Britain and Brabant, the Count of Luxenburg, who was afterward Emperor, the Duke of Savoy, the two Dutchesses of Brabant & Artois, with many other Princes and great Ladies, if now his Coronation should be called in question, that he solemnly swore he would do what they desired in the next Parliament, so they would be quiet now; and thereupon, on the 24. day of February, in the year 1307. his Queen and he were both Crowned at Westminster, by the hands of Henry Bishop of Winchester, by Commission from Robert Arch-bishop of Canterbury, being then in Exile, and out of the kingdom: At which solemnity there was so great a press of People, that Sir John Blackwell knight was crowded to death. And now in the very Act of his Coronation, there was given another provocation to the Lord's against Gaveston : for the King had appointed him to carry the Crown of Saint Edward before him, (the greatest honor could be done to a Subject) which added to the other honors the King had done him, (for he had made him Earl of Cornewall, Lord of Man, and Lord Chamberlain) so incensed the Lord's, that they entered into consultation, how to suppress this violence of the Kings affection; which shortly after they put in execution. Portion in money King Edward had none with his Wife: but the King of France gave him the Duchy of Guyenne, which he had seised upon before, as confiscate to him: and thereupon King Edward did him Homage for that Duchy, and for the County of Ponthieu.

Of his difference with his Lord's about Gaveston.

WE shall have here no Quinquennium Neronis, no such five years, as Nero afforded in the beginning of his Rain; but this King at his first entrance will show what he is, and what he will continue to be as long as he lives; for though he took some great and grave men to be of his Council, yet (as appeared afterward) he did it rather to the end they should be pliant to him, then that he had any meaning to apply himself to them; For let them say what they would, Gaveston must be the Oracle; all the Kings actions were but Gavestons impressions: And now Gaveston presently after the Coronation, to let the world be a witness of his worthiness, and that the King had not bestowed his Favors upon him without cause; caused to be published a Turneament at Wallingford : whither came all the great Lord's of the kingdom, as Thomas Earl of Lancaster, Humfrey Earl of Hereford, Aymer Earl of Pembroke, and John Earl of Warren, with many others, all Valiant men at Arms; yet none had the honor of the day like to Gaveston. And thus far he did well, if he could have stayed here, if having gotten true glory, he had not fallen into vain-glory: For the Lord's envied him not so much for his advancement in Honors, as they hated him for his insolency in Manners: for in a scornful pride he would be casting scoffs upon them all, calling Thomas Earl of Lancaster the Stage Player, the Earl of Lincoln Burstenbelly; • imer de Valence Earl of Pembroke, Joseph the Jew ; and Guy Earl of Warwick, the black Dog of Arderne ; which scoffs together with his other insolencies, drew such a party upon him, that in the next Parliament, the whole assembly obtains of the King to draw Articles of their grievances: of which the chief were, that the great Charter of Magna Charta should be observed • that all strangers should be banished the Court and kingdom; that the business of the State should be treated of by the Counsel of the Clergy and the Nobles; and that the King should not begin any war, nor go out of the kingdom without consent of Parliament. Which Articles, though seeming harsh to the King, yet for avoiding of further inconvenience, he yields unto them; and specially to the bani • hment of his Minion Gaveston, as hoping that would excuse him for all the rest; and Robert of Winchelsey, Arch-bishop of Canterbury, lately called home from Exile, pronounceth Excommunication against all such as should oppose the Articles. Hereupon Gaveston is sent away into Ireland, where he lived awhile, not as a banished man, but as Lieutenant rather of the Country, and indeed not unworthily; for in the time of his being there, he is said to have made a Journey into the Mountains of Dublin, and to have broken and subdued the Rebels there; built New Castle in the Kerns Country, repaired the Castle of Kevyn, and passed up to Munster, and Thoumond: performing everywhere much service with great valor and worthiness, that if he had stayed there but a while longer, he might perhaps by his desorts in Ireland, have redeemed his defects in England : but the King impatient of his absence, and asking advice what means might be used to recall him; It was told him, that if he could but match him with the Earl of Glocesters sister, a man of such greatness, and so greatly beloved of the people, for his sake certainly no man would grudge at his coming home. Hereupon the King sends for Gaveston, and makes up the match between them, and married they were at Barkamstead ; but this did no good. For Gaveston still working upon the King in such manner, that he scarce left him means to sustain himself, and as little to maintain the Queen; nothing being done but as Gaveston would have it; put the Lord's into a new discontentment; who thereupon went again to the King, and told him plainly, that unless he would put Gaveston out of the Court and kingdom, they would rise up in Arms against him as a perjured King. This put the King into a great strait: Loath he was to leave Gaveston, and fearful he was to provoke the Lord's; in the end, his fear prevailing over his love, he was content he should be Banished, and in such sort Banished, that if ever he returned, or were found in the kingdom, he should be held, and proceeded against as an Enemy of the State. So once again is Gaveston sent packing out of the kingdom, and goes into France, but found no safe Harbouring there: For the King of France hearing of it, gave strait charge, if he were found in his Dominions to apprehend him: Then he passeth into Flanders, but is there no sa • er then in France : After waving about, and finding no place to rest in safety, he returns secretly into England, relying upon the Kings Love, and the Duke of Glocesters Favor. The King receives him as an Angel sent from Heaven, and to be out of the Lord's Eye, goes a Journey to York, taking Gaveston along with him, and there thinks to be in quiet; but the Lord's hearing of it follow him thither, choosing for their General, Thomas Earl of Lancaster, a man possessed of five Earledomes, Lancaster, Leycester, Ferrers, Lincoln, and Salisbury, besides the Liberty of Pickering, and the Honor of Cokermore, and other Lands in Wales ; and there was not a man of the whole Nobility that was not of the Party, but only Gilbert Earl of Gloucester, the Kings Sisters Son; These Lord's sent to the King, either to deliver Gaveston into their hands, or at least to send him peremptorily out of the kingdom. But the King led by ill Counsel, and little regarding the Lord's Message, takes Gaveston with him to New-Castle upon Tine, thence to Tynmouth, where the Queen then lay, who (though great with Child, and entreating the King with tears to stay with her) yet such was his desire to see Gaveston put into some place of security, that hearing of the Lord's approaching, he took a Ship, and passed with Gaveston to Scarborough, and leaving him there in a strong Castle, not easy to be won, he went himself into Warwickshire ; perhaps that the Lord's might see he had not Gaveston with him. But the Lord's hearing where Gaveston was, assaulted the Castle with such violence, that Gaveston seeing no means to escape, was content to render himself; requesting only, that he might but once be allowed to see the Kings face; and the King hearing he was taken, desired as much: to which the Earl of Pembroke consented; and taking Gaveston into his custody, promised upon Forteiture of all he had, to have him forth-coming: but desiring to be with his Wife that night, who lay not far off, at Dedington h • delivers him to his Servants to carry to Wallingford ; From whom, as they passed by Warwick, the Earl of that place hearing of it, took him forcibly from his keepers, and brought him to his own Castle. Where after long deliberation, whether it were wisdom to suffer Gaveston to speak with the King or no; It was at last concluded to take of • his head; which at a place thereby, called Blacklow, was presently put in execution. His Corps was carried to Oxford, and kept there two years, till the King caused it to be brought to Longley, and there built a Monastery of purpose, where his Soul should be prayed for.

This Gaveston was the Son of a Gentleman of France, who had done good service for King Edward the first, in France ; and for his sake this Son of his was taken and brought up with the Prince: a man of excellent parts of body, and of no less Endowments of mind; Valiant and Witty; to which if we might add Virtuous, he had been complete; Though the Lord's (whether they had heard so, or whether they said it to wean the King from him) told the King that his Father was a Traitor to the King of France, and for the same was executed; and that his Mother was burnt for a Witch; and that this Gaveston was banished out of France for consenting to his Mothers Witch-craft; and that he had now bewitched the King himself. But why should the Lord's be so violent against Gaveston ? might not the King place his Affection where he pleased? Might he not make his own choice of what companion he liked? No doubt he might; and fit he should: but yet in this case, the Lord's had great cause to do as they did; both in regard of the King, of themselves, and of the Common-wealth. It is true, if the Valour of Gaveston could as well have made the King Valiant, as his riot made him riotous; there might some good have come of their extraordinary conjunction: but seeing Virtues are but personal, Vices only are communicative; it now made the King not only more Vicious then otherwise he would have been, but Vicious, where otherwise he would not have been; and therefore great cause in regard of the King, to remove Gaveston from his company; and no less in regard of the Lord's themselves; For Gavestons advancing was their debasing; his greatness with the King made them but Cyphers: but in regard of the Common-wealth, most cause of all; For while the King was altogether ruled by Gaveston, and Gaveston himself was altogether irregular; the Common-wealth could have but little hope of Justice, but was sure to suffer as long as Gaveston was suffered. And this may be sufficient to justify the Lord's, that it be not interpreted to be Rebellion, which was indeed but Providence.

Of his Troubles with Scotland.

ANd now we have seen two of the charges of his Fathers Will broken by the King, and punished in him; the two and thirty thousand pounds appointed for the Holy War, bestowed upon Gaveston, and the King for it punished himself with want; Gaveston called home from banishment, and the King for it punished with the loss of his Subjects love. It remains to see how well he performed the third charge of his Fathers Will, for subduing of Scotland. It was now the sixth year after the death of his Father King Edward, and Robert Bruce now gotten to be King of Scotland, had stayed all this while to see how this new King Edward would prove: and when he found by the courses he held, that he was like to prove a good easy Enemy; he thereupon took heart, and began to stir, and in a very short time had brought almost all Scotland under his obedience; and finding no opposition he entered the English Borders, took and burnt Towns; that now King Edward, unless he would sit still, and suffer Bruce to come and pull his Crown from his head, he could not choose but do something to stop his proceeding. Hereupon he prepares an Army, but like himself, fitter for a Court then for a Campe: Many men, and great Bravery; but ready • to take spoils, then to make spoil: and accordingly they sped; For going to raise the siege at Str • veling, defended for King Edward, by the valiant knight Philip Mowbray ; the Kings Army consisting of a hundred thousand, was defeated and overthrown by the Scots Army, consisting of scarce thirty thousand: So true is that saying of an ancient Soldier; There is more hope of an Army where the General is a Lion, though the Soldiers be but Sheep; then of an Army where the General is a Sheep, though the Soldiers be Lions. But indeed the Scots, besides Valour, used Policy: For having in their own Army none but Foot, no Horse at all, they had made Trenches in the Ground three foot deep, covering them with Twigges and Hurdles, where the English Horsemen were to pass, who Floundring in those Trenches, were killed no less by their own Fellowes then by the Enemy. In this Battle, called of Bannocks borough, were slain the Lord Mawle, the Lord Clifford, the Lord Tiptoft, the Lord William Marshall, Sir Giles, Doctor Argenton, and seven hundred Knights and Squires, specially Gylbert Earl of Gloucester, who had shown much Valour that day; and whom the Scots would willingly have kept for ransom; if they had known him; but he had forgotten to put on his Coat of Arms, whereby to be known. The slaughter of common Soldiers was certainly great, though perhaps not so great as Hector Boetius speaks of, who saith they were fifty thousand. There were taken Prisoners, Humfrey de Bohun Earl of Hereford, John Seagrave, John Claveringham, William Latimer, and Sir Roger Northbrooke, bearer of the Kings shield; the King himself with the Bishops, the Earls of Hartford and Pembroke, and Hugh Spenser, saved themselves by flight; Humfrey de Bohun Earl of Hereford, was afterward released in exchange for Bruces Wife, who had been long kept a Prisoner in England. After this, many English fell away to the Scots, and all the North parts from Carlisle to York, came under their Subjection; and the English grew so faint-hearted, and into such contempt, that three Scots durst venture upon a hundred English, when a hundred English durst scarce encounter with three Scots. And what can be thought the cause of this great dysaster to this King, but the want of his Fathers blessing for not performing the charge he gave him dying, which is commonly accompanied with the want of a higher blessing, without which a Vacat is set upon the labors of men, that makes them all frustrate? But Bruce, not satisfied with his Acquests in England, sends his Brother Edward into Ireland also; who so far prevailed, that many Irish came in unto him, and in the end Crowned him King of a great part of that Island, and so continued the space of three years; till the Primat of Armagh, and the Lord Brinningham, Justiciar of Ireland, gathering Forces together opposed him, and in a Battle taking him Prisoner, at Dundalke cut off his head, with the slaughter of many thousands of the Scots besides. With which the Scots are so incensed, that they invade again the English Borders, forraging as far as York ; whereupon a Parliament is assembled at London, wherein an aid is granted of Armed men to go against them; London sets forth two hundred, Canterbury forty, Saint Albons ten, and so proportionably for all Cities and Boroughs, whereby a great Army was levied; which coming to York, through mutiny, emulation, and other impediments, was soon dissolved, and returned back without effecting anything. Not long after the Town of Berwicke was betrayed to the Scots, through the treason of Peter Spalding the Governor, and other Englishmen ; whom the King of Scots to make them an Example, caused to be hanged for being Traitors to their Country. King Edward hearing of the surrendering of Berwicke, raiseth an Army, and beleaguers it; but the Scots to divert his Forces, enter upon England by other ways, and were like to have surprised the person of the Queen, lying then near • orke. The siege of B • rwicke is notwithstanding eagerly continued, and the King in great possibility to have regained the Town, had not the Earl of Lancaster with his foll • wers withdrawn himself upon discontent, hearing the King say he would give the keeping thereof to Hugh Spen •• r the younger, who was now grown a special favourite of the Kings, and thereof • r • not to be en • ured by the Earl. In the mean 〈◊〉 the Scots won the Castles of 〈…〉 , and Mid • ord ; so as they possessed the greater part of all North • mberland, burning all before them, 〈◊〉 they came to ••• pon, which Town they spoiled • and carrying there three days, they received • thousand Markes to save the Town from burning, as they had done the Towns of Nor • hallerton, Bor • ugh-bridg • and others. In their returning back, they 〈◊〉 Knaresborough, and Shipton in C •• ven ; and all other afore them, carrying into •• land a marvelous number of Cattle, besides prisoners, men and women • The • •••• shire men thus grievously endamaged, gather together to the number of ten thousand: and at the Town of Mitton, ten miles from York, encounter the Sco •• where they lost three thousand of their men, and were defeated • which b • ttell, because of the many Spiritual men that were in it, was called the white battle. Whereof when the King heard • he left the siege of Be • wicke, to follow the Scots, but they returned another way. The year following, King Edward once again with a great Army entered Scotland ; but the Scots having destroyed all afore, the King oppressed with famine was forced to re • urne • whom the Scots followed, and in a place of the Forest of Blackmore, se • upon him that he hardly escaped; where were taken John Earl of Britain, and the Lord of Sil • ac • , the French Kings Ambassador, and many others. After this, King Edward finding the Scots either too strong, or too wily for him, made a Truce with them for two years, some say for thirteen. And this was the success of this unfortunate King in his wars with Scotland.

Of his tr •• bless at home.

BUt his troubles abroad were not so grievous as those at home; or rather, they were those at home that made his troubles abroad so grievous; for though the Lord's having made an end of Gaveston, and cut off his head, thought they had made an end of their need to bear Arms, and had cut off the head of all their discontents; yet as if Gaveston had been a Phoenix, as it were out of his ashes another Phoenix riseth presently up, and puts the Lord's to as much trouble as ever Gaveston did. For now the younger Spenser upon a sudden grows as great a Favorite of the Kings as ever Gaveston was: and indeed in all points just such another, equal to him in goodliness of personage, in favor of the King, and in abusing the Lord's, for though they were the Lord's themselves that brought him at first in to be the Kings Chamberlain, the rather (as was thought) because he was one whom the King did not love: yet being once in the place, he so won upon the King by diligent service, and by complying with the Kings humor; that he brought the King at last to comply with his humor, and nothing must be done but as Spenser would have it. It seems it was the Kings nature, that he could not be without a bosom friend; one or other to be an Alter idem: and to seek to remove such a one from him, was to seek to remove him from him self • as impossible a thing as to alter nature; yet the Lord's being more sensible of their own grievance, to be insulted on by a Favorite, then of the Kings grievance to be affronted by his subjects, are more intentive to work their own ends then the Kings: and therefore to remove Spenser and his Father from the King, which they knew was a work not to be done but by strong hand; they continue their Arms, and conf • der • ting together, they send to the King, peremptorily requiring the confirmation and execution of the Articles formerly granted; threatening withal, that unless he presently perform the same, they would contstrain him to it by force of Arms: and thereupon assemble strong forces about Dunstable, where the King • hen lay. The great Prelates of the kingdom, with the Earl of Gloucester, labor to appease them, and with two Cardinals sent lately by the Pope to reform these disorders: they repair to Saint Alb • ns, and desire conference with the Lord's, who receive them very peaceably; but the Letters which the Pope had written to them, they refuse to receive, saying, they were men of the Sword, and cared not for reading of Letters; that there were many w • rthy and learned men in the kingdom, whose counsel they would use, and not strangers, who knew not the cause of their commotion: so the Cardinals with this answer returned to London. But the Prelates of England • o labor the business, that the Lord's were content to yield up to the King such horses, treasure, and jewels, as they had taken of Pierce Gaveston at New-Castle, so as the King would grant their Petitions; and thereupon John Sandall Treasurer of the kingdom, and Ingelard Warle keeper of the Wardrobe, are sent to Saint Albons to receive those things at their hands.

Shortly after a Parliament is called at London, wherein the King complains of the great contempt was had of him by the Barons, their rising in Arms, their taking and murthering Pierce Gaveston, and such other affronts. Whereunto with one accord they answer, that they had not offended therein, but rather merited his love and favor; having taken Arms, not for any contempt of his royal person, but to destroy the public enemy of the kingdom, which otherwise would never have been done. Which stout resolution of theirs, the Queen with the Prelates and the Earl of Gloucester seeing, they seek by all means to qualify their heat; and at length so prevailed with them, that they humble themselves to the King, and crave pardon for that they had done, which they obtained; and the King receives them into grace, as his loyal subjects: grants them their Articles • and particular pardons by his Charter, for their Indemnity concerning the death of Gaveston: and for the greater show of true reconcilement, Guy de Beauchamp Earl of Warwick, is made of the Kings Counsel, though shortly after he ended his life, not without suspicion of poison; as being a man much envied by such as possessed the King. The King kept his Christmas at Clipston, and his Easter at Clarendon: and they seemed to be all good friends, but this reconcilement of the King with his Barons, was but as the covering of fire with ashes, every little wind that blew, made it break out into flames afresh; & the time being so unsettled as it was, it was impossible but such winds would continually be blowing. It was such a wind blew, when the great Earl of Lancaster had his wife (a Lady who had lived with him always in good fame) taken out of his house at Canford in Dorsetshire • by one Richard Saint Martin • a deformed lame Dwarfe, who challenged her to be his wife, and that he had lien with her before the Earl married her • and this wind was made to blow the stronger, by the Ladies own confession; for upon examination, she voluntarily averred, it was all true: and thereupon the o • gly fellow in her right claimed the two Earledomes of Lincoln and S • lisbury, which he durst not have done • if he had not been backed with great Abettours: and it was not without aspersion upon the King himself. It was another such wind blew, when at the Feast of Pentecost, at dinner in the open Hall at Westminster ; a woman fantastically disguised, entered on horseback, and riding about the Table, delivered the King a Letter, wherein was signified the great neglect he shown of such as had done him and his Father noble services, taxing him for advancing men of unworthy parts, and such other complaints; which Letter read, and the woman departed, put the King into a great rage; they who guarded the door being sharply reprehended for suffering her to enter in such manner, answered, It was the fashion of the Kings house in times of Festivals, to keep out none that came as this woman did, to make sport. Search being made for the woman, she is found and examined who set her on; she confessed a knight gave her money to do it; the knight is found, and upon examination, boldly answered, he did it for the Kings honor, and to no other end; and thereupon escaped without further trouble. It was such another wind blew, when a knight was taken passing by Pomfret, with Letters sealed with the Kings Seal, directed to the King of Scots, about murthering the Earl of Lancaster ; which messenger is executed, his head set upon the top of the Castle, and the Letters reserved to witness the intended plot. Which whether it were feigned, or true, the report thereof reflected upon the King, and made many to take the Earls part. It was such another wind blew, when a fanatic fellow, one John P •• dras, a Tanners son of Exeter, gave forth, that himself was th tr • e Edward, eldest son of the late King Edward the first, and by a false Nurse was changed in his Cradle, and that the now King Edward was a Carters son, and laid in his place: but this wind was soon blown over, when at his death, being drawn and hanged, he confessed he had a Familiar Spirit in his house in the likeness of a Cat, that assured him he should be King of England, and that he had served the said Spirit three years before to bring his purpose about. But most of all, it was such a wind blew, when a Baron named William Brewis, having wasted his estate, offers to sell unto divers men, a part of his inheritance called Powis. Humphrey 〈◊〉 Earl of Hereford, obtains leave of the King to buy it, & bargains for it. The two Roger M • rtimers, Uncle and Nephew, great men likewise in those parts, not understanding, it seems, anything of the former bargain, contract also for the same Land with the said Sir William Brewis. Hugh Spenser the younger, hearing of this sale, and the land adjoining to part of his, obtains a more special leave of the King, being now his Chamberlain, and buys it out of their hands. The Earl of Her • ford complains hereof to the Earl of Lancaster : who thereupon at Sherbourne enters into a new confederation with divers Barons there assembled, taking their Oaths intermutually, to live and die together in maintaining the right of the kingdom; and to procure the banishment of the two Spens • r • , father and son, whom they now held to be the great seducers of the King, and oppressors of the State, disposing of all things in Court at their pleasure, and suffering nothing to be obtained but by their means: and under this pretence they take Arms, and coming armed to Saint Albons, they send to the King, being then at London, the Bishops of London, Salisbury, Hereford, and Chichester, (who were there assembled to consul • for peace) requiring him as he tendered the qu • et of the Realm, to rid his Court of those Traitours, the Spensers, condemned in many Articles of high treason by the communalty of th • Land; and withal to grant his Letters Patents of pardon and indemnity both to them and all such as took part with them. The King returns answer, that Hugh Spenser the father was now beyond the Seas, employed in his business, and his son was guarding the Cinque-ports according to his office; and that it was against Law of Custom they should be banished without being heard: and withal swore, he would never violate the Oath made at his Coronation, by granting Letters of pardon to such notorious offenders, who contemned his person, disturbed the kingdom, and violated the royal Majesty. Which answer so exasperated the Lord's, that presently they approached to London, and lodged in the Suburbs, till they had leave of the King to enter into the City, where they peremptorily urge their demands: to which at length by mediation of the Queen, and the chief Prelates, the King is wrought to condescend, • nd by his Edict, published in Westminster Hall, by the Earl of Hereford, the Spensers are banished the kingdom. Hugh the father hearing it, keeps beyond the Seas, but the son secretly hides himself in England, expecting the turn of a better season. And indeed shortly after, the Arch-bishop of Canterbury in a Council holden at London, pronounceth the banishment of the Spensers to have been erroneous; and thereupon the Edict is revoked, and the Spensers are called home, and se • in as great authority as they were before. But the Lord's having thus obtained their desire, with the Kings Letters of indemnity return home, but yet not with such security as to give over the provision for their own defense. Not long after there fell ou • an unexpected accident, that suddenly wrought the Lord's confusion. The Queen making her progress towards Canterbury, intended to lodge in the Castle of Leedes, belonging to the Lord Badlesmer, (who had been long the Kings Steward, but now took part with the Lord's) and sending her Marshall to make ready for her and her train; they who kept the Castle told him plainly, that neither the Queen, nor any else should enter there without Letters from their Lord. The Queen her self goes to the Castle, and receives the like answer; whereupon she is driven to take such lodging otherwhere as could be provided. Of which indignity she complains to the King; who took it so to heart, that presently with a power of armed men out of London, he lays siege to the Castle, takes it, hangs the keeper Thomas C •• epepper, sends the wife and children of the Lord Badlesmer to the Tower, and seizeth upon all his goods and treasure. And having this power about him, and warmed with success and the instigation of the Queen, suddenly directs his course to Chi • hester, where he keeps his Christmas, and there provides for an Army against the Barons: whereof many (seeing the Kings power increasing) lef • their Associats, and yield themselves to his mercy: amongst whom were the two Roger Mor • i •• rs, men of great might and means; the Lord Hugh Audely, the Lord M •• rice Barkely, and others: who notwithstanding, contrary to their expectation, were sent to divers Prisons. The Earls of Lancaster and Hereford seeing this sudden change, withdrew themselves and their companies from about Gloucester, towards the North-parts: whom the King follows with his Army; wherein were the Earls of Ath • ll & Angus ; and at Burton upon Trent, where they had made a head, discomfited their forces, and put them to flight. In the mean time the Earl of Lancaster had sent into Lancashire a knight of his, named Robert Holland, (one whom he had brought up of naught) to raise more forces amongst his Tenants; but he hearing of this flight of his Lord's, goes with his forces to take the Kings part; which so dismaies the Earl, that he began now to think of suing to the King for grace; but being in the way, at a Town called Borough-bridge, was there set upon by Sir Simon Warde Sheriff of York, and Sir Andrew Harkeley Constable of Carlisle, who utterly defeat his forces: In which fight was slain the Earl of Hereford, (who fighting valiantly upon a Bridge, was by a Varlet skulking under the Bridge, thrust with a Spear into the fundament) Sir Roger Benefield, Sir William Sulland and others; there was taken the Earl of Lancaster, Sir Roger Clifford, Sir John M • wbray, Sir Roger Tuckets, Sir William Fits-Williams, with divers other, and were led to York. This field was fought the fifteenth day of March, in the year 1320. It was not long • fter that Sir Hugh Daniel, Sir Bartholomew de Baddelsmer were taken. Three days after the Earl of Lancaster is brought to Pomfret, where the King sitting himself in judgment with Edmund Earl of Kent his brother, the Earl of Pem ••• ke, the Earl Warren, Hugh Spencer, lately created Earl of Winchester, and others; sentence of death is given against him, to be drawn, hanged, and beheaded as a Traitor. The two first punishments are pardoned, in regard he was of Royal blood: only beheaded he was the same day without the Town of Pomfret, before his own Castle. To speak of the Miracles said to be done by him after his death, might be fit for a Legend, but not for a Chronicle, and therefore I omit them. By the like judgment were condemned, the Lord Roger Clifford • the Lord Warren Lisle, the Lord William Tuchet, Thomas Maudit, Henry Bradburne, Willi • m Fits-Williams, William Lord Cheyney, Thomas Lord M • wbray, Ioceline Lord Danill, all which were executed at York. Shortly after, the Lord Henry Teyes is taken, drawn, hanged, and quarter • d at London ; the Lord Aldenham at Windsor ; the Lord's Baddlesmere and Ashburton at Canterbury : at Cardiffe in Wales, Sir William Flemming ; at Bristow, Si • Henry Womington ; and Sir Henry Montford Bannerets; at Gloucester, the Lord Clifford • and Sir William Elminbridge, principal men in principal places, to spread the more • e • rour over the kingdom: all their estates and inheritances are confiscated, and •• ny new men advanced by the same. And this is the first blood of Nobility that ever was shed in this manner in England since William the Conqueror.

But not long after, the King in a calmer humor, began to have a sense o • the Earl of Lancasters execution, which he discovered upon this occasion: some • bou • him making earnest suite for a Pardon to one of the Earls followers; and pre ••• ng the King hard to it, he fell into a great p • ssion, excl • iming • g • inst them as unjus • and wicked Counselors, who would urge him to save the life of a notorious V •• let, and would not speak one word for his near kinsman, the Earl of Lancaste • : who (said he had) he lived, might have been use • ull to me, and the whole kingdom; but this fellow the longer he lives, the more mischief he will do, and therefore by the soul of God, he should die the death he had deserved. Sir Andrew Harkeley, who was the man that took the Earl of Lancaster prisoner, being advanced for his service to the Earldom of Carlisle, enjoyed his honor but a while; for the next year after, either thrust out into discontent by the Spensers, envying his high preferment, or combining with the Scots, upon hope of a great match, (as he was accused) he is degraded of all his honors; drawn, hanged, and quartered at Lond • n for Treason. But now the King of France summons King Edward to come and do his homage for Gascoyne ; and he not coming, all his Territories in France are adjudged to be forfeited, and many places of importance are sei • ed on by the French. Hereupon a Parliament is called, and it is by common consent of all agreed, that the King should not go in person himself, in regard of the distraction of the times, but should send some special man to excuse his appearance; whereupon Edmund Earl of Kent the Kings brother is sent, but to little effect. Then it is thought fit the Queen should go, and indeed the Queen went; but what was the cause of her going, there is amongst Writers great variance: some say she was sent by the King to accommodate this business, which she negotiated so well, as that all quarrels were ended, upon condition the King should give to his son Edward, the Dutchie of Aquitaine, with the Earldom of Ponthieu, and send him over to do his homage for them; which after many consultations • the King is wrought to yield unto; and the Prince is sent with the Bishop of Exeter and others to the Court of France accordingly: but others say • she went out of discontent, to complain to her brother the King of France, for wrongs offered her by the Spensers, who had so alienated the Kings mind from her, that he would scarce come where she was, nor allow her fit maintenance for her calling. But whatsoever was the cause of her going • there appeared no cause of her staying, but that she had gotten into her company, Roger Mortimer Lord of Wigm • re, a gallant young Gentleman • whom she specially favored, lately escaped out of the Tower of London, by giving his keepers (as was said) a sleeping drink. And withal, the Bishop of Exeter perceiving some plots to be in hand, and their close consultations made without him, withdraws himself secretly, and discovers to the King what he observed in their courses. Whereupon the King sends presently for the Qu • and Prince, and solicits the King of France to hasten their return; which when he saw was neglected and delayed, he caused them openly to be proclaimed enemies to the kingdom, banished them and all their adherents out of the Land: and withal causeth all the Ports to be strongly kept; and sends three Admirals to attend in several Coasts to hinder their landing. It was not without suspicion, that as the King for love of the Spensers, had his mind alienated from loving the Queen; so the Queen for love of M • rtimer, had her mind alienated from loving the King, and therefore having him with her, c • red not how long she stayed. However it was, when the Queen heard of the Kings Proclamation, she knew there was no returning for her into England without some good assistance: whereupon soliciting her brother the King of France, he aided her with men and money (say some: but others, that he refusing to aide her, as being wrought under hand by the Spensers against her; she left the French Court, and went into Heynault, to the Earl of that Country, who upon a contract between her son Prince Edward and Philippa the Earls daughter • • ided her with a competent Army, under the conduct of his brothe • John: and with them and her beloved Mortimer, she took shipping and landed at Orwell, a Port near unto Harwich in Suffolk : where presently came to her the Earl Marshall, Henry Earl of Leycester, and Henry Earl of Lancaster with the wry neck, called T • rtc • ll, with many other Lord's and Bishops. The King at this time being at London, and hearing of the Queens landing with such forces, and chiefly how all the Realm ran flocking to her, was • uddenly stricken into a great amazement; and though he had his great Counselors the Spensers about him, yet now he found what little good th • ir counsel could do him: and indeed in this case, what should he, or what could he do? To stay in London was apparent danger, for he plainly saw the Lond • ners to be more inclining to take the Queens part then his; and to go from London to any other place was as unsafe, all places being possessed eithe • with certain Enemies or uncertain Friends • at last the Isle of Lundy is thought of, a place plentiful of provision • abounding with Conies, Fish and Fowl, and the Island of hard access, as having but one place in it where it could be entered, and that so narrow, that a few might easily keep out many; upon this place he resolves • and taking with him the Earl of Gloucester, the Spensers, and Robert • ald • cke, with some fe • others, he • aches shipping, but by contrary winds is driven back, and rain through Tempests to land in Wales, and there in the Abbey of Neth in 〈◊〉 kept himself close. In the mean time the Queen was come to Oxford where Ad • m Bishop of Hereford Preaching took for his Text, Caput meum dol •• , and thereupon inferred, that the kingdom being now deadly sick of its head, it was fit to remove that head, and put a sounder in the place. At this time also, th • L •• d • ners to show their love to the Queen, seised upon Walter Staplet • n the good Bishop of Exceter and Lord Treasurer of England, left Governo • r the •• by the King, and with great despite beheaded him, as also divers others, only because they favored the King. In the mean time, the Queen went from Oxford to Gloucester, and from thence to Bristow, where Hugh Sp • ncer the Father was, a man of fou • escore and ten years old, who is there taken, and without examination or Judgment, in most cruel manner Executed, having his heart pulled out of his body being yet alive, and his body left hanging upon the Gallows. After this the Queen stayed at H • reford the space of a month • and then dividing her Army, she sends one part of it, under the Conduct of Henry Earl of Lancaster, and Ryce a Powell a Clerke, • o find out the King: and this Ryce being a Welsh • an, and knowing th • Country well, brought the Earl to the Monastery of N • th • where the King was, whom they there take together with Spenser the Son, Rober • Bald • cke, and Simon of Reading. The King is by the Bishop of Hereford committed to the custody of the Earl of Leycester : where all that Winter he was used no worse then was fit for a captive King. But Edmund Earl of Arundell, John Daniel, and Th • m •• Micheldens, at the instance of Mortimer, are all three beheaded. Presently after is Hugh Spenser the younger, who was now Earl of Gloucester, drawn, hanged and quar • e • ed, his head sent up to be set upon London Bridge, and his four quarters bestowed in several Cities. The like is done with Simon of Reading, but Robert Baldocke is committed to New-Gate, against whom, when no just cause of death could be found, there was used so much cruelty in his imprisonment, that he shortly after died.

Presently after Christmas a Parliament is called, wherein it is agreed to depose the King, and set up his Son; which he hearing refused it, unless his Father would freely resign; whereupon are appointed three Bishops, two Earls, two Abbots, four Barons, and of every City a Burgess, to go to the King; (in custody then at Kenelworth ) The Bishops were, John of S • ratford Bishop of Winchester, Adam Torleton Bishop of Hereford, and Henry Bishop of Lincoln. But the Bishops of Winchester and Lincoln, getting to the King before the rest came, persuade the King to resign his Crown to his eldest Son; cra • tily promising him he should have as good maintenance afterward, as ever he had when he was King. And contrarily threatening him, that if he did it not, the people would exclude both him and his Son too, and m • ke a King of another Race. By these promises and threatenings, the meek King is drawn to yield to the Bishops mo •• on; but when afterward the Bishop of Hereford, and the other Commissioners came, and were sat in a place appointed to take his Resignation, the King coming forth amongst them in mourning Robes, upon a sudden fell down in a swound • in whom the Earl of Leycester, and the Bishop of Winchester, had much ado • to recover life; but then the Bishop of Hereford rising up, delivered the cause of their coming, as the other Bishops before had done. To which • he King answered, that as he much grieved his People should be so hardened against him as utterly to reject him; so it was some comfort unto him, that they would yet receive his Son to be their Sovereign. After this, Thomas Blunt knight, Steward of the Kings house, brake the Staff of his Office; and William Tr • ssell Speaker of the Parli • meant, in name of the whole kingdom, pronounced a Form of Renouncing all Allegeance to Edward of Carnarvan. Here Caxton writes, that from the time of this Kings Deposing, which was in December, to the time of his Sons Crowning, which was not till Candlemas following, all Pleas of the Kings Bench were stayed, and all Prisoners, arrested by Sheriffs, commanded to be set at liberty; which seems to have little probability, seeing his Son Edward presently upon his Deposing was received for King: But howsoever so great a Dowre was then assigned to Queen Isabel, that scarce a third part of the Revenues of the Crown is le • t for the new King and his Wife: And to the late King is allowed a hundred Markes • month for his maintenance; with which he lived with his Cousin the Earl of Leycester, in good plenty and contentment for a time; only this grieved h • m most of all (he said) that the Queen his Wife would never be gotten to come to see him: For he swore most devoutly that from the time he first saw her face, he could never like of any other Woman. By which it may appear, that neither Gaveston no • the Spensers had so debauched him, as to make him false to his bed, or to be disloyal to his Queen. But the Queen being hardened against him, and conceiving he had too great Liberty under the Earl of Leycester, by advise of her pestilent Counselor, Adam Torleton Bishop of Hereford, appoints Thomas Go • rney, and Io •• Matrevers knights, to take him from the Earl into their own Custody, and to carry him whither they thought good; who thereupon take him from Kenelw • rth, and carry him first to Corfe Castle, and from thence to Bristow, where they shut him in the Castle; till upon knowledge of a Plot laid to get him out, and send him beyond Sea, they took him in the night and carried him to B • rkeley Castle, where by the way they abused him most inhumanely, as Sir Thomas de la More a knight of Glocestershire in his Life relateth: For to the end he should not be known, they shaved his Head and Beard, and that in most beastly manner; for they took him from his Horse and set him upon a Hillocke, and then taking puddle water out of a Ditch thereby, they went to wash him, his Barber telling him that cold water must serve for this time: whereat the miserable King looking sternely upon him, said, That whether they would or no, he would have warm water to wash him: and therewithal to make good his word, he presently shed forth a shower of tears. Never was King turned ou • of a kingdom in such a manner; Many kingdoms have been lost by the chance of War, but this kingdom was lost before any Dice were cast; no blow struck, no Battle fought; done forcibly, and yet without force; violently, and yet with consent; both parties agreed, yet neither pleased; for the King was not pleased to leave his kingdom, and the Queen was not pleased to leave him his life; it was not safe to leave him a part, by which he might afterward recover the whole; and therefore this was the mark now aimed at, having taken away his kingdom openly, how they might take away his life secretly; be the Authors of it, and not be seen in it; but this must be the Contents of a Chapter hereafter.

Of his Taxations.

BY this King it appears, there is something else besides the grievance of Taxations, that alienates the minds of English Subjects from their King; for never were fewer Taxations then in this Kings time, yet never were the Subjects minds more alienated from their King, then they were from him. Before his Coronation, in a Parliament hold • at Westminster, •• ere was granted him a fifteenth of the Clergy, and a twentieth of the Temporalty. In his fifth year in a Parliament at L •• don, was granted him a fifteenth of the Temporalty. In his fifteenth year was granted the sixth pen • y of temporal men's Goods, through England, Ireland, and Wales, towards his War • with Scotland. And more then these we read not of: but then at the defeat of the Earl of Lancaster, there were Confiscations that supplied the place of Taxations, by which (as one saith) he became the richest King that had been since the Conquest.

Of his Laws and Ordinances.

HE Ordained that the monies of his Father, though counted base by the People, should be currant. In the eight year of his Rain, by reason of a dear • h which raised the price of all Victuals, it was Ordained by Parliament, that an Ox fatted with grass, should be sold for fifteen shillings; fatted with Corn, for twenty; the best Cow for twelve shillings; a fat Hog of two years old, three sh • llings four pence; a fat Sheep shorn, fourteen pence, with the Fleece, twenty pence; a fat Goose for two pence half-penny; a fat Capon two pence; a fat Hen a penny; four Pigeons a penny; whosoever sold for more, should forfait their Ware to the King. But after these Rates imposed, all kind of Victuals grew so scarce, that provision could hardly be made for the Kings house; whereupon shortly after, the Order was revoked, and Market Folkes permitted to make the best of their Wares. In this Kings time an Ordinance was made against knights Templars, accused of Heresy and other crimes, and they were all apprehended, and committed to divers Prisons. The like was done by all the Kings of Christendom, at one instant, being condemned in a General Counsel at Vienna. In the 14. year of his Rain, on the 15. of October, the Clerks of the Exchequer went towards York with the Book called Domus Dei, and other Records and Provision that laded one and twenty Carts, but within half a year they were brought back again.

Affaires of the Church in his time.

IN the 17. year of his Raign the Bishop of Hereford was arrested • accused of High Treason, for aiding the Kings enemies in their late rebellion; but he refu • ed to answer, (being a consecrated Bishop) without leave of the Arch-bishop of Canterbury, whose Suffragan he was, (and who he said was his direct Judge, next the Pope) or without the consent of his fellow Bishops: who then all arose, and humbly craved the Kings Clemency in his behalf; but finding the King implacable, they took him away from the Barre, and delivered him to the custody o • the Arch-bishop of Canterbury: shortly after, he was again taken and convented as before, which the Clergy understanding, the Arch-bishops, Canterbury, York, and Dublin, with ten other Bishops, all with their Crosses erected, went to the place of Judgment, and again took him away with them; charging all men, upon pain of Excommunication, to forbear to lay violent hands upon him; with which audacious Act, the King was so much displeased, that he presently commanded inquiry to be made ex Officio Iudicis, concerning those Objections against the Bishop; wherein he was found guilty, though absent, and had all his Goods and Possessions seised into the Kings hands. In this Kings time the Crowchet Friars came first into England. In his time, Pope John the two and twentieth, first Instituted the Feast of Corpus Christi ; begun before by Urban the fourth.

Works of piety done by him, or by others in his time.

THis King founded Oriall College, and Saint Mary Hall in Oxford : He built • Church of Friars at his Manor of Langley, where the soul of Gaveston, should b • prayed for. In this Kings twentieth year, Richard Rothing Sheriff of London b •• lded the Parish Church of Garlickhithe in London. Ralph Baldocke Bishop of London gave two thousand Markes to the building of the new Work of the Chapel, on the South side of Paul's Church: And left much more by his Testament.

Casualties.

IN the eighth year of this Kings Rain, was so great a dear • h, that Horses and Dogs were eaten, and Thieves in prison plucked in pieces those that were newly brought in amongst them, and eat them half alive; which continuing three years, brought in the end such a pestilence, that the living scarce sufficed to bury the dead. In the fourth year of his Rain, the Church of Middleton in Dorsetshire, with all the Monuments, was consumed with Lightning, the Monks being at Mattins. In this Kings time, digging the Foundation of a work about Paul's, were found more then a hundred heads of Oxen and kine, which confirmed the opinion, that of old time it had been the Temple of Jupiter, and that there was the Sacrifice of Beasts.

Of his Wife and Children.

HE married Isabel Daughter of Philip the Faire, King of France, she being but twelve years of age; who lived his Wife twenty years, his Widow thirty, and dying at threescore and three years old, at Rysings near London, was buried in the midst of the Gray Friars Choir in London. By her he had issue two Sons and two Daughters: his eldest Son named Edward of Windsor, because borne there, succeeded him in the kingdom. His second Son named John of Eltham, because borne there, was at twelve years old created Earl of Cornwall : he died in Scotland, in the flower of his Youth, unmarryed. His eldest Daughter Joan, being a child, was married in the fourth year of King Edward her Brother, to D • vid Prince of Scotland, Son to King Robert Bruce, at seven years old, who coming afterward into England to visit her Brother, died here, and was buried at the Gray Friars in London. His second Daughter Eleanor, was married to Reginold the second Earl of Gelder, with a portion of fifteen thousand pounds, and had issue by him two Sons, who were Earls successively.

Of his Personage and Conditions.

HE was fair of body, and of great strength, but given much to drink, which made him oftentimes bewray his own Secrets; For his other conditions, his greatest fault was, that he loved but one, for if his love had been divided, it could not have been so violent. He was extreme in nothing but in loving; and though love moderated, be the best of affections, yet the extremity of it is the worst of passions. He was rather unfortunate then unhappy; seeing unfortunatenesse is in the Event, unhappiness in the Cause; and if his fortune had been to love good men, his own goodness would have made him happy. Two Virtues were eminent in him above all his Predecessors, Continence, and Abstinence: So continent that he left no base issue behind him; So abstinent, that he took no base courses for raising of money. They who despised him being alive, so much honored him being dead, that they could have found in their hearts to make him a Saint.

Of his Death and Burial.

MAny ways were attempted to take away his life: First, they vexed him in his diet, allowing him nothing he could well endure to eat, but this succeeded not. Then they lodged him in a chamber over carrion and dead carcasses, enough to have poisoned him; and indeed he told a workman at his window, he never endured so great a misery in all his life, but neither did this succeed: Then they attempted it by Poysons, but whether by the strength of his constitution, or by the Divine Providence, neither did this succeed. At last the pestilent