to a communication togither, in the which a motion was made, that Lewes
the French king his sonne and heire should haue the sister of Arthur
duke of Britaine in marriage, and that king Richard in consideration
thereof should surrender vnto them and to their heires the townes of
Gisors, Bademont, with the countrie of Veulquessine or Veuxine le
Normant, Vernon, Iuerie and Pascie; and further should giue vnto them
twentie thousand marks of siluer. On the other side it was mooued, that
the French king should resigne vnto king Richard all that he could
demand in the countie of Engeulesme, and should restore vnto him the
counties of Albemarle and Augie, with the castell of Arkes, and all
other castels which he had taken in Normandie, or in any partie during
these last warres. But there was a respit taken for the full concluding
and assuring of these conditions, till the octaues of All saints, that
king Richard might vnderstand the emperours pleasure, without whose
consent he might not conclude any thing concerning that matter, bicause
he had sent such word vnto him by the lord chancellour, who at this time
was attendant in his court.
In the meane time, the emperour being aduertised of the whole matter,
and of the articles afore mentioned, gaue knowledge to king Richard by
the bishop of Elie at his returning backe, that this forme of peace
nothing liked him, but rather made directlie to his discontentment: the
which least he might séeme to saie without sufficient ground of reason,
he alledged, that it should sound to king Richards dishonour, if he
surrendred and gaue vp anie thing that he had not in possession.
[Sidenote: The emperor dissuadeth the king from agréeing to the peace.]
And to encourage him to recouer those things which had beene taken from
him, the emperour pardoned him of the seauentéene thousand marks of
siluer, which yet remained behind due to him for the kings ransome.
Howsoeuer the matter passed, the two kings met not in the octaues of All
saints, according to the appointment, although they were come, and
approched verie néere to the place where they should haue communed
togither: but through the dissimulation of the Frenchmen, they departed,
without seeing one an other, and immediatlie began the warre as
fiercelie as at anie time before.
[Sidenote: The warre is begun afresh.] The French king tooke the towne
of Diep, which king Richard had latelie repared, and burned it, with the
ships that harbored in the hauen: after this, commming to Isoldun, he
wan the towne and besieged the castell. [Sidenote: The hast which king
Richard made.] But king Richard aduertised thereof, came with quicke
spéed (making of thrée daies iournie but one) and entred into the
castell of Isoldun to defend the same against his aduersaries: and
foorthwith there resorted such numbers of men vnto him, when they heard
how he was besieged, that the French king doubting how to retire from
thence in safetie, made suit first to haue licence to depart, and after
when that would not be granted, he required at the leastwise to talke
with the king of England about some agréement.
[Sidenote: The 2 kings againe talke togither of peace.] Wherevnto king
Richard condescended, and so comming togither, they concluded vpon a
truce to indure from that daie, being saturdaie next after the feast of
saint Nicholas, vnto the feast of saint Hilarie next insuing, and then
to méet againe néere vnto Louiers with their councels, that they might
grow by some reasonable way vnto a finall peace and concord. [Sidenote:
1196.] And according to this article, shortlie after the same feast of
S. Hilarie, they met at Louiers, where finallie they were accorded to
conclude a peace on these conditions, [Sidenote: The conditions of peace
concluded betwixt the two kings. _Matth. Paris._ _Matth. West._] that
the French king should release to the king of England Isoldun, with the
countrie about, woon by him sith the beginning of these wars; likewise,
all the right which he had in Berrie, Auuergine, and Gascoigne, and the
countie of Albemarle. On the other part, the king of England should
resigne Gisors, and certeine other places, and namelie Veuxine or
Veulquesine vnto the king of France.
[Sidenote: _Matth. West._ _Matth. Paris._] Herevpon were suerties also
bound for performance, and the forfeiture of fiftéene thousand marks
assigned to be paid by the partie that first brake the peace. Shortlie
after, the French king repenting him selfe of the agreement, began to
make a warre anew, so that king Richard seized into his hands all the
goods and[15] possessions which belonged to the abbats of the order of
the great monasterie of Clunie, and of saint Denise & la Charitie, which
had become suertie for the French king in the summe of 1500 marks
aforesaid. [Sidenote: _Rog. Houed._ The earle of Albemarle departed this
life.] This yeare died William de Forz earle of Albemarle, in whose
place succéeded Baldwine de Betun by the kings gift, and married the
countesse of Albermarle.
[Sidenote: Otho sonne to the duke of Saxonie.] There was a motion also
made for a marriage betwixt the lord Otho, sonne to Henrie duke of
Saxonie, king Richards nephue by his sister, and the ladie Margaret,
daughter to the king of Scots, so as they should haue inioied the
countries of Lothian, Northumberland, and the countie of Caerleill with
the castels. [Sidenote: Lawnes.] For the conclusion of which marriage,
the archbishop of Canturburie was sent about Christmas to commune with
the king of Scots: but bicause the Scotish quéene was then conceiued of
child, hir husband (in hope that God would send him a sonne) refused to
stand vnto the aboue mentioned couenants.
[Sidenote: _Wil. Paruus._ _Ran. Higd._ The abbat of Caen sent into
England.] At this time king Richard sent the abbat of Caen (who was also
the elect of Durham) into England, to take an accompts of those that had
the receipts of the kings monie: for this abbat had informed the king,
that his receiuers and officers here in the realme dealt not iustlie in
making their accompts, [Sidenote: Fraudulent dealing in officers.] but
both deceiued the king, and oppressed his people, in exacting more than
was due, and concealing that which they ought to stand accomptable for.
The king supposing his words to be true, or at least likelie so to be,
and that in reforming such vntruth in his officers, it should be both
profitable to him, and well liked of the people, sent this abbat ouer
with commission, to be as it were his generall auditour.
Howbeit, Hubert archbishop of Canturburie, which was gouernour of the
realme in causes both temporall and spirituall (by reason he had the
kings authorise as his vicegerent, & therefore sufficientlie
countenanced, & also the popes as his legat authorised) did somewhat
stomach the matter, in that it should be thought he did suffer such
abuses in the kings officers, and not reforme them. But he held him
content and said little, sith the abbat shewed him the kings commission
to doo that which he went about, although he brought it not to passe.
For whereas he came ouer in lent, and gaue out commandements, that all
such as had any thing to doo in receipt of the kings monie, should
appeare before him after Easter, he tarried not to see Easter himselfe,
but was called into another world by the stroke of death, there to
render accompts for his owne acts here in this life committed.
[Sidenote: _Fabian._ _Wil. Paruus._ _Matt. Paris._ _Ran. Higd._ William
Fitz Osbert.] At the same time there was another person in London called
William with the long beard, (aliàs Fitz Osbert) which had likewise
informed the king of certeine great oppressions and excessiue outrages
vsed by rich men against the poore (namelie the worshipfull of the
citie, the Maior and Aldermen) who in their hoistings, when any tallage
was to be gathered, burdened the poore further than was thought reason,
to ease themselues; [Sidenote: The foule disorder in the citizens of
London.] wherevpon[16] the said William being a seditious person, and of
a busie nature, ceassed not to make complaints. Now bicause the king
gaue eare vnto him at the first, he tooke a boldnesse thereof, & drawing
vnto him great routs of the poorer sort of people, would take vpon him
to defend the causes of those that found themselues greeued with the
heauie yoke of richmen and gentlemen. He was somewhat learned, and verie
eloquent: he had also a verie good wit, but he applied it rather to set
dissention betwixt the high estates and the low, than to anie other good
purpose. [Sidenote: The vnnaturall ingratitude of Fitz Osbert.] He
accused also his owne brother of treason, who in his youth had kept him
to schoole, & beene verie good and beneficiall brother vnto him, bicause
now he would not still mainteine him with monie to beare out his
riottous port. Moreouer, he declared to the king, that by extortion and
briberie of certeine men of great wealth, he lost manie forfeits and
escheats.
Manie gentlemen of honour sore hated him for his presumptuous attempts
to the hindering of their purposes: but he had such comfort of the king,
that he little passed for their malice, but kept on his intent, till the
king being aduertised of the assemblies which he made, commanded him to
ceasse from such dooings, that the people might fall againe to their
sciences and occupations, which they had for the more part left off, at
the instigation of this William with the long beard, so named of the
long heare of his beard, [Sidenote: Why he ware his long berd. _Matth.
Paris._] which he nourished of purpose to seeme the more graue and
manlike, and also as it were in despite of them which counterfeited the
Normans (that were for the most part shauen) and bicause he would
resemble the ancient vsage of the English nation. [Sidenote: _Fabian._]
The kings commandement in restraint of the peoples resort vnto him, was
well kept a while, but it was not long yer they began to follow him
againe as they had doone before.
Then he tooke vpon him to make vnto them certeine collations or sermons,
taking for his theme, Haurietis aquas in gaudio de fontibus saluatoris,
that is to saie: [Sidenote: His oration to the people.] Ye shall draw in
gladnesse waters out of the founteins of your sauiour. And hereto he
added, "I am (said he) the sauiour of poore men; ye be the poore, and
haue assaied the hard hands and heauie burdens of the rich: now draw ye
therefore the healthfull waters of vnderstanding out of my wels and
springs, and that with ioy. For the time of your visitation is come: I
shall part waters from waters, by waters I vnderstand the people, and I
shall part the people which are good and méeke, from the people that are
wicked and proud, and I shall disseuer the good and euill, euen as light
is diuided from darknesse."
[Sidenote: _Ger. Dor._] By these and such persuasions and means as he
vsed, he had gotten two and fiftie thousand persons, readie to haue
taken his part, as appeared after by a roll of their names found in his
kéeping, besides diuerse instruments of iron to breake vp houses, and
other things seruing to such like purposes. So that he brought the
commoners into a great liking of him: but the rich and wealthie citizens
stood in much feare, so that they kept their houses, in armes, in doubt
to be robbed and murthred by him in the night season.
The archbishop of Canturburie (vnto whome the rule of the realme
chéefelie belonged) being aduertised hereof, sent for the greatest
number of the citizens, and vsing them with gentle words, persuaded them
to deliuer pledges, the better to assure him, that no such thing should
chance, which was suspected of manie, though he was loth to conceiue any
such opinion of them. They being ouercome with his courteous words, gaue
vnto him pledges.
[Sidenote: He is called before the archbishop of Canturburie lord chéefe
iustice or president of the realme.] After this, when the foresaid
William ceased not to make congregations of the people, at length the
archbishop sent a commandement vnto him, that he should appeare before
him and other of the councell, at a certeine prefixed daie, to answer to
such things as might be laid to his charge. To be short, he did so at
the time appointed, but with such a rout of the common people about him,
that the archbishop durst not pronounce against him, but licenced him to
depart for that time, giuing him soft and gentle words. Howbeit,
certeine persons were then appointed by the said archbishop and other of
the councell to watch him sometime, when he should haue no great
companie about him, and then to apprehend him.
Amongst those that were thus commanded to attach him, were two burgesses
of the citie, who hauing espied a conuenient time for the execution of
their purpose, set vpon him to haue take him, but he getting an ax,
defended himselfe manfullie: and in resisting slue one of them,
[Sidenote: He fléeth into the church of S. Marie Bow.] and after that
fled into the church of S. Marie Bow, kéeping the same not as a place of
sanctuarie, but as a fortresse: in somuch that by the help of such as
resorted vnto him, he defended it against his aduersaries, till with
fire and smoke they constreined him to come foorth, and all those that
were there with him: [Sidenote: His concubine.] amongst them also was
his concubine, who neuer left him for any danger that might betide him.
The people regarding the danger of their pledges, came not out to aid
him, as it was much doubted they would haue doone. Wherefore being thus
attached, he was brought foorth, and comming out of the church, the
sonne of that burgesse whome he had slaine (as you haue heard) strake
him verie sore into the bellie with a knife, in reuenge of his fathers
death. After this, he was had to his arraignment before the archbishop,
sitting within the towre, and being condemned, was from thence drawne
with horsses to the place of execution called the Elmes, [Sidenote: He
is executed.] and there hanged on a gibet, with nine of his adherents,
which had defended the church against the kings power: [Sidenote: _Wil.
Paruus._ _Matth. Paris._] and yet for all this, the grudge ceassed not,
but the common people raised a great slander vpon the archbishop,
[Sidenote: The archbishop of Canturburie is euill spokē of for y^e death
of William Fitz Osbert.] both for causing him to be taken out of the
church, where he claimed priuilege of sanctuarie, and also for putting
him to death, who was innocent (as they alledged) and not giltie of
those crimes that were laid against him: who sought onelie the defense
of poore people against extortioners, and such as were wrong dooers.
This rumor rose so fast, that at length (by bruting abroad, that
certeine miracles should be wrought by a chaine, [Sidenote: An old
whormonger, and a new saint.] wherein he was bound in time of his
imprisonment) he was taken for a saint. The place also where he
suffered, was visited by women, and other superstitious folks, as a plot
of great holinesse, till at length the archbishop caused it to be
watched, to the end that no such foolishnesse should be vsed there. In
fine, the opinion which the people had thus fondlie conceiued of his
vertue and innocencie, was by little and little remooued out of their
heads, when his acts were more certeinelie published: as the sleaing of
a man with his owne hands, and the vsing of his concubine within Bowe
church, during the time of his being there. Also the archbishop accursed
a préest, which had first brought vp the false report and fained fable
of the miracle wrought by the chaine, whereby the occasion of idolatrie
was first giuen, and might easilie haue béene continued, if the
archbishop had not béene the wiser man, and by such means repressed the
rumour. ¶ So that we are to note by this example the force of
counterfeit holinesse and feigned harmelesnesse in hypocrits,
---- qui pelle sub agni
Vipereum celant virus morésq; luporum;
Et stolidos ficta virtutis imagine fallunt.
But now to return vnto the dooings of king Richard in France. Ye haue
heard how a peace was concluded (as some haue written) but the same
continued not long: for the French king séeming to repent himselfe of
that he had doone (as is aforesaid) brake the peace, and raising a
power, besieged Albemarle; at length wan it, and raced it downe to the
ground, then king Richard gaue vnto him thrée thousand marks of siluer
for the ransome of his knights and yeomen, or demilances (as I may call
them) that were taken in that fortresse. After this, the French king wan
Nouencourt, and earle John tooke the castell of Gamages.
[Sidenote: The erledome of Poictou.] About the same time also king
Richard gaue vnto his nephue Otho the earledome of Poictou. Which I haue
thought good to note out of Roger Houeden, [Sidenote: John Bouchet his
dout.] to remooue the doubt of Iohn Bouchet, who in the third part of
his annales of Aquitaine, maruelleth at an old panchart or record which
he had séene, by the tenour whereof it appeared, that this Otho
intituled himselfe duke of Aquitaine and earle of Poictou, being in his
castell of Monstereulbonin neere to Poictiers, in the yeare a thousand,
one hundreth, ninetie nine, in presence of Geffrey de Lusignen, and
others, and granted vnto a certeine person the office of cutting the
monie in the mint of that towne, as by the same panchart it further
appeareth.
The sight whereof brought the said Bouchet into a great perplexitie,
considering that no chronicle which he had either seene, or heard of,
made mention of any Otho that shuld be duke of Aquitaine, or erle of
Poictou, either before that time, or after. Where againe it was euident
to him, that queene Elianor the mother of king Richard, as then liuing,
named hir selfe dutchesse of Aquitaine, and countesse of Poictou; &
likewise king Richard intituled himselfe duke of Aquitaine, and earle of
Poictou, euer after he had fianced the earle of Barcelons daughter, as
by diuerse records both of the mother and the sonne he had séene perfect
notice. At length yet he gesseth (and that trulie) that it should be
this Otho, to whom the mother and sonne had assigned the dutchie of
Aquitaine and countie of Poictou, for the maintenance of his estate, he
holding the same till the yeare 1199, in the which he was made emperour
by king Richards good helpe, as after shall be shewed more at large.
[Sidenote: Ranulph erle of Chester tooke his wife the dutchesse of
Britaine prisoner.] About this time also as the countesse of Britaine,
the mother of duke Arthur came into Normandie to haue spoken with king
Richard, Ranulph earle of Chester hir husband meeting hir at
Pountourson, tooke hir as prisoner, and shut hir vp within his castell
at S. James de Beumeron: and when hir sonne Arthur could not find means
to deliuer hir out of captiuitie, he ioined with the king of France, and
made great hauocke in the lands of his vncle king Richard, wherevpon the
king gathered a mightie armie, and inuading Britaine with great force,
cruellie wasted and destroied the countrie.
[Sidenote: A dearth.] Here is also to be noted, that in this seuenth
yeare of king Richard, a great dearth chanced through this realme of
England, and in the coasts about the same. [Sidenote: The death of the
earle of Salisburie.] Also about the same time died William earle of
Salisburie, the sonne of earle Patrike, whose daughter and heire king
Richard gaue in marriage, togither with the earledome of Salisburie,
vnto his base brother, surnamed Long Espée.
[Sidenote: _R. Houed._ _Matth. Paris._] It chanced moreouer about the
same time, that earle John the kings brother, with certeine capteins of
such hired souldiors as some call Brabanceni; others, the Routs; and the
French histories name them Costereaux, or Coterels, went abroad to
atchiue some enterprise against the bishop of Beauuois, and other
Frenchmen, which had doone much hurt to king Richards subiects in those
parties. The chéefe leaders of those Routs or Costereaux, which went
foorth with earle John, [Sidenote: Marchades & Lupescaro.] and serued
vnder him at that time, were two Prouancois, Marchades & Lupescaro.
These riding foorth into the countrie about Beauuois made hauocke in
robbing and spoiling all afore them.
Anon as Philip the bishop of Beauuois, a man more giuen to the campe
than to the church, had knowledge hereof, thinking them to be a méet
preie for him, with sir William de Merlow and his sonne, and a great
number of other valiant men of warre, came foorth into the fields, and
encountring with the enimies, fought verie stoutlie. [Sidenote: The
bishop of Beauuois taken prisoner.] But yet in the end the bishop, the
archdeacon, and all the chéefe capteins were taken: the residue slaine
and chased. After this, earle John and the foresaid capteins passed
foorth, and wan the towne of Millie, and so returned.
Earle John and Marchades presented the two prelats with great triumph
vnto K. Richard earlie in the morning, lieng yet in his bed; as those
that were knowne to be his great enimies, saieng to him in French; "Rise
Richard, rise, we haue gotten the great chantour of Beauuois, and a good
quier man (as we take it) to answer him in the same note, and here we
deliuer them vnto you to vse at your discretion." The king séeing them,
smiled, and was verie glad for the taking of this bishop, for that he
had euer found him his great aduersarie: and therefore being thus taken
fighting in the field with armour on his backe, thought he might be bold
in temporall wise to chastise him: sith he (not regarding his calling)
practised to molest him with temporall weapons: wherevpon he committed
him to close prison all armed as he was.
It chanced soone after, that two of his chaplins came vnto the king to
Rouen, where this bishop was deteined, beseeching the king of licence to
attend vpon their maister now in captiuitie: vnto whome (as it is of
some reported) the king made this answer; "I am content to make you
iudges in the cause betwixt me and your maister, as for the euils which
he hath either doone, either else gone about to doo vnto me, let the
same be forgotten. This is true, that I being taken as I returned from
my iournie made into the holie land, and deliuered into the emperours
hands, was in respect of my kinglie state, vsed according therevnto
verie fréendlie and honourablie, till your maister comming thither (for
what purpose he himselfe best knoweth) had long conference with the
emperour. After which, I for my part in the next morning tasted the
fruit of their ouernights talke, being then loden with as manie irons as
a good asse might not verie easilie haue borne. Iudge you therefore,
what maner of imprisonment your maister deserued at my hands, that
procured such ease for me at the emperours hands."
The two chaplins had their mouths stopped with these words thus by the
king vttered, and so departed their waies. The bishop being still
deteined in prison, procured suit to be made to the pope for his
deliuerance: but the pope, being truelie informed of the matter, and
wiselie considering that the king had not taken the bishop preaching,
but fighting, and kept him prisoner rather as a rough enimie, than as a
peaceable prelat, would not be earnest with the king for his
deliuerance, but rather reprooued the bishop, in that he had preferred
secular warfare before the spirituall, and had taken vpon him the vse
of a speare in stéed of a crosier, an helmet in steed of a miter, an
herbergeon in stéed of a white rochet, a target for a stoale, and an
iron sword in lieu of the spirituall sword: and therefore he refused to
vse any commandement to king Richard for the setting of him at libertie.
But yet he promised to doo what he could by waie of intreating that he
might be released.