king, atchiued in the duchie of Guien, and therefore doubting some
other the like attempt, they sent thither sir William Wooduile with
eight hundred men, to strengthen the frontiers, and further, set foorth
a proclamation, that all men which would transport anie corne, chéese,
or other vittels thither, should paie no maner of custome of tallage:
which licence caused the countrie of Aquitaine to be well furnished of
all things necessarie. About this season Iohn the valiant lord Talbot
for his approued prowesse and wisdome, aswell in England as in France,
both in peace & warre so well tried, was created earle of Shrewesburie,
and with a companie of thrée thousand men sent againe into Normandie,
for the better defense of the same.
[Sidenote: 1443]
[18] This yéere died Lodowike or Lewes Lischburne, bishop of Elie,
being the fiue and twentith that inioied that place, who came to the
same after this maner. After the death of Philip Morgan bishop of that
sée, the moonks of Elie chose for their pastor Robert fitz Hugh bishop
of London; but he dieng at saint Osées before his confirmation, neuer
possessed the honour thereof. Wherevpon the king directed his letters
to the couent of Elie, to make election of Thomas Rudburne (bishop of
S. Dauids in Wales) for their bishop. But they contrarie therevnto
(taking it now for a custome, hauing so often vsed it before, as did
well appeare) made choise of Thomas Bourchier (borne of a noble house,
sonne to the countesse of Stafford, chancellor of Oxenford, and bishop
of Worcester) to succéed Philip Morgan. Which Bourchier, the king
(offended with the moonkes for the little regard had to his request)
vtterlie refused, and would not admit him vnto that place. Wherevpon
there were buls procured from Eugenius the fourth (then bishop of Rome)
which were sent into England to conlirme the Election of the said
Bourchier.
[18] _Fr. Thin._
But he wiselie fearing to fall into the dangerous statute of Premunire,
durst not receiue or execute the tenor of the popes commandement.
By reason whereof least the sée might otherwise remaine void, (if
spéedie remedie were not prouided) the king did in commendam bestow the
bishoprike of Elie vpon this Lodowike Lischburne archbishop of Rone, by
office, Card. 4. Coronat. Cancellar. Franciæ & Normanniæ, and kinsman
to the said king. Which doone, Eugenius (when he saw no other remedie)
did reuoke his buls made before to Thomas Bourchier, in the yeare of
Christ 1437. This Lodowike remaining bishop six yeares and so manie
moneths, died in the yeare as before, the eightéenth of September, at
his manor of Hatfield, whose bowels were buried in the said church: his
hart was caried to Rone, and there honourablie intoomed, and his bodie
was committed to the earth, in the church of Elie, betwéene two marble
pillors next to the altar of the relikes.
In this yeare died in Guien the countesse of Comings, to whome the
French king and also the earle of Arminacke pretended to be heire, in
so much that the earle entred into all the lands of the said ladie.
And bicause he knew the French king would not take the matter well, to
haue a Rouland for an Oliuer; he sent solemne ambassadours to the king
of England, offering him his daughter in mariage, with promise to be
bound (beside great summes of monie, which he would giue with hir) to
deliuer into the king of Englands hands, all such castels and townes,
as he or his ancestors deteined from him within anie part of the duchie
of Aquitaine, either by conquest of his progenitors, or by gift and
deliuerie of anie French king: and further to aid the same king with
monie for the recouerie of other cities within the same duchie, from
the French king; or from anie other person that against king Henrie
vniustlie kept, and wrongfullie withholden them.
[Sidenote: The earle of Arminacks daughter affied vnto king Henrie.]
[Sidenote: The erle with his ladie, his sonne and two daughters taken.]
This offer séemed so profitable and also honorable to king Henrie and
the realme, that the ambassadours were well heard, honorablie receiued,
and with rewards sent home into their countrie. After whome were sent
for the conclusion of the marriage into Guien, sir Edward Hull, sir
Robert Ros, and Iohn Gralton deane of S. Seuerines, the which (as all
the chronographers agrée) both concluded the mariage, and by proxie
affied the yoong ladie. The French king not a little offended herewith,
sent his eldest sonne Lewes the Dolphin of Vienne into Rouergue with
a puissant armie, which tooke the earle and his yoongest sonne, with
both his daughters, and by force obteined the countries of Arminacke,
Louuergne, Rouergue, and Moulessonois, beside the cities Seuerac &
Cadeac, chasing the bastard of Arminacke out of his countries, and so
by reason hereof, the concluded mariage was deferred, and that so long
that it neuer tooke effect; as hereafter it may appeare.
[Sidenote: _Abr. Fl. ex Fabian 441._]
[Sidenote: A law against buieng and selling on the sundaie.]
¶ In this yeare was an act made by authoritie of the common councell of
London, that vpon the sundaie no maner of thing within the franchises
and liberties of the said citie should be bought or sold; neither
vittels nor other thing. It was also enacted by the same common
councell with full consent, and ratified by the authoritie of the
law-makers, that no artificer or handicrafts man should bring his
wares, commodities, or worke, vnto anie person or persons to be worne
or occupied on that dale: bicause it was iudged a foule prophanation
thereof. And peoples minds giuen to couetousnesse, make no exception
of times or places in a case of aduantage and gaine. In consideration
whereof, and for the suppressing of this abuse, this law was ordeined
and made: the force whereof did principallie extend to tailors and
shoomakers (who as on that daie bring home their garments and shoos
to the parties for whome they are made) and likewise to all other
occupations and trades. But this ordinance (saith mine author) was too
good for so bad an age, and therefore died within a short time after
the magistrate had giuen it life.
[Sidenote: _Abrv. Fl. ex. Fabian_, 441, & _Polychr._]
[Sidenote: Paules stéeple burnt.]
¶ On Candlemasse éeue this yéere by lightning in a tempest that fell
with claps of thunder at afternoone, Paules stéeple was set on fier in
the middest of the speare or shaft in the verie timber worke; which
was quenched by the painfulnesse of diuerse persons, and specialie by
the diligent labour of a préest of Bow in Cheape. Howbeit the same was
thought vnpossible to be quenched, but that the grace of God was chéefe
worker in the same. This stéeple hath diuerse times béene ouerthrowne
and defaced, partlie by winds, and partlie by lightning, as may be
obserued in the reading of this volume: yea when the same hath béene
repared by the choisest workemen, and of the substantiallest stuffe,
and all meanes (that stood with the déepe deuise of man) vsed to make
it so sure that it might continue, as a monument of perpetuitie for
posteritie to woonder at and admire. But to returne to the historie.
[Sidenote: An. Reg. 22.]
[Sidenote: The diet at Tours for a peace to be had betwéene England and
France.]
Whilest England was vnquieted (as you haue heard) and France by spoile,
slaughter, and burning sore defaced (a mischéefe in all places much
lamented) therefore to agrée the two puissant kings, all the princes
of christendome trauelled so effectuouslie by their oratours and
ambassadours, that a diet was appointed to be kept at the citie of
Tours in Touraine; where for the king of England appeared William de la
Poole earle of Suffolke, doctor Adam Molins kéeper of the kings priuie
seale, also sir Robert Ros, and diuers other. And for the French king
were appointed Charles duke of Orleance, Lewes de Bourbon earle of
Vandosme, great maister of the French kings houshold, Piers de Bresse
steward of Poictou, and Bertram Beauuan lord of Presignie.
[Sidenote: A truce for 18 moneths.]
There were also sent thither ambassadours from the empire, from
Spaine, from Denmarke, & from Hungarie; to be mediatours betwixt the
two princes. The assemblie was great, but the cost was much greater,
insomuch that euerie part for the honour of their prince and praise of
their countrie, set foorth themselues, as well in fare as apparell, to
the vttermost. Manie méetings were had, and manie things mooued for a
finall peace: but in conclusion, by reason of manie doubts which rose
on both parties, no full concord could be agréed vpon; but in hope
to come to a peace, a certeine truce, as well by sea as by land, was
concluded by the commissioners for eightéene moneths, which afterward
againe was prolonged to the yeare of our Lord 1449.
[Sidenote: 1444]
In treating of this truce, the earle of Suffolke aduenturing somewhat
vpon his commission, without the assent of his associats, imagined,
that the next waie to come to a perfect peace, was to contriue a
mariage betwéene the French kings kinsewoman, the ladie Margaret
daughter to Reiner duke of Aniou, and his souereigne lord king Henrie.
This Reiner duke of Aniou named himselfe king of Sicill, Naples, and
Ierusalem, hauing onlie the name and stile of those realmes; without
anie penie, profit, or foot of possession. This mariage was made
strange to the earle at the first, and one thing séemed to be a great
hinderance to it; which was, bicause the king of England occupied a
great part of the duchie of Aniou, and the whole countie of Maine,
apperteining (as was alledged) to king Reiner.
The earle of Suffolke (I cannot saie either corrupted with bribes, or
too much affectioned to this vnprofitable mariage), condescended, that
the duchie of Aniou and the countie of Maine should be deliuered to
the king, the brides father demanding for hir mariage neither penie
nor farthing: as who would saie, that this new affinitie passed all
riches, and excelled both gold and pretious stones. And to the intent
that of this truce might insue a finall concord, a daie of enteruiew
was appointed betwéene the two kings in a place conuenient betwéene
Chartres and Rone. When these things were concluded, the earle of
Suffolke with his companie returned into England, where he forgat not
to declare what an honourable truce he had taken, out of the which
there was a great hope that a finall peace might grow the sooner for
that honorable mariage, which he had concluded, omitting nothing
that might extoll and set foorth the personage of the ladie, or the
nobilitie of hir kinred.
[Sidenote: The protector misliked this second motion of the kings
mariage.]
But although this mariage pleased the king and diuerse of his
councell, yet Humfrie duke of Glocester protector of the realme was
much against it, alledging that it should be both contrarie to the
lawes of God, and dishonorable to the prince, if he should breake that
promise and contract of mariage, made by ambassadours sufficientlie
thereto instructed, with the daughter of the earle of Arminacke, vpon
conditions both to him and his realme, as much profitable as honorable.
But the dukes words could not be heard, for the earles dooings were
onelie liked and allowed. So that for performance of the conclusions,
the French king sent the earle of Vandosme, great maister of his house,
and the archbishop of Reimes first péere of France, and diuerse other
into England, where they were honorablie receiued; and after that the
instruments were once sealed and deliuered on both parts, the said
ambassadours returned againe into their countries with great gifts and
rewards.
[Sidenote: Creations of estates.]
When these things were doone, the king both for honour of his realme,
and to assure to himselfe mo fréends, created Iohn Holland earle
of Huntington duke of Excester as his father was: Humfrie earle of
Stafford was made duke of Buckingham: and Henrie earle of Warwike was
elected to the title of duke of Warwike, to whome the king also gaue
the castell of Bristowe, with the Ile of Iernesenie, and Garneseie.
Also the earle of Suffolke was made marquesse of Suffolke, which
marquesse with his wife and manie honorable personages of men and women
richlie adorned both with apparell & iewels, hauing with them manie
costlie chariots and gorgeous horslitters, sailed into France for the
conueiance of the nominated quéene into the realme of England. For king
Reiner hir father, for all his long stile had too short a pursse to
send his daughter honorablie to the king hir spouse.
[Sidenote: An. Reg. 23.]
[Sidenote: 1445.]
This noble companie came to the citie of Tours in Touraine, where
they were honorablie receiued both of the French king and of the king
of Sicill. The marquesse of Suffolke as procurator to king Henrie,
espoused the said ladie in the church of saint Martins. At the
which mariage were present the father and mother of the bride; the
French king himselfe, which was vncle to the husband; and the French
quéene also, which was aunt to the wife. There were also the dukes
of Orleance, of Calabre, of Alanson, and of Britaine, seauen earls,
twelue barons, twentie bishops, beside knights and gentlemen. When the
feast, triumph, bankets and iusts were ended, the ladie was deliuered
to the marquesse, who in great estate conueied hir through Normandie
vnto Diepe, and so transported hir into England, where she landed at
Portesmouth in the moneth of Aprill. This ladie excelled all other, as
well in beautie and fauour, as in wit and policie, and was of stomach
and courage more like to a man than a woman.
[Sidenote: Margaret daughter to Reiner K. of Sicill & Ierusalem maried
to Henrie the sixt.]
[Sidenote: _Abr. Fl. ex Polychron._]
Shortlie after hir arriuall, she was conueied to the towne of Southwike
in Hamshire, where she with all nuptiall ceremonies was coupled in
matrimonie to king Henrie the sixt of that name. ¶ On the eightéenth
of Maie she came to London, all the lords of England in most sumptuous
sort méeting and receiuing hir vpon the waie, and speciallie the
duke of Glocester with such honour as stood with the dignitie of his
person. Now when she came to Blackheath, the maior, aldermen, and men
of occupations, in blew gownes imbrodered with some deuise, expressing
their art and trades whereby to be knowne, did all shew themselues,
with congratulation of hir comming; from whence they attended hir to
London, where with goodlie pageants and sundrie gallant historicall
shewes in diuerse places erected, she was verie magnificallie welcomed.
The maner and order of which pompe in sundrie places exhibited to the
high honour of the king, quéene, & states is verie amplie set foorth
by Fabian, pag. 423, 424, 425, 426, 427. Vpon the thirtith of Maie
next following, she was crowned quéene of this realme of England at
Westminster, with all the solemnitie thereto apperteining.
[Sidenote: An ominous mariage.]
This mariage séemed to manie both infortunate and vnprofitable to the
realme of England, and that for manie causes. First, the king had
not one penie with hir; and for the fetching of hir, the marquesse
of Suffolke demanded a whole fiftéenth in open parlement. And also
there was deliuered for hir the duchie of Aniou, the citie of Mans,
and the whole countie of Maine, which countries were the verie staies
and backestands to the duchie of Normandie. And furthermore, the earle
of Arminacke tooke such displeasure with the king of England for this
mariage, that he became vtter enimie to the crowne of England, and was
the chéefe cause that the Englishmen were expelled out of the whole
duchie of Aquitaine.
But most of all it should séeme, that God was displeased with this
mariage: for after the confirmation thereof, the kings fréends fell
from him, both in England and in France, the lords of his realme fell
at diuision, and the commons rebelled in such sort, that finallie
after manie fields foughten, and manie thousands of men slaine, the
king at length was deposed, and his sonne killed, and this quéene sent
home againe, with as much miserie and sorrow as she was receiued with
pompe and triumph: such is the instabilitie of worldlie felicitie, and
so wauering is false flattering fortune. Which mutation and change
of the better for the worse could not but nettle and sting hir with
pensiuenesse, yea and anie other person whatsoeuer, that hauing béene
in good estate, falleth into the contrarie: whereto the saieng of the
poet giueth credit, in these few words following;
[Sidenote: _Ouid. 2. de art._]
Quem res plus nimio delectauere secundæ,
Mutatæ quatiunt.
[Sidenote: An. Reg. 24.]
[Sidenote: 1446]
[Sidenote: The duke of Summerset made regent of Norm[=a]die, and the
Duke of Yorke discharged.]
This yeare, after the deceasse of Henrie Chicheleie archbishop of
Canturburie, succéeded Iohn Stafford in that sée, being translated from
Bath and Wels. He was the thréescore and one archbishop, as Polydor
noteth. During the time of the truce, Richard duke of Yorke and diuerse
other capteins repaired into England, both to visit their wiues,
children, and fréends, and also to consult what should be doone, if the
truce ended. For the which cause a parlement was called, in the which
it was especiallie concluded, that by good foresight Normandie might be
so furnished for defense before the end of the truce, that the French
king should take no aduantage through want of timelie prouision: for
it was knowne, that if a peace were not concluded, the French king did
prepare to imploie his whole puissance to make open warre. Héerevpon
monie was granted, an armie leuied, and the duke of Summerset appointed
to be regent of Normandie, and the duke of Yorke thereof discharged.
[Sidenote: The duke of Yorke appointed to the charge againe.]
I haue séene in a register booke belonging sometime to the abbeie of
saint Albons that the duke of Yorke was established regent of France,
after the deceasse of the duke of Bedford, to continue in that office
for the tearme of fiue yeares; which being expired, he returned home,
and was ioifullie receiued of the king with thanks for his good
seruice, as he had full well deserued in time of that his gouernement:
and further, that now when a new regent was to be chosen and sent ouer,
to abide vpon safegard of the countries beyond the seas as yet subiect
to the English dominion, the said duke of Yorke was eftsoones (as a man
most méet to supplie that roome) appointed to go ouer againe, as regent
of France with all his former allowances.
[Sidenote: The appointm[=e]t disappointed, and pointed to the
marquesse of Suffolke.]
But the duke of Summerset still maligning the duke of Yorkes
aduancement, as he had sought to hinder his dispatch at the first
when he was sent ouer to be regent, as before yée haue heard: he
likewise now wrought so, that the king reuoked his grant made to the
duke of Yorke for enioieng of that office the terme of other fiue
yéeres, and with helpe of William marquesse of Suffolke obteined that
grant for himselfe. Which malicious deling the duke of Yorke might so
euill beare, that in the end the heate of displeasure burst out into
such a flame, as consumed at length not onelie both those two noble
personages, but also manie thousands of others, though in diuers times
and seasons, as in places hereafter (as occasion serueth) it shall more
euidentlie appeare. But now to returne to the parlement.
[Sidenote: The marques of Suffolks request.]
The marques of Suffolke, supposing all men had as well liked his
dooings (during the time of his legation in France) as himselfe, the
second daie of Iune in the first session of this parlement in the
higher house openlie, eloquentlie, and boldlie declared his paine,
trauell, and diligence susteined in his said legation, as well for the
taking and concluding an abstinence of warre, as in the making of the
mariage; remembring them also that the said truce expired the first of
Aprill next, except a finall peace, or a further truce were concluded
in the meane season: and therefore he aduised them to prouide and
foresée things necessarie for the warre (as though no concord should
succéed) least happilie the Frenchmen perceiuing them vnprouided,
would take their aduantage, and agrée neither to peace nor amitie;
saieng vnto them further, that sith he had admonished the king and them
according to his dutie, if anie thing happened otherwise than well, he
was thereof innocent and guiltlesse and had acquited himselfe like a
true and louing subiect, and a faithfull councellour, praieng the lords
to haue it in remembrance.
Likewise on the morow after, he descended into the common house,
accompanied with certeine lords, and there declared the same matter
to the knights, citizens, and burgesses, praieng the commons for his
discharge, that as well all his dooings and procéedings in the kings
affaires beyond the sea, as also his aduertisement and counsell opened
to the lords and commons now togither assembled, might be by the
king and them inacted and inrolled in the records of the parlement.
Wherevpon the next daie after, the speaker William Burghleie, and the
companie of the lower house, repaired vnto the kings presence, sitting
amongst the lords of the vpper house, & there humblie required that
the request of the marquesse might be granted. And so likewise the
lords made the like petition knéeling on their knées, insomuch that the
king condescended to their desires: and so the labours, demeanours,
diligences, and declarations of the said marquesse, togither with the
desires not onelie of the lords, but also of the commons, as well
for the honour of him and his posteritie, as for his acquitall and
discharge, were inacted and inrolled in the records of the parlement.
[Sidenote: The marques of Suffolke, chéefest in fauour and authoritie
with the king and quéene.]
By the quéenes meanes shortlie after also was the said marquesse
aduanced so in authoritie, that he ruled the king at his pleasure,
and to his high preferment obteined the wardships both of the bodie
and lands of the countesse of Warwike, and of the ladie Margaret sole
heire to Iohn duke of Summerset, which ladie was afterward moother to
king Henrie the seauenth: and besides that, caused the king to create
Iohn de Fois, sonne vnto Gaston de Fois, earle of Longuile, and the
Capdau de Beufe earle of Kendall, which Iohn had married his néece,
and by his procurement the king elected to the order of the garter
the said Gaston, and Iohn his sonne, giuing to the sonne towards the
maintenance of his degrée, lands and castels, amounting to the summe of
one thousand pounds, which lands, name, and stile the issue and line of
the said earle of Kendall at this daie haue and inioy.
[Sidenote: A commotion in Norwich.]
[Sidenote: The liberties of Norwich seized into the kings hands.]
[Sidenote: Indirect meanes to reforme wrongs.]
These things being thus in dooing, the French king, séeing that the
towne of Mans was not deliuered according to the appointment taken
by force of the marriage, raised an armie for to recouer the same.
Whereof the king of England being aduertised (least the breach of the
truce should come by him) caused the towne to be deliuered without
anie force. This yeare was a great commotion in Norwich against the
prior of the place. At length the citizens opened the gates to the duke
of Norffolke, who came thither to appease the matter, though at the
first they would not suffer him to enter. The chéefe offendors were
(according to their demerits) gréeuouslie punished and executed, and
the maior was discharged of his office, and sir Iohn Clifton was made
gouernour there, vntil the king had restored the citizens to their
ancient liberties. This commotion was begun for certeine new exactions
which the prior claimed and tooke of the citizens, contrarie to their
ancient fréedome. But herein a wrong taken for getting of right was
worthilie corrected.
[Sidenote: _Abr. Fl. ex Fabian._ 343.]
[Sidenote: _Polychron._]
[Sidenote: Combats in cases of appeales touching treason.]
[Sidenote: Drunkennese the ouerthrow of right and manhood.]