Kilmaine appeached the earle of Ormond of treason. For triall whereof
the place of combat was assigned in Smithfield, & the barriers for
the same there readie pitcht. Howbeit, in the meane time a doctor of
diuinitie, named maister Gilbert Worthington, parson of saint Andrews
in Holborne, and other honest men, made such sute with diligent labour
and paines-taking to the kings councell, that when the daie of combat
approched, the quarell was taken into the kings hands, and there ended.
¶ In the same yeare also, a certeine armourer was appeached of treason
by a seruant of his owne. For proofe whereof a daie was giuen them
to fight in Smithfield, insomuch that in conflict the said armourer
was ouercome and slaine; but yet by misgouerning of himselfe. For on
the morow, when he should come to the field fresh and fasting, his
neighbours came to him, and gaue him wine and strong drinke in such
excessiue sort, that he was therewith distempered, and réeled as he
went, and so was slaine without guilt. As for the false seruant, he
liued not long vnpunished; for being conuict of felonie in court of
assise, he was iudged to be hanged, and so was, at Tiburne.
[Sidenote: An. Reg. 25.]
[Sidenote: The description of the quéene.]
Whilest the warres betwéene the two nations of England & France
ceassed (by occasion of the truce) the minds of men were not so quiet,
but that such as were bent to malicious reuenge, sought to compasse
their prepensed purpose, not against forren foes and enimies of their
countrie, but against their owne countriemen, and those that had
deserued verie well of the common-wealth: and this speciallie for
ouermuch mildnesse in the king, who by his authoritie might haue ruled
both parts, and ordered all differences betwixt them, but that in
déed he was thought too soft for gouernor of a kingdome. The quéene
contrariwise, a ladie of great wit, and no lesse courage, desirous of
honour, and furnished with the gifts of reason, policie, and wisdome;
but yet sometime (according to hir kind) when she had béene fullie bent
on a matter, suddenlie like a weather cocke, mutable and turning.
This ladie disdaining that hir husband should be ruled rather than
rule, could not abide that the duke of Gloucester should doo all things
concerning the order of weightie affaires, least it might be said, that
she had neither wit nor stomach, which would permit and suffer hir
husband, being of most perfect age, like a yoong pupill to be gouerned
by the direction of an other man. Although this toy entered first into
hir braine thorough hir owne imagination, yet was she pricked forward
to the matter both by such of hir husbands counsell, as of long time
had borne malice to the duke for his plainesse vsed in declaring their
vntruth (as partlie ye haue heard) and also by counsell from king
Reiner hir father, aduising that she and the king should take vpon them
the rule of the realme, and not to be kept vnder, as wards and mastered
orphanes.
[Sidenote: The quéene taketh vpon hir the gouernement, and dischargeth
the duke of Glocester.]
[Sidenote: The faint quarell piked to the duke of Glocester.]
What néedeth manie words? The quéene persuaded by these meanes, first
of all excluded the duke of Glocester from all rule and gouernance,
not prohibiting such as she knew to be his mortall foes to inuent
and imagine causes and gréefs against him and his, insomuch that
by hir procurement, diuerse noblemen conspired against him. Of the
which diuerse writers affirme the marquesse of Suffolke, and the duke
of Buckingham to be the chéefe, not vnprocured by the cardinall of
Winchester, and the archbishop of Yorke. Diuerse articles were laid
against him in open councell, and in especiallie one; That he had
caused men adiudged to die, to be put to other execution, than the law
of the land assigned. Suerlie the duke verie well learned in the law
ciuill, detesting malefactors, and punishing offenses in seueritie of
iustice, gat him hatred of such as feared condigne reward for their
wicked dooings. And although the duke sufficientlie answered to all
things against him obiected: yet because his death was determined, his
wisedome and innocencie nothing auailed.
[Sidenote: 1447.]
[Sidenote: A parlement at saint Edmundesburie.]
[Sidenote: The duke of Glocester suddenlie murthered.]
But to auoid danger of tumult that might be raised, if a prince so
well beloued of the people should be openlie executed; his enimies
determined to worke their feats in his destruction, yer he should
haue anie warning. For effecting whereof, a parlement was summoned
to be kept at Berrie, whither resorted all the péeres of the realme,
and amongst them the duke of Glocester; which on the second daie
of the session was by the lord Beaumont, then high constable of
England, accompanied with the duke of Buckingham, and others arrested,
apprehended, and put in ward, and all his seruants sequestred from
him, and thirtie two of the chéefe of his retinue were sent to diuerse
prisons, to the great admiration of the people. The duke the night
after he was thus committed to prison, being the foure and twentith of
Februarie, was found dead in his bed, and his bodie shewed to the lords
and commons, as though he had died a palsie, or of an imposteme.
[Sidenote: _Edw. Hall._]
[Sidenote: A pardon at a pinch.]
But all indifferent persons (as saith Hall) might well vnderstand that
he died of some violent death. Some iudged him to be strangled, some
affirme that an hot spit was put in at his fundament, other write that
he was smouldered betwéene two featherbeds, and some haue affirmed that
he died of verie gréefe, for that he might not come openlie to his
answer. His dead corpse was conueied to saint Albons, and there buried.
After his death, none of his seruants suffered: although fiue of them,
to wit, sir Roger Chamberline knight, Middleton, Herbert, Arteise
esquiers, and Richard Nedham gentleman, were arreigned, condemned,
and drawen to Tiborne, where they were hanged, let downe quicke, and
stripped to haue béene bowelled and quartered: but the marques of
Suffolke comming at that instant brought their pardons, shewed the same
openlie, and so their liues were saued.
[Sidenote: Dukes of Glocester vnfortunate.]
Some thinke that the name and title of Glocester hath béene vnluckie
to diuerse, which for their honours haue béene erected by creation
of princes to that stile and dignitie, as Hugh Spenser, Thomas of
Woodstoke, sonne to king Edward the third, and this duke Humfreie:
which thrée persons by miserable death finished their daies; and after
them king Richard the third also, duke of Glocester in ciuill warre
slaine. So that this name duke of Glocester is taken for an vnhappie
stile, as the prouerbe speaketh of Seians horsse, whose rider was euer
vnhorssed, & whose possessor was euer brought to miserie. But suerlie,
by the pitifull death of this noble duke and politike gouernour, the
publike wealth of the realme came to great decaie, as by sequele here
may more at large appeare.
[Sidenote: _W. P._]
[Oft times it hapneth that a man in quenching of smoke, burneth his
fingers in the fire:] so the quéene in casting how to kéepe hir husband
in honor, and hir selfe in authoritie, in making awaie of this noble
man, brought that to passe, which she had most cause to haue feared,
which was the deposing of hir husband, & the decaie of the house of
Lancaster, which of likelihood had not chanced if this duke had liued:
for then durst not the duke of Yorke haue attempted to set foorth
his title to the crowne, as he afterwards did, to the great trouble
of the realme, and destruction of king Henrie, and of manie other
noble men beside. This is the opinion of men, but Gods iudgements are
vnsearchable, against whose decrée and ordinance preuaileth no humane
counsell.
But to conclude of this noble duke: he was an vpright and politike
gouernour, bending all his indeuours to the aduancement of the
common-wealth, verie louing to the poore commons, and so beloued of
them againe; learned, wise, full of courtesie; void of pride and
ambition (a vertue rare in personages of such high estate) but where it
is most commendable. But sith the praise of this noble man deserueth a
large discourse, and méet for such as haue cunning how to handle the
same (sith the ornaments of his mind were both rare & admirable, the
feats of chiualrie by him commensed and atchiued valiant and fortunate,
his grauitie in counsell, and soundnesse of policie profound and
singular, all which with a traine of other excellent properties linked
togither, require a man of manifold gifts to aduance them according
to their dignitie) I refer the readers vnto maister Foxes booke of
Acts and Monuments. Onelie this I ad, that in respect of his noble
indowments, and his demeanor full of decencie, which he daily vsed, it
séemeth he might well haue giuen this pretty poesie,
Virtute duce non sanguine nitor.
[Sidenote: An. Reg. 26.]
[Sidenote: Marquesse of Suffolke made duke.]
[Sidenote: The duke of Yorke tempering about his title to the crowne.]
In this six and twentith yeare of the reigne of this king, but in
the first of the rule of the quéene, I find nothing doone worthie of
rehersall within the realme of England; but that the marquesse of
Suffolke, by great fauour of the king, & more desire of the quéene, was
erected to the title and dignitie of duke of Suffolke, which he a short
time inioied. For Richard duke of Yorke being greatlie alied by his
wife to the chiefe péeres and potentates of the realme, beside his own
progenie, perceiuing the king to be no ruler, but the whole burthen of
the realme to rest in direction of the quéene, & the duke of Suffolke,
began secretlie to allure his friends of the nobilitie; and priuilie
declared vnto them his title and right to the crowne, and likewise
did he to certeine wise gouernours of diuerse cities and townes.
Which attempt was so politikelie handled, and so secretlie kept, that
prouision to his purpose was readie, before his purpose was openlie
published; and his friends opened themselues, yer the contrarie part
could them espie: for in conclusion all shortlie in mischiefe burst
out, as ye may hereafter heare.
[Sidenote: 1448]
[Sidenote: The death of the bishop of Winchester & his discripti[=o].]
During these dooings, Henrie Beauford bishop of Winchester, and
called the rich cardinall, departed out of this world, & buried at
Westminster. He was son to Iohn Duke of Lancaster, descended of an
honorable linage, but borne in hast, more noble in blood than notable
in learning, hautie in stomach, and high of countenance, rich aboue
measure, but not verie liberall, disdainefull to his kin, and dreadfull
to his louers, preferring monie before friendship, manie things
beginning and few performing, sauing in malice and mischiefe; his
insatiable couetousnesse and hope of long life made him both to forget
God, his prince, and himselfe. Of the getting of his goods both by
power legantine, and spirituall briberie, I will not speake; but the
kéeping of them, which he chiefelie gathered for ambitious purpose, was
both great losse to his naturall prince and natiue countrie: for his
hidden riches might haue well holpen the king, and his secret treasure
might haue relieued the communaltie, when monie was scant and charges
great.
[Sidenote: _W. P._]
[Sidenote: _Lib._ 23.]
[Of this catholike clerke such were the déeds, that with king and ech
estate else (saith Polydor) the lighter was the losse, bicause as for
his hat he was a prelate proud inough, so for a bishop was there a
better soone set in his roome. One William Patin, son and heire to
Richard his father, and eldest brother to Iohn that deceassed deane of
Chichester, and to Richard that liued and died at Baslo in Derbishire.
This William was a person by parentage borne a gentleman, for vertue
and learning first consecrate bishop of Winchester, then anon after for
wisedome and integritie chosen lord chancellor of England: wherein his
prudence made eminent, in warilie wielding the weight of that office at
those daies, which were so dangerous for all estates to liue in.
His vertuous disposition was right apparent, and it were but by
this the godlie erection of that worthie worke, Magdalene colledge
in Oxford, a plot right aptlie chosen out for studie at first, with
strength and workemanship soone after builded according, in proportion
beautifull outward, and for vse verie commodious within, sorted into
a faire mansion for the president, seuerall and méet for a man to
that office of worship and grauitie, and also into other roomes for
the fellowes, officers, and yoonger students. Not without a vertuous
remembrance of the verie tenderlings, who might appeare to be toward
and teachable; whereof part to be trained vp in the diuine science of
musike iustlie reported in a distichon, that
Gaudiasi superûm res sit mortalibus vlla,
Integra quæ referat; musica sola refert:
the vse of it commendablie serving by swéet harmonie to praise God in
church, and for delectable recreation to a gentlemanlie mind any where
else: and part of these yoong ones to be taught the grammar in a faire
schoole well appointed therefore, out of which as out of a nursserie
of it owne, for supplement certeine to kéepe full the number, these
budlings as néed from time to time to be dulie deriued and drawen.
Now somewhat in casting vpon this deuout mans deuise and compasse; to
consider the companie of students there, that in seuerall sciences and
sundrie professions are not a few; then their assigned studies and
exercises in them, their steps in rising & reward for diligence, from
the lowest logician to the highest degrées of doctrine in schooles,
their officers in house, their orders for gouernance in maners, in
safegard of health and helpe in sicknesse: and that chiefest is, the
reuenues certeine for prouision and maintenance of all, it may be
a question not easie to answer: whether at first in this founders
meditation vpon such a worke were a mind more magnifike, or a more
amplitude of abilitie after in so absolute a forme to performe it, or
else a profounder wisedome for perpetuitie into so perfect an order in
all points to haue fixt it.
[Sidenote: _Bale._]
It was a fashion at those daies, long also afore, & since, from a
learned spirituall man to take awaie the fathers surname (were it neuer
so worshipfull or ancient) and giue him for it the name of the towne
he was borne in: and so was Richard Notingham a learned frier minorite
in king Edward the seconds daies called of Notingham where he was
borne; Iohn Olneie a learned monke in those daies also, named of an
Iland wherein he was borne nie Glocester; of Barton in Lincolnshire one
William Barton in Richard the seconds reigne, for that time a famous
doctor and chancellor of Oxford; Water Disse, of Disse in Suffolke
a learned Carmelite frier, confessour to the duke and duchesse of
Lancaster in king Henrie the fourths reigne; Richard Hampoole of a
towne in Yorkshire, a zelous doctor, and after a vertuous heremit in
king Henrie the sixts daies.
[Sidenote: Willi[=a] Wainfléet bishop of Winchester, lord chancellor of
England, founder of Magdeline college in Oxford.]
[Sidenote: _An. Dom._ 448.]
[Sidenote: _Malmesburie._]
And after this sort manie hundreds more that had their names so
altered; as euen in like maner vnto this reuerend prelat in the prime
of his towardnesse was changed his fathers surname Paten to Wainfléet
of the towne where he was borne in Lincolnshire: a matter right
proueable aswell by the records of the house there extant, as by a
faire déed remaining among other his proper euidences, in the hands of
the worshipful maister Thomas Fanshaw esquier, the quéenes maiesties
remembrancer in the escheker at Westminster. And as the names of
Germin, German, Germi, are but for one name though diuerslie wrested,
and all to remember Germanie, the countrie their ancestors came from;
and also as Iute, Iud, and Chute, are all but for the race of Iudes,
one of the thrée first Germane nations that came in with Horsus and
Hengist; and Caltrap, Caltrop and Calthorp was all but for Caldthorp
(that signifieth a cold towne) howeuer it be otherwise wried: euen
so Paten, Patin, Patten or Patent, is but a mention of the old Saxon
name, that trulie at first was Patan; of Pate, the sole of the foot,
and thereof Patan to signifie flat footed, as among the Latines they
were called Plautus or Plancus: so Cicero of a chiche or tare; Nasones,
Labiones and Labieni, well nosed and lipt; & manie more after that
sort in manie toongs else so deriued.
That right manie students skilful in the profoundest sciences and
learned toongs, manie venerable clerks, who in most weightie causes
with singular wisedome, successe and faith, haue serued their prince
and countrie this college hath brought foorth: hereto that manie toward
wits it still to haue, hath had the good hap (which happilie yet to it
dooth reteine) may here with modestie a litle be touched, neither to
comparison that were contentious folie, nor yet to séeke glorie that
cannot be but vaine, but onlie in storie to mind, how vnto purposes
vértuouslie deuised and wiselie pursued, Gods goodnesse alwaies giveth
chéeuing and thrift according.]
[Sidenote: _Abr. Fl. ex Fabian._ 447.]
[Sidenote: A combat vpon triall of manhood betwéen a French and an
Englishman.]
¶ In this seuen and twentith yeare of king Henries reigne, as witnesse
the English chronicles, a knight of France called sir Lewes de Bueill
challenged an esquier of England, named Rafe Chalons, to triall of
certeine feats of warre. Herevpon (as was thought conuenient) a day
was appointed them to make proofe thereof; the place also was assigned
of their méeting, to wit, at a towne in France called Maunt or Maunce,
where the French king at the same time was personallie present. But
fortune (saith mine auther) was to Chalons so fauourable, and leaned so
much to his side, that he ran the French knight through with the point
of his fatall speare.
Hunc illi finem lingua superba dedit.
[Sidenote: The compassion of the Englishman to his enimie.]
The English esquier séeing the infortunate euent of this triall to
fall to the shame of the challenger, was so far from reioising at his
ouerthrow, that he was touched with christian compassion, and moorned
for his enimie, for whome also he kept an obsequie as if he had béene
his own naturall brother, and descended of the same parents. For which
merciful motions of mind inwardlie working, and outwardlie appearing,
he was of the king greatlie commended. But doubtfull it is, whether the
other, if he had suruiued, and got the vpper hand, would haue had the
like reuerend care of the Englishmans dead bodie, as to haue vouchsafed
it a solemne interrement.
[Sidenote: An. Reg. 27.]
[Sidenote: Sir Francis Suriennes.]
[Sidenote: Fougiers.]
As the affaires in France now were neither well looked to, nor the
gouernours there well aduised, an English capteine called sir Francis
Suriennes, surnamed the Aragonois, of the countrie where he was borne,
a man for his wit and actiuitie admitted into the order of the garter,
tooke by scaling suddenlie in the night of the euen of our ladie day
in Lent, a towne on the frontiers of Normandie, belonging to the
duke of Britaine called Fougiers, spoiling the same, and killing the
inhabitants. The duke of Britaine, being hereof aduertised, sent word
by the bishop of Reimes to the French king, beséeching him of his aid
and counsell in the matter.
The French king foorthwith sent his caruer Iohn Hauart, and Iohn
Cosinet one of the maisters of his requests to the king of England: and
to the duke of Summerset he dispatched Peter de Fonteins the maister
of his horsse. To which messengers answer was made aswell by the king
as the duke, that the fact was doone without their knowledge. And for
the truce to be kept, and not onelie restitution, but also amends to be
made to the duke of Britaine, a daie of diet was appointed to be kept
at Louuiers, where the commissioners on both parts being assembled, the
Frenchmen demanded amends, with no small recompense. The Englishmen
answered, that without offense, nothing by iustice ought to be
satisfied; affirming the dooing of sir Francis Sureinnes to be onelie
his act, without consent either of the king of England, or of the duke
of Summerset his lieutenant and regent.
[Sidenote: P[=o]t de Larch taken by the Fr[=e]chmen by a subtill
sleight.]
But whiles with long delaie they talked of this matter at Louuiers,
certeine French men by aduertisement of a wagoner of Louuiers,
vnderstanding that the towne of Pont de Larch was but slenderlie
manned; the wagoner laded his wagon and passed forward, hauing in his
companie two strong varlets clad like carpentars, with great axes
on their shoulders. And hereto le seineur de Bresse with a chosen
companie of men of armes, lodged himselfe in ambushment néere to the
gate of S. Andrew, and capteine Floquet, accompanied with sir Iames
de Cleremont, and another great companie priuilie lurked vnder a wood
toward Louuiers. When all things were appointed for the purpose, earlie
in a morning about the beginning of October, the wagoner came to the
gate, and called the porter by name, praieng him to open the gate, that
he might passe to Rone, and returne againe the same night.
The porter (which well knew the voice of his customer) tooke little
héed to the other two companions, and so opened the one gate, and sent
another fellow of his to open the formost gate. When the chariot was
on the draw-bridge betwéene both the gates, the chariot-maister gaue
the porter monie, and for the nonce let one péece fall on the ground:
and while the porter stooped to take it vp, the wagoner with his dagger
stroke him in at his throat, so that he cried for no helpe, and the
two great lubbers slue the other porters, and with their axes cut the
axeltrée of the wagon, so that the draw-bridge could not be shortlie
drawen vp. This doone they made a signe to capteine Floquet, which with
all spéed entered the towne, slue and tooke all the Englishmen: and
amongst other, the lord Fauconbridge capteine of the said towne was
taken prisoner. The losse of this place was of no small importance,
being the verie keie and passage ouer the riuer of Seine, from France
into Normandie, being distant from Rone onelie foure leagues.
When request was made to haue it restored againe to the Englishmen,
answer was made, that if they restored vnto the duke of Britaine, the
towne of Fougiers, with condigne amends for the damages doone there,
the towne of Pont Larch should then be againe deliuered, or else not.
And shortlie after, in hope of like successe the French king assembled
an armie, and diuiding the same in thrée parts, got by surrender
(after sundrie assaults, and losse of diuerse of his men) the townes
of Louuiers, & Gerborie, whereof William Harper was capteine. Also the
towne, castell, and great tower of Verneueill in Perch were rendered
into the French kings hands, after twentie daies of respit granted, to
sée if rescues would haue come. The French writers affirme the towne to
be taken by assault.
[Sidenote: The warres renewed befor the end of the truce.]
Thus was the warre renewed before the terme of truce fullie expired,
& the English capteins brought to their wits end, what with appeasing
dalie rumors within the townes; and what with studie how to recouer
castels lost and taken: for while they studied how to kéepe and defend
one place, foure or fiue other turned to the French part. The chiefe
cause of which reuolting was, for that it was blowen abroad thorough
France, how the realme of England, after the death of the duke of
Glocester by the seuerall factions of princes was diuided in two parts;
and that William de la Poole latelie created duke of Suffolke, and
diuerse other, which were the occasion of the said duke of Glocesters
death, vexed and oppressed the poore people, so that mens minds were
not intentiue to outward affaires: but all their studie giuen to kéepe
off wrongs offered at home.
[Sidenote: A rebellion in Ireland.]
The king little regarding the matter, & the quéene led by euill
counsell, rather furthered such mischiefes as dailie began to grow
by ciuil discord, than sought to reforme them: so that the Normans
and Gascoignes vnderstanding in what state things stood here, turned
to the French part, as hereafter it may appeare. About the same time
also, began a new rebellion in Ireland; but Richard duke of Yorke being
thither to appease the same, so asswaged the furie of the wild and
sauage people there, that he wan him such fauour amongst them, as could
neuer be separated from him and his linage, which in the sequele of
this historie may more plainelie appeare.
[Sidenote: The English loose all in France.]
[Sidenote: Rone yéelded to the Frenchmen.]