Richard I. just before he went on the Crusades, made him Lord Marcher of
Wales, an office that required all the exertion and capacity that could
possibly exist in one man.
In the beginning of king John’s reign, Whittington was in the hands of
Maurice, brother to the person to whom Owen Gwynedd presented it. Fulk
Fitz-Gwarine made application to John for this place, the ancient
property and residence of his family; but Maurice by means of his
opulence and well-timed presents had sufficient influence over the king,
to retain the possessions he so much desired: nevertheless, Fitz-Gwarine
had a steady and judicious friend in one John of Raumpayne, a minstrel,
whom he made his trusty spy over the conduct of Maurice at Whittington.
In those times when men considered the sword a better instrument of
revenge or defence, than the laws of their country, and when one Baron
insulted another, a petty war ensued between them, often attended with
much bloodshed, and generally concluded with the demolition, or at least
capture of the castle of one party by the other. It was the failing of
our hero to have recourse to this method of gaining possession, to what
he thought himself fairly entitled; any other means would have been
considered in a very dishonourable light by those turbulent barons and
knights, who were his friends. I hope that this action, or to express it
in the language of that age, this _feat_ of arms of Fulk, will not
dispossess the reader of that kindness he has shown to Fitz-Gwarine and
his historian, by favouring him so far with an attentive and indulgent
perusal. All I can say of the battle made by Fulk upon Maurice is, that
the latter was slain, and the king of Wales gave Fulk the Castle of
Whittington, by which it appears, that prince espoused his cause. But
the English king made Wrenoc (son to Maurice) Lord of Whittington, and
sent privily to the prince of Wales to behead Fulk, who avoided the
policy of king John by flying into France, with the assumed name of Sir
Amice, a wandering knight. He was so admired by the French King for his
honourable and chivalrous conduct, that he offered him a barony of
France, which Fulk politely declined.—By some means it happened that
Lewis, the French king, discovered Fitz-Gwarine; upon which, the latter
fled into Brittainy, where his deeds of chivalry were so applauded, that
a celebrated French author collected and published them, forming a work
universally read by the chevaliers and ladies of that age. The title
given to the English translation is, “The Feates of Gwarine and his
Sunnes.”
Fitz-Gwarine formed a resolution of leaving France, and returning to his
own country: he accordingly embarked, and landed at Dover, with a full
determination to see king John. For fear of discovery, Fulk exchanged
clothes with a peasant: in this habit, attended by his brethren and other
followers who had gone with him to France, and followed his fortunes home
again, he repaired to Windsor forest, where he found the king hunting,
and what was more advantageous to Fulk’s purpose, John happened to be
alone. He asked Fulk whether he saw or could find any game? who
answered, that if he would come with him, he should have game in
abundance. John was led to Fulk’s brethren, and Fulk having the king in
his power, menaced him severely for the treatment he (Fitz-Gwarine) had
received from him; and obliged the captive king to grant to him the
Castle of Whittington, which that monarch readily agreed to, for
willingly would he sacrifice almost any thing to gain his liberty;
several instances of which may be seen in English history.
The poem of Fitz-Gwarine, thus describes the subject last treated of.
“For woodman’s garb I chang’d my cloak,
In Windsor’s wood of ancient oak
We found a safe retreat;
The king I knew there chas’d the deer,
And with my faithful comrades there
I conn’d a cunning feat.
“One day the King alone appear’d,
When scarce the distant horn was heard
Our hiding place hard by;
And as across my way he came,
Know’st thou (quoth he) of any game?
Aye—game enough, (quoth I).
“Ride to yon briery dingle rough
Trust me, I’ll rouse ye game enough,
My bugle then I sounded,
My comrades heard the blast I blew,
Obey’d the signal that they knew,
And soon the King surrounded.
“Cow’d was the King with speechless fear,
Yet stammer’d out, Who have we here?
I flung my bonnet from my brow,
Know’st thou (quoth I) Fitz-Gwarine now?
I took a sword and o’er him swung it,
Then at his feet contemptuous flung it,
And turning to my comrade class,
Open, (I cried,) and let him pass.
Now go, Sir King, in freedom go,
And copy courage from a foe.
I’ll grant (he cried,) a pardon free,
Fitz-Gwarine unto thine and thee,
And I’ll restore to thee anon
The franchise fair of Whittington.”
John, however, disregarded his promise, for as soon as he got home, he
sent fifteen knights after Fulk, either to capture or kill him. Fulk
acted his part with such valour, that the knights were entirely
discomfited, and their leader taken prisoner. Soon after this, John sent
Randolph, earl of Chester, with a numerous retinue to take Fulk, but the
latter fled to sea, on board a ship belonging to Madour of the Mount, a
true friend of Fitz-Gwarines’: while lying in channel, Fulk observed a
knight in disguise coming to kill him; but the courage of our hero did
not forsake him on this occasion, for in the laudable act of self
defence, he slew the concealed assassin, and sailed to Orkney. Here he
released a damsel from captivity; and by some noble exploit, won his
celebrated hauberk of hard steel, which with other ancient pieces of
armour belonging to his family, hung till Cromwell’s time in the church
of Whittington.
The stay of Fitz-Gwarine at Orkney was short, for we soon after find him
driven by tempests to the coast of Barbary. In contemplation upon this
dreary part of the globe, he formed a resolution of seeing Carthage, the
city that produced such invincible heroes, whose courage defended that
small republic for a considerable time, against the powerful arms of the
Roman empire. But when he saw this once opulent and populous city
crumbled nearly to dust, he felt strong emotions of pity mixed with
veneration. Here! he exclaimed, was born and educated, Hanibal the
greatest general in ancient history, who made the Romans tremble at their
own capital! In these streets, what patriotism prevailed among all
classes of people! Here commerce flourished; and great improvement was
made in its concomitant navigation. Wrapt in enthusiasm, Fitz-Gwarine
set sail for England, full of hearty desires that his own country might
one day thrive by trade in as conspicuous a manner as Carthage had done.
Upon his arrival, he had the good fortune to obtain a pardon for himself
and followers, together with the restoration of Whittington castle, and
all its appendages. I have mentioned that John gave this place to
Wrenoc, but he held it for the service of being interpreter between the
Welsh and English; and when the king gave Whittington to Fulk, Wrenoc had
certain estates in the neighbourhood, given him in compensation.
The splendour Fitz-Gwarine lived in, is described by Mr. Dovaston in such
a striking manner, that I cannot refrain from quoting the words he uses
to such advantage.
“Other guests than yon lone bird,
And other musick here was heard,
In times of better days;
Festive revelry went round,
The board with blushing goblets crown’d,
And costly carpets clad the ground,
Where now yon cattle graze.
“Days were those of splendor high,
Days of hospitality,
When to his rich domain
Welcom’d many a crested knight,
Welcom’d many a lady bright,
Fitz-Gwarine of Lorraine.”