Aniou, enuieng the prosperous estate of king Henrie, and lamenting the
case of duke Robert, [Sidenote: _Fabian._ The citie of Constances[7]
taken. The king passeth into Normandie.] wan the citie of Constances, by
corrupting certeine of the kings subiects the inhabitants of the same.
Whereof king Henrie being aduertised, passed ouer into Normandie,
recouered the said citie, punished the offenders, reuenged himselfe of
the earle, and returned into England.
[Sidenote: 1112.] Now, as also before, the king continued his inordinate
desire of inriching himselfe, for the fulfilling of which hungrie
appetite (called _Sacra_ of the poets _Per antiphrasin_) he pinched
manie so sore, that they ceased not to speake verie ill of his dooings.
He did also incurre the misliking of verie manie people, bicause he kept
still the sée of Canturburie in his hands, and would not bestow it, for
that he found sweetnesse in all the profits and reuenues belonging
therevnto, during the time that it remained vacant, [Sidenote: The
archbishops sée of Canturburie in the kings hand foure years.] which was
the space of foure yeares, or thereabouts. [Sidenote: 1113. An. Reg.
13.] In like maner, when he was admonished to place some méet man in the
roome, he would saie, that he was willing to bestow it, but he tooke the
longer time, for that he meant to find such a one to prefer therto as
should not be too far behind Lanfranke and Anselme in doctrine, vertue
and wisedome. And sith there was none such yet to be found, he suffered
that sée to be void till such could be prouided. [Sidenote: The kings
excuse.] This excuse he pretended, as though he were more carefull for
the placing of a worthie man, than of the gaine that followed during the
time of the vacation. [Sidenote: 1114. An. Reg. 14.] Howbeit not long
after, he translated one Richard bishop of London to that
archbishoprike, who enioieng it but a while, he gaue the same to one
Rafe then bishop of Rochester, [Sidenote: _Eadmerus._] and made him
archbishop of Canturburie, being the 35. in order that ruled that see.
He was elected at Windsor the 26. daie of Aprill, and on the 16. daie of
Maie installed at Canturburie, great preparation being made for the
feast which was holden at the same. Soone after likewise he sent for his
pall to Rome, which was brought from Paschall by one Anselme nephue vnto
the late archbishop Anselme. [Sidenote: The popes authoritie not
regarded in England.] About this time also the pope found himselfe
gréeued, for that his authoritie was but little estéemed in England, &
for that no persons were permitted to appeale to Rome in cases of
controuersie, and for that (without seeking to obteine his licence and
consent) they did kéepe their synods & councels about ecclesiasticall
affaires, neither would obeie such Legats as he did send, nor come to
the conuocations which they held. In so much that one Cono the popes
Legat in France had excommunicated all the préests of Normandie, bicause
they would not come to a synod which they had summoned. [Sidenote: The
bishop of Excester sent to Rome.] Wherevpon the king being somewhat
troubled, by aduice of his councell, sent the bishop of Excester to
Rome, (though he were then blind) to talke with the pope concerning that
matter.
[Sidenote: Thurstane archbishop of Yorke.] Not long after this Thomas
the archbishop of Yorke died: after whom succeeded Thurstane, a man of a
loftie stomach, but yet of notable learning, who euen at the verie first
began to contend with Rafe the archbishop of Canturburie about the title
and right of the primasie. And though the king aduised him to stand to
the order which the late archbishops of Yorke had obserued, yet he would
not staie the matter, sith he saw that archbishop Rafe being sicke and
diseased, could not attend to preuent his dooings. [Sidenote: Giles
Aldane bishop of S. Ninian.] Thurstane therfore consecrated certeine
bishops of Scotland, and first of all Giles Aldane the elect bishop of
S. Ninian, who promised and tooke his oth (as the manner is) to obeie
him in all things as his primate.
[Sidenote: _Floriacensis._ _Wigorniensis._ Worcester burnt. _Polydor._
The Welshmen inuade the english marshes. K. Henrie entreth into Wales
with an armie.] The citie of Worcester about this season was by a
casuall fire almost wholie burnt vp and consumed. Which mishap, bicause
that citie ioineth néere vnto Wales, was thought to be a signification
of troubles to folow by the insurrection of the Welshmen: who conceiuing
hope of good speed by their good successe in the wars held with William
Rufus, began now to inuade & waste the English marshes. Whervpon king
Henrie desirous to tame their hautie stomachs (bicause it was a gréefe
to him still to be vexed with such tumults and vprisings as they dailie
procured) assembled a mightie armie and went into Wales. Now bicause he
knew the Welshmen trusted more to the woods and mountains, than to their
owne strength, he beset all the places of their refuge with armed men,
and sent into the woods certeine bands to laie them waste, & to hunt the
Welsh out of their holes. The soldiours (for their parts) néeded no
exhortation: for remembring the losses susteined afore time at the
Welshmens hands, they shewed well by their fresh pursute, how much they
desired to be reuenged, so that the Welsh were slaine on each hand, and
that in great numbers, till the king perceiued the huge slaughter, & saw
that hauing throwne away their armour and weapons, they sought to saue
themselues by flight, he commanded the souldiours to ceasse from
killing, and to take the residue that were left prisoners, if they would
yéeld themselues: which they did, and besought the king of his mercie
and grace to pardon and forgiue them.
[Sidenote: Garisons placed in Wales by K. Henrie. _Floriacensis._
_Wigorniensis._] The king thus hauing vanquished and ouercome the
Welshmen, placed garisons in sundrie townes & castels, where he thought
most necessarie, and then returned to London with great triumph. Thither
shortlie after came ambassadours from the emperour, requiring the kings
daughter affianced (as before you haue heard) vnto him, and (being[8]
now viripotent or mariable) desired that she might be deliuered vnto
them. [Sidenote: A subsidie raised by the king to bestowe with his
daughter. _Hen. Hunt._ _Polydor._] King Henrie hailing heard their sute
and willing with spéed to performe the same, raised a great tax among
his subiects, rated after euerie hide of land which they held, & taking
of ech one thrée shillings towards the paiment of the monie which was
couenanted to be giuen with hir at the time of the contract. Which when
the king had leuied, with much more, towards the charges to be emploied
in sending hir foorth, he appointed certeine of his greatest péeres to
safe conduct hir vnto hir husband, who with all conuenient speed
conueied hir into Germanie, and in verie honorable maner there deliuered
hir vnto the foresaid emperour. [Sidenote: The king goeth ouer into
Normandie.] After this, the king went into Normandie, and there created
his sonne William duke of that countrie, causing the people to sweare
fealtie and obedience to him, whereof rose a custome, that the kings of
England from thencefoorth (so long as Normandie remained in their hands)
made euer their eldest sonnes dukes of that countrie. When he had doone
this with other his businesse in Normandie, he returned into England.
[Sidenote: 1114.] [Sidenote: The sea decreaseth. Wonders. _Wil.
Thorne._] In this yeare about the fiftéenth daie of October, the sea so
decreased and shranke from the old accustomed water-markes and coasts of
the land here in this realme, that a man might haue passed on foot ouer
the sands and washes, for the space of a whole daie togither, so that it
was taken for a great woonder. It was also noted, that the maine riuers
(which by the tides of the sea vsed to ebbe and flow twice in 24.
houres) became so shallow, that in many places men might go ouer them
without danger, [Sidenote: _Simon Dun._ _Ran. Higd._ _Matth. Westm._]
and namlie the riuer of Thames was so lowe for the space of a day and a
night, that horsses, men, and children passed ouer it betwixt London
bridge and the tower, and also vnder the bridge, the water not reaching
aboue their knées. Moreouer, in the moneth of December, the aire
appeared red, as though it had burned. [Sidenote: 1115. An. Reg. 16.] In
like maner, the Winter was verie extreame cold with frosts, by reason
whereof at the thawing and breaking of the yce, the most part of all
the bridges in England were broken and borne downe.
[Sidenote: 1116. An. Reg. 17.] [Sidenote: Griffin ap Rice dooth much
hurt on the marshes. _Polydor._] Not long after this, Griffin ap Rees
tooke a great preie and bootie out of the countries subiect to the king
within the limits of Wales, and burned the kings castels, bicause he
would not restore such lands and possessions vnto him as apperteined to
his father Rées or Rice. Howbeit, the king (notwithstanding this
businesse) being not otherwise troubled with any other warres or
weightie affaires, deferred his voiage into those quarters, and first
called a councell of his lords both spirituall and temporall at
Salisburie on the nintéenth daie of March, wherein manie things were
ordeined for the wealth and quiet state of the land. And first he sware
the Nobilitie of the realme, that they should be true to him and his
sonne William after his deceasse. Secondlie, he appeased sundrie matters
then in controuersie betwixt the Nobles and great Péers, causing the
same to be brought to an end, and the parties made freends: the diuision
betwixt the archbishops of Yorke and Canturburie (which had long
depended in triall, and could not as yet haue end) excepted. [Sidenote:
Thurstane refuseth to obey the kings pleasure. _Eadmerus._] For
ambitious Thurstane would not stand to any decrée or order therin,
except he might haue had his whole will, so that the king taking
displeasure with him for his obstinate demeanor, commanded him either to
be conformable to the decrée made in Lanfranks time, or else to renounce
his miter, which to doo (rather than to acknowledge any subiection to
the archbishop of Canturburie) he séemed to be verie willing at the
first, but afterwards repented him of his speech passed in that behalfe.
Now when the councell was ended, and the king went ouer into Normandie,
he followed, trusting by some meanes to persuade the king, that he might
haue his furtherance to be consecrated, without recognizing any
obedience to the sée of Canturburie: but the king would not heare him,
whereby the matter rested long in sute, as heereafter shall appeare.
¶ Hereby it is plaine (as Polydor saith) how the bishops in those daies
were blinded with couetousnesse and ambition, not considering that it
was their duties to despise such worldlie pompe, as the people regard,
and that their calling required a studious endeuour for the health of
such soules as fell to their charge. Neither yet remembred they the
simplicitie of Christ, and his contempt of worldlie dignitie, when he
refused to satisfie the humor of the people, who verie desirouslie would
haue made him a king, but withdrew himselfe, and departed to a mountaine
himselfe alone. They were rather infected with the ambition of the
apostles, contending one with another for the primasie, forgetting the
vocation whereto Christ had separated them, not to rule as kings ouer
the gentiles; but to submit their necks to the yokes of obedience, as
they had Christ their maister an example and president.
* * * * *
[Sidenote: The first vse of parlements in England.] ¶ Here is to be
noted, that before this time, the kings of England vsed but seldome to
call togither the states of the realme after any certeine maner or
generall kind of processe, to haue their consents in matters to be
decreed. But as the lords of the priuie councell in our time doo sit
onlie when necessitie requireth, so did they whensoeuer it pleased the
king to haue any conference with them. So that from this Henrie it may
be thought the first vse of the parlement to haue proceeded, which sith
that time hath remained in force, and is continued vnto our times,
insomuch that whatsoeuer is to be decreed touching the state of the
commonwealth and conseruation thereof, is now referred to that councell.
And furthermore, if any thing be appointed by the king or any other
person to be vsed for the wealth of the realme, it shall not yet be
receiued as law, till by authoritie of this assemblie it be established.
Now bicause the house should not be troubled with multitude of vnlearned
cōmoners, whose propertie is to vnderstand little reason, and yet to
conceiue well of their owne dooings: there was a certeine order taken,
what maner of ecclesiasticall persons, and what number and sort of
temporall men should be called vnto the same, and how they should be
chosen by voices of free holders, that being as atturnies for their
countries, that which they confessed or denied, should bind the residue
of the realme to receiue it as a law. This counsell is called a
parlement, by the French word, for so the Frenchmen call their publike
assemblies.
[Sidenote: The maner of the parlement in England] The maner of their
consulting heere in England in their said assemblies of parlement is on
this wise. Whereas they haue to intreat of matters touching the
commoditie both of the prince and of the people, that euerie man may
haue free libertie to vtter what he thinketh, they are appointed to sit
in seuerall chambers, the king, the bishops, and lords of the realme sit
in one chamber to conferre togither by themselues; and the commoners
called knights for the shires, citizens of cities, and burgesses of good
townes in another. These choose some wise, eloquent, and learned man to
be their prolocutor or speaker (as they terme him) who propoundeth those
things vnto them that are to be talked of, and asketh euerie mans
opinion concerning the conclusion thereof. In like sort, when any thing
is agreed vpon, and decreed by them in this place (which they call the
lower house in respect of their estate) he declareth it againe to the
lords that sit in the other chamber called the higher house, demanding
likewise their iudgments touching the same. For nothing is ratified
there, except it be agreed vpon by the consent of the more part of both
those houses. Now when they haue said their minds, and yeelded their
confirmation therevnto, the finall ratification is referred to the
prince; so that if he thinke good that it shall passe for a law, he
confirmeth also by the mouth of the lord Chancelor of the realme, who is
prolocutor to the lords alwaies by the custome of that house.
The same order is vsed also by the bishops and spiritualtie in their
conuocation houses. For the bishops sit in one place by themselues as in
the higher house, and the deanes, archdeacons, and other procurators of
the spiritualtie in an other, as in the lower house, whose prolocutor
declareth to the bishops what is agreed vpon by them. Then the
archbishop (by consent of the more part of them that are assembled in
both those conuocation houses) ratifieth and pronounceth their decrees
for lawes, remitting (notwithstanding) the finall ratification of them
to the temporall houses.
This is the order of the lawgiuing of England; and in such decrees
(established by authoritie of the prince, the lords spirituall and
temporall, and the commons of this realme thus assembled in parlement)
consisteth the whole force of our English lawes. Which decrees are
called statutes, meaning by that name, that the same should stand firme
and stable, and not be repealed without the consent of an other
parlement, and that vpon good and great consideration.
* * * * *
About this season, one Owin (whome some name prince of Wales) was
slaine, [Sidenote: _Simon Dun._] as Simon Dunelmen. writeth, but by
whom, or in what sort, he sheweth not. In this eightéenth yeare of king
Henries reigne, on All hallowes daie, or first of Nouember, great
lightning, thunder, and such a storme of haile fell, that the people
were maruellouslie amazed therwith. Also on the thirtéenth of December,
there happened a great earthquake, and the moone was turned into a
bloodie colour: which strange accidents fell about the middest of the
night. At the same time quéene Maud, wife to king Henrie departed this
life. But now to returne to other dooings.
It chanced vpon a small occasion, that verie sore and dangerous warres
followed out of hand, betwixt king Henrie and Lewes surnamed the grosse
king of France: the beginning whereof grew herevpon. [Sidenote: Theobald
erle of Champaigne. _Polydor._] Theobald earle of Champaigne, descended
of the earles of Blois, was linked in amitie with king Henrie, by reason
of affinitie that was betwixt them (for Stephan the earle of Blois
married ladie Adila the sister of king Henrie.) Now it happened, that
the foresaid Theobald had by chance offended the said Lewes, who in
reuenge made sharpe warres vpon him. But earle Theobald hoping for aid
to be sent from his fréends in the meane time valiantlie resisted him,
[Sidenote: _Hen. Hunt._] and at length (by reason of a power of men
which came to him from king Henrie) in such sort vexed and annoied the
French king, that he consulted with Baldwine earle of Flanders,
[Sidenote: Foulke earle of Aniou.] and Foulke earle of Aniou, by what
means he might best depriue king Henrie of his duchie of Normandie, and
restore the same vnto William the sonne of duke Robert, vnto whom of
right he said it did belong.
Now king Henrie hauing intelligence of his whole purpose, endeauoured on
the otherside to resist his attempts, and after he had leuied a sore
tribute of his subiects, [Sidenote: King Henrie passeth ouer into
Normandie to assist the erle of Champaigne.] passed ouer into Normandie
with a great power, and no small masse of monie, where ioining with
earle Theobald, they began to prepare for warre, purposing to follow the
same euen to the vttermost. K. Lewes in the meane time, supposing that
all hope of victorie rested in spéedie dispatch of present affaires,
determined likewise to haue inuaded Normandie vpon the sudden. But after
he perceiued that his enimies were all in a redinesse, and verie well
prouided to resist him: he staied and drew backe a little while.
Neuerthelesse in the end he became so desirous to be dooing with king
Henrie, [Sidenote: The French K. inuadeth Normandie.] that approching
néere vnto the confines of Normandie, he made manie skirmishes with the
English, yet no notable exploit passed betwixt them in that yeare.
¶ Here will I leaue the kings of England and France skirmishing and
encountring one another, and shew something more of the contention that
was betwéene the archbishops of Canturburie and Yorke, to the end that
their ambitious desire of worldlie honor may in some respect appéere.
[Sidenote: 1117. An. Reg. 18.] [Sidenote: Anselme the popes legat.]
About this verie time, Anselme the nephue to archbishop Anselme came
againe from Rome, with frée authoritie to execute the office of the
popes legat in England: which seemed a thing right strange to the
English clergie. [Sidenote: The bishop of Canturburie goth to Rome]
Wherefore the bishop of Canturburie, to preuent other inconueniences
likelie to insue, tooke vpon him to go vnto Rome, to vnderstand the
popes pleasure concerning the truth and certeintie of this matter, and
to require him in no wise to diminish the authoritie or to extenuat the
prerogatiue of his sée of Canturburie, which hitherto vsed to determine
all causes rising in his prouince.
This said archbishop came to Rome, but finding not the pope there, he
sent messengers with letters vnto him, then lieng sicke at Beneuento,
and obteined a fauourable answer, wherewith returning towards England,
he came to the king at Roan (where he had left him at his setting foorth
forward) certifieng him how he had sped in this voiage. The forsaid
Anselme was also staid by the king at Roan, and could not be suffered to
passe ouer into England all that time, till it might be vnderstood by
the returne of the archbishop, what the popes pleasure should be further
in that matter. [Sidenote: Pope Gelasius succéeded pope[9] Paschall.]
Shortlie after whose repaire to the king, word was brought that pope
Paschall was departed this life, and that Gelasius the second was
elected in his place. [Sidenote: 1118. An. Reg. 19.] This Gelemasius (to
auoid the dangers that might insue to him by reason of the schisme and
controuersie betwixt the sée of Rome, and the emperour Henrie the fift)
came into France, where he liued not long, but died in the abbeie of
Clugnie, [Sidenote: Carlixtus the second of that name pope.] after whose
decease Calixtus the second was called to the papasie.
Thus by the chance and change of popes, the legatship of Anselme could
take no place, although his bulles permitted him without limitation or
time, not onelie to call and celebrate synods for reformation of
disorders in the church, but also for the receiuing of Peter pence to be
leuied in England (in the which point pope Paschall in his life time
thought them in England verie slacke) as by the same bulles more
largelie dooth appéere. The archbishop of Canturburie had alreadie
staied foure or fiue yeares in the parties beyond the sées, about the
matter in controuersie betwixt him and Thurstane archbishop of Yorke,
who was likewise gone ouer to solicit his cause. But where as at the
first he could not find the king in anie wise agréeable to his mind, yet
when the councell should be holden at Rhemes by pope Calixt, he sued at
the leastwise for licence to go thither: but he could neither haue any
grant so to doo, till he had promised (vpon his allegiance which he
ought to the king) not to attempt anie thing there that might be
preiudiciall to the church of Canturburie in anie maner of wise.
Neuerthelesse, at his comming thither, he so wrought with bribes and
large gifts, that the popes court (a thing easilie doone in Rome)
fauoured his cause; yea, such was his successe, that the pope
consecrated him with his owne hands, although king Henrie had giuen
notice to him of the controuersie depending betwixt Thurstane and Rafe
the archbishop of Canturburie, requiring him in no wise either to
consecrate Thurstane himselfe, or grant licence to anie other person to
consecrate him; for if he did, surelie (for his part) he would banish
him quite out of his dominion, which should not be long vndoone. But now
to the purpose.
[Sidenote: 1119. An. Reg. 20.] [Sidenote: The two kings of England &
France ioine battell.] In this meane time, the warres were busilie
pursued betwixt the two kings of England & France, and a battell was
fought betweene them, with great slaughter on both sides for the space
of nine houres. The forewards on both parties were beaten downe and
ouerthrowne; [Sidenote: King Henrie hurt in the battell.] and king
Henrie receiued sundrie stripes on his head at the hands of one William
Crispine countie de Eureux, so as (though his helmet were verie strong
and sure) the blood burst out of his mouth: wherewith he was nothing
afraid, but like a fierce lion laid more lustilie about him, and stroke
downe diuerse of his enimies, namelie the said Crispine, [Sidenote: The
earle of Eureux taken prisoner.] who was there taken prisoner at the
kings feet. Now were the kings people incouraged at the valiancie and
prowesse of their king and chieftaine, so that at length they opened and
ouercame the maine battell, and setting vpon the rereward, ouerthrew the
whole armie of France, which neuer recoiled, but fought it out euen to
the vttermost. There died and were taken prisoners in this conflict
manie thousands of men. The French king leauing the field, [Sidenote:
Andelei. Nicasium.] got him vnto a place called Andelie: and the king of
England recouering a towne by the waie called Nicasium, which the French
king had latelie woone, returned vnto Rouen, where he was with great
triumph receiued, and highlie commended for his noble victorie thus
atchiued.