England, should haue warning giuen to returne into England within
foure moneths after the same summons pronounced, and that if they
failed hereof, then should the king seize vpon their goods and
possessions.
6 That the bishops of London and Norwich, should be (and by
vertue hereof were) summoned to appeare before the kings
iusticers, to make answer for that they had interdicted the lands
of erle Hugh, and excommunicated him.
7 That the Peter pence should be gathered and kept.
[Sidenote: The kings of England and France enteruiew. _Cro. Sigeb._
_Matth. Paris._] In the octaues of Easter king Henrie came to an
enterview with the French king at Gisors, where they had conference
togither of sundrie matters.
[Sidenote: King John borne.] This yeare the quéene was deliuered of a
sonne named John, who afterward was king of this realme.
[Sidenote: _Ger. Dor._ A contribution.] Moreouer, king Henrie calling a
councell of his bishops and barons in Normandie, caused and ordeined a
collection (by their aduise) to be made through all his countries and
dominions of two pence in the pound of euerie mans lands and goods,
iewels and apparell onelie excepted: to be paid this yeare 1166. and for
the space of foure yeares next ensuing, one penie of euerie pound to be
paid yearelie: and those that were not worth twentie shillings in goods
or lands (being housholders notwithstanding) or bare any office, should
paie a penie to this contribution, which was onelie granted for the
releefe of the christians in the east parts, and those that warred
against the miscreants there. The paiment thereof was appointed to be
made in the feast daie of saint Remigius, or within fiftéene daies
after. It was also ordeined, that all such as departed this life, within
the terme that this collection was in force (their debts being paid)
should giue the tenth part of the residue of all their goods vnto this
so necessarie a contribution.
King Henrie remaining now in Normandie, and vnderstanding that diuerse
lords and barons of Maine, and the marshes of Britaine, would not in his
absence shew themselues obedient vnto his wife quéene Elianor, but were
about to practise a rebellion, raised an armie, and went against them,
easilie subduing them whom he found obstinate: [Sidenote: The castell of
Foulgiers. _Matth. Paris._] and besieging the castell of Foulgiers,
tooke and vtterlie destroied it.
[Sidenote: Uizeley.] Soone after the archbishop of Canturburie came from
Pountney to Uizeley, and there (on Ascension daie) when the church was
most full of people, got him into the pulpit, [Sidenote: The archbishop
Becket accursed those in England that mainteined the customs of their
elders.] and with booke, bell, and candell solemnelie accurssed all the
obseruers, defenders, and mainteiners, with the promoters of such
customs, as within the realme of England they terme the custome of their
elders: amongst others that were accursed, was Richard de Lucie, Richard
the archdeacon of Poictiers, Jocelin de Bailleuille, Alane de Neuille,
and manie other. But they being absent, & neither called nor conuinced
(as they alleged notwithstanding they were thus excommunicated) sent
their messengers vnto the archbishop, and appealed from him, and so
feared not to enter into their churches.
[Sidenote: _R. Houe._] He had before this also written certeine letters
vnto his suffragans, denouncing some of these and other persons by
expresse name accursed, not onelie for mainteining the matter against
him, touching the ancient custome of the realme: but also for the
schisme raised in Almaine by Reignald archbishop of Colein, for the
which he accursed one John of Oxford. Moreouer, he accursed Ranulfe de
Broc, Hugh de S. Clere, & Thomas Fitz Bernard, for violentlie seizing
vpon and deteining the goods and possessions belonging to his
archbishoprike, without his consent or agréement therevnto.
The king on the other part banished out of England, and all parts of his
other dominions, all those persons that were knowen to be of kin vnto
the archbishop, both yoong and old: and furthermore sent aduertisement
to the abbat of Pountney and to his moonks, with whom the archbishop by
the popes appointment remained, that if they kept him stil in their
house, he would not faile to banish all the moonks of their order out of
England. Now the archbishop, after he had remained there scarse two
yeares, departed from thence of his owne accord, and came to the king of
France, who courteouslie receiued him, and sent him to the abbeie of
saint Columbes neere to the citie of Sens, where he remained a certeine
season, as shall be shewed hereafter.
[Sidenote: _Matth. Paris._] Shortlie after this, two legats named
William of Pauia, and John of Naples both cardinals, [Sidenote: Legats
from the pope.] came from the pope to Montmiriall, whom the archbishop
suspected rather to fauour the kings cause than his: yet he was
contented that they should haue the iudgment thereof committed vnto
them: so that first (according to the rules of the church) restitution
might be made both to him and his, of such goods as had beene taken from
them. For being spoiled, as he was, he would not stand to any iudgement,
nor could not be compelled thervnto by any reason (as he said.) Now when
the two legats saw that they could not bring any thing to passe, they
departed without any thing concluded.
[Sidenote: Comes Sagiensis. _N. Triuet._ Alerium.] About this time
William Taiuan earle of Sagium (by the consent of his sons and nephues)
deliuered into the hands of king Henrie the castels of Alerium, and Roch
Laberie, with all the appurtenances to the castels belonging.
[Sidenote: Conan duke of Britaine deceasseth. _Matt. Paris._] About this
season also Conan the duke of Britaine departed this life, leauing
behind him no issue, but one onelie daughter begot of his wife the
dutchesse Constance, the daughter of the king of Scotland, which
succéeded him in the estate. [Sidenote: A mariage concluded betwixt
Geffrey the kings son and the Duchesse of Britaine. _Wil. Paruus._]
Wherevpon king Henrie made earnest suit to procure a marriage betwixt
hir and his sonne Geffrey, which at length he brought to passe, to the
great comfort and contentation of his mind, in that his sonne had by
such good fortune atteined to the dukedome of Britaine.
At that season in Britaine were certeine Noble men of such strength and
power, that they disdained to acknowledge themselues subiect to any
superior, in somuch that through ambitious desire of rule and
preheminence, they warred continuallie one against an other, to the
great destruction and vtter vndooing of their miserable countrie, so
that the land sometime fruitfull by nature, was as it were a wildernes.
Wherevpon, those that were the weaker, perceiuing themselues too much
oppressed by the stronger, submitted themselues vnto king Henrie, and
required his aid and succour. [Sidenote: An. Reg. 13.] King Henrie
reioising to haue so good an occasion and opportunitie to reduce them to
reason, with all speed aided these supplicants and subdued the
resistants, notwithstanding their great puissance, & the strength of the
places which they kept.
[Sidenote: 1167.] In the meane while Henrie came ouer to his father, and
found him at Poictiers, from whence (shortlie after Easter) he remoued,
[Sidenote: _N. Triuet._ King Henrie inuadeth the erle of Aluergnes
lands.] and with an armie entred into the lands of the earle of
Aluergnes, which he wasted and spoiled, bicause the said earle had
renounced his allegiance to king Henrie, and made his resort to the
French king, séeking to sow discord betwixt the foresaid two kings:
which was kindled the more by a challenge pretended about the sending of
the monie ouer into the holie land, which was gathered within the
countie of Tours: for the French king claimed to send it, by reason that
the church there apperteined to his dominion: and the king of England
would haue sent it, bicause it was gathered within the countrie that
belonged to his gouernement.
[Sidenote: _Ger. Dor._ The earle of Bolongne prepareth 600. ships to
inuade England.] This yeare a great preparation of ships was made by the
earle of Bullongne, to haue inuaded England, but by the warlike
prouision of Richard Lucie, lord gouernour of the realme, the sea-coasts
were so prouided of sufficient defense, that the earles attempts came to
nothing. The cause why he made this brag, was for that the king withheld
from him certeine reuenues which he claimed to haue here in England, and
therefore he ment to recouer them by force. [Sidenote: The deceasse of
the empresse Maud. _Matth. West._] The empresse Maud mother to the king
of England (a woman in stoutnesse of stomach and warlike attempts more
famous than commonlie any of that sex) deceassed this yere the 10. of
Septem.
[Sidenote: The sée of Lincolne void 17. yeares.] Also Robert bishop of
Lincolne departed this life, after whose deceasse the sée of Lincolne
was vacant by the space of seuentéene yeares, the king in all that meane
time receiuing the profits. [Sidenote: An. Reg. 14.] [Sidenote: An
ambassage from the emperour.] The elect of Colein came ambassadour from
the emperour vnto the king of England, requiring to haue one of his
daughters giuen in marriage vnto the emperours sonne, and an other of
them vnto Henrie duke of Saxonie: which request the K. did willinglie
grant, and therevpon was the queene sent for to come ouer into
Normandie, and to bring hir sonne the lord Richard and hir daughter the
ladie Maud with hir: [Sidenote: 1168.] which ladie was married vnto the
duke of Saxonie, in the beginning of the yeare next insuing; [Sidenote:
_Matth. West._] and had issue by him three sons, Henrie, Otho, and
William, of which the middlemost came to be emperour.
The variance still depending betwixt the king and the archbishop of
Canturburie: [Sidenote: Debate betwixt the pope and the Emperour. K.
Henrie offereth to aid the emperour.] there was also about the same time
a great debate betwixt the emperour Frederike the first and pope
Alexander the third: whervpon king Henrie wrote to the emperor, and
signified vnto him, that he would aid him if néed should require against
the pope, who mainteined such a runnagate traitor as the archbishop
Becket was. Moreouer at the same time the king caused all his subiects
within the realme of England, from the child of twelue yeares old vnto
the aged person, to forsweare all obedience that might be pretended as
due to the same pope Alexander. The king for the space of two yeares
togither, remaining still in Normandie, and in other places beyond the
seas, subdued diuerse rebels, as the earle of Angoulesme, Aimerike de
Lucignie, and his sonnes Robert and Hugh.
[Sidenote: An enterview betwixt the king of England and king of France.]
Also he came to an enterview with the king of France betwixt Pacie and
Maunt, where they communed of such iniuries as were thought to be
attempted on either part. [Sidenote: The kings meet again to commen of
peace.] For the Poictouins had made their resort to the French king, and
were confederate with him against their supreme lord king Henrie, and
had deliuered pledges for assurance thereof, which pledges the French
king would not restore. [Sidenote: A truce.] But yet there was a truce
concluded betwixt them, to endure till the feast of S. John Baptist.
[Sidenote: Patrike earle of Salisburie slaine.] About the feast of
Easter Patrike the earle of Salisburie was slaine by treason of the
Poictouins, and was buried at Saint Hilaries: after whome his sonne
William succeeded in the earledome.
The Britons practised rebellions dailie: but king Henrie entring their
countrie, wan diuerse strong townes and castels, and brought them at
length vnder his subiection. Moreouer in this summer season the two
kings met againe at Fert Bernard to treat of peace, but they departed
without concluding any agréement at all. For there were manie of the
Poictouins and Britons, which tooke part with the king of France, and
hauing deliuered vnto him hostages, had a promise made them, that the
French king should not conclude an agréement with the king of England
without their consent. [Sidenote: An. Reg. 15. 1169.] Hervpon they made
warres either vpon other, till finallie (about the feast of the
Epiphanie) a peace was accorded betwixt them: [Sidenote: _Ger. Dor._ _N.
Triuet._] and then Henrie the king of Englands sonne made his homage
vnto the French king for the countie of Aniou: and the French king
granted him the office of the Seneschalcie of France, which ancientlie
belonged vnto the earles of Aniou. [Sidenote: Geffrey duke of Britaine.]
Also Geffrey duke of Britaine did homage to his elder brother the
aforesaid Henrie, by commandement of his father, for the duchie of
Britaine. And afterwards the same Geffrey went into Britaine, and at
Rheines receiued the homage and fealtie of the lords and barons of that
countrie.
King Henrie in the meane while subdued certeine rebels in Gascoine, and
returning into Normandie, built a goodlie towne and fortresse neere to
Haie de Malafrey, ycleped Beauver.
[Sidenote: Haruey de Yuon.] About the same time one Haruey de Yuon, who
had married the daughter of one William Goieth, (that died in his
iournie which he tooke into the holie land) deliuered certeine castels
into the hands of king Henrie, bicause he was in despaire to keepe them
against Theobald earle of Chartres, who through the French kings aid,
sought to dispossesse him of the same castels: wherevpon the war was
renewed betwixt the king of England and the said earle of Chartres.
Neuerthelesse king Henrie making no great accompt of those wars, went
into Britaine with his sonne Geffrey, where going about the countrie to
visit the cities and townes, he reformed many disorders, laieng as it
were a maner of a new foundation of things there, fortifieng the
castels, cities and townes, and communing in courteous manner with the
lords and péeres of the countrie, sought to win their good wils: and so
in such exercises he spent a great part of the time.
[Sidenote: An. Reg. 16. 1170.] He kept his Christmasse at Nauntes,
whither all the great lords and barons of Britaine resorted to him. The
solemnitie of which feast being past, he entred into the lands of earle
Eudo, and wasted the same, till the said earle submitted himself. At
length, after the king had taken order for the good gouernement of
Normandie, and his other countries on that side the sea, he returned
into England in the first wéeke of March, but not without great danger,
by reason of a tempest that tooke him on the seas, beginning about
midnight, and not ceassing till 9. of the clocke in the morning, about
which houre he came on land at Portesmouth, not with many of his ships,
the rest being tossed and driuen to séeke succour in sundrie créeks and
hauens of the land, and one of them which was the cheefest and newest,
was lost in the middle of the flouds, together with 400. persons, men &
women: among whome was Henrie de Aguell with two of his sons, Gilbert
Sullemuy, and Rafe Beumont the kings physician & houshold seruant.
[Sidenote: _Polydor._ Dauid was made knight by K. Henrie as _Houedon_
hath.] After this the king held his Easter at Winsor, whither William
the Scotish king came with his brother Dauid, to welcome him home, and
to congratulat his happie successe in his businesse on the further side
the seas. They were honorablie enterteined, and at their departure
princelie rewarded. [Sidenote: A prudent consideration of the king.] The
king thus returned into England, punished the shiriffes of the land very
gréeuously for their extortion, briberie, and rapine. After this,
studieng how to assure the estate of the realme vnto his sons, vpon good
consideration remembring that no liuing creature was more subiect to the
vncerteintie of death than Adams heires, [Sidenote: Mans nature
ambitious.] and that there is ingraffed such a feruent desire in the
ambitious nature of man to gouerne, that so oft as they once come in
hope of a kingdome, they haue no regard either of right or wrong, God or
the diuell, till they be in possession of their desired prey: he thought
it not the worst point of wisedome to foresee that which might happen.
For if he should chance to depart this life, and leaue his sons yoong,
and not able to mainteine wars through lacke of knowledge, it might
fortune them through the ambition of some to be defrauded and
disappointed of their lawful inheritance. Therefore to preuent the
chances of fortune, he determined whilest he was aliue to crowne his
eldest sonne Henrie, being now of the age of 17. yeares, and so to
inuest him in the kingdome by his owne act in his life time: which deed
turned him to much trouble, as after shall appeare.
Being vpon this point resolued, he called togither a parlement of the
lords both spirituall and temporall at London, [Sidenote: _R. Houed._]
and there (on S. Bartholomews daie) proclaimed his said sonne Henrie
fellow with him in the kingdome, whom after this on the sundaie
following, [Sidenote: Henrie the son crowned the 18. of Julie saith
_Matth. Paris._] being the fouretéenth daie of June 1170. Roger
archbishop of Yorke did crowne according to the manner, being commanded
so to doo by the king. This office apperteined vnto the archbishop of
Canturburie, but bicause he was banished the realme, the king appointed
the archbishop of Yorke to doo it, [Sidenote: _W. Paruus._] which he
ought not to haue doone without licence of the archbishop of Canturburie
within the precinct of his prouince (as was alledged by archbishop
Becket) who complained thereof vnto pope Alexander, and so incensed the
pope, that he being highly moued by his letters, [Sidenote: The archb.
of Yorke is forbidden the vse of the sacraments.] forbad not onelie the
archbishop of Yorke, but also Gilbert bishop of London, and Jocelin
bishop of Salisburie (who were present at the coronation) the vse of the
sacraments, which made king Henrie far more displeased with the
archbishop Thomas than he was before.
[Sidenote: _Matt. Paris._ _Polydor._ The king became seruitor to his
sonne.] Upon the daie of coronation, king Henrie the father serued his
sonne at the table as sewer, bringing vp the bores head with trumpets
before it, according to the maner. Whervpon (according to the old adage,
Immutant mores homines cùm dantur honores)
[Sidenote: Honours change manners.]
the yoong man conceiuing a pride in his heart, beheld the standers-by
with a more statly countenance than he had béen woont. The archbishop of
Yorke, who sat by him, marking his behauior, turned vnto him, & said;
[Sidenote: Yong men set vp in dignitie easilie forget themselues.] "Be
glad my good sonne, there is not an other prince in the world that hath
such a sewer at his table." To this the new king answered, as it were
disdainefullie, thus: "Why doost thou maruell at that? My father in
doing it, thinketh it not more than becommeth him, he being borne of
princelie bloud onlie on the mothers side, serueth me that am a king
borne hauing both a king to my father, and a queene to my mother." Thus
the yoong man of an euill and peruerse nature, was puffed vp in pride by
his fathers vnseemelie dooings.
But the king his father hearing his talke, was verie sorrowfull in his
mind, and said to the archbishop softlie in his eare: "It repenteth me,
it repenteth me my lord, that I haue thus aduanced the boy." For he
gessed hereby what a one he would prooue afterward, that shewed himselfe
so disobedient and froward alreadie. But although he was displeased with
himselfe in that he had doone vndiscréetlie, yet now when that which was
doone could not be vndoone, he caused all the Nobles and lords of the
realme togither with the king of Scots and his brother Dauid, to doo
homage vnto his said sonne thus made fellow with him in the kingdome:
but he would not release them of their oth of allegiance, wherein they
stood bound to obeie him the father, so long as he liued.
¶ Howbeit some write that he renounced his estate, first before all the
lords of the land, and after caused his sonne to be crowned: but in such
vncerteine points set foorth by parciall writers, that is to be receiued
as a truth, which is confirmed by the order and sequele of things after
doone and put in practise. For true it is, that king Henrie the father
(so long as his sonne liued) did shew himselfe sometime as fellow with
his sonne in gouernement, and sometime as absolute king: and after his
sons decease, he continued in the entier gouernment, so long as he
liued. But to procéed.
The French king hearing that his sonne in law was thus crowned, and not
his daughter the wife of Henrie the sonne, [Sidenote: The French king
offended.] was highlie offended therewith, and threatned to make war
against king Henrie the father, except his daughter Margaret might
receiue the crowne also as quéene immediatlie.
The cause why she was not crowned, was by reason of hir yoong yeares,
and for that she had not as yet accompanied with hir husband. But K.
Henrie the father vnderstanding the French kings threats, sailed ouer
into Normandie, where whilest they prepared for war on both sides, by
the earnest diligence of Theobald earle of Blois, [Sidenote: An
enteruiew of the kings. _R. Houed._] both the kings came to an enteruiew
at Uendosme, where at length they were accorded, vpon promise made by
king Henrie, that he would cause his sonne to be crowned againe, and
with him his wife the said Margaret the French kings daughter as quéene.
The French king contented therewith, departed homewards, and king Henrie
returning came to Uernon, where he fell into so great a sicknesse, that
anon it was noised ouer all the countrie. [Sidenote: He made his
testament. _Rog. Houed._] Insomuch that he was in such despaire of life,
that he made his testament: wherein he assigned his sonne Richard the
dutchie of Aquitaine, and all those lands which came by quéene Elianor
the mother of the same Richard. And to his sonne Geffrey he bequeathed
Britaine (with the daughter of earle Conan) which he had purchased to
his vse of the French king. And to his sonne king Henrie he gaue the
dutchie of Normandie, and all those lands which came by his father
Geffrey earle of Aniou. And to his yoongest sonne John be bequeathed the
earledome of Mortaine. And finally appointed where he would haue his
bodie to be buried.
[Sidenote: _Polydor._ King Henrie the sonne his misorder.] In the meane
time Henrie the sonne remaining at home in England, fell from all good
order of measure kéeping, and gaue himselfe to all excessiue riot,
spending and wasting his reuenues inordinatelie. Of which behauiour his
father being aduertised, returned into England, where he taried not
long, but passed ouer againe into Normandie, hauing his said sonne in
his companie, [Sidenote: An. Reg. 16. 1170.] meaning thereby to remoue
him from the companie of those that were verie like to corrupt this
nature, and frame the same to all lewdnesse: for he knew that
---- commercia turpia sanctos
Corrumpunt mores: multi hoc periere veneno,
Labimur in vitium & facilè ad peiora mouemur.
In this meane while Thomas the archbishop of Canturburie remained in
exile almost six yeares, and could not be restored, till partlie by
swelling threats of the pope, and partlie at the earnest suit of Lewes
the French king, Theobald earle of Blois, and others king Henrie began
somewhat to shew himselfe conformable towards an agréement.
[Sidenote: _Ex Quadrilagio._ The king and the arch. Becket met togither
in the presence of the French king.] Wherevpon the two kings met diuerse
times, and the archbishop Thomas comming with the French king, at one
time humbled himselfe so to the king of England, that knéeling downe at
his féet, he said: "My souereigne liege lord, I commit the whole cause
of the controuersie betwixt your grace and me, vnto your maiesties
order, Gods honour onlie reserued."