sent his ambassadors to Rome, partlie to purge himselfe of the
archbishops death, partlie to excuse his fault, for that in his furie he
had vttered words against the archbishop, which had giuen occasion to
naughtie men to contriue his death, & partlie to require the pope to
send his legats into England, to make inquirie both for the death of the
archbishop, and also of the state of the clergie. The kings ambassadors
found the pope at Tiuoli, and there were heard to declare their message:
but little credit was giuen to their words, in so much that the pope
plainelie told them, that he vnderstood the matter to be much otherwise
than they had declared. Yet according to the kings request, he sent two
of his cardinals into England, which vpon due examination, might
vnderstand the truth of the matter thoroughlie as apperteined.
[Sidenote: _Matth. Paris._] There be that write, that the king sent
ambassadours twice vnto the pope, for the first that went, could not
come to his presence, nor be suffered to declare their message: those
that were sent the second time, were receiued of some of the cardinals,
but yet onelie with words without anie other way of freendlie
interteinement. At length, when the feast of Easter drew néere, on the
which either absolution or excommunication was to be denounced against
euerie man, there were certeine of the cardinals which gaue intelligence
to the English ambassadours, that the pope by aduice of the colledge,
meant on the thursdaie before Easter daie to declare the sentence of
interdiction against the king of England, and against all his dominions,
and to confirme that which had beene alreadie pronounced against Richard
the archbishop of Yorke, and the other bishops his complices.
The ambassadours being brought to a streict issue herewith, by helpe of
some of the cardinals found meanes to haue it put into the popes head,
how the English ambassadours had commission to vndertake, that the king
of England should obeie in all things what order soeuer it pleased the
pope and his court to award him. Herevpon they tooke their oth, that it
should so be, and by that meanes they auoided the interdiction. The
messengers of the archbishop of Yorke & the other bishops vsed the like
shift, but yet the same daie the pope did excommunicate the knights that
had murthered the archbishop Thomas, and all those that had procured,
aided, succoured, or abetted them therein. [Sidenote: _Ger. Dor._ The
ambassadours were glad to vse a shift by briberie.] Some write, that
those ambassadours which the king sent to the court of Rome, could not
be suffered to come to the popes presence, till according to the
fashion, they had giuen 500. marks in reward, and so at length were
admitted to his presence.
Howsoeuer that matter passed, the king stood in great feare least his
land should be interdicted, in so much that he commanded the wardens of
the ports both on this side the sea and beyond, to take good héed, least
any cōming with letters of interdiction should passe into England;
but if any such came, that the bringer should be arrested and committed
to prison. Also he commanded, that no clearke were suffered to come ouer
into England, except he first tooke an oth that he came about no
businesse that might turne to the preiudice of the king or his realme.
This commandement he set forth, at what time he transported ouer into
England himselfe, where he landed this yeare at Portesmouth the third
daie of August. About which time it came into the kings mind, to make a
conquest of Ireland vpon this occasion.
[Sidenote: Sundrie rulers in Ireland.] It chanced, whereas diuerse
rulers or (as we may call them) petie kings reigned the same seson in
that Iland (which was diuided into seuerall estates or kingdomes) that
continuall strife and dissention remained amongst them, so that
oftentimes they made sore war after the manner of their countrie one
against an other, (for
[Sidenote: _Luc. lib. 1._]
Nulla fides regni socijs, omnisque potestas
Impatiens consortis erit.)
Herevpon it fortuned, that one of those kings or rulers, about the 14.
yeare of this kings reigne, was sore afflicted and oppressed by his
neighbours, wherevpon taking aduice what he might best doo for remedie
in that case, [Sidenote: _Matth. Paris._ _W. Paruus._ Sée more hereof in
Ireland.] at length he sent his son into England to reteine souldiours
and men of warre, and to bring them ouer vnto his aid in hope of gaine,
& such commodities as he assured them of.
Now it came to passe, that by the assistance of such Englishmen as then
came ouer, the foresaid Irish king began to recouer his losses, and in
the end waxed so strong, that he subdued all his enimies. When he had
thus obteined the victorie, he did not onelie not send backe his aiders,
but so liberallie reteined them still with him, that they had no hast to
returne home, but setled themselues in that countrie, where they liued a
pleasant and verie licentious life. For this cause also the stoutest
lords and rulers of the Irish nation began sore to stomach the matter
against him that had thus brought the English nation into their
countrie, in so much that the Englishmen perceiuing their malice, and
therewithall hauing some feare of themselues, bicause of their small
number, they sent ouer into England for such as wanted liuing, and were
willing to seeke for it in other countries, of which sort, great numbers
went ouer thither within a short space, whereby the multitude of the
English greatlie increased: [Sidenote: Erle Strangbow. _N. Triuet._] but
for as much as they had no ruler to gouerne them, they procured Richard
Strangbow earle of Struguille, aliàs Chepstow in Wales to come ouer
thither, and to receiue the souereigne gouernement, with such honorable
prouision for maintenance of his estate, as should séeme requisit.
[Sidenote: _N. Triuet._ _Wil. Paruus._] ¶ Some write, that this earle
Richard (being also earle Marshall of England) for a rebellion moued
against king Henrie, had before this time forfeited all his lands; but
others affirme that through riot and more sumptuous port than his
abilitie might beare, he had made awaie and consumed the most part of
his liuing, and was run so far in debt, that he knew not how to satisfie
his creditors, and therefore was he the readier to incline to their
request, which made labour vnto him to come ouer into Ireland to haue
the gouernance of such English people, as had alreadie planted
themselues there to inhabit & remaine. Herevpon he prepared a nauie, and
assembled togither a great number of such as lacked liuing, and shortlie
determined to passe ouer into Ireland. [Sidenote: Strangbow
countermanded.] But euen as he was readie to set forward, there came
vnto him messengers from king Henrie, commanding him to staie, and not
to take that iournie in hand. Howbeit the earle hauing nothing in
England whereof to make anie great accompt, notwithstanding the kings
commandement, tooke the sea, and passed ouer into that countrie, where
he greatlie delited such Englishmen as dailie had looked for his repaire
and comming thither.
Shortlie after, ioining those which he brought ouer with him, with the
other that were there before his comming, he thought to worke some feat,
whereby he might make his name famous, & cause the Irishmen to haue him
in feare. [Sidenote: Dublin won. Additions to _Iohn Pike._] Wherevpon he
first assailed the citie of Dublin, and by force wan it. He likewise wan
Waterford, & diuerse other townes neere vnto the sea side. Also to haue
some freendship amongst those barbarous people, [Sidenote: Strangbow
marrieth Dermutius his daughter.] he married the daughter of the
confederate king, and so grew into verie great estimation in that
countrie and region.
Howbeit, with these and the like doings of the earle, king Henrie tooke
such displeasure (but chéeflie for disobeieng his commandement) that he
confined him the realme, [Sidenote: Strangbow confined.] seized his
lands as forfeited, and by proclamation restreined all his subiects from
passing into Ireland with any kind of merchandize, prouision of vittels,
or other commodities whatsoeuer. By reason whereof, earle Strangbow,
partlie by constreint, [Sidenote: He séeketh to procure the kings
fauour.] and partlie in hope to returne into fauour with king Henrie,
and for other respects as may be coniectured, aduertised him of the
whole state of the countrie of Ireland, promising him, that if it would
please his grace to come ouer thither, he would so worke that he should
be admitted souereigne lord of all the land. [Sidenote: The king
pardoneth him. _N. Triuet._[3]] Heerevpon king Henrie pardoned him of
all former trespasses, and restored vnto him all his lands and
inheritances within England and Normandie: and further, confirmed to him
such liuings abroad in Ireland out of the walled townes, as he held
alreadie in right of his wife: and furthermore ordeined, that he should
be high steward of Ireland vnder him.
King Henrie then returning out of Normandie into England about the sixt
day of August (as is aforesaid) caused a nauie of 400. ships to be made
readie, [Sidenote: _Rog. Houed._] and to assemble at Milford hauen in
Penbrokshire, with all such prouision and furniture as was thought
necessarie for such a iournie. Herewith also he leuied a great armie
both of horssemen and footmen, and came forward with the same vnto
Penbroke, and so when all his prouision and ships were readie,
[Sidenote: Milford hauen.] he entred the sea at Milford hauen aforesaid
the sixtéenth daie of October, [Sidenote: King Henrie landeth in
Ireland. Crowch.] and landed in Ireland, at a place called Crowch, not
past seauen miles from Waterford the day next folowing, about nine of
the clocke: and on the morrow after being S. Luke the euangelists day,
he with all his armie marched foorth to Waterford, where he found
William Fitz Aldelme his sewer, and Robert Fitz Bernard, with other
whome he had sent thither before him for such purposes as he thought
most conuenient. He remained at Waterford fiftéene daies, during which
time, there came in vnto him the king of Corke, the king of Limerike,
the king of Ossorie, the king of Méeth, Reignald de Waterford, and
diuerse other great princes of Ireland. [Sidenote: The surrender made by
erle Strangbow.] At his first arriuall, the foresaid earle Richard
surrendred into his hands all those townes and places which he had
subdued in that countrie.
Herewithall the whole land began to tremble, so that the rulers of
townes and countries sent vnto him messengers; offering to become
tributaries, and to deliuer hostages: [Sidenote: Sundrie rulers in a
land what weakenes it causeth.] for whilest euerie of those rulers which
had the gouernment of Ireland in their hands, feared their owne estate,
and mistrusted their owne powers, they all in maner submitted
themselues, so that this victorie chanced to king Henrie, without the
drawing foorth of his sword, and in such wise, that he could not haue
wished for better or more speedie successe therein. For whereas the
whole Iland was diuided into sundrie dominions, and ruled by sundrie
gouernours, not drawing all one waie, but through factions and contrarie
studies one enuieng an others wealth (for
[Sidenote: _Ouid. li. 3. de art. Stat. 1. Th._]
Non bene cum socijs regna venúsque manent,
---- Socijsq; comes discordia regnis)
nothing more hindred the fierce and vnquiet nation from making
resistance, than that they could not agrée to take councell togither for
defending of their liberties, and entier state of the commonwelth.
Whervpon, whilest euerie of them apart by himselfe was in doubt to
attempt the hazard of war against so mightie a king, they were all
ouercome, as were the Britons likewise in the time of Cesar and the
Saxons. King Henrie therefore gladlie receiued their humble submission,
and they doing homage vnto him, sware to be his liege and faithfull
subiects. Onelie Roderike gouernour of Connagh refused to submit
himselfe.
[Sidenote: Roderike K. of Connagh.] This Roderike pretended to be the
chéefe king of Ireland, and therefore kept continuall war with the other
rulers, which was partlie the cause wherefore they submitted themselues
so soone vnto king Henrie. [Sidenote: _Matth. Paris._ _Polydor._ The
nature of the countrie of Connagh.] The said Roderike held that part of
Ireland which lieth toward the west, being full of great and thicke
woods, and defended with verie high & great mountaines, closed also with
waters and marishes, so that it should be verie hard, and speciallie in
the winter season, to bring an armie vnto it: which was the onelie cause
whie king Henrie attempted nothing against Roderike at that time, but
tooke in hand to plant garisons of souldiers in places conuenient to
kéepe the land in quiet, which he had woone alreadie, and to giue order
for the gouernement of the whole estate of the countrie to his behoofe
and commoditie. Hervpon going to Dublin, which is the cheefest citie of
all Ireland, he assembled all the rulers and lords as well spirituall as
temporall togither in councell, consulting with them for the assurance
of the dominion of the land to him and his heires for euermore.
[Sidenote: The allegation of the Irishmen.] The Irishmen alleged for
themselues, that his deuise therin could not be compassed, vnles the
popes authoritie were therein first obteined: for they affirmed, that
immediatlie vpon receiuing the christian faith, they did submit
themselues, & all that they had, vnto the see of Rome, so that they
could not acknowledge any for their souereigne lord, but onelie the
pope. Which opinion some of them (although vainelie) haue holden vnto
these our daies. King Henrie then vnderstanding this matter, dispatched
ambassadours to Rome, requiring of pope Alexander, that he would by his
authoritie grant him licence to ioine the countrie of Ireland vnto the
realme of England, who went thither with all expedition according to
their charge.
And certeinelie, these ambassadors whom the king sent now out of Ireland
to Rome in this behalfe, returned with better spéed in their message,
than did the other whom he had sent to him out of Normandie, to excuse
him of the death of the archbishop Thomas. For the pope vpon good aduice
taken in this matter (considering that he had now no profit growing to
him by that Ile, and that the Irish people being wild and rude, were far
off from all good order of christianitie in diuerse points) thought it
would be a meane to bring some gaine to his cofers, and the people more
easilie from their naughtie customes, if they were once made subiect
vnto some christian prince of puissance able to tame them, and
constreine them by force to be more meeke and tractable. In
consideration wherof, he was content to grant vnto the king all that
herein he required.
Herevpon, king Henrie considering in what respect the pope was so readie
to accomplish his request, [Sidenote: A councell at Cassill.] called a
councell of the bishops to assemble at Cassill, where manie things were
decréed and ordeined for the reforming of diuerse customes vsed before
amongst the Irish men, and méerelie repugnant to the lawes of the
christian religion. [Sidenote: _R. Houed._] There were also appointed as
solicitors in these matters, and to sit as assistants with the Irish
bishops, one of the kings chaplaines named Nicholas, [Sidenote: The
archdeacon of Landaf.] and one Rafe the archdeacon of Landaf.
1 Amongst other things there concluded, it was ordeined, that children
shuld be brought to the church, there to receiue baptisme in faire
water, with thrée dippings into the same, in the name of the father, the
sonne, and the Holie-ghost, and that by the préests hands, except in
case where danger of death was feared, which then might be doone by any
other person, and in any other place.
2 Also it was ordeined, that tithes should be paid to churches, and that
such laie men as would kéepe wiues, should keepe them according to the
lawes of holie church, and not otherwise.
3 The Peter pence also that Adrian reserued in his buls, sent to the
king touching the same matter in the beginning of his reigne (with
diuerse other things) were in like maner appointed to be paid, so that
nothing was omitted that might pleasure the pope, or recouer his
gratious fauour alreadie lost in the matters of Thomas Becket, whereof
you haue alreadie heard. Thus you heare what successe our ambassadours
had in this voiage. ¶ Now will I tell you (yer I procéed any further)
what strange things did happen in England whilest the king was thus
occupied in Ireland, and within the compasse of that yeare, and first of
all, [Sidenote: An. Reg. 18.] in the night before Christmas day last
passed, [Sidenote: _Matth. Paris._ _Matth. West._ A sore tempest.]
[Sidenote: 1172.] there chanced such a tempest of lightning and thunder,
that the like had not bin heard of, which tempest was not onelie
generallie throughout all England, but also in other foreine parts néere
adioining, namelie in Ireland, where it continued all that night, and
Christmas daie following, to so great terror of the people, that they
looked for present death.
The same night at Andeuer in Hamshire, a préest being in his praiers
before the altar, was striken with the tempest, so that he died yer it
was nine of the clocke in the morning. [Sidenote: Lightning.] Also, a
temporall man that was there the same time, was burned with the
lightning, and whereas his brother being present, ran to him to haue
succoured him, he likewise was caught with the fire, and in like maner
consumed. [Sidenote: _Polydor._] In Ireland also, euill diet in eating
of fresh flesh and drinking of water, contrarie to the custome of the
Englishmen, brought the flix and other diseases in the kings armie, so
that manie died thereof, for
[Sidenote: _Pub. Mim._]
Grauissimum est imperium consuetudinis.
[Sidenote: _Rog. Houed._] Wherfore, about the beginning of Lent, the
king remoued from Dublin, & went vnto the citie of Wexford, where he
remained till toward Easter, and then prepared to returne into England:
[Sidenote: The kings gift vnto Hugh Lacie.] but before he tooke the sea,
he gaue and by his charter confirmed to Hugh Lacie, all the lands of
Meeth, with the appurtenances, to hold of him & his heires in fee by
knights seruice, as to find him an hundred knights or men of armes (as
we may terme them) for euermore. He gaue also vnto the same Hugh, the
kéeping of the citie of Dublin, and made him chéefe iusticer of Ireland.
Unto Robert Fitz Bernard he committed the cities of Waterford and
Wesseford, that he should kéepe the same to his vse, and build in them
castels, for a more sure defense against the enimies.
Thus when the king had planted garisons of souldiers in those & other
places also where was thought néedfull; and further had giuen order for
the politike gouernement of the whole countrie, so far as he had
conquered; he first sent ouer his houshold seruants, which tooke the
water on Easter daie, and landed at Milleford, but he himselfe and other
of the Nobles staid there all that daie, by reason of the high
solemnitie of that feast: howbeit the daie next after they tooke the sea
togither, and landed néere to S. Dauids in south Wales, [Sidenote: The
king returneth into England. _Ger. Dor._ The popes legats.] from thence
(without delaie) he hasted foorth to Douer, and hauing his sonne the
yoong king with him, he sailed ouer into Normandie in the crosse weeke
to meet the popes legats, whom he vnderstood to be alreadie come
thither. At his méeting with them there, he gaue them verie good
countenance, and right honorable enterteinment, omitting nothing that
might doo them pleasure.
Here when the matter came to be discussed touching the death of
archbishop Thomas, bicause it could not be certeinelie tried out in whom
the fault rested, much reasoning to and fro passed, about obiections and
excuses laid (as in doubtfull cases it often happeneth) so that welneere
the space of foure moneths was spent in debating of that matter. In
which meane time, the king to auoid all contention and strife betwixt
him and king Lewes, sent his son Henrie togither with his wife ouer into
England there eftsoones to receiue the crowne, [Sidenote: _Ger. Dor._
_R. Houed._] and with them came Rotrod the archbishop of Rouen, Giles
bishop of Eureux, Roger bishop of Worcester, and diuerse others.
Herevpon the yoong king being arriued in England, called an assemblie of
the lords spirituall and temporall at Winchester, [Sidenote: _Rog.
Houed._] where both he and his said wife Margaret daughter to the French
king was crowned with all solemnitie, by the hands of the said Rotrod
archbishop of Rouen vpon the twentie one of August.
In the meane time (saith one writer) his father king Henrie might haue
foreséene and found means to haue auoided the discord, which euen now
began to spring vp betwixt him and his children, causing a sore and
ciuill warre, if he had not beene a man that vtterlie did detest all
superstitious admonitions. For being told (I wot not by whome) that if
he did not repent, and take more regard to minister iustice, which is a
vertue that conteineth in it selfe all other vertues; it would come to
passe, that within short time he should fall into great and manifold
calamities.
[Sidenote: A strange apparition.] "In his returne also out of Ireland
(saith an other) vpon the sundaie next after the feast of Easter,
commonlie called Lowsundie, as he should take his horsse at Cardiffe in
Wales, there appeared vnto him a man of pale and wanne colour,
barefooted, and in a white kirtell, who boldlie in the Dutch language
spake vnto him, and admonished him of amendment of life, and to haue
regard that the sabboth daie (commonlie called the sundaie) might be
more duelie kept and obserued, so that no markets nor bodilie workes be
holden, vsed, or doone vpon that day within the bounds of his dominions,
except that which apperteineth to dressing of meats. And if thou doo
(saith he) after this commandement, I assure thée that all things which
thou dooest enterprise of good intent and purpose, shall sort to good
effect and verie luckie end.
"But the king was not greatlie pleased with these words, and in French
said to the knight that held his bridle; 'Aske of this churle, whether
he had dreamed all this that he telleth or not.' When the knight had
expounded it in English, the man answered, Whether I haue dreamed it in
my sleepe or not, take thou héed to my words, & marke what day this is:
for if thou amend not thy life, and doo as I haue aduertised thée,
before a twelue moneth come to an end, thou shalt heare such tidings as
will make thee sorowfull all the daies of thy life after." The man
hauing thus spoken, vanished awaie suddenlie, and the king tooke his
words but in sport: howbeit he woondered that he was so suddenlie gone,
as he did likewise at his sudden appearing. Manie other warnings the
king had (saith mine author) but he set little thereby.
The second warning he receiued of an Irishman, that told him of tokens
verie priuie. The third time a knight of Lindsey, called Philip de
Chesterby, passing the sea, came to the king into Normandie, and there
declared vnto him seauen articles, which he should amend, which if he
did, then he should reigne seauen yeares in great honor, and subdue Gods
enimies. If he did not amend and redresse those points, then should he
come to death with dishonour in the fourth yeare.
1 The first article or point was, that he should séeke to
mainteine holie church.
2 The second, that he should cause rightfull lawes to be
executed.
3 The third, that he should condemne no man without lawfull
processe.
4 The fourth, that he should restore the lands, goods and
heritages to those rightfull owners from whome he had taken them
by any wrong or vnlawfull meanes.
5 The fift, that he should cause euerie man to haue right,
without bribing and giuing of méed.
6 The sixt, that he should paie his debts as well due to any of
his subiects, for any stuffe taken vp of them to his vse, as to
his seruants and souldiers, who bicause they could not haue their
wages truelie paid them, fell to robbing and spoiling of true
labouring men.
7 The seauenth and last article was, that he should cause the
Jewes to be auoided out of the land, by whom the people were sore
impouerished with such vnmercifull vsurie as they exercised.
The king (notwithstanding these and other like warnings) tooke no regard
to the amendment of his sinfull life, wherevpon (as is thought) the
troubles which ensued did light vpon him by Gods iust appointment.