was aduertised hereof, he turned with all speed into Normandie, that he
might prouide for timelie resistance, if the French king came forward to
inuade his dominions. [Sidenote: _Polydor._ Heauie newes from the east
parts.] About the selfe same time came newes out of the holie land, that
Saladine after the winning of Jerusalem, pursued his victorie with such
successe, that he had taken from the christians the more part of all
other towns and strengths within the land. These newes were nothing
pleasant to the christian princes, and namelie the two kings Henrie and
Philip seemed sorowfull for the same, [Sidenote: An enteruiew betwixt
the two kings.] and therefore came to an enterview togither on the 21.
day of Januarie betwixt Trie and Gisors, where the archbishop of Tire
was present through whose earnest exhortation the two kings were made
freends, [Sidenote: The two kings receiue the crosse. The French wear
red crosses, The English white, The Flemings gréene.] and the same day
receiued the crosse at his hands in purpose to make a iourneie togither
against those Saracens that had doone such iniuries to the christian
name. And for a difference that one nation might be knowne from an
other, the French king and his people tooke vpon them to weare read
crosses, the king of England and his subiects white crosses: but the
earle of Flanders and his men ware gréene.
Herewith they departed asunder, each one repairing to their countries to
prouide their armies, and make them in readinesse to set forward by a
day towards this necessarie iournie. King Henrie comming to Chinon, by
aduise of his councell, [Sidenote: An aid granted to them in the Holie
Land. _Wil. Paruus._] ordeined that euerie one of his subiects should
yeeld a tenth part of his reuenues and mooueable goods for that yeare
towards the aid of them in the holie land (corne of that yeares growth
excepted, and also all armour, horsses, bookes, apparell, ornaments of
chappels, and pretious stones, which should not come in the rate of
goods now taxed, nor be charged with this paiment.) Moreouer those
knights and men of warre that were appointed to go in this iourneie
paied nothing, but had that monie also towards their furniture, which
were gathered of their tenants and farmers, howbeit burgesses and others
that tooke vpon them the crosse without license of their lords, paied
his tenth, so that none of them went free.
[Sidenote: Good orders and discipline instituted.] There were also good
orders deuised, both for the aduancement of Gods glorie, and the releefe
of the common-wealth, as that no man should sweare in any outragious
maner, that no man should plaie at cards, dice or tables, and that no
maner of person after Easter should weare any costlie furs or cloth of
scarlet, nor that men should vse to haue their tables serued with more
than two dishes of meat at one meale, nor should haue their apparell
cut, iagged, or laced: and further, that none of them should take any
women foorth with them in this iourneie, except such a landresse, of
whome there might not growe anie suspicion of wanton life. It was also
ordeined, that the monie of such as died in this iournie, should go
towards the finding and maintenance of their seruants and of poore
people, and towards the aid of the christians in the holie land.
Moreouer, the pope granted that all those that went foorth in this
iournie, repenting and confessing their sinnes, should be absolued and
pardoned of the same. [Sidenote: The king returneth into England.] The
king hauing thus taken for his businesse in the parts on the further
side the sea, came now ouer into England againe, landing at Winchelsey
on a Saturday the thirtith day of Januarie, [Sidenote: A council holden
at Gaitington. _Ger. Dor._] and calling a councell togither at
Gaitington, which is eight or nine miles from Northampton, he there
declared what orders he had taken for his iournie into the holie land.
Wherevpon the bishops of Norwich and Lincolne, and a great number of
other people tooke vpon them the crosse at the preaching of the
archbishop of Canturburie, and the bishop of Rochester.
[Sidenote: A tenth leuied.] This doone, king Henrie tooke order also for
the leuieng of the tenth, as well here in England, as he had doone in
the parts subiect to him on the further side the sea. He also sent Hugh
bishop of Durham, and other both spirituall and temporall persons,
[Sidenote: The king of Scots.] vnto William king of Scots, to gather the
tenth likewise within his countrie, but he met them betwixt Wark and
Brightham, and would not suffer them to enter into Scotland, but he
offered to giue vnto the king of England in recompense of the tenths,
and for to haue againe his castels, the summe of 5000. marks of siluer,
which could not be accepted. The French king likewise gathered the
tenths in his countrie towards this intended iournie. [Sidenote: The
good meaning of the two kings disappointed. _Polydor._] But by the
working of some wicked spirit (as we may well thinke) which enuied the
aduancement or the christian common-wealth, that good meaning of the two
kings was broken and disappointed: for the peace latelie concluded
betwixt them continued not long vnuiolated.
The French writers impute the fault thereof vnto English men, and the
English writers laie it to French men. The French writers say, that
earle Richard the son of king Henrie in breach of the league, [Sidenote:
Reimond earle of Tholouze.] made warre vpon Reimond earle of Tholouze.
The English writers reproue the French king as a wicked man, in that he
should of purpose breake the peace and moue warre against king Heurie,
to withdraw him from going to make warre against the Saracens, to the
which enterprise, he was wholie bent and inclined. Such is the maner of
manie writers, who more affectionat to the loue of their countrie than
to the truth, doo not obserue the law of histories in their writings,
but rather inueie one against another in a bralling and reprouing maner.
¶ Examples hereof are more than by any possibilitie may be remembred,
and namelie for breuitie sake George Bucchanan in the 8. booke of his
Scotish historie verie reprochfullie speaketh of Richard Grafton (a
right reuerend man whiles he liued and of entier name also being dead)
charging him with ignorance, and the report of a shamelesse lier. Whose
case, bicause it is not so conuenient to be handled in this place as els
where, we will remit to the reigne of* Edward the third, [Sidenote: *
Where he shall be fellie & sufficientlie answered.] in whose time John
Balioll was king of Scots, cleere him (as well as we can) from a Scotish
slander. Another example also we haue, and that most notorious, of
Gabriel Prateolus the Jesuit, who hauing neuer beene in England, nor yet
vnderstanding the English toong, blusheth not to say that the
translation of the English bible hath in it a thousand faults. O
singular and insufferable impudencie, when men passe not what they vomit
and cast vp out of a full gorge surfetting with malice and rancour! But
what shall we say,
[Sidenote: _Horat. in art. poet._]
Omne superuacuum pleno de pectore manat.
[Sidenote: _Rog. Houed._ The nobles of Poictou rebell against earle
Richard.] In deed (as Roger Houeden and other doo witnes) the foresaid
earle Reimond, and also Aimer earle of Angolesme, Geffrey de Racon, and
Geffrey de Lusignan, with the most part of all the nobles of Poictou,
made warre against earle Richard, and he held tacke against them all,
and in the end ouercame them. Amongst other of earle Reimonds part whom
he tooke, [Sidenote: Peter Seille] was one Peter Seille, by whose
counsell earle Reimond had taken diuerse merchants of Poictou that were
subiects to earle Richard, & doone manie other displeasures to him and
to his countrie, wherefore earle Richard kept this Peter in verie close
prison, and would not put him to his ransome: in somuch that earle
Reimond tooke two of the king of Englands knights, sir Robert Poer, and
sir Richard Fraser, as they were returning from Compostella, where they
had béene to visit the bodie of S. James, but they were quicklie set at
libertie by the French kings commandement, for the reuerence of S. James
whose pilgrims they were.
[Sidenote: Erle Richard inuadeth the earle Tholouze lands.] After this,
earle Richard entred with a great armie into the lands of earle Reimond,
wasted the same, and tooke by siege a castell of his situate néere vnto
Tholouze, called Moisac: whereof the French king hearing, sent out of
hand to the king of England, requiring to know if the damages doone by
his sonne earle Richard vnto him & his people in Tholouze, were doone by
his commandement, for the which he demanded restitution. Herevnto the
king of England answered, that his sonne earle Richard did nothing in
that behalfe, either by his knowledge or commandement: but that as he
had signified to him by the archbishop of Dublin, what soeuer he did
therin, was doone by the counsell of the French king himselfe.
Howsoeuer this matter went, certeine it is, that king Philip taking
weapon in hand, [Sidenote: Annales de France.] vpon a sudden entred into
Berrie, and tooke from king Henrie Chasteau Raoull, Brezancois,
Argenton, Mountrichard, Mountresor, Vandosme, Leprose, Blanc en Berrie,
Culan and Molignon. Wherfore king Henrie (who was at this[13] time in
England about to prepare an armie to go therewith into the holie land)
when he heard thereof, [Sidenote: _Rog. Houed._ The archbishop of
Canturburie with the bishops of Chester, saith _Ger. Dor._] with all
spéed he sent Baldwin archbishop of Canturburie, and Hugh bishop of
Durham ouer into France, to appease the French kings displeasure with
courteous words and reasonable persuasions if it might be: but when that
could not be brought to passe, he sailed ouer into Normandie himselfe,
with an armie of Englishmen and Welshmen, landing with the same at
Herflue the 10. daie of Julie, [Sidenote: _Ger. Dor._] after he had
beene sore tossed by a cruell tempest that rose as he was on the sea, to
the great danger of his person, & all that were with him.
Now after his comming to land, he repaired vnto Alencon, increasing his
power by gathering vp souldiers and men of warre out of Normandie and
other his countries on that side the sea. [Sidenote: Chateau Roux it is
called in the French annales: but y^e chronicles of Aniou name it
Chasteau Raoul, and rightlie as I thinke.] In the meane time his sonne
Richard earle of Poictou entred into Berrie with a mightie armie, and
the French king deliuering Chateau Raoull vnto the keeping of sir
William de Berres returned into France, so that earle Richard spoiled
and wasted the lands of those earls and barons which tooke the French
part exceedinglie. The French king kept him as yet within France, and
durst not come foorth now after the ariuall of king Henrie, but manie
enterprises were atchiued by the capteines on both sides. Philip bishop
of Beauuois inuading the frontiers of Normandie, burned Blangeuille,
belonging to the earle of Augi, and the castell Albemarle (that belonged
to William de Mandeuille, whereof he bare the title of earle) and wasted
the countrie round about. The French king also came to the towne of
Trow, and burned it, and tooke 40. men of armes there, but the castell
he could not win. On the other part, Richard earle of Poictou tooke a
strong place called Les Roches, beyond Trow towards Vandosme, [Sidenote:
Sergeants.] with 25. men of armes, and 60. yeomen.
About this time king Henrie sent ambassadours vnto the French king, as
Walter the archbishop of Rouen, John bishop of Eureux, and William
Marshall, to require restitution for the damages doone to him and his
people. And furthermore, that if the French king refused to make
restitution, then had they in commandement to declare defiance against
him. Wherevnto the French king answered, that he would not giue ouer to
make warre till he had Berrie, and the countrie of Veuxin or Veulgesine
wholie in his possession. Wherefore king Henrie with a mightie armie (on
the tuesdaie after the feast of the decollation of S. John) entred into
the realme of France, and burned manie townes and villages, approching
the same day néere to the towne of Maunt, where the French king was
thought to be. Now as it chanced, William de Berres and Drogo de Merlo
encountred with Richard earle of Poictou and William de Mandeuille earle
of Albemarle, so that William de Berres was taken by earle Richard, but
by negligence of them that should haue taken héed to him, escaped awaie
vpon his pages horsse. The morrow after also, earle Richard departed
from his father towards Berrie, [Sidenote: The Welshmen.] and vpon the
thursdaie the Welshmen burned manie villages, with the castell of
Danuille that belonged to Simon Daneth, and tooke manie rich preies and
booties. Also William Mandeuille earle of Albemarle burned a place
called saint Clare, that was belonging vnto the demaine of the French
king.
But see, when the English were fullie bent to prosecute the warres (with
all extremitie) now in hand, there came messengers vnto king Henrie from
the French king, requiring him that he would grant a peace to be had
betwixt them, with promise that if he would condescend therevnto, that
he should receiue by waie of restitution all that the French king had
now taken from him in Berrie. [Sidenote: The two kings come to a
treatie.] Herevpon they came to a communication betwixt Trie & Gisors,
and when they could not agrée, [Sidenote: An elme cut downe.] the French
king caused a great elme standing betwixt those two places to be cut
downe, at which the kings of England and France were accustomed to méet
when they treated of matters in controuersie betwixt them, swearing that
from thencefoorth there should neuer be anie more méetings holden at
that place.
Afterward, when the earle of Flanders and the earle of Blois with
diuerse other earles and barons of the Realme of France, laid their
armor aside, [Sidenote: A commendable protestation and worthie to be
noted.] protesting openlie that they would not put on the same againe to
make warre against any christian, till they should returne from their
iournie which they had vowed into the holie land, the French king
destitute of men to serue him, made sute once againe to king Henrie,
that they might méet and talke of peace, which was hardlie granted, and
so they met on the morrow after saint Faithes daie, or the seauenth of
October, [Sidenote: Castellium.] at Chattellon, where they entreated of
a forme of peace, so that the French king should haue restored all that
he had taken within the countries belonging to king Henrie, and likewise
Richard earle of Poictou should deliuer vp vnto the earle of saint Giles
(otherwise called earle of Tholouse) all that he had taken from him
since the breach of the last truce. But when king Henrie would not
deliuer the castell of Pascie in pledge to the French king, they
departed in sunder (as before) without any thing concluded. The king of
France after this tooke the castell of Paluell.
[Sidenote: An other treatie betwixt the two kings.] Vpon the eightéenth
day of August the two kings came againe togither about a new treatie of
peace betwixt Bonsemblance and Sukennie, where the French king offered
king Henrie, to restore to him all that he had taken by his last warres
if his sister Alice might be ioined in marriage with Richard erle of
Poictou, now eldest sonne aliue to king Henrie, and that all king
Henries subiects might doo homage and sweare fealtie to the same
Richard. But king Henrie after the old prouerbe, Ictus piscator sapit,
hauing bought his experience with the féeling of smart, & bearing in
memorie the iniuries done to him by his sonne Henrie, after such his
aduancement to kinglie degrée, would not grant the French kings request
herein. Wherevpon a further mischeefe happened, for his sonne earle
Richard (taking displeasure that his father should denie him that
honour, which made altogither for his more assurance to succeed him as
king) fell from his said father manifestlie, [Sidenote: Erle Richard
reuolteth from his father to serue the French king.] and became the
French kings man, dooing homage to him also without consent of king
Henrie, for all those lands that belonged to his said father on that
further side the sea. The French king for his homage and fealtie gaue
him Chateau Raoull and Ysoldun, with all the honour thereto belonging.
[Sidenote: _Polydor._] ¶ Some write, that the cheefest cause which
mooued king Henrie to refuse to ioine his sonne earle Richard and the
ladie Alice, daughter vnto the French king in marriage togither, was,
for that he was linked in the cumbersome chaine of hot burning loue with
the same ladie, and therefore he sought all the shifts of excuses &
delaies that might be imagined; so that it appeared he had no mind to
part with hir. The truth was (as writers affirme) he had alreadie
persuaded hir to satisfie his lust, insomuch that he liked hir so well,
that he ment to be diuorsed from his wife quéene Elianor, and to marrie
this yoong ladie, which if he might bring to passe, and haue children by
hir, he purposed to disherit those which he had by Elianor, and to make
the other which he should haue by Adela his legitimat and lawfull
heires. [Sidenote: _Rog. Houed._] Yet before they departed from this
communication, a truce was taken to endure till the feast of S. Hilarie.
And Henrie bishop of Alba a cardinall that was sent from the pope to end
this controuersie betwixt these two mightie princes, accursed Richard
earle of Poictou, for that by his meanes the troubles rose and were
continued betwixt them.
[Sidenote: Beuerley burnt.] The towne of Beuerley, with the church of
saint John the archbishop, was in maner wholie consumed with fire, on
the 20. of September. [Sidenote: William de Sempringham decesseth.] Also
the same yeare died William of Sempringham, the author and first founder
of the religious order of Sempringham. [Sidenote: Gilbert de Ogerstan.]
Moreouer Gilbert de Ogerstan a knight templer put in trust by king
Henrie, with others, to gather the tenths towards the reléefe of the
holie land, was prooued to vse falshood in the receipt, and so was
deliuered vnto the maister of the temple at London to be punished
according to the statutes of his order. Also this yere in the vigill of
S. Laurence, [Sidenote: A strange apperance in the aire.] there was
séene at Dunstable by diuerse persons a figure of the crosse verie long
and large in the aire, with the shape of a crucifix thereon, and
streames of bloud to their sight seemed to run out of the wounds of the
feet, hands and sides. This strange appearance continued in sight from
noone till almost night.
¶ Some will deeme this a meere fable, and saie it sauoureth of grosse
superstition and idolatrie, wherevpon they will conclude that no such
fragments poudered with papistrie should be inserted into a chronicle.
But (to auoid all suspicion of iustifieng the fansies of men) note you
this, that in the ecclesiasticall historie, no small number of things no
lesse strange and true than this seemeth vaine and false, are recorded;
yea euen touching the verie crosse. But considering that this our age is
verie nice and deintie in making choise of matter pleasing their owne
humor we will not wade too farre in this kind of argument, which we know
may as soone offend as it is taken, as a thorne may pricke, or a netle
sting when it is touched. Neuerthelesse, we would not wish that the
forme of a thing should be quite condemned for some scandalous peoples
pleasures, whome nothing will please, vnlesse it come out of their owne
drieuat or casket of conceits.
[Sidenote: An. Reg. 35. 1189.] King Henrie held his Christmas at Saumur
in Aniou, but manie of his earles and barons were gon from him, and
tooke part with the French king, and with his sonne Richard earle of
Poictou. Now when the day was come, in which the truce expired, the
Britains (which had a charter of couenants of the French king and earle
Richard, that if they concluded any peace with king Henrie, the Britain
should be partakers in the same) entred into the confines of those
countries which still continued their due obedience towards king Henrie;
spoiling and wasting the same on each side with barbarous crueltie.
[Sidenote: A legat.] At which time also a legat came from the pope named
John de Anagnia, who assaied both by courteous meanes and also by
threats and menacings to reduce the parties vnto peace and concord:
insomuch that by his procurement they met this yeare after Easter néere
vnto Fiert Bernard, twise within a few daies togither, to trie if by
talke they might sort to some reasonable conditions of agreement.
[Sidenote: _Matth. Paris._] The last time of those their meetings was in
the Whitsunwéeke, at what time the French king required not onelie to
haue his sister Alice deliuered vnto earle Richard for wife, according
to the former couenants, but also some assurance giuen vnto the same
earle Richard, that he should inherit his fathers lands after his
deceasse. Also he required that earle John might take vpon him the
crosse to passe ouer into the holie land also; for otherwise earle
Richard would not go. [Sidenote: _R. Houed._] Howbeit king Henrie would
in no wise consent to any of these demands: but yet as some write, he
offered thus much vnto king Philip, that if he could be so content, his
sonne John should marrie his sister Alice, and inioy with hir all such
things as he demanded in preferment of his sonne Richard, and that in
more large maner than he had requested the same; But king Philip would
none of that.
Thus how soeuer it was, whilest the one demanded that which the other
thought no reason to grant, they departed without concluding any
agréement, so that king Philip hauing got by this meanes a good occasion
to further his enterprises, [Sidenote: King Phillip entereth into the
countrie of Maine.] with all his whole puissance entred into Maine,
where he destroied a great part of that countrie, and approched to the
citie of Mauns, where king Henrie as then laie, in purpose to besiege
it; But king Henrie being warned of his comming set the suburbs on fire,
bicause his enimies should haue no succour in them. Howbeit the flame of
the fire was by force of the wind driuen so directlie into the citie,
that what with heat and assault of the enimie, the king being without
any store of souldiers to defend it longer, was constreined to forsake
it. Herewith he was so mooued that in departing from the citie, he said
these words of his sonne Richard to himselfe: [Sidenote: The words of
king Henrie in his displeasure towards earle Richard.] "Sith thou hast
taken from me this daie the thing that I most loued in this world, I
will requite thee, for after this daie, I shall depriue thée of that
thing which in me should most please thée, euen mine owne hart."
[Sidenote: Mauns yéelded to the French king. _Wil. Paruus._] Being thus
driuen to leaue the defaced citie of Mauns, he repaired vnto Chinon, the
citizens whereof being left destitute of aid, yéelded themselues to the
French king, who taking a great pride in his dooings for that victorie,
passed ouer Loire, and wan the citie of Towrs, wherein he placed a
garison, and so hauing sped his businesse with good successe, brought
home his armie laden with preies & booties. [Sidenote: _Polydor._] King
Henrie being thus put to the worsse, and not perceiuing anie readie
meane how to recouer his losses, began to despaire in himselfe, and
therefore of necessitie thought it best to séeke for peace, [Sidenote:
The earle of Flanders séeketh to agrée the parties. _Matth. Paris._] but
his suit was in vaine: for the enimie hauing now the aduantage, would
not grant to agrée vpon any reasonable conditions.