Reimes, with Hugh duke of Burgoine, came to king Henrie to moue waies of
agréement, and to conclude the same betwixt him on the one partie, and
the French king and earle Richard on the other partie. Earle Richard had
the Britaines and them of Poictou confederate with him vnder such
conditions, as he might not agrée with his father, vnlesse they might be
comprised in the agréement. [Sidenote: A peace concluded.] At length
they agreed vpon conditions, not altogither aduantageable to the king of
England, yet in the end, Chateau Raoul was restored to king Henrie with
all that had béene taken from him since the time that the French king &
he tooke vpon them the crosse: on the other part king Henrie did homage
to the French king, which, in the beginning of this warre he had
surrendred and renounced. [Sidenote: Thirtie thousand to the K. and
twentie to the barons of France, saith _Ger. Dor._] He was bound also to
paie to the French king 20. thousand markes for the aid which earle
Richard had receiued of him: moreouer to resigne and acquite vnto the
French king, all that which either he or his predecessours held or
possessed within Aluergue. Other articles there were which king Henrie
agréed vnto some against his will, as the deliuerie of the ladie Alice
or Adela, and such other, which (as not much materiall) we passe ouer.
[Sidenote: _Rog. Houed._ At Gisors saith _Ger. Dor._] This peace was
concluded not farre from Towrs, in a place appointed conuenient for both
the kings to méet in, about the feast of the apostles Peter and Paule.
And (as writers record) there chanced great thunder and lightening at
the verie time when the two kings came to enteruiew and talke togither,
[Sidenote: Strange thunder & lightning.] so that the thunderbolt did
light betwixt them two: & yet (notwithstanding such thunder &
lightening) the aire was cleare and nothing troubled. The two kings
parted a sunder through feare thereof for that day, and on the next day
the like chance happened, greatlie to the terrour of them both. Which
mooued king Henrie the sooner to condescend to the agreement.
Moreouer this is not to be forgotten, that when all matters were quieted
and accorded amongst them, King Henrie required to haue all their names
deliuered vnto him in writing, which had promised to take part (and were
ioined as confederates) with the French king and earle Richard. This was
granted, and when the roll was presented vnto him, he found his sonne
John the first person that was named in that register, wherewith he was
so troubled and disquieted in his mind, that comming to Chinon he felt
such gréefe hereof, that he curssed euen the verie daie in which he was
borne, and as was said, gaue to his sonnes Gods cursse and his, the
which he would neuer release, although he was admonished to doo it both
of sundrie bishops and other religious and godlie men. Thus saith
Houeden.
Howbeit, it is not like that earle Richard at this time had procured his
brother John to be confederate with him in his rebellious dealings, but
rather bicause earle Richard had some suspicion, least his father would
make John his heire and successour in the kingdome, it might be a
policie wrought by the French king and earle Richard, to alienate his
fathers mind from the said John.
¶ These euils were estéemed to fall vnto king Henrie by the iust
iudgement of God, for that being admonished diuerse waies, as well by
diuine reuelation, as by the wholesome aduise of graue men, as Hugh
bishop of Lincolne and others, he would not reforme his licentious
appetite of heaping vp sinne vpon sinne, but still wallowed therein to
his owne destruction. Wherevpon being brought to such an extremitie as
ye haue heard, he was taken with a greeuous sicknesse, which bringing
him to vtter desperation of recouering of health, he finallie departed
this life, though more through verie anguish and gréefe of his late
losse and troubles susteined, than by the force of his bodilie disease
(as writers haue affirmed.) [Sidenote: King Henrie departeth this life.]
But howsoeuer it was, he ended his life the sixt of Julie in the 61.
yeare of his age, and after he had reigned 34. yeares, nine moneths, and
two daies, [Sidenote: 1189.] which was in the yeare after the birth of
our sauiour 1189. and of the creation of the world 5155. His bodie was
buried at Founteuerard, which is an abbeie situate not farre from the
towne of the eagle within the dutchie of Alanson.
Immediatlie vpon his death, those that were about him, applied their
market so busilie in catching and filching awaie things that laie readie
for them, that the kings corps laie naked a longtime, till a child
couered the nether parts of his body with a short cloke, [Sidenote: His
surname whereof it came.] and then it séemed that his surname was
fulfilled that he had from his childhood, which was Shortmantell, being
so called, bicause he was the first that brought short clokes out of
Aniou into England. As his sonne Richard met the corps going towards the
buriall, suddenlie there issued bloud out of the dead bodies
nosthrilles, which was taken for a signification that it abhorred the
presence of so wicked a son, which in his life time had so persecuted
the father. [Sidenote: A strange maner of fight betwixt fishes.] His
death was signified by a maruellous strange woonder, for a few daies
before he died, all the fishes in a certeine méere or poole in
Normandie, leapt foorth on land in the night season, and fought togither
with such a noise, that a great multitude of men came running thither
to behold the woonder, and could not find on fish aliue in the meere.
[Sidenote: The issue of Henrie the second. His sonnes. His daughters.]
He had issue by his wife quéene Elianor (as may appeare by that which
alreadie is rehearsed) foure sonnes, Henrie, Richard, Geffrey, and John,
besides two other that died yoong, as some authors haue recorded: also
three daughters, Maud, married vnto Henrie the duke of Saxonie; Elianor
the wife of Alfonse the eight of that name king of Castile, and Joane
giuen in marriage vnto William king of Sicill. [Sidenote: His base
sons.] He had also two bastard sonnes by a concubine, the one named
William, & the other Geffrey. [Sidenote: The constitution of his bodie.]
He was of bodie fleshie and strong, and could abide verie patientlie the
displesures both of cold and heat, he had a large head, a broad breast,
a broken voice, and was furthermore verie spare of diet, cheefelie
bicause he would not be too fat; and therefore when he was at quiet
without any trouble of warres, he would exercise himselfe in hunting or
trauelling abroad. [Sidenote: His stature.] He was of a good stature and
verie well-formed, of a comelie countenance, partlie red heared, with
graie eies, of wit quicke, and of a perfect good memorie, so that he
would long remember those things which he had either read, heard, or
seene. [Sidenote: His qualities and conditions of mind.] He was stout of
stomach, and more constant in time of aduersitie than in time of
prosperitie, except at the time of his death, when being destitute in
maner of all his fréends, he shewed himselfe almost in despaire. He was
liberall towards all men, oftentimes giuing rewards to his souldiers
ouer and besides their wages.
[Sidenote: _Radulphus de Diceto._] Moreouer, of nature he was pitifull
towards the poore, as it well appeared by diuerse his charitable deeds;
as for example. When in the yeare 1176. there was a great dearth &
scarsitie of bread in the parts of Aniou & Maine, he fed euerie daie
with sufficient sustenance ten thousand persons, from the begining of
Aprill, till the time that new corne was inned: and what prouision
soeuer was laid vp in garners, cellers and storehouses, for the kings
necessarie vses, he caused the same to be imploied towards the reléefe
of religious houses, and poore people. He tooke of his subiects but
sildome times any great tributes. He was verie expert in feats of warre,
and right fortunate therein. He praised his capteins and men of warre
when they were dead, and lamented their losse more than he shewed to
loue them when they were aliue. And this did he of policie, that they
might vnderstand that they should be honoured after death, and therefore
feare it the lesse. He was somwhat learned, and also knowne to be wise.
[Sidenote: _Radulphus de Diceto._] His care to haue iustice dulie
ministred in his realme was exceeding great, insomuch that finding how
the shirifes were rather inclined to seeke their owne gaine, than to
deale vprightlie with his subiects, he appointed other officers to haue
a regard to their dooings, as if they had béene controllers, that they
knowing how there were such appointed to haue a sound ouersight in their
dealings, might be the more circumspect in their duties. He ordeined
also punishments for hunters in forrests and grounds of warren, either
by fining them, or by imprisonment.
Moreouer, he ordeined that murtherers should suffer death by hanging:
and so for other transgressours he appointed other kinds of punishments,
as some to be condemned to exile, and other to losse of lims, &c.:
according to the qualitie of the offense committed. And to haue the
lawes dulie executed, and iustice vprightlie ministred on all hands, he
was so carefull that he tried all orders of men, in placing them in
roomes of iustice. And lastlie, trusting to find among the cleargie such
as would not be corrupted with bribes, nor for respect of feare or
freendship decline from right iudgement, [Sidenote: Bishops chosen
principall iustices.] he chose foorth the bishops of Winchester, Elie
and Norwich to be principall iustices of the relme, so as they might end
and determine all matters, except in certeine cases reserued to the
hearing of the prince himselfe.
[Sidenote: The vices of K. Henrie.] His vices were these, as they are
remembred. In time of aduerse fortune no man could shew himselfe more
courteous, gentle, méeke, and promising more largelie than he would. But
when fortune once began to smile, no man was more sharpe, hard to deale
with, nor more redie to breake his promise and faith. He was also
partlie noted of couetousnesse: for although he was liberall towards
souldiers and strangers, yet was he streict inough towards his owne
people, and namelie towards his sonnes, which caused them to estrange
themselues and their good wils from him. He was not so zealous toward
the execution of right and equitie as to the furtherance of his owne
priuat commoditie.
[Sidenote: His incontinencie.] He was out of measure giuen to fleshlie
lust, and satisfieng of his inordinate concupiscence. For not contented
with the vse of his wife, he kept manie concubines, but namelie he
delited most in the companie of a pleasant damsell, whom he called the
Rose of the world (the common people named hir Rosamund) for hir passing
beautie, propernesse of person, and pleasant wit, with other amiable
qualities, being verelie a rare and péerlesse péece in those daies.
[Sidenote: Rosamund his concubine.] He made for hir an house at
Woodstocke in Oxfordshire, like a labyrinth, with such turnings and
windings in & out as a knot in a garden called a maze, that no creature
might find hir nor come to hir, except he were instructed by the king,
or such as were secret with him in that matter. But the common report of
the people is, that the quéene in the end found hir out by a silken
thread, which the king had drawne after him out of hir chamber with his
foot, and dealt with hir in such sharpe and cruell wise, that she liued
not long after. She was buried in the nunrie of Goodstow beside Oxford,
with these verses vpon hir toome:
Hîc iacet in tumulo, Rosa mundi non Rosa munda,
Non redolet sed olet, quæ redolere solet.
The meaning whereof may be found in Graftons large chronicle, page 77.
in an English septenarie.
[Sidenote: _Ran. Higd._] Long time after the death of this damsell, in
the said abbeie was shewed a cofer, that sometimes was hirs, of the
length of two foot, in the which appeared giants fighting, startling of
beasts, swimming of fishes, and flieng of foules, so liuelie, that a man
might woonder at the fine deuise thereof.
Moreouer, king Henrie was noted not to be so fauourable to the liberties
& fréedoms of the church as he might haue béene. For besides the
persecuting of the foresaid Thomas archbishop of Canturburie, he would
not suffer the legats sent from the pope, to enter within the bounds of
his dominion, till they had sworne that they should doo nothing
preiudiciall to the customes of his kingdome, neither by prescribing
orders, nor any other maner of act or meanes. [Sidenote: His negligēce
in aiding the Christians against the Saracens.] He was thought to be
negligent in aiding the christian commonwealth in the holie land. For
though he had appointed twice or thrice to go thither in person, yet
being letted by light occasions, he staied at home, and sent small
reléefe thither, though he was earnestlie called vpon for the same. His
estimation was such amongst forren princes, that Philip king of France
being newlie entred into the gouernement of that realme after his
fathers deceasse, committed[14] himselfe and his kingdome to the
disposition and order of king Henrie, as if he had béene regent of his
realme, and gouernour of his person.
There liued in the daies of this king Henrie the second, diuerse
honourable personages and capteins of great fame, for their approued
valiancie and experience in warlike enterprises, as Robert earle of
Leicester, Hugh bigot earle of Northfolke, Reignold earle of Cornewall,
Robert Ferreis earle of Darbie, Richard Lacie, Roger Mowbray, Rafe de
Fulgiers, Humfrey Bohun conestable of England, Ranulfe Glandeuille,
William Vesey, & Bernard de Ballioll. [Sidenote: _Bale._] Also there
flourished in his time here in this land, men of singular learning in
arts and sciences, as Nicholas Breakespeare, Serlo surnamed Grammaticus,
William Rheualensis, Adam de Euesham, Thomas of Munmouth, Adelbertus
Leuita, Geruasius Cicestrensis, Odo Cantianus, Ealred Rhieuellensis,
Johannes Sarisburiensis, Clemens Lanthoniensis, Walter Daniell, Robert
Knought aliàs Camtus, Robert Folioth, William Ramsey, Senatus Brauonus,
Robert the Scribe, Odo Miremouth, Hugh of Reading, Richard of Douer,
William of Peterburough, Cicerciensis, Bartholomew Iscanus, and Gilbert
de Sempringham, with others.
¶ And here to make an end with this high and mightie prince Henrie the
second, I haue thought good to make you partaker of an epitaph, which
we find in Matthew Paris and others written of him as followeth.
Epitaphium in Henricum secundum regem mortuum & hîc sepultum
Rex Henricus eram, mihi plurima regna subegi,
Multiplicíq; modo dúxq; comésq; fui,
Cui satis ad votum non essent omnia terræ
Climata, terra modò sufficit octo pedum.
Qui legis hæc, pensa discrimina mortis, & indè
Humanæ specula conditionis habe.
Quod potes instanter operare bonum, quia mundus
Transit, & incautos mors inopina rapit
* * * * *
Aliud.
Tvmuli regis superscriptio breuis exornat,
Sufficit hic tumulus, cui non suffecerat orbis,
Res breuis est ampla, cui fuit ampla breuis.
* * * * *
An epitaph vpon king Henrie the second dead and heere intoomed.
Of late king Henrie was my name,
which conquerd manie a land,
And diuerse dukedoms did possesse,
and earledoms held in hand.
And yet while all the earth could scarse
my greedie mind suffice,
Eight foot within the ground now serues,
wherein my carcase lies.
Now thou that readest this, note well
my force with force of death,
And let that serue to shew the state
of all that yeeldeth breath.
Doo good then here, foreslowe no time,
cast off all worldlie cares,
For brittle world full soone dooth faile,
and death dooth strike vnwares.
* * * * *
An other.
Small epitaph now serues, to decke
this toome of statelie king:
And he who whilome thought whole earth
could scarse his mind content,
In little roome hath roome at large,
that serues now life is spent.
¶ Here may be thought that the reigne of the Normans and French men ouer
the realme of England tooke end, a hundred twentie two yeares after the
comming in of the Conquerour; for those that reigned after this Henrie
the second, we may rightlie estéeme to be Englishmen, bicause they were
borne in England, and vsed the English toonge customes, and maners,
according to the nature and qualitie of the countrie.
Thus farre the succession and regiment of the Frenchmen ouer this
Iland; namelie, Stephan of Bullongne and Henrie the second.
Transcriber's notes
There are no footnotes in the original. The original spelling and
punctuation have been retained, with the exception of obvious errors
which have been corrected by reference to the 1587 edition of which
the original is a transcription.
[1] Original reads 'withcraft'; corrected to 'witchcraft'.
[2] Original reads 'vpon summons giuen vnto him him'; corrected to
'vpon summons giuen vnto him'.
[3] Original reads 'M. Triuet.'; corrected to 'N. Triuet.'.
[4] Original reads 'Poloydr'; corrected to 'Polydor'.
[5] Original reads 'Fench'; corrected to 'French'.
[6] Original reads 'againt'; corrected to 'against'.
[7] The passage referred to is in this reign, An. Reg. 19, 1173.
[8] Original reads 'thorugh'; corrected to 'thorough'.
[9] Original reads 'euenth'; corrected to 'seuenth'.
[10] Original reads 'Cauturburie'; corrected to 'Canturburie'.
[11] Original reads 'Griffiin'; corrected to 'Griffin'.
[12] Original reads 'yearelelie'; corrected to 'yearelie'.
[13] Original reads 'at this this'; corrected to 'at this'.
[14] Original reads 'commmitted'; corrected to 'committed'.