occasion. Where K. Edward hauing assaied fortune so froward towards
him, in chance of warre against the Scots at sundrie times, was therby
taught to doubt the triall thereof any further, and rather to séeke for
peace, he appointed Andrew Herklie earle of Carleill, to séeke some
means, whereby a peace might be concluded betwixt him and king Robert.
The earle by the kings commandement, going into Scotland, and comming
vnto king Robert, whome he found at Loghmaban, intreated with him of
warre, and not of peace; for whether it were so that he despaired of
the state of king Edwards businesse, which prospered neither at home
nor abroad; chéefelie by reason of his owne wilfull negligence (as some
write) or whether of his owne nature this earle delighted in nothing so
much, as in deceipt, craft, and treason: he concluded vpon points with
the Scotish king, how, when, and where king Edward should be betraied,
and to the end that couenanted faith on either side might be the more
suerlie kept and obserued, the sister of K. Robert was affianced vnto
the said earle of Carleill: a verie beautifull ladie and as comelie as
was anie where to be séene or found.
[Sidenote: Treason will euer come to light by one meane or other.]
[Sidenote: 1323.]
[Sidenote: The earle of Carleill put to death.]
This practise being thus contriued, shortlie after the king got
knowledge thereof, though by whome it was not certeinlie knowne: so
hard a thing it is for man to conceale and kéepe secret that thing
which he goeth about, though he studie neuer so much so to doo, namelie
in matters of treason, which hath a thousand féet to créepe abroad,
and which way soeuer it goeth, it leaueth a thousand prints of the
footsteps behind it, by the which it may be discouered to the world.
When therefore the earle came backe againe to Carleill, he was arrested
by commandement from the king, and straightwaies being arreigned of the
treason, he was thereof condemned and put to execution. His head was
sent vnto London, and there set vpon the bridge, or rather vpon some
turret of the tower. So hard a matter it is for traitors to escape the
hands of the executioner; vnder whose hatchet they submit their heads
to be hewen from their shoulders, euen then when they haue conceiued
their traitorous attempts in hart, for God who hath placed princes in
thrones of roialtie, to this end hath vouchsafed them a superlatiue
degrée of dignitie, that they might be obeied, neither will his
iustice permit impunitie to the disloiall enterprises and complots of
malefactors, common peace-disturbers, hautie-harted Nemrods; ambitious
Hamans, or anie lewd malcontent: for
Acer Dei est oculus ad omnia videndum,
Eius poenas non effugit mortalis,
Viuere volens ergo ne faciat morte digna.
[Sidenote: _Ri. Southwell._]
¶ But there be that write otherwise (as it may well be) thus, that this
earle of Carleill, perceiuing the miserie of his countrie, without
consent of the king of England, made peace with the king of Scots,
vnder this forme, as by Richard Southwell we find recorded. First, the
earle promised faithfullie for him and his heires, that they should
with all their force and means possible, séeke to mainteine the said
king of Scots, his heires and successors, in the peaceable possession
of the kingdome of Scotland, and that to their powers they shuld
fight against all those that would not agrée vnto that couenant, as
against them that should séeme to be enimies vnto the common-wealth of
both the realmes of England and Scotland. The king of Scots promised
faithfullie for his part, to defend the said earle, his heires, and
adherents in the said couenant or paction, and not onelie to kéepe
peace with England, but also to build a monasterie within Scotland,
assigning reuenues thereto, to the value of fiue hundred marks, to
celebrate diuine seruice, and to pray continuallie for the soules of
them that were dead, by occasion of the passed warres betwixt England
and Scotland; and further, that he should giue to the king of England
within ten yeares, fortie thousand pounds of siluer; and that the king
of England should haue the king of Scots eldest sonne, to marrie him
vnto some ladie of his bloud, as he should thinke expedient. To the
performance of all which couenants well and truelie to be obserued,
Thomas Randulfe earle of Murrey sware on the behalfe of the king of
Scots, and the earle of Carleill sware for himselfe: and héerewith
certeine writings indented were drawne and ingrossed, to the which
interchangeablie they set their hands and seales.
[Sidenote: The lord Lucie.]
After that the earle of Carleill was returned home, he called to
Carleill all the chéefe persons of the countrie, as well spirituall as
temporall, and there rather through feare, than otherwise, constrained
them to receiue an oth, that they should aid & assist him to their
powers, to sée all the couenants as abouesaid performed and kept. After
that these things were knowne to the king and the realme, although some
of the communaltie liked well inough of the matter, bicause they hoped
thereby to remaine in peace, especiallie those of the north parts,
the king yet and his councell (not without cause) were sore offended,
for that he whom the king had so latelie aduanced, should confederate
himselfe with the Scots, to the preiudice of the king and his crowne,
concluding any couenants of peace without his consent, wherevpon
reputing him for a ranke traitor, the king sent vnto the lord Antonie
Lucie, to apprehend the said earle by some meanes if he might, and for
his paines he should not faile to be well rewarded.
The lord Lucie watching his time, when the earles men were gone some
whither abroad, and but few left about him, the morrow after the feast
of saint Matthew the apostle, he entred the castell of Carleill, as
it were to talke with the earle of some businesse, as his manner was
at other times to doo. He had with him sir Hugh Lowther, sir Richard
Denton, and sir Hugh Moricebie knights, and foure esquiers, beside
other priuilie armed, so that leauing some at euerie gate and doore as
he entred, he came into the hall, and there finding the earle inditing
letters, arrested him. Herewith when certeine of the earles seruants
made a noise, and cried, Treason, treason, the porter of the inner gate
would haue shut it vpon them that were thus entred, but sir Richard
Denton slue that porter with his owne hands, and there was not one more
slaine by them in the apprehension of the earle, for all other his
seruants yéelded themselues and the house vnto the said lord Lucie,
without more resistance.
[Sidenote: Michaell de Herkley.]
[Sidenote: The earle of Carleils iudgement.]
Howbeit one of his seruants that saw these dooings, got awaie, and
with all spéed ran to the péele of Heihead, and shewed to the earles
brother Michaell Herkeley what was chanced to the earle, wherevpon the
said Michaell foorthwith fled into Scotland, and with him sir William
Blunt knight, a Scotishman, and diuerse other that were of the earles
priuie councell. The lord Lucie streightwaies sent a messenger to
the king vnto Yorke, aduertising him how he had taken the earle, and
therefore required to vnderstand further of the kings pleasure. The
king foorthwith sent the lord Geffrey Scroobe iustice, with a number of
armed men vnto Carleill, the which came thither on saint Chaddes daie,
and the morrow after, being the third of March, he sat in iudgement
vpon the said earle, in the castell of Carleill, and there (as out
of the kings mouth) he pronounced sentence against him in this wise;
first, that he should be disgraded of his earledome, by the taking
awaie from him the sword which the king had gird him with, and likewise
of his knighthood, by cutting off his spurs from his héeles, and that
after this, he should be drawen from the castell through the citie
vnto the place of execution, where felons were accustomed to suffer,
and there to be hanged, afterwards headed, and then his head to be
sent vnto London, there to be set aloft vpon one of the turrets of the
tower, and his quarters to be diuided, one to be set vp at Carleill, an
other at Newcastell vpon Tine, the third at Bristow, & the fourth at
Douer.
[Sidenote: His constancie at his death.]
[Sidenote: _Fabian._]
[Sidenote: _Caxton._]
When he had heard this iudgement, he said; "You haue diuided my
bodie at your pleasure, and I commit my soule vnto God:" and being
according to the iudgement drawen to the place where he suffered, he
neuer shranke at the matter, but boldlie behaued himselfe, declaring
at the verie houre of his death, that his intention in concluding the
agréement with the Scots was good, and procéeding not of any euill
meaning, but tending onelie to the wealth and quietnes of the realme.
Neither could such friers as were permitted to come to him before
his arreignement to heare his confession, get any thing more of him,
but that his meaning was good, and that which he had concluded with
the king of Scots was not doone vpon any euill purpose, whereby any
hurt might insue, either to the king or to the realme. ¶ Thus haue
we thought good to shew the cause of this earles death, as by some
writers it hath béene registred; although there be that write, that the
ouerthrow at Beighland chanced through his fault, by misleading a great
part of the kings host, and that therefore the king being offended with
him, caused him to be put to death, albeit (as I thinke) no such matter
was alleged against him at the time of his arreignement.
[Sidenote: _Polydor._]
[Sidenote: _Rich. South._]
[Sidenote: Commissioners méet to intreat of peace.]
[Sidenote: A truce concluded.]
About this season was the foundation begun of S. Michaels colledge
in Cambridge, by one sir Henrie Stanton knight, chancellour of the
excheker. About the feast of the Ascension, there came as commissioners
from the king of England vnto Newcastell, Aimerie earle of Penbroke,
and the lord chamberlaine Hugh Spenser the yoonger, and other foure
personages of good accompt. And from the king of Scots, there came the
bishop of saint Andrews, Thomas Randulfe earle of Murrey, and other
foure of good credit to treat of peace, or at the leastwise of some
long truce, and through the good will and pleasure of God, the author
of all peace and quietnesse, they concluded vpon a truce, to indure for
thirtéene yeares, and so about the feast of saint Barnabe the apostle,
it was proclaimed in both realmes, but yet so, that they might not
traffike togither, bicause of the excommunication wherewith the Scots
were as yet intangled, although as some write, about the same time, the
interdict wherein the realme of Scotland stood bound, was by pope Iohn
released.
[Sidenote: _Polydor._]
[Sidenote: _Hect. Boetius._]
[Sidenote: An. Reg. 17.]
[Sidenote: Messengers from the French king.]
[Sidenote: The French king taketh townes in Aquitane.]
The French K. being latelie come to the crowne, sent certeine
ambassadors vnto king Edward, to wit, the lord Beouille, and one
Andreas de Florentia a notarie, to giue summons vnto him from the
French king, to come and doo homage for the lands which he held in
France, as for the duchie of Aquitaine, and the countie of Pontieu.
And though the lord chamberleine Hugh Spenser the sonne, and the lord
chancellour Robert Baldocke did what they could to procure these
ambassadors, not to declare the cause of their comming to the king, yet
when they should depart, they admonished the king to come and doo his
homage vnto the French king, and vpon this admonition the said Andreas
framed a publike instrument, by vertue whereof, the French king made
processe against the king of England, and seized into his hands diuerse
townes and castels in Aquitaine, alledging that he did it for the
contumacie shewed by the king of England, in refusing to come to doo
his homage, being lawfullie summoned, although the king was throughlie
informed, that the summons was neither lawfull, nor touched him anie
thing at all.
[Sidenote: The lord Mortimer breaketh out of the towre.]
About the same time, the lord Roger Mortimer of Wigmor, giuing his
kéepers a drinke that brought them into a sound and heauie sléepe,
escaped out of the tower of London where he was prisoner. This escape
of the lord Mortimer greatlie troubled the king, so that immediatlie
vpon the first news, he wrote to all the shiriffes of the realme, that
if he chanced to come within their roomes, they should cause hue and
crie to be raised, so as he might be staied and arrested, but he made
such shift, that he got ouer into France, where he was receiued by a
lord of Picardie, named monsier Iohn de Fieules, who had faire lands
in England, and therefore the king wrote to him, reprouing him of
vnthankfulnesse, considering he had béene euer readie to pleasure him,
and to aduance his profits and commodities, and yet notwithstanding he
did succour the said lord Mortimer, and other rebels that were fled out
of his realme.
[Sidenote: 1324.]
[Sidenote: A parlement.]
[Sidenote: The bishop of Hereford arrested.]
[Sidenote: _Thom. de la More._]
[Sidenote: _Thom. Wals._]
In Lent this yeare, a parlement was holden at London, in the which
diuerse things were intreated, amongst other the chéefest was, to
determine for the sending of some honorable ambassage to the French
king, to excuse the king for not comming to him to doo his homage,
according to the pretended summons. ¶ In the same parlement, Adam
bishop of Hereford was arrested, and examined vpon points of treason,
for aiding, succouring, and mainteining the Mortimers, and other of
the rebels. This bishop was reckoned to be wise, subtill, and learned,
but otherwise, wilfull, presumptuous, and giuen to mainteine factions.
At the first, he disdeined to make anie answer at all, and finallie,
when he was in manner forced thereto, he flatlie told the king, that
he might not make any answere to such matters as he was charged with,
except by the licence and consent of his metropolitane the archbishop
of Canturburie, and other his péeres. Héerevpon, the said archbishop
and other bishops made such sute, that he was committed to the kéeping
of the said archbishop, with him to remaine, till the king had taken
order for his further answer.
[Sidenote: The presumtuous demeanor of prelats.]
Within few daies after, when the king called him againe before his
presence, to make answere to the matters laid against him, the
archbishops of Canturburie, Yorke, Dublin, and ten other bishops came
with their crosses afore them, and vnder a colour of the priuiledge
and liberties of the church, tooke him awaie, before he had made anie
answere, forbidding all men on paine of excommunication, to laie anie
hands vpon him. The king greatlie offended with this bold procéeding
of the prelats, caused yet an inquest to be impanelled, to inquire of
the bishop of Herefords treasons, and vpon the finding of him giltie,
he seized into his hands all the temporalties that belonged to his
bishoprike, and spoiled his manours and houses most violentlie, in
reuenge of his disloiall dealings.
[Sidenote: _Ra. Tur._]
[Sidenote: Lands bel[=o]ging to the templers.]
[Sidenote: License to burie the bodies of the rebels.]
[Sidenote: _Record. Tur._]
[Sidenote: _Polydor._]
Moreouer, in this parlement, the lands and possessions that belonged
sometime to the Templers, and had béene deliuered vnto the knights
Hospitalers, otherwise called knights of the Rodes by the king in the
seauenth yeare of his reigne (according to the decrée of the councell
of Vienna) were by authoritie of this parlement assured vnto the said
knights, to enioy to them and their successors for euer. Also it was
concluded, that the earle of Kent, and the archbishop of Dubline should
go ouer as ambassadours into France, to excuse the king for his not
comming in person to the French king, to doo his homage for the lands
he held in France. Moreouer, in the same parlement, the king granted,
that all the dead bodies of his enimies and rebels that had suffered
and hanged still on the gallowes, should be taken downe, and buried in
the churchyards next to the places where the same bodies were hanging,
and not elsewhere, by such as would take paine to burie them, as by
his writs directed vnto the shiriffes of London, and of the counties
of Middlesex, Kent, Glocester, Yorke, and Buckingham it appeared. And
not onelie this libertie was granted at that time for the taking down
of those bodies, but (as some write) it was decréed by authoritie in
the same parlement, that the bodies of all those that from thenceforth
should be hanged for felonies, should incontinentlie be buried, which
ordinance hath béene euer since obserued.
[Sidenote: Ambassadors sent into France.]
[Sidenote: The lord Basset.]
[Sidenote: An. Reg. 18.]
[Sidenote: The earle of Aniou sent into Guien.]
[Sidenote: The earle of Kent.]
The earle of Kent, and the archbishop of Dubline going ouer into
France, could not light vpon anie good conclusion for the matter about
the which they were sent, bicause the same time, or rather somewhat
before, the lord Rafe Basset of Draiton, being the kings seneshall
in Guien, had ouerthrowne a certeine towne, newlie fortified by the
Frenchmen on the frontiers, for that the inhabitants, trusting on the
French kings fauour and maintenance, refused to obeie the lawes and
ordinances of the countrie of Aquitaine, and séemed to despise and set
at naught the authoritie of the said lord Basset in that countrie,
contrarie to all right, good order or reason. Neuerthelesse, the
French king tooke the matter so gréeuouslie, that except the lord
Basset might be constreined to come vnto Paris, and there make answer
to his offense, he would not hearken to anie other satisfaction. And
therevpon, when the ambassadours were returned, he sent his vncle the
lord Charles de Valois earle of Aniou, with a mightie armie, against
the English subiects into Guien, where entring into Agenois, he tooke
and seized all that countrie into the French kings hands. The earle of
Kent being now gotten into those parts, with a great number of other
capteins and men of warre sent thither by the king of England, resisted
the enimies verie manfullie, in so much that vpon their approch to the
Rioll, a strong towne in those parts, the earle of Kent as then being
within it, did issue foorth, and giuing them battell, slue (as some
write) fouretéene hundred of their men, so that they were glad to lodge
at the first somewhat further off the towne.
[Sidenote: _Fabian._]
[Sidenote: The king of England writeth to the duke of Britaine.]
[Sidenote: _Record. Tur._]
Whilest this siege remained before the towne of the Rioll, the king of
England wrote his letters to the duke of Britaine, as one of the péeres
of France, declaring the iniurious dealing of the French king, who had
sent his vncle the earle of Aniou with an armie against his people in
Agenois, where he had taken manie townes, destroied his people, and now
had besieged his nephue Edmund earle of Kent, within the towne of the
Rioll, inforsing his whole puissance wrongfullie to bereaue him of all
the duchie of Guien, and against all reason, and the prerogatiue of the
péeres of France, to an euill president or example in time to come of
the perpetuall seruitude of the said péeres. "And although" saith the
king of England, "that the French alledge that we haue béen lawfullie
summoned to come and doo homage, and haue refused so to doo, that is
not so: for we were neuer in due order required as was conuenient,
neither could we doo homage, by reason of the great iniuries and hard
dealings practised against vs, from the feast of Easter last, till the
date of those his present letters (which was the sixt of October, in
this eightéenth yeare of his reigne) and yet," saith he, "there was
neuer anie lawfull processe had against vs before our péeres, in the
great chamber at Paris, as had béene requisite."
[Sidenote: The lord of Biskie.]
[Sidenote: _Tho. Wals._]
[Sidenote: A truce tak[=e].]
Herevpon he requested the duke of Britaine, that for the preseruation
and maintenance of the honorable estate of the péeres of France, & for
iustice sake he would helpe to aid him, either by waie of request, or
other conuenient meanes, so as the said streict dealings and iniurious
wrongs may ceasse, and the estate of the péereship may be mainteined
as was requisite. He wrote likewise to the lord Iohn the infant, the
lord of Biskie, and to the ladie Marie of Biskie gouernesse of the king
of Castile and Leon, and to Iames king of Aragon, requesting them to
aid him with men of warre, as well horssemen as footmen, against his
aduersarie the French king, that most vniustlie went about to depriue
him of his inheritance. But howsoeuer the matter went, no aid came
to the earle of Kent from any part, till at length, the Frenchmen so
reinforced the siege, that the towne was deliuered to the earle of
Aniou, and a truce taken vpon certeine conditions, that further talke
might be had, for the conclusion of some peace.
[Sidenote: The lord de Sullie sent into France in ambassage.]
[Sidenote: The pope sendeth ambassadors to the kings of England and
France.]
[Sidenote: 1325.]
[Sidenote: Other ambassadors sent ouer into France.]
Then were sent ouer other ambassadors, as the lord Iohn de Sullie a
Frenchman borne, and one maister Iohn de Shordich, but the lord Sullie
had so strange interteinment for some displeasure which the French king
conceiued against him, that if the French quéene had not the beter
intreated for him, he had lost his head; and as for the other, he had
also returned home without bringing any thing to passe, of that for the
which he was sent. After this, the pope sent the archbishop of Vienna,
and the bishop of Orange, to the princes of either realme, to exhort
them to some agréement, but they could doo no good, and so taking monie
of the cleargie for their expenses, they returned. After this, about
the twentith daie after Christmasse, there was a parlement called at
London, in the which the king required to haue the aduise of the lords,
how he might worke for sauing of the duchie of Guien, sore molested by
the French. Hervpon it was concluded, that the bishops of Winchester
and Norwich, and Iohn de Britaine earle of Richmond, should go ouer as
ambassadors to the French king, who comming into France, after manie
argumentations, allegations, and excuses, made on both parts, at length
receiued a certeine forme of pacification at the French kings hands,
with the which the bishop of Winchester was sent backe to England, the
bishop of Norwich, and the earle of Richmond remaining there, till it
might be knowen how the king of England would like thereof.
[Sidenote: The quéene is sent ouer into France to talke with hir
brother the French king.]
[Sidenote: A peace and concord agréed vpon.]
Finallie it was thought good, that the quéene shuld go ouer to hir
brother the French king, to confirme that treatie of peace vpon some
reasonable conditions. She willinglie tooke vpon hir the charge, and
so with the lord Iohn Crumwell, & other foure knights, without any
other great traine, taking sea, she landed in France, where of the
king hir brother she was ioifullie receiued, and finallie she being
the mediatrix, it was finallie accorded, that the K. of England should
giue to his eldest sonne the duchie of Aquitaine, and the countie of
Pontieu, and that the French king receiuing homage of him for the same,
he should restore into his hands the said countie, and the lands in
Guien, for the which they were at variance, and for those countries
which had béene forraied and spoiled, the earle of Aniou should fullie
sée him satisfied, as right did require.
[Sidenote: An. Reg. 19.]
Vpon the couenants the French king wrote his letters patents into
England, and other letters also of safe conduct, as well for the sonne
as for the king himselfe, if it should please him to come ouer himselfe
in person. Upon which choise great deliberation was had, as well at
Langdon, as at Douer, diuerse thinking it best that the king should
go ouer himselfe: but the earle of Winchester and his sonne the lord
chamberleine, that neither durst go ouer themselues with the king, nor
abide at home in his absence, gaue contrarie counsell, and at length
preuailed so, that it was fullie determined that the kings eldest
sonne Edward should go ouer, which turned to their destruction, as it
appeared afterward.
[Sidenote: The prince of Wales is sent into France.]