¶ In this yeare of Grace 1389, in the Lent time, there sprang a
pitifull strife in Oxford, the variance in the yeare before being not
fullie allaied, but both sides alwaies prouoking ech other. For the
Welsh scholers being euermore quarelous, and hauing the southerlie
scholers taking their parts, rose against the scholers of the north,
so that to and fro manie a deadlie mischiefe happened betwéene them.
In the end, this strife did so increase, that there was a daie of
skirmish appointed and agreed vpon by both sides to be tried in the
field. But by the meanes of Thomas of Woodstoke duke of Glocester all
this sturre was appeased, and manie of the Welsh scholers banished
from the vniuersitie. ¶ On the thursdaie before Easter (being mawndaie
thursdaie) the lord Beaumont gardian of Carleill in the west marches
entred Scotland fortie leagues, & spoiling Fowike, made wast at his
pleasure, and brought awaie with him manie Scots prisoners & captiues.
¶ About this time a truce of thrée years was taken betwéene king
Richard, the kings of France, Scotland, Spaine, Portingale, and of
Nauarre. This truce began on the first daie of August in the néerer
parts of the realme both by sea and land; and on the fiftéenth of
August in the further parts, because knowledge could not be giuen
thereof without some long time.
[Sidenote: The Scots in the time of treatie spoile the countrie of
Northumberland.
The Scots hauing prouided an armie to inuade England are hardly
persuaded to accept the truce.]
Whilest the commissioners were occupied in the marches betwixt Calis
and Bullongne about this truce, the Scots entring into Northumberland,
did much mischiefe, leading awaie manie prisoners, men and women,
besides other great booties and preies which they got abroad in the
countrie. The lord Thomas Mowbraie earle of Notingham was sent with
fiue hundred spears to reuenge those attempts of the enimies: but for
that his power was small in comparison to theirs, he preuailed litle or
nothing against them. Sir Iohn Clanbow, and sir Richard Rouale clerke,
tooke the French kings oth; and the earle of saint Paule that had
maried the ladie Maud Courtnie with other noblemen, came into England,
and receiued the kings oth here for the confirming of this last
mentioned truce. The Scots might not without much adoo be persuaded to
accept this truce, being readie the same time with an armie to enter
into England, but yet through the diligence of such Frenchmen as went
thither for that purpose, at length they agreed.
[Sidenote: The kings question to his lords and others in the councel
chamber.
_Claudian._]
This yeare the king by counsell of some that were about him, called the
nobles and great men of the realme togither, and as they were set in
the councell chamber staieng till he came: at length he entring into
the same chamber, and taking his place to sit among them, demanded of
them, of what age he was now? Whereto answer was made, that he was full
twentie yeares old. Then (said he) I am of yeares sufficient to gouerne
mine owne house and familie, and also my kingdome: for it séemeth
aginst reason that the state of the meanest person within my kingdome
should be better than mine. Euerie heire that is once come to the age
of twentie years, is permitted, if his father be not liuing, to order
his businesse himselfe: then that thing which is permitted to euerie
other person of meane degrée by law, why is the same denied vnto me?
These words vttered he with the courage of a prince, not without the
instigation and setting on of such as were about him, whose drift was
by discountenancing others to procure preferment to themselues, abusing
the kings tender years and gréene wit, with ill counsell for their
aduantage: where as it had béene more méete to haue giuen him those
precepts which Claudianus hath in his tract of the institution of a
prince; and among others this:
Non tibi quid liceat, sed quid fecisse decebit
Occurrat, mentémq; domet respectus honesti.
[Sidenote: The king taking vpō him the gouernement of all things
displaceth diuerse officers & setteth others in their roomes.