In the beginning of this parlement, the king greatlie complained of the
misdemeanour of the péeres and lords of his realme, as well for the
things doone against his will and pleasure, whiles he was yoong, as for
the streit dealing, which they had shewed towards the quéene, who was
thrée houres at one time on hir knees before the earle of Arundell,
for one of hir esquiers, named Iohn Caluerlie, who neuerthelesse had
his head smit frō his shoulders, & all the answer that she could get,
was this: “Madame, praie for yourselfe, and your husband, for that
is best, and let this sute alone.” Those that set foorth the kings
greeuances, as prolocutors in this parlement were these: Iohn Bushie,
William Bagot and Thomas Gréene. The king had caused a large house
of timber to be made within the palace at Westminster, which he was
called an hall, couered aboue head with tiles, and was open at the
ends, that all men might see through it. This house was of so great a
compasse, that scarse it might stand within the roome of the palace.
In this house was made an high throne for the king, and a large place
for all estates besides to sit in. There were places also made for the
appellants to stand on the one side, and the defendants on the other,
and a like roome was made behind for the knights and burgesses of the
parlement. There was a place deuised for the speaker, named sir Iohn
Bushie, a knight of Lincolnshire, accompted to be an exceeding cruell
man, ambitious, and couetous beyond measure.
[Sidenote: The archbishop of Canturburie sitting in parlement is
accused of treason by the speaker.]
Immediatlie after, ech man being placed in his roome, the cause of
assembling that parlement was shewed, as that the king had called it
for reformation of diuerse transgressions and oppressions committed
against the peace of his land by the duke of Glocester, the earles of
Arundell, Warwike, and others. Then sir Iohn Bushie stept foorth, and
made request on the behalfe of the communaltie, that it might please
the kings highnesse for their heinous acts attempted against his lawes
and roiall maiestie, to appoint them punishment according to their
deseruings, and speciallie to the archbishop of Canturburie (who then
sat next the king) whome he accused of high treason, for that he had
euill counselled his maiestie, inducing him to grant his letters of
pardon to his brother the earle of Arundell, being a ranke traitor.
[Sidenote: Impudent flatterie.]
When the archbishop began to answer in his owne defense, the king
willed him to sit |840| downe againe and to hold his peace, for all
should be well. Herewith sir Iohn Bushie besought the king, that the
archbishop should not be admitted to make his answer, which if he
did, by reason of his great wit and good vtterance, he feared least
he should lead men awaie to beléeue him: so the archbishop might be
heard no further. Sir Iohn Bushie in all his talke, when he proponed
any matter vnto the king, did not attribute to him titles of honour,
due and accustomed, but inuented vnused termes and such strange names,
as were rather agreeable to the diuine maiestie of God, than to any
earthlie potentate. The prince being desirous inough of all honour, and
more ambitious than was requisite, seemed to like well of his speech,
and gaue good eare to his talke.
[Sidenote: _Tho. Walsi._]
Thus when the archbishop was constreined to keepe silence, sir Iohn
Bushie procéeded in his purpose, requiring on the behalfe of the
commons, that the charters of pardons granted vnto the traitors, to
wit, the duke of Glocester, and the earles of Arundell and Warwike,
should be reuoked by consent of all the estates now in parlement
assembled. The king also for his part protested, that those pardons
were not voluntarilie granted by him, but rather extorted by
compulsion, and therefore he besought them that euerie man would shew
foorth their opinions what they thought thereof. There were two other
persons of great credit with the king, besides sir Iohn Bushie, that
were, as before yee haue heard, verie earnest to haue those charters of
pardon reuoked and made void, to wit, sir William Bagot, and sir Thomas
Gréene.
But bicause this matter séemed to require good deliberation, it was
first put to the bishops, who with small adoo gaue sentence, that the
said charters were reuocable, and might well inough be called in:
yet the archbishop of Canturburie in his answer herevnto said, that
the king from whome those pardons came, was so high an estate, that
he durst not saie, that anie such charters by him granted, might be
reuoked: notwithstanding, his brethren the bishops thought otherwise:
not considering (saith Thomas Walsingham) that such reuoking of the
kings charters of pardon should sound highlie to the kings dishonor:
forsomuch as mercie and pardoning transgressions is accompted to be the
confirmation and establishing of the kings seat and roiall estate.
[Sidenote: The charters of pardō granted to y^e lords made void by
parlement.]
The temporall lords perceiuing what the bishops had doone, did likewise
giue their consents, to reuoke the same pardons: but the iudges with
those that were toward the law, were not of this opinion, but finallie
the bishops pretending a scrupulositie, as if they might not with safe
consciences be present where iudgement of bloud should passe, they
appointed a laie man to be their prolocutor to serue that turne. To
conclude, at length all maner of charters of pardon were made void, for
that the same séemed to impeach the suertie of the kings person. When
sir Iohn Bushie and his associats had obteined that reuocation, it was
further by them declared, that the earle of Arundell had yet an other
speciall charter of pardon for his owne person, which he had obteined
after the first. And therefore sir Iohn Bushie earnestlie requested in
name of the communaltie that the same might likewise be reuoked.
[Sidenote: _Thom. Wals._
The archb. of Canturburie condemned to perpetuall banishment.