of his reigne, with ciuill sedition, and the couert practises of
Frenchmen; but that the Scots also tooke vpon them to make open warre
against him: it chanced (as in the Scotish chronicles more at large
appeareth) that George of Dunbar, [Sidenote: George earle of March
fléeth into England.] earle of the marches of Scotland, being in
displeasure with Robert king of Scots, fled into England, to Henrie
earle of Northumberland, whervpon the Scotish king depriued him of all
his dignities and possessions, and caused his goods to be confiscate,
and after wrote to the king of England, requiring him if he would haue
the truce anie longer to continue, [Sidenote: The answer of king Henrie
to the Scotish ambassadors.] either to deliuer into his possession the
earle of March and other traitors to his person, or else to banish them
out of his realmes and dominions. King Henrie discréetly answerd the
herald of Scotland, that the words of a prince ought to be kept: and his
writings and seale to be inuiolate: and considering that he had granted
a safe conduct to the earle and his companie, [Sidenote: Open warre
proclaimed by the king of Scots against England. _Thom. Wals._] he
should neither without cause reasonable breake his promise, nor yet
deface his honor. Which answer declared to the king of Scots, he
incontinentlie proclaimed open warre against the king of England, with
fire and sword. Herevpon, one sir Robert Logon, a Scotish knight, with
certeine ships well appointed for the warre, meant to haue destroied the
English fléet that was come on the coasts of Scotland, about Aberden, to
fish there: [Sidenote: Robert Logon taken prisoner.] but (as it chanced)
he met with certeine ships of Lin, that fought with him, and tooke him
prisoner, with the residue of his companie, so that he quite failed of
his purpose, and came to the losse himselfe.
[Sidenote: The Iles of Orkenie spoiled by Englishmen.] At the same time,
the Englishmen spoiled also certeine of the Iles of Orkenie. [Sidenote:
Mortalitie of people.] This summer, great death chanced in this land,
manie dieing of the pestilence, wherewith sundrie places were infected.
King Henrie perceiuing that policie oftentimes preuenteth perill,
[Sidenote: King Henrie inuadeth Scotland.] and vnderstanding the
naughtie purposes of the Scots, gathered a great armie, and entred into
Scotland, burning townes, villages, and castels, with a great part of
the townes of Edenburgh and Léeth, [Sidenote: The duke of Rothsaie.] and
besieged the castell of Edenburgh in the end of September, whereof was
capteine Dauid duke of Rothsaie, and a prince of the realme, with
Archembald earle of Dowglas, [Sidenote: The duke of Albanie.] hauing
with them manie hardie men of warre. Robert duke of Albanie, that was
appointed gouernour of the realme, because the king was sicke and not
méet to rule, sent an herald vnto king Henrie, [Sidenote: _Anno Reg._
2.] promising him battell within six daies at the furthest, if he would
so long tarrie, which king Henrie promised to doo right gladlie, and
gaue to the herald for bringing him so acceptable newes, a gowne of
silke, and a cheine of gold. But king Henrie staied six daies, and
sixtéene too, without hearing any word of the gouernors comming. Then
the winter beginning to wax cold, and foule weather still increasing,
caused the king to breake vp his siege, and so returned without battell
or skirmish offered.
[Sidenote: King Henrie returneth home. The Scots burne in
Northumberland.] In the meane time that the king was thus in Scotland,
the Scots made a rode into Northumberland, and burned diuerse townes in
Bamburroughshire. At the kings comming backe to Yorke, there were two
strangers, the one a Frenchman, [Sidenote: Iusts at Yorke.] and the
other an Italian, requiring to accomplish certeine feats of armes,
against sir Iohn Cornewall, and Ianico de Artois. [Sidenote: Sir Iohn
Cornewall marrieth the kings sister.] Their request was granted, and the
strangers were put to the worst, whereby sir Iohn Cornewall obteined the
kings fauour so farre foorth, that he married the kings sister, the
widow of Iohn Holland, earle of Huntington. Yet some said, that the
knight and the countesse were agréed aforehand, without the kings
consent. In the kings absence, [Sidenote: The welshmen rebell by the
setting on of Owen Glendouer.] whilest he was foorth of the realme in
Scotland against his enimies, the Welshmen tooke occasion to rebell
vnder the conduct of their capteine Owen Glendouer, [Sidenote: _Iohn
Stow._] [Sidenote: Owen Glendouer what he was.] dooing what mischeefe
they could deuise, vnto their English neighbours. This Owen Glendouer
was sonne to an esquier of Wales, named Griffith Vichan: he dwelled in
the parish of Conwaie, within the countie of Merioneth in North Wales,
in a place called Glindourwie, which is as much to saie in English, as
The vallie by the side of the water of Dée, by occasion whereof he was
surnamed Glindour Dew.
He was first set to studie the lawes of the realme, and became an vtter
barrester, or an apprentise of the law (as they terme him) and serued
king Richard at Flint castell, when he was taken by Henrie duke of
Lancaster, [Sidenote: _Tho. Walsi._] though other haue written that he
serued this king Henrie the fourth, before he came to atteine the
crowne, in roome of an esquier, and after, by reason of variance that
rose betwixt him and the lord Reginald Greie of Ruthin, about the lands
which he claimed to be his by right of inheritance: when he saw that he
might not preuaile, [Sidenote: The ocassion that mooued him to rebell.]
finding no such fauor in his sute as he looked for, he first made warre
against the said lord Greie, wasting his lands and possessions with fire
and sword, [Sidenote: The king entreth into wales, meaning to chastise
the rebels.] cruellie killing his seruants and tenants. The king
aduertised of such rebellious exploits, enterprised by the said Owen,
and his vnrulie complices, determined to chastise them, as disturbers of
his peace, and so with an armie entered into Wales; but the Welshmen
with their capteine withdrew into the mounteines of Snowdon, so to
escape the reuenge, which the king meant towards them. The king
therefore did much hurt in the countries with fire and sword, sleing
diuerse that with weapon in hand came foorth to resist him, and so with
a great bootie of beasts and cattell he returned.
[Sidenote: The emperor of Constantinople cõmeth into Englãd.] The
emperour of Constantinople comming into England to sue for aid against
the Turkes, was met by the king on Blackeheath, vpon the feast day of
saint Thomas the apostle, and brought vnto London with great honor. The
king bare all his charges, presenting him with gifts at his departure,
[Sidenote: 1401] [Sidenote: A Parlement.] meet for such an estate. After
the feast of the Epiphanie, a parlement was holden, in which an act was
made, against those that held opinions in religion, contrarie to the
receiued doctrine of the church of Rome; ordeining, that wheresoeuer any
of them were found and prooued to set foorth such doctrine, they should
be apprehended, and deliuered to the bishop their diocesane; and if they
stood stiffelie in their opinions, and would not be reformed, [Sidenote:
One burnt in Smithfield.] they should be deliuered to the secular power,
to be burnt to ashes. The first that tasted the smart of this statute,
was one William Hawtrée or Sawtrée a priest, that being apprehended was
burnt in Smithfield, in time of this parlement.
[Sidenote: Additions of the chronicles of Flanders.] About the same
time, king Henrie according to promise made (as ye have heard) vnto the
French ambassadors, sent ouer into the countrie of Guisnes, [Sidenote:
There was also the erle of Deuonshire, as _Froissard_ saith.] Edward
earle of Rutland, otherwise in king Richards daies intitled duke of
Aumarle, son to Edmund duke of Yorke, Henrie earle of Northumberland,
and his sonne the lord Henrie Persie, the lord Yuan Fitzwarren, the
bishops of Winchester and Lincolne: where the duke of Burbon, [Sidenote:
The hath _Froissard_. Commissioners met to treat of peace.] the lords
Charles d'Albert, Charles de Hangest, Iohn de Chastelmorant, the
Patriarche of Ierusalem, and the bishops of Paris and Beauuois, were
readie there to commune with them, and so they assembling togither at
sundrie times and places, the Frenchmen required to haue queene Isabell
to them restored, but the Englishmen séemed loth to depart with hir,
requiring to haue hir married to Henrie Prince of Wales, [Sidenote: The
French king troubled with a frensie.] one in bloud and age in all things
to hir equall; but the Frenchmen would in no wise condescend thereto,
without their kings consent, who at that present was not in case to
vtter his mind, being troubled with his woonted disease. The
commissioners then began treat of peace, [Sidenote: Truce for 26
yeares.] and at length renewed the truce to endure for six and twentie
yeares yet to come; wherevnto the foure yeares passed being added, made
vp the number of thirtie yeares, according to the conclusion agreed
vpon, in the life time of king Richard.
[Sidenote: _Hall._] Some authors affirme, that there was a new league
concluded, [Sidenote: The Frenchmen demand a dower for quéene Isabell.]
to continue, during the liues of both the princes. The Frenchmen diuerse
times required to haue some dower assigned foorth for queene Isabell,
but that was at all times vtterlie denied, for that the marriage betwixt
hir and king Richard was neuer consummate, by reason whereof she was not
dowable. Neuerthelesse, she was shortlie after sent home, vnder the
conduct of the earle of Worcester, associat with diuerse other noble and
honorable personages, both men and women, hauing with hir all the
iewels, ornaments, [Sidenote: Additions of the chron. of Flanders.] and
plate which she brought into England, with a great surplusage besides
giuen to hir by the king. She was deliuered betwixt Bullongne and Calis,
to Valeran earle of saint Paule, [Sidenote: She is deliuered home.] the
French kings lieutenant in Picardie, who being accompanied with the
bishop of Chartres, the lord de Hugueuile, the ladie of Monpensier
sister to the erle of March, the ladie of Lucenburgh sister to the said
earle of saint Paule, & diuerse other ladies and gentlewomen, which
receiued hir with great ioy and gladnesse, and taking leaue of the
English lords and ladies, they conueied hir to the dukes of Burgognie
and Burbon, [Sidenote: She is conueied to Paris.] that attended for hir,
not far off, upon a hill, with a great number of people. They first
conueied hir to Bullogne, & after to Abuile, from whence the duke of
Orleance conueied hir to Paris, vnto the presence of the king hir
father, [Sidenote: Hir second marriage.] and the queene hir mother: she
was after giuen in marriage vnto Charles, sonne to Lewes duke of
Orleance. [Sidenote: _Anno Reg._ 3. Owen Glendouer.] About the same
time, Owen Glendouer and his Welshmen did much hurt to the kings
subiects. One night as the king was going to bed, [Sidenote: The danger
of the king to haue béene destroied.] he was in danger to haue beene
destroied; for some naughtie traitorous persons had conueied into his
bed a certeine iron made with smiths craft, like a caltrop, with three
long prickes, sharp and small, standing vpright, it such sort, that when
he had laid him downe, & that the weight of his bodie should come vpon
the bed, he should have beene thrust in with those pricks, and
peraduenture slaine: but as God would, the king not thinking of any such
thing, chanced yet to féele and perceiue the instrument before he laid
him downe, and so escaped the danger. ¶ Howbeit he was not so soone
deliuered from feare; for he might well haue his life in suspicion, &
prouide for the preseruation of the same; sith perils of death crept
into his secret chamber, and laie lurking in the bed of downe where his
bodie was to be reposed and to take rest. Oh what a suspected state
therefore is that of a king holding his regiment with the hatred of his
people, the hart grudgings of his courtiers, and the peremtorie
practises of both togither? Could he confidentlie compose or setle
himselfe to sleepe for feare of strangling? Durst he boldly eat and
drinke without dread of poisoning? Might he aduenture to shew himselfe
in great méetings or solemne assemblies without mistrust of mischeefe
against his person intended? What pleasure or what felicitie could he
take in his princelie pompe, which he knew by manifest and fearfull
experience, to be enuied and maligned to the verie death? The state of
such a king is noted by the poet in Dionysius, as in a mirror,
[Sidenote: _Hor. lib. ca. 3, Ode. 1._] concerning whom it is said,
Districtus ensis cui super impia
Ceruice pendet, non Siculæ dapes
Dulcem elaborabunt saporem,
Non auium cytharæq. cantus.
[Sidenote: 1402.] [Sidenote: The earle of Warwike depareth this life. A
blasing starre.] This yeare, the eight day of April deceassed the lord
Thomas Beauchampe earle of Warwike. In the moneth of March appeared a
blasing starre, first betwéene the east part of the firmament and the
North, flashing foorth fire and flames round about it, and lastlie
shooting foorth fierie beams towards the north, foreshewing (as was
thought) the great effusion of bloud that followed, about the parts of
Wales and Northumberland. For much about the same time, Owen Glendouer
(with his Welshmen) fought with the lord Greie of Ruthen, comming foorth
to defend his possessions, which the same Owen wasted and destroied: and
as the fortune of that daies worke fell out, [Sidenote: The lord Greie
of Ruthen taken in fight by Ow[=e] Glendouer] the lord Greie was taken
prisoner, and manie of his men were slaine. This hap lifted the Welshmen
into high pride, and increased meruelouslie their wicked and
presumptuous attempts.
About Whitsuntide a conspiracie was deuised by certeine persons, that
wished the kings death, [Sidenote: A brute was spred abroad that king
Richard was liuing.] mainteining and bruting abroad, that king Richard
was aliue, and therefore exhorted men to stand with him, [Sidenote: A
priest tak[=e].] for shortlie he would come to light, and reward such as
tooke his part with iust recompense. Herewith, there was a priest taken
at Ware, or (as some books haue) at Warwike, who had a kalendar or roll,
in which a great number of Names were written, more than were in any
wise guiltie of the fact, as afterwards appeared by the same priests
confession. For being examined, whether he knew such persons as he had
so inrolled, & were there present before him, he said he neuer knew them
at all; and being demanded wherefore he had then so recorded their
names, he answered, because he thought they would gladlie doo what
mischief they could against king Henrie, vpon any occasion offered in
reuenge of the iniuries doone to king Richard, by whom they had beene
aduanced, and princelie preferred. When therefore there appeared no more
credit in the man, [Sidenote: He is executed.] he was condemned, drawen,
hanged, and quartered, and diuerse that had beene apprehended about that
matter, were released, and set at libertie. [Sidenote: The prior of
Laund apprehended.] Shortlie after, the prior of Laund (who for his euil
gouernment had béene depriued of his state and dignitie) was likewise
executed, not for attempting any thing of himselfe, but onlie for that
he confessed, that he knew euil counsell and concealed it. His name was
Walter Baldocke, a canon sometime in Dunstable, and by king Richard
promoted to the priorship of Laund.
[Sidenote: Greie friers apprehended.] Also the same time, certeine greie
friers were apprehended for treason which they had deuised to bring to
passe, and one of them, whose name was Richard Frisebie, being asked
what he would doo if king Richard had béene aliue, and present with
them, answered stoutlie, that he would fight against any man in his
quarrell; euen to death. [Sidenote: A greie frier hanged in his habit.]
Herevpon, he was condemned, drawen, and hanged in his friers wéed, to
the great confusion of his brethren; but they made earnest instance to
haue his bodie taken downe, and buried with diriges and exequies, and
had their sute granted. [Sidenote: Sir Roger Claringdon.] Sir Roger of
Claringdon knight was also put to death about this conspiracie, with two
of his seruants, the one an esquier, the other a yeoman. He was base
sonne (as was reported) vnto Edward, eldest sonne to king Edward the
third, [Sidenote: The diuell appeareth in likenesse of a greie frier.]
surnamed the blacke prince. On Corpus Christi daie at euensong time, the
diuell (as was thought) appeared in a towne of Essex called Danburie,
entring into the church in likenesse of a greie frier, behauing himselfe
verie outragiouslie, plaieng his parts like a diuell indéed, so that the
parishioners were put in a maruellous great fright.
At the same instant, there chanced such a tempest of wind, thunder, and
lightning, that the highest part of the roofe of that church was blowen
downe, and the chancell was all to shaken, rent, and torne in péeces.
[Sidenote: Eight friers executed.] Within a small while after, eight of
those greie friers that had practised treason against the king were
brought to open iudgement, and conuicted were drawen and headed at
London; and two other suffered at Leicester, all which persons had
published king Richard to be aliue. Owen Glendouer, according to his
accustomed manner, robbing and spoiling within the English borders,
caused all the forces of the shire of Hereford to assemble togither
against them, vnder the conduct of Edmund Mortimer earle of March. But
cõming to trie the matter by battell, [Sidenote: The earle of March
taken prisoner in batell by Owen Glendouer.] whether by treason or
otherwise, so it fortuned, that the English power was discomfited, the
earle taken prisoner, and aboue a thousand of his people slaine in the
place. The shamefull villanie vsed by the Welshwomen towards the dead
carcasses, was such, as honest eares would be ashamed to heare, and
continent toongs to speake thereof. The dead bodies might not be buried,
without great summes of monie giuen for libertie to conueie them awaie.
[Sidenote: The suspicion of K. Henrie grounded vpõ a guiltie
conscience.] The king was not hastie to purchase the deliuerance of the
earle March, bicause his title to the crowne was well inough knowen, and
therefore suffered him to remaine in miserable prison, wishing both the
said earle, and all other of his linage out of this life, with God and
his saincts in heauen, so they had beene out of the waie, for then all
had béene well inough as he thought. But to let these things passe,
[Sidenote: The kings daughter maried into Germanie.] the king this yeare
sent his eldest daughter Blanch, accõpanied with the earle of Summerset,
the bishop of Worcester, the lord Clifford, and others, into Almanie,
which brought hir to Colin, and there with great triumph she was married
to William duke of Bauier, sonne and heire to Lewes the emperour. About
mid of August, the king to chastise the presumptuous attempts of the
Welshmen, went with a great power of men into Wales, to pursue the
capteine of the Welsh rebell Owen Glendouer, but in effect he lost his
labor; for Owen conueied himselfe out of the waie, into his knowen
lurking places, and (as was thought) through art magike, [Sidenote:
Intemperat weather.] he caused such foule weather of winds, tempest,
raine, snow, and haile to be raised, for the annoiance of the kings
armie, that the like had not beene heard of; in such sort, that the king
was constreined to returne home, hauing caused his people yet to spoile
and burne first a great part of the countrie. [Sidenote: The deceasse of
the duke of Yorke.] The same time, the lord Edmund of Langlie duke of
Yorke departed this life, and was buried at Langlie with his brethren.
[Sidenote: Scots ouerthrowen.] The Scots vnder the leding of Patrike
Hepborne, of the Hales the yoonger, entring into England, were
ouerthrowen at Nesbit, in the marches, as in the Scotish chronicle ye
may find more at large. This battell was fought the two and twentith of
Iune, in this yeare of our Lord 1402.
Archembald earle Dowglas sore displeased in his mind for this ouerthrow,
procured a commission to inuade England, and that to his cost,
[Sidenote: Scots vanquished at Homildon.] as ye may likewise read in the
Scotish histories. For at a place called Homildon, they were so
fiercelie assailed by the Englishmen, vnder the leading of the lord
Persie; surnamed Henrie Hotspur, and George earle of March, that with
violence of the English shot they were quite vanquished and put to
flight, on the Rood daie in haruest, with a great slaughter made by the
Englishmen. We know that the Scotish writers note this battell to haue
chanced in the yeare 1403. But we following Tho. Walsingham in this
place, and other English writers, for the accompt of times, [Sidenote:
The number slaine.] haue thought good to place it in this yeare 1402, as
in the same writers we find it. There were slaine of men of estimation,
sir Iohn Swinton, sir Adam Gordon, sir Iohn Leuiston, sir Alexander
Ramsie of Dalehousie, [Sidenote: Prisoners taken.] and three and twentie
knights, besides ten thousand of the commons: and of prisoners among
other were these, Mordacke earle of Fife, son to the gouernour
Archembald earle Dowglas, which in the fight lost one of his eies,
Thomas erle of Murrey, Robert earle of Angus, and (as some writers haue)
the earles of Atholl & Menteith, with fiue hundred other of meaner
degrées. After this, the lord Persie, [Sidenote: The castell of
Cocklawes besieged by the lord Persie.] hauing bestowed the prisoners in
suer kéeping, entered Tiuidale, wasting and destroieng the whole
countrie, and then besieged the castell of Cocklawes, whereof was
capteine one sir Iohn Grenlow, who compounded with the Englishmen, that
if the castell were not succoured within three moneths, then he would
deliuer it into their hands.
The first two moneths passed, and no likelihood of rescue appeared; but
yer the third moneth was expired, the Englishmen being sent for to go
with the king into Wales, raised their siege and departed, leauing the
noble men prisoners with the earle of Northumberland, and with his sonne
the lord Persie, [Sidenote: The professors of wicklifs doctrine.] to
keepe them to the kings vse. In this meane while, such as misliked with
the doctrine and ceremonies then vsed in the church, ceassed not to
vtter their consciences, though in secret, to those in whome they had
affiance. But as in the like cases it commonlie hapneth, they were
bewraied by some that were thought chieflie to fauour their cause, as by
sir Lewes Clifford knight, who hauing leaned to the doctrine a long
time, did now (as Thomas Walsingham writeth) disclose all that he knew
vnto the archbishop of Canturburie, to shew himselfe as it were to haue
erred rather of simplenesse and ignorance, than of frowardnesse or
stubborn malice. The names of such as taught the articles and
conclusions mainteined by those which then they called Lollards or
heretikes, [Sidenote: Sir Lewes Clifford bewraieth his fellowes.] the
said sir Lewes Clifford gaue in writing to the said archbishop. Edmund
Mortimer earle of March, prisoner with Owen Glendouer, [Sidenote: The
earle of March marieth the daughter of Owen Glendouer.] whether for
irksomnesse of cruell captiuitie, or feare of death, or for what other
cause, it is vncerteine, agréed to take part with Owen, against the king
of England, and tooke to wife the daughter of the said Owen.
Strange wonders happened (as men reported) at the natiuitie of this man,
for the same night he was borne, all his fathers horsses in the stable
were found to stand in bloud vp to the bellies. [Sidenote: _Anno Reg._
4. A parlement.] The morow after the feast of saint Michaell, a
parlement began at Westminster, which continued the space of seauen
weekes, in the same was a tenth and a halfe granted by the cleargie, and
a fiftéenth by the communaltie. Moreouer, the commons in this parlement
besought the king to haue the person of George earle of March a
Scotishman, [Sidenote: George earle of March recommended to the king by
parlement.] recommended to his maiestie, for that the same earle shewed
himselfe faithfull to the king & his realme. ¶ There was also a statute
made, [Sidenote: 1403.] [Sidenote: Ambassadors.] that the friers beggers
should not receiue any into their order, vnder the age of fourteene
yeares. In this fourth yeare of king Henries reigne, ambassadors were
sent ouer into Britaine, to bring from thence the duches of Britaine,
the ladie Iane de Nauarre, the widow of Iohn de Montford, late duke of
Britaine, surnamed the conqueror, with whom by procurators the king had
contracted matrimonie. In the beginning of Februarie, those that were
sent returned with hir in safetie, but not without tasting the bitter
stormes of the wind and weather, that tossed them sore to and fro,
before they could get to land. The king met hir at Winchester, where the
seuenth of Februarie, the marriage was solemnized betwixt them.