Gascoigne.] The duke of Orleance hauing leuied a mightie armie, had
besieged the townes of Burge and Blaie in Gascoigne, meaning with force
to win the same; but so it fortuned, that for the space of eight wéekes
togither, there passed not one daie without tempest of raine, snow, and
haile, mixed with winds and lightnings, which killed as well men as
cattell, by reason whereof he lost (as was reported) six thousand men,
so that he was constreined to breake vp his camps from before both those
townes, and to get him awaie with dishonor, for all his brags and boasts
made at his first comming thither. [Sidenote: Henrie Paie a valiant
seaman.] The same time, Henrie Paie and certeine other persons of the
fiue ports, with fiftéene ships, tooke an hundred and twentie prises,
which laie at anchor in and about the coast of Britaine, laden with
iron, salt, oile, & Rochell wines.
In this season also billes were set vp in diuerse places of London,
[Sidenote: K. Richard still aliue as was feigned.] and on the doore of
Paules church, in which was conteined that king Richard being aliue and
in health, would come shortlie with great magnificence & power to
recouer againe his kingdome: but the contriuer of this deuise was
quicklie found out, apprehended, and punished according to his demerits.
¶ The citie of London this yeare in the summer was so infected with
pestilent mortalitie, that the king durst not repaire thither, nor come
neere to it. Whervpon he being at the castell of Leeds in Kent, and
departing from thence, tooke ship at Quinburgh in the Ile of Shepie, to
saile ouer vnto Lée in Essex, and so to go to Plaschie, there to passe
the time till the mortalitie was ceassed.
As he was vpon the sea, [Sidenote: The king in danger to be taken by
French pirats.] certeine French pirats which laie lurking at the Thames
mouth to watch for some preie, got knowledge by some meanes (as was
supposed) of kings passage, and therevpon as he was in the middest of
his course, they entred among his fléet, and tooke foure vessels next to
the kings ship, [Sidenote: Sir Thomas Rampston taken.] and in one of the
same vessels sir Thomas Rampston the kings vicechamberlaine, with all
his chamber stuffe and apparell. They followed the king so néere, that
if his ship had not béene swift, [Sidenote: The king escaped through
swiftnesse of his ship.] he had landed sooner in France than in Essex:
but such was his good hap, that he escaped and arriued at his appointed
port. The lord Camois, [Sidenote: The lord Camois put in blame.] that
was commanded with certeine ships of warre to waft the king ouer
(whether the wind turned so that he could not kéepe his direct course,
or that his ship was but a slug) ran so far in the kings displeasure,
that he was attached & indited, for that (as was surmized against him)
he had practised with the Frenchmen, that the king might by them haue
béene taken in his passage.
Yee haue heard that the pope by vertue of his prouision had giuen the
archbishoprike of Yorke vnto maister Robert Halom; but the king was so
offended therewith, that the said Robert might in no wise inioy that
benefice, [Sidenote: Henrie Bowet archbishop of Yorke.] and so at
length, to satisfie the kings pleasure, maister Henrie Bowet was
translated from Bath vnto Yorke, and maister Robert Halom was made
bishop of Salisburie then void by remoouing of Henrie Chichellie to S.
Dauids. [Sidenote: Abirusewith.] The lord Henrie prince of Wales this
yeare in the summer season besieged the castell of Abirusewith, and
constreined them within to compound with him vnder certeine conditions
for truce; [Sidenote: Owen Glendouer.] but the prince was no sooner from
thence departed, but that Owen Glendouer by subtill craft entered the
castell, put out the kéepers, and charging them with treason for
concluding an agréement without his consent, placed other in that
fortresse to defend it to his vse.
About the feast of the Assumption of our ladie, [Sidenote: Sir Robert
Knols departeth this life. _Bermondsey._] that ancient warriour and
worthie knight sir Robert Knols departed this life: he was (as before
yée haue heard) borne of meane parentage, but growen into such
estimation for his valiant prowesse, as he was thought méet to haue the
leading of whole armies, and the rule and gouernment of large prouinces.
For not long before his deceasse, he being gouernour of Aquitaine,
[Sidenote: S. Albons.] incumbred with age, resigned his office vnto sir
Thomas Belfort, a right valiant capteine, and therewith returned into
England, where he died at a manour place of his in Norffolke, & from
thence brought to London in a litter, [Sidenote: He was buried in the
white friers.] with great pompe and much torch light, was buried in the
church of White friers in Fleetstreet by the ladie Constance his wife,
where was doone for him a solemne obsequie, with a great feast, and
liberall dole to the poore.
Besides the diuerse noble exploits, and famous warlike enterprises
atchiued by this valiant sonne of Mars, [Sidenote: He built Rochester
bridge commonlie called Knols bridge.] he (to continue the perpetuall
memorie of his name) builded the bridge of Rochester, ouer the riuer of
Medwaie with a chappell at the end thereof; he repared also the bodie of
the church of the White friers where he was buried, which church was
first founded by the ancestour of the lord Greie of Codner. [Sidenote:
_Thom. Wals._] He also founded a college of secular priests at Pomfret,
and did manie other things in his life right commendable. Sir Thomas
Rampston constable of the tower was drowned, in comming from the court
as he would haue shut the bridge, [Sidenote: An. Reg. 9.] the streame
being so big, that it ouerturned his barge. This yeare the twentith of
October began a parlement holden at Glocester, [Sidenote: _Thom Wals._ A
subsidie.] but remooued to London as should appeare in Nouember; for (as
we find) in that moneth this yéere 1407, and ninth of this kings reign,
a subsidie was granted by authoritie of a parlement then assembled at
London, to be leuied through the whole realme.
[Sidenote: The lord Camois arreigned & acquited.] The lord Camois was
arreigned the last of October, before Edmund earle of Kent that daie
high steward of England, and by his péeres acquit of the offense,
whereof he had beene indicted (as before yee haue heard) and so
dismissed at the barre, was restored againe both to his goods, lands,
and offices. ¶ This yeare the winter was excéeding sharpe through frost
and snow that continued & couered the ground by all the moneths of
December, Ianuarie, Februarie, and March, insomuch that thrushes,
blackbirds, and manie thousand birds of the like smaller size, perished
with verie cold and hunger.
[Sidenote: 1408.] The earle of Northumberland, and the lord Bardolfe,
after they had béene in Wales in France and Flanders, to purchase aid
against king Henrie, were returned backe into Scotland, and had remained
there now for the space of a whole yeare: and as their euill fortune
would, whilest the king held a councell of the nobilitie at London,
[Sidenote: The earle of Northumb. & the lord Bardolfe returne into
Englãd.] the said earle of Northumberland and lord Bardolfe, in a
dismall houre, with a great power of Scots returned into England,
recouering diuerse of the earls castels and seigniories, for the people
in great numbers resorted vnto them. Héerevpon incouraged with hope of
good successe, they entred into Yorkeshire, & there began to destroie
the countrie. At their cõming to Threske, they published a proclamation,
signifieng that they were come in comfort of the English nation, as to
reléeue the common-wealth, willing all such as loued the libertie of
their countrie, to repaire vnto them, with their armor on their backes,
and in defensible wise to assist them.
The king aduertised hereof, caused a great armie to be assembled, and
came forward with the same towards his enimies: but yer the king came to
Notingham, [Sidenote: The shiriffe of Yorkeshire.] sir Thomas, or (as
other copies haue) Rafe Rokesbie shiriffe of Yorkeshire, assembled the
forces of the countrie to resist the earle and his power, comming to
Grimbaut brigs, beside Knaresborough, there to stop them the passage;
but they returning aside, got to Weatherbie, and so to Tadcaster, and
finallie came forward vnto Bramham more, [Sidenote: His hardie corage to
fight.] neere to Haizelwood, where they chose their ground méet to fight
vpon. The shiriffe was as readie to giue battell as the earle to receiue
it, and so with a standard of S. George spred, set fiercelie vpon the
earle, who vnder a standard of his owne armes incountered his
aduersaries with great manhood. There was a sore incounter and cruell
conflict betwixt the parties but in the end the victorie fell to the
shiriffe. [Sidenote: The earle of Northumberland slaine.] The lord
Bardolfe was taken, but sore wounded, so that he shortlie after died of
the hurts. ¶ As for the earle of Northumberland, he was slaine outright:
so that now the prophesie was fulfilled, which gaue an inkling of this
his heauie hap long before; namelie, [Sidenote: _Abr. Fl._ out of _Tho.
Walsin._ Hypod._ pag. 172]
Stirps Persitina periet confusa ruina.
For this earle was the stocke and maine root of all that were left aliue
called by the name of Persie; and of manie more by diuerse slaughters
dispatched. For whose misfortune the people were not a little sorrie,
making report of the gentlemans valiantnesse, renowne, and honour, and
applieng vnto him certeine lamentable verses out of Lucane, saieng;
Sed nos nec sanguis, nec tantùm vulnera nostri
Affecere senis; quantum gestata per vrbem
Ora ducis, quæ transfixo deformia pilo
Vidimus.
For his head, full of siluer horie heares, being put vpon a stake, was
openlie carried through London and set vpon the bridge of the same
citie: in like maner was the lord Bardolfes. The bishop of Bangor was
taken and pardoned by the king, for that when he was apprehended, he had
no armor on his backe. This battell was fought the ninteenth day of
Februarie. ¶ The king to purge the North parts of all rebellion, and to
take order for the punishment of those that were accused to haue
succoured and assisted the earle of Northumberland, went to Yorke, where
when manie were condemned, and diuerse put to great fines, and the
countrie brought to quietnesse, [Sidenote: The abbat of Hails hanged.]
he caused the abbat of Hailes to be hanged, who had béene in armour
against him with the foresaid earle.
[Sidenote: The earle of Kent sent to the sea.] In the beginning of
March, the king sent Edmund Holland earle of Kent with an armie of men
imbarked in certeine ships of warre vnto the sea, bicause he had
knowledge that diuerse rouers were wafting about the coasts of this
land, and did much hurt. When the earle had serched the coasts, and
could meet with no enimie abrode, he was aduertised by espials, that the
pirats hearing of his comming to sea were withdrawne into Britaine:
wherefore the said earle intending to be reuenged on them, whome he
sought, directed his course thither, and finding that they had laid vp
their ships in the hauens, so as he could not fight with them by sea, he
lanched out his boates, [Sidenote: Briake in Britaine assaulted by the
Englishmen.] and with his fierce souldiers tooke land, and manfullie
assaulted the towne of Briake standing by the sea side. They within
stoutlie defended themselues, dooing their best to repell the
Englishmen, with throwing darts, [Sidenote: The earle of Kent wo[=u]ded
to death.] casting stones, and shooting quarels; in which conflict the
earle receiued a wound in his head, so that he died thereof within fiue
daies after.
[Sidenote: Briake taken by force.] The Englishmen not dismaied with his
death, but the more desirous to obteine their purpose, continued their
assaults, till by fine force they entered the towne, set it on fire, and
slue all that made resistance; and after for want of a generall to
command what should be doone, they being pestered with preies and
prisoners, returned into England. ¶ The countesse of Kent that was
daughter (as yée haue heard) to Bernabo viscont lord of Millaine, hauing
no issue by hir husband, was now mooued by the king after hir husbands
death, to marrie with his bastard brother the earle of Dorset, a man
verie aged and euill visaged; [Sidenote: The countes of Kent maketh hir
owne choise of hir second husband.] wherevpon she misliking him, meant
rather to satisfie hir owne fancie, and therefore chose for hir husband
Henrie Mortimer, a goodlie yoong bacheller, by whome she had issue a
daughter named Anne, married to sir Iohn Awbemond.
This yeare, the next daie after the feast daie of Marie Magdalen,
[Sidenote: A disputation betwixt diuines of Oxford & Cambridge for their
obedi[=e]ce to the pope.] in a councell holden at London by the cleargie,
the doctors of the vniuersities of Cambridge and Oxenford being there,
with the rest assembled, debated the matter, whether they ought to
withdraw from the pope, paiments of monie, and their accustomed
obedience, considering that contrarie to his word and promise so
solemnlie made, and with an oth confirmed, he withdrewe himselfe from
the place where he (according to couenants) should haue béene present,
to aduance an agréement and concord in the church. ¶ Vpon the euen of
the Natiuitie of our ladie, there chanced such flouds through abundance
of raine, [Sidenote: An. Reg. 10.] [Sidenote: The cardinal of Burges
cõmeth into England in disfauor of pope Gregorie.] as the like had not
béene séene afore by anie man then liuing. Also about the feast of All
saints, the cardinal of Burges came into England, to informe the king
and the cleargie of the inconstant dealing of pope Gregorie, in like
maner as he had informed the French king and the Frenchmen, to the end
that he might persuade both these kings which were accounted the chéefe
in christendome, to put vnto their helping hands, that the same pope
Gregorie might be induced to obserue and performe that oth, which he had
receiued, so as by the roiall authoritie of those two kings, concord
might be had in the church. The French king (as this cardinall alleged)
following the aduise of the learned men of the vniuersities of Paris,
Bologna, Orleans, Tholouse, and Montpellier, [Sidenote: The resolutiõ of
the French king concerning the two popes.] to auoid the danger of
fauouring schisme, determined to obeie neither the one nor the other
that contended for the papasie, vntill peace and concord might be
restored in Christes church. The king vnderstanding the purpose of the
cardinall, shewed him what courtesie might be deuised, offering to beare
his charges, so long as it pleased him to remaine in England, and
promising him to consider aduisedlie of the matter.
[Sidenote: 1409.] [Sidenote: A cõuocation at S. Paules in London.] This
yeare after the Epiphanie the archbishop of Canturburie called the
cleargie of the prouince of Canturburie to a conuocation in Paules
church at London, [Sidenote: Ambassaders appointed to go to the councell
at Pisa.] to choose sufficient persons that might go vnto the generall
councell, appointed to be kept at Pisa: herevpon were chosen Robert
Halom bishop of Salisburie, Henrie Chichleie bishop of saint Dauid, &
Thomas Chillingden prior of Christes church in Canturburie. The king
before this had sent ambassadors vnto pope Gregorie, [Sidenote: The
contents of the kings letters to the pope.] and also to the cardinals;
to wit, sir Iohn Coluill knight, and maister Nicholas Rixton clearke,
with letters, signifieng the gréefe he had conceiued for the
inconuenience that fell in the christian common-wealth thorough the
schisme; and withall putting the pope in remembrance what mischéefe and
destruction of people had chanced by the same schisme. These and the
like matters, to vtter what desire he had to haue a vnitie in the
church, he declared frankelie in his letters directed to the pope, so as
it might appear to the world, how soberlie and modestlie he sought to
induce the pope to procure peace & concord in the church. [Sidenote:
_Abr. Fl._ out of _Thom. Wals._ _Hypod._ pag. 159.] ¶ Certeine
collections of which letters (as I find them in Thomas Walsingham) I
haue here set downe in commendation of this king so excellentlie minded.
An extract of the kings letter to pope Gregorie.
MOST holie father, if the seat apostolicall would vouchsafe by
prouidence to consider, how great dangers haue inuaded the whole world
vnder the pretext of schisme, and speciallie the slaughter of christian
people, which is of aboue two hundred thousand (as it is auouched) by
the outrage of warres and battell sproong vp in sundrie parts of the
world; & now latelie to the number of thirtie thousand (by meanes of the
dissention about the bishoprike of Leods betweene two, one contending
vnder the authoritie of true pope, and the other vnder the title of
antipape) slaine in a foughten field, whereof we make report with
greefe; trulie the said seat would be pensiue in spirit, and with due
sorow troubled in mind; yea at the motion of a good conscience, it would
rather giue ouer the honour of that apostolicall seat, than suffer such
detestable deeds further to be committed, vnder the cloke of
dissimulation, taking example of the true and naturall mother, which
pleading before king Salomon, chose rather to part with hir owne child,
than to see him cut in sunder. And although by that new creation of nine
cardinals, against your oth (that we maie vse the words of others) made
by you, wherof a vehement cause of woondering is risen, it maie in some
sort be supposed (as it is likelie) that your intent respecteth not anie
end of schisme; yet farre be it alwaies from the world, that your
circumspect seat should be charged by anie person with so great
inconstancie of mind, whereby the last errour might be counted woorsse
than the first, &c.
An extract of the said kings letter to the cardinals.
We being desirous to shew how great zeale we had, & haue, that peace
might be granted & given to the church by the consent of the states of
our realme, haue sent ouer our letters to our lord the pope, according
to the tenure of a copie inclosed within these presents effectuallie to
be executed. Wherefore we doo earnestlie beseech the reuerend college of
you; that if happilie the said Gregorie be present at the generall
councell holden at Pisa, about the yeelding vp of the papasie, according
to the promise and oth by him manie a time made, to fulfill your and our
desires, as we wish and beare our selues in hand he will doo; that you
will so order things concerning his estate, that thereby God maie
cheeflie be pleased, and as well Gregorie himselfe, as we, who
deseruedlie doo tender his honour and commoditie with all our harts,
maie be beholden to giue you and euerie of you manifold thanks.
[Sidenote: Wicklifs doctrine mainteined by the learned.] This yeare
certeine learned men in Oxford and other places, publikelie in their
sermons mainteined and set foorth the opinions and conclusions of
Wickliffe. This troubled the bishops and other of the clergie sore,
insomuch that in their conuocation house, the six and twentith of Iune,
by a speciall mandat of the lord chancellor in presence of the
procurators, regents, and others, as Richard Courtneie, Richard Talbot,
[Sidenote: Sent[=e]ce pronounced against Wicklifs books.] Nicholas Zouch,
Walter Midford, & such like in great multitude: sentence was pronounced
by Iohn Wels, doctor of the canon law against the books of Iohn
Wickliffe doctor of diuinitie, intituled De sermone in monte,
Triologorum de simonia, De perfectione statuum, De ordine Christiano, De
gradibus cleri ecclesiæ: and to these was added the third treatise,
which he compiled of logike or sophistrie. These books and the
conclusions in the same conteined, the chancellor of the vniuersitie of
Oxford by common consent and assent of the regents and non regents of
the same vniuersitie, reproued, disanulled and condemned, inhibiting on
paine of the great cursse and depriuation of all degrées scholasticall,
that none from thencefoorth should affirme, teach, or preach by anie
manner of meanes or waies, the same hereticall books (as they tearmed
them) conteining anie the like opinions as he taught and set foorth in
the same books.
[Sidenote: _Fabian_. Iusts in Smithfield.] This yeare about Midsummer,
were roiall iusts holden at London in Smithfield betwixt the seneschall
of Heinault, and certeine Henewers challengers, [Sidenote: Owen
Glendouer endeth his life in great miserie.] and the earle of Summerset,
and certeine Englishmen defendants. The Welsh rebell Owen Glendouer made
an end of his wretched life in this tenth yeare of king Henrie his
reigne, being driuen now in his latter time (as we find recorded) to
such miserie, that in manner despairing of all comfort, he fled into
desert places and solitarie caves, where being destitute of all releefe
and succour, dreading to shew his face to anie creature, and finallie
lacking meat to susteine nature, [Sidenote: An. Reg. 11.] [Sidenote:
Officers made.] for méere hunger and lacke of food, miserablie pined
awaie and died. [Sidenote: 1410] [Sidenote: A parlement.] This yeare
Thomas Beaufort earle of Surrie was made chancellor, and Henrie Scroope
lord treasuror. A parlement began this yeare in the quindene of saint
Hilarie, in which the commons of the lower house exhibited a bill to the
king and lords of the vpper house, conteining effect as followeth.
A supplication to the king.
[Sidenote: _Tho. Walsi._ _Fabian._] To the most excellent lord our k.
and to all the nobles in this present parlement assembled, your
faithfull commons doo humblie signifie, that our souereigne lord the
king might haue of the temporall possessions, lands & reuenues which are
lewdlie spent, consumed and wasted by the bishops, abbats, and priors,
within this realme, so much in value as would suffice to find and
susteine one hundred and fiftie earles, one thousand & fiue hundred
knights, six thousand and two hundred esquiers, and one hundred
hospitals more than now be.
[Sidenote: _Thom. Wals._] The king (as some write) vpon aduised
consideration hereof had, misliked of the motion, & therevpon commanded
that from thencefoorth they should not presume to studie about anie such
matters. An other thing the commons sued to haue granted vnto them, but
could not obteine: which was, that clearks conuicted should not from
thence foorth be deliuered to the bishops prison. Moreouer they demanded
to haue the statute either reuoked or qualified, which had béene
established by authoritie of parlement, in the second yeare of this
kings reigne, against such as were reputed to be heretiks, or Lollards.
By force whereof it was prouided, that wheresoeuer such manner of
persons should be found and knowne to preach or teach their erronious
doctrine, [Sidenote: King Henrie a fauorer of the clergie.] they should
be attached with the kings writ, and brought to the next goale: but the
king séemed so highlie to fauour the cleargie, that the commons were
answered plainelie, they should not come by their purpose, but rather
that the said statute should be made more rigorous and sharpe for the
punishment of such persons.
[Sidenote: Iohn Badbie burnt.] [Sidenote: _Tho. Walsi._] During this
parlement one Iohn Badbie a tailor, or (as some write) a smith, being
conuict of heresie, was brought into Smithfield, and there in a tun or
pipe burnt to death, in pitifull manner. [Sidenote: The prince being
present at the execution offereth him pardon.] The kings eldest sonne
the lord Henrie prince of Wales being present, offered him his pardon,
first before the fire was kindled, if he would haue recanted his
opinions; and after when the fire was kindled, hearing him make a roring
noise verie pitifullie, the prince caused the fire to be plucked backe,
and exhorting him being with pitifull paine almost dead, to remember
himselfe, and renounce his opinions, promising him not onelie life, but
also thrée pence a daie so long as he liued to be paid out of the kings
coffers: [Sidenote: Notable constancie of Badbie.] but he hauing
recouered his spirits againe, refused the princes offer, choosing
eftsoones to tast the fire, and so to die, than to forsake his opinions.
Wherevpon the prince commanded, that he should be put into the tun
againe, from thencefoorth not to haue anie fauour or pardon at all, and
so it was doone, and the fire put to him againe, and he consumed to
ashes.