A Chronicle of the Kings of England from the Time of the Roman Government, Royal biography 5
THE LIFE and RAIGNE OF KING EDWARD THE FIRST. Surnamed of WINCHESTER.
Of his comming to the Crowne,
AS soone as King Henry was dead and buryed, the great Lords of the Land caused his eldest Sonne Prince Edward to be proclaimed King: and assembling at the New Temple in London, they there tooke order for the quiet Governing of the kingdome, till he should come home. For at this time he was absent in the Holy Land; and had beene there above a yeare when his Father dyed. But we cannot bring him home without telling what he did, and what he suffered in all that time, and in his returne; for at his first comming thither, he rescued the great City of Acon, from being …urrendred to the Souldan; after which, out of envy to his Valour, one Anzazim a desperate Saracen, who had often beene employed to him from their Generall, being one time, upon pretence of some secret message, admitted alone into his Chamber, with a poysoned knife gave him three wounds in the Body, two in the Arme, and one neare the armepit, which were thought to be mortall, and had perhaps beene mortall, if out of unspeakeable love, the Lady Eleanor his Wife had not suckt out the poyson of his wounds with her mouth, and thereby effected a cure, which otherwise had beene incurable: and it is no wonder, that love should doe wonders, which is it selfe a wonder. And now being disappointed of Aides that were promised to be sent him, and leaving Garrisons in fit places for defence of the Country, he with his Wife Eleanor takes his journey homewards, and first passing by Sicilie, was there most kindly received by Charles King of that Island, where he first heard of his Fathers death; which he tooke more heavily farre, then he had taken the death of his young Sonne Henry, whereof he had heard a little before; at which when King Charles marvailed, he answered, that other Sonnes might be had, but …nother Father could never be had. From hence he passeth through Italy, where much honour is done him both by the Pope and other Princes; and then descends into Burgoigne, where by the Earle of Chalboun, a stout man at Armes, he is challenged at a Turneament, with a pretence to solemnize his presence, but with a purpose indeed to disgrace his person; and though Prince Edward in many respects might justly have refused it, yet the noblenesse of his mind would not suffer him to passe by any occasion of shewing his valour and in this … as he made it appeare, that …ame had beene no … the report it ma…e of hi…. And here a great part of his English Nobility met …; from whence he passeth into France, where the King Philip his …eare Cou… (as being Sister Sonnes) entertaines him with great solemnity: and graceth his solemnity with so much courtesie, that it wonne Prince Edward vol…ntarily to do him homage for the Territories he held in France; & this voluntarines in Prince Edward, won the King of France againe to grant quietly unto him, all the Lands in France that belonged to him; and so these two great Kings by reciprocall courtesie effected that, which thei… Predecessours by force could never effect. From her …, passeth through A…uitaine, and having there taken homage of his Subjects, and set all things in order, he set Saile and arrived in England, above a yeare after the death of his Father: a long time for plotting of mischiefe, and a strong temptation to plotters of mischiefe; if all the causes of quietnesse had not concurred: but such was the worthinesse of Prince Edwards person, and such the undoubtednesse of his Title, that as there could be no Competitour, so there would be no Oppugner… And indeed the Divine Providence had shewed a speciall care over him from his Child-hood! whereof one or two Examples will not be unfit to be related. One was this, that being yet but young, and playing one time at Chesse with a Friend, in the midst of his game, without any apparent occasion, he removed himselfe from the place where he sate, when suddenly there fell from the roofe of the house a great stone, which if he had stayed in the place but never so little had beaten out his braines. Another Example of the Divine Providence over him, (though it happened afterwards) was this: Having prepared a great Fleete of Ships for a journey into Flanders, and being at Winchelsey, where the Ships were to meete; it happened that riding about the Harbour, his Horse frighted with the noyse of a Windmill, which the wind drove violently about, skrambled up and leapt over the Mud…wall of the Towne, so as neither the King nor the Horse was to be seene, but every one judged the King could not chuse but be throwne and killed; yet such was the Divine Providence over him, that the Horse lighted upon his feet, and the King keeping the Saddle returned safe. And under the wing of this Divine Providence, he had now passed all the dangers of his tedious Journey; and being safely come to London, was on the fifteenth day of August in the yeare 1274. Crowned at Westminster, together with his Wife Queene Eleanor, by Robert Kilwarby Arch-bishop of Canterbury: where five hundred great Horses were let loose, for any that could take them; and yet the outward solemnity was not more great, then the inward joy was universall, every man rejoycing, not onelyonly at a change, which of it selfe is pleasing, but at a change so much for the better, as this was like to be.
Of his Acts done after he was Crowned.
THe Acts of this King after he was Crowned, may not unfitly be divided into five parts: His Acts with his Temporall Lords; His Acts with his Clergy; Then with Wales; Then his Acts with Scotland; And lastly with France. And first, concerning his Lords, he gave them good contentment in the beginning of his Raigne, by enlarging their liberties, and granting them easier Lawes, for which purpose he called a Parliament, wherein were made the Statutes called of Westminster the first, so as he had no difference with them, till toward the end of his Raigne, as shall be shewed hereafter. In the next place, concerning his Acts with his Clergy, he began with them betimes; for having lived to be of good age, three or foure and thirty yeares old, in his Fathers Raigne, he observed in that time, that their power was too predominant, and therefore thought fit to clip their wings; at least to keepe them from farther growing: which he did by these meanes: First, in the sixth yeare of his Raigne, he deprived many chiefe Monasteries of their Liberties, and tooke from the Abbot and Covent of Westminster, the Returne of Writs granted them by the Charter of his Father, King Henry the third. The next yeare after he got to be enacted the Statute of Mortmaine, to hinder the encrease of their Temporall Possessions. In the second Statute of Westminster, he defalked the Jurisdiction of Ecclesiasticall Judges; and growing more upon them, he required the moity of all their Goods, as well Temporall as Spirituall, for one yeare. Then cals he a Parliament of his Nobles at Salisbury, without admission of any Church-men in it: And it is worth the noting, that Marchian his Treasurer, acquainting him that in Churches and Religious houses, there was much treasure to be had, if it might be taken; he made no scruple of it, but caused it to be taken and brought into his Exchequer. But finding his Prelates not well contented with it, to please them againe, he bids them aske something of him, wherein they should see how much he favoured them. And they asking of him to repeale the Statute of Mortmaine, that had beene made so much to their hinderance; He answered, that this was a Statute made by the whole body of the Realme, and therefore was not in his power, who was but one Member of that Body, to undoe that which all the Members together had done; and perhaps whatsoever they should have asked else, he would have had an answer to redeeme his Offer. And thus much concerning his Clergy.
In the next place are the Welsh, who had themselves begun with the King: For their Prince Leolyn being summoned to attend at his Coronation, refused to come; and afterward at more leisure, being required to come and doe his Homage, he stood upon termes of safe conduct, pretending doubt to be used, as his Father Gryffin had beene; who upon hard usage in the Tower, seeking to make escape, fell from the Walls and brake his necke. But indeed it was alwayes a Custome with this Nation, at every change of Princes in England, to try conclusions, hoping at one time or other to have a day of it, and to change their yoke of bondage into liberty; for which they were never better Provided then now; especially (which is the greatest matter in Warre) having a Valiant Prince to be their Leader. But there happened an accident which tooke off their edge at this time: For the Lady Eleanor, a Daughter of the late Earle Simon Montford, whom Prince Leolyn extreamely loved, being passing out of France into Wales, was by the way upon the Sea taken by English ships, and brought to King Edward, and for the love of her, Prince Leolyn was content to submit himselfe to any conditions: which besides subjection of his State, was to pay fifty thousand pounds Sterling, and a thousand pounds per annum during his life; and upon these conditions the marriage with his beloved Lady was granted him, and was solemnized here in England, whereat the King and Queene were themselves present. Three yeares Leolyn continued loyall, and within bounds of obedience, in which time David, one of his Brothers, staying here in England, and found by the King to be of a stirring Spirit, was much honoured by him; Knighted, and matched to a rich Widow, Daughter of the Earle of Darby, and had given him by the King besides, the Castle of Denbigh, with a thousand pounds per annum: though (as it was afterwards found) he lived here but in the nature of a spy: For when Prince Leolyns Lady was afterward dead, and that he (contrary to his Conditions formerly made) brake out into rebellion, then goes his Brother David to him, notwithstanding all these Favours of the King: and they together enter the English Borders: Surprise the Castles of Flynt and Rutland, with the person of the Lord Clifford, sent Justiciar into those parts: and in a great Battaile overthrew the Earles of Northumberland and Surrey, with the slaughter of Sir William Lyndsey, Sir Richard Tanny, and many others. King Edward advertised of this Revolt and overthrow, being then at the Vyzes in Wiltshire, prepares an Army to represse it; but before his setting forth, goes privately to his Mother Queene Eleanor, lying at the Nunnery of Aimesbury, with whom whilest he conferred, there was one brought into the Chamber, who faigned himselfe (being blinde) to have received his sight at the Tombe of King Henry the third: A… soone as the King saw the man, he remembred he had seene him before, and knew him to be a most notorious lying Villaine, and wished his Mother in no case to beleeve him: but his mother, who much rejoyced to heare of this Miracle, for the glory of her husband, finding her sonne unwilling that his Father should be a Saint, grew suddenly into such a rage against him, that she commanded him to avoid her Chamber: which the King obeyes; and going forth, meetes with a Clergy man, to whom he tels the story of this Impostour, and merrily said; He knew the justice of his Father to be such, that he would rather pull out the eyes (being whole) of such a wicked wretch, then restore them to their sight. In this meane time the Arch-bishop of Canterbury had gone of himselfe to Prince Leolin, and had laboured to bring him and his brother David to a re-submission, but could effect nothing; for besides other reasons that swayed Prince Leolin, the conceit of a Prophesie of Merlin, that he should shortly be Crowned with the Diadem of Brute, so overweighed him, that he had no care for peace, and shortly after no head: for after the Earle of Pembroke had taken Bere Castle, which was the seat of Prince Leolin, he was himself slain in battell; and his head cut off by a common Souldier, was sent to King Edw. who caused the same to be Crowned with Ivie, and to be set upon the Tower of London; And this was the end of Leolin, the last of the Welsh Princes, betraied (as some write) by the men of Buelth. Not long after his brother David also is taken in Wales, and judged in England to an ignominious death: First, drawn at a horse taile about the City of Shrewsbury, then beheaded, the trunke of his body divided, his heart and bowels burnt, his head sent to accompany his brothers on the Tower of London, his foure quarters to foure Cities, Bristow, North…pton, York, and Winchester: A manifold execution, and the first shewed in that kind to this kingdome, in the person of the son of a Prince, or any other Noble man that we reade of in our History. It is perhaps something which some here observe, that at the sealing of this conquest, King Edward lost his eldest son Alphonsus, of the age of twelve years, (a Prince of great hope) and had onelyonly left to succeed him, his sonne Edward lately borne at Carnarvan, and the first of the English, intituled Prince of Wales, but no Prince worthy of either Wales or England. And thus came Wales to be united to the Crowne of England, in the eleventh yeare of this King Edwards Raigne; who thereupon established the government thereof, according to the Lawes of England, as may be seene by the Statute of Rutland, in the twelfth yeare of his Raigne.
The worke of Wales being setled, King Edward passeth over into France, upon notice of the death of Philip the Hardy, to renew and confirme such conditions as his state in those parts required, with the new King Philip the fourth, intituled the Faire; to whom he doth homage for Aquitaine, having before quitted his claime to Normandy for ever. After three yeares and a halfe being away in France, he returns into England; and now in the next place comes the businesse with Scotland, and will hold him wo…ke at times as long as he lives, and his sonne after him. Alexander the third, King of Scots, as he was running his horse, fell horse and man to the ground, and brake his necke, and died immediately… by reason whereof (he leaving no issue, but onelyonly a daughter of his daughter Margaret, who died also soone after) there fell out presently great contention about succession. Ten Competitors pretend title, namely, Erick King of Norway, Florence Earle of Holland, Robert Bruce Earle of Anandale, Iohn de Baylioll Lord of Galloway, Iohn de Hastings Lord of Abergeveny, Iohn Cummin Lord of Badenaw, Patrick de Dunbarre Earle of March, Iohn de Vescie, Nicholas de Sul…s, William de Rosse; all or most of them de…cending from David Earle of Huntington, younger brother to William King of Scots, and great Unkle to the late King Alexander. This title King Edward takes upon him to decide, pretending a Right of Superiority from his Ancestours over that kingdome and proving it by authority of old Chronicles, as Marianus Scotus, William of Malmsbury, Roger de Hoveden, Henry of Huntington, Ralph de Luceto, and others; which though the Scottish Lords who swaied the Interregnum opposed, yet are they constrained for avoyding of further inconveniences, to make him Arbiter thereof, and the tenne Competitours bound to stand to his award. Two are especially found, betweene whom the …ight lay, Iohn de Baylioll Lord of Galloway, and Robert Br…ce; the one descending from an elder daughter, the other from a sonne of a younger daughter of Alan, who had married the eldest daughter of this David brother to King William. The controversie held long, twelve of either kingdome learned in the Lawes, are elected to debate the same at Berwick; all the best Civilians in the Universities of France are solicited to give their opinions; all which brought forth rather doubts then resolutions: whereupon King Edward the better to sway this businesse by his presence, takes a journey Northward; where being come as farre as Lincolnshire, he lost his beloved wife Queene Eleanor: and thereupon going backe to see her Funerall performed at Westminster: that done, he returnes presently to his Scottish businesse. And now sixe yeares were passed since the death of King Alexander, and yet nothing concluded in this controversie; whereupon King Edward deals privately with Bruce, (who had the weaker Title, but the more friends) and promiseth him, if he would sweare fealty and homage to the Crowne of England, he would Invest him in that of Scotland. But Bruce answers, he was not so d…sirous to rule, as thereby to infringe the liberties of his Countrey. Whereupon with the like offer he sets upon Baylioll, who having better right, but lesse love of the people, and more greedy of a kingdome then honour, accepts the condition; and thereupon is Crowned King at Scone, hath fealty done him by all the chiefe Nobility, except Bruce: comes to New-Castle upon Tyne, where King Edward then lay; and there, with many of his Nobles, sweares fealty, and doth homage to him, as his Soveraigne Lord. Which act done to secure him, overthrew him: for being little beloved before, hereby he became lesse: such as stood for Bruce, and others of the Nobility (tender of the preservation of their Countries liberty) took stomach against him; and not onelyonly for this, but shortly after for his injustice in the case of the Earle of Fife, one of the sixe Governours in the time on the Interregnum, who had beene slaine by the Family of Alberneth; the brother of which Earle prosecuting Law before King Baylioll, in his high Court of Parliament, and having no right done him (King Baylioll giving judgement of the side of the Alberneths) he appeales to the Court of the King of England: whereupon King Baylioll is summoned, appeares, sits with King Edward in his Parliament till his cause was to be heard, and then is cited by an Officer to arise, and to stand in the place appointed for pleading; then he craves to answer by a Procuratour, but is denied, and thereupon descends to the ordinary place, and defends his cause himselfe: which indignity (as he tooke it) so incenseth him, that he returnes home with a breastfull charged with indignation; meditates revenge, renues the ancient league with France, confirmes it with marriage of his sonne Edward, to a daughter of Charles brother to King Philip, glad in regard of late offences taken against the King of England, to embrace the same; which done, Baylioll defies King Edward, renounceth his Allegeance, as unlawfully done, being not in his power, without consent of the State, to doe any such Act. Hereupon brake out that mortall dissension betweene the two Nations, which consumed more Christian bloud, and continued longer then ever quarrell we reade of did, between any two people in the world. For he that beganne it, could not end it, but it lasted almost three hundred yeares, and was never throughly abolished, till the late blessed union wrought by him in whom Wisdome and Vertue, Right and Power concurred all to make it firme. And now the fatall Chaire in which the Kings of Scotland used to be Inaugurated, seemes to recover its secret operation, according to antient Prophesie: that whither soever that Chaire should be removed, the kingdome should be removed with it; and this Chaire King Edward caused to be brought out of Scotland to Westminster, and to be placed there amongst the Monuments, where it still continues. But now King Baylioll being summoned to appeare at New-Castle, and refusing to come; King Edward enters Scotland with an Army, consisting of foure thousand horse, and thirty thousand foot, besides five hundred horse, and one thousand foote of the Bishop of Durham. Berwicke is first wonne, with the slaughter of fifteene thousand Scots; (our Writers say more) and after that, the Castles of Dunbarre, Roxborough, Edinbough, Sterli…g, and Saint Iohns Towne; and now King Balioll sues for Peace, submits himselfe, takes againe his Oath of Fealty to King Edward, as his Soveraigne Lord: which done, a Parliament for Scotland is held at Berwicke, where the Nobility likewise did Homage to him, confirming the same by their Charter, under their hands and seales: onelyonly William Dowglasse refuseth; content rather to endure the misery of a Prison, then yeeld to the subjection of the King of England. But King Baylioll, notwithstanding his submission, is sent prisoner into England after his foure yeares Raigne in Scotland; and King Edward returnes home, leaving Iohn Warren Earle of Sussex and Surrey, Warden of all Scotland; Hugh Cressingham Treasurer, and Ormesloy Chiefe Justice, with Commission to take in his name, the Homages and Fealties of all such as held Lands of that Crowne. But this continued not long, for King Edward being absent in France, the Scots fell upon the Officers he had left; slew Sir Hugh Cressingham with sixe thousand English, recovered many Castles, and regained the towne of Berwick, and all by the animation and conduct of one William Walleys, a poore private Gentleman, (though Nobly descended) who seeing his Countrey without a Head, and thereby without a Heart (all the great men, either in captivity or subjection… assembles certaine of as poore and desperate estate as himselfe, and leads them to attempt upon whatsoever advantages they could finde to annoy the English, and having therein good successe, it so encreased both his courage and company, that he afterward came to be the generall Guardian of the whole kingdome; and was in possibility to have absolutely redeemed his Countrey from the subjection of the English, if the speedy comming of King Edward had not prevented him. For now King Edward, to bring his worke neare together, removes his Exchequer and Courts of Justice to Yorke, where they continued above sixe yeares; and thither he cals a Parliament, requiring all his subjects that held of him by knights service, to be ready at Roxborough by a peremptory day: where there assemble three thousand men at Armes on barded horses, and foure thousand other armed men on horse without bards, with an Army of foote answerable, consisting most of Welsh and Irish, besides five hundred men at Armes out of Gascoyne; and with this power he makes his second expedition into Scotland: the Earles of Hereford and Norfolke, with the Earle of Lincolne, led his Vauntgard at the famous battell of Fonkirke, where the shouts of the Scots were so great, that King Edwards horse frighted withall, cast him off, and brake two of his ribs; which notwithstanding he gets up againe, goes on, and gets the victory; wherein are reported to be slaine two hundred knights, and forty thousand foot of the Scots: but William Walleys with some few, escaped to make more work. And here againe that kingdome might seeme as if quite overthrowne. Most of the estates of the Earles and Barons of Scotland (with their titles) that had stood out, were bestowed on the English; and a Parliament is called at Saint Andrewes, where all the great men of that kingdome, except onelyonly Walleys, once againe sweare Fealty to the King of England. It seemes swearing of Fealty was with the Scots but a Ceremony without substance, as good as nothing: for this is now the third time they swore Fealty to King Edward; yet all did not serve to make them loyall: for not long after, comes the newes of a new King made and Crowned in Scotland: Robert Bruce Earle of Carrick, sonne to that Bruce who was competitour with Baylioll, escaping out of England, becomes Head to the confused Body of that kingdome: and perceiving Iohn Cummyn (who had a title himselfe) to goe about to bewray his intentions to King Edward; he finding him at Dunfrayes, sets upon him, and murthers him in the Church. Whereof as soone as King Edward heard, he sends Aymer de Valence, Earle of Pembroke, and the Lords Clifford and Percie, with a strong power to revenge the death of Cummyn, and to relieve his Wardens of Scotland; who upon Bruces revolt, were all retired to Berwicke, whilst himselfe prepares an Army to follow: wherein to be the more nobly attended, he caused Proclamation to be made, that whosoever ought by their Paternall succession, or otherwise had meanes of their owne for service, should repaire to Westminster, at the Feast of Pentecost, to receive the Order of knighthood, and a Military Ornament out of the Kings Wardrobe. Hereupon three hundred young Gentlemen, all the sonnes of Earles, Barons, and knights, assemble at the day appointed, and receive Purples, silkes, Sindons, Scarffes, wrought with Gold or Silver, according to every mans Estate. For which traine (because the Kings House was too little, by reason a part of it had beene lately burnt) roome is made, and the Apple-trees cut downe at the new Temple for their Tents, where they attire themselves, and keepe their Vigile. The Prince (whom the King then likewise knighted, and gave him the Dutchy of Aquitaine, kept his Vigile with his Traine at Westminster, and the next day girds these three hundred knights, with the Military Belt, in such manner as he himselfe had received it. Which done, the King before them all makes a Vow, that alive or dead, he would revenge the death of Cummyn upon Bruce, and the perjured Scots: Adjuring his Sonne and all the Nobles about him, upon their Fealty, that if he dyed in this Journey, they should carry his Corps with them about Scotland, and not suffer it to be interred, till they had vanquished the Usurper, and absolutely brought the Country to Subjection. The Prince and all the Nobles promise upon their Faith, to imploy their uttermost power to performe his Vow: and herewithall he sets forth with a potent Army, presently after Whitsontide, and makes his last Expedition into Scotland, in the foure and thirtieth yeare of his Raigne.
The Earle of Pembroke, with that power sent before, and aid of the Scottish party, had before the King arrived in Scotland, defeated in a battaile neare Saint Iohns Towne, the whole Army of the new King, and narrowly missed the taking of his Person, but he escaping in disguise, and sheltring himselfe in obscure places, was reserved for greater Battailes, his Brothers Nigell, Bruce, and shortly after, Thomas and Alexander a Priest, were taken and Executed after the manner of Traytors at Berwicke. And now King Edward had done for Fighting, all was now for Executions, and indeed his desire of Revenge made him inexorable, and vow to spare none of what degree soever. The Earle of Atholl, (though of Royall blood, and allyed unto him) was sent to London, where all his preferment was, to have a higher paire of Gallowes then the rest. The Wife of Robert Bruce, taken by the Lord Rosse, is sent Prisoner to London, and his Daughter to a Monastery in Lindsey. The Countesse of Boughan, who had beene ayding at Bruces Coronation, is put into a woodden Cage, and hung out upon the walls of Berwicke for people to gaze on. But though Bruces party was thus dejected, and himselfe at this time appeared not, but shifted privily from place to place, in a distressed manner, (attended onelyonly with two Noble Gentlemen, who neeer forsooke him in his misfortunes, the Earle of Lenox and Gilbert Hay) yet gives he not over, but gathers new Forces, with which he suddenly assailes the Earle of Pembroke at unawares, gives him a great defeate, and within three dayes after chaseth the Earle of Glocester into the Castle of Aire, where he besieged him, till by the Kings Forces he was driven againe to his former retire. Whereupon King Edward, who had spent his Winter at Carlile, in Iuly following with a fresh Army enters Scotland himselfe, but falling into a Dysentery or Bloody-flix, at Borough upon the Sands he ended his life: and thus ended King Edwards troubles with Scotland, but not Englands troubles, which are more to come, then yet are past.
But though this businesse of Scotland never left King Edward till his dying day, yet it had been upon him but as an Ague, sometimes putting him into violent heats, and sometimes leaving him in a quiet temper, with such a vicissitude, that when he had quietnesse with Scotland, he had troubles with France, whereof the time is now to speake. It is well knowne, that Philip King of France, Father of the present King, and Edward King of England were neare Cousins, the Sonnes of two Sisters; and it hath beene shewed before at King Edwards returning from the Holy Land, and passing through France, what extraordinary kindnesse and mutuall courtesie passed betweene them, that one would have thought neither they no… theirs should ever have falne out: and perhaps never should, if they had beene private men, and not Princes. For private men may easily continue Friends, as having none to consider but themselves; but Princes hardly, as having besides themselves, their Subjects to consider. And though they be the Subjects oftentimes that make the Quarrell, yet they are the Princes that must maintaine it. And besides, betweene Princes there can never be but jealousies, and where jealousies are, every trifle makes a quarrell. And this was the case of these two Kings, certaine of the King of Englands Subjects, had upon the Coast of Normandy done spoyle to some Subjects of the King of France: and this difference of the Subjects made a difference betweene the Kings, while each of them standing in defence of his owne, fall out themselves; and for a beginning the King of France summons King Edward, as owing homage to that Crowne, to appeare and answer it in his Court. And King Edward, though voluntarily before he had done it in a way of Courtesie, yet being now impetiously commanded, he refuseth it: upon which refusall, all his Territories in France are condemned to be forfaited, and an Army is presently sent to seise upon the same, led by Charles de Valois, and Arnold de Neele, Constable of France. Burdeaux; with divers other Peec…s of importance, are taken from him. And now King Edward well knowing what danger it was to have so powerfull an Adversary; endevours first to strengthen himselfe with Friends abroad, seekes to match his Sonne Edward with a Daughter of Guy Earle of Flanders: Marries one of his Daughters to the D…ke of Barr…, who pretended Title to Champaigne; another to Iohn Duke of Bra…ant; sends fifteene thousand pounds Sterling to Adolph de Nassaw the Emperour, for recovery of certaine Lands which he claimed in France; and with all these and many other con…ining Princes, he sets upon the King of France, and then sends over his Brother Edmund Earle of Lancaster, the Earles of Lincolne and Richmond, with eight and twenty Banners, seven hundred men at Armes, and a Navy of three hundred and sixty Saile. In the meane time the King of France, having had intelligence of the intended alliance betweene King Edward, and Guy Earle of Flanders, sends for the said Earle (as if knowing nothing thereof) to come with his Wi…e and Daughter to make merry with him at Paris: where instead of Feasting him, he makes him Prisoner, and takes from him his Daughter, in regard he sought (being his Vassall) to match her with his capitall Enemy. The Earle excuseth it the best he could, and by much mediation is released himselfe, but not his Daughter; whereupon the Earle, presuming upon aide from King Edward, takes Armes, and defies the King of France; who thereupon comes with an Army of sixty thousand against him: which caused King Edward, with all speed possible to relieve this distressed Earle; and so leaving the Government of the kingdome in his absence, to the Bishop of London, the Earle of Warwicke, and the Lords Reynold, Grey, and Clifford; with five hundred Saile, and eighteene thousand men at Armes, he passeth over into France, but finding the Country distracted into many popular Factions, and the King of France daily getting upon them, (having already won Lisle, Doway, Courtray, Burges and Dam) and the Emperour Adolph failing to send him aide as he had promised, he fell into great perplexity: and having stayed the whole Winter at Gaunt, where by reason of many outrages committed by his Souldiers, he was so affronted by the Gauntois, that his owne person was not without some danger; He thereupon in the Spring of the yeare, concludes a Truce with the King of France for two yeares, takes his sister Margaret to Wife, and affianceth the Daughter of the same King to his Sonne Prince Edward, and so returnes into England: And these were all the troubles King Edward had with France.
But now must something be spoken of troubles with his Lords at home, whereof this was the beginning: In a Parliament at Salisbury, the five and twentieth yeare of his Raigne, the King requires certaine of his Lords to goe to the Warres in Gascoyne; which needed a present supply by reason of the death of his Brother Edmund: but the Lords make all their excuses, every man for himselfe: Whereupon the King in great rage threatned, they should either goe, or he would give their Lands to others that should. Upon this Humfrey Bohun Earle of Hereford, High Constable, and Roger Bigod Earle of Norfolke, Marshall of England, make their Declaration, that if the King went in Per…on they would attend him; otherwise not. Which answer offended the King more, and being urged againe, the Earle Marshall protested he would willingly goe thither with the King, and march before him in the Vauntguard, as by right of inheritance he ought to doe; But the King told him plainely, he should goe with any other, though he we… not himselfe in Person… I am not so bound (saith the Earle) neither will I take t…t journey without you. The King swore by God, Sir Earle, you shall either goe or h… And I sweare by the same Oath (said the Earle) I will neither goe no… hang… and so without leave departs. Shortly after the two Earles assemble many Noble men, and other their Friends, to the number of thirty Bannere…s, so as they were fifteen hundred men at Armes, well appointed, and stood upon their Gu…d… The King like a prudent Prince, who knew his times, prosecu…es them not as then, b… lets the matter passe, in regard that his businesse called him presently into Flanders; when being ready to take ship, the Arch-bishops, Bishops, Earles, Barons, and the Commons send him a Roll of the Grievances of his Subjects, concerning his Taxes, Subsidies, and other Impositions, with his seeking to force their services by unlawfull courses: to which the King sends answer, that he could not a…t…r any thing without the advice of his Councell, who were not now about him, and therefore required them, seeing they would not attend him in his Journey, (which they absolutely refused to doe, though he went in Person, unlesse he had gone into France or Scotland) that they would yet doe nothing in his absence, prejudi…iall to the peace of the kingdome; and that at his returne, he would set all things in good order to their contentment. But having taken his Journey, and being held there with long delayes, to his exceeding great expenses, he was forced to send over for more supply of Treasure; and thereupon gave order for a Parliament to be held at Yorke by the Prince, and (because of his Minority, for he was then but sixteene yeares of age) by such as had the manage of the kingdome in his absence: and to the end he would not be disappointed of aide, he condescends to all such Articles as were demanded, concerning the great Charter: Promising from thenceforth never to charge his Subjects otherwise then by their consents in Parliament, and to pardon all such as had denyed to attend him in this Journey. After this, in the 27. yeare of his Raigne, a Parliament is called at Westminster, wherein the promised Confirmation of the two Charters, and the allowance of what disafforestation had heretofore beene made, was earnestly urged, and in the end with much adoe Granted; and that with omission of the Clause, Salva Iure Coronae nostr… : which the King laboured to have inserted, but the people by no meanes would agree, and the perambulation of the Forests of England was then committed to three Bishops, three Earles, and three Barons. But some yeares after, in the two and thirtieth yeare of his Raigne, King Edward begunne to shew his resentment of the stubborne behaviour of his Nobles towards him in times past; and so terrifies Roger Bigod, Earle Marshall, that to recover his favor the Earle made him his Heire… in Possession; (though he had a Brother of his owne living) reserving onelyonly to himselfe a thousand pounds per annum, during his life. Of others likewise he go… great summes for the same offence; The Earle of Hereford escaped his fine by death. But the Arch-bishop of Canterbury, (whom he accused to have disturbed his Peace in his absence) he sends over to Pope Clement the fifth, (who succeeded Bonifac… ) that he might be crusht with a double power. This Pope was Native of Burdeaux, and …o the more regardfull of the Kings desire; and the King… the more confident of his favour; which to entertaine and encrease, King Edward sends him a whole furnish of all vessels for his Chamber of cleane Gold: which great gift so wro…ght with the Pope, that he untied the King from the Covenant made with his Subjects concerning their Charters, confirmed unto them by his last three Acts of Parli… ment, and absolved him from his Oath: A safe time for Princes, when they mighttye themselves in any obligation to their Subjects, and afterward for a bribe to the Pope be untyed againe.
His Taxations, and wayes for raising of money.
IF Taxations may suffer degrees of comparison, it may not unfi…ly be said of these three last Kings, that King Iohn was in the Positive; his Sonne Henry the third in the Comparative: and this King Edward in the Superlative. For not onelyonly he farre exc…eded th… two former, but he hath left a spell to all that come after, for ever comming neare him: but then under the name of Taxations, wee must include the wayes he tooke for raising of profit. But first in the way of Parliament. In the first yeare of his Raigne, was granted him a tenth of the Clergy for two years, besides a fifteenth of them and the Temporalty. In his fifth yeare, a twentieth of their goods towards the Welsh warres. In his seventh, the old money was called in, and new coyned, in regard it had beene much def…ced by the Iewes; for which 297. were at one time executed in London: and this brought in profit of no small value. In his eleventh yeare, he had a thirtieth of the Temporalty, and a twentieth of the Clergy, for his warres in Wales. In the thirteenth, Escuage, forty shillings of every knights Fee. In his foureteenth yeare, he had a thousand Markes of certaine Merchants Fined for false weights. In his nineteenth, the eleventh part of all movables of the Clergy, and shortly after a tenth for sixe yeares. In his twentieth, William Marchyan then Lord Treasurer of England, perceiving great riches to be in Churches and religious houses, put it so into the Kings head, that they were all brought into the Kings Treasury. In the eighth yeare of his Raigne, he sent ou… his Writ Quo Warrant…, to examine by what title men held their lands; which brought him in much money, till Iohn Earle of Warren, being called to shew his title, drew out an old rusty Sword, and then said, He held his land by that, and by that would hold it to death; which though it made the King desist from his Project, yet he obtained at that time a fifteenth part of the Clergy. In his seventeenth yeare he Fined all his Judges for corruption: Sir Ralph Higham Chiefe Justice of the higher Bench, in seven thousand Markes: Sir Iohn Loveton Justice of the lower Bench, in three thousand Markes: Sir William Brompton, in sixe thousand Markes: Sir S…l… mon Rochester, in foure thousand Markes: Sir Richard Boyland, in foure thousand: Sir Walter Hopton, in two thousand: Sir William Saham, in three thousand: Robert Lithbury Master of the Rolls, in one thousand: Roger Leycester, in one thousand: He…y Bray Escheatour, and Judge for the Iewes, in one thousand: but Sir Adam Stratt… chiefe Baron of the Exchequer, in foure and thirty thousand: and Thomas Wayland (found the greatest Delinquent, and of the greatest substance) had all his goods, and whole estate confiscated to the King; and himselfe banished out of the kingdome. In his eighteenth yeare he banished the Iewes; of whom there was at that time above fifteen thousand in the kingdom, who had but all their goods confiscate… leaving them onelyonly meanes to beare their charges in going away.
In his foure and twentieth yeare, he commanded a new Subsidy to be levied upon all sarplers of Wooll going out of England: as likewise with Fels and Hides. In his five and twentieth yeare, he cals a Parliament at Saint Edmundsbery, where is granted the eighth part of the goods of good Townes, and of other people the twelfth. As for the Clergy, they desire to be excused, and refuse to contribute, in regard of their many late paiments; as in the two and twentieth yeare of his Raigne, they paied the mo…ty of their goods: and in his three and twentieth yeare, he sei…ed into his hands, all Priories aliens and their goods: besides he had a loane of the Clergy, which amounted to an hundred thousand pounds: but notwithstanding upon this refusall of the Clergy, the King puts all Clergy men out of his protection, whereby they were to have no Justice in any of his Courts; (a straine of State beyond any of his Predecessours) which so amazed them, that in the end, the Arch-bishop of Yorke, with the Bishops of Durham, Ely, Salisbury, and Lincolne, yeelded to lay downe in their Churches, the fifth part of all their goods towards the maintenance of the Kings warres; whereby they appeased his wrath, and wer… received into grace. But the Arch-bishop of Canterbury, by whose animation the rest stood out, had all his goods seised on, and all the Monasteries within his Diocese, taken into the Kings hands, and Wardens appointed to minister onelyonly necessaries to the Monkes, conve…ting the rest to the Kings use: at length by much suite, and Abbots and Priests, giving the fourth part of their goods, redeeme themselves, and the Kings favour. In the sixe and twentieth yeare of his Raigne, at a Parliament holden at Yorke, is granted him the ninth penny of the goods of the Temporalty: the tenth penny of the Clergy of the Diocese of Canterbury, and of Yorke the fifth: and in this yeare also he raised the Imposition upon every sack of Wooll, from a noble to forty shillings. In his two and thirtieth yeare he sends out a new Writ of Inquisition, called Traile-baston, for intruders on other mens lands; who to oppresse the right owner, would make over their land to great men; for Batterers hired to beate men, for breakers of Peace, for Ravishers, Incendiaries, Murtherers, Fighters, false Assisours, and other such Malefactours: which Inquisition was so strictly executed, and such Fines taken, that it brought in exceeding much treasure to the King. As likewise did another Commission at the same time, sent forth to examine the behaviour of Officers, and Ministers of Justice; wherein many were found Delinquents, and paid dearly for it. At this time also he called his Lords to account for their stubbornnesse some yeares before, in denying to attend him into Flanders; which brought him in profit answerable to their greatnesse that were called. After all this, in his foure and thirtieth yeare, there is granted him the thirtieth penny of both Clergy and Laity, and the twentieth of all Merchants towards his journey into Scotland. And this may be sufficient to shew his Taxations to have beene in the Superlative degree. And yet besides these, he had no small benefit by Silver Mines, which in his time were found in Devonshire.
Of his Lawes and Ordinances.
IN the first yeare of his Raine were made the Statutes called of Westminster the first. In his twelfth yeare were made the Statutes of Acton Burnell. In the foureteenth yeare of his Raigne were made the Statutes called Additamenta Glocestriae. He ordained such men to be Sheriffes in every County, as were of the same County where they were to be Sheriffes. He ordained that Iewes should weare a Cognisance upon their upper Garment whereby to be knowne, and restrained their excessive taking of Usury. In his time was also Enacted the Statute of Mortmaine. In his twelfth yeare, in the Quindenes of Saint Michael, the Justices Itinerants beganne to goe their generall Circuits. In his time new pleces of money were coyned, and halfe pence of Silver came to be in use, which were before of base metall. In his time, three men for rescuing a prisoner, arrested by an Officer, had their right hands cut off by the wrists. In his time all Iewes were banished out of the Realme. This King by Proclamation prohibited the burning of Sea-coale in London and the Suburbs, for avoiding the noysome smoake. In his eleventh yeare the Bakers of London were first drawne upon Hurdles, by Henry Waleys Major; and Corne was then first sold by weight. In this Kings time the title of Baron which had before beene promiscuous to men of estate, was first confined to such onelyonly as by the King were called to have voice in Parliament.
Affaires of the Church in his time.
IN his time, at a Synod holden at Reading by the Arch-bishop of C…nterbury, it was ordained according to the Constitutions of the Generall Councell, that no Ecclesiasticall person should have more then one Benefice, to which belonged the Cure of soules: and that every person promoted to any Ecclesiasticall Living, should take the Order of Priesthood within one yeare after. In his time lived and died Pope Boniface the 8. of whom his Predecessour had Prophesied: Ascendes ut Vulpes, Regnabis ut Leo, Morieris ut Canis.
Workes of Piety done by him, or by others in his time.
THis King Founded the Abbey of the Vale Royall in Cheshire, of the Cisteaux Order. In his time Iohn Baylioll King of Scots, builded Baylioll Colledge in Oxford: also in his time, Walter Marton Lord Chancellour of England, and after Bishop of Rochester, Founded Marton Colledge in Oxford, who was drowned passing over the water at Rochester, being at that time no Bridge there, as now there is. In his time was finished the new worke of the Church of Westminster, which had b…ene threescore and sixe yeares in building. In his time was laid the Foundation of the Black-Friers besides Ludgate, and of Baynards Castle: also in his time, his second wife Queene Margaret beganne to build the Quire of the Gray-Friers in London. In his time was begunne to be made the great Conduit in London, standing against the Church called Acres in Cheape. In his time Henry Walleys, Major of London, caused the Tonne upon Cornhill, to be a Prison for night-walkers: and also builded a house called the Stocks, for a Market of fish and flesh, in the midst of the City. In this Kings time, Edmund Earle of Leycester, the Kings brother, Founded the Minories, a Nunnery without Aldgate. This King builded the Castle of Flint in Wales, and the Castle of Beaumaris in the Ile of Anglesey, and the Castle of Carnarvan by Snowdon. Also in this Kings time, Iohn Peckham Arch-bishop of Canterbury, Founded a Colledge of Canons at Wingham in Kent.
Casualties happening in his time.
IN the second yeare of this Kings Raigne, there happened the greatest rot of Sheepe in England that ever was knowne, which continued five and twenty years; and came (as was thought) by one infected Sheepe of incredible greatnesse, brought out of Spaine by a French Merchant into Northumberland. In the fifteenth yeare of this Kings Raigne, Wheate was sold for tenne Groats a Quarter; where the next yeare after there was so great a Dearth, that it was sold for eighteene pence the Bushell. In the seventeenth yeare of his Raigne, there fell so much raine, that Wheate was raised from three pence the Bushell, to sixteene pence; and so encreased yearely, till at last it was sold for twenty shillings the Quarter. And this yeare the City of Carlile, and the Abbey with all the houses belonging to the Friers Minors, was consumed with fire. In his one and twentieth yeare, a great part of the Towne of Cambridge, with the Church of our Lady, was also burnt. In the seven and twentieth yeare of his Raigne, his Palace at Westminster, and the Monastery adjoyning, were consumed with fire. The Monastery of Glocester also was burnt to the ground. In this yeare also, an Act of Common Counsell, by consent of the King, was made concerning victuals; a fat Cocke to be sold for three halfe pence, two Pullets for three halfe pence, a fat Capon for two pence halfe penny, a Goose foure pence, a Mallard three halfe pence, a Partridge three halfe pence, a Pheasant foure pence, a Hearon sixe pence, a Plover one penny, a Swanne three shillings, … Crane twelve pence, two-Woodcocks three halfe pence, a fat Lambe from Christmas to Shrovetide, sixteene pence; and all the yeare after for foure pence.
Of his Wives and Children.
HE had two Wives, his first was Eleanor, daughter to Ferdinand the third King of Spaine; and was married to him at B…res in Spaine: who having lived with him sixe and thirty years, in a journey with him towards Scotland, at Herdeby in Lincolneshire she died; in whose memory, and as Monuments of her vertue, and his affection, King Edward caused Crosses with her Statue to be erected in all chiefe places, where her Corps in carrying to Westminster, rested: as at Stamford, Dunstable, Saint Albons, Waltham, Cheapside; and lastly, at the place called Charing Crosse: she was buried in Westminster, at the feete of King Henry the third, under a faire Marble Tombe, adorned with her Portraiture of Copper guilt. By this wife, King Edward had foure sonnes and nine daughters; his eldest sonne, Iohn; his second, Henry; his third, Alphonsus; died all young in their Fathers time: his fourth sonne, Edward, called of Carnarva…, because borne there, succeeded him in the kingdome. Of his daughters, the eldest named Eleanor, was first married by Proxie to Alphonsus, King of Arragon; but he dying before the marriage solemni…ed, she was afterward married at Bristow, to Henry Earle of Barry in France; by whom she had issue, sons and daughters. Ioane the second daughter of King Edward and Queene Eleanor, borne at Acon in the Holy Land, was married to Gylbert Clare called the Red Earle of Glocester and Hereford; by whom she had issue, sonnes and daughters. She survived her husband, and was re-married to the Lord Ralph Monthermere, Father to Margaret the mother of Thomas Montacute, Earle of Salisbury; from whom the now Vicount Montacu…e is descended. Margaret the third daughter of King Edward and Queene Eleanor, was married to Iohn Duke of Brabant. Berenger and Alice, their fourth and fifth daughters, dying young and unmarried. Mary their sixth daughter, at tenne yeares of her age, was made a Nunne in the Monastery of A…mesbury in Wiltshire, at the instance of Queene Eleanor her Grandmother, who lived there. Elizabeth their seventh daughter, was first married to Iohn Earle of Holland, Zeland, and Lord of Freezeland; he dying within two yeares, she was afterward married to Humphrey Bohun Earle of Hereford and Essex, Lord of Breknok, and High Constable of England; by whom she had issue, sonnes and daughters. Beatrice and Blanch, their eighth and ninth daughters, died young and unmarried. King Edwards second Wife was Margaret, eldest daughter of Philip King of France, called the Hardy, and sister to Philip called the Faire; at eighteene yeares old she was married to King Edward, being above threescore; yet at the unequall yeares she had issue by him, two sonnes and a daughter: their eldest sonne was borne at a little Village in Yorkshire called Brotherton, and was thereof called Thomas of Brotherton: he was created Earle of Norfolke, and Earle Marshall of England, after Roger Bigod, who died without issue. Their second sonne Edmund, was borne at Woodstocke in Oxfordshire, and of the place was so called: he was created Earle of Kent, and married Margaret daughter of Iohn, and sister of sole Heire of Thomas Lord Wakes of Lydell in the County of Northampton; by whom he had issue two sonnes and one daughter: his sonnes Edmund and Iohn, died without issue; his daughter Ioane, for her beauty called the Faire maid of Kent, was married first to William Montacute Earle of Salisbury, and from him divorced; was re-married to Sir Thomas Holland, in her Right Earle of Kent, and by her, Father of Thomas and Iohn Holland, Duke of Surrey, and Earle of Huntington: and lastly, she was the Wife of Edward of Woodstocke, the blacke Prince of Wales; and by him Mother of King Richard the second. This Earle Edmund was beheaded at Winchester, in the fourth yeare of King Edward his Nephew. Eleanor, the daughter of King Edward by his second Wife Margaret, died in her childhood.
Of his personage and conditions.
HE was tall of stature, higher then ordinary men by head and shoulders, and thereof called Longshanke; of a swarthy complection, strong of body, but leane; of a comely favour; his eyes in his anger, sparkling like fire; the haire of his head black and curled. Concerning his conditions, as he was in warre peacefull; so in Peace he was warlike, delighting specially in that kinde of hunting, which is to kill Stagges or other wilde beasts with Speares. In continencie of life, he was equall to his Father; in acts of valour, farre beyond him. He had in him the two wisdomes, not often found in any, single; both together, seldome or never: An ability of judgement in himselfe, and a readinesse to heare the judgement of others. He seemed to be a great observer of opportunity (a great point of wisdome in any, in Princes greatest) and that he could beare an injury long, without seeking to revenge it; as appeared by his carriage towards the Earle Roger Bigod, whom when he saw his time, he called to account for an affront he had offered him di…ers yeares before. He was not easily provoked into passion, but once in passion, not easily appeased, as was seene by his dealing with the Scots; towards whom he shewed at first patience, and at last severity. If he be censured for his many Taxations, he may be justified by his well bestowing them; for never Prince laid out his money to more honour of himselfe, or good of his kingdome. His greatest unfortunatenesse was in his greatest blessing; for of foure sonnes which he had by his Wife Queen Eleanor, three of them died in his owne life time, who were worthy to have out-lived him; and the fourth out-lived him, who was worthy never to have beene borne.
Of his death and buriall.
IN his last expedition into Scotland, being at Carlile, he fell sicke; and lying in his death-bed, he sent for his sonne Edward: to whom, besides many admonitions to Piety; he commanded three things specially: that he should carry his bones about with him through Scotland till he had subdued it: that he should send his heart into the Holy Land, with sevenscore knights to that warre, and the two and thirty thousand pounds he had provided for that purpose; and that he should never recall Gaveston from banishment: and soon after of a dysentery or Bloudy-Flix, he died at Borough upon the Sands, the seventh of Iuly, in the yeare 1307. when he had Raigned foure and thirty yeares and seven moneths, lived threescore and eight yeares: Being dead, his Corps was brought to Waltham Abbey, and there kept the space of sixteene weekes, and after, on Simon and Iudes day buried at Westminster.
Men of Note in his time.
OF Martiall men there were many, these specially: Iohn Earle of Warren, who opposed the Kings Inquisition by Quo Warranto: and Roger Bigod, who gave the King an affront to his face. Of learned men also many, specially these; Iohn Breton bishop of Hereford, who compiled a book of the Lawes of England, called l… Breton: Thomas Spot a Chronographer: Iohn Eversden a writer of Annals, and of this Kings Raigne: Gregory Cairugent a Monke of Glocester, and a writer also of Annals. Iohn Peckham a Franciscan Frier, made Arch-bishop of Canterbury, who writ many excellent workes: Iohn Read an Historiographer: Thomas Bungey a Frier Minor, an excellent Mathematician: Roger Bacon a Franciscan Frier, an excellent Philosopher and Mathematician: Robert Kilwarby Arch-bishop of Canterbury, and after made a Cardinall: also Ralph Baldock Bishop of London, who writ a Chronicle of England in the Latine tongue: but above them all, though of another Countrey, Thomas Aquinas, borne of a Noble Family, whose workes are too famous to be spoken of; who going to the Councell holden at Lyons by Pope Gregory the tenth, died by the way.