Observations of all the Kings of England, Chapter 17
CHAP. XVII.
King EDWARD the first.
HE was absent in the holy Land when his father died.The names of the first Richard, the first Edward were as terrible to Infidels, as William to the Saxons, and as much renowned among all Christian Princes. Sir Francis W…rtly his Characters. Rodericus Toletanus l. 1. breaks forth into this exclamation; Quid igitur hujus mulieris fide rarius audiri! quid mirabilius esse potest, ut uxoris lingua fide & dilectione maritali peruncta, vencua à dilecto marito expulerit quae electo medico trahi non valuerunt: & quod plurima exquistiáque non effecerunt medicamenta, una uxoris pietas explevit.
At his first coming to the holy Land, he rescued the great City of Acon, from being surrendred to the Sultan, after which, out of envy to his valour, one Anzazim a desperate Saracen, who had often been 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 arm, and one in the armpit, which had been mortall, if out of unspeakable love, the Lady Elenor his wife had not suckt out the poison of his wounds with her mouth, and licked them with her tongue, and thereby effected a cure, which otherwise had been incurable. So soveraign a medicine (saith Speed) is a womans tongue annointed with the vertue of loving affection.
Leaving Garrisons in fit places for defence of the Countrey, he with his wife Elenor 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 took more heavily far, then he had taken the death of his young son Henry, whereof he had heard a little before; at which when King Charles marvelled,Iactura filiorum facilis est, cùm quotidie multiplicentur; pareutum verò mors irremediabilis est, quia nequeunt restaurari. Chronica… Thomae. Walsingham. he answered that other sons might be had, but another father could never be had.
He was protected by the divine hand from his Childhood being young, and playing one time at Chess with a friend, in the midst of his game, without any apparent occasion, he removed himself from the place where he sate, when suddenly there fell from the roof of the house a great stone, which if he had stayed in the place but never so little, had beaten out his brains.
The like is recorded of Luther, that as he was sitting in a certain place upon his stool, a great stone there was in the Vault over his head where he sate; which being stayed miraculously so long as he was sitting, as soon as he was up, immediately fell upon the place where he sate, able to have crushed him in pieces. Fox Martyrolog.
Having prepared a great Fleet of Ships for a journey into Flanders, and being at Winchelsey where the Ships were to meet, it happened that riding about the Harbour, his Horse frighted with the noise of a Windmill, which the wind drove violently about, scrambled up and leapt over the mud-wall of the Town, so as neither the King nor Horse was to be seen, but every one judged the King could not choose but be thrown 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.
He was crowned at Westminster, together with his wife Queen Elenor, by Robert Kilwarthy, Archbishop of Canterbury.
He ingeniously surprized the Welch into subjection,Mr. Fullers good thoughts in worst times. Occasion. Meditat. 9. See Dr. Pow…is Preface to the History of Wales, and his Notes on …hoyds History of Wales, p. 376, 377, and Judge Dederidges Principality of Wales, p. 4, 5, 6. proffering them such a Prince as should be
1. The son of a King.
2. Born in their own Countrey.
3. Whom none could taxe for any fault.
The Welch accepted the conditions, and the King tendered them his son Edward, an Infant, newly born in the Castle of Carnarva….
Wales was united to the Crown of England in the eleventh year of his Raign; who thereupon established the Government thereof according to the Lawes of England.
A wise,Cambdens Britannia in Yorkeshire. …aletudine usus est satis presp…ra, animo magno; cui cunque enim rei operam dabat, eam facil… imbi…bat, prudentia summa, religionis studiosissimus, insolentiae sacerdotum inimicus acerrimus, quam ex opibus cum primis prosicisci putabat… quam ob…rem legem ad manumortuam perpetuasse fertur, at ita corum luxurie… coerc…retur. Polyd. V…rg. Ang hist l. 18. a just, and fortunate Prince, who in regard of his Princely vertues deserveth to be ranged among the principall and best Kings that ever were.
A right noble and worthy Prince,Cambdens Britannia in Cumberland. Fuit prudens in gerendis negotiis, ab adolescentia armorum ded…us exercitio, quo in diversts regionibus eam famam militiae acquifierat, quà totius orbis Christiani sui temporis principes singulariter transcendebat. Elegantis erat formae, staturae procer…e, qua humero & supra communi populo prae…minebat. Chronica Thom… Walsingham. He was called Edward Long-shank…. to whom God proportioned a most princely presence and personage, a right worthy seat to entertain so heroicall a mind. For he not only in regard of fortitude and wisdome, but also for a beautifull and personall presence was in all points answerable to the height of royall Majesty, whom fortune also in the very prime and flower of his age, inured to many a Warre, and exercised in most dangerous troubles of the State, whilest she framed and fitted him for the Empire of Brittain: which he being once crowned King, managed and governed in such wise, that having subdued the Welch and vanquished the Scots, he may justly be counted the second ornament of Great Brittain.
No Realm but did resound first Edwards praise,
No praise was ever won with more deserts.
And no deserts (though great) could counterpoise
Much less out-balance his heroick parts.
Mars taught him Arms, the Muses taught him Arts,
Whereby so great he grew, that might there be
A love on earth, that earthly love was he.
Sir Francis Huberts History of Edward the second.
In the long Warres he had with Robert King of Scotland, having by triall found how greatly his presence advantaged the success of his affairs, and how he was ever victorious in any enterprise he undertook in his own person, when he died, he bound his son by solemn oath, that being dead he should cause his body to be boiled, untill the flesh fell from the bones, which he should cause to be interred, and carefully keeping the bones, ever carry them about him, whensoever he should happen to have Warres with the Scots, as if destiny had fatally annexed the victory unto his limmes. Mountaigne his Essayes. l. 1. c. 3.
Baliol King of Scotland came to Newcastle upon Tine, where King Edward then lay; and there with many of his Nobles, swears fealty, and doth homage to him, as his Soveraign Lord.
Afterward there grew a great dissention between him and the King, and the two Nations, which consumed much Christian bloud, and continued almost three hundred years. King Edward entered Scotland with a great Army, King Baliol was taken prisoner.
The marble Chair in which the Kings of Scotland used to be crowned,Ne vestigium majestatis regia… desid…rii ullum apud populum remaneret, sedem lap…deam in qua insidentes Reges coronari salebant, ex Scotia deferendam Londinum curavit, quae eti…am nunc ad Westmonast …rium servatur. Polyd. Virg. Ang. hist. l. 1… was also brought thence to Westminster, and placed there amongst the Monuments, where it still continues.
Ni fallat fatum, Scoti quocunque locatum
Invenient lapidem, regnare tenentur ibidem.
Except old sawes do fain,
And Wizards wits be blind,
The Scots in place shall raign,
Where they this stone shall find.
Of his Warres with the Scotch, and his victories over them, see Aysc… his History of the Warres, Treaties, Marriages, and other occurrents between England and Scotland, from King William the Conquerour, untill the union of them both in King Iames.
In his twelfth year the Justices Itinerants began.
In his time Iohn Baliol King of Scots, builded Baliol-Colledge in Oxford. Walter Merton Lord Chancellour of England, and after Bishop of Rochester, founded Merton-Colledge in Oxford.
One made this Epitaph of him.
Dum viguit, Rex, & valuit tua magna potestas
Frau… latuit, pax magna fuit, regnavit honestas.
He raigned thirty four yeares, seven moneths, one and twenty dayes, and lived sixty eight years, and twenty dayes.
EDWARD the second.
He degenerated wholly from his fathers vertues, and esteemed not the good advertisements and precepts which he gave him before his death.
He granted the Charter to London, to elect yearly one of the City at their own pleasure to be their Maior.
He was the first of the King of Englands children which bore the title and quality of the Prince of Wales. Since whose time, the eldest sons of the Kings of England were called Princes of Wales, as the eldest sons of the Kings of Fran…e are called Dolphins,Initio sui principatus, cisi ad lenitatem suaptò natura pr…pensus …rat, quorundam tamen suorum consiltariorum co…rcitus monitis, ut bonam indolem ostentaret, gravitatem, probitatem, …nodestiam praes… …crre caepit: veri…n baud omnino potuit ita coerceri, quin brevi tempore petulantiam ac vanitatem sensim quidem primò & occultè velut juvenili errore complexus suerit, &c. Polyd. Virg. Ang. hist. l. 18. and of Spain, Infants.
He was called Edward of Carnarvan; for the Welch men after Leolines death, were earnest with the King for a Prince of their own Countrymen; the King told them they should have a Prince there born that could speak no English, which they being contented with, he named his Infant son; (who was born there) the Queen being brought to Carnarvan.
He divided Wales incorporated into England, into Shires and Hundreds.
His great affection to Pierce Gaveston, and Spenser his Favourites, was a means of stirring up the Barons against him.
It is thy sad disaster which I sing Carnarvan▪ Edward; second of that name, Thy Minions pride, thy States ill managing, Thy Peers revolt, the sequell of the same; Thy life, thy death I sing, thy sin, thy shame; And how thou wert deprived of thy Crown, In highest fortunes, cast by fortune down. Sir Francis Huberts History of Edward the second.
Nine Kings had raigned since the conquest here,
Whom I succeeded in a rightfull line,
My father (all domestick tumults clear)
Did warre, and win in fruitfull Palestine.
This Northern Sun even to the East did shine.
The French were fearfull hearing but his name,
French, Scots, and Turks aeternized his fame.
He married Isabel, daughter to King Philip, sirnamed le Bean the fair, and heir to France, all her brothers being dead without issue.
Gourney most barbarously caused the miserable King to sit on a Mole-hill, whilest the Barber shaved him, and to take cold water out of a ditch to wash him withall, which the patient King seeing,Sir. Thomas More. told them, That in despight of them he would have warm water at his Barbing, and there withall shed abundance of tears.
Being deposed from his Kingdome through the crafty complotting and practising of his wife,Cu… Isabella R…gina Oxoni… esset, una cum …, magno exercitu stipa… Episcopas concionem habuit, in qua themate assumpto Dolet mihi caput, o…endere conatus est, caput insanum, nec adhibitis opportunis remediis convalesce…s corpori dominari non debere. Godw. de praesul. A…g. Vide plura ibid. Speed. he was made away in B…rkley-Castle in Glocestershire, by the wicked subtilty of the Bishop of Hereford, who wrote unto his Keepers these few words without points between them, Edwardum occidere nolite timere bonum est; that by reason of the divers sense and construction, both they might commit the murder, and he also cleanly excuse himself. Cambdens Britannia in Glocestershire. Vide Gatakeri Adversaria. miscel, c. 16.
Never was the fallacy of pointings, or ambiguity of phrase more mischievously used to the destruction of a King, or the defence of the contrivers, then in this hainous parricide.
To shed King Edwards bloud
Refuse to fear I count it good.
Where the Comma or pause being put after nolite, bid them not to make him away, but after timere insinuates a plain encouragement to the fact.
The Sphinx who is said to be the Author of this ambiguous riddle,Queen Isabel, being to repass from Zeland into England with an Army, in favour of her son against her husband, had utterly been cast away, had she come unto the Port intended, being there expected by her enemies: but fortune, against her will, brought her to another place, where she safely landed. Montaigne his Essayes. l. 1. c. 33. Polyd. Virg. Ang. hist. l. 19. p. 382. commends her. sent by the Lord Mortimer, was Adam de Tarleton, who utterly denied any such intention, when the murderers for their own justification, produced the writing it self under Queen Isabels Seal, and the Seals of the other conspirators.
To which effect came Letters from the Court written by Tarleton, at the Queens command,
In such a cloudy, and ambiguous sort,
That divers wayes, one might them understand
By pointing them; that if they should be scann'd,
He and his Letters might be free from blame,
And they Delinquents, that abus'd the same.
The words were these: (Kill Edward do not feare
'Tis good) which being comma'd diversly
As pleas'd the Reader, double sense may bear.
O Art! Thou art the earths chief treasury
But being imploy'd to practise villany,
What monstrous births from thy fair womb do spring,
So Grammar here is made to kill a King.
Sir Francis Huberts History of Edward the second.
There was such a terrible famine in his reign, that horse, dogs, yea men and children were stolen for food, and (which is horrible to think) the theeves newly brought into the Gaol, were torn in pieces, and eaten presently half alive by such as had been longer there.
There was in the Castle of Nottingham, (and at this day is) a certain secret way or mine cut through a rock, upon which the said Castle is built, an issue whereof openeth toward the River of Trent, which runs under it, and the other venteth it self far within upon the surface, and is (at this present) called Mortimers hole; through this the young King Edward the third well armed and strongly seconded, was conducted with drawn swords, by some of his trusty and sworn servants up to the Queens chamber, whose door (so fearless is blinde affection) was unshut, and with her was Mortimer (the Kings master as the rumour spread him) ready to go to bed, whom with the slaughter of a Knight and one or two that resisted,Speed. they laid hold upon. This was not reputed a slender enterprise, in regard that in Mortimers retinue were not fewer (they say) then one hundred and fourscore Knights, besides Esquires and Gentlemen. He was after hanged at Tyburn.
K. Edward the second favoured learning,Hollinsh. as by the erection of Orial-Colledge in Oxford, and St. Maries Hall, which were of his foundation, it may well be gathered.
He was stifled in his bed, and a red hot iron thrust up into his Fundament.Quo genere moriis Edwardus interierit, non facile constat: fama exit in vulgus, illum dum ventrem purgaret, fuisse veru transfixum per clu…es. Polyd Virg. Ang hist l. 18.
He lived forty three years, and raigned nineteen.
EDWARD the third.
He was upon his fathers resignation proclaimed King of England.Fuerat nempè Rex iste inter …mnes Reges orbis & Principes gloriosus, benignus, clemens, & magnificus, Belliger suit insignis & fortunatus, qui de cunctis congressibus in terr… & in mari, semper triumphali gloria victoriam reportavit. Walsingh Hist. Ang. Edwardus tertius regnum saelicissimum & rebus maximis à se gestis gloriofissimum ad annum secundum supra quinquagesimum produ…it. Godw. de praesul. Ang. comment p. 119. Huic regi absque caeteris naturae ornamentis, cum primis formae dignitas suffragabatur, ingenium providum, perspicax ac mite, nihilporr… non sapienter, non con…ideratè agebat, & homo permodestus & frugi, illos summè diligebat, honoribusque ornabat ac amplificabat, qui probitate, modestia, atque vitae innocentia allos antecederent. Militaris disciplinae apprimè sc…ens fuit, ut res ab co gestae testimonio sunt. Polyd. Virg. Ang. hist. l. 19.
He was not fifteen years old when he began to raign.Il gaigna deux memorables batailles en France, prist la ville de Calais, & deux grands Roys prisonniers, & rendit son nom redoutable à tous ses Voisins, Histoire d'Angleterre Par du Chesne. Floruere faelicia arma Edovardi tertii Regis, qui de Iohanne Gallorum Rege capto, speciocissimè triumphavit. Ab hoc Edovardo Garcitenii equestris ordinis ceremoniam institutam ferunt. Pauli Iovii Britanniae descriptio. Hic est ille Edovardus qui Caletum urbem in continenti Galliae, plures menses obsessum at que expugnatum, Philipp… Galliae Regi abhinc ducentis ser nè annis ademit. Id. ib.
He was of an exceeding comely personage, of a pregnant wit, courteous, gentle, of great temperance.
If we respect either valour, prowess, length of Raign, acts of Chivalry, or the multitude of famous Princes his children left behind him, he was one of the noblest Kings that ever England had. Dolemans Conference touching Succession to the Crown. part. 1. c. 3.
Cambden in his Britannia in Northumberland calls him our Hector.
He was the greatest scourge to the Nation of Scotland of any King of England either before or after him. Ayscu.
He saith there also, that if this King had a while longer pursued the conquest of Scotland, he had easily brought the same under his soveraignty; and that he esteemed (in regard of the difficulty of holding long his possessions within the French dominions) the Realm of Scotland a more convenient and fit member of the Crown of England, then the one half of France, how farre soever exceeding the other in wealth and magnificence.
He brought Cloathing first into this Island, transporting some families of Artificers from Gaunt hither.
Upon the grievances of his people pestered with the doublings of Lawyers, he commanded that Pleas should from thenceforth be made in English, Speed.not in French.
He placed Richard his Grandchild, and next heir apparent, in his solemn feast at Christmas, at his Table next unto himself, above all his Uncles, being the sons of that King, and men much renowned for their prowess and vertue. Judge D…dridges Epist. Dedicat. to the Principality of Wales.Id. ib.
The Law of Magna Charta was about a dozen severall times confirmed by this King, during the years of his Raign.It was confirmed by thirty Parliaments in the succession of eight Kings.
In the fiftieth year of Edward the third, all the Lords appeared in Parliament in person,This was the first Parliament we read of. and not one by Proxy. At which Parliament, as appears in the Parliament-Roll, so many excellent things were done, as it was called bonum Parliamentum, Sir Edward Cooks 4th part of Institutes.the good Parliament.
He disposed of Ecclesiasticall dignities, received homage and fealty from his Prelates, who writ that so much admired Letter to the Pope, for the Liberties of the English Church, Cui pro tunc Papa aut Cardinales rationabiliter respondere nescicbant. Walsing. an. 1343.
The house of Valois triumphantly raigned in France ever since the Raign of Edward the third, at which time it was then but an Earldome, and descended from a second brother, was of meer purpose by the French advanced to the throne, under pretences of the …alique Law, made by Pharamond, only to suppress the immediate right and title of King Edward the third,Stow. who was descended of the French Kings eldest daughter and heir;He quartered the Arms of France with England. whereby he justly claimed the Crown of France, Speed.though that very Law made King Edwards title the stronger (as himself truly pleaded) he being the male,Gersey and Gernsey parcels of Normandy, belong to the King of England. albeit his right descended by the female.
Rex sum regnorum bina rati…ne duorum,
Anglorum regno sum Rex ego jure paterno,
Matris jure quidem Francorum nuncupor idem,
Hinc est armorum variatio facta meorum.
The date of this title of France was in the year 1337, the which Enlgand holds to this day, and our Kings the Realm in effect, saith Iohn de Serres.
At the great battell of Cressy in France, the Commanders about the Prince sent to King Edward to come up with his power to aid them, the King asked the messenger, whether his son were slain or hurt, the messenger answered no, but he was like to be overlaid: Well then said the King, return, and tell them who sent you, That so long at my son is alive, Pro…ssards Chron. c. 130. Da…. hist.they send no more to me whatever happen, for I will that the honour of the day be his. Speed.And so at last the English obtained the greatest victory they ever yet had against the French.Iohn de Serres.
There were there found the dead bodies of eleven great Princes,The King of Bohemia was there slain, whose plume of Ostridge feathers won then by the black Prince, hath ever since been the cognizance of the …rinces of Wales. His eldest son sirnamed the Black Prince the mirrour of Chivalry, not for his colour, but dreaded in Battels. He at the Battell of C…essy which bare two thirds of 8500 men, fought with little less then 90000, and not many years after, being fewer by three fourths. The Welch his enemies, in the Battell of Poicticrs he took King Iohn of France prisoner, invironed by all the Princes & Nobility of that Kingdome. A young Prince twice a Conquerour, having vanquished his enemy, both by valour and courtesie. … Serres French Hist o… Iohn King of France. and of Barons, Knights and men of Arms, above one thousand and five hundred, of the Commons above thirty thousand.
Not one man of honour or note slain upon the English side.
King Edward after the Battell aftectionately embracing and kissing his victorious son, said; Fair son, God send you good perseverance to so prosperous beg innings, you have nobly acquit your self, and are well worthy to have the governance of a Kingdome entrusted to you for your valour.
Sir Eustace Rihamant in the encounter at Calis-Gate, (between Sir Walter Manny and the Lord Charney) met with King Edward, (who disguising himself in common armour, served under the banner of Sir Walter Manny) and fought so stoutly with him, that he stroke the King twice down on his knees, but in the end the King took him prisoner, and then he yeelded his Sword to the King, but knowing what he was, said thus, Sir Knight, I yeeld me as your prisoner: upon which cause, the King came after supper to him, and with a merry countenance, said thus to the Knight: (Sir Eustace) you are the Knight in the world that I have seen most valiant, either in assault of enemies, or defence of himself. I never …ound Knight that gave so much ado, body to body, as ye have done this day, whe…efore I give you the prize above all the Knights of my Court, by right sentence, and herewithall the King being bareheaded (having a Chaplet of fine pearls that he ware on his head) took the same Chaplet from off his head, being fair, goodly and rich, and said to the Knight: I give you this Chaplet for the best doer in Arms in this journey past, of either party, and I desire you to bear it this year for the love of me. I know well, you be fresh and amorous, and oftentimes are among doubty Knights and fair Ladies, yet say wheresoever ye come, that the King of England did give it you: and I quite your prison and ransome, depart to morrow if it please you: whereupon the Knight did not only wear the same Chaplet, in remembrance of so gracious a benevolence of so worthy a Prince, but also did bear after in his Arms three Chaplets garnished of pearls. Fern his Glory of Generosity. p. 210, 211.
Mr. Wren in his Monarchy asserted p. 125. saith, The successes of the English in France alwayes followed the person of the Prince: with us Edward the third, and Henry the fifth wise and valiant Princes gaining, Richard the second and Henry the sixth weak Princes losing; with them Iohn and Charles the sixth men of no ability losing, Charles the fifth and Charles the seventh brave Princes recovering.
Edward the black Prince of Wales (who so long governed our Countrey of Guienne, a man whose conditions and fortune were accompanied with many notable parts of worth and magnanimity) having been grievously offended by the Limosins, Lho…d in his History of …ales calls him the … of Chivalry of all Europe, a Prince (saith he) of such excellent demeanour, so valiant, wise and politick in his doings, that a perfect representation of Knighthood appeared most live… in his person. Se… more there. p. 384, 385.though he by main force took and entered their City, could by no means be appeased, nor by the wailfull out-cries of all sorts of people, (as of men, women, and children) be moved to any pitty, they prostrating themselves to the common slaughter, crying for mercy, and humbly submitting themselves at his feet, untill such time as in triumphant manner passing through their City, he perceived three French Gentlemen, who alone with an incredible and undaunted boldness gainstood the enraged violence, and made head against the fury of his victorious▪ Army. The consideration and respect of so notable a vertue, did first abate the dint of his wrath, and from these three began he to relent, and shew mercy to all the other inhabitants of the Town. Michael Lord of Montaigne his Essayes. l. 1. c. 1.
Having had great victories against the French, and other neighbouring Nations, he instituted the Order of the Garter, and consecrated it to St. George. He appointed a Garter to be the Ensign of this Order, wrought richly with gold and precious stones which should circle the leg beneath the knee,In the year 1…49. … instituit Garterium ordinem, cui …auius deinde accessit honor, … maximos quosque Reges non pen…tuc…rit in id ventre Collegium. …olyd. Vng. hist. l. 19. Vide plura ibi… & … hist. Belg. … 24. p. 285, 286. and on it to have these words apparently discerned, Honi Soit Qui Mal Y …ense. Shame to him which evil thinks.
The number of these Knights, are twenty six, whereof the King himself is the chief.
These Knights wear the Ensign of Saint George (fighting with a Dragon) fastened to a rich Chain or Collar which weighed and was worth eighty pounds of English money. See Montaigne his Essayes. l. 2. c. 7. of the words of honour.
About this time the famous Dr. Iohn Wicklef, a man of sharp wit, profound learning, and of great judgement, did in the University of Oxford publickly maintain sundry Propositions and dogmaticall points against the Church of Rome.
His followers were in the phrase of those dark dayes, called Lollards, whereas in truth they endeavoured to extirpate all pernicious weeds which through time, sloath, and fraud, had crept into the field of Gods Church.
Such was this Kings courtesie & friendly behaviour toward the two captive Kings of France and Scotland, while they remained together in England, as that hereby he won their love and favour for ever after, as appeared by their repair hither to visit the King and Queen, and to recreate and solace themselves in their company. Thus it came to pass, that their captivity here, turned more to their own advantage, and the peaceable enjoying of their estates after the same, then if it had never hapned unto them.
Mr. Thomas May wrote his victorious Raign in Verse in seven Books.
He raigned almost one and fifty yeares, and lived about sixty five, who of all the Kings of the Realm (saith Mr. F…x) unto Henry the eight, was the greatest bridler of the Popes usurped power, whereby Iohn Wicklef was maintained with aid sufficient.