Anne Domini 1066. Octob. 14.1. WILLIAM I. KING of ENGLAND, and DUKE of NORMANDY, called the CONQUEROUR.Gules 2 Ly­ons passant guardant Or, are the Arms as­signed to this WILLIAM the Conqueror, as also to Re­bert Duke of Normandy, King William II. and King Henry I. all three his Sons, the two last his Successors, de­rived (as Tra­dition tells us) hereditarily from ROL­LO, the First Duke of Nor­mandy; who is said to bear in his Escoche­on or Shield, the same Charge, affe­cting as several other Nor­thern Princes did, that Sove­reign Beast the Lyon. I term these Arms attribu­ted, or assign­ed, because I cannot find ei­ther by Monu­ments, Coyns, Seals, or any Cotemporary Author, that such were in use with these several Princes, but that fol­lowing Ages did assign or fix them upon the Norman Line, to di­stinguish it from the suc­ceeding Plan­tagenets, that did bear Gules' 3 Lyons passant guar­dant Or (King Henry II. the First of that Race, adding to the Norman Arms the Ly­on of Aquitain of the same Mettal, in a Field of that Colour, in the Right of Elianor his Wife, Heir of that Coun­trey) and for this cause are they painted for the Con­querour, upon the Tomb of Queen Eliza­beth in Henry VII. Chap­pel at West­minster, im­paled with those of Queen MAND of Flanders his Wife, viz. Gironne of eight pieces Or, and Azure, an Ineschocheon Gules, Arms attributed to the Forresters, and First Earls of Flanders, to the time of Ro­bert the Fri­son; (Oliva­rius Uredus in Sigilla Com. Flandriae p. 6.) and the Arms also of King Henry I. im­paleing them of Queen Maud of Scotland, viz Or, a Ly­on rampant within a dou­ble, Tressure counter-flowry Gules; when indeed Impalements were not known before the time of Henry the Thirds if so soon, as I shall prove in its proper place. To pass by the Poetical Fictions of Devises assigned to the Trojan and Grecian Captains, those attributed to Solomon, David, and Josbua, yea and our Saviour himself, by Monks, Poets, and Painters (Hen. Spelman Eq. Anr. in Aspilogia, p. 41.) We may upon better grounds not only note the Devises of several Romans upon their Consular Coins (Carolus Patin in Antiquis Numismatibus, &c. pag. 257. & 313.) but take a view of their Practice in the time of Trajan the Emperour, upon whose Pillar (one of the Worlds most famous Monuments in being) are not only variety of Devises, but also the exact form and differ­ence of the Roman, German, and Dacian Shields. But to confine my self within the limits of my Story, and to prove that De­vises were in use about the time of the Conquerour, we may note in the Challenge of Geffrey Martell Earl of of Anjou returned him, being only Duke of Normandy near Damfront, by Roger de Montgomery and others; where the Earl, that he might be the bet­ter known to the Duke, describes, Qualem Equum in praelio sit habiturus, quate SCUTUM, & qualem vestitum: and Roger on the behalf of the Duke of Normandy, Equum vicissim Domini sui praefignat, vestitum & ARMA, Gesta Will. Ducis Normanuiae, pag. 113. Upon this ground Samuel Daniel in his History of the Conquerour's Life, pag. 26 (surnished with what other Authority I know not) enlargeth thus: That Count Martell made this return by Roger de Montgomery, viz. Tell the Duke, to morrow by day-break, he shall have me there on a White Horse, ready to give him the Combate, and I will enter Damfront if I can; and to the end he shall know me, I will wear a SHIELD d' OR without any devise. Roger replies, Sir you shall not need to take the pains, for to morrow morning you shall have the Duke in this place, mounted on a Bay Horse, and that you may know him, he shall wear on the point of his Launce a STREAMER OF TAFFATA to wipe your face. Here was a Shield d' Or (of Gold) without any Devise, which implies that Devises were used in that time, but it seameth onely momentary, taken up, and laid down at pleasure: For had they been personal, that is, for life, Count Geffrey might have been as well known by his Devise, as Families are by their Arms at this day. And its probable the reason why the Shields of that Age were lest Blanks, or of one Simple Colour or Mettal, was to receive the Impress of every Fancy that either pleased the Bearer or the Painter.
CHAP. I.

THere had been a continued Succession of Six Dukes of Normandy, Gesta Nor­man. ex Veteri Co­dice, M.S. pag. 213. beginning with ROLLO, who being a Nobleman of Denmarke, came forth with the exuberancie of his Nation, and compel­led Charles surnamed the simple, King of France, by force of Armes to make him Duke of Nor­mandy. To Rollo succeeded his Son William the Second Duke, (called Longue-Espee or Long-Sword) Father of Richard, Third Duke of Normandy; who had issue Richard, surnamed the Hardy, and Emma (Wife of King Etheldred) Mother of St. Edward the Confessor,Will. Malmesh. Will. Gem­meticonfis p. 230. d. & 231. a, b, c. King of England; from whom our succeeding Mo­narchs derive the Cure of the Kings Evil. Richard Duke of Nor­mandy II. of the Name, surnamed the Hardy, had two Sons, Richard and Robert; Richard succeeded his Father by the Name of Richard III. and was Fifth Duke of Normandy, who decea­sing without issue, the Dutchy came to his Brother Robert the Sixth Duke of Normandy, Father of this WILLIAM II. of the Name, Seventh Duke of Normandy and Conquerour of England, begotten on Arlot a Skinners Daughter of Falais, Rob. of Glocester. whom he affected for her Beauty, and Comely Dancing (which he by chance be­held) among her Countrey Companions. WILLIAM thus meanly generated, yet wanted not before, and at his Birth, Presa­ges of his future Greatness; for his Mother being with-child of Him, [Page 2] The Norman Dinastyhad a Dream (like that of Mandana Mother of Cyrus the First Per­sianBook I. Monarch) that her Bowells were extended over all Normandy and England; and even his Bastardy seemed to have an allay, if it be true asWill. Malmesh. lib. 3. in principio. Ingulph. lib. 6. cap. 19. some write, that his Father took Arlot to Wife. Nor was Bastardy at that time accounted a scandal or reproach, for this WILLIAM in his Grant to Alan Earl of Brittain, of the Lands of Earl Edwin in Yorkshire, styles himself WILLIAM, surna­med Bastard, King of England; it being then also a general Cu­stom in France, that Bastards did succeed even in Dignities of highest condition, as Children lawfully begotten.Scevola & Louis de St. Marthe. lib. 2. p. 68. Thierry Bastard of Clouis, had for his Appennage with the Lawful Children of the said Clouis, the Kingdom of Austrasia, now called Lorrain; so likewise in England, Harold surnamed Harefoot, Bastard to Canu­tus, succeeded him in the Kingdom, before Hardy-Canutus his Lawful Son. The like Custom hath also been observed in Spain and Portugal, and its probable this use was grounded upon often expe­rience, that Bastards (as begotten in the highest heat and strength of affection) have many times been Men of excellent proof both in courage and understanding. But however it was, Duke Ro­bert esteemed our WILLIAM worthy to be his Successor, for undertaking his Pilgrimage to the Holy-Land (whether out of De­votion, or Penance, for procuring his Brother Richards Death, whereof he was suspected) he caused his Nobles to swear Allegi­ance to WILLIAM; and after his Death to receive him for their Prince, being then onely Nine years old; the Tuition of whom he left to his Brothers, and the Guardianship of his person to Henry the First, King of France, Will. Gem­met. lib. 6. oh. 7. into whose Custody he delivered him with his own hands; that King owing Robert a kindness for former assistance in the preservation of his Crown.

But Duke Robert's Journey and Life ending together, the No­bles of Normandy by much intreaty got him out of the French Kings hands, thinking by his presence to awe his Estate the better; but soon they found that having his person among them, without his power, was but to put them into more disorder and faction; and [Page 3]more than that, WILLIAM's Bastardy gave occasion, and his Youth opportunity to Roger de Tresny his Cosin (though in a re­mote degree) and William Earl of Arques his Uncle,Gesta Guil. Ducis Nor. &c. p. 184. b. c. d. & 185. a. b. c. to lay claim to the Dutchy of Normandy; the first of which bringing his Title to the Trial of a Battail, was by the valiancy of Roger de Beaumont slain upon the place, with his two Brethren; and Arques, though privately assisted by the King of France (who now grew jealous of Duke WILLIAM's Successes) was overthrown by Count Guiffard the Duke's General, leaving the Town of Arques (the First Arch of Triumph) to this Conquerour, not yet arrived the Age of Seventeen years. A third Competitor there was, Guy of Bourgoigne; who though more distant in blood, yet by the treaso­nable practices of his discontented Lords, had succeeded in his De­sign; had not the Duke (warned by a certain Fool) by a sudden retreat into France, not only avoided them, but perswading that King to assist him in Person with his Forces, returned home, and at the Battel of Dunes cut off that Knot of Confederacy; forcing Bourgoigne to submit to mercy. This happened when he was about Two and twenty years old. Several other Affronts were after­wards offered him, some by meaner persons, some by the King of France himself; all which he overcame with such Prudence and Va­lour, that they got him a high opinion in the World, and settled him on the Basis of a firm Government. And being thus fixed, his Nobility minding the Duke of a Succession, perswade him to mar­ry MATILDA or MAƲD, His Marri­age. Daughter of Baldwin V. sur­named The gentle, Earl of Flanders (by Hadala or Alix, Eldest Daughter of Robert II. of the Name, King of France, Son of Hugh Capet) a potent Prince at that time, and so much the more, in that he wasScevola and Louis de Sante Marthe. p. 305. a. Guardian to the young King of France Philip (Son of King Henry) by Baldwin's means made afterwards instrumental to Duke WILLIAM's greatness. The Solemnity of this Mar­riage was celebrated at Augi in Normandy, and in the second year of WILLIAM's Reign over England, she wasMatthew Westminst. crowned Queen, upon Whit-Sunday in the year of Our Lord God One thousand sixty and eight, by Aldred Archbishop of York. She had by Him a Numerous Issue, among which her eldest Son Robert was her Dar­ling; witness her maintaining him in his Quarrel for Normandy a­gainst his own Father, and assisting towards the payment of the War out of her own Coffers. Which act of hers rather caused the displeasure,Mat. Paris p. 11. Robert of Glocest. p. 186. than hatred of the King her Husband, it being for the advancement of her Son. She departed this life the second day of November (being All-Souls-Day) in the 17th year of WILLI­AM the Conquerour,Will. Malmesh. fol. 62. b. num. 10. and of our Lord 1083. and was interred in the Monastery of the Holy Trinity (of her own foundation) at Cane, betwixt the Choire and High Altar; where King WIL­LIAM caused a stately Memorial to be raised for her (embel­lished with Gold and Precious Stones) and inscribed with this Epi­taph in Golden Characters.

Duke WILLIAM now towards his declining Age,Rob. of Glocest. p. 186. under­takes his Expedition for the Conquest of England, unto which Kingdom he pretended a Right, by theRogerus Hoveden sol 348. a. n. 30. & n. 40. Gesta Guil. Ducis Nor. p. 196. d. n. 198. a. b. Gift of King Edward, (for his Sanctity surnamed the Confessor) lately deceased, Cosin German to his Father Duke Robert; nor wanted he a powerful in­citement to put his Title in execution: for perjured Harold, Earl Godwin's Son, who had formerly sworn to assist him in the gaining of the Crown; not onely falsified his Oath, but being appointed Regent of England during the minority of Edgar-Etheling (or Prince Edgar) the Lawful Heir, deposed his said Master, and set the Royal Diadem on his own Rebellious Head. Notwith­standing which Duke WILLIAM sent several Proposals to Ha­rold in order to an Accommodation, all which being by him slighted, was indeed the true cause that spurred on the affronted Duke to this Expedition; not thinking himself too old for a King­dome, when Galba aged near 73 years, buckled on Armor to obtain the Roman Empire. But being of himself too weak for such an Enterprise, He by fair promises, not only engages the Em­perourGesta Guil. Du­cis, &c. p. 197. c. Henry IV. and the young King of France Philip (by means of his Father in Law Baldwin Earl of Flanders, who sent him large supplies) but also (to make Religion give Reputation to his Pretended Right) procures from Pope Alexander aGesta Guill. p. 197. c. & 201. c. Banner of the Church, with an Agnus of Gold, and one of the Hairs of St. Pe­ter. With this collected force, being near 60000 men, Duke WILLIAM arrives atIbid. p. 199. a. b. Pevensey in Sussex; who to create a more desperate valour in his souldiers, sends away his ships: King Harold (having lately won the Battel of Stamford, and slain Harold Harfager King of Norway) hearing of his Landing, advances with all speed, and gathering together his wearied Troops, and increa­sing them in his March, over-hastily (contrary to the advice of his best Counsellors) gives the Duke Battel at Hastings in Sussex upon the 14th day of October Anno 1066. Where after Prodigious Acts of Valour performed by these two great Chieftains in a doubtful Fight, and the loss of above 66000 souldiers on both sides, the [Page 5]Normans won the day, and Harold lost his life, and whole Eng­land with him her Ancient Laws and Liberties (except the Kentish men,Ingulphus fol. 512.2. n. 20. Matth. Pa­ris p. 12. n. 30. who circumvented the Conquerour by Stratagem, and there­by retained their Old Customs.) The Place of Fight WIL­LIAM made famous, by the Erection of Battel Abbey, dedica­ted to St. Martin; and from the time, being the 14th day of October, began the Computation of his Reign over England; unto which Victory he also owed his Appellation of The Conquerour. Upon Christmass day next following he was crowned at Westmin­ster in the Church of St. Peter, W. Malm. fol. 57. b. n. 50. Henricus Hunting. fol. 211. a. n. 50. Gesta Guil. Ducis, &c. p. 206. a. by Aldred Archbishop of York (the Archbishop of Canterbury Stigand, to whom that Office did pro­perly belong, not being admitted for some defect in his Investiture, or perhaps some corruption in his Manners) where according to Custom, the Bishops and Barons of the Realm took their Oaths to be his true Subjects, and he reciprocally made his Personal Oath before the Altar of St. Peter, To defend the holy Churches of God, and the Rectors of the same; To govern the universal people subject unto him, justly; To establish equal Laws, and to see them duly exe­cuted.

In the second year of his Reign,Matth. Pa­ris pag. 5. n. 20. viz. 1067. Edgar Etheling, with the discontented Earls Edwin and Morcar, made some resist­ance, but to no purpose; so that Edgar with his Mother and Sisters, were forced to flie into Scotland; where King Malcolme entertained them nobly, took his Sister Margaret to Wife, and by his constant and effectual standing for him, Edgar was reconciled to the Con­querour, and had royal allowance from him: several of the Nobi­lity and chiefest of the English Clergy were guilty of this defection, whom WILLIAM punished in their Estates; which he aliena­ted, and burthened with unusual Taxes, and therewith gratified his Normans and other Adventurers; and for his future security, disarmed the Commonalty, and ordained theA Law, that every one should put out his Fire and Light, at the ringing of the Eight-a-Clock Bell, to pre­vent Insurrecti­ons; called at this day by the Vulgar Curfur. Conure Feu. He pur­chased the departure of the two Sons of Swayne King of Denmark, (who had invaded the North Parts of England) with money,Mat. Paris p. 11. n. 10. and in the 13th year of his Reign, Anno 1079, he constrained the Princes of Wales to do him Fealty, as before in his seventh year he had forced Malcolm King of Scots to be his Homager; so that if England made him greater than he was before, a King of a Duke, he no less made England greater, by joyning several Dominions in one. He caused a GreatThis Seal hath on the one side, the Pi­cture of the King in his Robes, sitting on a Throne, with his Crown on his Head; in his right hand he holds a Sword, and in his left a Mound, with a Cross thereon. On the other side he is rep e­sented on Hors­back armed at all points, in his righthand he hath a Streamer (issuing from the Staffe) slit in form of a Trident, and in his left he bears a shield of an oval shape, the con­vex side next your sight; so that if there were any de­vise thereon, its not to be disco­vered. Seal to be made for himself, wherein was circumscribed on the one side,

Thus Englished.

To those Insurrections that vexed him in England, his Son Robert added a more unnatural one in Normandy (by the instigation of the King of France) which King WILLIAM hastning to appease,Mat. Paris p. 10. n. 10. a. 1075. was by his own Son unhorsed; whom yet upon submission, he was content to pardon: but afterwards taking revenge upon the scof­fing of the King of France, in his return into Normandy (being cor­pulent and in years) by a leap of his Horse, he took a rupture in his inward parts, which putting him into a Feaver, he died thereof at Roan, Will. Gem­met. p. 292. Rogerus Hoveden, fol. 348. a. n. 50. & 264. a. n. 20. upon the V. of the Ides of September (viz. the IX. day of September) Anno 1087. aged above LXIV. years; having go­verned Normandy LII. and reigned King of England XX. years, and near XI. moneths. The disposal of his Estates to his three Sons, these few Old Rhimes comprehend.

WILLIAM thus overcome by death, was forsaken of his Followers, despoiled of all, and left naked on the ground, till at last one Harlewyne a Countrey Knight embalmed his Body, and conveyed it to Cane; where in the Office of Burial it was thrice for­saken, and then a Composition forced for his Grave by Anselme Fitz-Arthur, which at last proved too little for so great a Con­querour.

But afterwards King William Rufus his second Son, and imme­diate Successor in his Kingdom of England, caused a most stately Mausoleum to be erected for Him,Will. Gem­met. p. 292. before the High Altar of St. Stephen (an Abbey of the Order of St. Benedict, of his own Foundation) at Cane, his Burial Place. One Otho a Goldsmith was the Workman, and the Materials Gold, Silver, and rich Stones, and although several Epitaphs were composed by the Wits of that Age, yet only that of Thomas Archbishop of Yorke was pre­ferred, and pencil'd upon his Tomb in Letters of Gold.

This stately Monument flourished until the year 1562.Sir Rich. Baker in the Life of King Wil­liam I. pag. 34.8. and then Chastillion taking the City of Cane, certain dissolute souldiers open­ing it, and not finding the Treasure they expected, brake it to [Page 7]pieces, and threw forth the Conquerours Bones with great derision; some whereof were afterwards brought into England. But the Monks lately in the year 1642. in the place thereof caused a plain Altar Tomb to be built, the sides and ends of which are of speckled Marble, red and white, the Top Stone of Touch, the whole frame raised on a Pedestal of Free-stone; on an Escocheon at the Head are the three Lyons of England, and at the foot, upon ano­ther the two Lyons of Normandy; on the South side the above recited Epitaph is restored. The Figure of which Monument I here present you, with the Inscription on the North side thereof, transcribed from the Original by aJervas Holles Esq one of the Masters of Request to His Ma­jesty King Charles [...]I. Person of Worth, and a Lover of Antiquities.

2. ROBERT DUKE of NORMANDY, named COURTOIS.
CHAP. II.

Gules 2 Lyons passant guar­dant Or, are the Armes as­signed to Ro­bert Duke of Normandy; which indeed are painted on the surcoat of his Effigies up­on his Tomb at Glocester. But many years af­ter his inter­ment, as evi­dently appears by several Es­cocheons of Armes depict­ed on the sides and ends of the same Monu­ment, unto which I refer the Reader. AMongst the Children of William the Con­querour and Queen Maud, Matth. Pa­tis pag. 12. l. 38. this Prince was the eldest Son, surnamed Courtchoyse, of his short Thighs; or Courthose, of his short Breeches; or Courtois, of his courteous be­haviour: (for so many are the Comments upon his Name.) He had his birth in Nor­mandy, many years before his Father sub­dued England; to which Dukedome, and also the Earldome of Main, Gemmet. p. 298. & 293. he pretended a Title; to Normandy, by the Gift of King William his Father, and to Main, upon the interest of Margaret his betrothed Wife, Daughter of Herebert Earl of that County (al­though she died in the Nunnery of Feschampe before the Consum­mation of her Marriage.) This was not the first promise the Con­querour had broken, and therefore ROBERT resolved by force of Armes to gain these Territories rather then with dutiful patience to expect them; and the King of France that now began to fear King William, endeavours by assisting the Son, to lessen the Father; nor found he a less friend of his Mother, who grown impatient not to see her Son in the possession of a Dutchy, underhand contributed largely with her own purse.Mat. Paris pag. 10. n. 10. Anno 1075. ROBERT thus confederated, gives his Father battel at the Castle of Gerbery, Anno 1075; who was there launced thorow the Arm, and unhorsed (but being discovered, remounted again, and conveyed out of the battel, leaving him the honour of the day.) Which unnatural action of Duke Robert did not so much incense the King, but that he performed his promise to him at his death; yet with such a brand, that he seemed rather therein to justifie himself, than to accommodate his Son. These are the words of his Will, The Dukedome of Normandy (said he) before I fought against Harold in the Vale of Senlac, I ganted unto my Son Robert, for that he is my first begotten, and hath already recei­ved homage of all the Barons of his Countrey; that honour given can­not be again undone. But yet without doubt, I know it will be a mise­rable Region which is subject to the rule of his Government; for he is a foolish proud Knave, and to be punished with cruel fortune. These indeed prophetick expressions of the dying Father, had their sad influences upon the Son, whose rebellion had forced his curses; for upon discontent that Normandy was still retained (before his [Page 14]Fathers sickness) ROBERT was gone into Germany to sollicite as­sistance, for the obtainment of his right in that Dutchy; but hearing of his death, hasted into the Province,Mat. Paris p. 10. n. 10. and was peaceably received and made their Duke; which Title notwithstanding seemed to him dishonourable, being disinherited of a Kingdome, into which his younger brother William (taking advantage of his absence) had in­vested himself;Rand. Higden in Potyehr. lib. 7. cap. 5. but not so absolutely, but that ROBERT forced him to the payment of 3000 Marks yearly during his life, and the Crown of England in reversion after his death. Upon this agreement ROBERT undertook the Crossiade to the Holy Land with God­frey of Bulloigne against the Saracens; where for the space of four years he behaved himself with such excellent courage and conduct, that when the Christian Princes had subdued the City and Teritory of Jerusalem, they made him the first offer of that Crown; which he refused (hearing of the death of his brother King William) to receive his own in England: and in his return married SIBIL daughter of Geoffrey and Sister of William, Earls of Conversana in Italy, His Marri­age. Gemmet. p. 299. a. Ord. Vital. p. 780. a. & 810. a. a Lady which wanted no virtue to make her an acceptable Wife. To her the Duke in his absence alwayes left the rule of his affairs at home, which contracting the envy of several Noble Women of Normandy, they made shift to remove her by poyson; having been his Wife five years. William Archbishop of Roan celebrated her Exequies, and interred her in the body of the Cathedral Church of our Lady at Roan, in a Tomb of white polished Marble; upon which these Verses were engraven,

King William Rufus was scarce cold in his Grave, when Henry, Duke ROBERT's youngest brother an Englishman born, taking the second time advantage by his absence, usurps the Royal Diadem: And ROBERT being now returned into Normandy, is easily perswaded by Ralphe Bishop of Durham, to claim his Kingdom with his Sword; who urged to the Duke, That indeed King William Ru­fus had reason to pretend to the Crown of England, because his Father had given it him by his Will; but to what could Henry pre­tend, who had his portion left him in money; and besides it was a­greed with William, by consent of all the Lords of the Realme, that the survivor of them should succeed. These pregnant reasons quickly inflamed the Duke, who immediately raises a force, comes [Page 15]for England, and by a conjunction with his friends here, makes up a formidable Army; but instead of a battel, which in all probability might have put him in possession of the Kingdome,Henry Hunting. he was cheated into a composition at the old rate, 3000 Markes per annum, and the Crown in reversion, and so returned home; which so much disobliged his Normans, that they never after heartily as­serted his interest. After this, he made a visit out of kindness to see King Henry his brother, where he was so well pleased with his en­tertainment, that in requital thereof, and to oblige the Queen that was his God-daughter,Will. Gem. p. 298. a. he released to King Henry the 3000 Markes. But returning home, and considering better what he had done, he so repented him, that he spared not to say his brother had directly cousened him, which coming to King Henry's ear, he was so incensed, that he takes the occasion to invade Normandy, and at the battel of Tenarchbray fought upon the fifth of the Kalends of October (viz. the 27th day of September) in the seventh year of his reign,Will Gem. p. 298. c. d. Ord. Vital. p. 373. b. & 823. a. b. 887. a. anno 1106. ROBERT was made prisoner, and sent into England, and kept in durance sometime in the Castles of Bri­stol and the Devises, and last of all at Cardiff in South Wales, where he remained a prisoner till his death, used for a time with reasona­ble liberty for recreation, till attempting to make an escape, it was thought fit to put out his eyes (an unbrotherly act) which though it increased his misery, yet it shortned not his life; for he lived ma­ny years after; in all from the time of his first imprisonment xxviii. His death (as Mat. Westminster hath it) proceeded from grief taken at his brother King Henry, who (according to custom) sending him a Scarlet Robe; which he had tried on, and finding the Ca­pouch to be somewhat too strait for his head, thereupon sent it to Duke ROBERT, whom he said had one much lesse. The Duke demanded of the Messenger if any one had worn it, and be­ing informed the King had first essaied it, and what words he used, replied, I have now too long protracted a miserable life; since my brother is so injurious to me, that be sends me his old cloaths to wear; and from that time would never eat any meat, or receive any com­fort.

He deceased upon the iv. of the Ides (viz. the 10th day) of February, Vitalis p. 893. d. Will. Gem­met. p. 301. a. b. Anno 1134; and was interred in the Chore of St. Peter's Church at Glocester before the high Altar, where not long after was erected for him a Tomb (in form of a Chest) of Wainscot, with his Image thereon cross-legged; carved to the life in heart of Oak; upon the pannels of the Chest are pencilled the Armes of several of the Worthies, and at the foot the Armes of France and England quarterly. Which shew these Escocheons to be painted since the Reign of King Henry the Fourth. This Monument (to the great credit of the substance of which it was made) stood firm until that the Parliament Party having garrison'd the City of Glocester against King Charles I. the rebellious souldiers tore it to pieces; but the parcels thereof (ready to be burnt) were by the care of aSir Hum. Tracy of Stanway in the County of Glocester. Loy­al Person bought of the souldiers, and privately laid up, till the [Page 16]Restauration of his now Majesty King Charles II. when the old pieces put together again were repaired and beautified with Gold and Colours, at the charge of that worthy Person; who hath also added a Wire Skreen inform of an Arch, for its future preserva­tion. This is the form of the Monument, taken from the Original in the Month of October, Anno 1665.

WILLIAM II. KING of ENGLAND, and DUKE of NORMANDY, surnamed RUFUS.
CHAP. III.

WILLIAM the Conquerour being dead,An. Dom. 1087. Sept. 9. the Crown of England did by right of succession fall upon his eldest Son Robert, but this WILLIAM his third Son (born in Nor­mandy, in the XXI. year of his Fathers Dukedome, and surnamed of the red co­lour of his hair in French Rous, and in La­tine Rufus) alwayes framed his actions so parallel with his Fathers humour, that he thought him much more worthy to succeed him in his Kingdome.Matth. Pa­ris p. 14. n. 10.20. Rob. of Glocest. p. 192. Rogerus Hoveden, p. 264. a. n. 30. And Lanfrank the learned Lombard, this William's Tutor, Archbishop of Canterbury (who had given him his Education and the Order of Knighthood) so prevailed with the people, that Robert (being absent at that time in Germany) was rejected, and WILLIAM hastning into England, was crowned at Westminster by the said Lanfrank upon the vi. of the Ka­lends of October (viz. the 26th day of September) in the year of our Salvation 1087. seventeen dayes after the decease of his Fa­ther. But having gotten a peaceable possession of the Crown, he must [Page 20]not think to hold it so, for both his brother Robert prepares to re­cover it from him, and the Lords of England combine with Ro­bert to assist him in it. The first mover of this trouble was Odo Bishop of Bayeux his Uncle, in his Fathers time imprisoned by Lan­frank, and therefore owed him a grudge; but though this storm was violent, yet it soon passed over; that indeed of his Lords with more difficulty,Matth. Pa­ris, p. 16. n. 10. Rand. Higden in Potychr. lib. 7. cap. 5. but that of his brother Robert with more cost; for it was at last agreed that Rufus should pay him 3000 Markes yearly during his life, and leave him the Kingdome after his decease. Some of the Lords were reconciled to the King by fair words, and others again reduced by force; and Odo chief En­gineer of all the work besieged in Rochester Castle, taken prisoner, and forced to abjure the Realm.

Malcolme King of Scots taking advantage of WILLIAM's troubles at home, invades Northumberland, burns and harrasses the Countrey, and returns home laden with his spoils; upon which King WILLIAM and Duke Robert invade Scotland, Mat. Paris p. 16. n. 10. and force Malcolme to acknowledge his former Homage, and upon faith gi­ven, return; Being by these successes better assured of an establish­ment than before, WILLIAM now began to tread his Fa­thers steps, and with the like severity and oppression to humble the haughty spirits of the English, by imposing on them many in­tollerable Taxes, thereby keeping them low, and bereaving them of those requisites that might either promote their hope or his fears.

Duke Robert at this time finding his brother King WILLI­AM not to keep his word in paying him his Pension,Willel. Gemmet. complains to Philip King of France, and by his aid takes some Towns which he before had delivered in pawn for Money to his brother WIL­LIAM, who hearing thereof, hastens into Normandy; and the King of France by him bribed, forsook Robert; so that being de­prived of assistance, he was compelled to crave pardon; shortly after which he undertook his Voyage to Hierusalem.

His war made upon Rhees ap Tewdor the last Prince of South-Wales, Chron. Willia. proved tedious, but was at last recompenced with a signal Victory, by the death of that Prince, and a better assurance of sub­jection from that people, than had been exacted by any of his Predecessors. At which time Rob. Fitz. Hamon and his followers obtained a fruitful possession in those parts.

King WILLIAM being at Glocester, was out of kindness visited by Malcolme the valiant King of Scots, but not admitting him to his presence, it put the Scot into such a passion, that return­ing home he raised an Army, and the second time invaded and spoiled Northumberland; Matth. Paris, p. 17. n. 30. Vincent. p. 369. but by Robert Mowbray the Kings Gene­ral, Earl of that Province, he, together with his eldest son Edward, were defeated and slain near Alnwicke, Anno 1092. and Mowbray demanding a reward of King WILLIAM for his service, and being neglected, was so highly moved, that he combined with di­vers [Page 21]Lords to depose the King: but the plot being discovered, (for Traytors seldome thrive better) Mowbray after some resi­stance,Rogerus Hoveden, fol. 267. n. 10, 20, 30. was forced to seek Sanctuary at Tinmouth; from whence he was taken, and imprisoned at Windsor Castle, about the year 1095.

The Pope had no friend of our WILLIAM, who slighted his binding and loosing, and held it unavailable to invocate Saints, he punished the then swelling Clergy for their pride, luxury, and a­varice, by heavy impositions; by which means he filled his Cof­fers: heard a Disputation of the Jewes (who bribed him to favour them) against the Christians, but they lost the day and their money together.Rob. of Glocest. p. 196. b. & 197. A Groom of his Chamber on a time bringing him a pair of Breeches of three shillings price, was by him blamed, and com­manded to furnish him with a pair fit for a King, that should cost a Mark; he goes, and presenting him with a meaner pair, which he said cost so much; Yea Bellamy (or by St. Luke's Face) said the King, they are well bought; such was the frugality of those times. His liberality to religious persons and places, do manifest he was not void of Religion; and those stately Structures of the Tower; and Westminster-Hall of 270 foot long and 74 in breadth, are suf­ficient marks of his Magnificence. And although it be somewhat te­dious, yet I cannot omit (among many) this one example of his Magnanimity; Word being brought him, as he sate at dinner, that his City of Mans in Normandy was besieged, and in great danger to be taken, if not suddenly relieved; whereupon King WILLI­AM asked which way Mans lay, and then caused Masons imme­diately to take down the wall, to make him passage the next way; and so rode instantly towards the Sea; his Lords advising him to stay till his people were ready, No, said he, but such as love me, I know will follow me; and being on shipboard, and the weather growing tempestuous, he was advised to stay for a calm season, No, replied he again, fear nothing, I never heard of any King that was drowned; and thereby coming to Mans unexpected, he raised the Siege, and took Helias Count de la Flesche (Author of the tu­mult) prisoner; who vaunting to the King, and saying, Now in­deed you have taken me by a wile, but if I were at liberty again, you should find another kind of resistance; at which the King laughing, said, Then go your wayes, and do your worst, and let us see what feats you can do; and so set him at liberty.

His death was casual,Gesta Guil. Ducis Nor. p. 213. c. will. Gem­met. p. 296. d., by the glance of an arrow from a Tree (some say from the beam of a Deers Horn) shot at a Stagg (by Sir Walter Tyrrell a French Knight) in the New Forrest (near a place called Charingham) upon the iv. of the Nones of August (viz. the 2. day of August) Anno 1100; after he had reigned 12 years, 11 moneths, and 9 dayes.) wherein 4 Abbies and 36 Parish-Churches had been demolished, with the removing of all the In­habitants, to make room for wild beasts, or dogs game; as Gual­ter Mapes, who lived immediately after, hath it.

He was the third man of his Fathers Progeny that in this place came to an untimely end,Will. Gem. p. 296. d. thus finishing his troublesome yet victori­ous Reign, having governed 12 years and 11 moneths, wanting 8 dayes; aged above 40 years: who being of an able Constitution, and neglecting Marriage, is generally charged with incontinency, but with nothing in particular; for neither is mentioned any vio­lence he ever offered to any, nor is any woman named to be his Pa­ramour; and Princes Concubines are seldom concealed. But Sir Ri­chard Baker tells us of a Bastard Son he had, called Bertran­nus; whom he advanced in honour, and matched into a Noble Fa­mily.

The dead Body of King WILLIAM being thrown into a Colliars Cart, was in the journey overturned and left in the dirt; whence it was taken, and had Royal Burial in the Cathedral Church of St. Swithen at Winchester (by the appointment of his Brother and Successor King Henry I.) before the High Altar;Will Gem. p. 297. a. where his Tomb is in being, of Gray Marble, raised about two foot from the Pavement; the Figure of which you have in the precedent page marked A. with a prospect of the said Altar copied from the Original; which Monument being broke open (by the Rebels in the raign of our late Soveraign Lord King Charles I. (as I am in­formed) was found to contain the dust of that King, some Re­liques of Cloth of Gold, a large Gold Ring, and a small Cha­lice of Silver.

Upon his GreatThe Great Seal of this King nearly resembles that of his Father, excepting the Crown on his Head (which is much like the Coronets that our Earles use at this day) and his Standard slit up almost to the Staffe, and charged with crosse strokes. Both which differences are expressed over the Effigies of this WILLIAM in the first page of this Book. Seal he wrote himself WILIELMUS DEI GRATIA REX ANGLORUM,Speed p. 427. and on the re­verse WILIELMUS DEI GRATIA DUX NOR­MANORUM. Although its well known he had no Title to Normandy, but only by pawn from his Brother Duke Robert.

HENRY I. KING of ENGLAND, and DUKE of NORMANDY, surnamed BEAU-CLERKE.
CHAP. IV.

HENRY fourth and youngest Son of William the Conquerour,For the De­vise or Arms of this King HENRY, I cannot omit or passe over in si­lence the Story of John the Monk of Mar­monstier (or de Majori Monasterio) in Tourain, an Author of the time, who tells us, That when this King chose Geoffrey Plantagenet Son of Foulk Earl of Anjou, Tourain, and Main, to be his Son in Law, by mar­rying him to his only Daughter and Heir Maud the Empress, and made him Knight; after the hathing, and other so­lemn Ritesper­formed (pedes ejus sotulari­bus in super­ficie Leonculos Aureos haben­tibus munian­ter) Boots embroidered with Golden Lyons were drawn on his Leggs; and also that (Cly­peus Leoriculos Aureos imagi­narios habens collo ejus su­spenditur) a Shield', with Lyons of Gold therein, was hung about his Neck. Favine lib. 3. pag. 577. 578, & 579. Here we find the Lyons of England (the golden Lyons) but cannot s [...] in what colour Field, of what number, or in what posture; which Lyons were not fixed, nor became hereditary to the Kings of England, till the Reign of Richard I. when he caused his second Great Seal to be made. born at Selby in Yorkshire Anno 1070. in the third year of his Fathers Reign,An. Dom. 1100. August was bred at Paris (say some) others, at Cambridge; Rob. of Glocest. p. 212. b. Matth. Pa­ris p. 6. d. 30. its probable at both places: wherein he so profited, that he acquired the Surname of Beauclerke, or The fair Scholar. Upon the death of King William Rufus (taking advantage of the absence of Duke Robert his eldest Brother at that time in Apulia, Ord. Vital. p. 665. on his return from the Holy-Land) he suddenly seised his Treasure, and then usurped his Throne, and was crowned at Westminster upon the fourth day after his Brother King William's death, being the 6. day of August, in the year of our Lord 1100. by Maurice Bishop of London (Anselme Archbishop of Canterbury be­ing then in exile) which enterprise was highly advanced by the Au­thority and Industry of Henry Newborrow Earl of Warwick; Gemmet. p. 227. a. 6. the people expressing also to King HENRY a prone inclination, for that he was born in England, and after his Father was crowned King. On which politick criticisme, he claimed and obtained the Kingdome. Having thus mounted the Seat of Majesty, he neg­lected no means of a firm settlement therein,W. Malm. fol. 88. a. n. 30. Matth. Paris p. 58. l. 6. against the return of his Brother Robert. And to that purpose (in the first year of his raign, Anno 1100, upon St. Martins day, at London) he contracted both amity and alliance with Edgar King of Scots, by taking his Sister Maud (in her Baptisme called Edith) to Wife;His first Marriage. Ord. Vital. p. 784. a. & 843. b. Will. Gem­met. p. 297. a. b. by which act he not onely diverted that Prince's Sword, but stood assured of his assistance. She was Daughter of Malcolme III. of the Name (surnamed Canmoir or Great Head) King of Scots, by Margaret his Wife, Sister to Edgar called Etheling, and Daughter of Edward, Son of Edmond Irouside, the most valiant Saxon King,Robert of Glocest. p. 213. the scourge and terrour of the Danes; so that by her intermarriage [...] HENRY, the two Families of the Normans and Saxons were united in the soveraignty. And this, more than any other respect, both gained, and ever after continued the peoples affections firm [Page 25]to HENRY. The solemnity of her Marriage (and afterwards that of her Coronation, upon Sunday the 11th of November in the same year 1100. at the Abbey of Westminster) was performed by Anselme Archbishop of Canterbury. Her education she had a­mong the Nunnes of Wilton and Rumsey, W. Malm. pag. 92. b. a. 50. whether for her love to a single life, or to avoid some inferiour matches offered by her Fa­ther) Writers do differ; yet sure it is, that for the common good she abandoned her devoted life, and by the aforesaid Anselme, without dispensation from Rome, was joyned to King HENRY; who having been his Wife 17 years and upwards (famed for her humility, piety, charity, and all vertuous dispositions, far from the ordinary,Will. Malmesh. pag. 93. a. n. 30. Rogerus Hoveden, pag. 271. b. n. 50. Robert of Glocest. p. 217. a. either vices, or imbecilities of her Sex) she departed this world (to enjoy a better) at Westminster the first day of May, in the 18th year of his Reign, and of our Salvation 1118. And was interred in the Collegiate Church of St. Peter, in the Chappel of the Kings, on the South side of St. Edward the Confessor. Her devotion, time of death, and time and place of burial, is thus re­membred by Robert of Glocester.

As King HENRY by this Marriage seemed to strenthen the Title of their Issue to the Crown, so the more to cement the peo­ple to his interest, he made fair promisses for reforming those rigo­rous Laws imposed by his Father and Brother; and in some sort restored those of St. Edward the Confessor. He granted the Nobi­lity free leave to hunt, and to enclose Parks for Deer; banished from his Court all Flatterers, regulated the Extravagancy of Appa­rel, and Luxury in Diet:Rob. of Glocest. p. 336. Ordained punishment by death for Theeves and Robbers, and the loss of sight to them that counter­feited his Coin; and also is said to have held the first Parliament, which he ordained should consist of the Three Estates, of which himself was Head. He obliged the Clergy by recalling Anselme Archbishop of Canterbury from banishment, and furnishing the Va­cancies in the Church, with learned and grave Divines.

And because it is not lesse pleasing to the people to have bad Ministers punished, than the good to be advanced, he imprisoned Ralph Bishop of Durham (a principal Causer of their late troubles.) In this posture stood King HENRY, when Duke Robert his El­dest Brother was by slow journeys returned from the Holy-Land into Normandy; to whom Bishop Ralphe (having broke prison) repaired, and by many reasons perswaded to dispute his Title to England with his Sword: whereupon he levies an Army, arrives in England, and the day of Battel being appointed, by the mediation of Friends an [Page 26]Agreement was made betwixt the two Brothers on the same terms as in William Rufus his time, an unfortunate one for Robert; by which he lost not only his Kingdome and afterwards his Pension, but his Dukedome of Normandy, and his eyes into the Bargain; for King HENRY not long after (whether out of distast at some affront offered him by Robert, or which is more probable, stirred up with desire of enlarging his Dominions) invades, and after many bickerings, conquers Normandy (and takes his Brother Robert priso­ner at Tenarchbray) about that time forty years that Normandy had before subdued England. And now was that prediction of the Conquerour on his Death-bed fulfilled; who observing his Son HENRY to be much discontented, for that he had bequeathed Normandy to Robert, England to William, and no appennage to him, but only a bare Portion in money; said unto him, Content thy self Harry, for the time will come, when thy turn shall be served as well as theirs. Verified in the possession of both their Domini­ons, as the Inscription on his great Seal doth testifie; viz.

On the one side of this great Seal is repre­sented the King on his Throne, in his right hand he holds a Sword, and in his left he sustaines a Globe sur­mounted by a Crosse patee, upon which is fixed a Dove; a bird I observe to be used upon the Scepter of St. Edward the confessor, as appears by his great Seal (Speed pag. 398.) and its probable that this Dove was taken up by King Henry as an Embleme of the Restaurati­on in some sort of St. Edwards Laws, and the mittigation of those of his Fa­ther and Bro­ther; so that, practising the clemency of King Edward, he would also bear his Sym­bol or Devise: that as the Sword in his right hand was to denote his Power and Ju­stice, the Dove standing on the Mound in his left hand, was emblematically to demonstrate that his Government was to be mix­ed with Clemency and Mercy. This Dove was used in like manner by his Successors King Stephen and King Henry II. but discontinued by King Richard I. Upon the reverse of this Kings Seal is a Man on Horsback armed at all points, holding in his right hand a Sword, and in his left an Oval Shield, the convex side only to be seen. HENRICUS DEI GRATIA REX ANGLORUM.Speed p. 434.

And on the other side,

HENRICUS DEI GRATIA DUX NORMANNORUM.

Not four years after the death of Queen Maud (married upon interest of State) King HENRY (for the love he had to beauty) took to his second Wife Adeliza or Alice, His second Marriage. Daughter of Godfrey the First Duke of Brabant (Sifter to another Duke Godfrey and Josce­line of Lovaine, Henricus Hunting. fol. 218. b. n. 10. Matth. Paris, p. 69. l. 14. Ancestor in direct Male Line to Algernone the present Earl of Northumberland) whom he married at Windsor on Candle­mass day (viz. the second of February) Anno 1121. in the 22 year of his reign. She was afterwards crowned at London by Ralph Archbishop of Canterbury with great Splendor, and is thus chara­cterized by my old Poet.

To Queen Alice the King gave in Dower the Castle and Earl­dome of Arundell, who having been his Wife about 14 years,Chron. Norman­niae, pag. 978. b. but ever Childless, surviving him was re-married to Will. Albaney, in her right Earl of Arundell; and by him had issue Earl William the second (from whom by the Fitz Alane's Earles of Arundell [Page 27]Thomas Howard the present Duke of Norfolke and Earl of Arundell, &c. derives his descent) Godfrey de Albiney and Alice married to John Earl of Augie. Rob. of Glocest. pag. 219. a. The time of her birth I find not, but the place of her interment to be the Abbey of Reading, near to her first Husband King Henry. The princely vertues of which King be­ing profitable to all, did with their lustre so dazle the eyes of his subjects, that they could not discern his vices; for besides his Usur­pation of the Crown, and his cruelty to his Brother Duke Robert, he was also very wanton, as appeareth by his numerous natural Is­sue, all by him publikely owned;Will. Gem­met. p. 306. d. 307. a. the Males highly advanced, and the Females richly married: His sobriety other wayes was admira­ble, whose temperance was of proof against any meat objected to his appetite, Lampreyes onely excepted, on a surfeit of which he died at St. Denys in the Forrest of Lyons (after seven dayes sicknesse) upon the iv. of the Nones of December (viz. the second day of December) in the LXV. year of his Age,Ibidem p. 309. b. and of Our Lord 1135. when he had reigned King of England 35 years and 4 moneths, lacking one day, and been Duke of Normandy 29 years, two moneths, and four dayes; (in whom ended the Heirs Males of the Norman Line, so that his Daughter and Heir Maud the Empress, transmitted the Crown into the Family of Plantage­net, in her Son Henry II. of the Name, called Fitz-Empress; not­withstanding her Cosin German Stephen Earl of Mortain, both u­surped and held it during his life.) From thence his Corps was con­veyed to Roan, Robert of Glocest. p. 219. a. and there his Bowels, Tongue, Heart, Eyes, and Brains were taken out, and buried in the Church of St. Ma­ry de Prato; the body also sliced and poudered with salt, was wrapped in a Bull hide, to avoid the stench, being so intollerable that the Physician that took out his Brains was poisoned therewith, and immediately died; whereupon some observed, that other Kings killed men in their life time, but he also, after he was dead: thence also was his Corps carried into England, Will. Gem­met. p. 309. b. 308. a. b, c. and honourably in­terred in the Church of our Lady in the Abbey of Reading (upon Christmass day next following, King Stephen with many of the Clergy being present) which he had founded, and richly endowed, as he also did the Abbeys of Hide and Circester, and the Priory of Dunstable. His Wife Queen MAƲD also founded the Priory of Holy Trinity within Aldgate, and the Hospital of St. Giles in the Fields, so that by himself, his Queen, and other pious persons, 24 Foundations to religious uses were in his Reign erected. In Gemmeticensis I find these several Epitaphs composed for him not long after his death.Ibidem, p. 309. c, d.

Another,

Yet another,

I do not question (although we find not any particular mention of this Kings Monument) but that the Abbot and Monks of Rea­ding crected a Tomb answerable to the Dignity of so magnificent a Founder: But well might the memory thereof, perish and be bu­ried in the rubbish of Oblivion, when the bones of this Prince could not enjoy repose in his Grave (not more happy in a quiet Sepul­cher than the two Norman Williams, his Father and Brother) but were (upon the suppression of the religious Houses in the Reign of King Henry VIII.) thrown out,Tho. Milles pag. 78. to make room for a Stable of Horses, and the whole Monastery converted to a dwelling house; which sacrilegious Act, is thus lamented by a Modern Poet:

3. MAUD. The Empress, Daughter of King HENRY the First, and Lady of the English.
CHAP. V.

The Arms at­tributed to this Maud, were those of Her Father King Henry 1. viz. Gules, 2 Lions Passant Guardant, Or. And the Arms As­signed to Her Second Hus­band Geoffrey Plantagenet, Earl of An­jou, Gules, a cheif Argent, over all an Escarbuncle of 8 Rayes, Pometty, and Flowrey, Or. Which Coat is set up for Earl Geoffrey upon the, Cornish, on the Tomb of Queen Eli­zabeth in K. Henry VII. his Chappel. But the Seal of Maud the Empress, ex­hibited in the Front of this First Book, presents you not with any Arms of Her Self, or either of Her Hus­bands. Nor did Wo­men at that time make use of Arms, ei­ther upon Seals or otherwise, that I yet have obser­ved. AFter the death of Her Brother, William Duke of Normandy, drowned at Sea in his passage for England. This Maud came to be sole Heir to Her Father, King Henry the First; in the Fourth year of whose Reign she was born,Williel. Gemmet. p. 297 c. Ordericu [...] Vitalis, p. 763. Hoveden, p. 271 a. num. 20. and had not passed the Sixth year of Her age, when She was affianced at Ʋtrecht, nor the Ele­venth, when She was married to the Emperor Henry the Fourth, with a Portion of 10000 Marks. The solemnity both of their Nuptials and Coronation being celebrated at Mentz in Germany, with great splendor upon the Eighth of the Ides (viz. the Sixth day) of January, An. 1114. She was His Wife 12 years, but without Issue; so that the Emperor deceasing in the year 1126. the Empress Maud was remanded into England by Her Father King Henry, whither being returned, She had fealty sworn to Her by the Barons; the cheif of which, was Stephen Earl of Mortaign, Her Cosin-german; who being the first in course that made Oath, was also the first that made bold to break it, and seize upon Her Throne.

The most convenient match that King Henry could propose to Himself for His Daughter, the Empress, was Geoffrey the Consul, or Earl of Anjou (by reason his Dominion lay convenient for a conjunction with Normandy) Son and Heir of Foulk, King of Jerusalem, and of Eremburga, Daughter of Helias, Williel. Gemmet. p. 310 b. Robert of Glocester, p. 213 b. Earl of Mans His first Wife) called Plantagenet (id est, Planta Genestae) or Broome Plonte, as Robert of Glocester hath it, because he wore in his Cap or Bonnet, a Sprig of Broom) to whom He remarried Her at Mans, upon the Third day of April, An. 1127. Which Nuptials, with their Issue, are thus recorded by the same Robert in these Rhimes.

Earl Geoffrey Plantagenet, Chronica Norman. p. 984 a. after the death of his Father-in-Law, King Henry, set on foot his Wives title against King Stephen, but was by him forced to a pecuniary composition, and not long after died upon the VII. of the Ides of September, An. 1150. Who although no King Himself, yet was he both the Son of one, and the immediate Ancestor of that Royal House, from him called Plantagenet, which by a direct and uninterrupted Male Line, swayed Englands Scepter down to King Richard the Second; and then branching it self into the Families of Lancaster and York, end­ed in Richard the Third, the XIV King of that House, after it had ruled the English Scepter 330 years. This Geoffrey was a Man of great Justice and Charity, his death much lamented, and is noted to be the first Person that ever was admitted to a Burial place within the Walls of Mans; where he was interred in the Church of S. Julian before the Crucifix, with this Distick.

The Empress Maud (Her Husband, Earl Geoffrey, being dead) undertakes Her own quarrel against King Stephen (managed by Her Half-Brother, Robert Earl of Glocester, and Milo, Earl of Here­ford, Her two Principal Cheiftains, with various success; in se­veral passages whereof, She her self was present) and at last takes King Stephen prisoner at the Battel of Lincoln, which in all likeli­hood might have put an end to the business; but that the Empress upon this Victory, by Her high and neglective carriage, so lost the hearts of Her party; but more especially of the Londoners, whose Request She had denied, that Stephen came to be set at liberty by exchange for Her Base Brother, Robert, Earl of Glocester (taken prisoner also not long after at the Battel of Winchester) and the Em­press finding London too hot for Her, was forced to flie privately to Oxford; and being twice worsted, makes Her escape by a wile. The first time at the said Battel of Winchester, by being carried away on Horsback, in form of a Dead Corps: And a second time from Oxford Castle, in a great Snow; when in the night, She, and some few others, cloathing themselves all over in white, made their escape unseen by the Guards of the Besiegers. But this deliverance out of Her Enemies hands, could not free Her from those fears that attended Her afterwards, and forced Her to quit the prosecution of the War, which Henry, Duke of Normandy, Her Son, was now happily grown up to continue, who Landing in England with fresh Supplies, and with His Army confronting that of King Stephen, the intended Battel ended in a composition, [Page 36]by which Stephen held the Kingdom, during life, and Henry was proclaimed His Heir, which had so real an effect, That after the death of that King, the Empress lived to see Her Son in possession of the Kingdom of England, and other large acquisitions, who is not so much as mentioned by Historians after this accommodati­on,Sir Rich. Baker in his Chro­nicle of the Kings of Eng­land. till the time of Her death, which is much to be wondred at, especially, that She being so stirring a Woman, as She was, should be so quiet upon a suddain, as not to have one word spoken of Her, in all the long time She lived after. And if she placed Her contentment so wholly in Her Son, that in respect of Him, She regarded not Her self at all, it deserves, at least, the encomium of such a Motherly Love, as is very unusual, and not always safe. But however it was, we must leave it as a Gordian Knot, which no Writer helps us to untie.

She was Earl Geoffreys Wife 23 years,Chronica Norman­niae, p. 1001 d. Chronica S. Stepha­ni Codo­mensis, p. 1019 d. Gabriel du Moulin en son Histoire Generale de Nor­mandie, p. 387. and his Widow 17. And being aged about 64 years ended Her life in the City of Roan, on the IV of the Ides (viz. the Tenth day) of September, An. 1167. in the Thirteenth year of the Reign of Her Son, King Henry the Second, and was buried in the Abbey of Bec, in Normandy, with Funeral Pomp. But Gabriel du Moulin tells us, That She had Her Interment in the Church of Nostre Dame du Pre, in the Suburbs of Roan; and that for Her, Arnulph Bishop of Lisieux, composed this Epitaph.

A Parallel hath been made betwixt this great Princess and Agripina, who was the Daughter of an Emperor,Ibidem, p. 387. the Wife of an Emperor, and the Mother of an Emperor; and our Empress Maud was the Daughter of King Henry the First, the Wife of Hen­ry the Fourth, Emperor of Almaine, and the Mother of King Henry the Second: Which relation of Her to these Three Royal Henries, is most emphatically expressed in this short, yet significant Memorial,Thus Eng­lished in Speed, p. 470. engraven on Her Tomb,Matthew Paris, p. 143. num. 56. mentioned by a Faithful Historian.

And now it were critical to imagine, that in memory of these Three Henries, She was the charitable Foundress of the Three Mo­nasteries, viz. Of Vieu, in the County of Caux; of Cherbourg; and of S. Andrew, in the Forest of Gouffer. She also for the pub­lick good of the Normans, bestowed much Money in laying the Foundation, and building the Bridge of Roan.

The Empress (in Her Grant of the Earldom of Hereford to Milo Fitz-Walter) stiles Her self,Vincent, p. 504 b. Matilda Imperatrix Henrici Regis filia, & Anglorum Domina; and in the circumference of Her Great Seal, Mathildis Dei Gratia Romanorum Regina. The Figure of which Seal, I have exhibited in the Front of this First Book.

3. STEPHEN, An. Dom. 1135. King of ENGLAND.
CHAP. VI.

THe Male-Line of the Normans being extinct in King Henry the First,Several are the Opinions concerning the Arms of King Stephen, some attribu­ting to him the Two Lions of King Henry II. His Pre­decessor. Nich. Upton in his Book De Militari Officio (Lib. 4. p. 129.) saith, That King Stephen ha­ving entred upon the Go­vernment of England, in the Moneth of December, the Sun being then in the Celestial Sign Sagitta­rius, Stephen in memory thereof, Scu­tum portavit rubitum, in quo rabuit trium Leonum pedi­tantium cor­pora usque ad collum, cum corporibus humanis supe­rius, ad mo­dum Signi Sagittarii, de auro, did bear in a Shield, Gules, the Bodies of Three Lions Passant to the Neck, with Mens Bodies, Or, in Form of the Sign Sa­gittarius. And both Mills and Brook in their Cata­logues of Honor, attribute to King Stephen for Arms, Gules, a Sagittarius, Or, but without any cited Authority. And some again tell us, that these were not His Arms, but His Device. Repair we therefore to His Seals, two of which I have seen, both having the same Circumscription, disagreeing onely in the Reverses or Counterseals; upon one of which (being in my custody) and also exhibited in Speeds Chronicle, Pag. 455. The King is repre­sented on Horsback in His Coat of Mail, in His Right Hand He holds His Sword; and on His Left Hand hangs His Shield, half the Convex side of which is to be seen, without any Device thereon. Upon the Counterseal of the other, which I have represented to your view in the beginning of this First Book; and of which, I have seen Two Originals (one in the Registry of Westminster, and the other in the Chamber of the Dutchy of Lancaster) you have the Figure of a Man on Horsback, with a Blanck Shield also; but in His Right Hand in the place of His Sword, He bears a Lance, with a Streamer on the top thereof, Slit in Form of a Standard, with a Cross there­on. The same Standard you have also upon the Coyn of King Stephen, exhibited in Mr. Speed, Pag. 455. and His Daughter Maud, An. Dom. 1135. De­cemb. 2. the Empress, onely left, and She married to a stranger. This Stephen, Ordericus Vitalis, p. 374 b. Earl of Bologne and Mortaign, Thrid Son of Stephen, Earl of Blois, by Alice Fourth Daughter of the Conqueror, hasting into England, notwithstanding his for­mer Oath to Maud (by the procurement of his Brother Henry, Williel. Gemmet. p. 313 b. Bishop of Winchester, the Popes Legate, and Roger, Bishop of Salisbury; two, the most powerful Men at that time in the State, partly by Reasons, but more indeed by Force) was by the State received for King; and upon the 26 of December, being S. Ste­phens day, in the year 1135. about Twenty four days after the decease of his Uncle King Henry, Crowned at Westminster by William Corbell, Archbishop of Canterbury, in the presence of but three Bishops, few of the Nobility, and not one Abbot.

There were not wanting those that urged the Oath of the No­bles to the Empress to be salved,Matth. Paris, p. 74. num. 20, 30, 40. because no president could be found, that ever the Crown of England had been set on the Head of a Woman; and moreover, that that Oath being taken on condition, that Maud should marry at home; the condition being broken, the Obligation was null. But that which seemed most to colour King Stephens Usurpation, was, the Testimony of Hugh Bigot, who took a voluntary Oath before the Lords, that being with King Henry immediately before his death, he adopted, and chose Earl Stephen to be his Heir, because the Empress his Daugh­ter had at that time highly offended Him; for had Stephen pre­tended any Title by Blood, then must Theobald, Earl of Blois, his elder Brother have been preferred before him; and also Henry Fitz-Empress (if they refused his Mother) was nearer to the right Stem.

Stephen had also made fair promises to obtain the Crown, which [Page 39]he was resolved to establish by performances, and therefore he pleased the people by easing them of Impositions; the Clergy by forbearing the detention of Bishopricks and Abbeys, he oblieged the Nobility by giving them liberty to hunt his Deer in their own Woods, and besides, by advancing many of them in honor. And to secure himself abroad as well as at home, he stopped his Bro­ther Theobalds Title with a yearly grant of 2000 Marks, and married his Son Eustace to Constance, Daughter of the King of France. Add to all this the vast Treasure of his Predecessor a­mounting to 100000 Pounds in Money, besides Jewels of very great value: All which he seised into his own hands, and expend­ed not in Luxury, but in procuring Friends, and levying Soldiers out of Britany and Flanders.

The Crown was scarce set on His Head,Matth. Paris, p. 75. num. 10, 20. when He was forced to take the Sword in His Hand, for David King of Scots, engag­ing in the quarrel of His Neece Maud, enters Northumberland, and possesses Himself of the Towns of Carlisle and Newcastle, where King Stephen coming against Him, rather bought His victo­ry, then won it: For to recover Newcastle out of His Hands, He was forced to let King David hold Cumberland, and His Son Henry the Earldom of Huntington. The King returning home, found some defection in His Barons, that entertained Him a while; after which, He fell into so dangerous a fit of sickness, that it was re­ported He was dead. This created several doubts and suspitions in His Friends, and encouraged Geoffrey, Earl of Anjou, to surprise several Peeces in Normandy, to prepare for the recovery of his Wife Maud her Right; but to make the World see he was alive again,Ibidem, num. 32. Stephen passed into Normandy, overcame Anjou in Battel, and after makes peace with him; and upon the renouncing his Wives claim, Stephen is to pay him 5000 Marks per annum.

He was but newly returned out of Normandy, Chronica Norman­niae, p. 977 a, b. & 978 a. when David, King of Scots, encouraged by His former successes, invades the North parts a second time, in the year 1139. But notwithstanding the Active Valor of Himself and His Son, He was defeated with the loss of 11000 of his Soldiers, by Thurstan, Archbishop of York, and the Northern Lords; upon which, David begs a Peace, For the confirmation of which, his Son Henry was sent hostage to King Stephen. The quickness of whose success, making him pre­sume more of himself, caused him to fall upon those Rocks that dashed in pieces his future grandure.

Not long after, Stephen calls a Councel at Oxford, where oc­casion was given to put him out with his faithfullest Friends, the Clergy; For the Bishops, upon liberty given to build Castles, so outwent the Lords, in magnificence, strength, and number of E­rections, and especially the Bishop of Salisbury, that their great­ness was much envied by them, who to be revenged, put the King in Head, That all those Castles were built to no other intent, but for the entertainment of Maud, and her Complices; whereupon Stephen after a long dispute with the Bishops, takes them into his own hands.

In this juncture of time, the Empress accompanied with Robert, Earl of Glocester, arrives in England with a small party but is quickly strengthned by the wonderful access of many of the Eng­lish, and of Ranulph, Earl of Chester; with a number of valiant Welshmen. Whereupon King Stephen raising an Army, engages the Empress near Lincoln, An. 1141. doubtful it was for a long time, whose Head the Lawrels of Victory would crown, till at last the Empress had the day,Orderich Vitalis, p. 992 a, b. and King Stephen (notwithstanding His Herculean laying about Him with His Battel Ax) was taken captive, and committed Prisoner to Bristol Castle; while the Em­press possesseth the Kingdom, and as a Conqueress enters London in Triumph. Upon which, Matilda, King Stephens Wife, im­plores the Empress, that She might live a private life with Her Husband; and the Londoners press Her for the restauration of S. Edwards Laws; but She grants neither. Queen Matilda not enduring this denial, calls Her Son Eustace out of Kent with a company of choice Soldiers, who joyning with the Citizens (in­censed, that their request was denied) force the Empress to quit Her station in London, and to flie privately to Oxford, where She gives order, that King Stephen should be put into Fetters, and sends to Her Uncle, King David, to repair with all speed to Her assistance; upon whose arrival, they besiege Winchester, which Queen Matilda, and Her Son Eustace, with the Londoners, came to relieve. A fierce Battel was here fought,Gesta Sie­phani Re­gis, Ang p. 957 a. in which the Empress being worsted, was (to make Her escape) laid on Horsback, in form of a dead corps, and so conveyed to Glocester; Robert, Earl of Glocester was there made prisoner (disdaining ignoble flight) upon whom Queen Matilda retaliated the hard usage to the King Her Husband.

His Marri­age. The Arms of Bologne, are, Or, 3 Torte­aux, which I have seen up­on a Seal of Ida, Count­els of Bologne (Grand-Daughter to this Queen Matilda) on which Her Effigies is re­presented in the habit of that time, and on Her left hand a Dove, circumscrib­ed thus, Sigil­lum Ide Co­mitisse Bolo­nie; and on the Counter­seal which is round, in an antick Shield, are the 3 Roundels, and in the Circle these words, Secretum meum michi. Olivarius Uredius in Genealogia Comit. Flandriae, p. 30 & 31. Also in a Charter (in my custody) of this Queen Maud, wherein She grants Her Hospital, near the Tower, to the Church of the Holy Trinity, London; She writes Her Self, Mathildis Dei Gratia Regina Angliae. Her Figure with a Royal Crown, being represented on Her Seal, with a Scepter in Her Right Hand, and a Dove on Her Lest; but without any Reverse, Arms or Devise. E'Bibliothec [...] Cottoniana. This Matilda (that you may the better know her) was the Daughter and Heir of Eustace, Williel. Malm [...]h. fol. 107 b Henricus Hunting­ton, fol. 214 a. num. 40. Earl of Bologne (Brother of Geof­frey and Baldwine, Kings of Jerusalem) married to Stephen, by the procurement of King Henry the First his Uncle. A Woman (saith my Author) moulded for the proprotion of both Fortunes, acting Her Husbands part for Him, when He could not act it for Himself, not expecting that Fortune should fall into Her Lap, but rather industrious to procure it. Her Mother was Mary, Sister to Maud, Queen of England, Wife of King Henry the First. So that both She, and Stephen Her Husband, were Cosin-Germans to Maud the Empress. She was crowned at Westminster upon the 22 of March, being Easter day, in the First year of King Stephen, and of our Lord 1136. She founded S. Katherines Hospital, near the Tower of London. And having been Queen Fifteen years, de­ceased at Heveningham Castle in Essex, the Third day of May, An. 1151. and was buried at Feversham in Kent. Weever, p. 278. I. Bib. Cot­toniant. This Epitaph hath been found for Her in a nameless Manuscript.

After some fruitless Proposals in order to an Agreement, whether by connivance of their Keepers, but more probably by consent, both King Stephen, and Earl Robert, got to be at Liberty, and the Empress not long after is besieged by the King in Oxford; from whence She makes Her second escape. Nevertheless the pre­sent fear left such an impression upon Her, that She never after­wards had any mind to appear upon the Stage of War, but left it to Her Son, Duke Henry, who being grown up and able to bear Arms, did fortunately supply the places of Robert Earl of Glo­cester his Uncle, and Milo Earl of Hereford, another of his Mothers Captains, both lately deceased. Into England Henry comes with fresh supplies, and besieges Malmsbury, to give Stephen a diverosin at that time with an Army before Wallingford; who resolving to put the business to the tryal of a Battel, brings an Army far supe­rior to that of Duke Henry; Chronica Norman­niae, p. 989 b, c. but Floods and Storms kept them so long asunder, till an agreement was made by the Bishops, especi­ally by the Mediation of the Archbishop of Canterbury, and at Winchester was concluded upon these Conditions. viz. That King Stephen, during His Natural Life, should remain King of England, and Henry enjoy the Dukedom of Normandy, and be proclaimed Heir Apparent to the Kingdom of England. The Partisans of both, to enjoy their Ancient Rights and Titles. Things to be as they stood before Stephen was King; and all Castles built in His Reign, to be demolished.

After this Pacification, Henry returns into Normandy, and Ste­phen having attained (that which he never had before) Peace (which yet he enjoyed not two years) makes Progresses through most parts of the Kingdom, to reform those mischeifs that had grown up under the Sword, and then calls a Parliament at Lon­don: After which, having had a conference with Theodorick, Earl of Flanders, who met Him at Dover; He no sooner had dismissed Him, but He was suddenly taken with the Iliake Passion, mixed with His old disease,Henrie. Hunting. fol. 228 a. num. 50. Chronica Norman­niae, p. 990 b. the Emrods, whereof He died in the Mona­stery there, upon the 25 day of October, 1154. Eight days before the Feast of All-Saints, when He had ruled Eighteen years, and almost Eleven moneths, and was Interred in the Monastery of Feversham in Kent, which He and His Queen had founded, with the said Queen His Wife, and Prince Eustace His Son, who de­ceased but a short time before him. There His Body remained in [Page 42]quiet until the dissolution of the Abbeys, when for so small a gain, as the Lead Coffin, wherein it was wrapped, it was taken up, and thrown into the next Water.

He was (as a Modern Author renders Him) a Man so continu­ally in Motion, that we cannot take His dimensions, but only in passing, and that only on the side of War; on the other, we never saw but a glance on Him, which yet for the most part was such as shewed Him to be a very worthy Prince, and an expert Soldier, wanting nothing to make Him an excellent King, but a good Title. Those that read His Circumscriptions upon His Great Seal, may ad­mire why He that only stiled Himself in His Charters, STE­PHANƲS DEI GRATIA REX ANGLORƲM, should (having no Title, nor any Possession of Normandy) on the reverse thereof, write Himself also STEPHANƲS DEI GRATIA DƲX NORMANORƲM. But it may be answered, That His Right to both was much alike; and having an usurped Kingdom in Possession, He might better make bold with the Title of Duke of Normandy, to compleat that Reverse which His Predecessors had made use of before Him.

He kept His word with the State concerning the relievement of Tributes, and never had Subsidy that we find: But which is more remarkable, having His Sword continually out, and so many re­bellions against Him, He never put any great Man to death. More­over it is observed, That notwithstanding all these Miseries of War, there were more Abbeys erected in His Reign, then had been in an hundred years before; which shews, that though the times were bad, they were not impious.

3. ROBERT, Consul, or Earl of GLOCESTER, Surnamed of CANE.
CHAP. VII.

AMong the Natural Children of King Henry the First,Ordcricus Vitalis, p. 920 b. this Robert (surnamed (de Cado­mo) of Cane, Gules, 3 Rests, Or. are the Arms attri­buted to this Robert Earl of Glocester, and were an­tiently de­picted upon the covering of a Tomb in the Abbey of Tewk shury, wherein was interred the Body of Gil­bert de Clare Earl of Glo­cester, deri­ving his de­scent from the Heir General of this Ro­bert. In seve­ral places of which Church are the Arms assigned to Robert Fitz-Hamon, the Father of Mabel, this Roberts Wife, viz. Azure, a Lion Ram­pant Guar­dant, Or. The said Robert being also interred in the same Church with this Epitaph, In ista Capella jacet Dominus Robertus filius Hamonis hujus Loci Fundator. Lib. in Officio Arm. L. 17. fol. 202 b. the place of his Birth) held the prime place, not onely in respect of his be­ing the first of that number, but also because his Mother was the most Noble of all his Fa­thers Concubines,Ralph Brook, York-Herald. viz. Nesta, Daughter of Rhees ap Tewdor, Prince of South-wales, (afterwards married to Gerald of Windsors Constable of Pembroke Castle, and Ancestor of the Earls of Kildare in Ireland) whom King Henry having begotten in his lust, yet to make amends to the Mo­ther, thought it love,Williel. Gemmet. p. 306 c. and charity to provide for; and there­fore bestows upon Robert an ample Inheritance in England and Normandy, and moreover procures a match for him, with Mabel the rich Daughter and Heir of Robert Fitz-Hamon, Lord of Cor­boil in Normandy, Cardiff in South-wales, and Tewskbury in Eng­land, by Matilda (some name her Sibilla) his Wife, Daughter of Roger de Montgomery. The Monk of Glocester expresseth King Hen­ries courting the Lady Mabel for His Son Robert in these Rhimes, and her refusal of him at first, for want of a Surname.

Here we find this Robert to compleat his greatness,Williet. Gemmet. p. 306. d. created Earl of Glocester, An. 1109. in the Ninth year of King Henry the First. And well did he requite this bounty of his Father, in the faithful assertion of his Sister Maud the Empress, in her Wars against King Stephen, to whom he proved a continual terror, and laid the ground-work of those successes that afterwards were compleated in her son Henry Fitz Empress. He was indeed,Williel. Malmsb. fol. 108 a. num 20. the most valiant Captain of that age; and if we would know the true value which those of that time had of him, we must weigh him in the ballance against Stephen, that Martial Prince,Gesta Ste­phen. Re­gis, pag. 957 d. who thought not that his enemies did undervalue him, nor that his friends did him any ad­vantage, when (being both taken Captives) Robert was made his exchange. Nor could that conclusion have been grounded upon any other person so justly as himself: That a King for an Earl, and an Earl for a King, should set one the other at liberty.

He built the Castles of Bristol, and Cardiff in South-wales, and the Monastery of S. James at Bristol, and deceased on the last day of October, in the Twelfth year of King Stephen, An. 1147. and was interred in the midst of the Chore of the said Monastery of S. James.

To him William of Malmsbury dedicated his Book, entituled, Historia Novella.

4. WILLIAM, Consul, or Earl of GLOCESTER, and Lord of GLAMORGAN.
CHAP. VIII.

I have in my custody, an Instrument of this William, who is written therein WIL­LELMUS CONSUL, but the Seal is lost. In an other Charter (of which I have seen a Copy) I find him stiled WIL­LELMUS COMES GLOCES­TRIE. The Figure of the Seal being Circular, and near three in­ches broad, containeth a Lion Passant Guardant to­wards the Sinister sider of the Roundel; the words in the Circle are obliterated, and the Counterseal, which is a very small Oval much defaced. Penes Hen. S. George Arm. Foecialem nom. Richmond. Lib. A. 27. fol. 144 a. Its probable he gave this Lion in memory of his Grand-Father Robert Fitz-Hamon, who (if we believe the Escocheons in Tewksbury Church Windows to be his) did bear a Lion Rampant Guardant; this William onely altering the Lion, by bearing him Passant Guardant. But yet after what I have here said, the Arms attributed to this William, and quartered for him by his Descendants, are the Arms of Earl Robert his Father, viz. Gules 3 Rests, Or. THis William was the Eldest Son and Heir of Robert Consul of Glocester (for Comes and Consul, Williel [...] Gemmet [...] p. 306 c. were the same Title in that time) whom he succeeded in that Earldom,Gesta Step. Regit Ang. p. 974. c. and was also Lord of Glamorgan in the right of his Mother, Mabell, Daughter and Heir of Robert Fitz-Hamon, who won the said Lordship from Justin ap Gurgan, Lord of Glamorgan, in the time of King Willi­am Rufus, and made his abode in the Castle of Cardiff, where he kept his Courts Monethly, and used therein Jura Regalia, ha­ving his Twelve Knights to attend him the first day, they having several Lodgings given them and their Heirs for ever, within the said Castle.

This William built the Abbey of Keynsham, and confirmed theChartae in Officie Arme­rum. Grant of Hugh de Gondevile to the Monks of Bordesley. He married Hawis, or Hadewise, Daughter of Robert Bossu Earl of Leicester, and departed this World in the year of our Lord 1183.

3. REGINALD, Earl of CORNWALL, Surnamed de DƲNSTANVILE.
CHAP. IX.

The Arms at­tributed to this Reginald by several Writers of Genealogy, were, Gules, two Lions Passant Guar­dant, Or, a Batun Azure. But I have not as yet met with any Seal of this Reginald, or other Author of the time to justifie the same, being assured, That it will be dif­ficult to find the distincti­on of a Bend­let or Batun to difference the younger, or Natural Sons of the Royal Family (or any other) of so early a date. When the first Bend which I find used, was that of Henry of Lancaster, Lord of Mon­mouth, (and afterwards Earl of Lan­caster) second Son of Ed­mond Earl of Lancaster) above 130 years after the death of this Earl Reginald. HE was the Third of the Natural Children of King Henry the First,Ordericus Vitalis, p. 915 d. Vitalis gives him the Surname de Dunstanvilla, I suppose because he was borne at that place. His Mothers name was Sibill, Vincents Discovery of Errors, p. 113. Daughter of Sir Robert Corbet of Alcester, in the County of Warwick, to whom, King Henry in favor of Her, gave that Lordship.

This Sibill was afterwards married to Henry Fitz-Herbert His Chamberlain, who by Her was Ancestor of a numerous Off-Spring. viz. The Fitz-Herberts of Derbishire, the Progers of Gwernddy in Monmouthshire, the Gwinns of Lansannor, in the County of Glamor­gan, the Williams of Lincolnshire, and the Joneses of Treowen.

As also the Herberts, Earls of Pembroke and Huntington, Ex M. S. Penes Dom. Edw. Baronem Herbert de Chir­bury, &c. the Earl of Winchelsey Baron Fitz-Herbert, and the Herberts of Colebrook. The Barons Herbert of Chirbury and Powis, and se­veral other Families; to which, I add the Morgans of Arkeston, Weston, and Lannihangell, and the Joneses of Lansonfreed. Several of which Houses according to the Welsh custom changed their names every descent, the Fathers Christen-name supplying the place of the Sons surname, as, William ap Thomas, Thomas ap William, Guillim ap Jenkin, &c. For surnames were not in use among the Welsh, till by Act of Parliament in the reign of Henry the Eight, the Principality of Wales was incorporated with Eng­land.

This Reynald was made Earl of Cornwall, Malms­bury, p. 106. a. and Baron of Castle­comb, in the Fifth year of King Stephen, An. 1140. and married N—Daughter of William Fitz-Richard, Gesta Sto­phani Re­gis, p. 950. a, b. a man of an illustrious descent, and a plentiful Fortune, who revolting from King Ste­phen, received Reginald into his Castle, and with his said Daughter, bestowed on him an ample Inheritance in that County. By which acquisition he was more capable of asserting the Interest of his Half-sister the Empress, who ever found a faithful friend of him, and besides other trusts reposed in him,Cronica Norman­niae, p. 985 b. Gesta Ste­phani Re­gis, p. 953 b. employed this Reynald in the Negotiation of the Marriage of Henry Fitz-Empress her Son, with Eleanor of Aquitaine, the repudiated Wife of Lewis the Se­venth, King of France. King Stephen outed him of his estate, and gave it to Earl Alan; but Stephen, being afterwards taken prisoner, and brought to terms, Alan was forced to a full restitution.

This Reginald departed this World at Chersey, in the year of our Redemption 1176.Rob. de Monte, p. 659. num. 20. Hoveden. p. 313. num. 40. Matth. Paris, p. 126. num. 20. As Montensis hath it (but Paris and Hove­den mention his death, An. 1175,) and was buried in the Abbey of Reading, leaving (besides Natural Issue) these Four Daughters His Heirs, viz.

Richard de Ripariis Earl of Devon did bear Gules a Grif­fon Sergreant Or. Which Griffon I have seen upon several of his Seals. Ex Cartis Edw. Walker Eq. Aurat. Prin. Regis Armo­rum. 4. HAWIS or AVICE, Countess of Devon, Eldest Daugh­ter, was the Wife of Richard de Ripariis, or Rivers Earl of De­von, and Lord of the Isle of Wight, who died An. 1162. leaving by her two Sons, Baldwin and Richard; both which were Earls of that County successively, and deceased without issue.

4. MAƲD, Countess of Melent, Second Daughter of Reginald Earl of Cornwal, was married to Robert Earl of Melent.

4. ƲRSƲLA, M. S. in Officio Armarum Sign. E. 2.118. & 119. Baroness of Castlecomb, The Arms be­longing to the Dunstanviles, Barons of Castlecomb, were, Argent, A Fret Gules, on a Canton of the Second, a Lion Pas­sant, Or. But I find that January de Dunstanvile descended from a Se­cond Brother, gave for his distinction, a Border In­grayled Sable. Which Coat was quartered by the late Earl of South­ampton, Lord Treasurer of England. Lib. in Officio Ar­morum, An­not. L. 10, fol. 62, 63. Third Daughter was the Wife of Walter Dunstanvile, Baron of Castlecomb, by whom she had issue Walter Dunstanvile, Baron of Castlecomb, Father of Walter and John.

Walter had issue Petronilla his Daughter and Heir, married to Sir Robert Montford Knight, and by him had issue William Mont­ford, who by Fine sold his Lands to Bartholomew Badelsmere, An. 3 Edw. 2.

John de Dunstanvile, Second Son of Walter, was Father of Nicholas, Father of Robert, Father of another Nicholas, who had issue Henry, Father of January; whose sole Daugh­ter and Heir Barbara, was the Wife of John Wriothesley alias Garter King of Arms; and they had issue William Wrio­thesley, York Herald, Father of Thomas Wriothesley, Earl of Southampton, and Lord Chancellor of England, Ancestor of Thomas, Fourth and last Earl of Southampton; and also Trea­surer of England. Who deceased on the Sixteenth day of May 1667. without Issue-male.

4. SARAH, Vicountess of Lemoges, the Fourth and youngest Daughter, was given in marriage to the Viscount of Lemoges.

4.An. Dom. 1154. HENRY II. King of ENGLAND, Duke of NOR­MANDY, and AQƲITAINE, and Earl of ANJOƲ, SURNAMED FITZS-EMPRESS.
CHAP. I.

NAtures last debt being paid by the Usurper King Stephen, I have exhibi­ted (in this Second Book, pag. 54.) the Figures of two Seals of this Henry; one of which he made use of when he was Duke of Nor­mandy, and Aquitaine, & Earl of An­jou, for so he is stiled in a Grant made to the Church of S. Mary of Sopwell, &c. Ex Cartis Gu­lielm. Piere­ponte Arm. The other is His Royal or Great Seal after He came to be King, in both which, the Concave sides of their Shields onely, are obvious: So that if there were any charge thereon, its not discoverable. Therefore for the Arms of this King Henry the Second, we have no other Proof then for those of the Norman Line His Predecessors, except we take the opinion of Modern Genealogists, who say, That this Henry, before His Marriage with Eleanor of Aquitaine, did bear Gules, 2 Lions Passant Guardant, Or. and that the Arms of Aquitaine, being also A Lion, Or, in a field Gules, did add the same in His Shield to His other Two Lions. The Arms upon His Monument at Fout Euraud, are on a Shield of a Modern Form; the same Monument being also adorned with Escocheons in which are both Em­palements and Quarterings, which were not used till above an hundred years after. this Henry (called Fitz-Empress from His Mother,Rogerus Hoveden. f. 281 a. num. 20. Gesta Steph. Regis, &c. p. 973 a. or Court-Mantle, because He was the first that brought the fashion of short Cloaks out of Anjou) the Undoubted Heir to the Crown, ascended the Throne (as being Eldest Son and Heir of Maud the Em­press, onely Child living of King Henry the First, by another Maud His Wife, Daughter of Malcolm the Third, King of Scots, and Margaret His Wife, Daughter of Edward, Son of King Edmund surnamed Ironside) in whom the Blood of the Saxon Kings was re­stored.

He was born at Ments in Normandy, An. 1133. in the 3¾ year of His Grand-father King Henries Reign,Ordericus Vitalis, p. 763 b. to whom His Birth was so welcome, that it seemed to make amends for His Son Duke Williams death, lost by Shipwrack not long before. His Child­hood was spent with His Parents, till being Nine years old,. He was brought into England, and at Bristol (by one Matthew his School-master) instructed in Learning; from whence being sent into Scotland, to His great Uncle King David, Roger. Hoveden. f. 280 b. He was by Him in­itiated in the Principles of State; and having now arrived to the Sixteenth year of His age, was by that King Knighted at Carlisle, An. 1148. When scarce able to bear Arms, He had also a taste of War under the Discipline of that famous Soldier Robert Earl of Glocester His Uncle, who (not long after deceasing) left Him capa­ble of supplying His conduct, and sent Him into Anjou to Earl Geoffrey His Father, who perhaps overjoyed in His presence, short­ly after died, and left Him in possession of that County, being now Nineteen years old; about which time (viz. An. 1150.) He also did HisChron. Norman. p. 985 a. Ibidem, p. 985 b. homage to Lewis King of France for the Dukedom of Normandy.

His Marri­age. In the next year followed Henries Marriage with Eleanor of Aquitaine or Guyen (Eldest Daughter and Heir of William, Scevole and Lovis de Saincte Marthe, p. 333 c. Fifth of that Name, but Ninth Duke of Aquitaine in Succession, by Eleanor of Chastelleraut His Wife) the repudiated Wife of Lewis the Seventh, called The Younger, King of France, but se­parated from Him by the Authority of Pope Eugenius the Third, at a Council held at Baugency upon the River Loire, at which, Lewis and Eleanor were with joynt consent divorced; for consan­guinity in the third or fourth degree. There are who report, that Lewis carrying this Eleanor into the Holy Land, She there behaved Her Self licentiously, and entertained familiarity with a Turk, which the King taking notice of, yet dissembled till he came home, and then waved the cause under colour of nearness of Blood. But this report was certainly nothing else but a Slander; for after Her Marriage with Duke Henry, She ever led a modest and sober life, without scandal or sensure. Others more judicious affirm, that the cause of this separation was, because Eleanor brought the King no Male-issue, which he earnestly longed for, but onely two Daughters,Saiacte Marthe, p. 338 b, c, d. & p. 339 a, b. which (being yet judged legitimate by the Church) were married; Mary of France the Elder, to Henry the First, Count Palatine of Troys in Campaigne, and of Brie, &c. And Alix of France, the younger daughter, was Wife of Theobald, cal­led The Good, Earl of Chartres and Blois, and Great Steward of France.

She was the prime cause of those Bloody Wars, which long after continued as Hereditary betwixt England and France, and the fomenter of that unnatural discord betwixt Her Husband, and His Sons. She so long over-lived King Henry Her Husband,Scevole & Lovis de Sancte Marthe, p. 334 b. as to see three of Her Sons in possession of the Crown, and two of them in their Graves;Her Death. and departed this World in the Castle of Mirabell [Page 61]in Anjou, the Twenty sixth day of June, in the year 1202. And was interred in the Monastery of Font Euraud, where Her Figure in Royal Robes, with Her Crown on Her Head, carved in Grey-Marble, is at this day to be seen, lying by Her Husband King Henry in that stately Monument, erected by the late Lady Abbess. Her Effigies is marked with the Letter B. and the Tomb is exhibi­ted in Sculpture at the later end of the Reign of the said King. Duke Henry about two years after the Death of His Father, came again for England, where after some velitations with King Stephen, they were at lastChron. Norman. p. 989 b, c. An. 1152. Vii Ides of Nov. reconciled, and His succession to the Crown of England, ratified by Act of Parliament; not long after which, he returned into Normandy, and laid siege to a Castle detained from Him by the King of France; where news was brought Him that King Stephen was dead, notwithstanding which, Henry (who had no competitor to fear) continued before it six weeks, until it was surrendred, and then came for England, and was Annointed, and solemnly Crowned at Westminster, Ibidem, p. 990 c. by Theobald Archbishop of Canterbury upon the Fourteenth of the Kalends of January, viz. the Nineteenth day of December, in the year of our Lord 1153.

He began His Reign with singular Prudence, making choice of the wisest men He could get for Counsellors, He expelled those strangers brought in by King Stephen, and demolished the Castles, the Nobility had built by His allowance (often proving Nurseries of Rebellion) and the Crown-Lands alienated by that King, He reassumed, judging it safer to offend a few, then disob­liege many: And for the furtherance of Justice (in the One and twentieth year of His Reign) He divided His whole Realm into six several Circuits, appointing in every Circuit Three Judges, who twice a year rode together to administer Justice; and to hear, and determine causes betwixt party and party.

His War with Owen Prince of Northwales, was rather account­ed an exercise to keep Him in motion, then to disturb His rest, yet notwithstanding, Owen was not so easily reduced, but that Henry de Essex the Kings Standard-Bearer, being oppressed by the Welsh, let fall the Royal Standard in Battel; for which he was cashiered for cowardise, shorn a Monk, and had his Lands seised into the Kings hands.

After which, Himself and Queen Eleanor His Wife were so­lemnly Crowned at Worcester upon Christmas-day, where they at the Offertory laid their Diadems upon the Altar, Vowing never to wear them after. This being the third time, at which, in three several places, Westminster, Lincoln, and this City, he had been crowned. To make His Dominions more entire, He seised into His hands the Earldom of Anjou, left by His Fathers Will to His Brother Geoffrey, allowing him in lieu thereof an annual pension; and also divested David, King of Scots, of the Earldoms of Cum­berland and Huntington, peeces granted him by King Stephen, and of Northumberland, the gift of his Mother the Empress, leaving [Page 62] David onely that of Huntington, with the condition of doing him homage for the same.Sancte Marthe. Tom. 1. p. 339 & 341. He married his second Son (but Eldest living) Henry, to Margaret Daughter of Lewis the Seventh, King of France, and affied his third Son Richard, to Alice another Daughter of the same King; and also, in the Thirteenth year of his Reign, matched his fourth son Geoffrey, to Constance, the Daugh­ter and Heir of Conan Earl of Little Britain, who dying not long after, left them that County.

If King Henry had hitherto managed his affairs with much Wisdom and Prudence, he now shews as much weakness and infirmity, in causing his son Henry to be made Copartner with him, in the Kingdom, and to be twice Crowned; theRobert of Glo­cester, p. 237 b. first time by Roger Archbishop of York, and a second time with Margaret his Wife, by the desire of her Father King Lewis, in the City of Winchester, by Rotrock of Warwick, Archbishop of Roan, where the Father descended so low, as to serve as a Sewer at the Table of his ambitious son, and made the Barons swear him Allegiance; which act proceeded partly from Indulgence to him, but more (it is believed) to ensure his Succession to the Crown, finding by experience, that Oaths for Succession are often evaded, but Oaths for present Allegiance, seldom are eluded. And now Henry the young King is blamed by his Father-in-Law, for that having entred upon the Government, and being Crowned, he would yet permit his Father to rival him in the Kingdom, and con­tent himself with being a Titular King onely, which easily en­flamed the youth with unjust desires: So that breaking out into open hate, many quarrels arose betwixt the two Henries, which were at length desided by sharp and bloody Wars: In all which, most unnaturally his sons, and most undutifully, Robert Earl of Leicester, and Hugh Earl of Chester, together with William, then King of Scots, taking part with the King of France, were con­tinually overcome by King Henry, forced to an Agreement, and all their Complices upon submission pardoned.

Long was the contention betwixt King Henry and Thomas Becket Archbishop of Canterbury, which though no equal match, yet it is hard to distinguish which had the Victory: The difference was, the King would have it ordained, that Malefactors of the Clergy should be tryed before the Secular Magistrate, as Lay-men were. This Becket opposed, urging it to be against the Liberty of the Church, and therefore against Gods honor, many Bishops sided with the King, some few with the Archbishop; at last Becket signs the Ordinance, yet with a Salvo ordine suo, which not being satisfactory to the King, he then signs absolute, without reservation, but im­mediately recants, and hath his Temporalities seised on; upon which he flies the Realm, and his Kinred are banished. Becket in this misery continued Seven years, till by the Popes threatnings of Ex­communication, or by the Mediation of the King of France, he was restored to his Archbishoprick, who still continuing his Pride, and interdicting those Bishops that had offended him, so much incensed [Page 63]King Henry, that it forced some rash expressions from him; which being noted by four Knights there present, viz. Reynold Fitz-Ʋrse, Hugh Morvile, Thomas Tracy, and Richard Britton, who thinking they should do an acceptable service to the King, by ridding him out of the way, came shortly afterwards for England, and murthered the Archbishop in his own Cathedral, upon the Thirtieth day of December, An. 1172. Which assassinates being ever afterwards abhorred of the King, died miserably; and the King himself being accused of his death by the Pope, purgeth himself by Oath; but yet is forced to do penance, and afterwards to Foot it three miles on his bloody bare Feet, to visit the Shrine of this Unruly-Saint; and further, suffered himself to be beaten with Rods by every Monk in the Cloyster. By which he is said to have appeased Beckets ghost (say some Authors) and to become victorious, not onely in his Wars in England and France, but also immediately thereupon made his Conquest of Ireland, begun by Robert Fitz-Stephen and Maurice Fitz-Gerald, prosecuted by Ri­chard Strongbow Earl of Striguile, of the Family of Clare, in behalf of Dermot (Son of Mac Murgh, King of Lemster) whose Daughter Eva, Strongbow took to Wife, and was adopted his Heir; whom they made promise, to establish in his almost lost Kingdom against Roderick King of Connaught, designing the Uni­versal Monarchy of Ireland. To Strongbows victorious progress, King Henry puts a stop; and least he should have the glory of a total reduction of that Kingdom, sails thither with a mighty Army, An. 1173.Chron. Norman. p. 1020 a. And keeping his Christmas in the City of Dublin, takes homage of the several Princes and Bishops, who by the consent of Pope Adrian receive him and his Heirs to be their King,Rogerus H [...]veden, sot. 301 b. num. 50. Rotherick onely excepted, who keeping himself in the Woods and Bogs, was yet after four years resistance constrained to submit as the rest; and afterwards John, the Kings youngest Son, was sent into Ire­land in the Thirtieth year of his Fathers Reign, to whom he gave that Dominion.

And now was King Henry possessed of the Kingdom of Eng­land, and Dukedom of Normandy, in his Mothers right, He suc­ceeded his Fathers in the Earldoms of Anjou, Touraine, and Maine, and had also by his Wife, the Dutchy of Aquitaine, and County of Poictou, with a Title to the Earldom of Toloza, and also by Conquest, Ireland: All which being united in his person, swelled his Empire, to a larger extent, then was at that time possess­ed by any Christian King; having also offer made to him of the Kingdom of Jerusalem, by Heraclius the Patriarch; as being son of Geoffrey, Novedent and Grandson of Foulk, King of Jerusalem. In the Reign of King Stephen he wrote in his Stile, and upon his Seal and ReverseVincent, p. 663. Charta in Custodia Roberti Cotton, Militis & Baronetti. See His Great Seals, p. 54 ✚ HENRICUS DUX NORMANO­RUM ET AQUITANORUM; and when he came to be king ✚ HENRICUS DEI GRATIA REX ANGLORUM; and on the Reverse, ✚ HENRICUS DUX NORMANORUM ET AQUITANO­RUM [Page 64]ET COMES ANDEGAVORUM. Un­der these Heads comprehending all his Dominions, except Ireland, which he bestowed on his youngest Son John, Surnamed Sansterre, being the first King of England that stiled Himself Dominus Hiberniae.

Not long after King Henries return out of Ireland, hapned the death of His Son Henry the young King, when Richard upon pre­text that his Father detained his Wife Alice (and instigated by Queen Eleanor his Mother, who continually vexed the King, by reason of his Ʋnlawful Love to the fair Rosamond, his Paramore) Confederates with Philip King of France, and raises a new broil, which ended in an Agreement betwixt the two Kings; and Queen Eleanor that had lately put Rosamond to death, was imprisoned and remained in durance till her son Richard coming to the Crown, set her at liberty. But this defection, together with the Rebellion of his other Children, moved such a Passion in King Henries per­plexed mind, as it suddenly struck him into a Feaver.Matth. Paris, p. 151. num, 37. So that not being able to support the Wounds of his Spirit, coming to Chinon he fell there mortally sick, and feeling the approach of death, caused himself to be born into the Church before the Altar, where after humble Confession and Sorrow for his Sins,His Death. he breathed out his last upon the Nones (viz. the seventh day) of July, An. 1189.Chronica Norman­niae, p. 1004 d. Chronica Sancti Stephani Cadomen­sis, pag. 1020 a. Matth. Paris, p. 151. numd 41, in the Fifty seventh year of his age, when he had Reigned Thirty four Years, Eight Moneths, and about Thirteen days, his Obse­quies being performed by the Archbishops of Tours and Trier. He was Interred in the Abbey of Fout-Euraud in Anjou, the manner of whose Burial was thus. He was Cloathed in Royal Robes, his Crown upon his Head, white Gloves on his Hands, Boots of Gold upon his Legs, Gilt Spurs upon his Heels, a great rich Ring upon his Finger, his Scepter in his Hand, his Sword by his side, and his Face uncovered, and all bare. As he was carried to be Buried, his Son Richard ran in great hast to see him, who no sooner approached the Body, but suddenly the Corps bled at the Nostrils a fresh; which though it were in Duke Richard no good sign of Innocency, yet his breaking instantly into Tears upon the seeing it, was a good sign of Repentance: He was honored with this Distick while he lived, containing his Kingly Vertues.

And because in his life time he was wont to say, That the whole World was not sufficient to satisfie the desires of a Couragious Prince, He had this Epitaph engraven on his rich Sepulcher.

The Effigies of this King Henry noted with the Letter A.I ow the pro­curement of this Tomb, and many other obliga­tions to the Favor and Interest of Dr. Durell, one of the Prebends of His Majesties Chappel Royal of Windsor. Nor must I omit a grate­ful acknow­ledgment to F. Pavillon a Monk of Fout-Euraud, for commu­nicating to me several Epitaphs of the Royal Fa­mily of Eng­land there In­terred. and also that of Queen Eleanor his Wife, being removed from the station in the Church, where they had been first fixed, were pla­ced in that stately Monument erected An. Dom. 1638. by the late Lady Abbess, Madam Jeane Baptiste de Bourbon Daughter of King Henry the Great, out of a high respect to the memory of our Kings and Queens, Interred in the Church of the said Monastery of Fout-Euraud. I have inserted the Figure of this Monument (affixed to the North Wall of the Chore) here betwixt the 64 and 65 Pages of this Second Book, sent to me by the said Lady Abbess, about three years before her death, and delineated by her own Scenographer. Unto which I refer my Reader.

In fine, the Story of this Kings Reign approveth him to have been Wife, Learned, and Valiant (except his indulgence to his Graceless Children) and what not a little adds to his commenda­tions, was, That albeit he was almost continually engaged in Foreign and Domestick Troubles, yet he never imposed upon his Subjects any extraordinary Tax whatsoever, yet left he unto his Third Son and Successor Richard, more then 900000 pounds in ready Coyn, besides Plate, Jewels, Houshold-stuff, and ample Provision for the War. And notwithstanding, in most things Pros­perity made him happy; yet in three things he was unfortunate.

First, In the Rebellion of the Fruit of his own Loyns.

Secondly, In his unquenchable Lust to his unseparable Con­cubine, the Beauteous Rosamond, who being admirably fair and taking, too much estranged his love from Eleanor his Renowned Queen. And

Thirdly, In that irreconcileable dissention betwixt him and the ingrateful Archbishop of Canterbury; yet had King Henry a singular esteem for the Church, and left proofs of his Piety in the Augmentation of the Monastery of S. Augustine at Bristol, Found­ed by Robert Fitz-Harding (and by King Henry the Eight erect­ed into a Cathedral;) and also the Foundations of the Priories of Dover, Basingwork, and Stonely; and several other charitable and necessary Works.

5. An. Dom. 1189. RICHARD I. King of ENGLAND, Duke of NOR­MANDY, and AQƲITAINE, and Earl of ANJOƲ, Surnamed COEUR de LION.
CHAP. II.

For Proof of the Royal Arms from William the Conqueror, to this present, Sir Hen, Spel­man in his As­pilogy, refers us to Authors of the Time, their Monu­ments, Coyns, and Seals; but having had no re­solves from the three first, we must now observe what satisfaction the Seals of this King Ri­chard the First can afford us (for He had two, both ex­hibited in the 55 Page of this Second Book) the Re­verse of both having Shields, and those Shields being charged with Arms. The first of these Two Seals he made use of, before His expedition into the Holy Land, being the first Proof for the Posture of the Lions (although its not to be doubted, but that the Kings of England did before this time bear Lions; as I have proved in my Observations upon the Arms of King Henry the First, (Book 1. Pag. 24. in the Margin.) Upon this Counterseal Richard is re­presented on Horsback, the dexter part of His Shield onely visible, and that charged with a Lion Rampant Senister, some would have another Lion Rampant imagined to be on the Senister half of the Eschocheon, and then His Arms were Two Lions Cumbatant; and of this opinion is the said Sir Henry Spelman, in Aspilogia, pag. 46. But whether His Royal Shield consisted of One, or Two Lions, certain we are, that Richard in his Fathers life time, being then onely Earl of Poictou, did bear a Plurality of Lions, as you may observe by these Verses of Guil. Brit. Armori­canus in Philippeidos, Lib. 3. uttered in the person of Monsieur William de Barr, ready to encounter him. Ecce comes Pictavus agro nos provocat, ecce Nes ad bella vocat, rictus agnosco Leonum, Illius in Clypeo, stat ibi quasi ferrea turris, Francorum nomen blasphemans ore protervo. Under His other Great Seal, He confirmed many Grants and Charters, after His return from Jerusalem, and His chargable Captivity in Austria and Germany; by which means He refurnished His exhausted Exchequer; upon which, King Richard is represented on Horsback in His Coat of Mall. His Helmet is adorned with the Planta Genestae, or Broom Stalk, and on His Shield are plainly represented, The Three Lions Passant Guardant; which from this time became the Hereditary Arms of His Successors the Kings of England; from which age, Arms seem to have taken their rise and original in this Kingdom, and by little and little to become Hereditary, it being ac­counted most honorable to carry those Arms, which had been displayed in the Holy Land, in that service, against the professed Enemies of Christianity; but became not fully established, until the later end of the Reign of King Henry the Third. THis Prince,Robert of Glo­cester, fol. 233 a. Chronica Norman­niae, p. 993 b. Robert of Clocester, p. 233 b. Sancte Marthe. Tom. 1. p. 341. Chron. Norman. p. 1003 b. the Third Son (but Eldest living) of King Henry the Second, and Queen Eleanor; was born in the Kings Mannor-House at Ox­ford (since the White Fryers) in September, An. 1157. in the Third year of his Fathers Reign. He proved a Prince of great Valor, and therefore had the French surname of Coeur de Lion, in English, Lions Heart. In his Infancy he was contract­ed to a Daughter of Raymond, Count of Barcelona; and being grown up, was affianced to Adela or Alice, Daughter of Lewis the Seventh, King of France, but took to Wife neither. His Father created him Earl of Poictou, and in the year 1168. he did homage to the King of France, for the Dutchy of Aquitaine. Alice his affianced Wife, being put into his Fathers hands, till she should be of age sit for marriage, was then demanded by Richard, but by King Henry detained; its believed, because the King loved her Himself, and had made her unfit for his Son; and if Richard for this cause fell into a defection, he was not so faulty as his Brethren, [Page 74]seeing that the Bonds of Love and Affection are much stronger then those of Duty. Afterwards when he might have had her, he slighted her, but sent her home with a sum of Money. And if for this our Richard were distastful to his Father, yet did he usher in his Government with duty to his Mother;Matth. Paris, p. 152. num. 27. whom he re­leased after Twelve years imprisonment (a Pennance she had suf­fered for Rosamonds Death) and raised to as high Authority, as if she had been left Queen Regent: In which condition she man­aged affairs with wonderful Moderation, Integrity, and Judg­ment, until King Richard having setled His Estate in Normandy, came home, and was upon the Third day of September, Rogerus Hoveden. fol. 374 a. in the year 1189.His Corona­tion. Anointed and Crowned at Westminster, by Baldwin Archbishop of Canterbury; the manner of which Coronation was as followeth.

First, The Archbishops of Canterbury, Roan, Triers, and Dublin, with all the other Bishops, &c. apparrelled in rich Copes, and having the Cross, Holy Water and Censers carried before them; came to fetch the King at the door of His Privy Chamber; and there receiving Him, they led Him to the Church of West­minster, till they came before the High Altar, with a solemn Pro­cession. In the middle of the Bishops and Clergy, went Four Barons bearing Candlesticks with Tapers; after whom came Geoffry de Lucy bearing the Cap of Maintenance, and John Mar­shall next to him, bearing a Massive Pair of Spurs of Gold; then followed William Marshall Earl of Pembroke, who bare the Royal Scepter, in the top whereof, was set a Cross of Gold; and William Fitz-Patrick Earl of Salisbury, going next him, bare the Warder or Rod, having on the top thereof a Dove; Then came three other Earls, viz. David, Brother to the King of Scots, Earl of Huntington, John Earl of Mortaign the Kings Brother, and Robert Earl of Leicester, each of them bearing a Sword upright in his hand, with the Scabbards richly adorned with Gold; the Earl of Mortaign went in the midst betwixt the other two. After them fol­lowed six Earls and Barons bearing a Checker Table, upon which the Regalia were placed; and then followed William de Mandevile Earl of Albemarle, bearing a Crown of Gold before the King, who followed, having the Bishop of Durham on His right hand, and Reynold Bishop of Bath on His left; over whom a Canopy was borne; and in this order He came into the Church at Westminster, where before the High Altar, in the presence of the Clergy and the People, laying His hand upon the Holy Evangelists, and the Relicks of certain Saints, He took His Solemn Oath; which done, He put off all His Garments from His middle upwards, but onely His Shirt, which was open on the Shoulders, that He might be Anointed; then the Archbishop of Canterbury Anointed Him in three places, on the Head, on the Shoulder, and on the right Arm, with Prayers in such case accustomed. After this He covered His Head with a Linnen Cloath hallowed, and set His Cap thereon; and then after He had put on His Royal Garments, and His upper­most [Page 75]Robe, the Archbishop delivered Him the Sword, with which He should beat down the Enemies of the Church; which done, two Earls put His Shooes upon His Feet, and having His Mantle put on Him, the Archbishop for bad Him on the behalf of Almighty God, not to presume to take upon Him this Dignity, except He faithfully meant to do those things He had sworn to perform; whereunto the King made answer, That by Gods Grace He would perform them. Then the King took the Crown be­side the Altar, and delivered it to the Archbishop, which be set upon the Kings Head, delivering Him the Scepter to hold in His Right Hand, and the Rod-Royal in His Left Hand. And thus being Crowned, He was brought back by the Bishops and Barons, with the Cross and Candlesticks, and Three Swords, passing forth before Him to His Seat. When the Bishop that sung the Mass came to the Offertory, the two Bishops that brought Him to the Church, led Him to the Altar, and brought him back again; the Mass ended, He was brought with solemn Procession into His Chamber. And this was the Form of the Kings Coronation, which solemnity was hancelled with the Blood of many Jews, (though utterly against the Kings will) who pressing into the Ab­bey to see His Coronation, were in a tumult furiously mur­thered.

No sooner was He Crowned, but (by the instigation of the Pope) He was engaged with Philip King of France, Leopold Duke of Austria, and many other Christian Princes in the famous Crosiade for the winning of Jerusalem, at that time possessed by the Souldan Saladine; therefore for the raising of Money for this intended Pilgrimage, He rather chose to furnish Himself out of His own Estate, then to burthen His People; which He did by selling Pri­viledges, Deameans, Immunities, and Cities; among which, He sold Berwick Castle and Roxborrow, to the King of Scots for Ten thousand Pounds; and the Earldom of Northumberland, to Hugh Pudsey Bishop of Durham, for much Money, (at whose Creation King Richard told the standers by, That he was a good Craftsman, that had made a new Earl of an old Bishop) and also did protest, That for the performing of so just and honorable a Service, He was not unwilling to sell His City of London its self (if any there were able to purchase it) rather then to be chargeable to others.

As for Men and Soldiers, the Clergy that undertook the cause, had stirred up innumerable; but the onely main danger of the State, was His Brother John, whose aspiring minde he endea­vored to moderate by making it appear, how much the bounty of a Brother did exceed the hardness of a Father; for he conferred on him the-Earldoms of Cornwal, Lancaster, and Dorset; and by the Marriage with Isabell, one of the Daughters and Heirs of Wil­liam Consul of Glocester, he had that Earldom also; many other peeces likewise he enjoyed, in all amounting to Four thousand Marks yearly: But having made him thus powerful, Richard yet takes away that opportunity which might put him upon the Usur­pation [Page 76]of the Crown, by leaving others in trust with the Govern­ment in His absence, and by confining John to live in Normandy till His return; but for the last, their Mother, Queen Eleanor, be­came Johns surety. So that the Kingdom being left to the Go­vernment of several Men of Power, Wisdom, and Loyalry; of which, William Longchamp Bishop of Ely, and Chancellor of England, was cheif, and Robert Earl of Leicester set over Normandy. King Richard appoints His Nephew Arthur to be His Successor, in case He should fail in this Expedition.

Chronica Sancti Stephani Cadom. p. 1020 a, b. And now having prepared an Army of Thirty thousand Foot, and Five thousand Horse, and appointed to meet Philip King of France in Sicily; at the end of June, An. 1190. sets forward him self by Land to Marseilles, and there stays the coming about of his Ships; but his Navy being driven by Tempest to other parts, the King that brooked not delay, shipped himself and his Army, and passed forward to Messina in Sicily, where also arrived Lewis King of France, and not long after his own Fleet. Here Richard affronted by the Messinians, assaults their City, and Tancred King of Sicily that detained the Dower of Richards Sister Joan, Wid­ow of William King of Sicily his Predecessor, was by him forced to pay it, and also to promise to marry his Daughter to King Ri­chards Nephew, Arthur Earl of Little Brittain, and to give a good part of the Portion in hand. King Philip not well pleased with these conditions, in the Spring sails with his Army for Ptolema is (or Acon) which the Christians had long besieged, and with them he joyns, while King Richard taking with him his Sister Joan, and Berengaria the King of Navars Daughter, puts to Sea for the same Port, but is by Tempest thrown upon the Coast of Cyprus; Ibidem, p. 1020 b. where being refused Landing by the Islanders, he subdues it, and these old Rhimes will tell you with what Weapon.

The King of Ciprus is also taken prisoner, who made it his request to King Richard, that he might not be put into Irons; this Richard grants, but lays him in Silver Fetters.Elias Reusnerus, p. 347. And in this Island he solemnised his Marriage with the beforenamed Berengaria. His Marri­age. She was the Daughter of Sanche, Fourth of the name King of Na­varre, Rob. of Glocester p. 260 b. and Beatrix his Wife, Daughter of Alphonso the Seventh, surnamed The Wise, King of Castile, a match procured by his Mother, Queen Eleanor. The King neglected her company for a while, yet upon more setled thoughts, he afterwards retained [Page 77]her to his affection; for she was a Royal, Eloquent, and Beauteous Lady, and for love of him had adventured through many dangers, both by Sea and Land. What became of her after her return into Sicily in order to her voyage for England, is not known, more then that meeting King John at Chinon, Rogenis Hoveden. p. 819. An. 1201. He there satis­fied her her Dower, upon the Testimony of Philip Bishop of Durham, and others, who were present at, and witnessed her Mar­riage; and that King Henry the Third,Pat. An. 4 Hen. 3. in the Fourth year of His Reign, compounded with her for the same, until which time, its certain she lived. She died without issue, and the place of her burial is not known.

Robert of Glocester, fol. Ciprus being left in good hands, Richard puts to Sea, and in his passage for Ptolemais, boards a Saracen Dromond, where he lays about him, with almost incredible valor takes her, and puts the Turks well nigh all to the Sword; after which, he arrives at Ptolemais, besieged by the Christians, and defended by Saladine, who fearing the increase of the Christian Army, propounds con­ditions, which being accepted, it is delivered in August, An. 1192.

And here fell out an accident, which though it was an Honor to King Richard, yet proved afterwards both troublesome and chargable: For Leopold Duke of Austria, having first set up his Colours upon the Wall of Ptolemais, King Richard caused them to be pulled down, and his own to be set up in their place; which drew upon him Leopolds hatred, and King Lewis his valiant Acts, being darkned by those more valiant Actions of King Richard, under pretence that the Air agreed not with his Constitution, with­drew himself by consent, and returned home. So that Souldan Saladine who had dismantled all the adjacent Fortresses, and was upon the point of surrendring Jerusalem its self; when he saw the King of France was departed, not doubting but the rest would soon follow, grew more confident then before.

At this time Guy of Lusignan was possessed of the City of Tyre, and with it of the right of the City of Jerusalem, with whom King Richard makes an exchange for the Kingdom of Ci­prus, and then prepares for the sacking of Jerusalem, and had certainly taken it; but that by ill counsel, and the backwardness of Odo Duke of Burgundy, General of the French Forces, who envied that King Richard should have the Honor of so great a prise; he was diverted, until that Saladines Army being encouraged with the division of the Commanders, and the continual decay of the Christian Army, concludes a Peace with Richard, upon terms not very honorable for the Christians; which King Richard was forced to do, to defend his Estate at home, embroiled by the pride of Longchampe Bishop of Ely, and his Brother John, and his Dutchy of Normandy, invaded by Philip King of France, contrary to his oath.

Order being therefore taken for the transporting of his Army, with his Wife and Sister for Sicily, and so for England; himself, [Page 78]with few in his company, go by the way of Thrace, and were by Tempest driven into Dalmatia: From whence, being to pass through Germany, and particularly through Duke Leopolds Coun­trey, remembring the old grudge, he disguised himself.Chronica Sancti Stephani Cadom. p. 1020 b. No sooner 0204 02 came he to Vienna, but being discovered, he was by the Duke seised and imprisoned, An. 1192. The Emperor Henry the Sixth informed thereof, desires the Royal Prisoner,Rogerus Hoveden. fol. 410 b. under pretence of safer custody, but indeed really to share in his ransome; which by severe imprisonment was raised to the sum of One hundred thousand Pounds. King Richard, besides the affront to Duke Leopold was charged with the Murder of Conrade Marquess of Tyre, whose innocency, though it appeared by the Testimony of Lim­boldus, Author of that Murder, yet the pretence served to de­tain him in prison till Eighty thousand pound was paid in hand, whereof the Emperor had two parts, and the Duke one; and for the rest, Hostages were given; but the Emperor outlived this purchase very little, so that his Successor not having the Consci­ence to take the remaining Money, discharged the Security, and the Duke of Austria falling from his Horse in a Tourment, brake his Leg, and was forced to save his life by turning Cripple. King Richard being released on these hard terms, returns for England Four years elder then he went out; and thus ended his journey to the Holy Land.

Being come home, he thanks his Lords and People for their fidelity to him in his absence, and their great love to him (ap­pearing by the value of their Supply for his Ransom, and the dif­ficulties they underwent to procure it) and then according to his vow at the Shrine of S. Edmond he offers up the rich Standard of Cursar King of Ciprus, which he took among the spoils of the Griffons Camp; but for his Brother John, both Ingrateful and Ambitious, he deprives him of all those Possessions he had before given him; and now upon the Seventeenth day of April,Rogerus Hoveden. f. 420 b.An. 1194. at Winchester, causing himself to be Crowned a second time (least the People should forget they had a King, who had been so long without one) he obtains a Subsidy, and then in all haste sets sail for Normandy, to finde out his old enemy the King of France, who then lay with his Army before Vernoil; but not daring to stay King Richards coming, raised his fiege in hast, and with dishonor left the Field.

Much time was afterwards spent betwixt them in skirmishes, taking of Towns and Prisoners (nor were there wanting Confe­rences betwixt the two Kings in order to Peace, moved by such as religiously tendred the effusion of Christian Blood.) Among which actions, the Battel of Gysorz is not to be forgotten, where Richard in his own person did wonders,Ex Veteri Codice M. S. Pe­nes Ger­vasium Holles Armig. pag. 23 & 24. and made it appear that he was as expert at the Launce as the Battel-Ax; for therewith he threw to the Earth Matthew de Montmorency, Alan de Rucy, and Philip de Guillarvale, Three valiant Knights, and took them Prisoners, The Motto of DIEU ET MON DROIT is attributed [Page 79]to him, ascribing this victory he had at Gizors, not to Himself but to God, and His Might; He was afterwards reconciled to his Brother John, who had expiated his fault by several Signal ser­vices; and not long after received his deaths wound by an Arrow in his Arm, shot at him at the siege of Chalons or Chaluz in Limo­sin, by one Bertrand de Guerdon, in revenge of his Father, and Brethren, whom the King had slain; which Bertrand resolutely avowing before the King, the King not onely pardoned him, but is said to have ordered him a considerable reward in Money; nevertheless after the Kings death, one Merchades getting him in­to his hands, first caused his skin to be fleaed over his ears, and then hanged him alive upon a Gibbet.

Rogerum Hoveden, fol. 449 b. num. 20. Ibidem, fol. 450 a. King Richard by violence of sickness (increased by the an­guish of his incurable would) departed this life, without issue,His Death. upon the Sixth day of April, in the year of our Lord, An. 1199. when he had lived Forty three years, Reigned nine and about nine Moneths, and had his Body buried at the Feet of His Father, in the Abbey of the Nuns at Fout-Euraud in the County of Anjou; His Heart at Roan, in remembrance of the Hearty-love that City had always borne him; and His Bowels at Chaluz, for a disgrace of their unthankfulness.Matth. Paris, p. 196. Wherefore an English Poet imitating the Epitaph made of Pompey, and his Children, whose Bodies were buried in divers Countreys, made these Verses following of the Glory of this One King, divided in these three places by His Funeral.

Camdens Remains, p. 358. At Fout-Euraud also where his Body was Interred with a Gilt Image (e [...]hibited to your view in the 6⅘ Page of this Second Book marked with the Letter C.) were these six excellent Verses written in Golden Letters, containing his greatest and most glori­ous atchievments: As his victory against the Sicilians, his con­quering of Ciprus, the sinking the great Galeass of the Saracens, the taking of their Convoy, and the defending of Joppe in the Holy Land against them.

On both His Great Seals (for He had Two) He wrote Him­selfSee His Great Seals, p. 55. ✚ RICARDUS DEI GRATIA REX ANGLORUM. And on the Reverse,See His Two Great Seals in the 55 Pag. of this Second Book. ✚ RICARDUS DUX NORMANORUM ET AQUITANO­RUM ET COMES ANDEGAVORUM.

5. An. Dom. 1199. JOHN, King of ENGLAND, Lord of IRE­LAND, Duke of NORMANDY and AQƲITAINE, and Earl of ANJOƲ, Surnamed SANS-TERRE.
CHAP. III.

QUeen Eleanor, Robert of Glocester, p. 276 b. not long after Her return out of Normandy, I have seen Three Grants of this John, in which He is stiled COMES MORI­TONIE; Two of these are in the Chamber of the Dutchy of Lancaster; and the Third in Sir John Cottons Li­brary. To these three the Impress of the same Seal is Appendant, in which He is represented on Horsback, in His Right Hand He holds a Sword, and about His Neck hangs His Shield, upon which are Two Lions Passant, evi­dently appa­rent. The Seal is cir­cumscribed SIGILLUM JOHANNIS FILII RE­GIS AN­GLIE DO­MINI HI­BERNIE; and the Counterseal being a small Oval, represents you with a Mans-head, with this word or motto SECRETUM JOHANNIS, which are the first Arms I have seen upon any Seal of the Royal Family, being in the Reign of King Henry the Second. This Seal is falfly depicted in Mr. Speeds Chronicle, for the Lions in that are Passant Guardant, and Johns Horse is Caparisoned, a thing not in use in the Kingly Family, till the time of Edward the First. When He came to be King, He did bear the Arms of His Brother King Richard, viz. Gules, Three Lions Pas­sant Guardant, Or; for which, vide His Great Seal, Pag. 56. And the Arms Painted for Queen Isabell His Wife on the Tomb at Fout-Eurand are Lozengey, Or, and Gules. in the year 1166. was delivered in the Kings Mannor-House at Oxford of this JOHN, Her Fifth and youngest Son, upon Christmas Eve, in the Thirteenth year of the Reign of King Henry the Second Her Husband, who was wont jestingly to call Him Sans-Terre or Lack-Land, large Provisions having been made for His Brethren, and nothing seeming to be left for Him.

He was much beloved of His Father,Matthew Paris, p. 127. num. 6. and was not above seven years old, when to supply this want, the King assured Him certain Lands in England and Normandy; and in the year 1173. and Moneth of February, a Marriage was agreed upon for Him at Montferrant in Averne, with Alice the Elder of the two Daugh­ters and Coheirs of Humbert the Second, Earl of Maurienne, now called Savoy (whose Mother Clemence was the Daughter of Be­rold the Fourth of the Name, Duke of Leringen, the divorced Wife of Henry the Lion, Duke of Saxony) He should have en joyed with Her, Her Fathers Dominions, but all altered by Her untimely death, and the remarriage of Her Father, from whom the Dukes of Saxony are derived.

In camera Ducatus Lanc. & in Biblio­theca Cot­toniana. He was afterwards Earl of Mortaigne in Normandy, as I find by several of His Charters, in which He is stiled JOHANNES COMES MORITONIE. And King Henry His Father in a Parliament at Oxford, granted Him also the Kingdom of Ire­land, having obtained from Pope Ʋrban the Third a Grant, That [Page 82]it should be lawful to Crown which of His Sons He pleased, King of Ireland, who sent him also a Crown of Feathers interwoven with Gold (in his Grant (as other Popes had done before) reserving to himself the Peter-Pence) whereupon the King conferring upon Earl John the Order of Knighthood at Windsor, sent him with speed into Ireland, where he was received by the Archbishop of Dublin and the State; but having wasted, through ill Govern­ment, the better half of his Army, he returned home without effecting much;Carta in Bibliothe­ca Cotto­niana. who though Hoveden give him the Title of King of Ireland, yet was he never Crowned, nor used other stile in his Seal then SIGILLUM JOHANNIS FILII REGIS ANGLIE DOMINI HIBERNIE.

What John was possessed of, at the death of his Father, was rather Titular then Real; but his Brother King Richard taking the Scepter, bestowed on him the Counties of Cornwal, Dorset, Rogerus Hoveden, fol. 373 b. Matth. Westm. p. 257. num. 10. Matth. Paris, p. 152. num. 55. and Somerset, Nottingham, Derby, and Lancaster; the Castles of Marlborough and Lutgarshal; and the Towns of Wallingford and Tickhill; and several other Lands, having had the Earldom of Glocester, His Second Marriage. in the Right of Isabel his Wife, the Third and youngest Daughter and Coheir of William Earl of Glocester, Son of Robert Consul, Natural Son of King Henry the First (from whom he was afterwards divorced when he came to be King, upon pretence of Consanguinity) by which bounty he seemed to make this his Bro­ther John a sharer with him in his Kingdom, which yet satisfied not his aspiring mind, but rather enabled him to attempt the So­veraignty, which he endeavored in his absence in the Holy War, and Captivity in Austria and Germany.

But notwithstanding this, King Richard before his death be­came reconciled to him, and some say appointed him to be his Heir. After whose decease, the Faction of the Clergy cast the Crown upon this JOHN by Election (whereas Arthur the Son of Geoffrey his elder Brother was the right Heir;Matth. Paris, p. 197. num. 11.) so that he was Crowned at Westminster upon Ascension-day, viz. His Corona­tion. The Sixth of the Kalends of June, An. 1199. by Hubert Archbishop of Canter­bury, with more solemnity then joy.

Several were the Moral advantages which this John had of his Nephew Arthur; but yet he well knowing the Title at last would come to be judged by the Sword,Ibidem, p. 196. num. 34. employed all his endea­vors to fortifie himself with Arms; and therefore hasting unto Chinon, he seised upon the Treasure which his Brother had left in those parts;He is created Duke of Nor­mandy. and also used such means, that Walter Archbishop of Roan girt him with the Ducal Sword of Normandy, Ibidem, p. 196. num. 53. and Crowned him with a Coronet of Golden Roses. This Ceremony being per­formed in the Cathedral of that City.

His two great Antagonists, were Pope Innocent the Third, and Philip King of France; but the first tempest was depending from his Nephew Arthur, whose Kingdom he had not onely deprived him of, but also seised upon his Dukedom of Normandy, leaving only to Arthur the Dutchy of Anjou; wherefore his Mother Con­stance [Page 83]craves aide of Philip II. surnamed Augustus, King of France, who received the young Prince into his protection, raises an Ar­my, with which he makes good Anjou to Arthur, and then in­vades Normandy. Upon this, King John takes a Journey into Normandy, and upbraids King Philip for breaking the Truce made with his Brother King Richard for five years, yet for all this they fall not presently to blowes, but agree on fifty dayes Cessation of Armes:Du Ches. in add. ad Mais. de Guines. fol. 678. Philip Earl of Flanders being utterly against it, forsakes King Philip, makes Peace with the English, and takes Counsel how to wage Warr with France.

But King John being now (as he conceived) free from the care of Warr,An, 1200. strikes hands with the King of France, Matth. Pa­ris, p. 199. n. 48. upon unjust Termes, which the Earl of Flanders took so ill, that he once more joyned with the French, and restored the Warr of Jerusa­lem; nor are the Barons better pleased with the King at His re­turn into England, conceiving themselves, dishonour'd by these base Conditions. The Emperour Otho IV. also, upon a like dis­gust (by His two Brothers) makes demand of the City of Eve­reux and County of Poicton, which his Uncle King Richard had granted unto him, in Exchange for the Earledome of York.

Matth. Pa­ris, p. 200. n. 23. Matt. West­monast. p. 263. num. 31. Hoveden ad annum 1200. fol. 830. Hippod. Neust. ad annum 1200. And having been lately Divorsed from his second Wife Isa­bell aforesaid (she is also called Hadewise) the Daughter and Co-heir of William Earl of Gloucester, for consanguinity in the third degree) King John, in the year 1200 took to Wife Issabell, His Third Marriage. the Daughter and Heir of Aymer, Earl of Engolesme, (by Alice Daugh­ter of Peter Lord of Courtenay, The Armes of Queen Issa­bell of En­golesme, are Enamelled in several pla­ces upon the Tombe of William de Valence, Earl of Pembrook, her Son (half-Brother to King Henry III.) in the the Chappel of St. Edmond in the Abbey of Westmin­ster, being Lozengy, Or, and Gules. Fifth Son of Lewis le Gross King of France) she was Crowned at Westminster by Hubert Arch-bishop of Canterbury on the VIII. of the Ides of October (Matthew Paris saith on the Sunday next before the Feast of St. Dionise, (An. 5 H. 3.) in the same year, and surviving him, wasRob. of Glocester, p. 289. b. Remarried to Hugh Brun Earl of Marche, and Lord of Lusignan and Valence in Poictou, to whom she was pre contracted, and it seemeth continued her af­ter-affection to him, by him having also divers Children, high­ly advanced by King Henry the III. their half-Brother, and as much Maligned by His Subjects. This Issabel also outlived her Second Husband, and taking upon her a Religious Habit in the Monastery of Fount-Euraud in Anjou, deceased there, and was In­terred in the Church of that Abbey, her Figure Marked with the Letter D. being placed in that stately Monument (on the left side of that of King Richard I. her Brother-in-Law) represented in Sculpture betwixt the 64 and 65 Pages of this Second Book. The Body of this Queen Issabell having been buried in the Church­yard of Fount-Eurard, Matth. Pa­ris, p. 898. n. 25. was by her Son King Henry III. removed into the Church, and deposited in a Monument there, An. 1254.

King John, after this Marriage, imposes also Three Shillings upon every Plough-Land, to raise 30000 Markes, which he was to give with His Neece Blanche of Castile, Daughter of His Sister Eleanor, to the Dolphin, in pursuance of the late Peace. The Collection whereof is opposed by Geoffery Arch-bishop of York, [Page]and the Sheriff by him Excommunicated; but, by the Mediation of Four Bishops, and as many Barons, the matter was afterwards accommodated:Anno 1201. And the King Summons the Barons to be ready with Horse and Armour to attend Him the Whitsontide following beyond the Seas,Matth. Paris, p. 206. n. 6. which they totally refuse till Confirmation of their Priviledges; Whereupon he seizeth their Castles, and not­withstanding goes over himself, and is with His Queen Magnifi­cently entertained by King Philip at Paris; Where,Mat. West. p. 163. n. 53. at instance of the Popes Legate, both Kings grant a 40 part for one year of all their Subjects Revenues, towards the succour of the Holy-Land: Whilst Hugh le Brun, to revenge the Rapture of his Wife, con­spires with Prince Arthur against King John, whose quarrel is also favoured by the King of France, Ibidem. p. 164. n. 26. Matth. Pa­ris, p. 27. n. 30.40. and His Daughter Mary given him in Marriage; upon advice whereof, King John comes into Normandy, Anno 1202. defeates the Confederates, takes Arthur, Hugh Earl of Marche, and 200 Knights prisoners, which are disposed into se­veral Holds in Normandy and England; Prince Arthur is murthered in Prison, and several of the Hostages and Prisoners barbarously Executed;Anno 1203. which so exasperated the Nobility of Bretaigne, Anjou and Poictou, that they unanimously Arme, and the next year af­ter he became deprived of all his Possessions in those parts.

Then over He comes into England, Fines the Barons a Seventh part of their Goods for not Aiding Him, and spares neither Church nor Commons. Arch-bishop Hubert is Collector for the Clergy, Matth. West. p. 265. n. 26. and Geoffery Fitz Piers for the Laity: but this not sufficient for His Ends,Anno 1204. a Councell is called at Oxford, wherein is granted two Markes and an halfe of every Knights Fee, and equivalent of the Clergy, with which He goes to Warr again into France, but forced to a Truce for two years, and to come into England for fresh supplies, and to lay an other Imposition upon all Movea­bles and other Goods, both of the Clergy and Laity, which is again opposed by the Arch-bishop of Yorke, who Solemnly Cur­ses the Receivers thereof, and then secretly conveys Himself out of the Kingdome.

Hence arose a miserable breach between the King and His Peo­ple; The Contention not ceasing till the Great Charter was ob­tained of the King, to be the Standard of the Soveraign Prero­gative,Anno 1205. and the Subjects Priviledge.Matth. West. p. 266. n. 11. But that which compleated these Misfortunes was a Clandestine Election of one Reginald the Sub-Prior (Hubert the Arch-bishop being lately dead) to the See of Canterbury: which Design not taking as was expected, the King was Petitioned for a Conge d'Eslire, in which the King nomi­nated John Grey Bishop of Norwich, Anno 1206. who is also chosen:Matth. Paris, p. 213. n. 32. p. 214. n. 1. And Helias de Branfield, sent by the King to Rome for a Confirmation of the latter Election, whilst the Monkes endeavour to promote the former:Anno 1207. So that neither agreeing upon any one person, both Elections were declared void; and Stephen de Langhton a Cardi­nall (but born in England) greatly to the Kings dissatisfaction ad­vanced to the Chair, which the King expostulates briskly with [Page 84]the Pope, and sends Fulk de Cantelup, and Henry de Cornhill, to expell all the Monkes the Kingdome, and to seize their Goods. The Pope, he injoynes the Suffragans upon their Obedience, to receive this Stephen for their Pastor: with a Mandate to the Bi­shops of London, Ely and Worcester, to endeavour the Reform­ing of the King, or otherwise to Interdict His whole Kingdome, which accordingly is done.

In return whereof, all Prelates with their Servants are banished,Anno 1208. the Bishopricks, Ibidem, p. 226. Abbies and Priories deputed into the hands of Laymen, all their Goods seized; and, least these Proceedings should cause a Revolt of the Nobility, Hostages are taken of them,Matth. Pa­ris, p. 230. n. 22. Matth. Westmo­nast. p. 268. n. 53. and they which refused severely punished, as was the Lady of William de Breause and her Children. Having also distast against the Londoners, He removes His Exchequer to Northampton, Anno 1209. and Marches with an Army towards Scotland: but, the Peace is con­cluded upon the King of Scots paying 11000 Markes, and giving His two Daughters Hostages for His performance.

The Interdiction having now continued two whole years, and the King not at all Reformed, the Pope Excommunicates His Person; upon which, one Geoffery Arch-deacon of Norwich, con­ceiving it not safe to live in the Obedience of an Excommunicated King, retires home, but is apprehended by William Talbot, clapt into Prison, put into a Sheet of Lead and starved to death: and, notwithstanding all this, most of the Nobility and Chief Officers adhere still to the King;Matth. Pa­ris, p. 230. who,Anno 1210. supplying Himself out of the Jewes purses, upon notice of some Revolt in Ireland, Anno 1211. makes an Expedi­tion thither, reduces the Country, and there establishes the Lawes and Customes of England, setting John Gray Bishop of Norwich Justicior: and, after three Moneths stay, returnes Himself into England, and at London Condemnes the Clergy in a Mulct of 100000 l. Sterling, and Two Markes of every Knights Fee, that attended Him not in the Warr; with which He subdues Wales that had Rebelled, takes 28 of the Chiefest Mens Children Pledges, which, poor Innocents, upon an Insurrection of some inconsiderable persons upon the Borders, the King caused to be Hanged in His presence at Nottingham, Matth. Pa­ris, p. 230. n. 43. before He would sit down to Dinner.

The King is now pleased to receive Pandulphus and Durandus the Popes Agents, for a Mediation between Him and the Clergy; who, condescends to their returne, but, not to make any Resti­tution: wherefore, all His Subjects are Absolved their Allegiance, forbid His Councell and Conferences. And now, Absolute De­position is Pronounced by the Pope: And, the King of France, with the assistance of other Princes, Commanded to expell King John, and possess His Dominions for himself,Anno 1212. and his heires for ever; who, to that end, against the Spring, makes great Levies for an Invasion: and King John, for His defence, at Dover, Fe­versham, Ipswich, &c. by Easter hath an Army of 60000 Men, be­sides a Navy farr exceeding that of France. But two Knights [Page]Templars, sent out of France by Pandulphus, prevaile with the King to descend to a Treaty with him,Mat. Pa­ris, p. 236. 237. & 247. n. 10. who no sooner had notice thereof,Anno 1213. but he hastned to the King, and wrought so effectually with Him, that He not only grants entire Restitution and Indemnity to the Arch-bishop and Clergy, but also layes down His Crown, Scepter, Mantle, Sword and Ring (the Ensignes of His Royalty) at the Feet of the Legate, and submits Himself to the Judgment and Mercy of the Church: after two dayes (some say six) he received the Crown from Pandulphus, with condition, that he and his Successors should hold the Kingdome of England and Lordship of Ireland from the See of Rome, Ibidem, p. 237. Tributary at 1000 Markes Sil­ver, which he confirmed by his Charter at a House of the Tem­plars near Dover. But the Interdiction still continued, and his Absolution deferred, till full Satisfaction should be made to the Clergy. And hereupon the King of France being unexpectedly Commanded to desist, turnes his Fury upon Ferdinand of Por­tugall Earl of Flanders, for refusing him his assistance: Ferdinand craves Aide of King John, who dispatches 500 Saile, with 700 Knights into Flanders, under the Conduct of His Base Brother William Longespee Earl of Salisbury, Richard Earl of Boleyne, &c. who utterly defeated the French Forces both by Sea and Land. This success incourages him to renew his attempt upon France, but is denyed Aid by the Barons, and by reason thereof, himself and his Allies discomfited; for the which, intending to Chastise them at his returne, he is by the Menaces of Excommunication of the Arch-bishop diverted: upon which, he is necessitated to call home the Exiled Clergy; and at Winchester is, by Pandulphus, with great Penitence Absolved, upon promise of restoring King Edwards Lawes.

Anno 1214. This respites things whilst he Bribes the Pope, Mat. West-monaste­riensis, p. 172. n. 40. and so his Inter­diction is also taken off, and he at liberty to renew his former de­signes upon France: which He, the Emperour, and the Earl of Flanders accordingly do, but without success: and the Barons still pressing their Priviledges, to avoid their Importunities He takes upon Him the Cross, whilst they seize several of his Castles, and are received with great Triumph at London.

Anno 1215. The King abandoned by all,Ibidem, o. 273. n. 49. holds a Parley with them in Run­ning Meade (which is between Windsor and Staines) wherein an Agreement is made, but not long observed; for,Matth. Pa­ris, p. 255. n. 26. & p. 264. n. 47. the King having now good correspondence with the Pope, retires into the Isle of Wight, and there procures his late Articles to be vacated, the Barons to be Excommunicated, and a supply of Forreigners;Ibidem, p. 270. n. 37. & 281. n. 45. with which, in half a years time, He recovers all His Holds, and forces the Barons to call in the King of France, Anno 1216. whose Son Prince Lewis (af­terwards King Lewis VIII.) understanding the Popes Prohibition and Excommunication, arrives at Sandwich with 600 Ships, and at London receives Homage of the Barons, but nothing considera­ble was done on either side.

Upon this King John Marches with his Army Northwards, and [Page 85]coming to Walpool, he and some few others passed the Washes; But, His Army, Carriages and Treasure hurrying on,Anno 1213. and missing the Foords, were wholly immerged; with grief of which disa­ster,Matth. Pa­ris, p. 288. and perhaps distempered in His body before, he fell into a Fever, and was let blood at Swineshead-Abbey, where Surfetting upon green Peaches and new Ale (some report He was Poysoned with a Dish of Pears by a Monk of that Convent) He fell into a Looseness, and grew so weak, that there was much adoe to get Him to Newarke; where, receiving the Eucharist, and taking what Order He could for the Succession of His Son Henry (which was facilitated by the returne of several of the Barons to their Alle­giance) He departed this life on the 19th day of October, His Death. An. 1216. having Reign'd 17 years, 6 Moneths, and 13 dayes, aged about 50 years. His Bowels were buryed at Croxton-Abbey, and in

pursuance of His Will, His Body was Interred in the Cathedral Church of Worcester, betwixt the Holy Bishops St. Oswald and St. Wulstan. His Tombe of Gray Marble is placed between the Choire and the High Altar; the Figure of the King as big as the Life, and the two Bishops at his head, in little, with their Censors in their hands, are carved in one Stone, which seemeth to be as an­tient [Page]as the time of Henry III. But, the Altar-Tombe on which it is placed, is of a Modern Fabrick. The Representation of which Monument is exhibited in the precedent Page, upon which there is no Inscription, but in Matt. Paris I find this Epitaph, P. 288.

The Figure of His Great Seal is exhibited in the 56 Page of this Second Book, upon which He is stiled, JOHANNES DEI GRATIA REX ANGLIE DOMINUS HIBERNIE (being the first King of England that had the Title of Lord of Ireland) and, on the Counter-Seal, JOHAN­NES DUX NORMANNIE ET AQUITAN­NIE COMES ANDEGAVIE.

And now, if we look upon King John in relation to his Workes, he will in them appear a worthy Prince, having transcended all his Subjects of his time in Acts of Charity; for, he Founded the Abbey of Bowley in the New Forrest in Hampshire, also an Ab­bey of Black Monks in the City of Winchester, the Monastery of Farendon, and the Abbey of Hales-Owen in Shropshire: He also re-edified Godstow, and Wroxel, and enlarged the Chappel of Kna­resborrow: But as to his Actions, He neither came to the Crown by Justice, nor held it with Honour, nor left it in Peace. Yet, having had many good parts, and especially His Royal Posterity continued to this day, we cannot do less than Honour His Me­mory.

6. HENRY III. An. Dom. 1216. KING of ENGLAND, LORD of IRE­LAND, DUKE of NORMANDY and AQƲITAINE, and EARL of ANJOƲ surnamed of WINCHESTER.
CHAP. IV.

King Henry the III. did bear the Armes of his Father, viz. Gules, 3 Ly­ons passant guardant, or, which are yet standing in se­veral Win­dowes in the Abbey of Westminster, and also Car­ved, Painted and Gilt on the Wall of the South-Isle in the said Abbey. And the Shields on both his Seals represented in the 56 Page of this Second Book are charged with the same Armes. Up­on which counter-Seals the King is represented on Horseback, ac­cording to the Custome of His Prede­cessors, but with the ad­dition of a Crown upon his Helmet in both of them: Upon what occasion he assumed it in his first Seal I cannot guess, but when He abridg'd His Stile, He wrote Himself King of England on His Counter-Seal also, and therefore might add a Diadem to His Figure on Horseback. The Seales of Queen Elianor of Provence His Wife, pag. 57. are charged on the Reverses with Shields of King Hen­rics Armes only (for Impalements were not then in use) but in the Windows of the said Abbey there remain intire Escocheons of Her Armes, being Or, four Paletts Gules. And also the like Shield is Embossed, Painted and Gilt in the South-Isle of Westminster-Abbey, and superscribed RAIMUNDUS COMES PROVINCIE; for her Father, who, being a Branch of the Royal House of Arragon, did bear the Armes of that Kingdome, transmitted to them from Geaffery the Hairy Count of Barcelona, who fighting valiantly for the Emperour Lewis le Debonnaire against the Normans, and after the Battel coming to the Emperour all covered with Blood, which ran out of his wounds, he dipped his four Fingers therein, and drew them down the Earles Shield of Gold, which afterwards came to be the Armes of Arragon, and are so continued to our time, among the Quarterings of the King of Spain, for that King­dome being as I said before, Or, four Paletts gutes. IN this Distraction of the Kingdom, Prince Henry (the Eldest Son of King John and Queen Issabel of Engolesm His Third Wife,Robert of Glocester, p. 284. a. born at Winchester upon the Feast of St. Re­migius, being the First day of October, in the Eighth year of His Fathers Reign, An. 1206.) a Child of about Nine years old, is Crowned with great Solemnity at Glocester, Ibidem, p. 288. b. upon the V. of the Kalends of November, (viz. the 28 Day of October.) An. 1216. by the Bishops of Winchester and Bathe; And the Administration of the Government, with the tuition of His Person,Matth. Pa­ris, p. 289. n. 12. Matth. West. p. 277. n. 5 committed to William Marshal the valiant Earl of Penbrook; who, with Guallo the Popes Legate, and the Bishops of Winchester, Bath and Wor­cester, use all meanes for the returne of the Barons to their Natural Prince, from Prince Lewis this Excommunicated stranger, who still held London and the parts adjacent, and their endeavours (the confession of the Viscount Melun a Frenchman, Ibidem, p. Ibidem, n. 28. of Prince Lewis his design, utterly to extinguish the English Nation, contri­buting) had such effect, that first William Earl of Salisbury, with many others by his example, left him, and Swore Fealty to King Henry, who keeps about Bristol, Worcester and Glocester, till oppor­tunity was found of drawing the Enemy from the Head into the Body of the Kingdom, for the relief of the Castles of Mountsor­rill and Lincoln, which City the French being Masters of,Matth Pa­ris, p. 294. n. 30. was by the Earl of Penbrook and his Son William, the Bishops of Winche­ster and Salisbury, the Earls of Chester, Salisbury, Ferrers and Albe­marle, and many other Barons, with all the power of the young King assaulted and taken, with many prisoners of note, the Earl [Page 88]of Perch killed, and the French Forces utterly defeated; where­upon Lewis sends for fresh Succors out of France, which also be­ing overthrown at Sea by Philip d'Aubeny, Hubert de Burgo, and the Forces of the Cinque-ports:An. 1218. On the Eleventh of September he comes to an accord, to take 15000. Markes for his Voyage, Ab­jure his Claime, and endeavour to dispose his Father to the Re­stitution of our Claimes in France, which, when himself came to be King, he promised freely to do. Whereupon about the Mi­chaelmas following he is honourably attended to Dover, a General Pardon granted; the Legate and the Protector on the young Kings behalf undertaking to the Barons for all their Priviledges.

And, as well to keep them in Action whom the War had bred, as to unburthen the Country of strangers, Ranulph Blundevile Earl of Chester, Matth. Westm. p. 278. n. 42. Sear de Quincy Earl of Winchester, and William de Al­beney Earl of Arundel, are sent out with great Forces to the Holy Land; when, to the great regret of the Kingdom, William Mar­shall Earl of Pembroke dies, and his Charge is conferr'd on the Bi­shop of Winchester, with other great Councellors.

The young King is again Crowned,Matth. Pa­ris, p. 309. n. 36. and an Escuage of Two Markes upon every Knights Fee granted Him by Parliament;Anno 1219. and being encouraged from Poicton and Guyen to some design upon France, Ibidem, p. 313. n. 14. to strengthen his Alliance at home,Anno 1220. he Contracts his Sister Joane to Alexander King of Scots, who gives his Sister Margaret to Hubert de Burgh, lately made Chief Justiciar of England. Anno 1222. The King in a Parliament at London is now by the Arch-bishop of Canterbury put in mind what had been promised for Him upon the Peace with Prince Lewis, as to the restoring the Peoples Rights, which was then again by Him promised, but by the Artifice of some deferr'd, which causes the Earles of Chester and Albemarle at Leicester to design the removal of Hubert de Burgo and others the supposed obstructors,Matth. Westm. p. 283. n. 3. but by the interposition of the Arch-bishop of Canterburies Spiritual power,Anno 1223. they submit.

And two years after, in a Parliament held at Westminster, Anno 1225. a Fifteenth of all Moveables of the Clergy and Laity is demanded for recovery of his Possessions in France witheld by Lewis (now King) contra­ry to his Promises in England; which Subsidy, upon the Confirma­tion of their Priviledges and Disforestations (both grateful things to the Subject) is likewise granted: But, this happy state lasted not above two years, for in a Parliament at Oxford, as much to their dissatisfaction, the King (being now at age) abrogates the Charter of Forrests, as granted in his Nonage; and, by Procla­mation causes all Grants to be renewed under His Great Seal, for which Arbitrary Fees are extorted by Hubert de Burgh, which be­gets a new Insurrection, for the Barons taking advantage of the difference between the King and his Brother Richard Earl of Corn­wall about the Castle of Berkhamsted, gain him to their party, who at Marleborough meets William Marshall the younger Earl of Pem­brook, Matth. Pa­ris, p. 337. n. 11. and afterwards at Stamford with the Earles of Chester, Anno 1226. Gloce­ster, Warren, Herefore, Ferrers and Warwick, where they perme­ptorily [Page]require right to be done to His Brother, the Restitution of the Charter of Forrests, &c. or otherwise they would right them­selves by their Swords; This the King is forced to condescend unto, by a Parliament at Northampton, and to give His Brother his Castle,Anno 1227. and all His Mother had in Dower, with the Estates of the Earles of Bretagne and Bologne.

King Lewis being lately dead, and an Infant King, and the Queen Regent having disoblig'd the Nobility, King Henry is by Hugh le Brun his Father-in-Law incouraged in this juncture to In­vade France, but returnes without honour or advantage, and pre­sently upon his arrival in England a Marriage is proposed to Him with the King of Scots Sister, but the motion is altogether dissiked, since Hubert de Burgo his Chief Justiciar had Married the Elder. And having now no other expedient to reward the Poictavins for their aide in His sate Warr upon France, Anno 1232. he Fines and displaces the said Hubert, with several of His Chief Officers,Matth. Paris, p. 376. n. 35. to make way for their Preferment, which so exasperates the Nobility, that Richard Marshall Earl of Pembrook, with many Barons, contrive for the pub­lick defence; And the King to suppress them sends for vast num­bers of Poictavins, and calls a Parliament at Oxford, whither the Barons, notwithstanding three several Summons, refuse to repaire; or to that at Westminster, till the Bishop of Winchester and the Po­ictavins were removed from the Court, which causes the King to take Pledges of the Nobility, and commands all that held by Knights-service to repaire to him at Glocester by a certain day, which Marshall and his party refusing to do, they are declared Out-laws, their Lands seized and given to Poictavins; The Earles of Che­ster and Lincolne are bought off from Marshall, who hereupon withdrawes himself into Wales, Matth. Pa­ris, p. 388. n. 13. and makes a League with Llewel­lin, and there Hubert de Burgo (escaping out of the Vize-Castle,Anno 1233. where he had been Prisoner since his removal from his place) joynes them. The King Marches with an Army against them, is worsted and returnes to Glocester; but the Warr rages still all over the bor­ders to Shrewsbury: And, since by all meanes possible they could not reclaime Marshall, meanes are found out to draw him into Ire­land, to defend his Estate there seized by Authority under the Kings Hand and Seal, where by treachery he lost this life, to so great a regret both of his Friends and Enemies, as the King Himself dis­ownes the Commission.

These Miseries continued two whole years,Anno 1234. when in a Parlia­ment at Westminster, the Bishops admonish the King by His Fathers Example and His own Experience, to be at Union with His Peo­ple, otherwise they must proceed against Him and His Counsel­lors by Ecclesiastical Censure; who, seeing no other remedy, calls home the Lords out of Wales, removes the strangers, and restores them to their places and possessions.

Things being now in pretty good order,Anno 1236. He bestowes His Sister Issabel upon the Emperour Frederick II. with a Dowry of 30000 Markes, but this Alliance answers not the aimes of either Prince, [Page 89]nor doth His own Marriage prove more advantageous to Him with Elianor, His Marriage. the Second Daughter and co-heir of Raymond Berengar Earl of Provence and Forcalquier, son of Earl Alphonso, Vide, the Claimes of the Great Offi­cers at Her Coronation, Mat. Paris. p. 420 421. & l: 15, fol. 55. a. Miscellania in Officio Arm. son of Alphonso II. King of Aragon; which notwithstanding is Solemniz'd with great State at Canterbury, Matth. Pa­ris, p. 419, & 420. upon the XIX of the Kalends of February, (viz. the 14th day of January) An. 1236, in the 20th year of His Reign, by Edmond Arch-bishop of Canterbury, and Crowned at Westminster on the 19th day of the same Month by the said Arch­bishop. Her Mother was Beatrice Daughter of Thomas Earl of Savoy, Sister to the Earls Amides and Peter, and Bonniface Arch­bishop of Canterbury. Her three Sisters were also Queens, Mar­garet the eldest being Wife of St. Lewis, St. Marche p 386. the IX. of the Name, King of France (this Elianor was the second Daughter.) Sanchia the third Daughter was Married to Richard King of the Romans, King Henries Brother; and Beatrix the fourth and youngest was the Wife of Charles King of Sicilie, Hypodig. Neustrie, fol. 476. Brother to the said St. Lewis. This Queen Elianor was His Wife 37 years, His Widow 19,Her Death. and dyed a Nun at Ambresbury upon the 25th day of June, in the Twentieth year of the Reign of Her Son, K. Edward I. An. 1291 and was buryed in Her Monastery the 11th of September following.

She made use of two Seals,Ex Regi­sterio Westmo­nast. An. 3. H. 3. E Camera Ducat. Lanc. An. 55 H. 3. and in Her last abridg'd Her Titles, as did King Henry Her Husband, as you may observe in the Page of this Second Book, where the Figures of them are represented, having on the Counter-Seales the Armes of England (viz. 3 Lyons passant guardant) in Triangular Escocheons hanging upon Trees.

In another Parliament at London, by reason of the Ex­pence of His Sisters Marriage,Anno 1237. a 30th part of all Moveables both of the Clergy and Laity is required,Mat. West minster, p. 296, 297. which, after much adoe, upon the Kings Promising to remove the Strangers, and to use the Councel of the Naturalls, and to preserve to them their Liber­ties, is granted, so it be Collected by Four Knights of every Shire, and put into the respective Castles and Abbeys till some great ne­cessity, but nothing of all this is performed on the Kings part; and, to the farther vexation of the Subjects, the Leavies are made with great extremity. The Earl of Provence is sent for to parti­cipate of this Treasure, and William de Valence becomes the only Mignion of the King;Matth. Paris, p. 465. n. 41. Queen Blanch of France also entertains Si­mon de Montford a Frenchman,Anno: 1238. and secretly Marries him to Elia­nor the Kings Sister, who is, in right of his Mother, Daughter to Blanchmains, made Earl of Leicester. These concurrences of Disgusts and Oppressions so incense the Nobility, and other Sub­jects in general, that it begets a new Confederation, into which Earl Richard the Kings Brother is drawn, whom, as being Heire to the Crown it is argued to eoncerne, and he is sent to King Henry to reprove Him for the vast profusion of His Estate, His Indul­gence to Strangers, and neglect of the Natives. The King fear­ing the consequence, and finding the Londoners favour them, by advice of the Legate calls a Parliament at London, Anno 1239. whether the [Page]Lords come Armed; but, Montford, making his Peace with the Kings Brother and the Earl of Lincoln, the business cool'd, and the Miseries of the Kingdom continue.

Besides the great Exactions of the King, the Pope is not wanting in his, who requires 300 Italians to be Preferred to the first Va­cancies in England, which forces the Arch-bishop of Canterbury to an Exile in the Abbey of Pontiniac, and the rest of the Clergy to a Submission.Anno 1241. And the King in the mean time makes an Expe­dition into Wales, which being at discord within its self, with the shew only of His Army obtaines Prince Davids Submission and Fealty, and is now again Courted by the Poictavins into France, which Matter and Supplies to that end is moved in Parliament, but no Money given; however, by Loans and otherwise he procures 30 Barrels of Silver, and with that (leaving the Arch-bishop of Yorke Governor) he goes into France, Mat. Paris, p. 583. n. 35.588 & 589. but is forced to a disho­nourable Peace.

Upon occasion of a Revolt in Wales and Scotland, Anno 1244. He Marches first into that Kingdom, with the Officious Ayde of the Earl of Flanders, which is also ill taken of the Barons, but a fair Peace is concluded: and then Money must be had for an Expedition against Wales, and to pay His Debts, which, with one Voice was refused in this Parliament,Anno 1246. which put the King upon other courses: London is Amerc'd 5000 Markes, and great Fines exacted of the possessors of Inforrestations, or else to be sold to others. This gives occasion to enquire into the Popes yearly Exactions, which were found to be 60000 Markes (more then the Revenue of the Crown of England) which being Complained of in a General Council then held at Lyons, the King forbids, under a Penalty, any further Contributions, but wanted Resolution to conti­nue it.

His necessities now cause another Parliament, wherein,Matth. Pa­ris, p. 743. n. 45. notwith­standing He ruffles with them, they boldly Tax Him with the Breach of all His Promises, and will not be brought to grant any thing,Anno 1248. so that He is constrain'd to sell His Land and Jewells, pawn Gascoyne, and the Ornaments of St. Edwards Shrine, and give over House-keeping, to wring out of the Londoners 20000 l. and beg of the Clergy some small sums;Anno 1249. The Barons urge still his Promises concerning the Election of Officers, but obtain nothing.

The Marriage is now Solemnized at Yorke betwixt Margaret the Kings Sister and the King of Scots, to which that Arch-bishop is extravagantly generous. And the Pope sollicites the King to take the Cross, for which he grants a Tenth of the Layety and Clergy, which in a Parliament called to that purpose is absolutely denyed. But in the next,Anno 1252. the Charters being once again Ratified,Matth. Paris, p. 866. and Sen­tence of Excommunication Solemnly Pronounced against the In­fringers, a Tenth of the Clergy for the Holy Warr, and Scutage, and three Markes upon every Knights Fee is granted. Gascogny complaining of Earl Richards Government, to quiet them, the King revokes His Grant thereof to Him, and gives it to His Son [Page 90] Edward, sending the Earl of Leicester thither as Governour, with whom they are no better pleased,Matth. Pa­ris, p. 832. n. 34. and he is sent for over, who, in Councel, disputes it very undutifully with the King, but returns nevertheless to his Charge, which he executes now with more ri­gour then ever; wherefore the Gascoignes put themselves under the Protection of the King of Spain, and King Henry is forced to take a voyage thither in stead of the Holy Land. Leicesters Com­mission is nulled by Proclamation, who thereupon comes into England, and the King, after He had quieted Gascogne (to take off the King of Spain, Matth. Pa­ris, p. 890. n. 16. who pretends likewise to Aquitaine) con­cludes a Marriage for His Son Edward, Anno 1254. with Elianor that Kings Sister, who thereupon quits his Claime to both, and arriving in England Fines the Londoners and Jewes for not aiding Him.

In Easter-Terme another Parliament is called, but yields no re­turnes but those of Grievances; and the Pope, to support His Wars against the Emperour, demands a Tenth of England, Scot­land and Ireland, and the better to dispose the King thereunto, Ab­solves Him of His Oath for the Holy Land, invests Edmond His second Son in the Kingdom of Sicilie, and in consideration of that Promotion of His Nephew, desires to borrow 500 Markes of the Earl of Cornwall, but his Answer was, He would not lend them Money on whom he could not distraine.

At Winchester the Gascogne Merchants, by the Prince their Pa­tron, complain of the taking their Goods without pay, which is ill resented by the King; and the Princes Servants commit so many outrages in Wales (of which he had now the Government) that it revolts, for the quieting whereof Prince Edward requires Money of his Father, but He is so farr from that, that to supply His own necessities, He commands every Sheriff, and other Offi­cers to bring in their Money by a precise day, upon severe penal­ties, and daily, upon one quarrel or another gets Money out of the Londoners; Matth. Pa­ris, p. 939. n. 48.952. n. 32. when, great hopes of Honour and Advantage is conceived to accrue to His Crown,Anno 1257. by the Election of Richard Earl of Cornwall to be King of the Romans, and the Arch-bishop of Cologne is sent to conduct him over, who hath a Present of 500 Markes, and a rich Mitre, and Richard is accordingly Crowned at Aquisgrave, Ibidem, p. 979. n. 45. much to the dissatisfaction of France and Spain. The King, to sound the affections of the People, as to the Election of His Son Edmond to the Kingdom of Sicilie, in a Parliament then Summoned, brings him clad in Apulian Habit, and declares His Obligation of 140000 Markes for obtaining the said Kingdom, to­wards which he declares a Tenth and First-Fruits of the Clergy were granted Him by the Pope, and therefore hopes they will not be backward; but, nothing will be done but upon the usual Con­dition of Magna Charta; and then they promise 52000, which sa­tisfies not: For, the next year, in a Parliament at London, de­claring His Engagements to the Pope, and His disappointment of the Kingdom of Sicilie, Matth. Westm. p. 364. He is plainly denyed, and the Parliament Adjourn'd to Oxford till Barnabas-day;Anno 1258. in which time the Earles of [Page] Leicester, Glocester and Hereford resolve the effecting of their De­signes by force, which puts the King to His shifts for Money, and when the Parliament meet again they come thither Armed, and force the new Confirmation of their Priviledges, and Twelve Con­servators to Govern the Kingdom.

And now Leicester, Glocester, and l'Despenser inforce the King to call a Parliament at London, wherein the Authority of the 24 is de­livered unto them, and they absolved from their Allegiance if these things were not made good;Matth. Pa­ris, p. 983. n. 50. when Richard King of the Ro­mans comes over into England, Anno 1259. but could not by the Barons be permitted to Land, till he had condescended to take an Oath not to alter the Government of the Kingdom as then established. Notwithstanding the King uses all meanes to revoke this, and re­cover His Power, and in order thereunto seeks to be absolved from Rome, hath Aides out of Scotland, and, to be secure from France, for 300000 l. resigns His whole Interest to Normandy, Anno 1259. Anjou, Nangius de Gest. S. Lud. Fran. Reg. Matth. Paris, p. 989. n. 13 Poictou, Tourain and Main (does homage for Guien, Limosin and Quercy) and thenceforth abridg'd His Stile, and changed His Seal, using a Scepter in place of a Sword, whereupon these Mon­kish Verses were written.

The Figures of both His Great Seals being delineated in the 56 Page of this Second Book, will more particularly satisfie the Rea­der in this Alteration; in the first of which He is stiled HENRI­CUS DEI GRATIA REX ANGLIE DOMI­NUS HIBERNIE; and on the Counter-Seal HENRI­CUS DUX NORMANNIE ET AQUITAN­NIE COMES ANDEGAVIE, on which he is Figu­red sitting on His Throne, with a Sword in His Right hand, and a Globe in His Left. But, in His Second Seal He omits Norman­dy and Anjou, using on both sides of His Seal this Circumscription, viz. HENRICUS DEI GRATIA REX AN­GLIE DOMINUS HIBERNIE DUX AQUI­TANNIE; and in place of the Sword in His Right Hand, He holds the Scepter of St. Edward, or the Dove.

The Barons on the other side use all arts to strengthen their asso­ciation, and France is made Arbiter of the Quarrel,Matth. Paris, p. 992. n. 4. who condemns the Provisions of Oxford, but allows the confirmation of King Johns Charter,An. 1263. upon which Henry Son to the Earl of Cornwall, Ro­ger de Clifford, Roger de Leyborne, Hamon l'Estrange, and many others depart from the Barons. The Earl of Leicester shortly after ha­ving combined with Llewellin Prince of Wales, Matth. Westm. p. 382. n. 18. invades Mortimers Lands in those parts, who is aided by the Prince, whilst Leicester [Page 91]recovers the Castle and Town of Glocester, Matth. Paris, p. 992. n. 52. makes the Citizens to Redeem themselves with 1000 l. and subduing Worcester; Anno 1264. Shrewsbury, and the Isle of Ely, begins to grow very consi­derable; which, the King fearing, calls a Parliament, and a Peace is concluded, upon Condition, That all the Kings Castles should be put into the Barons hands; The Provisions of Ox­ford observed; And, all the Strangers to depart the Kingdom: But, the Prince still holding out Windsor-Castle, it is besieged and taken by the Earl of Leicester. Ibidem. p. 993. n.

The King calls another Parliament, and therein gaines seve­ral Lords to His Party, and with them (the Prince, Richard Earl of Cornwall, Henry his Son, and William de Valence) Marches to Oxford, whither many Scotish and Northern Nobili­ty repaire to Him,Mat. Paris, p. 385. n. 29. and thence with all His Forces to Nor­thampton, where young Montford the Earl of Leicesters Son, with fourteen of the Principal of the Faction are made Prisoners; thence to Nottingham, making spoil of all the Barons Possessi­ons in those parts. In the mean while Leicester drawes towards London, and offers 30000 Markes to the King for Damages done in the Wars, so that the Statutes of Oxford might be obser­ved; which, not being accepted,Battel of Lewes. The King in this battel had a Dragon car­ried before Him for His Royal Ensign, and Simon Montfort, to signifie the justness of His Quarrel, cau­sed his Soldi­ers to put white Crosses upon their Armour. the Earl is constrained to put it to the hazard of a Battel near Lewes in Sussex, Matth. Pa­ris, p. 995. & 996. Matth. Pa­ris, p. 387. n. 6. where, by a Stra­tagem he gaines the day, 5000 are slain upon the place, the King, Prince, Earl of Cornwall, and his son Henry, the Earles of Arun­del and Hereford, and all the Scotish Lords taken prisoners, Valence and Marshall save themselves by flight. Leicester carries the King along with him a whole year and a half to countenance his Acti­ons, in which time he takes in most of the Strong Holds of the Kingdom, only the Prince escaping out of Hereford Castle gathers some Forces, and gaining the Earl of Glocester, brought many more hands to him, with several places of strength both in England and Wales, Matth. Pa­ris, p. 997. & 998. and with them in a Plain near Evesham gives Battel to Si­mon Montfort Earl of Leicester; who,Battel of Eve­sham. finding himself not able to withstand Prince Edwards Forces, said,An. 1265. Let us commit our Soules to God, for our Bodies are theirs; and so undertaking the weight of the Battel, like another Cateline, fell there, accompanied in his death by his son Henry and eleven other Barons.

The Captive King thus freed by His victorious Son,Anno 1266. calls a Parliament at Winchester, wherein all the Barons of Leicesters party (who still maintain several strong Holds in the Kingdom) are disinherited, and the King Marches against them, and at Northampton two of Leicesters sons submit; but, they that es­cape the Battel at Evesham, Matth. Westm. p. 398. n. 20. make good the Isle of Ely, where the Prince goes to reduce them, causes Bridges to be made of Boates, enters the Island in several places, and constraines them to yield. Then revenge must be taken upon Llewellin for succoring Mont­fort and Glocester, Matth. Pa­ris, p. 1004. n. 47. but he redeemes Himself with 32000 l. Ster­ling.

The next year Prince Edward undertakes the Holy Warr, and for supplies Pawnes Gascoigne to France for 30000 Markes, and two yeares after,Anno. 1269. with His Wife (then as it prov'd) young with Child, sets forward, with great resolution,Matth. Pa­ris, p. 1006 n. 36. towards the Holy Land, but effects no great matter. And, whilst this pre­paration is in hand, King Henry labours to establish the Peace of the Kingdom, and to reforme the excesses which the Warr had bred, and the same year Assembles His last Parliament at Marle­borough, where the Statutes of that Title were Enacted; from whence not long after He went to Norwich, where He punished several of the Citizens for a Riot commited upon the Monkes of that place,Anno 1271. and burning their Church; and, returning by St. Edmondsbury, and doing His Devotions at St. Edmonds Shrine, He there fell somewhat ill, from whence hastning to London His sickness so much increased upon Him, that calling before Him His Lords, and especially Gilbert de Clare Earl of Glocester, He Exhorted them to be true and faithful to His Son Prince Edward, who was at that time farr from home, and therefore had the more need of their care, which consisted chief­ly in their agreement one with another, and within few dayes af­ter He departed this Life in His Pallace at Westminster, His Death. Anno 1272. upon the 16th day of November, Matth. West. p. 401. n. 41. Ibidem, n. 44. An. 1272. having lived 65 years, and held the Scepter 56 years and twenty seven dayes.

Upon the 20th day of the same Moneth, being the Feast of St. Edmond, King Henry was Interred in the Abbey of West­minster (before the High-Altar) which he rebuilt from the ground, and laid the first Stone, having ordained by His Will, that His Heart should be buried at Font-Eurand, which to that end was delivered to the Abbess of that Monastery by the Ab­bot of Westminster, in the presence of many of the Nobility, upon the Monday next before the Feast of S. Luce the Virgin, Pat. An. 20 Ed. 1. n. 3. An. 20 E. 1. had been also the Founder of a Church in London for Converted Jewes, an Hospital at Oxford for Passengers and Diseased Per­sons,Matth. Pa­ris, p. 572. n. 34. and caused a Chest of Gold to be made for the laying up the Relicks of K. Edward the Confessor in the said Church of Westminster.

Upon the North-side of which Saints Shrine, in the Chappel of the Kings, King Edward His Son erected for Him a Magnificent and Elevated Sepulcher of Mosaick Work of Grey Marble, Che­quered with Gaspers and Opalls, and other rare Stones, and inlaid with large Tabets of Porphire and Serpentine, which He brought out of France in His returne from the Holy Land: Upon the Su­perficies of which, being Copper Guilt, (and Carved Lozenge, every Lozenge containing a Lyon passant Guardant) lies the Figure of the King in his Royal Robes, with his Crown on his head, and his feet placed upon two Lyons all of the same Met­tal (but by Sacrilegious hands dispoiled of his Globe and Scepter) as you may observe more exactly by this Representation. About the Verge of which Tombe I find this Inscription in Saxon Capi­tals embossed, beginning on the South-side at the head, [Page 92]

[Page] ICI: GIST: DENRI: IADIS: REY: DE: ENGLETERE: SEYGNVR DE: DIR LAUNDE: DUC: DE: AQUITAYNE: LE: FILZ: LI: REY JOHAN: IADIS: REY: DE: ENGLETERE: A: KI: DEU: FACE MERCY: AMEN.

And upon the North-side of the said Monument this Memorial in Gilt Characters.

TERTIUS HENRICUS EST TEMPLI CONDITOR HUJUS. 1273 DULCE BELLUM INEXPERTIS.

Also upon a Tablet hanging on a Pillar, near the Tombe of King Henry III.Thus English­ed on the same Tablet.

6. RICHARD, King of the ROMANS, and of ALMAIN, and Earl of POICTIERS and CORNWAL.
CHAP. V.

This Richard being Earl of Poictou and Cornwal, did not bear the Arms of King John his Fa­ther with a Label or Bor­der, as the younger Sons of the Kings of England afterwards did, but took the Arms of Poictou, being Argent a Lion Rampant Gules, Crown­ed Or, within a Border of the Ancient Earls of Corn­wal, which were Sable Bezanty, by which he in­cluded the Ensigns of both his Earl­doms in one Escocheon, as you may ob­serve in his Seal exhibited in the 94 Pag. of this Second Book, the Re­verse of which contains a large Shield of those Arms before men­tioned. The like examples were (much about that time) in the Royal Family of France: For Hugh the Great, Earl of Vermaudois, Third Son of Henry the First, King of France, taking to Wife Alice the Heir of that County, did bear Chequy Or and Azure. Robert of France Earl of Dreux, Fourth Son of King Lewis the Gross, gave for Arms also Eschequy Or and Azure a Border Gules. And Peter of France, Fifth Son of the said King, Mar­rying Isabel Lady of Courtenay and Montargis gave the Arms of Regnand de Courtenay her Father, viz. Or three Torteaux, and called himself by that Surname. This Richard being afterwards Elected King of the Romans, gave Or an Eagle displayed Sable, which is Carved on the Wall of the North Isle in Westminster Abbey; and also over the Gate of the Abbey of Ruley near Oxford, Founded by the said Richard. KIng John had Issue onely Two Sons, Henry that succeeded Him in His Kingdom, &c. by the Name of King Henry the Third. And this RI­CHARD, his second Son (both by Isabell of Engolesm his third Wife.)Robert of Glocester, p. 284 a. Lib. The­okesburiae M. S. Vincent, p. 135.) He was born in the year 1209. the Tenth of His Fathers Reign, who when He died, left him very young, not eight years old.

Afterwards this RICHARD was by King Henry the Third, his BrotherMatth. Paris, p. 311. num. 50. made Knight on Candlemas-day, An. 1225. And in the same year (viz. The Ninth of Henry the Third)Ibidem, p. 312. num. 10. created Earl of Poictiers and Cornwal; by which Titles he wrote himself in aEx Car­tis Edv. Walker Militis Gart. Prin. Re­gis Armo­rum. Grant, whereunto his own Seal is annexed: Dederat ei Rex (as Paris recites it) antequam illum miserat ad partes transmarinas Cornubiae Comitatum cum tota Pictavia, unde ab omnibus Comes Pictavensis vocabatur. In the Twelfth year of whose Reign the said King gave him all the Lands in England, belonging to Regi­nald Dampmartin Earl of Bollogne, and after the death of William Earl of Holland, Emperor of the West. This RICHARD was elected King of the Romans, Lib. The­okesburiae M. S. Pat. An. 41 Hen. 3. a tergo. Rob. of Glocester. p. 293 a. Ibidem, p. 295 b. An. 1256. and the next year (viz. 1257.) he went into Germany with a Noble Train, and was upon the Twenty seventh day of May, being Ascension-day, Crowned King of the Romans and of Almain, at Aquisgrave in Germany, by Conrade Archbishop of Cullen. In a Letter to Simon de Montford and Gilbert de Clare, he wrote himself RICHARD By the Grace of God King of the Romans, ever Augustus