A Chronicle of London from 1089 to 1483 Part 26

In this same yere wente the duke of York into Normandye, with the erle of Oxenford, the erle of Ewe, Sire Richard Wodevyle, S^{r}. Jamys of Ormond, the lord Clynton, and many othere gentiles, with a faire retenewe of peple, and was mad regent of Fraunce for v yere, and he shippyd at Portesmouth in Hamptonshire. In this same yere, the morwe after seynt Katerine day, was a chalange in armes provyd afore the kyng, withinne lystes mad in Smythfeld, betwen S^{r}. Richard Wodevill, knyght of Engelond, and a knyght of Spayn, whiche knyght for his lady love shulde fyghten in certeyn poynts of armes, that is to seye, with ax, swerd, and daggere; and or thei hadde do with the polax the kyng cried, hoo.[126] Also moreover in the same yere was a fightyng at the Tothill betwen too thefes, a pelour and a defendant, and the pelour hadde the feld and victory of the defendant withinne thre strokes. Also in this yere was the duke of Orlyons delyvered out of preson, and sworn to the kyng and othere certeyn lordes that that tyme were there present, that he shulde nevere beren armes ageyn the corowne of Engelond; and also that he schulde trete for pees betwen bothe reaumes Engelond and Fraunce, and ellys he to comen ayen into Engelond and yelden hym to the kynges grace. And in this yere was wyn, salt, and whete, gret chepe in the parties of Engelond. Also in this same yere the d.u.c.h.esse of Gloucetre was arested and put in Holt, for she was suspecte of treson; and a clerk that was longyng to here, whiche was clepyd Roger Whiche, was taken for werchynge of sorcery ayens the kyng, and he was put into the Tour; and after, he was brought into Poules, and there he stood up on high on a scaffold ageyn Poulys crosse on a Sonday, and there he was arraied like as he schulde never the in his garnementys, and there was honged rounde aboughte hym alle hise intrumentis whiche were taken with hym, and so shewyd among all the peple; and after, he was broughte to fore the lordys, and there he was examyned; and after broughte to the Yeldehalle, and there he was regned aforen the lordes of the kynges counseill and to fore alle the juges of this land; and anon after, the lady of Gloucestre afornseid was mad to apere thre sondry dayes afore the kyng and alle hise lordes spiruell and temperell; and there she was examyned of diverses poyntes of wicchecraft, of the whiche she knowleched that she hadde used thorugh the counseill of the Wicche of Eye; the whiche was brent on the even of Symond and Jude in Smythefeld.

[Footnote 126: "and there the kyng toke the bataile into his hand withynne iiij strokes, and so was ended" _in the Cotton MS._]

REX HENRICUS s.e.xTUS. [1441-1442.]

Rob't Clopton, Will'm Combe, fysshmong'. A^{o}. xx^{mo}.

drap', m^{or}. Ric'us Riche, merc'.

[Sidenote: Talbot was made erle of Shrewesbery.]

[Sidenote: Gascoyn and Gyan loste.]

In this yere[127] my lady of Gloucestre hadde confessyd here wichecraft, as it is afornseid she was yoyned be alle the spriualte a.s.sent to penaunce; to comen to London fro Westm' on the Moneday next suynge and londe at the Temple brigge out of here barge, and there[128] she tok a taper of wax of ij^{lb} in here hond, and wente so thorugh Fletstrete on here foot and hoodles unto Poules, and there she offred up here taper at the high auter; and on the Wednesday nest suenge she com fro Westm', be barge, unto the Swan in Tempse strete, and there she londyd, and wente forthe on here feet thorugh Brigge strete, Groschirche strete, to the Ledenhalle, and so to Crichirche in the wyse afornseyd; and on Fryday she londed at Quen hithe, and so forth she wente into Chepe, and so to seynt Migh.e.l.l in Cornhull, in the forme afornseid; and at iche of the tymes the mair with the schirreves and the craftes of London were redy at the places there she sholde londe: and after, Roger the clerk afornseyd on the Satirday, that is to sey the xviij day of Novembre, was brought to the Yeldehalle, with Sire John Hom prest, and William Wodham squyer, the whiche S^{r}. John and William hadden there chartres at that tyme; and the clerk was dampned, and the same day was drawe fro the Tour of London to Tiborn, and there hanged, hedyd, and quartered, and the heed sett upon London bregge; and his oo quarter at Hereford, another at Oxenford, another at York, and the fourthe at Cambregge; and the lady put in prison, and after sent to Chestre, there to byde whill she lyvyth. Also the same yere was a parlement, and it began at Cristemas and lasted til Estre; at the whiche parlement was ordeyned that the see schulde ben kept half a yere at the kynges coost, and therfore to paye an holl fyftene, and London to lene hym iij m^{l} lib'. And that yere, the laste day of ---- save on, there was a batayle in Smythfeld, withinne lystes, aforn the kyng, betwen the lord Beaufe a Arrogonere, and John Ashele squyer of the kynges hous, a chalange for spere to caste pollex and dagger at the lord aforeseyd in brekynge of his gauntelette and reysyng of his umbrary, and hadde hym at myschief redy to a popped hym in the face with his dagger, tyl the kyng cried hoo: and there the seid a.s.shle was mad knyght in the feld.[129] Also in this same yere come the lord Talbot out of Fraunce and was mad erle of Schrovesbury, and wente over into Fraunce ayen with iij m^{l} men. And in this yere come tidynges unto the kyng that Gascoigne and Gyan was lost, save Burdeux and Bayon, be the Armynakes take: in the mene tyme amba.s.satours of the same partye of Armynackes were come unto the kyng to entrete for a mariage of the erle of Armynakes doughter to be weddyd to the kyng; but because of the same treson the seid mariage was daisshyd. Also this same yere wente a werre in foure parties of Engelond, of every coost xxiiij schippes a werre. And in that same yere com hom out of Fraunce the erle of Ewe and S^{r}. James of Urmond into Engelond.

[Footnote 127: "Alianor Cobham" _in the Cotton MS._]

[Footnote 128: "openly barehede with a keverchef on hir hede beryng, &c." _in the Cotton MS._]

[Footnote 129: "be the kyngs hande for his wel doyng, and afterwarde the lord offered up his harness at Wyndesore" _in the Cotton MS._]

REX HENRICUS s.e.xTUS. [1442-1443.]

John Hatherle, irmong', Th' Beaumond, salt'. A^{o}. xxj^{mo}.

maior. Ric'us Nordon, taillo^{r}.

[Sidenote: S^{r}. William Bonevylle went to Burdeux.]

In this same yere the erle of Schrovesbery leide a sege bothe be water and be lande to Depe, and kepte it awhile til he ferde so foule with hys men that they wolde no lenger abyde with hym; and so he was fayn to hye hym thens to Roane, and so brake sege. Also in this yere the citezeins of the citee of Norwich aresyn ayens the priour of Crichyrche of the same citee, for certeyn newe customes and bondschipes that he wolde have begonne to have reysyd of the seid citee of alle the comons therinne: wherfore the comons aroos, and wolde a fryred and sautyd the priory and have distroid the prior of the place into the tyme they hadde the fals contryved evidens that weren sealed be old tyme with the comoun seall unwetynge of them, but thorugh a priour of old, and certeyn false aldermen of the same citee, that now arn dede; and the comowns kepte with strong hond the town ayens the duke of Norfolk and alle his p.i.s.sounz, that wolde a comen thider for the cause afornseid. Wherfore the kyng sente thider the chief juste John Fortescu, the erle of Stafford, and the erle of Huntyngdon, and seten there in sessyons, at the whiche were manye of the citee endyted, and the priour also; and also the citee loste there libertes and fraunchises and fredoms that they hadde afore, and all the citee cesed into the kynges hand; and a knyght callyd S^{r}. John Clyfton mad capytayn therof: and manye of the worthy men there of the citee ben fled into othere c.u.n.tres over the see, for drede, with as moche of there goodes as they myghte have with them, and lefte there faire places stonde stille. Also in this yere wente S^{r}. William Bonevylle, knyght, to Burdeux with viij c of goode fytynge men, to kepe the town unto the tvme a grett retenewe myght be mad and sent thider. Also in this yere deide Henry Chicheley erchebisshop of Caunterbury, in the Pa.s.sion weke, and is beryed in Caunterbury; and for hym was the bisshop of Bathe, magister John Stafford chaunceler of Engelond, stalled erchebisshop of Caunterbury. And in this yere wente over the see the erle of Somerset with x m^{l} of goode men; and he hadde over with hym gret ordinance of gonnes, brigges, scalyng laddres, and manye mo othere thinges whom J'hu spede for his mercy.

And in this yere com over from Normandye the cardinall erchebisshop of Roon, chaunceler of Normandye and bysshop of Ely into Engelond, with the erle of Schrovesbury that was the lord Talbot, and my lord Facombregg, with the Tresore of Normandye and manye othere. And in this yere was lost a good town in Normandye of the lord Scales, that is called there Graundevyle, in the coost of Baas Normandye, toward the coost of Bretaigne, wyth his b.a.s.t.a.r.d sone therinne; and the substaunce of alle the good that the lord Scales hadde in that land was thereinne, the whiche was falsly sold be a man that he trusted most too whiles he was at Roon. Also in this yere was gret losse of shippes in the narwe see on oure party, be enemyes of Depe, Boloigne, and Bretayne. Also in this same yere was cryed that alle men that wolde aventur ony corn or vitaill to Burdeux or to Bayon, or to ony othere place of that cost on oure party, schulde gon custom fre; whiche caused moche corn and vitaill to be shipped thider. Also in this yere was a mad woman pressyd to the deth, for sche hadde spoken ungoodly and to presomptuosly unto oure liege lord the kyng at the Blak heth; and whanne she was brought aforn the juge she wolde not speke a word, for the which obstinacye she was put to the deth as y have rehersyd beforn. Also this same yere deide the bisshop Tirvyn bisshop of Ely, the ---- day of Septembre, and lyth....

[_Here the Chronicle in the Harleian MS. terminates: the following continuation is copied from the Cottonian MS.

Julius B. I._]

REX HENRICUS s.e.xTUS. [1443-1444.]

Th' Catworth. Nich'as Wifelde. Vic'. A^{o}. xxij.

John Norman.

[Sidenote: Creacion A^{o}. xxij R' H. vj^{ti}.]

This yere came the duke of Somerset out of Fraunce into Engelond, that had lost many of his men: and that yere the erle of Suffolk, the privey seall, Sir Robert Rose, and the kyngs secretarie went in amba.s.sade into Fraunce to trete for peas; an peas was made for xviij monethes; and the suerte hadde of the maiden for mariage afore record of alle the rial of Fraunce, in presence of our amba.s.sades: and so comen ageyne into England presentyng unto the kyng thes t.i.things, for the which in alle England and Fraunce was made grete solempnite and ioie. And this yere deide the duke of Somerset, on whose soule G.o.d have mercy. And that yere was ordeyned thurgh England that no market shuld be more upon the Sonday. And in that yere the erle of Stafford was made duke of Bukkyngham, the erle of Dorset markes of Dorset, the erle of Suffolk markes of Suffolke, and the erle of Warwike duke of Warwike.

REX HENRICUS s.e.xTUS. [1444-1446.]

Herry Frowik, maior. Stephen Forster. Vic'. A^{o}. xxiij.

Hugh Wich.

This yere came quene Margret into England with grete roialte of the kyngs oost, and was receyved at London the xxviij day of May in the moost goodly wise, with alle the citezeins on horsebak ridyng ayenst hir to the Blak heth in blew gownes and rede hodes; and in the cite in diverse places goodly sights ayenst hir comyng: and on the x.x.x day of May, that was Sonday, sche was crowned at Westm', and iij daies after open justs for alle that wolde come. And this yere the priour of Kilmayne in Irland appeelid the erle of Ormond. And this yere came certen amba.s.sadours out of Fraunce, undre saf condit, to treat for peas general to be hadde, which accordid not but for xij monthes after the xviij monthes afore writen, and so went home ayen. And this yere was the translacion of Seint Edwarde made holy day in alle London.

Also in this yere Paulis steple was set a fire with lyghtnyng.

REX HENRICUS s.e.xTUS. [1445-1449.]

Symon Gyr', maior. John Derby. Vic'. A^{o}. xxiv.

Geffrey Feldyng.

John Olney, maior. Rob't Horne. Vic'. A^{o}. xxv.

Geffrey Boleyne.

This yere was the parliament of Bury set, for the good duk of Gloucestre, with grete treason prively wrought ayenst his comyng thider, and was logid in the hospitale, for whom was reised iij^{xx} m^{l} men; and as he sate at his souper, lordes of diverse degrees came to hym in the kings name, dischargyng hym of the kyngs presence and of alle other maner answeres; and so thei arestid hym of high treason, which he mekely obeied; and his men were voided from him ful hevyly departyng; and after he deceased, the certente howe G.o.d knowes: and than was the parliament fynisshed and done. Also this yere was the bataile betwene the Armurer and his man.

John Gidney, Thomas Scot. Vic'. A^{o}. xxvj.

maior. Will'm Habraham.

In this yere was an heretike brent at the Tour Hill upon Hokmonday.

Also this yere were grete flodes, which drowned Stebenhith marshe, Rayneham, and other lowe places. And this yere a quarter of whete fil fro the price of ix _s._ to iiij _s._

REX HENRICUS s.e.xTUS. [1448-1450.]

Steph' Broune, Will'm Calowe. Vic'. A^{o}. xxvij.

maior. Will'm Marowe.

Th' Chalton, maior. Thomas Canyng. Vic'. A^{o}. xxviij.

Will'm Hewlyn.

[Sidenote: A^{o}. xxviij R. H. vj^{ti}.]

[Sidenote: Rebelles Jak Cade.]

In this yere was Normandy lost, and the duke of Suffolk bihedid in a ship called Nicholas of the Tour. Also the comoens of Kent arose, and Jak Cade was their capitayne, callyng hymself Mortymer, by whome were ij knyghts slayne at Sevenok in Kent, that is to sey S^{r}. Humfrey Stafford and S^{r}. William Stafford, brethren, and many of theire men. Than the kyng and his hoste went to Barkhamsted; and after seint Petres day, the capitayne came ageyn to Blakheth, and so over London brige into London on Friday at after none, and bigan to riful and robbe: and on Sat.u.r.day he came over the brigge ageyne, and than were the men of Ess.e.x embatailid at the Mile ende, and there was Crowmer shiref of Kent bihedid; also at the standard in Chepe was S^{r}. Jamys Fynes lord Saye bihedid, and the body drawen into Suthwerk; and there was bihedid Hawardyne a theef and a man queller. And on the Sonday at nyght, the lord Scalis and Mathewe Gough with theire mayny, and with men of London, wenten over the brigge to the Stulpes in Suthwerke, and faught with the capitayne and his host al that nyght til on the Moneday ix of the clok, and that was seint Thomas even, and than the capitayne fired the drawbrigge; and there was slayne Mathewe Gough and Sutton the alderman: and after that the capitayne fledde into Suss.e.x, and thider was pursued and slayne. And after, in the same yere, Richard Plantagenet duke of Yorke came out of Irland unto Westm', with roial people, lowely bisechyng the kyng that justice and execucion of his lawes myght be hadde upon alle such persones about him and in al his realme, frome the highest degree unto the lowist, as were long tyme noisid and detectid of high treason ageinst his persone and the wele of his realme, offring hymself therto, and his service at the kings comaundement, to spend bothe his body and goodes: and yet it might not be perfourmed. Than sone after was callid a set a parliament, wherynne alle the comoens were aggreed, and rightfully electe hym as heire apparent of England, nought to procede in any other matiers till that were graunted by the lordes, whereto the kyng and lordes wold not consent nor graunte, but anon brake up the parliamente.

REX HENRICUS s.e.xTUS. [1450-1452.]

Rich' Wifold, maior. Will'm Dere. Vic'. A^{o}. xxix.

John Middilton.

This yere was Burdeux lost. And this yere was S^{r}. Pieres de Brasil, and the b.a.s.t.a.r.d of Orliaunce, and Manypeny taken. And this yere was the duke of Somerset robbid at Blak freris. And this yere was the parliament at Westmynster. And this yere the stokkes was dividid bitwene fisshmongers and bochers.

Wil' G^{e}gory, maior. Mathewe Philip. Vic. A^{o}. x.x.x.

Christofre Water.

In this yere came Richard Plantagenet duke of Yorke out of Walis, over Kyngston brige to the Blak heth, withe grete power, to clere hymself ageynst kyng Herry of such things as his adversaries had shewed ageynst hym. And the kyng with his lordes came ridyng thurgh London with a roial power toward the Blak heth; and there the lordes spiruel and temperell toke the matier in hand, to trete bitwixt them, to make rest and peas; wherto the seid duke at last graunted and aggreed, on the condicion that his peticions bifore askd for the wele of the kyng and of al his realme myght be graunted and hadde, and his enymys to be comytted to the Tour to abide the lawe; and so the lordes were aggreed and graunted that it shuld be, and were sworne ech to other. And furthwith the duke sent his men home ageyne, and he mekely came and submitted hymself at the Blak heth to the kyng, his adversaries there standyng present, contrary to thappointment and there othes; and so thei brought ungirt thurgh London bitwene ij bisshoppes ridyng unto his place; and after that made hym to swere at Paulis after theire entent, and put him frome his good peticions which were for the comoen wele of the realme, contrary to theire othes and aggreements made bifore in the felde.

REX HENRICUS s.e.xTUS. [1452-1454.]

Geffr' Feldyng, maior. Ric' Alley. Vic'. A^{o}. x.x.xj.

Ric Lee.

This yere was the parliament at Redyng. And this yere was therle of Shrowisbure and the lord Lile his sone slayne: prynce Edward the kyngs sone was borne: and upon seint Barthilues day was a man of seint Johnys arrestid, wherfore was moch to doo at the Wrastlyne.