Polychronicon Ranulphi Higden maonachi Cestrensis; together with the English translations of John Trevisa and of an unknown writer of the fifteenth century.

Capitulum sextum.

IN the eyght yere of kyng Rychardes regne, Syr Edmond of Langely, Erle of Cambrydge, the kynges vncle, wente in to Portyngale with a grete companye of men of armes and archers, in strengthyng and helpyng the kynge of Portyngale ageynst the kynge of Spayne. And there the kynge of Portyn|gale had the vyctorye. That done, the Erle of Cambrydge cam home ageyne with his armye in to Englond. The same yere kyng Rychard helde his Crystemasse at Eltham. The kyng of Ermonye the same tyme fledde oute of his owne londe, and cam vnto kynge Rychard for socour and ayde, for the Turkys had devoured & destroyed moche of his londe. The kyng havyng grete pyte & compassion of his grete myschyef, toke counseyl herupon. And it was concluded that the kyng shold yeve hym some good, for taventure his peple so ferre it were a grete ieopardye. And so the kyng gaf hym gold and sylver and many ryche yeftes, and betaught hym to God, and soo he departed oute of Englond. This same yere kynge Rychard with a grete and puissaunt armee wente toward Scot|land. And the Scottys sente to the kynge, and desyred and made grete laboure for to have a tryeus, soo a tryeus was taken and made; and thenne the kyng retorned to York, and there Syre Iohan Holond, therle of Kentis broder, slewe therlys sone of Stafford, wherfore the kyng was sore meved and retorned to London. In the nynthe yere of his regne was a parlement at Westmynstre, in whiche the kynge made and created two Dukes, fyve Erlys, and a marquys. Syr Edmond of Langley, the kynges vncle, Erle of Cambrydge, was mad duc of York. Syre Thomas of Wodestoke, his other vncle, that was Erle of Bokyngham, was made duc of Gloucetre. Syre Leonel Vere, Erle of Oxenford, was made marquys of Develyn. Harry Bolyngbroke, the dukes sonne of Lancastre, was made erle of Derby. Syre Edward, the dukes sone of York, was made erle

of Ruthlond. Syre Iohan Holond, the Erle of Kentys broder, was made erle of Huntyngdon. Syr Thomas Moubray, erle of Notyngham, was made erle marchal of Englond. Syre Mychel de la Pole, knyght, was made Erle of Suffolk, and Chaunceler of Englond. Atte this same parlement therle of Marche was pro|clamed heyre apparaunte to the crowne of Englond after kynge Rychard. The sayd Erle of Marche wente over see into Irlond vnto his lordship therldome of Ulster, whiche was hys by enherytaunce. And there as he lay on a tyme in a castel of his, there cam vppon hym greete multitude of wylde Irysshe men, and he cam oute of his Castell fyersly with his peple and fought with hem manly, and there he was slayne. In the tenth yere the erle of Arondel went to the See with a greete navye, and there he met an hoole flete comynge fro the Rochel laden with wyn, whiche were enemyes goodes, whiche flete he toke and brought in to dyverse havens in Englond, and somme vnto London, where men myght bye a tonne of Rochel wyn for twenty schyllynges. In the enleventh yere of his regne was tharysyng of certayn lordes in Englond in destruction of rebellys, Syre Rychard erle of Arundele, Syre Richard erle of Warwyk, Syre Harry of Bolyngbroke, erle of Derby, and Syre Thomas Moubray, erle marchal. These fyve lordes vnder|stode the myschyef & governaunce of the kynges counceylle, wherfor they that were that tyme of the kynges counseyll fled out of the londe; that is to saye, mayster Alysaunder Nevel, Arclfebisshop of York, Syre Mychel de la Pole, Erle of Suffolk & chaunceler of Englond, and the marquys of Develyn, Syr Robert le Vere: these thre lordes cam never ageyne into Englond, for they deyde beyonde the see. These fyve lordes above sayd made a parlement at Westmestre, and there they toke Syre Robert Tresylyon, Justyce, Syre Nychol Brembre, knyght and cyteseyne of London, Syre Iohan Salesbury, knyght and Uske sergeaunt, with other moo, whiche were Iuged to deth and were drawe to Tyburn, and there hanged. Also in the same parlement Syre Symon Beverley, knyght of the Garter, Syre Iohan Beauchamp, knyght, styward of the kynges hous, and syr Iohan Berneis were byhedid atte Toure hylle. Also Robert Bealknap, Iohan Holte, Iohan Cary, William Burgh, Robert Fulthorp, and Iohan Lokton, Justyses, were exyled in|to Irlond, ther for to dwelle all her lyf tyme. In the twellifth yere, duryng the sayd parlement, was holden a general Justys in Smythfelde of lordes, knyghtes, and squyers for all maner straungers that wolde come, holdyng open housholde to hem and alle other. And alle they of the kyngys hous were of one sute, theyr cotys, theyr armys, theyr sheldes, and theyr trap|pours were browdrid all with whyte hertis, with crownes of gold about theyr neckes, and cheynes of gold hangyng theron;

whiche hertys was the kynges leverey that he yaf to lordes, ladyes, knyghtes, and squyers, to knowe his houshold pepel from other. Thenne four and twenty ladyes comynge to the iustys ladde four and twenty lordes with cheynes of gold, and alle in the same sute of hertes as is afore sayd, from the tour on horsbak thurgh the Cyte of London in to Smythfeld. To this feste cam many grete lordes, straungers, oute of Fraunce, Henaud, Holond, and of other contreyes: whiche feste and iustes endured four and twenty dayes vppon the kynges cost. Whanne the feste was ended and iustys, the king thankyng the straungers yave to them grete yeftes. And thenne they toke their leve and so departed. In the thirtenth yere was a bataille done in the palays at Westmestre bitwene a squyer of Naverne, that was with the kinge, and a squyer callid Iohan Walssh, for pointes of treasonne that he of Naverne put vppon this Walssh; but in the ende he of Naverne was overcome and disconfyted in the felde, & yelded hym. And anon he was despoylled of his armure, and drawen oute of the palays vnto Tyburne and there hanged.