A chronicle of the Kings of England, from the time of the Romans goverment [sic] unto the raigne of our soveraigne lord, King Charles containing all passages of state or church, with all other observations proper for a chronicle / faithfully collected out of authours ancient and moderne, & digested into a new method ; by Sr. R. Baker, Knight.

THE LIFE and RAIGNE OF KING RICHARD THE FIRST.

Of his comming to the Crowne, and of his Coronation.

KING Richard, the first of that name, after his Fathers Fune∣rall, went to Roan, where he setled the state of that Province; and from thence came into England, where he was Crowned King at Westminster, by the hands of Baldwin Arch-bishop of Canterbury, the third day of September, in the yeare 1189. And herein this Prince is more beholding to Writers then any of his Predecessors: for in speaking of their Crowning, they content themselves with telling where, and by whom they were Crow∣ned: but of this Prince, they deliver the manner of his Crowning, in the full am∣plitude of all circumstances; which perhaps is not unfit to doe, for satisfaction of such as are never like to see a Coronation; and it was in this manner. First, the Arch-bishops of Canterbury, Roan, Tryer, and Dublin, with all the other Bishops, Ab∣bots, and Cleargy, apparelled in rich Copes, and having the Crosse, holy Water, and Censers carried before them; came to fetch him at the doore of his Privie-Chamber; and there receiving him, they led him to the Church of Westminster, till they came before the high Altar, with a solemne Procession. In the middle of the Bishops and Clergy, went foure Barons, bearing Candlesticks with Tapers; after whom came Geoffrey de Lucie, bearing the Cap of Maintenance, and Iohn Marshall next to him, bearing a massive paire of Spurres of Gold; then followed William Marshall Earle of Striguill, alias Pembroke, who bare the Royall Scepter, in the toppe whereof was set a Crosse of Gold; and William de Patricke Earle of Salisbury going next him, bare the Warder or Rodde, having on the toppe thereof a Dove. Then came three other Earles, David, brother to the King of Scots, the Earle of Huntington, Iohn the Kings brother, Earle of Mortaigne, and Robert Earle of Leycester, each of them bearing a Sword upright in his hand, with the scabberds righly adorned with Gold. The Earle of Mortaigne went in the midst betwixt the other two; after them followed sixe Earles and Barons, bearing a Checker Table, upon the which were set the Kings Scotchens of Armes•• and then followed William Mandevill Earle of Albemarle, bearing a Crowne of Gold a great heighth before the King, who followed having the Bishop of Durham on the right hand, and Reynold Bishop of Bathe on the 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 reliques of certaine Saints, he took a solemne Oath that he should observe peace, honour and reverence to Almighty God, to his Church, and to his Ministers, all the dayes of his life: also that he should exercise upright justice to the people com∣mitted to his charge, and that he should abrogate and disanull all evill Lawes and wrongfull customes, if any were to be found in the precinct of his Realme; and maintaine those that were good and laudable. This done, he put off all his gar∣ments from his middle upwards, but onely his shirt, which was open on the shoul∣d••rs, that he might be annoynted. Then the Arch-bishop of Canterbury annoynted him in three places; on the head, on the shoulders, and on the right arme; with Pray∣ers 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 Royall Gar∣ments, and his uppermost Robe, the Arch-bishop delivered him the Sword, with which he should beate downe the enemies of the Church: which done, two Earles put his Shooes upon his feete, and having his Mantle put on him, the Arch-bishop forbad him on the behalfe of Almighty God, not to presume to take upon him this Dignity, except he faithfully meant to performe those things which he had there sworne to performe; whereunto the King made answer, that by Gods grace he would p••rforme them. Then the King tooke the Crowne beside the Al∣tar, and delivered it to the Arch-bishop, which he set upon the Kings head, delive∣ring to him the Scepter to hold in his right hand, and the Rod Royall in his left hand: and thus being Crowned, he was brought backe by the Bishops and Barons, with the Crosse and Candlesticks, and three Swords, passing forth before him unto his Seate. When the Bishop that sang the Masse, came to the Offertory, the two Bishops that brought him to the Church, led him to the Altar, and brought him backe againe. The Masse ended, he was brought with solemne Procession into his Chamber: and this was the manner of this Kings Coronation. But at this solem∣nity there fell out a very dysastrous accident: For this Prince not favouring the Iewes, as his Father had done; had given a strict charge, that no Iew should be admitted to be a spectator of the solemnity: yet certaine Iewes, as though it had beene the Crowning of their King Herod, would needs be pressing in; and being put backe by Officers set of purpose, it grew to a brabble, and from words to blowes, so as many Ie••es were hurt, and some slaine: and thereupon a rumour was suddenly spread abroad, that the King had commanded to have all the Iewes de∣stroyed. Whereupon it is incredible what rifling there was of Iewes houses, and what cutting of their throats: and though the King signified by publike Declaration, that he was highly displeased with that which was done, yet there was no staying the fury of the multitude till the next day; so often it fals out, that great solemnities are waited on with great dysasters; or rather indeed, as being connaturall, they can hardly be asunder.

Of his first Acts after he was Crowned.

HE beganne with his Mother Queene Eleanor, whom upon her Husbands dis∣pleasure, having been kept in Prison sixteen yeares; he not onely set at liberty, but set in as great authority, as if she had beene left the Regent of the kingdom. The next he gratifies, was his brother Iohn; to whom he made appeare, how much the bounty of a Brother was better then the handnesse of a Father. For he confer∣red upon him, in England, the Earledomes of Cornwall, Dorset, Somerset, Notting∣ham, Darby, and Leycester; and by the marriage of Isabel, daughter and heire to the Earle of Glocester, he had that Earledome also; as likewise the Castles of Marle∣borough, and Lutgarsall, the Honours of Wallingford, Tichill, and Eye, to the value of 4000. Markes a yeare: an estate so great, as were able to put a very moderate mind into the humour of aspiring, of which Princes should have care. Concerning his affianced Lady Adela, it may be thought strange, that having desired her so infi∣nitely when he could not have her, now that he might have her, he cared not for

her: but the cause was knowne, and in every mans mouth; that she was now but his Fathers leavings: yet he would not send her home but very rich in Jewels, to make amends, if it might be, for the losse of her Virginity: though this was some∣thing hard on his part, when the Father had taken all the pleasure, that the sonne should afterward pay all the charges. But by this at least he made a quiet way for his marriage now concluded; and shortly after to be consummated in Sicilie with Berengaria the daughter of Garsyas King of Navarre. And now his minde is whol∣ly set upon his long intended voyage to the Holy Land, for which he thinkes not the treasure left by his Father, to be sufficient, which yet amounted to nine hun∣dred thousand pounds: but forecasting with himselfe the great charge it must needs be, to carry an Army so long a journey, he seekes to enlarge his provision of money by all the means he can devise. Not long before, Hugh Pudsey had been advanced to the Bishopricke of Durham; and now for a great summe of money he sold him the Earledome: and then said merrily amongst his Lords, Doe yee not thinke me a cunning man, that of an old Bishop can make a young Earle? From the Londoners also he drained great summes of money, and made them recompence in Franchi∣ses and Liberties, which they had not before. He made also greatsales: to the the King of Scots, he sold the Castles of Berwick and Roxborough, for ten thou∣sand pounds: to Godfryde Lucie, Bishop of Winchester, the Manors of Weregrave and Ments: to the Abbot of Saint Edmundsbery, the Manor of Mildhall, for one thousand Markes of silver: to the Bishop of Durham, the Manor of Sadborough; and when it was marvelled that he would part with such things, he answered, that in this case he would sell his City of London, if he could finde a Chapman. But the worst way of all was, that pretending to have lost his Signet, he made a new; and made Proclamation, that whosoever would safely enjoy what under the for∣mer Signet was granted, should come to have it confirmed by the new; whereby he raised great summes of money to himselfe, but greater of discontentment in his subjects. By these, and such like meanes he quickly furnished himselfe with money: and now it remained onely to consider, to whose care he should commit the government of the Kingdome in his absence; and after deliberation, he made choyce for the North parts, of Hugh Bishop of Durham; joyning in Commissi∣on with him, Hugh Baldulph, and William Brunell: and for the South parts, he ap∣points William Longshampe Bishop of Ely, and Chancellour of England, and for his greater strength, causeth the Pope to make a Legat of all England and Scotland: and for Normandy, and Aquitaine, Robert Earle of Leycester; all men eminent for prudence and uprightnesse, and which is most of all, for loyalty: and indeed to make a man fit for such imployment, all these vertues must concurre. As for his brother Iohn, he knew very well his aspiring minde, and therefore would have tied him to live in Normandy, and not to come into England till his returne; but that their Mother Queene Eleanor interceded, and passed her word for him: and that nothing might be left unprovided for, he appointed his Nephew Arthur, the sonne of his brother Geoffrey Duke of Britaine to be his Successor, if himselfe should faile. And now, Undique convenere, vocat jam carbasus auras: every man is ready to take Ship∣ping, and no stay now but for a Wind; onely some say that King Richard before his departing, calling his Lords and Knights unto him, and swearing them to be true; gave to overy of them a blew riband to be knowne by; from whence the first occa∣sion of the Order of the Garter is thought to beginne.

Of his journey into the Holy Land.

KING Richard having prepared an Army of thirty thousand foote, and five thousand horse, and having appointed to meete Philip King of France in Si∣cilie, at the latter end of Iune, in the yeare 1190. sets forward himselfe by Land to Marseillis, and there stayes till his Ships should come about; but his Navy be∣ing driven by tempest to other parts, and the King weary of long staying, after sixe weekes, he hireth shipping for himselfe and his company, and passeth for∣ward

to Messana in Sicilie, where arrived also the King of France; and not long after, his owne Navy. In this Iland the King William now lately dead, had married Iane, King Richards sister; from whom Tancred the present King with-held her Dower: and therefore though he shewed King Richard faire coun∣tenance, yet he dealt secretly with the Messanians to use all meanes to get him gone; whereupon the Messanians taking a small occasion, set suddenly upon the English, and thrust them out of their Towne: with which King Richard justly offended, who had his Campe without the Towne, prepares himselfe to revenge the affront; when Tancred sending to him, to signifie that the affront was offered without his know∣ledge, and much against his liking, so pacified him, that for the present he re∣mained satisfied; but understanding afterward, that the Messanians did but waite their opportunity till the Spring, when King Richard should be going: he resenting their intention, staies ••ot their leisure, but assaulting the Towne with fire and sword, in one dayes labour takes it, and had made great slaughter in it, if King Richard had not beene moved to compassion with the Messanians teares, but chiefely with King Tancreds offers; both to pay his sister Iane her Dower, and to marry his daugh∣ter to King Richards Nephew Arthur, Duke of Britaine, and to give a good part of the Portion in hand. But King Philip was not well pleased with these conditions, yet he breakes not out into open dissention, till more fuell was afterward cast upon the fire of his anger. In the Spring King Philip sayles with his Army to Ptolemais o∣therwise called Acon) which the Christians had long besieged, and with them he joynes: while King Richard taking his sister Iane, and Berengaria the young daugh∣ter of the King of Navarre with him in 190. Ships, and 50. Galleys, puts to Sea for the Holy Land, but is by tempest cast upon the Coast of Cyprus; where the I∣landers seeking to hinder his landing, he sets upon them with his forces; and in∣vading the Iland, easily subdues, and brings it under his subjection; and the King of the Cou••trey being taken prisoner, and intreating King Richard not to put him in bonds of Iron, King Richard gives him his word, and keeps it, but puts him in bonds of Silver. In this Iland he solemnizeth his marriage with Berengaria, and then leaving Richard de Canvile, and Robert de Turnham, his Lieutenants in Cyprus; he passeth on to Ptolemais, which City was defended by Saladine, and had beene besieged now two yeares: when the enemy seeing and fearing the encrease of the Christian forces, propounds conditions, upon which accepted, they deliver it up in August, the yeare 1192.

At the taking of this Towne there fell out an accident, seeming an honour to King Richard for the present, but proving a disgrace, at least a great trouble and charge to him afterward. For Leopold Duke of Austria had first set up his Co∣lours upon the wall, which King Richard caused to be throwne downe, and his owne to be set up; but this was no place to stand a quarrelling, it came not to the reckoning till some time after. When Ptolemais was taken, Saladine fearing the Christians further proceeding, dismantles all the best Townes that were neare it: as Porphyria, Caesarea, Ascalon, Gaza; but of Ioppa King Richard takes a care, and placeth in it a Colony of Christians. For Ioppa is a City of Palestine, that was built before the Floud; and hath belonging to it a Haven of great convenience. And now the King of France, though valiant enough himselfe, yet thinking his owne great acts to be obscured by greater of King Richards; he beganne, besides his old hating him, now to envie him. For indeed emulation when it is in Vertue, makes the stronger knot of love and affection: but when it is in Glory, it makes a separation, and turnes into the passion of envie and malice; and so did it with King Philip, who pretending the aire of the Countrey did not agree with his body; but was indeed because the aire of King Richards Glory did not agree with his minde; obtained King Richards consent to returne home, swearing first solemnly, not to molest his Territories in his absence. But this fell out for the present enterprise most uns••asonably: For the departure of the King of France, though it diminished not much the strength; (for he left Od••, Duke of Burgundy in his place) yet it dimini∣shed much the shew of assistance: and indeed Saladine, who was at this time in

termes of surrendring Ierusalem; when he saw the King of Franc•• departed; as knowing there must needs be a conclusion, where there was a beginning, doubted not but the rest would follow soone after, and thereupon st••ied his hands; and grew more confident then he was before. At this time Guy of Lu••ignan was possest of the City of Tyre, and with it, of the right of the Kingdome of Ierusalem: with him King Richard makes an exchange, that G••y should have the Iland of Cyprus which King Richard had wonne, and King Richard should have the kingdome of Ierusalem, to which Guy had a right: and upon this Title the Kings of England, were stiled Kings of Ierusalem a long time after: as likewise the posterity of the said Guy hath by this exchange held the kingdome of Cyprus to this day. Now was King Richard more hot upon taking Ierusalem then ever before, and had cert••••nely taken it, but that by ill counsell diverted, because the Winter drew on: and indeed by the drawing backe of Odo Duke of Burgundie, who envied that King Richard should have the honour of taking it, he removed for that season to Askalon; after which time, the Enemy growing stronger, and the Christians weaker; all opportu∣nity of taking it was utterly lost, and they could never come to the like againe. And shortly after King Richard was advertised of the King of France his invading Normandy, contrary to his oath at his departure; which forced King Richard, much to his griefe, to conclude a peace with Saladine, and that upon conditions not very honourable for the Christians; and himselfe presently to retu••ne home: and so sending his wife Berengaria, and his sister Iane, with a great part of his Army into Sicilie, and from thence into England: he passeth himselfe with some few in his company, by the way of Thrace, and was by tempest brought into Dalma••iae; from whence being to passe through Germany, and particularly through Duke Leopolds Countrey of Austria: he remembring the old grudge, changed his apparell, and travelling sometimes afoote, and sometimes on horsebacke, he used all meanes pos∣sible to keepe himselfe from being knowne: but destiny is not to be avoyded, for as soone as he came to Vienna, partly by his tongue, and partly by his expenses, it was presently found he was an Englishman, and withall some great man; and by and by a rumour was spread, that it was Richard King of England: who finding himselfe to be discovered, and no meanes possible to escape, he puts off his disguise, putting on his Princely apparell, and avowes himselfe: which Duke Leopold under∣standing, sent presently to have him apprehended; but King Richard refusing to yeeld himselfe to any, but to the Duke himselfe; the Duke himselfe came and led hi•• to his owne Palace honourably enough, but yet strongly guarded: whereof as soone as Henry the Emperour heard, he sent with great instance to Duke Leopold to send King Richard over to him, under pretence of safer custody, but with a pur∣pose indeed to be a sharer in his Ransome. And the Duke though well knowing his meaning, yet knowing withall that it was not safe for him to deny the Empe∣rour, he sent him over to him; who soone after put him into a prison he had, cal∣led Trivallis, into which no man was ever knowne to be put that escaped with life, though done perhaps to him, but in terrorem, to draw the better Ransome from him. That with which King Richard was charged, beside the wrong done to Leo∣pold, in throwing downe his Colours at Ptolemais, was the death of Conrade Duke of Tyre, whom they pretended King Richard had murthered; wherein though King Richard made his innocency appeare by the testimony of Limbeldus, who confes∣sed himselfe to have beene the author of the Marquesses death; yet the pretence served to detaine him in prison; and in prison indeed they kept him, till his Ran∣some was agreed upon and paid: which being a hundred thousand pounds, foure∣score thousand was paid in hand: whereof two parts to the Emperour, a third part to Duke Leopold: and for the rest, hostages given to the number of fifty; of whom the Bishop of Roan was one: though the hostages afterward were delivered with∣out paying the rest: for Henry the Emperour dying shortly after, his Successour had the conscience not to take it, as knowing it had beene unjustly exacted: and indeed the accidents that befell both the Emperour and the Duke Leop••ld, were evident demonstrations of the injustice they had done; for the Emperour shortly after

died; and the Duke Leopold, in a Tilting for solemnity of his Birth-day, fell off his horse, and so broke his leg, that to save his life, he was faine to have his leg cut off. And now after fifteen months imprisonment, King Richard is released, and returnes into England foure yeares elder then he went out; and thus ended his journey to the Holy Land. Yet one memorable accident happening to him in the Holy Land, may not be omitted; that going one day a Hawking about Ioppa, finding himselfe weary, he laid him downe upon the ground to sleepe; when suddenly certaine Turkes came upon him to take him; but he awakened with their noyse, ri••eth up, gets a horsebacke, and drawing out his sword, assaults the Turkes, who faign∣ing to flie, drew the King into an Ambush where many Turkes lay; who had cer∣tain••ly taken him if they had knowne his person: but one of the Kings ser∣van••, called William de Patrellis, crying out in the Saracene tongue, that he was the King; they presently lay hold upon him, and let the King escape.

Troubles in his Dominions in his absence.

KING Richard at his going out of England, had so well setled the Govern∣ment of the Kingdome, that might well have kept it in good order during all the time of his absence; but disorders are weeds which no foresight can hinder from growing, having so many hands to water them: where occasions of distast are no sooner offered, then taken; and o••tentimes taken before they be offered, as was here to be seene. For King Richard had left in chiefe place of authority, Wil∣liam Longshampe, Bishop of Ely; a man who so carried himselfe, that although the things he did, were justifiable; yet the pride with which he did them was unsuffe∣r••ble: seldome riding abroad without five hundred, some say a thousand in his traine; not for safety, but for state: and though there were other left in authority besides himselfe, yet his power was so predominant, that he made of them but Ci∣phers, and ruled all as he list himselfe. This insolency of governing was soone distasted by many, and specially by Iohn the Kings brother, who counting the great∣nesse of his Birth an equall match at least with any substitute greatnes, affronted the Bishop in the managing of affaires, in such sort, that while some adhered to the one, and some to the other; the Kingdome in the meane time was in danger to be rent asunder, till at last the Bishop finding himselfe too weake, or at least fearing that he was so; but rather indeed deposed from his authority by the Kings Letters, and the Arch-bishop of Roan put in his place, thought it best for him to flie the Real••e: wherupon for his greater safety, disguising himselfe in womans apparell, and carry∣ing a Webbe of Cloath under his arme, hee sought in this manner to take Ship∣ping and passe the Sea. But being discovered and knowne, the women in revenge of the abuse done to their cloathes, in making them his instruments of fraude; fell upon him, and so beat him, that it might have beaten humility into him for ever af∣ter. This disgrace made him glad to get him into Normandy, his native Countrey, where to little purpose he wooed King Richard and Queene Eleanor for reparation. But this was but a sport in comparison of the mischiefes done in Normandy by Philip King of France: for first he invades Normandy, where he takes many Towns, and amongst others Gysorts, and drawes the Kings brother Iohn to combine with him, promising to assist him in winning the Kingdome of England, and to have his sister Adela, whom King Richard had repudiated to be his wife; with which pro∣mise Duke Iohn had beene ensnared, if his Mother Queene Eleanor had not dis∣swaded him. But in England Duke Iohn tooke upon him as King, perswading the people that his brother King Richard was not living; and indeed it was easie to remove, the knowing him to be a prisoner, to the affirming him to be dead; but such was the faithfulnesse of the Arch-bishop of Roan, and other the Princes of the Realme to King Richard, that they opposed Duke Iohn, and frustrated all his practi∣ses: and the Bishop of Ely had told him plainely, that though King Richard were dead, yet the succession in the kingdome belonged not to him, but to Arthur Duke of Britaine, sonne of Geoffrey his elder brother. And in these termes King Richard found his State when he returned from the Holy Land.

His Acts and Troubles after his returning from the Holy Land.

AT his comming home from the Holy Land, the first thing he did; was to give his Lords and people thankes for their faithfulnesse to him in his absence, and then for their readinesse in supplying him for his Ransome. But as for his brother Iohn in whom ungratefulnesse seemed to strive with ambition, which should be the greater in him; he depriveth him of all those great possessions he had given him: some adoe he had to make sound certaine peeces which he had corrupted, as the Castles of Marleborough, Lancaster, and a Fortresse at Saint Michaels Mount in Cornwall; but chiefely the Castles of Nottingham and Tichill, which stood so firm∣ly for Duke Iohn, that they were not reduced to obedience without some bloud, and much expense. But h••s greatest trouble was with Philip King of France, in whom was so ingraffed a spleene against King Richard, that he seemed to be never well but when he was working him some ill. Now therefore King Richard to make it appeare he had not left the Holy War for nothing (having first obtained in Parlia∣ment a Subsidy towards his charges, & caused himselfe to be new Crowned at Win∣chester, lest the people through his long absence might have forgotten they had a King) he departs with a hundred Ships into Normandy; but it was withall, upon this occasion: sitting one day at dinner, in his lit••le Hal (as it was called) news was brought him, that King Philip had besieged Vernoull, with which he was somoved, that he swore a great oath, he would not turne his face till he were revenged: whereupon he caused the wall right before him to be presently beaten downe, that so he might passe forward without turning his face; and thus in haste he goes to Vernoull, whither he was no sooner come, but the King of France made as great haste to be gone, not without some losse, and more disgrace. Here his brother Iohn submits himselfe to him, and with great shew of penitence intreats his pardon, which he readily gran∣ted; saying onely, I wish you may as well remember your fault, as I shall forget it. The King of France having left Vernoull, enters Turonia, and neare to Vindoci∣num pitcheth his Tents; thither King Richard followes him, and with his comming so affrighted him, that leaving bagge and baggage, Munition, Tents, and Treasure to a marvellous valew, he gets him gone, and glad hee was so rid of King Richard. After this a Truce was agreed upon for a yeare, which each of them longed till it were expired, as having no pleasure but in troubling one another. In this time there was a trouble at home, though not to the King, yet to the kingdome: for Ro∣bin Hood accompanied with one little Iohn, and a hundred stout fellowes more, molested all passengers upon the High-way; of whom it is said, that he was of Noble bloud, at least made Noble, no lesse then an Earle, for some deserving ser∣vices: but having wasted his estate in riotous courses, very penury forced him to take this course; in which yet it may be said he was honestly dishonest, for he sel∣dome hurt any man, never any woman, spared the poore, and onely made prey of the rich: till the King setting forth a Proclamation to have him apprehended, it hapned he fell sicke at a certaine Nunnery in Yorkshire, called Birckleys; and desi∣ring there to be let bloud, was betraid, and made bleed to death. Such another trouble, though not to the King, yet to the kingdome, fell out by reason of the Jewes: and first at the Towne of Linne in Norfolke, upon this occasion: A Jew being turned Christian, was persecuted by those of his Nation, and assaulted in the streete; who thereupon flying to a Church hard by, was thither also followed, and the Church assaulted; which the people of the Towne seeing, in succour of the new Christian they fell upon the Jewes, of whom they slew a great number, and after pillaged their houses. By this example the like assaults were made upon the Jews at Stamford; and after that at Lincolne; and lastly at Yorke, where infi∣nite numbers of Jewes were massacred; and some of them blocked up in the Ca∣stle, cut the throats of their wives and children, and cast them over the wals upon the Christians heads, and then burnt both the Castle and themselves: neither could this sedition be staied, till the King sent his Chancellour, the Bishop of Ely, with

force of Armes, to punish the offenders. His last trouble was a punishment of co∣vetousnesse, for one Guydomer having found a great treasure in the Kings Domini∣ons, and ••or feare of King Richard, flying to a Towne of the King of France for his safegard; was pursued by the King, but the Towne denying him entrance, and he thereupon going about the wals to finde the fittest place for assaulting it, one Bertram de Gurdon, or as others call him, Peter Basile, shot at him with a Crosse∣bow, and hit him on the arme, of which wound he died within fo••re dayes after, and so ended all his troubles.

Of his Taxations, and wayes for raising of money.

OF Taxations properly so called, there were never fewer in any Kings Raigne: but of wayes to draw money from the subject, never more. It is true, the first money raised for his journey, was all out of his owne estate, by selling or pawning of Lands; but when at his comming backe, he resumed the Lands into his hands aga••ne, without paying backe the money he had received; this if it may not have the name, yet certainely it had the venome of a bitter Taxation. Likewise the feigning to have lost his Seale, & then enjoyning them to have their Grants confir∣med by a new; though it went not in the number, yet it had the weight of a heavy Taxation where it lighted. Afterward, the money raised for his Ransome, was not so properly a Taxation, as a Contribution: or if a Taxation for him, yet not by him; which was done in his absence, by the subjects themselves: and indeed no Taxations are commonly so pinching, as those which are imposed upon the subject by the subject, and such was this; for to raise money for his Ransome, ther•• was imposed upon every Knights Fee, 20. s. of all Lay-mens Revenues, the fourth part; and the fourth part of all the Revenues of the Clergy, with a tenth of their goods. Also the Chalices and Treasure of all Churches were taken to make up the sum. Afterward, this onely was a plaine Taxation, and granted in Parliament; that of every Plough-land through England, he should have two shillings, and of the Monkes Ci••teaux, all their Wooll of that yeare: And one more greater then this; and was this yeare imposed towards his warres in Normandy; that every Hide of Land, as much as to say, every hundred Acres of Land, should pay five shillings; which computed without deductions, will rise to a summe that will seeme in∣credible.

Lawes and Ordinances in his time.

HIs Ordinances were chiefely for the Meridian of London: for where before his time the City was governed by Portgraves, this King granted them to be go∣verned by two Sheriffes and a Major, as now it is; and to give the first of these Magistrates the honour to be remembred, the names of the Sheriffes were Henry Cornhill, and Richard Reyner; and the name of the first Lord Major, was Henry Fits-Allwyn, who continued Major during his life, which was foure and twenty yeares. And now beganne the City first to receive the forme and state of a Common∣wealth, and to be divided into Fellowships and Corporations, as at this day they are: and this Franchise was granted in the yeare 1189. the first year of King Richard the first.

Affaires of the Church in his time.

THe Church within his owne Dominions was quiet all his time, no contestati∣on with the Pope, no alterations amongst the Bishops, no difference betweene the Clergy and the Laity, or the Clergy amongst themselves; they all seemed to lie asleepe, till they were afterwards awakened, in the time of the succeeding King. But abroad, in his time, there was an addition of three Orders of Devotion; the Order of the Augustine Friers, called Friers Mendicants, begunne by William of

Paris; then the Order of Friers Minors begunne by Saint Francis; and lastly the Orders of Friers Preachers begunne by Saint Dominick, though not confirmed till the first yeare of Pope Honorius.

Workes of Piety in his time.

VVOrkes of Piety are for the most part workes of plenty; penury may in∣wardly have good wishes, but outwardly it can expresse but little: and in∣deed all parts of the kingdome, all sorts of people were drawne so dry; by the two great occasions of his Journey and his Ransome, and afterward by other Taxati∣ons, that the richest men had enough to doe to maintaine themselves, without be∣ing at the charge to make provision for others. All workes of Piety were now for the service of the Holy Land, and therefore it may well passe, if not for a worke of Devotion, at least worthy to be remembred; that William Bishop of Ely buil∣ded the outer wall of the Tower of London, and caused a deepe ditch to be made about it, with an intention the River of Thames should have surrounded it, though it could not be effected. Onely Hubert Walter, who at one time was Arch-bishop of Canterbury, the Popes Legat, Lord Chancellour, Lord Chiefe Justice, and the immediate Governour under the King, both in Wales and England, Founded a Mo∣nastery at West Derham in Norfolke, where he was borne: begunne another at Wol∣verhampton, and finished a Collegiate Church at Lambeth.

Of his Wif•• and Children.

IN his Infancy he was contracted to a daughter of Raymond Earle of Barcelone, after that affianced to Adela, or Alice, daughter of Lewis King of France, yet married to neither of them; but he married Berengaria daughter of Garsias King of Navarre, whom his Mother Queene Eleanor brought unto him into Sicilie, from whence passing into Cyprus, their marriage was there solemnised: afterward, go∣ing forward to the Holy Land, he carried her and his sister Iane Queene of Sicilie along with him, where they remained till his returne home; and then sent them to passe to Sicilie, and from thence into England: but that ever she came into Eng∣land, no mention is made, neither what became of her after she parted from King Richard at the Holy Land. But children certainely he had none, either by his wife, or by any Concubine, unlesse we reckon as a Priest in Normandy did; who told King Richard, he had three daughters: and the King marvelling who they should be, seeing he knew of none he had; yes (saith the Priest) you have three daughters, Pride, Covetousnesse, and Lechery; which the King taking merrily, called to the company about him, and said; I am told by a Priest here, that I have three daughters, and I desire you to be witnesses how I would have them be∣stowed: my daughter Pride, upon the Templars and Hospitallers: my daughter Covetousnesse, upon the Monks of the Cistercian Order: and my daughter Lechery, upon the Clergy.

Casualties happening in his time.

IN his time the Towne of Mawling in Kent, with the Nunnery, was consumed with fire, and in his time the bones of Arthur the famous King of Britaine were found at Glastenbury in an old Sepulchre, about which stood two Pillars, in which letters were written but could not be read; Upon the Sepulchre was a crosse of Lead, whereon was written, Here ly••th the Noble King of Britaine Arthur. Also in this Kings dayes for three or foure yeares together, there raigned so great a dearth, that a Quarter of Wheate was sold for 18. shillings 8. pence, and then followed so great a mortality of men, that scarce the living sufficed to bury the dead.

Of his Personage and Conditions.

HE was tall of stature, and well proportioned, faire and comely of face, of haire bright abourne, of long armes, and nimble in all his joynts, his thighes and legs of due proportion, and answerable to the other parts of his body. To speake of his morall parts, his Vices for the most part, were but onely upon suspition: Incontinency in him much spoken of, nothing proved; but his Vertues were appa∣rent, for in all his actions he shewed himselfe Valiant, (from whence he had the appellation or surname of Cae••r de Lyon) wise, liberall, mercifull, just, and which is most of all, Religious; a Prince borne for the good of Christendome; if a Barre in his Nativity had not hindred it. The remorse for his undutifulneesse towards his Father, was living in him till he dyed: for at his death he remembred it with bewailing, and desired to be Buryed as neare him as might be, perhaps as think∣ing they should meete the sooner, that he might aske him forgivenesse in another world.

Of his Death and Buriall.

HE dyed of a wound with an Arrow in his Arme, which neglected at first, and suffered to wrankle, or as others say, ill handled by an unskilfull Chirurgeon, in foure dayes brought him to his End. But his Charity deserves to have it remem∣bred, that finding himselfe past hope of Recovery, he caused the Party that had wounded him to be brought before him, who being asked what moved him to doe this Fact? answered, that King Richard had killed his Father and two of his Bro∣thers with his owne hand, and therefor•• would doe it, if it were to doe againe. Up∣on this Insolent answer, every one looked the King should have censured him to some terrible punishment, when contrary to all their expectations in a high degree of Charity, he not onely freely forgave him, but gave a speciall charge he should be set at liberty, and that no man should dare to doe him the least hurt: comman∣ding besides to give him a hundred shillings for his paines. An Act that well shew∣ed he had beene at the Holy Land, or rather indeed that he was going to it. He dyed the sixth day of Aprill in the yeare 1199. when he had lived 44. yeares, Raign∣ed nine, and about nine moneths, and had his Body Buryed at Founteverard, by his Father; his heart at Roan, in remembrance of the hearty love that City had al∣wayes borne him; and his bowels at Chalons, for a disgrace of their unfaithfulnesse; others say at Carlile in England.

Of Men of Note in his time.

IN his time were famous Baldwyn Archbishop of C••nterbury, who followed King Richard into the Holy Land, and dyed there; Hubert that succeeded him; Hugh Bi∣shop of Lincolne; William Bishop of Ely, a man equally famous and infamous; al∣so Baldwyn Archbishop of Canterbury, a learned Writer in Divinity; Daniel Mor∣ley a great Mathematician, Iohn de Herham, and Richard de Herham, two notable Hi∣storians; Guilielmus Stephonides a Monke of Canterbury, who wrote much in the praise of Arch-bishop Becket; also one Richard Divisiensis, Nicholas Walkington, and Robert de Bello Foco, an excellent Philosopher. Of Martiall men, Robert Earle of Leycester; Ranulph de Fulgers; two of the B••••dolphs, Hugh and Henry; three Willi∣ams, Marshall, Brun••ll and Mandevill, with two Roberts, Rosse, and S••vevile.