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.

Of his Troubles after the death of his Nephew Arthur.

KIng Iohn being now freed from his Competitor, one would thinke he should have ended all his troubles, but like a Hydraes head, they rather multiplyed upon him: For they who had beene so ready to assist Prince Arthur in his life, were now as ready to revenge his death. And first, Constance his Mother comes to King Philip, with open exclamations against King Iohn, accusing him with the murther of her Sonne, and with all the instance of Teares and Intreaties, solicites him to revenge it. Hereupon King Philip summons King Iohn to appeare at a day, and because he appeared not according to the tenure of his Homage, it was decreed against him, that he had forfeited all the property of his Estate in France, and thereupon King Philip with mighty Forces invades his Territories, takes ma∣ny Townes of principall consequence, while King Iohn lived idle at R••an, no more regarding it then if it had not at all concerned him; and when some of his Lords seemed to marvell what he meant to suffer the French to rob him of such goodly Cities: You say true indeed, (saith he) for it is but Robbery, and within a few dayes you shall see, I will make him to restore them backe with usu••y. In this slighting humour he returnes into England, where he lookes not after the le∣vying of Souldiers, or the raising of an Army, as this case required, but continues his old course for raising of money, accusing sometimes one of his Lords, some∣times another, as 〈◊〉〈◊〉 it w••re their fault that he had lost these Townes in France•• and upon 〈…〉〈…〉 made many of them pay great summes of money, which brought 〈…〉〈…〉 into hatred at home, but into contempt abroad; for the King of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 ••n••••••standing his unworthy courses, proceeds more violently in his Invasi••ns 〈…〉〈…〉, getting Falai••, Damfr••nt, and all the good Townes of Normandy, but onely Roan, and at last, though R••an was a Towne strongly for∣tifyed with Walls, and more strongly with the faithfull hearts of the Inhabi••ants, yet finding no hope of succour from King Iohn, it was forced for want of Victu∣als to submit it selfe to the King of France, whose example all the other Cities fol∣lowed; and so all Normandy returned to the subjection of the French, after three hundred and sixteene yeares that Roll•• the Dane had first possest it. It was now the yeare 1205. and the fourth of King Iohns Raigne, about which time, the two props of his Estate, or rather indeed, the two Bridles of his intemperancy, dyed, his Mother Queene Eleanor, whose vertues had oftentimes qualifyed the vices of her Sonne; and Hubert Arch-bishop of Canterbury, who repented him at his death of nothing more, then that he had beene an Instrument of bringing him to the Crowne.

And now King Iohn being a Substantive of himselfe, hath a devise in his head to make his subjects as willing to give him money as he was to have it: for know∣ing the great discontentment they all had for his losses in France; he gives it out, that he would presently rais•• an Army, for recovery of those losses, if he might have money to goe about it: whereupon, never was money given with more alacri∣ty; and as soone as he had it, he instantly went to Portesmouth, and there took Ship∣ping before it was possible for his Lords and others to be in readinesse to accompa∣ny him; and sayling forward some certaine Leagues into the Sea, upon a sudden he returnes backe againe, and then laies the fault upon his Lords, that had not fol∣lowed him; and for this backwardnesse of theirs, imposed afterwards great Fines upon them; by which meanes he got money no lesse by pretence of his not go∣ing, then he had done before by pretence of his going. About this time died Geoffrey Fits-Peter Justitiar of England, who while he lived kept the King in some awe, in so much, as hearing he was dead, he swore by the feete of God, that now at length he was King of England; and with great rejoycing said to some Lords about him: Now when this man comes into Hell, let him salute the Arch-Bishop Hubert, whom certainely he shall finde there. But Philip, King of France, inten∣ding to leave the English nothing on that side the Sea, invadeth Chinon, and takes it; and in it the valiant Captaine Roger Lacie, which had given a period to King Philips victories, had not Guido the husband of Constantia Prince Arthurs Mother revolted to King Iohn; who with his assistance once againe leavies an Army, be∣siegeth Mount Auban, a Castle thought impregnable, and within fifteene dayes takes it, which Charles the Great could not get with his seven yeares siege: where so great a number of French Lords were taken prisoners, that King Iohn sent a Ca∣talogue of their names into England, for a memoriall of so great a victory. After this, he taketh the strong Towne of Angiers, and utterly defaceth it; for which af∣terward he was sorry, as being the Towne where he was borne. But now when the two Kings were ready to meete, and to give battell, intercession was made by friends of both sides, and thereupon a Peace concluded for two yeares: and King Iohn returned into England.

King Iohn being returned, performes no lesse worthy acts at home, then he had done in France: for first he invades the Borders of Scotland, and brings Alexander King of Scots to doe him homage; and then understanding many of the Irish to be revolted, he passeth over to Dublin, and reduceth them to his obedience; and then placing Iohn Bishop of Norwich Governour there, he returnes into England; where passing through Wales, he subdueth certaine Rebels there, and takes eight and twenty children of the best Families, for pledges of their future loyalty; but not long after, hearing they grew mutinous and rebelled againe, he was so incensed, that he would not goe to dinner till he had seene those twenty eight children to be all hanged before his face: so inconsiderate a thing is the desire of revenge, that it makes no difference betweene innocency and guiltinesse; though indeed a thing oftentimes must be done for example, which considered in it selfe, would be for∣borne.

And it was the yeare 1214. and the fourteenth of K. Iohns Raign, when he going to Angiers, strongly repaires it; and the Province of Poictou revolted to him; which Lewis King Philips sonne understanding, comes upon them with a mighty Army, and using much severity upon the Authors of the revolt, takes prisoners, Rey∣nold Earle of Boleigne, and William Earle of Salisbury, with many others of King Iohns Captaines, and defeateth his whole Army: whereof when King Iohn was certified, he grew in a manner desperate, and as a man dejected, makes a new Truce upon any conditions with the King of France, and returnes into England; where he findes a worse businesse ready to entertaine him: for the Lords of the Realme having often required their ancient Rights and Liberties; and finding nothing but delusions, endure no longer to be abused; but meeting at Saint Edmundsbery, they there conferre how they may finde a remedy to redresse this evill; and at la••t concluded to goe to the King themselves in person, and make their Demands;

whereof a Charter was produced, that had beene formerly granted in King Henry the firsts time: whereupon comming to the King after Christmas, lying then in the New Temple, and acquainting him with their Demands; he gives them this faire Answer, that within a few dayes he would give them satisfaction; and causeth the Bishops of Canterbury and Ely, with William Marshall, Earle of Glocester, to passe their words for him, that it should be performed. But the King meaning nothing lesse then to doe as he said, fals presently a leavying of Souldiers; which the Lords understanding, they also doe the like; and going to the Bishop of Canterbury, de∣liver him a Copy of their Demands, and require the Kings Answer. But the Bishop shewing it to the King, and humbly intreating him to give the Lords a satisfactory Answer: he swore a great Oath, they might as well demand the Kingdome, and that he would die before he would yeeld to any such demands. Whereupon the Lords (knowing now what they were to trust to) fall to besiege Northampton, and after that, Redford, which is yeelded to them; and withall they are sent to by the Londoners, to signifie their readinesse to joyne with them. At this time the King was at Windsor providing an Army, but hearing the Londoners were joyned with the Lords, he thought it no good way to proceed by force, but rather by fraud; and thereupon sends to the Lords, that if they would come to him to Windsor, he would grant their demands. The Lords comming thither, but in a Military manner, (for they durst not trust his word) the King saluted them all kindly, and promised to give them satisfaction in all they demanded; and so in a Meadow betweene Wind∣sor and Stanes, called Running-meade, he freely consented to confirme their former Liberties; and was content some grave Personages should be chosen to see it per∣formed. But the next day, when it should be done, he gets him gone to South-ham∣pton, and from thence to the Ile of Wight; where advising with his Councell, what in this case was fittest to be done: It was concluded he should send to the Pope, to acquaint him with this mutiny of the Lords, and to require his help: while the King in the meane time lived skulking up and downe in corners, that no man might know where to find him; or which is worse (as some write) roving about and practising Piracy. And now the Lords beginne to suspect fraud, when shortly after the Kings Messengers, who were Walter and Iohn, Bishops of Worcester and Norwich, returne with the Popes Decree; which was, that the Kings Grant to the Lords should be void: with this Decree, the King after three moneths that he had staied in the Ile of Wight, comming backe to Windsor, acquaints the Lords; but they accusing the Messengers for false informing the Pope, and the Pope also for making a Decree without hearing both sides, betake them to Armes, and sweare by the holy Altar to be revenged for this Iudification and injurious dealing. The King finding the Lords nothing moved with the Popes Decree, sends againe unto him, to acquaint him with it: who mightily incensed to have his Decree so sleighted, adjudgeth them all to be held as enemies of Religion; and gives power to Peter Bishop of Winchester, and to the Abbot of Reading to Excommunicate them. In the meane time the King had sent the Bishop of Worcester, Chancellour of England, and others with his Seale, to hire Souldiers from the parts beyond the Seas; who returned shortly after, bringing along with him out of Poicto•• and Glasconie, Savery de Malcon, Geoffrey and Oliver B••t••vile, brothers; & under their conduct so great a rabble, that with these Forces, within halfe a yeare the King had gotten all the Castles of the Barons, to the borders of Scotland. And now he divides his Army, committing part of it to his brother William, Earle of Salisbury, and others, to set upon London; and with the other part he goes himselfe into Yorkshire, where most of the Lords had Possessions, which in most cruell manner he destroyeth with fire and sword. The Lords being thus on all sides distressed, resolve upon a course, neither honourable nor safe; yet such as necessity made seeme both: they send to Philip King of France, requiring him to send over his sonne Lewis to their aide, and promising they would submit themselves to be governed by him, and take him for their Soveraigne. To this mo∣tion of the Lords, King Philip was as forward as themselves; which King Iohn understanding, sends againe to the Pope, requiring him to use his authority to stay

the King of France from comming. But King Philip, though much regarding the request of the Pope, yet nothing so much as the acquest of England; with all speed provides an Army, and with a fleete of sixe hundred sayle•• sends over his sonne Lewis; who passing into England, landeth at Sandwich, whither many of the Lords and others resort unto him; and giving Oaths of Allegeance, joyne them∣selves with him. King Iohn at this time was at Dover, but not daring to stay there for feare of the enemy, he commits the Castle to Hubert Burgh; and goeth himselfe to Canterbury, and from thence to Winchester in manner of a flight; which Prince Lewis understanding, goeth straight to London, and by a plausible Oration makes that City sure unto him: and thither come to him the King of Scots with an Army of choyce Souldiers, as also the Earles, Warren, Arundel, Salisbury, with many others. And now Prince Lewis passeth all the Countrey over without resistance, but not without infinite outrages committed by his Souldiers, which it was not in him to hinder: and then comming to Norwich, he takes that City easily, but Dover cost him a longer siege, as being defended by the valiant and loyall Captaine Hubert Burgh. In this meane while King Iohn finding his enemies imployed in these diffi∣cult sieges; sends about and gathers a rabble of all raskall people to him, and with them runneth over all the Countrey, spoyling and killing in most barbarous man∣ner; and now was the kingdome made the Stage of all miseries of rapine and cruelty: two Armies in it on foote at once, each of them seeking to prey upon the other, and both of them upon the Countrey. But the King comming to Wall∣poole in Norfolke, where the Washes were to be passed over, he sendeth one to search where the Foord was passable, and there himselfe with some few passed over, but the multitude, with all the cariages, passing without orde••, they cared not where, were all drowned; with which dysaster, the King through anguish of minde fell into a Feaver, whereof within a few dayes he died. And here was an end of all the trou∣bles of this King: In whom it is observable, that loving his case•• so well as he did, he should runne voluntarily into such troubles, especially at home, upon so small occasions as he did; but it should seeme there is no greater hinderance to men for accomplishing their will, then their owne wilfulnesse.