A perambulation of Kent conteining the description, hystorie, and customes of that shyre. Collected and written (for the most part) in the yeare. 1570. by William Lambard of Lincolnes Inne Gent. and nowe increased by the addition of some things which the authour him selfe hath obserued since that time.

Douer, called in Latine, Dorus, Du∣rus, Doueria, Dubris, and Dorubernia: In Saxon Sofra. All whiche names be deriued either of the Brit∣tishe word (Dufir) whiche signifieth water, or of the word (Dufirha) whiche betokeneth highe, or steepe: for the si∣tuation of the place, (beeing a highe rocke, han∣ging ouer the water) might iustly giue occasion to name it after either.

THe treatise of this place, shall consist of thrée speciall members, that is to say, the Towne, the Castle, and the Religious buildings. The Towne, was long since somewhat estimable, howebeit that whiche it had (as I thinke) was both at the first deriued from the other two, and euer since also continually con∣serued by them: But whether I hitte, or misse in that cō∣iecture, certaine it is, by the testimonie of the recorde in the Exchequer, commonly called Domesday booke, that the Towne of Douer was of abilitie in the time of King Edward the Confessour, to arme yerely 20. vessels to the Sea by the space of 15. dayes together, eache vessell hauing therein. 21. able men. For in consideration thereof, the same King graunted to the inhabitants of Douer, not onely fréedome from payment of Tholl, and other priuileges throughout the Realme, but also par∣doned them all manner of suite and seruice, to any his Courts whatsoeuer. The Towne it selfe was neuer∣thelesse [ 1051] (at those dayes) vnder the protection and gouer∣naūce of Godwine, the Earle of Kent: for I read, that it chaūced Eustace, the Earle of Bolloine, (who had maried Goda, the Kings sister) to come ouer y^e seas into Englād,

of a desire that he had to visite the King his Brother, and that whiles his herbenger demeaned him selfe vnwise∣ly in taking vp his lodgings at Douer, he fel at variance with the Townesmen, and slewe one of them: But Nocuit temeraria virtus. For that thing so offended the rest of the inhabitants, that immediatly they ranne to weapon, and killing eightéene of the Earles seruauntes, they compelled him and all his meiney to take their feete, and to séeke redresse at the Kings handes.

The King hearing the complaint, ment to make cor∣rection of the fault, but the Townesmen also had com∣plained themselues to Godwine, who determining vn∣aduisedly to defend his clients and seruauntes, opposed himselfe violently against the King his Leige Lord and Maister. To bee short the matter waxed (within a while) so hote betwéene them, that either side for main∣tenance of their cause, arraied and conducted a great ar∣mie into the field. Godwine demaunded of the King, that Eustace might be deliuered vnto him, the King cō∣maunded Godwine (that armes laide aside) hee would answere his disobedience by order of the Lawe: and in the ende, Godwine was banished the Realme by the sentence of the King and Nobilitie, wherevpon hee and his Sonnes fled ouer the Sea, and neuer ceassed to vn∣quiet the King, and spoyle his subiects, til they were re∣conciled to his fauour, and restored to their auncient es∣tate and dignitie.

This towne, was so sore wasted with fire, soone af∣ter the comming in of King William the Conquerour, that it was wholly (saue onely nine and twentie dwel∣ling [ 1295] houses) consumed, and brought to ashes. And in the time of King Edward the first also, whiles two of the Popes Cardinales were here in the treatie of an at∣tonement, to be made betwéene England and Fraunce

the Frenchemen landed at Douer in a right, and bur∣ned a great part of the towne, and some of the religious buildings. So that in those times, it was muche em∣payred by those misfortunes. But nowe in our me∣morie, what by decay of the hauen (whiche King Henrie the eight, to his great charge, but that all in vayne, sought to restore) and what by the ouerthrowe of the re∣ligious houses, and losse of Calaice, it is brought in ma∣ner to miserable nakednesse and decaye: whiche thing were the lesse to be pitied, if it were not accompanyed with the ruine of the Castell it selfe, the decay whereof, is so much y^e more grieuous, as the fame therof is with our ancient stories (aboue al other) most blasing & glori∣ous. The Castell of Douer (sayth Lidgate and Rosse) was firste builded by Iulius Caesar the Romane Empe∣rour, in memorie of whome, they of the Castell kept till this day, certeine vessels of olde wine, and salte, whiche they affirme to be the remayne of suche prouision as he brought into it. As touching the whiche (if they be natural, and not sophisticate) I suppose them more like∣ly to haue béene of that store, whiche Hubert de Burghe layde in there, of whome I shall haue cause to say more hereafter: But as concerning the building, bycause I finde not in Caesar his owne Commentaries, mention of any fortification that he made within the Realme: I thinke that the more credible reporte, whiche ascribeth the foundation to Aruiragus (a King of the Britons) of whome Iuuenal the Poet hath mention, saying to the Emperour Nero, in this wise,

Regem aliquem capies, aut de temone Britanno Excidet Aruiragus, &c. Some King thou shalt a captaine take, or els from Bryttishe wayne Shall Aruiragus tumble downe.

And of whome others write, that he founde suche fauour in the eye of Claudius the Emperour, that he obtained his daughter to wife. But whosoeuer were the authour of this Castell, Mathewe Parise writeth, that it was accounted in his time (which was vnder the reigne of King Henry the third) Clauis, & Repagulum, to∣tius Regni, the very locke and key of the whole Realme of England. And truly it séemeth to me, by that which I haue read of King William the Conquerour, that he also thought no lesse of it: For at suche time as Harold, being in Normandie with him (whether of purpose, or against his will, I leaue as I finde it, at large) made a corporall othe, to put him in possession of the Crowne, after the death of King Edwarde: It was one parcell of his othe, that he should deliuer vnto him this castell, and the Well within it. The same King had no soner ouer∣throwne Harolde in the fielde, and reduced the Londo∣ners to obedience, but foorthwith he marched with his armie towarde Douer, as to a place of greatest impor∣taunce, and spéede in that iourney, as is already de∣clared.

Not long after whiche time also (when he had [ 1067] in his owne opinion) peaceably established the gouern∣ment of this Realme, and was departed ouer into Nor∣mandie, of purpose to commit the order of that countrie to Robert his sonne, diuers of the shyre of Kent, know∣ing right well, howe muche it might annoy him to lose Douer, conspired with Eustace, the Earle of Boloine, for the recouerie and surprise of the same. And for the better atchieuing of their desire, it was agréed, that the Earle should crosse the seas, in a night by them appoin∣ted, at whiche time they woulde not faile with all their force to méete him, and so (ioyning handes) soudainly as∣sayle and enter it. They met accordingly, and marched

by darke night toward the Castell, well furnished with scaling ladders, but by reason that the watch had discri∣ed them, they not only fayled of that whiche they inten∣ded, but also fell into that whiche they neuer feared: for the Souldiours within the Castell (to whome Odo the Bishop of Borieux, and Hughe Mountfort, which then were with the King in Normandie, had committed the charge thereof) kept them selues close, and suffered the assaylants to approche the wall, and then, whiles they disorderly attempted to scale it, they set wide open their gates, and made a soudaine salie out of the péece, and set vpon them with suche furie, that they compelled Eu∣stace with a fewe others, to returne to his Shippe, the reste of his companie, béeing eyther slayne by the sworde, destroyed by fall from the Clyffe, or deuoured by the Sea.

The same King also, béeing worthely offended with the disobedience, auarice, and ambition of Odo (his bastarde brother, whome he had promoted to the Bi∣shopricke of Borieux, and to the Earldome of Kent,) for that he had not onely by rauine and extortion, raked together greate masses of Golde and treasure, whiche he caused to be grounde into fine pouder, and (filling therewith dyuers pottes and crockes) had sounk them in the bottomes of Riuers, intending ther∣withall to haue purchased the Papacie of Rome: But also bycause he refused to render vnto him the Coun∣tie of Kent, and was suspected for aspiring to the Crowne of this Realme, consulted with Lanfranc (the Archebishop of Canterburye, and a professed e∣nemie to Odo) howe hée might (safely and without offence to the Ecclesiasticall estate, for that hée was a Bishoppe) bothe conteyne that treasure within the Realme, and also deteyne hys person from

going into Italie, whether warde he bothe addressed him selfe with all speede, and gathered for his trayne, great troupes of valiaunt, and seruiceable men out of euerie quarter: Lanfranc counseled the King, to commit him to safe custodie, and for his defence armed him with this pretie shift: If it be layde to your charge (quoth he) that you haue layde violent handes vpon a sacred Bishop, Say, that you imprisoned, not the Bishop of Borieux, but the Earle of Kent. The King liked well the con∣ceit, and causing Odo to be apprehended, caste him into prison, whence he was not deliuered, during al the time of his reigne. That done, he made diligent inquisitiō for the hourdes of golde, and by feare of torture, caused the Bishops seruants to bewray the whole treasure.

Then also tooke he new order for the gouernement of this Shyre, and bycause he was persuaded, that no∣thing within the same was of more importance, then Douer Castell, he seised it into his handes, foorthwith fortified it, and chose out a noble mā, called Iohn Fynes, (of whose prowesse and fidelitie he had made good tryal) and committing vnto him, not only the custodie thereof, but the gouernment of the rest of the Portes also, by gift of inheritaunce, he named him Constable of Douer, and Wardein of the Cinque Portes. And to the end that he shoulde be of sufficient abilitie to beare the charge of the defence thereof, he gaue him to the number of sixe and fiftie Knightes fees of lande and possession, willing him, to communicate some partes of that gift, to suche other valiaunt and trustie persons, as he should best like of, for the more sure conseruation of that his most noble and precious péece.

He accordingly called vnto him eight other worthie Knightes, and imparting liberally vnto them, of that whiche he had receiued of the King, bounde them by te∣nure

of their lande receiued of the King, to mainteine one hundreth and twelue souldiours amongest them: whiche number he so diuided by monethes of the yeare, that fiue and twentie were continually to watche and warde within the Castell, for their seuerall stintes of time: and all the rest ready at commaundement, vpon whatsoeuer necessitie.

The names of these eight were, Williā of Albrance, Fulbert of Douer, William Arsicke, Galfride Peuerell, William Maynemouth, Robert Porthe, Robert Creue∣quer (called in the Latine Records, De crepito corde) that is, Crackt harte: And Adam Fitz Williams. Eche of al whiche, had their seuerall charges, in sundry towres, turrets, & bulworks of the castel, and were contented of their owne dispence, to mainteine and repaire the same, in token wherof, diuers of them beare the names and ti∣tles of these newe chosen Captaines, euen till this oure present time. And thus Douer being dispatched of a busie Bishop, fenced by the Kings appointment, furni∣shed, fraught, and planted with a moste faithfull Con∣stable, vigilant Captaines, and diligent warders, gay∣ned and reteined the opinion and name of a most impor∣tant, commodious, and necessarie péece, not only with the natiue Princes and Nobilitie of our owne Realme, But also with suche foreigne Potentates, as had warre and contention with vs: in so muche as in sundry trou∣bles ensuing, at sundry times afterwarde within this Realme, it did plainely appeare, that this Castell was the chiefe marke, whereat eche man directed his shot.

For King Stephan, in the contention that arose be∣twéene him and Maude the Empresse, for the title of the Crowne, thought that no one thing stoode him more in hande, then to get the possession of Douer Castell, and therfore he neuer ceassed to sollicite Walkelm (that thē [ 1137]

had the custodie thereof) till he had obteyned it.

Lewes also, the French Dolphine, which by the insti¦gatiō [ 1217] of the Pope, & inuitating of the Nobilitie, inuaded King Iohn, (vpon such cause as shall hereafter appeare) hauing gained, partly by tenure, & partly by surrender of y^e Barons, that were of his faction, almost al the Castels and Holdes, lying on the Southe parte of the Realme, coulde not yet thinke him selfe assured, onlesse he had Douer also. For his Father Philipe, hearing that he had the possession of sundry other strong places, and that he wanted Douer, Sware by Sainct Iames arme, (whiche was his accustomed othe) that he had not gay∣ned one foote in Englande: and therefore, he made thi∣ther with all his power, and besieged it streightly: But that noble Captaine Hubert of Borroughe, (of whome I lately spake) whiche was in his time, Con∣stable of the Castell, Wardein of the Portes, Earle of Kent, and chiefe Iustice of all Englande, defended it with suche couragious co••stancie, that it was bothe a comforte to the Englishe subiecte, and a wonder to the Frenche enemie to beholde it: in so muche, as I can not worthely impute the deliuerie of this Realme, from the perill of forreigne seruitude (wherein it then stoode) to any one thing so muche, as to the magnani∣mitie of this man. Of whome also (by the waye) I thinke good to tell you this, that in his time of Con∣stableship [ 1263] at Douer, and by his meanes, the seruice of Castlegarde there, whiche had contayned (as I she∣wed before) from the time of William the Conque∣roure, was with the assent of King Henrie the thyrde, conuerted into a payment of money, the lande béeing charged with tenne shillings for euerie War∣der, that it was bounde to finde, and the owners thereby discharged of their personall seruice, and at∣tendaunce

for euer: At whiche time also, he caused the same King to release by his frée Chartre, the cu∣stome of Forrage due to this Castell, and that done, him selfe instituted newe lawes amongst the watche∣men, and increased the number of the Warders. But nowe to my purpose againe.

Simon, the Earle of Leycester, and leader of the Ba∣rons warre againste King Henrie the thirde, euen at the first wrested the Castell of Douer, out of the Kings possession, and kéeping the same during all his life, vsed to sende thyther (as vnto a place of most assuraunce) all suche as he had taken prysoners.

After his ouerthrowe, Edwarde (then Prince, and afterwarde the first King of that name) assayled it with all speede, and (by the ayde of the prisoners within, whiche had taken the great towre to his vse) obteined it: There lefte he prisoned, Guy the sonne of this Si∣mon, but he escaped sone after, by corruption of his [ 1266] kéepers.

To make an ende, the Nobilitie of that time were fully persuaded, that bothe the safetie and daunger of the whole Realme, consisted in this one Castell: And therefore (saythe Mathewe Parise) at suche time as King Henrie the thirde, called ouer from beyonde the Seas his owne brother, Richarde (then King of the Romanes) the Noble men (who had him in some Iea∣louzie) would not agrée, that he, or any of his, should once enter within this Castell. Not without good cause ther∣fore, hath Douer by greate préeminence, béene repor∣ted the chiefe of the Fiue Portes, assigned by lawes of Parleament, as a speciall place for passage and es∣chaunge, and by auncient tenure acknowledged for Lady and Maistresse of many Manors: To it al∣wayes some man of great apparaunce is appoynted

as Captaine and gouernour. To it sundry Gentlmen of the Shyre, paye yet money for the auncient duetie of their attendance and seruice: And to it sinally, the coun∣trey men in all times of trouble, haue an especiall eye and regarde.

As concerning the mayntenaunce of this Castell in fortification, and building, I finde not muche more in storie, then I haue already opened, whiche happeneth the rather (as I thinke) for that many priuate persons within the Shyre of Kent, were of long time, not onely bounde by their tenures of Castlegarde, to be ready in person for the defence, but also stoode charged in purse, with the reparation of the same. Onely I reade in Iohn Rosse, that King Edwarde the fourth, to his great expence, (whiche others recken to haue béene ten thou∣sande poundes) amended it throughout: Hauing there∣fore none other memorable thing touching the Castell it self, I will leaue it, and passe to the Religious houses.

Lucius the first christened King of the Britons, buil∣ded a Churche within Douer Castell, to the name and seruice of Christe, endowing it with the tolle or custome of the hauen there. And Eabaldus (the sonne of Ethel∣bert, the firste christened King of the Saxons) erected a College within the walles of the same, whiche Wygh∣tred (a successour of his) remoued into the towne, stored with two and twentie Chanons, and dedicated it to the name of S Martine: This house, was afterward new [ 725] builded by King Henrie the seconde (or rather by Willi∣am Corbeil, the Archebishop in his time,) stuffed by [ 131] Theobalde his successour with Benedicte Monkes, and called the Pryorie of S. Martines, though commonly af∣terward, it obtained the name of a newe worke at Do∣uer. Betwéene this house and Christes Churche in Canterbury (to the whiche King Henrie the seconde had

giuen it) there arose (as it chaūced vsually amongst hou∣ses [ 1234] of Religion) muche contention, for certaine superio∣rities of iurisdiction, and for voice and suffrage in the e∣lection of the Archebishop. For on the one side, the Pryor and Couent of Douer, claymed to haue interest in the choice of the Archebishop, whiche the Pryor of Christes Churche would not agree vnto: And on the other side, the Pryor of Christes Churche pretended to haue such a soueraintie ouer S. Martines, that he would not onely visite the house, but also admit Monkes and Nouices at his pleasure, whiche the other coulde not beare: So that they fell to suing, prouoking, and braw∣ling (the ordinarie and onely meanes, by which Monkes vsed to trie their controuersies) and ceassed not appea∣ling, and pleading at Rome, tyll they had bothe weary∣ed them selues, and wasted their money. Howbeit, as it commonly falleth out, that where respect of money and reward guydeth the iudgement and sentence, there the mightie preuaile, and the poore goe to wracke: So the Monkes of Canterbury, hauing to giue more, and the Pope and his ministers being ready to take al, poore Douer was oppressed, and their Pryor in the ende con∣strained to submission. And here, bycause I am falne into mention of controuersie betwéene ecclesiastical per∣sons, of whiche sorte our hystories haue plentie, I will touche in fewe wordes, the euill intreatie that William Longchampe, the iolly Bishop of Elye, and Chaunceller of al England, vsed toward Godfrey the Kings brother, and Bishop of Yorke electe, within this Pryorie.

King Richard the first, being persuaded by the Pope and his Clergie, to make an expedition for the recouerie of the holy lande, partely for the performaunce of that whiche the King his father had purposed to doe in per∣son, and partly for satisfaction of his owne vowe, (which

he made when he tooke the crosse, as they called it, vpon him) set to port sayle his Kingly rights, iurisdictions, and prerogatiues, his crowne, landes, fermes, customes, and offices, and whatsoeuer he had beside, to rayse mo∣ney withall: and so committing the whole gouerne∣ment of his Realme, to William the Bishop of Ely his Chancellour, he committed him selfe, and his company to the winde and Seas.

This Prelate, hauing nowe by the Kings com∣mission the power of a Viceroy, and besides, the Popes gifte, the authoritie of a Legate and Vicar, and consequently, the exercise of both the swordes, so ru∣led and reigned, ouer the Clergie & Laitie in the kings absence, that the one sort founde him more then a Pope, the other felt him more then a King, and they bothe en∣dured him an intollerable Tyrant: for he not only ouer ruled the Nobilitie, and outfaced the Clergie, spoyling bothe the one and the other, of their liuings and promo∣tions, for maintenaunce of his owne ryot, pompe, and excesse: But also oppressed the common people, deuou∣ring and consuming wheresoeuer he became, the victu∣all of the countrey, with the troupes and traines of men and horses (being in number a thousand or fiftéene hundreth) that continually followed him. Amongst other his practises, hauing gotten into his handes, the reuenues of the Archebishopricke of Yorke (whereof Godfrey, the Kings brother was then elected Bishop, and busie at Rome for to obtaine his consecration) and fearing that by his returne, he might be defrauded of so swéete a morsell, he first laboured earnestly to hinder him in his suite at Rome, and when he sawe no successe of that attempt, he determined to make him sure, when soeuer he should returne home. And for that purpose, he tooke order with one Clere, (then Sheriffe of Kent, and

Constable of the castel of Douer, to whom he had giuen his sister in marriage) that he should haue a diligent eye to his arriuall, and that so soone as the Archebishop did set foote on lande, he shoulde strip him of all his orna∣ments, and commit him to safe custodie within the Ca∣stell. Whiche thing was done accordingly: for the Archebishop was no sooner arriued, and entered the Churche, to offer to Sainct Martine, sacrifice for his safe passage (as the Gentiles that escaped shipwracke, were wont to doe to Neptune:) But Clere and his compa∣nie came in vpon him, and doing the Chancellours commaundement, violently haled him and his Chap∣laines to prison.

Hereat Iohn (then the Kings brother, but afterward King) taking iust offence, and adioyning to him for re∣uenge, the vttermost aide of the Bishops and Barons, his friendes and alies, raised a great power, and in short time so strengthened the Chancellour, that he not only agreed to release Godfrey, but was fayne him selfe also (abandoning his late pompe and glorie) to get him to Douer, and lye with his brother Clere, as a poore, pri∣uate, and despoyled person.

Howbeit, not thus able to endure long, the note of infamie and confusion, whereinto he was falne, he de∣termined within him self to make an escape, and by shift of the place, to shroud his shame, in some corner beyond the Seas: And therfore, shaueing his face, and attyring him selfe like a woman, he tooke a péece of linnen vnder his arme, and a yard in his hand, minding by that disgui∣sing, to haue taken vessell amongst other passingers vn∣known, & so to haue gotten ouer: But he was not at the first, in al his authoritie, more vnlike a good man, thē he was now in this poore apparel vnlike an honest womā:

and therefore being at the verie first discouered, he was by certaine rude fellowes openly vncased, well boxed a∣bout the eares, and sent to the nexte Iustice, who con∣ueyed hym to Iohn his great enemie. And thus was all the gaye glorie of this gallant brought to shame and confusion, his Pecockes feathers pulled, his black féete bewraied, his fraude vnfoulded, his might abated, and him selfe in the ende suffered to sayle ouer with sorowe and ignominie. Besides this Pryorie of S. Martines, (which was valued at a hundreth fourscore and eight poundes by yeare) there was lately in Douer also an Hospitall, rated at fiftie nyne poundes: An other house of the same sorte, called Domus Dei, (or Maison Dieu) reputed worth one hundreth and twentie pounds: And long since a house of Templers (as they call it) the which (together with al other of the same kind through∣out the Realme) was suppressed in the reigne of King Edwarde the seconde: The foundation of any of these, I haue not hitherto founde out, and therefore can not deliuer therof any certaintie at all: Onely as touching this Temple, I dare affirme, that it was erected after the time of Conquest, for as muche as I am sure, that the order it selfe was inuented after that Godfrey, of [ 1096] Bolein, had wonne Ierusalem, whiche was after the cō∣ming in of the Conquerour. To these also may be ad∣ded for neighbourhoode sake (if you will) the Monasterie of S. Radegundes on the hyll, two myles off, valued at fourescore and eightéene pounds by yeare. And here, hauing perused the Towne, Castle, and religious buil∣dings, I woulde make an ende of Douer, saue that Ma∣thewe Parise putteth me in mynde of one thing (not vn∣worthy rehearsall) that was done in this Temple: I meane, the sealing of that submission, whiche King Iohn made to Pandulphe (the Popes Legate) wherin he yeal∣ded

his Realme tributarie, and him selfe an obediencia∣rie, and vassall, to the Bishop of Rome: And bycause this was almost the last acte of the whole Tragedie, and can not well be vnderstoode without some recourse to the former parts and beginning, and for that some men (of late time) haue taken great holde of this matter, to aduaunce the Popes authoritie withall, I will shortly (after my manner) recount the thing as it was done, and leaue the iudgement to the indifferent Reader.

After the death of Hubert (the Archebishop of Can∣terbury) the Monkes of Christes Church agréed among [ 1205] them selues to chose for their Bishop, Reginald the Subpryor of their house. King Iohn (hauing no notice of this election, wherein no doubt he receiued greate wrong, since they ought to haue of him their Conge desli∣er) recommended vnto them, Iohn Graye, the Bishop of Norwiche, a man that for his wisedome and learning, he fauoured muche. Some part of the Monkes, taking soudaine offence at Reginalde (for that he had disclosed a secrete out of their house) and being glad to satisfie the Kings desire, elected this Graye for their Bishop also.

Hereof grewe a great suite at Rome, betwéen the more part of the Monkes on the one side, and the Suffraganes of Canterbury, and the lesse number of the Monkes on the other side.

The Pope (vpon the hearing of the cause) at the first ratifieth the election of Iohn Graye: Howbeit after∣warde he refuseth bothe the electes, and preferreth Ste∣phan Langton, whom the Monkes (bycause the matter was not before litigious enough) elected also.

Nowe King Iohn, hearing, that not only the election of Graye (contrarie to the Popes owne former determi∣nation) was made frustrate, but that there was also thruste into his place a man familiarly entertained by

the Frenche King (his great enemie) disliked much of the choice, & forbad Stephan the elect, to enter the Realme: The Pope againe, who (as Mathewe Parise writeth) sought chiefly in this his choice, Virum strenuum, a stoute man, that is (in plaine speache) a man that could exact of the Clergie, kéep in awe the Laitie, and encounter the King and Nobilitie) séeing his champion thus reiected, be¦ginneth to startle for anger: first therefore, he moueth the King by minacing letters to admitte Stephan, & (not so preuailing) he enterditeth him, & his whole Realme: And finally, bothe prouoketh al Potentates to make o∣pen warre vpon him, and also promiseth to the King of Fraunce, full and frée remission of all his sinnes, and the kingdome of England it self, to inuade him: this done, he solliciteth to rebellion the Bishops, nobilitie, and cōmōs of the Realme, loosing thē (by the plenitude of his Apos- to like power) from al duetie of allegiaunce toward their Prince. By this meanes diuine seruice ceassed, the King of Fraunce armed, the Bishops conspired, the nobi∣litie made defection, and the common people wauered, vncertaine to what part to incline: To be short, King Iohn was so pressed with suspition & feare of domesticall & forreigne enemies on al sides, that (notwithstāding he was of great and noble courage, and séemed to haue for∣ces sufficient for resistance also, if he might haue trusted his souldiers) yet he was in the end compelled, to set his seale to a Chartre of submissiō, wherby he acknowleged himselfe to holde the Crowne of England of the Popes Mitre, & promised to pay yerely for the same and for Ire∣land, 1000. Markes, to y^e holy father & his successours for euer: this Chartre, because it was afterward with great insultation and triumph closed in Golde, was then com∣monly called, Aurea Bulla, the Bull of Golde.

Thus, omitting the residue of this storie, no lesse tra∣gical

and troublesome, then that which I haue alreadie recited: I report me to all indifferent men, what cause Paulus Iouius, or any other popishe parasite hathe (by colour of this Bull) to claime for the Pope, superioritie & Dominion ouer the King of this Realme, since Iohn w^t∣out the assent of the estates, (I meane his nobilitie and commons) could not (in such a gifte) either binde his suc∣cessours, or charge the kingdome.

And for plaine declaration, that his submission pro∣ceaded not with their consent, I read in a treatise of one Simon de Boraston (a Frier Preacher, in the time of King Edward the third) the which he wrote concerning the Kings right to the Crowne of Ireland, that in the reigne of Henrie the third (whiche next of all succeaded King Iohn) there were sent from the King, the nobilitie and the commons of England, these Noble men: Hughe Bigod, Iohn Fitz Geffray, William Cantlowe, Phillip Basset, and a Lawier named William Powicke, to the generall Counsel, then assembled at Lions in Fraunce, of purpose, and with commission, to require that the saide Bull, sealed by King Iohn, might be cancelled, for as muche as it passed not by the assent of the Counsel of the Realme: and the same Authour writeth, that the Pope for that tyme did put them of, by colour of more waightie affaires, whiche the Counsel had then in hand. I know, that it may wel be thought néedlesse, to labour further in confuting a litle, so weightles: (for it is true, that Aristotle saith, Stultum est, absurdas opiniones accu∣ratius refellere) It is but a follie, to labour ouer curious∣ly, in refelling of absurdities. And therefore I will here conclude the treatise of Douer, and procéede particular∣ly to the rest of the places that lye on this shoare.

Notes

• The towne of Douer.
• Godwine resisteth the King.
• Douer Ca∣stell.
• Iuuenal in the ende of his. 4. Sa∣tyre.
• Odo, the Earle of Kent.
• Fynes, the first Consta¦ble of Do∣uer Castell, and the be∣ginning of Castlegard.
• Estimatio•• of Douer Castell.
• Hubert of Brough, a noble cap∣taine.
• Reparation of Douer Castell.
• S. Martines in Douer.
• Contentiō betweene the R••ligi∣ous persons for trifles.
• Longchamp the lustie bi¦shop of Ely.
• Religious houses in Douer.
• The order of the Tem¦plers, when it began.
• The Pope and king Iohn fall our for Ste∣phan Lang∣ton.
• The Gol∣den Bull.