THE

LIFE OF HENRY THE SECOND,

KING OF ENGLAND.

Shewing what troubles befel in his reign, concerning the wars between him and his subjects; and also the manner how he set up his standard near Rudland, Henry of Essex being General, and the manner how he left his crown; necessary to be observed in these dangerous and distracted times of ours.

Printed at London for H. B. 1642. Quarto, containing eight pages.

IN

'N the year of our Lord 1154, Henry the Second was crowned; he was a man of a low stature, and fat of body, of a fresh colour, a valiant soldier, a good scholar, and of good expression in his speech; very wise, and much delighted with peace.

In the second year of his reign a council was held at Wallingford, where the nobles were sworn to the king and his issue, by an oath of allegiance composed by the king and his council for that purpose; after which Geffery the king's brother rose in rebellion, and did much hurt, but was afterwards overcome by the king, and all was yielded into the king's hands.

In the third year of his reign the Welchmen rose against him, and the king raised an army, and made Henry of Essex his chief general of the army; and, when the king was come into Wales, Henry of Essex, by the commandment of the king, raised the standard, and open war was proclaimed, and many from their own habitations (as also out of divers prisons) came to assist the king, and there was a great battle fought near to Rudland, where there were many men slain on both sides; but the king recovered the castle, and marched towards the cas'tle of Basingwirk, where there was a great slaughter on the king's army, by reason whereof the army was much discouraged, and Henry of Essex, and those under him who had the trust of the bearing of the standard, did at that time let the standard fall down to the ground in the battle, which did so exceedingly encourage the Welchmen, that they pursued with great eagerness; the king himself was exceedingly dismayed hereat, and fled to save his life, but the two armies fought daily, for by the help of the Earl of Clare it was raised up again.

Now the king had appointed a navy of ships also to go forth against them, and Madoc ap Merideth was admiral of the seas, who had spoiled divers churches, and done much hurt in the Isle of Man, and Anglesey; but after much blood-shed they began on both sides to be weary of war, and there was an agreement and peace concluded, and

on the next Christmas day after, King Henry being at Worcester, went to church, and going to prayers with the congregation, took his crown off his head, and laid it on the communion table, and would never wear it after.

In the seventh year of his reign there being great troubles in Ireland about the rudiments of faith, and ecclesiastical rights, the king called a council, and Nicholas of Wallingford and William Fitz-Adelm were sent over to Ireland by the authority and consent of the king and council, at which time was this confession, or creed, published, viz.

'I BELEEVE in God Fadir Almichty, fppiper of heaven and earth, and in Ihesus Christ, his oneleihi Son ure Loverd, that is ivange thurch the holy Ghost, bore of Mary maiden, tholede pine under Ponce Pilat, picht on rode tree, dead and is buried, licht into hell, the tridde day from death arose, steich into heaven, sit on his Fadir richt honde God Almichty, then is comminde to deme the quickke and the dede; I beleeve in the holy Ghost, all holy chirche, mone of alle hallwen, forgivenis of sine, fleiss uprising, lif with aaten end."

Amen.

The king also caused an oath of fidelity to be drawn, for his subjects to swear to his son Prince Henry, concerning his inheritance under their fidelity to the king, in case the king should die before his son, which protestation was taken through the whole kingdom.

In the eighth year of his reign there was a sect sprang up called Publicans; the chief leader of them was one Gerard a good Scholar, but his fellows were most of them silly and ignorant people.

They denied the rights and ceremonies of the church, matrimony, baptism, the supper of the Lord, &c.

These were so stiff, and stood so stoutly to their opinions, that they would not be convinced of any error in their tenents; and, when Gerard the chief of them was brought to Oxford, he would not recant from any of his tenents, wherefore judgment was denounced against them.

1. That they should be stigmatised in their foreheads. 2. That they should be whipped. 3. That they should be turned out of the city. 4. That they should not be received into any town. 5. That none should give them any relief. 6, That none should afford them any

succour.

These men nevertheless suffered joyfully, singing as they went, • Blessed are ye when men hate you, Blessed are ye when men hate you, and so wandered in the fields till, with the cold and hunger, they all died, for no man durst relieve them.'

In the ninth year of his reign, Henry of Essex was accused of hightreason before the nobility, and these articles were exhibited against him.

1. That the said Henry of Essex did in the expedition to Wales, in

あ

narrow and hard passage (at Colleshell) most fraudulently throw away the king's standard.

2. That he did with a loud voice pronounce the king to be dead. 3. That he turned back those that came to relieve the king's army against the Welchmen.

These articles he denied, and after great debate thereof, before the king and council, the matter was adjudged to be tried by combate, and Henry of Essex, supposed to be slain, was carried away, but he revived, and spent the rest of his days in reading.

In the twelfth year of his reign the king appointed a collection to be made through all the countries, in this manner, viz.

1. For every Pound in moveable goods being so valued for the first year, 2d.

2. For four years after for every pound so valued, 1d.

3. For arable lands, and for vines, the charge and cost of them not reckoned for every pound thereof after the same manner also.

4. He, that hath an house valued to be worth one pound, to pay one penny.

5. He, that hath some office agent, one penny.

After the payment whereof, the king caused his son Henry to be crowned, by the persuasions of Robert, Archbishop of York, thinking it would prove to the great quietness of himself and his realm, but it proved otherwise; for the young king received the fealties of the earls and barons.

Henry, the younger, rebelled against his father, and many earls and barons fled over to him, and many great and bloody battles were fought between them; but, at the last, the old King subdued this rebellion, and, finding that the Scots had joined against him, gave to many of the young nobility, whom he had found to be loyal unto him, the most part of the land in Scotland, and imprisoned and fined many of the English, for this rebellion.

In the twenty-first year of his reign, a brother of the Earl of Ferrers was slain in the city of London; whereat the King was much displeased, and vowed revenge against the city; and there were great troubles between the court and the city, insomuch that the city was distracted and disquieted within itself; for, in the end, there were many unruly citizens, who did give themselves to the pillaging and robbing of rich men's houses, of whom one Andrew Buckequint and John Ould were chief; but the grave wisdom of the King soon suppressed them; and there was peace between the young King and the old, and the father and the son did eat and drink at one table, and all was ended in peace; and, shortly after, the disobedient son was cut off, and the old King reigned quietly alone.

Then the King called a convocation of the clergy at London, and the pope's legate sat in the chair, and, next to him, the Archbishop of Canterbury, on his right hand, as primate of England; but, when the Archbishop of York saw, that he must sit on the left hand of the pope's legate, he disdained the place, and did strive to croud his arse between

them; but, because the legate was not to remove, and the archbishop would not remove, therefore he most unmannerly swopped him down on the Archbishop of Canterbury's lap, for which he was thrown down to the ground; and, after his complaint made to the King, of whom he thought to have found relief, but was deceived, he was well laughed et for his remedy.

In the twenty-fifth year of his reign there was again a rebellion, after great taxes laid upon the subjects for the voyage to Jerusalem; whereat the king's majesty was so perplexed and troubled, that he cursed the day wherein he was born, and none about him, neither clergy nor nobles, could comfort him; through the extremity whereof he was brought to a grievous sickness: After he had reigned thirty-four years, being above sixty years of age, and leaving in his treasury above an hundred thousand marks, he died.

When this royal king was carried forth to be buried, he was first apparelled in his princely robes, and his crown upon his head, and rich gloves on his hands, and boots on his legs, wrought with gold spurs on his heels, a ring of gold on his finger, a scepter in his hand, and a sword by his side; and, lying thus, like a prince in state, though a dead corpse, he was uncovered, and, looking upon him under his robes, he looked with a most sweet and pleasant countenance, as if he had only slept; who was again covered, and, as he deserved, most honourably buried,

BEHOLD! TWO LETTERS,

THE ONE

WRITTEN BY THE POPE TO THE THEN PRINCE OF WALES,

NOW KING OF ENGLAND:

The other, an Answer to the said Letter, by the said Prince, now his Majesty of England.

Printed in the Year of Discoveries, 1642. Quarto, containing four pages.

Most Noble Prince, Salvation and Light of the Divine Grace.

FORASMUCH, as Great-Britain hath always been fruitful in virtues,

and in men of great worth, having filled the one, and the other world, with the glory of her renown; she doth also very often draw the thoughts of the holy apostolical chair, to the consideration of her praises. And, indeed, the church was but then in her infancy, when

the King of kings did choose her for his inheritance, and so affectionately, that we believe the Roman eagles have hardly outpassed the banner of the cross. Besides that, many of her kings, instructed in the knowledge of the true salvation, have preferred the cross before the royal scepter, and the discipline of religion before covetousness, leaving examples of piety to other nations, and to the ages yet to come. So that, having merited the principalities, and first place of blessedness in heaven, they have obtained, on earth, the triumphant ornaments of true holiness. And although, now the state of the English church is altered, we see, nevertheless, the court of Great Britain adorned and furnished with moral virtues, which might serve to support the charity that we bear unto her, and be an ornament to the name of Christianity, if, withal, she could have, for her defence and protection, the orthodox and catholick truth. Therefore, by how much the more, the glory of your most noble father, and the apprehension of your royal inclination, delights us, with so much more zeal, we desire that the gates of the kingdom of heaven might be opened unto you, and that you might purchase to yourself the love of the universal church. Moreover, it being certain that Gregory the Great, of most blessed memory, hath introduced to the English people, and taught to their kings the law of the gospel, and the respect of apostolical authority: We, as inferior to him in holiness and virtue, but equal in name and degree of dignity, it is very reasonable, that we, following his blessed footsteps, should endeavour the salvation of those provinces, especially at this time, when your design, most noble prince, elevates us to the hope of an extraordinary advantage: Therefore, as you have directed your journey to Spain, towards the catholick king, with desire to ally yourself to the house of Austria, we do much commend your design, and, indeed, do testify openly, in this present business, that you are he that takes the principal care of our prelacy. For, seeing that you desire to take in marriage a daughter of Spain, from thence we may easily conjecture, that the ancient seeds of Christian piety, which have so happily flourished in the hearts of the kings of Great Britain, may, God prospering them, revive again in your soul: And, indeed, it is not to be believed, that the same man should love such an alliance, that hates the catholick religion, and should take delight to oppress the holy chair. To that purpose, we have commanded, to make continually most humble prayers to the Father of lights, that he would be pleased to put you as a fair flower of the christianism, and the only hope of Great Britain, in possession of that most noble heritage, that your ancestors have purchased for you, to defend the authority of the sovereign high priest; and, to fight against the monsters of heresy. Remember the days of old, inquire of your fathers, and they will tell you the way that leads to heaven; and, what way the temporal princes have taken to attain to the everlasting kingdom. Behold the gates of heaven opened, the most holy Kings of England, who came from England to Rome accompanied with angels, did come to honour, and do homage to the Lord of lords, and to the Prince of the apostles in the apostolical chair: their actions and their examples being as so many voices of God, speaking and exhorting you to follow the course of the lives of those to whose empire you shall one day attain.