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Chronicle of Robert Fabyan is in Tudor Books.
1290 Death of Eleanor of Castile
1330 Execution of Edmund of Woodstock
1330 Trial and Execution of Mortimer and his Faction
1413 Death of King Henry IV Accession of Henry V
1421 Coronation of Catherine of Valois
1447 Death of Humphrey of Lancaster
1453 Birth of Edward of Westminster
1455 First Battle of St Albans
23rd September 1459 Battle of Blore Heath
12th October 1459 Battle of Ludford Bridge
1461 Second Battle of St Albans
1461 Proclamation of Edward IV as King
1462 Vere Plot to Murder Edward IV
1470 March 1470 Welles' Rebellion and Battle of Losecoat Field aka Empingham
1470 July 1470 Angers Agreement
1470 September 1470 King Henry VI Restored
18th February 1478 Execution of George Duke of Clarence
1483 Richard III elected King by the Three Estates
1483 Disappearance of the Princes in the Tower
1497 Battle of Blackheath aka Deptford Bridge
1499 Execution of Ralph Wulford
1499 Trial and Execution of Perkin Warbreck and Edward Earl of Warwick
In this. xx. yere, and begynnynge of the mayres yere, and also of y kynges. xx. yere, that is to meane upon the euyn of seynt Andrewe, or the. xxix. day of Nouembre [Note. Most sources say 28th November 1290; see Discussion in Archæologia 29], dyed quene Elyanore (age 49) the kynges wyfe, and was buryed at Westmynster, in the chapell of seynt Edwarde, at ye fete of Henry the thirde, [where she hathe, ii. wexe tapers brennynge upon her tumbe, both daye and nyglu, whiche so hath contynued syne the day of her buryinge to this present daye.] This geutyll waman, as before is towched in the. xxxviii. yere of kynge Henry the thirde, was suster unto the kyng of Spayne: by whom kynge Edwarde had. iiii. sones, that is to saye, lohn, Henry, Alphons, and Edwarde (age 6), whiche Edwarde succedyd his fader, by reason that the other, iii. dyed before theyr fader; also he had by her v. doughters: the firste, Elianore (age 21), was maryed unto Wyllyam [Henry] erle of Barre (age 31); the seconde, lohane of Acris (age 18), was maryed as before is sayd unto y erle of Glouceter (age 47); the thirde, Margarete (age 15), was maryed to the dukes sone of Braban (age 15); the iiii. Mary (age 11) by name, was made a menchon at Ambrysbury; and the v. named Ely/abeth (age 8), was maryed unto y erle of Holande (age 6); and after his deth she was maryed unto Humfrey Boherum erle of Hereforde (age 14).
Edwarde, the. iii. of that name, and sone of Edwarde ye seconde and of Isabell the allonly doughter & chylde of Phylyppe le Beawe, or Phylyp the fayre, father to Charlys laste kyng of France, began to reygne as kynge of Englande, his father yet lyuynge, the xxvi. daye of lanuarii, in the ende of the yere of grace. M.CCC. and. xxvi. and the. iiii. yere of Charlys the. v. laste kyng of France, & was crownyd at Westmynster upon the day of the Puryfycacion of our Lady [2nd February 1327] nexte ensuynge.
[19th March 1330]. In this thyrde mayres yere, the abouesayde syr Edmude of Wodestoke (age 28) erle of Kent, entendynge the reformacion of the mysse ordre of the realme, beynge enfourmyd yt his brother syr Edwarde was in lyfe, deuysed certeyn letters towdrynge the delyuery of his sayde brother, and sent them unto his sayd brother; of which dede he was shortlye after accusyd, and by auctoryte of a parlyament holdyn at Westmynster [Winchester], aboute Pentecoste folowinge, he for that dede was iudgyd to haue his hede smytten of, whereof execucion was done the. xv1. day of May folowynge in the foresayde cytie of Winchester,
Note 1. In subsequent edits given as 25th. The execution Edmude of Wodestoke is usually given as 19th March 1330.
... and soone after kyng Edwarde saylyd into Frauce, and dyd homage unto Phylyp de Valoyes, the newly made kyng of Frauce, for the duchie of Guyan, in the towne of Amyas: after which homage so done he was rychely feastid of the Frensh kynge, and solaced in dyuerse maner of fourmys, as by iustys, huntynge, hawkyng, and many other pleasurys, and then in louynge maner toke his leue of the kynge, and so retourned into Englade.
15th June 1330. The XV daye of lune folowynge was borne the kynges firste sone, and at Wodestoke crystenyd, and namyd Edwarde, whiche, in processe of tyme, grewe to a noble & famouse man, and is moost comonly callyd in all cronycles prynce Edwarde, of whome in this story some excellent dedys shall be expressyd.
[17th October 1330]. In ye moneth of Octobre, upon the. xvii. daye, and euyn of seynt Luke, syr Roger Mortymer (age 43) before named, by means of syr Wyllyam Montaygne (age 29), syr Rafe Staforde, syr lohn Neuyle, and other, by a compassyd meane was takyn in the castell of Notyngham [Map], notwithstandyrige that the keyes of the sayde eastell were dayly and nyghtlye under his warde and kepynge; the kynge, the quene, the olde quene (age 35), with dyuerse other noblys that beynge in the same eastell lodgyd. The maner of the takynge of this erle syr Roger Mortymer I passe ouer, for the dyuersyte that I haue seen thereof of sundry wryters; but many agreen, yt he with syr Symonde of Bedforde, & other, were in that nyght takyn, and after sent unto the Towre of London, and there put in streyghte kepynge. Then the kynge, in short processe after, callyd a parlyament at London for ye reformacion of many thynges rnysorderyd in the realme, by mtatie of the foresayde syr Roger, as the comon fame then went.
[29th November 1330]. In this. iiii. mayres yere, & ende of y thyrde yere of thys kynge, duryngc the foresayd parliament, as aboue is towchyd, at London, the foresayde syr Roger Mortymer (age 43) was accusyd before the lordys of the parlyament of these artyclys with other; wherof. v. I fynde expressyd. And firste was layed unto his charge that by his meanys syr Edwarde of Carnaruan, by mooste tyrannouse deth in the castell of Barkley was murderyd; secondaryly, that, to the kynges great dyshonoure and damage, the Scottys, by his meanys and treason, escapyd from the kyng at the parke Stanhope, whiche then shuld haue fallen in the kynges daunger, ne had been the fauoure by the sayde Roger to them tha shewyd; thyrdely to hym was layed, that he, for execucion of the sayd treason, receyued of the capytayne of ye sayd Scottis, narnyd syr lamys Dowglas, great summys of money, and also for lyke mecle he had, to the kynges great dyshonoure & hurte of his realme, concludyd a peace atwene the kynge & the Scottis, & causyd to be delyuered unto they in the chartyr or endenture called Ragman, with many other thynges, to the Scottys great aduauntage and inpouerysshynge of this realme of Englande; fourtlye, was layed to hym, that where by syuystre & vnlefull meanys, cotrary the kynges pleasure and wyll, or assent of the lordys of the kynges counceyll, he had gotten into his possessyon moche of the kynges treasoure, he vnskylfully wasted & mysspent it; by reason whereof the kyng was in necessyte, and dryuen parforce to assaye his frendys: fyfthlye, that he also had enproperyd unto hym dyuerse wardys belongynge to the kynge, to his great lucre & the kynges great hurt, and that he was more secret wt quene Isabell, the kynges mother, that was to Goddes pleasure or the kynges honoure: the whiche artycles, with other agayne hym prouyd, he was, by auctoryte of ye sayde parlyament, iugyd to deth, and vpo seynt Andrewys euyn next ensuynge, at London, he was drawyn and hangyd.
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20th March 1413. At length, whan he was comynto himselfe, natknowynge where he was, freyned of suche as then were aboute hym, what place that was; the which shewyd to hym, that it belongyd unto ye abbot of Westmynster; and for he felte hymself so syke, he comaunded to aske if that chambre had any specyall name; whereunto it was answeryd, that it was named Iherusalem. Than sayd the kynge, "louynge be to the Fader of heuen, for nowe I knowe I shall dye in this chambre, accordyng to ye prophecye of me beforesayd, that I shulde dye in Jerusalem: and so after he made hymself redy, & dyed shortly after, upon ye day of seynt Cuthbert, or ye. xx. day of Marche, when he had reygned. xiii. yeres. v. monthes, &. xxi. dayes, leuynge after hym. iiii. sones, that is to meane Henry that was kyng, Thomas that was duke of Orleaunce [Clarence], lohn duke of Bedforde, and Humfrey duke of Glouceter, [and the. v. was named Henry, ryche cardynall of Wynchester,] and ii. doughters, that one beynge quene of Demnarke, and that other duchesse of Barre, as before is shewyd.
Whanne kynge Henry was deed, he was conveyed by water unto Feversham, and from thens by lande unto Caunterbury, and there enteryd by the shryne of seynt Thomas. [To the foresayd Henry, the riche cardynall, kynge Henry had or begat, ii. other sonnes upon dame Katheryne Swynford, as before is shewyd in the viii. yere of Richarde ye seconde, whiche were named as there is expressyd.]
[31st July 1415] And whyle the kynge there was shyppynge of his people, dyuers of his lordes, that is to say, sir Richarde erle of Cambrydge & brother vnto the duke of Yorke, whiche sir Richarde berynge the name of Langley, had wedded dame Anne, the doughter of syr Roger Mortymer erle of Marche & Wolster, by whom he had yssue Isabell, which after was maryed unto the lorde Boucher erle of Essex, & Richard whiche after was duke of Yorke & fader to kynge Edward the. iiii. To whom also was assentyng, sir Richard Scrop than tresourer of England, & sir Thomas Gray knyght, were there arrestyd for treason, & aregnyd, or so examyned upon ye same, that the XXIX day of July folowyng they were there all thre behedyd.
[14th February 1421] Than the kynge sped hym on his iournay towarde London, and came thyder upon the xiiii [14th] daye of February, and the quene came thyder upon the xxi [21st] daye of the same moneth. But here for length of tyme I wyll passe ouer the great and curyous ordynaunce prouyded by the cytezyns for the receyuynge of the kyng and quene, aswell of theyr ordurat1 metyng with theym upon horse backe, as of the sumptuous & honourable dyuyses prepayred within the cytie to the kynges & quenes great reioysynge;
Note 1. ordinat. edit. 1533. 1542. 1559.
[24th February 1421] ... and forthe I wyll precede to shewe unto you some parte of the great honour that was vsed & excercysed upon the daye of the sayd quenes coronacion, whiche was after solempnyzed in seynt Peters churche of Westmynster, upon the daye of seynt Mathy the Apostle, or the xxiiii [24th] day of February. After which solempnyzacon in yt churche endyd, she was conveyed into the great halle of Westmynster, & there sette to dyner; upon whose right hande satte, at the ende of the same table, the archebysshop of Caunterbury (age 58), and Henry (age 46), surnamed the rych cardynall of Winchester; and upon the lefte hande of ye quene sat the kynge of Scottes (age 26) in his astate, ye whiche was servyd with coveryd messe lyke unto the forenamed bysshops, but after theym. And upon the same hande & syde, nere to the borde ende, sat the duchesse of Yorke (age 54)1, and the coutesse of Huntyngdon (age 58). The erle of the Marche (age 29) holdynga ceptre in his hande, knelyd upon the right syde. The erle marshal in lyke maner knelyd upon the left hande of ye quene. The conntesse of Kent (age 41)2 sat under the table at the ryght foot, and the coutesse marshall at the left foot. The duke of Glouceter, sir Humfrey (age 30), was that daye overloker, and stode before the quene bare hedyd. Sir Richarde Neuyll was that daye carver to the quene. The erlys brother of Suffolk cupberer, sir lohn Stewarde sewar. The lord Clyfford paterer, instede of ye erle of Warwik. The lord Wyllughby boteler, in stede of ye erle of Arudell. The lorde Gray Ruthyn (age 59), or Ryffyn, naperer. The lord of Awdeley amner, in stede of the erle of Cambrydge. The erle of Worceter (age 25) was that day erle marshal, in absence of the erle marshall, the whiche rode aboute the halle upon a great courser, wt a multytude of typped stauys aboute hym, to kepe the rome in the halle.
Note 1. her husband Edward 2nd Duke of York 1st Duke Albemarle had been killed six years before at the Battle of Agincourt so correctly Dowager Duchess of York.
Note 2. her husband Edmund Holland 4th Earl Kent had been killed thirteen years before at the Battle of Île de Bréhat so correctly Dowager Countess of Kent.
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Of the whiche halle the barons of the. v. portes began the table upon the ryght hande towarde seynt Stepens chapell, and beneth theym at ye same table sat the bowchyers of the Chauncery. And upon ye left hande, next unto ye cupborde, sat the mayre & his brethern aldermen of Lodon. The bysshops began the table foreagayn the barons of ye v. portes, & y ladyes ye table agayn ye mayre; of whiche ii. tables, for ye bysshops began the bysshop of London & the bysshop of Durham, and for the ladyes ye countesse of Stafforde & the coutesse of Marche. And ye shall understande yt this feest was all of fysshe. And for ye orderyng of ye servyce therof, were dyvers lordes appointed for hede offycers, as stewarde, controller, surueyour, & other honourable offyces. For the whiche were appoynted ye erlys of Northubermlande, of Westmerlande, the lorde Fitz Hughe, the lorde Furneuall the lorde Gray of Wylton, the lord Ferers of Groby, the lorde Ponynges, the lorde Haryngton, the lorde Darcy, the lorde Dacre, and the lorde Delaware.
The whiche with other orderyd the seruyce of y feest as foloweth, and thus for the firste course: Brawne and mustarde. Dedellys in burneux. Frument with balien. Pyke in erbage. Lamprey powderyd. Trought. Codlyng. Playes fayed. Marlyng fryed. Crabbys. Leche lumbarde florysshed. Tartys.
And a sotyltie called a pellycan syttynge on his nest with her byrdes, and an image of seynt Katheryne holdyng a booke, and disputynge with the doctours, holdynge a reason in her right hade, sayinge, "madarae le royne," & the pellicanas an answere, (Ce est la signe, Et du roy, pur tenir toy, Et a tout sa gent, Ellemetesa entent1.)
Note 1. "Madame the Queen" & the pellicanas as an answer "This is the sign, both of the king, to uphold you, and of all his people, she will give her attention."
The seconde course. Gely, coloured with columbyne floures. Whyte potage or crcinc of almandes. Breme of the see. Counger. Solys. Cheuen. Barbyll with roche. Fresshe samon. Halybut. Gurnarde. Rochet broylyd. Smelt fryed. Creuys or lobster. Leche damask, wt the kynges worde or prouerbe flourysshed, vne sanzplut. Lamprey fresshe baken. Flampeyn flourisshed with a scochofi royall, therin thre crownes of golde plantyd with floure delyce and floures of camemyll wrought of confeccyons. And a sotyltie named a panter, wt an image of seynt Katheryn, with a whele in her hande, and a rolle with a reason in that other hande, sayinge, (La royne ma file, In ceste ile, par bonne reson, aues renoun1.)
Note 1. The queen my daughter In this island Has with good reason Renown.
The thirde course. Datis in compost. Creme inotle. Carpe deore. Turbut. Tenche. Perche with goion. Fressbe sturgeon with welkes. Porpies rostyd. Menuys fryed. Creuys de eawe dbuce. Pranys. Elys rost with lamprey. A leche called the whyte leche, florysshed with hawthorne leuys and redde hawys. A march payne garnysshed with dyuerse fygures of aungellys, amonge the which was set an image of seynt Katheryne holdynge this reson, (II est escrit, pur voir et dit, per manage pur cest guerre ne dure1.) And lastly a sotyltie named a tigre lokyng in a mirrour, and a naa syttyng on horse baekc, clene armyd, holding I his armys a tiger whelpe, w this reason, (Par force sans reson it ay pryse ceste beste2,) and with his one hande makynge a countenaunce of throwynge of mirrours at the great tigre; the whiche helde this reason, (Gile the' mirrour ma fete distour3.)
Note 1. It is written, It may be seen and is, In marriage pure No strifes endure.
Note 2. By force of arms, and not by that of reason, have I captured this "beast".
Note 3. The sight of this mirror, Tames wild beasts of terror.
And thus wt al honour was fynysshed this solempne coronacion; after the whiche the quene sojourned in the palays of Westmynster tyll Palme Sonday folowynge, and upon the morne she toke her journaye towarde Wyndesore, where the kynge & she helde their Easter: and after that hygh feest passed, ye kynge made provycion for his warre ia Fraunce, duryng ye terme of this mayres yere.
[20th February 1447] This. xxv. yere, was a parlyament holden at Seynt Edmodes Bury in Suffolke, to ye which towne, all the commons of that countre were warnyd to come in theyr moost defencyble aray, to gyue attendaunce upon the kynge. And so soone as this parlyament was begon, and the lordes assembled, sir Humfrey duke of Glouceter, and vncle unto the kynge, shortly after was arrestyd by the vicount Beawmonde, thanne hygh constable Englande, whom accompanved the duke of Bukkyngham & other. And after this arest was executed, all his owne seruauntes were put from hym, &. xxxii. [32] of ye pryncipall of them were also put under arest, & sent unto dyuers prysons, wherof arose a great munnour amonge the people.
[23rd February 1447] Than thus contynuynge this parliament, within, vi. dayes after ye duke was arrestid, The dukeof he was foude deed in his bedde, beynge the. xxiiii. daye of February; of whose murdre dyuerse reportes ar made, which I passe ouer. Than his corps, [whiche] was layde opyn yt all men myght se hym, but no woude was founde on hym. Of that honourable fame of this man, a longe style I myght make, of the good rule yt he kept this lade in, duringe ye none age of the kynge, and of his honourable housholde & lybertie, whiche passyd all other before his tyme, and trtwe of his allegeaunce, that no man co\vde with rygbt accuse, but malycious persones, whiche his glorious honour & fame, lafte nat maligne agayne hym, tyil he were put fronie all worldly rule, and specially for it was thought that durynge his lyfe, he wolde withstand*? the delyuery of Angeou and Mayne, before promysed. This for his honourable 8c lybirall demeanure was surnamed ye good duke of Clouccter. Then after he had lyen opyn a season, that all men myght be assuryd of his dethe, the corps was honourably prouydyd for, and so conveyed unto Seynt Albonys, and there buryed nere unto the shryne of seynt Albone, to whose soule God be mercyfull. Amen.
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The Chronicle of Geoffrey le Baker of Swinbroke. Baker was a secular clerk from Swinbroke, now Swinbrook, an Oxfordshire village two miles east of Burford. His Chronicle describes the events of the period 1303-1356: Gaveston, Bannockburn, Boroughbridge, the murder of King Edward II, the Scottish Wars, Sluys, Crécy, the Black Death, Winchelsea and Poitiers. To quote Herbert Bruce 'it possesses a vigorous and characteristic style, and its value for particular events between 1303 and 1356 has been recognised by its editor and by subsequent writers'. The book provides remarkable detail about the events it describes. Baker's text has been augmented with hundreds of notes, including extracts from other contemporary chronicles, such as the Annales Londonienses, Annales Paulini, Murimuth, Lanercost, Avesbury, Guisborough and Froissart to enrich the reader's understanding. The translation takes as its source the 'Chronicon Galfridi le Baker de Swynebroke' published in 1889, edited by Edward Maunde Thompson. Available at Amazon in eBook and Paperback.
And whan this noble prynce was thus enteryd, fyue persones of his housholde, that is to saye, sir Roger Chamberiayne, knyght, Myddelton, Herbarde and Arthur, esquyers, & one Richarde Nedam, yeman, were sent unto London, and there argued and iugyd toiube drawen, hangyd, and quarterid; of the whiche sentence drawynge and hangyuge were put in execucion. But when they
August 1453. And this yere the kyng laye longe syke at Claryngdowne [Map], & was in great ieopardye of his lyfe.
13th October 1453. And in ende of this mayers yere, and begynnynge of the xxxii yere of the kyng, that is to meane, upon the daye of Translancion of seynt Edwarde, or the xiii day of Octobre, the quene (age 23), at Westmynster, was delyuered of a fayre prynce, for the whiche great reioysynge and gladnesse was made in sundry placys of Englonde, and speciallye within the cytie of London, wherof the expressement of the cyrcumstance wolde axe longe leysoure to vtter. This prynce beynge with all honour and reuerence sacryd & crystened, was named Edwarde, and grewe after to perfyght and goodlye personage; and lastlye of Edwarde the iiii was slayen at Tewkysburye felde, as after to you shall be shewyd, whose noble mother susteynyd not a little dysclaunder and obsequye of the common people, sayinge that he was not the naturall sone of kynge Henrye, but changyd in ye the cradell, to hyr great dyshonour and heuynesse, which I ouer passe.
This fyre, rancour1, & enuy, by the space of. xvii. or. xviii. monethes, smokynge & brennynge vnder couert dyssymulacion, now at this daye brake out in great & hole flamys of open warre and wrath, in so moche that ye duke of Yorke beynge in the marchys of Walys, callyd to hym the erlys of Warwyke & of Salisbury, wt other many honorable knyghtys and esquyers, & gathered a stronge hoost of people, and than in the moneth of Apryll toke his iourney towards Lōdon, the kynge there than beynge with a great retynewe of lordys. Whereof when the quene & the lordys were aduertyzed yt the duke was cōmyng wt so great power, anon they caste in theyr myndes yt was to none of theyr profetys; and for yt, in all possyble haste as they myght, they gathered by ye auctoryte of the kyuges cōmyssyons such strengthe as they cowde haue, & entendid to haue conueyed the kynge westwarde, & not to haue encountryd the duke of Yorke. And for the execucion of this purpose, ye kynge, accompanyed with hym the dukys of Somerset2 of Buckyngeham, the erlys of Stafforde and of Northumberlande, with the lorde Clyfforde & other many noble men of the realme, departyd vpō the. xx. [20] day of May from Westmynster, and so helde his iourney towarde seynt Albonys.
Then the duke of Yorke hauynge knowledge of ye kynges departynge from London, coostyd the countreys, and came unto the ende of Seynt Albons upon the. xxiii. [23] day of May foresayde, then beyng the Thursday before Whytsondaye, where, whyle meanys of treaty and peace were comonyd vpō that one party, the erle of Warwyke with his Marche men entryd the towne upon that other ende, & fought egerly agayne the kynges people, & so contynued the fyght a longe season. But in tonclusyon the vyctory fell to the duke of Yorke and his party, in so moche yt there was slayen the duke of Somerset, the erle of Northumberlande and the lorde Clyfforde, with many other honorable men of knyghtis & esquyers, whose namys were tedyous to wryte.
After which vyctory thus opteynyd by the duke, he with honoure & reuerence, upon the morne folowynge conueyed the kynge agayn to London, and there lodgyd hym in the bysshop of Lōdons palays. And soone thereupon was callyd a parlyament, & holden at Westmynster by auctoryte whereof the duke of Yorke was made protectoure of Englonde, the erle of Salesbury chaunceler, and ye erle of Warwyke capylayne of Calays; & all such persones as before were ī auctoryte & nere about the kyng, were clerelye amoued & put by; and the quene and hyr counceyll that before dayes rulyd, all vtterlye set a parte concernynge the rule of the kynge and of ye lande, whiche contynued for a whyle as after shall appere.
[7th July 1453] In this yere also1, as affermyth the Freshe Cronycle, this mysery & vnkyndnesse thus reygriynge in Englonde, the lorde Talbot than beyng in interficuur Normādy, & in defendynge of ye kynges garysons, was beset with Frenshe men at a place named Castyliyon, and tnere strongelye assaylyd, where, after longe and cruell fyght, he with his sone, and to the noumber of. xl. men of name, and viii.C. of other Englysshe soudyours, were myserably slayen, and many moo taken prysoners.
Note 1. The Chronicler here appears to have confused their dates. The battle of Castillion took place in July 1453.
This yere. xxxiii. of Hēry ye vi. certeyn euyll disposyd persones, beynge seyntwarye men wtn Seynt Martens the Graunde, issuyd out of the sayde place, & frayed with some cytezyns, and of them hurte and maymyd, & that done reentrid ye seyntwary; wherewith the cōmons beyng amoued, with certeyne rulers of the cytie, entryd ye sayd sentwary by force, & pullyd out the occasyoners of the sayd fraye, and commytted them to prysone. Of this mater, by the deane of Seynt Martens, and suche as fauoured hym, was a grieuous complaynt made unto ye kyng and his counceyll, of the mayerand ye cytezens; for dyscharge whereof the recorder of the cytie, with certeyne aldermen to hym assygned, were sent unto the kynge, then lying at the castell of Egle in Herefordeshyre, where after ye mater duly debatyd before the kynges coūceyll, they were with lettyr of commēdacyon retournyd unto the mayer, wyllynge hym to kepe the sayd persones safely tyll the kyn«es commynge to London, at whiche season he entendyd to haue the mater more clerely examyned.
This yere, and the therde day of December, Reynolde Pecoke, than being bisshop of Chichester, at Lambith, by the archebysshop, and by a cot [court] of dyuyns [divines], was abiouryd for an herityke, and his bokys after brent at Paulys crosse, and himselfe kept in mewe euer whyle he lyued after. And soone after, so to appease this rancour and malyce atwene the Queen and the other lordys, a day of meting was appoyntyd by the King at London, whyther the Duke of York with the other Lords were commaundvd to come by a certeyne day.
26th January 1458. In obeyinge of which commaundement the Duke of York came unto London the. xxvi. daye of lanuary, and was lodged at Baynardys Castell, and before him the. xv. daye of lanuary, came the Earl of Salesbury to London, and was lodgyd at his place callyd the Erber: and soone after came unto London the dukys of Somerset and of Exeter, and were lodgyd bothe without Temple Barre; and in lykwyse the Earl of Northumberlande, the lord Egremonde, and the yonge Lord Clyfforde, came unto the cytie, and were lodgyd in the suharbys of the same.
14th February 1458. And the xiiii. day of February came the Earl of Warwick (age 29) from Calais, with a great bande of men, all arayed in rede iakettys with whyte raggyd staues upon them, and was lodgyd at the Gray Freris:
17th March 1458. and lastly, that is to say, the. xvii. day of Marche, the King and the Queen, with a great retynewe came unto London, and were lodgyd in the bysshop of Londons palays. And ve shall understande, that with theysc foresaide Lords came great companyes of men, in sornoche that some had. vi.C. [600] some. v. and theleest. iiii.C. [400] Wherfore the mayer, for so longe as the King and the lordys lay thus in the cytie, had dayly in harnesse. v. M. [5000] cytezyns, and rode dayly about the cytie and subburbys of the same, to see that the Kings peace were kepte, and nyghtlye he prouyded for. iii1. M. men in harnesse, to geue attend aunce upon. iii. aldermen: and they to kepe the nyght watche tyll. vii. of the clocke upon the morowe, tyll the day watche were asseniblyd. By reason whereof, good ordre and rule was kepte, and no man so hardy ones to attempte the breaKing of the Kings peace. During this watche, a great counceyll was holden by the King and his lordys; by reason wherof, a dysSirnulyd vnyte and Concorde atwene them was concluded.
25th March 1458. In token and for joy wherof, the King, the Queen, and all the said lordys, upon our Lady day annunciacion in Lent, at Paulys went solempnly in processyon, and soone after euery Lord departyd where his pleasure was. And in ther moneth of2.... folowing, was a great fray in Flete strete, atwene the inhabytauntys3 of the saide strete; in which fray a gentylman, being the quenys attourney, was slayen. upon the Thursday in Whitson weke, the Duke of Somerset, with Antony Ryuers, and other, iiii. kepte iustis of peace before the Queen within the Towre of London, agayne thre esquyers of the quenys, and in lyke maner at Grenewych the Sonday folowing. And upon Trynyte Sunday or the Monday folowing, certeyne shyppys, apperteyning unto the Earl of Warwick (age 29), mette with a flote of Spanyardys, and after longe and cruell fyght, toke. vi. of them laden with iron and other marchaudyse, and drowned and chasyd to the noumber of. xxvi. not without sheding of blode on both partyes; for of the Englyssheme were slayen an hundreth, and many moo woundyd and sore hurte.
Note 1. ii. edit. 1533. 1542. 155
Note 2. of March. MS.
Note 3. the men of court and the inhabytauntys.
In this yere, after some auctours, a marchaunt of Brystowe, named Sturmyn, whiche with his shyp had trauaylyd in dyuerse partyes of Leuaunt and other partyes of the Eest, for so moche as the fame ramie upon hyin that he hadde gotten grene pepyr and other spycys, to haue sette and sowen in Englonde, as the fame went, therefore the lanuays waytcd him vpo the see, and spoylyd his shyp and other. But this is full lyke to be vntrewe that the lanuays shulde spoyle him for any suche cause: for there is no nacion in Englonde that delyth so lytle with spicis. But were it for this cause or other, trouth it is, that by that nacion an offence was done, for the which all the marchautys lanuays in London were arestyd and comyttyd to the Flete, tyll they had founden suffycyent suretye to answere to the premysses. And fynally, for the harmys which theyr nacion had done to the saide Sturmyn and to this realme. vi.M. marke was sette to theyr payne to paye; but howe it was payed no meneion I fynde.
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The Chronicle of Geoffrey le Baker of Swinbroke. Baker was a secular clerk from Swinbroke, now Swinbrook, an Oxfordshire village two miles east of Burford. His Chronicle describes the events of the period 1303-1356: Gaveston, Bannockburn, Boroughbridge, the murder of King Edward II, the Scottish Wars, Sluys, Crécy, the Black Death, Winchelsea and Poitiers. To quote Herbert Bruce 'it possesses a vigorous and characteristic style, and its value for particular events between 1303 and 1356 has been recognised by its editor and by subsequent writers'. The book provides remarkable detail about the events it describes. Baker's text has been augmented with hundreds of notes, including extracts from other contemporary chronicles, such as the Annales Londonienses, Annales Paulini, Murimuth, Lanercost, Avesbury, Guisborough and Froissart to enrich the reader's understanding. The translation takes as its source the 'Chronicon Galfridi le Baker de Swynebroke' published in 1889, edited by Edward Maunde Thompson. Available at Amazon in eBook and Paperback.
In this yere also, was made an ordynauce, by auctoryte of the King and his couceyll, for the ordering of the seyntwary men within seynt Martens the Graude; whereof the artycles are at length sette out in the boke of. K. within the chaumbre of Guylde hall, in the leefe. CC.LXXXXIX. wherof the execucion of obseruing were necessary to be vsyd, but more pyteit is, fewe poyntys of it ben exercysed.
Rafe losselyn. Thomas Scotte, draper. Rycharde Nedeham.
[Around 2nd February 1459]. This yere, aboute the feest of Candelmasse, the foresaid dissymulyd Loveday hanging by a smalle threde, atwene [the Queen and]1 the fore named lordis, expressyd in the preceding yere, the King and many Lords than being at Westmynster, a fray happenyd to falle atwene a seruaunt of the Kings and aseruaunt of the Earl of Warwick (age 30), the whiche hurte the Kings seruaunt and after escaped. Wherefore the Kings other menial servants seeing they might not be avenged upon the partie that thus had hurt their fellow, as the said Earl of Warwick was coming from the counsell, and was going toward his barge, the King's servants came unwarely upon him so rabbysshely, that the cooks with their spits, and other officers with other weapons came runing as mad men, intending to have slain him, so that he escaped with great danger and took his barge, and so in all haste rowed to London, not without great maymys and hurts received by many of his servants. For this the old rancour and malice, which never was clearly cured, anon began to break out; in so much that the queen's counsel would have had the said Earl arrested and committed unto the Tower. Wherefore he shortly after departed towarde Warwick, and by policy purchased, soon after, a commission of the King, and so yode or sailyd unto Calais.
Note 1. Omitted in edit. 1559.
Then increased this old malice more and more, in so much yet where the queen and her counsel saw that they might not be avenged upon the Earl, that so unto Calais was departyd, then they maligned again his father, the Earl of Salisbury, and imagined how he might be brought out of life.
23rd September 1459. And in processe of time after, as he was riding towarde Salysbury (age 59), or, after some, from his lodging toward London, the lord Audley (age 61), with a strong company, was assigned to meet with him, and as a prisoner to bring him unto London. Whereof the said Earl being warned, gathered unto him the more men, and keeping his journey, met with the said Lord Audley at a place callyd Blore Heth, where both companies ran together and had there a strong bickering; whereof in the end the Earl was victour, and slew there the Lord Audley and many of his retinue. At this skirmish were the. ii. sons of the said Earl sore wounded, named Sir Thomas (age 29) and Sir John (age 28); the which shortly after, as they were going homewarde, were by some of the queen's party taken, and as prisoners sent unto Chester.
[After 23rd September 1459]. When this was known unto the Duke of York (age 48) and to the other lordys of this party, they knew and understood, that if they provided not shortly for remedy for themself, they should all be destroyed. And for that, they by one assent gathered to them a strong host of men, as of Marchemen and other, and in the month of October, that was in the beginning of the XXXVIII. year of the reign of King Henry, and the later end of this mayor's year, they drew them toward the King, to the entent to remove from him such persons as they thought were enemies unto the common weale of England. But the Queen and her cousel hearing of the intent and strength of these lords, caused the King in all haste to send for the comissions to gather the people, so that in short while the King was strongly accompanied, and so sped him upon his journey toward the Duke of York and his company.
12th October 1459. Where of hearing the said Duke (age 48), then being with his people near unto the town of Ludlow, picked there a sure and strong field, that none of his foes might upon any part enter. Where he so lying, came to him from Calais, the Earl of Warwick (age 30) with a strong band of men, among the which was Andrew Trollope, and many other of the best soldiers of Calais. The Duke thus keeping his field upon that one party, and the king with his people upon that other, upon the night preceding the day that both houses should have met, the forenamed Andrewe Trollope, with all the chief soldiers of Calais, secretly departed from the Duke's host and went unto the kings, where they were joyously received. When this thing to the Duke and the other lords was ascertained, they were therewith sore dismayed, and especially, for the said lordes had to the said Andrew showed the whole of their entities, which then they knew well should be clearly discovered unto their enemies: wherefore, after counsel for a remedie taken, they concluded to flee, and to leave the field standing as they had been present and still abidyng. And so incontently the saide Duke with his two sons, and a few other persons, fled towarde Wales, and from thence passed safely into Irelande. And the earls of Salesbury (age 59), of Marche, and of Warwick, and other, with a secret company also departed and took the way into Devonshire, where a squire named John Dynham (age 26), which after was a lorde and High Treasurer of England, and so lastly in Henry the VII's days and sixteenth year of his reign died, [which John Dynham foresaid]1 bought a ship for aa hundredn and ten markys, or eleven score nobles; and in the same ship the said lords went, and so sailed into Gernesey. And when they had a season there sojourned and refreshed themselves, they departed thence, as in the beginning of the next mayor's year shall be clearly shown. Upon the morrow, when all this couyne was known to the kyng and the lords upon his party, there was sending and running with all speed toward every coast to take these lords, but none might be found. And forthwith the King rode unto Ludlow and despoiled the town and castle, and sent the Duchess of York, with her children, unto the Duchesse of Buckingham her sister, where she rested long after.
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30th December 1460. Wherof the quene with hyr lordys beynge ware, & hauynge with them a great strength of northerne, mette wt the duke of Yorke upon the. xxx. daye of December nere a towne in the northe callyd Wakefelde, were atwene them was foughten a sharpe fyght, in ye whiche the duke of Yorke was slayen, wt his sone callyd erle of Rutlande, & syr Thomas Neuyll, sone unto the erle of Salesbury, with many other, & ye erle of Salesbury was there taken on lyne with dyuerse other. Whan the lordys upon the quenys partye hadde gotten this vyctory, anon they sent theyr prysoners unto Pountfreyt, the whiche were after there behedyd, that is to meane, the erle of Salesbury, a man of Lodon, namyd lohn Harowe, and an other capytayne namyd Hanson, whose heddys were sent unto Yorke, and there set upon the gatys.
And whan the queue hadde opteynyd this vyctory, she wyth hir retynewe drewe towarde London, where at that tyme, durynge this trowhelous season, great watchys were kepte daylye & nyghtlye, and dyuerse opynyons were amonge the cytezyns; for the mayer & many of the chefe comoners helde upon the quenys partye. but ye comynaltye was with the duke of Yorke & his affynyte. Whan tydynges were brought unto the cytie of ye comynge of the quene with so great an hoost of Northernmen, anon such as were of the cotrary partye, brought vp a noyse thoroughe the cytie, that she brought those Northernmen to the entent to ryffle and spoyle the cytie, where thoroughe she was encreacyd of enemyes. But what so hyr entent was, she with hyr people helde on hyr way tyll she came to Seynt Albons.
17th February 1461. In the which meane tyme, the erle of Warwyke and the duke of Norfolke, whiche by the duke of Yorke were assygned to geue attendaunce upon the kynge, by consent of the kynge, gatheryd unto theyin strengthe of knyghtys, and mette with the quenys hoost at Seynt Albons foresayd, where atwene them a stronge lyghte was foughten upon Shroue Tuysdaye in the mornnge, at ye which the duke of Norfolke, & the sayde erle in the ende were chasyd, and kynge Henry taken este upon the felde and broughte unto the quene. And the same afternoone, after some wrytrrs, he made his sone prynce Edwarde knyght, whiche than was of the age of viii. [8] yeres, with other to the noumbre of. xxx. [30] parsones.
Whan quene Margaret was thus comen agayne to hyr aboue, anon she sent unto the mayer of London, wyllynge & commundynge hym in ye kynges name, that he shulde, in all spedy wyse, sende to Seynt Albonys certeyne cartys with lentyn stuffe for ye vytaylynge of hyr hoost. Which commaundement the mayer obeyed, and with great dylygence made prouysyon for ye sayd vytayll, and sent it in cartys towarde Crepylgate, for to haue passyd to the quene; where, whan it was cummyn, the commons many there beinge, whiche had harde other tydynges of the erle of Marche, as after shall be shewyd, of one mynde withstode the passage of the sayde cartys, & sayd it was not behouefull to fede theyr enemyes, which entendyd the robbyng of the cytie. And notwithstandyng that the mayer with his bretherne exortyd the people in theyr best maner, shewynge to them many great daungers whiche was lyke to ensue to ye cytie if the sayd vytayll went not forth, yet myght he not tourne them from theyr obstynat errour, but for a coclusyon was fayne to apoynt the recoder, and with hym a certeyne of aldermen, to ryde unto the kynges couceyll to Barnet, and to make requeste unto them that the northern men myght be retournyd home for fere of robbyng of the cytie; & ouer this, other secrete frendys were made unto the quenys grace, to be good and gracyouse unto the cytie. Duryng which treaty, dyuerse cytezyns auoydyd the cytie and lande, amonge the whiche, Phylyp Malpas, whiche, as before is shewyd in the. xx. and. viii. yere of this kynge, was rohbyd of lacke Cade, whiche Malpas and other was melte upon the see with a Frenshernan namyd Columpne, & of hym taken prysoner, and after payed, iiii. thousande [4000] marke for his raunsome.
Thus passyng the tyme, the tydynges whiche before were secrete, nowe were blowen abrode, and openly was tolde that the erlys of Marche and of Warwyke were mette at Cottyswolde, and had gatheryd unto them great strength of Marchemen, and were well spedde upon theyr waye towarde London. For knowlege whereof, the kynge and the quene with theyr hoste, were retournyd northwarde. But or they departyd from Seynt Albonys, there was behedyd the lorde Bonuyle, & syr Thomas Teryell1, knyght, whiche were taken in the forenamed felde
Note 1. Kerell. MS. Teryll. cd.t 1533.
Then the duchesse of Yorke beynge at London, heryng the losse of this felde, sent hyr. ii. [2] yonger sonnys, yt is to meane George, whiche after was duke of Clarance, & Rycharde, that after was duke of Gloucetyr, into Vtrych in Almayn, where they remaynyd a whyle.
[4th March 1461]. Than the foresayde erlys of Marche & of Warwyke sped theym towarde London, in such wyse yt they came thyder upon the Thursdaye in the fyrst weke of Lent, to whom resortyd all the gentylmen for ye more party of the South and Eest partye of Englonde. And in this whyle that they thus restyd at London, a great couceyli was callyd of all lordys spyrytuell and temporell that then were there about; by the whiche fynally, after many arguments made, for so moche as kynge Henry, contrary his honour and promesse at ye last parlyament made and assured, and also for that that he was reputyd vnable and insuffycyent to rule ye realme, was then by theyr assentys deposyd and dyschargyd of all kyngelye honour and regally. And incontynentlye by auctoryte of the sayde counceyll, and agrement of the commons there present, Edwarde the eldyst sone unto the duke of Yorke, than was there electyd, & the chosen for kyng of Englonde. After which eleccion and admyssyon, the sayde erle of Marche, geuynge lawde and preyse unto God, upon the. iiii. [4] day of Marche, accompanyed with all the foresayd lordys & great multytude of commons, was conveyed unto Westmynster, and there toke possessyon of the realme of Englonde. And syttynge in his astate royall, in the great halle of the same, with his ceptre in hande, a question was axyd of the people then present, if they wolde admytte hym for theyr kyng & soueraygne lord; ye which wt one voyce cryed "ye, ye." And the after the accustumyd vse to kynges to swere, & after $ othe takyn, he went into yeabbay, where he was of the abbot & munkys mette with processyon, and coueyed vino seynt Edwardys shryne, and there offeryd as kyng; & that done, receuyd homage and feaute of all such lordes as there than were present.
[5th March 1461] And upon the morowe folowynge were proclamations made in accustuinat placys of ihe cytie, in the name of Edwarde the. iiii. then kynge of Englode. upon which daye the kynge came unto the palays at Paulys, and there dyned, and there re-tyd tryrn a season, in makynge prouysyon to goo northwarde for to subdue, his enemyes. Then upon the Saterday folowynge, beynge the day of .... Marche, the erle of Warwyke with a great puyssauce of people, departyd out of London northwarde; and upon Wednysdaye folowynge ye kynges fotemen went towarde the same journey; & upon Fryday next folowynge, the kynge toke his voyage throughe the cytie witli a great bande of men, and so rode forth at Bysshoppysgate.
12th March 1461. In whiche selfe same daye, which was the. xii. [12] day of Marche, a grocer of Lodon, named Walter Walker, for offence by hym done agayne the kynge, was behedyd in Smythfelde; but his wyfe, which after was maryed to lohn Norlande, grocer, and lastlye alderman, had suche frendys about the kynge, that hir goodys were not forfeyted to the kynges vse.
[29th March 1461] The kynge than so holdynge his iourney, incite with his enemyes at a vyllage. ix. [9] myles on this halfe Yorke called Towton or Shyreboroe , and upon Palme Sonday gaue unto them batayll, ye whiche was so cruell, that in the felde and chace were slayen upon. xxx. M. [30,000] men ouer ye men of name, of the whiche hereafter some ensue. That is to say, the erle of Northumberlande, the erle of Westmerlande, ye lorde Clyfforde, the lorde Egromonde, syr John .... syr Andrewe Trollop, and other to the noumber of. xi. [11] or of moo1.
Note 1. or moo. edit. J542. 1559.
And amonge other at the same time was taken ye erle of Deuonshyre, and after the erle of Wyltshyre; which sayde erle of Deuonshyre was sent unto Yorke, & there after behedyd. Henry than, which lately was kyng, with the quene & theyr sone syr Edwarde, the duke of Somerset, the lorde Rose, and other beyng than at Yorke, herynge of the ouerthrowe of theyr people, & great losse of theyr men, in all haste fled towarde Scotlande. And upon the morrow, folowynge, ihe kyng wt moch of his people entryd into Yorke, and there helde his Ester tyde. And upon Ester euyn, tydynges were brought unto Lodon of the wynnynge of this felde; wherefore at Paulys Te Deum was songen wt great solepnyte, & so through the cytie in all parysshe churchis. And thus this goostly man kynge Hery lost all, whan he had reygned full, xxxviii. [28] yeres. vi. [6] monethes and odde dayes, and that noble and moost bounteuous pryncesse quene Margarete, of whom many and vntrewe surmyse was imagened and tolde, was fayne to flye comfortlesse, and lost all that she had in Englonde foreuer.
Whan that kynge Edwarde with great solempnyte had holden the feest of Ester at Yorke, he then remoued to Durham; and after his busynesse there fynysshed, he retournyd agayn southwarde, & lefte in those partyes ye erle of Warwyk, to see the rule and guydynge of that contrey.
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The Chronicle of Walter of Guisborough, a canon regular of the Augustinian Guisborough Priory, Yorkshire, formerly known as The Chronicle of Walter of Hemingburgh, describes the period from 1066 to 1346. Before 1274 the Chronicle is based on other works. Thereafter, the Chronicle is original, and a remarkable source for the events of the time. This book provides a translation of the Chronicle from that date. The Latin source for our translation is the 1849 work edited by Hans Claude Hamilton. Hamilton, in his preface, says: "In the present work we behold perhaps one of the finest samples of our early chronicles, both as regards the value of the events recorded, and the correctness with which they are detailed; Nor will the pleasing style of composition be lightly passed over by those capable of seeing reflected from it the tokens of a vigorous and cultivated mind, and a favourable specimen of the learning and taste of the age in which it was framed." Available at Amazon in eBook and Paperback.
Than the kynge coostyd and vysyted the coutreys southwarde and estwarde, that about the begynnyng of ye moneth of luny he came unto his manour of Shene now callyd Rychemount.
27th June 1461. All1 which pastyme purueyauce was made for the kynges coronacyon; in accoplysshynge wherof, the kyuge. upon the. xxvii. [27] daye of lune, beynge Fryday, departyd from his sayd manour and rode unto the Towre of Lodon, upon whom gaue attendance the mayer and his bretherne, all cladde in scarlet, and to the noiibre of. CCCC. [400] commoners well horsyd and cladde all in grene. And upon ye morne, beyng Saterday, he made there, xxviii. [28] knyghtys of the Bath, and after that, iiii. [4] moo; and the same afternoone, he2 with all honour conveyed to Westmynster, the sayde xxxii. [32] knyghtys rydynge before hym in blewe gownes, & hoodys vpoa theyr shulders, lyke to prestys, wt many other goodlye and honorable ceremonyes, the whiche were longe to reherse in due order.
Note 1. In all. edit. 1542. 1559
Note 2. he was. edit. 1542. 155
27th June 1461. And upon the morne, beynge Sunday & seynt Peters daye, he was with great tryumphe, of the archebysshop of Cautorbury, crowned and enoyntyd before ye hygh aulter of seynt Peters churche of Westmynster. And after this solempnyzacion of the crownynge of the kynge, with also the sumptuous & honorable feest holden in Westmynster all1 was fynysshed, the kynge soone after creatyd George (age 11) his brother duke of Clarence. And in the moneth of luly folowynge, at ye stadarde in Chepe, the hande of a seruaunt of the kynges, callyd lohn Dauy, was stryken of, for that he hadde stryken a man within the palays of Westmynster.
Note 1. Westminster hall. edit. 1542. 1559.
Edwarde the. iiii. of that name, sone of Rycharde duke of Yorke, as before is towchyd, bega his reygne ouer the reahue of Englande the. iiii [4] day of Marche, in the ende of the yere of Grace, to reken after the Church of Englode. M. iiii.C. and. Ix. and the seconde' yere of Lewis ye. xii. than kyng of Frauce. The which Edwarde, after his possessyon takynge at Westmynster, and gettynge of the feelde at Towton by Yorke, was crowned and anoyntyd for kynge at Westmynster foresayde, the. xxix. [29] daye of luny, as before is shewyd in the ende of the last yere of Henry the. vi. After which solempnytie fynysshed, trie kyng in August after rode to Cauntorbury, & from thens he rode to Sandewycfte, & from thens alonge by the sees syde to Southampton, and so into ye Marche of Walys, and retournyd by Brystowe, where he was with all honoure receyuyd, and after vysyted sundry parties of his realme. In whicbe season or soone after, the tyme of Rycharde Lee, mayer of London, expyred, and Hughe Wyche, mercer, was admytted for the yere folowynge.
4th September 1461. This yere, beynge the later ende of the first yere of Edwarde the. iiii. & the begynnyng of this mayers yere, yt is to say, ye iiii. daye of Septebre, a parlyamet was begunne at Westmynster. And upon yemorow folowinge dyed lohn duke of Norfolke (age 45), the which hadde ben a specyall ayder of the kyng.
31st October 1461. And upon Alhaloen daye before passyd, ye kynge creatyd Richarde (age 9) his yonger brother, duke of Glowcetyr, ye lorde Bowchyer (age 57), erle of Essex, & the lord Fawcumbrydge (age 56), erle of Kent.
12th February 1462. And upon the xii. day of February was the erle of Oxenforde (age 53), wt the lorde Aubry (age 21) his elder sone, syr Thomas Todenhame (age 60), Wyllya Tyrell (age 54), & other, brought unto the Towre of London:
20th February 1461. & upon the. xx. day of ye sayd moneth, ye sayd Lorde Awbry (age 20) was drawen from Westmynster unto ye Towre Hyll, and there behedyd.
23rd February 1462. And upon the. xxiii. daye of the same moneth, syr Thomas Todenham (age 60), Wyllyam Tyrell (age 54), & lohn Mongomory were also there behedid.
26th February 1462. And upon the Fryday next ensuynge, or the. xxvi. daye of ye sayd moneth, the erle of Oxenforde (age 53) was ladde from Westmynster upon his feete, to the sayde place, [of Inesse,]1 & there also behedyd, whose corps was after borne unto ye Frere Augustynes, & there buryed within ye quyer for ye tyme.
July 1462. And in ye seconde and later ende of the moneth of luly, was the castell of Awnewyke [Map] yelden unto the lorde Hastynges, by appoyntment.
12th March 1470. And in Lyncolnshyre sir Robert Wellys, sone unto the lorde Wellys before put to deth, in this whyle had also assembled a great bende of men, purposyd to gyue the kynge a felde. Of all whiche tydynges whenne the kynge was assertayned, he with his sayde broder the duke spedde hym northwarde, and in that whyle sent to the sayde sir Robert Wellys, wyllyng hym to sende home his people and come to hym, and he shuld haue his grace. But that other answerid, that by lyke promysse his fader was disceyued, and that shulde be his example. But in conclusion, whan the kynge with his power drewe nere unto hym, he toke suche fere that he fledde, and soone after was taken, and with hym sir Thomas Dymmok (age 42), knyght, and other, the whiche were shortly after put to deth.
22nd July 1470. In this season was the duke of Clarence departyd from the kynge, and was gone vnto the erle of Warwyke to take his parte. To whom the kynge in lykewyse sent, yt they shuld come to his presence withoute fere, where vnto they made a fayned answere. And that consyderyng their lacke of power agayne the kyng, departyd and went to the see syde, and so sayled into Fraunce, & requyred the XI Lowys (age 47), than kynge of that region, that he wolde ayde and assyste theym to restore kynge Henry to his ryghtfull enheritaunce. Wherof the sayd Lowys beynge gladde, graunted vnto theym their request, and helde theym there, whyle they with the counsayll of queue Margarete prouyded for theyr retourne into Englande.
Whan the sayd lordes were thus departyd the lande, the kyng commandyd them to be proclaymed as rebellys & traytours thorugh out his realme. And in the Easter weke folowynge, sir Geffery Gate, and one named Clapham, whiche entendyd at Southampton to haue taken shyppyuge and to haue sayled to the sayd lordes, were there taken by the lorde Howarde, and sent vnto warde, whiche sayd Clapham was behedyd soon after, and the sayd sir Geffrey Gate fande such frendshyp, that lastly he escapyd or was delyueryd, so that he yode after to seyntwary. Than was the lorde of Seynt lohls arrestyd; but at instaunce of the archebysshop of Caunterbury, he went a season at large, vnder suertie, and was finally comytted to the Tower. In whiche passe tyrae the erle of Oxenforde gat ouer vnto the foresayd lordes. Thus endurynge this trouble, a stirryng was made in f North parties by the lordes Fitz Hugh, wherfore the kynge spedde hyrn thyderwarde. But so soon as the sayd lorde knewe of kynges comynge, anone he lefte his people and fledde into Scotlande. And the kynge whiche then was comyn to Yorke, restyd hym there a season and there aboute.
In the moneth of Septembre [September 1470], & X yere of the kyng, the foresayd duke of Clarence, accompanyed with ye erlys of Warwyke, of Penbroke, & of Oxenforde, & other many gentylmen, ladyd at Dartmouth in Deuynshyre, & there made theyr proclamacions in the name of kynge Henry the VI and so drewe ferther into the lande. Wherof herynge, ye comons of that coutre and other drewe vnto theim by great companyes.
Thenne the Kentysshemen beganne to wexe wylde, and assembled theym in great companyes, and so came vnto the out parties of the cytie of London, as Radclyffe, Seynt Katherynes, and other places, and robbyd & spoyled the Flemynges, & all the berehowses tnere as they came.
14th February 1471. And upon the 14th. day of February came the duke of Exeter to London.
And upon the. xiiii. daye of February came the duke of Exceter to London.
27th February 1471. And the 27th day of the said month, rode the Earl of Warwick (age 42) thorugh the city towards Dover, for to have received Queen Margaret; but he was disappointed, for the wind was to her so contrary, that she lay at the sea side tarrying for a convenient wind from November till April. And so the said Earl, after he had long tarried for her at the sea syde, was fain to returne without speed of his purpose.
And the xxvii. daye of y sayd moneth, rode the erle of Warwyke thorugh the cytre towarde Douer, for to haue receyued quene Margarete; but he was despoynted, for y wynde was to her so contrary, that she laye at the see syde taryinge for a conuenyent wynde frome Nouembre tyll Apryll. And soo the sayde erle, after he hadde longe taryed for her at the see syde, was fayne to vetourne without spede of his purpose.
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The Chronicle of Geoffrey le Baker of Swinbroke. Baker was a secular clerk from Swinbroke, now Swinbrook, an Oxfordshire village two miles east of Burford. His Chronicle describes the events of the period 1303-1356: Gaveston, Bannockburn, Boroughbridge, the murder of King Edward II, the Scottish Wars, Sluys, Crécy, the Black Death, Winchelsea and Poitiers. To quote Herbert Bruce 'it possesses a vigorous and characteristic style, and its value for particular events between 1303 and 1356 has been recognised by its editor and by subsequent writers'. The book provides remarkable detail about the events it describes. Baker's text has been augmented with hundreds of notes, including extracts from other contemporary chronicles, such as the Annales Londonienses, Annales Paulini, Murimuth, Lanercost, Avesbury, Guisborough and Froissart to enrich the reader's understanding. The translation takes as its source the 'Chronicon Galfridi le Baker de Swynebroke' published in 1889, edited by Edward Maunde Thompson. Available at Amazon in eBook and Paperback.
Thus during this queasy season, the mayor fearing the return of King Edward, feigned him sick, and so kept his house a great season. All which time sir Thomas Cooke, which then was admitted to his former room, was set in his place, and allowed for his deputy, which turned after to his great trouble & sorrow.
Thus durynge this queysy season, the mayer ferynge the retourne of kynge Edwarde, fayned hym syke, and so kept his house a great season. All which tytne sir Thomas Cooke, whiche thenne was admytted to his former rome, was sette in his place, and allowyd for his deputie, whiche tourned after to his great trowble & sorowe.
Then finally in the beginning of the month of April, King Edward landed in the North, at a place called Ravenspurn, with a small company of Flemings and other; so that all his company exceeded not the numbre of 1000 persons. And so drew hym toward York, making his proclamations as he went in the name of King Henry, and showed to the people, that he came for none intent, but only to claim his inheritance, the Dukedom of York; [and so passed the countries until he came to the city of York], the where the citizens held him out [i.e. outside of the city] till they knew his intent. And when he had showed to them, as he before had done to other, and confirmed it by an oath, he was there received and refreshed for a certain time, and so departed and held his way towards London, and passed by favour and fair words the danger of the Lord Marquis Mountagu, which in that coasts lay then await for him purposely to stop his way, and had people double the number that King Edward had of fighting men. When King Edward was thus passed the said marquys, and saw that his strength was greatly amended, and that also daily the people drew unto him, he then made proclamations in his own name as King of England; and so held on his journey till he came unto London. In which pass time that is to mean on Maundy Thursday, the Archbishop of York, being then at London with King Henry, to the intent to move the people's hearts towarde the King, rode about the town with him, and showed him to the people; the which rather withdrew mens hearts than otherwise. And. in this season also Sir Thomas Cook, beforenamed, avoided the land, intending to haue sailed into France. But he was taken of a ship of Flauders, and his son and heir with him; and so sat there in prison many dayes, and lastly was delivered to King Edward.
Thanne fynally in the begynnynge of the moneth of Apryll, kynge Edwarde landyd in the North, at a place called Rauynspore, with a small company of Flemynges and other; so that all his company excedyd nat the nombre of. M. persones. And so drewe hym. towarde Yorke, makyng his proclamacions as he went in the name of kyng Henry, and shewyd to the people, that he came for none entent, but oonly to clayme his enherytaunce, y dukedome of Yorke; [and soo passyd the countres tyll he came to y cytie of Yorke], y where the cytezeyns helde hym oute tyll they knewe his entent. And when he had shewyd unto theym, as he before had done unto other, & cofermed it by an othe, he was there recevued and refresshed for a certayne tyme, and so departed and helde his way towarde London, and passyd by fauoure and fayer wordes the daunger of the iorde marquys Mountagu, whiche in that coostes laye than awayte for hym purposely to stoppe his way, and hadde people dowble the nombre that kynge Edwarde had of fyghtynge men. Whanne kynge Edwarde was thus passyd the sayde marquys, and sawe that his strength was greatly amendyd, and that also dayly y people drewe unto hym, he thanne made. proclamacyons in his owne name as kynge of Englande; and so helde on his iournay tyll he came unto London. In whiche passe tyme* that is to meane upon Sherethursdaye, y archebysshop of Yorke, beynge then at London with kynge Henry, to the entent to inoue the peoples hertes towarde y kynge, rode aboute the towne with hym, and shewyd hym to the people; the whiche rather withdrewe menes hertes than otherwy.se. And. in this season also sir Thomas Cook, befornamed, auoydyd the lade, entendynge to haue sayled into France. But he was taken of a shyp of Flaunders, and his sone and heyre with hym; and soo sette there in pryson many dayes, and lastly was delyueryd unto kynge Edwarde.
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[22nd May 1471] Thanne upon Assencion Euyn next ensuynge, ye corps of Henry the. vi. (deceased) late kynge was brought vnreuerently from ye Tower thorugh ye hygh stretes of ye cytie unto Paulis Church, and there lefte for that nyght, and upon ye morowe conveyed with gleyuys & other wepyns, as he before thyther was broughte unto Chertyssey, where he was buryed.
Of ye deth of this pryncc dyuerse tales were tolde: but the moost comon fame wente, that he was stykked with a dagger, by the handes of the duke of Glouceter (age 18), which after Edwarde the. iiii. vsurpyd the crowne, and was kynge as after shall appere.
September 1475. In this year, was the duke of Exeter (age 45) found dead in the sea between Dover and Calais, but how he was drowned the certainty is not known.
Note. This entry has an incorrect date. Henry Holland drowned in Septemrber 1475,
In this mayors yeare also was one William Oldhall codemned unto a draper of London called Cristoler Colyns, for the which condemnation he remained as a prisoner in Ludgate; wherupon a season he went at large with a keeper, he break from him, and so escaped, and after was taken and brought again to the saide prison. But that notwithstanding, the sayd Cristofer sued the sheriffs, and caused them to spend great money in defending of his action; and finally were fain, by way of compromise, to giue to him a hundred marks for his duty of £80 and odd.
And in this year was one John Goos a Lollard burned at the Tower Hill for heresy; the which before dinner was delivered to Robert Bullydon, on the sheriffs, to put in execution the same afternoon; wherefore he, like a charitable man, had him home to his house, and there exhorted him that he shuld die a Christian man, and renye [remedy?] his false errors. But that other, after long exhortation hard, required the sheriff that he might have meat, for he said that he was sore hungered. Then the sheriff commanded him meat whereof he took as he had eylcd [?] nothing, and said to such as stood about him, "I eat now a good and competent dinner, for I shall passe a little sharp shower or I go to supper." And when he had dined, he required that he might shortly be led to his execution.
This yere, that is to meane ye xviii. daye of February [1478], the Duke of Clarence (age 28) and....2brother to the King, thanne being prysoner in ye Tower [Map], was secretely put to deth and drowned in a barell of maluesye within the said Tower. And this mayer this yere pursued also the reparacyon of the wallys, but nat so dylygently as his predccessour dyd, wherfore it was nat spedde as it might haue been, and also he was a syke and a feble man, and hadde not so sharpe and quycke mynde as that other hadde. And one other cause was, whiche ensuythe of a generaltie, that for the more partie one mayer wyll nat fynesshe that thing whiche that other begynneth, for then they thynke, be the dede neuer so good and profitable, that the honoure therof shalbe ascribed to the begynner, and nat to the fynyssher, whiche lacke of charytie and deSire of veingiory causeth many good actes and dedys to dye and growe out of minde, to the great decaye of the cōmon weale of the cytie.
Note 2. second brother. edit. 1542. 1559.
Thanue began the longe couert dissymulacion, whiche of the lorde protectour had been so craftly shadowyd, to breke out at large, insomoche that vpon the Sonday folowyng at Paulyscrosse, hymself, with the duke of Bukkyngham, and other lordes beynge present, by the month of doctour Rafe Shaa, in the tyme of his sermon, was there shewyd openly that the childerhe of kynge Edwarde the iiij. were nat legitimat, nor ryghtfull enherytours of the crowne, with many dislaunderous wordes, in preferrynge of the tytle of the sayd lorde protectour, and in disanullyng of the other, to the great abusion of all the audyence, except such as fauoured the matyer, which were fewe in nornbre, if the trouthe or playnesse myght haue ben shewyd. Of the whiche declaracion, as the fame went after, the sayd doctour Shaa toke such repentaunce, that he lyued in lytell prosperite after. And the more he was wonderyd of that he wold take vpon hym suche a besynesse, consydeiynge that he was so famous a man, both of his lernynge and also of naturall wytte.
Than vpon the Tuysdaye folowynge, an assemble of the commons of the cytie was appoynted at the Guyldhalle, where eynge present the duke of Bukkyngham, with other lordes, sent downe from the sayd lorde protectour, and there, in the presence of the mayer and comynaltie, rehersyd the ryght and title that the lorde protectour had to be preferred before his1 .... of his broder kynge Edwarde to the ryght of the crowne of Englande; the which processe was in so eloquent wyse shewyd & vttred, without any impedyment of spyttynge or other countenaunce, and that of a longe whyle with so good sugred wordes of exortacion and accordynge sentence, that many a wyse man that claye meruaylcd and coinmendyd hym for the good ordryng of this wordes ; but nat for the entent and purpose the whiche that thervpon ensuyd.
Note 1. his neues the sonnes. edit. 15
Vpon the Thursday than next ensuynge, beynge the xx1 daye of luny, the sayd lorde protectour takyng then vpon hym as kyng and gouernour of the realme, went with great pompe vnto Westmynster, and there toke possessyon of the same. Where he beynge sette in thegreat halle in the see royall, with the duke of Norfolke, before called the lorde Hawarde, vpon the ryght hande, & the duke of Suffolke vpon the left hande, after the royall othe there taken, called before hym the iuges of the lawe, gyuynge vnto them a longe exortacion and streyght comniaundement for the myhystrynge of his lawys, and to execute iusiyce, and that without delaye. After whiehe possessyon takynge, and other ceremonys there done, he conueyed' vnto the kynges palays within Westmynster, and there lodgyd.
Note 1. A mistake for the 26th June 1483.
[August 1483]. In which passe tyme the prynce, or of ryght kynge Edwarde the v., with his broder the duke of Yorke, were put under suer kepynge within the Tower, in suche wyse that they neuer came abrode after.
And thus endyd the reygne of Edward the v. when he had borne the name of a kyng by the space of (two monethes and XI dayes). And upon the Frydaye, beyng the XXI daye of Juny, was the sayde lorde protectour proclaymed thorughe the cytie kynge of Englande, by the name of Richarde the thirde.
In this yere the foresayd grudge encreasinge, and the more for asmoche as the common fame went that kynge Richarde hadde within the Tower put unto secrete deth the two sonnes of his broder Edwarde the 4th for the whiche, and other causes hadde within the brest of the duke of Bukkyngham, the sayd duke, in secrete maner, conspyred agayne hym, and allyed hym with dyuerse gentylmen, to the ende to bryng his purpose aboute.
But howe it was, his [Henry Stafford 2nd Duke of Buckingham] entent was espyed and shewyd vnto the kynge, and the kynge in all haste sent for to take hym, he then beynge smally accompanyed at his manour of Brekenok, in the marche of Walys. Wherof the sayd duke beyng ware, in all hast he flcdde from his sayd manour of Brekenok, vnto the house of a seruaunt of his owne, callyd Banaster, and that in so secrete maner, that fewe or none of his housholde seruaunts knewe where he was become.
[2nd November 1483] In the whiche passe tyme kyng Richarde thynkynge that the duke (age 29) wolde haue assembled his people, and so to haue gyuen to hym batayll, gaderyd to hym great strengthe, and after tooke his iournaye westwarde to haue mette with the said duke. But whanne the kynge was infourmed that he was fledde, anone he made proclamaeyons that who that myght take the sayd duke shulde haue for a rewarde. M,li. of money, and the value of an hondreth pobnde land by yere to hym, & to his heyres for euer more. Wherof herynge the foresayd Banaster, were it for mede of the sayd rewarde, or for the fere of losynge of his lyfe and good, discoueryd the duke vnto the sheryffe of the shyre, and caused hym to be taken & soo brought vnto Salysbury, where the kynge than laye.
And all be it that the sayde duke made importune laboure to have comyn to the kynges presence, yet nat that natwithstandynge he was there behedyd vpon the daye of the moneth of without speche or syght of the kynge. Than all suche gentylmen as hadde appoynted to mete with the sayd duke, were so dismayed, that they knewe nat what for to doo, but they that myghtfled the lande, and some toke seyntwary places as they myght wyne vanto theym. But the kynge, to the ende to lette theym of their purpose, sent to the see coostes and stoppyd theyr waye in that that he myght, & he with a certayne strengthe rode vnto Exceter, where aboute that season was taken sir Thomas Selenger, knyght, and. ii. gentylmen, that one beyng named Thomas Ramme, and that other [....]1 the whiche persones were there shortly after behedyd.
Note 1. A later hand in the MS. has here added Thomas Haleb.
[4th December 1483]. And soon after in Kent were taken sir George Browne (age 43), knyght, & Robert Clifforde, esquyer, & brought unto the Tower of London. And upon the daye .... of Octobre the sayd sir George & Robert were drawen from Westmynster unto the Tower Hill, and there behedyd.
And in the moneth of luny, and xvii [17th June 1497] day were the Cornyshmen dyscomfyted at Blakheth.
And vpon the xxviii [28th June 1497] daye of luny, the smyth & a gentylman named Flamok, two capytaynes of ye sayd rebeiles, were put in execucyon at Tybourne. And shortely after the lorde Audeley (age 34), which was hed capytayne of the sayd rebeiles, was put to deth at y Towre Hylle.
30th October 1498. In this year, upon the 30th day of October, came my lord prince through the city with an honourable company toward Westminster.
12th February 1499. And upon Shrove Tuesday was put in execution, at Saint Thomas Watering [Map], a stripling [Ralph Wulford (age 20)] of twenty years of age, which had himself to be the son or heir to the Earl of Warwick's lands, and was the son of a cordwainer of London.
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The Chronicle of Geoffrey le Baker of Swinbroke. Baker was a secular clerk from Swinbroke, now Swinbrook, an Oxfordshire village two miles east of Burford. His Chronicle describes the events of the period 1303-1356: Gaveston, Bannockburn, Boroughbridge, the murder of King Edward II, the Scottish Wars, Sluys, Crécy, the Black Death, Winchelsea and Poitiers. To quote Herbert Bruce 'it possesses a vigorous and characteristic style, and its value for particular events between 1303 and 1356 has been recognised by its editor and by subsequent writers'. The book provides remarkable detail about the events it describes. Baker's text has been augmented with hundreds of notes, including extracts from other contemporary chronicles, such as the Annales Londonienses, Annales Paulini, Murimuth, Lanercost, Avesbury, Guisborough and Froissart to enrich the reader's understanding. The translation takes as its source the 'Chronicon Galfridi le Baker de Swynebroke' published in 1889, edited by Edward Maunde Thompson. Available at Amazon in eBook and Paperback.
26th July 1499. And this year master John Tate, alderman, began the new edifying of Saint Anthony's Church. And this year, upon the 26th day of July, being Sunday, and upon the Sunday following, stood twelve heretics at Paul's Crosse shryned [sic] with faggots.
16th November 1499. In thys yere, the. xvi. day of Nouember, was areyned in the Whyte Halle at Westmynster, the forenamed Parkyn (age 25), &. iii. other;
[28th November 1499] And soone after was the erle of Warwyke (age 24) put to deth at the Towre Hylle [Map], & one Blewet & Astwood at Tyborne [Map].
[1500] And thys yere, in May, the kyng & the quene sayled to Calays. And thys yere was Babra, in Northfolke, brent. And in luly was an old heretyke brent in Smythfelde. And thys yere was a great deth in London, wherof died ouer. xx. M. of all ages.
15th September 1500. And this j'ere dyed doctour Morton (age 80), cardynall and chaunceler of Englande, in the moneth of October [September].
11th October 1517. And upon the eleventh day of October next following, then being the sweating sickness of new begun, died the said Thomas Hall then of London mayor, and for him was chosen as mayor Sir William Stocker knight and draper, which died also of the said sikeness shortly after; and then John Ward, grocer, was chosen mayor, which so continued till the Feast of Simon and Jude following.