When Saxons Harold, Godwins sonne,
who had beene K ing w i thout all right,
att Hastings feelde to death was done,
& all his army put to flight,
to william who had woone the feilde
the English peeres the crowne did yeeld;
by herlott, bastard sonne was hee
to Robert duke of Normandye.
he, once established in his seate,
amongst his men devides his lande,
& now his power is growne soe great
the english cold not him w i thstand;
he entring as a Conquerour,
liues, lands, & goods, were in his power;
to his owne vse he ceased the best,
amongst his soliders p ar ts the rest.
His sisters sonne, Hugh Lupus called,
whome then the rest hee held more deere,
the Earle of Chester was installde
w i th many rites tha t royall were,
cheerfully by sword to hold the same
as hee by crowne did hold the realme;
who made 8 th . Barons of his owne,
the names of whom full well are knowne:
Negell of Halton was the first,
whose heyres did beare the Lacyees name;
the earles of Lincolne haue beene erst,
in Ireland likwise of great fame.
Thomas the Earle of Lancaster
had Allice to wiffe, who was their heyre;
he, Ishulese, did loose his head,
& shee did neuer after wedde,
but to his brother Henery shee
assured her lands; since when they were
by Earles & Dukes vndoubtedlye
held by the house of Lancaster
till B ULLENBROOKE attaind the crowne
by putting second Rich ard downe,
since when the castle & the fee
are in the crowne continuallye.
Robert fitz Norman next was made
of Mountrealt B ARON ; in whose heyre[s]
tha t Barronry succession had
226: yeeres.
the last, who was a worthy K nigh t,
to Isabell gaue all his right;
the second Edwards wiffe was shee;
tho there did end tha t barronry.
yet all or most of Mountrealts Lands
And signioryes tha t were soe fayre,
to stanly the Earle of Darbys hands
in latter times conuayde weere,
not only Harding, Hope, & moulde,
but alsoe many a goodlye hold
w hi ch, in reward of service good,
were bestowed on stanlyes blood.
The 3, was Will ia M M ALBEDDINGE ,
of Nantwiche B ARON , from whose name
his grandchilds daughter did it bringe:
Vernon & Bassett had the same
by Marriage, w hi ch did come to passe
after the first created was
about of yeeres some 73,
were par ted by cop ar sonarye.
but sithence then, tha t Barronrye
mongst Coheyres many soe did rest,
tha t some of them but of tha t fee
a 36 p ar t possesst.
Then Guarren Vernon after him
of Shibbrooke next created hee,
the heyres of whom haue Barrons [bin]
for 5 descents continuallye.
the last deceased; then it came
to litle-bury, & Wilbraham,
& stafford by his sisters 3,
who vnto these 3 marryed bee.
& after this it scattered was
amongst the heyres full many a day;
till att the lenght it came to passe,
the gratest p ar t therof doth stay
w i th S i r John Savage, to whose name
by marriage & descent it came
from Bostockes daughter, maiden bright,
whose father was a worthye K nigh t.
R OBERT FITZHUGHE , the next in place,
of Malpus Barron was created,
w hi ch he enioyed but litle space
before his dayes grew out of date,
leaving noe heyres. he being dead,
the Earle created in his stead
Eginion ap David, vnto whome
succeeded Raphe, his onlye sonne.
2 daughters, but noe sonne at all,
tha t Raphe hee had; who, being dead,
the Heritage forthwith did fall
to those tha t did his daughters wedde:
first, david Clarke, he had the one,
he was the william Belwards sonne;
the other, Robert Patricke had;
they twixt them selues p ar etition made.
from Phillip, who was younger sonne
to David Clarke assuredlye,
the ancient house of Egerton
doth truly draw their Pedigree.
long after this, full many yeeres,
by marriage made amongst their heyres,
the greatest p ar t of all the same
to Sutton the Lo rd D UDLEY came,
from whom, by purchase after made,
tha t p ar t S i R Willia M B RUIRTONS is,
to whom by Marryage alsoe had
w i th Egertons daughter, as I gesse,
another p ar t of all that fee
descended to him Lineallye;
soe he 7 p ar ts of 8 possest,
S i r Randle Bruirton had the rest.
Vpon Hughe Massey he did bestow
the Dunham Massey barronrye,
to whom there did succeed in row
8 heyres of his successiuelye;
from thence-forthe mongst the femall heyres
it scattered was for many yeeres,
yet most p ar t after ages past
to Boothe of Du[n]ham came at last.
The next was Gylbert Venables,
the baron made of Kinderton,
from whome the same to these our dayes
in downe-right Line did still hold on
To Peeter, who now holds the same,
eniouing title, Lands & name.
few howses shall you find beside,
tha t in one name soe long abide.
Nicholas of Stopport was the Last
to whome tha t title he did giue;
but after many ages past,
in w hi ch his heyres did Barons liue,
Warreyn of Poynton gott the same
by Marryage: w hi ch warreyn came
of Earle Warreyn of Surrey, soothe,
as Camden doth affirme for truth.
these Barons all were councellors
vnto the Earle in his affaires,
& some were household officers,
& left their places to their heyres.
the yeere 1093
he built westchaster monasterrye,
& 45 yeeres compleate
he did enioye tha t famous seate.
The Second Part.
Richard his sonne, but 7 yeers old,
succeeded in his fathers place;
he did this famous erldome hold
for 19 yeeres & 3 monthes space,
& sayling then from Normandye —
ffirst Henerys sonnes to accompanye —
Neer Barffleete being run on ground,
them selues & all there traine were drown[d].
Then Randulphe Gurnon, next earle was he;
he was Hugh Lupus sisters sonne,
who but 8 yeeres in[i]oyed tha t place
ere his liues glasse were ffully runn.
Randulph Meshieeffes, Gernons heyre,
was next tha t did enioye tha t Chayre.
This Randle both in peace & warr
past all the english nobles ffarr;
in his time Steven ruled this land,
to Maude the Empresse, dew of right,
first Henerys heyre: him to w i thstand,
shee labored all the freinds shee might.
the Earle, to avoyd him, raysed his power,
woone many a citye, towne, & tower;
& of all those he did obtaine,
he had the honor, shee the gaine.
The K ing , to Lincolne, seeige had layd,
& layne before it many dayes;
the Earle came downe the towne to ayde,
w i th all his power the seeige to rayse.
Some thought the K ing durst not abide
w i th him the battell to haue tryde;
but though his coming he did know,
yet from the seeige he wold not goe.
Vpon the plaine before the towne,
the battell Ioyned couragiouslye;
there many a K nigh t was beaten downe
ere either gott the victorye;
att lenghth the Earle did win the day,
the K ing s power broke & run awaye,
the Kinge in Chace himselfe [was] tane,
& most p ar t of all his soliders slaine.
to the Empresse Maude att Glocester
he did deliuer vp the Kinge,
who kept him as a prisoner
from Midsumer vnto the springe;
then for the erle of Gloster
who taken was att winchester,
her bastard brother to sett free,
she gaue the K ing his lybertye.
& after manye a bloodye feeld
where countles numbers had beene slaine,
the K ing did to cond i c i ons yeeld,
soe during life himselfe might rayne,
The Empresse soone at his decease
shold haue the crowne to her in peace,
& euery one that tooke his p ar t
he pardoned freelye from his hart.
the we[l]chmen did incursions make
on Randulphes countye Palatine,
whilest he such endles paines did take
in peace those princes to conioyne.
but heering itt, such speed he made
w i th tha t small power then he hadd,
whilest neere Nantwiche they sought their prey,
he slew all those went not awaye.
the first yeere of his dignitye,
an abbey there he helpet to founde, —
where-to Hugh Malbancke devoutlye
gaue all the site & other grounde, —
called the Abbey of Cumbermeare,
indowed with Liuings good & fayre,
wherto 2 Lo rd s hi pps of great worth
the sayd Hugh Malbancke did tread forth,
his wiffe & children being there,
barfooted & bareheaded w i th-all
did walke about from Mere to Mere.
these Lo rd s hi pps " wilkslye" men doe call,
& " dodcott" eke, the w hi ch doe lye
& Ioyne together certainlye;
of ancient rent, as I doe heare,
noe lesse then 80 a yeere.
begining thus, as wee may see,
abbeys to build w i th godlye feare,
the last yeere Poolton fownded hee.
he gouerned 25 yeere,
then died, as euery other must;
" but though thy body turne to dust,
religious, valliant, Iust, & wise
great Earle! thy honor neuer dyes! "
When great Mescheues was deceased,
his sonne Hugh Keuelocke did enioye
his hono u r, & the same encreased
by valor & by industrye.
he w i th his power did wales inuade, —
for inrodes w hi ch themselues had made
vpon his lands, — & conquered all
Broome feild, & greatest p ar t of yalle.
beloued both of K ing & peeres,
& greatlye feared of his foes,
he gouerned 29 yeeres,
& then the way of all flesh goes,
& left to gouerne in his place
the cheefest man of all that race,
His sonne, called Randle Blondvile,
the parragon of all that He,
bold, bewtifull, religious, wise,
p ro foundlye learned, liberall,
in all things dealing w i th advice,
of haughtye mind, yet milde w i th all,
this younge Erle: w hi ch soe did moue
the 2 d Henery him to loue,
tha t, his sonne Jefferey being dead,
he did to him his widow wedd;
of Britaine & of Richmond shee
in her owne wright a Countesse was,
w hi ch added to his dignitye
of mightye Earledomes made in a see
of Chester, lincolne, Huntinton,
his father Earle was; but the sonne,
fflint, Denbye, & the Powesse lands
besides, had gott w i th-in his hands;
5 earldomes & 3 barronryes
he now enioyes, w i th Manno u rs fayre,
& many wealthy royaltyes
in Nottingham & in Stafordshire;
But his great honors altered not
his mind nor manners neu er a Iot,
for full of Princlye curtesie
euen to the last continued hee.
when 2 Henery was deceaset,
& C UERDE L YON were the crowne,
his fame in forraine land increase[t;]
for tha t great K ing of high renowne,
the french K ing , & the Emperour,
& A USTRICH D UKE , a man of power,
did Ioyne together to redeeme
the Citye of Ierusalem;
for tha t great Souldan, Saladine,
in open feild not long before
tooke prisoners Guy of Lusignon
& many valliant christians more;
after w hi ch feild the Sarazen
gott Ioppa & Ierusalem,
Tyre, Sidon, Acon & Trypolis,
& many cityes more then these.
the[n] before Messene in Cicilee
the Christen princes poynt to meete
w i th all their warlicke companye,
& their together Ioyne their fleete.
but man doth purpose, god dispose,
for att the sea such tempests rose,
the Emperour Lands on Syryan shore,
the french K ing att Tyrrana Bore,
K ing Rich ard Cuerdelyon lands
vpon the fruitfull Cypresse Ile,
& there he Marshalld all his bands, —
the vantguard Randle Blondvile,
himselfe the battell as their head,
the rereguard the Erle of Pembrook Ledd; —
he heard how by a Sarazen
tha t land had neuer conquered beene.
The turkish K ing on the other side,
thinking his power made weake by sea,
the battell boldlye did abyde;
but the English K ing did win the day,
the Turkish K ing was slaine in feild;
his soliders tha t escapet did yeeld,
& to K ing Rich ard the did restore
all the holds they had gott before.
he garrisons in all did place,
& then forthwith mand out his fleete;
att lenght came where the french K ing was,
whose hart reioced when the meete;
and being mett, the sayled amaine,
the holy Land for to attaine,
And after landed in short time
vpon the cost of Palestine.
The Third Part.
to Acon walls the seege did lay,
& compassed it by sea & land;
& after battery many a day,
to assaulte, eche one p re pared his bande
the Erle of Chester first of all
by force did mount the Citye wall,
And there in signe of victorye
pight Rich ards coulors vpon hee.
the sett the Christian p ri soners free;
the Sarazens went all to wracke
saue such as wold baptized bee;
the Citye all was put to sacke;
wh i ch done, the french K ing home returned;
& valliant Rich ard still soiuorned;
& after, he & saladine
in battell did together Ioyne.
K ing Rich ard gott the victorye;
for after countlese numbers slaine,
great Saladine away did flee,
& being saue, sent backe againe
a messenger to offer peace,
tha t for 3 yeeres all warrs might cease;
which offer Rich ard did accept;
the prisoners changed, & couenants kept.
how Rich ard in returne, by fraude
was by the Archduke p ri soner tane,
how long he there did make abode,
how he was ransomed home againe,
how afterwards he did advance
his standards gainst the K ing of france,
what forts and cityes he did gaine,
& how by chance he there was slaine,
& how in all his bloodye warr
Earle Randle p re sence neuer fayld,
how when his foes had passed farr
in count, his courage neu er failde,
I ouer-passe: to show I come
in K ing Iohns raigne what deeds were done
by this great Erle, what ayd he gaue,
the crowne and Kingdome both to saue.
the sea of Canteburye voyd,
the Monkes by their authorytie
w hi ch many yeeres they had enioyed,
chose Steven Langton to tha t sea,
but him the K ing wold not admitt;
wherfore the Bishoppe did him gett
vnto the Pope, & such meanes made
tha t conformation there he had;
but tha t th e K ing did more incense,
as breach of his p re roggatiue,
wherfor the Monkes he banished hence,
& did warning to Langton giue
" on paine of death for to refraine,
& neu er come in this land againe."
w hi ch heard, he straight returned home
fo[r] excommunication
against the K ing & all the Land;
wherto the pope did giue consent,
for such as did the church w i th-stand,
they were accurst incontinent.
the Neibouring K ing s he did p er swade
K ing Iohns dominions to Inuade,
& cut the subiects of his realme
from duty & obedyence cleane,
& by this means such warr to rise
against the K ing both here & hence,
by out & inward enemyes,
tha t to p ro cure the popes dispence,
to his legatt he surrender made
of crowne & all the power he had,
& then did backe receiue his crowne,
& tribute to the church of Rome.
but this did soe his peeres offend
as scandall was to the estate,
& they forthwith to france did send
to the french K ing , for to intreate
tha t he vnto them p re sentlye
wold send his sonne, their K ing to bee;
& hostages he was content,
& w i th a power his sonne he sent.
Noe sooner was he come of shore,
but the english barrons Ioynd w i th him;
winchester first, & winsor then
he gott, & did the seege begin
about D OUER : but with inward greefe
or surfett, Iohn d e p ar ts this life,
& left a sonne but 9 yeers old,
the w hic h of right succeed him shold.
the infants low distressed state, —
Being voyd of meanes himselfe to ayde, —
Erle Randle did comiserate,
& likwise valliant Pembrooke prayd
to ioyne w i th him, young Henerye
to london to accompanye
from Newarke, where his father dyed,
& crownd him spite of french mens pryde;
w hi ch they accordinglye p er formed,
& there w i th dew solemnitye
the infant w i th the crowne adorned,
& swore his subiects to be true;
& then the next insuing day
the towards Lincolne marcht away,
& by assault the Citye woone,
where many french to death were done.
But when french Lewis once did heare
what numbers of his men were slaine,
& of what force the 2 earles was,
w i thout delay himselfe was faine, —
money being payd for his expence, —
noe claime to make, but p ar t from hence,
& all such places to restore
wherof he conquest made before.
thus hauing placed in peace & rest
young Henery in his fathers throne,
by all good subiects hylie blest,
[the] Erle returned backe home,
& valliant Pembrooke to abyde,
the infant K ing to rule & guide.
Erle Randle did entend againe
a iourney to Ierusalem,
& hauing gathered such a power
as fitting was for his intent,
w i th Quinsay, Erle of winchester,
who Ioyned w i th him, to sea he went;
& by the way he vnderstoode
how christian bands by Nilus flood
beseeged the citye damyatte,
& long w i th losse had lyen theratt
wherfore he thither bent his course,
& came in time to giue them ayde,
for rayse their seege the must of force
through extreame want, but he them stayd,
& w i th the great applause of all
he chosen was Lo rd Generall;
nor gaue the him tha t name in vaine,
for they by his meanes the citye gaine.
inestimable was the store
of gold & welthy Merchandize
tha t there they gott: but he did more
esteeme gods [glory] then the prize.
the aegiptian Souldan Saladine
did offer him Ierusalem
& all those holds he gott of Late
in Iury, backe p ro D AMIATTE ,
w hi ch he accepted in the name
of Iohn, who was then Iuryes K ing .
him leaving to receive the same,
he into England backe did bring,
w i thout great lose, his famous bands
renowned and feared in heathen Lands,
& soe enriched, there was not one
but had enough to liue vpon.
& instantlye on his returne
resoluing now to liue in peace,
the great strong castle of Beeston
he built, w i th the abbey of Delacreese,
& Chortley castle: — in 2 yeeres
those 2 great castles finished were;
in 1220 ty .
they both were finished p er fectlye; —
and after liued for 12 yeeres space,
Loden w i th hono u r, welth, & yeeres,
both hielie in his princes grace,
& r[e]uerenced of all the peeres,
&, equall w i th all those aboue,
most deeplye in the com m ons loue;
But at the last, att wallingford,
his Erldomes Lost their honored Lo rd .
for 50 yeeres in 4 K ings rayne,
Some-times in peace, somtimes in striffe,
his Earldomes in his hands remaines;
then I-shule-se he left his life
he had 4 sisters, vnto whom
his Land successiuelye shold come:
all in his life time marryed were;
the Eldest of whom Iohn Scott did beare
by D AUID of the royall line
of Scottish K in gs, one of whose heyres
[enioyed the] Scottish crowne in time,
as by the Cronickle appeares
Erle Arrundell the 2 d . had;
& darby of the 3 d . choice made;
& Quinsey, the erle of winchester,
had to his wife the youngest of 4.
in Chester Abbey was interrd
Erle Randles body: to whose place
Iohn Scott, his nephew, was p re ferred,
who likwise Erle of Anguish was.
he after 5 yeeres, I-shules
att darnall dyed: the k in g did ceaze
his erldomes all into his hands,
giuing his sisters other lands;
for he 4 sisters left aliue,
& Allen, Lo rd of Galloway,
the eldest of them had to wiffe;
She Derngill bore, tha t Lady gay,
who by Iohn Balyoll forth did bring
Iohn Balyoll, who was Scottish K ing .
the next was mached to Robert Bruise,
a Scottish Lord of ancient house.
the 3 noe Ishue had; the 4 th .
& last did Henery Hastings wedd,
& to him Iseue store brought forth,
of whom are famous houses bredd.
K ing Henery, after 16 yeeres,
vnto prince Edward & his heyres,
K ing s of this lande, did it convay
by patent; soe vntill this day
all princes of this Land did hold
the same w i th as great royaltye
as Lupus had the same of old,
& his succeeding p ro genie.
soe Chester euer hath had since
an Erle when England had a Prince;
& when as princes there had beene none,
the p ro fitts to the crowne haue gone.
who had beene K ing w i thout all right,
att Hastings feelde to death was done,
& all his army put to flight,
to william who had woone the feilde
the English peeres the crowne did yeeld;
by herlott, bastard sonne was hee
to Robert duke of Normandye.
he, once established in his seate,
amongst his men devides his lande,
& now his power is growne soe great
the english cold not him w i thstand;
he entring as a Conquerour,
liues, lands, & goods, were in his power;
to his owne vse he ceased the best,
amongst his soliders p ar ts the rest.
His sisters sonne, Hugh Lupus called,
whome then the rest hee held more deere,
the Earle of Chester was installde
w i th many rites tha t royall were,
cheerfully by sword to hold the same
as hee by crowne did hold the realme;
who made 8 th . Barons of his owne,
the names of whom full well are knowne:
Negell of Halton was the first,
whose heyres did beare the Lacyees name;
the earles of Lincolne haue beene erst,
in Ireland likwise of great fame.
Thomas the Earle of Lancaster
had Allice to wiffe, who was their heyre;
he, Ishulese, did loose his head,
& shee did neuer after wedde,
but to his brother Henery shee
assured her lands; since when they were
by Earles & Dukes vndoubtedlye
held by the house of Lancaster
till B ULLENBROOKE attaind the crowne
by putting second Rich ard downe,
since when the castle & the fee
are in the crowne continuallye.
Robert fitz Norman next was made
of Mountrealt B ARON ; in whose heyre[s]
tha t Barronry succession had
226: yeeres.
the last, who was a worthy K nigh t,
to Isabell gaue all his right;
the second Edwards wiffe was shee;
tho there did end tha t barronry.
yet all or most of Mountrealts Lands
And signioryes tha t were soe fayre,
to stanly the Earle of Darbys hands
in latter times conuayde weere,
not only Harding, Hope, & moulde,
but alsoe many a goodlye hold
w hi ch, in reward of service good,
were bestowed on stanlyes blood.
The 3, was Will ia M M ALBEDDINGE ,
of Nantwiche B ARON , from whose name
his grandchilds daughter did it bringe:
Vernon & Bassett had the same
by Marriage, w hi ch did come to passe
after the first created was
about of yeeres some 73,
were par ted by cop ar sonarye.
but sithence then, tha t Barronrye
mongst Coheyres many soe did rest,
tha t some of them but of tha t fee
a 36 p ar t possesst.
Then Guarren Vernon after him
of Shibbrooke next created hee,
the heyres of whom haue Barrons [bin]
for 5 descents continuallye.
the last deceased; then it came
to litle-bury, & Wilbraham,
& stafford by his sisters 3,
who vnto these 3 marryed bee.
& after this it scattered was
amongst the heyres full many a day;
till att the lenght it came to passe,
the gratest p ar t therof doth stay
w i th S i r John Savage, to whose name
by marriage & descent it came
from Bostockes daughter, maiden bright,
whose father was a worthye K nigh t.
R OBERT FITZHUGHE , the next in place,
of Malpus Barron was created,
w hi ch he enioyed but litle space
before his dayes grew out of date,
leaving noe heyres. he being dead,
the Earle created in his stead
Eginion ap David, vnto whome
succeeded Raphe, his onlye sonne.
2 daughters, but noe sonne at all,
tha t Raphe hee had; who, being dead,
the Heritage forthwith did fall
to those tha t did his daughters wedde:
first, david Clarke, he had the one,
he was the william Belwards sonne;
the other, Robert Patricke had;
they twixt them selues p ar etition made.
from Phillip, who was younger sonne
to David Clarke assuredlye,
the ancient house of Egerton
doth truly draw their Pedigree.
long after this, full many yeeres,
by marriage made amongst their heyres,
the greatest p ar t of all the same
to Sutton the Lo rd D UDLEY came,
from whom, by purchase after made,
tha t p ar t S i R Willia M B RUIRTONS is,
to whom by Marryage alsoe had
w i th Egertons daughter, as I gesse,
another p ar t of all that fee
descended to him Lineallye;
soe he 7 p ar ts of 8 possest,
S i r Randle Bruirton had the rest.
Vpon Hughe Massey he did bestow
the Dunham Massey barronrye,
to whom there did succeed in row
8 heyres of his successiuelye;
from thence-forthe mongst the femall heyres
it scattered was for many yeeres,
yet most p ar t after ages past
to Boothe of Du[n]ham came at last.
The next was Gylbert Venables,
the baron made of Kinderton,
from whome the same to these our dayes
in downe-right Line did still hold on
To Peeter, who now holds the same,
eniouing title, Lands & name.
few howses shall you find beside,
tha t in one name soe long abide.
Nicholas of Stopport was the Last
to whome tha t title he did giue;
but after many ages past,
in w hi ch his heyres did Barons liue,
Warreyn of Poynton gott the same
by Marryage: w hi ch warreyn came
of Earle Warreyn of Surrey, soothe,
as Camden doth affirme for truth.
these Barons all were councellors
vnto the Earle in his affaires,
& some were household officers,
& left their places to their heyres.
the yeere 1093
he built westchaster monasterrye,
& 45 yeeres compleate
he did enioye tha t famous seate.
The Second Part.
Richard his sonne, but 7 yeers old,
succeeded in his fathers place;
he did this famous erldome hold
for 19 yeeres & 3 monthes space,
& sayling then from Normandye —
ffirst Henerys sonnes to accompanye —
Neer Barffleete being run on ground,
them selues & all there traine were drown[d].
Then Randulphe Gurnon, next earle was he;
he was Hugh Lupus sisters sonne,
who but 8 yeeres in[i]oyed tha t place
ere his liues glasse were ffully runn.
Randulph Meshieeffes, Gernons heyre,
was next tha t did enioye tha t Chayre.
This Randle both in peace & warr
past all the english nobles ffarr;
in his time Steven ruled this land,
to Maude the Empresse, dew of right,
first Henerys heyre: him to w i thstand,
shee labored all the freinds shee might.
the Earle, to avoyd him, raysed his power,
woone many a citye, towne, & tower;
& of all those he did obtaine,
he had the honor, shee the gaine.
The K ing , to Lincolne, seeige had layd,
& layne before it many dayes;
the Earle came downe the towne to ayde,
w i th all his power the seeige to rayse.
Some thought the K ing durst not abide
w i th him the battell to haue tryde;
but though his coming he did know,
yet from the seeige he wold not goe.
Vpon the plaine before the towne,
the battell Ioyned couragiouslye;
there many a K nigh t was beaten downe
ere either gott the victorye;
att lenghth the Earle did win the day,
the K ing s power broke & run awaye,
the Kinge in Chace himselfe [was] tane,
& most p ar t of all his soliders slaine.
to the Empresse Maude att Glocester
he did deliuer vp the Kinge,
who kept him as a prisoner
from Midsumer vnto the springe;
then for the erle of Gloster
who taken was att winchester,
her bastard brother to sett free,
she gaue the K ing his lybertye.
& after manye a bloodye feeld
where countles numbers had beene slaine,
the K ing did to cond i c i ons yeeld,
soe during life himselfe might rayne,
The Empresse soone at his decease
shold haue the crowne to her in peace,
& euery one that tooke his p ar t
he pardoned freelye from his hart.
the we[l]chmen did incursions make
on Randulphes countye Palatine,
whilest he such endles paines did take
in peace those princes to conioyne.
but heering itt, such speed he made
w i th tha t small power then he hadd,
whilest neere Nantwiche they sought their prey,
he slew all those went not awaye.
the first yeere of his dignitye,
an abbey there he helpet to founde, —
where-to Hugh Malbancke devoutlye
gaue all the site & other grounde, —
called the Abbey of Cumbermeare,
indowed with Liuings good & fayre,
wherto 2 Lo rd s hi pps of great worth
the sayd Hugh Malbancke did tread forth,
his wiffe & children being there,
barfooted & bareheaded w i th-all
did walke about from Mere to Mere.
these Lo rd s hi pps " wilkslye" men doe call,
& " dodcott" eke, the w hi ch doe lye
& Ioyne together certainlye;
of ancient rent, as I doe heare,
noe lesse then 80 a yeere.
begining thus, as wee may see,
abbeys to build w i th godlye feare,
the last yeere Poolton fownded hee.
he gouerned 25 yeere,
then died, as euery other must;
" but though thy body turne to dust,
religious, valliant, Iust, & wise
great Earle! thy honor neuer dyes! "
When great Mescheues was deceased,
his sonne Hugh Keuelocke did enioye
his hono u r, & the same encreased
by valor & by industrye.
he w i th his power did wales inuade, —
for inrodes w hi ch themselues had made
vpon his lands, — & conquered all
Broome feild, & greatest p ar t of yalle.
beloued both of K ing & peeres,
& greatlye feared of his foes,
he gouerned 29 yeeres,
& then the way of all flesh goes,
& left to gouerne in his place
the cheefest man of all that race,
His sonne, called Randle Blondvile,
the parragon of all that He,
bold, bewtifull, religious, wise,
p ro foundlye learned, liberall,
in all things dealing w i th advice,
of haughtye mind, yet milde w i th all,
this younge Erle: w hi ch soe did moue
the 2 d Henery him to loue,
tha t, his sonne Jefferey being dead,
he did to him his widow wedd;
of Britaine & of Richmond shee
in her owne wright a Countesse was,
w hi ch added to his dignitye
of mightye Earledomes made in a see
of Chester, lincolne, Huntinton,
his father Earle was; but the sonne,
fflint, Denbye, & the Powesse lands
besides, had gott w i th-in his hands;
5 earldomes & 3 barronryes
he now enioyes, w i th Manno u rs fayre,
& many wealthy royaltyes
in Nottingham & in Stafordshire;
But his great honors altered not
his mind nor manners neu er a Iot,
for full of Princlye curtesie
euen to the last continued hee.
when 2 Henery was deceaset,
& C UERDE L YON were the crowne,
his fame in forraine land increase[t;]
for tha t great K ing of high renowne,
the french K ing , & the Emperour,
& A USTRICH D UKE , a man of power,
did Ioyne together to redeeme
the Citye of Ierusalem;
for tha t great Souldan, Saladine,
in open feild not long before
tooke prisoners Guy of Lusignon
& many valliant christians more;
after w hi ch feild the Sarazen
gott Ioppa & Ierusalem,
Tyre, Sidon, Acon & Trypolis,
& many cityes more then these.
the[n] before Messene in Cicilee
the Christen princes poynt to meete
w i th all their warlicke companye,
& their together Ioyne their fleete.
but man doth purpose, god dispose,
for att the sea such tempests rose,
the Emperour Lands on Syryan shore,
the french K ing att Tyrrana Bore,
K ing Rich ard Cuerdelyon lands
vpon the fruitfull Cypresse Ile,
& there he Marshalld all his bands, —
the vantguard Randle Blondvile,
himselfe the battell as their head,
the rereguard the Erle of Pembrook Ledd; —
he heard how by a Sarazen
tha t land had neuer conquered beene.
The turkish K ing on the other side,
thinking his power made weake by sea,
the battell boldlye did abyde;
but the English K ing did win the day,
the Turkish K ing was slaine in feild;
his soliders tha t escapet did yeeld,
& to K ing Rich ard the did restore
all the holds they had gott before.
he garrisons in all did place,
& then forthwith mand out his fleete;
att lenght came where the french K ing was,
whose hart reioced when the meete;
and being mett, the sayled amaine,
the holy Land for to attaine,
And after landed in short time
vpon the cost of Palestine.
The Third Part.
to Acon walls the seege did lay,
& compassed it by sea & land;
& after battery many a day,
to assaulte, eche one p re pared his bande
the Erle of Chester first of all
by force did mount the Citye wall,
And there in signe of victorye
pight Rich ards coulors vpon hee.
the sett the Christian p ri soners free;
the Sarazens went all to wracke
saue such as wold baptized bee;
the Citye all was put to sacke;
wh i ch done, the french K ing home returned;
& valliant Rich ard still soiuorned;
& after, he & saladine
in battell did together Ioyne.
K ing Rich ard gott the victorye;
for after countlese numbers slaine,
great Saladine away did flee,
& being saue, sent backe againe
a messenger to offer peace,
tha t for 3 yeeres all warrs might cease;
which offer Rich ard did accept;
the prisoners changed, & couenants kept.
how Rich ard in returne, by fraude
was by the Archduke p ri soner tane,
how long he there did make abode,
how he was ransomed home againe,
how afterwards he did advance
his standards gainst the K ing of france,
what forts and cityes he did gaine,
& how by chance he there was slaine,
& how in all his bloodye warr
Earle Randle p re sence neuer fayld,
how when his foes had passed farr
in count, his courage neu er failde,
I ouer-passe: to show I come
in K ing Iohns raigne what deeds were done
by this great Erle, what ayd he gaue,
the crowne and Kingdome both to saue.
the sea of Canteburye voyd,
the Monkes by their authorytie
w hi ch many yeeres they had enioyed,
chose Steven Langton to tha t sea,
but him the K ing wold not admitt;
wherfore the Bishoppe did him gett
vnto the Pope, & such meanes made
tha t conformation there he had;
but tha t th e K ing did more incense,
as breach of his p re roggatiue,
wherfor the Monkes he banished hence,
& did warning to Langton giue
" on paine of death for to refraine,
& neu er come in this land againe."
w hi ch heard, he straight returned home
fo[r] excommunication
against the K ing & all the Land;
wherto the pope did giue consent,
for such as did the church w i th-stand,
they were accurst incontinent.
the Neibouring K ing s he did p er swade
K ing Iohns dominions to Inuade,
& cut the subiects of his realme
from duty & obedyence cleane,
& by this means such warr to rise
against the K ing both here & hence,
by out & inward enemyes,
tha t to p ro cure the popes dispence,
to his legatt he surrender made
of crowne & all the power he had,
& then did backe receiue his crowne,
& tribute to the church of Rome.
but this did soe his peeres offend
as scandall was to the estate,
& they forthwith to france did send
to the french K ing , for to intreate
tha t he vnto them p re sentlye
wold send his sonne, their K ing to bee;
& hostages he was content,
& w i th a power his sonne he sent.
Noe sooner was he come of shore,
but the english barrons Ioynd w i th him;
winchester first, & winsor then
he gott, & did the seege begin
about D OUER : but with inward greefe
or surfett, Iohn d e p ar ts this life,
& left a sonne but 9 yeers old,
the w hic h of right succeed him shold.
the infants low distressed state, —
Being voyd of meanes himselfe to ayde, —
Erle Randle did comiserate,
& likwise valliant Pembrooke prayd
to ioyne w i th him, young Henerye
to london to accompanye
from Newarke, where his father dyed,
& crownd him spite of french mens pryde;
w hi ch they accordinglye p er formed,
& there w i th dew solemnitye
the infant w i th the crowne adorned,
& swore his subiects to be true;
& then the next insuing day
the towards Lincolne marcht away,
& by assault the Citye woone,
where many french to death were done.
But when french Lewis once did heare
what numbers of his men were slaine,
& of what force the 2 earles was,
w i thout delay himselfe was faine, —
money being payd for his expence, —
noe claime to make, but p ar t from hence,
& all such places to restore
wherof he conquest made before.
thus hauing placed in peace & rest
young Henery in his fathers throne,
by all good subiects hylie blest,
[the] Erle returned backe home,
& valliant Pembrooke to abyde,
the infant K ing to rule & guide.
Erle Randle did entend againe
a iourney to Ierusalem,
& hauing gathered such a power
as fitting was for his intent,
w i th Quinsay, Erle of winchester,
who Ioyned w i th him, to sea he went;
& by the way he vnderstoode
how christian bands by Nilus flood
beseeged the citye damyatte,
& long w i th losse had lyen theratt
wherfore he thither bent his course,
& came in time to giue them ayde,
for rayse their seege the must of force
through extreame want, but he them stayd,
& w i th the great applause of all
he chosen was Lo rd Generall;
nor gaue the him tha t name in vaine,
for they by his meanes the citye gaine.
inestimable was the store
of gold & welthy Merchandize
tha t there they gott: but he did more
esteeme gods [glory] then the prize.
the aegiptian Souldan Saladine
did offer him Ierusalem
& all those holds he gott of Late
in Iury, backe p ro D AMIATTE ,
w hi ch he accepted in the name
of Iohn, who was then Iuryes K ing .
him leaving to receive the same,
he into England backe did bring,
w i thout great lose, his famous bands
renowned and feared in heathen Lands,
& soe enriched, there was not one
but had enough to liue vpon.
& instantlye on his returne
resoluing now to liue in peace,
the great strong castle of Beeston
he built, w i th the abbey of Delacreese,
& Chortley castle: — in 2 yeeres
those 2 great castles finished were;
in 1220 ty .
they both were finished p er fectlye; —
and after liued for 12 yeeres space,
Loden w i th hono u r, welth, & yeeres,
both hielie in his princes grace,
& r[e]uerenced of all the peeres,
&, equall w i th all those aboue,
most deeplye in the com m ons loue;
But at the last, att wallingford,
his Erldomes Lost their honored Lo rd .
for 50 yeeres in 4 K ings rayne,
Some-times in peace, somtimes in striffe,
his Earldomes in his hands remaines;
then I-shule-se he left his life
he had 4 sisters, vnto whom
his Land successiuelye shold come:
all in his life time marryed were;
the Eldest of whom Iohn Scott did beare
by D AUID of the royall line
of Scottish K in gs, one of whose heyres
[enioyed the] Scottish crowne in time,
as by the Cronickle appeares
Erle Arrundell the 2 d . had;
& darby of the 3 d . choice made;
& Quinsey, the erle of winchester,
had to his wife the youngest of 4.
in Chester Abbey was interrd
Erle Randles body: to whose place
Iohn Scott, his nephew, was p re ferred,
who likwise Erle of Anguish was.
he after 5 yeeres, I-shules
att darnall dyed: the k in g did ceaze
his erldomes all into his hands,
giuing his sisters other lands;
for he 4 sisters left aliue,
& Allen, Lo rd of Galloway,
the eldest of them had to wiffe;
She Derngill bore, tha t Lady gay,
who by Iohn Balyoll forth did bring
Iohn Balyoll, who was Scottish K ing .
the next was mached to Robert Bruise,
a Scottish Lord of ancient house.
the 3 noe Ishue had; the 4 th .
& last did Henery Hastings wedd,
& to him Iseue store brought forth,
of whom are famous houses bredd.
K ing Henery, after 16 yeeres,
vnto prince Edward & his heyres,
K ing s of this lande, did it convay
by patent; soe vntill this day
all princes of this Land did hold
the same w i th as great royaltye
as Lupus had the same of old,
& his succeeding p ro genie.
soe Chester euer hath had since
an Erle when England had a Prince;
& when as princes there had beene none,
the p ro fitts to the crowne haue gone.