The Holinshed Project

Holinshed Project Home

The Texts
1587

Previous | Next

Compare 1577 edition: 1 In what estimation he was had among strangers it may appeare, in that he was not onelie made vi|car of the empire by the emperour Lewes of Ba| [...]iere, but also after the decease of the same empe|rour, diuerse of the electours, as Lewes marques of Brandenbourgh, Robert or Rupert count Palatine of the Rhene, and the yoong duke of Saxonie, with Henrie archbishop of Mentz, elected him to succéed in place of the said emperour Lewes. Neuerthe|lesse, he giuing them hartie thanks for the honour which they did vnto him herein, refused to take the charge vpon him, alledging that he could not haue time to supplie the roome, by reason of the warres that he had in France, to recouer his right which he had to that realme.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 This is noted by writers to be a token of great wisedome in this noble king, that would not go a|bout to catch more than he might well gripe. Exam|ples of bountious liberalitie, and great clemencie he shewed manie, and the same verie notable; so that in maner he alone amongst all other kings was found to be one, subiect to none, or at the least, to verie light and small faults. But yet he was not void of euill haps: for whereas, during the terme of fortie yeares space he reigned in high felicitie, and as one happie in all his dooings: so in the rest of his time that fol|lowed, he felt a wonderfull change in fortune (whom writers compare to the moone for hir variablenesse,Prosperitie vnstable. and often alterations, as neuer at a staie, saieng,

Vultus fortunae variatur imagine lunae,
Crescit, decrescit, in eodem sistere nescit)
shewing hir selfe froward to him in most part of his proceedings: for such is the state of this world, sel|dome dooth prosperitie continue, and guide the sterne of our worldlie dooings, as it well appeared by this noble prince. For in the first yeares of his reigne, af|ter he once began to gouerne of himselfe, he recoue|red that which had béene lost in Scotland, by great victories obteined against his aduersaries in that land, and passed further into the same, than euer his grandfather king Edward the first had doone before him, subduing the countrie on each hand, so that he placed gouernors, and bestowed offices, lands, and li|uings in that realme at his pleasure.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 2 3 4 ¶ Amongst other (as I remember) there is yet re|maining a charter vnder his great seale conteining a grant made vnto Iohn Eure and his heires for his good seruice doone in those parts, Iohn S [...]ow [...] con [...]e [...] referreth [...] to the last yeare of king Edward the first. of a manour called Ketnes in the countie of Forfar (which lieth in the north of Scotland) with a market euerie mondaie, and a faire for thrée daies togither at Michaelmasse, as the euen, the daie, and the morrow after. Also he granted to the same Iohn Eure, free warren tho|roughout the same lordship. This Iohn Eure was ancestor vnto the lord Eure that now liueth, who hath the same charter in his possession. ¶ As for this kings victories in France, the same were such as might séeme incredible, if the consent of all writers in that age confirmed not the same. But as these victories were glorious, so yet they prooued not so profitable in the end: for whereas he had sore burdened his subiects with taskes and subsidies, at length they waxed wearie, and began to withdraw their forward minds to helpe him with such summes EEBO page image 413 as had béene requisit for the maintenance of the warres, which the Frenchmen prolonged of purpose, and refused to trie their fortune any more in pight fields, wherby when he was constreined to be at con|tinuall charges in such lingering warres, to defend that which he had erst gotten by force, and couenants of the peace; the sinewes of warre, to wit monie, be|gan to faile him, and so the enimies recouered a great part of that which before time they had lost, both on the further side the seas, and likewise in Scotland.

Previous | Next