250 THE UNIVERSAL MAGAZINE cepted Jofceline de Louvaine for her huf- Lord Percy's heir I was, whose noble name Retain'd his arms, and Percy's name did take. He had iffue by the faid Agnes his wife, four fons, Richard, Henry, Robert, and Jofceline. Richard, eldest son of Agnes, and the faid Jofceline de Louvain, in 17 Joh. was one of the chief of thofe Barons then in arms against the King; alfo one of the twenty-five, who took an oath to compel the King to obferve the particular articles granted by the great charter, and charter of the forefts, in cafe he fhould recede therefrom. And, being thus a principal actor in that infurrection of the great men then in arms, calling themselves the army of God,' Pope Innocent thereupon, at Lateran, 17 Kal. of Jan. 1215, 17 Joh. excommunicated him, and other Barons, and their adherents, reciting the caufe, that they would dethrone the King, for acknowledging the crown to belong to the fee of Rome. In 18 Joh. when thofe high-fpirited Barons had called over Lewis, fon to the King of France, with purpose to raise him to the royal throne, he, with Robert de Ros, and Peter de Brus, (two eminent Barons of the north) fubdued all Yorkfire to the obedience of Lewis. However, in 1 Hen. III. having letters of lafe conduct, dated 19 September, 1217, Hen. III. to hold till the feaft of St. Simon and Jude following, he had a treaty with William Marefhal, Earl of Pembroke, then Governor of the kingdom, and made his peace. In 2 Hen. III. he was in arms for the King; and in 7 Hen. III. he was, among other Barons, wit neffes to that agreement of Luelin Prince of Wales; whereby he promised to make fuch fatisfaction to the King for damages done, as the Archbishop of Canterbury fhould think expedient. He died without iffue, and Henry fucceeded his brother in the inheritance, who, in the pedigree of the family now at Sion-houfe, is faid to be the eldest fon, but that is a mistake. He took to wife Isabel, daughter of Adam, and fifter of Peter de Brus, of Skelton, and left iffue by her, two fons, William and Henry. William departed this life in 29 Hen. III. having married two wives; 1. Ellen, daughter of William, Lord Bardolph; and secondly Joan, fourth daughter of William de Brewer, a great Baron. By his first wife, Ellen, he had iffue feven fons, of which Henry, Lord Percy, was his heir. This Henry married Eleanor, daughter of John, Earl of Warren and Surry, by Alice his wife, daughter of Hugh le Brien, Earl of March, by his wife Ifabel, widow and relict of John, King of England; and by his faid Lady Eleanor, had issue three fons, William, John, and Henry. The said William and John died without iffue, fo that the inheritance devolved on Henry, the youngest, who, in 24 Edward I, was knighted by the King before Berwick; and afterwards he was in the battle of Dunbar, where the English then obtained a memorable victory. In 28 Edw. I. he was again, as he was before, and several times after, in the wars of Scotland, and the next year, on the Pope's interpofing in the affairs of that kingdom, he was one of the great Barons who figned that memorable letter to Pope Boniface, "That their King was not to anfwer in judgment, for any rights of the crown of England, before any tribunal under Heaven, &c. and that, by the help of God, they would refolutely, and with all their force, maintain against all men.” In 5 Edw. II. he was made Governor of the castle of Scardebourgh, in Com. Ebor. alfo Governor of the caftle of Baumburgh, in Com. Northumb. Likewise the fame year, the King granted him the cuftody of the manor of Temple-Werreby, in com. Ebor.belonging to the Knights Templars; who were charged by Pope Clement, with being guilty of apoftacy, idolatry, fodomy, and herefy; and when a brother is admitted, denies Chrift; and, when the cross is fhewn him, fpurns at it; as fet forth in his bull to the Archbishop of Canterbury, and his fuffragans, dated August 2, 1308, 2 Edw. II. In the Parliament, held at Westminster, Monday the 15th of October, 1313, 7 Edw. II, it being enacted, that none fhould be called to account for the death of Piers de Gaveston, the King pardoned him, and others, the murder of the faid Piers; and alfo any other misdeed whatfoever. He had likewife, on the 5th of November following, a confirmation of the release from the King of all jewels, hories, &c. taken at Newcastle, from Piers de Gaveton. 5 After FOR MAY, 1768. After which he marched with the King into Scotland, and was in the battle of Bannock bourn, where the English received an overthrow through their immoderate rioting and drunkenness. By Eleanor, his wife, daughter of John Fitz Allan, Lord of Arundel, he lett iffue two fons, viz. Henry, Lord Percy, and Wil liam. Henry, fon and heir, was fixteen years of age on the decease of his father, in 8 Edw. II. In 19 Edw. II. on the landing of Queen Ifabel, and Prince Edward, in England, he was one of the Nobles that joined with them, for reforming thofe abuses in the government, occafioned through the power of the Spenfers. In '7 Edw. III. he was with King Edward at the fiege of Berwick; alfo in the memorable battle of Hallidowne Hill, on the north of Berwick, the 20th of July that year, wherein the Scots were defeated with great flaughter; and, King Edward, the next day, having the town of Berwick delivered to him, he placed therein, as Governor, this Lord Henry Percy. In 12 Edw. III. the King going abroad, and having appointed Edward the Black Prince Regent, this Henry was conftituted one of his Council. In 14 Edw. III. he was in that great fea-fight, bewixt the English and French, before Sluce in Flanders; and had, in confideration of his large expences in the King's service, an affignation of five hundred pounds, to be paid by the Collector of the nones and fifteens, in the counties of Northumberland and Weltmoreland. In 15 Edw. III. the Parliament debating upon the point, that the Nobles of England fhould not be put to answer, but before their Peers in open Parliament, in the cafe of John Stratford, Archbishop of Canterbury, he was appointed one of the four Barons, named with four Bishops, and four Earls, to inquire into the crimes laid against the Archbishop; and they then determined, that the Lord Chancel lor, Lord Treasurer, and other high Officers of state, should be included under the name of Peers. In zo Edw. III, by the inftigation of the French King, the Scots invaded England, whilst King Edward was at the fiege of Calais. Whereupon the Guardian of England ordered Nicholas de Cantilupe, and others, who in that time of danger were marching against the Scots, to be obedient to the commands of this Henry Lord Percy, who was the chief in command of the northern Barons that gave them battle, upon a moor near Durham; and, having vanquished the whole army, the 251 took David their King prifoner. He departed this life the 26th of February, in year 1352, 26 Edw. III. leaving iffue by Idonea, his wife, daughter of Robert, Lord Clifford, four fons, Henry, Thomas, William, and Roger, and four daughters. Henry, his eldest fon and heir, in 20 Edw. III. (his father then living) was in that great expedition then made into France, in which year enfued the famous battle of Creffey. On a truce between the King of England and the Scotch, concluded at London, May 8, 1357, 31 Edw. III, he was one of the guarantees thereof, for the caft part of the marches between England and Scotland. This Henry first married Lady Mary Plantagenet, daughter to Henry, Earl of Lancaster, fon of Edmund, Earl of Lancafter, Leicester, Derby, &c. (fecond fon of King Henry III.) who had to wife Blanch, daughter of Robert, Earl of Ar tois, (brother of St. Lewis, king of France) and widow of Henry de Champaigne, King of Navarre. And the faid Lady Mary was fifter to Henry Plantagenet, who was created Duke of Lancaster in 27 Edw. III. whose daughter and heir Blanch was wife of John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancafter, father, by her, of King Henry IV. By which marriage, the faid Henry Lord Percy had iffue two fons, Henry and Tho mas. And by his fecond wife, Joan, daughter and fole heir of John de Oreby, a Baron in the reign of Edw. III, had a daughter, Mary, two years old at the death of her mother, in 43 Edw. III. and was the wife of John, Lord Rofs, who died without iffue by her, in 16 Rich. II. The faid Henry, Lord Percy, departed this life on Thursday, being Afcenfionday, in 42 Edw. III, His two fons became very famous and eminent, and were both made Earls of the kingdom; Henry, the eldest, Earl of Northumberland; and Thomas, the youngest, Earl of Worcester. Henry being prefent as Marthal of England, at the coronation of King Richard II. 16 July, 1377, he did his homage thereupon, and was then advanced to the dignity and title of Eart of Northumberland, In 7 Rich. II, having before been elected one of the Knights of the Moft Noble Order of the Garter, the King, requiring the attendance of the Knights at the feast of St. George, bestowed on this Earl, the King of Caftile, the Duke of Lancaster, the Earl of Cambridge, the Earl of Buckingham, and fixteen others, the robes of the Garter out of the royal wardrobe; where, Iia 252 THE UNIVERSAL MAGAZINE in the lift of them, the Earl of Northum berland had the precedence of the Earl of Nottingham. In 21 Rich. II, on information given, that he and his fon Henry (commonly called Hotfpur) had spoken fome words in derogation of the King, he was fent for out of the North; and, neglecting to come, was banished the realm, and his estate feized upon. * The Nobility, and Commons of the nation, having for feveral years been oppreffed, and fighted by the King and his favourites, the King's absence in Ireland gave opportunity to put their defigns in execution. The Earl of Northumberland, and his friends, had fuffered deeply, on fuf, picion only, and were therefore the forwardeft in contriving to fettle the Crown on another Head, which might govern them with greater prudence, as well as mercy. He therefore fet up Henry, Duke of Lancaster and Hereford, fon of John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster, fourth fon of Edward III; who was then in France, banished by the King; and difpatched Meffengers unto him there. The Duke of Lancaster, with only a fmall guard, landed, about the beginning of July, at Ravenfpur in Holder nefs, in Yorkshire; where he was received by the Earl of Northumberland, and his fon, Sir Henry Percy, the Earl of Weftmoreland, and many other perfons of honour, with a confiderable body of men; and in a few days their army was increased to near 60,000. All that followed this remarkable change is recited in our Hiftorians. The Duke of Lancaster, being then proclaimed King, by the name of Henry the Fourth, acknowledging the extraordinary merits and fervices of this Earl, ad. vanced him to that great office of Conftable of England, to hold for term of life, and to exercise the fame by himself, or fuch his fufficient deputy as he would anfwer for. Next, gave him the Isle of Man, to hold by carrying the fword (which he wore at his landing in Holderness) called Lancaster Sword, on the day of his coronation. Then made him Justice of Chefter; and, after that, Conftable of the Catles of Chester, Conway, Flint, and Caernarvon; and, moreover, Generalwarden of the Weft marches toward Scotland; as alfo Governor of the town and caftle of Carlisle. But, in 4 Hen. IV, ha ving been at no fmall charge in the King's fervice, and requiring fuch monies as were then due to him for the wardenship of the Marches, he received no fatisfactory anfwer; which inflamed him with fo much difcontent as at length wrought his own ruin. Having been signally instrumental in railing King Henry to the throne, he refented this behaviour to him, not only as a great injuftice, but great ingratitude; and therefore refolved to revenge his wrong upon the King himself; whom as he had fet up, fo he thought he had power enough to pull him down; commanding in his country like a petty King, as feveral au, thors write. Hereupon he joined with his near relation, Edmund Mortimer, Earl of March (by the marriage of Eleanor his aunt) who, as heir, claimed the Crown ; and was upon fair terms with Owen Glendour; whereby he thought it no hard matter to unite the Welsh with them, in dethroning King Henry. The Earl having laid this train, to render his future actions more plaufible, and his party stronger, he, by the advice of his brother, Thomas Percy, Earl of Worcester, demanded of the King the redemption of the Earl of March, his kinfman, who had long lain in foul and miferable imprisonment among the King's enemies. That he had no reafon to redeem the The King anfwered : Earl of March, because he was not taken for his caufe, nor in his fervice; but had fuffered himself to fall into the hands of Owen Glendour and the Welsh, being unwilling to refift them. At this reply, the Earl blazed abroad the King's cruelty, who would not redeem so near a relation; and his fon, Henry Hotspur, faid openly: Behold, the heir of the realm is robbed of his right, and the robber will not redeem him with a part of his own.' Whereupon the Earl, with his fon Henry, the Earl of March, and Owen Glendour, obliged themselves, by indenture tripartite, to depofe King Henry; and, after his depofition, it was agreed, that Owen Glendour fhould have Wales, and the lands beyond Severn, to rule over them, as their King; that the Earl of Northumberland should have the government of all the countries on the north fide of Trent; and the Earl of March fhould enjoy all the refidue of England, as fupreme Lord. This agreement being made, they endeavoured to raise an army fufficient for their defign; but they were defeated near Shrewsbury by the King, who afterwards pardoned this Earl his life, but deprived him of his estate and honours for the prefent, and kept him in prifon till the ferment was over; yet afterwards restored him to his honours and lands, except the Isle of Man. His fon Henry was killed in the battle; which fitting heavy on him, and finding himself much flighted by the King, he was fo enraged, that, the next enfuing |