Chronicles of England, Scotland and Ireland (2 of 6): England (05 of 12): Henrie the SecondHolinshed, Raphael
History
Chronicles of England, Scotland and Ireland (2 of 6): England (05 of 12): Henrie the Second
Holinshed, Raphael
Great Britain -- History -- Henry II, 1154-1189; Great Britain -- History -- To 1485; Great Britain -- History -- Tudors, 1485-1603
In the meane time, by the king of Englands appointment, William king of
Scotland went ouer into Normandie, and by the aduice and good admonition
of king Henrie, he granted licence vnto two bishops of his realme of
Scotland, to wit, Aberdene and saint Andrewes, to returne into Scotland,
whome he had latelie before banished, and driuen out of his realme.
Moreouer, as king Henrie laie at Harfléet readie to saile ouer into
England, discord fell betwixt the king of France and the erle of
Flanders, so that the king of England at desire of the French king
returned backe, and came vnto Gisors, where the French king met him, and
so did the earle of Flanders, betwixt whome vpon talke had in the matter
depending in controuersie, he made a concord, and then comming downe, to
Chirburge he and the king of Scots in his companie passed ouer into
England, landing at Portesmouth the 26. of Julie.
The king now being returned into England, [Sidenote: An ordinance for
armour.] ordeined a statute for armour and weapon to be had amongst his
subiects heere in this realme, which was thus. Euerie man that held a
knights fée should be bound to haue a paire of curasses, an helmet, with
shield and speare; and euerie knight or man of arms should haue as manie
curasses, helmets, shields and speares as he held knights fées in
demaine. Euerie man of the laitie hauing goods or reuenues to the value
of sixteene marks, should have one paire of curasses, an helmet, a
speare, and a shield. And euerie free man of the laitie hauing goods in
value worth ten marks, should haue an habergeon, a steele cap, & a
speare; and all burgesses, and the whole communaltie of frée men should
haue a wambais, a cap of steele, and a speare.
Further it was ordeined, that euerie man thus bound to haue armour,
should be sworne to haue the same before the feast of S. Hilarie, and to
be true vnto king Henrie Fitz-empres, in defense of whome and of his
realme they should kéepe with them such armour and weapon, according to
his precept and commandement thereof had and made. And no man being
furnished with such armour, should sell, pledge, or otherwise alien the
same, neither may his lord by any means take the same from him, either
by waie of forfeiture, by destresse or pledge, nor by any other means:
and when any man died, hauing such armour, he shall leaue it to his
heire, and if his heire be not of lawfull age to weare it into the
field, then he that hath the custodie of his bodie shall haue the
armour, and find an able man to weare it for him, till he come to age.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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