London (England) -- Description and travel; London (England) -- History -- 16th century -- Sources; London (England) -- Surveys
them to the bailiffs of the town, or to whom he will, by the counsel of
the mayor of the city. These be the franchises that belonged to Robert
Fitzwalter in London, in time of peace; which for the antiquity thereof
I have noted out of an old record.
This Robert deceased in the year 1305, leaving issue Walter Fitzrobert,
who had issue Robert Fitzwalter, unto whom, in the year 1320, the
citizens of London acknowledged the right which they ought to him and
his heirs for the Castle Baynard; he deceased 1325; unto whom succeeded
Robert Fitzrobert, Fitzwalter, etc. More of the Lord Fitzwalter may
ye read in my Annals in 51st of Edward III. But how this honour of
Baynard’s castle, with the appurtenances, fell from the possession of
the Fitzwalters, I have not read; only I find, that in the year 1428,
the 7th of Henry VI., a great fire was at Baynard’s castle, and that
same Humfrey, Duke of Gloucester, built it of new. By his death and
attainder, in the year 1446, it came to the hands of Henry VI., and
from him to Richard, Duke of York, of whom we read, that in the year
1457 he lodged there, as in his own house. In the year 1460, the 28th
of February, the Earls of March and of Warwick, with a great power of
men, but few of name, entered the city of London, where they were of the
citizens joyously received; and upon the 3rd of March, being Sunday,
the said earl caused to be mustered his people in St. John’s field;
whereunto that host was showed and proclaimed certain articles and
points wherein King Henry, as they said, had offended; and thereupon,
it was demanded of the said people, whether the said Henry was worthy
to reign as king any longer or not: whereunto the people cried Nay.
Then it was asked of them, whether they would have the Earl of March
for their king; and they cried, Yea, Yea. Whereupon, certain captains
were appointed to bear report thereof unto the said Earl of March, then
being lodged at his castle of Baynard. Whereof when the earl was by them
advertised, he thanked God, and them for their election; notwithstanding
he showed some countenance of insufficiency in him to occupy so great a
charge, till by exhortation of the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Bishop
of Excester, and certain noblemen, he granted to their petition; and
on the next morrow at Paul’s he went on procession, offered, and had
_Te Deum_ sung. Then was he with great royalty conveyed to Westminster,
and there, in the great hall, set in the king’s seat, with St. Edward’s
sceptre in his hand.
Edward IV. being dead, leaving his eldest son Edward, and his second son
Richard, both infants, Richard, Duke of Glocester,[83] being elected by
the nobles and commons in the Guildhall of London, took on him the title
of the realm and kingdom, as imposed upon him in this Baynard’s castle,
as ye may read penned by Sir Thomas More, and set down in my Annals.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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