How the Clothiers sent the King Aide into France, and how he overcame his Brother Robert, and brought him into England, and how the Clothiers feasted his Majesty and his Sonne at Reading.

CHAPTER VII.

How the Clothiers sent the King Aide into France, and how he overcame his Brother Robert, and brought him into England, and how the Clothiers feasted his Majesty and his Sonne at Reading.

TH

HE Kings Majestie being at the Warres in France, against Lewis the French King, and Duke Robert of Normandy, sending for divers Supplies of Souldiers out of England, the Clothiers at their owne proper Cost sent out a great Number, and sent them over to the King.

Which Roger Bishop of Salisbury, who governed the Realme in the Kings Absence, did certifie the King thereof, with his Letters written in their Commendations.

And afterward it came to passe, that God sent his Highness Victory over his Enemies, and having taken his Brother Prisoner, brought him most joyfully with him into England, and appointed him to be kept in Cardife Castle Prisoner, vet with this Favour,

Favour, that he might hunt and hawke where he would up and downe the Country, and in this Sorte he lived a good while, of whom we will speake more at large hereafter.

The King being thus come Home, after his Winters Rest, he made his Summers Progresse into the West-countrey, to take a View of all the Chiefe Townes: whereof the Clothiers being advertised, they made great Preparation against his Comming, because he had promised to visit them all.

And when his Grace came to Reading, he was entertained with great Joy and Triumph: Thomas Cole being the chiefe Man of Regard in all the Towne, the King honoured his House with his Princely Presence, where during the Kings Abode, he and his Sonne and Nobles were highly feasted.

There the King beheld the great Number of People, that was by that one Man maintained in Worke, whose hearty Affection and Love toward his Majestie did well appeare, as well by their outward Countenances, as their Gifts presented unto him. But of Cole himselfe the King was so well perswaded, that he committed such Trust in him, and put him in great Authority in the Towne. Furthermore the King said, That for the Love which those People bore him living, that hee would

lay

lay his Bones among them when he was dead. For I know not, said he, where they may be better bestowed, till the blessed Day of Resurrection, than among these my Friends, which are like to be happy

Partakers of the same.

Whereupon his Majestie caused there to be builded a most goodly and famous Abbey: in which he might shew his Devotion to God, by increasing his Service, and leave Example to other his Successors to doe the like. Likewise within the Towne he after builded a faire and goodly Castle, in the which he often kept his Court, which was a Place of his chiefe Residence during his Life, saying to the Clothiers, that seeing he found them such faithfull Subjects, he would be their Neighbour, and dwell among them.

After his Majesties royall Feasting at Reading, he proceeded in Progresse, till he had visited the whole West-countries, being wondrously delighted to see those People so diligent to apply their Businesse: and comming to Salisbury, the Bishop received his Majesty with great Joy, and with Triumph attended on his Grace to his Palace, where his Highnesse lodged.

There Sutton the Clothier presented his Highnesse with a Broad Cloth, of so fine a Threed, and exceeding