Fulk Fitz-Gwarine was succeeded by his eldest son, who bore the same name. He raised the glory and dignity of his family beyond any thing it had yet attained to, by numerous and valourous actions, hereafter respectively to be recorded. At the time, his father died, he was actively engaged in Lombardy, where he conducted himself with such ability and vigour, that king
A.D. 1189.
Richard I. just before he went on the Crusades, made him Lord Marcher of Wales, an office that required all the exertion and capacity that could possibly exist in one man.
In the beginning of king John’s reign, Whittington was in the hands of Maurice, brother to the person to whom Owen Gwynedd presented it. Fulk Fitz-Gwarine made application to John for this place, the ancient property and residence of his family; but Maurice by means of his opulence and well-timed presents had sufficient influence over the king, to retain the possessions he so much desired: nevertheless, Fitz-Gwarine had a steady and judicious friend in one John of Raumpayne, a minstrel, whom he made his trusty spy over the conduct of Maurice at Whittington. In those times when men considered the sword a better instrument of revenge or defence, than the laws of their country, and when one Baron insulted another, a petty war ensued between them, often attended with much bloodshed, and generally concluded with the demolition, or at least capture of the castle of one party by the other. It was the failing of our hero to have recourse to this method of gaining possession, to what he thought himself fairly entitled; any other means would have been considered in a very dishonourable light by those turbulent barons and knights, who were his friends. I hope that this action, or to express it in the language of that age, this feat of arms of Fulk, will not dispossess the reader of that kindness he has shown to Fitz-Gwarine and his historian, by favouring him so far with an attentive and indulgent perusal. All I can say of the battle made by Fulk upon Maurice is, that the latter was slain, and the king of Wales gave Fulk the Castle of Whittington, by which it appears, that prince espoused his cause. But the English king made Wrenoc (son to Maurice) Lord of Whittington, and sent privily to the prince of Wales to behead Fulk, who avoided the policy of king John by flying into France, with the assumed name of Sir Amice, a wandering knight. He was so admired by the French King for his honourable and chivalrous conduct, that he offered him a barony of France, which Fulk politely declined.—By some means it happened that Lewis, the French king, discovered Fitz-Gwarine; upon which, the latter fled into Brittainy, where his deeds of chivalry were so applauded, that a celebrated French author collected and published them, forming a work universally read by the chevaliers and ladies of that age. The title given to the English translation is, “The Feates of Gwarine and his Sunnes.”
Fitz-Gwarine formed a resolution of leaving France, and returning to his own country: he accordingly embarked, and landed at Dover, with a full determination to see king John. For fear of discovery, Fulk exchanged clothes with a peasant: in this habit, attended by his brethren and other followers who had gone with him to France, and followed his fortunes home again, he repaired to Windsor forest, where he found the king hunting, and what was more advantageous to Fulk’s purpose, John happened to be alone. He asked Fulk whether he saw or could find any game? who answered, that if he would come with him, he should have game in abundance. John was led to Fulk’s brethren, and Fulk having the king in his power, menaced him severely for the treatment he (Fitz-Gwarine) had received from him; and obliged the captive king to grant to him the Castle of Whittington, which that monarch readily agreed to, for willingly would he sacrifice almost any thing to gain his liberty; several instances of which may be seen in English history.
The poem of Fitz-Gwarine, thus describes the subject last treated of.
“For woodman’s garb I chang’d my cloak,
In Windsor’s wood of ancient oak
We found a safe retreat;
The king I knew there chas’d the deer,
And with my faithful comrades there
I conn’d a cunning feat.“One day the King alone appear’d,
When scarce the distant horn was heard
Our hiding place hard by;
And as across my way he came,
Know’st thou (quoth he) of any game?
Aye—game enough, (quoth I).“Ride to yon briery dingle rough
Trust me, I’ll rouse ye game enough,
My bugle then I sounded,
My comrades heard the blast I blew,
Obey’d the signal that they knew,
And soon the King surrounded.“Cow’d was the King with speechless fear,
Yet stammer’d out, Who have we here?
I flung my bonnet from my brow,
Know’st thou (quoth I) Fitz-Gwarine now?
I took a sword and o’er him swung it,
Then at his feet contemptuous flung it,
And turning to my comrade class,
Open, (I cried,) and let him pass.
Now go, Sir King, in freedom go,
And copy courage from a foe.
I’ll grant (he cried,) a pardon free,
Fitz-Gwarine unto thine and thee,
And I’ll restore to thee anon
The franchise fair of Whittington.”
John, however, disregarded his promise, for as soon as he got home, he sent fifteen knights after Fulk, either to capture or kill him. Fulk acted his part with such valour, that the knights were entirely discomfited, and their leader taken prisoner. Soon after this, John sent Randolph, earl of Chester, with a numerous retinue to take Fulk, but the latter fled to sea, on board a ship belonging to Madour of the Mount, a true friend of Fitz-Gwarines’: while lying in channel, Fulk observed a knight in disguise coming to kill him; but the courage of our hero did not forsake him on this occasion, for in the laudable act of self defence, he slew the concealed assassin, and sailed to Orkney. Here he released a damsel from captivity; and by some noble exploit, won his celebrated hauberk of hard steel, which with other ancient pieces of armour belonging to his family, hung till Cromwell’s time in the church of Whittington.
The stay of Fitz-Gwarine at Orkney was short, for we soon after find him driven by tempests to the coast of Barbary. In contemplation upon this dreary part of the globe, he formed a resolution of seeing Carthage, the city that produced such invincible heroes, whose courage defended that small republic for a considerable time, against the powerful arms of the Roman empire. But when he saw this once opulent and populous city crumbled nearly to dust, he felt strong emotions of pity mixed with veneration. Here! he exclaimed, was born and educated, Hanibal the greatest general in ancient history, who made the Romans tremble at their own capital! In these streets, what patriotism prevailed among all classes of people! Here commerce flourished; and great improvement was made in its concomitant navigation. Wrapt in enthusiasm, Fitz-Gwarine set sail for England, full of hearty desires that his own country might one day thrive by trade in as conspicuous a manner as Carthage had done. Upon his arrival, he had the good fortune to obtain a pardon for himself and followers, together with the restoration of Whittington castle, and all its appendages. I have mentioned that John gave this place to Wrenoc, but he held it for the service of being interpreter between the Welsh and English; and when the king gave Whittington to Fulk, Wrenoc had certain estates in the neighbourhood, given him in compensation.
The splendour Fitz-Gwarine lived in, is described by Mr. Dovaston in such a striking manner, that I cannot refrain from quoting the words he uses to such advantage.