come in agayne as though those places gaue them not only a safegarde for the harme they haue done but a licence also to do more Howbeit much of this mischief if wise men would set their hands to it might be amended with great thanks of God and no breach of the priuiledge The residue sith so long ago I wote neare what Pope and what Prince more piteous than politike hath granted it and other men since of a certaine religious feare haue not broken it lette vs take a payne therewyth and let it a Gods name stand in force as farre forth as reason wil whiche is not fully so farre forthe as may serue to let vs of the fetching forthe of thys noble man to hys honor and wealth out of that place in whych he neyther is nor can be a Sanctuarie man A Sanctuarie serueth alway to defende the body of that man that standeth in daunger abroade not of greate hurte only but also of lawful hurt for against vnlawful harmes neuer Pope nor King inteÌ„ded to priuiledge any one place for that priuiledge hath euery place knoweth any man any place wherein it is lawfull one man to do an other wrong That no man vnlawfully take hurt that libertie the K. the law very nature forbiddeth in euery place maketh to that regarde for euerye man euerye place a Sanctuarie But where a man is by lawfull meanes in peryll there néedeth he the tuition of some speciall priuiledge which is the onely ground and cause of all Sanctuaries from which necessitie this noble Prince is farre whose loue to his King nature and kindred proueth whose innocencie to all the world his tender youth proueth and so Sanctuarie as for him neither none he néedeth nor also none can haue Men come not to SaÌ„ctuarie as they come to Baptisme to require it by theyr Godfathers he must aske it himself that must haue it and reason sith no man hath cause to haue it but whose conscience of his owne fault maketh him fayne néede to require it what will then hath yonder babe which and if he had discretion to require it if néede were I dare say would now be ryght angrie wyth them that kéepe hym there and I would thynke without any scruple of conscience without any breach of priuiledge to be somwhat more homely wyth them that be there Sanctuarie men in déede For if one goe to Sanctuarie with an others mans goods why should not the King leauing his body at libertie satisfie the partie of his goods euen wythin the Sanctuarie for neyther Kyng nor Pope can gyue any place suche a priuiledge that it shall discharge a man of hys debtes being able to pay and with that dyuers of the Clergie that were present whither they said it for his pleasure or as they thought agréed playnely that by the law of God and of the Church the goods of a Sanctuarie man shoulde be deliuered in payment of hys debtes and stollen goods to the owner onely lybertie reserued hym to get hys liuing with the labour of hys handes verily quoth the Duke I thynke you say very trueth and what if a mans wyfe will take Sanctuarie bycause she list to runne from hir husband I woulde wéene if she could alledge none other cause he may lawfully wythout any displeasure to Saint Peter take hir out of Saint Peters Church by the arme And if no body may be taken out of Sanctuarie that sayth he will byde there then if a childe wyll take Sanctuarie because he feareth to goe to Schole hys maister must let him alone And as simple as that sample is yet is there lesse reason in our case than in that for therein thoughe it be a chyldishe feare yet is there at the leastwyse some feare and herein is there none at all And verily I haue often heard of Sanctuarie men but I neuer heard earst of Sanctuarie children And therefore as for the conclusion of my mynde who so may haue deserued to néede it if they thinke it for their suertie let them kéepe it But he can bée no Sanctuarie man that neyther hath wisedome to desire it nor malice to deserue it whose life or libertie can by no lawfull processe stand in ieoperdie And he that taketh one out of Sanctuarie to doe him good I saye playnely that he breaketh no Sanctuarie When the Duke had done the Temporall men whole and a good part of the spiritual also thinkyng no hurt earthly ment toward the yong babe condiscended in effect that if he were not delyuered he should be fetched Howbeit they thought it all best in the auoyding of all manner of rumor that the Lorde Cardinall should first assay to get him with hir good will And therevppon all the Counsell came vnto the Starre Chamber at Westminster and the Lorde Cardinall leauyng the Protector with the Counsell in the Starre Chamber departed into the Sanctuarie to the Quéene with dyuers other Lordes with him were it for the respect of hys honour or that shée should by presence of so many perceyue that thys errande was not one mans mynde or were it for that the Protector intended not in this matter to trust any one man alone or else that if shée finally were determyned to kéepe hym some of that companie had happily secrete instruction incontinent maugre hir mynde to take him and to leaue hir no respite to conuey him which shée was lykely to mynde after this matter broken to hir if hir time would in any wise serue hir When the Quéene and these Lordes were come togyther in presence the Lorde Cardinall shewed vnto hir that it was thoughte vnto the Protector and vnto the whole Counsell that hir kéepyng of the Kings brother in that place was the thing whych highly sounded not onely to the great rumour of the people and their obloquie but also to the importable griefe and displeasure of the Kings royal Maiestie to whose grace it were as singular comforte to haue hys naturall brother in companye as it was their both dishonour and all theyrs and hirs also to suffer hym in Sanctuarie as though the one brother stoode in danger and perill of the other And he shewed hir that the Counsell therefore had sent hym vnto hir to require hir the deliuerie of hym that he myght bée broughte vnto the Kyngs presence at hys libertie out of that place which they reckoned as a pryson and there shoulde he bée demeaned accordyng to hys estate and shée in thys doyng shoulde both doe great good to the Realme pleasure to the Counsell and profite to hir selfe succour to hyr friendes that were in distresse and â—uer that which he wiste wel shée specially tendred not onely great comforte and honour to the Kyng but also to the young Duke hymselfe whose both greate wealth it were to bée together as well for many greater causes as also for theyr both disporte and recreation which thyng the Lord estéemed no â—leyght though it séeme lyghte Protector well pondering that theyr youth without
man might iudge which way the victorie would encline but at length the men of King Charles began to breake and then the Englishmen began to thrust in among them and did so much that they discomâ—â—ted their enimies There were slayne the Earle Dowglas Duke of Turon Iames Dowglas Earle of Wighton Iohn Earle of Boughan with the Uicount Nerbon and many other to the number of tenne thousand sayth Fabian foure Robert Fabian thousande sayeth mine Author a Frenchman who sayeth that the Duke of Bedford bare himselfe most valiantly fighting with an axe so fiercely as he had the prayse of all other The Earles of Salisburie and Suffolke gouerned themselues also right valiantly The Lord of Torsy and other Lords of Normandy which before had taken part with the Englishmen this day turned to the French hoping that the Englishmen shoulde haue lost the battell True it is that the Frenchmen would neuer suffer their King Charles to be present in person at any battayle but when they thought to pitch a fielde they sent him into some strong Towne By the losse of this battayle fought on the seauentéenth of August before Vernole in Anno reg 3. Perche King Charles was put to great hinderance so that he was not able in puissance to giue the Englishmen any battayle hauing ynough to defende and kéepe his Townes and fortresses against them The Duke of Bedford returned into Normandy where he punished many that fledde from him the day of the battayle Then went he to Paris where he found the Duke of Burgoigne who receyued him and the Dutches of Bedforde The Duke of Burgoigne enamored vvith the Countesse of Salisburie vvhere of came great displeasure and losse to England by the breach of amity betvvixt the English and the Burgonions his wife the sayde Duke of Burgoignes Sister right ioyfully and made to them great feast at whiche feast also were the Earles of Salisburie and Suffolke the olde Quéene of France mother to King Charles and many other greate estates of diuers nations amongst the whiche the Duches of Bedford was holden for the most gallantest Lady of all other and with hir the Countesse of Salisburie a very faire Lady The Duke of Bedford that had neuer iusted before iusted there The Duke of Burgoigne was a very goodly amiable maÌ„ of personage doing excellently well whatsoeuer he tooke in hand and especially in dansing and iusting he excéeded all other of his Countrey At this feast he became desirous of the Countesse of Salisburie and some messages passed betwixt them which came to the Earle of Salisburies eare whereof he was nothing contented with the Duke and therfore sought to do him displeasure afterward This feast being ended the Duke of Burgoigne went into his Countrey of Burgoigne and there tooke to wife the Duches of Neuers which had bin wife to his Unkle the Duke of Neuers and had by hir two Children She was halfe sister to the Duke of Burbon but she liued not long with him The D. of Burgoigne also gaue his sister the yongest named Agnes The second cause of breach of amitle betvvixt England and Burgoigne in marriage vnto Charles de Barbon Earle of Cleremont for the which the Duke of Bedford and other Englishmâ— were wroth for that he made suche alliance with the enimies without their accord This yeare the Frenchmen repaired the Castell of Mouns in Champaigne which had bin a little before destroyd by the Englishmen and now it was well stuffed with victuals and men which began to make sore war to the Countrey but shortly after the Earle of Salisburie beséeged theÌ„ and with him Messire Iohn de Luxenburg who did so much that the Castell was yéelded to him The D. of Bedford with his wife the Duches lay for the most parte in Paris leading there a pleasant life with the Lady whom he greatly loued and was lodged in y e house of the Tournels â—éere to the Castel Saint Anthony where he made faire buildings and his men still made sore warres againste the French towards the Riuer of Loyre and other places vpon base Normandy and toward the Duchie of Alanson This yeare in Englande Edmond Mortimere Earle of March with many other Lords a great retinue were sent Earle of March sent into IrelaÌ„d into Ireland where the sayd Earle of March ended his life Simon Seman Bythewater the 28. of September Sherifes Maior Iohn Michaell Stockfish monger the 28. of October This yeare 1424. the warres began in Henault by reason of Iaqueline Duches of Henault daughter to Duke William Iaqueline Duches of Henault of Henault Unkle to Phillip Duke of Burgoigne and also daughter to Duke Iohn of Burgoignes sister wife to the â—â—renamed William and so double Cousin german to Philâ—â—p Duke Phillip now liuing This Iaqueline was married â—â— Iohn Duke of Brabant hir Cousin german Cousin gerâ—â—n also to Duke Philip of Burgoigne and before that she â—â—s married to the Earle of Pontioue son to King Charles le â—â—â—n aime eldest Brother to King Charles now liuing â—â—t notwithstanding that she was thus married to the Duke of Brabant yet was she conuayed by Sir Robersart Knight and brought into England to the Duke of Glocester and there married to the sayd Duke of Glocester and so she Iaqueline married to the D. of Glocester had two husbandes aliue at once Brabant and Glocester â— thing thought vnreasonable both against God the world and the Church for she had bin four or fiue yeares in companie with the Duke of Brabant but there had fallen some variance betwixt them and so she was come from him into Henault About the last of Aprill began a Parliament at Westminster wherein was graunted a Subsedie of twelue in the Robert Fabian Parliament at London First Subsedie payde pound of all manner Merchandize comming in or passing out of this Realme thrée Shillings of a Tunne of Wine for the tearme of thrée yeares to be holden And furthermore it was enacted that all Merchant strangers should be set to an English host within fiftéene dayes of their comming to their port sale and to make no sale of any Merchandize ere All Strangers to be lodged vvithin English hostes they were so lodged then within fortie dayes following to make sale of all they brought and if any remayned vnsold at the sayd fortie dayes end that then all such Merchandize vnsold to be forfeyted Also that all Strangers that caried any woolles out of this land should pay xliij shillings four pence for a sacke custome where the English Merchants and Denisons payde but fiue nobles c. After the marriage had bin solemnized betwéene the Duke of Glocester and Iaqueline Duches of Holland as is aforesayde The Duke of Glocester goeth into Holland within a moneth after the Duke of Glocester assembled an armie of twelue hundred fighting men at the least all Englishmen and taking the Duches with him in coÌ„panie
After them Awburie de Vere Portgraue and Robert de Barquerel Prouost In the time of King Stephen Gilbert Becket Portgraue and Andrew Buchennet Prouost In the time of King Henrie the second Peter Fitz Walter Portgraue After him Iohn Fitz Nigelly Portgraue After him Ernulfus Buchel Portgraue After him William Fitz Isabel Portgraue These Portgraues are also in diuerse Recordes called Vicecomites or Sherifes for that they then farmed the Sherifwike of the King as the Shirifes of London doe at this day Iohn Beuar and some authors as Iohannis Beuar and other do cal them Domes men or Judges of the Kings Court. This yeare the Citizens of London obtayned to be gouerned Baylifes by two Baylifes whiche in diuerse auntiente records are also called Sherifes for that they like as the Portgraues farmed the Sherifewike They also obtained to haue a Maior to be their principal gouernour and lieuetenaunte of the Citie as of the Kings Chamber The names of the first Baylifes or Shirifes who entred at the feast of Saint Michael the Archangell were as followeth Sherifes Henrie Cornehil Richard Reinery Maior Henrie Fitz Alwyne Fitz Leofstan Goldsmith The first maior firste Maior of London and continued Maior during his life that was foure and twentie yeares as appeareth by a very antient Recorde sometime pertayning to the Nunrye of Clerkenwel contayning as a perfite register all such Register of Clerkenvvel grauntes of landes as was made to them by anye which hath diuerse déeds where vnto Henrie Fitz Alwyne first Maior of London is a witnesse dated the 1. 2. 3. 4. c. of Richard the first And for a more proofe I finde recorded in the Guilde Hal Consuetud de LoÌ„ in a booke called the Customes of London a constitution or order howe Citizens shall procéede in buildings betwéene Citizen and Citizen whyche constitution begynneth thus In the yere of our Lord. 1189. the first yere of the raigne of king Richard Henry Fitz Alwyne being Maior who was the first Maior of London it was prouided and ordayned c. Other proofes might be shewed out of diuerse auntiente Recordes but these are sufficient King Richard betooke the guiding of this land to William 1190 Gouernour of Englande VVilliam Bishop of Ely King Robert toke his voyage ouer to Ierusalem Geruasius Ypodigma Longshampe Bishop of Ely Chauncellour of England and y â— foure and twentith daye of Februarie he tooke his scrip and staffe at Canturburie and the sixth of Marche toke the Sea at Douer and transported ouer The second of July the two Kings of England of France met at Towers and from thence set forward on their iourney towards Ierusalem The towne of Mawling in Kent with the Nunry was coÌ„sumed with fire The Jewes in the townes of Norwich Saint Edmunds Burie Lincolne Stamforde faire and Linne were robbed and spoyled Ievves slevv themselues And at Yorke to the number of 500. besides women and children entred a tower of the castel which the people assailing the Jews profered money to be in safetie of their liues but the Christians would not take it wherevpon their men of law sayde to them it is better for vs to die for our lawe than to fall into the handes of our enimies and they all agréeing to that Counsell cut the throtes of their wiues and children and cast them ouer the walles on the Christians heades the residue they locked vp in the kings lodging and burnt both the house and themselues Geffrey Archebishoppe of Yorke retourning from Rome Archbishop of of Yorke dravven from the Alter to prison Ralphe Cogshall and now consecrated arriued at Douer with his traine whoÌ„ Matthew de Clare by the commaundemente of the Kings chaunceller entring with violence into the Church of Saint Martins le Grande in London drew from the Alter and so caried him to prison William Bishoppe of Ely builded the vtter wall aboute Anno reg 2. W. Diâ—â—thorne A ditch made about the tovvre of London Richarde Sothwel the Tower of London and caused a déepe ditche to be made about the same thinking he coulde haue caused the riuer of Thamis to goe rounde aboute it but he bestowed great cost in vainâ— Sherifes Iohn Herlion Roger Duke Maior Henrie Fitz Alyne King Richarde subdued the I le of Cipers and then ioyning Mathew Paris Rog Houed Galfâ—idâ—â— Vinisâ—l his power with Phillip the French Kings in Asia conquered Acon where there grewe betwéene the two Kings a gréeuous displeasure for which cause Phillip shortly departed thence and comming into Fraunce inuaded the Country of Normandie Iohn brother to King Richard toke on him the kingdom Arbor Successiâ—nis of England in his brothers absence Robert Earle of Leicester dyed in his iourney to Ierusalem King Richard restored to the Christians the Cittie of Ioppa and in manye battayles putte the Turkes to greate sorrow The bones of the most famous King of Brytaine Arthur 1191 were found at Glastenburie in a goodly olde seâ—ulchre about the which stoode two pillers in which were letters written which by reason of the great barbarousnesse of the laÌ„guage and the foulenesse no body coulde reade vpon the sepulture was a crosse of leade whereon was written here lyeth the Anno reg 3. noble king of Brytains Arthur Sherifes William Hauerell Iohn Bucknote Maior Henrie Fitz Alwyne William Bishoppe of Ely did commonlye ride with 500. Iohn the kings brother rebelled horsses and gréeued Abbayes by meane of his lodging wyth them he withstoode Iohn the Kings brother who sayde hée wist not if his brother Richard were aliue or not To whom the Bishop aunswered if King Richard be yet liuing it were vntrueth to take from him the Crowne If he be deade Arthure the elder brothers sonne muste enioye the same King Richarde exchaunged Cipres wyth Guy of Lesingham 1192 Ex anniles â—lieâ— Vita Gâ—â—ngâ— câ—â—â— for the Kingdome of Ierusalem wherefore the King of Englande a long time after was called King of Ierusalem The Bishoppe of Ely legate to the Pope Chauncellour Rogeâ— Houed The Bishoppe put to his shifts Geruasius Doro. of Englande and gouernour of the Realme was forced to take the Tower of London for hys refuge wherein Earle Iohn besieged him at lengthe the Bishoppe getting licence to depart went to Douer but he was there forced to sweare that he woulde not departe the Realme yet béeing in a maruellous disquietnesse of minde he putte off hys mannes apparell put on womans meanyng so to escape whylest hée goeth vppe and downe on the shore bearing a webbe of clothe on hys arme as hée woulde sell it styll wayting for a shippe a sorte of women pulled off his kerchiefe and threwe him to the grounde and after beate hym and drewe hym along the sandes wherevpon great crye beyng made the Burgesies ranne and with muche a doe gotte hym from among them and kepte hym strayghtlye tyll he hadde obtayned licence to departe the Realme Anno
fiue hundred whose coatearmours were brought away the number of commoÌ„s were not compted There were takeÌ„ the Lord of Brusebeke sonne of the Marshall Bertram also Tristram de Maleis also the Lord of Maletret the Uicount of Comaine Geffrey de Graues William de la Vall Charles Darchesill Iohn de Bause and other Knightes with Bachelers aboue 130. This armie of the Frenchmen vnder the conduct of the sayde Marshall of purpose deuised by him was so besette on the backehalfe with the stéepenesse of a Mountayne that flie they could not to the end that hope of flight being takeÌ„ from them their courage to fight might y e more encrease There were many of those Knightes surnamed of the Starre who Knightes of the Staâ—â—e in their profession had conspired neuer to turne their fearefull backes to their enimies of which number of Knightes there were among them slayne and taken numbred xlv From that dangerous encounter few escaped vnhurt and among other the foresayd Walter Bentley Captayne was sore wounded who commanded thirtie archers to be condemned for that in the greatest heate of the fight they fledde The Earle of Stafford also entered into Gascoigne where encountering with a greate armie of the Frenchmen that were issued forth of the fortresse of Gagent he discomfited tooke and chased them about the Natiuitie of our Lady there was taken that valiant Knight â—ruse Gaude and seauen Knightes of the Starre Shortly after dyed Iohn Dediaseles and Thomas Wale Knightes of greate valor Iohn Peâ—che Iohn Stotley the 28. of September Sherifes Maior Adam Francis Mercer the 28. of October The same yeare it being heard that Pirats troubled the Seas there were seauen Shippes of warre ordeyned certayne Pinesses attending vpon them ouer the whiche were Admiralles Thomas Cooke and Richard Tottlesham Knightes who scoured the Seas about the coast of Picardie and Normandie but before the feast of Saint George they returned as they wished Whilest these things were a doing by Sea and Lande Otto sonne to the Duke of Brunswike the French Kings féed Otto of Brunsvvike chalengeth to combate vvith the Duke of Lancaster before the French King at Paris man sent letters to the Duke of Lancaster being returned out of Spruce by the tenour whereof he accused him affirming that as he returned out of Spruce by Colein he malitiouslie informed the Coleners that the sayd Otto went about by stealth to haue taken him prisoner and to haue presented him to the French King adding héerevnto that bycause he neuer meant any such taking of him he was ready in declaration of his good name by a singular Combate onely in the French Kings Court to proue the Duke of Lancaster a lyar touching the sayd Article The Letters were not sealed and therefore least it might haue bin thought follie to haue giuen credite to the letter deliuered by a seruant the Duke sent vnto Otto two Knightes to learne the cause of the chalenge and to demaund thereof his letters patentes sealed with his seale of armes which Knightes accomplishing the effect of their iourney and returning with spéede the Duke sent to the French King for a safe conduct for himselfe and his men and with much ado obteyning it he went to Paris where in the listes in presence of the French King the King of Nauarre and the Duke of Burgoigne and many Péeres and other of the Realme of France he mounted on his stéede in séemely wise readie in all signes without default to trie the Combate and so stayde till his aduersarie was readie and the voyce of the Herault and Canton to be had by their common othe for the assurance of his word and to obey the Law On the contrary parte the sayde Otto scarcely was set on his Horse was not able decently to set on his helmet nor to wéelde his Speare or else he fayned whose vnablenesse béeing perceyued by the French King the King of Nauarre and other the Kyng tooke the quarrell into hys handes wherevpon Otto was commaunded first to departe the listes and so wente hys way but the Duke abode still within them After this by commandement of the Frenche King Otto sware that he should neuer after that day appeach the Duke of Lancaster of that Article and so from thence the Duke returned home by Zeland After the Epiphanie a Parliament was holden at Westminster Anno reg 27 Parliament at VVestminster wherin an ordinaÌ„ce was made at the instance of the Londoners that no knowne where should weare froÌ„ thenceforth any hoode excepte reyed or striped of diuers coulours Apparell appoynted to harlots nor Furre but garmentes reuersed or turned the wrong syde outwarde vppon payne to forfeyte the same This yeare the dearth of Corne by them of Ireland and the Irishmen that brought in Corne to sell vnto diuers Hauens of the Realme was aâ—waged to the great reléefe of the people King Edward altered the Chappell which his progenitors before had founded of Saint Stephen at Westminster into a Colledge of twelue secular Canons twelue Uicars other Ministers accordingly and endewed it with reuenewes Saint Stephens Chappell at VVestminster Ex Carta 1353 to the summe of fiue hundred pound by yeare The morrow after Saint Matthies day began a Parliament wherein it was ordeined that the Staple of wooll before kept in Flanders at Bridges should from thencefoorth be holden in diuers partes of England Wales and Ireland as at Staples of VVoll to be kept in England Newcastell Yorke Lincolne Canterbury Norwich Westminster Chichester Winchester Excester Bristow and Carmarden The Earle of Northampton went into Scotland wyth a great company of armed men and Archers where he rode through the marches and enforced y e Castell of Loghmaban and other fortresses to yéeld and tooke the Scottes that were layde in ambushes He also held a treatie of peace with the Scottes who gladly would haue redéemed their King and made a perpetuall peace with the Englishmen but yet so as the King of Scottes should not hold his land of the King of England William Weld Iohn Little the 28. of September Sherifes Maior Adam Francis Mercer the 28. of October Innocent the 6. for the desire of peace sent the Cardinal of Bononi to Caleis to heare the treatie of the finall peace betwixt Treatie of peace the Kingdomes of England and France to whome repaired the Counsellours of both Realmes with full authoritie to treate and constitute the conditions of the same peace and at length they agréed vpon this poynt that the King of Englande should resigne all his right that he had to the Realme of France and remitte it to the French King and should haue therefore the Dutchie of Aquitayne and the Counties of Artoys and of Guisnes for him and his successors Kings of England without that he should holde the Counties same of the French King in any manner of wise To these conditions the King of England gaue his consente and for the assurance
of the couenants Embassadoures are sente to the Sea of Rome from eyther Realme On the King of Englands Anno reg 28. behalfe went the Bishop of Norwich the Duke of Lancaster the Earle of Arundell and other knightes who going to Auinion there came to them the Archbishop of Rohan the Duke of Burgoigne Geffrey Charney and other of the French Kings Counsell all these were receyued in great honor many Cardinalles and Bishops met the Duke of Lancaster who brought him for the space of two miles vnto Auinion and to the Popes Pallace at length in the Consistorie of the Pope he with the Cardinalles and Embassadoures being present the causes of their message was declared and the Embassadoures of England requested to haue the couenants coÌ„firmed which had bin concluded at Caleis to whom the FrenchmeÌ„ answered that gladly they would haue peace but touching Aquitaine and the foresaid Countreys as they sayde the French King could not nor they might giue their assents that the same shoulde be alienated from the entire body of the Kingdome to the which as well the King as they had taken an oth to maynteyne but yet they could be contented that the profitable dominion of the sayd Duchy and Countreys should be deliuered and come to the King of England as his auncesters had Aquitayne but so yet as the regalitie of the Crowne of France should euer be reserued The Englishmen requested that these sayd dominions should 1354 be absolutely and without any condition restored to the King answere also was made to the reason of the Frenchmen touching the oth of their King and themselues whereby they were bound to conserue the integritie of the honour of their Kingdome to wéete that the Pope for the benefite of peace might assoyle them from the saide othe and this as to certayne articles premitted it shoulde be very well done but yet nothing was done that might be offorce to the furthering of the peace And so the Embassadoures without effect returned home the Bishop of Norwich excepted that deceassed and was buried there to whome succéeded Thomas Percy The King of Nauarre through a brawle raysed slewe Charles de Spayne Marshall of France wherevpon to auoyd the displeasure and punishment of the French King he fled into his owne Countrey sending his Unckle vnto the Duke of Lancaster with Letters humbly besieching him that he woulde come into Normandie to his ayde and defence and to receyue an oth of fidelitie and amitie of hym against all men The Duke therefore getting licence of the King assembled togither a great Nauie at Southampton where when the Duke was readie to haue made Sayle Knightes that he had sente into Normandie came backe to view the truth of this businesse by whome it was notifyed to the Duke that the sayde King of Nauarre hys Cousin was reconciled to the King and so the Dukes voyage was stayde The Friers Augustines Church in London was reedified by Humfrey Bohun Earle of Hereford and Estsex whose Frier Augustines Church in London Ro de Auesberie Dissention at Oxford â—isto Auria body was buryed in the Quire of the same Church A great dissention fell in Oxford betwéene a Scholler and a Uintner for a quart of Wine so that the Scholler poured the Wine on the Uintners head brake his head with the potte by reason whereof a great conflict was made betwixt the Schollers of the Uniuersitie and the Lay men of the Towne in the which many Lay men were wouÌ„ded and about twentie slaine These troubles continued the space of two dayes and then the Religious men of the Towne labouring to make peace the Lay men pursued a Scholler and wounded him to death yet that day the tumult was appeased but on the morrow the people of the Uillages about Oxford being coÌ„federate with the Lay men of the Towne came with great force and erected a blacke Banner whervpon the Schollers fled to their Colledges but the Lay meÌ„ breaking vp the dores slew many of them and threw them into their priuies they cut and rent their Bookes and bare away what they listed By this meanes the Uniuersitie was dissolued the Schollers sauing of Marton Colledge went to their friends so continued more than a yeare Many both Schollers and Lay men were endited Citizens of Oxford endited by y â— Kings Justices amoÌ„gst y â— which four burgesses y â— had bin Maiors of Oxford were sente to the Tower of London William Totingham Richard Smelt the 28. of Septem Sherifes Maior Thomas Leggy Skinner the 28. of October About the xx of Nouember K. Edward held a ParliameÌ„t Ro. Auesbery at Westminster in the which was granted towards the recouerie of his title in France fiftie Shillings of euery sacke of wooll to be transported ouer the Seas for the space of sixe yeares then next following by meanes whereof the King might dayly dispend during the said sixe yeares more than 1000. markes sterling for by the coÌ„mon opinion ther were more thaÌ„ an 100000. sackes of wooll yearely into foraigne lands transported so that during those sixe yeares the sayd grant extended to fiftéene huÌ„dred thousand pounds sterling King Edward helde a great Justing at Wodstoke for honour Anno reg 29 Iusting at VVodstock of the Quéene who was then purifyed of hir sonne Thomas After Gaster in a Parliament at Westminster the King 1355 tooke the quarell of Oxford into his hands and sauing euery mans right he forgaue the Schollers all the whole trespasse Ro. de Auesburie so that in the Sommer following the Uniuersitie beganne Vniuersitie of Oxford restored agayne to flourish and the King gaue to the Chancellour of Oxford the only view of the assise of Bread Ale and Wine and all other victualles excluding the Maior vtterly from that office The communaltie of the Towne gaue to the Uniuersitie 250. poundes for amends sauing vnto them neuerthelesse the actions which they had vnto euery singular person of the Towne In this Parliament the processe of the iudgement made against Roger Mortimer Earle of March was reuoked so Ex Recordis that the yong Roger Mortimer sonne to Edmond Mortimer was restored to the title and possessions of the Earledome of March as Cousin and heire to his Grandfather King Edward being about Sandwich on his iourney towardes King Edvvardâ— sayled into France France and the Prince of Wales at Sutton in Deuonshire on hys voyage towardes Aquitayne looking for a prosperous winde by the space of fortie dayes or more all things else being readie the French King had his armieâ— deuided in sundrie places about in the Hauens of Normandie and other partes to empeach the landing of the King and Prince and so long they lay there that the Frenchmen with their hired Souldioures did fowly wast their owne Countrey and consumed so many thousands of Crownes out of the French Kings coffers vaynely that in the ende he being néedie payde not his people and so
touching these matters aforesayd and for other considerations also caused a newe coyne of golde to be made in Gascoigne being busied himselfe aboute the repayring of such things as were decayed and throwen downe And in this season there sprang vp a foolish fantasie in the French mens heades that the King of Englande was come into Normandie the cause of which rumour rose vppe for that the Duke of Lancaster after that he had fortifyed the strong places belonging to the King of Nauar whiche were in the I le of Constance and other places did direct his iourney towardes Brytaine whereof he was newly made chiefe Captaine Another cause was this Phillippe brother to 1356 the King of Nauar came into England and earnestly craued ayde of the King against the Frenche King who kept hys brother in prison that he mighte by force of armes restoare all such lands vnto him as were wrongfully withholden from him wherevpon hée offeryng to doe homage and fealtie he hadde of the Kings appoyntmente Miles Stapleton a manne of great integritie and in martiall affayres very skilful him I say the king appointed to be his faithful felow These men with two thousande men well appoynted trauelling throughe Normandie toke townes and Fortresses burning diuerse of them passing along tyll they came to a Castell nine leagues distaunte from the Citie of Paris neyther did they aâ—lake theyr trauayle vntil they hadde forced theyr enymies to enter into a yearelye truce By this meanes a great report and no lesse fear filled the heartes of all French men whiche report at length came to the eares of the Prince lying at Regla wherefore he gathering all the power he had with him in hys Dukedome to the intent to méete hys Father whiche he muste doe by trauelling through Fraunce he came at length to Brugetat where he was certifyed that the Earle of Armenia woulde after his departure haue spoyled the Countrey and for that intent had prouided a greate bande of men wherefore hée sent backe to the gouernour of Gascoigne vnto Barnarde de Libret and other From thence the prince went into France through the coastes of Barny and Lymon stil encouraging his men against their enimies sending before him Iohn Chandos Iames Dawdeley and other complices to trye out the state of their enimies countrey least perhappes some crafty ambushment might sodainely assaulte our men afore they were ware He himself remouing his campe euery day and now being entred into Pictauia his espies broughte worde that the French king had gathered a greate armye beyng now in Aurelian who also knewe of the Princes comming for he sente out espies to discouer our armye amongst whoÌ„ Griffin Micco of Chambly petie Captaine of two hundered men méeting with other espies came to his coaste for oure espies toke thirtie of theÌ„ and slew the residue so that there was not one of them lefte to carrye worde what was become of theyr fellowes Our espies procéeded towardes Romerentine where méeting with the Lord Crone and Lord Brisgande they sette vppon them and slew them their chief Captaines being forced to flée to a castle and hauing taken their lodging in a town the prince commanded that on the morning a great assault should be giuen to theÌ„ of y e Castell The day folowing our men being al armed passed through the ditches came vnto y e wals of the Castel some applied to scale y e wall with ladders some burne the gates and entring slew a gret many of the chief men but y e Lords before named fled vnto the principal tower of y e castel but y e prince determined not to depart til they that were besieged were eyther taken or yéelded at length the Castell being vndermyned the men besieged with all humilitie yéelded vp the Castell After this the spies declared that the Frenche King was come downe to Turon to prouide armies to go against the Prince of the which tydings the Prince being gladde he pighte his tentes againste the Frenche King but could not passe the riuer of Leger by reason of greate floudes and the Frenche King hadde broken all the bridges to the intent there shoulde be no passage betwixte the Prince and the Duke of Lancaster whose armyes might wel euerye nyght perceyue eache others fiers in the Campes but the Prince folowing alongst the riuer of Legers Eastwarde he pyghte hys tentes neare vnto Turon where loking for the Frenche Kyng foure dayes hoping to fighte with him for that hée was distaunte but one league off he vnderstoode that the Frenche King was retyred backe to Blamia ten leagues off passing ouer by a Bridge the Riuer of Legers at a place vsed betwixt two strong Townes and so towarde Poyters This retyring of the Frenche king certifyed the Prince returned backe intending to haue mette him in his waye whych he coulde not doe yet crossing ouer all as he imagined the nerer way he sette vpon the tayle of his enymies and cut froÌ„ them the Earles of Inyni and Winters and also the Marshall of Burgonie these being takeÌ„ died as was thought through the great toyle they had taken night drawing on our men gaue themselues to reste in a wood intending the next day to take theyr iourney towarde Poiters and by the waye they were certifyed that the Frenche King with greate prouision prepared himselfe to battayle and drew nigh to our tents The Batayle of Poyters the Prince therefore committed the vawarde of the armye to the Earles of Warwick and Oxford the middle ward was guided by the Prince and the rerewarde was led by the Earles of Salisburie and Suffolke In all the whole armye of the Prince there was not aboue foure thousande menne of armes one thousande armed souldiours and two thousand Archers The pompous nobilitie of the French men drewe nygh greatly disdayning the small company of the Englishe men for they had in number eight thousande fighting souldiours they had also seuen auntients At this matter a gret many of our men murmured bycause of late a great part of our army was sent to defende Gascoigne There was among the French men a certaine Scotte called William Douglas a man of great force and practise in the Warres this manne did the French king make Knight and bycause he knewe he woulde be a deadly enimie to the English men he gladlye hearkned to his aduices This William was Captain ouer two hundred Scottes these men vnderstoode wel that it was the custome of the Englishe men in those dayes to fighte on foote in which point they followed the Scottes and the Scots also prouoked the French king and other French men to fight in like maner The French king obeying his foolish counsel gladly agréed vnto his sayings wherevpon he sente lighte horssemen into the Cittie that they shoulde suffer no man to make any chase but only 500. horssemen well appointed to come out againste the Archers in the beginning of the conflict and to runne them ouer and to treade them vnder
the other an Italian chalenged to fighte within listes against sir Iohn Cornewall and Iames of Artois which two straungers were ouercome in battaile and Chalenge of coÌ„bat at Yorke sir Iohn Cornewal obtaining the Kings fauour maried the kings sister that had bin wife to sir Iohn Holland Earle of Huntingdon The Welchmen taking occasion by the Kings absence The VVelchmen rebel when he was in Scotlande beganne to rebel by the settyng on of OweÌ„ Glendouerdew son to Griffyth VichaÌ„ an esquier of Wales so called Glendour bicause his dwelling was in a place called GleÌ„dordwy for Glyn in Welch is a vale and Dor is water bycause the place was in a dale at the side of y e water or Riuer of Dew in the Parish of Corwrn in the Countie of Merâ—â—neth in Northwales He serued King Richarde at the tyme of his oppression by Henrie Duke of Lancaster at Flint Castell The first cause of this stirre was about a péece of land in controuersie betwixte him and the Lord Reignolde Gray of Ruthiue for when he saw his cause not fauoured firste hée began to spoyle the landes of the sayde Lord Gray whereof the king being certified went with an army into Wales but the Welchmen fledde to the mountaines the King brente the Countrey slew the people with whom he mette and returned with a great pray of Cattaile Iohn Wakel William Ebot the 28. of September Sherifes Maior Anno reg 2. Geffrey Chavvcer chief Poet of Brytaine Sir Iohn Frauncis Goldsmith the. 28. of October Geffrey Chawcer the most excellent Poet of Englande deceased the xxv of October who was buried at Westminster where of late at the charges of one maister Bridgeham is made ouer him a faire monument on the Southside of the Quire his workes for the most part are published in print by sir Iohn Thinne Knight and somewhat increased by my trauell in the last impression Not long after deceased the like famous Poet Iohn Gower Iohn Govver a most excellent Poet of EnglaÌ„d who lyeth buried in Sainte Marie Oueries Church in Southwarke He new builded a great part of that Church and coÌ„piled thrée famous bookes The first in Latine Vox ClamaÌ„tis The second in French Speculum Meditantis The third in Englishe Confessio Amantis which last booke is in Print the other hard to come by of the first I haue séen thrée very faire copies but of the seconde I neuer sawe any one The Emperour of Constantinople came into Englande to requyrs ayde agaynste the Turkes whome the King wyth sumptuous preparation mette at Blacke Heath vpon Saint Thomas daye the Apostle and brought him to London and paying for the charges of his lodging presented him with giftes worthy for one of so high degrée Soone after came newes that the King of Leto had â—lain in battayle Bassacke the sonne of the noble Balthazardan â— destroyed Ierusalem and all the Countrey rounde aboute And bycause he had by Gods grace so ouercome contrarye to his opinion he became christened and 60000. men of his secte The Emperour of Constantinople hearing this was very 1401 The Emperour returned gladde and departed out of Englande being honored by the King with precious giftes The fiue and twentith day of July Isabel late wife to K. Isabel late vvife to K. R. returned into Fraunce Richarde not yet twelue yeares of age departed from Douer towardes Caleis and so into Fraunce to hyr Father Owen Glendouerdew w e his Welchmen did much harme to the Englishmen and returned There was founde in the Kings bedde clothes an yron K. H. escapeth â— great daunger with thrée sharp pikes slender and round standing vpright layde there by some Traytour that when the Kyng should haue layde him downe he might haue thrust himselfe vpon them This time was vsed excéeding pride in garmentes gownes with déepe and broade sléeues commonlye called poke sléeues the seruauntes ware them as well as theyr Tho. Wals Aditions to polic maisters whiche mighte well haue bene called receptacles of the Diuel for what they stole they hidde in their sléeues whereof some hung downe to the féete and at leaste to the knées ful of cuttes and iagges whervpon were made these Anno reg 3 verses Now hath this lande little neede of Bromes To sweepe away the filth out of the streete Thâ— Hocâ—liâ—â— Sen side sleeues of pennilesse gromes will it vp licke be it drie or weete O England stand vpright on thy feete so foule a waste in so simple a degree Banish or it shal â—ore repent thee William Venor Iohn Fremingham the. 28. of Septem Sherifes Maior Sir Iohn Chadworth Mercer the. 28. of October The Conduit vpon Cornehil in London was made which before time had bene a prison called the Tunne in Cornehill wherevnto nightwalkers that were taken in suspition of fellonie or other trespasses were committed In the moneth of March appeared a blasing starre first betwixt the East and the North and last of all putting firie beames towards the North foreshewing peraduenture the effusion of bloud about the partes of Wales and Northumberlande Owen Glendouerdew with his Welchmen wasted y â— lands 1402 of the Lord Reignalde Gray tooke him prisoner and slewe many of his people Certaine men affirmed King Richarde to be aliue and Conspiracie against K. Henrie that he should shortly shew himself openly reward them y â— wer faithful vnto him But after a certain priest was taken at Warwike who had written y e names of many which were the aucthours of these troubles both the hope and feare of this conspiracie vanished The Priest was drawen hanged and quartered Also Walter Waldocke late Priour of Lande a Priorie in Leicestershire bycause he confessed he knew euill against the king and did conceale it was likewise hanged and headed Moreouer certaine gray Friers were taken of the whiche one Richard Friseby doctour of Diuinitie being A stout Frier executed asked what he would do if K. Richard were present answered that he woulde fight in his quarrel against any man euen to the death wherfore he was condemned drawen and hanged in his religious habit and wéede At Daneburie in Essex vpon Corpus Christi day the Diuell appeared in likenesse of a Gray Frier who entring the Church raged insolentlye to the greate feare of the Parishioners and the same houre with a tempeste of whyrlewinde and thunder the toppe of the Stéeple was broken downe and halfe the Chauncel scattered abrode Shortlye after sir Roger Claringdon Knighte a bastard sonne to Edward the blacke Prince and wyth him a Squire and a yeomanne were beheadded and eyghte Graye Friers hanged and beheaded at London and two at Leicester all whiche hadde published King Richard to bée aliue Owen Glendouerdew with a company of Welchmen inuaded all the shires that bordered neare vnto hym wherefore sir Edmund Mortimer wyth manye Knightes and Esquiers wente out to encounter with Owen stronger than he was of the
Colledges are called the new Colledges dedicated to our blessed Lady He builded the great body of the Church of Saint Swithens in Winchester where the Sermons are made where his body is enterred a very princely worke neyther did he for all this diminish any thing of his ordinarie housholde charges and fedde as the writing engraued on his Sepulchre sheweth both rich and poore He deceassed at the age of fourescore yeares He dyed rich for beside that he gaue to his kinsefolke and to the poore he gaue somewhat to euery Church in his Dioces He gaue many things to the King and to his owne seruants and to his Colledges neyther do I doubt but y t he that thus liued is now with God whome I beséech to reyse vp many like Bishops in England Iohn Leyland writeth by the reporte of Doctor London Iohn Leyland that this William Wikeham was borne at Wickham in Hampshire and was sonne to one William Perot parishe clarke there of which place he tooke his surname and that one Mayster Wodale of Wickham brought him vp at schole where he learned his Grammer and to write faire After this the Connestable of Winchester Castell at that time a great ruler in Hampshire gote Perot alias Wickham of Wâ—dall and made him his Clearke Edward the third comming to Winchester Castell liked Wickham and tooke him to seruice and vnderstanding that he had mind to be a Priest made him first Parson of Saint Martins in London and then Deane of Saint Martins le Graund and then Archdeacon of Buckingham He made him also surueyor of his buildings as of Windsore Quinborow in Kent and other buildings After this he preferred him to be bearer of the priuie Sealt mayster of the Wardes and Forrests and Treafourer of the Kings reuenues in France then Bishop of Winchester Chancellour and Treasourer of England as it very manifestly sayth Iohn Leyland appeareth by writing The blacke Prince scant fauoured Wickham wherefore Wickham procured to kéepe the Prince in battell out of the Realme but at length Iohn of Gaunt Duke of Lancaster and Alice Peeres Concubine to Edward the third caused him to be banished the Realme and then he dwelled in Normandy and Picardie seauen yeares Edward the thirde yet liuing but he was restored about the second yeare of Richard the second of whome he had a generall pardon Aboute the feast of Saint Valentine the sonnes of the Barle of Marches sonnes Earle of March were taken out of the Castell of Windsore and ledde away into Wales to Owen Glendouerdewe but shortly after were recouered againe The Smith that made the keyes by the which they that conuayde them got into them had first his hands and then his head cut off The Lady Spencer Sister to the Duke of Yorke and widow of Thomas Lord Spencer before executed at Brestow being apprehended and committed to prison accused hit brother the Duke of Yorke to be chiefe author in stealing away of the Earle of Marches sonnes wherefore the sayde Duke was kept by Sir Iohn Pelham in the Castell of Pemsey till the next Parliament After the feast of the Purification of our Lady the King assembled his Barons at London to treate of the gouernement of the Realme and to haue ayde of money to be giuen him but the Nobles would not at that time obey his request In the Lent following therefore the King caused the Cleargie and the Barons to assemble at Saint Albons for the matter aforesayd but by reason the Nobles stroue against him there was nothing done and so departed on Palme sonday About the fiftéenth of March in a fight betwixt the Englishmen 1405 Conspiracy against King Henry by the Archbishop of Yorke other and Welchmen the sonne of Owen Glendouerdewe was taken and fiftéene hundred with him were taken or slayne Henry Percy Earle of Northumberlande Richard Scrope Archbishop of Yorke Thomas Mowbray Earle Marshall Thomas Lord Bardolph and other coÌ„spiring against King Henry assembled togither the Citizens of Yorke and many other to stand with them for the commoditie of the Realm And to animate the commons to be the readier vnto this businesse they set articles vpoÌ„ the dores of the Monasteries Churches of the same Citie written in English agaynste the King bycause he had put downe King Richard offering themselues for those articles to liue and die which caused great number of people to resort to them but Ralph Neuill Earle of Westmerland that was not farre off togither with Iohn Duke of Lancaster the Kings sonne being enformed of these things gathered an armie with spéede to goe against the Archbishops company but all was in vayne for the Archbishops power was farre greater than theirs wherevpon the Earle of Westmerland sente messengers to enquire of the Archbishop the cause of so great an assembly in armour contrarie to the Kings peace wherevnto the Archbishop answered that he tooke nothing in hand against the Kings peace and he was in armour and munited with men only for feare of the King whome he could not safely come vnto to speake but his purpose he said was good and coÌ„modious both for y e King Realme if happily they would know it theÌ„ he shewed a scedule in which y e articles were conteyned which when the Earle of Westmerland had read he with word and countenance praysed the Bishops holy and vertuous intent and promised that he and his would prosecute the same with the Archbishop The Archbishop being glad of this beléeued the Earles words perswaded the Earle Marshall being vnwilling therevnto to go with him to a place appointed to talke togither to whome they with like number came and the writing with the Articles was read ouer streightway the Earle and they that were with him gaue their assent to these articles then sayde the Earle being subtiller than the rest behold the labour that we haue takeÌ„ in hand is come to such end as we would haue it and the people hath now bin long in armour let some of your meÌ„ beare word vnto the people to go their way home and to lay downe their armour and euery maÌ„ to fall to his occupation and accustomed labour in the meane season we in token of concord will drinke togither that the people on both sides shall sée it and without delay after they had takeÌ„ each other by the hands a Knight was sent on the Archbishops behalfe to beare word to y e people that it was peace and to command euery man to lay downe their armour and to go to their owne home The people beholding signes of peace the Lords drinking togither being awéeried with the vnaccustomed trauell of war turned the reines of their bridles homewards and so it came to passe y â— wheÌ„ the people of y e Archbishops side went away y e nuÌ„ber of the aduersaries increased as before it was appointed the Archbishop did not perceiue y t he was betrayd vntill such time as y e Earle
passed ouer to Caleis and streight from thence to Lâ—â—â— in Artois and so into Henault making no outrage as he passed through Duke Phillips Countreys At their comming into Henault many townes obeyed theÌ„ and other refused â—â— to do likewise were y â— Nobles diuided The D. of Burgoigne hearing of this was sore offended for the iniurie done to his Cousin of Brabant the dishonor of his Cousin the Duchâ—â— Iaqueline and the euill dealing of the Duke of Glocester A third cause of the amitie to be broken betvvixt England and Burgoigne and the losse of many Tovvnes in France and therefore to ayde the Duke of Brabant he appoynted many of his Captaynes with xij C. fighting meÌ„ Pickards to go against the Duke of Glocester The Duke of Brabant was a man but of weake complexion and therefore by the Counsell of Brabant it was ordeyned that his yonger brother Philip Earle of Saint Pol should be chiefe Captayne of the warre against the Duke of Glocester He had a great Armye as the more part of the Nobles of Brabant of Henalt and of Burgoigne in all 50000. Piere de Luxenburge Earle of Conuarson his néere kinsman had the leading of the Armie for himselfe was but yong The Duke of Burgoigne had put of his men in garrison within the towne of Braine in the Countie of Henault who made sore warre to the Countrey about but the Earle of Saint Pol and Conuarson did come and beséege Braine continuing afore it twelue dayes before they within yéelded compounding to departe with bodyes and goodes saued these hauing wonne Braine destroyde it vtterly and that done tooke the Field with all puissance which was great and the Duke of Glocester likewise came into the fielde so that they approched néere togither and the vauntcurrers skirmished but the battayle ioyned not The Duke of Glocester had sent his Heraulte and Humfrey Duke of Glocester chalengeth the Combate vvith Phillip Duke of Burgoigne written to the Duke of Burgoigne calling him Traytor and disloyall to the King of England and France for that he had sente men in ayde against him and offered him the Combate wherevnto the Duke of Burgoine aunswered that hée would accept the Combate denying that euer he had fayled of his promise but that the Duke of Glocester had done great wrong to the Duke of Brabant to haue bereft him of his wife contrarye to the ordinance of God and of holye Church and for other wordes which the Duke had vttered against the Duke of Burgoignes honor he gaue him the lye and so farre the matter went in words betwixt them that the day was appoynted for the Combate and the Duke of Burgoigne chose for Iudge of the Combate the Emperour of Almayne and the Duke of Burgoigne sent the Duke of Glocester a safeconduct to departe safely into England to prepare himselfe of things necessarie for the Combate wherevpon both the Campes brake vp the Duke of Glocester wente to Mons in Henalt to the Duches his wife so tearmed gaue hir to vnderstand that he was desirous to trie the Combate with the Duke of Burgoigne and many other things he told hir which he performed not for within four dayes after he tooke all his power with him and returned into EnglaÌ„d and left the Duches in Mons smally accoÌ„panyed with y e people of that Countrey Shortly after his departure the Duke of Burgoigne sent the Lord Lilladam to the Towne of Mens to receyue Iaqueline the Duches who being deliuered vnto him he conueyed hir to Gaunt where the Duke and she made great semblance of ioy togither she promising to bée gouerned alwayes by his aduise but to goe to hir olde husband the Duke of Brabant she would not and when she espied hir time she stale away into hir Countrey of Holland where she was well receyued of many Lordes and began forthwith to mainteyne warre against Duke Philip of Burgoigne and sent to the Duke of Glocester for ayd who sente to hir a thousand fighting men vnder the conduct of the Lorde Fitzwaters The Duke of Burgoigne fearing least Iaqueline would deliuer the Countrey of Holland into the possessioÌ„ of the D. of Glocester he assembled his power and wente into Holland to put the CouÌ„trey into obeysance At his comming thither Iaqueline accompanyed with many Nobles of the Countrey and the Lord Fitzwaters woulde haue defended his landing but notwithstanding al the defence they could make he entred vpoÌ„ theÌ„ there néere to y e Towne of Brusseils they ioyned in battaile the D. of Burgoigne his people against the Englishmen Hollanders taking y e Duches Iaquelines part there was a fierce battayle on all sides but in the end the Hollanders and Englishmen were all discomfited and there dyed in that place aboue seauen or eight hundred besides those that were taken prisoners the Lord Fitzwater hardly escaped After this battell gote by the Duke of Burgoigne 1425 diuers Townes of the Countrey reuolted to him against Iaqueline the Duches as Dordrecht Sericzee and many other Shortly after the Duke of Burgoigne leauing garrisons in those Townes that obeyed him to make resistaÌ„ce against the Duches that lay in the Towne of Gaunt hée returned into his Countrey of Flanders and Artoyes there to prepare such abiliments as were necessary for him to vse at the Combate appoynted betwixt him and the Duke of Glocester The Duke of Glocester likewise in England made his pronision of his habilimentes and furniture but the Duke of Bedforde brother to the Duke of Glocester tooke greate paynes to make them friends and also the counsell of the yong King of England were nothing content with this variance doubting least it might be occasion that the Duke of Burgoigne mighte withdrawe himselfe from their amitie whereby their businesse in France should be hindered The Duke of Bedford therefore tooke hys iourney from Paris to Caleis and so into Englande to the ende to agrée the sayde Anno reg 4. Dukes he tooke with him the Duches his wife and not past a four or fiue hundred men About Michaelmasse the Prince of Portugale came into England and was honorably receyued and feasted by the Kings Uncles William Mildred Iohn Brokell the 28. of September Sherifes Maior Rob. Fabian Iohn Couentry Mercer the 28. of October The morrow after Simon and Iudes day when the Maior of London had bin at Westminster to take hys charge as Debate betvveene the Duke of Glocester and the Bishop of VVinchester the custome is at suche tyme as hée was holding hys greate dinner hée was by the Duke of Glocester Lord Protector sent for in spéedie manner when hée came to hys presence he gaue to hym commaundement to sée the Citie were surely watched in the night following and so it was done On y e next morrow about ix of the clock certain seruaÌ„ts of y â— Bishop of Winchester brother to y e said Protector would haue entred the Citie by the
alien vj. pence Syr Richard Wich Uicar of Hermetsworth in Essex who 1440 had before abiured was breÌ„t on the Towre Hil the xvij of June After whose deathe was greate murmur among the people for some saide he was a good man and an holy and put to death by malice and some sayde the contrarie so that manye men and women wente by nighte to the place where he was brente and offered theyr money Images of waxe and other things making theyr prayers knéeling and kissing of the ground bare away with them the Ashes of hys body for holy reliques c. Thys endured eyght days tyll the Maior and Aldermen ordayned men of armes to restraine the people who apprehended manye and sente them to prison among whome was taken the Uicar of Berking Churche beside the Tower in whose Parishe al thys was done who had receyued the offering of the simple people And to excite them to offer the more feruentlye to the fulfilling of hys false couetousnesse he hadde medled Ashes wyth the poulder of spices and strewed them in the place where the Priest was brente and so the simple people were deceyued wéenyng the swéete sauour had come of the Ashes of the deade Priest All whiche the sayd Uicar of Barking Churche confessed in prison Thys haue I noted the more at large bycause some haue writen the Uicare of Berking to bée brente whiche is false for hée was not brente thoughe he better deserued than the other The eightéenth day of July the Posterne gate of London by East Smithfielde againste the Tower of London sancke by night more than seauen foote into the Earth The twelfth of Auguste the Starre in Breadstreet an Inne of London was fiered by lightning and aboute fiftye loade of Hey burnte The Eagle in Cheape was also burnt Anno reg 19 The first of September Iohn Knighte a souldiour prisoner of Newgate in London as he was led by one of the Sherifes Officers from thence towarde Guilde Hall fiue of hys fellow souldiours with their daggers drawn came sodainly out of the Pannier Alley and berefte him from the Officer thrusting him into Saint Martins Lane and so into y t church where they all claymed priuiledge of the Sanctuarie thinking to haue remained there but the same daye Phillip Malpas and Richard Marshal Sherifes came with a nuÌ„ber of other and by force toke them from theÌ„ce fettered fast to the Counter and from thence chayned by the neckes two togither sente them to Newgate where they remayned till the thirde of Nouember following at whiche tyme they were by the Kings Justice restored agayn to the same Sanctuarie of Saint Martin Iohn Sutton William Wetinhall the. 28. of Septemb. Sherifes Maior Iohn Paddesley Goldsmith the 28. of October The Duke of Yorke was made Regente of Fraunce 1441 and the sixtéenth daye of Maye the sayde Duke wyth the Earle of Oxforde the Earle of Ewe sir Richarde Wooduile Syr Iames of Ormonde the Lorde Clynton and manye other shipped at Portesmouth and Sayled thence into Normandie The sixe and twentith daye of Nouember was a challenge in armes done before Kyng Henrie within listes in Smithfielde betwéene Sir Richarde Woduile a Knighte of Englande and a Knighte of Spaine but the Kyng tooke the matter into his hands after the thirde stroke Also a Combat was foughte at Totehil betwéene two théeues the apealer and defendaÌ„t the apealer had the field of the defendant within thrée strokes Roger Bolingbroke a greate Astronomer with Thomas Southwell a Chanon of Sainte Stephens Chappell at Westminster wer taken as conspiratours of the kings deth for it was said that the same Roger shoulde laboure to consume the Kyngs person by waye of Negromancie and the sayde Thomas shoulde saye Masses in the lodge of Harnesey Parke beside London vpon certaine instruments with the whiche the sayde Roger shoulde vse hys crafte of Negromancye againste the Faythe and was assenâ—yng to the sayde Roger in all hys workes And the fiue and twentith daye of Julye beyng Sondaye Roger Bolingbroke wyth all hys instrumentes of Negromancye that is to saye a chayre paynted wherein hée was wonte to sitte vpon the foure corners of which Chayre stoode foure swordes and vppon euerye sworde an Image of Copper hangyng wyth manye other instrumentes hée stoode on a highe Scaffolde in Paules Churchyarde béefore the Crosse holding a Sworde in hys righte hande and a Scepter in hys lefte arrayed in a maruellous attyre and after the Sermon was ended by mayster Low Byshoppe of Rochester he abiured all Articles longing to the crafte of Negromancye or missownyng to the Faythe On the Twesday next following Dame Elianor Cobham Elianor CobhaÌ„ apprehended Dutchesse of Glocester fledde by nighte into the Sanctuarie at Westminster whiche caused hir to be suspected of treason In the meane tyme Roger Bolyngbroke was examined before the Kyngs Counsayle where he confessed that hée wroughte the sayde Negromancye at the styrryng and procurement of the sayd Dame Elianor to know what shoulde be fall of hyr and to what estate shée shoulde some wherevppon shée was cyted to appeare béefore Henrye Chicheley Archebyshoppe of Caunterburie Henrie Beauforte Bishoppe of Winchester Cardinall Iohn Kempe Archbishop of Yorke Cardinal William Ascothe bishoppe of Salisburie and other in Saint Stephens Chappell at Westminster there to aunsweare to certaine Articles of Negromancie Witchcrafte Sorcery Heresie and Treason where when she appeared the foresaid Roger was brought forth to witnesse against hir and sayde that she was cause and first styrred him to labour in the sayde Arte. Then shée was committed to the warde of sir Iohn Steward Knight and Iohn Stanley Esquire and other to be conueyed to the Castell of Ledes there to remayne tyll thrée wéekes after Michaelmasse Shortly after a commission was directed to the Earles of Huntington Stafforde and Suffolke and to certayne Iudges of bothe Benches to enquire of all manner of Treasons Sorceries and other thyngs that myghte bée hurtefull to the Kyngs Person before whome the sayde Roger and Thomas Southwel as principalles and dame Elianor as accessarie were indicted of Treason in the Guild Anno reg 20. Hall of London There was taken also Margerie Gurdemaine a witch The VVitch of Eye brent of Eye in Suffolke whose Sorcerie and Witchcrafte the said Elianor hadde long tyme vsed and by hyr medicines and Drinkes enforced the Duke of Glocester to loue hyr and after to wedde hyr wherfore and for cause of relapse the same Witch was brent in Smithfield on y e seuen twentith of October The one and twentith of October in the Chappel beforesayde before the Bishoppes of London Robert Gylbart of Lincolne William Alnewike of Norwich Thomas Brouns the sayde Elianor appeared and Adam Molins Clearke of the Kyngs Counsell redde certayne Articles obiected againste hyr of Sorcerye and Negromancie whereof some she denyed and some she graunted The thrée and twentith of October Dame Elianor appeared againe and witnesses were broughte forth and examined
to fall hereafter in your sayde Realme which God defende but if by your highnesse prouision couenable be made for due reformation and punishment in this behalfe Wherfore I your humble subiect true leigeman Richard Duke of Yorke willing as effectuallye as I can and desiring the suretie and prosperitye of your moste royall person and the welfare of thys your noble Realme counsell and aduertise your excellency for the conuersation of good tranquility and peaceable rule among all other subiectes for to ordain and prouide that true iustice be had against all such that so bée endited or openly named wherin I offer my selfe and wil put my endeuour for to execute youre commaundemente in the premisses for the punishing of suche offendours and redresse of the sayde misrules to my might and power And for the hastie execution hereof like it your highnesse to addresse these letters of priuie seale and writs to your officers and ministers to doe take and arrest all suche persons so noysed and endited of what estate degrée or condition soeuer they be and them to committe to the Tower of London and to other of your prisons there to abyde without Bayle or mayne prise vntil the tyme they be vtterly tryed and determined termined after the course of your lawes COosin as touching your Bill last put vp to vs we vnderstande Aunsvvere of K. Henrie to the Duke of Yorke well that yée of good harte counsayle and aduertice vs to y â— setting vp of Justice and to the spéedy punishing of some persons endited or noysed offering your seruise to bée readie at commaundemente in the same sithe it is that for manye causes mouing vs to haue determyned in our soule to stablishe a sadde and a substancial counsell giuing them more ample aucthoritie and power than euer we did afore this in the whiche we haue appointed you to be one but sithe it is not accustomed sure nor expedient to take a conclusion and conduct by aduise or counsell of one Person by hymselfe for the conseruation it is obserued that the greatest and the beste the riche and the poore in libertye Uertue and effect of your voyces be equall we haue therefore determyned wythin our selfe to sende for our Chauncellour of England and for other Lords of our Counsel yea and al other togither within short time ripelye to common these and other our greate matters in the whiche communication suche conclusion by the grace of God shal be takeÌ„ as shal sound to his pleasure the Weale of vs and our land as well in these matters as in any other At length it was agréed by the King that the Duke of Somerset shoulde be committed to warde there to abyde and answere suche Articles as the Duke of Yorke would laye against him vpon which promises so made by the Kyng to the Duke who sawe that the people of Kent and of other places came not to him as they had promised and that they were not strong ynough for the Kings part was much more than his he brake vp his fielde on the first of Marche and yéelded himselfe to the King at Dertforde where contrarie to promise before made he founde the Duke of Somerset chiefe about the King Then was the Duke of Yorke sent before to London and holden partly as prisoner and streighter shoulde haue bene kepte but it was noysed that sir Edward Earle of March sonne to the sayde Duke of Yorke was comming towarde London with a strong power of Welchmen whych feared so the Quéene and Counsell that the Duke was set at full libertie And on the tenth of March the saide Richarde Duke of Yorke made his submission and toke hys othe to be true faythfull and obedient subiect to King Henrie the sixth King of England in Saint Paules Church at London there being present the King and most of his nobilitye that is to saye the Dukes of Buckingham Northampton and Somerset the Earles of Warwicke Arundale Salisburie Shropshire Deuonshire Wiltshire Northumberlande Stafford and Dorset viconnts of Beaumount and Welles Barons Fitz Warren Sainmounde Cobham Douglas and others Bishoppes the Cardinall Archbyshoppe of Yorke and Canterburie Winchester Ely and London in these wordes following I Richard Duke of Yorke confesse and beknowe that I am and oughte to bée humble subiecte and liegeman to you my soueraigne Lorde King Henrie the sixth and owe therefore to beare you Fayth and trueth as to my soueraigne liege Lorde and shall doe all dayes vnto my liues ende shall not at any time wyll or assente that any thing attempted or done againste your moste noble person but where so euer I shall haue knowledge of anye suche thing imagined or purposed I shall with all spéede and diligence possible to mée make that youre hyghenesse shall haue knowledge thereof And ouer that doe all that shall be possible to me to the withstanding and lette thereof to the vttermoste of my lyfe I shall not anye thing take vppon me agaynste youre royall estate or obeysaunce that is due thereto nor suffer anye other man to doe as farre forthe as it shal be in my power to let it And also shall come at youre commaundemente whensoeuer I shall be called by the same in humble and obeysaunte wise but if it be letted by any sicknesse of impotence of my person or by such other cause as shal bée thoughte by you my soueraigne LORD reasonable I shall neuer hereafter take vpon me to gather any rowâ—e nor to make any assembly of your people without your coÌ„maundement or licence or in my lawfull defence in interpretation or declaration of the which my lawfull defence I shall reporte me at all times to your highnesse and if the case require to my péeres nor any thing attempt againste any of your subiects of what estate degrée or condition y e they be But when soeuer I finde my selfe wronged and agréeued I shal sue humblye for remedie to your highnesse and procéede after the course of your lawes and in none otherwise sauing in mine owne lawfull defence in manner aboue saide and otherwise haue to your highnesse as an huÌ„ble and true subiecte oughte to haue him to his soueraigne Lorde All these things aboue sayde I promise you truely to obserue and kéepe by the holy Euangelistes contayned in the booke that I laye my hande here vpon and by the holye Crosse I here touch and by the blessed Sacrament of oure Lordes bodye that I shall nowe with hys mercye receiue And ouer I agrée me and wil that if I any tyme hereafter as by the grace of our Lord God I neuer shall any thing attempt by waye of feate or otherwyse againste your royall Maiestie and obeysaunce that I owe thereto or any thyng take vppon me otherwise than is aboue expressed I from that tyme forth be vnabled helde and taken as an vntrue and openly foresworne man and vnable to all manner of worship estate and degrée be it such as I now occupye or any other that
in their hands that haue bene destroyers of his sayd estate and of the sayde common Weale 3 Item how his Lawes be partially and vnrightfully guided and that by them that should most loue and tender his said Lawes the said oppression and extortion is most fauored and supported and generally that al righteousnesse and Justice is exiled out of the sayde land and that no man dreadeth to offend against the said Lawes 4 Item that it will please his saide good Grace to liue vpon his owne liuelode wherevpon his noble Progenitors haue in dayes heretofore lyued as honorably and as worthily as any Christian Princes and not to suffer the destroyers of the sayde land and of his true subiectes to lyue thervpon and therfore to lacke the sustenances that should be belonging to his sayd estate and finde his sayd houshold vpon his poore commons without payment which neyther accordeth with Gods nor mans lawe 5 Item how oft the said commons haue bene greatly maruellously charged with taxes tallages to their great empouerishing whereof little good hath eyther growne to the king or to the said land and of the most substance thereof the King hath left to his part not half so much and other Lordes and persons enimies to the sayd common Weale haue to their owne vse suffering all the old possessions that the King had in Fraunce Normandy Aniow Maine Gascoyn Gwiene won gotten by his father of most noble memory other his noble progenitors to be shamefully lost or sold 6 Item how they can not cease therwith but now begin a new charge of imposition and tallages vpon the said people which neuer afore was séen that is to say euery towne ship to finde men for y e Kings Gard taking ensample therof of our enimies aduersaries of Fraunce which imposition and tallage if it be continued to heire heires and successors will be the heauiest charge and worst ensample that euer grewe in Englande and the foresayde subiectes and the sayde heires successors in such bondage as their auncetors were neuer charged with 7. Item where the King hath now no more liuelode out of his Realme of Englande but onely the Lande of Ireland and the towne of Calleis and that no King Christened hath such a Lande and a Towne without his Realme diuers Lordes haue caused his highnesse to write letters vnder his Priuie Seale vnto his Irishe enemies which neuer King of Englande did here to fore whereby they may haue comfort to enter into the conquest of the sayde Lande which letters the same Irishe enemies sent vnto me the sayde Duke of Yorke and maruelled greatly that any such letters shoulde be to them sent speaking therein great shame and villanie of the sayd Realme 8 Item in like wise the King by excitation and labour of the same Lordes wrote other letters to his enemies and aduersaries in other lands that in no wise they should shew any fauour or good will to the towne of Calleis whereby they had comforte ynough to procéede to the wynning thereof Considered also that it is ordayned by the labour of the sayd Lords that no where victuall nor other thing of refreshing or defence should come out of Englande to the succour or reliefe of the sayde towne to the intent that they woulde haue it lost as it may openly appeare 9 Item it is déemed ought greatly to be déemed that after that the same Lordes would put the same rule of England if they might haue their purpose and intent into the handes and gouernaunce of the sayd enemies 10 Item howe continually sithe the piteous shamefull and sorrowfull murther to all Englande of that Noble worthie and Christian Prince Humfrey Duke of Glocester the Kings true vncle at Burie it hath bene laboured studyed and conspired to haue destroyed and murthered the sayde Duke of Yorke and the yssue that it pleased God to sende me of the Royall bloud and also of vs the saide Earles of Warwike Salisburie for none other cause but for the true hart that God knoweth we euer haue born and beare to the profite of the Kings estate to the Common Weale of the same Realme and defence thereof 11. Item howe the Earles of Shrewsburie and Wilshire and the Lord Beaumount our mortall and extréeme enemyes nowe and of long tyme past hauing the guiding aboute the most Noble person of our sayde Soueraigne Lorde whose highnesse they haue restrayned and kepte from the libertie and fréedome that belongeth to his sayde estate and the supporters and fauourers of all the premysses woulde not suffer the Kings sayde good grace to receyue and accepte vs as he would haue done if he might haue had his owne will into his sayde presence dreading the charge that woulde haue bene layde vppon them of the miserie destruction and wretchednesse of the sayde Realme whereof they becauses and not the King which is himselfe as noble as vertuous as rightuous and blessed of disposition as any Prince earthly 12. Item the Earles of Wilshire and Shrewsburie and the Lorde Beaumount not satysfyed nor content with the Kings possessions and his goods stirred and excited his sayd highnesse to holde his Parliament at Couentrie where an Acte is made by their prouocation and labour agaynst vs the sayde Duke of Yorke my sonnes Marche and Rutlande and the Earles of Warwike and Salisburie and the Sonnes of the sayde Earle of Salisburie and many other Knightes and Esquiers of diuers matters falsely and vntruely imagined as they will answere afore almighty God in the day of Dome the which the sayde Earles of Salisburie and Wilshire and the Lorde Beaumount prouoked to be made to the intent of our destruction and of our yssue and that they myght haue our lyuelode and goods as they haue openly robbed and dispoyled all our places and our tenementes and manye other true men and nowe procéede to hangyng and drawing of men by tyrannie and will therein shewe the largenesse of their violence and malice as vengeably as they can if no remedie be prouided at the Kings highnesse whose blessednesse is neither assenting nor knowing thereof We therefore séeyng all the sayde mischiefes hearing also that the Frenche King maketh in his lande great assembly of his people which is greatly to bée dreade for many causes purpose yet agayne with Gods grace to offer vs to come agayne to the sayde presence of our sayde Soueraygne Lorde to open and declare there vnto hym the mischiefes aboue declared and in the name of the land to sue in as reuerent and lowely wise as wée can to his sayde good Grace to haue pittie and compassion vppon his sayde true subiectes and not to suffer the same mischiefes to raygne vppon them Requiring you in Gods behalfe and praying you in our owne therein to assist vs doyng alway the duetie of liege men in our persons to our sayd Soueraigne Lord to his estate prerogatiue and preheminence and to the suertie of his most Noble person
he assured the King that the Conestable woulde deliuer into his handes both Saint Quintines and all his other places whiche the Kyng easilye beléeued partly bycause hée hadde marryed the Conestables Nieâ—e and partlye bycause hée sawe hym in so greate feare of the Kyng of Fraunce that hée thoughte hée durste not fayle hys promise made to the Duke and hym and the Duke beléeued iâ— also But the Conestable meante nothing lesse for the feare he was in of the Frenche Kyng was not so greate that it coulde force hym thus 〈…〉 but he vsed sâ—yl his â—onted dissimulation The King of Englande reioycyng at thys message sente by the Conestable departed from Peronnâ— wyth the Duke of Burgoigne towarde Saint Quintins wherevnto when hée approched a greate bande of Englishe menne ranne before thynkyng that the belles shoulde haue bene rong at theyr commyng and that the Citizens woulde haue receyued them wyth Crosse and Holye Water but when they drewe néere to the Towne the Artillâ—â—â—e shotte and the Souldiâ—urs â—â—â—ed for the 〈…〉 he 〈…〉 she bothe on horsâ—e backe and on foote so that two or three Englishe menne were slayne and some taken â— and in thys state returned they in great rage to theyr Campe 〈…〉 againste the Conestable The nexte morning the Duke of 〈…〉 woulde haue taken hys leaue of the King of Englande to departe to hys armye in Barrays promising to do maruayles in hys fauour The Frenche Kyng sente a seruaunte of the LORD Halles in the lykenesse of an Herraulte wyth a coate made of a Trumpets Banner to the Englishe Campe where when hée came hée was broughte to a Tente and after dynner talked wyth the Kyng hys message was chielely grounded vppon the greate desire the Kyng hadde of long time to bée in peace wyth the Kyng of Englande saying further that since hée was Crowned Kyng of Fraunce he neuer hadde attempted anye thyng againste the King of England or his realme Secondly he excused himselfe for the receiuing in times paste the Earle of Warwicke into his Dominions saying that hée dyd it onelyâ— agaynste the Duke of Burgoigne and not him Further he declared that the sayd Duke of Burgoigne had for none other cause called hym into Fraunce but that by the occasion of hys comming hée mighte conclude a bettâ—r peace for hymselfe wyth the Kyng And if happily anye other furthered the matter it was onely to amende the broken estate of theyr owne affaires and for their owne priuate commoditie but as touching the Kyng of Englandes good successe they were altogither carelesse thereof Hée putte hym also in mynde of the tyme of the yeare alleaging that Winter approched likewise the great charges he sustained Lastlye he sayde that notwithstanding a great number in Englande desyred Warre with Fraunce yet if the Kyng oâ— Englande inclyne to peace the Kyng for hys parte would condescende to suche conditions as he doubted not but hée and hys Realme woulde allowe of finally he demaunded a saâ—e conduite for certaine Ambassadours to come well enformed of his maisters pleasure The King of England and part of his Nobles liking these ouertures very well graunted to the Harrault of Fraunce as large a safe conducte as he demaunded and gaue him foure Nobles of golde in rewarde He also sente an Englishe Harrault with him to bring the like safe conducte And in the nexte morning in a Uillage neare to Amience the Commissioners of both Princes met being these For the King of France the bastard of Bourdon Admâ—ral of France the Lord of Saint Pierre and the Bishop of Eureux called Heberge And for the King of Englande the Lord Howard one Chalenger and Doctor Morton Many articles of peace were treated of but the laste resolutions were these That the French King shoulde paye to the King of Englande presently before his departure out of Fraunce 72. thousande crownes that the Dolphine shoulde marrye King Edwardes eldest daughter and that she shoulde haue the Duchie of Guien for hir maintainaunce or 5000. crownes yearly to be paid in the Tower of London the space of nine yeres which terme expired the Dolphine shoulde peaceably enioy the reuenues of the whole Dutchie of Gnien and then the Kyng of France to be clearly discharged of all payments to the King of Englande Further it was decréed that the two Primes shoulde méete togither and be sworne to the treatie which méeting was obserued in a town called Picquigny on the 29. of August The King of England vppon receit of hys money departed towarde Calâ—is in great haste fearing the Duke of Burgoignes malice and his subiectes At his departure he lefte for hostages with the King of Fraunce till his returne into England the Lorde Howarde and the Maister of his horse called sir Iohn Cheyney King Edward tooke shipping at Calais and landed at Douer and was receyued on the Blacke-heath by the Mayor of London and his brethren in Scarlet and 500. commoners all clad in Murrey and so conueyed to London through the Citie to Westminster on the 28. of September This yéere was one Iohn surnamed Gose brent on she Towre hill in the moneth of August Edmond Shawe Thomas Hill the 28. of September Maior Sherifes Robert Drope Draper the 28. of October This Robert Drope Maior of London inlarged the Condite vpon Cornehill making an East ende therevnto The. xviâ—j of Aprill were inhaunced to the honour of Anno reg 15 1475 Knights made by the King Knighth and after the custome of England in the time of peace his eldest sonne Edward Prince of Wales Duke of Connewall and Earle of Chester his seconde sonne the Duke of Yorke and with them the Earle of Lincolnes sonne and heire the Duke of Suffolke the Lord Thomas Grey y e Quéenes sonne Richard his brother the Earle of Shrewsburie the Earle of Wilshire Master Edward Woduile the Lorde Neuibâ— the Lorde Barkleys sonne and heire the Lord Awdeleys sonne and heire the Lord Saint Ainand the Lord Stanleys sonne and heire the Lorde Sturtons sonne and heire the Lorde Hastings sonne heire the Lorde Ferrors of Chartleys sonne and heire Master Harbert brother to the Earle of Penbroke Master Vaughon Brian chiefe Judge Litilton one of the Little 〈…〉 Judges of the Common place Master Bodringham Master Brian Stapleton Kneuit Pilkinton Ludlow Charleton c. The same day the King created the Lord Thomas Marques Dorset before dinner and so in the habit of a Marques aboue the habit of his Knighthood he beganne the table of Knights in Saint Edwards Chamber At that time he ordained that the Kings Chamberlaine shoulde goe with the auncient and well nurtred Knight to aduertise and teache the order of Knighthood to the Esquiers being in the bayne The King himselfe came in person and did honour to all y e companie with his noble Counsell and his handes Hugh Brite Robert Colwitch the 28. of Sept. Robert Basset Salter the 28. of October Sherifes Maior This Maior did sharpe correction
knewe at variaunce himselfe in his death bed appeased he had lefte all gathering of money which is the onely thing that withdraweth the hartes of Englishmen from the Prince nor any thing intended he to take in hande by which he shoulde be driuen thereto for his tribute out of Fraunce he had before obtayned Tribute and the yéere foregoing his death he had obtained Barwike And albeit that all the time of his raigne he was with his people so benigne courteous and so familiar that no part of his vertues was more estéemed yet the condition in the ende of his dayes in which many Princes by a long continued soueraintie decline into a proude porte froÌ„ debonair behauiour of their beginning maruellouslye in him grew increased so farre forth that in Sommer the last y â— euer he sawe his highnesse being at Windsor in hunting sent for the Maior and Aldermen of London to him for none other errand but to haue them hunt be merie with him where he made them not so stately but so friendly and so familiar theare and sent venison froÌ„ thence so fréely into the Citie that no one thing in many dayes before gat him either â—o heartes or more heartie fauour amongest the common people whiche oftentimes more estéeme and take for greater kindnesse a little courtesie than a great benefite So deceassed as I haue sayd this noble King in that time in which his lyfe was most desired Whose loue of his people and their entire affection towarde him had béene to his noble children hauing in themselues also as many giftes of nature as many Princely vertues as much goodly towardnesse as their age could receiue a maruellous fortresse and sure armour if diuision dissention of their friends had not vnarmed them left them destitute the execrable desire of soueraintie prouoked him to their destruction which if either kind or kindnesse had holden place must néedes haue bene their chiefe defence For Richard the duke of Glocester by nature their vncle by office their Protector to their father beholdeÌ„ to themselues by othe allegiaunce bounden all bandes broken that binden man man togither without any respect of God or the world vnnaturally contriued to bereue them not only their dignitie but also their lyues But for as much as this Dukes demeanor ministreth in effect all the whole matter whereof this booke shal intreate it is therfore conuenient somewhat to shew you ere we farther goe what manner of man this was that could finde in his heart so much mischiefe to conceiue Richard Duke of Yorke a noble man a mightie began not by warre but by law so chalenge the Crowne putting Richard Duke of Yorke hys claime into the Parliament where his cause was eyther for right or fauour so farre forth auaunced that Kyng Henry his bloud albeit he had a goodly Prince vtterly reiected the Crowne was by aucthoritie of Parliamente entailed vnto the Duke of Yorke and his issue male in remainder immediatly after the death of King Henrie But y e duke not enduring so long to tarrie but intending vnder pretext of dissention and debate arising in the Realme to preuent his time and to take vpon him the rule in King Henrie his life was with many nobles of the Realme at Wakefielde slaine leauing thrée sonnes Edward George and Richard All thrée as they were great states of birthe so were they great and stately of stomack gréedie ambitious of aucthoritie and impatient of partners Edwarde reuenging his Edvvarde fathers death depriued King Henrie attained y e Crowne George Duke of Clarence was a goodly noble Prince and at George Duke Clarence al points fortunate if either his owne ambition had not set him against his brother or the enuie of his enimies his brother against hym For were it by the Quéene and Lords of hir bloud which highly maligned the Kings kinred as women commonly not of malice but of nature hate them whoÌ„ their husbandes loue or were it a proude appetite of the Duke hymselfe intending to be King at the least wise heinous treasoÌ„ was there laid to his charge and finally were he faultie were he faultlesse attaynted was he by Parliament and iudged to the death and therevpon hastily drowned in a butte of Malmesey whose death King Edward albeit he commaunded it when he wyst it was done piteously bewayled and sorowfully repented Richarde the thirde sonne of whom wée nowe intreate The discription of Richard the third was in wit and courage egall with either of them in body prowes farre vnder them both little of stature yll featured of limmes crooke backed his left shoulder much hygher than his right hard fauoured of visage such as is in states called warlye in other men otherwise he was malicious wrathfull enuious from afore his byrth euer froward It is for truth reported that the Dutches his mother had so much a doe in hir trauaile y t she coulde not be deliuered of him vncut that he came into the world with the féete forward as meÌ„ be borne outward as y e fame runneth also not vntoothed whether meÌ„ of hatred report aboue y e truth or else y â— nature chauÌ„ged hir course in his beginning which in the course of his life many things vnnaturally committed None euil captaine was he in y e warre as to which his dispotioÌ„ was more méetely thaÌ„ for peace Sundry victories had he somtimes ouerthrows but neuer in default as for his own person either of hardines or politike order frée was he called of dispence somewhat aboue his power liberall w t large giftes he gat him vnstedfast friendship for which he was faine to pill spoile in other places get him stedfast hatred He was close secrete a déepe dissimuler lowly of countenaunce arrogant of heart outwardlye coumpinable where he inwardlye hated not letting to kisse whom hée thought to kill dispiteous cruell not for euill wil alway but ofter for ambition either for the fuertie or increase of his estate Friend foe was much what indifferent where his aduauntage grewe he spared no mans death whose life wythstoode his purpose He slewe with his owne handes King Henry the sixt being prisoner in the Tower as men The death of King Henrie the sixte constantly said that without commaundement or knowledge of the King which would vndoubtedly if he had intended that thing haue appointed that butcherly office to some other than his owne borne brother Some wise men also wéen that his drift couertly conueyed lacked not in helping forth his brother of Clarence to his death which he resisted openly howbeit somewhat as men déemed more faintly than he that were hartily mynded to his wealth And they y â— thus déeme thinke that he long time in K. Edwardes lyfe forethought to be King in case that the King his brother whose life he looked that euill diet should shorten should happen
to deceasse as in déede he did while his children were yong And they déeme that for this intent he was glad of his brothers death y e Duke of Clarence whose life must néedes haue hindered him so intending whether the same duke of Clarence had kept him true to his Nephew the yong King or enterprised to be King himselfe But of al this poynt is there no certaintie and who so deuineth vpon coniectures may aswell shoote to farre as to short Howbeit this haue I by credible information learned that the selfe night in which King Edward dyed one Mistlebrooke long ere morning came in great hast to the house of one Pottier dwelling in Redcrosse streete without Creplegate in Loxdon and when he was with hastie rapping quicklye letten in he shewed vnto Pottier that King Edwarde was departed By my truth man quoth Pottier then will my Maister the Duke of Glocester be King What cause he had so to thinke harde it is to say whether he being toward him any thing knewe that he had such thing purposed or otherwise had any inkeling thereof for he was not likely to speake it of nought But now to returne to the course of this historie Were it that the Duke of Gloucester hadde of olde foreminded this conclusion and was nowe at erste therevnto moued and putte in hope by the occasion of the tender age of the yong Princes his Nephewes as oportunitie and likelihoode of spéede putteth a man in courage of that he neuer intended certaine is it that he contriued their destruction with the vsurpation of the regall dignitie vpon himselfe And forasmuche as he well wiste and holpe to maintaine a long continued grudge and heart-burning betwene the Quéenes kinred and the Kings bloude either partie enuying others aucthoritie he nowe thought their diuision shoulde be as it was indéede a furtherly beginning to the pursuit of hys intent and a sure ground for the foundation of al his building if he might firste vnder the pretexte of reuenging old displeasure abuse the anger and ignorance of the one partie to the destruction of the other and then winne to hys purpose as many as he coulde and those that could not bée wonne myght be lost ere they looked therefore For of one thing was he certayne that if hys intent were perceyued he should soone haue made peace betwéene the both parties with his owne bloud King Edwarde in his life albeit that this dissention betwéene his friendes somewhat irked him yet in his good health he somewhat the lesse regarded it bicause he thought whatsoeuer businesse shoulde fall betwéene them himselfe should alway be able to rule both the parties But in his last sicknesse wheÌ„ he perceiued his naturall strength so sore enféebled that he dispaired al recouerie then he considering the youth of his children albeit he nothing lesse mistrusted than that that happened yet well foreséeing that many harmes might growe by their debate while the youthe of his children should lacke discretion of themselues good counsell of their friendes of which either partie should counsell for their owne commoditie rather by pleasaunt aduise to wyn themselues fauour than by profitable aduertisement to doo their children good he called some of them before him that were at variaunce and in especiall the Lord Marques Dorset the Quéenes sonne by hir first husbande William the Lord Hastings a noble man then Lord Chamberlaine againe whoÌ„ the Quéene specially grudged for the great fauour the King bare him also for that the thought him secretly familiar with the King in wantoÌ„ company Hir kinred also bare him sore aswell for that y â— King had made him Captaine of Calleis which office the Lord Riuers brother to y â— Quéene claimed of y â— kings former promise as for diuers other great gifts which he receiued y â— they looked for When these Lords with diuers of both the parties were come in presence the King lifting vp himselfe vnderset with pyllows as it is reported on this wise saide vnto them My Lordes my deare kinâ—men alies in what plight I lie you The Oration of the King in his death bed sée I féeâ—e By which the lesse while I looke to lo liue with you the more déepely am I moued to care in what case I leaue you for such as I leaue you such be my childreÌ„ like to finde you Which if they should that God forbid finde you at variaunce might hap to fall theÌ„selues at warre ere their discretion would serue to set you at peace ye sée their youth of which I recken y â— onely suertie to rest in your concorde For it suffiseth not y â— all you loue them if eche of you hate other If they were meÌ„ your faithfulnes happily would suffise but childhood must be maintained by mens aucthority slipper youth vnderpropped w t elder couÌ„sel which neither they caÌ„ haue but ye giue it nor ye giue it if ye grée not For where eche laboureth to breake that the other maketh and for hatred of eche of others person impugneth eche others couÌ„sell there must it néedes be long ere any good conclusion go forward And also while either party laboreth to be chief flatterie shal haue more place thaÌ„ plaine faithfull aduise of which must néedes insue y e euil bringing vp of y â— Prince whose minde in teÌ„der youth infect shal redily fal to mischief riot draw downe with his noble Realme to ruine but if grace turne him to wisdome which if God send then they y â— by euil meanes before pleased him best shal after fal furthest out of fauour so y â— euer at length euil drifts draw to nought and good plaine wayes prosper Great variaunce hath there long bene betwéene you not alway for great causes Sometime a thing right wel intended our misconstructioÌ„ turneth vnto worse or a small displeasure done vs either our owne affectioÌ„ or euil tongues agréeueth But this wot I well ye neuer had so great cause of hatred as ye haue of loue That we be al men that we be Christen meÌ„ this shal I leaue for preachers to tell you yet I wot neare whether any preachers words ought more to moue you thaÌ„ his that is by and by going to the place that they al preache of But this shal I desire you to remeÌ„ber y â— the one part of you is of my bloud the other of mine alies ech of you with other either of kinred or affinitie which spiritual kinred of affinitie if the Sacramentes of Christes Church beare that weight with vs y â— would God they did should no lesse moue vs to charitie than y e respect of fleshly consanguinitie Our Lord forbid y â— you loue togither y e worse for the selfe cause y e you ought to loue y e better And yet y â— happeneth no where finde we so deadly debate as among theÌ„ which by nature lawe most ought to agrée togither Such
onely y ◠wound w t the wind but wise men also some Lords eke to marke the matter muse thereon so farre forth that the Lorde Stanley that was after Earle of Darbie wisely mistrusted it and sayde vnto the Lorde Hastings that he muche mislyked these two seueral Councels For while we quoth he talke of one matter in y e one place little wote we wherof they talke in the other place My Lorde quoth the Lorde Hastings of my life neuer doubt you for while one man is there which is neuer thence neuer can there be thing once moued that should sound amisse toward me but it shoulde be in mine eares ere it were well out of their mouthes This ment he by Catesby whiche was of hys néere secrete Catesbie counsell and whom he verie familiarly vsed and in his most weightie matters put no man in so speciall trust reckening himselfe to no man so liefe sithe he well wyste there was no man so muche to him beholden as was this Catesby which was a man well learned in the lawes of this land and by the speciall fauour of the Lorde Chamberlaine in good authoritie and much rule bare in all y e Countie of Leycester where the Lorde Chamberleynes power chiefely laye But surely great pitie was it that he had not had eyther more truth or lesse wit For his dissimulation onely kept all that mischiefe vp In whom if the Lorde Hastings had not put so speciall trust the Lorde Stanley and he had departed with diuers other Lordes and broken all the daunce for many yll signes that he sawe which he now construes all to the best So surely thought he that there coulde be no harme toward him in that Councell intended where Catesby was And of truth the Protector and the Duke of Buckingham made verie good semblaunce vnto the Lorde Hastings and kept him much in companie And vndoubtedly the Protector loued him well and loth was to haue lost him sauing for feare least his lyfe shoulde haue quaiied their purpose For which cause he moued Catesby to proue wyth some wordes cast out a farre off whether he coulde thinke it possible to winne the Lorde Hastings vnto their part But Catesby whether he assayed him or assayed him not reported vnto them that he founde him so fast and heard him speake so terrible words that he durst no further breake And of trueth the Lorde Chamberlayne of verye trust shewed vnto Catesby the distrust that other began to haue in the matter And therefore hée fearing least theyr motion might with the Lorde Hastings minishe his credence wherevnto onely all the matter leaned procured the Protector hastily to rid him And much the rather for that he trusted by his death to obtayne muche of the rule that the Lorde Hastings bare in his Coūtrey the onely desire wherof was the allectiue that induced him to be partner and one speciall contriuer of all this horrible treason Wherevpon soone after that is to wit on the Fryday the thirtéenth day of June many Lordes assembled in the Tower and there sat in Councell deuising the honourable solemnitie of the Kings Coronation of which the tyme appoynted then so neare approched that the Pageantes and subtiltyes were in making daye and night at Westminster and much vitayle kylled therefore that afterward was cast away These Lordes so sitting together communing of thys matter the Protector came in amongst them first about ix of the clocke saluting them courteously and excusing hymself that he had bene from them so long saying merily that he had bene a sléeper that day And after a little talkyng with them he sayde vnto the Byshop of Elie My Lorde you haue verye good Strawberies at your Garden in Holborne I require you let vs haue a messe of them Gladly my Lorde quoth he woulde God I had some better thing as readie to your pleasure as that And therwith in all the hast he sent hys seruant for a messe of Strawberies The Protector set the Lordes fast in communing therevpon praying them to spare him for a little while departed thence And soone after one houre betwéene x. and xj he returned into the Chamber among them all changed with a wonderfull soure angrie countenance knitting y e browes frowning fretting gnawing on his lippes so sat hym downe in his place all the Lordes much dismayde and sore maruelling of this manner of sodaine change what thing should him aile Then whē he had sitten still a while thus he began What were they worthy to haue that compasse and imagine the destruction of mée beyng so néere of bloud vnto the King and Protector of his Royall person and his Realme At this question all the Lordes sat sore astonyed musing much by whom this question shoulde be ment of which euery man wyst himselfe cleare Then the Lord Chamberlaine as he that for the loue betwéene them thoughte he might be boldest with him aunswered and sayde that they were worthy to be punished as heynous traytors whatsoeuer they were And all the other affyrmed the same That is quoth he yonder sorceresse my brothers wyfe and other with hir meaning y e Quéene At these words many of y e other Lords were greatly abashed y ◠fauoured hir But y e Lord Hastings was in his minde better content y ◠it was moued by hir thā by any other whō he loued better Albeit his hart somwhat grudged y t he was not afore made of counsel in this matter as he was of the taking of hir kinred of their putting to death which were by his assent before deuised to be beheaded at Pomfret thys self same day in which he was not ware y t it was by other deuised y t himself should be beheaded y e same day at London Then saide the Protector ye shall all sée in what wise that sorceresse and that other Witch of hir counsell Shores wife with their affinitie haue by their sorcerie and witchcrafte wasted my body And therewith he plucked vp his dublet sléeue to his elbow vpō his left arme where he shewed a werish withered arme and smal as it was neuer other And thervpō euery mans minde sore misgaue them wel perceiuing y ◠this matter was but a quarrel For they well wist y ◠the Quéene was too wise to goe about any such folly And also if she would yet would she of all folke least make Shores wife of counsell whom of all women she most hated as that Concubine whome the King hir husbande had most loued And also no manne was there present but well knew that his arme was euer suche since hys byrth Naythelesse the Lorde Chamberlayne which from the death of Kyng Edward kept Shores wyfe on whom he somewhat doted in the Kings lyfe sauing as it is sayde he that while forbare hir of reuerence toward the K. or else of a certayn kind of fidelitic to his friend aunsweared and sayd certaynly my Lord if they haue so
at the last in the neather end of the Hall a bushment of the Dukes seruauntes and Nashfieldes and other longing to the Protector with some prentises and laddes that thrust into the Hall among the prease beganne sodainly at mens backes to crye out as loude as theyr throtes woulde gyueâ— King Richarde King Richarde and threwe vp their cappes in token of ioy And they that stoode before cast backe their heads maruelling thereof but nothing they sayde And when the Duke and the Maior sawe this manner they wiselye turned it to theyr purpose and sayde it was a goodly crye and a ioyfull to heare euerye man with one voyce no man saying nay Wherefore friendes quoth the Duke since that we perceiue it is all your whole myndes to haue this Noble man for your K. wherof we shall make his grace so effectuall report that we doubt not but it shall redounde vnto your great weÌ„ale and commodytie wee require ye that ye to morow go with vs and we with you vnto his Noble graced to make our humble request vnto him in maner before remembred And there with the Lords came dowâ—e and the company dissolued and departed the more part all sad some with glad femblance that were not very merrie and some of those that came thither wyth the Duke not able to dissemble their sorrow were faine at his barke to turne their face to the wall while the dolour of their heart burst out of their eyes Then on the morrowe after the Maior with all the Aldermen The Maiors comming to Baynards Castell and chiefe commoners of the citie in their best maner apparelled assembling themselues together resorted vnto Baynardes Castell where the Protector lay To which place repayred also accordyng to theyr appoyntment the Duke of Buckingham with diuerse Noble men wyth him besyde many Knightes and other Gentlemen And therevppon the Duke sent worde vnto the Lorde Protector of the being there of a great and honorable companie to moue a great matter vnto his grace Wherevpon the Protector made difficultie to come out vnto them but if he first knewe some part of their errand as thoughe he doubted and partly distrusted the comming of a number vnto him so sodenly without any warning or knowledge whether they came for good or harme Then the duke when he had shewed this vnto the Maior other that they might therby sée how little the Protector looked for this matter they sent vnto him by the Messenger suche louing message againe and there with so humbly besought him to vouchsafe that they might resort to his presence to purpose their intent of which they woulde vnto none other person part disclose that at the last he came forth of his Chamber and yet not downe vnto them but stoode aboue in a Gallerie ouer them where they might sée him and speake to him as though be woulde not yet come too néere them tyll he will what they ment And there vpon the Duke of BuckinghaÌ„ first made humble position vnto him on the behalfe of them all that his grace â—ould pardon them and licence them to purpose vnto his â—â—â—â—â— the intent of â—oâ—â— comming without his displeasure without which pardon obteined they durst not be bolde to moue him of that matter In whiche albeit they ment as muche honour to his grace as wealthe to all the Realme beside yet were they not sure howe his grace woulde take it whom they woulde in no wyse offende Then the Protector as he was verie gentle of himselfe and also longed sore to witte what they ment gaue him leaue to purpose what him lyked verily trusting for the good minde that hée bare them all none of them any thing woulde intende vnto him warde wherewith he ought to be grieued When the Duke had thys leaue and pardon to speake then waxed hée bolde to shew him their intent and purpose with all the causes moouing them therevnto as ye before haue heard and finally to beséeche his grace that it woulde like him of his accustomed goodnes zeale vnto the realme nowe with his eye of pitie to beholde the long continued distresse and decaye of the same and to set his gracious handes to redresse and amendment thereof by taking vpon him the Crowne and gouernaunce of thys Realme accordyng to his ryght and tytle lawfully descended vnto him and to the laude of God profite of the Lande and vnto hys grace so muche the more honour and lesse payne in that that neuer Prince raygned vppon any people that were so glad to lyue vnder hys obeysaunce as the people of thys Realme vnder his When the Protector had hearde the proposition he looked verie straungely therat answered that albeit it were y e he partly knewe the things by them alledged to be true yet such entire loue he bare vnto King Ed. and his children y â— so much more he regarded his honor in other realmes about than the Crowne of any one of whiche hée was neuer desyrous y â— he coulde not finde in his heart in this poynt to enclyne to theyr desire For in all other Nations where the truth were not well knowne it shoulde peraduenture be thoughte that it were his owne ambitious minde and deuise to depose the Prince and take himselfe the Crowne with which infamie he woulde not haue his honour stayned for any Crowne in which he had euer perceyued much more labour and payne than pleasure to hym that would so vse it as he that woulde not were not worthie to haue it Notwithstanding he not onely pardoned them the motion that they made him but also thanked them for the loue and heartie fauour they bare hym praying them for hys sake to gyue and beare the same to the Prince vnder whom hée was and woulde bée content to lyue and with hys labour and counsell as farre as should lyke the King to vse him he would doe his vttermost deuoyre to set the Realme in good state whyche was alreadie in this lyttle whyle of hys Protectorshippe the prayse gyuen to God well begunne in that the malice of suche as were before occasion of the contrarie and of new intended to bée were nowe partly by good policie partly more by Gods speciall prouidence than mans prouision repressed Uppon this aunswere giuen the Duke by the Protectours licence a lyttle rowned aswell wyth other Noble men aboute hym as with the Maior and Recorder of London And after that vppon lyke pardon desired and obteyned he shewed aloude vnto the Protector that for a finall conclusion that the Realme was appoynted King Edwardes lyne should not any longer raygne vpon them both for that they hadde so farre gone that it was nowe no suertie to retreate as for that they thoughte it for the weale vniuersall to take that waye althoughe they had not yet begonne it Wherfore if it would lyke his grace to take the Crowne vppon hym they woulde humbly beséeche him therevnto If he woulde giue them a resolute aunswere to
diuers partes of this Realme certaine Gentlemen of y e Earle of Richmondes faction amongst whom sir George Browne sir Roger Clifford and iiij other were put to death at London y â— iij. of December Sir Thomas Sentlegar which had marryed the Duches of Excester the Kings owne sister and T. Rame with diuers other were executed at Excester The. xxx of December was a great fire at Leaden hall in Fire at Leaden hall in London London where through was brent much housing and all the stocks for gunnes other like prouision belonging to y e citie After this King Richard called a Parliament in y â— which 1484 he attainted the Earle of Richemond and all other persons which were â—led out of the Realme for feare or any other cause as enemyes to him and to their natural countrie and all their landes and goods was confiscate to the Kings vse and yet notwithstanding he laid on the people a great taxe In this troublesome season nothing was more maruelled Anno. reg 2. at than that the Lorde Stanley had not bene taken considering the working of the Lady Margaret his wyfe mother to the Earle of Richemond but for as muche as the enterpryse of a woman was of hym reputed of no regarde or estimation and that the Lorde Stanley hir husband had purged hym selfe to be innocent of all attemptes by hir committed it was giuen him in charge to kéepe hir in some secrete place at home without hauing any seruaunt or company so that from thence forth shée shoulde neuer send letter to hir sonne or to any of his friendes by the which the Kyng myghte bée molested which commaundement was a whyle put in execution This yéere King Richard began the high towre at Westminster which remaineth yet vnfinished Also he caused the K. Henry the sixt remoued to VVindsoâ— body of King Henry the sixte to be remoued from Chertesey Abbey in Surrey and to be buried at Windsor where he nowe resteth on the. xij of August Richard Chester Thomas Britaine the 28. of September Sherifes Ralph Austry the 6. of Februarie Tho. Hill Grocer the 28. of October W. Stocker draper the Maiors 24. of Sep. in anno 1485. Iohn ward grocer the 29. of Sep. William Collingborne made a Ryme of iij. of King Colingborne executed Richards CouÌ„sellers the Lord Louell sir Richard Ratclife and sir William Catesby which was The Ratte the Catte and Louell our dogge Rule all England vnder the hogge For the which he was drawne froÌ„ Westmin to the Towre of London and there on y â— hyll hanged headed quartered King Richard considering y â— aâ—ities concluded betwéene Princes are the cause that their Realmes are fortified with a double power that is to say with their owne strength the ayde of their friendes practised a league with the King of Scots which not long before had made diuers incursions roades into the Realme of Englande and therefore sued to haue a truce or peace concluded Wherfore Commissioners were appointed which met at Notingham there in the end concluded for iij. yéeres on certaine articles xv in number Truce vvith Scotland for three yeeres This peace thus concluded King Richard nowe doubtyng his owne people was continually vexed with feare of the returne of the Earle of Richmond and his complices Wherfore nothing was for his purpose more then once agayne with price prayer to attempt the duke of Britaine in whose territorie y â— Erle then abode to deliuer him into his hands wherfore incontinent he sent certaine Ambassadors to the Duke of Britaine which tooke vpon them that King Richard shoulde yéerely pay and aunswere the Duke of Britaine of al the reuenewes rentes and profites of the landes possessions as well belonging to the Earle of Richmond as to any other noble or gentlemaÌ„ which then were in the Erles companie if he after that time would kéepe them in continuall prison and restrayne them from libertie The orators furnished with these other instructions ariued in Britaine but could not speake w t the duke by reason y â— he being weakned by a long and dayly infirmitie began to waxe ydle of his remembraunce for whiche cause Peter Landoyse his chiefe Treasurer ruled all things at his pleasure vnto whom the English Ambassadors moued to him their message offering to him the same rewardes and lands that they should haue offered the Duke This Peter faythfully promised to accomplishe King Richardes request so that he kept promise wyth him but fortune was so fauourable to the publike Weale of England that this deadly compact tooke none effect for Iohn Morton Byshop of Elie soiourning then in Flaunders was of al this craftie deuise certified wherfore he sent Christopher Vrswike to declare to the Earle of Richemond all the deceyt giuing him charge in all hast possible with his company to retire out of Britaine into Fraunce When these newes came to the Earle he incontinent sent to Charles the French king requiring that he and his myght safely passe into Fraunce which desire was graunted and the Earle with the rest dispatched as priuily as mought be into Fraunce no man susspecting their departure After this the Erle tooke his iourney to Charles the Frenche King to whoÌ„ after great thanks giuen he disclosed the occasion of his accesse to his person After that he required of him helpe and succour to the intent he myghte returne to the Nobilitie of his Realme of whoÌ„ he was generally called to take vpoÌ„ him the Crowne King Charles promysed him ayde and bad hym be of good comforte for he assured him that he woulde gladly shewe to 1485 him his bountifull liberalitie Whiles the Earle of Richemond thus attended on the Frenche Court Iohn Vere Earle of Oxforde so perswaded Iames Blonte Captaine of Hames Castle and sir Iohn Forteskewe Porter of the Towne of Calleis that he him selfe was not only set at libertie but they also leauing their fruitfull offices condescended to goe with him into Fraunce to the Earle of Richemond In the meane season King Richard was credibly aduertised what promises and othes the Earle and his confederates had made and sworne and how by the Erles meanes all the English men were passed out of Britaine into Fraunce Wherefore being in manner desperate imagining howe to infringe the Earles purpose by an other meane so that by the mariage of Lady Elizabeth his niece he should pretend no clayme to the Crowne there came to his minde a thing not onely detestable but much more cruell to be put in execution for he cléerelye determined to reconcile to his fauour his brother wife Quéene Elizabeth and so by that meanes the Earle of Richemond of the affinitie of his Nice shoulde bée vtterly defrauded and if no ingenious remedie coulde bée otherwyse inuented if it shoulde happen Quéene Anne hys wyfe to departe out of this worlde then he himselfe woulde rather take to wyfe hys cosin and Nice
also builded Almes houses for sixe poore almes Almes houses people nigh to the parish Church of Saint Helen within Bishopsgate of London and gaue Landes to the companye of the Skinners in the same Citie amounting to the value of thréescore pound thrée Shillings eyghtpence the yeare for the which they bée bound to pay twenty pound to the Schoolemayster and eyght pounde to the Usher of hys frée Schoole at Tonbridge yearely for euer and foure Shillings the wéeke to the sixe poore almes people at Saint Anno reg 5. Helens aforesayde eyghtpence the péece wéekely and fiue and twentie Shillings fourpence the yeare in Coales amongst them for euer On Saint Valentines daye at Feuersham in Kente â—nâ— Arden a Gentleman was murthered by procuremente Arden murthered of hys owne wife for the which fact she was the fouretéenth of Marth brente at Canterburie Michaell Mayster Ardens man was hanged in cheynes at Feuershaâ— and a mayden breâ—te Mosby and hys sister were hanged in Smithfielde at London Gréene which had fledde came agayne certayne yeares after and was hanged in cheynes in the high way agaynste Feuersham and Blacke Will the Ruffian that was hired to do that acte after his first â—scapâ— â—aâ— apprehended anâ—â—â—rente on a Scaffold al Flisâ—ing iâ— Zâ—laâ—d The fourtéenth of February Stephen Gardener Bishop Bishop of VVinchester depriued of Winchester was depriued of hys Bishopricke and committed to the Tower agayne into his place was â—â—anslated Doctor Poynet who before was Bishop of Rochester The fifth Aprill Sir Thomas Darcey â—iâ—â—hamâ—ertaine 155â— and Captayne of the â—ard was created Lord Darcey at Greenewich The four and twenty of Aprill George of Paris a Dutchman An Arian brent was brent in Smithfield for an Arian The fiue and twenty of May about noone was an Earthquake Earthquake at Blechingly Godstone Tâ—tser Rigâ—te Croydon Bâ—nâ—ngâ—â—â—â— Alâ—erie and diuers other places in Soutâ—ery The ninth of July the base moneys coyned in the time First fall of the base moneys of King Henry the eyght and King Edward the sixth was proclaymed the Shilling to goe for nine pence the grete for thrée pence which tooke effect immediatly after the Proclamation was made The fiftéenth of Aprill the infections sweating sickenesse Svveating sicknesse beganne at Shrewsburie which ended not in the North part of England vntill the ende of September In this space what number dyed it can not be well accompted but certayne it is that in London in few dayes nine hundred and Iohn Caiâ—s sixtie gaue vp the ghost it began in London the ninth of July and the twelfth of July it was most vehement which was so terrible that people being in best health were sodeinly taken and dead in four and twentie houres and twelue or lesse for lacke of skill in guiding them in theyr sweate And it is to bée noted that this mortalitie fell chieflye or rather on men and those also of the best age as betwéene thirtie and fortie yeares also it followed Englishmen as well within the Realme as in strange Countreys wherefore this Nation was much afeard of it and for the time beganne to repent and remember GOD but as the disease relented the deuotion decayed The first wéeke dyed in London eyght hundred persons The seauentéenth of August the Shilling which of late Second fall of the base moneys was called downe to nineyence was called downe to sixe pence the grote to two pence the halfe grote to one pennie the pennie to an halfe peny Iohn Lambert Iohn Cowper the 28 of September Sheriffes The â—â— of October at Hampton Court Lorde Marques Dukeâ— and Eâ—râ—es created Dorset was created Duke of Suffolke the Earle of Warwike was created Duke of Northumberland the Earle of Wilshire was created Marques of Winchester Sir William Harbert mayster of the horâ—â—e was made Lorde of Karmarden and created Earle of Pembroke He also made William Cicill his Secretarie Knight Mayster Iohn Checke one of hys Schoole maysters Knight Mayster Henry Dudley Knight Mayster Henry Deuell Knight The â—â—â— of October Edward Seymer Duke of Somerset Duke of Somerset brought to the Tovver the Lord Grey of Wilton Sir Ralph Vane Sir Thomas Palmer Sir Miles Partridge Sir Michaell Staâ—hope Sir Thomas Arundell Knightes and diuers other Gentlemen were brought to the â—ower of London The next morrow the Dutchesse of Somerset was also brought to the Tower The liberties Liberties of the Stilyard seased Maior Nevv Coyne of the Stilâ—ard were seased into the Kings handes Sir Richard Dobbes Skinner the 28. of October The xxâ— of October was proclaymed a new coyne both of Siluer and Gold Soâ—eâ—â—â—es of thirtie Shillings Angels of â—eâ—ne Shillings c. The vj. of Nouember the olde Quéene of Scottes rode through London towards Scotland with a great company of Queene of Scottes rode through London Englishmen wayâ—ing vpon hiâ— after she had layne four dayes in the Bishop of Londons pâ—â—â—ace The first of December the Duke of Somerset was arraigned Duke of Somerset arraigned at Westminster and there acquited of treaâ—oâ— but condemned of â—elâ—nie The vij of December was a muster of Horssemen before the King at Saint Iames. The xx of Muster of horssemen December the greâ—e Seaâ—e was taken from the Lord Rich and â—â—â—â—â—ereâ— to D. Gâ—â—â—â—â—eâ—e Bishop of Eâ—ly Doctor Dunstall Bishop of Durham was sent â—o y â— Tower of London The xxâ—â— of January Edward Duke of Somerset was beheaded on Duke of Somerset beheaded the Tower hâ—ct The â—ame morning early the Constables of euery warde in London according to a precept directed from the Counsell to the Maior stâ—eightly â—hâ—â—â—ged euery hâ—â—â—â—hold of the same â—â—â—â—e not to depart any of them out of their houses before tenne of the clocke of that day meaning therby to restreyne the great number of people that otherwise were like to haue bin at the sayde execution notwithstanding by seauen a clocke the Tower hill was couered with a great multitude repayring from all partes of the Citie as well as out of the suburbes and before eyght of the clocke the Duke was brought to the Scaffold inclosed with the Kings Gard the Sheriffes Officers the Warders of the Tower and other with halberds the Duke being ready to haue bin executed sodeinly the people were driuen into a Great feare vvith small cause great feare few or none knowing the cause wherefore I thinke it good to write what I sawe concerning that matter The people of a certayne Hamlet which were warned to be there by seauen of the clocke to giue their attendance on the Lieutenant now came through the posterne and perceyuing the Duke to be already on the Scaffold the forâ—â—st began to runne crying to their fellowes to follow fast after which â—odelnesse of these men being weaponed with billes and halberâ—s thus running caused the people which â—â—â—â—â— saw them to thinke some power had come to haue rescued the Duke from
deceyued for whyche of vs can washe hys handes cleane thereof and if we shoulde shrincke from you as from one that were culpable which of vs can excuse himselfe to be guiltlesse therefore herein your doubt is too farre caste I praye God it be quoth the Duke let vs go to dinner and so they sate downe After dinner the Duke wente in to the Quéene where his Commission was by that tyme sealed for his Lieutenantshippe of the army and then tooke his leaue of hir and so didde certaine other Lordes also Then as the Duke came through the Councell Chamber he tooke his leaue of the Earle of Arundale who prayed God be with his Grace saying he was sorie it was not his chance to goe with him and beare him companye in whose presence he could finde in hys hearte to spende hys bloâ—de euen at his féete then the Earle of Arundale tooke Thomas Louell the Dukes boy by the hande and saide farewel gentle Thomas with al my heart Then the Duke with the L. Marques of Northampton the Lorde Grey and dyuers other tooke their Barge and went to Dirham place and tâ— White hall where that night they mustred theyr men and the next day in the morning the Duke departed with the number of 600. menne or there aboutes And as they rode thorough Shordiâ—che saith the Duke to the Lorde Grey the people preasse to sée vs but not one sayeth God spéede vs. The same daye sir Iohn Gates and other went oute aâ—â—â—â— the Duke By this time worde was broughte to the Tower that the Lady Mariae was â—â—ed to Framingâ—aâ— Castell in Suffolke where the people of the Country almoste wholly resorted to hâ—â— â— that â—â—â— Edmond Pecâ—am sir Edward Hastings and the Lorâ— Windsore with otherâ— were 〈◊〉 Quéene Marie â—â— Bâ—ckinghamshire sir Iohn Williams in Oxfordshire c. About this time sixe ships well manned that were aâ—poynted to lye before Yarmouth and to haue taken the Lady Mary if she had fled that way were by force of weather driuen into the Hauen where one Maister Iernigham was raysing power on the Ladye Maries behalfe who hearing thereof came thither wherevppon the Captaines tooke a boate and wente to the Shippes but the Saylers and souldiors asked Maister Iernigham what he woulde haue and whether he would haue their Captaines or no and he said yea Mary saide they ye shall haue them or we will throwe them into the bottome of the Sea but the Captaines saide forthwith that they would serue Quéene Mary willingly and so broughte forth their men and conueyed with them their great ordinaunce Of the commyng of these Shippes the Ladye Mary was wonderfull ioyous and afterwarde doubted little the Dukes puissaunce but when newes therof was broughte to the Tower eche manne there beganne to draw backward and ouer that word of a greater mischiefe was broughte to the Tower that is to saye that the Noblemens tenaunts refused to serue their Lords against Quéen Marie The Duke thoughte long for his succoures and wrote somewhat sharplye to the councell at the Tower in that behalfe as well for lacke of men as of munition but a flender aunsweare had he againe And from that time forward certaine of the Councell to wéete the Earle of Pembrooke and sir Thomas Cheyney Lorde Warden and other sought to gette oute of the Tower to consulte in London but coulde not yet The sixetéenth of Iuly being Sonday Doctor Ridley Bishoppe of London by commaundement of the Councel preaâ—hed at Paules Crosse where he vehementlye perswaded the â—eople in the title of y e Lady Iane late proclaimed Quéene â—nd inueyed earnestly againste the title of Lady Mary c. The same sixetéenth of Iuly the Lorde Treasurer was â—â—ne oute of the Tower to his house in London at nighte and â—â—rthwith about seauen of the clocke the Gates of the Tower vpon a sodayne were shut vppe and the kayes borne vp to the Lady Iane which was for feare of some packing in the Lorde Treasurer but he was fetched agayne to the Tower about twelue of the clocke in the night The xviij daye the Duke perceyuing that the succours promised came not to him and also receyuing from some of the Councell Letters of discomforte he returned from Bury backe agayne to Cambridge The ninetéenth of July the Counsell partelye moued with the right of the Lady Maries cause partly considering that the moste of the realme was wholy bent on hir side changed theyr minds and assembled themselues at Bainardâ— Castel where they communed with the Earle of Pembrooke and immediately with the Maior of London certaine Aldermen the Sheriffes Garter King at Armes and a Trumpet came into Cheape where they proclaymed the Ladye Mary daughter to King Henry the eyght and Quéene Katherine Quéene of Englande Fraunce and Irelande Dofendor of the Faith c. and the same night the Earle of Arundele the Lord Paget rode in poste to Quéene Mary The xx of July Iohn D. of Northumberlande hauing sure knowledge y â— the Lady Mary was by the nobilitie others of the Councell remayning at London proclaymed Quéene aboute fiue of the clocke the same night he with suche other of the Nobilitie as were in his company came to the Market Crosse and callyng for an Harrault hymselfe proclaymed Quéene Mary and among other he threwe vppe hyâ— owne Cap and wythin an houre after he had Letters from the Councell as he said that he shoulde forthwith dismissâ— his army and not to come within tenne myles of London foâ— if he did they woulde fight wyth hym the rumour whereâ— was no sooner abroade but euerie man departed And shortlye after the Duke was arrested in the Kings Colledge 〈…〉 one Maister Slegge Sergeant at Armes At the laste letters were brought from the Councell at London that al 〈…〉 shoulde goe eche his way Wherevpon the Duke sayde 〈…〉 them that kepte him yée doe me wrong to withdrawe my libertie sée you not the Counsels letters wythoute exception that all men shoulde go whither they would At which wordes they that kepte hym and the other Noblemen sete them at libertie and so contynued they for that night insomuche that the Earle of Warwicke was readye in the morning to haue rode away but then came the Erle of Arundel froÌ„ the Quéen to y e Duke into his Chamber who went out to méete him as soone as he saw the Earle of Arundale he fel on hys knées desired hym to be good to him for the loue of God coÌ„sider saith he I haue done nothing but by the coÌ„sents of you and all the whole Councell My Lorde quoth the Earle of Arundale I am sente hither by the Quéenes Maiestie and in hir name I doe arreast you and I obey it my Lorde quoth he I beséeche you my Lorde of Arundale quoth the Duke vse mercy towardes mée knowing the case as it is my Lorde quoth the Earle yée shoulde haue sought for mercie sooner I muste doe accordyng to my commaundement and
houses and brent the thatch in the stréetes and themselues fledde with most parte of theyr goodes but by the industrie of the Englishmen the timber was also burned with the thatch sauing one little house of stone of Dunlamrickes wherein my Lord lay that night The twentith daye the Armie marched forwardes to a house of the Lorde of Bucklugh whych they ouerthrew with powder and then marched Northwarde to the Riuer of Tiuet where they brente and spoyled suche Castels pyles and Townes as belonged to the Lorde of Fernihurst and Bucklogh their kinsmen and adherents and that night returned to Gedworth The one and twentith day part of the army went to the Riuer of Bowbent vnder the leading of the sayde Marshall where mayster George Heron Réeper of Tiuidale and Ridsdale with them of that Countrey mette with him and ioyning togither rode on burning and spoyling all on both sides of the Riuer and the other part marched to the Riuer of Trile where they wasted and brent all on both sides the Riuer and returned to Kilsey where the Lord Lieutenant lodged of purpose to beséege Hewme Castell in the nighte and the Lorde Gouernour with his company went to Warke to bring the ordinance from thence in the morning which was disappoynted by the negligence of such as were put in trust for those matters who suffered the cariage Horsses to returne to Barwike the daye before which should haue drawne the same she lacke whereof caused the Lorde Lieutenant wyth the whole armye to returne to Barwike the two and twentith of Aprill in all which time there was neuer any shewe by the Scottes made to resist or defende theyr Countrey The Lorde Scrope Warden of the West marches entred The Lorde Scrope entred Scotland Scotland the eyghtéenth of Aprill brente and spoyled those partes almost to Domfrees he had diuers conflictes gaue sondry ouerthrowes tooke many prisoners and returned safely During all these inuasions the marches of Englande in all places were so guarded by the Lorde Euers Sir George Bowes and other of the Bishopricke as the Scottes durst not once offer to enter into Englande so that not one house was burned nor one Cow taken out of Englande There were rased ouerthrowne and brent in thys iourney aboue fiftie strong Castels and pyles and aboue thrée hundred Townes and Uillages so that there be very few in the Countrey that eyther haue receyued our English Rebels or inuaded England that eyther haue Castell â—yle or house for themselues or theyr tenantes besides the losse of their goodes The xxvj the Lord Lieutenant accompanyed with the Lord Gouernour the Marshall and diuers lustie Gentlemen Captaynes and Souldyers to the number of three thousand set forward to Warke and so to Hewme Castell whiche Castell they beséeged till the same was yéelded the Lorde Gouernour the Marshall and dyuers other tooke possession for our soueraigne Ladye the Quéenes Maiestie and expelled the Scortes that were therein to the number of 168. persons in their apparell on their backes only without armour weapon bagge or baggage among whome there were two Englishmen one Hiliard the Earle of Northumberlands man and a vagrant person named William Godswher which both were carried to Barwike Rebels executed at Barvvike and there executed the xxtiij of May. The Lord Lieutenant placed in the Castâ—â—l Captayne Wood and Captayne Pikeman with two hundred Souldyers and so returned to Barwike the xxix of Aprill where he rested very euill at ease hauing in the trauaile taken ouermuch colde wherewith he was driuen into an extreame ague The fourth of May he sente mayster Drewry Marshall with the number of two thousand to take Faust Castell which at the first comming was deliuered to the Marshall who expelled the Scottes in number tenne and placed fourtéene of our Englishmen against all Scotland it is so strong a place and so returned to Barwike The eleuenth of May the Lord Lieutenant made four Knightes viz. Sir William Drewry Knightes made by the Earle of Sussex Sir Thomas Manners Sir George Care sir Robert Constable And the same day Sir William Drewry being Generall set forwarde toward Edenborough with diuers foote bands with shotte armed pâ—â—es and péeces of great Ordinance to ioyne with the Earles of Leunox Murton Glencarne and Marre and other of the Kings power of Scotland in pursuing of the English Rebels and such of the Scottes as supported them as the Duke Hamelton and other who were in armes at Lithcoe twelue miles from Edenborough to defend their cause The â—ort sayd new Knightes with their bands came to Edenborough the thirtéenth of May and there rested thrée nightes and departed from thence to Lithcoe where the Regent was slayne The xvij the footemen marched to Faukirke sixe myles from Sterling and Sir William Drewry with the horssemen marched to Sterling to sée the King whome they found so perfect in all things as age and nature could permitte The xviij they departed to the footebands and so togither marched to Glascoy where the Lorde Hamelton had beséeged a house of the Kings but hearing of their comming he fledde with dishonour and the losse of 29. of his men The xix the generall with other horssemen and some shotte passed to Dunbarton to view the straytes of the Castell there being kept by the Lord Fleming the Bishop of Saint Andrewes and other his adherents to the Quéene of Scottes vse Our generall sent his Trumpetor to require a parley with assurance safely to returne wherevnto the Lord Fleming subtilly consented and minding so to wind him into his danger conueyed certayne shot and armed men into a secret place so that our Generall comming alone to haue parlyed his Trumpetor not returned they shotte at him meaning to haue slayne him but he bestowed his Pistolettes as fréely at them as they at him and returned to his companye and so to Glasco from whence Sir George Care being maruellously offended with the subtill dealing of the Lord Fleming wrote a letter of challenge to combate with him body for body which the Lord Fleming by his letter of answere refused wherevpon Sir George Care wrote a sharp and pithie replie c. The one and twentith day our Generall accompanyed with the Gentlemen and horsemen went to Dunbritton agayne to parley with the Lorde Fleming vpon his promise that hée â—â—oulde méete him thrée miles from the sayde Castell but the place of parley béeing viewed was found to be subiect to the shotte of the Castell and therefore our Generall required another place which woulde not be graunted by the Lord Fleming The. xxij the Lord of Lenox the Lord Glencarne and the Lord Simple with their friends and tenaunts came to our Generall and mustered before Glasco to the number of four thousand horsemen and footemen The. xxiij oure Generall with the whole armye marched towarde the Castell of Hamelton and there had parley with the Captayne whose name was Arthur Hamelton but he would not deliuer the Castell wherevpon our