passed up to Munster and Thoumond performing every where much service with great valour and worthinesse that if he had stayed there but a while longer he might perhaps by his desorts in Ireland have redeemed his defects in England but the King impatient of his absence and asking advice what meanes might be used to recall him It was told him that if he could but match him with the Earle of Glocesters sister a man of such greatnesse and so greatly beloved of the people for his sake certainely no man would grudge at his comming home Hereupon the King sends for Gaveston and makes up the match betweene them and marryed they were at Barkamstead but this did no good For Gaveston still working upon the King in such manner that he scarce left him meanes to sustaine himselfe and as little to maintaine the Queene nothing being done but as Gaveston would have it put the Lords into a new discontentment who thereupon went againe to the King and told him plainly that unlesse he would put Gaveston out of the Court and kingdome they would rise up in Armes against him as a perjured King This put the King into a great strait Loath he was to leave Gaveston and fearefull he was to provoke the Lords in the end his feare prevailing over his love he was content he should be Banished and in such sort Banished that if ever he returned or were found in the kingdome he should be held and proceeded against as an Enemy of the State So once againe is Gaveston sent packing out of the kingdome and goes into France but found no safe Harbouring there For the King of France hearing of it gave strait charge if he were found in his Dominions to apprehend him Then he passeth into Flanders but is there no saâ—er then in France After waving about and finding no place to rest in safety he returnes secretly into England relying upon the Kings Love and the Duke of Glocesters Favour The King receives him as an Angell sent from Heaven and to be out of the Lords Eye goes a Journey to Yorke taking Gaveston along with him and there thinkes to be in quiet but the Lords hearing of it follow him thither chusing for their Generall Thomas Earle of Lancaster a man possest of five Earledomes Lancaster Leycester Ferrers Lincolne and Salisbury besides the Liberty of Pickering and the Honour of Cokermore and other Lands in Wales and there was not a man of the whole Nobility that was not of the Party but onely Gilbert Earle of Glocester the Kings Sisters Sonne These Lords sent to the King either to deliver Gaveston into their hands or at least to send him peremptorily out of the kingdome But the King led by ill Counsell and little regarding the Lords Message takes Gaveston with him to New-Castle upon Tine thence to Tynmouth where the Queene then lay who though great with Childe and entreating the King with teares to stay with her yet such was his desire to see Gaveston put into some place of security that hearing of the Lords approaching he tooke a Ship and passed with Gaveston to Scarborough and leaving him there in a strong Castle not easie to be wonne he went himselfe into Warwickshire perhaps that the Lords might see he had not Gaveston with him But the Lords hearing where Gaveston was assaulted the Castle with such violence that Gaveston seeing no meanes to escape was content to render himselfe requesting onely that he might but once be allowed to see the Kings face and the King hearing he was taken desired as much to which the Earle of Pembroke consented and taking Gaveston into his custody promised upon Forteiture of all he had to have him forth-comming but desiring to be with his Wife that night who lay not farre off at Dedington hâ— delivers him to his Servants to carry to Wallingford From whom as they passed by Warwicke the Earle of that place hearing of it tooke him forcibly from his keepers and brought him to his owne Castle Where after long deliberation whether it were wisedome to suffer Gaveston to speake with the King or no It was at last concluded to take ofâ— his head which at a place thereby called Blacklow was presently put in execution His Corps was carryed to Oxford and kept there two yeares till the King caused it to be brought to Longley and there builded a Monastery of purpose where his Soule should be prayed for This Gaveston was the Sonne of a Gentleman of France who had done good service for King Edward the first in France and for his sake this Sonne of his was taken and brought up with the Prince a man of excellent parts of body and of no lesse Endowments of minde Valiant and Witty to which if we might adde Vertuous he had beene compleate Though the Lords whether they had heard so or whether they said it to weane the King from him told the King that his Father was a Traitor to the King of France and for the same was executed and that his Mother was burnt for a Witch and that this Gaveston was banished out of France for consenting to his Mothers Witch-craft and that he had now bewitched the King himselfe But why should the Lords be so violent against Gaveston might not the King place his Affection where he pleased Might he not make his owne choyce of what companion he liked No doubt he might and fit he should but yet in this case the Lords had great cause to doe as they did both in regard of the King of themselves and of the Common-wealth It is true if the Valour of Gaveston could as well have made the King Valiant as his riot made him riotous there might some good have come of their extraordinary conjunction but seeing Vertues are but personall Vices onely are communicative it now made the King not onely more Vicious then otherwise he would have beene but Vicious where otherwise he would not have beene and therefore great cause in regard of the King to remove Gaveston from his company and no lesse in regard of the Lords themselves For Gavestons advancing was their debasing his greatnesse with the King made them but Cyphers but in regard of the Common-wealth most cause of all For while the King was altogether ruled by Gaveston and Gaveston himselfe was altogether irregular the Common-wealth could have but little hope of Justice but was sure to suffer as long as Gaveston was suffered And this may be sufficient to justifie the Lords that it be not interpreted to be Rebellion which was indeed but Providence Of his Troubles with Scotland ANd now we have seene two of the charges of his Fathers Will broken by the King and punished in him the two and thirty thousand pounds appointed for the Holy Warre bestowed upon Gaveston and the King for it punished himselfe with want Gaveston called home from banishment and the King for it punished with the losse of his Subjects love It remaines to see how
Geoffrey and William and dying he left his Dukedome of Anjou to his eldest son Henry but to hold no longer then till he should come to be King of England and then to deliver it up to his second sonne Geoffrey and he made his Lords to sweare not to suffer his body to be buried untill his sonne Henry had taken his Oath to doe it which Oath Henry afterward in reverence to his Fathers body did take but as he tooke it unwillingly so he willingly brake it and sent presently to Adrian the then Pope for a Dispensation of his Oath which granted he enters Anjou with an Army and takes from his brother Geoffrey being little able to make resistance not onely the Dukedome of Anjou but some other Cities also which his Father had absolutely given him for his maintenance yet out of brotherly kindnesse was content to allow him a Pension of a thousand pounds a yeare which brotherly kindnesse was so unkindly taken by his brother Geoffrey that it brake his heart and within a short time after died And thus these troubles begun by Henry himselfe were soone ended but now a trouble is comming on begun by Lewis King of France and this is like to stick longer by him For King Lewis not having yet digested King Henries marriage with his divorced wife Eleanor seekes all opportunities to expresse his spleene by doing him displeasure and a fit opportunity was now offered for there fell out a difference betweene Raymond Earle of Saint Giles and Henry King of England about the Earledome of Tholouse which Raymond possest and Henry claimed in this difference King Lewis takes part with Raymond as pretending it to be the juster side Hereupon are great forces provided on both sides and it was like to have come to a dangerous battell but that by mediation of friends a Peace was made and to make the Peace the firmer a marriage was concluded betweene Henry King Henries eldest sonne scarce yet seven yeares of age and Margaret daughter of King Lewis not past three who was delivered to King Henry to bring up till fit yeares for consummation This was then thought a strong linke to hold them in friendship but it proved afterward a cause to make the greater breach and indeed when a sonne is once matched into a Family the Father must never looke from thence afterward to have a good wish seeing the daughter thus matched can have no advancement but by the advancement of her husband and he none at least none so wâ—ll as by the ruine of his Father yet this brake not out till some yeares after It was now about the eighteenth yeere of King Henries Raigne and his sonne Henry growne to be seventeene yeares of ageâ— when it came into the Kings minde to have his sonne Henry crowned King and Raigne with himselfe in his owne time partly out of indulgence to his sonne but chiefely as having found by his owne experience that Oaths for succession are commonly eluded but Oaths for present Allegeance as being Verba de Praesenti can have no evasion and pleasing himselfe with this conceit he acquaints his Lords with his purpose and causeth his sonne Henry to be crowned King by the hands of Roger Arch-bishop of Yorke and all the Lords to sweare Allegeance to him at the Feast of which solemnity King Henry to honour his sonne would needs carry up the first dish to his Table whereupon the Arch-bishop Roger standing by and saying merrily to the new King What an honour is this to you to have such a waiter at your Table Why saith he what great matter is it for him that was but the sonne of a Duke to doe service to me that am the sonne of a King and Queene Which the old King hearing beganne to repent him now it was too late of that he had done For indeed the honour which by Gods commandement children are to doe to their Parents is by such making them their equals in a manner abolished at least it gives them stomachs to take more upon them then is fit But King Henry passed it over and meant to set the best side outward And now King Lewis tooke displeasure that his daughter was not crowned as well as her husband and therefore to satisfie him in that point King Henry sendeth his sonne Henry and his wife Margaret into Englandâ— and causeth them both to be crowned by Walter Arch-bishop of Roan and shortly after the young King Henry and his wife goe backe to King Lewis her Father and by him with great joy and variety of sports were entertained In the time of their being there King Lewis partly out of his old spleene to King Henry and partly to make his sonne in law more absolure fals oftentimes into conference with him and finding his hot spirit to be fit tinder for such fire tels him it was a shame he should suffer himselfe to be made a stale have the title of a King and not the authority and that as long as he stood in such termes that which seemed an honour was indeed a disgrace With which words of King Lewis the young King Henry was set afloate and from that time forward stucke not openly to oppose his Father whereof his Father having intelligence sent messengers to King Lewis desiring him from the King their Master to be a meanes to bring his sonne to more moderation But King Lewis hearing the Embassadours name their Master King with an angry countenance said unto them What mean you by this to call him King who hath passed his Kingdome over to his son and with this answer sent them away To this evill another worse was added that Queene Eleanor his wife enraged with jealousie of her husbands Concubines both incenseth her sonne Henry and perswadeth also two other of her sonnes Richard and Geoffrey to joyne against their Father telling them it would be better for them that their brother should prevaile who could not chuse but allow them better maintenance then their Father did With these perswasions they passe over into Normandy and joyne with their brother Henry who emboldned by their assistance growes now more insolent then he was before that when messengers were sent to him from his Father requiring him to lay downe his Armes and to come lovingly to him he proudly made answer that his Father must not looke he would lay downe his Armes unlesse himselfe first would lay downe his authority and resigne the Kingdome And now Lewis King of France calling together the great Lords of his Kingdome and with them William King of Scots Hugh Earle of Chester Roger Mowbray Hugh Pigot and other of his sonnes party they all take their Oaths to assist the young King Henry with all their power and thereupon all in one day the French invade Normandy Aquitaine and Britaine the King of Scots Northumberland and King Lewis the City of Vernoill which he brought to that distresse that it was agreed by the Inhabitants if it were
to deliver Mortimer but the King was deafe of that eare he could rather have wished both him and his two Sisters in heaven for then he should be free from conceal'd competitours These affronts were at this time suffered in the Welch because the King was now employed in a more dangerous service with the Scots for they taking advantage of the distraction in the kingdome as it was alwayes their custome to do had made an In-rode into the County of Northumberland and suddenâ—y one night set upon the Castle of Werke tooke and spoiled it and then returned In revenge wherof the English invaded and spoiled certain Islands of the Orknâ—ys Then the Scots set forth a Fleet under the conduct of Sir Robert Logon but before he came to any action he was encountred and the greatest part of his Fleet taken But these were but such affronts as often happen between troublesome neighbours for all this while the Peace was still in being between the Nations but at last it brake out into an open warre upon this occasion Robert King of Scots had offered to match his Son David with a Dâ—ughter of Geoâ—ge Earle of Dunbarre and had received money of him in part of her portion and afterward would neither suffer the March to proceed nor yet pay back the money but married his Son to a Daughter of Archibold Earle of Dâ—â—glasse Upon which indignity George of Dunbarre flyes into England to king Henry and with his ayd makes divers incursions into Scoâ—land Whereupon Roberâ— king of Scots sent to king Henry that if he would have the Truce between them to continue he should deliver to him George of Dunbarre King Henry answered that he had given him a safe conduct and could not now recall it with his Honor but as for continuing the Truce king Robert might do in that what he thought bestâ— Upon this answer the king of Scots presently proclaimed warre against him But king Henry as ready in that matter as he stayed not for king Roberts invading of England but himselfe with a puissant Army invaded Scotland burning Castles and Cities and not sparing Churches and Religious Houses About the end of September he besieged the Castle of Maydens in Edenbourgh where Prince David and the Earle Dowglasse were At which time Robert Duke of Albanye who in the king of Scots sicknesse managed the businesse sent an Herald to king Henry protesting upon his honor that if he would stay but six dayes he would give him battell K. Henry rewarded the Herald and stayed but six times six dayes passed but neither Duke of Albany nor any other for him appeared And now winter came on Victualls grew scant and which was worst a mortality began in the Englâ—sh Campe For which causes king Henry removed his Siege and retuâ—ned iâ—tâ— England As soone as he was gone sir Patrick Hebborne a Scottishman having a good opinion of his valour thought to do great matters and with a competent Army of the men of Lâ—â—gh-deane he invaded Northumberland making great spoile and loading his Soulâ—diers with prey and prisoners but in the Retreit marching loosely and licentiously was set upon by the Earle of Northumberland Vice-warden at a Towne called Neshye where Hebborne himselfe and all the floure of Lâ—ugh-deane were flaine sir Iohn and William Cockburne sir William Busse Iohn and Thomas Hablington Esqâ—ires and a multitude of common Souldiers taken prisoners On the Englâ—sh part few slâ—inâ— and none of any ranke or quality In revenge whereof Archibold Dowglasse with an Army of twenty thousand entred Northumberland but at a place called Homâ—ldon were encountred by the English under the leading of Henry Lord Percye sirnamed Hoâ—spuâ—â—e and George Earle of March who put them to â—light and after the slauâ—hter of ten thousand of them tooke five hundred prisoners whereof the chieft were Mordack Earle of Fife sonne of the Generall who in the fight lost one of his eyes Thomas Earle of Murrey Robert Earle of Aâ—gus the Earls of Atholl and Menliâ—â—â— and amongst the slaine were Sir Iohn Swinton Sir Adam Gourdon Sir Iohn Leviston Sir Alexander Ramsey and three and twenty other knights In this meane time Glendour of Wales had solicited the king of France for ayde who sent him twelve hundred men of quality but the windes were so contrary that they lost twelve of their ships and the rest returned home The English deriding this ill successe of the French so exasperated the French-king that presently after he sent twelve thousand who landed safely and joyned with the Welch but as soone as they heard of the English armies approach whether mistrusting their own strength or suspecting the Welch-mens faithfullnesse they ran to their ships and disgracefully went home King Henry's Ambassadors lately sent into Britaine to fetch the Lady Iane de Navarre Dutchesse of Britiane the relict of Iohn de Montford sirnamed the Conquerourâ— with whom the king by Procurators had contracted Matrimony in the beginning of February returned with her in safety The king met her at Winchester where the seventh of February the marriage was solemnized About this time some affronts were offered by the French Valerian Earle of S. Paul with seventeene hundred men landed in the Isle of Wight where hee burnt two Villages and some few Cottages but hearing the people of the Island to have assembled hee made haste to his ships and returned home Also Iohn Earle of Clermont the heire of Bourbon won from the English the Castles of S. Peter S. Mary and the New-Castle The Lord de la Brett won the Castle of Calâ—â—in places of great consequence to the English And now to make k. Henry sensible that a Crown can hardly ever sit easie upon the head if it be not set on right at first a new Conspiracy is hatching against him The Percies Earls of Northumberland and Worcester with Henry Hotspur began about thiâ— time to fall off from king Henry their reason was First because the king at their request refused to redeeme their kinsman Mortimer from Glendours slavery and then because he denied them the benefit of such prisoners as they had taken of the Scots at Homildon or Nâ—shye whereupon they went of themselves and procured Mortimer's delivery and then entred into a League offensive and defensive with Glendour and by their Proxies in the house of the Arch-deacon of Bangor they agreed upon a Tripartite Indenture under their hands and seales to divide the kingdome into three parts whereby all England from Severâ— and Trent South and Eastward was assigned for the portion of the Earle of March All Wales and the Lands beyond Severâ— VVestward were assigned to Owen Glendour And all the remainder of land from Trent Northward to bee the portion of the Lord Percy In this as Glendour perswaded them they thought they should accomplish a Prophesie as though king Henry were the Mouldwarp cursed of Gods own mouth they three were the Lyon the Dragon and the Wolfe which should divide the Land
but these last more by humility shewed to their Prince Leolyn then by force of Aâ—mes But yet he must not have all the glory of his time some must be imparted to his sister Elflede who being marryed to Ethelred Earle of Mercia had by him a daughter but with so grievous paâ—nes in her travaile that ever after she refused the nuptiall bed of her Husband saying it was a foolish pleasure that brought with it so excessive paines And thereupon after her husbands death made choyce to follow the warres assisting her brother both against the Welsh and against the Danes whom she brought to be at her disposing Dying she was buryed at Glocester in the Monastery of Saint Peter which her Husband and her selfe had built King Edwâ—rd himselfe after foure and twenty yeares Raigne deceased at Faringdon in Barkshire in the yeare 924. and was buryed in the new Monastery of Winchester which his Father began and himselfe wholly finished having had by his three Wives six Sonnes and nine Daughters of whom his eldest sonne Athelstan succeeded him in the kingdome whom his Grandfather King Alfred had with his owne hands Knightedâ— in an extraordinary manner putting upon him a purple Robe and girding him with a girdle wrought with Pearle His second sonne Elfred he so loved that he caused him to be Crowned King with himselfe which yet he enjoyed but a short time being taken away by death His third sonne Elsward presently upon his Fathers death dyed himselfe also His fourth son Edwyn was by his brother Athelstan out of jealousie of state put into a little Pinnace without either Tackle or Oares accompanyed onely with one Page with griefe whereof the young Prince leaped into the Sea and drowned himselfe His fifth and sixth sonnes Edmund and Edred came in succession to be Kings of England Of his Daughters the eldest Edytha was marryed to Sithricke the Danish King of Northumberland and he deceasing she entred into a Monastery which she began at Tamworth in Warwickshire and there dyed His second daughter Elflede tooke upon her the vow of Virginity in the Monastery of Ramsey in the County of South-hampton where she dyed and was interred His third daughter Eguina was first marryed to Charles the Simple King of France and after his decease to Herbert Eaâ—le of Vermandois His fourth daughter Ethelhild became a Nunne in the Monastery of Wilton which was sometime the head Towne giving name to the whole County of Wilâ—shire and anciently called Ellandon That we may see in those first times of Religion when there was leaâ—t knowledge there was most devotion His fifth daughter Edhold was marryed to Hugh surnamed the Great Earle of Paris and Constable of France And Edgith his sixth daughter to Otho the Emperour of the West â—urnamed the Great His seventh daughter Elgina was marryed to a Duke of Italy His ninth Edgina to Lewis Prince of Aquitaine in France After the death of King Edward his eldest sonne Athelstan succeeded and was Crowned at Kingstone upon Thames in the County of Surrey by Athelmuâ— Archbishop of Canterbury in the yeare 924. The beginning of whose Raigne was molested with the Treason of one Elfrid a Nobleman who being apprehended and sent to Rome to purge himselfe and there denying the Act upon his Oath fell suddenly downe and within three dayes dyed to the eternall â—errour of all perjured persons Presently upon this another dysaster befell King Athelstan for having caused his brother Edwyns death as before is shewed chiefly procured by his Cupbearers suggestions It hapned not long after that his Cup-bearer in his service at a Festivall stumbling with one foote and recovering himselfe with the other and saying merrily See how one brother helpes another His words put the King in remembrance of his Brother whose death he had caused and with remorse thereof not onely caused his Cup-bearer to be put to death but did also seven yeareâ— penance and built the two Monasteries of Middleton and Michelnesse in the County of Dorset in expiation of his offence This King ordained many good Lawes and those to binde as well the Clergy as the Laity amongst which one was the Attachment of Felons that stole aâ—ove twelve pence and were above twelve yeares old Of this King there is one Act related that may seeme ridiculous another that may seeme miraculous For what more ridiculous then that going to visit the Tombe of Saint Iohn of Beverley and having nothing else of worth to offer he offered his knife in devotion to the Saint Yet the miracâ—lous is more apparent For going to encounter the Danes and praying to God for good successe he prayed withall that God would shew some signe of his rightfull cause and thereupon striking with his sword he strucke it an ell deepe into a hard stone which stood so cloven a long time after But whether this be true or no this certainly is true that he obtained many great victories against the Danes against the Scots against the Irâ—sh and against the Welsh whose Princes he brought to be his Tributaries entring Covenant at Herefâ—rd to pay him yearely twenty pound weight of gold three hundred of silver and five and twenty hundred head of Cattell besides a certaine number of Hawkes and Hounds Lastly he joyned Northumberland to the rest of his Monarchy and enlarged his Dominions beyond any of his Predecessours which made all Neighbouring Princes to seeke his friendship and to gratify him with rare presents as Hugh King of France sent him the sword of Constantine the Great in the hilt whereof was one of the nayles that fastned Christ to his Crosse He sent him also the speare of Charles the Greaâ— reputed to be the same that pierced Christs side as also part of the Crosse whereon Christ suffered and a piece of the Thorny Crowne put upon his head Likewise Otho the Emperour who had marryed his sister sent him a vessell of pretious stones artificially made wherein were seene Landskips with Vines Corne and Men all of them seeming so artificially to move as if they were growing and alive Likewise the King of Norway sent him a goodly Ship with a gilt Steâ—ne purple â—ayles and the decke garnished all with gold Of these accounted Holy Reliques King Athelstan gave part to the Abbey of Saint Swithin in Winchester and the rest to the Monastery of Mamesbury whereof Adelm was the Founder and his Tutelar Saint He new built the Monasteries of Wilton Michelnesse and Middleton Founded Saint Germans in Cornwall Saint Petrocus at Bodmyn and the Priory of Pilton new walled and beautifyed the City of Exceter and enriched either with Jewels or Lands every speciall Abbey of the Land But the chiefest of his workes for the service of God and good of his Subjects was the Translation of the Bible into the Saxon Tongue which was then the Mother tongue of the Land He Raigned fifteenâ— yeares Dyed at Glocestâ—r and was buryed at Mamesbery in the yeare 940. having never beene marryed
uttered specially when he was moved with anger Concerning the qualities of his minde they may best be knowne by looking upon the actions of his life in which we shall finde he was never more assured then when he was least sure never lesse dejected then when in most extremity being like a Cube that which way soever he fell he was still upon his bottome For his delights to passe the time there was none in more request with him then hunting a delight hereditary to him which was the cause that as his Father had begunne the great new Forest so he enlarged it to a farre greater extent Other delights of his we finde not any unlesse we shall reckon his warres for delights for though they were oftentimes forced upon him when he could not avoyd them yet sometimes he entred into them when he needed not but for his pleasure And in generall it may be said that one of his greatest vertues was that which is one of the greatest vertues Magnanimity and his worst vice was that which was the worst of vices Irreligion Presages that preceded his Death AT Finchamstead in Barkshire neare unto Abington a spring cast up liquor for the space of fifteene dayes in substance and colour like to bloud The night before the King was kild a certaine Monk dream'd that he saw the King gnaw the Image of Christ crucified with his teeth and that as he was about to bite away the legges of the same Image Christ with his feete spurned him downe to the ground and that as he lay on the earth there came out of his mouth a flame of fire with abundance of smoake This being related to the King by Robert Fits Mammon he made a jest of it saying This Monke would faine have something for his Dreame Goe give him a hundred shillings but bid him looke that he dreame more auspitious Dreames hereafter Also the same night the King himselfe dream'd that the veines of his armes were broken and that the bloud issued out in great abundance and many other like passages there were by which it seemes he had friends somewhere as well as Iulius Caesar that did all they could to give him warning but that as Caesars so his Malus Genius would not suffer him to take it Of his Death and Buriall KIng William having kept his Christmas at Glocester his Easter at Winchester his Whitsontide at Westminster notwithstanding forewarned by many signes of some great dysaster towards him would needs the day after Lammas goe a hunting in the New Forest yet something resenting the many presages he stayed within all the forenoone about dinner time an Artificer came and brought him sixe Crosse-bow Arrowes very strong and sharpe whereof foure he kept himselfe and the other two he delivered to Sir Walter Tyrell a Knight of Normandy his Bow-bearer saying Here Tyrell take you two for you know how to shoot them to purpose and so having at dinner drunke more liberally then his custome as it were in contempt of Presages out he rides into the new Forest where Sir Walter Tyrell shooting at a Deere the arrow glanced against a tree or as some write grazed upon the back of the Deere and flying forward hit the King upon the breast with which he instantly fell downe dead Thus it is delivered by a common consent of all onely one Sugerius a writer that lived at that time and was a familiar acquaintance of the said Tyrels against the current of all Writers affâ—irmes that he had often heard the said Sir Walter sweare that he was not in the Forest with the King all that day I have beene the longer upon this point because a more pregnant example of Gods judgement remaines not any where upon Record For not onely this King at this time but before this a brother of his named Richard a young Prince of great hope and also a Nephew of his the sonne of his brother Robert came all in this place to violent deaths that although King William the Founder of the Forest escaped the punishment in his owne person yet it was doubled and trebled upon him in his issue Thus died King William Rufâ—s in â—he three and fortieth yeare of his age and twelfth and some moneths of his Reigne His body was drawne in a Colliers Cart with one Horse to the City of Winchester where the day following it was buried in the Cathedrall Church of Saint Swithen and was laid there in the Quire under a Marble stone till afterward it was translated and laid by King Canutus bones Men of Note iâ— his time FOr men of valour he must stand alone by himselfe for men of learning there was Lanfranke a Lombard but Bishop of Canterbury also Robert a Lorayne who Epitomized the Chronicle of Marianus Scotus also Turgotus an English man Deane of Durham who wrote the Annals of his owne time and divers other works but especially Osmund Bishop of Salisbury who composed the ordinary Office or book of Prayer THE RAIGNE OF KING HENRY THE FIRST Of his comming to the Crowne ALthough Henry came not to the Crowne as his Brother William did by the gift of his Father yet he came to it by the Prophesie of his Father For when his Father made his Will and divided all his Estate in Land betweene his two eldest Sonnes giving to Henry his youngest onely a portion in money with which division he perceived him to be much discontented he said unto him Content thy selfe Harry for the time will come that thy turne shall be served as well as theirs And now the time was come that his prediction was accomplished for on the fifth of August in the yeare 1100. he was Crowned King of England at Westminster by Maurice Bishop of London as Deane of all the Bishops of England and therefore might doe it without any prejudice to the Arch-bishop of Canterbury though he had beene present who was indeed at this time in Exile But though it appeares fuisse in Fatis to be decreed by the Divine Providence that it should be so yet it would not have been so if his owne endevours had not beene concurring And therefore being in the New Forest when his Brother King William was killed he never stayed to complement the Dysaster but rode presently to Winchester and there not without some opposition of the keepers seisâ—d upon his Brothers Treasure as knowing treasure to be the meanes for getting of Friends and Friends the meanes for getting the Crowne and having now gotten the first meanes he made use of it for the sâ—cond and both of them together brought him to this he is Yet withall there were circumstances in his owne Person that conduced to it his Brother was borne when their Father was but a Duke he when he was a King Robert was a Forrainer being borne in Normandy himselfe a Native borne at Selby in Yorkeshire and it was not the least circumstance that he was called Beauclerke as to say a good Scholar having
not succoured within three dayes then to surrender it King Henry hearing of this agreement promiseth to succour them by that day But here King Lewis useth a trick gets that by fraud which he could not doe by force for he sends to King Henry that if he were willing to have peace with his sonnes he should meet him at a place appointed at such a time and he doubted not to effect it King Henry glad of such an offer and with that gladnesse perhaps blinded and not suspecting any deceit promiseth to meete and comming to the place at the day which was the day he should have succoured Vernoill he stayed there all day looking for King Lewis comming who instead of comming sent word to Vernoill that King Henry was defeated and therefore their hope of succour was in vaine whereupon the Citizens thinking it to be so indeed because he came not according to his promise surrendred the Towne which King Lewis finding himselfe unable to hold set it on fire and so departed But King Henry when he perceived the fraud followed him with his Army and tooke a bloody revenge of his fraud with the slaughter of many of his men At the same time also King Henries forces encountred Hugh Earle of Chester and Robert Fulger who had taken Dole in Britaine tooke them prisoners and brought them to King Henry and about the same time likewise in England Robert Earle of Leycester thinking to surprise Raynold Earle of Cornwall and Richard Lacy King Henries Generals at unawares was himselfe by them overthrowne and the Towne of Leycester taken which onely the site of the place defended from being battered to the ground Robert Earle of Leycester being thus defeatedâ— passeth over into France and being supplied by King Lewis with greater forces then before is together with Hugh Bigot sent backe into England to draw the Countrey to Henry the sonnes party who at first assault take Norwich and then setting downe before Bury they are in a great battell by Richard Lacy and other of King Henries Captaines overthrowne with the slaughter of tenne thousand men and as many taken prisoners amongst whom Earle Robert himselfe Yet were not Roger Mawbray and Hugh Bigot so daunted with this overthrow but that together with David the King of Scoâ—s brother they gather new forces and invade Northumberland and Yorkshire when Robert Scoccee Ralph Granula William Vesci and Barnard Bayliol of whom Baynards Castle in London first tooke the name Knights of those parts asâ—emble together and fighting a great battell with them overthrew them and tooke the King of Scoâ—s prisoner with many others Yet is not Hugh Bigot daunted with this neither but gathers new forces and takes Norwich and Robert Ferris Nottingham the newes whereof when King Henry the sonne heard he recovered new spirits and obtaining new assistance from King Lewis prepares himselfe afresh for warre which King Henry the Father hearing returnes speedily into England and to appease Saint Thomas Beckets Ghost goes to visit his Tombe and there askes him forgivenesse This done he goes into Suffolke and at Framingham Castle which belonged to Hugh Bigot stayes with his Army when suddenly moved by what instinct no man knowes unlesse the appeasing of Saint Thomas Ghost did worke it both Hugh Bigot delivers up his Castle into King Henries hands and likewise Roger Mawbray Robert Ferris and many others of that party come voluntarily in and submit themselves to the Kings mercy Hereupon King Henry returnes to London about which time he committed his wife Queene Eleanor to prison for her practises against him In the meane time King Lewis understanding that Normandy was but weakly guarded together with his sonne the young King Henry and Philip Earle of Flaunders he besiegeth Roan which the Kings forces valiantly defended till he came himselfe in person and thereupon King Lewis despairing of any good to be doâ—e sends messengers to King Henry for a truce and appointed a day to meete at Gysors where he doubted not to make a reconcilement betweene his sons and him K. Henry agreed willingly but of the meeting nothing was done It seemes it was but one of King Lewis his old tricks to come fairely off After this truce made with King Lewis King Henry hearing that his son Richard had in the meane time possest himselfe of a great part of the Province of Poictoâ— goes thither with an Army where Richard at last after some hesitation as doubting his forces submits himselfe to his Father and askes his pardon which his Father as freely grants as if he had never committed any fault and thereupon King Henry imployes him to King Lewis and his brother Henry to perswade them to peace who wearied now with the warres were easily drawne and so reconciliation on all parts is made and to confirme the reconciliation betweene the two Kings Henry and Lewis his daughter Adela is affianced to King Henries sonne Richard as Earle of Aquitaine and because the Lady was but young she was committed to the care of King Henry till she should be fit for marriage Upon this King Henry sets Robert Earle of Leycester and Hugh Earle of Chester giving hostages and oath for their Allegeance at liberty and William also King of Scots paying a certaine mulct for which he delivered in pawne the strong Castles of Berwick Roxborough and Sterling to King Henry and was fined also to lose the County of Huntington and never to receive any Rebels into his protection These things done the King with his sonnes returnes into England where with all joyfulnesse they were received It was now the yeare 1179. when King Lewis beganne againe to grow discontented with King Henry because his daughter was not yet married to his sonne Richard as was agreed but King Henry making him promise to have them married within a few dayes gave him satisfaction though indeed he meant nothing lesse for it was thought he kept her for himselfe as with whom he had before that time had unlawfull familiarity The yeare after was memorable for nothing or for nothing so much as the death of the young King Henry who died then whose Widow Margaret returning into France was afterward married to Bela King of Hungary Now King Henries sonne Richard no longer enduring to have his marriage delayed which his Father often promised but would never suffer to be performed fals into his old fit of discontentment wherein though he cannot perhaps be justified yet he may justly be excused for to be kept from a wife at that time of his age for which a wife was most proper and especially having beene affianced so long before which could not chuse but make his appetite the sharper must needs be if not a just cause at least a strong provocation to make him doe as he did Howsoever from this fit of discontentment he fals into a relaps of Rebellion and infecting with it his brother Iohn and a great part of his Fathers Adherents they all take part
with Philip now after the decease of Lewis King of France who willing to make use of their assistance before the streame of filiall awfulnesse should returne into the naturall Channell takes them along with him and besiegeth the City of Ments in which King Henry at that time was himselfe in person who apprehending the danger and then resenting the mischiefe of falling into his enemies hands gets him secretly out of the City leaving it to defend it selfe till he should returne with greater forces but hearing afterward that the Towne was taken he fell into so great a distraction of minde that it made him break out into these blasphemous words I shall never hereafter love God any more that hath suffered a City so deare unto me to be taken from me but he quickly recollected himselfe and repented him that he had spoken the words Indeed Ments was the City in which he was borne that to have this City taken from him was as much as to have his Birth-right taken from him and to say the truth after he had lost this City he scarce seemed to be alive not onely because he shortly after died but because the state of Majesty which had all his life accompanied him after this forsooke him for now he was faine to begge peace of his enemies who often before had begged it of him now he was glad to yeeld to conditions which no force before could have wrested from him It is memorable and worth observing that when these two Kings had meeting betweene Turwyn and Arras for reconcilement of differences there suddenly happened a Thunderbolt to light just betweene them with so terrible a cracke that it forced them for that time to breake off their conference and afterward at another meeting the like accident of Thunder happened againe which so amazed King Henry that he had fallen off his horse if he had not beene supported by those about him which could be nothing but drops let fall of the Divine anger and manifest presages of his future dysasters And thus this great Princes troubles which beganne in little ones and were continued in great ones ended at last in so great a trouble that it ended his life and left him an example of desolation notwithstanding all his greatnesse forsaken of his friends forsaken of his wife forsaken of his children and if he were not himselfe when he blasphemed for the losse of Ments forsaken of himselfe which might be exemplar in this King if it were not the common Epilogue of all greatnesse Of his Acquest of Ireland RObert Fits-stephen was the first of all Englishmen after the Conquest that entred Ireland the first day of May in the yeare 1170. with 390. men and there took Werford in the behalfe of Deruntius sonne of Marcherdach called Mac Murg King of Leymster In September following Richard Earle of Chepstow surnamed Strong-bow sayled into Ireland with twelve hundred men where he tooke Waterford and Dublin and married Eeve the daughter of Deruntius as he was promised From these beginnings King Henry being then at rest from all Hostile Armes both at home and abroad takes into his consideration the Kingdome of Ireland as a Kingdome which oftentimes afforded assistance to the French and therefore purposing with himselfe by all meanes to subdue it he provides a mighty Army and in the Winter season saileth thither taking Shipping at Pembroke and landing neare to Waterford where entring into consultation what course was fittest to be taken in the enterprise suddenly of their owne accord the Princes of the Countrey came in and submitted themselves unto him onely Râ—dâ—rick King of Connacht stood out who being the greatest thought to make himselfe the onely King of that Nation but King Henry forbearing him for the present who kept himselfe in his fastnesses of Bogges and Woods and was not to be followed in the Winter season takes his journey to Dublin the chiefe City of the Countrey and there calling the Princes and Bishops of the Nation together requires their consent to have him and his heires to be their King which they affirming they could not doe without the Popes authority to whom at their first conversion to the Christian Religion they had submitted themselves the King sent presently to Adrian the then Pope an English man requiring his assent which upon divers good considerations he granted and hereupon the King built him a stately Palace in the City of Dublin and having thus without bloud possest himselfe of the Kingdome the Spring following he returnes joyfully into England About foure yeares after Rodorick also sends his Chancellour to King Henry to offer his submission with a tribute to be paid of every tenne beasts one sufficient After this in the one and thirtieth yeare of his Raigne he sent his sonne Iohn to be the Governour there His Taxations and wayes for raising of money TAxations in his time was chiefely once when he tooke Escuage of Englishmen towards his warres in France which amounted to 12400. pounds but confiscations were many because many Rebellions and every Rebellion was as good as a Mine Also vacancies of Bishopricks and Abbeys kept in his hands sometimes many at once no time without some He resumed also all Lands which had either beene sold or given from the Crowne by his Predecessours but a principall cause that made him plentifull in money was his Parcimony as when he was injoyned for a Penance to build three Abbeys he performed it by changing Secular Priests into Regular Chanons onely to spare cost And it was not the least cause of alienating his sonnes from him that he allowed them not maintenance answerable to their calling And it could be nothing but Parcimony while he lived which brought it to passe that when he died there were found in his Coffers nine hundred thousand pounds besides Plate and Jewels Lawes and Ordinances in his time IN the beginning of his Raign he refined and reformed the Lawes of the Realm making them more tolerable more profitable to his people then they were before In the one and twentieth year of his Raign he divided his whole kingdom into six several Circuits appointing in every Circuit three Judges who twice every year should ride together to heare and determine Causes between man and man as it is at this day though altered in the number of the Judges and in the Shires of Circuit In this Kings dayes the number of Jewes all England over was great yet wheresoever they dwelt they might not bury any of their dead any where but in London which being a great inconvenience to bring dead bodies oftentimes from farre remote places the King gave them liberty of buriall in the severall places where they lived It was in this Kings dayes also ordained that Clergy-men offending in hunting the Kings Deere should be punishable by the Civill Magistrate according to the Lawes of the Land which order was afterward taken with them for any offence whatsoever they committed Though it be
into England of purpose to visite the Shrine of Saint Thomas where having paid his Vowes he makes Oblations with many rich Presents The like many Princes since that time have done and many Miracles are reported to have beene done at his Tombe which yet may be unbeleeved without unbeliefe and with Faith enough Another difference in this Kings dayes was betweene the two Arch-bishops of England about the jurisdiction of Canterbury over Yorke which being referred to the Pope he gave judgement on Canterburies side Also in this Kings dayes there was a Schisme in the Church of Rome two Popes up at once of whom Alexander the third was one which Schisme continued the space of almost twenty yeares Also in this Kings dayes one Nicholas Breakespeare borne at Saint Albans or as others write at Langley in Hartfordshire being a bondman of that Abbey and therefore not allowed to be a Monke there went beyond Sea where he so profited in Learning that the Pope made him first Bishop of Alba and afterward Cardinall and sent Legate to the Norwayes where he reduced that nation from Paganisme to Christianity and returning backe to Rome was chosen Pope by the Name of Adrian the fourth and dyed being choaked with a Fly in his drinke In his dayes also Heraclius Patriarch of Hierusalem came to King Henry desiring ayde for the Holy Land but not so much of money as of men and not so much of men neither as of a good Generall as himselfe was to whom King Henry answered that though he were willing to undertake it yet his unquiet State at home would not suffer him with which answer the Patriarch moved said Thinke not Great King that Pretences will excuse you before God but take this from me that as you forsake Gods cause now so he hereafter will forsake you in your greatest need But saith the King if I should be absent out of my kingdome my own Sonnes would be ready to rise up against me in my absence to which the Patriarch replyed No marvaile for from the Devill they came and to the Devill they shallâ— and so departed Also in this Kings dayes there came into England thirty Germans Men and Women calling themselves Publicans who denyed Matrimony and the Sacraments of Baptisme and of the Lords Supper with other Articles who being obstinate and not to be reclaimed the King commanded they should be marked with a hot iron in the forehead and be whipped which punishment they tooke patiently their Captaine called Gerard going before them singing Blessed are ye when men hate you After they were whipped they were thrust out of doores in the Winter where they dyed with cold and hunger no man daâ—ing to relieve them This King after his conquest of Ireland imposed the tribute of Peter pence upon that kingdome namely that every house in Ireland should yearely pay a penny to Saint Peter Workes of piety done by him or by others in his time THis King Founded the Church of Bristow which King Henry the eighth afterward erected into a Cathedrall He also Founded the Priories of Dâ—ver of Stoneley and of Basinwerke and the Castle of Rudlan and beganne the Stone Bridge over the Thames at London He caused also the Castle of Warwicke to be builded Maude the Empresse his Mother Founded the Abbey of Bordesly In his time also Hugh Mortimer Founded Wigmore Abbey Richard Lucye the Kings Chiefe Justice laid the Foundation of the Coventuall Church in the honour of Saint Thomas in a place which is called Westwood otherwise Lesâ—es in the Territory of Rochester in the new Parish of Southfleete He also builded the Castle of Anger in Essex Robert Harding a Burgesse of Bristow to whom King Henry gave the Barony of Barkeley builded the Monastery of Saint Augustines in Bristow In the tenth yeare of his Raigne London Bridge was new made of Timber by Peter of Cole-church a Priest Robert de Boscue Earle of Leycester Founded the monastery of Gerendon of Monkes and of Leycester called Saint Mary de Prate of Chanons Regular and his Wife Amicia Daughter of Ralph Montford Founded Eaton of Nunnes In the two and twentyeth yeare of his Raigne after the Foundation of Saint Mary Overeyes Church in Southwarke the Stone bridge over the Thames at London beganne to be Founded towards which a Cardinall and the Arch-bishop of Canterbury gave a thousand Markes Aldred Bishop of Worcester Founded a Monastery at Glocester of Benedictine Monkes Casualties that happened in his time IN the Eleventh yeare of this Kings Raigne on the six and twentyeth day of Ianuary was so great an Earth-quake in Ely Norfolke and Suffolke that it overthrew them that stood upon their feet and made the Bells to ring in the Steeples In the seventeenth yeare of his Raigne there was seene at Saint Osythes in Essex a Dragon of marveilous bignesse which by moving burned houses and the whole City of Canterbury was the same yeare almost burnt In the eighteenth yeare of his Raigne the Church of Norwich with the houses thereto belonging was burnt and the Monkes dispersed At Andover a Priest praying before the Altar was slaine with Thunder Likewise one Clerke and his Brother was burnt to death with Lightning In the three and twentyeth yeare a showre of Blood Rained in the Isle of Wight two houres together In the foure and twentyeth yeare the City of Yorke was burnt and on Christmas day in the Territory of Derlington in the Bishopricke of Durham the Earth lifted up it selfe in the manner of an high Tower and so remained unmoveable from morning till evening and then fell with so horrible a noyse that it frighted the Inhabitants thereabouts and the earth swallowing it up made there a deepe pit which is seene at this day for a Testimony whereof Leyland saith he saw the Pits there commonly called Hell-kettles Also in the same yeare on the tenth day of Aprill the Church of Saint Andrewes in Rochester was consumed with fire In the eight and twentyeth yeare of his Raigne Barnewell with the Priory neare unto Cambridge was burnt In the thirtyeth yeare the Abbey of Glastenbury was burnt with the Church of Saint Iulian. In the yeare 1180. a great Earthquake threw downe many buildings amongst which the Cathedrall Church of Lincolne was rent in peeces the five and twentieth of Aprill And on the twentieth of October the Cathedrall Church of Chichester and all the whole City was burnt This yeare also neare unto Orford in Suffolke certaine Fishers tooke in their Nets a Fish having the shape of a Man in all points which Fish was kept by Bartholomew de Glanvile in the Castle of Orford sixe moneths and more he spake not a word all manner of meates he did gladly eate but most greedily raw Fish when he had pressed out the juyce oftentimes he was brought to Church but never shewed any signe of adoration at length being not well looked to he stole to the Sea and never was seene after In the yeare 1188. on
made benefit of the vacancie of Bishopricks and Abbeys so did King Henry K. Iohn took great Fines of many for crimes not proved but onely supposed so did King Henry King Iohn made benefit of a new Seale so did King Henry King Iohn extorted great summes from the Iewes so did King Henry And one way more he had to get money which perhaps his Father had not and that was by begging as he told the Abbot of Borough It was more Almes to give money to him then to the Begger that went from doore to doore Indeed Taxations in this Kings Raigne may be reckoned amongst his Annuall Revenues for scarce any yeare passed without a Parliament and seldome any Parliament without a Taxe or if any sometimes without it was then cause of the greater Taxation some other way as when he tooke of the Londoners for having aided the Barons twenty thousand Markes Of his Lawes and Ordinances IN this Kings Raigne were ratified and confirmed the two great Charters of Magna Charâ—a and Charta de Foresta also in his time were enacted the Statutes called of Merton of Oxford and of Marleborough Also stealing of cattell which before was but Pecuniary he made capitall and the first that suffered for the same was one of Dunstable who having stollen twelve Oxen from the Inhabitants of Colne and being pursued to Redburne was by a Bailiffe of Saint Albons according to the Kings Proclamation condemned and beheaded And it may seeme strange that in these times so much bloud should be shed in the field and none upon the scaffold for till the twenty sixth yeare of this King that one William Marisc the sonne of Geoffrey Marisc a Noble man of Ireland being condemned for Piracie and Treason was hanged beheaded and quartered there is no example of that kinde of punishment to be found in our Histories Particularly in this Kings Raigne was made that Statute by which the Ward and marriage of the heires of Barons within age is given to the King Also in this Kings Raigne the Pleas of the Crowne were pleaded in the Tower of London All Weares in the Thames are in this Kings time ordained to be pluck'd up and destroyed Also the Citizens of London are allowed by Charter to passe Toll-free through all England and to have free Warren about London also to have and use a common Seale Also it was ordained that no Sheriffe of London should continue in his office longer then one yeare which they did before for many In the five and twentieth yeare of this King were Aldermen first chosen within the City of London which then had the rule of the City and of the Wards of the same and were then yearely changed as now the Sheriffes are It was in this Kings time allowed to the City of London to present their Major to the Barons of the Exchequer to be sworne which before was to be presented to the King wheresoever he were In his time the clause Noâ— obstante brought in first by the Pope was taken up by the King in his grants and writings Also in this Kings time William Bishop of Salisbury first caused that custome to be received for a Law whereby the Tenants of every Lordship are bound to owe their suite to the Lords Court of whom they hold their Tenements Affaires of the Church in his time AFfaires of the Church for matter of Doctrine were never more quiet then in this Kings Raigne for now all Heresies accounted of the time especially the Albigenses were in a manner suppressed by the Armes of the King of France not without the Vote of the King of England who forbore to make warre upon him in tendernesse to this service but for matter of manners they were never more turbulent for now Abbeys were fleeced Sanctuaries violated Clergy-men outraged Bishops themselves not spared and all for greedinesse of money or for revenge Ottobone the Popes Legat here in England lying at the Abbey of Oseney there happened a difference betweene his servants and the Schollers of Oxford in which contention a brother of his was slaine and theâ— Legat himselfe faine to fly into the Steeple for safegard of his life whereupon afterward being gotten from thence by the Kings safe conduct he thundred out curses against the Schollers and interdicted the University so as the Colledges grew desolate and the Students were dispersed abroad into other places for the space of halfe a yeare till the Monkes of Oseney and the Regent Masters of Oxford were faine to goe bare-foote and bare-head through London as farre as Durham house where the Legat lay and there upon their humble submission and great mens intercession they were absolved and the University restored to its former estate But of this Ottobone it may not be impertinent to relate a little further that going afterward out of England he came by degrees after the death of Innocent the fifth to be Pope of Rome himselfe by the name of Adrian the fifth and died within fifty dayes after his election Amongst affaires of the Church may be reckoned the Ulcers of any member of the Church such a one as in this Kings time brake out most loathsome for one procuring five wounds to be made in his body in resemblance to the five wounds in Christs body tooke upon him to be Christ and had gotten a Woman that tooke upon her to be the Virgin Mary who continuing obstinate in their madnesse were adjudged to be immured and shut up betweene two wals to the end no doubt the contagion of their filthinesse should spread no further In this Kings time a little novelty was first brought in by Pope Innocent the fourth who ordained that Cardinals should weare red Hats something perhaps for mystery and something for distictnion Workes of piety done by him or by others in his time THis King caused a chest of Gold to be made for laying up the Reliques of King Edward the Confessour in the Church of Westminster Hee builded a Church for converted Iewes in London also an Hospitall at Oxford for passengers and diseased persons also the new Coventuall Church and the Chappell of our Lady at Westminster whereof hee laid himselfe the first stone also the houâ—e of Black-Friers in Canterbury In his time Ela Countesse of Salisbury founded the Abbey of Lacok in Wiltshire Richard Earle of Cornwall founded Hayles a Monastery of Cistersian Monkes neare to Winchcombe in Glocestershire Reginold de Moun Earle of Somerset and Lord of Dunster founded the Abbey of Newham in Devonshire Ranulph the third Earle of Chester and Lord of little Britaine builded the Castles of Chartley Bestone and the Abbey of Dela Cresse Sir Iohn Mansell the Kings Chaplaine founded a house of Regular Chanons neare to Rumney in Kent William de Albineto Earle of Arundell founded the Priory of Wimondham William Brunc a Citizen of London and Rosia his wife founded the Hospitall of our Lady without Bishopsgate in London And Isabel Countesse of Arundell founded the
advancement in honour alter men to the better to the worse often and commonly then when it is joyned with an Authority that sets them above controlement Neither yet was their feare more out of what they had seene then out of what they saw for where he should have endevoured to accomplish the charge his Father had given him in his death-bed he seemed to intend nothing lesse nothing more then wholly to breake it for he presently called home Pierce Gaveston from banishment and the two and thirty thousand pounds which his Father had specially appointed for the Holy Warre either all or the most of it he beâ—towed upon Gaveston and for carrying his Fathers bones with him about Scotland it had beene well if he had suffered them quietly to be laid at rest in England for after the Corps had beene kept above ground sixteene weekes in the Abbey of Waltham and that the Bishop of Chester Walter Langton the then Lord Treasurer and Executor of his Fathers Will was busie in preparing for his Funerals he sent the Constable of the Tower to arrest him and imprison him at Wallingford seising upon all his Goods and giving them to Gaveston and all for old grudges And that which seemed a high straine of incongruity before he had seene performed his Fathers Funerals which was not till the 27. of October following he entred into Treatie of his owne Nuptials forgoing over to Boleigne on the two and twentieth of Ianuary he marryed Isabell the Daughter of Philip the Faire King of France which Marriage was honoured with the presence of foure Kings the King of France himselfe the King of Navâ—rre his Sonne the King of the Romans and the King of Sicilie and three Queenes besides the Bride Mary Queene of France Margaret the Dowager Queene of England and the Queene of Navarre and yet did Gavestâ—n exceed them all in bravery This was observed by the Lords of England and thereupon when his Queene and he came afterward to be Crowned they went unto him signifying what a hainous transgression of his Fathers will it was to call home Gâ—veston and seeing the charge was no lesse given to them then to him if he did not performe it they would and therefore unlesse he would remove Gaveston from the Court and kingdome they would hinder his Coronation from proceeding which strooke such a dampe to Prince Edwards spirits to thinke what a disgrace it would be to him if so many of his great Friends being present Charles of Valois the King of Frances Brother the Dukes of Britaine and Brabant the Count of Luxenburg who was afterward Emperor the Duke of Savoy the two Dutchesses of Brabant Artois with many other Princes and great Ladies if now his Coronation should be called in question that he solemnly swore he would do what they desired in the next Parliament so they would be quiet now and thereupon on the 24. day of February in the yeare 1307. his Queene and he were both Crowned at Westminster by the hands of Henry Bishop of Winchester by Commission from Robert Arch-bishop of Canterbury being then in Exile and out of the kingdome At which solemnity there was so great a presse of People that Sir Iohn Blackwell knight was crowded to death And now in the very Act of his Coronation there was given another provocation to the Lords against Gaveston for the King had appointed him to carry the Crowne of Saint Edward before him the greatest honour could be done to a Subject which added to the other honours the King had done him for he had made him Earle of Cornewall Lord of Man and Lord Chamberlaine so incensed the Lords that they entred into consultation how to suppresse this violence of the Kings affection which shortly after they put in execution Portion in money King Edward had none with his Wife but the King of France gave him the Dutchy of Guyenne which he had seised upon before as confiscate to him and thereupon King Edward did him Homage for that Dutchy and for the County of Ponthieu Of his difference with his Lords about Gaveston VVE shall have here no Quinquennium Neronis no such five yeares as Nero afforded in the beginning of his Raigne but this King at his first entrance will shew what he is and what he will continue to be as long as he lives for though he tooke some great and grave men to be of his Councell yet as appeared afterward he did it rather to the end they should be pliant to him then that he had any meaning to apply himselfe to them For let them say what they would Gaveston must be the Oracle all the Kings actions were but Gavestons impressions And now Gaveston presently after the Coronation to let the world be a witnesse of his worthinesse and that the King had not bestowed his Favours upon him without cause caused to be published a Turneament at Wallingford whither came all the great Lords of the kingdome as Thomas Earle of Lancaster Humfrey Earle of Hereford Aymer Earle of Pembroke and Iohn Earle of Warren with many others all Valiant men at Armes yet none had the honour of the day like to Gaveston And thus farre he did well if he could have stayed here if having gotten true glory he had not falne into vaine-glory For the Lords envyed him not so much for his advancement in Honours as they hated him for his insolency in Manners for in a scornefull pride he would be casting scoffes upon them all calling Thomas Earle of Lancaster the Stage Player the Earle of Lincolne Burstenbelly â—imer de Valence Earle of Pembroke Ioseph the Iew and Guy Earle of Warwicke the blacke Dogge of Arderne which scoffes together with his other insolencies drew such a party upon him that in the next Parliament the whole assembly obtaines of the King to draw Articles of their grievances of which the chiefe were that the great Charter of Magna Charta should be observedâ— that all strangers should be banished the Court and kingdome that the businesse of the State should be treated of by the Counsell of the Clergy and the Nobles and that the King should not begin any warre nor goe out of the kingdome without consent of Parliament Which Articles though seeming harsh to the King yet for avoyding of further inconvenience he yeelds unto them and specially to the baniâ—hment of his Minion Gaveston as hoping that would excuse him for all the rest and Robert of Winchelsey Arch-bishop of Canterbury lately called home from Exile pronounceth Excommunication against all such as should oppose the Articles Hereupon Gaveston is sent away into Ireland where he lived awhile not as a banisht man but as Lieutenant rather of the Country and indeed not unworthily for in the time of his being there he is said to have made a Journey into the Mountaines of Dublin and to have broken and subdued the Rebels there built New Castle in the Kerns Country repaired the Castle of Kevyn and
well he performed the third charge of his Fathers Will for subduing of Scotland It was now the sixth yeare after the death of his Father King Edward and Robert Bruce now gotten to be King of Scotland had stayed all this while to see how this new King Edward would prove and when he found by the courses he held that he was like to prove a good easie Enemy he thereupon tooke heart and began to stirre and in a very short time had brought almost all Scotland under his obedience and finding no opposition he entred the English Borders tooke and burnt Townes that now King Edward unlesse he would sit still and suffer Bruce to come and pull his Crown from his head he could not chuse but doe something to stop his proceeding Hereupon he prepares an Army but like himselfe fitter for a Court then for a Campe Many men and great Bravery but readieâ— to take spoiles then to make spoile and accordingly they sped For going to raise the siege at Strâ—veling defended for King Edward by the valiant knight Philip Mowbray the Kings Army consisting of a hundred thousand was defeated and overthrowne by the Scots Army consisting of scarce thirty thousand So true is that saying of an ancient Souldier There is more hope of an Army where the General is a Lion though the Souldiers be but Sheepe then of an Army where the Generall is a Sheepe though the Souldiers be Lions But indeed the Scots besides Valour used Policy For having in their owne Army none but Foot no Horse at all they had made Trenches in the Ground three foot deepe covering them with Twigges and Hurdles where the English Horsemen were to passe who Floundring in those Trenches were killed no lesse by their owne Fellowes then by the Enemy In this Battell called of Bannocks borough were slaine the Lord Mawle the Lord Clifford the Lord Tiptoft the Lord William Marshall Sir Giles Doctor Argenton and seven hundred Knights and Squires specially Gylbert Earle of Glocester who had shewed much Valour that day and whom the Scots would willingly have kept for ransome if they had knowne him but he had forgotten to put on his Coate of Armes whereby to be knowne The slaughter of common Souldiers was certainely great though perhaps not so great as Hector Boetius speakes of who saith they were fifty thousand There were taken Prisoners Humfrey de Bohun Earle of Hereford Iohn Seagrave Iohn Claveringham William Latimer and Sir Roger Northbrooke bearer of the Kings shield the King himselfe with the Bishops the Earles of Hartford and Pembroke and Hugh Spenser saved themselves by flight Humfrey de Bohun Earle of Hereford was afterward released in exchange for Bruces Wife who had beene long kept a Prisoner in England After this many English fell away to the Scots and all the North parts from Carlile to Yorke came under their Subjection and the English grew so faint-hearted and into such contempt that three Scots durst venture upon a hundred English when a hundred English durst scarce encounter with three Scots And what can be thought the cause of this great dysaster to this King but the want of his Fathers blessing for not performing the charge he gave him dying which is commonly accompanyed with the want of a higher blessing without which a Vacat is set upon the labours of men that makes them all frustrate But Bruce not satisfied with his Acquests in England sends his Brother Edward into Ireland also who so farre prevailed that many Irish came in unto him and in the end Crowned him King of a great part of that Island and so continued the space of three yeares till the Primat of Armagh and the Lord Brinningham Justiciar of Ireland gathering Forces together opposed him and in a Battaile taking him Prisoner at Dundalke cut off his head with the slaughter of many thousands of the Scots besides With which the Scots are so incensed that they invade againe the English Borders forraging as farre as Yorke whereupon a Parliament is assembled at London wherein an ayde is granted of Armed men to goe against them London sets forth two hundred Canterbury forty Saint Albons ten and so proportionably for all Cities and Boroughs whereby a great Army was levyed which comming to Yorke through mutiny emulation and other impediments was soone dissolved and returned backe without effecting any thing Not long after the Towne of Berwicke was betrayed to the Scots through the treason of Peter Spalding the Governour and other Englishmen whom the King of Scots to make them an Example caused to be hanged for being Traitors to their Country King Edward hearing of the surrendring of Berwicke raiseth an Army and beleaguers it but the Scots to divert his Forces enter upon England by other wayes and were like to have surprised the person of the Queene lying then neare â—orke The siege of Bâ—rwicke is notwithstanding eagerly continued and the King in great possibility to have regained the Towne had not the Earle of Lancaster with his follâ—wers withdrawne himselfe upon discontent hearing the King say he would give the keeping thereof to Hugh Spenâ—â—r the younger who was now grown a speciall favourite of the Kings and therefâ—râ— not to be enâ—ured by the Earle In the mean 〈◊〉 the Scots wonne the Castles of 〈…〉 and Midâ—ord so as they possessed the greater part of all Northâ—mberland burning all before them 〈◊〉 they came to â—â—â—pon which Towne they spoyledâ— and carrying there three dayes they received â— thousand Markes to save the Towne from burning as they had done the Townes of Norâ—hallerton Borâ—ugh-bridgâ— and others In their returning backe they 〈◊〉 Knaresborough and Shipton in Câ—â—ven and all other afore them carrying into â—â—land a marvellous number of Cattell besides prisoners men and womenâ— Theâ— â—â—â—â—shire men thus grievously endammaged gather together to the number of ten thousand and at the Towne of Mitton tenne miles from Yorke encounter the Scoâ—â— where they lost three thousand of their men and were defeatedâ— which bâ—ttell because of the many Spirituall men that were in it was called the white battell Whereof when the King heardâ— he left the siege of Beâ—wicke to follow the Scots but they returned another way The yeare following King Edward once againe with a great Army entred Scotland but the Scots having destroyed all afore the King oppressed with famine was forced to reâ—urneâ— whom the Scots followed and in a place of the Forest of Blackmore seâ— upon him that he hardly escaped where were taken Iohn Earle of Britaine and the Lord of Silâ—acâ— the French Kings Embassadour and many others After this King Edward finding the Scots either too strong or too wily for him made a Truce with them for two yeares some say for thirteene And this was the successe of this unfortunate King in his warres with Scotland Of his trâ—â—bles at home BUt his troubles abroad were not so grievous as those at home or rather they were those at home that made his
beheaded he was the same day without the Towne of Pomfret before his owne Castle To speake of the Miracles said to be done by him after his death might be fit for a Legend but not for a Chronicle and therefore I omit them By the like judgement were condemned the Lord Cliffordâ— the Lord Warren Lisle the Lord William Tuchet Thomas Maudit Henry Bradburne Williâ—m Fits-Williams William Lord Cheyney Thomas Lord Mâ—wbray Ioceline Lord Danill all which were executed at Yorke Shortly after the Lord Henry Teyes is taken drawne hanged and quarterâ—d at London the Lord Aldenham at Windsor the Lords Baddlesmere and Ashburton at Canterbury at Cardiffe in Wales Sir William Flemming at Bristow Siâ— Henry Womington and Sir Henry Montford Bannerets at Glocester the Lord Cliffordâ— and Sir William Elminbridge principall men in principall places to spread the more â—eâ—rour over the kingdome all their estates and inheritances are confiscated and â—â—ny new men advanced by the same And this is the first bloud of Nobility that ever was shed in this manner in England since William the Conquerour But not long after the King in a calmer humour beganne to have a sense oâ— the Earle of Lancasters execution which he discovered upon this occasion some â—bouâ— him making earnest suite for a Pardon to one of the Earles followers and preâ—â—â—ng the King hard to it he fell into a great pâ—ssion exclâ—iming â—gâ—inst them as unjusâ— and wicked Counsellours who would urge him to save the life of a notorious Vâ—â—let and would not speake one word for his neare kinsman the Earle of Lancasteâ— who said he had he lived might have beene useâ—ull to me and the whole kingdome but this fellow the longer he lives the more mischiefe he will doe and therefore by the soule of God he should die the death he had deserved Sir Andrew Harkeley who was the man that tooke the Earle of Lancaster prisoner being advanced for his service to the Earledome of Carlile enjoyed his honour but a while for the next yeare after either thrust out into discontent by the Spensers envying his high preferment or combining with the Scots upon hope of a great match as he was accused he is degraded of all his honours drawne hanged and quartered at Londâ—n for Treason But now the King of France summons King Edward to come and doe his homage for Gascoyne and he not comming all his Territories in France are adjudged to be forfeited and many places of importance are seiâ—ed on by the French Hereupon a Parliament is called and it is by common consent of all agreed that the King should not goe in person himselfe in regard of the distraction of the times but should send some speciall man to excuse his appearance whereupon Edmund Earle of Kent the Kings brother is sent but to little effect Then it is thought fit the Queene should goe and indeed the Queene went but what was the cause of her going there is amongst Writers great variance some say she was sent by the King to accommodate this businesse which she negotiated so well as that all quarrels were ended upon condition the King should give to his sonne Edward the Dutchie of Aquitaine with the Earledome of Ponthieu and send him over to doe his homage for them which after many consultationsâ— the King is wrought to yeeld unto and the Prince is sent with the Bishop of Exeter and others to the Court of France accordingly but others sayâ— she went out of discontent to complaine to her brother the King of France for wrongs offered her by the Spensers who had so alienated the Kings minde from her that he would scarce come where she was nor allow her fit maintenance for her calling But whatsoever was the cause of her goingâ— there appeared no cause of her staying but that she had gotten into her company Roger Mortimer Lord of Wigmâ—re a gallant young Gentlemanâ— whom she specially favoured lately escaped out of the Tower of London by giving his keepers as was said a sleeping drinke And withall the Bishop of Exeter perceiving some plots to be in hand and their close consultations made without him withdrawes himselfe secretly and discovers to the King what he observed in their courses Whereupon the King sends presently for the Quâ— and Prince and solicits the King of France to hasten their return which when he saw was neglected and delaied he caused them openly to be proclaimed enemies to the kingdome banished them and all their adherents out of the Land and withall causeth all the Ports to be strongly kept and sends three Admirals to attend in severall Coasts to hinder their landing It was not without suspition that as the King for love of the Spensers had his minde alienated from loving the Queen so the Queen for love of Mâ—rtimer had her minde alienated from loving the King and therefore having him with her câ—red not how long she staied However it was when the Queene heard of the Kings Proclamation she knew there was no returning for her into England without some good assistance whereupon soliciting her brother the King of France he aided her with men and money say some but others that he refusing to aide her as being wrought under hand by the Spensers against her she left the French Court and went into Heynault to the Earle of that Countrey who upon a contract betweene her sonne Prince Edward and Philippa the Earles daughterâ—â—ided her with a competent Army under the conduct of his brotheâ— Iohn and with them and her beloved Mortimer she tooke shipping and landed at Orwell a Port neare unto Harwich in Suffolke where presently came to her the Earle Marshall Henry Earle of Leycester and Henry Earle of Lancaster with the wry neck called Tâ—rtcâ—ll with many other Lords and Bishops The King at this time being at London and hearing of the Queenes landing with such forces and chiefely how all the Realme ranne flocking to her was â—uddenly strucken into a great amazement and though he had his great Counsellours the Spensers about him yet now he found what little good thâ—ir counsel could do him and indeed in this case what should he or what could he do To stay in London was apparent danger for he plainely saw the Londâ—ners to be more inclining to take the Queenes part then his and to goe from London to any other place was as unsafe all places being possest eitheâ— with certaine Enemies or uncertaine Friendsâ— at last the Isle of Lundy is thought of a place plentifull of provisionâ— abounding with Conies Fish and Fowle and the Island of hard accesse as having but one place in it where it could be entred and that so narrow that a few might easily keepe out many upon this place he resolvesâ— and taking with him the Earle of Glocester the Spensers and Robert â—aldâ—cke with some feâ— others he â—akes shipping but by contrary windes is driven backe and raine through Tempests to land in Wales and there in the Abbey of
among them In this meane time king Henry not acquainted with this Conspiracy caused a Proclamation to bee made intimating that the Earle of March had voluntarily caused himself to bee taken prisoner to the end the Rebels having him in their custody might pretend some colour for their Conspiracy and therefore hee had small reason to take care for his deliverance Hereupon the Percies assisted with a company of Scots and drawing to their party the Earle of Stafford and Richard Scroope Archbishop of Yorke and many other purposed to joyne with the Captain of the Welch but first they framed certaine Articles against the king and sent them to him in writing That hee had falsified his Oath given at his landing swearing that he came but only to recover his Inheritance and would not meddle with the King or with the Crowne That most trayterously hee had taken Armes against his Soveraigne Lord Imprisoned him and then most barbarouusly caused him to be murthered That ever since the death of king â—ichard he had unjustly kept the Crown from his kinsman Edmund Mâ—rtimer Earl of March to whom of right it belonged That upon no occasion hee had imposed divers Taxes upon the people That by his Letters hee procured Burgesses and Knights of the Parliament to bee chosen for which causes and many other they defyed him and vowed his destruction and the restoring of the Earle of March to his right King Henry could not but know that all these Articles against him were true yet seeing the knowing it hindred him not from seeking to get the Crowne when hee had it not it could lesse hinder him from seeking to keep it now that he had it and if he were able being a private man to get it from a King he was likely to bee more able being now a king to keepe it from privatâ— men and as for any objections that Conscience could make he had enough to answere them all For if his Title were good against king Richard by his Resignation it was as good against Mortimer by his swearing Allegiance and upon these grounds with a minde as confident as if all cyrcumstances were of his side he raysed an Army and marched towards the Lords taking care they might by no meanes joyne with the Welch and about Shrewsbury on Saturday S. Mary Magdalens Eve hee encountred them in which fight though the Scots and Henry Hotspur shewed much valour yet the victory rested on the kings side Hotspur himselfe was slayne the Earle of Worcester was taken prisoner together with Sir Richard Vernon Sir Theobald Trussel the Baron of Kinderton and the rest fled On the kings part besides the Earle of Stafford who had that morning revolted from the Conspirators were slaine Sir Hugh Sherley Sir Cliftonâ— Sir Iohn Cockayn Sir Nicholas Gausell Sir Walter Blunt Sir Iohn Calverley Sir Iohn Massie of Puddingtrâ— Sir Hugh Mortimer and Sir Robert Gausell all which had beene but that morning dubbed knights with Sir Thomas Wendsley who died afterwards of his wounds of common Souldiers about sixteene hundred but of the Conspirators above six thousand whereof 36 the king slew with his own hand but was once unhorsed by Dowglasse who in his presence slew Sir Walter Blunt with divers others that day in all things attired like to the king for which exployt Dowglasse being after by the fall of his horse taken prisoner was by the kings command carefully attended and without Ransom set at liberty In this batttell the young Prince Henry though wounded in the face with an Arrow yet was not wounded in his courage but continued fighting still After this victory the king caused publique thanks to bee given to God and then caused the Earle of Worcester to bee beheaded and many others of that Rebellion to bee drawne hanged and quartered and their heads placed on London Bridge And then the king sent his sonne Henry Prince of Wales with his whole Army into that Country but before his comming Owen Glendour was abandoned by all his Company and lurking in the woods was there famished many of his associats were taken and put to death Whilest the Prince was in Wales Henry Percy Earle of Northumberland of his own accord came and submitted himselfe to the king protesting his innocency aâ— not being once acquainted with any intent of Treason and Rebellion whose excuse the king received for the present with gentle language the rather for that hee had the possession of Barwick Castle and other places of strength in his power but yet he wiped not off the score of his misdemeanors out of his minde And now with the fourth yeere of his Reigne ended all the great Troubles of this k. Henry the fourth those that follow are but such accidents as are frequent in all times both abroad and at home The Britans under the leading of the Lord of Castiles spoyled the Towne of Plimouth In revenge whereof the Western-men under the command of William Wilford set forth â— Fleete which arriving in Britaine tooke forty ships laden with Oyle and Wines and burnt forty more Againe the French landed a thousand men in the Wightâ— where they got together a great booty of Cattell but the Islanders comming upon them tooke away their booty and made many of them leave their Carkases for a booty to the â—sland Yet the French would not leave so but a while after as having gotten new spirits they cast Anchor before the Isle of Wight and require no lesse then to have the Island into their possession but a resolute answere of the Islanders frighted them away and made them glad they were gone Soone after this the Duke of Orleance brother to the French king in a vaunting stile sent a challenge to king Henry to meete him in the field each of them to have a hundred in his Company to which the king answered That for his own valour it had sufficiently been tryed and for this challenge of the Dukes neither the Person nor the Cause were worthy of his undertaking Upon this refusall of the kings divers taunts and jeeres were bandied beâ—weene them till at last the Duke in great passion falls upon Vergie a Towne in Guyen but after three moneths assaulting it being valiantly defended by Sir Robert Anâ—field and three hundred Englishmen he was glad to give over with losse and returne into France Presently upon this the Admirall of Britaine accompanied with the Lord du Castile and thirty saile of ships attempted to land at Dertmouth in Devonshire but were repelled and the Lord du Castile and two of his brothers and foure hundred of his men were slaine besides two hundred taken Prisoners of whom the Lord Baquevile Marshall of Britaine was one After this five hundred men of armes five hundred Crosse-bowes and a thousand Flemmings under the conduct of the Earle of S. Paul laid siege to the Castle of Marâ—k three leagues frâ—m Câ—llice but first by Sir Philip Hall Captaine of Callice and after by Sir Richard Aston
King of France making a slight answer the Regent marcheth apace towards him and as fast the King of France marcheth away The Regent followed him but could not overtake him till he came neere Seâ—lys there both the Armies encamped and embattelled yet only some light skirmishes pâ—â—â—ed between them and a night or two after the French king fled with his Army to Brâ—y which the Duke thinking to be but a plot to draw him further off from Paris of whose fidelity he had no great assurance followed him no further but returned thither At which time the Regents brother the Cardinall having prepared forces to assist Pope Martin in Bohemia the Regent borrowed them of him for a present expedition and with them marched into Champaigne where he found the French king encamped upon the Mount Pihall whose number being twice as many as the Regents yet by no provocations could he be drawn to battell but secretly fled to Crispis whereupon the Regent also returned to Paris Whilâ—st these things are done in France In England upon St. Leonards day the 6. of November 1429 King Henry not yet eight yeers old was with great solemnity Crowned at Westminster at whose Coronation were made six and thirty Knights of the Bathe and after the solemnity a feast and if any man desire to know so much Cookery hee may read in Fabian all the dishes of meate that were served at that feast About this time in France a strange Impostor ariseth a maid called la Pucelle taking upon her to be sent from God for the good of France and to expell the English and some good indeed she did for by her subtle working the King was received into Champaigne and many Townes were rendred to him whil'st the Lord Lâ—nguevile tooke by surprize the Castle of Aumarle and slew all the English that were in it But all these were but petty acquests to the king of France there is a knot of friendship between the Dukes of Bedford and Burgoigne which must be broken or he will never be able to compasse his designes He therefore labours by all meanes possible to disunite them wherein he so little prevailed that the Duke of Burgâ—igâ—e acquaints the Regent with all the practises who thereupon with many thanks exhorteth him to continue fiâ—me of which he should never have cause to repent him And because Normandy was a principall part of the English strength in France he goeth thither and by many reasons perswades them as their Ancestors had alwayes been to be faithfull to the Crown of England In this time of the Regents absence from Paris the King of France drew all his forces thither using all meanes possible by Escalado Battery and burning the gates to enter the City but was so withstood by the vigilancy of the Citizens that he was glad to sound Retreat leaving his slaine and maimed souldiers behind him all but the Pucelle who being hurt in the legge and almost stifled with myre in the ditch was by a servant of the Duke of Alanson drawne up and conveyed after the King to Berry who by the way received the submission of the Inhabitants of Lâ—igâ—ye Some other services were performed on both sides by the Duke of Suffolk and Sir Thomas Kyriell for the English by the Bastard of Orleance and Sir Stepheâ— le Hye for the French but of no great importance till at last the Pucelle who a little before had caused an English Captaines head to be cut off because he would not humble himselfe to her upon his knee was by Sir Iohn of Luâ—zemburgh taken and presented to the Duke of Burgoigne who sent her to the Regent and he to the Bishop of the Diocesse who judicially proceeding against her as a Sorceresse and deceiver of the King and his subjects she was after many delayes of promise to discover secret practises and lastly of her feigning to bee with childe publickly burnt at Roan And now the Regent finding how much the Crowning of the French king had furthered his designes he made account the like effect would follow the Crowning of King Henry in France whereupon he is sent for to come over and comming to Paris was by his Uncle the Bishop of Winchester and Cardinall of Eusebius not yet above nine yeares old with all usuall ceremonies Crowned King of France receiving the oaths of Homage and Fealty of all the French Nobility that were present and of all the Inhabitants of Paris and of the places adjacent Upon this Pope Eugenius laboured a Reconcilement between the two Kings but could effect nothing but onely a Truce for six yeeres which agreed upon King Henry reâ—urnâ— into England and landeth at Dover the eleventh of February But the six-yearesâ— Truce was scarce openly Proclaimed when the French had cunningly possessed themselves of divers Castles and places of strength justifying their actions affirmingâ— That what was politickly obtained without blowes was no infringement of the Truce and afterwards they perfidiously conveyed two hundred men into the Castle of Roan with intent to have surprized it but being discovered they were all taken and either ransomed or put to execution Upon this the Regent whose wife the Sister of the Duke of Burgoigâ—e being lately dead and he maried againe to Iaquelinâ— the Earle of S. Pauls daughter with whom he went over into England returned againe to Paris to whom the Lord Talbot having now paid his ransome commeth bringing with him seven hundred tryed souldiers and with them the Regent takes the field where the French Army lay but the French slunâ— away in the dark as not daring to abide the hazard of a battell About this time the Duke of Bourbon taken at the battell of Agincourt after eighteen yeares imprisonment paying eighteen thousand pounds for his Ransome the same day he was enlarged dyed at London And now a very great effect was produced out of a very small cause There had been sparks of unkindnesse between the two great Dukes of Bedford and Burgoigâ—â— which brake out into a flame upon this occasion A time and place was appointed where they should meet to compound some differences that were between them The place agreed upon was St. Omers a Town in Burgoigne When the time came they stood upon this nice point Which of them should first come to the place as thinking that he which did so should thereby acknowledge himselfe to be the meaner person The Duke of Bedford thought he had no reason to doe it seeing he was Regent of France and therefore superiour to any subject in the Kingdome And the Duke of Burgoigne thought he had no reason to doe it seeing it was to be done in his own Dominions where he was himselfe the Soveraigne Lord. Upon this nice point they parted without meeting and the unkindnesse grew afterward to so great hatred that the Duke of Burgoigne chose rather to be friends with him thâ—t had murthered his father than ever to have any more commerce with the Duke of Bedford Thus
a King and for a sacrifice than a Priest and he could not choose but dye a Martyr who all his life had beene a Confessor He had one immunity peculiar to himself that no man could ever be revenged of him seeing he never offered any man injury By being innocent as a Dove hee kept his Crown upon his head so long but if he had been wise as a Serpent he might have kept it on longer But all this is not sufficient if we expresse not in particular his severall virtues So modest that when in a Christmas a shew of women was presented before him with their breasts layd out he presently departed saying fie fie for shame forsooth you be to blame So pittifull that when he saw the quarter of a Traytor over Cripplegate he caused it to be taken down saying I will not have any Christian so cruelly handled for my sake So free from swearing that he never used other oath but forsooth and verily So patient that to one who strooke him when he was taken prisoner he onely sayd forsooth you wrong yourselfe more than me to strike the Lords annointed So devout that on principall Holy-dayes he used to weare sackcloth next his skinne Once for all let his Confeâ—â—or be heard speak who in ten years confession never found that he had done or sayd any thing for which he might justly be injoyned Pennance For which causes King Henry the Seventh would have procured him to be Cannonized for a Saint but that he was prevented by deathâ— or perhaps because the charge would have been too great the Canonization of a king being much more costly than of a private person Of men of Note in his time THere were men of valour in this Kings Reigne of extraordinary eminencie as first Iohn Duke of Bedford Regent of France whom when a French Lord upbraided that his sword was of lead he made him answer and made him feel that it was of steele Next him was Thomas Montacute Earle of Salisbury whose very name was a sufficient charme to daunt a whole French Army Then the next was Iohn Lord Talbot so great a terror to the French that when the women would still their children from crying they would use to say Talbot comes Then was Richard Nevill Earle of Warwicke so much greater than a king as that which makes is greater than that it makes and such a one was he Many other besides these not much inferior to these that we may truly say there never was a more heroicall King of England than Henry the Fifth nor ever a King of England that had more heroicall Subjects than Henry the Sixth And though Arms and Letters seem to be of different conditions yet they commonly grow up and flourish together as in this kings Reigne were Iohn Leland sirnamed the Elder who wrote divers Treatises for instruction of Gramarians William White a Priest of Kent professing the Doctrine of Wickliffe for which he suffered Martyrdome by fire Alexander Carpenter who wrote a booke called Destructorium vitiorum against the Prelates of that time Peter Basset Esquire of the Privy Chamber to king Henry the Fifth whose life he wrote Iohn Pole a Priest who wrote the life of St. Walhorayle an English woman Also Thomâ—s Walden alias Netter who wrote divers Treatises against the Wickliffifts Peâ—er Clerke a Student in Oxford and a defender of Wickliffes doctrine for which he fled and was put to death beyond Sea Thomas Walsingham born in Norfolk a diligenâ— Historiographer Thomas Ringstead the younger an excellent Preacher who wrote divers Treatises Thomas Rudborn a Monke of Winchester and an Historiographer Peter Pâ—yne an earnest professor of Wickliffes doctrine for which he fled into â—â—beâ—â—â— Nicholas Vpton a Civilian who wrote of Heraldry of colours in Armory and of the duty of Chivalry Iohn Capgrâ—ve born in Kent an Augustine Frier who wrote many excellent Treatises particularly the Legend of English Saints Humphry Duke of Glocester Protector of the Realm well learned in Astrologie whereof he wrote a speciall Treatise intiâ—uâ—ed Tabula Directionum Iohn Whethamstead otherwise called Frâ—mentariuâ— Abbot of St. Albâ—ns who wrote divers Treatises and amongst others a booke of the Records of things happening whiles he was Abbot which book Holinshead had seen and in some passages of his time followed Roger Oâ—lâ—y accused of Treason for practising with the Lady Elâ—â—nor Cobham by sorcery to make the king away and therof condemned and dyed for it he wrote one Treatise intituled Contra â—â—lgi superstitiones and another De sua Innocentia Henry Walsingham a Carmelite Frier oâ— Norwich who wrote sundry Treatises in Divinity Lidgateâ— Monke of Bury who had travelled France and Italy to learne languages and wrote many workes in Poetry Thomas Beckington Bishop of Bath who wrote against the Law Salique of France Michael Trigurie born in Cornwâ—ll whom for his excellent learning king Henry the Fifth made Governor of the Universitie of Caâ—n in Normandy after he had conquered it Reynold Peacocke Bishop of Chichester who wrote many Treatises touching Christian Religion Robert Fleming who wrote a Dâ—ctionary in Greeke â—â—d Latine and a worke in verse of sundry kindes Nicholas Mâ—ntacute an Historiographer Iohn Stow a Monke of Norwich and Doctor of Divinity in Oxfâ—rd Nichâ—lâ—â— Buâ—geie born in a Town of Norfolke of that name who wrote an History called Adâ—â—â—tiâ—nes Chronicorum Robert â—alsâ—cke who wrote a booke De â—e Militâ—ri Thomas Dâ—â—dâ— a Carmelite Frier of Mâ—rleborough who wrote the life of Alphred king of the West-Saxons Robert Bâ—le â—irnamed the Elder Recorder of London who gathered a Chronicle of the Customs Laws Foundations Changes Offices Orders and publique Assemblies of the Citie of London with other matters touching the perfect discription of the same Citie he wrote other workes also touching the state of the same Citie and the Acts of King Edward the third THE REIGNE OF KING EDWARD THE FOURTH EDWARD Earle of March born at Roane in Normandy sonne and heire of Richard Plantagenet Duke of Yorke slaine in the battell at Wakefield succâ—eded his Father in the Right but exceeded him in the possession of the Crown of England and that by virtue of an act of Parliament lately made wherein the said Duke of York not only was declared heire apparent to the Crown and appointed Protector of the King and Kingdome but it was further enacted that if King Henry or any in his behalfe should attempt the disanulling of this Act that then the said Duke or his heire should have the present Possession which because his friends attempted to doe therefore justly doth Edward Earle of March his sonne by virtue of this act take possession of the Crown and is Proclaimed king of England by the name of Edward the fourth through the City of London on the fifth day of March in the yeer 1460. But before he could have leasure to be Crowned he was forced once againe to try his fortune in the field by battell For King Henry
be had between king Edward and the Lady Bonâ— daughter to Lewis Duke of Savoy and Sister to the Lady Carlote then Queen of Fraâ—ce a Lady no lesse for beauty and virtuous qualities then for Nobility of blood worthy to be a Queen The Proposition is in Fraâ—ce readily embraced and willingly assented unto on all parts But in the mean time king Edward being hunting in Witchwood Forrest besides Stonystratford he chanced to come to the Manour of Grafton where the Dutchesse of Bedford then lay and where her daughter by Sir Richard Woodvile the Lady Elizabeth Grâ—y widdow of Sir Iohn Grâ—y of Grâ—vy slaine at the last battell of St. Albans became a suitour to him for some lands which her â—usband had given her in Joynture with whose beauty and grâ—cefull behaviour king Edward was so taken that hee presently became a Suitor to her and when he could not obtaine his suit by termes of wanton love he was forced to sâ—eke it by terms of Marriage And here we may well thinke there was no small câ—flâ—ct in King Edwards minde between the two great commanders Love and Honor which of them should bee most potent Honor put him in minde that it was against his Law to take to wife a meaner person than himselfe but Love would take no notice of any difference of degrees but tooke it for his Prerogative to make all persons equall Honour peâ—swaded him that it stood him much upon to make good the Ambassage in which he had sent the Earle of Warwicke to a great Prince but Love perswadâ—d him that it stood him more upon to make good the Ambassage sent to himself from a greater Prince In conclusion it appeared to be true which one observes Improbe â—mor quid non mortalia pectora cogis what is it that love will not make a man to do Whether it be that love brings upon the minde a forgetfulnesse of all circumstances but such as tend to its own satisfaction or whether it be that love is amongst passions as oyle amongst liquors which will alwayes be supreme and at the top Honour may be honoured but love will be obeyed And therefore king Edward though he knew no Superior upon Earth yet he obeys the summons of Love and upon the first day of May marries the sayd Lady Gray at Grafton the first of our kings since the Conquest that married his Subject At which marriage none was present but the Dutchesse of Bedford the Priest two Gentlewoman a yong man to helpe the Priest at Masse the yeare after with great solemnity she was Crowned Queen at Westminster It is not unworthy the relating the Speech which king Edward had with his Mother who sought to crosse this maâ—ch Where you say saith he that she is a widdow and hath already children by Gods blessed Lady I am a Batchelour and have some too and so each of us hath a proofe that nether of us is like to be barren And as for your objection of Bigamy for his mother had charged him with being contracted to the Lady Elizabeth Lucie Let the Bishop saith he lay it to my charge when I come to take Orders for I understand it is forbidden a Priest but I never wist it was forbidden a Prince Upon this marriage the Queens Father was created Earle Rivers and made High-Constable of England her brother the Lord Anthony was married to the sole Heire of the Lord Scales and by her had that Barony her Son sir Thomas Gray was created Marquesse Dorset and married Cicelie heire to the Lord Bonvile It may be thought a hâ—ppy fortune for this Lady to be thus marched but let all things be considered and the miseries accruing to her by it will be found equivalent if not over-weighing all the benefits For first by this match she drew upon her selfe the envy of many and was cause that her Husband fled the Realm and her selfe in his absence glad to take Sanctuary and in that place to be delivered of a Prince in a most unprincely mâ—nner After which surviving her husband she lived to see her two Sonnes most cruelly murthered and for a conclusion of all she lived to see her selfe confined to the Monastery of Berdmondsey in Southwarke and all her goods confiscate by her own Son in Law And nâ—w the Earle of Warwicke at his return found that knot tyed in England which he had laboured to tye in France His Ambassage frustrated the Lady Bona deluded the king of France abused and himselfe made a stale and the disgracefull instrument of all this which although he resented in a high degree yet he had not been a Courtier so long but in that time he had sufficiently learned the Art of dissembling he passed it over lightly for the present but yet carried it in his minde till a fit opportunity and thereupon procures leave to retire himselfe to his Castle of Warwicke King Edward in the meane time having just cause to suspect hee had made the French his enemies seeks to make other Princes his friends He enters into a League with Iohn king of Aragon to whom he sent for a Present a score of Cotsall Ews and â—ive Rams a small Present in shew but great in the event for it proved of more benefit to Spain and of more detriment to England than could at first sight have been imagined And to secure himselfe at home he tooke truce with the king of Scots for fifteen years And where he had married before his two Sisters Anne the eldest to Henry Holland Earle of Exeter and Elizabeth to Iohn de la Poole Duke of Suffolke he now matched Margaret his third Sister to Charles Duke of Burgoigne which proved a greater assistance to him than that which he had lost in France By this time the Earle of Warwickes spleen began so to swell within him that hee could no longer containe it and having with much adoe drawne to his party his two brothers the Archbishop of Yorke and the Marquesse Montacute he seekâ— also to draw in the kings two brothers the Duke of Clarence and the Duke of Glocester but he found Glocester so reserved that he durst not close with him the Duke of Clarence he found more open and to him he addresseth himselfe complaining of the disgrace he had sustained by the king in his employment into France and other wrongs to whom the Duke presently made answer in as great complaint of his brothers unkindnesse to himself saying he had married his Wives brother Anthony to the heire of the Lord Scales and her Son Thomas to the heire of the Lord Boâ—vile but could finde no match of preferment for him being his own brother And upon this agreement in complaints they agree to joyne against king Edward and to make the knot the firmer the Duke of Clarence takes to wife Isabel the Earle oâ— Warwicks Daughter and with her hath assured unto him halfe of the Lands the Eâ—â—l held in right of his Wife the Lady Anne
neere in blood than different in conditions of equall 〈…〉 of personage both but not of equall goodnesse of minde Sir Thomas 〈◊〉 of in honest and sober disposition but Sir Iames of a turbulent spirit and one 〈…〉 after preferment would not stick to make a fortune out of any villany 〈◊〉 told of this man as he was sitting at the close-stoole he presently roâ—e and 〈◊〉 to him where being met the maâ—ch is soon made up between them for he 〈◊〉 Sir Iames more ready to undertake the work than he was himselfe to set him 〈◊〉 it It onely remained to procure him free passage to the place where the 〈◊〉 was to be done for King Richard had formerly sent a trusty Privado of his 〈◊〉 Iohn Greene to Sir Robert Brackenbury then Lieutenant of the Tower think 〈…〉 having been raised by him would not have refused to doe the deed himselfe but when he heard how averse he was from it Good Lord saith he whom 〈◊〉 man trust Once he saw plainly that whilst he was Lieutenant there was 〈…〉 to effect it To remove therefore this Rub he sends his Letters Manâ—â—â—â— to Brâ—ckenbury to deliver presently the keyes of the Tower to Sir Iames 〈◊〉 who being now Lieutenant for the time and having the two innocent 〈◊〉 under his custodie gets two other as very villaines as himselfe the one 〈…〉 the other Iames Dighton his horse-keeper a bigge sturdy knave and 〈…〉 makes his under-agents who comming into the childrens chamber in the 〈◊〉 for they were suffered to have none about them but one Black Will or 〈◊〉 â—â—â—â—ghter a bloody rascall they suddenly lapped them up in their cloaths 〈…〉 down by force the featherbed and pillowes hard unto their mouths so 〈…〉 that their breath failing they gave up their innocent soule to God 〈◊〉 when the murâ—herers perceived first by their strugling with the paines of 〈◊〉 and then by their long lying still to be throughly dead they laid their bodies out upon the bed and then fetched Sir Iames to see them who presently caused their bodies to be buried under the staires under a heap of stones from whence they were afterward removed to a place of Christian buriall by a Priest of Sir Robert 〈◊〉 who dying within a few dayes after and none knowing the place but 〈◊〉 was cause that it hath not been known to this day and gave occasion afterwardâ—â— the Imposture of Perkin Warbeck in King Henry the Seventh's Raign Some 〈◊〉 that king Richard caused their bodies to be taken up and closed them in lead and then to be put in a Cossin full of holes hooked at the ends with Iron and so 〈…〉 a place called the Black Deepes at the Thames mouth to be sure they should 〈◊〉 rise up not be seen againe And now see the Divine revenge upon the actors 〈…〉 â—â—cerable murther Miles Forrest at St. Martins le Grand peece-meale rotâ—â—â— away Dighton lived at Callice a long time after but detested of all men dyed 〈◊〉 misery Sir Iames Tyrrell was beheaded afterward on the Tower-hill for 〈◊〉 and king Richard himselfe after this abhominable fact done never had 〈◊〉 minde troubled with fearfull dreames and would sometimes in the night 〈◊〉 of his bed and run about the Chamber in great fright as if all the Furies of 〈◊〉 were hanging about him that it was verefied in him â—ltrix Tisiphone vocat 〈◊〉 seva sororum Conâ—â—deracies in evill are seldome long-lived and commonly end in a reciprocall 〈◊〉 and so was it now with king Richard and the Duke of Buckingham They had confederated together to the destruction of many and now their confederacy dissolves in both their ruines but what the cause was of their dissolving is not so certaine whether it were that the Duke thought not himselfe so well rewarded as his great services had deserved or whether it were that King Richard thought not himselfe absolute King as long as the Duke by whose means he came to be King was in such a height of greatnesse or whether it were as was rather thought that the Duke being a man ambitious and of an aspiring spirit though he had himselfe been the means to bring King Richard to the Crown yet when the Crown was put upon his head so envied at it that he turned his head another way â—s not enduring the sight and for the same caâ—se was willing not to have been present at the Coronation pretending sicknes in excuse of his absence but that King Richard sent him a sharpe Message requiring him to come or he would fetch him whereupon the Duke went but with so ill a minde that he bore it in minde ever after Whatsoever it was certaine it is that presently after the Coronation there grew great jealousies between them and the Duke retired himselfe to his Castle at Brecknock where he had the Bishop of Ely in custody And here we may observe the unsearchable depth of the divine Providence the bottome whereof the soundest judgement of Man can never sound as working effects by contrary causes for where King Richard had committed the Bishop to the Duke as to one that would have a most watchfull eye over him This which the King did for the Bishops greater punishment proved a means afterward of the Bishops greater advancement and a means at the present of King Richards ruine For the Duke being retyred home and having his head so full of thoughts that of necessity it required â—ent for his own recreation would sometimes fall in talke with the Bishop with whose discourse as he was a man of great wit and solid judgement the Duke was so taken thaâ— he grew to delight in nothing more then to be conferring with him One time it happened that the Duke had opened his minde something freely to him and the Bishop following him in his own way and cunningly working upon that humour of the Duke which he found most working in the Duke which he conceived to grow out of envy to king Richard he said to this purpose My Lord you know I followed first the part of king Henry the sixth and if I could have had my wish his Sonne should have had the Crown and not king Edward But after that God had ordained king Edward to Reigne I was never so mad that I would with a dead man strive against the quick And so was I to king Edward also a faithfull Chaplaine and glad would have been that his childe had succeeded him How be it if the sâ—cret Judgement of God have otherwise provided I purpose not to labour to set up that which God pulleth down And as for the Lord Protectour and now Kingâ— and even there he left saying he had already meddled too much with the world and would from that day meddle with his Books and his Beads and no further Then longed the Duke exceedingly to heare what he would have said because he ended with the king and there suddenly stopped and thereupon intreated him to be bold to say
Hell so that Callice were in the possâ—ssion of the French brake up his siege and returned to Helding with as much shame as the English to Callice with honour A little before this tâ—me Francis Duke of Britaine dying left onely one daughter the Lady Anne affianced to Maximilian King of the Romans and in so solemne a manner that she taking upon her to be the Bride and being laid in her bed was contented to permit Maximilians Deputy in presence of many Noble witnesses as well men as women to put his legge stript naked to the knee between the spousall sheets accounting that Ceremony to amount to a Consummation The King of France likewise had been contracted to the Lady Margaret daughter to the foresaid Maximilian and had received her to that end Yet all this notwithstanding out of a violent desire to joyne the Dutchy of Britaine to the Crowne of Frâ—â—ce he disanulled and made void both the Contracts But to the end he might doe it without opposition of the King of England he sent Ambassadors the Lord Francis of Lâ—â—zemburg Charles Marignane and Robert Gaguine to King Henry partly to conclude a Peace but chiefly to procure king Heâ—ries good will to make voyd the foresaid contracts to which though king Henry was not willing to give consent yet he consented willingly to have a Treaty for Peace and to that end sent over Thoâ—as Earle of Ormond and Thomas Goldenston Prior of Christs Church in Canterbury to the French King about it But during this Treaty and before conditions of Peace could be agreed on the French King had gotten into his possâ—ssion the Lady Anne of Britaine and solemnly maried her Which under-hand dealing so incensed King Henry that he presently called his High Court of Parliament and there declared the just cause he had of War with France desiring their Benevolence towards the charge thereof which was as readily granted as desired and great summes of money were soon collected In the yeere 1491 being the sixth yeere of the Kings Reigne on the sixth of April the Nobility of the Realme assembled in the Cathedrall Church of St. Paul in London where also was the Major and Aldermen and principall Citizens in their liveries to whom D. Morton Lord Chancellour made an Oration declaring from his owne letters that the King of Spaine had wonne the great and rich City and Country of Granado from the Moores which had been in their possession above seven hundred yeeres and having in places of their superstition built Churches to the honour of Christ was thereupon intituled the Catholick King For joy whereof Te Deâ—m was sung with great solemnity In the moneth of May was holden a solemne Justing at the kings Palace of Sheeâ—e now called Richmond which continued the space of a moneth sometimes within the Palace and sometimes without upon the green before the gate in which Justs Sir Iames Parker running against a Gentleman named Hugh Vaughan by reason of a faulty Helmet was strucken into the mouth at the first course so that his tongue was borne to the hinder part of his head in such sort that he dyed presently upon the place And now Maximilian having received back his daughter from the king of France was so displeased that he presently sent an Ambassadour one Iames Contibald to king Henry requiring him to take his part in a warre against the French king towards which he promised to provide ten thousand men with pay for two years king Henry consented to it and having pâ—ovided himselfe of a puissant Army on the sixth day of October sayled to Callice but sending his Almoner Christopher â—rswiâ—ke and Sir Iohn Resley to Maximilian requiring his promised forces they found him altogether unprovided of either men or money which brought king Henry into a great streight what he should doe To proceede in the warre with his own forces alone would be â—ull of hazard To return home without doing any thing would bring an imputation upon him amongst his Subjects as though he had used the pretence of war but as a trick to get money at last he resolved to doe something and thereupon went and besieged Boloigne having in his Army of chiefe Lords Iasper Duke of Bedford his Lieutenant Generall Thomas Marquesse Dorset the Earles of Arundell Oxford Suffolke Shrewsbury Darby Keâ—t Devonshire and Ormond sundry Barons as Dâ—wbeney Aburgayny De la Ware Zouch Hastings Cobham and others During his siege of Boloigne in which there were but few slaine and no man of note but Sir Iohn Savage who riding to take view at what place the town might best be assaulted was set upon by certaine French men and by them slaine King Henry was secretly dealt with by the Lord Cordes Governour of Heynault on the king of France's behalf to accept of certaine conditions of Peace Who thereupon sent Richard Fox Bishop of Exceter and Giles Lord Dawbeney to conclude them which amongst other Articles were That king Henry without quitting his claime to France should for a Peace to continue during the two kings lives receive in present of Charles king of France for his charges in that warre seven hundred forty and five thousand Dockets which in English money amounts to one hundred eighty six thousand two hundred and fifty pounds and five and twenty thousand crowns yeerly towards the expenses he had been at before in aiding the Britaines which by the English called Tribute was duly paid during all the Kings Reigne and also to king Henry his Sonne afterward longer then it could continue upon any computation of charges There were also assigned by the French king unto all king Henries principall Counsellours great pensions besides rich gifts for the present Which whether the king did permit to save his own purse from Rewards or to communicate the envy of a businesse that was displeasing to his people was diversly interpreted for certainly the King had no great fancy to own this Peace and therefore a little before it was concluded he had underhand procured some of his best Captaines and Men of Warre to advise him to a Peace under their hands in an earnest manner in the nature of a Supplication that he might have it shew for justifying himselfe and to give some allay to the discontentments of many who had sold and engaged their Estates upon the hopes of the warre After the Peace thus concluded he went to Callice where he stayed some time and the seventeenth of December following came to Westminster where he kept his Christmasse Soon after his return he elected into the order of the Garter Alphoâ—sus Duke of Calabriâ— Sonne and Heire to Ferdinand King of Naples to whom Christopher Vrswicke the kings Almoner was sent to Naples to carry it which as soon as Alphonsus had received he apparelled himselfe presently in the Habit before a great assembly indeed to shew what favour he was in with the king of England There had been disturbance in the Realme before by a Counterfeit Sonne
his being saluted King And could it enter into his breast to put him to death that had saved his life and done him so many great services besides But it may be said It was not the Earle of Richmond that did it but the King of England for certainly in many cases a King is not at liberty to shew mercy so much as a private man may Though there be that affirme the cause of his death was not words onely but reall acts as giving ayde to Perkin under-hand by money And yet it seemes there was some conflict in the minde of King Henry what he should doe in this case for he stayed six weekes after his Accusation before before he brought him to his Arraignment How-ever it was the Summer following the King went in Progresse to Latham to the Earle of Darby who had maâ—ied his mother and was brother to Sir William Stanley perhaps to congratulate his own safety perhaps to condole with him his brothers death but certainly to keepe the Earle from conceiving any sinister opinion of him For to thinke that Sir William's suing to be Earle of Chester an Honour appointed to the kings sonne or his great wealth for he left in his Castle at Holt in ready money forty thousand markes besideâ— Plate and Jewells were causes that procured or set forward his death are considerations very unworthy of so just a Prince against a Servant of so great deserving But in this meane while Perkin having gotten a Power of idle loose fellows took to Sea intending to lâ—nd in Kent where though he were repelled yet some of his Souldiers would needs venture to goe on Land of whom a hundred and sixty persons were taken Prisoners whereof five were Captaines Mortford Corbet Whitebolt Quâ—â—tyn and Gemyne These hundred and sixty persons were brought to London rayled in ropes like horses drawing in a Cart who upon their Araignement confessing their offence were executed some at London and some in Towns adjoyning to the sea-coast Perkin finding no entertainment in Kent sayled into Ireland and having stayed there a while and finding them also being a naked people to bee no competent assistants for him from thence he sayled into Scotland where he so moved the King of Scots with his fayre words and colourable pretexts made no doubt before by the Dutcesse of Burgoigne that hee received him in great state and caused him to bee called the Duke of Yorke and to perswade the World that hee thought him so indeede hee gave to him in marriage the Lady Katherine Gourdon daâ—ghter to Alexander Earle Huntley his own neer kinswoman and soone after in Perkins quarrell entred with a puissant Army into England making Proclamation that whosoever would come in and ayde the true Duke of Yorke should bee spared but none comming in he then used all kinde of cruelty and the whole County of Northuâ—berland was in a manner wasted whereat Perkin at his returne expressed much griefe saying It grieved him to the heart to see such havock made of his people To whom the King answered Alas Alas you take care for them who for any thing that appeares are none of yours for not one of the Countrey came in to his succour King Henry incensed with this bold attempt of the king of Scots called his High Court of Parliament acquainting them with the necessity hee had of a present warre to revenge this indignity offered him by the Scots and thereupon requiring their ayde by money had a subsidie of sixscore thousand pounds readily granted him and then in all haste a puissant Army is provided and under the conduct of the Lord Dawbeney sent into Scotland but before hee arrived there hee was suddenly called back by reason of a commotion begun at Cornwall for payment of the Subsidie lately granted which though it were not great yet they grudged to pay it The Ring-leaders of this commotion were Thomas Flammock a gentleman leâ—â—ned in the Lawes and Michael Ioseph a Smith who laying the blame of this exaction upon Iohn Morton Archbishop of Canterbury and Sir Reynold Bray as being chiefe of the Kings Councell exhorted the people to take armes and having aâ—sembled an Army they went to Taunton where they slew the Provost Peryâ— one of the Commissioners for the Subsidie and from thence came to Wells intending to goe to London where the King then lay who having revoked the Lord Dawbeney appointed Thomas Howard Earle of Surrey after the death of the Lord Dinham made Lord Treasurer of England to have an eye to the Scots and if they made invasion to resist them In the meane time Iames Twychet Lord Audley confederated himselfe with the Rebells of Cornwall and tooke upon him to bee their Leader who from Wâ—lls went to Salisbury and from thence to Winchester and so to Kent hoping there â—o have had great ayde but found none for the Earle of Kent the Lord of Aburgâ—â—â— Iohn Brook Lord Cobham Sir Edmond Poynings Syr Richard Guildford Sir Thâ—â—as Bourchier Iohn Peachy and William Scott were ready in Armes to resist them whereupon the Rebels brought their Army to Black-heath foure miles distant from Lâ—ndâ—n and there in a plaine on the top of a hill encamped themselves whereof when the King had knowledge hee presently sent Iohn Earle of Oxford Henry Bouâ—â—â—ier Earle of Essex Edmond de la Poole Earle of Suffolke Sir Riceap Thomas and Sir Hâ—â—fry Stanley to inviron the hill on all sides that so all hope of flight might hee takâ—n from them and then set forward himselfe and encamped in St. Georgeâ— fields where for encouragement he made divers Bannarets The next day he sent the Lord Dawbeney to set upon the Rebels early in the morning who first got the bridge at Debâ—ford Strand though strongly defended by the Rebels Archers whose arrowes were â—eported to bee a full cloath-yard in length but notwithstanding the Lord 〈◊〉 comming in with his Company and the Earles assayling them on every side they were soone overcome In which conflict were slaine of the Rebels above 〈◊〉 thousand taken prisoners a very great number many of whom the King pâ—â—doned but of the chiefe Authors none for the Lord Audley was drawne from Newgate to Tower-hill in a coate of his owne Armes paynted upon paper reversed and all torne and there on the foure and twentieth day of Iune was beheaded Thomas Flammock and Michael Ioseph were hanged drawn quartered and their heads and quarters pitched upon stakes set up in London and other places Of the Kings Army were slaine not above three hundred It is memorâ—ble with what comfort Ioseph the black-smith cheered up himselfe at his going to execution saying that yet he hoped by this that his name and memory should be everlasting so deere even to vulgar spirits is perpetuety of Name though joyned with infamy what is it then to Noble spirits when it is joyned with Glory In the meane time the king of Scots taking advantage of these troubles in England invaded the
Deane of Paulsâ— to be Commissioners for maâ—ing enquiry of the Offenders 〈◊〉 for assessing their Fines which they did with great severity to some with great mildnesse to others to all with equity 〈◊〉 was now the fourteenth yeer of the kings Reigne when one Sebastian â—â—bato â— Geâ—â—â—a's Sonne born â—t Bâ—iston perswaded the king to man and victuaâ—â— a ship at Bristow â—o search for 〈◊〉 stand which he said he knew to be replenished with rich Commodities who setting forth with three other small shâ—ps of London merchants returned home two yeerâ— after when he had made a large discovery westward and would have gone to 〈◊〉 if the Mariners had not forced him to return a likewise siâ— years before one Christopâ—er Columbus a Spanyard made the first discovery of America Perkin being in the Tower and carefully guarded yet found me â—s to escape and fled to the Priory of Sheen neer Richmond where discovering himselfe to the Pryor of that Monastery he begged of him for Gods sake to get the kings Pardon foâ— his life which the Prior effected but then was Perkin brought to the Court at Westminster and was one day set fettered in a paire of Stocks before Westminster-hall and there stood a whole day the next day he was set upon a like Scaffold in Cheape-side and there standing the whole day also hethen read openly his confession wrâ—tten with his own hand wherein he declared his Parentage and the place of his Birth and all the passages of his Life and by what means he was drawn to make this attempt After this he was committed againe to the Tower and care taken he should be better looked to than he was before But all the care notwithstanding once againe Perkin attempted to escape and drawing into a Confederacy with him the young Earle of Warwicke by faire words and large promises so corrupted his keepers Straâ—gwish Blâ—wet Astwood and long Roger servants to Sir Iohn Digbie Lieutenant of the Tower that they intended to have slaine their Master and set Perkiâ— and the Earle of Warwicke at liberty But this practice was soone discovered â—o that Perkiâ— and Iohn a Water sometime Major of Corke in Ireland one of Perkiâ—s chiefe founders were on the sixteenth day of November arraigned at Westminster and condemned and both of them on the two and twentieth day were drawn to Tyburne and there hanged where Perkiâ— tooke it upon his death that the Confession he had formerly made was true soon after also Blewet and Astwood two of the Lieutenants men were in the same place executed On the one and twentieth day of the same month Edward Plantagemet Earle of Warwicke was arraigned at Westminster before the Earle of Oxford then High Steward of England not for consenting to breake Prison but for conspiring with Perkin to raise Sedition and destroy the king and upon his Confession had Judgement and on the eight and twentieth day of the same month in the yeer 1499. was brought to the Scaffold on the Tower-hill and there beheaded This Earle of Warwick was the eldest Sonne of the Duke of Clarence and was the last Heire male of the name of Plantagenet and had been kept in the Tower from his very Inâ—ancy out of all company of Men and fight of Beasts so as he scarcely knew a Hen from a Goose nor one beast from another and therefore could never know how to practice his escape of himselfe but by Perkiâ—s subtlety for which cause the king favoured him so farre that he was not buried in the Tower but at Bissam by his Ancestours And thus ended the designes of Perkiâ— Warbeck which had troubled both the Kingdome and the King the space of seven or eight yeers a great part of the Kings Raigne But in the time of Perkiâ—s being in the Tower another like practice was set on foot for an Augustiâ—e Frier called Patrick in the County of Suffolk having a Scholler named Ralph Wilford a Cordwayners Sonne he caused him to take upon him to be the Earle of Warwicke lately by great chance gotten out of the Tower and they going together into 〈◊〉 when the Frier perceived some light credit to be given to him he then stuck not to declare it openly in the Pulpit desiring all men to assist him But this practice was soone discovered and both the Mr. and the Scholler were apprehended attainted the Scholler Wilford was hanged on Shrovetuesdâ—y at S. Thomas Waterings and the Frier was condemned to perpetuall Prison for at that time so much reverence was attributed to holy Orders that a Priest though â—e had commited Treason against the king yet had hâ—s life spared And this practâ—â—e was some cause to exasperate the king against the Earle of Warwicke who though innocent in himselfe yet was nocent in pretenders and besides king Ferdinand of Spaiâ—e with whom at this time there was a Treaty for marriage of his Daughter to Prince Arthur had written to the king in plaine terms that he saw no assurance of his Sonnes succession as long aâ— the Earle of Warwicke lived and thus all things unfortunately concurred to bring this innocent Prince to his end In the fifteenth yeer of his Reigne partly to avoide the danger of the Plague then raigning in England but chiefely to conferre with the Duke of Burgoigne about many important businesses the King and Queen sayled over to Callice where at an enterview between him and the Duke at Saint Peters Church without Callice the Duke offered to hold the kings sturrup at his alighting which the king by no meanes would permit but descending from horse-back they embraced wiâ—h great affection â—nd after Communication had between them the King and Queen in the end oâ— Iuâ—â— returned into England In his seventeenth yeer â—wo great Marriages were solemnized the Lady 〈◊〉 of Spaine was sent by her Father king Ferdiâ—aâ—d with a puissant Army of Sâ—â—ps into Eâ—gland where she arrived at Plimouth the second day of October and on the fourteenth of November afterâ— was espoâ—sed openly to Prince Arâ—hur both beâ—ng clad in white He of the age of â—â—fteen yeers shee of eighteen at night they were laid together in one Bed where they lay as Man and Wife all that night when â—oâ—ning appeared the Prince as his servants about him reported called for drinke which before time he had not used to doe whereof one of his Chambâ—rlaines â—sking 〈◊〉 the causeâ— he answered merrily saying I have been this night in the middest oâ— Spaâ—â—â— which is a hot Country and â—hat makeâ— me so dry though some write thaâ—â— grave Matron was laid in bed between them to hinder actuall Consummationâ—â— Tâ—e Ladies portion was two hundred thousand Duckets her joynture the 〈◊〉 part of the Principality of Wales Cornwall and Châ—ster At this Marriage was grâ—â—â— solemnity and Royall Justings during which time there came into London 〈◊〉 Earle a Bishop and divers other noble personages sent from the king of Scots 〈…〉 conclusion of a Mariage before treated of
there to keep the City in Awe And now the Cardinall being weary of hearing so many Causes himselfe as were daily brought before him ordained by the Kings Commission aftet the patterne of Mases divers under Courts to hear coâ—mplaints of Suitours whereof one was kept in the Whitehall another before the Kings Almoner Doctor Stokesley a third in the Lord Treasurers lodging neere the Starre-chamber and the fourth at the Roles in the afternoone these Courts for a time were much frequneted but at last the people perceiving that much delay was used in them and that sentence given by them bound no man by Law they thereupon grew weary of them and resorted to the common Law By occasion of this Government of the Cardinall who under colour of Justice did what he pleased many great men withdrew themselves from the Court as first the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Bishop of Winchester who went and lived in their Diocesses then the Duke of Norfolke and at length the Duke of Suffolke who being run deep into the Kings debt by reason of his many Imployments into France and his great House-keeping since his marriage with the Kings Sister hoped the King would have forgiven it and would no doubt have done it but that the Cardinall opposed it to the end the Duke should be the more at his command In October this yeer Matthew Bishop of Sion commonly called the Cardinall of the Swizzers came into England from the Emperour Maximilian by whose soliciting and Cardinall Woolseys perswasion the King lent the Emperor a great some of money for Woolsey being angry with the King of France for detaining the revenewes of his Bishoprick of Tourney perswaded King Henry that the best way to abate the French Kings power was to furnish the Emperour money the better to maintaine warre against him and what Woolsey said was in those dayes to King Henry an Oracle This yeer the King kept his Christmas at his manner of Greenwich where on Twelfth night according to his custome rare devices with great magnificence were presented after which time the King exercised himselfe much in Hawking which was like to have proved no good sport to him for one time following his Hawke and leaping over a Ditch with a Pole the Pole brake so that if one Edmund Mody a foot-man had not leapt into the water and lift up his head which was fast in the clay he had been drowned In this yeer also there happened in the City of London an Insurrection against strangers specially of Artificers complayning that strangers were permitted to resort hither with their Wares and to exercise Handy-crafts to the great hindrance and impoverishing the Kings own Subjects and not onely so but that they were borne out in many great Insolencies and wrongs they offered to the English as one time it happened a Carpenter in London called Williamson had bought two Pigeons in Cheap-side and was about to pay for them when a French-man tooke them out of his hand saying they were no meat for a Carpenter well said Williamson I have bought them and I will have them nay said the French-man I will have them for my Lord Embassadour hereupon they grew to words and complaint was made to the French Embassadour who so aggravated the matter to the Major that the Carpenter was sent to prison and when Sir Iohn Baker sued to the Embassadour for him he answered by the body of God the English knave was worthy to loose his life for denying any thing to a French-man and other answer he could have none Matry like and worse Insolencies were offered by changes which one Iohn Lincoln a Broker drew into a Bill and prevailed with Doctor Beale Preacher on Easter Tuesday at the spittle to reade it openly in the pulpit which so stirred up many that strangers could hardly passe the streets but were strucken and sometimes beaten downe At last one evening many Prentises and others assembling rifled some strangers houses and much mischief was like to be done but by the tare of the Maior and Aldermen and by the indâ—stry of Robert Brook Recorder and Sir Thomas Moore â—hat had bin under shriefe of London they were gotten to be quiet and many of the disturbers were sent to prison whereof Lincolne and twelve other were hanged foure hundred more in their shirts bound in ropes and halters about their neckes and thereupon called the black wagon were brought to Westminster where the King himselfe sate that day and when the Cardinall had charged them with the greatnesse of their offence they all cryed mercy mercy and then the King by the mouth of the Cardinall pardoned them all which clemency purchased the Kiâ—g no small love amongst the people In this ninth yeere in Iune King Henry had divers Embassadors at his Court for whose entertainment he prepared a costly Justs himselfe and twelve more against the Duke of Suffolke and other twelve The King had on his Head a Ladies sleeve full of Diamonds and perhaps something else of the Ladies in hes heart which made him performe his courses with the applause of all beholdeâ—s This yeere by reason of a sweating sicknesse Michaelmâ—s Tearme was adjourned and the yeere following Trinity Tearme was held one day at Oxford and then adjourned againe to Westminster About this time Cardinall Woolsey obtained of Pope Leo authority to dispence with all Offences against the spirituall Lawes by vertue whereof he set up a Court and called it The Court of the Legat in the which he proved Testaments and heard Causes to the great hindrance of all the Bishops of the Realme and to the debauching of Priests and Religious persons who relying upon his greatnesse tooke â—uch a liberty of licentiousnesse to themselves that none was more disorderly then those that were in orders and supposiiâ—g perhaps they might lawfully comit such sins themselves as they forgave to others And indede the Cardinalls carriage exceeded all boundes of moderation for when he said masse he made Dukes and Earles to serve him of wine with a say taken and to hold the bason at the Lauatory and when the Archbishop of Canterbury writing a letter to him subscribed your brother William of Canterbury he tooke it in great dudgion to be termed his brother It was now the tenth yeere of King Henries Reigne when the Kinâ— of France longing much to have Turney restored to him by great guifts and greater promisesâ— wonne â—he Cardinall Woolsey to move the King in it who upon his perswasions was contented to be treated withall about it to which the King of France sent the Lord Bonquet high Admirall of France and the Bishop of Paris who in there attendance having above fourescore Gentlemen and with their servants and all above twelve hundred arived in England and on Munday the seaven and twentieth of September were met at Black-heath by the Eaâ—le of Surrey high Admirall of England attended likewise with above five hundred Gentlemen and others who conducted them to
word of mouth obtained to have it sent in writing The Heraulds being returned home and delivering the answers the King of France was so incensed to be charged with breach of faith that soone after he sent another defiance to the Emperour telling him in plaine tearmes that he lyed in his throat and thereupon challenged him the Combate requiring him to appoint the field and himselfe would the weapons The Emperour accepted the chalenge but other occurrances intervening hindred the performance In this meane time the Cardinall was appointed to go Embassadour to the King of France carrying with him twelve score thousand pounds to be employed by the French King and other the confederates in a Warre against the Emperour who the eleventh of Iuly took shipping at Dover and landed that day at Callice with whom was Cutâ—ert Tunsâ—all Bishop of London the Lord Sands Chamberlaine to the King the Earle of Derby Sir Henry Guildâ—ord Sir Thomas Moore with other Knights and Gentlemen in all to the number of twelve hundred horse At Amynes he was received by the French King himselfe and by his Mother and by all the chiefe Peers of France By whom it was agreed that Articles of Accord should be offered to the Emperour which if he refused then the French King should marry the Lady Mary King Henries Daughter and they both to be enemies to the Emperour These things concluded the Cardinall returned and on the last of September came to the King at Richmond In October following there came Embassadours from the French King to take King Henries Oath for obseruing the League with the King of France and on Sunday the tenth of November King Henry at Greenwich received the Order of Saint Michael by the hands of the Lord Annâ—s de Memorancye great Master of the Kings Household and Monsieur Humieres as likewise the same day at Paris the French King received the Order of the Garter by the hands of the Lord Liâ—le Doctor Taylor Master of the Roles Sir Nicholas Carew Master of the Kings horse Sir Anthony Browne and Sir Thomas Wriothslye Knight otherwise called Garter king of Armes who were sent thither with the whole Habit Coller and other habiliments of the Order Upon King Henries defiance of the Emperour in the French Kings quarrell English Merchantâ— their ships and goods were attached in Spaine and in the Low Countries as likewise all Spanish Flemish Merchants were attached here which being very detrimentall to both Nations at last by mediation of Hugo de Mendoza the Emperours Embassadour Legier a reconcilement was made and free traffique betweene the Nations was revived In this twentieth yeer on the two and twentieth of February Sir Piers Butler of Ireland was created Earl of Oscry And now King Henry began to be troubled in mind about his marriage with Queen Katherin but whether his trouble of minde grew for scruple of conscience or from desire of change was by many men doubted some thought he had set his affection upon the Lady Anne Bullen whom afterward he maried and to make way for that mariage moved his scruple that he might be divorced but this is not likely for he maried not the said Lady til above three yeers after this doubt had bin moved and three yeers was a long time to have affection be delaid which comonly is impatient of any delay if King Henries own protestation may be taken it was very scruple of conscience that troubled his mind but then by what meanes this scruple came first into his â—ead is another doubt some thought it was first moved by his confessor Doctor Longland telling him that the mariage with the relict of his Brother could not be lawful but neither is this likely for Doctor Longland was not like to tel him so who knew the mariage had been made by dispensation from the Pope an authority in that time beyond exception some thought it was a plot of VVoolseis thereby to make variance between King Henry and the Emperour with whom he was at varience himself and for spleen to the Nephew he revenged upon the Aunt but neither is this likelyâ— or els the Cardinall was much deceived in his ploâ— for though the Emperor laboured Milan and some other Vniversities to forbeare giving sentence against the mariage yet he continued amity with King Henry as much afterward as before if we wil beleeve the King himself it was the President of Paris comming Embassadour from the King of France that â—irst moved it upon a proposition of mariage betweene the Lady Mary King Henries daughter and the Duke of Orleance second sonne to the French King but by what meanes his scruple had beginning King Henries desire was now it should have an ending and that the matter might be debated with indifferency he allowed the Queene to make choyce of what councell she thought best who thereupon chose William Warham Archbishop of Canterbury and Nicholas West Bishop of Elye Doctors of the Law Iohn Fisher Bishop of Rochester and Henry Standish Bishop of Saint Assaph Doctors of Divinity with many other and in the mean time sent to all the Vniversities in Italie France to have their opinions but specially to the Court of Rome desiring the Pope â—o send his Legat to hear the cause who thereupon sent Cardinall â—ampeius and joyned Cardinall Woolsey in Commission with him The place appointed for the Cardinalls to sit and to heare the cause was at the Black-friers where in the great Hall preparation was made of seats and all things necessary for such a session Amongst other Officers of the Court Stephen Gardiner afterward Bishop of Winchester â—ate as chiefe scribe The Court being set the Judges commâ—nded silence whilst their Commission was read which done the Scribes commanded the Cryer to call the King by the name of King Henry of England come into the Court who answered Here then called he the Queen by the name of Katherine Queen of England come into the Court the Queen though present yet answered not but rising from her seat went to the place where the King sat and kneeling down said in effect Sir I humbly desire you to take pity upon me for I am a poor woman a stranger have here no indifferent Councel where all are your Subjects and lesse assurance of friendship when they all depend upon your favour I have bin your wife these twenty yeers and have borne you divers children if you can charge me with dishonesty or undutifulnesse I am content to depart from you to my shame but if you cannot I then desire you to do me justice and to spare me untill I may know what councel my friends in Spain will give me but if you will not then your pleasure be fulfilled and having so said she rose up and making a low cursie departed The King being advertised that she was going out of the House commanded the Cryar to call her again who there upon called her saying Katherine Queen of England come
into the Court which her Gentleman-usher Master Griffith hearing told her Madam you are called wel said she it makes no matter I will not tarry go your way and thus she departed and never after would appear in any Court but appealed from the Cardinals to the Pope himselfe The Queen being gone the King said I confesse she hath bin to me the most dutifull and loving wife that ever Prince had and if it were â—ot for this scruple of my conscience I would not leave her for any woman living and having now referred the judgement of the cause to these Commissioners I should be most glad they could finde the marriage between us to be in such sort lawfull that with obedience to the Law of God we might continue together for I take God to witnesse there is nothing I more desire This said the King rose and the Court was adjourned to another day for notwithstanding the Queens Appeal from which she would by no meanes be drawn the Cardinals continued their Session weekly heard all of both sides the Point that was chiefly stood on was whether Prince Arthur had ever had carnall knowledg of her or no the Kings Councell alleadged he had and proved it first by Prince Arthurs speech the nexâ— morning after his mariage that â—e had bin that night in the midst of Spain and then by the words of the last Dispensation Vel forsan Cognitam the Queens Advocates alleadged the contrary appealing to the Kings owne conscience whom the Queene charged that he knew her to be a Virgin when he married her though to say the truth iâ— were strange Prince Arthur and she having lyen five moneth together and hee no lesse then almost sixteene yeeres old But whilest Arguments were thus urged on both sides and no certainty could appeare the King sent the two Cardinals to the Queene lying then in Bridewell to perswade her she should submit her selfe to the Kings pleasure and not stand so peremptorily to her Appeale The Cardinals coming to her found her at work amongst her Maids with a skaine of white thred about her necke who having heard their message answered That in all other things she would willingly submit her selfe to the Kings will but in this which concerned her honesty and the legitimatenesse of her children she durst not but would relye upon the wisdom and pietie of both their Fathers who she knew would never have assented to the marriage if there had bin the least scruple of unlawfulnesse in it and otheâ— answer she would not give Upon their returne to the King when he perceived she could not be removed from her opinion he commanded the Court to goe on so that at last it came to judgement which every man expected should be the next day At which day the King came thither but in so secret manner that he might heare and not be seene where the Kings Councell at the Barre calling for Judgement Cardinall Campeius as being chiefe Commissioner stood up and said I finde the case very doubtfull and the party Defendant standing to her Appeale I will therefore give no Judgement till I have conferred with the Pope and therefore I adjourâ—e the Court for this time according to the order of the Court of Rome which heares no Causes judicially from the last of Iuly till the fourth of October at which protraction of time King Henry was not a little angry and the Duke of Suffolk being present in a great rage said it was never merry in England since we had Cardinals amongst us Soon after this the Cardinall tooke his leave of the King and returned to Rome he was indeed commanded so to doe by the Pope who would else most willingly have gratified King Henâ—y that had bestowed upon him the Bishoprick of Salisbury Whilst these things were in acting Cardinall Woolsey had an inkling of the Kings affection to Anne Bullen daughter of the Viscount Rochford and that the Divorce once passed he ment to marry her which Match because for many reasons he misliked one perhaps because she was a Lutheran he sent privily to the Pope that by no means he should give sentence for the Divorce till he had framed the Kings minde another way for his desire was that the King should marry the Dutchesse of Alanson the French Kings sister This packing of Woolsey was not so closely carried but that it soone came to the Kings knowledge and the King finding him a rubbe in his way whom he expected to have expedited his proceeding began to thinke it necessary to remove him and to take him off from that greatnesse which had made him so presuming and indeed he made short worke with him for soone after he sent the Dukes of Norfolke and Suffolke to him for the Seale which yet he would not deliver to them till they brought him a Warrant under the Kings owne hand When the Seale was brought to the King he delivered it to Sir Thomas Moore Speaker then of the Parliament the first Lay-man that bore that Office in any memory and in his roome was chosen Speaker Thomas Audley Attourney of the Dutchie Woolsey now removed from his Chauncellourship was in the Parliament then holden charged with points of treason but that charge was so cleerely taken off by his servant Thomas Cromwell who was then of the House that the Cardinall was acquitted to the great commendation of Cromwell both for abilities in himselfe and faithfulnesse to his Master After this the King being informed that all those things which the Cardinall had done by his power Legantine were within the case of Praemenire he caused his Attourney Christopher Hales to sue out a Praemunire against him and thereupon the two Dukes of Norfolke and Suffolke were sent unto him to let him know the Kings pleasure was he should goe to Asher a House neere to Hampton-Court belonging to his Bishopricke of Winchester and there to reside whereupon the Cardinall having first delivered up all his Moveables to the Kings use the greatest store and richest that was ever knowne of any Subject went presently to Putney by water and from thence rode to Asher where he and his Family continued three or â—oure weekes without either Bed Sheetes Table-loathes or Dishes to eat their meat in or money wherewith to buy any but what he was forced to borrow of the Bishop of Carlile After this his matter for the Praemunire being called upon in the Kings Bench his two Atturnies confessed the Action and thereupon had Judgement to forfeit all his Lands and Goods and to be out of the Kings protection but the King of his clemency sent him a sufficient Protection and left him the Bishopricks of Yorke and Winchester with Plate and stuffe convenient for his dignity His Bishopricke of Duresme was given to Doctor Tunstall Bishop of London his Abbey of Saint Albans to the Prior of Norwich and the Bishopricke of London to Doctor Stokestey Embassadour then beyond the Seas In this meane while
came to Guisnes for the King of England the Earl of Hertford the Bishop of Winchester Sir Iohn Dudley Viscount Lisle Baron of Mawpas and high Admirall of England Sir William Paget the Kings Secretary Doctor Nicholas Wootton Dean of Canterbury For the French King there came to Ard Claude Danebolt Admirall of France the Bishop of Eureux Monsieur Reymond chiefe President of Roan and the Secretary Bouchetell Diverse times they met betwixt Ard and Guisnes and after long debating of matters and diverse breakings offâ— at length the seventh of Iune a Peace was concluded and proclaimed in the City of London on Whitsunday the thirteenth of Iune by sound of trumpet and the same day in like manner at Paris and Roan the chiefe Article of which Peace was this that the French King paying to the King of England eight hundred thousand Crownes within the terme of eight yeeres should have Bulloigne againe restored to him which in the mean time should remain in possession of the King of England as a pledge for assurance of the said money and now for a full establishment of this Peace the Viscount Lisle Lord Admirall with the Bishop of Duresme and divers other Lords were sent into France to take oath of the French King and of the Dolphin as likewise at the same time divers Lords came from the French King to take oath of King Henry who by the way were met by the yong Prince and many Lords and conducted to the King at Hampton-Court In his seven and thirtieth yeere the three and twentieth of November a Parliament began at VVestminsâ—er wherein was granted to the King a Subsidie both of Spiritualty and Temporalty and all Colledges Chanteries and Hospitalls were given to him to dispose of the foure and twentieth of December the Parliament was prorogued on which day the King comming to the Parliament House the Speaker made to him an Oration which the Lord Chancelour was used to answere but at this time the King would answer himselfe the effect whereof was that where Master Speaker had commended him for many excellent qualities that were in him he thanked him for it not that he had them but for putting him in mind how necessary it was he should have them then he thanked the whole House for their Subsidie and for giving him the Colleges and Chanteries which hee promised to see bestowed to the glory of God and good of the Realme lastly he ackowledged their love to himselfe but found fault with want of love to one another for what love where there is not concord and what concord when one calleth another Heretick and Anabaptist and he againe calleth him Papist and Hipocrite and this not onely amongst those of the Temporalty but even the Clergy men themselves preach one against another inveigh one against another without Charity or Discretion some be so stiffe in their old mumpsimus and others so curious in their new sumpsimus that few or none Preacheth truly and sincerely the word of God now therfore let this be amended feare and serve God be in Charity amongst your selves to the which I as your supream Head and Soveraigne Lord exhort and require you and this said the Acts were openly read to some he gave his Royall assent and to diverse assented not Whilst oath for the peace was thus taken by both Kings Bulloigne remaining still in King Henries possession Monsieur de Chatillon Captain of Mont-pleasier began to make a new Bastillion at the very mouth of the Haven of Bulloigne naming it Chatillous Garden hereof the Lord Gray of VVilton as then Deputy of Bulloigne advertised the King by Sir Thomas Palmour requiring to know his pleasure whither he should race it as a thing very incommodious to the Town or let it stand the King asked advice of his Counsail who all agreed that the conditions of the peace ought in no wise to be infringed and therefore to let the Bastillian stand whereupon the King caused his Secretary the Lord Paget to write a letter to the Lord Gray to that purpose but then called Sir Thomas Palmour secretly to him bidding him tell the Lord Gray that whatsoever he had written in his letter yet with all speed possible he should race the fortification to the ground Sir Thomas Palmour replying that a message by word of mouth being contrary to his leter would never be beleeved wel said the King do you tell him as I bid you and leave the doing it to his choice upon the comming back of Sir Thomas Palmour the Lord Gray called a counsaile shewing them thâ— Kingâ— letter and withall Sir Thomas Palmours message and then asked their Advise what in this case he should doe who all agreed without any question that the letter was to be followed and not the message to which the Lord Gray himselfe said nothing but caused the message to be wtitten verbatim from Sir Thomas Palmours mouth and those of the Counsaile to set their hands to it this done the night following he issued forth with a company of Armed men and Pioners aud overthrew the fortification to the ground aâ—d then sent Sir Thomas Palmour with letters to the King who as soon as he saw him asked aloud what will he doe it or no Sir Thomas Palmour delivering his letter said your Majesty shall know by these but then the King halfe angry nay tell me saith he wil he doe it or no being then told it was done and the fortification clean raced he turned to his Lords and said what say you my Lords to this Chatillous Garden is raced to the â—loore whereto one presently answered that he that had done it was worthy to loose his head to which the King streightlâ— replyed that he would rather lose a dozen such heads as his was that so Jâ—dged then one such servants as had done it and therewith commanded the Lord Grays pardon should presently be drawn the which he sent vvith letters of great thanks and promise of reward the cause why the King took this course was this lest if he written the racing of the Fortification in his letter it might have come tâ— the French-mens knowledge before it could have been done and so have been prevented and by this may be taken a scantling of King Henries great Capacitie It is now the eight and thirtieth yeere of his reigne when about Michaelmas Thomas Duke of Norfolke and Henry Earle of Surrey his Sonne and heire upon certaine surmises of treason were committed to the Tower of London and the thirteenth of Ianuary the King then lying at the point of death the said Earle was arraigned in the Guild-hall before the Lord Major the Lord Chauncellour and other Lords there in Commission the speciall matter wherewith he was charged was the bearing of certaine Armes that were said to belong to the King and to the Prince though the Earle justified the bearing of them as belonging to divers of his Ancestours affirming withall that he had the opinion
restrained from these Games fell some to drinking some to stealing of Conies and Deere aud such other misdemeanours also in this yeere was an inhauncing of Coyne for preventing the carrying it over to places where it went at higher rate so that the Angell which went before but for seven shillings should now goe for seven and six pence and every ounce of Gold should be five aâ—d forty shillings which was before but forty and other Coynes accordingly In his twentieth yeer Sir Iames Spencer being Major of London the watch used on Mid-somer night was laid downe In his three and thirtieth yeer in a Parliament then holden an Act was made that whosoevet should poyson any person should be boyled to death by which Statute one Richard Roose who had poysoned diverâ—e persons in the Bishop of Rochester place was boyled to death in Smithfield to the terrible example of all other In his two and twentieth yeer three Acts were made one foâ— probate of Testaments another for Mortuaries the third against plurality of benefices Non-Residence buying and taking of Farmes by spirituall persons In his thirtieth yeer it was ordained by Cromwel the Kings Vicar General that in al Churches a Register should be kept of every Weddng Christning and buriall within the same Parish for ever In his one and thirtieth yeer the King first instituted and appointed fifty Gentlemen called Pensioners to waight upon his person assighning to each of them fifty pounds a yeer for the maintainance of thâ—mselvs and two horses in his six and thirtieth yeer Proclamation was made for the inhancing of Gold to eight and fortâ— shillings and silver to foure shillings the ounce also he caused to be coyned base money mingling it with brasse which was since that time called downe the fifth yeere of Edward the sixth and called in the second yeer of Queen Elizibeth In his seven and thirtieth yeer the brothell houses called the Stewes on the Bank-side in Southwarke were pâ—t downe by the Kings Commandement and was done by proclamation and sound of Trumpet In his three and twentieth yeer it was enacted that Butchers should sell their meat by weight Beef for a half-peny the pound and Mutton for three farthings also at this time forraigne Butchers were permitted their flesh in Leadenhall-market which before was not allowed in his time also the Government of the President in the North was first instituted and the first President there was Tunstall Bishop of Durham Affaires of the Church in his time IN the yeer 1517. the eighth yeer of this Kings Reigne Martin Luther of VVittemberg in Germany a Frier of the Order of the Hermisses taking occasion from the abuseâ— of Indulgences began to Preach against the Authority of the Pope and to bring in a Reformation of Religion for repressing of whom the Counsaile of Trent was called by Pope Paul the third in the yeere 1542. which continued above forty yeers but was never received in the Kingdome of Franceâ— which Counsaile by decreeing many things to be poins of faith which were not so accounted before hath made no small distraction amongst Pâ—pists themselves against this Luther King Henry wrote a booke with great bitternesse and with as great bitternesse was answered at the same time with Luther there arose also in the same Country other Reformers of Religion as Zuingliuâ— Occloampadious Melancthon who differing from Luther in some few points made the difference which is at this day of Lutherans and Protestants so called at first Auspurg for making a protestation in defence of their Doctrine which soon after spread all Christendome over King Henry in the sixth and twentieth yeer of his Reigne had excluded the Popes Authority ouâ— of his Realme but thinking the worke not sufficiently done as long as Abbeys and Prioâ—ies kept their station which were as it were his Forteresses and Pillars there wâ—s not long after meâ—nes found to have them suppressed for aspersioâ—s being lâ—id upon them and perhaps no more then truth of Adulteries and Murtherâ— they by Act of Parliâ—ment in his eight and twentieth yeer at lest neere foure hundred of them suppressed and all their lands and goods conferred upon the King In his one and thiâ—tieth yeer all the rest and lastly in his five and thirtinth yeer all Colledgeâ— Chantries and Hospitals so as the hives being now all removed there have never since any Bees or Drones been seen in the Country in this Kings time the Citty of Rome was taken and sacked by the Imperiall Army forcing the Pope to fly to his Castle Saint Angelo and there kept a prisoner till he agreed to such conditions as his Adversaries propounded In the two and twentieth yeere of this Kings reigne a Proclamation was set forth that no person should purchase any thing from the Court of Rome and this was the first blow given to the Pope in England In his three and twentieth yeer the Clergy submitting themselves to the King for being found guilty of a Praemunire were the first that called him supream head of the Church In his foure and twentieth yeere a Parliament was holden wherein one Act was made that Bishops should pay no more Annats or money for their Buls to the Pope and another that no person should appeale for any cause out of this Realm to the Court of Rome but from the Commissary to the Bishop and from the Bishop to the Archbishop and from the Archbishop to the King and all causes of the King to be tried in the upper Hoâ—se of the Convocation In his six and twentieth yeer in Iuly Iohn Frith was burnt in Smithfield aâ—d with him at the same stake one Andrew Howet a Tailor both for denying the Reall presence in the Sacrament and in a Parliament holden tâ—is yeer an Act was made which Authorized the Kings Highnesse to be supreame head of the Church of England and the Authority of the Pope to be abolished and then also was given to the King the first fruits and tenths of all Spirituall livings and this yeer were many put to deaâ—h Papists for denying the Kings Supremecy Protestants for denying the Reall presence in the Sacrament and it is incredible what numbers for thesâ— two causes were put to death in the last ten yeers of this Kings Reign of whom if we should make perticular mention iâ— would reach a great way in the Book of Martyrs in his eight and twentieth yeer the Lord Cromwell was made Viâ—aâ— General under the King over the Spiritualty and sate divers times in the Convocation House amongst the Bishops as head over them and in September thiâ— yeere he set forth injunctions commandiâ—g all Parsons and Curates to â—each their Parishoners the Paâ—er Noster the Aâ—e and Creed with the ten Commandements and Articles of the Christian Fâ—ith in the English tongue Iâ— his one and thirtieth yeer was set forth by the Bishops the Book of the six Articles condemning all for Hereticks and to be burnt that should hold 1. That the body
lying knave and howsoever thou canst never do thy Master better service then to hang for him and so without more adoe he was dispatched When this sedition in Devonshire was appeased there rose another in Norfolke and that specially upon a grievance for enclosures the Rebels had got one Robert Ket a Tanner of Wimondham to be their Leader and were growne to a body of twenty thousand seating themselves at Monshold neer Mount-Surrey where they carried a face as it were of Justice and Religion for they had one Conyers an idle fellow to be their Chapleyne who morning and evening read solemn Prayers also Sermons they had often and as for Justice they had a bench under a tree where Ket usually sate and with him two of every hundâ—ed whence their Companies had been raised to heare complints and to give Judgment and from hence were warrants sent in the Kings name to bring in powder shot victuals and all things necessary which tree hath ever since been called the tree of Reformation and now being grown to a heighth they presented certain complaints to the King requiring he would send a Herauld to them to give them satisfaction the King though he tooke it for a great indignity to have such base fellowes to capitulate with him yet framing himselfe to the time he returned this answer that in October following he would cal a Parliament wherin their complaints should be heard and all their grievances should be redressed requiring them in the meane time to lay downe Armes and returne to their houses and therupon granting them a generall pardon but this was so far from satisfying the seditious that hereupon first they assaulted the Town of Norwich tooke it and made the Major attend them as their servant and then returned again to their station at Mansholdâ— not long after William Parre Marquesse of Northampton with the Lord Sheffield the Lord Wentworth divers Knights and fifteen hundred Horse with a small band of Italians was sent against them whom the seditious so stoutly opposâ—d that much mischiefe was done on both sides the Lord Sheffield falling with his Horse in a ditch was taken prisoner and as he pulled off his helmet to shew who he was he was by a Butcher strucken downe with a club and slaine so as the Marquesse with his forces not prevailing there was afterward sent the Earle of Warwick with six thousand â—oot and fifteen hundred Horse with whom were the Lords Willoughby Powis and Bray his two sonnes Ambrose and Robert and many Knights and Gentlemen of Name When the Earl was come neere to the Camp of the seditious he sent a Herauld to them offering them the Kings pardon if they would desist but they were so far from accepting it that a lewd Boy turned up his naked breech towards the Herauld and bid him kisse it upon this many skirmishes passed between the Earle and them with losse sometimes to one side and sometimes to another at last they came to a Battaile where the Rebels placed in the Froâ—t all the Gentlemen they had taken prisoners meaning they should be the first slain of whom yet very few were hurt but of the Rebels were slain above two thousand and now once againe the Earle offered them pardon if they would desist but for all their losses they continued obstinate still at last the Eaâ—le sent to know if they would entertaine their pardon in case he should come in person and assure them of it this moved them much and then they answered they knew him to be so honourable that from himself they would embrace it wherupon the Earle riding to them and causing their pardon to be read they threâ— away their weapons wishing all joy and prosperity to the King nine of â—he principall Rebels were hanged upon the tree of Reformation Ket himselfe flying away was taken and hanged in chaines upon Norwich Castle the day of this defeat of the sedicious was a long time after observed for a festivall day by the Inhabitants of Norwich and thus ended the sedition in Norâ—olke wheâ— at the same time another arose in Yorkshire whereof the chiefe movers were William Ombler a Gentleman Thomas Dale a Parish Clerk and Stephenson a Post to whom were assembled foure or five thousand who tooke their encouragement from a certain Prophesie which did foretell that the time should come when there should be no King when the Nobility and Genâ—ry should be destroyed when the Realm should be ruled by foure Governours elected by the Commons holding a Parliament in commotion which should begin at the South and North Seas of England and that time they understood to be the present and that the Rebels of Devonshire Norfolke and Yorkshire should draw together to accomplish this prophesie but as soon as they heard that the tumults of Devonshire and Norfolke were quieted they found that they were deceived in the understanding of the prophesie and therupon presently upon the Kings pardon they fell off and dispersed their chiefe Leaders Ombler Dale and foure others were executed at Yorke and with this the Spirit of sedition was quite laid in all places of the Kingdome But the King of France taking advantage of these sedicioâ—s though he had been in treaty before of peace with England yet now he brake off the treaty Proclaimed war and denounced it by his Embassadour to the King hereupon all French-men in England not Denizens were taken prisoners and all their goods seized for the King which the French King understanding he sent a fleet of Ships to surprise Gernsey and Iarnsey but was repelled with the losse of a thousand men after this he levied an Army by land and went himselfe in person against Bulloigne defended by the valiant Sir Nicholas Arnold but being weary of the worke he left his Lievtenant Chatillon to pursue the Siedge who having made many fierce batteries and at last assaults and noâ— prevailing hee then attempted to hinder the Towne from supply of victuals and to this end charged a Galley with gravell and stones meaning to sinke it in the Haven but the English took the Galley before it was sunke and made use of the stones for their owne defence after this they made faggoâ—s of light matter mixed with piâ—ch tar tallow rosiâ—â— powder and wild-fire with intention to fire the ships in the Haven but that enterprise was defeated by the Bulloignes and the faggots taken from the French and more then this there was little done in those parts at this time But in England in the meane time an unfortunate accident happened which beginning upon a very light occasion produced afterward very heavy effects whereof though there were many concurrant circumstances yet the originall cause was the pride of a woman upon a point indeed wherein the natures of women are commonly most tender Precedency of place the Protectour had maried Anne Stanhope a woman of a haughty stomack and the Lord Admirall his Brother the Queene Dowager a Lady of great
please them both The Recorder set forth the complaint of the Lords against the Protectour in such sort that he made many inclinable to favour that side but one named George Stadlow better advised stept up and in a long Speech shewed what mischiefes had come to the City by opposing the King and therefore gave his opinion to suspend giving aide to the Lords at lest for a time His advice was harkened to and thereupon the Court resolved onely to arme a hundred Horsemen and foure hundred foot in defence of the City and to the letters returned submissive but dilatory answers After some other passages betweene the Protectour and the Lords Sir Edward Winkfield Captaine of the Guard was sent from the Lords to Windsor who so well perswaded the King of the Lords loyall affection towards him and of their moderate intention towards the Protectour that the King was contented to have him presently remvoed from him and suffered him within two dayes after to be carried to the Tower In whose absence seven Lords of the Councell and foure Knights were appointed by turnes to attend the Kings person and for affaires of State the government of them was referred to the whole body of the Councell soone after were sent to the Protectour in the Tower certain Lords of the Councell with Articles against him requiring his present Answer whether he would acknowledge them to be true or else stand upon his justificaâ—ion The chiefe Article was this That he tooke upon him the Office of Protectour with expresse condition that he should doe nothing in the Kings affaires but by assent of the late Kings Executours or the greaâ—est part of them and that contrary to this condition he had hindered Justice and subverted laws of his owne authority as well by letters as by other command and many other Articles but all much to this purpose The Protectour whether thinking to speed better by submission then by contesting or perhaps finding himselfe not altogether innocent for indeed in so great a place who can beare himselfe with such sincerity but he will commit errours with which he may be taxed subscribed an acknowledgement with his owne hand humbly submitting himselfe to the Kings mercy and desiring their Lordships favour â—owards him Upon this submission three moneths after he had bin imprisoned he was released entertained and feasted by the King and sworâ—e again to be a Privie Councellour but no more Protectour at which time betweene him and the Lords a shew at lest of perfect amity was made and to make it the more firme the Dukes daughter was afterward married to the Lord Lisle Sonne and heire to the Earle of Warwicke at which marriage the King himselfe was present and perhaps to honour their reconcilement and this marriâ—ge the Earle of Warwicke was made Lord Admirall of England Sir Iohn Russell Lord Privie Seale was created Earle of Bedford the Lord Saint-Iohn was created Earle of Wiltshire and soone after made Lord Treasurour Sir William Paget Controlour of the Kings House was made Lord Paget Sir Anthony VVinkfield Captaine of the Guard was made Controlour and Sir Thomas Darcye was made Captaine of the Guard But of the other side the Earle of Arundell the Earle of Southampton were put off from the Councell of whom the Earle of Southampton dyed shortly after at Lincolne-Place in Holborne and was buried in Saint Andrewes Church there About this time a Parliament was held at Westminster wherein one Act was made against spreading of Prophesies another against unlawfull Assemblies but for feare of new tumults the Parliament was untimely Dissolved and Gentlemen were commanded to retyre to their Countâ—ey-habitations and â—or the same cause also Trinity Terme did not hold About this time also Pope Paul the third dyed after whose death the Cardinals being divided about the election of a new Pope the Imperial part which was the greatest gave their voyces for Cardinall Poole which being told him â—e disabled himselfe and wished them to choose one that might be most for the glory of God and good of the Church upon â—his stop some that were no friends to Poole and perhaps looked for the place themselves if he were put off laid mâ—ny things to his charge amongst other that he was noâ— withouâ— suspition of Lutharisme as having bin very conversant with Immanuell Tremellius and Anthonius Flaminius great Lutherans and not altogether without blemish of incontinency there being a young Nunne that was thought to be his daughter But of these criminations Poole so cleered himselfe that he was afterward more importuned to take the place then he was before and thereupon one night the Cardinals came unto him being in bed and sent him word they came to adore him which is one special kind of electing the Pope but he being awaked out of his sleepe and acquainted with it made answer that this was not a worke of darkenesse and therefore required them to forbeare till the next day and then to doe as God should put in their mindes But the Italian Cardinals attributing this putting off to a kinde of stupidity and sloth in Poole looked no more after him but the next day chose Cardinall Montanus Pope who was afterward named Iulius the third And now the King of France upon many just considerations was growne desirous to have a Peace with England and thereupon sent one Guidolâ—i a Florentine inâ—o England to make some overture of his desire to the Lords of the Councell who addressing himselfe to the Earle of Warwicke whom he knew to be most prevalent so prevailed that it was concluded foure Embassadours should be sent from the King of England into Franeeâ— and foure from the French King to treat with them The Commissioners for the English were Iohn Earl of Bedford William Lord Paget Sir William Peter and Sir Iohn Mason Secretaries of State For the French were Monsieur Rochpot Monsieur Chatillon Guyllart de Martyer and Rochetelle de Dassie much time was spent to agree about a place of meeting till at last the English to satisfie the French were contented it should be before Bulloigne where were many meetings and mâ—ny diffâ—rences about conditions but in conclusion a Peace was concluded upon certaine Articles the chiefe whereof was that Bulloigne and the places adjacent should be delivered up to the French within six weekes after the Peace Proclaimed and that the French should pay for the same two hundred thousand crownes within three dayes after delivery of the Towne and other two huâ—dred thousand crowes upon the fifth day of August following hostages were on both sides given for performance and to those Articles the French King was sworne at Amyens and the King of England in London the Lord Clinton who had been Deputy of Bulloigne was made Lord Admirall of England Presently after this Agreement the Duke of Brunswicke sent to the King of England to offer his service in the Kings wars with ten thousand men and to intreat a marriage with the Lady
and the Cardinall on their right hand all the Lords Knights and Burgesses being present the Bishop of VVinchester Lord Chancellour made a short speech unto them signifying the presence of the Lord Cardinall and that he was sent from the Pope as his Legate a Latere to doe a worke tending to the glory of God and the benefit of them all which saith he you may better heare from his own mouth Then the Cardinall rose up and made a long solemne Oration wherin he first thanked them for his restoring by which he was enabled to be a member of their society then exhorting them to returne into the bosome of the Church for which end he was come not to condemne but to reconcile not to compell but to call and require and for their first worke of reconcilement requiring them to repeale and abrogate all such Lawes as had formerly beene made in derogation of the Catholicke Religion After which Speech the Parliament going together drew up a Supplication which within two dayes after they presented to â—he King and Queene wherein they shewed themselves to be very penitent for their former errours and humbly desired their Majesties to intercede for them to the Lord Cardinall and the See Apostolicke that they might be Pardoned of all they had done amisse and be received into the bosome of the Church being themselves most ready to abrogate all Lawes prejudiciall to the See of Rome This Supplication being delivered to the Cardinall he then gave them Absolution in these words Wee by the Apostolicke authority given unto us by the most Holy Lord Pope Iulius the third Christs Vicegerent on Earth doe Absolve and deliver you and every of you with the whole Realme and Dominions thereof from all Heresie and Schisme and from all Judgements Censures and Paines for that cause incurred and also Wee doe restore you againe to the unity of our Mother the holy Church The report hereof comming to Rome was cause that a solemne Procession was made for joy of the conversion of England to the Church of Rome And now the Queene had a great desire to have King Phillip crowned but to this the Parliament would by no meanes assent In October this second yeere of her reigne a rumour was spread of the Queenes being with childe and so forward that she was quicke and thereupon were Lettes sent from the Lords of the Councell to Bonner Bishop of London that Prayers of Thanksgiving should be made in all Churches and the Parliament it selfe was so credulous of it that they entred into consideration of the education of the childe and made an Act desiring the King our of 〈◊〉 confidence they had in him that if the Queene should faile he would be pleased â—o take upon him the Rule and Government of the childe but after â—ll this in Iune following it came to be knowne that it was but a Tympany â—r at lest the Queene so miscarried that there came no childe nor the Queene likely ever after to have any But howsoever in hope of the joy that was expected in Ianuâ—ry of this yeere divers of the Councell as the Lord Chancellour the Bishop of Elye the Lord Treasurour the Earle of Shrewsbâ—ry the Controlour of the Queens house Secretary Bourne and Sir Richard Soâ—thwell Master of the Ordinance were sent to the Tower to discharge and set at liberty a great part of the Prisoners in the Tower as â—amely the late Duke of Northumberlands sonnes Ambrose Robert and Henry also Sir Andrew Dudley Sir Iames Croâ—ts Sir Nicholas Throgmorton Sir Iohn Rogers Sir Nicholas Arnold Sir George Harper Sir Edward Warner Sir William Sentlow Sir Gowen Carow William Gybbs Esquire Cutbert Vaughan and some others About this time one William Fetherstone a Millers sonne of the age of eighteene yeeres named and bruted himselfe to be King Edward the sixth for which being apprehended and examined he answered as one lunaticke and thereupon was whipped at a Carts â—ayle and banished into the North but the yeere after spreading abroad againe that King Edward was alive and that he had talked with him he was arraigned and condemned of treason and at Tyburn hanged and quartered In the moneth of March the Queene was taken with a fit of Devotion and thereupon called unto her foure of her Privie Councell namely William Marquesse of Winchester Lord Treasurour Sir Robert Rochester Comptrolour Sir William Peter Secretary and Sir Francis Englefield Master of the Wards and signified unto them that it went against her conscience to hold the Lands and Possessions as well of Monasteries aud Abbeys as of other Churches and therefore did freely relinquish them and leave them to be disposed as the Pope and the Lord Cardinall should thinke fit and thereupon charged them to acquaint the Cardinall with this her purpose Aâ—d shortly after in performance hereof Iohn Fecknam late Deane of Pauls was made Abbot of Westminster and had possession delivered him and with him fourteen Monkes received the Habit at the same time and on the twentieth of November Sir Thomas was instituted Lord of Saint Iohns of Hierusalem and was put in possession of the Lands belonging unto it And when it was told herâ— that this would be a great diminution of the Revenues of her Crowne she answered she more valued the salvation of her soule then a thousand Crownes a most religious speech and enough if there were but this to shew her to be a most pious Prince The fourth of September this yeer King Phillip waited on with the Earle of Arundell Lord Steward the Earle of Pembrooke the Earle of Huntington and others went over to Callice and from thence to Brussels in Brabant to visit the Emperour his Father who deliveâ—ing him possession of the Low Countries in March following he returned into England but then on the sixth of Iuly following by reason of wars with France he passed again over to Callicâ— and so into Flanders from whence he returned not till eighteene moneths after which made great muttering amongst the common people as though hee tooke any little occasion to be absent for the little love hee bore to the Queene In the third yeere of the Queene dyed Stephen Gardiner Bishop of Winchester at his house in Southwarke of whose death it is memorable that the same day in which Bishop Ridley and Master Latimer suffered at Oxford he would not goe to dinner till foure a clocke in the aâ—ternoone thoâ—gh the old Duke of Norâ—olke was come to dine with him the reason was because he would first heare of their being burnt and as soon as word of that was brought him he presently said Now let us goe to Dinner where sitting downe and eating merrily upon a sudden he fell into such extremity that he was faine to be taken from the Table and carried to his bed where he continued fifteen dayes without voyding any thing either by urine or otherwise which caused his tsongu to swell in his mouth and so dyed after whose death
the Commissioners made unto her certain Propositions of Agreement First That the Treaty of Edinborough should be confirmed then That she should renounce her Right and Title to England during Queen Elizabeths life or any children of her body lawfully begotten then That she should send her sonne for a Hostage into England with other six Hostages such as the Queen should nominate then That the Castles of Humes and Fast-castle should be held by the English for three yeers with some other To which Propositions the Queen of Scots for the present gave a provident answer but referred the fuller Answer to the Biship of Rosse her Ambassadour in ENGLAND and some other Delegates who afterwards allowing some of the Propositions and not allowing others the Treaty came to nothing but the matter rested in the state it was before Aâ— this time Philip King of Spain had contracted Marriage with Anne of Austria Daughter to the Emperour Maximilian his own Neece by his Sister who was now setting Sayl from Zealand towards Spain when Queen Elizabeth to testifie her love and respect to the House of Austria sent Sir Charls Howard with the Navy Royall to conduct her thorow the Briâ—ish Sea And now was the twelfth yeer of Queen Elizabeths Raign finished which certain Wizards had made Papists believe should be her last but contrary as if it were but her first a new Custome began of celebrating the seventeenth day of November the Anniversary day of her Raign with ringing of Bells Tiltings and Bon-fires which Custome as it now began so it was never given over as long as she lived and is not yet forborn so long after her death At this time in Ireland Connagher ô Brien Earl of Towmond noâ— brooking the severe Government of Edward Fitton President of Connaght entred into Consultation with some few to raise a new Rebellion which being at the point ready to break forth was strangely discovered for the day before they meant to â—ake up Arms Fitton knowing not at all of the matter sent â—hâ— Earl word in friendly manner That the next day he and a few friends with him would be his Guests The Earl convinced by his own conscience imagined that his Intendments were revealed that Fitton would come as an enemy rather then a Guest Out of which feareâ— he presently set Sayle into FRANCE where repenting himselfe seriously of his fault he confessed the whole businesse to Norris the Queenes Embassadour in France and by his intercession was afterward pardoned and restored In Ianuary the thirteenth yeer of her Raigne Queen Elizabeth in royall pompe entring the City of London went to see the Burse which Sir Thomas Gresham had lately built for the use of the Marchants and with sound of trumpets and the voice of a Herald solemnly named it the Royall Exchange A few dayes after for his many great services she made Sir William Cecill Baron Burgley There were now about the Scottish affaires in the name of the King of of Scots the Earle Morton Peruare Abbot of Dumformelin and Iames Mac-Gray whom when Queen Elizabeth required to shew more clearely for what causes they had deposed the Queen they exhibited a long and tedious Commentary wherein with a certain insolent liberty they endeavoured to prove by the ancient Right of the Kingdom of Scotland that the people of Scotland were above the King and urged Calvins Authority also That Popular Magistrates are constituted for the moderation of the Licentiousnes of Princes and that it is lawfull for them both to imprison Kings and upon just causes to depose them This writing the Queen could not reade without indignation but to the Delegates she gave this Answer She saw no just cause yet why they should handle the Queen in such manner and therefore willed them to think upon some course out of hand how to allay the dissentions in Scotland Hereupon in Sir Nich. Bacons house Keeper of the Great Seal a Proposition was made to the Bishop of Rosse the Bishop of Galloway and Baron Levingston delegates for the Queen of Scots that for the security of the Kingdom and the Qu. of England it were requisite that before the Queen of Scots should be let at libertie The Duke of Castle-Herald the Earle of Huntley and Argyle the Lord Humes Heris and another of the Barons should be delivered for Hostages and the castle of Dumbriton and Hâ—â—eâ— yeelded up into the hands of the English for three yeers But they made Answer that to yeeld up great personages and such fortifications as were demanded were nothing else but to leave the miserable Queen utterly destitute of faithfull friends and naked of all places fit for guard and defence yet they offered to give two Earls and two Barons for Hostages till two yeers were expired which not being accepted they straightway gathered and spoke it openly That now they plainly perceived the English meant to keepe the Queen of Scots perpetually prisoner and likewise to break off the Treaâ—y seeing they rigorously demanded such securitie as Scotland was not able to make good And now Queen Elizabeth seeing that nothing could be done for her owne the King and Queen of Scots safety unlesse Both Factions in Scotland consented she held it fit that the Lords of Scotland should themselves appoint some chosen persons to compound the matter While matters in England proceeded in this sort the Queenes partie in Scotland was hardly used Frythâ— the strongest castle in Scotland was taken and I. Hamilton Archbishop of Saint Andrewes the Duke of Castle-Heralds brother as an accessary to the murder of Dâ—â—lye was hanged without being arraigned according to Law In England the Queen of Scots had all her servants taken from her except Tenne only and a Priest to say masse with which indignities the Queen of Scots provoked causeth a large Commentary of her Counsels with certain love-letters to the Duke of Norfolk to be carried to the Pope and the King of Spain by Ridolphuâ— which being brought first to the Duke Higford one that waited on the Duke in his bed chamber had copyed out but being commanded to burne them he hid them under a Matt in the Duke Bed-chamber and that it should seeme purposely Ridolphus to daw on the Duke to be Head of the discontented Partie in England aggravated to him the wrongs he had sufferedâ— how against all law he had been kept a long time in prison and now to his great disgrace was not Summoned to the Parliament he exhibited to him a Catalogue of such of the Nobilitie who had vowed to Assist him he shewed how the Pope so the Catholick Religion might be promoted would himself undergo all the charge of the Warre and had already layd down an hundred thousand Crownes whereof himself had distributed twelve thousand amongst the English that were fled he promised that the King of Spain would send four thousand horse and six thousand foot to his Assistance to these reasons the Bishop of Rosse added That it was an
all which the Duke made colourable answers but most of them being proved by sufficient testimony he asked upon occasion Whether the subjects of another Prince who is confederate and in league with the Queen are to be accounted the Queens enemiesâ— to which Catiline answered They were and that the Q. of England might wage War with any Duke of France yet hold firm Peace with the French King When it grew towards night the L. high Steward demanded of the Duke if he had any more to say for himself who answered I rely upon the equity of the Laws After this the Lords withdrawing a while and then returning the Lord Steward beginning at the lowermost asked them My Lord de la Ware Is Thomas Duke of Norfolk guilty of these crimes of High Treason for which he is called in question He rising up and laying his hand upon his breast answered guilty in like manner they answered all After this the Lord Steward with teares in his eyes pronounced sentence in forme as is used A few dayes after were Barnes and Mather executed who conspired with one Herle to make away certaine of the Councellors and to free the Duke but Herle revealed the businesse presently to whom Barnes when hee saw his Accuser brought forth smilingly said Herle thou wert but one houre before mee else I had beene in thy place for the accuser and thou in my roome to be hanged at the same time with them was hanged also Henry Rolfe for counterfeiting the Queens hand But though the Duke were now condemned yet the Queen was so tender of his case that it was foure Moneths after before he was executed at last on the second of June at eight of the clock in the morning he was brought to the Scaffold upon the Tower-Hill and there beheaded At this time and upon this occasion a Parliament was Assembled wherein amongst other Lawes it were Enacted that if any man shall go about to free any person imprisoned by the Queens expresse Commandementâ— for Treason or suspition of Treason and not yet Arraigned he shall lose all his goods for his life time and be imprisoned during the Queens pleasure if the said person have beene Arraigned the Rescuer shall forfeit his life if condemned he shall be guilty of Rebellion In the time of this Parliament the Queen created Walter Devereux Earl of Essex being before but Viscount Hereford because he was descended by his Great-grand-mothers from the Bourchiers and made the Lord Clinton who had large Revenues in Lincolnshire Earl of Lincoln Also she called forth Iohn Paulet of Basing the Marquesse of Winchester's son Henry Compton Henry Cheyney and Henry Morris for Barons by Summons Within ten dayes after the Dukes death William Lord De-la-ware Sir Ralph Sadler Thomas Wilson Doctor of the Laws and Thomas Brumley the Queens Solicitour were sent to the Queen of Scots to expostulate with her That shee had usurped the Title and Arms of the Kingdom of England and had not renounced the same according to the agreement of the Treaty at Edinburgh That shee had endeavoured the marriage of the Duke of Norfolke without acquainting the Queene and had used all forcible meanes to free him out of prison had raised the Rebellion in the North had relieved the Rebels both in Scotland and in the Low-Countries had implored Aids from the Pope the King of Spaine and others had conspired with certaine of the English to free her out of Prison and Declare her Queen of England Lastly that she had procured the Popes Bull against the Queen and suffered herself to be publikely named the Queen of England in Forreigne Countries All which accusations she either absolutely denyed or else fairly extenuated and though as she said she were a free Queen and not subject to any creature yet she was content and requested that she might make her personall answer at the next Parliament About this time the King of Spain by his Embassadour here complained to the Queen that the Rebels of the Netherlands were harboured and entertained in England contrary to the Articles of the League whereupon the Queen set forth a severe Proclamation That all the Dutch who could any wayes be suspected of Rebellion should presently depart the Realm which yet turned little to D'Alva's or the King of Spains benefit For hereupon Count Vander-Mark and other Dutch going out of England surprized the Brill first then Flushing and afterwards drew other Towns to Revolt and in a short time excluded the Duke D'Alva in a manner from the Sea And this errour to suffer the Protestant party to get possession of the Sea-towns hath been the cause they have been able to hold out even all this long time against the King of Spain And now many military men having little to do at home got them into the Netherlands some to Duke D'Alva but the far greater number to the Prince of Orenge The first of whom was Thomas Morgan who carryed three hundred English to Flushing then followed by his procurement nine Companies more under the conduct of Humphry Gilbert and afterward it became the Nursery of all our English Souldiers At this time Charls the French King setting his mind wholly at least seeming so upon the Low-Country War concluded a peace and entred into a league with Queen Elizabeth which was to remain firm not only during their two lives but between their successors also if the sâ—ccessor signifie to the surviver within a yeer that he accepteth it otherwise to be at liberty It was likewise agreed what aid by Sea or Land they should each of them afford to other upon occasion and for ratification of this League Edward Clinton Earl of Lincoln and Admirall of England was sent into France with whom went the Lord Dacres Rich Talbot Sands and others The French King likewise sent the Duke of Memorancy and Paul Foix iâ—to England with a great train that the Queen in the presence of them and the Embassador in Ordinary might sweare to the league which she did at Westminster the seaventeenth of May in the yeer 1572. The day after she made Memorancye Knight of the Garter Memorancye whilst he tarryed in England made intercession in his Kings name that what favour could be without danger might be shewed to the Queen of Scots and then made much a do again about the marriage with the Duke of Angiou but being hopelesse to make conclusion thereof by reason of the diversity of Religion he returned into France for now was great provision making ready for the mariage between Henry King of Navarre and the Lady Margeret the French Kings Sister to which solemnity with notable dissimulation the Queen of Navarre and the chief of all the Protestants were allured being born in hand that there should be a renovation of love and a perpetuall peace established The Earl of Leicester likewise and the Lord Burleigh were invited out of England and out of Germany the sons of the Prince Elector Palatine under
thereupon for not coming into England as he had determined The Count found the Queen at Canterbury where she gave him Royall intertainment and Matthew Parker Archbishop of Canterbury Royall intertainment to them both All this while since the death of the Earl of Marre there had been no Regent in Scotland but now by the procurement of Queen Elizabeth chiefly Iames Dowglas Earl of Morton is made Regent who when his Authority in a Parliamentary Assembly was established Enacted many profitable Laws for the defence of Religion against Papists and Hereticks in the name of the King But the proâ—ection and keeping of the Kings Person hee confirmed to Alexander Areskin Earl of Marre to whom the custody of the Kings in their tender yeers by speciall priviledge belongeth though hee were himself in his Minority Upon these conditions That no Papists nor factious persons should be admitted to his presence An Earl should come with onely two servants attending him A Baron with onely one All other single and every one unarmed The French King in the mean time sent his Embassadour Mounsier Vyriar to corrupt the Earls of Atholl and Hâ—ntley with large promises to oppose the Regent Queen ELISABETH as much laboured to defend him but though by the ministery of Killigrew shee had drawn Iames Hamilton Duke of Castle-Herald and George Gourdon Earl of Huntley and the most eminent of that Faction upon indifferent conditions to acknowledge the Regent yet VVilliam Kâ—râ—â—ld Lord Graâ—nge whom Murray when hee was Regeâ—t had made Goveâ—nour of Edingborough Castle The Lord Humâ—s Lydington the Bishop of Dunkeld and others would by no meanes admit of the Regents Government but held that Castle and fortified it in the Queen of Scots name having Lydington for their Counsellor herein and trusting to the naturall strength of the place and to the Duke D' Alva's and the Fâ—eâ—ch Kings promises to send them supplies both of men and money Now when these persons could by no meanes drawne to accept of conditions of peace and to deliver up the Castle to the Regent Queen Elizabeth who could in no case endure the French in Scotland suffered her self at length to be intreated by the Regent to send Forces Gunnes and Ammunition for assaulting of the Castle upon certain conditions whereof one was that ten Hostages should be sent into England to be security foâ— returning the men and Munition unlesse by the common hazard of War they should chance to miscarry The conditions being argued on William Drury Marshall of the Garrison at Barwick with some â—reat Ordnance and Fifteen hundred Souldiers amongst whom were some noble Voluntiers George Carie Henry Carie Thomas Cecill Heâ—ry Lee William Knolles Sutton Cotton Kelway VVilliam Killigrew and others entred into Scotland and besieged the Castle which after three and thirty dayes siege was delivered up to the Regent for the Kings use with all the persons that were in it amongst whom Kircald Lord Grange and Iames his brother Musman and Cook gold-smiths who had counterfeited Coyne in the Castle were hanged although to redeem Granges life a hundred of the Family of the Kircalds offered themselves to be in perpetuall servitude to the Regent besides an annuall Pension of three thousand Marks and twenty thousand pounds of Scottish money in present and to put in caution that from thence forth he should continue in duty homage to the King but it would not bee accepted Humes and the rest were spared through Queen Elizabeths mercifull intercession Lydington was sent to Leith where hee dyed and was suspected to bee poysoned A man of the greatest understanding in the Scottish Nation and of an excellent wit but very variable for which George Buchanan called him the Camelion And now from this time Scotland began to take breath after long Civill Warres and as well the Captaines of both parties as the Souldiers betook themselves into Swedeland France and the Low-Countries where they valorously behaved themselves and wonne great commendation As for Iohn Lesle Bishop of Rosse he was now set at liberty but commanded to depart presently out of England and being beyond the Sea he continued still to sollicite his Mistresse the Queen of Scots cause with the Emperour the Pope the French King and the German Princes of the Popish Religion who all led him on with faire promises but performed nothing For indeed he in whom he had greatest confidence which was the Duke D' Alva was at that time called away partly out of Jealousie of State as being thought to grow too great and partly out of opinion that by his cruelty he made the people to revolt and therefore in his place was sent Ludovicus Zuinga a man of great Nobility in Spain â—ut of a more Peaceable disposition then D' Alva â—ow this man did all good Offices to win Queen Elizabeth to him and minding his owne Affairs only would not intermeddle with the Scottish or English matters About this a frentick Opinion was held by one Peter Bourcheâ— a Gentâ—eman of the Middle-Temple that it was lawfull to kill them that opposed the truth of the Gospell and so far was he possest with this opinion that he assaulted the famous Seaman Captain Hawkins and wounded him with a dagger taking him for Hutton who at that time was in great favour with the Queen and of her privy Counsell whom he had been informed to be a great Adversary to Innovations The Queen grew so angry hereat that she commanded Marshiall Law should be executed upon him presently till her Counsell advised her that Marshiall Law was not to be used but in the Field and in turbulent times but at home and in time of Peace there must be Legall proceedings Hereupon Bourchet was sent to the Tower where taking a brand out of the fire he strook it into the brains of one of his keepers named Hugh Longwroth and killed him for which fact he was condemned of murther had his right hand cutt off and nayled to the Gallows and then himselfe hanged After the violent death of this Varlet we may speake of the naturall death of two great persons First William Lord Howard of Effingham Son of that warlike Thomas Howard Duke of Norfolk by his second wife Agnes Tilney This William was made a Baron by Queen Mary and Lord High Admirall of England and by Queen Elizabeth Lord Chamberlain till such time that being taken with age he yeelded up that place to the Earl of Sussex and was then made Keeper of the Privy Seal which is the fourth degree of honour in England His Son Charles succeeded him in the Dignity of his Barony who was after made Lord Chamberlain to the Queen and then Lord High Admirall of England A while after him dyed Reginold Grey Earl of Kent whom the Queen a yeer before of a private man had made Earl of Kent when as that Title from the death of Richard Grey Earl of Kent who had wasted his Patrimony and was elder brother to this mans
the Queens leave he might take up Ships and Marriners to goe against the Hollanders and Zelanders but this she would not grant Then hee made suite that the Queen would please not to take it in evill part if the banished persons of the English in the Low-Countries served the King of Spaine in a Sea-Fight against the Hollanders and that they might have free accesse to the Ports of England to buy provision for ready money But this shee would not grant neither Then he made request that the Dutch who were Rebels against the King of Spaine might be put out of England but neither would shee grant this as being an Action voide of Humanity and against the Lawes of Hospitality yet because shee would not be thought to violate the old Burgundian Law shee Commanded by Proclamation that the Shipps of the Dutch which were made ready should not go forth of the Haven nor yet the Dutch who had taken up Armes against the King of Spaine enter into the Ports of England and by name the Prince of Orenge and Fifty other the prime of that Faction and this shee did the more willingly because Zuinga at the intercession of Wilson the English Embassador had removed the Earle of Westmerland and other English Fugitives out of the Dominions of the King of Spaine and had also dissolved the English Seminary at Doway though in stead thereof the Guises through the procurement of Pope Gregory the thirteenth set up another Seminary at Rhemes And at this time the Prince of Orenge perceiving his Forces but small and thinking himself too weake for the King of SPAINE and little hope of ayde from England he entered into Consultation with the Confederate States to whose protection they were best and in the most security to betake themselves The Princes of Germany they knew were not all of one minde parted from money very hardly and did not every way nor would not by no meanes possible accord and concurre with them in their Religion and therefore they were not so fit Then the French they saw were intangled in a Civill War and so had enough of their owne to do besides the old grudges and heart-burnings that vvere between the French and Dutch and therefore neither were they so fit There remained then the English as the fittest of any if it might be obtained seeing they were Neighbouss of the same Religion and of a Language not much different strong in shipping and rich in Merchandize Hereupon considering the commodiousnesse of the English Nation they send into England Philip Marnizie of S. Aldegond Ianus Dowsa William Nyvell and Doctor Melsen who in an honourable Ambassage offer the Countries of Holland and Zealand to be possessed or protected by the Queen forasmuch as she was descended from the Princes of Holland by Philip wife of Edward the third daughter of William of Bavaria Count of Hanonia and Holland by whose other sister the hereditary Right of â—hose Provinces came to the King of Spain To this offer the Queen takes time to answer and at last having maturely advised of the matter her Answer was this That as yet she conceived not how with safety of her honour and an upright conscience she could receive those Provinces into her protection much lesse assume them into her possession but promised She would deal earnestly with the King of Spain that a well conditioned Peace might be concluded Presently upon this Zuinga Governour of the Low-Countries died after whose death the States of Brabant Flanders and the other Provinces took upon them the ancient Administration and Authority in the Common-wealth which the King of Spain was fain to confirm to them till such time as Iohn of Austria were come whom he determined to make Governour there In the mean time Queen Elizabeth in behalf of the King of Spain sent William Davyson in Ambassage to those Provinces to exhort them to be peaceable and quiet which yet by reason the Spanish Souldiers were so outragious little prevailed In England all was calm and quiet for all this yeer onely a difference fell out between Sir Iohn Forster Governour of Berwick and Iohn Cormichill Keeper of Liddesdale in Scotland In composing whereof the Regent of Scotland having given Queen Elizabâ—th some discontentment was fain to come unarmed before the Earl of Huntington appointed the Legate for England at Bonderod and so the matter was taken up and the Regent ever after continued constant in observing the Queen and to his great commendation restrayned the Freebooters of the Borders to the great good of both Kingdomes This yeer there died in Scotland Iames Hamilton Duke of Castle-Herald and Earl of Arran who was great Grand-childe to Iames the second King of Scots by his daughter appointed Tutor to Mary Queen of Scots and designed Heir and Governour of the Kingdom during her minority At this time the Earl of Essex is come into Ireland again whâ—re having done good services and being in the midst of Victory he was on a sudden commanded to resigne his Authority in Ulster and as though he were an ordinary Commander is set over three hundred Souldiers which disgrace was wrought by his adversaries in Court to the continuall peâ—plexing of his milde spirit And now is Sir Henry Sidney the third time sent Deputy into Ireland who going into Ulster there came to him and submitted themselves Mac Mahon Mac Guyre Turlogh Leynigh the O Conors and O Moors the Earl of Desmond and the rebellious sons of the Earl of Clanricard all whom he received into favour and with great commendation administred the Province At this time the Spaniard in the Low-Countries began to deal roughly with the people and haryed the Inhabitants with all manner of spoyl and injury Antwerp the most famous Town of Traffick in all Europe was miserably pillaged the English Merchants houses rifled insomuch that the States were enforced to take up Arms and Messengers were sent to all neighbouring Princes and to Q. Elizabeth was sent Monsieur Aubigâ—y both to shew her upon how necessary and just causes they had taken up Arms and also to borrow of her a great sum of money the better to enable them to resist the Spaniard But she being certainly informed That they first sued to the French King for help denieth the request yet promiseth to intercede earnestly with the King of Spainâ— for peace And in that imployment she addressed into Spaine Iohn Smith cosen German to King Edward the sixth a man of Spainsh behaviour and well knowne to the King of Spaine who was liberally received by the King and with such wisdome retorted the contumelious speech of Gasper Quiroga Archbishop of Toledo and the Spanish Inquisitors who would not admit in the Queenes Title the Attribute of Defendor of the Faith that he had gained great thankes from the King of Spaine himself who requested him not to speake of it to the Queen and gave severe command That the Title should be admitted And now by this time
the Queen for succour to whom upon certain conditions she granted an Army of four thousand men and some great Ordnance with which Sir Iohn Norris was sent into France whom yet the French King imployed not as was agreed to the great displeasure of the Queen But as for the Prince of Parma's coming into France hee was prevented by death when hee had governed the Netherlands under the Spaniard fourteen yeers a Prince of many excellent parts and whom Queen Elisabeth never mentioned but with honour And now Queen Elizabeth considering that the King of Spaines chiefe strength was in his Gold of America sends forth Sir Walter Ralegh with a Fleet of fifteene Ships to meete with the Spanish Fleet who passing by a Promontory of Spain received certain intelligence that the Spaâ—ish Fleet was not to come forth that yeare Whereupon dividing his Navy into two parts whereof the one he committed to Sir Iohn Burâ—â—â—ghs the other to Sir Martin Forbysher he waited other opportunities when soon after a mighty Caraque came in view called The Mother of God which from the Beake to the Sterne was a hundred threescore and five foot long built with seven Decks and carrying six hundred men besides rich Merchandize This great Vessell they took and in it to the â—â—lue of a hundred and fifty thousand pounds sterling over and above what the Commanders and Sea-men pilfered This yeare the Queene going in Progresse passed through Oxford where she was entertained by the Schollers with Orations Stage-Plâ—yes and Disputations and by the Lord Buckhurst Chancellor of the University with a sumptuous Feast At her departure She made a Latine Oration wherein she vowed a vow and gave them counsell Her vow was That as she desired nothing so much as the prosperity and flourishing estate of her Kingdome so she as much wished to see the Universities and Schools of learning to flourish likewise Her Counsell was That they would serve God above all not following the curiosity of some wits but the Lawes of God and the Kingdome That they would not prevent the Lawes but follow them nor dispute whether better Lawes might be made but observe those which were already Enacted This year dyed Anthony Browne Viscount Montacute whom Queene Mary honored with this Title because his Grandmother was Daughter and one of the Heirs of Iohn Nevill Marquesse Montacute who though he were a great Roman Catholike yet the Queen finding him faithfull alwayes loved him and in his sicknesse went to visit him There dyed at this time also Henry Lord Scroope of Bolton Knight of the Garter and long time Governour of the Westerne Border toward Scotland At this time Henry Barrow and his Sectaries condemning the Church of England to be no Christian Church and derogating from the Queens Authority in matters Ecclesiasticall he the sayd Barrow as Ring-leader of the rest was put to death in terror to all such disturbers of the peace of the Church About this time by reason of the Queens correspondence with the Turk to the end her Subjects might have free Trading in his Territories It was maliciously given out by some that she had excited the Turke to a War against the Christians which caused the Queen to write to the Emperour shewing him the falsenesse of this report wherein she gave him full saâ—â—sfaction And now a constant report came into England That the King of France had already embraced or was ready to embrace the Romish Religion which so much troubled the Queene that she presently sent Thomas Wilkes into France with reasons if it were not too late to divert him from it But before Wilkes came the King indeed had openly professed the Romish Religion at the Church of Saint Denis in Paris of which his Conversion he declared the causes to Wilkes at large shewing the necessity of it unlesse he would suffer himselfe to be utterly thrust out of the Kingdome And the French AMBASSADOR signifying as much to the Queene in great perplexity She writ to him to this effect Alas what grief what anxiety of minde hath befallen me since I heard this news was it possible that worldly respects should make you lay aside Gods feare â—â—uld you thinke That He who had hitherto upheld and kept you would now at the last leave you It is a dangerous thing to doe evill that gâ—od may come thereof But I hope your minde may alter In the meane while I will pray for you and beg of God That the hands of Esau may not hinder the blessing of Jacob. To this the KING Answered That though he had done this in his owne Person out of necessity yet He would never be wanting to those of the Reformed Religion but would take them into his speciall care and Protection And now was Richard Hasket condemned and executed for Treasoâ— being sent from the English Fugitives beyond Sea to perswade Ferdinand Earle of Derby Sonne to Henry newly deceased to assume the Title of the Kingdome by right of Descent from Mary Daughter to Henry the Seventh and threatning him that unlesse he undertooke this enterprize and withall concealed him the Abettor he should shortly dye in most wretched manner But the Earle fearing a trap was layd for him revealed the matter yet the fellows threating proved not altogether vaine for the Earle within foure Moneths dyed a most horrible death This yeare Death had his tribute payd him from the Nobility for there dyed Henry Ratcliffe Earle of Sussex and three renowned Barons Arthur Grey of Wilton Henry Lord Cromwell and Henry Lord Wentworth besides Sir Christopher Carlile whose Warlike Prowesse at Sea and land deserves to be remembred In IRELAND at this time divers great men in Connaght Rebelled and Tuâ—logh Leynigh being dead Tir-Oen assumed to himselfe the title of O-Neale which in IRELAND is more esteemed than to be called EMPEROVR But upon a sudden dissembling his disconteâ—t hee submitted himselfe to the DEPVTY and promised all obedience Iâ— was now the yeare 1594 and the seven and thirtieth of Queen ELIZABETHâ— Raigne when the good correspondence betweene the King of Scots and Queen ELIZABETH gave the Papists small hope that ever he would prove an Instrument to restore the Catholike Religion Whereupon they began to bethinke themselves of some English Papist that might succeed the Queene but finding none of their owne Sect a fit person they fixed their thoughts upon the Earl of Essex who alwayes seemed a very moderate man and him they devised to have some right to the Crowne by Descent from Thomas of Woodstocke King EDVVARD the Thirds Sonne But the English Fugitives were for the Infanta of Spaine and desiring to set the King of Scots and the Earle of Essex at ods they set forth a Book which they Dedicated to Essex under the name of Doleman but was written indeed by Parsons Dolemans bitter Adversary Cardinall Allen and Francis Englefield The scope of which Booke was to exclude from Succession all persons whatsoever and how near soever Allied
King according to an ancient custome had ayde of His Subjects thorough England for making his eldest sonne Prince Henry Knight which yet was Levied with great moderation and the Prince to shew himselfe worthy of it performed His first Feates of Armes at Barriers with wonderfull skill and courage being not yet full sixteene yeares of Age. It was now the eight yeere of King Iames His Reigne being the yeare 1610 when Prince Henry being come to the age of seventeen yeares It was thought fit He should be Initiated into Royalty and thereupon the thirtieth of May this yeare He was Created Prince of Wales in most solemne manner which was this Garter King at Armes bore the Letters Patents the Earle of Sussex the Robes of Purple Velvet the Earle of Huntington the Traine the Earle of Cumberland the Sword the Earle of Rutland the Ring the Earle of Darby the Rod the Earle of Shrewsbury the Cape and Coronet the Earle of Nottingham and North-Hampton supported the Prince being in His Surcoate only and bare-headed and in this manner being conducted to the King attended on by the Knights of the Bathe five and twenty in number all great men and great mens sons The Earle of Salisbury principall Secretary read the Letters Pattents the Prince kneeling all the while before the King and at the words accustomed the King put on him the Robe the Sword the Cape and the Coronet the Rod and the Ring and then kissed him on the cheeke and so the solemnity ended After this it was thought fit he should keep his Court by himselfe and thereupon Sir Thomas Chaloner a learned Gentleman who had before been his Governour was now made his Lord Chamberlaine Sir Edw. Philips his Chancellor and all other officers assigned him belonging to a Princes Court wherein he shewed himselfe so early ripe for Majesty that he seemed to be a King while he was yet but Prince And all mens eyes began to fix upon him King Iames had long since shut up the Gates of Ianus and was in Peace with all Princes abroad his only care now was how to keep Peace at home and to this end the three first dayes of Iune in his own person he heard the differences between the Ecclesiasticall and the Temporall Iudges argued touching Protections out of the Kingsâ—Bench and Common-Pleas to this end the eight ninth tenth of Iune he heard the manifold complaints of the abuses of the Victualers other Officers of his Navy Royall to this end the 4 of Iune 1610 he once again by Proclamation commanded all Roman Priests Seminaries and Iesuits as being the chiefe Incendiaries of troubles to depart this Kingdome by the 5 of Iuly next and not to returne upon pain of severity of the Law also all Recusants to returne home to their Dwellings and â—ot to ramaine in London â—oâ— to come within ten miles of the Court without speciall Licence aâ—â—â—r which Proclamation the Oâ—th of Allegeance was presently ministred to all sorts of people and their names certified to the Lords of the Counsell that refâ—â—ed to take it and this Hee the rather did out of consideration of the bloudy fact committed lately by one Revillâ—ck upon the person of the renowned K. of France Henry the fourth whereas Queen Elizabeth in her 43 years had granted her Letters Pattents to continue for 15 years to the East India Merchants now upon their humble petition the King was pleased to enlarge their Pateâ—â—s giving them a charter to continue for ever enabling them thereby to be a body Corporate and Politick which so encouraged the Merchants that they built a ship of twelve hundred â—un the greatest that was ever made in this Kingdome by Merchants which the King and Prince honored with going to Deptford to see it and then named it The Trades encrease and at this time gave to Sir Thomas Smith Governour of that Company a faire chaine of Gold with a Iewell wherein was his Picture But this great Ship having been in the Read Sea and returning to Banthem was there lost and most of her men cast away But then the King himselfe builded the goodliest Ship of War that was ever built in England being of the burthen of 1400 tun and carrying threescore and foure pieces of great Ordnance which he gave to his son Prince Henry who named it after his own dignity The Prince And now whereas a Parliament had been holden this year and was Prorogued to a certain day the King perhaps not finding it to comply with his designes or for some other cause known to himself on the last day of December under the grâ—â—t Sâ—ale of England dissolved it Before this time one Sir Robert Câ—rre a Gentleman of Scotland or of the bordâ—â—â— being a hunting with the King chanced with a fall off his horse to breake his leg upon which mischance he was forced for some days to keep his bed in which time the King was sometimes pleased to come and visit him and then it was first perceived that the King had begun to cast an eye of favour upon him and indeed â—roâ— that time forward as he was a very fine Gentleman and very wise many great favours were heaped upon him So as on Easter Munday in the yeare 1611 he was Created Viscount Rochester On the two and twentieth of Aprill 1612 was swoâ—ne a privy Counsellor On the fourth of November 1613 was Created Earle of Soâ—erset and the tenth of Iuly following made Lord Chamberlaine Bâ—â— this Sun-shine of Fortune lasted not long yet not by any inconstancy in the King but by the Earles own undeserving which thus fell out The Right Honourable Robert Earle of Essex had before this time married the beautifull Lady Francis Howard daughter of Thomas Earle of Suffolk who upon caâ—ses â—udicially heard were afterward Divorced and left free to marry any other Afteâ— which Divoâ—ce this great favorite the Earle of Somerset takes her for wife thâ— King gâ—acing their marriage with all demonstrations of love and favour and the Lords gracing it with a stately Masque that night and a few dayes after the Bride and Bridegroom accompanied with most of the Nobility of the Kingdome were â—easted at Merchant Taylors Hall by the Lord Major and Aldermen But see how soon this faire weâ—â—her was overcast For it hapned that one Sir Thâ—mas â—â—erbâ—ry a very ingenious Gentleman and the Earles speciall fâ—â—â—â—d who had written a witty Treâ—tise of a Wife and it seemes not thinking thâ— Lady in all points answerable to his description had been an earnest disswaâ—â—â— of the Mâ—â—â—â— and to â—â—rengthen his diâ—â—wasion layd perhaps some unjust 〈◊〉 upâ—â— the Ladyes 〈◊〉 which so incensed them both against him that 〈…〉 could not give them satiâ—â—â—ction than to take away his life So 〈…〉 saying Improbe 〈…〉 r quid non mortalia pectora cogis 〈◊〉 this they finde pretences to have the said Sir Thomas committed to the â—â—wer and there by their Instruments effect their revenge some
say by a â—â—â—â—oned Tansey sent him to eat some by a poysoned Glyster ministred unto 〈◊〉 but howsoever effected it wasâ— for which Fact Sir Iervis Elvis then Lieuâ—â—â—â—â—â— of the Tower and three or fouâ—e other of inferiour condition were put to death the Lady and Earle themselves were arraigned and condemned but â—horough the Kings great clemency had their lives spared but in such a sort spaâ—edâ— as was to them no lesse grievous than death it sâ—lf being never after suffered to see the Kings face nor to come neere his Court. This Favorite being thus out of favour there was place made for entertaining another for indeed King Iames was of so sociable and loving a nature that he could not be long well without an Alter idem a bosome friend with whom to communicate his Internos sensus and upon whose shoulders he might sometimes lay a burthen which he was not willing to beate himselfe and this new friend was Mr. George Villers a Gentleman of a good House but a younger brother but of so delicate a composure of body and withall of so excellent paâ—ts of mind as if nature had framed him of purpose to be a Kings Favorite And indeed never any man was partaker of the Royall Influence like to him made first a Knight and Gentleman of the Kings Bed-chamber soone after made a Viscount and Master of the Horse a while after erected Earle of Buckingham then Marquis of Buckingham and made Lord Admirall Lastly made Duke of Buckingham the greatest Title of Honour that a Subject is capable ofâ— and yet his Title not greater than his Power for all matters of Grace passed from the King by him and to grace him the more his Mother who after his Fathers death had marryed a younger sonne of the Lord Comptons was created Countesse of Buckingham his sister who had marryed a Gentleman of no exâ—raordinary Family had her husband made Earle of Denbigh his two brothers were made one of them Viscount Berbach the other Earle of Anglesey besides many other of his friends and kindred highly advanced For this Lord affected not an advancement that should bee only personall but rather bee in common to all his Family and was not of the disposition of some who like to great Oakes love to keep all that are neer them underwood though it be in truth both against Nature and Policy to stand alone when they would be lesse subject to the violence of windes if more stood together And though never any man had juster cause to be envyed than hee yet never any man was lesse envyed because though his Honours made him great yet they made him not swell but he retained the like temper of affable carriage after his advancement as he had done before But before all these favours were heaped upon him many other great pasâ—ages had intervened for first after the death of Thomas Earle of Dorset Robert Earle of Salisbury had beene Lord Treasurer and after him Thomas Earle of Suffolke But this Lord though of a most noble disposition yet as having had his trayning up another way seemed lesse ready in discharging the place and whether for this or for his Ladies taking too much upon her by his indulgence the staffe was soone after taken from him after whom there came in such a sequence of Treasures as no Age before had ever seeneâ— all wise and able men indeed but yet in whom the Office seemed an imployment rather to ennoble the Officer than to enrich the King For first Sir Henry Montague was taken from the Kings Bench and on the fourth of December 1620. made Lord Treasurer and presently upon it Earle of Manchester and before the yeere went about put off After whom Sir Lyonell Cranfield from Master of the Wards was made Lord Treasurer and shortly after Earle of Middlesex and then not only put off but fined to pay the King fifty thousand pounds After him Sir Iames Lee from chiefe Iustice of the Kings Bench was made Lord Treasurer and soone after Earle of Marleborough and then having made a good returne of his Place pâ—â— iâ— off himselfe After him Sir Richard Wâ—ston from Chancelour of the Exâ—heâ—â—â—r was made Lord Treasurer and soone after Earle of Portland so as within the compasse of little more than foure yeares foure Treasurerâ— in a row were made fourâ— Earles enough to make a praescription for all Treasurers hereafter to clayme a Right of being made Earles which yet I speake not as derogating from those worthy men whose memories I reverence but as observing Fataqâ—e Fâ—rtunasque Virum so rare as that there was never any President of the like Also the five and twenteth of Iune 1612. the Lord Sâ—nquer a Nobleman of Scotland having in a private revenge suborned Robert Carlile to murther Iohn Tuâ—ner a Master of Fence thought by his greatnesse to have borne it out but thâ— King respecting nothing so much as Iustice would not suffer Nobility to be a shelter for villany but according to the Law on the nine and twenteth of Iune the said Lord Sanquer having been arraigned and condemned by the name of Robert Crâ—ightâ—â— Esquire was before Westminster Hall gate executed where he dyed very penitent About this time the King in speciall favour for the present Plantation of English Colonies in Virginia granted a Lottery to be held at the West end of Pauls whereof one Thomas Sharplys a Taylour of London had the chiefe Prize which was foure thousand Crownes in faire Plate At this time also the Corps of Mary late Queene of Scotland the Kings Mother was translated from Peterborough to St. Peters Church in Westminster and from thence was carryed to the Chappell Royall there where it was interred in a Royall Tombe which the King had erected for her About this time also Sir Robert Sherley third sonne of Sir Thomas Sherley of Sussex Knight who sixteene yeares past had betaken himselfe to travaile and had served diverse Christian Princes for the space of five yeares but chiefly Rodolphus the Roman Emperour who for his service made him an Earle of the Empire hee afterward went into Persia and served the Persian ten yeares who made him Generall of the Artillery and held him in so great account that hee gave him the Lady Teresia in marriage whose sister was one of the Queens of Persia after which the Persian imployed him to sundry Princes of Europe and seâ—t him in speciall Embassage into England to King Iames to whom he delivered his Letters and shewed his Commission all which signified the Persians great love and affection to his Majesty with franke offer of free Commerce to all his Highnesse Subjects thorough all the Persians Dominions After a yeares stay here in which time his Lady lay in of a sonne to whom the Queene was God-Mother and Prince Henry God-Father hee left the child here in England and then with his Lady departed into Persia. It was now the yeare 1612. and the tenth of King Iames his Raigne
when the Illustrious Prince Frederick Count Palatine of the Rhyne with whom a Treaty of marriage had been before with the Lady Elizabeth on the sixteenth of October arrived at Gravesend to whom the Duke of Lenox and diverse other Lords were sent by the King who conducted him to White-Hall and from thence into the great Bâ—â—quetting-House where the King the Queene Prince Henry and the Lady Elizabeth entertained him in all kind manner and after by Barge conducted him to Essex House appointed for his lodging It was many yeâ—res since any Kings Daughter had beene marryed in England which now happening and to so Illustrious a Prince was just cause of Triumph and rejoyceingâ— but see the misery of Humane Affaires joy can no sooner be setting forth but sorrow will be sure to follow her at the heeles as now indeed it happened for on the nine and twentieth of October the Prince Palatine with all the great Lords of the Kingdome in most joviall manner dining at Guild-Hall Prince Hâ—â—â—â— who waâ— also invited and expected could not come being newly fallen exceâ—ding sick of a popular malignant feavour which raigned that yeare in most parts of this Land whereof on the sixth of November between seven â—nd eight a Clock at night at his Court of St. Iames he dyed But hee being infinitly beloved of the people and one that had given great hope of proâ—ing an Heroick Prince It caused suspition in many mens heads that his death was not without violence offered to Nature some said by bunches of Grapes given him to eate some by gloves of a poysoned perfume given him â—or a present but these were but idle rumours and conceits It seemes the Divine Providence had ordained it should be said of him Hanc tantum terris â—â—â—endent Fata nec ultraâ— esse sineâ—t whose death would have given a great blow to the happinesse of this Kingdome if there had not beene another Prince left of a milder spirit perhaâ—s but so accomplished with all excellent endowments that there could be no great want of Prince Henrie as long as there was left Prince Charles The Corps of Prince Henrie who dyed at the age of eighteene yeares eight moneths and seventeene dayes was drawne in a Chariot to the Abbey Church at Westminâ—ter and there interred in the Chappell Royallâ— on the seventh of December following This Accident something appealed the generall joy but yet triumphs went on Vpon Saint Thomas day the Palsgrave and Grave Maurice were Elected Knight of the Garter and the seven and twentieth of December the Palsgrave was betroathed to the Lady Elizabeth On Sunday the seventh of Februarie the Palsgrave in person was enstalled Knight of the Garter at Windâ—or and at the same time was Grave Maurice enstalled by his Deputy Count Lodâ—wick of Nassaw On the fourteenth of Februarie being Shrove-Sunday and Saint Valentines day this happy marriage of the Palsgrave with the Lady Elizabeth was solemnized in the Chappell at White-hall The Bride was led to Church by two Batchellors her brother Prince Charles and the Earle of Northampton Lord Privie Seale she was attired all in white having a rich Crowne of Gold upon her head her haire hanging downe at length curiously beâ—eâ— with Pearles and precious stones her Train supported by twelve yong Ladies in white Garments The King gave her in marriage the Arch-Bishop of Canterburie married them the Bishop of Bath and Wells preached the Bridall Sermon which ended the Bride was led home by two married men the Duke of Lenox and the Earle of Nâ—ttingham Lord Admirall This marriage was solemnized the first night with a stately Masque of Lords and Ladies the second night with a magnificent Masque of the Gentlemen of the middle Temple and Lincolnes Inne The third night with a sumptuous Masque of the Gentlemen of the Inner Temple and Graees Inne provided indeed then but was not performed till the satturday night following by reason the concourse of people was so great it would have hindred the Show After this the Lord Major and Aldermen gave the Bride a Chain of Orientall Pearle valued at two thousand pounds and now when all things had beene done for honouring their marriage which either love and observance could device or Art and Magnificence could performe On the tenth of April the Bride-groome with his Bride tooke leave of the King and Queene at Rochester who had by Barge conducted them thither and there taking Ship On the nine and twentieth of April they arrived at Flâ—shing from whence the Duke of Lenox the Earle of Arundell the Viscount Lisle and the Lord Harington waited upon them to their chiefe City of Heydelburgh in all places as they passed being received with all State and magnificence but then on the foureteenth of Iune the English Lords returning home the Lord Harington dyed by the way at Wormes whose Corps was brought over and buâ—ied in England And here it will not be amisse to shew of what extent and largenesse the Palsgrave's Countrie isâ— because of the iniquity of some that seeke to disgrace it It is in length about two hundred English miles taking the lower and upper Countrie In the lower hee hath six and twenty walled Townes besides an infinite number of faire Villages and two and twenty houses of residence In the uper not so many walled Townes and houses but those that are generally fairer than in the lower especially Amberg and New-market But it is now time to looke home in the yeare 1609. the King having care for the quietnesse of Ireland had granted to the City of London the present possession and Plantation in the Province of Ulster whereupon afterward in the yeare 1612. they sent thither about three hundred persons of all sorts of handy-crafts men chiefely to inhabite the two Cities of London-Derrie and Coleraigne where they ordained Alderman Cockaine for their first Governour And for the advancing of this or the like Plantation in Ireland King Iames about this time began a new Order of Knights which are called Baroneâ—s because they take place next to Barons younger sonnesâ— and hee appoynted certaine Lawes to make them capable that should be admitted First that they should maintaine the number of thirty foot souldiers in Ireland for three yeares after the rate of eight pence a day and to pay the wages of one whole yeare upon the passing of their Patent Then that they should bee Gentlemen of Bloud of three Descents and lastly should have land of Inheritance in possession or immediate Reversion to the value of a thousand pounds per annum And to keep the Order from swarming he stinted it within the number of onely 200. and as the issue should faile the Order to cease But he that will look how wel the end of the Institution and the Laws of it have bin observed shall perhaps find it to be here as it was in the Order of St. Michael in France into which at firstâ— there were none admitted but Princes and Emminent
man to be King of Bohemia and accordingly was elected by the States of that Kingdome but he was no sooner invested in the Crowne but the Emperour with great Forces assaulted him in Prague and not only drove him with his wife and children from thence but tooke from him also his owne Patrimony the Palatinate so as though now a King he was fayne to flye to the States of the Low Countries for a place of residence King Iames though he had never given his consent to the Palsegraâ—es taking upon him that Kingdome as foreseeing in his great judgement what the event will bee yet in this distresse he could noâ— forbeare to take care of his daughter and thereupon sent Sir Richard Wesâ—on the same that was after Lord Treasurer in Embassage to the Emperour to sollicite the restoring of the Palatinate to the Palsegrave but he returning without successe the King had then conference with Count Gundâ—mar the King of Spaines Ligier in England what course might bee taken to procure the restoring it who made him answere there could be no better course than to make a marriage betweene his sonne the Prince of Wales and the Infant of Spaine which he said would easily be effected if the Prince might have leave to make a Iourny into Spaine King Iames though he considered the inveterate grudges betweene Spaine and England and as dangerous it might beâ— to put the heire of the Kingdom into the Spaniards hands yet grounding himself upon the saying Fide lem si putaveris facies and drawne on by the insinuating speeches of Count Gundomar not perhaps without some Indinction in the Marquis of Buckingham was contented at last the Prince should goe And so Prince Charles sending his ships about and taking along with him only the Marquis of Buckingham who in the time of his being in Spaine was created Duke of Buckingham Endymion Porter and Mr. Francis Cottington two that were well acquainted with the Language and affaires of Spaine he tooke his Iourney by the way of France went to Paris and secretly in disguise to the Court there where he had the sight of that Lady that might well have stayed him from going further but yet on he went In the meane time Gundomar a cunning man and one that besides his Masters had ends of his owne and could play his Game no lesse for his owne profit than his Masters Honour as he had perswaded the King of the facility of the Match with Spayne so he perswaded a certainty of it especially amongst Catholick Ladies by which meanes he brought no small store of Grists to his owne Mill receiving from one Lady three hundred pounds to bee made Groome of the Stoole when the Spanish Princesse should come of another a good round summe to be made Mother of the Maydes and of diverse other the like for other places But the Prince being arrived in Spayne was received indeed with all the demonstrations of love and kindnesse that could be devised so as the charge of his entertainment was said to stand the King of Spayne in nine and forty thousand Duckats but yet his acquaintance with the Lady was much restrained for in all the time of his staying in Spayne which was no lesse than eight moneths being from February to October he saw her but very seldome and that at good distances never spake with her but twice and that before company besides that his speeches were limited how much and what he should say farre from any meanes of tying the knot betweene them which was pretended what the cause should bee was much in obscurity some thought that a difference betweene the Duke of Buckingham and the Count Olivares the King of Spayne's great Favorite was a great hinderance of the proceeding but other and more likely that the Spanyard indeed never really intended the Match at all but had drawne the Prince into Spayne for other Ends but what those ends were was no lesse uncertaine one thought it was done to hold the Prince in a treaty of marriage with a Daughter of Spayne till the Daughters of France should bee bestowed thereby to keepe him from that allyance but others and more likely that the King of Spayne entertayned this Treaty with the King of great Brittayne meaning to spinne it out till he had compassed some designes in the Low-Countries and the Palatinate at least to make King Iames most vigilant for those paâ—ts But when much time had beene spent in protracting upon pretence of difficultities in obtaining the Popes dispensation King Iames partly wearied with delay but chiefely angred with delusion sent to the Prince with all speed to returne into England which the Prince presently signified to the King of Spaine and had his leave to depart but upon promise to continue the treaty of the marriage still Though it was said the Prince was gone but a few dayes on his journey when a Post was sent to have stayed him if he had been overtaken But whether it was so or no it was Gods providence that he came safely to his ships and in them safely into England arriving at Portsmouth where he was beheld of the people with no lesse gladnesse than the Sunne after a long Eclipse and now his safe returning did both justifie King Iames his judgement in suffering him to goe and the King of Spaines justice in suffering him to come back and was cause that the people began to have a better opinion of the Spanish faith than they had before But now it presently brake out that this match with Spaine could never take effect for King Iames having received Declarations of the Articles touching the marriage found many very strict and large for exercise of the Catholike Religion but none at all for restitution of the Palatinate which made him so much discontented that he presently brake off all treaty of the marriage and signified as much not onely to the King of Spaine but to divers other Princes of Christendome Vpon which breach two great Points were presently had in consultation One for preparing forces for recovering the Palatinate by way of Armes which could not be done by a way of friendship and for this purpose a Councell of warre was called and a proposition resolved on both of men and money for undertaking the enterprise as also a great contribution by way of benevolence was collected towards which the compiler of this worke gave himselfe fifty pounds as many other farre greater summes though the collection went not thorow the whole Landâ— by reason there was hope given of a peaceable reconcilement so as many that were not over-hasty in their payments escaped without contributing at all The other point was for providing a fit wife for the Prince in some other place It was said the States of Holland offered a very great portion in marriage to the Prince if hee would match with some Lady of that Countrie but matches are made in heaven and there was a young Lady of France
of the Duke of Clarence but that device had two maine imperfections One that the true Sonne of the Duke was forâ—h-comming and to be shewed openly for convincing the false the other that though the counterfeit had been the true yet he could have laid no claim to the Crown as long as any Daughters of King Edward the fourth were living Now therefore a device is found by which those imperfections were both of them amended for now a Counterfeit was set on foot who pretended to be Richard the younger Sonne of king Edward the fourth so that neither any other could be produced to convince him of being false nor any Daughters of King Edward could hinder his Right for claiming the Crown This device was first forged by Margaret Dutchesse of Burgundie a woman that could never be quiet in her minde as long as king Henry was quiet in his kingdome and by this device she hoped if not to put him cleane out of his seat yet foulely at least to disturbe him in it and this was the purpose of the Plâ—t but by what instrument it was acted by what abeâ—tours fomented and what issue the device had are worâ—hy all to be related The Dutchesse having formerly given out that Richard the younger Sonne of king Edward was not murthred but in compassion spared and sent secretly a way to seek his fortune and having after long search gotten at last a fit Boy to personate a Prince keeps him seretly a good time with her in which time she so throughly instructed him in all Circumstances and he afterward put them so gracefully in practice that even those who had seen and known the young Prince while he lived could hardly perceive but that this was he It is true though he were not King Edwards Sonne yet he was his Godsonne and might perhaps have in him some base blood of the house of Yorke This Perkin Warbeck for so was the youths name called Perkin as a diminutive of Peter when he so perfectly had learned his lesson that he was fit to come upon the Stage she sent him into Portingall that comming from a strange Country it might be thought he had been driven to wander from one Country to another for safeguard of his life at least that she of all other might not be suspected From Portingal she caused him to passe into Ireland where the house of Yorke was specially respected in regard of the great love which Richard Duke of Yorke Father of King Edward the fourth had wonne amongst them by reason whereof this Perkin as esteemed his Grand-childe was well entertained by them and held in great estimation He had not been long in Ireland when the French king sent for him for being at that time at variance with King Henry hee thought he might make good use of Perkin as a pretender against King Henry for the Crown Perkin being come to Paris was entertained in a Princely fashion and for his more honour had a guard assigned him over which the Lord Congreshall was Captaine He had not been long at Paris when there resorted to him Sir George Nevill bastard Sir Iohn Taylour Richard Robinson and about a hundred other English Amongst the rest one Stephen Fryon that had been King Henries Secretary for the French Tongue but discontented fled and became a chiefe Instrument in all Perkins proceedings But this float of Perkins lasted not long for as soon as Peace was concluded between the two Kings the King of France dismissed Perkin and would keep him no longer Then passed he secretly to his first foundresse the Lady Margaret who at his first comming made a shew of suspecting him to be a Counterfeit But causing him in great assemblies to be brought before her as though she had never seen him before and finding him to answer directly to all questions she put unto him she openly professed that she was now satisfied and thought him verily to be her true Nephew and thereupon assigned a guâ—rd of thirâ—y persons cloathed in Murrey and Blew and callâ—d him the White Rose of England Upon report hereof many in England were inclined to take his part and Sir Robert Clifford and Robert Bareley were sent into Flanders to acquaint the Dutchesse with the peoples respect to Perkin and indeed Sir Robert Clifford upon sight and conference with him wrote letters into England wherein he affirmed that he knew him to be true Sonne of king Edward by his face and other Lineaments of his body King Henry hearing of these things sent certaine espials into Flanders that should feigne themselves to have fled to Perkin and by that means the better search out who were of the Conspiracy with him Whose name being returned to the King he caused them â—o be apprehended and brought to his Presence the chiefe of whom were Iohn Râ—tcliffe Lord Fitzwater Sir Simon Montford and Sir Thomas Thâ—â—yâ—â— knights William Dawbeney Robert Ratcliffe Thomas Cressenor and Thomas Astwoâ—d also certaine Priests as William Richford D. of Divinity Thomas Boyns D. William Sutton William Worseley Dean of Pauls Robert Layborne and Richard Lesley of whom some hearing of it fled to Sanctuary oâ—hers were taken and condemed as Sir Simon Montford Robert Ratcliffe and William Dawbeney who were all three beheâ—ded The Lord Fitzwater pardoned of life was conveyed to Calice and there laid in hold where seeking to make escape by corrupting his Keeper hee lost his head Shortly after Sir Robert Clifford returning out oâ— Flanders not as some think sent a spye from the beginning but rather now at last either discerning the fraude or woâ— by rewards and submitted himselfe to the kings mercy discovering unto him as farre as he knew all that were either open or secret abettours of the Conspiracy amongst whom he accused Sir William Stanley Lord Chamberlaine his accusation was this that in Conference between them Sir William had said that if he certainly knew that the young man named Perkin were the Sonne of king Edward the fourth he would never fight nor beare Armes against him These words being considered of by the Judges seemed to expresse a tickle hold of Loyalty for who could tell how soon he might be perswaded that he knew it and upon the matter was to be Loyall to king Henry but for want of better and withall it strook upon a string which had alwaies sounded harsh in king Henries ears as preferring the Title of Yorke before that of Lancaster Sir William being hereupon arraigned whether trusting to the greatnesse of his favours or the smalnes of his fault denied little of that wherewith he was charged and upon confession was adjudged to dye and accordingly on the sixteenth day of February was brought to the Tower-hill and there beheaded after whose death Giles Lord Dawbeny was made L. â—hamberlaine This was that Sir William Stanley who came in to rescue the Earle of Richmond when he was in danger of his life who set the Crowne upon his head and was the cause of