leave to Gods Judgement Hee was no evill Captaine in warre as to the which his disposition was more inclined then to peace Sundry Victories he had and some Overthrowes but never for default of his owne person either for lacke of hardinesse or politicke order Free hee was of his exspences and somewhat above his power liberall with large gifts he gat him unstedfast friendship for which cause he was faine to borrow pill and extort in other places which gat him stedfast hatred Hee was close and secret a deep dissembler lowly of countenance arrogant of heart outwardly familiar where he inwardly hated not letting to kisse whom he thought to kill spitefull and cruell not alway for ill will but oftner for ambition and to serve his purpose friend and foe were all indifferent where his advantage grew hee spared no mans death whose life withstood his purpose He slew in the Tower King Henry the Sixth saying Now is there no Heire male of King Edward the third but we of the House of Yorke which murder was done without King Edward his assent which would have appointed that butcherly office to some other rather then to his owne Brother Some Wise men also thinke that his drift lacked not in helping forth his owne Brother of Clarence to his death which thing in all appearance he resisted although hee inwardly minded it And the cause thereof was as men noting his doings and proceedings did marke because that he long in King Edwards time thought to obtaine the Crown in case that the King his Brother whose life he looked that ill dyet would soone shorten should happen to decease as he did indeed his children being young And then if the Duke of Clarence had lived his pretensed purpose had been farre hindered For if the Duke of Clarence had kept himselfe true to his Nephew the young King every one of these casts had bin a Trumpe in the Duke of Gloucesters way but when he was sure that his Brother of Clarence wat dead then hee knew that hee might worke without that danger But of these points there is no certainety and whosoever divineth or conjectureth may as well shoot too farre as too short but this conjecture afterward tooke place as few doe as you shall perceive hereafter But before I declare to you how this Richard Duke of Gloucâ—ster began his mischievous imagined and pretended enterprise as apparently shall be opened I must a little put you in remembrance of a loving and charitable act no lesse profitable then pleasing to the whole Commonalty if it had bin so inwardly thought as it was outwardly dissembled which King Edward did lying on his death bed not long before he dyed For in his life although that the division amongst his friends somewhat grieved and vexed him yet in his health he lesse regarded and tooke heed to it by reason that he thought that he was able in all things to rule both parties were they never so obstinate But in his last sicknesse which continued longer then false and fantasticall tales have untruly and falsely surmised as I my selfe that wrote this Pamphlet truely knew when hee perceived his naturall strength was gone and hoped little of recovery by the arts of all his Physicians which he perceived onely to prolong his life Then he began to consider the youth of his Children howbeit hee nothing lesse mistrusted then that that hapned yet he wisely foreseeing and considering that many harmes might ensue by the debate of his Nobles while the youth of his children should lack discretion and good counsell of their friends for hee knew well that every part would worke for their owne commodity and rather by pleasant advice to win themselves favour then by profitable advertisement to doe the Children good wherefore lying on his death bed at Westminster hee called to him such Lords as then were about him whom hee knew to be at variance especially the Lord Marquesse Dorset son to the Queen and the Lord Hastings against whom the Queene especially grudged for the favour that the King bare him and also she thought him familiar with the King in wanton company her Kin bare him envy aswell for that the King made him Captaine of Calice which office the Lord Rivers Brother to the Queene claimed of the King by his former promise as of divers other gifts which hee received that they looked for And when these Lords with divers other of both parties were come unto the Kings presence he caused himselfe to be raised up with pillowes and as I can guesse said thus or much like in sentence to them My Lords my deare kinsmen and allies in what plight I now lye you see and I perfitly feele by the which I look the lesse while to live with you therefore the more deeply I am moved to care in what case I leave you for such as I leave you such are my children like to finde you which if they should finde at variance as God forbid they themselves might hap to fall at warre ere their discretion would serve to set you at peace You see their youth of which I reckon the onely surety to rest in your concord For it sufficeth not all you to love them if each of you hate other If they were men your faithfulnesse might hap to suffice but childhood must bee maintained by mens authority and slippery youth underpropped with elder counsell which they can never have except you give it nor you give it except you agree for where each laboureth to breake that the other maketh and for hatred each impugneth others counsell there must needes be a long tract ere any good conclusion can issue And further while each partie laboureth to be chiefe flatterer adulation shall then have more place then plaine and faithfull advice of which must needes ensue the evill bringing up of the Prince whose minde in tender youth infected shall readily fall to mischiefe and riot and draw downe this Noble Realme to ruine But if grace turne him to wisedome which God send him then they which by evill meanes pleased him best shall after fall farthest out of favour so that at the length evill drifts drive to naught and good plaine wayes prosper and flourish Great variance hath beene betweene you not alwayes for great causes Sometime a thing right well intended and misconstrued hath beene turned to the worse or a small displeasure done to you either by your owne affection or by instigation of evill tongues hath beene sorely aggravated But this I know wel you had never so great cause of hatred as you have of love because wee be all men and that we be all Christian men This I will leave to Preachers to tell you and yet I know not whether any Preachers words ought more to move you then I that am going by and by to the place that they alpreach of But this shall I desire of you to remember that the one part of you being of my bloud the
her wealth she went begging of many that had begged themselves if shee had not hope them such was her chance Now was it devised by the Protectour and his Councell that the same day that the Lord Chamberlain was headed in the Tower of London and about the same houre should be beheaded at Pomfret the Earle Rivers and the Lord Richard the Queenes sonne sir Thomas Vaughan and sir Richard Haute which as you heard were taken at Northampton and Stony stratford by the consent of the Lord Hastings which execution was done by the order and in the presence of sir Richard Ratclif knight whose service the Protectour specially used in the Councell and in the execution of such lawlesse enterprises as a man that had beene long secret with him having experience of the world a notable wit short and rude in speech rough and boysterous of behaviour bold in mischiefe and as farre from pittie as from all feare of God This Knight brought these foure persons to the Scaffold at the day appointed and shewed to all the people that they were Traitours not suffering the Lords to speake and to declare their innocency lest their words might have inclined men to pitty them and to hate the Protectour and his part and so without judgement and processe of the Law caused them to bee beheaded without other earthly guilt but onely they were good men and true to the King too nie to the Queene insomuch that sir Thomas Vaughan going to his death said A mischeife take them that tooke the prophesie that G. should destroy King Edwards children for George Duke of Clarence Lord George which for that suspition is now dead but now remaineth Richard G. Duke of Gloucester which now I see is he that shall and will accomplish the Prophesie and destroy King Edwards children and all their allies and friends as it appeareth by us this day whom I appeale to the high tribunall of God for his wrongfull murther and our true innocency And then Ratclife said you have well appealed lay downe your head yea quoth sir Thomas I dye in right beware you dye not in wrong and so that good Knight was beheaded and the other three and buried naked in the Monasterie at Pomfret When the Lord Hastings and those other Lords and Knights were thus beheaded and rid out of the way then the Protectour caused it to bee proclamed that the Coronation for divers great and urgent causes should bee deferred till the second day of November for then thought he that while men mused what the matter meant and whiles the Lords of the Realme were about him out of their owne strengths and while no man knew what to thinke nor whom to trust or whether they should have time or space to digest the matter and make parts it were best hastily to pursue his purpose and put himselfe in possession of the Crowne before men could have time to devise any waies to resist But now was all the studie how this matter being of it selfe so haynous might be first broken to the people in such wise as it might bee well taken To this councell they tooke divers such as they thought meet to be trusted and likely to be induced to that part and able to stand them in stead either by power or by policie Among whom they made of Councell Edmond Shaw then Mayor of London which upon trust of his owne advancement where he was of a proud heart highly desirous tooke upon him to frame the Citty to their appetite Of Spirituall men they tooke such as had wit and were in authority amongst the people for opinion of their learning and had no scrupulus conscience Amongst these had they tooke Ralph Shaw clearke brother to the Mayor and Frier Pinkie provinciall of the Augustine Friers both Doctors in Divinity both great Preachers both of more learning then vertue of more fame then learning and yet of more learning then truth For they were before greatly esteemed among the people but after that never none of those two were regarded Shaw made a Sermon in praise of the Protectour before the Coronation and Pynkie made one after the Cornation both so full of tedious flattery that no good mans eares could abide them Pynkie in his Sermon so lost his vocye that hee was faine to leave off and come downe in the midst Doctor Shaw by his Sermon lost his honesty and soone after his life for very shame of the world into the which he durst never after much come abroad but the Frier feared no shame and so it harmed him the lesse Howbeit some doubt and many thinke that Pynkie was not of Councell before the Coronation but after the common manner fell to flattery after namely because his Sermon was not incontinent upon it but at S. Mary Spitle the Easter after But certaine it is that Doctor Shaw was of Councell in the beginning in so much that they determined that hee should first breake the matter in a Sermon at Paules Crosse in which hee should by the authority of his Preaching induce the people to encline to the Protectors ghostly purpose But now was all the labour and study in the device of some convenient pretext for which the people should be content to depose the Prince and accept the Protectour for their King In which deuers things they devised but the cheife thing and the weight of all that invention rested in this that they should alledge bastardy in King Edward himselfe or in his children or both so that he should seeme disabled to inherite the Crowne by the Duke of Yorke and the Prince by him To lay bastardy in King Edward sounded openly to the rebuk of the Protectours owne mother which was mother to them both For in that point could be no other colour but to pretend that his owne mother was an Adultresse but neverthelesse he would that point should bee lesse and more finely and closely handled not even fully plaine and directly but touched upon craftily as though men spared in that point to speake all the truth for feare of his displeasure But that other point concerning the bastardy they devised to surmise in King Edward his Children that hee desired should be openly declared and enforced to the uttermost The colour and pretext whereof cannot be well perceived except wee repeate some things long before done about King Edwards Marriages After King Edward the fourth had deposed King Henry the sixt and was in peaceable possession of the Realme hee determined with himselfe to marry as was requisite both for himselfe and for the Realme he sent the Earle of Warwick and divers other noble men in ambassage to the French King to entreate a marriage betweene the King and Bona sister to the French Queene then being in France In which thing the Earle of Warwick found the parties so toward and willing that hee speedily without any difficultie according to his instructions brought the matter to a good conclusion Now happeneth
to them by the new usurper much lamented and pittied would never cease to barke if they cannot bite at the one side of me Likewise my cousin the Earle of Richmond his aides kinsfolke which be not of little power will surely attempt like a fierce grayhound either to bite or to pierce mee on the other side So that my life and rule should ever hang by a haire never in quiet but ever in doubt of death or deposition And if the said two linages of Yorke and Lancaster which so long have strived for the imperiall Diadem should joyne in one against mee then were I surely mated and the game gotten Wherefore I have clearely determined and with my selfe concluded utterly to relinquish all such fantasticall imaginations concerning the obtaining of the Crowne But all such plagues calamities and troubles which I feared and suspected might have chanced on me if I had taken the rule and regiment of this reale I shall with a reredemaine so make them rebound to our common enemie that calleth himselfe King that the best stopper that hee hath at tenice shall not well stop without a fault for as I told you before the Countesse of Richmond in my returne from the new named King meeting mee in the high way prayed me first for kindred sake secondly for the love I bare to my grandfather Duke Humphrey which was sworne brother to her father to move the King to bee good to her sonne Henry Earle of Richmond and to licence him with his favour to returne againe into England and if it were his pleasure so to doe shee promised that the Earle her sonne should marry one of King Edwards daughters at the appointment of the King without any thing to be taken or demanded for the said espousals but onely the Kings favour which request I soone overpassed and gave her faire words and so departed But after in my lodging when I called to memorie with a deliberate studie and did circumspctly ponder them I fully adjudged that the holy Ghost caused her to move a thing the end whereof she could not consider both for the security of the Realme as also for the preferment of her child and the destruction and finall confusion of the common enemy King Richard Which thing shee neither then thought I am sure as I by her words could make conjecture nor I my selfe cast not her desire to be so profitable to the Realme as I now doe perceive but such a Lord is God that with a little sparkle he kindleth a great fire and so finally to declare to you the very conclusion to the which I am both bent and set my mind is and my power and purpose shall helpe that the Earle of Richmond very heire of the house of Lancaster in the quarrell of the which linage both my father and grandfather lost their lives in battell shall take to wife Lady Elizabeth eldest daughter to K. Edward by the which marriage both the houses of Yorke and Lancaster may bee obtained and united in one to the cleare stablishment of the title to the Crowne of this noble Realme To the which conclusion if the mothers of both parties and especially the Earle himselfe and the Lady will agree I doubt not but the braging Bore which with his tuskes raseth every mans skinne shall not only be brought to confusion as he hath deserved but that this Empire shal ever be certain of an undubitate heire and then shall all civill and intestine war cease which hath so long continued to the parting of many mens Crownes this Realme shall bee reduced againe to quietnesse renoune and glory This invention of the Duke many men thought after that it was more imagined for the inward hatred that he beare to King Richard then for any favour that hee bare to the Earle of Richmond But of such doubtfull matters it is not best to judge for erring to farre from the minde and entent of the actour But whatsoever he intended this device once opened to King Richard was the very occasion that hee was rounded shorter by the whole head without attainder or judgement When the Duke had said the Bishop which ever favored the house of Lancaster was wonderous joyfull and much rejoyced to heare this device for now came the winde about even as hee would have it for all his imagination tended to this effect to have King Richard subdued and to have the lines of K. Edward and King Henry the sixt againe raised and advanced But Lord how hee rejoyced to thinke how that by this marriage the linages of Yorke and Lancaster should bee conjoyned in one to the very stead fastnesse of the publique wealth of this Realme And lest the Dukes courage should swage or his minde should againe alter as it did often before as you may easily perceive by his owne tale Hee thought to set up all the sailes hee had to the intent that the ship of his pretended purpose might come shortly to some sure port And said to the Duke my Lord sith by Gods high provision your incomparable wisedome and policie this noble conjunction was first moved now it is convenient yea and necessary to consider what personages and friends we shall first make privie of this high device and politicke conclusion By my truth quoth the Duke wee will begin with my Lady of Richmond the Earles mother which knoweth where he is either in captivitie or at large in Brytaine For I heard say that the Duke of Britaine restored him to liberty immediately after the death of King Edward by whose meanes hee was restrayned Sith you will begin that way said the Bishop I have an old friend with the Countesse a man sober secret and well witted called Reignold Bray whose prudent policie I have knowne to have compassed things of great importance for whom I shall secretly send if it bee your pleasure I doubt not he wil gladly come and with a good will So with a little diligence the Bishop wrote a letter to Reighnold Bray requiting him to come to Brecknock with speede for great and urgent causes touching his Mistresse and no other thing was declared in the letter So the messenger rode into Lancashire where Bray was with the Countesse and Lord Thomas Stanley her husband delivered the letter which when hee had read hee tooke it as a signe or presage of some good fortune to come and so with the messenger hee came to the Castle of Brecknocke where the Duke and the Bishop declared what thing was devised both to set the Realme in a quiet steadfastnesse and also for the high preferment of the Earle of Richmonds sonne to his Lady and Mistrisse Willing her first to compasse how to obtaine the good wil of Queene Elizabeth and also of her eldest daughter bearing the same name and after secretly to send to her son into Britaine to declare what high honour was prepared for him if he would sweare to marry the Lady Elizabeth assoone
to God requiring of him a safe conduct and licence to passe through his countrey of Normandy into Britaine The yong King having compassion of the misfortune and unfortunate chance of the Earle of Richmond not onely gently granted and assigned to him a pasporte but also literally disbursed and departed to him a convenient some of money for his conduct and expenses necessary in his long journey and passage But the Earle trusting on the French Kings humanity adventured to send his ships home into Britaine and to set forward himselfe by land on his journie making no great haste till his messengers were returned which being with the benefit so comforted and with hope of prosperous successe so encouraged marched towards Britaine with all diligent celeritie intending there to consult further with his lovers and friends of his affaires and enterprises When hee was returned againe into Britaine hee was certified by credible information that the Duke of Buckingham had lost his head and that the Marques Dorset and a great number of noble men of England had a little before enquired and searched for him there and were now returned to Vanues When hee had heard these newes thus reported hee first sorrowed dolorously lamented the first attempt and setting forward of his friends and especially of the Nobility not to have more fortunately succeeded Secondly hee rejoyced on the other part that God had sent him so many valiant and prudent Captaines to bee his companions in his martiall enterprises trusting surely and nothing doubting in his owne opinion but that all his businesse should bee wisely compassed and brought to a good conclusion Wherefore hee determining with all diligence to accelerate and set forward his new begun businesse departed to Renes and sent certaine of his privie servitours to conduct and bring the Marquis and the other Noble men to his presence When they knew that hee was safely returned into Britaine Lord how they rejoyced and applauded for before that time they missed him and knew not in what part of the world to make investigation or search for him For they doubted and no lesse feared lest hee had taken land in England and fallen into the hands of King Richard in whose person they knew wel was neither mercy nor compassion Wherefore in all speedy manner they galloped towards him and him reverently saluted which meeting after great joy and solace and no small thanks and gratifications given and rendered on both parts they consulted and advisedly debated commoned of their great businesse and weightie enterprise in the which season the solene feast of the Nativitie of our Saviour Christ happened on which day all the English Lords went with great solemnity to the chiefe Church of the Cittie and there each gave faith and promise to other The Earle himselfe first tooke a corporall oath and on his honour promising that incontinent after he should be possessed of the Crowne and dignity of the Realme of England hee would bee conjoyned in matrimony with the Lady Elizabeth daughter to King Edward the fourth Then all the company sware to him fealtie and did to him homage as though he had beene that time the Crowned King and annointed Prince promising faithfully fiâ—mely assuring that they would not onely lose their worldly substance but also bee deprived of their lives and worldly felicity rather then to suffer King Richard that tyrant longer to rule and â—aigne over them Which solemne oathes made and taken the Earle of Richmond declared and communicated all these doings to Francis Duke of Brittaine desiring and most heartily requiring him to aide him with a great army to conduct him into his Countrey which so sore longed and looked for his returne and to the which he was by the more part of the Nobilitie called and desired which with Gods ayde and the Dukes comfort hee doubted not in short time to obtaine requiring him further to lend to him a convenient some of money affirming that all such somes of money which he had received of his especiall friends were spent and exhausted in the preparation of the last journey made towards England which somes of money after his enterprise once atchived he in the word of a Prince faithfully promised to repay and restore againe The Duke promised him aide and helpe upon confidence wherof he rigged his ships set forth his Navie well decked with ordinance warlikely furnished with all things necessary to the intent to saile forward shortly and to see no convenient time slackly overpassed nor bee pretermitted In the meane season King Richard apprehended in divers parts of the Realme certaine gentlemen of the Earle of Richmonds faction and confederation which either intended to saile into Britaine towards him or else at his landing to assist and aide him Amongst whom sir George Browne sir Roger Clifford and foure others were put to execution at London and sir Thomas Sentliger which had married the Dutches of Exeter the Kings owne sister and Thomas Rame and diverse others were executed at Exeter Besides these persons diverse of his houshold servants whom either hee suspected or doubted were by great crueltie put to shamefull death After this hee called a Parliament in the which he attainted the Earle of Richmond and all other persons which were fled out of the Realme for feare of any other cause as enemies to him their naturall countrey and all their lands goods and possessions were confiscate and seased to the Kings use And yet not content with this prey which no doubt was of no small value and moment hee laid on the peoples neckes a great taxe and tollage and surely necessity to that act in a manner compelled him For what with purging and declaring his innocencie concerning the murther of his Nephewes towards the world what with cost to obtaine the love and favour of the commonaltie which outwardly glosed and openly dissembled with him hee gave prodigally so many and so great rewards that now both hee lacked and scarce knew honestly how to borrow In this troublous season nothing was more marvelled at then that the Lord Stanley had not beene taken and reputed as an enemie to the King considering the working of the Lady Margaret his wife mother to the Earle of Richmond but forasmuch as the enterprise of a woman was of him reputed of no regard or estimation and that the Lord Thomas her husband had purged himselfe sufficiently to be innocent of all doings and attempts by her perpetrated and committed it was given him in charge to keepe her in some secret place at home without having any servant or company so that from thenceforth shee should never send letter nor messenger to her sonne nor any of his friend or confederates by the which the King might bee molested or troubled or any hurt or prejudice might bee attempted against his realme and commonaltie Which commandement was a while put in execution and accomplished according to his dreadfull commandement Yet the wild
willing him in any wise to leave the Earle and without delay to repaire into England where for him were provided great honours and honourable promotions ascertaining him further that all offences in both parties were forgotten and forgiven and both he and she highly incorporate in the Kings heart Surely the inconstancie of this woman were much to bee marvelled at if all women had bin found constant but let men speake yet women of the very bond of Nature wil follow their owne kinde After that King Richard had thus with glorious promises and flattering words pleased and appeased the mutable mind of Queene Elizabeth which knew nothing lesse then that he most intended he caused all his brothers daughters to be conveighed into his Palace with solemne receiving as though with his new familiar and loving entertainment they should forget and in their mindes obliterate the old committed injury and late perpetrate tyranny Now nothing was contrarie and opposite to his pernicious purpose but that his Mansion was not void of his wife which thing he in any wise adjudged necessary to be done But there was one thing that so much feared and dragged him from committing this abominable murder because as you have heard before hee began to counterfeit the image of a good and well disposed person and therefore he was afraid lest the sudden and immature death of his wife once openly knowne hee should lose the good and credible opinion which the people had of him without desert conceived and reported But in conclusion evill counsell prevailed in a wit lately minded to mischiefe and turned from all goodnesse So that his ungratious desire overcame his honest feare And first to enter into the gates of his imagined enterprise hee abstayned both from the bed and company of his wife After hee complained to divers Noble men of the Realm of the unfortunate sterilitie and barrennesse oâ— his wife because she brought forth no fruit and generation of her body And in speciall hee accompted to Thomas Rotheram Arch-bishop of Yorke whom lately hee had delivered out of ward and captivity these impediments of his Queene and divers others thinking that hee would reveale and open to her all these things trusting the sequell hereof to take his effect that shee hearing this grudge of her husband and taking therefore an inward thought would not long live in this world Of this the Bishop gathered which well knew the complection and usage of the King that the Queenes dayes were short and that hee declared to certaine of his secret friends And thus he procured a common rumour but hee would not have the authour knowne to bee published and spread abroâ—d among the common people that the Qâ—eene was dead to the intent that shee taking some conceit of this strang fame should fall into some sudden sicknesse or grievous malady and to prove if afterwards shee shâ—â—ld fortune by that or any other waies to lose her life whether the people would impute her death to the thought or sicknes or therof would lay the blame to him When the Queene heard tell that so horrible a rumour of her death was sprung amongst the commonaltie shee sore suspected and judged the world to be almost at an end with her and in that sorrowfull agony shee with lamentable countenance and sorrowfull cheere repaired to the presence of the King her husband demanding of him what it should meane that he had judged her worthy to die The King answered her with faire words and with dissembling blandiments and flattering leasings comforted her bidding her to bee of good comfort for to his knowledge shee should have no other cause But howsoever it fortuned either by inward thought and pensivenesse of heart or by intoxication of poyson which is affirmed to bee most likely within a few dayes after the Queene departed out of this transitorie life was with due solemnitie buried in the church of S. Peter at Westminster This is the same Anne one of the daughters of the Earle of Warwicke which as you have heard before at the request of Lewes the French King was married to Prince Edward son to King Henry the Sixt. The King thus according to his long desire loosed out of the bonds of matrimony beganne to cast a foolish phantasie to Lady Elizabeth his neece making much suite to have her joyned with him in lawfull matrimony But because all men and the maiden her selfe most of all detested and abhorred this unlawfull and in a manner unnaturall copulation hee determined to prolong and dâ—fer the matter till he were in a more quietnesse For all that very season hee was oppressed with great weightie and urgent causes and businesses on every side considering that daily part of the nobilitie sailed into France to the Earle of Richmond other privily favoured and aided certaine of the conjuration so that of his short end few or none were in doubt And the common people for the most part were brought to such desperation that many of them had rather be reputed and taken of him in the number of his enemies then to abide the chance and hazard to have their goods taken as a spoyle of victorie by his enemies Amongst the noble men whom hee most mistrusted these were the principall Thomas Lord Stanley Sir William Stanley his brother Gilbert Talbot and six hundred other of whose purposes although King Richard were ignorant yet he gave neither confidence nor credence to any one of them and least of al to the Lord Stanley because hee was joyned in matrimony with the Lady Margaret mother to the Earle of Richmond as afterward apparently ye may perceive For when the said Lord Stanley would have departed into his Countrey to visite his familie and to recreate and refresh his spirits as he openly said but the truth was to the intent to be in a perfect readinesse to receive the Earle of Richmond at his first arrivall into England the King in no wise would suffer him to depart before he had left as an hostage in the Court George Stanley Lord Strange his first begotten son heire While King Richard was thus troubled and vexed with imaginations of the tumultuous time that was like to come Loe even suddenly hee heard newes that fire was sprung out of the smoake and the warre presently begun and that the Castle of Hammes was delivered into the hands of the Earle of Richmond by the meanes of the Earle of Oxford and that not onely hee but also Iames Blunt Captaine of the Castle were fled into France to aide the Earle Henry Wherefore he thinking it great policie to withstand the first brunt sent the most part of the garison of Calice to recover again by force the castle of Hammes They which were in the Castle perceiving their adversaries to approach prepared munitions and engins for their defence and sent also the Earle of Richmond to advertise him of their sodaine obsession requiring him of hasty ayde speedie succour The Earle slipping
Sir quoth the Major perhaps they perceive you not well that shall we amend quoth he if that will helpe and therewith somewhat lowder rehearsed the same matter againe in other and other words so well and orderly and neverthelesse so evidently and plaine with voice gesture and countenance so comely and so convenient that every man much marvelled that heard him and thought that they never heard in their lives so evill a tale so well told But were it for feare or that each looked that other should speake first not one word was there answered of all the people that stood before but all were as still as the midnight not so much as whispering among them by which they might seeme once to commune what was best to doe When the Major saw this hee with other partners of the Councell drew about the Duke and said that the people had not beene accustomed there to be spoken unto but by the Recorder which is the mouth the Citie and happily to him they will answer With that the Recorder called Thomas Fitz-William a solid man and an honest which was but newly come to the office and never had spoken to the people before and loth hee was with that matter to beginne notwithstanding being thereunto commanded by the Major made a rehearsall to the commons of that which the Duke had twice proposed himselfe but the Recorder so tempered his tale that hee shewed every thing as the Dukes words were and no part of his owne but all this made no change in the people which all as one stood as they had beene amased WhereupoÌ„ the Duke whispered with the Major and said this is a marvellous obstinate silence and therewith turned to the people againe with these words Deare friends wee come to move you to that thing which peradventure wee greatly needed not but that the Lords of this Realme and commons of other parts might have sufficed saving such love wee beare you and so much set by you that we would not gladly doe without you that thing in which to bee partners is your weale and honour which as to us seemeth you see not or weigh not Wherefore wee require you to give us an answer one or other whether ye be minded as all the Nobles of the Realme be to have this Noble Prince now Protector to be your King And at these words the people began to whisper among themselves secretly that the voyce was neither lowd nor base but like a swarme of bees till at the last at the nether end of the hall a company of the Dukes servants and one Nashfield others belonging to the Protector with some prentises and lads that thrusted themselves into the hall amongst the preasse began sodainely at mens backes to cry out as loude as they could King Richard King Richard and there threw up their cappes in token of joy and they that stood before cast backe their heads marvelling thereat but nothing they said And when the Duke and the Major saw this manner they wisely turned it to their purpose and said it was a goodly cry and a joyful to heare every man with one voyce and no man saying nay Wherefore friends quoth the Duke sith wee perceive that it is all your whole mindes to have this noble man for your King whereof wee shall make his grace so effectuall report that we doubt not but that it shall redound to your great wealth and commoditie Wee therefore require you that to morrow ye goe with us and we with you to his Noble Grace to make our humble Petition and request to him in manner before remmebred And therwith the Lords came downe and the company dissolved and departed the most part all sad some with glad semblance that were not very merry and some of them that came with the Duke not able to dissemble their sorrow were faine even at his back to turne their face to the wall while the dolour of their hearts brast out of their eyes Then on the morrow the Major and Aldermen and chiefe commanders of the Cittie in their best manner aparelled assembling them together at Pauls resorted to Baynards Castle where the Protector lay to which place also according to the appointment repaired the Duke of Buâ—kingham and divers nobles with him besides many Knights and Gentlemen And thereupon the Duke sent word to the Lord Protector of the being thereof a great honorable company to move a great matter to his Grace Wherupon the Protector made great difficultie to come downe to them except hee knew some part of their errand as though hee doubted and partly mistrusted the company of such a number to him so suddenly without any warning or knowledge whether they came for good or harme Then when the Duke had shewed this to the Major and others that they might thereby see how little the Protector looked for this matter they sent againe by the messenger such loving message and therewith so humbly besought him to vouchsafe that they might resort to his presence to propose their intent of which they would to no other person disclose any part At the last hee came out of his chamber and yet not downe to them but in a galery over them with a Bishop on each hand of him where they beneath might see him and speake to him as though he would not yet come neere them till hee knew what they meant And thereupon the Duke of Buckingham first made humble petition to him on the behalfe of them all that his grace would pardon them and licence them to shew unto his grace the intent of their comming without his displeasure without which pardon obtained they durst not bee so bold to moove him of that matter In which albeit they meant asmuch honour to his grace as wealth to all the Realme besids yet were they not sure how his grace would take it whom in no wise they would offend Then the Protector as he was very gentle of himselfe and also longed sore apparently to know what they meant gave him leave to deliver his message verily trusting for the good minde that hee bare unto them all none of them would intend any thing to his hurt wherewith hee thought to be grieved When the Duke had this leave and pardon to speak then waxed hee bold to shew him their intent and purpose with all the causes moving them thereunto as ye before have heard And finally to beseech his grace that it would like him of his accustomed goodnesse and zeale unto the Realme now with his eye of pitty to behold the long continued distresse and decay of the same and set his gracious hand to the redresse and amendment thereof by taking upon him the Crowne of the Realme according to his right and title lawfully descended unto him and to the laud of God profit and surety of the Land and unto his grace so much the more honour and lesse paine in that that never prince reigned upon any people that were so
win favour Hee was first upon the part of King Henry while that part was in wealth and neither left it nor forsooke it in woe but fled the Realme with the Queene and the Prince And while King Edward had King Henry in prison hee never returned but to the field at Barnet after which field lost and utterly subdued and all par-takings extinguished King Edward for his fast faith wisedome was not onely content to receive him but also wooed him to come and had him from thenceforth both in secret trust and speciall favour whom he never deceived For hee being after King Edwards death first taken by the tyrant for his truth to the King found the meanes to set the Duke in his toppe and joyned gentlemen together in aide of the Earle of Richmond which after was named King Henry the sevenâ—h First devising the marriage betweene the Lady Elizabeth daughter to King Edward the fourth by the which his faithfull and true service declared to both his masters at once was an infinite benift to the Realme by the conjunction of the bloods of Lancaster and Yorke whose funerall titles had long unquieted the Realme This man afterwards escaped from the Duke and fled the Realme and never returned and went to Rome never minded to meddle with the world till King Henry the seventh sent for him and after made him Archbishop of Canterbury and Chancellor of England and after was made Cardinall and lived well to all mens judgements and died well But to returne to the former purpose he by the long and often alternate proofe as well of prosperity as adverse fortune had gotten by great experience the very mother and mistris of wisedome and deepe insight in politike and worldly drifts wherby perceiving now the Duke to commune with him fed him with faire words and many prayses and perceiving by the griefe of their communications the Dukes pride now and then to balke out a little brayd of envie towards the glory of the King and thereby feeling him easie to fall out if the matter were well handled hee craftily sought the waies to pricke him forward taking alwaies the occasion of his comming and also keeping himself close within his bands that he rather seemed to follow him then to leade him For when the Duke began first to praise and boast the King to shew how much profit the Realme should take by his reigne Bishop Morton answered surely my Lord folly it were for mee to lie for I am sure if I would sweare the contrary ye would not once beleeve mee but if the world would have begunne as I would have wished that King Henries sonne had had the Crowne and not King Edward then would I have beene his true and faithfull subject but after that God had ordained him to lose it and King Edward to raigne I was never so mad with a dead man to strive against the quicke so was I ever to King Edward a faithfull and true chaplin and glad would have beene that his children should have succeeded him howbeit if the secret judgement of God have otherwise provided I purpose not to spurne against the prick nor labour to set up that God pulleth downe And as for the late protector and now King and with that word hee left saving that he said that he had already medled too much with the world and would from that day meddle with his booke and beades and no further Then longed the Duke sore to heare what hee would have said because hee ended with the King and there so sodainely stopped and exhorted him familiarly betweene them both to be bold and to say whatsoever hee thought whereof he faithfully promised there should never come hurt and peradventure more good then hee would thinke And that hee himselfe intended to use his faithfull secret advice and counsaile which he said was the onely cause for the which hee procured of the King to have him in his custody where he might reckon himselfe at home or else hee had beene put in the hands of them with whom he should not have found like favour The Bishop right humbly thanked him and said in good faith my Lord I love not much to talke of Pâ—inces as of a thing not all out of perill although the word bee without fault but yet it must be as it pleaseth the Prince to construe it And ever I thinke on Aesops talke that when the Lyon had proclamed that on paine of death there should no horned beasts come into the wood one beast that had a bunch of flesh growing out of his head fled a great pace the foxe that saw him flie with all the hast asked him whither he fled In faith quoth he I neither know nor care so I were once hence because of the proclamation made against horned beasts What foole quoth the foxe the Lyon never meant it by thee for that which thou hast is no horne in thy head No marry quoth hee I know that well enough but if hee say it is a horne where am I then The Duke laughed merrily at the tale and said my Lord I warrant you neither the Lyon nor the Bore shall picke any matter at any thing here spoken for it shall never come neere their eares In good faith sir said the Bishop if it did the thing that I was about to say taken as well as before God I meant it could deserve but thankes and yet taken as I thinke it would might happen to turne mee to little good and you to lesse Then longed the Duke much more to know what it was Whereupon the Bishop said In good faith my Lord as for the late Protector sith hee is now King in possession I purpose not to dispute his title but for the wealth of this realme wherof his grace hath now the governance and whereof I my selfe am a poore member I was about to wish that to those good abilities whereof hee hath already right many little needing my praise yet might it have pleased God for the better store to have given him some of such other excellent vertues meet for the rule of the Realme as our Lord hath planted in the person of your grace and there left off againe The Duke somewhat marvelling at his sodaine pauses as though they were but parentheses with a high countenance said my Lord I evidently perceive and no lesse note your often breathing and sudden stopping in your communication so that to my intelligence your words neither come to any direct or perfect sentence in conclusion whereby either I might perceive and have knowledge what your inward intent is now toward the King or what affectioÌ„ you beare toward me For the comparison of good qualities ascribed to us both for the which I my selfe knowledge and recognise to have none nor looke for no praise of any creature for the same maketh me not a little to muse thinking that you have some other privie Imagination by love or by grudge ingraved and
as hee was King and in Royall possession of the Realme Reighnold Bray with a glad heart forgetting nothing hiven to him in charge in gread hast and with good speede returned to the Countesse his Lady and Mistresse When Bray was departed and this great dolefull vessell once set a broach the Bishop thrusting for nothing more then for liberty when he saw the Duke pleasant and well minded toward him told the Duke that if he were in his Isle of Ely hee could make many friends to further their enterprise and if he were there had but foure daies warning hee little regarded the malice of King Richard his countrey was so strong The Duke knew well all this to bee true but yet loth hee was that the Bishop should depart for he knew well that as long as the Bishop was with him hee was sure of politique advice sage councell and circumspect proceeding And so hee gave the Bishop faire words saying that hee should shortly depart and that wel accompanied for feare of enemies The Bishop being as wittie as the Duke was wilie did not tarry till the Dukes company were assembled but secretly disguised in a night departed to the Dukes great displeasure and came to his see of Ely where he found money and friends and so sayled into Flanders where he did the Earle of Richmond good service and never returned againe till the Earle of Richmond after being King sent for him and shortly promoted him to the See of Canterbury Thus the Bishop wound himselfe from the Duke when he had most neede of his ayde for if hee had tarried still the Duke had not made so many blabbes of his councell nor put so much confidence in the Welshmen nor yet so temerariously set forward without knowledge of his friends as hee did which things were his sodaine overthrow as they that knew it did report When Reighnald Bray had declared his message and privie instruction to the Countesse of Richmond his Mistrisse no marvell though she were joyous and glad both of the good newes and also for the obtaining of such a high friend in his sonnes cause as the Duke was wherefore shee willing not to slip this matter but to farther it to the uttermost of her power and abilitie devised a meanes how to breake this matter to Queene Elizabeth then being in sanctuary at Westminster And thereupon shee having in her family at that time for the preservation of her health a certaine Welshman called Lewes learned in Physicke which for his gravitie and experience was well known and much esteemed amongst great estates of the Realme with whom she used sometimes liberally and familiarly to talke now having oportunity and occasion to break her mind unto him of this weightie matter declared that the time was come that her sonne should bee joyned in marriage with Lady Elizabeth daughter and heire to King Edward and that King Richard being taken and reputed of all men for the common enemy of the Realme should out of all honour and estate bee dejected and of his rule and kingdome be clearely spoyled and expulsed and required him to go to Queene Elizabeth with whome in his facultie hee was of counsell not as a messenger but as one that came friendly to visite and consolate her and as time and place should require to make her privie of this device not as a thing concluded but as a purpose by him imagined This Physitian did not long linger to accomplish her desire but with good diligence repaired to the Queene being still in the sanctuary at Westminster And when hee saw time proper and convenient for his purpose hee said unto her Madam although my imagination bee very simple and my device more foolish yet for the entire affection that I beare towards you and your children I am so bold to utter unto you a secret and privie conceit that I have cast compassed in my fantasticall braine When I well remember and no lesse consider the great losse and dammage that you have sustayned by the death of your noble and loving husband and the great dolour and sorrow that you have suffered and tolerated by the cruell murther of your innocent children I can no lesse doe both of bounden duty and christian charity then daily study and hourely imagine not onely how to bring your heart to comfort gladnesse but also devise how to revenge the righteous quarrell of you and your children on that bloody blood-sucker and cruell tyrant King Richard And first consider what battell what manslaughter what mischiefe hath risen in this Realme by the dissention betweene the two noble houses of Yorke and Lancaster which two families as I have contrived if they may bee joyned in one I thinke yea and doubt not but your line shal be againe restored to the pristinate estate degree to your great joy and comfort and to the utter confusion of your mortal enemy the usurper King You know very wel madam that of house the of Lancaster the Earle of Richmond is nxet of blood which is living a lusty young bachelor to the house of Yorke your daughters now are heires if you could agree and invent the meanes how to couple your eldest daughter with thâ— young Earle of Richmond in matrimony no doubt but the usurper of the Realme should bee shortly deposed and your heire againe to her right restored When the Queene had heard this friendly motion which was as farre from her thought as the man that the rude people say is in the Moone Lord how her spirits revived and how her heart leapt in her body for joy and gladnesse And first giving laude to almighty God as the chiefe authour of her comfort secondly to Master Lewes the deviser of the good newes and tidings instantly besought him that as hee had beene the first inventer of so good an enterprise that now hee would not relinquish nor desist to follow the same desiring him further because hee was appertaining to the Countesse of Richmond mother to the Earle Henry that hee would with all diligence resort to her then lodging in her husbands place within the citie of London and to declare on the Queenes behalfe to the Countesse that all the friends and favourers of King Edward her husband should assist and take part with the Earle of Richmond her sonne so that he would take a corporall oath after the Kingdome obtained to espouse and take to wife the Lady Elizabeth her daughter or else Lady Cecile if the eldest daughter were not then living Master Lewes with all dexteritie so sped his businesse that he made and concluded a finall end and determination of this enterprise betweene the two mothers and because hee was a Physitian and out of all suspition and misdeeming hee was the common currer and daily messenger betweene them ayding and setting forth the invented conspiracie against King Richard So the Lady Margaret Countesse of Richmond brought into a good hope of the preferment oâ—
both parts and shee immediately called Princesse of Rothsay which name shee shortly lost by the short life of King Richard her loving Uncle Here may well bee noted the unnaturall love and disordered affection which this kinde kinseman shewed to his blood for he not remembring the tyranny that he had executed against his brothers sons the wrong manifest injury that he had done to his brothers daughters both in taking froÌ„ them their dignity possessions and living thought it should redound greatly to his honour and fame if hee promoted his sisters child to whom hee was nothing bound in conscience to make testification to the dignity of a Queene rather then to preferre his brothers daughter whom hee had untruly and by force disinherited and of all their right deprived to the marriage of a meane Esquire such was his fraternall kindnesse towards his brother and such was his large conscience towards his brothers children After this league and Marriage thus concluded and agreed the King of Scots disdaining that the strong Castle of Dumbarre should remaine in the Englishmens hands and possession wrote a gentle letter to K. Richard declaring to him that where in the league concluded betweene them it was agreed and appointed that hee should within forty daies next ensuing expresse and declare his opinion and meaning concerning the Castle of Dumbarre whether the said castle should be occupied stand still in the hands of the Englishmen during the whole time of the truce or else for the time of sixe moneths onely He now certified King Richard by his letters that he was content that he and his should enjoy the possession of the said Castle quietly and peaceably during the said truce and amity Neverthelesse hee required him for the love and familiaritie that now both by treatie aliance was sprung knit betweene them that hee would redeliver the said Castle into his hands which was untruely possessed of the English nation by deliverie of rebels and traytours contrarie to all right equitie and conscience King Richard dalied with pleasant letters faire words and so fooled forth the King of Scots that hee never had Dumbarre delivered while King Richard lived after whose death whether it were by treason or by appointment the Castle was rendred to the King of Scots to his great contentation rejoycing Albeit this league and amitie thus covenanted and concluded it might manifestly seeme to all persons that all conjurations and confederacies against King Richard were extinct and put to silence and in especially cousidering tha the Duke of Buckingham and his alies were made out of his way some by death and some by banishment and exiling into far Countries and Regions Yet King Richard more doubting then trusting to his owne people and friends was continually vexed tossed and unquieted with feare of the returne of the Earle of Richmond and his complices and fautoures which daily dread and hourely agony caused him to live in dolefull misery ever unquiet and in manner in continual calamitie Wherefore he intending to bee relieved and to have all his dolorous imagination alleviated determined cleerely to extirpate plucke up all the matter and ground of his feare and doubts Wherefore after long deliberate consultation had nothing was for his purpose and intent thought either more necessary or expedient then once againe with price prayer and rewards to attempt the Duke of Britaine in whose territorie the Earle of Richmond then abode to deliver the said Earle into his hands by which onely meanes he should bee discharged of all feare of perill and brought to rest and quietnesse both of body and mind Wherefore incontinent he sent certaine Embassadours to the Duke of Britaine which tooke upon them besides the great and ample rewards that they brought with them into Britaine that King Richard should yeerely pay and answer the Duke of all the revenues rents and profits of the signories lands and possessions aswell belonging and appertaining to the Earle of Richmond as to any other noble or gentleman which then were in the Earles company if he after that time would keepe them in continuall prison and restraine them from liberty The Oratours furnished with these and other instructions arrived in Britaine and came to the Dukes house where with him they could have no manner of communication concerning their weightie affaires by reason that hee being fatigate and weakened by a long and daily infirmity began a little to waxe idle and weake in his wit and remembrance For which cause Peter Landoyse his chiefe Treasurer a man both of pregnant wit and great authoritie ruled and judged all things at his pleasure and commandement for the which cause as men set into high authoritie be not best beloved he excited and provoked against him the malice and evill will of the nobilitie of Britaine which afterwards for divers great offences by him during his authority perpetrate and committed by their meanes was brought to death and confusion The English Embassadours moved their message and request to Peter Landoyse and to him declared their Masters commandement instantly requiring and humbly desiring him in whose power it lay to doe all things in Britaine that hee would friendly assent to the request of King Riâ—hard offering to him the same rewardes of lands that they should have offered to the Duke This Peter which was no lesse disdayned then hated almost of all the people of Britaine thought that if he did assent and satisfie King Richards Petition and desire hee should be of power and ability sufficient to withstand and refell the malicious attempts and inventions of his envious adversaries Wherefore hee faithfully promised to accomplish King Richards request and desire so that he kept promise with him that he might bee able to withstand the cankered malice of his secret enemies This act that hee promised to doe was not for any grudge or malice that hee bare to the Earle of Richmond for as you have heard before he delivered him from perill of death at Saint Malos when he was in great doubt of life and jeopardie but as cause riseth we ever offend and that cursed hunger of gold and execrable thirst of lucre and inward feare of losse of authoritie driveth the blind mindes of covetous men and ambitious persons to evills and mischiefes innumerable not remembring losse of name obloquie of the people nor in conclusion the punishment of God for their merits and deserts But fortune was so favorable to the publique wealth of the Realme of Enggland that this deadly and dolorous compact tooke none effect or place For while posts ranne and letters were sent to and fro for the finishing of this great enterprise betweene King Richard and Peter Landoyse Iohn Morton Bishop of Ely sojourning then in Flaunders was was of all this craftie conveighance certified by his secret and sure friends wherefore he sent Christopher Vrswicke which at that verie season was come out of Britaine into Flaunders to declare to
vertuous and womanly mother but also compassed all the meanes and waies that hee could invent how to stuprate carnally know neece his under the pretence of a cloaked matrimony which Lady I have sworne and promised to take and make my wife as you all know and beleeve If this cause bee not just and this quarrell godly let God the giver of victory judge and determine We have thankes be given to Christ escaped the secret treasons in Britaine and avoyded the subtile snares of our fraudulent enemies there passed the troublous seas in good and quiet safegard and without resistance have penetrate the ample region and large countrey of Wales and are now come to the place which wee so much desired for long wee have sought the furious Bore and now we have found him Wherfore let us not feare to enter into the toyle where wee may surely slay him for God knoweth that wee have lived in the vales of miserie tossing our shippes in dangerous stormes let us not now dread to set up our sailes in faire weather having with us both him and good fortune If wee had come to conquer Wales and had achieved it our prayse had beene great and our gaine more but if wee winne this battell the whole Realme of England with the Lords and Rulers of the same shall be ours the profit shall be ours and the honour shall be ours Therefore labour for your gaine and sweat for your right while wee were in Britaine wee had small livings and little plenty of wealth or welfare now is the time come to get abundance of riches and copie of profit which is the reward of your service and merit of your paine And this remember with your selves that before us be our Enemies and on either side of us bee such as I neither surely trust nor greatly beleeve backeward wee cannot fly So that here wee stand like sheepe in a fold circumsepted and compassed betweene our enemies our doubtfull friends Therefore let all feare be set aside and like sworne brethren let us joyne in one for this day shall bee the end of our travell and the gaine of our labour either by honorable death or famous victory And as I trust the battelâ— shall not be so sower as the profit shall bee sweet Remember that victory is not gotten with multitude of men but with the courage of hearts and valliantnesse of mindes The smaller that our number is the more glorie is to us if wee vanquish if we be overcome yet no laud is to bee attributed to the victors considering that tenne men fought against one and if we die so glorious a death in so good a quarrell neither fretting time nor cancaring oblivion shall bee able to obfuscate or race out of the booke of fame either our names or our godly attempt And this one thing I assure you that in so just and good a cause and so notable a quarrell you shall find mee this day rather a dead carion upon the coole ground then a free prisoner on a carpit in a Ladies chamber Let us therefore fight like invincible gyants and set on our enemies like untimerous Tigers and banish all feare like ramping lyons And advance forward true men against traytors pittifull persons against murtherers true inheritours against usurpers the scourges of God against tyrants display my banner with a good courage march forth like strong robustious champions and begin the battell like hardy conquerors the battell is at hand and the victorie approacheth and if we shamefully recoile or cowardly fly wee and all our sequell be destroyed and dishonored for ever This is the day of gaine and this is the time of losse get this day victorie and bee conquerors and leese this daies battell and bee villaines and therefore in the name of God let every man couragiously advance forth with his standard These chearefull words hee set forth with such gesture of body smiling countenance as though already hee had vanquished his enemies and gotten the spoyle Hee had scantly finished his saying but the one armie espied the other Lord how hastily the souldiers buckled their helmes how quickly the archers bent their bowes and frushed their feathers how readily the billmen shooke their billes and prooved their staves ready to approach and joyn when the terrible trumpet shall sound the bloody blast to victorie or death Betweene both armies there was a great marsh which the Earle of Richmond left on his right hand for this intent that it should be on that side a defence for his part and in so doing he had the sunne at his backe and in the faces of his enemies When King Richard saw the Earles company was passed the marsh hee commanded with all hast to set upon them then the Tâ—umpeters blew and souldiers shouted and the Kings archers couragiously let fly their arrowes the Earles bowmen stood not still but paide them home againe The terrible shot once past the armies joyned and came to hand strokes where neither sword nor bill was spared at which encounter the Lord Stanley joyned with the Earle The Earle of Oxford in the meane season fearing lest while his company was fighting they should bee compassed and circumvented with the multitude of his enemies gave commandement in every ranke that no man should be so hardy as to goe above tenne foot from the standard which commandement once knowne they knit themselves together and ceased a little from fighting the adversaries suddenly abashed at the matter mistrusting some fraud or deceit beganne also to pause and left striking and not against the will of many which had rather have had the King destroyed then saved and therefore they fought very faintly or stood sâ—ill The Earle of Oxford bringing all his band together on the one part set on his enemies afresh againe the adversaries perceiving that placed their men slender and thinne before and thicke and broade behind beginning againe hardily the battell While the two forwards thus mortally fought each intending to vanquish and convince the other King Richard was admonished by his explorators and espialles that the Earle of Richmond accompanied small with a number of men of armes was not far off and as he approched marched towards him he perfectly knew his personage by certaine demonstrations and tokens which hee had learned and knowne of others And being inflamed with ire and vexed with outragious malice he put his spurres to his horse and rode out of the side of the range of his Battaile leaving the avantguards fighting and like a hungry Lion ran with Speare and rest toward him The Earle of Richmond perceived well the King furiously came toward him and because the whole hope of his wealth and purpose was to bee determined by Battaile hee gladly proffered to encounter with him body to body and man to man King Richard set on so sharply at the first brunt that he overthrew the Earles Standard and slew Sir William Brandon his Standard Bearer