to leuie the Subsidie whereof he did not remit a Denier About the same time that the King lost so good a Seruant as the Earle of Northumberland hee lost likewise a faithfull friend and Allie of IAMES the third King of Scotland by a miserable disaster For this vnfortunate Prince after a long smother of discontent and hatred of many of his Nobilitie and People breaking forth at times into seditions and alterations of Court was at last distressed by them hauing taken Armes and surprised the person of Prince IAMES his sonne partly by force partly by threats that they would otherwise deliuer vp the Kingdome to the King of England to shadow their Rebellion and to bee the titular and painted Head of those Armes Whereupon the King finding himselfe too weake sought vnto King HENRY as also vnto the Pope and the King of France to compose those troubles betweene him and his Subiects The Kings accordingly interposed their Mediation in a round and Princely manner Not only by way of request and perswasion but also by way of protestation of menace declaring that they thought it to be the common Cause of all Kings If Subiects should be suffered to giue Lawes vnto their Soueraigne and that they would accordingly resent it and reuenge it But the Rebels that had shaken off the greater Yoke of Obedience had likewise cast away the lesser Tye of Respect And Furie preuailing aboue Feare made answer That there was no talking of Peace except the King would resignehis Crowne Whereupon Treatie of Accord taking no place it came vp to a Battaile at Bannocks Bourne by Striuelin In which Battaile the King transported with wrath and iust indignation inconsideratly fighting and precipitating the charge before his whole numbers came vp to him was notwithstanding the contrarie expresse and straight commandement of the Prince his sonne slaine in the Pursuit being fled to a Mill scituate in the field where the Battaile was fought As for the Popes Ambassie which was sent by ADRIAN DE CASTELLO an Italian Legate and perhaps as those times were might haue preuailed more it came too late for the Ambassie but not for the Ambassador For passing through England and being honourably entertained and dreceiued of King HENRY who euer applied himselfe with much respect to the See of Rome hee fell into great grace with the King and great familiaritie and friendship with MORTON the Chancellor In so much as the King taking a liking to him and finding him to his minde preferred him to the Bishopricke of Hereford and afterwards to that of Bath and Wells and imployed him in many of his affaires of State that had relation to Rome Hee was a man of great learning wisedome and dexteritle in businesse of State and hauing not long after ascended to the degree of Cardinall payd the King large tribute of his gratitude in diligent and iudicious aduertisement of the occurrents of Italie Neuerthelesse in the end of his time hee was partaker of the conspiracie which Cardinall ALPHONSO PETRVCCI and some other Cardinalls had plotted against the life of Pope LEO. And this offence in it selfe so hainous was yet in him aggrauared by the motiue therof which was not malice or discontent but an aspiring minde to the Papacie And in this height of impietie there wanted not an intermixture of leuitie and follie for that as was generally belieued hee was animated to expect the Papacie by a fatall Mockerie the prediction of a Southsaier which was That one should succeed Pope LEO whose name should bee ADRIAN an aged man of meane birth and of great learning and wisdome By which Character and figure hee tooke himselfe to bee described though it were fulfilled of ADRIAN the Flemming sonne of a Dutch Brewer Cardinall of Tortosa and Preceptor vnto CHARLES the Fift the same that not changing his Christen-name was afterwards called ADRIAN the Sixt. But these things happened in the yeare following which was the fift of this King But in the end of the fourth yeare the King had called againe his Parliament not as it seemeth for any particular occasion of State But the former Parliament being ended somewhat sodainly in regard of the preparation for Britaine the King thought hee had not remunerated his people sufficiently with good Lawes which euermore was his Retribution for Treasure And finding by the Insurrection in the North there was discontentment abroad in respect of the Subsidie hee thought it good to giue his Subiects yet further contentment and comfort in that kind Certainly his times for good Common-wealths Lawes did excell So as he may iustly be celebrated for the best Law giuer to this Nation after King EDWARD the first For his Lawes who so markes them well are deepe and not vulgar not made vpon the Spurre of a particular Occasion for the Present but out of Prouidence of the Future to make the Estate of his People still more and more happie after the manner of the Legislators in ancient and Heroicall Times First therfore he made a Law sutable to his owne Acts and Times For as himselfe had in his Person and Marriage made a finall Concord in the great Suit and Title for the Crowne so by this Law hee setled the like Peace and Quiet in the priuate Possessions of the Subjects Ordaining That Fines thence-forth should bee finall to conclude all Strangers Rights and that vpon Fines leuied and solemnely proclaimed the Subiect should haue his time of Watch for fiue yeares after his Title accrued which if hee fore-passed his Right should be bound for euer after with some exception neuerthelesse of Minors Married-Women and such incompetent Persons This Statute did in effect but restore an ancient Statute of the Realme which was it selfe also made but in affirmance of the Common-Law The alteration had beene by a Statute commonly called the Statute of Non-claime made in the time of EDWARD the Third And surely this Law was a kind of Prognostick of the good Peace which since his time hath for the most part continued in this Kingdome vntill this day For Statutes of Non-Claime are fit for times of Warre when mens heads are troubled that they cannot intend their Estate But Statutes that quiet Possessions are fittest for Times of Peace to extinguish Suits and Contentions which is one of the Banes of Peace Another Statute was made of singular Policie for the Population apparantly and if it bee throughly considered for the Souldiery and Militar Forces of the Realme Inclosures at that time began to be more frequent whereby Arrable Land which could not be manured without people and Families was turned into Pasture which was easily rid by a few Heards men and Tenancies for Yeares Liues and At Will whereupon much of the Yeomanrie liued were turned into Demesnes This bred a decay of People and by consequence a decay of Townes Churches Tithes and the like The King likewise knew full well and in no wise forgot that there ensued with all vpon this a decay
import England as well in the increasement of the greatnesse of France by the addition of such a Countrey that stretcheth his Boughes vnto our Seas as in depriuing this Nation and leauing it naked of so firme and assured Confederates as the Britons haue alwayes beene For then it will come to passe that whereas not long since this Realme was mightie vpon the Continent first in Territorie and after in Alliance in respect of Burgundie and Britaine which were Confederates indeed but dependant Confederates now the one being already cast partly into the greatnes of France and partly into that of Austria the other is like wholly to be cast into the greatnesse of France and this Island shall remaine confined in effect within the salt Waters and girt about with the Coast-Countries of two mightie Monarchs For the Example it resteth likewise vpon the same Question vpon the French Kings intent For if Britaine be carried and swallowed vp by France as the world abroad apt to impute and construe the Actions of Princes to Ambition conceiue it will then it is an Example very dangerous and vniuersall that the lesser Neighbour Estate should bee deuoured of the greater For this may bee the case of Scotland towards England of Portugal towards Spaine of the smaller Estates of Italie towards the greater and so of Germanie or as if some of you of the Commons might not liue and dwell safely besides some of these great Lords And the bringing in of this Example will be chiefely laid to the Kings charge as to him that was most interested and most able to forbid it But then on the other side there is so faire a Pretext on the French Kings Part and yet Pretext is neuer wanting to Power in regard the danger imminent to his owne Estate is such as may make this Enterprise seeme rather a Work of Necessitie then of Ambition as doth in reason correct the Danger of the Example For that the Example of that which is done in a mans owne defence cannot be dangerous because it is in anothers power to auoid it But in all this businesse the King remits himselfe to your graue and mature aduice whereupon he purposeth to relye This was the effect of the Lord Chancellors Speech touching the Cause of Britaine For the King had commanded him to carrie it so as to affect the Parliament towards the Businesse but without engaging the King in any expresse declaration The Chancellor went on FOr that which may concerne the Gouernement at home the King hath commanded me to say vnto you That he thinketh there was neuer any King for the small time that hee hath reigned had greater and iuster cause of the two contrarie Passions of Joy and Sorrow then his Grace hath Joy in respect of the rare and visible Fauours of Almightie God in girting the Imperiall Sword vpon his side and assisting the same his Sword against all his Enemies and likewise in blessing him with so many good and louing Seruants and Subiects which haue neuer fayled to giue him faithfull Counsell readie Obedience and couragious Defence Sorrow for that it hath not pleased God to suffer him to sheathe his Sword as hee greatly desired otherwise then for Administration of Justice but that he hath beene forced to draw it so oft to cut off Trayterous and disloyall Subiects whom it seemes God hath left a few amongst many good as the Canaanites among the People of Israel to be thornes in their sides to tempt and trie them though the end hath beene alwayes Gods Name bee blessed therefore that the destruction hath fallen vpon their owne heads Wherefore his Grace saith That hee seeth that it is not the Bloud spilt in the Field that will saue the Bloud in the Citie nor the Marshals Sword that will set this Kingdome in perfect Peace But that the true way is to stop the Seeds of Sedition and Rebellion in their beginnings and for that purpose to deuise confirme and quicken good and holesome Lawes against Riots and vnlawfull Assemblies of People and all Combinations and Confederacies of them by Liueries Tokens and other Badges of factious Dependance that the Peace of the Land may by these Ordinances as by Barres of Iron bee soundly bound in and strengthned and all Force both in Court Countrey and priuate Houses be supprest The care hereof which so much concerneth your selues and which the nature of the Times doth instantly call for his Grace commends to your Wisdomes And because it is the Kings desire that this Peace wherein he hopeth to gouerne and maintaine you doe not beare onely vnto you Leaues for you to sit vnder the shade of them in safetie but also should beare you Fruit of Riches Wealth and Plentie Therfore his Grace prayes you to take into consideration matter of Trade as also the Manufactures of the Kingdome and to represse the bastard and barren Imployment of Moneyes to Usurie and vnlawfull Exchanges that they may be as their naturall vse is turned vpon Commerce and lawfull and Royall Trading And likewise that our People bee set on worke in Arts and Handy-crafts that the Realme may subsist more of it selfe that Idlenesse be auoided and the drayning out of our Treasure for forraine Manufactures stopped But you are not to rest heere onely but to prouide further that whatsoeuer Merchandize shall bee brought in from beyond the Seas may bee imployed vpon the Commodities of this Land wherby the Kingdomes stocke of Treasure may be sure to bee kept from being diminished by any ouer-trading of the Forrainer And lastly because the King is well assured that you would not haue him poore that wishes you rich he doubteth not but that you will haue care as well to maintaine his Reuenues of Customes and all other Natures as also to supply him with your louing Aides if the case shall so require The rather for that you know the King is a good Husband and but a Steward in effect for the Publike and that what comes from you is but as Moisture drawne from the Earth which gathers into a Cloud and fals back vpon the Earth againe And you know well how the Kingdomes about you grow more and more in Greatnesse and the Times are stirring and therefore not fit to finde the King with an emptie Purse More I haue not to say to you and wish that what hath beene said had beene better exprest But that your Wisdomes and good Affections will supply GOD blesse your Doings IT was no hard matter to dispose and affect the Parliament in this businesse aswell in respect of the Emulation betweene the Nations and the Enuie at the late growth of the French Monarchie as in regard of the Danger to suffer the French to make their approaches vpon England by obtaining so goodly a maritime Prouince full of Sea-townes and Hauens that might doe mischiefe to the English either by inuasion or by interruption of Traffique The Parliament was also moued with the point of Oppression for
of Estate for else hee should leaue to bee a King The Subiects of Burgundie are Subiects in Chiefe to the Crown of France and their Duke the Homager and Vassall of France They had wont to bee good Subiects howsoeuer MAXIMILIAN hath of late distempered them They fled to the King for Justice and deliuerance from oppression Justice hee could not denie Purchase hee did not seeke This was good for MAXIMILIAN if he could haue seene it in people mutined to arrect Fury and preuent Despaire My Lords it may bee this I haue said is needlesse saue that the King our Master is tender in any thing that may but glance vpon the friendship of England The amitie betweene the two Kings no doubt stands entire and inuiolate And that their Subiects swords haue clashed it is nothing vnto the publike Peace of the Crownes it being a thing very vsuall in auxiliarie Forces of the best and straitest Confederates to meet and draw bloud in the Field Nay many times there bee Aides of the same Nation on both sides and yet it is not for all that A Kingdome diuided in it selfe It resteth my Lords that Jimpart vnto you a matter that I know your Lordships all will much reioyce to heare as that which importeth the Christian Common-weale more then any Action that hath hapned of long time The King our Master hath a purpose and determination to make Warre vpon the kingdome of Naples being now in the possession of a Bastardslip of Arragon but appertaining vnto his Maiestie by cleare and vndoubted right which if hee should not by iust Armes seeke to recouer hee could neither acquite his Honour nor answer it to his People But his Noble and Christian thoughts rest not here For his Resolution and Hope is to make the Re-conquest of Naples but as a Bridge to transport his Forces into Grecia and not to spare Bloud or Treasure If it were to the impawning of his Crowne and dis-peopling of France till either hee hath ouerthrowne the Empire of the OTTOMANS or taken it in his way to Paradise The King knoweth well that this is a designe that could not arise in the minde of any King that did not stedfastly looke vp vnto GOD whose quarrell this is and from whom commeth both the Will and the Deed. But yet it is agreeable to the Person that hee beareth though vnworthy of the Thrice-Christian King and the eldest Sonne of the Church Whereunto he is also inuited by the Example in more ancient time of King HENRIE the Fourth of England the first Renowned King of the House of LANCASTER Ancestour though not Progenitour to your King who had a purpose towards the end of his time as you know better to make an Expedition into the Holy-Land and by the Example also present before his eyes of that Honourable and Religious Warre which the King of Spaine now maketh and hath almost brought to perfection for the recouerie of the Realme of Granada from the Moores And although this Enterprise may seeme vast and vnmeasured for the King to attempt that by his owne Forces wherein heretofore a Coniunction of most of the Christian Princes hath found worke enough yet his Maiestie wisely considereth that sometimes smaller Forces being vnited vnder one Command are more effectuall in Proofe though not so promising in Opinion and Fame then much greater Forces variously compounded by Associations and Leagues which commonly in a short time after their Beginnings turne to Dissociations Diuisions But my Lords that which is as a Voice from Heauen that called the King to this Enterprise is a Rent at this time in the House of the OTTOMANS I doe not say but there hath beene Brother against Brother in that House before but neuer any that had refuge to the Armes of the Christians as now hath GEMES Brother vnto BAIAZETH that reigneth the fore brauer Man of the two the other being betweene a Monke and a Philosoper and better read in the Alcoran and Auerroes then able to weild the Scepter of so warlike an Empire This therefore is the King our Masters memorable and heroicall Resolution for an Holy Warre And because he carrieth in this the Person of a Christian Souldiour as well as of a Great Temporall Monarch hee beginneth with Humilitie and is content for this cause to begge Peace at the hands of other Christian Kings There remaineth onely rather a Ciuill Request then any essentiall part of our Negotiation which the King maketh to the King your Soueraigne The King as the World knoweth is Lord in Chiefe of the Duchie of Britaine The Marriage of the Heire belongeth to him as Guardian This is a priuate Patrimoniall Right and no Businesse of Estate yet neuerthelesse to runne a faire course with your King whom he desires to make another Himselfe and to bee one and the same thing with him his Request is That with the Kings Fauour and Consent he may dispose of her Marriage as he thinketh good and make void the intruded and pretended Marriage of MAXIMILIAN according to Justice This my Lords is all that I haue to say desiring your pardon for my weakenesse in the deliuerie THus did the French Ambassadors with great shew of their Kings affection and many sugred words seeke to adulce all matters betweene the two Kings hauing two things for their ends The one to keepe the King quiet till the Marriage of Britaine was past and this was but a Summer fruit which they thought was almost ripe and would be soone gathered The other was more lasting and that was to put him into such a temper as he might be no disturbance or impediment to the voyage for Italie The Lords of the Councell were silent and said only That they knew the Ambassadors would looke for no answer till they had reported to the King And so they rose from Councell The King could not well tell what to thinke of the Marriage of Britaine He saw plainly the ambition of the French King was to impatronize himselfe of the Duchie but he wondred he would bring into his House a litigious Marriage especially considering who was his Successor But weighing one thing with another he gaue Britaine for lost but resolued to make his profit of this businesse of Britaine as a quarrell for Warre and that of Naples as a Wrench and meane for Peace being well aduertised how strongly the King was bent vpon that Action Hauing therefore conferred diuers times with his Councell and keeping himselfe somewhat close he gaue a direction to the Chancellor for a formall answer to the Ambassadors and that hee did in the presence of his Councell And after calling the Chancellor to him apart bade him speake in such language as was fit for a Treatie that was to end in a Breach and gaue him also a speciall Caueat that he should not vse any words to discourage the voyage of Italie Soone after the Ambassadors were sent for to the Councell and the Lord Chancellor spake to them
PERKIN and his complices as well through Discouragement as Distrust So that they were now like Sand without Lyme ill bound together especially as many as were English who were at a gaze looking strange one vpon another not knowing who was faithfull to their Side but thinking that the King what with his Baits and what with his Nets would draw them all vnto him that were anything worth And indeede it came to passe that diuers came away by the Thred sometimes one and sometimes another BARLEY that was Ioint-Commissioner with CLIFFORD did hold out one of the longest till PERKIN was farre worne yet made his Peace at the length But the Fall of this Greatman beeing in so high Authoritie and Fauour as was thought with the King and the manner of Carriage of the Businesse as if there had beene secret Inquisition vpon him for a great time before and the Cause for which hee suffered which was little more than for saying in effect That the Title of YORKE was better than the Title of LANCASTER which was the Case almost of euery man at the least in Opinion was matter of great Terrour amongst all the Kings Seruants and Subiects Insomuch as no man almost thought himselfe secure and men durst scarce commune or talke one with another but there was a generall Diffidence euery where Which neuerthelesse made the King rather more Absolute than more Safe For Bleeding Inwards and shut Vapours strangle soonest and oppresse most Hereupon presently came forth Swarmes and Volies of Libels which are the Gusts of Libertie of Speech restrayned and the Females of Sedition contayning bitter Inuectiues and Slanders against the King and some of the Councell For the contriuing and dispersing whereof after great Diligence of Inquirie fiue meane Persons were caught and executed Meane while the King did not neglect Ireland being the Soyle where the Mushromes and Upstart-Weedes that spring vp in a Night did chiefly prosper Hee sent therefore from hence for the better settling of his affaires there Commissioners of both Robes The Prior of Lanthony to bee his Chancellour in that Kingdome and Sir EDWARD POYNINGS with a Power of Men and a Marshall Commission together with a Ciuill Power of his Lieutenant with a Clause That the Earle of Kildare then Deputie should obey him But the Wilde-Irish who were the principall Offenders fledde into the Woods and Bogges after their manner and those that knew themselues guilty in the Pale fledde to them So that Sir EDWARD POYNINGS was enforced to make a Wilde-Chase vpon the Wilde-Irish Where in respect of the Mountaines and Fastnesses hee did little good Which eyther out of a suspicious Melancholy vpon his bad Successe or the better to saue his seruice from Disgrace hee would needes impute vnto the Comfort that the Rebels should receiue vnder-hand from the Earle of Kildare euery light suspicion growing vpon the Earle in respect of the KILDARE that was in the Action of LAMBERT SIMNELL and slaine at Stoke-field Wherefore hee caused the Earle to bee apprehended and sent into England where vpon Examination hee cleared himselfe so well as he was re-placed in his Gouernment But POYNINGS the better to make compensation of the Meagernesse of his Seruice in the Warres by Acts of Peace called a Parliament where was made that memorable Act which at this day is called POYNINGS Law whereby all the Statutes of England were made to bee of force in Ireland For before they were not neither are any now in force in Ireland which were made in England since that time which was the tenth yeare of the King About this time beganne to be discouered in the King that Disposition which afterward nourished and whet-on by bad Counsellers and Ministers proued the Blot of his times which was the course he tooke to crush Treasure out of his Subiects Purses by forfeitures vpon Penall-Lawes At this men did startle the more at this time because it appeared plainely to bee in the King's Nature and not out of his Necessitie hee beeing now in Float for Treasure For that he had newly receiued the Peace-money from France the Beneuolence-money from his Subiects and great Casualties vpon the Confiscations of the Lord Chamberlaine and diuers others The first-noted Case of this kinde was that of Sir WILLIAM CAPEL Alderman of London Who vpon sundry Penall-Lawes was condemned in the summe of seuen and twenty hundred pounds and compounded with the King for sixteene hundred And yet after EMPSON would haue cut another Chop out of him if the King had not dyed in the Instant The Summer following the King to comfort his Mother whom he did alwaies tenderly loue and reuere and to make Demonstration to the World that the proceedings against Sir WILLIAM STANLEY which was imposed vpon him by necessitie of State had not in any degree diminished the affection he bare to THOMAS his brother went in Progresse to Latham to make merry with his Mother and the Earle and lay there diuers dayes During this Progresse PERKIN WARBECKE finding that time and Temporizing which whilest his practices were couert and wrought well in England made for him did now when they were discouered and defeated rather make against him for that when matters once goe downe the Hill they stay not without a new force resolued to trie his aduenture in some exploit vpon England hoping still vpon the affections of the Common-People towards the House of YORKE Which Body of Common-People hee thought was not to bee practised vpon as Persons of Qualitie are But that the only practice vpon their affections was To set vp a Standard in the fielde The Place where hee should make his Attempt hee chose to be the Coast of Kent The King by this time was growne to sueh an height of Reputation for cunning and Policie that euery Accident and Euent that went well was laid and imputed to his foresight as if hee had set it before As in this Particular of PERKINS Designe vpon Kent For the world would not beleeue afterwards but the King hauing secret Intelligence of PERKINS intention for Kent the better to draw it on went of purpose into the North a farre off laying an open side vnto PERKIN to make him come to the Close and so to trip vp his heeles hauing made sure in Kent before hand But so it was that PERKIN had gathered together a Power of all Nations neither in number nor in the hardinesse and courage of the Persons contemptible but in their nature and fortunes to bee feared as well of Friends as Enemies being Bankrupts and many of them Felons and such as liued by Rapine These hee put to Sea and arriued vpon the Coast of Sandwich and Deale in Kent about Iuly There he cast Anchor and to prooue the affections of the People sent some of his men to land making great boast of the Power that was to follow The Kentish-men perceiuing that PERKIN was not followed by any English of name or accompt and that his forces
two Sonnes EDWARD and RICHARD Duke of Yorke both very young EDWARD the eldest succeeded their Father in the Crowne by the name of King EDWARD the Fift But RICHARD Duke of Glocester their vnnaturall Vnckle first thirsting after the Kingdome through Ambition and afterwards thirsting for their Bloud out of desire to secure himselfe imployed an Instrument of his confident to him as hee thought to murther them both But this Man that was imployed to execute that execrable Tragedie hauing cruelly slaine King EDWARD the eldest of the two was mooued partly hy Remorse and partly by some other meane to saue RICHARD his Brother making a Report neuerthelesse to the Tyrant that hee had performed his Commandement for both Brethren This Report was accordingly beleeued and published generally So that the World hath beene possessed of an Opinion that they both were barbarously made away though euer Truth hath some sparkes that flye abroade vntill it appeare in due time as this hath had But Almighty GOD that stopped the Mouth of the Lion and saued little JOAS from the Tyrannie of ATHALIAH when shee massacred the Kings Children and did saue ISAACK when the hand was stretched forth to sacrifice him preserued the second Brother For I my selfe that stand heere in your presence am that very RICHARD Duke of Yorke Brother of that infortunate Prince King EDWARD the Fift now the most rightfull suruiuing Heire-Male to that Uictorious and most Noble EDWARD of that Name the Fourth late King of England For the manner of my Escape it is fit it should passe in silence or at least in a more secret Relation for that it may concerne some aliue and the memorie of some that are dead Let it suffice to thinke I had then a Mother liuing a Queene and one that expected dayly such a Commandement from the Tyrant for the murthering of her Children Thus in my tender age escaping by GODS Mercie out of London I was secretly conueyed ouer Sea Where after a time the Partie that had mee in Charge vpon what new Feares change of Minde or Practice GOD knoweth suddenly forsooke mee Whereby I was forced to wander abroade and to seeke meane Conditions for the sustaining of my Life Wherefore distracted betweene seuerall Passions the one of Feare to bee knowne lest the Tyrant should haue a new Attempt vpon mee the other of Griefe and Disdaine to bee vnknowne and to liue in that base and seruile manner that I did I resolued with my selfe to expect the Tyrants Death and then to put my selfe into my Sisters hands who was next Heire to the Crowne But in this Season it happened one HENRIE TIDDER sonne to EDMOND TIDDER Earle of Richmond to come from France and enter into the Realme and by subtile and foule meanes to obtaine the Crowne of the same which to mee rightfully appertained So that it was but a Change from Tyrant to Tyrant This HENRIE my extreame and mortall Enemie so soone as hee had knowledge of my beeing aliue imagined and wrought all the subtill waies and meanes hee could to procure my finall Destruction For my mortall Enemie hath not onely falsly surmised mee to bee a fayned Person giuing mee Nick-names so abusing the World but also to deferre and put mee from entrie into England hath offered large Summes of Money to corrupt the Princes and their Ministers with whom I haue beene retayned and made importune Labours to certaine Seruants about my Person to murther or poyson mee and others to forsake and leaue my Righteous Quarrell and to depart from my Seruice as Sir ROBERT CLIFFORD and others So that euery Man of Reason may well perceiue that HENRIE calling himselfe King of England needed not to haue bestowed such great Summes of Treasure nor so to haue busied himselfe with importune and incessant Labour and Industrie to compasse my Death and Ruine if I had beene such a fained Person But the truth of my Cause beeing so manifest moued the most Christian King CHARLES and the Lady Duchesse Dowager of Burgundie my most Deare Aunt not onely to acknowledge the truth thereof but louingly to assist mee But it seemeth that GOD aboue for the good of this whole Island and the knitting of these two Kingdomes of England and Scotland in a strait Concord and Amitie by so great an Obligation had reserued the placing of mee in the Imperiall Throne of England for the Armes and Succours of your Grace Neither is it the first time that a King of Scotland hath supported them that were bereft and spoyled of the Kingdome of England as of late in fresh memorie it was done in the Person of HENRY the Sixth Wherefore for that your Grace hath giuen cleare Signes that you are in no Noble qualitie inferiour to your Royall Ancestours I so distressed a Prince was hereby mooued to come and put my Selfe into your Royall Hands desiring your Assistance to recouer my Kingdome of England promising faithfully to beare my Selfe towards your Grace no otherwise than If I were your owne Naturall Brother and will vpon the Recouerie of mine Inheritance gratefully doe you all the Pleasure that is in my vtmost Power AFter PERKIN had told his Tale King IAMES answered brauely and wisely That whatsoeuer hee were hee should not repent him of putting himselfe into his hands And from that time forth though there wanted not some about him that would haue perswaded him that all was but an Illusion yet notwithstanding either taken by PERKINS amiable and alluring behauiour or inclining to the recommendation of the great Princes abroade or willing to take an occasion of a Warre against King HENRY hee entertained him in all things as became the person of RICHARD Duke of Yorke embraced his Quarrell and the more to put it out of doubt that hee tooke him to bee a great Prince and not a Representation onely hee gaue consent that this Duke should take to wife the Lady KATHERINE GORDON daughter to the Earle Huntley beeing a neare Kinswoman to the King himselfe and a young Uirgin of excellent beautie and vertue Not long after the King of Scots in person with PERKIN in his company entred with a great Armie though it consisted chiefly of Borderers beeing raysed somewhat suddenly into Northumberland And PERKIN for a Perfume before him as hee went caused to be published a Proclamation of this tenor following in the name of RICHARD Duke of Yorke true inheritor of the Crowne of England IT hath pleased GOD Who putteth downe the Mightie from their Seate and exalteth the Humble and suffereth not the Hopes of the Iust to perish in the end to giue Us meanes at the length to shew Our Selues armed vnto Our Leiges and People of England But far bee it from Us to intend their hurt and dammage or to make Warre vpon them otherwise than to deliuer Our Selfe and them from Tyrannie and Oppression For our mortall Enemie HENRY TIDDER a false Vsurper of the Crowne of England which to Vs by Naturall and Lineall Right
talking Fellow and no lesse desirous to bee talked of The other was THOMAS FLAMMOCKE a Lawyer who by telling his neighbours commonly vpon any occasion that the Law was on their side had gotten great sway amongst them This Man talked learnedly and as if he could tell how to make a Rebellion and neuer breake the Peace Hee told the People that Subsidies were not to be granted nor leuied in this case that is for Warres of Scotland for that the Law had prouided another course by seruice of Escuage for those Iourneyes much lesse when all was quiet and Warre was made but a Pretence to poll and pill the People And therefore that it was good they should not stand now like Sheepe before the Shearers but put on Harnesse and take Weapons in their hands Yet to doe no creature hurt but goe and deliuer the King a Strong Petition for the laying downe of those grieuous Payments and for the punishment of those that had giuen him that Counsell to make others beware how they did the like in time to come And said for his part hee did not see how they could doe the duetie of true English-men and good Liege-men except they did deliuer the King from such wicked Ones that would destroy both Him and the Countrey Their ayme was at Arch-Bishop MORTON and Sir REGINOLD BRAY who were the Kings Skreens in this Enuy. After that these two FLAMMOCKE and the Blacke-smith had by ioynt and seuerall Pratings found tokens of consent in the Multitude they offered themselues to leade them vntill they should heare of better men to be their Leaders which they said would be ere long Telling them further that they would be but their seruants and first in euery danger but doubted not but to make both the West-end and the East-end of England to meete in so good a Quarrell and that all rightly vnderstood was but for the Kings seruice The People vpon these seditious Instigations did arme most of them with Bowes and Arrowes and Bills and such other Weapons of rude and Countrey People and forthwith vnder the Command of their Leaders which in such cases is euer at pleasure marched out of Corne-wall through Deuonshire vnto Taunton in Somersetshire without any slaughter violence or spoyle of the Countrey At Taunton they killed in furie an officious and eager Commissioner for the Subsidie whom they called The Prouost of Perin Thence they marched to Wells where the Lord AVDLEY with whom their Leaders had before some secret Intelligence a Noble-man of an ancient Family but vnquiet and popular and aspiring to Ruine came-in to them and was by them with great Gladnesse and cries of Ioy accepted as their Generall they beeing now proud that they were ledde by a Noble-man The Lord AVDLEY ledde them on from Wells to Salisbury and from Salisbury to Winchester Thence the foolish people who in effect led their Leaders had a minde to beeled into Kent fansying that the People there would ioyne with them contrary to all reason or iudgement considering the Kentish-men had shewed great Loyaltie and Affection to the King so lately before But the rude People had heard FDAMMOCKE say that Kent was neuer Conquered and that they were the freest People of England And vpon these vaine Noises they looked for great matters at their hands in a cause which they conceited to be for the libertie of the Subiect But when they were come into Kent the Countrey was so well settled both by the Kings late kind vsage towards them and by the credit and power of the Earle of Kent the Lord ABERGAVENNIE and the Lord COBHAM as neither Gentleman nor Yeoman came-in to their aide which did much dampe and dismay many of the simpler sort Insomuch as diuers of them did secretly flie from the Army and went home But the sturdier sort and those that were most engaged stood by it and rather waxed Proud than failed in Hopes and Courage For as it did somewhat appall them that the people came not in to them so it did no lesse encourage them that the Kings Forces had not set vpon them hauing marched from the West vnto the East of England Wherefore they kept on their way and encamped vpon Blacke-heath betweene Greenwich and Eltham threatning either to bid Battell to the King for now the Seas went higher than to MORTON and BRAIE or to take London within his view imagining with themselues there to finde no lesse Feare than Wealth But to returne to the King When first hee heard of this Commotion of the Cornish-men occasioned by the Subsidie he was much troubled therewith Not for it selfe but in regard of the Concurrence of other Dangers that did hang ouer him at that time For hee doubted lest a Warre from Scotland a Rebellion from Corne-wall and the Practices and Conspiracies of PERKIN and his Partakers would come vpon him at once Knowing well that it was a dangerous Triplicitie to a Monarchie to haue the Armes of a Forreiner the Discontents of Subiects and the Title of a Pretender to meete Neuerthelesse the Occasion tooke him in some part well prouided For as soone as the Parliament had broken vp the King had presently raysed a puissant Armie to Warre vpon Scotland And King IAMES of Scotland likewise on his part had made great Preparations eyther for defence or for new assayling of England But as for the Kings Forces they were not onely in preparation but in readinesse presently to set forth vuder the Conduct of DAWBENEY the Lord Chamberlaine But as soone as the King vnderstood of the Rebellion of Cornwall hee stayed those Forces retaining them for his owne seruice and safetie But therewithall hee dispatched the Earle of Surrey into the North for the defence and strength of those Parts in case the Scots should stirre But for the course hee held towards the Rebels it was vtterly differing from his former custome and practice which was euer full of forwardnesse and celeritie to make head against them or to set vpon them as soone as euer they were in Action This hee was wont to doe But now besides that hee was attempered by Yeares and lesse in loue with Dangers by the continued Fruition of a Crowne it was a time when the various appearance to his Thoughts of Perils of seuerall Natures and from diuers Parts did make him iudge it his best and surest way to keepe his Strength together in the Seate and Centre of his Kingdome According to the ancient Indian Embleme in such a swelling Season To hould the hand vpon the middle of the Bladder that no side might rise Besides there was no necessitie put vpon him to alter this Counsell For neither did the Rebels spoyle the Countrey in which case it had beene dishonour to abandon his People Neyther on the other side did their Forces gather or encrease which might hasten him to precipitate and assayle them before they grew too strong And lastly both Reason of Estate and Warre seemed to agree
although the French seemed to speake reason yet Arguments are euer with multitudes too weake for Suspitions Wherefore they did aduise the King roundly to embrace the Britons quarrell and to send them speedy aides and with much alacritie and forwardnesse granted to the King a great rate of Subsidie in contemplation of these aides But the King both to keepe a decencie towards the French King to whom he profest himselfe to be obliged and indeed desirous rather to shew Warre then to make it sent new solemne Ambassadors to intimate vnto him the Decree of his Estates and to iterate his motion that the French would desist from Hostilitie or if Warre must follow to desire him to take it in good part if at the motion of his people who were sensible of the cause of the Britons as their ancient Friends and Confederates hee did send them succours with protestation neuerthelesse that to saue all Treaties and Lawes of Friendship hee had limited his Force to proceed in aide of the Britons but in no wise to warre vpon the French otherwise then as they maintained the possession of Britaine But before this formall Ambassage arriued the Partie of the Duke had receiued a great blow and grew to manifest declination For neere the Towne of Saint Alban in Britaine a Battaile had beene giuen where the Britons were ouerthrowne and the Duke of Orleance and the Prince of Orange taken Prisoners there being slaine on the Britons part six thousand Men and amongst them the Lord WOODVILE and almost all his Souldiers valiantly fighting And of the French part one thousand two hundred with their Leader IAMES GALEOT a great Commander When the newes of this Battaile came ouer into England it was time for the King who now had no subrerfuge to continue further Treatie and saw before his Eyes that Britaine went so speedily for lost contrarie to his hopes knowing also that with his People and Forreiners both he sustained no small Enuie and disreputation for his former delayes to dispatch with all possible speed his succours into Britaine which hee did vnder the conduct of ROBERT Lord BROOKE to the number of eight thousand choise Men and well armed who hauing a faire wind in few houres landed in Britaine and ioyned themselues forthwith to those Briton-Forces that remained after the Defeat and marched straight on to find the Enemie and incamped fast by them The French wisely husbanding the possession of a Victorie and well acquainted with the courage of the English especially when they are fresh kept themselues within their Trenches being strongly lodged and resolued not to giue battaile But meane while to harrasse and wearie the English they did vpon all aduantages set vpon them with their Light-Horse wherein neuerthelesse they receiued commonly losse especially by meanes of the English-Archers But vpon these atchieuements FRANCIS Duke of Britaine deceased an accident that the King might easily haue foreseene and ought to haue reckoned vpon and prouided for but that the Point of Reputation when newes first came of the Battaile lost that somewhat must bee done did ouerbeare the Reason of Warre After the Dukes decease the principall persons of Britaine partly bought partly through faction put all things into confusion so as the English not finding Head or Bodie with whom to ioyne their Forces and being in iealousie of Friends as well as in danger of Enemies and the Winter begun returned home fiue moneths after their landing So the Battaile of Saint Alban the death of the Duke and the retire of the English succours were after some time the causes of the losse of that Duchie which action some accounted as a blemish of the Kings Iudgement but most but as the misfortune of his times But howsoeuer the temporarie Fruit of the Parliament in their aid and aduice giuen for Britaine tooke not nor prospered not yet the lasting Fruit of Parliament which is good and wholsome Lawes did prosper and doth yet continue to this day For according to the Lord Chancellours admonition there were that Parliament diuers excellent Lawes ordained concerning the Points which the King recommended First the authoritie of the Star-chamber which before subsisted by the ancient Common-Lawes of the Realme was confirmed in certaine Cases by Act of Parliament This Court is one of the sagest and noblest Institutions of this Kingdome For in the distribution of Courts of Ordinarie Iustice besides the High-Court of Parliament in which distribution the Kings-Bench holdeth the Pleas of the Crowne the Common-Place Pleas Ciuill the Exchequer Pleas concerning the Kings Reuenue and the Chancery the Pretorian power for mitigating the Rigour of Law in case of extremitie by the conscience of a good man there was neuerthelesse alwaies reserued a high and preheminent power to the Kings Counsell in Causes that might in example or consequence concerne the state of the Common-wealth which if they were Criminall the Counsell vsed to sit in the Chamber called the Star-Chamber if Ciuill in the White-Chamber or White-hall And as the Chancery had the Pretorian power for Equitie so the Star-chamber had the Censorian power for Offences vnder the degree of Capitall This Court of Star-chamber is compounded of good Elements for it consisteth of foure kindes of Persons Councellors Peeres Prelates and Chief-Iudges It discerneth also principally of foure kinds of Causes Forces Frauds Crimes various of Stellionate and the Inchoations or middle acts towards Crimes Capitall or hainous not actually committed or perpetrated But that which was principally aimed at by this Act was Force and the two chiefe Supports of Force Combination of multitudes and Maintenance or Headship of great Persons From the generall peace of the Countrie the Kings care went on to the peace of the Kings House and the securitie of his great Officers and Counsellors But this Law was somwhat of a strange composition and temper That if any of the Kings seruants vnder the degree of a Lord doe conspire the death of any of the Kings Counsell or Lord of the Realme it is made Capitall This Law was thought to bee procured by the Lord Chancellor who being a sterne and haughtie man and finding he had some mortall Enemies in Court prouided for his owne safetie drowning the enuie of it in a generall Law by communicating the priuiledge with all other Councellors and Peeres and yet not daring to extend it further then to the Kings seruants in Check-rowle lest it should haue beene too harsh to the Gentlemen and other Commons of the Kingdome who might haue thought their ancient Libertie and the clemencie of the Lawes of England inuaded If the will in any case of Felonie should be made the deed And yet the reason which the Act yeeldeth that is to say That hee that conspireth the death of Councellors may be thought indirectly and by a meane to conspire the death of the King himselfe is indifferent to all Subiects as well as to Seruants in Court But it seemeth this sufficed to serue the Lord