his raigne ouer both at one and the same time the yeere of Christ his Natiuitie fiue hundred thirty foure 2 And enlarging his confines vpon the Territories of the Britaines gaue them two great ouerthrowes the one at Searesbery in Wilt-shire and the other at Banbury in Oxford-shire which was fought the two and twentieth of his raigne whereby his fame grew more renowned and his Kingdome in more quiet after He raigned the space of twenty six yeeres and left this life in the yeere of our Lord God fiue hundred sixty 3 He had issue three sonnes Chenlâ—…e Câ—…thwolfe and Câ—…th Chelwin the first succeeded his father in the Monarchie and West-Saxons Kingdome 4 Câ—…thwolfe the second assisted his brother in many victories as presently in his raigne shall follow And Câ—…th the third brother famous in his issue though mentionlesse for action in himselfe whereof more largely hath beene spoken in the raigne of Kenrik as he was King only of the West-Saxons CHEVLINE THE THIRD KING OF THE VVEST-SAXONS AND FIFTH MONARCH OF THE ENGLISHMEN CHAPTER XVII CHeuline the eldest sonne of King Kenrike serued with great commendations vnder his father in all his warres against the Britains and is specially mentioned at the Battle of Banbury in Oxford-shire and after his fathers death became the third King of the West-Saxons and the fifth Monarch of the Englishmen Hee much enlarged the bounds of his Kingdome and increased the power and glorie of the West-Saxons 2 For continuing the warres where his Father left did not onely subdue the Britaines in many Battles but also set himselfe against his owne Nation the Saxons and sought to impose the scope of his power vpon the South of the Riuer Thames for entring Kent whose King was then a childe by name Ethelbert the sonne of Imerik at Wiphandun or Wilbandun in Surrey in a set and sore Battle defeated all his forces whence the young King was chased and two of his greatest Captaines bearing the names of Dukes were slaine as we haue said 3 Not long after this victory he set his minde to inlarge his West-Saxons Dominions vpon the possession of the declining Britaines and to that end furnished forth a great Band of his Souldiers whereof he made his brother Cuthwin chiefe Generall These marching to Bedford gaue Battle to the Britaines where they slew them downe-right and surprized soure of their chiefest Townes at that time called Liganburge Eglesbourgh Bensington and Eusham which they fortified to their owne strength and the Britaines great losse 4 And following the Tract of his fore-going fortunes about six yeeres after sent forth againe his Saxons vnder 〈◊〉 conduct of the foresaid Cuthwin who encountred the Britaines at Diâ—…th or Deorham with such valour and successe that besides great slaughter of the British Souldiers three of their Kings whose names were Coinmagill Candidan and Farimnagill fell in the Field with the surprizall of these three Cities Glocester Bathe and Cirencester Then saith Gyldas euidently appeared the Lands destruction the sins of the Britaine 's being the only cause when neither Prince nor People Priest nor Leuite regarded the Law of the Lord but disobediently wandred in their owne waies 5 But no greater were the sinnes of the Britains then the vnsatiable desires of the Saxons were to conquer for Cheuline about the last of Malgoe his gouernment met the Britaines at Fethanleah in the face of a Field which was fought out to the great slaughters of them both and with the death of Prince Cuth King Cheulins sonne notwithstanding the victorie fell on his side with great spoiles obtained and possessions of many Prouinces which himselfe no long time enioied 6 For growne proud through his many prosperous victories against his enemies and tyrannizing ouer his owne Subiects the West-Saxons fell into such contempt that they ioined with the Britaine 's for his destruction The greatest against him was disloyall Chell or Cealrik his nephew the sonne of Cuthwin his most loyall brother whom both the Nations had elected for Generall Vnder him they muster and march into Wilt-shire and at Wodnesbeothe now Wannes-ditch pitch downe their Standards Cheuline that thought hee lead fortune in a lease with confident boldnesse built his present proceedings vpon his former successe and in the face of his enemies displaied his colours But the Battles ioined and the Field goared with bloud the day was lost vpon the Kings side and he in distresse saued himselfe by flight Heere might you haue seene the world as it is vnconstant and variable for he a Mars that had ouer-borne the Britains in so many Battles and had raised his Saxons vnto so great a height is forced to flee before his conquered Captiues and to exile himselfe from the sight of his owne Subiects after he had gloriously raigned thirty one yeeres or as some will thirty three and as a meane man died in his banishment the yeere of grace fiue hundred ninety two 7 He had issue two sonnes which were Cuth and Cuthwin the elder whereof had valiantly serued in his fathers warres namely at Wimbledone in Surry against King Ethelbert and his power of Kentishmen in the yeere of Christ fiue hundred sixty seuen and lastly in the Battle at Fethanleah where the Britaines receiued a great ouerthrow Notwithstanding as hee was valiantly fighting among the thickest of his enemies hee was there slain in the yeere of our Lord fiue hundred eighty foure being the fiue and twentieth yeere of his fathers raigne and that without issue 8 Cuthwin the younger sonne of King Cheuline suruiued his father but succeeded him not because of his young yeeres or else and that rather for the hatred that his father had purchased of his Subiects which they repaied him in his owne expulsion and in this his sonnes depriuation But although the wreath of the West-Saxons did not adorne this Cuthwines head yet shone it more bright and stood with greater maiesty vpon the browes of Ina the warlike and zealous King of West-Saxons and of Egbert the victorious and first sole absolute Monarch of the English Empire both of them in a right line issued from this Cuthwin as in the seuenth Chapter we haue said ETHELBERT THE FIFTH AND FIRST CHRISTIAN KING OF KENT AND THE SIXTH MONARCH OF THE ENGLISHMEN HIS WIVES AND ISSVE CHAPTER XVIII THe flame of the West-Saxons for a time thus quenched the Lampe of Kent began againe to shine and to assume the Title of the Monarchie after it had beene suppressed in them through the raignes of these foure last Kings for young Egberts entrance with the great losse of his Kentish ouerthrowne by King Cheuline gaue rather inducements to a tributary subiection then any apparant hopes to purchase an Empire 2 But such is the dispose of God in his hidden Counsell that things of least appearance many times become the greatest in substance as in this Prince it was euidently seene who making
they shew themselues to be fraile men but onely those things wherein without scruple we ought to imitate them and therefore they are wiselie and warilie to be praised that Gods prerogatiue may be reserued intire to himselfe 43 Some other learned men there were who liued neere to that time whose censure was farre sharper then that Monks Such were some of those Diuines of Paris mentioned by Caesarius the Monk who saith The Question was debated to fro amongst the Doctors in the vniuersitie of Paris whether Thomas were damned or saued amongst whom Rogerius the Norman auowed that hee deserued death and damnation for his contumacie against his King the Minister of God but Petrus Cantor alleadged that his Miracles were signes of his saluation c. An indeede if all bee true which one man hath written in fiue bookes containing his 270. Miracles wee cannot but acknowledge him both the greatest Saint and the meriest too that euer gotte into heauen so ridiculous are many things recorded of him As that of Ailwardus who for stealing of a great whetstone which the Author that writes it best deserued beeing depriued of his Eies and Virilities by sentence of Law vpon praier to S. Thomas he had all restored againe Yea euen a Bird hauing beene taught to speake flying out of her cage and ready to be seized on by a Spar-Hauke said onely S. Thomas helpe mee and her Enemie fell presently dead and shee escaped and belike reported it Of which great power in this Saint how canne wee doubt sith wee read that euen in his life time the * Virgin Marie her selfe was contented to bee his Semster and sowed his shirt with red silke Many of which kind of follies if that word be sharp enough might bee heere inserted were not our present argument more serious and these forgeries fit onely for Monks to endite children to read and fooles to beleeue 44 The report of the tragicall outrage on the Arch-bishop comming to the old King at Argenton in Normandy there was no kind of sorrow into which without respect to Maiestie or State hee fell not and not without cause as knowing how plentifull an Hydra of mischiefes vpon the opinion of his priuitie with the fact would rise if not preuented But the murtherers fearing least this their fact would displease the king in whose reuenge they did it fled into the North and abode one whole yeere in the kings Castle of Knaresborough in Yorkeshire perhaps by fauour of the yongue king none of them dying for the fact by way of iustice because the Clergie exeÌ„pting themselues from the bonds of ciuill Laws the punishment of a Priest-killer as by some it appeareth was not then the death of the Body by execution of capitall sentence but of Soule by Excommunication till about the twentie third yeer of this king it was at the instant suite of Richard Arch-bishop of Canterburie and of the Bishops of Winchester Elie and Norwich yeelded that such persons should also suffer losse of life 45 The king therefore vpon protestation to submit himself to the iudgement of such Cardinals Legats as the Pope should send to inquire of the fact kept his Realme from Interdiction though the king of France the Archbishop of Seâ—…s and Theobald Earle of Blois had outgone his Embassadors with their inflaming letters conteining the descripion of that Parricide 46 Henry therefore among so many perplexities rising out of the Archbishops murther saw no way so ready for the calming his owne perturbations or for the auerting mens thoughts from the consideration of that scandalous tragedie as to vndertake some great and noble enterprise which now offered it selfe very seasonably For Ireland a verie spatious and plentifull Iland and lying commodiously for the vses of the English burned in it self with ciuill diuisions kindled among the petty Kings and Princes thereof while Rotherick the Great called O Conor Dun Prince of Connaught abusing his power and the aduantage of the times to the oppression of his Neighbours sought to make himselfe the vniuersall King thereof hauing already inuaded the Title Stile of KING AND MONARCH OF IRELAND And this his purpose was much aduanced by the fatall and familiar errour of proceedings in like cases for the Irish Princes either through distrust or pride forbearing to vnite their forces against the common enemy while each prouides for one they are all as it were ouer-come 47 Moreouer Dermot Mac Murrgh in that time of the Irish Pentarchie or fiue-fold Kingdome hauing secretly stolne away the wife of Rotherick a light woman and consenting or plotting rather vrging the rape it selfe added to Rotherickes ambition a iust desire of reuenge for so notable impudent and publike iniurie so much the more odious in Dermots person for that hee was old neyther was this all for the causes of this change were higher 48 The onely disposer and translator of Kingdomes is God in Ireland to moue him to offence without which no Kingdom is transferred against the people thereof all such sinnes abounded as commonly forgoe the greatest changes for not onely the manners of the Nation were extremely corrupted but the Christian faith it selfe decaied barbarisme ouerrunning the one and more then superstitions the other But it may seeme by some Authors that King Henries particular inducements to that Action were both an ancient title vnto that Kingdome deriued from his ancestors the kings of England for many ages before him and many vnsufferable wrongs by their Piracies vnto the English Nation buying and selling their Captiues and vsing Turkish tyranny on their â—…dies which made the Irish Clergy themselues confesse that they had deserued no other then that their land should bee transferred to that Nation whom they had so cruelly handled Notwithstanding king Henry who knew how great and dangerous tumults the Popes had raised on small occasions thought his way would bee much easier if he went onward with the Popes good fauour which hee easily obtained so liberall is his holinesse of that which is none of his for à fee viz. a penny yeerely to bee paid to Saint Peter of euery house in Ireland Touching which point Rossus of Warwick no Protestant I assure you saith That Englands King is not bound to rely on the Popes graunt for Ireland nor yet to pay that taxe because hee had claime to that Kingdome by an hereditary right and that the Pope had no temporall interest therein as his fauorites pretend the often-mentioned Monke of Newborough can tell vs who saith that Nunquam externa subiacuit ditioni Ireland was neuer subiect to any forraine command 49 God Almighty therefore did now put it into the heart of Henry for the reforming of that kingdome to make a Conquest thereof hauing in his infinite wisedome before hand fitted all circumstances needfull to concurre for inducing so warie and frugal a Prince
caused K. Richards signet to bee counterfeited wherwith he sealed sundry consolatorie and exhortatory letters to his friends indited in K. Richards name wherupon many in Essex gaue credit to the Countesse among the rest som Abbots of that Countie Into this smokedid al the deuise euaporate 42 And no lesse smokie was both the deuise successe of certain in the Parliament held this year at Couentry called the lack learning Parliament either for the vnlearnednesse of the persons or for their malice to learned men where to supply the Kings wants a bill was exhibited against the Temporalties of the Clergie but by the courage of the Archbishop of Canterburie who told them it was the enriching of themselues not of the King which they respected in their sacrilegious petitions and by the gracious care of the King who vowed to leaue the Church in better state then he found it rather then in worse their motion vanished to nothing but the infamous memory of the attempters It is obserued that a Knight the chiefe speaker in this bill against the Clergy had beene himselfe a Deacon and so himselfe first aduanced by the Clergy With great reason therefore did our forefathers distinguish the people into the learned and lewd inferring truely that such commonlie were lewd who were not learned and that lewd and wicked were but two words of one signification as in this Parliament well appeared whose Commons might enter Common with their cattel for any vertue which they had more then brute Creatures 43 Twife after this betweene Christmas and Palmesunday the King assembled the States againe once at London and then at Saint Alban for the cause of money but with much distast the Peeres of the land rising from the last Session thereof meanely contented as it well appeared not long after though to the enterprisers ruine Thomas Mowbray Earle Marshall one of the chiefe men which disliked the carriage of publike matters drawes Richardle Scrope Archbishoppe of Yorke into a conspiracy in ful hope that Henrie Percie Earle of Northumberland the Lord Bardolf the Citizens of Yorke and the common people would assist their cause which was glosed with the specious pretence of redressing publike abuses hapning through the Kings default The Earle of Westmerland hearing of this attempt wherein the Earle Marshall and the Archbishoppe were leaders of the people gathers a force to encounter them but perceiuing himselfe too feeble he betakes himselfe to fraud and by faining to like the quarrell got them both into his power and presented them as an acceptable oblation to the King who about Whitsontide comes to Yorke where albeit the Earle of Westmerland had promised them their liues aswell the Archbishoppe as the Earle Marshall were beheaded But the next yeere the Pope excommunicated all such as had a hand in putting the Archbishoppe to death It was said of Tiberius Casar in a Satyricall libel regnabit sanguine multo Adregnum quisquis venit ab exilio Who first Exi◅de is after crown'd His raigne with bloud will much abound 44 This the King verified in his person who comming out of banishment could not support his Title and estate but by shedding much bloud of subiects For not contented with those two liues he pursueth the Earle of Northumberland and Lord Bardolf with an inuincible Armie of seuen and thirty thousand men but they vnable to make head against so mighty a force take Berwicke for refuge Thither the King marcheth at the sound whereof they both distrustfull of their safety flie into Scotland where the Lord Flemming entertaines them Berwicke vpon hope of succours out of Scotland which gladly nourished the English miseries and the English theirs refused to render whereupon the King plants a battering piece against a Tower in the wall which as it threw downe the halfe thereof with one shot so did it quite ouerthrow all the defendants courages who presently yeelded the place vpon hard and desperate terms for they were partly hanged and partly emprisoned After Berwicke was thus recouered the king takes Alnwicke all other Castles belonging to the Earle and thinking the like happines would shine vpon him in Wales he crosseth ouer thither where it fell out far otherwise not by the manhood of the Welsh but by the sodaine rage of waters which destroied his carriages and about fiftie wains as was said laden with much treasure therfore he returns to Worcester Owen Glendowr the chief captain of the Welsh natiō expecting fearing a reuenge had before this time confederated himselfe with the French who in 140. ships arriued at Milford hauen to the aid of Owen hauing well neere first lost all their horses in the passage for want of fresh water The Lord Berkley and Henrie de Pay by what meanes appeares not burnt fifteen of that number in the harbour They made the entrance of their warre by laying siege to the Towne of Carmarden in South-Wales which the Garrison being permitted to depart with bagge and baggage was yeelded 45 The King being againe in need of money after long vnwillingnesse and delay the Parliament furnished him rather ouercome with wearinesse in contradiction then for any great good will Some of his treasure was employed as it seemes vpon secret practises with the Scots that the Earle of Northumberland and the Lord Bardolfe might bee deliuered into his hands in exchange for some Scots whereupon they fled into Wales and the Scots missing their purpose slew Dauid Lord Flemming for discouering their intention to his distressed guests as by the lawes of honour and hospitality he was obliged which filled Scotland with ciuill discords To auoide the dangers whereof and to better his education the King of Scots sent his sonne and heire by sea into France whom together with the Bishoppe of Orknay certaine Mariners of Cley in Norfolke surprized at sea and presented to the King who committed him prisoner to the Tower of London Meanewhile the French prosecuting their affaires in Wales sent thither eight and thirty shippes full of souldiers of which number the English tooke eight the rest escaping in great feare to Wales and not long after other fifteene saile laden with waxe and wine This fortune though good was nothing in regard of the seruice which Henry Pay with certaine shippes of the Cinque Ports and about fifteene other exployted vpon a great Fleet containing sixscore saile whose ladings were yron salt oyle and Rochel wine The same times was a felon put to death for hauing in many places of London dared secretly to set vp bils containing newes that King Richard was aliue The fearefull plague of pestilence slew multitudes of people through the Realm chiefly in London where within a short space it destroyed thirty thousand That most renowned Captaine Sir Robert Knolles who had led so many liuing men to their honourable deaths in battel was now captiued himselfe by death vpon the fifteenth day of
Princes fauour the Duke of Gloucester turned vnto their destruction and vpon that ground set the foundation of all his vnhappy building For whomsoeuer he perceiued either at variance with them or bearing himselfe their fauour he brake vnto them some by mouth some by writing and secret messengers that it was neither reason nor in any wise to be suffered that the young King their Master and kinseman should be in the hands and Custody of his mothers kindred sequestred in manner from their Company and attendance of which euery one ought him as faithfull seruice as they and many of them farre more honorable part of kin then his mothers side whose blood quoth he sauing the Kings pleasure was farre vnmeet to bee matched with his which now to be as who say remoued from the king and the lesse noble to be left about him is quoth hee neither honorable to his Maiestie nor vnto vs and also to his Grace no suretie to haue the mightiest of his friends from him and vnto vs no little ieopardy to suffer our well proued euill-willers to grow in ouer great authority with the Prince in youth who is light of beliefe and soone perswaded Ye remember I trow K. Edward himselfe albeit he was a man of age and discretion yet was he in many things ruled by the bend more then stood either with his honor or our profit or with the commodity of any man else except only the immoderate aduancement of themselues Which whether they sorer thirsted after their owne weale or our woe it were hard I weene to gesse and if some folkes friendship had not held better place with the King then any respect of kindred they might perhaps easily haue intrapped and brought some of vs to confusion ere this why not as easily as they haue done some other alreadie as neere of his roiall blood as we But our Lord hath wrought his will and thankes be to his grace that perill is past howbeit as great is growing if we suffer this young King in our enemies hand which without his knowledge might abuse the name of his commandement to any of our vndoing which thing God and good prouision forbid 12 Of which good prouision none of vs hath any thing the lesse neede for the late made attonement in which the Kings pleasure had more place then the parties wils nor none of vs I beleeue is so vnwise ouer soone to trust a new friend made of an old foe or to thinke that an howerly kindnes sodeinly contracted in one houre continued yet scarce a fortnight should be deeper setled in their stomackes then a long accustomed malice many yeeres rooted With these wordes and writings and such other the Duke of Gloucester soone set afire them that were of themselues apt enough to kindle especially two Edward Duke of Buckingham and William Lord Hastings Chamberlaine both men of honor and of great power The one by long succession from his Auncestry the other by his office and the Kings fauour These two not bearing each to other so much loue as both of them hatred vnto the Queenes part in this point accorded together with the Duke of Gloucester that they would vtterly remoue from the Kings Company all his mothers friends vnder the name of their enemies 13 Vpon this conclusion the Duke of Gloucester vnderstanding that the Lords which at that time were about the King intended to bring him to London to his Coronation accompanied with such power of their friends that it should be hard for him to bring his purpose to passe without the gathering a great assembly of people and in manner of open warre whereof the end hee wiste well was doubtfull and in which the King being on their side his part should haue the face and name of a Rebellion he secretly therefore by diuers meanes caused the Queene to be perswaded and brought in minde that it neither were need and also should be ieopardous the King to come vp strong 14 For whereas now euery Lord loued other and no other thing studied vpon but about the Coronation and honor of the King if the Lords of her kindred should assemble in the Kings name much people they should giue the Lords of the contrary faction cause to feare and suspect least they should gather this people not for the Kings safegard whom no man impugned but for their destruction hauing more regard to their old variance then their new attonement for which cause they should assemble on the other party much people againe for their defence whose power shee wist well stretched farre and thus should all the Realme fall on an vproare and of all the hurt that thereof should insue which was likely not to be a little the most harme like to fall where shee least would all the world would put her and her kindred in the blame and say that they had vnwisely and vntrulie also broken the amity and peace which the King her husband so prudently made betwixt his kin and hers on his death bed and which the other party faithfully obserued 15 The Queene in this wise perswaded sent such word vnto her sonne and vnto her brother being about the King besides the Duke of Glocester him selfe and other Lords the chiefe of his bend wrote vnto the King so reuerently and to the Queenes friends there so louingly that they nothing earthly mistrusting brought vp the King in great hast but not in good speed with a sober company Now was the King in his way to London gone from Northampton when the Dukes of Glocester and Buckingham came thither where remained behind the Lord Riuers the Kings vncle intending on the morrow to follow the King and bee with him at Stony-Stratford twelue miles thence earely ere he departed So was there made that night much friendlie cheare betwixt these two Dukes and the Lord Riuers a great while but incontinent after that they were openly with great curtesie departed and the Lord Riuers lodged the Dukes secretly with a few of their most priuy friends set them down in Councell wherein they spent a great part of the night at their rising in the dawning of the day they sent out priuily to their seruants in their Innes and lodgings about giuing command to make themselues shortly ready for their Lords were to horse-ward vpon which messages many of their folke were attendant when many of the L. Riuers seruants were vnready 16 Now had these Dukes taken into their custodies the keyes of the Inne that none should passe forth without their licence and besides this in the high-way towards Stony-Stratford where the King lay they had bestowed certaine of their men that should send backe againe and compell to returne any man that were gotten out of Northampton towards Stony-Stratford till they had further order forasmuch as the Dukes themselues intended for the shew of their diligence to bee the first that should that day attend vpon the
the land Then our Lord God was dread loued and honoured then within the land was peace and tranquility and among neighbours concord and charity then the malice of outward enemies was mightilie resisted and repressed and the land honourably defended with many great and glorious victories then the entercourse of Merchants was largely vsed and exercised by which thinges aboue remembred the land was greatly enriched so that aswell the Merchants and Artificers as other poore people labouring for their liuings in diuers occupations had competent gaine to the sustentation of them their housholds liuing without miserable and intollerable pouerty but afterward when that such as had the rule and gouernance of this land delighting in adulation and flattery and led by sensuality and concupiscence followed the counsell of persons insolent vicious and of inordinate auarice despising the counsell of good vertuous prudent persons such as aboue bee remembred The prosperity of this land dayly decreased so that felicity was turned into misery and prosperity into aduersity and the order of policy and of the law of God and Man confounded whereby it is likely this Realme to fall into extreme misery and desolation which God defend without due prouision of couenable remedy bee had in this behalfe in all goodly hast 3 Ouer this among other things more speciall wee consider how that the time of the raigne of K. Edward the fourth late deceased after the vngracious pretensed marriage as all England hath cause so to say made betwixt the said King Edward and Elizabeth sometimes wife to Sir Iohn Gray knight late naming her selfe and many yeeres heretofore Queene of England the order of all politicke rule was peruerted the lawes of God and of Gods Church and also the lawes of nature and of England and also of the laudable customes and liberties of the same wherein euery English man is inheritor broken subuerted and contemned against all reason and iustice so that the land was ruled by selfe-will and pleasure feare and dread all manner of equity and law laide apart and despised whereof ensued many inconueniences and mischiefes as murthers extortions and oppressions namely of poore and impotent people so that no man sure of his life land or liuelyhood ne of his wife daughter nor seruant euery good maiden and woman standing in dread to bee rauished and defloured and besides this what discords inward battels effusion of Christian mens bloud and namely by the destruction of the Nobles bloud of this land was had and committed within the same it is euident and notarie through all this Realme vnto the great sorrow and heauinesse of all true Englishmen And here also wee consider how that the said pretended marriage betwixt the aboue named King Edward and Elizabeth Gray was made of great presumption without the knowing assent of the Lords of this land and also by sorcery and witchcraft committed by the said Elizabeth and her mother Iaquet Dutchesse of Bedford as the common opinion of the people and the publike voice and fame is through all this land and hereafter if the cause shall require shall be proued sufficiently in time and place conuenient And here also wee consider how that the said pretensed marriage was made priuily and secretly without edition of banes in a priuate Chamber a prophane place and not openly in the face of the Church after the law of Gods Church but contrary thereunto and the laudable custome of the Church of England And how also that at the time of contract of the same pretended marriage and before and long time after the said King Edward was and stood married and troth-plight to one Dame Elienor Butler daughter of the old Earle of Shrewsbury with whom the same Edward had made a precontract of Matrimonie long time before hee made the saide pretenced marriage with the said Elizabeth Gray in manner and forme aforesaid which Premisses being true as in very truth they beene true it appeareth and followeth euidently that the said King Edward during his life and the said Elizabeth liued together sinfully and damnably in adultery against the law of God and of his Church And therefore no maruell that the Soueraigne Lord and the head of this land being of such vngodly disposition and prouoking the ire and indignation of our Lord God such hainous mischiefe and inconueniences as are aboue remembred were vsed and committed in the Realme among the Subiects Also it appeareth euidently and followeth that all the Issue and children of the â—…id King Edward beene bastard and vnable to inherite or to claime any thing by inheritance by the law and custome of England 4 Moreouer we consider how that afterwards by the three Estates of this Realm assembled in Parliament holden at Westminster the 17. yeere of the raigne of the said King Edward the fourth hee then being in possession of the Crowne and royall estate by Act made in the same Parliament George Duke of Clarence brother to the said King Edward now deceased was conuicted and attainted of high treason as in the same Act is contained more at large by cause and reason whereof all the Issue of the saide George was and is disabled and barred of all right and claime that in any case they might haue or challenge by inheritance to the Crowne and dignity royall of this Realme by the ancient law and custome of this same Realme Ouer this wee consider that ye be the vndoubted sonne and heire of Richard late Duke of Yorke very inheritor of the sayd Crowne and dignitie royall and as in right King of England by way of inheritance and that at this time the premisses duely considered there is none other person liuing but ye only that by right may claime the said Crowne and dignitie royall by way of inheritance and how that yee be borne within this land by reason whereof as we deeme in our mindes yee be more naturally enclined to the prosperitie and common weale of the same and all the three estates of the Land haue and may haue more certaine knowledge of your birth and filiation aforesaid We consider also the great wit prudence iustice princely courage and the memorable and laudable acts in diuers battels which as wee by experience know you heretofore haue done for the saluation and defence of this same Realme and also the great noblenesse excellencie of your birth and bloud as of him that is descended of the three most royall houses in Christendome that is to say England France and Spaine Wherefore these premisses by vs diligently considered we desiring effectually the peace traquilitie and weale-publique of this Land and the reduction of the same to the ancient honourable estate and prosperitie and hauing in your great prudence iustice princely courage and excellent vertue singular confidence haue chosen in all that in vt is and by this our writing choose you High and Mightie Prince our King and Soueraigne
Arms but so farre off from embracing as the Rebels from the height of the hill shot at the Citie which doing little harme they remoued their Ordinance to the lower ground and thence beganne to batter the walles and without great resistance entred the town where they became Masters of al the munitions and emprisoned the Maior and many other Citizens 38 These times thus troublesome the King and Citizens of London requiring their aide in these their opposite quarrels and surely in their assembly the talk of the Lords by the Recorder was so wel tolde as had not a graue Citizen stept vp betimes the common Councell had granted aid against their King whose wisdome and loyalty in regarde my selfe a Citizen would haue it recorded to his euerlasting memory and an example and motiue for our obedient loue and duety toward our Soueraignes I will insert as I find them vttered and spoken 58 In this case said hee good it is to thinke on things past to auoide the danger of thinges to come for I remember a story written by Fabian in his Chronicles of the warres betwixt the King and his Barons who euen then as our Lords doe now demanded aid of the Maior and Commons of London against their Soueraingne King Henry the third and that in a cause rightfull and good for the Common-weale which was the execution of certain wholesome lawes somwhat derogating from his princely prerogatiue which hee would not permit The aide was granted and quarrell came vnto battell wherein the Lords preuailed and tooke the King and his sonne prisoners But they againe restored to liberty among other conditions this was one that the King should not onely grant his free pardon to the Lords but also vnto the Citizens of London which was done yea and the same confirmed by Parliament But what followed was it forgotten no surely nor neuer forgiuen during the Kings life for the liberties of the City were taken away strangers appointed to bee our heads and Gouernours the Citizens giuen away both body and goods and from one persecution to another were most miserably afflicted such it is to enter the wrath of a Prince which as Salomon saith is death Wherfore forasmuch as this aide is required of the Kings Maiesty whose voice being our high Shepheard wee ought to obey rather then to hearken to the Lords whom neuerthelesse I wish not to bee vtterly cast off my counsell is that they with vs and wee with them become humble Petitioners vnto his Highnesse that it would please him to heare such complaints against the Lord Protector as may be iustly alleadged and proued and I doubt not but this matter will be so pacified that neither shall the King nor yet the Lordes haue cause to seeke for further aide neither we to offend any of them both 59 These words well weighed and the Councel dissolued fiue hundred Londoners were prepared in a readinesse for Sir Philip Hobby being sent from the Lords to the King so deliuered their minds that the Lord Protector was commanded out of presence and the next day being the twelfth of October the Lords of the Councell resorted to Windsor where they so wrought with the King as his vncle was deliuered into their hands whom the same night they imprisoned in Beauchamps Tower in the same Castel and the next day strongly attended brought him to London whence the streetes were guarded onely by housholders the Aldermen taking the charge of the busines and so to the great griefe and wondering of the people hee was conueyed to the Tower and there left 60 Whither shortly after the Lords themselues repaired and charged the Protector with these 20. Articles as followeth 1 That at his entry into that waighty office hee was expresly prohibited to doe any thing in State without the assent of the last Kings Executors 2 That hee had contrariwise vpon his owne authority both subuerted lawes and staied iustice 〈◊〉 well by letters as commandement 3 That he had deliuered diuers persons arrested and committed to prison for felonie manslaughter murther and treason contrary to the lawes and statutes of the Realme 4 That hee had made Captains and Lieutenants ouer waighty affaires vnder his owne Seale and Writing 5 That hee had alone communicated with forraine Ambassadors about most weighty State affaires 6 That hee had checked diuers of the Kings Priuy Councell speaking for the good of the State yea and threatned to displace them if they consented not to his mind 7 That hee had against law erected a Court of Requests in his owne house whither were enforced diuers of the Kings Subiects to answere for their Free-holds 8 That he had for money disposed Offices in the Kinges gifte money leases and Wardes and giuen presentations of Benefices and Bishoprickes yea and medled with sale of the Kinges lands which by office hee could not without consent of the maior voice of the Councell 9 That hee had commanded multiplication by Alcumistrie to the abuse of the Kings coine 10 That against the King and Councels will hee had set forth a Proclamation against inclosures which had caused daungerous insurrections in the land wherein diuers of the Kings liege Subiects haue beene spoiled and many a worthy man therein slaine 11 That to the same end hee had giuen commission with Articles annexed concerning inclosures of Commons high wayes and decayed Cottages giuing the Commissioners authority to heare and determine the same causes contrary to the lawes and statutes of the Realme 12 That hee had suffered Rebels and traitours to assemble and lie in Campe and Armour against the King his Nobles Gentlemen without any speedy suppressing of them 13 That by his gifts in money with promises of Fees rewards and seruices he had encouraged many of the said rebels 14 That in fauour of them contrary to law he had caused a Proclamation to bee made that none of the said Rebels or Traitors should be sued or vexed for any of their offences committed in the said Rebellion 15 That hee had liked well of these rebellions and had said that the couetousnesse of the Gentry gaue the occasion affirming that it was better for the Commons to die then to perish for lacke of liuing 16 That hee had reported the Lords of the Parliament were loath to reform themselues for the reformation of Inclosures and therefore the people had good cause to reforme the thinges themselues 17 That vpon the report of the defaultes and lackes of Bulloigne nothing was there amended 18 That the Forts of Newhauen and Blacknesse standing in want of men and victuall whereof hee was informed were suffered notwithstanding still to want to the great encouragement of the French and dishonour of the English 19 That he had vntruly published that the Lords at London minded to destroy the King which hee instantly desired hee would neuer forget and to that end instigated many young Lords whereby sedition and discord was made
vomit and became worse then he was before for despising his first mariage he became enamored vpon the wife of his brothers sonne whiles he was liuing and after that he had kept her a certaine time murthered them both In these sinnes hee continued the terme of fiue yeeres and dying without issue left his Crowne to another By these reprehensions of Gyldas it should rather seeme that these Princes liued all together at one and the same time vnto whom hee spake personally and mouth to mouth which could not be if such successions and such yeeres had beene expired as heere is laid downe And therefore not without cause some haue affirmed that these Captaines vsurped authoritie together in diuers parts of the Iland and not successiuely one after another neither indeed as Kings but rather Tyrants polluted with these greeuous sinnes as you haue heard and are so termed by their own Historian that bringeth one more to tyrannize whom neither Monmouth nor hee of Westminster hath spoken of which is Cuneglasus whom hee calleth a Lion tawney Butcher a Beare a Contemner of Religion an Oppressour of the Clergie that fought against God with his many grecuous sinnes and warred vpon man with his martiall weapons Hee saith hee did put away his lawfull wife prouoked the godly with many iniuries was proudly conceited of his owne wisdome and set his whole hope in vncertaine riches If then the head was so sicke could the body be sound that as Beda saith were so set to breake all orders of truth and iustice that scant any token or remembrance thereof remained And for witnesse against them calleth their owne Historian Gyldas that accused them of many impieties and this not the least that those Britaines neglected the preaching of the Gospell to the Saxons For these sinnes assuredly God gaue their Land to another Nation and themselues to exile or to the swords of their enemies Howsoeuer some latter Britaine hath rather excused their sinnes by the ouer-rash zeale of Gyldas whom he tearmeth a Pulpit-Priest but no perfect Historian that beat down sinnes with an ouer-sharpe censure of the sinners as the maner of many Preachers is at this day But saith hee let the true renowne of the Britaine 's appeare to the world and surely so shall it doe for me And againe I returne to my intended purpose CARETICVS 10. CAreticus succeeded Malgo in the gouernment of Britaine as destitute of vertue and fluent in vice as any of these his preceding Kings for it is recorded that hee was a nourisher of dissensions and sowed ciuill warres among his subiects a sinne odible to God and Man and vnto the vnconstant Britaines gaue occasion of his hatred which when the Saxons perceiued was further instigated and with the assistance of Gurmund an Arch-pirate and Captaine of the Norwegians followed against the King who not able to resist them fled into the Towne of Chichester for safety but by the deuice of his pursuers certaine sparrowes being caught and fire fastned to their feet were let flie into the Towne where lighting vpon straw and other matter fit for flaming burnt in short space the whole Citie and Careticus flying beyond Seuerne secured himselfe among the Mountaines of Wales wherein he died after he had vnprosperously raigned three yeeres and from that time foorth saith Randulphus the Britaines lost their whole Kingdome in the East part of the Iland and were confined in the West by the Riuers Seuerne and Dee CADWAN 11. CAdwan after foure and twenty yeeres ciuill dissension maintained among the Britaines euer since they had forgone their Country and betaken themselues to those vast but securing Mountaines of a Ruler only of North-wales was made Gouernour of all those parts a man deseruing well before hee came to that estate and being risen maintained himselfe and subiects in great honour and peace His first affaires against the Saxons was to reuenge the deaths of his Britaines and harmelesse Monkes of Bangor slaine as we haue said by wild Ethelfrid the mighty King of Northumberland who in Field had assembled all their powers wherein the fatall end either of the Britaines or Northumbrians must needs haue ensued had not the quarrell beene staied by the mediation of friends These Kings then and there reconciled embraced peace with such true friendshippe that they continued amitie together so long as they liued Harding saith that this British King Cadwan honorably receiued and worthily cherished Acca whom this King Ethelfrid had put from his bed for the loue he bare vnto his Concubine but is deceiued in making her the mother of Edwin that was his sister and Cadwan to raigne but thirteen yeeres whereas others allot him two and twentie CADWALLO 12. CAdwallo or Cadwallin the sonne of Cadwan was made King ouer the Britaines the yeere of Christs Incarnation six hundred thirty fiue He warred most strongly against the Saxons and either by Conquest or Alliance ioined amitie with Penda the cruell King of the Mercians a Pagan Idolater himselfe by the report of Beda although a Christian in name and profession yet in minde and manners so rude and outragious that hee spared neither womens weaknesse nor childrens innocencie but put all to death with greeuous and bitter torments to fulfill his cruell and vnmercifull tyrannie wasting a long time and raging ouer the Prouinces purposed to exterminate out of the borders of Britanny the whole Nation of the English and to extinguish the very name of them Neither did he ought esteeme any reuerence or honour to the Christian Religion which those men embraced so that â—…en to this day saith he the Britaines custome is to set light by the Faith or Religion of the Englishmen neither will they communicate with them more then with Heathens or Pagans These two cruell Kings slew the most Christian Edwyn King of Northumberland with his sonne Prince Osfride in a great and bloudy battle at Hethfild the yeere of Christs incarnation six hundred thirty three and the yeere following with wicked force saith Beda but with worthy vengeance Cadwallo the Britaine slew Osrike and Eanfrid Kings of Deira and Bernicia that were become Apostataes from their Christian Faiths and that with crueltie and losse of the Saxons as their owne Historians held it fit neither to mention their names in their monethly Calendar nor register the yeere wherin they were slaine in account of their gouernment but assigned it vnto the raigne of their Successour King Oswald which was so obserued vnto his daies so terrible was this worthy Cadwallo and odious the remembrance of this vnfortunate Battle But this cursed Captaine saith he enioied not this felicitie long for the said Oswald to reuenge his brothers death came with a small power but strongly fensed in the faith of Christ and neere to the Riuer Denise gaue him battle wherein himselfe and late-victorious Host were all slain and confounded But we must rememher that Beda
all secular actions should not bee exercised vnlesse some weighty and vrgent necessity required it That euery Christian should thrice in the yeere addresse himselfe to the receiuing of the blessed sacrament of the Lords Supper That if a Minister of the Altar killed a man or else committed any notorious crime hee should be depriued both from his order and dignity That the married woman conuicted for adultery should haue her nose and eares cut off That a widow marying within the space of twelue moneths after her husbands decease should lose her iointer 8 These many other were made wherby sinne was much restrained and this realme peaceably and iustly gouerned As likewise sundry other Countries were by his godly and roiall care as in especiall is recorded of a yong Gentleman of the Danish roiall bloud named Odiâ—… whom King Canute brought ouer with him into England to be here trained vp in learning where he profited so well as also by his trauaile through France whereby hee much encreased both his knowledge and experience that he attained the surname of Sapient and the Philosopher and therefore was called Odin-char for the deere esteeme wherein all men held him This man by his preaching in Finland Zeland Scandia and Sweuland conuerted great multitudes to the faith of Christ. 9 But in Denmarke things proceeded not so wel for in the absence of Canutus and yeer of Christs humanity 1019. the Vandals sore annoied his subiects hee therefore in the third of his raigne with a great host of the English passed ouer the seas and bad his enemies battaile which as Mathew of Westminster writeth went sore against him the first day and preparing againe for the next Earle Goodwine who was Generall of the English attempted a great enterprize for in the dead of the night hee with his souldiers set vpon the Campe of the Vandals and with a great slaughter of their souldiers made the two Princes Vlfus and Anlaâ—…e to flie the field Canute ignorant of this acted enterprise had notice in the morning that the English were fled for that their station was left and not a man found wherfore following the tract euen to the enemies campe by streames of bloud and dead bodies of the Vandals hee saw the great ouerthrow that the English had giuen them for which he euer after held them in great estimation 10 Albertus Krantius the Danish historian reporteth that Olanus King of Sweyden hauing assisted Canute against Edmund the Ironside and seeing himselfe to be neglected in the composition betwixt them moued such stirres in Denmarke that Canutus was forced thither againe where by the prowesse of his English hee repulsed Olanus who lastly was slaine by his owne subiects 11 William of Malmesbury and Mathew of Westminster record that in the yeere 1032. he vndertooke an expedition into Scotland with prosperous successe against Malcolme the King thereof with two other Princes called Melbeath and Ieohmare But being at length ouerburdened as it were with his own greatnesse and surfeited with glory which somtimes he had so greedily desired as euen the greatest earthly delights haue their fulnes hee resolued on a more placable course of life and to affect a higher and heauenly glory which hath neuer satiety or end And therefore his deuotion being great vnto God-ward on a zealous intent such a zeale as S. Paul commended in the deuout Israelites hee tooke a iourney to Rome to visite the sepulchres of S. Peter and Paul in the fifteenth yeere of his raign thence sent his letters to his English Bishops and Nobility beginning thus 12 Canute King of all England Denmarke Norway and Sweyden to Ailnothus Metropolitan c. Wherein hauing first set downe the reason of his pilgrimage to Rome which was especially to honour S. Peter as hee had beene taught by Wisemen that S. Peter had receiued from Christ the great power of binding and loosing and was also the Key-bearer of heauen-gates for which cause left S. Peter should not open the same vnto him when hee should come thither he held it most behouefull for him to procure his Patronage more then all the rest of Saints then making relation of his honourable entertainement with the Emperour Pope and other forreine Princes sheweth what complaint hee had made against the excessiue exactions and huge summes of money extorted by the Pope from the English Arch-Bishops at such time as they receiued their Palles from Rome for redresse whereof and of other abuses the Pope in a solemn assembly of foure Arch-Bishops twenty Bishops and an innumerable multitude of Princes and Nobles obliged himselfe And thence proceedeth in vowing the whole remainder of his life and reigne to the onely seruice of God and due administration of Iustice to his people to which end hee first giues command to his Counsellours that thence forward they dare not for whatsoeuer respect to giue way or conniuence to any the least iniustice in his Kingdom and next to his Officers of Iustice that as they tender his roiall fauour and their own liues they swerue not from Equity in execution of their places in respect of any man whosoeuer no not for the enriching of the Kings owne Cophers because saith hee I hold it not needefull that treasure should bee heaped together for mee by any vniust exactions and so concludeth with a strict charge to all his Bishops and Iustices vpon their allegiance both to God and himselfe to take order in his absence that Gods Church and his Ministers bee not defrauded of their Tithes and rights whereof he vowes at his returne to take a most seuere account 13 By this his great care of his owne saluation and his peoples tranquillity we may see the zeale of those darke daies to haue beene accompanied with the workes of true pietie whose carnall applications of the spirituall texts may well condemne these cleerer times and daies of more brightnes wherein wee know that this Key-keeper of heauen is no other but the verie Christ who hath the Key of Dauid which openeth and no man shutteth and shutteth and no man openeth And that this Kings zeale might bee further seene by his magnificke workes he beganne to manifest it euen at Rome where giuing many large gifts vnto S. Peters Church hee also made free the Saxons Schoole from all tributes 14 In Essex hee built the Church of Ashdon where hee had the victory against King Edmund In Norfolke the Abbey of S. Benets which Saint he greatly reuerenced and in Suffolke with an especiall deuotion built and endowed the Monastery of S. Edmund which Saint he most dreadly feared for it is reported that the seeming-ghost of Edmund often affrighted him for which cause as also to expiate the sinnes of his father who had done great dammage to his possession hee inuerged the same with a deepe ditch and offered vp his Crowne vpon the
a sudden gale arose which blew all the sailes spred for that winde into one Port. And that was Harold sonne to Earle Goodwine a man duly prizing his many worthy parts not vnmeet for a kingdom who first succeeding his father in his Dukedome and next Edward his brother in Law in his Kingdom in patience clemency affability bare himselfe most approuedly towards the vertuous but with a Lions courage and fierce countenance chastised the disordered and indeede became another Maccabeus vnto the distressed Land Whose kingly state before wee touch it shall not bee amisse to lengthen his short raigne with his Acts and Life as hee was a Subiect both with and against his Lord and Predecessor 2 That hee tooke part with his Father against Eustace of Bulloigne and King Edwards hasty commission wee haue shewed himselfe then enioying the Earledom of Oxford and so affected by those of Essex Suffolke and Norfolke Cambridge Huntington-shires that they sided in his cause against the King But these designes failing as commonly it is seene all attempts of Subiects against their Soueraignes doe hee learned by banishment what was the losse of true honour and by forbearance of battle when halfe the Kingdome stood for him his dutie obliged vnto the Common-wealth And growne againe into fauour with the King carried himselfe answerably vnto both 3 Some iealousy conceiued Edward without any cause banished Algar the son of Leofrike Earle of Chester who with the helpe of the Irish and Welchmen vnder the conduct of Gruffith ap Llewelyn Prince of North-Wales who had married his daughter did much hurt to the English putting Rodulph Earle of Hereford to flight with the slaughter of fiue hundred men spoiled the City burnt the Minster and became Masters of mis-rule in those parts Against these was Harold sent and with such manhood pursued his flying enemies that passing through North-Wales vpon the Snow-downes he pitched his Field The Earle and Prince Gruffith not daring to abide his presence fled thence vnto South-Wales and again tooke into Hereford whereof Harold hauing intelligence hasted thitherward leauing sufficient in the Snow-downes to mate the Welsh and recouering the City with a deepe trench and high rampire fortified it about where for the sauing of more bloud and not vngratefull to Algar who without grudge had resigned to him his Earldome and whole Reuenewes at his returne from exile a peace was concluded and at Harolds request Earle Algar and Prince Gruffith were pardoned 4 But Algar being again accused again aided by his old associate Gruffith recouered his Earledome by force whereat King Edward was highly displeased but most against Gruffith who euer was ready to assist any against him whereupon Harold the second time appointed Generall with a great host entred North-Wales without sight of enemy where he only burnt downe the stately Palace of Prince Gruffith so returned to the King But long the Welsh were not quiet nor the Prince pleased of the harms to him done Wherefore making his forces verie strong he again molested the English 5 To restraine whom once more was Harold set foorth who with such terrour burst into Wales that Prince Gruffith in secret stole from his Campe leauing his Souldiers if they would to fight for themselues whereupon his whole army yeelded themselues to Harolds mercy and hauing Prince Gruffith in their hands cut off his head and sent it to Harold giuing him pledges for assurance of p◅ce and the paiment of the ancient tribute which for a time had beene reteined yet euer after hee carried so heauy a hand on the Welsh that as Iohn of Salisburie in his Policraticon writeth he ordained a law that what Welsh-man soeuer should with weapon passe ouer Offaes ditch should haue hi◅ right hand cutte off by the Kings officer 6 All now in quiet and Harold withdrawne to his Mannor of Boseham vpon the riuage of the sea in the confines of Sussex there for his recreation one day hee tooke into a Fishers boate with small attendants neither those very skilfull Mariners when no sooner were they lanched into the deepe but a contrary wind came about and droue the boat vpon the coast of Ponthieu in France where hee was taken by the Country people and presented to Guido their Earle who a while retained him his prisoner in hope of gaine by his ransom but Duke William requiring it he was conueied into Normandy where he cunningly perswaded the Duke that his secret comming out of England was purposely to enter a league of amity with him The Duke then hauing present wars with the Britaine 's in France tooke this his new friend and guest with him for his companion at Armes whose ready policies followed with forward practise wan him great estimation with the Duke whereupon betwixt them a couenant was made for the reseruation of the English Crowne to the Norman if it chanced King Edward to die without children and the same ratified by Harolds corporall oath with the affiancing of Lady Adeliza the Dukes fift daughter then a child and Harold a widower which afterwards fell to his owne destruction and the lands subuersion as shall bee said 7 His last imploiment by holy King Edward was against the tumultuous Northumbrians which had expulsed Tosto their Earle and Harolds owne brother where a peace was concluded without shedding blood but with condition that Tosto should lose his Earledom whereupō in great displeasure he with his wife children fled into Flanders and euer after hated the person and emulated the glory of Harold The originall of these two brethrens quarrels beganne at Windsor where in the presence of the King they fell from words vnto blowes and that in such manner as if rescue had not come Tosto had died for which disgrace hee secretly hied him into the Marches of Wales and neere the City Hereford at Portaflyth where Harold had a house then in preparing to entertaine the King he slew all his brothers seruants and them cutting peecemeale into gobbets salted some of their limmes and cast the rest into vessels of the meath and wines sending his brother word that hee had furnished him with poudred meats against the Kings comming thither which barbarous act caused deseruedly his name to be odious vnto his Northumbrians and was lastly repayed with his owne death 8 Now albeit some Heralds make Harold by birth but a Gentleman of one and the first descent which were it so should no whit blemish him who was more truely enobled with princely vertues yet therein also it may seeme hee is mis-esteemed seeing his Father was Goodwin a Duke by degree the son of Wolnoth and he the sonne of Egelmar who was the sonne of Egelricke surnamed Leofwine and brother of Edrick Duke of Mercia that married the daughter of King Ethelred of England of whom wee haue spoken The mother of Harold was Githa the daughter of Duke
who am ready to bee taken hence and to be tried by the seuere but iust examinatiō of God I that haue alwais bin brought vp in warres and am polluted with the effusion of bloud am now vtterly ignorant what to doe for I cannot number my offences they are so infinite and haue been committed by me now these sixty foure yeeres for which without any delay I must render an account to that most vpright Iudge From my tender infancy and age of eight yeares I haue hitherto sustained the weight and charge of Armes to defend my Dukedome gouerned by me now almost fifty sixe both in preuenting those snares that haue beene laid for my life and in vanquishing those conspirers which would haue vsurped my right a stiffe necked people I may say my arme hath still managed I meane the Normans who with an hard hand if they bee curbed are most valiant and in hazardous attempts inuincible for as they excell all men in strength so doe they contend to ouercome all men by valour But if the reine bee once let loose and laid in their necks they will teare and consume one another for they are euer seditious and desirous of new stirrings experience whereof sufficiently I haue had not only of my confederates and allies but euen of mine own kindred denouncing me to bee a bastard degenerate and vnworthy of gouernment against whom I haue beene forced to put on armour before I was by age ripe to weild it all which I haue vanquished and some of them captiuated God so preseruing me that they neuer had their desires A roiall Diademe which none of my predecessors euer ware I haue gotten not by right of inheritance but by heauenly grace What labours and conflicts I haue sustained against those of Excester Chester Northumberlands Scots Gauls Norwegians Danes and others who haue endeuoured to take the crowne from me is hard to declare in all which the lot of victory fell euer on my side which worldly triumphes howsoeuer they may please the sense outward man yet they leaue an inward horror and fearefull care which pricketh mee when I consider that cruell rashnes was as much followed as was the iust prosecution of the cause Wherefore I most humbly beseech you O yee Priests and Ministers of Christ that you in your praiers will commend mee to God that hee will mitigate my heauy sinnes vnder whose burden I lie pressed and by his vnspeakeable mercy make me safe among his elect Nine Abbeis of Monkes and one of Nunnes which my Ancesters founded in Normandy I haue enriched and augmented and in the time of my gouernment seauenteene Monasteries of Monkes and sixe of holy Nunnes haue beene founded by my self my Nobility whose Charters I haue freely confirmed and doe by princely authority confirme against all emulations and troubles in them God is serued and for his sake many poore people releeued with such Camps both England and Normandy is defended and in these Forts let all younglings learne to fight against the Diuell and vices of the flesh These were the studies that I followed from my first yeeres and these I leaue vnto my heires to be preserued and kept In this then my children follow me that here and for euer you may be honoured before God and Men And chiefly O you my very bowels I warne you to frequent follow the company and counsell of good and wise men and gouerne your selues accordingly so shall yee long and happily prosper Doe iustice to all without partiall affection for it is a true wisedom indeed that can discerne betwixt good and euill right and wrong Shunne wickednesse relieue the poore succour the weake but suppresse the proud and bridle the troublesome Frequent the Church honour the religious and without wearinesse bee obedient vnto the law of God The Dukedome of Normandy before I fought against Harold in the vale Senla◅ I granted vnto my sonne Robert for that he is my first begotten and hath already receiued homage of all the Barons almost of his Country that honour giuen cannot againe be vndone but yet without doubt I know it will bee a miserable region which is subiect to the rule of his gouernment for he is a foolish proud knaue and is to bee punished with cruell fortune I constitute no Heire to the Realme of England but doe commend it to the euerlasting Creator whose I am for I possesse not that honour by any title of inheritance but by the instinct of God the effusion of bloud and the periurie of Harold whose life bereaued and his fauourers vanquished I made it subiect to my dominion The Natiues of the realme I hated the Nobles I dishonoured the vulgar I cruelly vexed and many vniustly I disherited In the Countie of Yorke and sundry other places an innumerable sort with hunger and sword I slew and thus that beautifull Land and noble Nation I made desolate with the deaths of many thousands woe worth the griefe These then my sinnes being so great I dare not giue the offices of that land to any other then to God lest after my death they yet be made worse by my occasion Yet William my sonne whose loue and obedience from his youth I haue seen I wish if so be the will of God may flourish in the throne of that Kingdome with a long life and happy raigne 55 Henry his yongest sonne surnamed Beauclerke hearing himself vtterly neglected in his Fathers distribution with teares said to the King And what Father doe you giue me to whom hee answered fiue thousand pounds of siluer out of my treasurie I gi◅ thee But what shall I doe with treasure said Henry if I shal haue no dwelling place or habitation His Father replied Bee patient my sonne and comfort thy selfe in God suffer quietly thy elder brother to goe before thee Robert shall haue Normandy and William England but thou in time shalt intirely haue all the honour that I haue gotten and shalt excell thy Brethren in riches and power After which speeches he presently called his son William to whom he deliuered a letter signed with his owne seale written vnto Lanfrank Archbishop of Canterbury and commaunded him therewith to hast for England lest in that spatious Kingdom some suddaine troubles should arise and so with a kisse blessed him in Christ. His prisoners he commaunded to be ◅et at liberty affirming that he had done Earle Morcar much wrong whom as hee then confessed hee had imprisoned more for feare then for fault onely his halfe brother Odo he would haue had to remaine a perpetuall prisoner but that by the importunate intercession of friends hee was released 56 The period of this Great Conquerour now come neere to his last when this Sunne so gloriously raised to the height of his course must now of force set in the West the dying King for Kings must die hauing raised his weake body vpon
learned Monks who then liued for such Authors onely wee will heerein follow as shall bee vnpartiall one of which testifies that the Pope about that time calling a Councell at Tours and the King giuing Licence to his Arch-bishops and Bishops to goe thither Becket secretlie surrendred his Arch-bishopricke which hee had receiued from the Kings hand into the Popes hands The other saith Becket himselfe confessed that not Canonicall Election did call him but publick power droue him in nor the will of God but mans pleasure placed him in the roome Howsoeuer these beeing memorable arguments of the Kings exceeding loue let vs now see how this great Prelate endeuoured to deserue it or how hee chanced to lose it 12 Great and flourishing was the state of the English Church Comon-wealth at this season the quiet of both which the King studied hoped to establish by the vndoubted assistance of his great fauorite Becket whose coūsel authority he knew might much further his princely designs especially touching affaires of the Church and abuses of Church men which then were grown to a dangerous height wherof let vs heare the Monke of Nuborough speake It was declared in the Kings presence how that Clergy mē had cōmitted aboue a hundred murthers vnder his raign wherewith the King highly offended hee was in punishing of them somewhat too vehement but the blame of the Kings too much earnestnes must lie on the Prelates in as much as they gaue the cause thereof for whereas sacred Canons ordaine that Clerks found guilty not onely of hainous and grieuous sinnes but also of lesser should bee degraded and thousands of such were in the Church of England like innumerable chaffe amongst a little good corne yet very few such for these many yeeres haue beene depriued The Prelates for sooth while they bestirre themselues rather to vphold the liberties dignities of Clerks then to chastice and cut off their vices thinke they doe God and his Church good seruice in protecting from publike Discipline such hainous offenders whom by duty of their places they ought to correct according to the Canons censure whereby they through their impunity hauing liberty to doe what they list haue neither feare of God whose iudgement they thinke is farre off neither of men in authority sith on the one side their Prelates neglect to reforme them and on the other side they are thus exempt by their order from the temporall Iurisdiction 13 This being the state of the Church and Realme wherein some were so iniured without remedy and others so iniurious without coertion as if neither sort were in condition of Subiects the King who was a man of excellent Wisedome Constancy and Zeale tooke especiall care of quickning the publike Discipline and the rigour of ancient lawes which thus lay neglected for which end hee had setled choise Ministers of Iustice through all parts of his land and vpon complaints brought him by his Subiects of the remissenes and other defects of his Iudges hee accordingly by his princely prouidence applied remedies and chastised the delinquents The like remissenes to censure it no harder was complained of in his Spirituall Iudges occasioned by a murther committed by a Priest of Sarum Diocesse whom the Archbishoppe commanded to be depriued put into an Abbey whereby he was freed from sharper punishment intended by the Kings Iusticiaries with which and some other like affronts of his Archbishop the King conceiued no little displeasure as requiring that Iustice should be ministred to all alike without partiality seeing this apparantly to tend vnto the ruine of all roiall gouernment the Archbishop on the other side stood no lesse peremptory on the immunities of his Clergy and See yea so farre as that hee challenged from the Crown to the Kings great offence the custody of Rochester Castle and other Forts which the King for securing his state had resumed into his owne hands 14 This maine controuersie betwixt Regnum Sacerdotium the Crowne and the Mitre Houeden who then also liued thus summarily deliuers The King would that all such of the Clergy as were deprehended in any Robberie Murther Felonie burning of houses and the like should bee tried and adiudged in his temporall Courts as Lay-men were against which the Archbishops resolution was that all Clergy men so offending should bee tried onely in the Spirituall Courts and by men of their owne coate who if they were conuict should at first be onely depriued of their office and benefice but if they should againe be guilty of the like they should then bee adiudged at the Kings pleasure The King finding himselfe to bee hereby but a Demi-King depriued of all Soueraignety ouer one half-deale of his Kingdome and perceiuing Beckets stiffenesse in thus contesting with his Soueraigne to bee no way mollifiable by whatsoeuer his old fauours or fresh perswasions notwithstanding resolued to put nothing in execution which should not first bee ratified and strengthned with consent of his Bishops of whose ready assent to so iust demands hee had no cause to doubt who thereupon assembling at Westminster the King tooke both offence there at the Archbishops thwarting his desires and occasion also to establish sundry other Articles which hee called his Grandfathers Customes peremptorily vrging Becket to yeeld thereunto without any such reseruation of sauing in all things his order and right of the Church wherewith he would haue limited his assent 15 The points in those Ordinances which the Archbishop principally stucke at as himselfe did set them downe in his letters to the Pope and his owne Suffragan Bishops within the Diocesse of Canterbury were principally these 1. That none should appeale to the See of Rome for any cause whatsoeuer without the Kings licence 2. That it should not be lawful for any Archbishop or Bishop to depart the Realme and repaire to the Pope vpon his summons without the Kings licence 3. That no Bishop should excōmunicate any one whomsoeuer holding of the King in chiefe or put any other of his officers vnder Interdict without the Kings licence 4. That Clerks criminous should bee tritried before seculardudges 5. That it should not be lawfull for a Bishop to punish any one for periurie or faith-breach 6. That the Laity whether the King or other should hold pleas of Churches Tithes c. 16 These points so neerely touched the Papal Soueraignty and Church-Liberties that the resolute Metropolitane mainely opposed his whole powers against them Henry also persisted as his Grandfather Henry the first had done who hauing a like warre with Anselm his Archbishop was so vehement therein as hee would not suffer him to returne into England though after some yeeres banishment vnlesse hee would absolutely bind himselfe to obserue not his Fathers Customes onely but his brothers also who were the two fatall Williams the Conquerour and Rufus 17 Many reasons moued
bin twice endangered and had at both times been wonderfully preserued and while the young King by profound dissimulations plotted to bring both his Father and Brother Richard into subiection behold the hand of God by taking away the young King at Martell not farre from Linoges where his Father lay at siege gaue an end to this odious fowle and intricate contention 87 Thus was his life cut off like a Weauers threed say Authors who had by dying cut of the hope of many But whatsoeuer his life was which God thus shortned at his age of twentie and eight yeeres certainely his death was not inglorious but worthy to be set out in Tables at large as a pattern to disobedient Children for his Father refusing to visite him fearing his owne life but sending his King in signe of forgiuenes the dying Prince most humbly with flouds of teares kissing the same made a most sorrowfull confession of his sinnes and fecling death approch would needs be drawne as an vnworthy sinner out of his owne bed and laid vpon another strewed with ashes where his soule departed in a most penitent manner from his body which being related to the Father hee fell vpon the earth weeping bitterly and like another Dauid for his Absolon mourned very much O quam nefandum est saith one most grauely O how hainous a thing it is for sons to persecute the father for neither the sword of the fighter nor the hand of an enemy did auenge the fathers wrong but a feuer and a flux with excoriation of the bowels His body was buried by his own desire at Roan which yet was not done without trouble as if the factions of which hee was the cause in his life did by a kind of Fate not forsake him beeing dead for the Citizens of Mauns hauing enterred it they of Roan without menaces and the fathers expresse commandement could not obtaine it who thereupon was taken vp againe but his wife Queene Margaret was sent backe into France and his suruiuing sonnes were once againe reduced to due obedience not any enemie daring to appeare 88 Who would not haue thought that this stirring Prince should haue had opportunitie to end his daies in peace and glorie but it was otherwise ordained by God and ancient writers hold hee was principallie scourged for beeing drawne by seeming reasons of State to put off an holy enterprize the occasion whereof was laid as it were at his foote For Heraclius Patriarcke of Hierusalem drawne with the supereminent fame of King Henries wisdome valour riches and puissance trauailed from thence into England where at Clerkenwell by London in an assemblie of the States purposelie called the king made knowne to them That Pope Lucius had by ernest letters commended the lamētable state of the Holie-land and the Patriarcke Heraclius vnto him That Heraclius there present had stirred compassion and teares at the rehersall of the tragicall afflictions of the Easterne world and had brought with him for memorable signes that the suite was by common consent of the Countrey the Keies of the places of Christs Natiuitie Passion and Resurrection of Dauids Tower and of the holy Sepulchre and the humble offer of the Kingdom of Hierusalem with the Ensigne or Standard of the Kingdom as dulie belonging to him who was right heire thereunto to wit the sonne of Geffrey Earle of Aniou whose brother Fulke was king of Hierusalem 89 Neuerthelesse the King hauing at leftwise formally adiured the Lords to aduise him that which should bee most for his soules health it was thought fit to aid the cause with money but not to emploie his person northe person of any child hee had which was the Patriarcks last request and therupon to the vnspeakable griefe of the said Patriarcke and of the whole Christianitie of the East hee refused the said Kingdome and abandoned as noble an occasion of immortall renowne as euer any King of England had beene offered but gaue leaue to all such as would to take vpon them the Crosse and serue This Heraclius is hee who dedicated the Temple Church in London as by this Inscription ouer the Church doore in the Stone-worke doth appeare ANNO AB INCARNATIONE DOMINI M. C. LXXXV DEDICATA HEC ECCLESIA IN HONOREM BEATE MARIE A DNO ERACLIO DEI GRATIA SANCTE RESVRRECTIONIS ECCLESIE PATRIARCHA II IDVS FEBRVARII Q i EAM ANNATIM PETENTIBVS DE INIVNCTA Si PENITENTIA LX DIES INDVLSIT 90 Thus the sorrowfull Patriarcke being dismissed not forgetting as some doe write to thunder against the King for abandoning the cause brought back nothing but discomfort and despaire the Westerne Princes by the Diuels malicious Arts beeing wrapt and knotted in mutuall suspitions and quarrells indetermined whereupon shortly after ensued with the losse of Ierusalem the captiuity of Guido King thereof and of innumerable Christians besides whom Sultan Saladin Prince of the Musulmans or Saracens to the griefe and disgrace of all the Christian world did vanquish 91 But King Henries mind was more fixed on setling the state of his already-possessed Kingdomes and therefore in a great Parlament held at Oxford vnto which came Rhesus and Dauid Kings of South-Wales and North-Wales with other their chiefe Nobles which al did there sweare fealtie to the King he beeing desirous to aduance his sonne Iohn whom he exceedingly loued and commonly in sport hee called Sans-terrae hauing assured vpon him certaine Lands and Rents in England and Normandie did there verie solemnly giue him also the title Kingdome of Ireland for besides the foresaid Bull of Pope Adrian the fourth who for signe of inuestiture had also sent a ring of gold which were laid vp in the Records at Winchester Giraldus who liued in that age tells vs to omitte what hee writes of one Gurguntius that Guillomar King of Ireland was tributarie to the famous Arthur that Baion whence saith hee the Irish came was at that present vnder King Henrie the second and that the Irish Princes had voluntarily submitted themselues as vnto him who by the * Law of a Sociall warre was become their Soueraigne But that Author had not seene belike or did not remember when thus he went about to prooue a legall right in the King what others write of Egfrides vngodly spoiles in Ireland or of Edgars Charter in which is said to bee contained that he had vnder his rule the chiefe City of Ireland Dublin and the greatest part of the kingdome also But King Henrie strengthening his other rights with Grants of the Popes Adrian and Alexander obtained also of Vrban the third for Luciue the third who was Alexanders successor would not gratifie the the King therein that it should bee lawfull for him to crowne which of his sonnes hee would King of Ireland to whom hee sent a crowne of Feathers wouen with gold in all their Grants reseruing to the Roman See the Peters pence and
it selfe especially where such troupes of armed Orators were at hand and where golden preparatiues had made way with the chiefest Philip tolde them their late Lord had quite forsaken them and that therefore himselfe as their supreme Liege came to prouide that his owne Countries might bee indemnified desiring them louingly to admit and embrace him as their Lord sith now they had no other to protect them from skath but menacing withall that if they forced him to vse force they should die no other death then hanging or to be flead aliue with which fawnings and fears though many well munified places were fetched off without any resistance their Captaines violating their faith to curry fauour with the French yet Roan the place euer honoured for fidelity to the English Crowne and therefore worthily selected by King Richard to bee the Shrine of his Leonine Heart was better fortified both in affection and munition then to wane vpon parties Which neglect incensed Philip to turne his Oratory into Battery it being the chiefest City and therefore of greatest consequence for consumating his victories which he continued in a most fierce horrid manner of siege the space of two monethes but finding it to be with small aduantage hee fell againe to golden Eloquence attracting some in speciall with present pay and all in generall with promises of future inioying all their wonted lawes and liberties without impairement of any their commodities whatsoeuer aduising them not to reiect those profered conditions which ere long they would gladly get when they should not be granted The Roanists seeing their dangers feeling their wants fearing their ruines yet desired respite till King Iohn might know their State who finding himselfe at home as ill bestedde as theirs abroad his Barons refusing to follow the warres returned them answere he could not presently releeue them Whereupon the Great men who could sway the multitude with cheaper reasons then Philips open hand had swayed with them perswaded them to weigh that in truth they were all originally Frenchmen though now called Normans of that noblest and richest part of all France and the French king being Supreme Lord thereof there was no cause at all of continuing this new hostility but very many of renuing that antique amity 28 The Head yea and Heart of all Normandy thus fainting who can expect that those few inferiour members yet vntainted should so continue long neither did they So as eftsoones all that Dukedome one of the goodliest gemmes in the English Diademe and disbranched from France since the yeare eight hundred eighty fiue was againe rent away ingloriously for them who lost it iniustlie by them who got it but perfidiously by such as should and might haue kept it For whatsoeuer necessity then or malice since hath laid on the King this Eulogie and memoriall thereof written by vnpartiall pennes will stand indelible on his Subiects A rege Angliae Normannia fraudibus suorum alienata Englands King lost Normandy by treachery of his owne people And no lesse treacherously dealt Philip with them when hee had caught them with the trappe of his glosing proffers as such Princes more vsually then princely square their promises to others liking their performances to their owne causing without delay their Cities goodly wals to be vtterly demolished and giuing strict charge that they should neuer bee built vp againe The other neighbouring Countries Main Turaine Poictou who were all forerunners in the rebellion would not be now behind in the finall reuolt Angiers in this more happy that shee fell away by others falshood not her owne when standing on her guard William de Rupibus cladde his choice Souldiers vpon their armour in the habite and other furniture of market-men who so getting accesse into the City gates made easie entrance for a greater hoast which soone after became absolute Lords of all Aniou 29 Wofull experience had now taught King Iohn a lesson fitte to be learned of all Princes whom the fawning world enstyleth most Mighty that this their might is not onely lyable to the checke and dispose of that Highest all-ruling power who vnthrones them at his will but euen depends of the wauing humors and wils of those inferiour vassels of whom they thinke themselues vnresistable Commaunders But King Iohn was not vnsenfible eyther of his forraine dishonours though as d often as hee endeauoured to redeeme it by leuying any Army suteable to so great a designe so often was hee crossed by his own Nobles or of those his domesticke affronts which notwithstanding by counsell and assistance of his better affected truer hearted friendes and subiects at length hee gathered a Royall Hoast and a mighty Nauy therein 14000. Mariners f some say with full resolue to reuenge his wrongs and repaire his losses Which great enterprize managed with vnmoueable determination for now with full sayles and fuller heartes at Portsmouth they were ready to embarke brought to the Kings further knowledge and to the worlds who had beene all this while the secret vnderminers of his fortunes and hinderers of his imployments For Hubert the Archbishop and Papall Legate with many others amongst whom some find William Marshall Earle of Pembroke numbred thither comes vnto the King and flatly forbids him to proceede in the voyage Some Writers haue laboured to coniect the true cause and reasons of this audacious Prohibition but if wee consider on the one side the Popes vse of Philips Forces to counter-ballance if need were Othes greatnesse on the other the interest which both the Pope and Philip had in Huberts affection wee may without Huberts diuining Spirit prie into the mystery of his secret workings as an Archbishop and now open commaund as a Legate to hinder King Iohn for feare of hindring King Philip 30 But whatsoeuer was the reason Hubert was the Instrument that so resolute proiects so inestimable charges so necessary an action fell sodainely to the ground whereby besides the selfe mischiefe which therewith fell on the King many fresh grudgings accrewed vnto him for suffering himselfe to bee thus violently repulsed from so behouefull a purpose The Archbishoppe and Marshall as principals were rewarded with the curses of the dismissed multitudes as the iust fee for their vniust counsell and the King himselfe was so little pleased with so vnexpected a countermaund that albeit at the present either awed with the authority of the Papall Legate or with the weight of his coloured motiues or with hazard which hee might leaue behind him hee durst notwithstand it yet the very next day checking himselfe for ouerprizing the commaund of any man aboue the value of his kingly honour and state hee resolued to recollect his disparkeled troupes and to put forth to Sea To which end taking order for his Nobles to follow they gaue him leaue with
S. Salomon Rochester chiefe Iustice of Assises 4000. M. S. Richard Boyland 4000. Marks S. Thomas Sodentone 2000. Marks S. Walter de Hopton 2000. Marks S. William Saham Iustice 3000 Marks Robert Littelburie Clerk 1000. Marks Roger Leicester Clerk 1000. Marks Adam de Stratton beside other riches incredible 32000. Markes But with one Sir Thomas Weyland the Kings chiefe Iustice being found belike most false he dealt farre more sternely for he not only seised vpon all his moueable goods and Iewels which he had done to others but also vpon his immoueable and banisht him moreouer out of the Kingdome At which time the King constrained all his Iustices to sweare that from thence forth they would take no pension fee or gift of any man except only a breakfast or the like present O diuine and still necessary seuerity onely able to breake the pernicious combination of men that vnder the profession of law offices of Iustice make merchandize of honor iustice law and conscience which cannot in the end but ◅ring forth ruine and confusion 18 That tempest now which * Thomas Ersilton a Scottish Rimer is said to haue obscurely prophecied alluding to the troubles of Scotland by reason of King Alexanders death hapned about these times which raised so great and bloody contentions that it had almost blowne vp the regalitie of that kingdome by the very rootes For when by the violent fall from his horse King Alexander had most vnfortunately lost his life that Realme was wofully destitute of any apparent heire sundry persons stāding in competition for the same These things were thought to be foreshewed from heauen by many fearefull presages as extraordinary Meteors Flouds Fires and Pestilence But King Edward intending to sway that affaire and being vpon his way toward the borders the death of his royall consort and Queene which he lamented while himselfe did liue called him backe to the celebration of her funerals as her excellent virtues did well deserue To our Nation shee was a louing mother saith one the Column and pillar as it were of the whole Realme In her honour the King her husband who loued her aboue al worldly Creaturs caused those many famous tropheis or crosses to be erected wheresoeuer her noble coarse did rest as it was conueyed from Lincolneshire to buriall in Westminster Nor coulde any thing but the respect to other weighty matters now presently in hand with-holde our pen from paying to her memory a farre more copious commendation 19 Those mourning offices as mournfully performed the King repaires into Northumberland whither the greatest and sagest persons of the Scottish nation being come themselues hauing sought to him Edward makes claime to the superiority of Scotland and requires that the Competitors woud quietlie assent to his award alleaging that the Crowne of that Realme was held of him for more credit to which assertion he vouched sundry books and actss whereunto the Scots replied That they were ignorant that any such superiority belonged to the King of England neither could they make answere to such things without a King the head vpon whom it lay to heare such a denunciation and protested that other answere they ought not as then to giue in regard of their Oath which after the death of Alexander their King they had made one to the other and the same to keepe vnder paine of excommunication Whereupon the King deliuered to them his letters Patents in which he acknowledged that the comming of those Scots on this side the water of Twede should not be at any other time vrged to preiudice them for comming againe into England that is That their example should not so be drawne to an argument of King Edwards right ouer them as if they were to come againe vpon dutie so prudentlie iealous were these Patriots of their Countries liberty 20 The names of the Competitors were these according to Walsingham Erick King of Norway who appeared by his Attorneys Florence Earle of Holland Robert le Brus Lord of Annandale Iohn de Baliol Lord of Galway Iohn de Hastings Lord of Abergeuenny Iohn Comin Lord of Badenaw Patrick de Dunbar Earle of March Iohn de Vesci on his Fathers behalfe Nicholas de Sules William de Rosse These all peaceably submitted themselues for so much as concerned their seuerall titles to the Scottish Crowne to the finall award and arbitration of King Edward passing thereof an authentick Instrument vnto him who hauing giuen caution to restore the realme of Scotland within a certaine prefixed time to that party to whom the Crowne thereof should be adiudged had seisin deliuered to him the better to put the sentence in execution or say the writers of that nation they giuing him power to constraine the parties to stand to this sentence The whole carriage of which weighty businesse being so diuersly related and censured by the writers of both nations though for the present it be not material both Kingdoms now blessedly acknowledging one absolute Superiour wee will so trace the steps of truth in a middle way as resoluing neither to impeach the action of that glorious vmpier nor preiudicate the right of our noble sister nation The State of Scotland now was not without manifest perill for the Scots denying that their Kingdome was in anie point subalterne to the Crowne of England and King Edward either perswaded that it was so or resoluing and plotting now to make it so would not neglect the aduantage of this Akphalisis or want of a known head in Scotland 21 Vpon full ventilation therefore and scanning of all rights the maine doubt rested vpon Lord Brus and Baliol for the residue might seeme rather to affect the honour of hauing pretended title in blood to a Diademe then to haue colour to contend with either of them Great was the aduise and deliberation as there was cause which King Edward tooke therein for not trusting to his owne iudgement hee caused saith Hector Boetius twelue of the best Clerks or learned men of Scotland and twelue of England to concurre as Assessors with him in that great decision 22 While this weighty cause was in debatement there fell out deadlie strife betweene the English and Normans occasioned by one of them casually slaine by the English which mischiefe the King of France forwardly nourisht as thirsting for the dutchy of Gascoigne which best he might attain by troubling the forreine affaires of King Edward whom they saw now entangled at home in so weighty emploiments Whereupon the Normans slew sundry of the English and hung vp one vpon the mast of a Shippe whom they had taken at Sea but ere long after threescore English ships encountring with two hundreth saile of Normans laden with wines after a most bloody battel wherein many thousands of the French were slaine tooke with their whole fleete their full reuenge and brought them into England 23 At last yet King Edward returning to
can be terrified with swelling lies as if like one that had no power to compell I would let the right which I haue ouer you to slip out of my hands Let me heare no more of this for if I do I swear by the Lord I will consume all Scotland from sea to sea On the other side the Scots did boldly enough replie That in this cause they would shed their bloud for defence of iustice and their Countries liberty 40 About this time the King made his sonne Edward who was borne at Caernaruon Prince of Wales and Earle of Chester which so greatly contented the Welsh because in regard of his birth place they held him as one of theirs that when all friends did afterward forsake him as the following raigne will shew they alwayes stucke most loyally vnto him expressing wonderfull loue and affection and bewayling his heauy fortunes in wofull songs which neither the dread of his enemies nor length of time could euer make them to forget 41 But in the matter of Scotland the King not to seeme altogether to neglect the Court of Rome addressed thither the Earle of Lincolne and the Lord Hugh de Spenser with manifold complaints against the Scots and iustification of his owne proceedings how beit at the Popes request he granted them truce from Hallowmas to Whitsontide This very yeere Cassan King of Tartars gloriously slew one hundreth thousand Turkes in a battell vpon the plaine of Damascus and was baptized therupon as acknowledging the victory to come from the sonne of God the ioy wherof filled England as other the partes of Christendome 42 The iustice of the English Armes against the Scots being now againe directly impugned by the Papall letters comprehending sundry arguments on the behalfe of that Nation King Edward in a Parliament at Lincolne published their contents and by consent of the whole representatiue body of the Realme returned a copious defence of his whole proceedings with protestation first that hee did not exhibite any thing as informe of iudgement or triall of his cause but for satisfaction of his holy Fatherhoods conscience and not otherwise But whereas the Pope had required the King to stand to his decision for matter of claime hee writes that thereunto hee would make no answere as hauing left that point to the Earles and Peeres of his land who with one mind directly signifie that their King was not to answere in iudgement for any rights of the Crown of England before any Tribunall vnder Heauen and that by sending Deputies or Atturneyes to such an end hee should not make the said truth doubtfull because it manifestly tended to the disinherison of the said Crown which with the helpe of God they would resolutely and with al their force maintaine against all men So ceased that Action and the sooner also for that Bonifacius had much to doe at home by reason of some great controuersies between the French and him Meane time Sir Iohn Segraue Lord Segraue a renowned Souldier was sent Gouernour or Custos into Scotland with an Army after the Truce expired which at the French Kings instance King Edward had yeelded vnto for a time Iohn Cumin who had also beene a Competitor for the Crown was chosen by the Scots for their Gouernour 43 We may not here ouerpasse a victory at Rosselin which the Writers of that nation celebrate wherin the English were by them ouercome howbeit there is in our Writers much variety in that relation It is the saying of Hector Boetius that the English were about three for one our ancient and later authors say that the Scots had farre the more people he affirmes that it was in the plaine field ours that it was an Ambush he that the Scots did put to flight and tooke the spoiles of three whole battels in either of which were 10000. English ours that the Scots by reason of their multitudes did onely ouerbeare the Vauntgard from which the nearest of the other battels was foure miles off All agree in this that the Lord Iohn Segraue Ralfe Confrey saith Hector who had the point or voward of the English whose Generall he also was by diuiding his army into three parts for their better reliefe weakned so his whole force that thereby and his vnaduised forwardnes impatient to stay for his other powers he gaue occasion to the Scots of such a victory They had also taken the person of the said Lord Generall but Sir Robert de Neuilc who with others was at diuine seruice hearing therof came with his troups of horse rescued Segraue slew many put many to flight and brought away backe the rest of the prisoners without the losse of any one man of his owne The said Scottish Chronicle makes no mention of William Walleys at this discomfiture of the English but giues the whole glory thereof to Cumyn and to Simon Fraser whereas we attribute all to Walleys and make no mention of the other with farre lesse wrong to the immortall deserts of Walleys for he vndoubtedly was the only man who kept vp Scotland till neere the time of deliuerance 44 The Scottish Nation as Hector reports had for their warrant in conscience and iustification of resistance the Popes iudgement who vpon ripe deliberation in their matter decreed saith he that the Scots had iust action of battell in defence of their liberties against King Edward who not much esteeming the doome of that Oracle vpon the other side was perswaded hee might proceed to subdue them wholy to his dominion and therefore vpon report that the Scots were not only vp in Armes but encouraged to greater attempts by this late successe came in person with a dreadfull host piercing therewith through all Scotland from one end thereof to the other from Rocksbrough to Catnes which is the farthest point in the length of that Land being about three hundreth miles whither he marched by small iourneys not an enemie appearing with power to empeach him For they vnable to make head being so continually wasted did either for their safetie betake themselues to the woods and Mountaines with their Walleys or wholly submitted themselues swearing to be true to king Edward there being in al Scotland but one Castle the Castle of Striueling which stood out and that also vpon King Edwards returne from Catnes was absolutely surrendred to him and therefore no great cause why Hector should call King Edward false Tyrant for committing the Captaine and Garrison of that Castle to sundry Prisons So that had not God in his eternall prouidence fauouring the liberty of that people ordeined some inaccessible places and naturall strengths where no Armie could march nor be maintained the Scots had in all liklihood perpetually vndergone the same fortune which we the English were brought into for want of the like by William the first and his Normans 45 Therefore let prophane discourses with their Father Epicurus and Lucretius
not without the Bishoppe of Herefords secret approuement as was said tooke him violently away and though he were a Priest thrust him into Newgate where they vsed him so vnhandsomly that albeit they had no accusation but onely for being faithfull to his Soueraigne wherewith to charge him he not long after died in prison to whom saith De la Moore might be applied that of Quintilian Torquentem vincit quisquis occiditur 69 The mournefull King being at Kenelworth Castle there repaired thither the Bishops of Winchester Hereford and Lincolne two Earles two Abbots foure Barons two Iustices three Knights for euery County and for London and other principall places chiefly for the fiue Ports a certaine chosen number selected by the Parliament which then the Queene and her Sonne held at London The Bishops of Winchester and Lincolne as it was agreede vpon came thither before any of the rest aswell to giue the King to vnderstand what kind of Embassage was approaching as to prepare him by the best Arguments they could to satisfie the desire and expectation of their new moulded common-weale which could onely be by resignation of the Crowne that his Sonne whom the body of the then confused State had elected might raigne in his stead 70 When they were admitted to his presence the Earle of Leicester being by they together so wrought him partly with shewing a necessity partly with other reasons drawne out of common places throughly studied for that purpose that though not without many sobs and teares hee finally did not dissent if his answere were truely reported which som doubt of vnto the Parliament For they tolde him that the Common-weale had conceiued so irreconciliable dislikes of his gouernment the particulars whereof had beene opened in the generall assembly at London that it was resolued neuer to endure him as King any longer That notwithstanding those dislikes had not extended themselues so farre as for his sake to exclude his issue but that with vniuersall applause and ioy the Common-weale had in Parliament elected his eldest sonne the Lord Edward for King That it would be a very acceptable thing to God willingly to giue ouer an earthly Kingdome for the common-good and quiet of his Country which they said could not otherwise bee secured That yet his honour should be no lesse after the resignation then it was before onely him the common-weale would neuer suffer to raigne any longer They finally durst tell him that vnlesse hee did of himselfe renounce his Crowne and Scepter the people would neither endure him nor any of his Children as their Soueraigne but disclaiming all homage and fealty would elect some other for King who should not bee of the bloud 71 The whole Company sent by the body of State if it may bee called a Body which then had no Head there from London where it attended their returne being placed by the Bishoppe of Hereford according to their degrees in the Presence Chamber at Kenelworth Castle the King gowned in blacke came forth at last out of an inward roome and presented himselfe to his vassals where as being Priuie to their errand sorrow stroke such a chilnesse into him that hee fell to the earth lying stretched forth in a deadly swown The Earle of Leicester and the Bishoppe of Winchester beholding this ranne vnto him and with much labour recouered the half-dead king setting him vpon his feet As rufull heauy as this sight was we read not yet of any acts or effects of compassion expressed towards him at this present so setled as it seemed was the hatred and auersion The King being now we cannot say come to himselfe but to the sense of his misery the Bishoppe of Hereford declares the cause of their present Embassie and running ouer the former points concludes as before saying as in the person of the common-wealth That the King must resigne his Diademe to his eldest sonne or after the refusall suffer them to elect such a person as themselues should iudge to be most fit and able to defend the Kingdome 72 The dolorous King hauing heard this speech brake forth into sighes and teares and being saith his most fauourable reporter more ready to sacrifice his body for Christs cause then once to behold the disinherison of his sonnes or through his occasion the perpetuall disturbance of the Kingdome as knowing saith he that a good shepheard should giue his life for his flocke made at the last his answere to this effect That hee knew that for his many sinnes hee was falne into this calamity and therefore had the lesse cause to take it grieuously That much he sorrowed for this that the people of the Kingdome were so exasperated against him as that they should vtterly abhorre his any longer rule and soueraignety and therefore he besought all that were there present to forgiue and spare him being so afflicted That neuerthelesse it was greatly to his good pleasure and liking seeing it could none other be on his behalfe that his eldest sonne was so gracious in their sight and therefore hee gaue them thanks for choosing him to be their King 73 This being said there was forthwith a proceeding to the short ceremonies of his resignation which principally consisted in the surrender of his Diadem and Ensignes of Maiesty to the vse of his son the new King Thereupon Sir William Trussel as being a Iudge who could fit them with quirks of law to colour so lawlesse and treasonable a fact on the behalfe of the whole Realme renounced all homage and alleagiance to the Lord Edward of Caernaruon late King 74 The forme of that renunciation as being obsolete you shall haue in the like obsolete words of Treuisa which was this I William Trussel in name of all men of the land of England and of all the Parliament Procurator resigne to thee Edward the homage that was made to thee sometime and from this time forward now following I defie thee and prine thee of all royall power I shall neuer be tendant to thee as for King after this time Which being done Sir Thomas Blunt Knight Steward of the houshold by breaking his staffe resigned his office and declared that the late Kings family was discharged 75 Edward being thus dekinged the Embassie rode ioyfully backe to London to the Parliament with the resigned Ensignes and dispatch of their employment Here for that this seems the last houre of his raigne and kingly state wee will make a stop referring you for the rest to the next Kings life vnder whose name and abused authority they were acted 76 Notwithstanding wee may not forget in all these doings to call to mind who it was that sate at the helme of State ouerlooking and ouerswaying Queene Prince and all to wit the most ambitious and vindicatiue man liuing Roger Lord Mortimer of Wigmor for as for the Queene when
receiuing the Order of Knighthood by the hands of the Earle of Lancaster and vpon the same day the Crowne of England at Westminster Walter Archbishoppe of Canterburie performing the offices accustomed therein iudged nothing to bee sooner thought vpon then to recouer the honour of his Nation vpon the Northerne enemies whom his vnexperienced youth and their former happinesse had emboldened in which preparation while hee was busied the Queene his mother and her Mortimer forgat not other things tending to their owne benefite and assurance 4 First therefore there was procured for the Queene mother so great a Dowry that the young King had scarce a third part of the Kingdome left for his maintenance which excessiue estate in title the Queenes in the vse was Mortimars and from this treasonable defalcation and weakening of the roiall meanes hee sinewed his owne deuises with authoritity and riches so that his hatred against Spenser was not on behalfe of the Common-weale but for that any one should abuse it for his priuate but himselfe Lastly when they had certaine intelligence that sundry great persons and others as the whole order of Friers-preachers tooke pitty of the late Kings captiuity and seemed to consult for his deliueranco they knowing that by recouery of his former estate their iust confusion must follow they resolued to strengthâ—…n as men supposed their other impieties with murther 5 For albeit the Queene in her outward gestures pretended nothing but sorrow for her Lord husbands distresse yet in stead of bringing to him her person which the deposed Prince did wonderfullie loue shee onely sent vnto him fine apparrell kind letters but contrary to the lawes of God and man withdrew her selfe from nuptiall dueties bestowing them as the fame went which will blab of Princes as freely as of meaner Dames vpon the bloudy Adulterer Mortimar fathering her absence vpon the State which she fained would not suffer her to come vnto him The desolate Prince was hereupon taken from Kenelworth Castle by expresse order from the young King at their procurement for that the Earle of Lancaster Lord of that peece was suspected to pitty too much his calamitie Hee was deliuered by Indenture to Sir Thomas de Gournay the elder and Sir Iohn Mattrauers two mercilesse and most vnworthy Knights 6 These two Instruments of the Diuell hauing conducted him first to the Castle of Corf then to Bristol and lastly in great secresie and with more villanous despite then it became either Knights or the lewdest varlets in the world as out of Sir Thomas de la Moore you may reade at large in the collections of Iohn Stow to the Castle of Barkley where after many vile deuises executed vpon him in vaine they more then barbarously murthered him 7 Neuer was the fallacie of pointings or ambiguitie of Phrase more mischieuously vsed to the destruction of a King or defence of the Contriuers then in this hainous Parricide for it is said that a bloody Sophisme conceiued in these words was sent Edwardum occidere nolite timere bonum est To shed King Edwards bloud Refuse to feare I count it good Where the Comma or pause being put after Nolite bid them not to make him away but after timere insinuates a plaine encouragement to the fact 8 The Sphynx who is said to be the Author of this ambiguous Riddle sent by the Lord Mortimar was Adam de Torleton who vtterly denied any such intention when the Murtherers for their owne iustification produced the writing it selfe vnder Queene Isabels Seale and the seales of the other Conspirators and therefore the said Bishoppe Adam was the cause why Gorney and Mattrauers were with terrible menaces shaken vp pursued and outlawed who more pursued with the memory and conscience of so hainous a Tragedie fled out of England Gorney after three yeeres banishment being discouered at Massels in France and apprehended was conuaied backe but had his head taken off at Sea in his passage lest he should reueale too much at his arriuall but Mattrauers lay hidden in Germanie a long time doing pennance 9 This Parricide was committed about S. Mathews day and that you may note what confidence they had in their Art of secret murther as also an ordinary mockage of the people in like cases the noble body was laide forth and many Abbots Priors Knights and Burgesses of Bristol and Glocester were sent for to see the same vpon which although there appeared no manifest outward sign of violent death but the skinne all ouer whole and vnbroken yet the cry of murther could not so bee smothered but the meanes and manner came to light This happinesse certainely the poore Prince had that after his emprisonment hee reformed his life in so pious Christian sort that it gaue occasion when hee was dead of disputation whether hee were not to bee reputed a Saint euen as say our Authors there was the like Question concerning Thomas Earle of Lancaster though beheaded for apparant Treasons His body without any funerall pompe was buried among the Benedictins in their Abbey at Glocester and so saith our passionate author the stately height of the Angels Kingdome receiued this Scholler and Disciple of Christ thus rest and spoiled of his English Kingdome 10 The yong King was now vpon the borders of Scotland with a puissant Armie where also the Queene mother and Mortimar with many other Nobles were present and hauing enuironed the Scots who had pierced into England with inuasiue armes in the woods of VViridale and Stanhope Parke made sure account of a certaine victorie but by the treason of the said Lord Mortimer as afterward was laid to his charge they were suffered to escape out of that mischiefe and the young King with griefe returned inglorious after an huge waste of treasure and peril of his owne person 11 For while the English hoast thus held the Scots as it were besieged Sir Iames Dowglasse in the dead of night with about two hundreth swift horse assailed the Kings owne Pauilion and missed so little of killing him that a Priest his Chaplaine a stout and loyall man was slaine in his defence and Sir Iames escaped backe without hurt but not without honor for his bold attempt In the Scots Campe one noteth that the English found fiue hundreth great Oxen and Kine ready killed a thousand spits full of flesh ready to be roasted fiue hundred Cawdrons made of beasts skins full of flesh ouer the fire seething and about ten thousand paire of raw-leather shooes the haire still vpon them In King Edwards Armie were as some write thirty thousand Archers and fiue hundreth good men of Arms which perhaps is one of the greatest hoasts that you shall lightly reade to haue been of our Nation and the reason was for that the world conceiued such hope of the young
reuenge was not without wonder prohibited so to doe by letters from the King that is from such as were about the King 16 But how coldly soeuer the publike affaires were followed the want of money for supplies was still pretended And therefore in a Parliament holden at Northampton was granted to the King a generall supplie of money the pretended occasion of monstrous mischiefe which followed by reason of a clause in that grant of Subsidie that euery one of ech sexe being aboue a certain age should pay by the head or per Pol as they call it twelue pence 17 The English Cheualry began now againe to display it selfe farre off to gratifie the priuate ends of Iohn Duke of Lancaster who claimed the Crown of Castile and Leon in right of Constance his wife For Iohn King of Portugal had a defensiue warre against Iohn then King of Castile who challenged the Crowne of Portugall in right of Beatrix his wife by whom hee had no issue the onely daughter of Ferdinand king of Portugall which this other Iohn a bastard sonne of Ferdinands had by faction vsurped There were sent to his aide the Lord Edmund de Langley Earle of Cambridge the Kings vncle and sundry Knights and others of good experience with an Armie These arriuing in Portugall valiantly defended the same for about two yeeres and were the chiefe cause of giuing the Spaniards an ouerthrow in battell where they lost ten thousand men At last the two Kings agreeing together bare the charges of conueighing home the English in common that their Countries might bee freed from them being both alike iealous of their puissance In this time Edward sonne to the Earle of Cambridge vncle to Richard king of England married the daughter of the king of Portugall but afterward neither would the Earle leaue his sonne behind as suspecting the Portugeses faith nor the other entrust his daughter to the Earle so as they remained disioined in body howsoeuer vnited by Ceremonie 18 Not long after the time of that Earles imployment into Spaine there fell out accidents which doe plainely conuince their error to bee great who thinke that any madnesse is like that of an armed vngouerned multitude whereof these times by a kind of Fate proper to childrens raigne gaue a most dangerous document The extreme hatred borne by the people to Iohn Duke of Lancaster calling himselfe king of Castile and Leon and the discontentment taken at an extraordinary taxe leuied per Pol vpon all sorts of people who were aboue sixteene yeers of age which as all other the euils of the time they imputed to the Duke the maner being to count them the authors of euils who are supposed to haue the greatest power of doing them moued the enraged multitudes vpon slight and small beginnings to runne together in so fearefull a Torrent that it seemed the King and kingdome were sodainely falne vnder their most wicked fury There were in this most rebellious insurrection the Commons and Bondmen who aspiring by force to a free manumission principally those of Kent and Essex whose example was followed in the Neighbour Shires of Surrey Suffolke Norfolke Cambridge and other places by incredible heards and droues of like qualified people who specially in Norfolke forced sundry principall Gentlemen to attend them in their madding 19 They of Kent embattelled themselues vnder two Banners of Saint George and about threescore and tenne Penons vpon Blacke-heath by Greenewich and from thence came to London where the generality of people inclining to them they are masters The Priory of S. Iohns without Smithfield they kept burning for about seuen dayes and the goodlie Palace of the Sauoy belonging to the Duke with all the riches therein they consumed by fire in a kind of holy outrage for they threw one of their fellowes into the flame who had thrust a peece of stolne plate into his bosome The Rebels of Essex came to Lambeth burnt all the Archbishops goods and defaced all the Writings Rowls Records and Monuments of the Chancerie as hauing a speciall hatred to the Lawyers little to their disgrace for that they shared herein with good men also whom they hated But their desperate wickednesse extended it selfe beyond the spoile of houses and substance laying bloudy hands vpon the most eminent and worthy men in the kingdome for that they had disswaded the King to put himselfe into their hands at Greenwich where hee talked with them out of his Barge and thereby had their maine designe disappointed Simon Tibald Archbishoppe of Canterburie and Chancellour of England a right worthy Prelate and Sir Robert Hales a Knight of high courage Lord Prior of Saint Iohns and Treasurer of England with others they without respect to the Maiestie of the King or priuiledge of their most honourable dignities most barbarously murthered by beheading them vpon Tower-Hill among infernall showtes diuelish yels For the Tower it selfe from whence they had haled them the young King being there in person was open to their execrable insolencies Neither doth the authority of Polyd. Vergil affirming that they were not haled forth but onely stayed by the Rebels to whom hee saith they were sent induce vs rather to credite him then Authors liuing about those very times There was no little store of other innocent bloud shed by them in these tumults Nor was the Kings own person without manifest perill against whose life they had damnably conspired It were long to reckon vppe the kinds of such villanies as they wrought but endlesse to recount the particulars The common Annals set forth this whole Tragicall businesse very diligently 20 They had many Captaines of mischiefe but two principall Wat Tyler of Maidstone in Kent whom Walsingham pretily cals the Idoll of Clownes and Iacke Straw who together had followers to the number as they were estimated of about one hundreth thousand and at one Sermon made to them by Iohn Ball Walsingham saith there were about twise as many Their Petitions were full of pride and malice but easily granted by the King the necessity of the times extorting them They had a Chaplaine as gracelesse as themselues one Iohn Ball an excommunicated Priest who with his wicked doctrine nourished in them their seditious furies to his own iust destructiō in the end but when a great multitude accepting the Kings mercy were gone Wat Tyler and his Campe departed not but vpon pretence of disliking the Articles of peace sought to winne time till he might put into full execution his incredible Treasons which as Iacke ◅traw at the time of his execution confessed were vpon that very night of the day wherein Wat Tyler was slain to murder the King and chiefe men and to erect petty Tyrannies to themselues in euery shire and already one Iohn Littistar a Dyer in Norwi◅h had taken vpon him at Northwalsham in Norfolke the name of the King of the Commons and Robert Westbroome in Suffolke to whom Iohn
murther the king We can neither find the crime nor the mē there had beene a solemne combat long before betweene such a knight and one Katrington an Esquire in which the knight was Challenger and victor but the crime was not treason against the kings person nor for any thing done in his time but in his noble Grandfathers Neither was Ansley teterrimum caput but a valiant and loyall man of Armes The crime which he obiected to that Esquire his kinsman was that for money he had traiterously giuen ouer the Castle of Saint Sauiour in the Land of Constantine in Normandie when he had store of victuall and munition The Esquire was vanquished in faire fight and died frantick the next day Polydors errour therefore is ioyned with manifest wrong to the knights name wherein wee ought to bee very circumspect for that honour is inestimable and descendeth to posterity There was indeed at the time he speakes of another combat fought also within listes before the king for Duels then were performed not on priuate choice or quarrell but on publike appointment betweene one Iohn Welsh an Esquire of England and one Martilet a Gentleman Nauarrois who in reuenge against Welsh for hauing at Cheirbrough where the said Esquire was vnder-captain cōmitted as Martilet said adultery with his wife accused him of high treason against the King and Realme But Welsh preuailed and the Nauarrois at his execution for hee was drawne and hanged after he had beene foild in battel confessed the cause of his euill will and the innocency of Welsh in the matter of treason 45 The Scots had this while by practise and money gotten the Castle of Berwick whereof the Custody belonged to the Lord Henry Percy Earle of Northumberland The Duke of Lancaster was not sad at this but so pursued the matter that the Earle as if by his negligence and priuity the same royall Castle had beene lost was condemned in Parliament But the king relieued him with extension of fauour This was a great cause of confirming the rancour alreadie kindled in the hearts of these two principall Peeres But the Earle to wipe away all blemishes of disgrace encloseth the Castle with a siege both of forces and large proffers so that after some time spent therein he had it redeliuered vpon paiment of two thousand marks 46 The Flemings had heretofore in the fifth yeere of this King sent Ambassadors at the time of Parliament to submit themselues and their Country to his dominion renouncing alleageance to their naturall Lord the Earle whom they had by force of Armes expelled vpon pretence o◅ oppression vsed by him and for other causes but because they seemed not either persons sufficient or sufficiently instructed with authority to transact with the King in a matter of so high nature they were commanded to returne and fetch more ample power and to bring certaine men of euery good Towne in Flanders Now againe the Citizens of Gaunt though they had in battell against the French King who was there in person on behalfe of the Earle lost twenty thousand men not long before desired of K. Richard that they might haue an English Generall to command in their warres to whom was sent a wise and valiant Gentleman the Lord Edward le Bourser who demeaned himselfe in that charge with much commendation And when afterwards he went more abundantly and strongly to haue supported them they sodeinely turnd French shewing Senescire saith Walsingham vni amico vel domino fidem diuseruare 47 The Duke of Lancaster whose or the like greatnesse may perhaps seeme more then can stand with the narrow limits of England which without danger to the common wealth can hardly afford such a proportion of estate to any Subiect was about this time enformed that the King had a purpose to arrest his person and to trie him vpon capitall points before Sir Robert Trisilian his Chiefe Iustitiar a man ready vnder the Kings protection to deliuer iudgement without respect to Titles The King was nourished in this * deliberation by yong men who combined against the Dukes life This being discouered the Duke a potent Prince withdrawes vpon his guard to his Castle of Pomfret in the North neuerthelesse the hopes of wicked men delighting in their Countreys miseries and ciuill combustions were made void by the great diligence of the Kings mother the Princesse Ioan who spared not her continuall paines and expenses in trauailing betweene the King and the Duke albeit shee was exceeding tender of complexion and scarce able to beare her owne bodies weight through corpulency till they were fully reconciled 48 It had indeed beene a most wretched time for a ciuill warre not only because the French Admirall Iohn de Vienna had beene sent with forces embarckt in threescore saile of Ships to be emploied out of Scotland against the English but for that the French prepared a generall inuasion of England hauing in hope already as it were deuoured it There reigned at that time in France Charles the sixth a yong and foolish Prince saith Tilius who hauing in his treasury left to him by his prudent father eighteene millions of Crownes and not only eighteene hundred thousand as some fearing perhaps that the other summe might seeme incredible haue written and being moreouer set on fire with an inconsiderate loue of glory rather then vpon any sound aduise though some impute the Counsell to the said Admiral would needs vndertake the conquest of our Countrey These newes stirred all the limbs and humors thereof though the euent God not fauouring the enterprize was but like that of the Mountaine which after long trauaile brought forth a ridiculous mouse neuerthelesse it had beene a most desperate season for a ciuill warre to haue broken forth in England 49 The preparations of the French doe hold notwithstanding and the generall Rendeuou of their huge forces was at Sluse in the Port whereof and other places about there were assigned to assemble for their transportation twelue hundreth saile of ships At the same time as if the two young kings had beene riuals in shew of men Richard raiseth so great an army to ouerrun Scotland as the like for beauty and number was neuer seene together consisting wholy of Englishmen But may wee beleeue that England could spare three hundreth thousand men and as many horses for the vse of a warre Certainely a needlesse multitude but only to terrifie the French with the fame for there might haue beene fewer for any great Act which Richard full of iealousie against his vncle of Lancaster wherewith his head and heart were full effected But we may the rather beleeue the account for that Walsingham voucheth Serieants at Armes if he meane not Heralds by those words whose office he saith it was to number the Host and they affirmed the same This is sure that among other the arguments vsed
Lieutenant of Ireland hauing in the yeere before while he too much trusted to his owne Forces been slaine with very many others by O-Brin and the Irish of Leinster at a place called Kenlis King Richard determines in person to reuenge the bloud of his Noble kinsman being the man to whom hee meant the Crowne of England if issue failed to himselfe Hee remembred not how broken an estate hee had in England where the peoples hearts were strongly alienated not onely for the death of the late great Lords and banishment of the Duke of Hereford whose calamitie encreased his popularity or for the like passed exasperations but for that to furnish his Irish voyage he had extorted money on al hands taking vp carriages victuals and other necessaries without any recompence whereby the hatred of his gouernment grew vniuersall 106 But the euill fortune which hung ouer his head laid forth an alluring baite to haste his destruction by occasion of the Duke of Lancasters decease which hapned about Candlemas and the absence of his banished sonne and heire Lord Henry The king most vniustly seizeth vpon the goods of that mighty Prince his vncle as if all things now were lawfull which but liked him he determines to banish the new rightfull Duke of Lancaster Henrie not for a few yeeres but for euer for which cause hee reuoked his Letters Patents granted to the said Henry by which his Atturnyes were authorised to sue his Liuerie and to compound for the respite of his homage at a reasonable rate whereby he made it seem plaine to the world that hee had not banished him to auoid dissentions but as many said to fill vp the breaches which his riote had made in the roiall treasures with plentifull though an vndue Escheate as that of his deceased vncles fortune 107 The one stedfast base and buttresse of all lawfull Empire is Iustice that supports the kinglie throne This he ouerthrew and how then could himselfe hope to stand long He lands at Waterford in Ireland with a Nauie of two hundreth ships hauing with him the sonne of the late Duke of Glocester and of the now Duke of Lancaster to secure himselfe the rather His forces consisted much of Cheshire men But that king is deceiued who reposeth his safetie in violence It was no great matter hee did there that which fell out to bee done elsewhere was great indeed His warre in Ireland was more dammagefull then fishing with an hooke of gold for here the baite and hooke was not onely lost but the line rod and himselfe were drawne altogether into the depthes of irrecouerable ruine Duke Henry sees the aduantage which King Richards absence gaue him and vseth it In his Companie were Thomas Arundel the banished Archbishoppe of Canterbury and his Nephew the sonne and heire of the late Earle of Arundel and not aboue fifteen Lanciers His strength was where the Kings should haue beene in the peoples hearts Neuerthelesse the Duke did not sodainely take land but houered vpon the Seas shewing himselfe to the Country people in one place now and then in another pretending nothing but the recouery of his rightfull Heritage 108 Edmund Duke of Yorke whom King Richard had left behind him to gouerne England hearing this cals vnto him Edmund Stafford Bishoppe of Chichester Lord Chancellor the Earle of Wiltshire Lord Treasurer and the Knights of the Kings Councell Bushie Bagot Greene and Russell Their conclusion was to leuie a force to impeach Duke Henries entrance The assembly was appointed to bee at S. Albans which came to worse then nothing for the protestation that they would not hurt the Duke whom they knew to bee wronged was generall This made the Treasurer Sir Iohn Bushie and Sir Henrie Greene flie to the Castle of Bristoll Sir William Bagot to Chester from whence he got shipping into Ireland Meane while Duke Henry lands at a village heretofore called Rauenshire to whom repaired Henry Earle of Northumberland his sonne Henry Lord Percie lands at Neuill Earle of Westmerland and many others who saith Walsingham greatly feared King Richards tyrannie With an Armie of about threescore thousand multitudes offering their seruice they come to Bristoll besiege the Castell take it and in the same the foresaid Treasurer Bushie and Greene whose heades at the cries of the Commons were the next day after their surrender seuered from their bodies 109 King Richard was in the City of Dublin when these most heauie newes arriued His courage which at no time seemed great was shortly none at all Somewhat must bee done hee leaues the sons of Duke Henry of his late vncle of Glocester which hee retained as pledges for his owne indemnity in the Castell of Trim and returnes himselfe into England entending to encounter the Duke before his force should bee too much established The great names which accompanied him were his late noble Creatures the young Dukes of Aumarle Excester and Surrey the Bishops of London Lincolne and Carleol and many others There had beene some more hope for vpholding his right if hee had not made the worlde know that tenne yeers space was not able to burie in him the appetite of reuenge which made many forget their owne loyalty to him and the Crowne Princes see in him the vse of obliuion but some conscience of euill deserts seeming to haue taken from him all confidence he dismisseth his Armie bidding his Steward Sir Thomas Percy others to reserue themselues for better dayes 110 His last refuge is in Parlea For that cause there repaired to him at the Castell of Conway in Northwales for thither he was now come the late Archbishoppe of Canterbury and the Earle of Northumberland at the Kings appointment The sum of his demaundes were that if hee and eight whome he would name might haue honourable allowance with the assurance of a quiet priuate life he would resigne his Crowne This Northumberland did sweare should be whereupon he forthwith departs to the Castle of Flint in their company After a short conference there had with the Duke they all ride that night to the Castell of Chester being attended by the Lancastrian Armie If to spare his peoples bloud he was contented so tamely to quit his royall right his fact doth not onely not seeme excusable but glorious but men rather thinke that it was sloth and a vaine trust in dissimulation which his enemies had long since discouered in him and for that cause both held his amendment desperate and ran themselues into these desperate Treasons 111 The King did put himselfe into the Dukes hands vpon the twentieth day of August beeing but the forty and seuenth from the Dukes first landing From thence they trauell to London where the King lodged in the Tower Meane while writs of Summons are sent out in King Richards name for a Parliament to bee holden at Westminster Crastino Michaelis The tragicall forme of Resignation you haue had already in Edward the second of whom this
King is a Parallel There are named to haue been present at this wofull-ioyfull Act Arundel Archbishoppe of Canterburie Richard Scrope Archbishoppe of Yorke Iohn Bishoppe of Hereford Henry Duke of Lancaster who in this serious play must seeme as if hee were but a looker on the Earles of Northumberland and Westmerland the Lords Burnell Barckley Ros Willoughby and Abergeuenie the Abbot of Westminster c. 112 In their presence Richard as yet a King and in his Tower of London but not otherwise then as a prisoner reades the Instrument of his surrender with a seeming chearefull countenance as if he were glad the hower was come in which hee might taste what it was to be a priuate man and hauing otherwise first done and said what then he could to put all right out of himselfe subscribes it with his hand but prayes that his Cosen the Duke of Lancaster might succeed him in the regall gouernement and in token that it was his desire for he must seeme to desire what hee could not hinder hee plucked off his Signetring and put it vpon the Dukes finger Then did he constitute the Archbishoppe of Yorke and Bishop of Hereford his Procurators to declare to the whole Body of Parliament what he had done how willingly where euery one except the loyal magnanimous Bishop of Carleol being particularly asked did particularly accept of the resignation Neuerthelesse it was not thought inough to haue his Crowne vnlesse they also published his shame Thirty and two Articles are therefore openly but in his absence read of all which it was said for then men might say what they listed that he had confessed himselfe guilty In the front was placed his abuse of the publike treasure and vnworthy waste of the Crown-land whereby he grew intollerably grieuous to the Subiects The particular causes of the Dukes of Glocester and Lancaster the Archbishop of Canterburie and Earle of Arundel filled sundry Articles They charged him in the rest with dissimulation falshood losse of honour abroad in the world extortions rapine deniall of Iustice rasures and embezelling of Records dishonourable shifts wicked Axiomes of state cruelty couetousnesse subordinations lasciuiousnesse treason to the rights of the Crown periuries and briefly with all sorts of vnkingly vices and with absolute tyranny 113 We may be assured that nothing could then be obiected so vntrue or incredible but would haue gone for current and vndenyable with affections so throughly prepared Hereupon it was concluded that in all those thirty and two Articles hee had broken the Oath of Empire taken at the Coronation al the States of the Kingdom strange that so many should so concurre in disloyalty vnder pretence of equity being asked what they thought did hold that those causes seemed notorious and sufficient to depose King Richard Commissioners were therefore nominated by consent of the whole house to pronounce the sentence of Deposition which were the Bishop of Asaph the Abbot of Glassenbury the Earle of Glocester the Lord Barkly William Thyrning Chiefe Iustice of the common Pleas and some others The forme of pronuntiation was IN THE NAME OF GOD AMEN We Iohn Bishop of Saint Asaph Iohn Abbat c. Commissioners specially chosen by the Lords spirituall and temporall of the Realme of England and Commons of the said Realme representing all the States of the said Realme sitting in place of iudgement c. 114 The definitiue sentence of Deposition giuen thus in open Parliament there were further named certaine persons amongst whom William Thirning Chiefe Iustice of the Cōmon Pleas was thoght the fittest man by whose lawlesse mouth that vniust doome should be deliuered to the King and who on the behalfe of the Realme should renounce to the said Richard the fealties and homages heretofore made vnto him and to make relation of the whole manner and causes of their proceedings The Regall seate was now reputed void whereupon Duke Henrie riseth from his place and stands vpright that hee might be seene of the people then signing himselfe with the signe of the Crosse vpon the forehead and breast and inuocating the name of Christ he challenged the Crown and Realm of England with all the members and appurtenances His words are said to be these In the name of God Amen I Henry of Lancaster claime the Realme of England and the Crowne with all the appurtenances as comming by the blood royall from King Henry and by that iustice which God of his grace hath sent to me by the helpe of my kinfolke and friends for recouery of the said Realme which was in point of perdition through default of Gouernment and breach of lawes 115 Which challenge and claime being thus made all the States of the Kingdome doe with one consent grant that the said Lord Duke should reigne ouer them The Archbishop of Canterbury brother to the late Earle of Arundel takes him then by the right hand and the Archbishop of Yorke the late Earle of Wiltshires kinseman being his assistant placeth him in the royall throne with the generall acclamation and applauses of the people Lastly in full complement of the present solemnity the Archbishoppe of Canterburie that we may see how the Diuinity as well as the Law of those times were degenerated into temporizing Policie made a Sermon vpon these words in Samuel A Man shall raigne ouer the People By occasion whereof hee describeth out of the holy Scriptures the happinesse of that Kingdom which is gouerned by a man and the infelicity of those Realmes where a Child whether in age or discretion weeldes the Scepter The euill whereof as they had dangerously felt vnder the late King so they hoped abundantly to enioy the other in King Henry To all which the whole Auditorie ioyously answered Amen Then rose the affable new Monarch among a few other words hee gaue the world to vnderstand that none should thinke hee would as by way of Conquest disinherite any man certaine bad members onelie excepted 116 From henceforth hee was taken for King and all Writs issued and went forth in his name which disorderly matters being orderly related to the deposed Prince in the Tower by Thirning the Chiefe Iustice hee onely vsed these words That hee looked not after such things but quoth he my hope is that after all this my cosen will bee my good Lord and friend The Archbishop otherwise inexcusable in those proceedings yet in his said Sermon seemeth grauely and truly to haue described the cause of this effect for quoth hee the child or insipient which are with him aequiparable drinketh the sweet and delicious words vnaduisedly and perceiueth not intoxication which they beene mingled with till hee bee enuironed and wrapped in all dauger as lately the experience thereof hath beene apparant to all our sights and knowledges and not without the great danger of all this Realme Being thus brought downe to the show and littlenesse of a priuate man wee leaue
Scotland why they should make that a quarrell which was a meere calumnie And to take away all pretence of feare from the Conspirators hee sends to the Earles of Northumberland and Worcester and to the hot Lord Percie a safe conduct vnder his roiall Seale by which he secures their accesse but vnbridled rashnesse saith Walsingham despising the roiall clemencie did put on the rigour of rebellion Meane while the King armes with all speed against the enemie the rather at the counsell of George Earle of Dunbar who like a valiant man at Armes and a wise friend aduised him so to doe before their aduersaries numbers were too mightily augmented The King with his sonne the young Prince of Wales and a very noble fellowship was now aduanced within sight of Shrewsbury as the gallant Percie stood ready to assault the Towne But so soone as the roiall Standard was discouered that enterprise was left off and he drew out his people being about fourteene thousand choice and hardie bodies of men to try the fortune of war against a well tride warrior 35 Peace notwithstanding by the exceeding tendernesse of the King had ensued but that the mischeeuous Earle of Worcester by misreporting and falsifying his Soueraignes words did precipitate his Nephew into sudden battell If there were any praise or good example to bee drawne out of so detested bloodshed as that of ciuill warre we would willingly describe vnto you the order and actions but we cannot too soone passe ouer such mournfull obiects which are rather to bee celebrated with teares then triumphes There is no doubt but Percie Dowglas and the rest fought terrible Why should we admire that in them So doe Lyons Tygers Beares and yet wee admire them not Where was dutie where conscience where the other respects of which onely we are called men Let none of vs honour or imitate them in whose eyes the price of English blood is so vile as that for priuate fansies they can bee content to confound all regards and make sport for common foes with mutuall massacres Therefore wee will content our selues with the knowledge of Gods part in this daies worke who gaue the garland to the King though the first arrowes flew from the Percies Archers 36 The Kings courage was not small in the fight as neither was the danger the yong Prince of Wales also being then first to enter himselfe into the schoole of blood and battell gaue no small hopes of that perfection which afterward shone in him being wounded with an arrow in the face The Lord Percy and Earle Dowglas then whom the wide world had not two brauer Champions in steed of spending themselues vpon the multitude set the point of their hopes vpon killing the King as in whose person they were sure ten thousand fell For this cause they most furiously rushed forward with speares and swords but the noble Earle of Dunbarre discouering their purpose drew the King from the place which he had chosen to make good and thereby in likelyhood for that present saued his life for the Standard royall was ouerthrowne and among other valiant men the Earle of Stafford Sir Walter Blunt the Kinges Knight and the Standard-bearer himselfe was slaine such was the fury of these sodaine thunderbolts That day the Dowglas slew with his owne hands three in the Kings Coat-armour perhaps some in Heralds Coats though Boetius yet saw a fourth Sure it is that manie of the subiects thought the King was slaine and not a few ranne out of the field Who notwithstanding like a valiant Prince did reenforce the fight performing maruels in armes with his owne hands The slaughter could not be small on both sides the Archers shooting so continually and the men of armes doing their vtmost for about the space of three whole houres 37 That which gaue an end to this wofull worke was the death of Hotspur who ryding in the head of the battell in defiance of danger and death was by an vnknowne hand suddenly killed with whose fall as if his whole army had had but one heart the courages of all others fell into feete which now altogether they trusted to But the King abhorring to make farther execution of the misguided multitude suffered them to shift for themselues The Earles of Worcester and Dowglas Sir Richard Vernon the Baron of Kindlaton and diuers others were taken Of the Kings side was slaine besides the Earle of Stafford ten new Knights whose names as dying in an honest cause deserue immortality and were Sir Hugh Shorly Sir Iohn Clifton Sir Iohn Cokain Sir Nicholas Gausel Sir Walter Blunt Sir Iohn Caluerly Sir Iohn Massie Sir Hugh Mortimer Sir Robert Gausell and Sir Thomas Wendesley who dyed of his hurts not long after as most of the other did about the Standard all which fighting for their spurs as being knighted but that morning bought them with the honourable losse of their whole bodies there were also slaine many Esquires Gentlemen and about one thousand and fiue hundreth common souldiers besides three thousand sorely wounded On the other part omitting that second Mars the Lord Percy who drew a ruine after him sutable to his Spirit and greatnesse there fell most of all the Esquires and Gentlemen of Cheshire to the number of two hundred and about fiue thousand common souldiers This battell was stricken neere to Shrewsbury vpon a Saturday the one and twentieth of Iuly and the Eue of Saint Marie Magdalen 38 The Earle of Worcester the seducer and destroier of his noble Nephew Hotspur and therefore if but for that very worthy to haue dyed Sir Richard Vernon Knight and the Baron of Kinderton had their heads cut off vpon the Monday following Hotspurres body had beene buried by permission but vpon other aduise the King caused it to be drawne out of the graue beheaded quartered and the parts sent into diuers Citties of the Kingdome The Earle of Northumberland pretending to come with forces to the Kings aide was empeached by the Earle of Westmorland and Robert Waterton who had raised a great host Northumberland taking neither of them for friend wheeles about and returnes to his Castle of Warkworth But what can be secure to a subiect against the victorious armie of a martiall King The Earle knew as much manifestly feeling the irrecouerable maimes of his house in the losse of his sonne and brother and therefore shaped his course accordingly The King therefore being altogether as prudent as fortunate hauing setled the state ofthings in the Marches about Shrewsbury sets forward to the City of Yorke from thence to take order for such perils as he foresaw might happen He setled himselfe the more seriouslie and entirelie to this needfull worke for that his Ambassadors had effected an abstinence from warre with France till the first of March which pausing space though it might seeme little was not a little welcome to the King the Realme of England being then
said he hath made it meere wrong which with better regard of the Sex alloweth the woman to inherite her fathers possession as we see in the practise of that state whereof Christ himselfe is called king where the fiue daughters of Zelophehad for want of heires males were admitted to succeed in their fathers inheritance allotted them in the Tribe of Manasses and a law made by the Lord himselfe that if a man died and had no sonnes then his inheritance should be transferred vpon his daughters Neither is it to be doubted but that the daughter of Shesham was the sole heire vnto her fathers patrimony he dying without issue male though shee married an Egyptian whose posterity had their possessions among the Tribe of Iudah euen to the Captiuity of Babilon so that if such a law were as in truth there was no such better were the breach by the warrant of diuine direction then the continuance by colour of such prescription seeing God hath ordained aswell for the daughter as for the sonne 20 The Archbishops vnexpected but not vnpremeditated Oration thus ended so stirred the blood of the young Couragious King that his heart was all on a flame and so tickled the eares of his Auditory as they presently conceiued that France was their owne the Title whereof descending from Isabell the mother of the famous third Edward and shee the daughter and suruiuing heire vnto Philip the faire his right was lineally deriued thence as followeth first Philip by Ioane his first wife intituled Queene of Nauarre had three sonnes and one daughter namely Lewis Philip and Charles all three successiuely Kings and this Lady Isabell by whom the English claime his second wife was Constance the daughter of the King of Sicil who bare him a sonne after his owne decease which liued not many daies after his father Lewis his eldest sonne and tenth of that name succeeded Philip in the Kingdome of France and by Margaret his wife the daughter of Burgundy had his daughter Iane intituled Queene of Nauarre who made claime also vnto the French Crowne but neuer attained it so that her Title fell with her death Lewis by his second wife Clemence of Sicil had a sonne named Iohn borne vnto him but presently both father and sonne departing this life left the Scepter to his second brother who by the name of Philip the fift a while wore the Emperiall Crowne of France his wife was Iane the daughter of Burgoine who bare vnto him only foure daughters 21 Vnto King Philip succeeded his brother Charles the faire the fourth of that name whose first wife was Blanch detected of incontinency and brought him no fruite his second wife was Marie daughter to Henry Luxenbourg the Emperour who bare him a sonne that dyed soone after birth and the mother likewise shortly came to her graue Margaret the daughter to the Earle of Eureux was his third and last wife who at his death hee left with Child and thus the three sonnes of Philip were branched raigned and died whom Queene Isabell their sister suruiued and in that right her sonne King Edward the third by his royall consanguinity whilst the Crowne stood thus at suspence till a Prince should be borne claimed to be Regent in the Interregnum and in the nonage of the looked for issue against which Philip de Valois sonne of Charles the hardy who was brother to Philip the faire being a second branch from Hugh Capet and first Prince of the blood of France maintained that the Regency of the male if so he were borne as also of the Realme if a daughter or the sonne dyed belonged onely vnto him as the next in blood The state thus standing and a daughter borne Philip was saluted and proclaimed King no other right alleaged then this foisted and falsely termed fundamentall law Salique for no otherwise doth Ottoman the French famous Lawyer esteeme of that vngodly and vniust Ordinance if any such had beene ordained 22 The Kings right thus apparant and sufficient possessions to be had in France the Bill of complaint against the Clergies excesse was quite dasht and all mindes addicted for the affaires that way thinking it vnreasonable to pull the Prouisions from their natiues and brethren when as the Circuit of their inheritanee extended more large in compasse and therefore with the Danites they determined no longer to sit so pent with increase seeing God had giuen them another Kingdome but would free their own straitnesse by dint of sword and spread their Tents wider in the Continent of France Neither was there any motiue more forceable in conference then was the successe of those intruding Princes who assaied the Crowne by that vniust claime of law Salique 23 For did not the sword of God rather then man in the hand of King Edward the claimer cut downe the flower of France in the Battell of Crecie with the slaughter of Lewis King of Bohemia of Charles the French Kings brother of Iames Dolphin of Viennois the Dukes of Lorrayne and Burbon the Earles of Aumarle Sauoy Montbilliard Flanders Niuers and Harecourt the Grand Priour of France the Archbishop and Zanxinus and Noyone of Lords Barons and Gentlemen to the number of 1500 with 30. thousand of the French Souldiers and Philip not able of himselfe to defend himselfe inciting Dauid of Scotland to inuade and weaken England therein did but only vexe his owne spirit for in that attempt the Scottish King was taken prisoner and brought so to London leauing Philip to struggle with his hard fortunes in France which with bad successe hee did to the day of his death 24 Iohn his sonne by the same title and claime felt the same stroake of iustice from the hand of that thunderbolt in warre Edward surnamed the blacke Prince the sonne of Englands Mars who farre inferiour to the French in number farre exceeded them in marshall power when at the battell of Poitiers the French royall Standard was stroke downe an hundred Ensignes wonne by the English the Constable Marshall and great Chamberlaine of France with fifty two Lords and seuenteen hundred Gentlemen slaine in the field King Iohn himselfe his sonne Philip two Bishops thirteene Earles and one and thirty Lords taken prisoners by the Prince to his great praise and confirmation of his iust cause 25 Nor was the punishment of the father any whit lessened in King Charles the sonne then raigning who besides the intestine warres in his own dominions was by Gods iust iudgement strucke into a Lunacy being vnable to gouerne himselfe much lesse his Kingdome vpon which aduantage as the French would haue it King Henry now plaied though it be most certaine he sought his right farre otherwise for so it standeth vpon record dated the ninth of February and first of Henry the fift his raigne that he sent his Ambassadors vnto the French King who could not bee admitted to his presence and him whom they imployed to procure
their entrie was barred runne furiously to armes Cade endeauors to open his way by force but in despight of all his power the Citizens made good defended London-bridge against him though with the losse of many valiant and honest men for the conflict endured all night till nine in the morning Among such as were slaine on the Kings side were Iohn Sutton Alderman Mathew Gowgh himselfe and Robert Heysand Citizen This Gowgh an Esquire of Wales was a man of excellent vertue manhood and zeale to his Country and of great renown in the warre of France where he had serued with speciall commendations faithfully for the space of aboue twenty yeeres His deserts at this time deserued a Statue in the City for whose safety hee spent his last bloud To giue a quicke end to these miseries impunity is proclaimed for all offenders and sent to them in the Kings name by the Archbishoppe of Canterbury Lord Chancellour vnder the great Seale of England the rebels are scattred with this assurance of their safeties and euery man retires in peace from following so pestilent an Impostor A thousand Markes when Cade afterward attempted new troubles are promised to him who kils or takes this counterfeit Mortimer Alexander Eden a Gentleman of Kent had the happinesse to discouer and kill him at Hothfield in that County his wretched carkase was brought to London where his false head was set sentinell vpon London-bridge and his quarters were aduanced for terrour in seuerall parts of Kent There died also by the stroke of iustice twenty and sixe more whereof eight were executed at Canterbury and the rest elsewhere in Kent and Sussex The multitude it selfe came naked in their shirts to the King on Blacke-heath humbly praying mercy which they obtained 54 The Kentish rebellion thus pacified farre greater and farre more dangerous troubles ensued as it fareth in humane bodies which relapsing into sickenesses are shaken so much the more terribly These troubles had their fountaine and mediate Originall from Richard Duke of Yorke no degenerous sonne of that Richard whom King Henry the fifth had created Earle of Cambridge and enriched with much wealth honoring him aboue others in regard of his blood and parentage but no bountie nor benefits could change a treacherous disposition for as you haue heard before he conspired to murther his benefactor King Henry the fifth as the Duke of Yorke his true progenie labored to depose this King Henrie his aduancer The humors of the popular body were in the last commotion not obscurely discouered The Common weale had perhaps some few enormities through the abuse of Magistrates and men in place but yet such as the maladie was infinitely lesse pernicious then the remedy Vpon this intelligence the Duke comes sodeinely out of Ireland and to begin his vsurped censureship and dictature apprehends Iohn Sutton Lord Dudley Reignald Abbot of Saint Peters at Glastenbury and another whom he imprisoneth within his Castle of Ludlow Intollerable beginnings of more intollerable sequele Edmund Duke of Sommerset was the man who after Suffolks death most supported the Kings side by his vigilancie caresdangers and good Counsels endeuouring by all meanes to cleare the Realme from factions and to preserue the King and state in quiet 55 Yorke seeing this doth find that Suffolke perished in vaine if Sommerset held like grace against whose person he had a particular pretence of quarrell for that the City of Caen in Normandy which was the Duke of Yorkes charge was rendred vp to the French by him when the English affaires grew desperate in those parts Sir Dauid Hall Knight being at that time Captaine there for his Lord and Master the Duke of Yorke and not allowing it although the renowned Talbot himselfe was present at the render and became an hostage for performance of the Capitulations Yorke hereupon consults with his speciall friends Richard Earle of Salisbury and Richard his son who was afterward that most seditious great fighting Earle of Warwicke Thomas Courtney Earle of Deuonshire Edmund Brooke Lord Cobham and others how Yorke might get the Crowne of England and for that cause how to ruine or fret out the Duke of Sommerset who standing they were to looke for strong opposition In the end they conclude to take armes but yet to smother the mention of the Duke of Yorkes title giuing out to the world for the reason of their doings that they meant all honour and obedience to King Henry and only to remoue certaine bad men from about his person who afflicted the people and made a pray of the Common-wealth which to gaine the more credit and to blind the good King the subtile Duke declares by Proclamation wherein thus speaketh that Ambitious Hypocrite God knoweth from whom no thing is hid I am haue beene and euer will be his true liege man c. And to the very proofe it is so I offer my selfe to sweare that on the blessed Sacrament and receiue it the which I hope shall be my saluation at the day of doome c. In that it was the euill hap of the Duke of Sommerset that Normandy was lost during his Regencie his enemies had the more commoditie to incommodate him with the people who forbare not at his returne to offer to him sundry dishonours and iniuries till vpon paine of death they were restrained for breach of which Proclamation one had his head cut off in West Cheap London 56 The King notwithstanding all his Cosens arts and dissimulations seeing the hooke through the baite and the snake through the grasse by the aduise of his trusty friends chiefly of Edmund Duke of Sommerset thinkes not fit to relie vpon his enemies good nature but hauing a strong power and store of honorable men to conduct them he marcheth toward Wales against the Duke The King did herein wisely but not so much as the cause required Yorke hauing notice of the Kings approach turnes aside and with all speed marcheth toward London That City the vaine hope of all Rebellions would not harken Thereupon he slides with his people into Kent the nest of his hopes and at Brent-heath neere Dertford a towne about twelue miles from London encampeth meaning to fight The King is not slow but leauing his march toward Wales pitcheth vp his roiall pauilion vpon Black-Heath with a purpose to teach his cosen of Yorke more duty Behold the fortune of England God puts an excellent opportunity into the Kings hands of tearing vp the danger of his house by the rootes for the Duke was farre inferiour in numbers Such therefore as secretly fauoured him fearing his ouerthrow were willing to aduise a reconcilement Messengers goe betweene the hosts The Duke in his wonted manner pretends loialtie and particular iniuries as that the Kings seruants Sir Iohn I albot at Holt Castell Sir Thomas Stanley in Cheshire and others in other places were set to harken vpon him That by two
an Army of eighteene thousand men led by the Dukes of Sommerset and Excester the Earles of Deuonshire and Wiltshire the Lords Neuill Clifford Rosse and in effect all the Northerne Nobility The host or so much therof as they thought necessary to shew presents it selfe before Sandall to prouoke and dare the Duke to battell His bloud impatient of these braues ignorant perhaps that the enemy had so great a multitude will needes fight though the Earle of Salisbury and Sir Dauid Hall an ancient seruant of his and a great Souldier gaue him aduise to stay till his sonne the Earle of March approched with such Welshmen and Marchers as hee had in great numbers assembled But God would forbeare him no longer but like a seuere Master meanes to take a present account at which he found whether all the kingdomes of the earth are worth the least sinne much lesse a wilfull periurie 89 The Queene therefore addeth stratageme and wit to her force to the entent hee might not escape her hands whereupon the Earle of Wiltshire vpon one side of the hill and the Lord Clifford vpon the other lie in ambush to thrust between him and the Castell the Dukes of Sommerset and Exceter stand embattelled in the open field Their policy had the wished successe for the Duke being not fully fiue thousand strong issueth out of the Castle downe the hill The battels which stood in front ioyne furiously when sodainly the Duke of Yorke sees himselfe inclosed and although hee expressed great manhood yet within one halfe houre his whole Armie was discomfited himselfe and diuers his deare friends beaten downe and slaine There lay dead about him the Lord Harington Sir Thomas Neuill sonne to the Earle of Salisburie Sir Dauid Hal with sundry Knights and others about two thousand two hundred among which were the heires of many Southern gentlemen of great account whose bloud was shortly after reuenged Let vs not linger vpon the particular accidents of this battell but consider what it wrought for King Henries aduancement yet these few things are not to bee vnremembred The Earle of Rutland a yonger sonne to the Duke of Yorke being about twelue yeeres old was also slaine by the Lord Clifford who ouertooke him flying in part of reuenge for that the Earles father had slaine his A deed which worthily blemished the Author but who can promise any thing temperate of himselfe in the heat of martiall furie chiefly where it was resolued not to leaue anie branch of Yorke line standing for so doth one make the Lord Clifford to speake 90 That mercilesse proposition was common as the euent will shew to either faction The Duke of Yorkes head crowned with paper is presented to the Queene Cruell ioy is seldome fortunate Caesar wept ouer Pompeis head but the Queen ignorant how manifold causes of teares were reserued for her owne share makes herselfe merrie with that gastly and bloody spectacle The Earle of Salisburie after wounds receiued being in this battel taken prisoner is conueighed to Ponfract Castle from whence the common people who loued him not violently haled him and cut off his head which perhaps was not done without the good liking of others The Dukes head together with his were fixed on poles and set vpon a gate of Yorke and with them if Grafton say true the heades of all the other prisoners which had beene conducted to Pomfret 91 This battell called of Wakefield was fought vpon the last day of December of whose weathers complexion if their courages had participated mischiefe might haue made her stop here which now is in her swiftest course 92 For the Earle of March sonne and heire to this late valiant Duke of Yorke hearing of this tragicall aduenture giues not ouer but hauing gathered an armie of about twenty thousand to march against the Queene he findes emploiment neerer hand being certified that Iasper Theder Earle of Pembrooke halfe brother to King Henrie and Iames Butler Earle of Ormond and Wiltshire had with them a great force of Welsh and Irish to take him The youthfull and valiant Earle of March whose amiable presence and carriage made him gratious with the people and the rather for that he had the generall good word of women meanes to try his fortune against the said Earles He sodeinely therefore turnes backe from Shrewsbury and at a place called Mortimers Crosse neere Ludlow where the enemie abode he sets vpon them It was Candlemas day in the morning at which time there appeared as some write three Sunnes which sodeinely ioined in one This luckie prognosticon and ominous Meteor exceedingly fired the Earle of March and was some say the reason why he vsed for his Badge or roiall deuise the Sunne in his full brightnesse The Battels maintaine their fight with great furie but in the end the Earle of March obtaines the victorie killing of his enemies three thousand and eight hundreth men the Earles saued themselues by flight The sonne of honour and fortune did thus begin to shine through Clouds of blood and miserie vpon Edward whome shortly we are to behold King of England There were taken Sir Owen Theder father to Iasper Earle of Pembrooke who was beheaded by Edwards commandement as also Sir Iohn Skudamor knight with his two sonnes and other 93 The Queene on the other side hauing ordered her affaires in the North setled the estate thereof and refreshed her people within a while after drawes neere with her Northern armie to S. Albans There came before them an euill fame of their behauiour to London whose wealth lookt pale knowing it selfe in danger for the Northern armie in which were Scots Welsh and Irish aswell as English made bold by the way with what they liked making small distinction of sacred or prophane after they were once past the riuer of Trent Captaine Andrew Trolop being their Coronell King Henry himselfe in person with the Dukes of Norfolke and Suffolke the Earles of Warwicke and Arundel the Lord Bonuile other with a great puissance encampe at S. Albans to giue the Queene battell and stop her farther passage toward London But the Lords of her faction being ready to attempt on her behalfe assaile the Kings forces within the Town and after some sharpe affronts breake through and driue their aduersaries out with much bloodshed till they fell vpon a squadron or battalion of the Kings wherein there were about foure or fiue thousand men which made good their ground for a while with great courage but in the end the Queenes side clearely wanne the day There perished in this conflict about two thousand This hapned vpon Shroue-tuesday the seuenteenth of Februarie The King Queene and Prince meet ioifully where he knights his sonne being eight yeeres old and thirtie others The Lord Bonuile and Sir Thomas Kiriel of Kenâ—… being taken in the fight were beheaded but all the other great men elcape The common people
threatning destruction if the match went not forward The Scottish Nobility considering the eminent danger put to death the wicked Counsellers of their King 〈◊〉 the Duke of Albany the Vicegerent of Scotland and promised to repay the money 〈◊〉 according to Couenants after which 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of the strong Towne 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of the English possession the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a generall 〈◊〉 was 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 two 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 with an 〈◊〉 Edâ—…burgh who had vndertaken to disburse the money to signifie King Edwards minde touching the marriage intended and to demand the said summe by a day assigned which accordingly was repaide 112 The marriage with Scotland thus broken off for the Lady Cicely by K. Edward himselfe that with France for the Princesse Elizabeth both he and his Queene greatly desired and daily sought after But Lewis the French King finding the daughter of Austrich more fit for his sonne dallied out Edward with shewes of firme faith till he had effected the thing he went about which musicke sounded so harshly in the English Kings eare as in no wise hee would suffer that string to be touched but euer beleeued that the French meant him faire play and although the yeeres of the parties themselues might beget some suspition shee being much elder then the Daulphin and the truth thereof confirmed by the Duke of Austriches Leger-Ambassadours residing in England yet Edward would not so much as suppose a suspect against the French King and therefore suffered Lewis to incroach vpon those parts of Picardie that ioyned to Callis and to gaine time till it was past recall for then the Lord Howard returning from France confidently told him that hee was present and saw the Lady Margaret of Austrich daughter to Duke Maximilian sonne to the Emperour Frederick receiued vnto France with great pompe royaltie and at Ambois contracted and espoused to the Daulphin 113 Edward mightily chafed to be thus worked by Lewis made great preparation for France but whether with anger griefe or melancholy hee fell into a dangerous and deadly sicknesse some say of a superfluous surfeit whereunto he was much giuen Commines saith of a Catarrhe which weake estate turned his minde another way for calling his Lords into his sicke presence and raising his faint body vpon his Bed-Pillowes these words vnto them hee lastly spake 114 My Lords my deare Kinsmen Allies in what plight I lie you see and I feele by which the lesse while I looke to liue with you the more deepely am I mooued to care in what case I leaue you for such as I leaue you such bee my children like to finde you Which if they should that God forbid finde you at variance might hap to fall themselues at warre ere their discretion would serue to set you at peace Yee see their youth of which I reckon the only surety to rest in your concord For it sufficeth not that all you loue them if each of you hate other If they were men your faithfulnesse happely would suffice but childhood must bee maintained by mens authoritie and slippery youth vnderpropped with elder counsell which neither they can haue vnlesse you giue it nor you giue it if you agree not For where each laboureth to breake that which the other maketh and through hatred of each others person impugneth each others counsel there must it needs be long or any good conclusion goe forward And while eyther party striueth to bee chiefe flatterie shall haue more play then plaine and faithfull aduise of which must needs insue the euill bringing vp of the Prince whose minde in tender youth infected shall readily fall to riot and mischiefe and draw downe with him his noble Realme vnto ruine but if grace turne him to wisdome which if God send then they that by euill meanes before pleased him best shall after fall furthest out of fauour so that euer at length euill drifts draw to nought and good plaine wayes prosper Great variance hath there long time beene betweene you not alwayes for great causes Somtime a thing right well intended our misconstructions turneth vnto worse or a small displeasure done vs either our own affections or euill tongues agreeueth But this woâ—… I well ye neuer had so great cause of hatred as you haue of loue That we be all men that wee be Christian men this shall I leaue for Preachers to tell you and yet I wot nere whether any Preachers words ought more to moue you then his that is by and by going to the place that they all preach of But this I shall desire you to remember that the one part of you is of my bloud the other of my Allies and each of you with other either of kinred or affinitie which spirituall kindred of affinitie if the Sacraments of Christs Church beare that weight with vs that would to God they did should no lesse moue vs to charitie then the respect of fleshly consanguinitie Our Lord forbid that you loue together the worse for the selfe cause that you ought to loue the better And yet that happeneth and no where finde we so deadly debate as among them which by nature and law ought most to agree together Such a pestilent serpent is ambition and desire of vaine glory and soueraintie which among states where it once entreth creepeth forth so farre till with diuision and variance hee turneth all to mischiefe first longing to be next the best afterward equall with the best and at last chiefe and aboue the best Of which immoderate appetite of worship and thereby of debate and dissention what losse what sorrow what trouble hath within these fewe yeeres growne in this Realme I pray God as well forget as we remember Which things if I could aswell haue foreseen as I haue with my more paine then pleasure proued By Gods blessed Lady that was euer his oath I would neuer haue won the curtesie of mens knees with the losse of so many heads But sith things passed cannot be gaine-called much ought we the more beware by what occasion wee haue taken so great hurt afore that wee eft soones fall not into the like againe Now be those griefes paâ—…ed and all is God bee thanked quiet and likely right well to prosper in wealthful peace vnder your Cosins my children if God send them life and you loue Of which two things the lesse losse were they by whom thogh God did his pleasure yet should the Realme alway finde Kings and peraduenture as good Kings But if you among your selues in a childs raigne fall at debate many a good man shal perish and happely he too and ye too ere this Land finde peace againe Wherefore in these last words that euer I looke to speake with you I exhort and require you al for the loue that you haue euer borne vnto me for the loue that I haue euer borne vnto you
make him King and that the Protectors only lawfull sonne should marry the Dukes daughter and that the Protector should grant him the quiet possession of the Earldome of Hertford which he claimed at his inheritance and could neuer obtaine it in King Edwards time Besides these requests of the Duke the Protector of his owne accord promised him a great quantitie of the Kings treasurie and of his houshold stuffe And when they were thus at a point betwixt themselues they went about to prepare for the Coronation of the yong king as they would haue it seeme And that they might turne both the eyes minds of men frō perceiuing of their drifts otherwhere the Lords were sent for from all parts of the Realme and came flocking vnto the solemnitie But the Protector and Duke after they had sent the Lord Cardinall Arch-bishop of Yorke then L. Chancellor the Bishop of Ely the Lords Stanley Hastings then Lord Chamberlaine with many other Noblemen to conferre and deuise about the Coronation in one place as fast they were in another place contriuing the contrary to make the Protector king to which counsel albeit there were adhibited very few and they very secret yet began here and there some muttering among the people as though all should not long be wel though they neither knew what they feared nor wherefore were it that before such great things mens hearts of a secret instinct of nature misgiue them as the Sea without winde swelleth of himselfe sometime before a tempest or were it that some one man happily somewhat perceiuing filled many men with suspition though hee shewed fewe men what hee knew Howbeit somewhat the dealing it selfe made men to muse on the matter though the counsell were close For by little and little all men withdrewe from the Tower and repaired to Crosbies in Bishopsgate streete where the Protector kept his house in great state So that the Protector had the resort and the King left in a manner desolate And whilest some for their businesse made suite to such as were in office for the King some were secretly by their friends warned that it might happely doe them no good to be too much attendant about the king without the Protectors appointment who then began to remoue many of the Princes old seruants and in their stead to place about him new 41 Thus many things meeting together partly by purpose partly by chance caused at length not onely the common people that moue with the winde but wisemen also and some Lords likewise to marke and muse at the matter insomuch that the Lord Stanley who was after Earle of Darby said to the Lord Hastings that he much misliked these two seuerall counsels For while we quoth he talke of one matter in the one place little wot we whereof they talke in the other place My Lord quoth the Lord Hastings of my life neuer doubt you for while one man is there which is neuer thence neuer can things be moued that should sound amisse against me but it shall be in mine eares ere it be well out of their mouths this ment he by Catesby which was of his neere counsell and whom hee very familiarly vsed and in his most waighty matters put no man in so speciall trust nor no man so much beholden vnto him as Catesby was A man indeed well learned in the Lawes of this Land and by speciall fauour of the Lord Chamberlaine in good authoritie and bare much rule in Leicestershire where the Lord Hastings power chiefly lay But surely great pittie it was that he had not had either more truth or lesse wit For his dissimulation onely kept all that mischiefe vp in whom if the Lord Hastings had not put so special trust the Lord Stanley and hee had departed with diuers other Lords and had broken all the dance for many ill signes that he saw which he now construes all to the best So surely thought he that there could bee no harme towards him intended in that counsell where Catesby was And of truth the Protector and Duke of Buckingham made very good semblance vnto the Lord Hastings whom vndoubtedly the Protector loued well and loth was tohaue lost him but for feare least his life should haue quailed their purpose for which cause hee moued Catesby to proue with some words cast out a farre off whether hee could thinke it possible to winne the L. Chamberlaine to their part But Catesby whether hee assayed him or assayed him not reported vnto them as hee found him so fast and heard him speake so terrible words that hee durst no further breake True it is that the Lord Chamberlaine of very trust shewed vnto Catesby the distrust that others began to haue in the matter therfore Catesby fearing as he affirmed least their motion might with the Lord Hastings diminish his credence whereunto only all the matter leaned hee counselled and procured the Protector hastily to rid him And much the rather for that he trusted by his death to obtaine much of the rule that the Lord Hastings bare in his Countrey the onely desire whereof was the allectiue that induced him to be partner and one speciall contriuer of all this horrible treason 42 Soone after this vpon Friday the thirteenth day of Iune many Lords assembled in the Tower and there sate in counsel deuising the honorable solemnitie of the Kings Coronation of the which the time appointed was so neere that the Pageants and subtilties were in making day and night at Westminster and much victuall killed that afterward was cast away These Lords sitting together communing of this matter the Protector came in amongst them about nine of the clocke saluting them courteously and excusing himselfe that he had beene from them so long saying merrily I haue bin a sleeper this day And after a little talke with them he said to the Bishop of Ely My Lord you haue verie good Strawburies at your Garden in Holborne I pray you let vs haue a messe of them Gladly my Lord said the Bishop would God I had some better thing as ready to pleasure you as that and therewith in all haste hee sent his seruaunt for a messe of Strawburies Whereupon the Protector setting the Lords fast in conference prayed them to spare him for a little while and departed thence But soone after betwixt ten and eleuen hee returned into the counsell Chamber amongst them with a wonderfull sowre and angry countenance knitting the browes frowning and fretting and g◅awing on his lippes sate him downe in his place all the Lords much dismayed sore maruelling of this his suddaine change and what thing should him aile He sitting thus a while began thus to speake What are they worthy to haue that compasse and imagine the destruction of mee being so neere of blood vnto the King and Protector of his royall person and his Realme At which question all the Lords
the winning of France In which inward warre among our selues hath beene so great effusion of the ancient noble blood of this Realme that scarcely the halfe remaineth to the great infeebling of this noble Land beside many a good Towne ransacked and spoiled by them that haue beene going to the held or comming from thence And peace long after not much surer then warre So that no time there was in which rich men for their money and great men for their Lands or som or other for som feare or some displeasure were not out of perill for whom trusted he that mistrusted his owne brother whom spared he that killed his own brother or who could perfectly loue him if his owne brother could not what maner of folke hee most fauoured we shall for his honour spare to speake of howbeit this wot you well all that who so was best bare alway least rule and more suite was in those dayes vnto Shores wife a vile and abhominable strumpet then to all the Lords in England except vnto those that made her their Protector which simple woman was well named and honest till the King for his wanton lust and sinnefull affection bereft her from her husband a right honest substantiall yong man among you And in that point which in good faith I am sorry to speake of sauing that it is in vaine to keepe in counsell that thing which euery man knoweth the Kings greedy appetite was insatiable and euery where ouer all the Realme intollerable for no woman there was any where yong or olde rich or poore whom hee set his eie vpon in whom hee liked any thing either person or fauour speech pace or countenance but without all feare of God or any respect of his owne honour murmur or grudge of the world he would importunately pursue his appetite and haue her to the great destruction of many a good woman and great dolour to their husbands and other their friends which being honest people of themselues so much regard the cleannesse of their hoâ—…e the chastitie of their wiues and their daughters that they had rather loose all they had besides then to haue such a villany done against them And albeit that with this and his other importable dealings the Realme was in euery part annoyed yet specially you heere the Citizens of this noble Citie aswell for that amongst you is most plenty of all such things as minister matters to such iniuries as for that you were neerest at hand seeing that neere heereabout was commonly his most abieing And yet you bee the people whom he had a singular cause well and kindly to entreat as any part of the Realme not onely for that the Prince by this noble Cittie as his speciall Chamber and the speciall well renowned Citie of his Realme much honourable fame receiueth amongst all other nations but also for that yee not without your great cost and sundry perils and ieopardies in all his warres bare euen your speciall fauour to his part which your kind mindes borne vnto the house of Yorke sith he hath nothing worthily acquitted there is one of that house that now by Gods grace better shall which thing to shew you is the whole summe and effect of this our present errand It shall not I not well need that I rehearse you againe that yee haue already heard of him that can better tell it and of whom I am sure you will better beleeue it and reason is it so to bee I am not so proud to looke therefore that you should recken my words of as great authoritie as the Preachers of the word of God namely a man so learned and so wiâ—…e that no man better wotteth what he should say and thereto so good and vertuous as he would not say the thing which hee wist hee should not say in the Pulpit namely into the which no honest man commeth to lye which honourable Preacher you well remember substantially declared at Paules Crosse on Sunday last past the right and title that the most excellent Prince Richard Duke of Gloucester now Protector of this Realme hath vnto the Crowne and Kingdome of the same For as the Worshipfull Doctor substantially made knowne vnto you the children of King Edward the fourth were neuer lawfully begotten forasmuch as the King leauing his very wife Dame Elizabeth Lucy was neuer lawfully married vnto the Queen their mother whose blood sauing that he set his voluptuous pleasure before his honour was full vnmeet to be matched with his and the mingling of those bloods together hath bin the effusion of great part of the noble blood of this Realme Whereby it may well seeme the marriage was not well made of which there is so much mischiefe growne For lack of which lawful coupling as also other things which the said worshipfull D. rather signified then fully explaned and which things shall not be spoken for mee as the thing wherein euery man forbeareth to say what hee knoweth in auoyding displeasure of my noble Lord Protector bearing as nature requireth a filiall reuerence to the Dutchesse his mother For these causes I say before remembred that is for lacke of other Issue lawfully comming of that late noble Prince Richard Duke of Yorke to whose royall blood the crowne of England and France is by the high authoritie of Parliament entailed the right and title of the same is by the iust course of inheritance according to the common law of this Land deuolued and come vnto the most excellent Prince the Lord Protector as to the very lawfully begotten sonne of the fore-remembred noble Duke of Yorke Which thing well considered and the great knightly prowesse pondered with manifodle vertues which in his noble person singularly abound the nobles and commons also of this Realme and specially of the North part not willing any bastard blood to haue the rule of the Land nor the abusions before the same vsed any longer to continue haue condiscended and fully determined to make humble petition to the most puissant Prince the Lord Protector that it may like his Grace at our humble request to take vpon him the guiding and gouernance of this Realme to the wealth and encrease of the same according to his very right and iust title Which thing I know well hee will be loth to take vpon him as he whose wisedome well perceiueth the labour and study both of minde and body that shall come therewith to whomsoeuer so will occupie the roome as I dare say he will if hee take it Which roome I warne you well is no childs office and that the great wiseman well perceiued when hee sayd Vaeregno cuius Rex puer est Woe is that Realme that hath a childe to their King Wherefore so much the more cause wee haue to thanke God that this noble Personage which so righteously is intituled thereunto is of so sad age and so great wisedome ioyned with so great experience which
the spousall sheetes that ceremony seeming to amount to a Consummation Charles King of France notwithstanding these solemnities and his owne particular engagement with the Lady Margaret daughter of Maximilian whom for the purpose of marriage he had already entertained into France did so ambitiously and vehemently couet to gaine Britaine that vpon confidence of his force hee resolued to breake through all respects and not only to offend all his forreine friends but to make them his iust enemies rather then to faile in effectuation Instruments are therefore very secretly set on worke and batterie is placed with bags of gold at all the opportunities which might let in his purpose Ambassadors also the Lord Frances of Lutzenburg Charles Marinian and Robert Gagwine Generall of the Order of the holy Trinitie are dispatched to Henrie praying that with his good will he might dispose of the body of the Lady Anne in marriage according to the right which he had thereunto as the chiefe Lord of whom shee held the Dukedome Henry denied the request but yeelded notwithstanding to send Ambassadors into France there to Capitulate about a peace The French carried this affaire with notable Art for to diuert the world for looking into the depth of their drift King Charles still detained the young Lady Margaret Maximilians daughter so as at most it could be but suspected that Charles meant to match her with some of his blood and all the entercourse of Orators and Ambassadors vsed in the meane time tended but to hold the English busied vpon other obiects till they had wrought their feate in the Court of Britaine For Maximilian to let the world see what iniuries shall be offered euen to Kings that are not strong him they altogether neglected King Henry they plaied with and Ferdinando King of Castile who was ready to ioine with Maximilian and Henrie against the French they resolue to appease with rendring vp vnto him the Counties of Ruscinoon and Perpinian as accordingly they did without reembursement of one penny of those 300000. Crownes for which Iohn King of Arragon father to Ferdinando had morgaged them The young Ladies doubts rising either out of religion or point of honor his cunning Agents and Emissaries wipe away with these solutions That Maximilianâ—… daughter was not of yeeres to consent and therefore the contract betweene King Charles and her did not binde either in law or conscience That her owne contract with Maximilian was void for that it was done without the consent of her Soueraigne Lord King Charles whose ward or Client shee was The Ladie vanquished in her iudgement with these reasons attracted with the present greatnes of King Charles and loath by refusall to make her Countrey the seat of a long and miserable warre secretly yeelded to accept of another husband Thomas Goldstone Abbot of S. Augustines in Canterbury and Thomas Earle of Ormond in Ireland King Henries Ambassadors into France hauing beene dandled by the French during these illusiue practises returned without other fruite of their labors 29 What could now the most patient doe lesse then take sword in hand vpon so palpable and vnworthy illusion But Maximilians wrongs were too impudent and intollerable for Charles sent home the Lady Margaret and married the Inheretrix of Britaine annexing it to his owne Realme whereas King Henrie found himselfe rather mockt then otherwise empaired Iames Contibald hereupon comes Ambassador from Maximilian and obtained his request which was that they with ioynt forces should by a certaine day prefixed inuade the French in full reuenge of these their bold prouocations Maximilian for his part promising to support that warre with at least ten thousand men for two yeeres King Henry hauing formerly in abundant manner prouided himselfe of treasure was ready before the day with a roiall army but Maximilian whose will to worke the vttermost mischiefe to France was not doubted being sent vnto by King Henry signifying his forwardnes was found vtterly vnfurnished Causes of Maximilians weakenesse in state were the rebellions and dislikes of his Flemish Subiects cherished by the French the Iealousie of Princes neighbourhood making them vniustly glad either of others molestations For subduing whereof though King Henry had heretofore giuen him good and successefull assistance vnder the conduct of Giles Lord Dawbeney Gouernour of Callis the Lord Morley and others whereby he the rather ouercame yet was hee the feebler as then by reason of so fresh exhaustures King Henry with good cause was not a little troubled at these newes secretly signified by his trustie Almner Mr. Christopher Vrswick and Sir Richard Risley knight his Ambassadors to Maximilian For hee was very loath to vndergoe so great an Action vpon his particular strengths though he doubted not to finde a potent party among the Britaines whose affections were as yet but loosely setled toward King Charles and yet farre more loath to deceiue the expectation of his owne people who had so largely contributed Chiefly the City of London out of which euen in those daies he receiued for his furniture in that voiage almost ten thousand pounds from the Commoners and as it seemes by our Author two hundreth pounds besides from euery Alderman where the same King could not but with some difficulty leuie in the third yere of his Reigne a loane of foure thousand pounds whereof three of the best Companies are noted as for hauing done and deserued extraordinarily to haue lent aboue nine hundred And verily this wise King knowing how great a strength that rich City was vnto him humored that people with all forces of popularities for himselfe did not onely come among them and cause himselfe to be entred a brother in one of their Companies but ware the habite at a publike feast and sate as Maister as is verie credibly reported out of the Records of their Hall His wisdome therefore saw that in giuing ouer the inuasion of France he should sloathfully abandon a goodly occasion of making himselfe vniuersally acceptable to his people His resolutions therefore are by him at leastwise pretended to continue and for that cause he sufficiently encreaseth his numbers that he might seeme able to goe through with that enterprize alone and though the time of yeere were too farre spent for he landed not at Caleis till the sixth day of October yet marcheth he with his whole forces toward Boloigne being wel assured that with this trowell he should at once plaister two wals that is humor his English subiects and for a peace draw to himselfe store of Crownes from the French 30 He had with him besides the flower of his Nobility and Captaines answerable numbers of People fit for the seruice The most named persons were these Iasper Duke of Bedford Lieutenant Generall of the Army Thoâ—…as Marquesse Dorset the Earles of Arundell Oxford Suffolk Shrewsburie Derby Kent Deuonshire and Ormond sundry Barons as Dawbeney Abergenny Delaware South Hastings
in earnest so these honors making our Peter to bury in vtter obliuion his birthes obscurity he seemed to bee perswaded that hee was indeed the selfe partie whom hee did so exactly personate Nouelty and impudency were scarce euer knowne to haue found more applause or beliefe euen among many verie wise and otherwise worthy men who moued in conscience and not onely vpon discontent inclined to partake with this new Plantagenet as the onely right heire of the English Diadem as if whether he had beene the true one it was past dispute This intoxication abusion of the world was wonderfully encreased by the secret reuolt of Sir Robert Clifford Knight whom as one that had seene and knowne the true Richard the cunning conspirators in England had sent ouer to informe himselfe and them whether he was indeed as hee seemed Sir Robert whose presence and errand were to the Dutchesse most welcome being brought to his sight did forthwith giue credite and constantly signifie that this was indeed Richard Plantagenet the true Duke of Yorke and that he well knew him for such Money and encouragements were hereupon sent out of England from such as fauoured him among whom was Sir William Stanley Lord Chamberlain to King Henry by whose punctual reuolt from K. Richard he had principally atchieued the Crowne of England Iohn Ratcliffe L. Fitzwalter Sir Simon Montfort Sir Thomas Thwates Knights and others but the maine countenance of the cause in forraine parts was Sir Robert Clifford a knight of an honourable fame and family which moued the secret friends of the new Duke to set the rumor so cunningly on foot among the English that sooner might a cloud which causeth thunder bee caught or knowne then the Author thereof and multitudes beeing weakened therewith store of humor dangerously prepared to mutation did euery where discouer it selfe 36 For preuention therfore of all those effects which might issue out of these causes being in their proper nature most generatiue of sedition and of all sorts of ciuill furies King Henrie diligently causeth the coasts of England to be well and strongly watcht aswell to empeach the landing of enemies as the escape of fugitiues but aboue all he writes letters to his best friends in forraine parts also emploies nimble wits with seueral instructions some to assaile the constancy of Sir Robert Clifford the maine stay and credite of Perkins cause with promise of immunity and fauour if hee would returne into England in quiet others to find out the truth of Perkins quality being furnished with treasure to draw and requite intelsigences and all of them as occasion should serue to pretend themselues vehement fauorers of the new Duke These necessary hypocrites and double faced Ambidexters called Spies whose seruices howsoeuer conducible to such as sets thē on worke yet their perfidious quality cōmonly partakes with that of Iudas Iscariot and often meetes with like reward doe plie their charge so roundly that Sir Robert Clifford is secretly drawne off the new Duke is discouered aswell by them as by sundry letters from friends abroad to bee but Perkin Warbecke and many other mysteries are reuealed This gaue to the wise King great satisfaction who to weaken the enemies practise the more not onely diuulgeth the fraud but sends ouer sea Sir William Poinings Knight and Sir William Warham his Ambassadors to the Arch-Duke Philip Duke of Burgundy then gouerned by others by reason of his tender age who promised not to assist the said Perkin but if the Dutchesse Dowager would doe any such thing to the preiudice of King Henry it was not in him to hinder her for that she might dispose of her owne A maine argument vsed by these Ambassadors before the Archdukes Counsell to conuince that Richard the very Duke of Yorke was murdered as well as King Edward his brother German as Polydor who seemes to haue had good means to vnderstand these times rehearseth it was That their vncle Richard should in vaine haue made away the elder brother if the younger had beene suffered to suruiue for that the right of the elder was immediately vpon his death in the younger and that consequently during his life King Richard could haue no more assurance then if the elder were still aliue which Argument notwithstanding doth at most proue nothing but this That their vncle the Vsurper might intend that both his Nephewes should bee murdered and that hee knew nothing perhaps to the contrary Whereas facts are to bee proued by confessions of parties by witnesses or vehement presumptions though vehement presumptions are said to constitute but an half proof al which are otherwhere so supplied as leaus smal cause to doubt of both their deathes But Warham a learned Priest and Doctor in the lawes the mouth of that Ambassage sent to the Arch-Duke in the end of his oration vsed this bitter scoffe and Sarcasme against the Lady Margaret That shee in her old age brought forth two Monsters within the space of a few yeeres and both of them not in the eight or ninth moneth after their conception as naturall mothers but in the one hundred and eightieth moneth and whereas other women brought forth Infants vtterly vnable to helpe themselues these birthes of hers were tall striplings and as soone as they were borne offered battell vnto mighty Kings And albeit the Arch-Dukes answere seemed reasonable yet was not King Henry so satisfied but that within a while after for that the Arch-Duke had secretly furnisht Perkin with leaders hee tooke occasion to banish all Flemings and Flemish wares out of his Dominions and inhibited his Subiects to trade in any Countries within the obedience of Maximilian King of Romans or of the Archduke Philip his sonne who by way of talio and requitall did the like against the English 37 Let vs come now from the addresses of things to their doing The high prudence and industry of Henry hauing thus discouered the foundations of Perkins hopes in England and the humors which were most vnsound made it his first worke to raze those groundworks and purge the veines of his Realme from that corruption by needfull Phlebotomie The Lord Fitzwalter a principall conspirator being condemned and sent to Caleis liued there in hope of pardon but for practising with his Keepers to escape hee finally payed his head for satisfaction Sir Simon Montfort Robert Ratcliffe and William Dawbeney Gentlemen of noble houses as Captaines and Authors of the conspiracy were beheaded but all the rest aswel Clerkes as Lay-men had their pardons Not long after these executions and pardons the King vpon sure intelligence that Sir Robert Clifford in whose bosome the secret of all Perkins plot lay was arriued entred the Tower of London and there continued that so if Clifford should accuse any of the great and whom hee then would accuse it is probable King Henry knew they might without suspition or tumult bee
attached the Court and publike prison for crimes of highest nature being then within the cincture of one and the same wall Sir Robert Clifford at his comming into the Kings presence though hee was secretly before assured of his life most humbly praying and obtaining pardon appeached among many others Sir William Stanley Lord Chamberlaine The King would not at first giue credite or at leastwise pretended not to giue credite to the accusation of a Peere so great and so neere vnto him but vpon farther search finding the same confirmed with circumstances and particularly for that he said to Clifford Hee would neuer beare Armes against the young man if he knew him for certaine to be the sonne of King Edward hee resolueth to vse seuerity against the delinquent 38 But Bernard Andreas directly saith That besides bare words and purposes Sir William had supported Perkins cause with treasure wherein hee is recorded so to haue abounded as that in his Castle of Holt he had in coine and plate to the value of forty thousand Markes besides lands of inheritance in sundry places about to the yeerely value of three thousand pounds a prety stocke in treasure at those times to vphold the first brunt of a warre and a large extent of land to furnish the wing of a powerfull battell with able souldiers out of Tenancies with all which the same Author in plaine wordes saith That hee promised to defend the said Pretender and bring him into the Kingdome And if we haue any insight into King Henries disposition it seemes to vs that before he entred into the Tower he not only knew the Lord Chamberlaine vnsound but also that for his quiet apprehension hee chiefly repaired thither Stanley being hereupon attached and referred to farther examination is said To haue denied nothing of all that wherewith hee was charged which he perhaps the more confidently did in hope that king Henry would pardon him in respect of passed seruices they in their effects considered being the greatest whereof mortality is capable preseruation of life and gaining of a Kingdome But the poore gentleman found himselfe farre deceiued in his politicke Lord and Master who to teach mankind thereby how dangerous it is to make a King was not vnwiling to cut him off as perswading himselfe that those seruices proceeded of ambition not of affection or if of affection the cause now ceasing the contrary effects might proue as pernicious as the other had been aduantageous and auaileable The King was vnwilling to displease his Father in Law Thomas Earle of Derby brother german to Sir William Stanley and did therefore for a while suspend his iudgement but rigour finally preuailed and hee was at Westminster openly arraigned conuicted and afterward at the block on Tower-hil beheaded In whose office Giles Lord Dawbeney a most faithfull and moderate man succeeded This sharpe iustice exercised vpon so eminent a person was of great vse in the stay of peoples minds through the Realme of England But in Ireland they were not so setled or reduced but that for the better and fuller purging thereof Henry Deney a Monke of Langton Abbey was sent Lord Chancellour thither with orders and directions and Sir Edward Poinings Knight with souldiers whose greatest diligence and cares were not wanting to punish such as heretofore had aided Perkin or might hereafter The Earle of Kildare Lord Deputy falling into suspition with Poynings was by him apprehended and sent prisoner into England where the King did not onely graciously heare and admit his defences but also returned him with honour and continuation of authority In the meanetime the errour or weaknesse of the Burgundian Dutchesse and her Perkin suffering their enemy in this sort to puruey for his own security and their depulsion hee yet for farther assurance of himselfe makes a progresse into Lancashire there to recreate with his Father in law the Earle and the Countesse his mother where among all other his secret purposes he throughly satisfied the Earle both for the iustice and necessity of Sir William Stanleyes death 39 These certainely were perillous times to liue in and vndoubtedly full of infinite iealousies and hypocrisies nor vnlike to those lately passed wherein there was nothing so plaine and openly proued but that yet for the common custome of close and couert dealing men had it euer inwardly suspect as many well-counterfeited iewels make the true suspected these generall distrusts being among the strange gradations by which the incomprehensible prouidence doth vse to chastise insolent Nations and to make regular Princes meer and absolute But the Dutchesse and her Perkin knowing al things as they passed in England resolue notwithstanding to proceede and therefore taking aduantage of the Kings absence in the North he with a force of broken and discontented persons sets saile for England and approcheth the coasts of Kent about Sandwich and Deale there to beginne his enterprize for obtaining the Crowne of England vnder the borrowed name and title of Richard Duke of Yorke if he found the Commons forward But they though doubtfull at first what to doe yet at the last considering that his Souldiers were for the most part of desperate fortunes and felonious qualitie though hardy otherwise and approoued men of warre remembring withall the mischiefes of part-takings would not adhere but training them within danger vpon promise of succour assaile and driue them to their shippes take fiue of the Captaines Mountford Corbet Whitebolt Quintin and Genin and one hundreth sixty and foure others which were all of them afterward executed Perkin himselfe who would not trust his person on shore being worthily troubled at the inauspicious fortune of his followers presently hoised sailes and returned to his Lady Patronesse and Creatrix into Flanders 40 These newes being brought to the King where he was then in the North he is said to haue giuen God thanks and declared his ioy in these words I am not ignorant most mercifull Iesu how great victories thou hast giuen mee vpon the Saturday at the praiers of thy most gracious Mother all which I ascribe not to my deserts but to the bounty of thy celestiall grace Thou seest ô most benigne Iesu how many snares how many deceits how many weapons that terrible Iuno hath prepared notwithstanding that after my marriage shee faining herselfe ioyfull hath faithfully promised to beare toward vs all fauour and good will but shee more changeable then the winde peruerting all things aswell diuine as humane feares not God but in her fury seekes the vtter ruine of her owne blood Thou ô God who knowest all deliuer vs also if we seeme worthy from these euils but if our sinnes haue deserued to suffer doe thou ô Lord thy good pleasure Neuerthelesse wee owe to thy Grace immortal thanks which though with our tongue we cannot vtter worthily enough yet must they bee rendred We are alwaies of good courage and so minded for certain that
gaged on their silence the life of a good hound much lesse mine owne I doubt not may it please your honors to appose them how they came to the knowledge of those matters which they are so ready to depose but you shall find their tongues chained to another mans trencher and as it were Knights of the Post suborned to say sweare and stare the vttermost they can as those that passe not what they say not with what face they say it so they say no truth but on the other side it grieueth mee that your good Grace whom I take to bee wise and sharpe and who of your blessed disposition wisheth mee well should bee so farre gone in crediting these corrupt Informers that abuse the ignorance of your state and Country to my peril Little know you my Lord how necessary it is not onely for the Gouernour but also for euery Nobleman in Ireland to hamper the vnciuill neighbours at discretion wherein if they waited for processe of law had not those liues and lands you speak of within their reach they might hap to loose their own liues lands without law You hear of a case as it were in a dream feele not the smart that vexeth vs. In England there is not a mean Subiect that dare extend his hand to fillip a Peere of arealm In Ireland except the Lord haue cunning to his strength and strength to saue his Crowne and sufficient authority to take theeues and variets when they stir he shall find them swarme so fast that it will bee too late to call for iustice If you will haue our seruice take effect you must not tie vs alwayes to these iudiciall proceedings wherwith your Realme thanked be God is inured Touching my kingdome I know not what your Lordshippe should mean thereby If your Grace imagine that a Kingdome consisteth in seruing God in obeying the Prince in gouerning with loue the common wealth in supporting subiects in suppressing rebels in executing iustice in brideling blind affections I would bee willing to bee inuested with so vertuous and roial a name but if therfore you tearm me a King in that you are perswaded that I repine at the gouernmēt of my soueraign or winke at malefactors or oppresse ciuil liuers I vtterlydisclaim that odious term maruelling greatly that one of your Graces profound wisdom would seeme to appropriate so sacred a name to so wicked a thing but howsoeuer it bee my Lord I would you and I had changed Kingdomes but for one moneth I would trust to gather vppe more crummes in that space then twice the reuenewes of my poore Earledome but you are well and warme and so hold you and vpbraide not mee with such an odious terme I slumber in a hard Cabine when you sleepe in a soft bedde of Downe I serue vnder the Kings Cope of heauen when you are serued vnder a Canopie I drinke water out of my skull when you drinke wine out of golden cups my Courser is trained to the field when your Gennet is taught to amble when you are graced belorded crouched and kneeled vnto then find I small grace with our Irish borderers except I cut them off by the knees At these girds the Lord Chancellor much fretted and finding Kildare to bee no babe deferred the hearing of his cause till more proofes were produced from Ireland then in a great fume hee arose from the Councell board and committed the Earle vnto prison against the minds of most at the Table who knew well that this his accusation was more of hatred borne by the Cardinall then any occasion giuen by the accused late Deputy Whereupon Thomas Duke of Norfolke stept to the King and craued that Kildare might bee his prisoner offering to bee bound in goods and body for his forth comming whom hee obtained though with no great liking of the L. Chancellor who daily entertaind new plaints against him till at last hee pressed him sore with letters sent to Oneale and Oconor to encourage their rebellions against Osorie the Lord Deputy which letters were brought them by his own daughter and their sisters the Lady Elice Fitzgirald wife to the Baron of Slane 59 This presumption being vehement the King suspitious the Cardinall eager and his friends faint Kildare was sent to the Tower where he committed himselfe to God and expected dayly his death but with such couragious resolution as hee being in play with the Lieutenant at slide-groat when the mandate was brought for his execution on the next morning and seeing the Lieutenant strucke into a suddaine sadnesse by Saint Bride Lieutenant quoth the Earle there is some madde game in that scrowll but fall how it will this throw is for a huddle and when the worst was told him now I pray thee quoth he doe no more but learne assuredly from the Kings owne mouth whether his Highnesse be witting thereto or no the Lieutenant louing his prisoner well repaired to the King and shewed him the Cardinals warrant who then controuled the sawcines of the Priest for those were his tearmes and gaue the Lieutenant his Signet for a countermand whereat the Cardinall stormed but Kildare deliuered from his eminent death and not long after from his imprisonment also was sent into Ireland where at his entrance into Dublin he was met with a solemne procession and so brought into the City so welbeloued was this Earle abroad and at home 60 But the French Kings fortunes were nothing so good who was straitly imprisoned at Madrill in Spaine and great suite made for his deliuerance which notwithstanding would not be heard The Queene mother then Regent of France wise of her selfe and forwarded by others saw no better means to free her sonne the King then to enter amity with England which to accomplish she solicited King Henry working vpon the occasions then ministred which was some vnkindnesse growne betwixt the English King and the Emperour the one of them more strange by the greatnesse of his fortunes and the other in iealousie of lessening renowne The sparkes of which Cinders were steared to flame by Wolsey that euer was in the eare of the King alleadging his potency so much esteemed of all Christian Princes a sound very tunable in Henries wide eare would bee lesse regarded by the Emperours late victory who now beganne to carry himselfe with another respect and neuer after that victory gotten subscribed his letters to King Henry according to his accustomed manner your Sunne and Cosen but to the draught of his Secretaries in fixed his hand with the word Charles and no more 61 These dislikes and other intercourses of State drew Henry shortly to a peace with France In the exemplification of which league the Venetians and other Princes were left to their choise whereof himselfe notwithstanding would bee stiled the Protector And to his leaguer Ambassadors sent these instructions to moue the States to consider the Emperours
aspired greatnesse who now commanded the Kingdomes of Naples and Sicilie the Dutchie of Millan the Seigniorie of Ioan the Countie of Ast and other possessions in Italie the whole Country of Germany being the greatest part of Christendome already either totally in his Enacted in the Church of Saint Peter in Anion May 7 Anno 1530. The Determination of the Vniuersity of Burges We the Deane and facultie of Diuinity in the Vniuersity of Burges after the example of Saint Paul the Doctor of the Gentiles begin with praier to the quieting of the conscience to whom this our writing shall come the Question moued is whether the brother taking the wife of his dead brother the marriage consummated and perfect be a thing lawfull or no. We by much labour and turning of Bookes euery one of vs a part by himselfe free from corruption the better to obey the truth finde it forbidden by the Leuiticall law which is Gods and that such marriage is an abhominable discouering of his brothers shame which cannot be allowed by the authority of any man which our determination we haue caused to be signed with the seale of our faculty the tenth day of Iune and yeere of our Lord. 1530. The opinions of the Diuines in the Vniuersity of Bonony All wee Doctors of Diuinity in this Vniuersity vnto whom this Question was propounded whether it was forbidden only by the Ordinance of the Church or else by the Law of God that a man might not marry the left wife of his brother departed without children and hauing examined the matter euery one of vs alone lastly came altogether and as it were line by line and rule by rule brought forth the reasons for the contrary part with those of the most Reuerend Father Cardinall Caietaine yea and of the dispensation for raising vp seed to his brother spoken of in Deuteronomie thus we determine giue iudgement and say and confidently doe hold and witnes that such marriage is horrible accursed and to be cried out vppon and vtterly abhominable not only for a Christian man but for an Infidel vnfaithfull or heathen and that it is prohibited vnder greeuous paines and punishments by the Law of God of Nature and of man and that the Pope though he may doe much vnto whom Christ gaue the keies of the Kingdome of Heauen hath no power to a dispensation to anie man to contract such marriage In witnes whereof we confirme this our iudgement both vnder the Seale of our Vniuersity as also with the Seale of our Colledge of Doctors of Diuinity and haue substribed it in the Cathedrall Church of Bonony this tenth of Iune the yeere of our Lord. 1530. The determination of the Vniuersity of Padua Seeing that certaine great Orators and Ambassadors did humbly require of vs that wee would vouchasafe to search out with all diligence this question following whether to marry the wife of our brother departed without children is forbidden onely by the Law of the Church or by the Law of God also and if forbid by both the Lawes whether the Pope may dispence with any man for such Matrimony or no which Question we haue discussed and as farre as we can haue made it cleere both priuate euery man by himselfe and after al together openly we say iudge decree witnesse and for truth affirme that such marriage is no marriage yea and that it is abhorred and cursed of euery Christian man and to be abominate as a greeuous sinne and that it is cleerely forbidden vnder cruell penalty by the Lawes of nature of God and of man and that the Pope vnto whom the keies of the Kingdome of Heauen are committed by Christ the Sonne of God hath no power to dispense by the right of Law for any cause suggestion or excuse that any such Matrâ—…ny should be contracted In witnesse whereof wee 〈◊〉 made this writing and haue authorized it with the accustomed Seale of our Vniuersity dated at Padua in the Church of the Heremites of Saint Augustine the first of Iuly and yeere of our Lord. 1530. The determination of the Vniuersity of Tholouze It was treated in our Vniuersity of Tholouze whether it were lawfull for a brother to marry her which had beene wife to his brother now departed and without children as also whether the Pope which hath the cure of Christs flocke allowing it by his dispensation it be lawful to resolue which the best Doctors of Diuinity and the Laws did sweare that they would obey the sacred Counsels and would follow the holy Decrees of the Fathers and falling to conclusion stucke fast vpon this point that it is lawfull for no man neither by the Law of God nor by the Law of nature to take her to wife that his brother hath left neither can the Pope dispence with this law of God as touching the commandement in Deuteronomy that the brother should marry his wife to raise vp seede vnto him that his name should not perish among the Tribes of Israel we answere that that Law was but a shadow and figure of things to come which vanished away as soon as the substance of the Gospell appeared Thus haue we giuen our sentence which wee haue signed with our Authenticall Seale of this Vniuersity Yeouen at Tholouze the Calends or first day of October the yeere of our Lord 1530. These and many more were read by the Lord Chauncellor vnto the lower house of Parliament that they might report in their countries the Kings iust cause of diuorse To forward which as was thought Cardinall Wolsey the said Lord Chancellor was sent Ambassadour into France laden with Crownes as Guicchardine saith and with surpassing Pompe as London behelde who with 900. Horse passed the Bridge toward Douer and so into France But rumors in England still spreading of the good Queens diuorse about a yeere after K. Henry to satisfie all sent for his Nobles his Councellers Iudges and many wise Commoners vnto whom he made a most pithy Oration shewing them with what care he had ruled almost twenty yeeres with honour and victory which as he said would shortly be clouded if he should die and leaue them a litigious Heire examples he shewed of the wofull experience of Lancaster and Yorke in whose dissentions the Realme was like to haue beene vtterly destroied and although saith he we haue a daughter to the great comfort of her mother and me yet it is told vs by great Clearkes our marriage is not lawful but that she stands in case of illegitimation and we both are said to liue in abominable Adultery thinke you my Lords that these words doe not touch my very soule the perill whereof we venture as you doe also your inheritance for which cause I haue asked counsell of the greatest Clearkes in Christendome and haue likewise heard the opinion of mine owne But as touching the Queene if it bee iudged by the Law of God that she is my lawfull wife there shall be nothing more
draw Gods indignation against me which I feare wee haue already done in that hee hath sent vs no Issue male and them that were begot in this nuptiall bed no sooner came into the world but were taken againe thence and hopelesse now of more issue by her it behoueth me to consider the state of this Realme and the danger that may follow for lacke of a lawfull Prince to succeed This burden too weighty for my weake conscience not in any dislike of the Queenes age or person with whom I desire onely to continue if our marriage may stand with the law of God I haue in this place assembled you our graue Prelates and learned Diuines to determine of and will God willing submit my selfe to your iudgements My doubts in this case I moued in confession to you my Lord of Lincolne and ghostly father whereof your selfe being somwhat trobled said you would aske counsell of you all my Lords Then of you my Lord of Canterbury being Metropolitane I got licence to put the matter in question to which graâ—… you all put your seales as here in this Court the same is to bee seene True it is said the Lord of Canterbury and I doubt not but that all my brethren here present will acknowledge the same Not so my Lord said the Bishoppe of Rochester you neuer had my hand to that Instrument nor neuer shal Indeed said Canterbury you did it not your selfe but admitted mâ—…e to subscribe your name and allowed mee your Seale vnder your correction said Rochester that is not so Well well quoth the King you are but one man against whom at this time we will not dispute and so rose vp and the Court adiourned ned to England but he tooke his way towards the Emperour to whom the cause somewhat appertained being then at Vienna in his expedition against the Turke vnto whose learned men he offered disputation and in priuate conference so satisfied Cornelius Agrippa the most respected for learning in the Emperours Court as he held the Proposition most true Whereupon others learned were discouraged to dispute and suffered Cranmer to depart without any further proceedings 80 The matter thus manifested in most parts of Christendome this Gordians knot was lastly vnloosed by King Henrie himselfe who now besides this his marriage beganne to call in question what authority the Pope had in his dominions which being afterwards debated in Parliament an Act passed against his vsurped Hierarchy and all persons forbidden to appeale or to make any paiments vnto Rome The Kings marriage with Lady Katherine was by the same Parliament dissolued and his separation from her made by the Archbishop of Canterburie to stand good and effectuall by Law and that Queene Katherine from thenceforth should be called Princesse Dowager which doings shee tooke so to hart as shee procured the Popes curse against King Henrie and his Realme which curse was set vp at Dunkirke in Flaunders for that the bringer thereof durst come no neerer And the Pope in reuenge of himselfe being set in his Consistory accompanied with his Cardinals proceeded to the Censure of these great Princes marriage which he then adiudged to stand most firme and Canonicall and enioyned King Henry to hold matrimoniall society with the said Katherine his lawfull wife and Queene and in that estate to account and maintaine her as it became a King and louing husband to doe and if he refused to accomplish these premisses then to be compelled thereunto and neuer after to be heard in any Court as touching the inualiditie of the said marriage and to pay the expences of the said trauerse as he the holy father should limit and thinke meete This was done a yeere after that the King had married Queen Anne and bare date from Rome the 23. of March and yeere of Christ 1534. For in the meane while King Henry had set his affection vpon the Lady Anne Bullen a Phenix indeed in his Princely eye and another Hester for Englands saluation both in her selfe and roiall Bud succeeding as the heauens and world doe witnes to this day Shee was the daughter of Sir Thomas Bullen Viscount Rochford Earle of Wiltshire and of Ladie Elizabeth daughter of Thomas Howard Duke of Norfolke This Earle Thomas her father was the sonne of Sir William Bullen whose wife was Lady Margaret the second daughter and Coheire of Thomas Butler Earle of Ormond and the said Sir William was the sonne of Sir Godfrey Bullen Lord Maior of London who lieth buried in Saint Laurence Church in the Iewrie pictured in his winding sheete vpon a Plate of Brasse and about his Graue-stone vpon a border of brasse in many places these words are written Now thus Now thus Now thus whose Charity was extended vpon the poore housholders of that Citie in distributing among them a thousand pounds His Lady was Anne eldest daughter and Coheire vnto Thomas Lord Hâ—… and Hasting and his discent out of the house of the Bullens an ancient Family in the Countie of Norfolke accursed therefore be the pen that slanderously bringeth this rose from a defiled Bed whose Serpents mouth to vphold his God the Pope hath spewed out his poison of vntruthes and made his tongue a sharpe sword against the Lords annointed let him therefore receiue his portion with the Serpent of deceit and his reward with Satan the father of Lies 81 This Ladies religion was different from all Papall indulgences imbracing the Gospell that then began in our vulgar language to bee read for which cause saith Sleidan she was accounted a Lutheran cause enough to bee enuied at by the Bishops of that time 82 Her the King inuested Marchionesse of Pembroke with Mantle and Coronet both in regarde of her Nobilitie and many vertues for so runne the wordes of her Patent which done he tooke the seas for France accompanied with such a traine of his Nobles as the like had not been seen and among many Ladies Anne Bullen was one where hee complained to the French King of the great wrongs offered him by the dull Pope as hee called him who would haue Kings in person to attend his leasure at Rome and contrary to their Kingly dignities to expose themselues and affaires at his will there to bondage and great danger and therefore he earnestly requested that the Pope might bee summoned to a Councell to answere the many abuses that hee had offered vnto most of the Princes in Christendome and vnto himselfe not the least who for his part had allowed him threescore thousand Angels monethly to maintaine an Army for his deliuerance out of the Castle of Angell where the Emperials vnder the Prince of Orenge kept him Which his businesse being ended in France and the King againe returned into England he presently though priuily married the said Lady Marchionesse in his Closet at White-hall in the presence of many the Lady Anne
Thomas Audley Lord Chancellor the Duke of Norfolke and Thomas Cromwell Secretary her bringers desiring God so to helpe her as sne was guiltlesse of those things whereof shee was accused beseeching those Lords to bee Petitioners vnto his Maiesty in her behalfe who lamenting her case left her Prisoner with Sir William Kingston Constable of the place 88 I will in no wise excuse her guilt hauing had iudgement and death by law though others and that vpon iust occasions before mee haue done but will speake from them what they haue said and namely one that wrote thereof vnto a worthy and reuerent person in whose defence his wordes are these Iâ—…seemeth very plaine that the crimes supposed against this Christian Queène Anne were matters contriued by the deuise of the Pope and his Instruments her enemies None of them all that were accused in the same Treason confessing the Act euen vnto death but haue left direct Testimonies in writing to the contrary one meane Groome excepted namely Marke Smeton made confession vpon some promise of life belike but had his head cut off before hee was aware or had time to recall what he had said The like did Cromwell the Secretary signifie to the King after the prisoners had beene throughly examined in the Tower by the Councell who wrote thus in his letter on the same day many things haue been obiected but nothing confessed onely some circumstances haue been acknowledged by Marke And so doth Cranmer Archbishoppe of Canterbury in his letter of comfort vnto the King who sore lamented that such a starre was fallen if her gilt could bee proued and willed his Highnesse to stand in defence of the Gospell as shee had done without any report of confessing or acknowledging any such Acts as were obiected which as Sleidon writeth were Adultery and incest but vniustly saith he as it is supposed and proued since With her were executed certaine Gentlemen of the Kings Priuie Chamber namely Norris Weston Brewton and one Marks which contrary to his conscience as it is reported for hope of preferment subscribed to a bill whereby hee condemned both himselfe and all the rest 89 For vpon the seuenth of May her brother George Bullen Lord Rochford for his supposed offence with these foure before named were all of them beheaded vpon the Tower hill but none of them confessing the Action I haue heard it reported that Rochford the Queenes brother comming to her bed side to solicite a suite leaned thereupon to whisper her in the eare which the Spials gaue forth that hee did so to kisse the Queen howsoeuer they are dead and the Queene must die who two dayes before had beene arraigned in the Tower the Duke of Norfolke being her Iudge to her inditement shee answered so effectually that shee seemed to cleare all matters laid to her charge yet was shee found guilty and vpon the nineteenth day of May was brought to a Scaffold erected on the Greene within the saide Tower where in presence of many noble men the Lord Mayor of London the Shiriffes and some principall commoners shee is said to haue spoken these words in their presence 90 Good Christian people I am come hither to die for according to the Law and by the Law I am iudged to death and therefore I will speake nothing against it I come hither to accuse no yee shall be iudged heereafter to be shedars of some of Crystyn blood and destroiers of your euyn Crysten From Robart Aske chiefe Captaine of the Comynalty assembled in pilgrimage For the Barony and Cominalty of the same By mee Robert Aske yn the name of all the Comynalty and Barony Of such terrour and haughty spirit was this Captaine Aske that when Lancaster an Herald at Armes was sent to declare the Kings message in Pomfret Castle which the Rebels had got by surrender from the Lord Darcy hee so blustred out his answers that the daunted man excusing himselfe to bee but a messenger fell before him on his knees till the Archbishop of Yorke tooke him vp saying it was not beseeming the Coate hee wore to prostrate to any but onely to his Soueraigne Reade likewise if you please this strange Mandate from some meane man among them the false suggestion that they possessed the ignorant with and the Oath whereunto these holy Pilgrimes were sworne as I finde them recorded by themselues in these very words To the Commyns of Hawkeside parish Bailiffs or Constables with all the Hamlets of the same Welbeloued we greet you well and whereas our brother Pouerty and our brother Rogers goith forward is openly for the aide asistance of your faith and holy Church and for the reformation of such Abbeys and Monasteries now dissolued and subpressed without any Iust cause Wherefore gudde brethers For asmuch as our sayd brederyn hath send to vs for ayde and helpe wee doe not onely effectualy desire you but also vnder the paine of deadly sinne wee comaunde you and euery of you to bee at the stoke Greene beside Hawkeside-kirke the Saturday next being the xxviij day of October by xi of the Clokke in your best array as you will make aunswer before the heigh Iudge at the dreadfull day of Dome and in the payne of pulling downe your Houses and leasing of your gudds and your bodies to be at the Capteyns will For at the place aforesaid then and there yee and we shall take further direction concerning our faith so farre decayed And for gudde and laudable Customes of the Country And such naughty inuentions and strange Articles now accepted and admitted so that our said brother bee subdued they are lyke to goe furthwards to vtter vndoing of the Commyn welth 97 And the more to drawe forward the rude multitude which were forward enough of themselues they set forth in writing these slanderous vntruths against the King 1 The first is that no infant shall receyue the blessed Sacrament of Baptisme bott onlesse an trybett to bee payd to the King 2 The second is that no man vnder xx1. Landes shall eyte no brede made of Wheate ner Capon chekyn gois ner pigge bott onlesse to pay a trybett to the King 3 The third is that for euery ploghe land the King will haue en trybett with other diuerse extreme vrgent causes and hertely fareye well The Oath of the holy Pilgrimes Ye shall nat enter into this our Pilgrimage of Grace for the Commyn welth but only for the loue that you doe bere vnto Almyghty Godde his faith and to holy Churche militant the maintenance thereof to the preseruation of the Kings person his issew to the purifying of Nobilitie and to expulse all vilayne blode and euill Councellers agaynst the Commyn welthe from his Grace and the priuie Counsel of the same and that ye shall nat enter into oure said Pilgramege for no particuler proffite to your selfe nor to doe no displeasure to no priâ—…ey person but by
Councell for the Commyn welthe ner slee ner murder for no enuye but in youre hertts put away all feare and dread and take afore you the Crosse of Criste and in your herts his faith the restitution of the Churche the subpression of these Herytyks and their opynyons by all the holle contents of this Booke And for the obseruation of this Oath heare another commande of the Commissioners as we find it recorded To the Bayliffes and Communes of the Towne of Skarboro Welbelouyd we Francys By god Knyghte and Iohn Halom yoman in the name of all the Communes commande anacharde you that ye assemble your selues together mediately vpon recepete hereof and so take thys othe wychys we here send vnto yow and then after in all haste possible to assist and hayde theis ower brethern wome wee sende to you to keepe and make sure the Castell Towne and Port of Skarboro that no man enter into the same Castell that belongys vnto Rafe Euers the yonger Knyghte nor any outher whiches did not take full parte with the Communes at ower first and last assemblynge in whoys name aethority or attorney soeuer they cume vnlesse they haue licence of all the communes in like manner yee shall truely keepe all sichys ordinance and shippe to the vse of the Communes wythe wyches wee charde you at our late being here and thys not to faile vpon payne of yower lyues yee shall refer credence vnto thys messyngeres thus in hast Fare yee well from Settrynton this Mondaye Sancte Mawris daye Francis Bigott Knight in the name and by Commandement of al the Communes Against these rout of Rebels George Earle of Shrewsbury not staying for the Kings commission mustred his men misdeemed of many that he meant to be a Pilgrime himselfe vnto which suspectors hee made a loyall Oration disclaiming all intention against their attempts how colourable so euer they laid their pretence which done he caused his Chaplen to minister him an Oath of his loyaltie before them in the Field It was likewise reported that the Earle of Darby was set forward towards them whome the Pilgrimes well hoped would haue sided with them as by their mandate sent to the Brethren appeares where is forbid that none of them should aide him vnlesse he tooke the Oath which he neuer meant to assay or sweare to 98 But true it is the King sent Thomas Duke of Norfolke Lord Generall against them accompanied with the Marquesse of Excester the Earles of Huntingdon and Rutland who ioining their powers made towards Doncaster where the Rebels then lay in their Randiuou in whose sight immediately they set vp their Tents and determined battell vpon the next day but on the night betwixt such fluds of water fell that the riuer Dun ouerflowed his bancke and admitted no passage ouer the Bridge which thing was taken as a token from God and thereupon the Lord Generall offered them Conference alleaging that the King was tender of his Subiects liues and very vnwilling to shed Christian blood that their cause should be fauourably heard and iust complaints redressed if with submission and duty of Subiects they would yeeld themselues affaires to the Kings mercy that this their rebellious proceedings was not onely the forerunning messenger of destruction to themselues and partakers but gaue also a great aduantage vnto the Scots the dangerous enemie vnto the Land and them all with these and the like perswasions the matter was so forwarded that a conference was appointed at Doncaster and foure pledges were sent from the Lord General vnto the Commons for the safe returnes of their assigned Commissioners which were these by name Lord Neuill Lord Darcy Lord Stressre Lord Lumley Lord Latimer Sir Thomas Percy Sir George Darcy Robert Aske Captaine Sir Raufe Clayer Seni. Sir Raufe Clayer Iun. Sir Raufe Euers Sir William Constable Sir Raufe Constable Sir Rich Tempest Sir Raufe Romemer Sir William Eustan Sir George Lawton Sir Thomas Hylton M. Robert Constable M. Richard Banner M. Wiseroppe Whose Articles and demands were these as followeth The instruction for Sir Thomas Hilton and other Companyons 1 First to declare to the Duke of Norfolke and other the Lordys that th entent of our meeting of our partie surely is meant and thought of assured troth without any manner of disceyte or male engyne 2 The second is to receiue the Kinges sâ—…ecundyth vnder the Brode Seale of Englonde and to deliuer our sâ—…ecundyth and promise vndre owre hands for the Lordys there 3 The thirde to entreate of owre generall perdon for all causys and all persons which be within the Realme wyche in herte word or deed assentyd edyter procured the furtherance in this our quarrell may be pardoned life lands goods and that in the sayd perdon nor other the Kings records we be not witon reputed ne taken as Rebylleous or tretors nor rehersyd in the same 4 The fourth that Thomas Cromwell nor any of his bande or serte bee not at owre metyng at Doncastre but abcente themselfe from the Councell 5 The fift to receiue the Kings answere by the declarations of the Lords and to certifie the vere eteâ—…t thereof to vs there Also to know what authority the Lords haue to etrete in promes with vs ther as well of owre promes of other things Also to know what plege the wyll deliuer for owr Capitans Also yf thys pertyculars be concluded then for to condyscend of other perticulars 1 The first touching our faith to haue the heresyes of Luther Wyclyf Hussee Melancton Ecolampadius Busyrs the Confession Germane the Applege of Melanqton the werke of Tyndale of Bernys Fryth of Marshall Rastell the Bookes of Sent Germane and such other of any manner Heresie without the Realme not to be kept but vtterly to be dystryed 2 The secund to haue the supreme of the Chyrch tâ—…ching cure of sowlle to be reseruyd to the See of Rome as byfore hyt whas accustomyd for to be and to haue the consecration of Byshoppys frâ—…e hym without any first frâ—…ts or pencyons to him to be paid out of thys Realme or ellys a pencion reasonable for the outwarde defence of our fayth Also we beseke humble our most drade Soueraign Lord that the Lady Mary may be legetymate and the estatutes contrary to the same to bee aâ—…lyd for the dome of the tytle that might incur to the Crown by Scotland and that to be by Parliament Also to haue the Abbeys that bee suppressed to be restoryd to their Lands Howsys and Goods Also to haue the Tents and first frâ—…ts clearely dischargyd onles the Clergy wyll of their selfys grâ—… a Rent or Charge to the augmentation of the Crown Also to haue the Freres obserâ—…s restoryd to their houses againe Also to haue the Heretiks Bishoppys and temporal men of their seete to haue condigne ponysment by fire or such other or ells to trie ther quarrell with vs and our partaker sin batell Also to haue the
setting him vp lest in acting his part vpon that infectiue stage hee put the land to as much trouble as the arreared Duke Richard of Yorke had done after hee was ordained heire apparant which Title produced the Tragedy of his raiser King Henry the sixt and now hauing him and his Abetters vpon the aduantage the better to secure his owne Estate hee caused the heades of this Lord Marquesse with the Lord Montacute and Sir Edward Neuill to bee cut off vpon Tower-hill 105 The King then a Widdower since the death of Queene Iane who departed this life two yeeres before meant to 〈◊〉 whâ—… hee had done maugre all 〈◊〉 better â—…o effect by the Counsell 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 sought and obtained the 〈◊〉 the Princes of 〈◊〉 and heard the motion for marriage with the Lady Anne sister to William Duke of 〈◊〉 whose other sister Fredericke Duke of 〈◊〉 had espoused a great fauourer of the Gospell and 〈◊〉 of Martin Luther the zealous Preacher 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 thereof But whether for the death of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or that hee would haue his wiues sister bestowed neerer at home which thing hee pretended a great hindâ—…er hee was of that match But the Lady sent into England and married vnto King 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 nothing pleasing in his eye which 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 then Bishoppe of Winchester percâ—…ing thought it a fitte subiect for him to worke vpoâ—… 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Lord Cromwell the maker of the mâ—…ch hee therefore instigated iealousies dayly into the Kings 〈◊〉 first exasperating the hatred of the Princes of 〈◊〉 ny to him-wards and especially of Duke Fredericke his compulsiue brother in Law the Emperor French Kings Scots and the Pope all seeking at once to raise their powers against England The ciuill tumults lately passed and new commotions greatly to be feared hee letted not to remember and all to nip the spring of the new spreading Gospell whereby this wise Politician in the end got six such Articles against it as the Consistory of Hell could deuise no worse Whose cruelties were such that not long after and in the dayes of this King some of those Acts were againe repealed and some of them qualified as too sharpe and searching into the bloud of the Kings best Subiects 106 The fruite of these bloud-thirsty instigators the Lord Cromwell and Lady Anne of Cleue soon tasted of he by imprisonment and death and she by disgrace and diuorce hauing been his wife from lanuary to Iune in all which time the King refrained the mutuall knowledge of her body for the dislike hee had of her person euen at the first sight as himselfe called to witnesse the Lord Cromwell then Prisoner in the Tower for whose report hee wrote a Letter with his owne hand and shee good Lady no other cause alleadged was diuorced by Parliament when also it was enacted that shee should no longer bee styled Queene The Lord Cromwell was charged by the Lord Rich and Sir George Throgmortâ—… with speaking of certaine generall words not excepting therein the Kinges person which neuertheresse were thought so sleight and insufficient to take away his life that his enemies feared to put it to the triall of his Peeres lest he should bee acquitted by them as the Lord Dacres of the North not many yeeres before had beene wherfore there was a Bill drawne to attaint him of hereâ—… and Treason in generall words rather then in particular proofes which when hee was dead passed in both houses of Parliament with the Kinges assent 107 Howbeit Sâ—…ders that seldome speakeâ—… well of the Gospels professors will haue him to die for the breach of a Law made by himselfe which was that one appeached of treason should not come in the Kings presence till he had tried himself not guilty but besides that wee find no such Act by him made his inditement doth not charge him with treason but with setting at liberty certain persons committed for misprision of treason and hereâ—… for fauouring and maintaining the transation of hereticall bookes into English for bearing out Barnes and other hereticall Preachers that himselfe was an heretike and had spoken words great wordâ—… for the vpholding of his said religion which were that the King should not change it if hee would for these things he was 〈◊〉 by Parliament of high Treason and that grounded either vpon a Stâ—…ute made in the fiâ—…e and twenty of Edward thâ—… third or else by the explanation of that Act which referreth the exposition of Treasons to the 〈◊〉 and so no way did 〈◊〉 deuise or make any law of treason which himselfe 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that partiall Romanist hath said 108 But most sure it is that the Kingâ—…â—…on altogether guided by the 〈◊〉 obiect 〈◊〉 â—…other point in the Compasse to fire his 〈◊〉 eye besides that onely which by his 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 touched by the 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 and thâ—… 〈◊〉 to bee the Lady 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 â—…ward the brother of Thomas Dukâ—… of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 whom Cromwell standing in the defence of 〈◊〉 Anne and vsing words of disâ—…ke 〈◊〉 the Lady 〈◊〉 distastfull vnto the King was thereupon apprehended his enemy so 〈◊〉 and vpon the twenty eight of Iuly suffered 〈◊〉 with the 〈◊〉 of the Axe vpon 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 beheaded the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 neither 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 nor 〈◊〉 quietly dying for his offence committed 〈◊〉 109 The sword thus vnsheathed vpon the necks of the Nobility strucke off the head of Margaret Countesse of Salisbury daughter and heâ—…re vnto George Duke of Clarence and mother vnto Reynold Poole Cardinall being neither arraigned nor tried but condemned by Parliament as Cromwell had bin And the Lord Leonard Gray in this present yeere lost his head for treason the twenty eight of Iune And the next day following Thomas Fines Lord Dacres of the South died at Tyborne for killing a priuate man in a fray Neither was it put vp vntill that the heades of Queen Katherine Howard and the Lady Iane Rochford were stricken off the one for Adultery the other for concealement as was alleadged the parties offending were Fraâ—…it Dereham and Thomas Culpepper Dereham before shee was Queene and Culpepper after who both were executed at Tiburne the tenth of December and the twelfth of February following Mistresse Katherine Howard for so in the Act of her Attainture 〈◊〉 is called who had beene stiled and receiued Queene for the space of sixe moneths and fouâ—… dayes with the Lady Iane then widow and late wife vnto 〈◊〉 Bullen Lord Rochford were both of them brought vnto a Scaffold raised vppon the hill within the Tower where they in lamentable passions suffered death 110 Howsoeuer those times afforded such Queenes to the Kings bed or himselfe vnfortunate in making his choise yet many of no meane iudgement haue rather accused King Henry for his changing and variable affections then thinke them guilty in the breach of Matrimony Of Anne wee haue seene what
1540. shee was his wife sixe moneths after which time certaine Lords of the vpper House of Parliament came into the nether and alleaged cause for which that marriage was vnlawfull whereunpon shee was diuorced and by Statute enacted that shee should no more be taken for Queene but should be called the Lady Anne of Cleâ—…e See remained in England long after the Kings death though small mention is made of her by any of our Writers only we finde that she accompanied the Lady Elizabeth through London at the solemnizing of Queene Maries Coronation 140 Katherine the fifth wife of King Henry the eight was the daughter of 〈◊〉 and Neece vnto Thomas Howard his brother Duke of Norfolke Shee was married vnto him the eight of August and yeere of â—…race 1540. being the thirtie two of his Raigne at Hampton Court and continued his Queene the space of one yeere sixe moneths and foure daies and for her vnchaste life was attainted by Parliament and for the same beheaded within the Tower of London the twelfth of February and her body buried in the Chauncell of the Chappell by Queene Anne Bullen 141 Katherine the sixth and last wife of King Henry was the daughter of Sir Thomas Parre of Kendall and sister to Lord William Parre Marquesse of Northampton shee was first married to Iohn Neuill Lord Latimer and after his decease vpon the twelfth of Iuly maried vnto the King at Hampton Court the yeere of Saluation 1543. and thirtie fiue of his Raigne Shee was his wife three yeeres sixe months and fiue daies and suruiuing him was againe married vnto Thomas Seimer Lord Admirall of England vnto whom she bare a daughter but died in the same Child-bed the yeere of Grace 1548. His Issue 142 Henrie the first sonne of King Henry by Queene Katherine his first wife was borne at Richâ—…d in Surrey vpon the first of Ianuary and the first of his fathers Raigne whose Godfathers at Font were the Lord Cranmer Archbishop of Canterburie and the Earle of Surrey his Godmother Lady Katherine Countesse of Deuonshire daughter to King Edward the fourth This Prince liued not fully two months but died in the same place wherein he was borne vpon the two and twentieth of February and his body with all due obsequies buried in Westminster 143 A sonne not named was borne vnto King Henrie by Lady Katherine his first Queene in the month of Nouember and the sixth yeere of his Raigne who liued not long and therefore no further mention of him can bee made the deathes of these Princes King Henrie tooke as a punishment from God for so he alleaged it in the publike Court held in Blacke-friers London they being begot on his owne brothers wife 144 Marie the third childe and first daughter of King Henrie by Queene Katherine his first wife was born at Greenewich in Kent the eighteenth of Februarâ—… in the yeere of Christs humanity 1518 and the eighth of his Raigne Shee was by the direction of her mother brought vp in her Childe-hood by the Countesse of Salisbury her neere kinswoman for that as some thought the Queene wished a marriage betwixt some of her sons and the Princesse to strengthen her Title by that Aliance into Yorke if the King should die without issue Male. In her yong yeeres shee was sued to be married with the Emperour the King of Scots and the Duke of Orleance in France but all these failing and shee succeeding her brother K Edward in the Crowne at the age of thirtie sixe yeeres matched with Phillip King of Spaine to the great dislike of many and small content to her selfe hee being imploied for the most part beyond the Seas for griefe whereof and the losse of Calice shee lastly fell into a burning feauer that cost her her life 145 Elizabeth the second daughter of King Henrie and first childe by Queene Anne his second wife was borne at Greenwich vpon Sunday the seuenth of September the yeere of Christ Iesus 1534 and twenty fiue of her Fathers Raigne who with due solemnities was baptized the Wednesday following Archbishop Cranmer the old Dutches of Norfolke and the old Marchionesse of Dorset being the witnesses at the Font and the Marchionesse of Excester at the confirmation Shee succeeded her sister Queene Marie in the Monarchy of England and was for wisdome vertue piety and Iustice not onelie the Mirrour of her Sexe but a patterne for Gouernment to al the princes in Christendome whose name I may not mention without al dutiful remembrance and whose memory vnto me is most deare amongst the many thousands that receiued extraordinary fauours at her gracious and most liberall hand 146 Another man childe Queene Anne bare vnto King Henry though without life vpon the nine and twentieth of Ianuary and twenty seuen of his Raigne to the no little griefe of the mother some dislike of the King as the sequel of her accusation and death did shortly confirme 147 Edward the last childe of King Henry and first of Queene Iane his third wife was borne at Hampton Court the twelfth of October the yeere of Grace 1537. and twenty nine of the Kings Raigne being cut out of his mothers wombe as is constantly affirmed like as Iulius Caesar is said to haue been his Godfathers at the Font was Thomas Cranmer Archbishop of Canterbury and the Duke of Norfolk his sister Lady Mary being Godmother saith Grafton Sixe daies after his birth he was created Prince of Wales and at the death of his Father succeeded him in all his Dominions of whom more followeth heereafter His Naturall Issue 148 Henrie Fitz-Râ—…ie the naturall sonne of King Henrie the eight was begotten of the Lady 〈◊〉 called Elizabeth Blunt and borne in the Mannor of Blackâ—…moore in Essex about the tenth yeere of his Raigne at the age of sixe yeeres he was created Earle of Nottingham and in the fiue and twentieth of his Fathers Raigne vpon the eighteenth of Iune in the Kings Pallace of Bridewell was made Duke of Richmond and Sommerset Lord Warden of the East West and Middle-Marches against Scotland and Lieutenant Generall of all the parts of England Northward he was a Prince very forward in Marshal Actiuities of Good literature and knowledge in the tongues vnto whom the learned Antiquary Leland dedicated a Booke He married Marie daughter of Thomas Howard Duke of Norfolke Earle Marshall and Lord high Treasurer of England with whom he liued not long but died at Saint Iames by Westminster the two and twentieth of Iuly in the yeere of Christ Iesus 1536. and was buried at Framingham in Suffolke THe tempestuous 〈◊〉 in the Raigne of this King Henrie the eight and the violent deluge raised against the Church-state of his times bare downe so many religious strong foundations and were the destruction of so many beautifull Monasteries as the onely relation of their numbers and names would haue much interrupted the narration of his history Wherfore to reteinâ—… their memorials though their walles are laid
1346. * Grafton * Serres King Edwards Charity The French deuise to succour Calais The English victory at Potiers 19. Sep. 1356. * Serres Polyd. Vergâ—… saith his name was Innocentius * Serres The French king taken prisoner * Froissard * Serres * Fabian out of the French Chronicles * Ypod. Neust. * Serres The Prince doth things more commendable then his victory * Paul Aemyl * Poly. Verg lib. 19. * Holinsh. omnes * Bolyd Verg. lib. 19. * 5 Mâ—… A. D. 1357. Ypod. Neust. A Lord Maior feasted foure kings at once The two Prisoner kings lodged * Adam 〈◊〉 King Dauid set at liberty after 11 yeeres durance * Fourdon A. D. 1357. * 27. Nouemb. * Guil. Tilliâ—… * Serres Tillâ—… An. D. 1358 A. reg 32. * VVals in Edward 3. fol. 173. * Armacâ—… in Defensoriâ—… curatorâ—… Fox Martâ—…log in Edward 3. * 〈◊〉 iâ—… * Sabelli Ennead 9 l. 6. * Tho. Wals. in Edward 3. King Edward 2. gaine in France 24. October * Paul Aemil. * Serres * Paradiâ—… in les Annals de Burgo * Froissard Paulus Aemilius saith 100000. crownes * Iud. 19. 11. 25. and 26. * Tho. Wals. * Polyd. Verg. lib. 19. * Tho. VVals An. D. 1360. The English before Paris Foure hundred Knights made at one time * Polyd. Verg. * Serres and Polyd. Verg. * Paul Aemyl * Tho. VValsing * Serres Paul Aemyl * Tho. Wals. Ran. Cestr. * Fabian * Tiâ—… Articles of peace * Paul Aemyl 〈◊〉 Iohan. 〈◊〉 * Serres Fabian Holinsh. Paul Aemyl * Tho. Walsing * Paul Aemyl Polyd. Uerg. Froissard The huge ransome of Iohn King of France * Tho. VVals Fabian The City of Paris gaue toward this ransome one hundreth thousand roialâ—… Edw. Griâ—… his English Serres * 24. October 1360. * 〈◊〉 par 7. Caxton * Inuentorie of France in Charles the 5. Serrâ—… Paul Aemyl in Car. 5. * Serres rashly affirmes he did * Pol. Virg. in E. 3. The points charged vpon the English In Charles 5. Serres The dealings of the English defended against P. Aemilius An. D. 1369 Iohn Duke of Lancaster sent to inuade France * Polyd. Verg. in Edw. 3. Froissard * Ypod. Neust. * Polyd. Verg. l. 19 Holinsh. in Edw. 3. An. D. 1370 Sir Robert Knolles sent Generall into the parts about Britaine * Tho. Walsing in Edw. 3. * Paul Emyl in Car. 5. * Paul Emyl Iac. Meir Holinsh. * Tho. Walsing in fine Edw. 3. * Tho. Wals. in Edward 3. * Holinsh. * Serres * Holinshed * Serres an Author distrusted An. D. 1372 * Holinshed The Flemish Name distressed by the English * Ypod. Neust. Rochel besieged by the French The English Nauie distressed by the Castilian * Polyd. Verg. l. 19 King Edward at sea to relieue Rochel is blown backe * Tho. Walsin * Polyd. Verg. lib. 19. A. D. 1373 Rochel continueth English * Tho. VVals * Tho Wals. lib. 19. * 1. Tillius Chron. * Miller p. 992. * Idâ—… ib. * Lib. Eliens * Cambd. Erit in Essex * Milles. p. 381. Idem p. 428. * Milles. p. 441. * Idem p. 689. Monarch 50 Richard II. A. D. 1378. The Coronation of the King 〈◊〉 MS. apâ—…d Dâ—… Rob. Cotton Seruices by â—…a on of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Coroâ—…ion found and â—…ed in that 〈◊〉 The Court of higâ—… Sâ—…wardship A. D. 1379. The Britons dislike of the French Gouernment matter of new troubles The commons spared in the subsidie * Siâ—…plex Capellaâ—… Walsing A mâ—…morable example of a noble young gentlemans faith keeping Aids sent into Britain drowned Other aids pierce into Britaine from 〈◊〉 by land An. D. 1380. * Io. Tilâ—… in Chron. French troubles profitable to the English The Earle of Northumberland countermanded from pursuit of the Scots The Parliament at Northampton A. D. 1381. The Earle of Cambridge sent with an Armie into Portugall * Râ—…der Santiâ—… part 〈◊〉 hist. Hisp. cap. 2â—… * Polyd. Vergil 〈◊〉 l. â—…0 The dangerous rebellionâ—… of Wat. Tyler Iacke Straâ—… others * L. S. Alban MS * Hist. Ang. l. 20. * Ioh. Stow. VVat. Tyler the Idol of the Clownes Iohn Cumber-towne once Lord Maior of London confined and confiscated * Thoâ—… VValsing Ypod. p. 539. Polyder Vergil not to be rashly beleeued Sir Iohn Aâ—…eys reputation redeemed from slander * Reâ—… hee is called Ypod. Neust. Aâ—… 13â—…0 * Henry Knightoâ—… Can. of Lâ—…c Aâ—… apud Holinsh. * Thâ—… UUals. in Richard 2. Hatred increaseth betweene the Duke and Count Northumberland Berwick recouered by the Earle A. D. 1385. The Souereignty of Flanders offeâ—…red to king Richard by the Flemmings * Iohn Tylliâ—… in Chron. * Paul Aemyl saith 40000. in in fight and in â—…ight and that in those whole ciuill warres there perished â—…00000 * In Rich. 2. ad A. D. 1386. The Duke of Lancaster stands vpon his keâ—…ping Thâ—… VValsing in Rich. 2. ad â—…unc ann The French prepare an inuasion against England * Ex Record apâ—…d Tiliuâ—… * Paul Aâ—…myl * Polyd. Uerg. lib. bist Angl. 20. Paul Aemyl Frâ—…issard Iâ—… Meir * Paul Emyl Three hundreth thousand English men in armes together * Seruientes ad arma * Paul Aemyl in Carol. 6. The Kings mother dyeth being denied a pardon for her sonne the Lord Iohn Holland * Ypod Neust. The Duke of Lancaster suspected for perswading the King to passe the Scottish Sea The vertue of priuatâ—… men in the publikâ—… cause * Iohn Tilliâ—… The Portugeseâ—…â—…d the English * Iâ—… 〈◊〉 â—…xal S. Crâ—… 14. Septemb. The bad euent of this French designe for an inuasion The attempt of the Laity to dispossesse the Clergie of their temporall estates * Tâ—…o VVals King Richard the Clergies friend The first Marquesse made that euer was in England * Ex libr. Monast. de Melsa ex Record apud Guil Cambd. in Torkesh A. D. 1386. A. reg 6. * Ypod. Neust. * â—…olinsh * Tho. VValâ—… p. 321. The noble army of thâ—… Duke of Lancaster for Spaine * Heur Knighton Oklands Ang. prael * Holinsh. ex Hen. Knigh. p. 449. * Uigil S. Lauren. The Lord Henry Percie by-named Hotspur sent to Calis * Magister Gunnarius A Parallelization of the English and French States in these times * Paul Aemyl * Ypod. Neust. The first seeds of the ciuil wars * Sam. Dan. in his ciuill warres * Remaines * Tho. Walsing in Rich. 2. * Ypod. Neust. * Marâ—…al The Lord Maior of London refuseth to be of conspiracy against the Duke of Gloster An. D. 1387. * Aprilis 24. * Ypod Neust A description of King Richards chiefe fauorites Tho. VValsin in Richard 2. ad A. D. 13â—…6 The malignant construction made of the Earle of Arâ—…dels seruice The Duke of Ireland puts away his wife the Kings cosen * Tho. Walsin in Rich. 2. * Sellarij Filia a Sadlers daughter some aay a Ioyners Walsing A new â—…tion of the King how to bring the popular Lords to a triall The
The King excuseth his vncle The King is brought backe to Northampton The Duke of Glocester sends a dish of meat vnto the Lord Riuers The L. Riuers others beheaded Queene Elizabeth taketh Sanctuary The L. Chamberlaine sendeth the newes to the L. Chancellor The great heauinesse and confusion of the Queene and her seruants The Archbishops comforts to the Queene The L. Chancellour giues the great Seale to the Queene Great feare conceiued of the ouermuch murmuring made The L. Chancellour sendeth for the great Seale to the Queene Perswasions of the L. Hastings that nothing was extreamly meant L. Hastings somewhat dissembleth False imputation cast vpon the Lords of the Queenes bloud How soone the Commons are brought into fooles Paradise King Edward met by the Citizens and accompanied by them into London Richard Duke of Glocester made Protector of the King and Realm The great Seale is taken from the Archbishop of Yorke The Protectors perswasion to take out of Sanctuary the yong Duke of Yorke A â—…e â—…ch to fetch out the Duke The Protector would haue the Queene sent vnto If the Queene refuse to deliuer the Duke what is to be done All the Counsell allow of the Protectors speech A great offence to breake the Sanctuary S. Peters owne Cope was to be seen in Westminster The Duke of Buckinghams speech Queene Elizabeth held to haue a shrewd wit Not feare but frowardnes kept the yong Duke in Sanctuary A great feare without any great cause Buckinghams opinion of the Sanctuaries Much abuses suffered in Sanctuaries Westminster S. Martins The true vse of the Sanctuary The Duke of Yorke vncapable of Sanctuary Neither Pope nor King can allow Sanctuary men to consume other mens substance A man may take his wife out of Sanctuary without any offence to S. Peter Buckinghams conclusion The generall consent of them all The Cardinall doth his errand to the Queene The Queenes answere to the Cardinall Queene Elizabeth yeeldeth to deliuer the yong Duke The ambitious desire for a crowne Richard Duke of Yorke deliuered to the Cardinall A Iudâ—… kisse Buckingham priuie to the Protectors ploâ—… Suspicion without cause The couenants betwixt the Protector and the Duke of Buckingham Two counsels to diuers ends The mistrust of the times All flocke to the Protector Lord Stanleyes speach to the Lord Chamberlain * Catesby Catesby the cause of much mischiefe Catesby set to sound the Lord Hastings Lord Haestinge speeches concerning the plot Catesby false to his founder The counsel sate in the Tower for the ordering of the yong Kings Coronation The Protectors dissimulation The Protector now another man Lord Hastings speech to the Protectors question The Queene accused of Sorcery The withered aâ—…ne of the Protector by nature and not by 〈◊〉 The L. Chamberlain arrested The L. Staley wounded at Councell Table The L. Chamberlaine beheaded The L. Stanleys dreame The L. Hastings answere to the L. Stanleye meâ—…age Predictions towards the Lord Hastings The Lord Hastings speech to a Purseuant The vaine and suddain state of man The description of the Lord Hastings Citizens sent for into the Tower to the Protector The fained feare of the Lord Protector A Proclamation made to publish the Lord Hastings treasons The Protectors subtilty further knowne by his Proclamation The Schoole-masters opinion The Sheriffes of London carrie Shores wife to prison Shores wife did pennance All commend and pitie Shores vvife The description of Iane Shore Shee died the eighteene yeere of King Henry the eight saith Iohn Harding Shores wife did much good but no man hurt The Subiect not vnworthy to bee written The state of the world The Lords of the Queenes bloud beheaded at Pomfrait The Protector sought to strike whiles the yron was hote The Maior of London made of the Protectors counsell Shaa and Pinker two flattring Preachers Pinker preached at S Marie Hospitall and Dotor Shaa at Pauls Crosse. The plot and deuice how to entitle the Protector to the Crowne The sonne maketh the mother an adultresse K Edward and his children made bastards The text and contents of Doctor Shaas sermon Shaas shamlesse assertions TheÌ„ Preachers intention preuented Gods heauy punishment vpon the false flattering Preacher The Duke of Buckingham commeth to the Guildhall Buckinghams oration to the commons of London The fine glosings of the Duke of Buckingham King Edwards exactions made more then they were His tyranny towards his subiects exemplified by Burdet and Others No safety of goods or life as he falsely alledged The rage of ciuil wars cost EnglaÌ„d more blood then twice the winning of France had done Great dangers alledged and slenderly proued King Edwards wantonnesse set out to the full London the kings especiall Chamber The end of the Dukes errand The great modesty that the Duke pretendeth An author like the subiect The marriage oâ—… King Edward imputed a great mischiefe The Protector must be the only true heire to his father and so to the Crowne Scriptures abused The Dukes pithy perswasions vnto the Citizens The Londoners are mute and astonished at Buckinghams Oration Buckingham goeth ouer his lesson againe The reward of flattery The Recorder commanded to speake to the peopleâ—… The great silence of the people The Duke speaketh once more Prentices and Seruingmen the first proclamets of K. Richard The affection of the election seene by the faces of the Assembly The Nobles and Citizens assemble at Baynards Castle The Protector made it strange to speake with such a multitude Palpable dissembling betwixt the Protector and Buckingham The Protector intreated to accept of the Crowne The Protector saith nay and would haue it Buckingham vrgeth and threatneth the refusall Th Protor fauourably accepteth the Crowne Diuers opinions of the people The Raigne and age of King Edward Monarch 56 Richard III. All the Richards and Dukes of Glocester came to vntimely deathes Richard 1. flaine with an arrow Richard a murthered at Pomfrait Tho. Woodstocke 〈◊〉 herâ—…d to death Humfrey murdered aâ—… S. Edmondsbury Richard slaine at Bosworth held Duke Richard subtilely complotteth for the Crowne The Duke of Buckingham the onely raiser of the Protector By Persal Buckinghams secrete seruant The degrees by which the Protector ascended into the throne The Protector fitted himselfe to the peoples affections A Petition exhibited to the Protector to accept of the Crowne An Act of Parliment passed to establish K. Richards election All doubts taken away of King Richards election The petition of the kings election made lawfull and authorised by Parliament The forme of he 〈◊〉 exhibiâ—…d vnto the Protector Faire gloses vpon soule preteâ—…ses O time how dost thou turne and art turned Flattery feares not how to report How can Princes rule to shuâ—… reproach when they are dead The Queene her mother falsly standered K. Edward accused to haste been contracted to the Lady Elienor Butler The tongue of slander is a sharp arrow They haue taught their toâ—…gs to speake lies Ier. 9. 5. George Duke of Clarence and his heires made vncapable of
King Richard courteth Lady Elizabeth Leuit. 18. 14. Thomas Earle of Darby much suspected of the King George Lord Strange deliuered in pledge to King 〈◊〉 Haâ—…es beâ—…ged by the Garrison of Callis The Earle of Oxford freeth his old friends from Haâ—…es King Richards conceit Henry soliciâ—…h the French man by man Marquesse Dorset seeketh to escape froÌ„ Henry King Richard dischargeth his Nauie Earle Henry setteth forward his iourney A sudden feare Henry of Richmund ariueth at Milford hauen Henry sent word of ariuage to his Mother and others Sir Rice ap Thomas ioineth with Henry Sir Gilbert Talbot ioineth with Earle Henry Henry commeth to Lichfield King Richard at Notingham Iohn Duke of Norfolke Henry Earle of Northumberland Thâ—… Earle of Surrey sent for to the King Brakenbury 〈◊〉 Hungerford King Richard put incholler King Richard sets forward to meet his enemy King Richard coÌ„meth to Leicester Sir Thomas and Sir Walter Hungerford turne to Earle Henry Henry Earle of Richmund loseth his way Henries excuse King Richard ter rified with dreadfull dreames Richard set down his battel vpon 〈◊〉 Lord Stanleis answere vnto the Kings message The Lord Strâ—… commanded to be beheaded The order of R. Richards battell King Richardâ—… Oration vnto his Souldiers King Richard confefleth his fault The diuers opinious of King Richards host Lord Stanley sent for to Earle Henrie The Earle marshaleth his batâ—…alions The Earle of Oxford Captaine of the Archers Henry Earle of Richmonds oration The readiâ—… of Earle Henries souldiers The purpose of Earle Henry The fight begun The strength courage of King Richard The two Chieftaines cope together Sir William Stanley commeth in with new supplies The Kings side giue ouer fight The valiant courage of King Richard King Richard slaine Men slaine in the battell Câ—…tesby hâ—…headed The number slain at 〈◊〉 field Harding saith 〈◊〉 Henry proclamed king in the â—…eld Dead Richards body starke naked was trussed vp to 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 King Richard laid naked to be seene of all His badge defaced and torne downe K Richards monument K. Richards coâ—…â—…n ade a drinking trough A flying prophecy of King Richard With Richards death dieth the quarrell of Yorke and Lancaster Phil. Câ—… l. 1. 6. 7. The description of K. Richard Ioh. Hardings 〈◊〉 Iohn Stow. Iohn Rows Iob. Ross. Warwic Camb. Brit. Monarch 57 Henry VII A. D. 1485. 22. August The date of his raigâ—… commencement Gâ—… 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 this Prâ—… whole 〈◊〉 Conâ—… 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 K. Hâ—… 〈◊〉 * Fabian saith Richard fearing little prouided â—…ttle defence Plâ—… Iâ—… The description of K. Henries minde and qualities * Sir Fr. Bacon fâ—…g MS. * Ioh. Da of Hert. MS. * Act. and 〈◊〉 p. 909. * Io. Stow. iâ—… Hen. 7. * Ber. Andr. MS. Fabian Polyd. Verg. c. * Moâ—… at â—…st * Bernard 〈◊〉 Henries first actions after his victorie * Bern. Andr. * Fabian * Bern. Andr. MS. and vpon the 28. of Aug. saith Fabian * Fab. * Stow. His entrance into London * Latenter * See Camb. Mills c. * 30. October Mr. Stow. His Coronation His Marriage with the Lady Elizabeth debated * Holinsh. Edward Earle of Warwicke imprisoned * Bern. Andr. MS. Lady Elizabeth described * Bern. Andr. MS. * Sir Tho. Moore * Bern. Andr. MS. Het Christian Sâ—… chaste meditation about marriage * How then did Andreas know iâ—… either hee doth poetize heere or else had it from her after-relatiâ—… * Iohn Dâ—… of Hereford MS. Holinshed * P. Nouemb. * Hollinsh * The Kings Guard first instituted King Richard and others â—…ed * Holinshed The Crowne entailed vpon King Henry and his heires * 18. Ianuary 1486. The King marieth the Lady Elizabeth * Bern. Andr. MS. Prince Arthur borne * Ber. Andr. M. S. The attempts of the Kings malignats The Lord Louell and the Staffords rebell Hardings continuer saith they had taken Glocester Polyd. Verg. in Henry 7. Holinsh. * Polyd. Verg. Yeere-booke of Henry 7. Anno 2. Traitors taken from Sanctuary and punished He is called Lord Stafford by Hardings contiâ—…er Corn. Tacit. Histor. Suet. in Ner. cap. 57. Counter feit Princes erected to defeate the true * Act 5. Mantell executed in Queene Elizabeths daies for assuming the person of King Edward 6. * Io. Dâ—… M. 〈◊〉 * Polyd. Verg. iâ—… Henry 7. * Io. Dâ—… M. S. The first Idole erected against King Henry * Polyd. Verg. iâ—… Henry 7. A false Edward in the forge * Polyd. Verg. l. 26. Bern. Andr. M. S. Polyd. Verg. H. 7. * Polyd. Ver. ibid. Holinsh. Iohn Stow. Lambert Simâ—…ls Historie rectified and vindicated Bern. Andr. MS. * Iob. Stow was often heard to maintaine this opinion in seeming earnest * Ber. Andr. M. S. Lambert conuaied into Ireland and receiued * Polyd. Verg. Stow cals him Earle of Kildare and Lord Deputy of Ireland Lambert proclamed King of England Conclusions in the Councell of England vpon the fame of this conspiracy Queene Elizabeth depriued of her estate and condemned to a Monastery * Sir Fr. Bacon frog MS. A probable cause why King Henry dealt so rigorously with his â—…ther in law Iohn de la Pole Earle of Lincolne and others flie to the Dutchesse of Burgundy * Polyd. Verg. * Cambd. in Notting * 〈◊〉 Losâ—…e * Ber. Andr. * Phil. de Com. * Iohn Da. MS. * Polyd. Vergil saith he was 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Lambert crowned King of England 〈◊〉 Dublin 〈◊〉 Stow. Bern. Andr. King Henry prouides for battell * Camb. in Oxf. Lambert lands in Lancashire Nottingham the Rendeuow of K. Henries arâ—…y * Hist. Ang. l. 26. Great repaire of the noble and people to his 〈◊〉 Polyd. Uerg. * Polydor eals him Regulus mâ—…ning a Baron 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Polydor erroneously Cals him * These three seeme Barons as them whom he meanes by principes viri * Bern. Andr. King Henries Oration before the battell at Stoke Bernard Andr. The battell of Stoke or Stoke field * Polyd. Verg. l. 26. Bern. Andr. * Io. Strâ—… The King prâ—…â—… * Polyd. Vâ—… * Bern. Andr. The Earle of Lincolne and all the chiefe leaders of that side slaine in the field * Polyd. Verg. * Edâ—… Compian Hist. of Ireland * Cr. Salust is 〈◊〉 Catil * Polyd. Verg. But Bernard Andr. saith that very feâ—… were flaine * Frâ—… MS. * Vapulâ—… Bern. Andr. MS. * Io. Da. MS. * Thomas 〈◊〉 in H. 4 〈◊〉 * Polyd. Verg. 〈◊〉 who also followes Polydor. * Polyd. Verg. Io. Da. of Her MS. * Polyd. Verg. Lamberts fortunes * Io. Da. MS. * 16. 〈◊〉 A. D. 1487. A. Reg. 〈◊〉 * Bern. And. Ms. * Polyd. Verg. * A. Reg. 〈◊〉 Ambassadors into Scatland * Lâ—…st 〈◊〉 Iocob 3. Bishop Fâ—…xe first a great furtherer and now a chiefe preseruer of King Henries Regality * Bern. Andr. MS. The Dulchesse of Burgundies immortall malice * Polydor. Uirg * Bern. Andr. * 3. â—…mber Anno D. 1â—…87 * Add. to Fab. Elizabeth Crowned Queene of England A difficult case whether King Henry
should aide the Britaines or no. Charles King of France practiseth to 〈◊〉 Britaine to his Empire Ambassadors out of France to King Henrie Iohn Nordeâ—…s Middlsex lit H. The Lord Wooduile slaine in Britaine * Paulus Acâ—…yl in Carol. 8. The Battel of S. Albine wherein the French preuaile King Henrie opens the cause in Parliament The Parliament grants aide of money to support the warre of Britaine Polyd. Uirg Eight thousand English sent tardie into Britaine Iob. Stow Annal. * Polyd. Verg. l. 26. * Polyd. Verg. * Hollinsh Iob. Daâ—… MS. * Polyd. Verg. The Duke of Britainâ—… dies and the English returne The beginning of new stirres in Yorkeshire Iob. Stow ex Iob. Skelton * Polyd. Verg l. 26 Iob. Stow. Annal. The Earle of Northumberland slaine by the people in a tumult The King in person in Yorkeshire Iob. Stow Annal. Sir Iob. Egremond Captaine of the Rebels escapes to the Dutchesse of Burgundy * Bern. Andr. MS. * 〈◊〉 in 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 * Polydor. Uirg King Henry â—…n vaine seekes to reconcile the Scotâ—… to their King Io. Lest. Bish. of Rosse Iames the third King of Scotland slaine in battell by his Subiects * Io. Stow. Annal. K. Henries bountie to a stranger for Learnings cause * Polyd. Verg. l. 26 The first reuiuer in this age of pure Laâ—…ne and choise learning Godwins Caral of P. 〈◊〉 in Bath c. pag. 309. Paul 〈◊〉 * Hadriâ—… 6. Warre with France and the causes The yong Dutchesse married by proxie * Stowes Annal. * Bern. And. MS. The French carried the practise of marriage with the inheretirex of Britaâ—… most artificially * Polyd. Uerg. * Iob. Tâ—…l Câ—…n * Lu Marin lib. 20. de reb Hispan Britaine annexed to France Maximilian vnprouided to 〈◊〉 with Henry * Addit to Fab. Chron. The Londoners large contributions to the king King Henries popularities in London * The Merchant Taylors A. D. 1492. An. reg 8. The chief Lords names who serued in thiâ—… voiage Boloigne besieged by K. Henry * Polydor cals him Desquerdo * Bern. Andr. MS. Reasons mouing the Kings to a peace * Phil. de Com. * Arnol. Ferron Hist. ad A. D. 1492. Polyd. Vergil in Hen 7. * Stow. Annal. The high points of wisdome practised by King Henry in atchieuing his ends * Bern. Andr. MS. * One hundreth eighty six thousand two hundreth and fifty pounds English I. Da. of Her MS Holinshed * Polyd. Verg. Forraine pensions of what vse or hazard * Ber. Andr. Henry returnes * 17. Decemb. I. Sto Annal. 〈◊〉 Henry returned * Andr. Thol MS The Dutchesse of Burgundy addresseth a Pseudo Rochard against Henry * Polyd. Verg. * Bern. Andr. MS. * Polyd. Verg. Causes mouing the Dutchesse to beare K. Henry so mortal hatred * Infra 〈◊〉 prox sequent * Videinfia § prox Perkin Warbecke fits the Dutchchesses turne by exact representation of a Richard Plantagenet * Pancerollus * Holinsh. 10. Da. MS. A summarie relation of Perkins first fortune after he was published * Stow Annal. * Ber. Andr. M. S. Perkin in Flanders with the Dutchesse * Stow Annal. Sir Rob. Clifford signifies to his friends in England that Perkin was the true Duke * Bern. Andr. MS. * Stow Annal. * Polyd. Verg. * Iohn Da. of Her M. S. King Henries countermines and courses against this Pseudo Richard * S. Robert Clifford wun away from the Dutchesse * Proclam of Perkin as a King Rich. MS. penes Sir Rob. Cotton * Polyd. Uirgin Hen. 7. The maine argument prouing that King Edwards sons were both of them murdered * Sir Tho. More The Dutchesse of Burgundies tvvo monstrous birthes * Lambert and Perkin were about fifteen yeeres old saith Polydor at the time of their appearance * Bern. Andr. MS. * Stow Annal. Poâ—…ydor cals him but a knight K. Henry expects Sir Rob. 〈◊〉 in the Tower of London Sir William Stanley Lord Chamberlaine accused * Polydor. Uirg l * Ioh. Stow. Annal. * Illum tutari in regnum adduâ—… cere premiseras * Polyd. Verg. Stanley Lord Chamberlaine beheaded * Sir Tho. Moore in Rich. 3. Perkin vpon the Kentish Seas Polyd. Verg. Stowes Annal. * Bernard Andr. saith about 400. * Bern. Andr. MS. The Kings praier and speech to God Io. Stow Annal. Perkin sailes into Ireland * Bern. And. MS. * Stowes Annal. His great forraigne friends * Io. Lesl. Epis. Ross. * Bern. Andr. Perkin sailes into Scotland * Bern. Andr. Perkins successe in Scotland 1. Lâ—…a Epis. Ross. The effect of Perkins speech to Iames the fourth King of Scotland MS. Perkini proclam penes D. R. C. Baronet * Polyd. Verg. l. 26. * MS. Perkini Proclamati * Polydor lib. 26. * MS. Per. Procl * Epis. Ross. * Polyd. Verg. l. 26. Perkin credited and aided matrics into the blood roiall of Scotland * Pern 〈◊〉 * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The Scots inuaâ—… Northumberland in Perkins quarrell and retaine * Procl Per. MS King Henry prepares for reueÌ„ge * Add. to Fab. The Cornish rebellion * Polyd. Verg. 〈◊〉 Stowes Annal. Holinshed Perkins Proclamation The Earle of Warwicks emprisonment obiected Popular insinuations by Perkin * Polyd. Verg. Principeâ—… 〈◊〉 virtute preditum * Episc. Rosse Polyd. Verg. The Scots inuade and retire * I. Stow Annal. A. D. 1497. Iun. An. Reg. 12. The King moued against the Rebels Blackeheath field * Polyd. Verg. Hall * Io. Stow. Annal. * Polyd. Verg. The Blacke-smithes comfort at his death Holinsse Stowes Annal. * Addit to Fab. A Spanish Ambassador procures a truce betweene England and Scotland * Cambd. in Deuonshire Imaginarius Scenicus princeps The Queene of Spaine troubled by a counterfeit * Franc. Tarapha in Hen. 4. Luc. Merinaus Sicul. Perkin Warbecke practised out of Scotland The Cornish call in Perkin Warbeck King Henry setleth peace with neighbour Princes * Idâ—… Mâ—…l Perkin stirres the Cornishmen * Bern. Andr. MS. The City of Excester assaulted by Perkin The Exceâ—…rians policy in defenting fire by site * Polyd. Verg. Perkin at Taunton * Polyd. Virg. The King and his people match toward him * Polyd. Verg. Perkin flies from his hoast Perkins wile take and honourably vsed by the king * Epis. Ross. The King at excester Polyd Verg. sine spâ—… 〈◊〉 sede sine fortune Perkin yealde himselfe to the King * Polyd. Verg. The king returne to London with Perkin * Ioh. Stow Annal. 28. Nouemb. * Bern. And. MS. * English voyage by Ricb. Hackl * Bern. And. MS. * Engl. Heroick Epist. * Io. Stows Annal. Perkin set openly in the Stocks c * Hollinsh Perkin maketh an anatomâ—…e of his descent or lineage Perkins education oâ—… bringing vp Perkin a notable land-loper The Irish would haue Perkin take vpon him to bee the Duke of Clarences sonne They beare Perkin downe vvith oathes that hee is King Richards bastard They call him Duke of Yorke A. D. 1498. An. Reg. 14. Perkin in the Tower and