euill dealt with if they had no part bestowed on them amongst the residue The king after this went to Durham and from line 50 thence thought to haue returned streight towards London but hearing that the Scots meant to make some inuasion he went to Tinmouth and remained there till towards Christmasse Now when the king had laine a certeine time at Tinmouth he departed from thence and drew southward and comming to Cotingham a little from Beuerlie held his Christmasse there and after drew towards London where in the beginning of Lent year 1299 he held a parlement at the which he was required to kéepe promise for the confirmation line 60 of the two charters and articles concluded with the earles of Hereford and Marshall The king was nothing contented that this matter should be so earnestlie called vpon for loth he was to grant their full requests and againe to denie them he stood in doubt how it might be taken he therefore prolonged time would make no answer either to or fro But when the lords vrged him so sore to giue them answer he got him out of the citie not making them priuie of his departure and when they followed him and seemed not well contented that he should so dissemble with them he excused himselfe by blaming the aire of the citie to be against his health and therefore bare them in hand that he onelie sought to refresh himselfe in some better aire in the countrie more agreeable to his nature and as for answer to their requests he willed 〈◊〉 to repaire againe to the citie and they should haâ—e answer by hiâ— councell so farre as should stand with reason to content them They returned as he willed 〈◊〉 and had the charters confirmed according to their requests sauing that 〈◊〉 aâ—dition was put in the latter end of the same 〈…〉 coronae 〈…〉 With which addition the lord◠〈…〉 home to their houses in 〈…〉 towards the king as before The coâ—â—cell doubting some seditious stir to arise hereof amongst the people deliuered the charters so sealed and 〈◊〉 as they were vnto the shiriffes of London that the same might be read openlie before the people which was doone in Paules churchyard in presence of a great assemblie there come togither and gathered for that purpose The people than whom the sea in ebbing and flâ—wing is not more inconstant nor in iudgment more rash heddie sudden and vnaduised as one saith verie well to purpose Iudicium â—ulgi insulsum imbecilláque mens est Quandoquidem inuisa est vulgo sapientia c. at the first before they heard the addition gaue manie blessings to the king for those grants but when they heard with what words he concluded they cursed as fast as before they had blessed Before this parlement was dissolued the lords had warning to returne againe shortlie after Easter and then they had all things granted and performed as they could wish or desire The perambulations of forrestes were appointed vnto three bishops three earles and thrée barons About the latter end of Iune there came ouer a bishop sent from pope Boniface as his Nuncio and diuerse other with him to declare the order which the pope as arbitrator indifferentlie chosen betwixt the kings of England and France for the deciding of all controuersies depending betwixt them had giuen foorth decréed which was in effect as followeth 1 First that king Edward being then a widdower should marrie the French kings sister named Margaret notwithstanding the degrées of consanguinitie for the which the pope would dispense 2 That the lord Edward the kings eldest sonne should at conuenient time take to wife the ladie Isabell the French kings daughter 3 That the king of England should make satisfaction for the French ships which his men had taken at the beginning of the war and that sundrie townes in Gascoine should be put into the popes hands till it might be vnderstood vnto whome the right apperteined But those two last articles tooke small effect the French king refusing to deliuer any of those townes which he had gotten in possession Moreouer these messengers in the popes behalfe required the king that he would set Iohn Balioll sometime king of Scotland at libertie and restore those lands vnto his sonne Edward Balioll which he ought to hold within the realme of England promising and vndertaking in the popes behalfe to preserue and saue the realme harmelesse from all hurt and damage that might insue by the deliuerie of the said Iohn Balioll King Edward vnderstanding that there was great danger in setting him at libertie was contented to deliuer him vnto the pope but he refused to make restitution vnto Balioll of the lands which he demanded The popes ambassadours receiuing Iohn Balioll at king Edwards hands tooke him ouer with him into France and there left him in the custodie of the bishop of Cambrie the popes deputie in that behalfe where shortlie after he died After this according to the couenants of agreement made betwixt the two kings of England and France the captiues vpon either part were deliuered In the feast of the natiuitie of our Ladie the king married the ladie Margaret sister to the French king at Canturburie with great solemnitie About the feast of S. Martine in winter the king held a parlement at Yorke meaning to haue gone from thence into Scotland to haue rescued the castell of Striueling which the Scotishmen had besieged and had it surrendred vnto them yer the king could set forward to come to line 10 raise the siege The same yeare died Henrie Newarke archbishop of Yorke and Thomas Corbridge a doctour in diuinitie succeeded him In the eight and twentith yeare of his reigne in the Christmasse season king Edward set foorth a proclamation forbidding and prohibiting all forren coins to be receiued and paid as sterling monie within his dominion commanding by the same proclamation that two péeces of them should go for one line 20 sterling vntill the feast of Easter There were diuerse monies in those daies currant within this realme as pollards crocards staldings eagles leonines sléepings and all these were white monies artificiallie made of siluer copper and sulphur so that it was an ill time for base monies much chopping and changing was vsed in buieng and selling of things At Easter following the king vtterlie forbad that any of those monies should be currant at all and held his exchange in sundrie places and to be rid of line 30 them men gaue fiue or six of them for one sterling not caring for them bicause of their basenesse and yet within a yeare after that men had learned the skill by proofe how to trie mettall with melted lead in the fire they found that two péeces of those base monies were in value worth one sterling and many became rich by the exchange which had bought good store of them when
men as could be well aboord in ninetéene gallies There were manie slaine on both parts in atchiuing this enterprise but more of the Frenchmen than of the Englishmen About the same time the quéene of England was deliuered of his fourth sonne in the towne of Gaunt the which line 60 was named Iohn first created earle of Richmond and after duke of Lancaster He was borne about Christmasse in the thirteenth yere of king Edwards reigne year 1340 When king Edward had finished his businesse with the Flemings at Gaunt he left his wife quéene Philip there still in that towne and returned himselfe vnto Antwerpe and shortlie after about the feast of Candlemasse tooke the sea and came backe into England to prouide for monie to mainteine his begun warres And herevpon about the time of Lent following he called his high court of parlement at Westminster in the which he asked of his commons towards his charges for the recouerie of his right in France the fift part of their mooueable goods the customes of wools for two yeares to be paid aforehand and the ninth sheafe of euerie mans corne At length it was agreed that the king should haue for euerie sacke of wooll fortie shillings for euerie three hundred wooll fels fortie shillings and for euerie last of leather fortie shillings and for other merchandize after the rate to begin at the feast of Easter in this fouretéenth yeare of the kings reigne and to indure till the feast of Pentecost then next following and from that feast till the feast of Pentecost then next insuing into one yeare for which the king granted that from the feast of Pentecost which was then to come into one yeare he nor his heires should not demand assesse nor take nor suffer to be assessed or taken more custome of a sacke of wooll of any Englishman but halfe a marke and vpon the wooll fels and leather the old former custome Beside this the citizens and burgesses of cities and good townes granted to giue the ninth part of all their goods and the forren merchants and other not liuing of gaine nor of bréeding cattell nor of shéepe should giue the fiftéenth part of all their goods lawfullie to the value for the which he granted that as well now in time of warre as of peace all merchants denizens and forreiners those excepted that were of the enimies countries might without let safelie come into the realme of England with their goods and merchandize and safelie tarie and likewise returne paieng the customs subsidies and profits resonable thereof due so alwaies that the franchises and frée customs granted by him or his predecessours reasonablie to the citie of London and other cities burroughes and townes might alwaies to them be saued Moreouer there was granted vnto him the ninth sheafe the ninth fléece and ninth lambe to be taken by two yeares next comming And for the leuieng thereof the lords of euerie shire through the land were appointed to answer him euerie one for the circuit within the which he dwelled And bicause the king must néeds occupie much monie yer the receit of this subsidie could come to his hands he borowed in the meane time manie notable summes of diuerse cities and particular persons of this land amongst the which he borrowed of the citie of London 20000 marks to be paied againe of the monie comming of the foresaid subsidie In the meane while now that king Edward was come backe into England the warres were hotlie pursued against his fréends that had their lands néere to the borders of France and namelie against sir Iohn de Heinault lord Beaumont for the French men burned all his lands of Chimaie except the fortresses and tooke from thence a great preie All the frontiers were full of men of warre lodged within townes in garrison as at Tournie Mortaigne S. Amond Dowaie Cambrie and in other smaller fortresses These men of warre late not idle but were dooing oftentimes in Flanders and sometime otherwhere neither was the countrie of Heinault spared though the earle as yee haue heard did not onelie refuse to serue the king of England against France but also when the same king entred France he resorted to the French king and serued him yet by the suggestion of the bishop of Cambrie who complained of the Hainniers for the damages which they had doone him the French garrisons of the frontiers thereabouts were commanded to make a road into that countrie which they did burning the towne of Asper and brought from thence a great bootie The earle of Heinault sore mooued therewith to haue his lands so spoiled and burnt defied the French king and ioining with his vncle the lord Beaumont entred with an armie into Thierasse tooke destroied Aubenton with Mawbert Fonteine Daubecuille and diuerse other In this meane time the French king procured the pope to pronounce his cursse against the Flemings for their rebellion and to suspend all diuine seruice that ought to be said in anie hallowed place so that there were no priests to be found that would take vpon them to saie any diuine seruice wherevpon the Flemings sent ouer into England certeine messengers to giue notice to king Edward how they were line 10 intreated but he sent them word that he would bring at his comming ouer vnto them priests that should saie masses and other seruice whether the pope would or not for he had priuilege so to doo ¶ In Aprill William Melton archbishop of Yorke departed this life after whome variance rose in the election of a new gouernour to that church so that two were elected William la Zouch and William Killesbie but at length William la Zouch tooke place being the 43 archbishop that had sit in that seat ¶ The earles of line 20 Salisburie and Suffolke which were left in Flanders by king Edward to helpe the Flemings shortlie after Ester or as other haue in the time of Lent were discomfited by the garrison of Lisle and taken prisoners as they would haue passed by that towne to haue ioined with Iaques Arteueld meaning to besiege Tournie but now by the taking of those two earles that enterprise was broken The duke of Normandie with a great armie entered into Heinault burning and wasting the countrie euen to the gates line 30 of Ualenciennes and Quesnoy And thus were they occupied in those parts whilest the king of England prepared himselfe with all diligence to returne into Flanders The French king being aduertised that the king of England meant shortlie to returne into Flanders with a great power in purpose to inuade the realme of France on that side assembled a nauie of foure hundred ships vnder the leading of three expert capteins of the warres by sea as sir Hugh Kiriell sir line 40 Peter Bahuchet and a Geneweis named Barbe Noir appointing them to the coasts of Flanders to defend the king of England from
message was sent vnto them whome the lords notwithstanding deteined still with them making as yet no answer to the message Wherevpon the lord protector wrote as followeth A letter of the lord protectors to the councell at London line 30 MY lords we commend vs heartilie vnto you And wheras the kings maiestie was informed that you were assembled in such sort as you doo and now remaine and was aduised by vs and such other of his councell as were then here about his person to send master secretarie Peter vnto you with such a message as whereby might haue insued the suertie of his maiesties person with the preseruation of his realme and subiects and the quiet both of vs and your selues as line 40 master secretarie can well declare to you his maiestie and we of his councell here doo not a little maruell that you staie still with you the said master secretarie haue not as it were vouchsafed to send answer to his maiestie neither by him nor yet by anie other And for our selues we doo much more maruell and are sorie as both we and you haue good cause to be to see the maner of your dooings bent with force of violence to bring the kings maiestie vs to these extremities line 50 Which as we intend if you will take no other waie but violence to defend as nature and allegiance dooth bind vs to extremitie of death and to put all to Gods hand who giueth victorie as it pleaseth him so if that anie reasonable conditions offers would take place as hitherto none hath béene signified vnto vs from you nor we doo not vnderstand what you doo require or séeke or what you doo meane and that you doo séeke no hurt to the kings maiesties person line 60 as touching all other priuat matters to auoid the effusion of christian bloud and to preserue the kings maiesties person his realme and subiects you shall find vs agréeable vnto anie reasonable conditions that you will require For we doo estéeme the kings wealth and tranquillitie of the realme more than all other worldlie things yea than our owne life Thus praieng you to send vs your determinate answer herein by master secretarie Peter or if you will not let him go by this bearer we beséech God to giue both you and vs grace to determinate this matter as maie be to Gods honor the preseruation of the king and the quiet of vs all which maie be if the fault be not in you And so we bid you most hartilie farewell From the kings maiesties castell of Windsor the seuenth of October 1549. Your lordships louing friend Edward Summerset After the receipt of these letters the lords séeming not greatlie to regard the offers conteined therein persisted in their intended purpose and continuing still in London conferred with the maior of London and his brethren first willing them to cause a good and substantiall watch by night and a good ward by daie to be kept for the safegard of the citie and the ports and gates thereof which was consented vnto and the companie 〈◊〉 London in their turnes warned to watch and 〈◊〉 accordinglie Then the said lords and councellors demanded of the lord maior and his brethren fiue hundred men to aid them to fetch the lord protector out of Windsor from the king But therevnto the maior answered that he could grant no aid without the assent of the common councell of the citie whervpon the next daie a common councell was summoned to the Guildhall in London But in this meane time the said lords of the councell assembled themselues at the lord maiors house in London who was then sir Henrie Amcotes fishmonger and Iohn Yorke and Richard Turke shiriffes of the said citie And there the said councell agréed and published foorthwith a proclamation against the lord protector the effect of which proclamation was as followeth 1 That the lord protector by his malicious and euill gouernement was the occasion of all the sedition that of late hath happened within the realme 2 The losse of the kings peeces in France 3 That he was ambitious and sought his owne glorie as appeared by his building of most sumptuous and costlie buildings and speciallie in the time of the kings warres and the kings soldiers vnpaied 4 That he estéemed nothing the graue councell of the councellors 5 That he sowed sedition betweene the nobles the gentlemen and commons 6 That the nobles assembled themselues togither at London for none other purpose but to haue caused the protector to haue liued within his limits and to haue put such order for the kings maiestie as apperteined whatsoeuer the protectors dooings were which as they said were vnnaturall ingrate and traitorous 7 That the protector slandered the councell to the king and did what in him laie to cause variance betwéene the king and his nobles 8 That he was a great traitor and therefore the lords desired the citie and commons to aid them to take him from the king And in witnesse and testimonie of the contents of the said proclamation the lords subscribed their names and titles as followeth The lord Rich lord chancellor the lord S. Iohn lord great maister and president of the councell the lord 〈…〉 of Northampton the earle of Warwike 〈◊〉 great chamberleine the earle of Arundell lord chamberleine the earle of Shrewesburie the earle of Southampton Wriothesleie sir Thomas Cheinie knight treasuror of the kings house and lord warden of the cinque ports sir Iohn Gage knight conestable of the tower sir William Peter knight secretarie sir Edward North knight sir Edward Montague chéefe iustice of the common plees sir Rafe Sadler sir Iohn Baker sir Edward Wootton doctor Wootton deane of Canturburie sir Richard Southwell After the foresaid proclamation was proclamed the lords or the most of them continuing and lieng in London came the next daie to the Guildhall during the time that the lord maior and his brethren sat in their court or inner chamber and entered and communed a long while with them and at the last the maior and his brethren came foorth vnto the common councell where was read the kings letter sent vnto the maior and citizens commanding them to aid him with a thousand men as hath maister Fox and to send the same to his castell at Windsore and to the same letter was adioined the kings hand and the lord protectors On the other side by the mouth of the line 10 recorder it was requested that the citizens would grant their aid rather vnto the lords for that the protector had abused both the kings maiestie and the whole realme and without that he were taken from the king made to vnderstand his follie this realme was in a great hazard and therefore required that the citizens would willinglie assent to aid the lords with fiue hundred men herevnto was none other answer made but silence But the recorder who at that time was a worthie gentleman called
notified maie sufficientlie appeare But such was the gratious and fauourable prouidence of the Lord to the preseruation not onlie of hir roiall maiestie but also the miserable and wofull state of this whole Iland and poore subiects of the same whereby the proud platforms and péeuish practises of this wretched Achitophell preuailed not but contrariwise both he and all the snares and traps of his pernicious counsell laid against an other were turned to a net to catch himselfe according to the prouerbe Malum consilium consultori pessimum After the death of this Gardiner followed the death also and dropping awaie of other hir enimies whereby by little and little hir leopardie decreased feare diminished hope of comfort began to appeare as out of a darke cloud And albeit as yet hir grace had no full assurance of perfect safetie yet more gentle interteinment dailie did grow vnto hir till at length to the moneth of Nouember and seauentéenth daie of the same three yeares after the death of Stephan Gardiner followed the death of quéene Marie as heretofore at large hath béene trulie declared Although this historie following be not directlie apperteining to the former matter yet the same maie here not vnaptlie be inserted for that it dooth discouer and shew foorth the malicious hearts of the papists towards this vertuous quéene our souereigne ladie in the time of queene Marie his sister which is reported as a truth crediblie told by sundrie honest persons of whome some are yet aliue and doo testifie the same The matter whereof is this Soone after the stirre of Wiat and the troubles that happened to this queene for that cause it fortuned one Robert Farrer a haberdasher of London dwelling neere vnto Newgate market in a certeine morning to be at the Rose tauerne from whence he was seldome absent and falling to his common drinke as he was euer accustomed and hauing in his companie thrée other companions like vnto himselfe it chanced the same time one Laurence Shiriffe grocer dwelling also not farre from thence to come into the said tauerne and finding there the said Farrer to whome of long time he had borne good will sat downe in the seat to drinke with him and Farrer hauing in his full cups and not hauing consideration who were present began to talke at large and namelie against the ladie Elisabeth and said That gill hath béene one of the chiefe dooers of this rebellion of Wiat and before all be doone she and all the heretikes hir partakers shall well vnderstand of it Some of them hope that she shall haue the crowne but she and they I trust that so hope shall hop headlesse or be fried with fagots before she come to it The aforesaid Laurence Shiriffe grocer being then seruant vnto the said ladie Elisabeth sworne vnto hir grace could no longer forbeare his old acquaintance and neighbor Farrer in speaking so vnreuerentlie of his mistresse but said to him Farrer I haue loued thée as a neighbour and haue had a good opinion of thée but hearing of thée that I now heare I defie thée and I tell thée I am hir graces sworne seruant and she is a princesse and the daughter of a noble king and it euill becommeth thée to call hir a gill and for thy so saieng I saie thou art a knaue I will complaine vpon thée Doo thy woorst said Farrer for that I said I will saie againe and so Shiriffe came from his companie Shortlie after the said Shiriffe taking an honest neighbour with him went before the commissioners to complaine the which commissioners sat then at Boner the bishop of Londons house beside Pauls and there were present Boner then being the chiefe commissioner the lord Mordant sir Iohn Baker doctor Derbishire chancellor to the bishop doctor Storie doctor Harpsfield and others The aforesaid Shiriffe comming before them declared the maner of the said Robert Farrers talke against the ladie Elisabeth Boner answered Peraduenture you tooke him woorse than he meant Yea my lord said doctor Storie if you knew the man as I doo you would saie that there is not a better catholike nor an honester man in the citie of London Well said Shiriffe my lord she is my gratious ladie and mistresse and it is not to be suffered that such a varlet as he is should call so honorable a princesse by the name of a gill and I saw yesterdaie in the court that my lord cardinall Poole méeting hir in the chamber of presence knéeled downe on his knées and kissed hir hand and I saw also that king Philip méeting hir made hir such obeisance that his knée touched the ground and then me thinketh it were too much to suffer such a varlet as this is to call hir gill and to wish them to hop headlesse that shall wish hir grace to inioie the possession of the crowne when God shall send it vnto hir as in the right of hir inheritance Yea Staie there quoth Boner When God sendeth it vnto hir let hir inioie it But trulie said he the man that spake the words that you haue line 10 reported meant nothing against the ladie Elisabeth your mistresse and no more doo we but he like an honest and zealous man feared the alteration of religion which euerie good man ought to feare and therfore said Boner good man go your waies home and report well of vs towards your mistresse and we will send for Farrer and rebuke him for his rash and vndiscréet words and we trust he will not doo the like againe And thus Shiriffe came awaie and Farrer had a flap with a fox taile Now that ye maie be fullie line 20 informed of the aforesaid Farrer whome doctor Storie praised for so good a man ye shall vnderstand that the same Farrer hauing two daughters being handsome maidens the elder of them for a summe of monie he himselfe deliuered vnto sir Richard Cholmleie to be at his commandement the other he sold to a knight called sir William Gooddolphin to be at his commandement whome he made his lackie and so carried hir with him being apparelled in mans apparell to Bullongne and the said Farrer line 30 followed the campe He also was a great and a horrible blaphemer of God and a common accuser of honest and quiet men also a common drunkard And now I referre the life of these catholiks to your iudgement to thinke of them as you please But of this matter enough and too much Now let vs returne where we left before which was at the death of queene Marie After whose deceasse succéeded hir foresaid sister ladie Elisabeth into the right of the crowne of England who after so long line 40 restreinement so great dangers escaped such blusterous stormes ouerblowne so manie iniuries digested and wrongs susteined by the mightie protection of our mercifull God to our no small comfort and commoditie hath béene exalted and erected out of thrall to
and of dutie to the preiudice of the liberties of the church The Nobles also found themselues gréeued for the exactions which they saw at hand but finallie after manie things had beene debated touching these matters line 20 the parlement was adiourned till Michaelmas next and euerie man departed to his home with no great trust of the kings good will towards them nor anie hartie thanks receiued of him for their paines as may be thought by that which writers haue recorded Two Noble men to whom the custodie and guiding of the king and quéene of Scots was committed that is to say Robert de Ros and Iohn de Bailioll were accused for misusing themselues in the trust and charge which they had taken vpon them line 30 King Henrie was the same time at Notingham The information came foorth by a physician who was sent from the queene of England vnto hir daughter the quéene of Scots to be about hir for gard of hir health but bicause the same physician whose name was Reignold of Bath perceiued the quéene of Scots to be impaired in health through anguish of mind by reason of the misdemeanor of such as had the gouernement of hir and hir husband he sticked line 40 not to blame and reprooue them in their dooings for the which he was poisoned as some thinke for the truth was he shortlie after sickened and died signifieng vpon his death-bed vnto the quéene of England what he misliked and thought amisse in those that had the dooings about hir daughter and hir husband the Scotish king The moone suffered a maruellous eclipse on the night following the day of S. Margaret in Iulie It began afore midnight and continued foure houres The king in the behalfe of his daughter the queene line 50 of Scots raised a power and drew northwards sending before him the earle of Glocester and Iohn Mansell that was his chapleine and one of his councell These two so vsed the matter that they came to Edenburgh where the king and queene of Scots then laie in the castell into the which theâ— entred and altred the order of the houshold so as stood with the contentation of the king and queene which were in such wise vsed before that time that they were not line 60 suffered to lie togither nor scarse come to talke togither Robert de Ros was summoned to appeare before the king of England to answer to such things as might be laid to his charge At the first he withdrew himselfe but afterwards he came in and submitted himselfe to the kings pleasure Diuerse of the nobles of Scotland tooke it not well that the earle of Glocester and Iohn Mansell should thus come into the castell of Edenburgh and order things in the kings house in such sort at their pleasure wherevpon they assembled a power and besieged the castell but at length perceiuing their owne error they raised their siege and departed Iohn de Bailioll being accused of the like crime that was laid to the charge of his fellow Robert de Ros for a pâ—ece of monie bought his peace and was pardoned but the lands of Robert de Ros were seized into the kings hands Finallie the king and queene of England came to an enteruiew with the king of Scots and the quéene their daughter and setting all things with them in such order as was thought conuenient they returned towards the south parts In the meane season the bishop of Hereford deuised a shift to helpe the K. with monie towards the paiments of his debts by obteining certeine autentike seales of the prelats of this land wherewith he signed certeine instruments and writings wherein was expressed that he had receiued diuerse summes of monie for dispatch of businesse perteining to them and to their churches of this and that merchant of Florence or Siena whereby they stood bound for repaiment thereof by the same instruments and writings so made by him their agent in their names This shift was deuised by the said bishop of Hereford with licence obteined therevnto of the king and also of the pope vnto whome for the same intent the said bishop was sent with sir Robert Walerane knight The pope was the sooner persuaded to grant licence for the contriuing of such manner of shift bicause the monie should go to the discharging of the kings debts into the which he was run by bearing the charges of the warres against the king of Sicill About the feast of saint Edward the parlement began againe at London in which the states treated of a subsidie to be granted to the king but they could not conclude thereof neither would Richard earle of Cornewall disburse anie monie at that season to his brother the king bicause he allowed not the maner of laieng it out for the warres against Manfred being taken in hand without his consent The same years the king by the procurement of his brother Richard earle of Cornewall had seized the liberties of the citie of London into his owne hands vnder colour that the maior had not doone his dutie in the iust punishing of bakers for breaking of the assises of their bread Herevpon where the maior and communaltie of the citie had by the kings grant the citie to farme with diuerse customes and offices at a certeine rate and stinted summe of monie now the king set officers therein at his pleasure which were accomptable to him for all the reuenues and profits that grew within the citie But whereas the malice which the earle of Cornewall bare to the citie was for that they would not exchange with him câ—rteine grounds that belonged to their communaltie they were glad to agree with him and paie vnto him six hundred marks After which agréement concluded about the nintéenth daie of Nouember they were shortlie after restored to their liberties This chanced before the kings comming ouer who at his comming to London lodged in the tower and vpon new displeasure conceiued against the citie for the escape of a prisoner being a clearke conuict out of Newgate which had killed a prior that was of aliance to the king as cousine to the queene the king sent for the maior and the shirifs to come before him to answer the matter The maior laid the fault from him to the shiriffes for so much as to them belonged the kéeping of all the prisoners within the citie and so the maior returned home againe but the shiriffes remained there as prisoners by the space of a whole moneth or more and yet they excused themselues in that the fault cheefelie rested in the bishops officers for whereas the prisoner was vnder his custodie they at his request had granted him licence to imprison the offendor within their ward of Newgate but so as his officers were charged to see him safe kept The king notwithstanding demanded of the citie thrée thousand marks for a fine Moreouer whereas he stood in great néed of monie
gentlemen and yeomen resorted to them out of all the south parts of the relme Upon which rumor Thomas lord Scales a man in great fauour with the king quéene accompanied with the earle of Kendall a Gascoigne and the lord Louell resorted to London with a great companie of armed men declaring to the maior that their repaire onelie was to defend and kéepe the citie from spoile of such traitors line 10 as the king was crediblie informed were thither comming To whom the maior answered that he needed no fellow helper either to defend or gouerne the citie to him committed in charge With which answer the lord Scales and his associats nothing contented entred into the Tower dailie deuising waies how to grieue the citizens whom he perceiued to fauour rather the duke of Yorks part than the kings But shortlie after the earles of March and Warwike and other of their affinitie came to London line 20 and were of the maior and citizens ioiouslie receiued to whome resorted Thomas archbishop of Canturburie the bishops of London Lincolne Salisburie Elie and Excester with manie other prelats and religious persons amongst whome also was the popes legat to treat of peace if need so required Upon good deliberation and aduise had and taken amongst these lords how to go forward with their weightie enterprise the earles of March and Warwike William lord Fauconbridge Henrie lord Bourchier called line 30 earle of Eu with a great number of men which came out of Kent Essex Surrie and Sussex to the number as some writers affirme of fiue and twentie thousand persons departed from London toward the king lieng at Couentrie then called the quéenes secret harbour leauing behind them to kéepe the Londoners in their promised fréendship the earle of Salisburie the lord Cobham and sir Iohn Wenlocke which tooke such order and watched the gates and entries on ech side so diligentlie that no succours line 40 might come to the lord Scales lodging in the tower who tooke therewith such displeasure that he shot out his great ordinance against them within the citie and they likewise shot at him againe to the hurt and no pleasure of both parts The king hauing knowledge of all these dooings assembled a great armie and accompanied with the duke of Summerset latelie come from Guisnes and the duke of Buckingham and diuerse other great lords that tooke his part came to Northampton where the quéene perceiuing hir puissance to be line 50 able to match in fight with the aduersaries tooke vpon hir to incourage hir fréends and well-willers for the king studied of nothing but of peace quietnesse and solitarie life When the whole hoast of the kings part was assembled the same issued foorth of the towne and passing ouer the riuer of Tine lodged in the new field betwéene Harsington and Sandifford stronglie fensing themselues about with high banks and déepe trenches On the other part the lords being line 60 herewith aduanced verie néere the place where the kings people laie without Northampton the bishops that were there with them by the aduise and consent of the said lords sent vnto the king the bishop of Salisburie to vnderstand his mind and to mooue him vnto some treatie of peace and to admit the archbishop of Canturburie and the other bishops there present to be mediatours in the matter that some good accord might be concluded betwixt the parties so as an vniuersall peace might be restored in all parts through the whole realme The bishop of Salisburie dooing this message not so circumspectlie as had béene conuenient returned without bringing anie towardlie answer but rather words of high despite and vtter defiance For the lords that were about the king trusting in their warlike engines and strength of place in which they were incamped though otherwise inferior in number of men purposed to abide the brunt of battell and so led with the spirit of rashnesse sent none other answer backe againe by the bishop but contumelious words sounding greatlie to the reproch of their aduersaries who being sore offended therewith determined to seeke reuenge with dint of sword The earle of March as then being in the floure of his lustie and most couragious youth lieng betweene Toucetor and Northampton determined to set on the kings armie without longer delaie and therevpon in the night season remooued his campe toward Northampton and in marching forward set his men in order of battell wherof the vant-ward was led by the earle of Warwike which either by strength or stealth wan a streict which the lord Beaumont kept going toward the kings campe and herewith entring freshlie with his people began the battell about seauen of the clocke the ninth daie of Iulie After him followed the earle of March with the banner of his father ¶ Others write that the earle of March led the fore-ward the erle of Warwike the middleward and the lord Fauconbridge the rere-ward Moreouer that Edmund lord Greie of Ruthen who was on the kings side failed in the trust committed to him for where the enimies could not without great danger enter vpon the kings campe by reason of a mightie trench and rampire pight full of piles and sharpe stakes wherewith the campe was compassed about the said lord Graie came with his men and with helping hands pulled the enimies vp and receiued them into the field where the battell was begun with great force violence For being now entred the field they set vpon the kings people so fiercelie that it séemed they ment either to obteine the victorie or to die for it euen all the whole number of them The fight continued right fierse and cruell with vncerteine victorie till the houre of nine at which time the kings armie was discomfited and of the same slaine and drowned in the riuer few lesse than ten thousand and the king himselfe left comfortlesse alone was taken by the aduersaries as a man in great miserie At this battell fought at Northampton were slaine Humfreie duke of Buckingham Iohn Talbot earle of Shrewesburie a valiant person and not degenerating from his noble parents Thomas lord Egremond Iohn viscont Beaumont and sir William Lucie which made great hast to come to part of the fight and at his first approch was striken in the head with an ax Besides these that were slaine manie were taken prisoners bicause they left their horsses alighting to fight on foot The duke of Summerset and other which narrowlie escaped fled with the quéene and prince into the bishoprike of Durham The earles hauing got the victorie in this bloudie battell conueied the king to London and lodged him in the bishops palace After whose comming to the citie the Tower was deliuered to the erle of March vpon a certeine composition but the lord Scales suspecting the sequele of the deliuerie thereof tooke a wherrie priuilie intending to haue fled to the quéene but he was espied by diuerse watermen belonging to the
mine owne hand God send grace sir quoth the messenger and went his waie Certeine is it also that in riding towards the Tower the same morning in which be was beheded his horsse twise or thrise stumbled with him almost to the falling Which thing albeit ech man wote well dailie happeneth to them to whom no such mischance is toward yet hath it béene of an old rite and custome obserued as a token oftentimes notablie foregoing some great misfortune Now this that followeth was no warning but an enuious scorne The same morning yer he was vp came a knight vnto him as it were of courtesie to accompanie him to the councell but of truth sent by the protector to hast him thitherwards with whome he was of secret confederacie in that purpose a meane man at that time and now of great authoritie This knight I say when it happened the lord chamberleine by the waie to staie his horsse common a while with a priest whom he met in the Tower stréet brake his tale and said merilie to him What my lord I pray you come on whereto talke you so long with that priest you haue no néed of a priest yet and therwith he laughed vpon him as though he would say Ye shall haue soone But so little wist the tother what he ment and so little mistrusted that he was neuer merier nor neuer so full of good hope in his life which selfe thing is oft séene a signe of change But I shall rather let anie thing passe me than the vaine suertie of mans mind so neere his death flattering himselfe with deceitfull conceipts of inward motions of life to be prolonged euen in present cases of deadlie danger and heauie misfortunes offering great mistrust as he did that is noted for speaking like a foole Non est crede mihi sapientis dicere Viuam Nascentes morimur finÃsque ab origine pendet Upon the verie Tower wharfe so neare the place where his head was off soone after there met he with one Hastings a purseuant of his owne name And at their méeting in that place he was put in remembrance of another time in which it had happened them before to meet in like manner togither in the same place At which other time the lord chamberleine had béene accused vnto king Edward by the lord Riuers the queenes brother in such wise as he was for the while but it lasted not long farre fallen into the kings indignation stood in great feare of himselfe And forsomuch as he now met this purseuant in the same place that ieopardie so well passed it gaue him great pleasure to talke with him thereof with whom he had before talked thereof in the same place while he was therein And therefore he said Ha Hastings art thou remembred when I met thée here once with an heauie heart Yea my lord quoth he that remember I well and thanked be God they gat no good nor you no harme thereby Thou wouldest say so quoth he if thou knewest as much as I know which few know else as yet and mo shall shortlie That meant he by the lords of the quéenes kinred that were taken before and should that daie be beheaded at Pomfret which he well wist but nothing ware that the axhung ouer his owne head In faith man quoth he I was neuer so sorie nor neuer stood in so great dread in my life as I did when thou and I met here And lo how the world is turned now stand mine enimies in the danger as thou maiest hap to heare more hereafter and I neuer in my life so merrie nor neuer in so great suertie O good God the blindnesse of our mortall nature when he most feared he was in good suertie when he reckoned himselfe surest he lost his life and that within two houres after Thus ended this honorable man a good knight and a gentle of great authoritie with his prince of liuing somewhat dissolute plaine and open to his enimie secret to his friend easie to beguile as he that of good heart and courage forestudied no perils a louing man and passing well beloued verie faithfull and trustie inough trusting too much Now flew the fame of this lords death swiftlie through the citie and so foorth further about like a wind in euerie mans eare But the protector immediatlie after dinner intending to set some colour vpon the matter sent in all the hast for manie substantiall men out of the citie into the Towre Now at their comming himselfe with the duke of Buckingham stood harnessed in old ill faring briganders such as no man should wéene that they would vouchsafe to haue put vpon their backs except that some sudden necessitie had constreined line 10 them And then the protector shewed them that the lord chamberleine and other of his conspiracie had contriued to haue suddenlie destroied him and the duke there the same day in the councell And what they intended further was as yet not well knowne Of which their treason he neuer had knowledge before ten of the clocke the same forenoone which sudden feare draue them to put on for their defense such harnesse as came next to hand And so had God holpen them that the mischiefe turned vpon them that line 20 would haue doone it And this he requireed them to report Euerie man answered him faire as though no man mistrusted the matter which of truth no man beléeued Yet for the further appeasing of the peoples minds he sent immediatlie after diner in all the hast one herald of armes with a proclamation to be made through the citie in the kings name conteining that the lord Hastings with diuerse other of his traitorous purpose had before conspired the same line 30 day to haue slaine the lord protector and the duke of Buckingham sitting in the councell and after to haue taken vpon them to rule the king the realme at their pleasure and therby to pill and spoile whome they list vncontrolled And much matter there was in that proclamation deuised to the slander of the lord chamberleine as that he was an ill councellor to the kings father intising him to manie things highlie redounding to the minishing of his honour and to the vniuersall hurt of the realme line 40 The meanes whereby namelie his euill companie sinister procuring and vngratious example as well in manie other things as in the vicious liuing and inordinate abusion of his bodie both with manie other and also speciallie with Shores wife which was one also of his most secret counsell in this most heinous treason with whom he laie nightlie and namelie the night last past next before his death So that it was the lesse maruell if vngratious liuing brought him to an vnhappie ending which he was now put line 50 vnto by the most dred commandement of the kings highnesse and of his honorable and faithfull councell both for his demerits being so openlie taken in his falslie conceiued
and the emperour gouerning the battell and the lord Chamberleine following with the rere-ward The first night they incamped beside Aire Diuerse Englishmen tarieng behind at Terwine for pillage were surprised by the Frenchmen which slue some of them cast some into the fire Those that fled escaped verie narrowlie The king with his armie passed forward towards Tornaie and by the waie visited the yoong prince of Castile and the ladie Margaret gouernor of the prince in the towne of Lislie whilest his armie laie abroad in the fields beyond Pont Auandien There was appointed to attend the king vnto Lislie the duke of Buckingham the lord marquesse Dorset the earle of Essex and the lord Lisle with diuerse other the charge of his campe he committed for the time to his councell Then mounted the king vpon a courser his apparrell bard were cloth of siluer of small quadrant cuts trauersed and edged with cut cloth of gold and the border set full of red roses his armour fresh set full of iewels The maister of his horsse sir Henrie Guilford and the henchmen followed as you haue heard before and the coursers richlie apparelled and so were manie capteins that waited on the king by the waie met the king the lord Rauesten with manie noble men And a mile without the towne there met with him the burgesses of Lisle and presented to him the keies of the towne saieng that the emperor their souereigne lord had so commanded them to doo The king praised their obedience to their souereigne and thanked the emperour and them for so high a present as the keies of such a towne Neuerthelesse line 10 he had such confidence in them that he trusted them no lesse than his owne subiects and so deliuered the keies to the prouost of the towne which was well accompanied Then met the king a great number of nobles of Flanders Brabant Holland and Henaud which noblie receiued him After them came the countie Palatine or Palsgraue one of the electors of the empire with thirtie horsses all his men gorgiouslie apparelled after the fashion of his countrie and humblie saluted the king At the gate line 20 of Lisle the capiteine of the towne stood with a garrison in armor well appointed all the stréets were set on both sides with burning torches and diuerse goodlie pageants pleasant to behold Thus he passed thorough the towne with his sword and maces borne before him and alighted at the hall doore with his sword borne where met with him the emperour the prince of Castile and the ladie Margaret and humblie saluted him Then for reuerence of the emperour the king line 30 caused his sword to be put vp and his maces to be laid downe so was the king and all other nobles lodged and feasted according to their degrées In the towne of Lisle was a noise that thrée gunners with handguns should haue slaine the king for which rumor manie were attached but nothing prooued But when these tidings came to the campe they were neuer merrie till they saw the king againe Great was the cheere with bankets plaies comedies maskes and other pastimes that were shewed to the king in line 40 the court of Burgognie and so in solace he soiorned there sundaie and mondaie the nineteenth daie of September On the twentith daie he sent word that his armie 〈◊〉 remooue toward Tornaie and so they remooued to a place conuenient betwéene Tornaie and Lisle and certeine capiteins were appointed to kéepe the passage at the bridge of Auandien After that the king had taried at Lisle thrée daies and had well reposed himselfe he tooke his leaue and line 50 thanked the emperour and the yoong prince the ladie Margaret all the ladies for all his high chéere and solace and about six of the clocke at night he departed out of Lisle and the noble men brought the king foorth and so returned and then the capteine shut the gates When the king was a mile and more out of the towne he asked where his campe laie And no man there could tell the waie and guide had they none the night was so darke mistie Thus the king taried a long while and wist not whither to go at last line 60 they met with a vitteler comming from the campe which was their guide and brought them thither The maister of the ordinance shot diuerse peeces of ordinance but they were not heard but in safetie the king with all his companie returned On the one and twentith daie of September the king remooued his campe toward Tornaie and lodged within thrée miles of the citie on a corne ground by the riuer On which night came to the king the emperour and the Palsgraue which were lodged in rich tents and noblie serued of all viands and things necessarie The people about Tornaie were with their goods fled to the citie and yet the citie had no men of warre to defend it but with multitude of inhabitants the same was well replenished The king commanded sir Rice and his horssemen to view one quarter and the earle of Essex and his companie another quarter and the lord Wallon and the lord Lignie the other quarters Then the two and twentith daie of September these foure capteins at one time were soone openlie with banners displaied before the towne and there made a long stale and returned Then the king sent Gartier king of armes to summon them to yeeld it ouer into his hands to whome they made answer that they receiued no citie of the king of England to kéepe nor anie would they render him with which answer he departed Then they fortified their wals and made prouision for vittels corne wine and artillerie and for all fortifications that might be gotten And the citie of it selfe was strong well walled and turrited with good bulworks and defenses But when they saw the king with such a puissance draw néere the citie they were sore abashed and called a generall councell Then the prouost said Brethren you know how that the king of England sent an herald to summon vs to render vp to him this citie or else he would put it and vs to the sword fier and bloud We answered we would be at defense Now he is come in our sight to fulfill the message sent by the herald now is come the time of our defense Howbeit in this matter standeth thrée mischéefs one is our bounden duetie and allegiance that we owe to our souereigne lord king Lewes of France the second the liues of vs our wiues children and neighbors the third how to defend the finall destruction of this ancient citie now likelie to fall which citie was neuer conquered Now our citie is whole your liues in safetie your goods your owne determine whether you will haue war or peace Then the common people cried all War war war Then said the prouost Take compassion of wiues and children and of the old folke consider
if you haue no quicke rescue you cannot continue against yonder puissance although your courages were neuer so great this the wisest of the citie and I haue considered Then suddenlie was there in the councell a vauntparler a botcher which hearing this called a great number of his affinitie and went out of the councell and so out of the gates and set fire of the suburbs on all sides When the councell saw the minds of the commons and that their waies might not be followed they comforted the people and mainteined them for their defense After this the king approched the citie with his whole armie and they of the citie issued foorth to proffer the skirmish but the archers beat them backe Also the carriage men that came with the herbingers saw where certeine wagons were entring the citie vnto the which they ran and tooke some of them At this skirmish the horsse of the lord Iohn Graie was slaine vnder him as he came to defend the carriage men but he himselfe had no hurt The king with his battell planted his siege on the north side the citie The earle of Shrewsburie with the foreward lodged toward the south side of the riuer and there laie that night The lord Herbert with the rereward incamped himselfe on the west side and beat the wals and towers of the citie with the great ordinance The next daie after their comming thither being the thrée and twentith of September the earle of Shrewesburie with the fore-ward passed the riuer planted his siege on the southside of the citie stretching to the east end and bent his ordinance against the walles And thus was the citie of Tornaie besieged on all parts On the fiue and twentith daie of September the king receiued letters from the earle of Surrie with the Scotish kings gantlet whereby he was certified of the slaughter of the said king and how all things had béene handled at the battell of Floddon whereof héereafter yee shall find further mention The king thanked God of the newes and highlie commended the prowesse of the earle and other the capteins howbeit he had a secret letter that Chesshiremen and other fled from sir Edmund Howard in the battell which letter caused great hartburning line 10 and manie words but the king tooke all things in good part and would that no man should be dispraised On the six and twentith daie fiers were made in the hoast in token of that victorie against the Scots and on the seauen and twentith daie being tuesdaie masse was soong by them of the kings chappell with Te Deum and the bishop of Rochester made a sermon declaring the death of the king of Scots and lamenting his euill hap and periurie But now to our purpose of the siege of Tornaie line 20 ¶ The king of England lieng afront before Tornaie caused his great ordinance to be planted round about the citie and diuerse trenches were cast and rampiers made and the lord Lisle and the lord Willoughbie were appointed to mainteine the ordinance with their bands and the earle of Kent was lodged before the gate called port Ualencien so that the citizens could not issue out nor no aid could come in The ordinance dailie beat the gates towers wals which made a great batterie and a few Englishmen line 30 assaulted the port coquerell but they were too few in number and if they had béene more in number they had taken the towne as the Tornasins confessed after The citizens of Tornaie considering their estate came togither to councell and there the prouost said in effect as followeth Friends and bretheren of this noble citie I cannot too much praise your truth and fidelitie to your souereigne lord the king of France considering how manfully you haue defended this citie since the beginning of this siege line 40 But alas although it be written on the gates grauen in stone Iammes ton ne a perdeu ton pucellage that is to saie Thou hast neuer lost thy maidenhed yet if this citie had not béene well furnished and euer at the daie appointed sure of rescue it could not haue continued Now you see that rescue faileth our gates be rased our towers beaten downe our chiefe tower like to fall so that if this perilous siege continue or else if our enimies assault vs we be not able to defend vs wherefore now all these things considered I would know whether you will treat with the king line 50 of England or abide the chance Then they which at the last councell cried War war now cried Peace peace yet all were not agreed Then one wise man said Sirs if the towne be assaulted once againe with a great number suerlie it will be taken you saw the experience at the last assault and then consider if it be taken by force who is there that can saie he is sure of his life but by intreatie the king of England is so mercifull that we may fortune to saue both life and goods Then finallie all agréed to treat line 60 Then the prouost sent to the king a trumpet desiring a safe conduct for him certeine other to come and to speake with him which request was to him granted Then the prouost of the citie accompanied with eleuen with him of the best of the citie came to the armie spake with the lords of the councell and after were led to the kings presence The prouost knéeled downe and all his companie and said Right high and mightie prince although the citie of Tornaie is strong well walled well replenished with people vittels artillerie yea and the people in feare and dread of nothing yet we know that against your great puissance it can not continue long although it were ten times as strong as it is Wherefore we knowing by report your honor your wisedome your iustice noble hart are content to become your subiects vassals so that we may haue and inioy our old lawes customes liberties and franchises vnder you as we haue before this doone vnder other princes Then said the king We haue well heard your petition we will common with our councell make you answer And when he had communed with his councell he answered saieng Sirs he that asketh mercie of vs shall not be denied and séeing you come to treat we remit you to our councell Then they went into the tent of councell there the Tornasins fell at a point and in conclusion they yéelded the citie and ten thousand pounds sterling for the redemption of their liberties and so departed to the citie making relation of the king and his noble courage On thursdaie the nine and twentith daie of September the king was in his rich tent of cloth of gold vnder his cloth of estate to whome came the citizens of the citie and were sworne to him and became his subiects Then the king appointed the lord Lisle the lord Aburgauenie the lord Willoughbie to take possession which
the earle of Huntleie got horsses and escaped awaie togither with certeine bands placed in two the hindermost wards which of all that daie neuer came to handstrokes but stood still line 50 and gaue the looking on Thus thorough the power of God on fridaie being the ninth of September in the yeare 1513 was Iames the fourth of tâ—â—t name king of Scots slaine at Bramxston and his armie discomfited by the earle of Surrie lieutenant to Henrie the eight king of England which a little before had woone the towne of Terwine and was then preparing to go to besiege Tornaie There were slaine in this battell on the Scotish part of all sorts the number of eight thousand persons at the least some saie twelue thousand besides prisoners that line 60 were taken as sir William Scot chancellor to the said king and sir Iohn Forman his sergeant porter with diuerse others Also in maner all the Scotish ensignes were taken and a two and twentie péeces of great ordinance amongest the which were seauen culuerings of a largâ— assâ—se and verie faire peeces King Iames named them for that they were in making one verie like to an other the seauen sisters This conflict with egernesse on both sides was continued thrée full houres as Anglorum praelia saith I am tres integras pugnatum est cominùs hâ—ras Though the victorie thus remained with the Englishmen yet they bought it déere loosing no small number of their people as well of those that were slaine in the field as of others that were taken prisoners for the Scots fought verie stoutlie and gaue it not ouer for a little insomuch that there were taken and slaine about fifteene hundred men as appeared by the booke of wages when the souldiers were paid Manie Englishmen that followed ouer rashlie in the chase of the Scots went so farre that they wist not which waie to returne and so were taken of the Scots that were in the two battels that went awaie with cleare hands and neuer fought Also diuerse were taken by the lord chamberleine which fought with the wing of sir Edmund Howard and were caried awaie by him and his companie into Scotland as Iohn Fitton esquier and others During the time of the fight and the night after manie Englishmen lost their horsses and such stuffe as they left in their tents and pauilions by the robbers of Tindale and Tiuidale When the field was doone and that the skouts brought word that there was no more appearance of the Scots but that they were all auoided and gone the earle gaue thanks to God and called to him certeine lords and gentlemen and them made knights as sir Edmund Howard his sonne the lord Scroope sir William Persie sir Edward Gorge and diuerse others The earle and the lord admerall departed to Bermar wood there lodged that night leauing sir Philip Tilneie knight and diuerse other worthie capteins with a conuenient power of men to kéepe the place where the field had béene fought for safegard of the ordinance The bodie of the king of Scots was not found vntill the next daie and then being found and knowne by the lord Dacres there appeared in the same diuerse deadlie wounds and speciallie one with an arrow and an other with a bill But some saie he died of two both which were inflicted vpon him to his deadlie bane and well worthie for truce-breaking by the sword as Anglorum praelia reporteth Vulneribus Scotus acceptis cadit ense duobus Perfidiae meritas fuso dans sanguine poenas The same daie there appeared some Scots on a hill but one William Blackenall that had the chéefe rule of the ordinance caused such a peale to be shot off at them that the Scots fled or else the lord admerall which was come to view the field had béene in great danger as was supposed But now that the Scots were fled and withdrawne all the ordinance was brought in safetie to Eitill and there remained for a time After that the earle of Surrie had taken order in all things and set the North parts in good quiet he returned to the quéene with the dead bodie of the Scotish king cered When the king was returned into England from his conquest made in France of the cities of Terwine and Tornaie he forgat not the good seruice of those that had beene with the earle of Surrie at the battell at Bramxton wherefore he wrote to them his louing letters with such thanks and fauourable words that euerie man thought himselfe well rewarded On the daie of the Purification of our ladie year 1514 at Lambeth the king created the earle of Surrie duke of Norffolke with an augmentation of the armes of Scotland and sir Charles Brandon vicount Lisle he created duke of Suffolke and the lord Howard high admerall he created earle of Worcester and after this he also made sir Edward Stanleie for his good seruice shewed at Bramxston field lord Mounteagle and in March following was maister Thomas Wolsie the kings almoner consecrated bishop of Lincolne This man was borne at Ipswich and was a good philosopher verie eloquent and full of wit but passinglie ambitious as by his dooings it well appeared In the time of king Henrie the seauenth it was agréed betwixt the said king and Philip king of Castile that Charles king Philips eldest son should marrie the ladie Marie daughter to the said king Henrie with a dower to hir appointed but for want of sufficient assurance of the dower the rest of couenants were made void and yet had the king highlie prouided for the sending of hir ouer now after his comming from Tornaie This yeare the citizens of London finding themselues gréeued with the inclosures of the common line 10 fields about Islington Hoxton Shorditch and other places néere to the citie whereby they could not be suffered to exercise their bowes nor other pastimes in those fields as before time they had bene accustomed assembled themselues on a morning and went with spades and shouels vnto the same fields and there like diligent workemen so bestirred themselues that within a short space all the hedges about those towns were cast downe and the ditches filled The kings councell comming to the graie friers to line 20 vnderstand what was meant by this dooing were so answered by the maior and councell of the citie that the matter was dissembled and so when the workemen had doone their worke they came home in quiet maner and the fields were neuer after hedged George Monox for this yeare Maior of London of his godlie disposition reedified the decaied stéeple of the parish church of Walthamstow in the countie of Essex adding therevnto a side I le with a chappell where he lieth buried And on the northside of the line 30 churchyard there he founded a faire large almes-house for an almose priest or schoolemaister and thirtéene poore almes folke eight men and fiue women appointing to the said almes priest or
schoolmaister for his yearelie wages six pounds thirtéene shillings foure pence and to euerie one of the said almes folke seuen pence a weeke and fiue pounds to be bestowed yearelie amongst them in coles And ordeined that the said almes priest should on sundaies and festiuall daies be helping and assistant to the vicar or curat line 40 there in celebration of diuine seruice on the wéeke daies fréelie to applie and teach yoong children of the said parish to the number of thirtie in a schoolehouse by him there builded for that purpose Moreouer hée gaue to the parish clearke there for the time being a yearlie stipend of twentie six shillings eight pence for euer and a chamber by the said almes house to the intent he should helpe the said schoolemaister to teach the said children And hath giuen faire lands and tenements in the citie of London for the perpetuall line 50 maintenance of the premisses to Gods glorie for euer He also for the great commoditie of trauellers on foot made a continuall causie of timber ouer the marshes from Walthamstow to Locke bridge towards London In the moneth of Maie the king and the new duke of Suffolke were defenders at the tilt against all commers The king was in a scopelarie mantle an hat of cloth of siluer and like a white hermit and the duke apparelled like a blacke hermit all of blacke line 60 veluet both their berds were of damaske siluer and when they had ridden about the tilt shewed themselues to the quéene then they threw off their apparell and sent it to the ladies for a larges Then was the king in blacke and the duke in white with blacke staues on the staues was written with white letters Who can hold that will away this posie was iudged to be made for the duke of Suffolke and the duchesse of Sauoie At these iustes were the duke of Longuile the lord Cleremont and there the king duke did so valiantlie that they obteined the prise At these iustes were broken an hundred and fourteene speares in a short space The king at this season sent againe into Flanders for the performance of the mariage of the yoong prince of Castile and the faire ladie Marie his sister and shewed how he had prepared all things necessarie and conuenient for such an high estate The councell of Flanders answered that they would not receiue hir that yeare with manie subtill arguments by reason wherof the perfect loue betwene England and the low countries was much slaked On the nineteenth daie of Maie was receiued into London a cap of maintenance a sword sent from pope Iulie with a great companie of nobles and gentlemen which was presented to the king on the sundaie then next insuing with great solemnitie in the cathedrall church of saint Paule Touching this pope saith Guicciardine disappointed of so manie hopes we may laie him in comparison with that which is written by the poets of Anteus that being tamed by the forces of Hercules as often as he was throwne to the ground so often did appeare in him a greater strength and courage such wéening had the pope amidst his aduersities for when he seemed most abased and oppressed it was then that he did most lift vp him selfe with a spirit more constant and resolute promising better of his fortune than euer After he had plaied all his troublesome pageants and had got by sundrie aspiring practises I wot not what péerelesse primasie he fell sicke And happilie he was then more full of high conceipts and trauelling thoughts than at anie time before for notwithstanding he had brought his fortune to be equall with his desires obteined the thing he aspired vnto yet his deuises and plots did nothing diminish but grew increasing by the same meane which should haue satisfied them He had determined in the beginning of the spring and first opening of the yeare to send to the enterprise of Ferrara which he so much desired and his opinion was that that state was able to make no resistance both for that it was naked of all succours and bicause the Spanish armie was to ioine with his companies he had secretlie bought of Cesar for the price of thirtie thousand duckets the citie of Sienna for the behoofe of the duke of Urbin to whome except Pesera he would neuer giue anie thing of the estate ecclesiastike to the end to reserue to himselfe the whole glorie to haue simplie and onelie studied for the exaltation of the church He agreed to lend to Cesar fortie thousand duckats receiuing Modona in gage He threatned them of Lucquoie who in the heat of the affaires of the duke of Ferrara were become lords of Garsagnana making instance that they would deliuer it to him He was out of conceit with the cardinall of Medicis for that he thought him to cleaue more to the king catholike than to him And bicause he knew he was not able to dispose of the citie of Florence as he thought he studied alredie new plots and new practises to alter that estate He was ill contented with the cardinall of Sion from whome he tooke the name of legat and inioined him to come to Rome for that in the duchie of Millan he had appropriat to himselfe a yearelie rent of more than thirtie thousand duckats of the estates and goods of diuerse persons The better to assure the duke of Urbin of Sienna by intelligences of his neighbours he had of new taken into his paie Charles Baillon to chase out of Perousa Iohn Paule who by affinitie was verie neere ioined to the sonnes of Pandolffe Petruccio successours to the greatnesse of their father He would of new create duke of Genes Octauian Fregosa deposing Ianus from that dignitie an action wherevnto did consent the others of the house of Fregosa bicause for the degrée that his ancestors held in that state it séemed best to apperteine vnto him He studied continuallie either how he might worke out of Italie the Spanish armie or cut it in péeces by the aid of the Swizzers whome aboue all others he exalted and imbraced In this deuise hée had this intention that the kingdome of Naples being occupied by him Italie should remaine frée from strangers a speach that often passed out of his mouth and to that end hée had hindered that the Swizzers did not confederate with the king catholike And yet as though it had beene in his power to line 10 batter all the world at one time he continued his accustomed rigour against the French king And notwithstanding he had hard a message from the queene yet he stirred vp to make warre the king of England to whome he had transferred by publke decree of the councell of Lateran the name of Christianissimo whereof there was alreadie a bull written and in it likewise was conteined the priuation of the dignitie name of the king of France giuing his kingdome to who could occupie it
gentlemen tooke the sea the next morning but bicause the tide was against them and on the other part the monsieur hauing a side wind with him was constreined to hast to the land By meanes whereof the prince being not able to come aboord to him with his ship was faine to turne saile backe againe to Flushing where the prince Dolphin had taken land alreadie sought euerie where for the prince his brother When they had imbraced and saluted one an other like brethren the prince of Orange perceiuing the monsieur to approch verie néere tooke the water againe But when he perceiued him to come downe into his bote to take land he turned backe againe and hied him so fast that he tooke land before him and there tarried his comming As soone as he was arriued while he was yet in his bote readie to come aland the prince receiued him with great reuerence and imbracing his highnesse knée because he saw the line 10 weather was cold said vnto him in few words that he was verie glad to sée that happie daie which had beene so long expected wherein he had the honor to behold his highnesse and to offer vnto him his most humble seruice with goods and life all that he had besides hoping that by meanes of his highnesse that countrie hauing indured so great aduersitie should now be fullie set at libertie Wherevnto the monsieur answered verie wiselie and brieflie And when he had imbraced him with such honor as was line 20 due in respect of his age and dooings he came aland and was brought by the prince to the palace of the citie howbeit not without great difficultie by reason of the great prease of men of war and other people pestering one an other the folke of that countrie thronging to sée his highnesse and the Englishmen which as then were come downe thither in great numbers preasing to know the prince of Orange In the meane while the trumpets and drums sounded with such noise that the aire rang of it and all the ordinance line 30 shot off as well of the quéenes ships as of the other ships wherof the number was great which laie then in the rode with so great roring and thundering that they conueied the newes of his highnesse happie arriuall in the low countrie to Calis and to other places of France They of Flushing shot two peales with so great noise by reason of the great number of the péeces that are in the towne that all the ground rang of it The monsieur found in that place all sorts of his officers for his houshold line 40 and his gard of Swisses and Frenchmen departing from Calis and Bullongne foure daies afore were come to Middleborough The magistrates of the citie waited for him at the gates of the citie who told him by the mouth of their recorder that they were verie glad of his comming and thought themselues happie to sée him in hope that by his guiding and gouernement they should sée their countrie restored to tranquillitie and set vp againe in hir former renowme The states of Brabant line 50 speaking by the mouth of monsieur van Stralen Amptman of Antwerpe after their welcomming of him declared with what mind the noble and good cities of Brabant had expected him beseeching him most humblie to honor the countrie of Brabant with his presence out of hand Next then the deputies of the citie of Bruxelles besides the declaration which they made of their owne good will and generallie of all the peoples of that countrie declared also particularlie with what great goodwill and affection line 60 his highnesse had beene waited for in that citie the cheefe seat of the lords of that countrie and that after so manie mischéefes which they had suffered for withstanding the tyrannie of the Spaniards next vnto God they had not anie hope but in the comming of his highnesse their prince and lord Afterward they of Antwerpe were heard who declared the affection of the people toward his highnesse their long longing for him and the great desire which they had to see their prince and souereigne The colonels and capteins of the towne spake afterward and declared vnto him how carefullie and diligentlie they had kept the citie in hope to put it shortlie into his hands and reioising likewise at his comming Unto all these orations his highnesse answered verie sagelie and brieflie as vnto all the residue to the well liking and contentment of all that stood by The prince of Orange tarried a while with the monsieur in the towne house of the citie and then taking his leaue went to visit the princes and lords of both the nations that came with him to sée how they fared and to take order that they should want nothing so far forth as the abilitie of the towne of Flushing which is none of the greatest could extend where such prouision was made that all were well lodged and serued notwithstanding that aboue fiue hundred men of the onelie English lords were come aland that daie All that after noone was spent in feasting in making of bonefires in fireworks in sounding of trumpets and in all maner of tokens of ioie which all men vttered vniuersallie for the comming of so great a prince Also the foure members of Flanders which came by the counsell of the prince of Orange waited to present themselues vnto him at Middleborough The prince of Orange perceuing that the monsieur was minded to go the next daie to Middleborough told him that there were thrée waies the one about the castell of Ramekins to enter in at the great chanell of Middleborough by the bout of the foreland an other by the little chanell through the countrie and that he had kept ships in a readinesse to go the outer waie and a great fort of botes to go the inner waie because his highnesse could not iorneie either by coch or on horssebacke by reason of the winter and there was but onelie one causeie whereby folke trauelled ordinarilie on foot The monsieur beholding the fitnesse of the time for indéed it was verie faire weather and vnderstanding that the waie was not past a good French league in length vndertooke to go it on foot and so did all the rest of the princes lords and gentlemen as well of the same countrie as of France and England A great sort of the monsieurs house which were lodged alredie at Middleborough came to méet him speciallie his gard of Frenchmen and Swissers A good waie out of the towne the magistrate of Middleborough came to meet him as it were about a third part of the waie and there making an oration to him told him of the great and long desire which all the people had of his comming and that the people of Middleborough for their owne part thought themselues greatlie honored in that he had vouchsafed to come to their citie offering all dutifulnesse vnto him His gard
entered into league with you vpon hope that the same God will of his gratious goodnesse line 40 and mercie so blesse and prosper your dealings and enterprises as that they shall out of hand sée the effect of that communication in the hiest degrée to the accomplishment of your roiall and heroicall desires both in the generall and also in the particular deliuerance of the countrie from the calamities and miseries of war whereby they shall haue the better cause to acknowlege the great good turnes and benefits receiued at your highnesse hand and to honor loue and serue you as the verie protector of the land and father of their countrie line 50 When Uanderwerke had made an end and the dukes highnesse had answered him conformablie to that which he had spoken without the towne the said Uanderwerke told the people alowd that the duke was readie to take and receiue his oth at the hand of the magistrate and of all the people and inhabiters of the citie of Antwerpe and that God had vouchsafed to send them a prince of so rare and heroicall vertues of so great puissance and the onelie brother of line 60 so great a king that they might well hope that the same God would inable him to rid these countries within a while from the great number of calamities and miseries wherwith they were oppressed And forsomuch as his highnesse had béene receiued with solemne deliberation of the states confederate yea and with solemne resolution of all the members of that citie and God had commanded men to loue honour and obeie their princes he exhorted the people to yéeld him all humble obedience according to Gods commandement To which intent the oth as well which his highnesse should make to the people as which the people should make to his highnesse should be read vnto them praieng God to giue such grace vnto his highnes as he following the same might well rule and gouerne and vnto the burgesses and citizens of Antwerpe as they might performe their obedience like good loiall and faithfull subiects that Gods name might be sanctified to the benefit prosperitie and safegard of the citie and to the great increase of the dukes puissance honour and glorie Then the same Uanderwerke read the oth which was to be made by the duke with the stile of the duke of Brabant and all his other titles Which oth was read to his highnes in French and receiued by sir Philip Schonehouen lord of Waneroe boroughmaster without the citie Which being doone the said Uanderwerke read the oth which the magistrate and people were to make which was repeated word for word by the magistrats and a great number of people which were within the hearing of it And this oth was exacted of the magistrate and people of Antwerpe by the amptman in the name and by the commandement of the duke Upon the finishing of these solemnities the duke himselfe did cast two or thrée handfuls of gold and siluer among them then the heralds cried A larges and the trumpets and drums were sounded euerie where and manie instruments of musike were plaied vpon as had béene doone afore at his first arriuall When he was come downe from the scaffold he went to the townehouse with all the princes lords and gentlemen which were verie manie where he was receiued by the worshipfull of the citie and diâ—ed openlie at a verie sumptuous and roiall feast prepared for him and so that daie passed in great ioy contentation and admiration as well of his highnes his companie as of all the rest of the people Towards night were shot off two peales of great ordinance againe and the fires of ioy were continued much greater and more in number than afore Thus ended the ioifull and roiall interteinement of the right noble prince Francis sonne and brother to the king of France by the grace of God duke of Brabant The rest of the weeke and the daies following the lords of the priuie councell the officers of the aides of the exchekers of the chambers of the accounts and of the other corporations colleges and communalties came to visit his highnes and to offer him their humble seruice promising all faithfulnes and obedience all whome he receiued verie gratiouslie to their contentation answering them so aduisedlie with so good grace fitnesse without omitting anie point of that which he had purposed that all men not onelie woondered at him but also were inforced to honour and loue him and to set foorth his praises among the people Finallie the deputies of the reformed churches of both the languages being presented vnto him by the prince of Orange were gentlie heard and they spake to him as followeth Sir we be sent vnto your highnes by the reformed churches of this citie as well of the language of low Dutchland as of the French to shew vnto you with all humilitie reuerence and subiection that we haue thanked and still doo thanke God with all our hart for vouchâ—afing to bring your highnesse so happilie hither And this our ioie is matched with the ioie of all other folks as we hope your highnesse hath vnderstood by the glad and ioifull receiuing and interteining of you Also sir we hope that as the great honour and felicitie which these countries haue atteined vnto wherein few countries are able to match them haue béene purchased vnder the souereigntie and gouernement of the right renowmed princes the dukes of Burgognie which issued out of the most noble house of France so vnder your guiding and gouernement being of the same house the ancient renowme of the same dignitie shall be recouered by your prowesse and mainteined by your wisdome It is little more than thrée hundred yeeres ago that these countries being gouerned by sundrie dukes earles and lords had not atteined the renowne which other nations haue since that time so much woondered at The first that began to giue increase to it was Philip duke of Burgognie surnamed the hardie who was brother to king Charles the fift the sonne of king Iohn and grand sonne of king Philip of Ualois of which kings your highnes line 10 is lineallie descended from the father to the sonne For the first duke of Orleance of whome your highnesse is lineallie descended from the father to the sonne was the sonne of king Charles the fift and as now there be no more heires males of the said duke of Orleance but onelie your highnes and the king your brother Whereby it falleth out that the dukes of Burgognie are great vncles to your highnes by the fathers side And therefore we doubt not but you will follow the footsteps of their vertues in restoring the state of the countrie to hir ancient renowme line 20 and dignitie and also mainteine and increase the honour wherevnto it hath beene aduanced by those noble princes your vncles The second duke vnder whom this state hath béene greatlie aduanced was Iohn