a treatie considering that all our warres in France had rather purchaste fame then treasure to our Kingdome and when our Souldier returnd home their scarres were greater then their spoiles And howsoever we had at staits got possession of the largest territories in France yet still wee retired back againe As if the devine providence had decreed to have our Empire bounded with our Seas Moreover they who affected the happinesse of a Kingdome and loved their owne country desired rather France under a forraigne governour least if in possession of our King England being the lesse both in extent and fertility might be reduc'd to the condition to a Province and live in obedience to a Deputie enriching the greater Kingdome with her tribute Other consirations likewise of the present state of the warres prevail'd to get content for a treatie whereupon with reward the Herauld was dismist a safe conduct granted and the place for the Commissioners appointed in a Village neare Amiens For the King were nominated the Lord Howard Sir Anthony St. Leger and Doctor Morton for the French the bastard of Burbon Admirall of France the Lord Saint Peire and the Bishop of Evereux This at the first meeting brought almost the treaty to a conclusion for on both sides they brought mindes disposed to peace And although the English Commissioners at first demanded the Crowne of France as due to the King by right from which in honour he could not recede and afterward with much apparence of difficultie condescended to be content with Normandy and Guien yet they themselves knew well Princes never use to part with Countries upon treatie before the battaile hath imposed a necessitie to yeeld And indeede the English expected not that Lewys would be frighted out of so important lims of the body of France onely upon the braving of an enemy Soone this first florish of businesses came to more easie termes Edward desired to be gone without losse of honour Lewys to have him gone with as much reputation as he desired Edward had occasion of mony and Lewys was willing to make him a bridge of Gold from Callice to Dâ—ver whereon to carry backe his Army And shortly to both their contents an absolute atonement was made Whereby threescore and fifteene thousand Crownes were to be paid to King Edward before his departure out of France and fifty thousand annually Concerning the annuitie of fiftie thousand Crownes there is much controversie among French and English writers about the name They call it a Pension wea Tribute And certainly the later to speake without partialitie to our selves hath in it much more proprietie of language For a Prince who over-awed by a powerfull Armie mediates by deprecatory massages to divert the battaile and afterward buyes his safetie not onely with a present Summe but an annuall payment cannot have a freer name then tributary And as for pensions they are granted upon petition to the poorer and weaker not upon feare to the mightier But to compare the greater actions of Princes to the customes of Subjects The threescore and fifteene thousand Crownes was the fine King Lewys payd for France and the fiftie thousand annually the rent Onely the farme was too mightie to be set and the tennant too strong and stubborne ever to quit possession to his Landlord Then for establishment of future peace that posteritie might partake in the benefit of this accord it was concluded that the Princesse Elizabeth eldest daughter to King Edward should marry with Charles the Dolphin Son to Lewys And for her present maintenance five thousand Crownes from France to be payd in the Tower of London and after the expiration of nine yeares shee and the Dolphin to be invested in the Dutchy of Guyen And that on the English side there might bee no fraud upon payment of the first summe the Lord Howard and Sir John Cheinie Master of the Horse were to remaine in hostage untill the Army were return'd into England But that the King might not seeme to forget his confederates the Duke of Burgundie and Britaine were comprehended if they would accept the peace The Count S. Paul was abandon'd in this treatie as an efficiall servant and subject to the Crowne being Constable of France and who by his dissimulation and treason had most offended the nature of our King And usually thus to reconcile great Princes lesser are offered up for sacrifice This peace was generally receiv'd by the Army with applause as by people who began to consider no victory before the battaile certaine and in the battaile much hazard Onely the Duke of Glocester who stood aloofe off on the other side for honour frown'd at this accord and exprest much sorrow as compassionating the glory of his nation blemisht in it Hee repeated his jealousie of the worlds opinion which necessarily must laugh at so chargeable a preparation to attempt nothing And scorne either the wisedome or courage of the English when they shall perceive them in so full numbers and so well arm'd to passe the Sea after a defiance sent and challenge to a Crowne to returne backe without drawing a Sword Moreover to forsake the amitie of so constant friends and in extreame necessitie to betray them beguiled by a common dissembler whose shifts and trickes of state like the slights of hand in juglers are discovered and wondred at by those fooles onely whom hee cozens And what carried with it an apparence of most danger to necessitate the Duke of Burgundie to a peace with King Lewys whereby both may hereafter joyne in a common league against us Who by this one act have forfeited all leagues with our ancient confederates and frighted any other Princes from joyning with us With Glocester agreed many of the Army who were either dependant upon him or who had as unquiet thoughts as hee some likewise who having set up the rest of all their fortunes upon this gaine found themselves undone in their hopes because the Princes had drawne statues But most of a discontented humour that maliciously alwayes interprets the actions of Princes to the worst sence But the Duke of Glocester had a further and a more dangerous aime as who by the dishonour of his brother thought his credit receiv'd increast and by how much the King sunke in opinion he should rise And in regard good and quiet men were delighted in the accord he would be had to the wicked and unquiet and adde a luster to his faction by drawing the nations honour to his part But why this peace should endure so hard a censure both at home and abroad is strange and above all why King Lewys should ascribe any honour to himselfe or thinke the advantage on his side For what ecclipse soever the English glory suffered certainly the French by a most servile way purchast safetie They descending beneath the honour of men by mony to wave a battaile wee being onely faultie in not having perform'd more then men For if we consider our selves subject to
present ingagements he would declare the naturall affection he owed a brother This weake hope the late victory and seeâ—ling baâ—ishment of his enemies looseâ—â—ed King Edward to his accustomed wantonnesse and riâ—â— For certainly never liv'd Prince whom adversitie did more harden to action and prosperitie more soften to voluptâ—ousnesse So that by the judgement on his life we may say like a stone cast into the ayre hee was by necessitie forst up to glory while his center remain'd beneath in the sence of pleasure And so improvident was his memory that he forgot the greatest injuries and resâ—â—â—ed the Archbishop of Yorke into favour not hearing so much as a watchfull eye over a reconcil'd enemy By which his counâ—â—iles were betray'd and he perswaded to a false and most dangerous securitie But the Duke of Buâ—gundy whose recreation was businesse and whose delight extent of dominion who by having long â—â—astled with Lewis the Eleventh had leaâ—â—t all the slights of warre and peace labor'd â—o disperâ—e the storme before it fell upon England Whelâ—â—â—on hee daily advertiz'd King Edward of all passages in the Court of France his intelligence holding good there and who knew how neare danger came to him should our King be overthrowne Hee advis'd him by vast promises which no way oblieg'd performance to winne some and â—owing the poysonous â—eede of aemulation to recall others As likewise to send over some great Lord into France who pretending discontent shall adhere to the faction and under hand discover all their counsailes But above all he sollicited him to rigge up and set forth his Navie whereby to prevent their landing Affirming it to bee a most ridiculous madnesse in a King unlesse urged by inevitable necessitie to stake his Crowne at a battaile against the desperation of a rebell The King contrary to this sober counsaile never endeavour'd to hinder the returne of Warwick but building on the protestations of the Marquesse Mâ—ncatute and the Archbishop of Yorke securely gave himselfe over to licenciousnesse In which interim the Earle with his retinue conducted by the Bastard of Burbâ—â— Admirall of France saild backe into England King Leâ—yâ— having furnisht him with a full supply of mâ—nies and for shouldiers hee needed no â—oâ—taine levies his name and faction was so great at home For though the Countrey by â—ivill warre was much dispeopled yet the commonalty being for the most borne and bred up in tumults were naturally addicted to armes and prone upon any innovations to take the field Neither could the Duke of Burgundy though most passionately hee labor'd it hinder the Earles landing by giving him battaile at Sea for the winds fought for Warwick and disperst the Burgâ—nian fleete the best in that age commanded upon the Seâ— casting some ships upon the coast of Scotland others upon the reâ—otest parts of Holland Neither did the King any way repent his error when hee understood the Earle was landed but presently dispatcht a messenger to the Duke intreating him to continue his Army at Sea to impeach Warwicks flight backe into France as if hee were ascertained fortune would never deny him victory So secure was he growne by an overbold presumption the bastard daughter of a long prosperitie But they whom experience had instructed to more caution pittied his mistake and foresaw the ruine And he himselfe not long after understanding how mightily the Earle increast in power began to thinke his safetie brought into hazard Which he much more beleeved when he found the Nobilitie whom he summon'd to his aide to excuse themselves and the common streame of people to ebbe wholly from his devotion And indeed even in the Citie the adverse faction was growne so strong that Doctor Gooddiard Chaplaine to the Earle at Pauls Crosse in his Sermon dared even to act the Herald and conclude Edward an usurper And thereupon to commend the most religious intentions of the Earle and to exhort the Audience to joyne with him in restoring their imprison'd Soveraigne King Henry to his Scepter and the Common wealth to libertie The credulous multitude tooke this heresie for true doctrine and with some of the zealous ignorant it so farre prevailed that in pure devotion they committed high treason But would to God the Pulpit might onely speake things sacred matters of State having roome enough to bee discust in Councell Chambers and other places erected for publike assemblies For certainly how erronious soever the tenet bee if utter'd there by a Priest with apparence of Religion it gets two much authority in the eare and too much ground upon the conscience As this opinion did which no sooner received but all began to incline to revolt and with the first retired away the late reconcild Archbishop and the Matquesse Montacute his brother both having so often and so ceremoniously vowed never to forsake the title of King Edward and both now perfidiously breaking those vowes and with the lowdest crying out Long live King Henry The trechery of Mountacute who having raisd in King Edwards name six thousand men turnd now with them to Warwicke and the generall defection of the Land threw the King downe into extreame despaire For those few Lords who constantly adheard to his declining fortune commanded over so small a number that to resolve upon a battaile were to betray themselves to slaughter And when misfortune drove their thoughts upon safetie by flight they knew not whether to resolve No Land being willing to receive that Prince who is forc'd to flie his owne But while his imaginations remaind thus confused he had hardly escapt a surprize in the night had not his former misfortune served him now for instruction And finding his stay onely begot disreputation to his quarrell and danger to his person he began his flight towards Lincolneshire But the Earlesent after him his Light Horse following with the whole body of his Army and so close did the Light Horse pursue him that with much difficultie and with losse of all his carriages in his passage thorough the Washes hee reacht Linne The Lord Hastings faithfull to the King in all fortunes and who had yet three thousand Horse under his command stayd some short time behind and now when he imagin'd the King past the reach of imminent danger he dismist his Forces and followed after At parting he commended the faith of the Souldiers to their Prince which neverthelesse for the present hee advised them to dissemble No present securitie nor hope of doing after service but by submission to the prevailing faction Ere long he promis'd to returne when a better fortune would invite them to show the loyaltie of their affections the violence of the storme being too mightie to continue and King Edward in faction at home and abroad too potent so easily to quit a kingdome however for the present he withdrew himselfe a while Having exhorted thus his Souldiers he obeyed necessity and by speedy flight went after the King Who having hired three shippes one of England and
the chance of warre why was not an honorable peace to bee prefer'd Especially since if wee had faild in the successe how wretchedly had our forces beene broken in opinion and how impossible on the sudden to re-inforce the Armie And if the French had declin'd the battaile into what necessities had wee falne the Summer almost paste and both Burgundie and S. Paul refusing to let us have townes to winter our men And if wee looke upon the peace it selfe nothing is in it disadvantagious to our honour or profit Considering it brought not onely a great present summe and annuall revenue but brought it from the then greatest Prince in Christendome enforc'd by feare And for convenience the marriage of the Kings daughter to the Dolphin could not be but esteemed of maine consequence why then wonne that apothegme so much reputation that reported our King to have gain'd nine battailes in which hee personally fought and never to have â—ost any but this Since in this hee overcame a Prince of farre greater power then hee ever fought with before with no disadvantage but that the victory was purchast without blood which should be esteemed an addition to the glory of it And if you cast your eye backe upon the course held in the most famed Empire and especially in the Roman which was the noblest you shall finde they never refused their friendship to any Prince who supply as Lewys of France to King Edward requested it And tooke more glory to have Kings their tributaries then their Kingdomes farm'd out to a more profitable revenue But of this enough and but enough since it tends onely to vindication of the English honour which the French vaunted so much to have suffered in this treaty In which they thinke us by their wits miserably overreacht and perhaps indeed wee were if the articles be onely judged by their feares and not by the difficulties of our army at that time and the just jealousie of the King that his confederates intended not his but their owne businesse The newes of this Peace no sooner came to the Court of the Duke of Burgundy but in all hast he poasted to the English Campe attended onely by sixteene Horse The distraction of his looke and gesture exprest the wildnesse of his thoughts so that the whole Army discovered his discontent before he utter'd it His first addresse to the King was in question of the truth of the common report that spoke a peace concluded betweene him and King Lewys Which when he was resolv'd was true hee presently broke into a most passionate fierce language Obrayding the King with inglorious sloath and the indefatigable courage of former Kings of England upon whose attempts waited ever the noblest victory He made a scornefull repetition of the mirth his enemies would make at his returne as if hee had come over with so huge an Army Merchant like to trafficke for a little mony and the contempt hee must needs become to his owne people when they should perceive the great conquests their contributions have brought home And when it was intimated to him that he and the Duke of Brittaine were included in the Peace he disdainefully rejected it protesting the love he bore the English name not care of his owne safety had perswaded King Edward to this enterprize And to show how little dependancy his Fortune held on any other and how without mediation of an allye he was able to make his owne peace he vowed to conclude none with France untill the English army had been three monthes at home After hee had throwne forth these disordered speeches in much discontent hee left the King Who wondered to heare himselfe to disdainefully intreated Having seldome beene accustomed to any language but what was pollisht to delight by flattery But they who misliked the Peace commended the spirit of the Duke overjoyed to heare their unquiet thoughts which feare restrained from utterance so freely spoken But the Count Saint Paul assertained of this accord was seized upon by a farre other passion For by dissembling with these three Princes in hope to winne into love and reputation with the more fortunate hee had offended them all so farre that hee knew not to which confidently to flye for refuge France was irreconciliable because he had beene ever in practise against the quiet and safety of that state and who both by the tyes of allyance as having marryed the sister of King Lewys his wife and loyalty as who held much Land in France and executed the place of Constable being oblieged to seeke the preservation of his Country had for many yeares nourisht treason and sometimes brought the Crowne it selfe to the hazard Then from England or Burgundy there was no probability of friendship both having beene deluded by his promises and in the last businesse at S. Quintin provoked to the highest indignation For although the English onely sustained the losse in point of safety for the present expedition yet in point of honour the Duke had his share in sufferance Hee having before the Kings passage out of England covenanted for the faith of the Count Saint Paul But certainely the misery of a petty Prince is lamentable and his estate most unsafe when there is any jealousie growing betweene his more potent neighbours For Neutrality is incompatible with his fortune in regard his Country shall then lye open to the spoyle of every army if he deny to declare himselfe and if he declare himselfe he must run the hazard of anothers Fortune And oftentimes the very scituation of his Principality enforceth him to take part not with the stronger or juster but with the nearer neighbouring as in danger of whose rage his estate is most subject But in addition to the misery of his Fortune S. Paul had the unquietnesse of minde raised up into a high ambition by the cunning of wit For he had so many and so farre fetches in his imaginations and of them some had prospered so much to his advantage that it made him presumptuous of his abilities to dissemble and therefore continue in it till at last the discovery tooke away all beliefe from his after pretentions and happily too from his reall intentions But among the greatest of his misfortunes is to be reckoned the time he lived in For had he not met with so polliticke a Prince as Lewys of France who had likewise the start of him in good lucke he questionlesse might have attained some one of those many designes he so wittily and probably contrived But in the conduct of their affaires Princes shall finde a discreet honesty not onely toward God but even to the depraved World the safest rule of humane actions For the absolute dissolution of a state was never knowne to happen by observance of faith or Religion and seldome in the time of a good Prince I meane if his goodnesse were active not over-ruled by evill Counsell to misgovernement S. Paul in this distraction of thoughts endeavoured to recover a
the Embassadors who had forgot by their mony to make him an instrument in effecting this treason This villaine for hee was fittest for the businesse so ordered the matter that while hee entertaind the Embassadors in a most serious discourse the Earle was carried into Sanctuary and no notice given them till he was beyond their reach Which when they understood finding themselves defrauded of so great a bargaine and even of the money layd out in the purchase indignation transported them into bitter language against Landois But he excused himselfe of the practise and layd the whole fault of the misfortune upon their negligence desiring that their carelesnesse in loosing a prey might not be cast as a crime upon that respect he had shewed them in his visit And when the Embassadors importun'd him by his authoritie to force the Earle from the place hee pretended religion to the Sanctuary which if he should out of honour to the English but offer to violate so great was the veneration the people hold it in that they would tumultuously rise to prevent so bold a sacriledge Hee advisd them therefore to give over this game lost past play and prepare their excuse as cunning as possible to satisfie their King And for his part to show the zeale hee bore to the affaires of England hee would take such order and he knew it would stand with the approbation of his Master that the Sanctuary should be severely guarded whence if the Earle endeavourd an escape it should be into some place of safetie where hee should be strictly imprisond till the King of England were pleased otherwise to dispose of him With this plausible discourse Landois left the Embassadours to saile over whom the winde now too late servd to carry backe But the King notwithstanding the fairest colours they could lay upon the businesse and promise on the Dukes part to keepe the Earle safe from escape cast upon them a sower looke Misfortune to a Minister of state procuring for the most part as much disgrace as if he had beene perfidious in the practise Frustrated of his hope to gaine Richmond into his power but yet in part freed of all danger threatning from him the King to give a lustre to that peace he had setled began to addict himselfe to a profuse hospitality A magnificent way of greatnesse in which the Monarchs of this Kingdome have in all ages exceeded all the Princes of Europe And upon all solemne times when cessation from labour licenceth the vulgar to admire the glorious outside of a state he showed a particular bravery to the eye by presenting as well martiall exercises in Iusts Tiltings Turnaments Barriers and the like as the softer entertainements of wit full of an elegant curiosity for that time subject to too much tumult and noyse to give birth to the best inventions But of all solemnities the feast of Saint George Patron of the noblest Order of the World was celebrated with most splendor and pompe Of which our common Cronicles are so liberall in the relation that they spare my pen the labour Among these delicacies of peace the King forgot not to please his lust the bastard of an idle security And indeed impossible almost it was that his appetite flatter'd daily with all the curiosities of luxury should containe it selfe severely within the bounds of modesty For as by his other actions wee may judge how little trouble his conscience put him to and therefore not easie to be frighted from sinne by Religion so on the part of his body they who familiarly knew him affirme that never man was framed by Nature more apt to the exercise of love and whom amorous Courtship did lesse missebecome But Almighty God tooke not his naturall pronenesse to lust for an excuse but severely punisht him in his Sonnes Who were both dispossest of the Kingdome and their lives by their unnaturall Vncle There being so much apparence of right in the Vsurper by their Fathers incontenency that even an Act of Parlament was made to bastardize them And this sad judgement was provoked by the disorder of his lust to which how can wee wonder if so easily he declin'd since Majesty seldome admits of any instructions to a severe correction of the appetite Ambition to extend their dominions hath beene ever recorded the noblest vertue in Princes Who to lessen a neighbor state too mighty in the growth of Empire or in hope to conquer some territory to which the conveniency not the justice makes good the title without scruple hazard large armies of their people And confidently boast the victory though the warre were grounded upon injustice While King Edward lived at home glorious in his quiet this doctrine was listened to by Charles Duke of Burgundy in following which he made so many injurious and unfortunate attempts For after his peace concluded with France he directed his whole power to the destruction of the Duke of Lorraine A Prince who in favour of King Lewys to whose fortune he had devoted his service defied the Duke of Burgundy when he lay at the siege of Nuze And though this designe against Lorraine might carry with it all probability of successe considering the narrownesse of the Dutchy Yet as it ought in judgment to have beene weighed with the supports of France and other confederates in Germany it might beare a face of much more difficulty For it had not onely beene a perpetuall dishonour to King Lewys but even a disadvantage to his affaires to permit a free spoile of so neare an adjoyning countrey to the Duke of Burgundie whom for the present a blind revenge transported beyond reason and made him warre with all crueltie not onely against the Duke of Lorrain where the victory might in some measure recompence the cost but against the Switzers because they had sided with Lorrain and made some irruption into the territories of the Burgonian The Switzers a poore people unknowne to the world confin'd to a miserable life among their cold and barren mountaines onely proud in opinion they had of their libertie which was rather maintain'd by the fortune of the countrey inaccessible almost to an invading army then by the valour of the people Against these he led his forces rejecting all those submisse and deprecatory Embassies sent by them and that free acknowledgement of their povertie when they protested all the wealth of their Countrey sum'd up to the highest value would not be able to buy the Spurres and Bridle-bits in his Campe. Fortune in the beginning of this enterprise flatterd him to a continuance of the warre with prosperous successe intending by that glorious baite onely to angle him to destruction For soone the chance of warre turn'd and in three battailes in one yeare the unfortunate Duke was overthrowne In the last of which fought before Nancy hee was slaine A Prince who by his alliance and continuall intercourse of businesse had much relation to the English Whose honour and recovery of whose
Duke of Cornewall and Earle of Chester and his younger brother Richard created Duke of Yorke The fate of their honour and their ruine being still the same At this creation according to the ceremony many young Lords and Gentlemen of principall name were made Knights of the Bath among whom Brian chiefe Iustice of the Common pleas and Littleton that learned father of the Lawes are registred But the publicke glory of these extraordinary pompes and the wantonnesse of his private pleasures could not be maintaind with the ordinary revenue Therefore to make good the expence of his owne errours the King began to looke narrowly into those of his subjects that by this art in a manner he might sinne upon free cost And as it hath beene a certaine observation that the most delicate and voluptuous Princes have ever beene the heaviest oppressors of the people Riot being a far more lavish spender of the common treasure then Warre or magnificence so those parts of the Kings life which were wantond away with varietie of delights are noted to have bin severest But perhaps the subject repents not the free gift of the Kingdomes substance when hee sees the returne of it in triumph but repines if the least part of his contribution bee the reward of parasites or persons to whom fortune not merit gives a growth And Historians likewise have more leasure to examine the crimes of Princes in the silence of peace then in the noyse of warre Or else Princes want opportunitie to inclose their thoughts to the studie of private gaine when the Souldier in a manner layes the wealth of the kingdome open and makes a common of every mans particular treasure For now the King began to cause the Poenall Lawes to be put in execution and wanting higher aimes to looke downeward into every sordid way of enriching himselfe So that a generall feare possest the people that his after government would be both sharpe and heavie considering the first part of it was not without a foule blemish in that kind For in the seventh yeare of his raigne hee proceeded against many of the wealthiest Citizens with so much severitie that it was repoted tyranny The chiefe of them were Sr. Thomas Cooke Sr. John Plumer Knights Humphrey Hewward and other Aldermen And their crime in their having given assistance to King Henry Which considering the circumstance of things could hardly beare any capitall accusation had it beene clearely proved but against these men there was no testimony but what was forc'd with torture and even that testimony not high enough to bring them to the barre yet the King commanded them to be arraigned of high treason at Guild Hall and withall exprest an earnest desire that upon any tearmes they might bee found guiltie Their wealth being the principall witnesse that gave evidence against their lives But the Iurie well directed by Sir John Marckham Knight chiefe Iustice of the Kings Bench acquit them of their treason Which neverthelesse releast them not their estates however found guiltie and the greatest part escheated to the King VVith the offenders the Iudge was condemn'd and because hee prefer'd his integritie before a severe command made forfeiture of his dignitie The memory of these carriages heretofore in a businesse that concern'd the life of man reputed innocent drew the world into much feare that hee would now decline to rigour Neither was the King totally excused although this cruell avarice was laid to the Queene who having a numerous issue and kindred by favour raisd up to the highest titles was almost necessitated for supportance of their honours to wrack the Kingdome And happily the universall malice that waited on her and hers serv'd well for the King They being as a screene betweene him and the unwholesome ayre of envie which otherwise might have endangerd his reputation with the people From this rugged way hee was soone diverted by necessitie to looke abroad and perhaps by the gentlenesse of his nature or repentance of his former severitie For the face of the world adjoyning began von the sudden to change and while the Kings of England and France were dividing the territories of the Dutchesse of Burgundie a third stept in and got possession of her and her rich countrey Maximilian Arch Duke of Austria sonne to the Emperour Fredericke the third entertain'd heretofore politckly by Duke Charles was now seriously invited to this marriage For the Lady dispairing to receive succours from the English to the affection of whom she was perhaps inclined by the neighbour-hood of the countrey and perswasion of the Dutchesse Dowager whom deservedly shee much honourd condescended in the end to the desire of her subjects who ever labord to marry lier to some Prince of Germany in regard of the nearenesse in language and concordance in dispositions And although the hereditarie countries of this Prince lying farre remote were unlike to bee any support to her weakned state yet considering him as sonne to the Emperous and in probabilitie like to succeede for in an elective Kingdome scarce ever is the heire put by if equally deserving he might appeare necessary to her present affaires For he was young of a noble spirit strong and healthfull in constitution bold in any attempt of honour and what wonne upon the affections of the Low countreymen extraordinary affable and courteous I know both his actions and the histories of that time deliver him to us of no deepe judgement and so negligent that he ever left things imperfect oftentimes in maine businesse betrayd by his credulitie But this I impute to him as an errour of the climate under which he was borne and a certaine generous honesty which is above suspition The motion of this marriage was imbraced with much joy to accomplishment of which hee instantly prepared Neither could King Lewys with all his Engines batter the resolution of the Emperour who though a most passionate lover of peace which oftentimes hee bought with losse ran the hazard of a warre from France rather then let his sonne loose the advantage of so great a Countrey And suddenly sent him to the Dutchesse attended by many great Commanders who among a people so opprest with armes would bee the best witnesses of a marriage His presence although it did not absolutely turne the streame of Fortune yet gave a stay to the French conquests And after he appeard in the quarrell victory doubtfully inclind sometimes flattering Maximilian at other times King Lewys Maximilian by his brave valour overtaking Lewys who had the start in experience and pollicy So that frequent truces were concluded betweene them and unfaithfully observd the first opportunitie of advantage renewing the warre Lewys handled these businesses apart never admitting King Edward though hee ever officiously labord to interesse himselfe into any part of the warre of peace For as hee knew the strength of his understanding such that hee in treatie could loose nothing by the Arch-Duke so he well consider'd that the safest way to
somewhat cleare Either conscience reforming him or by continuall sacietie growne to a loathing of it for the abstinence could not be imputed to age hee at his death not exceeding two and fortie But what endeard him so much to the affection of the people and especially to the Citizens of London was his being rich by his tribute from France and therefore not likely to lye heavy on them as likewise the so famed bountie of his hospitalitie Two thousand persons being daily served in his Court at Eltham where most solemnly hee celebrated the feast of the Nativitie And to recompence the great love which in both fortunes the Londoners had showed him to his last houre he used towards them a particular kindnesse Even so much that he invited the Lord Major and Aldermen and some of the principall Citizens to the Forrest of Waltham to give them a friendly not a pompous entertainement Where in a pleasant Lodge they were feasted the King himselfe seeing their dinner served in and by thus stooping downe to a loving familiarity sunke deepe into their hearts ordinary slight curtesies ordered thus to the best advantage taking more often even with sound judgements then churlish benefits And that the sex he alwayes affected might not bee unremembred he caused great plentie of Venison to bee sent to the Lady Majoresse and the Aldermens wives Thus was the outward face of the Court full of the beautie of delight and Majestie while the inward was all rotten with discord and envie For the Queene by how much shee considerd her selfe more unworthy the fortune shee enjoyed by so much she endeavord in the exterior height of carriage to raise her selfe foolishly imagining pride could set off the humilitie of her birth Shee was likewise according to the nature of women factious as if her greatnesse could not appeare cleare enough without opposition And they she opposed were the chiefest both in blood and power the weaker shee disdayning to wrastle with and they fearefull to contest with her But what subjected her to an universall malice was the rapine the necessary provision of her kindred engaged her to For they being many and great in title could not bee supplyed according to their ambition but by so common an injury as made her name odious through the kingdome Moreover the Lords of her blood by reason of their nearenesse to the Kings children being insolent and in regard of their youth indiscreet frequently ran into those errours which betraid them to the publicke scorne or hatred Against the Queene for through her kindred they aym'd at her opposed the Duke of Glocester the Duke of Buckingham the Lord Hastings and others of the most ancient nobilitie And to render odious her and hers Glocester laid the death of the Duke of Clarence which fratricide himselfe most barbarously contrived altogether upon their envie pretending a more then ordinary causion for his owne safetie least his person might by the same practise be brought in danger By which calumnie he both cleared his owne reputation and clouded the fame of a faction hee endeavord so much to ruine But this side had much the start in opinion and pollicie over the other who were young and unexperienc'd and president of whose Councell was a woman To compose these quarrells begot the King much trouble neither could he without extreame anxietie heare the continual complaints of persons so considerable both in power in the kingdome and kindred to his children not knowing to how dangerous a height this discord in time might grow But to increase his discontent everyday his jealousie increast concerning King Lewys his faith who now began to unmaske his intention and show how much hee had deluded the English For having ever since Maximilians marriage with Mary Dutchesse of Burgundie beene upon unkinde termes with him sometimes at open warre other times in an unfaithfull truce hee was now growing to an absolute peace And the conditions were whisper'd contrary to the treatie Piquignie which made the King suspicious they two might enter into some league prejudicall to the honour of the English For Maximilian having kept Lewys all the life time of his Lady from any further incroach upon her territory and by his fortune won into opinion with the French grew to bee must desired in the nearest friendship by them And he having buried his Dutchesse who owed her death to her modestie in respect that having broke her Thigh by a fall from a Horse she denied to expose it to the sight of Chirurgeons was willing to stand upon good termes with France Knowing how slender and how unfaithfull an obedience those Countries would yeeld to a Prince who was to rule by curtesie since to their naturall Lords they had ever shewed themselves insolent and rebellious These considerations prepared both sides to peace the conclusion of it to beget a more perfect amitie was that the Lady Margaret a child of two yeares old daughter â—o Maximilian and the Dutchesse of Burgundie should be affianced to the Dolphin then upon the age of twelve So that King Lewys in the marriage of his sonne was ever most disproportionable the daughter of England as much too old as this Lady too young but indeed his end was the same with Charles Duke of Burgundy and many other worldly fathers to match his sonne for the best advantage of his profit and convenience To confirme the uncertaine rumours of this perjurie in King Lewys the Lord Howard return'd out of France and made relation how hee saw the Lady Margaret brought with all pompe and ceremony to Ambois and there married to Charles the Dolphin And to heape yet more injuries not long after the tribute hitherto so carefully payd was denied The French now disclosing the innated malice they bore the English and with how little scruple they could dispence with the most solemne oath when no apparent danger threatned the crime For though the Dolphin when hee had attaind to the age of consent might have broke off this marriage and it could have beene onely term'd an act of discourtesie yet King Lewys who had sworne to this Article with so much ceremony cannot bee excused from a most foule impietie But what reason of state prevaild with him who heretofore awed by his feares had condescended in a manner to compound for his kingdome thus now to slight the English is not delivered in history And it may appeare difficult considering King Edward was now if possibly more absolute in his command at home his people better disciplin'd and no apparence of an enemy from abroad Adde to that his Coffers full increast every yeare by the tribute from France and his reputation high by the victory lately purchast against the Scots A nation though inferior to the French in the riches and extent of territory yet in martiall courage equall and in warring with whom we have found more sweat and danger It is therefore hard to know the cause of King Lewys his
Lady Elizabeth Gray bewitcht him to her love and likewise another precontract with the Lady Edeanor Dutler daughter to the Earle of Shrewsbury and widdow to the Lord of Sudlye I cannot but beleeve all those scandals by some of the tyrants wicked instruments suggested into the mindes of that assembly For had there beene a just exception against this marriage neither George Duke of Clarence nor the Earle of Warwicke in their frequent calumnies against the King being in open rebellion had left it unmention'd But no sooner had King Edward obey'd his â—ancie in taking her to his bed and in that â—asted the forbidden fruite forbidden I meane by politique respects but he saw himselfe naked of friends at home and abroade to oppose against any new arising difficulty But as yet by the braverie of his carriage did he aâ—de an honour to the â—ct Courage and Love either denying himâ— to foresee or to regard the danger Though as soone as the marriage was deâ—â—â—ged hee presently I discern'd another face of men Moâ—â—â—â—iâ—r 〈◊〉 in the Extraordinary for France full of indignation return'd and the Nobility in generall lookâ— discontented or else but forc'd a smile The soâ— higâ— advancement of this one Lady and her children lately beneath so many in fortune begetting an universall envie in the rest But when the Earle of Warwicke understood how mighty an affront by this was given to his imployment he entertain'd none but disdainefull thoughts against his Prince And exprest so bold a discontent that Lewis of France who was quicke to perceive and carefull to â—omentany displeasure which might tend to the disturbance of another Kingdome began to enter into private communication with him For ever after this common injury so they cal'd the errour of love in the King the Earle held a dangerous intelligence in France which after occasion'd so many confusions to our Kingdome Neverthelesse upon his returne he dissembled â—ll discontent and in every circumstance of respect applyed himselfe to applaâ—de the mariage and in particular the excellent peâ—sonage of the Queene The King intâ—rpreted the intentions of the man according to the apparance unwilling perhaps to racke his owne nature so farre till it had confest that his carriage might dissemble danger And in the meane time to raise his wives kindred as neere as possibly to his owne greatnesse hee searchâ— out all meanes for their advancement The Lord Richard Widdevill her Father he created Earle of Rivers and High Constable of England with an annuall Fee of 200 pound out of the Exchequer whom shortly after he made Lord Treasureâ— Her brother Anthony hee created Lord Scales the daughter and heirâ— to which title by the Kings earâ—est sollicitation he not long before had wedded And her sonne Thomaâ— hee rais'd to the honour of Marquesse Dâ—rset for whom he procured in marriage the heire of the Lord Bonvile and Harrington By his owne free gift enobling them with titles and by the industry of his mediation enabling them with possessions to make those titles no scorne to the owners Every unmarried Lord imagin'd the bestowing of these two great heires on the Queenes kindred an injury to his owne hopes And Warwick thought every great office confer'd upon another misplac'd For his many Services begot so great an insolencie that he scarce allowed the King a share in the distribution of his owne Hereupon his thoughts grew dangerous and onely opportunity was wanting to thrust him into action He consider'd the vastnesse of his possessions the greatnesse of his authority among the Commons and the generall dependancies of the men of war upon him and hence concluded it was as easie for him to uncreate as to create a King But hee found the generall humor of the kingdome not yet fully ripe for mischiefe the vulgar enamor'd on the much curtesie of their Prince the Lords neerest to him in blood likeliest to incline to his Faction deare likewise to the King and all of the house of Lancaster who by probability would at first invitement take fire in any combustion of the state exil'd and poore Sedition therefore for the present was but an embrion in his braine which after when time had deliver'd became so vast and bloody a monster Neverthelesse hee was not unmindfull of his designe cherishing unkinde thoughts in any whom he saw distasted at the King and casting forth speeches which might lessen the honour of his publicke and private actions with which discourses as with slow poysons he infected many limbes of the general body Then upon pretention of infirmity and prescription of Pâ—isitions for the change of ayre with licence from the King he retired to his Castle at Warwicke Where his observation was what Lords great in power or treasure resorted to him and with what countenance whether they undervalued the weakenesse of the Kings judgement or hated the advancement of the Queene and her kindred whether they were troubled at any private repulse or open affront or generally at the publicke businesse or whether they repented not the so violent oppression of the family of Lancaster Any discontent making for his purpose which either pointed at the errors of the King pride of the Queene and her kindred or the misgovernment of the state Vpon the affections of the meaner sort begain'd by a profuâ—e hospitality â—â— open kitchen and buttery perswading more with them than any dutie to justice Vpon the good will of the better sort he wonne by bowing his entertainement downe to an endearing familiarity saluting every man curteously by his name and engaging them by triviall benefits And with all sorts by his great service to the Crowne and a carriage Noble both in warre and peace The King though he wanted that vertue of â—owards suspicion began neverthelesse to have the Earle in some jealousie his unusuall retirednesse from the Court and so expencefull purchasing the voyce of the people argued both distaste against his Prince and a hope to maintaine any unlawfull enterpise by Faction But either in pollicie he dissembled his distrust nor having yet any firme ground to build a just accusation or in good nature would ecclips the Earles greatnesse by which himselfe enjoy'd a benefit little lesse thaâ— the Crowne But that the storme threatned from France for incensing King Lewis in the diâ—â—ouâ—â—t marriage of the Lady â—ona might be diverted he made strong confederacies round about him With Henry King of Castle and John King of Arâ—agon that Spaine however far remoâ—e might bâ—e neere in friendship he enter'd into leagâ—â— and upon the conclusion of it granted licence for the transportation of certaine Cotswold sheepe thither a grant that is complain'd of still as a mighty enriching to the Spanish and as great an empoverishing to the English Merchant With Scotland hee made a trucâ— for fifteene yeeres that he invading France or invaded by the French might be secure however not to have that Nation according to their custome upon all advantages enemies at his
backe His Ambassadors in the Low Countries urged the Duke of Burgâ—ndie to â—â—â— accomplishment of the marriage betweene his sonne the Earle of Charolois and the Lady Margaret the Kings sister And so happie successe had thiâ— nâ—gotiation that though for some yeares it had hung â—n suspence it was now absolutely agreede on and the Bastard of Burgundy sent over with full instructions and power to give the Treaâ—ie a finall conclusion For whatsoever dissimulation the Earle of Charolois used at first he now intâ—â—â—â—â— thâ—s marriage seriously In regard hee found himselfe lye open to the maâ—ice of King Lewis a most dangerous Neighbour who by pollicie or 〈◊〉 had broken all those great confederacies the Earle had before in France Wherefore â—here was now no â—afeâ—y but in arâ—ing himselfe by a â—â—â—â—â—â— amity with the English a Nation forward and fierce to attempt any thing upon the French and in their attempts scarce ever but prosperous Neither was the courage of the Kings youth and his continuall good successe in warre a small inducement considering it gave a certaine hope that he upon any invitation of honour or profit might be perswaded to crosse the Seas undertake the ancient national quarrel And for the danger of any alteration in the government there was then no ground for suspition the King honour'd and loved by his people the adverse faction of no power and the Earle of Warwicke having never yet declared himselfe but most passionately affected to the house of Yorke Wherefore in reason of staâ—e being no impediment the marriage was soone ageeed on and upon the agreement many triumphs glorious but martiall according to the nature of that time so devoted to Armes But to interrupt the jollity of these Triumphs an expresse came from the Low-Countries with the newes of the death of Duke Phillip Presently the Bastard returnd and our Councell stood at a gaze being in some suspence what alteration the businesse might receive the Earle now absolute in possession of his Fathers dominions But that scruple was soone taken away by an Ambassador sent to hasten the full performance of the marriage Whereupon the Lady was carried over with all the ceremonies of greatnesse and at Burges married to Duke Charles that Nation which then exceeded all the World in bravery and riot exceeding even it selfe at this tiumph in the wantonnesse of a superfluous pompe In those Countries she lived some while his wife though ever barren with as much love from him as hee could spare from his ambitious warres but she continued long his widdow in much reputation among the Natives and good esteeme with neighboring Princes Two things rendred her much the discourse of those times An extraordinary love and care in the education of the posterity of her husband and an extreame malice against Henry the seventh To supplant whom because there wanted true she countenanc'd the suppositious Princes of the house of Yorke and by continuall practises revenged in part the injury of that disrespect he ever cast upon her family This so potent alliance and his confederacies with forraigne states made King Edward imagine himselfe in great security when indeede hee was most unsafe For during these treaties abroade and triumphes at home the Earle of Warwicke quickned so farre his designes that now there appear'd a dangerous life in them The body of his Faction was grown mighty but monstrous being compacted of severall natures For into conspiracie of this great enterprise he had drawne off the Clergie and the Laity and most of them of affections most opposite The Archbishop of Yorke was the principall mover because he moved upon the soule and made treason an act of Religion The easie multitude who builde their faith upon the man not the Doctrine thinking it meritorious to rebell in regard his function seem'd to give authority to the action With the Archbishop the Marquesse Mountague consented but secretly either cunningly dissembling mischiefe or else wishing well to both sides being in himselfe devided betweene a naturall love to a brother and an alleigance to a Prince or perhaps projecting to make his benefit out of which party soever should prevaile With these agreed many eminent persons of King Edwards Court whom either desire of warre having never lived but in the troubled streame of discord or want of expected recompence renderd discontent All the partakers in the calamity of the house of Lancaster most passionately at first overture embrac'd this motion as men whom desperation had prepar'd fit for the mostruinous attempt And who having found nothing but evill fortune at home and contempt abroad were instructed in a pacience ready with joy to suffer a not inglorious death Among whom Henry Holland Duke of Exceter was a sad example who after his ruine with the fal of Henry the sixth was reduc'd to so miserable a condition that all ragged and bare footed he begg'd for his meate in the Low-Countries the absolute Prince whereof and he married two sisters the daughters of Richard Duke of Yorke With this so unfortunate Lord all the rest who shared with him in misery ranne violently into this warre But the wonder of the world then was at the powerfull sorcerie of those perswasions which bewitcht the Duke of Clarence the Kings brother to this conspiracie but hee was young purblind in foreseeing the event of things Profuse in expence beyond his revenue and almost beyond the Kings power to supply grudging the favours confer'd upon the Queene and her kindred Valuing his birth too high as who forgot the brother of a King is but a subject forward upon any termes to make himselfe greater easily lending eare to dangerous whispers and as rashly giving consent These preparatives made this young Prince fit to take any mischiefe which the Earle of Warwicke ministred most plentifully And first to apply to the narrownesse of his present fortune a humor most troublesome at the instant he gave him in marriage the Lady Isabell his daughter and ooheire to the rich Earledome of Warwicke In hatred against the Queene he concurd and in discontent against the Kings so slender rewards but in promising greatnesse to Clarences ambition he exceeded even proportion though not probability considering the Earles unlimitted power But first to make the friendship strong by a neere alliance they saild over for the consummation of this marriage to Callice of which town the Earle of Warwicke was Captaine and in which the young Lady then remain'd with her mother Soone was this ceremony past and soone did the Earle invite his Sonne-in-Law from the softnesse of the nuptiall dalliance as who had contrived this marriage for businesse not for pleasure and design'd the first issue of their embraces to bee a monster and the most unnaturall one Warre betweene brothers He acquainted therefore his Sonne-in-Law by what line he had sounded the depth of the peoples affection to the present King and what a tempest he was able to raise when ever he should