was notwithstanding made a partner in the punishment For King Henry observing how farre the Lords might have prevailed with their late stratagem for if their stomacks had beene but answerable to their strength and their bold beginning had not ended in faintnesse and sloth they might have driven him to an hard hazard hee caused King Richard to bee put to death thereby to make sure that no man should cloke open rebellion under the colour of following sides nor countenance his Conspiracie either with the person or name of King Richard But whether hee did expresly command his death or no it is a question but out of question he showed some liking and desire to the action gave approvement thereto when it was done The report went that King Richard was Princely served every day with abundance of costly dishes but was not suffered to touch or taste one of them and so perished with famine I perswade my selfe this is meerely fabulous for such barbarous and unnaturall cruelty against a King and a kinsman is not likely to proceed from King Henry a Christian But it is more probable which a Writer about those times affirmeth That King Henry sitting at his Table sad and pensive after a deepe sigh said Have I never a faithfull friend that will ridde me of him whose life will breed destruction to mee and disquiet to the Realme and whose death will bee a meanes of safetie and quiet to both And how can I be freed from feare so long as the cause of my danger doth continue what securitie what hope shall we have of peace unlesse the roote of rebellion bee plucked up A Knight called Sir Pierce of Exton hearing this with eight of his followers posteth to Pomfret and pretending warrant from the King had entrance into the Castle where hee commanded the Esquire who sued to King Richard to surcease his service whereupon when King Richard being set at Table saw that hee was not served as afore with assay and demanded of the Esquire the reason of this his neglect of dutie therein Hee was answered that Sir Pierce had brought such order from King Henry comming lately from the Court Richard moved with this act and answer said The divell take thee and Henry Duke of Lancaster with that Sir Pierce with his Retinew before him entred into the Chamber and locked the dore after them Whereupon King Richard spying their drift and suspecting his owne danger stepped couragiously to the first man and wresting the Halbert out of his hands therewith slew foure of his mischievous assaylants and with admirable resolution fought with the other untill comming by the Chayre wherein the King used to sit in which the cowardly Knight himselfe was got for his owne safetie he was by him strucken with a Pollax on the hinder part of the head who being at the point of death groned forth these words Edward the second my great Grandfather was in this manner Deposed imprisoned and murthered whereby my Grandfather Edward the third obtained the Crowne and now is this punishment fallen upon mee his next Successor This is right for me to suffer but not for you to doe your King may for a time joy at my death and injoy his desire but let him qualifie his pleasure with expectation of the like justice for God who measureth all our actions by the malice of our mindes will not suffer this violence to passe unrevenged whether these words did proceed from a distempered desire or from the judgement of his fore-sight they were not altogether idle Sir Pierce expecting great rewards for his ungratious service was frustrate of both and not only missed that countenance for which hee hoped but lost that which before hee had so odious are crying sinnes even to him for whom they were committed Hereupon at first hee grew discontented and afterwards tormented in conscience and in a rage would often exclaime that to pleasure one ungratefull person hee had made both himselfe and posteritie infamous and odious to all the world King Henry with disquiet held the kingdome during his life and so did his Sonne King Henry the fift in whose time by continuall warre with France the malice of the humor was otherwise exercised and spent But his second Successor King Henry the sixt was dispossessed thereof and together with his young Sonne Prince Henry imprisoned and put to death either by command or connivence of Edward the fourth and hee also escaped not free for hee dyed not without many and manifest suspitions of poyson And after his death his two sonnes were disinherited imprisoned and butchered by the Vsurper the Duke of Glocester who was slaine at Bosworth field and so in his person having no issue the Tragedy ended These are excellent examples both to comfort them that are oppressed and of terror to violent oppressors That God in his secret judgement doth not alwayes so certainly provide for our safetie as revenge our wrongs and oppressions and that allour unjust actions have a day of payment and many times by way of retaliation even in the same manner and measure they were committed Thus as most of the chiefe Writers doe agree was King Richard by violence brought to his end although all Historians agree not of the manner of the violence Hee was a man of personage rather well proportioned then tall of gracefull and comely presence of good strength and no abject spirit but the one by ease the other by flattery were much abused and abased hee deserved many friends but found but few because hee bought them by his bounty not sought them by vertuous behaviour hee was infortunate in all his actions which may bee imputed to his slothfull carelesnesse for hee that is not provident can seldome prosper for his loosenesse will lose whatsoever fortune or other mens labours doe cast upon him Hee lived three and thirty yeares and raigned two and twenty in his younger yeares he was too much ruled by greene heads little regarding the counsell of the grave and judicious Councellors which turned to the disquiet of the Realme and his owne destruction Hee married two wives the first was Anne the Daughter of Charles the fourth and Sister of Winceslaus King of Bohemia shee was crowned Queene the twenty two of Ianuary 1384. but dyed without issue The second wife was Isabell Daughter of Charles the sixt King of France an infant of seven yeares of age who after his death was returned into France but without Dower because the mariage was never consummate for want of copulation The Lord Henry Piercy had the conveying of her over in Anno 1401. His dead body was embalmed and seared and covered with leade all save the face and carried to London where hee had a solemne obsequie kept in the Church of Saint Paul the King being present and the chiefe Companies of the Citie From thence hee was conveyed to Langley Abby in Buckinghamshire and there obscurely interred by the Bishop of Chester the Abbots of
it so home that the adverse part not able or at lest not willing to endure the shock for the cause of quarrell in a Souldier encreaseth the courage or abateth the edge of resolution gave grownd which moved King Richard to bring on the maine battaile And with a desperat resolution entred so farre into the enemies battaile that with his own hands hee slew Sir William Brandon Richmonds chiefe standard bearer and unhorst Sir Iohn Cheney a strong and stout man at armes And at length encountring with the Earle of Richmond enterchanged some buffets But Henry ayded by the divine helpe and favoured with the uprightnesse of his cause with stood Richards forceable assault But whilst the armies on both sides stood striving in a doubtfull hazard who should win the price Sir William Stanley with three thousand fresh men crying S. George a Richmond joyned with his brothers Souldiers brake into King Richards battayle who thereupon fled incontinently leaving their King behind to make a bloody catastrophe of his slaughterly raigne who throughly enraged furiously fighting without discretion or ability to prevaile he fell under the sword of his enemies The rumor of his death and the rowting of the battaile gave occasion to the reregard Commanded by Henry Earle of Northumberland who rather wished then expected what did befall to submit without striking stroke whereby the victory fell to the Earle Richmonds part who upon certainty thereof instantly in most religious divotion gave order for publicke thanks giving to God for their happy preservation and he himselfe that gave the precept made himselfe the patterne therein alighting from his horse and kneeling upon his knees first privatly to himselfe and then publickly with the rest gave glory to his maker There were not above one thousand slaine on both sides the cheife of whom was Iohn Duke of Norfolke who was often warned and much laboured that day to forbeare the field in regard there was found written upon his tent-dore Iack of Norfolke be not to boold For Dickon thy Master is bought and sold. But what God had before appointed could not be prevented This Iohn Howard was the sonne of Sir Robert Howard knight and Margaret eldest daughter and coheire of Thomas Mowbray Duke of Norfolk in whose right he was created Duke of Norfolk the five and twentieth day of Iune in the yeare of our Lord 1483. He married two wives the first was Katherine daughter of William Lord Mullyns by whom he had issue one sonne and foure daughters Thomas that succeeded him and was created Earle of Surry in the first yeare of King Richard the third and was restored to grace and made Lord Treasurer in the sixteenth yeare of Henry the seventh and 1 Anne married to Sir Edmond Gorge knight 2 Isabell married to Robert Mortymer of Essex knight 3 Iane married to Thomas Tymperley Esquire and Margaret married to Iohn Windham of Cowtherck in Norfolk knight This Dukes second wife was Margaret daughter of Sir Iohn Chadworth knight by whom he had issue Katherine married to Iohn Bourcheir Lord Berners and no more Walter Lord Ferrers Sir Richard Ratcliff and Sir Robert Brackenbury knights with William Catesby an utterbarrister with some others were taken flying And shortly after executed at Leicester Francis Vicount Lovell and the two Staffords escaped and tooke Sanctuary in S. Iohns at Glocester Henry Earle of Northumberland submitting himselfe was not onely pardoned but received into favour whilst Thomas Howard Earle of Surry eldest sonne of Iohn Duke of Norfolk that then and there rendred himselfe as the other did to the conquerors mercy was committed close prisoner in Leicester and from thence sent to the Tower of London There were not on the Earle of Richmonds part above one hundred slaine the principall whereof was William Brandon This battaile was fought at Rodner neere Bosworth the two and twentieth day of August in the yeare of our Lord God 1486. After publicke thanks giving was as before prescribed orderly and religiously performed Earle Henry gave order to search amongst the slaine for such as were but wounded commanding those carefully to be drest and the other to be with decency on both sides buried The body of King Richard being amongst the slaughtered carkases found the whole armie gave a generall shoute and with loud acclamations of long live King Henry made the field ecchoe againe The Lord Stanly having in his custody King Richard the usurpers Crowne which amongst the spoyles his souldiers had found and brought to him placed the same on Earle Henryes head wherewith the souldiers reiterated their joyfull acclamations making the fields resound with long live King Henry of that name the seventh as if by their onely suffrages he had bin elected and confirmed King of England Here with the tent-keepers of the usurper came and submitted themselves to the Lord Stanly and brought with them young George Strange whom the usurper upon the Lord Stanlyes refusall presently to draw downe his forces to joyne with him had sworne before he went to dinner by the life of S. Paul to have had beheaded But was perswaded by his councell to forbeare the execution untill the battaile should be determined now being brought to the presence of his father The young Gentleman being thereto by his keepers instructed before craved the help of his mediation to the king for their pardon which was willingly undertaken and as easily procured From thence the camp presently removed and King Henry marched to the Towne of Leicester where for the more refreshing of his men and the better accommodation of himselfe for his journey towards the City of London he remained two dayes In the meane time the body of the usurper starke naked all mangled and besmeared with blood and dust without so much as the lest ragge to cover his privities was trussed behind Blanch Senigleer his owne Pursevant of armes like butchers ware his heads and his armes hanging on the one side of the horse his legs on the other and so was brought to Leicester where for a spectacle of hate and scorne by the space of two dayes he lay bare and uninterred At last by the Charitie of the Gray Fryers there without solemne funerall pompe scarce with ordinary solemnitie he was inhumed in their Monastery there he reigned two yeares two moneths and one day This Richard married Anne second daughter of Richard Nevill commonly stiled great Earle of Warwicke by whom he had issue Edward whom at twelue moneths old he created Prince of Wales but happily dyed before his father This Richard was borne at Fodringhay Castle in Northamptonshire the third sonne of Richard Duke of Yorke younger brother of George Duke of Clarence by him murdred in the Tower After the death of his brother King Edward the fourth he procured himselfe to be made Protector and guardian of his two Nephewes of whom he made himselfe the execrable murtherer For a fuller expression of his Character he was borne a monster in nature with all
his teeth with haire on his head and nayles on his fingers and toes with a viperous strength enforcing as it were his passage through his mothers wombe whom afterwards he shamed not to accuse of adultery but as one that then wrought journy-worke with the Divell his manners and qualities seconded the feature and lineaments of his body and members which were much deformed being hooke shouldred splay footed and goggle eyd his countenance sower the composure of his face little and round his complexion swarfie his left arme from his birth drye and and withered Nature supplied these deformities of the body with a strong brayne a quicke apprehension a good memory and a most fluent tongue which he seldome exercised but to the abuse of credulitie And with the sweetnesse of his delivery hee could so prevaile with such whom he ment to worke upon that he would ofentimes as it were infatuate them and enforce their beliefe of his oathes and protestations which were by Saint Paul and wishing God to damne him if hee did not performe his word which at the time of the speaking was no part of his thought sometimes against the hearers knowledge and conscience hee was neither morally honest nor religiously good He usd to make authority the stawking horse to his will and his will the sole commander of his conscience the largenesse whereof could without any scruple swallow murther of brother Nephewes wife and neerest friends nay attempt rape and incest with his owne brothers daughter yet did with artificiall dissimulation so cover his dishonest and abhominable intentions that not many could discover them Who or whatsoever opposed his aspiring pride or profitable pleasure was by his plotting cunningly and covertly taken away or removed Hee was so throughly perfect in the Hypocriticall art of simulation and dissimulation that hee would use most complement and shew greatest signes of love and courtesie to him in the morning whose throat he had taken order to be cut that evening He held it for a maxime in policy that halfe doing in any thing was worse then no doing And therefore whatsoever he once attempted hee went through with it howsoever it seemed to others unnaturall and unchristian He used the instruments of his bloudy plottes as men doe their Candles burne the first out to a snuffe and then having lighted another tread that under foote yet howsoever his birth were proaigious and life monstrous yet his death was not dishonorable For though his cause were bad he fought bravely and dyed fighting leaving behind an ample testimony of his great valour and little grace with the end of his raigne by the sword which he had used for the moving of civill dissention betwixt the two houses of Yorke and Lancaster which had beene so long drawne and so often bathed in the blood of Christians was happily sheathed And the passage to concord prepared whilst this poore Island that had beene imbroyled with warre and her companions had leasure to call to minde the many murthers stratagemes slaughters overthrowes and calamities which through their unnaturall division of the two Roses she had sustained and thereby she found that from the time that Richard Duke of Yorke who was slaine in the battaile at Wakefield seeking to anticipate the time allotted unto him by authoritie of the Parliament whereby the Crowne was entayled to him and his issue to gaine the possession thereof and from whence all those praerecited miseries did proceed untill the death of the usurper there were slaine fourescore Princes of the blood royall and twice as many natives of England as were lost in the two conquests of France The dissension that fell was betwixt the house of Yorke descended from Lionel borne at Antwerpe Duke of Clarence second sonne of Edward the third and the house of Lancaster issued from Iohn of Gaunt the third surviving but otherwise fourth sonne of the same King the first giving for his cognizance the white Rose the other the Red. Lionell Duke of Clarence married to his first wife Elizabeth daughter heire of William Burgh Earle of Vlster and to his second wife Violenta of Galens Viscount of Mislaine by his first wife he had issue Philip sole only childe which Philip was married to Edmond Mortimer Earle of March and Vlster who had issue by her 1 Roger March the fourth Earle of March 2 Sir Edmond Mortymer that married the daughter of Owen Glendore 3 Sir Iohn Mortymer beheaded 3. H. 6. 1 Elizabeth married to the Lord Percy stiled Hotspur Philip first married to Iohn Hastings Earle of Pembrook and afterward to Richard Earle of Arundel and lastly to Iohn Lord Saint-Iohn dyed without issue Roger the fourth Earle of March 1387. nominated by King Richard the second successor to the Kingdome of England who married Elianor daughter of Thomas Holland Earle of Kent by whom he had issue two sonnes and two daughters 1 Edmond his eldest sonne who succeeded him in the Earldome 2 Roger died leaving his father 1 Anne who was married to Richard Earle of Cambridge sonne of Edmond of Langley Duke of Yorke 2 Elianor married to Edward Courtney Earle of Devonshire Richard of Conisborough married Anne sister and heire of Edmond Mortymer and had issue Richard Duke of Yorke This Richard was the first mover of the faction against the the house of Lancaster the bearer of the red rose He married Ciceley the daughter of Ralph Nevill first Earle of Westmerland and had issue 1 Henry that dyed before his Father 2 Edward of that name the fourth King of England 3 Edmond Earle of Rutland slaine at Wakefield by the Lord Clifford 4 Iohn that all dyed young 5 William and 6 Thomas 7 George Duke of Clarence murdered as afore 1 Anne the eldest daughter was first married to Henry Holland Duke of Exceter and after to Sir Thomas Sayntleoger 2 Elizabeth married to Iohn de la poole Duke of Suffolke 3 Margaret married to Charles Duke of Burgundy 4 Vrsula never married and thus was the title of Yorke derived Iohn of Gaunt so named of the place where he was borne fourth sonne of King Edward the third married three wives the first 1 Blaunch daughter and coheire of Henry first Duke of Lancaster by whom he had issue 1 Henry Plantagenet borne at Bullingbrooke 1 Philip married to Iohn King of Portingall and 2 Elizabeth married to Iohn Duke of Exceter 2 The second wife was Constance daughter and one of the Coheires of Peter king of Castile by whom he had issue Katherine afterward married to Henry sonne of Iohn the King of Spaine 3 His third wife was Katherine daughter of Payne Ruet aliàs Guyen King of armes and the relict of Sir Otes Swinford knight by whom hee had issue but before marriage 1 Iohn surnamed Beauford Earle of Somerset 2 Henry Bishop of Winchester 3 Thomas Branford Earle of Dorset 1 Iohan Branford first married to Ralph Nevill first Earle of Westmerland and then to Robert Ferrers Lord of Ousley This
Tressilian Lord chiefe Iustice Nicholas Bramber Alderman of London and others neither eminent by birth or desert but observant and plyable to the Kings humour These were highly in credit with the King both in company and counsell alwayes next him By these hee ordered his private actions by these he managed his affaires of State hee spared neither the dignity nor death of any man whose authority or life interposed their pleasure or profit Hee remoued Sir Richard Scroope from being Lord Chancelor of England to which place hee was appointed by the Parliament because hee refused to set the great Seale to the grant of certaine lands which had beene abusively drawne from the King alledging for his so doing the great debts of the King the small demerits of the graunts upon whom the King might consume much but orderly give nothing wishing the King might bee well advertised thatryot might deceive him under the termes of bounty and that gifts well ordered procure not so much love as indiscreetly imparted incite envie This Chancellor used not to cauterize his conscience with partiall maintaining of such as were mighty but being alike to all was the sooner disliked of all that were lewd The destruction of the Duke of Lancaster was plotted upon the like dislike by Iustice Tresilian offences were suggested appellors appointed Peeres named sudden arrest intended and present arraignment condemnation and execution concluded But the Duke upon notice of these contrivances escaped to Pomfret Castle and there made preparation for his defence against the King from hence grew a head of division which the common people at that time very busily sought But the Kings Mother incessantly travailing betweene the King and the Duke notwithstanding her unweldinesse and age drew them both to reconcilement The King in regard of the dangerous and discontented times the Duke in respect of his dutie and alleageance the more easie to bee made inclinable and so partly by her entreatie and counsell and partly by their inclination bending to the safest course all apparance of displeasure on the one part and distrust on the other was for that time removed The Frenchmen againe land in England and did much harme at Dover Winchelsey Hastings and at Graves end and unincountred returned to France For prevention of which outrages and revenge of those injuries offered a Parliament is assembled at Westminster in which a Subsidie of foure pence for poll of each sexe throughout the kingdome above the age of fourteene yeares is granted to the King The levying whereof procured much heart-burning and did much alyen the hearts of the subjects from the King With that money preparation is made and eight thousand men sent over into France under the conduct of Thomas of Woodstocke the Kings Vncle who passing over Soam Oyse and Marne Rivers spoyled and burnt all the Countrey and ransomed the Inhabitants untill hee came to Brittany where by the Duke Iohn Momford hee was joyfully received and royally entertained About this time one Iohn Balle a factious clergy man a scholler of Wickcliff observing the common people much to murmure at the payment of the foresaid Subsidie in all places where hee came used secretly to informe the inferiour sort of people such as were poore and needy That by discent from Adam all men were of one condition that the lawes of this kingdome were injurious and much hindred us of participating Christian liberty nay most unjust by making so great a difference of mens estate preferring some to bee Peeres and Potentates giving to some others large authority and enlarging others possessions and taking advantage of the humble and plyable condition and carriage of others in servilitie and basenesse hardly giving them allowance of sustenance and that not that neither but with sweat and hard labour where amongst Christians there should be an equall share of all things and that in common taking this for his theame When Adam delv'd and Eve span who was then a gentleman with such like trayterous perswasions hee did prepare the vulgar apt to entertaine the proffers of rebellion and fitte them for insurrection upon the slightest occasion This doctrine once on foot runne from rusticke to villanie and from shire to shire that at length it infatuated them and infected the Citie of London the Commons whereof I meane the poorer sort of mechanicks and handicrafts desperately inclined to mutinie upon the reasons aforesaid incited and invited the multitude prepared as aforesaid to come thither promising their best assistance and furtherance Whereupon a rude rowte of rascalls under the leading of Wat Tyler a Taylor who commanded in chiefe with their grave minister Iohn Wall Iacke Straw a Thresher Iack Sheppard of the Councell of warre under the tytle of the Kings men and the servants of the Common-wealth of England came to London ransacking by the way and demolishing from Essex side all the faire structures and great buildings of the Nobility and Gentry They summoned the King to give them a meeting who accordingly accompanied with the most of his best Councellours tooke-his Bardge and went to Graves End but seeing the rabble so ragged and rogue-like a company of swadds compact of the off-skum of the people it was held no discretion for the King to venture his person among them and so returned to the Tower from whence hee came The next day these unruly rake-shames approched London but finding the gates lockt and the bridge drawne and well guarded they threatned the slaughter of man woman and childe on Southwarke side the sacking of their houses and lastly the firing of the Borough and Churches there For prevention whereof and somewhat to keepe the staggering Commons from precipitate running with them in rebellion the Gates were opened and the bridge let downe and by permission they entred where their furie with faire words and kinde usage was for that night pacified only the Commander Tyler sent for his quondam Master Richard Lyon an antient grave Citizen and in thankfull requitall of moderate and deserved punishment given him in his apprentiship hee caused his head to be strucke off and pitched upon a pole and in triumph borne before him the next day when hee went to the Savoy a house belonging to Iohn of Gaunt the Kings Vncle which they rifled burnt and inhumanly murdred all the chiefe Officers they found there They commit sacriledge in all Churches and religious houses robbing the houses of the students in the Law committing to the fire all their bookes and Records proclayming death to any that should bee found to know law or literature they spoyled all Forrainers inhabiting in or neere London and their numbers increasing to threescore thousand They came to Saint Katherines from thence sending to the King to attend their pleasure at Mile End no sooner was the King gone forth of the tower to the place appointed when Tyler with some of his comrades entred the Tower gates ryfled the Kings lodging barbarously entreating the Kings Mother
that end desired the Lords to come to him into the Tower but they refused that place of meeting upon feare of false measure untill the King permitted them to search diligently and come as strongly as they thought meet then they came to the King well guarded and after a few cold complements and strange salutations they layd before him his proceedings against them at Nottingham his Letters which hee sent to the Duke of Ireland contrary to his word for the raysing of armes against them his agreement with the French King for the yeelding up of Callice and other strong houlds which hee had in possession in those parts with divers other poynts of dishonourable dealing and negligent government What should the King then have done or said all these objections were so evident and evill that there was no place left either for deniall or defence Therefore ingenuously first with silence and patience afterwards with teares and dejected countenance hee confessed his errors And certainely the stiffe stomacks of the Lords more relented to those luke-warme drops then they would have done to his greatest violence A meeting was concluded the next day at Westminster there to treate of these and other necessary affaires of the Realme Then the Duke and the rest of the Lords departed except the Earle of Darby who stayed supper with the King and all that time kept him in his proposed resolution But when he was also gone some of the abusers of the Kings eare suggested that his going thither was neither seemely nor safe and would not only bring to his person present danger and contempt but afterwards abasement and abridgement to his authoritie whereupon the Kings minde turned But the Lords being now nettled feeling the Kings hand weake to governe the raynes became the more violent and sent him word that if hee did vacillate with them and not come according to agreement that they would choose a new King who should bee more respective to his Nobilitie This peremptory message so terrified the King that hee not only went thither but permitted the Lords to take their pleasure they caused him much against his liking to remove out of the Court Nevil Archbishop of Yorke Foord Bishop of Duresme the Bishop of Chichester the Kings Confessor the Lord Souch the Lord Harmyworth Lord Burnell Lord Beamont Sir Alberick Uear Sir Baldwyne Bereford Sir Richard Alderbury Sir Iohn Worth Sir Thomas Clifford and Sir Iohn Lovell taking caution of them for their appearance at the next Sessions of Parliament And certaine Ladies likewise were expelled the Court and went under sureties the Ladyes Mowen Moling Poynings wife to Sir Iohn Worth They put under arrest Simon Burly William Ellingham Iohn Salisbury Thomas Trivet Iames Bernis Nicholas Dagworth and Nicholas Bramber Knights Richard Clifford Iohn Lincolne and Richard Motford Clerkes Iohn Beacham the Kings private Purse-bearer Nicholas Lake Deane of the Chappell and Iohn Blake Barrister were all committed to diyers Prisons to be forth-comming at the next Parliament The Parliament began at London though the King used many meanes to dash or deferre the same to which the Lords came attended with full strength pretending to represse any ryot that might arise but in truth by terror thereof to draw all the mannage of affaires to themselves The assembly continued from Candlemasse untill Whitsontide with great feare of some and hope of others and expectation of all There Tresilian by the Councell of the Lords against the Kings minde was condemned to bee drawne and hanged which judgement was presently executed the like passed against and upon Nicholas Bramber Iohn Salisbury Iames Barnes Iohn Beauchamp and Iohn Blake Robert Belknap Iohn Holt Roger Fulthorpe and William Burgh which last foure were condemned to perpetuall exile though they opposed not but intermedled by constraint to subscribe their opinions against the Lords Sir Simon Burly Captaine of Dover Castle was beheaded for conspiring to deliver the same to the Frenchmen hee was infinitely proud equall to the meanest in vertue but in port and bravery not inferiour to any Duke Divers others were put to death or exile and some as it hapneth when the reines of fury are let loose without any great cause The Earle of Darby promoued no mans punishment but did labour the life and liberty of many insomuch that harsh language did passe betwixt the Duke of Gloucester and him for so doing whereby hee purchased a favourable opinion amongst those of the contrary part There was then also an oath exacted from the King an example without president to stand to the government of the Lords and an Oath of the Subjects to bee loyall to the King The King in taking this oath of the Lords discovered his inward conceit by his overt countenance looking pleasantly on those he favoured and frowningly on others by which untimely discovery he made them more heedfull and himselfe more hatefull which was the occasion that afterward the revenge was prevented which hee so desired and the mischiefe was procured which hee so little feared Lastly a Subsidie was granted and so the King comming as it were to capitulation had allowance of the name of a King and the Lords the authoritie and Majestie so the contention for that time ceased The yeare following the King began to take upon him more libertie and rule and upon extreame disdaine that both his power and pleasure were thus restrained hee bore a hard conceit against the partaking Lords and having assembled them in the Councell chamber he demaunded of the Lords of what yeares they tooke him to bee being answered that hee was somewhat above one and twentie then replied hee I am of lawfull age to make use of any birth-right and to have the regiment in my owne hands and therefore you doe me wrong to hold me still under tutelage as though the condition of a King were harder then that of a subject This the Lords were unwilling to grant and more unable to deny and therefore they either kept silence or spake to little or no purpose Well said the King since I am no longer an infant I here renounce your rule and take upon mee such free administration of the Iustice of thâ—…â—…alme as the Kings thereof my Predecessors heretofore lawfully used And then commanding the Bishop of Ely then Lord Chancellour to resigne the great Seale which received the King put it up and departed out of the Chamber but returning delivered the same to William of Wickam Biâ—… of Winchester thereby constituting him Lord Chancellor other officers he likewise displaced placing others in their room partly to manifest his authoritie partly to satisfie his displeasure he suspended Glocester Warwick others from his privy Councell and tooke in their roomes such as humoured him more but honoured him lesse He 10. Octob. An. Regni sui 11. Created Iohn Beauchamp of Holt Baron of Kedermister by letters Patents before which time all Barons were chosen by Writ it was suggested to the
King should take the revenews of his land untill he was satisfied of such sommes of money as hee had received out of the Kings coffers for the payment of the garrison of Calice And he further sayd That the King commanded upon paine of his high displeasure that no man from thenceforth should presume to petition the King in behalfe of either of those Dukes to alter this Decree The sentence thus read the King called the exiles before him and tooke of them a solemne oath that they should never converse together nor willingly come into each others company lest common discontent should draw first reconcilement and after desire of revenge But this pollicie is ever weake to prevent such purposes for oathes are often spurnd aside when they lye like rubbeâ—… to stoppe the way to honour or revenge Therefore the Princes of the Realme have with more safetie for the most part abolished the use of abjuration and either by death extinguish the power or by pardon alter the will of great offendors from entring into desperate and dangerous attempts which men in miserie and disgrace with more vehemency begin and with more obstinacy continue When the Samnites had so enclosed the Roman Legions that they had neither space to fight nor meanes to flye and without fight had enforced them to yeeld they sent for advise to one Pontius an antient Ruler of their State what to doe with them His answer was that the Romans should bee permitted to depart without losse or derision But this not pleasing those that were either cruell or covetous Pontius was the second time consulted with whose answer then was That the Romans should bee generally slaughtered and not one spared This contrarietie of advise brought Pontius into suspition of dotage which he suspecting came in person and maintained both to be advantageous The first by an unexpected favour might provoke the Romans to a perpetuall friendship the second would deferre the warres for many yeares The third Counsell quoth he there cannot be given that may be fafely followed yes say the Samnites to grant them their lives but to take away their armes and bootie This is a way replies old Pontius which can neither win friends nor weaken enemies but may increase fury but not diminish force So that that course of punishment is out of course which doth neither reclaime the minde of man nor restraine the might from mischievous endevours The Duke of Norfolke with great griefe and perturbation of minde now â—…ving it to bee true that greatnesse abused by whispering untruthes draweth if discovered certaintie of destruction departed into Almaine and from thence travailed to Venice where shortly after hee ended his dayes It is observed that this Duke was banished the same day of the yeare wherein the Duke of Yorke by his contriving was strangled at Calice The Duke of Hereford tooke his leave of the King at Eltham where foure yeares of his exilement were strooke off The Dukes deportment was with that moderation that in his countenance he made shew neither of sorrow or stupiditie and at his departure let not fall any either intemperate or unseemely sillable The Commons much lamented his departure not sparing to exclaime that it was against the Law of armes the custome of the Realme and all Iustice that hee should bee exiled who had honourably endevoured to maintaine his appeale according to the law of the field Their affection was the more excessive by reason the ground of his speech was against those that the people hated and he was the only survivor of the popular faction The Duke of Hereford sayleth to Callice and from thence to Paris where hee was honourably received by the King of France and in short time found that favour with him that hee was offered for wife the only Daughter of Iohn Duke of Berry Vncle to the French King But the King of England upon notice thereof made such meanes that the Mariage was stopt Many things hapned this yeare which were interpreted to presage the revolt of the people which hapned the yeare following observation likewise was taken that when King Richard brought his first wife with him out of Beanne shee was no sooner on shore but such a tempest arose as the like thereof had not beene seene in many yeares before wherein many shippes and amongst them the ship the Queene came in was cast away The like storme and the like losse did betide when the King brought his second wife out of France Many prodigies are likewise storied to appeare about these times both strange and fearefull I dare not avouch them all to be true neither will I detract all truth from such things so antiently reported Many are perswaded that these things which are fatally allotted though they are unavoidable yet are they some times foreshowne not so much that we may prevent them as that we should prepare our selves against them About this time died Iohn of Gaunt Duke of Lancaster who was buried on the North side of the high Altar of the Cathedrall Church of Saint Paul in London he was a man advised and wary liking better safe courses with reason then happy by hazzard neither unrespective nor ambitiously carefull of his owne glory Hee carried himselfe towards the King in termes honourable enough for a moderate Prince and yet not so plausible as an uncollected man might desire whereby nothing hapned unto him extraordinary either in prejudice or preferment This Iohn of Gaunt so named of the place where hee was borne fourth sonne of Edward the third did write in his stile Iohn sonne to the King of England Duke of Aquitaine and Lancaster Earle of Richmond of Darby Lincolne Leicester and high Constable of England hee married three Wives Blanch Daughter and coheire of Henry first Duke of Lancaster by whome hee had issue Henry afterwards King of England Philip married to Iohn King of Portugal Elizabeth married to Iohn Holland Duke of Exceter His second wife was Constance daughter and one of the Coheires of Peter King of Castile by whom he had issue Katherinâ—… married to Henry son of Iohn King of Spaine His third Wife was Katherine daughter of Payne Rurt King of armes and Widow of Sir Otes Swinford Knight by whom hee had issue Iohn Bewford Earle of Somerset and Marquesse Somerset Henry Bewford Bishop of Winchester Thomas Bewford Earle of Dorset and Duke of Exceter Ioane married to Ralph Nevill Earle of Chester and afterwards to Robert Ferrers Lord of Ousley all these Children though borne before espousall by a Bull from Rome were made legitimate hee lyeth buryed in Pauls After his death the Dutchy of Lancaster did lineally descend to his eldest sonne the Duke of Hereford But as the nature of man is prone to hate those whom hee hath injured the King seized all the lands and goods of the deceased Duke and endevoured to perpetuate the banishment of the young Duke revoked the Letters patents granted and consented unto
right to the Crowne of England The King likewise made Sir Iohn Shirley Lord Chancellor Iohn Norbury Esquire Lord Treasurer Sir Richard Clifford Lord privie Seale Vpon the fourth of October the Lord high Steward by his Fathers command sate in the Kings Hall at Westminster and caused Proclamation to bee made That any that could claime any Office at the solemnization of the Kings Coronation should preferre their Petitions whereupon divers claimed Offices and Fees And those to whom the rights of such clayme 's appertained were admitted accordingly The Parliament was prorogued to the morrow after Saint Edwards day upon their reassembly it was enacted that the inheritance of the Crowne and Realme of England and of all the Dominions to the King of England appertaining should bee united and remaine in the person of King Henry and in the heires of his body lawfully begotten And that Prince Henry his eldest Sonne should be his heire apparant and Successor in the premisses and if hee should die without issue then they were entayled to his other Sonnes successively in order and to the heires of their bodyes so that nothing was left undone that the wit of man could invent and authoritie refulcitate for the setting of the right to the Crowne in him and his heires In this Parliament were deprived of their dignities the Dukes of Surry Aumerle and Exceter The Marquesse Dorset and Earle of Glocester underwent the like sentence The Inheritance of the kingdome settled and some exemplary punishments of some the late Kings ill counsellers made A motion was made in Parliament what should bee done with the deposed King Thomas Merckes the Bishop of Carlile a man that used both libertie and constancie in a good cause In his private judgement having never allowed these proceedings but dissembled his dislike till fit time to declare it being in a place to bee heard and by the order of the House not to be interrupted of any rose up and with a grave countenance and settled courage sayd This question right Honorable concerneth a matter of great consequence and waight the determining whereof will assuredly procure either quiet or turmoile both to the publike State and our particular consciences Therefore before any resolution thereof bee given I beseech you to take into your more serious consideration these two things First whether King Richard bee sufficiently deposed or not secondly whether King Henry bee by Iustice and good advisement seated in the succession In the first point is to be examined whether a King by lineall succession being Crowned annoynted and lawfully invested may upon imputation either of negligence or tyrannie bee deposed by his Subjects secondly what Richard had omitted in the one or committed in the other that might deserve that heavy judgement I will not dispute what may bee done in a popular or consular estate in which though one beareth the Title and honour of a Prince yet he hath no Supreame power of a King But in the one the Nobilitie and chiefe men of state in the other the people have greatest prerogative in neither the Prince of the last sort was the Common-wealth of the Lacedemonians who by that forme of government which Licurgus framed oftentimes fined sometimes fettered their Princes sometimes put them to death such were the petty Kings in France in Caesars time who were oftentimes arraigned and executed and as the Prince of the Leodienses Ambiorix confessed had no greater power over their subjects then their subjects had over them and of the second condition were the Roman Emperors at the first being subject to the censure of the Senat And such are now the Emperours of Germany whom the other Princes by their Aristocraticall power doe not only restraine but sometimes remove such are the Kings of Denmarke and Sweveland who are many times by their Nobilitie dejected either into prison or exile Such are the Dukes of Venice and some other free States of Italy And the chiefest cause why Lewis Earle of Flaunders was lately expelled was for assuming unto himselfe the Cognizance of life and death which authoritie was never incident to his dignitie In these and such like governments the Prince hath not absolute Regalitie but is himselfe subject to that power which is more transcendent then his whether it bee in the Nobilitie or multitude But if the Soveraigne Majestie bee in the Prince as it was in the first three Emperours and in the kingdomes of Iudea and Israel and is now in the kingdomes of England France Scotland Spaine Muscovia Turkie Tartary Persia Ethiopia and almost all the kingdomes of Asia and Africa although for his vices hee bee unprofitable to the Subjects yea hurtfull yea untolerable yet can they neither hazard his power nor harme his Person either by judiciall proceedings or by force for neither one nor all Magistrates have any authoritie over the Prince from whom all Authoritie is derived and whose only presence doth silence and suspend all inferiour jurisdiction and force And for power what subject can assist or counsell or conceale violence against his Prince and not incur the high heinous crime offensonry or treason it is a common saying thought is free free indeed from punishment of secular Laws except byword or deed it break forth into action yet the secret thoughts against the sacred Majestie of a Prince without attempt without endeavour have bin adjudged to death And somewho in auricular confession have discovered their treacherous devises against the King in person have for the same bin executed All laws do exempt a madd man from punishment because their actions are not governed by their will and the will of man being set apart all his deeds are indifferent neither can the body offend without a corrupt or erronious minde yet if a mad man but draw his weapon upon his King it hath beene adjudged worthy death And lest any man should surmise that Princes for the maintenance of their owne safetie and soveraigntie are the only authors of these judgements Let us examine with consideration the patternes and precepts to this purpose set forth in the Sacred text Nabucadonezer King of Assyria wasted all Palestine with fire and sword oppugned the holy Citie a great while and at the last expugned it slaughtered the King burnt the Temple carryed away the holy Vessells and Treasure and permitted the souldiers with unmercifull crueltie to spoile and ransacke all the people with fire and sword and whom from thence had escaped and the pestilence had spared hee led captive into Chaldea and there erected his golden Image commanding those that refused to worship it to bee cast into the fiery Furnace notwithstanding God calleth Nabucadnezer his servant and promiseth him wages for his service And the Prophets Ieremiah and Baruke did write unto the Iewes to pray for the life of him and of Balthazar his sonne that their dayes upon earth might bee as the dayes of heaven and Ezechiel with bitter termes upbraideth the disloyaltie of Zedechiah
for revolting from Nabuchadnezzar after homage done unto him did not Saul put all the Priests to death because one of them did relieve holy and harmlesse David did hee not prosecute his faithfull servant and dutifull son-in-law yet was not hee spared nay protected by him And was not David much grieved for but taking away the lap of his garment and afterwards caused the messenger to bee slaine that upon request and for pitie did lend his hand as himselfe reported to hasten the voluntary death of that sacred King As for the contrary examples of Iehu They were done by expresse Oracle and revelation from God and are no more set downe for our imitation then the robbing the Egyptians or any other particular or priviledged commandement but in the generall precept which all men must ordinarily follow not only our actions but our speeches also and our very thoughts are strictly charged with dutie and obedience to Princes whether they bee good or evill The law of God ordaineth That hee that doth presumptuously against the Ruler of the people shall die And the Prophet David forbiddeth both by precept and practise to touch the Lords annointed Thou shalt not saith the Lord rayle upon the Iudges neither sbeake evill of the Ruler of the people And the Apostles doe demand further that even our thoughts and soules bee obedient to higher powers And lest any should imagine that they ment of good Princes only they speake generally of all And further to take away all doubt they make expresse mention of the evill For the power and authoritie of wicked Princes is the ordinance of God And therefore Christ told Pilat That the power which hee had was given him from above And the Prophet Esay called Cyrus being a prophane and heathen Prince the Lords annointed For God turneth the hearts even of wicked Princes to doe his will And as Iehosaphat said to his Rulers they execute not the judgement of man but of the Lord In regard whereof David calleth them gods because they have the rule and authoritie even from God which if they doe abuse they are not to bee adjudged by their subjects for no power within their Dominion is superiour to theirs But God reserveth them to their sorest triall horribly and suddenly saith the Wise man will the Lord appeare to them and a hard judgement shall they have The law of God commandeth that the childe should not bee put to death for any contumelie done unto the Parents but what if the father be a robber if a murtherer if for excesse of villanies odious and execrable both to God and man surely hee deserveth the greatest degree of punishment and yet must not the sonne lift up his hand against him for no offence can bee so great to bee punished by parricide But our Country is or ought to bee more deere to us then our Parents And the Prince is the father of the country and therefore more sacred and deare to us then our Parents by nature and must not bee violated how imperious how impious soever hee bee doth hee command or demand our purses or persons we must not shun from the one nor shrinke from the other for as Nehemiah saith Kings have dominion over the cattell of their subjects at their pleasure Doth hee injoyne those actions which are contrary to the lawes of God wee must neither wholly obey nor violently resist but with a constant courage submit our selves to all manner of punishment and show our subjection by suffering and not performing yea the Church hath declared it to bee an heresie to hold that a Prince may be slaine or deposed by his Subjects for any default or disorder of life or default in government There will bee faults so long as there bee men and as wee endure with patience a barren yeare if it happen and unseasonable weather so must wee tolerate the imperfections of Rulers and quietly expect either reformation or alteration But alas what such cruelty what such impietie hath King Richard committed examine the imputations objected with the false circumstance of aggravation and you shall finde but little of truth or of great moment it may be many oversights have escaped as who lives without offending yet none so grievous to bee termed tyrannie as proceeding rather from unexperienced ignorance or corrupt counsell then from any naturall or wilfull malice Oh! how should the world bee pestered with tyrants if Subjects might be permitted to rebell upon pretence of tyrannie how many good Princes should often bee suppressed by those by whom they ought to be supported if they but levie a Subsidie or any other taxation it shall bee judged oppression if they put any to death for traiterous attempts against their persons it shall bee exclaimed at for crueltie if they shall doe any thing against the good liking of their people it shall bee proclaimed tiranny But let it bee that without desert in him or authoritie in us King Richard must bee deposed yet what right hath the duke of Lancaster to the Crown or what reason have wee without right to give it him If hee make Title as heire to King Richard then must hee stay King Richards death for no man can succeed as heire to the living But it s well knowne to all men who are not wilfully blinde or grosly ignorant that there are some yet alive lineally descended from Lionel Duke of Clarence whose issue by the judgement of the high Court of Parliament in the eighth yeare of King Richards raigne was declared heire apparant to the Crowne in case of Richard should die without issue The claime from Edmond Crouchbacke I passe over the authors thereof themselves being ashamed of so absurd an abuse And therefore all the pretence now on foot is by right of conquest and the Kings resignation and grant and the consent of the many it is bad stuffe that will take no colour what conquest can a subject make against a Soveraigne where the warre is insurrection and the victory high treason King Richards resignation being in prison is an act of exaction by force and therefore of no force to bind him And by the lawes of this realme the King by himselfe cannot alienate the antient jewells and ornaments of the Crowne much lesse give away his Crowne and Kingdome And custome wee have none for the vulgar to elect their King but they are alwayes tyde to accept of him whom the right of succession enables to the Crowne much lesse can they make good that Title which is by violence usurped For nothing can bee said to bee freely done when libertie is restrained by feare As for the deposing of Edward the Second it is no more to bee urged then the poisoning of King Iohn or the murdering of a lawfull Prince wee must live according to lawes not examples yet the kingdome then was not taken from lawfull successors But if wee looke backe to times past wee shall finde that these Titles were
Gravelin wherefore the King came the Bishop of Winchester Iohn Duke of Norfolke with Humphry Earle of Stafford and others For the Duke appeared his Dutchesse the Bishop of Arras and the Lord of Croys where truce for a very small time is concluded on and for lesse kept This yeare was memorable for the death of three great Princesses Katherine Queene of England and Sister to the King of France The old Dowager of Henry the fourth King of England Daughter of the King of Navar and Mother to the Princes of Britaine And the old Countesse of Armanacke Daughter to the Duke of Berry and Mother to the Duke of Savoy which all dyed within eight and fourty houres the one of the other The fury of fighting growing cold Traffick for townes was againe set on foot and Harflew sold For the recovery whereof the Duke of Somerset with the Lord Talbot and a brave company of souldiers beset it both by land and water there being within to defend it Sir Iohn Estontvile and his brother with six hundred men and upward the Earles of Ewe with the Bastards of Orleance and Burbon with foure thousand men came to the reskue but so well were the English entrencht that the French could neither succor their friends nor annoy their enemies and so as they came they returned Whereupon the towne was surrendred upon composition About this time the Dutchesse of Bedford followed Queen Katherines example making election for an Husband of a gallant young Gentleman but of small meanes yet fortunate only enough by being affected one Sir Richard Woodvile whom she took to Husband to the great discontent of her French friends but especially her Vncle the Bishop of Terwine but she cared not who was vext so her selfe was pleased and God not offended who blest her and made her Mother of many children and amongst the rest of the Lady Elizabeth afterwards married to King Edward the fourth Iames King of Scots which before had bin fifteen yeares prisoner in England and from thence released with a Wife a great dower and many honourable presents yet proved ingratefull was murthered by certaine his traiterous subjects in his bed-chamber by night who being found out were cruelly tortured The Duke of Burgoine having attempted the unworthy traffick of bartering for Callice with mony but not able to compasse it being infinitely desirous to bee Master of it when neither force nor fraud could prevaile attempts it by a strange pollicy but of like successe to the former for hee was perswaded by a rediculous practise so to cut a ditch that hee might at his pleasure drowne both the Towne and Countrey about this hee imployed much labour and more cost but this fantasticall fancy of a flood vanished away like his Flemmish army at the siege there of like a vapour The Lord Talbot besieged Tanckervile and hath it after foure moneths lying before it simply rendred unto him In leiw whereof the French King in his owne person layes siege to Monstrew fault Yonne Whilst the Duke of Yorke was providing for the reskue of this Towne hee was discharged of his office by which meanes Sir Thomas Gerrard had the more colour to sell not lose the Towne which the King of France making his owne contract with him bought of him for rewards and preferment both promised but how performed I know not only having sold his honour with his charge hee lived disgraced and discarded in much discontent an exile in France where hee died This yeare is a Parliament holden at Westminster in which were made many good and profitable acts aswell for the preservation of peace at home as for provision to maintaine the warres abroad Arthur Constable of France and Iohn Duke of Alanson besieged the Towne of Auranches whither the Lord Talbot came and offered them battell which they refusing hee marched in despight of them none daring to make resistance into the Towne from whence next morning he sallyed out and having made a greatslaughter amongst them tooke divers prisoners and retreated at pleasure the French being well contented so to bee rid of him The French the next morning were called from the siege pretended for Pautou de Santrelis for the Hire had sent Letters unto them that they had the promise of divers Bourgers of Roan when their watch-night came to let them in they wisht therefore the Constable to meet them at Rize a place within foure leagues of Roane here of the Lord Talbot having notice covertly marcht to Roan and from thence though wearied with a bad journey marcheth before day to Rize where he surprizeth the French taketh the Lord Fontaines Sir Allaine Geron and many other the Hire by the helpe of his horse though not unwounded by him that pursued him escaped and so Talbot returneth to Roan with a faire bootie and full instructions to discover the Traitours who convicted had the reward of their treason The sixtday of November the Earle of Warwicke who seven times having beene abourd and still beat backe by tempestuous and contrary winds landed at Hoinflew with a thousand fresh souldiers came to Roan whither the Duke of Yorke was come downe and from thence returned for England The Duke of Burgoine taking advantage as hee thought of a still water with tenne thousand men besiegeth the Towne of Crotoy to relieve whom the new Regent sent the Lord Talbot with five thousand men whereof the Duke having notice upon their approach retyreth with his power except foure hundred with whom hee had manned a Bastileo by him there erected to Abvile but the Bastilio is soone gained and all the souldiers either taken or slaine The valiant Talbot sent the Duke word that if hee would save his Countrie of Piccardy from vastation that hee should come into the field where hee attended him and would give him if he dared to come battell But the Duke of Burgoine was not in the fighting humour neither loved to bee too neere so cholericke an enemy that would strike if hee might come at him and therefore from Abvile secretly conveyes himselfe to Amiens Twenty dayes together did the Lord Talbot with fire and sword passe thorow Piccardy and Arthoys destroying all that stood in his way and so returneth unencountred Sir Thomas Kiryel seized upon the Dukes Carriages and Ordnance and having left in Crotoy victual enough for six hundred men for a whole yeare hee brought the rest to the Earle of Warwicke who thankfully received them Henry Earle of Mortaine sonne to Edmond Duke of Somerset arrived with three hundred Archers and three hundred Speares and past thorow Normandy to Mayne and tooke in his March by assault the Cattle of Saint Anian wherein were three hundred Scots and French-men the Scots hee slew all and hanged the French-men for that they had sworne fealty to England and broke it hee tooke likewise the Castle of Algarche and by meanes of an Ambush taketh the Lord of Camerois comming
Canonize a Clergie man caused him to leave it undone so that for want of one to disburse the money King HENRY lost a Feast day and his name a place in the Almanacke it is most evident his integritie of life was such that his Confessour a grave and reverend Doctor confidently avouched That in tenne yeares together in all which time hee monethly at least received his Confession hee never could gather that hee had in thought word or deed committed that that in his thought might deserve the injunction of penance His continencie was such that before his marriage hee would permit no Woman to have any thing to doe in his Chamber nor ever would touch woman but by way of orderly salutation and that so seldome that it was taken for a great grace to them so by him saluted At a Christmasse time a Maske of Women being presented unto him whereof some of them showed there at this day too commonly used naked breasts hee left the presence crying Fie fie Ladyes in sooth you are to blame to bare those parts to the eye of man that nature appointed modestie to conceale Hee was so farre from Vindicative disposition of injuries or affronts offered to his Person that hee would give thankes to God that did so permit men to punish his transgressions in this life that so hee might escape the punishment for them hereafter Hee was so watchfull over his words that he was never heard to sweare oath his greatest and most earnest asseveration being for the most part forsooth forsooth or Verely verely Hee was so farre from Covetousnesse that when the Executours of his Vncle stiled the rich Bishop of Winchester made offer unto him of two thousand pounds of free gift hee refused it wishing them to take care of orderly performance of their dutie in duly accomplishing the Testatours Will and not to consume the estate left them for better uses in bribery or unnecessary donations Hee was so religiously affected that hee duly observed his Canonicall obedience to the strictest injunction of the Church and at times of fast thereby commanded hee not only observed the abstinence prescribed but used other uninjoyned meanes of mortification by wearing Faire shirts next his skinne and tying himselfe to that austerity of life and strictnesse of discipline that the strictest and most religious penitentiary could doe no more Hee was so inclinable to pittie that when hee spied the quarter of a Traitour set over one of the gates of London upon a pole hee caused the same instantly to bee taken downe and buried saying I will not have such crueltie executed against a Christian after death for my sake it is enough if not too much that hee received the punishment of death for his offence His patience was such that to one that strooke him when hee was taken prisoner hee only said forsooth you doe wrong your selfe more then mee to strike the Lords annointed To another that when hee was in Prison had drawne blood of him with a weapon when after hee was at libertie and the partie that had given him the wound was brought before him hee freely pardoned him saying Alas poore soule hee strooke mee more to winne favour with others then any ill-will hee bare mee of that happy memory that hee never forgot any thing but injury Lastly his courage in a good cause appeared in this that being a little before his death in a peremptorie manner demaunded by the Duke of Gloucester why hee had held the Crowne so long unjustly from the rightfull heire boldly thus answered My father was Crowned King of England and quietly without contradiction enioyed the same as my Grandfather his Father had hald the same before him and I but a child was Proclaimed undubitate heire thereto and was accordingly sacred and Crowned King without interruption first of England and afterwards of France all men to me as to my ancestors swearing and doing fealty and homage and so I have held England wel-ny Thirty nine yeares And therefore I may say with the holy King and Prophet David My lat is fallen in a faire ground yea I have a goodly heritage my helpe is in the Lord which will save the upright in heart His pious intention for provision for competent maintenance for Prophets and Prophets children appeareth by his testamentary appointment for the building and endowing Kings Colledge in Cambridge and Eaton Colledge by Windsor And other like Donations appointed by his last Will. King Edward presently after the interment of King Henry drawes his forces toward Sandwitch in Kent where some of the followers of Fauconbridge to the number of eight or nine hundred had in the Castle thereof strongly fortified themselves Who upon notice of the Kings approach in Person sent Sir George Brookes unto him with this message that if hee would vouchsafe them which they humbly desired his gratious Pardon so as they might bee assured to have their lives limmes and liberty saved they would surrender into his hands the Castle with their shipping and all things therein and submit themselves in all obedience to his command and sweare which hitherto they never had done from thenceforth for ever to continue his faithfull loyall and obedient subjects But if this mercy were denyed them they were resolute to fight it out to the last man fire the shipping and sell their lives at the deerest rate neither were they so destitute of promised assistance that they had any just cause to despaire of their relievement if they should abide the hazard being sufficiently victualed to hold out for six moneths of being besieged The Councell having throughly debated of the proposition by the Kings appointment and by the instigation of the Duke of Glocester they advised the King to attonement with them and hee accordingly granted their request and marching to Canterbury there sealed and from thence sent by the Duke of Glocester who now began to affect popularity and endeere himselfe to souldiers their generall Pardon who bringing it unto them forgot not to acquaint them with what difficultie hee had obtained the same at the Kings hands Vpon the receipt thereof both Castle and ships to the number of thirteene are delivered up to the Duke for the Kings use But how this composition was observed may bee imagined when Fauconbridge who was comprised in the same Pardon was afterwards taken and executed at Southampton And Spicing and Quintine the Captaines that assayled Algate and Bishopsgate at London and were Commanders and in Sandwitch Castle at the surrender thereof were presently beheaded at Canterbury and their heads sent to bee placed on poles on those gates at London they had severally assaulted And by a Commission of oyre and terminer divers both in Essex and Kent were arraigned and condemned for this rebellion but more for that put to fine ransome then death to the great impoverishing of the Yeomen of Kent and undoing the Gentlemen of Essex The King upon Whitson eve returneth to London
bee supported and though to the offence of many hee had made his office the stauking-horse of his will yet none should dare say blacke to his eye Whilst these things are projecting the Queene appointeth Earle Rivers her Brother and her Sonne Richard Lord Gray and the rest of her Allyes and friends to provide with a strong power of able souldiers to guard the young King from Ludlowe to London The Duke of Gloucester being herewith acquainted might well thinke that if this plot were not effected before that time his pollicie hardly afterwards would in that point prevaile Hee therefore cunningly writes to the Queene whom ever since her husbands death hee had with a great show of respect by visitation and intercourse of message brought to a fooles beliefe to take seeming for being and shadowes for realityes And by his Letters intimates to her that it was rumored abroad that her Brother and Sonne against her will and without the knowledge of the late Kings kinred was providing with a mighty power of armed souldiers to conduct his Majestie in hostile manner from Wales to London which if it should bee so done would breed a great jelousie in the mindes of the common people who are apt enough to make an ill construction of the best action whereof they are ignorant That there were ill members whom the King had cause to suspect and therefore enforcedly came thus armed And where as now there was no appearance or likelihood but of true love and affection betwixt his kinred and her Allyes if any armed troopes should bee now raised and no cause knowne to what end the so late unfeyned reconcilement so happily by his late Brother procured would bee in question to bee dissolved yea any the least mistake mislike or distaste that might bee taken arise or given amongst the meanest of the common souldiers might minister occasion to disquiet the peace of the kingdome and set him and her Brother and partakers on both sides together by the eares and the mischiefe that thereby should ensue as it is to be feared a great deale would was like enough to fall on that part to which shee wisht least hurt and all the blame would redound to her and her kinred which now shee might easily so please her prevent if shee would but addresse her Letters to her Brother and Son to assure them from his mouth and upon his honour that himselfe and all the late Kings kinred were constantly resolved inviolably to observe the amicable attonement made by his Soveraigne and her Husband upon his death-bed betweene her Allyes and friends and the Kings kinred The too credulous Lady gave plenary consent to what the Duke of Glocester requested and to that end dispatched messengers to her Brother and Sonne who somewhat unwillingly but upon her request were perswaded to forbeare levying any more men and cashired those they had provided and attended only with their owne meniall servants they set forwards towards the Queene with the young King And with more hast then good speed came to North-Hampton and from thence the King went to Stony-Stratford where the two Dukes with a great traine well provided and mounted arrived And pretending the Towne to bee too little for the entertainment of their Companies they went to Northampton and alighted at the same Inne where the Earle Rivers had taken up his lodging that night resolving to overtake the King the next morning Vpon this their accidental meeting much Court complement enterchange of faire language show of courtesie passed and not the least colour for distaste or dislike taken or given on either side neither by themselves or followers But no sooner was supper ended but the Dukes pretending wearinesse through hard riding retire to their lodgings and the Earle goeth to his But the Dukes with their private friends when the Earle went to bed went to Councell what course to take with the least suspition and the most safetie to make away the Earle and his kinred In this consultation they continue the most part of the night And towards morning they tooke the keyes of the Inne gates and disperst their followers to keepe the passages with instruction not to permit horse-man or foot-man to passe the way towards Stony-Stratford pretending that none should goe before because the two Dukes might expresse their dutifull respect to the King the better by being first ready to give their attendance at his going to horse The Earle having notice by the Host of these proceedings imagining his destruction was plotted yet being debard of any meanes either to make resistance or escape hee set a good countenance upon the matter and came boldly to the Duke of Glocester his Chamber where hee found Buckingham and the rest with whom hee expostulates the reason of this course taken to imprison him and his in their Inne against their wills But they in stead of shaping him an answer made their will the law and without more speaking commanded the Earle to bee layd hands on objecting those crimes to him whereof themselves only were faulty And having taken order for his safe imprisonment they speedily tooke horse and came to Stony-Stratford at such time as the King was taking horse whom in all faire and reverent manner they saluted But a staffe was quickly found that a dogge may be smitten an offence is taken before given a quarrell is pickt against the Lord Richard Gray the Kings halfe brother in his own presence The Duke of Buckingham making relation to the King That he and the Marquesse his Brother with Earle Rivers the Queens Brother had endevoured and almost effected to drawe unto themselves the sole managing of the affaires of the kingdome and to sowe dissension betwixt the Blood-royall of your Fathers side and those scarce loyall on the Queenesside who greedily seeke after the others ruine and the better to effect it The Lord Marquesse without any warrant but of his owne head out of the Tower of London your principall Magazine hath taken both the Treasure and Armour to a great quantitie But what his purpose was to doe therewith though they were ignorant yet there was just cause to suspect it was to no good end And therefore it was thought expedient by the advise of the Nobilitie to attach him at Northampton to have him forth-comming to make answer for these and other his over-bold actions done against common honesty The King for want of experience unable to sound the depth of these plots mildly said to him What my Brother Marquesse hath done I cannot say but for my Vncle and Brother here I dare answer they are innocent of any unlawfull practises either against mee or you Oh quoth the Duke of Buckingham that hath beene their cunning to abuse your Majesties gentlenesse with keeping their trechery from your knowledge And thereupon instantly in the Kings presence they arrested the Lord Richard Sir Thomas Vaughan Sir Richard Hall and coveyed them to Northampton and from the
besieged 1422. A Parliament in the Kings absence called The birth of Henry the sixt The Dolphin besieged Cosney An. 1422. R. 9. King Henry dieth The Duke of Bedford made Generall of Normandy The Duke of Glocester Protector Ann. 1422 R. 1. The Dolphin proclaimed King Pont Melon surprized by the French An. 1422. R. 3. Reduced by the Earle of Salisbury The league renewed with Burgoine A conspiracy at Paris Preventtd and punished The French defeated Ann. 1422 R. 2. The King of Scots marieth the Duke of Somersets Daughter Crotoy lost and recovered The English are victorious at Vernoyle 1424. The reduction of Vernoyle An. 14. 24. R. 3. The French frighted with the name of Salisbury A jarre betwixt the brothers in England drawes the Regent into Ergland The young King knighted The Regent returnes to France Burgoyne by letter disswades Glocester from his new wife The name of Salisbury a bugbeare to the French 1426. Ponterson taken by the English Mounts retaken 1427. An. 1427. R. 6. The pollicy of the French The death of Salisbury the downfall of the English good fortune Both wind Sun against the English The French every where revolt The Regent defies the French King The Armies on both sides in array An. 1428. R. 7. 1429. Henry the sixt Crowned The constancy of the Lord Barbason Ann. 1429 Reg. 8. Charles attempts Paris But disappointed retreats The Regent desirous to cope with King Charles An. 1430. R. 9. The Earle of Britaine defeated 1430. The Pusil Ioane taken Proceeded against Burned King Henry in person goeth into France King Henry returnes for England after a Truce concluded The Regent having buried the sister of Burgoyne marrieth a second wife An. 1432. R. 11. The Peasants in Normandy rebell The Duke of Burbon receiveth liberty of body out of prison and losse of life all in one day At St. Omers the Dukes of Bedford and Burgoyne meet and depart without conference 1435. The death of the Regent Emulation betwixt the Vncle and Nephew thwart the businesse in France Ann. 1435 R. 12. Callice besieged by the Duke of Burgoyne The Duke of Burgoyne retreats from Callice An. 1437. R. 13. 1437. The death of three great Ladyes The King of Scots murthered Ann. 1439 R. 14. A Parliament at Westminster Roan attempted but with losse to the French An. 1437. R. 16. Ann. 1437 Reg. 15. The Lord Talbot harroweth Piccardy 1438. Famine in England Pestilence in Paris 1439. An. 1439. R. 18. Ponthoys taken by the English Ponthoys succoured The French King braved by the Regent but is patient Treaty for a peace Ann. 1441 Reg. 20. The Duke of Orleance released The Earle of Saint Paul forsaketh the English An. 1442. R. 20. The Castle of Cornhill surprized by a stratagem Vnnaturall dissention betwixt brothers An. 1442. R. 21. Ann. 1442 Reg. 21. King Henry betrothed to the Earle of Arminacks Daughter An. R. 22. A truce agreed upon The Earle of Suffolk transends his Commission An. 1444. R. 22. 23. King Henry marrieth Duke Rayners Daughter 1444. The Regent comes for England An. 1416. R. 24. Glocesiers destruction plotted 1448. The Cardinal of Winchester dies William Wanfleet consecrated Bishop of Winchester An. 1430. R. 26. The truce broken by the English Ardes surprised An. 1449. R. 27. The Duke of Yorke sent into Ireland The English overthrowne An overbold but true language An. 1450. R. 27. Suffolke traduced The Parliament adjourned from Black-fryers to Lecester and then to Westminster Suffolke committed to the Tower A Parliament summoned Mortymer incites the many to insurrection The grievances of the Commons tendred to the Parliament Captaine Mend-all his private petition The two Staffords defeated and slaine The forme of Iacke Cades Warrant The captaine of the rebells slaine The Bishop of Salisbury murthered An. 1452. R. 29. A Parliament The Duke of Yorkes policy to cloake his intention Yorke raiseth forces in Wales The King sends to the Duke of Yorke Yorks answer Yorke dismisseth his army Yorke takes the oath of allegiance Burdeux is reduced Shrowsbury with his fourth sonne and his naturall brother slain at Chattillon 1453. Ann. 1453 R. 30. The Queene delivered of a Sonne Norman the first Lord Maior that went by water to Westminster to take his oath The Queenes Attourney with others slaine in a fray The Duke of Yorke writeth to the King Ann. 1454 R. 33. First battell at St. Albones The Duke of Somerset slaine 1455. Ann. 1455 Reg. 33. The Duke of Yorke conveyeth the K. to London Yorke made Protector of the King The Merchant strangers rifled An invasion attempted by the French Sandwich plundered The Scots make an inroad The Sheriffs of London in trouble for the escape of the Lord Egrimond Ann. 1455 Reg. 33. The Duke of Yorke with the Earles of Salisbury and Warwick betake themselves to their severall strengths The General agreement amongst the Nobilitie by the mediation of the King An. 1449 Strange apparitions An. 1459. R. 34. Sonne against father 1459. Subjects against Soveraigns Father against Sonne A fray An. 1458. R. 34. Three great Carricks taken worth 10000. 2. Battailes fought The Lord Audley slaine The Duke of Yorke flyeth An. 1428. R. 38. A Parliament The Earle of Warwicke with 25000. men taketh the field 3. Battell at Northampton Warwicke possest of the Tower An. 1459. R. 39. The Duke of Yorke puts in claime The Duke of Yorke to be proclaimed heire to the Crowne and Protector 4. Battell at Wakefield Young Rutland butchered The Earle of Salisbury beheaded Ann. 1458 R. 34. 1461. Fift battell at Mortimers crosse Sixt battel second at Saint Albones The Lord Bonvile and Thomas Kiryell beheaded by the Queene contrary to the Kings promise 30. Knights made Prince Edward dubbed Knight The Families of Yorke and Lancaster distinguished by the red Rose and white The Archbishop of Canterbury animated the Duke of Yorke to take upon him the Crowne Ann. 1460 Reg. 1. The Dukes title to the Crowne double An. 1460. R. 2. Edward leaveth London Lord Fitzwalter slaine at Ferry-brig 1461. The Lord Clifford slaine Ann. 1461 Reg. 2. The Earle of Northumberland with 36776. English slaine at Caxton field Edward the 4. Crowned An. 1461. R. 24. An. 1462 R. 2. An. 1642. R. 2. Conquet and Ree taken and pillaged by the Earles of Essex and Kent Sir Ralph Piercy slaine The Earle of Somerset taken prisoner An. 1464 R. 3. King Henry brought prisoner to the Tower The Earle of Warwick sent into France An. 1466 R. 6. Of Thomas Lord Scales of Nucells An. 1466 R. 9. The Lord Stafford forsakes Pembrooke Sir Hen Nevil slaine Ann. 1469 R. 9. King Edward taken prisoner King Edward escapes An. 1470 R. 10. The Lord Wells and Sir Thomas Dymock beheaded Ann. 1470 R. 10. Loose Coatefield Warwick entertained by the French King Visited by Queene Margaret Ioyne inconfederacy against King Edward Prince Edward married to his daughter The Burgonian Fleet dispersed Doctor Goddards Sermon at Pauls crosse King Edward enforced to forsake the land King Edward in danger of Pirates King Edward craveth succour of the Duke of Burgoyne Queene Elizabeth taketh Sanctuary at Westminster Rebells of Kent suppressed by Warwicke King Henry set at libertie A Parliament The Crowne entayled upon Clarence The Queene delivered of a Sonne An. 1471. R. 11. King Edward is admitted into Yorke An. 1471. R. 11. Warwicke entrencheth at Coventry King Edward entreth London An. 1471. R. 10. Warwicke slaine An. 1472 R. 11. Marquesse Mountacute Queene Margaret taken prisoner Prince Edw. slaughtered King Henry murdered Ann. 1472 R. 12. An. 1473. R. 13. A Kings kys to a rich widdow procured 40. where but 20. was expected An. 1474. R. 14. The Duke of Exceter found dead Ann. 1474 R. 4. King Edward writes to the French King * 300. crowns in gold and 30. yards of red velvet The duke of Burgoyn excuseth his breach of promise The Constable repromiseth ayd An. 1474 R. 14. Burgoyne departeth promising speedy returne The policy of the French King King Edward sends an Herald of armes to Lewis * S. Leoger Burgoyne retornes displeased The French Kingliberally rewardeth the good carriage of the English The manner of the internew of the 2 Kings King Edward could not be drawne from ayding the Duke of Brittayne A. 1475. R. 15. King Edward attempteth by a colourable pretence to procure Richmands person to be delivered to him Delivered to the Embassadors Escapeth into Sanctuary An. 1477. R. 17. Clarence drowned An. 1480. R. 22. An. 1483. R. 23. An. 1483. An. 1483. R. 1. An. 1484. R. 1. An. 1484. R. 2. Humphry Duke of Buckirgham slain at St. Albones 1455. Humphry slain at Northampton 38. H. 6. 1460. An. 1484 An. 1484 R. 1. An. 1484. Reg. 2. Richmonds ex hertation Battaile 1. Anno 1455. Dukes 1. Earles 3. Lords 1. Knights 11. Esquires 18. 5641. Battaile 2. Anno 1459. Lord 1. Knights 7. 2411. Knight 1. Battaile 3. Anno 1459. Duke 1. Earle 1. Lord 1. Viscount 1. Knight 1. Lord 1. Battaile 4. Anno 1469. Duke 1. Earles 2. Knights 8. Battaile 5. Anno 1491. Knight 1. Battaile 6. Lord 1. Knights 3. Battaile 7. Anno 1491. Earles 4. Lords 9. Knights 22. 37046. Battaile 7. Anno 1463. Knight 1. 107. Anno 1464. Duke 1. Lords 3. Knights 20. 2024. Battaile 8. Anno 1469. 5009. Earles 3. Lords 3. Knights 11. Battaile 9. Anno 1470. Knights 〈◊〉 10000. Battaile 10. Anno 1471. Earle 1. Marquesse 1. Lords 3. Knights 2. 10000. Battaile 11. Anno praedict A Prince Dukes 2. A Marquesse A Lord Prior An Earle A Baron Knights 20. Esquires 37. 1092. Battaile 12. Anno 1485. King 100. Duke 1. Lord 1. Knights 3. * Knights eldest Sonnes * Of coat-armour and Ancestry
perswaded to yeeld consent to part with her child hee presented the innocent Babe unto them of whom the Protector had no sooner taken a glimpse when with all ceremonious reverence hee ariseth and embraceth him in this armes vowing with affectionate protestations that nothing next the welfare of his Soveraigne which hee esteemed above all earthly things brought him more content then his Nephew of Yorke wisht for Presence and then Judas-like kissing his cheeke hee takes leave of the borde and presently conducteth him to the King his Brother who with joyfull heart and great affection entertained him which was by so much the more to be esteemed by how much it was unfayned The Protector now having the game hee hunted in his owne toyles under pretext of provident care that they might securely repose themselves untill the distempers of the Common-wealth wherof himselfe only 〈◊〉 actor and author might bee quieted he causeth them within few dayes in great pompe and state to bee conveyed thorow London to the Tower there at pleasure to remaine untill the time of the Coronation towards which there was great show of preparation made The Protectors machinations could not well worke by themselves they must have assistance hee wanted Achitophel The Duke of Buckingham whose authoritie and power did beare a great sway amongst the Courtiers must cunningly be drawne to his bent To which purpose hee proposed to him that whereas he had beene formerly an earnest Petitioner to King Edward the fourth his brother-in-law for the Earldome of Hertford whereunto it did appeare the Duke to have a good Title yet hee could never attaine it yet now if hee would bee constant and joyne hand in hand with him hee would put him in a way whereby to bee assured to obtaine it And so upon faithfull promise to procure Buckingham to bee estated in that Earledome and of a match to bee concluded betwixt their issue and an equall partition of the treasure of the Crowne betwixt them two for performance whereof the Protectors oathes are not wanting Buckingham is not only drawne to condescend but is most forward to contrive and plot stratagems and the best courses to compasse the worst of ill effects which was by depriving their innocent Nephews for Glocester was Vncle by the Fathers side and Buckingham by the marriage of their Fathers Sister of their right and livelyhood and some others of their lives to make the Protector a more facile passage to lay hold on the Crowne The Protector having purchased so true a partner of his ambitious designes well knowing it was no good pollicy to play the villaine by halfe-deale is resolved to suffer never a rubbe to lye in the way that might hinder the true running of his bowle And having a farre off sounded the Lord Hastings and finding him so constant to the King his old Masters Sonnes that nothing could withdraw him from doing them true service hee himselfe must bee removed out of the way the effecting whereof was none of the least straines of pollicie for hee must not yet bee meddled with untill by his nayle the nayles of his Antagonists the Queenes Brother and Sonnes by Sir John Gray her former husband bee driven out the compassing whereof was meerely Hastings his share But no sooner was the engine up by his device that should make them headlesse but by Buckinghams device Hastings himselfe is brought to his blocke All the Lords of the Privie Councell are in the Protectors name generally convoked to the Tower where at the Councell table fitting preparations for the speedy Coronation of the young King are proposed and other like businesse wherewith to amuse the Lords and entertaine time untill the Protector came in who excusing himselfe for having overslept himselfe that morning taking his Chaire very affably saluted them merrily jesting with some and more then ordinarily pleasant with them all But on a sudden he framed an excuse for his present absence leaving them in the meane-time somewhat to conferre upon untill his returne which hee promised should be very speedily hee so went out of the Chamber Within the space of an houre hee returned but the wind was turned his affable countenance and familiar language are changed into distracted lookes and much show of inward perturbation which with sighing and other passionate gestures hee expressed to the uttermost After long silence the better to prepare them to the more attention hee confusedly interrogates what they deserved that had nefariously practised his destruction being of the blood royall Vncle to the King and Protector of his person This unexpected interrogation in that strange manner urged strooke such an amazement amongst the Lords that they all stood gazing one on another as if the Protectors speeches had had the vertue of Medusaes head At length the Lord Hastings by Buckinghams instigation and presuming of his as he thought more then ordinary intimacie with the Protector and the innocencie of his owne conscience boldly answered That they deserved to undergoe the punishment of Traitours whatsoever they were which the rest by their silence approved with that the Protector riseth up from his seate with a sterne looke upon Hastings replied why it is the old sorceresse my brothers Widow and her partner that common strumpet Jane Shore that have by incantation conspired to bereave mee of my life And had I not by Gods great mercy happily come to the discovery of their practises and found out the plot they had effected their villanie before suspected Yet have I not altogether escaped free from their malice for behold and then hee bared his left arme to the elbow and showed it how mischievously they have caused this deere lim of mine to wither grow uslesse and thus should all my body have bin served if they might have had their will and a little longer space Those to whom the Queenes religious courses and Christian condition were not unknowne and were not altogether ignorant to what hard shifts the Protector was driven that could provide no other colour for his accusation but the showing of his late discoloured arme the defect whereof all knew that knew him had bin as it was ever since his birth and the coupling of his Queene sister and his Brothers Concubine in one and the same plot of conspiracie against him betweene whom there was such an antipathy of disposition was the occasion that the Lords at his first speech so now sate gazing one upon the other untill the Lord Hastings though not well pleased that he was not aswell made privie to this intended stratagem as with that day es conclusion to have the Queenes Brother Sonne and Allyes to bee executed at Pomfret willing out of malignitie to her to helpe forward the accusation against the Queene but with some pretext to extenuate the aspersion cast upon his Paramore Mistris Shoare whom ever since the death of the King he had entertained for his bedfellow and had but that morning parted from her with a
sober looke submisly said If the Queene have conspired which word was no sooner out of the Chamberlaines mouth when the Protector in great show of choler clapping his fist upon the borde frowning looking upon him said tellest thou mee of if and and I tell thee they and none but they have done it and thou thy selfe art not only acquainted with but partaker of the villany and that I will make good upon thy body And there with upon a watch-word given those prepared before for that purpose in the outer chamber cryed Treason treason wherewith a great number of men in arms came rushing in as it were the guard to the Protector one of which with a Pollax strooke a maine blow at the Lord Strange and wounded him on the head and had slaine him outright had bee not to avoid the stroke slipt backward and falne downe upon the ground Forthwith the Protector arrested the Lord Hastings of high Treason and wisht him to make hast to bee Confessed for hee sware by Saint Paul his usuall oath That hee would not touch bread or drinke untill hee had his head from his shoulders Hastings calling to mind his last nights dreames his solicitations that morning by his sweet Mistris from either trusting the Bore or that day to bee at the Councell borde the speeches that had past betwixt the Lord Stanley and him in riding together and the ominous predictions of ill speed by the often stumbling of his horse and such old peoples observations hee was easily perswaded to give credit to what the Protector had sworne yet being about to say somewhat hee was presently hurried away and lest hee should have beene too long at shrift or therein might discover what hee knew which though it were not much yet it was more then the Protector would have willingly knowne lest the world might bee acquainted with his villany he was upon the next Timber-log they were at though layd there for a better use beheaded on the greene neere the Chappell of the Tower So absolute was the Protectors progresse in policy that incited Hastings on to plot the death of Earle Rivers the Lord Gray and the rest of the Queenes kinred at Pomfret on the same day whereon Buckingham by the like traine had plotted to make him headlesse And that there might seeme some ground for what was done The Lords grace of Canterbury the Bishop of Ely the Lord Stanley and divers others were presently clapt Prisoners in sundry holds of the Tower And for a further colourable glosse of this so plaine a text Divers Citizens of London prepared before to give credit to whatsoever rumour should bee set abroach are sent for with all speed to come with what forces and power they could drawe together to the Tower to the Protector who is pretended and so it was generally bruited abroad assoone as ever the Lords were entred within the Tower gates to bee in great jeopardie occasioned by a plot of treason contrived against him by the late Lord Chamberlaine and others his complices And to countenance the rumour somewhat the more at the approach of such friends whom the Protector had sent for and who to purchase his custome or procure his countenance would goe beyond the losse of a limme hee together with the Duke of Buckingham covered in rustie and unfashionable armour present themselves to their view pretending the hast and the appropinquitie of the perill would not permit them to stay for provision of better And then with a counterfeit show of great perturbation the Protector told them How the Lord Hastings by the contrivance and instigation of his late Brothers Wife and Concubine Iane Shore had well-nie entrapped my good cousin pointing to Buckingham and my selfe for suddenly they resolved to have destroyed vs as wee sate at Councell table this morning and notwithstanding the happy discovery thereof yet the uncertainty of the number or qualitie of the confederates enforced us to prevent the mischiefe and preserve the King who what the Traitours intended against him was uncertaine in safetie to runne an unusuall but no unlawfull course against the said Lord Hastings considering the necessitie of the time and their so eminent danger And without orderly Triall which as now was needlesse in regard hee was taken in the manner and presumed to have beene reskued if execution had beene deferred instantly to have him beheaded Then the Protector heartily thanked the Londoners great love and paines whereby they did expresse their readinesse to bring him succour so opportunely desiring them to acquaint their neighbours with what had passed and so dismissed them but with them sent an Harrold at armes with a Proclamation which for the length and faire writing in a set hand in Parchment to all of judgement did appeare to bee prepared long before the intimated offences against the Lord Hastings therein so fully expressed were either knowne or suspected This Proclamation in the Kings name was publikely made the Maior and the Sheriffs present in all places usuall wherewith howsoever the vulgar seemed satisfied which seldome understand the truth of State matters and are carried away more with opinion then judgement yet those of more understanding did not forbeare publikely to say that the Proclamation was dictated by divination and ingrossed by sorcery Presently upon this Jane Shores lodgings are searched narrowly and ransacked throughly and to the valew of three thousand Markes in Iewells Plate Money and houshold-stuffe and all that ever shee had seized to the Kings use and put under safe custodie shee her selfe is committed to straight Prison The crime laid to her charge was witchcraft pretended to bee wrought against the Protectors person which when neither by subordination suggestion testimonie colour or inference could bee made good against her yet that somewhat might bee done that might bee a meanes to make her obnoxious to the tongues of the multitude The staine of incontinence is laid to her charge and for that only by the Bishop of Londons Officiall shee is adjudged to open penance which shee underwent with that deportment and well-becomming countenance that it strooke malice blind and drew pitie from all the beholders so that they that hated her course of former life and were well pleased to see vice â—…o corrected tooke commiseration of her punishment when they had considered that it was procured by the Protector more upon old malice then new matter rather to worke his private revenge then her reformation But this thus done was left to bee the subject of the peoples discourse as but the bye The maine was of more consequence which must carefully bee expedited During these transactions all the Nobilitie that were at libertie were suspicious one of another and few or none could imagine any 〈◊〉 grounds for suspect being altogether ignorant of what the Protector aymed at In the meane time hee with glozing termes sprinkled Court holy-water amongst all and secret promises of preferment to those whose power and will to