and murderers of Charles Earle of Flaunders at the commandement of Lewes surnamed the grosse king of France Charles Earl of Flaunders by treason slain in the Church This Charles was by treason slaine in the Church of S. Donatus in Bruges as hee was in his deuotions of one Bocardus brother to the Prouost of the same Churche Fabian calleth him the Prouost of Bruges that was the principall of this treason and murder Ro. Gag in an Reg. Fran. lib. 6. I followe Gagwin the writer of the French storie in reporting of it Lewes king of Fraunce aforesaide because Charles was neere of blood to him entered Flaunders besieged the Churche which the traitors kept as their castle Bocardus the traitor his death Bocardus fering the sequell stole out for feare and was taken and put in execution His eyes were stricken out with a reede his face was shot in with arrowes and after hee was dead he was put on the wheele To this strange and greuous death was Bocardus the traitor and murderer put to of Lewes the king of France in reuenge of Charles Earle of Flaunders death his sisters sonne Bertopus a traitor and murdererh strange deaâ—â— And one Berropus his consort mate in the execution of the murder was by the foresaid king Lewes his order put to a strange greeuous death Hee was hange◠〈◊〉 â—â—lowes and by him a mastie or 〈…〉 whom when the hangman smoteâ—◠〈◊〉 Bertopus body hanging by rent tore his fleshe and so Bertopus was baited to death Thus the most strange and greeuous execution of Bertopus for treasoÌ„ murder as Gag master of his order in France writer of the French storie reporteth it The other their coÌ„plices that were taken in the Tower The execution of other craitors were throwen headlong froÌ„ the top of the Tower one Isaak which took on him the vow of monkery hoping to escape was straÌ„gled with a rope Thus of their treason strange executions Frotho king of Denmark Frotho king of Denmarke the first of the name caused two of his chaÌ„ber conuicted of treason against him to be tyed to two great maine stones and to be throwne into the Sea as Saxo the writer of the story of the Danes Saxo Gram. hist Dane lib. 2. saith Animi crimen annex corporibus mole mulctando With waight put on their bodies saith he he punished the waightie sin of their soules Tullus Hostilius the 3. HeatheÌ„ king of the Romans caused a very strange and greeuous execution to be done on one Metius Suffetius for his treason practised in the fielde against him Metius Suf. his treason This Tullus Hostilius fought a battaile with certaine people in the confines of Rome called Fideriates Veientes and Volsci Metius Suffetus being of his obedience and subiection was sent for with certaine ensignes â—orces out of Alba and was present at the battaile And before the battaile did ioyne hee warbling with a double heart got him aloofe to the hilles and busied himselfe among his bands till the battaile was fought And when victorie fell to Tullus Hostilius then he commeth in with fresh bands to gratulate victory to the king At first the kinge shewed good couÌ„tenance to him but after he had assembled his hoast inuironed Metius with his bands and had made him safe from mutening and resisting he gaue order for the excution of him which was thus because he distracted his forces from him in the battaile betraied him his body also should bee distracted dismembred Titus Liuius Deca de 1. lib. 1. TheÌ„ as Titus Liuius telleth the storie he caused him to be laid bound between two Charets by horses set to driuen on diuers wayes his body was dismembred his lims plucked asuÌ„der FroÌ„ so greeuous a sight saith Liuius they turned their eies No nation as he saith may glory more of milder paines and executions Thus of the end of Metius Suffetius for his treason against his Prince in the field as we haue hard of K. Frotho also his executioÌ„ on 2. of his chamber for treason against him Thus I haue opened the examples before mentioned of me for the ending of his part 〈◊〉 Earle Hebert Queene Brunchild Bocardus Bertopus and others and two of king Frotho his chamber Metius Suffetius the last which are verie pertinent exaÌ„ples to this purpose concerning the end of treasons traitors in other countries I ioyned theÌ„ to notable examples out of our own countrie of Edric Elfric sir Andrew Hardikel sir Roger Mortimer which after certain examples out of holy scripture and other beside I haue laid down at large Would God as Polid. in writing the English storie witnesseth these verses of the Prophet Dauid were as a table alwaies hanging before the eies of such Whither then shall I go from thy spirit Psal 139. or whither shall I go then from thy presence If I clime vp into heauen thou art there if I go down to hell thou art there also And after If I say peraduenture darknesse shall couer mee then shall my night be turned to day yea the darknesse is no darknesse with thee but the night is as cleare as the day the darknes light bee both alike Thus far the Prophet But while the wicked are contriuing their diuelishe plats they clean forget the power prouideÌ„ce of God till his prouidence ouerthrowe their plats his power confound the wicked practisers of them and the saying of the Prophet Dauid be verified in them Hee hath grauen digged vp a pit is fallen himselfe into the destruction that he made for others For his trauaile shall come vpon his own head and his wickednesse shall fall on his owne pate Thus of the ende of treasons rebellions and suche like wickednesse Nowe of the last The last of the principal parts of this treatise concerning thanksgiuing and praising of God by occasion of the woordes of Dauid I will praise and giue thanks vnto the Lord according to his righteousnesse and will sing praise to the name of the Lorde the most high AS hee endeth his Psalme with this Of thankesgiuing and praising of God so with exhortation to praise thanksgiuing to God I will end my treatise And herein I will refer my self to these special points First The order how by Dauid his example we shoulde stir vp our selues to thanksgiuing praising of God Secondlie what a bundant matter of thanksgiuing and praising God the bountiful goodnes of God hath ministred to vs. Thirdlie the more to stirre vs vp to be thankefull to God for the preseruation of our gracious soueraigne the good instrument of the manifold blessings of god vnto vs what thankfulnesshe hath shewed to her faithfull subiects of late what compassion to her poore people what hearts her people should beare to her againe pray that the mercy of God will long maintain
in an Reg. Fran lib. 5. then of his iudgement and after his execution This Hebert Countie of Vermendoies humbly inuited Charles surnamed the simple king of France to lodge at his castle of Peron as he returned out of ciuill warres against Robert the sonne of Eudo who contrary to his alleageance had seased certaine Cities and holds of the kings inheritance whome the king had slaine in the field The king surnamed the Simple casting no perils though Earle Heberts wife were sister to Duke Robert late slaine of the king in the fielde vouchsafeth his courteous inuiting and came to lodge with him After great feasting when the king was lodged and his strength sequestred from him Hebert by the setting on of his wife in reuenge of her brother Roberts death taketh the king prisoner and maketh him away that neuer he was enlarged and raigned againe Thus of Heberts treason against his Prince vnder colour of inuiting him to his castle and lodging him Now of his iudgement vnder Lewes the 5. After the making away of king Charles by treason of Hebert Lewes the 5. his son reigned in his place Hee in reuenge of Heberts treason deuiseth this manner of iudgement that Hebert out of his owne mouth vnwares and in a pretensed case shoulde pronounce sentence of death vpon himselfe Ro. Gag in an Re. Fran. lib. 5. This deuise and plat was furnished in this sort As hee sate in councel with his Lords in the Citie of Laon whither this Hebert was also warned procured to be present as Robert Gagwin a famous writer of the French story reporteth it a suborned Poast came thither in Englishe mans array with a letter of hast praying the kings presence and being brought to presence he deliuered the letter And at the secrete reading therof by the king his Secretary to him the king smiled The Lordes as if his smiling boded good said they trusted there was good newes out of England Then hee saieth that one Herman as Gagwin telleth it Fabian the â— part ca. 186. but as Fabian saith one of his owne cosins and especiall friends of England moued him of a case in his letter asking his iudgement and resolution in it He proponeth the case among theÌ„ to heare their opinions and iudgements of the case The case was of a countrie or husbandman that inuited his Lorde to his house and there murdered him Say my Lordes saieth he as Gagwin vttreth his speech what death you deeme and iudge him worthie of Theobald of Blois a sage Counceller first gaue seâ—tence Theobald of Blois his iudgement that though he was worthy of sundrie tortures yet it seemed good to him that the hangman should trusse him at the gallowes strangle him with a rope And after his verdit all assented to it and Earle Hebert also accorded to it Earl Heberts iudgemeÌ„t out of his owne mouth on himselfe and his own sentence was as it were the cord to trusse him vp Iudgement out of his owne mouth was giuen on himselfe there remained no more but execution The Foxe was taken in his owne case Thus iudgement was contriued in a deuised case and Heberts mouth pronounced iudgement of death vppon himself Now of the execution Sodainly rushed in the crue appointed of the king before they caught giltie Hebert Earl Heberts execution and according to his owne sentence carried him to a hill without the citie of Laon hoised him to the Gibbet or gallowes and before the hangman straÌ„gled him Ro. Gag in an Re. Fran. lib. 5. the king turned to him as Gag reporteth and said Thou Hebert art the same countrieman that madst away my Lorde and father and thy Soueraign in prison bonds now according to thy desert suffer thy deserued death Thus Heberts iudgement was deuolued on himselfe and his treason against his Prince returned on his owne head May it not be a mirror of gods iudgement touching the ende execution of traitors which intrap others with treasons sodainly are trussed vp themselues Little thought Hebert to hang at the gallowes at Laon when he came to the kings presence to sit with the Lords in couÌ„cell Little know traitors what sodainly will befall theÌ„ Gods reuenge ruÌ„neth after theÌ„ and will sodainly ouertake theÌ„ He was too suttle for the simple king As a guest the king came to his house but as a lamb he fell into the butchers hands God seeth not this Hebert saith in his hart there is no God to reuenge Psal 14. as Dauid saith of that Nabal the is the foolish wicked maÌ„ His wife wil haue her reuenge of her brothers death Hebert is the executioner of reuenge See how gods iudgemeÌ„t meateth him his owne measure He commeth to Laon as a guest inuited to sit in couÌ„cell his own mouth vnawares giueth iudgement on himself The crue appointed carieth him away to make him away As by treason he made away his Soueraign vnawares so by gods iustice he is taken vnawares for his secret treasoÌ„ hath open executioÌ„ The hill on which Hebert was haÌ„ged Heberts hill was after called Heberts hill Edric Edric the traitor had his head exalted on a high gate or his head body cast into a stinking ditch as some say Elfric had his eies plucked out Elfric Sir Andrew Hardikell Sir Roger Mortimer Sir Andrew Hardikell sir Roger Mortimer were drawn as traitors to death God giue al grace to bee warned by the example of Hebert of France Edric Elfric of England such like traitors against their Soueraignes set vp by Gods prouidence to raigne ouer countries Thus of the treason iudgement and executioÌ„ of Hebert Earle of Vermandois in France Now let vs brieflie tell of the strange execution of Queene Brunchild wife sometime to Sigisbert king of Mees or Austracia according to FabiaÌ„ for her manifold treasons murders of Princes of her owne blood Queene Brunchild Shee is noted in the storie to haue been the death of ten Princes of royal blood beside others She sette her owne sonnes and brethren Theodobert and Theodorich on blooddie warre together and one to teare out an others throate And after king Theodobert was slain in the warres by treason and Theodorich by poyson made away shee set vp a base of Theodorich called Sigisbert against king Clotare who discomfited him and took Brunchild in the field on whoÌ„ all the hoast cried a shamefull death as Gagwin telleth Ro. Gag in an Re. Fran. lib. 2. and after shee was beaten with a cudgell foure times king Clotare commaunded her to be set on a horse and to bee carried about all the hoast then by the haire of the head and armes to be tyed to the taile of a wilde horse and so to bee trailed and drawne to death And this was the 〈◊〉 iudgement and execution of Burnchild king Clotare Let 〈◊〉 heare likewise of the strange iudgement and execution done on the traitors
Chaunceller red it before the king he rent his clothes his hart melted and he humbled himselfe before God and he clensed the temple of God from idolatrie and he◠gathered all his people from the greatest to the smalest as the Scripture saith 2. Chro. 34. and hee red in their eares all the wordes of the booke of the couenaunt that was found in the house of the Lord. And the king stood by the Piller made a couenaunt before the Lord to walk after the Lord to keepe his cōmaundemēts his testimonies his statutes with all his hart with al his soule and that he would accōplish the wordes of the couenant written in the same booke And he caused all that were found in Ierusalem Beniamin to stand to it And the inhabitātes of Ierusalem did according to the couenant of God euen the God of their fathers Hitherto the words of the Scripture What a blessed state was in Iuda and Beniamin then when the harts of the Prince people melted at the word of God were knit in one to serue God according to his law their Soueraigne in true fidelitie according to it How good comely a thing is it as the Prophet Dauid saith for brethren to dwell together in vnitie Psal 133 It is like the precious oyntment vpon the head that ran down vpon the beard euen vnto Aarons beard vnto the skirtes of his clothing c. So far Dauid And if this we ioyne our hartes together to serue God in true faith and our Prince in true loyaltie and fidelity we shal find cōfort helpe frō God God wil blesse the prince for the people the people for the Prince forraine enemies wil feare traitors wil trēble rebels wil be ready to run into caues dens seditious persons wil shrink in their owne secret imaginatious Psal 58. the wicked ones like snayles shall be readie to melt away in their owne wicked wayes as the prophet praieth they may Thus how acceptable a thing it is to God when the people ioyne their hartes together in the true faith to God harty fidelity to their Prince The 5. is of Dauid his loyaltie and fidelitie to the royal person of king Saul The 5. cheefe matter notwithstanding he sought his life While Dauid was yet a subiect to king Saul The Example of Dauid his loyaltie to the person of king Saul 2. Sam. 24. by the euil spirite sent of God on him he was so incensed against Dauid that he chased him as abird from couert to couert to deuoure him His spies hunted him and they told him behold Dauid is in the wildernesse of Engaddi and the men of Ziph brought him tidings that Dauid lurked in the hill of Hachilah by them Psal 11. And how say yee saith he as some lay downe the words in the Psalme to my soule that shee should flye as a bird to the hill Yet notwithstanding he was thus chased for life and driuen out to the vttermost and put on his garde for safety of life yet he bare such loue loyaltie and fidelitie to the royall person of his Prince that when God eftsoones had put him into his handes he would suffer none of his retinue or garrison to offer violence vnto him 2. Sam. 24. For he said the Lorde keepe me from doing that thing vnto the Lordes annoynted to lay my handes vpon him for he is the annoynted of the Lorde And with these words he quailed his owne seruantes which said vnto him See the day is come which the Lord said vnto thee Behold I will deliuer thy enemies into thy hande and thou shalt doe to them as seemeth good to thee But Dauid would suffer none of his men to lay hands on him euen when hee came as it were into his mouth into the caue to ease himself Dauid saued kinge Saules life in the caue wher Dauid his men were hid in the inward partes thereof And his men said now is the day c. And they were sharpe set euen to haue torne him with their teeth And if Dauid in the plung had not pacified his men and garded the person of his Prince which notwithstanding persecuted him to death king Saul had bene dispatched of them And an other time God put king Saul into his handes Dauid saued king Saules life being asleepe in the campe 1. Sam. 26. when Dauid came vpon him as he was a sleepe and the people lay round about him And Abishai said to Dauid God hath closed thy enimie in thy hand this daye I pray thee let me smite him once with a speare to the earth and I wil not smite him againe And Dauid saide to Abishai distroy him not for who can lay his hand on the Lords annointed be giltlesse And he tooke the kings speare and the pot of water from Sauls head and from the toppe of a hill he cryed to Abner the captaine of Sauls hoast and to the people This is not well done of thee as the Lorde liueth ye are worthy to die because you haue not kept your maister the Lordes annoynted and now see where the kinges speare is and the pot of water that was at his head And Saules hart rued he said I haue sinned come againe my son Dauid for I will do thee no more harme because my soule was precious to thy eyes this day Behould I haue done foolishly and haue erred exceedingly So farre the Scripture Thus king Sauls life was precious to Dauid though hee did persecute him to death because he was his Soueraigne Lord placed of God in the royall seate His priuate causes and oppressions he commited to God abyding his pleasure and leasure and as his prouidence shoulde dispose of him and them But he cold not frame his hart either himselfe or to suffer any other vnder his regiment to offer any violence to the person of his Prince notwithstanding they were in armes and had him at their deuotions And his conscience was so tender touching his loyaltie to the person of his Prince that when in the caue mentioned before he had cut off but a lappet of Sauls garment in signe that God had put his life into his handes he was touched in his heart after as the Scripture saieth because he thought he had bene to bold with his Prince 1. Sam. 24. Dauid resolute loyaltie Though he were cast out of his protection yet so he abhorred treasons violence against the person of his Prince that he was resolute whatsoeuer should become of him not for the winning of his kingdome to the person of his Prince 2. Sam. 26. or sauing his own life to do or suffer violence to be done to his person For this was his resolutiō touching the person of his Prince As the Lorde liueth saith he either the Lorde shall smite him or his day shall come to die or he shal goe downe to battail and perish
Otto Bishoppe of Ostia the Popes Legate was Ab. Vrsperg in chro in an 1086. and there VVekill was made an heretike and called an Arch-heretike This Otto president of this Councel was after the death of Gregory the 7. who died at Salern made Pope in his place and then hee fell a cursing of Henry the 4. as his predecessor had done No maruaile though hee were so apt to coyne heresies and to challenge them to bee Arch-heretikes which helde disputations for the Emperor against the Pope Trowe you what should Otto Bishop of Frising haue bin in their mouthes Wherefore Bishop Otto leaueth his iudgement in suspence if hee had intermedled his iudgement for Henry the 4. against the popes proceedings Would they not haue forgotten his religion his monkerie of Morimond the order of Cistertians whereof hee was professed he should haue been an Arch-heretike as Wigbert and Wekil were Therefore Bishoppe Otto seeing the daunger though he were of the Imperiall house himselfe lappeth it vp in his owne conscience and saith he wil not deale in determining the cause but layeth down the storie Yet hath he left a loupe-hole to loke into his iudgment Thus he qualifieth it with soft words videntur tameÌ„ saith hee culpandi sacerdotes per omnia qui regnum suo gladio quèm ipsi ex regum habent gratia ferire conantur Otto Frisin Episc lib. 7. in Prolog Popes haue receiued their swordes of Princes which they turne on theÌ„ Yet saith he the Priests algates seeme culpable which take in hand to strike the kingdome with their sword which of the grace of Princes they haue receiued Thus Otto And least he should seeme to haue launched to deepe by and by he layeth to a plaster except parhaps saith he they thinke to follow Dauid which first by Gods might ouerthrew the Philistine and after killed him with his owne sword He dare not bide by it least he able for it as the Emperour did Therefore he frameth an excuse for them out of Dauids example who killed the Philistine with his own sword So they are Dauids in this construction and Princes Philistines which are killed with their owne sworde that they gaue to them But howsoeuer Otto seemeth to houer and not to giue directe iudgement in the Emperours cause for drawing himselfe in suspicion and daunger also And howsoeuer he gloseth this example for them they are Philistines in the right intendment which contrarie to Goddes ordinances strike Dauids and Princes elected of God with the sword that of the grace of Princes they haue receiued Otto pointeth at the sore but feareth to lanche it too deepe in saying that Popes strike Princes with the sword which they haue receiued of them The Primitiue Church was striken with the sworde of Princes for the faith of Christ the Popes Church striketh Princes against the ordinance of Christ with the sworde which they haue receiued of Princes Pope Paschal the second who cursed both the father and the sonne Henry the fourth first Pope Pasc cursed the father and the sonne and Henry the fifth after the death of his father in the councell of Rome saieth the Primitiue Church florished with the blood of martirs before God but not before men After in the ende kinges and Emperours The councell of Rome and Roman Princes were conuerted Qui matrem suam ecclesiam sicut boni filij honestauerunt Who to their mother the Church didde honestie and honour in aduauncing her Abbas Vrsperg in aâ— 1112. And bestowed landes reuenewes and royalties on her as Constantine the Emperour and other the faithfull and the Church began to florish then so well before God as â—â—fore men So farre the wordes of Pope Pachal He confesseth from whom they haâ—â— their principalities and royalties and the sworde of which Otto speaketh which they haue turned vpon Princes of whom they first receiued it Further at the same time Pope Paschal said as Albertus Kranz and the Abbat of Vrsperg reporteth his wordes much like in effect Habeat saith he mater ecclesiae dona principum Let mother Church saith hee haue the giftes of Princes dispence dispose and giue them to whom lawfully she may wil. Thus farre Pope Paschals words It is apparant by their own confession froÌ„ wheÌ„c they haue reuenewes royalties principalities and their worldly countenance and the sword mentioned of Otto before If the donation of Constan as they cal it were true as Laurence Valla a noble Roman with long discourse proueth it to be forged yet from the Roman Emperour they claime it Laurence Valla against the donation of Constant But Gregorie the 7. who cursed Henry the fourth before Paschal the second setteth Pope Paschal to schoole and fetteth his conuayance of Rome from Christ Grego 7. Alb Kranz Saxo. lib. 5. cap. 7. as Alb. reporteth the verse which with a Crowne he sent to Duke Rodolph that by rebellion against Henry the â—â—â—th he should winne the Crowne and wear 〈◊〉 A fit Champion to giue first onset on Emperours as Otto his opinion is to curse them to strike theÌ„ with the sword which they haue receiued of theÌ„ as an vnkind Impe persecuting plaging the Empire out of which it sprang Hederae Anaplexicaulis Mathe. in lib. 2. Dios cap. 75. Theophrast wryteth of Hedera the Iui that is called Amplexicaulis Matheolus citing it because it groweth about trees and girdeth them in so ouergroweth them in the end that the trees decay and it florisheth in the decayes of the trees as he saith Necat exiccat ablato alimento it killeth starueth trees by sucking away their nurrishment from them So Popedom hath been to Thempire it growed first out of Thempire after it hath so ouergrowen girded in continually sucked the Empire that it hath starued in manner Thempire The Church of Rome mounted in the decaies of the Empire Otto Fris Epis lib. 7. in prologo in respect of the former estate therof and florisheth it self in the decayes of it and by the fall of the auncient Empire Emperors it is mounted aloft Bishop Otto saith by the decay of TheÌ„pire the Church is growen to a great mountaine and began to grow in great state and authoritie And before he meÌ„tioneth the opinioÌ„s of some Non desunt saith he qui dicunt deum ad hoc regnum immini volitisse vt ecclesia exaltetur There lacke not saith he that say that therfore God would haue the kingdome to deâ— that the Church should be exalted thus Oâ—to Thei glorie of the exaltation of their Church by the decayes of the Empire and ruines of Emperors whoÌ„ by treasons rebellions and outrage of subiectes against their Princes and of the sonne against his owne father they haue ouerthrowen How doth Antichrist exalt himselfe and lift vp his hornes as Vrspergensis spake of lifting vppe the hornes of the Church of Rome Ab. Vrsperg in Chro. by plucking Henry
of Edgar king of England after he had lost his retinue in hunting withdrew him selfe to the Castle of Corf where Queene Elfride or Estrild his stepmother with Egelredus her yong sonne kepte house Fab. in chro 6. par ca. 117 where being courteously inuited to lodge that night 〈◊〉 courteouse manner excusing himselfe as he sat on his horse drinking and the cuppe at his mouth of a traytor and murtherer suddenly set on by his stepmother he was stabbed and when he felt himselfe stricken suddenly he set spurres to his horse King Edward surnamed the martyr Fabian in Tab. 6. part and by ryding and much bleeding fainting fell and his foot hanging fast in the stirrop was trailed of his horse to a place named Corinsgate where hee was found dead This Edward was surnamed the martyr and being induced of a curteouse nature to visit his friends as he supposed and not suspecting any treason fell into the mouth of his enemies Charles of Fraunce Charles king of Fraunce surnamed the simple returning out of ciuill warre with victorie on Duke Robert that rebelled against him Ro. Gag in an Re. Fran. lib. 6. was by Hebert Earle of Vermendois in the waye of gratulation for his victory humbly inuited to lodge at his Castle of Peron The king of simplicitie not forecasting treason and ouercom with curtesie humbly offered yeelded to his request and after he was lodged there and his strength gon from him then Hebert set on by his wife tooke the kinge prisoner Earle Hebert his treason Fabian in Chro. 5. part cap. 89. and made him away that hee neuer came abroad to raigne any more Hengist the Saxon inuited Vortigern king of Britain with his Lords to his Castle called Thongcastle whither the king with his Lordes came Hengist Fabian in Chro. 5. part cap. 89. 〈◊〉 the middest of the feast and mirth a fayned fray began the Saxons fell on the Lordes and slew them all and tooke the king prisoner A daungerous thing it is for Princes to aduenture their royall persons with them of whome they haue not vndoubted assurance and in places where they are not garded with their strengthes The same Hengist fearing the great hoast of Britons appointed in readinesse made meanes for a parley and treaty of peace a day was prefixed on a May day on the plaine of Salisburie and so many Britons for so many Saxons should meete Thither king Vortigerne came with a certaine of Britons in peaceable manner In midest of the parley Hengist gaue the watch Nempnith your sexes as Fabian telleth it that euery one should draw his long knife out of his hose and the Britons were slaine like sheepe among Woolues as Fabian saith The Deuill neuer more raueneth then vnder the visard of friendly parles meetings entertainments curtesies and such like deuices which he vseth as occasions of aduantages opportunities to put placs of high treason in practise Trayterous and hypocriticall hartes are like a deepe hel on earth Queene Ethelburg alwayes gaping after opportunities to deuoure theÌ„ whose destruction they seeke Fab. in chro 6. par ca. 157 Ro. Gag in an Reg. Fraâ— lib. 2. Brightricus the first 〈◊〉 of the west Saxons was by Ethelburge 〈◊〉 wifâ—e after sundry attempts of treason for making him away poysoned with many other of his meany Fredegund Queene of Soisous in Fraunce before mentioned hired and sent two murtherers into the campe of Sigisbert king of the Countrie of Mees or Austracie as Fabian termeth it her brother in lawe who awayted for opportunitie aduauntage and they slew the king Queene Fredigond The same Fredigond that by treason procured the death of king Chilperick her owne husband and of king Sigisbert her husbands brother inflamed with enuy against Queene Brunchild because she was set vp in more fauour and honour then she as Gagwin reporteth it was conceiued with new treasons against her Ra. Gag in an reg Fran. lib. 2. and fell in trauel for the execution of them in this sorte There was an old executioner of murthers called Holderick Holderick the traytor a fit instrument to vndertake her treason him shee sent into Queene Brunchilds Court he according to the method of maisteries in the Deuils art of practising treasons first began with flattering and fawning about in the court as the Scorpion doth fawne with his taile ere hee strike but there he met with as cunning in that art as himselfe By his great flatterie he grewe in suspition and being coÌ„mitted 〈◊〉 â—â—ture confessed the whole plat One might 〈◊〉 that Queene Fred. in plats of treasons 〈◊〉 peere Queene Brunchild but Queene BruÌ„child king Sigisberts wife the aforsaid far surpasseth her hath won the prize of such plats practises froÌ„ her She was charged at her death to haue bene the death of ten Princes Continually she was traueyling with some plat or other as soone as she was deliuered she conceiued and fell in taruaile againe about the execution and practise of her plats Notwithstanding outwardly who was couÌ„ted so deuout as Brunchild Ro. Gag in an Reg. Fran lib. 2. the foundresse of many Colledges of Priestes Monkes in BurguÌ„dy as father Gag writeth of her Thus the Diuell vnder mists of hypocrisie worketh maisteries of murthers and treasons against Princes and vnder pretence of religion committeth such outrages in the world And in the taruaile and execution of their plattes the cheife point of practise of masteries in the Diuels art concerning the execution of suche things is fawning flaterie for life and double diuellish diligence seruile at all assaies to creepe into credit and fauour and to win opportunitie of the place for execution Gagwin the generall of his order in Fraunce saieth that Holderick mentioned before Holderick the traytors boldnes was Audax assuetus caedibus bolde and draween through many murthers He kept his course aforesaid for the execution of his plat vpon Queene Brunchild but that his cunning was soone incountered there Cum multis iam diebus saith Gagwin consuetudinem familiaritatis apud Reginam Brunchildem assentatiunculis blanditijsque comparasset WheÌ„ saith hee by the space of many dayes by flattery and fawning he grew to be familiar and conuersant with Queene Brunchild His fawning flateries familiarities at last hee began to bee blasted with suspition when in flattering and currying he went beyond himselfe and beganne to be too broade in it as Gagwin saith Blandior indies visus in suspicionem venit This is the monstrous method of the Deuils art and cheifly in these latter dayes The serpent The Aspe The SerpeÌ„t wil craule into the very bosome the Aspe wil be familier and play Plutarch wryteth and Volateran reporteth it out of him that in Egypt they haue familiar Aspes at their Tables Rapha Vela lib. 25. Plin. naâ— Hist lib. 10. cap. 74. they bring them vp with their childreÌ„ to eate with them to
Gagwin â—n anna Reg. Franc. lib 2. Holderich the traitor iâ—â—reward and seeing Gods iudgement on them vtterly they may shun and detest them The wickednesse of traitors commeth on their owne heads their mischief on their own pates What was Holderich the olde and ranke traitour and murderer his rewarde who of Fredegonde Queene of Soisons in Fraunce was hired to murder Queene Brunchild in her Courte Hee was putte to torture and the bastinado And after hee came to Queene Fredegond for her reward shee charging him with cowardice caused his hands and feete which in treasons and murders long he had abused to bee cut off and that was the traitours rewarde The two Traitours that of the same Fredegond were set sent to kill Sigisbert king of Mees or Austracia according to Fabian in his campe Ro. Cagw in annali Fran. â—ib 2. awaiting their time committing the murder were hewen of the souldiers in peeces Edricus the traitor Edricus surnamed of StrattoÌ„ was a rank traitor first to Egelred after to king Edmond surnamed Ironside after him to king Canutus the first king of Danes that after Edmond reigned ouer the land to his own country in the inuasion of Danes How euer the Prince changed Edricus did not chang but was a traytor to his Prince a traytor to his Country He was grown in great estate of honour vnder king Egelredus and vnder others after But hee coulde not containe himselfe in his estate He turned truth into treason With many treasons hee trauailed and hee reaped the reward of his treasons in the end Because it is a notable example of our owne Countrie and worthy as a spectacle to be set vp to warne all I wil open it more at large Edricus was from a low state and birth as Fabian saith by king Egelredus first aduaunced to bee Duke of Mercia Fab. in chro 6. par ca. 199 and hee coÌ„mited the conduct and regiment of soldiers vnto him And when vpon the kings commaundement hee hadde assembled the west Saxons to withstand the entrie of the Danes vnder Swanus their king and the hoastes should ioyne Edricus sicke when he should fight Edricus fayned himselfe sicke and fled from his people to the great aduantage and comfort of the enemies Thus when it coÌ„meth to a dead lift Fabian in Chro. the 6. part cap. 198 Edricus treasoÌ„ in the battaile treason betrayeth al. And vnder king Edmond called Ironsid in a battaile in Worcestershire as Fabian telleth it when the Danes were like to be discomfited Edricus the traytor pight a dead mans head on a speares head and cryed to the English hoast Fabian in Chro. the 6. part cap. 240 that it was the head of kinge Edmond to daunt the courages of English men and to set the Danes agog vpon them But king Edmond sped him to that parte of the field and so incouraged his souldiers that he had rather the better then the woorse After Edricus fearing the great courage and good successe of kinge Edmond and to saue his land as Fabian saith humbly shued to be receiued into his grace and fauour Fab. in chro 6. par ca. 204 swore to bee true subiect to him But olde trecherie would not suffer new sworne truth to take place in him for after when the hoasts of king Edmond and Canutus mette at Ashdown Edricus after long sight fled to the coÌ„fort of the Danes Thus fighting and flying it was all one with Edricus for when hee should fight he would flee or be sick and haue some excuse and with smooth words set forth matters of small importance Edricus the traytors excuses His flying out of the battaile at Ashdowne he did so excuse as Fabian saith that no man might charge him with any defaulte Hee would turne himselfe vnto manye excuses as Poets fayne that Proteus kinge of Egypt would turne himselfe into manie formes Proteus king of Egypt because the manner was of the Egyptian kings to weare on their heades the formes and forepartes of a Lion Bull Dragon Caro Ste. in dictio Hist Poe. or armes of their estate and sometimes a tree or fire or fragrant ointmentes and thereof Poets fayned of Proteus that he chaunged himselfe into many formes So Edricus could change himselfe into many formes of excuses Hee was eloquent of speech as Fabian sayth and false of heart Fabian in Chro. 6. part cap. 199. and with faire wordes would blanch out fowle treasons Hee was onely constant in his inconstance warbling with a wayward minde and doubling in dealings of great importance He practised treason gainst his owne Country for the Danes vnder kinge Egeldredus and vnder kinge Edmond after him Fabian telleth the reporte of Guido King EdmoÌ„d killed at the withdraught howe by his and Edricus his sonne their treasons Edmond came to his death As hee satte at the withdraught Edridus his sonne awayting him strocke him with a speare into the fundament wherof shortely after hee died Then Edricus the father with great haste sped him to king Canutus Edricus the traitors head exalted on the highest gate who then with king Edmond reigned ouer halfe the lande for by composition for ending of ciuill warres the land was deuided betweene them and hee thought for his tidinges greatly to haue been exalted But king Canutus according to Guido his reporte cammaunded his head to be stricken of and pight on a speare and exalted vpon one of the highest gates of London Chronica Fructus temp the 6. parte Thus according to that storie Edricus was exalted for his treasons which returned to his own head Though it seeme fabulous to Polidore that Chronica Fructus temporum telleth of king Edmonds death and Edricus treason yet because of the straÌ„gnes of the deuise I wil note it This Edrick of Stratton inuited king Edmond to lodge at his house and at night as the king should goe to his lodging in the way was set vppe a beautifull Image with a bowe bent and an arrowe in it and when the king approched to see it anone it discharged the arrowe and shot the king through the bodie for it was an engin made for that purpose to lure the king to the gase and to slea him And after that Edricke his report to king Knoght thereof for Canutus so is called hee abhorred him for his treason and as a traytor commaunded him to be bound and cast into the riuer of Thames Thus Chronica Fructus temporum rehearseth the storie or the deuise in steed of the storie as it seemeth to Polidor Fabian noteth out of Marian the Scot another varietie of the storie that king Edmond dyed at London of naturall sicknesse for there out of the same Marian he telleth that after the death of king Edmond Edricus flatterie Fabian in Chro. 6. parâ— cap. 205. this Edrick grew in such deepe fauour with king Knoght or Canut by his sugred wordes as
Fabian termeth it and fawning flatterie and glauering glosing of the which hollow hypocrits make an art in Pallaces of Princes and houses of estate that he aduaunced him to one of the foure regimentes of England called Mercia Notwithstanding he could not keepe himselfe true to his Prince that hadde beene drawne through so many treasons for that is rooted in the marrow and bones will not out Hee was taken tardie in treason againe and being accused and conuicted iudgment was giuen immediatly executed his head cut off and his body cast into a foule and filthy place Ranulph saith Edricus the traytors death that he was slain by the kings agreement within his Pallace at London his bodie with the head throwne after into the towne ditch Whether for his treasons against king Edmond before he dyed as some write or for his treason against king Knoght after as others tell all agree that he dyed for his treasons whether his head were exalted on the highest gate of London for king Edmonds death or whether his head and bodie were cast into the towne ditch for treason against king Knoght Pol. Verg. Hist Au. li. â— So his treasons turned on his owne head Polidor telleth how king Knoght after the death of kinge Edmonâ— greatly endeuoured himselfe to banishe thâ—â— sonnes of kinge Edmond who as he sayth departed into Pannonia and there were well intreated and ended their liues in exile Chronica Fructus temp the 6. parte And Chronica Fructus temporum telleth how that after the death of king Edmond Edrick aforesaid surprised the sonnes of king Edmond and presented theÌ„ to king Knought to put himselfe in great fauour with him and that of the king they were sent after to Denmarke from whence by a Dane called Walgar that pittied them they were conuaied to the king of Hungarie Saxo Gram. Hist Danicae lib. 10. Saxo GraÌ„maticus the auncient famous wryter of the storie of the Danes telleth that king Kanutus was very careful not to be touched with suspition of the death of king Edmond whoÌ„ he called Edward And that some reporte the king Edmond whoÌ„ he calleth Edward by Kanutus commaundment and practise came to his death and that by his coÌ„maundment likewise more greeuous execution was don on the traytors to cleere him selfe of the suspitioÌ„ thereof yet notwithstanding saith he the same thing did greatlie rack the kings fauour in his houshould those that were neere him Thus out of Saxo. Fabian reporteth of him Fab. in Chro. the 6. part cap. 205. that he did so abhorre the vnnaturall treason of the English men that hadde sworne to bee true to the blood of kinge Edmond that though by their treasons the Crowne wholy was deuolued to him and his posteritie yet hee hadde the workers against kinge Edmond his sonnes in continuall mistrust whereas they thought they should haue beene in high fauour with him And as Fabian telleth he dispatched the more part of them some by banishment some were slaine some by Gods punishment soddenly died Canutus loâ—thed traytors though he gained by them Thus traytors are loathed of them that gayne by them and their treasons turne on the heades of the workers of them Touching the end of kinge Edmond his sonnes Fabian thus reporteth it out of the opinion of some that kinge Canut sent Edmond and Edward king Edmond his sonnes to Swanus his brother kinge of Denmarke to bee made away And that hee abhorring the deede sent them to Salomon king of Hungarie where Edmond died and Edward suruiuing was surnamed the outlaw because he neuer returned into England againe Caesar Caesar was wont of treasons traytors to say that he loued treasons but he loued not traytors he loued treasons to serue his turne Plutarchus in vita Rom. but he shunned traytors as moÌ„sters in the ciuil body the wold be ready to practise on him that they haue proued in others Plutarch telleth Plutarcus in Apoth Rom. that the king of Thraci vpbraied him at the table that from Anthonie he had reuolted to him He rouned 〈◊〉 other king that satte by him in the eare anâ— sayeth that he loued treason but not traytors In like sort king Philip said Philip. that hee loue not traytors but those that would betray meaning though he had his turne serued by them he would not trust them Io. Stub There was in the time of this Edrick of Sratton Elfricus vnder king Egelred and when the Danes pressed the land in diuers places an other traytor of great countenance and estate called Elfricus maister or Admirall of the kings Nauie Fab. in Chro. the 6. part cap. 197. as Fabian calleth him who was bought and sold of Danes against his Prince and Countrie When with the kings nauie furnished he lay for the Danes to encounter them he was blinded with bribes and the Danes had their chase and rechase by sea and land notwithstanding him Fabian the 6. part cap. 199. He was by sea like to the scharcrow by land which standeth with bow bent and the arrow set in the bow and yet is blind and cannot discharge Such a watch was Elfrick by sea the Portes and passages were open to the Danes Polidore saith he was a hot and fierce man Polidor Hist Angl. lib. 7. but the Danes so cooled his courage with corruption that there was no valew in him for his Prince and Countrie When he shoulde fight a battaile with the Danes by sea and trye for the maine chance then Elfrik fled to the Danes Pol. Angl. Hist li. 7. the Nauie was dispersed some taken some drowned Thus Elfrick by sea and Edrick by land played their partes in flying when they should fight and when they were most trusted betraying their Prince and Countrey This Elfrick after his first fight was recoÌ„ciled to the king againe After he fled the 2. time Then the king as Fabian saith in wreak of the father commaunded the eyes of the sonne Algarus to be plucked out of his head Fab. the 6. part cap. 197 Polidor reporteth that wheÌ„ the Danes came not of with their rewardes to Elfrick his contentment hee put himselfe to the mercie of kinge Eldred or Egelred to whom saith he the king Effossis oculis vitam condonauit After his eyes were plucked out of his head pardoned his life Thus traytors come short of their reckning and Gods iudgmentes suddenly ouertake them as they did Elfrick and Edrick Polidor Hist Angl. lib. 7. Because Elfrick was blind when he should see the kings enemies therefore the king plucked out his eyes that he should not see his own freindes It was the iust iudgment of God reuenge suddenly ouerreacheth the wicked in the parts they offend eftsoones they are punished What marueile when ther were 2. such as Elfrick and Edricâ— were though king Eldred or Egildred was fayne to flee the lande the Councell of the land was bewrayed the seruices
then disgarnished of the robes of his estate Polid. Hist Angl. lib. 18. and after put in execution Polidor telleth of a pacte or platte of treason made with Robert kinge of Scotes by him with his owne opinion in the ende Thus Sir Andrew Herkelies treason turned on his owne head in the ende Sir Roger Mortimer surnamed of Wigmor may for his aduauncemeÌ„t first Sir Roger Mortimer Fabian the 7 part in an 1324. corruption and treasons after well bee ioyned to him Vnder Edward the second being committed to the Tower hee made escape by giuing a sleeping drinke to his keepers as Fabian witnesseth Then he gotte him into Fraunce to Queene Isabell daughter to Philippe Lebew and wedded to kinge Edward Polidor Hist lib. 18. whom kinge Edward with her sonne hadde sent into Fraunce to intreat a concord and peace betweene Charles the French king and him After the returne of Queene Isabell Prince Edward her son with force of armes after the deposing of Edward the 2. in the Parliament holden at London Fabian in an 1328. Fabian the 7 part in an 1326. Sir Roger Mortimer who returned likewise in their retinue was by the singular fauour of Queene Isabell in wthose Court he bare the sway aduaunced in the Parliament of Salisburie vnder Edward the third to bee Earle of March as Sir Andrew the aforesaid was vnder Edward the second his father preferred to bee Earle of Carlile or Cardoile as is mentioned before And in the end this Sir Roger of Wigmor was executed for treason against his Prince and Countrie as the same Sir Andrew was But this Sir Roger was mounted farre higher in fauour in the Court and in the regiment dealings of estate and cause of profite that did accrew to the Crowne And hee had great troupes and routes hanging on him Chronica Fructus temp the 7. parte as Chronica Fructus temporum telleth what a number of knightes were retayned to him when hee was taken The regiment of the lande and affayres of profitte passed through the Queenes hands and his And the Lordes before assigned to haue the guiding of the yong king were sequestred so that alone the rule of the lande as Fabian sayeth rested in the Queene and the said Sir Roger Fabian the 7. part in an 1328. And great things of the realme saith he were out of order But Sir Roger bare himself so high that at length hee plucked both the king and his Councell vppon him So that in time by the king his assent and the meanes of Sir William Montague and sir Rafe Stafford and sir Iohn Neuel and others hee was by a compassed meane as Fabian termeth it arrested and takeÌ„ in the castle of Nottingham Fabian the 7 part in anno 1329. where the king and Queene then lay The keyes of the castle were daily and nightly vnder the ward and keeping of the said sir Roger as Fabian saith Chronica Fructus Temporum telleth Chro. Fruct temp 7. part that the Constable of the Tower led sir William Montague and his companie a priuie way vnder earth euen into the Tower where sir Roger was lodged From thence with sir Simon of Bedford and others he was sent to the Tower of London And in the end for his priuitie to the death of king Edward the second the king his father Fabian the 7 part in anno 1330. for other treasons charged and proued against him in the Parliament at London he was by authoritie of the same Parliament Fabian witnessing it iudged to death And vppon S. Andrewes euen next ensuing at London he was drawen and hanged He was charged not onely with treason against Edward the seconde the kings father to haue been the meanes of his most traiterous death fearing least nature woulde worke in the young king to set him at libertie againe Polidor hist Ang. lib. 18. as Polidore noteth and because Queene Isabel had written likewise letters of kindnesse vnto him but also hee was charged with treason against king Edward the 3. his sonne against his countrie to haue been the meane that the Scots escaped from the king at Stanhop park where they had fallen into the kings danger ne had byn the fauour of the said sir Roger then shewed to them further that an vnprofitable dishonorable peace as Fabian termeth it was by his meane concluded betweene the king and the Scots For first as Fabian writing of the Parliament of Northampton saith the king released to the Scots their fealtie and homage Fabian the 6 part in anno 1327. And he deliuered to them olde auncient writinges sealed with the seales of the kings of Scots Lords of the land both spiritual and temporal with many other Charters and Patentes by the which the kings of Scots obliged theÌ„ to bee â—eodaries to the crowne of England At which season also were deliuered certaine iewels which beforetimes had been wonne from the Scots The blacke crosse of Scotland Chro. Fruct temp in Edward â—qe 3. among the which the blacke Crosse of Scotland is specially named Chronica Fructus TemporuÌ„ according to the blacke darknesse of the superstitious time saith that this black Crosse was a ful precious relike which good king Edward conquered in Scotland brought it out of the Abbey of Stone And maketh mentioÌ„ also of the famous Indenture called Ragman Ragman the Indenture of the homages and fealties of Scotlande which the Scots made to king Edward king Henry his son in which were conteined all the homages and fealties first of of the king of Scotland all the Prelates Earles and Barons of the Realme of Scotland with their seales set there vnder other charters remembrances that king Edward and his Barons had of their right in the aforesaid realm of Scotland Fabian the 7 part in anno 1327. Of this Indenture Ragman mention is made also in the article obiected to this sir Roger at his arraignment before the iudges of the Parliament in London Thus the said sir Roger for sundrie treasons against his Prince Countrie was openly arraigned condemned executed as is aforesaid And thus of the treasons of Edric of Stratton of Eltrick the Admiral sir Andrew Hardikel sir Roger Mortimer of Wigmor and the executioÌ„ done on theÌ„ To these I will adde the notable exaÌ„ple of Hebert Earle of Vermandois in France of his treason against Charles king of France surnamed the Simple Hebert his execution vnder Lewes the 5. of the name And the example of Q. Brunchild in France Brunchild for her treasons the straÌ„ge execution done on her Metius Suffetius And likewise on the murderers of Charles Earle of Flaunders on Metius Suffetius and on two Traitors of the chamber of Frotho king of Danes Polido And these abundantly may suffice for the ending of this treatise First touching Hebert his treasons against Charles the Simple Ro. Gag