Queenes conception long before many weekes after Therfore I doubt not most excellent Prince but these my speaches may â—â—llifie your hart and procure present pittie to appeare and in doing so humanetie curtesie and noble worthinesse shall illustrate your person and with pregnant pollecie odorne your high estate and Imnage a rare blossome sprouting out to the exceeding comfort of all England The King being resolued at this the Earle of Sommersets request with the perswasion of diuers other noble men to graunt her repriuement vntill her deliuerance of childbirth were accomplished so that his desier in putting her to death might not afterward be hindred This her repriuement did not so much reioyce the sorrowfull heartes of the English Lords as it bred anger and discontentment in the Barron of Buckingames breast who imbouldned Casiope the Kinges Concubine to call for the Queenes secret distruction greatly mistrusting that continuall windes would at length shake the Tower of their prosperiites The beautie of this fayre Casiope seemed in the eyes of King Edward a little earthly Paradice which chaunged his inclinations to any way shee pleased for what soeuer he openly promised to his Nobles would he secretly denie before Casiope and what soeuer was obtayned contrary to her good liking was contiually crossed with a bad successe This costly magnificent Lady thus vndermined high mountaines builded bridges ouer mighty Seas and stood as a sure Irone post in the defence and safe conduct of the wicked Barron hir professed friend by art of wordes winding the Kinges mind to her ready bent bow and with beautyfull countenance indooting his concupicence against the whole dominion of England all which as a manifest trueth on a time approuedly fell out for after that sundrey of the Queenes friendes haâ—â—eliuered many pittifull petitions for her enlargement Casiope secretly betweene them selues taunted the King as followeth To what solletary wildernes is the ripenes of your pollecy wandred Shall euery bace Subiect hauing aspired some promosion rather of your goodnes then their owne desartes chaung your inclination as they list For shame my Lord put on a princely mind put off this bace relenting hart let Subiectes penetrate your minds not as they lust but as you please let them euermore seeke and neuer finde the secret depth of your hart let them rather grate vpon hard Irone then soft melting waxe my counsell herein followed and put in practise will bring speaciall welfare to your state and worthy estimation to all those which attende your person Further if Queene Katherine be the pleasant flower that euery one seeketh to smell at doe but vnroote the stalke and all their delightes will perish And to conclude her life will be your death and my dishonour King Edward harkening still to the voyce of this night Rauen which dayly crooked for the sweetlife of the vertuous Queene and spent much commumcation with the King as well for her dispatchance after her deliuerance from childbirth as conuaying the state of the Kingdome to her isshue The which pricks and darts of mortall shot throwne out so inwardly greeued the Lordes of the priuy Counsell that they departed the Kinges court resigned their offices and rich fees and sould their Patrimonies so that the Kingdome and dominion of Brittaine which before abounded in prosperous felicitie with manyfould orniaments of honour was now ruinated with great pouertie wretchednesse and miserie The King neglected the care of his people the people on the other side enuied the person of the King their martchandize and trafficke decayed their husbandry foreslowed ground became barron with out tillage miserable famine ouer spred the whole Countrey the which consumed breede of cattle The gold siluer and treasures was incroached among the wealthiest subiectes who for their better saffety betooke both themselues their riches vnder forraine gouernmentes Presently vppon this hurlie burlie which happened throughout the whole dominioÌ„ the heauens sent this good fortune to Queene Katherine that in the Lord high Marshals house she was deliuered in childbirth of two Twins a Sonne and a Daughter being two children of an excellent beauty which by the Marshall was presented to King Edward who although vtterly despising the Mother yet not altogeather choaked in ill nature toward the infantes speedely celebrated a soliemne Christoning and caused the man child to be called Edmond and the woman child by the name of Siluia the which being performed by officiall Priestes as the manner was in those dayes but yet not in such a royall sort as Princes childred ought to haue been christoned the which being no sooner finished but the King kindled in fuery against the Infantes through the perswasion of fayre Casiope caused young Edmond to be conuayed into the Dukedome of Normandy in which dominion the young Infant in company of his English nurses was most honourably receiued both because that Duke Robert being the first of that name was vnissued as being a Kings child of royal blood thinking that the Infant being naturally brought vp would proue in time to be a louing Prince to his people and a careful gouernour amongst them Further King Edward in the dispoyle of lawfull posterety from his dominion and Kingdome likewise transported fayre Siluia with her English nurses into Denmarke where very honourable intertaynement and comfort was giuen in the Kinges Court who through age and time gayned woonderfull estimation for as nature had rewarded her with excellent beauty so fortune forgot not to replenish her with wealthy prosperety who from her childhood in Princely orniamentes proued the only Parragon of Denmarke where now we will leaue her for a time to her good fortunes and likewise Prince Edmond in the Court of Normandie and discourse of the miseries that happened to Queene Katherine after her deliuery of childbirth CHAP. 5. ¶ How Queene Katherine was deliuered from prison by the pollecy of the Earle of London being her owne brother and what happened to the Lord Marshall after her departure KIng Edward not ending his Ielous fuery in the bannishment first of the Duke of Suffolke the young infant Edmond his ligitimate procreation and fayre Siluia his naturall daughter but with a greater determination of mischeife presently sent letters to the high Marshall giuing him a spetiall charge for the Queenes beheading protesting by the same letters what peace and tranquillety thereby might be purchased to his countrey After receipt of these newes the night before her death anpoynted Lord Marshall entered the Queenes lodging and made relation of his charge giuen by the King for her execution to whom she with a sober countenance answered in this manner My Lord Marshall sayd the Queene be not amazed but accomplish your duty herein nor thinke me displeased either with these newes from my deare husband or with you the messenger for I am fully resolued that my death more greeueth you then my selfe and as you haue been euer carefull in my cause so it is no little sorrow vnto your heart
THE Famous Historie of Albions Queene VVherein is discoursed King Edwards Ielosie Queene Katherines chastetie the Duke of Suffolkes loyaltie and the Barron of Buckinghams treacherie Imprinted at London by VV. VVhite for T. PAVIER and are to be sold at his shop in Corne-hill neare to the Exchange at the signe of the Catte and Parrettes 1600. TO THE RIGHT WORSHIPFVLL EDMVND MVILINEVX ESQVIER health happinesse and prosperitie THE generall report right Worshipfull of your gallant minde and noble disposition hath imboldned me to presâ—â—â— this my worthlesse labour to the view of your ingenious iudgement and the long desiers of my willing minde being now set on fier with the fame of your bright renowne presageth my mâ—ses good fortune which although it be but barren yet watered with the deaw of your gratious acceptance will hereafter be more fruitfull What the Storie is let your wisedome conceite my Subiect is The Vertues of a chast Queene and the loyaltie of a faythfull Subiect the triumphes of an honorable minde shrowded vnder the habite of a ielous King Accept it sweete Mâ—â—â—tialist with a fauourable countenance and my hopes are aduanced After the thundering alarums of dreadfull Warre Souldiers will sometime recreate themselues with pleasant discourses be you then I beseech you right Worshipfull a kind Patron to an vnworthy witt that I may say vnto my muse Happy is thy chaunce and fortunate thy proceedinges By your diuoted and humble welwiller till death R. G. THE Famous Historie of ALBIONS QVEENE CHAPTER 1. ⧠How King Edward grew ielous of Queene Katherine through the flatterie of the Barron of Buckingham ABout three hundred yeeres before the royall name of great Plantaginet possessed the imperial Diadem of this Mayden Land in which golden age there raigned as then one Edward surnamed the Senior a Prince of most excellent wisedome but yet in the first entraunce of his gouernment crost with many strange calamities through disloyall actions of false subiectes This Edward was not any of those royall Edwardes which liued since the Normayne Conquerour made England happy by his lawful clayme but one linially descended from the Romane Emperors who in the spring time of his blooming youth tooke to wife a most wise and vertuous Queene beautified with many singular good guiftes of nature and princely qualeties beseeming so worthy a Lady which Queene Katherine for so was she called altogeather imployed a dutifull care to adorne and set foorth her husbands Princely house and Scepter with surpassing glorie and rich renowne of vertue and besides that she so worthely defended her owne honour against a number of loose Loueres which dayly practised the conquest of her chastetie But now her betrothed husband King Edward being troubled diuers wayes with the hurly burlies of his Kingdome nothing at all solaced his minde in the company of his vertuous Queene by which he grew in mistrust of her chastety greatly fearing least others should loue that which himselfe liked or that she fauoured that which he falsely suspected his telous minde neuer rested satisfied partly of himselfe led with fond beliefe but chiefly incensed through the faythles falsehood of one George de Combria surnamed the Barron of Buckingam being aduaunced from low and poore parentage to the kings Court and not onely made one of his priuie counsell but placed in all digneties next vnto his person This proude Barron enuying the honour of Queene Katherine closely stuffed the Kings conseated head with false reportes and as it were coniured the sperit of I closie into his minde against the good and gratious Princesse which vniust occations of griefe being setled vnkindnes so deepely graued in his hart that neuer after it could be raced out by any meanes whatsoeuer King Edward being thus suncke into the bottome of dispayre fetched many greeuous sighes and often in great sorrow of hart would breath foorth this or such like lamentations Oh my vntrusty Wife and Lady wherefore hast thou wounded thus my hidden loue and inforced me to complayne of thy trecherous infidelitie Thou hast ingaged my honour discharged my person from renowne and possessed dishonour to my Scepter Oh! I launce foorth into the gulfe of dolorous distresse My marshall staffe of prowesse is broken in peeces and I am ledde into voluntarie seruitude deceitfully bereft from the freedome of my nuptiall life and sacrefized a slaue into the handes of trayterous varlets In this manner many a day King Edward fed his ielous minde with vaine immaginations casting him selfe from the lofty mountaine of passed ioyes into the bottomelesse pit of present woe So on the other side the Barron of Buckingam being hardoned in shamelesse audacities incountred him with a new onset to dyet his smell with a quicker scent and so espying a time to play with the sword of sedition he in presence of many of King Edwardes Lords vomited out this wrongfull accusation that followeth If protesting of loyall duetie to your worthy Maiestie or floods of incessant teares distilling from the cundets of my sorrowfull eyes may make perfect shew of a Subiectes honest minde as yet neuer blemished with the breach of dishonestie or euer touched or found guyltie of trayterous crime in regard of which true obedience most mightie Prince accompt my speaches for a veritie and nearely looke into the wronges of your Marriage bedde which ignorance hath heretofore coutched vp in secresie For beit knowne that the mighty Duke of Suffolke an auntient enemie vnto your Crowne and dignitie is familiarly crept into secret fauour with Queene Katherne your honourable Spouse who vnder shadow of seruiceable dutie bereaueth your Maiestie from the fruite of true continencie and couereth your nuptiall bed with a strayned mantle of blacke infamie Oh what a griefe is this vnto the soules of vs which intirely loue your Maiestie whose liues be wholely consecrated to your good fortunes It is not spight that inforceth me to defame the reputation of your royal Queene vnto whom I stand bound in all humble seruice nor any hate nor proffered miuryes doth inflame my minde to blemish the good Duke of Suffolkes fame with immortall ignobilletie but loue and dutie to my Prince and countrey wherefore most noble King cleare your vnderstanding and weede from your Court such treacherous deceauers that your life be not sodainely intrapped and we vnfortunatly depriued of a wise and puisant Prince And to conclude if I George de Cambria Barron of Buckingam be disproued or polluted with the breach of dishonesty an vtterer of false speaches or be found a flatterer or one that hunteth after Princely fauour proudly aspiring after dignetyes and promotions then let me perish and like a traytor be throwne out as an open shame vnto the world otherwise knit and binde me to your Maiestie in the fast bond of loyallty and haue the reward of a faythfull subiect When the Barron had thus inchaunted King Edwards eares his head burned more hotter with the heate of ielosie then before a dissease so incurable that
Queene and the Duke of Suffolke were arraigned and condemned of adultrie through false witnesses and what after happened THe very next morning after King Edward had giuen charge for their arraignment were they called foorth before certaine of the honourable Lords of the priuie Counsell and were tryed vpon the proofe of their accusation where the wicked Barron of Buckingam with two other bace Gentlemen of the Kinges Court did sweare by the immortall powers of heauen that the filthy fact of adultrie was committed betweene Queene Katherine and the Duke of Suffolke against the honour of his Maiesties person After which detestable oath falsely protested the good Earle of Sommerset stood vp in open audience and with a dischearefull countenance spake as followeth Oh you wretched betrayers of Innocent blood quoth he although they taste the bitter toâ—mentes in this worlde yet I feare not but they will shortly wander to that celestiall Paradice from whence will descend fierie vengance vpon your heades Oh you Diuels and Feendes of impietie woe worth the time that euer you attempted so vile a periurie for you haue taken a vertuous Queene from vs a Queene that is the merrour of true continencie and onely patterne of a constant woman the lyke clamor and pittifull lamentation was in the whole Countrey rounde about Then in the middest of which sorrowfull moane the Duke of Suffolke desired the Counsellours and Iudges that he might vtter some speaches in his owne behalfe and likewise to discharge his conscience of the vile acte his accuser had layde against his lyfe his speaches were in this maner deliuered I am not ignorant right Honorable assemblie that this my tender body clothed with Innocencie must shortly be discharged from the prison of this worlde and must take my iourney vp to heauen for true protection for this lyfe is nothing but a wandering pilgrimage of woe a mercilesse sea which often times vomiteth vs into the mouth of prying Pirates dashing vs vpon many dangerous Shipwracks and now since my duetie tyeth me to solemnize an honorable memorie of this aflicted Queene deliuer out a true discharge of her chastetie and a preseruation of mine owne honestie For if euer I presumed such a deede against the maiestie of her worthy person let this Ghost of mine be deliuered a pasture for infernall woormes to gnaw vpon or if my senses had been so arrogantly disposed her vertues might haue easely kilde my desiers yea and disclosed the same to my vtter ruine and confusion But I see my proffered diligence lyke a trusty Seruant proffered to her commaundement hath brought this woe vpon vs both therefore if her fame be brought in question through my misusage or if the proude Barron enuiously thirsting for my blood hath thus wrongfully damnified my gratious Princesse let a doble death for her deliuerance be layde vpon my lyfe let my sorrowes be twice imbrewed to deminish her paynes let the ransome of her pictie be layde vpon my body a graue and pit to finish vp her sorrowes Now this I speake as a witnesse of my last will hauing enioyed this worlde twentie sixe yeeres sufficiently proouing the vanities thereof and now willing to resigne this lyfe to a more better hope and as my young forepassed lyfe is free from staine so will I neuer blush nor hide my face as one suspected or blotted with any such crime of which I am now condemned of With these wordes pronounced by the Duke of Suffolke was the Earle of Sommerset depriued of speach and for the inwarde griefe which swelled in his breast he could not vtter any one worde humane sorrow powred downe from his eyes abundant streames of teares manifesting the good will and true affection he bore to trueth and iustice his soule grecued that true honour nursed vp to ripe age should in a short moment be deliuered to a cruell and most vntimely death But the Earle of Westmerland which as then presented the Kinges person hauing somewhat a more chearefull hart stoode vp in the Iudgement seate and spake as followeth Most gracious Queene quoth he and you my honorable Lord the Duke of Suffolke know that we in Iustice cannot release nor helpe your miseries for it behooueth vs to fulfill the Kinges commaundement least we incurre displeasure to our selues hindering vs and nothing furthering you but yet this remedy in my conceite standes with iustice that you my Lord of Suffolke may reobtaine your honourable fame challenging a combat of the wicked Barron and so reueale to the worlde your giltlesse perfection for he in presence of vs all hath spit out most vile wordes of despight blemishing and ouerthrowing your credite euen so noteaÌ„e before the face of men your true intencion and respect to honour and to the same effect frameman humble Supplication to his Maiestie and in doing so we the estates of this land heare present will eternally crownacle your endeuours to after ages And in speaking these wordes the whole Counsell brooke vp court for that day and departed euery one seuerally to their lodginges the Queene and the Duke were conducted againe to their wonted captiuitie whereas the Duke of Suffolke greatly comforted with this counsell thought euery day a yeere vntill he had giuen the challendge and that the Barron was prouoked to the combat so taking pen and incke he writ this knightly petition to his Maiestie The Duke of Suffolkes challenge of combat sent to King Edward IF your royall person most mighty Prince hath bin wronged thorow my counterfeite seruice let me be attached with the scourge of penall iudgment so that reasonable desiers be first fauoured for now honour burning hot in the closure of my hart in tryall of my honesty doth craue this permission at your princely handes that I may combat with the mischieuous varlet and false flatterer the proud Barron of Buckingham in disproofe of his cloaked falsehood If my quarrell be vniust the eternall powers of heauen will not prosper it If his ground-worke be well layde and haue a sure foundation his intent will be expressed the better For he that dares commit these wronges openly will not be abashed to auow them openly He that launcheth in the puddle of discord knoweth a cleare passage how to escape therefore most noble Prince let the holy fountaine of mercifull pittie straine out that it may mooue your Grace to graunt my requestes I ende By me the sorrowfull and dessolate Duke of Suffolke King Edward receiuing this Supplication in the manner of a Challenge thought it a deadly bane prepared against the Barron of Buckinghams lyfe yet he iudged the deniall of it would greatly preiudice his dignitie so desembling an outward respect to honour though inwardly harbouring fraudulent deceipt he with a smiling countenance made motion of the combat to the Barron as well for expressing of fame as publishing of fayth The Barron tendering his owne insufficiencie being loth to performe the Combat was astonished at the Kinges request and stroken into sodaine dumpes like
I know in that my blood thorow your handes must be imbrued but this is the day which long I haue looked for the which being now come I greatly reioyce that my miseries must be finished and the time of my sorrowes expired But yet a further comfort relieueth my afflicted minde in that young Edmond my Sonne is transported into the handes of the Normaine Duke and my deare daughter Siluia brought vp in the King of Denmarkes Court a Prince of singular vertue and honourable fame their causes being thus solicited by straungers helped of vnknowne men the vigilant eye of fortune cannot chose but be euermore cast vpon them And now for you my Lord Marshall I can but giue thankes for all curtedes and assuered friendshippes approuedly shewed to me in these my heauy woes good my Lord to morrow in the morning when death hastneth vpon me by the execution of your office departing and shaking handes with this life let it not be tedious or ouersmartsome vnto me but rid me quickly from my miferies The Lord Marshall and the vertuous Lady his wife being as then present with the Queene bathing their cheekes with floodes of teares spake to her and sayd in these wordes If that power were in vs fayre Princesse your death should be deferred vntill the appoyntment of the mightie powers whose leasure your enemies should waight vpon but we fearing the vnhappy successe and heauy burthen thereof would lodge vppon our backes and incurre the Kinges tyranicall fury and wrath No no my deare honorable friendes replyed the Queene I do ioyfully prostrate my lyfe to death Why should I hope after lyfe sith my Lord and King desireth my dispatchance If any such accedent take place you my keepers shall taste the sower and feele the smart thereof If I escape some vniust lot will fall vpon you if my lyfe through your good meanes should be saued my enemies would flesh them selues vpon you in contempt Nay noble Queene sayd the Lord Marshall we are not affrayd to aduise our selues in defence of your vertues but shall in time to come rid and dispatch these bloody varlets from the boosome of this land which now is made vnhappy by their cursed flatterie All which could nothing chaung her vertuous intent but was readely prepared in minde to scale the immortall throwne of heauen Her wroungfull imprisonment the false accusations layde agaynst her the vnchast lyfe of the King hir husband the infinite cares which she was wel acquainted with al which gaue full instruction and perswaded her soule to prepare for a heauenly pilgrimage Oh sayd the sorrowfull Queene this lyfe is a wildernes of woe I do abandon my whole reputation honours children friends and worldly estimation as fading shaddowes Oh sayd she my enemies hath charged me with adultry but the Gods know me a blameles innocent as yet neuer staynd with the purple spot of infamie The high Marshall and his wife passing all the whole night in these such like vertuous speaches addressing and framing her minde to the euerlasting voiage where she purposed to rest her vnspotted consience and to weare the celestial crowne of peace prepared for all such chast Ladies wrongfully accused But now speake we againe of the wicked Barron of Buckingham who early in the morning came with a mightie band of warlike Souldiers appoynted to execute the Kinges commaundement besetting the Lord Marshals house round about least the condemned Queene should be reschewed from death and being thus placed in the streets the Earle of London being the Queenes owne brother accompanied with sertayne other Gentlemen of worth all which attired in Friers garmentes craued lisence of the common Souldiers to goe and talke with the Queene touching the estate of her conscience belonging to their function and calling that through their good Counsell she might at the houre of death be well aduised lest either vanquished with impenitencie or throwne downe into desperation another lyfe should be tedious and full of torments These good causes earnestly considered by the Barron and his Souldiers obtayned them a free recourse to the condemned Queene whom they presently chaunged from Princely orniaments into a Friars weede and so concucted her through the whole garrison of Souldiers without examination or suspition and being in this secret and disguysed maner transported to the end of the towne the Earle of London had there prepared a Wagon which speedely caryed her onely in his company far from the daunger of their enemies This renowned possecie do I repute for a vertuous deede in deliuering the guiltlesse Queene from the handes of such tyrants an action worthy to be registred in the golden booke of fame to shine as a mirrour to all ensuing ages Shortly after the Queenes departure thus succoured by her beloued brother the wicked Barron called at the Marshals gate commaunding him to bring foorth his Prisoner shewing him selfe as though he were greatly displeased and stirred vp with impassible choller chasing and fuming as though he would teare her in peeces him selfe saying What doe you daslie with the Kinges commaundement Or doth it grieue her to leaue this transitorie world Is this the patient Queene which with her faigned holynesse hath so craftely crept into the fauour of the common people Bid her not feare to hoyst vp sayle towardes heauen hauing a merrie winde bid her beholde how Angels and celestiall troupes stande here attending safely to conduct her to the Gods them selues These spightfull tauntes giuen against the Queene bred such a furie in the Lord Marshals wife that she could not withhold her anger any longer but desperatly stept foorth and reuiled the Barron in this maner saying Oh thou incarnate Diuell quoth she art not thou content to wreake thy villanous minde by wrongfull accusation against the good Queene but thus rediculously to abuse her miseries She vttered a thousand such dispightful words inforced with deadly furie and fierie choller after the simple sexe of woman kinde as if it had consisted in her power to haue punished the Barron she yeelded so much to wrathful desires that no law could haue tamed her tongue nor restrayned the rage of her irefull indiscretion Goe seeke the gilelesse Queene sayth she it is vnknowne to my Lord and husband where and to what place she hath attayned I verely suppose that she is gon downe into the bottomlesse pit of hell to seeke such a wicked varlet as thou art for in heauen I know she can not finde thee foorth Well sayth the Barron bring her foorth according to the sentence of iudgement or els the smart will fall vpon your shoulders as well for violating the lawes of our land as contenming the Kings will and pleasure Vpon these wordes certaine of his most trustiest Souldiers violently rushed into the Lord Marshals house and with diligent view left no corner vnsearched and at last perceiuing it a manifest trueth that the Queene was secretly conueyed away they brought present word backe to the Barron who in
rule and gouernement the which if it bee vnfortunately brought to passe what other hopes may you then expect but to bee ransacked and dispoyled of all your possessions and wealth your young men put to violent sworde your wiues rauished and your daughters euerie one defloured surely then let troth bee in your hearts stirre vp your valours manifest your noble minds and stretch forth the power and strength of men whereby that they which seeke to winne our ioyes may first bee drowned in a sea of sorrowes and those that will bee honoured with crownes must first in marshal fields obtaine a victorie therefore my louing souldiours if you stedfastly stand I wil sprinkle my heart bloud vpon our English ground before that cowardize shall inforce me to flie or loose one iotte or little portion of my kingdome Be not amazed my friends and country-men either let vs liue to maintaine our states together at liberty or else loose our liues with fame renowne Thus much I trust sufficeth to witnesse the vnfeigned affection the which I beare towards you from whose loue I wil neuer depart till death THis Knightly Oration so reioyced the soldiours harts that they almost willingly offered their liues a sacrifice in Prince Edmonds seruice and made choise rather to fight in defence of their Countrey then to be captiuated with tyrannicall slauery for whereas the English forces were before separated in their seuerall opinions so nowe were they with inseparable heartes knit fast together valiantly resolued to trie the last euent of this dangerous warre Thus whilst Prince Edmond incouraged his followers in this Knightly maner the Denmarke King with King Edward ariued on the coastes of Englande with a mightie band of armed souldiours intermingled with the ayde of many forraine Princes who marched succesfully to a conuenient place in Rent whereas they pitched their forces at the bottome of a high hill in which place the Danish King being a perfect good souldiour a man of a prudent iudgement practised many excellent pollicyes for in the night time he caused a thousand wild horses with hollow rattls of yron fastened to their neckes to be sent forth vpon the English tents without returne this in-rode being so confusedly entered he ordained also an hoast of foure thousand souldiours to pursue them with wilde fire burning brimstone in their handes In this maner entred they vpon the English souldiers as naked men and dispoiled the whole multitude of their liues in which conflict Prince Edmond was taken prisoner who had his head by his owne fathers commandement stroken from his shoulders and pitched vpon the top of a Pikes ende The battle thus ceasing newes by a publike reporte was spread throughout the land of Prince Edmonds death at which report the cities and principall houlds in the countrey were yeelded vp and the forraine souldiours being inforced to shift for themselues escaped away in the night after whose departure King Edward although in vtter hatred of the people yet once againe gloriouslie entered into his kingdome and became their gouernour where after he had setled himselfe and the Denmarke King taken leaue and departed backe into his Eountrey but King Edwarde reposses sing his former estate larde sharpe punishments harde lawes vppon the English-mens backes the which brought him againe into cankered contempt for the people being vnruly with vnbrideled will placed their former malice against him vpon which the King for his better fecuritie resigned his crowne and gouernement to his daughter Silina and vnto Lord Essricke hir husband and so betooke himselfe to priuate pleasure and rest Lorde Essricke and faire Silura with renowned honour thus tooke vpon them the gouernment of the land and because they were vnacquainted with the manners conditions of the people they retained Sir Perce of Winchester to be esperially of their councel and their only Secretarie who cunningly dehaued himselfe that he obtained the faudr and friendship of the common fort winding himselfe more and more into their priuities in such sort that he perswaded the people that Lord Essticke and Lady Siluia were vnnaturall Princes and vnfit to gouerne so souing a people Sir Perce of Winchester thus got into the loue of the common sort winked vppon all transgressions faâ—â—â—â—ed traytors theeues harlots and such dissolute persons and many times hauing a company of simple then in his presents he would speake to them in this maner saying Oh if I were your gouernour the awful sword of Iustice in my hands what liberty theÌ„ should ouershadow your attions for without controusment or punishment then should you freely liue and haue both honour wealth pleasure at your will This practise fecretly came to king Edwards eares who being well acquainted with the driftes of flatterers trembling at the memorie of his former miseries led Winchester by faire wordes vp to the top of a high Tower whereas ouerlooking the same King Edward with other confederates appoynted for that purpose cast him hedlong ouer the wall dashing his bones against the hard ground so brake his necke euen as he craftely crept into the fauour of the common sort so wretchedly with shame and dishonour ended he his life Now King Edward thinking the estate of his kingdome freed from all traitrous complotters gaue him selfe wholly to voluptuous desires and hauing vnchast lust harboring in his â—â—est against all nature he desired incestious concupisence with faire Siluia his owne daughter and being in a secret chamber ready to inforce her to that filthy fact she spake to him in this maner Deare Father remember the honour of your house my alcadance and duetie to my husband and the violating of my nuptiall chastetie all which if you commit your pretended sinne will bring a heauy iudgement and greeuous scourge from God to punish our wicked deed and euermore in this worlde we shal be made a disdaine and open contempt to be gaped at All which perswasions nothing preuayled for the King being drowned in forgetfulnesse of former miseries inforced vehemently the rauishment and deflowring of his daughter Siluiaes honorable chastety the which being no soner obtained and shamefully committed but by the iust iudgement of God he was sodainly stroken with death for in his daughters presence a fearefull flambe of burning fire descended from the celestiall throne of heauen and bereaued him both of speach and lyfe in a moment in the twinckling of an eye Which strange vengeance was no litle vexation to the sorrowfull hart of Lady Siluia yet remembring the duety of a daughter to her father she caused a costly Monument of pure wrought gold to be framed wherein with her husbands consent he was with great honour intombed as though he had left this transitorie world naturally without any such violent end After king Edwards death thus strangely happened Lord Essrick vpon his owne absolute authority bore sway among the people who was not able to gouerne the countrey except it were with mercilesse tyrannie for the
one that had lost his speach but yet after a great pause and long stay he spake in this maner I will not refuse sayd he the accomplishment of any thing commaunded by your Maiestie although your will and pleasure herein seemeth strange and vniust in that a true Subiecte should hazard his lyfe with a false Traytor The Barron sometimes silent sometimes ouer talcatiue sometimes lusty sometimes a coward so that standing betweene fraude and feare he fayntly represented an offer Vpon this the King procured a day of Combat and publyshed throughout the whole land this proclamation that followeth I EDWARD by long sufferance of diuine fortune King Prince and chiefe Ruler of all the partes of England c. Whereas the determined purpose of the noble and hardy Gentleman the Lord Barron of Buckingam is to defende himselfe against the miserable and condemned catiue the Duke of Suffolke a fable for the worlde to gaze vpon an infamous wretch of notable dishonour harbouring in his hart long Treasons against our Person Subiectes and dominion in excuse of his leawde lyfe for his best aduantage challengeth open warre against my good Subiect the Lord Barron vnto whose request in fauour of auntient prowesse I haue yeelded But as touching the trespasse of my Queene no Combat shall preuaile to acquite her disgrace nor no mortall benefites pardone her offences Thus fare you well Edward of England Thus did the King thinke no paynes ill bestowed that might bring her in hatred of the common people and also very much thirsted after her blood through the perswasion of his vnchast Curtizan faire Casiope that euery day sealed his lippes with so many kisses as her sute could neither-be frustrated nor at no time forgotten The Barron and he likewise roued in a vnetie of mischiefes and did priuely hyer a kitchen drudge named Trustie Thomas a slaue full of pouertie yet a lusty tall fellow glad to obtaine the Kinges fauour by accomplyshyng of any exployt for gayue who in receipt of a thousand Crownes tooke vpon him the name and person of the Barron of Buckingam to fight the combat with the Duke of Suffolke being of equall proportion and stature This Trustie Thomas had free libertie to make choyce in the Kinges Armorie fitting him selfe best for his defence in the surest coate of Steele and the like passage into the Kinges Stable for the choyce of the most couragious Courser Thus furnished in most seemely order for the gayne of money was content to commit himselfe to the mallice of fortunes hate The Duke of Suffolke on the other side as well furnished in all respectes nothing doubted the good successe of his aduenture being borne of a Noble famelie valiant and well exercised in the feates of Armes reputed for the goodlyest Gentleman in the vniuersall countrey of England so laying aside his courtly delightes vsed in the blooming time of his youth and putting on inuincible firme and approued magnanimitie of body he came the nyght before the Combat should be tryed to Queene Katherines chamber window being both prisoners in one Tower nothing but a wall betweene their seberall lodginges where as the Duke of Suffolke sung thefe verses folowing Reuenge ring out thy knell let trueth appeare To change my bitter Springes to Waters cleare Goe packe Dispaire thy sight I doe disdaine My Knightly deedes bright Honour shall obtaine Faint Feare dislodge thee from my noble brest Thou art no friende of mine nor wished guest For coward Captaines wins no stately Fortes Nor rotten Barke arriues in pleasant Portes Assurance tels the secrets of my hart That Falsehood shall receaue his due desart Proud Enuie then shall not obscure the light Of Honours brightnesse with his hatefull spight Oh sacred Heauens accomplish my desier That I may quench the heate of enuies fier Whereby my sad and discontented minde May gentle solace and sweete comfort finde This sorrowfull Songue stroke such a passion to the Queenes hart like one despising this vaine lyfe that she desired dolefull death hastely to finish her callamities but yet bearing a Princely minde in some measure to requite the Dukes curtesie she answered hun with these Verses following Queene Katherines Song to the Duke of Suffolke Good lucke conduckt thy minde vnto content To conquer him that is so lewdly bent To set deuision betwixt my Lord and me In spoyling of my blooming chastetie Stay stately Pride climbe vp thy steps no higer But soone disgorge thy hot ambitious fier For if Queene Katherine euer lyued so Let grauelled Graue be cradle for her woe Suspition leaue to vexe such worthy wightes Which spendes their dayes in vertues sweete delightes Nor let the crucltie of spightfull foes Plant vp a Docke vnroote a smelling Rose Victorious pome will shortly seeke to crowne Thy princely browes with garlandes of renowne Which euermore shall spring and florish greene For thus defending of a wronged Queene In this or such lyke maner spent they the night away to the exceeding comfort of each other vntyll the radient beautie of the next morning began to glifter in the easterne worlde which caused them then to take leaue of each other for at that same instant the Lord high Marshall in soueraigne iustice called foorth the Duke of Suffolke to auow his prize of Combat hauing ten olde sage Fathers going before him in mourning Gownes and white Wandes in their handes lyke one that went to fetch away the golden Garland of renowne and comming to the place appoynted he met Trustie Thomas as defendant in stead of the proude Barron vnto whom with a boulde courage he spake as followeth Ah thou false Traytor spoyler of true honour thou vnshamefast butcher of innocent blood Can nothing quench thy insatiate thirst of flatterie but the guyltlesse blood of Queene Katherine and my lyfe I doubt not but thou hast purchased a iust reuenge for thy infamous wickednesse thou at this present seekest after honorable fame but the Gods I hope will cast thy corpes vnto the most vnworthyest vermine of the earth to pray vpon Thou feedest thy selfe with false honour but perpetuall shame shal be thy best reward Doth not thy hart throbbe at this enterprize And doth not thy conscience declare thy impietie It would be a most seemely thing before any blow passe betwixt vs that thou with sharpe penaunce reconcile thy selfe vnto the Gods to haue a comfortable ioy after this lyfe for there is such inumcible manhood sealed in my hart that the reuenge of thy blood shall acquite thy villanie The simple slaue in hearing this knightly resolution was so amazed that with more willingnesse he was ready to deliuer vp his Marshals staffe then defend the enterprise taken in hand But the Duke with valtant magnanimitie hastely bucklde on his enemie blessing him with sound blowes as if he should say now is the time eyther of winning or loosing honour now eyther the spot of dishonour shall blurre me or the shyning light of renowne cleare me for euer Within sixe blowes
of cunning Artificers but he commaunded the Barron and his mother Casiope dispightfully to be brought foorth as scornes of the world to iest vpon where casting his eyes to the Tower he sayd You thinke time sleepeth or that siouthfulnesse wantonly walloweth in me no no although to my great cost yet haue I setled vp a surer stay to this my Realme Countrey then euer did my predecessours before me For I haue here established a Tower to hange trayterous Knaues Curtizans vpon The worlde shall not adiudge me partiall in my Lawes for subiectes shall drinke alike of one cuppe and licour This being sayd he caused the Barron and Casiope to be againe carryed to prison and there to remayne tyll his further pleasure euery hower expecting the deadly stroke that should seperate their bodyes from their soules All this while Sir Perce was not vnbusied omitting no time that might further his intent but continually fillyng Vallentines eares with strong perswasions that their liues and spirits might be speedely depriued a sunder which bloudy stratagem was not long a finishyng for the young Prince or rather vnnaturall viper in this maner powred downe the tempestious showers of truell murther for early in the mornyng he caused his Mother Casiope to be brought foorth who the night before hauing intelligence by her keepers that her dayes were at an ende cloathed her selfe in vestments of white silke and comming before her bastard sonne she very humbly prostrated her selfe and craued pittie mercie and forgiuenesse at his handes and with a blushing countenance as beautifull as the new bloomed Rose she spake in this maner Oh sonne Valentinus said she remember that I am the Mother thy selfe fashioned of my wombe and body and by nature springing from the tree of my life yet thou like a most vnnatural Homicide seckest to shorten my daies and to stop my breath whereas thou oughtest in duety and obedience to vpholde my honour and prolong my life I do confesse my vile offences haue deserued punishment but shall mine owne child be the reuenger thereof The banishment of good Queene Katherine and the confusion of all her friends through my vniust meanes was accomplished with many other miseries which I haue ouerburthened this lande withall onely to aduance an vngratefull dissembler which like the Viper seeketh to finish the life of his dearest pareuts Many more were the speeches which Casiope spake in hope to attract remorse from hir Iron harted sonne who nothing regarded her words but rather the more imboldened and stirred vp into a greater fury by a present commandement he caused her bodie to be cast vpon a Table and hir hands and legs to be houlden by the strength of men the which being done he with a sharpe knife cut his Mothers throate and with the same butcherly instrument deseuered her lisly necke from hir shoulders which ad wont to be adorned with a glittering chaine of pure gold After this he caused the place which first conceaued him to be ript vp and sild full of corny salt where after hir belly being thus closed vp he gaue commandement to haue her dead carcasse transported to the top of the Tower there hung vpon a Iibbet Her deare friende the Barron was vsed in the same order for he had his mouth stuft ful of burning Pepper and hung likewise vpon the same Iibbet aliue as a iust view of such vngeateful flatterers and adulterous traitours to behold This bloudy action being finished Valentinus spake to the people many reprochfull wordes in the disgrace of the wicked Barron and Casiope his mother calling her the She-deuouring Beare of England hir deare friend the first causer of King Edwards dishonour in which tyrannicall course of life our story bids vs now leaue the bastard Valentinus with his new friend Sir Perce and speake of the accidents that happened in the Normaine court CHAP. 10. ¶ How Prince Edmond returned againe into England and was crowned King and how the bastarde King was put to death after a strange maner QVEENE Katherine as you heard before after her wrongfull banishment from England was graciously entertained of the Normane Duke where she dayly had intelligence of the wofull estate of England by many of hir distressed countrymen which continually fled thither for succour in the redresse of whose miseries shee made suite vnto Duke Robert of Normandie that hir young sonne Prince Edmund might returne into Enland not onely to possesse himselfe into the rightfull inheritance of his owne dominions but to represse the pride of the miscreant bastard whose tyrannize had made England the perfect merror of calamity and the wofullest nation vnder the cope of heauen In this maner euery day Queene Katherine solicited Duke Robert with fauourable petitions for the furnishing of her sonne into his owne Countrey with a band of warlike Souldiers vnto whom the Normane Duke answered in this maner Loth I am faire Queene that your princely sonne should forsake my dukedome and dominion being the only staffe of my old age and after my death the hope of my subiectes although not naturally borne amongst them yet comming of a royall blood the sonne of a maiestical Prince they will rather submit to his obedience then to the gouernment of one of a simpler birth No no sayd Queene Katherine there is no reason why a stranger should be Prince of forraigne subiectes through whom they should be either too much burthened or mooued to disdaine and therefore most noble Duke I humbly craue that permission may be graunted for his departure and in regarde of your princely liberality hauing brought him vp to such abilitie prowesse and warlike perfection he shal be bound to confesse homage and loyaltie to your kingdome whilst he liueth The Normane Duke being possest with a milde nature and ready in all actions to satisfie Queene Katherines expectation presently mustered a great multitude as well of Normane souldiers as exiled Englishmen which zelously protested all duetifull indeuours in the young Princes behalfe and in the accomplishment of that honorable exployte Queene Katherine hauing gathered great masses of golde and siluer attayned through her learned skill and practise in Phisicke furnished her sonne Prince Edmond with such abundance that nothing wanted either to his aduenture or contentment and so beeing furnished with Munition Ships and Souldiers he hoysted vp sayle and with a merrie winde safely arriued vpon the confines of England where presently he aduanced his Culloures and planted his forces to the best aduantage But now the bastard Prince Valentinus being amazed at the sight hereof with a fearefull troubled minde greatly misdoubted that his kingly gouernment was at an ende yet hauing mustered vp a slender armie of English Souldiers nothing auayleable for his defence he committed them vnder the leading of Sir Perce of Winchester who tendering his owne safety went to the enemy where both him selfe and his souldiers sware true obedience to Prince Edmond This vnexpected accident so daunted the