was notwithstanding made a partner in the punishment For King Henry observing how farre the Lords might have prevailed with their late stratagem for if their stomacks had beene but answerable to their strength and their bold beginning had not ended in faintnesse and sloth they might have driven him to an hard hazard hee caused King Richard to bee put to death thereby to make sure that no man should cloke open rebellion under the colour of following sides nor countenance his Conspiracie either with the person or name of King Richard But whether hee did expresly command his death or no it is a question but out of question he showed some liking and desire to the action gave approvement thereto when it was done The report went that King Richard was Princely served every day with abundance of costly dishes but was not suffered to touch or taste one of them and so perished with famine I perswade my selfe this is meerely fabulous for such barbarous and unnaturall cruelty against a King and a kinsman is not likely to proceed from King Henry a Christian But it is more probable which a Writer about those times affirmeth That King Henry sitting at his Table sad and pensive after a deepe sigh said Have I never a faithfull friend that will ridde me of him whose life will breed destruction to mee and disquiet to the Realme and whose death will bee a meanes of safetie and quiet to both And how can I be freed from feare so long as the cause of my danger doth continue what securitie what hope shall we have of peace unlesse the roote of rebellion bee plucked up A Knight called Sir Pierce of Exton hearing this with eight of his followers posteth to Pomfret and pretending warrant from the King had entrance into the Castle where hee commanded the Esquire who sued to King Richard to surcease his service whereupon when King Richard being set at Table saw that hee was not served as afore with assay and demanded of the Esquire the reason of this his neglect of dutie therein Hee was answered that Sir Pierce had brought such order from King Henry comming lately from the Court Richard moved with this act and answer said The divell take thee and Henry Duke of Lancaster with that Sir Pierce with his Retinew before him entred into the Chamber and locked the dore after them Whereupon King Richard spying their drift and suspecting his owne danger stepped couragiously to the first man and wresting the Halbert out of his hands therewith slew foure of his mischievous assaylants and with admirable resolution fought with the other untill comming by the Chayre wherein the King used to sit in which the cowardly Knight himselfe was got for his owne safetie he was by him strucken with a Pollax on the hinder part of the head who being at the point of death groned forth these words Edward the second my great Grandfather was in this manner Deposed imprisoned and murthered whereby my Grandfather Edward the third obtained the Crowne and now is this punishment fallen upon mee his next Successor This is right for me to suffer but not for you to doe your King may for a time joy at my death and injoy his desire but let him qualifie his pleasure with expectation of the like justice for God who measureth all our actions by the malice of our mindes will not suffer this violence to passe unrevenged whether these words did proceed from a distempered desire or from the judgement of his fore-sight they were not altogether idle Sir Pierce expecting great rewards for his ungratious service was frustrate of both and not only missed that countenance for which hee hoped but lost that which before hee had so odious are crying sinnes even to him for whom they were committed Hereupon at first hee grew discontented and afterwards tormented in conscience and in a rage would often exclaime that to pleasure one ungratefull person hee had made both himselfe and posteritie infamous and odious to all the world King Henry with disquiet held the kingdome during his life and so did his Sonne King Henry the fift in whose time by continuall warre with France the malice of the humor was otherwise exercised and spent But his second Successor King Henry the sixt was dispossessed thereof and together with his young Sonne Prince Henry imprisoned and put to death either by command or connivence of Edward the fourth and hee also escaped not free for hee dyed not without many and manifest suspitions of poyson And after his death his two sonnes were disinherited imprisoned and butchered by the Vsurper the Duke of Glocester who was slaine at Bosworth field and so in his person having no issue the Tragedy ended These are excellent examples both to comfort them that are oppressed and of terror to violent oppressors That God in his secret judgement doth not alwayes so certainly provide for our safetie as revenge our wrongs and oppressions and that allour unjust actions have a day of payment and many times by way of retaliation even in the same manner and measure they were committed Thus as most of the chiefe Writers doe agree was King Richard by violence brought to his end although all Historians agree not of the manner of the violence Hee was a man of personage rather well proportioned then tall of gracefull and comely presence of good strength and no abject spirit but the one by ease the other by flattery were much abused and abased hee deserved many friends but found but few because hee bought them by his bounty not sought them by vertuous behaviour hee was infortunate in all his actions which may bee imputed to his slothfull carelesnesse for hee that is not provident can seldome prosper for his loosenesse will lose whatsoever fortune or other mens labours doe cast upon him Hee lived three and thirty yeares and raigned two and twenty in his younger yeares he was too much ruled by greene heads little regarding the counsell of the grave and judicious Councellors which turned to the disquiet of the Realme and his owne destruction Hee married two wives the first was Anne the Daughter of Charles the fourth and Sister of Winceslaus King of Bohemia shee was crowned Queene the twenty two of Ianuary 1384. but dyed without issue The second wife was Isabell Daughter of Charles the sixt King of France an infant of seven yeares of age who after his death was returned into France but without Dower because the mariage was never consummate for want of copulation The Lord Henry Piercy had the conveying of her over in Anno 1401. His dead body was embalmed and seared and covered with leade all save the face and carried to London where hee had a solemne obsequie kept in the Church of Saint Paul the King being present and the chiefe Companies of the Citie From thence hee was conveyed to Langley Abby in Buckinghamshire and there obscurely interred by the Bishop of Chester the Abbots of
Saint Albones and Waltham without presence of the Nobilitie or confluence of the Commons and without the expence of a dinner after the celebrating of the Funerall But Henrie the fift caused his body to bee taken up and removed to Westminster and there interred amongst the Ancestors with Queene Anne his first wife in expiation of his Fathers violent and unfaithfull dealing it was not amisse in regard of the Common-wealth that hee was dead yet they who were actors in his death had small reason to reckon it among their good deeds These accidents attend such Princes as being absolute in power will bee too resolute in will and dissolute in life Humphry the Sonne and heire of the Duke of Glocester in his returne out of Ireland where King Richard had left him prisoner dyed of the plague at Chester the newes whereof kild the Dutchesse his Mother about this time dyed Thomas Mowbray the exiled Duke of Norfolke who had outlived his honour hee married two wives both named Elizabeth the first the Daughter of the Lord Strange who dyed without issue the second Sister and coheire of Thomas Fitzâ—…llayne Earle of Arundel by whom hee had issue Thomas and Iohn Margaret and Isabell. In this yeare also deceased Iohn Duke of Britaine who had taken a Wife Mary Daughter to King Edward the third but by her hee had no issue Also this yeare dyed Edmond Duke of Yorke surnamed of Langley the first sonne of Edward the third his reputation hee kept unblemished and honour untainted hee was not carelesse of good fame nor greedy of greatnesse wary and circumspect in his behaviour not desirous of other mens wealth nor too parcimonious of his owne hee did not by obstinate opposing himselfe against the torrâ—… of the time rashly hazard his fame or fall but by moderation attained safely that degree of praise which others aspiring unto by desperate courses wonne an ambitious death without further profit Hee married two Wives the first was Isabell second Daughter and coheire of Peter King of Castile by whom hee had issue Edward Duke of Albemarle Richard Earle of Cambridge and Constance first married to Thomas Spencer Earle of Glocester and afterwards to Thomas Holland Earle of Kent his second Wife was Ioane Daughter of Thomas Holland Earle of Kent and Sister and coheire of Edmond Earle of Kent but by her had no issue King Charles though Lucidus per intervalla yet sensible of dishonour moved with his Daughters disgrace made preparation to invade England and brought downe his Army into Piccardy but upon the certaine relation of King Richards death hee gave over the enterprise and sent over Embassadours into England to treate or rather intreate that his Daughter with her Dowry might bee restored to him againe King Henry gave them audience and answer that hee would speed Commissioners to Callice to commune and conclude with them both of this and other waighty affaires concerning both the Realmes whither hee sent Edward Duke of Yorke and Henry Earle of Northumberland The French King sent the Duke of Burbon and certaine others to Bulloigne These Commissioners often met sometimes at one place some-times at the other The Frenchmen instantly required their Kings Daughter to bee restored without the doing whereof they had no order to treat of any thing The Englishmen made a proffer to have a match betwixt Prince Henry and the Lady alleaging that there was no disparagement of birth nor disparitie of yeares betwixt them but thereto they would give no consent neither would they agree to the proposition of a perpetuall amitie But in the end it was concluded that Queene Isabell should bee redelivered to her Father but sauns Dowry because the marriage betwixt her and King Richard was never consummate by reason whereof she was not Dowable upon the Treatie of the marriage the surcease from Armes was agreed upon in King Richards dayes for thirtie yeares which was now mutually confirmed for the terme of these yeares unexpected Shortly after King Henry sent the Lady Isabella under the conduct of Thomas Lord Piercy Earle of Worcester in royall estate to Callice being accompanied with a brave troope of honourable Personages of both sexes shee carried with her all the Iewells and Plate which she brought into England with a great surplusage of rich gifts bestowed upon her by the King At Callice shee was received by Valerian Earle of Saint Paul Lieutenant in Picardy and by him conducted to her Father who afterwards gave her in marriage to Charles sonne to Lewis Duke of Orleans and so was rest or rather respite of warre in France procured But the fire and fury of the late sedition was hardly quenched when the Welchmen upon advantage of the doubtfull and unsettled estate of King Henry brake forth into a defection before the King could either lay the groundworke of his Authority or the people frame themselves to a new obedience and having beene taught that common causes must bee maintained by concord they sought by assemblies to establish an association and to set up their owne principalitie againe They Created for their Prince Owen Glendor a fellow of a turbulent spirit and factious disposition and apt to stirre up sedition and strife and though hee was of no great estate by birth he was stout in stomacke of an aspiring spirit and wit somewhat above the ordinary ranke of those untrained people bold crafty agile and as hee liâ—…t to bend his minde mischievous or industrious in equall degree in desires immoderate and rashly adventurous more desirous to doe then circumspect what to doe in his younger yeares hee was a student at the Innes of Court at London and being incensed by a verdict given against him for tithe of land betwixt him and the Lord Gray of Ruthin and by nature being a man not of the mildest disposition by this provocation hee was made savage and rough and determined either to repaire or revenge his losse by setting the whole State on fire Also his expences had beene too excessive for a great man to continue which brought him to barenesse too base for a meane man to endure and therefore hee was necessitated to doe or dare something more then ordinary And more danger hee thought there was in orderly dealing then in hazarding rashly and now opportunitie is presented for troublesome times are most fit for such attempts And some likelihood there was whilst the King and his Nobles were at variance that harme might bee easily wrought to them both upon these causes his desires were founded and upon these troubles his hopes But that his ambitious humour might beare some pretext of honest meaning hee pretended to his Countrymen the recovery of their freedome the desire whereof is so naturally pleasing That birds will rather live hardly abroad in the cold fields then bee daintily dieted in a warme cage and that now occasion was fitly offered or else never to bee expected to ridde them of their servilitie falsly entituled peace whilst the Kings
where advised thereto by his Councell hee sent great Warwickes Brother the Archbishop of Yorke to bee kept prisoner in the Castle of Guisnes and the Earle of Oxford who had submitted himselfe upon pardon of life only to the Castle of Hams and layed all the Ports for the stopping of the Earle of Penbrookes going out of England which hee neverthelesse afterwards did with the young Earle of Richmond King Edward much displeased with the escape of the Earle of Penbrooke but more of that of Richmond by how-much the one could but abet the other might lay claime sent his Letters over to the Duke of Britaine whither those two Earles had found meanes to convey themselves and were in Britanny by him kindly entertained intimating therein his earnest desire either to have them sent over to him or at least watchfully kept from attempting any thing which he had iust causte to suspect they would to his prejudice by their being at liberty with many promises of thankfull respect for this courtesie if granted and for an earnest thereof sent him a token worthy the receiving which so prevailed with the Duke that the two Earles were debard each others company and all their English attendants taken from them and Britons appointed in their places which somewhat satisfied the King of England but gave no content to the English Gentlemen in France A Parliament is called at Westminster wherein all acts formerly made by him are confirmed And those that King Henry after his redemption of the Crowne had abrogated were revived And an ordinance made for the confiscation of all their lands and goods that had taken part against him and were fled with a restauration of all such as for his part had beene attainted both to blood and patrimony Towards his charges in this Parliament a competent summe of mony is voluntarilie given and in respect thereof a generall pardon is granted The Duke of Burgoyne not willing that his courtesies formerly done to his brother in law should be thought upon and willing to ingulph him in the warres of France That he in the meane time might have the better opportunitie to worke some malicious stratagem against the French king sends over Embassadors with ample instructions to solicit the King of England to set on foot his title to the Crowne of France making great offers with protestations to ayd and assist him therein both with purse and person The Embassadors have audience and after much debating the poynt amongst the privy Councell it was thus amongst them concluded 1 That the Crowne of France was not ambitiously affected But the title thereof legally Challenged as the unquestionable right of the now King of England 2 That the French warres if orderly pursued alwayes enriched English Souldiers 3 That France being made the seat of the war it would keepe them from making invasion on England and hinder them from supporting any against the King of England 4 That the French King had in an unsufferable fashion given an affront to the King of England in ayding and abetting Queene Margaret and her trayterous complices against him and prohibiting any his true subiects to reside within his territories And in continually sending combustible stuffe to feed the fire of rebellion which had so disquieted the common-wealth of England 5 That the King of France infested the Duke of Burgonies Countries with warres who was a friend and Collegue with the King of England and one that was in league with him both offensive and defensive Therefore this proposition from the Duke of Burgoin to vndertake the warres against France was to be approved of as being both lawfull and behoofefull for the honour of the King and the good of the Kingdome But the meanes how to pursue the warre being once undertaken was an other cause considerable For treasure the sinewes of warre was wanting and to procure a supply by Parliamentary courses would take up too much time They were therefore driven to find out and set on foote a proiect till then unheard of which was to draw by way of benevolence from the subject a seeming voluntary howsoever often very unwillingly payed contribution Thereby to supply the want of mony for the pursuance of these warres To this end divers Commissioners are assigned with letters to the knights and Gentlemen and severall instructions are sent into every County who did therein so effectually Comply themselues to doe the King service that by their perwasions most men of abilitie did enlarge their contributions to this so faire an enterprise and readily departed with their mony And a Kings kys to a sparing and therefore a rich widdow amongst many others drawne in by Court holy water to make oblation brought in twenty pounds more then was demanded for that being but twenty she gave forty It is almost a matter of admiration in these dayes how in those dayes The King could out of this little Island be furnished with able men for his warres old men women and children with sufficient meate to put in their mouthes the Cleargy and Schollers with competent maintenance and the markets with necessary provision considering the infinite number of those in the late Civill broyles slaughtered the paucitie of Ploughmen and husbandmen the want of farmers and the indigency of Cattell wherewith to stocke their farmes infinite quantities of ground lying unmanurde or tilled and the pastures and downes without sheepe or Cattell The generall spoyle and wastment which the Souldiers wheresoever they came and that was almost every where in this kingdome made and the generall ceasing and neglect of commerce or trafficke the shipping not daring to stir abroad the danger being so great to be robbed and spoyled either by hombred pirates or forraine foes yet such was Gods great mercies that every one of these respectively were supplied and did subsist without any notable defect or extraordinary want Henry Holland Duke of Exceter and Earle of Huntington dishinherited by act of Parliament with Henry Duke of Somerset and Thomas Earle of Devonshire in the fourth yeere of King Edward the fourth was this yeare found dead stript naked betwixt Dover and Callice but how hee came by his death no inquiry could bring to light he married Anne daughter of Richard Duke of Yorke and sister to Edward the fourth but had no issue by her she was after married to Sir Thomas Saytleoger and had issue by him a daughter to George Mannors Lord Rosse of Hâ—…mlack Provision for this French expedition of all things necessary being throughly made aad order taken for the quiet government of the kingdome in his absence and the stop of incursiones if any should by the Scots be made King Edward with an army of fifteene hundred men at armes and all of the nobility and Gentry gallantly mounted and wel attended with fifteene thousand archers on horsebacke eight thousand common souldiers whereof five thousand were sent to Brittaine and three thousand pioners to attend the ordnance and
Iustice of the Kings bench Belknapp chiefe Iustice of the Cōmon pleace Holt Stil◅urpe Burgh Iustices of the Cōmon-pleas men learned in Court-law to please those in highest place these were charged upon their alleageance particularly to answer these propositions 1. Whether the Statute Ordinance and Commission meaning that granted against the Duke of Suffolke set out the last Parliament did derogate from the royall prerogative of the King 2. How they were to bee punished that did procure that Statute to bee inacted 3. How they were to bee dealt with that provoked the King to consent thereto 4. What punishment did they deserve that compelled the King to yeeld consent 5. What did they merit that resisted the King to exercise his regall authoritie in remitting or releasing any penalties or debts due to him 6. When a Parliament is assembled and the affaires of the State and cause of convoking the Parliament declared and Articles limited by the King upon which only the Lords and Commons should meddle the Lords and Commons will proceed upon other and not those by the King appointed untill the King hath given answer to the other by them propounded whether in this case the King ought to have the rule of the Parliament and so to order the fact that the Lords and Commons upon the Articles limited by the King or that they should first have answer of the King to the Articles by them propounded before they proceed any further 7. Whether may the King at his pleasure dissolve the Parliament and command the Lords and Commons to depart 8. Since the King may at his pleasure remove any Officers and Iustices and punish them for their offences whether may the Lords and Commons without his leave accuse his Officers and Iustices in Parliament yea or no 9. What punishment have they deserved who moved a Parliament that the statute whereby King Edward Carnarvon was deposed should be brought forth by view whereof the last Statute and Commission aforesaid were framed 10. Whether the judgement given in the last Parliament against Michael de la Poole Earle of Suffolke were erroneous and revocable yea or no These propositions which were drawne by the direction of the chiefe Iustice Tresilian to which the afornamed Iustices answer as followeth 1. They did derogate from the Honour of the King because extorted against his will 2. 3. That they deserved to bee punished by death except the King in mercy would remit 4. 5. Worthy to bee punished as Traytours 6. Whosoever resisteth the Kings rule in that point was punishable as a Traytour 7. That the King may at his pleasure dissolve the Parliament and who so afterwards shall presume to proceed against the Kings manifest will as in a Parliament is worthy the punishment of a Traytor 8. That they cannot whosoever doth the contrary deserveth a Traytors punishment 9. Aswell the mover as the bringer of that Statute to the house are worthy the same death 10. And lastly that the said judgement seemed erronious and revocable In witnesse whereof they with Iohn Lockton the Kings Sergeant at Law subscribed and so under their Seales at armes sent it When those hard sentences of death and treason were under generall and large termes thus fastened upon the Lords the King supposed his attempts against them whether by violence or colour of Law sufficiently warranted but his power both wayes as it was terrible against weake resisters so against such mighty defendants was of small force to effect that which he so much affected yet hee did not omit his best endevours and first accounting the Lords as condemned persons hee made division of their lands and goods amongst those he favoured Then hee waged souldiers to bee in readinesse for his assistance and sent the Earle of Northumberland to arrest the Earle of Arundell at his Castle in Rygate where hee then lay but he either upon advertisement or suspition of the Kings intent bandied himselfe so strong that when the Earle of Northumberland came thither to him hee dissembled his intent and left his errand untold The Duke of Gloucester having secret intelligence of the Kings displeasure and of his projects sent the Bishop of London to perswade the King to entertaine a more favourable opinion of him solemnly swearing unto the Bishop that hee never intended any thing against the King either in person or state The Bishop not unskilfull to joyne profitable perswasions with honesty declared to the King that the ground of his displeasure against the Lords was either by false suggestions of their enemies or misconstruction of some of their actions by himselfe Then declared hee how desirous they were of his grace and favour how faithfull and forward they promised to persist in all dutifull service and further intimated how honourable this agreement would bee to the King and how profitable to the kingdome nay which was above both how pleasing it would bee to God and how displeasing to him and dangerous it would be to both sides if these troubles should increase The King by this speech seemed inclinable to attonement But Delapoole a turbulent person against quiet counsell standing neere the King quickly hardned his minde against all impression of friendship by meanes whereof contention arose betwixt the Bishop and the Earle which violently broke out into heate of words The Earle reproched the Lords with the ordinary objection against great men popularitie and ambition sparing no spight of speech but using all rethoricke to aggravate matters against them The Bishop replyed the Earle was thus fiercely bent not upon any necessity of his owne or respect unto the King but only to satisfie his bloody and ambitious humour wherein he was so immoderate that rather then the Lords should not be destroyed he would overwhelme them with the ruines of the State For tumults might bee indeed raysed by men of little courage like himselfe but must bee maintayned by hazard and ended with the losse of the most violent that neither his counsell against what was desired in this cause was to bee followed being the principall firebrand of the disturbance nor his complaints against any man in any thing to bee regarded being himselfe a condemned person and one that held his life and livelihood of the Kings favourable mercy wherewith the King was so exceedingly wroth that hee commanded the Bishop out of his presence The Duke of Gloucester hearing this signifies the danger to the Earles of Arundel Warwicke and Darby inciting them to armes and thereupon they confederate themselves for a common defence For in so doubtfull and suspected peace open warre said they was the better safety The King having intelligence of their courses indevoured to prevent the Lords in joyning their forces and to that end sent some power either to set upon the Earle of Arundel in his lodging or to intercept him in his passage to the Duke But the Earle had marched all night before their comming and so unencountred came to the Duke with whom
for revolting from Nabuchadnezzar after homage done unto him did not Saul put all the Priests to death because one of them did relieve holy and harmlesse David did hee not prosecute his faithfull servant and dutifull son-in-law yet was not hee spared nay protected by him And was not David much grieved for but taking away the lap of his garment and afterwards caused the messenger to bee slaine that upon request and for pitie did lend his hand as himselfe reported to hasten the voluntary death of that sacred King As for the contrary examples of Iehu They were done by expresse Oracle and revelation from God and are no more set downe for our imitation then the robbing the Egyptians or any other particular or priviledged commandement but in the generall precept which all men must ordinarily follow not only our actions but our speeches also and our very thoughts are strictly charged with dutie and obedience to Princes whether they bee good or evill The law of God ordaineth That hee that doth presumptuously against the Ruler of the people shall die And the Prophet David forbiddeth both by precept and practise to touch the Lords annointed Thou shalt not saith the Lord rayle upon the Iudges neither sbeake evill of the Ruler of the people And the Apostles doe demand further that even our thoughts and soules bee obedient to higher powers And lest any should imagine that they ment of good Princes only they speake generally of all And further to take away all doubt they make expresse mention of the evill For the power and authoritie of wicked Princes is the ordinance of God And therefore Christ told Pilat That the power which hee had was given him from above And the Prophet Esay called Cyrus being a prophane and heathen Prince the Lords annointed For God turneth the hearts even of wicked Princes to doe his will And as Iehosaphat said to his Rulers they execute not the judgement of man but of the Lord In regard whereof David calleth them gods because they have the rule and authoritie even from God which if they doe abuse they are not to bee adjudged by their subjects for no power within their Dominion is superiour to theirs But God reserveth them to their sorest triall horribly and suddenly saith the Wise man will the Lord appeare to them and a hard judgement shall they have The law of God commandeth that the childe should not bee put to death for any contumelie done unto the Parents but what if the father be a robber if a murtherer if for excesse of villanies odious and execrable both to God and man surely hee deserveth the greatest degree of punishment and yet must not the sonne lift up his hand against him for no offence can bee so great to bee punished by parricide But our Country is or ought to bee more deere to us then our Parents And the Prince is the father of the country and therefore more sacred and deare to us then our Parents by nature and must not bee violated how imperious how impious soever hee bee doth hee command or demand our purses or persons we must not shun from the one nor shrinke from the other for as Nehemiah saith Kings have dominion over the cattell of their subjects at their pleasure Doth hee injoyne those actions which are contrary to the lawes of God wee must neither wholly obey nor violently resist but with a constant courage submit our selves to all manner of punishment and show our subjection by suffering and not performing yea the Church hath declared it to bee an heresie to hold that a Prince may be slaine or deposed by his Subjects for any default or disorder of life or default in government There will bee faults so long as there bee men and as wee endure with patience a barren yeare if it happen and unseasonable weather so must wee tolerate the imperfections of Rulers and quietly expect either reformation or alteration But alas what such cruelty what such impietie hath King Richard committed examine the imputations objected with the false circumstance of aggravation and you shall finde but little of truth or of great moment it may be many oversights have escaped as who lives without offending yet none so grievous to bee termed tyrannie as proceeding rather from unexperienced ignorance or corrupt counsell then from any naturall or wilfull malice Oh! how should the world bee pestered with tyrants if Subjects might be permitted to rebell upon pretence of tyrannie how many good Princes should often bee suppressed by those by whom they ought to be supported if they but levie a Subsidie or any other taxation it shall bee judged oppression if they put any to death for traiterous attempts against their persons it shall bee exclaimed at for crueltie if they shall doe any thing against the good liking of their people it shall bee proclaimed tiranny But let it bee that without desert in him or authoritie in us King Richard must bee deposed yet what right hath the duke of Lancaster to the Crown or what reason have wee without right to give it him If hee make Title as heire to King Richard then must hee stay King Richards death for no man can succeed as heire to the living But it s well knowne to all men who are not wilfully blinde or grosly ignorant that there are some yet alive lineally descended from Lionel Duke of Clarence whose issue by the judgement of the high Court of Parliament in the eighth yeare of King Richards raigne was declared heire apparant to the Crowne in case of Richard should die without issue The claime from Edmond Crouchbacke I passe over the authors thereof themselves being ashamed of so absurd an abuse And therefore all the pretence now on foot is by right of conquest and the Kings resignation and grant and the consent of the many it is bad stuffe that will take no colour what conquest can a subject make against a Soveraigne where the warre is insurrection and the victory high treason King Richards resignation being in prison is an act of exaction by force and therefore of no force to bind him And by the lawes of this realme the King by himselfe cannot alienate the antient jewells and ornaments of the Crowne much lesse give away his Crowne and Kingdome And custome wee have none for the vulgar to elect their King but they are alwayes tyde to accept of him whom the right of succession enables to the Crowne much lesse can they make good that Title which is by violence usurped For nothing can bee said to bee freely done when libertie is restrained by feare As for the deposing of Edward the Second it is no more to bee urged then the poisoning of King Iohn or the murdering of a lawfull Prince wee must live according to lawes not examples yet the kingdome then was not taken from lawfull successors But if wee looke backe to times past wee shall finde that these Titles were
King Henries armes and plucked away his Cognizance from those that as his servants attended upon her and having there with somewhat eased her swolne heart shee with the Lords departed to Wallingford and from thence to Abington stirring up by the way the people to take armes in ayde of King Richard At length they came to Cicester and there tooke up their lodgings The Duke of Surry the Earle of Salisbury in one Inne the Duke of Exceter and the Earle of Glocester in another Inne the Army encamped in the fields The Bayliffe of the Towne suspecting what was true that these guests were no good subjects besets the house where the Duke of Surry lay who with his retinue growne desperately bold made strong defence against the assaylants The Duke of Exceter and his Company had not force enough to rescue their Companions Whereupon a Priest of their consort supposing thereby to divert the Townsmen from the assault set divers houses on fire but the fire more inflamed the townsmens furie and made them insist more obstinately in the attempt swearing not to rescue their losses but revenge them and quench the flames with the Traytors blood The Earle of Exceter and they that were with him perceiving the force of the assaylants to increase and that it was impossible for a few so to sustaine the fury of so many obstinately bent they fled out of the backside towards the Campe intending to bring the Army to the reskue But the souldiers having heard the alarum and seeing the fire within the Towne supposing the King was entred with his forces were strucke with a sudden and causlesse feare and wanting Commanders of courage to confirme them they disbanded and fled and whilst every one sought to save one they brought themselves all to confusion The Duke of Surry and his company manfully maintained the fight with great bloodshed on all sides from midnight untill three of the clocke the next after-noone and then being inferiour in number and fortune the Duke and the Earle of Salisbury were both wounded to death and taken and that evening dying their heads were strooke off and sent to the King to London There were then taken prisoners Sir Bennet Sherley Sir Bernard Brockas Sir Thomas Blount and twenty eight Lords and men of note who were afterwards upon King Henryes comming to Oxford sent thither unto him and there executed The Duke of Exceter with Sir Iohn Sherley fled into Essex from whence many times they attempted to have escaped to France but by contrary windes were driven backe againe and then lurking in secret places the Duke was taken and lead to Plashey and there beheaded There wanted not some in those times that made conjectures that now the Duke of Glocesters death was brought to bee reckoned for who by Exceters counsell and contrivance in the same place had beene wrongfully apprehended An example for those which square out their actions by the crooked line of their pleasure or power to other mens disprofit or disparagement but punishment of such impietie though it bee prolonged doth never faile but commeth at length and then surely though perhaps slowly This Duke of Exceter was a man of high Parentage great power and honourable Alliance Created Earle of Huntington in the eleventh yeare of King Richard now deposed in the one and twentieth hee was Created Duke of Exceter and upon the resignation of the place and release of the right thereto by Aubery de Vere Earle of Oxford was made that yeare Lord Chamberlaine of England and married Elizabeth the Daughter of Iohn of Gaunt Duke of Lancaster and Blaunch his wife by whom hee had issue Richard that dyed young Iohn afterwards Duke of Exceter Earle of Huntington Edward that dyed without issue and a Daughter named Constance first married to Thomas Mowbray sonne and heire of Thomas Mowbray Duke of Norfolke and after to Iohn Lord Gray of Ruthyn hee was popular and openly praise-worthy but his secret actions were hardly censured hee was partaker of all his brothers vices and of counsell to many of them yet somewhat more circumspect and close and not so much partaker of his prosperitie as violently carried with the torrent of his misery Thomas Spencer Earle of Glocester fled toward Wales but in the way was taken and beheaded at Bristoll hee married Constance Daughter of Edmond of Langly Duke of Yorke and had issue Richard that dyed young Elizabeth dyed young and Isabell who was borne seven moneths after her Fathers death and was first married to Richard Beauchamp Earle of Worcester by whom shee had issue Elizabeth her second husband was Richard Beauchamp Earle of Warwicke cosin german to her first husband by whom she had issue Henry afterwards Earle of Warwicke The counterfeit of King Richard flying into Scotland was apprehended committed to the Tower and from thence drawne and hanged and quartered and one Ferby and an other of K. Rich. Chaplaines with him divers others of all sorts Lords and Gentlemen with a great number of common souldiers were in other places put to death insomuch that the King though otherwise of a moderate and peaceable disposition seemed in this too too vindicative of his owne injurie or rather in maintaining the injury that hee had done The heads of the chiefe Conspirators were pitched upon poles and set over London bridge lamentable spectacles of heads and quarters of unfortunate dismembred wretches were visible in many parts of this Realme putrifying above ground not all for desert but many to satisfie either the malice or want of King Henryes friends Insomuch that some of those of deepest apprehension openly gave forth That in short time there would be just cause to wish King Richard againe as being more tolerable to indure the crueltie of one then of many and to live where nothing then where any thing might bee permitted was most safe The Abbot of Westminster in whose house and head this Conspiracy tooke life and light hearing of these disasters going from his Monastery Grange neere Westminster was taken with a dead Palsie and suddenly dyed speechlesse And although in this enterprise accident gave policie the checke and by a strange fortune which wisdome could not prevent overturned the project yet it is apparant that this Abbot first moved the stone that rowling along was likely toturne King Henry out of his Chaire The Bishop of Carlile was condemned for his treason but the extremity of his passion closed up his dayes and prevented the violence and shame of publicke execution King Richard as afore having abdicated his Regalitie did but a short time injoy that sweet securitie wherewith hee so flattered himselfe For first his goods which hee had given in satisfaction of the wrongs by him done were shared amongst his enemies and hee removed first to the Tower of London and then from thence to the Castle of Leeds in Kent and from thence to Pomfret where being kept in straight Prison innocent and ignorant of this offence
to challenge and recover his Inheritance and his wives and not to intermeddle with the King nor with his Crowne by reason of which oath divers loyall and good Subjects to King Richard resorted unto him not having any treasonable intent But after when hee saw his power so much increased that hee might doe what hee pleased hee wickedly brake his oath and without any right or colour-like right procured himselfe to bee made and Crowned King 2. Item That not only as an arch-Traytor hee had imprisoned his owne Liege Lord and undoubted Master King Richard but had caused him to bee barbarously murthered that so with the grearer securitie hee might enjoy his Masters Crowne and Kingdome 3. Item that eversince the death of King Richard hee had unjustly kept the Kingdome and the Crowne from his Kinsman Edmond Mortymer Earle of March who was the Sonne and heire apparant of Philip the Daughter and heire of Lionel Duke of Clarence elder brother to Iohn of Gaunt Father of the new usurping King 4. Item That when neither present occasion or need compelled him hee had imposed divers Taxes and Subsidies upon the people to their great griefe and impoverishing whereof they willingly would but durst not complaine 5. Item That no justice could bee expected at his hand because that contrary to the oath which hee had taken when hee was Crowned hee had by Letters sent into sundry Shires and thereby procured certaine Burgesses of the Parliament and Knights of the Shire to bee chosen whom hee knew would not faile to serve his turne as occasion should bee offered 6. And lastly That where in honour and for affinities sake hee ought to have ransomed or redeemed his said Cousin the Earle of March from his lothesome imprisonment being by some of his Privie Councell thereto often solicited hee not only denyed the said request but falsly and untruly published and declared that the Earle himselfe was of his owne accord become a voluntary Prisoner to the end that Traitors and Rebells joyning with him might have somewhat wherewith to colour such Treasons as they would conspire or plot against him For which causes and many other as bad they defied him as an usurping Traytor and as an utter enemy they vowed his destruction and the restoring of the said Earle to his right The King perceiving that nothing but strength of blowes could end this strife and being perswaded that if hee could victoriously suppresse this rebellion hee should bereave his enemies from future hope to prevaile in the like attempts with a great and well-composed Army hee marched towards the Lords forecasting in his March how to prevent the English from joyning with the Welch which with a provident care hee prevented and about Shrowsburie on Saturday Saint Marie Magdalens eve hee encountred the Piercies the Scots gave a brave onset on the King but hee so welcommed them that scarce one was left unhurt but most of them slaine yet the Conspirators stoutly maintained the fight and pursued it with that courage and resolution that they were confident of good successe untill the King with the young Prince Henrie and some young branches of honourable stockes in their company bravely resolving rather to die honourably then to live disgracefully put to their strengths to joyne with Valor and with a noble emulation to give faire example each to other They so shooke the enemies vauntguard that Hotspur and some other chiefe Commanders on his side and many thousands more were slaine The Earle of Worcester was taken Prisoner in the field together with Sir Richard Vernon Sir Theobald Trussell and the Baron of Kindarton and the rest fled On the Kings part besides the Earle of Stafford who had but that morning revolted from the other side were slaine Sir Hugh Sherley Sir Iohn Clifton Sir Iohn Cockayne Sir Nicholas Gansell Sir Walter Blunt Sir Iohn Calverley Sir Iohn Massey of Puddington Sir Hugh Mortymer and Sir Robert Gausell all which had beene but that morning before Dubbed Knights with Sir Thomas Wendesley who afterwards died of the wounds there received This Edmond Stafford was third Sonne of Earle Hugh and after the death of Thomas and William who dyed without issue was Earle of Stafford and Lord of Tunbridge hee married Anne the Daughter of Thomas of Woodstocke Duke of Glocester by whom hee had issue Humphry afterward Duke of Buckingham and Philip that dyed young and Anne first married to Edmond Mortymer Earle of March but had no issue by him and after was married to Iohn Holland Earle of Huntington by whom shee had issue Henry Duke of Exceter of common souldiers the King lost about sixteene hundred but had made slaughter of above sixe thousand of the Conspirators whereof thirty sixe fell by his owne sword neverthelesse Dowglasse once unhorsed him and in his presence slew Sir Walter Blunt who with divers others that day were in all things habited alike to the King for which so brave exploit after Dowglasse by the unfortunate fall of his horse having broken two of his ribbes being taken Prisoner was by the Kings speciall command carefully dressed and attended and ransomelesse with great commendation set at liberty so farre can vertue prevaile with a grievous foe The day following the King with the whole Army with great show of zeale gave God thankes for this victory by his assistance so happily atchieved and then caused the Earle of Worcester to be beheaded many of the Ring-leaders of that rebellion to bee drawne hanged and quartered and their heads placed on London bridge This Thomas Piercie Earle of Worcester and Lord high Admirall of England married Elizabeth eldest Sister and coheire of David Earle of Athol by whom hee had issue Henrie Earle of Atholl After this the King sent Henry Prince of Wales with the whole Army into that Countrey But before his comming Owen Glendor was abandoned by all his Company and lurking in the Woods was there famished many of his associates were taken and there put to death and the Prince joyfully returned to the King Whilst the Prince was in Wales Henry Piercy the Earle of Northumberland of his owne accord came and submitted himselfe to the King with many oathes and protestations of his innocency as not being once acquainted with any intent of Treason and rebellion And though the King conceived not the least thought that might excuse him yet for that time hee gave him a seeming show of faire entertainment and for that time with gentle language and kind countenance as it was thought for that hee had the possession of Barwicke Castle and other places of strength in his power permitted to goe free and come at his pleasure The Britons under the leading of the Lord of Castiles spoyled and burnt the Towne of Rlimmoth and returned unfought with his speed was the more and his fortune the better but lest hee should boast too much of his conquest the Westerne men under the command of William Wilford Esquire by order from the
Tressilian Lord chiefe Iustice Nicholas Bramber Alderman of London and others neither eminent by birth or desert but observant and plyable to the Kings humour These were highly in credit with the King both in company and counsell alwayes next him By these hee ordered his private actions by these he managed his affaires of State hee spared neither the dignity nor death of any man whose authority or life interposed their pleasure or profit Hee remoued Sir Richard Scroope from being Lord Chancelor of England to which place hee was appointed by the Parliament because hee refused to set the great Seale to the grant of certaine lands which had beene abusively drawne from the King alledging for his so doing the great debts of the King the small demerits of the graunts upon whom the King might consume much but orderly give nothing wishing the King might bee well advertised thatryot might deceive him under the termes of bounty and that gifts well ordered procure not so much love as indiscreetly imparted incite envie This Chancellor used not to cauterize his conscience with partiall maintaining of such as were mighty but being alike to all was the sooner disliked of all that were lewd The destruction of the Duke of Lancaster was plotted upon the like dislike by Iustice Tresilian offences were suggested appellors appointed Peeres named sudden arrest intended and present arraignment condemnation and execution concluded But the Duke upon notice of these contrivances escaped to Pomfret Castle and there made preparation for his defence against the King from hence grew a head of division which the common people at that time very busily sought But the Kings Mother incessantly travailing betweene the King and the Duke notwithstanding her unweldinesse and age drew them both to reconcilement The King in regard of the dangerous and discontented times the Duke in respect of his dutie and alleageance the more easie to bee made inclinable and so partly by her entreatie and counsell and partly by their inclination bending to the safest course all apparance of displeasure on the one part and distrust on the other was for that time removed The Frenchmen againe land in England and did much harme at Dover Winchelsey Hastings and at Graves end and unincountred returned to France For prevention of which outrages and revenge of those injuries offered a Parliament is assembled at Westminster in which a Subsidie of foure pence for poll of each sexe throughout the kingdome above the age of fourteene yeares is granted to the King The levying whereof procured much heart-burning and did much alyen the hearts of the subjects from the King With that money preparation is made and eight thousand men sent over into France under the conduct of Thomas of Woodstocke the Kings Vncle who passing over Soam Oyse and Marne Rivers spoyled and burnt all the Countrey and ransomed the Inhabitants untill hee came to Brittany where by the Duke Iohn Momford hee was joyfully received and royally entertained About this time one Iohn Balle a factious clergy man a scholler of Wickcliff observing the common people much to murmure at the payment of the foresaid Subsidie in all places where hee came used secretly to informe the inferiour sort of people such as were poore and needy That by discent from Adam all men were of one condition that the lawes of this kingdome were injurious and much hindred us of participating Christian liberty nay most unjust by making so great a difference of mens estate preferring some to bee Peeres and Potentates giving to some others large authority and enlarging others possessions and taking advantage of the humble and plyable condition and carriage of others in servilitie and basenesse hardly giving them allowance of sustenance and that not that neither but with sweat and hard labour where amongst Christians there should be an equall share of all things and that in common taking this for his theame When Adam delv'd and Eve span who was then a gentleman with such like trayterous perswasions hee did prepare the vulgar apt to entertaine the proffers of rebellion and fitte them for insurrection upon the slightest occasion This doctrine once on foot runne from rusticke to villanie and from shire to shire that at length it infatuated them and infected the Citie of London the Commons whereof I meane the poorer sort of mechanicks and handicrafts desperately inclined to mutinie upon the reasons aforesaid incited and invited the multitude prepared as aforesaid to come thither promising their best assistance and furtherance Whereupon a rude rowte of rascalls under the leading of Wat Tyler a Taylor who commanded in chiefe with their grave minister Iohn Wall Iacke Straw a Thresher Iack Sheppard of the Councell of warre under the tytle of the Kings men and the servants of the Common-wealth of England came to London ransacking by the way and demolishing from Essex side all the faire structures and great buildings of the Nobility and Gentry They summoned the King to give them a meeting who accordingly accompanied with the most of his best Councellours tooke-his Bardge and went to Graves End but seeing the rabble so ragged and rogue-like a company of swadds compact of the off-skum of the people it was held no discretion for the King to venture his person among them and so returned to the Tower from whence hee came The next day these unruly rake-shames approched London but finding the gates lockt and the bridge drawne and well guarded they threatned the slaughter of man woman and childe on Southwarke side the sacking of their houses and lastly the firing of the Borough and Churches there For prevention whereof and somewhat to keepe the staggering Commons from precipitate running with them in rebellion the Gates were opened and the bridge let downe and by permission they entred where their furie with faire words and kinde usage was for that night pacified only the Commander Tyler sent for his quondam Master Richard Lyon an antient grave Citizen and in thankfull requitall of moderate and deserved punishment given him in his apprentiship hee caused his head to be strucke off and pitched upon a pole and in triumph borne before him the next day when hee went to the Savoy a house belonging to Iohn of Gaunt the Kings Vncle which they rifled burnt and inhumanly murdred all the chiefe Officers they found there They commit sacriledge in all Churches and religious houses robbing the houses of the students in the Law committing to the fire all their bookes and Records proclayming death to any that should bee found to know law or literature they spoyled all Forrainers inhabiting in or neere London and their numbers increasing to threescore thousand They came to Saint Katherines from thence sending to the King to attend their pleasure at Mile End no sooner was the King gone forth of the tower to the place appointed when Tyler with some of his comrades entred the Tower gates ryfled the Kings lodging barbarously entreating the Kings Mother
all which judgement was accordingly executed upon Sir Roger Acton and eight and twenty of the Rebells in Smithfield most of the Prisons in and about London were filled with these lob-lords The cause of this nickname came In this time the Parliament continuing the King as his Father was before was much importuned by some somewhat infected with Oldcastles opinion and therefore not well pleased with the greatnesse of the Clergie to suppresse the religious houses of this kingdome because as they affirmed they were made the nurses of idlenesse and cages of uncleane birds To divert this storme into another quarter it was advised that Chicheley Archbishop of Canterbury should set on foot the Kings title to France which thus he sets forth Philip the fourth called Philip the faire eldest brother of Charles Earle of Valoys was the fourty sixt King of France hee married Ioane Queene of Navarre and by her had issue three sonnes Lewis surnamed Hutyn or Mutyneere Philip the Long and Charles the Faire and only Daughter Christned Isabel which was married to your Majesties Predecessor Edward the second who survived her three Brothers who successively one after the other had enjoyed the Crowne of France But after the death of Charles upon a pretended fundamentall Law of that kingdome Philip of Valoys sonne of Charles the younger Brother of Philip the Faire endevouring to exclude all females from Soveraigne inheritance layed hold of the Imperiall Diadem against whom in right of his Mother Edward the third opposed and quartering the armes which was semi de luces proclaimeth his Title to bee King of France and England and in Hostile manner entred France with Banners displayed where hee performed those honourable exployts that whilst any Records last can never bee forgotten there hee continued victorious during the time of Valoys and left his Sonne the blacke Prince to prosecute his Claime who to his eternall commendations so that hee tooke not only Iohn the French King prisoner but braved Charles the fift at his great Citie of Paris to his teeth and unanswered the wise King thinking it no good pollicie to meet a roring Lyon in the field And had not God on whose will depends all things stopt this ever to bee renowned Prince in his course by stopping of his breath the question had long since beene decided and England had totally brought France to subjection but hee being dead and his Father but a short time surviving left his grand-sonne an infant to finish what his Father and grand-father had so happily commenced and so gloriously had continued But unlesse the Lord build the house the workemen labour but in vaine so the Lord displeased with the disorder of those times gave France a time to breathe and gather strength and opportunitie to Charles the sixt to change the armes of France from the Semi de luces to three Flower-de-luces yet is the Title to France the same that it was before and though your royall Father otherwise imployed did not prosecute the claime yet hee did not disclaime the right but hath to you for whom I rest assured God hath reserved victory both left that and the meanes to obtaine it Then went hee on learnedly and pathetically refelled that unjust surmise of the Salick-law both by reason and example and first whereas in terram Salicam mulieres ne succedant was the text whereon they build their position hee proved that that was made in Germany in disdaine of the dishonest manners of the German women and had no relation to France for that Pharamond whom they affirme to bee maker of that Law deceased above three hundred and fifty yeares before the Frenchmen were placed beyond the river Sala the one dying at 426. and the other being seated there Anno 805. And for example hee cited Pepyn Hugh Capet and others who neither had right nor colour-like right to the Crowne of France but as heires generall as their owne storyes manifest hee fortified likewise his assertions with Scripture out of the booke of Numbers When a man dieth without a Sonne let his inheritance descend unto the Daughter to this hee added that if the King would bee pleased to advance his Banner in France to challenge his rightfull inheritance the warre being just the cause good and his clayme undeniable his Clergie would furnish him of their owne free gift with such a masse of mony as never subjects at one time presented King with the like This motion tooke on all sides and the offer of money wherewith to pay the souldiers so pleased the King that nothing was now thought of but the conquest of France Hee begins therefore to alter the bearing of his Semy-de-luces and quarters what the then French King bare and then sendeth the Duke of Exceter the Archbishop of Dublyn the Lord Gray the Lord high Admirall and the Bishop of Norwich with five hundred horse Embassadours to Charles the sixt to require in peaceable manner for the avoyding the effusion of Christian blood the surrender of the Crowne of France with the members thereof which if the King would yeeld unto then King Henry would bee pleased to take to Wife Katherine the Daughter of Charles and endow her with all the Dutchies belonging to the Crowne of France But if Charles refused so to doe that then Henry would with fire and sword enforce it from him or lose his life The strangenesse of this message amazed the King and amazed his Councell They craved time to answer And the King of France promised to speed Embassadours with his answer unto the King of England The Dolphyn like one that cuts another man meat and his owne fingers having wit but wanting discretion deriding as it were the King of Englands youth as deeming him fitter for play then to attempt matters of such consequence sent him a tonne of Tennis balls which King Henry distasting promised with an oath before many moneths were past to tosse such iron Balls among them that the best armes in France should bee unable to hold a Racket to returne them And forthwith due provision being made and all things prepared hee drawes together his forces and in his absence to secure the Scots and Welch from attempting his prejudice hee appointeth an Army to attend the Marches and upon all alarums to bee ready hee ordaines his Mother-in-law Ioane Daughter of Charles King of Arragon Governour in his absence and whilst hee is dispatching Richard Earle of Warwicke the Bishops of Salisbury Bath and Hereford with the Abbot of Westminster to the generall Councell appointed at Constance The Dolphyn sent as Embassadours the King of France being weake and sickly The Earle of Vandome with others who having audience the Archbishop of Burges made a long Oration in praise of peace and disswaded warre concluding with a tender of the Lady Katherine with a summe of money and some Townes of no great wealth or importance the King of England feasts them at his owne Table and
in Sussex Surry and Wilshire but were soone appeased without much hurt done only the Wilshire men upon the nine and twenteth day of Iune drew William Askots Bishop of Salisbury from the high altar celebrating Masse in Edington Church in his albe with his stole about his necke to the top of the hill and their inhumanly murdered him Their rage having blinded their reason banisht humanitie and drowned all pitty they stripped him naked every one of his tenants striving to have a peece of his bloody shirt not as others to have the relikes of the Martyr to celebrate his memory but as glorying in their owne villany they having the day before robbed his carriage and taken the sum of ten thousand marks The French King taking hold of these disorders in England winneth out of their hands all whatsoever was in their possession in France no succour though often and earnestly by writing and Messengers required being sent unto them so that England at this time suffred a totall eclipse of glory in France They every day loosing more or lesse untill they had nothing left in France to loose but the Towne of Callice and the Castles of Hames and Gnynes so that King Henry the Fifts propheticke declaration that what Henry of Monmouth got in France Henry of Windsor should lose was now verified The Duke of Somerset having so well discharged his place of Regency that hee had lost but few men but consumed much Treasure and kept never a Towne commeth into England and at a Parliament which began at Westminster the sixt of November was put under arrest upon notice whereof the commons of London despoiled his house at Black-fryers and ransacked the same making havocke of all things untill Proclamation was made on pain of death that no man should meddle with any the Dukes houses or stuffe and one for disobeying the Proclamation was beheaded at the Standard in Cheape The Duke of Yorke under pretence of comming to this Parliament came out of Ireland and at London had private conference with Iohn Duke of Norfolke Richard Earle of Salisbury the Earle of Devon and other his assured Friends where it was resolved to keepe the chiefe purpose the pretence to the Crowne secret and only make shew of his endevours to bee bent to remove those from the Councell of the King that had so dishonoured the Realme and wasted the revenewes of the Crowne in losing so many good Townes in France and doing nothing worthy their place or credit they held about the King whereof the Duke of Somerset must bee the chiefe man to bee instanced and the rather for that hee was in great contempt of the Commons and was the only hee that opposed the Duke of Yorke in all things The Duke having layed the foundation of this his so long intended enterprise sent divers Letters unto the King wherein hee intimated the many unworthy proceedings plotted against him by his enemies whereby they had well-nie if hot altogether withdrawne his Majesties affection from him and though hee were and was ready to lay downe his life at the Kings command as a testimony of his ever to continue loyalty yet by their secret and dishonourable practises they had besmeared his honour with suspition of his integrity which was a griefe unutterable and an injury unsupportable That his patience abused might turne to furie neverthelesse his only request was to know his accuser and either to have libertie to defie him and make good his challenge by the law of Armes or bee permitted to take that course for the reparation of his Honour as was appertaining to his condition and birth To this the King maketh answer that hee would take his complaint of wrongs into consideration and endevour to give him faire satisfaction but withall somewhat blames him for the death of the Bishop of Chester by his meanes suspected to bee slaughtered and of dangerous speeches uttered by his servants tending to rebellion concluding that notwithstanding any thing said or done to the contrary he did take and esteeme him as a faithfull subject and a loving kinsman The Duke of Yorke not herewith satisfied intending at once both to promulgate his protestation and display his colours departeth into Wales and there levieth men making his colour for the good of the Common-wealth and the removing the bad Councellers that sought the ruine of his subjects from the Kings Councell Newes hereof being brought the King with the Duke of Somerset now enlarged with an Army marched towards Wales whereof the Duke of Yorke having notice by his Scoutes which way the King came by a contrarie way marched towards LONDON but having from thence received advertisements that hee would bee prohibited entrance hee past the River Thames at Kingstone bridge and marched into Kent expecting there to find many friends at least partakers and encamped upon Burnt heath The King in his pursuit came to Blackheath and there pitcht his Tents From whence the King sent the Bishops of Winchester and Ely the Lord Rivers and Richard Andrews the keeper of the Privie Seale to know the cause of this Commotion and to make offer of reconcilement if the Dukes Demaunds were consonant to reason The Duke made answer that there was nothing intended that might bee prejudiciall to the Kings person his Crowne or Dignitie nor to the hinderance of any good man but to remove certaine blood-suckers evill disposed persons oppressours of the poore and infamous impostors from about the King but especially Edmond Duke of Somerset whom if the King would bee but pleased to commit to Ward untill by a legall tryall in Parliament hee might receive judgement of such treasonable crimes as should then and there bee proved against him that then he would not only dismisse his Army but come unto his presence as a true and loyall subject in dutie was bound so to doe and to tender him all befitting service Hereupon the Duke of Somerset is committed to prison the Duke of Yorke dismisseth his Army and commeth in person to the King where finding the Duke of Somerset in the Presence hee chargeth him with Treason The Duke of Somerset denieth the accusation and recriminates the Duke of Yorke to have conspired the death of the King and the usurpation of the Crowne The King removeth to London and the Duke of Yorke as a prisoner rode before the King but the Duke of Somerset at liberty which ministred much occasion of heart-burning amongst the friends of Yorke The King calleth a Councell at Westminster where the Dukes are earnest in accusing each other Somerset instantly craved of the Councell that the Duke of Yorke might by compulsion or otherwise bee made to confesse his Conspiracy and to doome him to condigne punishment and his children taken as enemies to their country as the only meanes to represse the so much to bee feared civill dissention This hee with great show of vehemency urged but not how true soever to
it so home that the adverse part not able or at lest not willing to endure the shock for the cause of quarrell in a Souldier encreaseth the courage or abateth the edge of resolution gave grownd which moved King Richard to bring on the maine battaile And with a desperat resolution entred so farre into the enemies battaile that with his own hands hee slew Sir William Brandon Richmonds chiefe standard bearer and unhorst Sir Iohn Cheney a strong and stout man at armes And at length encountring with the Earle of Richmond enterchanged some buffets But Henry ayded by the divine helpe and favoured with the uprightnesse of his cause with stood Richards forceable assault But whilst the armies on both sides stood striving in a doubtfull hazard who should win the price Sir William Stanley with three thousand fresh men crying S. George a Richmond joyned with his brothers Souldiers brake into King Richards battayle who thereupon fled incontinently leaving their King behind to make a bloody catastrophe of his slaughterly raigne who throughly enraged furiously fighting without discretion or ability to prevaile he fell under the sword of his enemies The rumor of his death and the rowting of the battaile gave occasion to the reregard Commanded by Henry Earle of Northumberland who rather wished then expected what did befall to submit without striking stroke whereby the victory fell to the Earle Richmonds part who upon certainty thereof instantly in most religious divotion gave order for publicke thanks giving to God for their happy preservation and he himselfe that gave the precept made himselfe the patterne therein alighting from his horse and kneeling upon his knees first privatly to himselfe and then publickly with the rest gave glory to his maker There were not above one thousand slaine on both sides the cheife of whom was Iohn Duke of Norfolke who was often warned and much laboured that day to forbeare the field in regard there was found written upon his tent-dore Iack of Norfolke be not to boold For Dickon thy Master is bought and sold. But what God had before appointed could not be prevented This Iohn Howard was the sonne of Sir Robert Howard knight and Margaret eldest daughter and coheire of Thomas Mowbray Duke of Norfolk in whose right he was created Duke of Norfolk the five and twentieth day of Iune in the yeare of our Lord 1483. He married two wives the first was Katherine daughter of William Lord Mullyns by whom he had issue one sonne and foure daughters Thomas that succeeded him and was created Earle of Surry in the first yeare of King Richard the third and was restored to grace and made Lord Treasurer in the sixteenth yeare of Henry the seventh and 1 Anne married to Sir Edmond Gorge knight 2 Isabell married to Robert Mortymer of Essex knight 3 Iane married to Thomas Tymperley Esquire and Margaret married to Iohn Windham of Cowtherck in Norfolk knight This Dukes second wife was Margaret daughter of Sir Iohn Chadworth knight by whom he had issue Katherine married to Iohn Bourcheir Lord Berners and no more Walter Lord Ferrers Sir Richard Ratcliff and Sir Robert Brackenbury knights with William Catesby an utterbarrister with some others were taken flying And shortly after executed at Leicester Francis Vicount Lovell and the two Staffords escaped and tooke Sanctuary in S. Iohns at Glocester Henry Earle of Northumberland submitting himselfe was not onely pardoned but received into favour whilst Thomas Howard Earle of Surry eldest sonne of Iohn Duke of Norfolk that then and there rendred himselfe as the other did to the conquerors mercy was committed close prisoner in Leicester and from thence sent to the Tower of London There were not on the Earle of Richmonds part above one hundred slaine the principall whereof was William Brandon This battaile was fought at Rodner neere Bosworth the two and twentieth day of August in the yeare of our Lord God 1486. After publicke thanks giving was as before prescribed orderly and religiously performed Earle Henry gave order to search amongst the slaine for such as were but wounded commanding those carefully to be drest and the other to be with decency on both sides buried The body of King Richard being amongst the slaughtered carkases found the whole armie gave a generall shoute and with loud acclamations of long live King Henry made the field ecchoe againe The Lord Stanly having in his custody King Richard the usurpers Crowne which amongst the spoyles his souldiers had found and brought to him placed the same on Earle Henryes head wherewith the souldiers reiterated their joyfull acclamations making the fields resound with long live King Henry of that name the seventh as if by their onely suffrages he had bin elected and confirmed King of England Here with the tent-keepers of the usurper came and submitted themselves to the Lord Stanly and brought with them young George Strange whom the usurper upon the Lord Stanlyes refusall presently to draw downe his forces to joyne with him had sworne before he went to dinner by the life of S. Paul to have had beheaded But was perswaded by his councell to forbeare the execution untill the battaile should be determined now being brought to the presence of his father The young Gentleman being thereto by his keepers instructed before craved the help of his mediation to the king for their pardon which was willingly undertaken and as easily procured From thence the camp presently removed and King Henry marched to the Towne of Leicester where for the more refreshing of his men and the better accommodation of himselfe for his journey towards the City of London he remained two dayes In the meane time the body of the usurper starke naked all mangled and besmeared with blood and dust without so much as the lest ragge to cover his privities was trussed behind Blanch Senigleer his owne Pursevant of armes like butchers ware his heads and his armes hanging on the one side of the horse his legs on the other and so was brought to Leicester where for a spectacle of hate and scorne by the space of two dayes he lay bare and uninterred At last by the Charitie of the Gray Fryers there without solemne funerall pompe scarce with ordinary solemnitie he was inhumed in their Monastery there he reigned two yeares two moneths and one day This Richard married Anne second daughter of Richard Nevill commonly stiled great Earle of Warwicke by whom he had issue Edward whom at twelue moneths old he created Prince of Wales but happily dyed before his father This Richard was borne at Fodringhay Castle in Northamptonshire the third sonne of Richard Duke of Yorke younger brother of George Duke of Clarence by him murdred in the Tower After the death of his brother King Edward the fourth he procured himselfe to be made Protector and guardian of his two Nephewes of whom he made himselfe the execrable murtherer For a fuller expression of his Character he was borne a monster in nature with all