standing in the Severn adjoyning unto the City of Glocester where both being strong of body they fought like Lions one to secure his Kingdom the other to gain it But in the end the Dane being wounded he intreated a parly which Edmund granted and then with a loud voice thus proceeded What necessity should thus move us most Heroick King that for the obtaining of a Title we should thus indanger our Lives Is it not better to lay malice aside and condescend to an amicable agreement Let us now therefore become sworn friends and divide the Kingdom between us and in such a League of friendship that each may use the others part as his own so shall this Land be peaceably Governed and we mutually assist each others necessity This Speech ended both the Kings cast down their Swords and imbraced each other upon which great shouts arose in either Army who before stood doubtful of the success and this accord being ratified the Kingdom was divided by Lot and that part bordering on the Coast of France fell to King Edmund who howsoever enjoyed it not long for in this Treaty the offence of Duke Edrick was included and upon his submission he taken into favour by the good King and so continued as it were glutted with the favour and princely bounty of two Kings till at last resolving to perfect his many Treasons begun he watched his opportunity as King Edmund was alone in the Draught-house evacuating and having placed himself beneath with a sharp Spear he run it up into the Kings Belly that he there died then coming up he traiterously and inhumanely cut off his Head and escaping with it undiscovered to Canute the Danish King and presenting it to him with these fawning Salutations All Hail thou now sole Monarch of England for here behold the Head of thy Co-partner which for thy sake I have adventured to cut off Canute though ambitious enough of the Soveraignty yet of Princely disposition abashed and sore grieved at so unworthy and disloyal an attempt replied with an Oath that in reward of that Service the bringers Head should be advanced above all the Peers of his Kingdom which high honour whilst the traiterous wretch greedily expected and indeed for a time found some favour his Head by the Kings command was smitten off and fixed upon a Pole on the highest Gate of the City of London as he most justly deserved His Wife and Children were banished and great was the rejoycing throughout England at the Death of this prodigious Regicide and betrayer of his Country King Edmunds Body was buried at Glasten-bury near to his Father King Edgar he was of person tall for Courage hardy strong of Limbs and well could indure the inconveniencies of War for which some think he had his additional name of Ironside with him at that time fell the Glory of the English he leaving but one Son viz. Edward who was Sir-named the Out-law by reason all the Reign of Canute he lived in Hungary and there Married the Queens Sister not returning into England till the Reign of his Uncle King Edward the Confessor Thus fell this good King and thus Heavens vengeance overtook the Traitour whose miserable end in some sort made an atonement for the innocent Blood shed by wicked hands as likewise for the Death of Sigefreth and Morcar King Edmunds Queens former Husband and Brother who were murthered at Oxford by the contrivance of Edrick CHAP. II. The Historical relation of the deposing and barbarous Murther of Edward the Second commonly called Edward of Carnarvan King of England Lord of Ireland and Duke of Aquitaine and the Forty eighth Monarch of England with the manner of Gods vengeance upon those that were guilty of shedding his Blood EDward the Second of that Name since the Conquest was Son to Edward the First the terror of Syria and dread of Scotland and his Wife Queen Elenor Born on the 25 of April 1284. at Carnarvan in North-Wales and after the Death of Lewellin ap Griffith in regard of the place of his Nativity he was with the general consent of the Welch created Prince of Wales which Title has ever since devolved upon the Heir apparent to the Crown of England This Edward being the first who had that Dignity conferred on him and his Father dying he was Crowned with great applause in the 23. Year of his Age Then having setled the Affairs of Scotland he passed over to Bulloin and there in great state was Married to Isabel Daughter to Philip the fair King of France and returned with his Bride not passing twelve years of Age in great Triumph when as taking into his Favour one Pierre Gaviston whom his Father had banished but himself intirely loved many of the Nobility were displeased though the King made no great account of such their displeasure This Gaviston was a stranger by Birth Born in Gascoigne but a Gentleman in all respects being in his younger years brought up with the King during his being Prince of Wales and now made Earl of Cornwel yet so prevailed the Enviers of his rise that they procured a Decree for his perpetual Banishment out of England But the Kings love still following him he was made Governour of Ireland and within a while revoaked and in his return met by the King at Flint-Castle in North-Wales and there had bestowed on him to Wife Joan of Acres Countess of Glocester the Kings Sisters Daughter Yet so far prevailed the discontented Lords that a third time they procured his banishment but beyond the Seas his life being often put in hazard by the procurement of his Enemies as some suppose by the Kings secret sending for he returned within six Months to the great trouble of the Queen and her party who by this time began to disaffect her Husband and joyn with the Lords against Gaviston Whereupon first seeming to Petition for a redress of grievances they after took up Arms of which the Earls Lancaster Warwick and Hereford were chief and within a while the Earl of Warwick at a place called Blacklow afterwards Gavenshead having surprized Gavinston cut off his Head to the high displeasure of the King who at that time was not capable of hindering it yet excessive was the grief and displeasure he conceived so that the Lords thought it not safe to lay down their Arms till they had reconciled themselves to the King which was done by the mediation of Gilbert Earl of Glocester and several Prelates who travel'd therein Yet not so firm but the King continued a secret displeasure against the chief Actors but his melancholy was diverted by the Queens being delivered of her first Son at Windsor who succeeded him by the name of Edward the third as shall hereafter be related The Scots upon notice of this Intestine broil grew haughty and under the Command of Robert their King not only put many affronts upon the English who so long before had Lorded it over that Nation but made several
firmly to establish his Successour in his Throne who sat uneasie whilst deposed Majesty was breathing who though in an abject condition yet wanted not those who were contriving to readvance him to his Throne yet he to render a better Construction of his actions than indeed they would bear not only published several Proclamations excusing what was done but sent his Ambassadours to the Courts of neighbouring Princes to give his reasons for taking upon him the Crown of England during the Life of the Rightful Heir and in Parliament the better to ingratiate himself passed an Act for restoring the Blood and Estates of such as had either suffered or were disinherited as Traytors during the Reign of King Richard yet gained he not so much love but that a conspiracy if so it may be termed in so rightful a cause was formed for restoring Richard to his Regal Dignity The chief contrivers of which were the Dukes of Exceter Surry and Amaurle the Earls of Huntington Kent Rutland Salisbury and the Lord Spencer late Earl of Glocester the Bishop of Carlile Sir Bernard Broukas Sir John Shevele the Abbot of Westminster and John Maudlin the counterfeit King Richard a person who had been his Chaplain and much resembled him both in Features and Lineaments with several others so that undertaking grew strong but how to seize upon Henry and his Son they knew not unless with a multitude and that not to be raised without suspicion so that it was concluded that it should be performed in Christmas Holydays then at hand under pretence of shows and pastime but the Morning before the Evening it should have been put in practice it was discovered to the King by the Duke of Amaurle as some report yet so narrowly the King escaped that he had scarce reached London before the Earls of Kent and Salisbury not knowing their design was discovered entered the Kings Lodging at Windsor with four hundred Armed Men supposing to have surprized him there But when they found the Bird was flown they were much grieved yet having dared thus far they resolved to proceed yet further and thereupon to increase their number gave out that King Richard was at liberty and in the midst of an Army of 100000 Men at Pomfret and that Henry and his Son were fled and then the better to confirm the belief of the People Maudlin the Chaplain personated Richard but the device answered not their expectation for in the end most of the Lords were taken and put to death as likewise Maudlin the counterfeit Richard the whole number that at that time fell a Sacrifice to Richard's cause were 19. Thus his friends being put to death his turn came next for jealous Henry could not imagine himself safe whilst Richard remained still in the Hearts of his Subjects therefore many Councils were held how to be rid of him so that at last it was concluded that he should be conveyed from the Tower to Pomfret Castle and committed to the hands of Bloody Ruffians who that he might die a death the least discernable as our Historians of most credit relate was there starved to death with cold and hunger being kept with insufferable torments fifteen days e're he died and as some say the more to aggravate his torments he had Victuals daily set before him but was not suffered to touch it or at most but so small a quantity as ratheâ— lingered out his misery than was any ways advantageous a death so cruel that even the barbarous Nations detest to inflict upon the worst of Malefactors and much more on a King Anointed and Viceroy of Heaven for no other fault than what he was prompted to by others who worked upon his tender nature being a King in himself disposed to mercy After he was dead his Body was brought up to London and in St. Pauls exposed to the view of the people and the better to colour so great an iniquity it was caused to be rumoured that upon notice of the execution of his friends he had pined away with grief but that he was starved to death agree Stow Walsingham Harding and other Historians of account though some there be that affirm he was slain by Sir Piers Exton after he had in resisting slain several of his Knights but if he had been brained or mortally wounded certain it is that he would never have been exposed to the view of the people nor could he have been put to death without Henries consent but inquiry would have been made into the cause of his death Therefore O Henry if thou wert Author or at least but privy to so Execrable a Murther though for thine own pretended safety and for that errors cause which is erroneously miscalled a reason of state thou art altogether inexcusable and surely he is not a man that hears of the Infamishment of this King and feels not a chilling horrour and conceives not detestation of such a bloody barbarity but Heaven was not slow in revenging the fall of this King for what was the Reign of his Successour but a continual trouble what Insurrections Rebellions Losses at Sea Plagues Tempests fearful Prodigies and all that can make a Nation miserable Famine excepted did not happen how many Plots and Conspiracies were layed against his Life by those that had advanced him to the Regal Dignity What fears and jealousies stuck as Thorns in his Crown and made ever uneasie what executions of the Nobility happened during his Reign even of those especially who had been instrumental in deposing Richard and no doubt counselling his death so that the English Earth never drank more noble Blood in so short a time he Reigning but 13. y. 6. m. 3. d. and left Issue Prince Henry afterwards King Thomas Duke of Clarence slain at Beaufort without Issue John Duke of Bedford who died without Issue and Humfry Duke of Glocester who was murthered in his Bed at Bury and two Daughters Blaunch and Philip Now as for his Eldest Son Henry the Fifth after his glorious Atchievements in France he died in the Flower of his Age not without suspicion of Poyson and Henry the Sixth Son to King Henry the Fifth and Grandson to Henry the Fourth and Prince Edward his Son and great Grand-child to the Fourth Henry were Murthered by that Monster of Mankind the Duke of Glocester afterwards Reigning by the name of Richard the Third And thus we may see how Sacred Kings Lives ought to be held when such Tragedies revenge their fall King Richard after he had been exposed to view for several days and the rueful spectacle moved many to compassionate his death was conveyed to Langly in Hartfordshire and there obscurely buried though King Henry the Fifth caused those Royal remains to be removed to Westminster and there Interred amongst his Ancestors Thus fell this unhappy King without Issue and thus his fall was revenged and now leaving him to slumber in his Grave we shall proceed to the next Tragedy which as it falls next in
the day and his own Life upon notice of which overthrow the Duke and Earl betook themselves again to Calais of which place the latter was Captain but were denied entrance by Vawclere his Lieutenant and thereupon went to the French Court where they were kindly received and within a while returning into England gathered so huge an Army that Edward was forced to fly the Land and his Queen to take Sanctuary whereupon King Henry was again restored to his Regal Dignity and Edward with all his adherents Proclaimed Traitors and in Parliament disinabled from Inheriting the Crown and it again Intailed on King Henry upon which Heart-breaking news Edward procures forces from the Duke of Burgundia who had Married his Sister and under pretence of Friendship enters England pretending to no more than his Dutchy of York framing Letters for his safe conduct under the Seal of the Earl of Northumberland but he no sooner entered but surprized that City whereupon Warwick and Clarence prepare to drive him thence but the latter was so wrought with under hand that he revolted to Edward and endeavored to perswade Warwick to do the like who generously answered to the Messenger go tell your Duke that I had rather be an Earl and always like my self than a false and perjured Duke and that e're my Oath shall be falsified as his apparently is I will lay down my Life at my Enemies Foot which I doubt not but shall be bought very dear and thereupon Marched towards London when at St. Albans he considered what was best to be done and finding that the Sword must decide it he advanced and at Barnet both Armies approached each other where in the spacious Field the Battle joyn'd on Easter day with such fury that the like had not been known and continued doubtful for a long time when as the day being overcast with mist hindering the Soldiers sight Warwicks Battalian took the Stars Imbroidered upon the Earl of Oxford's Mens Coats for his Son Edwards Body whereupon they let fly upon their friends which mistake caused the Earl to leave the fight his Men crying Treason Treason we are all betrayed which Warwick perceiving charged with fury upon the Enemy but entering too far was beaten down and slain though not without performing wonders sutable to his great Soul who had been Englands Make-King for many years before with him perished his Brother the Marquess of Montacute and a great number of smaller note as likewise the loss of the Battle on the side of the Lancastrians Son after this overthrow Queen Margaret and Prince Edward arrive at Weymouth and understanding the loss of the Battle of Barnet Field she went to Ceerue Abby whither the Lancastrian Nobility that escaped the slaughter came to her and with comfortable words put her in hopes of better success and immediately raised such forces as they could and joyned them to those they Queen had brought over from France but loth she was that the Prince her Son should hazard himself in the Battle and urged sundry persons but was over perswaded by the Lords whose preparations alarumed Edward so that gathering an Army he advanced towards them resolving to hinder the increase of the Queens power having first committed King Henry and the Archbishop of York to the Tower and at Teuxbury both Armies met where after a hot Encounter by the Treachery of the Lord Wenlock the Battle went with Edward which Treachery was rewarded with death the Duke of Somerset the Queens General beating his Brains out with his Battle-Ax In this Battle of the Lancastrian Nobility were slain John Lord Summert John Coventry Earl of Devonshire the Lord Wenlock in manner aforesaid several Knights and three thousand common Soldiers and on the other side not fewer Upon this defeat Proclamation was made for the Apprehending Prince Edward who was soon taken by that unworthy Knight Sir Robert Crofts and delivered to his most Capital Enemy the Duke of Somerset and others of Quality having taken Sanctuary were haled thence and beheaded Prince Edward not passing fourteen years of Age being brought before Edward had assumed the Soveraignty he beheld him with a stern Countenance and demanded how he durst with Banners displayed enter his Realm to which the young Prince with an undaunted Courage replied to recover my Fathers Kingdoms and most Rightful Inheritance possessed by his Father and Grandfather and immediately from him descending to me how darest thou then that art but his Subject take up Arms against thy King This Brave and Generous Answer so touched King Edward to the quick that he unmanly with his Gauntlet smote him on the Mouth when at the same instant the more villanous Duke of Glocester afterwards Usurper of the Crown by the name of Richard the Third together with his wicked Accomplices stabbed the Prince to death in Edwards presence Monsters unworthy of the name of Men but Heavens vengeance for this and other black crimes overtook the Actors The Prince after his being murthered was Buried in the Grey-Fryars at Tewksbury without any Ceremony and now Queen Margaret having taken Sanctuary was discovered and brought Prisoner to the Tower where she continued till her Father with a great Ransome to raise which he was forced to sell most of his Signeouries to the French King he redeemed her and now King Henry being Prisoner likewise and the Thorne that made Edwards Crown sit uneasie he resolves to be rid of him and therefore sent his Brother that Crook-backed Monster in the shape of a Man to dispatch him who pretending to discourse about his releasment stabbed the pious King to the Heart and eased him of this troublesome Life though perpetual horrour haunted the Actor of this black deed to his Grave After this cruel murther committed on the pious King his Body was for many days exposed to the view of the People ever bleeding afresh which raised at once pitty and detestation in the Spectators and then carried by Water to Chersie in Surry And thus fell this good King though not unrevenged for he lived to see the miserable ends of all such as had first broached the mutual War against him viz. Richard Duke of York the Earls of Salisbury and Warwick and afterward God was not slow to revenge his Royal Blood for within a while the Duke of Clarence King Edwards Brother was attainted of Treason and privately put to death in the Tower as some say drowned in a Butt of Malmsey King Edward himself continually infested with troubles through his unquiet Reign and People every where suffering through storms pestilence and Losses by Sea and Land after his Decease his two Sons murthered by their unnatural Uncle the Duke of Glocester and that Monster himself after a short Usurpation slain in Bosworth Field as in the sequel shall more at large be shown and thus I shall end with the death of this pious though unfortunate King who left no Issue his only Son being murthered as is before recited CHAP. V.
The Murther of Edward the Fifth and his Brother Richard Duke of York by the means of their Vncle the Duke of Glocester his Vsurpation and Death with various Examples of Gods vengeance upon those that were his Assistants in the Regicide Edward the Fourth having though for the most part reigned twenty two years one Moneth and five days deceased leaving his Nobility at variance though at his death they were seemingly reconciled and his two Sons both young and Glocester Protector of the Realm during Edward the Elders Minority but he having before Plotted the Acquirement of the Soveraignty resolved to work the destruction of his Nephews to his way to the Throne and therefore confederating with the Duke of Buckingham and other Lords of his Faction which with gifts and large promises he won to his Lure Whereupon his first attempt was to accuse the Lords of the Queens Blood with many things thereby to render them odious in the Eyes of the People and therewith a strong Guard went to meet the young King who at his Fathers death was at Ludlow under pretence of bringing him up to London to his Coronation when indeed he never intended he should wear the Diadem they having politickly perswaded the Queen from setting any guard about her Son that so they might the easier work their purposes and coming to Northampton where the Lord Rivers the Queens Brother and the Lord Richard her Son by Sir John Grey lay they with all seeming kindness received and imbraced them and seemed to study nothing more than the advancement of the King but Glocester Buckingham and others of the Faction having held a close Consult most part of the Night the next Morning they locked up the Inn setting a guard of their Servants whom they had privately sent for to secure it and others to secure the way from Northampton to Stony Stratford where the King lay that none should pass to bear the news of what had happened under a pretence only that they designed to be the first that would wait upon the King from that Town but Earl Rivers perceiving himself as it were a Prisoner and mistrusting some design against his Person went boldly to the Dukes who were in the same Inn and demanded the reason of such their proceedings upon which they began to pick a quarrel with him saying that he endeavoured to sow discord between the King and them to their utter confusion should it take effect but as he was about to excuse the false Accusation they committed him to Ward and taking Horse Rode to Stony Stratford where in the presence of the young King they after a feigned salutation and submission picked a quarrel with the Lord Grey the Kings other Brother by the Mothers side saying that he the Lord Rivers and Lord Marquess had Conspired their ruin and that the Marquess had taken the Kings Treasure out of the Tower and fitted out Ships to Sea which though they alledged as a crime against him yet themselves knew it was done for the good of the Nation and with the consent of the Council These Accusations the King excused saying as for his Uncle and his Brother present he durst ingage they had done nor meant no ill though the Marquess being absent he could not as yet tell what he might have done but this availed not for in the Kings presence they Arrested the Lord Richard Sir Thomas Vaughan and Sir Richard Hawit and brought the King and all his Train back to Northampton which unexpected news coming to the Queens Ear she immediately with her second Son the Duke of York took Sanctuary in Westminster and there in great heaviness attended the sequel and there had the great Seal delivered to her by the Arch-bishop of York which he afterward repenting sent privately for it again In the mean while Gloucester used many Arguments to perswade the King and those about him that all should be well and sent a dish of meat from his own Table to Earl Rivers with comfortable though dissembling words but in the end the Lord Rivers the Lord Richard Sir Thomas Vaughan were sent to divers Prisons and in conclusion all Beheaded at Pomfret by the command of Gloucester without Process of Law The next thing was to scandalize the Queen and to insinuate with the people that the Lord aforesaid intended to kill all of the Blood Royal to which purpose they shewed several pieces of Armour found in their Carriages saying it was designed for their destruction which many of the more easie sort believed though wise men knew that if they had so intended they would have had it on their backs but at last the King was brought to London and joyfully received by the Lord Mayor Aldermen Sheriffs and chief Citizens and thereupon a Council was called to consult of his Coronation in which Gloucester so cunningly dissembled his Intentions thâ—t he was made Protector of the Kings Person and Realm and so the Lamb was committed to the keeping of the Woolf and thus having got the King safe in the Tower nothing remained but possessing himself of the young Duke of York who was with the Queen in Sanctuary the which though much contrary to the will of the Queen he at last obtained and upon first sight took him in his Armes and gave him a Judas kiss Thus having secured himself of the Male Line of the House of York he began to pull off the Vizard that he so long had worn and began to place and displace the Kings attendants as he thought most advantagious for the carrying on of his design to all which Buckingham was privy and it was resolved between them that the Protector should be King and Buckingham upon these following considerations to assist him to grasp the Crown to his utmost power viz. That Gloucesters only Son should Marry his Daughter and that when he had attained his desire he should have quiet possession of the Earldome of Hereford with other Immunities and the better to carry on the designe two Counsels were appointed one in the Tower and the other in Bishopsgate-street the latter of which was composed of the Protectors own Creatures amongst whom was one Catesby a Lawyer in whom the Lord Hastings Lord Chamberlaine put such câ—nfidence that he doubted not but from him to have frequent Intelligence of all that passed but he deceived his expectation and instead of standing by him gave Council against his Life by incensing the Protector that whilst he lived he could not accomplish his design which so netled the Protector that though he loved the Lord Chamberlain yet rather than to be baulked in his purpose he resolved and the next day in Counsel he found occasion to pick a Quarrel with him upon pretence that the Queen and Shores Wife the late Kings Concubine had bewitched him the latter of which the Lord Chamberlaine for the great Love he bore her seeming to excuse as indeed she was no ways Guilty the Protector with a Sign given
in a great Rage gave notice to his men in Harness that he had planted in the next Room who rushing in in great number one struck at the Lord Stanley with a Battle-Axe that had he not swiftly stooped under the Table had split his Scull but as it was it grievously wounded him then was the Lord Hastings Arrested and within an hour after Beheaded on a Logg in the Tower and all the other Lords disposed of in safe Custody for a time and to excuse the Fact a Proclamation was put forth intimating that the Lord Stanley and Lord Hastings intended to have Murthered the Protector and Duke of Buckingham in Counsel but few or none believed it and the better to colour his pretence of being bewitched by Jane Shore he caused her house to be rifled and her to do open Pennance and the same day the Lord Chamberlaine was beheaded the Lords of the Queens Blood were Beheaded at Pomfret not without his Counsel and advice little suspecting his Life was of equal date with theirs The Protector having thus far proceeded and resolving to go through stitch procures Edmund Shore Knight Lord Mayor of London to be of the Counsel that being privy to his design he might work the City to his purpose as likewise procured the said Shores Brother a Doctor in Divinity and one Fryer Pinker to Preach his Title and insinuate him in their Sermons into the hearts of the People in which the former by such prodigious Flattery and Dissimulation proceeded that being reviled and hated of all men for very shame and anguish he shortly after died the latter in the midst of his Sermon so lost his Voice that he was forc'd to break off in the middle but this way not prevailing though Gloucester had ordered them to Proclaim his Mother an Adulteress and that his Brother Edward was unlawfully begotten Buckingham together with tho Mayor Recorder and some of the Aldermen repaired to Guild-Hall where the Duke made a long harangue in praise of the Protector to all the Citizens assembled laying open the Cruelties Lusts and Tyranny of King Edward vilifying his off-spring and alleadging them unlawful by arguing him lawfully Married to the Lady Elizabeth Lucy though upon Tryal no such thing appeared the Lady denying and disowning any such Marriage His tedious Speech ended he expected the loud applause of the people that they should have cryed King Richard King Richard but they rather stood amazed in deep silence not so much as the murmur of a voice being heard at which the Duke was much perplexed and signified as much to the Mayor who told him he believed the people did not understand him aright whereupon he again began to repeat what he had before declared with additions more plain than what he had before delivered which ended some of his own men and of Gloucesters retinue as likewise several Apprentices and loose Fellows who had thrust in amongst the Citizens cryed King Richard King Richard and threw up their Caps whilst the Citizens looked back as amazed at what they meant but the Duke taking hold of this opportunity said It was a joyful Acclamation and he rejoyced to see that all as one man had consented that the Protector should be King and therefore desired them that the next day they would accompany him to wait upon the Protector to see if his Grace would accept of the Regal Diadem and in the mean while he would acquaint him with their good will towards him In the Morning the Mayor some of the Aldermen and several Citizens but more Apprentices and Serving-men accompanied the Duke to Baynards Castle where the Protector resided and being entred the outward Court they sent in a Message to the Protector to acquaint him that there were many Eminent persons as well Nobility as Citizens had an Important Suit to his Grace and could impart it to no other upon which he dissembles fear and unwillingness to speak with them but after many earnest Intreaties he came into a Gallery where they might behold him and from whence he might speak to them and then the Duke of Buckingham in the name of the rest addressed himself in a speech intimating that it was the desire of all the Nobility and Commons of England that he should take upon him the Soveraignty of the Kingdom of England and its Apurtenances which he made strange at as if he had never known of any such design and vehemently though with much dissimulation argued against it till the Duke of Buckingham told him that the Nation was resolved to reject the Line of Edward and therefore offered the Crown first to him as Right Heir and should be sorry his Grace should refuse it but if he did they were resolutely bent to Elect some Nobleman King without his consent To this the Protector after some recollecting himself as if he had been to study what to answer said He was sorry they should reject his Brothers Children and not suffer them to Rule but since it was their pleasure it was not in his power to oppose it and therefore as next Rightful Heir he accepted of their kind offer and would study to deserve their kindness c. After he had spoken what he thought convenient the people shouted King Richard King Richard that is the Rabble but the Graver Citizens stood Mute and had various discourses amongst themselves what might be the sequel yet we may well say here ended the young King Edwards Reign which was rather an Inter Regnum which from his Fathers Death continued only two Months and 16 days and in that space he not Crowned Richard by Tyranny and Usurpation having snatched the Diadem was Crowned with all Splendor and caused a Parliament to be called in his name such was the partial flattery of that Age many Acts were made which confirm'd him rightful Heir and to justifie his proceedings but he siting uneasy in his Usurped Throne whilst his Nephews were alive soon plotted the destruction of the Royal Infants which Heaven past doubt suffered for the many unjust blood-sheads committed by their Father nor was he long in finding a fit Instrument for his Hellish purpose for having in vain tempted Sir Robert Brakenbury to Murther the Innocents he in his Progress to Gloucester complained to one of his Pages saying Ah whom shall a Man Trust those whom I have brought up my self those that I had thought most surely to serve me even those fail me at my commandment and will do nothing to which his Page well understanding his meaning replyed that there was one without that he durst Ingage his Life would perform his commands meaning one Sir James Terril which much rejoyced the Usurper who going into the Pallace Chamber found Sir James and Sir Thomas Terril both Brothers though unlike in conditions in bed together when calling up Sir James a Varlet unworthy of Knighthood he Imparted the matter to him who never bogled at the horrid Villany but in hopes of Favour and
advancement consented to the Impiety and thereupon obtained the Usurpers Letter to the Lieutenant of the Tower to have all the Keys delivered to him for one Night to perform his pleasure which he accordingly received But before I proceed to the Tragedy one thing is worthy of Note in the Young King who hearing his Uncle had taken upon him the Regency with a Feeling grief said to him that gave him notice thereof Alass I would my Vncle would let me Enjoy my Life yet though I loose my Kingdom and Crown But to return this Monster having got the Power displaced all the young Kings Servants and left none about them but one Black Will a Bloody Villain and when the Night of Murther came he appointed one Miles Forrest and John Dighton both fleshed in Murthers from their Youth the latter of them his Horse-keeper to dispatch the King and his Brother the Duke of York who coming in at Midnight smoothered them to Death with Pillows laying upon them till they felt by their stillness they were dead and then laying their Naked bodies upon the Bed called their wicked Master to behold the dismal Spectacle who caused the Bodies to be buried under the Stairs and a heap of Stones to be layed on them and then posted to tell the Usurper what he had done who rejoyced at the most Execrable Tragedy yet ordered their Bodies to be removed thence which as the Writers of most credit say were wrapped up in Lead and put in a Coffin full of holes and thrown into the Tower Ditch others affirm that they were thrown into a black deep in the Mouth of the River of Thames but certain it is they were never afterwards found but low the just Vengeance of Heaven on their Murtherers and those that contributed to it First the Duke of Buckingham taking up Armes against the Usurper whom he had raised was discomfited and flying to one Banister who was his Tennant and had been his Servant a man whom himself had raised from nothing to high esteem continued with him for a while in the disguise of a Gardener but Proclamation coming forth promising the reward of 1000 Marks to any that could apprehend him the false Wretch though Gods Judgment was signal therein delivered him up and within a few days after he was beheaded Forrest rotted piece-meal and died in great Torment Dighton lived miserably at Calais dying in the Streets and Terril after he had confessed the Murther was beheaded for Treason on Tower-hill in the Reign of Henry the Seventh the Usurper during his short Reign which lasted but three years was continually terrified with frightful Visions of Devils that seemed to tear and hale him in pieces his evil Genius still haunting him till at last he was slain in the Battle of Bosworth-field and his Body carryed naked before a Horseman being made a sport and scoffing to all that beheld it and lay to publick view in Leicester and then obscurely Buried and to conclude his name grew so odious that the White Bore which was his device was every where torn down the Executions during his Reign were many the Afflictions of the Land by Dearths and Inundations Excessive so that few or none lamented his Fall who had Murthered two Kings and two Princes of the Blood Royal their immediate Heirs and Successors Nor died King Edward the Sixth that pious Prince and Phaenix of the World without great suspition of being Poysoned for the Earl of Northumberland by his Stratagems and the assistance of the Lords of his Faction having procured the Death of the Kings two Uncles the Lord Admiral and Lord Protector for the Death of the last of which the King falling into a deep Melancholy and then sickening he so dealt with him as to disinherit his Sisters the Lady Mary and Lady Elizabeth and to settle the Crown by Will upon his Couzen the Lady Jane Gray Daughter to the Earl of Suffolk whom he had caused to be Married to his 4 th Son the Lord Guilford Dudley thereby to Entail the Crown to his Posterity and then as he thought to Seal what he had done he removed the Kings Phisitians and set a Woman who undertook to Cure him who either through Ignorance or rather as many imagine to compleat the Hellish purpose brought him to that pass that his Phisitians being again called to him durst not give their Advice but went away shaking their heads with Tears in their Eyes and shortly after that Pattern of true Piety and Vertue left this Life when after his Death his Body was found swelled at a Monstrous rate and so diversly coloured that most whispered it that he was Poysoned as did many Learned Phisitians but durst not speak their minds freely yet Northumberlands project lasted not for himself his Son and the Pious and Innocent Lady Jane as likewise the Duke of Suffolk her Father all lost their Heads in the Reign of Queen Mary Nor did Heavens Justice seem slow upon the heads of those Scotch Monsters who slew their King viz. James the Fifth stiling themselves the Ministry of Scotland for the chief Actor was Burnt together with all or most part of his Family by his House accidentally firing in the Night and others his wicked accomplices who durst stretch out their hands against Majesty were forced to fly and die miserable Exiles whilst the Land Groaned under civil Dissentions Famine Mortal Sickness and the like But having proceeded thus far I shall make a step over into France and there take a view of the untimely Ends and Barbarous Murther of two of their late Kings CHAP. VI. A Relation of the Murther of Henry the Third the French King by James Clement a Jacobin and how Gods Vengeance overtook the Murtherer as likewise fell heavy upon the whole Kingdom KING Henry the Third of France Third Son to Henry the Second after the Death of his Father and two Brothers Francis and Charles in the latter of whose Reign by his special Command happened the Bloody Massacree of the Protestants all over France succeeded to the Crown of France and was Crowned with great Solemnity but sate not long in his Throne e're the Guises Faction began to give him disturbance and under combination of League against him take up Armes whereupon many Battles were Fought and what they most alleadged was his favouring the Protestants and to such a height the Duke of Guise pushed the Discontent for the hate he bore to the Hugonets as the Protestants were termed himself having been the Perswader to the former Massacres that the King was forced in secret wise to fly Paris and for refuge betake himself to his Army whereupon he sent for the King of Navarre afterwards King of France whose Tragedy we shall next relate to his assistance who joyning Forces fought many Battels with the Leaguers but finding them the more obstinate and that the Duke of Guise sought to deprive him of his Crown it was so resented by some of the
the Earl of Salisbury was taken Prisoner and Beheaded and his head with the Dukes fixed upon York Gates upon this the Queen and her Army came to London and released the King by the overthrow of Warwick at St. Albans restoring him to his Power and Majesty but rested not long e're the Earl of March Eldest Son to the Duke of York advanced with a Puissant Army and the Earl of Warwick having escaped the fight joyned with him which news made the King and Queen retire into the North to provide against the threatning storm whereupon Edward Earl of Mâ—rch without any controul advanced and entered London fearful of a Sack and there by threats and perswasions prevailed with the unstable multitude to give their Assents for his being Crowned King which Ceremony ended though against all Law and Right he drew forth his Army and advanced against the King who had gathered great forces which were in chief by the Duke of Somerset Earl of Northumberland and Lord Clifford both Armies consisting of 112000. the greatest Army of English that ever England saw who upon the charge being sounded began the Fight with great fury near Ferry-Bridge which continued ten hours and was lost on the Kings side by the overhastiness of the Northern Archers who spent all their Arrows at a distance as not being able to discern the Enemy by reason the Snow that then fell was driven full in their Eyes The Nobility that died on the Kings side were the Lords Scales Willowby Beaumont Wells Grey Dacres Fitz Hugh Buckingham and Clifford the two Bastards of Exceter of Knights and Esquires a great number and in all on both parts the slain were computed 35091. a slaughter the like not known in England since the Conquest Upon this fatal overthrow King Henry hs Son the Prince and several great Lords escaped into Scotland where they were kindly received and a Marriage proposed between the young Prince and the Lady Margaret the Scotch King's Daughter upon which Queen Margaret passed into France to negotiate her Husbands affairs with the French King for new supplies In the mean while Edward is Crowned at Westminster and a Parliament called wherein King Henry and Prince Edward his Son are disinherited of the Crown and all Regal Authority upon news of which Queen Margaret returns to Scotland having obtained a considerable supply of men from her Father Duke Reynold Duke of Anjoy King of Naples Jerusalem and Sicily having suffered much by storm from Scotland she passed into England together with her Husband and such Scotch forces as that King assisted her with and took several Castles in Northumberland several Loyal English daily resorting to the Royal Standard which proceeding greatly alarumed Edward so that constituting the Lord Montacute his Lieutenant General he furnished him with an Army with which he gave Battel to King Henry's forces near unto Hexham where the Yorkists prevailed and King Henry is obliged again to fly into Scotland from whence some time after coming into England in disguise he was taken Prisoner by Thomas Talbot in Cletherworth in Lancashire and from thence brought to London with his Legs bound under the Horses Belly so little respect had those Varlets into whose hands he fell to afflicted Majesty and upon his arrival committed Prisoner to the Tower Edward having King Henry in safe custody began to give himself over to sports and Daliances and above all to bethink himself of a Wife upon which several were proposed as the Lady Margaret Sister to King James of Scotland the Lady Elizabeth Sister and Heir Apparent to Henry King of Castile the Lady Bona Daughter to the Duke of Savoy and Sister to the French Queen of which the latter being thought the fittest Match the Earl of Warwick was sent over to negotiate the affair and proceeded so well that he procured a free consent of the French King Queen and the Lady her self when in the mean while Edward had cast his Eyes upon Elizabeth Grey Widdow to Sir John Grey slain in the Quarrel of King Henry at St. Albans and notwithstanding all the perswasions of the Dutchess of York his Mother Married her and made her Queen which Warwick taking as a grievous affront put upon him from that moment Alienated his Affections from Edward and consulted how to restore King Henry to his Crown and Dignity in order to which he first consults his two Brothers George Nevil Arch-bishop of York and John Nevil Marquess of Montacute the former of which soon consented but the latter proposed many delays whereupon the politick Earl the better to bring his designs about resolves to bring to his Lurd George Duke of Clarence Edwards Second Brother whom he knew to be discontented with his Brothers Rule and so effectually wrought with Soliciting that he soon found him pliable and ready to espouse his Interest whereupon the more to secure him he proposed to him his Eldest Daughter in Marriage with the one half of his Wives Inheritance which was afterwards consummated at Calais and in the mean while by the countenance of the Earl many Commotions were raised in England to countenance which and to dispossess Edward of his Usurped Crown to say no worse the Duke and Earl prepared for England having first espoused his second Daughter to Prince Edward Son to King Henry and then arriving a great conflux of People hasted to his Banner so well known and dreaded in England being the White Bear and Ragged Staff to oppose which torrent e're it grew greater Edward hastened and at Woolvy four Miles from Warwick where the Duke and the Earls Host lay pitched his Tents and bid the Earl Battel who undaunted Spirit brooked no such Bravado advance and both Armies stood Imbattled expecting the dreadful blast but it so happened that the Fight was delayed and both Armies retire as if a Peace would undoubtedly insue but crafty Warwick had other designs on foot for within a while after he surprized Edward in the midst of his Army and took him Prisoner committing him to the custody of the Archbishop of York from whom he soon after escaped which greatly perplexed the Earl yet he so ordered the matter as not to seem in the least to regard it Edward upon his escape fled to London and the Duke and Earl continuing in their station levied great forces but upon the Mediation of the Nobility it was so ordered that the Duke and Earl came to Edward upon his Letters of safe conduct but Edward taxing them with Disloyalty and they him with ingratitude nothing was done but both departed Edward to Canterbury and the other returned to Warwick and from thence sent their Agents into Lincolnshire where they dealt with the Commons to take up Arms under the Leading of Sir Robert Wells Son to the Lord Wells but he in revenge of his Fathers Death whom Edward had basely Beheaded contrary to his promise rashly ingaged Edwards power before Warwick could come to his Aid and by that means lost