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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A40792	The history of the most unfortunate prince King Edward II with choice political observations on him and his unhappy favourites, Gaveston & Spencer, containing several rare passages of those times, not found in other historians / found among the papers of, and (supposed to be) writ by Henry Viscount Faulkland ...	Falkland, Henry Cary, Viscount, d. 1633.; Fannant, Edward.	1680 (1680)	Wing F314; ESTC R8909	44,640	88

The true Portraiture of King Edward the Second King of England Lord of Ireland Duke of Aquitaine etc He Raigned 19. yeares Seven Months Buried at Glocester F. sculpset THE HISTORY Of the most unfortunate Prince King EDWARD II. WITH Choice Political Observations on Him and his unhappy Favourites GAVESTON SPENCER CONTAINING Several RARE PASSAGES of those Times Not found in other Historians Found among the Papers of and supposed to be Writ by the Right Honourable HENRY Viscount FAULKLAND Sometime Lord Deputy of Ireland LONDON Printed by A. G. and J. P. and are sold by John Playford at his Shop near the Temple-Church 1680. THE PREFACE HENRY CARY Viscount Faulkland among whose Papers the following History was found was born at Aldnam in Hertford-shire his extraordinary Parts being a most accomplish'd Gentleman and a complete Courtier got him such an Esteem with King James who for his great Learning and Sagacity is stiled The English Solomon that he thought him a Person fitly qualified to be Lord Deputy of Ireland the Government of which place required at that time a Man of more than ordinary Abilities which Trust he very well discharged Being recalled into England he lived honourably here 'till by an unfortunate accident he broke his Leg in Theobald's Park of which soon after he died He was a Person of great Gallantry the Ornament and Support of his Countrey which he served with no less Faithfulness and Prudence abroad than Honour and Justice at home being an excellent Statesman During his stay at the University of Oxford his Chamber was the Rendevouz of all the eminent Wits Divines Philosophers Lawyers Historians and Politicians of that time from whose Conversation he became Eminent in all those Qualifications The Subject of the following History supposed to be written by the above-mentioned Nobleman is the unhappy Lives and untimely Deaths of that Unfortunate English King Edward the Second and his two Favourites Gaveston and Spencer for his immoderate love to whom says Dr. Heylin he was hated by the Nobles and contemned by the Commons This King saith Sir Richard Baker was a comely Person and of great strength but much given to drink which render'd him unapt to keep any thing secret His greatest fault was he loved but one for if his Love had been divided it could not have been so violent and though Love moderated be the best of Affections yet the Extremity of it is the worst of Passions Two Virtues were eminent in him above all his Predecessors Continence and Abstinence so continent that he left no base Issue behind him so abstinent that he took no base Courses for raising Money Our Author closes his History without declaring the Particulars of the Murder of this Prince wherefore I shall give you an account thereof as I find it set down by the aforesaid Sir Richard Baker Many ways were attempted to take away his Life First they vexed him in his Diet allowing him nothing that he could well endure to eat but this succeeded not Then they lodged him in a Chamber over Carrion and dead Carcases enough to have poisoned him and indeed he told a Workman at his Window he never endured so great a misery in all his Life but neither did this succeed Then they attempted it by Poysons but whether by the strength of his Constitution or by the Divine Providence neither did this succeed At last the pestilent Achitophel the Bishop of Hereford devised a Letter to his Keepers Sir Thomas Gourney and Sir John Mattrevers blaming them for giving him too much liberty and for not doing the Service which was expected from them and in the end of his Letter wrote this Line Edvardum occidere nolite timere bonum est craftily contriving it in this doubtful sence that both the Keepers might find sufficient warrant and himself excuse The Keepers guessing at his meaning took it in the worst sence and accordingly put it in Execution They took him in his Bed and casting heavy Bolsters upon him and pressing him down stifled him and not content with that they heated an Iron red hot and through a Pipe thrust it up into his Fundament that no marks of Violence might be seen but though none were seen yet some were heard for when the Fact was in doing he was heard to roar and cry all the Castle over This was the lamentable End of King Edward of Carnarvan Son of King Edward the First What became of the Actors and Abettors of this deep Tragedy Sir Winston Churchill tells us in these words with which I shall conclude Poor Prince how unkindly was he treated upon no other account but that of his own over-great kindness Other Princes are blamed for not being ruled by their Counsellors he for being so Who whilst he lived they would have him thought to be a Sot but being dead they could have found in their hearts to have made him a Saint How far he wrong'd his people doth not appear there being very few or no Taxations laid upon them all his time but how rude and unjust they were towards him is but too manifest But their violence was severely paid by Divine Vengeance not only upon the whole Kingdom when every Vein in the Body Politic was afterwards opened to the endangering the letting out of the Life-blood of the Monarchy in the Age following but upon every particular Person consenting to or concern'd in his Death For as the Throne of his Son that was thus set in Blood though without his own guilt continued to be imbru'd all his Reign which lasted above fifty Years with frequent Executions Battels or Slaughters the Sword of Justice or his own being hardly ever sheath'd all his time So 't is said that the Queen her self dyed mad upon the apprehension of her own in Mortimer's disgrace who was executed at Tiburn and hung there two days to be a spectacle of Scorn The King's Brother Edmond had this punishment of his Disloyalty to be condemn'd to lose his Head for his Loyalty it being suggested and happy it had been for him if it had been prov'd that he endeavoured the Restoration of his Brother his Death being imbitter'd by the mockery of Fortune whilst by keeping him upon the Scaffold five hours together before any body could be found that would Execute him he was deluded with a vain hope of being saved The Fiend Tarlton Bishop of Hereford who invented the cursed Oracle that justified the Murderers dyed with the very same Torture as if the hot Iron that sear'd his Conscience had been thrust into his Bowels Of the two Murderers one was taken and butcher'd at Sea the other dyed in Exile perhaps more miserable And for the Noblility in general that were Actors in the Tragedy they had this Curse upon them that most of their Race were cut off by those Civil Discords of their divided Families to which this strange Violation gave the first beginning not long after The LIFE of EDVVARD II. KING

to Barkley-Castle and Spencer is deliver'd over to the Martial and immediately hath the like entertainment only he hath somewhat a longer time and a far more cruel Sentence than his Father All things thus ordered the Queen removes to Hereford and in all the places of her passage is welcomed with joyful Acclamations With a kind of insultant triumphing tyranny far unworthy the Nobility of her Sex and Virtue she makes her poor condemned adversary in a strange disguise attend her Progress He was set upon a poor lean deformed Jade and cloathed in a Tabarce the Robe in those days due to the basest Thieves and Rascals and so was led through all the Market-Towns and Villages with Trumpets sounding before him and all the spightful disgraces and affronts that they could devise to cast upon him Certainly this Man was infinitely tyrannical and vicious deserving more than could be laid upon him yet it had been much more to the Queen's Reputation and Honour if she had given him a fair and legal Tryal by his Peers according to that ancient and laudable Custom of England wherein by his death he might have given both the Law and his Adversaries a full satisfaction It is certainly give it what other title you will an argument of a wondrous base condition to insult or to tyrannize over those poor Ruins which Fortune hath thrown into our power A noble pity is the argument of an honourable and sweet disposition and the life of Man is great enough to expiate all offences To satisfie our passions with the bitterest extremity of our power may justly be stiled rather a salvage and barbarous Cruelty than true and perfect Justice No question it was a pleasing sight to all the wronged Subjects to see such a leprous Monster so monstrously used But when the heat of blood was past and men had recollected their sences it then appeared to be too great a blemish to a Queen a Woman and a Victor But whether she were now weary with imposing or he with suffering Hereford on a lofty Gibbet of an extraordinary height erected on purpose gives him the end of all his Torments Which being performed Order is left behind for the Execution of Arundel four days after which is accordingly performed I could never yet read a fair and just cause why this Earl lost his Life unless it may be counted Treason not to forsake his Lord and Master to whom he had so solemnly swore his Faith and Obedience It certainly was no such capital fault to accompany and seek to defend his Soveraign when he was by all others forsaken that by their Vows and Oaths ought to have been as deeply engaged If being taken with those that were so corrupt and wicked occasion'd it I see yet no reason why he alone was Executed and those that in their knowledge were his only Instruments and Creatures were suffered to live and be promoted But we may not properly expect Reason in Womens Actions whose Passions are their principal guide and mover Now she is come to London and received with all the Honour due to so great a Queen and Conquest the People croud to see her and with applauding shouts extol her that in the least change of Fortune would be the first should cut her Throat or do her any other mischief A Parliament is immediately call'd and assembled in which the Pack was before-hand easily laid for Edward had lost the Hearts and Love of all his People the Errors and Abuses of the Kingdom are there with too great a liberty against a Sacred King yet living laid open and discoursed All men were of one mind a present Reformation must be had which in a true construction was but a meer politic Treason The three Estates presently assent to the deposition of the Elder and raising the Younger Edward to the sole Regiment and guidance of the Kingdom not a Peer Bishop Knight or Burgess speaks a word in defence of him that was their Master but divers are sent from both Houses to the yet King to let him know their Declaration When they were come into his presence Trussel Speaker in the lower House in the Name of the whole Kingdom resign'd up all the Homage due to him and then pronounceth the Sentence of his Deprivation Edward that long before had notice of these Proceedings arms himself to receive it with patience He gives them back no Answer knowing a contestation or denial might hasten on his death and a consent had made him guilty by his own confession Thus did this unfortunate King after he had with perpetual agitation and trouble governed this Kingdom Eighteen Years odd Months and Days lose it by his own Disorder and Improvidence accompanied with the treachery and falshood of his own Subjects And that which is most miraculous an Army of three or four hundred men entred his Dominions and took from him the Rule and Governance without so much as a blow given or the loss of one Man more than such as perished by the hand of Justice In a declining Fortune all things conspire a ruin yet never was it seen that so great a King fell with so little Honour and so great an Infidelity But what could be expected when to satisfie his own unjust Passions he had consented to the Oppressions of his Subjects tyranniz'd over the Nobility abus'd his Wedlock and lost all fatherly care of the Kingdom and that Issue that was to succeed him Certainly it is no less honourable than proper for the Majesty and Greatness of a King to have that same free and full use of his Affection and Favour that each particular Man hath in his oeconomic Government yet as his Calling is the greatest such should be his Care to square them always out by those Sacred Rules of Equity and Justice for if they once transcend or exceed falling into an extremity they are the Predictions of a fatal and inevitable Ruin Let the Favorite tast the King's Bounty and enjoy his Ear but let him not engross it wholly or take upon him the sway and governance of all the Affairs of his Master this begets not more Envy than multiplicity of Error whose effects do for the most part occasion a desperate Convulsion if not the destruction of that State where it hath his allowance and practice As Kings ought to limit their Favours so ought they to be curious in the Election for persons of baser or meaner quality exalted are followed at the heels with a perpetual murmer and hatred Neither is it safe or proper that all the principal Dignities or Strengths of a Kingdom should be committed to the Fidelity of any one particular Subject though never so gracious or able There must be then a kind of Impulsive necessity still to continue his Power and approve his Actions else having the Keys in his hand he may at all times open the Gates to a Foreign Trouble or a Domestic Mischief The Number of Servants as it is the Master's

OF ENGLAND EDWARD the Second born at Carnarvan was immediately after the death of Edward the First his Father crowned King of England If we may credit the Historians of those times this Prince was of an Aspect fair and lovely carrying in his outward appearance many promising predictions of a singular expectation But the judgment not the eye must have preheminence in the censure of Human passages the visible Calender is not the true character of inward perfection evidently proved in the Life Reign and untimely Death of this unfortunate Monarch His Story Eclipseth this glorious Morning making the noontide of his Soveraignty full of Tyrannical oppressions and the Evening more memorable by his Death and Ruine Time the discoverer of truth makes evident his imposture and shews him to the World in Conversation light in Will violent in Condition wayward and in Passion irreconcileable Edward his Father a King no less Wise than Fortunate by his discreet Providence and the Glory of his Arms had laid him the sure Foundation of a happy Monarchy He makes it his last care so to inable and instruct him that he might be powerful enough to keep it so From this Consideration he leads him to the Scotish Wars and brings him home an exact and able Scholar in the Art Military He shews him the benefit of Time and Occasion and makes him understand the right use and advantage He instructs him with the precious Rules of Discipline that he might truly know how to obey before he came to command a Kingdom Lastly he opens the closet of his Heart and presents him with the politic Mysteries of State and teacheth him how to use them by his own Example letting him know that all these helps are little enough to support the weight of a Crown if there were not a correspondent worth in him that wears it These Principles make the way open but the prudent Father had a remaining task of a much harder temper He beheld many sad remonstrations of a deprave and vicious Inclination these must be purified or his other cautions were useless and to little purpose A corruption in Nature that by practice hath won it self the habit of being ill requires a more than ordinary care to give it reformation Tenderness of Fatherly Love abuseth his belief and makes him ascribe the imperfections of the Son to the heat of Youth want of Experience and the wickedness of those that had betray'd his unripe Knowledge and easie Nature with so base impressions He imagins Age and the sad burthen of a Kingdom would in the sence of Honour work him to thoughts more innocent and noble yet he neglects not the best means to prepare and assure it He extends the height of Entreaty and useth the befitting severity of his paternal Power making his Son know he must be fit for a Scepter before he enjoy it He takes from him those tainted humours of his Leprosie and enjoyns him by all the ties of Duty and Obedience no more to admit the Society of so base and unworthy Companions Gaveston the Ganimede of his affections a Man as base in birth as conditions he sentenceth to perpetual Exile The melancholy Apparitions of this loth to depart gives the aged Father an assurance that this Syren had to dear a Room in the wanton Cabinet of his Son's heart He strives to enlighten his mind and to make him quit the memory of that dotage which he foresaw in time would be his destruction But death overtakes him before he could give it perfection the time is come that he must by the Law of Nature resign both his Life and Kingdom He summons his Son and bequeaths him this dying Legacy commanding him as he will in another day answer his disobedience never to repeal his sentence To his Kindred and Peers that with sad Tears and watry Eyes were the companions of his Death-bed he shortly discourseth the base conditions of this Parasite and lets them understand both their own and the Kingdom 's danger if they withstood not his return if it were occasioned They knew his injunctions were just and promise to observe them he is not satisfied till they bind it with an Oath and vow religiously to perform it This sends him out of the World with more confidence than in the true knowledge of his Son 's wilful disposition he had cause to ground on The Father's Funeral Rights performed Edward in the pride of his years undertakes the Crown and guidance of this glorious Kingdom He glories in the advantage knowing himself to be an absolute King and at liberty yet thinks it not enough till the belief of the Kingdom did equally assure it He esteems no Act more proper to confirm it than running in a direct strain of opposition against his Predecessor's will and pleasure The strong motives of his violent affection suggests reasons that the Majesty of a King may not be confined from his dearest pleasure When he was a Son and a Subject he had witnessed his obedience being now a King and a Soveraign he expects a correspondence of the same nature Where there was so ready an inclination in the Will Reason found strength enough to warrant it which made him make Gaveston's return the first Act of his Soveraignty No protestation of his Lords nor persuasion of his Council can work a diversion or win so much as a befitting respect The Barons that were unable to withstand are contented to obey attending the issue of this so dangerous a resolution Where the News was so pleasing the Journey is as sudden Gaveston loseth not a minute till he felt the embraces of his Royal Lord and Master Edward having thus regained his beloved Damon is so transported with his presence that he forgets the will and ordinary respect due to the greatest Lords and Pillers of his Kingdom and hence proceeds their first discontent and murmur Many ways are invented to dissolve this enchantment but none more fit and worthy then to engage him in the sacred knot of Wedlock The Interest of a Wife was believed the only remedy to engross or divert those ●●●ted 〈◊〉 ●●fe●t●●ns which they beheld so loosely and unworthily prostituted Isabel the Daughter of the French King the goodliest and 〈…〉 L●dy of her time is moved and the tender o● 〈…〉 plausibly accepted This sends Edward scarce a King of nine Months standing into France and brings him back seas'd of a Jewel which not being rightly valued occasioned his ensuing Ruin The excellency of so sweet and vertuous a companion could not so surprie her Bridegroom but Gaveston still kept possession of the fairest room in his affections He makes it more notorious by creating him Earl of Cornewal and the Gift of the goodly Castle and Lordship of Wallingford Gaveston applies himself wholly to the humour of the King and makes each word that falls from his mouth an Oracle their affections go hand in hand and the apparent injustice of the one never found contradiction in

the use of Church-Ornaments than how to handle his Weapons or manage an Army he is intercepted and sent to Prison where he dies before he had so much as muster'd his Congregation This Cloud dispersed the Queen believes it a fit time to take her leave of her assistant Strangers who mainly hasten their departure She was unwilling they should be witnesses to the unnatural succeeding Tragedy which was too much for her own Kingdom and unfit for the Strangers Climate which was filled with the belief of her Vertue and Honour She liberally and freely requites to each particular the minute of his Pains and Travel but Sir John of Henalt and the better sort are honoured with many rich Jewels and Gifts besides continuing Annuities and annual Revenues They hold themselves nobly contented and taking a solemn leave are honourably attended to Dover leaving the Kingdom with a merrier Eye than when they first beheld it Now is the Earl of Lancaster who though he had least cause was nobly disposed towards his old Master removed and delivers over his Charge by Indenture to Sir Morice Barkeley and Sir John Mattrevers who lead him back to his first place of Imprisonment where in the presence of his Keepers he one day in a melancholy Passion doth thus discourse his Sorrows Alas Is my Offence so great that it deserves nor pity nor assistance Is human Piety and Goodness so wholly lost that neither in Child Wife Servant or Subject appears the least expression of Love or Duty Admit my Errors unexcusable wherein I will not justifie my self nor accuse others though it hath taken from me the Glory of my former Being I am yet a Father and a Husband these titles are without the jurisdiction of Fortune If I be so where is the Affection and Duty that becomes the Child and Wedloc Sure my Misery hath not made me such a Basilisk or Monster that my sight should beget or Fear or Hatred can they believe a danger in the visitation of a poor distressed Captive I know their hardned Hearts are not so noble and apt for Compassion that they need suspect themselves or me in so poor a courtesie What then occasions this neglect or estrangement Are they not content to enjoy all that was mine as yet by the Laws of God Man and Nature but they must despise and forsake my withered Ruines Alas I know my poor Children are Innocent both they and my injurious Queen are betrayed by cunning wicked Mortimer whom if I had paid with his just desert when Heaven and his own Guilt had laid him at my Mercy I had not lived to endure this Affliction nor he to be the insulting Instrument of my Dishonour But Time and this sad Trial hath taught me Patience and learned me how to know the height of my Misfortunes which if my divining Spirit err not will not be long unseen and unrevenged Am I unworthy to be seen I am then unfit to live and will receive it as a well-becoming pity if my Death may send me hence from this so great a Sorrow When he had thus ended and with a few manly Tears smother'd in the depth of that heart-breaking sigh that enforc'd his silence he was by one of his Attendance made this ruff uncivil Answer My Lord your Wife and Children are jealous and fearful of your cruel furious Nature whereof both they and the Kingdom have too true a knowledge to trust you Besides they are informed your resolution is fixed to do them mischief if they approach your danger This keeps your Queen from you she once so truly loved My Queen quoth he hath she that remaining Title while I that made her so am less than nothing Alas poor wretched Woman Hath she nor could she sind no other more tolerable excuse than this so faint a pretended fear and danger Is there a possibility in her suspicion Or have I the means if I were so resolved to do it that am here a poor forsaken Man as far from Power as Comfort And fellow thou that takest so audacious and sawcy a Liberty to character thy Soveraign's Disposition which thou art bound to Honour and not to question Know Edward 's Heart is as free from thy base Aspersion as thine from Truth or Honesty When he had ended these words he retires himself to his Chamber sad and melancholy believing his case was hard and desperate when so base a Groom durst face to face affront him The Queen and Mortimer revelling now in the height of their Ambition and Felicity had yet a wary Eye to the main which they knew did principally rest on the safeguard and sure keeping of the deposed King Though they had all the marks and essential parts of an absolute Soveraignty the Name alone excepted yet they had unquiet and troubled thoughts in the fear and imagination of losing it They saw their plausible Incomes was dully continued and there was a beginning murmur against the manner of their Proceedings They knew there was no constancy in the People that would be as ready to take them off as they were to bring them on in any new stirring or Innovation The Lords that were their principal Supporters were content but not satisfied all things concurring to make them suspect their own condition Edward the Father's faults were extenuated his Vices ascribed to those that had betrayed him and his Estate infinitely pitied that had so dishonourable a usage far short of what in justice appertained to the honour of his first Calling These Reports made their Ears tingle and incites them in time to think upon some besitting Remedy Many ways and devices are thought upon but they all are subject to some manifest imperfection On this Mortimer falls to the matter roundly and tells the Queen plainly That there is no way left to make all sure but absolutely to take away the Cause and to leave the Party by Edward's death hopeless that by his life sought to make a new Combustion The Queen whose Heart was yet innocent of so deep a Transgression was deeply and inwardly troubled with this unhappy Proposition She believed his sufferings were already greater than his faults and was unwilling to stain the opinion of her worth and vertue with so foul an Act of injustice She was assured it could not be so done but it would be discovered if the Eyes of Men could be blinded yet that all-knowing power of Heaven would reveal and punish it Such deep Actions of crying Sins are seldom long unrevenged which made her most unwilling that her consent should pass or be assistant To kill a King her Husband that had once so dearly loved her was more than an Act of Blood nor could she expect but that the Son grown up would revenge the death of the Father Therefore quoth she sweet Mortimer let us resolve rather any other hazard than this which is waited on with so great Infamy and certain Ruin Mortimer replies Madam who hath the benefit of time