common wealth All men are bound in duetie to defend their Countrie Herodotus in his Booke called Clio which is the first Booke of his Story The whole hody being out of quiet the members must needes fare the wurse The marke that these Traytours ayme at may be easily discerned The prosperity of the Prince is the safety of her Kingdome The eare of the Princes safetie concerneth the verie meanest Subiect much more the Magistrate to whome she hath giuen office of honour The safetie of her Maiestie a thing most pretious to all good Subiectes The Queens Maiesties gouernement ought with heedefull care to be considered The Queens Maiestie a Iuell of most high estimation to the Realme of England Res est solliciti plena timoris amor The Realme of England neuer so long tyme together more godly and quietly gouerned William Fitz Osbert got him a trayterous cōpany and rebelled against the King 1196. A Scholler of Oxford attempted to kyll the King 1239. Iohn Poydras a Tanners sonne of Excester claimed to be King 1316. Edward de Bruis for vniustly crow ning himselfe King of Ireland was beheaded 1317. They that betraied the Towne of Berwick were hanged for theyr labour 1317. Thomas Earle of Lancaster beheaded for rebelling against the King and many of his confederates executed 1321. Andrew Herkeley Earle of Carlile hanged and quartered 1322. The two Spencers very trouble some traytors to the Realme in the ende had theyr iust deserts 1326. Roger Mortimer and others executed for consenting to the murdering of the Kings Father 1330. The Mayor and Aldermen of London deposed because the Londoners sought to kyll the Kinges Sonne 1377. The Commons of Kent Essex rebelled against the King theyr Captaines being Iacke Strawe and Watte Tyler 1381. The King offereth the rebelles peace The King sent to Wat Tyler Note the pride of a traytour Wat Tyler arrested by the Mayor of London and afterward slaine The confession of Iacke Strawe One of the Rebelles cast into the fire by his fellowes Two and thirtie of the Rebelles mured vp in a Seller The Rebelles murder one an other Iohn Ball Priest the comforter of the Rebelles hanged 1382. The names of the Rebelles that would haue made themselues Kinges Iohn Wrawe one of the leaders of Rebels hanged 1383. The Noble men rebelled against King Henrie the fourth and priuilie conspired to murder him 1399. The people of the Towne fought against the Rebelles and tooke the cheefest of them and beheaded them King Henrie escapeth a great daunger 1401. A Priest a Prior and a Doctor of Diuinitie being a Gray Frier were all executed for treason 1403. The Earle of Worcester Sir Richard Vernon and the Baron of Kindertō beheaded for rebelling against the king 1404. The Archbishop of Yorke and the Earle Marshall beheaded for rebelling against the King 1406. A Welch Rebell executed 1412. A secrete conspiracie against the King according as it is set downe by I. Stowe King Henrie kept the Feeld by Saint Giles aboue Holbourne Many of the Rebelles hanged burnt in Fickets feeld and others executed soone after for the same offence 1414. Three Noble men whome the King best trusted and made great account of conspyred his death 1416. Iohn Bennet executed for scattering seditious Lybelles in London 1417. William Mandeuill Captaine of a lewde company of rebellious persons at Abingtō executed there and others of his company in diuers other places 1433. Richard Russell executed Conspiratours of the Kings death by Necromancy Roger Bolingbrook executed 1442. A Combate betweene a Maister and his seruaunt who appeached him of treason 1447. The Duke of Glocester arrested died soone after but fiue of his men were hanged and after pardoned 1448. Blew beard hanged for raising rebellion 1450. The Commons of Kent rebelled Iacke Cade being their Captaine 1451. Walter Walker beheaded for wordes against the King 1461. The Mayor of Canterbury and other executed for rebellion The Bastarde Faulconbridge lost his head 1472. Thomas Burdet beheaded for treason 1478. The Lord Marques Dorset and the Lord Hastings great enimies Note the care of a Prince for his Countrie The daunger where flattery is more esteemed then true and faithful dealing A speciall note for all traitours Ambition a pestilent and deadly Serpent whose infection where he commeth turneth all to mischeefe The remembraunce of misfortunes past ought to teach vs to be fearefull of the lyke A good note for this present tyme of peace The Lord Riuers put in warde The Duke of Glocester caused the Lord Riuers the Lord Grey and Sir Thomas Vaughan to be beheaded The young King and his Brother brought to the Tower The Protector crowned King by the name of King Richard the third King Richard sendeth to haue the two young Princes put to death in the Tower The young Prince informed that his Vnckle would be King and his aunswere to the same The Prince his Brother shut vp close prisoners Sir Iames appointed who should murder the Princes The young King and his Brother murdered King Richard thanketh Syr Iames for murdering the Princes Myles Forrest rotted in peeces to death Dighton in good forwardnes to be hanged Syr Iames Tyrrel beheaded for treason King Richard himselfe slaine in the feeld Certaine persons executed for making seditious slaunderous Lybelles against the King 1494. Peter Werbecke a Flemming named himselfe King Edwardes second Sonne for which diuers of his company were executed in sundry places 1497. A commotion against the King by the commons of Cornewall vnder the conduct of the Lord Audley and Michael Ioseph a Blacke Smith 1498. A Shoomakers sonne hanged for fayning him selfe to be the Earle of Warwicke 1499. Perkin Werbeck hanged 1500. Edward Duke of Buckingham cōdemned for treason beheaded 1522. Conspiracie at Couentrie to haue taken the Castell of Killingwoorth and to make warre against the King 1524. The holy Mayde of Kent other executed 1535. Certaine Charterhouse Monks and other executed for treason 1536. Charterhouse Monkes executed for treason Bishop Fisher Syr Thomas More beheaded 1536. The Earle of Kyldare and fiue of his Vnckles executed Rebellion in Yorkeshiere An other conspiracie Lincolneshier rebelles executed at Tiborne 1537 A commotion in Sommersetshiere and diuers of them executed 1538. Frier Forrest hanged burnt 1539. Abbots of Reading and Glastēburie executed 1540. The Lord Cromwell beheaded Six Priests three burnt and three hanged Seuen executed at Tyborne for treason 1541. A new rebellion in Yorkeshiere The Lord Leonard Grey beheaded A Welch minstrell hanged 1542. Germaine Gardner and other executed 1544. A commotion in Sommersetshiere 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Commotion in Cornewall and Deuonshiere Certaine executed for ayding the Rebelles The Rebelles in Norfolke and Susfolke encamped themselues Robert Ket Captaine of the Rebelles taken and many of them slaine and executed Commotion in Yorkeshiere The Rebelles refusing the Kings Pardon were shortlie after executed at Yorke Captaines of the Deuonshiere rebelles executed Bell a Suffolke Rebell executed 1550. Rebelles of Kent
Lordes Knightes and other to the number of thrée score and fiue were taken All these were condemned by the iudgement of Andrew Herkeley Earle of Carlile and on the two and twentie of March following Thomas Earle of Lancaster was beheaded and Warin de Lile William Tochet Thomas Manduit Henrie Bradbourne William Fitzwilliam the younger and William de Cheyney Barons were hanged and quartered at Pomfret Iohn Mowbray Roger Clifford and Goceline Deynvile were drawne and quartered at Yorke Bartholmew Badlesmere at Canterburie Henrie de Mountfort and Henrie Willington at Bristow Iohn Clifford and Roger Elinbrough at Glocester William Kerdife and Henrie Chies at London Frances de Aldham at VVindsore Thomas Culpeper at VVinchelsea The rest of their complices were bestowed in diuers prisons Andrew Herkeley Earle of Carlile vnder colour of peace feigned a mariage which by the King his Nobles was reputed for Treason wherevpon he was apprehended by his trustie fréend Sir Anthonie de Lucy and afterward was disgraded of the Earledome by the taking the swoord from him and cutting off his spurres then was he hanged and quartred at Carlile his head being sent to London and his quarters to foure partes of the land Hugh Spencer the elder and Hugh Spencer his sonne were verie troublesome persons to the Realme and caused many seditious treasons to arise daily but the Father was taken at Bristowe where he was drawne to the Gallowes in his Armour and so hanged then was he taken downe and beheaded and his body hanged vp againe and after foure daies his body was cutte in péeces and cast to the Dogges to be eaten but his head was sent to Winchester Hugh Spencer his sonne was brought to Hereforde where he was condemned without aunswere and was drawne and hanged vpon a paire of Gallowes thirtie foote hie and afterward was headed and quartered Simon Reading and Robert Baldocke Bishoppe of Norvvich and the Kinges Chauncelour who were pertakers with them in their traiterous rebellions the saide Simon Reading was drawne and hanged on the same Gallowes but ten foote lower and Robert Baldocke died in Newgate with many tormentes And many of their confederates were executed in other places so that but fewe of them escaped without punishment In the raygne of King Edward the thirde ROger Mortimer for consenting to the murthering of the Kings Father and many other notorious treasons was condemned at VVestminster in the presence of the whole Parliament and afterward was drawne to the Elmes and hanged on the common Gallowes where he hanged two dayes and two nightes by the Kinges commaundement there were hanged with him Sir Simon de Burford Knight Sir William Burford that was Iustice and Iohn Deuerel Esquier who was desirous to haue made open confession of the Kinges Fathers cruell death but he could not be suffered The Londoners sought to kill Iohn of Gaunt the Kings Sonne Duke of Lancaster for a word which he had spoken against their Bishoppe wherevpon the King deposed the Mayor and Aldermen of London and appointed other in their places and Sir Iohn Minsterwoorth Knight with others were drawne and hanged for the same In the raigne of King Richard the seconde BY the wicked perswasions of Iohn Ball a seditious Préest the Commons of Kent and Essex rebelled against the King chusing for their Captaines in their rebellion Watte Tiler and Iacke Strawe They came to Blacke Heath and so on to London and entred the Cittie on Corpus Christi day where they destroyed many goodly places of the Nobles and others as the Sauoy Saint Iohns by Smithféeld the Manour of Highburie by Yseldon and the Temple where the Prentises of the Lawe were lodged for the increase of their Studie They tooke out of the Tower of London where the King was then lodged Simon Sudburie Archbishop of Canterburie Lord Chauncelour of England Robert Halles Priour of Saint Iohns and Treasorer of England William Apelton a Frier Minor the Kinges Confessour and Iohn Legge a Seriant of the Kinges and beheaded them all on the Tower Hyll They beheaded diuers other in many places as Sir Iohn Cauendishe Lord chéefe Iustice of England the Priour of S. Edmundes-burie and other Richard Lions a famous Lapidary of London was drawne out of his house and beheaded in Chepe They beheaded all men of Lawe as well Prentises and vtter Barresters as Iustices and all Iurers that they might get into their hands They spared none whome they thought to be learned were it neuer so lyttle especiallie if they found any to haue pen and inke they pulled off his hoode and cried out all with one voice hale him into the stréetes and cut off his head The King to pacifie their furie offered them peace on condition they would cease from burning of houses and slaughter of men which the Essex men tooke and returned home but the Kentish men remained burning and killing styll as before Wherevpon the King sendeth Sir Iohn Newton Knight to Wat Tiler their Captaine to intreate him to come talke with him about his owne demaundes the Knight hauing doone his message Wat Tiler mallepartlie aunswered that he would come at his owne pleasure neuerthelesse he followed softlie after the Knight and when he came néere Smithféeld where the King tarried his comming the same Knight was sent againe to méet him and vnderstand his requests Wat Tiler séeing the Knight come néere vnto him on horse backe proudlie saide it had become him better to be on foote in his presence the Knight aunswered that it was no harme sith himselfe was also on horsebacke therewith Wat Tiler drew his Dagger and offering to strike called the Knight Traiteur wherevpon the Knight drew his dagger too and aunswered him that he lyed The King séeing the Knight in daunger commaunded him to alight on foote and to deliuer his Dagger to Watte Tyler whose proude minde would not be so pacified but would néedes run on the Knight wherevppon there came to the King William Walwoorth the Mayor of London and many other Knightes and Esquiers who affirmed that it would be a shamefull reproch if they should suffer the Knight to be murdred At last the King commaunded the Mayor to arrest the Rebell which Mayor being a man of verie valiaunt courage arrested Wat Tyler on the head with such a mighty stroke as he caused him to fall downe greatly astonied then a number more enuironed the Rebell round about and gaue him so many woundes as he had no life left in him c. Iacke Strawe being likewise taken when at London he should lose his head by the iudgement of the Maior confessed as followeth The same time sayth he that we came to Black Heath when we sent for the King we purposed to haue murdred all Knightes Esquiers and Gentlemen that should haue come with him and to haue led the King royallie vsed vp and downe that with the sight of him all men especiallie the common people might
euerie sworde an Image of Copper hanging with many other Instrumentes beside he stoode on a high Scaffolde before Paules Crosse holding a sworde in his right hand and a Scepter in his left arrayed in a meruailous strange attire and after the Sermon was doone by Maister Lawe Bishoppe of Rochester he abiured all Articles belonging to the Arte of Necromancie or against the Faith Afterward these two were condemned of Treason Thomas South well died in the Tower of London but Roger Bolingbrooke was drawne from the Tower to Tiborne and there hanged and quartered Iohn Dauid seruaunt to William Catur an Armorer dwelling in Saint Dunstones Parishe in Fléetstréete appeached his Maister of Treason and a day being assigned for them to fight a Combate together in Smithféeld the Maister was there slaine by his saide seruaunt The Duke of Glocester being arrested by the Lord Beaumont high Cōstable the Duke of Buckingham the Duke of Sommerset other for speciall matters within few daies after he died with sorrow but two thirty of his principal seruauntes being sent to diuers prisons fiue of them were arraigned and condemned at London whose names were Sir Roger Chamberlain Knight Middleton Herbert and Arteyse Esquiers and Richard Nedham Gentleman all which fiue were drawne from the Tower of London to Tiborne and there hanged but they were let downe quicklie stript naked marked with a knife to be quartred and then a charter was shewed them for their liues but the Yeoman of the Crowne had their liuelode and the hangman had their cloathes Thomas Thany otherwise called Blew beard a Fuller was taken beside Canterburie for raysing a rebellion who afterward was hanged and quartered The Commons of Kent arose against the King hauing to their Captaine Iacke Cade who named himselfe Mortimer Couzin to the Duke of Yorke and of some he was called Iohn Amend all this Captaine and his company came to Blacke Heath and there kept the Féeld more then a moneth pilling and spoyling the Countrie round about At length the Kinges Proclamation going abroad against the Rebelles Iacke Cade was taken by a Gentleman of Kent named Alexander Eden in a Garden in Sussex there was he slaine at Hothféeld afterward brought in a Cart to London where he was quartered his head set on London Bridge and his quarters sent to diuers places in Kent eight men were executed at Canterburie for the same offence and in other Townes of Kent and Sussex was doone the lyke execution In the raygne of King Edward the fourth WAlter Walker a Grocer that dwelt in Chepe for certaine wordes that he spake touching King Edward was beheaded in Smithféeld on the twelfth day of March. Nicholas Faunt Mayor of Canterburie Spicing Quintin and other were hanged and headed at Canterburie for rebelling against King Edward the heads of Spicing and Quintin were set on Algate of London Thomas the Bastard Faulconbridge who tooke parte with the Rebelles in Kent against the King was taken at Southhampton and was beheaded at the Castell of Mildeham in Yorkeshiere his head was sent to London and there set on the Bridge Thomas Burdet an Esquier of Warwickeshiere sonne to Sir Nicholas Burdet for speaking of Treasonable wordes against the King was condemned of Treason drawne from the Tower of London to Tiborne and there beheaded In the raigne of King Edward the fift TO set downe the troublesome accidentes happening in this Kinges raigne would require a verie large discourse growe to greater quantitie then the scope that I haue intended beside for that troubles did still follow one in an others necke both in his life time as also after his death by reason he left two Sonnes who were so young in yéeres as they could not take the gouernment vpon them I will therefore referre you to the Chronicles which at large will certifie you of that which I am loth héere to rehearse yet it shall not be a misse to report vnto you howe the King lying on his death bedde desired to pacifie and set in good agréement those that had long time béene heauie enimies especiallie the Lord Marques Dorset the Quéens Sonne by her first Husband and William the Lorde Hastinges a Noble man then Lord Chamberlaine and for his Highnesse would gladlie sée all enmitie ceased before he died he called them into his Chamber when lyfting himselfe vp and being vp helde with pillowes he vttered to them a woorthy Oration which Oration for that it sheweth notable examples to vnsteadie and wilfull heads and deliuereth good councell to all ingenerall I haue béene so bolde to insert it héere to shew the Princelie aduise of so noble a King as also to giue some light of the troubles in those dayes The Oration of the King which he spake lying on his death bedde MY Lordes my déere Kinsemen alyes in what plight I lie you sée and I féele by which the lesse while I looke to liue with you the more déepelie am I mooued to care in what case I leaue you for such as I leaue you such be my children like to finde you Which if they should as God forbid finde you at variaunce might hap to fall themselues at warre ere their discretion would serue to set you at peace Ye sée their youth of which I recken the onelie suretie to rest in your concorde for it suffiseth not that all you loue them if eche of you hate other if they were men your faithfulnesse happilie would suffise but childehoodde must be maintained by mens aucthoritie and slipper youth vnder-propped with elder councell which neither they can haue but ye giue it nor ye giue it if ye grée not For where eche laboureth to breake that the other maketh and for hatred of eche others person impugneth eche others councell there must it néeds be long ere any good conclusion goe forward And also while either partie laboureth to be chéefe flatterie shall haue more place then plaine and faithfull aduise of which must néedes ensue the euill bringing vp of the Prince whose minde in tender youth infected shall readilie fal to mischéefe riot and draw downe with his noble Realme to ruine but if Grace turne him to wisedome which if God send then they that by euill meanes before pleased him best shall after fall furthest out of fauour so that euer at length euill driftes drawe to naught and good plaine waies prosper Great variaunce hath there long béene betwéene you not alway for great causes sometime a thing right well intended our misse construction turneth vnto wurse or a small displeasure doone vs either our own affectiō or euill tongues agréeueth but this I wot well ye neuer had so great cause of hatred as ye haue of loue That we be all men that we be Christian men this shall I leaue for Preachers to tell ye and yet I wot nere whether any Preachers wordes ought more to mooue ye then his that
haue come vnto vs the more boldlie And when we had prouided our selues of a sufficient multitude we would haue suddenlie put to death in euerie Countrie the Lordes and Maisters of the common people in whome might appeare to be eyther councell or resistaunce against vs. And speciallie we would haue kylled the Knightes of Saint Iohns lastlie we would haue kylled the King himselfe and all men that had béene of any possession Bishoppes Monkes Chanons Parsons to be bréefe we would haue dispatched all such onelie begging Friers should haue liued that might haue suffised for ministring the Sacraments through the whole Realme And we would haue made Kings at our pleasure as Wat Tiler in Kent and in euerie Shiere one but because this our purpose was hindred by the Archbishoppe we studied how we might shortlie bring him to his ende Against the same daye that Watte Tyler was kylled we purposed that euening because the poore people of London séemed to fauour vs to sette fire in foure corners of the Cittie so to haue burnt it and to haue deuided the ritches at our pleasure amongst vs. He added that these thinges they purposed to haue doone as God should helpe him at the ende of his life After this his confession he was beheaded and his head set on London Bridge by Watte Tylers and many other When these Rebelles burned the Sauoy one of them tooke a goodlie Siluer péece and hid it in his bosome but an other had spied him and tolde his fellowes who hurled him and the péece of Plate together into the fire Two and thirtie of them entring the Seller of the Sauoy drunke so much of swéete wines that they were not able to come out againe but were shutte in with wood and stones that mured vp the doore they called and cried seuen dayes after and were heard of many but none came to helpe them so they died there After a number had sacked the new Temple what with labour and excéeding drinking of white Wine they laye downe vnder the walles and houses and were slaine lyke Swine hatred and contention so arose amongst them as they cruellie murdered one an other and others also made quicke dispatch of them thus the iust iudgement of GOD brought the Traytors to their deserued end Iohn Ball Priest who encouraged these traytors in their rebellion was brought to Saint Albones and there before the King was hanged and quartered he would not aske the King forgiuenesse as all traytors doo the like but vtterlie despised him The principall leaders of the Commons in rebellion were Wat Tyler Iack Strawe Iohn Kirkbie Allen Threder Thomas Scot and Ralphe Rugge these with other were leaders of the Kentishe and Essex men At Mildenhall and Burie in Suffolke was Robert Westbrome that made himselfe King and was most famous after Iohn Wraw who being Priest would not set crowne vpon crowne but left the name and crowne to the saide Robert At Norvvich Iohn Leicester a Dyer exercised the name and power of a King tyll he was taken and hanged for his paines and so were most of them in many places Iohn Wraw who was leader of them that rose at Mildenhall and Burie was drawne and hanged though many thought he should haue béene redéemed with money In the raigne of King Henry the fourth KIng Henrie the fourth enioying the Crowne of England and kéeping his Christmasse in his Castell at Windsore Iohn Holland late Duke of Excester and Earle of Huntington Thomas late Duke of Surrie and Earle of Kent Edward late Duke of Aumerle and Earle of Rutland sonne to the Duke of Yorke Iohn Montacute Earle of Salisburie Thomas Spencer Earle of Glocester Sir Ralphe Lumley Sir Thomas Blunt Sir Benedic Cely Knights with other that ioyned with them conspired against King Henrie and appointed priuilie to murder him vnder the couller of Iusting and other Pastimes pretended But the King vnderstanding of theyr pretence by the Mayor of London left VVindsore and came in his company to London so that they missed of him when they came to VVindsore where they entred the Castell with foure hundred men When they sawe how they were deceyued they came to Sunning where the Quéen that was wife to King Richard deposed lay where they perswaded the houshold that King Richard who before was deposed from his aucthoritie and kept prisoner in Pomfret Castel was as then escaped out of prison and they would goe to him From thence they went to Wallingford afterward to Abington warning the people to take Armes vppon them and to goe méete their olde King Richard Then they came to Circester where they bruted that King Richard was in company with them and to make their words of the better credite they had gotten a Chaplaine of King Richards called Madeleine so like him in all proportion and fauour as the one could hardlie he knowne from the other This Chaplaine they had put in Armour with a Crowne on his Helmette that all men might take him for King Richard but the people of the Towne remembring their duetie to their Prince mislyked of their procéedings wherevpon they fought against them and at length tooke the chéefest of them and led them to the Abbay there where they put them in a fayre chamber vnder safe custodie Then the Lordes séeing the people so vehement in duetie to their King stoode in great feare and imagined by what meanes they might escape foorth of their handes so they caused some of their seruauntes to set fire on certaine houses in the Towne thinking the people would haue such regard to slake the fire as they would be glad to forsake them but it chaunced farre contrarie for the people then increased more and more in rage against them and drew them by violence into the Market place where they beheaded the Duke of Excester and the Earle of Salisburie and six and twentie of their attendants were led to Oxforde where they were beheaded in the Castell also Sir Thomas Blunt Knight was beheaded with them The wéeke next following Thomas Spencer Earle of Glocester was beheaded at Bristowe and at the same tyme Iohn Holland Earle of Huntington and brother to King Richard on the Mothers side was beheaded at Plashie in Essex and at London was beheaded Sir Barnard Brocas Iohn Madeleine the Priest that was so like King Richard and an other Priest called VVilliam Feribe and thus the traytors sped for rebelling against their King There was found in the Kinges bedde cloathes an yron with thrée sharpe pikes slender and round standing vpright layde there by some traytour that when the King should haue layde him downe he might haue thrust himselfe vppon them but by Gods assistaunce he escaped that trayterous deuise A Priest of VVarwicke who conspired against King Henrie was drawne hanged and quartered Also VValter VValdocke Priour of Laude in Leicester sheyre for trayterous spéeches against the King was hanged and headed Moreouer one Richard Friseby
Doctour of Diuinitie auouched that in the quarrell of King Richard who was deposed for his euill gouernement and was likewise dead he would fight against any man euen to the death for which traiterous wordes he was condemned drawne and hanged in his religious habite and wéede And not long after Sir Roger Claringdon Knight with him an Esquier and a Yeoman were beheaded and eight Gray Friers hanged and headed at London and two at Leicester all of them executed for trayterous wordes against the King Thomas Percy Earle of Worcester Sir Richard Vernon the Baron of Kinderton with diuers other rebellious persons put themselues in Armes against the King néere vnto Shrewesburie in a place called Olde Feeld alias Bull Feeld but the Earle of vvorcester the Baron of Kinderton and Sir Richard Vernon were taken and beheaded at Shrewesburie Henrie Percie Earle of Northumberland Richard Scrope Archbishop of Yorke Thomas Mowbray Earle Marshall Thomas Lord Bardolphe and other conspired against the King and caused the Cittizens of Yorke to take part with them in their rebellion but the Kinges power following them forced the Earle of Northumberland and the Lord Bardolphe to take their flight into Scotland but the Archbishop of Yorke and the Earle Marshall were taken and beheaded at Yorke A Squire of VVales named Rice ap Dee who had long tyme rebelled against the King was brought to London and there was drawne hanged and quartered In the raigne of King Henrie the fift THe King kéeping his Christmasse at his Manour of Eltham seuen miles from London was giuen to vnderstand that certaine had conspired against him eyther to haue taken or suddenlie haue slaine him and his brethren on Twelfth day at night wherevpon the King sent word to the Mayor of London that he should arrest all suspicious persons The Maior foorthwith caused euery Alderman in his Warde to kéepe great watch and about ten of the clock at night went himselfe with a strong power to the signe of the Axe without Bishops gate where he apprehended the man of the house named Iohn Burgate Carpenter and seuen other and sent them to Eltham where they confessed before the King that they were confederat with Sir Iohn Oldcastel to fight against him and his Lords in S. Gyles Féeld aboue Holbourne On the morrowe after Twelfth day the King remooued priuilie to UUestminster and with a great Armie kept the Féeld by Saint Gyles for he was warned that Sir Iohn Oldcastell and Sir Roger Acton would be in the same Féeld on the next daye following with fiue twentie thousand people and the same night were taken more then foure score men in Armour of the same faction Also the King being tolde of an Ambushment in Harengay Parke sent thither certaine Lordes who tooke many of them among whome was one VVilliam Murle a ritch Mault man or Brewer of Dunstable who had his two horsses trapped with golde following him and a payre of gylt Spurres in his bosome for he thought to haue béene made Knight on the morrowe The twelfth day of Ianuarie thrée score and nine of them were condemned of treason at VVestminster and on the morrowe after seuen and thirtie of them were drawne from the Tower of London to Newgate and so to Saint Gyles and there in a place called Fickettes féeld were all hanged and seuen of them burnt gallowes and all The ninetenth day of Ianuarie were drawne and hanged Sir Iohn Beuerley Priest Iohn Burgate Carpenter a text writer in Saint Iohns stréete and a Glouer on London Bridge and shortlie after Sir Roger Acton Knight was taken who on the tenth of Februarie was drawne hanged and buried vnder the gallowes On the last of Iulie was discouered a great conspiracie against the King by thrée Lordes in whome aboue all the rest he reposed greatest trust and confidence the chéefest of them was Henrie Scrope Lord Treasorer the second was Richard Earle of Cambridge brother to Edwarde Duke of Yorke and the third was Sir Thomas Grey a Knight of the North. These thrée had caused Edmund Earle of March to sweare vppon a Booke not to disclose their councell and then they tolde him that they intended to kyll the King and to make the saide Edmund King the which if he refused to take vpon him they would likewise kyll him The Earle prayed them to giue him one houres space to take aduisement what he were best to doo which being graunted him the Earle went secretlie and told the King thereof who caused them foorthwith to be apprehended and brought before him where they confessed the treason for the which on the sixt of August they were arreigned in the Kinges presence and the same day all thrée beheaded The Earle was buried head and all but the other two headdes were sent the one to Yorke and the other to New Castell vpon Tine to be set vp Iohn Bennet Woolman who had scattered about London diuers Scedules full of sedition was drawne hanged and beheaded on Michaelmas daye and the eight daye of October a Parchment-maker of Trylmell stréete was drawne hanged and headed for harbouring Sir Iohn Oldcastell contrarie to the Kinges commaundement In the raigne of King Henrie the sixt AT Abington were gathered together a great many of lewde and rebellious persons who sought to make a great vprore in the Realme but the Lord Protector rode thether with his company and arrested there the Bayliffe of the Towne named William Mandeuill a Weauer who was appointed for their Captaine and he had named himselfe Iacke Sharpe of Wigmers Lande in Wales When he was examined he confessed that he meant to haue doone many mischéefes especiallie against Priests so that he would haue made their heads as cheape as Shéepes heads that is to saye thrée for a penny or as some write ten for a penny he was drawne hanged and headed at Abington and his head was sent to London and set on the Bridge the rest of his company were executed in diuers other places for example to other The thirtéenth day of Iulie following one Richard Russell Wooll-man was drawne hanged and quartered for that he would haue made Dukes and Carles at his owne pleasure Roger Bolingbrooke a great Astronomer with Thomas Southwell a Chanon of Saint Stephens Chappell at VVestminster were taken as conspiratours of the Kinges death for it was saide that the same Roger should labour to consume the Kinges person by waye of Necromancie and the saide Thomas should say Masses in the Lodge of Harnesey Parke beside London vppon certaine Instruments with the which the saide Roger should vse his craft of Necromancie against the Faith and was assenting to the saide Roger in all his workes And the fiue and twentie day of Iulie being Sunday Roger Bolingbrooke with all his Instruments of Necromancie that is to say a painted Chayre wherein he was wunt to sit vpon the fowre corners of which Chayre stoode fowre swordes and vpon
is by and by going to the place that they all preach of But this shall I desire you to remember that the one part of you is of my blood the other of my alyes and eche of you with other either of kindred or affinitie which Spirituall kindred of affinitie if the Sacraments of Christes Church beare that weight with vs as would God they did should no lesse mooue vs to charitie then the respect of fleshly consanguinitie Our Lord forbid that you loue together the wurse for the selfe cause you ought to loue the better and yet it happeneth and no where finde we so deadlie debate as among them who by nature and lawe ought most to agrée together Such a pestilent Serpent is ambition and desire of vaineglorie and soueraigntie which among States where he once entreth créepeth so farre foorth till with deuision and variaunce he turneth all to mischéefe first longing to be best afterward equall with the best and at last chéefe aboue the best Of which immoderate appetite of worship and thereby of debate and discention what losse what sorrowe what trouble hath within these fewe yéeres growne in this Realme I praye God as well forgette as we well remember which thinges if I could as well haue foreséen as I haue with my more paine then pleasure prooued by Gods blessed Lady for that was euer his oath I would neuer haue wunne the courtesie of mennes knées with the losse of so many heads But séeing thinges past cannot be called againe much ought we the more beware by what occasion we haue taken so great hurt before that we est soones fall not in that occasion againe Nowe is all these gréefes past and all is God be thanked quiet and likely right well to prosper in wealthfull peace vnder your Couzins my children if God send them life and you loue of which two thinges the lesse losse were they by whome though God did his pleasure yet should the Realme alway finde Kinges and peraduenture as good Kinges But if you among your selues in a Childes raigne fall at debate many a good man shall perishe and happilie he too ere this Land finde peace againe Wherefore in these last wordes that euer I looke to speake with you I exhort you and require you all for the loue that you haue euer borne to me for the loue that I haue euer borne to you for the loue that our Lord beareth vnto vs all from this time foreward all gréefes forgotten eche of you loue other which I verilie trust you will if you any thing regard either God or your King affinitie or kindred this Realme your owne Countrie or your owne suretie And therewithall the King enduring no longer to sitte vp laide him downe on his right side his face towardes them and none was there present that could refraine from wéeping But the Lordes recomforting him with as good wordes as they could and aunswering for the time as they thought to stand with his pleasure there in his presence as by their wordes appeared eche forgaue other and ioyned their handes together when as it after appeared by their déedes their heartes were farre a sunder The young King after the decease of his Father came towardes London when the Duke of Glocester his Unckle began greatlie to thirst for the kingdome and wexed very enuious that so young a Prince should reigne whervpon he depriued the young King of them that were néerest about him and whome he thought would hinder his aspiring minde First Sir Anthonie Wooduile Lord Riuers and brother to the Quéene who had the gouernaunce and ordering of the young King he caused to put him in duraunce and afterward euen in the Kinges presence he procured a quarrell to be picked with the Lord Richard Grey the Kings other Brother by the Mother and arrested him and Sir Thomas Vaughan Knight and so farre procéeded he in his determination by the aide of the Duke of Buckingham and others as the Lord Riuers the Lord Grey Sir Thomas Vaughan were sent into the North partes to sundrie prisons but afterward were all beheaded at Pomfret Then did he take vpon him the gouernance of the young King and was called the Lord Protectour when hauing the King in his custodie he could not be yet contented except he had the other brother too and therefore by meanes of the Lord Cardinall he preuailed in his purpose and brought the other Childe to the King his Brother into the Bishops Pallace at Paules and from thence through the Cittie honourablie into the Tower out of the which after that day they neuer came abroade When the Protector had both the Children thus in his custody he opened his intent more boldly both to certaine other men as also chéefelie to the Duke of Buckingham that he would néedes be King himselfe in all the haste and he should haue the Dukes aide to make him King besides the Protectors onelie lawfull Sonne should marie the Dukes daughter and that the Protectour should graunt him the quiet possession of the Earledome of Hertforde and beside these requestes of the Duke the Protectour promised him of his owne minde a great quantitie of the Kings Treasure and of his houshold stuffe In bréefe the Protectour taketh vpon him to be King and so preuailed that he was crowned King but when he remembred that his two Nephewes were liuing in the Tower and one of them the right King in déede he perswaded himselfe as verie well he might that men would account him to haue no right to the Realme therefore he thought to dispatch them out of the way as though the killing of his kinsemen could amend his cause make him a kindlie King Upon this he sent one Iohn Greene whome he specially trusted to Sir Robert Brakenburie Constable of the Tower with a letter credence also that the same Sir Robert should in any wise put the two Chyldren to death but when Iohn Greene had doone his errand to Sir Robert he plainlie aunswered that by no meanes he would put them to death When King Richard perceyued he could not preuaile that way he brake the matter to Sir Iames Tirrell whome he found verie tractable to his intent wherefore he sent him on the morrowe with a Letter to Sir Robert Brakenburie by which Letter he was commaunded to delyuer to Sir Iames all the keies of the Tower for one night to the ende he might there accomplish the Kinges pleasure in such thinges as he had giuen him commaundement After which Letter deliuered and the keies receiued Sir Iames appointed the night ensuing to destroy the two young Princes deuising before and preparing the meanes The Prince so soone as the Protectour had lefte that name and tooke vpon himselfe to be King was thereof infourmed that he should not reigne but his Unckle would haue the Crowne At which wordes the Prince being greatlie abashed fetching a heauie sigh saide Alas I would mine
Unckle would let me haue my life yet though I loose my kingdome Then he that tolde him the tale vsed him with good wordes and put him in the best comfort he could But foorthwith was the Prince and his Brother both shut vp and all other remooued from them onelie one Blacke Will or Willam Slaughter excepted who was set to serue them and sée them sure After which time the Prince neuer tied his pointes nor did any thing of himself but with the young babe his Brother lingred in thought and heauines till this traiterous death deliuered them out of that wretched estate For Sir Iames Tirrell deuised that they should be murdered in their beds to the execution whereof he appointed Myles Forrest one of the foure that kept them a fellowe fleshed in murder before time and to him he ioyned Iohn Dighton his owne horse-kéeper a big broad square strong knaue Then all the other being remooued from them this Myles Forrest and Iohn Dighton about midnight the sielie Children lying in their beddes came into the Chamber and suddenlie lapped them vp amongst the cloathes and they had so bewrapped them and intangled them kéeping downe by force the fetherbed and pillowes harde vnto their mouthes that within a while smoothered and stifled their breath failing them they gaue vp to God their innocent soules into the ioies of Heauen leauing to the tormentors their bodies dead in the bedde Which after that the cruell wretches perceiued first by strugling with the paines of death and after long lying still to be throughlie dead they laide their bodies naked vpon the bedde and fetched Sir Iames to sée them who vpon the sight of them caused those murderers to burie them at the staire foote méetlie déepe in the ground vnder a great heape of stones Then rode Sir Iames in great haste to King Richard and shewed him all the manner of the murder who gaue him great thankes and as some say there made him Knight but he allowed not their burying in so vile a corner saying that he would haue them buried in a better place because they were a Kinges sonnes Upon this as it is reported a Priest belonging to Sir Robert Brakenburie tooke vp the bodies againe and secretlie enterred them in such a place as by the occasion of his death who onelie knew it could neuer since come to light Uerie troth it is and well knowne that at such time as Sir Iames Tirrell was in the Tower for treason committed against the most famous Prince King Henrie the seuenth both Dighton and he were examined and they confessed the murder in manner aboue written but whether the bodies were remooued they could nothing tell And thus were these two noble Princes these innocent tender children borne of a most royall blood brought vp in great wealth likelie long to liue reigne and rule in the Realme shortlie shut vp in prison and priuilie thus murdered their bodies cast God knowes where by the cruell ambition of their vnnaturall Unckle and his despightfull tormentors Which thinges on euerie part well pondered God neuer gaue this Realme a more notable example neither in what vncertainty standeth this worldlie weale or what mischéefe worketh the proude enterprises of an high heart or finallie what wretched end ensueth such vnnaturall crueltie For first to begin with the bloody actors of this murder Myles Forrest at saint Martins péece-meale rotted away Dighton yet walketh as are mine Authors wordes at that time in good possibilitie to be hanged ere he die Sir Iames Tirrell died at the Tower Hill being beheaded for treason King Richard himselfe was afterward slaine in the féeld hacked and hewed at his enimies handes harried on horsebacke dead his heaire in despight torne and tugged like a curre Dogge In his life time by credible report of such as were secrete with his Chamberlaine after this abhominable déede was doone he neuer was quiet in his minde he neuer thought himselfe sure where he went abroade he still priuilie looked about him his body was secretly fenced his hand euer vpon his Dagger his countenaunce and manners like one alwaies ready to strike againe sore wearied with care and watch he rather slumbred then slept troubled with fearful dreames suddenlie sometime he sterted vp leapt out of his bed and ran about the Chamber so was his restlesse heart continuallie tossed and tumbled with the tedious impression and stormie remembraunce of his abhominable déede A notable example doublesse to all such as take like enterprise in hand that cannot be contented to liue within compasse of duetie but their aspiring thoughts must stretch furder then either their habillitie will serue them or God suffer them The seate of a Prince is a place of great Maiesty and none but such as GOD hath appointed can containe themselues in that Royall roome then if they wilfullie couet that place for which both reason and duetie sayth they are farre vnfit such is the iustice of him by whome Kinges rule and Princes swaie their Soueraigntie as the pleasure they thought to haue in that high Office is a verie dagger to their hearts and such an eating woorme to their consciences as by this example before you maye plainlie perceiue Let Princes therefore be honoured and feared as they ought and let Subiectes liue in true and faithfull obedience to them because it is a chéefe and an especiall article of their duetie In the raigne of King Henrie the seuenth ON the two and twentith day of Februarie were arraigned in the Guild Hall of London foure persons to wit Thomas Bagnall Iohn Scot Iohn Heth and Iohn Kennington who were Sanctuarie men of Saint Martins le Graund in London and latelie before were taken out of the saide Sanctuarie for forging of seditious Billes to the slaunder of the King some of his Councel for which thrée of them were adiudged to die so on the fiue and twentie day of Februarie the saide thrée persons with a Flemming and a Yeoman of the Crowne were all fiue executed at Tiborne Pierce or Perkin Werbecke a Flemming borne by the councell of Margaret Dutches of Burgoigne named himselfe Richard of Yorke King Edwardes second Sonne he and his company arriued at Deale in Kent where when they perceiued they could haue no comfort of the Countrie in their rebellion they withdrewe themselues to their Ships againe But the Mayor of Sandwich encountred with them and tooke aliue of them one hundred thrée score and nine persons among the which were fiue Captaines Mountford Corbette Whitbelt Quintine and Gemine And on the twelfth of Iulie Iohn Peche Esquier and Sherife of Kent brought vnto London Bridge these hundred thrée score and nine personnes where the Sherifes of London receiued them and conueied them in Cartes and long ropes to the Tower of London and to Newgate Not long after a hundred and fiftie of them were hanged in Kent Essox Sussex and Norfolke the residue were executed
at Tiborne and Wapping in the Wose beside London A Commotion was made by the Commons of Cornevvall who vnder the leading of Iames Tuchet of Audley Lord of Audley with Michael Ioseph a Horse Farrer or Blacksmith of Bodman and other came to Blacke heath where the King mette with them and discomfited the Rebelles taking their Captaines and there were slaine of the Rebelles about thrée hundred and a thousand and fiue hundred of them taken the King gaue to them that tooke them their goodes The Lord Audley was beheaded on the Tower hyll and the Blacke Smith and Flamoke a Lawier were hanged headed and quartered at Tiborne A Shoomakers sonne in Bishoppes gate stréete of London was hanged at Saint Thomas Watrings on Shroue Tuesdaie for naming himselfe to be Edward Earle of VVarwicke Sonne to George Duke of Clarence which Edward Earle of VVarvvicke was then and had béene all the raigne of this King kept secret prisoner in the Tower of London The aforenamed Perkin Werbeck that named himselfe King Edwardes Sonne and Iohn a Water Maior of Corfe were executed at Tiborne In the raigne of King Henrie the eight of famous memorie EDward Duke of Buckingham was accused of high treason for which he was apprehended and sent to the Tower of London on the sixtéenth day of Aprill before which time the Dukes Chauncellour was taken who had confessed matter of high treason concerning the Kinges person Shortlie after the Duke was arraigned at VVestminster where were brought against him as witnesses Sir Gilbert Perke his Chauncellour Iohn de la Court his Confessour Charles Kneuet Esquier and a Monke Priour of Henton In the end he was found guiltie and had iudgement to be drawne hanged and quartered so on the seuenth day of Maie following the saide Edward Duke of Buckingham Earle of Hereford Stafford and Northhampton was beheaded on the Tower hyll such is the ende of ambition the credite of false Prophecies and of euill life In December at the Cittie of Couentrie Frauncis Phillip Schoolemaister to the Kinges Henxmen Christopher Pickering Clarke of the Kinges Larder and Anthonie Manuile Gentleman intended to haue taken the Kinges Treasure of his Subsedie as the Collectours of the same came towardes London and therewith they intended to haue raysed men and to haue taken the Castell of Killingvvoorth and then to haue made battaile against the King for the which they were drawne hanged and quartered at Tiborne the eleuenth of February the rest of their conspiracie were executed at Couentrie Elizabeth Barton the holie Maide of Kent and diuerse other of her faction were drawne from the Tower of London to Tiborne there hanged and headed c. for sundrie conspiracies by them committed in the matter of diuorce betwéene the Kinges Maiestie and Quéene Katherine The nine and twentie day of Aprill the Priour of the Charterhouse at London the Priour of Beuall the Priour of Exham Reinoldes a Brother of Sion Iohn Haile Uicare of Thistlewoorth were all condemned of high treason so the fourth day of Maie following they were drawne hanged and quartered at Tiborne their heads and quarters set on the Gates of the Cittie all sauing one quarter which was set on the Charterhouse at London The eightéene day of Iune thrée Monkes of the Charterhouse at London named Exmewe Middlemore and Nidigate were drawne to Tiborne and there hanged and quartered for treason The two and twentie day of Iune Doctor Iohn Fisher was beheaded on the Tower hyll and his head was set on London Bridge and the sixt of Iulie following Sir Thomas More was beheaded on the Tower hyll for denying the Kinges supremacie Thomas Fitz-garret Sonne and heyre to the Earle of Kildare was beheaded fiue of his Unckles were drawne to Tiborne and there hanged and quartered for treason In the same Moneth which was Februarie Nicholas Musgraue Thomas Gylbie and other stirred a new rebellion and besieged the Cittie of Carlile from whence they were driuen and many of them taken and put to death Also the same moneth Sir Frauncis Bigot Sir Robert Constable and other began a conspiracie and for the same were attainted The nine and twenty day of March twelue men of Lincolne were drawne to Tiborne there hanged and quartered for the rebellion in Lincolneshiere fiue were Priestes and seuen were Lay men one was an Abbot a Suffragan Doctour Mackerell an other was the Uicar of Louthe in Lincolneshiere and two Priests In Aprill through certaine Commissions sent into Sommersetshiere to take vp Corne the people began to make an iusurrection which was by Maister Pawlet and others alayed the beginners thereof to the number of thrée score were condemned whereof fouretéene were hanged and quartered one of them was a woman Frier Forrest was hanged by the middle in a chaine of yron and then burnt in Smithféeld for denying the King to be supreame head of the Church and with him was burnt the Image of Daruel Gatherine of Wales Hugh Ferringdon Abbot of Reading and two Priests named Ruge and Onion for denying the Kinges supremacie were hanged and quartered at Reading the same day was the Abbot of Glastenburie Richard Whitting hanged and quartered on Torre hill beside his Monasterie for the same cause Thomas Lord Cromwell Earle of Essex being in the Councell Chamber was suddenlie apprehended and committed to the Tower of London the nine and twentie day of Iulie following he was attainted by Parliament of heresie and treason and the eight and twentie day of Iulie he was beheaded on the Tower hill with the Lord Walter Hungerford of Heitisburie Rober Barnes Thomas Gerrard and William Ierome Priestes were burnt in Smithféed and the same day Thomas Abel Edward Powel and Richard Fetherstone were hanged and quartered for denying the Kinges supremacie Laurance Cooke a Priour of Dancalfe William Horne a lay Brother of the Charterhouse Giles Horne Gentleman Clement Philpot Edmond Bromham Darby Kenham Robert Bird and Iaruis Carrowe were all put to death for treason In Aprill certaine persons beganne a new rebellion in Yorkeshiere who were shortly after taken and put to execution in diuers places of which Leigh a Gentleman Tatarsal a Clothyer and Thorneton a Yeoman were put to death at London Sir Iohn Neuell Knight and ten persons more were put to death at Yorke The Lord Leonard Grey being endighted of certaine points of treason by him committed and was alleadged against him was arraigned at Westminster but he discharged the Iurie and confessed the endightment wherevppon he had iudgement and was beheaded on the Tower hyll on Saint Peters euen The first day of Iulie a Welch minstrell was hanged and quartered for singing of Songs which were interpreted to be prophecying against the King Germaine Gardner and Larke Parson of Chelsea were executed at Tiborne for denying the Kinges supremacie with them was executed for other offences one Singleton and