of cunning Artificers but he commaunded the Barron and his mother Casiope dispightfully to be brought foorth as scornes of the world to iest vpon where casting his eyes to the Tower he sayd You thinke time sleepeth or that siouthfulnesse wantonly walloweth in me no no although to my great cost yet haue I setled vp a surer stay to this my Realme Countrey then euer did my predecessours before me For I haue here established a Tower to hange trayterous Knaues Curtizans vpon The worlde shall not adiudge me partiall in my Lawes for subiectes shall drinke alike of one cuppe and licour This being sayd he caused the Barron and Casiope to be againe carryed to prison and there to remayne tyll his further pleasure euery hower expecting the deadly stroke that should seperate their bodyes from their soules All this while Sir Perce was not vnbusied omitting no time that might further his intent but continually fillyng Vallentines eares with strong perswasions that their liues and spirits might be speedely depriued a sunder which bloudy stratagem was not long a finishyng for the young Prince or rather vnnaturall viper in this maner powred downe the tempestious showers of truell murther for early in the mornyng he caused his Mother Casiope to be brought foorth who the night before hauing intelligence by her keepers that her dayes were at an ende cloathed her selfe in vestments of white silke and comming before her bastard sonne she very humbly prostrated her selfe and craued pittie mercie and forgiuenesse at his handes and with a blushing countenance as beautifull as the new bloomed Rose she spake in this maner Oh sonne Valentinus said she remember that I am the Mother thy selfe fashioned of my wombe and body and by nature springing from the tree of my life yet thou like a most vnnatural Homicide seckest to shorten my daies and to stop my breath whereas thou oughtest in duety and obedience to vpholde my honour and prolong my life I do confesse my vile offences haue deserued punishment but shall mine owne child be the reuenger thereof The banishment of good Queene Katherine and the confusion of all her friends through my vniust meanes was accomplished with many other miseries which I haue ouerburthened this lande withall onely to aduance an vngratefull dissembler which like the Viper seeketh to finish the life of his dearest pareuts Many more were the speeches which Casiope spake in hope to attract remorse from hir Iron harted sonne who nothing regarded her words but rather the more imboldened and stirred vp into a greater fury by a present commandement he caused her bodie to be cast vpon a Table and hir hands and legs to be houlden by the strength of men the which being done he with a sharpe knife cut his Mothers throate and with the same butcherly instrument deseuered her lisly necke from hir shoulders which ad wont to be adorned with a glittering chaine of pure gold After this he caused the place which first conceaued him to be ript vp and sild full of corny salt where after hir belly being thus closed vp he gaue commandement to haue her dead carcasse transported to the top of the Tower there hung vpon a Iibbet Her deare friende the Barron was vsed in the same order for he had his mouth stuft ful of burning Pepper and hung likewise vpon the same Iibbet aliue as a iust view of such vngeateful flatterers and adulterous traitours to behold This bloudy action being finished Valentinus spake to the people many reprochfull wordes in the disgrace of the wicked Barron and Casiope his mother calling her the She-deuouring Beare of England hir deare friend the first causer of King Edwards dishonour in which tyrannicall course of life our story bids vs now leaue the bastard Valentinus with his new friend Sir Perce and speake of the accidents that happened in the Normaine court CHAP. 10. ¶ How Prince Edmond returned againe into England and was crowned King and how the bastarde King was put to death after a strange maner QVEENE Katherine as you heard before after her wrongfull banishment from England was graciously entertained of the Normane Duke where she dayly had intelligence of the wofull estate of England by many of hir distressed countrymen which continually fled thither for succour in the redresse of whose miseries shee made suite vnto Duke Robert of Normandie that hir young sonne Prince Edmund might returne into Enland not onely to possesse himselfe into the rightfull inheritance of his owne dominions but to represse the pride of the miscreant bastard whose tyrannize had made England the perfect merror of calamity and the wofullest nation vnder the cope of heauen In this maner euery day Queene Katherine solicited Duke Robert with fauourable petitions for the furnishing of her sonne into his owne Countrey with a band of warlike Souldiers vnto whom the Normane Duke answered in this maner Loth I am faire Queene that your princely sonne should forsake my dukedome and dominion being the only staffe of my old age and after my death the hope of my subiectes although not naturally borne amongst them yet comming of a royall blood the sonne of a maiestical Prince they will rather submit to his obedience then to the gouernment of one of a simpler birth No no sayd Queene Katherine there is no reason why a stranger should be Prince of forraigne subiectes through whom they should be either too much burthened or mooued to disdaine and therefore most noble Duke I humbly craue that permission may be graunted for his departure and in regarde of your princely liberality hauing brought him vp to such abilitie prowesse and warlike perfection he shal be bound to confesse homage and loyaltie to your kingdome whilst he liueth The Normane Duke being possest with a milde nature and ready in all actions to satisfie Queene Katherines expectation presently mustered a great multitude as well of Normane souldiers as exiled Englishmen which zelously protested all duetifull indeuours in the young Princes behalfe and in the accomplishment of that honorable exployte Queene Katherine hauing gathered great masses of golde and siluer attayned through her learned skill and practise in Phisicke furnished her sonne Prince Edmond with such abundance that nothing wanted either to his aduenture or contentment and so beeing furnished with Munition Ships and Souldiers he hoysted vp sayle and with a merrie winde safely arriued vpon the confines of England where presently he aduanced his Culloures and planted his forces to the best aduantage But now the bastard Prince Valentinus being amazed at the sight hereof with a fearefull troubled minde greatly misdoubted that his kingly gouernment was at an ende yet hauing mustered vp a slender armie of English Souldiers nothing auayleable for his defence he committed them vnder the leading of Sir Perce of Winchester who tendering his owne safety went to the enemy where both him selfe and his souldiers sware true obedience to Prince Edmond This vnexpected accident so daunted the
Queenes conception long before many weekes after Therfore I doubt not most excellent Prince but these my speaches may â—â—llifie your hart and procure present pittie to appeare and in doing so humanetie curtesie and noble worthinesse shall illustrate your person and with pregnant pollecie odorne your high estate and Imnage a rare blossome sprouting out to the exceeding comfort of all England The King being resolued at this the Earle of Sommersets request with the perswasion of diuers other noble men to graunt her repriuement vntill her deliuerance of childbirth were accomplished so that his desier in putting her to death might not afterward be hindred This her repriuement did not so much reioyce the sorrowfull heartes of the English Lords as it bred anger and discontentment in the Barron of Buckingames breast who imbouldned Casiope the Kinges Concubine to call for the Queenes secret distruction greatly mistrusting that continuall windes would at length shake the Tower of their prosperiites The beautie of this fayre Casiope seemed in the eyes of King Edward a little earthly Paradice which chaunged his inclinations to any way shee pleased for what soeuer he openly promised to his Nobles would he secretly denie before Casiope and what soeuer was obtayned contrary to her good liking was contiually crossed with a bad successe This costly magnificent Lady thus vndermined high mountaines builded bridges ouer mighty Seas and stood as a sure Irone post in the defence and safe conduct of the wicked Barron hir professed friend by art of wordes winding the Kinges mind to her ready bent bow and with beautyfull countenance indooting his concupicence against the whole dominion of England all which as a manifest trueth on a time approuedly fell out for after that sundrey of the Queenes friendes haâ—â—eliuered many pittifull petitions for her enlargement Casiope secretly betweene them selues taunted the King as followeth To what solletary wildernes is the ripenes of your pollecy wandred Shall euery bace Subiect hauing aspired some promosion rather of your goodnes then their owne desartes chaung your inclination as they list For shame my Lord put on a princely mind put off this bace relenting hart let Subiectes penetrate your minds not as they lust but as you please let them euermore seeke and neuer finde the secret depth of your hart let them rather grate vpon hard Irone then soft melting waxe my counsell herein followed and put in practise will bring speaciall welfare to your state and worthy estimation to all those which attende your person Further if Queene Katherine be the pleasant flower that euery one seeketh to smell at doe but vnroote the stalke and all their delightes will perish And to conclude her life will be your death and my dishonour King Edward harkening still to the voyce of this night Rauen which dayly crooked for the sweetlife of the vertuous Queene and spent much commumcation with the King as well for her dispatchance after her deliuerance from childbirth as conuaying the state of the Kingdome to her isshue The which pricks and darts of mortall shot throwne out so inwardly greeued the Lordes of the priuy Counsell that they departed the Kinges court resigned their offices and rich fees and sould their Patrimonies so that the Kingdome and dominion of Brittaine which before abounded in prosperous felicitie with manyfould orniaments of honour was now ruinated with great pouertie wretchednesse and miserie The King neglected the care of his people the people on the other side enuied the person of the King their martchandize and trafficke decayed their husbandry foreslowed ground became barron with out tillage miserable famine ouer spred the whole Countrey the which consumed breede of cattle The gold siluer and treasures was incroached among the wealthiest subiectes who for their better saffety betooke both themselues their riches vnder forraine gouernmentes Presently vppon this hurlie burlie which happened throughout the whole dominioÌ„ the heauens sent this good fortune to Queene Katherine that in the Lord high Marshals house she was deliuered in childbirth of two Twins a Sonne and a Daughter being two children of an excellent beauty which by the Marshall was presented to King Edward who although vtterly despising the Mother yet not altogeather choaked in ill nature toward the infantes speedely celebrated a soliemne Christoning and caused the man child to be called Edmond and the woman child by the name of Siluia the which being performed by officiall Priestes as the manner was in those dayes but yet not in such a royall sort as Princes childred ought to haue been christoned the which being no sooner finished but the King kindled in fuery against the Infantes through the perswasion of fayre Casiope caused young Edmond to be conuayed into the Dukedome of Normandy in which dominion the young Infant in company of his English nurses was most honourably receiued both because that Duke Robert being the first of that name was vnissued as being a Kings child of royal blood thinking that the Infant being naturally brought vp would proue in time to be a louing Prince to his people and a careful gouernour amongst them Further King Edward in the dispoyle of lawfull posterety from his dominion and Kingdome likewise transported fayre Siluia with her English nurses into Denmarke where very honourable intertaynement and comfort was giuen in the Kinges Court who through age and time gayned woonderfull estimation for as nature had rewarded her with excellent beauty so fortune forgot not to replenish her with wealthy prosperety who from her childhood in Princely orniamentes proued the only Parragon of Denmarke where now we will leaue her for a time to her good fortunes and likewise Prince Edmond in the Court of Normandie and discourse of the miseries that happened to Queene Katherine after her deliuery of childbirth CHAP. 5. ¶ How Queene Katherine was deliuered from prison by the pollecy of the Earle of London being her owne brother and what happened to the Lord Marshall after her departure KIng Edward not ending his Ielous fuery in the bannishment first of the Duke of Suffolke the young infant Edmond his ligitimate procreation and fayre Siluia his naturall daughter but with a greater determination of mischeife presently sent letters to the high Marshall giuing him a spetiall charge for the Queenes beheading protesting by the same letters what peace and tranquillety thereby might be purchased to his countrey After receipt of these newes the night before her death anpoynted Lord Marshall entered the Queenes lodging and made relation of his charge giuen by the King for her execution to whom she with a sober countenance answered in this manner My Lord Marshall sayd the Queene be not amazed but accomplish your duty herein nor thinke me displeased either with these newes from my deare husband or with you the messenger for I am fully resolued that my death more greeueth you then my selfe and as you haue been euer carefull in my cause so it is no little sorrow vnto your heart
I know in that my blood thorow your handes must be imbrued but this is the day which long I haue looked for the which being now come I greatly reioyce that my miseries must be finished and the time of my sorrowes expired But yet a further comfort relieueth my afflicted minde in that young Edmond my Sonne is transported into the handes of the Normaine Duke and my deare daughter Siluia brought vp in the King of Denmarkes Court a Prince of singular vertue and honourable fame their causes being thus solicited by straungers helped of vnknowne men the vigilant eye of fortune cannot chose but be euermore cast vpon them And now for you my Lord Marshall I can but giue thankes for all curtedes and assuered friendshippes approuedly shewed to me in these my heauy woes good my Lord to morrow in the morning when death hastneth vpon me by the execution of your office departing and shaking handes with this life let it not be tedious or ouersmartsome vnto me but rid me quickly from my miferies The Lord Marshall and the vertuous Lady his wife being as then present with the Queene bathing their cheekes with floodes of teares spake to her and sayd in these wordes If that power were in vs fayre Princesse your death should be deferred vntill the appoyntment of the mightie powers whose leasure your enemies should waight vpon but we fearing the vnhappy successe and heauy burthen thereof would lodge vppon our backes and incurre the Kinges tyranicall fury and wrath No no my deare honorable friendes replyed the Queene I do ioyfully prostrate my lyfe to death Why should I hope after lyfe sith my Lord and King desireth my dispatchance If any such accedent take place you my keepers shall taste the sower and feele the smart thereof If I escape some vniust lot will fall vpon you if my lyfe through your good meanes should be saued my enemies would flesh them selues vpon you in contempt Nay noble Queene sayd the Lord Marshall we are not affrayd to aduise our selues in defence of your vertues but shall in time to come rid and dispatch these bloody varlets from the boosome of this land which now is made vnhappy by their cursed flatterie All which could nothing chaung her vertuous intent but was readely prepared in minde to scale the immortall throwne of heauen Her wroungfull imprisonment the false accusations layde agaynst her the vnchast lyfe of the King hir husband the infinite cares which she was wel acquainted with al which gaue full instruction and perswaded her soule to prepare for a heauenly pilgrimage Oh sayd the sorrowfull Queene this lyfe is a wildernes of woe I do abandon my whole reputation honours children friends and worldly estimation as fading shaddowes Oh sayd she my enemies hath charged me with adultry but the Gods know me a blameles innocent as yet neuer staynd with the purple spot of infamie The high Marshall and his wife passing all the whole night in these such like vertuous speaches addressing and framing her minde to the euerlasting voiage where she purposed to rest her vnspotted consience and to weare the celestial crowne of peace prepared for all such chast Ladies wrongfully accused But now speake we againe of the wicked Barron of Buckingham who early in the morning came with a mightie band of warlike Souldiers appoynted to execute the Kinges commaundement besetting the Lord Marshals house round about least the condemned Queene should be reschewed from death and being thus placed in the streets the Earle of London being the Queenes owne brother accompanied with sertayne other Gentlemen of worth all which attired in Friers garmentes craued lisence of the common Souldiers to goe and talke with the Queene touching the estate of her conscience belonging to their function and calling that through their good Counsell she might at the houre of death be well aduised lest either vanquished with impenitencie or throwne downe into desperation another lyfe should be tedious and full of torments These good causes earnestly considered by the Barron and his Souldiers obtayned them a free recourse to the condemned Queene whom they presently chaunged from Princely orniaments into a Friars weede and so concucted her through the whole garrison of Souldiers without examination or suspition and being in this secret and disguysed maner transported to the end of the towne the Earle of London had there prepared a Wagon which speedely caryed her onely in his company far from the daunger of their enemies This renowned possecie do I repute for a vertuous deede in deliuering the guiltlesse Queene from the handes of such tyrants an action worthy to be registred in the golden booke of fame to shine as a mirrour to all ensuing ages Shortly after the Queenes departure thus succoured by her beloued brother the wicked Barron called at the Marshals gate commaunding him to bring foorth his Prisoner shewing him selfe as though he were greatly displeased and stirred vp with impassible choller chasing and fuming as though he would teare her in peeces him selfe saying What doe you daslie with the Kinges commaundement Or doth it grieue her to leaue this transitorie world Is this the patient Queene which with her faigned holynesse hath so craftely crept into the fauour of the common people Bid her not feare to hoyst vp sayle towardes heauen hauing a merrie winde bid her beholde how Angels and celestiall troupes stande here attending safely to conduct her to the Gods them selues These spightfull tauntes giuen against the Queene bred such a furie in the Lord Marshals wife that she could not withhold her anger any longer but desperatly stept foorth and reuiled the Barron in this maner saying Oh thou incarnate Diuell quoth she art not thou content to wreake thy villanous minde by wrongfull accusation against the good Queene but thus rediculously to abuse her miseries She vttered a thousand such dispightful words inforced with deadly furie and fierie choller after the simple sexe of woman kinde as if it had consisted in her power to haue punished the Barron she yeelded so much to wrathful desires that no law could haue tamed her tongue nor restrayned the rage of her irefull indiscretion Goe seeke the gilelesse Queene sayth she it is vnknowne to my Lord and husband where and to what place she hath attayned I verely suppose that she is gon downe into the bottomlesse pit of hell to seeke such a wicked varlet as thou art for in heauen I know she can not finde thee foorth Well sayth the Barron bring her foorth according to the sentence of iudgement or els the smart will fall vpon your shoulders as well for violating the lawes of our land as contenming the Kings will and pleasure Vpon these wordes certaine of his most trustiest Souldiers violently rushed into the Lord Marshals house and with diligent view left no corner vnsearched and at last perceiuing it a manifest trueth that the Queene was secretly conueyed away they brought present word backe to the Barron who in
a summers morning to refresh his dulled wits roade forth into a faire greene Forrest forsaking his company and traine and prauncing his courser somewhat aside by chance he met with a poore country pesant being a she apheard by profession whom he saluted on this manner Good morrow fellow saide the King whether art thou trauelling Good sir answered the shepheard I am trauelling to London about necessary businesse But tell me quoth King Edward doest thou know the King of this land No by my troth said he I knowe him not neither do I care if I neuer do except his maners were better and his wits more surer What saide the King doth his manners indammage or hurt thee No said the shepheard but he hurts both himselfe his subiects and his whole country The King being in wardly chafed hereat could hardly gouerne nature or tie vp affection to heare the poore countrey fellow reckon vp his abhominable life but yet dissembling a little longer he asked him what reportes the countrey did giue out of Lady Casiope Marry saide the shepheard some say that she is a lewde Curtezan and one that hath almost vndon this noble fruitful dominion which for many hundred yeeres hath beene vertuously guided now ouerthrowne by Casiope whose wicked counsell first procured the banishment of Queene Katherine and hir children and now hath vsurped the crowne and scepter to Valentinus hir bastard sonne besides which the King is vsed as a fiddle to plaie vpon for the Barron of Buckingham day and night gathereth the choisest flowers out of his Mafesties garden the which is no small griefe to his subiects hearts More would the shephearde haue spoken had not King Edward interrupt him in this manner Good fellowe quoth he knowe that I my selfe am the king charging and commaunding thee vpon paine of death to giue attendance at the court there to auow and vtter at large the same words to Casiope which thou hast here already discouered to me I wil be thy safeguard from al barmes and wil richly reward thy paines therein taken Thus in a discontented humour departed the King after his company and being returned backe to the court there he found the Shepheard according to his commandement giuen who seemed to play his part before king Edward in the presence of Casiope counterfeiting the gesture of an Iddiot pleasantly conceited himselfe to expell fantasticall imaginations from the kings braines My Lord saith the Shepheard you haue a faire pond replenished with daintie fish preserued for your own taste but yet deceitfully robbed by night by one which slattereth you by day Your white Swan swimming in a most pleasant Riuer preserued by you but is pluckt by others Your delicate Plumb-tree daintily kept for your owne tooth hath hir boughs broken by a priuy practiser but such is your liberal and franke hart I know that if within your garden a sweet posie be gathered and sufficient smels left behind to refresh your sences it wil be no griefe at al for things vnseene of the eie is not rewed of the heart This biting talke of the Shepheard so opened the kings blind sences that he began to haue cleare knowledge of Casiope and the Barrons violent villanies whereby he fel into witles fury watching the gates while the City is on fire and thought to subdue Casiopes inclination when he himselfe was slaine before so great was his griefe that he began to curse and sweare wishing himselfe dead and reputed himselfe aboue all others the most accursed in giuing credite to false Curtezans and dissembling Paracites Well saieth Casiope if my sight and company haue glutted and pampered your affections I pray you make speedy deuoydance of me I wil not impaire your honour I was neuer accounted a lewde liuer before I met with a violent leacher and if you so gladly desire to forsake my societie I must brooke and digest your hard nature in the same as well as I may These furious stormes ouerpassed the Barron the next night following inticed the Sheapheard to a secret corner of the kings pallace where he thrust a sharpe sword through his hart and buried the pesants carcasse within a stinking dunghill the report whereof pierced the kings eares with extreame griefe but seeing helpe preuaâ—â—ed not as a man plagued in his head diseased in his browes he vpbraided Casiope of falshood and ingratitude in this manner If that wise and learned councell in times past coulde haue reformed my wilfull follies I had not nowe bin ouerturned If I had been guided by the example of the gentle Reed bending with euery wind hither and thither I had now like the proude stately Dake ouer high in mine owne conceite beene cast vp by the rootes The same shamefull scorne now happeneth to me as to the simple Goate who meeting with the crafty Foxe drinking both togither in a deepe ditch where the Foxe by faire wordes procured the Goate with his hornes to lift him vp to the high bankes the simple Goate beleâ—uing ouermuch to the Foxes faire words performed his request and left himselle still in the ditch not knowing how to escape wishing that he had better considered before hand what would follow after so surely if gouernement in the beginning had foreseene the ende I had not now beene subiect to your wicked false and disguised dissimulations Haue I hatred in place of friendship hath familiarity brought contempt and hath beneuolence nursed ingratitude I haue neglected all mens counsels to preferre and aduance your reputations I haue banished wife and children forsaken friendes and subiectes stripped my selfe from all honors and resigned my crowne scepter into your handes onely to satisfie your willes and pleasures in all points yet for all this brute beasts and foules of the ayre in all thankfulnesse and humanitie excell your sauadge natures In this maner King Edward sought to reobtaine the wonted fauour good lyking of Casiope and the Barron who keeping still silence in a great snuffe departed the Kinges Pallace to an other house which they inioyed in the right of Vallentinus the Bastard and being there setled the Barron writ this Letter backe to the King as followeth The Barron of Buckingams Letter sent to King Edward YOVR euill desertes and franticke fashions hath so highly offended your dearest friendes that they haue refused at any time hereafter to hazard credite life and goodes in your behalfe And since you haue forgot the right rule of honest life abandoning the spetiall care of the Common-wealth which inconueniences grow through your negligent slouthfulnesse our purpose is therefore to haue it reformed And now since fortune hath appoynted me an honorable Magistrate in the right of virtuous Vallentinus I am readely bent to abridge and cut off your licentious minde and carelesse lyuing For as you haue dispossessed your selfe from princely gouernement of the Realme so we must constraine you either to liue as a priuate person or els by banishment inforce you to forsake the land whereby
in comely apparell iewels money and other prouision to his daughter Siluia brought vp as then in the Denmarke Court vpon whose arriuall there newes was sent vnto the King that a stranger being an English-man by birth was desirous to speake with his Maiestie who being full of friendly entertainement receiued him in a most royall maner and being come before his presence King Edward spake as followeth The tempestâ—s of aduersitie right excellent King hath brought me vnto your presence not in any euill pretence against your countrey but as one trayterously deceiued by ambitious Subiectes For know most noble Prince that I am the vnhappie King of England banished from my countreys and dominions and bereft from Princely tytles honour and renowne And now sith my deare Daughter and childe faire Siluia here at your cost charge is brought vp nature and affection haue drawne me hither to see her This being sayd the Denmarke King with right good grace reioyced and both courteously receiued and reuerenced him profering him friendshyp power and assistance as well to maintaine his present estate as to restore him againe vnto his Kingdome Faire Siluia with great obedience presented her selfe before King Edward her father who greatly commended her beautie and diuine gyftes of nature condemning his owne hard hart in banyshing her so vnnaturally from her natiue Countrey for I wish sayd he my graue had swallowed me aliue when first my malitious minde committed her to banishment Therefore in requitall of that iniurie faire Siluia yf euer I recouer agayne my right refuse not to be crowned the royall Queene of England These and many more lyke speaches past berwixt King Edward and his daughter duering the tyme of his aboade in the Denmarke Court the which King gaue him such honorable mayntenance as belonged to his princely estate the rather because he esteemed faire Siluia a meete wife for his sonne and heire young Essricke both being of an equall age and nursed vp together Thus the Denmarke King reuiued with a gladsome hope of climbing the highest top of these famous dignities did make no spare of cost for the accomplishing of his haughtie expectation Also King Edward made a determined purpose with more deliberation riper iudgement to reobtaine his dominion and gouernment CHAP. 9. ¶ How Vallentinus the bastard was crowned King and how he through the perswasions of Perce of Winchester caused his owne Mother with her paramour the wicked Barron to be most strangely put to death NOW must we speake againe of the troubles that happened in England after the Kinges banishment where the wicked Barron and his minion Casiope many a day practised their wits not onely for euer to bar king Edward from his kingdome but vsed diligent watch and examined the bottome of euery attempt that might practise his returne but at last they concluded vpon the coronation of young Vallentinus and resigned the Crowne and Scepter into his handes which before time they had reserued to his vse for declaration of true obedience Many of the best Subiectes did sweare disloyaltie to King Edward and subiection to the Bastard who had no sooner falsely vsurpt the Crowne but by vnkind behauiour he altered the minds of the welthiest Subiectes who in securitie of their lyues forsooke their natiue Countries whereby the Realme was left vnpeopled without tillage destitute of bread bereft of money treasures and trafficke of marchandize from other dominions for their necessary trades decayed and all things grew out of frame and good order But now Vallentinus the Bastard beginning to grow proud ryetous and wanton disdayned the wonted checkes of the Barron and his Mother who many times sought to controwle his wretchles lyfe through which a great misâ—iking and dissention grew amongst them and to make enuie the more riper there was one Sir Perce of Winchester a notable cunning youth brought vp with Vallentinus and wholly of his counsell who knowing him to be no lawfull Prince but a vsurper also viewing the wofull calamitie and ruine the Countrey was brought into stirred sinders more hotter amongst them for he so flattered the young King feeding his humors and aduised him to reiect the Barron and Casiope his Mother to make denyall of their checkes contemne their controulments and to beare sway of his owne absolute authority Thus being incensed by Sir Perce he began to rouse vp his peacocks fethers and to beare a malitious hatred against the Barron and his mother his best friendes and chiefe aduauncers Sir Perce nothing fayling in all maner of deceites playde likewise on the other side and vnder the colour of loue that he bore to the young Prince he wished and exhorted them sharpely to reproue the vnbridled lyfe of Vallentinus Thus ambodexter like this young flatterer Sir Perce of Winchester vnder a cloake of true loue still feeding the stubborne and vnciuill natures of both parties planted vp most waightie cannons and battered the strongest walles of the Kingdome Casiope and the Barron thinking themselues without hope of reclayming Vallentinus secretly departed his Court and raysed vp an armie of well approued Souldiers and attempted as well to ransacke his Pallace as the apprehention of his person Vallentinus through the cunning of Sir Perce was admonished of this deuice and practise and mustred into his seruice the most couragious and valient Captaines and best approued Souldiers that could be found But now the Barron with his Armie seeking to preuent them fought such an vnlucky Battayle that two thousand of his brauest followers came to foyle and slaughter and him selfe and Casiope taken prisoners who by the furious crueltie of the young Prince was clapt vp in prison to abide a hard and mercilesse captiuitie Hauing thus taken an occasion of the time and fortune he consulted with Sir Perce what was best to be done in such a businesse who hauing a wylie wit and a craftie capasetie whispered priuely in the Princes eares and aduised him to iudge them to a speedy execution for doubt you not quoth he but there is iust causes to be layd agaynst them as chiefly your mothers filthy adulterous lyfe with that bace and wicked Barron whose trayterous minde hath not onely mooued this rebellion but hath been the cause of your deare fathers banishment And beeing now in safe custodie let no good fortune be neglected till you haue expressed the duetie of a louing childe by their dispatchance out of this transitorie worlde Vallentinus now wholly fastning his minde more vppon prodigalitie ambition and vaine glory then publike profite to his Crowne and Countrey and was ignorant what danger would ensue in cutting off the Barron and his Mother beeing his best friendes and surest proppes in all extremeties therefore without any further consideration he erected furnished and sumptuously builded a strong Tower very splendant and admirable to behold of wonderfull largenesse deapth and hight He also caused a Gibbet to be festened vpon the toppe thereof the which being no sooner finished by the handy worke
rule and gouernement the which if it bee vnfortunately brought to passe what other hopes may you then expect but to bee ransacked and dispoyled of all your possessions and wealth your young men put to violent sworde your wiues rauished and your daughters euerie one defloured surely then let troth bee in your hearts stirre vp your valours manifest your noble minds and stretch forth the power and strength of men whereby that they which seeke to winne our ioyes may first bee drowned in a sea of sorrowes and those that will bee honoured with crownes must first in marshal fields obtaine a victorie therefore my louing souldiours if you stedfastly stand I wil sprinkle my heart bloud vpon our English ground before that cowardize shall inforce me to flie or loose one iotte or little portion of my kingdome Be not amazed my friends and country-men either let vs liue to maintaine our states together at liberty or else loose our liues with fame renowne Thus much I trust sufficeth to witnesse the vnfeigned affection the which I beare towards you from whose loue I wil neuer depart till death THis Knightly Oration so reioyced the soldiours harts that they almost willingly offered their liues a sacrifice in Prince Edmonds seruice and made choise rather to fight in defence of their Countrey then to be captiuated with tyrannicall slauery for whereas the English forces were before separated in their seuerall opinions so nowe were they with inseparable heartes knit fast together valiantly resolued to trie the last euent of this dangerous warre Thus whilst Prince Edmond incouraged his followers in this Knightly maner the Denmarke King with King Edward ariued on the coastes of Englande with a mightie band of armed souldiours intermingled with the ayde of many forraine Princes who marched succesfully to a conuenient place in Rent whereas they pitched their forces at the bottome of a high hill in which place the Danish King being a perfect good souldiour a man of a prudent iudgement practised many excellent pollicyes for in the night time he caused a thousand wild horses with hollow rattls of yron fastened to their neckes to be sent forth vpon the English tents without returne this in-rode being so confusedly entered he ordained also an hoast of foure thousand souldiours to pursue them with wilde fire burning brimstone in their handes In this maner entred they vpon the English souldiers as naked men and dispoiled the whole multitude of their liues in which conflict Prince Edmond was taken prisoner who had his head by his owne fathers commandement stroken from his shoulders and pitched vpon the top of a Pikes ende The battle thus ceasing newes by a publike reporte was spread throughout the land of Prince Edmonds death at which report the cities and principall houlds in the countrey were yeelded vp and the forraine souldiours being inforced to shift for themselues escaped away in the night after whose departure King Edward although in vtter hatred of the people yet once againe gloriouslie entered into his kingdome and became their gouernour where after he had setled himselfe and the Denmarke King taken leaue and departed backe into his Eountrey but King Edwarde reposses sing his former estate larde sharpe punishments harde lawes vppon the English-mens backes the which brought him againe into cankered contempt for the people being vnruly with vnbrideled will placed their former malice against him vpon which the King for his better fecuritie resigned his crowne and gouernement to his daughter Silina and vnto Lord Essricke hir husband and so betooke himselfe to priuate pleasure and rest Lorde Essricke and faire Silura with renowned honour thus tooke vpon them the gouernment of the land and because they were vnacquainted with the manners conditions of the people they retained Sir Perce of Winchester to be esperially of their councel and their only Secretarie who cunningly dehaued himselfe that he obtained the faudr and friendship of the common fort winding himselfe more and more into their priuities in such sort that he perswaded the people that Lord Essticke and Lady Siluia were vnnaturall Princes and vnfit to gouerne so souing a people Sir Perce of Winchester thus got into the loue of the common sort winked vppon all transgressions faâ—â—â—â—ed traytors theeues harlots and such dissolute persons and many times hauing a company of simple then in his presents he would speake to them in this maner saying Oh if I were your gouernour the awful sword of Iustice in my hands what liberty theÌ„ should ouershadow your attions for without controusment or punishment then should you freely liue and haue both honour wealth pleasure at your will This practise fecretly came to king Edwards eares who being well acquainted with the driftes of flatterers trembling at the memorie of his former miseries led Winchester by faire wordes vp to the top of a high Tower whereas ouerlooking the same King Edward with other confederates appoynted for that purpose cast him hedlong ouer the wall dashing his bones against the hard ground so brake his necke euen as he craftely crept into the fauour of the common sort so wretchedly with shame and dishonour ended he his life Now King Edward thinking the estate of his kingdome freed from all traitrous complotters gaue him selfe wholly to voluptuous desires and hauing vnchast lust harboring in his â—â—est against all nature he desired incestious concupisence with faire Siluia his owne daughter and being in a secret chamber ready to inforce her to that filthy fact she spake to him in this maner Deare Father remember the honour of your house my alcadance and duetie to my husband and the violating of my nuptiall chastetie all which if you commit your pretended sinne will bring a heauy iudgement and greeuous scourge from God to punish our wicked deed and euermore in this worlde we shal be made a disdaine and open contempt to be gaped at All which perswasions nothing preuayled for the King being drowned in forgetfulnesse of former miseries inforced vehemently the rauishment and deflowring of his daughter Siluiaes honorable chastety the which being no soner obtained and shamefully committed but by the iust iudgement of God he was sodainly stroken with death for in his daughters presence a fearefull flambe of burning fire descended from the celestiall throne of heauen and bereaued him both of speach and lyfe in a moment in the twinckling of an eye Which strange vengeance was no litle vexation to the sorrowfull hart of Lady Siluia yet remembring the duety of a daughter to her father she caused a costly Monument of pure wrought gold to be framed wherein with her husbands consent he was with great honour intombed as though he had left this transitorie world naturally without any such violent end After king Edwards death thus strangely happened Lord Essrick vpon his owne absolute authority bore sway among the people who was not able to gouerne the countrey except it were with mercilesse tyrannie for the