Willyam Herbert after Earle of Penbroke Sir Iohn Paulet Sir Hugh Paulet Sir Thomas Speake and others with a conuenient power of men of warre both on horsebacke and foote Straungers Amongst other there were certaine Straungers that came with my Lorde Grey as Captaine Germaine an Hennowyer with a band of horsemen most part Albanâ—…yses and Italians Also Captaine Paule Baptist Spinola an Italian borne of a noble house 〈◊〉 Genoa with a bande of Italian footemen But now the Lorde priuy seale that was ordeyned by the King and his Counsayle Generall of that armie 〈◊〉 vpon his first approching towardes them sent vnto them the Kings Maiesties Proclamation 〈◊〉 proclamatioÌ„ the effecte whereof was that all suche persons as were vnlawfullye assembled and did not wythin three dayes nexte after the proclaiming thereof yeelde and submitte themselues to the Lorde priuy Seale the Kings Lieutenaunt they shoulde from thenceforth bee deemed accepted and taken for Rebels against his royall person and his imperiall crowne and dignitie And further the Kings Maiestie for a more terrour to the Rebelles and the encouragement of such other his louing subiectes as shoulde helpe and ayde to apprehende anye of the sayde Rebelles hee by his sayde Proclamation graunted and gaue all the offices fees goodes and possessions which the sayde Rebelles had at and before their apprehension This Proclamation notwithstanding the Rebels continueth in their wicked deuises and traiterous purposes wherevpon yet once againe the Kings maiestie for the auoyding of the shedding of Christian bloude sent vnto them a most gentle and louing message in writing thereby to reduce them againe to their dutifull obedience but all woulde not serue nor auaile to moâ—…e their obstinate mindes to leaue off their desperate and diuelish enterprise The message was as followeth Although knowledge hath bene gyuen to vs and our dearest vnkle the Duke of Somerset Gouernour of our person The Kings message to the rebelles of Cornewal and Deuonshire and Protectour of all our Realmes Dominions and subiects and to the rest of our priuie Counsayle of diuerse assemblies made by you whiche ought of dutie to be our louing subiectes against all order of lawe and otherwise than euer anye louing or kinde subiectes hath attempted against their naturall and liege Souereygne Lorde yet we haue thought it meete at this verye firste time not to condemne and reiecte you as wee might iustly doe but to vse you as our subiects thinking that the diuell hath not that power in you to make you of naturall borne Englishmen so sodenly to become enimies to your owne natiue Countrey of our subiects to make you traytors or vnder pretence to relieue your selues to destroye youre selues youre wiues children landes possessions and all other commodities of this your life This we say that we trust that although ye be ignorantly seduced ye will not be vppon knowledge obstinate And though some amongst you as euer there is some Cockle amongst good corne forget God neglect their Prince esteeme not the state of the Realme but as carelesse desperate men delite in sedicion tumult and warres yet neuerthelesse the greater part of you will heare the voyce of vs your naturall Prince and will by wisedome and counsell bee warned and cease your euilles in the beginning whose endes will be euen by God almighties order your owne destruction Wherefore as to you our subiectes by ignoraunce seduced we speake and be content to vse our Princely authoritie like a father to his Children to admonishe you of your faultes not to punishe them to putte you in remembraunce of your dueties not to auenge your forgetfulnesse First your disorder to ryse in multitudes Disorder in subiects to assemble yourselues against one other louing subiectes to arraye your selues to the warre who amongst you all can aunswere for the same to almightie God charging you to obeye vs in all things Or howe can anye Englyshe good hearte aunswere vs oure lawes and the rest of oure verye louyng and faythfull subiectes who in deede by their obedience make our honour estate and degree Yee vse oure name in youre writings Abusing of the Kings name and abuse the same against our selfe what iniurie herein doe you vs to call those which loue vs to your euill purposes by the authoritie of our name God hath made vs your King by his ordinance and prouidence by our bloude and inheritaunce by lawfull succession and our Coronation but not to this ende as you vse our name Wee are your moste naturall Souereine Lorde and King Edwarde the sixth to rule you to preserue you to saue you from all your outwarde enimies to see oure lawes well ministred euerye manne to haue his owne to suppresse disordered people to correct traitours theeues pyrates robbers and such lyke yea to keepe our Realmes from other Princes from the malice of the Scottes of Frenchmenne of the Bishoppe of Rome Thus good subiectes our name is written thus it is honoured and obeyed this maiestie it hathe by Gods ordinaunce not by mannes So that of this your offence we cannot wryte to muche And yet doubt not but this is ynoughe from a Prince to all reasonable people from a royall King to all kynde hearted and louyng subiectes from the puissant King of Englande to euery naturall Englishe man False causes Your pretence whiche you saye moueth you to doe thus and wherewith you seeke to excuse this disorder we assure you is either false or so vayne that we doubt not that after that ye shall hereby vnderstande the truth thereof ye will all with one voyce acknowledge your selues ignorantly ledde and by errour seduced And if there be any one that will not then assure you the same bee ranke traytours enimies of oure Crowne sedicious people hererikes Papistes or such as care not what cause they haue to prouoke an insurrection so they maye doe it nor in deede can waxe so riche with their owne labours and with peace as they can doe with spoyles with warres with robberies and suche lyke yea with the spoyle of your owne goodes with the liuing of your labours the sweare of your bodies the foode of youre owne housholdes wyues and Children Suche they bee as for a tyme vse pleasaunt persuasions to you and in the ende will cutte your throates for youre owne goodes You be borne in hande that youre children though necessitie chaunce shall not be christened but vpon the holy dayes howe false this is learne you of vs. Our booke whiche we haue set forth by the free consent of our whole Parliament in the Englishe tongue teacheth you the contrarie euen in the first leafe yea the first side of the first leafe of that parte whiche intreateth of Baptisme Good subiectes for to other we speake not looke and be not deceyued They whiche haue put this false opinion into your cares they meane not the christening of Children but the destruction of you our christened subiectes Be this knowne vnto you that
miserye of warre as to sleye hymselfe is more haynous than to bee slayne of another O noble peace what wealth bryngest thou in howe dothe al thynges florishe in fielde and in towne what forwardenesse of religion what encrease of lerning what grauitie in counsaile what deuise of witte what order of manners what obedience of Lawes what reuerence of states what safegard of houses what quietnesse of life what honor of Countries what frendship of mindes what honestie of pleasure haste thou alwaies mainteined whose happinesse we knewe not while nowe we feele the lacke and shall leaned by miserye to vnderstande plentie and so to auoyde mischiefe by the hurte that it bringeth and learne to serue better where rebellion is once knowne and so to liue truely keepe the Kings peace What good state were ye in afore ye began not pricked with pouertie but stirred wyth myschyefe to seeke youre destruction hauing wayes to redresse al that was amisse Magistrates most ready to tender al iustice pittiful in hearing y e poore mens causes which sought to amende matters more thaÌ„ you can deuise and were ready to redresse them better than ye could imagine and yet for a headinesse you coulde not be contented but in despite of God who commaundeth obedience and in contempt of the king whose laws seeketh your wealthe and to ouerthrow the Countrie whiche naturally we shuld loue ye woulde proudly rise and doe yee wot not what and amende thinges by rebellion to youre vtter vndooing What state leaue ye vs in now besieged with ennemyes deuyded at home made poore wyth spoile and losse of our Haruest vnordered and caste downe with slaughter and hatred hindered from amendements by our owne diuelishe haste endaungered wyth sicknesses by reason of misorder laide open to mens pleasures for breaking of the laws any feebled to such faintnesse that scarsely it wil be recouered Wherefore for gods sake haue pitie on your selues consider how miserable ye haue spoiled destroied and wasted vs all and if for desperatnesse ye care not for your selues yet remenishes your wiues your children your Countrie and forsake this rebellion with humble submission acknowledge your faultes taâ—…ry not the extremitie of the Kings sword leaue of with repentance and turne to your dueties aske God forgiuenesse submit ye to your King be contented for a common welth one or two to die and ye capitaines for the residue â–ª sacrifice youre selues ye shall so best attaine the Kings gratious pardon saue the assemble and helpe the coÌ„mon welth and declare youre dooings to proceede of no stubburnesse but all this mischiefe to grow out of ignoraunce which seeing the miserie would redresse the faulte and so recouer best the blot of your disorder and stay the great miseries which he like to follow Thus if ye doe not thinke truely with your selues that God is angry with you for youre rebellion the kings sworde drawne to defende his countreye the crye of the poore to God against ye the readinesse of the honest in armor to vanquish ye your death to be at hand which ye can not escape hauing God against ye as he promiseth in word the kings power to ouerthrow ye gathered in the field the coÌ„mon welth to beate ye down with stripes with cursses y e shame of your mischief to blemish ye for euer Thus far Sir Iohn Cheeke During the tyme of these commotions and sturres here within the realme to the great danger of the estate the french king hauing knowledge thereof ment not to omitte the oportunitie offred to recouer out of the Englishmens handes those Fortresses whiche they helde at Boullongn and in Boullongnoys Whervpon he gaue sommonance to the gentlemen men of armes and others of his realme to put them selues in order with al their furniture that they might bee ready to attende him in his armie in Boullongnoys by a day appointed And about the same time to wit in the beginning of August the French king purposing to surprise the Isles of Gernsey and Iersey apoynted certain Galleys and shippes of warre to passe thither but being receyued by the king of Englandes Nauie that laye there M. Foxe and other of the Iland they were beaten backe and repulsed with the losse of a thousand men as some write and so were constrained to retire without atchieuing their enterprise Credible worde was brought out of FraÌ„ce to the L. Protector that into one towne in one vessell were brought at the least iij. score gentlemen to bee buryed and also an inhibition giuen out by the Frenche king not to speake of the euill successe of that iourney In the meane tyme the French king being come downe to Abuile departed from thence the .xvj. of August and comming vnto Rue lodged there that night and the next day came to Monstreul where he found the Connestable and Monsteur Daumalle The nexte daye beyng the eightenth of August he came to his army lodged foure leagues on this syde Monstreull at a Village called Neuf castell neere to the Forest of Ardelo vppon the way that leadeth to Boullougne The same daye were certaine Pioners sent to Pont de Brieque to repaire the Bridge there and to make the wayes easy for the artillerie to passe The nexte daye the saide Kyng with his armye passed by Boullongne berg and camped that night on a little hill betwixte that forrest and the forrest of Surene In this place he caused trenches to be cast about a plot of ground after the maner of a fortresse within the whiche he left certain bandes of men of warre to bee a safegarde to suche as shuld passe to and fro with victuals to furnish his campe He stayed not there past a day and a halfe but remoued vnto Ardenton a myle or little more beyonde Marguisen From thence he came with his armie and lodged on a hill somewhat more than a myle and a halfe from Hambletenne The French K. hauing viewed the Fortes caused .xxv. peeces of artillerie to be planted against that forte whiche was buylte in a place called the Almayne Campe but the Frenchmen named it le Fort de Selaque distant from Hambletenne about a quarter of a myle The artillerie hadde not gone off little more than the space of two hours but y e Charles Sturton capitain of that peece and George Willoughby a gentleman associate with him came forth to parley with the Connestable offering to yelde the fort into his handes Les Chroniques de Aquitaine The sort called the Almayne campe vvoâ—â— vppon condition they myght departe with bagge and baggage But as they were thus in hande to make their composition the Frenchemen thrust foreward to the rampires and entred in plumpes into the fortresse slewe .lxxx. persons and tooke the reste prisoners There mighte bee in al within that peece CCxxx persons men and women This hapned the .xxiiij. of August being Bartholmewe daye This done the King caused part of the artillerie to be planted against the castel of
lust without respect of Sexe age consanguinitie or kinde as braunches from an odious abhominable roote or streames deriued from most filthye and stinking puddles Howbeit and notwithstanding all these his manifolde lewdnesses such was the folly of his Egiptians where he first reigned and taught that whilest he lyned they alone had him in great estimation whereas other Nations contemned and abhorred him for his wickednesse Chemesenua Chemmyn ChaÌ„ made a god calling hym Chemesenua that is the impudent infamous and wicked Cham and not onely builded a Citie vnto him which they called Chem Min but also after his deth reputed him for a god calling the highest of the seuen Planets after his name as they dyd the next beneath it after Osyris hys sonne whome they likewise honored vnder the name of Iupiter Certes it was a custome in Egypt of olde time TranslatioÌ„ of mortall men men into heaueÌ„ how it began generally in vse wheÌ„ any of their famous worthy Princes dyed to ascrybe some forme or other of the starres vnto his persoÌ„ to thend his name might neuer weare out of memory And this they called their translation in heauen so that he which had any starres or forme of starres dedicated vnto him was properlye sayde to haue place amonge the goddes A toye much lyke to the Catalogue of Romishe saintes although the one was written in the celestiall orbes the other in sheepe skinnes and verye brickle paper but yet so esteemed that euery Prince woulde oft hazard attempt the vttermost aduentures thereby to winne such fame in his life that after his death he myght by merit haue such place in heauen among the shining starres Thus wée sée how Idolatry and honoring of the starres was bredde and hatched at the first which in processe of tyme came also into Britaine as dyd the names of Saturne Iupiter c. as shall appeare hereafter And here sith I haue already somewhat digressed from my matter I will go a little furder shewe forth the originall vse of the worde Saturne Iupiter Hercules c. whereby your Honor shall sée yet more into the errours of the Gentiles and not onely that but one poynt also of the roote of all the confusion that is to be found among the auncient histories It was generallye vsed for a fewe yeres after the particion of the yearth Which were properly called Saturni Ioues Iunones and Hercules which was made by Noah in the 133. yere after floude that the beginners of such kingdomes as were then erected shoulde be called Saturni Hereby then it came to passe that Nimbrote was the Saturne of Babylon Cham of Aegypt and so forth other of other places Their eldest Sonnes also that succéeded them were called Ioues their nephewes or sonnes sonnes that reigned in y e thirde place Hercules by which meanes it followed that euery kingdome had a Saturne Iupiter Hercules of hir owne and not from anye other In lyke sort they had such another order among their daughters whom they marryed as yet commonlye vnto their brethren God himselfe permitting the same vnto them for a time as before the floude to the ende the earth might be thorowly replenished and the sooner furnished with inhabitantes in euery part therof Isis Io and Iuno all one The sister therefore wife of euery Saturne was called Rhea but of Iupiter Iuno Isis or Io. Beyonde these also there was no latter Harolde that woulde indeuour to deriue the petigrée of any Prince or Potentate but supposed his duety to be sufficiently perfourmed when he had brought it orderly vnto some Saturne or other whereat he might cease and shut vp all his traueile They had likewise this opinion grounded amongest them that Heauen an Earth were onelye parentes vnto Saturne and Rhea not knowing out of doubt what they themselues did meane sith these donominations Heauen Ogyges Caelum Ogyges Sol. Paterdeorum Tydea Vesta Terra Luna Aretia Deorum mater the Sunne Pater Deorum such like were onely ascribed vnto Noah as Terra the Yearth Vesta Aretia the Moone Mater deorum and other the lyke were vnto Tydea his wife so that hereby we sée how Saturne is reputed in euery Nation for theyr oldest god or first Prince Iupiter for the next and Hercules for the thirde therefore sith these names were dispersed in the beginning ouer all it is no marueyle that there is such confusion in auncient histories and the dooings of one of them so mixed with another that it is now impossible to distinguish them in sunder Thys haue I spoken to the ende that all men maye sée what gods the Paganes honored and thereby what religion the posterity of Cham did bring euer into Britaine For vntill their coÌ„ming it is not likely that any grosse Idolatry or supersticion did enter in among vs as deifying of mortall men honoring of the Starres and erectioÌ„ of huge Images beside sorcery witchcraft and such lyke whereof the Chemminites are worthilye called the Autors Neyther were these errors any thing amended by the coÌ„ming in of Brute Fâ—… whâ—… Brâ—… learâ—… religâ—… who no doubt added such deuises vnto y e same as he and his company had learned before in Grecia from whence also he brought Helenus the sonne of Priamus a man of excéeding age and made him his Priest and bishop thorowout the newe conquest that he had achieued in Britaine After Brute Idolatry and supersticioÌ„ still increased more more among vs insomuch that beside the Druiysh and Bardike ceremonies and those also that came in with Albion and Brute our countrymen eyther brought hither froÌ„ abroad or daily inuented at home new religion and rites whereby it came to passe that in the stead of the only immortal God of whome Samothes and his posteritie dyd preache in times past now they honoured the sayde Samothes himselfe vnder the name of Dis likewise Saturne Iupiter Mars Dis â—…mothâ—… made 〈◊〉 God Minerua Mercurie Apollo Diana and diuers other In lieu moreouer of shéepe and oxen they offred mankind also vnto some of them killing their offendours prysoners oft such straungers as came from farre vnto them by shutting vp great numbers of them togither in huge Images made of wicker or other matter and then setting all on fire togither they not onely consumed the miserable creatures to ashes but also reputed it to be the most acceptable sacrifice that coulde be made vnto their Idols Huge teÌ„ples in like sorte were builded vnto them so that in the time of Lucius when the light of saluatioÌ„ began strongly to shine in Britaine thorowe the preaching of the Gospell Ptol. lâ—… censis the christians discouered 25. Flamines or Idole churches beside thrée Arche Flamines whose Priests were then as our Archebishops are nowe in that they had superiour charge of all the rest who were reputed as inferiours and subiect to their iurisdiction in cases of religion and supersticious ceremonies Hitherto you haue
plotte of grounde most for his aduantage determining there to trie the vttermost hazarde of Mars his iudgemente The place whyche he thus chose was such as the entries the backwayes and the whole situation thereof made for the Britaynes aduauntage and cleane contrarye to the Romaynes enclosed amongst high hilles and if there were any easie passage to enter it vppon any syde the same was shutte vp with mightie huge stones in manner of a rampire and afore it there ranne a riuer without any certayne fourde to passe ouer it This place is supposed of some to lye in the confynes of Shropshire aloft vppon the toppe of an hygh hyll there enuironed with a triple rampire and ditch of great depth hauing three entries into it not directly one againste an other but aslope It is also saye they compassed aboute with two Riuers to witte on the lefte hand with the Riuer called Clun and on the ryght with an other Riuer called Teâ—…ide On three sydes there of the clime is very steepe and headlong and no way easie to come vnto it but onely one Caratacke hauyng thus fortified hymselfe within thys place and broughte his army into it hee to encourage hys people exhorted them to shewe theyr manhoode affirmyng that to bee the daye and that army to bee the same wherein shoulde appeare the beginnyng eyther of libertie then to bee recouered or else of perpetuall bondage for euer to be susteyned He rehearsed also specially by name those their elders whiche hadde resisted Iulius Cesar by whose high valiancie they lyued free from the bloudy thraldome and tributes of the Romayns and enioyed theyr Wiues and children safe and vndefiled And thus discoursing of many thyngs with them in such hope of assured victory that they began to reyse theyr cries eache one for himselfe declaring that he was bound by the dutie he ought to the Gods of his countrey not to shrinke for feare of any woundes or hurtes that might chaunce vnto them by the enimies weapon Thys cheerefulnesse of the Britaynes greatly astonied the Romayne Lieutenant The hideous course also of the Riuer before his face the fortificatioÌ„s and craggie height of the hilles all set full of enimies ready to beate him backe putte him in greate feare for nothing he sawe afore him but that whiche seemed dreadfull to those that should assayle But the Souldiers yet seemed to be very desirous of battayle requesting him to bring them to it protesting that nothyng was able to resist the force of noble prowes Herewith the Captaynes and Tribunes discoursing the like pricked forwarde the earnest willes whiche theyr Souldiers had to fighte Ostorius perceyuing suche courage and readie willes in the menne of warre as well Souldiers as Captaynes hee beganne to besturre himselfe and left nothing vndone that myghte serue to set forwarde theyr earnest desire to battell And hauing aduisedly considered whiche wayes were harde and impossible to bee entred vpon and whyche places were most easie for hys people to finde passage by he leadeth them foorth Cornelius Tacitus Annal. lib. 12. beeing most earnestly beaute to cope with theyr enymies The wife and daughter of Caratake were taken prisoners and his breethren also yeelded theÌ„selues He himselfe escaped and committing hys person vnto the assurance and trust of CartemaÌ„dua Queene of the Brigantes was by hir delyuered into the hands of the Romaynes This was a nine yeres after y e warres in Britayne firste began His name beeing broughte foorth of the Isles Cornelius Tac. lib. 12. Caratakes name renowmed was already spredde ouer the prouinces adioyning and began nowe to growe famous through Italy Men therefore were desirous to see what manner of man he was that had so many yeeres set at naught the puissante force of the Empire For in Rome the name of Caratacus was much spoken of And the Emperoure whilest hee goeth about to preferre his owne honor aduanceth the glory of him also that was vanquished For the people were called foorthe as vnto some great notable sight or spectable The Pretorian bandes stoode in order of battell armed in the field that lay before their lodgings through which fielde Caratake should come Then passed foorth the trayne of his friends and seruantes and suche armour riches Iewels and other thyngs as had bin gote in those warres were borne forwarde and openly shewed that all men myghte behold the same After these followed his breethren Wife and daughters and last of all came Caratacus himselfe whose countenaunce was nothing lyke to theirs that went afore him for whereas they fearing punishment for their Rebellion with wailefull countenance craued mercy hee neyther by countenaunce nor wordes shewed any token of a discouraged minde but beeyng presented before the Emperour Claudius sitting in his Tribunall seate he began his tale in this wise If there hadde bin in mee so muche moderation in tyme of prosperitie as there was nobilitie of birth and puissance I hadde come to this Citie rather as a friende than as a Captayne Neyther should I haue thought disdeyne beeyng borne of most noble parentes and ruling ouer many people to haue accepted peace by way of ioyning with you in league My presente state as it is to mee reprochfull so to you it is honorable I hadde at commaundemente Horses men armour and great riches what maruell is it if I was loth to forgoe the same For if you shall looke to gouerne all men it must needes followe that all menne must become your slaues If I hadde at the firste yeelded my selfe neyther my power nor youre glory hadde bin set foorth to the world and vpon myne execution I shoulde straight haue bin forgotten But if you nowe graunte me life I shall be a witnesse for euer of youre mercifull clemencie The Emperour with these words being pacified graunted life both to Caratake and also to his wife and brethren who being lofed from their bandes went also to the place where the Empres Agrippina sate not farre of in a Chayre of estate whome they reuerenced with the lyke prayse and thankes as they had done before to the Emperour After this the Senate was called togither who discoursed of many things touching thys honourable victorie atchieued by the taking of Caratake â—â—ix â—…aulus esteeming the same no lesse glorious than wheÌ„ P. Scipio shewed in triumph Siphax king of the Numidians or L. Paulus the Macedonian king Perces or other Romain captaynes any such king whom they had vanquished Herevpon it was euen determined that Ostorius shoulde enter the Citie of Rome wyth tryumphe lyke a Conquerour for suche prosperous successe as hytherto had followed hym but afterwardes hys proceedings were not so luckie eyther for that after Caratake was remoued out of the way the Romaines as though the warre had beene finished looked negligently to themselues eyther else for that the 〈◊〉 taking compassion of the miserable state of Caratake â–ª being so worthie a Prince through fortunes froward aspect cast into miserie 〈…〉 set to
the other ende is fastned to a great ancre whiche is let fall of purpose into the sea and thus is their enterprise attempted ere long to be atchieued For after this wounde it is not long ere the fishe awaketh who feeling hir selfe to be hurt leapeth at once into the sea thinking to hide and shrowde hir in the deepes but being stayed by the weight of the ancre and indeuouring in vayne to breake the cable she laboureth so vehemently that at the last she windeth hirselfe out of hir skinne for the which she is commonly taken and soone after also turneth vp hir belly yeelding hir life vnto the waues and hyr body to the Mariners who make an excellent oyle of hir greace and passing strōg cables of hir hide or skinne Certes such is the force of Rope made of the skinne of this fishe that they will holde at a plunge no lesse than the Spanishe Sparto Herein also they exceede y e same in that they will continue very long without fretting asunder An hundred miles beyond the Orchades are the Schetland Iles whose chiefe commodities stande onely by fish which is dried in the sunne There are brought also into Scotland out of these Ilandes great store of Sheepes felles oxe hides Goate skins cases of Martirnes dryed in the sunne And in the same maner the Marchaunts of Hollande Zeelande and Germany fetch them yearely by barter and exchaunge for other common and necessary wares with the people of that nation who for maners and conditions resemble much the Orchanois The same in like sorte that is sayde of the Orchanoys concerning drunkennesse and frenesy is verified on them as is also their length of lyfe although not in so rare maner Sith these in steede of strong Ale content themselues with water and very slender diet Beyōd the Sche◅landes there are diuers other Ilandes of lyke condition but without corne and all maner of fleshe to feede vpon These dry their fishe at the Sunne and when they are thorowe stiffe they grinde them to smal powder which they worke vp with water into loaues and so vse the same in lieu of other bread Theyr firing consisteth of the boanes of suche fishes as they take and yet they content themselues in suche maner with this their poore kinde of lyueloode that they shinke their estate most happy in respect of such as inhabite in the Maine Certes there is no quareelling amongst these for wealth or gaine but eche one prouideth suche store of fishe in Somer whiche he taketh himselfe as shall finde his family or keepe his house in winter They are voyde of all ambitious m◅de neuer troubled with ciuile or forren wardes as men that deeme firme peace and quitenesse with mutuall loue and amity to be the chiefe felicity to be sought for in this life and to remaine herein ech one to his power dothe shewe his whole indeuour This finally is to be added vnto their cōmendation that they are simple playne voyde of crafte and all maner of Serpentine suttlety whiche endeth commonly with mischiefe and reigneth in the Maine Once in the yeare there commeth a Priest vnto them from Orkenay of whiche Diocesse they are who ministreth vnto them the Sacrament of Baptisme and after a certayne tyme hauing taken vp in the meane time his Tithes in fishe whiche is their sole increase and very truly payde he returneth home againe the same way that he came If any giftes of nature are to be numbred as parcelles of worldly riches and renowne they are not without these also for the people of these Iles are lusty fayre strong of body and highe of stature so y e nature hath not fayled to indue them with these things and that in most excellent maner What should I say of their helth whiche is and may be preferred aboue all treasure as they well know that are oppressed with long and grieuous infirmities for here among these men you shall very seldome heare of sicknesse to attache any vntill extreame age come that killeth them altogither and this is that exceeding benefit naturally appropried vnto their rareases As for their quietnesse of minde it is alwayes suche as is constant vnchaungeable and therefore incomparable vnto any riches or huge masse of worldly treasure Herevnto furthermore if it be true riches as it is in deede for ech one not to couet other mēs gooddes but to content himself with that which is his owne and not to stande in neede of any thing can any men be founde in any other region more riche and fortunate than the Shetland men and these Ilanders Finally if those be the true honors and reuerent dueties whiche the obedient sonne with greate sincerity and voyde of all flattery doth shewe vnto his good parents and wherewithall the best sort do meruaylously reioyce and delite themselues that these are also not wanting in these regions can we iustly say that these mē do lacke any thing or shall we not rather affirme with great assurance that they rather stand in neede of nothing that any mortal man can iustly wish or desire◅ But if there be any man that will accuse me of vntruth in the recitall of these things as one that lieth lowde and by authoritie of a people dwelling far off for so much as I my selfe was neuer in those Ilandes he shal vnderstand that I learned all these things of the reuerent father Edward Bishop of the Orchades with whom one of these Ilanders dwelled who not onely made a like rehearsall of these things with his owne mouth but also verified the same in his owne person for his height farre passed the cōmon stature of men thereto he was excellently well featured in his limmes so white of skinne ouer all that he might contend in beauty with any lady of the lande finally so wight strōg of body that no man in all those quarters durst rūne or wrestle with him Hereby also we may see how far they are deceyued whiche iudge thē to be barbarous miserable creatures that inhabite far from the Tropike lines for there are no people more happy than those that dwell in these quarters as I haue proued already See Matthiolus vpon the first booke of Dioscorides capite de populo alba nigra Furthermore among the rockes cragges of these Iles groweth the delectable Amber called Electrum Chrysolectrū or as Dioscorides hath Pterygophoron indued with so vehemēt an attractiue force y t being chafed it draweth straw floxe and other like light matter vnto it This gumme is ingendred of the sea froth whiche is throwen vp by continuall repercussion of crags rockes against the sea walles through perpetual working of y e waues groweth in time to become tough as glew til it fall at y e last from y e rocke againe into the sea Suche as haue often viewed marked the generation of this gūme whilest it hāgeth on y e rocke affirme it to be like a froth
forces both of the Scots Pictes and Brytaynes that many a day after they were not able to recouer againe their former estates or dignities The yeare also that these three nations encouÌ„tred thus cruelly togither was after the byrth of our Sauiour 542. 542. 8. H.B. the .xxvj. of Arthurs raigne ouer the Brytaynes and the .xj. of Eugenius his gouernment ouer the Scottish men Straunge and ynketh wonders The same yeare before the battaile were sene many straunge sightes in Albion Grasse and hearbes in Yorkeshyre appeared to bee steyned with bloud Neare vnto Camelon a Cowe brought forth a Calfe with two heades Also an Ewe brought forth a lambe that was both male and female The sunne appeared aboute noone dayes al wholy of a bloudie colour The element appeared full of bright Starres to euery mans sight continually for the space of two dayes togither In Wales there was a battaile betwixt Crowes Pies on the one side and Rauens on the other with such a slaughter of them as before that time had not bene heard of Eugenius rewardeth his souldiers But to proceed Eugenius king of the Scots at his returne from the battail gaue to those that had escaped with life and abid by him in the chief daunger of the fight many bounteous and large rewardes The sonnes and nearest kinsfolke of such as were slaine he also aduaunced vnto sundrie preferments of landes and liuings that they enioying the same might bee a witnesse in tyme to come of the good seruice of their auncesters shewed in defence of their king and countrey and also of his princely liberalitie in rewarding the same vpon their issue and progenie By whiche noble beneuolence hee wanne him suche loue amongest his people Eugenius gouerneth his people with clemencie that afterwardes it seemed howe hee gouerned the estate of his kingdome more by clemencie than by any rigour of lawes The Brytaynes immediately vpon knowledge had that Arthur was slaine crowned Constantine his successor in the Brytishe kingdome Constantine crowned king of Brytayne and for that there should remaine none amongst them aliue to make any claime to the same kingdome other than he with his issue or such as he shoulde appoynt to succeede him they cruelly murthered Mordreds children The cruelty of the Brytains in murthering the innocent children of Mordred in moste pitifull wise running vnto their mothers lap desceâ—â—ding hir to saue their lyues according to hir motherly dutie They were brought vp in Gawolane their grandfathers house and being thus made away The linage of Mordred clearly extinct the family lynage of their father the foresayd Mordred was vtterly therby extinguished The Saxons at the same tyme hauing aduertisement what losse the Brytaynes had sustayned not onely by the death of their most valiant king and chieftaine Arthur but also for the slaughter of such a multitude of their nation as died in the battail The Saxons returne into England and driue the Brytaynes into Wales they prepare a mightie name of shippes and passe ouer with the same into England where being landed they easily beat downe the Brytaynes and driue them with theyr king Constantine into Wales so recouering all that part of the land which Hengist sometymes held after his name was afterwards called EnglaÌ„d Some haue written how that after king Constantine had raigned certaine yeares in Wales his wife and children died Constantine forsaketh his earthly kingdome in hope of the heaueÌ„ly kingdome wherevpon weâ—…ing weary of this world he forsooke his earthly kingdome in hope of that other aboue and secretly departed into Ireland where applying himself for a time in ministring to the poore at length beeing knowne by the perswasion of a Monk he became one of his cote and profession Constantine entreth into religion Afterwardes being sent by the Bishop of the Dioces ouer into Scotland to instruct the people of that countrey in the true faith and articles of the christian religion Constantine sent forth of Irelande into Scotlande is there murthered he there suffred martirdome by the hands of most wicked godlesse persons and was at leÌ„gth but many yeares after his death canonized a Saint and sundrie churches as are to be seene euen vnto this day built dedicated vnto him in Scotland by authoritie of the Bishops there The same time that the sayd CoÌ„stantine was dryuen into Wales Irmenrike or Iurmirike king of the Englishe men there raygned amongest the Englishe men one Iurmyrike the fifth as Bede hath from Hengist The same Iurmyryke thoughe hee were not Christened hymselfe Iurmirike concludeth a peace with the Scottish men and Pictes yet hee permytted the Christian fayth to bee preached amongest hys people and concluding a league with the Scottish men and Picts kept the same inuiolate during his life time most sincerely The Scottish king Eugenius also lyued in peace the residue of hys lyfe wythout any trouble eyther by forrayne enimies or intestine sedition Eugenius the Scottish King dyeth and at length dyed in the 38. yeare of hys raigne and after the byrth of our Sauiour .569 568. H.B. This Crosse was of siluer with a Crucifix thereon and letters grauen in a plate fastened to the staffe conteyning these two wordes Christianorum gloria Crosses set vppon the tops of steeples He commaunded also that the signe of the Crosse should be set vpon the toppes of Steeples and on the highest towers of the gates of Castels and townes Moreouer he forbad the Crosse to bee grauen or paynted vpon any pauement least any man should irreuerently treade vpon it Furthermore he had priestes and other religious men in such honor Conuals deuotion towardes Kirkmen as nothing could be more appointing them to haue the tenthes of all those fruites which the earth yeelded Sundrie ordinances hee made also for the grieuous punishment of all such as in any wyse misused a Priest or other religious person as he that gaue any of them a blowe should loose hys hande for it and he that slue one of them shoulde forfeyte his gooddes and be brent quiâ—…ke Againe he bestowed many riche iewels Conuals liberalitie towardâ—… Churches and gaue diuerse great giftes vnto Churches prouiding the ministers of sufficient liuings and appoynted that they shoulde haue theyr houses neare vnto theyr Churches to bee readie to execute that which apperteyned to theyr offices when anye neede requyred The king beeing thus vertuously disposed caused the whole number of his subiectes by his ensample to be the better affectioned towards the aduauncement of religion The report and fame wherof moued that holy man Saint Colme or Colombe Saint Colme commeth ouer forth of Ireland into Scotlande to come ouer forth of Irelande where hee had the gouernaunce of sundrie houses of Monks with twelue other vertuous persons into Albion and there gathering togither a great number of Monkes being here and there dispersed abrode in the Countrey â—…ee placed
Lorde Chauncellour ment with all this long circumstance some of them reporting that hee was preaching a Sermon others sayd that he stoode making of some Heroicall Poetrie in the prayse of the Lorde Thomas And thus as euery Idiot shot his foolishe bolt at the wise Counsalour his discourse who in effect did nought else but drop precious stones before Hogges one Bard de Nelan Bard de Nelan â–ª an Irishe rithmour and a rotten sheepe able to infect an whole flocke was chatting of Irish verses as though his tongue had runne on pattens in commendation of the Lorde Thomas inuesting him with the tytle of silken Thomas Silken Thomas bycause his horsemens iacks were gorgeously embrodered with silke and in the ende he tolde him that hee lingred there ouerlong Whereat the Lorde Thomas being quickned did cast hys eye towardes the Lorde Chauncellour and sayde My Lorde Chauncellour He replyeth I come not hither to take aduice what I shoulde doe but to giue you to vnderstande what I minde to doe It is easie for the sounde to counsaile the sicke But if the sore had smarted you as much as it festereth me you woulde bee percase as impacient as I am As you woulde wishe me to honour my Prince so duetie willeth mee to reuerence my father Wherefore he that will wyth such tyrannie execute mine innocent parent and withall threaten my destruction I may not nor will not hold him for my king Henrie Lorde of Irelande And yet in truth he was neuer our king but our lord as his progenitours haue beene before him But if it bee my hap to miscarie as you seeme to prognosticate catche that catche maye I will take the Market as it ryseth and will choose rather to die with valiantnesse and libertie than to liue vnder king Henrie in bondage and villanie And yet it may be that as strong as hee is and as weake as I am I shal be able like a flesh worme to itch the bodie of his Kingdome and force him to scratch deepely before he be able to pike me out of my sâ—…ame Wherefore my Lorde I thanke you for your good counsaile and were it not that I am too crabbed a note in descant to bee nowe tuned it might be that I woulde haue warbled sweeter harmonie than at this instaunt I mean to sing With these words he rendred vp the sword Thomas rendreth vp the sworde and flung away like a bedlem beeing garded wyth hys brutishe droue of brainesicke Rebelles The Counsaile sent secretely vpon his departure to maister Maior and his breethren to apprehende if they conueniently might Thomas Fitz Giralde and his confederates But the warning was so skarborrow the enimie so strong the Citie by reason of the plague that raunged in towne and in country so dispeopled as their attempt therein would seeme but vaine and friuolous Ouer this the weaker parte of the Rebelles would not penne vp themselues within the Citie walles but stood houering aloofe off towards Ostmantowne greene on the toppe of the hyll where the gallouse stoode a fitte center for suche a circle till tyme they were aduertised of theyr Captayne Thomas his returne This open RebellioÌ„ in this wise denounced parte of the Counsell Alen. Finglasse namely Alen Archbyshop of Dublin Finglasse chiefe Baron hyed wyth bagge and baggage to the Castell of Dublin whereof Ioan White was Constable Iohan White who after was dubbed Knight by the Kyng in England for hys worthy seruice done in that vprore Thomas and his crew supposing that in ouerrunning the whole land they should finde no blocke to stumble at sauing the Earle of Ossorie agreed to trie if by any allurements he could be trayned to their coÌ„federacy And for as much as the Lorde Iames Butler was linckt with Thomas Fitz Girald in great amitie and frieÌ„dshippe it was thought best to giue him the onsette who if he were wonne to sway with them they woulde not weigh two chippes the force of his father the Earle of Ossory Thomas forthwith sent his messengers and letters to his cousin the Lord Butler couenanting to deuide wyth hym halfe the Kingdome would be associate him in this enterprise whervpon the Lorde Butler returned Thomas hys brokers with this letter The Lorde Butler his letâ—â— to Thomas â—â— Girald TAking penne in hand to write you my resolute aunswere I muse in the very firste line by what name to call you my Lord or my Cousin seeing your notorious treason hath disteyned your honour and your desperate lewdenesse shamed youre kinred you are so liberall in parting stakes with mee that a man woulde weene you had no right to the game so importunat in crauing my company as if you would perswade me to hang with you for good fellowship Do you thinke that Iames was so madde as to gape for Gogions or so vngracious as to sell his trueth for a peece of Ireland Were it so as it cannot bee that the chickens you recken were both hatched and feathered yet bee thou sure I had rather in this quarrell dye thine enimie than liue thy partner for the kindnesse you proffer me and good loue in the ende of your letter the best way I can I purpose to requite that is in aduising you though you haue fetched your feaze yet to looke well ere you leape Ignorance and errour wyth a certayne opinion of duetie haue carried you vnawares to this follie not yet so ranke but it may be cured The King is a vessell of bounty and mercy youre wordes agaynste his Maiestie shall not be accompted malitious but rather belched out for heate and impotency except your selfe by heaping offences discouer a mischeuous and wilfull meaning Farewell Thomas Fitz Girald netled with this round aunswere was determined to inuade the CouÌ„trey of Kilkenny firste forcing an othe vpon the Gentlemen of the pale and suche as woulde not agree thereto he tooke prisoners Fingall whiche was not before acquainted with the recourse of the Irishe enimie Fingall spoyled was lefte open to bee preded and spoyled by the Tooles Iohan Burnell of Balgriffen who were therein assisted by Iohan Burnell of Balgriffen a Gentleman of a faire liuing settled in a good battle soile of Fingall taken for one not deuoyde of witte were it not that hee were ouertaken with this treason Patrike Fitz â—â—â—ons slaine In this conflicte Patricke Fitz Simons wyth dyuers other good housholders miscaried This victory bred so greate an insolencye in Thomas Fitz Giralde Messengers sente from Thomas to Dublin as hee sente his messengers to the Citie declaring that albeit they offered him that iniurie as that he could not haue free passage with hys companye too and fro in the pale and therefore would he vse the benefyte of his late skirmishe or bee aunswerable in iust reuenge to their due deserte he mought by lawe of armes put their Citie to fire and sword yet this notwithstanding if they would but permit his men
the Castell of Bomeline and razed it to the grounde and after got by force the castell of Dorle and from thence came to S. Selerine where the Lord Ambrose de Lore beeing Captayne issued oute and fought with the English men so egerly that hee droue them backe an arrowe shoote by fine force but the Earle so encouraged his men that they gaue a freshe onset vppon the French menne and followed it so fiercely that they slue a greate number of them and droue the residue into the towne Loueits besieged After this victorie he besieged Louiers wherof was Capitayne the Hyre and hys brother which rendred the towne without assault Then the Earle assembling togither a greate armie returned againe to Saint Selerine and enuyroned the towne with a strong siege When hee had lyen there almost three monethes euerye day attempting or doing somewhat hee finally gaue so fierce an assault that by force he entred the Towne and slue Iohn Allemaigne and Guilliam Saint Albine the chiefe Captaynes and eight hundred other men of warre The children of le Seigneur de Lore were taken prysoners The Earle put newe men of warre into the towne and made Captaine there Sir Iohn Cor◅wall After this hee came before the strong Towne of Sillye and there pytched hys Campe. The Inhabitauntes dismayed with the chaunce that had happened to them of Saint Selerine deliuered to hym pledges vppon thys condition that if they were not reskued wythin thirtie dayes next ensuing then they theyr lyues saued should render the towne into his possession which offer was receyued The French King being aduertised hereof by a post appoynted as some say Arthure Earle of Richmont or as other wryte Iohn Duke of Alanson with a great companie of men of warre to goe to the reskue of this towne but whether it was the Earle or the Duke certaine it is at hys approching to the siege he encamped himselfe by a brooke side ouer the whiche a man might haue stryden and perceyueng how strongly the Englishmen were encamped agaynst him he thought it not for his profit to gyue battayle and so in the night season caysed and went his way wythoute further attempt When they within the towne knew that their succours fayled they rendred themselues to the mercie of the Earle of Arundell who gently receyued them and leauing a garnison in the town departed to Mans and in his way tooke the Castelles of Mellay and S. Laurence About this time the Lorde Willoughbie and sir Thomas Kiriell returning with great victorie oute of Burgoigne passing by the towne of Louiers lately reduced to the English obeisance furnished it both with men and munition Amongst so many good chaunces some euill are accustomed to happen An in◅ in Normandy or else the gayners woulde not knowe themselues And so at thys tyme it happened that a great number of the common and rusticall people in Normandye dwelling by the Sea coast eyther prouoked by the Frenche King or desyrous of alteration and chaunge which thing the commons much couet and desire made an insurrection put on harneis and by force expulsed certaine Englishe garnisons oute of theyr holdes publyshing and proclayming openly that theyr onelye purpose and intent was to expell and banishe the whole Englishe Nation out of theyr Countreys and Coutes Wherefore it may euidently appeare that the blacke Morian will sooner chaunge hys colour than the vniuersall people bredde in France will heartily loue or inwardly fauour an English borne childe Herevpon this vngracious people forgetting theyr dutie and allegiance vnto theyr soueraigne Lorde and King frantikely assembled themselues togither and with all speede marched toward Caen to the intent there both to encrease theyr number and also to consult what way they shuld follow in their new begun enterprise But the Dukes of Yorke and Sommerset whiche then were lying in Normandie hauing perfect knowledge of all the doing of these rebel◅ immediately without delay sent forth the Earle of Arundell and the Lorde Willoughbye with sixe thousande Archers and .xiij. C. light horsemen to stay and keepe them from making anye further progresse The Earle of Arundell appoynted the Lorde Willoughbie with two thousande Archers and a certaine number of Horsemen to goe afore hym and to lie in a stale within some couert place This done the Earle followed and enclosing the ragged multitude at the backe droue them before him as they hadde beene Deare into a Buckestale and when the ignoraunt multitude approched nere to the place of the stale the Earle made a token and shotte a Gunne for a signe Therewyth the Lorde Wylloughbie sette on them before and the Earle behynde shooting so fiercely that the dastarde people wounded and galled with the shot of arrowes threwe away theyr harnesse desiring nothing but death The Earle of Arundell mooued with compassion caused his souldiers to staye from further slaughter apprehending those which he thought to be the leaders chiefe styrrers of the people let the other returne home without any further domage but yet ere the souldiers coulde bee brought backe vnder their standarts there were aboue a thousand of the rebels slaine After this commotion was thus appeased vpon inquirie had of the principall offenders such as were found guiltie were put to terrible executions as they had well deserued During which rebellion Peter Rokeforde and his companie gat by treason the Towne of Deepe and dyuerse other holdes thereto adioyning After the Earle of Arundell had obteyned so many conquestes and notable victories as partly ye haue hearde hee attempted another whiche was the last worke and finall labour of his lyuing dayes For the Duke of Bedford being infourmed that his aduersaryes hadde gotten the Towne of Rue and therein putte a garnison whiche sore vexed the Countreyes of Ponthieu Arthois and Bolennoys sent worde to the Erle that he without delay shuld besiege y e said towne The Erle obeying his commaundement assembled his people and came to Gourney where hee heard tell how there was a Castel neare to Beauays called Gerberoy the which being fallen in decay Charles the French King had appoynted sir Stephen de Veignoilles commonly called the Hyre to repayre and newly to fortifie bycause it stoode commodiously to serue as a countergarnison agaynst the English townes and fortresses on those frontiers The Erle aduertised hereof and perceyuing that this new building would be greatly preiudidiciall to the Englishe men determined first to dispossesse his enimies of that place supposing to finde small resistaunce but he was deceyued for there was the sayde Hyre and a three thousand men of warre with him The Erle cōming thither encamped himselfe with fiue C. horsemen in a little close not farre from the Castell The Frenchmen perceyuing that the Earle and his horses were wearie and that his archers were not yet come determined to set vpon him before the comming of his footemen the which they knewe to be little more than a mile behinde Wherefore for a policie they
faithfull Chaplayne and glad would haue bin that hys chylde hadde succeeded him Howbeit if the secrete iudgemente of God haue otherwise prouided I purpose not to spurre against a pricke nor labour to sette vp that God pulleth downe And as for the late Protector and now King And euen there he left saying that he had already meddled to muche with the worlde and woulde from that day meddle with his Booke and hys heades and no farther Then longed the Duke sore to heare what hee woulde haue sayd bycause he ended with the King and there so suddaynely stopped and exhorted hym so familiarly betweene them twayne to be bolde to say whatsoeuer he thought whereof he faithfully promised there shoulde neuer come hurte and peraduenture more good than hee woulde wene and that himselfe intended to vse his faithfull secrete aduise and counsell whiche hee sayde was the onely cause for which he procured of the King to haue him in his custody where hee might recken himselfe at home and else had hee bin putte in the handes of them with whome hee should not haue founden the like fauoure The Byshop right humbly thanked him and sayde in good faith my Lord I loue not to talke much of Princes as thing not all out of perill though the word be without fault for asmuch as it shall not bee taken as the partie meante it but as it pleaseth the Prince to construe it And euer I thinke on Esops tale that when the Lion hadde proclaymed that on payne of death there should none horned beast abyde in that wood one that had in his forhead a bunche of fleshe fled awaye a great pace The Foxe that saw hym runne so fast asked hym whyther he made all that haste And he answered In fayth I neyther wote nor recke so I were once hence bicause of this proclamation made of horned beastes What foole quoth the Foxe thou mayst abyde well ynough the Lion meant not by thee for it is none horne that is in thine head No mary quoth hee that wote I well ynough But what and hee call it an horne where am I then The Duke laughed merily at the tale and sayd My Lorde I warrant you neyther the Lion nor the Bore shall pyke any matter at any thing heere spoken for it shall neuer come neere their eare In good faith Sir sayde the Byshop if it did the thing that I was about to say taken as well as afore God I meant it could deserue but thanke And yet taken as I wene it woulde mighte happen to turne mee to little good and you to lesser Then longed the Duke yet much more to witte what it was wherevppon the Byshoppe saide in good fayth my Lorde as for the late Protector sith he is nowe King in possession I purpose not to dispute his title but for the weale of this Realm whereof hys grace hath nowe the gouernaunce and whereof I am my selfe one poore member I was about to wishe that to those good habilities whereof he hath already right many little needing my prayse it mighte yet haue pleased God for the better store to haue giuen hym some of suche other excellente vertues meete for the rule of a Realme as our Lord hathe planted in the person of youre grace and there lefte agayne The Duke somewhat maruelling at his suddayne pauses Here endeth Sir Thomas More and this that followeth is taken out M. of Hall as though they were but parentheses with a high countenaunce sayd My Lorde I euidently perceyue and no lesse note your often breathing and suddayne stopping in youre communication so that to my intelligence your words neyther come to any direct or perfect sentence in conclusion whereby either I might perceyue and haue knowledge what your inwarde intent is now toward the King or what affection you beare towarde me For the comparison of good qualities ascribed to vs both for the whiche I may selfe knowledge and recognise to haue none nor looke for no prayse of any creature for the same maketh me not a little to muse thynkyng that you haue some other priuie imaginatiō by loue or by grudge engraued and emprinted in your hart which for feare you dare not or for childish shamefastnesse you be abashed to disclose and reueale and specially to me being your friend which on my honour do assure you to hee as secrete in this case as the deaffe and dumme person is to the singer or the tree to the hunter The Byshop beeing somewhat bolder considering the Dukes promise but most of all animated and encouraged bycause he knew the Duke desirous to be exalted and magnified and also he perceyued the inwarde hatred and priuie rancor which he bare toward King Richard was now boldened to open his stomacke euen to the very bottome intending thereby to compasse howe to destroy and vtterly confound King Richard and to depriue him of his dignitie royall or else to set the Duke so a fyer with the desire of ambition that hee himselfe mighte be safe and escape out of all daunger and perill whiche thing hee brought shortly to conclusion both to the kings destruction and the Dukes confusion and to his owne safegard and finally to hys high promotion And so as I sayde before vpon trust and confidence of the Dukes promise the Byshoppe sayd my singuler good Lord sith the time of my captiuitie which being in your graces custodie I may rather call it a liberall libertie more than a straighte emprisonmente in auoyding idlenesse mother and nourisher of all vices in reading Bookes and auntient Pamphlets I haue founde this sentence written that no manne is borne free and in libertie of himselfe onely for one part of duetie he oweth or should owe to his parents for his procreation by a very natural instincte and filiall curtesie another parte to hys friendes and kinsfolke for proximitie of bloud and natural amitie doth of very duetie chalenge and demaunde But the natiue Countrey in the whiche hee tasted firste the sweete ayres of thys pleasant and flattering world after his natiuitie demaundeth as a debt by a naturall bond neyther to bee forgotten nor yet to be put in obliuion which saying causeth me to consider in what case this Realme my natiue Countrey nowe standeth and in what estate and assurance before this time it hath continued what gouernour we now haue and what ruler wee mighte haue for I playnely perceyue the Realme beeing in this case must needes decay and bee broughte to vtter confusion and finall exterminion But one hope I haue encorporate in my brest that is when I consider and in my mynd do diligently remember dayly behold your noble personage your iustice and indifferencie your feruent zeale and ardente loue towarde youre naturall Countrey and in like manner the loue of your Countrey toward you the great learning pregnaunt witte and goodly eloquence which so much doth abounde in the person of your grace I muste needes thinke this Realme fortunate yea
much esteemed amongst great estates of the Realm with whome the vsed sometime liberally familiarly to talke now hauing opportunitie and occasion to breake hir minde vnto him of this weighty matter declared that the time was come that hir sonne should be ioyned in mariage with Lady Elizabeth daughter and heire to K. Edward and that K. Richard being taken and reputed of all men for the common enimie of the Realme should out of all honoure and estate bee detected of his rule kingdome be cleerely spoiled and expulsed and required him to goe to Q. Elizabeth with whome in his facultie he was of counsaile not as a messenger but as one y t came friendly to visite consolate hir and as time and place shoulde require to make hir priuie of thys deuise not as a thing concluded but as a purpose by him imagined This phisician did not long ◅ger to accomplish hir desire but with good diligence repared to the Q. being stil in the sanctuary at West And whē he saw time propice and conuenient for his purpose he saw vnto hir Madame although my imaginatiō be very simple my deuice more folish yet for the entier affection that I beare toward you your childrē I am so bold to vtter vnto you a secrete priuie conceit y t I haue cast cōpassed in my fantastical braine Whē I wel remēbred and no lesse considered the greate losse dammage that you haue susteyned by the death of your noble and louing husbande the great doloure and sorow that you haue suffered and tollerated by y e cruell murther of youre innocent children I can no lesse do both of bounden duetie and christian charitie than dayly to studie hourely imagine not only how to bring your heart to comfort and gladu◅s but also deuise how to reuēge the righteous quarell of you your children on that bloudy bloudsupper and cruel tyrant K. Richard And first cōsider what battaile what manslaughter what mischief hath risen in this Realme by the dissention betweene the two noble houses of Yorke and Lancaster which two families as I haue contriued if they may bee ioyned in one I thinke yea and doubte not but youre line shal be againe restored to the pristinate estate and degree to your great ioy and cōfort and to y e vtter cōfusion of your mortall enimie the vsurper K. You know very well Madame y t of the house of Lancaster y e erle of Richmond is next of bloud which is liuing a lustie yōg batcheler to y e house of York your daughters now are heires if you could agree and inuēt the meane howe to couple youre eldest daughter with the yong erle of Richmond in matrimonie no doubt but the vsurper of the Realme shoulde be shortly deposed and your heire againe to hir right restored When the Queene had hearde this friendely motion which was as farre from hir thought as the man that the rude people say is in y e Moone lord how hir spirites reuiued and how hir hearte lept in hir body for ioy and gladnesse and fyrste giuing lawde to Almightie GOD as the chiefe author of hyr comfort secondarily to master Lewes as the deuiser of the good newes and tydyngs instantely besought hym that as hee hadde bin the fyrste inuenter of so good an enterprise that nowe hee woulde not relinquishe nor desist to follow the same requiring hym farther bycause he was apperteyning to the Countesse of Richmonde mother to the Earle Henry that he would with all diligente celeritie resort to hir then lodging in hir husbandes place within the Citie of London and to declare on the Queenes behalfe to the Countesse that all the friends and fautors of King Edwarde hir husband shoulde assist and take parte with the Earle of Richemond hir sonne so that he would take a corporall othe after the Kingdome obteined to espouse and take to wife the Lady Elizabeth hir daughter or else Lady Cecyle if the eldest daughter were not then liuing Maister Lewes with all dexteritie so sped his businesse that he made and concluded a final end and determination of this enterprise betweene the two mothers and bycause he was a Phisition and out of all suspicion and misdeeming hee was the common curter and dayly messenger betweene them ayding and setting forth the inuented conspiracie against King Richarde So the Lady Margaret Countesse of Richmonde broughte into a good hope of the preferment of hir sonne made Reignold Bray hir most faithfull seruaunt chiefe soliciter and priuie procurer of this conspiracie giuing him in charge secretely to enuegle and attract such persons of nobilitie to ioyne with hir take hir part as he knewe to be ingenious faithfull diligent and of actiuitie This Reignold Bray within few dayes brought vnto his lure firste of all taking of euery person a solemne othe to be true and secret sir Giles Daubeney sir Iohn Cheyney Knight Richard Guylford and Thomas Rame Esquiers and diuers other The Countesse of Richemond was not so diligente for hir parte but Q. Elizabeth was as vigilant on the other side and made friends and appoynted Counsellors to set forward and aduaunce hir businesse In the meane season the Countesse of Richmonde tooke into hir seruice Christopher Vrswike an honest and a wise Prieste and after an othe of him for to bee secrete taken and sworne the vttered to him all hir minde and counsayle adhibiting to hym the more confidence and trueth that hee all his life had fauoured and taken partee with King Henrye the sixte and as a speciall iewell put to hir seruice by Sir Lewes hee hir Phisition So the mother studious for the prosperitie of hir sonne appoynted this Christopher Vrswike to sayle into Britaine to the Earle of Richmonde and to declare and to reueale to him all pactes and agreementes betweene hir and the Queene agreed and concluded but suddaynely shee remembring that the Duke of Burkingham was one of the firste inuentors and a secret founder of thys enterprise determined to send some personage of more estimation than hir Chaplayne and so elected for a messenger Hugh Conwey Esquier and sente him into Britaine with a greate summe of money to hir sonne gyuing him in charge to declare to the Earle the greate loue and especiall fauoure that the most part of the nobilitie of the Realme bare towarde him the louing heartes and beneuolent mindes whiche the whole communaltie of theyr owne free will frankely offe◅and liberally exhibited to him willing and aduising him not to neglect so good an occasion apparantly offered but with all speede and diligence to addict and settle his mind and ful intētion how to returne home againe into Englād where hee was both wished and looked for gyuing him farther monicion and councell to take land and arriuall in the principalitie of Wales where he should not doubt to finde both and cōfort friēds Richard Guilford least Hugh Cōwey mighte fortune to bee taken or stopped at