expecting vntill the enemy should more neerely approach The generall after he had ordered his Battaile parte vpon the hill and parte vpon the plaine somewhat distant from the Avantguard on the right side mounted the hill to the great artillerie to take a view of both the Armies and to giue directions as occasions should change The Arrier stood wide of the battaile vpon the same side but altogether vpon the plaine The L. Gray Captaine of the men at Armes was appointed to stand somewhat distant from the Avantguard on the left side in such sort as he might take the flanke of the enimie but was forbidden to charge vntill the foot of the Avantguard were buckled with them in front and vntill the battaile should be neere enough for his reliefe Now after that the Scots were well advaunced in the field marching more then an ordinary pace the great shot from the English ships and especially from the galley began furiously to scoure among them whereby the M◅ of Grime and diuers others about were torne in peices especially the wing of the Irish was so grievously either galled or fearred there with that being strangers and in a manner neutralls they had neither good heart to goe forward nor good likeing to stand still nor good assurance to run away The Lord Gray perceiued this amazement and conceiued thereby occasion to be ripe wherevpon when the enimy was not about two slight shot from the English avantguard suddainly and against direction with his men at armes he charged them on head The Scots were then in a fallow field whereinto the English could not enter but ouer a crosse ditch and a slough in passing whereof many of the English horse were plunged and some mired when with some difficulty and much disorder they had passed this ditch the ridges of the fallow field lay trauerse so as the English must crosse them in presenting the charge Two other disadvantages they had the enimies pikes were longer then their staues and their horses were naked without any barbs For albeit many brought barbes out of England yet because they expected not in the morning to fight that day few regarded to put them on The Scots confident both in their number order and good appointment did not only abide the English but with some biteing termes provoked them to charge They cloased and in a manner locked themselues together shoulder to shoulder so neere as possibly they could their pikes they strained in both hands and therewith their buckler in the left the one end of the pike against the right foote the other breast high against the enimy The fore ranke stooped so low as they seemed to kneele the second ranke close at their backs crossed their pikes ouer their shoulders and so did the third and the rest in their order so as they appeared like the thornie skinne of a hedghogge and it might be thought impossible to breake them Notwithstanding the charge was giuen with so well gouerned fury that the left corner of the Scots battaillon was enforced to giue in But the Scots did so brauely recouer and acquit themselues that diverse of the English horsemen were overthrowne and the residue so disordered as they could not conueniently fight or fly and not only iustled bare downe one another but in their confused tumbling backe brake a part of the Avantguard on foote In this encounter 26 of the English were slaine most part Gentlemen of the best esteem Divers others lost their horses and carried away markes that they had beene there The L. Gray was dangerously hurt with a pike in the mouth which strucke two inches into his necke The L. Edward Seymer sonne to the L. Generall lost his horse and the English Standard was almost lost Assuredly albeit encounters betweene horsemen on the one side and foot on the other are seildome with the extremity of danger because as horsemen can hardly breake a battaile on foot so mē on foot cannot possibly chase horsemen Yet hearevpon so great was the tumult and feare a mong the English that had not the commanders bin men both of approued courag and skill or happely had the Scots bine well fonrnished with men at Armas the army had that day beene vtterly vndone For an army is commonly like a flocke of fowles when some begine to flie all will follow But the Lord Gray to repaire his error endevoured with all industrie to vallye his horse The Lord Generall also mounted on horsebacke and came amongst them both by his presence aduice to reduce thē into order Sr. Ralph Vane Sr Ralph Sadler did memorable service But espcially the Earle of Warwicke who was in greatest danger declared his resolution and judgment to bee most present in reteyning his men both in order and in heart And hauing cleered his foot from disturbance by the horsemen hee sent forth before the front of his Avantgard S r Peter Mewcas Captaine of all the Hackbutters on foot and S r Peter Gamboa a Spaniard Captaine of 200 Hackbutters Spanish and Italians on horse These brought their men to the slough mentioned before who discharging liuely almost close to the face of the enimy did much amaze them being also disordered by the late pursuit of the English horsemen and by spoiling such as they had ouerthrowne At the backes of these the Archers were placed who before had marched on the right wing of the Avantguard and then sent such showers of shot ouer the Hackbutters heads that many bodies of their enimies being but halfe armed were beaten downe and buried therewith And besides the Master of the Artillery did visit them sharply with murthering haile-shot from the peeces mounted towards the top of the hill also the Artillery which slanked the Arriere executed hotly Lastly the ships were not idle but especially the galley did play vpon them and plague them very sore The Scots being thus applied with shot and perceiuing the Avantguard of the English to be in good order neerely to approach the men at armes to haue recouered their Array turned their Avantguard somewhat towards the South to win as it was thought some advantage of ground By this meanes they fell directly on head on the English battaile wherevpon the Earle of Warwicke addressed his men to take the slanke The Avantguard of the Scots being thus vpon and beset with enimies began a little to retire towards their great battaile either to be in place to be relieued by them or happely to draw the English more separate and apart The Irish Archers espying this and surmising the danger to be greater then it was suddenly brake vp committed the saftie of their liues to their nimble footmanship After whose example all the rest threw away their weapons and in headlong hast abandoned the field not one stroke hauing beene giuen by the English on soot But then the horsemen comming furiously forward had them very cheap The slight was made three waies some running to Edenburgh some along
state To Clemencie he was much enclined especially in matters of blood and most especially if it were for Religion a vertue so much the more esteemed by how much it had beene lesse vsed before insomuch that albeit hee was most earnestly affected to that religion wherein hee had beene brought vp yet none were executed in his time for other religion but only two blasphemous Heretickes Ioane Butcher and George a Dutchman And when Ioane Butcher was to be burned all the counsaile could not procure him to set his hand to the warrant Wherefore they employed Thomas Cranmer Archbishop of Canterbury to deale privatly with him for his subscription But the King remained firme both in reason and resolution affirming that he would not driue her headlong to the Divell but because Heretickes for the most part haue a straine of madnesse he thought it best to apply her with some corporall chastisemâ—…nts which with respit of time might happely reduce her to good order The Archbishop was violent both by perswasions and entreaties and when with meere importunity he had prevailed The King in subscribing his name said that he would lay all the charge thereof vpon the Archbishop before God Not many yeares passed but this Archbishop also felt the smart of the fire and it may be that by his importunity for bloud hee did offend for a good thing is not good if it be immoderatelie desired or done His courage did appeare in the great delight he tooke in representations of Battailes Skirmishes Assaults and of all kinde of military exercises his iudgment was great either for errors or fine contriuances in the field And no actions of Armes were executed in his time but he would perfectly vnderstand by what aduantages on the one side or ouersights on the other the euent succeeded He tooke great pleasure in exercises of actiuity whereto he much trained his servants And to that end he often appointed challenges among them for wrestling leaping running riding shooting at roues and at rounds and such like games and at riding and shooting would sometimes be of one of the sides He had 100 archers of his ordinary guard who once mustering before him shot two arrowes euery man together against an inch board of well seasoned timber All stroke through the board and their arrowes stucke in another board behinde and divers pierced both the boards generally none might be of his guard but besides of tall and comely stature such as were either good archers or wrastlers or easters of the barre or leapers or runners or of some other man-like qualitie He was exceeding skilfull in fortifications and bestowed great cost in strengthening Calleis Berwicke and other parts thereabout He knew all the principall ports in England Scotland Ireland France and other countries not farre distant how they â—…ay when the tyde served what vessels of burthen they could receiue and what windes served for entrance Touching his care and knowledge in affaires of state nothing was more conspicuous in him He was much conversant amongst his counsaile and would well vnderstand what matters passed their iudgments and vpon what grounds In matters discoursed by them he would often encounter their reasons and adde most liuely reasons of his owne In so much that at last they made an order that no matters of weight should be debated vnlesse he were present Admirable he was to collect the speeches and opinions of many and to draw their differences to a true head alwaies bending himselfe rather iudiciously to resolue then by doubts and distinctions to perplex a businesse he had a chest whereof he alwaies carryed the key about him for keeping record of such matters as were concluded by his counsaile And embracing businesse for part of his solace hee appointed set times with Doctor Coxe Master of his Requests for speeding poore mens causes without tedious attendance or delay Of all the Magistrates Iustices and Gentlemen of sort within his realme he 〈◊〉 their names their housekeeping their religion and manner of life Hee was skilfull in the exchange beyond the seas and in all the circumstances and practises thereof And so was he both skilfull and provident in matters of the Mint at home To Embassadors hee would giue answere vpon the suddaine and touch both orderly and fully vpon every part of their orations to the delight and admiration of all the hearers He much frequented sermons and penned notes with his owne hand his notes hee â—…yphered with greeke characters to the end that they who waited on him should not read them His disports were ingenuous and man-like whereby he alwaies learned somewhat And yet as well from these as from his businesses of state he dayly reserved some houres for his private studies and exercises with his Teachers These endeavours fell vpon so excellent a capacitie that in every short distance of time he made incredible increase both in learning and experience of affaires and consequentlie in loue of all men Presently after that he was setled in his governement D â— Wotton the kings Embassador resident with the Queene Dowager of Hungarie regent of the Low Countries vnder the Emperor was discharged of that attendance and addressed to the Emperors court there to reside Embassador for the king insteed of Doctor Bonner Bishop of London and of Sir Francis Bryan who were called home He was furnished with instructions that being first informed from the former Embassadors as wel of the general state of the Emperours court as of such particuler intelligeÌ„ces as might serue to advaÌ„ce the kings intentioÌ„s he should deale with the Emperor to declare al Scots for his enemies except such as should be friends to the King which should appeare by his safe conduct That because it had bin agreed betweene the Emperor and the late K. of England that the yeare next ensuing they should withioyne forces inuade the Territories of the French King he should moue the Emperor to aduise of some order and forme for those proceedings That whereas the Duke of Lorraine had bin late before at the Emperors court and made 〈◊〉 ouerture for peace or truce betweene the Emperour and the French King he should be informed by Sr Francis Bryan of the whole estate of that businesse and awaite opportunity to put the Emperor in remembrance that it had beene couenanted betweene him and the King of England that neither of them should treat of peace or truce with the French King or any other common enimy without consent of the other and that the King of England had well obserued that article in refusing to giue eare to the French embassador making overture for such a treatise That whereas it had beene agreed betweene him and the King of England that either of them should send certaine ships to sea well manned and apparelled for fight which all that yeere had beene performed by the king whereas the Emperour shifted the default vpon his officers in case he should not cause the said Navy to be forthwith
furnished he should awaite occasion to sollicite the same Lastly that he should carry a nimble eare as well touching any variation in all these â—…atters as for other occurrences in France Spaine Italie Almaine and thereof advertise the king But notwithstanding all these cautions and preventions of peace or truce betweene the Emperour and the French the king of England finding the Emperour slow in his performances and much suspecting his secret ends entertained a treatie of peace with France but secretly and a farre off and to bee governed as occasions should vâ—…ry and in regâ—…rd hâ—…reof agreement was made that all ships and goods which had bin surprised at sea by the English vpon the French or by the French vpon the English since the beginning of that treatie should be freely discharged And albeit the English had great aduâ—…ntage in value of reprisalls as being alwaies both more strong and actiue at sea yet the king by his proclamation commanded that forthwith restitution should be made Hostility being thus suspended with France preparation was made for warres against Scotland the occasion whereof did thus arise MARY STYWARD sole daughter heire to Iames the 5. King of Scots began her raigne ouer the Realme of Scotland vpon the 18 of December 1542 being then not aboue 7 daies olde so as the Sunne no sooner almost saw her an infant then a Queene and no sooner was shâ—…e a Queene but she was desired of Henry then King of England to be assured in marriage to Prince Edward his only sonne being then not much aboue 6 yeares of age Vpon this ouerture the gouernor of Scotland assembled the nobility of the Realme at Edenburgh where after much debatement of the coÌ„modities or discommodities like to ensue they concluded in the end that in March then next ensuing a Parliament should be held to giue perfection and forme to that businesse In the meane time S. Ralph Sadler knight was sent embassador from England to the Gouernor and other Lords of Scotland who followed his charge with so good diligence and advice that in the same parliamenâ—… authority was giuen to William Earle of Glancorne S. George ' Douglasse S. William Hamilton S. Iames Leirmouth knights and to one of the secretaries of state to conclude this marryage These commissioners came into England with whom before the end of Iulie the same yeere all covenants were concluded instruments of the contract of marriage interchangeably sealed and sworne and a peace established for ten yeares which time expyred both the Prince and the Queene should be of age to consent The French King all this tiâ—…e was so enteartined with warres against the Emperor that he had no sence of these proceedings but when he vnderstood that these agreements were passed as well for marriage as for peace he bâ—…nt his best endeuour to dissolue them both First with intention to impeach both the greatnesse and strength of the English nation after with desire to winne this marriage for Francis who afterwardes was King of France To this purpose the French K. sent for Mathew Earle of Levenoxe who then serued vnder his pay in Italie and furnished him with mony forces and friends and aboue all with many encouragements to take vpon him brauely the honour of his house and Ancestors to remoue the Earle of Arraine from the Regency of Scotland and to reverse such pactions as he had made The Earle at his first arrivall in Scotland was ioyfully received as a man most engaged in domesticall factions He alwaies vsed curtesie and modestie disliked of none sometimes sociablenes and fellowship well liked by many generally he was honoured by his nation and well reputed by strangers in favour of him the Pope sâ—…nt the Patriarch of Apulia his Legat into Scotland who in the Popes nâ—…me did faithfully assure that both forces mony should be sent into Scotland to resist the English Heâ—… drew the greatest of the Cleargie on his side who were most powerfull to draw on others On the other side the king was not negligent to support his party with supplies wher by great troubles ensued in Scotland which fell not within the times that I hauâ—… in hand In the end the Earle of Arraine abandoned the king of England and applyed himselfe only to the French by reason whereof the Regencie was confirmed to him which otherwise he had bin vpon adventure to loose And as the Earle of 〈◊〉 did forsake the English and adioine to the French so the Earle of Levenoxe being forsaken by the French applyed his service wholy to the English which did not only continue but much encrease the calamities of Scotland during the time of king Henries raigne King Henrie at the time of his death gâ—…ue a spâ—…ciall charge to the Lords of his counsaile that they should omit no â—…ndevours whereby the said marriâ—…ge might be procured to take effect Herevpon they pursued this quarrell in the same stâ—…te the king left it But before they attempted any thing by Armes the Lord Protector assailed the Scottish nobility with a friendly letter Herein he remâ—…mbred them of the promises seaâ—…es and oathes which by publike authority had passed for concluding this marriage that these being religious bonds betwixt God and their soules could not by any politike act of state be dissolved vntill their Queene should attaine vnto yeares of dissent Hee farther added that the providence of God did then manifestly declare it selfe in that the male princes of Scotland failing the kingdome was left to a daughter and in that King Henry left only one sonne to succeed That these two princes were agreeable both for yeares and princely qualities to bee ioyned in marriâ—…ge and thâ—…reby to knit both Realmes into one That this vnion as it was like to bee both easily done of firme continuance so would it be both profitable and honourable to both the Realmes That both the easinesse and firmnâ—…s might be coniectured for that both people are of the same language of like habit and fashion of like qualitie and condition of life of one climate not only annexed entirely together but sevâ—…red froÌ„ all the world 〈◊〉 For as these are sure arguments that both desâ—…ended from one originall and had bin vnder one governement so by reason that likenes is a great cause of liking and of loue they would be most forceable meanes both to ioine and to hold them in one body again that the profit would rise by extinguishing warres betweâ—…ne the two nations by reason whereof in former times victori sabroad haue bin impeachâ—…d invasions and seditions occasioned thâ—… confines of both Realmes laid wâ—…st or else made a nurserie of rapines robberies and murthers the inner parts often deepely pierced and made a wretched spectacl to all eies of humanity and pittie That the honour of both Realmes would enerease as well in regard of the countries sufficient to furnish not only the necessities but the moderate pleasures of this life as also of the people
people might haue destroied the Nobility and gentry who are the defence and safety of the people and so at pleasure haue reduced all vnder his tyrannous subiection Which how insupportable it would haue beene may well be coniectured by his actions already past what pride and insolency of his men made vp of naught What instruments had he in euery shire to worke his purposes to spread his rumors to harken and to carry tales And those what flatterers What lyers How greedily gaping for other mens liuings How vigilant to grope mens thoughts and to picke out somewhat whereof they might complaine and such vile vermine how deere were they to him and namely Iohn Bonham his one hand in Wiltshire Sir Gyles Partridge his other hand in Glocestershire his customer in Wells Piers country his minister in Deuonshire besides many his bad conditioned minions in courte what monsters were they How esteemed they his fauour aboue all mortall respects And further to accomplish his ambitious ends he devised to make the French king his friend by bewraying vnto him the Kings fortresses beyond the seas which the late noble K. Henry with great charge courage and glory had brought vnder his power which practise was so caryed that no man but such as discerned nothing but did perceiue it And that aswell by his often private conference with the French Embassadors and their secretaries as by failing to furnish those pieces with necessarie supplies as also by the speeches which himselfe and his servants cast abroad that Bulloine and the fortresses about it were an vnprofitable burthen to the realme But for the charge no man will conceiue that he wanted money to keepe them who vndertooke so great a charge as the conquest of Scotland and wasted euery day a 100â—… vpon his phantasticall building Besides it hath beene often heard from his owne communication how he intended to procure a resignation of the rights of the Kings Maiesties sisters and others who are entitled to the possession of the Crowne and to haue entailed the same vpon his owne issue which when he had effected and hauing the Kings person in his power the chaine of soueraignty could not long haue tied him short he might haue atchieued all his ambitious intentions at will Wherefore surely he hath thus put on the person not only of a robber and of a murtherer but of a traitor to the state since we haue euidently discouered both his lofty and bloody minde It behoueth you to ioyne in aide with the Lords of his Maiesties privy counsaile as in extinguishing a raging fire as in repelling a cruell enimie for assuredly wee must either weakly yeelde to his rule and commande or else the ambitious author must be taken away In the afternoone of the same day the Lord Maior assembled a common counsaile in Guildhall where two letters arriued almost in one instant one from the King and the Lord Protector for 1000 men to be armed for defence of the Kings person another from the Lords at London for 2000 men to aide them in defence of the Kings person both parties pretending alike but both intending nothing lesse The Recorder whose voice accordeth commonly with the Lord Chancellor did so well set forth the complaints of the Lords against the Protector that many were inclinable to fauour their side But one named George Stadlowe somewhat better aduised stept vp and spake vnto them as followeth This businesse right Honorable Lord Maior the residue of this court as it is a very high passage of state so it is worthy of serious consideration that vpon sodeine aduice nothing be done or determined them least happely by being serviceable to the designes of other men whose purposes we know not we cast our selues into the throat of danger which hitherto wee doe not see two things I much feare in case wee afford present aide to the Lords either of which should cast vpon vs a bridle rather for stopping a while then for stepping or stirring too soone or too fast at their incitement One is the certaine dangers of the citty the other the vncertaine aduenture of all the realme First then if wee adioine to the Lords whether they prevaile or not wee engulph our selues into assured danger an example whereof I finde in Fabian whose report I entreat you all to obserue In the time of King Henry the third the Lords in a good cause for maintenance of divers beneficiall lawes desired aide of the citty ogainst the King Ayde was granted and the quarrell brought to the arbitrement of the sword In this battaile the King and his son â—…e were taken prisoners vpon their enlargement free pardon was granted not only to the Lords but the cittizens of London which was afterwards confirmed both by oath and by act of Parliament But what followed Was the displeasure forgotten Noe verily nor euer forgotten during that Kings life for afterwards the liberties of the Citty were taken away strangers were appointed governors and the cittizens perpetually vexed both in their persons and in their estates So heauy and durable is the wrath of Kings That Solomon saith The indignation of the King is death For it is naturall for princes to vphold their soveraignty and to holde it in highest esteeme in no case to endure their supreame authority to be forceably either oppressed or dispressed by their subiects Insomuch as they mortally hate such subiects as haue once attempted either to ouerrule them by power or to cast any terror vpon them And howsoeuer they may be either constrained or content to beare saile for a time yet are they so sure paymasters in the end that few haue held out their liues I will not say prosperously but safely who haue offered enforcements against their King Now touching my seare for the commonwealth I much suspect these considerations I alwaies expect from them some lurking mischiefe which the more cunningly it be kept in the more dangerously it will breake forth For albeit there be many hands in this action yet one is the head who doubtlesse hath skille to play his owne game and albeit the pretences giuen forth are alwaies faire and for the publique good yet are the secret intentions commonly ambitions only aime at priuate ends yea many times the end is worse then the first intent Because when a subiect hath obtained the hand against his prince I will not say he will be loath but doubtlesse it is not safe for him to giue ouer his advantage wherefore I am of opinion that for the present if wee will not be so vneurteous as to delay and suspend our giuing aide to the Lords for a time Vpon this aduice the courte resolued to arme 100 horsemen and 400 foote for defence of the Citty To the King they returned answere that they would be ready vpon any necessity to apply all their forces either for his defence or for his honour But they intreated him to bee pleased to heare such complaints as were