the direction of their Generall Both Armies therefore had equall justice which made them with equall fiercenesse begin and continue the fight Six houres the victory was doubtfull advantages and disadvantages indifferent on both sides â—ill at length errour brought disorder to Warwicks Army and that a finall overthrow For the Earle of Oxford giving his men a star with streames for his device begot in the Army a mistake that they were part of the enemy whose badge was the Sunne and which mistake might easily happen by the thicke mist that morning wherefore being in the right wing and pressing forward they were thought King Edwards men flying which made their owne maine battaile fall fiercely on them in the backe Whereupon Oxford suspecting treason in Warwicke whose haughtie and reserved wayes were ever lyable to suspition fled away with eight hundred men and King Edward with certaine fresh troopes of Rutters for some such purpose reserv'd perceiving disorder in the enemy violently assaulted them and soone forc'd them to shrinke backe Warwicke opposed against their feare both with language and example but when nothing could prevaile hee rusht into the thickest of the enemies hoping either his whole Army would bravely follow or otherwise by death to prevent the misery of seeâ—ng himselfe overthrowne Mountague perceiving how farre into danger his brother was engaged ran violently after to his rescue and both presently opprest with number fell and with them the spirit of the Army In their deaths they both cleard those calumnies with which they were blemisht Warwicke of having still a swift horse in readines by flight to escape from any apparent danger in battaile Mountague of holding intelligence with King Edward or betraying at Pomfret the quarrell of his great brother For it is to be rejected as a fable forged by malice that history which reports the Marquesse having put on King Edwards livery slaine by one of Warwicks men and the Earle labouring to escape at a Woods side where was no passage kild and spoild to the naked skin by two of King Edwards souldiers Yet both of them in their deaths partaking with the common condition of men the poore being ever esteemed as vicious the overthrowne as cowards By which judgement wee impiously subject the Almighty disposer of humane bussinesse to our depraved affections as if felicity or in felicity were the touchstone by which we might discerne the true value of the inward man King Edward soone as he saw the discomfiture of the enemy and certainly understood the death of the two brothers that himselfe might bee the first reporter of his owne fortune with King Henry in his company poasted up to London He came into Saint Pauls Church at even Song and there offered up his owne banner and the standard of the Earle of Warwicke the trophies of his morning service where waited on him an universall acclamation the flattering shadow which never forsakes victory To the Duke of Clarence and the Duke of Glocester was left the care to quarter the Souldiers whose enquiry soone found that on both sides that day were slaine foure thousand six hundred and odâ—e On the Kings side of eminency onely the Lords Burcher and Barnes hee sonne and heire to the Earle of Essex this to the Lord Say On the other side were kild the Earle of Warwicke and the Marquesse Mountague attended with three and twenty Knights The Duke of Exeter who by his many wounds was reported dead recoverd life but was never more seene in action his body after some length of time being cast upon the shore of Kent as if he had perisht by shipwracke the manner of his after life and death left uncertaine in story To this violent end came the Earle of Warwick the greatest and busiest subject our later age hath brought forth And indeed how was it possible such a stormie life could expect a calmer death In his Spirit birth marriage and revenue he was mighty which raised his thoughts above proportion For all these benefits of nature and fortune serv'd him onely as instruments to execute his rage into which every small displeasure taken or mistaken from his Prince threw him head-long His bounty extended it selfe most in hospitality which was dangerous to the guest for his meate was infected with the poyson of Faction The open ayme of all his actions was at the Publicke good which made his power still recover strength though so often weakend by evill Fortune but his secret intention was to advance his owne greatnesse which he resolv'd to purchase though with sale of the publicke safety He was questionlesse valiant for a coward durst not have thought those dangers into which he entred upon the slightest quarrels His soule was never quiet distasted still with the present and his pride like a foolish builder so delighted to pull downe and set up that at length part of the â—rame himselfe had raised fell upon him and crusht him to death He was a passionate extoller of continencie in a Prince which proceeded rather from spleene than zeale because in that he tacitely made the King contemptible for his volupâ—uous life Being bred up from a child in Armes the worst schoole to learne Religion in hee had certainely no tender sence of justice and his varying so in approving contrary titles shewed either a strange levity in judgement or else that ambition not conscience ruled his actions The pretences of his revolt from King Edward were neither to the world politicke nor to himselfe honest For what greater hopes could he conceive by restoring a family himselfe had ruind since injuries make so deepe an impression that no after curtesie can take it away Or how could any violence offer'd to his Daughters honour by the King for that was then by him pretended licence him to war since no injustice in a Soveraigne can authorize the subject to Rebellion But who will give a true account of his latter attempts must looke backe upon his first familiarity with Lewis the eleventh For never had France such a Merchant to vent discord in forraigne Kingdomes and buy up the faith of all the greatest Officers to neighboring Princes But when by the most powerfull engins of pollicie and warre he had screwed up his intentions to the highest by making himselfe King in Authority though not in title the Crown being entailed upon the two Princes who had married his Daughters Almighty God in one overthrow ruin'd him and permitted his Sonnes in Law with their wives not long after to end by strange deathes none of them answering his hope but the younger Daughter and that preposterously to his designe For she indeede by marrying Richard Duke of Glocester the butcher of her husband Prince Edward became Queene to an Vsurper and soone after by poyson as it was justly suspected made resignation of her Crown His Grand-children by Clarence who arriv'd to any age dyed by the Axe upon a Scaffold and all that greatnesse he so violently labor'd to confirme in
THE HISTORIE OF EDWARD THE FOVRTH KING OF ENGLAND BY WM. HABINGTON Esquire LONDON Printed by Tho. Cotes for William Cooke and are to be sold at his shop neere Furnivals-Inne Gate in Holburne 1640. TO THE KINGS MOST SACRED MAIESTIE Sir AN Humbler Dedication would seeme to lessen the memory of that great Prince whose History I here lay downe at your feete Your Majestie is heire to those Crowns his happy courage regain'd from the long and violent possession of a most Potent Family What can then by any Title appertaine to him but must be injustice to offer to another His life presents your eye with rugged times yet smooth'd by a prevailing Fortune and a just cause Faction begot many tempests but Soveraigntie found a happie calme in the destruction since no gentler way had authoritie of mighty opposers When we your subjects looke backe upon that age how ought we to congratulate the present Wherein free even from the noyse of warre we have hitherto by the excellent Wisedome of your Majesties government lived safe and envied The Almighty grant all your people knowledge of their owne felicity and their mindes so disposed that their blessings may feele no interruption May your Majestie long continue in peace the comfort and honour of these times and the best example for the future But if you shall be forc't to draw your sword may your enemies submit and tastpart of your mercy if not perish in your Victories This is the prayer of your Majesties Most Humble most Loyall and most Obedient Subject WM. HABINGTON THE HISTORIE OF EDWARD THE FOVRTH KING OF ENGLAND RICHARD Duke of Yorke overthrowne by his owne rashnesse and the happie conduct of Queene Margaret at the battaile of Wakefield left the justice of his Title with a more prosperous fortune to his Sonne Edward His head during life busied with expectations of Soveraigntie after death was mockt with a paper Crowne and fixt on a pole was set on the walls of Yorke For the Queene to make his pretentions to the Kingdome the common scorne forgot that compassion she owed humaine calamitie and in a phantasticke cruelty exposed it thus to the barbarous mirth of the be holders With him dyed his younger sonne Edmond Earle of Rutland then but twelve yeares old comming too soone with his tutor to the schoolâ— of Warre and learning at first the sharpest lesson from the Lord Clifford who most inhumanely â—tab'd him prostrate at his feete intreating but for life In the very Haven after a long and tempestuous voyage thus perisht the Duke of Yorke as if it had beene in the fate of al the Richards who were either in fact oâ— title Kings of England to end by violent deathes Richard the first and second preceding him His sonne Richard the Tyrant and Richard Duke of Yorke his Nephew following him in the like disaster though severall wayes and upon different quarrels This great overthrow was suddenly rumor'd through the whole Kingdome and stretched up to the highest to advance the reputation of the Queenes felicitie And soone it arrived at Glocester where Edward Earle of March lay with some small forces expecting directions from his Father By whose death perceiving himselfe in so foule weather to sit alone at the helme he began more warily to steere his course and considering how dangerous leasure is to increase the apprehension of misfortune removed to Shrewesbury By the way his armie swel'd up to three and twenty thousand fighting men which might appeare strange if we weigh the necessary unexperience of his youth being then but eighteene yeares of age and the slender retinue that usually weights on infelicitie But now he was the head of the great body of that faction which his Father at the expence of so long trouble had purchased to his side and them the Queenes nature implacable to mercy made resolute onely to hope for safety by running into the common danger Moreover all the men of power who inhabited betweene Glocester and Shrowsbury had dependancie on him as heire to Mortimer or held in chiefe of his mighty confederate the Earle of Warwicke With this sudden and unexpected accesse of forces he entertain'd a confidence to be able to revenge his fathers injurie and obtaine that greatnesse as yet had beene in vaine attempted Hee therefore lookt about where he might on the best advantage make experience of his fortune Fortune appearing easie to be courted as if enamord on his youth having beene seldome observed but froward to age in any designe that depends chiefely upon courage And occasion was immediately offerd certaine discovery being made of a great power raised by the adverse party with purpose to surprise him in the amazement of the late misfortune The Armie consisted of Welch and Irish according to the severall Nations of the two Commanders Jasper Earle of Pembrooke and Jaems Earle of Ormond Pembrooke halfe brother to Henry the sixt as sonne to Queene Catherin dowager to Henry the fifâ— by Owen Teuther and Ormond a most faithfull servant to the house of Lanchaster by whose gift in England he enjoyed the Earledome of Wiltshire Against these two the Earle of March led backe his Forces and in a large plaine neere Mortimers crosse on Candlemas day in the morning gave them battell Before the fight the Sunne as by many Authors it is averd appeared to the Earle in the resemblance of three Sunnes and suddenly united into one the truth of which I will not dispute But certainely the pretension of such apparitions strangely prevailes with the superstitious multitude and hath beene both the practise and advantage of the most expert Commanders Yet how this omen could bee expounded happie to his de signe I understand not unlesse we seeke the interpretation from the event for that indeed gave him the victory and brought the glory of the two adverse Generalls over to his side so that the three Sunnes which with equall brightnesse appeared in the morning before evening shin'd alone in him For the two Earles and the whole Armie were put to flight with the slaughter of three thousand eight hundred on the place many Welch and some English of name were taken prisoners and afterward at Hereford beheaded among whom an extraordinary fortune hath made Owen Teuther most the discourse of Posterity For the good luck of an amiable person wrought him into the affection and soone after advanced him to the marriage of Catherin daughter of France and Widdow to the most glorious Prince our Nation ever gain'd honour by Yet all that this so envied splendor in a wife got him was to render his life obnoxious to imprisonment and faction and his death more eminention a scaffold This victory raysed Edwards imaginations high so that now he resolved to spend his fortune no longer on small enterprises And least the spirit of his Armie should begin to languish having no enemie neere to finde him in imployment he resolved to search for one about London whether he had
intelligence the Queene with her triumphant forces directed her march moreover it concerned the pollicie of his affaires to retaine the possession of the capitall Cittie of the Kingdome which continued firme to his devotion and in which the Lords of his faction had custodie of King Henries person left to their faith when the Duke of Yorke went his last fatall expedition But in the way at Chipping Norton he met the Earle of Warwicke having lately fought and lost the field to the Queene at St. Albans In which beside the honour of the day and slaughter of two thousand of her enemies she recovered the person of her husband So that Warwicke brought with him onely a relation of his late overthrow but with such a courage as disdain'd misfortune and coveted nothing more than by the tryall of a new day to perswade or else to force backe victory to his side And oftentimes a small losse to an Armie like opening a veine to a body doth rather correct than any way impaire the health whereas too much prosperity like the worst surfet suddenly becomes incureable And so the two late obtain'd conquests wrought in the enemie onely insolencie and disorder For the Queene wanton with successe vainely imagined a securitie from future competition and either wanted power to restraine her souldiers or licenced them to a free spoyle by which unruly violence she untyed the affection of the Commons who by their quiet and profit measure the vertues of Princes And indeede they had title to their often complaints against the Northerne troopes who soone as they had past Trent as if there they had parted with all obedience to discipline made use of all kindes of licence that might serve their avarice or pleasure And having by the way left no Townes and in them no place how Sacred soever unspoyled after the flight of Warwicke they designed for London hoping to finde it abundantly stored for prey and utterly unable for defence But the Citizens perceiving hostility in their approach shut their gates and arm'd for resistance And with such valour and good order behaved themselves that the rude assailants were with losse repulst and the Queene perswaded to retire North-ward knowing the disorder of her men had begot her in the place where she then lay incamped nothing but ill aspects and worse wishes she therefore dislodged from St. Albans and every day as she marcht toward the North new relations came of the greatnesse and resolution of the Earle of Marches power who with the Earle of Warwicke was on his journey to London And doubtlesse the report of his approach confirmed the Cittie in her courage to resist the late assault which otherwise would without question have complied with the fortune of the more powerfull For presently after the departure of the Queene the Earle of March made his triumphant entry and was received with such acclamations as an over-joyed people could expresse who onely hoped for safety by the fortune of his side To encrease the glory of this entrie concurd beside his title to the Crowne his late victory at Mortimers Crosse the memory of a most glorious Father and great authority of his Confederate Warwicke the beauty of Marches person than which that age beheld not any more excellent Neither is the outward forme a small circumstance to induce the multitude or reverence since as deformitie in a Prince hath oftentimes occasioned contempt even to deprivation so on the contrary hath an amiable shape strengthend very weake pretentions and in Antoninus Heliogabalus was sufficient title to an Empire even in a military election But the Earle of Warwicke whose minde was still in labour and felt continually most violent throwes till it had brought forth a setled soveraignety to the house of Yorke contented not himselfe with this generall applause knowing how the least change of Fortune would create new affections He therefore resolved so to fasten the Citty to his designes that any alteration in Edward should be ruine to them and thereupon caused a generall muster of all his forces in St. Johns fields where when hee found an universall confluence of all men answerable to his expectation he cast his Armie into a Ring and with a loude voyce made to be reade the agreement which the last Parliament had accorded betweene Henry the sixt and Richard Duke of Yorke By which Henry out of compassion to a long possession was permitted to enjoy the Crowne during his naturall life the remainder to Richard and his heires in whom it was then apparently proved that the title to the Kingdome did remaine In which agreement was likewise manifested that Henry should make immediate forfeiture when soever either hee or any of his party should attempt to disaâ—all this Act. This reade and commented on with the best efficacie of Language to expresse the foule breach on King Henries side in the destruction of Richard Duke of Yorke Question ws proposed to them whether they would longer continue in obedience to Henries usurpation who so impiously had violated his Faith To which with an universall loude consent of voyces they cryed out No No. Then were they demanded whether they would admit Edward whose title to the Crowne was so apparent and whose sufferance had beene so great in a perfidious violent entry and a long injurious possession of the Kingdome by the family of Lancaster To which with acclamations of assent was answered Yea Yea. Thus by the Souldier and the people was Edwards title approved and he admitted King And happily did this ceremony then appeare needfull in regard the same voyces had vowed obedience to another Otherwise whosoever shall alleage that the suffrage of the multitude is necessary to confirme a Prince destroyes the right of succession and in that the Monarchie which so long and triumphantly hath ruled this Nation And to understand the incertainety and injustice of all popular election History instructs us that no Tyrant yet in England by what indirect practise soever he attaind or cruelty maintaind the government but entred in by a seeming approbation of the Common-wealth and setled his state by confirmation of the People For I know not by what universall distemper of humors it happens that generally when the head of this Kingdome hath beene sicke the whole body was diseased so farre that usurpation hath beene ligitimated and tyrannie applauded Which misfortune must have necessarily beene occasioned through Potencie of the prevailing faction and feare which possest all honest mindes who though they neither wanted knowledge to see the injury nor desire to redresse it yet private interest made them too cowardly to undertake the remedy But in Edwards first in trance on the Kingdome the popular suffrage which in the inauguration of Christian Princes is of ancient custome esteemed a convenient ceremonie met with a just title For he by his Grandmother daughter and heire of Mortuner sonne and heire to Philippa onely childe of Lionell Duke of Clarence third sonne to Edward
the third King of England of necessity must have where women are admitted to inherit better claime to the Crowne than Henry the sixt though in the fourth descent from Edward the third by John of Gaunt being but his fourth sonne For however Casuists may dispute or civill Lawyers argue The being removed one degree further can no way prejudice succession Whereby the younger brother may come to bee prefer'd before the elder brothers sonne if by chance the elder dye during his Fathers life An injustice so against reason and custome that whosoever yet attempted it was reputed to violate the lawes of Nature From St. Johns fields the principall of the armie and Common Councell of the Cittie brought newes of this Election to Edward Earle of March remaining at Baynards Castle Who soone as he understood the intention of their addresse with such modestie as some Clergie man may have used at his consecration who by simonaicall practise hath obtaind a Bishoprick refused that a while which most ambitiously he covered But soone the animation of the Arch-bishop of Canterbury the Earle of Warwicke the Bishops of London and Exeter and divers others of eminence prevail'd and he at their request tooke on him the Royaltie That night he rested the next morning with as much ceremonie and state as the shortnesse and unquietnesse of the time could licence in solemne procession he went to Paules whence after Te Deum sung and oblation made hee rod to Westminster there seated in the most perspicuous place of the great Hall with the Scepter of St. Edward the Confessor in his hand himselfe made declaration of his double title to the Crowne First by descent as heire to the third sonne of Edward the third the Line of whose eldest sonne Edward the blacke Prince extinguisht in the deposition and parâ—icide of Richard the second procured by Henry of Bullingbrooke first King of the house of Lancaster Edward the thirds second sonne dying without issue Secondly by authority of Parlament which upon examination of the Duke of Yorkes title confer'd the possession of the Kingdome immediately on him or his heires when Henry the sixth should make forfeiture of it by death resignation or breach of that Accord sworne there so solemnely by them And that this accord was broken the slaughter of the Duke opprest with unequall numbers on King Henries partie at the battell of Wakefield did sadly manifest Neverthelesse he protested himselfe ready to forgoe the justice of his claime ratherthan to enter upon it without their free vote At which unanimously the Assembly cryed King Edward King Edward Ioyfull that their voyces might confirme him King who had daign'd them so humble a complement as to professe that he would not receive the title without their suffrage The formalitie of this second Election thus past he went in Procession to the Abbie whence after much solemnitie and homage of all the Nobility there present he returned by water to the Bishop of Londons Pallace and was immediately proclaimed King throughout the City by the name of Edward the Fourth The first fortnight of his Raigne was died I will not say stain'd with the blood of Walter Walker a Grocer who keeping shop at the signe of the Crowne in Cheapeside sayd he would make his sonne heire to the Crowne a bold jest broke in an evill time yet doe I not side with them in opinion who taxe the King of severity in this execution unlesse I could cleere this man from being particularly factious for the house of Lancaster or know that these words were uttered in innocent mirth without any scorne to King Edwards Title And however perhaps the extraordinary punishment of such saucie language was not then unnecessary to beget authority and make men cautious to dispute the descent of Princes when the question was so nice and arguments not improbable on either side But here in her very first curtesie Fortune raisd King Edward higher than the endeavours of a long ambition had done his Father For now was he consecrated King in the Imperiall City of this Realme adornd with every circumstance of Soveraigntie and all his enterpises hitherto so flattered with successe that he could promise nothing but prosperity to his hopes Yet was the ground whereon he built uncertaine and his state brought into comparison with his Competitor fraile and obnoxious to ruine For Henry had equall dignity with the advantage of a long Raigne an uninterrupted descent in Majestie for threescore yeares a soveraigntie acknowledg'd abroad by all Christian Princes and obeyd at home by all Engilshmen without dispute a title according to the Law Salique indubitable and which had beene confirmed at the first entry of his Grandfather Henry the fourth into the Kingdome not onely by resignation of Richard the second by generall acknowledgement of all the Nobilitie and by authority of Parliament but even by approbation nay particular negotiation of Edmond Duke of Yorke Edward Duke of Aumerle Richard Earle of Cambridge Grandfather Great Vncle and Great Grandfather to the late anointed King Edward the Fourth Onely a feeble judgement and a long evill fortune rendred Henry the sixt inferiour to counterpoise which Queene Margaret and the Lords of her side were daring and vigilant omitting on stratagem or endeavor that might adde to the honour or safety of their designes Whereupon slie continued still in the North and oblieging that people every day more to her devotion labourd to prepare such an armie as might upon the worst of fortune be able enough for defence And soone she found how much her owne and the authoritie of the great Lords of her side prevail'd having rais'd threescore thousand fighting men and they all resolv'd with expence of their blood to buy backe that Majestie which the house of Lancaster by evill fate had lost An armie if arm'd and order'd well able to oppose the mightiest enemie or undertake the boldest enterprise On sight of which the Queene entertain'd a confidence easily to scatter the Forces of the new Mushrome King who in a night seem'd to have sprung up to Majestie Especially when she understood how with unequall power hee marcht Northward A clime not unlikely to prove as distastrous to him as to his Father For King Edward soone as the voyce of the people had saluted him Prince resolv'd with hazard of his new gain'd Soveraigntie to extirpate his great opposer For while the side of Lancaster was supported with the devotion of so large a portion of the Kingdome as yet adhear'd to Henry he could be King but at the curtesie of his Faction and the body of the Land must of necessitie grow monstrous being charg'd with two heads each of which look'd divers wayes He therefore while his men had yet the memorie of their late good fortune fresh in their courage marcht toward the Queene and chose rather as worthier his spirit to provoke than expect an enemie Of his arrivall at Pomfret Castle when it was understood and that
〈◊〉 For wiâ—â— the King of Scotland with 〈◊〉 is in the neerest place of safety she lâ—â—â—â—â—er hâ—â—â—â—â—nd to confirme a secure friendship she contracted a neere alliance by promising the young Prince her sonne in marriage to his lister And that this marriage might not seeme a gift but a bargaine shee â—â—â—ght the Lady by 〈◊〉 of Barwicke into the Scotâ—â—ands â—â—â— strongest Fort 〈◊〉 English 〈◊〉 in the North. But the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ever â—â—â—â—â—â—er son their 〈◊〉 and forâ—â— to â—opâ—â—ghaâ—e what otherwise they would with 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 perswaded to receive With Lewes the Eleventh the French King she prevail'd little though neere to him 〈◊〉 confanguinity for the discontent of his Nobility held him incontinuall suspition Otherwise she had title to promise her selfe large supplies from so potent and politicke a Prince whose interest it must no reasâ—â— have beene by fomenting discord at home to hinder us from any attempt abroad After â—uch 〈◊〉 she obtain'd that he declared himselfe â—â—â— King Henry By prohibiting all favorers of the house of Yorke accesse into the French dominions and opening them to all those of the party of Lancaster A negative kinde of helpe which rather showed there yet was Sanctuary left for Henries unhappie friends than any considerable ayde to be expected Phillip Duke of Burgundie though a mighty Prince and neere allyed to Lancaster whose wives mother was Philippa daughter to John of Gaunt by age and a passionate love to quiet was become altogether unactive Neither had Charles Earle of Charolois his sonne though of a daring Spirit and an affecter of businesse leisure to looke over into our Island being engaged to domestick troubles and suspitious of the designes of the French King With Charolois the Duke of Britaine held a strong confederacie and both of them intelligence with the discontented Lords of France The warre which was afterward so knowne by the name of the Weale-Publique being at that time among them privately in contrivance so that all these neighboring Princes to whom the affaires of England might seeme considerable were wholly taken up with attention to their owne The Emperor Frederick the third was more remote and so cautious from entring into the quarrels of other men that by any Art even with losse he would decline his owne Moreover he justly stood in continuall feare of the growing Fortune of the Turke who having lately subverted the Easterne threatned now ruine to the Westerne Empire and questionlesse had not the great God of Armies miraculously given a stop to his victories Christendome had now beene onely severall Provinces slaved to his tyrannie For pride and emulation had then turn'd our Armes upon our selves and left our bodies naked to the scourge of the common enemie Spaine was far off divided betweene a Christian and Mahometan government each labouring the extirpation of the other so that they had liberty to be Actors in no Tragoedie but their owne And indeede no conflict is so fierce and irreconciliable as when Religion animates to warre and makes it pietie to be cruell To her Father therefore who enjoyed the specious title of King of Sicily Naples and Hierusalem but possession of none of them the afflicted Queene was forc't to make a sad retreate A poore contemptible Lord living now to see his sonne in Law once the greatest Monarch of the Christian world a Prince as meerely titular as himselfe As if it had beene the Fate of these two that the one could say he might have beene the other that once he was a King Leaving therefore forraigne states intentive to their owne designes with her sonne whom to move compassion she had carried up and downe the Queene return'd to Scotland by her long but unsuccesfull labour having gathered together five hundred French a number so small and so unworthy the name of an Armie that it was but a competent retinue for so great a Princesse With these neverthelesse she sayld to Timmouth whence she was repulst by the inhabitants soone as shee landed and forc't againe to put to Sea But there for where may the unfortunate meete with friendship she found the winds her enemies whose unruly force drave her at length disorderly to Barwicke Heere some thinne regiments of Scots resorted to her in company of whom she entred Northumberland her husband 〈◊〉 in the Froâ—â— that the name and presence of King 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 invite the people to their ancient service and 〈◊〉 Authority to the designeâ— Bâ—â— soone thâ—â—e 〈◊〉 her error for hope not compassion 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 danger and the Commonalty fate still 〈◊〉 by rising they understood themselves onely 〈◊〉 to shaâ—â— in the Kings misfortune For having upon a just aâ—câ—ouâ—â— discoverd how warâ—â— iâ— oâ—ely necessary to the most desperate and that in the 〈◊〉 it leaves them to nothing but bâ—ggâ—ry and â—â—â—â—â—shment they were 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the love of 〈◊〉 and every man betookâ— himselfe to industry And for the Nobility the King had â—â—on theâ—â—â—â—thâ—t by the reputation of his fortune or teâ—râ—â— of his courage so that â—â—mâ—maâ—â—o 〈◊〉 to change subjection Onely Hâ—â—â—â—y Duke of Sommerset and Sir Ralph Percie who â—ot long before had forsooke King Hâ—nâ—y in his tempest noâ—â— upon a false hope of fairer weather stâ—â—◠〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 For it is a ridiculous â—â—â—â—ing in Historians to ascribe the action of great men â—â—râ—etually to pollicie since iâ—resolution prevailes equally â—â—â—â—â— them as with the vulgar And why might â—â—â—â— desperation be gâ—t submission in these â—â—â—â— boâ—â—ing Edward and a vaine apparence of a reâ—urâ—e of fortune to King Hentiâ—s 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to this lastrevolt Vpon this so weake 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Margaret perceiving 〈◊〉 friendship 〈◊〉 husbands native Country destroy'd it as if an enemie's And â—anting forcâ— to râ—ach the prosperitie of her Competitor â—â—ll â—â—â—elly 〈◊〉 the Common people 〈◊〉 â—itherto beene onely subject to his Fortune bâ—aâ—ing iâ—waâ—dly a 〈◊〉 passionate love to the famely of Lancaster But this oâ—â—rageous carriage of the Armie chang'd absolutely their affections to the Queene Who was questionlesse by necessitie compel'd to things unlawfull whereby to prevent the disbanding of her Forces which were onely payd and kept together by a licencious spoyle To oppose against this attempt which onely betray'd the weaknesse of the Enemie King Edward sent downe the Lord Mountague himselfe staying behind to raise an Armie befitting the greatnesse of his name and present quarrell Giving likewise order that his Navie should guard the Seas to hinder any succours to the Queene from forraigne confederates But this was an unnecessary caution tâ— no state abroad being so desperate as to imbarque itselfe iâ— the broken seat of her Fortune Mountague at Land had a braver occasion to shew his courage who having in the Bishoprick of Durâ—sme gathered convenient Forces marcht directly against King Henry By the way the Lords Hungerford and Rosse and Sir Ralph Percie presented themselves to hinder his farther course but perceiving the good order and courage of his Armie all fled but the
valiant Percie Who disdaining to reprive his life beyond his honour or to shew the least weakenesse beneath his name or Spirit fought it out with his 〈◊〉 till overpâ—est with number he and his were all cut to peeces Encourag'd with his successe Mountague attempts without expectation of any farther succour or direction to finish the presenâ— warâ—e and immediately marches to a plaine neere the River Dowell in Hexam-shire where King Henries Armie lay encampt The Campe he suddenly assaults in the night and had taken it without any losse had not the enemie beyond reason gathered themselves into some order and valiantly oppos'd But no courage could withstand the Fortune and spirit of Mountague for the Queenes Campe at length was lost and in it taken the Duke of Sommerset the Lords Hungerford Rosse Moulins and Hussie with Wentworth and Finderne Knights Sommerset on the place lost his head the rest sent to Newcastle to suffer there the same punishment But King Henry and the Queene escap'd at the first on set whose Tragoedy drew not yet nere the last Act. King Edward whose Fortune fought for him even in his absence encounter'd the newes of this victory in his march toward Durisme so that finding the presence of his person and Armie needlesse he return'd toward Yorke Giving command to Warwicke to take in all the Forts and Castles which yet in the North held out On the way he was certified of the apprehension of King Henries person who was surprized as he endeavord by shifting from place to place to have recovered Scotland With the joy of which report King Edward returnd to London whether as yet hee never came but glorious in the accession of some new Triumph The sonne of Sir Edward Talbot of Lanca-shire apprehended King Henry as he sate at dinner at Waddington Hall and forgetting all respect due to so great a Prince like a common malefactor with his legges tyed under the horse belly guarded him up toward London By the way the Earle of Warwick met him who adding indignities to his affliction with the generall reproaches of the people the acclamations they give to the unfortunate led him prisoner to the Tower The onely companions of his present calamity were Doctor Manning Deane of Windsore and Doctor Bedle both of so divine a calling as shewed no misfortune could seperate him from his Pietie The miserable Queene seeing the desolation of her greatnesse her husband imprison'd all her great partakers fled or slaughter'd made againe her retreate into France and with her sonne whose preservation flatter'd her with some hope that one day he might rebuild the now ruin'd house of Lancaster fled to her fathers Court. A most wretched Sanctuary to her feares where she had onely leisure by long sufferance to prepare her minde for future misery But this her dejection rais'd Edward up to an unsuspicious Soveraigntie so that now he began to set strong the disjoynted body of his Kingdome And knowing liberalitie the onely ligament that ties affection to a Prince he resolv'd by attaindor of his enemies to enable himselfe to reward the services of his friends And though hee pretended the gate of mercie ever to stand open to the submission of the Lancastrians yet few or none accepted the favour either distrustfull of his reallitie or feeding their hopes with imagination that the tide of Fortune would not still flow with so impetuous a torrent But King Edward disdaining a faction so contemptible in their ruine should disdaine his clemencie proceeded to punishment The Earledome of Pembrooke an honour heretofore enjoy'd by Jasper Teuther halfe brother to Henry the sixth he bestowed on Sir William Herbert a Knight of Wales both for descent and power most eminent and to whose ayde a great part of the present felicitie was owing To the Lord Mountague whose person and service he equally lov'd he gave the opulent possessions belonging to the family of the Percies But the most open hand cannot satisfie the expectation of great deservers who set so high a price upon their merits that they leave their Princes no power of reward The greatest benefit being received in the degree of a debt not a gift And certainely Mountague and his brother Warwicke had by too much merit even disobleig'd the King what honour soever they were in future to have being so little able to cancell the obligation it could scarce defray the interest And in that way was this title and inheritance accepted which gave the King occasion to distaste whom otherwise he would with passion have embrac'd Whereupon reflecting on the danger of adding power to them who wanted onely will to doe mischiefe and knowing how easily innovation might be resolv'd on when nothing but the conscience was to be perswaded he began seriously to wish the mightinesse of that family hee owed the crowne to in some degree lessend Yet that hee might no way appeare unthankefull to so great deserts he thought fit to weaken their strength and yet to adde to the spender of their title Whereupon he willingly admitted the friends of Percie to interced for restitution both of honor and revenue and soone granted it Rewarding Mountague with the more specious stile of Marquesse But this state-tricke was by the brothers easily understood and accepted with the same brow they would have entertaind an injurie Which the King dissembled and to build his estimation high in the ayre of popular applause endeavord by all the Arts of humble greatnesse to endeare himselfe into the opinion of the multitude His presence was easie to any mans love or curiositie his aspect cleere and smiling his language free and familiar And to the Ladies who have also their share in the motion of states he applyed a generall courtship which used by a Prince and of so amiable a personage made them usually the Idolls of others Idolaters of him Among his Nobility he was so supple in gesture and liberall in affability that he appeard King not in his assumption of state but in their application of duty This to winne outward applause while to settle an inward sence of his wisdome he looked into abuses of Officers and reformed them Neither was there any oppression or mistake in government but what he releiv'd or corrected And that it might appeare how zealously â—ee sought due administration of justice he in person sate three dayes together on his Bench at Westminster Hall which though it little advanced the uncorcupted execution of the lawes yet it serv'd happily for example and created what hee then most courted opinion Thus he grew upon his people at home while abroade the neighbouring states began to decline the danger of his future enmitie who ever measure the power of Princes by that sway and affection they have among their subjects Charles Earle of Charolois a widdower but without heire male heire to a large and opulent territory the seventeene Provinces with the Duchie and County of Burgundie and the greatest part of Picardie being subject
blood By which Act they rais'd so feirce an appetite oâ— revenge in the enemie that the next day they gave the Earle battell and the fight was long and cruell Neither â—ad the victory fallen so absolutely to the Northerne men but that John Clopton reâ—ainer to the Earle of Warwicke appearing upon the top of a neighbouring hill with five hundred ragged and disordred men uâ—der Warwickes standard and the Northerne men at their approach crying out a Warwicke a Warwickeâ— made the Welch beleeve all the Rebell Forces were there and that it would be but foolish desperation to fight it out against an enemie fresh and so farre superior in number whereupon they â—â—ed In the battell and the flight five thousand of the Welch were slâ—ine and among the few prisoners the Earle of Pembrooke and Sir Richard Herbert were taken whose heads soone after were sacrific'd upon the Scaffold to the Ghost of Nevill Their valour and brave direction begetting an universall sorrow to the Kings partie in their deaths and even an envie in the conquering Enemie Neither did the Lord Sâ—afford the author of this overthrow escape condigne punishment for by diligent inquiry found in Devonsâ—ire without processe at Bridgewater hee lost his head Having so inconsiderately managed his businesse that he betrayd King Edwards Armie upon a false apprehension of an affront and yet provided not thereby to wâ—nne favour so far with the enemie as by their Armes to protect himselfe from the Kings just indignation This victory added yet a bolder courage to the attempt of Warwicke but into the Northerne multitude it infused a madnesse not to be cured by any councell or direction For immediately some companies of them retired into Northampton shire where associating to them certaine of the most desperate inhabitants no mischiefe was left unacted The name they gave their Commander if such a disorder'd rabble could obey any was Robin Riddisdale and their first assault on Graâ—ton a seate belonging to King Edwards Father-in-Law the Earle Rivers The place their wilde rage soone possest and among the other spoyles violently taken there were the Earle himselfe and Sir John Widdevill his younger Sonne These they prosently led to Northampton and there beheaded without any forme of Law that deform'd body having no eare open to any discourse but to that of blood and fury An envied life and cruell death was the Summe of all those favours confer'd by Fortune on this Lord esteem'd so happie in his owne marriage with Jaquet widdow of John Duke of Bedford and daughter to Peter of Luxenburgh Count St. Paul and in his daughters with the present King For as the assent to these strange heights are ever malign'd so the desent is ruinous and fatall Not any one of seven sonnes which this Lord was Father â—o leaving behind him issue to perpeâ—uate the â—ame some of them likewise extinguishing violently A misery either seldome happening oâ— not observ'd in meaneâ— families This great dâ—lâ—ate and these inâ—olencies â—o beyond the sufferance of a Prince together with the Earle of Warwickes openly professing himselfe head to this vaste body of Rebells strooke an astonishment in the Kings Armie and I will not say feare but strange diffidence in the King himselfe Which inclin'd him to listen to the safer though lesse noble advice of them who perswaded him to end all dissention with the Earle by treaty For in this so universall disease of the Kingdome there was some sound men both of the Clergie and Nobility yet left whom faction did not interesse in mischiefe and who out of experience of past miseries were willing to prevent future By their mediation though the Armies by this time were so neere encampt that they could hardly part without battell were every houre made new overtures of peace and on both sides not un willingly received The Earle of Warwicke whose pretence was that of all Rebels The good of the Kingdome entertain'd these Treaties with a humilâ—ty beneath his nature and late advantages neither appear'd stubborne to bend downe to the lowest submission so provision might bee made for the publique benefit Yet never in all these apparences of a calme did he neglect to prepare himselfe against the roughest storme of warre knowing the best way to bee recoâ—cil'd upon safe termes to an enemie is not to be necessitated to peace But the King of a waâ—en nature apt to receive any impressâ—ons best pleas'd his present humour would not trouble his quiet to believe there might be fallacie in Warwickeâ— pretensions Whereupon imagining that had received perfection which was then but in â—â—itation â—hee neglected the order of warre and began in his Campe to taste the pleasures of Court Which evill discipline observ'd by the Earle hee takes the advantage suddenly sets on the Kings field kills the watch and in the dead of night at Wollny within foure miles of Warwicke surpriseth his person buried in a carelesse sleepe So that hee no sooner waked but found how false his dreame had beene which flatter'd him with peace This so unhappie negligence betray the King to an insulting enemie who up brayded his prisoner in the most insolent termes with ingratitude to his great merits and boasted it was now both in his power and resolution to plaine that mountaine he had rais'd and raise the humbled vally of King Henries fortunes up to the throne he once possest And presently sent away the King prisoner to Middleham Castle in Yorke-shire there to be kept by his brother busie Archbishop of that Sea Not daring to retaine him longer least his Armie might unite and hazzard the recovery of their Prince In this middle and unsafe course of managing his great fortune questionlesse the Earle committed a maine oversight For either by a free delivery with some conditions advantagious for himselfe and friends and what conditions would the King then not have sign'd hee should have cast a perpetuall obligation upon him or else by destroying him have secured his designe from after hazzard knowing that no prison could hold a Prince which would not open to corruption or battery and no brother could have a faith so strong which would not bee in danger to bee weakned either by threates or promises But perhaps this way of pollicie was onely beaten by that time and the proud Earle tooke a glory to keepe the whole Kingdome at his devotion and the two Competitors his Captives for both of them his Fortune had imprison'd But King Edward grew soone weary of the restraint as whom a long practise in the liberty of pleasure had not endued with such a tamenesse as armed King Henry He therefore presently casts his eye about to finde some way so redeeme his person from captivitie and his honour from so darke an errour as by negligence to have beene surprised And having upon pretence of necessary exercise for health obtained licence to hunt in the adjoyning Parke he so contrived with Sir William Stanley and Sir Thomas Burgh that unexpected
they came to his rescue with a number and resolution farre superiour to those who guarded him With them hee escapes to Yorke and so to Lancaster where the Lord Hastings Lord Chamberlaine had gathered some Forces With this increase of followers hee marcht directly to London his Company growing by the way to such a body as might not unworthily bee termed a Armie Into the Citty hee was receiv'd with accustom'd triumph the affection of the inhabitants ever devoted to his prosperity The occasion of which extraordinary zeale was certainely either a delight to continue him their Prince whom their voyces first inaugurated King or a hope by his re-establishment to recover those vaste summes of money his necessities heretofore had borrowed in the Citty or else a generall affection borne him by the Merchants wives who having according to the uxorious humour of our Nation a command over their husbands urged them on to side with that Prince the beautie of whose personage not the justice of whose title moved them But the Earle of Warwicke soone as he had intelligence of the escape and the fortune which attended it was distracted with a thousand severall imaginations He had just reason to suspect his brother the Arch-bishops faith as corrupted by the Kings perswasions as likewise the weight of his owne reputation in the Kingdome growne lighter by so evill managing so good a fortune He condemned the folly of his too much confidence in having disbanded his Armie and knew the difficulty if not the impossibility suddenly to reinforce it But this was the inward part of him outwardly he descended nothing from the height of his greatnesse and resolution And to secure his former designe hee directed his letters to all the Lords of his Faction and advise them to reasemble for the common safety The solicitation of those good men who heretofore had labourd peace continued still and so effectually endeavord that in fine they brought both parties to agree upon an enterview in Westminster Hall There vvas enterchange of oathes for safety on both sides and nothing but a perfect râ—union of friendship generally expected But no sooner vvas the Earle of Warwicke who came accompanied by the Duke of Clarence wisht to expresse his desires but hee fell into a bold expostulation of injuries And his language sweld to such intemperance so far beyond the limits of that modesty becomes a subjects mouth that the King full of indignation departed the Hall and immediately tooke his journey to Canterbury on the other side the Earle wilde in his anger poasted to Lincolne both making preparation for a second enterview when the sword should both dispute and decide the controversie Who ever perswaded these two great spirits to this meeting err'd grosely in judgement how zealous soever they were in their intention For who could possibly imagine but the thunder of warre should necessarily follow that storme which the recapitulation of injuries must beget since expostulations unlesse there be some apparent mistake or that the one partie by evill fortune be bowed to to an over-low submission may well give a growth to rancor never extirpate it But experience all enterviws coÌ„demnes till by CoÌ„missioners who with more patience can argue all dissentions are reconcil'd And most of all against any betweene a Prince and his subject since a subject hardly containes his language from insolencie when by the disproportionable greatnesse of his fortune he is admitted upon even tearmes to contest with his Soveraigne and a Prince goes downe more than one step from Majestie when he is forc'd to descend so low as to hold parley with a Rebell The King understanding that the greatest part of the Earles Forces were under the conduct of Sir Robert Wells and that by his good discipline they were become expert Souldiers and had done some service against Sir Thomas Burgh sent for Richard Lord Wells his Father that having possession of him he might either withdraw the Sonne from Warwicke or at least take off the edge from his violent proceedings The Lord Wells in obedience to the Kings command with his brother in Law Sir Thomas Dimock addressed his journey toward the Court but having by the way secret notice of the Kings high displeasure and how unsafe his approach would be secured himselfe in Sanctuary But the King resolv'd upon any termes to get him granted a generall pardon and received him with promise of all faire usage Vpon which he came forth and onely at his approach to the Kings presence was advised by letters to recall his sonne from rebellion and himselfe to beare a loyall heart These letters dispatcht with as much authority as a father could challenge he remaind in a kinde of twilight betweene favour and ruine till the messengers returne Who bringing backe no answere from the Sonne in obedience to his fathers command but rather a justification of his enterprise so farre incenst the King that he presently caused the Lord Wells and Dimock to be beheaded An act barbarous and unfaithfull For what just grounds soever the King might have to build suspition on that Wells did not effectually perswade his sonne or that inwardly he wisht better to the affaires of Warwicke yet ought he not to have violated his word And it is a most poore excuse to say a sudden rage was guilty of this mischiefe The report of this execution clouded generally the reputation of the King but in Sir Robert Wells it begot nothing but fury and revenge And indeede rage so far blinded his judgement that contrary to all perswasion and sober direction not attending Warwickes comming who every day was expected he drew out his Forces and charged the Kings Armie Who received him with equall courage and while hope of vengeance transported him too farre inclosed him and with threescore and seaven more tooke him prisoner Vpon the place and in the flight were slaine of the enemie ten thousand on the Kings side onely thirteene hundred They who escapt to make their flight the swifter cast away their coates which gave to this battell the name of Loose-coate field The prisoners immediately were executed Sir Robert Wells having onely in his short delay of death the longer libertie to expresse his hatred against the King and his perfidious crueltie This overthrow forc'd Warwicke to new resolution for his maine Forces by the precipitation of the Commander destroy'd he foresaw that suddenly he could not recover an Armie able to give the King battell and how open to be surprised the least interim would render him Whereupon leisurely for his great Spirit disdain'd any thing that resembled flight he retired to Exetor whence having dismissed the remainder of those troopes attended him he went to Dart-mouth There with many Ladies and a large retinue he tooke ship and directly sayld to Callice While the King no way laboured either by land or sea to impeach their journie either content with the former halfe victory for nothing could have made it perfect but
nothing above the decorum of a subject to aske or a Prince to grant But Warwicke had a spirit too stubborne to bow downe to any conditions which himselfe had not beene the first proposer of and as an injury threw backe all offers of curtesie And now too late he began to curse the error of his indulgency which had added power to these brothers onely for his owne destruction From Edward he could expect no safetie for hee deserv'd it not having canceld all former obligations by his last revolt by which he forc'd him to so hazardous a flight and from George he could not look for a true faith considering for the only apparence of better hopes he had heretofore broke it even with a brother And from both what thought of perfect friendship unlesse and that his nature could never suffer he would fall beneath his former height in which should hee continue suspition would never let him remaine secure from danger That subject scarse never having beene reputed innocent in whose power it was to be nocent Whereupon King Edward by all the charmes of former friendship and promise of future unable to lay the spirit that raged in Warwicke left him obstinate in the prosecution of his owne designes And accompanied with his late reconcild brother and followed by a gallant Army marcht to London Where the Citizens out of conscience of their late oath taken so solemnly to King Henry made some show of resistance but soone the care of their owne safetie absolvd them from that scruple instructing them that oaths by feare retorted lay no obligation upon the soule And with much alacritie they yeelded up their City together with the person of King Henry reserv'd still to be made the sport of fortune For certainly history showes us not an example of any Prince who in so many vicissitudes never met with one fully to his advantage So that justly wee might have condemnd him for unhappy had he not beene endued with such a piety as raisd him above his fortune and united him to God At his entrance into the Citie as generall applause entertaind King Edward all those inhabitants who had covertly wisht happy successe to his affaires now openly expressing their triumph The Queene and those many of the Kings nearest followers who for the space of six moneths had secured themselves in Sanctuary running forth to congratulate their owne in his restitution And even in this generall alacritie concurd the vowes of many Merchants natives and forrainers who before had hated him and supplyed King Henry with money to his destruction For the King out of the easinesse of his naturall disposition and a desire that at this universall triumph there should not be a sad looke so much as among his enemies gave their offences a generall pardon Onely letting them understand that hee knew both the value of his owne mercy and of the greatnesse of their forfeitures their ayding the contrary faction having lost them their estates and liberties and in rigor their lives Neither was this an unhappy pollicy in him to obliege many by the forgiving that the extremity of which had he taken his businesse being then so unsetled might have endangered a mutiny in the City upon the first approach of the enemy Having therefore by his happy fortune comforted his friends and by his clemency wonne upon the affection of the rest and so setled the Town to his obedience that he suspected no danger at his backe he led forth his Army to oppose the Earle of Warwicke who having reunited his scatâ—erd forces by easie marches was come to Saint Aâ—ban The reason of bringing his power so neare London was a confidence hee had his reputation among the inhabitants would draw many to his part or at least so divide them that they should be no advantage to the King But the King jealous of their levitie as who had knowne them how affectionate soever they profitted themselves to his fortune siding still with the prevailer interposed his Army betweene the Citie and the enemy whereby he cut off even the possibilitie of intelligence And that the presence of King Henry might not be the occasion of any tumulâ— in London nor his escape adde such 〈◊〉 Warwicks quarrell oâ— hereafter â—â— danger a fâ—â—â—â—er warre hee â—â— oâ—â— hiâ— to the battaile Where by the poore disâ—â—â—st King what side so â—â—e prevaiâ—â—â— was moâ—â—lly certaine of destruction Vpon a Plaiâ—â— neare â—â—rner 〈◊〉 way betweene London and Saiâ—â— Alban the King pitcht his field The 〈◊〉 commanded by the Duke of Glocester the Rere by the Lord 〈◊〉 â—he maine battaile by himselfe To the common Souldier heeded no incouragement of words the great examples of their Leaders was the best Oratory And noâ—e of them but understood their lives estates and liberties at â—he â—take Their â—â—incâ— if overthrownâ— every day â—oâ—â—â—liloâ— to produce new troubles and new dangers 〈◊〉 a full 〈◊〉 of this warre with 〈◊〉 and triumph On the other side the Earle of Warwicke with as bol◠〈…〉 The right Wing which consisted of Horse he committed to the Earle of Oxford in whose company â—ought the Marquesse Mountague The leâ—â— to the Duke of Exeter and the maine â—arâ—â—â—lâ— which was composed of Bills and Bowes the best sinâ—â—es of oâ—â— English strength to the Duke of Sommerset Hee himselfe giving direction in every quarter And when hee had 〈◊〉 his whole hoste and liked both their order and their courage hee 〈◊〉 away his Horse resolving to figâ—â— oâ— foote and that day to try the uâ—most of his fortune prefâ—â—iâ—g 〈◊〉 his imaginations no meane betweene victory and death Then be lovingly in bear'd â—â— those great Commanders in every of whâ—â— appearid a â—â—solution equall to the cause And having by 〈◊〉 protestations declared their sincere faith and forwardnesse to the present service every man betâ—â—ke himselfe to his severall charge Nothing extraâ—â—dinary to beâ— observed in ordering the field on eitâ—er side but that neither George Duke of Clarence nor the Marquesse Mountague commanded any way in chiefe that day So impossible it was to extirpate that suspition which by their foâ—mer actions had takeâ— roote in their brothers minds It was Faster day in the morning a day too sacred to be profaned with so much blood when both Armies addrest themselves to fight That for the King tooke courage from the justice of their quarrell and the fortune of their Prince That of the Earle from the long experience and noble valour of their Leader and from the pietie of him for whose redemption that day they had brought their lives to the hazard Both fought for their Kings both Kings having beene crown d and by severall Parliamentâ— acknowledged And indeede the question was so subtill that even among Divines it had held long and at that day remained not absolutely decided No marvell then if the common souldier had on both sides the same assurance of truth since if they have any their faith for the most is led by
remainder of all her stocke Having therefore yeelded to this resolution she leaves the Sanctuary and puâ—s her selfe in armes The very name of Prince Edward like an adamant attracted multitudes to the warre Her companies immediately sâ—ee advanced to Both where the Duke of Sommerset and the â—arle of Deâ—vonshire were high in reputation and by whose Authority dayly new forâ—es came into the Princes service Yet were they not growne to so full a number as might incourage the Queen to thinke upon a battle Whereupon she keepâ—s her selfe in the Towne untill the comming of Jaspâ—â— Earle of Pembrooke upon the addition of which Welâ—h Forces she resolved to take the field and encounter King Edward Who soone as he had perfect intelligence of her resolutions gathered his army together which he ever too confident of peace so amourously couâ—ted by him had after the victory at Darâ—â—â— licenced to disperse it selfe And with so unexpected suddennesse he made his preparations that before the returne of Pembrooke he incamped at Marâ—eborough within fifteene miles of Bath and by the interposition of his Army hindered all suâ—â—â—urs could come to the enemy from Wales Which so neere approach distracted the resolutions of the Queene and made her suspect her safety if shee remained longer there Wherefore the retired to Bristow from whence she sent to the Lord Bâ—uchampe of â—oâ—yâ—â— who had the keeping both of the City and Castle of Glocester to desire passage over â—â—â—â—â—ne there 〈◊〉 â—â—â—â—ed her and â—orâ—ed her to â—â—â—â—â— up â—o â—â—â—â—â—â—ry there to endeavour to crosse the 〈◊〉 In her way â—â—â—ther as she past by Glocester which in 〈◊〉 she durst â—â—â—â—â— assaulâ— though by the former 〈◊〉 provoked he taking advantage of the place and some disorder in the Queenes Reâ—eward fell suddenly upon it and carryed away after some slaughter of the uncircumspect Souldier much of her Artillery This losse troubled her a little but when she found her selfe pursued by King Edward so close that before she could reach Tâ—wxbury he wiâ—â— his Horsewere in sight despeâ—ation â—â—â—â—â—d her so that she began onely to looke which way to flye And indeed to that extremity was her businesse reduced that there was left no no other hope of safety The King having so much oddes in courage and number But the Duke of Sommerset prevailed against her feares and the sober opinion of most of the best Commanders Vpon which neglecting to scape at first into â—â—â—â—â— where Peâ—brooke had raised mighty Forces for her service She was soone by the King necessitaâ—ed either to yeeld or endure the battaile Whereupon she resolved to fight it out â—hat day which was the last and that which decided the great quarrell betweene the two houses The Duke of Sommer set 〈◊〉 field in a Park adâ—oyâ—ing to the Towne and 〈◊〉 this Camp round so high and so strong that the enemy could on no side force it â—â—â—â— when he perceived an inevitable necessity of present fight he Marshall'd his host for the service The Foreward he and his brother commanded the Earle of Devonshire the Rerâ— In the maine Battaile was the Prince under the direction of the Lord Prior and the Lord Wenlocke The Queene seeing the houre draw neere and that there was need the Souldier should have advantage of valour to equal the enemy who bad it in multitude tooke the Prince with her and â—ode about the army In her looke appear'd nothing but life and resolution in her language almost an assurance of victory So cunningly she concealed the wound her despaire had given her that then onely it bled inward Shee told them that it rested in their courage that day to restore their imprisoned King to liberty and his Crowne and themselves not to safety onely but to honour and treasure For the wealth of the rebellious Cities should be their spoyle the Kingdome their inheritance to be divided onely among them and all those titles the enemies so proudly wore to be conferr'd upon their deserts If the inequality of number frighted them shee showed it was not such but that they might be confident their great hearts animated by the justice of the cause would easily take away the disparity Then she wisht them to looke upon the Prince whose personage the fond Mother thought would make them like desperate lovers contemne danger and fight for him their fellow Souldier with whom they were to share in fortune and who once in possession of the Throne would never forget them by whose courage he was seated there The Souldier generally appear'd resolved against the sharpest danger receiving her words with much alacritie And soone as the Signall was given bravely repulst the Duke of Glocester who having the leading of King Edwards vantguard had assaulted the Queenes Campe. Vpon which repulse the Duke of Sommerset seeing Glocester retire with some apparence of flight an apparence indeede it was onely to betray the enemy ran after â—o farre in the pursute that there was no safetie in the retreate Then did Glocester on the suddaine turne backe upon him and having by this deceit inticed him from his trenches hee cut all the vantguard in peeces The Lord Wenlock who had the conduct of the maine battell and whom it concernd to have reliev'd the Duke onely looking on as if he were a spectator and no actor in the present tragedy Sommerset enraged with his discomfiture and having Wenlocks faith in some jealosie upon his escape backe obrayded him with the most ignominious termes of cowardize and treason and transported by the heate of passion with an Axe hee had in his hand strooke out his braines This outrage begot nothing but disorder in the Queenes Campe and so great grew the confusion that no man knew whom to obey or how or where to make resistance against the assaulting enemy So unhappy is government both in warre and peace when all authoritie is not conferd on one a multitude of Commanders dividing the obedience of the inferior and ever distracting resolutions among themselves Whereas nature instructs us to a Subordination and as in our owne so in a publique body it is monstrous either to have no head or else to have more then one The King tooke advantage of this uprore and by it gaind a most entire victory For entring without any opposition the Queenes trenches he committed a most cruell slaughter on all who resisted Three thousand of the common souldiers for they alwayes pay for the rashnesse or folly of their Commanders were slaine that day and among them the Earle of Devon-shiere the Lord John Beufort and some other Gentlemen of name The thicke of the Parke preserv'd some and the Sanctuary others but them onely for a while for King Edward who was never an overscrupulous observer of religious rites with his sword drawne would have entred the Church and forc't them thence But a good Priest carefull to maintaine the immunitie of the place with the Eucharist in his hand opposed the violence and would not
of the Army and raised a strange murmure both against S. Paul and the Duke Which increast by the difficulties of a tempestuous night with which the English after were troubled For an extraordinary raine fell and made the so open lodging very unpleasing with danger of diseases to the Army The Duke of Burgundy opposed against this discontent with his authority but in vaine For not able to give satisfaction for his owne weakenesse and breach of promise he was more disabled to cleere suspicion from another Whereupon he tooke his leave of the King intreating his and the Armies patience for a while till he brought his Forces to joyne with them and a full account from the Count S. Paul of his Garrisons demeanure at S. Quintin But this his departure compared with the former carriage of things begot yet a stronger doubt of their intentions in the English who being strangers in that place and not having any particular arme in conduct of the businesse but onely a generall resolution to regaine France interpreted these delayes and false play to direct treason And began openly to inveigh against their owne folly in confiding on the promises of such who indevored not the glory of the English name or the Kings title but onely their owne safety For preservation of which under a specious pretext of recovering a Kingdome they had seduced them into a strange Country in hope hereafter to sell them to the French And although this discourse were onely in the mouth of the common Souldier yet did the thoughts of the Commanders participate with the vulgar though not so freely opened For hitherto there had been no assurance given of any reall intention either in Burgundy or Saint Paul The much indignation exprest by the English upon this occasion was thought a strange kinde of rude ignorance and a note even of barbarisme Which censure savoures too much of malice considering it could not be judged blinde presumption induced our Nation to this undertaking the State for it having the fairest appearence of humaine reason and the religion of the strongest oathes And if the unexpected trechery of S. Paul ingendred choller why should this passion be so contemptible since an injury from a friend is ever quicker and sharper to the sence and all nations removed from their owne seates upon dangerous adventures are prone to suspicion And for ignorance in the Art of warre â— see not how by mallice it selfe it can bee obtruded upon the English since their onely misery was too much experience in armes which ever begets knowledge Neither could they be but skillfull even in the militar exercise of the Frecnh few of the Souldiery who were now of any age but their youth had beene bred up and instructed under the command of that great Captain Talbot Earle of Shrewsbury and others Not full twenty yeares expired since we turned our swords upon our selves and gave France liberty to recover breath But this delatory way in the Duke and treachery in the Count prepared the army to a good thought of peace And brought the two confederates into more hatred then an open enemy So that when an Herauld came from King Lewys he was received into the English Campe with much humanity and friendly invited by the Souldier to refresh himselfe with wine and meate till the King who was then at dinner were at leisure to give him audience For Lewys following the instructions of our Herauld soone as he understood King Edward was landed and had heard likewise of some disgusts appearing betweene him and the Duke resolved to send to him and attempt to perswade a peace But so poore was hee in the outward ceremonies of Majesty that no Herauld attended on his Campe whereupon he was enforced to suborne a fellow of whose wit and confidence he had taken some notice to act the part Who having received full instructions from his Master addrest himselfe to the Lords Stanley and Howard and the English Herauld by whose aide being brought to the King â—e hansomely delivered his message The effect of which was To show the great desire the King his Master had to live in perfect amity with all neighbouring Princes but above all with his Majesty of England as who in the extent of Empire and his owne Prowesse was most considerable That he had much reason to believe the present warre had not received the first life in England especially not in the disposition of the King which as he was informed abhorred the unnecessary drawing of Christian blood That they who had first hatcht this quarrell did it onely with their neighbours danger to procure their owne safety and when they had made an advantagious peace to conspire with him who before had beene the common enemy for beating backe their best friend the English That he doubted not but that his Majesty would suddenly finde good ground for suspicion when he should perceive the Duke of Burgundie not able to bring into the field one entire regiment All his Forces having beene utterly broken upon desperate services to which an innate love to the warre had madly engaged him Then he proceeded to excuse his Masters succouring the faction of Lancaster To which he protested he never gave comfort for it selfe but onely for the Earle of Warwickes sake Whom he supported onely to affront Burgundy whose irreconciliable enemy Warwicke had ever profest himselfe And if he had inclined more to favour King Henry he might well excuse it in respect of his neere kindred to him and his wife Queene Margaret and something too in reason of state to oppose Burgundy who pretended to be a friend how false soever he proved to the house of Yorke That if his Majestie would be pleasd to search up to the very head of this businesse hee shall find more streames of assistance to have flowed from Burgundy then from France to King Henry Duke Phillip and this Duke till his marriage with the Princesse Margaret having most passionately labord the supportation of that family to which they were so neare in kindred The conclusion was to desire his Majestie to grant a safe conduct for a hundred horse in whose company should come Embassadours enabled with larger instructions and who should make proposall of such conditions as could not bee rejected by the King or Kingdome of England since they should be for the honour and profit of both Vnlesse it would better stand with his Majesties liking to assigne a place of treatie in some village betweene both armies to which they might joyntly send Commissioners This message delivered in a soft tone expressing much humilitie and ever ascribing to the Kings greatnesse of Spirit and the nations glory together with promise to make overture of conditions both honorable and profitable begot a favorable audience And many of the great Lords who had plentifull revenues at home were as forward as the King to listen to peace and forsake unnecessary dangers abroad Neither did the greatest statists dislike
large territories in France hee certainly from his heart desired And when he invited King Edward into France to that purpose and there fail'd him of his promist succours it proceeded doubtlesse not from any underhand practise or remissenesse in the undertaking but onely by the misfortune of his Armie somewhat broken not long before at the siege of Nuze He was therefore a friend to us if an ambitious man be sayd a friend to any or rather so great an enemy to Lewys of France that he loved us onely in opposition and desired our prosperitie because it could not grow without ruine to the French How just a governor hee was in peace appertaines little to our knowledge and the world had little leasure to consider hee was so everlastingly in Armes In which as hee shewed great courage and judgement so likewise did hee commit much injustice And who will examine what licence warre gives to injury and how it imposeth almost necessitie of doing wrong may in some sort excuse him But his being ever in quarrells into which hee enter'd and continued as his passion not his reason directed him presents his spirit daring but turbulent and his valour rash and inconsiderate and takes away all pardon from his so many errors The two great blemishes upon his memory are his crueltie at Granson in Lorrain where in cold blood hee caused all the inhabitants to be kil'd the towne being yeelded to his discretion And his perfidiousnesse to the Count Saint Paul whom notwithstanding a safe conduct hee delivered up to execution into the hands of King Lewys The good men who ascribe punishment to the justice of heaven observe that after these two crimes his fortune left him and with dishonour death overtooke him when he least expected it Having at that time in his imaginations so many and so vaste designes that scarce the age and fortune of man had length and power enough to accomplish them all The death of this Prince having begot so much businesse in his life diversly affected all the neighbour countries Generally according to the custome in private families every state entertain'd it with such a passion as the advantage or disadvantage appear'd by it to themselves Some few out of love to his person hope of marriage with his daughter or compassion of humane accidents griev'd at the report But most exprest their sorrow for the libertie King Lewys had attain'd by it no man living now of power and will to oppose him should hee attempt injury and offer violence to his weaker neighbours For King Edward was so infatuated by his Arts that hee never startled at this great accident nor looked how nearely it might concerne his owne safetie So that notwithstanding hee were daily certified of new undertakings by King Lewys he rested quiet and gave free reines to his injurious ambition Who soone as he understood of the death of Duke Charles and perceived how open his countries lay to an invader Pretended the Dutchy of Burgundy for want of heires male devolved backe to the Crowne of France and by the armes of the Duke of Lorrain without further dispute tooke it in In the meane time himselfe seizing upon all Picardie which for many yeares had remain'd in possession of Dukes Philip and Charles And that he might have yet more occasion of quarrell with an unsetled Lady unable to withstand his opposition he summond the Princesse Mary Dutches of Burgundy to come in person into France to doe homage for the Countie of Flanders and her other estates held in chiefe of that Crowne But she knowing how unsafe it was to yeeld her person up to a Prince who made his advantage of every opportunitie delaid the homage and stood upon her guard as strongly as in so disorder'd a Countrey was possible For though shee were Lady of many opulent and mightie Provinces able if not to offend yet to defend themselves against the world yet were the people stubborne and prone to rebellion and who by the weakenesse of some of their Princes heretofore had purchast to themselfe too large immunities And indeed scarce any towne but had or pretended to have such prerogatives as debased all authoritie of government Which upon every change in state they revived and endeavor'd if possible to redeeme themselves from subjection And this hope more then ever now possest them considering the unexperience both of the youth and sex of her that ruled so that by apparence of their churlish carriage to the Dutchesse and small preparations against King Lewys who every day surpriz'd some place or other they rather desir'd to be exposed a prey to an insolent and cruell enemy then indure the milde government of their lawfull Princesse Shee therefore sent Embassadours to implore ayd of King Edward and declare to him the urgencie of her present necessities Who showed that their Princesse the greatest inheretrix of the world borne to a large and rich territory was at the present in a condition beneath the poorest subject that enjoyd but libertie Being detain'd captive by the hands which made restraint farre more unsupportable of her owne insolent rebells Her delivery concern'd the King of England in generall as a Prince and in particular as a neighbour and an alley Her tumultuous subjects who had dared to attempt and act this treason tooke courage from the French Kings declared enmitie An injurious proceeding in a Prince against a neighbour which justly provokes all Christendome to unite in her defence and punish so barbarous a proceeding in him That the ancient league observ'd with so much Religion betweene England and the Low Countries particularly did require his Majesties present ayd and a consideration of what might happen perhaps in his owne posteritie in the same nature did invite him to doe favours as his might challenge to receive them hereafter That even in the pollitique discretion of government it was conceiv'd that nearely it concernd the state of England to provide against so dangerous an addition of dominion to the French Considering King Lewys had already most injuriously wrested away not onely Peronne Mountdidier Tournay and all the rest of Picardie sold heretofore to Duke Phillip But seizd even upon Burgundy the inheritance of their Princess And what expresseth the inhumanitie of the tyrants and the hated malice of his intentions sommons her at this present to do homage personally for Flanders and her other territories Which sommons if shee obeyes she certainly betrayes her selfe into an everlasting captivitie or to a necessitie to surrender a large part of her inheritance for redemption And if shee refuseth shee indangers her whole estate to the surprize of a mercilesse enemy who never wanted the pretence of justice to justifie spoile and rapine They farther urged how their Princesse was not onely in her person restrain'd by her owne subjects but had not so much as apparence of any army in the field to oppose the invader The Souldier being absolutely destroyd in the former unfortunate