shoulde bee iii. Myles out of his Realme Wherat the kyng was sore abashed and not without good cause For a kingdome deuyded in it selfe cannot be quieted without great trouble and bloodshed And the saide Cardinall bare so great a swaye that the king durst not come into Englande according to his appointment It is thought that the Cardinal feared lest the king of Englande would haue perswaded the kinge of Scottes to abolyshe the Popes aucthoritie out of Scotlande and to alter the state of Religion and therefore was not willing that this meeting shoulde be betweene the two kinges King Henry perceiuing him selfe to be thus deluded by the king of Scottes conceiued therof great discurtesie as he myght ful well Notwithstanding he went forwarde him selfe with all his trayne to yorke and made Proclamation that if any man had any matters to exhibite vnto his grace that they shoulde be heard and haue Iustice administred which accordingly hee accomplished to as many as came before him And whereas there had bene an insurrection in the same countrey a little before this tyme The king comaunded that all the Rebelles which were apprehended shoulde be placed before him on the lefte hande of his waye as he passed thorough the countrey and hauing set the countrey in good order he returned to London againe The Cardinall of sainct Androes who as is before saide caused the king of Scottes to breake promise with his vncle king Henry for doubt least that discourtesie might be reconsiled to make hys matter sure set the two kinges at open warre and caused the Scottes to make a roade into the borders who spoyled and did much harme Wherof when king Henry hearde he sent the Duke of Norffolke with an Armie into Scotlande who burned and spoyled muche of the countrey But when the Duke was departed from thence into Englande The Scottes inuaded the borders againe did theare muche harme But at the last Sir Thomas Wharton beeing warden of the marches there with Sir William Musgraue and a fewe of the borderers met with the Scottes the 14. of Nouember and ouerthrew them In which conflict the Lorde Maxwell the Earles of Glencarue and Sassiles with all the captaynes of the Scottish Armie were taken and on S. Thomas eeuen the Apostle they were brought to the Tower of London where they laye that night The next day following they were brought into the starre Chamber before the Lorde Chaunceller of England and the Counsaile being by the kinges charges rychely apparailed and vsed more like Princes then prisoners which they did full euil requite For after they were dismissed vppon agreement vnto certein articles they not only refused the performance of their promises but notwithstanding the benefites on them bestowed by the king they rebelled against him But nowe to returne againe vnto their kinge It is thought of some men that he him selfe was in the Battaile and thear receiued his deathes wounde but escaped vntaken but it was not so True it is that this conflict stroke him to the hart wherof he dyed incontinently Whereby we may bee sure that God strooke the stroake And whether it were that God who stryketh to the thirde and fourth generation of them that hate him did it for his fathers offence or for his owne I maye not nor will not iudge But no doubt his fathers vngodly periurie was heauily in his mynde since whose death the Realme of Scotlande hath bene sore plaged and haue had little good successe in any attemptes and especially against Englande The tirste that brought newes of the kinge of Stottes death vnto king Henry was the Earle of Angoes a Scott who was banished out of Scotlande and lyued here in Englande by a pencion that the king gaue vnto him This Earle came into the Courie the king then lying at hys house of Sainct Iames betweene tenne and xi of the clocke at nyght and desyred to speak with the king which being vnto him admitted he rehearsed vnto the king the whole circumstance of the king of Scottes death Whiche when he hearde he was so sorie of that newes that notwithstanding he warred against him yet he let fall teares from his eyes for sorrowe of his Nephewes death ¶ The Lamentation of king Iames Sonne vnto king Iames before mentioned WHat hard mishap haue I among the rest Whose froward fate vntimely deth hath wrought While youthfull yeres did harbour in my brest My wretched corpes to lodge in claye is brought By haples chaunce contrary to my thought But who is sooner trapte by witched wyle Then he whose harte is free frem craltie guyle Shall I exclayme on fortunes frowarde face Or on the wombe that life to mee fyrst gaue Or on my Fathers facte whose foule deface Hath caused mee this luckelesse lot to haue Would god my mothers wombe had ben my graue Or els the Ayre that yelded mee fyrst breath With sodayne dampe had rendred present death Woulde God my Fathers facte had beene vndon When he made vow a faythfull leage to holde Or els I woulde I had not beene his Sonne But rather borne to pen the Sheepe in folde My Father in this poynt was far too bolde Whereby he moude almighty GOD to spill Him selfe and me his Sonne that thought no ill What may I deeme of this my Fathers deede Whereof I grounde the chiefe cause of my playnte What stonie harte for pittie will not bleede To see how death this pageaunt doth depainte In floure of age our liues so to attainte The Father and the Sonné sucessiuelie The Realme eke plagde for one mans periurie I can not scuse his rage and hautie pride That forced mee my vnkle to offende Who courteousely my comming did abide In frendlie wise a time with ioye to spende I was constraynde my owne minde to vnbende The Prelasie then bare so great a swaye That king and keiser must their mindes obaye I was constraynde contrarye to my will Reuengement on the English Realme to take And eke of Mars his lore to learne the skill Where I lyke Phaeton my match did make My foes mee rulde my frendes I did forsake Though I was king another bare the sworde Whome I durst not offende in deede ne worde I call for vengeaunce on thy wretched lyfe Thou Prelate proude that hast procurde my fall Thou were the cause and aucthor of the strife I was thy Prince and yet I was thy thrall Take heede therefore by mee ye Princes all Where enuious subiects beares so great aswaye The Princes state is like for to decaye Such men they are as fyrst do stier vp stryfe But they them selues of sauegarde will be sure Their deedes are scant their words are very ryfe They rayse the broyle the brunte they not endure Yet bloody warre they dayly do procure And prease foorth Princes to auenge their yre Whyle they them selues with gredy minds aspire Lo by this meanes my fatall shrouding sheete Is now my weede no other robe haue I The graue is
thou list bestowe anye fyling vpon the roughnes of my phrase I shall bee beholding vnto thee If not yet shall my desyre be satisfied with thy good worde Vlpianus Fulwell Vlpian Fulwell to his Booke WHen lustie Ver beginnes to decke eche bushe and bowe with greene And Flora faire in flaunting wise is gorgeous to be seene Then Natures Impes tryumphes with ioy till horie Hyemps frowne Whose frostie face with blastes bedewde Turnes all these vpsy downe His stormie stoutnesse dryues the byrdes their warbling notes to seace He keepes as captiue flowers faire till spring do them releace Yet can his vysage not preuaile The Flower of Fame to vade Whose growing greene shall not be shutt in griesely winters shade As Hedera with hawtie head doth scorne syr Boreas blast Euen so this pierlesse Flower of Fame shall stande as firme and fast Out of which stately Blossom breedes a Bud of Eglentine Whose worthinesse adornes the stocke of natures noble lyne Not euery whiffling taunting wynde that flyes from scornefull tong Sall shake the stalke ne yet the Flower to do it any wrong For why my booke thy Patrons name Such noble sownde doth yelde That thou maist thinke thy selfe well bleste to shrowde vnder his shielde Before whose feete wee bothe will lye and hope such grace to fynde That wee with ioye may passe abrode to please thy Readers mynde Which thing God graunt In Vlpiani Fulwelli operis laudem Richardi Coppoci Carmen SI tibi cognitio rerum si nuntia veri Possideant aliquem pectore pressa locum Si studium pacis seu te laus inclyta belli Incitet huc celerem ferto referto pedem Hic res non rerum species hic viuida virtus Hic flos conspicuus conspicienda ferens Non hic aiacis flos est Telamone creati Qui domino dignum nil nisi nomen habet Nec flos quo Phaebus genutus inscripsit acerbos Cum suus Oebalides morte peremptus erat Sed flos hic famae merito regalis habendus Henrici octaui regia facta ferens Fulwello meritas igitur persoluite grates Florem virtutis praemia iusta manent The Flovver of Fame A manifest description of king Henryes noble vertues PRepare your pennes ye Poets fyne Your wittes curious heddes now showe In fyled phraes of flowing ryme Your stately styles do ye bestow On hym whose fame ryght farre doth flye and lodged is in starrie Skye To whome whyle lyfe in corps did laste The myghtie Ceasar would geue place The conquerors of worldes past may yelde vnto Kyng Henryes grace whose onely name was such a shield As feard his forrein foes in field His kyngly Maiestie was such As ioyed eche faithfull subiects hart And Rebells proude he foret to couch By dint of Sworde to feele the smart A second Alexander hee In valianties appeerde to bee And that which Princes best beseemes Gods glorie he did much aduaunce Repressing Error that had bene of many yeres continuaunce This was his cheefe ioy and delyght Whereby Gods gospell shyneth bryght His carefull hed in this respect A chaire of state in heauen hath woon Where he soiurnes with the elect A mate with heauenly fathers sonne whose seat is set in lasting blisse and crownd with crowne that endlesse is The fower Vertues were so well within his sacred brest yfraught Too simple is my pen to tell the giftes that nature to him taught My skillesse quill is farre too bace To paint the prudence of his grace A Salomon for Godly witt A Solon for his constant mynde A Sampson when he list to hit the furye of his foes vnkynde Unto his fryndes a gentill Lam A Prince that loude a valyant man. Whome God by dyuers meanes did blesse As one well worthie of the same With victorie for to represse His enemies to his great fame And many yeres to rule and raine To Englandes ioy to Scotlandes paine Yea and a blessing more then this That doth ryght farre surmount the rest Which is to English hartes a blisse wherewith this happie Realme is blest His daughter doth him so reuyue as though the Father were alyue In whome such vertues rare are seene As makes farre countreis maruaile much That shee a virgin and a Queene In godlynes and wit is such Though lyfe from father be exylde His giftes are left vnto his chylde As worthie Prince by due discent The regall Scepter for to guyde And Christ his foes for to preuent By Godly zeale shee doth prouyde The fathers steppes shee treades so ryght As doth eche English harte delyght So that though Royall Henry bee Returnde to earth from whence he came Elizabeth yet may we see doth bewtifie her fathers fame Whome God preserue in Regall seat Til Nestors yeres be full complete A briefe resitall of king Henryes Fortunate raigne AMong the most fortunate kynges Princes that euer raigned let the Fortunes of king Henrie the eyght haue a speciall place whose happie successe in all his affaires was comparable vnto the euents of the mightie conquetor kyng Phillips sonne of Macedon There were in his tyme raigning more puissant Princes together then euer were lyuing in any age before and yet among them all not one of them equall to the Kyng of Englande iin prowes In so much that the Iewes were in good hope that one of these noble Champions should be ordeined of God to be their Messias whose comming they haue long in vayne expected refusing the trewe Messias and sauiour of the worlde Iesus Christ looking for a Champion to bring them home again vnto their destroyed Ierusalem These were the names of the most famous gouernours of the world at that tyme Firste Henry king of Englande The Emperour Maximilian And Frauncis the Frenche king with the valyant Princes that then were in Germanie and Selimus the Emperor of Turkie with Barbarossa his great capitaine besydes a nomber more mentioned by Paulus Iouius other good Aucthors And among them all the same of king Henry shyned farre brighter then the rest as hereafter followeth But first I will note of the blisse and happines that came vnto Englande by his byrth It is manifest that he was the first braunche of the tree of concorde after the anyting of the two noble howses of Laucaster and Yorke that long had beene at discention open hostilitie for the imperiall Diadem of this realme For although his brother Prince Arthur were the elder yet because he liued not to enioy his fathers seignories neyther left behynde him anye Issue I recken him that brought forth the fruite to be the cheefe and principall braunche He was also elect and chosen of God to be that Ezechias that should sinsearly set forth his sacred lawes Yea he was the verye Hercules that was borne to subdue the Romysh Hydra against whyche many hedded monster neyther kyng nor Keysar could preuayle vntill this puissant Hercules tooke the matter in hand to the glorie of God and his perpetuall
eke my Courte a Pallas meete Wherein my wretched corps for aye must lye Wo worth those subiectes that aspire so highe To rule the Prince whome they ought to obay Such subiectes rule hath purchast my decaye ¶ Now that I haue passed thorow these tragicall histories of the. ii kinges of Scottes I will returne to the declaration of the ioyfull meeting of the kinges of Englande and Fraunce betweene Callis and Bullaine whiche was in the yeare of our Lorde 1532. And althoughe there was a solemne meetyng betweene the Kynges of these sayde Realmes and also betweene the Emperoure and Kyng Henrie in the yeare of oure Lorde 1520. Yet because my Anothor was not there to note anye thing more then is already mentioned by Halle in his Cronicle and was present at this that foloweth I haue vsed his enstruction herein referring thee to the aforesayd Cronicle to reade of the other whereas it is very well described ¶ Howe King Henry and the King of Fraunce met together betweene Calice and boloigne by a place called Morguison 1532. My glauncing Pen nowe glyded ys From Mars his bluddie broyle And eke my muse desyres to rest a whyle in frindships soyle As way warde warre bereues the breath of many worthie wyghtes So frindly peace preserues the lyues of noble valyant knyghtes And Tully doth preferre that peace which grounded is on yll Before the warre whose quarell ryght The blood of man doth spill In faithfull league of frindships force where Princes knitt the knot Unto those realmes whyle it doth last is sure a happie lott The Princes sleepe is not vnsounde For doubt of forraine foes The Souldiérs werye wounded limmes to rest do then repose The Marchant sendes hys hoysed sayles the surging Seas to sheare Which scowreth through the wandring waues deuoyde of doubtfull feare The publyke state of common wealth then lyues in quyet rest So that recourse from sundrie soyles 〈◊〉 worke all for the best 〈◊〉 â—â—â—ey helpeth other then and what one lande doth want Another doth supply the same no needefull thinges are scant And the through concorde sclender thinges to 〈◊〉 great encrease 〈◊〉 dâ—corde both consume as fast men set vs praye for peace Which causeth worldly wealth to ryse 〈◊〉 â—â—â—â—dly 〈◊〉 to flowe As â—horher hath contrarye force and makes wealth ebbe as lowe Nowe 〈◊〉 that long tyme had sought to kniâ—â—â— within her bande The king of Fraunce vnto the noble King of this oure lande Foâ—nde oâ—â— a tyme conuenient and eke indifferent place Whereas these noble Princes bothe together myght embrace To treate of faithfull frindships lore with one consent they meere Where they with ioye and tryumphes greate eche other then do greete The thing that bothe Realmes long desyrde at that tyme myght you viewe The order of which ioyfull sight hereafter doth ensue ¶ The declaration of the meeting of these two noble kinges at the place aboue mencioned ALthough there was bluddie warre and mortall hatred betweene the realmes of Englande and Fraunce in the fifth yere of this kings raigne in whiche yere the king of Englande wan from the Frenche men the towne of Turwin and the great citie of Turnay as is before declared yet for the concluding of a perfect peace betweene bothe the Realmes the same yere a Mariage was made betweene the king of Fraunce and the Ladye Marye sister vnto the king of England but shortly after the saide king of Fraunce dyed and the Duke of Suffolke maryed the Queene his wyfe A peace also was concluded betweene the young king of Fraunce and the king of Englande And within a whyle the Citie of Turnay was rendred vnto the Frenche king For the whiche he shoulde paye to the king of Englande a notable summe of Money But this amitie did not long continue for the Frenche king refused to paye his tribute to the king of England and also detayned the Queenes dowrie And moreouer caused all Englishemens goodes to bee arrested at Burdeaux whereupon the Frenchemens goods were arrested at London and they cast in Prison But in fine in the xix yere of the king his raigne a generall peace was proclaymed betwene the kinges of Englande and Fraunce during bothe their lyues And defyaunce sent vnto the Emperour from bothe the kyngs and a great power sent into Italy againste the Emperour who then warred with the Pope and constayned him to take a Castell wherein he remained as prisoner vntill the Armyes that the kinges of Englande and Fraunce had expelled the Emperours power out of that parte of Italye The circumstance whereof ys very largely declared by Sleydon This peace taken betweene the kinges of Englande and Fraunce continued a good whyle vnuiolate In whiche meane-tyme the Ambassadour Ledger of Fraunce that then laye in London grewe in suche fauour with kynge Henry that he was often tymes admitted to sit in presence with the king This Ambassadour made humblesuite vnto the kinges grace that hee woulde vouchesaue to meete with the kynge of Fraunce his Master in some conuenient place to salute eche other declaring that it woulde bee an occasion to knitt them togeather in the insoluble knott of perfect frindship and amitie Whereunto the king of Englande willingly condiscended and agreed And the rather because the Frenche king appointed to haue met with the Pope at Marsiles by meanes wherof king Henry hoped that the Frenche king might perswade the Pope to some conformitie in the controuersie of his deuorce from the Ladye Katherin wherefore he requested the sayde Ambassadour so to informe the kynge of Fraunce his Master which he nothing slacked to do And in conclusion a tyme was appointed when these twoo noble kinges shoulde meete by a place called Morguison whiche is betweene two greate hilles and the midway betwixt Callice Boloigne According to the apointment the king of Englande set forwarde and came to Callice The Frenche king lykewise lay at Bolloigne and on the appointed day they bothe met by the sayde place called Morguison with a noble trayne of Dukes Earles Lordes Knightes Gentlemen on both sydes And while these noble Princes embraced eache other a Bishop of Fraunce threwe off a cast of great Hawkes called Sakers which Hawkes being cast off killed a Kyte ouer the kinges heades to the great pleasure of bothe the kinges Then passed they forwarde with Princely pastymes vnto the towne of Boloigne where was greate preparation and noble tryumphes to entertaine and welcome the King of Englande When king Henry had passed certaine dayes at Boloigne with moste royall solace and pleasure he Inuited the King of Fraunce to the lyke at his graces towne of Callice who in lyke maner came vnto Callice with king Henry where as his former entertainment vnto the king of Englande his trayne was noblye acquyted And whyle these two royall Kinges were thus at Callice the king of Heraldes came vnto king Henries grace declaring vnto him that according to the auncient custome and also being parcell of hys othe he
had set vp in the market place the Emperours Armes and the Frenche kinges Armes for so is the custome when kings meete together and desyred his grace to enforme him what might please him to bee erected in his behalfe to whom the King aunswered that nothing shoulde bee set vp for him neyther I care not quod he for anye suche matter Then sayde the Heralde it is my duitie to erecte somewhat in your graces name If it be so quoth the King I will that you depaint an armed Arme rysing out of a clowde holding in the hande a naked Sworde with thys Poesse vnder it Celuy au quel ie m'adiouincts Dieu aydant vaincra Whiche is as muche to say Whether parte I take by Gods helpe shall haue victorie This was set ouer the Emperours and the Frenche kings Armes as in this Portraiture appeareth And full truely did this Poesie proue As in Sleydon his Commentaries ye may reade at large Celuy au quel ie m'adiouincts Dieu aydant vaincra ¶ The Historie of the winning of Bulleyne by the moste victorious King Henrye the eyghth in his owne person YF townes subuerted coulde declare with tong or paynting Pen Their rufull falles and finall fate their losse of worthie men Or if the ruinous Castels olde that flatt on grounde nowe lye Or else the walles that earst were deckt with lofty Turrets hye Coulde shewe their wofull ouerthrowes by any kynde of waye And eke what Captaines them subdude to take the spoyle and praye Then Bulleyne that was wont to bragg in brauery of her myght Woulde clips her fame of large renowne that earst did shyne so bryght This stately Forte whose furnisht walles felt neuer yet annoye Nowe playnly shewde the auncient tales that Poets tolde of Troye Prince Agamemnon with his Greekes that wan olde Ilions towne In all his toyle of tenne yeres siege gat neuer such renowne The mighty Monarke Macedon that conquerd Darius soyles Wonne neuer greater victorie thoughe many greater spoyles But as king Henries courage stoute alwayes his foes subdude So mercy matcht his manly mynde who bloodshed still eschewde He neuer brewde his sworde in bloode on them that mercy craue His face with fauour still was fraught submissiue men to saue And Bullein men among the rest can testifie this case Who tasted both his force and eke his fauourable grace What mischiefe myght his hand haue wrought if tyrannye had raygnd Or rage had harbourd in his brest which he alwayes refraynd Though pleasant prayes do oft entice the mynd that gapes for gayne To passe the boundes of princely fame great spoyle for to obtayne Yet no such crime of greedy mynde from mercy might him moue The towne of bulleyne can right well this fame of him approue Theyr towne theyr lyues theyr goodes and all lay in his might and power For to haue spoylde and ouerthrowne and destroyde in one hower But piety prickt his Princely hart in mercy to excell Whose noble nature doth deserue for prayse to beare the bell THe Realmes of Fraunce and Scotlande perceiuing that they neuer coulde preuayle against the king of Englande in any attempt neyther by dissembling peace nor yet by open warre ceased not to followe the example of the Scarabe who presuming to contende with the Eagle and being farre vnable to encounter with him deuysed to annoye him though it were but with the filthye dung wherin he accustometh to welter and tomble So these two Realmes to obtaine their desyred purposes namely for that they coulde not bring vnder yoke the king of Englande they alway shott at him a farre of to annoy him as much as they durst which king Henry well perceiuing And calling to mynde the dammages that some of his predecessours had sustained after the death of the right valyant king Edward the thirde by the Realme of Fraunce and further waying with him self the feythlesse leagues of the frenchmen who alwayes when they entreated for peace had theyr Swordes readye to fight and theyr dissembling mindes wholy bent on treason mischiefe thought with him selfe that it was better to haue them hys open foes then his fayned friendes and determyned to inuade the Realme of Fraunce and in the ende was fully mynded to passe into Fraunce very secretly with a mightie puissant power which in deede was wrought so priuily that he imparted his minde in this matter vnto no man sauing only to the Duke of Suffolk but caused a rumor to be spread that hee was determined to goe ouer vnto Parys The Duke of Norfolk lay by the kinges apointment at the siege of Muttrell who hearing of the kinges pryuie passage into Fraunce maruailed with him selfe what shoulde bee hys pretence And thought some vncurtesie that he might not haue been made pryuy therof he being one of the kings pryuy counsail Wherupon he sent a letter vnto Sir Anthony Brown the maister of y kings horse wherin he declared that he mused what the kinges purpose shoulde bee desiring Sir Anthony Browne to resolue him by his letters of this doubt This letter was brought when the kinge lay at Calyce to passe into Fraunce And because the custome is in the tyme of warre that all letters which are sente vnto anye noble man or other of the campe shall fyrst be presented vnto the king to breake them opeÌ„ and to read them if he be in the campe him selfe the messenger brought the letter vnto the maister of the Postes who exhibited it vnto the Kinges grace The letter that was sent from the Duke of Norfolk vnto Sir Anthony Brown being in the packet of letters which the king tooke opened And when hee had reade it hee sayde vnto master Edmunde Harman one of his pryuye Chamber who then was in presence with him and none els Lo quoth hee the Duke of Norfolk seemeth by this letter to thinke him selfe not well dealt withal because hee is not made pryuye to our pretence in this voyage I assure thee Fdmund quoth he no mortall man in this worlde doth knowe the cause hereof but onelye Sir Charles Brandon And thou shalt bee the second vnto whome I will reueale this matter My purpose is sayd the Kyng to lay siege vnto Boloygne and I doubt not but to win it by Gods help May it please your grace then sayde maister Harman it will bee a noble victorie to win But it will bee more noble to hold it when it is wonne Well sayd y king I nothyng doubt the holding of it by Gods grace if I may winne it Now was the Duke of Suffolke before Bullaine and had layde siege vnto it on the Easte syde ofit who thear remayned vntill the king him selfe came and encamped on the North side After whose comming the towne was so sore battered with gunshot and so sharply assaulted that after a Moneths siege the captayn whose name was Mounsier Desâ—e shot out an arrowe with a letter tyed to the shafte wherin hee offered the King to render vp the towne vnto
his graces behoote so that he woulde graunt pardon of lyfe vnto all the people of the town and licence to depart with bagg and boggage Whiche the king mercifully graunted on this condicion that none of them should departe with any Gonne charged And the Bulleiners departed the town with as much of theyr goodes as they could cary with them After which departure king Henrie with hys nobilitie entred the towne with Banners displayed lyke a conquerour And after hee had taried there by the space of fyue dayes or there about he returned againe into Englande leauing behinde him to defende the towne the Duke of Suffolke that most valiant Capitayne But when the kings maiestie was vppon departure newes was brought vnto him that the Dolphin of Fraunce was determined to come downe and repell him from thence and hys power whereunto the king aunswered that hee shoulde be verie welcome For quoth he the Dolphin is my God sonne and if he come he shall haue my blessing But he made no haste to come as he vaunted Wherefore the Duke of Suffolk and the Earle of Essex perswaded the king to returne home to Englande againe for that he had wonne as much honour theare as was to be had at that tyme Wherupon the king committed the defence of the towne to the Duke of Suffolke and the Earle of Essex ioyntly But before his departure he being doubtfull whether the Duke of Norfolke had any neede of help at Muttrell called vnto him syr Anthony Browne appointed him to go thither to the ayde of the Duke of Norfolke with all his power But Sir Anthony Browne answered that he had dismissed many of his souldiers by reason of sicknesse the rest were either wounded or wearied with trauaile and many of their Horses tyred Then the king demaunded of the Earle of Essex In what estate his bande was who had vnder his charge 1500 horsemen he aunswered the kyng that of his whole power he wanted not 60. And that hee was ready to fulfill his graces pleasure Wherupon the king thought to haue sent him to Muttrell but in the end that king hauing a speciall regarde for the keeping of Bullaine leatte the Earle with the Duke to defende the towne and sent Sir Ihon Gage to Muttrell to the ayde of the Duke of Norfolk And then the king returned into England againe with great triumph After whose departure out of Fraunce y frenchmen began to be verye busie against the englishmē But when they could preuaile nothing at all they began to entreat for peace always hoping to haue Bullayne againe by some meanes or other But king Henry was so affected to that towne that neyther strengthe of warre nor force of money could win it from hym And he would oft times saye that no true subiect of his woulde perswade him to yelde it vp Which towne he helde in despight of the Frenchmen during his life ¶ And thus I ende this discourse of the wynning of Bullayne Omitting to treate of the large circumstaunce heereof least I might seeme to rob Grafton or Halle of their laboures concluding this commemoration of king Henry with his conquest of Bullaine After which triumphant victorie no special warre happened vnto him till death the conquerour of all mortall men subdued his body whose soule liueth with God in his Heauenlye kingdome KIng Henry in his life time would often tymes saye that if it woulde please God to endue hym with life vntill he might see three thinges brought to passe hee woulde not desire to liue anye longer The fyrst was to confirme true religion in this Realme The seconde to establish the Crowne The thyrde to see hys Sonne a man Also hee would say that if he knewe any one to bee a man of GOD and meete to gouerne a common welthe he would rather yelde his Crowne vnto him then weare it himself so that hee myghte doe it to the pleasure of God the weale publyke of his people ¶ An Epitaph of the deathe of the moste valyant and renowmed Prince King Henry the eyghth AWake ye worthies nyne that long in graues haue rest Powre out your plaints with wayling teares Let langor be your geast Do off your shrowding sheetes that clads you in the claye and decke your selues with black attyre your mourning to displaye Bedewe with saltie teares your manly faces stowte Laye downe those weapons that were wont to quell the raging rowte For nowe that pierlesse Prince that neuer yet tooke foyle The eyghth king Henry hath resynde his bodye to the soyle Recorde your dolefull tunes ye noble Peeres eche one Let gryping greefes gnawe on your breastes to shewe your pensiue moane With bryndie blubbered teares ye commons all lament Sende forth your sobbes from boyling breast let trynkling teares be spent For our Achilles nowe hath left vs in the fielde That wonted was with valiant force from foes our lyues to shylde And this hath death deuysde to wrecke his wrathfull spyght Wherefore O Mors wee curses yelde on thee both daye and nyght Oh noble Brutus lande howe much was death thy foe when he with cruell darte constraynde this Gemme from thee to goe But though the cursed dame that cuttes the fatall lyne So muche enuyed thy happie state in making him declyne Yet God through mercy great in spyght of death his darte Hath left a Blossome of his braunche to ease thy pensiue smarte For whome now let vs praye that shee the race may runne of Nestors yeres with like successe as yet her grace hath done And that his royall Impe Elizabeth by name May weare the Crowne and wielde the sworde with ioye and endlesse fame Whose lyfe doth render lyght vnto her fathers fame whose noble harte doth plainly shewe the stocke from whence shee came Though death hath done his woorst with drift of dyrefull darte By stryking of that valyant king and piercing of his harte Yet hath he not the powre his fame to ouercast which shall remaine in mouth of man whyle Pen and ynke doth last And eke the shyning Sunne shall cease his running race before king Henries worthie fame shall suffer one deface And as his soule is lodgde with Ioue in starrie Skye Euen so remembraunce of his name on earth shall neuer dye ¶ A Preamble to this parte of the Booke following LYke as the auncient Greekes haue painted out at large Their noble ladyes worthie lyues and therof taken charge And as the Romaine dames had writers of their actes Euen so the trowpe of Englysh trayne haue some to tell their factes Whose bryght and shyning fame deserues to haue a place Coequall with the best that hath runne on in vertues race Then let not Englande blushe to blase their ladies lyues Which no whit is inferiour vnto the Romayne wyues Let them vaunt if they list of Lucrece chastitie I prayse the greekes Penelope for her fidelitie A nomber myght be namde that wryters pennes haue praysde Who for their lyues and noble actes an
Castell vppon them that all the menne that professed to followe him durst not but shrunke backe sauing onely his owne xii men And when he and his small nomber was in the myddes of theire enemies he behaued himselfe very valyantly But in the ende his horse was slayne vnder him and hee taken prisoner But his twelue men being lustie Souldiers went thorough them againe being to weake for lacke of nomber to rescue their captain and so retourned without anye hurte vnto them done Thus was this noble Captaine taken and had to the Castel of Dunbar thorough the cowardise of them that professed to followe him This did so kindel the brestes of our Garrison that laye at Hadington that the Captaines had muche a doo to perswade them from leauing the towne to fetche him from them againe For they sayde that they woulde dye on them euerye man but they woulde winne the Castell of Dunbar And the Scottes knewe right well that they coulde not keepe him thear without great daunger Wherefore they sent him to Edenborough theare was he kepte prisoner till he was redeemed by Raunsom He was so noble a capitaine that he wonne the hartes of all Souldiers Hee was in the towne among his Souldiers frinds a gentle Lamme In the fielde among his enemies a Lyon. To his men beneficiall To al men liberall After whose misfortune was sent vnto Hadington in his steede Syr Iames Acroft a valiant Gentleman whose worthie commendations I omitt because he being alyue and in deserued estimation I myght bee suspecte of flatterie He was theare by the space of one whole yere during which tyme manye noble actes were atchyued And in fine when the king perceiued howe chargeable a thing it was to keepe Hadington he sent the Earle of Rutlande with vi thousande men thither who caused the towne to bee rased and brought awaye all the munition to Barwike And thus was this noble peece of seruice ended The names of the Capitaines that were at Hadington as neare as coulde be called to remembrance THe Earle of Shrewsberye The Earle of Rutlande The Lorde Graye Sir Iames Wilforde Sir Iames Acroft Sir Wadam Selinger Sir Oswalde Wolstrap Sir Robert Worsley Capitayne Pellam Capitayne Dethick who was my cheefe instructer in this matter Capitayne Wood. Capitayne Windam Capitayne Tayler Capitayne Collbie Capitayne Fitzwilliams Capitaine Tiberio an Italian Capitayne Whitton Capitayne Boothe Capitayne Pikeman Capitayne Gam Capitayne Garton Capitayne Bagshot Capitayne Ashley Capitayne Lawson A Commendation of the Englishe Souldiers that serued at this siege of Hadington THe frowning furious dame that hight bellona fierce That grieflie Goddesse whose outrage doth Kinges and Countries pierce Drewe forth her bluddie blade Sets vp her Stander blacke And fenced with her fyerie Flagg to worke her wrakefull wracke Who can scape scotfree then that dares abyde the broyle The noble harte for honour fyghtes the Tyran huntes for spoyle The Cowarde crakes with woordes and hopes for happie daye Yet is he not the firste that strykes nor last that runnes away At point of harde distresse a hardie man is knowne At ratling shott or hunger sharpe a dastarde is downe throwne But when Bellona sawe the warlyke Englishe wyghtes That at this siege in Marciall actes affied their whole delyghtes Shee wondred as shee myght to see that all her rage Coulde by no meanes the haughtie hartes of Englishe men asswage Tryumphing Garlandes then with speede shee gan prepare To crowne those lustie Captaines all that had of her no care The nobles that were theare Shee gaue eche one a Crowne Adorning them by due desert with large and bryght renowne And then shee calles by name the rest to take their hyre Whiche was that they shoulde to the toppe of mounting Fame aspyre Sir Wilforde come thou first Receiue thy iust rewarde Thy hautie harte of furious foe had neuer yet regarde Sir Croftes come forth also to clayme thy worthie name Controll eche misse for so thou maiste Thou winnest the forte of Fame Sir Sellinger approche Thou setst thy Foe at naught Sir Wolstrap in the Arte of warre hath worthelye bene taught Sir Worseley was not worste but of the worthie wightes And thus Bellona made an ende of talking to her knyghtes Now Pellam that hath charge of Pellet and of Shott A Garlande had by due desert as lyghted to his lot And Dethicke dreading nought the daunger of his foe By polecie with prowes ioynde gaue oft the ouerthrowe Wood woulde not take the foyle at anye equall matche And Windam well coulde wynde the twist his wylye Foes to catche Fitzwilliams woulde not slacke to fyght for countrey soyle And Taylers trustie diligence sparde not for any toyle But Collbie knowes the cast the craking Scot to trayne His name in Scotlande is well knowne but to their often paine Tiberio tooke no care for his Italia lande But manfully among the rest did in the quarell stande And Whitten whet his witt eke playde his parte full stowte And Boothe woulde neuer balke the brunt of Frenche or Scottish rowte Pykeman past thorough the Pykes and proude a valyant man And Gam by prowes wonne the game that Frenchemen woulde haue wan So Garton he coulde guyde and garde his menne full well And Bagshot was no whitt abasht what chaunce soeuer fell As Ashleyes Auncent came with honour from the fielde So Aslaby wan good reporte to Foe he woulde not yelde Nowe Lawson is the laste yet not of lowest name But equall with his captayne mates that hath deserude good fame Thease Captaines and their men them selues so stoutly showde That Garlandes of still lasting Fame is now on them bestowde A Garlande is small gayne wheare lymmes and lyuing lacke I wishe the Souldier as my selfe to feele no kynde of wracke And suche as flowe in wealth and seese a Souldier pore I woulde he were in forefrunt set when rattlyng Canons rore Finis The Aucthor WHen Fame rang out her Larum bell of glorious golden sounde And blewe the blast of Princes actes whiche in her booke shee founde By her enrolde and Registred in Scroll of endlesse brute Whose memories shoulde neuer quayle vntill eche tung were mute This sownde of Bell and blast of Trompe was hearde to Parnas hill Where as Queene Caliop and her trayne do vse their cunning skill Theare myght you see these noble Nimphes throwe downe their Lawrell crownes With ruffeled heares outragiously to fling through Dales and Downes And gad more lyke to wandring wyghtes Then learned Ladies sure And euery one a Poet sought her Pen to put in vre At last by chaunce I met the Muse that wonts my quill to guyde who is the symplest of them all and when shee mee espyde All haile quod shee euen thou art hee whome I do nowe requyre Take Pen in sist without delaye to finishe my desyre For nowe it lyghteth to thy lot King Henryes faine to write And though thy Muse be verie base shrinke not for to endyte When thou hast done thy diligence The learnedst of our trayne To polyshe this that thou hast done will not shunne ne disdaine Alas quoth I my louing Muse T is far for mee vnfitt To write his due deserued Fame requyres a learned witt Shall Coridon take Harpe in hande where Orpheus is in place Arions pleasant melodie doth Pannes rude pype deface But all this myght not moue the Muse to alter her request Shee forced mee to take my Pen and so to do my best Thus brought shee mee to Hermon hill where heauenly dewe doth dwell And thear I wrote as shee mee taught God graunt it be Ful well FINIS Note The chiefest thing belonging to a king is to set forth gods glorie A mirror for all Princes Elizabeth Queene Exod. 17. By the Bore is ment k. Richard Concord a heauenly wyght The wordes of lady Concorde vnto Englande Ambition an enemie to all common wealthes A description of k. Henry the vii The daughter of king Edw. 4. The ende of lady concords Oration k Edward the fifth A lambe vnder the keeping of a Wolfe A doctor for the deuill A good sonne A condigne reward for such a tyraun An. Do. 1485. Bellona the goddesse of warre An. Regni 5. Turney Henry Norace An. Do. 1513. This field was it that we call flodden fielde An. do 1523. Unthankfull Scottes This conflicte was at a place called Solomosse This earle is he that was after Lords marques of Northapton Note 1548 A Cumbat The lawe of Armes A good reward yli be stowed but to maintains the lawe of Armes A hard shift A mournfull meeting A lustye Canuasado Note Note 1575. Imprinted at London in Fleete streate at the Temple gate by VVilliam Hoskins
hearde of The maner whereof ensueth The Lorde Graye being at Barwike the kings liefetenaunt theare After the ouerthrowe of the Scottes at Muscleborow fielde made a roade into Scotlande in the Lent in the seconde yere of the kinges Raigne to take a viewe of the towne of Hadington and returned to Barwike agayne without any assault geeuen The Sommer following he came with his armye and entred the towne without anye resistaunce and then made preparation for the fortifying therof In whyche meane space he laide siege vnto a Castell that was three myles from the towne named Ester Castell which Forte was furnished with Scottes and Spanyardes who stoode at their defence refusing to submitt them selues vntill the Lord Graye had with the great Cannons made a breach and was readie to enter the saide Castell Then they yelded and desyred Pardon for their lyues onely which the lorde Gray graunted vnto them all excepting one who during the siege had reuyled the King in woordes and abused his graces name with moste opproprious termes Then they all came forth of the castell in their thurtes onely submitting them selues to the mercye of the Lorde Gray And vpon strayt examination who should be the tayler that was excepted out of this Pardon it was knowne to be one Newton a Scott But he to saue him selfe put it to one Hamelton Thus these two Gentlemen accused one the other For the decysing wherof a Cumbat was appointed betweene them and by the Lorde Gray ad iudped so to bee The tyme came for this Cumbat to be accomplyshed and the listes made in the Market place of Hadington And these saide gentlemen entred in their dubblets and hose weaponed with sword buckler and dagger At the firste entrie into the listes this Hammelton kneeled on his knees and made his hartie prayer vnto Almyghtie God to geeue the victorie vnto the truthe with solempne protestation that he neuer vttered any such words of King Edward of Englande as his aduersarie Newton accused him of And on the other syde Newtons conscience being troubled with his false accusation argued vnto all the beholders his guilt For there oppeared in him great timerousues The beholders prayde God for Hammelton for the Souldiers knewe right well that it was newton for his voyce bewrayde him Nowe were the Sticklers in a readinesse and the Combatours drewe their weapons and betweene them was fought vi or vii blowes verye lustely But Hammelton being meruaylous fierce and eager vpon the truth of his quarell constrayned Newton to geeue grounde almost to the ende of the listes And if he had driuen him to the verye ende then by the lawe of Armes he had wonne the conquest and his enemy shoulde haue bene hanged if he had not slayne him Newton perceiuing him selfe to be almoste at the poynt of hanging stept forwards againe and gaue Hammelton such a gashe on the legg that he was not able to stande but fell downe and then Newton fell on him and slewe him with his dagger Thus the Cumbat was ended but the English men that knewe Newton to be the rayler and the false accuser although by more happ then hardinesse he had the vpper hande were very desyrous to renewe Combat againe with him For there were many Gentlemen theare that woulde willingly haue ventered their lyues on him man for man but he challenged the priuilege of the lawe of Armes which was vnto him graunted And the Lorde Gray gaue him his owne gowne of his backe and the Chayne that he theu ware Thus was he well rewarded that better deserued to haue bene hanged But he escaped not so For afterwardes as he was ryding betweene the Borders of Englande and Scotlande he was slayne and cutt in pieces Nowe I will speake of the seege that the Frenche Armye and the power of Scotlande layde vnto the towne of Hadington against the Englishe men When the foresaide Castell was wonne and the Cumbat finished the Lorde Graye departed towardes Barwike leauing behynde him Syr Iames Wilford as generall of the garryson and 2000 chosen Souldiers vnder him to defend the towne whiche was not halfe fortifyed before it was besieged of the Frenchemen and Scottes For our menne had not bene viii weekes in it before Mounsier Dassey the Frenche kinges lieâ—etenant and the Ringraue of Fraunce came to the siege with twentie thowsande Frenchemen Almames and Scottes beeing all of them lustye gallant Souldiers And at their firste comminge there was a hoat skirmishe betweene them and the Englishe men And because the Gates of the towne were not of anye strength for defence our men were constraynde to ramme vp the Gates with earthe and so mayntaine the defence of the towne vppon the Walles There were many assaultes geeuen to the losse of bothe parties And in the ende our enemies did so beat the towne with shott that they lefte not one whole house for our men to put their heads in Whereby they were constrained to lye vnder the walles for other lodging was there none They looked for helpe to haue come out of Englande but none came So that they were in miserable case for lacke of succour For they were dryuen to so narrow pushe that they rent their shurts for lacke of Matche for other shifte had they none And also their Enemies had taken awaye their Flankers whiche was their whole defence of the walles to expelle them from approching neare whereby to scale So that by this meanes the Frenchemen came close vnder the walles of the towne and were their ouerthwart neyghbours so neare That the Englyshmen on the one syde and the Frenchemen on the other laye close togeather that there was no more distaunce of grounde betweene them then the thicknesse of the walle Also one of the Bulwarkes was beaten downe so flatte that a man myght ryde in and out at the breache but the Frenchemen durste not venter in therat It greeued the Englishe men not a little to see their euill neyghbours so neare their noses whereupon a blunte cuntrey man that was one of our Souldiers and by his occupation a maker of Flayles inuented to beate them from the walles with slayles and tyed a heauye plummet of lead at the ende of a rope fastening the other ende of the rope vnto a good truncheon to holde in hys hande and with suche flayles they slewe and maimed a greate many of them This Mounsier Dassey captaine generall of the Frenche Armie was complayned on to the kynge his Maister for his too muche rashenesse whereby hee lost manye of his best Souldiers so that hee was sent for home in great displeasure and in his place was sent Mounsier de Termes who remoued the siege and came not neare the towne by three myles But he punished our men worse then the siege for he layde all the straytes and passages with watche whereby no victuales coulde bee brought vnto the towne All this whyle beeing about xi weekes came none out of Englande to the