Earle the kinges lieuetenant and the whole Realme The dead bodye of the king of Scottes was founde among the other carcases in the fielde and from thence brought to London and so through London streetes on a horsebacke in such order as you haue reade before of king Richarde and from thence it was caried to Sheene neere vnto Brainford wheras the Queene then laye And theare this periured carcas lyeth vnto this daye vnburied A condigne ende and a meete Sepulker for such a forsworn Prince This shamefull ende of the Scottish king kindled the Fyer of malyce in the breastes of the Scottes the flame whereof in the ende consumed also their yong king that then was lefte vnto them as followinge you may reade But first I haue taken vpon mee to introduce king Iames vnto thee informe of the Mirror for Magestrates to vtter his complaynt tell his owne tale as followeth The Lamentable complaint of king Iames of Scotlande who was slayne at Scottish fielde Anno. 1513. AMong the rest whom rewfull fate hath rest whose shrouding sheetes hath wrapt their woful lyues why haue not I a place among theÌ„ left whose fall eche tong with dayly talke reuyues Such is the wheele that froward Fortune driues To day a King of puisance and might And in one howre a wofull wretched wight A happie life by happie end is tride A wretched race by wofull ende is known Though pleasant wind the Ship do rightly guyd At last by rage of stormes t is ouer throwne The greatest Oke with tempest is fyrst blowne Though fortune seeme a loft to hoyse thy sayle Yet fortune ofte tymes smyles to small auaile I thought my Bower buylt on happie soyle Which vnder propped was with tickle staye Wherfore on sodayne chaunce I tooke the foyle In hope for to haue had a noble praye In search whereof I reapt my fatall daye With shamefull death my fame was forcte to bow A gwerdon meete for breach of sacred vow A Prince his promise ought not to be broke Much more his Othe of ryght obserude should be But greedie gayne doth oft the mynde prouoke To breake both othe and vowe as seemes by mee Ambicion blearde myne eyes I coulde not see I fynd though man with man his faith forgoe Yet man with God may not do so I was a king my power was not small I ware the Crowne to wield the Scottish land I raigude and rewlde the greater was my fall The myght of God no kingdome can withstand An Earle wan of mee the vpper hande With blodie Sworde my lucklesse lyfe to ende By shamefull death without tyme to amende Such was the force of Atrops cruell spight Unlooked for to cut my farall lyne My wretched carcas then was brought in sight Through London slrears wherat the Scots repine The endeles shame of this mishap is myne Like butchers ware on horsbacke was I brought The king of kinges for me this end hath wrought Let Princes all by me example take What daunger t is to daily in such cace By periurie their faythe 's for to forsake Least seate of shame shall be their endles place Foule infamie shall their renoune deface Offalsed faith such is deserued hyre And he must falle that will too hyghe aspyre â—e noble Peeres whose liues with myne did end Send forth froÌ„ graues your griesly ghosts ech one To wayle the chaunce that Fortune vs did sende Let all the Scots powre out their plaints mone That we to hedles haste were apt and prone Which rashe beginning voyde of Godly awe Had lyke successe for breach of sacred lawe I thought that Englande had beene far to weake For my strong powre when Henry was away Which made mee light regarde my vow to breake But yet I founde they were left in good stay With force and strength to purchase my decay Thus my aspiring minde had guerdon due Which may a Myrror bee for men to vewe Whereby to shun the breach of sacred vow And not to seeke by lawelesse meanes to rayne For right will force vsurped rule to bow And reape repulst in steade of noble gaine Thus truthe in tyme doth turne her foe to paine And GOD him selfe doth shield the rightful cause Then let men learne to lyue within his lawes ¶ Nowe that king Iames hath tolde hys tale and vttered his complainte let vs see what befell vnto his Sonne whom he lefte to succeede in his kingdom Whose history I haue annexed vnto this although it folowed not immediatly that the iust iugdement of God againste periurie maye the playnelyer appeare The notable example wherof may bee a terror vnto the large careles conscience of man Fyrst reade his storie then bestowe the perusing of his complaynte The Historie of king Iamies sonne who after the death of his Father was king of Scottes being but a chylde YOu haue hearde before of the death of kinge Iames and the maner therof who left behynde him a sonne named after his father Iames. This yong king of Scottes was both Neuew and Godson vnto king Henry by meanes whereof the king was lothe to do anye annoyance vnto the Realme of Scotlande But the Scottes being greedie of reuenge for the death of their late king prouoked him to be doing with them by meanes wherof many incursions were made into Scotlande to the great detriment of the Scottes and destruction of many of their Castels and villages But at the laste by the mediation of the Queene of Scottes an abstinence of warre was taken and shortly after a peace concluded whiche continued vntil the yere of our Lorde 1542. at whiche tyme king Henry tooke his Progres towardes the Citie of Yorke where he made great preparation for to haue mett with his Nephewe the king of Scottes who promysed vnto his vncle king Henry that he would verye gladly meete him at Yorke and accordingly prepared so to doo Wherefore king Henry laye at Pipwell Abbey while great prouision was made at Yorke for the meeting of these two noble kinges to the greate charges of the king of Englande at whose proper costes a sumptuous lodging was ordayned for the king of Scottes in the Abbay of Yorke with offices and furniture accordingly Whyle the king laye at Pipwell Abbay aforesaid in a readynesse to come vnto yorke by the day appointed the Secretorie vnto the king of Scottes came vnto king Henry who was at his handes noblye entertayned and returned againe into Scotlande enforming the king his maister what great cost the king of Englande was at in preparing for his cumming The king of Scottes was as desyrous to see his Uncle king Henry as he was to haue seene his Nephew But when he was in a readinesse to come towardes Englande the Cardinall of S. Andrewes who was then newely come from Rome made haite vnto the king of Scottes as he was setting forth toward Yorke and threatned him that if he proceeded to go into Englande that another shoulde bee proclaimed king of Scotlande before he
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
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
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
rescue of our besieged menne Sauing that syr Wadam Selinger and master Windam with a rewe Gentlemen and three hundreth Souldiers verie ventrousely brake thorough the ende of the Frenche Armie and brought with them Matche and powder which was to our men greate comforte The scarcitie of victuals among them was so greate that they were constraynde to eate horses dogges cattes and rattes And yet neyther the want of clothes nor the extremitie of the plague which was hoat amongst them nor the lacke of munition nor the sharpe sawce of hunger coulde beate downe the stowt courage of the Englyshe men to yelde vp the towne And yet these extremilies before mentioned made them looke more lyke owgle Monsters then humayne men But their worthie and valyant capitaine Sir Iames Wilford was such a one as was able to make of a cowardly beaste a couragious man. During this tyme the Lorde Graye being at Barwike was very carefull for them that were at Hadington but wanted powder to sende to the ayde of them Notwithstanding he sent xiii hundred horsemen vnder the conduction of Sir Robert Bowse and Syr Thomas Palmer not meaning that they shoulde offer any battayle as some being deceiued affirme but to make a showe to comfort the Englishe men withall that then were comfortlesse And thinking that vpon the syght of them the French Scottish armie would remoue farther of But they presumyng further then their commission gaue a charge on their enemies and they being all horsemen as is aforesaide were by the Frenche and Scottishe footemen enuironed and euery man of them one onely excepted slayne taken prisoners to the great greefe of our men at Hadington And yet coulde not all this subdue the hartes of them but lyued in hope And at the laste came the Earle of Shrewsbery with xvi thowsand freshe Souldiers to Hadington At whose comming the Frenche and Scottishe armye left the siege went to Edenborovv But to see the order of this meeting would moue the harte of anye man to vtter affeccions with teares The Earle let fall teares from his eyes to see that suche valyant men shoulde suffer suche distresse whose stowt hartes coulde not bee conquered with any afflictions On the other syde our wearied Souldiers sent out the fountaynes of their eyes for ioye to see their deliuerance at hand Thus with mournfull and ioyfull embrasinges they met And the Earle came into the town and supplyed the want both of menne munition and victualles and shortlye after retourned to Englande againe leauing the towne well prouyded Now it fell out whyle the Frenchemen were at Edenborovve there grewe such debate betweene them and the Scottes that they fell to bickeringe within them selues and the Frenchemen flewe certaine Scottes Whereof when the Englishemen hearde they thought that then they myght betake them selues to a little rest for they had none a great whyle Then they sent out their Scoutes and a Watche and so went to suche lodginges as they had But Mounseur de Termes to reconsile the matter againe betweene his men and the Scottes promysed the Scottes that he woulde winne vnto them the towne of Hadington without any more delaye And when the Englishemen thought least of their comming they came and killed the watche the Scoutes were entred in at the bace courte of the towne before the Larum was geuen The Englishemen perceiuinge this soddeine irruption made no delayes to encounter with them But went thorough a priuie Posterne gate into the bace courte among them with the blacke Bill slewe of them by estimation v. hundred or more and droue the rest that escaped ouer the walle as Sheepe before a Dogge that happie was he that coulde tumble ouer firste Thus they retourned with great losse and no lesse shame making no boste of their bargaine I should haue noted before of a pretie accident that happened at this siege which is this When Mounsieur Dassey came firste to the ayde of the Scottes he was enformed by the Scottes that there were but a fewe Rascalles white cotes at Hadington and neyther Gentlemen nor good Souldiers Whereupon he requested the olde Queene of Scottes that then was at Edenborovgh to go to a little Nunnerie that was but a myle from Hadington and thear shee shoulde see the slaughter of all the Englishemen So shee went to that Nunnerie to beholde the performaunce of this promise And when shee came thither shee might see the verye streates of the towne for it standeth verye lowe The Englishe men vnderstanding of her being in the Tower of the saide Nunnerie shott off a great Iron peece they had which Gunne they called Roring Megge for the terrible noyse that it rendered and the Pellet hit part of the Tower that the Queene was in whereat shee made haste downe as it was hygh tyme rode posting to Edenborough without seeing anye harme done to the Englishe menne And Mounsieur Dassey founde other maner of fellowes theare then Rascalles and white cotes as him selfe reported geening greate commendations of the Englishemen theare Nowe to returne againe to the Canuasado before mentioned When our menne had geeuen the Frenchemen that ouerthrowe in the nyght they gaue the nexte Morning three sharpe assaultes to the towne and yet tooke the repulse with greate losse of their menne For they caried away xvi Cartes and Wagons laden of dead carcases because they should not be known besydes three hundred that were founde in the base court afore mencioned You haue reade what scarsitie of victuales was among them before and what pennurie they sustayned Wherefore at the laste there was made sufficient prouision to victuall the garrison but not without greate charges for it was alwayes brought by conuoye whiche was with greate strength conducted and neuer without skirmishe For it was alwayes brought thorough the towne of Dunbar and in the Castell of Dunbar laye a garrison of our enemies And on a tyme our Capitaine Sir Iames Wilforde went to meete with the conuoy at Dunbar whiche is viii myles from Hadington and had with him but xii menne And when he had saluted the Lorde Wardon who then came with the conuoy the garrison of Dunbar Castell came forth made a shewe in the field Then sayde the Lorde Warden vnto Sir Iames Wilforde beholde how prowdly your neyghbours stand before vs Yea quoth Sir Iames if I had but a fewe of my men more with mee I woulde offer them some playe If you will geeue a charge on them saide the Lorde Warden you shall haue as many of my men as you will. But because sir Iames had no experience of their hardinesse hee was lothe to trust vnto them Notwithstandinge in fine he saide that if they woulde followe him hee woulde make a gappe thorough them They promised not to shrinke So there were about 300 appoynted vnto him and he went before them galoping thorough the town in the face of the Castel And the shott came so sharpely from the
the place Decreed that one among the rest should beare the cheefest mace Commaunding euery lady theare to answere to theyr name As they in order should be calde by voyce of noble Fame When this decree proclaymed was and all thinges whus ht and still My greedy eyes to view this sighte coulde neuer gase their fill Then Fame calde for Vlisses wife whereto one sayde strayght waye That dyrefull death with cruell launce had lodgde her corse in claye Then heard I good Cornelia namde and many other calde Some aunswerde here and some by fate in earthy clod were stalde At last by lot the Cryer sayd where is that noble Dame That was the eight king Henries wife and had K. P. to name Wherto a noble English Queene that then was in the place Made aunswere that her mortall lyfe had run the fatall race Then vertue sent foorth saltie teares and bad the Cryer pawse And sayd shee lost the worthiest wight that euer kept her lawes Dame Pacience with wringing handes her dollor did declare And prudent pallas for her parte no paynefull plaints did spare The Muses mooude with mestiue moode resounded dolefull voyce The Graces all with rented heares in langor did reioyce In fyne the whole assembly there in sodayne sorowes were For ech one thought this noble Queene dame Vertues Mace shoulde beare At last stoode vp Virginitie attyred all in whyte Whose countenaunce lyke Phebus beames did yelde a heauenly lyght Unto the iudge dame Vertue shee her minde began to showe with Angels voice and Heauenly grace eche worde shee did bestow O noble Dames leaue off qd shee your dumpyshe dolors staye And licence mee O rightfull iudge somwhat herein to saye With that it was a ioye to see How sorowes were resynde And Vertue bad Virginitie proceede to say her minde Eche one attentiue eare gan bende to heare this noble voice Whose prudent wordes and graue deuyse made all the rest reioyce This was the tale the Goddesse tolde O worthie wightes drawe neere And see the only cause that wee are nowe assembled heere Ye are the troupe and noble trayne that vertue hath embraede Whose endlesse fame for vertues sake shall neuer be defacde Here haue you hearde that auncient dames by fatall stroke are flayne And yet theire names in booke of Fame for euer shall remayne Among the rest Queene Katherin Par so was her Parents name Hath yelde her soule vnto the heauens yet left on earth her fame Unto whose lot it shoulde haue lyght dame Vertues Mace to guyde But cruell Atrops all too soone her noble race enuyde Yet one among this worthie crewe must take the charge in hande whose due desertes for vertuous praise in chiefest place must stande Here is a royall Queene in place whose lyfe I knowe right well within whose brest euen from a babe vnto this day I dwell Whome you O Lady Vertue fyrst committed to my charge When nature made her perfect moulde her skill to shewe at large And whyle vpon this Princely babe in Cradle I attende You Lady Pallas came in haste your heauenly giftes to spende And Caliop with all her Nimphes made haste from Pernas hill For to adorne this peereles peace with perfect learned skill You lady Graces know right well and beare it yet in mynde What haste you made vnto this babe ye fearde to bee behynde In fyne her grace was theare adornde with all your giftes so well That outwarde shape and inwarde giftes Panthora did excell Her father was a royall king graund Captain of the trayne Of all the worthie warlike wights that fame did euer gayne Her noble Mother bare the bell for vertue in her dayes Whose worthie fame with toung and Penn hath reapte immortal prayse And shee a virgin lo doth were the Fathers regall crowne And prudently doth wyeld the sworde with lardge and bright renowne She hath repressed errors blinde and causde Gods worde to shyne Whose noble lyfe from vertues lore did neuer yet declyne Shee best deserues to haue the Mace that vertue meanes bestowe Elizabeth of England Queene you all her grace do knowe And let Queene Katherin Par enioye Fame for her vertuous race And vnto Queene Elizabeth dame vertue yeld thy Mace. No sooner had virginitie this sentence vttred tho But all the reste with one consent sayde Lady be it so Then Vertue prayide the noble Mayde that thus this tale declarde Commaunding scilence to be synde that iudgement myght be harde Then saide the Iudge this is the doome and sentence in this case Queene Katherin Par in booke of Fame shall haue a speciall place And noble Queene Elizabeth as cheefest of my trayne Shall take this Scepter at my hande as meetest for to raygne Hereat this noble heauenly crewe brake vp with greate delyte And I yet holde my Pen in hande Queene Katherins lyfe to wryte ¶ It will happely seeme somewhat straunge vnto thee Gentle Reader that I haue so sclenderly past ouer the treatise of these noble ladies before mencioned whose lyues and noble vertues I can at large descrybe And peraduenture I may bee deemed parciall for mentioning of these and omitting the names of king Henryes other wyues I confesse I haue in my handes a Treatise of all their lyues so farre foorth as tendeth to the commendations of their noble and princely vertues worthie the immitation of all Ladies and gentleweomen But it fareth with mee as with the soare Hauke that keepeth her selfe aloofe from the Faukners fist vntill acquaintaunce hath breed a further familiaritie So if I maye perceiue this beginning to haue thy frindly fauour Thou shalt win mee to thy lure and encourage mee to mount as hygh as I may not bolting aboue my reache lyke rashe Icarus whereby to come tumblinge downe and be drencht in the flood of follye And thus I ende desyring at thy hands nought else but thy good worde in lewe of this my labour Finis ¶ THE HISTORY OF the winning of Hadington in Scotlande An. 2. Reg. Edwardi 6. WHen I had ended this treatise of the moste famous king Henry the eyght and readie to put the same in prynte I chaunced into the company of certaine Capitaines that had serued in king Henries warres in king Edwardes and euersince as often as they haue bene called thereunto And after talke ministred They seemed greatly to lament that so noble a piece of seruyce as was done at Hadington shoulde so sleyghtlye passe thorough the handes of Cronographers Whereupon I being by them earnestly requested haue taken on mee to discourse therof by the instruccions of these sayde Gentlemen who were theare present during all this worthie seruice which well deserueth the name of noble and worthie In so muche that the Frenchemen that then were there to the ayde of the Scottes saye vnto this daye that there are fewe good Soldiers in Englande except those that were at this siege of Hadington preferring the seruice that was then thear before any other that euer they knewe or