to whom they did homage ¶ Syr Iames Douglas erle Patrike Dūbare With all theyr helpe at the Candilmasse On Edwarde roase the Bailiol or he were ware And slewe all that they found doutlesse That fayn he was to Englande to flee helpelesse At Marche after he entred then Scotlande With thesame lordes then of the north lande ¶ On both sydes they rode and fast destroyed And to Berwike Edwarde Bailol came And sieged it and felly was annoyed To whiche Edwarde of Englonde with great fame Came with his hoost and laye there at thesame The Douglas then and Dunbare with power Northumberlande all through brent full clere The C .lxxix. Chapiter ¶ Of the battayle of Halidon hill and howe Edwarde Bayliol did homage leege to kyng Edwarde of Englande TO Halydon hill they came with their prayes Barwike castell and towne so to rescue Wher to oure hoste ful oft they made frayes Both day euen and morowes or day dewe But then the kyng of Englande to hym drewe The kyng also of Scotland with his might Full sore that daye in batayll did they fight ¶ Where Edwardes two had al the victorye The royaltes of all Scotlande there wer slayn Thyrty thousande with theim liggand by Of men of armes and archers dead certayn Then in the yere next after soth to sayn At newcastell Edwarde kyng of Scotlande His homage did to the kyng of Englande ¶ For whiche that cōmons of Scotlād on hym rose And slewe his men that he into Englande came And gatte an hoste and rode vpon his fooes Through Anand through Kylay Conyngham Carrike and Glascowe slewe al that he foūd at hame The kyng Edwarde of England with power Through Lowthian so did to Stryuelyn clere ¶ And both met there with great gladnesse And home they came destroiyng all the waye Another yere in Iule for to redresse Scotlande agayn with hostes they gan a fraye At saynt Iohns towne they met in great araye And ther they made therle of Athelis regent Whome the commons felly slewe and shent ¶ Kyng Edwarde sent after in another yere In Maye Henry Lancastre a noble knight To Scotlande with an hoste of good power And afterwarde he came with mekill might To saynt Iohns towne on the monthes right Through Murrey to Elgyne Giluernes Rosse Throughout mounteynes woddes myre mosse ¶ Kyng Edwarde then came home into Englāde And proclaymed his sonne Edwarde nominate The prince of Wales thens forth I vnderstande Henry Lancastre the younger he create Erle of Derby to beare the hole estate Wyllyam Mountague erle of Salisbury Of Northampton Wyllyam Bowne full manly ¶ Of Gloucester he made Hugh of Awdely Of Suffolke then he made Robert Hufforth Of Huntyngdon Wyllyam Clinton gay Whiche erles the kyng toke with hym forth With many a worthy knyght bothe of south and north And with the quene so vnto Andwarpe And there abode by all the wynter sharpe ¶ With great people and worthy chyualrye Agayn the kyng of Fraunce to clayme his right And wrote his title vnto that Romishe bishop on hie The duke of Barre and other lordes of might The quenes frendes then socoure had hym hight Where then the quene of hyr sonne Lionell Delyuered was as chronicles do tell ¶ He cherished then Flaundres that they forsoke Theyr naturall lorde and swore feautee To hym and his theyr power they betoke To byde and dwell vnder his souerayntee Because they sawe in hym suche humanitee He chaunged his armes in banners and penons And in his seale quartred of both regions ¶ And in the yere then of his reygne thyrtene His armes chaunged and called kyng of Fraūce He rode in Fraunce on warre as then was seen A thousande tounes he brent by his puysaunce The kyng of Fraunce without variaunce Sent hym worde that he wold with hym fight But at the poynt he did not as he hight ¶ For at that tyme in sonder they were a myle He fled awaye kyng Edward held the felde Two dayes after he sued and Vmfreuile Of hym had sight and then he founde his sheld By whiche he knewe his couenaunt he not held Wherfore the kyng to Brabant went agayn The dukes three of Barre Earle and Brabayn ¶ The parliamēt thē at Westmynster was hold Wher they graūted hym the .ix. lābe flees shaue Of the commons but the churche nomore wold Hym graunt but one dysme of theim to haue For which he graūted generall perdone and gaue The .ix. lambe slees shaue graunt was two yere To helpe the kyng his right to conquere The C .lxxx. Chapiter 〈◊〉 ¶ Howe kynge Edwarde smote the battayle on the sea at Sluse besyde Brydges howe the kyng firste rode into Fraunce and quartred his armes with the armes of Fraunce and sent to kyng Philip to trye the ryght betwene theim two ANd in his yere next after then fourtene At Sluse that kīg faught with the Frēch nauy Fro noone to eue to the morowe as was seen Where all wer drouned slayn myghtely And kyng Edward to Fraunce went hastely With hoste full great destroied the lande brent The cytee of Turnais besieged and shente ¶ Then wrote he to the kyng Philip of Fraunce Not namyng hym kyng of that lande But to Philip of Valoys for greuaunce Willyng alone they two to take on hande To fyght for the cause and for to stande Who hath the better for euer to holde Fraunce Withoute warre or any more dystaunce ¶ Or elles they two eyther with an C. knyghtes And yf these wayes please hym not to excepte Come with his hoste all his strongest wyghtes To the cytee of Tournay none excepte At a certayne daye iustly to be kepte And who the felde maye get brooke well Fraunce Withoute more stryfe or any varyaunce ¶ The kyng then wrote vnto kyng Edwarde agayne That he wolde not for the letters fight Whiche touche not kyng Philyp in certayne But Philyp Valoys as sheweth well to syght To whiche he wolde set neyther daye ne highte But when he thought it were for his honoure He shulde hym chase awaye without socoure ¶ Out of his land which wrongfully he sheweth Agayne his fayth feautye made and homage To his auncesters by letter as it sheweth Vnder his seale of hole and good knowlage For Guyan and his other herytage And fro Turnace into Brabane agayne The kyng Edwarde in wynter dyd remayne ¶ To byde the byshoppes rule and disposicyon Of good accorde for then two cardynalles To take a trewce by good prouisyon Duryng two yere betwene them generals And all theyr frendes that were princypalles Then came the kyng to Edwarde into Englande His offycers newe made I vnderstande ¶ To the trewce then taken at Maltrete The dukes two of Burgoyne and Burbone In the kynges soule of Fraunce swore and hete Truly to kepe for frendes or for foone And duke Henry of Lancaster sad as stone Willyam Bowne Earle of Northhampton And Willyam Mountague full hye of renoune
dilygence Agayne mischeues to fynde and make defence ¶ And in the yere .viii. C .lxxx. and eyght All his ryches in fyue partes he ganne deuyde One parte to men of warre to kepe his ryght An other parte to lande tyllers in that tyde The husbandry to mayntayne and to guide The thyrde parte all churches wasted to restore The .iiii. vnto the studye for theyr lore And to the Iudges and men of lawe well lerned The fyfte parte full wysely he dispende To holde the lawe in peace truly gouerned Disposed thus he was the realme tamende This was a kyng full greatly to commende That thus could kepe his lande from all vexaciō And not to hurte his cōmons by taxacyon ¶ For truste it well as god is nowe in heuen Who hurte the poore people and the cōmontee By taxes sore and theyr goodes fro them reuen For any cause but necessytee The dysmes to paye compell of royaltee Though they speake fast mumble with the mouth They pray full euyl with hert both north south The yere of Chryste .viii. C. lxxx and thyrtene The duke Hastyne of Danes euer vntrewe Destroyed the lande with hostes proude kene By Easte and Weste that all the lande did rewe Whome the kyng in batayle felly slewe After diuerse batayles amonge them smyten In sondry places there as it was well weten ¶ In euery shyre the kyng made capitaynes To kepe the lande with folke of theyr countree And shippes many galaies longe with Chieftaīs And Balyngers with bargys in the sea With whiche he gate ryches greate quantyte And at a flud was called Vthermare He slewe an hoste of Danes with batayle sare The C .xi. Chapiter ¶ How duke Rollo a panyme gate Normandye of whome all the dukes of Normandye be lynally discended ANd in the yere .viii. C .lxxx. and senentene The duke Rollo of Denmarke nacyon A Painim stout with mighty hoste kene In Englande brent without any delacyon Whome Alurede by good supportacyon Droue then agayne vnto his nauy ryght And of his men a thousande he slewe in fyght ¶ Whiche Rollo then landed in Normandye Of whome all dukes of that prouynce discent And wan that lande with swerde full manfully And duke there was made of hole entent By processe after and by the kynges assent Of Fraunce whose doughter he wed vnto his wyfe And christen man became so all his lyfe ¶ At charters fyrste he seged so the towne Where they wtin our ladyes smocke then shewed For theyr banner and theyr saluacyon For feare of whiche full sore in herte he rewed All sodaynly and vnto Roan remoued Where then his wyfe dame Gylle was dede and buried Without chylde betwene them notifyed ¶ But then he wedded Pepam the syster fayre Of duke Robert of Normandye and Roone On whome he gate William his sonne heyre That after hym was duke therof anone When yeres many were passed and ouergone But nowe at this to ceasse I wyll enclyne Tyll afterwarde I shall tell forth theyr lyne ¶ Kyng Alurede the lawes of Troye and Brute Lawes Moluntynes and Marcians congregate With Danyshe lawes that were well constytute And Grekyshe also well made and approbate In englyshe tongue he dyd then all translate Whiche yet be called the lawes of Alurede At Westmynster remembred it in dede ¶ And in the yere .viii. C .lxxx. and eyghtene Then Alurede this noble kyng so dyed When he had reygned .xxix. yere clene And with the Danes in batayls multiplyed He faught often as Colman notifyed In his chronycle and in his cathologe Entytled well as in his dyaloge ¶ That fyftye batayls and syx he smote Somtyme the worse and somtyme had the better Somtyme the felde he had at his note Sometyme he fled awaye as sayth the letter Lyke as fortune his cause lefte vnfeter But neuerthelesse as ofte when so they came He contred them and kepte the lande fro shame The C .xii. Chapiter ¶ Edwarde the fyrste kyng of Englande reygned xxiiii yere and dyed the yere of Chryste .ix. C. and xix EDwarde his sōne so crowned was anone Of Westsex then by all the parlyament Protectour was made againe the fone Whiche warred sore in Englande by assent The yere .viii. C .lxxx. and fyftene spent Earle Athylwolde he exyled into Fraunce For he a nonne had rauyshed to his vsaunce ¶ But after that this same earle Athylwolde With Danyshe hoste Mers and Estanglande Destroyed sore both kyng Edwarde full bolde Slewe Ethalwode and his hoost I vnderstande Discomfet hole and droue them out of lande And made all kynges of Englande his subiectes For so he thought it was his very dettes ¶ He sommoned then at London his parliamēt Where he deposed the kynges euerychone Of all Englande and made them by assent Dukes and earles thence forwarde so anon In euery kyngdome then he ordayned one And in some thre he made by ordynaunce And all kyngdomes foringed by gouernaunce ¶ And he to be the kyng of all englande Proclaymed hole to voyde all varyaunce Discorde and warre that many yeres had stande Whyles seuen kynges had the gouernaunce Ther might no lawe ne peace haue perseueraūce Wherfore he toke of euery Duke homage Of Earles also and of the Baronage ¶ Scotland and Wales he warred sore in dede Tyll they became his men and made homage For souerayne Lorde of Britayne as I rede The kynges then dyd for theyr herytage For all theyr men and for their vasselage To ryde with hym where that euer he gooe In warre and peace agayne frende and fooe ¶ Duke Ethelrede of Mers and also his wyfe Elfled that hyght Westchester then repayred That wasted was by Danes warre and strife Whiche Roomaynes first builded had and feired In tyme when thei to this lande repeired Of Roomayne werke whiles thei here occupied That citee first full freshly edified ¶ Thē faught the kyng with Danes at Wodefeld sore In Mers also at Herford with greate pain Wher victorye he had of theim euermore Again he faught with Danes soth to sain At Towcester and laid theim on the plain In Yorkeshire also he slewe the Danes downe And voided theim all out of his region The C .xiii. Chapiter ¶ This kyng made an vnion of all the realmes and called it Englande and after it failed neuer of that name THis noble kyng thus made an vnion Of seuē realmes that stode three hūdred yere Sixe and thyrty also in greate deuision And warres many as Colman saieth full clere Fro Gurmond had driuen out Carreis here Whiche was the yere fiue C .iiii. score thirtene Vnto the yere of Christ nine hundred nientene ¶ These erles all and dukes then held the lawe As shryues nowe in shires dooen and maintene That the commons ouerlaied full sore with awe And sore oppressed their states to sustene Wherfore he voided theim out of office clene And shryues made through all his region Whiche haue not forgete extorcion ¶ This noble kyng Edward thelder hight When he
all thyng To you present and take this halfe golde rynge Whiche ye gaue hym of almesse and charyte And bade vs say that ryght sone ye should him se ¶ Whiche ryng he set together there anone And that ylke place he called ay after hauerynge And that same place where they it braste alone He called ay after that tyme Claueryng In Essex be bothe fayre standynge Where that he made two churches of saint Iohn Theuangelyst and halowed were anon ¶ Sone after that he dyed and went to blysse But fyrste he made duke Herold protectoure Of his cousyne to gouerne and to wysse Edgar Athelyng full yonge a gouernoure Whome he ordeyned to be his successoure As very heyre to Edmonde Ironesyde But thus Herolde then set all that asyde When he had be kyng .xxiiii. yere He dyed the yere a thousande syxtye and fyue At Westminster canonyzed is full clere All newe he made the churche there in his lyue All were he not ryght heyre as men in stryue A confessoure he is full hye in heuen With God to dwell euermore and beleuen Herolde by strength then crowned was for kynge Forsworne that was vpon the euangelystes For to crowne Edgar Athelynge And hym protecte and defende in all wyse Vnto his age that none the realme suppryse This was his othe of whiche he was forswore All yf he made Edgar an Earle therfore ¶ The earle Tosty then of Northumberlande That brother was vnto the kyng Herolde By kyng exyled out of the lande To Englande came with kyng Herold full bold Of Norwaye then in Chronycle as is tolde But kyng Herolde of Englande with them met At Staūford brydge to death they both wer bet ¶ Besyde yorke was this batayl ful sore smyten Where kyng Herolde of Englande had the felde And slewe Herolde Harngrey as was wryten Kyng of Norwaye and earle Tosty vnder shelde That neuer after myght armes welde And thousandes fell of Danes and Norwayes He kylled there that daye as Flores sayes A yere he reygned whom Willyam Conquerou◠That duke was then of all fayre Normandye Hym slewe in batayle for his ymagyned erroure Agayne hym that he dyd so cruelly And not wolde mende ne yet satisfye The duke Willyan so the felde then conquered With strokes sore for whiche the lande was ferd This kyng Herolde at Waltam whiche he found Of foure score chanons full fayer was buryed At the hye aulter as a kyng was crownde All yf he were intrusor notifyed And in batayl slayne and victoryed Of gentylnesse the Conquerour bad so All yf he were afore his mortall fo ¶ Willyam Conquerour kyng of Englande and Duke of Nor mandye beganne to reygne the yere of Chryste a thousande .lxvi. and reygned .xxiiii. yere and dyed the yere a thousande lxxxx and the sayde Conqueroure founded the Abbaye of Batayle for the soules of the people slaine there the fourenene daye of October in the yere of Chryste a thousande thre score and syxe The C .xxi. Chapiter THe .xiiii. daye of October accompted The duke Wyllyam that was of Normandye At London was crowned and annoynted In trone royall to hauethe Monarchye By his conquest and his victorye Withoute tytle of ryght to hym discente But onely of his tryumphall entente ¶ The yere of Chryste was when Alurede hym crowned Tharchbyshop of Yorke hye primate A thousande hole .lxvi. well founde Quene Mawde his wyfe to hym assocyate He crowned also that tyme in her estate The abbay of batayle that then he bounded And for the soules there slayne he founded ¶ He called it so then for a memorye Of his batayle by whiche Englande he gate In token of his myghty victorye That Englande there he had so well ouerset To praye for the soules slayne as was his det Whiche abbaye is in Sussex in that stede Where the batayle was and the people dede ¶ The South part of England then he rode And dalt it largely vnto his menne The North again hym rebelled then abode With help of Danes in that countre were then And Scottes also that false wer when and whē But kyng Wyllyam that worthy conquerour Discomfite theim with long and sore labour ¶ To Normandy he went then right anone And with hym had Edgar called Athelyng Edwyn and Morkar afore that were his fooen For cause they should not then make more risyng In his absence while he were ther abidyng But at his home commyng with hym again He brough theim all of whiche the folke were fain ¶ Gospatrik that then was erle of Cumberland That not again stode king Malcolin in his werre When he distroyed therldome and his land But hym withdrewe out of waye full ferre Wherfore the kyng as saieth the chronicler Hym disherited and gaue to Rauf Mesthyne His erldo meto whom menne did enclyne The C .xxii. Chapiter ¶ Homage of Scotlande dooen to kynge Willyam conquerour at Birmithi in Scotland and also howe the kyng of Fraunce scorned the kyng Wyllyam he quit it hym after THen rode the kyng into Scotlād anone And brent the land vnto Abirnythy Where kynge Malcolyne submitted hym with great mone And homage leege hym did full humbly And amended there all his iniury Then went he furth to Duram wher he offred And to the churche he gaue great good vncoffred ¶ He thē his lawe and peace alwaye proclaymed Officers made in euery shire about And so held on to London vnreclaymed Wher his iustice he sett that land throughout The kyng of Fraunce thus scorned hym out of doubt That kyng Wyllyam in Gesine had lyen long And tyme hym wer been kyrked with good songe ¶ When he this hard to Fraunce he went anone There to bee kirked he offrid his candill bright A thousand townes he brent as he did gone At theim he prayed the kyng of Fraunce to light His candill then if that he goodly might Whiche at his kirkehale and puryficacion To Mars he thought that tyme to make his oblaciō ¶ Edwyn therle proclamed of Leicester After decesse of Algary his father dere And erle Morcare his brother that after Dyed bothe twoo Lucy their suster clere Of Leicester then and Lyncolne bothe in fere The coūtesse was whome kyng William maried To Iue Tailboys erle of Angeou magnified ¶ To kyng Wylliam then came full glad again At Wynchester he held his parliament Wher he then slewe for wrath and greate disdain The duke Waldiue that no harme to hym ment But onely for he counselled and consent To erle Edgar to gette his heritage Of England whole and made to hym homage ¶ Who duke was then of Northumberland And erle create was also of Huntyngton By chronicles olde as menne can vnderstand Entitled whole as of all Northampton Beheded was at Wynchester towne Whose hedde together grewe to the necke again Buried at Crowland for sainct the soth to sain ¶ The kyng then made as I vnderstand The bishop then of Duresme that Walter hight Erle proclamed of Northumberland Whom at Catteshede
that countre slewe doune right The kyng then made a lord that Awbryke hight Erle of that countre that durst not Scottes withstande Wherfore he gaue Robert Mowbray that lande ¶ And made hym erle of Northumberland The kyng then sent vnto euery shire Iustices to sitte throughout all the land Of all lordshipis and knightes fees enquere What temporales he had to knowe he had desire And what perteined vnto his royall croune And what the churche had of deuocion ¶ Vnto his soonne eldest then generate All Normandy he gaue in heritage And England whole to Wyllyam nominate His second soonne gaue with all thauauntage And to Henry his third soonne young of age Therldome gaue then of Gloucester sea With the honour of slede for euer in certente ¶ He dyed the yere a thousand four score and ten And of his reigne twenty yere and four tho At Cane buried in thabbey that hight then Sainct StepheÌ„s abbey by Cane that staÌ„deth so His doughter Ade afore had maried tho Vnto therle StepheÌ„ of Bloyes a prince of might Of warres wyse and a full manly knight The C .xxiij. Chapiter ¶ Wyllyam Rufus kyng of England reigned thirtene yere and began to reigne in the yere of our lorde a thousand four score and ten dyed that yere a thousand one hundred three HIs sooÌ„ne Wylliam Rufus as he deuised Was crouned then with great solempnitee But after soone duke Robert was auised To clayme England by his priorite And Normandy also as for his proprete As he that was his eldest soone and heire With hoste full greate in England game repeire ¶ And made greate warre vpon his brother so Three yere all out betwene theim so continued Till at last thei bothe betwene theim twoo Did condiscende as well to theim perteined With whole herte and will nothyng feined The iudgement of kyng Philip of Fraunce To vndergo and bide his ordinaunce ¶ In whiche meane while his brother erle HeÌ„ry The castels all belongyng to the croune As high constable of England properly Then seazed had in his possession As his office by good dereccion Asked of right and of good consuetude To kepe theim sure to the crounes excelsitude ¶ The kyng Philip by his auised parliament Gaue iudgement betwene the brethren twoo As kyng Wyllyam their father full ment All Normandy Robert should haue euer moo And Wyllyam England frendes should bee so And liue in peace without any clayme And either other releace and whole disclayme ¶ Th erle Henry of England then constable Deliuered all the castels and citees right To kyng Wyllyam his brother enheritable As he was bound and fully so had hight Duke Robert then his brother a worthy knight To England came to sport hym with his brother At whiche tyme either was glad of other The C .xxiiij. Chapiter ¶ Howe kyng Malcolyn of Scotland warred in England for his wife 's right pretendyng that she was right heire of England and afterward he did homage to kyng wyllyam Rufus for the realme of Scotland His Malcolin of ScotlaÌ„d greatly claimed T To haue England then by his wifes right Margarete suster of Edgar heire ê“clamed Of England whole that expelled was by might Of kyng Wyllyam conquerour by vnright So for his right the Northland he destroyed And home he went again nothyng annoyed ¶ But then the kyng and his brethren twoo To Scotland rode and wasted sore the land Till Malcolyne came and did his homage By letter wrytten and sealed I vnderstand Whiche Hardyng gaue in to kyng Henryes haÌ„d Without reward or any recompence Of mayne labour his costagis and expence ¶ The duke Robert went home to Normandy And kyng Malcolyne his soonne then Edward Warred again Northumberland in hie But erle Robert that kepyng had and ward Of NorthuÌ„berland with hym then faught full hard Byside Alnwike at Malcolyne well were slain There Malcolyne and Edward his sooÌ„ne certain ¶ WheÌ„ quene Margret so of that tidynges knewe She eate neuer meate for sorowe dyed anone At Dunfermelyn buryed as then was dewe But nowe she is there shryned in fleshe and bone Workyng miracles as sayeth many one Entombed faire and in the firetree translate Of whiche abbey nowe is she aduocate ¶ The Scottes then made Dunwalde so their kyng Malcolynes brother that to it had no right But DunkaÌ„ sonne of Malcolyne that knowyng With helpe of kyng Wyllyam and royall might Of Scotlande so droaue hym awaye to flight And crouned was as chronicles vnderstande And homage made to wyllyam for his lande ¶ Sone after kyng Dunkan of Scotland slayn By treason was and Dunwall restitute Vnto the croune of Scotlande then agayne Whome Edgare then by succoure and refute Of kyng Wyllyam droue out all destitute Of any helpe and crouned was in Scotlande To kyng Willyam did homage for his lande ¶ Of whose homage Iohn Hardyng gaue that letter Full clerely made written well and sealed The whiche also with other letters better That by reason maye not be repeled The whiche yf he would haue enbeseled The kyng Iames vnto his waryson A M. marke hym hight of his discrecion ¶ And in his tyme Roes that Richarde hight The kyng of Wales in battayl strong was slayn Besyde the castell of Brekenham then full right Fro whiche tyme forthe theyr kynges seazed full playn And princes called they were soth to sayn The kyng with hoste on Robert Monbraye rode Who with the kyng faught of his traytourhode ¶ And discomfite helde Bamburgh castell then And the kyng enduryng full .vii. yere Consentyng with the lordes that so began For to depose the kyng of his croune clere And duke Robert his brother with great power To croune and make the kyng of all Englande With Normandy to ioyse I vnderstande ¶ The kynge exiled Anselme of Cauntorbury Tharchebyshop that withstode his wronges Doen to the churche and to the prelacie To the commons also that theim belonges SeueÌ„tene tounes with also many churches amoÌ„ges And abbeys foure he wasted and confounde The newe forest in Hamshire for to founde ¶ He buylded the Newcastell vpon Tyne The Scottes to gaynstande and to defende And dwell therin the people to enclyne The towne to builde and walle as did append He gaue theim ground golde ful great to spend To buylde it well and wall it all aboute And fraunchised theim to paye a free rent out ¶ The rentes frutes to tharchbishop ê‘teinyng And to the byshoppes of Wynchester Sarum And also .ix. abbeys lyuelod conteynyng In his handes leazed and held all and some But for his workes buylynges held eche crome With whiche he made then westmynster hall And the castel of Newecastell withall ¶ That staÌ„deth on Tyne therin to dwel in warre Agayne the Scottes the countree to defende Whiche as men sayd was to hym mekill deer And more pleasyng then otherwyse dispende And muche people for it did hym coÌ„mende For cause he dyd the commen wealthe sustene Of marchers vnnumerable to mayntene The
trewe defense ¶ The kynge Henry then cōquered all Irelande By papall dome there of his royaltee The profytes and reuenues of the lande The dominacion and the souerayntee For errour whiche agayn the spiritualtee They helde full longe would not been correcte Of heresyes with which they were infecte ¶ He founded then the priory of Newstede Within Shirwod and Waltham founded newe Afore were secular without hede Whiche regular he made in order due And other two houses of order trewe He founded there for his soule to praye Where was holy seruyce kepte euery daye ¶ Geffreye his sonne the thyrde gotten and bore That duke of Britayne was hole create By his wyues right to enioye for euermore Whiche was a prince of royall great estate At Parys dyed that Arthure create To sonne and heyre and Isabell the fayre His doughter was without any dispayre ¶ In the yere of Christ a thousande clere An hundreth and sixty also and one Baudewyn the thyrde died taken priesoner By the Sarysens that were his mortall foone Of his body that yssue then had none To whome his brother Almarike did succede To Ierusalem and there was kyng in dede ¶ By treason of therle Triples then The Christen hoste that had foule betrayed When Bawdewyn was so taken through that false man That great people of Christē had thē reised And on the felde nothyng to be praysed To the Sarysyns went with all his power And discomfyt the chrysten hoost full clere The C .xxxv. Chapiter ¶ Howe Geffrey Plantagenet otherwyse called Plantageneth Earle of Angeou elder brother of Bawdewyne and Almaryk shoulde haue ben king of Ierusalem afore and so by consequens thys kynge Henrye shoulde haue be kynge of it BVt yf ryght had lynally procede Geffray Plantagenet Earle of Angeou The elder brother of Bawdwyn so in dede And of Almaryk with mykell blysse and ioye Whiche Geffray so Earle of Angeou Shulde haue be kyng afore of all that realme Both of Surry and also Ierusalem ¶ When duke Robert Ierusalem forsoke For couetyse to haue and ioyse Englande Godfray Boleyne the realme of Surry toke And of Ierusalem eke I vnderstande And erowned was to be kynge of that lande That duke had bene afore of all Loueyne A noble prynce and a worthy Chyefteyne ¶ A thousande was an hundreth sixty syxtene Withoute yssue of his body cōmynge Dyed to whome his brother as was sene Bawdwin succeded and of that realme was king That ruled the lande as was full well semyng Full worthy accompted amonge all estates That chrysten fayth susteyned without debates To whom his sonne king Bawdewin did succede The seconde was that had so borne that name A noble Prynce of all marcyall dede And in that lande greate honoure had and fame Whiche on his wyfe gate without blame A doughter then had vnto his heyre That lande to haue enheryte and repayre Whom then earle Fowke of Angeou wed to wife And kyng was of that lande then by her ryght On whome he gate thre sonnes in his lyfe Worthy knyghtes and men of greate myght The eldest Geffray Plantagenet hyght That gate this same Henry fytz Empryse Kyng of Englande of noble and hye enterpryse The .ii. sonne of Fowke was Bawdewin that thirde Dyed prysoner as it is expressed afore Without yssue of his body betyd The third sonne then of Fowke laste was bore Hyght Almaryk whiche two were kynges thore Where erle Geffrey their elder brother had ryght That suffred them to ioye that lande by myght ¶ Which Almaryk dyed kyng so of that realme After whome then reygned his sonne Bawdwyn That fourth was of that name of Yerlam That impotent was without medecyn To mayntayne warre he myght no more enclyne Who called was Bawdewyn Paraliticus For with the palsye stryken was he full hydeous The C .xxxvi. Chapiter ¶ Howe that kyng Henry the seconde was very heyre of Ierusalem and by consequens Rycharde of Yorke shoulde be the same Wherfore he sent to kynge Henry his crowne His banner also of his armes full fayre Of Ierusalem that were of great renowne As to hym that was then the very heyre Of earle Geffray eldest sonne full fayre Was to kyng Fowke and to his wyfe the quene Doughter and heyre to Baudewin the .ii. clene ¶ This fourth Bawdewyn called Paraliticus This message sent the yere of Christe a thousand An hundreth ful foure score and thre ryght thus When Henry was requyred to haue that lande Whiche he proroged and sent agayne his sounde He shulde be there yf that the kyng of Fraunce And he myght well accorde of gouernaunce ¶ He went so forth anon to Normandye With hoost full great with kyng Philyp to treat Of that voyage and warre accorded on hye But then the death hym felly ganne reherte Wherfore anon he satte vp in his seate And to his sonne Rycharde greate sōme he gaue Thether to go that holy lande to saue ¶ And then he dyed at Pount Euerard buryed The sorowe of herte and great contricyon A prynce chrysten fully notifyed Withouten pere in all comparyson Of worthy knygthode and manly renowne A thousande yere an C lxxx and fourtene And of his reygne was syxe thirty clene The C .xxxvii. Chapiter ¶ Howe Richard king of England duke of Normādy earle of Angeou reygned .x. yere and beganne the yere of Chryst a. M. an C lxxxxiiii dyed the yere M CC. and .iiii. RYchard his sōne to kīg thē was crowned By Bawdewyn archbyshop primate Of Cauntorbury of England that stound That ruled the churche then by lawe ordynate His brother Geffray of baste so procreate Archbyshop was of Yorke then newe electe The Northren churche vnder him to be protecte ¶ The lorde Lueye that Godfray Lucye hight Afore hym bare a royall pyllyon And Iohn Marshal his spores of gold ful bright Willyam Maundeuile his mighty hye crowne That earle was then of Almarle vp and downe Of his wyues ryght willyam Marshal bolde Earle of Strigeyll the scepter bare of golde ¶ Willyam Patryk that was then Longspee That Earle was then create of Salysbury A staffe of golde for constable then was he Of Englande hole to haue the regeny By ryght of his offyce of constablery For yf the lande were voyde none heire knowe To kepe the realme by his offyce hym owe. ¶ This ylke Willyam was earle also create Of Gloucestre by whiche that offyce grewe To hym of ryght for he was generate Of Roberte Clare earle of Gloucestre trewe Foure Barons bare by theyr seruyce full dewe Aboue his hed then in processyon A cloth of golde by good direccyon ¶ Earle Dauyd then that tyme of Huntyngdon Brother of the kyng Willyam of Scotlande And Iohn the earle of Morten of renowne Kyng Rychardes brother as I vnderstone Ryght worthy lordes that tyme of this lande And Robert Ferrers earle of Leycester tho Thre swordes bare afore the kyng there so Syxe Earls then and Barons of estate A cheker
Ierusalem he reserued the resort to hym to his heires THe Soudā toke a trewce with kyng Richard For thre yere whole to bye all marchandise And sell and passe saufly thitherward To the sepulcre in all maner wyse With entercomen as then it did suffice And home he went for cause his brother Iohn Then purposed had for to bee crouned anon ¶ He sent his mother and wife to Cisile And of Acres he made then capitain The baron bold sir Rychard Vmfreuile Ierusalem to Henry erle of Champein With all Surry to haue and to demain And made hym kyng therof without delay For his susters soonne he was without nay ¶ For the marquis Wyllyam Mountferrate That kyng therof was by his wife enherite Was slain in Tire his citee by debate All sodeinly for cause of greate dispite Vetulo de Mount his brothers death to quite His bretherne twoo to Tire with power hath sent That slewe hym there by Vetulo his assent ¶ Whose wife he gaue to Henry his cousyn For she was heire of Ierusalem He made kepers in euery place full fyne And homeward came then by the sea stream Hoostyng by diuerse countres and realme To Romany Tuskan and Lumberdy In to Oistrich and there was take in hye ¶ Thēperour led home thē to Mēske he brought In strong ward brought to tyme that his finaūce Was fully payed emong his commons sought Of holy churche vnto ful greate greuaunce The marchaūtes also thē made great cheuisaūce Of all the shryues was take full greate riches Through all England to raūsom with his highnes ¶ And home he came Iohn his brother chastised And his fautours emprisoned all full sore To Normandy then went and there supprised The kyng Philip and werred hym euer thore That stroyed his land of Normandy afore Against his othe and his hie assuraunce Whilest he labored vpon the miscreaunce ¶ He then appeled the kyng Philip to fight Thei twoo alone hand for hand in feld That he was false of his promise and hight Whiche kyng Philip graunted but not it held But cowardly with royall hoste hym beld Vpon hym came all sodeinly to fight Within three dayes then for their brothers right ¶ Beside Gysours thei faught with hostes sore Wher kyng Rychard had the victorie Kyng Philip fled fro his baner thore With muche shame reproffe and vilanie Kyng Rychard segid a castell then in hie That Caluce hight not ferre fro Lymosyne Wher hurt he was full sore and dyed fyne ¶ An arblaster with a quarell hym smot As he about the castell went to spie But then he made therto a saute full hote On euery syde about full cruelly And gatte the place so then full myghtely And slewe theim all without any grace Agayn hym so that holden had that strong place ¶ He shroue hym then vnto abbots three With great sobbyng and hye contricion And wepyng teares that pitee was to see Mekely askyng penaunce and absolucion That it might please God at his peticion To forgeue his offences tyll domysday So afterwarde in blysse he might been ay ¶ He quethed his corps then to bee buried Al Fount Euerard there at his fathers feete To whom he graunted and made it notifyed Traytour he was and false of his behete His herte inuyncyble to Roan he sent full mete For their greate truth stedfast great constaunce His bowelles lose to Poytou for deceyuaunce ¶ Whose soule from the body dyd departe And into heauen went where is eternall ioye Because from synne he did conuerte Longyng for that blessed daye To see Christ that for his synne dyd paye That crucyfied was vpon the roode Redemyng his synne by the shedyng of his blode ¶ And of his reigne he died the .x. yere And in the yere of Christes incarnacion A thousande hole two hundreth and .iiii. clere As written is by clere computacion Who in his life had hole dominacion In Normandy Guyen Cypers and Surry Whose honoure shone aboue all other clerely The C .xli. Chapiter ¶ Iohn kyng of Englande duke of Normandy and Guyan 〈◊〉 erle of Angeou began to reygne the yere M CC. and .iiii. and reigned .xvii. yere and died the yere M CC .xxi. HIs brother Iohn was kyng then of Englande And crouned was at westminster ful faire By all estates and lordes of his lande And sone therafter deuorced full vnfayre From his wife wedded that there afore was heyre Vnto therle of Gloucestre full wyse That sonnes had that tyme of great enterprise ¶ For cause of whiche and of consanguinitye Deuorce was made and toke another wyfe Dame Isabell therles doughter fayre and free Of Englande and his heyre knowen ryfe Whiche after made hym ful great warre stryfe For she was wyfe of Hugh Brune of Toreyn The Viscount then toke fro hym a virgyne ¶ Wherfore Hugh Brune nomore of hym wolde hold But warred hym on euery side aboute Tyll he hym toke with other many folde And slewe theim all were thei neuer so stoute In his first yere a taxe he tooke full out Of eche plough land thre shyllynges fully payed For whiche the people bitterly for hym prayed The C .lxii. Chapiter ¶ Howe kyng Wyllyam of Scotlande did homage leege to kyng Iohn at Lyncolne the duke Arthure of Britayne all the lordes of Irelande did the same IN his first yere kyng Wylliā of Scotlād Made hys homage in Lyncolne his citee And Arthure duke of Britayne I vnderstande Sone after made hys homage feautee At London then with great humilitee The prince of Wales there made his homage For Wales then that was his heritage ¶ The great a Neele and Makmurre also And al the lordes and kynges of Irelande Therles also of Vlster did right so Of Ormond and Desmond for there lande And all estates there as I vnderstande Wer sworne to hym and to hym did homage For theyr lyuelodes and theyr heritage ¶ The kyng Philip confedered with Arthure To rebell sore agayne his eme kyng Iohn And graunte hym men power stronge and sure To gette Guyan Poytou and Angeou anon Wherfore kyng Iohn to Normandy gan gone And there he tooke Arthure duke of Britayn In castell Mirable dyed in mykell payne ¶ Dame Isabell the suster also of Arthure In the castell of Bristowe was then holde And died there in pryson then full sure As kyng Iohn hir vncle so it wolde A lady of greate beautee she was hold Beshet in pryson in paynes strong So endeth her life for sorowe liued not long ¶ Thus slewe he both Athure and Isabell The chyldren of his brother duke Geffrey To ioye the croune of Englande as men tell Wherfore moste parte of all his landes that daye Beyonde the sea forsoke hym then for ay Retournyng to the kyng of Fraunce in hye To holde of hym and his perpetually ¶ Bishop Hubert of Cauntorbury tho died Wherfore kyng Iohn vnto the couent sente To chose his clarke whiche they refused denied Wherfore the kyng was wroth in
as the rose in Maye To Raufe was wed that was lorde Mortymer Of whome that earles of Marche become full clere ¶ Then went the kyng and quene to Gascâ—yne And Gwyan to set that lande in pees And so forth then he went to Aragon To sporte them with theyr father there no lees To Gwyan then agayne for his encrees He came anone and set in peace that lande And so came agayne to Englande The C .l. Chapiter ¶ Howe the kyng dyd atteynt his Iustices and sette enquery of peace breakers ryouters oppressours extorcyoners and of the vsurye of Iewes HIs Iustyces all by lawe he dyd attaynt For wrong domes false iudgement For couetyse that false were then faynt To helpe the poore coÌ„mons to theyr entent He set Iustyces in heyre by all assent That called was that tyme Troilebaston For to enquere of all extorcyon ¶ Of Ryouters fyghters and baratours Of market beters that raysed greate debates Of peace breakers and all the susteynours That were with theim of preuy assocyates Of oppressours of all the pore estates And all that were then founde culpable Emprysoned were or by theyr pursse excusable ¶ Of Iewes within this lande that was abidyng Great plaintes were made of Okoure and vsury Howe they dyd waste the folke by suche winning And preuy bondes made without measure In payne of double or elles forfeture The king theÌ„ voided for whiche that church a disme Hym graunted so dyd the coÌ„mons a quindecyme ¶ Rys Ap Madoke a warre in Wales gan take Agayne the kyng that great warres had sustened And prynce hym called of Wales without make Who then at Yorke by lawe full wel mainteyned On galous hye as to hym well apperteyned Was drawen and hanged his hed vpon the towre was set anon as rebell and traytoure The C .li. Chapiter ¶ Howe Edmonde Earle of Lancaster and of Leycester kept Gwyan and wed quene Blaunche of Nauerne the kynges syster of Fraunce and therfore he bare the labell in his armes for dyfference fro the kynges of Englonde euer after KYng Edward sent his brother theÌ„ ful dere To kepe GuyaÌ„ and with him stroÌ„g chiualry Who gouerned there that land without pere To hye honoure as made is memorye In Fraunce sore dred amonge the aduersarye And other landes lyeng there all aboute Aboue all men he was there moste bedoute For euer he put them to the worse in felde In armes ay he had the victorye And in Parys at Iustes vnder shelde Far passyng was and dyd ay notably That for his manhode and famous chyualrye In so ferforth that all landes hym commende For his manhode whiche so in hym they kende ¶ He wed dame Blaunche of Nauerne that was quene King Philip sister that was ful good faire Of whome he gate Thomas of LaÌ„caster I wene And Henry his brother that afterwarde was heire And earles both they were without dispayre Of Lancaster and also of Leycestre As Flores hath expressed well by lettre ¶ For whiche weddyng and noble alyance He and his heyres bare for a difference Englande armes with labell hole of Fraunce By whiche all men maye haue intellygence That Edmonde was yonger in existence Then kyng Edward though some say that coÌ„trary And from the truth yet haue they wyll to vary The C .lii. Chapiter ¶ Howe the fyue portes toke the nauy of Fraunce on the seâ— in batell THe kyng of FrauÌ„ce a nauy great then seÌ„â— Vpon Englande to warre in great aray Which that .v. portes toke on the sea shent And people greate there slewe dreynt that daye Theyr shyppes all by batayl and affraye Were take and brought then into Englande With capitaynes many and lordes of that lande ¶ Kyng Philyp then at Parys in parlyament Somonde Edwarde afore hym to appere Surmittyng hym of robbery felonoment Vpon his flete so done by tymes sere For faute of aunswere foreiuged hym there Destroyed his land in eche place where he might But kyng Edwarde then went to Fraunce ryght ¶ And gate agayne his landes euerychone And sought ay where vpon the kyng of FrauÌ„ce But he fled euer and batayle wolde geue none Sone after so Philyp by ordynaunce A trewce toke by good ordynaunce For all his landes beyonde the sea To set in peace with all tranquilyte The C .liii. Chapiter ¶ Howe Morgan and Madoke his brother were sette in the towre for rebellyon in Wales made by comforte of kynge Phylip of Fraunce IN Wales Morgan made war great distaunce And Madoke also his brother ful vntrew For whiche the kyng with all his ordenauÌ„ce To Wales went faught with them all newe At straytes great whiche tho traytours knewe Yet were they take and put in sore pryson Within the towre for theyr rebellyon ¶ The kyng Philyp had sent then golde to waâ— On England then with sir Thomas Turbiruile Who was espyed by sotell meanes afferre And heded was anon for all his guyle His wyt not holpe hym then ne yet his wyle He dyed with shame repreef and vilany Engendred all of mede and surquedrye The C .liiii. Chapiter ¶ Howe Earle Edmonde was Leuetenaunt of Guyan and warred vpon the kyng of Fraunce and defyed hym by letter for he brake the promyse made to Edwarde his brother kynge of Englande SIr EdmoÌ„d erle of Lancaster theÌ„ ful trewe LeuetenauÌ„t then of Guian all throughout On whom that king Philip then rode al new And brake the trewce with hostes great and stout Wherfore he went to hym without doubte To se howe that it myght be well defende He bade hym thus set to his knee and amende ¶ Wherfore in ire he gaue hym vp homage The whiche he ought for his lande that he helde And aunswered hym agayne of great corage From hens forwarde I shall you holde the felde And at my power eche daye vnder shelde Proue howe ye do vnto my lorde greate wronge The whiche I shall amende or it be longe And so departed withoute more langage And into Guyan came with all his myght And to his brother wrote made hym knowlage And bade hym come with power for to fyght With spere and bowe for other writ of ryght Maye not be got within the courte of Fraunce For to recouer his hye enherytaunce ¶ Eche day theÌ„ce forth with baÌ„ners hole displeyed He helde the felde and kyng Philyp warred And leters sent hym defyals and vmbrayde Of hys suraunce and othe that he had erred And castelles gate fâ—ll many not differred Kyng Edward sent his brother then suppowaile The Frenche partye to warre and assayle The C .lv. Chapiter ¶ Howe syr Roger Mortymer was made Earle of Marche at Kyllyngworthe and set the rounde table of a thousande knyghtes and as many ladyes ANd in the yere a. M. was full then Two hundreth also syxty and nyntene When syr Roger Mortymer so began At Kelyngworth the rounde table as was sene Of a thousande knyghtes for disciplyne Of yonge men after he coulde deuyse Of turnementes and iustes to
it there moste clere Where these fyue lordes came armed by one asseÌ„t Appealed the duke of Irelande of greate entent The archbyshop of Yorke that hyght Neuyle And Michell poole earle of Suffolke that whyle ¶ Sir Nichol BreÌ„byr of London that was Mayre Tresilyan also and syr Symonde Bourley Whiche they exyled some they honge vnfeyre Some they heded that tyme that was full gaye Holt and Belknap exyled were awaye In to Irelande for hye contryued treasone Agayne the kyng and his royall crowne ¶ The earle Douglas the earle of March also Northumberlande by west the newe castell Vnto Morpath norwarde dyd mikyll wo At Otturborne as chronycles dyd tell Henry Percy with small hoste on hym fell And slewe Douglas many put to the flyght And gate the felde vpon his enemyes ryght ¶ He sent the lorde syr Thomas Vmfreuyle His brother Robert also sir Thomas Grey And sir Mawe Redmayn beyond that Scottes that whyle To holde them in that they fled not awaye Wherfore the Scottes releued agayne alway Through which Henry was take there anone To DuÌ„bar led for whom was made great mone ¶ The felde was his all yf that he were take The Vmfreuyle Grey Ogle and Redmayne Helde the felde hole that myght so for his sake And knewe nothyng whetherwarde he was gayn The Earle of Marche with preuy men alane Full priuely to Dunbarre with hym rode And kepte hym there for he was greatly ferde ¶ The Douglas all that many were that daye Laboured full sore with wyles and great wyt Hym to haue slayne for euer and ay For Douglas death so sore they rewed it This batail was on saynt Oswoldes daye coÌ„myt The .xii. yere of the kyng and of Christes date Thirtene C. foure score and eyght socyate The C .xci. Chapiter ¶ Howe the quene Anne dyed and howe kyng Rychard went fyrste to Irelande with his hooste ANd in the yere a thousand .iii. C. and mo Foure score fourtene quene Anne died The .xviii. yere was of the kyng then so And buryed was as well is notifyed Of all vertue she was well laudefyed To womanhede that myght in ought appende At Westminster she is full well commende ¶ At Michelmasse nexte after folowyng In that same yere the kyng to Irelande went With greate power hoste therin warrynge Vpon Makmur with all his hole entente And on the greate Aneell by one ascent Of his lordes where Makmurre greate Aneel To him obeyed and made hym homage leel ¶ The earle of Marche syr Roger Mortymer The kynge made then LeuetenauÌ„t of Irelande That yonge was then and home he came that yere And great hoshoulde helde as I can vnderstand Far passyng kynges of any other lande For whiche the voyce on hym rose and name Through christendom he bare then furth that fame ¶ And in the yere a thousande as was then Thre hundreth eke foure score also syxtene Of his reygne the .xviii. yere was then At Alhalowmasse kyng Rychard as was sene At Calys wed dame Isabell the quene KiÌ„g Charles doughter that then was kiÌ„g of FrauÌ„ce At Christmasse crowned by gouernaunce ¶ And in Smithfelde great iustes tornement Of all realmes and dyuers nacyon Of Englyshe Iryshe and Walshe present Of Scottes also were at the coronacyon And iusted there with greate coÌ„mendacy on By .xiiii. dayes iusted who so wolde Henry of Derby bare hym then full bolde Henry Percy and Raufe his brother gaye Robert Morley and syr Iohn Grene Cornewell Heer Nichol Hauberke and eke syr Mawburney Walter Bytterley syr Thomas Blankeueile Syr Hugh Spencer and Iamco saunz fayle Heer Hans heer Iohn the lorde fitz Walter Blaket Dynmoke and also the lorde Spencer ¶ Vmfreuyle and his brother Roberte Vmfrey Stafforde and syr Rychard Arundell These .xx. helde the felde within full sinert Agayne all other that wolde with Iustes mell Of what nacyon he were that man can tell Of in any lande the knyghtes iusted thare And squyers also without that well them bare The C .xcii. Chapiter ¶ Howe the kyng arest the duke of Gloucester the Earles of Warwyk and Aroundell and foreiuged them for treason and made fyue Dukes a Marquis and foure Earles and watched daye and nyghte with Cheshyre men for drede of insurreccyon THe yere of Christe a. M. was so then Thre C. eke foure score also seuentene At mydsomer the kyng with many a man At Plashe toke Thomas of Wodstoke full kene Of Gloucester the duke that was full clene That smyten was in fell and great syknesse And in the towre hym put in great distresse ¶ Whome sone he sente to Calyce secretely And murthered hym in the prynces inne By hole aduice of his councell priuely And in eche shyre of which he did greate synne His confessyon of treason more and mynne Of .ix. poyntes fayned he then proclaymed To staunche the folke that for hym cryed claymed ¶ He then arest Thomas earle of Warwyke And Earle Rycharde of Arundell no lees The lorde Cobham full trewe and also manlyke Foringed them by strength of men and prees The earle of Warwyk his name for to distresse Vnto thisâ—e of Man in sore prison Of Arundell therle hedded for treson ¶ The lord Cobham in to prisone perpetuall In the towre to abide for euer more At Mighelmasse next so then did bifall The kyng then held his greate parlyament thore At Westminster wher the kyng mustred sore At the Blakeheth an hundred thousand menne To make the commons for to dred hym then ¶ At whiche parlyameÌ„t he made therle of Derby Duke of Herford therle of Rutland also Of Almarle duke therle of Kent duke of Surry Th erle of Huntyngton duke of Excester tho Th erle Marshall he made and no mo Duke of Northfolke thus were there dukes fiue Of newe create and none was substantiue ¶ He made therle of Somerset marques Of Dorset then sir Iohn Beaufort that hight Of poore liuelode that was that tyme doubtles Foure erles next he made in mantiles full right With swerdes girt the lord Spencer on hight That create was then erle of Gloucester Thomas Percy also erle of Worcester ¶ The lord Neuell then erle of Westmerland Wyllyam Scrope erle of Wiltshire create That Chamberleyn was then I vnderstand And tresourer of England ordinate These foure erles were thus consociate Then all these dukes and erles with many mo Of lordes young he had aye with hym ¶ Bishopes thirtyne he held then furth eche daye Barons many and many a worthy knight To greate nombre and squiers freshe and gaye And officers well mo then nedid right In eche office by tenfold mo to sight Then were afore for then he had eche daye Twoo hundred menne of Cheshire wher he laye ¶ To watche hym aye wher so euer he laye He dred hym aye so of insurreccion Of the commons and of the people aye He trusted none of all his region But Chesshire menne for his proteccion Wher euer he rode with arowes and
bowes bent Thei were with hym aye redy at his entent The C .xciii. Chapiter ¶ Howe in the tyme of kyng Rychard reigned ouer passyng pryde aduoutree and lechery as well in menne of the spiritualtie as in other of his hous TRuly I herd Robert Ireleffe saye Clerke of the grenecloth that to the houshold Came euery daye for moost partie alwaye Ten thousand folke by his messis tould That folowed the hous aye as thei would And in the kechin three hundred seruitours And in eche office many occupiours ¶ And ladies faire with their gentilwomen Chamberers also and lauenders Three hundred of theim were occupied then Ther was greate pride emong thâ—rfficers And of all menne farpassyng their compeers Of riche araye and muche more costious Then was before or sith and more precious ¶ Yemenne and gromes in cloth of silke arayed Sattyn and damaske in dublettes and gounes In cloth of grene and scarlet for vnpayed Cut werke was greate both in court and tounes Bothe in meÌ„nes hoddis and also in their gounes Broudur and furres goldsmith werke aye newe In many awise eche daye thei did renewe ¶ In his chapell were bishoppes then of Beame Some of Ireland and some also of Fraunce Some of England and clerkes of many a realme That litill connyng had or conisaunce In musike honorably God his seruice to auaunce In the chapell or in holy scripture On mater of Goddis to refigure ¶ Lewed menne thei were in clerkes clothyng Disguysed faire in fourme of clerkes wise Their peryshyns full litill enfourmyng In lawe deuine orels in God his seruise But right practyfe thei were in couetyse Eche yere to make full greate colleccion At home in stede of soules correccion ¶ Greate lechery and fornicacion Was in that house and also greate aduoutree Of paramoures was greate consolacion Of eche degre well more of prelacie Then of the temporall or of the chiualrie Greate taxe ay the kyng tooke through all the laÌ„d For whiche commons hym hated bothe free boÌ„d The C .xciiii. Chapiter ¶ Howe the duke of Herford and the duke of Northfolke wer exiled out of England ANd in the yere M. and thre hundred clere Foure score and therwithall eightene And of his reigne the twenty twoo yere The duke Henry of Herford as was seen At Couentree in barres armed clene Again the duke of Northforke for treson Whiche bothe the kyng exiled fro his region ¶ The duke Henry exiled was for ten yere The other was also for terme of life That died duke at Venys leide on bere But duke Henry exiled was beliue Like as the chronicle can openly discriue For ten yere whole for to abide in Fraunce And to auoyde the realme without variaunce ¶ Vpon the pain of decollacion And hiyng sone before sainct Edwardes daye In Octobre called the translacion Vpon whiche daye he shipid fourth his waye At Calice londed and so rode on alwaye Vnto Paris wher he was faire recepte With lordes many and worshipfully was mette ¶ In lenton next duke Iohn his father dyed Of Lancaster of weakenes and of age Entombed faire at sainct Poules buryed His heire in fraunce should haue his heritage In Maye then next the kyng with baronage To Ireland went with hoste and greate power The wild Irishe to wynne and to conquere ¶ For then Roger therle of Marche was slain With wild Irishe in bushment for hym laye His soonnes then full young were bothe twein In ward were take vnto the kyng that daye And then the kyng made full fell araye In euery shire blanke charters to bee sealid For cause his actes should not bee repeiled In the yere of Christ a. M. was then clere Three C. also foure score and eke ninetene And of his reigne the twoo twenty yere Begynnyng at Midsomer then as I meane Whiche afterward turned hym to mikell tene He was then landed in Ireland with his hoste Of chiualrie and power with the moste The C .xcv. Chapiter ¶ Howe duke Henry of Herford and of Leicestre landed in Holdernesse in the same yere and Thomas Arundell archebishop of Cantorbury that before was exiled and howe duke Henry swore to therle of NorthuÌ„berland and to sir Henry Percy wardeyns of the Marches and to therle of Westmerland and to other lordes of that North. AT whiche tyme so that duke Henry toke land At ReueÌ„sporn i Yorkeshire as was knowe Tharchbishop Thomas I vnderstand Of Cauntorbury Arondell that was lowe Bothe of ryches and gold as menne sawe For the kyng had hym out of the land exiled Fro Cauntorbury neuer more to bee reconsiled ¶ In Holdernesse he landed with fourty menne Wher the lordes of Lyncolneshire hym mette Bothe Wyloughby Roos and Darcy then And BeaumouÌ„t also with Penouns proudly bette By ordinaunce of Henry Percy sette Erle of Northumberland and sir Henry His soonne wardeyns of the Marche seuerally ¶ To Dancaster he rode full manfully Wher bothe the wardeyns of the Marche mette Then with the duke with hostes great chiualry Th erle also of Westmerland was sette With his power as then it was his debt For he had wed the dukes suster dere A full good lady without any were ¶ Ther swore the duke vpon the sacrament To claime no more but his mothers heritage His fathers landes and his wife 's in good entent And to laye downe bothe taxe and tallage Whiles he might liue but of the baronage And all the states somouned in parlyament Thought it nedefull and therto whole assent ¶ He swore also the kyng in gouernaunce To be put by good and hole prouision And Chesshyre men for theyr misgouernaunce To voyde out of his house of eiuill condicion And officers of good disposicion To rule his house like his estate royall Thus was his othe there made in speciall ¶ Then rode they forth to Bristowe were theÌ„ lay Scrop and Busshe and also syr Henry Grene And headed theim but Baget fled away And then the kyng at Flynt as was sene Great monstres made of people that was kene Whiche toke his wage and came to duke Henry And rode ay forth with hym full redely ¶ In this meane whyle therle of NorthuÌ„berlaÌ„de Treated with the kyng that tyme in Conwaye To mete with duke Henry then in Englande And brought hym then to hym in meke araye With litell speche to Chester then the waye They rode anone and put hym there in warde And so to London from thens came southwarde The C .xcvi. Chapiter ¶ Howe duke Henry of Lancaster was made kyng by resignacion renunciacion and deposayle and election of the parliamente and crouned at Westmynster on saynte Edwardes daye in Octobre ANd set hym in the toure where he resigned His right his realme his royall croune To duke HeÌ„ry which no maÌ„ theÌ„ repugned And there he made a playn renunciacion Of all his righte for whiche by prouision The parliament then for his misgouernaunce Deposed hym so then by greate ordinaunce ¶ Then went they to a free election
Seyng the youth then of the Mortimer That erle of the Marche by trewe direccion Was then and heire of England then moste nerâ— To kyng Richarde as well then did appere Consydred also the might of duke Henry They chose hym kyng there durst none it deny ¶ Th erle of Northumberlande then had sent His power home by councell of duke Henry So did his sonne Henry that truly ment Supposyng well the duke wolde not vary From his othe ne in no wyse contrary And he and his kepte all theyr power Tyll he was crouned kyng as it did appere ¶ Therles two then of Northumberlande Of Worcester and syr Henry Percy And theâ—â—e also of Westmerlande Councelled hym then fro his oth not to varye And though at eue he did to theim applie On the morowe by a pryue counsayl He would be crouned kyng without fayle The C .xcvii. Chapiter ¶ Henry the fourth kyng of Englande and of Fraunce was electe by that hole parliament the morowe after Michelmasse daye the yere of our Lorde a thousande thre hundreth foure score and nynetene and reigned .xiiii. yere died at Westmynster the .xix. daye of Marche in the yere of Christe a thousande foure hundreth and .xiii. and of his owne reygne the .xiiii. yere THis duke Henry by great loue of the land Of many lordes and of the commontee Tharchebyshop Arondell toke on hande To croune hym then in royall maiestee On saynt Edwardes day with great solempnitee But kyng he was the morowe after Mighelmesse His reygne begynnyng that day without distresse ¶ Th erle of Warwike and therle of Arondell That exiled were and the Lorde Cobham eke With all theyr frendes that kyng Richard did expell The dukes frendes of Gloucester nought to seke Whiche then began for to encrease and eke Through all the realme with kyng Henry to staÌ„d To croune hym kyng that tyme of all Englande ¶ An hundreth thousande cryed all at ones At Westmynster to croune hym for kyng So hated they kyng Rychard for the nones For his mysrule and wrong gouernyng For taxes and for blanke charters sealyng For murder of duke Thomas of Woodstoke That loued was well more then all the floke ¶ The great parliament then he made rehersed The dukes of Almarle Excestre and Surry He depryued and the iudgement reuersed That then was made gaue full wylfully Agayne Woodstoke and Warwyke for enuie Arondell and the lorde Cobham full trewe Whiche was reuersed and reuoked newe ¶ The duke of Almarle was then erle Rutlande The duke of Surry erle of kent was agayn And eke the duke of Excester I vnderstande Of Hungtyngdon therle was to be fayn The marques eke of Dorset was full bayn Of Somerset erle agayn to bene He chastised theim no feller as was sene ¶ Th erle of Gloucester was lord Spencer Then set agayn to his first estate The kyng then made his eldest sonne full clere The prince of Wales in parliament hole create Duke of Cornewayle and erle denominate Of Chester also that then was yong of age But yet he was that tyme of hye courage The C .xcviii. Chapiter ¶ Howe the kyng gaue the Constablerie and the Marshalsee to therles of Northumberlande and Westmerlande wyth certayn landes and how syr Robert Vmfreuile was made knight of the Garter capitayn of Rokesburgh faught on fote on Fulhoplewe and wan the feld with victorie and was made lorde Vmfreuile AT this tyme that kyng grauÌ„ted by parliameÌ„t The Constablery certayn of Englande In heritage so at his coronoment To therle then of Northumberlande Also of Man thifle I vnderstande To holde of hym and of his heyres alwaye By seruyce royall as wrytten was that daye ¶ And to therle of Westmerlande also The Marshalsee of Englande then he gaue All Richemond fee that was in Englande tho By patent also for terme of life to haue The lordes all he pleased so God me saue With office ay orels with lande or rent With liberall herte as to a prince appent ¶ And whyles that parliament so did endure The Scottes rode by North and sore had stroyed In Cokedale then where Vmfreuyle had cure That with theim faught had theim sore anoyed At Fulhaplowe on fote he theim acloyed For there he toke syr Richard Rotherforde His sonnes fyue full fell of dede and worde ¶ Syr Wyllyam Stiwarde also he toke The lorde of Gordowne he put to flight And Willibarde the felde there then forsoke And prisoners brought home well mo at night Then he had men with hym the felde to fight For whiche the kyng hym had ay after in cherte Consyderyng well his knightly aperte The C .xcix. Chapiter ¶ Howe the kyng Henry remeued kyng Richard from place to place by night in preuey wise in whiche tyme theries of Kent Salisbury and Huntyngdon the lorde Spencer and syr Raulfe Lomley were headed THe kyng theÌ„ sent kyng Richard to Ledis There to be kepte surely in preuitee Fro theÌ„s after to Pykeryng weÌ„t he nedes And to Knauesburgh after led was he But to Pountfrete last where he did die Bothe therles of Kent and Salisbury Th erle of Huntyngdon and SpeÌ„cers sothelye ¶ And syr Raulfe Lomley with mo in company After Christmasse thought to haue slayn the kyng They were distured and fled awaye in hye But they were slayn at Circester fleyng By the commons with theim there fyghtyng Therles of Kent and of Salysbury And syr Raulfe Lomley in theyr companye ¶ The lorde Spencer take was vpon the sea At Bristowe was headed and decollate Th erle also of Huntyngdon did flee And brought vnto the countesse of estate Of Herforde then who had hym forth algate To Plasshe where she made men hym hede Without counsayll of any lorde or rede ¶ Syr Thomas shelly set full hye in pride And Mawbleyn with Ferebye drawe and honge Syr Barnard Brockeys was heded theim beside The byshop also of Carleile theim among In Westmynster his life there to prolonge Perpetually by iudgement was commytte Among his brethren in order for to sytte The CC. Chapiter ¶ Howe kyng Richard was brought deade froÌ„ Pountfret to Powles and after buried at Langley for menne shoulde haue no remembraunce of hym And howe syr Robert Vmfreuyle faught with that Scottes at Redeswere and had the felde and the victorye IN march next after kig Rychard theÌ„ was dede Fro Poumfret brought with great solempnyte Men sayde forhungered he was lapped in lede At Poules his masse was done and diryge In hers royall semely to royalte The kyng lordes clothes of golde there offerde Some .viii. some .ix. vpon his hers were proferde ¶ At Westminster then dyd they so the same When truste he shuld there haue buryed bene In that mynster lyke to a prynce of name In his owne tombe together with the quene Anne that afore his fyrste wyfe had bene But then the kyng hym faste to Langley sent There in the freres to be buryed secretement ¶ On Michelmasse day next after his coronacioÌ„
suche a prince of reason ought to bee ¶ And Motreux toke he then to syr Iohn Gray That then was made erle of TanoÌ„iruile A manly knight in armes proued aye And lorde Powes was by his wyfe that whyle And emes sonne vnto therle Vmfreuile Two better knightes I trowe there were not thaÌ„ Of theyr estate sith tyme that they began ¶ At siege of Meloyn and of all other citees After folowyng the kyng of Scotland lay The prince of Orenge withouten lees The duke Embarre his sonne and heire alway That suster sonne then was full freshe and gay To kyng Henry at Meloyn full well arayed The kyng of FrauÌ„ce with banner hole displayed ¶ The siege helde fro Midsomer to Christmasse When kyng Henry at his palayce royall Of Turnels fayre besyde the bastell pereles Of Saynt Antonye helde his hole imperiall Where then he feasted these kynges princes all Where then therles of Suffolke and of Kyme With ten men helde the iustes by all that tyme ¶ But whyles the kyng Henry was so in FrauÌ„ce The duke Robert that was of Albany Layd about Barwike of great puissaunce Sixty thousande of Scottes cruelly Assayled the towne echedaye by and by The capitayn was syr Robert Vmfreuyle A knight of the garter had ben long whyle The CC .xviii. Chapiter ¶ Howe the duke of Albany besieged Barwske and therle Douglas Rokesburgh in heruâ—ste in the seuenth yere of the kyng and howe Henry Percy erle of Northumberland rescowed Barwike and Roliesburgh with .vii. score M. meÌ„ for trust it true there is no lorde in Englande that may de fende you agayn Scotlande so well as he for they haue the hertes of the people by North and euer haue had and doute it not the North parte bee your trewe legemen THey shot their gonnes and with their ladders scaled But nought auailed thei wer so wel of bet When they our hoste sawe anone they vnscaled That stale awaye by night without let For feare our hoste vpon theim shulde set At Baremore then with .vii. score thousande men For which the Scottes fled fro that duke home then ¶ Vpon the night and let hym there alone With his owne men and no mo of weike power Yet rode he to Norham nere theim anone And brent the towne our hoste and he then wer But two myle of and durst not come no nere Wherfore he rode home then into Scotlande Our hoste more sone retourned to England ¶ Then syr Robert Vmfreuile with the garyson Of Barwike with his countremen Folowed after the Scottes with his penoun On the hynder ryders and many of theim then He toke homewarde and slewe squyers ten Within Scotlande besyde Cherneside towne And to Berwike came with his garyson ¶ Th erle Douglas then hight syr Archebalde Whiche his one eye had lost at Hamyldon That semed hym well ay after manyfolde At Shrowysbury for his correccyon He loste one of his stones for his raunson His syege then lefte at Rokesburgh where he laye And with the duke of Albany rode awaye ¶ The Earles two of Douglas and Dunbarre For trewce sent to Roberte Vmfreuyle Wardeine of the este marche full wyse and warre He wolde none take with them then for no while Syth they the trewce had broken and did fyle He shuld them holde the warre to they were faine To seke peace then at the kyng agayne ¶ The kyng was then in Fraunce hole regent And Parys had and all the lande aboute Troies in Champaine Mews in Bry had hent With all citees townes and castelles stoute In all that lande and countree there throughout Of Mewis he made sir Iohn Graye capitayne That was lorde Powes by his wyfe certayne ¶ That tyme syr Raufe CroÌ„wel was gouernour Of kyng Charles and Isabell the quene By kyng Henry ordeyned theyr protectoure Who kept them at Boys vincent as was sene In royall wyse as to them dyd parteigne The kyng busy that tyme in his conqueste For to set rule in Fraunce coulde haue no reste ¶ In this meane whyle sir Robert Vinfreuyle Wardeine of the March thought then full great shame The king in FrauÌ„ce doing so well that while He made the warre on Scottes to haue a name Two yere complete he wrought theÌ„ mekell shame Thest Marche hole of Scotlande then he brent And market townes echeone or that he stente ¶ Howyk Selkirke Ied worth all Dunbarre Laudre also with all Laudre dale The forestes also fro Berwyk that were farre Of Eteryke Ied worth and eke all Teuidale And all the villages in them both great small And none helpe had but of his countre men Of the bishopryke of Northumberlande then ¶ In this mean time that Scottes had great paine Wherfore therls of Douglas and Dunbarre To London came and toke a trewce full fayne As Vmfreuyle them hight afore the warre That to the kyng they shulde it seke of farre Of whiche he kept his hoste then full two yere For with his warre he waste the marche full clere The CC .xix. Chapiter Howe the Kynge and the Quene came into Englaude in the eyght yere of his reigne THe .viii. yere of his reygne at CaÌ„delmasse The kinge came home and brought with hym the quene That he had wed at Troys in ChaÌ„pein doutlesse Afore the lordes of Fraunce as then was wel sene The duke of Clarence as men well it mene He made regent of Fraunce in his absence To occupye ryght as his owne presence ¶ The earle of Salisbury the Mountague He made gouernoure then of Normandaye Th erle of Kyme a knyght of his full trewe Marshall of Fraunce he made full openly The lordes all he ordeyned there to lye Hym to comforte and to bene attendaunt To hym in all that myght hym be pleasaunt ¶ This prynce of princes in England theÌ„ abode To somer after eche daye in busynesse To ordeyne for his passage and his rode To FrauÌ„ce agayne in which tyme then doutlesse I sawe two knightes afore hym then expresse That none might them accorde or treate to peace Ne iustyce none of fyghting might them cease ¶ The lordes then greatly counsayled the kyng To make them fynde suretye to kepe the peace The kyng answered anon without tarying I shal be youre borowe nowe or I cease For of this thyng I may not longe you prease But what case fall that slaine is one of you That other shall dye to god I make a vowe ¶ They heryng this anon they were accorde By frendes that treated that time betwene them two And after that they were no more at discorde This was a Iustice of peace that coulde do so His offyce kepte without borowes moo For when he dyed Iustyce of peace bode none But baratours theyr office kepte anone ¶ And at the Easter then in his xv yere The duke of Clarence thenemies had espyed At Bangy then for whiche his menne in fere He sembled and thyther faste he hyed On Easter euen he wolde not bene replyed With whome were
cōuersaunt His shadowe so obumbred all England That peace and lawe kept continuaunt In his absence throughout all this land And els as I can seyne and vnderstand His power had been lite to conquere Fraunce Nor other realmes that well were lesse perchaūce ¶ The peace at home and lawe so well conserued Were croppe and rote of all his hie conquest Through whiche the loue of God he well deserued And of his people by North South Est West Who might haue slain y◠prince or downe him kest That stode so sure in rightfull gouernaunce For common weale to God his hie plesaunce The CC .xxiiii. Capiter ¶ Henry the sixte kyng of England and of Fraunce that fled in to Scotland without cause on Palmesondaye the thirty and nyne yere of his reigne and of Christ a thousand foure hundred three score and one began to reigne the yere of Christ a thousand foure hundred twenty and twoo HEnry his soōne thē not .iii. quarters olde That borne was at s Nicholas daie afore At Windesore so as that realme thē would Vnto the croune succede as he was bore All England hole by might of lordes thore The duke of Gloucester then disired To haue the kepyng of the kyng enspired ¶ The bishop of Wynchester it withstode With all the lordes there hole of his assent Then would he haue been as for that next of bloode Leuetenaunt then of England and regent The bishop aye withstode all his entent That chaūceler was by that fifth kyng Henry made And so furth stode and in thoffice bade ¶ For cause he was so noyous with to dele And office would he haue and gouernaunce Wherfore thei made hym for the common wele Protectour of the realme by ordinaunce To kepe the land fro mischief and varyaunce The kyng of Fraunce for sorowe then dyed The quene his wife also as was notified ¶ The lord Cromwell lost therof nothyng For he had bothe theim in his gouernaunce And home then came when buryed was the kyng Charles of Fraunce with worthy ordenaunce Quene Isabell also with purueaunce Accordaunt well to their royall estate With costages greate as was preordinate ¶ The first daye of the moneth of Septembre He gan to reigne then was a thousand yere Foure hundred as I can remember Twenty and twoo accompted then full clere As I finde write in the chronicler But not crouned for tendernes of age Nor yet anoynte for dred of youthes outrage ¶ The duke of Bedford stode so furth ay regent The duke of Gloucester here was so protectour The bishop of Wynchester by perlyament Was chaunceller and hiest gouernour Of the kyng his persone and his greate socour His godfather and his fatheres eme And supportour was moost of all this realme ¶ The regēt then of Fraunce wed Anne his wife The duke his suster of Burgoyn good and faire The duke of Brytain hir suster knowen rife Had wed afore without any dispeire Whiche was lady of greate repeire ▪ Whiche dukes twoo were sworne and aliede With the regent to stand strongly fortified The CC .xxv. Chapiter ¶ Howe the regent with lordes of Englād smote the vattaill of Vernoyle in Perche in the third yere of kyng Henry that .vi. ¶ Th erle of Boughan and therle Douglas Th erle of Wigton with power of Scotland And lordes of Fraunce to gether assembled was Wher the regent with lordes of England At Vernoyle in Perche as I can vnderstand Faught with theim sore slewe the Scottes cruelly And bade theim thynke emong on Bawgy ¶ The regent had the felde and victorie With greate honour and laude full comfortable Therles were ther with hym of Salisbury Of Suffolke also that were full honorable The lord Wiloughby full fortunable The lord Scales of greate and hie corage With many other of the baronage ¶ Th erle of Ewe and his brother manly Faught in that feld and gate aworthy name And many mo did tho full doughtely I dare well saie was none therfore to blame All other also whiche that were worthy of fame I would haue wrytē if I had knowen their mede But to heraldes I will commit their deede ¶ Thei sleugh therles of Boughan Douglas And of Wigton of Scotland that wer there The lord of Enermeth of Scotland then was With greate people that dedde then there were Our Englishmenne full manly theim bere The regent was there that daye a lion And faught in armes like any champion The CC .xxvi. Chapiter ¶ Howe Mountague erle of Salisbury layde siege to Orle aunce and was slayne there THerle of Salisbury then Mountague With great power layd siege to Orliaūce Wher slayn he was for whō men sore gan rewe So manly was his knightly diligence He laboured euer in marciall excellence Vnto the tyme as would th ende of fate With a quarell was slayne infortunate ¶ And buried was in Englande that yere With greate worshippe and hie solempnitee Richard Neuell had wed his doughter clere And erle was made that tyme by her in fee The regent then of great nobilitee By counsell of the duke then of Burgoyn Kepte Fraunce full well without any essoyn ¶ Then died his wife and wed then sone agayn The countee seynt Paules sister of Fraunce That leegeman was to kyng Henry certayne To the regent sworne as by full greate assuraūce With true seruice and all trewe aliaunce He kepte bothe Fraunce and eke all Normandy In peace and rest full well and worthely ¶ Th erle Richarde of Warwike kepte the kyng By all this tyme sith the duke was dead Of Excester that first hym had in kepyng Th erle Richard in mykell worthyhead Enfourmed hym but of his symplehead He coulde litle within his brest conceyue The good from eiuill he could vneth perceyue The CC .xxvii. Chapiter ¶ Howe the kyng was enoynted and crouned in England in the yere of Christe a thousande CCCC and .xxix. and of his reigne the .viii. yere And afterwarde he was crouned in Fraunce the yere a thousand CCCC and .xxxi. and of his reigne the .x. yere in whose presence the regent ceased of his office for whiche he was wroth with the cardinall is vncle for asmuche as the kynge was there presente therfore there shulde bee no regente THe kyng then in his .viii. yere in Englande At Westmynster vpō saynt Leonardes daye The sondaye then as I can vnderstande And of Christ was then a thousande full I saye Foure hundreth and .xx. and .ix. no naye He crouned was with all solempnitee By whole assent of lordes and commontee ¶ Then of his reigne accompte the .x. yere To Fraunce he went wher then at saynt Denys His fathers eme the cardinall full clere Hym crouned fayre with bishoppes there full wise The regent was there with suche seruice As was due of reason and to hym appent The duke of Burgoyne also obedient ¶ The duke also was there of Britayne The counte saynt Paule and the duke Embarre Th erle of Foys with other lordes of Guyan
Wherfore the duke loste his great auauntage And was no more then after defensour But then he fell in a greate errour Moued by his wyfe Elianor Cobham To truste her so men thought he was to blame ¶ He waxed then straunge eche day vnto that kyng For cause she was foriudged for sossery For enchaunmentees that she was in workyng Agayne the churche and the kyng cursedly By helpe of one mayster Roger Donly And into Wales he went of frowardnesse And to the kyng had greate heuynesse ¶ Wherfore the lordes then of the kinges couÌ„saile Made the kyng to set his hye parlyament At Burye then whether he came without fayle Where in parlesey he dyed incontynent For heuynesse and losse of regyment And ofte afore he was in that sykenesse In poynt of death and stode in sore destresse ¶ When of the kyng was .vii. and twenty yere Then he so dyed in full and h 〈…〉 creaunce As a christen prince of royall bloude full clere Contryte in herte with full greate repentaunce With mouth confessed to Goddes hye pleasaunce Vnto the earth that is all fleshe his neste His body went his soule to heauens reste ¶ And of the kyng the .xxix. yere In Maye â–ª the duke of Suffolke toke the sea On pilgramage to passe as dyd apere With Brigauntes then with compassed enmyte Hym slewe and heded with full great cruelte Agayne assuraunce of the kynges proteccyon That worthy were the death for insurreccyon ¶ That same yere then at the hye parlyament Was made a playne and a hole resumpcyon Of all the landes by sad and hole aduysement Whiche the kyng had geuen of his affeccyon To any wyght by patent or conccssyon Then taxe ceased and dymes eke also In all Englande then raysed were no mo The CC .xxxiii. Chapiter ¶ The duke of yorke was made protectour and chyef of councell the thyrty yere of kyng Henry the sixte and the Earle of Salisbury was chaunceller of Englande THe duke of Yorke then made was protectour And gouerned wel but .ii. yere not endured Discharged he was with passing great mur mour Of coÌ„mons hole amonge them theÌ„ ensured To helpe hym so with power auentured For he was set the comon wele to auayle By his laboure and his hole counsayle ¶ But ay the better that he to God was set The more were other by worde and dede The contrarye to laboure and to let His good purpose to pursue and to spede So that he had no hap for to procede For sotell menne hym let ay at the ende The coÌ„mon wele to mayntene and amende ¶ The Earle Richard also of Salisbury So was disposed in all thynges to the same Whiche was the cause of theyr death fynally For whiche of ryght ne muste folowe blame Their lyues well kepte had bene without shame For tho princes two died in their kynges right For the publike wele of eche Englishe wight ¶ The .xxx. yere this was then of the kyng When they the kyng then had in gouernaunce And ruled hym well in all maner thyng And made good rule and noble ordynaunce Auoyding all misrule and misusaunce For worshyp of the kyng and of his realme Without doubte or any other probleme The CC .xxxiiii. Chapiter ¶ Howe the Earle of Northumberlande the duke of Somerset and the lorde Clyfforde were slayne at saynte Albones the thyrty and .iiii. yere of his reigne where that duke of yorke the Earle of Salisbury and the earle of Warwike toke the kyng 〈◊〉 kept hym in good rule the twenty two days of Maye that was then the Thursdaye next of Pen tecoâ—t the yere of Christ a thousand foure huÌ„dred lv THei were put by from all their good entent And strauÌ„ge were hold after many a daye To the thirty yere and thre by hole consent At sainct Albones then vpon the thursdaye Accompted then next afore Witsondaye Thei slewe the duke Edmond then of Somerset For cause he had the realmes we le so lette ¶ Th erle then of Northumberland was there Of sodein chaunce drawen furth with the kyng And slain vnknowne by any manne ther were The lord Clifford ouer busie in werkyng At the barres theim mette sore fightyng Was slain that daye vpon his owne assaut As eche manne saied it was his owne defaute ¶ Th erle of Wiltshire with fiue hundred menne Fled fro the kyng full fast that tyme a waye The duke of Buckyngham was hurte there then The kyng thei tooke and saued in good araye To Wistminster with hym thei tooke the waye And ruled hym well in all prerogatife As kyng of right without any strife The CC .xxxv. Chapiter ¶ Howe that lord Audely faught with therle of Salisbury at Bloreheth at Mighelmas terme in the thirty and eight yere of his reigne ¶ Yet were these lordes voyde fro that kyng again The duke of Yorke and therle of Salisbury Th erle also of Warwike nought to layn Without cause I can not remembre why But at Bloreheth the lord Audely in hie With therle of Salisbury faught full sore Th erle preuailed and Audely slain was thore ¶ The thirty yere and eight of the kyng And so he went to Ludlowe on his waye The duke of Yorke in Wales had shippyng To Ireland then he went full well awaye Therles of March and Salisbury that daye And of Warwike as God it had purueighed To Calais went their waye no thyng denied The CC .xxxvi. Chapiter ¶ Of the battaill of Northampton wher the Earle of March therle of Warwike preuailed led the king to Westminster kept hym there the yere of his reigne right and thirty and the yere of Christ a thousaÌ„d foure hundred nyne and fiftie and slewe the duke of Bokyngham therle of Shrowisbury tresorer of England the lord Beaumont sir Thomas Percy lord Egremond and led the kyng with theim to London and gouerned hym full well and worthely the tenth daye of Iuly AT Couentree the king in his parlyament Proclaimed theim all thre for rebellours But afterward all three of one assent At Northampton came as worthy warriours In somer after to been the kyng his socours Wher then the duke of Buckyngham theim met With power greate and trust haue theim ouerset ¶ Th erle of Shrewesbury was with hym thore The lord Baumount with hym was also The lord Egremount full stout in feate of warre Whiche foure were slain with mikell people mo Beside Northampton on the Thursdaye tho The third daye of the moneth of Iuly And in the reigne of the kyng eight and thirty ¶ Thei saued the kyng kept hym sauf sound With greate honour therle of Marche Edward Th erle also of Warwike in that stound And with hym rode so furth to London ward Full worshipfully thei kept hym thens forward In all state royall as did append And as his menne vnto hym did attend The CC .xxxvii. Chapiter ¶ Howe the battaill of Wakefeld wher the North partie preuailed was the fifth daye of Christmasse and of the kyng his reigne
not beleue to the entente that he myghte the more enbouldē certaine of his compaigny then despayryng and geuyng theimselfe to flight beganne to make a newe hoste and with many faire promyses did wowe his brother in lawe Thomas Stanley to take his parte but when that said Thomas would by no meanes fight or rebell agaynste kyng Edwarde then seeyng it was tyme to gooe one waye and he mistrustyng that he was not able to resiste the power of hys enemyes fled wyth the duke of Clarence his soonne in lawe to Excetre and whē he had taried there two or three dayes seyng that he lacked al thynges necessarye for warre purposed to gooe to Lewes the kyng of Fraunce with whom at his ambassate into Fraunce was veraye well acquaynted and beloued trustyng ether to haue some helpe of the kyng or els to incense hym wholy to fight against hym and so toke shippe at Dartmouth both he and the duke with a greate nombre of theyr familie and sayled with the wynde to Normandie where the chiefe lord of that towne entreteyned hym most royally in al the hast certified that kyng Lewes of his cōmyng thither And that kyng meruailyng greatlye at that noble actes that that erle had doen was mynded thorowly to helpe hym in all that he could when he knewe that he was lāded in Fraūce was glad of it sent to hym certayn of his nobles to shewe hym that he did wishe to haue an occasion wherby he might helpe hym at this time would gladly dooe for him desieryng hym to come to Ambassy where the kyng laye which Ambassy is a manour place of that kynges set vpō the ryuer syde of Loire the duke also his sonne in law and that it should not bee for his losse or harme This was that .ix. yere of kyng Edwardes reigne when the erle fled to Fraunce and of our Lorde a M CCCC and .lxxx. But this greued kyng Edward that thei wer fled for because many of the people and cōmunaltee was desyrous to see hym and thought that the sonne had been goone from theim and out of this worlde when he was absent And in suche estimaciō and honour was he had of the people that thei worshipped honoured none but hym or at the least none more then hym In so muche that his only name was euery mannes song voyce especially of the cōmē people when they made triumphe abrode in that stretes Wherby the moste parte helde of the earle his syde and bare hym more fauoure in theyr hartes then kyng Edward Wherby the kyng was in feare and daunger both of his owne countremen that wer in his realme and of theim that were abrode in Fraunce but before all other he did prouide for that erle his cōmyng And first he sente to Charles the duke of Burgom his brother in law desiryng him that he would manashe Lewes the kyng with whom he had made a league of peace not to aide the erle of Warkwike or that duke his sonne in lawe neither with mony nor with mē The which Charles wrote to that kyng of Fraūce thretened hym many thynges if so that he mainteyned or helped theim And when the kyng of Fraūce had red his letter aūswered again saied that he might lawfully would sauyng his league truce helpe his frēds that wer valiaūt noble men as the earle was and settyng nothyng by all his thretenyng braggyng wordes sayd it shoulde bee neither greate peyne nor coste to hym Whē these tydynges came into England that kyng was veraye sorie for that cause searched priuely in his realme who wer frēdes to his enemies And for feare by that reason of the examinaciō of theim that wer prisoners in his hand some did take sentuarie and some came to the kynges side And emonges theim the lord Marques Montacute offered hymself to the kyng again to helpe hym in his warres whom the kyng gladly receaued for because that by him mo would leane to his side In this meane season the erle of Warwike the duke went to Ambassy wher the kyng of Fraūce was by the way the people came veraye thicke to see hym because they harde so muche speakyng of his noblenesse when he came there the kyng receaued hym moste gently to whō shortly after the erle did breake his mynd and shewed the cause of his commyng To whome the kyng promysed all that he coulde dooe for hym to the vttermoste extente of his power Sone after quene Margarete the wife of Henrye that .vi. came to theim with her sōne prince Edward and the earle of Penbruck and also of Oxēforde the whiche a lytle before sayled ouer to her After they cōmuned together as concernyng that safegard of their bodies a league was made thorowe the kyng of Fraunce his counsel And first lady Anne the doughter of the earle was maried and despoused to prynce Edwarde the quenes soonne Also the erle and the duke promysed faithfullye that they woulde not geue ouer vnto suche tyme that kyng Henrye the .vi. or Edwarde his soonne were proclaymed kyng of Englande after kyng Henry that the erle and the duke should ouersee and gouerne the realme by the wyll and apoyntmente of the quene Margarete and her sonne prince Edwarde vnto suche tyme that the forenamed prince wer of lawfull age and habilitee the whiche they promysed faythfully to obserue and dooe as they wer apoynted And besydes these many other condicions were made aswel for that reason did so require as the busynes that was at that tyme. When this league of truth faithfulnes was thus made the kyng Lewes holpe the erle with mēne harnes and nauie that he might the surer go to Englāde And Rhenate also the father of y◠quene Margarete gaue hym mēne harnyse to his power So that he hauyng no small nombre of men did take shippe at Sayne mouth ther tariyng hard word from Englād by letters that he should come ouer in all the haste that there were so many that would take his parte that he shoulde haue no nede to bryng any with hym for they wer redy in harneyse at the water side willyng to helpe hym in al that they could and not they onely but many noble men princes would helpe hym both with mony men harneyse with all that they could dooe When he had receaued these letters he purposed to go forth and take the oportunitee of the tyme. And because that the quene was not redy to set forth he the duke of Oxēford and the duke of Penbruch went before with parte of that hoste nauye to trie what chaūce thei shuld haue that if all thinges should chaunce well the quene and the prynce should folowe and come vnto Englande Therfore the Earle and the Duke thanking the king as highly as they coulde for that he had doone so much for theim dyd take their leaue and sayled vnto Englande with all their
armie Then the Duke of Burgoyne not contented that the earle shoulde bee holpen of the king of FrauÌ„ce agaynst king Edward prepared a great nauye of shippes aboute the costes of Normandye that he might take hym coÌ„ming towardes Englande yet neuerthelesse the Earle escaped all daungers and landed safe he and all his menne at Dartmouth frome the whiche place he sayled to Fraunce halfe a yere before After that the Earle came to lande he made a proclamacion in king Henry the .vi. name that all they that were of lawfull age shoulde make battayle agaynst Edwarde duke of Yorke whiche agaynste all ryghte and lawe at that tyme had the crowne The whiche when it was doon it cannot be spoken howe soone it went aboute all the realme that he was come and had made this proclamacy on at the whiche also is not to be expressed howe many thousandes of menne came to hym The Earle hauing all this power greate armie went streyght to London whome when Edwarde perceyued to drawe nighe he fledde for the tyme trustyng to haue hym at some vauntage but at the laste he was dryuen to that ende that he had no mynde to get any hoste to resyst his enemies but beyng in greate daunger of his owne lyfe fled with the duke of Gloucestre his brother vnto a towne night the sea called Lye and there taking shippe sayled into Flaunders to Charles the Duke of Burgoyne with greate daunger and parell of his lyfe by the reason of the boisterouse cruel winde Elizabeth his wyfe beyng then greate â—â—th childe dyd take sentuarye at Westmynster where she was broughte in bedde with a mâ—n chylde whose name was Edward After that the earl 〈…〉 newe of the going awaye of kyng Edward he made haste to London and hearing of the tumulte and busynesse that was in Kente and that all the villages and suburbes there were spoyled piteously a lytel before the going awaye of that kyng pacified theim and sette all thinges in good ordre agayne by the doing of the whiche benefyte he was the more louingly accepted of theim all and that doon came to the towre there deliuered kyng Henry the .vi. out of prisone geuing hym his robe of maiesâ—ye broughte hym to Poules the people reioysing on euery syde and there thanked God for that it had chaunsed as they wolde desired And this was the yere of our Lorde a. M .iiii. C. foure score and one that kyng Henry beganne to reigne So that king Henry so often vanquyshed began to reigne nowe likely shortely after to faule againe The which fortune chaunsed to hym by many mennes opinions because he was a very simple and innocent man and that he had rather in godlinesse vertue excell other then in honoure and rule so that for the loue that he had to religion he loked for no dignitee or honoure whiche chaunseth to fewe that wil not seke for it or regard kepe it when they haue it But his enemies saide he was a coward had not the herte or manlynesse to bee a kyng or meete for that offyce So that who soeuer despiseth that the coÌ„mune people alloweth maruaileth at is accompted for a mad man contrariwyse he that doeth agree to theim and in their tale he is a wise man where in dede suche wisdom as it is comeÌ„ly saide is foolishnesse before God Also some saide it was the will of God that it should so bee for his graundfather Henry the fourth gotte it by violencye and force of armes so that it coulde not bee longe enioyed of hym but that faute of the graundesire did redounde on the nephewes But nowe to that matter After this king Henry held his parlyament at Westmynster the .xxvi. daye of Nouembre in the whiche Edwarde is declared openly tray toure to his couÌ„tree bycause he had taken that crowne to him and all his goodes geuen away in like maner al theirs that did take his parte and so iudgement was geuen on theim to dye Furthermore all that decrees statutes and actes of that forenamed Edward were broken of none effecte And then that earle of Warwike as a man that had deserued much of his couÌ„tre was made gouernoure ouer all that realme to whoÌ„ he did take the duke of Clarence as felowe to hym So by that meanes that realme was brought to a new state cleane transformed altered To this parliament came the lorde Marques Mountacute the which excusing his treason that he did take kyng Edward his parte saing it was for feare of death had his pardone â–ª Truely yf this man had taken kyng Edwardes part had stand to his side manly he had not been so sore an enemie and hurted so much his frendes as he was being a false fained and coloured frende for those thinges that we be ware of and knewe before to bee pernicious dooe lesse hurte vs. But nowe quene Margarete being in Fraunce prayed euery daye from that time the Earle went into England for the victorie the whiche when she knewe was obteined by the king his letters that came to her shortely after did take shyppe towardes England but thorowe that sharpnesse of the wether and greate tempestes she was constrayned to lande and to differre her iourney to an other tyme. At the same tyme Gaspar the earle of Penbruch went to Wales to his Earledome where he founde lorde Henry the Earle of Richemonde his brothers sonne a chylde of ten yere olde there kepte prysoner but lyke a noble man of the erle willyam Harberte his wyfe whome we spake of before that Edwarde had made hym erle and then after taken in batayl was behedded at the coÌ„maundement of the earle of Warwike This is that Henry the whiche when Richard the thirde brother to Edward was ouercome and vanquished had the gouernaunce of the realme of whome this is to bee beleued that after that he came to his kingdoÌ„ sent as one by god to quench and put awaye the greate sedicion and stryfe that was betwixte Henry and Edwarde seyng that he minded nothyng so muche as that whome lady Margarete the onely doughter of Iohn the fyrste Duke of Somerset dyd bryng for the beyng but fourtene yeres of age the whiche althoughe she was maryed after to Henry the duke of Bucking ham his sonne and after that to the earle of Derby yet she neuer broughte for the chylde after as thought she had doone her parte when she hadde borne a manne chylde and the same a kynge of a realme Gasper the earle of Penbruch tooke thys chylde Henrye from the earle Harberte hys wife and brought hym soone after to London to king Henry the syxte whome when the kynge had beeholded longe holding hys peace and maruailing at the goodlye wytte of the chylde sayde in thys wyse to the nobles that were at that tyme present Loo thys is he thys is he I saye to whome both wee and oure aduersaries shall geue place to in possession And by
traitours to be bestowed gyuen abrode also the banished menne that fled as rebelles and false to their countree to bee brought in that if any grudge or eiuill will wer betwixt any one or other of the nobilite that ther it should bee forgotteÌ„ turned to loue lastly that certain mony should bee payed to the kyng towardes that greate charges of his werre When he had thus studied determined to liue quietly set his realme in good ordre Charles the duke of Burgoin seÌ„t for aide to hym against Lewes the FreÌ„che kyng so that he could neuer bee at rest but one thyng or other shuld disquiet hym for he could not deny hym helpe consideryng the benefites that he had receiued of hym at diuerse suÌ„dry tymes before that that he nowe fought against his dedly enemie whiche aided the erle of Warwike bothe with menne mony to come against hym Wherfore he asseÌ„blyng his couÌ„saill together shewyng theim the matter sent woord to the duke that he would kepe one piece or parte of a battail agaiÌ„st the kyng For in deede at that same tyme there was mortall battaill betwixt the duke Lewes that kyng because that the same Lewes was a very harde manne churlishe also hurtefull aswell to his freÌ„des as to his foes many FreÌ„chmen abhorryng his coÌ„dicions did consent to hold with that duke And emong many other one Lewes of LuceÌ„burge did apoinct with the duke to dooe mischief to hym one waye or other so that the kyng was bothe in dauÌ„ger of his owne couÌ„tree menne also of the duke beyng a strauÌ„ger The duke shewed this to kyng Edward that he might the soner alluâ—e entise hym to battaill And vpoÌ„ this kyng Edward toke his voiage to FrauÌ„ce takyng besides his tribute that he had certain mony of the lordes commons of the realme which thei of their owne geÌ„tlenes gaue vn to hym to the sustenauÌ„ce maintenyng of his armie And for that the kyng called that tribute leuiyng of mony beneuoleÌ„ce whiche neuerthelesse was giuen with an eiuill will of many one But he vsyng suche geÌ„tle fassions towardes theim praiyng theim so hartely of their assistaunce that thei could none other wise dooe but geue it hym Whiche wheÌ„ he had he gathered his armie whiche was .xx. M. went to Caleys the .iiii. daye of July WhoÌ„ Charles that duke did mett reioysyng gretely at his victory did instantly desire hym that he would sticke stoutely to this battaill that he might haue of that Frenche kyng that he had lost by hym But when Lewes that kyng hard that Edward came with his armie he encreased the nombre of his people as muche as he could the more nigher the daunger that he was the sooner hastely he came vpon theim And with this armie he sent foorthe Robert of Stoteuill a noble capitain to the coostes Atrebatium to resyst the power of the Englishe menne And the kyng hym self taried at Siluanect castyng with hymself what waye he might make a league of peace betwixt that duke that kyng of England hym Heryng therfore that that king was gone to Atrebates he seÌ„t ambassodours to hym for peace whose myndes when that kyng had knoweÌ„ although he had fouÌ„d but litle freÌ„dship at his haÌ„des in tymes past yet consideryng that all his substauÌ„ce treasure was wasted in ciuile battail that he was not hable to maintein a newe hoost if nede shuld be nor yet vnneth sustein theim whom he had vnder his baÌ„ner thought best eueÌ„ for pure necessite to leaue to peace growe to atonemeÌ„t with Lewes that kyng The whiche thyng he might dooe also sauing his honour coÌ„sideryng that bothe the duke Robert of LuceÌ„burge aforenamed had not dooeÌ„ accordyng to their promise So that at the desire of the ambassadours he went to speake with the kyng at Pinquinake a toune in AmbiaÌ„ shire wher noble meÌ„ne dooe asseÌ„ble together there found yâ— kyng TheÌ„ bothe that kynges after due salutacioÌ„ either to other had long communicacioÌ„ at the last a peace was coÌ„firmed stablished for many yeres for the aâ—â—emeÌ„t wherof the FreÌ„che kyng gaue vnto Edward toward his charge cost lxcv M. crounes from theÌ„s forth yerely l. M. crounes After that truce made mony paid kyng Edward weÌ„t to Caleis from theÌ„s to EnglaÌ„d In this battaill none was slain sauyng onely that duke of Exceter the whiche maÌ„ne was in seÌ„tuary before coÌ„maunded to folowe yâ— kyng was put to death coÌ„trary to that promise made This was the yere of our lord M CCCC .lxxv. frome that tyme foorth Lewes that kyng payed duely his raunsome to Edward vnto the laste yere before he dyed at what tyme he denyed the paymente as though he knewe before his laste dayes But the duke of Burgoyne and Roberte of Lucenburgh after they had knowen that Edwarde had made a league wyth Lewes the kynge they freted sore with hym and wrote sharpe letters of thretenyng and tauntyng hym saiyng that he was the cause that they reuenged not theimselfes of the kyng Whose fyrye and thundryng wordes the kyng no more passed vpon then of the turnyng of his haÌ„de And as for Lucenburgh he was taken prysoner and for his proude and malicious writyng behedded at Lutece Thus kyng Edward beyng in quietnes both in his countre and abrode also although he mighte wel thynke hymself to lyue so perpetually for that he had been so great a conquerour yet consideryng that the erle of RichemoÌ„de was of nigh affinitee to HeÌ„ry the .vi. he was not out of feare daunger Therfore he thought ones to attempte the duke of Britayn agayn with giftes promyses faire wordes that he might haue yâ— erle whoÌ„ he thought to rule as he would after that his auncestrie was geuen The ambassadours came to the duke with a great substaunce of mony that their request might bee the honestier they shewed the duke that they came to desire the erle of hym that he mighte marye the kynges doughter so that by affinite al euil wyll grudge might be forgotten and sedicion vtterlye reiected although they entended not so to cause al suche thynges to bee forgotten but by the death kyllyng of hym The duke after longe and muche deniyng theim at the laste thorowe muche entreatyng and also great rewardes that was brought gaue the earle to theim sendynge a letter to the kynge in prayse and commendation of hym not thynkynge that he commytted the lambe to the woulfe but the soonne to the father The ambassadours was verye glad that they had got hym and sayled into Englande in all the haste they coulde But the earle knowynge well that he weÌ„t to hys death for sorowe and care that he conceaued in hys mynde was caste in an agewe When he was goone one Ihon Chenlet suche a man as could not bee found agayne in al the countre in great fauour with the duke hearing of
And to bee sure of all enemyes as he thought he sent for .v. thousande menne of the north against his coronacion whiche came vp euell apparelled and worsse harneyssed in rustie harneys neyther defensable nor scoured to the sale whiche mustered in fynesoury felde to the great disdayne of all the lokers on The fourth daye of Iuly he came to the towre by water with his wife and the fyfte daye he created Thomas Lorde Haward duke of Norffolke syr Thomas Haward his soonne he created Earle of Surrey and Willyam lorde Barkeley was then created erle of Notyngham and Fraunces lorde Louell was then made Vicount Louell and the kynges chaumberlayne and the lorde Stanley was deliuered out of warde for feare of his sonne the lorde Straunge whiche was then in Lancasshyre gatheryng menne as menne saied and the saied lorde was made Stuard of the kynges hou sholde like wyse the archbyshoppe of Yorke was deliuered but Morton bishop of Ely was deliuered to the duke of Buckingham to kepe in warde whiche sent hym to his manoure of Brecknoke in Wales from whence he escaped to kyng Richardes confusyon The same nighte the kyng made .xvii. knightes of the bathe The nexte day he rode throughe LondoÌ„ with great pompe in especiall the duke of BuckinghaÌ„ was richely appareled his horse trapped in blewe veluet enbroudered with the naues of cartes burning of golde whiche trapper was borne by footemeÌ„ froÌ„ the grounde with suche asoleÌ„pne fassyon that all menne muche regarded it On the morowe being the .vi. day of Iuly the kyng came toward his coronacioÌ„ into Westminster hal where his chapell all the prelates mytred receaued hym And so they in ordre of processyon passed forward After the procession folowed therle of Nor thumberlaÌ„d with a pointlesse sweard naked the lorde Stanley bare the Mace of the constableship The erle of Kent bare the second swerd on the right hand of the kyng naked The lord Louell bare an other swerd on the lefte hand Then folowed the duke of Suffolke with the Sceptre and therle of Lincolne with the balle and crosse After theim folowed the newe Erle of Surrey with the swerd of estate in a riche skabard On the ryght side of hym went the duke of Norffolke bearing the croune then folowed kyng Richard in a Circot and robe of purple veluet vnder a canable borne by the barones of that fyue portes going betwene the bishoppes of Bathe and Duresme The duke of Buckingham with the rod of the high stuard of Englande bare the kynges traine After hym folowed the erle of Hunting don bearing the quenes sceptre and the Vicount Liâ—â—e bearing the rod with the doue And the erle of Wilshere bare the quenes croune Then folowed quene Anne doughter to Richard erle of War wike in robes lyke to the kyng betwene two bysshoppes and a canabie ouer her hed borne by the Barones of the portes On her hed a rich coronal set with stones and pearle After her folowed the countesse of Richmond heire to the duke of Somerset whiche bare vp the quenes traine After folowed the duchesse of Suffolke and Norffolke with couÌ„tesses baronesses ladies many faire gentilwemeÌ„ in this ordre they passed thorough the palaice entred the abbay at the west end so came to their seates of estate And after diuerse soÌ„ges solâ—ply song they both discended to the high altare were shifted from their robes had diuerse places open froÌ„ the middle vpward in whiche places they were anointed Then both the kyng the quene chaunged theim into cloth of gold ascended to their seates where the cardinal of Cauntourburie other byshoppes theim crouned according to the custome of the realme geuing hym the scepter in the left haÌ„d and the balle with the crosse in the ryght hand the quene had the sceptre in her right hand the rod with the doue in the left hand On euery side of the kyng stode a duke before hym stode therle of Surrey with the swerd in his handes And on euery side of the quene staÌ„ding a bishop a ladie kneling The Cardinal song masse after paxe the kyng the quene discended before the high altare they wer bothe houseled with one hoste deuyded betwene theÌ„ After masse finished they bothe offred at saint Edwardes shrine there the kyng lefte the croune of saint Edward and put on his owne crowne And so in ordre as they came they departed to westminster hal so to their chambres for a ceasoÌ„ duryng which time the duke of Norffolke came into the hal his horse traped to the ground in cloth of gold as high mershall and voided the hall About .iiii. of the clocke the kyng quene entred the halle and the kyng sate in the middle and the quene on the left hand of the table on euery side of her stoode a countesse holding a clothe of pleasaunce when she list to drinke And on the right haÌ„d of the kyng sat the byshop of Cauntourbury the ladies sat all on one side in the middle of the hall And at the table againste theim sat the Chauncelloure and all the lordes At the table next the cupborde sate the Maire of London And at the table behinde the lordes sate the Barones of the portes And at the other bordes sate noble and worshypfull personages When all persones wer sette the the duke of Norffolke earle Mershal the earle of Surrey constale for that daye the lorde Stanley lorde Steward Sir willyam Hopton treasourer and sir Thomas Percie comptroller came in and serued the kyng solemplye with one dishe of golde and another of syluer And the quene all in gylte vessell and the bishop all in siluer At the seconde course came into that hall sir Robert Democke the kynges champion making a proclamacion that whosoeuer woulde saye that kyng Richarde was not lawfullye kyng he woulde fight with hym at the vtteraunce and threwe downe his gauntlet theÌ„ all the hall cried kyng Richard And so he did in thre partes of the halle and then one broughte hym a cup of wyne couered when he had dronke he caste oute the drinke departed with the cuppe After that the herauldes cryed alargesse thryse in the halle so went vp to their staige At the ende of diner the Mayre of London serued the kyng quene with swete wyne and had of eche of theim a cuppe of golde with a couer of gold And by that tyme that all was done it was darkenight And so the kyng retourned to his chaumbre and euery man to his lodging When this feaste was thus fyneshed the kyng sente home all the lordes into their countrees that woulde departe excepte the lorde Stanley whome he reteyned tyll he hearde what his soonne the lorde straunge wente aboute And to suche as wente home he gaue streyghte charge and coÌ„maundement to see their countryes well ordred and that no wronge nor extorcion should bee done to his subiectes
first hearyng of this the kyng was but litle moued but after that he was certified by the letters of his frendes that it was true he was in greate feare for that he had neyther an armye prepared nor harnyes for theim but because the mattier required haste least that by long taryeng his aduersaries power might bee encreased and multiplyed he commaunded the Duke of Bedforde to mete theim with three thousande meÌ„ne whiche were harnysed but barely for theyr breste plates were for the moste parte lether And he hym selfe in that meane tyme would gather vp an hoste where he might in euery place The duke hauyng his meÌ„ nigh to the teÌ„tes of his enemyes coÌ„sulted with certain of his coÌ„paignie by what waye he mighte traine theim to peace withoute bloodde shedyng After the whiche deliberation aduisement had it was decreed that certaine shoulde proclaime openly that all thei should haue their pardonne that woulde leaue battaile The whiche proclamation auayled muche for the Lorde Louell eyther for some feare or mystrust that he had in his people or feryng hym selfe of his owne behalfe fledde pryuely in a night from his compaignie to Lankeshire ther remained a space with syr Thomas Broghton knight And when hys army had knowledge therof thei also submittyng theim selfes all to the Duke asked pardonne for their heinous offence The Lorde Stafforde also hearyng this was in a great agony and for feare dyd take sanctuarye at Colname .ii. miles from Abindon But because that sanetuary was not a defence for traytours he was taken from that place and behedded and his brother was ê‘doned because he was thought not to haue done it of his owne will but thorowe the counsaill and perswasion of his brother After this businesse was asswaged and Yorke shyre set in peace and quietnes the Kyng went to London and shortelye after that to Wynchester where the Quene his wyfe was deliuered of a Prynce called Arthure and from Wynchester he retourned agayne to London Sone after it chaunsed that one syr Richard Symond preest borne by nature to be a traytour and sedicious personne and yet well learned had a chyld called Lambert Symenel to bee hys scholar by whome he inuented this crafte and disceat that he woulde make the chyld kyng of England and hym selfe archebyshoppe or some hygh potestate in the realme for he knewe verely that many menne supposed kyng Edwardes chyldren to bee fled into some straunge place and that Edwarde the Erle of Warwyke sonne to the Duke of Clarence ether was or should bee put to death shortly And to the ende he myght the better bryng hys purpose about he taught the chyld bothe learnyng good maners and also to order hym selfe as one linially descendyng from a hygh progenie Sone after the rumoure was that the younge Earle of Warwyke was dead in prysonne And when the preest heard of this he intendyng therby to bring his matters aboute chaunged the chyldes name and called hym Edwarde after the younge Earle of Warwyke the whiche were boothe of one age and then sayled into Irelande there opening his mynde to certain of the nobilitee whome he knew to beare but lytle fauoure to Kyng Henry where he was promysed ayde of the Lorde Gerardine chauncellour of all that countree and all that he coulde dooe Whyche Lorde fyrst callyng all hys frendes and louers together desyred their helpe in restoryng the yong Earle to his herytage And dyd sende certain into Englande to desire theym that were kynge Rychardes frendes to continue in their loue and faythfulnes towardes hym and helpe hys nephiewes chylde to his ryghte And that hys power myghte bee the stronger to ouercome hys enemyes he desyred Lady Margarete syster to kynge Edwarde and wyfe to the Duke of Burgondy to further hys purpose with her helpe whyche lady beyng then in Flaunders promised him by the messaungers that she would not onely maintaine his entente with large mony and substaunce but with all the laboure and peynes that she myght occasion other to be of the same conspiracie When kynge Henrye was certified of thys he was sore greued that by the meanes of suche a myscreaunte personne so great sedicion should bee neuerthelesse the kynge consideringe that it shoulde bee to the destruccion of manye menne yf that he shoulde fyghte with his enemies in open feelde called hys counsayle together at the Charter house besyde Rychemounde and there consulted to pacifie thys matter wythoute anye more dysturbaunce Where fyrste it was decreed that all thei shoulde bee pardoned for their offences and treasons latelye commytted whiche hath frome that tyme borne theim selfes vpryght towardes their kinge leaste that syr Thomas Broghton whyche kepte the Lord Louell from the king a great tyme wyth other despeyring of theyr pardon shoulde haue made some sodaine insurrection agaynst hym Further more that men shoulde not thyncke but that the Duke of Clarence was in Englande it was appoynted that he shoulde showe hym selfe abrode wherby the opynion that he was in Ireland myghte bee frustrate and accompted as a lye Also it was further determyned that the Ladye Elysabeth wyfe to kyng Edward the .iiii. shoulde lose al her landes because she had submitted her selfe and her doughters wholye to the handes of kynge Rychard contrary to the promyse made to the Lordes and nobles whyche at her desyre lefte al that they had in Englande and fledde to kynge Henrye in Brytayne and there dyd sweare hym to marye her eldeste daughter as she wylled theim to dooe But her purpose did not frame as God would Thys quene buylded a Collage in Cambrydge and gaue landes to the maynteyning of the same whiche at thys houre is called the quenes Collage When thys order and determynacion of the kynge was ended he wente to London and the nexte Sondaye folowynge he caused the young Earle to bee broughte out of the Tower through the streetes to Poules And there to shewe hym selfe to euerye bodye and taske with the chiefe and noble menne that were thoughte to haue conspyred agaynste kynge Henrye for thys cause that they myghte perceaue the Iryshe menne to moue battayle vnaduysedly and cause stryfe vppon no iuste occasion howebeit all thys nothyng auayled for the Earle of Lyncolne the Duke of Suffolkes soonne and nephewe to kynge Edwarde coulde not suffer kynge Henrye thus to reygne but as a traytoure sayled into FlauÌ„ders to the Ladye Margarete takynge wyth hym Syr Thomas Broghton with certayne other Where also the Lorde Louell landed twoo or three dayes before And there they beynge all together determyned that the Earle of Lyncolne and the Lorde Louell shoulde goo to Irelande and there attend vpon the counterfeyte Earle and brynge hym to Englande with all the power they myghte agaynste kynge Henrye So that yf their dooynges had good successe that then the foresayde Lambarte misnamed the Earle shoulde by the consente of the counsayle be deposed and the true Earle to bee delyuered oute of pryson and enherite his right and iuste
people on bothe parties wer distressed and taken prisoners and aboue the nombre of thirty M. slaine In the .iiii. yere was Edmond de la Poole behedded and aboute the moneth of Auguste Syr Thomas Kneuet beynge chyefe capytaine of the kynges greate shippe called the regent and a few shyppes mo sette vpon a great Caricke and other shippes of the Frenche kyngs liyng then nere vnto a toune of Britaine named Brest where after a longe and cruell fight thesaide Caricke regent being clasped together with hookes and cheynes as the maner of fyghtinge vpon the see betwene enemies is sodeynly thesaied shippes with other were set on fyre and brent so feruently that before they mighte bee losed or disseuered the shippes with the men vpon bothe parties were consumed with violence therof so that fewe escaped whiche were of the poraill But thesaide sir Thomas Kneuet with many other gentlemen of this land and also of fraunce were brent on whose soules Iesu haue mereyt This yere also after haruest wheate roase sobeinly of pryce for where for the more parte of the yere it was not solde aboue sixe shilliÌ„ges .viii. d. a quarter After haruest for so muche as wheat was so sore blasted and striken was of so smal yelde it was solde for .xii. s. and .xiii. s .iiii. d. a quarter In the .v. yere the kyng besieged Turwin and discomfited the power of Fraunce at Boemy and tooke the citees of Turwyn and Turney But in the meane season the kyng of Scottes espiyng his tyme inuaded Englande with an hoste of an hundred thousande menne with whome the Earle of Surraye beynge the Kynges Leuetenaunte encountred and by the helpe of the Lorde Hawarde his soonne slewe the sayde kynge with a leuen Earles and wanne the felde For the whiche noble facte the kynge created hym afterwarde Duke of Norffolke and his soonne Earle of Surrey In the .vi. yere a peace was concluded betwene Englande and Fraunce And on saincte Denis daye the Frenche kyng maried the Lady Mary the kynges sister And he died on newe yeres daye after And therfore the kyng sente for her againe by the duke of Suffolke and other In this yere in the moneth of Februarye was borne Lady Mary the kynges doughter at Grenewiche In Aprill the Frenche Quene came in to Englande and was maryed to Lorde Charles duke of Suffolke This yere Ladye Margarete quene of Scottes and syster to the kynge fledde into Englande and laye at Harbottell And she was deliuered of a doughter named Margaret And came to London in Maye and taried there a hole yere In this yere was suche a froste that all menne myghte passe with cartes betwene Westmynster and Lambeth This yere on Maye euen was an insurreccyon of younge persones against Aliens of whiche diuers were put to execucion and the residue came to Westmynster Halle with halters aboute their neckes and were pardoned And the .xviii. daye of Mayeyquene of Scottes retourned into her countree againe This yere in Octobre the admiral of Fraunce came into England and Tourney was deliuered to the Frenche kyng In this yere at Frankforde Charles the fyfte was chosen Emperoure And the Earle of Surrey was sent to Ireland In this yere the kyng and the Frenche kynge met at the campe betwene Arde Guines where were greate triumphes And after the kynge and the Emperoure mette and the kyng went to Graueling with the Emperoure And the Emperoure came to Caleys with the kyng had greate chere and the kyng retourned This yere the duke of Buckyngham was beheaded at the toure hyll the .xvii. daye of Maye And in Iune the Cardinall weÌ„t to Calays to entreate a peace betwene themperoure the French kyng and â—aried there to Decembre without any thinge concluded This yere the fridaye before Penthecoste that is to wytt the sixte daye of Iune Charles the emperoure was honourably receiued into the Cytee of London of the Maire Aldermenne and cominaltye oure saied soueraigne Lorde accoÌ„paignieng hym And fro London he went to Windesore and sat in his stall of the Garter And from thens went to Hampton and sayled into Spaine Duringe whiche tyme the Earle of Surrey Lorde Admirall brent Morleys in Brytaine and after landed at Caleys and entred Picardye and brent tounes and castelles and besyeged Hesdyn but because of wynter he reysed his syege and retourned This somer the duke of Albany was entring England with a greate armye but when he heard that the Earle of Shrewisburye was comminge to fyghte with hym he tooke a truce for vi monethes In this .xiiii. yere Christian Kynge of Denmarke came into Englande in Iune Also the Earle of Surrey brent Iedworth and many other townes in Scotlande This yere also the Turke besieged the Rhodes and on Christmas daye he tooke it The Duke of Suffolke wente into Fraunce with ten thousand menne and passed the water of SomÌ„e withoute battayle and tooke and destroyed many townes and in Decembre retourned The same yere the duke of Albanye besieged the castell of Warke and hearing of therle of Surreys comming with a greate armye he cowardely sledde In the .xvi. yere there came oute of Scotlande the byshop of Dunkell and other ambassadours vnto that kynges maiestie And on saynt Mathews daye was the French kyng taken by themperour A mutyng in Norffolk and Suffolke for paymeÌ„t of mony A peas concluded betwene EnglaÌ„d and Fraunce And the French kyng was deliuered in Marche This yere was the coyne enhaunced In the .xviii. yeare the citee of Roome by the viceroy of Naples and the duke of Burbon the same dake beinge fyrste slaine was taken and almost distroied And ClemeÌ„t the .vii. than byshop of Rome diuers Cardinalles there found were taken and broughte in captiuitee and vnder the rule of Charles the Emperoure This yere also the Cardinall went into Fraunce with greate pompe In October the great master of Fraunce came to London with great triumphe In this xix yere was the sweatyng sickenesse for the which cause ther was no watch at midsomer In the .xx. yere was the Cardinall deposed of the chauncellourshyp and a peace betwene the Emperour and the kyng concluded In the .xxi. yere was holden a parlyament wher was refourmed diuerse enormitees of the clargye In the .xxii. yere was a man boyled in Smith feeld for poysoning The cardinal dyed on saynct Andrewes euen In the .xxiii. yere Gryffeth Rice was behedded for treason In October the kyng wente ouer the sea and met the Frenche kyng at Caleis In the .xxv. yere in Apryll was a Nonne called the holy mayde of Kent ii Monkes and two Freers hanged and behedded for treasoÌ„ blasphemye and ypocrysie This yere a peace was concluded wyth Scotlande In this xxvi yere was holden a Parlyamente at Westminster wherin emong other moost godly and necessary statutes it was ther decreed and enacted that the kynges maiestie should be from thensforth
¶ The chronicle of Ihon Hardyng in metre froÌ„ the first begynnyng of EnglaÌ„de vnto that reigne of Edwarde the fourth where he made an end of his chronicle And from that tyme is added with a coÌ„tinuacion of the storie in prose to this our tyme now first emprinted gathered one of diuerse and soundrie autours of moste certain knowelage substanciall credit that either in latin or els in our mother toungue haue writen of the affaires of Englande ⧠LONDINI ⧠In officina Richardi Graftoni Mense Ianuarii 1543. Cum priuilegio ad imprimendum solum RG ¶ The dedicacion of this present woorke vnto the right honorable lorde Thomas duke of Norffolke by thenprynter Richard Grafton LOrde Thomas of Norffolke duke moste gracious Of noble auncestrie and blood descended A captain right woorthie and auenturous And froÌ„ ScotlaÌ„d euen newely retended Wher Englandes querele ye haue reuenged In the behalf of our noble kyng Henry I wyshe you all health honour and victorie ¶ And because it hath pleased almightie God In the right title and quercle of Englande To vse your stocke as an iron rod Wherewith to scourge the falsehood of Scotland In whom is no truthe ne holde of any bande Ihon Hardynges chronicle as me thought was Moste mete to bee dedicated to your grace ¶ For Hardyng a true herted Englysheman An esquier valiaunt hardie and bolde And not vnlearned as the time was than Serched out of chronicles bothe late an olde All that euer by thesame hath bee told How froÌ„ the begynnyng ScotlaÌ„de dooeth reigne Vnder kynges of Englande as their soueram ¶ And Hardynges owne self hath the partie bee That from Scotlande oft tymes hath brought Their seales of homage and fealtee Vnto the kyng of Englande as he ought Vnto whom the Scottes then sued and sought Yeldyng to liue in humble subieccion Of Englandes gouernaunce and proteccion ¶ But that people of their propre nature Hath euen from the first been so vntowarde So vnstedfast inconstaunte and vnsure That nothyng maie possibly bee more frowarde So haue thei continued from thens foorthwarde Neuer gladde to bee in quiet and rest But to defeccion aye readie and prest ¶ Wherefore Thon Hardyng to his lorde maister Whom in his tyme he serued without blame Edwarde first duke of Yorke and after Kyng of this realme the fourthe of that name In this chronicle affermeth of thesame That thei will rebell till by prouision The kyng of EnglaÌ„d shall haue made theim both ¶ And in deede EnglaÌ„d hath oft been coÌ„streigned one The Scottes slackenesse in dooyng their homage To pricke forewarde wheÌ„ thei would haue refreined With that sharpe spurre of marciall forceage And to abate their wantonnesse of courage With the iron rodde of due correccion As oft as thei attempted defeccion ¶ For the Scottes will aye bee bostyng crakyng Euer sekyng causes of rebellion Spoyles booties and preades euer takyng Euer sowyng quereles of dissension To burne and steale is all their intencion And yet as people whom God dooeth hate curse Thei alwaies begynne and euer haue the woorse ¶ Englande hitherto hath neuer lacked power As oft as nede wer the Scottes to compell Their duetie to dooe and menne of honour Englande hath had as stories dooe tell Whiche whensoeuer the Scottes did rebell Wer hable at all tymes theim to subdue And their obedience to England renue ¶ EmoÌ„ges the whiche noumbre your noble father In the twelfth yere of Henry the seuenths reigne By aunciente recorde as I can gather Beeyng of suche credence as cannot feigne Yode into Scotlande their pryde to restrein With seÌ„bleable power as bookes dooen auowe And like commission as your grace had now ¶ That season he did so valiauntely The Scottes vanquishyng and puttyng to flight That thei ranne awaye moste shamefully Not hable of hym tabide the sight Nor hable to sustein the brunt of his might Soondrie castelles he raced down to the grounde Whiche to the honour of Englande did redound ¶ Kyng Iamy also makyng greate braggue and vauÌ„te Hauyng his armie not a myle of that daie Your father as a captain valyaunt Made in a moment for feare to runne awaye The Scottish kyng seÌ„ding foorth heraldes tway Chalenged your father with many a proude woorde Battayle to wage and trye it by the sworde ¶ And choose thou sir Earle ê™ kyng Iamy then Whether we shall fight armie against armie Orelles I and thou trye it manne for manne For sparyng bloodshed of either compaignie That if it chaunce me to haue the victorie Nought shall I demaunde for Englandes losse thine Sauig Barwike toune for euer to bee mine ¶ Then to the heraldes saied this noble knight Shewe to your kyng that in this place purposely Battayle for to wage my tentes haue I pight I am not come to flee but to fyght sharpely As where he standeth he maye see with his eye And fyrst where he would bloodshed saued to bee Therof am I no lesse desirous then he ¶ Secundarily where it is his likyng That I a poore Earle and of meane estate Maye combattre with hym beyng a kyng That our two fightes may ceasse all debate He dooeth me honour after suche highe rate That I must nedes grauÌ„t my selfe bound in this case Humble thankes to reÌ„dre to his grace ¶ Now as for the towne of Barwike it is knoweÌ„ Which your lorde requireth in case I bee slaine Is the kyng my souereins and not mine owne So that graunte therof in me dodeth not remain But thys maie ye bear worde to your lord again My person and lyfe aduenture I shall More precyous to me then the round worlde all ¶ When kyng Iamy by his heraldes twoo Spedefullye returnyng had due knowlage Muche otherwyse then he loked for thoo Of the Earles stout aunswer and message Fled out of hand and would no battayle wage So that your father retourned home victour With coumfort laude praise ioye and honour ¶ The same your father in the fyfth yere Of our moost noble kyng Henry the eyght When hys grace and his armie at Turney were And the same kyng Iamy of Scotland streyght Agaynst England his banner dyspleyght Vanquished the Scottes with your helpyng haÌ„d Slew there king Iamy and brought him to England ¶ Agayne in the .xv. yere of the same reygne Your selfe in proper personne full courageous Set forth against the Scottes without dysdeygne Lyke a captayne valyaunt and venturous Wher ye breÌ„t Iedworth a toune right populous Wyth diuers victories that your grace then had Whiche made all Englande to reioyse be glad ¶ The yere folowyng also as bookes testify The Scottes came with an houge power Of .lx. thousande men vnder the Duke of Albany Besiegyng Warke castel thynkyng it to deuour But heryng that your grace dyd approch that houe The Scottes trembled and so dyd theyr Duke And cowardly fled to their shame and rebuke ¶ Sembleably by thys your last viage Nowe thys last October and Nouember Made into Scotlande to
alwaye douteous Hym sleugh a waye who was at Hely buryed Afore his god that ther was edified The .xli. Chapiter ¶ Lud kyng of Brytain buylded frome London stone to Lud gate called that parte Luds toune after by processe was called London by turnyng of tongues HIs soonne and heire was Lud of muche might TheÌ„ crouned by all the baronage His citees all eke his heritage castelles wight He did repeire that were his heritage And where was worthy his seruesse and homage To hym was doone in landes al aboute Was none withstode so was he dred and doubte With walles faire and towres freshe about His citee great of Troynouaunt full fayre Full well he made and batelled throughout And palays fayre for royalles to appeare Amendyng other defectyfe and vnfayre From London stone to his * palays royall That nowe Ludgate is knowen ouer all ¶ Betwene Londonstone Ludgate forth right That called was then for his name Ludstone He made men buyld that London so then hight His Palays fayre then made he there anone With toures high bothe of lyme and stone Besyde Ludgate and his temple nere thereby His God to serue and hym to glorifye ¶ When he had reigned by fourty yere all out He died so and in his temple fayre Entoumbed was with stories all about Androgeus was then his sonne and heyre Passyng of sight and Iuly fayre Tenancius his yonger sonne of age Which wer to young to rule the heritage ¶ Cassibalayn there vncle then was kyng And founde his neuewes full honestly and well And nourtred theim while thei wer chylder ying And at there age when they could reason fele He theim auaunced right worshipfully and well Androge he made and created duke of Kent Of Troynouaunt also by whole entent The .xlii. Chapiter ¶ How Iulius Caesar came to Britayn that nowe is Englande and arryued in Thamis and fled to Fraunce for newe succour HE made also then Tenancius Duke of Cornwail that time of mikel might In whiche tyme so came Caesar Iulius Into the lande of Fraunce that nowe so hight And on a daye walkyng vp and downe full right On the sea syde wher he this lande did see Desyryng sore of it the souerayntee ¶ His nauye greate with many soudyoures To sayle anone into this Britayn made In Thamis aroue wher he had ful sharpe shores And countred was with Brytons that abade With Cassibalayn the kyng of Brytons brade Wher after battayll smytten and forfought Iulius fled and then preuayled nought ¶ To Fraunce agayn and there he did soiorne The Frenche wer fayn of his discomfiture And trowed to make hym so fro theim retorne But the Britons full besely did there cure In this batell as came them of nature The dukes of kent and eke of Cornewayle And Nemynus theyr Eme did moste preuayle ¶ Crudan the kyng that tyme of Albany Gnechet the kyng also of Venedose That northwales nowe is called specially And kyng Bretayle that was full vertuous A manne in armes passyngly curious Of Denycye southwales that nowe hight He asked helpe of Fraunce that fayled hym right ¶ Then sent he to all landes there about To poore menne all he gaue full great ryches And exyled men of warre that wer full stoute He gaue liuelode and felons all douteles He delyuered quyte fre of all distres All outlawed menne he graunted full perdon The bondemen also of euery region The .xliii. Chapiter ¶ Howe whan Iulius Caesar failed power he gatte newe power by wily polycy to haue his purpose and came again to Brytayn and fled the seconde tyme. IN whiche meane tyme wheÌ„ he was redy so With his nauy came to brytayn again Into Thamis where Cassibalayn tho Great pyles of tree and yron sette hym again His shippes to peryshe and so he did certain Throughe whiche greate parte of hys nauy was drowned And some other in batayl wer coÌ„fouÌ„ded ¶ Then fled he eft with shippes that he had Into the lande of Fraunce wher he was ere Hym purposyng to Rome full wo by stad Of his rebuke with sorowe and with care But then the kyng full glad of his euell fare A feaste royall at Troynouaunt he made Where great discorde with his neuewes he had The .xliiii. Chapiter ¶ Howe Iulius Caesar came agayne to Britayne the thyrde tyme accorded with the kyng and had truage of hym PVrposed fully on theim to bee auenged For whiche thei sent anone to Iulius And prayed to come his right that he had chaleÌ„ged To clayme it hole thei wrote hym right thus Thei should hym helpe with people plenteous Through whose councell ful gladly then he came At Douer arryued with mykeil ioye and game ¶ Where then the kyng Cassybalayn he met And fought full sore where that Androgeus Out of a woode on Cassibalayn set And to a mounte hym droaue where that Iulius And he hym sieged again full coragious He fought full sore with all manly defence All nyght afore by myghty resistence ¶ But some for drede of famyshement He treated with the duke Androgeus To paye his tribute to Roome in good entent And to amende all thynges greuous With all his might and hertes beneuolence Androgeus to all this did assente And made Iulius to this fully consent ¶ This truage was .iii. M. â—i well payde Eche yere to Rome of siluer good and fyne These princes thus accorded wer and daied In peace and reste and Iulius went fro heyne To warre vpon Pompey that nought wold enclyne To Romys Senate after that Iulius Hym had conquered by warre full fortuous ¶ With whome then went the duke Androgeus And in Britayne no lenger wolde abyde He lefte his brother duke Tennancius In Britayne with Cassybalyn that tyde And so to Rome with Iulius dyd ryde But Neminus brother of Cassybalayne Full manly fought on Iulius tymes tweyne ¶ With strokes sore ayther on other bette But at the laste this prynce syr Iulius Crosea mors his swerde in shelde sette Of the manly worthy sir Neminus Whiche of manly force and myght vigorous The swearde he brought away oute of the felde As Iulius it set faste in his shelde ¶ Through which stroke sir Neminus then died And buried was at the north gate certayne Of London then where nowe is Scotlande edified London cytee royall of all Britayne Thus this worthy knyght in his graue befayne Crosea mors his swearde layde by his syde Whiche he brought from Iulius that tyde ¶ After whiche accorded this kyng Cassybalayn Reigned fully in Britayne then .vii. yere Payeng trybute to Rome alwaye certayne Rulyng his lande in lawe and peace full clere And reygned had in all full thyrtye yere And foure aboue vnto his god so yede Buryed at Ebranke with all knyghtly worthihede The .xlv. Chapiter TEmancius his neuewe then full faire Kyng Luds sonne that duke was of Cornewayle With Diademe was crowned as ryght heire Of all Britayne had the gouernalle Who kepte the lande in his tyme by good gouernalle Full
with greate disoayne And slewe them downe in batayle with great payne For whiche therle Edryk sent to kyng Knowte To Englande to come with hoost great and stout ¶ This ylke kyng knowte that sonne was to kyng Swain To England cam with host great power Whome Ethylrede then met and faught agayne In batayle stronge droue him home full clere With whome Edryk then fled as dyd apere Into Denmarke as a false traytoure vntrewe Purposyng so to come agayne all newe But kyng Ethelred in the meane tyme then dyed The yere of Chryste a thousande and thyrtene And reygned had as Colman notifyed Thyrtie and eyght in warre and intene Euer ne we and newe vexed as was sene His owne lande fled for drede of en myte Without socoure fro it he was fayne to flee ¶ Thus was he chastysed for his mothers gylt Accordyng well to holy trewe scrypture For cause that she his brother had slain spylt And lyke the wordes of saynt Dunstane full sure That sayde it was a punishyng full pure Oute of the realme to be dryuen and expelled In whiche by syn he had so hye excelled The C .xvii. Chapiter EDmond Ironeside goteÌ„ generate Of his first wife a dukes doughter of EnglaÌ„d After Ethelrede his father was ê“rogate Vnto the crowne of all this royall lande Men called hym so as I can vnderstande Where euer he rode armed was he ay Oppressours all to chastyce in his waye ¶ Kno wt of Denmarke assayled ofte this lande So in this tyme that euer he armed went To vse the feate of armes I vnderstande As to knyghthode full well it dyd appent Thus Colman sayth and Flores that he ment But syxe batayles agayne kyng Kno wt he smote With victorye as Flores hath it note ¶ But then to voyde the greate effusyon Of chrysten bloude they two together accorde To fyght them selfe for full conclusyon Within an yke of Seuerne by concorde Withouten warre or any more discorde And who so then myghte get the victorye Reioyse the realme and all the monarchye ¶ And at theyr daye and place so assygned They armed met with strokes knyghly set With speare and swerd eyther other so repugned With axe and dagger eyther on other bette Eyther of them tryste the ouerhande to gette But at laste kyng Kno wt to hym alayde These wordes there and thus to hym he sayde ¶ Wolde god Edmonde thou were so couetouse As I am nowe and as myne herte now wolde And in this case as glad and desyrous We shulde not longe this batayle thus holde And to our men great gladnesse manifolde Yf thou the halfe of Denmarke had with me And I the halfe of Englande had with the. With whiche they both the wepons fro theÌ„ caste And eyther other in armes gan them embrace That both theyr hostes amarueled were ful faste What it dyd meane to ceasse in so lytell space But when they knewe betwne them the case They kneled all and Chryste they laudifyed With herte deuoute the eche of them so victoryed ¶ Their realmes both they parted then in two By hole accorde betwene them so concorded And loued euer as brethren after so As chronycles haue well hole recorded Fro that tyme forth no more then they discorded This ysle where they faught hyght Clyues Of coÌ„mon langage as then it dyd them please ¶ But Edryk of Lyncolne euer vntrewe Reconsyled home by Edmonde was agayne By subtyll meane this good king Edmond slewe In pryde wyse without wounde or mayne But in what fourme I can not wryte nor sayne When he had reygned that tyme fully .iii. yere Buryed he was but where no man durste spere ¶ But in the yere of Chryste a thousande so He dyed awaye accompte and syxtene Vnknowen to his people and Lordes tho For whom they made great dole as theÌ„ was seen But neuerthelesse it myght no better bene This false Edryk so falsely it couered That openly it was not then discouered The C .xviii. Chapiter KYng Kno wt reigned in EnglaÌ„d theÌ„ anon And wedded had quene Eme of England Ethelrede wife which gate him loue anon In Englande of all the estates of the londe Of coÌ„mons also that were both fre and bonde On her he gate a sonne that harde Kno wt hight On his fyrste wyfe had Swayne Herold ryght ¶ He sent Edmonde and Edwarde that sonnes two Of EdmoÌ„d Ironeside to Swithen to kiÌ„g Kno wt To slee or lowse to kepe in pouerte so That they should neuer haue power in nor oute To claime England neyther with hoost ne route Whome he sent forth then into Hungry To the emperoure with letters worthely ¶ Besechyng hym to noryshe them and saue Declaryng hym whose sonnes that they were The whiche he dyd full worthy and gaue Vnto Edmonde his owne doughter dere Whiche Edmonde then dyed and she in fere Without chylde wherfore Agas his coosyn Doughter of Herry he gaue to Edwarde fyne ¶ Of whiche Edwarde called Edwarde thexylâ— Came Edgare then called Edgar Athelyng But Kno wt it let hym self then crounyng That to London to hold his Christmas With his houshold went then with greate solas ¶ Wher erle Edrik to kyng Kno wt hym coÌ„fessed That he had slain kyng Edmond Ironeside His owne leege lorde with cruell death impressed To gette his loue and with hym dwell and bide For vnlikely it was to goo or ride Twoo kynges together in Englande He saied was not accordyng in the land ¶ The kyng his woordes well herd and coÌ„ceiued And howe he asked a reward for his mede There made hym tell howe he his lorde disceiued Afore the lordes as he had dooen in deed The whiche boldely he did without dreed Hauyng no shame to aske a greate reward For whiche the kyng lordes gaue whole award ¶ To hang hym on the toure duryng his liue To he were dedde that all folke might hym se And his treson there openly to shriue And after that to hang there till he dye For whom then was emong the commons truily A greate biworde as many one that woundre roÌ„ne As did on therle Edryke of Strettoun ¶ The kyng went to Norway and it conquered And droue the kyng O 〈…〉 f out of that land And held it so by conquest of his swerd Full worthily he gouerned euery land To peace and lawe he kept theim as he faund And in his domes was rightwyse and stable And to the poore alway merciable ¶ Kyng Malcom of Scotland theÌ„ did homage To hym and furth became for euer his manne So did the kynges of Wales of hye parage And all the North West Occian For their kyngdonies and for their landes than And in his tyme moste he was redoubted Of all princes and in all londes loaued ¶ To Roome he rode in royall goodly wyse And there was with the bishop greately commed As Christen prince by papall whole aduise The cardynalles foure whiche the bishop had sed At Malburgate foure mile fro Roome extende With
greate meyne hym mette greate honour As if he had been of Roome themperour ¶ At his commyng again into England He gaue Norway vnto his soonne sir Swayne And to Herold his soonne as I vnderstand England he gaue of whiche he was full fain And to Harknowt Denmarke he gaue certain And so dyed in Christen whole creaunce At Shaftisbury buryed by his ordynaunce ¶ The yere of Christ a thousand so was than And thirty foure also truly written When he had reigned fro the tyme that he began Eightene yere whole as well it was wrytten With the darte of death whē that he was smitten In whose dayes the land was inquiet Full of riches and of welfare whole replete The C .xviij. Chapiter ¶ Herold kyng of England the soonne of kyng Kno wt reigned fiue yere and dyed in the yere a thousand and .xxxix. HErolde his soonne was crouned then in deede By Loofrike that duke of Leiscestre By Londoners in Flores as I reede By Danyshyr also as saieth the letter That strong werre then and of power greater Then other lordes of Englishe nacion At London made was this coronacion ¶ Alurede the soonne of kyng Ethelrede With fifty sailes landed at Southampton Wher kynge Herold with hoste hym met in deede Redy to fight with hym for the croune But certain lordes of Englondes region Betwene theim treated that Alurede went again To Normandy to duke Robert full plain ¶ But afterward as Alurede so rode Fro his mother vnto the kyng Herold The duke Goodwyn on Gyldismore hym bode With people greate of nombre manyfold And slewe his menne downe there as he would And led hym furth to Ely and hym slewe As traitour false that euer had bee vntrewe ¶ Some chronicle saieth he putte out bothe his eyen Fro whiche he dyed sone for pain and woo Some other sayin he slette his wombe full keen The lengest gut to a stacke he nayled tho Led hym about the stack ther with muche wo Till all came out that was his wombe within Thus sleugh thei hym with sobteltie and gyn ¶ His mother quene Eme Edward then sent To Normandy to duke Wyllyam anone That hir cousyn was to kepe he were not shent By kyng Herold of his cruelty alone Warnyng hym of the treasō that Herold had dooen For whiche cause Herold hir exild Out of England and Edward also hir child ¶ To Flaundres she fled then full sore amoued To erle Badwyn hir cousyn nie of bloodde Declaryng to hym howe Herold had distroyed Hir soonne Alurede that heyre of England stood And exiled hir without socour or good And Edward also hir soonne heire of England His brother children also awaye in vncouth land ¶ Wherfore therle to kyng Hardknowt then wrote All hir compleynt and of his socour prayed And he should help with all his might God wote It were amendid of that she was affrayed He came anone in warre full well aryed Into Flaundres his mother for to please Hir for to socour and sette hir hert in ease ¶ In whiche meane while the kyng Herold dyed At Westminster and buried was full feire After he had reigned as it is notified Fiue yere reigned without any heire Of his body gotten after hym to repeire England to gouerne wherfore the lordes by assēt To kyng Hardknowte then into Flaundres sente ¶ To bee their kyng sith Herold was a gone To please hym with and his mother to comfort Who came to England furth with anone And crouned was with all the whole disport That lordes conde as Flores dooeth report Thus kyng Hardknowt was kyng of Englande than Who worthily that tyme to reigne tho began ¶ This kyng began his brothers death to venge On erle Gowyn that erle was then of Kent That peased was for he should not reuenge With riche giftes whiche that he on hym spent With meekenesse lowe swore that he was sent To dooe that thyng on pein of high treson By kyng Herold charged without reason ¶ Through good and giftes mighty hie riches And of his kyn that meekely hym obeyed And by acquaintaūce that thei made then expresse Vpon the holy euangelis sworne vndelayed The kyng graūted hym his grace was well payed To make hym of his coūsell of gouernaūce Without more wrath or any discordaunce ¶ He maried then his sister Gunylde to Henry Themperour that falsly was accused Of synne and cryme vsed in auoutry With a young manne the whiche hir excused After the lawe of the land that was there vsed By battaill of his hand that then their flewe His accusour approuyng hym vntrewe ¶ For the whiche she would nomore come in his bed But lyued sole euer after so hir life For good ne gold for aught that he hir beed For loue ne threte for betyng ne for strife With hym dwellyng forthwarde as his wife In all thynges els euer at his gouernaunce Bothe daye and night in womanly pleasaunce ¶ Kyng Hardknowt then his doughter maryed Vnto a duke of the Danishrie At Lambirgh dyed at his feast magnified Emong his lordes and all his prelacie And putte hym whole in God his high mercye And charged theim his brother Edward to croūe To reioyse the land of Englandes region ¶ This was the yere of Christ then inscriued A thousand whole fourty also and one When that he had reigned as was subscribed The twoo yere whole whē he was thus wyse gone For whom was made that tyme full muche mone At Wynchester byside his father buryed With lordes all thither full well accompaignied The C .xix. Chapiter ¶ Kyng Edwarde the confessour kyng of Englād reigned twenty and foure yeres that began the yere of Christ a thousand fourty and one and dyed the yere a thousand sixty and fiue EDward his brother sōne of kīg Ethelrede was crowned then kyng of Englande The yere of Christ a M. then in dede Fourtye one as Flores could vnderstande To whom the kyng Swayn of Denmarke lande The tribute whiche he had fully relesed And warres all betwene theim ceassed ¶ To sende hym then the hole Englyshe nauy Agayn Magnus that kynge was of Norwaye That helde it so by wrong and tirannie Whiche Edwarde sente anone in great araye With lordes knightes and squiers freshe gaye With archers many by whiche he gate his lande Of Norwaye hole and seazed it in his hande ¶ Erle Eustace of Boleyn that had wed Edwardes suster on his mother syde To Edwarde came at Douer sore bested Where then his men a burges slewe that tyde Wherfore therle Goodwyn set full of pryde Asked the kyng to haue delyueraunce Of therls men to byde his ordynaunce ¶ Notwithstandyng that Burges slewe his knight For that same cause wherfore he it denyed But made peace then as he therle had hight Of Boleyne so his brother in lawe alied For whiche therle Goodwyn sore replied And warred sore vpon the kyng eche daye With his sonnes fyue in full great araye ¶ Not cōsideryng that kyng
C .xxv. Chapiter ¶ This kyng Willyam Rufus taxed so sore the commons that they'might not mayntene tilthe for whiche fell great derth and great myschiefe and moren of catel for defaute of food for whiche the commons wer glad of his death GReat tallage of England then was raysed In so ferforth that tilthe of land was leyd Of which sued mischiefe nothyng praysed For faute of food morayn of bestiall frayed And death of people for hunger sore arayed A kyng woteth not what harmeth housbandrye Housbande to pill and taxe outragiously ¶ To Godis dome haue no consyderacion Howe that this kyng on huntyng as he stoode Vnder a tree and as writynges maketh mencion Walter Tyrel at his game in that wood Shotyng at a dere of whiche he drewe no bloode But stroke the kyng vnto the dethes wounde That there anone he died vpon the ground ¶ At Wynchester then buried anone The date was then of his reygne .xiii. yere For whome the folke no sorowe made nor moone He hurte theim so with taxe and tallage here Of Christ a thousande an C. and three yere clere Whose death the folke in no wise did complayn Were they all therof bothe glad and fayn The C .xxvi. Chapiter ¶ Henry the first kyng of Englande and duke of Normandy◠reigned .xxxvi. yere and died in the yere of Christe a thousande C. and .xxxix. HEnry his brother that first was of that name was crouned thē with al that honour might be He recōsiled saynt Anselne that cam hame Who crouned Maude his wyfe full fayre free That doughter was full of benignitee To kyng Malcolyne saint Margarete that quene Of Scotlande whiche afore that tyme had been ¶ On whom he gate Willyam Richard Mold Whose goodnesse is yet spoken of full wide If she were fayre hir vertuous manyfolde Exceaded farre and vices she set aside Debates all that engendred were of pride She staunched hole with all beneuolence And visited sycke and poore with diligence ¶ The presoners also wemen eke with childe And in gesene lyuyng ay where aboute Clothes and meate and beddyng newe vnfiled Wyne also and ale she gaue without doubte Where she sawe nede in countrees al throughout These crosses all that yet bee moste royall In the hye wayes with gold she made theim all ¶ Kyng Edgare thē hir brother was of Scotlād That to kynge Henry then made homage The byshop of Duresme then toke on hande The duke Robert to gone in message To make hym clayme Englande his herytage The whiche he dyd anon withoute delaye As they accorded vpon a certayne daye ¶ But Anselne byshop of Caunturbury And also quene Maude then made them well accorde The kyng to paye thre M. marke yerely To duke Robert withoute more discorde And counsayled then the kyng as was recorde To loue the lordes that made the discencyon Betwyxte his brother and hym by conuencyon ¶ The kyng Henry warred Robert Estenuyle The eldest sonne of Roger Mountgomery And his brother that was so called that whyle And create Earle of Shrewysbury Who his castell of Arundell helde for thy And Shrewysbury also and the cytee With other mo castels in his countre ¶ Whiche to the kyng he yelde by conuencyon He and his brother to passe to Normandye With all theyr men without discencyon To theyr father Roger Mountgomerye That earle was there of Bolesmo manly The kyng went then to Caue and to Baxhous Helde them with force and herte full couetous Whiche towres Robert the duke of Normandy Asked of hym to haue delyueraunce And his money of thre thousand marke yerely Whiche he ought hym by the hole concordaunce Whiche he agayne sayde and stode at variaunce Wherfore they fell on warre and toke the felde With hostes greate full sore faught vnder shelde ¶ At Tenarthbray that is in Normandye Where Nigell then of Albany that hyght Toke duke Robert in batayll manfully And brought him bound vnto the kyng with might For which that kyng anone there made him knight And gaue hym landes that were forfet afore By Robert Stutuyle in Englande for euermore ¶ He gate also a castell besyeged longe Whiche he scalyd with noble polycie And to the kyng it gaue though it were wronge For whiche the kyng gaue hym anon in hye The landes all that forfet were only By Robert Monbray earle of Northumberland In his brothers tyme as I vnderstande ¶ The same Nygell that hyght Albanye A sonne had then whome the kyng Henry Roger Monbray dyd call euer after ay Thus Albany was chaunged morally Vnto Monbray for the lyuelod onely Whiche Monbray had afore of herytage These Monbrayes nowe rose fyrst of hye corage ¶ This kynge Henry then seazed Normandye And made his sonne Willyam duke of that lande And home came to Englande then in hye And in the yere of Chryste to vnderstande A thousande hole an C. and ten on hande His doughter Maude he maryed to Henry That Emperour was then of Romanye He put his brother duke Robert in straite warde And many other that were of his cognisaunce Where he released couenauntes and forwarde Afore wryten of his enherytaunce That betwene them myght make any dystaunce And founde hym euer in all royall estate By good auyse and councell ordynate ¶ Whiche duke ordred was so for he forsoke The realme of al the lande of Ierusalem When he was chose therto and nought it toke For couetyse to haue this Englyshe realme For he forsoke that fortune as men dyd deme Agayne goddes wyll and his hye ordynaunce For chosen he was by all chrysten creaunce ¶ For at wynnynge of Ierusalem Where prynces many kynges and dukes were He was the worthyest of any realme And bare hym beste in knyghtly dede of warre At all assautes moste knyghtly dyd hym beare The honoure all and fame he had euermore And chosen was there to be kynge therfore ¶ Men saide that God gaue hym suche punyshmēt His brother to put hym in greate myserye Vnto his death agayne his owne entente For he forsake Chrystes owne monarchye In whiche he was borne for man lyste to dye The chrysten fayth to mayntayne and encrease For couetyse his brother to discreace ¶ The yere of Chryste a thousande was ful cle◠And an hundreth also and therwithall eyghtene When good quene Maude was deed laide on be◠At Westminster buryed as well was sene For heuynesse of whiche the kyng I wene To Normandy then went vnto his sonne The duke William there with hym dyd wonn◠¶ The third yere after to England came agay◠The duke his sonne Willyam of Normandye His brother Rycharde also the sothe to sayne And earle Rycharde of Chester in company With many other lordes in shyppes them bye Vpon the sea were dreynt in greate distresse Of the whiche the kyng had then great heuinesse ¶ Which duke Williā had wed y◠doughter then Of Fowke Tailboys Earle of Angeou had bene With whome a C .lx. knyghtes with many men And
exercyse ¶ A thousande ladyes excellynge in beaute He had there also in tentes hye aboue The iustes that they myght well clerely se Who iusted best there for theyr lady loue For whose beautie it should the knyghtes moue In armes so etchone other to reuie To geate a fame in playe of chiualrie ¶ This Mortimer was then lord Mortimer But in these iustes he held great feastes eche daye By fourty dayes conteined whole and clere At whiche one part of ladyes faire and gaye Gaue hym the price of fame of all that playe Wherfore the kyng to encrese his estate Proclamed hym erle of Marche there create The C .lvi. Chapiter ¶ Howe Edmond erle of Lancaster and of Leicester faught at Bayon with the power of Fraunce and was slain there sir Wyllyam Valence erle of Pē broke was dedde ther and many other lordes in the yere a thousand twoo hundred four score sixtene BVt erle Edmond the kynges brother dere With twenty sixe baners proud stout The fifth daye of Iune was accompted clere Of Christ his date a thousand yere all out Four score and sixtene with out doubt At Bayon faught with the Frēchemenne certain Wher he in that feld that daye like a knight was slaine ¶ Sir Williā Valence erle of Pēbroke was thē Sir Iohn Rychmond and many other baron Sir Iohn saynct Iohn right a full manly māne Thenglishe hoste felly ther was bore doune By a busshement laied by colucion That brake on theim sore fighting in the feld Out of a wode in whiche that daye were beld The C .lvii. Chapiter WHen Iohn of Gaunt that sone of king Edwarde For cause his brother that duke was of Clarēce None yssue male had then that menne of herd But female by all intelligence When kyng Rychard in his greate excellence None yssue had he would haue been his heire Apparaunt then by act in perlyament feire ¶ The whiche Thomas Wodstok duke of Gloucester And all nobles of England ther present Proclaymed then by wrytyng and by letter Howe that therle of Marche then in perlyament Vnto the kyng was then heire apparaunt Wher duke Iohn in diuers places made Feined chronicles that shewed were full brade ¶ Howe this Edmond thelder soonne of kyng Henry Broke backed and bowbacked bore Was vnabled to haue the monarche And Edward so the younger kyng therfore Shuche chronicles then he feined full sore And putte in place of diuers religion To make his soonne right heire of this region ¶ But when kyng Henry this chronicle shewed It was defect and clerely sette at nought And vnderfoote cast doune and eke stroyed The contrarie by chronicles truly wrought Was proued trewe and then his title he sought By resignement and renunciacion By depoisale and playne coronacion ¶ It is not true that croke backed he hight For valyaunt he was in all his doynges And personable with all to euery mannes sight Although false chronicles haue other saiynges Kyng Alexander of Scotland then dyed That wedded had the kynges suster Margarete And Alexander his sonne beyng in thesame stede Who with Margatete his wife on the sea perished The C .lviii. Chapiter ¶ How Florēce erle of Holād his persuers boūd hym to vide the iudgement of the kyng Edward if he should be kyng of Scotlād FLorence therle of Holand his compeers That claimed then the croune of Scotlād After the death of Margaret as pursuers Came to kyng Edward then of England Requeryng hym in God his name all weldand As he that was of Scotland souereigne lord To trye the right and sette theim in accorde ¶ For whiche he sette at Norham a parliament After Easter then next folowyng In the kirke of Norham to that entent That all Scottes and other that were pursuyng Might ther appere their titles claymyng At whiche parliament the pursuantes theim bond At his decree and iudgement to stond ¶ By one letter with all their seales ensealed Whiche doublid was thei gaue vnto the kyng The other part for it should not be repeled Thei kept with theim selfes alwaye abydyng Which lettre Iohn Hardyng maker of this boke To kyng Hēry delyuered that gaue hym in recōpēce The manoure of Gedyngtō w e all that appurtenēce ¶ For whiche manoure then the cardinall Of Wynchester vnto the quene disposid In hir dower and fro hym toke it all When that the kyng by death was deposid Hym recompence he promised and composid But nought he had but might that prīce haue lyued He durst full eiuill his excellence haue greued ¶ An other letter duble in like wyse The saied heires deliuered to the kyng That other part as shuld of right suffice Semblably with theim was remainyng By whiche thei bound theim self by their sealyng Hym to delyuer the kyng his castels all To kepe to tyme his iudgement were byfall ¶ Of whiche iudgement without possession Of castell strong throughout ther all the lande He might not well dooen execucion Wherfore the heires to hym so their theim bound Whiche letter also Iohn Hardyng toke on hand And did deliuer so then at Boys Vincent For the saied reward together by one entent The C .lix. Chapiter ¶ Howe kyng Edward made sir Iohn Balyoll kyng of Scotland AND in the yere of Christ his incarnacion A thousād whole two hūdred four scoure And therto three by verye computacion At the feast of sainct Michael set afore The kyng Edward to Scotland came therfore Wher twenty then chosen were of England And other twenty persones also of Scotland ¶ By whose aduyse all other rightes excl ude The kyng iudged to Iohn Bailyol the croune That was discent as clearely was conclude Of theldest doughter of Dauid of Huntyngdon As chronicles make therof good mencion Margarete wedded to Aleyne of Galawaye Whose doughter was kyng Iohns mother that day ¶ That Dernegull hight and was Iohn Bailiols wyfe Whose sonne heire kyng Iohn was thē cround That Bailioll hight that knowen was full ryfe In that mynster of Skone within Scotland groūd Syttyng vpon the regall stone full sound As all the kynges there vsed had afore On saynt Andrewes daye with all ioye therfore ¶ At Christmas nexte after the same kyng Iohn To Newcastell to kyng Edwarde came His homage made and feautee leege anone Of his free wyll without any blame And with greate ioye agayn retourned hame But then that Scottes chose theim .xii. lords by assēt To rule the kynge Iohn by their entent The C .lx. Chapiter ¶ Howe kyng Iohn of Scotlande made confederacye with Fraunce agayn Englande WHiche made him then to make confederacy With kyng Philip of Fraunce and aliaūce Perpetually to be contributorie Ether with other by strong great assuraunce Englande to warre with al theyr hole puyssaunce The kyng Edwarde seynge this hye falshede To Barwike came with hoste and great māhede ¶ At the nonnes of Barwyke then he laye And layde a siege about on euery syde At after Easter but flemynges then that daye
enquired At Westmynster buried in royall wyse As to suche a prince of reason ought suffice ¶ Who was the first of Englyshe nacion That euer had right vnto the croune of Fraunce By succession of bloode and generacion Of his mother without variaunce The whiche me thynketh should be of moste substaūce For Christ was kyng by his mother of Iudee Whiche sykerer side is ay as thynketh me ¶ And of his pedegre vnto the croune of Fraūce With his bloode wherof he is discent Within this booke without any varyaunce Mencion is made only to this entente That reders by all good auysemente The title of his right and heritage May well conceyue and haue therof knowlage The C .lxxxviii. Chapiter ¶ Richarde the seconde kyng of Englande and of Fraunce began to reigne the yere a thousand thre hundreth .lxxvii. and was deposed by parliamente in the yere a. M CCC .cxix. and the .xxii. yere of his reygne RIchard his heyre that sōne of prīce Edward Crowned was then with all solempnitee By all the lordes and barons hole award Obeying hole vnto his maiestee Who that tyme was in tendre iuuensee Of eleuen yere fully accompted of age When he had so his croune and heritage ¶ And kyng was called of Englāde of Fraūce In Iune the .xxii. daye full clene Of Christes death without variaunce A thousande was thre hundreth sixty to neuen And .xvii. yere therwith to beleuen When the two realmes fell to hym by discente As nexte heyre to kyng Edwarde thexellent ¶ And in the yere a thousande thre hundreth mo Sixty adioynt and therwith all nynetene The thyrde pestilence reigned in Englande so So sore that moste parte of the people clene Dyed awaye as through the realme was sene And of his reignes of Eglande and of Fraunce The thyrde yere was by very remembraunce ¶ And of his reigne in Iune then the .v. yere And of our Lorde a thousande then accompted Thre hundreth eke .iiii. score and one full clere The commons rose an hūdreth thousād amoūted Of Kent and Essex whiche that tyme surmounted The kynges power and all the hie estates For whiche the lordes fled then as exulates ¶ And lefte the kyng alone then in the toure With tharchbyshop of Cauntorbury there so And the priour to been his gouernoure Of Clerken well whiche the commons heded tho And brought the kyng forth with theim to go They asked hym all bondmen to bee free And taxe none euer after payed to bee ¶ They asked eke Iake Strawe Wat Tiler To bee made dukes of Essex and Kente To rule the kyng thens forth in peace and warre For they bee wyse of royall regiment Thus tolde they the kyng all theyr entent The whiche he graunte in all thyng by and by For he durste no poynt then theim denye ¶ Afore Iake Strawe that kyng thē stode hodlesse Of which Walworth the Mayre of Londō trewe Areasoned hym then of his greate lewdenesse With a dagger in Smythfelde then hym slewe The citezens with hym then strongly drewe And slewe theim downe and put theim to flight And brought the kyng into the citee right ¶ The cōmons brent the Sauoye a place fayre For eiuill wyll they had vnto duke Iohn Wherfore he fled northwarde in great dispayre Into Scotlande for socoure had he none In Englande then to whō he durste make moone And there abode tyll commons all were ceased In England hole and all the lande well peased ¶ The .xx. daye of Maye nexte folowyng And one therwith as calculers it knowe The date of Christ a thousande then beynge Thre hundreth also foure score two on rowe Th earth quake was whiche that tyme I sawe That castelles walles toures and steples fyll Houses and trees and cragges fro the hyll ¶ And in the yere afore kyng Richarde wed Quene Anne vpon saynt Agnes day that floure That doughter was as I haue sene and red Vnto the kyng of Beeme and Emperoure And suster also vnto his successoure Themperour of Rome that Segemond hight Who to kyng Henry in Englāde came full right The C .lxxxix. Chapiter ¶ Howe kyng Richard wente into Scotlande in the yere a thousande three hundreth and .lxxxvi. and in his reygne the .x. yere and howe he create two dukes of Yorke and of Gloucestre ANd in the yere of Christ a thousande so Thre hūdreth also foure score .vi. ther tyl And of his reigne the .x. yere and mo The kyng Richard with hoste went at his wyl In to Scotlande his corage to fulfyll To Edinburgh and brent the lande also Without lettyng there of any foo ¶ At London so then at his parlyament He made therle of Cambrydge his vncle dere The duke of Yorke to be incontynent And so he was proclaymed there full clere That Edmonde hyght of Langley of good chere Glad and mery and of his owne ay lyued Without wronge as chronicles haue breued When all the lordes to councell and parlyament Went he wolde to hunte and also to hawekyng All gentyll disporte as to a lorde appent He vsed aye and to the pore supportyng Where euer he was in any place bidyng Without suppryse or any extorcyon Of the porayle or any oppressyon ¶ He made also the earle of Bokyngham Thomas Wodstoke that same daye and create His other vncle duke of Gloucester by name Proclaymed hole and so denominate With his brother to be consociate The foxe tayle he bare ay on his spere Where he so rode in peace or elles in warre ¶ The kyng then made that duke of yorke by name Maister of the mewhouse his haukes fayre Of his venery and mayster of his game In what countree he dyd repeyre Which was to hym without any dispeyre Well more comforte and great gladnesse Then bene a lorde of worldly greate rychesse ¶ His vncle Thomas the duke then of Gloucester And wed the doughter then of therle of Herforth By whiche he had by writyng by letter The Constablery of Englande then ay forth Both by South Est West and North By herytage of his wyues lande and ryght Of auncyent tyme by kynges graunt hyght ¶ And in the yere of kyng Richarde elleuen The duke Thomas that was of Gloucester Henry the earle of Derby dyd beleuen With hym by worde and also by his letter The earle Marshall did so then for the better Th erle Beanchampe of Warwyk by his name Of Arundell the earle dyd the same ¶ These lordes fyue together boldely sworne Agayne Robert Veer then duke of Irelande The kinges pleasure one of age both like borne Whom he loued moste as they could vnderstand With batayl stronge at Rotcot bryge toke on hād To fyght with hym where then he fled awaye Ouer Thamis without retourne for ay The C .xc. Chapiter ¶ Of the great parlyament where the fyue lordes foriuged that duke of Irelande and his compeers AT Lenton nexte accompted in the yere At London then the king set his parliamēt At westminster to hold
desiring him to folow his couÌ„cel that he should not think this to be done of any rashnes shewed hym how warely through his pollicie all his matters were wroughte desired him that he would cast with him selfe how to bring such a weyghtie matter to passe wherby al thinges may be prouided before hand to whom after many great promises he offered his daughter then of ripe age to be maried to him The duke throughe the councell and greate desieryng of therle of Warwike was contented to dooe all thynges as he would haue hym After that therle had this communicacion with the duke he purposed to goo to Caleis of the whiche toune he was then chief capitain and wher his wife and doughters wer then inhabityng but to th end that this sedicion might bee the soner begonne where with all EnglaÌ„d was sore troubled a greate tyme he had apoinâ—ted that sone after he was gone to Caleis his brother tharchebishop the lord marques should make an insurreccion in Yorke wherby the battaill might bee begonne while he was so farre frome theim When all these thynges were prepared for and his counsaill well alowed and taken he went streight with that duke of Clarence to Caleys And ther after that the duke had promised by an othe that he would euer bee true he maried lady Isabell the erles eldest doughter that whiche wheÌ„ it was dooen thei bothe consulted together that more spedily for that that insurreccion was made in Yorke as it was commaunded and appoincted The whiche coÌ„paignie begoÌ„ne first to spoile with out all mercie or respect of any thyng For ther was at Yorke an old and a riche hospitall of sainct Leonard where the poore and impotent persones wer harboured the sicke menne comforted and this hous was founde of that charitee of the couÌ„tree whiche did geue yerely certain of wheate as that first fruites of all their corne to the sustenaunce and mainteynyng of theim to the whiche noumbre of grayne certain housband menne of the countree did refuse to gyue any part through the counsaill of therle of Warwikes compaignie saiyng plainly that the poore and sickely people had it not but thei that had that rule and gouernaunce of the hous and after that the procters of the hospitall claimyng it as dewe vnto theim sought for their right And for that cause greate tumulte was and muche conspiracie made so that within fewe dayes there was gathered aboute a fiftene thousand whiche compaignie came towardes Yorke But after that it was knowne in the citee that suche a compaignie of menne had risen the citizens watchyng euer for feare was in doubte whether thei should mete theim and trie it in open felde or tary in the citee and kepe theim frome the walles But the lord Marques chief of that couÌ„tre did put theim streight out of all feare and doubte the whiche takyng good deliberacion and aduisement metre theim cuÌ„myng at the gates of that citee where after a sharpe coÌ„flicte he tooke Robert Hulderne duke and by and by chopped of his hedde the whiche wheÌ„ he had dooen he receiued into the citee at the midde night all his souldiours that wer there The people beyng nothyng abashed at the death of their capitain but rather the more eger fearce consideryng that thei could not ouercome Yorke without ordinaunce whiche thei lacked weÌ„t streight forth to London And as for that the lord marques putte to death that duke and capitain of that coÌ„mons beyng also one of his coÌ„spiracie did it for this intent that either he would not bee aknowen faultie of this coÌ„mocion or els that he had vtterly determined to holde with kyng Edward of whom as it dooeth after appere he did get perfect amitie but after the kyng knewe the mynd and purpose bothe of therle of Warwike and the duke of Clarence his owne brother also certefied by dyuerse meÌ„nes letters that the armie was drawyng nigh to London he sent by and by Wyllyam Harberte whome he made twoo yeres before duke with a greate power of Walshe menne commaundyng hym if he could conueniently bydde battaill to his enemies The erle makyng hast towardes Northampton hard saie that the Northrenmenne had gotte it where also he sette his tentes and the next daye folowyng fought with theim in the whiche battaill he was putte to flight in a momeÌ„t and cleane discomfited The Yorkeshire menne beyng glad of this victorie wer streight couled went no ferder but hauyng their handes full of spoyles prayes went backe ward again lookyng when the erle of Warwike would come the whiche shortely after came from Calais with the duke of Clarence his soonne in lawe to the hoost commeÌ„dyng highly the capitaines and reioisyng gladly that thei had the victorie did spedyly prepare an other armie Yet kyng Edward beeyng nothyng abashed that therle of PeÌ„bruch had so eiuill sped seÌ„t hym forth again with a greater armie whiche he had readie at all tymes what so euer should chaunce he hym self he did folowe with a small coÌ„paignie and that he might bee readier for all thynges in his iourneye did encrease his armie with many that came to hym of his secte saiyng that his entent was to destroie that route of misliuers and flagicious persones and then therle of Warwike perceauyng that his aduersaries came vpon hym sent in all the hast to the duke of Clarence whiche was nigh by hym with an hoost that he would bryng his armie in all the hast to hym meanyng that bataill was at hand The duke when he hard it came streight to therâ—e So thei bothe commyng together went to Banberie where thei perceaued their enemyes teÌ„tes wer pitched there buckelyng together tooke the erle oâ— Penbruch prisoner and killed and discomfited all his menne and emonges other of his nobles theâ— was killed Rychard the erle of Ryuers the father of Elizabeth the quene his soonne Iohn Woduile And towardes euenyng kyng Edward drewe nigh and heryng of the death and soden betyng doune of his menne taried at a toune fiue myle frome that place Th erle of Warwike went to his chief toune with all his hoost and there within twoo dayes caused therle of PeÌ„bruch with certain other states taken at that tyme to bee behedded In the meane season there begonne awaie to bee fouÌ„d for peace for the whiche letters wer wrytten too and fro herauldes sent from the kyng to therle and frome the erle to the kyng again wherby the kyng trustyng verely that all was pacified was lesse ware of hym self and feared lesse his aduersaries the whiche thyng when it was knowen and shewed to the erle by certain spies he went furth in a night as priuely as he could with a strong power to the kyng his tentes ther killyng theim that kepte watche tooke the kyng vnware brought hym to Warwike and to the entent the kyng his frendes might not knowe wher he was conueighed hym priuely from thens in the night to a toune
thys he prophecied that the self same Henry shuld in tyme to come as it chaunsed in dede haue the kyngedome and rule of all the realme And nowe Edwarde althoughe he was oute of his countree yet dyd he not dyspayre but that he shulde haue mattre and redy occasion to recouer his kingdome for the duke of Burgoyne partlye had promised hym both greate ayde and socoure and partly the priuy frendes that he had in Englande dyd councell hym by letters sente from tyme to time that he would hasten his iournay homward and incontinâ—tly after very many fled to hym oute of Englande eyther for feare of the lawes that they had offended or elles for sorowe that the worlde was so turned that they could not haue theyr wyll as they had before in accomplyshynge theyr couetouse myndes and desyres and caused hym to make the more haste homewarde And kynge Edwarde beynge rauished with their golden promises thoughte nothyng more payneful or wretched then to tary one daye lenger and nothyng more pleasaunt theÌ„ to go of his iourney and so takynge no moo wyth them then two thou sande harnesed menne at the sprynge of the yeare sayled into Englande landynge in the coastes of Yorkeshyre at an hauen towne called Rauinsport And there settynge for the all hys menne dyd reason wyth hys captaynes and consulte to what place they shoulde fyrste goo For it was ieoperdious consydering the small companie that he had to take anye waye for the. But after longe delyberation they were all agryed that some certayne knightes and horsemen of that smal compaignie shuld bee sent one to euerie quarter to the townes that wer nyghe to the intente that they myghte drawe the hartes myndes of the people to king Edwardes syde But it is not lykelye that kynge Edwarde beyng a wyse manne durst be bolde or would in any wyse come into England with such a small power excepte he had knowen surely that he should haue had great helpe at hys commyng the whych is a plain token that the duke of Clarence and the lorde Marques had procured hys fauoure promysinge him all their helpe that they coulde make for the tryall of the whych ther was manifest tokens that dysclosed and bewrayed all their falshed For they priuilie weÌ„t about to know mennes mindes and to what parte they would declyne and the nexte day after came to kinge Edwarde and shewed him that the common people dyd stande stiflye of kynge Henrye his syde and woulde defende hys quarell as ryghte and iuste at al times and that they had nomore nede nowe to make anye tumulte in so much that no manne would althoughe eftsons desired and prayed go to king Edward yea and that noman woulde for feare of the earle of Warwike heare anye thinge spoken of that matter whose myndes after that kinge Edwarde had throughlye serched and knowen he chaunged his mynd and purpose wher as before he claymed the crowne then he publyrshed abrode that he woulde haue but hys ryghte that was his landes and heritage of Yorke shyre And â—t that worde it cannot be well spoken howe redily meÌ„ wer willinge to helpe him consideringe that he claymed nothinge but hys ryghte in somuch yâ— very pytie dyd moue manye althoughe they woulde not helpe hym yet at no hande to resyste him And kynge Edwarde reconsilyng him selfe to the common people by these meanes toke hys iournye towarde Yorke and wente to Beuer lay The earle then beinge at Warwik after that he knew that king Edward was landed about York streyght sent a post to his brother lord MoÌ„tacute then liyng that winter at Pomfreit with a great army to shewe him what daunger mighte ensue yf king Edward got that towne of york bed theim yf his enemies drewe nigh ether to mete with theÌ„ in plain felde or elles to bete theim from the towne vnto such tyme that he came wyth a greater host which he prepared then in all the hast he coulde And because he knew not surely which way his enemies wolde come he fyrst sent to euery towne in york shyre and to yorke it selfe certayne postes to bid euery man be in his harnesse ready and that that citezins should shut the gates surelye that kynge Edward myght haue no accesse In the meane tyme king Edward came peaceably and wythoute the resistaunce of anye man towardes the towne of Yorke of whose commyng when the citezens were certified they made sure the gates and standynge in harnesse for the defence of it dyd sende twoo of the aldermen to warne the kyng the comming nyghe that he dooe not enterpryse to farre or put hym selfe in ieopardie for they were mynded to dryue him and all hys awaye wyth all the power they myghte When Edwarde had heard theyr myndes he was in so greate feare agonie that he could not tell what to dooe for yf he shuld haue goone back he feared that the common people as men gredye of a praye woulde persue him and yf he should goo forth he was in daunger of the Yorke shyre men leaste they shoulde sodenlye faull vpon hym and take hym and therefore seeyng that he was not able to match them in battayle thought to mollyfie theim with fayre wordes and so beganne to entreat after the most lowlye and gentle maner the messaungers that they woulde in hys name shewe the cytezyns that he came not to clayme the crowne but hys herytage and ryghte of Yorke shyre and therfore that they woulde helpe theyr lorde and duke of Yorke and yf that he myghte be receaued through theyr meanes he wolde requyte theyr kindenes and remember theyr benifyte as longe as he lyued And by suche fayre speaking and flatterie he dimissed theÌ„ and folowed straighte after to the gates with his companie The citezins beynge somwhat moued wyth thys answer for that he entended no harme agaynst kyng Henrie they spake wyth hym from the wall and badde hym to go frome thence and if he would go quickely he should take no harme But he speakyng veraye gentely to euerye one of theim callyng some by name moost gentely did desire theim that he might come into his owne toune And so passyng all the daye in that coÌ„municacion at that length the citezens partely ouer come with his moost geÌ„tle speakyng large promises made fell to this poincte that if Edward would swere to handle his citezens after a gentle sorte hereafter bee obedient to kyng Henry his coÌ„maundement thei would receiue hym in to that citee and helpe hym with all that power that thei might Edward beyng glad to here this the next daye after early a masse was said at the gates wher he receiuyng the sacrament promised feithfully vpon his othe that he would obserue bothe the thyngeÌ„s afore named so was receiued in to the citee Neuerthelesse it was so ferre vnlike that he would obserue one of theim that he minded none other thyng then that he might depriue the kyng of his croune as here after shall
that dede being very sore moued therwith weÌ„t to the dukes place coming before his grace stode lyke a man strykeÌ„ with some sodeyn dysease very pale holding his head downe the duke maruayling at hym enquyred what the matter was To whom he sayde O moost noble duke my time is at hande thys palenes betokeneth death without remidy That I would God yt had come before this day then it should not haue greued me so much And thys all cometh to me through a deed that you haue done of late which wil ether cause me to lose my life or els to lyue in moost miserie wretchednes as one wery of thys present lyfe The noble actes that you haue doone moost noble prynce haue enhaunsed your fame glory to the fardest part of the world but this one thing me thynke I praye you pardoÌ„me what I saye is a great blemyshe to your dygnitee that forgetting the promyse that you made so faythfully haue geuen the innoceÌ„t erle of Richmounte to be destroyed pitefully killed emonge wretched knau es hangmen Wherfore they that loue you of whom I am one cannot but lamente â—o see you dyshonored by this great fault of periury WheÌ„ he had sayd the duke answered hold thy peace man I praye the ther is no such harme shal chaunce to him Edwarde the kinge woulde haue him to mary his daughter Then sayd Iohn Beleue me mooste excellente and redoubted prynce this Henry is nowe almoste famyshed and loste yf he once goo out of your countree he is but cast awaye and paste all recouerye At these wordes the duke was persuaded through the whych he commauÌ„ded one Peter LaÌ„doson hys receauer to take the same Henry froÌ„ the ambassadours The sayd receauer pursued the Englyshe ambassadours to Maclonium and there holdyng theim wyth long coÌ„munication made him to be conueyed into a seÌ„tuary whych was then almost ded through that feuer and thought whych he was caste in And so after that he was emended broughte hym to the duke The ambassadours then beyng spoiled and deceaued both of theyr pread and mony that they brought desyred that same receauer that they might not goo home in that wyse whyche receauer promised that he woulde eyther kepe hym in sentuary or eles cause hym to be imprisoned at the duke his place so that they should neuer neede to feare hym In all thys tyme Edwarde beynge desyreous to knowe what became of the Earle was enfourmed that he was taken prysoner but after that escaped they re handes where at the kinge was verye angrye but when he knewe that he should bee kepte in holde was well pleased then dyd take no thought And liued after that most welthy sparing no expeÌ„ses nor cost in kepyng his house neuertheles he dyd fall into one great offence in this time For sodeÌ„ly he coÌ„maunded his brother the duke of Clarence to be killed drowned in an hogshhed of malmesey And the cause of hys death was as men report through a certaine prophecie which sayd the after kyng Edwarde one shuld reigne whose name begaÌ„ wyth a. G. which prophecye some sayde was completed fulfilled when the duke of Glouceter the after hym had the kingdome dyd reigne Some holdeth another opinion of this his death saiyng that at what time the olde malice dyd breke out bewixt theÌ„ both the duke through his sisters councel woulde haue maried lady Mary that duke of Burgoyn his only daughter which mariage the kyng did infringe stoppe as one enuiyng of his brothers felicitee or good chaunce After that they both beryng in theyr mindes mortall hatred one of the sayde duke hys seruauntes was accused of wichcraft charming for which offence he was put to death The duke 〈…〉 g that could not but speake resist againste the 〈…〉 g his coÌ„maundement and therfore was com 〈…〉 ted to prison ther beyng was killed and procla 〈…〉 d after as a traytour to the kyng for whose 〈…〉 that the king was verye sory and whan any 〈…〉 kneled to hym and asked pardon 〈…〉 der he would saye O infortunate bro 〈…〉 that noman would aske thy pardon And this duke had .ii. children one lady Margarete that was after maried to Richard Pole an other Edward whome the kyng made earle of Warwyke but this childe folowyng the fate and destenie of his father was after putte in prisone there priuely put to death And these thinges were doone in the yere of oure Lorde a thousand foure hundreth and foure score and the .xix. yere of the reigne of kyng Edward And two yeres then after folowing the kyng died before the whiche yeres he beganne to bee very harde and couetouse in getting monye and also very diligent in marking attaching his lordes that did offend In this time the kyng of Scottes willed his sooÌ„ne Iamy to be maried to the kynges doughter lady Cicile which was the yonger that should haue been maried to Charles the kyng his soonne of Fraunce But it chaunced not thorow Lewes the kyng that brake his promise bothe in geuing his seruice and payeng his raunsome the laste yere of his reigne Likewise the kyng of Scottes seing that Lewes the kyng was false of his promise he thoughte he might bee so bolde too and so breaking league of amite sette vpon the Englishe men At the which Edward was sore vexed and entended batayl against hym yet after that he knewe the it was not by his wyll but thorowe the councell and euell disposed mindes of his lordes woulde haue borne it in good worthe had not kyng Iames owne brother streight vpon that prouoked hym to fighte Furthermore suche was the nature of the Scottishe kyng that when he had sette his minde vpon a thing no manne coulde turne hym and because that no manne mighte reproue hym in any thing he promoted laye people menne of basse bloude to his counsell putting to deathe or banishyng euermore the nobilitee Emong whom this duke of Albanie his brother consydering the condicyons of the king fled to the kyng of EnglaÌ„d at what time he was sent into FrauÌ„ce ther counsailed the kyng to fight against hym The king willing to reueÌ„ge his olde iniuries vpon many consideracioÌ„s gathered enteÌ„ded no lesse by the helpe of the saied duke of Albany then to kepe open warre So that he did send the duke of Gloucestre the erle of NorthumberlaÌ„d syr Thomas Stanley this duke of Albany with a great power of men against the Scottes The king knowing of their coÌ„ming went to Barwyke with his army to kepe theim from the borders but perceiuing that he was not hable so resist their great power fled backe in the night to Edinbrough ther taryed for his enemies And the duke of Gloucestre folowing burned and spoyled all the way when he was somewhat nighe his enemies perceiuing also that none of the Scottishe lordes came to the duke of Albanye mistrusted that some deceyte or crafte was
wrought so laboured to haue peace whiche gotten he went backe to the castell of Barwike that sir Thomas Stanley had wonne a lytell before And the duke of Albany the authoure of this warre for that he had but lytle thankes of England for his so dooing fled into Fraunce there was kylled running at the tylte in Parys After this businesse Edward assembled his counsell together willed theim to prepare batayle againste the Frenche kyng for that he had neyther payde nor woulde paye his raunsome nor yet geue his soonne in mariage to his doughter as he promised to the setting forth of the which batayl certaine mony was exacted of the prestes religiouse men to be payde At the which time the kyng was sodēly sickened shortly after died at Westminster the .ix. day of April then being .l. yeres of age reigning xxiii after the date of oure Lorde a. M .iiii. C .lxxx. and thre whose corps was after conueyghed and had with great pompe and solempnitee to Winde sore and there buried in saint George his chapell Whiche kyng had by his wyfe the quene ten children of theim lefte aliue behinde hym Edward prince of Wales and Richard duke of yorke and one bastarde called Arthure and fyue doughters Elisabeth Cicilie Anne Catherine and Brigyde whiche after were maryed all sauyng that ladye Brigide was a nonne This Edward was a goodly man of personage of stature hyghe of countenaunce and beautee comely of sight quicke brode brested and well sette in euery other parte conformable to his bodye of a pregnant wytte stomake stoute haulte courage of perfect memori of such thinges as he conceaued in his braine diligent in his affaires weighti busines in auentures bold and hardy againe his aduersaries fearce terryble to his frendes liberal bounteous hauing in all his warres most prosperous lucky successe escheuing all pleasure sensualitee to the which he was by nature most proue vnto for the which cause and for the lowlines and humanite that is in hym in gendred by nature most plētifully he bare him self honestly amōg his priuate persons otherwise thē the degre or dignite of his maieste required wherfore the fame ranne that he was poysened A lytell before his death it was saied that he gaue hym selfe to auarice whiche before as you see vsed greate liberalytee Yet the realme whiche thorowe ciuile sedicyon was greatly impoueryshed he made ryche and plenteouse at his death daye Also he gaue spiritual promocions to the moste excellent and famous clerkes and made theim of his councell other of the laye sorte whome he loued he did not enriche with possessions but with monye and other lyke goodes the whiche many prynces hauyng no respecte of the honoure dooe not alwayes obserue By the whiche suche giftes rewardes he had so farre wonne the hartes of the people that after his deathe many menne dyd lamente the losse of his grace ¶ Edward the fyfth WHEN ALMIGHTIE GOD had called to his mercye the noble prince kyng Edwarde the fourth of that name Edward his eldest sonne prynce of Wales began his reygne the .ix. daye of Aprill in that yere of oure Lorde a. M CCCC .lxxxiij. and in the .xxij. yere of Lewes the .xi. then Frenche kyng Whiche younge prince reigned a smal space and lytle season ouer this realme other in pleasure or libertee for his vncle Richard duke of Gloceter within .iij. monethes depriued hym not only of his croune and regalytie but also vnnaturally bereft hym his naturall life and for the declaracion by what craftie engine he first attempted his vngracious purpose by what false colourable vntrue allegaciōs he set forth openly his pretensed enterprise fynally by what shamefull cruell and detestable acte he perfourmed the same Ye muste fyrst consyder of whom he and his brother descended there natures condicions inclynacions and thē you shall easely perceaue that there could not be a more crueller tyraunt appoynted to acheue a more abomynable enterpryse There father was Richard Plantagenet duke of Yorke whiche began not by warre but by lawe to chalenge the croune of Englande puttyng his clayme in the parliamēt holden that .xxx. yere of kyng Henry the .vi. where ether for right or for fauoure his cause was so set forthe and auaunced that the bloodde of the sayd kyng Henry although he had a goodly sonne was clerely abiected and that croune of the realme by autorytee of parliamente entayled to the duke of Yorke and his heyres after the discease of the sayd kyng Henrye the .vi. But the duke not entendyng so long to tary but myndyng vnder the preterte of discencion growen and arysen within the realme and of couenauntes made in the parliament not kepte but broken to preuēte the tyme and to take vpon hym the gouernaunce in kyng Henryes life was by to muche hardynes slayne at the battayle of Wakefylde leuynge behynde hym three sonnes Edwarde George Richard Al these three as they wer greate estates of byrth so were they greate and statelye of stomake gredy of autoritee and impaciēt parteners of rule and autoritee This Edward reuēged his fathers death and deposed kyng Henry the .vi. and atteyned the croune and sceptre of this realme George duke of Clarence was a goodlye and well feautured prince in all thynges fortunate yf ether his owne ambiciō had not set him against his brother or thenuie of his enemies had not set his brother agaynst hym for were it by the quene or the nobles of her bloode which highly maligned the kynges kynred as women cōmenlye not of malyce but of nature hate suche as theyr husbandes loue or wer it aproude appetite of the duke hym selfe entendyng to bee kyng at the leaste wise heynous treason was layde to his charge and finally were he in faute or were he fautelesse attaynted was he by parliament and iudged to deathe and thereupon hastely drouned in a butte of malmesey within the towre of Londō Whose death kyng Edward although he commaunded it when he wyste it was done pyteouslye he bewayled and sorowfullye he repented it Richard duke of Gloucestre the .iij. sonne of whiche I muste mooste entreate was in witte and courage eguall with the other but in beautee and lyniamentes of nature farre vnderneth both for he was lytle of stature euill feautered of lymmes croke backed the lift shulder much higher then the right harde fauoured of vysage suche as in estates is called a warlike vysage and amonge commen persons a crabbed face He was malycious wrothfull and enuyous and as it is reported his mother the duches had much a dooe in her trauayle that she could not be delyuered of hym vncutte and that he came into the worlde the fete forwarde as men be borne outwarde and as the fame ranne not vntothed whether that men of hatred reported aboue the truthe or that nature chaunged his course in his begynnyng which in his life many thynges vnnaturally cōmytted
the least rule more suite in his daies was to Shores wife a vile abhominable strompet then to all the lordes in England excepte vnto those that made her their Protectoure which simple woman was yet wel named honest tyll the Kynge for his luste and synfull affeceyon berefte her from her husband a right honest man and substanciall amongest you And in that point whiche in good fayth I am sorye to speake of sauing that it is vayne to kepe in councell that thyng that all menne knoweth the kynges gredy appetite was insaciable and euerye where ouer all the realme intollerable For no womanne was there any where younge or olde poore or ryche whome he set his iye vpon whome he any thing liked eyther for persone or beautie speche pace or countenaunce but without any feare of God or respecte of his honoure murmoure or grudgyng of the worlde he would importunately pursue his appe tite haue her to the great distruccion of many a good womanne and greate doloure to theyr husbandes and frendes whiche being honest people of theim selues so much regarded the clennesse of their houses the chastitee of their wiues and children that theim were leuer to loose all that they haue beside then to haue suche a vilame done to theim And albeit that with this and other importable dealing the realme was in euery place anoyed yet specially you the citezens of this noble citee as for that amongest you is moost plentie of suche thinges as minister matter to suche iniuries as for that you wer nerest hand sith that nere here about was his moost cōmon abidyng And yet bee ye people whome he had as synguler a cause well and trewelye to intrete as any parte of his realme not only for that the Prynce by this noble citee as of his speciall chaumbre and renoumed citee of this realme muche honourable fame receaueth amongest all other nacyons but also for that you nowe withoute youre greate coste and sondrye fauoures and ieopardyes in al his warres bare euer youre especyall fauoure to hys parte whych your kynd myndes borne to that house of Yorke sith he hath no thīgworthely requited you ther is of that house now whyche by Goodes grace shall make you full recompence which thyng to shew you is the whole somme and effecte of oure errande It shal not I wote well nede that I rehersed vnto you agayne that you all redy haue hearde of him that can bet ter tell it and of whom I am sure ye wyll better beleue it and reason it is that it so be I am not so proude to loke therfore that you shoulde receaue my wordes of so greate authorytee as the preachers of the worde of God namely a man so connyng so wyse that no man wotteth better what he should do say and thereto so good and vertuous that he would not say the thynge which he wyst he shoulde not saye in the pulpyt namely in to the whiche no honeste manne commeth to lye which honourable preacher ye wel remember substancyally declared to you at Poules crosse on sō daye laste past the ryght and tytle of the most excellent prynce Rychard Duke of Glouceter nowe protectoure of thys hys realme whych he hath vn to the croune of the kingdome of the same For the worshipful man made yt perfytely and groundly open vnto you The chyldren of kynge Edwarde the .iiii. wer neuer laufully begotten for as much as the kynge lyuyng hys very wyfe dame Elizabeth Lucy was neuer laufully maried to the quene theyr mother whose blood sauyng he set hys volupteous pleasure before hys honour was ful vn metely to be matched with his the mynglyng of which two bloodes together hath bene the effusiō of a gret part of the noble blod of this realme wher by it may well be sene that mariage was not well made of which ther is so much myschiefe growen For lacke of which laweful copulatiō also of other thinges which the sayd worshipful doctour rather signified thē vtterly explaned which thing shall not be spoke for me as the thing that euery mā forbeareth to say that he knoweth in aduoiding the dy spleasour that my noble lorde protectour bearing as nature requireth a filiall reuerence to the duches his mother For these causes before remembred I say that for lack of yssue lawfully cōming of the late noble prince Richard duke of york to whose roial blod the crownes of Englād of Fraūce ar by high aucthoritee of parliament entayled the right tytle of the same is by iuste course of enheritaūce according to the comon law of this land deuoluted come vnto the moost excellent prince the lord protectour as to the very lawful begotten soonne of the fore remēbred noble duke of yorke whiche thing wel cōsidered the knightly prowesse with many vertues which in his noble person singulerly do habound The nobles comons of this realme and specially of that north partes not willīg any bastard blood to haue the rule of the lād nor the abusions in the same before vsed exercised any lēger to cōtinue haue fully condiscended vtterly determyned to make hygh peticiō vnto y◠puisaunt prince the lord protectour that it may lyke his grace at our humble request to take vpō him the guiding go uernaūce of this realme to the welth increase of the same according to his very right iust title which thing I wote wel he wylbe loth to take vpon him as he whose wisdome wel perceueth the labour study both of mynd body that shal come ther with to hī whosoeuer shal occupy the rome I dare say he wyl yf he take it for I warrāte you that that roome is no childes office that the greate wise man wel perceaued whē he sayd Ve regno cuius rex puer est wo to that realme whose king is a chylde wherefore so much more cause haue we to thank god that this noble personage which is so righteously ētitled therto is of so sad age therto of so great wisdome ioyned with so gret experiēce which albeit he wylbe loth to take vpon hī yet shal he to our peticiō in the behalfe the more graciously encline if ye the worshipful cytezins of this cite beyng the chefe cite of the realme ioyne with vs the nobles in our sayd request which for your owne weale we doubte not but that ye wyll And yet neuerthelesse we pray you so to do wherby ye shall do great profite to all this his realme Beside that in chosinge then so good a kinge yt shal be to your selfe a special commodite to whom his maiesty shal euer after bear so much the more tender fauour in how much he shal perceaue you the more prone and beneuolentlye mynded toward his eleccion wherin dere frendes what mynd you haue we require you playnelye to shewe vs Whē the duke had said loked that the people whom he hoped that the maire had
as were right secrete with bothe affyrme all this to be vntrue and other wyse meÌ„ne thynke it vnlykely the depe dyssymulyng nature of bothe these menne well consydered And what nede in that grene world the protectoure hadde of the duke and in what perell the duke stoode yf he fell once in suspycion of that tyraunte that other the protectoure would geue the duke occasyon of dyspleasure or the duke the protectoure occasyon of mystrust And surely menne thynke that if kyng Rychard hadde any suche opynyon conceaued in hym he would neuer haue suffred hym to aduoyd his handes or escape his power but verye true it is that the duke of Buckyngham was an high mynded man euell could beare the glorye of another so that I haue hearde of some that sawe it that he at suche tyme that the croune was set vpon the protectoures hedde his yie could neuer abyde the sight therof but wryed his hed another waye but men sayde he was not well at ease and that was both to kyng Richard well knowen and well takeÌ„ nor any demaunde of the dukes request vncurteously reiected but gentelye deferred but bothe he with greate giftes and high behestes in moste louyng and trustie maner departed from the kyng to Gloucester But sone after his commyng home to Brecknocke hauyng there by kyng Richardes commaundemeÌ„t doctour Moorton byshop of Ely who before as you haue hearde was taken at the councell at the towre waxed with hym very famylyer whose onlye wysedome abused his pryde to his owne delyueraunce the dukes dystruccion The byshop was a man of great natural wyt verye well learned and of honourable behaueoure lackyng no wyse wayes to wynne fauour He was fyrst vpon the parte of kyng Henry whyle that parte was in wealth and neyther left it nor forsoke it in no woo but fled the realme with the quene and the prince And while kyng Edward had kyng Henry in pryson he neuer retourned but to the felde at Barner After whiche felde loste vtterly subdued al parte takynges extynguished kyng Edward for his fast faythe and wysedome was not onelye coÌ„tent to receaue hym but also wooed hym to come and had hym froÌ„ thensforth both in secrete trust specyall fauoure whom he nothyng deceaued For he beyng after kyng Edwardes death fyrst taken by the tyraunt for his truthe to the kynge founde meane to sette the duke in his toppe and ioyned gentlemen together in ayde of the erle of Richemounde whiche after was named kyng Henrye the seuenth Fyrst deuysyng the maryage betwene the ladye Elizabeth daughter to kynge Edwarde the fourthe by the whiche his faythfull true seruyce declared to both his masters at once was with infinite benefite to the realme by the coniunccion of the bloddes of Lancastre and Yorke whose funerall tytles had longe inquyeted the realme This manne afterwarde escaped from the duke and 〈…〉 d the realme and went to Rome neuer myndyng to medle with the worlde tyl kyng henry the seuenth sent for hym and after made hym archebyshop of Cauntorbury and chauncelour of Englande and after was made cardinall and lyued well to all mennes iudgementes and dyed well But to retourne to the former purpose he by the long often alternate proffe aswel of prosperytee as aduerse of fortune had gotten by great experience the verey mother mastresse of wysedome a depe insight in pollytike worldlye driftes whereby perceauynge nowe the duke to coÌ„men with hym fed hym with fayre woordes and many pleasaunt prayses and perceauyng by the grefe of their communicacions the dukes pryde nowe and then to balke oute a lytle brayde of enuye towarde the glorye of the kynge and thereby feelynge hym easye to fall oute yf the matter were well handled he craftely soughte the wayes to prycke hym forwarde takynge alwayes the occasyon of hys commynge and also keepynge hymselfe cloose wythin hys bandes that he rather semed to folowe hym then to leade hym For when the duke beganne fyrste to prayse and boaste the kyng and shewe how muche profite the realme should take by his reigne Byshoppe Morton aunswered surely my lorde folye it were for me to lye for I am sure yf I woulde swere the contrarye ye would not once beleue me but yf the worlde would haue begone as I would haue wyshed that kyng Henryes soonne had had the croune and not kynge Edwarde then woulde I haue bene his true and faythfull subiecte but after that God had ordeyned hym to lose it and kyng Edwarde to reigne I was neuer so madde with a dead manne to stryue agaynst the quycke so was I euer to kynge Edwarde a faythfull and true chapeleyn and gladde would haue bene that his chyldren shoulde haue succeded hym howbeit yf the secrete iudgemente of God haue otherwyse prouyded I purpose not to spurne agaynste the prycke nor laboure to set vp that God pulleth downe And as for the late protectoure and nowe kyng and with that woorde he left sauynge that he saide that he hadde alreadye medled to muche with the worlde and would from that daye medle with his booke and bedes and no ferther Then longed the duke sore to heare what he woulde haue sayde because he ended with the kynge and there so sodeynlye stopped and exhorted hym famylyerly betwene theim bothe to bee bolde and to saye whatsoeuer he thought whereof he faythfullye promysed there shoulde neuer come hurte and paraduenture more good then he woulde were And that he hym selfe entended to vse hys faythfull secrete aduyce and counsayle which he sayed was the onlye cause for the whyche he procured of the kynge to haue hym in hys custodye where he myghte recon hym selfe at home or elles he hadde bene putte in the handes of theim wyth whome he shoulde not haue founde lyke fauoure The bishoppe right humblye thanked hym and sayed in good faythe my lorde I loue not muche to talke of prynces as of a thynge not all oute of perell althoughe the woorde bee without faute but as it pleaseth the prince to construe it And euer I thynke on Isopes tale that when the Lyon had proclaymed that on payne of deathe there shoulde no horned beastes come into the wood one beaste that had a bonche of fleshe growing oute of his hedde fledde a greate pace the Foxe that sawe hym flye with all the haste asked hym whether he fledde In fayth ê™ he I neither wote ne recke so I were once hence because of the proclamacyon made agaynste horned beastes What foole ê™ the foxe the Lyon neuer ment it by the for that whiche thou haste is no horne in thy hedde No mary ê™ he I wote that well ynoughe but yf he saye it is a horne where am I then The duke laughed merely at the tale saied my lorde I warraunte you neither the Lyon nor the bore shall pycke any matter at any thyng here spoken for it shall neuer come nere their cares In good faythe syr saied the Byshoppe yf it dyd the thyng that
been required by Thomas Hutton purposely sent to hym from kyng Richard in message with monye efte sones to imprisone the saied Henry erle of Richemoūt and there continually to kepe and holde the same frome cōminge into Englande yet with all gladnesse and fauoure inclined to the desyre of Henry and aided hym as he might with menne monye shypes and other necessaryes But Henry whyle he might accordynglye appoynte and furnyshe hym selfe remayned in Brytayne sendyng afore the foresayde Hughe Coneway and Thomas Ramney whiche two were to hym very trewe and faithful to beare tidynges into Englande vnto his frendes of his commynge to the ende that they myghte prouydentlye ordre all thynges aswell for the commodyous receauynge of hym at his comminge as also foreseynge suche daungers as myghte befalle and aduoydinge suche trappes and snares as by Rycharde the thyrde and hys complyces myght bee sette for hym and for all his other company that he should bryng with hym In the meane tyme the frendes of Henrye with all care studye and dilygence wroughte all thynges vnto their purpose belongynge And thoughe all this were as secretlye wrought and conueyed as emonge so greate a nombre was possible to be yet pryuye knowledge therof came to the eares of kyng Rychard who althoughe he were at the firste hearynge muche abasshed yet thought best to dyssemble the matter as thoughe he had no knowledge therof whyle he myghte secretly gather vnto hym power and strengthe and by secrete spyall emonge the people get more perfyght knowledge of the whole matters and chiefe autoures contryuers of the same And because he knewe be chiefe princypal of theim as vnto whō his owne conscience knewe that he hadde geuen moste iust causes of enemytee he thought it necessary first of all to dyspatche the same duke oute of the waye Wherfore vnto the duke he addressed letters enfarced and replenyshed with all humanytee frendshippe famylyaritee and swetenesse of woordes wyllyng and desyryng the same to come vnto hym with all conuenyent spede And ferther gaue in commaundemente to the messenger that caryed the letters that he shoulde in his behalfe make many high and gaye promyses vnto the duke by all gentle meanes persuade the same to come vnto hym But the duke mystrustyng the fayre woordes promyses so sodenly offred of hym of whose wylye craftes and meanes he knewe sondrye exsamples afore practised desyred the kynges perdon excusyng him self that he was deseased sicke and that he might be asserteined the if it possyble wer for hym to come he would not absent hym self frō his grace Thys excuse the kyng would not admitte but eftsones directed vnto the duke other letters of a more roughe sorte not wythoute manacynge and threatenynge onlesse he woulde accordynge to hys dutye repayer vnto hym at hys callynge whereunto the duke plainely made aunswer that he woulde not come vnto him whom he knewe to be hys enemye And immedyatelye the duke prepared hym selfe to make warre agaynst hym and perswaded all hys complyces and partakers of hys intente wyth all possyble expedycion some in one place and some in another to sturre agaynste kynge Rycharde And by thys meanes in maner at one tyme and houre Thomas Marques of Dorcester reysed an armye wythin the country of Yorke beyng hym selfe late come forthe of sāctuarye and by the meanes and helpe of Thomas Rowell preserued and saued frome perel of death Also in Deuonshyre Edwarde Courtenay wyth hys brother Peter byshoppe of Excetter reysed in lyke maner an armye and in Kent Rychard Guyl ford accompanied wyth certayn other gentylmen caysed vp the people as is a foresayde all thys was done in maner in one moment But the king who had in the meane tyme gathered together gret power strēgth thynkyng yt not to be best by pursuyng euery one of hys enemyes to dysparkle hys cōpaygnie in smal flokes determyned to let passe all the others withal his whole puisaunce to set vpon the chiefe heade that is to saye the Duke of Buckynghm̄ so takyng his iourneye from Londō he went towardes Salisbury to th entent that he might sette vpon the said duke in case he might haue perfight knowledge that the same laye in any felde embatailed And nowe was the kyng within twoo dayes iourney of Salisbury when the duke attempted to mete hym beyng accompaignied with great strength of Welshmen whom he had therunto en forced coherted more by lordly commaundement then by lyberall wages and hyre whiche thyng in deede was the cause that thei fell from hym and forsooke hym Wherfore beyng sodenly forsaken of his menne he was of necessite constrained to flee in whiche dooyng as a manne cast in sodeine and therfore greate feare of this the sodeine chaunge of fortune by reason of thesame feare not knowyng where to become nor where to hyde his hed nor what in suche case best to dooe he secretly conueighed hym self into the hous of Homffraye Banastar in whom he had conceaued a sure hope and confidence to finde faithfull and trustie vnto hym because thesame had been thē was his seruaunt entendyng there to remayne in secrete vntill he might either reise a newe armie or els by some meanes cōueigh hym self into Brytein to Henry erle of Rychemount But assone as theothers whiche had attempted thesame entrepryse against the kyng had knowledge that the duke was forsaken of his compaignie and fled and could not bee foūde thei beyng stryken with sodein feare made euery māne for hym self suche shift as he might and beyng in vtter despayre of their health and life either gotte theim to sāctuaryes or deserte places or els assaied to escape ouer sea many of theim in deede arryued sauely in Britain emong whom were these whose names ensue Peter Curteney bishop of Exceter with his brother Edward erle of Deuonshire Thomas marques of Dorcestre with his soonne Thomas beyng a verye yoūg chylde Ihō Bourshere Ihon Welshe Edward Wooduyle a stoute manne of armes and brother to Elizabeth the quene Robert Willoughby Gyles Dawbeneye Thomas Harondell Ihon Cheiny with his twoo brethren Wyllyam Berkeley Wyllyam Brandō with Thomas his brother Rychard Edgecome and all these for the moste parte knightes Also Ihon Halwell Edwarde Poyntz an excellēt good capitain Christopher Vrswicke but Ihon Moorton bishop of Ely at theself same tyme together with sondrye of the nobles and gentlemen sailed into Flaundres But Richard the kyng who was nowe come to Salisbury and had gotten perfight knowledge that all these parties sought to slie the realme with all dyligence and hast that might bee sent to all the porte tounes theraboute to make sure steye that none of theim might passe vntaken and made proclamacion that whosoeuer would bryng hym knowledge where the duke of Buckynghm were to bee had should haue for his rewarde if he were a bōdeman his frebome and if he were fre his pardon and besydes that a thousand pounde of moneye Furthermore because he vnderstode by
Thomas Hutton newely retourned oute of Britein of whom afore is mencioned that Fraunces duke of Brytain would not onelye holde Henry Erle of Rychmount in prisone for his sake but also was readie to helpe thesame Henry with menne money and shippes in all that he might against hym he sette dyuerse and sondry shippes in places conuenyent by all the seacostes to Brytain ward that if Henry should come that waye he might either bee taken before his arriuall or els might bee kept froÌ„ landyng in any coaste of England And furthermore in euerie coaste and corner of the realme laied wondrefull wayte and watche to take partely any other of his enemies and specially thesaid duke of BuckynghmÌ„ Wherupon thesaid Homffrey Banaster were it for mede or for losyng his life and goodes disclosed hym vnto the kynges inquysyâ—ours who ymediatly tooke hym and foorthwith all brought hym to Salisbury where kyng Rychard was The duke beyng dylygently examined vttred without any maner refusall or styckyng all suche thynges as he knewe trustyng that for his plain confession he should haue lybertee to speake with the kyng whiche he made moste instauÌ„t and humble peticion that he might dooe But assone as he had coÌ„fessed his offence towardes kyng Rychard he was oute of hande behedded And this death the duke receaued at the handes of kyng Rychard whom he had before holpen in his affayrs and purposes beyonde all Gods forbode Whyle these thynges wer in hand in England Henry Erle of Richmount made readye his hoste and strength to the nombre of fiue thousand Brytones and fiftene shippes the daye apoynted of his departure beyng nowe come whiche was the twelfe daye of the moneth of Octobre in the yere of our lorde God a thousand foure hundred .lxxxiiii. and the seconde yere of the reigne of kyng Richard and hauyng a fayre wynde hoysed vp the sayles setforwarde but towarde the night came suche a tempest that thei were dispersed one from another some into Britain and some into Normandy But the ship in whiche Henry was with one other ship tossed all the night with the waues of the sea and tempest when the mornyng came it waxed somewhat calme and faire weder and thei were come toward the South parte of England by a hauen or porte called Poole where thesaid Henry sawe all the shores or bankes sette full of harnessedmen whiche were souldyours apoynted there to wayte by kyng Rychard as we haue saied before for the comyng landyng of the erle While Henry there abode he gaue commaundement that no manne should land before that comyng of the other shippes And in the meane tyme that he wayted for theim he sent a litle bote with a fewe in it a laÌ„d to knowe what thei were that stoode on the shore his freÌ„des or enemies To whom those souldyours beeyng before taught what thei should saie aunswered that thei were the frendes of Henry and were appoynted by the duke of BuckynghmÌ„ there to abide his commyng and to conducte hym to those castelles and holdes where his tentes pauylyons and arâ—â—llary for the warre laie and where remayned for hym a greate power that entended nowe with all spede to set vpon kyng Rychard while he was nowe sleâ— for feare and cleane without prouision and therfore besought hym to come alande Henry suspectyng this to bee but fraude after that he saw none of his shippes apered hoysed vp the satles hauyng a meruelous good wynde euen apoynted hym of God to delyuer hym from that great ieopardy and sayled backe agayn into Nor mandy And after his landyng there he and his compaignie after their laboures arested theim for the space of .iii. dayes determynyng to go from thence afoote into Brytayne in the meane while sent messengers vnto Charles the Frenche kynge the sonne of Lewes that a lytle before departed be sechyng hym of lybertee and lycence to passe thorough NormaÌ„dy into Brytayn The young kyng Charles beeyng sory for his fortune was not onlye ready and well pleased to graunt his passage but also sent hym moneye to helpe hym foorthe in his iourneye But Henry before that he knewe the kynges mynde not doubtyng of his great humanytee and gentlenes had sent awaye his shippes towardes Britayne and had set hym selfe forwardes in his iourneye but made no greate haste tyll the messengers retourned whiche greate gentlenes when he receaued from the kyng reioysed his hearte and with a lustye stomacke and good hope set forwarde into Brytayne there to take ferther counsayle of his affayres And when he was in Brytayn he receaued froÌ„ his frendes out of Englande knowledge that the duke of Buckyngham was behedded and that the Marques of Dorcestre with a greate nombre of the noble men of Englande had bene there a lytle before to seke hym and that they wer now in Veneti a cytie in Brytayne The whiche thynges beynge knowen to the erle he on the one parte did greately lament the death and euel chaunce of his chiefe and princypall frende but yet on the other parte he greatlye reioysed in that he had so many noble menne to take his parte in the battayll And therfore conceauynge a good hope and opinion that his purpose shoulde well frame and come to passe determyned with hym selfe with all expedycion to set foorth warde and therupon wente to a place in Brytayn called Rhedon and from thence sent to the Marques with all the other noble men that they should come vnto hym Then when they hearde that Henrye was safe returned into Brytayne reioysed not a lytle for thei had thought he had landed in Englande and so fallen into the handes of kyng Richarde and they made not a lytle haste tyll they wer come vnto hym The whiche when they met after greatloye and gladnesse aswell of their parte as of his they began to talke of their prepensed matters and nowe was Christmasse come on the whiche daye they altogether assembled in the churche and there sware fayth and truthe one to another And Henry sware first promysyng that assone as he should possesse the croune of England that he woulde marye Elyzabeth the doughter of Edward the .iiii. and after warde they sware feaultie homage vnto hym eueÌ„ as though he had already bene kyng and so from that tyme foorthe dyd take hym promysyng hym that thei would spende bothe their lyfes and goodes with hym that Richard should no leÌ„ger reigne ouer theim When this was dooen Henry declared all these thynges to the duke of Britayne praiynge desyryng hym nowe of helpe and that he woulde ayde hym with a greater nombre of menne also to lende hym a frendly honest somme of moneye that he might nowe recouer his right and enheritaunce of the croune of England vnto that which he was called desyred by al the lordes nobilitee of the realme whiche God wyllyng he was moste assured to possesse and after his possessioÌ„ he would moste faythfully restore the same again The duke
There were kylled at that vattaill with their fiue capitaines spoken of euen now of that partie about foure thousand Of the kynges part there were not halfe of theim whiche fought in the forewarde slain TheÌ„ was Lambert the child whiche was falsly reported to bee the Dukes soonne of ClareÌ„ce and his maister sir Richard Simond preest both taken but neither of theim putte to death because Lambert was yet but a child and did seme to dooe that more by compulsion of his maister theÌ„ of his owne will and the other was a preest whiche for his defaulte was cast into perpetuall prisone But this Lambert was taken into the Kynges kechin and after was made one of the kynges faukeners and is yet a lyue And thus was all that Margarete went about at this tyme turned to naught and to none effecte whiche thyng wheÌ„ she heard tell of in FlauÌ„ders she was verie lory at the hearte made greate mone And yet could she not bee conteÌ„t but immediately after inueÌ„ted an other thyng to vexe and trouble kyng Henry as it shal be shewed here after Kyng Henry when he had all thynges brought thus to passe and vtterly vanquisshed these his enemies thought hymself at one tyme deliuered from twoo eiuils together that is to saie from bothe feare that was present and also that was to come For it was not to bee thought that thei whiche were so fewe in nombre durste bee so bold to entre into the realme and make battaile against the kyng whom they knewe wel ynough would bryng with hym a great and well armed hooste but that they had other felowes of the same coniuracion whiche would mete and ayde theim all that they could in tyme and place conuenient Therefore when the kyng sawe the hoste of his enemies manifestly before his eyes he commaunded that no maÌ„ shoulde kyll the earle of Lincolne but that he should bee brought to hym alyue to the entent that he might shewe and bewraye all the other whiche were of the conspiracie But that the sowdyers would not do least the sauyng of hym should bee the destruccioÌ„ as it should haue been in dede of many other This battayle was fought in the yeare of oure Lorde a thousande foure hundreth foure score the secoÌ„de yere of this HeÌ„ryes reigne In the whiche yere also Thomas Burscher archebyshop of CaÌ„terburye died into whose roume succeded Iohn Morton late bishop of Ely whome Alexander of that name the sixte bishop of Rome made Cardinall Now to retourne to my purpose After this the kyng when he had gathered al the prayes and spoyles together and had buryed theim that there wer slain went forth to Lincolne and there taryed three dayes and had euerye daie one procession to thanke God almightie that he had the ouerhande of his enemies And incontynently sent his banner to Walsyngham to be consecrate to our Lady there to bee kepte for a perpetuall moâ—ument of victorie Then did he execucioÌ„ of suche rebellions as were there taken shortely after tooke his iorneye foorth to Yorke and there likewyse suche as were founde gyltye dyd he punyshe strayghtlye When all this was dooen he wente vnto Newcastle and frome thence sente into Scotlande Richarde Foxe whiche not longe before was made bishop of Exeter and Richarde Edgecombe knight as Ambassadoures to kynge Iames for a league of peace For this Henrye thought it a great pleasure and coÌ„moditee to bee in peace and concorde with kinges gouernours whiche laye aboute this his realme and specially and before all other with kyng Iames because that there no rebellions might trust whiche otherwise perchaunce woulde haue trusted to haue ayde or succoure at his hande so that thereby there durste none againe take weapon against hym The ambassadoures when they wer come into Scotland to the kyng were of hym both gently and after the moste louing fashion receiued and heard and then dyd he plainlye declare and open to theim that he hym selfe loued kyng Henrye and his no man 〈◊〉 but that that moste parte of his Scottes and subiectes could in no case agree with the English menne Wherfore excepte that he should offend or 〈…〉 se theim he desired the legates to bee conteÌ„t with truce for .vii. yeres in promesse but in dede he sayed that peace betwene theim on his parte shoulde neuer bee broken and or euer those seuen yeres should bee passed that he would geue truce for seuen yeres lenger so that kyng Henry and he would euer bee in peace and moste assured amytie And this did kyng Iames because he knewe that no facte of his people shoulde bee alowed When the Ambassadoures hearde this they tooke the yeres that were offered theim as concernynge peace and by and by retourned home to kyng HeÌ„ry againe and shewed hym all the mattier in ordre With the whiche tydynges he was veraye well contented Shortely after the kyng departed thence towarde London and in the waye at Leicetre mette hym Abassadoures from the Frenche kyng which shewed hym that their kyng Charles had recouered many tounes and cyties whiche before were possessed of kyng Maximilian and that he kepte battayle nowe with Fraunces the duke of Brytayne because he kepte and socoured in his dominion certaine that were traytours and rebellions against hym of the whiche the chief was Lewes duke of Orlyance and therfore he desyred hym of his frendship familiaritie that either he would helpe hym orelles medle of neyther partie But kynge Henrye althoughe he had founde muche frendship at the Frenche kynges hande yet for as muche as he spyed whereof this stryfe beganne with this message was not well contente For the cause that the Frenchemenne tooke battayle was because they sawe that the Duke was an olde manne and had neuer a chylde and thereby that they myghte brynge that Dukedome into their subieccion When kyng Henrye perceiued this and also howe louyng the Brytaynes had been euer to Englande and finally remembred the tendre loue which was betwene the duke and hym thought it best if nede wer to helpe the Britaynes Yet for as muche as he had founde the Frenche kyng veray kynde in tymes past and had partely by his helpe recouered his kyngdome he was veraye lothe to medle in so muche that he coulde not well tell what was best in this mattier to bee dooen But at the laste he fully purposed if necessitie shoulde require to helpe the duke in all that he might Yet least he should make of his highe frende hys extreme enemie his aunswere was to the ambassadoures that he did intende to make their kyng and the duke frendes again Wherfore assone as the Frenche kynges ambassadoures were dimissed he sent on message Christopher Vrswycke to Charles the kynge of Fraunce Firste to certifye hym that he was veraye glad of the victorye that he had vpon Maximilian secondarely what tumulte and insurreccion was made here in EnglaÌ„d thyrdly and especially to desyre hym to bee at one againe with the Duke of
Brytayne And then he commaunded this Vrswycke that if the kyng of Fraunce shoulde bee so contente to go foorthe immediatlye to the Duke and desyre hym lykewyse of the same But when the kyng was come againe to London there was ioye and myrthe for the victorye the he had on euery syde For not onely the kyng but also euerye one of his cytezyns reioysed veraye muche Wherfore the kyng shewed hym selfe both beraye humane and courteous toward all menne and also rewarded all theim that tooke paynes in that battaile moste bountefully And not long after delyuered Lord Thomas Marques out of the â—oure and loued hym veraye well In the meane season Christofer Vrswicke was come to the frenche kyng of hym after the most louing fassion that coulde bee receiued And as sone as he had shewed his message the kyng shewed him selfe to bee there with veray well pleased Then went the ambassadour streight thence as it was coÌ„maunded hym into Britain and shewed the duke what kyng Henry would haue dooen But the duke because hym self had been sicke a great while therby his memory wit was dâ—â—aied called to hym to heare the message bothe Lewes the duke of Orleaunce and other of his councell whiche Lewes in no wyse woulde haue any peace to bee made but saied that it was more mete that kyng Henrye seing he had founde suche kyndnesse at the Dukes hande and Britaine was suche a good defence to England to helpe to kepe battayle all that he might against the frenchmen Then retourned this Christofer againe into Fraunce declared to the king Charles what aunswer was made of the Britains and shortely after came into Englande againe But still in the meane time the Frenche kyng went aboute busely to ouercome the Brytains and the more he was nigh of his purpose so much the more did he exhorte desire kyng Henry to make peace betwene theim wherfore he seÌ„t Bernarde Daubeney knighte in all the haste to kyng Henrye to desire hym in any wise to make some ende of this coÌ„trauersy And therupon the kyng being desirous of the same chose thre oratours the Abbot of Abindon Iohn Lilie the bishop of Romes collectoure and Richard Tonshal a knight and a veray wise man to gooe firste to the Frenche kyng and then to the duke to make amitee and frendshyp againe betwene theim But or euer these ambassadoures proceded on their iourney Iohn Lilye fell sicke of the goute therfore for hym was chosen Christofer Vrswycke and they together wente as they were coÌ„maunded Firste into Fraunce to the kyng and thence withoute delaye into Britain But Fraunces the duke in no case would take suche condicyons as wer there offered wherfore they came back againe into Fraunce without their purpose and there tarieng signified to kyng Henry by their letters all that was dooen But or their letters came to the kynges handes Edward Woodilile a bold Champion came to hym desired veraye earnestly that he myght haue an host of men to helpe the Britains and leasire it should cause any dissencion betwene the Frenche kyng and hym he saied that he would gooe priuely and without a pasporte to th entent it might bee thought that he stole out of the land But the kyng for as much as he trusted that peace shoulde bee made woulde in no wyse graunt his peticion Wherfore this Edward weÌ„t streight into the ysle Veches which was in his dominacion there so sone as he had gathered his menne together about foure C sayled ouer to the Britaines ioyned hym selfe with theim against the FrenchmeÌ„ whiche thing when it was knowen in Fraunce made the ambassadours greatly afraid of their liues But whiles they were in this feare and the FreÌ„chemen thought it dooen maliciously of Kyng Henry there came other Ambassadours frome hym to the Frenche kyng certifieng hym declaring by most euident tokeÌ„s that it was nothing in dede as it was thought to haue been To the which message albeit the kyng had lytle credeÌ„ce yet he made as thoughe he had not bene angry at all So the Ambassadours renewed peace betwene their king hym for .xii. monethes and retourned home again shewed the kyng all such thinges that they had either hearde or sene there wherof he gathered that the Frenchmen did nothing lesse entend then to haue peace made Wherfore without delay he called a parliament there consulted of the aidyng of the Brytains then of the exspence that should bee therin made after of other mattiers And assone as the parliament was broken vp he caused musters to bee taken in euery toune thorowoute his realme Yet leaste peraduenture he might seme willingly to breake the amitee whiche was betwene the Frenche kyng and hym he sent Ambassadours into Fraunce to certifye the kyng that of late he had kepte a parliament and there that it pleased all the nobles that he should sende helpe to the Britains because they at all times had dooen more benefites to Englande then all other nacioÌ„s and therfore that he should either leaue of battail orelles that he shoulde not bee greued if he dyd obey the mindes of his Lordes and prelates and yet that he woulde promise hym this one thing that his should medle with hym no leÌ„ger then he was in Britain kepte battaile vpon theim With these commaundementes the ambassadours went foorth and declared to the French kyng all the minde and wyll of their kyng which thyng he litle cared for and thought as it came to passe in dede that the Englishemen there coulde lytle auayle In the meane season the Britains fought one felde at a place called sainte Albanes there sped beray euel For of theim Lewes duke of OrleauÌ„ce with many mo were taken and Edwarde Wooduile Iames Galeot an Italian and a veray good warryer with diuers other noble menne slaine Whiche thing when kyng Henry heard tell of he thinking it tyme to make haste sente spedely Roberte Brooke Lorde Iohn Cheinye Iohn Midelton Raufe of Helton Richarde Corbet Thomas LeightoÌ„ Richard Lacon Edmond Cornewell all lustye capitaines with .viii. thousand wel armed men to the Brytains to helpe theim in theyr nede whiche by reason the wind serued theim came thither so sone as they could desire But when the Frenche menne knewe of their comming whome they knewe so longe as they were freshe and lusty to bee in a maner inuincible at the firste wer blanke all and durste scarsely looke oute of their tentes but afterwarde trusting that they might wery theim they went many of theim together into diuers places and kepte many bikeringes with the English menne but they theim selfes euer bare the worste away howsoeuer the Englishmen sped they sped naught Whiles they this kynde of warre did exercise the Duke Fraunces died and then was all dasshed For the chyefe rulers of the Brytains being some of theim corrupted with money some sturred vp with ambicyon fell into deuisyon amonge theim selues and semed
nomore to endeuoure to defende their commune weale but rather to destroy and vtterly extinguishe it Which thing the englishe menne perceiuing and also suffering muche colde were compelled of necessitee within fyue moonethes that their wente thyther to come backe agayne into Englande Then Charles the French kyng maried Anne the Dukes doughter and gat al Britayn by that meanes into hys hādes But of this it shal be spoken more here after It was decreed here in Englande before there were any souldyours sent into Brytayne that for the expence of that warre euery man should paye as thei were hable a tribute whyche the mooste parte of theim that dwelte in the byshopryke of Durhā and Yorke shyre dyd vtterly refuse to pay and complayned of the matter to their Lorde the Earle of Northumberland And he immediately signified to the kyng by his letters that the people dyd greatly lament and was sory saiyng that thei were neuer put to so muche coast as thei had been of late dayes nowe that ther was so much requyred of theim that neither thei were hable to pay so great a summe nor would pay it Yet for al that the kyng cōmaunded the Erle to get it on thē and make theim pay it whether thei would or not least peraduenture it myght be a cause that yf at any time a tribute agayne should bee required of thē to make an insurreccion Which thyng when the people hearde of by and by they ranne vnto the earle and as the authoure of the tribute paiyng kylled hym out of hande And when thei had so done thei chase Ihon Egremonknight a verey dicious personne to bee their captayne and so arraied them selfes and went agaynst the kyng makyng cries in euery towne that thei came to fight for no nother cause but to defēde that cōmon libertie But when the mattier shoulde come to blowes thei waxed colde all the sorte of theim and euerye one wished that this tumulte wer retracted which was nowe alredy begonne so that at the cōclusiō not one scacely scaped without his great discommodite For the kynge assone as he hearde of this insurreccion went downe with an hoost to Yorke wherof these slaues and traitours beyng greatly afraied fledde some hether and some thether and durst not abide and sustaine the power of the kynges army Wherfore thei wer sone taken and punished greuousely accordyng to their deseruyng euery one of theim But Ihon Egremont whiche was their captain fledde into Flanders to Margarete of whome we spake before And the kyng so sone as this busines was quēched tooke his iourny back again vnto London and committed the tribute whiche was in Yorke and about Yorke to bee taken vp holy to Richard Toustal And this was the yere of our lord a thousand foure hundred .xc. and the fourth yere of the reigne of this kyng Henry And in thys yere also the kynge of Scottes was sore vexed For his subiectes roase agaynst hym and made his sonne Iames whiche was as yet but a chylde their capitain Wherfore he sent to the kynge of Englande to the Frenche kyng and to the byshoppe of Roome Innocentius to desire theim to make some end of thys ciuile battayle and contencion whiche was betwene hys people and hym Whiche afterwarde sente theyr ambassadours as they were desired but all in vayne For the rude sort would nedes fight onlesse he would resygne his crowne wherfore shortely after thei fought and in that battayle kylled the kyng and gaue his sonne Iames whiche was the fourth of that name the crowne But the byshoppe of Romes legate Hadrian came to late For whyles he was in Englande with kyng Henry worde came that the kyng of Scottes was slayne in battayle and hys soonne made kyng And therfore he taried here in England for a space and was veray muche made of and hyghly commended to the kyng by Ihon Mortō archbyshop of Canterburie Whereby he came into so high fauour with kyng Henry that he made him bishoppe of Herforde and shortly after that least gaue hym the bishopprike boothe of Welles and Bathe And not longe after he retourned with these honours to Roome and there of Alexander was made Cardinall There beganne also of freshe certayne businesse as concernynge Brytaine before this geare was appeased whiche was that Maximilian beyng at that tyme without a wyfe would haue maried the duke of Briteines doughter and had one that wowed for hym which lady promisyng hym fayth trueth to the entent that she might not go from her word he vsed this way with her when she went to her bed the night after as to the bedde of wedlocke the wower that was hired putte one of his fete into the bed to the knee in the sight cōpany of many noble matrōs ladies for a token testimony that the mariage was consūmate thei .ii. as mā wife But this did nothing auaile for Char the Frenche kyng was desireous to marye her hearyng that Maximiliā was sure to her dyd the more busely set vpon the Britaynes to th entent he might both haue the ladye and the countree also at his wyll for he estemed that mariage to bee of no strength or force Neuerthelesse he feared kyng Henry muche least that he would stoppe his purpose whiche kyng had made a league and Ferdinande also the kyng of Spayne had made the same with the Britaynes to assist theim in all their ieoperdies and perilles that should chaunce to theim by foren countrees wherfore he sent in al post hast Francese Lucemburgense Charles Marignane and Roberte Gaguine to kyng Henry for a peace to bee confirmed and hadde desyrynge hym that their kyng might ordre the mariage of the Ladye Anne as wer thought best without any let or hynderaunce of it by hym but kyng Henry would not agree to theim that the lady should bee maried to hym consyderyng she was made sure to the kyng Maximilian for that it was against all right and lawe bothe of God and manne Albeit the kynge would gladly make a peace betwene theim bothe and so demissyng the kynges Ambassadoures with a large and ample rewarde sent Thomas Goldestone abbot of Cantorbury and the lord Thomas of Ormondye ambassadours streight after theim In this meane space Alexander B. of Rome the sixt of that name after Innocētius sent the bishop of Cōcordiense legate to the Frenche kyng for certayne mattiers and emong other for a peace and vnitee to bee confederate betwyxt hym and kyng Henry the whiche when he had easely obteyned he came to Englande and there beyng entretained moste roially of the kyng had his purpose and desire of hym The Englishe ambassadours then beyng with the Frenche kyng purposed to haue a peace concluded whiche first demaunded certain thynges of the kyng ere that it should bee made albeit the kyng would graūt theim nothyng and was sore moued with their request askyng So the shortly after the Frenche kyng sent to the noble menne of
sorowe to the Englishe men for thei cried out of the kyng and saied it was not for his honour so to dooe but the kyng as a wise manne moste prudent prince saied it should be the death of many noble puisaunt capitaines if he should continue thesame battaill therefore it might be to his sore reproche if it wer in his power not to tendre as well the health of his coÌ„mons as his owne whiche saiyng did somewhat coule pacifye their grief And after this dooen the kyng returned backe to Calise for because it was enformed hym that one Richard the named hym self the sonne of kyng Edwarde had made an insurreccion in FlauÌ„ders through the counsaill of lady Margarete the quene to fight against hym which thyng kyng Henry consyderyng did the more spedely hasten to conclude a peace And the condicion of this peace to bee made was this that the Frenche kyng should paye to kyng Henry a certain summe of meny the whiche was leauyed by the ambassadours for the cost and charges that the kyng was put to in that battayll and also should yerely for a certain space paye or cause to bee payde to the kyng of EnglaÌ„d for a full recompence xâ—v thousand crounes The whiche Frenche kyng after that beyng in warre with the Italians payd the said tribute to the most noble prince and our souereigne lorde kyng HeÌ„rye the. vâ—â— sonne to Henry the seuenth for a full recoÌ„ 〈…〉 cion and frendship to bee had for euer This was the yere of our Lorde a thousand foure hundreth foure score and thirtene and the seueÌ„th yere of his reigne Also in this inuadyng besiegyng of Bonony whiche we spake of before there was none killed sauyng onely syr Ihon Sauage whiche goyng out of his tent with syr IhoÌ„ Riseley was taken priuely rydyng about the walles of the toune and there because he would not yelde was slain of the Frenche men albeit the other syr Ihon Rysely fled and escaped their daunger After this the kyng went froÌ„ Calis to England again yet that he might not be wtout some trouble or busynes quene Margaret of Spaine whiche euer watched to do hym a displeasure perceauyng that the erle with his coÌ„paignie could not haue suche successe in their businesse as she would haue wished theim she inueÌ„ted a new way to worke treason against him There was a certain youÌ„g maÌ„ of Tornace very beautiful faire in couÌ„tenaunce of a pregnaunt witte whiche youÌ„g maÌ„ was called Peter surnamed Warbecke for his cowardnes nycknamed of the Englishe men called Perkyn which youÌ„g maÌ„ trauaylyng many countrees could speake many laÌ„guages for his basenes of stocke birth was knowen of none almost Therfore the quene thynkyng this youÌ„g man to bee mete whoÌ„ she might feigne to be the duke of Yorke and soÌ„ne to her brother kyng Edward kept hym a certain tyme with her priuely and tellyng hym what he should be that he might the rather persuade meÌ„ to be the kynges sonne did send hym into IrelaÌ„de after what time she knewe that kyng Henry had apointed to fight against the Frenche kyng where he was honorably receaued taken of euery manne as a prynce for whose right they promysed all to fight and helpe hym in all that they could After this it came to the FreÌ„che kynges eare that such an one was in Ireland for whoÌ„ the kyng did send to see caused hym to be brought before him when he came into his pÌ„sence the kyng accepted hym gladly after a princely fashioÌ„ intreteined hym But after the he came in loue with the kyng of England the sayd Charles did dimisse the youÌ„g maÌ„ would no loÌ„ger kepe hym least that some inconueniencie or cause of strife should chaunce thorough it Wherfore the young manne went to Flaunders agayne to the quene Magarete whiche quene did receaue hym with suche gladnesse that she coulde not well rule her selfe for this cause onely she dyd shewe her selfe so ioyfull and merye that menne mighte perswade theim selfe that this was Richard the kynges soonne and vpon that cause truely men did the more reuerence to the younge manne and that more firmely beleue hym to bee the righte heire sonne to kyng Edwarde Also after this rumour blased abrode aswel in England Fraunce as Flaundres there beganne great sedicion to spryng and firste they that were long in sanctuary for the greate offences that they had commytted and other that wer cast in pouertie gathered a compaignie of meÌ„ and sayled ouer into Flaunders to the counterfaicte Edwarde otherwise named Peter also many of the noble men conspired together and to the entent they might bryng their purpose wel about they did send certain to the Quene Margarete to knowe when thesame Edwarde might come conueniently into Englande the thei beyng certified of thesame might the more easely receaue bryng hym into the realme So that by the consent and agrement of theim all syr Robert Clyfforde knight Wyllyam Barley wer sent to shewe all their myndes aduyce as concernyng the newe founde duke to the Quene Margarete Whome the Quene did accepte gladlye and persuaded theim that it was true that was publyshed of Rycharde the duke and streight vpon shewed theim thesame Peter whiche was muche lyke Richarde praysyng his vertues and qualitees that he had wonderfullye The said Robert wheÌ„ he had seen thesame youÌ„g manne beleued surely that he was of the kynges bloode and wrote to Englande to his coumpaignye and felowes of his conspiracie that he knewe hym to bee the kynges soonne by his face euery proporcion of his body And when these letters came vnto Englande the chief capitaynes of this businesse did openly diuulgate and publyshe that it was trewe that was spoken and saied abroad of the Duke but it was dooen by suche a crafte that no manne coulde tell who was the authoure of that rumoure When the kyng perceiued that many men did geue credence to his vaine fable he thought beste for his owne safegard to prouide a remedy for it also mystrusting that some conspiracye had bene made bicause that sir Robert Clifford had fled priuely into Flaundres commaunded certain knightes that were chosen and piked menne of warre with a bonde of menne to kepe the borders surely the no manne might escape or sayle ouer the sea without a pasporte or licence geuen by hym Also that men myghte not contynue in the false perswasion and belefe that they had conceyued of the duke he caused certain spies to search in all the citees of Belgike to knowe of what progenie this mysnamed Richarde was and to geue theim highe rewardes that would shewe the verite and truth of the same matter So that they sailynge into Fraunce euerye manne dyd gooe into a contraye quarter and enquired diligently for hym and at the length certain of theim came to a towne called Tornace and there were certifyed by the testymonye of
so doyng and wher as the kyng also remembring this benefyte dyd make hym his chiefe chamberlayn and gaue hym the hyghest promocions that he had he lytle regarded them and loked for some greater rewarde wherfore the king perceauynge that was sore greued with hym and so thei bothe dyd fall at debate and hatred eche wyth other Also at this time the king thought best to vse some asperite in correcting the offeÌ„ces of his subiectes because the some had taken suche heart and audacitee to them the thei feared not to speake euel of his maiestie with most spiteful and contumeleous wordes trusting euer that the fayned Rychard duke of York now lately rysen from death to lyfe on gods name should claime the crowne enheret his counterfeted fathers possessions when such persoÌ„s had suffered due ponishment for their offences other learning by their neighbours mischaunce to beware dyd frome the tyme beare theim selfes as true faithfull subiectes assysted him with al their power at what time he required help of theÌ„ After the death of this William Stanley Giles Dabeney was chosen and made chiefe chaÌ„berlain And now the kyng was in a good staye for his realme sauyng that Ireland was not wel weded of the pernicious sede the was sowed by the young maÌ„ Perkin Warbeck and his secte Wherfore he sent sir Henry Deny late abbot of LanktoÌ„ abbey thither made him chauncellour ouer al that I le and Edward Ponyng to serch all places that the forenamed Perken was in to punish theÌ„ extremely in the example of other the were giltie of that crime but when thei heard of this thei fled for the most part into woddes marysh places for the defence safgard of them selfes there consultyng to kepe open warre agaynst hym whiche Edwarde after that he persued theim many times and coulde neuer try it wyth them because thei wer so disparsed as foren and wilde people he returned backe and suspectinge that the earle of Kyldare was the occasion of this attached him at the counsayl of the erle his euel willers and brought him as prisoner to England Wher when he was arained and certain matters of treason laied to his charge he aduoided theÌ„ all clerly quite him selfe whome the kynge dimissed and sente hym to Irelande there to bee gouernour and captayne ouer theim as he was before So that now the kyng beeyng oute of all feare of battayle dyd take hys progresse to shyre there to recreate his spirites and solace him selfe with his mother lady Margarete wyfe and countesse to the Earle of Darby Yet when the king was thus delityng hym selfe Perken Warbecke could not moderate or rule hym selfe although so manye suffered and were put to execucion for his mischife but to proue again the chaunce of battel gathered a great armye of men aswell prisoners slaues saÌ„nctuary men as other came into Kent because the wind so serued ther caused certayne to land to enquire yf the Kentish men would bear with him with whoÌ„ the Kentish meÌ„ working guiles promised the thei would assist him yf he his coÌ„panie would land ther. Albeit the same PerkeÌ„ fearing the thei meaned falshode and craft would not descende him selfe but caused certain of his souldiours to lande whiche persones beynge a pretye way from their shippes wer sore beateÌ„ and put to flight and many of theim taken prisoners after wer condempned to dye Wherfore PerkeÌ„ failing of his purpose fled backe to Flaunders and there consulted with his frendes vntyll suche time he had been better prepared bothe of men and counsayle The kynge herynge that hys enemyes had made eÌ„trauÌ„ce into his realme left of his progresse purposed to go to London but beynge certified the next day after how wel thei had sped continued went forth of his progresse sendyng to theim Richard Gilford to geue thankes and promise of a good turne herafter for the good seruice that thei had done him in those tumultes and assaultes of his enemies Also that thei might not haue any accesse herafter into those parties the king commauÌ„ded the lordes to bee defeÌ„ded stroÌ„gely with bulwarkes other sure munimeÌ„tes fortresses of the whiche this same Perken beyng certified hastened the more to renue battaill against the kyng that he might not haue longer space through his delaye to dooe all these thynges for the defence of his realme and so came to Irelande with all his armie and there tariyng a space sailed to Scotlande for ayde and succour of kyng Iames trustyng to finde grace at his hand to whom he spake after this maner I thinke it is not vnknoweÌ„ to you moste noble kyng in what ruine the stocke of Edwarde the fourth of that name is now of late whiche if you dooe not know and it please your grace so to take me I am his soonne by the power of God preserued a liue at this houre from the mightie hand of a tiranne For my father when he died apointed his brother Richard duke of Gloucestre to bee our gouernour ê“tectour Albeit he was rather a destroyer of our progenie then a mainteiner of it for he wyllyng to be kyng hymself and depriue vs of our right and title commaunded that we should bothe bee slain and dispatched out of this worlde Therfore he hauyng then full power to ordre vs at his will did cause my brother to bee destroyed and because that he might bee without some parte of that offense and not shewe hymself all a tiraÌ„ne he caused me to bee conueighed to some straunge and foren countree and there to bee desolate of all comforte and helpe And so kyng Richard did hold his crouÌ„e by dispatchyng away of vs two so that I could not tell by the reason of my tendre age what I was vntill now of late that myne aunte ladie Margarete beyng in FlauÌ„ders did shewe me what I was after she had seen me and to the entent I might recouer again my fathers possessions she hath geuen me for her power a bonde of meÌ„ne wyllyng me the I should desire the helpe of externe nacions and countrees And so I am come to you for succoure whoÌ„ as it is reported will helpe at all tymes euery manne in his right and in case bee I shall finde you fauorable to me you shall binde me and all myne neuer to thynke ourselfes hable to make you amendes When he had thus saied the kyng promised hym that it should neuer repente hym of his commyng to hym and bad him to take a good hearte after this the kyng assemblyng his counsaill together asked what thei thought best in that matter and whether any deliberacion should bee takeÌ„ of it or no. To whom some of theim that were wâ—sest aunswered that it were folishenes to go fur 〈…〉 in suche a matter consideryng that he was but a painted and feigned duke and had no right to England Other also saied that it was for diuerse causes moste profitable to the coÌ„men
accordyng to the lawe of God taken reputed as supreme heed of this his realme nexte and immediatly vnder Chryst This yere the erle of Kyldare died in the Towre and his sonne rebel led and slewe the byshop of Dubelyn wherfore the kyng dyd send sir Wylliam Skeuynton thether This yere was graunted to the king the fyrst frutes and the tenthes of all spirituall possessyons In Iune was the byshoppe of Rochester and sir Thomas Moore behedded for deniyng the kyng to be supreme hed of the church of Englande This yere wer .iii. Monkes of the Charterhouse executed for the same offence In this .xxvii. yere in Ianuary dyed lady Katheryn princesse dowager and is buryed at Peter borowe This yere quene Anne was attaynted of treason and was beheded And the kynge maried lady Iane Seymer And in October beganne a fololyshe commocion in Lyncolnshyre another in Yorke shyre by the meanes of Lord Darey lord Husey sir Robert CoÌ„stable Robert Aske Which only by the kynges wysedome his discrete counsayle were appeased withoute bloode shedynge In this .xxviii. yere the Thamis was ouer fro 〈…〉 in December wherfore the kyng and the quene rode throwe London with a goodlye companye This yere also syr Fraunces Bygot lord Darcy syr Robert Constable and other beganne a newe coâ—spyracie and thei were attaynted and putte to death in Iune In February was Thomas Fytzgarred and fyue of his vncles hanged drawen quartered And on saynt Edwardes euen Prynce Edwarde was borne at HamptoÌ„ court The. xxiii daye of October dyed quene Iane and is buryed at Wyndsore In this .xxix. yere in Maye was Frere Foreste hanged and brente in Smithfeelde for treason heresy with the Image of Daruell Gathern In thys yere all ydolatry was forbyddeÌ„ And dyuers ymages that had engynnes to make their eyes other lymmes to styre wyth many other disceates wer destroyed And all Freers and Monkes chauÌ„ged their garmentes In this .xxx. yere in DeceÌ„ber was the Marquis of Ereter the Lord Montacute and syr Edward Neuell behedded for hygh treasoÌ„ duly proued In May the cytesyns of LondoÌ„ mustred al in bright harneisse with coates of whyte clothe and whyte sylke wyth chaynes of golde in thre great armyes to the great wonder of straungers Nowe for a fynal coÌ„clusioÌ„ as touchiÌ„g this most noble exelleÌ„t prince and for the closing vp of this preseÌ„t werke If that his highnes had by al the space of his reigne heretofore whiche hath bene .xxxiiii. yeres done no more but only these three thynges as in dede his grace hath done a great infinite noÌ„bre of moste prudente beneficial thynges bothe for the quietnes of his realme wealth of his subiectes that is to saie the extirpyng abholyshyng of the vsurped authoritee of the B. of Rome out of all his dominions and restoring vnto vs the holy most blessed worde of God the is to saie the whole scripture in our Englishtongue to th entent chiefly that we mighte knowe oure dutie to almightie God oure obedyence to our prince and hys successours kynges of thys realme lyue a godlye and Christen life one with another Secondarely in takynge a waye all supersticion and ydolatrye whiche was a thyng moost detestain â–ª the sight of God And thirdlye and laste of all the dissoluynge of cloisters and suppressynge all conterfete and false religion which so long as thei coÌ„tinued wer not only teachers preachers of false and supersticious doctryne but also wer euer the autours begynners of all mischiefes commocions For reformacion I saye of which thynges who is hable to rendre woorthy thankes and prayses to his highnes And therfore to conclude infinite thankes be geueÌ„ to almightie God that so hath wrought by his speciall grace in the hearte mynde of his hihgnes let earnest prayers and supplicacioÌ„s incessantly be made of all his faythful subiectes for the preseruacion of his highnes in mooste triumphant honoure and wealth and ouer vs longe to reigne rule And that when nature shall geue place to death in his grace that then thesame giftes of prudence pollecie and godly iudgement that his highnes is so plentifully endewed with maye yet be planted in the personne of that goodly ympe and mooste flory shyng brauÌ„che prynce Edwarde that the same maye finishe mainteine that whiche his noble father and our souereigne lord kyng Henry the eyght hath moste graciously begoÌ„ne To this all true Englishe heartes saie Amen LONDINI In officina Richardi Graftoni Cmm priuilegio ad imprimendum solum per septennium Numeri .xxvii. Salphaat 〈…〉 ke 〈…〉 orn in GauÌ„t 〈…〉 y◠〈…〉 〈…〉 y◠〈…〉 〈…〉 that 〈…〉 EdmouÌ„d duke of yorke Thomas of wood stoke duke of gloucester Mat. 〈…〉 vii Edward prince of Wa 〈…〉 the eldest sonne of kynge Edward the .iii. Duke of Yorke The tytle of the kinges of EnglaÌ„de to Scotland and Ireland Godfrayâ— Boleyn Robert cur those Out of old bookes coÌ„meth newe knowledge The dukes wyfe named Cecely Kyng DioclesyaÌ„ and Albyne his wyfe This chronicle is not true Saul was the fyrste kyng in the thyrde age This sâ—e 〈…〉 that our chronicle is false in the beegynnyng Brutus The oâ—acyon of the authoure for that makyng of this booke The names of false goddes The armis of Brute Brutus Dute of oldbokes coÌ„meth new wisedome Adam The geneâ—aâ—ion of â—â—ute 〈…〉 〈…〉 〈…〉 h. 〈◊〉 〈…〉 th 〈…〉 m. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Cely. Saturne Iubiter Dardanus Eriotonus Troilus Ilis Ilyon Hercules Lamadone Priamus Achilles was Priamus brother LamedoÌ„ shewed to Iason vnkindnesse Hector Troilus Dephebus Helenus Parys came of Pryamus Greekes Anchyses Eneas Ascaneus Eneas EuaÌ„dre Latene Turnus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Siluius the father of Brutus The praise of Brute Howe Brutus slewe his father Helenus Priamus Anchises Pandras Brutus Anacletus 〈…〉 onê° Pandras The pillers that Hercules made of brasse Diane the Goddes Corneus capitain of that TroyaÌ„s Goryne The armes of 〈…〉 e Maryan chronicler Corneus Gogmagog Coryn This Isle Briteyne Corneus London 〈…〉 The leÌ„gth and bredth of the Isle of Bryteyne Howe Brutus deuided this ysle Thre sonnes of Brute Locryne 〈◊〉 Albanacte Brutus ordered the people to sowe corne Locryne * The death of Albanact The ryuer of Humbar wherof it tooke that name How Loâ—yn was 〈…〉 e in betrayle by hys wyâ—e Gwendolyne The ryuer of Seuerne wherofit tooke the name Guendolena MaddaÌ„ kyng of Britain that is EnglaÌ„d Scotlande Howe the one 〈…〉 to be kynge MeÌ„pryse kyng of Britaine The wretched end of Mempryse Ebranke reygned â–ª lx yeres The Castell of DuÌ„brytayne in ScotlaÌ„d The castel of Ediburgh The castell of Bamburgh That is yorke Brutus greneshilde reigned xii yeres Leyle kyng of Britain reygned .xxv. yeres The cytee of Carleile by whoÌ„ it was buylded Rudhudebras kynge reygned xxxix yeres Bladud reigned .xx. yeres StaÌ„forde A manne decked in fethers Leyr kyng Cordell quene of Fraunce Morgan CoÌ„dage is that which we nowe call Walis Condage
reigned xxxiii yeres Ryueall reygned vxii yeres Gurgustius reygned xv yeres Scicilius reygned xiiii yeres Kyng Iago reigned x. yere Kyng Kimar reigned .xx. viii yere GorboniaÌ„ reigned .xi. yere Clotane with his feldes reigned xâ— yeres DuÌ„wallo reigned .xl. yeres DuÌ„wallo was the first king of Bryteine that was croned with golde This teÌ„ple was s Poules churche in LoÌ„don Bolyn Gurgwyn reigned xxx yeres Howe Irelande was hold of this kyng his heires Guytelyn reygned .x. yere Sicilius reygned .xxiiii. yeres * Rymar kynge * Danius kynge Moruyle reygned .xvii. yere Gorbonyâ— reygned .x. yere Arthegall * Eledoure kyng reygned v. yeres * Arthegall reygned 〈◊〉 yere Eledoure reigned xiii yere Iugen and Peredour reigned vii yere together Paradour reigned by hym self iiii yeres Eledour reigned .x. yeres GorboniaÌ„ kyng of Brytaine Morgan reigned .xiiii. yere Emnan kyng reigned .vii. yere Kyng Iuall reigned .xx. yere Kyng Rymo reigned xvi yere Kyng GereÌ„nes reigned xx yere Kyng Catellus reigned x. yere Kyng Coile reigned xx yere Kyng Porrex Kyng Cheryn Fulgen FulgeÌ„ce Eldred Androge Vryan Elynde Dedancius Detoâ—â— GurguÌ„cius Merian Bledudo Cappe Owen Sicilius all these reigned eche of theim .ii. yeres Bledud Gabred cantor Archiuall Eldoll Redon Redrike Samuel Pirry Penisell Capre eche of these reigned two yeres Howe Hely the soonne of Elyngwellus made the Isle of Hely Kyng Hely reigned .xl. yere Kyng Lud reigned .xl. yere This palays is nowe the bishop of LondoÌ„s palays beside Poules Cassibalayn reigned .xxxiii. yere Temancius reygned .xvii. yere Kymbelyne Guyder reigned xi iiii yere Aruiragus reigned xl.iiii yere 〈◊〉 Wher of Gloucester was so named Vaspasian Agrestes Howe Galway had fyrst the name of kyng Gadelus The regall of scotlande The subieccion of ScotlaÌ„d Coylus reigned xiii yere Lucyus kyng Seuerus kyng GetaÌ„ king of Britain chosen by that Romayns Bassian reygned vii yere Caranse reigned liii yeres * Allectus kyng reygned .iii. yere Asclepiadote reygned .x. yere Kyng Coylus reygned .xi. yere ConstauÌ„ce kyng reygned xv yere Constantyne reygned .xxxiiii. yere Sorcerie ConstaÌ„tine first grauÌ„ted to the. b. of Româ— that primacye Octauius Kyng Traherne Maximian reigned in all xxx .iiii. yere The .xi. M. vyrgins Gracian kyng ConstaÌ„tyne reigned .x. yere ConstauÌ„ce kyng Vortiger kynge of Britayn reygned .xviii. yeres * Wednysdaye wherof it was named Vortymer kynge of Britayne The craft pollicye of Engist EnglaÌ„de wherof it was so named Vter PendragoÌ„ kyng of Brytain Kynge Arthure The saynt Graall what it is The death of kyng Arthure * Aurelius Conan kiÌ„g of Britayne reygned thre yere * Vortiper king of Britayne reygned vii yere Malgo kiÌ„g of Britayn reygned .xxii. yere * Carreys kiÌ„g of Britayne reygned thre yere Cursyng Howe that Britons were kyn glesse xx yere A lamen tacion of that maker of this booke to that lordes Mat â–ª xii The couÌ„cel of the maker to duke Richard of Yorke Homage of the Scottes A murder of MoÌ„kes Cadwall lxi yeres reigned The subieâ—cion of the Scottes SubiecctoÌ„ of Scottes Oswold Oswy kyng of NorthuÌ„berlande Kynge Cadwal Cadwalader kyng SubiercioÌ„ of that Scottes * A greate plage Mat .xii. Roome pence Etheldred Kyng Cuthred Segbert kyng Kynulph kyng IgnorauÌ„ce in those dayes Kyng Egberte 〈◊〉 Tythes firste grauÌ„ted to the clergy in Englande Kyng Ethel bert Kyng Elfride Alurede kyng Supersticion Superset cyonsnesse with daÌ„pnable ydolatrye Homage of the Scottes RebellyoÌ„ of the Scottes Homage of the Scottes Guy of Warwicke Kyng Eâ—moÌ„d reigned â—i yere Homage of the scottes Edrede kynge of EnglaÌ„de RebellioÌ„ of the Scottes Homage of the Scottes Edwyn kynge Edgare Homage of that Scottes Thoffice of a king Edwarde marter kynge of Englande Ethilrede kyng A wonderfull token Edmonde Ironesyde reigned kiÌ„g of EnglaÌ„d thre yere * Kno wt kynge of Englande and of DeÌ„marke Homage of that Scottes Herold Kyng Hard kno wt â–ª King Edwarde that 〈…〉 coÌ„fessou Th erle Goodwyn Homage of that Scottes Ignorance and supersticyon * Herolde kynge of Englande duke Good wins soÌ„ne Duke WillyaÌ„ of Normandye Homage of the Scottes Kyng Wâ—lliam Rufus Homage of the Scottes Homage of that Scottes Homage of that Scottes Kyng Henry the first Homaeg of that Scottes * Homage of that Scottes * Homage of that Scottes Kyng Stephan Homage of the Scottes kyng HeÌ„rye the seconde Homage of that Scottes Raynold fitz Vrsy Hughe Maruile Robert Tracy Homage of that Scottes Subieccion of that Scottes Homage of that Scottes Kyng Rycharde the fyrst called Cure de L◠〈…〉 Homage o the Scottes IhoÌ„kyng of Englande The piteous lameÌ„ table storye of king IhoÌ„ who by the Roomyshe byshop and his adhereÌ„tes was most sham fully vylanously abused as by this hystory doeth appeare Kyng Henry that thirde Homage of the Scottes Battaile of Lewes The battaill of Euesh 〈…〉 Kyng Edwarde the fyrst after that conquest The homage of that kynge of Scotlande to kyng Edwarde A restraint of laÌ„des to be geuen to the clergye Howe a chronicle was feygned to make Edmond the elder brother This was to Henry the fyfth Homage of the Scottes Submyssion of the Scottish kyng al his lords vnto kiÌ„g Edward the first Howe the Scottyshe kynge all the lordes of ScotlaÌ„d made homage vnto dyng Edwarde The deathe of Edward the first Kyng Edward the second The battaille of BaÌ„nokesburne Gilbert MideltoÌ„ robbed that cardinalles Edward the thyrde Homage of that Scottes Kyng Iohn of FrauÌ„ce A battaill in Spain Kyng Richard the seconde Insurrec * The batail of Rotâ—ote bridge * The batayl of Otturborne Blancke chartres Kyng Richard his voiage in to IrelaÌ„o Kyng Henry that fourth The kynges voiage into Scotlande The kynges voyages into Wales Robyn meÌ„dmarket The conceyte of the maker Lorde Coâ—ham King HeÌ„ry that sixte The duke of Gloucester protectour of EnglaÌ„d The duke of BedfordregeÌ„t of frauÌ„ce The coÌ„ceâ—â— of that maker touchynge kiÌ„g Iames. Kyng Richardes wife sent home again into â—raunce The casteâ— of Dunbretayne The tyme to beginne warre in Scotlande FroÌ„ Barwyke to DoÌ„barre .xx. Haddingtosie xii EdeÌ„burgh xii Lythko xii Sterlyng .xii. FroÌ„ EdeÌ„burgh to Leith i to Blaknesse .ix. to Sterling xiiii FroÌ„ Sterlyng to the doune of of Monteth .iiii. FroÌ„ Sterlynge to FalklaÌ„d .xxx. The first yere Howe HeÌ„ry that duke of Somersette lefte kyng HeÌ„ry the .vi. and fled to kyng Edward and after repented fled againe to HeÌ„ry the .vi. The discomfitur of Henry the sixt The duke of Somerset taken beheded The takynge of HeÌ„ry the xyxte â–ª The coynynge of royalles nobles The sixt yere The .ix. yere King 〈◊〉 â—y 〈◊〉 vii The prophecye of Henrye the vi of kyng Henry the vii The .xix. yere * Tâ—e descripcion of Edward the fourth The descripcioÌ„ of Richarde the thyrde The exhortacyoÌ„ 〈◊〉 kynge Edward 〈…〉 〈…〉 〈…〉 〈…〉 〈…〉 The descâ—ipcioÌ„ of Edward 〈◊〉 fourth 〈◊〉 〈…〉 ion 〈…〉 hâ—â—â—s wife The oration of that duke of BuckynghaÌ„ â–ª made â—o the cy 〈…〉 of London Howe and after what maner the two soÌ„nes of king Edward were destroyed The murtherynge of kynge Edward his chyldren The garde fyrste ordeined by kiÌ„ge Henry the vii The sweating sickenesse The coÌ„mocion made by the lord Louell and the lorde Stafforde Themurde ryng of the erle of NorthuÌ„berland 〈…〉 The kyng of Scottes slain of his subiectes 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Perkyn warbeck * The blacke Smyth The .xii. pere of HeÌ„ry the .vii. 〈…〉 〈◊〉 〈…〉 〈…〉 all 〈…〉 done The noble wise saiyng of HeÌ„ry the seuenth The .iii. yere The .iiii. yere The .v. yere The .vi. yere 〈…〉 〈…〉 The .lx. yere The .x. yere The .xi. yere The .xii. yere The .xiii. yere The .xiiii. yere The .xv. yere 〈…〉 〈…〉 viii The .xix. yere The .xx. yere The .xxi. yere The. xxii yere The .xxiii. yere The. xxv yere The. xxvi yere The. xxvii yere 〈◊〉 xviii 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 xxix yere The. xxx yere
I was aboute to saye taken aswell as before God I mente it coulde deserue but thanke and yet taken as I wene it would myghte happen to turne me to lytle good and you to lesse Then longed the duke muche more to were what it was wherupon the byshop saied In good faith my lord as for the late protectoure â—ith he is now kyng in possessyon I purpose not to dispute his title but for the welthe of this realme whereof his grace hathe nowe the gouernaunce and wherof I my selfe am a poore membre I was aboute to wysh that to those good habilitees wherof he hath already righte many litle nedyng my prayse yet mighte it haue pleased God for the better store to haue geuen hym some of suche other excellent vertues mete for the rule of the realme as oure Lord hath planted in the persone of your grace there lefte of againe Of whiche woordes the duke perceauyng that the byshop bare vnto hym his good hearte and fauoure mystrusted not to entre more plaine coÌ„municacion with hym so farre that at the laste the byshoppe declared hym selfe to bee one of theim that would gladly helpe that Richard who then vsurped the croune mighte bee deposed if he had knowen howe it myghte conuenientely bee broughte to passe the suche a persone as had true title of inheritaunce vnto the same might bee restored therunto Vpon this the saied duke knowing the bishoppe to bee a manne of prudence and fidelitee opened to hym all his whole hart and entent saying my lorde I haue deuised the waye howe the bloodde both of kyng Edward and of kyng Henry the syxte that is lefte beyng coupled by maryage and affinitee maye bee restored vnto the croune being by iuste and true title due vnto theim both for kyng Richard he called not the brother of kyng Edwarde the fourth but his enemye and mortall fooe The waye that the Duke had deuysed was this that they shoulde with all spede and celerytee fynde meanes to sende for Henry earle of Rich mounte whome the rumoure wente immediatlye vpon knowledge of kynge Edwardes deathe to haue bene deliuered oute of prysone with Fraunces Duke of Brytaine the same Henry to helpe with all their power and strength so that the saied Henry woulde fyrste by his feithfull othe promise that ymmediatly vpon obteigning the croune he woulde mary and take to wyfe Elyzabeth the elder doughter of Edward the fourth The byshop of Ely ryghte well alowed bothe the deuyce and purpose of the duke and also the maner and waye howe the matter shoulde bee broughte to effecte and founde meanes that Reynold Breye seruauÌ„r with Margarete mother of the saied Henry then maried to Thomas Stanley came to the duke in to Wales and the dukes mynde throughlye perceaued and knowen with greate spede retourned to the saied Margarete aduertisyng the same of all thinges which betwene the duke and hym concerning aswell the coÌ„mon weale of the realme as also the aduauncemente of her and her bloodde had been debated Nowe it came so to passe that the duke of Buckyngham and the ladye Margaret mother to the saied Henrye had bene in communicacyon of the same matter before and that the saied lady Margarete had deuised the same meane and waye for the deposycion of kynge Rycharde and bringyng in of Henry her sonne the whiche the Duke nowe brake vnto the byshop of Ely wherupon theâ—e rested no more forasmuche as she perceaued the duke nowe willyng to prosecute and further the sayed deuice but that she should fynde the meanes that this matter myghte bee broken vnto Quene Elizabeth the wyfe of kyng Edwade the fourthe then beynge in the Sanctuarye And hereupon she caused one Lewes that was her physicyan in his owne name and as thoughe it came of hym selfe to breake this matter vnto the quene saying that yf she would consent and agree therunto a meane might bee founde howe to restore agayne the blood of kyng Edwarde and kyng Henrye the syxte vnto the croune and to bee aduenged of kynge Rycharde for the murther of kyng Edwardes chyldren and then declared that there was beyonde that see Henry Earle of Richemounte whiche was of the blood of Henry the sixte whome yf she woulde be content that he marye Elizabeth her eldest doughter there shoulde of his syde bee made righte many frendes and she for her parte myghte helpe in lyke maner wherby no doubte it shoulde come to passe that he shoulde possesse the croune by moost rightfull inheritaunce Whiche matter when she heard it it liked her excedingly well in so much as she counceled the saied phisicyan to breake the same vnto his maistresse the ladye Margaret knowe her mynde therein promisyng vpon her woorde that she would make all the frendes of kyng Edwarde to take parte with the sayed Henrye yf he woulde be sworne that when he came to the possessyon of the croune he woulde immediately take in maryage Elyzabeth her eldest doughter or elles yf she lyued not that tyme that then he would take Cicile her yongest doughter Whereupon the sayde Lewes retourned vnto the ladye Margarete hys maystresse declarynge vnto her the whole mynd and entent of the quene So that theÌ„ it was shortly agreed betwene these two wemen that wyth al spede thys matter shold be set forwarde in so much that the lady Margarete brake thys matter vnto Reynolde Bray wyllynge hym to moue and set forwarde the same with all suche as he shoulde perceaue eyther hable to doo good or wyllynge thereunto Then had the quene deuysed that one Chrystopher whome the foresayde Lewes the Physicyan had promoted into her seruyce shoulde bee sente into Brytayne to Henrye to geue hym knowledge of theyr myndes here and that he shoulde prepare and apoynt hym selfe redye and to come into Wales where he shoulde fynde ayde and helpe ynonghe readye to receaue hym But then shortly after yt came vnto her knowledge that the Duke of Buckingham had of himselfe afore entended the same matter whereupon she thoughte yt should be mete to sende some messenger of more reputacyon and credyte then was thys Chrystopher and so kepte hym at home and then sente Hughe Conewaye wyth a greate some of monye wyllynge hym to declare vnto Henrye all thynges and that he should hast hym to come and to lande in Wales as is aforesayde And after hym one Rycharde Guilforde oute of Kente sente one Thomas Ramey wyth the same message the whyche two messengers came in maner bothe at one tyme into Brytayn to the Earle Henrye and declared vnto hym all theyr commyssioÌ„s The whiche message when Henry had perceaued and throughly heard it reioysed his harte and he gaue thankes vnto God fully purposyng with al conuenyente spede to take his iourney towardes England desiryng the aide and helpe of the duke of Brytayne with promise of thanckfull recompence when God should sende hym to come to his ryghte The duke of Britayne notwithstanding that he had not longe after