shoulde bee iii. Myles out of his Realme Wherat the kyng was sore abashed and not without good cause For a kingdome deuyded in it selfe cannot be quieted without great trouble and bloodshed And the saide Cardinall bare so great a swaye that the king durst not come into Englande according to his appointment It is thought that the Cardinal feared lest the king of Englande would haue perswaded the kinge of Scottes to abolyshe the Popes aucthoritie out of Scotlande and to alter the state of Religion and therefore was not willing that this meeting shoulde be betweene the two kinges King Henry perceiuing him selfe to be thus deluded by the king of Scottes conceiued therof great discurtesie as he myght ful well Notwithstanding he went forwarde him selfe with all his trayne to yorke and made Proclamation that if any man had any matters to exhibite vnto his grace that they shoulde be heard and haue Iustice administred which accordingly hee accomplished to as many as came before him And whereas there had bene an insurrection in the same countrey a little before this tyme The king comaunded that all the Rebelles which were apprehended shoulde be placed before him on the lefte hande of his waye as he passed thorough the countrey and hauing set the countrey in good order he returned to London againe The Cardinall of sainct Androes who as is before saide caused the king of Scottes to breake promise with his vncle king Henry for doubt least that discourtesie might be reconsiled to make hys matter sure set the two kinges at open warre and caused the Scottes to make a roade into the borders who spoyled and did much harme Wherof when king Henry hearde he sent the Duke of Norffolke with an Armie into Scotlande who burned and spoyled muche of the countrey But when the Duke was departed from thence into Englande The Scottes inuaded the borders againe did theare muche harme But at the last Sir Thomas Wharton beeing warden of the marches there with Sir William Musgraue and a fewe of the borderers met with the Scottes the 14. of Nouember and ouerthrew them In which conflict the Lorde Maxwell the Earles of Glencarue and Sassiles with all the captaynes of the Scottish Armie were taken and on S. Thomas eeuen the Apostle they were brought to the Tower of London where they laye that night The next day following they were brought into the starre Chamber before the Lorde Chaunceller of England and the Counsaile being by the kinges charges rychely apparailed and vsed more like Princes then prisoners which they did full euil requite For after they were dismissed vppon agreement vnto certein articles they not only refused the performance of their promises but notwithstanding the benefites on them bestowed by the king they rebelled against him But nowe to returne againe vnto their kinge It is thought of some men that he him selfe was in the Battaile and thear receiued his deathes wounde but escaped vntaken but it was not so True it is that this conflict stroke him to the hart wherof he dyed incontinently Whereby we may bee sure that God strooke the stroake And whether it were that God who stryketh to the thirde and fourth generation of them that hate him did it for his fathers offence or for his owne I maye not nor will not iudge But no doubt his fathers vngodly periurie was heauily in his mynde since whose death the Realme of Scotlande hath bene sore plaged and haue had little good successe in any attemptes and especially against Englande The tirste that brought newes of the kinge of Stottes death vnto king Henry was the Earle of Angoes a Scott who was banished out of Scotlande and lyued here in Englande by a pencion that the king gaue vnto him This Earle came into the Courie the king then lying at hys house of Sainct Iames betweene tenne and xi of the clocke at nyght and desyred to speak with the king which being vnto him admitted he rehearsed vnto the king the whole circumstance of the king of Scottes death Whiche when he hearde he was so sorie of that newes that notwithstanding he warred against him yet he let fall teares from his eyes for sorrowe of his Nephewes death ¶ The Lamentation of king Iames Sonne vnto king Iames before mentioned WHat hard mishap haue I among the rest Whose froward fate vntimely deth hath wrought While youthfull yeres did harbour in my brest My wretched corpes to lodge in claye is brought By haples chaunce contrary to my thought But who is sooner trapte by witched wyle Then he whose harte is free frem craltie guyle Shall I exclayme on fortunes frowarde face Or on the wombe that life to mee fyrst gaue Or on my Fathers facte whose foule deface Hath caused mee this luckelesse lot to haue Would god my mothers wombe had ben my graue Or els the Ayre that yelded mee fyrst breath With sodayne dampe had rendred present death Woulde God my Fathers facte had beene vndon When he made vow a faythfull leage to holde Or els I woulde I had not beene his Sonne But rather borne to pen the Sheepe in folde My Father in this poynt was far too bolde Whereby he moude almighty GOD to spill Him selfe and me his Sonne that thought no ill What may I deeme of this my Fathers deede Whereof I grounde the chiefe cause of my playnte What stonie harte for pittie will not bleede To see how death this pageaunt doth depainte In floure of age our liues so to attainte The Father and the Sonné sucessiuelie The Realme eke plagde for one mans periurie I can not scuse his rage and hautie pride That forced mee my vnkle to offende Who courteousely my comming did abide In frendlie wise a time with ioye to spende I was constraynde my owne minde to vnbende The Prelasie then bare so great a swaye That king and keiser must their mindes obaye I was constraynde contrarye to my will Reuengement on the English Realme to take And eke of Mars his lore to learne the skill Where I lyke Phaeton my match did make My foes mee rulde my frendes I did forsake Though I was king another bare the sworde Whome I durst not offende in deede ne worde I call for vengeaunce on thy wretched lyfe Thou Prelate proude that hast procurde my fall Thou were the cause and aucthor of the strife I was thy Prince and yet I was thy thrall Take heede therefore by mee ye Princes all Where enuious subiects beares so great aswaye The Princes state is like for to decaye Such men they are as fyrst do stier vp stryfe But they them selues of sauegarde will be sure Their deedes are scant their words are very ryfe They rayse the broyle the brunte they not endure Yet bloody warre they dayly do procure And prease foorth Princes to auenge their yre Whyle they them selues with gredy minds aspire Lo by this meanes my fatall shrouding sheete Is now my weede no other robe haue I The graue is
eke my Courte a Pallas meete Wherein my wretched corps for aye must lye Wo worth those subiectes that aspire so highe To rule the Prince whome they ought to obay Such subiectes rule hath purchast my decaye ¶ Now that I haue passed thorow these tragicall histories of the. ii kinges of Scottes I will returne to the declaration of the ioyfull meeting of the kinges of Englande and Fraunce betweene Callis and Bullaine whiche was in the yeare of our Lorde 1532. And althoughe there was a solemne meetyng betweene the Kynges of these sayde Realmes and also betweene the Emperoure and Kyng Henrie in the yeare of oure Lorde 1520. Yet because my Anothor was not there to note anye thing more then is already mentioned by Halle in his Cronicle and was present at this that foloweth I haue vsed his enstruction herein referring thee to the aforesayd Cronicle to reade of the other whereas it is very well described ¶ Howe King Henry and the King of Fraunce met together betweene Calice and boloigne by a place called Morguison 1532. My glauncing Pen nowe glyded ys From Mars his bluddie broyle And eke my muse desyres to rest a whyle in frindships soyle As way warde warre bereues the breath of many worthie wyghtes So frindly peace preserues the lyues of noble valyant knyghtes And Tully doth preferre that peace which grounded is on yll Before the warre whose quarell ryght The blood of man doth spill In faithfull league of frindships force where Princes knitt the knot Unto those realmes whyle it doth last is sure a happie lott The Princes sleepe is not vnsounde For doubt of forraine foes The Souldiérs werye wounded limmes to rest do then repose The Marchant sendes hys hoysed sayles the surging Seas to sheare Which scowreth through the wandring waues deuoyde of doubtfull feare The publyke state of common wealth then lyues in quyet rest So that recourse from sundrie soyles 〈◊〉 worke all for the best 〈◊〉 â—â—â—ey helpeth other then and what one lande doth want Another doth supply the same no needefull thinges are scant And the through concorde sclender thinges to 〈◊〉 great encrease 〈◊〉 dâ—corde both consume as fast men set vs praye for peace Which causeth worldly wealth to ryse 〈◊〉 â—â—â—â—dly 〈◊〉 to flowe As â—horher hath contrarye force and makes wealth ebbe as lowe Nowe 〈◊〉 that long tyme had sought to kniâ—â—â— within her bande The king of Fraunce vnto the noble King of this oure lande Foâ—nde oâ—â— a tyme conuenient and eke indifferent place Whereas these noble Princes bothe together myght embrace To treate of faithfull frindships lore with one consent they meere Where they with ioye and tryumphes greate eche other then do greete The thing that bothe Realmes long desyrde at that tyme myght you viewe The order of which ioyfull sight hereafter doth ensue ¶ The declaration of the meeting of these two noble kinges at the place aboue mencioned ALthough there was bluddie warre and mortall hatred betweene the realmes of Englande and Fraunce in the fifth yere of this kings raigne in whiche yere the king of Englande wan from the Frenche men the towne of Turwin and the great citie of Turnay as is before declared yet for the concluding of a perfect peace betweene bothe the Realmes the same yere a Mariage was made betweene the king of Fraunce and the Ladye Marye sister vnto the king of England but shortly after the saide king of Fraunce dyed and the Duke of Suffolke maryed the Queene his wyfe A peace also was concluded betweene the young king of Fraunce and the king of Englande And within a whyle the Citie of Turnay was rendred vnto the Frenche king For the whiche he shoulde paye to the king of Englande a notable summe of Money But this amitie did not long continue for the Frenche king refused to paye his tribute to the king of England and also detayned the Queenes dowrie And moreouer caused all Englishemens goodes to bee arrested at Burdeaux whereupon the Frenchemens goods were arrested at London and they cast in Prison But in fine in the xix yere of the king his raigne a generall peace was proclaymed betwene the kinges of Englande and Fraunce during bothe their lyues And defyaunce sent vnto the Emperour from bothe the kyngs and a great power sent into Italy againste the Emperour who then warred with the Pope and constayned him to take a Castell wherein he remained as prisoner vntill the Armyes that the kinges of Englande and Fraunce had expelled the Emperours power out of that parte of Italye The circumstance whereof ys very largely declared by Sleydon This peace taken betweene the kinges of Englande and Fraunce continued a good whyle vnuiolate In whiche meane-tyme the Ambassadour Ledger of Fraunce that then laye in London grewe in suche fauour with kynge Henry that he was often tymes admitted to sit in presence with the king This Ambassadour made humblesuite vnto the kinges grace that hee woulde vouchesaue to meete with the kynge of Fraunce his Master in some conuenient place to salute eche other declaring that it woulde bee an occasion to knitt them togeather in the insoluble knott of perfect frindship and amitie Whereunto the king of Englande willingly condiscended and agreed And the rather because the Frenche king appointed to haue met with the Pope at Marsiles by meanes wherof king Henry hoped that the Frenche king might perswade the Pope to some conformitie in the controuersie of his deuorce from the Ladye Katherin wherefore he requested the sayde Ambassadour so to informe the kynge of Fraunce his Master which he nothing slacked to do And in conclusion a tyme was appointed when these twoo noble kinges shoulde meete by a place called Morguison whiche is betweene two greate hilles and the midway betwixt Callice Boloigne According to the apointment the king of Englande set forwarde and came to Callice The Frenche king lykewise lay at Bolloigne and on the appointed day they bothe met by the sayde place called Morguison with a noble trayne of Dukes Earles Lordes Knightes Gentlemen on both sydes And while these noble Princes embraced eache other a Bishop of Fraunce threwe off a cast of great Hawkes called Sakers which Hawkes being cast off killed a Kyte ouer the kinges heades to the great pleasure of bothe the kinges Then passed they forwarde with Princely pastymes vnto the towne of Boloigne where was greate preparation and noble tryumphes to entertaine and welcome the King of Englande When king Henry had passed certaine dayes at Boloigne with moste royall solace and pleasure he Inuited the King of Fraunce to the lyke at his graces towne of Callice who in lyke maner came vnto Callice with king Henry where as his former entertainment vnto the king of Englande his trayne was noblye acquyted And whyle these two royall Kinges were thus at Callice the king of Heraldes came vnto king Henries grace declaring vnto him that according to the auncient custome and also being parcell of hys othe he
his graces behoote so that he woulde graunt pardon of lyfe vnto all the people of the town and licence to depart with bagg and boggage Whiche the king mercifully graunted on this condicion that none of them should departe with any Gonne charged And the Bulleiners departed the town with as much of theyr goodes as they could cary with them After which departure king Henrie with hys nobilitie entred the towne with Banners displayed lyke a conquerour And after hee had taried there by the space of fyue dayes or there about he returned againe into Englande leauing behinde him to defende the towne the Duke of Suffolke that most valiant Capitayne But when the kings maiestie was vppon departure newes was brought vnto him that the Dolphin of Fraunce was determined to come downe and repell him from thence and hys power whereunto the king aunswered that hee shoulde be verie welcome For quoth he the Dolphin is my God sonne and if he come he shall haue my blessing But he made no haste to come as he vaunted Wherefore the Duke of Suffolk and the Earle of Essex perswaded the king to returne home to Englande againe for that he had wonne as much honour theare as was to be had at that tyme Wherupon the king committed the defence of the towne to the Duke of Suffolke and the Earle of Essex ioyntly But before his departure he being doubtfull whether the Duke of Norfolke had any neede of help at Muttrell called vnto him syr Anthony Browne appointed him to go thither to the ayde of the Duke of Norfolke with all his power But Sir Anthony Browne answered that he had dismissed many of his souldiers by reason of sicknesse the rest were either wounded or wearied with trauaile and many of their Horses tyred Then the king demaunded of the Earle of Essex In what estate his bande was who had vnder his charge 1500 horsemen he aunswered the kyng that of his whole power he wanted not 60. And that hee was ready to fulfill his graces pleasure Wherupon the king thought to haue sent him to Muttrell but in the end that king hauing a speciall regarde for the keeping of Bullaine leatte the Earle with the Duke to defende the towne and sent Sir Ihon Gage to Muttrell to the ayde of the Duke of Norfolk And then the king returned into England againe with great triumph After whose departure out of Fraunce y frenchmen began to be verye busie against the englishmē But when they could preuaile nothing at all they began to entreat for peace always hoping to haue Bullayne againe by some meanes or other But king Henry was so affected to that towne that neyther strengthe of warre nor force of money could win it from hym And he would oft times saye that no true subiect of his woulde perswade him to yelde it vp Which towne he helde in despight of the Frenchmen during his life ¶ And thus I ende this discourse of the wynning of Bullayne Omitting to treate of the large circumstaunce heereof least I might seeme to rob Grafton or Halle of their laboures concluding this commemoration of king Henry with his conquest of Bullaine After which triumphant victorie no special warre happened vnto him till death the conquerour of all mortall men subdued his body whose soule liueth with God in his Heauenlye kingdome KIng Henry in his life time would often tymes saye that if it woulde please God to endue hym with life vntill he might see three thinges brought to passe hee woulde not desire to liue anye longer The fyrst was to confirme true religion in this Realme The seconde to establish the Crowne The thyrde to see hys Sonne a man Also hee would say that if he knewe any one to bee a man of GOD and meete to gouerne a common welthe he would rather yelde his Crowne vnto him then weare it himself so that hee myghte doe it to the pleasure of God the weale publyke of his people ¶ An Epitaph of the deathe of the moste valyant and renowmed Prince King Henry the eyghth AWake ye worthies nyne that long in graues haue rest Powre out your plaints with wayling teares Let langor be your geast Do off your shrowding sheetes that clads you in the claye and decke your selues with black attyre your mourning to displaye Bedewe with saltie teares your manly faces stowte Laye downe those weapons that were wont to quell the raging rowte For nowe that pierlesse Prince that neuer yet tooke foyle The eyghth king Henry hath resynde his bodye to the soyle Recorde your dolefull tunes ye noble Peeres eche one Let gryping greefes gnawe on your breastes to shewe your pensiue moane With bryndie blubbered teares ye commons all lament Sende forth your sobbes from boyling breast let trynkling teares be spent For our Achilles nowe hath left vs in the fielde That wonted was with valiant force from foes our lyues to shylde And this hath death deuysde to wrecke his wrathfull spyght Wherefore O Mors wee curses yelde on thee both daye and nyght Oh noble Brutus lande howe much was death thy foe when he with cruell darte constraynde this Gemme from thee to goe But though the cursed dame that cuttes the fatall lyne So muche enuyed thy happie state in making him declyne Yet God through mercy great in spyght of death his darte Hath left a Blossome of his braunche to ease thy pensiue smarte For whome now let vs praye that shee the race may runne of Nestors yeres with like successe as yet her grace hath done And that his royall Impe Elizabeth by name May weare the Crowne and wielde the sworde with ioye and endlesse fame Whose lyfe doth render lyght vnto her fathers fame whose noble harte doth plainly shewe the stocke from whence shee came Though death hath done his woorst with drift of dyrefull darte By stryking of that valyant king and piercing of his harte Yet hath he not the powre his fame to ouercast which shall remaine in mouth of man whyle Pen and ynke doth last And eke the shyning Sunne shall cease his running race before king Henries worthie fame shall suffer one deface And as his soule is lodgde with Ioue in starrie Skye Euen so remembraunce of his name on earth shall neuer dye ¶ A Preamble to this parte of the Booke following LYke as the auncient Greekes haue painted out at large Their noble ladyes worthie lyues and therof taken charge And as the Romaine dames had writers of their actes Euen so the trowpe of Englysh trayne haue some to tell their factes Whose bryght and shyning fame deserues to haue a place Coequall with the best that hath runne on in vertues race Then let not Englande blushe to blase their ladies lyues Which no whit is inferiour vnto the Romayne wyues Let them vaunt if they list of Lucrece chastitie I prayse the greekes Penelope for her fidelitie A nomber myght be namde that wryters pennes haue praysde Who for their lyues and noble actes an
Which for thy wealth the Heauenly heste This order doth deuyse And I of Ioue the messenger this newes now bring to thee With bande of Peace as faithfull pledge If thou thereto agree What losse and languor thou hast had Thy selfe caust witnesse best And Mischiefe hath not sparde to spurne To purchase thy vnrest Wherefore the God that guydes all thinges doth charge thee that with speede Thou ioyne in knott of Mariage as thus he hath decreede There is a lande in Westerne soyle That Britaine hath to name Which coast doth now retayne the wyght that must thy quyet frame A proper youth of pregnant witt To whome with speede repayre Of Lancaster that noble house He is the ryghtfull heire His Princely porte doth well deserue To wear thy Regall Crowne By due discent to wield the Sworde with fame and bryght renowne This worthie wight shall turne the warre That long thy wealth hath wast This Earle Henry shall redresse Thy wayling woe forepast Now see the sequell of this hest That God appointed hath Marke well the meane against Syr Mars To pacifie his wrath A noble spouse within thy lande Of ryght must now be found To linke in sacred wedlockes state And Queene for to be crownde Beholde a Uirgin bryght of hue with vertues force bedect Of personage surpassing all that Nature hath elect Dianaes peere for chastitie A seconde Susan shee Her godly nature well deserues A Goddesse for to bee The daughter of a Royall king That rewlde thy lande of late The heyre of Yorke that long hath beene with Lancaster at bate Elizabeth this Lady hight The late king Edwardes chylde Shee shall bring forth a peerlesse Prince thy people for to shylde Now sith these houses twaine hath causde Such ruyne for to raygne Which bluddie broyle hath forced thee to feele the smarte and paine With speede repaire to Britaine lande This Henry home to call And place him in thy regall seate Be ye his Subiectes all As for his Foes take ye no feare For God his frende doth stande He is annoynted of the Lorde to rule thy famous lande Which being done let sacred state of Wedlocke ioyne these twayne Then be thou sure in perfect peace hereafter to remayne When Concorde had these wordes rehearst and all her message tolde To see the ioye that men did make was wonder to beholde With clapping handes and cheerefull shoutes They shewde foorth great delyght And thought eche day to bee a yere till he shoulde come in syght And when that Fame had blowne her blast that hee had taken lande Determining to chace the Bore with force of myghtie hande Eche man him selfe do then addresse This royall Prince to place With courage stoute and loyall hartes They serue his noble grace Of the Battaile fought at Bosworth betweene King Henry the vii Richard that then vsurped the Crowne AFter long coÌ„tinuance of blody warre through ciuill contention betweene the two â—â—ble houses of Lancaster Yorke for the imperiall Diademe of this Realme to the great effusion of English blood as well of the nobilitie as also of the Comons It pleased Almightie God to put into the mindes of the nobilitie of this Realme a meane how to preuent this eminent subuersion by ioyning in knot of Mariage the heires apparant of these two noble houses as is aforesaide to the perfect securitie of this noble Nation And here is to be noted that when kyng Edward the fourth dyed who was lineally discended from the house of Yorke whose variable chaunces of Fortune I ouer passe He lefte behynde him two sonnes and fyue daughters The elder of his sonnes was named Edwarde who was afterwardes proclaymed Kyng being of the age of xi yeres His yonger brother had to name Richarde who was Duke of yorke Now by reason of the nouage of the yong king Richard Duke of Gloucester being vncle vnto the yong kyng intruded him selfe to the Protectorship of the kyng and the Realme and also wrested into his tuition the kinges brother taking him from the Queene his Mother who then laye in the Sanctuarie at Westminster for doubt of the cruell tyrannie of the Protector whose Ambitious mynde shee knewe to bee insatiable of honor and dignities wholly bent to cruell tyrannie which shortly after he put in practyse For when he had got into his clawze these two yong Princes Like a cruell Tyger and rauenyng Wolfe moste vnnaturally he caused them to be pittifully murthered within the Tower of London And caused one Doctor Sha who better deserued to be called doctor Shame to preach at Paules Crosse perswading the people that king Edwarde the fowerth late deceased was not ryghtfull king Affirming that he was a Bastarde And that the Duke of Cloucester being lawfully begotten ought to haue beene king when his brother was and therefore myght nowe iustlye challenge the Crowne Was not this a graceles sonne that caused his owne naturall and vertuous mother to be proclaimed at Powles Crosse a Harlot This and his vnnaturall homicide sownded moste abhominably in the eares of all honest men Notwithstandinge by this beastly and detestable policie wherunto he also added the death of the Lorde Hastinges and other noble men whome he supposed woulde by all meanes possible haue hindered his vngodlye proceedinges he hitt the marke whereat he shot which was the Crowne of Englande and in fine was crowned king by the name of king Rycharde the thirde But ere he had raigned little more then two yeres it pleased God to stir vp the nobilitie of this Realme to the ayde of Henrye Earle of Richemond to set him in his ryghtfull inheritaunce of the Imperiall Diadem of this Realme The large discourse wherof is exquisitely written by Sir Thomas More as appeareth in the Cronicle written by Edwarde Hall. In conclusion this noble Earle of Richemonde after manye doubtfull casualties harde euents arryued at Milforde Hauen in Wales wyth an armye of Britons and by the ayde of the Welshmen his power encreased And manye of the nobilitie of Englande with greate strength came to hys ayde vntill he came to a place in Leycester shiere called Bosworth where he met with kynge Richarde his armye and betweene them was fought a sharpe battaile in which conflict the king himselfe was slayne and his bodie caryed to Leycester on horsebacke as a Butcher caryeth a Calfe to the Market After whiche victorie won by this noble Earle he was proclaymed kyng of England by the name of king Henry the seuenth consequently he maried the lady Elizabeth daughter vnto king Enward the iiii they bothe crowned king and Queene of Englande to the greate ioy of the whole realme And thus were the noble houses of Lancaster Yorke vnited in one whiche was the finishing of long warre ¶ The Byrthe of the puisant Prince King Henry the eyght which was in the yere of our Lorde God. 1490. the xxii of Iune WHen Lady Concorde quencht the broyle
hearde of The maner whereof ensueth The Lorde Graye being at Barwike the kings liefetenaunt theare After the ouerthrowe of the Scottes at Muscleborow fielde made a roade into Scotlande in the Lent in the seconde yere of the kinges Raigne to take a viewe of the towne of Hadington and returned to Barwike agayne without any assault geeuen The Sommer following he came with his armye and entred the towne without anye resistaunce and then made preparation for the fortifying therof In whyche meane space he laide siege vnto a Castell that was three myles from the towne named Ester Castell which Forte was furnished with Scottes and Spanyardes who stoode at their defence refusing to submitt them selues vntill the Lord Graye had with the great Cannons made a breach and was readie to enter the saide Castell Then they yelded and desyred Pardon for their lyues onely which the lorde Gray graunted vnto them all excepting one who during the siege had reuyled the King in woordes and abused his graces name with moste opproprious termes Then they all came forth of the castell in their thurtes onely submitting them selues to the mercye of the Lorde Gray And vpon strayt examination who should be the tayler that was excepted out of this Pardon it was knowne to be one Newton a Scott But he to saue him selfe put it to one Hamelton Thus these two Gentlemen accused one the other For the decysing wherof a Cumbat was appointed betweene them and by the Lorde Gray ad iudped so to bee The tyme came for this Cumbat to be accomplyshed and the listes made in the Market place of Hadington And these saide gentlemen entred in their dubblets and hose weaponed with sword buckler and dagger At the firste entrie into the listes this Hammelton kneeled on his knees and made his hartie prayer vnto Almyghtie God to geeue the victorie vnto the truthe with solempne protestation that he neuer vttered any such words of King Edward of Englande as his aduersarie Newton accused him of And on the other syde Newtons conscience being troubled with his false accusation argued vnto all the beholders his guilt For there oppeared in him great timerousues The beholders prayde God for Hammelton for the Souldiers knewe right well that it was newton for his voyce bewrayde him Nowe were the Sticklers in a readinesse and the Combatours drewe their weapons and betweene them was fought vi or vii blowes verye lustely But Hammelton being meruaylous fierce and eager vpon the truth of his quarell constrayned Newton to geeue grounde almost to the ende of the listes And if he had driuen him to the verye ende then by the lawe of Armes he had wonne the conquest and his enemy shoulde haue bene hanged if he had not slayne him Newton perceiuing him selfe to be almoste at the poynt of hanging stept forwards againe and gaue Hammelton such a gashe on the legg that he was not able to stande but fell downe and then Newton fell on him and slewe him with his dagger Thus the Cumbat was ended but the English men that knewe Newton to be the rayler and the false accuser although by more happ then hardinesse he had the vpper hande were very desyrous to renewe Combat againe with him For there were many Gentlemen theare that woulde willingly haue ventered their lyues on him man for man but he challenged the priuilege of the lawe of Armes which was vnto him graunted And the Lorde Gray gaue him his owne gowne of his backe and the Chayne that he theu ware Thus was he well rewarded that better deserued to haue bene hanged But he escaped not so For afterwardes as he was ryding betweene the Borders of Englande and Scotlande he was slayne and cutt in pieces Nowe I will speake of the seege that the Frenche Armye and the power of Scotlande layde vnto the towne of Hadington against the Englishe men When the foresaide Castell was wonne and the Cumbat finished the Lorde Graye departed towardes Barwike leauing behynde him Syr Iames Wilford as generall of the garryson and 2000 chosen Souldiers vnder him to defend the towne whiche was not halfe fortifyed before it was besieged of the Frenchemen and Scottes For our menne had not bene viii weekes in it before Mounsier Dassey the Frenche kinges lieâ—etenant and the Ringraue of Fraunce came to the siege with twentie thowsande Frenchemen Almames and Scottes beeing all of them lustye gallant Souldiers And at their firste comminge there was a hoat skirmishe betweene them and the Englishe men And because the Gates of the towne were not of anye strength for defence our men were constraynde to ramme vp the Gates with earthe and so mayntaine the defence of the towne vppon the Walles There were many assaultes geeuen to the losse of bothe parties And in the ende our enemies did so beat the towne with shott that they lefte not one whole house for our men to put their heads in Whereby they were constrained to lye vnder the walles for other lodging was there none They looked for helpe to haue come out of Englande but none came So that they were in miserable case for lacke of succour For they were dryuen to so narrow pushe that they rent their shurts for lacke of Matche for other shifte had they none And also their Enemies had taken awaye their Flankers whiche was their whole defence of the walles to expelle them from approching neare whereby to scale So that by this meanes the Frenchemen came close vnder the walles of the towne and were their ouerthwart neyghbours so neare That the Englyshmen on the one syde and the Frenchemen on the other laye close togeather that there was no more distaunce of grounde betweene them then the thicknesse of the walle Also one of the Bulwarkes was beaten downe so flatte that a man myght ryde in and out at the breache but the Frenchemen durste not venter in therat It greeued the Englishe men not a little to see their euill neyghbours so neare their noses whereupon a blunte cuntrey man that was one of our Souldiers and by his occupation a maker of Flayles inuented to beate them from the walles with slayles and tyed a heauye plummet of lead at the ende of a rope fastening the other ende of the rope vnto a good truncheon to holde in hys hande and with suche flayles they slewe and maimed a greate many of them This Mounsier Dassey captaine generall of the Frenche Armie was complayned on to the kynge his Maister for his too muche rashenesse whereby hee lost manye of his best Souldiers so that hee was sent for home in great displeasure and in his place was sent Mounsier de Termes who remoued the siege and came not neare the towne by three myles But he punished our men worse then the siege for he layde all the straytes and passages with watche whereby no victuales coulde bee brought vnto the towne All this whyle beeing about xi weekes came none out of Englande to the
the place Decreed that one among the rest should beare the cheefest mace Commaunding euery lady theare to answere to theyr name As they in order should be calde by voyce of noble Fame When this decree proclaymed was and all thinges whus ht and still My greedy eyes to view this sighte coulde neuer gase their fill Then Fame calde for Vlisses wife whereto one sayde strayght waye That dyrefull death with cruell launce had lodgde her corse in claye Then heard I good Cornelia namde and many other calde Some aunswerde here and some by fate in earthy clod were stalde At last by lot the Cryer sayd where is that noble Dame That was the eight king Henries wife and had K. P. to name Wherto a noble English Queene that then was in the place Made aunswere that her mortall lyfe had run the fatall race Then vertue sent foorth saltie teares and bad the Cryer pawse And sayd shee lost the worthiest wight that euer kept her lawes Dame Pacience with wringing handes her dollor did declare And prudent pallas for her parte no paynefull plaints did spare The Muses mooude with mestiue moode resounded dolefull voyce The Graces all with rented heares in langor did reioyce In fyne the whole assembly there in sodayne sorowes were For ech one thought this noble Queene dame Vertues Mace shoulde beare At last stoode vp Virginitie attyred all in whyte Whose countenaunce lyke Phebus beames did yelde a heauenly lyght Unto the iudge dame Vertue shee her minde began to showe with Angels voice and Heauenly grace eche worde shee did bestow O noble Dames leaue off qd shee your dumpyshe dolors staye And licence mee O rightfull iudge somwhat herein to saye With that it was a ioye to see How sorowes were resynde And Vertue bad Virginitie proceede to say her minde Eche one attentiue eare gan bende to heare this noble voice Whose prudent wordes and graue deuyse made all the rest reioyce This was the tale the Goddesse tolde O worthie wightes drawe neere And see the only cause that wee are nowe assembled heere Ye are the troupe and noble trayne that vertue hath embraede Whose endlesse fame for vertues sake shall neuer be defacde Here haue you hearde that auncient dames by fatall stroke are flayne And yet theire names in booke of Fame for euer shall remayne Among the rest Queene Katherin Par so was her Parents name Hath yelde her soule vnto the heauens yet left on earth her fame Unto whose lot it shoulde haue lyght dame Vertues Mace to guyde But cruell Atrops all too soone her noble race enuyde Yet one among this worthie crewe must take the charge in hande whose due desertes for vertuous praise in chiefest place must stande Here is a royall Queene in place whose lyfe I knowe right well within whose brest euen from a babe vnto this day I dwell Whome you O Lady Vertue fyrst committed to my charge When nature made her perfect moulde her skill to shewe at large And whyle vpon this Princely babe in Cradle I attende You Lady Pallas came in haste your heauenly giftes to spende And Caliop with all her Nimphes made haste from Pernas hill For to adorne this peereles peace with perfect learned skill You lady Graces know right well and beare it yet in mynde What haste you made vnto this babe ye fearde to bee behynde In fyne her grace was theare adornde with all your giftes so well That outwarde shape and inwarde giftes Panthora did excell Her father was a royall king graund Captain of the trayne Of all the worthie warlike wights that fame did euer gayne Her noble Mother bare the bell for vertue in her dayes Whose worthie fame with toung and Penn hath reapte immortal prayse And shee a virgin lo doth were the Fathers regall crowne And prudently doth wyeld the sworde with lardge and bright renowne She hath repressed errors blinde and causde Gods worde to shyne Whose noble lyfe from vertues lore did neuer yet declyne Shee best deserues to haue the Mace that vertue meanes bestowe Elizabeth of England Queene you all her grace do knowe And let Queene Katherin Par enioye Fame for her vertuous race And vnto Queene Elizabeth dame vertue yeld thy Mace. No sooner had virginitie this sentence vttred tho But all the reste with one consent sayde Lady be it so Then Vertue prayide the noble Mayde that thus this tale declarde Commaunding scilence to be synde that iudgement myght be harde Then saide the Iudge this is the doome and sentence in this case Queene Katherin Par in booke of Fame shall haue a speciall place And noble Queene Elizabeth as cheefest of my trayne Shall take this Scepter at my hande as meetest for to raygne Hereat this noble heauenly crewe brake vp with greate delyte And I yet holde my Pen in hande Queene Katherins lyfe to wryte ¶ It will happely seeme somewhat straunge vnto thee Gentle Reader that I haue so sclenderly past ouer the treatise of these noble ladies before mencioned whose lyues and noble vertues I can at large descrybe And peraduenture I may bee deemed parciall for mentioning of these and omitting the names of king Henryes other wyues I confesse I haue in my handes a Treatise of all their lyues so farre foorth as tendeth to the commendations of their noble and princely vertues worthie the immitation of all Ladies and gentleweomen But it fareth with mee as with the soare Hauke that keepeth her selfe aloofe from the Faukners fist vntill acquaintaunce hath breed a further familiaritie So if I maye perceiue this beginning to haue thy frindly fauour Thou shalt win mee to thy lure and encourage mee to mount as hygh as I may not bolting aboue my reache lyke rashe Icarus whereby to come tumblinge downe and be drencht in the flood of follye And thus I ende desyring at thy hands nought else but thy good worde in lewe of this my labour Finis ¶ THE HISTORY OF the winning of Hadington in Scotlande An. 2. Reg. Edwardi 6. WHen I had ended this treatise of the moste famous king Henry the eyght and readie to put the same in prynte I chaunced into the company of certaine Capitaines that had serued in king Henries warres in king Edwardes and euersince as often as they haue bene called thereunto And after talke ministred They seemed greatly to lament that so noble a piece of seruyce as was done at Hadington shoulde so sleyghtlye passe thorough the handes of Cronographers Whereupon I being by them earnestly requested haue taken on mee to discourse therof by the instruccions of these sayde Gentlemen who were theare present during all this worthie seruice which well deserueth the name of noble and worthie In so muche that the Frenchemen that then were there to the ayde of the Scottes saye vnto this daye that there are fewe good Soldiers in Englande except those that were at this siege of Hadington preferring the seruice that was then thear before any other that euer they knewe or