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
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
fame He was also endewed by God with inuincible Fortitude alwayes preuaylyng with glorious victorie And lyke as when moises helde vp his Rodde the Israelites had the better hande and while he helde downe the same their enemies had hope of victorie So likewyse on whose syde so euer king Henry helde vp his Sworde that parte had alwaye prosperous successe As the warres betweene the Emperor Charles the fifth and Frauncis the French kyng may sufficiently shewe More ouer the lyke blessing of God happened vnto him as seeldome or rather I thinke neuer chaunced vnto any kyng For where as hee hauing three chyldren and no mo at his departure out of this worlde they haue all three succeeded the father Not as priuate persons but successiuely in the regall seate Gouerning his landes and territories Also his noble magnanimitie was such that he being Lorde of Ireland was by the Erles Lordes Piers of the same Realme desyred to take vpon him the name of their king And they of their owne accordes in the name of the whole Realm of Ireland did vnto him Homage and Fealtie Besides all this when Maximilian the Emperor was dead the Princes Electors of the Empire of Rome with generall consent committed their full aucthoritie of Eleccion for the space of foure daies vnto kyng Henry eyther to take the Empire him selfe or els to nominate whom he would who thankfully accepted their good willes rendring vnto them againe their aucthoritie and refusing to be Emperor him selfe Thus we may saye and that trewely that he wan a kingdome without battaile or bludshed And he was of power not onely to be an Emperor but also to make an Emperor And thus I may boldly asseuer that he was blest of God aboue all kynges and Princes that euer I haue read of And happy was that Prince that might stande moste in his fauour For the which dyuers made great suite specially when they stoode in neede of ayd against their enemies because they perceiued that Fortune followed his power as handmayd to all his proceedings A rare example no doubt it is me seemeth most strange that one king should raigne 38. yeres and that almost in continuall warres and neuer take foyle but alwaies preuailed as a victor inuicted which without the assistaunce of almyghtie God he could neuer haue atchyued An euident token that God was on his syde and therefore who coulde stande agaynst him But to write at large of his worthinesse and incomparable actes would fill a bigg volume and were too great a charge for my vnskilfull penne Finally he was a Prince of singuler Prudence of passing stoute courage of inuincible Fortitude of dexteritie wonderfull He was a springing well of Eloquence a rare spectacle of Humanitie Of ciuilitie or good nurture an absolute president A speciall paterne of Clemencie and moderation a worthie example of Regall iustice A bottomlesse spring of larges and benignitie He was in all the honest Artes and Faculties profoundlye seene In all liberall disciplines equall with the best In no kynde of literature vnexperte Hee was to the worlde an ornament To Englande a treasure To his frendes a comforte To hys foes a terror To his saythfull and louing Subiectes a tender Father To Innocents a sure Protectour To wilfull malefactours a sharpe scourge To his Common weale and good people a quyet Hauen and Aucor of safegarde To the disturbers of the same a Rocke of Extermination In haynous and intollerable crymes against the comon welth a seuear Iudge In the lyke offences committed against him selfe a redye porte and refuge of mercye except to such as would persist incorrigiblye A man he was in all gifts of nature of Fortune and of grace pierles And to conclude a man aboue all prayses Suche a kyng did God set to raigne ouer England whereof this Realme may well vaunt aboue other nations whose worthines is more treated of by forreyn wryters then by any of our owne countrey men Which may iustly redownd to the reproche of all our English Poets and Historiographers ¶ A Discourse of the vnyting the two noble howses of Lancaster Yorke from which vnyted howse king Henry was the first king that proceeded WHen mightie Ioue from heauenly throne Behelde the blody broyle That Mars had made through ciuill sworde within this countrey soyle And pitying the ruthfull rage that on this Realme did rayne Most louingly did bend his eares to heare our moane and plaine The earth that earst was brewd with blood beginneth now to ioye The Bore is chaced that was wont this Realme so to annoy The Lady Concord came from Heauen To stablysh this decree That Lancaster Yorke henceforth vnyted shall agree Meethought I hearde the golden wordes That Concorde did resite And eke mee seemde myne eyes behelde This noble heauenly wighte Who pierst the Skyes with warbling winges and Scepter in her hande Uppon her hed a Diadem ycompast with a bande Whereat my mynde was all amazde To muse I coulde not ceace Till at the last I myght perceiue It was the bande of peace Her face as bright as Phebus beames Her heares lyke burnisht Golde Her feature like an Angell shape As ioyed mee to beholde With comly grace shee did commaund that scylence should be synde To rule the prease that then was thear Till shee had saide her mynde When all was whus ht and euery man with listning eares was bent To heare her speake then with these wordes shee shewd forth her intent Oh noble lande since first the tyme that Brute in thee did raygne Whose lyne intestine warre did ende As fame doth yet remaine Turmoilde and tost with ciuill Sworde Thou sundry tymes hast bene Such was thy lott and such mishap as yet in thee is seene Thy noble peares haue yeld their soules When fatall Sworde had slayne Unto the Theater of Ioue on Mars for to complayne Thy vulgar sorte in hugie heapes do prease their plaintes to showe With humble sute that perfect peace in English land may growe And Ioue that long haue rewde thy cace hath sent mee for to ceace These bluddie broyles and now to turne thy warre to perfect peace Where discorde raignes and breedes debate Subuertion is at hande And dayly proofe doth shewe that hate confoundeth many a lande Let Troyans testifye the same Let Pryam witnesse beare What Seignorie cannot bring forth Examples bought too deare Desire of rule doth oft tymes dymme And clips the fame and lyfe When Subiects touche the Princes seate by sowing seede of stryfe The Romaine rowt can well declare The smart of Pompeies broyle Numidia remembreth well The brunt of Iugurthes spoyle With thousandes more whome to resite were tyme but vainly spent But ryght shall sit in Regall seate The Tyran to preuent And God that all these turmoyles vewes at last will worke his wyll When false vsurper shall take foyle then ryght shall florish still To thee oh famous Realme I speake whose brute doth pierce the Skyes
rescue of our besieged menne Sauing that syr Wadam Selinger and master Windam with a rewe Gentlemen and three hundreth Souldiers verie ventrousely brake thorough the ende of the Frenche Armie and brought with them Matche and powder which was to our men greate comforte The scarcitie of victuals among them was so greate that they were constraynde to eate horses dogges cattes and rattes And yet neyther the want of clothes nor the extremitie of the plague which was hoat amongst them nor the lacke of munition nor the sharpe sawce of hunger coulde beate downe the stowt courage of the Englyshe men to yelde vp the towne And yet these extremilies before mentioned made them looke more lyke owgle Monsters then humayne men But their worthie and valyant capitaine Sir Iames Wilford was such a one as was able to make of a cowardly beaste a couragious man. During this tyme the Lorde Graye being at Barwike was very carefull for them that were at Hadington but wanted powder to sende to the ayde of them Notwithstanding he sent xiii hundred horsemen vnder the conduction of Sir Robert Bowse and Syr Thomas Palmer not meaning that they shoulde offer any battayle as some being deceiued affirme but to make a showe to comfort the Englishe men withall that then were comfortlesse And thinking that vpon the syght of them the French Scottish armie would remoue farther of But they presumyng further then their commission gaue a charge on their enemies and they being all horsemen as is aforesaide were by the Frenche and Scottishe footemen enuironed and euery man of them one onely excepted slayne taken prisoners to the great greefe of our men at Hadington And yet coulde not all this subdue the hartes of them but lyued in hope And at the laste came the Earle of Shrewsbery with xvi thowsand freshe Souldiers to Hadington At whose comming the Frenche and Scottishe armye left the siege went to Edenborovv But to see the order of this meeting would moue the harte of anye man to vtter affeccions with teares The Earle let fall teares from his eyes to see that suche valyant men shoulde suffer suche distresse whose stowt hartes coulde not bee conquered with any afflictions On the other syde our wearied Souldiers sent out the fountaynes of their eyes for ioye to see their deliuerance at hand Thus with mournfull and ioyfull embrasinges they met And the Earle came into the town and supplyed the want both of menne munition and victualles and shortlye after retourned to Englande againe leauing the towne well prouyded Now it fell out whyle the Frenchemen were at Edenborovve there grewe such debate betweene them and the Scottes that they fell to bickeringe within them selues and the Frenchemen flewe certaine Scottes Whereof when the Englishemen hearde they thought that then they myght betake them selues to a little rest for they had none a great whyle Then they sent out their Scoutes and a Watche and so went to suche lodginges as they had But Mounseur de Termes to reconsile the matter againe betweene his men and the Scottes promysed the Scottes that he woulde winne vnto them the towne of Hadington without any more delaye And when the Englishemen thought least of their comming they came and killed the watche the Scoutes were entred in at the bace courte of the towne before the Larum was geuen The Englishemen perceiuinge this soddeine irruption made no delayes to encounter with them But went thorough a priuie Posterne gate into the bace courte among them with the blacke Bill slewe of them by estimation v. hundred or more and droue the rest that escaped ouer the walle as Sheepe before a Dogge that happie was he that coulde tumble ouer firste Thus they retourned with great losse and no lesse shame making no boste of their bargaine I should haue noted before of a pretie accident that happened at this siege which is this When Mounsieur Dassey came firste to the ayde of the Scottes he was enformed by the Scottes that there were but a fewe Rascalles white cotes at Hadington and neyther Gentlemen nor good Souldiers Whereupon he requested the olde Queene of Scottes that then was at Edenborovgh to go to a little Nunnerie that was but a myle from Hadington and thear shee shoulde see the slaughter of all the Englishemen So shee went to that Nunnerie to beholde the performaunce of this promise And when shee came thither shee might see the verye streates of the towne for it standeth verye lowe The Englishe men vnderstanding of her being in the Tower of the saide Nunnerie shott off a great Iron peece they had which Gunne they called Roring Megge for the terrible noyse that it rendered and the Pellet hit part of the Tower that the Queene was in whereat shee made haste downe as it was hygh tyme rode posting to Edenborough without seeing anye harme done to the Englishe menne And Mounsieur Dassey founde other maner of fellowes theare then Rascalles and white cotes as him selfe reported geening greate commendations of the Englishemen theare Nowe to returne againe to the Canuasado before mentioned When our menne had geeuen the Frenchemen that ouerthrowe in the nyght they gaue the nexte Morning three sharpe assaultes to the towne and yet tooke the repulse with greate losse of their menne For they caried away xvi Cartes and Wagons laden of dead carcases because they should not be known besydes three hundred that were founde in the base court afore mencioned You haue reade what scarsitie of victuales was among them before and what pennurie they sustayned Wherefore at the laste there was made sufficient prouision to victuall the garrison but not without greate charges for it was alwayes brought by conuoye whiche was with greate strength conducted and neuer without skirmishe For it was alwayes brought thorough the towne of Dunbar and in the Castell of Dunbar laye a garrison of our enemies And on a tyme our Capitaine Sir Iames Wilforde went to meete with the conuoy at Dunbar whiche is viii myles from Hadington and had with him but xii menne And when he had saluted the Lorde Wardon who then came with the conuoy the garrison of Dunbar Castell came forth made a shewe in the field Then sayde the Lorde Warden vnto Sir Iames Wilforde beholde how prowdly your neyghbours stand before vs Yea quoth Sir Iames if I had but a fewe of my men more with mee I woulde offer them some playe If you will geeue a charge on them saide the Lorde Warden you shall haue as many of my men as you will. But because sir Iames had no experience of their hardinesse hee was lothe to trust vnto them Notwithstandinge in fine he saide that if they woulde followe him hee woulde make a gappe thorough them They promised not to shrinke So there were about 300 appoynted vnto him and he went before them galoping thorough the town in the face of the Castel And the shott came so sharpely from the