Their enemies within the towne with hope for to preuayle No engin was omitted then that myght their purpose gayne The battry was so fierce and sharpe that they in th ende were fayne To parle and to entreat for peace their states for to maintayne In fine they craude for mercye then Acknowleging their faulte Desyring his most noble grace â–ª to cease his sharpe assault And they his vassayls woulde become and faithfull to his Crowne In token of their loyaltie they yelde to him their towne And all the furniture thereof to vse at his owne will Desyring that he will vouchsafe their bloods not for to spill Whose noble aunswer was againe Sith you for mercy craue We mercy graunt you for your lyues from bloody Swoorde to saue With Trump and Banner then displayde he entreth this his towne Saint George his flagg is then aduaunst And all the rest throwne downe Anno Domini 1513. KIng Henry being confederate with the Emperour Maximilian and manye of the nobilitie of Brabant Flaunders and Holland hauing the sayde Emperor in wages vnder his Banner inuaded Fraunce and first assaulted Turwin with a puissant Armye Whiche towne in the ende was enforced to yelde it selfe vnto the mercye of king Henry who mercyfully graunted them pardon of their lyues and free leaue to departe in safegarde yelding vp their towne with all their furniture and munition vnto the king who entred the sayde towne with Banner displaide as a conquerour And hauing taken the ordnaunce with the rest of the spoyle within a whyle after he consumed the towne with Fyer which thing pleased the Emperor very well for that the sayd town was oftentymes a scourge vnto him The king at this tyme to solace him self rode to Lisley which is a town of the Emperours where as he was nobly entertained And at his entrie in to the towne the keyes of the gates were offered vnto him to dispose at his pleasure who receiued them thankfully rendring them againe to him of whome he tooke them And when he had recreat him selfe thear three dayes he returned vnto his campe againe Whose returne was ryght ioyfull vnto his Souldiers For as his presence encreased their ioyes so his absence augmented their dolours so entire he was vnto all his loiall Subiectes Shortly after he marched forwardes with his whole Armie towardes the great Citie of Turney which Citie is saied to haue as manye Towers in it as be dayes in a yere which is in nomber 365. And in fine after sharpe assault he obtained the towne and after possession taken hee built there a strong Castle In this meane season he enuyâ—ed the Emperour and the Empresse his wyfe to this his new wonne towne of Turney who ryght ioyousely came thither and were there royally feasted and his trayne had both greate entertainment and bountifull rewardes In these warres were manye feates of Armes tryed and sundry noble exploites atchyued and in conclusion the cheefe power of Fraunce discomfited But among the tragicall euents that there happened one pretie accident chaunced by master Henry Norace who at that tyme being a yong Gentleman and one of the kinges Henchemen hauing on his head the kinges Helmet was by the fiercenesse of his horse caryed from the kings Campe into the middest of the Frenche armye that then lay without the towne of Turnay in battaile ray And being thus among his enemies against his will at laste founde the meanes to turne his horse hed againe and so by good happe came backe vnto the king wherof the king was ryght glad And being thus escaped the king offered to make him knight for this aduenture But he tolde the king that his horse rather deserued that dignitie which caryed him among his enemies against his will. Whereat the king pleasantly laughed for he loued this yong gentleman verie well And because my Aucthor was brought vp vnder this saide Gentleman and by him preferred vnto the king I am occasioned somewhat to digresse by remembraunce of his worthinesse This forenamed master Norace grewe in suche fauour and grace with the king that he became to be the chiefe gentleman of his priuie Chamber and also was master of the blacke Rodd Which is an office to the noble Order of the Garter which office hath a large Prerogatiue He was rightfullye termed the father of the Court nexte vnder the king for his singuler order of education in courtly ciuilitie As dyuers noble men and gentlemen by him brought vp can full well witnesse Namely The Lorde Henry Dudley the Lord Sheafield The Lorde Edmund Shandos with many more His nature was to do good to as manye as hee might and harme to none His pursse was neuer shut from the needie Finally he was endued with all godly and vertuous condicions liuing in the courte in great fauour and estimation vntill enuye who alwaies pursueth vertue threw at him her spytefull and poysoned dartes to his decaye After whose death the king to shewe his good will towardes him shewed him selfe gracious Lord vnto as manye as were seruauntes vnto the sayde master Norace in his lyfe tyme and to expresse the same more at large he bestowed his daughter mistresse Marie Norace in Mariage on Sir George Carew which mariage was solempnised in the Court at the proper costes and charges of the king to the same and furtherance of the saide knight and the yong ladye his wife Now to returne to my matter againe Whyle the king was in Fraunce king lames of Scotlande notwithstanding his league and solempne vowe before mencioned made an inuasion vppon the Borderers adioyning vnto Scotlande And sent an Ambassadour vnto the kyng into Fraunce accusing the Borderers for breache of the truce betweene them taken When the king vnderstoode by the Ambassadour of the king of Scottes pretence He rewarded the Ambassadour and so dismissed him Nowe the king of Scottes supposed that all the power of Englande was in Fraunce with king Henry knowing also that king Henry could not nor woulde not breake vp his Campe to come against him And thought that nowe he had a plaine gappe opened vnto him to enter into Englande and there to woorke his will. But by the prouidence of the Queene who was left Regent of the Realme by the king at his setting foorth by the balyanties of the Earle of Surrey the kinges lieftenaunt he was preuented of his purpose For when he thought to haue entered this Realme with all his power he was mett by the Earle of Surrey at a place called Brampston where betweene them was fought a cruell battayle not without great effusion of blood on both parties but in the ende by Gods prouidence the victorie fell vnto the englishe men The King of Scottes himselfe being slayne in this fielde with xi of his noble men being all of them Earles besydes a number of his knyghtes and gentilmen of name and his whole power made very weake This battaile being ended to the renoune of the Queene the
Earle the kinges lieuetenant and the whole Realme The dead bodye of the king of Scottes was founde among the other carcases in the fielde and from thence brought to London and so through London streetes on a horsebacke in such order as you haue reade before of king Richarde and from thence it was caried to Sheene neere vnto Brainford wheras the Queene then laye And theare this periured carcas lyeth vnto this daye vnburied A condigne ende and a meete Sepulker for such a forsworn Prince This shamefull ende of the Scottish king kindled the Fyer of malyce in the breastes of the Scottes the flame whereof in the ende consumed also their yong king that then was lefte vnto them as followinge you may reade But first I haue taken vpon mee to introduce king Iames vnto thee informe of the Mirror for Magestrates to vtter his complaynt tell his owne tale as followeth The Lamentable complaint of king Iames of Scotlande who was slayne at Scottish fielde Anno. 1513. AMong the rest whom rewfull fate hath rest whose shrouding sheetes hath wrapt their woful lyues why haue not I a place among theÌ„ left whose fall eche tong with dayly talke reuyues Such is the wheele that froward Fortune driues To day a King of puisance and might And in one howre a wofull wretched wight A happie life by happie end is tride A wretched race by wofull ende is known Though pleasant wind the Ship do rightly guyd At last by rage of stormes t is ouer throwne The greatest Oke with tempest is fyrst blowne Though fortune seeme a loft to hoyse thy sayle Yet fortune ofte tymes smyles to small auaile I thought my Bower buylt on happie soyle Which vnder propped was with tickle staye Wherfore on sodayne chaunce I tooke the foyle In hope for to haue had a noble praye In search whereof I reapt my fatall daye With shamefull death my fame was forcte to bow A gwerdon meete for breach of sacred vow A Prince his promise ought not to be broke Much more his Othe of ryght obserude should be But greedie gayne doth oft the mynde prouoke To breake both othe and vowe as seemes by mee Ambicion blearde myne eyes I coulde not see I fynd though man with man his faith forgoe Yet man with God may not do so I was a king my power was not small I ware the Crowne to wield the Scottish land I raigude and rewlde the greater was my fall The myght of God no kingdome can withstand An Earle wan of mee the vpper hande With blodie Sworde my lucklesse lyfe to ende By shamefull death without tyme to amende Such was the force of Atrops cruell spight Unlooked for to cut my farall lyne My wretched carcas then was brought in sight Through London slrears wherat the Scots repine The endeles shame of this mishap is myne Like butchers ware on horsbacke was I brought The king of kinges for me this end hath wrought Let Princes all by me example take What daunger t is to daily in such cace By periurie their faythe 's for to forsake Least seate of shame shall be their endles place Foule infamie shall their renoune deface Offalsed faith such is deserued hyre And he must falle that will too hyghe aspyre â—e noble Peeres whose liues with myne did end Send forth froÌ„ graues your griesly ghosts ech one To wayle the chaunce that Fortune vs did sende Let all the Scots powre out their plaints mone That we to hedles haste were apt and prone Which rashe beginning voyde of Godly awe Had lyke successe for breach of sacred lawe I thought that Englande had beene far to weake For my strong powre when Henry was away Which made mee light regarde my vow to breake But yet I founde they were left in good stay With force and strength to purchase my decay Thus my aspiring minde had guerdon due Which may a Myrror bee for men to vewe Whereby to shun the breach of sacred vow And not to seeke by lawelesse meanes to rayne For right will force vsurped rule to bow And reape repulst in steade of noble gaine Thus truthe in tyme doth turne her foe to paine And GOD him selfe doth shield the rightful cause Then let men learne to lyue within his lawes ¶ Nowe that king Iames hath tolde hys tale and vttered his complainte let vs see what befell vnto his Sonne whom he lefte to succeede in his kingdom Whose history I haue annexed vnto this although it folowed not immediatly that the iust iugdement of God againste periurie maye the playnelyer appeare The notable example wherof may bee a terror vnto the large careles conscience of man Fyrst reade his storie then bestowe the perusing of his complaynte The Historie of king Iamies sonne who after the death of his Father was king of Scottes being but a chylde YOu haue hearde before of the death of kinge Iames and the maner therof who left behynde him a sonne named after his father Iames. This yong king of Scottes was both Neuew and Godson vnto king Henry by meanes whereof the king was lothe to do anye annoyance vnto the Realme of Scotlande But the Scottes being greedie of reuenge for the death of their late king prouoked him to be doing with them by meanes wherof many incursions were made into Scotlande to the great detriment of the Scottes and destruction of many of their Castels and villages But at the laste by the mediation of the Queene of Scottes an abstinence of warre was taken and shortly after a peace concluded whiche continued vntil the yere of our Lorde 1542. at whiche tyme king Henry tooke his Progres towardes the Citie of Yorke where he made great preparation for to haue mett with his Nephewe the king of Scottes who promysed vnto his vncle king Henry that he would verye gladly meete him at Yorke and accordingly prepared so to doo Wherefore king Henry laye at Pipwell Abbey while great prouision was made at Yorke for the meeting of these two noble kinges to the greate charges of the king of Englande at whose proper costes a sumptuous lodging was ordayned for the king of Scottes in the Abbay of Yorke with offices and furniture accordingly Whyle the king laye at Pipwell Abbay aforesaid in a readynesse to come vnto yorke by the day appointed the Secretorie vnto the king of Scottes came vnto king Henry who was at his handes noblye entertayned and returned againe into Scotlande enforming the king his maister what great cost the king of Englande was at in preparing for his cumming The king of Scottes was as desyrous to see his Uncle king Henry as he was to haue seene his Nephew But when he was in a readinesse to come towardes Englande the Cardinall of S. Andrewes who was then newely come from Rome made haite vnto the king of Scottes as he was setting forth toward Yorke and threatned him that if he proceeded to go into Englande that another shoulde bee proclaimed king of Scotlande before he
shoulde bee iii. Myles out of his Realme Wherat the kyng was sore abashed and not without good cause For a kingdome deuyded in it selfe cannot be quieted without great trouble and bloodshed And the saide Cardinall bare so great a swaye that the king durst not come into Englande according to his appointment It is thought that the Cardinal feared lest the king of Englande would haue perswaded the kinge of Scottes to abolyshe the Popes aucthoritie out of Scotlande and to alter the state of Religion and therefore was not willing that this meeting shoulde be betweene the two kinges King Henry perceiuing him selfe to be thus deluded by the king of Scottes conceiued therof great discurtesie as he myght ful well Notwithstanding he went forwarde him selfe with all his trayne to yorke and made Proclamation that if any man had any matters to exhibite vnto his grace that they shoulde be heard and haue Iustice administred which accordingly hee accomplished to as many as came before him And whereas there had bene an insurrection in the same countrey a little before this tyme The king comaunded that all the Rebelles which were apprehended shoulde be placed before him on the lefte hande of his waye as he passed thorough the countrey and hauing set the countrey in good order he returned to London againe The Cardinall of sainct Androes who as is before saide caused the king of Scottes to breake promise with his vncle king Henry for doubt least that discourtesie might be reconsiled to make hys matter sure set the two kinges at open warre and caused the Scottes to make a roade into the borders who spoyled and did much harme Wherof when king Henry hearde he sent the Duke of Norffolke with an Armie into Scotlande who burned and spoyled muche of the countrey But when the Duke was departed from thence into Englande The Scottes inuaded the borders againe did theare muche harme But at the last Sir Thomas Wharton beeing warden of the marches there with Sir William Musgraue and a fewe of the borderers met with the Scottes the 14. of Nouember and ouerthrew them In which conflict the Lorde Maxwell the Earles of Glencarue and Sassiles with all the captaynes of the Scottish Armie were taken and on S. Thomas eeuen the Apostle they were brought to the Tower of London where they laye that night The next day following they were brought into the starre Chamber before the Lorde Chaunceller of England and the Counsaile being by the kinges charges rychely apparailed and vsed more like Princes then prisoners which they did full euil requite For after they were dismissed vppon agreement vnto certein articles they not only refused the performance of their promises but notwithstanding the benefites on them bestowed by the king they rebelled against him But nowe to returne againe vnto their kinge It is thought of some men that he him selfe was in the Battaile and thear receiued his deathes wounde but escaped vntaken but it was not so True it is that this conflict stroke him to the hart wherof he dyed incontinently Whereby we may bee sure that God strooke the stroake And whether it were that God who stryketh to the thirde and fourth generation of them that hate him did it for his fathers offence or for his owne I maye not nor will not iudge But no doubt his fathers vngodly periurie was heauily in his mynde since whose death the Realme of Scotlande hath bene sore plaged and haue had little good successe in any attemptes and especially against Englande The tirste that brought newes of the kinge of Stottes death vnto king Henry was the Earle of Angoes a Scott who was banished out of Scotlande and lyued here in Englande by a pencion that the king gaue vnto him This Earle came into the Courie the king then lying at hys house of Sainct Iames betweene tenne and xi of the clocke at nyght and desyred to speak with the king which being vnto him admitted he rehearsed vnto the king the whole circumstance of the king of Scottes death Whiche when he hearde he was so sorie of that newes that notwithstanding he warred against him yet he let fall teares from his eyes for sorrowe of his Nephewes death ¶ The Lamentation of king Iames Sonne vnto king Iames before mentioned WHat hard mishap haue I among the rest Whose froward fate vntimely deth hath wrought While youthfull yeres did harbour in my brest My wretched corpes to lodge in claye is brought By haples chaunce contrary to my thought But who is sooner trapte by witched wyle Then he whose harte is free frem craltie guyle Shall I exclayme on fortunes frowarde face Or on the wombe that life to mee fyrst gaue Or on my Fathers facte whose foule deface Hath caused mee this luckelesse lot to haue Would god my mothers wombe had ben my graue Or els the Ayre that yelded mee fyrst breath With sodayne dampe had rendred present death Woulde God my Fathers facte had beene vndon When he made vow a faythfull leage to holde Or els I woulde I had not beene his Sonne But rather borne to pen the Sheepe in folde My Father in this poynt was far too bolde Whereby he moude almighty GOD to spill Him selfe and me his Sonne that thought no ill What may I deeme of this my Fathers deede Whereof I grounde the chiefe cause of my playnte What stonie harte for pittie will not bleede To see how death this pageaunt doth depainte In floure of age our liues so to attainte The Father and the Sonné sucessiuelie The Realme eke plagde for one mans periurie I can not scuse his rage and hautie pride That forced mee my vnkle to offende Who courteousely my comming did abide In frendlie wise a time with ioye to spende I was constraynde my owne minde to vnbende The Prelasie then bare so great a swaye That king and keiser must their mindes obaye I was constraynde contrarye to my will Reuengement on the English Realme to take And eke of Mars his lore to learne the skill Where I lyke Phaeton my match did make My foes mee rulde my frendes I did forsake Though I was king another bare the sworde Whome I durst not offende in deede ne worde I call for vengeaunce on thy wretched lyfe Thou Prelate proude that hast procurde my fall Thou were the cause and aucthor of the strife I was thy Prince and yet I was thy thrall Take heede therefore by mee ye Princes all Where enuious subiects beares so great aswaye The Princes state is like for to decaye Such men they are as fyrst do stier vp stryfe But they them selues of sauegarde will be sure Their deedes are scant their words are very ryfe They rayse the broyle the brunte they not endure Yet bloody warre they dayly do procure And prease foorth Princes to auenge their yre Whyle they them selues with gredy minds aspire Lo by this meanes my fatall shrouding sheete Is now my weede no other robe haue I The graue is
eke my Courte a Pallas meete Wherein my wretched corps for aye must lye Wo worth those subiectes that aspire so highe To rule the Prince whome they ought to obay Such subiectes rule hath purchast my decaye ¶ Now that I haue passed thorow these tragicall histories of the. ii kinges of Scottes I will returne to the declaration of the ioyfull meeting of the kinges of Englande and Fraunce betweene Callis and Bullaine whiche was in the yeare of our Lorde 1532. And althoughe there was a solemne meetyng betweene the Kynges of these sayde Realmes and also betweene the Emperoure and Kyng Henrie in the yeare of oure Lorde 1520. Yet because my Anothor was not there to note anye thing more then is already mentioned by Halle in his Cronicle and was present at this that foloweth I haue vsed his enstruction herein referring thee to the aforesayd Cronicle to reade of the other whereas it is very well described ¶ Howe King Henry and the King of Fraunce met together betweene Calice and boloigne by a place called Morguison 1532. My glauncing Pen nowe glyded ys From Mars his bluddie broyle And eke my muse desyres to rest a whyle in frindships soyle As way warde warre bereues the breath of many worthie wyghtes So frindly peace preserues the lyues of noble valyant knyghtes And Tully doth preferre that peace which grounded is on yll Before the warre whose quarell ryght The blood of man doth spill In faithfull league of frindships force where Princes knitt the knot Unto those realmes whyle it doth last is sure a happie lott The Princes sleepe is not vnsounde For doubt of forraine foes The Souldiérs werye wounded limmes to rest do then repose The Marchant sendes hys hoysed sayles the surging Seas to sheare Which scowreth through the wandring waues deuoyde of doubtfull feare The publyke state of common wealth then lyues in quyet rest So that recourse from sundrie soyles 〈◊〉 worke all for the best 〈◊〉 â—â—â—ey helpeth other then and what one lande doth want Another doth supply the same no needefull thinges are scant And the through concorde sclender thinges to 〈◊〉 great encrease 〈◊〉 dâ—corde both consume as fast men set vs praye for peace Which causeth worldly wealth to ryse 〈◊〉 â—â—â—â—dly 〈◊〉 to flowe As â—horher hath contrarye force and makes wealth ebbe as lowe Nowe 〈◊〉 that long tyme had sought to kniâ—â—â— within her bande The king of Fraunce vnto the noble King of this oure lande Foâ—nde oâ—â— a tyme conuenient and eke indifferent place Whereas these noble Princes bothe together myght embrace To treate of faithfull frindships lore with one consent they meere Where they with ioye and tryumphes greate eche other then do greete The thing that bothe Realmes long desyrde at that tyme myght you viewe The order of which ioyfull sight hereafter doth ensue ¶ The declaration of the meeting of these two noble kinges at the place aboue mencioned ALthough there was bluddie warre and mortall hatred betweene the realmes of Englande and Fraunce in the fifth yere of this kings raigne in whiche yere the king of Englande wan from the Frenche men the towne of Turwin and the great citie of Turnay as is before declared yet for the concluding of a perfect peace betweene bothe the Realmes the same yere a Mariage was made betweene the king of Fraunce and the Ladye Marye sister vnto the king of England but shortly after the saide king of Fraunce dyed and the Duke of Suffolke maryed the Queene his wyfe A peace also was concluded betweene the young king of Fraunce and the king of Englande And within a whyle the Citie of Turnay was rendred vnto the Frenche king For the whiche he shoulde paye to the king of Englande a notable summe of Money But this amitie did not long continue for the Frenche king refused to paye his tribute to the king of England and also detayned the Queenes dowrie And moreouer caused all Englishemens goodes to bee arrested at Burdeaux whereupon the Frenchemens goods were arrested at London and they cast in Prison But in fine in the xix yere of the king his raigne a generall peace was proclaymed betwene the kinges of Englande and Fraunce during bothe their lyues And defyaunce sent vnto the Emperour from bothe the kyngs and a great power sent into Italy againste the Emperour who then warred with the Pope and constayned him to take a Castell wherein he remained as prisoner vntill the Armyes that the kinges of Englande and Fraunce had expelled the Emperours power out of that parte of Italye The circumstance whereof ys very largely declared by Sleydon This peace taken betweene the kinges of Englande and Fraunce continued a good whyle vnuiolate In whiche meane-tyme the Ambassadour Ledger of Fraunce that then laye in London grewe in suche fauour with kynge Henry that he was often tymes admitted to sit in presence with the king This Ambassadour made humblesuite vnto the kinges grace that hee woulde vouchesaue to meete with the kynge of Fraunce his Master in some conuenient place to salute eche other declaring that it woulde bee an occasion to knitt them togeather in the insoluble knott of perfect frindship and amitie Whereunto the king of Englande willingly condiscended and agreed And the rather because the Frenche king appointed to haue met with the Pope at Marsiles by meanes wherof king Henry hoped that the Frenche king might perswade the Pope to some conformitie in the controuersie of his deuorce from the Ladye Katherin wherefore he requested the sayde Ambassadour so to informe the kynge of Fraunce his Master which he nothing slacked to do And in conclusion a tyme was appointed when these twoo noble kinges shoulde meete by a place called Morguison whiche is betweene two greate hilles and the midway betwixt Callice Boloigne According to the apointment the king of Englande set forwarde and came to Callice The Frenche king lykewise lay at Bolloigne and on the appointed day they bothe met by the sayde place called Morguison with a noble trayne of Dukes Earles Lordes Knightes Gentlemen on both sydes And while these noble Princes embraced eache other a Bishop of Fraunce threwe off a cast of great Hawkes called Sakers which Hawkes being cast off killed a Kyte ouer the kinges heades to the great pleasure of bothe the kinges Then passed they forwarde with Princely pastymes vnto the towne of Boloigne where was greate preparation and noble tryumphes to entertaine and welcome the King of Englande When king Henry had passed certaine dayes at Boloigne with moste royall solace and pleasure he Inuited the King of Fraunce to the lyke at his graces towne of Callice who in lyke maner came vnto Callice with king Henry where as his former entertainment vnto the king of Englande his trayne was noblye acquyted And whyle these two royall Kinges were thus at Callice the king of Heraldes came vnto king Henries grace declaring vnto him that according to the auncient custome and also being parcell of hys othe he
had set vp in the market place the Emperours Armes and the Frenche kinges Armes for so is the custome when kings meete together and desyred his grace to enforme him what might please him to bee erected in his behalfe to whom the King aunswered that nothing shoulde bee set vp for him neyther I care not quod he for anye suche matter Then sayde the Heralde it is my duitie to erecte somewhat in your graces name If it be so quoth the King I will that you depaint an armed Arme rysing out of a clowde holding in the hande a naked Sworde with thys Poesse vnder it Celuy au quel ie m'adiouincts Dieu aydant vaincra Whiche is as muche to say Whether parte I take by Gods helpe shall haue victorie This was set ouer the Emperours and the Frenche kings Armes as in this Portraiture appeareth And full truely did this Poesie proue As in Sleydon his Commentaries ye may reade at large Celuy au quel ie m'adiouincts Dieu aydant vaincra ¶ The Historie of the winning of Bulleyne by the moste victorious King Henrye the eyghth in his owne person YF townes subuerted coulde declare with tong or paynting Pen Their rufull falles and finall fate their losse of worthie men Or if the ruinous Castels olde that flatt on grounde nowe lye Or else the walles that earst were deckt with lofty Turrets hye Coulde shewe their wofull ouerthrowes by any kynde of waye And eke what Captaines them subdude to take the spoyle and praye Then Bulleyne that was wont to bragg in brauery of her myght Woulde clips her fame of large renowne that earst did shyne so bryght This stately Forte whose furnisht walles felt neuer yet annoye Nowe playnly shewde the auncient tales that Poets tolde of Troye Prince Agamemnon with his Greekes that wan olde Ilions towne In all his toyle of tenne yeres siege gat neuer such renowne The mighty Monarke Macedon that conquerd Darius soyles Wonne neuer greater victorie thoughe many greater spoyles But as king Henries courage stoute alwayes his foes subdude So mercy matcht his manly mynde who bloodshed still eschewde He neuer brewde his sworde in bloode on them that mercy craue His face with fauour still was fraught submissiue men to saue And Bullein men among the rest can testifie this case Who tasted both his force and eke his fauourable grace What mischiefe myght his hand haue wrought if tyrannye had raygnd Or rage had harbourd in his brest which he alwayes refraynd Though pleasant prayes do oft entice the mynd that gapes for gayne To passe the boundes of princely fame great spoyle for to obtayne Yet no such crime of greedy mynde from mercy might him moue The towne of bulleyne can right well this fame of him approue Theyr towne theyr lyues theyr goodes and all lay in his might and power For to haue spoylde and ouerthrowne and destroyde in one hower But piety prickt his Princely hart in mercy to excell Whose noble nature doth deserue for prayse to beare the bell THe Realmes of Fraunce and Scotlande perceiuing that they neuer coulde preuayle against the king of Englande in any attempt neyther by dissembling peace nor yet by open warre ceased not to followe the example of the Scarabe who presuming to contende with the Eagle and being farre vnable to encounter with him deuysed to annoye him though it were but with the filthye dung wherin he accustometh to welter and tomble So these two Realmes to obtaine their desyred purposes namely for that they coulde not bring vnder yoke the king of Englande they alway shott at him a farre of to annoy him as much as they durst which king Henry well perceiuing And calling to mynde the dammages that some of his predecessours had sustained after the death of the right valyant king Edward the thirde by the Realme of Fraunce and further waying with him self the feythlesse leagues of the frenchmen who alwayes when they entreated for peace had theyr Swordes readye to fight and theyr dissembling mindes wholy bent on treason mischiefe thought with him selfe that it was better to haue them hys open foes then his fayned friendes and determyned to inuade the Realme of Fraunce and in the ende was fully mynded to passe into Fraunce very secretly with a mightie puissant power which in deede was wrought so priuily that he imparted his minde in this matter vnto no man sauing only to the Duke of Suffolk but caused a rumor to be spread that hee was determined to goe ouer vnto Parys The Duke of Norfolk lay by the kinges apointment at the siege of Muttrell who hearing of the kinges pryuie passage into Fraunce maruailed with him selfe what shoulde bee hys pretence And thought some vncurtesie that he might not haue been made pryuy therof he being one of the kings pryuy counsail Wherupon he sent a letter vnto Sir Anthony Brown the maister of y kings horse wherin he declared that he mused what the kinges purpose shoulde bee desiring Sir Anthony Browne to resolue him by his letters of this doubt This letter was brought when the kinge lay at Calyce to passe into Fraunce And because the custome is in the tyme of warre that all letters which are sente vnto anye noble man or other of the campe shall fyrst be presented vnto the king to breake them opeÌ„ and to read them if he be in the campe him selfe the messenger brought the letter vnto the maister of the Postes who exhibited it vnto the Kinges grace The letter that was sent from the Duke of Norfolk vnto Sir Anthony Brown being in the packet of letters which the king tooke opened And when hee had reade it hee sayde vnto master Edmunde Harman one of his pryuye Chamber who then was in presence with him and none els Lo quoth hee the Duke of Norfolk seemeth by this letter to thinke him selfe not well dealt withal because hee is not made pryuye to our pretence in this voyage I assure thee Fdmund quoth he no mortall man in this worlde doth knowe the cause hereof but onelye Sir Charles Brandon And thou shalt bee the second vnto whome I will reueale this matter My purpose is sayd the Kyng to lay siege vnto Boloygne and I doubt not but to win it by Gods help May it please your grace then sayde maister Harman it will bee a noble victorie to win But it will bee more noble to hold it when it is wonne Well sayd y king I nothyng doubt the holding of it by Gods grace if I may winne it Now was the Duke of Suffolke before Bullaine and had layde siege vnto it on the Easte syde ofit who thear remayned vntill the king him selfe came and encamped on the North side After whose comming the towne was so sore battered with gunshot and so sharply assaulted that after a Moneths siege the captayn whose name was Mounsier Desâ—e shot out an arrowe with a letter tyed to the shafte wherin hee offered the King to render vp the towne vnto
his graces behoote so that he woulde graunt pardon of lyfe vnto all the people of the town and licence to depart with bagg and boggage Whiche the king mercifully graunted on this condicion that none of them should departe with any Gonne charged And the Bulleiners departed the town with as much of theyr goodes as they could cary with them After which departure king Henrie with hys nobilitie entred the towne with Banners displayed lyke a conquerour And after hee had taried there by the space of fyue dayes or there about he returned againe into Englande leauing behinde him to defende the towne the Duke of Suffolke that most valiant Capitayne But when the kings maiestie was vppon departure newes was brought vnto him that the Dolphin of Fraunce was determined to come downe and repell him from thence and hys power whereunto the king aunswered that hee shoulde be verie welcome For quoth he the Dolphin is my God sonne and if he come he shall haue my blessing But he made no haste to come as he vaunted Wherefore the Duke of Suffolk and the Earle of Essex perswaded the king to returne home to Englande againe for that he had wonne as much honour theare as was to be had at that tyme Wherupon the king committed the defence of the towne to the Duke of Suffolke and the Earle of Essex ioyntly But before his departure he being doubtfull whether the Duke of Norfolke had any neede of help at Muttrell called vnto him syr Anthony Browne appointed him to go thither to the ayde of the Duke of Norfolke with all his power But Sir Anthony Browne answered that he had dismissed many of his souldiers by reason of sicknesse the rest were either wounded or wearied with trauaile and many of their Horses tyred Then the king demaunded of the Earle of Essex In what estate his bande was who had vnder his charge 1500 horsemen he aunswered the kyng that of his whole power he wanted not 60. And that hee was ready to fulfill his graces pleasure Wherupon the king thought to haue sent him to Muttrell but in the end that king hauing a speciall regarde for the keeping of Bullaine leatte the Earle with the Duke to defende the towne and sent Sir Ihon Gage to Muttrell to the ayde of the Duke of Norfolk And then the king returned into England againe with great triumph After whose departure out of Fraunce y frenchmen began to be verye busie against the englishmē But when they could preuaile nothing at all they began to entreat for peace always hoping to haue Bullayne againe by some meanes or other But king Henry was so affected to that towne that neyther strengthe of warre nor force of money could win it from hym And he would oft times saye that no true subiect of his woulde perswade him to yelde it vp Which towne he helde in despight of the Frenchmen during his life ¶ And thus I ende this discourse of the wynning of Bullayne Omitting to treate of the large circumstaunce heereof least I might seeme to rob Grafton or Halle of their laboures concluding this commemoration of king Henry with his conquest of Bullaine After which triumphant victorie no special warre happened vnto him till death the conquerour of all mortall men subdued his body whose soule liueth with God in his Heauenlye kingdome KIng Henry in his life time would often tymes saye that if it woulde please God to endue hym with life vntill he might see three thinges brought to passe hee woulde not desire to liue anye longer The fyrst was to confirme true religion in this Realme The seconde to establish the Crowne The thyrde to see hys Sonne a man Also hee would say that if he knewe any one to bee a man of GOD and meete to gouerne a common welthe he would rather yelde his Crowne vnto him then weare it himself so that hee myghte doe it to the pleasure of God the weale publyke of his people ¶ An Epitaph of the deathe of the moste valyant and renowmed Prince King Henry the eyghth AWake ye worthies nyne that long in graues haue rest Powre out your plaints with wayling teares Let langor be your geast Do off your shrowding sheetes that clads you in the claye and decke your selues with black attyre your mourning to displaye Bedewe with saltie teares your manly faces stowte Laye downe those weapons that were wont to quell the raging rowte For nowe that pierlesse Prince that neuer yet tooke foyle The eyghth king Henry hath resynde his bodye to the soyle Recorde your dolefull tunes ye noble Peeres eche one Let gryping greefes gnawe on your breastes to shewe your pensiue moane With bryndie blubbered teares ye commons all lament Sende forth your sobbes from boyling breast let trynkling teares be spent For our Achilles nowe hath left vs in the fielde That wonted was with valiant force from foes our lyues to shylde And this hath death deuysde to wrecke his wrathfull spyght Wherefore O Mors wee curses yelde on thee both daye and nyght Oh noble Brutus lande howe much was death thy foe when he with cruell darte constraynde this Gemme from thee to goe But though the cursed dame that cuttes the fatall lyne So muche enuyed thy happie state in making him declyne Yet God through mercy great in spyght of death his darte Hath left a Blossome of his braunche to ease thy pensiue smarte For whome now let vs praye that shee the race may runne of Nestors yeres with like successe as yet her grace hath done And that his royall Impe Elizabeth by name May weare the Crowne and wielde the sworde with ioye and endlesse fame Whose lyfe doth render lyght vnto her fathers fame whose noble harte doth plainly shewe the stocke from whence shee came Though death hath done his woorst with drift of dyrefull darte By stryking of that valyant king and piercing of his harte Yet hath he not the powre his fame to ouercast which shall remaine in mouth of man whyle Pen and ynke doth last And eke the shyning Sunne shall cease his running race before king Henries worthie fame shall suffer one deface And as his soule is lodgde with Ioue in starrie Skye Euen so remembraunce of his name on earth shall neuer dye ¶ A Preamble to this parte of the Booke following LYke as the auncient Greekes haue painted out at large Their noble ladyes worthie lyues and therof taken charge And as the Romaine dames had writers of their actes Euen so the trowpe of Englysh trayne haue some to tell their factes Whose bryght and shyning fame deserues to haue a place Coequall with the best that hath runne on in vertues race Then let not Englande blushe to blase their ladies lyues Which no whit is inferiour vnto the Romayne wyues Let them vaunt if they list of Lucrece chastitie I prayse the greekes Penelope for her fidelitie A nomber myght be namde that wryters pennes haue praysde Who for their lyues and noble actes an
hearde of The maner whereof ensueth The Lorde Graye being at Barwike the kings liefetenaunt theare After the ouerthrowe of the Scottes at Muscleborow fielde made a roade into Scotlande in the Lent in the seconde yere of the kinges Raigne to take a viewe of the towne of Hadington and returned to Barwike agayne without any assault geeuen The Sommer following he came with his armye and entred the towne without anye resistaunce and then made preparation for the fortifying therof In whyche meane space he laide siege vnto a Castell that was three myles from the towne named Ester Castell which Forte was furnished with Scottes and Spanyardes who stoode at their defence refusing to submitt them selues vntill the Lord Graye had with the great Cannons made a breach and was readie to enter the saide Castell Then they yelded and desyred Pardon for their lyues onely which the lorde Gray graunted vnto them all excepting one who during the siege had reuyled the King in woordes and abused his graces name with moste opproprious termes Then they all came forth of the castell in their thurtes onely submitting them selues to the mercye of the Lorde Gray And vpon strayt examination who should be the tayler that was excepted out of this Pardon it was knowne to be one Newton a Scott But he to saue him selfe put it to one Hamelton Thus these two Gentlemen accused one the other For the decysing wherof a Cumbat was appointed betweene them and by the Lorde Gray ad iudped so to bee The tyme came for this Cumbat to be accomplyshed and the listes made in the Market place of Hadington And these saide gentlemen entred in their dubblets and hose weaponed with sword buckler and dagger At the firste entrie into the listes this Hammelton kneeled on his knees and made his hartie prayer vnto Almyghtie God to geeue the victorie vnto the truthe with solempne protestation that he neuer vttered any such words of King Edward of Englande as his aduersarie Newton accused him of And on the other syde Newtons conscience being troubled with his false accusation argued vnto all the beholders his guilt For there oppeared in him great timerousues The beholders prayde God for Hammelton for the Souldiers knewe right well that it was newton for his voyce bewrayde him Nowe were the Sticklers in a readinesse and the Combatours drewe their weapons and betweene them was fought vi or vii blowes verye lustely But Hammelton being meruaylous fierce and eager vpon the truth of his quarell constrayned Newton to geeue grounde almost to the ende of the listes And if he had driuen him to the verye ende then by the lawe of Armes he had wonne the conquest and his enemy shoulde haue bene hanged if he had not slayne him Newton perceiuing him selfe to be almoste at the poynt of hanging stept forwards againe and gaue Hammelton such a gashe on the legg that he was not able to stande but fell downe and then Newton fell on him and slewe him with his dagger Thus the Cumbat was ended but the English men that knewe Newton to be the rayler and the false accuser although by more happ then hardinesse he had the vpper hande were very desyrous to renewe Combat againe with him For there were many Gentlemen theare that woulde willingly haue ventered their lyues on him man for man but he challenged the priuilege of the lawe of Armes which was vnto him graunted And the Lorde Gray gaue him his owne gowne of his backe and the Chayne that he theu ware Thus was he well rewarded that better deserued to haue bene hanged But he escaped not so For afterwardes as he was ryding betweene the Borders of Englande and Scotlande he was slayne and cutt in pieces Nowe I will speake of the seege that the Frenche Armye and the power of Scotlande layde vnto the towne of Hadington against the Englishe men When the foresaide Castell was wonne and the Cumbat finished the Lorde Graye departed towardes Barwike leauing behynde him Syr Iames Wilford as generall of the garryson and 2000 chosen Souldiers vnder him to defend the towne whiche was not halfe fortifyed before it was besieged of the Frenchemen and Scottes For our menne had not bene viii weekes in it before Mounsier Dassey the Frenche kinges lieâ—etenant and the Ringraue of Fraunce came to the siege with twentie thowsande Frenchemen Almames and Scottes beeing all of them lustye gallant Souldiers And at their firste comminge there was a hoat skirmishe betweene them and the Englishe men And because the Gates of the towne were not of anye strength for defence our men were constraynde to ramme vp the Gates with earthe and so mayntaine the defence of the towne vppon the Walles There were many assaultes geeuen to the losse of bothe parties And in the ende our enemies did so beat the towne with shott that they lefte not one whole house for our men to put their heads in Whereby they were constrained to lye vnder the walles for other lodging was there none They looked for helpe to haue come out of Englande but none came So that they were in miserable case for lacke of succour For they were dryuen to so narrow pushe that they rent their shurts for lacke of Matche for other shifte had they none And also their Enemies had taken awaye their Flankers whiche was their whole defence of the walles to expelle them from approching neare whereby to scale So that by this meanes the Frenchemen came close vnder the walles of the towne and were their ouerthwart neyghbours so neare That the Englyshmen on the one syde and the Frenchemen on the other laye close togeather that there was no more distaunce of grounde betweene them then the thicknesse of the walle Also one of the Bulwarkes was beaten downe so flatte that a man myght ryde in and out at the breache but the Frenchemen durste not venter in therat It greeued the Englishe men not a little to see their euill neyghbours so neare their noses whereupon a blunte cuntrey man that was one of our Souldiers and by his occupation a maker of Flayles inuented to beate them from the walles with slayles and tyed a heauye plummet of lead at the ende of a rope fastening the other ende of the rope vnto a good truncheon to holde in hys hande and with suche flayles they slewe and maimed a greate many of them This Mounsier Dassey captaine generall of the Frenche Armie was complayned on to the kynge his Maister for his too muche rashenesse whereby hee lost manye of his best Souldiers so that hee was sent for home in great displeasure and in his place was sent Mounsier de Termes who remoued the siege and came not neare the towne by three myles But he punished our men worse then the siege for he layde all the straytes and passages with watche whereby no victuales coulde bee brought vnto the towne All this whyle beeing about xi weekes came none out of Englande to the
rescue of our besieged menne Sauing that syr Wadam Selinger and master Windam with a rewe Gentlemen and three hundreth Souldiers verie ventrousely brake thorough the ende of the Frenche Armie and brought with them Matche and powder which was to our men greate comforte The scarcitie of victuals among them was so greate that they were constraynde to eate horses dogges cattes and rattes And yet neyther the want of clothes nor the extremitie of the plague which was hoat amongst them nor the lacke of munition nor the sharpe sawce of hunger coulde beate downe the stowt courage of the Englyshe men to yelde vp the towne And yet these extremilies before mentioned made them looke more lyke owgle Monsters then humayne men But their worthie and valyant capitaine Sir Iames Wilford was such a one as was able to make of a cowardly beaste a couragious man. During this tyme the Lorde Graye being at Barwike was very carefull for them that were at Hadington but wanted powder to sende to the ayde of them Notwithstanding he sent xiii hundred horsemen vnder the conduction of Sir Robert Bowse and Syr Thomas Palmer not meaning that they shoulde offer any battayle as some being deceiued affirme but to make a showe to comfort the Englishe men withall that then were comfortlesse And thinking that vpon the syght of them the French Scottish armie would remoue farther of But they presumyng further then their commission gaue a charge on their enemies and they being all horsemen as is aforesaide were by the Frenche and Scottishe footemen enuironed and euery man of them one onely excepted slayne taken prisoners to the great greefe of our men at Hadington And yet coulde not all this subdue the hartes of them but lyued in hope And at the laste came the Earle of Shrewsbery with xvi thowsand freshe Souldiers to Hadington At whose comming the Frenche and Scottishe armye left the siege went to Edenborovv But to see the order of this meeting would moue the harte of anye man to vtter affeccions with teares The Earle let fall teares from his eyes to see that suche valyant men shoulde suffer suche distresse whose stowt hartes coulde not bee conquered with any afflictions On the other syde our wearied Souldiers sent out the fountaynes of their eyes for ioye to see their deliuerance at hand Thus with mournfull and ioyfull embrasinges they met And the Earle came into the town and supplyed the want both of menne munition and victualles and shortlye after retourned to Englande againe leauing the towne well prouyded Now it fell out whyle the Frenchemen were at Edenborovve there grewe such debate betweene them and the Scottes that they fell to bickeringe within them selues and the Frenchemen flewe certaine Scottes Whereof when the Englishemen hearde they thought that then they myght betake them selues to a little rest for they had none a great whyle Then they sent out their Scoutes and a Watche and so went to suche lodginges as they had But Mounseur de Termes to reconsile the matter againe betweene his men and the Scottes promysed the Scottes that he woulde winne vnto them the towne of Hadington without any more delaye And when the Englishemen thought least of their comming they came and killed the watche the Scoutes were entred in at the bace courte of the towne before the Larum was geuen The Englishemen perceiuinge this soddeine irruption made no delayes to encounter with them But went thorough a priuie Posterne gate into the bace courte among them with the blacke Bill slewe of them by estimation v. hundred or more and droue the rest that escaped ouer the walle as Sheepe before a Dogge that happie was he that coulde tumble ouer firste Thus they retourned with great losse and no lesse shame making no boste of their bargaine I should haue noted before of a pretie accident that happened at this siege which is this When Mounsieur Dassey came firste to the ayde of the Scottes he was enformed by the Scottes that there were but a fewe Rascalles white cotes at Hadington and neyther Gentlemen nor good Souldiers Whereupon he requested the olde Queene of Scottes that then was at Edenborovgh to go to a little Nunnerie that was but a myle from Hadington and thear shee shoulde see the slaughter of all the Englishemen So shee went to that Nunnerie to beholde the performaunce of this promise And when shee came thither shee might see the verye streates of the towne for it standeth verye lowe The Englishe men vnderstanding of her being in the Tower of the saide Nunnerie shott off a great Iron peece they had which Gunne they called Roring Megge for the terrible noyse that it rendered and the Pellet hit part of the Tower that the Queene was in whereat shee made haste downe as it was hygh tyme rode posting to Edenborough without seeing anye harme done to the Englishe menne And Mounsieur Dassey founde other maner of fellowes theare then Rascalles and white cotes as him selfe reported geening greate commendations of the Englishemen theare Nowe to returne againe to the Canuasado before mentioned When our menne had geeuen the Frenchemen that ouerthrowe in the nyght they gaue the nexte Morning three sharpe assaultes to the towne and yet tooke the repulse with greate losse of their menne For they caried away xvi Cartes and Wagons laden of dead carcases because they should not be known besydes three hundred that were founde in the base court afore mencioned You haue reade what scarsitie of victuales was among them before and what pennurie they sustayned Wherefore at the laste there was made sufficient prouision to victuall the garrison but not without greate charges for it was alwayes brought by conuoye whiche was with greate strength conducted and neuer without skirmishe For it was alwayes brought thorough the towne of Dunbar and in the Castell of Dunbar laye a garrison of our enemies And on a tyme our Capitaine Sir Iames Wilforde went to meete with the conuoy at Dunbar whiche is viii myles from Hadington and had with him but xii menne And when he had saluted the Lorde Wardon who then came with the conuoy the garrison of Dunbar Castell came forth made a shewe in the field Then sayde the Lorde Warden vnto Sir Iames Wilforde beholde how prowdly your neyghbours stand before vs Yea quoth Sir Iames if I had but a fewe of my men more with mee I woulde offer them some playe If you will geeue a charge on them saide the Lorde Warden you shall haue as many of my men as you will. But because sir Iames had no experience of their hardinesse hee was lothe to trust vnto them Notwithstandinge in fine he saide that if they woulde followe him hee woulde make a gappe thorough them They promised not to shrinke So there were about 300 appoynted vnto him and he went before them galoping thorough the town in the face of the Castel And the shott came so sharpely from the
the place Decreed that one among the rest should beare the cheefest mace Commaunding euery lady theare to answere to theyr name As they in order should be calde by voyce of noble Fame When this decree proclaymed was and all thinges whus ht and still My greedy eyes to view this sighte coulde neuer gase their fill Then Fame calde for Vlisses wife whereto one sayde strayght waye That dyrefull death with cruell launce had lodgde her corse in claye Then heard I good Cornelia namde and many other calde Some aunswerde here and some by fate in earthy clod were stalde At last by lot the Cryer sayd where is that noble Dame That was the eight king Henries wife and had K. P. to name Wherto a noble English Queene that then was in the place Made aunswere that her mortall lyfe had run the fatall race Then vertue sent foorth saltie teares and bad the Cryer pawse And sayd shee lost the worthiest wight that euer kept her lawes Dame Pacience with wringing handes her dollor did declare And prudent pallas for her parte no paynefull plaints did spare The Muses mooude with mestiue moode resounded dolefull voyce The Graces all with rented heares in langor did reioyce In fyne the whole assembly there in sodayne sorowes were For ech one thought this noble Queene dame Vertues Mace shoulde beare At last stoode vp Virginitie attyred all in whyte Whose countenaunce lyke Phebus beames did yelde a heauenly lyght Unto the iudge dame Vertue shee her minde began to showe with Angels voice and Heauenly grace eche worde shee did bestow O noble Dames leaue off qd shee your dumpyshe dolors staye And licence mee O rightfull iudge somwhat herein to saye With that it was a ioye to see How sorowes were resynde And Vertue bad Virginitie proceede to say her minde Eche one attentiue eare gan bende to heare this noble voice Whose prudent wordes and graue deuyse made all the rest reioyce This was the tale the Goddesse tolde O worthie wightes drawe neere And see the only cause that wee are nowe assembled heere Ye are the troupe and noble trayne that vertue hath embraede Whose endlesse fame for vertues sake shall neuer be defacde Here haue you hearde that auncient dames by fatall stroke are flayne And yet theire names in booke of Fame for euer shall remayne Among the rest Queene Katherin Par so was her Parents name Hath yelde her soule vnto the heauens yet left on earth her fame Unto whose lot it shoulde haue lyght dame Vertues Mace to guyde But cruell Atrops all too soone her noble race enuyde Yet one among this worthie crewe must take the charge in hande whose due desertes for vertuous praise in chiefest place must stande Here is a royall Queene in place whose lyfe I knowe right well within whose brest euen from a babe vnto this day I dwell Whome you O Lady Vertue fyrst committed to my charge When nature made her perfect moulde her skill to shewe at large And whyle vpon this Princely babe in Cradle I attende You Lady Pallas came in haste your heauenly giftes to spende And Caliop with all her Nimphes made haste from Pernas hill For to adorne this peereles peace with perfect learned skill You lady Graces know right well and beare it yet in mynde What haste you made vnto this babe ye fearde to bee behynde In fyne her grace was theare adornde with all your giftes so well That outwarde shape and inwarde giftes Panthora did excell Her father was a royall king graund Captain of the trayne Of all the worthie warlike wights that fame did euer gayne Her noble Mother bare the bell for vertue in her dayes Whose worthie fame with toung and Penn hath reapte immortal prayse And shee a virgin lo doth were the Fathers regall crowne And prudently doth wyeld the sworde with lardge and bright renowne She hath repressed errors blinde and causde Gods worde to shyne Whose noble lyfe from vertues lore did neuer yet declyne Shee best deserues to haue the Mace that vertue meanes bestowe Elizabeth of England Queene you all her grace do knowe And let Queene Katherin Par enioye Fame for her vertuous race And vnto Queene Elizabeth dame vertue yeld thy Mace. No sooner had virginitie this sentence vttred tho But all the reste with one consent sayde Lady be it so Then Vertue prayide the noble Mayde that thus this tale declarde Commaunding scilence to be synde that iudgement myght be harde Then saide the Iudge this is the doome and sentence in this case Queene Katherin Par in booke of Fame shall haue a speciall place And noble Queene Elizabeth as cheefest of my trayne Shall take this Scepter at my hande as meetest for to raygne Hereat this noble heauenly crewe brake vp with greate delyte And I yet holde my Pen in hande Queene Katherins lyfe to wryte ¶ It will happely seeme somewhat straunge vnto thee Gentle Reader that I haue so sclenderly past ouer the treatise of these noble ladies before mencioned whose lyues and noble vertues I can at large descrybe And peraduenture I may bee deemed parciall for mentioning of these and omitting the names of king Henryes other wyues I confesse I haue in my handes a Treatise of all their lyues so farre foorth as tendeth to the commendations of their noble and princely vertues worthie the immitation of all Ladies and gentleweomen But it fareth with mee as with the soare Hauke that keepeth her selfe aloofe from the Faukners fist vntill acquaintaunce hath breed a further familiaritie So if I maye perceiue this beginning to haue thy frindly fauour Thou shalt win mee to thy lure and encourage mee to mount as hygh as I may not bolting aboue my reache lyke rashe Icarus whereby to come tumblinge downe and be drencht in the flood of follye And thus I ende desyring at thy hands nought else but thy good worde in lewe of this my labour Finis ¶ THE HISTORY OF the winning of Hadington in Scotlande An. 2. Reg. Edwardi 6. WHen I had ended this treatise of the moste famous king Henry the eyght and readie to put the same in prynte I chaunced into the company of certaine Capitaines that had serued in king Henries warres in king Edwardes and euersince as often as they haue bene called thereunto And after talke ministred They seemed greatly to lament that so noble a piece of seruyce as was done at Hadington shoulde so sleyghtlye passe thorough the handes of Cronographers Whereupon I being by them earnestly requested haue taken on mee to discourse therof by the instruccions of these sayde Gentlemen who were theare present during all this worthie seruice which well deserueth the name of noble and worthie In so muche that the Frenchemen that then were there to the ayde of the Scottes saye vnto this daye that there are fewe good Soldiers in Englande except those that were at this siege of Hadington preferring the seruice that was then thear before any other that euer they knewe or