by al the states of that counttey but also a broad as namely of Maximilian the Emperor and approued also by the king of Denmarke and by al the Princes of Germany neere about that realme who saw the resonable causes which that common wealth had to proceed as it did And a litle before that the like was practised also in Denmarke agaynst Cisternus ther lawful king if we respect his discent in blood for he vvas sonne to king Iohn that reigned a fore him and crowned in his fathers life but yet afterwards for his intolerable cruelty he vvas depriued and driuen into banishment together with his vvife and three children al vvhich were disinherited his vncle Frederik Prince of Holsatia vvas chosen king whose progeni yet remayneth in the crowne the other though he were marryed to the sister of Charles the fifth last Emperor of that name and vvere of kyn also to king Henry the eight of Ingland yet could he neuer get to be restored but passed his tyme miserably partly in banishment and partly in prison vntil he dyed But it shal be best perhapps to ende this narration with an example or two out of Ingland it selfe for that no where els haue I read more markable accidents touching this poynt then in Ingland and for breuity sake I shal touch only two or three happened since the cōquest for that I wil go no higher though I might as appeareth by the exāple of K. Edwin others nether vvil I beginne to stand much vppon the example of king Iohn though wel also I might for that by his euel gouerment he made himselfe both so odious at home contemptible abroade hauing lost Normandy Gascony Guyenne and al the rest in effect which the crowne of Ingland had in France as first of al he vvas both excommunicated and deposed by sentence of the pope at the sute of his owne people and vvas inforced to make his peace by resigning his crowne into the handes of Pandulfe the popes legate as Polidor recounteth and afterwards faling back agayne to his old defects and naughtie gouerment albeit by his promise to the pope to go and make warr against the Turkes if he might be quiet at home and that his kyngdome should be perpetually tributary to the sea of Rome he procured him to be of his side for a tyme and against the Barōs yet that stayed not them to proceed to his depriuation which they did effectuate first at Canterbury and after at London in the eighteenth last yeare of king Iohns reigne and meant also to haue disinherited his sonne Henry which vvas afterward named king Henry the third and at that tyme a childe of eight yeares old only and al this in punishement of the father yf he had liued and for that cause they called into Ingland Lodouick the Prince of France sonne to king Philip the second and father to Saynt Lewis the nynth and chose him for their king and did sweare him fealtye with general consent in London the yeare of our Lord 1216. And but that the death of king Iohn that presently ensued altered the vvhole course of that designment and moued them to turne their purposes and accept of his sonne Henry before matters were fully established for king Lodowick it vvas most likely that France and Ingland would haue bin ioyned by thes meanes vnder one crowne But in the end as I haue said king Henry the third vvas admitted and he proued a very wor thi king after so euel as had gon before him and had bin deposed which is a circumstance that you must alwayes note in this narration and he reigned more yeares then euer king in Ingland did before or after him for he reigned ful 53. yeares left his sonne heyre Edward the first not inferior to himselfe in manhode vertue vvho reigned 34. yeares and left a sonne named Edward the second vvho falling into the same defects of gouerment or vvorse then king Iohn his great grandfather had donne was after 19. yeares reigne deposed also by act of parlament holden at London the yeare 1326. his body adiudged to perpetual prison in which he was at that present in the castle of vvallingford vvherher diuers both bishops Lordes knights of the Parlament vvere sent vnto him to denounce the sentence of the realme agaynst him to wit how they had deptiued him and chosen Edward his sonne in his place for vvhich act of choosing his sonne he thanked them hartely and vvith many teares acknowledged his owne vnwoorthines wheruppon he was digraded his name of king first taken from him and he appoynted to be called Edward of Carnaruan from that howre forward and then his crowne and ring were taken away and the steward of his house brake the stafe of his office in his presence and discharged his seruants of their seruice and al other people of ther obedience or allegeance toward him and towardes his mayntenance he had only a hundreth markes a yeare allowed for his expences and then was he delyuered also into the hands of certayne particuler keepers vvho led him prisoner from thence by diuers other places vsing him with extreme indignity in the way vntil at last they tooke his life from him in the castle of Barkley and his sonne Edward the third reigned in his place who if we respect eyther valor provvesse length of reigne acts of cheualry or the multitude of famous Princes his children left behinde him vvas one of the noblest kinges that euer Inglād had though he were chosen in the place of a very euel one as you haue séen But vvhat shal we say is this worthines vvhich God giueth commōly to the successors at thes changes perpetual or certayne by discēt no truly nor the example of one Princes punishment maketh an other to beware for the next successor after this noble Edward vvhich vvas king Richard the second though he were not his sonne but his sonnes sonne to wit sonne and heyre to the excellent and renounced black Prince of vvales this Richard I say forgetting the miserable end of his great grand father for euel gouerment as also the felicity and vertue of his father and grand father for the contrary suffered himselfe to be abused and misled by euel councellors to the great hurte disquietnes of the realme For vvhich cause after he had raigned 22. yeares he was also deposed by act of parlamāt holden in London the yeare of our Lord 1399. and condemned to perpetual prison in the castel of Pomfret vvher he was soone after put to death also and vsed as the other before had bin and in this mānes place by free electiō was chosen for king the noble knight Henry Duke of Lācaster who proued afterwards so notable a king as the world knoweth and vvas father to king Henry the fifth surnamed commonly the Alexander of Ingland for that
vve may chance to haue occasion to handle the same agayne and more largely heerafter These poyntes toucheth Highintō thoughe diuers other he leaue vntouched vvhich are of much importāce for the resolusion as whether after the lyne extinguished of kinge Henry the 4. vvhich vvas the eldest sonne of Ihon of Gant ther should haue entered the line of lady Philippe the eldest daughter lawfully begotten of Blanch first wyfe of Ihon of Gant or els the race of Ihon Earle of Somersett yonger sonne by his third vvyfe which then was base borne but legetimated by parlament for of Phillip do come the kinges of Portugal and of Ihon came king Henry the seuenth And againe these pointes had byn to be disputed as vvel touching the succession to the dukedom of Lancaster alone as also to the crowne ioyncely all which articles shal seuerally afterward be handled in ther places and thus much of this booke More then these fower bookes I have not seene vvitten of his affaire though I haue hard of one made in Flanders in the behalfe of the Duke of Parma that is now vvho by his mother disceudeth of the same line of Portugal that the king of Spaine doth and as this book pretendeth if we respect the ordinary course of Inglish lawes in particuler mens inheritances he is to be preferred before the said king or any other of the howse of Portugal for that his mother descended of the yonger sonne and the king of the elder daughter of the king of Portugal and albeit according to the law of Portugal the king vvas adiuged next heyre to that crowne yet say they by our lawes of Ingland he cannot be vvhich after must be examined Thus sayth that book and he alleageth many reasons for the same as it hath bin told me for as I said I neuer came to haue a viewe of the vvhole booke but diuers of his arguments I haue seene laid together which I shal afterwards in place conuenient alleage vnto you vvith the answers censures and replies that the contrary parties do make therunto Diuers other papers notes and memories I haue seene also said he as wel touching the succession of those vvhom I haue named as of others for that Syr Richard Shelly who dyed some yeares a gone in Venice by the name of Lord prior of S. Iohns of Ingland had gathered diuers points touching these affayres many more then he had M. Francis Peto that dyed in Millan and vvas a very curious and wel readen man in genealogies as may appeare by sundry papers that I haue seene of his Their vvant not also diuers in Inglād who haue trauailed much in this busines and I haue had the perusing of some of their labors though I dare not discouer ther names lest therby I should hurt them vvhich vvere not conuenient But one great trouble finde I in them al that euery man seeketh to draw the whole water vnto his owne mill and to make that title alwayes most clere whom he most fauoreth and this vvith so great probability of reason and authority many tymes as it is hard to retayne a mās consent from that which is said vntil he haue read the reasons of the other party and this also is a great proofe of the wonderful ambibiguity and doubtfulnes which in this most important affaire is to be founde And by the way also I had almost forgotten to tel you how that of late I haue lighted vppō a certayne new discourse and treatise made in the behalfe of the king of Spaines eldest daughter whom he had by his wife Isabel the eldest sister of the last king of France vvhich Isabel and her daughter the infanta of Spaine called also Isabel are presumed to be the lawful heyres to the state of Britany and to al other states that by that meanes of Britany or otherwise by vvomen haue come to France or haue or may fal vppon a vvoman of the house of France as the states of Ingland and other states therunto annexed may for that they follow not the law salique of France and so this treatise proueth that by diuers vvayes and for sundry considerations this princesse of Spaine is also of the blood royal of Ingland and may among others be intituled to that crowne by a particuler title of her owne beside the pretence vvhich her father the king or her brother the prince of Spayne haue for them selues by the house of Portugal al vvhich reasons and consideratiōs I shal alleage afterward in ther place tyme or at least-wise the chiefe principal of them And to the end they may be vnderstoode the better as also the clearnes and pretentions of al the rest that haue interest in this affayre I shal first of al for a beginning and foundation to al the rest that shal or may be spoken heerafter set downe by way of historical narration al the discents of our Inglish kings and pretenders that maye important to this our purpose from the conquest vnto our tyme vvhich being cōpared vvith the tree it selfe of genealogies that shal be added in the end of this conference vvil make the matter more playne and pleasant to the reader OF THE SVCCESSION OF THE CROWNE OF INGLAND FROM THE CONQVEST VNTO the tyme of king Edward the third with the beginning of three principallinages of the English blood royal dispersed into the houses of Britanie Lancaster and Yorke CAP. II. NO man is ignorant said the lavvyer how William the Conqueror came to the crowne of Ingland vvhich vvas in deed by dynt of sword though he pretended that he vvas chosen by the vvill and testament of king Edward the confessor But howsoeuer this weare his posterity hath indured vntil this day and two and twenty princes of his race haue vvorne the Inglish crowne after him for the space of more then 5. hundreth yeares and how many more may yet do the same God only knoweth but if vve follow probability vve cannot vvant of them seing his blood is so dipersed ouer the vvorld at this day as by this declaration ensewing vvil appeare This king William according to Polidor and other chronicles of Ingland had by his vvyf Mathilda daughter of Baldwin Earle of Flanders foure sonnes and fiue daughters his eldest sonne vvas Robert vvhom he left duke of Normandie vvho vvas afterward depriued of that dukedome by his yonger and fowerth brother Henry vvhen he came to be king of Ingland His second sonne was Richard that dyed in his youth his third was William surnamed Rufus for that he vvas of redd heare and the fowerth vvas Henrv vvhich two last sonnes vvere both kings of England one after the other as the vvorld knoweth by the names of William the second and Henry the first The Conquerors daughters vvere first Cecilie that vvas a Nonne and the second Constantia that vvas marryed to Alayn surnamed fergant duke of Britanie and the third vvas Adela or Alis marryed
to Stephen countie Palatine of Bloys Champagne and Chartres in France and the other two Polidor saith dyed before they were marryed and so their names vvere not recorded These are the children of king William the Conqueror among whom after his death ther vvas much strife about the succession For first his eldest sonne duke Robert vvho by order of ancestrie by birthe should haue succeded him in al his estares was put back first from the kingdome of Ingland by his third brother William Rufus vppon a pretence of the Conquerors vvil and testament for perticuler affection that he had to this his said third sonne William though as Stow writeth almost al the nobility of Inglande vvere against Williās entrance But in the end agreement vvas made between the two brothers vvithe condition that if William should dye vvithout issue then that Robert should succed him and to this accord both the princes themselues and twelue principal peeres of ech side vvere sworne but yet after when VVilliam dyed vvithout issue this vvas not obserued but Henry the fourth sonne entred and depriued Robert not only of this his succession to Ingland but also of his dukedome of Normandie that he had enioyed peaceably before al the tyme of his brother Rufus and moreouer he toke him prisoner so caryed him into Ingland and ther kept him vntil his death which happened in the castle of Cardif in the yeare 1134. And vvhereas this Duke Robert had a goodly prince to this sonne named VVilliam who vvas duke of Normandy by his father earle of Flanders in the right of his grand mother that was the Cōquerors wife daughter of Baldwin Earle of Flanders as hath bin said and vvas established in both these states by the help of Lewys the 6. surnamed le gros king of France and admitted to do homage to hym for the saide states his vncle king Henry of Englād was so violent against him as first he draue him out of the state of Normandy and secondly he set vp and maynteyned a competitor or two against him in Flanders by whome finally he was slaine in the yeare of Christ 1128. before the towne of Alost by an arrow after he had gotten the vppet hand in the feild and so ended the race of the first sonne of king William the Conqueror to wit of duke Robert vvhich Robert liued after the death of his saide sonne and heyre duke VVilliam six yeares in prison in the castel of Cardife and pyned avvay vvith sorrow and miserie as both the Frenche and Inglishe histories do agree The second sonne of the Conqueror named Richard dyed as before hath bin sayde in his fathers tyme and left no issue at al as did neither the third sōne Williā Rufus though he reigned 13. yeares after his father the Conqueror in which tyme he established the successiō of the crowne by consent of the stares of Ingland to his elder brother duke Roberts issue as hath bin saide though afterward it was not obserued This Kinge Rufus came to the crowne principally by the help and fauour of Lanfrancus Archbishop of Canterbury who greatly repēted himselfe afterward of the error vvhich in that point he had committed vppō hope of his good gouerment which proued extreeme euel But this king William Rufus being slayne afterward by the error of a crosbow in newforest as is vvel knowne and this at such tyme as the foresaid duke Robert his elder brother to vvhom the crowne by succession apparteyned was absent in the vvarr of the holy land vvher according as most authors do vvrit he vvas chosen king of Hierusalem but refused it vppon hope of the kingdome of Ingland But he returning home foūde that his fowerth brother Henry partly by fayre promises and partly by force had inuaded the crowne in the yeare 1100. and so he reygned 35. yeares and had issue diuers sonnes and daughters but al vvere either drowned in the seas comming out of Normandie or els dyed otherwise before their father except only Mathildis vvho vvas first marryed to Henry the Emperor fift of that name and after his death without issue to Geffrey Platagenet duke of Anjow Tourayne and Mayne in France by whom she had Henry which reigned after king Stephen by the name of Henry the second and thus much of the sonnes of William the Conqueror Of his two daughters that lyued to be maryed and had issue the elder named Constance vvas maryed to Alayn fergat duke of Britanie vvho vvas sonne to Hoel earle of Nantes and vvas made duke of Britanie by VVilliam Cōquerors meanes in manner following Duke Robert of Normandy father to the Conqueror vvhen he went in pilgrimage vnto the holy land in which voyage he dyed left for gouernour of Normandy vnder the protection of king Henry the first of france duke Alayne the first of Britanie vvhich Allayn had issue Conan the first vvho being a stirringe prince of about 24. yeares old when duke VVilliam began to treat of passing ouer into Ingland he shewed himselfe not to fauour much that enterprise which duke VVilliam fearing caused him to be poysoned vvith a payre of perfumed gloues as the French stories do report and caused to be set vp in his place and made duke one Hoel earle of Nantes who to gratifie VVilliam sent his sonne Alaine surnamed Fergant with 5000. souldiars to passe ouer into Ingland vvith him and so he did VVilliam afterward in recompēce heer-of gaue him his eldest daughter Constantia in mariage vvith the earldome of Richmond by vvhom he had issue Conan the second surnamed le gros who had issue a sonne and a daughter The sonne vvas called Hoel as his grand father was and the daughters name was Bertha marryed to Eudo Earle of 〈◊〉 in Normandy for that this duke Conan liked better his daughter and his sonne in law her husband then he did Hoel his owne sonne he disauowed him in his death bedde and made his said daughter his heyre who had by the said Eudo a sonne named Conan surnamed the yonger which vvas the third duke of that name and this man had one only daughter and heyre named Lady Constance who whas marryed to the third sonne of king Henry the second named Geffrey elder brother to king Ihon that after came to rayne by this Lord Geffrey she had issue Arthur the second duke of Britanie whom king Iohn his vncle put back from the crowne of Ingland and caused to be put to death as after shal be shewed and he dying without issue his mother Constance duchesse heyre of Britanie marryed agayne vvith a prince of her owne house vvhom after vve shall name in the prosecution of this lyne and by him she had issue that hath indured vntil this day the last vvherof hitherto is the lady Isabella infanta of Spaine that other of Sauoy her sister whom by this meanes we se to haue
discended from king VVilliam the Cōqueror by his eldest daughter lady Cōstance as also by diuers other participations of the blood royal of Ingland as aftervvards vvil appeare Now then to come to the second daughter of king VVilliam the Conqueror or rather the third for that the first of al vvas a Nonne as before hath byn noted her name vvas Adela or Alis as hath bin saide and she vvas marryed in France to Stephen counte Palatin of Champagne Charters and Bloys by whom she had a sonne called also Stephen vvho by his grand mother was earle also of Bollayne in Picardie and after the death of his vncle king Henry of Ingland vvas by the fauour of the Inglish nobility and especially by the helpe of his owne brother the Lord Henry of Bloys that vvas Bishop of Winchester and iointly Abbot of Glastenbury made kinge of England and this both in respect that Mathilda daughter of king Henry the first was a woman and her sonne Henry duke of Anjou a very childe one degree farther of from the Conqueror and from kings Rufus then Stephen vvas as also for that this king Henry the first as hath bin signified before vvas iudged by many to haue entred vvrongfully vnto the crowne and therby to haue made both himselfe and his posterity incapable of succession by the violence vvhich he vsed against both his elder brother Robart and his nephew duke VVilliam that vvas sonne and heyte to Robert vvho by nature and law were bothe of them held for soueraintes to Iohn by those that fauored them and their pretentions But yet howsoeuer this were we see that the duke of Britany that liued at that day should euidently haue succeded before Stephen for that he was discended of the elder daughter of the Conqueror and Stephen of the yonger though Stephen by the commodity he had of the neernes of his porte and hauen of Bullayne vnto Ingland as the French stories do saye for Calys vvas of no importance at that tyme and by the frendship and familiarity he had gotten in Ingland during the raigne of his two vncles king Rufus and king Henry and especially by the help of his brother the Bishop and Abbot as hath bin said he gat the start of al the rest and the states of Ingland admitted him This man although he had two sonnes namely Eustachius duke of Normandy and William earle of Norfolk yet left they no issue And his daughter Marie was maried to mathew of Fladers of whom if any issue remaines it fell afterward vppon the house of Austria that succeded in those states To king Stephen who left no issue succeded by compositiō after much warre Henry duke of Aniou sonne and heyre to Mathilda before named daughter of Henry the first which Henry named afterward the second tooke to wife Elenor daughter and heyre of VVilliam duke of Aquitaine earle of Poytiers which Elenor had bin marryed before to the king of France Lewis the 7. and bare him two daughters but vppon dislike conceaued by the one against the other they were deuorced vnder pretēce of being within the fowerth degree of consanguinitye and so by second marriage Elenor vvas vvife to this said Henry who afterward was king of Ingland by name of K. Henry the fecōd that procured the deathe of Thomas Becket archebishope of Canterbury and vvas both before and after the greatest enimye that euer Lewis the king of France had in the vvorld and much the greater for his marriage by vvhich Henry vvas made far stronger for by this woman he came to be duke of al Aquitaine that is of Gascony and Guyene and earle of al the coūtrey of Poytiers wheras beforealso by his fathers inheritance he vvas duke both of Anjou Tourayne and Mayne by his mother Mathilda king Henries daughter of Ingland he came to be king of Ingland duke of Normandie and by his owne industry he gat also to be lord of Ireland as also to bring Scotland vnder his homage so as he enlarged the kingdome of Ingland most of any other king before or after him This king Henry the second as Stow reconteth had by Lady Elenor fyue sonnes and three daughters His eldest sonne vvas named VVilliam that dyed yonge his seconde vvas Henry vvhom he caused to be crowned in his owne life tyme vvherby he receaued much trouble but in the end this sonne died before his father without issue His third sonne vvas Richard surnamed for his valour Cor de leon who reigned after his father by the name of Richard the first and died vvithout issue in the yeare of Christ 1199. Hys fovverth sonne named Geffrey maried lady Constance daughter and heyre of Britanie as before hath bin said and dying left a sonne by her named Arthur which vvas duke of Britanie after him and pretended also to be king of Ingland but vvas put by it by his vncle Iohn that tooke him also prisoner and kept him so in the castel first of fallaise in Normandie and then in Roan vntil he caused him to be put to death or slew him vvith his owne hands as Frēch stories vvrite in the yeare 1204. This duke Arthur left behind him two sisters as Stow writeth in his chronicles but others write that it was but one and at least wise I fynde but one named by the french stories which vvas Elenor whom they saye king Iohn also caused to be muthered in Ingland a a litle before her brother the duke vvas put to death in Normandie and this was the end of the issue of Geffrey whose vvife Constance duchesse of Britanie marryed againe after this murther of her children vnto one Guy Vicond of Touars and had by him two daughters wherof the eldest named Alis was duchefse of Britanie by vvhome the race hath bin continued vnto our tyme. The fift sonne of king Henry the second was named Iohn who after the death of his brother Richard by help of his mother Elenor and of Hubert Archbishop of Canterbury drawen therunto by his said mother gat to be king and put back his nephew Arthur vvhom king Richard before his departure to the war of the holy land had caused to be declared heyre apparent but Iohn preuayled and made away both nephew and Neece as before hath bin saide for which fact he vvas detested of many in the world abroade and in France by acte of parlament depriued of al the states he had in those partes Soone after also the pope gaue sentence of depriuation against him and his owne barons tooke armes to execute the sentence and finally they deposed both him and his yong sonne Henry being then but a child of 8. yeares old and this in the 18. yeare of his reigne and in the yeare of Christ 1215. and Levvis the 8. of that name prince at that tyme but afterward king of France was chosen king of Ingland sworne in Londō and
France and her father the king of spaine should be better able to defend and recouer his or her right to the crowne of Ingland then Eleanor his owne sister should be who vvas also in the handes of his said vncle for that he supposed that she also should be made away by him shortly after as in deede the french chronicle affirmeth that she vvas and howsoeuer this matter of duke Arthurs testament were yet certaine it is that vvhen he and his sister vvere put to death the next in kynne that could succeede them in their right to Ingland vvas this lady Blanch and her mother Queene Elenor that was sister to Arthurs father Geffrey duke of Britanie For that king Iohn their vncle was presumed by al men to be vncapable of their inheritance by his putting of them to death and child yet he had none and this is the second pointe that these men do deduce for the lady Infanta of Spayne by the title of Queence Eleanor and her daughter Blanch to whom the Infanta is next heyre A third interest also the same men do deriue to the Infanta by the actual deposition of king Iohn by the Barons and states of his Realme in the 16. yeare of his reigne and by the election and actual admission of Lewis prince of Frāce husband of the foresaid lady Blanch whom they chose with one consent and admitted and swore him fealtic and obedience in London for him and for his heyres and posteritie in the yeare 1217. and gaue him possession of the said citie and Tower of London and of many other cheefe places of the realme albeit afterwatd the most parte of the realme chainged their myndes agayne vppon the suddaine death of the said king Iohn and chose and admitted his yong sonne Henry the third a child of nync yeares old yet do the fauourers of the Infanta say that their remayneth to her as heyre vnto the said Lewis vntil this day that interest which by this election oth and admission of the realme remained vnto this prince Lewis which these men affirme to be the very like case as was that of Hugo Capetus in France who came to be king especially vppon a certayne title that one of his ancestors named Odo earle of Parris had by being once elected king of France and admitted and sworne though afterward he were deposed agayne and yong Charles surnamed the simple was admitted in his place as Henry the third was in England after the election of this Lewis But yet as the other continued euer his right and clayme vntil it was restored to Hugo Capetus one of his race so say these men may this Infanta cōtinew and renew now the demaund of this right of king Lewis her ancester for that titles and interestes to kingdomes once rightly gotten do neuer dye but remaine euer for the posterity to effectuate when they can thus much of this matter But after this againe these men do shew how that the said Infanta of Spayne doth discende also from Henry the third sonne of king Iohn by the dukes of Britanie as before in the secōd chapter hath bin declared and in the arbor and genealogie following in the end of this conference shal be seene for that king Henry besides his two sonnes Edward and Edmond which were the beginners of the two houses of Yorke and Lancaster had also a daughter named Lady Beatrix married to Iohn the second of that name duke of Britanie and by him she had Arthur the second and so lineally from him haue descended the princes of that house vntil theire vnion with the crowne of France and from thence vnto this lady Infanta of Spayne that now is who taketh herselfe for proper heyre of the said house of Britanie and heyre general of France as hath bin said By this third coniunction then of the house of Britanie with the blood royal of Ingland the frendes of the Infanta do argue in this manner that seing she discendeth of the sister of these two brothers which were the heades of the two opposite houses of Lancaster and Yorke and considering that each of these houses hath oftentymes bin attainted excluded from the succession by sondry actes of parlament and at this present are opposite and at contention among themselues why may not this right of both houses say these men by way of composition peace and comprimise at least be passed ouer to the issue of their sister vvhich resteth in the Infanta Agayne they saye that al these three branches of the lines of Inglish kings to wit by the lady Constance daughter of king William Conqueror by the lady Elenor daughter of king Henry the second and by the lady Beatrix daughter of king Henry the third it is euidēt that this lady the infanta of Spaine is of the true and ancient blood royal of Ingland and that diuers wayes she may haue clayme to the same vvhich being graunted they inferr that seing matters are so doubtful at this day about the next lawful succession and that diuers of the pretendores are excluded some for bastardie some other for religion some for vnaptnes to gouerne and some for other causes seing the common wealth hath such authoritie to dispose in this affaire as before the Ciuil lawyer hath declared why may there not consideration be had among other pretenders of this noble princesse also saie these men especially seing she is vnmarried and may therby cōmodate many matters and salue many breaches satisfie many hopes and giue contentment to many desires as the vvorld knoweth And this is in effect as much as I haue hard alleaged hitherto in fauour of the Infanta of Spayne but against this pretence others do produce diuers arguments and obiections as first of al that these her clayme 's be very old and vvorne out and are but collateral by sisters Secondly that she is a stranger and allien borne Thirdly that her religion is cōtrary to the state vnto al which obiections the fauourers aforesaid do make their answeres and to the first they say that antiquity hutteth not the goodnes of a title vvhen occasion is offred to aduāce the same especially in titles apperteyning to kingdomes which commonly are neuer presumed to dye as hath bin said and nullum tempus occurrit Regi saith our law And as for collateral lines they say that they may lawfully be admitted to enter when the direct lynes do eyther fayle or are to be excluded for other iust respects as in our case they hold that it happeneth And as for the second pointe of forraine birth they saye there hath bin sufficient answered before in treating of the house of Scotland that in rigor it is no barr by intention of any Inglish law yet whether in reasō of state politique gouerment it may be a iust impedimēt or no it shal after be handled more al large vvhen we come to treat of the house of Portugal
with the course of that Lord hitherto and do thinke that they should do much better with his brother if so be he shal be thought more fitt yet are thease things vncertaine as we see but not withstanding such is the nature and fashon of man to hope euer great matters of youthes especially Princes God send al iust desires to take place and with this I wil ende and passe no further hoping that I haue performed the effect of my promisse made vnto you at the beginninge FINIS A â—â—rfect and exact Arbor and geneaâ—â—gie of al the Kynges Queenes and Prinâ—â—â— of the blood royal of EnglaÌ„d from the tâ—me of William the conqueror vnto our tâ—â—e wherby are to be seene the groundes oâ—â— the pretenders to the same crowne at thiâ—â—aye accordinge to the booke of M. R. Dâ—â—man set foorthe of the sayde pretenders and their seueral claymes this present yeare 1594. The ancient howses of the blood royal of England are the howse of Lancaster that beareth the redd rose and the howse of Yorke that beareth the vvhyte and then the howse of Britanie and France ioyned in one And out of these are made fiue particular howses which are the howse of ScotlaÌ„d of Suffolke of Clarence of Britanie of Portugal and in these are twelue different persons that by waye of succission do pretende eche one of theÌ„ to be next after her Maiestie that now is as by the booke appeareth Polyd in vita H. s. OccasioÌ„s of meeting The matter of succession discussed M. Bromely M. V VeÌ„rvvorth Tvvo lavvers Many pre tendors to the crovvne of InglaÌ„d SuccessioÌ„ doubtful vvhy Three or fovver principal heades of praetendors 1. Lancaster 2. Yorke 3. The tvvo houses ioyned Circumstances of the tyme present The Roman conclaue SuccessioÌ„ includeth also some kinde of election Of this more aftervvards Cap 4. 5. Neernes only in blood not sufficient More to be considered besides succession in the pretendors Tvvo principal pointes handled in this booke Tvvo partes of this conference Bellay apollog pro reg cap. 20. Not only successioÌ„ sufficient That no perticuler forme of gouermeÌ„t is of natu re To liue in company is natural to man the grouÌ„d of al com moÌ„ vvealthes Plato de repub Cicero de repub Aristotle polit Diuers praefes 1. InclinatioÌ„ vniuersal Pompon Mesa lib. 3. cap. 3. 4 Tacit. l. 8. 2. Aristot. l. 1. pol. c. 1. 2. 3. 4. Imbecilility of man Theoph. lib. de Plaut Plu tarch coÌ„de fortuna lib. de pietatem in parent Note this saying of Aristotle 4. The vse of iustice and FreÌ„ship Cicero lib. de amicitia The vse of charity helping one an other August lib. de amicitia Gen. 2. v. 18. That gouermeÌ„t iurisdiction of Magestrats is also of nature Necessity Iob 10. v. 12. 2. Consent of natioÌ„s Cicero li. 1. de natu ra DeoruÌ„ 3. The ciuil lavv Lib. 1. digest tit 2. 1. Scripture Prou. 2. Rom. 13. Particuler forme of gouermeÌ„t is free Arist. li. 2. polit Diuersitie of gouerment in diuers coÌ„tryes and tymes Rome Africa Greece Italie Dukes for kings and kings for dukes Spayne Boeme Polonia England The Ievves lib. Genes Lib. Exo. Lib. Iob. Lib. Iud. Lib. 1. Reg. Lib. Machab The realme chuseth her forme of gouermeÌ„t The common vvealth limiteth the gouernors authority A Natural Prince A monarchy the best gouerment A rist li. 4. pol. a. c. 9. Seneca Plutarch The antiquity of Monarchy 1 Reg. 8. Dionys. Haly l. 5. Cornel. Tacit. l. 3. Cicero l. 1. Offic. Hierom. l. 2. epist. 12 Chrisost. ho. 23. 1. Pet. 2. Tvvo poyntes to be noted Hovv S. Peter calleth a king most excellent Vtilites of a kingdome and in conueniences of other gouermentes Cicerol x offic Democratia Miseries of populer gouerment in Italy Aristocratia 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 l. 30. Eutrop. l. 3. Oros. l. 5. 6. The cause vvhy lavves be added to Kings Arist. l. 3. pol. c. vlt. A notable saying Arist. l. 3. Pol. c. 12. Arist. l. 1. Pol. c. 2. Diuers names propeties of lavves Cie lib. 2. offic Lavv is the discipline of a vveale pu blique Psal. 2. The CouÌ„cels of Princes a great healp Arist. l. 4. Pol. c. 10. The monarchie of Inglad reÌ„pered The restraints of kingly po vver in al estates Roman Kings Liu. lib. 1. dec 1. Grecian kings Arist. li. 2. c. 8. polit Plutarch in Lycurg Cic. lib. 2. 〈◊〉 Ciclib 3. de 〈◊〉 Restraints of kingdomes in Europe Sleydan lib. 8. An. 1532. Blond Di cad 2. li. 3 Crant li. cap. 25. Kingdomes of polonia and Boemia Herbert li. 9. hist. Polon Cromerus lib. 3. Hist. Polon Kinges of Spayne Fraunce and Ingland Concil blet 4. c. 74. coÌ„cil s. c. 3. Peculiar manner of succession An. 1340. Paul Anil hist. Franc. l. 2. Gerard. du Hayllan lib. 14 hist. FraÌ„c Fran. Belfor llb. 5. cap. 1. An. 1327. Reasons for succession of vvomen The infanta of Spayne Prince of Lorayne Gerard du Haillan Lib. 13. Hist. FraÌ„c Anno 1317. lib. 14. An. 1328. lib. 3. de l'Estat defrunaee Kings lavvfully possessed may be depriued A markable circuÌ„stance Agaynst rebellious people and contemnors of Princes 〈◊〉 flateries 〈◊〉 by Bellay others Belloy in apolog cath apolog pro rege The purpose of the next Chapter Tvvo pointes to be proued Nothing hear spokeÌ„ against devv respect to Princes Depriuations of kings recounted in scriptu re 1. Reg. 31. 4. Reg. 21. 44. King Iosias 2. Paralip 34. 〈◊〉 2. Paralip 35. King Dauid XenophoÌ„ in Cyropaed Nich. Machal l. 2. c. 2. in Tit. Liuius August l. de Gran. The vvisdome and piety of King Dauid 1. Paralip 15. 1. Psal. 24. 25. Thearmes of King Dauid His valor in chiualry King Dauides victoires 2. Reg. 8. Paral. 18 〈◊〉 2. Reg. 23 Ioseph l. 7 antiq c. 10 2. Reg. 7. His humi lity charity and dc uotion Kings pur doune among the romaÌ„s vvhat successors they had Halicar l. 1. Tertul. li. de praescrip contta haeres Iustin. martyr apolog Tit. liu li. 1. dec 〈◊〉 Eutrop. l. 1. Caesar Au gustus Dion in Caesa. Sueton in Caesa. Nero Vespatian Cornel. Tacit. lib. 20. 21. Egesip l. 5 Eutrop. in vita Caesa. Heliogabolus An. DnÌ„i 124. Alius laÌ„p in vita Heliog AlexaÌ„der Seuerus Herod in vit seuen MaxeÌ„tiua Constantin The chan ge of the east empy re Charles the greate An. 800. Tvvo changs in France Belfor l. 1 Girard l. 3 AEmil l. 2 Clem. Baudin en la chro mique des Roys de France Reasons of depriuation Hugo 〈◊〉 anno 988. Examples of Spayne Concil Tolet. 4. cap. 4. Ambros moral 1. II cap. 17. Isidor in 〈◊〉 hispan Esteuan de Garibay 1. 13 de la hist. de Espa. c. 15. Tabulae Astron. Alfonsinae King Don Alonso deposed Don Pedro cruel deposed Garibay l. 14. c. 40. 41. In Portugal King DoÌ„ Sancho 2. deposed Garibay lib. 4 de hist. Portug c. 19. Lib