in Sussex Surry and Wilshire but were soone appeased without much hurt done only the Wilshire men upon the nine and twenteth day of Iune drew William Askots Bishop of Salisbury from the high altar celebrating Masse in Edington Church in his albe with his stole about his necke to the top of the hill and their inhumanly murdered him Their rage having blinded their reason banisht humanitie and drowned all pitty they stripped him naked every one of his tenants striving to have a peece of his bloody shirt not as others to have the relikes of the Martyr to celebrate his memory but as glorying in their owne villany they having the day before robbed his carriage and taken the sum of ten thousand marks The French King taking hold of these disorders in England winneth out of their hands all whatsoever was in their possession in France no succour though often and earnestly by writing and Messengers required being sent unto them so that England at this time suffred a totall eclipse of glory in France They every day loosing more or lesse untill they had nothing left in France to loose but the Towne of Callice and the Castles of Hames and Gnynes so that King Henry the Fifts propheticke declaration that what Henry of Monmouth got in France Henry of Windsor should lose was now verified The Duke of Somerset having so well discharged his place of Regency that hee had lost but few men but consumed much Treasure and kept never a Towne commeth into England and at a Parliament which began at Westminster the sixt of November was put under arrest upon notice whereof the commons of London despoiled his house at Black-fryers and ransacked the same making havocke of all things untill Proclamation was made on pain of death that no man should meddle with any the Dukes houses or stuffe and one for disobeying the Proclamation was beheaded at the Standard in Cheape The Duke of Yorke under pretence of comming to this Parliament came out of Ireland and at London had private conference with Iohn Duke of Norfolke Richard Earle of Salisbury the Earle of Devon and other his assured Friends where it was resolved to keepe the chiefe purpose the pretence to the Crowne secret and only make shew of his endevours to bee bent to remove those from the Councell of the King that had so dishonoured the Realme and wasted the revenewes of the Crowne in losing so many good Townes in France and doing nothing worthy their place or credit they held about the King whereof the Duke of Somerset must bee the chiefe man to bee instanced and the rather for that hee was in great contempt of the Commons and was the only hee that opposed the Duke of Yorke in all things The Duke having layed the foundation of this his so long intended enterprise sent divers Letters unto the King wherein hee intimated the many unworthy proceedings plotted against him by his enemies whereby they had well-nie if hot altogether withdrawne his Majesties affection from him and though hee were and was ready to lay downe his life at the Kings command as a testimony of his ever to continue loyalty yet by their secret and dishonourable practises they had besmeared his honour with suspition of his integrity which was a griefe unutterable and an injury unsupportable That his patience abused might turne to furie neverthelesse his only request was to know his accuser and either to have libertie to defie him and make good his challenge by the law of Armes or bee permitted to take that course for the reparation of his Honour as was appertaining to his condition and birth To this the King maketh answer that hee would take his complaint of wrongs into consideration and endevour to give him faire satisfaction but withall somewhat blames him for the death of the Bishop of Chester by his meanes suspected to bee slaughtered and of dangerous speeches uttered by his servants tending to rebellion concluding that notwithstanding any thing said or done to the contrary he did take and esteeme him as a faithfull subject and a loving kinsman The Duke of Yorke not herewith satisfied intending at once both to promulgate his protestation and display his colours departeth into Wales and there levieth men making his colour for the good of the Common-wealth and the removing the bad Councellers that sought the ruine of his subjects from the Kings Councell Newes hereof being brought the King with the Duke of Somerset now enlarged with an Army marched towards Wales whereof the Duke of Yorke having notice by his Scoutes which way the King came by a contrarie way marched towards LONDON but having from thence received advertisements that hee would bee prohibited entrance hee past the River Thames at Kingstone bridge and marched into Kent expecting there to find many friends at least partakers and encamped upon Burnt heath The King in his pursuit came to Blackheath and there pitcht his Tents From whence the King sent the Bishops of Winchester and Ely the Lord Rivers and Richard Andrews the keeper of the Privie Seale to know the cause of this Commotion and to make offer of reconcilement if the Dukes Demaunds were consonant to reason The Duke made answer that there was nothing intended that might bee prejudiciall to the Kings person his Crowne or Dignitie nor to the hinderance of any good man but to remove certaine blood-suckers evill disposed persons oppressours of the poore and infamous impostors from about the King but especially Edmond Duke of Somerset whom if the King would bee but pleased to commit to Ward untill by a legall tryall in Parliament hee might receive judgement of such treasonable crimes as should then and there bee proved against him that then he would not only dismisse his Army but come unto his presence as a true and loyall subject in dutie was bound so to doe and to tender him all befitting service Hereupon the Duke of Somerset is committed to prison the Duke of Yorke dismisseth his Army and commeth in person to the King where finding the Duke of Somerset in the Presence hee chargeth him with Treason The Duke of Somerset denieth the accusation and recriminates the Duke of Yorke to have conspired the death of the King and the usurpation of the Crowne The King removeth to London and the Duke of Yorke as a prisoner rode before the King but the Duke of Somerset at liberty which ministred much occasion of heart-burning amongst the friends of Yorke The King calleth a Councell at Westminster where the Dukes are earnest in accusing each other Somerset instantly craved of the Councell that the Duke of Yorke might by compulsion or otherwise bee made to confesse his Conspiracy and to doome him to condigne punishment and his children taken as enemies to their country as the only meanes to represse the so much to bee feared civill dissention This hee with great show of vehemency urged but not how true soever to
language provoked the Victor but one bad word begat another and from foule words they fell to fouler blowes The Maior observing the mover to be the Pryors servant not only commanded the Kings peace in generall to be observed but perceiving by the Priors countenance that he did abet his servants insolency he commanded Richard Ally one of the Sheriffs to lay hold upon the Priors servant who did so and delivered him to one of his officers from whom by the Priors servants and others their partakers the prisoner was in danger to be reskued so as the Sheriffe craved assistance of the Maior who with his brethren and officers and servants valiantly assisted the Sheriffe in the execution of his office whilst the Prior hasted to Saint Iohns from whence and Clerkenwell he under the guide of one Callice a desperate swaggerer sent a number of Bowmen to resist the Maior upon whose approach great bloodshed and some slaughter was committed the Maiors cap was shot thorow with an arrow hee neverthelesse couragiously did his devoire in encouraging the Citizens and apprehending some of the mutiners whom he sent to Newgate and put the rest to flight which being done he commeth to his Pavilion would have had the sports goe on but the Wrastlers were out of breath or hurt so that none came neverthelesse Sir Iohn Norman the Maior told his Brethren that he would stay a while to make triall of the Citizens respect towards him for if they came to his reskue though it needed not yet they would expresse their love or their neglect if otherwise he had no sooner said so when the Citizens with Banners displayed came in great numbers to him and fetcht him home in great triumph This was that Maior which first began to goe by water to Westm. to take his oath in that manner as is at this day used wheras before that time they used to go by land This Maior againe was troubled by the Sanctuary men of S. Martins which not without some bloodshed a great deale of industry on his part was with the publick punishmēt of some of the ringleaders appeased But upon the neck of that began the quarrel in Holborne betwixt the Gentlemen of the Innes of Chauncery and some Citizens in appeasing of which the Queenes Attourney and three more were slaine But these were but Peccadelloes to the deformities made in civill societies by civill dissentions the yeare following For now began the sparke that fell into the bundell of flaxe at Somersets going Regent into France to flame out For first Yorke by all meanes laboureth to stirre up the hatred of the Commons against Somerset inculcating in their eares who are apt enough upon losses in warres to accuse the Leaders of some crime of neglect or other what dishonour England sustained by Somersets dishonourable giving over by composition the strong townes of Normandy to these hee addeth favour with the King and Queene which hee imployeth saith hee to his owne gaine and the Commons griefe and so having anticipated with his speeches their apprehensions hee addresseth himselfe to those of the Nobilitie that could not well brooke the too much commanding power of Somerset over the King and Queenes affections for what hee told the Queene was beleeved and what she told the King must bee true amongst others the Duke of Yorke fasteneth upon the two Nevills both Richards the Father and the sonne the one Earle of Salisbury the other Earle of Warwicke The Earle of Salisbury was second sonne of Ralph Nevill Earle of Westmerland whose Daughter the Duke of Yorke had married And this Richard was married to Alice Daughter and only heire of Thomas Mountacute Earle of Salisbury slaine in France with these hee deales so effectually that an undissoluble knot of friendship is knit betwixt them by whose assistance the King lying dangerously sicke at Claringdon the Duke of Somerset is arrested in the Queenes great Chamber of treason and sent to keepe his Christmasse in the Tower and a Session of Parliament at Westminster now convoked Somerset is appeached of treason and many heynous crimes objected but the King though weake is brought to London to dissolve the Parliament After which the Duke of Somerset is againe set at libertie which more incenseth the Duke of Yorkes choler and inciteth others more to be cholericke and the rather for that Somerset in-stead of receiving of punishment for the losse of Normandy is entrusted with the sole remainder of our interest in France and preferred to be Captaine thereof to lose that too say his enemies of the whole Common-wealth they assemble a great power and therewith march towards London The King being assured it was no good policie to suffer the Duke to approach London wherein he had by his long practises got no small party resolves to stop him on the way and accompanied with the Duke of Somerset and attended by the Duke of Buckingham and his Sonne both named Humphry Henry Earle of Northumberland Iames Earle of Wiltes Iasper Earle of Penbrooke and two thousand fighting men march forward both Armies meet at Saint Albones The Duke and the Lords encampe without the Towne in a place called Keyfield the King pitched his Standard in a place called Goseslow the Lord Clifford kept the end of the towne which hee barrcadoed The Duke in the morning sent a Letter unto the King stuft with many protestations of fidelitie and sinceritie offering to give testimony thereof in any thing so please his Majestie to give due punishment to those that have abused his favour and dishonoured the Realme and that so be witched him especially the Duke of Somerset that nothing his loyall subject can either say or doe can make him give credence to their true relations against Somerset the delivery of him into their hands to stand or fall by the judgement of his Peeres is all they desire that they will have or die in the pursuit The King for answer commands them to disband and submit to his mercy and not expect any in his Army to be delivered to their wills for he will rather lose his life then any should bee wronged for their loves that were with him Here with the Duke acquaints his friends who afore resolved and now prepared fell every one to his quarter the Earle of Warwicke with his March-men fell upon the Lord Cliffords quarter driving downe all afore them for that wanting roome to use their weapons the Kings partie was much disadvantaged the Duke of Somerset hasting to the reskues was slaine and with him the Earle of Northumberland Humphry Earle of Stafford the Lord Clifford and about five thousand The Kings army being encreased after his comming forth to eight thousand but now they are all dispersed and slaine and the King unguarded left in a poore thatched house whither to bee freed from the arrowes flying hee had withdrawne himselfe The Duke of Yorke having notice where the King was comes with
In the meane time as it was before agreed upon The Earle of Salisburie with about five thousand men marcheth through Lancashire to passe that way to the King and to acquaint him with the affront offred to his sonne and the inveterate malice discovered in the Queene against him The Queene with the Dukes of Somerset and Buckingham gave order unto the Lord Audley to apprehend Salisbury sending to him as to that end she had provided many badges of a white Swan for a publick expression of being firme to her and her sonne one badge thereof for himselfe and divers other to bestow on such well deservers as should by him be approved of whereupon he levieth of Cheshire and Shropshire ten thousand men with which about a mile from Drayton in a plaine called Bloreheath he attended the Earle there being a small brooke but of some depth between them Earlie in the morning the Earle made a seeming retreat which the Lord Audley observing he presently causeth his troopes to passe the river but before they could be reduced againe in order the Earle with his whole strength falls upon them and with the slaughter of the Lord Audley and most of them that had past the river he discomfited the residue there were slaine about foure and twenty hundred of them Sir Iohn and Sir Thomas Nevil Knights the Earles sonnes are sore wounded who with Sir Thomas Harrington travayling into the North Country were apprehended and sent as prisoners towards Chester But upon a message sent from the March-men their keepers quickly released them The Duke of Yorke now begins to resent these proceedings and resolveth no longer to be looker on but like a free gamester to venter a Cast for all he levies men makes preparation to take the field sends to Salisbury to doe the like who sends to Warwicke and all resolue to set up their rest amongst others of approved valiancy that Warwicke had brought from Callice with him were two principall noted men for direction and policy Andrew Trollop and Iohn Blunt The armie in the marches of Wales neere Shropshire are strongly encamped The King with the Dukes of Somerset and Exceter the chiefe of the Lancastrian family draw their forces to Worcester from whence Richard Beuchampe Bishop of Salisbury is sent to offer the Yorkists a full and generall pardon if they would give over this enterprise and become loyall subjects this message was answered that there was no trust in the Kings pardons as long as the hen crowed therefore they durst not submit unto them but if any course might be given them of assurance of their safety they would expresse their loyaltie and render themselves at his service The King thereupon advanceth neerer and approching the Lords army he causeth Proclamation to be made that whosoever would abandon the Duke of Yorke should be received to mercy and have pardon whereupon the night following Andrew Trollop with all the Callicians submit to the King and by him are all the counsels of the Duke of Yorke discovered which so much discouraged the Duke of Yorke that he with his young sonne the Earle of Rutland fled first into Wales then into Ireland the Earles of March Salisbury and Warwicke got into Devonshire where by the meanes of Iohn Dinham they were shipt from Exmouth to Gernsey and so to Callice where they were well entertained The King pardons all the common Souldiers makes some exemplary punishment of few Captains sendeth the Dutches of York her two younger children to the Dutches of Buckingham her sister to be safely kept then having spoyled the town and Castle of Ludlow he dismist his Army A Parliament is convoked at Coventry in which amongst other things the Duke of Yorke and all his confederates are convict of treason all their lands goods seized on to the Kings use Henry Duke of Somerset the inheritour with his fortunes of his Fathers favour with the Queen by her means is made Captain of Callice whither comming to take possession of his new charge he was forced to retire out of the harbour the Ordnance from Ricebank playing so hot upon him The Queen herewith much incensed in heat of passion giveth order to furnish and make ready all the Kings ships lying at Sandwich to give assistance to Somerset but the before-mentioned Iohn Dinham with his Westerne Mariners who all well affected the Earle of March bourded those ships in the harborand tooke the Lord Rivers who was designed Admirall for that service and carried both him and the ships to Callice from whence the Earle sayled to Ireland to the Duke of Yorke where having conferred and concluded what course to take he returned to Callice the new Admirall the Duke of Exceter not daring to stop his course in his returne Sir Simon Momford was appointed to guard the Cinque-ports having divers ships under his command to bar the Earle of Warwicks entrance but the Earle by his espialls having perfect intelligence of all passages fell suddenly upon Sir Simon before his ships were full ready tooke him prisoner ransackt the Towne of Sandwich and carried his Prisoner and the ships to Callice by the way he understood how much the Kentish-men desired his speedy returne and to come on shore in their Country where they were ready to give him all assistance Whereupon the second time the Earle came to Sandwich to whom presently resorted the Lord Cobham and divers Gentlemen insomuch that now they were 25000 strong with which the Earle of VVarwicke marched towards London against whom the Lord Scales was appointed to oppose and with some convenient troopes to assure London but the Lord Maior utterly refused to admit him entrance saying he was able enough without his counsell or helpe to keepe what the King had committed to his charge Whereupon the Lord Scales resorted to the Tower from whence afterward he did the Londoners many discourtesies VVarwicke well pleased with the Londoners promise not to impeach his passage having notice that his Father was upon march to meet him passeth over his men and without impeachment joyned with his Father and his friends neere Exceter The King with the Dukes of Somerset Buckingham with a great Army marcheth towards them neere unto the town of Northampton both armies meet The Earle of March with the advise of the Earle of VVarwick prepares for the fight The Queen the King more intentive of devotion then fighting did the like The fight began and continued on uncertaine termes above two houres In the meane time were slain on both sides above 10000 men But upon the fal of Humphry Duke of Buckingham by the good policy of the Earle of VVarwicke and the Lord Gray of Ruthens joyning with them who led the Vantgard of the Kings part withdraw to the Lords side the Earles party prevailed and Iohn Talbot Earle of Shrowsbury Thomas Lord Egremond Iohn Vicount Beamont and some others of Marke were slain The
bee esteemed a gayne rather then a losse Examples to prove this are those of our owne Country without seeking of others as may appeare by Kinigellus Ina Ceonulphe Eadbertus Etheldredus Kenredus Offa Sebba and Sigibertus who of their owne accord layd downe their Diadems and betooke themselues to private and solitarie lives Many Princes have held their estate with better fortune but none with greater honour did leave it others have either abandoned their Rule for ease or to avoyd danger or upon some pretended devotion but you for loue to your Countrie may seeme to forbeare to seeke your remedy to maintaine warre wherein much blood may be spilt and the Realme deprived of many able Warriours let others bee perswaded to forsake their Kingdomes when they had no longer pleasure to hold them But your prayse will bee for giving over when it is to the greatest benefit of the people and the more hope you have to prevaile if you list to contend The greater commendations will it bee to yeeld as rather being voluntary then compulsive The King commended the courage of the first but this last counsell agreed best with his faint spirit which was more inclinable to feare then forward in hope preferring abject and base safetie before hazard with honour Others thereupon earnestly assevered That all conditions of yeelding were both dishonourable and dangerous That in extremities noble spirits will not suddenly give off but labour couragiously to repell the danger or wisely to decline it alleaging that none should so little esteem honour as without battaile or blowe stricken to be crestfalne and stoope to miserable mercy Others passionately sayd if the honour of your noble house nothing move you yet let danger and despaire arme you with boldnesse neither the Duke nor his adherents dare bee so confident to thinke themselves safe so long as you shall remaine though in private state alive you may assure your selfe faire words will be given and large offers made but the performance rests in the curtesie of the Conquerour and nothing ought to be thought unlawfull to him that hath power King Edward the second one of your Progenitors could not be endured by his owne Sonne many have used violence to themselves rather then to fall into the power of their Corrivalls expect not then better fortune then others have found never bee perswaded that a Prince may live safely if knowne in a private estate betwixt Caesar and nothing the highest honour and the deadliest downfall there is no meane omit not therefore all or any meanes unassayd to maintaine your partie by armes you can but dye if vanquished and dye you shall if you yeeld but by the one you shall end your life with glory by the other with perpetuall reproch And though now you equally esteeme of both yet when you shall bee pent in prison daily in feare expecting the deadly messenger you will finde a difference in death and the weaknesse of that counsell you are now about to follow But the Kings eares were stopped against all impression of valour and being unable to governe himselfe in prosperitie hee was lesse sufficient to wind himselfe out of this labyrinth of troubles And being so beset that hee could neither escape nor stand out hee desired conference with the Archbishop and Northumberland the one hee had formerly banished the other proclaymed Traytour These came unto him but perceiving by little conference how much they were bent against him hee demanded not what he saw no likelihood to obtaine and agreed to relinquish his estate to have a competency of meanes and the lives of but eight such persons as he should nominate allowed unto him This was readily and faithfully promised by them and afterward ratified by the Duke The King desireth conference with the Duke which likewise was promised and so they departing the King removed to Flynt Castle about eight miles from Chester whither the Duke came at whose enterview the countenance and words of both were observed The King seemed abject the Duke neither insulting nor relenting but rather comforting and promising friendly The King repeated many benefits and curtesies that he had formerly shewed That hee had spared the Dukes owne life and now his Sonnes in recompence whereof he with such submisnesse as agreed rather with necessitie then honour desired the Duke to shew pittie to him from whom hee had received favour and to permit him to live with the allowance of some fitting but private estate of maintenance The Duke to comfort him gave him assurance to provide for his safetie For which hee was contented to receive thankes as for a benefit The King from that time was kept safe and sure enough from hindering the Dukes projects Neither could it so easily have beene discerned what had beene best for him to doe as that this which hee did was the very worst For the same night hee was brought to Chester and from thence secretly conveyed to the Tower of London there to remaine untill the Parliament which was appointed should be shortly after holden at Westminster The King yeelded himselfe the twentieth day of August being the fortie seventh day after the Dukes arrivall so that considering his journeyes from Holdernesse in the North to London from thence to Bristoll and so into Wales and backe againe to Chester A man shall not more easily travaile over it then hee conquered it so propitious were his starres unto him that hee either found or made a ready passage through all hinderances and obstacles And it seemed hee only needed to open his armes and Fortune would flye into his bosome All the Kings Treasure and jewells with his horse and fardage came to the Dukes hands And many that were of his company were dispoyled by the souldiers of Northumberland and Wales Some Writers barely upon conjectures affirme that the King did not yeeld himselfe but was surprised passing from Flynt to Chester But the authoritie of such as lived at that time and either saw it or had perfect intelligence of these affaires such as for their place could not but know and for their profession would not but deliver the very truth so prevailed with Sir Iohn Heywood the Penner of this History that he followed their report As the King was in his journey towards London some had conspired to lye in ambush by the way to have slaine him But the Maior of London upon intelligence thereof prevented the practise and went in person and with convenient power brought him to the Tower Shortly after the Duke came to London in solemne estate and sent forth summons in the Kings name for a Parliament to bee holden the last day of September in the same yeare In the meane time hee consulted with his deare friends and neere kindred for order to bee taken in his proceedings The Duke of Yorke who but a little before had been Governor of the Realme for the King was now the Dukes chiefe director he thought it best that King Richard should
King answered that hee little regarded titular circumstances but contented himselfe with hope that his Cousin would bee a gratious Lord and good friend unto him and accordingly upon the day appointed which was upon the day of the translation of King Edward the Confessour the Duke of Hereford with all accustomed Ceremonies was by the Archbishop of Canterbury sacred and annointed and Crowned upon the very same day that the yeare before hee had beene banished the Realme Hee was annointed with an oyle which a religious man had given to Henry the first Duke of Lancaster grandfather to the King by the Mothers side when hee served in the warres of King Edward the third in France together with this Prophesie that those Kings which should bee annointed therewith at their Coronation should bee the Champions of the Church Duke Henry delivered this Oyle in a golden Violl to Prince Edward eldest Sonne of King Edward the third who locked up the same in a barred Chest in the Tower with a ticket of the prediction with intent to bee therewith at his Coronation annoynted But hee dying before his Father it remained there either not remembred or not regarded untill this present yeare wherein the King being on his voyage into Ireland and making diligent search for the Iewells and Relickes of his Progenitors found this Violl and Prophesie And understanding the mistery thereof was desirous to bee annoynted againe with that oyle But the Archbishop of Canterbury perswaded him that both the fact was unlawfull and the president never seene that a King should be annointed twice Whereupon the King tooke the Violl with him into Ireland and when he yeelded himselfe at Flint The Archbishop of Canterbury demanded it of him and receiving it reserved the same untill the Coronation of Henry the fourth who was the first King that ever was annoynted therewith To discourse either of the authoritie or certaintie of these Prophesies I presume not but this is observed many of them faile or are fulfilled in another sense then as they are ordinarily conceived and taken During the time of this Kings raigne execution by fire was first put in practise within this Realme for Controversies in point of religion in any other matter hee did make the Church as much Champane as show himselfe Champion of the Church But afterwards his successors were entituled Defenders of the Faith And how in action the first receiver of that Title did verifie the same I referre to the report of those times Vpon mature consideration it was found that the title derived from Edmond surnamed Crouchbacke to Henry would upon examination appeare but a jeere for that the said Edmond was neither eldest Sonne to Henry the third nor yet a deformed person but a proper Gentleman and a brave Commander in the field and so respected of his Father that hee gave him both the heritage and honours of Simon Mumford Earle of Leicester of Ferrare Earle of Darby and of Iohn Baron of Monmoth who to their owne ruine had displayed seditious ensignes against the King under which Leicester was slaine at the battaile of Euesham and to engratiate him to Blaunch the Queene of Navarre hee first Created him Earle of Lancaster and gave unto him the Countie Castle and towne of Lancaster with the Forrests of Wiresdale Lonsdale Newcastle beneath the Linne the Mannor Castle and Forrests of Pickering the Mannor of Scalby the Towne of Glocester of Huntingdon c. and made him high Steward of England with many priviledges and other titles of Honour Therefore King Henry upon the day of his Coronation caused to bee Proclaimed that hee claimed the Crowne of England first by right of Conquest Secondly because King Richard had resigned his estate and designed him for his Successor Lastly because he was of the blood royall and next heire male to King Richard Haeres malus indeed cryed Edmond Mortimer Earle of March to some of his familiars and so is a Pirat to a Merchant when hee dispoyleth him of all that ever hee hath This Edmond Earle of March was Sonne to Roger not long before slaine in Ireland and had beene publickly declared heire to the Crowne in case King Richard should have died without issue as descended by his Mother Philip from Lionel Duke of Clarence who was elder Brother to Iohn Duke of Lancaster King Henryes Father and therefore the said Edmond thought himselfe as in truth he was neerer heire Male to succession of the Crowne Then hee that by colour of right clayming it carried it by dint of force But the condition of the time was such that hee supposed it was in vaine for him to stirre where King Richard could not stand whereupon he dissembled either that hee saw his wrong or that hee regarded it and chose rather to suppresse his Title for a time then by untimely opposing himselfe to have it oppressed and depressed for ever he withdrew himselfe therefore from London to his Lordship of Wigmore in the West parts of this Realme and there settled himselfe to a quiet and retired life hee counted it a point of wisdome to meddle with nothing whereof any man was chargeable to render account in revenewes he was not great in apparell moderate in company and traine not excessive yet in all these honourable and according to his degree so that they that esteemed men by the outward apparance only could see in him no great show of witte or courage to be feared or of wealth or honour in his estate to bee envied And thus whilst that a greater enemie was feared hee passed unregarded making himselfe safe by contempt where nothing was so dangerous as popular opinion and raked up those coles in securitie for a time which afterward set all the Realme on fire King Richard being now deposed was sent after his resignation to Leeds in Kent but afterwards to Pomfret Castle where wee leave him THE LIFE AND RAIGNE OF KING HENRY THE FOVRTH HENRY surnamed Bullingbrooke Duke of Hereford and Sonne of Iohn of Gaunt Duke of Lancaster fourth Sonne of King Edward the third beginning his Raigne the 29. of September 1399. presently after his Coronation Created his eldest Sonne Lord Henry being about thirteene yeares of age Prince of Wales Duke of Cornwall and Earle of Chester and soone after Duke of Aquitaine hee made also many new officers his second Sonne Thomas he made Lord high Steward of England appointing the Earle of Worcester his Assistant during the minoritie of the said Thomas the Earle of Northumberland Lord high Constable the Earle of Westmerland Marshall of England He was Crowned at Westminster the thirteenth of October following being Munday the day kept in cōmemoration of St. Edward the Confessor The Dukes of Yorke Surrey Albemarle with the Earle of Glocester bare the Canopie over him which office the Barons of the Cinqueports doe at this day execute Sir Thomas Dymock was Champion and armed cap-a-pe road about the Hall challenging any that should gainsay the Kings
inflicted on any only the Earle of Sarum and the Lord Morley who had beene in especiall grace with King Richard These two were committed but at the intercession of their friends they were quickly released the rest but especially the Duke of Aumerle and the Duke of Exceter the Governour of Callice hee received freely to favour Aumerle was Cousin german to both Kings Exceter halfe Brother to King Richard and Brother-in-law to King Henry as having espoused his Sister the Lady Elizabeth The greatest crime they could enforce against them was their being firme to King Richard because they did not only stomacke his dejection but stirre more then others and assay to raise forces on his behalfe The Dukes confessed the first accusation affirming they were unfortunately faithfull to King Richard but as they that are once false prove seldome after firmely sound so they that have approved themselves true to one Prince may bee the better trusted by another The King did rather admit this as a defence then remit it as a fault affirming that such examples were not to bee misliked of Princes and did afterwards by curtesie and liberalitie endevour to make them firme and faithfull unto him This fact was diversly interpreted according to mens severall dispositions some admiring the Kings moderation others disallowing his confidence And though these meanes have to that purpose prevailed with some yet the common course may move us to conjecture that there is small assurance to bee had in reconciled enemies whose affections for the most part are like to glasse which being once crackt will never bee otherwise then crazed and ever unsound During this time of Parliament held at Westminster the Archbishop had convoked a Synod which was held in Pauls Church to whom the King sent the Earles of Northumberland and Westmerland who declared to the Clergie that they were not sent to them from the King to require any moneys from them but to acquaint them with the Kings resolution which was to confirme all their priviledges and immunities unto them and to joyne with them as they should desire him in the punishment of all hereticks and opposites to their religion received for which so doing hee craved but their supplications to God for the safetie of him and his posteritie and prosperitie of the kingdome which was by all there present religiously promised Now to palliate all prejudice and hard opinion which other Princes might happily conceive of these his proceedings Hee dispatched Embassadours to divers his bordering neighbours intimating to them respectively both by what Title and whose favour hee had obtained the Kingdome To Rome he sent the Bishop of Hereford Sir Iohn Cheney Knight and Iohn Cheney Esquire to France the Bishop of Durham and the Earle of Worcester into Spaine the Bishop of Saint Asaphs and Sir William Par into Almaine the Bishop of Bangor and others most of these Princes as in a matter which little concerned them either in point of honour or hatred seemed to take no notice of what was done or were easily perswaded that all was done well But Charles of France was so disquieted with this dishonourable dealing with his Son-in-law that his passion upon the first relation thereof put him into his old fit of phrenzie but recovered thereof hee provided for to revenge the injury Many of the Nobilitie of France were forward to set a foot this enterprise but especially the Earle of Saint Paul who had married King Richards halfe Sister so that defiance is sent and on both sides preparation for warre is made These novelties much animated the Aquitains being under the English command some were grieved at the infamous blemish of disloyaltie which was cast upon the Nation others feared their being made a prey to the tyrannie of the French against whom they had cause to suspect that England being distracted by civill factions either would not attend or could not bee able to beare them out But the Burdisians were principally perplexed with King Richards wrongs because hee was borne and bred in their Citie The Frenchmen generally were nothing displeased at this discontentment of the Aquitanes supposing that opportunitie was now offered to regaine the possession of the Dutchy of Guian if either power or pollicie were seasonably applied Hereupon Lewis Duke of Burbon came downe to Angiers who from thence solicited the chiefe Townes of Guyan by faire speeches and large promises to change their allegiance but the Lieutenant there Sir Robert Knowles withall diligence industry laboured to suppresse the mutinous to stay the doubtfull to confirme the good and to retaine all in due obedience and order But hee prevailed very little his armie being but weake and the people stiffenecked Neither did Burbon much prevaile due consideration being had how heavy the yoke of France was above the subjection of the English having beene well acquainted with the tributes and taxes wherewith the Frenchmen were usually taxed who had in every Country assigned Lieutenants and Treasurers the one to draw the blood the other the substance of the slavish-made subjects whose cruelty and covetousnesse laid hold without exceptions of all the one tormenting by force the other by law Thus like a ship that the tyde driveth one way and the wind another betwixt obedience and revolt stood the Aquitanes they were willing enough to displease the English but most unwilling to indanger or undoe themselves by adhering to the French upon advertisement whereof the Earle of Worcester with a Company of able and willing souldiers is sent into Guyan who not by unseasonable exprobrating their fault but by reason convincing it partly by his wisdome and credit and partly by his authoritie and power so terrified the wavering multitude that he won them to his opinion and kept their allegeance The graver sort with respect of dutie and faith the rest with regard of feare and danger Then hee tooke their oathes for obedience unto King Henry and planted garrisons in places of import without molestation if they remained dutifull and yet of force sufficient to keepe them under if they should attempt to rebell and then returned to England there showing a faire example of moderation in seeming rather to have found then made the Aquitanes dutifull Subjects This stirre no sooner stinted when another more desperately dangerous did arise For divers who had dissembled or did repent the furtherance they had used to the advancement of King Henry conspired to compasse his destruction whether for favour to King Richard as the nature of man is to behold sudden miseries with the eyes of pitie or for envie to King Henry as commonly wee can endure excessive fortune no where so little as in those that have beene in equall degree with our selves or whether upon distaste received in the late Parliament or in disdaine to see others goe before them in the Princes favour it is uncertaine many sought to revenge their unjust anger with revolting There was in those times an Abbot
Garter and sate in their Stalles at the solemnitie of the Feast The Emperour after the departure of the Duke stayed to mediate a peace betweene England and France which the King being advertized of the hard escape of his men in Normandy would not listen unto Neverthelesse the Emperour very politickly awaited his time where to take his best hint to perswade an agreement which might fortunately have beene found had not newes come of the besieging of Harflue so all was dasht The new Constable with a great power suddenly clapt downe before the Towne when the Viceadmirall of France brought up the whole Navy with intent whilst the Constable should assaile it by land to have entred the Towne by the water side But the Duke of Exceter defended the Towne valiantly by whose valour and indefatigable diligence they were defeated of their expectation King Henry in person was preparing to Sea with all speed but being by the Emperour disswaded he sent his Brother the Duke of Bedford accompanied with the Earles of March Oxford Huntington Warwicke Arundel Salisbury Devonshire and divers Lords and Barons with two hundred sayles to the reskue of Harflue they made sayle for Rye and not without some crosses at Sea upon the feast day of the Assumption of our Lady came to the mouth of the river Seyne Vpon notice of the approach of the English Navy Narbon set forward and got the mouth of the Haven The Duke sent before his strongest Ships two French Ships advancing too forward were layd aboard and taken The fight was continued and resolutely maintained untill the English having sunke five hundred vessels one and other and taken three great Carricks of Genoa wonne the harbour and notwithstanding some opposition made by the Gallies which had the advantage with oares to runne out of the reach of the Artillery of the English they relieved Harflue Vpon notice hereof the Duke of Arminacke raysed his siege and departed to Paris leaving somewhat more then a little provision of amunition behind him which they of Harflue tooke and stowed up for them The Duke of Bedford having finished what hee came about returned to the King who with the Emperour gave him great but no more then deserved commendation Whilst these broyles were honourably managed abroad two too uxorious husbands the Lord Strange and Sir Iohn Trussell of Warmingham in Cheshire who had married the Daughter of Sir Iohn Strange most dishonourably fought in maintaining their wives folly forgetfully striving for place at a Sermon in Saint Dunstons Church in the East by occasion whereof there was much partaking on both sides whereby the Congregation was much disturbed a great tumult raysed some slaughter and more bloodshed done the delinquents were committed to the Counter the Church suspended and upon examination the Lord Strange was found guiltie and by the Archbishop of Canterbury adjudged to penance which was thus performed all the Lords servants in their Shirts from Saint Pauls Church where the sentence was given followed the Parson of Saint Dunstons after them the Lord bare-headed with a waxe Taper in his hand the Lady bare-footed the Archdeacon Reignold Renwood following last went to Saint Dunstons in the East where at the rehallowing thereof the Lady filled all the vessells with water and according to the sentence shee offered to the Altar an Ornament of the value of tenne pounds and the Lord a Pixe of silver of five pounds There was then belike in use no commutation of penance Surely I am perswaded that if they might have bought out their penance for money they would have trebled their offerings I could wish that such severitie of discipline might now bee practised against such delinquents wee should then have devotion with more humilitie and lesse striving for places in the Church The Emperour desisteth from further mediation of peace with France and entreth in a League defensive and offensive with King Henry wherein only the Pope is excepted which concluded upon the the nineteenth of October Anno 1416. hee returned towards Germany King Henry accompanied him to Callice whither the Duke of Burgondy came to confirme the League concluded onbefore by the Earle of Warwicke and other the Kings Embassadours and him concerning Flaunders and Arthoyes only from Midsommer 1416. untill Michaelmasse following where it was prolonged further till Michaelmasse 1419. which gave occasion of suspition to France that the Duke was no firme friend of theirs The Emperour takes his journey to Holland the Duke returnes to Graveling and King Henry to Dover where he landed on Saint Lukes Eeve upon his arrivall hee sent new Embassadours viz. the Earle of Warwicke the Bishops of Salisbury Bath and Hereford the Abbot of Westminster and the Pryor of Worcester to the Councell of Constance whither the Emperour in person likewise went in this Councell it was decreed that England should have the title of the English nation and should-bee accounted one of the five principall Nations which often before had beene moved but never granted till then and herein were all Wickliffes positions condemned At this Councell the Antipope Iohn was prescribed and all his goods and Treasure amounting to the summe of 750000. were seized The Parliament by reason of the Emperours being in the Land prorogued began againe the nineteenth of October wherein towards the prosecution of warres in France was voluntarily granted unto the King from the Clergie two whole tenthes and from the Laitie a whole Fifteene In this Parliament during the Kings absence Iohn Duke of Bedford was made regent of the Realme having out of the Kings coffers allowance of one thousand pounds per annum and fourty pounds a year out of the fee farme of Exceter Whilst King Henry is preparing for invasion the French-men had waged divers Carricks and other great Ships of the Genoaes and Italians which jpyning with the French fleet lay at the mouth of the River of Seyne under the command of Iaques Bastard of Burbon to barre all succour from Harflew Iohn Earle of Huntington Son to the Duke of Exceter beheaded at Ciceter is sent to Sea to skowre the Coasts who encountring with the Bastard Burbon after a long fight took the said Bastard three of his great Carricks with all the money for the halfe yeares pay for the fleet and bowged three other Carricks and dispersing the rest cleered the mouth of Seyne and returned to the King at Southamton And upon the 23. of Iuly the King with the Dukes of Clarence and Glocester the Earles of Huntington Warwicke Devonshire Salisbury Suffolke and Somerset The Lords Rosse Willoughby Fitzhugh Clynton Scroope Matrevers Bourcher Ferrers of Groby and Ferrers of Chartley Fanhope Gray of Codnor Sir Gilbert Vmphrevile Sir Gilbert Talbot and a brave well-furnished Army from Portsmouth tooke shipping and upon the first of August landed in Normandy neere to the Castle of Foncke The Kings Army consisted of five and twentie thousand five hundred and eight and twenty fighting
the Towne the starved multitude began to upbraid the Commanders and to tell them that they must bee famished to death for their obstinacies and with threatning speeches they told them they would if they would not compound for their redemption upon any termes enforced therefore to give way to their implacable furyes the Commissioners concluded that after the nineteenth day of that instant Ianuarie the Citie and Castle of Roane should bee delivered to the King of Englands hands and that all should submit to the Kings mercie and should pay to him three hundred thousand Skutes of gold every two to bee of the valew of the English Noble Every Souldiour to sweare never to beare armes against the King of England That the starved creatures expulsed should bee admitted entrance and receive reliefe during the time prefixed if not before that time reskonsed Vpon the day agreed upon Sir Guy de Butler and the Burgesses delivered up the keyes of the Citie and Castle craving grace and favour The Duke of Exceter was appointed to take possession of the fame who accordingly entred with his souldiers The next day after being Friday the twentieth of Ianuary the KING triumphantly made his entry with foure Dukes tenne Earles eight Bishops sixteene Barons c. Hee was received with the Clergie with two and fourty Crosses and by them was conducted to our Lady Church where after publicke Thankes-giving hee tooke homage and fealtie of the Burgesses and inhabitants making proclamation that all that would come and acknowledge him to bee their Liege-Lord should enjoy the benefit of his protection and retaine their possessions whereupon many came in and many Townes were surrendred The Duke of Britaine fore-casting the danger of having too potent a neighbour except a friend plant neere him upon safe conduct obtained came to Roane where a League is agreed upon that neither should make Warre upon other except upon denuntiation thereof sixe moneths before any attempt this concluded the Duke returned Whilst the King lay at ROANE to perfect all things the Duke of CLARENCE tooke VERNON and NAVNT making Sir WILLIAM PORTER Captaine of the first and the Earle of MARCH of the other The Earle of SALISBVRY tooke in HVNFLEVV which was afterward given to the Duke of CLARENCE Munster de Villiers Ewe New-Castle whereof Sir PHILIP LEECH was made Captaine An Overture agreed upon for an interview betwixt the King of ENGLAND and the Dolphin of FRANCE fayled through the Dolphins default which displeased King HENRY who had in expectation thereof gone from Roane to Eureux from whence hee sent the Earle of Warwicke to take in la Roche Guyon which hee accordingly but not without some losse did and thereof made owner of the Kings free gift Sir Guy de Bolyleere lately Captaine of Roane In all places the Kings Commanders prevailed and by constraint or consent all pieces of strength that were sommoned opened their gates unto the English and it is worthy the observation that when there is as now there was a mutuall intercourse of discreet direction and diligent execution warlike designes faild but prosper on the other side where there is want of skill to Command and want of will to obey nothing can thrive and these wants now hid so clowded the affayres of France that all lay at six seven The Duke of Burgoine solicites an interview betwixt the Kings of England and France Embassadors on both sides are sent King Henry is content to come to Maunt so as the French King came to Ponthoys which is consented to King Henry kept his feast of Whitsontide at Mounts where he made the stout Gascoyne Captaine le Buife Earle of Longevile Sir Iohn Gray Earle of Tanckervile and the Lord Bourcher Earle of Ewe upon the last of May at the day appointed King Henry accompanied with the Dukes of Clarence Glocester and Exceter his Vncle Bewford the great Clerke and rich Bishop of Winchester with the Earles of March and Salisbury with a thousand men at armes entred the place appointed The French Queene her Husband being taken with his phrenzie which the Duke of Burgoine and the Earle of Saint Paul and a company of faire Ladyes amongst whom as a baite to entangle the Kings youthfull affection the Queenes beautifull Daughter the Lady Katherine throughly instructed and gorgeously attired presented her selfe with whose sight though the King was ardently taken yet with that moderation hee behaved himselfe that though hee were resolved to make the enjoyment of her for wife a chiefe Article to be granted yet hee made no such apparant show thereof but that the other things requirable to bee concluded at this treatie should bee first agreed upon but nothing was affected for the Dolphin under-hand had made meanes to the Duke of Burgoine to hinder all agreement which King Henry observing at their departure told the Duke of Burgoine That hee would have his demaunds and the Lady or else drive the King out of his kingdome and make the Duke seeke another Dukedome The treatie becomming fruitlesse and dissolved the Dolphin and the Duke upon the sixt of Iuly are reconciled and the Articles thereof signed and sealed In the meane time a Conspiracy in Roane was timely discovered and wisely prevented and the Conspiratours upon examination and proofe duly punished By direction from the King the Earle of Longevile did valiantly surprise the Towne of Poynthose with fifteene hundred men there being at that time within the Towne a thousand Launceeres and two thousand Arcubalisters but had not the Earle of Huntington come in good time to second them their valour opprest by multitude could not have made good what they had atchieved neither could they both have long subsisted had not the Duke of Clarence come to their reskue who to recompence the brave spirits of the first entrers gave the spoyle of the Towne amongst them From thence the Duke marched to Paris and there stayed by the space of two dayes but perceiving no show of sally to be made he returned to Ponthoys King Henry comming thither after hee had sufficiently furnished the same with victuals and artillerie hee with his maine Army marched further into the country and in the way forced the Castle of Vanion Villeirs but at the intercession of divers Ladyes the garrison were permitted without armes or weapon to depart Hereof was appointed Captaine Iohn de Burgh upon approach of the Armie which was upon the last of August to the Castle of Gysors the only peece that now stood forth in those parts the Garrison there made a sally and much hindred the English in their sitting downe by reason of the inaccessible passage thorow the Marishes which in a manner surrounded the same yet at length when they perceived the Kings resolution not to depart without conquest and calling to minde that no place had bin of strength sufficient to withstand his power they agreed if not reskued by a day which they were not to deliver
both town Castle to the King The souldiers of the garrison and many of the Burgers tooke an oath of fidelitie to the King of England and remained there still the Earle of Worcester was made Captaine thereof The well defenced Castle of Galiard strong both by scituation art after six moneths siege was surrendred to the Duke of Exceter and thereof the King made the Lord Rosse Captaine all the Country of Velquesseine submitted the King putting in men of valour and trust into the chiefe holds as into Gourney Sir Gilbert Vmfrevile the Earle of Worcester at Newtye the Castle of Dumall yeelded to the Earle of Warwicke was given him by the King so that now all Normandy Mount Saint Michael only excepted was reduced to the possession of the King of England which had beene detained wrongfully untill then from him ever since the yeare 1207. The Dolphin all this while notwithstanding the agreement sealed and settled as might bee thought being perswaded that the Duke of Burgoyne was a barre to his ambitious desires studied not so much to stop the overflowing current of the King of Englands victories as the effecting of his owne ends of revenge against the Duke a miserable thing when one mans rising is grounded on the desired overthrow of another To that end therefore covering his private malice with the long roabe of publike service hee made show of removall of all rank our betwixt the Duke and him and to that end appointed a meeting of all the Peeres at Mountstrew al fault you where the Duke was barbarously murthered whilst hee humbled himselfe in reverence to the Dolphin on his knee which act was by so much the lesse to bee pittied in the Duke by how much hee in the like kind upon the like enterview had caused Lewis the Duke of Orleance to bee murthered But this recrimination of Burgoyne for the murther of Orleance can bee no excusation of the Dolphins perfidious treachery Hereupon Philip Earle of Caraloys the heire of Burgoyne did forbeare for a time the company of his Wife the Dolphins sister but upon due consideration of her pliable and obsequious disposition and the religious admonition of his Mother-in-law and exhortation of his chiefest Councellours hee gave her ever after all requirable respect and observance and turned his justly incensed anger against the Dolphin but without show of choler or distemperature either in words or gestures howsoever his kindred and allyes thretned revenge But this distraction settled at home and danger threatned abroad drew a double feare of destruction upon the quieter minded Nobilitie who used the imployment of their uttermost endevours to procure a reconciliation betwixt the Queene and the Dolphin and a pacification of the King of England and by their mediation Embassadours are sent to Gysors where King Henry lay who gave them audience and honourable entertainment and was pleased to condescend that Commissioners might have communication but no cessation of warre No sooner were they returned but hee drew his forces to Maunt where hee divided them into three parts sending the Duke of Glocester with one part to Saint German in lay which was delivered unto him The Duke of Clarence with another was sent to Mountjoy which after some show of great resistance was given over unto him The third under the conduct of the Duke of Exceter went to Mewlancké which was strongly defenced and compassed in with the great river of Seine but by the invention of woodden towers reared upon boates bridges and floates the French-men were so terrified that for want of succour at the time agreed upon they surrendred the Towne and gave hostages and oath to remaine true subjects to the King of England and so were permitted to remaine there still The many rivolets cut out and running in the severall Forts and Castles as aforesaid might have much drayned the great river of the Kings Army had not daily supplies from all forraine parts drawne by the generall report of his honourable usage of souldiers of men and amunition and money out of his Dominions been broughtunto him but such was his providence and his officers obedience and care that nothing wanted that was needfull or necessary But now the new Duke of Burgoine a wise and politick Prince having debated with himselfe what course to take to revenge his Fathers murther and being assured that if he should oppose the Dolphin and the Dolphin him the King of France would lose by both and King Henry would carry away all he endevoured to propose an overture of Peace betweene the two Kings which hee was the more likely to obtaine by reason of his powerfulnesse amongst the Peeres and the assurance of the Lady Katherines readinesse who had more power over her Mothers affections then her owne to joyne with him in any thing that might conduce to her obtaining the effect of her wishes which was aswell the love of King Henry as the peace and quiet of her Father and country besides the advantage the Duke had of the Dolphin who was now observed to be more cunning and revengefull then wise and valiant and by the late murther made obnoxious to the disesteeme of his neerest friends Embassadours are againe sent from the King of France and the young Duke of Burgoyne who were returned with gratious countenance and some tokens of courtesie to the Duke but withall a kind of intimation that there was small hope of obtaining any thing at his hands concerning truce if not desired by the Lady Katherine whose innocencie as he said knew not how to abuse his credulitie as the others had done whilst these things are in agitation his armyes lay not idle The Earle of Salisbury tooke in Fresney The Earles Marshall Huntington with their powers entred into Mayn and approaching Mentz they were encountred by the power of the Dolphin whereof they slew five thousand and tooke two hundred Prisoners These tidings being brought to Roane whither the King was come to solemnize the Feast of Christs birth thanks-givings to God were publikely made and in the instant thereof arived other Embassadors from the King and Queen of France who having audience the tenour of their embassage delivered a Letter from the Lady Katherine to the King of England was secretly by the Bishop of Arras delivered the Contents whereof being considered the King openly said That hee would wipe away the disrepute cast-upon his actions as though hee should bee the cause of effusion of so much Christian blood as every day was likely to bee made if the warres should continue for his quarrell and would turne the same upon the King of France and his Adherents if either they made not Propositions such as with safetie of his honour might bee granted or did not condiscend to such Articles as hee would reasonably tender them hee therefore returned the Embassadours with good content and sent the Earle of Warwicke and the Bishop of Rochester to the Duke of Burgoyne
France by impartially administring justice to all That King Henry in places of Iustice and charge should place persons generally taken for wise faithfull and fit to administer and manage those things unto them committed That King Henry should speedily endevour to reduce the Dolphin and the Earle of Arminacke and all their confederates to their due obedience to the Crowne of France That King Henry should cause all persons of what degree condition or qualitie soever to take a corporall oath for their true obedience to K. Charles during life and after his death to King Henry and his heires and to admit no other King or Regent nor conspire any thing against his or their Persons or estates but disclose all mischiefes plotted or intended for his or their hurt or losse That all possessions King Henry should gaine from any Rebell to King Charles except in Normandy should bee to the use and benefit of the French King But upon voluntary taking the before-mentioned oathes to be tendred and taken then to retaine their possessions freely That after the death of King Charles the Dutchie of Normandy and what else had beene conquered by King Henry should returne to the obeysance of the Crowne of France That King Henry should not overburden his Subjects of France with impositions but in cases of urgent necessitie and then the same to bee assessed and levied according to the Custome and manner of France and not otherwise That after the death of King Charles the two Realmes of France and England should Soveraignely be ruled but by one man and not to admit two Kings and that neither Crowne should bee subject to other but each of them to retaine and enjoy their particular customes priviledges liberties immunities lawes and preheminencies That diligent observation be used to retaine both Nations in fraternall concord and mutuall friendship as brethren and friends That neither King should conclude any peace or make any truce with the Dolphin except they and the Duke of Burgoyne all three consented thereto That none shall bee placed about the French Kings person but French-men such as hee by his Councell should make choice of and should reside wheresoever in the kingdome at his pleasure And lastly that both the Kings under their great Seales and all their Peeres Prelates Cominalties Gentry and Corporations under their usuall seales shall ratifie and confirme the Articles of agreement and shall all sweare to observe them to their uttermost abilities and power These thus concluded were proclaimed publikely both in England and France the Kings with their Nobilitie present solemnly sworne to the observation of them This caused a solemne Procession upon the fourteenth of Iune following in London and a Sermon at Pauls Crosse being Friday wherein the Preacher amongst other things affirmed that for perpetuall manifestation of this so honourable an accord that the old Seale was to bee broken and a new great Seale to bee made wherein the Kings Title as Regent of France and heires apparant to the Crowne thereof and three Flowre-de-luces instead of sixe formerly borne in the Scutcheon of armes was to be engraved There was likewise a private League contracted betweene king Henry and the Duke of Burgoyne to this effect That the Duke to the uttermost of his best abilities should endevour the continuation of the former agreements That one of the Dukes Sisters should bee matched to one of the Kings Brothers that after the death of Charles hee should doe fealtie to the King of England That King Henry should prosecute the murtherers of the Dukes Father with all extremitie And that if any of them or the Dolphin should in any place be taken that they should not bee delivered without condigne punishment without the consent of the two Kings and the three estates of both kingdomes That the Duke should have assurance of lands for the annuall payment of the fee of twenty thousand pounds Paris to him and his Wife and the heires males betwixt them to be begotten And that King Henry upon the receiving his homage should confirme the same This thus finished King Henry invites the King and Queene of France with the Duke and Dutchesse of Burgoyne with all the Nobles of France there to a stately banquet the Ceremonies whereof ended hee made unto them so pithy and patheticall Oration declaring therein the utilitie of the union of the two kingdomes his right to them on the surer side with protestation of as true love and affection to France as if a native thereof and promises of tender regard to bee alwayes by him extended towards them with all filiall respect and dutifull observance to his Father and Mother-in-law and the true performance of all and every part of the Agreement And so perswading them to mutuall love and friendship amongst themselves and truth and loyalty to their Soveraigne And so with an expression of detestation of the late murther of the Duke of Burgoyne and giving assurance of his desire to procure the revengement thereof he concluded The next day following Iames the young King of Scots arrived And upon the fourth day of Iune King Henry with the French King the King of Scots the Duke of Burgoyne the Prince of Orange one and twenty Earles five and fouâ—…y Barons with many Knights and Gentlemen with an Army consisting of French English Scottish Irish and Dutch to the number of sixe hundred thousand marched towards the Dolphin and upon the seventh day layd siege to the Towne of Seins that sided with the Dolphin which after foure daies siege yeelded and thereof the Lord Benvile was made Captaine From thence they removed having the Duke of Bedford in their company who had brought out of England large supplies of men and money to Monstreau en falte Yon which was taken by Escalado here the murthered Duke of Burgoyne being buried and from thence his Sonne caused his boues to be taken up and carried to Digeon in high Burgoyne and there enterred by his Father Philip The Castle held out and during the siege thereof King Henry Created an Officer of armes to bee king of Herolds over the English men and entituled him Garter whom hee had formerly sent with offers of mercy to the Castle but was by the Captaine thereof reproachfully upbrayded for punishment of which his presumption a gibbet was erected and in view of Mounsieur Guitry the Castle Captaine twelve of his friends were executed Whereupon the Castilians treated for peace but the King in eight dayes together would not vouchsafe a parle so that after they had borne the brunt of six weekes siege they were enforced with saving of lives simply to yeeld The Earle of Warwicke was appointed to examine by poll all the prisoners and others that yeelded to find out any that had bin privy or parties to the murther of the Duke of Burgoine and was afterward made Governour both of Castle and Towne From thence the King marched to Melun upon Seine which was besieged the
more dishonour leaving his slaine and maimed souldiers behind him all save the Pusil impostor who being hurt in the leg and almost stifled with mire in the ditch was by Guisio Thierborne a servant to the Duke of Alanson drawne up and conveyed after the King to Berry who in the way received the submission of the Inhabitants of Laigny The Regent returning to Paris so effectually with words and gesture expressed his true acknowledgement of thankfulnesse for their good service generally and every ones faith in the particular that the Parisians publikely professed Friends to King Henry Friends to Paris enemies to England enemies to the Parisians Philip Duke of Burgoine commeth to Paris where it is concluded in Councell that hee shall remaine for the safeguard of the Citie whilst the Regent infinitely desirous to affront King Charles in the field makes head against the usurper but no certaine newes could be brought where he was in prison the Regent in his March regained Saint Dennis with divers other Fortlets adjoyning The Bastard of Clarence layd siege to the Castle of Sorsy which after sixe moneths siege was yeelded unto him Sir Thomas Kiryel with foure hundred English-men issued out of Gourney in Normandy and wasted the Country to the suburbes of Clerimont all along The Earle of Britaine with his forces meet them neere Beavoys who not liking to charge them with his horse observing some disadvantage in the place or fearing their stakes caused his men to dismount and to charge them on foot but their entertainment was such that the English made shift with their owne horses to follow them flying taking two hundred prisoners and slaying six hundred and so victoriously returned The Duke of Suffolke having payed his ransome and set at libertie besieged the place whereof the Lord Rambures was chiefe which after foure and twenty assaults hee caused to be rendred simply unto him Sir Stephen le Hire with Captaine Franquet with three hundred men marching toward Champayne which was beleagred by the Duke of Burgoyne the Earles of Arundell and Suffolke were encountred by Pusil Ioane and foure hundred with her who fiercely charged them but being by the close order of the English debard from breaking in shee like a Masty curre not daring come too neere stood baying untill shee had drawne out the garrisons of Laigny and other Forts which all fell upon the English and made a great slaughter amongst them and tooke the Captaine prisoner who being presented unto her for shee was reverenced as a Commander in chiefe because hee would not humble himselfe unto her upon the knee like her selfe against law of armes and rule of reason shee caused his head to bee cut off and all his souldiers taken prisoners cruelly to bee slaine From thence shee sped her to Campayne into which with her company shee entred the same as yet not being besieged round Vpon Ascention day at night this Amazonian Virago sallyed out upon the Lord Bawdoe de Noyels quarter where shee did but little hurt and was repulsed though her plot was to have fired his lodgings two nights after by the same place the Bridge towards Montdrider with five hundred men at armes shee sallyed out againe but being discovered by Sir Iohn of Lutzenborough her company was defeated and shee taken and presented to the Duke of Burgoyne who sent her to the Regent who sent her to the Bishop of the Diocesse who after judiciall proceeding against her as a Sorceresse and deceiver of the King and his subjects by her seeming show of sanctitie and her inhumane cruelty against the King of England and his subjects was after her many delayes of promise of discoverie of secret practises and lastly of her fained pregnancie burned at Roane The siege still continued before Campaigne whither the Regent sent the Earle of Huntington and Sir Iohn Robsert who brought fresh supplies of all things But Philip the Duke of Brabant being dead and the Duke of Burgoyne going thither to take possession of the Dutchie as undoubted heire Sir Iohn of Luxborough was left in his stead to prosecute the siege who contrary to the wills of the English and against the opinion of the major part of the Councell raised the same and departed whereby hee left the besieged meanes how to have therewith famine relieved but the Pestilence raged very hot in the Towne The game at Chesse amongst the souldiers playd gave checke sometime to the French and sometime to the English the one in one place prevailing the other doing in another place the like and so it continued wavering in doubtfull ballance a long time The young King of England was by his Councell advised for it was by them resolved that his presence would be a good motive to retain his friends in their former fidelity and reduce the backsliders to their sworne allegiance to goe with armed power in person into France To this end upon St. Georges eve he took shipping at Dover and landed on Sunday being St. Georges day at Callice with a wel-appointed Army from thence by easie marches went to Roan and from thence to Paris where he was by his Vncle the Bishop of Winchester and Cardinall of Eusebius with all wel-beseeming Ceremonies and observances Crowned King of France receiving the oathes of homage and Fealty of all the Nobilitie of France present and all the Citizens and inhabitants of that Citie and of the places adjacent It was very observable amongst strangers and not without some admiration that so small an Iland as England under the governance of so tender an infant should so long and upon so good termes contend with so large potent and populous a kingdome as France But such at that time was the vertue martiall valour of the English Nation That they knew no meane betwixt death and victory alwayes preferring an honorable death before a lingring servitude This moved Eugenius the Pope and all the Christian Princes so often to make Overtures of reconcilement betwixt these two kingdomes but could effect nothing but an imperfect truce for six years which agreed upon King Henry returnes for England and landeth at Dover the 11. of February The six yeares truce was scarce openly proclaimed when an unexpected accident gave occasion of breach thereof and which was worse of the amitie betwixt the Regent the Duke of Burgoyne For his Sister the Lady Anne being dead without issue he too suddenly married the young Lady Iaqueline Daughter to Peter Earle of St. Paul at Terwyâ—… from whence before the solemnitie of the Feast were fully finished he posted to Callice to punish the insolency of some of the garrison there who pretending want of pay had restrained the Merchants from venting their Woolls foure of the faulty souldiers he executed 110. he banished the Towne and many more hee punished by imprisonment from whence with his new Bride on Midsommer eve hee departed for London where he stayed untill the
France to peruent the groweth of so rancke a mischiefe sendeth the Dolphine with a puissaunt army who tooke the Earle with his youngest sonne and both his daughters and gained the Countries of Arminack Louergne Rouergue Moulessenoys with the Cities of Seuerac and Cadeack chasing the bastard of Arminack out of the Country by meanes whereof the marriage was then deferd and afterward disanuld The Christian Princes casting their contemplatiue lookes upon the misery of France for the present groning under the three arrowes of Gods vengeance Fire Sword Famine and the danger of England to be embroyled hereafter in the like wherof there were already discerned to many sumeptomes like themselues did by their severall Embassadors labour a peace betweene these two powerfull Kings and prevaile so farre That at a dyet at Tours in Touraine there appeared for the King of England William de-la-poole Earle of Suffolke Doctor Adam Milyes Keeper of the privy seale Sir Robert Rose and others for the King of France Charles Duke of Orleance Lewes Earle of Vendosme Perce de Bresse stuard of Poyton and Bartram Beavar Lord president of Presignry there came Embassadors likewise from the Emperor the Kings of Spaine Denmarke and Hungary to be mediators The assemblies was great and the expences greater every day then other each one striving to exceed the other in entertainment for the honor of their Masters many meetings were had many motions made but as one waue brings on another one quere encreased many doubs no full conclusion is made onely a truce for eighteene moneths is agreed vpon In the meane time the Earle of Suffolk stretching a point of his Commission beyond his direction withoutthe knowledge of his fellow Commissioners plotted a marriage with thekins woman of the French King the King of England in which businesse the Earle of Suffolke was so intentive and made such large vnnecessary proffers that he did not escape the aspertion of being bribed by the King of France to that businesse an enteruiew betwixt the two Kings of England and France is agreed upon without warant of King Heneryes part to be betweene Charters and Roane The Commissioners returne where nothing is forgotten by Suffolke that might illustrate the beauty and lovelinesse of the proposed Bride or the great vtilitie that might redound to both Kingdomes by the consummation of this marriage the King was easily induced to give credence to the relations but diuerse of the Kings Councels especially the Duke of Gloucestor opposed and give reasons against the proceeding first that her discent was not royall not her dignities but barely titular and all her fathers titles but disputable alleaging that Duke Rayner Father of Margarite the much commended Lady was but by himselfe stiled King of Scisill Naples and Ierusalem without any penny profit or foot of possession of any those places Next that his Pouerty was such that he could not subsist without continuall reliefe from his friends wherof his sonne in law must be euer a furtherer then the Duke obtruded the dishonor that would redound to the King if he should forsake the Duke of Arminacks daughter to whom he had in that ceremonious manner beene publirkly affiranced and the dangerous consequence of breach of faith and neglect of the friendship of so potent a neighbour and lastly the vnsufferable losse by the surendring and releasing his Title to the Dutchy of Anions so unadvisedly proffered by the capitulation of the Duke of Suffolke but all this while hee but laboured against prejudice for though it could not bee denyed but that his reasons were undeniable and better then could bee given to the contrary yet they must not have place of beliefe because Suffolkes affirmation and negotiation must not bee undervalued Iohn Holland Earle of Huntington is Created Duke of Exceter Humphry Earle of Stafford Duke of Buchkingham Henry Earle of Warwicke Duke of Warwicke and the Earle of Suffolke Marquesse of Suffolke The new Marquesse honourably accompanied fetcheth the Lady Margaret from FRANCE and shortly afterward she is Married at Southwicke in Hampshire and Crowned Queene of England at Westminster on the thirtieth day of May How advantagious this match was for the Crowne of England may bee gathered when shee brought not a penny portion the charge of comming being defrayd by the Marquesse who had towards the discharge thereof the full Fifteene granted to the King in the late Parliament and in exchange of her Person the Dutchie of Anion the City of Mauns with the whole Countie Mayne and so the best Props of the Dutchy of Normandy are surrendred into the hands of the French but affection is blind and what shall- be shall-bee youth rides in post to be married but in the end findes the Inne of repentance to bee lodged in The Duke of Arminiack in requitall of the King of Englands kind usage of his Daughter is a meanes to expell the English out of the whole Dutchy of Aquitan And it is to bee feared that God was displeased with the match for after the consummation thereof there was a quotidian consumption of the Kings Friends both in his owne Land and Forraine parts intestine warres are kindled at home and rebellion is rise in all parts abroad and which is most grievous of all after the slaughter of many thousands of his Christian subjects the confusion of his Vncles and their Posteritie almost the Deposition of himselfe the inhumane butchery of his Son the Queene must be sent home againe in as much misery and contempt as shee was now received with pompe and acclamations During the time of the truce as well to bee partakers of the jollitie of the Court at this time as to visit their familiars and friends the Regent and chiefe Commanders resort to England and there put the King and Councell in mind to provide a cloake ready though Sunne shone bright lest it should raine Whereupon a Parliament is assembled wherein is especiall provision made for the furnishing of all the Frontier townes but principally the places of Normandy To which end levies of men and money are made and all things usefully-necessary are prepared But a sparcke of fire is fallen amongst the flaxe which though little and unseene at first grew to an unquenchable flame for the Duke of Yorke being at first chosen Regent for five yeares and at the expiration thereof returning was received nec merito with great love and commendation After the death of the Earle of Warwicke who succeeded him in the Regency hee againe as a man well-deserving the place is sent over with the like Authority and instructions for other five yeares but Somerset which envied the Duke of Yorkes first advancement and still was full of peccant humours against his continuance of that place so undermined Yorke that by the meanes of the new Marquesse whose favour from the King and Queene now was beyond mediocrity and into whose more inward familiaritie Somerset was now
his Care that he would give a good account of the keeping of it or leave his life as a testimony of his good will to have done it the Duke of Somerset vrged his authoritie which so incensed the old Captaine that he sayd that he could never better have expressed his insufficiency then ambitiously having affected so iminent a place now durst not abide the hazard to stay in it this so moved the Regent that he complaineth hereof to the rest of the Captaines to whom hee maketh show of more danger then there was and so farre prevailed with them that they for the most part agree to make composition for their departure with bagge and baggage which being granted Sir David with some few of his retinue departed into Ireland where to his Colonell hee related all the passages betwixt him and the Duke which set a roote of rankor in the heart of the Duke of Yorke against Somerset that the seeds were never after dead till drowned in blood The French triumphed in Normandy having cleerely gotten it after an hundred yeares possession out of the English mens hands and finally wonne all France to the obedience of Charles their King the reasons of this totall reduction of these Provinces are diversly delivered Some affirme that the English had grasped more with their hand then they could well hold joyning more Townes then they could man and having more lands then they could manure so that their store bred their povertie Others say that the Captaines kept not halfe the number in their Companies that they received pay for Others affirme that Somerset was blinded with French-crowne dust that hee could not discerne danger till the souldiers tasted destruction But it is most agreeable to truth that the triple-headed Gerion in England presumption in government by some unmeet to rule the inveterate malice and insufferable pride of the last created Nobilitie and the universall distaste of the Commons too much oppressed with exactions and burdens was the originall and finall cause of the ill successe our Armies had in France Yet by the way consider but the deportment of the English Nation the concurrence of martiall men their counsell discipline designes from the beginning of Edward the first untill this time and you will acknowledge that they were men of worth and prowes and caried the palme of victory before them wheresoever they went But Suffolke must beare a share and a great one of the blame for this businesse for hee is not only exclaimed against as the cause of the surrender of Anion and Mayne The chiefe procurer of the Duke of Glocesters death The occasion of the losse of Normandy but they accuse him further to have wilfully wasted the Kings Treasure for being a meanes to remove sufficient men from the Councell borde and admitting of Favourites that were only to serve his turne his ambition ayming at the advancement of his faction though with the destruction of the King and the subversion of the Common-wealth The Queene taketh notice of these aspersions and too well knowing how farre they were guiltie that were thus toucht doubting the Dukes destruction and her owne downefall if this current were not stopt so wrought that the Parliament assembled at the Black-Fryers is adjourned to Leicester and from thence to Westminster In the meane time all meanes possiblie are used to stop the mouthes of those that were incensed against the Duke but it prevailed not For the Lower house exhibited their Bill of grievance against the Duke of Suffolke to this purpose 1. That hee traiterously had incited divers the Kings enemies as namely the Bastard of Orleance the Lord Presigny and others to levie warre against the King to the intent that thereby the King might bee destroyed and that Iohn the Duke of Suffolkes Son who had taken to Wife Margaret Daughter and sole heire of Iohn Duke of Somerset whose Title to the Crowne the Duke of Suffolke had often declared in case King Henry should die without issue might be King 2. That by his sinister practises Charles Duke of Orleance notwithstanding the many cautions upon great reasons by King Henry the fift to the contrary given obtained his liberty 3. That through his trecherie by the abetment of the Duke of Orleance the French King hath gotten possession of all the Dutchy of Normandy and taken prisoners the valiant Earle of Shrewsbury the Lord Fauconbridge and many other brave Commanders But to all these hee affirmed himselfe not guilty neither in thought or deed Then was further allegations made against him to this purpose 1. That being with others sent Embassadours into France hee transcended his Commission and without privitie of his fellow Commissioners presumed to promise the surrender of Anion and the deliuery of the Countie of Maunts and the Citie of Mants to Duke Rayner which accordingly was performed to the great dishonour of the King and detriment of the Crowne 2. That hee had traiterously acquainted the Councell of the French King with all the affaires of State and passages of secrecie by whose trayterous information the enemy was througly instructed in all the designes of the King and Councell 3. That hee had received rewards from the French King whereby all succours sent to the Kings Friends in France were disappointed and frustrate 4. That by his wicked practises the good Duke of Glocester was deprived both of Protectorship and life 5. That by his labouring such only were made of the Kings privy Councell that more respected the Dukes particular profits then the good of the King or Realme 6. And lastly that hee had underhand fraudulently enriched himselfe with the Kings Treasure and revenewes and had possessed himselfe by abusing the Queenes favour of all Offices of charge and credit about the King All these hee faintly denyed but could not acquit himselfe of them But to bleare the eyes of the people and to keepe them hoodwinckt during the time of Parliament The Duke is committed to the Tower but the Parliament is no sooner dissolved but hee is set at liberty which so much incensed the vulgar people that they could not be restrained within the limits of obedience but in many places after they had vented their swolne spleenes in garrulent exclaiming against the corruption of times and the wrongs the Common-wealth sustained by the misgovernment of the Queene and her Favourite They fell to an insurrection and under the leading of a desperate Commander stiling himselfe Blewbeard they began to commit some outrages but by the diligence of the Gentlemen of the Country the Captaine was apprehended and the rebellion ceased The Parliament is againe assembled and great care taken of the Election of moderate-minded men for Citizens and Burgesses presuming thereby to stop any further proceedings against Suffolke But his appearance gave such a generall distaste in the House that though hee came in the company of the King and Queen they would not forbeare but begin the assembly with
rifled and robbed the outlandish Merchants in all places of the Citie doing them much mischiefe and committing many outrages The Maior to suppresse these enormous courses assembleth a company of honest and substantiall Citizens who with good discretion but not without some blood-shed appeased their rage and quieted the many whilst the ringleader which more for revenge of his commitment to Newgate then any desire to enrich himselfe with their spoile got himselfe to Westminster and there taketh Sanctuary The Councell being advertised of this misdemeanour sent the Duke of Buckingham by the Qeenes direction with Commission to enquire and punish these offences But when the Maior and the Commissioners were set tidings came that tâ—… Commons were up in armes to stop all proceedings against any of those offenders the Commissioners thereupon well knowing how distastfull their Commission would bee to the multitude when thereby the Maiors power should be abridged and the government of the Citie questioned departed and left the businesse to bee proceeded in by the Maior and his Brethren who with great care and much industry so managed things that many of the offenders were punished some by death others by fines and imprisonment and all things quieted and well ordered The French in this time of uncivill dissentions manned out two Fleetes whereof one under the conduct of William Lord Pomyers the other of Sir Peter Bressy went Eastward and Westward the Lord fell upon Fulnay and burning certaine houses soone retyred the Knight spoyled Sandwich the people for feare of the plague which mightily raged there being fled from thence but with no great booty or harme done returned The Scots under colour and countenance of their Kings presence came into Northumberland burning and spoyling the Borders but hearing of the Duke of Yorkes approach retired Thomas Piercy Lord Egremond one of the younger sonnes of the Earle of Northumberland had a great conflict with the Earle of Salisburies Sonnes in which many were slaine But the Lord was taken and brought before the Councell by whom hee was committed to Newgate and deeply fined but hee escaped with many other prisoners to the great trouble of the Sheriffs of London Whilst the Duke of Yorke was absent for repelling the rebellious Scots in the North the King went to Greenwitch to the Queene who perswaded him for his health and recreation as she alleaged but her drift was for that shee found by experience that the Duke of Yorke was more favoured and his favourites respected about London then either shee or the King so that it was in vaine to attempt any thing against him there yet something must be done against him or else she should be undone to take his Progresse Northward into Warwickshire which he did by the way hawking hunting the Queen making shew of minding nothing but pastimes had caused private Letters under the Kings privie signet in most loving termes to be sent unto the three Lords whereby they-were earnestly solicited by an houre appointed to be at Coventry which they reverently intended But by the way they have true information of the mischiefe plotted against them and so warily by flight but not without some danger escaped for they causing their stewards with their retinue to goe forward on the way to the Court whilst the Duke of Yorke but with a groome and a Page sped him to Wigmore Castle The Earle of Salisbury to his Castle of Middilham in the North And the Earle of Warwicke to the Sea-side and so to Callice but before they departed they agreed upon an alphabet by which they might have entercourse of letters which though intercepted yet their intentions might be kept vndiscovered The King unwitting of this intended mischiefe against the Duke of Yorke and his friends returneth to London whither he calleth a Councell And therein of his owne accord desireth some course to be invented for the banishing of Rancour and malice out of the hearts of his nobilitie and to the end he might have the glory of the reconcilment though themselues the good he promised on his salvation a thing unusuall with him so to assevere so to entertaine the Duke of Yorke and his friends that all discontents and injuries should be outwardly respectively forgotten and inwardly religiously forgiven and perpetuall love and amitie on all parties established to this end Messengers are dispatched to the Duke of Yorke and all other of what ranke soever worthy notice to be taken of which since the battaile of Saint Albones had expressed themselues to be displeased on either part Commanding them for vrgent affaires of the realme and upon royall promise of safe conduct to repaire to his Court at London at a time appointed The Duke of Yorke having intimated to his confederates his resolution and given them admonition to provide for prevention of the wrong observantly came and with foure hundred men well appointed lodged at his house called Baynards Castle The Earle of Salisbury with fivehundred men likewise lodged at his house called the herbor the Dukes of Exceter lately released and Somerset with eight hundred men were lodged without Temple-barre The Earle of Northumberland the Lord Egrimond and the Lord Clifford with fifteene hundred men were lodged in Holborne the Earle of Warwicke with sixe hundred in red Iackets with ragged staves embrodered behind and before were lodged at the Gray-Friers in London upon the seventeenth of March the King and Queene came to London and were lodged at the Bishops pallace The Maior like a provident Magistrate Commanded every Alderman in his Aldermanry to keepe a standing watch in armes both by day and night himfelfe having five thousand well appointed men in readinesse upon any occasion rode with a competent number all day long round the City for preservation of the Kings peace on all sides The Lords lodging within the Citie held their Councell at Black-friers the others at the Chapter house at Westminster Betweene both the reverent Archbishop of Canterbury the sonne of Henry Bourchyer Earle of Essex a man every way Compleat without exception with some such prelates of whose modest condition and learning he had made experience did diligently intercede and so effectually laboured that both sides by his mediation were well contented to come to Communication the good successe whereof was good for that after much conference the wisedome of the indifferent being such that all repetitions of wrongs on either side done should be forborne it was finally concluded that all wrongs iniuries and misdemenors on every side should be forgotten and forgiven that each side should be friends to the other and both be obedient to the Commandes of the King And by their further consent the Duke of Yorke the Earle of Salisbury and the Earle of Warwicke should assure forty five poundes per annoum to the Abby of Saint Albones for obites and ceremonions suffrages of the Church at that time usuall for the benefit of the soules of all such as were
Queen with the Duke of Somerset some few others taking with them the young Prince fled to the Bishoprick of Durham The King was taken and as a prisoner conveyed to London At their comming thither the Tower of London is yeelded unto the Earle of Warwicke by his souldiers the Lord Scales in disguised apparell endevoured to escape is taken by the Watermen and by them without due course of Law or orderly proceeding beheaded and his corps carelesly left upon the sands Tho Thorpe one of the Barons of the Exchequer upon whose advise the Lancastrians much relyed in the habit of a Monke his or owne shorne purposely to fly to the Queen is taken and committed prisoner to the Tower The Duke of York at this time being neither idle nor asleepe being advertised of this good successe leaveth Ireland and posts to London where by the advise and consent of the York faction he thought fit to discover the head of that ambitious serpent that hitherto had bin covered in the grasse of reformation and so that in the Kings name he summoneth a Parliament which being assembled in the presence of the Lords in the upper House he placeth himselfe in the Imperiall seate and with great courage and a confident brow hee layeth open his rightfull claime and Title to the Crowne of England as being the Sonne and heire of Anne Daughter and heire of Roger Mortimer Earle of March Son and heire of Philip the sole Daughter and heire of Lionell Duke of Clarence the third Son of Edward the third and elder Brother of Iohn of Gaunt Duke of Lancaster Father of the usurper Henry the fourth grand Father to Henry the fift who was Father to him that untruly stileth himselfe King Henry the sixt He further related that God had not blessed this unlawfull usurpation for by meanes thereof the Common-wealth had suffered so many and so grievous calamities that had not God been the more mercifull the same had bin overwhelmed by the multitude and grievousnesse thereof that though Henry the fift had made many conquests in France and Normandy yet as of ill-gotten possessions his heire could not take any benefit by them And how much heaven is at this time offended with his government wee may well feare if wee but call to mind the cruell butchering of so many honourable great Lords in defence of his title abroad the slaughter of so many thousand of his loyall subjects in maintenance of his quarrell the inutterable exhaust of the treasure unnecessarily consumed in France Normandy and else-where The civil broiles at home the losse of all formerly got in France and those parts the losse occasioned by the excursion and depredations of the Scots and French And lastly the oppressions extortions and violence daily unsufferably practised by the tiranny of an insolently ambitious woman upon the meaner sort of people And then concluded that he craved no favour from them except that justice did warrant his claime nor would expect or desire the possession of the Crowne except his descent were undisputable and his Title without just exception and for his owne particular he presumed that since vertue might be as bold to challenge its due as vice is apt to borrow of insinuation he might without offence put in his claime and demand allowance thereof This being a businesse of import required deliberation and mature consideration but in conclusion the Duke having before hand by his agents prepared the Lords Spirituall and few of the Nobilitie present that were not on his part the Burgesses were easily perswaded and that was generally resolved and enacted accordingly That King Henry during his life should retaine the name and honour of a King That the Duke of Yorke should be proclaimed Heire apparant to the Crowne and the Protector of the Kings person his Land Dominions and Country That at any time any King Henryes Friends Allies or Favourites in his behalfe should attempt the disanulling of this act that then the Duke should have present possession of the Crowne No sooner was the Parliament dissolved when the Duke dispatcheth Letters into Scotland requiring in the Kings name the Queene the Dukes of Somerset and Exceter and all other of the Nobilitie that remained in that kingdome with all speed to repaire to his Presence to London But they were otherwise resolved And having gotten together of English and Scots to the number of eighteene thousand men they marched into England The Duke of Yorke with his younger Sonne the Earle of Rutland with the Earle of Salisbury leaving the King in the custodie of the Duke of Norfolk and the Earle of Warwicke marched towards the Queene and approaching neere her Army at Wakefield the Dukes Scowâ—…s being returned certified him that the enemy farre exceeded their power in number and all warlike preparation Whereupon the Earle of Salisbury advised the Duke to retire and attend the comming of the Earle of March who was gone into Wales to raise the Marchmen But it being appointed that here his ambitious desires should come to a period The pride of his former victory and overweening of his souldiers valours made him deafe to all counsell of forbearing the field and hastened on by his destiny from Sandall Castle hee marched to Wakefield greene where the Lord Clifford on the one side and the Earle of Wilts on the other were placed in ambuscado The Duke of Yorke supposing that the Duke of Somerset who had the battell had no more forces but what were with him valianly and in good order marcheth towards him but being entred within their danger the Ambushes on both sides broke out upon him and slew him and three thousand of his side the rest with number and confusion overborne fled the Earle of Salisbury is taken prisoner and harmelesse Rutland that came thither but to see fashions is made a sacrifice for his Fathers transgression and kneeling upon his knees instructed by his infant feares with teares begging life is unmercifully stabbed to the heart by the Lord Clifford in part of revenge as he sware of his Fathers death The Queene unwilling to bee behind hand in crueltie as unlike a mercifull woman as he an honourable gentleman in cold blood without due forme of tryall causeth the Earle of Salisbury and as many as were taken prisoners to bee beheaded at Pomfret Castle and to have their heads as it were in scorne to be placed on poles about the walls of the Citie of Yorke an incitement as it were to make all interessed in the shame to adde spurres to the speedy course of vindicative desires and to draw on revenge to the uttermost This Richard Nevill Earle of Salisbury was third Sonne of Ralph Nevill first Earle of Westmerland by Ioane his second wife Daughter of Iohn of Gaunt Duke of Lancaster hee married Elianor Daughter and heire of Tho Montague Earle of Salisbury had issue foure Sons six daughters 1. Richard the eldest was restored and
newes and the generall acclamations that went through all places of King Henry and a Warwicke caused King Edward to distrust his owne souldiers and fearing the tyde would turne his heart failing him in the dead of the night only with eight hundred of whose constancy hee was assured most of them the Lords Rivers Hastings and Sayes retinue hee posted from besides Nottingham toward Lincolnshire but having notice that Warwicke to impeach his retreate had sent his light horsemen before and followed himselfe with the body of the Army with great hazard and losse of his carriages which were sunke in the sands he past the Washes and came to Lynne from whence with the Duke of Glocester the Lord Scales and about seven hundred men without any change of rayment or other necessaries or other victuals but what they brought on horsebacke with them or what they had left their horses for in the Towne they set sayle bending their course for Holland The Lord Chamberlaine stayed behind aswell to make what provision hee could for the better accommodation of the King to carry with him as to take order with such of their followers as were to stay behind whom hee entreated to temporize things standing as they did till the wind came about againe which hee affirmed would bee very shortly but upon the first faire gale that blew with King Edward to open their sayles on his behalfe whilst hee was upon this negotiation fortune that makes a tennis ball of the greatest thus playd her part with King Edward No sooner was hee past ken of shore but certaine Easterlings enemies both to England and France were descried to have them in chase so that the Mariners were driven to clap on all their canvasse to beare up for the next shore of Holland The Easterlings plyed after them so close that the English durst not take land but where their landing might bee favoured by some Fort or Towne so that they were forced to fall lower then the first Coast and came to anchor before a Towne in the Netherlands called Alquemare as neere it as with conveniencie they might the ebbe being falne too low to enter the Haven The Easterlings whose ships were of greater burden came as neere them as they durst for feare of running on ground intending at the next flood to lay them aborde But in the interim the Lord Hastings being landed in Holland making enquiry after King Edward but receiving no tydings of his being come on shore presently dispatcheth Curryers to all the Maritine Townes thereabouts to give notice that Edward King of England was upon the Coasts to visit his Brother-in-law and Sister the Duke and Dutchesse of Burgoyne The Lord Gronteer Governour of Alquemare being hereof informed suspecting what was true that the King of England was aborde those shippes that the Easterlings had chased in Hee presently mand out a Boate unto them with these messages that the King of England was in league with that Country and his subjects and shipping should ride safe in that harbour without impeachment of any man and therefore commanded them in the Dukes name not to disturbe the English in their landing as they would run the hazard of the Cannon from the Towne by which meanes the King was permitted quietly to come on shore and was honourably entertained by the Governour who conducted him to the Hage where they stayed the comming of the Duke King Edward having now almost in a miraculous manner past the pikes in his owne Kingdome and the perills both of Seas and Pirates presuming that Gods providence had protected him for some good purpose Hee by the advise of his Sister who in all things exprest her selfe a dutifull Wife to her Husband but a deere friend to her Brother did intimate unto the Duke that hee had now under God none to relie upon in this lâ—…s extremity but himselfe and therefore hee earnestly doth sollcite him for present succours which hee obtaineth but whilst forces are raising to secure King Edwards returne out of Holland his Queene Elizabeth forsaketh the Tower and secretly taketh Sanctuary at Westminster upon report of Warwicks approach who made the more hasty march for London for that hee was informed That some seditious persons about Kent such that only awaited opportunitie to fish in troubled waters more out of greedy desire to gaine bootie then get glory had plotted the pillaging of London from which they were hardly restrained notwithstanding the carefull resolute and industrious courses of the Maior and his Compeeres These Scatter-goods played reaks about Limehouse places adjoyning untill the Earle of Warwick suppressed them and made exemplary punishment to bee inflicted upon many of them to the great content of the more sober-minded people And much commendation from the Citizens for his care of the Cities safety Execution of these pillages done VVarwicke commeth to the Tower which two dayes before the Maior by a bloodlesse stratagem had entred and did now make good on the the behalfe of King Henry who was by him removed out of his hold of durance into his owne lodging and there served according to his state which the Earle of VVarwicke as the more sensible of the two did more congratulate then the King himselfe King Henry upon the sixt day of October accompanied with the Archbishop of Yorke the Prior of Saint Iohns the Bishop of London the Duke of Clarence the Earle of Warwicke and other Nobles with great solemnitie was conducted through London to the Bishops Pallace where hee rested untill the thirteenth of that moneth on which day hee went in solemne procession about Pauls Church wearing his imperiall Crowne the Earle of Warwicke bearing up his traine and the Earle of Oxford the Sword before him in whom it appeared that mortality was but the stage of mutabilitie The next day as the usuall adjunct of like proceedings in all usuall places about London King Edward was proclaimed an Vsurper and all his partakers and abettors Traitors to God and the King whereof Iohn Lord Tiptoft Earle of VVorcester as a partaker with King Edward was made the first example and on that day beheaded at Tower-hill Hee had to wife Elizabeth sister and heire of Sir VValter Hopton Knight by whom hee had issue Edward who after did succeed him in the Earledome The high Court of Parliament as a cloake to cover all bracks of eruption in the State is assembled at Westminster wherein King Edward and all his knowne friends and followers are attainted of high Treason and all their lands and goods seized on to King Henryes use And like a Well with two buckets whereof one came up full to be empticd the other goes downe empty to bee fill'd one Parliament set up an Edward and puts downe Henry and the next acknowledgeth Henry and explodeth Edward George Plantaget Duke of Clarence is by the authoritie of this Parliament adjudged to bee heire to Richard Duke of Yorke his father and that
where advised thereto by his Councell hee sent great Warwickes Brother the Archbishop of Yorke to bee kept prisoner in the Castle of Guisnes and the Earle of Oxford who had submitted himselfe upon pardon of life only to the Castle of Hams and layed all the Ports for the stopping of the Earle of Penbrookes going out of England which hee neverthelesse afterwards did with the young Earle of Richmond King Edward much displeased with the escape of the Earle of Penbrooke but more of that of Richmond by how-much the one could but abet the other might lay claime sent his Letters over to the Duke of Britaine whither those two Earles had found meanes to convey themselves and were in Britanny by him kindly entertained intimating therein his earnest desire either to have them sent over to him or at least watchfully kept from attempting any thing which he had iust causte to suspect they would to his prejudice by their being at liberty with many promises of thankfull respect for this courtesie if granted and for an earnest thereof sent him a token worthy the receiving which so prevailed with the Duke that the two Earles were debard each others company and all their English attendants taken from them and Britons appointed in their places which somewhat satisfied the King of England but gave no content to the English Gentlemen in France A Parliament is called at Westminster wherein all acts formerly made by him are confirmed And those that King Henry after his redemption of the Crowne had abrogated were revived And an ordinance made for the confiscation of all their lands and goods that had taken part against him and were fled with a restauration of all such as for his part had beene attainted both to blood and patrimony Towards his charges in this Parliament a competent summe of mony is voluntarilie given and in respect thereof a generall pardon is granted The Duke of Burgoyne not willing that his courtesies formerly done to his brother in law should be thought upon and willing to ingulph him in the warres of France That he in the meane time might have the better opportunitie to worke some malicious stratagem against the French king sends over Embassadors with ample instructions to solicit the King of England to set on foot his title to the Crowne of France making great offers with protestations to ayd and assist him therein both with purse and person The Embassadors have audience and after much debating the poynt amongst the privy Councell it was thus amongst them concluded 1 That the Crowne of France was not ambitiously affected But the title thereof legally Challenged as the unquestionable right of the now King of England 2 That the French warres if orderly pursued alwayes enriched English Souldiers 3 That France being made the seat of the war it would keepe them from making invasion on England and hinder them from supporting any against the King of England 4 That the French King had in an unsufferable fashion given an affront to the King of England in ayding and abetting Queene Margaret and her trayterous complices against him and prohibiting any his true subiects to reside within his territories And in continually sending combustible stuffe to feed the fire of rebellion which had so disquieted the common-wealth of England 5 That the King of France infested the Duke of Burgonies Countries with warres who was a friend and Collegue with the King of England and one that was in league with him both offensive and defensive Therefore this proposition from the Duke of Burgoin to vndertake the warres against France was to be approved of as being both lawfull and behoofefull for the honour of the King and the good of the Kingdome But the meanes how to pursue the warre being once undertaken was an other cause considerable For treasure the sinewes of warre was wanting and to procure a supply by Parliamentary courses would take up too much time They were therefore driven to find out and set on foote a proiect till then unheard of which was to draw by way of benevolence from the subject a seeming voluntary howsoever often very unwillingly payed contribution Thereby to supply the want of mony for the pursuance of these warres To this end divers Commissioners are assigned with letters to the knights and Gentlemen and severall instructions are sent into every County who did therein so effectually Comply themselues to doe the King service that by their perwasions most men of abilitie did enlarge their contributions to this so faire an enterprise and readily departed with their mony And a Kings kys to a sparing and therefore a rich widdow amongst many others drawne in by Court holy water to make oblation brought in twenty pounds more then was demanded for that being but twenty she gave forty It is almost a matter of admiration in these dayes how in those dayes The King could out of this little Island be furnished with able men for his warres old men women and children with sufficient meate to put in their mouthes the Cleargy and Schollers with competent maintenance and the markets with necessary provision considering the infinite number of those in the late Civill broyles slaughtered the paucitie of Ploughmen and husbandmen the want of farmers and the indigency of Cattell wherewith to stocke their farmes infinite quantities of ground lying unmanurde or tilled and the pastures and downes without sheepe or Cattell The generall spoyle and wastment which the Souldiers wheresoever they came and that was almost every where in this kingdome made and the generall ceasing and neglect of commerce or trafficke the shipping not daring to stir abroad the danger being so great to be robbed and spoyled either by hombred pirates or forraine foes yet such was Gods great mercies that every one of these respectively were supplied and did subsist without any notable defect or extraordinary want Henry Holland Duke of Exceter and Earle of Huntington dishinherited by act of Parliament with Henry Duke of Somerset and Thomas Earle of Devonshire in the fourth yeere of King Edward the fourth was this yeare found dead stript naked betwixt Dover and Callice but how hee came by his death no inquiry could bring to light he married Anne daughter of Richard Duke of Yorke and sister to Edward the fourth but had no issue by her she was after married to Sir Thomas Saytleoger and had issue by him a daughter to George Mannors Lord Rosse of Hâ—…mlack Provision for this French expedition of all things necessary being throughly made aad order taken for the quiet government of the kingdome in his absence and the stop of incursiones if any should by the Scots be made King Edward with an army of fifteene hundred men at armes and all of the nobility and Gentry gallantly mounted and wel attended with fifteene thousand archers on horsebacke eight thousand common souldiers whereof five thousand were sent to Brittaine and three thousand pioners to attend the ordnance and
bee supported and though to the offence of many hee had made his office the stauking-horse of his will yet none should dare say blacke to his eye Whilst these things are projecting the Queene appointeth Earle Rivers her Brother and her Sonne Richard Lord Gray and the rest of her Allyes and friends to provide with a strong power of able souldiers to guard the young King from Ludlowe to London The Duke of Gloucester being herewith acquainted might well thinke that if this plot were not effected before that time his pollicie hardly afterwards would in that point prevaile Hee therefore cunningly writes to the Queene whom ever since her husbands death hee had with a great show of respect by visitation and intercourse of message brought to a fooles beliefe to take seeming for being and shadowes for realityes And by his Letters intimates to her that it was rumored abroad that her Brother and Sonne against her will and without the knowledge of the late Kings kinred was providing with a mighty power of armed souldiers to conduct his Majestie in hostile manner from Wales to London which if it should bee so done would breed a great jelousie in the mindes of the common people who are apt enough to make an ill construction of the best action whereof they are ignorant That there were ill members whom the King had cause to suspect and therefore enforcedly came thus armed And where as now there was no appearance or likelihood but of true love and affection betwixt his kinred and her Allyes if any armed troopes should bee now raised and no cause knowne to what end the so late unfeyned reconcilement so happily by his late Brother procured would bee in question to bee dissolved yea any the least mistake mislike or distaste that might bee taken arise or given amongst the meanest of the common souldiers might minister occasion to disquiet the peace of the kingdome and set him and her Brother and partakers on both sides together by the eares and the mischiefe that thereby should ensue as it is to be feared a great deale would was like enough to fall on that part to which shee wisht least hurt and all the blame would redound to her and her kinred which now shee might easily so please her prevent if shee would but addresse her Letters to her Brother and Son to assure them from his mouth and upon his honour that himselfe and all the late Kings kinred were constantly resolved inviolably to observe the amicable attonement made by his Soveraigne and her Husband upon his death-bed betweene her Allyes and friends and the Kings kinred The too credulous Lady gave plenary consent to what the Duke of Glocester requested and to that end dispatched messengers to her Brother and Sonne who somewhat unwillingly but upon her request were perswaded to forbeare levying any more men and cashired those they had provided and attended only with their owne meniall servants they set forwards towards the Queene with the young King And with more hast then good speed came to North-Hampton and from thence the King went to Stony-Stratford where the two Dukes with a great traine well provided and mounted arrived And pretending the Towne to bee too little for the entertainment of their Companies they went to Northampton and alighted at the same Inne where the Earle Rivers had taken up his lodging that night resolving to overtake the King the next morning Vpon this their accidental meeting much Court complement enterchange of faire language show of courtesie passed and not the least colour for distaste or dislike taken or given on either side neither by themselves or followers But no sooner was supper ended but the Dukes pretending wearinesse through hard riding retire to their lodgings and the Earle goeth to his But the Dukes with their private friends when the Earle went to bed went to Councell what course to take with the least suspition and the most safetie to make away the Earle and his kinred In this consultation they continue the most part of the night And towards morning they tooke the keyes of the Inne gates and disperst their followers to keepe the passages with instruction not to permit horse-man or foot-man to passe the way towards Stony-Stratford pretending that none should goe before because the two Dukes might expresse their dutifull respect to the King the better by being first ready to give their attendance at his going to horse The Earle having notice by the Host of these proceedings imagining his destruction was plotted yet being debard of any meanes either to make resistance or escape hee set a good countenance upon the matter and came boldly to the Duke of Glocester his Chamber where hee found Buckingham and the rest with whom hee expostulates the reason of this course taken to imprison him and his in their Inne against their wills But they in stead of shaping him an answer made their will the law and without more speaking commanded the Earle to bee layd hands on objecting those crimes to him whereof themselves only were faulty And having taken order for his safe imprisonment they speedily tooke horse and came to Stony-Stratford at such time as the King was taking horse whom in all faire and reverent manner they saluted But a staffe was quickly found that a dogge may be smitten an offence is taken before given a quarrell is pickt against the Lord Richard Gray the Kings halfe brother in his own presence The Duke of Buckingham making relation to the King That he and the Marquesse his Brother with Earle Rivers the Queens Brother had endevoured and almost effected to drawe unto themselves the sole managing of the affaires of the kingdome and to sowe dissension betwixt the Blood-royall of your Fathers side and those scarce loyall on the Queenesside who greedily seeke after the others ruine and the better to effect it The Lord Marquesse without any warrant but of his owne head out of the Tower of London your principall Magazine hath taken both the Treasure and Armour to a great quantitie But what his purpose was to doe therewith though they were ignorant yet there was just cause to suspect it was to no good end And therefore it was thought expedient by the advise of the Nobilitie to attach him at Northampton to have him forth-comming to make answer for these and other his over-bold actions done against common honesty The King for want of experience unable to sound the depth of these plots mildly said to him What my Brother Marquesse hath done I cannot say but for my Vncle and Brother here I dare answer they are innocent of any unlawfull practises either against mee or you Oh quoth the Duke of Buckingham that hath beene their cunning to abuse your Majesties gentlenesse with keeping their trechery from your knowledge And thereupon instantly in the Kings presence they arrested the Lord Richard Sir Thomas Vaughan Sir Richard Hall and coveyed them to Northampton and from the
hee found the Earles with a sufficient company aswell to make an attempt as to stand upon resistance This much distracted the King being now in choice either to relent or resist much disdayning the one and distrusting the other his followers also were divided in counsell some fretting at the disgrace others fainting at the danger The Archbishop of Yorke perswaded with the King that occasion was now offered to shew himselfe a King indeed If hee would rayse a royall army and by maine might beat downe the boldnesse of their presumption This was more readily advised then done saith another The adversaries army is mightie the Commanders are great men both for courage and skill and greatly favoured by the Commons whereby that which is accounted so ready pay may prove a desperate debt Therefore it were better with some show of yeelding to enter into conditions of quiet then by standing upon too nice punctilioes of Honor to hazard the doubtfull event of battaile wherein the King cannot joyne but by his weakning nor loose without danger of his undoing There was present old Sir Hugh Linne a good souldier but a shuttle braine of whom the King in merriment demanded in this case what was as hee thought fittest to bee done Sir Hugh swore blood and wounds let us charge home and kill every mothers sonne and so wee shall make quicke dispatch of the best friends you have in the kingdome this giddy answer more wayed with the King then if it had beene spoken in grave and sober sort And thus it often happeneth that wise counsell is more sweetly followed when it is tempered with folly and earnest is the lesse offensive if it bee delivered in jest In the end the raysing of armes is layd aside not as displeasing being so agreeable to former proceeding but as despayring to prevaile thereby The Archbishop of Canterbury with the Bishop of Ely Lord Chancellor were sent unto the Lords to understand the cause of their assembly Answer was made that it was for the safety of themselves the honour of the King and the overthrow of those that sought destruction of both but by the mediation of the Bishop it was concluded that the Lords should come before the King at Westminster upon caution of his protection and there have publike audience concerning their grievances The Bishop of Ely giving private promise faithfully to discover any danger hee could descry who accordingly gave notice or little before the Lords appointed to come of an awaite that was purposed for their entrapping at the place called the Mewes neere London advised them either to make stay or to come provided but rather to make stay then to come forward lest further provocation might make reconciliation more difficult Whereupon they came not at the time appointed The King marvelling at their faylance demanded of the Bishop of Ely the cause who boldly answered that the Lords found want of true meaning and that they neither did nor durst repose assurance in the Kings words which they apparantly saw was but a meanes to ensnare them The King made the matter very strange unto him protesting that hee was free from deceit both in consent and knowledge and presently gave command to the Sheriffes of London to goe to that place and to slay or take all such as they fonnd there in waite whether this was but a countenance of his or whether hee was not privie to the practice it is not assuredly knowne but the matter was not false but the place mistaken For Sir Thomas Tryvet and Sir Nicholas Bramber had assembled divers armed men at Westminster to assault the Lords at their best advantage but perceiving the discovery of their plot they secretly dissolved their company and sent them away Then the Lords upon new faith for their securitie came to the King to Westminster but brought a guard with them so many as in a place where they were entirely favoured was able to defend them from any sudden defeate The King upon their comming entred into Westminster great Hall apparelled in his royall robes and when hee was placed in his seate and composed himselfe to majestie and state The Lord Chancellor made a large Oration to the Lords in the Kings name wherein hee declared the heynousnesse of their offence and the greatnesse of their perill how easie a matter it had been for the King to have levyed a power sufficient to have destroyed them and yet for the generall spare of his subjects blood and in particular favour to the Duke and other Nobles hee made choice to encounter and overcome them rather by friendship then by force and therefore was willing not only to pardon their ryot but also to heare their griefe and in a quiet and peaceable way to redresse them The Lords alledged the cause of their taking armes to be first the necessitie of their owne defence secondly their true love both to King and Realme whose fame and fortune did daily decline by meanes of certaine traytours who lived only by the dishonour of the one and decay of the other like mothes in bookes and garments that thrive by others losse Those whom they particularly challenged to bee Traytours were Robert Uear Duke of Ireland Nevill Archbishop of Yorke Delapoole Earle of Suffolke Robert Tresilian Lord chiefe Iustice Sir Nicholas Bramber with certain others more secret but little better And to justifie this their appeale they threw downe their gloves and offered themselves to the tryall of the Combat The King replyed that oftentimes the causes of action being good yet if the meanes want moderation and judgement the ends prove pernitious And therefore though these complaints should bee true yet were these courses not tolerable which did beare an open face of rebellion and by the licentiousnesse of the multitude might soone have sorted to such a period for it is more easie to raise the people then to rule them whose fury being once stirred will commonly bee discharged some wayes But saith hee since we have broken this broyle wee will not by combating give occasion of new but at our Parliament which I will instantly convoke both you and they shall bee present and Iustice indifferently done to all In the meane time I take you all into my protection that neither of you shall endanger or endamage other wishing the Lords to remember that as Princes must rule without limitation so Christian subjects must use a meane in their liberty Then he caused the Dukes and the Earles which all this while kneeled to arise and goe with him into his private chamber where they talked together and after with a most friendly farewell hee licenced them to depart They of the adverse part were absent at this meeting and if they had not it might have beene feared the Kings presence should have beene but a poore protection unto them The Kings demeanour herein was divers wayes censured some argued him fearefull others moderate and mercifull in preventing the effusion of his
increased by the report of the ill-affected multitude The King calleth his Councell where it is much debated whether were most convenient for the King in person to goe or to send his Generall it was disputed that wholly to subdue Ireland stood neither with possibilitie nor pollicy for if it were quiet in possession the governour might grow to that greatnesse that hee might make himselfe absolute Monarch thereof and therefore it was better to hold it certaine by feeble enemies then uncertaine by over-potent friends But how should those bogges and woods which are more impregnable then the best fortified Townes in other Countries be compassed or conquered And if the purpose were only to represse those Savage people the warre was not so waighty as should draw the King in person into the field And therefore it was most convenient for him to stay in some place from whence hee might shâ—…w his readinesse then tâ—… bee present indeed But others were of opinion and that not without good ground that to subdue and people Ireland was a matter neither difficult or dangerous but acceptable and honourable to God and the King For this Realme of England is truly storied to have beene as unpassible for bogges and woods as Ireland But the Conquerours kept not their souldiours idle in garrison whereby the bodyes might bee made diseased and so unfit for labour or hard travaile But they held as well them as the Natives continually in action either in exercising their armes or in raysing fortifications or making mightie high wayes or else in drayning and piling of bogges by which meanes the countrey was made habitable and the wayes passible and the people found it better to preferre subjection with plentie before liberty with penurie That the Romans kept many more large territories in quiet Obedience so long as there was amitie amongst themselves without either feare or danger of popular Governours either by severing them into divers small Provinces or assigning to every province divers Officers of inferiour rankes as Lieutenants and Provosts whereof one was able to retaine the other or by making their offices but annuall But chiefly by retayning their wives and children as pledges of their dutifull obedience That the danger was the more to be feared lest a weake enemy whilst hee is contemned should gather strength and to bee able to stand upon tearmes of withstanding That it was a pittifull policie for assurance of peace to make all waste like a Wildernesse and in stead of men to have domination of nothing but trees and beastes That by so doing the King should lose the revenew of a fruitfull Countrie and the benefit of wealthy subjects which are the surest treasure of a Prince That hereby also the Majestie of his estate would be impayred For as Solomon sayth the honour of a Kingdome consisteth in the multitude of subjects That the Countrie being unfurnished of people was open to all Nations invasions and a great meanes to invite forraine and unsent-for guests Lastly if none of these respects would move the King was bound in conscience to reduce those wilde people to the true knowledge and worship of God who did then either prophanely contemne him or superstitiously serve him These reasons so prevailed with the King that hee gathered a mighty Army with intention to goe in person into Ireland But all his provision was at the Subjects charge And where in times of danger a discreet Ruler when necessitie shall enforce his absence will give least cause of distaste unto his people This King in peace having beene no provider for warre was forced to offend when hee should have beene most carefull to winne their favour About the Feast of Pentecost hee set forward on his voyage mith many men but few souldiers hee carried with him all his Treasure jewels plate and kingly roabes with him also the Duke of Anmerle and the Duke of Exceter with diuers of the Nobles and many Mitred Prelates amongst whom was the Abbot of Westminster a chiefe favourite Hee also tooke with him the sonnes of the Duke of Glocester and Hereford whose favourers hee chiefely suspected When hee came to Bristow whether upon some matter or meere malice at first it is uncertaine it was put into the Kings head That Henry Piercy Earle of Northumberland with some other intended some disloyall attempt against him And therefore did not tender their service unto him in this expedition Hereupon he by his Pursevant commanded rhe Earle with all his power that could conveniently be raysed to come unto him in person to Bristoll The Earle by letter returneth answer desiring thereby his Majestie to take it into his more serious cogitation that it was inconvenient for the Irish service to draw men from such remote places in regard the rebells were neither so many nor so mightie but that the King had strength sufficient at hand to suppresse them That it was dangerous to disfurnish the North parts of their strength thereby to offer opportunitie to the Scottish borderers who were uncertaine friends in extremitie and assured to bee enemies upon any such advantage to make an inrode therefore craved to be excused at that time for not attending The King conceiving his command in this to bee contraried yea contemned would not stand to reason the matter though he had small reason things being as they were not to have done so but in an unadvised heate proclaims the Earle and all his Confederates Traytors and commands all their lands and goods to be seised to his use The Earle much stomacking this disgrace makes good the information breakes out into open hostilitie whilst the King proceeds in his voyage for Ireland where upon his first arrivall all things succeeded prosperously the King obtaining many Victories yet without battaile For the Irish not being under one government were divided into many factions so that seldome three sects joyned their strength and study to one point so that whilst they fought one by one they were all easily subdued or slaine In the meane time some of the Nobilitie of England with most of the common people groning under the burden of their oppression taking advantage of the Kings absence conspired to cut off that authoritie that would not bee confined and to bestow it upon some other who was likely to repayre what Richard had ruined resoluing if they fell short of their wish they would sell that with glory in the field which with certainty in peace they could not injoy The only man upon whom they all pitcht was Henry Duke of Hereford not upon any motion or desire of his But because hee was of the blood Royall and next heire male by discent to the succession of the Crowne of whose valour and vertue honourable proofe had beene made The only surviving man of qualitie that had stood up against the King for the behoofe of the Common-wealth for which hee had suffered much both in honour and state This attempt pleased as possible to prove and
of necessitie to bee followed Letters are secretly dispatched to the Duke whose speedy returne into England they importune affirming that aswell for the publike good of the Realme as for their owne particular safeties they were forced to use force against their King soliciting him to be pleased but to make the head and they would furnish the body with an able army to expell the misgoverned King from his unbefitting government and to settle the Crowne upon his head who was more apt and able to manage the same That they would not only helpe him in bare wishes and advise but would joyne hearts and hands to adventure their lives so that the perill should bee common to all the glory only his These Letters were cunningly compilde and closely conveyed by such as had more then common interest in the Dukes respect Amongst whom was principall Thomas Arundel late-Archbishop of Canterbury the sonne of Robert Earle of Arundel and Warren who had beene first Bishop of Ely and then Archbishop of Yorke and lastly of Canterbury who being amongst others the Bishops in the higher house of Parliament at what time the Duke of Glocester the Earle of Warwicke and the Earle of Arundel the brother to the Archbishop were convented at least questioned because Clergie men by the Canons are commanded not to be present at any tryall or judgement of life and death hee with the rest as they before had used departed the house upon this occasion being absent hee with his brother were condemned of high treason and after his brothers execution the Archbishop was banished the Realme his goods forfeited and seized and his place conferd upon Roger Walden The Archbishop with his Confederates by severall wayes and in strange disguises came to Paris and in the house of one Clomigey where the Duke sojourned met together where having obtained privacie and silence the Archbishop used these words or the like in sense Wee are sent unto you right high and most noble Prince from the chiefe Lords and Peeres and people of our kingdome who grone under the burden of tyrannous oppression Yet not to vindicate injuries against our Soveraigne upon private wrongs or displeasures nor upon desperate discontent to set the State in combustion to put the King in feare the kingdome into a flame nor to second the ambitious designes of any particular person But to open unto you the deformities and decayes of our dissected estate and to implore your ayde for the stay of the precipitate ruine of the same The remembrance of your honourable atchievements and your deserved reputation thereby gained in our country doth nothing else but make remembrance of our present basenesse bitter unto us Our victorious Armies have heretofore beene famous and renowned not only in the Ilands adjoyning but in all parts of Europe yea in Asia and Africa against the Infidels and Barbarians so that all Christian Princes have beene willing to imbrace our friendship or unwilling to provoke us to hostilitie But now both Welch and Scots whom wee have so often beaten and brought upon their knees doe not only scorne and deride us but the weake and miserable Irish have shaken off their shackles and glutted and enriched themselves with our blood and spoyles with these wee are now enforced to fight not for glory but for leave but to live in so much as we are pittied by our friends flouted by our enemies and hated of our selves it is confest that King Richard hath led and sent great powers into these Countreys but after such a manner that they have much wasted the kingdome with their maintainance but have by armes neither relieved our friends or revenged us on our enemies And no marvaile since all our discreet and diligent Commanders the sinewes and nerves of an Army are either beheaded banished or buried in disgrace and obscuritie and the managing of martiall affaires is committed without respect of abilities or desert to the conduct and counsell of such as can best comply with the Kings variable disposition Amongst whom antient Nobilitie is esteemed but as a vaine bubble vertue and sufficiencie are but a trappe to ensnare their possessours it is a griefe to mee to speake it but it helpeth not to hide that which every one seeth our Ancestours lived in the highest pitch of perfect liberty and wee of dejected servilitie being used not like subjects but abjects yea flat slaves not to one onely unrespective Prince but to many his proud and presumptuous favourites not alwayes the same but every day fresh ones And no sooner have we contented one but new greedy stomacks are provided whose extortion and exactions have devoured more by bribes then the enemy with the sword what unwonted nay what unheard-of projects are now invented and daily practised without either measure or end yea oftentimes without need but if any bee it proceedeth rather from riotous expence then necessary charges great summes of money are every minute pilled and pulled from the honest minded subject to bee unprofitably wasted upon prodigall spendthrifts and if any man impugne these most insupportable taxations or but speake in the defence of the libertie of a subject Then either by surmised imputation of capitall crime or by aggravation of small causes by far-fetcht circumstances and strayned constructions or else by open crueltie and force his life or libertie or both is called in question it were too tedious too odious too frivolous to produce particular examples The lamentable losse of your noble Vncles and other honourable friends and your owne present estate cannot easily bee forgotten nay I presume there is no man of ranke or fashion within the Realme who either in his owne person or children or in his deere friends or neere allyes but may easily finde that no man hath certaintie to enjoy the safeguard of his goods or the use of his liberty or suretie of his head but rich men of the one and good men in the other are continually in hazard This is our case but what is the remedie wee have patiently suffered and sued humbly for ease But our patience hath procured increase of punishment and our complaints more stripes By the one our livings by the other our liues are daily devoured Now therefore are wee unwillingly compelled to endevour to shake from our shoulders this too too uneasie yoke and submit our lives and estates to the command of some more moderate and worthy person not so much for the griefe of our miseries which are past nor for the paine of our present distresses as for feare of worse dangers which are most likely to follow the chiefe of the antient Nobilitie The King hath cut off the Commons hee hath pared to the quick and still he harroweth the Countrey as if now but newly conquered whereby our nakednesse is bared to our Adversaries and wee are made utterly unable either to recover that which is lost or to retaine that little that is left To whom shall wee now complaine from
both sides being by the one accounted a corrupter by the other a betrayer of the King The rest by his Example more fearefull then faithfull tooke every man his owne way and scattered And they that in the Kings prosperitie would have contended to bee foremost now together draw backe and like Swallowes forsake that house in Winter where all the Summer they did feed and foyle Betweene faint souldiers and false friends the King is abandoned Looke on hee might remedie it hee could not as not of force to punish that which he never forced to prevent his present remedy is patience a cold comfort his only revenge complaint a weake weapon Betweene both thus hee vents his passion And doe saith hee all forsake mee doth their faith and my good fortune both end together Had I forsaken them in time I had not beene forsaken of others who once loved me better but now are able to hurt me more I confesse the blindnesse of my judgement and so there is no friendship in flattery nor trecherie in plaine truth and wish I had but as much space to reforme this error as I am like to have time to repent it But ah they would not suffer mee to be wise when I might and now they have made mee wretched they flye from mee they were content to bee the causes but will not bee companions of my calamities such attendants are like Crowes to a dead carkasse which flocke to it not to defend it but to devour it and no sooner have they bar'd the bones but they are gone Thus having lost both the feare and affection of his Subjects distracted without comfort counsell or courage like an Exile in his owne kingdome hee remaineth in Wales not daring to goe to London and no man desirous to come to him shifteth still from place to place fearing all things but most misliking the present The Duke pursueth him with all his power but the King was too weake to doe any thing by force and yet too great to bee undiscovered neither had hee any assurance of those few hee had At length hee came to the Castle of Conoway and there utterly destitute of helpe or hope hee stood divided in minde which way to bend his course his followers were more ready to oppugne the opinion of others then to give direction themselves as seeing better what to shun then what to follow and as it alwayes chanceth in desperate causes that course is commonly made choice of whereof the opportunitie is already past Some advised him that it was then time rather to thinke of saving of life then recovering his estate give place say they to the current of this furie let it haue its full source and when it is at the highest it will turne againe and then you shall have the tyde as strong with you as it is now against you Therefore give a little space for the bad to draw backe for the good to put forward Treason gets ground at the first but good counsell gathers strength by cunctation The mindes of the multitude are only constant in unconstancy and persevere only in change in dislike of things present they desire new wherewith they rest not long contented but are many times glutted with the first sight And how can they long endure the Raigne of him who mounting the Throne only by their favour and strength shall hold the same in a manner at their courtesie every unpleasant command shall bee deemed ingratitude every suit though never so unreasonable if denyed shall charge him shith unkindnesse if Honour be not offered they will bee much discontented and upon every occasion of distast thinke themselves as able to displace him as they were to set him up You may therefore say they for a time returne to Ireland or goe to your Father-in-law into France you may assure your selfe of his assistance to stand upon your side to recover your losses Others who were enemies to any counsell how good soever it was whereof themselves were not authors perswaded the King that his enemies would rather dye then desist not so much for enmitie to him as for caution to themselves For it is a hard matter to forgive but impossible to forget the indignities and injuries they have offered And to omit what some Princes have done what all will promise to doe They will soone find fresh and bleeding examples what you are like to doe Glocester Arundell Warwicke made insurrection not to amove you from the Crowne but to remove from you certaine misleaders of your affections an action more displeasing then prejudiciall unto you Atonement was made Charters of free pardon were granted under the great Seale But what followed was the breach ever perfectly made up did displeasure dye or was it only dissembled but the present wants of their lives have fully revenged their deaths For had they lived their countenance and authoritie would easily have stinted these strifes But the manner of their death perswades an obstinate resistance in all your adversaries As for the refuge to forraine Princes you may peradventure receive of them faire entertainment and allowance yet growing burdensome it may perchance fayle But it is hard to draw a Prince into such a quarrell and more hard by that meanes to prevaile Or if you should it is to bee feared that the Victors will hold the benefit of the conquest to themselves and not yeeld it over to you Few countryes that have required such ayde but have beene by Forrainers subdued This drew the Saxons into the land who so assisted the Britons that they could not be resisted from possessing their kingdome yet helpe of strangers in cases of extremitie is not altogether to bee contemned but it is a remedy last to be trusted to least to be tryed but in no case altogether to be relied upon What then if you procure a Treatie to see in what termes the people stand against you it may be upon faire quarter they will submit but if they will persist to uncrowne you an honourable stipend may be procured you what shall you lose thereby you have no childe to bee disinherited the chiefe motive to make men greedy to get and carefull to retaine And as for your selfe you shall bee but translated from a steepe and slippery hill to a smoothe and pleasant playne from dangerous travaile to secure rest And if there be no solace without safetie no felicitie without firmenesse you shall finde the private life not only more pleasant but more happy then your principall state The tallest trees are weakest in the toppes and envy alwayes aymeth at the highest But you shall lose you will say the credit ahd countenance of a King so shall you the cares and casualties The Crowne and Scepter are things most waighty to wield If a Prince bee good hee is laden with labour if evill with infamy howsoever with perills and tossed with strong and sturdy tempests so that to bee freed from these feares is to
doings only the King was utterly undone Then was demanded of the Nobilitie and Commons of the Realme what they judged of the substance and truth of these Articles who all agreed that the crimes were notorious And that the King was worthy for the same to bee deposed from his Princely dignitie The Noble men partly corrupted by favour part awed by feare gave their voices And the Commons who commonly are like a flocke of Cranes as the first flye all followers did the like Commissioners are appointed by both houses who pronounced sentence of Deposition against King Richard in manner and forme as followeth In the name of God Amen Wee Iohn Bishop of Asaph Iohn Abbot of Glassenbury Thomas Earle of Glocester Thomas Lord Barkley Sir Thomas Erpingham and Sir Thomas Gray Knights and William Thirning Iustice Commissioners for the causes hereafter specified By the Lords Spirituall and temporall and the Commons of the Realme of England representing all the States of our Kingdome specially deputed sitting in place of judgement considering the manifold perjuries and cruelties and many other the crimes and offences by Richard late King of this Realme committed and done contrarie to good government in the Realmes and dominions aforesaid during the time of his raigne Also considering the Articles which were openly exhibited and read before the said States which were so publike notorious manifest and famous that they could nor can by any shift or cover be concealed or avoyded considering also the Confession of the sayd King acknowledging and reputing and truly upon his certaine knowledge judging himselfe to have beene and to bee altogether insufficient and unskilfull for the rule and government of the Realme and Dominions aforesaid and not unworthy to bee Deposed for the notorious demerits by the said Richard first acknowledged and after by his will and mandate before the said States published and to them opened and declared in the English tongue upon these and other matters which were done concerning the same businesse before the said States and us by the delegation place name and Authoritie to us in this part committed in pursuance whereof Wee pronounce decree and declare the said Richard to have beene and bee unprofitable unable and altogether unsufficient and unworthy for the rule and government of the said Realmes and in regard and respect of the premisses worthy to bee deposed from all kingly dignitie and honor if any such dignitie and honor remaineth in him And for the like cautele We do depose him by our sentence definitive in this Writing inhibiting from henceforth expresly all and singular Lords Archbishops Bishops Prelats Dukes Marquesses Earles Barons Knights Vassales and all other persons whatsoever of the said Realmes heretofore the subjects of the same and every of them that from henceforth none obey or intend to obey the said Richard as King or Lord of the Dominions aforesaid And afterwards the same Commissioners by the conseâ—…t and suffrage of both houses were constituted Procurators joyntly and severally for all the States of the Realme to resigne and surrender unto King Richard for them and all other homagers of the Realme all the homages and fealties which were both due and done unto him as King and Soveraigne And also to declare unto him all the premisses concerning his Deposition Now Henry Duke of Lancaster that hee might bee reputed or reported at the least not to attaine the kingdome by intrusion and wrong was counselled by his friends to pretend some lawfull challenge or claime thereunto And being in power it was no sooner advised what was to bee done but it was presently devised how to doe it So a Title was drawne from Edmond sonne to King Henry the third whom they nicknamed Crookbacke affirming that he was the eldest sonne of King Henry and that hee for his deformitie was put from his right of succession which was for that cause given to King Edward the first To this Edmond the Duke was next of blood by his mother Blanch sole Daugter and heire to Henry Duke of Lancaster and Sonne to the same Edmond This cunning conveyance was perceived by most but seeming not to perceive it was a point of friendship in some and of obedience in the rest Therefore the Crowne of England being supposed unpossessed both by the resignation and also by the deposition of King Richard Duke Henry arose from off his seate and standing in the most view of the assembly making the signe of the Crosse on his forehead and brest said as followeth In the name of God Amen I Henry of Lancaster claime as my right the Crowne and Realme of England with all the Dominions and appendices to the same as being lineally descended by the right of lyne from the blood Royall comming from that good Lord King Henry the third and through the right that God of his grace hath sent mee by his assistance and the helpe of my ready kindred and noble friends have adventured to recover the same which was in point of destruction for want of good government and orderly distribution of justice therein and therewith reseated himselfe Then was it demanded in both Houses upper and lower whether they did consent that the Duke should raigne over them who all with one voice accepted of him for their King Then the Archbishop of Canterbury tooke him by the hand and placed him in the Throne of estate the Archbishop of Yorke assisting him and all the Parliament testifying their owne joy and wishing his Then the Archbishop of Canterbury upon this place of Scripture 1 Reg. 9. 17. See this is the man whom I spake to thee of this same shall raigne over my people did make a paraphrasticall exposition which ended the Duke was generally proclaimed King by the name of Henry the Fourth King of England and France Lord of Ireland The Common people voide of cares not searching into sequels but without difference of right or wrong inclinable to follow the mightie with showtes and clâ—…mours gave their applause not all upon judgement or faithfull meaning but only upon received custome at first to flatter the Prince whatsoever hee bee But lest the humour thereof should allay by delay it was forthwith Proclaimed that upon the thirteenth of September next ensuing the Coronation of the King should be celebrated at Westminster These matters being thus dispatched the proclaimed King rose from his Seate and went to Whitehall where hee feasted the Assembly royally yet hee made no show of statelinesse or pride or change of deportment in this so great change of fortune Vpon Wednesday following the before-remembred Procurators went to the deposed King to the Tower and declared to him the admission of his resignation and the manner of his Deposition and in the name of the States of the Realme did surrender backe the Homage and Fealtie formerly due unto him with this attestation that no man from thenceforth would beare unto him faith and allegeance as due to a King The
of Westminster that imployed his studies not as others to cloke their idlenesse and sloth under pretext of Religion making a seeming show of sanctitie and a solide practice of gaine and promotion but to enable himselfe for counsell and direction in publicke affaires who for the generall opinion of his wisdome and integritie was in good credit with King Richard and had accompanied him in his last expedition into Ireland This Abbot calling to minde a speech of King Henries when hee was but Earle of Darby that Princes had too little and religious men too much knowing the saying to be too true for at that time the riches of the Clergie was growne so great that they were beheld by the eyes of envy and withall observing the generall passages in those times tended to the abridging of the regular power wherein lest Avarice should appeare open-faced pollicie was pretended and the excesse thought dangerous both to the King and Clergie as likely to cause want in the one and wantonnesse in the other and that thereupon in Parliament divers bills were formerly put up in King Richards time to represse the increase of Religious possessions and that inquisition and redresse might bee had against such of the Clergie as under licence to purchase ten pounds did purchase fortie and more per annum and against such Ecclesiasticall persons as caused their villanies to marry free women inheritable whereby their lands might come to those religious persons possession And that it was there likewise moved that the King should seize into his hands all temporall livings of Religious houses as being rather a burden then benefit to religion And that upon these and such like Petitions the Archbishops of Canterbury and Yorke in behalfe of the Clergie of their Provinces were often-times enforced to make their solemne protestations in Parliament That if any thing were attempted in restraint of the libertie of the Church they would in no wise assent but utterly disclaime the same which protestations were respectively enrolled So that now partly upon love to King Richard and partly upon feare lest King Henry would be as ready to invade as he was to inveigh against the riches of the Church This Abbot blew the first coles and brought fewell to the fire of this Confederacie Hee invited to his house upon a solemne feast day in Michaelmasse terme those that hee had sounded to bee most sound to his purpose The chiefe of which were such as in the Parliament before had in some sortbeene touched in reputation although by pardon and reconciliation the harme did seeme to bee closed up Their names were Iohn Holland Duke of Exceter Thomas Holland his brothers sonne Duke of Surry Edward Duke of Aumerle Iohn Mountacute Earle of Sarum Hugh Spencer Earle of Glocester Iohn Bishop of Carlile Sir Thomas Blunt and Magitalon one of King Richards Chaplaines who in feature and favour so resembled King Richard that hee was afterwards affirmed to bee him indeed After dinner they withdrew themselves into a private Chamber to Councell where the Duke of Exceter who was mainly bent to restore or revenge the cause of his Deposed brother declared to the rest the alleageance they had sworne to King Richard the honours and preferments whereunto they were by him advanced That they were therefore bound both in conscience by the one and kindnesse by the other to take his part against all men That King Henry contrary to both had dispoyled him of his royall dignitie and unjustly possessed himselfe thereof whilst they stood looking on and shewed neither the obedience of subjects nor love of friends That King Henry by violent invading fraudulently insinuating himselfe into the kingdome of his sole Soveraigne was but a tyrant and an usurper and such an one as it was lawfull for any one at any time by any meanes to throw downe without respect whether hee bee good or evill for it is lawfull for no man under the pretence and show of goodnesse to draw Soveraigntie to himselfe That the examples of best governed Common-wealths did not only permit this action but highly honoured the actor with Statues and Garlands and also rewarded them with titles of Nobilitie and all the wealth of the suppressed Tyrant and lesse hee could not esteeme King Henry that this enterprise would bee very profitable to the republicke by extinguishing those warres that the Scots menaced the French prepared for and the Welchmen had already begun upon this quarrell That hee did not distrust but it might bee accomplished by open hostilitie but hee thought it more sure for him and safe for the Common-wealth to put first in practise some secret policie And to that purpose it was proposed and approved that a solemne justs should bee notified to bee kept at Oxford in Christmasse holy-dayes betweene him and twentie more on his part and the Earle of Salisbury and twenty more on his part to which King Henry should bee invited And wen hee was therein observed to bee most intentive hee should suddenly be surprized by such which without suspition might at that time bee assembled both for number and preparation sufficient for the exploit And thereby King Richard presently restored to libertie and State This devise was at once uttered and approved and so resolving on the enterprise they tooke a solemne oath of faith and secrecie to the houre of death each to other And an Indenture Sextipartite was likewise made betwixt the Lords wherein they bound themselves respectively each to other to doe the best of their devoyre for the destruction of the one and delivery of the other King which was interchangeably subscribed sealed and delivered They likewise concluded what forces should bee gathered where and by whom they should bee ordered and placed and to whose trust the execution of this exploit should bee committed In pursuance hereof the Duke of Exceter came to the King at Windsor and desired that hee would vouchsafe to honour with his presence the martiall exercise that was intended betwixt him and the Earle of Sarum at Oxford and bee pleased to bee Iudge of their performance if any controversie should arise The King perswading himselfe that that was really intended which was so formally pretended easily yeelded to his request whereupon the Duke with the rest of the Confederates did disperse themselves and according to direction made their preparations and furnished themselves with all things necessary for the accomplishment of their plot and at the time agreed upon addressed themselves to Oxford well accompanied with horse and foot where they all meet except the Duke of Aumerle The King hearing of their departure determined the day following to follow according to promise and appointment The Duke of Aumerles absence gave just cause of doubt to the rest of his complices and to bee ascertained of the cause of his stay they send a Post unto him but before his arrivall the Duke was departed from his house towards Oxford but by the way went to
visit his Father the Duke of Yorke As they sate at dinner his Father espied a labell of one of the sextipartite Indentures hanging out of his bosome and demanded what it was the Sonne humbly craved pardon and said it was nothing that any way concerned him the young Dukes change of countenance argued some guilt which bred some suspition in Yorke and thereupon swore and said By saint George but I will see it and then whether upon precedent jealousie or some present cause to doubt of some strange stratagem it is uncertaine but hee tooke it away from him by force The contents whereof when hee had perceived with a fierce countenance and speech hee said I see Traitour that idlenesse hath made thee so mutinous that thou playest with thy faith as children with sticks Thou hast already once beene faithlesse to King Richard and turnst thou false againe now to King Henrie Thou knowest in open Parliament I became bound body and goods for thy allegiance and can neither thy owne duty nor my desert restraine thee from seeking both our destructions in faith but I will rather help forward thine And calling to make ready his horse hee prepared to post to the King It was no time now for the Duke to consult with his friends or to consider with himselfe what was best to bee done but takes horse and posts towards Windsor another way and was gotten thither before his Father and pretending some strange and sudden occasion causeth the gates of the Castle to be lockt and alleaging some cause so to doe taketh the keyes thereof with him to the King in whose presence when he came hee prostrates upon the ground beseecheth the King of mercy and forgivenesse The King no sooner demanded the offence when hee with disturbed countenance and speech discovered to the King all the plot and the names of the Conspirators The King neither seemed rashly to beleeve nor negligently to distrust the Dukes relation and with pollicie it stood not to entertaine the discovery with harsh and violent termes Therefore with gratious speeches hee comforted the Duke And if this bee true said hee wee pardon you if feined bee it at your perill By this time the Duke of Yorke is arrived and admitted into the Kings presence to whom hee delivereth the Counterpane of the confederacy which when the King had read hee complained of the unconstant disposition of those men whom neither cruelty could make firme to King Richard nor clemency to him but upon mislike of every present government were desirous of any change Whereupon hee deferred his journey and determined to attend at Windsor what course the Conspirators would take knowing right well that in civill tumults an advised patience and opportunitie well taken are the only weapons of advantage and that it is an especiall point of pollicie to make use of an adversaries oversight in the meane time hee directs his Letters to the Earle of Northumberland his high Constable and the Earle of Cumberland his high Marshall and to other his friends of these sudden and unexpected accidents All this time the Confederates hearing nothing of Aumerle and seeing no preparation for the Kings comming were resolved that their conspiracie was discovered and calling to minde that once before they had beene pardoned the guilt of this their rebellion excluded all hope of further mercy whereupon they desperately resolved to prosecute that by open armes wherein their privie practises had fayled first they apparelled Magdalen in princely attire and gave forth that he was King Richard who by favour or negligence of his Keepers was escaped out of Prison and now implored the faith and aide of his loving subjects Then they dispatched messengers to Charles King of France desiring his assistance in behalfe of his Son-in-law The common people commonly changeable as prone to pitie as afore they were too forward in crueltie earnestly wished the inlargement of King Richard and wishing it were easily drawne to beleeve it in which imaginary conceit the presence of Magdalen did strongly confirme them And so either upon ignorance of truth or delight in trouble they joyned themselves in great troopes to the Lords desiring nothing more then to bee a meanes by which Richard might bee restored Then the Conspirators with great force but with greater fame as the manner is of matters unknowne advanced forward in battaile array towards Windsor against King Henry as against an enemy to the State they being forty thousand strong upon notice of their approach the King secretly with a small traine the next Sunday night after New-yeares-day departed from Windsor Castle to the Tower of London and the same night before day the Conspirators came to the Castle where missing their expected prey they were divided in opinions which way to take some advised speedily to follow to London and not to permit him liberty to unite his forces That Winter could not properly bee called a lette but in idle and peaceable times that in civill dissentions nothing is so safe as speed and advantage increaseth more by dispatching then deferring that whilst some were in feare some in doubt and others suspitiously ignorant the Citie nay the whole Realme might bee possessed and that many armies whose fury at first rush could not be resisted by delayes did dissipate and wast to nothing others that would seeme to bee but were not out of a dastardly disposition perswaded rather first to set King Richard at libertie for if their counterfeiting should bee discovered before they had really his person in possession the people would fall from them which would bee to their utter confusion by their perswasion they gave over the pursuit and retired to Colbrooke and there delayed the time of action in deliberation neither being couragiously quicke nor considerately stayed but subject to vacillation and thereby began every day more then other to bee vilipended decreasing both in opinion power and hope The Maior of London is commanded by the King to levie power in armes for his assistance who presently furnished him with three thousand Archers besides a sufficient guard left for and in the Citie Thus assisted the King with twenty thousand able souldiers from London came to Hounslow Heath there staying braved his enemies and contemning their disorderly multitude but the enemies either for feare of their Kings power or distrust of their owne or lingring untill their expected ayde was come out of France refused to joyne And it is questionable whether they showed greater courage in setting up the danger or cowardise in declyning it when it was presented unto them from thence they went to Sunning neere Reading where Queen Isabel lay to whom upon the plaine song aforesaid fame had descanted that King Richard was at Pomfret with an hundred thousand men well appointed and that for feare of him King Henry with his was fled to the Tower of London All which was as lightly beleeved as it was idly told Whereupon shee defaced
King Henries armes and plucked away his Cognizance from those that as his servants attended upon her and having there with somewhat eased her swolne heart shee with the Lords departed to Wallingford and from thence to Abington stirring up by the way the people to take armes in ayde of King Richard At length they came to Cicester and there tooke up their lodgings The Duke of Surry the Earle of Salisbury in one Inne the Duke of Exceter and the Earle of Glocester in another Inne the Army encamped in the fields The Bayliffe of the Towne suspecting what was true that these guests were no good subjects besets the house where the Duke of Surry lay who with his retinue growne desperately bold made strong defence against the assaylants The Duke of Exceter and his Company had not force enough to rescue their Companions Whereupon a Priest of their consort supposing thereby to divert the Townsmen from the assault set divers houses on fire but the fire more inflamed the townsmens furie and made them insist more obstinately in the attempt swearing not to rescue their losses but revenge them and quench the flames with the Traytors blood The Earle of Exceter and they that were with him perceiving the force of the assaylants to increase and that it was impossible for a few so to sustaine the fury of so many obstinately bent they fled out of the backside towards the Campe intending to bring the Army to the reskue But the souldiers having heard the alarum and seeing the fire within the Towne supposing the King was entred with his forces were strucke with a sudden and causlesse feare and wanting Commanders of courage to confirme them they disbanded and fled and whilst every one sought to save one they brought themselves all to confusion The Duke of Surry and his company manfully maintained the fight with great bloodshed on all sides from midnight untill three of the clocke the next after-noone and then being inferiour in number and fortune the Duke and the Earle of Salisbury were both wounded to death and taken and that evening dying their heads were strooke off and sent to the King to London There were then taken prisoners Sir Bennet Sherley Sir Bernard Brockas Sir Thomas Blount and twenty eight Lords and men of note who were afterwards upon King Henryes comming to Oxford sent thither unto him and there executed The Duke of Exceter with Sir Iohn Sherley fled into Essex from whence many times they attempted to have escaped to France but by contrary windes were driven backe againe and then lurking in secret places the Duke was taken and lead to Plashey and there beheaded There wanted not some in those times that made conjectures that now the Duke of Glocesters death was brought to bee reckoned for who by Exceters counsell and contrivance in the same place had beene wrongfully apprehended An example for those which square out their actions by the crooked line of their pleasure or power to other mens disprofit or disparagement but punishment of such impietie though it bee prolonged doth never faile but commeth at length and then surely though perhaps slowly This Duke of Exceter was a man of high Parentage great power and honourable Alliance Created Earle of Huntington in the eleventh yeare of King Richard now deposed in the one and twentieth hee was Created Duke of Exceter and upon the resignation of the place and release of the right thereto by Aubery de Vere Earle of Oxford was made that yeare Lord Chamberlaine of England and married Elizabeth the Daughter of Iohn of Gaunt Duke of Lancaster and Blaunch his wife by whom hee had issue Richard that dyed young Iohn afterwards Duke of Exceter Earle of Huntington Edward that dyed without issue and a Daughter named Constance first married to Thomas Mowbray sonne and heire of Thomas Mowbray Duke of Norfolke and after to Iohn Lord Gray of Ruthyn hee was popular and openly praise-worthy but his secret actions were hardly censured hee was partaker of all his brothers vices and of counsell to many of them yet somewhat more circumspect and close and not so much partaker of his prosperitie as violently carried with the torrent of his misery Thomas Spencer Earle of Glocester fled toward Wales but in the way was taken and beheaded at Bristoll hee married Constance Daughter of Edmond of Langly Duke of Yorke and had issue Richard that dyed young Elizabeth dyed young and Isabell who was borne seven moneths after her Fathers death and was first married to Richard Beauchamp Earle of Worcester by whom shee had issue Elizabeth her second husband was Richard Beauchamp Earle of Warwicke cosin german to her first husband by whom she had issue Henry afterwards Earle of Warwicke The counterfeit of King Richard flying into Scotland was apprehended committed to the Tower and from thence drawne and hanged and quartered and one Ferby and an other of K. Rich. Chaplaines with him divers others of all sorts Lords and Gentlemen with a great number of common souldiers were in other places put to death insomuch that the King though otherwise of a moderate and peaceable disposition seemed in this too too vindicative of his owne injurie or rather in maintaining the injury that hee had done The heads of the chiefe Conspirators were pitched upon poles and set over London bridge lamentable spectacles of heads and quarters of unfortunate dismembred wretches were visible in many parts of this Realme putrifying above ground not all for desert but many to satisfie either the malice or want of King Henryes friends Insomuch that some of those of deepest apprehension openly gave forth That in short time there would be just cause to wish King Richard againe as being more tolerable to indure the crueltie of one then of many and to live where nothing then where any thing might bee permitted was most safe The Abbot of Westminster in whose house and head this Conspiracy tooke life and light hearing of these disasters going from his Monastery Grange neere Westminster was taken with a dead Palsie and suddenly dyed speechlesse And although in this enterprise accident gave policie the checke and by a strange fortune which wisdome could not prevent overturned the project yet it is apparant that this Abbot first moved the stone that rowling along was likely toturne King Henry out of his Chaire The Bishop of Carlile was condemned for his treason but the extremity of his passion closed up his dayes and prevented the violence and shame of publicke execution King Richard as afore having abdicated his Regalitie did but a short time injoy that sweet securitie wherewith hee so flattered himselfe For first his goods which hee had given in satisfaction of the wrongs by him done were shared amongst his enemies and hee removed first to the Tower of London and then from thence to the Castle of Leeds in Kent and from thence to Pomfret where being kept in straight Prison innocent and ignorant of this offence
and love of thy Subjects who whilst they have wealth so long shalt thou have obedience but being made poore by oppression will be ever ready to stirre and make insurrections And so turning about said God blesse thee and have mercy on mee and so hee gave up the ghost in a Chamber of the Abbot of Westminster which the servants there called Ierusalem the twentieth of March 1412. in the fortieth sixe yeare of his age when hee had raigned thirteene yeares sixe moneths lacking ten dayes His body with all Funerall pomp was conveyed to Canterbury and there solemnly buried Hee had beene twice married his first wife was Mary Daughter and coheire of Humphry de Bohan Earle of Hereford Essex and Northampton and Constable of England shee died anno 1394. and was buryed at Canterbury hee had issue by her Henry his eldest Sonne who succeeded him Thomas Plantagenet his second sonne who was Created Duke of Clarence in the eleventh yeare of his Fathers raigne hee was slaine at Bongy bridge in France by the Duke of Orleance this Thomas tooke to Wife Margaret Daughter of Thomas Holland Earle of Kent and Widow of Iohn Beuford Earle of Pomfret who dyed without issue Iohn Plantagenet his third Sonne was made Duke of Bedford the eleventh yeare of his Fathers raigne and Earle of Richmond and Lord of Kendall hee married to his first Wife Anne Daughter of Iohn Duke of Burgondy who dyed without issue his second Wife was Ioquellyne Daughter of Peter Earle of Saint Paul and by her had no issue shee was after married to Richard Woodvile Earle Rivers and had issue Elizabeth Wife to King Edward the fourth This Iohn as Constable of England determined the Controversie betwixt Reignold Lord Gray of Ruthen and Sir Edward Hastings for the bearing of the armes of Hastings and at Vernoyle together with the same Towne tooke the Duke of Alanson prisoner and with the losse of two thousand one hundred private souldiers slew of the advers part five Earles two Vicounts one and twenty Barons seven thousand French and two thousand five hundred Scots and dyed at Paris and the fourteenth of September 1435. was buried at Roan under a sumptuous Monument which when Lewis the eleventh King of France being advised by some of his Nobles to deface Hee said What honour will it bee to us or you to demolish the Monument aâ—…d pull out thereof the bones of him whom in his life-time neither my Father nor your Progenitors were of abilitie to make budge one foote backward wherefore let his body now rest in quiet which if hee were alive would have disquieted the proudest of us all such respect to well-got honour hee obtained in the mindes of his enemies Humphry Plantagenet fourth Sonne who was stiled Humphry by the grace of God Sonne Brother and Vncle to Kings hee was Duke of Glocester Hennalt Holland Zealand and Earle of Penbrocke Lord of Freezland great Chamberlaine of England Protector of the Realme and Defender of the Church of England Hee had two Wives the first was Iaquet Daughter and heire of William Duke of Bavaria who being before betrothed to Iohn Duke of Brabant was divorced from this Humphry before issue His second Wife was Elianor Daughter of Reignold Lord Cobham of Sterburghe in Surry who for Sorcery and poysoning was much defamed hee was found murthered in hss bed at Bury in Suffolke and was buried at Saint Albones in Hartfordshire Blaunch King Henryes eldest Daughter was married as afore at Collen to William Duke of Bavaria after his death shee was married to the King of Arragon and afterwards to the Duke of Barre but dyed without issue Philip second Daughter of King Henry was married to Iohn King of Denmarke but dyed without issue King Henry was of a middle stature well proportioned and formally compact of a quicke conceit and active spirit of great resolution and courage In his later dayes with courtesie and affable cariage hee purchased a great deale more love and respect amongst the Nobilitie then hee had in all the beginning of his raigne with his austeritie and rigorous courses and redeemed from the common people a great portion of good opinion which he by his impositions and taxes had formerly lost among them But if their payments had beene more and his exactions greater in my opinion they were not undeserved that were so ready to alter the due course of succession to joyne hands with him in the deposing of the rightfull and naturall Leige-Lord whose only fault that could bee truly objected was this that hee had beene too bountifull to his friend too mercifull to his foes but most unrespective of himselfe THE LIFE AND RAIGNE OF KING HENRY THE FIFT HENRY the Fift surnamed of the place of his birth which was a Towne in Wales upon the River of Wye Monmouth tooke upon him the Regality over England the twentieth day of March and the next day was proclaimed King and the ninth day of Aprill hee was Crowned King at Westminster by Thomas of Arundell Archbishop of Canterbury with all usuall rites and Ceremonies After the solemnitie past the next day hee caused all his wonted Companions to come into his presence to whom hee used these words It is sufficient that for many yeares together I have fashioned my selfe to your unruly dispositions and have not without some reluctation in the very action followed you in your debosht and swaggering courses I have to my sorrow and shame I may say to thinke of it irregularly wandered in all rude and unseemely manner in the vast wildernesse of ryot and unthriftinesse whereby I was made almost an alian to the hearts of my Father and Allyes and in their opinions violently carried away by your meanes from grace by keeping you company therein I have so vilified my selfe that in the eyes of men my presence was vulgar and stale and like the Cuckow in Iune heard but not regarded One of you being convented before the Lord chiefe Iustice for misusing a sober-minded Citizen I went to the publike Sessions house and stroke him on the face and being by him deservedly committed to the Fleet for which act of justice I shall ever hold him worthy the place and my favour and wish all my Iudges to have the like undaunted courage to punish offendors of what ranke soever it occasioned my Father to put mee from my place in Councell appointing it to bee supplyed by my younger Brother how often have I by your animation committed thefts even on my Fathers and my owne Receivers and robd them of the mony provided for publicke appointments to maintaine your midnight revellings and noone beselings But it is time now to give a period to these exorbitant and unbefitting courses and to salve the wounds my intemperance hath made in my reputation and to turne over a new leafe and not only to decline the company of such misleaders of yours but desert their conditions of all
and the like was granted to the Queene of Ierusalem and her sonne Lewis for Anjou and Mayne the Duke of Britaine being their Proxie for the obtaining the same From Alanson the Earle of Salisbury was sent to Falays to view the strength thereof and to keepe the inhabitants from comming forth the King with his Army followed and entrenched themselves to avoide excursions and incursions The King made his approaches to his best advantage and though it was in the hard of Winter made provision sufficient for his men both against cold and hunger whereupon the besieged concluded if succour came not before the second of Ianuary next following to yeeld the Towne the succour not comming the Towne was yeelded but the Castle held out into which the Governour and most of the best able men were gotten but being fiercely followed and kept in continuall action by assaults and myning they were driven to make composition of surrender if not reskued before the sixt of February the souldiers to depart with their lives only and the Captaine to bee ransomed The prefixed time come the Castle was surrendred and the Captaine detained prisoner untill the Castle was sufficiently repaired his name was Oliver de Many The King leaving for Captaine there Sir Henry Fitzhugh returned to Cane to put in execution a Proclamation formerly made that if the inhabitants of Normandy that were fled returned not by a day to them prefixed to grant their lands to his souldiers thereupon hee gave to the Duke of Clarence during life the Vicounties of Ange Orber and Pontinz Oe Mere with all the lands of those that were not returned according to Proclamation All the whole Lent the King lay at Bayeux with part of his Army but the residue were volant upon exploits abroad The Kings Navy still kept the seas scowring the Coasts daily taking the French Bottomes they met but upon the sixteenth of Iuly such a storme took them that had they not by Gods good favor falne in with Southampton the whole Navy had beene in great danger yet in that Haven two Ballingers and two great Carrickes laden with Merchandize were drowned and the Mast of one of the great shippes was with the storme blowne over the Towne wall when the fury of the tempest was past the Earles of March and Huntington waâ—…ted over to Normandy and landing there marched up the country to the King The Earle of Warwicke and the Lord Talbot besieged the strong Castle of Dampfront The Duke of Clarence at that time tooke Courton and Burny and in the first placed Captaine Aubyn and Captaine William Houghton in the other hee likewise appointed in Chombis Captaine Iames Nevill in Bechelovin for Captaine the Earle Marshall in Harcourt Captaine Richard Woodvile in Fantgernon for Captaine Iohn Saint Albon in Crevener Sir Iohn Kirby to whom the same was after given for ever in Anvillyers Captaine Robert Hornby in Bagles Sir Iohn Arthure was made Captaine and also of Fresny Sir Robert Brent lately made Vicount was Captaine The Duke of Glocester with the Earle of March and the Lord Codnor march into the Isle of Constantine wherein hee likewise placed Captaines of such places as hee tooke in as at Corentine the Lord Botreux at Saint Lowe Captaine Reignold West at Valoignes Captaine Thomas Burgh at Pont done Captaine David Howell at Hay de paps Sir Iohn Aston at Saint Savior Sir Iohn Robsert lately made Vicount at Pantarson Sir Robert Gargraus at Hambery the Earle of Suffolke to whom afterwards the King gave that and Brokevill at Auranchos Sir Philip Hall at Vire the Lord Matreius who was likewise Captaine of Saint Iames de Bumeron And so having taken in the whole Iland except Chereburg hee returned to the King but was sent backe to the siege thereof which held out about the space of five moneths though in the meane time all warlike stratagems and meanes were used to take it at last they made composition that if not rescued within threescore and two dayes to surrender and stand to the mercy of the King In the meane time the Duke caused his Campe to bee strongly fenced with Rampiers and Bulwarkes leaving nothing for the safeguard thereof either unforeseene or unprepared And whilst hee was providing thus the Dolphin and the Duke of Burgoigne by the mediation of the Pope and his Cardinalls were fully reconciled and began to consult about the relieving their besieged Friend The King to prevent any danger that might betide his brother had taken order with the Lieutenant in the West-country of England to send over two thousand men out of those parts whom when the besieged at Chierburgh perceiued at Sea to approach they presumed of succour but their hope failing they surrendred both the Towne and Castle whereof the Lord Gray of Codnor mas made the Kings Lieutenant for the time but afterwards the King made Captaine thereof Iohn Bromley Esquire and for his hardy valour and commendable forwardnesse both at this siege and other places hee gave him the order of Knighthood gave him faire possessions in the Iland and made him Constable of Bossevile de Rosse This was the same partie that at Corby by his valour recovered the Lord Staffords Colours from the French and for the remembrance of that service had an honourable adjunct to his armes The King intending to prosecute his intendments to the full being of equall spirit to dare and power to doe had sent for his Vncle the Duke of Exceter who with fifteene thousand men within few dayes of Trinity Sunday came to the King by whom hee was commanded to besiege the Citie of Eureux which hee tooke in and appointed Captaine thereof Sir Gilbert Halsall The Earle of Ryme then also tooke in the strong Castle of Milley le Vesko The siege of Roan was the next thing attempted which place was now fully fortified and furnished for defence both with men and amunition Thither for the more safetie had all the neighbours conveyed all their riches as being their sole place of refuge now The King to have his passage cleere layed siege to the Citie of Loveirs which upon these conditions that if they were not relieved within seven dayes then the souldiers to serve King Henry the inhabitants to remaine there as subjects to England only all such Gunners as had discharged any piece of Ordnance to bee hanged no succour appearing at the day the Covenants were performed accordingly The King marched to Pont de Larch where hee arrived the seven and twentieth of Iune There was a stone-bridge which hindered the approach to Roane being exceeding strongly guarded King Henry devised therefore floates of wicker covered with beasts hides by which the Duke of Clarence with his quarter passed the River and then layd siege to the Towne on that side but to prevent the inconvenience that might come by the River dividing the Army there were more such Floates made and other devises with
hogsheads and Pipes fastened to firre powles and Barges and such like conveyances with which hee past over his men at pleasure in the meane time hee caused divers souldiers that could swim to make show of passing the River three mile of another way to which place the French-men drew all their forces but were deluded whereupon presently the Fort at the bridge-foot was surrendred and the souldiers taken to the Kings grace From thence the Duke of Exceter with certaine horse was sent to view the places about Roane and with him Windsor the Herrald which sommoned the Citizens to surrender the Towne and to submit themselves to the Kings mercy but they proudly returned answer they received none from England nor none they would give the English and instantly made a sally forth but were beaten in with the losse of thirtie of their men The Towne of Loviers the King gave to his brother Clarence who made his Deputie there Sir Iohn Goddard after the returne of the Duke of Exceter the Roanions fired the Suburbes demolished all Churches Chantryes and Hostells leaving nothing without the Citie which upon the last of Iuly the King straightly besieged The Kings quarter was the Charteux the Duke of Clarence at Saint Gervays the Duke of Exceter at Port Saint Dennis Betweene the Duke of Exceter and the Duke of Clarence lay Earle Marshall to whom were joyned the Earle of Ormond the Lords Harington and Talbot from the Duke of Exceter towards the King were encamped the Lords Rosse Willoughby Fitz-Hugh and Sir William Porter with the Northerne Prickers the Earle of Salisbury and Mortaignes quarter lay at the Abbay of Saint Katherine Sir Iohn Gray was lodged against the Chappell of Mount Saint Michael Sir Philip Leech Treasurer of the Army kept the hill next the Abby and the Baron Carew held the passage on the river of Seine with whom was Squire Ienito Dortoyes on the further side the river were quartered the Earles of Warraine and Huntington the Lords Nevill and Ferrers Sir Gilbert Vmphrevile with his Company lay before the Port de Ponte A great chaine of iron set upon piles and a new forced bridge for passage from one Campe to the other was made over the River The Earle of Warwicke was sent to Cawdbecke standing betwixt Roane and the Sea The Earle of Warwicke sent Sir Iohn Bromley and George Vmphrevile with an hundred Archers and two hundred Bill-men to a little Castle called the Strowe and in the way were met by eight hundred French Whereupon Sir Iohn Bromley casting his Bow-men in a limasson or loose ring and his Bill-men in two squares which in close order marched towards the enemy who seeing the number to appeare so small gave on in that disorderly manner that their Captaine the Lord of Estrisles was slaine before any of his company could come to the reskewes The Bow-men opening their order delivered such a shole of arrowes even in the middest of their enemies that they stood amazed untill they were awakened with a second The Bow-men as long as the arrowes lasted kept the enemy aloofe but at length they were enforced to make use of their slaine enemies weapons with which they closing to the Bill-men made it appeare that they could make use of more weapons then one and after three houres fight the French fainted and gave the English leave to take the spoyle of two hundred that were slaine and the ransome of two hundred more taken prisoners in this fight was slaine George Vmphrevile and thirtie more all the rest being hurt more or lesse amongst whom Sir Iohn Bromley was hurt in the face and body They were not able to goe forth of the field but continued there all night and in the morning some fresh men being come to them they marched to the Castle and so plyed them with assaults and minings that at length the besieged were glad to suffer the English Navie to passe by to Roane whereof one hundred Sayle passed by and likewise they gave hostages that they would not inter-meddle to ayde or assist Roane any way but to follow her fortune to render if shee did wherewith Sir Iohn Bromley went into the Castle with two Esquires and a Surgeon and the Company backe to the King by this time the Duke of Glocester was come to the Campe and quartered before the Port Saint Hillary neerer the enemy by fourty roades The Earle of Kilmayne with sixteene hundred Irish armed after their fashion came from Harflew where they landed to the King who were by him assigned for quarter the North side of the Armie upon the way that commeth from the Forrest of Lyons This charge the Earle joyfully accepted and as proud of the employment did many brave exployts to the more damage of the enemy then all the troopes of Horse The Kings Cousin-german the King of Portugall likewise sent a Navy of well appointed Shippes to the mouth of the River of Seine to stoppe all passage of succour to Roane There were in Roane two hundred and tenne thousand persons at the beginning of the siege which made them so confident that they sware each to other never to deliver up the Citie as long as they could hold Sword or handle Pike The King acquainted herewith stopped all passages both by land and water casting deepe Trenches and raysing Bulwarckes to hinder all sallyes or receipt of reliefe The French in the meane time made many attempts upon divers pieces in the Kings hands as upon Kilbuife Eureux and Loviers but were repulsed with great losse but more disgrace Before Roane no enterprise is left unpractised no pollicie unattempted how either partie might indamage other But now the many mouthes within the Citie had devoured a great part of their provision and for the better saving of the rest a great number of aged impotent creatures were turned out of the Gates whom the English would not suffer to passe the Trenches betwixt which and the walls the miserable people starved and dyed without helpe of friend or foe Vpon Christmasse day in honour of the birth of our Saviour the King relieved and suffered to passe as many as were at first put out but suffered others that were thrust out a second time to famish except relieved by the Towne The unwonted noyse of Bells ringing gave the King occasion to expect an enemie at his backe for prevention therefore of that danger hee gave order to Sir Robert Bapthorpe Controller of the Army to provide a deepe Trench well staked and with bastils to round the Campe and to make defences both behinde and before to withstand all sudden approaches The Famine began now to rage pittifully within the Citie and the Dolphins promise to relieve them now past hope of performance a Parlie is desired and obtained but fruitlesse at the first the demaunds of the besieged being more then stood with the Kings honour or pleasure to give consent unto but upon the Commissioners returne into
high Court of Parliament to Westminster wherein hee enforced the necessity of speedy pursuance of the Dolphin and his Adherents and easinesse of revenging the losse of his brother and their friends and allyes in case they would furnish him with money men and amunition being in readinesse provided Whereupon the Clergie cheerefully granted two tenths and the temporalty readily one fifteene and for that the Kings hast could not well stay the wonted course of collection thereof The Bishop of Winchester layed forth to bee received againe of the Designes of the spiritualty twenty thousand pounds so willing was the rich Cardinall to have his brother Clarence death revenged The King thus provided with money sent his brother the Duke of Bedford with the Army to Callice consisting of foure thousand men at armes and foure and twenty thousand Archers himselfe about the middle of May followeth and safely arriving at Callice hee hasted to relieve Charters whom the Dolphin with seven thousand men had besieged and comming to Maunt heard that the Dolphin was retired to Tours The Duke of Burgoyne who had received and feasted the King with his Father and Mother-in-law at Monstruell and from thence came with the King to Maunt went backe to Piccardy to resist the insolencies of Sir Iaques de Harcourt The King of Scots with the Duke of Glocester about the eight of Iuly besieged Dreux which upon the eight of August compounded That if they were not reskued before the twentieth of that moneth to deliver up the Towne the souldiers with their goods to march whither they would upon which day no reskue came they had all leave to depart except one Searle an Englishman fled thither for Treason out of Roane whom they presently executed and the Towne was delivered to the King of Scots whereof the Earle of Worcester was made Captaine and Sir Henry Mortimer Bayliffe The King pursued the Dolphin from place to place but hee was too flit of foot to bee easily overtaken In the way King Henry surprized the Towne of Baugency but tooke them all to mercy that craved it the like he did at Rugemounte from thence victuall failing hee went to Orleans and from thence to Vignei Sainct Yon where hee stayed awhile to refresh his men and from thence to Paris and having there fitted himselfe with supplies hee went and fate downe before Meuix in Brye a Towne no lesse well victualed then manned and no better furnished then fortified neverthelesse after many assaults the besieged forsooke the Walls and drew into the Market place where they began workes for their defence from whence being likewise beaten the King had possession of that and all the Fortresses in the Isle of France in Lonvaus in Brye and in Champayne The Duke of Bedford in the Kings absence called a Parliament in England in which was granted to the King towards the maintenance of his warres one Fifteene to bee payed in such moneyes as at the time of the graunt were current Vpon Saint Nicholas day Queene Katherine was brought to bed of a Sonne at Windsor who was by the Duke of Bedford and Henry Bishop of Winchester and the Countesse of Holland Christened by the name of Henry whereof when the King had notice out of a propheticke disposition hee sayd Good Lord I Henry borne at Monmouth shall small time raigne and much get and Henry borne at Windsor shall long Raigne and lose all but Gods will be done Divers Frenchmen under the leading of Oliver de Many who had given faith never to beare armes against the King of England entred Normandy and did rob and spoyle the countrey But being by the Earle of Suffolke encountred hee was after a long and desperate fight taken and all his Confederates rowted the King notwithstanding his breach of faith put him not to death but sent him prisoner to England where he dyed The Dolphin layed siege to Cosney who made composition that if they were not reskued by the King of England within tenne dayes to surrender The King was so intentive to the reskue that hee over-heat himselfe with travell and comming to Senlis found himselfe so distempered that hee was enforced to remaine there and send his brother Duke of Bedford to prosecute the dissigne who effected the same the Dolphin upon his approach raised the siege and dishonourably retired into Berry whereof in mockage hee was after called King of Berry the Queenes untimely visit who not long before having taken shipping at Southampton with a gallant Company of freshmen raysed and furnished at her owne charge under the conduct of the Duke of Bedford was come into France and had met the King at Paris where hee left her but shee having notice of his sicknesse was come unto him did much increase the Kings Fever insomuch that by the perswasion of the Doctors and direction of the Kings Councell against her owne will and the Kings desire whose ardent affection unto her could hardly brooke her absence shee left the King who after her departure growing worse and worse was removed to Bloys where within few dayes hee yeelded up his conquests to the all-Conquerour who sent him Crowned with never-dying victory to place of ever-living glory Somewhat before his departure out of this world hee made the Duke of Bedford Lieutenant generall of Normandy and Regent of the kingdome of France And the Duke of Glocester Protector of England and his sonnes person exhorting all to bee true and friendly to the Duke of Burgoyne to bee at unitie amongst themselves to bee loyall to their young Prince to bee seruiceable to his dearely beloved Queene to hold and preserve what he by his valour and Gods assistance had wonne never to conclude contract of amitie with the Dolphin or the Duke of Alanson untill they had submitted themselves to the Kings grace and so giving God thankes for all his former favours and blessings bestowed upon him hee dyed the last of August 1422. in the eight and thirtieth yeere of his age when hee had raigned nine yeares five moneths and foure and twenty dayes his body was carried to Westminster and there buried amongst his Ancestours his character appeareth best when it is referred to his recollection of himselfe for as hee was in youth the most untowardly so in his riper yeares hee approved himselfe of great noblenesse and vertue his stature was tall his personage slender but very strong active he was saith Walsingham modestus vultu actu magnanimus of courage invincible and fortunately victorious in all his battells never receiving checke in any of nature liberall of disposition affable of a generous spirit of infatigable constancy hee was wise and provident in Councell in judgement upright and just in his speech sober in countenance majesticke in comportment magnanimous borne and bred for conquest of life unreprovable and in his death generally greatly lamented in briefe his deeds gave cause of admiration to contemporaries and imitation
end of August following In which time the truce began to be forgotten for the French awaiting all occasions of advantage by secret plots and devises had cunningly possessed themselves of divers Castles places of strength justifying their actions and affirming that what was politickly obtained without blows was no infringement of the Truce And afterwards they perfidiously conveyed 200. men at armes into the Castle of Roan presuming to have surprized it but being discouered they were all taken and either executed as traytours or ransomed The Regent knowing these coles would quickly kindle speeds him to his charge and preparation on both sides is made for war wherein he found the Duke of Burgoine lesse forward then he had used to be whereby the Regent found his affection did slacke but would not seeme to take notice thereof The Lord Talbot having payed his ransome commeth to the Regent bringeth with him 700. tryed souldiers They take the field on both sides in warlike manner making shews of encounter but twice together being provoked by the Regent to fight the French slunke away in the darke as not daring to abide the hazard of a battell The Peasants of Normandy pretending to shake off the English yoke which never had beene made insupportable rudely armed themselves and in outragious manner drew towards Cane but having neither power to command nor honesty to obey they were by the Earle of Arundel and the Lord Willoughby encountred and easily overthrowne with the slaughter of 1000. of them the rest were all taken whereof the chiefe Leaders were executed as traytors and the baser sort upon submission and acknowledgement of their errours permitted to depart to their severall homes But the Earle and the Lord Willoughby being now in the field and having intelligence that le Hire had besieged the Castle of Gorbury drew thither with intent to have succoured it but finding themselves too weak they made account to have retired to Beavoys but being descried they were pursued by le Hire who having advantage charged the Earle perceiving no safetie but not to hope of help resolved to win or dye fought valiantly but the Earle is dangerously wounded by the shot of a Culvering which caused the Lord Willoughby to retyre and convey the wounded Earle to Beavoys where within three dayes hee dyed say the Historians but the Harrolds say he dyed and was buried at Lewis in Sussex he married Mawd the Daughter of Sir Robert Lovell and had issue Humphry that succeeded him and Avitie married to Iames Butler Earle of Ormon and Wiltshire After the death of Arundel the Lord Willoughby dispierced his forces to their former garrisons but stayed himselfe there The Duke of Burbon taken at the battell of Agincourt after eighteene yeares imprisonment paying 18000 pounds for his ransome the same day hee was enlarged dyed at London Charles his Son who had married the Sister of the Duke of Burgoyn succeeded his Father Betwixt the two brother-in-lawes an unnaturall jarre was raysed but by the mediation of Mary Dutchesse of Berry they are reconciled by whose labour and industry with the helpe of the Duke of Burbon a reconciliation is likewise wrought betweene the French King and Burgoyne The jealousie between the Regent and the Duke of Burgoyne now was publickly discerned Whereby those that cald to mind the great charge that Henry the Fift gave on his death-bed carefully to retaine that Dukes amity laboured an enterview betwixt them to remove all scruples on either part which was obtained and Saint Omers was the place agreed upon where both Dukes being arrived they both standing too punctually on points of Honour who should give prioritie of visitation the Duke of Bedford as the Sonne Brother and Vncle of a King and Regent of France pretended it dishonourable for him to begin and the other challenging the same as of right belonging to him to have the first place the same being within his own Dominions The wisest in some points are foolish they both departed more discontented then before the haughtinesse of the spirit of the one and the great stomacke of the other being unable to give way to their unruly passions And hereupon the Duke of Burgoyne made choice rather to enter league with him that had murthered his Father then to keepe his oath with the King of England or the bond of love so often plighted with the Regent his friend and Brother-in-law And upon the receipt of a blancke Charter under the French Kings Seale to insert what Conditions of peace hee would hee proved renegado and falsified his faith to England lost his reputation to the world and sold himselfe slave to perpetuall ignomy The Towne of Saint Dennis by the perfidiousnesse of Mathew Gougley was betrayed to the Bastard of Orleance but the Lord Talbot presently beguirt the same with a siege to raise which the bastard Orleance drew great forces together but before their approach the Towne was given up and beatento the ground The inhabitants of Pontoys neverthelesse rebell and thrust out the English garrison whose examples did set the Parisians mindes on worke to tread the same steps but the Regents vigilancie over them hindred their intentions But now began the bright light of Englands glory to be ecclipsed those glorious beames of victory which they formerly had obtained every day more and more to decline The triple twine being cleane untwisted for the thrice renowned wise and circumspect Iohn Regent of France Duke of Bedford Aniou and Alanson Earle of Mayne Harecourt Dreux Richmond and Carlile and Vicount Beamond the Atlas whose shoulders kept the realme of France from sliding from their allegiance sworne to King Henries Father and Sonne upon the fourteenth of September 1435. at Paris exchanged all his glory here for the fruition of a more sempiternall felicitie in another place he was buried at Roan in our Ladies Church Whereat the Nobilitie of Normandy much repined as seeming desirous to have had some place of their owne territories to have been honoured by giving sepulture to so nobly deserving a Patriot unto them Yet such was their levitie that within few yeares after in the Raigne of Lewis the Sonne of Charles they instantly desired to have the Monument erected over him to bee demolished alleaging it was dishonourable to have so arch an enemy to France interred in the Metropolitan Citie of that Province But Lewis answered God forbid I should give way to so dishonourable an act as to molest the quiet of his dead bones that living would if offended have molested all here and it savours of too much basenesse to insult upon a dead Lyon Hee had two wives the first was Anne Sister of the Duke of Burgoyne the second Iaqueline daughter of Peter Earle of Saint Paul but had issue by neither No sooner was his death divulged but infinite alterations followed aswell in England as France Edmond Duke of Somerset as much affecting Soveraigne command underhand laboured to
Gravelin wherefore the King came the Bishop of Winchester Iohn Duke of Norfolke with Humphry Earle of Stafford and others For the Duke appeared his Dutchesse the Bishop of Arras and the Lord of Croys where truce for a very small time is concluded on and for lesse kept This yeare was memorable for the death of three great Princesses Katherine Queene of England and Sister to the King of France The old Dowager of Henry the fourth King of England Daughter of the King of Navar and Mother to the Princes of Britaine And the old Countesse of Armanacke Daughter to the Duke of Berry and Mother to the Duke of Savoy which all dyed within eight and fourty houres the one of the other The fury of fighting growing cold Traffick for townes was againe set on foot and Harflew sold For the recovery whereof the Duke of Somerset with the Lord Talbot and a brave company of souldiers beset it both by land and water there being within to defend it Sir Iohn Estontvile and his brother with six hundred men and upward the Earles of Ewe with the Bastards of Orleance and Burbon with foure thousand men came to the reskue but so well were the English entrencht that the French could neither succor their friends nor annoy their enemies and so as they came they returned Whereupon the towne was surrendred upon composition About this time the Dutchesse of Bedford followed Queen Katherines example making election for an Husband of a gallant young Gentleman but of small meanes yet fortunate only enough by being affected one Sir Richard Woodvile whom she took to Husband to the great discontent of her French friends but especially her Vncle the Bishop of Terwine but she cared not who was vext so her selfe was pleased and God not offended who blest her and made her Mother of many children and amongst the rest of the Lady Elizabeth afterwards married to King Edward the fourth Iames King of Scots which before had bin fifteen yeares prisoner in England and from thence released with a Wife a great dower and many honourable presents yet proved ingratefull was murthered by certaine his traiterous subjects in his bed-chamber by night who being found out were cruelly tortured The Duke of Burgoine having attempted the unworthy traffick of bartering for Callice with mony but not able to compasse it being infinitely desirous to bee Master of it when neither force nor fraud could prevaile attempts it by a strange pollicy but of like successe to the former for hee was perswaded by a rediculous practise so to cut a ditch that hee might at his pleasure drowne both the Towne and Countrey about this hee imployed much labour and more cost but this fantasticall fancy of a flood vanished away like his Flemmish army at the siege there of like a vapour The Lord Talbot besieged Tanckervile and hath it after foure moneths lying before it simply rendred unto him In leiw whereof the French King in his owne person layes siege to Monstrew fault Yonne Whilst the Duke of Yorke was providing for the reskue of this Towne hee was discharged of his office by which meanes Sir Thomas Gerrard had the more colour to sell not lose the Towne which the King of France making his owne contract with him bought of him for rewards and preferment both promised but how performed I know not only having sold his honour with his charge hee lived disgraced and discarded in much discontent an exile in France where hee died This yeare is a Parliament holden at Westminster in which were made many good and profitable acts aswell for the preservation of peace at home as for provision to maintaine the warres abroad Arthur Constable of France and Iohn Duke of Alanson besieged the Towne of Auranches whither the Lord Talbot came and offered them battell which they refusing hee marched in despight of them none daring to make resistance into the Towne from whence next morning he sallyed out and having made a greatslaughter amongst them tooke divers prisoners and retreated at pleasure the French being well contented so to bee rid of him The French the next morning were called from the siege pretended for Pautou de Santrelis for the Hire had sent Letters unto them that they had the promise of divers Bourgers of Roan when their watch-night came to let them in they wisht therefore the Constable to meet them at Rize a place within foure leagues of Roane here of the Lord Talbot having notice covertly marcht to Roan and from thence though wearied with a bad journey marcheth before day to Rize where he surprizeth the French taketh the Lord Fontaines Sir Allaine Geron and many other the Hire by the helpe of his horse though not unwounded by him that pursued him escaped and so Talbot returneth to Roan with a faire bootie and full instructions to discover the Traitours who convicted had the reward of their treason The sixtday of November the Earle of Warwicke who seven times having beene abourd and still beat backe by tempestuous and contrary winds landed at Hoinflew with a thousand fresh souldiers came to Roan whither the Duke of Yorke was come downe and from thence returned for England The Duke of Burgoine taking advantage as hee thought of a still water with tenne thousand men besiegeth the Towne of Crotoy to relieve whom the new Regent sent the Lord Talbot with five thousand men whereof the Duke having notice upon their approach retyreth with his power except foure hundred with whom hee had manned a Bastileo by him there erected to Abvile but the Bastilio is soone gained and all the souldiers either taken or slaine The valiant Talbot sent the Duke word that if hee would save his Countrie of Piccardy from vastation that hee should come into the field where hee attended him and would give him if he dared to come battell But the Duke of Burgoine was not in the fighting humour neither loved to bee too neere so cholericke an enemy that would strike if hee might come at him and therefore from Abvile secretly conveyes himselfe to Amiens Twenty dayes together did the Lord Talbot with fire and sword passe thorow Piccardy and Arthoys destroying all that stood in his way and so returneth unencountred Sir Thomas Kiryel seized upon the Dukes Carriages and Ordnance and having left in Crotoy victual enough for six hundred men for a whole yeare hee brought the rest to the Earle of Warwicke who thankfully received them Henry Earle of Mortaine sonne to Edmond Duke of Somerset arrived with three hundred Archers and three hundred Speares and past thorow Normandy to Mayne and tooke in his March by assault the Cattle of Saint Anian wherein were three hundred Scots and French-men the Scots hee slew all and hanged the French-men for that they had sworne fealty to England and broke it hee tooke likewise the Castle of Algarche and by meanes of an Ambush taketh the Lord of Camerois comming
engratiated he not only supplanted him from the place but procured it for himselfe to the no little hart-burning of the Duke of Yorke and his friends but hee had wit in his anger and rested silent The towne of Mauns according to the agreement is not given up The King of France prepares to besiege it but upon the motion of the Marquesse order is given for the present surrender thereof now no man in grace with the King but hee none can have any favour from the Queene but by him the extent of his power over-reacheth all the Councell hee gets of the King the Wardship of the body and lands of the Countesse of Warwicke and of the Lady Margaret sole Daughter and heire of Iohn Duke of Somerset afterward Mother to King Henry the seventh The Kings facile nature and flexible condition was the occasion that many enormities encreased and many things made worse that might have beene better if observed and stopt in the beginning The Duke of Glocester for his moderation and provident care in all things stiled good and for his paines in delivery of his mind honest is an eye-sore to an ambitious minion and an imperious woman shee will no longer admit any curbe to her vast desires of empery shee is as well able to advise the King as all his Councell to what purpose then needeth a Protector The Duke of Glocester must therefore bee removed and excluded not only from command but Councell and to adde to affliction shee permitted if not procured divers sinisterly affected to informe against him whereof the new Marquesse and the Duke of Buckingham were not the most backward and the Cardinall Bishop of Winchester and Archbishop of Yorke would not bee much behind one objection was made against him that he had caused divers persons to be executed contrary to the judgement of the Court denounced and against the law of the land in these cases provided his too much zeale of execution of justice if zeale in that point may be justly termed a crime made him subject to be censured to have perpetrated a criminall offence But to avoid tumultuary partakings for he was generally well esteemed howsoever by purblind observers deemed worthy taxe it was concluded by those that maligned his sincere and just proceedings that hee should without any publicke denuntiation of his offence bee privately convicted and condemned to which end a Parliament by the procurement of his enemies unwitting to the King is called at Bury to which the Duke of Glocester resorting is on the second day of the Session by the Lord Beamond then high Constable abetted by the Duke of Buckingham arrested and put to Ward all his followers without exception sequestred from him whereof thirty two are committed to severall prisons the next day after his commitment hee is found in his bed murthered yet shewed the same day being the foure and twentieth day of February publickly making show as though hee had dyed of an impostume but all indifferent persons that saw his corps could not but deeme he dyed of an unnaturall cause his corpes were the same day conveyed to Saint Albones and there buried five of his meniriall servants Sir ROGER CHAMBERLAIN Knight MIDDLETON HERBERT ARTZIS Esquire and IOHN NEEDHAM Gentlemen were condemned to bee drawne hanged and quartered But the Marquesse of SVFFOLKE to make a show to the world of his having no finger in the businesse brought their pardon and delivered it at their proposed place of execution some criticall observers have affirmed the stile of Gloucester as ominous and make instance of Hugh Spencer Thomas of Woodstock and this Duke Humphry but it may be well collected that this Dukes death gave a prodigious presage of the ensewing Calamitie of the Common-wealth sometimes in quenching of smoke men burne their fingers in the fire so the Queene casting to preserue her husbands honor and her owne regalitie in making away this honest Duke affected that which discretion should have most labored to prevent which was the decay of the house of Lancaster which was vnlikely to have chanced if this Duke had lived For his primogeniture would haue kept backe the Duke of Yorkes claime to the Crowne this Richards father being but the fift sonne of Edward the third Humphry Plantagenet was the fourth sonne of Edward the third Duke of Gloucester Earle of Hennault Holland Zeland and Pembroke Lord of Frisia great Chamberlaine of England he married two wives Iaquet from whom he was divorced and Elianor daughter of Reginald Lord Cobham by whom before marrage he had a daughter called Antigona married to Henry Gray Lord of Tanckervile but no issue legitimate The new Marquesse of Suffolk by the great fauour of the King But more desire of the Queene is created Duke of Suffolk which brought him within the compasse of Contempt of the Kings surviving Vncle The Duke of Yorke who now beginning to sucke the venome of his kinswoman the Lady Cobhams sorcery and awakened with his brothers losse her disgrace and his owne disrepute having by consanguinitie and affinity a faire meanes to draw a partie observing that they onely sat at the stearne that were vnable yea vnworthy to use the oare of the common-wealth and that all affares of state were meerly managed by the Queene and her fauourite the Duke of Suffolk the King being as a Cipher but at their pleasure to make a number did amongst his familiars privily whisper his title and right to the Crowne and afarre off as in a landskip to make a show of desire to see the flourishing encrease of the white Rose And so politikly carried his intent that all things were provided to further his proiect ere his purpose was published during this plotting Henry Bewford the rich Cardinall Bishop of Winchester takes his leave of this world and leaves more riches behind him then either good deeds or glorious name he was more noble in blood then notable in learning of high looke and haughty stomacke constant in nothing more then malice and mischiefe and that chiefly employed against good Duke Humphry his desires were insatiable for mony still coveting more but misimploying nothing in expence for he only horded to make others rich and himselfe poore what his ends were except he was perswaded never to dye no living man did know and had he desired to have measured his greatnesse by his goodnesse he had never been administrator to his owne good name for that dyed long before him without which we leave him to be seconded in the Bishopricke of Winchester by a more deserving Prelate which was William Wanfleet so stiled of the place he was borne in but his name was Pattern of the worshipfull family whereof he was descended The fifth of August following dieth Iohn Holland Duke of Exceter Earle of Huntington and Iuory in Normandy Lord of Sparr Leivetenant generall of the Dutchy of Aquitaine Admirall of England and Constable of the Tower of London he married
on the other side of turbulent spirited men to have leave to execute the place 13. That they are too much troubled with too often comming to attend the generall Sessions being enforced in many places to make five dayes journey to the place where they are kept hereof they made complaint and crave redresse and that speedily The Captaine likewise for his owne particular after protestation made to live and die in the quarrell of the King and in justification of his being Soveraigne and undoubted Lord and of affirmation of his desire of the Kings welfare and prosperitie of the Realme maketh Petition that the King would be himself not live of the almes of his poore Cōmons whilst his proud Courtiers ryot out the revenewes of the Crown to that end hee craveth that the King wil resume into his own hands all the demeasne lands rights and profits of the Crowne now sold or leased or farmed or otherwise disposed of 2. That his Majestie would be pleased to call backe and into favour to receive the truly noble Prince the Duke of York now exiled from his presence and with him the right honourable the Dukes of Exceter Buckingham and Norfolke and the antient Noblemen of the Realme by the undue practises of Suffolke and his complices commanded from his presence And that all their antagonists and ill-willers might bee banished the Court or bard their place in Councell and displaced of their Offices 3. That condigne punishment might be impartially inflicted upon all the plotters contrivers of the Duke of Glocesters death their associates abettors and of all such as were the causes of the death of the Dukes of Exceter and Warwicke with the irrecuperable losse of the Kings possessions in France 4. That there mightbe a generall amotion of corrupt officers an abolition of the green Wax and other instruments of extortion out of the Exchequer a qualification of the rigor of proceeding in the Kings bench an inhibition of unequall purveyance of provision for the Kings houshold a cessation of proceedings against the offenders of the Statute of Laborers and a present execution of the Promooters Slegge Cromer Isell and East whom he pretended by wrongfull informations to have abused the King and wronged his subjects These bills of intimation and petition are sent from the lower House to the upper from whence the examination of the circumstances are committed to the Lords of the Kings privy Councell who having throughly perused them and maturely examined the particulars explode them as frivolous and conclude the promovers and authors there of proud and presumptuous rebells Whereupon the King is solicited by his privy Councell to punish the unlawfull attempt of these rebellious pretenders rather by force then entreaty This advise is seconded by the Queen whom she perceived now they principally aimed at though not as yet in overt termes discovered The King drawes his forces to Greenwitch from whence he appointed divers namelesse Lords to assaile the rebells but they were told by their followers that they would not fight against their friends as only laboured the reformation of abuses and the punishment of such traytors about the King as the Lord Say the Kings Chamberlain was whose name was rife in every mans mouth as well on one side as other to be reproched whereupon the L. Chamberlaine is presently cōmitted to the tower until other forces come the King Queen retire to London from whence within two daies being nowful 15000. strong the King in person marcheth towards Captaine Amend all who politickly withdraweth his forces to Senock wood upon notice where of the King retireth to London But the Queen thirsting after their ruine that plotted hers sends the two Staffords Sir Humphry William with many gallants to follow the rebels these proud of imployment make more hast then good speed for they found Iacke Cade in good order ready to receive them who in the first encounter slew Sir Humphry afterwards his brother put all the rest to ◅ight The Kings forces being at Blackheath could not by threats or entreats bee enforced or perswaded to goe to the reskues But hearing of the discomfiture of the Staffords and the forward Courtiers they began to whistle treason wishing the Queene and her favourites in Staffords roome or that the Duke of Yorke were in England to ayd his Cousin Mortimer never ownd to be of the house of March untill now But all expressing their backwardnesse to make resistance many of them steale to the Kentishmen and others from Sussex and Surrey encrease his number whom he ordereth restraineth from forraging or taking any thing by force or without payment yet how or from whence he had provision of food for this numerous company or mony to provide it had not some Londoners underhand given him assistance might have beene wondered But hee returneth againe to Black-heath and encampeth where the Kings army lay the night before who were now falne downe to Green-witch The Archbishop of Canterbury and the Duke of Buckingham are sent to expostulate with the rebells and their Captaine about their demmand a miserable time the while when two such peeres must be imployed in such a manner to so meane a person and a rebell But now beeing together Iack Cade with a sober composed countenance and great moderation expressed himselfe in very good termes but without show of reluctation or cessation from armes except the King in person would heare the grievances of the subject and passe his Princely word for reformation of their wrongs thus setled if not peremptory resolution made knowne to the King who was in doubt of his owne forces as being unsure of his owne Souldiers faith marcheth presently to Killingworth Castle in Warwickshire where he fortifieth and victualleth as suspecting to be besieged having left nor power nor Commander of note behind but onely the Lord Scales who with some forces were left to gard the Tower The Kentish Captaine taking advantage of the Kings departure commeth to Southwarke where he orderly quartereth his men earnestly exhorting his Souldiers to be Examples of that in themselves that they made pretence to find wanting in others and to be regular and modest and to Commit no outrage either in or about their lodging he himselfe kept the watch and kept all things faire and square The next morning they marched to London-bridge where they made shift with their swords to cut the ropes of the draw bridge no force being used for resistance and so in good order they march by London stone vpon which the Captaine strooke his sword saying Loe Mortymer is now Lord of London The Maior of London Sir Thomas Chalton standing upon the threshold of his doore with a bold countenance as though he had power enough if he would to represse him told the Captaine that if he should attempt any thing against the quiet of the City that he should feele hands enough about their eares to stop them before they
to whom that place was assigned Fauconbridge and Blunt continue the leading of the vantguard And on Palme-Sunday by breake of day they came to Saxton from whence they made a full survay of King Henryes army and certified the Earle of March that the enemie was threescore thousand strong whereupon a second Proclamation was made through the Campe That no quarter should be kept nor prisoner taken a Course more savoring of policie then Religion yet by so much the more excusable by how much his number was so far short of his adversarie The armies being both in sight The Lord Fauconbridge gave direction to the bowmen upon a signall by him to be given to shoot every man a flight arrow for that purpose provided and then to fall backe three strides and stand which they accordingly did The Notherne men hereupon plied their bowes untill their sheaves were empty But all their arrowes fell short of the marke and turned to their owne disadvantage For their arrowes being spent hasting to ioyne to come to hand-blowes Their owne arrowes did themselves much hurt that had done the adversary no harme at all The works of those sticking galling their shinnes and the splinters of those broken piercing their feete whilst the Southerne men shot at their bodyes as if they had beene shooting at butts policy prevailing beyond strength Ten houres in doubtfull termes of victory The battaile continued when the Earle of Northumberland being slaine with the Lords Beamond Gray Dacres The Earles of Exceter and Somerset fled left the conquest to the Earle of March but the bloodiest that ever England felt for on that day fell there thirty six thousand seven hundred threescore and sixteene persons besides those that dyed of the hurts then received all of one nation no prisoners being taken but the Earle of Devon This Henry Earle of Northumberland now slaine was the third Earle of the familie of Peircyes he married Elianor Daughter and heire of Richard Lord Poyning by whom he had issue Henry that succeeded him in the Earldome and three daughters Elizabeth married to Henry Lord Scroope 2 Elianor married to West Lord Laware 3 Margaret married to Sir William Gascoyne The victor hasts to Yorke where he is readily admitted entrance when presently he causeth The heads of his father and his friends to be taken downe and buried with their bodyes setting in their places the heads of the Earle of Devon and three others there then executed This Earle of Devon was Thomas the xvi Earle and Lord of Ockhampton he married Margaret daughter of Iohn Beawford Earle of Somerset by whom he had issue three sonnes and two daughters Thomas who was taken with his father and presently by reason of the Proclamation slaine Henry the second sonne who was after beheaded at Salisbury and Iohn who was after slaine at Tewkesbury The father and the three sonnes with the losse of their best bloods witnessing their true affection to the house of Lancaster Iohan his eldest daughter was married to Sir Roger Clifford Knight and Elizabeth was married to Sir Hugh Courtney Knight The Earle of Somerset being the messenger of the late overthrow perswades and prevailes with King Henry his Queene and sonne from Yorke to flye to Barwicke where leaving the Earle of Somerset they slye further for succour to the King of Scots who comforteth them with promise of reliefe but maketh a sure bargaine and receiveth in liewe of a pension to be assigned to King Henry during his aboad there from him upon Saint Markes day the Towne and Castle of Barwick to such poore shifts was this potent King driven to pawne his best fortresse for bare food Queene Margaret and her sonne are sent to France to labour there whilst those that stayed with the King himselfe being onely intentive to devotion fayled not to solicite friends and make preparation for a second encounter The Queene upon her arrivall obtayned of Lewis the eleventh her Cousin that those of the house of Yorkes favorites were prohibted trafficke or stay in the French Kings dominions But all such as loved the Lancastrian line were permitted freely In triumphant manner the Earle of March commeth to London where he is by the Maior and Citizens gloriously entertained being by them upon the xxvi day of Iune from Lambeth attended to the Tower of London who upon his first entrance therein invested foure and twentie with order of Knighthood and upon the next day he did the like to foure more Vpon the xxviii day of Iune he rode through London from the Tower to Westminster where he was Crowned in the Abby there A Parliament is summoned which began at VVestminster upon the fourth of November in which all acts of Henry the sixt formerly made which might see me any way preiudiciall to Edw. title or profit were repealed And therein Iohn Earle of Oxford a learned valiant wise man he who in a former Parliament disputed the question concerning the precedency betweene the temporall and spirituall Barones a bold attempt in those dayes and by force of whose arguments iudgment was given for the Lords temporall with his sonne Aubry de Vere Sir Thomas Tiddenham Kinght William Terrill and VValter Mongomery Esquires were without answer convict of Treason and beheaded This Iohn Earle of Oxford married Elizabeth the daughter and heire of Sir Iohn Howard and had issue five sonnes and three daughters 1 Aubry de Vere beheaded with his father 2 Iohn de Vere that succeeded in the Earledome 3 George Vere Knight that died living his father 4 Richard Vere and 5 Thomas Vere Knights 1 Mary a profest Nunne at Barking in Essex 2 Ioan married to Sir VVilliam Norris and 3 Elizabeth married to VVilliam Bourcheir sonne and heire of Henry Bourcheir Earle of Essex King Edward to encourage others to obtaine like favour by well deserving at his hands after that he had created his two younger brethren George and Richard the one Duke of Clarence the other Duke of Glocester he maketh Iohn Lord Nevill first Vicount then Marquesse Mountacute Henry Bourcheir whose brother was Archbishop of Canterbury Earle of Essex and VVilliam Lord Fauconbridg Earle of Kent enobling many others with dignities and honorable titles To hansell their new Honors Essex and Kent with the Lord Audley and divers other of the nobility with ten thousand souldiers are sent to skowre the narrow Seas these land in Britaine and by force enter the Towne of Conquet and the Isle of Ree which having pillaged and the Coasts cleered they returne Henry Duke of Somerset Sir Ralph Peircy with some others come in and submit themselues to King Edwards mercy who gratiously receiveth and entertaineth them protesting his propension of free pardoning them and as many others as would follow their example of submission The distressed Queene with five hundred French a small stake to play an aftergame of Reputation with came to the Coasts of Scotland and from thence sailes to Timmothe where
newes of these proceedings set wide open the gates of the rebellion gave courage to the Northamptonshire men who prepared before to that purpose tooke this opportunity to make a commotion under the conduct of one Robert Hiliard by them stiled Robert of Risdate came to Grafton and there tooke the Queenes father Earle Rivers and his Son Sir Iohn VVoodvile and at Northampton without trial or judgement courses out of use amongst unruly rebells caused them to be beheaded Richard Woddevile Baron of Wymington married Iaquiet daughter of the Earle S. Pauls the widdow of Iohn Duke of Bedford for which not having the kings license he was fined to K. Henry the sixt in one thousand pounds he was installed knight of the Garter 30. Octob. Anno. H. 6. 28. And 4. of K. Ed. 4. he was created Earle Rivers made high Constable of England he had issue by the said Iaquet 7. sons and 6. daughters 1 Anthony that succeeded his father 2. Lewis dyed young 3 Iames dyed young 4 Iohn with his father taken at Edgcote and with him beheaded at Northampton as afore 5 Lionell Bishop of Salisbury that begat upon his Concubine Stephen Gardner afterwards Bishop of VVinton 6 Edward who died without issue 7. Richard that succeeded his brother Anthony in the Earldome but dying without issue left it to his sisters all living 1 Elizabeth at first married to Sir Iohn Gray of Groby and afterward to Edward the fourth 2 Margaret married to Thomas Fitzallan Earle of Arundel 3 Anne married to William Burcher sonne of Henry Earle of Essex first and after to George Gray Earle of Kent then to Sir Edw. Wingfield knight 4 Iaquet was married to Iohn Lord Strange of Knocking 5 Mary was married to William Harbert Earle of Huntington and 6 Katherine first married to Henry Stafford second Duke of Buckingham and then to Iasper of Hatfield Duke of Bedford The Lord Stafford having long lurked without discouery about Devonshire is apprehended for his base departure from the Earle of Pembrook beheaded at Bridgwater The Northerne men haue opportunitie to joyne with the Earle of Warwicke The whole body of the common-wealth thus fearefully groning under the fearefull expectation of unchristian cruelty The effects whereof divers of the nobility Clergy endevored by all means possible to prevent to that end on both sides mediated for some pacification But whilst it is in agitation both parts having drawne their forces together a generall preparation is made for an unauoydable banquet for death whilst King Edward the lesse circumspect by reason of some overtures of submission Cautelously tendred gave advantage to the Earle of Warwick who had secret intelligence of the order in the Kings camp in the dead of the night to fall upon it where with some small slaughter having slaine the sentinells they tooke the king prisoner in his bedwho was presently conveied to Midleham Castle in Yorkeshire to be kept safely by the Archbishop of Yorke The Earle of Warwicke relying vpon his brothers care of his charge considering that he was the Key of their worke And being perswaded that the brunt of the warres was past dismist most of his army but as one that reckoned without his host must make a new account so to that exigent he was driven For whilst he made search and diligent enquiry after King Henry whose place of imprisonment was not knowne King Edward escaped but whether by over-great promises seduced or through guilt of Conscience induced thereunto it is questionable But howsoever The Archbishop permitted him to have so much liberty by way of recreation on hunting that by the contrivement and assistance of Sir William Stanly and Sir Thomas Burgh he was both rescued from his keepers and in safty conducted to Yorke such is the instabilitie of occurrences in this world That therein is certaintie of nothing but incertaintie the secrets of Gods providence being inscrutable King Edward that in the morning was a prisoner at the Earle of VVarwicks devotion is now at liberty to provide how to question his mitred keeper and his late triumphant committer for their undutifull presumption From Yorke he posteth to Lancaster where his Chamberlaine the Lord Hastings had raised some forces with those he marcheth to London the love of whose Citizens he mainly relied upon and thereof found himselfe not deceived for they with willing readinesse receive him The Earle of VVarwick having information of what was past makes a vertue of necessitie and dispatches letters and Messengers to all his friends and confederates to draw to an head which they accordingly did But by the earnest solicitation and industry of those good patriots which before had laboured to have the sword of civill dissention sheathed Now an interview Vpon interchange of oathes for safety and faire returne on both sides is had betwixt the king the Duke of Clarence and the Earle of VVarwicke in VVestminster-Hall But the Earle like one endevoring to infect the ayre takes poyson into his mouth and spits it into the wind makes repetition of former courtesies done to Edward and for requitall thereof indignities returned which with such peremptory phrase he urged that they savoured so much of exprobration that the King unable to endure such harsh ill-becomming language from a subject in a scornefull fury departed the Hall and went to Canterbury And the Duke and Earle to Lincolne whither they had preappointed their powers to repayre under the conduct of Sir Robert VVells sonne and heire of the Lord VVells a valiant Gentleman and of approved sufficiency The King with intent to take off Sir Robert from VVarwicks part sends for Richard Lord VVells who with his brother in Law Sir Thomas Dymock comming to attend the kings pleasure received information from some of their friends in Court that the King was much incensed against them whereupon they take Sanctuary at VVestminster From whence upon the kings promise of generall pardon they came to his presence who gave command to the Lord VVells effectually by letter to solicite his son Sir Robert VVells to leave the Earle of VVarwick come to the kings service which was accordingly done but because it procured not desired effect the king not without blemish to his Honor in his rage caused both their heads to be strooke off The report wherof so enraged the young knight that no perswasion could prevaile with him to abide the Earle of VVarwicks cōming which was every day expected but passion having blinded his judgement led on by fury the inevitablenes of his fate he with his forces charged the kings army And whilest he laboured to go beyond man in doing his valour not checkt by discretion he proves lesse then a sucking child and for sinking under an oppressing multitude he was taken prisoner which so discouraged his men that they fled and the lighter to runne away they cast of their coates And thereby gave a name unto the place from whence
they fled which ever since hath beene called Loose Coate field in this place were slaine of the Earles part ten thousand and odde of the Kings side thirteen hundred but no man of marke Sir Robert Wells with all the prisoners then taken were there presently executed Sir Robert beheaded the other hanged which were threescore seven The report of this disaster turnes Clarence and his father in Law to Exceter from whence having dismist their army they fled to Dartmouth from thence they shipped to Callis having their Ladyes and divers Gentlewomen in their Company intending there to goe on shore but their expectation was frustrated for whilst he was about to land he was saluted with a great shot from the platforme which assured them there was no going on shoare there without apparant danger whereupon the Earle by messenger entreated Mounseir Vocleer the Earles Deputie leiftenant there But to give way to the Ladyes to land the Dutchesse of Clarence being then in travaile which Vocleer uncourteously refused and like the hedghog kept his Captaine out of his owne lodging not doing or permitting to be done any the least office of humanitie but denying the sicke and tender Ladies all courtesie and comfort wherefore the Earle was enforced to put againe to Sea Whilst King Edward for this so discourteous usage of the Earle sent the ungratefull Gascoyne a patent of the Captaines place of Callice under the great Seale of England And the Duke of Burgoyne gave him an annuitie of one hundred pounds per annum during life Notwithstanding Warwick being at Sea received intelligence from Vocleer whom it seemes did love the Earle in the second place but himselfe in the first That the Duke of Burgoine plotted his destruction whereupon the Earle kept the Seas and tooke all the Burgonians he cold meet making prize of their ladings wherewith he landed in France and from Deepe by the French Kings solemn invitation he went to the Castle of Amboyes where the King then kept his Court. And there the Ladies wants are supplied and honorable welcome and liberall entertainment given to the Earle and all his company The newes of the Earle of Warwickes being at the French Kings Court drew thither Queene Margaret and her sonne Edward with Iasper late Earle of Pembrock for this Iasper having beene attainted of treason William Lord Harbert was created Earle of Pembrook but being slaine William his sonne succeeded in the Earledome This Iasper and others with him who were lately broke out of prison in England and fled thither joyne in confederation with the Earle of Warwick and a solemn oath passeth betwixt the Duke of Clarence the Earles of Warwicke Oxford and Iasper of Pembrook never to deserte one the other during life nor desist to the uttermost of their best abilities to procure the releasment of King Henry and his restoration to the Crowne of England and to give the better Countenance to this confederation Prince Edward is married to the Earle of Warwicks daughter But therein the Earle of Warwick sitting in his ownlight overshot himselfe and by overdoing in policy to strengthen his part both himselfe and partakers are undon The water intended to drive the Mill being drawne to drowne the same for the Duke of Clarence after he had taken into his owne more serious consideration the purposed end of this match he easily perceived that that being seconded with the intended prosecution of the warres against King Edward would if succesfull prove the utter overthrow of his Brothers and the finall extirpation of the house of Yorke From hence arose and not without just ground the Dukes distrust of his owne fortunes For the prevention of which mischiefe hee inwardly became lesse forward to the businesse and began to cast about how to come fairely off from his Father-in-law propinquitie of blood proving a stronger incentive to affection then contracted affinitie though never so much combined with solemne promises and overt protestations From henceforth underhand he gives perfect intelligence to King Edward of all proceedings against him and withall assures him that he was resolved upon his comming into England to play the part of a loving Brother and as hee did now in heart decline the confederation so he would then cleane desert their cause herewith when King Edward acquainted his Brother the Duke of Yorke hee said hee alwayes thought as much for hee that at one time had turned Traitour to his Soveraigne would at another prove trecherous to his friend but wee may saith he presume better hereafter of our Brother The French King having furnished the new Confederates with men money and amunition and with necessary shipping They all went aborde and falling downe to the mouth of the river of Seyne they descried the Burgonians with a strong fleet prepared to interrupt their sayling forth Whereupon the Lords strike sayle and call to Councell But during their time of such consultation a strong Southwest wind comes from land with a terrible tempest of raine by fury whereof the Burgonian Fleet was driven to Sea and severed many of them being driven on ground in Scotland The storme being ceased having set the Queene and Prince with his Wife on shore Warwicke with his Complices hoise sayle and with a merry gale arrive safely at Dartmouth from whence hee gave notice to his partakers of his arrivall King Edward presuming of the strength of the Burgonian Fleet and their watchfulnesse had omitted preparation either to impeach his Adversaries landing or to affront them being landed by meanes whereof the Lords land at ease and having a cleere passage march forward in good array making Proclamation in every place where they come in King Henryes name to command all his loving subjects to bee ready both with purse and person to give him assistance against the Duke of Yorke who like a tyrant and an usurper withheld from him his Crowne and Patrimony by this meanes in few dayes his Army greatly encreased wherewith in good order and by easie marches keeping his men alwayes in action by exercising them and fitting them to their weapons hee made towards London upon notice of whose approach on the Sunday next after Michaelmasse day one Doctor Goddard a Chaplaine of the Earle of Warwicke appointed to preach at Pauls Crosse did so set forth the pious intention of the Earle his Master that endevoured the restoring of a wronged King to his liberty and Dominion and to free the kingdome from an Vsurper that his pithy perswasions prevailed so farre with his Auditory that none reproved him for his boldnesse but so approved of his Sermon that divers put their ghostly Fathers advice in practice insomuch that the Marquesse Mountacute who had as was pretended on King Edwards behalfe levied sixe thousand men about London found them all enclinable to goe with him to the Earle of Warwicke and accordingly went and joyned with him so suddenly and easily will the vulgar bee seduced This
to King Henry the 6. But she was as absolutely forgotten by me as if I had never seene or knowne her Now she and her sonne Henry Earle of Richmond being both cutworke and percullis betwixt me and that port which I must of necessitie passe if I should at any time attempt to enter into the Court royall of Maiestie my presupposed title was in my imagination now scarce worth a tittle And herewithall calling to mind that those inseparable dangers insupportable cares and unavoydable troubles that necessarily awaite upon a Crowne are so imminent numerous That no one if he but man can with safety escape wel undergoe or with patience endure the least of many of them except by lineall descent the law doe cast it upon him or he be by Gods especiall providence as David was preordaind or before appoynted thereunto And further taking it into consideration That if I once assumed unto my selfe the swaying of the Scepter howsoever I might perchance be of abilitie sufficient to lay hold of it yet on the one part I should bee sure to find many foes but few faithfull friends who in this age are all for the most part gone on Pilgrimage and their returne is uncertaine And on the other side King Edwards Daughters and their Allyes whose patience so infinitely abused might incite some furious partakers or my cousin Richmond with his friends and followers or some discontented Lords for it would bee an impossible thing to give plenary content to all would bee ever snatching or snarling at mee upon every the least occasion and upon any advantage so that in all likelyhood my life and livelihood should bee ever hanging but by a very slender thread so that I should never bee secure but ever in danger of death or deposition wherefore from thenceforth I concluded with my selfe to banish out of my thoughts all ayrie-built Castles to looke after the government of the kingdome either in my owne right or to my owne use and concluded watchfully to attend if at any time it should please God to make mee his instrument to relieve the wronged and to scourge the oppressour And now I am verily perswaded that it is the good pleasure of the Almightie to make this the meanes by which both may bee to his glory effected for the Earle of Richmond to take to Wife Elizabeth the eldest Daughter of King Edward the fourth to bring which orderly to effect neither my person power or purse shall bee wanting In respect that by this match The two houses of Yorke and Lancaster at this time so miserably dis-joynted may bee brought to unitie and conjunction And whereas my Grandfather and Father did both lose their lives in abetting the side of Lancaster I will now hazard mine to conjoyne them both hand in hand These words the Duke uttered with that vehement earnestnesse that the good Bishop and not without reason was thorowly perswaded that it was asmuch the love of Richmond as the hatred to Richard that made him make this forward and friendly offer And from thenceforth afterward hee so condited his discourses with such powerfull and significant words and prevalent reasons that hee kept him firme and constant to his first proposition insomuch that at length by this Bishops advise and procurement of Reignold Bray a Gentleman attending upon the Countesse of Richmond this whole plot is discovered to the Dutchesse and very well approved of by her And presently from her Doctor Lewis her Phisitian is imployed to Queene Elizabeth who still remained in Sanctuary at Westminster to sound how shee stood inclinable Who upon the first proposition before shee would expresse any thing unto the Doctor shee prostrated her selfe upon her knees and humbly invoked the blessed Trinitie to bee propitious to this so much desired Vnitie And then raising her selfe up shee did professe her selfe next unto God to be much bound to him or her that first invented the meanes whereby to restore my poore children to their right and redeeme my selfe from that thraldome and feare wherein now I am And with great thankes returned to the Doctor wishing him to assure the contriver thereof whosoever That if Earle Richmond would take his corporall oath to espouse either her Daughter Elizabeth or Cicely in case it should please God Elizabeth should dye before that time assoone as hee had obtained the enjoyment of the Crowne That shee would not only give hers and get her Daughters consent to the match But procure all the Friends and Allyes of her deceased husband King Edward and her owne to take his part and in all things to give him their best assistance The Mothers thus having expressed their intentions to keepe the game on foot Doctor Lewis preferred to the Queene a religious and learned Priest called Christopher Vrswicke who up on oath taken for secrecy was as occasion should bee offered to bee imployed in these businesses so that now Bray and Vrswicke doe travaile only about home whilst the Physitian who might doe it with more safetie and lesse suspition negotiated in more remote places first to sound then to incite as many of the Nobilitie and Gentrie as they should discover to bee willing to give their assistance but alwayes with this caution to offer to treate with none without making oath first for truth and secrecie In few dayes Bray had drawne into confederacy Sir Giles Daubeney Sir Iohn Cheney Richard Guilford and Thomas Rame with some others Vrswicke likewise for his share had prevailed with Hugh Conoway Thomas Culpepper Thomas Rooper with some others And in the meane time Doctor Lewis was not idle but had wonne Edward Courtney and his brother Peter Bishop of Exceter amongst whom it was carefully agreed upon that convenient messengers should bee speedily dispatched for Britannie to Earle Richmond to acquaint him with the whole proceedings For this purpose by the contrivement of Vrswicke Hugh Conoway is imployed from Plimmouth with great summes of money Thomas Rame by the advice of Bray is with like instructions sent out of Kent by Callice both which within the space of little more then an houre though divers wayes the one most part by Sea the other most part by land came to the presence of the Earle who graciously received them and gladly embraced both the concord and condition The Earle acquaints the Duke of Britanny both with the plot and the confederation earnestly imploring his advise and ayde which the Duke as readily promised as really performed Howsoever Hutton Embassadour from King Richard had endevoured to preoccupate the Scene and in his Masters name had both by private Letters and many proffers of much money and more courtesies laboured the Duke for the Earles restraint But to little or no purpose The Earle thus encouraged returnes Connoway and Rames by the same way they came to give notice of his speedy repaire with ample instructions for the manner of preparation against his approach to be made Whereupon the Confederates in
Brother Sonne and kinsfolkes the calumny of her royall husband the aspersion of adultery obtruded to her selfe the imputation of bastardy layd to her Daughters And her firme faith plighted to the contrary to the Dutchesse of Richmond the assurance thereby of her elder daughters preferment upon K. Richards glosing speeches was contented first to commit her daughters to the custody of him that was author and actor of all these calumniations and cruelties and afterwards by Letters mandatory to solicite her Sonne the Marquesse of Dorset to desert the Earle of Richmond and to encline to King Richard who shee assured him had not only granted him his free and generall pardon but had provided honourably to preferre him upon his returne This done King Richard with great solemnitie and formall show of extraordinarie affections the surest ginnes to catch women and rattlebraines entertaineth the abused Mother and seduced Daughters And presently takes order to make one Saint the more in heaven by sending his Wife thither before her time but how or by what meanes it is not made manifest Shee is with all solemnity which the shortnesse of time to prepare would permit interred at Saint Peters Church in Westminster where some few forced teares for a show are wrung from his eyes at the Funerall whilst his thoughts are plotting how to compasse incestuous copulation with his owne Brothers Daughter whom hee immoderately visiteth and entertaines with all varieties of pompous pleasures as it were by such musicke to prepare her affection the sooner to admit of his love-suite But her harmelesse innocencie not diving into his villanous purposes takes all things from him as honourable courtesies Now only feare to lose that little good Opinion which the Common-people had cast away upon him induced thereunto by his late formall show of repentance and protestation of his heartie detestation of his former bloody course of life did with-hold this monster of man-kind as yet to discover his beastly desire which was to purchase his pleasure by rape if not otherwise procurable But for that it behoved him to labour to prevent the growing storme threatned from beyond the Seas and to hinder the further growth of his enemies forces at home against his will hee prorogues the execution of his desires and leaves love-matters untill another season The Lord Stanley is commanded to levie all his forces for the Kings aide as he will justifie his integritie to him Neverthelesse cannot be permitted to go downe into his Countrey untill hee had left George Lord Strange his first begotten sonne as a sure pledge of his love and loyaltie be hind him The surrender of the Castle of Hammes to the Earle of Richmond by Captaine Blount is come to the eares of King Richard who presently giveth order to the garrison of Callice and the Forts adjoyning to reduce the same which they accordingly attempted But the Captaine at his departure having left his wife therein had sufficiently furnished it to withstand any assault untill reliefe might with conveniency be sent unto it The Earle of Richmond having notice of the siege sendeth the Earle of Oxford with some forces to remove it or relieve the besieged Thomas Brandon a servant of the Earle of Oxford with thirty resolute souldiers find the meanes to enter into the Castle carrying with them such amunition as was then most wanting whilst the Earle of Oxford with his other forces are marching thither upon notice whereof the Callicians offered the besieged that if they would surrender the Castle all that were within it should have faire and noble quarter with free liberty to depart with bagge and baggage which was accordingly readily embraced being the only end of the Earle of Oxfords journey which was to redeeme his friends in especiall the Genlewomen in the Castle out of danger And then leaving the Castle cleane bare without either men amunition or ordnance they retreated in safetie to the Earle of Richmond The shippes which King Richard had appointed to guard the Seas to debarre the Earles passage hee having beene informed though untruly that Richmond was haplesse and hopelesse of helpe from the French King are called home and all the souldiers discharged only order given for the diligent watching the Beacons Thomas Marquesse Dorset to give the better colour to the report of Richmonds backwardnesse to doe any thing suddenly and not induced thereto by his Mothers solicitation maketh a show to forsake Richmond and conveyeth himselfe toward Flaunders but by the way is overtaken by Humphry Cheney who was appointed to follow him and was not only perswaded to returne but to remaine hostage with Sir John Bourcheir for securitie of performing the Articles concluded on betwixt the Earle of Richmond and divers his friends in France and for the repayment of sundry sums of money by Richmond for this expedition borrowed But report being come into Britaine that the Vsurper laboured the speedy making up of a match betwixt him and the Lady Elizabeth and had likewise prepared and proposed an husband for her Sister Cicely There was too little time left to bee employed for longer consultation what more to doe or further expectation of aide how to doe For experience did manifest it that the longer they stayed every day the lesse ready they were for either victuall or other provision grew sowre or stinking and every houre would grow worse and worse And that all the passages and Ports were so stopped and guarded that it was a thing almost impossible to send or receive any further intelligence out of England which was the more demonstrated by the certaine relation of Morgan Kidwelly a student of the Common law of England who with great hazard had brought information to the Earle That Rice ap Thomas and John Savage two approved Commanders and most powerfull in their owne Country were ready with all the forces they could make to abet his course upon his first landing though with hazard of their lives And that his trusty Friend Reignold Bray was ready provided of money and all other necessaries to furnish Richmonds necessities and only awaited his approach And for the reasons aforesaid advised him to steere his course for Wales and further from them adjured him to make all possible festination assuring him that nothing could procure better speed then present expedition Whereupon Richmond with not much above two thousand stipendaries and but convenient Bottoms to transfreate them about the middle of August following put to Sea and on the seventh day after their departure from Harflew they arrived at Milford haven where without trouble or impeachment he landed his forces and from thence peaceably marched to Hereford where by the Inhabitants there he was joyfully received A common report is raised that Rice ap Thomas and John Savage stood out for King Richard which gave some occasion of mistrust to Richmond But the trouble was lessened when he was resolved by Captaine Arnold Butler that the Earle of Penbrooke with all