Cittie of Roan While hee tarried there making provision at Bartfleet in the mouth of the River of Seyne for all things necessary for his navy and navigation tidings were brought to him that King Richard being without children and now widdower intended shortly to marry with Lady Elizabeth his brothers daughter and to preferre the Lady Cicile her sister to a man found in a cloude and of an unknowne linage and family He tooke this newes as a matter of no small moment and so al things considered it was of no lesse importance then he tooke it for For this thing onely tooke away from all his companions their hope and courage that they had to obtaine an happie enterprise And therefore no marvell though it nipped him at the very heart when hee thought that by no possibility hee might attaine the marriage of any of King Edwards daughters which was the strongest foundation of his building by reason whereof hee judged that al his friends in England would abandon and â—hrinke from him Wherefore making not many of his counsell after diverse consultations hee determined not yet to set forward but to tarry and attempt how to get more aide more friends and more stronger succours And amongst all other it was thought most expedient to allure by affinity in his aide as a companion in armes Sir Walter Harbert a man of ancient stock and great power amongst the welshmen which had with him a faire Lady to his sister of age mature and ripe to bee coupled in matrimonie And for the achiving of this purpose messengers were secretly sent to Henry Earle of Northumberland which had before married another sister of Sir Walter Herberts to the intent that hee should set forward all this device and purpose but the waies were so narrowly watched and so many spies laid that the messenger proceeded not in his journey and businesse But in the meane season there came to the Earle a more joyfull message from Morgan Kidwelly learned in the temporall Law which declared that Ryce ap Thomas a man of no lesse valiantnesse then activitie and Iohn Savage an approved Captaine would with all their power bee partakers of his quarrell And that Reighnold Bray had collected and gotten together no small some of money for the payment of the wages to the souldiers and men of warre admonishing him also to make quick expedition and to take his course directly into Wales The Earle of Richmond because hee would no longer linger and weary his friends living continually betweene hope and feare determined in all convenient hast to set forward and carried to his shippes armour weapons victualls and all other ordinances expedient for warre And shortly to speake all things hee prepared which were wont to bee necessary and profitable to the variable chances and incertaine accidents and jeopardies of warre which requireth preparation of many instruments and things chargable And that the Earle had made his humble petition and devout prayer to almighty God beseeching him not onely to send him most prosperous winde and sure passage in his journey but also effectuously desiring his goodnesse of aide and comfort in his necessitie and victorie and supremitie over his enemies onely accompanied with two thousand men and a small number of shippes weighed up his anchors and hoysed up his sailes and in the calends of August he sailed from Harfleet with so prosperous a winde that the seventh day after his departure he arrived in Wales in the evening at a port called Milford Haven and incontinent tooke land and came to a place called Dalle where he heard say that a certaine company of his adversaries were layed in garrison to defend his arrivall all the last winter And the Earle at the â—un rising removed to Harford Wâ—st being distant from Dalle not fully tenne miles where he was applauded and received of the people with great joy and hee arrived there so suddenly that hee was come and entred the towne at the same time when the Citizens had but knowledge of his comming Here he heard newes which was as untrue as they truely were reported to him in Normandy that Rice ap Thomas and Iohn Savage with body and goods were determined to aide King Richard While he and his company were somewhat appalled of these new tidings there came such message from the inhabitants of the towne of Pembrook that refreshed and revived their frosen hearts and daunted courages For Arnould Butler a valliant Captaine which first asking pardon for his offences before time committed against the Earle of Richmond and that obtained declared that the Penbrochians were ready to serve and give their attendance on their naturall and immediate Lord Iasper Earle of Pembrooke The Earle of Richmond having his armie thus increased departed from Herford West to the towne of Cardigan being five mile distant from thence While the souldiers were refreshing and trimming themselves in their campe strange tidings sprung among them without any certaine authour that Sir Walter Harberd which lay with a great crew of men at Carmarden was now with a great army ready to approach and bid him battaile With which newes the armie was sore troubled and every man assaid his armour and proved his weapon and were prest to defend their enemies And as they were in this timerous doubt certaine horsemen which the Earle had sent to make exploration and search returned and reported all the countrey to be quiet and no let nor impediment to bee laid or cast in their journey And even at that same time the whole army was greatly recomforted by reason that the comming of Richard Griffeth a man of great nobility the which notwithstanding that he was conversant with Sir Walter Harbert Richard ap Thomas yet at that very instant he came to the Earle of Richmond with all his company which were of no great number After him the same day came Iohn Morgan with his men Then the Earle advanced forward in good hast making no repose or abode in any one place And to the intent to passe forward with sure and short expedition hee assaulted every place where his enemies had set any men of warre which with small force and lesse difficultie hee briefely did expugne and vanquish And suddenly hee was by his espials ascertained that Sir Walter Harbert and Rice ap Thomas were in harnesse before him ready to encounter with his army and to stoppe their passage Wherefore like a valiant captaine he first determined to set on them and either to destroy or to take them into his favour and after with all his power and puissance to give battaile to his mortall enemie King Richard But to the intent his friends should know with what dexteritie his attempted enterprise proceeded forward he sent of his most secret and faithfull servants with letters and instructions to the Lady Margaret his mother to the Lord Stanley and his brother to Talbotâ— and to other his trusty friends declaring to them that hee succoured and holpen
Gloucester turned all this to their destruction and upon that ground set the foundation of his unhappy building For whom soever he perceived to be at variance with them or to beare toward himselfe any favour hee brake unto them some by mouth some by writing and secret messengers that it was neither reason nor yet to bee suffered that the young King their Master and kinsman should be in the hands and custody of his Mothers kindred sequestred in manner from their company and attendance of which every one ought him as faithfull service as they and many of them of farâ— more honourable part of kin then his Mothers side whose bloud quoth the Duke of Gloucester saving the Kings pleasure was farre unmeet to be matched with his which now to be removed from the King and the least Noble to bee left about him is quoth he neither honourable to his Majesty nor to us and also to him lesse surety to have his Nobles and mightiest of his friends from him and to us all no little danger to suffer and especially our ill willers to grow into great authority with the King in youth namely which is light of beliefe and soone perswaded Yee remember that King Edward himselfe albeit he was both of age and discretion yet was he ruled in many things by that faction more then stood ther with his honour or our profit or with the commodity of any man else except onely the immoderate advancement of themselves which whether they thirsted sore after their owne weale or no it were hard I thinke to guesse And if some folkes friendship had not holden better place with the King then any respect of kindred they might peradventure easely have trapped and brought to confusion some of us ere this and why not as easely as they have done others or this as neere of the Bloud Royall but our Lord hath wrought his will and thanked be his grace that perill is past howbeit as great is growing if wee suffer this young King in his enemies hands which without his witting might abuse the name of his commandement to any of our undoing which things God and our good provision forbid of which good provision none of us have any thing the lesse need for the late attonement made in which the Kings pleasure had more place then the parties hearts or wills nor none of us is so unwise or so much overseene as to trust a new friend made of an old foe or to thinke that any onely kindenesse so sodainly contracted in an houre continued scantly yet a fortnight should be deeper set in our stomackes then a long accustomed malice many yeeres rooted With these perswasions and writings the Duke of Gloucester set on fire them which were easie to kindle and especially two Henry Duke of Buckingham and William Lord Hastings and Lord Chamberlaine both men of honour and of great power the one by long succession from his Ancestors the other by his Offices and the Kings favour These two not bearing each to other so much love as hatred both to the Queenes bloud accorded together with the Duke of Gloucester that they would remove from the King all his Mothers friends under the name of their enemies Whereupon the Duke of Gloucester being advertised that the Lords about the King intended to bring him to London to his Coronation accompanied with such a number of their friends that it should be hard for him to bring his purpose to passe without the assembling and gathering of people and in manner of open warre wherof the end he knew was doubtfull and in the which the King being on the other side his part should have the name and face of Rebellion He secretly therefore by divers meanes caused the Queene to be peâ—swaded that it was neither need and should also be dangerous for the King to come up so strong for as now every Lord loved other and no other thing studied for but the triumph of his Coronation and honour of the King And if the Lords about the King should assemble in the Kings name much people they should give the Lords betwixt whom and them there had beene some time debate an occasion to feare and suspect lest they should gather this people not for the Kings safe-guard whom no man impugned but for their destruction having more regard to their old variance then to their new atonement for the which cause they on the other part might assemble men also for their defence whose powers shee knew well stretched farre and thus should all the Realme fall in an uproare and of the mischief that thereof should ensue which was likely to be not a little the most harme was like to fall where she least would and then all the World would put her and her kindred in the blame saying That they had unwisely and untruly broken the amity and peace which the King her Husband had so prudently made between her kindred and his which amity his Kinne had alwayes observed The Queene being thus perswaded sent word to the King and to her Brother that there was no cause nor need to assemble any peope and also the Duke of Gloucester and other Lords of his side wrote unto the King so reverently and to the Queenes friends there so lovingly that they nothing earthly mistrusting brought the King toward London with a sober company in great haste but not in good speed till hee came to Northampton and from thence hee removed to Stony Stratford On which day the two Dukes and their traine came to Northampton faigning that Stony Stratford could not lodge them all where they found the Earle Rivers intending the next morning to have followed the King and to bee with him early in the morning So that night the Dukes made to the Earl Rivers friendly cheere but as soone as they were departed very familiar with great courtesie in open sight and the Earle Rivers lodged the two Dukes with a few of their privie friends fell to Councell wherein they spent a great part of the night and in the dawning of the day they sent about privily to their servants in their lodgings to haste to horsebacke for their Lords were in manner ready to ride whereupon all their servants were ready ere the Lord Rivers servants were awake Now had the Dukes taken the keyes of the Inne into their possession so that none should issue out without their consent And over this in the high way toward Stony Stratford they set certaine of their folkes that should cause and compell to returne againe all persons that were passing from Northampton to Stony Stratford saying that the Dukes themselves would be the first that should come to the King from Northampton thus they bare folks in hand But when the Earle Rivers understood the Gates closed and the wayes on every side beset neither his servants neither himselfe suffered to goe out perceiving so great a thing without his knowledge not begun for nought comparing this present doing
leave to Gods Judgement Hee was no evill Captaine in warre as to the which his disposition was more inclined then to peace Sundry Victories he had and some Overthrowes but never for default of his owne person either for lacke of hardinesse or politicke order Free hee was of his exspences and somewhat above his power liberall with large gifts he gat him unstedfast friendship for which cause he was faine to borrow pill and extort in other places which gat him stedfast hatred Hee was close and secret a deep dissembler lowly of countenance arrogant of heart outwardly familiar where he inwardly hated not letting to kisse whom he thought to kill spitefull and cruell not alway for ill will but oftner for ambition and to serve his purpose friend and foe were all indifferent where his advantage grew hee spared no mans death whose life withstood his purpose He slew in the Tower King Henry the Sixth saying Now is there no Heire male of King Edward the third but we of the House of Yorke which murder was done without King Edward his assent which would have appointed that butcherly office to some other rather then to his owne Brother Some Wise men also thinke that his drift lacked not in helping forth his owne Brother of Clarence to his death which thing in all appearance he resisted although hee inwardly minded it And the cause thereof was as men noting his doings and proceedings did marke because that he long in King Edwards time thought to obtaine the Crown in case that the King his Brother whose life he looked that ill dyet would soone shorten should happen to decease as he did indeed his children being young And then if the Duke of Clarence had lived his pretensed purpose had been farre hindered For if the Duke of Clarence had kept himselfe true to his Nephew the young King every one of these casts had bin a Trumpe in the Duke of Gloucesters way but when he was sure that his Brother of Clarence wat dead then hee knew that hee might worke without that danger But of these points there is no certainety and whosoever divineth or conjectureth may as well shoot too farre as too short but this conjecture afterward tooke place as few doe as you shall perceive hereafter But before I declare to you how this Richard Duke of Gloucâ—ster began his mischievous imagined and pretended enterprise as apparently shall be opened I must a little put you in remembrance of a loving and charitable act no lesse profitable then pleasing to the whole Commonalty if it had bin so inwardly thought as it was outwardly dissembled which King Edward did lying on his death bed not long before he dyed For in his life although that the division amongst his friends somewhat grieved and vexed him yet in his health he lesse regarded and tooke heed to it by reason that he thought that he was able in all things to rule both parties were they never so obstinate But in his last sicknesse which continued longer then false and fantasticall tales have untruly and falsely surmised as I my selfe that wrote this Pamphlet truely knew when hee perceived his naturall strength was gone and hoped little of recovery by the arts of all his Physicians which he perceived onely to prolong his life Then he began to consider the youth of his Children howbeit hee nothing lesse mistrusted then that that hapned yet he wisely foreseeing and considering that many harmes might ensue by the debate of his Nobles while the youth of his children should lack discretion and good counsell of their friends for hee knew well that every part would worke for their owne commodity and rather by pleasant advice to win themselves favour then by profitable advertisement to doe the Children good wherefore lying on his death bed at Westminster hee called to him such Lords as then were about him whom hee knew to be at variance especially the Lord Marquesse Dorset son to the Queen and the Lord Hastings against whom the Queene especially grudged for the favour that the King bare him and also she thought him familiar with the King in wanton company her Kin bare him envy aswell for that the King made him Captaine of Calice which office the Lord Rivers Brother to the Queene claimed of the King by his former promise as of divers other gifts which hee received that they looked for And when these Lords with divers other of both parties were come unto the Kings presence he caused himselfe to be raised up with pillowes and as I can guesse said thus or much like in sentence to them My Lords my deare kinsmen and allies in what plight I now lye you see and I perfitly feele by the which I look the lesse while to live with you therefore the more deeply I am moved to care in what case I leave you for such as I leave you such are my children like to finde you which if they should finde at variance as God forbid they themselves might hap to fall at warre ere their discretion would serve to set you at peace You see their youth of which I reckon the onely surety to rest in your concord For it sufficeth not all you to love them if each of you hate other If they were men your faithfulnesse might hap to suffice but childhood must bee maintained by mens authority and slippery youth underpropped with elder counsell which they can never have except you give it nor you give it except you agree for where each laboureth to breake that the other maketh and for hatred each impugneth others counsell there must needes be a long tract ere any good conclusion can issue And further while each partie laboureth to be chiefe flatterer adulation shall then have more place then plaine and faithfull advice of which must needes ensue the evill bringing up of the Prince whose minde in tender youth infected shall readily fall to mischiefe and riot and draw downe this Noble Realme to ruine But if grace turne him to wisedome which God send him then they which by evill meanes pleased him best shall after fall farthest out of favour so that at the length evill drifts drive to naught and good plaine wayes prosper and flourish Great variance hath beene betweene you not alwayes for great causes Sometime a thing right well intended and misconstrued hath beene turned to the worse or a small displeasure done to you either by your owne affection or by instigation of evill tongues hath beene sorely aggravated But this I know wel you had never so great cause of hatred as you have of love because wee be all men and that we be all Christian men This I will leave to Preachers to tell you and yet I know not whether any Preachers words ought more to move you then I that am going by and by to the place that they alpreach of But this shall I desire of you to remember that the one part of you being of my bloud the
with the last nights cheere in so few houres so great a change marvellously misliked it Howbeit sith hee could not get away hee determined not to keepe himselfe close lest hee should seeme to hide himselfe for some secret feare of his owne fault whereof he saw no such cause in himselfe wherefore on the surety of his owne conscience hee determined to goe to them and to inquire what this matter might meane Whom as soone as they saw they began to quarrell with him affirming that he pretended to set distance betweene the King and them to bring them to confusion which should not lye in his power and when he began as he was an eloquent and well-spoken man in goodly wise to excuse himselfe they would not heare his answer but tooke him by force and put him in ward And then they mounted on horsebacke and came in haste to Stony Stratford where the King was going to horsebacke because hee would leave the lodging for them for it was too straight for both the companies And when they came to his presence they alighted and their company about them and on their knees saluted him and hee them gently received nothing earthly knowing nor mistrusting as yet The Duke of Buckingham said aloud On afore Gentlemen and Yeomen keepe your roomes and therewith in the Kings presence they picked a quarrell to the Lord Richard Grey the Queenes sonne and Brother to the Lord Marquesse and halfe Brother to the King saying that hee and the Marquesse his Brother and the Lord Rivers his Uncle had compassed to rule the King and the Realme and set variance betweene the estates and to subdue and destroy the Noble Bloud of the Realme And toward the accomplishment of the same they said the Lord Marquesse had entred into the Tower of London and thence had taken out treasure and sent men to the Sea which things these Dukes knew well were done for a good purpose and as very necessary appointed by the whole Counsell at London but somewhat they must say Unto the which words the king answered what my Brother Marquesse hath done I cannot say but in good faith I dare well answer for my Uncle Rivers and my Brother here that they bee innocent of such matters Yea my Liege quoth the Duke of Buckingham they have kept the dealing of these matters farre from the knowledge of your good Grace And forth-with they arrested the Lord Richard and Sir Thomas Vaughan and Sir Richard Hawte knights in the Kings presence and brought the King and all backe to Northampton where they tooke farther counsell in their affaires And there they sent from the King whom it pleased them and set about him such servants as better pleased them then him At which dealing he wept and was not content but it booted not And at dinner the Duke of Gloucester sent a dish from his owne Table to the Lord Rivers praying him to be of good cheere and all should be well hee thanked him and prayed the Messenger to beare it to his Nephew the Lord Richard with like words whom he knew to have need of comfort as one to whom such adversity was strange but hee himselfe had beene alwayes enured therewith and therefore could beare it the better But for all this message the Duke of Gloucester sent the Lord Rivers the Lord Richard and Sir Thomas Vaughan and Sir Richard Hawte into the North parts into divers prisons but at last all came to Pomfret where they all foure were beheaded without judgement In this manner as you have heard the Duke of Gloucester tooke on him the Governance of the young King whom with much reverence hee conveighed towards London These tydings came hastily to the Queene before midnight by a very sore report that the King her sonne was taken and that her Brother and her other son and other her friends were arrested and sent no man knew whither With this heavie tidings the Queene bewailed her childs ruine her friends mischance and her owne misfortune cursing the time that ever she was perswaded to leave the gathering of people to bring up the King with a great power but that was passed and therefore now she tooke her younger sonne the Duke of Yorke and her daughter and went out of the Palace of Westminster into the Sanctuary and there lodged in the Abbots place and shee and all her children and company were registred for Sanctuary persons The same night there came to Doctor Rotheram Archbishop of Yorke and Lord Chancelour a messenger from the Lord Chamberlaine to Yorke place beside Westminster the Messenger was brought to the Bishops Bed side and declared to him that the Dukes were gone back with the young King to Northampton and declared further that the Lord Hastings his master sent him word that hee should feare nothing for all should be well Well quoth the Archbishop be it as well as it will it will never be so well as wee have seene it and then the messenger departed Whereupon the Bishop called up all his servants and tooke with him the great Seale and came before day to the Queen about whom hee found much heavinesse rumble haste businesse conveyance and carriage of her stuffe into Sanctuary every man was busie to carry beare and convey stuffe chests and fardels no man was unoccupied and some carried more then they were commanded to another place The Queene sat alone below on the Rushes all desolate and dismaid whom the Archbishop comforted in the best manner that he could shewing her that the matter was nothing so sore as she took it for and that hee was put in good hope and out feare by the message sent to him from the Lord Hastings A woe worth him quoth the Queene for it is hee that goeth about to destroy me and my bloud Madame quoth he be of good comfort and I assure you if they crowne any other King then your sonne whom they now have we shall on the morrow crowne his Brother whom you have here with you And here is the Great Seale which in likewise as your Noble Husband delivered it to mee so I deliver it to you to the use of your Son therewith delivered her the Great Seale and departed home in the dawning of the day And when hee opened his windowes and looked on the Thames hee might see the River full of Boats of the Duke of Gloucester his servants watching that no person should goe to Sanctuary nor none should passe unsearched Then was there great rumour and commotion in the Citie and in other places the people diversly divined upon this dealing And divers Lords Knights and Gentlemen either for favour of the Queene or for feare of themselves assembled companies and went stocking together in harnesse And many also for that they recounted this demanour attempted not so specially against other Lords as against the King himselfe in disturbance of his Coronation therefore they assembled by and by together to commune of this matter
were come together in presence the Cardinall shewed unto her that it was thought to the Lord Protectour and the whole Councell that her keeping of the Kings Brother in that place highly sounded not onely to the grudge of the people and their obloquy but also to the importable griefe and displeasure of the Kings Royall Majesty to whose Grace it were a singular comfort to have his naturall Brother in company and it was to both their dishonours and hers also to suffer him in Sanctuary as though the one Brother stood in danger and perill of the other And hee shewed her farther that the whole Councell had sent him to require of her the delivery of him that hee might bee brought to the Kings presence at his liberty out of that place which men reckoned as a prison and there should he be demeaned according to his estate and degree and she in this doing should both do great good to the Realme pleasure to the Councell profit to her selfe succour to her friends that were in distresse and over that which he knew well shee specially tendred not onely great comfort and honour to the King but also to the young Duke himselfe both whose great weale it were to be together aswel for many greater causes as also for both their disport and recreation which things the Lords esteemed not light though it seemed light well pondering that their youth without recreation and play cannot endure nor any stranger for the convenience of both their ages and estates so meet in that point for any of them as the either of them for the other My Lord quoth the Queen I say not nay but that it were very convenient that this Gentleman whom you require were in the company of the King his Brother and in good faith me thinketh it were as great commodity to them both as for yet a while to be in the custody of their Mother the tender age considered of the elder of them both but especially the younger which besides his infancie that also needeth good looking to hath a while beene so sore diseased with sicknesse and is so newly rather little amended then well recovered that I dare put no person earthly in trust with his keeping but my selfe onely considering there is as Physicians say and as wee also finde double the perill in the resiluation that was in the first sicknesse with which disease Nature being sore laboured forewearied and weakned waxeth the lesse able to beare out a new surfeit And albeit there might bee found other that would haply doe their best unto him yet is there none that either knoweth better how to order him then I that so long have kept him or is more tenderly like to cherish him then his owne Mother that bare him No man denyeth good Madame quoth the Cardinall that your Grace of all folke were most necessary about your children and so would all the Councell not onely be content but also glad that it were if it might stand with your pleasure to be in such place as might stand with their honour But if you appoint your selfe to tarry here then thinke they it more convenient the Duke of Yorke were with the King honourably at his liberty to the comfort of them both then here as a Sanctuary man to both their dishonors and obloquy sith there is not alway so great necessity to have the child with the Mother but that occasion sometime may be such that it should be more expedient to keep him elsewhere which in this well appeareth that at such time that your most dearest sonne then Prince and now King should for his honour and good order of the Country keepe houshold in Wales farre out of your keeping your Grace was well content therewith your selfe Not very well content quoth the Queene and yet the case is not like for the one was then in health the other is now sicke in which case I marvell greatly why my Lord Protector is so desirous to have him in keeping where if the childe in his sicknesse miscarried by nature yet might hee run into slander and suspition of fraud And they call it a thing so sore against my childes honour and theirs also that hee abideth in this place it is all their honours there to suffer his abode where no man doubteth hâ— shaâ—l be best kept and that is heere while I am here which as yet intend not to come forth and danger my selfe after other my friends which would God were rather here in surety with me then I were there in danger with them Why Madame quoth the Lord Howard know you any thing why they should bee in danger Nay verily quoth she nor why they should be in prison neither as they now be but I trow it is no great marvell though I feare lest those that have not letted to put them in durance without colour will let as little to procure their destruction without cause The Cardinall made a countenance to the Lord Howard that he should harpe no more upon that string and then said hee to the Queene that he nothing doubted but those Lords of her kinne the which remained under arrest should upon the matter examined doe well enough and as toward her Noble person neither was nor could be any manner of danger Whereby should I trust that quoth the Queene in that I am guiltlesse as though they were guilty in that I am with their enemies better beloved then they when they hate them for my sake in that I am so neere to the King and how farre be they off that would helpe as God send Grace they hurt not And therefore as yet I purpose not to depart hence As for this Gentleman my son I minde he shall bee where I am till I see further for I see some men so greedy without any substantiall cause to have him which maketh mee much more warie and scrupulous to deliver him Truly Madame quoth the Cardinall the further that yee bee to deliver him the further be other men to suffer you to keepe him lest your causelesse feare might cause you farther to conveigh him and many thinke he can here have no priviledge which can have neither will to aske it nor yet malice or offence to need it And therefore they reckon no priviledge broken although they fetch him out of Sanctuary which if you finally refuse to deliver him I thinke verily the Councell will enfranchise him so much dread hath my Lord his Uncle for the tender love he beareth him lest your Grace should send him away Ah quoth the Queene hath hee so tender a zeale to him that hee feareth nothing but lest hee should escape him Thinketh hee that I would send him hence which is neither in the plight to send out and in what place could I reckon him sure if he be not sure in this Sanctuary whereof was there never Tyrant yet so devillish that durst attempt to breake the priviledge and I trust God is now as strong
one safe and both be sure and nothing to both more perilous then both to be in one place for a wise Merchant never adventureth all his goods in one Ship All this notwithstanding here I deliver him and his Brother in him to keepe to your hands of whom I shall aske them both before God and the world Faithfull you be and that I know well and I know you be wise and of power and strength if you list to keep him for you lacke no helpe of your selves nor need to lacke no helpe in this case and if you cannot else-where then may you leave him here But onely one thing I beseech you for the trust that his Father put you in ever and for the trust I put you in now that as far as you thinke that I feare too much yee bee well ware that you feare not too little And therewithall she said to the Childe Farewell mine owne sweet Sonne God send you good keeping let me once kisse you ere you goe for God knoweth when we shall kisse together againe and therewith she kissed him and blessed him and turned her backe and wept going her way leaving the poore innocent childe weeping as fast as the Mother When the Cardinall and the other Lords had received the young Duke they brought him into the Star-Chamber where the Protector tooke him into his armes and kissed him with these words now welcome my Lord with all my very heart and hee said in that of likelihood even as hee inwardly thought and thereupon forthwith brought him to the King his Brother into the Bishops Palace at Pauls and from thence through the Citie honorably into the Tower out of which after that day they never came abroad When the Protector had both the children in his possession yea and that they were in a sure place he then began to thirst to see the end of his enterprise And to avoid all suspition hee caused all the Lords which hee knew to be faithfull to the King to assemble at Baynards Castle to commune of the order of the Coronation while he and other of his complices and of his affinity at Crosbies Place contrived the contrary and to make the Protectour King to which Councell there were adhibited very few and they very secret Then began here and there some muttering amongst the people as though all things should not long be well though they knew not what they feared nor wherefore were it that before such great things mens hearts of a secret instinct of Nature misgive them as the South wind sometime swelleth of it selfe before a Tempest or were it that some one man haply somewhat perceiving filled many men with suspition though hee shewed few men what he knew howbeit the dealing it selfe made men to muse on the matter though the Councel were close for by little and littâ—e all folke drew from the Tower where the King was and drew to Crosbies Place so that the Protector had all the resort the King was in manner desolate While some made suit unto them that had the doing some of them were by their friends secretly warned that it might haply turn to no good to them to be too much attendant on the King without the Protectors appointment which removed diverse of the kings old servants from him and set new in their places about him Thus many thinges comming together partly by chance and partly by purpose caused at length not common people onely which waver with the wind but wise men also and some Lords to marke the matter and muse therupon insomuch that the Lord Stanley which afterward was Earle of Derby wisely mistrusted it and said to the Lord Hastings that he much misliked these two severall Councels for while we quoth he talke of one matter at the one place little know we whereof they talke in the other peace my Lord quoth the Lord Hastings on my life never doubt you for while one man is there which is never thence neither can there bee any thing once minded that should sound amisse towards me but it should be in my eares as soone as out of their mouths This hee meant by Catesby which was neere of his seeret counsell and whom hee most familiarly used in his weighty matters putting no man in so speciall trust as hee reckoning himselfe to bee beloved of no man more then he knowing well that there was no man so much beholding to him as was this Catesby which was a man well learned in the lawes of this Realme and by the speciall favour of the Lord Hastings in good authority and bore much rule in the countries of Leicester Northampton where the Lord Hastings power lay But surely great pittie was it that he had not more thruth or lesse wit for his dissimulation onely kept all that mischiefe up in whom if the Lord Hastings had not put so speciall trust the L. Stanley and he with divers other Lords had departed into their countries and broken all the dance for many evill signes that hee saw which hee now constructed all for the best so â—urely thought he that there couâ—d be no harme intended towaâ—ds him in that councill where Catesby was And of tâ—uth the Protector and the Duke of Buckingham did seeme to shew very much countenance unto the Lord Hastings and kept him often in their company And undoubtedly the Protector loved him well and loth he was to have lost him saving for feare lest his life should have quailed their purpose for the which cause hee moved Catesby to prove with some words cast out afarre off whether hee could thinke it possible to winne the Lord Hastings to their part But Catesby whether hee assayed him or assayed him not reported unto him that hee found him so fast and heard him speake so terrible words that he durst no further breake unto him and of a truth the Lord Hastings of very trust shewed unto Catesby the mistrust that others began to have in the matter And therefore he fearing least their motions might with the Lord Hastings diminish his credit whereunto onely all the matter leaned procured the Protectour hastily to rid him and much the rather for he trusted by his death to obtaine much of the rule which the Lord Hastings bare in his countrey the onely desire whereof was the the thing that induced him to bee procurer and one of the specialest contrivers of all this horrible treason Whereupon the Lord Protector caused a Councell to bee set at the Tower on the friday the thirteenth day Iune where was much communing for the honorable solemnitie of the Coronation of the which the time appointed approached so neare that the Pageants were a making day and night at Westminster and vitailes killed which afterwards was cast away These Lords thus sitting communing of this matter the Protector came in among them about nine of the clocke saluting them curteously excusing himselfe that hee had beene from them so long saying merrily that he
as they had beene turned into stones for wonder of this shamefull Sermon after which once ended the Preacher gat him home and never after durst looke out for shame but kept him out of sight as an owle and when hee asked any of his old friends what the people talked of him although that his owne conscience will shew him that they talked no good yet when the other answered him that there was in every mans mouth of him much shame spoken it so strooke him to the heart that in few dayes after hee withered away Then on the Tuesday after next following this Sermon being the seventeenth day of Iune there came to Guild Hall London the Duke of Buckingham and divers Lords and Knights more then happily knew the message that they brought And at the East end of the Hall where the Hoystings be kept the Duke and the Major and the other Lords sate downe and the Aldermen also all the commons of the Citty being assembled and standing before them After silence commanded upon a great paine in the Protectours name The Duke stood up and as hee was well learned and of nature marvelously well spoken he said to the people with a cleare and a loud voyce Friends for the the zeale and hearty favour that we bare you we bee come to breake off a matter right great and weightie and no lesse weightie then pleasing to God and profitable to the Realme nor to no part of the Realme more profitable then to you the Citizens of this noble Citie For why the thing that you have long lacked and as we well know sore longed for that you would have gone farre to fetch that thing we be come hither to bring you without your labour paine cost adventure or danger What thing is that Certainely the surety of your owne bodies the quiet of your wives and daughters and the safegard of your wives and daughters and the safegard of your goods Of all which things in times past you stood in doubt For who was hee of you all that could reckon himselfe Lord of his owne goods amongst so many gynnes and trappes as were set for them among so much pilling and polling among so many taxes and talliages of the which there was never end and often times no neede or if any were it grew rather of riot or of unreasonable wast then any necessary honorable chaâ—ge so that there was daily plucked and pilled from good and honest men great substance of goods to bee lashed out among unthrifts so farre forth that fifteenes sufficed not nor any usuall termes of knowne taxes but under an easie name of benevolence and good will the commissioners tooke so much of every man as no man would with his good will have given As though the name of benevolence had signified that every man should pay not what he of himselfe of his good will list to grant but what the King of his good will list to take who never asked little but every thing was haunsed above the measure amercements turned into fines fines into treason where I thinke that no man looketh that wee shall remember you of examples by name as though Burdet were forgotten which was for a word spoken in haste cruelly beheaded This Burdet was a Merchant dwelling in Cheapeside at the signe of the Crowne which now is the signe of the Flower-de-luce over against Soper-lane This man merily in the ruffling time of King Edward the fourths raigne said to his owne sonne that hee would make him inheritor of the Crowne meaning his owne house but these words King Edward made to be misconstrued and interpreted that Burdet meant the Crowne of the Realme wherfore within lesse space then foure houres he was apprehended judged drawne and quartered in Cheapeside by the misconstruing of the lawes of the Realme for the Princes pleasure with no lesse honour to Markam chiefe Justice then which lost his office rathen then hee would assent to that judgement What neede I to speake of sir Thomas Cooke Alderman and Mayor of this noble Cittie who is of you either for negligence that wotteth not or so forgetfull that hee remembreth not or so hard-hearted that he pittieth not that worshipfull mans losse what speake I of losse his wonderfull spoyle and undeserved destruction onely because it happened him to favour them whom the Prince favored not We need not rehearse of these any more by name sith I doubt not that here be many present that either in themselves or their nigh friends aswell their goods as their persons were greatly endangered either by fained quarrells or small matters aggravated with hainous names and also there was no crime so great of which there could lacke a pretext For sith the King preventing the time of his inheritance attained the Crowne by battell it sufficed in a rich man for a pretext of treason to have beene of kinred or aliance neere of familiaritie or longer of acquaintance with any of those that were at any time the Kings enemies which was at one time or another more then halfe the Realm Thus were neither your goods nor lands in surety and yet they brought your bodies in jeopardie besides the common adventure of open warre which albeit that it is ever the will and occasion of much mischiefe yet it is never so mischievous as where any people fall in division 〈◊〉 distance among theâ—selves and in no Realme earthly so deadly and so pesâ—ilent as when it happeneth amongst us And among us never contiued so long dissention nor so many battels in any season nor so cruell nor so deadly fought as were in the Kings daies that is dead In whose time and by whose occasion what about the getting of the Garland keeping it leesing and winning it againe it hath cost more English blood then hath the twice winning of France In which inward war amongst our selves hath beene so great effusion of the ancient noble blood of this Realme that scarcely the halfe remaineth to the great enfeebling of this noble land besides many a good towne ransaked and spoyled by them that have been going to the field or returning from thence and peace after not much surer then warre So that no time was there in the which rich men for their money and great men for their lands or some other for some feare or for some displeasure were out of perill For whom trusted hee that mistrusted his owne brother Whom spared hee that killed his owne Brother Could not such manner of folke that he most favoured doe somewhat wee shall for his honour spare to speake howbeit this you know well all that whoso was best bare ever the least rule and more suite in his dayes was to Shores wife a vile and abominable strumpet then to all the Lords in England except unto those that made her their Protector which simple woman was yet well named and honest till the King for his wanton lust and sinfull affection bereft her of her Husband a right
honest man and substantiall amongst you And in that point which in good faith I am sory to speake of saving that it is vaine to keepe in Counsell that thing that all men knowe the Kings greedy appetite was insatiable and every where over all the Realme intolerable For no woman was there any where young or old poor or rich whom he set his eye upon whom hee any thing liked either for person or beauty speech pace or countenance but without any feare of God or respect of his Honour murmure or grudging of the world hee would importunately pursue his appetite and have her to the great destruction of many a good woman and great dolour to their husbands and friends which being honest people of themselves so much regarded the cleannesse of their houses the chastity of their wives and children that they had rather lose all that they had besides then to have such a villany done to them And albeit that with this and other importable dealing the Realme was in every place annoyed yet specially you the Citizens of this Nobility as for that amongst you is most plenty of such things as minister matter to such injuries as for that you were neerest hand sith that neere here about was his most common abiding And yet be yee a people whom he had as singular a cause well and truly to intreat as any part of his Realme not onely for that the Prince by this Noble Citie as of his speciall Chamber and renouned Citie of this Realme receiveth much honourable fame amongst all other Nations but also for that you not without your great cost and sundry favours and dangers in all his warres bare ever your especiall favour to his part which your kinde mindes borne to the house of Yorke sith hee hath nothing worthily requirid you there is of the house now which by Gods grace shall make you full recompence which thing to shew you is the whole summe and effect of our arrand It shall not neede I hope to rehearse unto you againe that you have already heard of him that can better tell it and of whom I am sure ye will better beleeve it and reason it is that it should bee so I am not so proud to looke therefore that you should receive my words of so great authority as the Preachers of the word of God namely a man so cunning and so wise that no man knoweth better what hee should doe and say and thereto so good and vertuous that he would not say the thing which hee ought not to say in the pulpit namely into the which no honest man commeth to lie which honorable preacher ye well remember substantially declared to you at Paules Crosse on Sunday last past the right and title of the most excellent Prince Richard Duke of Gloucester now Protector of this his Realme which he hath unto the Crowne of the Kingdome of the same For that worshipfull man made it perfectly and groundedly open unto you The children of King Edward the fourth were never lawfully begotten for as much as the King leaving his very wife Dame Elizabeth Lucy was never lawfully married to the Queene their mother whose blood saving hee set his voluptuous pleasure before his honour was full unmeetly to bee matched with his the mingling of which two bloods together hath beene the effusion of a great part of the noble blood of this Realme whereby it may well be seene that marriage was not well made of which there is so much mischiefe growne For lacke of which lawfull copulation and also of other things which the said worshipfull Doctor rather signified then fully explained and which thing shall not be spoken for me as the thing that every man forbeareth to say that hee knoweth in avoiding the displeasure that my noble Lord Protector bearing as nature requireth a filiall reverence to the Dutches his Mother For these causes before remembred I say that for lacke of issue lawfully comming of the late noble Prince Richard Duke of Yorke to whose Royall blood the Crownes of England and of France are by the high authority of a parliament entailed the right and title of the same is by just course of inheritance according to the common law of this land devolved and come unto the most excellent Prince the Lord Protector as to the very lawfull begotten sonne of the fore-remembred noble Duke of Yorke Which thing well considered and the knightly prowesse with many vertues which in his noble person singularly doe abound The Nobles and Commons of this Realme and specially of the North parts not willing any bastard blood to have the rule of the land nor theabuses in the same before used and exercised any longer to continue have fully condescended and utterly determined to make humble petition unto the puisant Prince the Lord Protector that it may like his grace at our humble request to take upon him the guiding government of this Realme to the wealth and increase of the same according to his very right and just title which thing I know well hee will bee loth to take upon him as he whose wisedome well perceiveth the labour and study both of mind and body that shall come therewith to him whosoever shall occupy that rome I dare say he will if he take it for I warrant you that that roome is no childes office and that the great wise man well perceived when he said Vae regno cujus Rex puer est woe to that Realme whose King is a child wherefore so much the more cause have we to thanke God that this noble personage which is so righteously entituled thereto is of so solid age and thereto of so great wisedome joyned with so great experience which albeit he will bee loth as I have said to take upon him yet shall hee to our petition in that behalfe the more graciously inclin if ye the worshipfull Citizens of this Cittie being the cheife cittie of the Realme joyne with us the nobles in our said request which for your owne weale we doubt not but that ye will And yet neverthelesse wee pray yoâ— so to doe whereby ye shall doe great profit to all this his Realme Beside that in choosing them so good a King it shall bee to your selfe a speciall commoditie to whom his Majestie shall ever after beare so much the more tender favour in how much hee shall perceive you the more prone and benevolently minded towards his election wherein deare friends what minde ye have we require you plainely to shew us When the Duke had said and looked that the people whom he hoped that the Mayor had framed before should after this flattering proposition made have cried King Richard King Richard all was still and mute and not one word answered unto wherewith the Duke was marvellously abashed and taking the Major neere to him with other that were about him privie to the matter said unto them softly What meaneth this that the people be so still
Sir quoth the Major perhaps they perceive you not well that shall we amend quoth he if that will helpe and therewith somewhat lowder rehearsed the same matter againe in other and other words so well and orderly and neverthelesse so evidently and plaine with voice gesture and countenance so comely and so convenient that every man much marvelled that heard him and thought that they never heard in their lives so evill a tale so well told But were it for feare or that each looked that other should speake first not one word was there answered of all the people that stood before but all were as still as the midnight not so much as whispering among them by which they might seeme once to commune what was best to doe When the Major saw this hee with other partners of the Councell drew about the Duke and said that the people had not beene accustomed there to be spoken unto but by the Recorder which is the mouth the Citie and happily to him they will answer With that the Recorder called Thomas Fitz-William a solid man and an honest which was but newly come to the office and never had spoken to the people before and loth hee was with that matter to beginne notwithstanding being thereunto commanded by the Major made a rehearsall to the commons of that which the Duke had twice proposed himselfe but the Recorder so tempered his tale that hee shewed every thing as the Dukes words were and no part of his owne but all this made no change in the people which all as one stood as they had beene amased WhereupoÌ„ the Duke whispered with the Major and said this is a marvellous obstinate silence and therewith turned to the people againe with these words Deare friends wee come to move you to that thing which peradventure wee greatly needed not but that the Lords of this Realme and commons of other parts might have sufficed saving such love wee beare you and so much set by you that we would not gladly doe without you that thing in which to bee partners is your weale and honour which as to us seemeth you see not or weigh not Wherefore wee require you to give us an answer one or other whether ye be minded as all the Nobles of the Realme be to have this Noble Prince now Protector to be your King And at these words the people began to whisper among themselves secretly that the voyce was neither lowd nor base but like a swarme of bees till at the last at the nether end of the hall a company of the Dukes servants and one Nashfield others belonging to the Protector with some prentises and lads that thrusted themselves into the hall amongst the preasse began sodainely at mens backes to cry out as loude as they could King Richard King Richard and there threw up their cappes in token of joy and they that stood before cast backe their heads marvelling thereat but nothing they said And when the Duke and the Major saw this manner they wisely turned it to their purpose and said it was a goodly cry and a joyful to heare every man with one voyce and no man saying nay Wherefore friends quoth the Duke sith wee perceive that it is all your whole mindes to have this noble man for your King whereof wee shall make his grace so effectuall report that we doubt not but that it shall redound to your great wealth and commoditie Wee therefore require you that to morrow ye goe with us and we with you to his Noble Grace to make our humble Petition and request to him in manner before remmebred And therwith the Lords came downe and the company dissolved and departed the most part all sad some with glad semblance that were not very merry and some of them that came with the Duke not able to dissemble their sorrow were faine even at his back to turne their face to the wall while the dolour of their hearts brast out of their eyes Then on the morrow the Major and Aldermen and chiefe commanders of the Cittie in their best manner aparelled assembling them together at Pauls resorted to Baynards Castle where the Protector lay to which place also according to the appointment repaired the Duke of Buâ—kingham and divers nobles with him besides many Knights and Gentlemen And thereupon the Duke sent word to the Lord Protector of the being thereof a great honorable company to move a great matter to his Grace Wherupon the Protector made great difficultie to come downe to them except hee knew some part of their errand as though hee doubted and partly mistrusted the company of such a number to him so suddenly without any warning or knowledge whether they came for good or harme Then when the Duke had shewed this to the Major and others that they might thereby see how little the Protector looked for this matter they sent againe by the messenger such loving message and therewith so humbly besought him to vouchsafe that they might resort to his presence to propose their intent of which they would to no other person disclose any part At the last hee came out of his chamber and yet not downe to them but in a galery over them with a Bishop on each hand of him where they beneath might see him and speake to him as though he would not yet come neere them till hee knew what they meant And thereupon the Duke of Buckingham first made humble petition to him on the behalfe of them all that his grace would pardon them and licence them to shew unto his grace the intent of their comming without his displeasure without which pardon obtained they durst not bee so bold to moove him of that matter In which albeit they meant asmuch honour to his grace as wealth to all the Realme besids yet were they not sure how his grace would take it whom in no wise they would offend Then the Protector as he was very gentle of himselfe and also longed sore apparently to know what they meant gave him leave to deliver his message verily trusting for the good minde that hee bare unto them all none of them would intend any thing to his hurt wherewith hee thought to be grieved When the Duke had this leave and pardon to speak then waxed hee bold to shew him their intent and purpose with all the causes moving them thereunto as ye before have heard And finally to beseech his grace that it would like him of his accustomed goodnesse and zeale unto the Realme now with his eye of pitty to behold the long continued distresse and decay of the same and set his gracious hand to the redresse and amendment thereof by taking upon him the Crowne of the Realme according to his right and title lawfully descended unto him and to the laud of God profit and surety of the Land and unto his grace so much the more honour and lesse paine in that that never prince reigned upon any people that were so
or amend things that were past he determined by doing his dutie in all things to his commons to obliterate and put out of memorie that note of infamie with the which his fame was justly spotted and stayned and to cause the people to conceive so good an opinion of him that from thence forth no calamity nor trouble should bee adjudged to happen to the common wealth either by his negligence or by his misgovernment although it is difficile and strange shortly to turne and plucke out such qualities and usages as have of long time beene incorporated in a mans minde and rooted in his manners and conditions Therefore whether it was for the performance of his former intent of amendment or as common fame flew abroad that he tooke repentance of his mischievous acts and scelerate doings hee turned over the leafe and began an order of a new life and pretended to have the name of a good and vertuous man by the reason that hee shewed himselfe more just more meeker more familiar more liberall especially amongst the poore people then before hee had accustomed to doe and so by this meanes he firmely trusted first to obtaine of God forgivenesse of his offences and crimes and after to live and take away the enemy and inward grudge that the common people bare in their mindes towards him and in conclusion to obtaine their friendly love and assured favour Hee furthermore began and enterprised divers things as well publike as private the which hee being prevented by sodayne death did neither accomplish nor begin to conclusion for hee â—egan to found a Colledge of a hundred Priests which foundation with the founder shortly tooke an end To please the common people also hee in his high Court of Parliament enacted divers and sundry good lawes and profitable statutes and especially one against strangers and foren wrought wares not to bee transported into this Realme which commodious act for the common wealth if hee had lived hee had fully purposed to have advanced and set forward and put in execution But afterwards evidently it appeared to all persons that onely feare which is not a master long in office and in continuall authoritie and not justice caused King Richard at that very time to waxe better and amend his wicked and sinfull life for shortly after the goodnesse of the man which was but painted and fraudulent suddenly waxed cold and vanished away And from thenceforth not onely all his Councellors doings and proceeding suddenly decayed and resorted to none effect But also fortune began to frowne and turned her wheele downewards from him in so much that he lost his onely begotten sonne Edward in the third moneth after hee had created him Prince of Wales The second yeere of his Raigne ANd shortly after in his second yeere of his raigne hee was unquieted by conspiracie or rather a confederacy betweene the Duke of Buckingham and many other Gentlemen against him as yee shall heare But the occasion why the Duke and the King fell out is of diverse folke diversly pretended This Duke as you have heard before assoone as the Duke of Gloucester after the death of King Edward was come to Yorke and there had solemne funerall service done for King Edward sent to him a secret servant of his called Persall with such messages as you have heard before And after the Duke of Buckingham came with three hundred horse to Northampton and still continued with him as partner and chiefe organ of his devices till after his Coronation they departed seeming all to bee very good friends at Gloucester From whence assoone as the Duke came home hee so highly conspired against him that a man would marvell whereof the change grew in so short a space Some say this occasion was that a little before the Coronation the Duke required the King amongst other things to bee restored to the Earle of Herfords lands and forasmuch as the title which hee claymed by inheritance was somewhat interlaced with the title of Lancaster which house made a title to the Crowne and enjoyed the same three descents as all men knew till the house of Yorke deprived the third King which was Henry the sixt King Richard somewhat mistrusted and conceived such an indignation that he rejected the Dukes request with many spitefull and minatorie words which so wounded the Dukes heart with hatred and mistrust that hee could never after indure to looke right on King Richard but ever feared his owne life so farre forth that when the Protectour should ride to his Coronation hee feigned himselfe sicke because he would doe him no honour And the other taking it in evill part sent him word to rise and ride or hee would make him to be carried Whereupon gorgeously apparelled and sumptuously trapped with burning cart navos of gold embrodered he roade befoâ—e the King through London with an evill will and worse heart And that notwithstanding hee rose the day of the Coronation from the feast feining himselfe ficke whicâ— King Richard said was done in hate and dispight of him And therefore men said that each of them ever after lived continually in such hatred and distrust of other that the Duke looked verily to have beene murthered at Gloucester from which hee in faire manner departed but surely such as were right secret with both affirmed all this to be untrue and otherwise men thinke it unlikely the deepe dissembling nature of both these men well considered And what neede in that greene world the Protector had of the Duke and in what perill the Duke stood if hee fell once in suspition of that tyrant that either the Protectour would give the Duke occasion of displeasure or the Duke the Protectour occasion of mistrust And surely men thinke that if King Richard had any such opinion conceived in him hee would never have suffered him to avoide his hands or escape his power but very true it is that the Duke of Buckingham was an high minded man and ill could beare the glory of another so that I have heard of some that saw it that he at such time as the Crowne was set upon the Protectors head his eye could never abide the sight thereof but wryed his head another way but men said he was not well at ease and that was both to King Richard well knowne and well taken nor any demand of the Dukes request uncurteously rejected but gently deferred but both hee with great gifts and high behestes in most loving and trusty manner departed from the King to Gloucester Thus every man judged as he thought but soone after his comming home to Brecknocke having there by King Richards commandment Doctor Morton Bishop of Ely who before as you have heard was taken at the Councell at the Tower waxed with him very familiar whose only wisedome abused his pride to his own deliverance and the Dukes destruction The Bishop was a man of great naturall wit very well learned and of honorable behaviour lacking no wise waies to
my selfe have heard spoken and that upon great presumptions more times then once so againe by my ayde and favour hee of a Protectour was made a King and of a subject made a Governour at which time he promised mee upon his fidelitie laying his hand in mine at Baynards Castle that the two yong Princes should live and that hee would so provide for them and so maintaine them in honorable estate that I and all the Realme ought and should bee content But when he was once Crowned King and in full possession of the whole Realme he cast away his old conditions as the Adder doth his skinne verifying the old proverbe honours change manners as the Parish Priest remembreth not that he was ever Parish Clarke For when I my selfe sued to him for my part of the Earle of Hartfords lands which his brother King Edward wrongfully detyned and withheld from mee and also required to have the office of the high Constable ship of England as divers of my noble ancestors before this time have had and in long discent continued In this my first suite shewing his good minde towards me he did not onely first delay me and afterward deny me but gave me such unkind words with â—uch taunts and retaunts yea in manner checke and check mate to the uttermost proofe of my patience As though I had never furthered him but hindred him as though I had put him downe and not set him up yet al these ingratitudes undeserved unkindnesses I bare closely and suffer patiently and covertly remeÌ„bred outwardly dissembling that I inwardly thought and so with a painted countenance I passed the last summer in his last company not without many faire promises but without any good deedes But when I was credibly informed of the death of the two young innocents his owne naturall Nephewes contrary to his faith and promise to the which God bee my judge I never agreed nor condiscended O Lord how my veines panted how my body trembled and my heart inwardly grudged in so much that I so abhorred the sight and much more the company of him that I could no longer abide in his court except I should bee openly revenged The end whereof was doubtfull and so I fained a cause to depart and with a merry countenance and a dispightful heart I tooke my leave humbly of him hee thinking nothing lesse then that I was displeased and so returned to Brecknocke to you But in the journey as I returned whether it were by the inspiration of the holy Ghost or by Melancolous disposition I had divers and sundry imaginations how to deprive this unnaturall Vncle and bloody butcher from his royall seate and princely dignity First I fantasied that if I list to take upon me the Crowne and imperiall Scepter of the Realme now was the time fit and convenient For now was the way made plaine and the gate opened and occasion given which now neglected should peradventure never take such effect and conclusion For I saw hee was disdained of the Lords temporall execrate and accursed of the Lords spiritual detested of all gentlemen and despised of all the commonaltie So that I saw my chance as perfectly as I saw my owne Image in a glasse that there was no person if I had beene greedy to attempt the enterprise could nor should have won the ring or got the gole before me And on this point I rested in imagination secretly with my selfe two dayes at Teukesbury And from thence sojourning I mused thought it was not best nor convenient to take vpon me as a conquerour for then I knew that all men and especially the nobilitie would with all their power withstand me both for rescuing of possessions and tenours as also for subverting of the whole estate Lawes and Customes of the Realme Such a power hath a conquerour as you know well enough my Lord. But at the last in all this doubtfull case there sprang a new branch out of my head which surely I thought should have brought forth faire flowers but the sunne was so hot that they turned to dry weedes for I suddenly remembred that Lord Edmond Duke of Somerset my Grandfather was with King Henry the sixt in the second and third degrees from Iohn Duke of Lancaster lawfully begotten So that I thought sure my mother being eldest daughter to Duke Edmond that I was next to King Henry the sixt of the house of Lancastâ—r This title pleased well such as I made privie of my counsell but much more it encouraged my foolish desire and elevated my ambitious intent in so much that I clerely judged and in mine own minde was determinately resolved that I was indubitated heire of the house of Lancaster and thereupon concluded to make my first foundation and erect my new building But whether God so ordered or by fortune it so chanced while I was in a mase either to conclude sodainely on this title and to set it open amongst the common people or to keepe it secret a while see the chance as I rode betweene Worcester and Bridgnorth I encountered with the lady Margaret Countesse of Richmond now wife to the Lord Stanley which is the very daughter and sole heyre to Iohn Duke of Somerset my grandfathers elder brother Which was as cleane out of my minde as though I had never never seene her so that shee and her sonne the Earle of Richmond be both bulwarke and portcolice betweene and the gate to enter into the majesty royall and getting of the Crowne And when wee had communed a little concerning her sonne as I shall shew you after and were departed shee to our Lady of Worcester and I toward Shrewsbury I then new changed and in manner amased began to dispute with my selfe litle considering that thus my earnest was turned even to a tittle not woth esteeme Presently I imagined whether I were best to take upon me by the election of the nobilitie and commonaltie which me thought easie to be done the usurper King thus being in hatred and abhorred of this whole Realme or to take it by power which standeth in fortunes chance and difficile to bee atchieved and brought to passe Thus rumbling tossing in the waves of ambiguitie betweene the stone and sacrifice I considered first the office duty and paine of a King which surely thinke that no mortall man can justly and truely observe except hee bee called elected and specially appointed by God as King David and divers others have beene But further I remembred that if I once tooke on mee the Scepter and the governance of the Realme That of two extreame enemies I was daily sure but of one trusty friend which now adayes bee gone a pilgrimage I was neither assured nor credibly ascertained such is the worlds mutation for I manifestly perceived that the daughters of King Edward and their alies and friends which be no small number being both for his sake much beloved and also for the great injurie manifest tyranni done
as hee was King and in Royall possession of the Realme Reighnold Bray with a glad heart forgetting nothing hiven to him in charge in gread hast and with good speede returned to the Countesse his Lady and Mistresse When Bray was departed and this great dolefull vessell once set a broach the Bishop thrusting for nothing more then for liberty when he saw the Duke pleasant and well minded toward him told the Duke that if he were in his Isle of Ely hee could make many friends to further their enterprise and if he were there had but foure daies warning hee little regarded the malice of King Richard his countrey was so strong The Duke knew well all this to bee true but yet loth hee was that the Bishop should depart for he knew well that as long as the Bishop was with him hee was sure of politique advice sage councell and circumspect proceeding And so hee gave the Bishop faire words saying that hee should shortly depart and that wel accompanied for feare of enemies The Bishop being as wittie as the Duke was wilie did not tarry till the Dukes company were assembled but secretly disguised in a night departed to the Dukes great displeasure and came to his see of Ely where he found money and friends and so sayled into Flanders where he did the Earle of Richmond good service and never returned againe till the Earle of Richmond after being King sent for him and shortly promoted him to the See of Canterbury Thus the Bishop wound himselfe from the Duke when he had most neede of his ayde for if hee had tarried still the Duke had not made so many blabbes of his councell nor put so much confidence in the Welshmen nor yet so temerariously set forward without knowledge of his friends as hee did which things were his sodaine overthrow as they that knew it did report When Reighnald Bray had declared his message and privie instruction to the Countesse of Richmond his Mistrisse no marvell though she were joyous and glad both of the good newes and also for the obtaining of such a high friend in his sonnes cause as the Duke was wherefore shee willing not to slip this matter but to farther it to the uttermost of her power and abilitie devised a meanes how to breake this matter to Queene Elizabeth then being in sanctuary at Westminster And thereupon shee having in her family at that time for the preservation of her health a certaine Welshman called Lewes learned in Physicke which for his gravitie and experience was well known and much esteemed amongst great estates of the Realme with whom she used sometimes liberally and familiarly to talke now having oportunity and occasion to break her mind unto him of this weightie matter declared that the time was come that her sonne should bee joyned in marriage with Lady Elizabeth daughter and heire to King Edward and that King Richard being taken and reputed of all men for the common enemy of the Realme should out of all honour and estate bee dejected and of his rule and kingdome be clearely spoyled and expulsed and required him to go to Queene Elizabeth with whome in his facultie hee was of counsell not as a messenger but as one that came friendly to visite and consolate her and as time and place should require to make her privie of this device not as a thing concluded but as a purpose by him imagined This Physitian did not long linger to accomplish her desire but with good diligence repaired to the Queene being still in the sanctuary at Westminster And when hee saw time proper and convenient for his purpose hee said unto her Madam although my imagination bee very simple and my device more foolish yet for the entire affection that I beare towards you and your children I am so bold to utter unto you a secret and privie conceit that I have cast compassed in my fantasticall braine When I well remember and no lesse consider the great losse and dammage that you have sustayned by the death of your noble and loving husband and the great dolour and sorrow that you have suffered and tolerated by the cruell murther of your innocent children I can no lesse doe both of bounden duty and christian charity then daily study and hourely imagine not onely how to bring your heart to comfort gladnesse but also devise how to revenge the righteous quarrell of you and your children on that bloody blood-sucker and cruell tyrant King Richard And first consider what battell what manslaughter what mischiefe hath risen in this Realme by the dissention betweene the two noble houses of Yorke and Lancaster which two families as I have contrived if they may bee joyned in one I thinke yea and doubt not but your line shal be againe restored to the pristinate estate degree to your great joy and comfort and to the utter confusion of your mortal enemy the usurper King You know very wel madam that of house the of Lancaster the Earle of Richmond is nxet of blood which is living a lusty young bachelor to the house of Yorke your daughters now are heires if you could agree and invent the meanes how to couple your eldest daughter with thâ— young Earle of Richmond in matrimony no doubt but the usurper of the Realme should bee shortly deposed and your heire againe to her right restored When the Queene had heard this friendly motion which was as farre from her thought as the man that the rude people say is in the Moone Lord how her spirits revived and how her heart leapt in her body for joy and gladnesse And first giving laude to almighty God as the chiefe authour of her comfort secondly to Master Lewes the deviser of the good newes and tidings instantly besought him that as hee had beene the first inventer of so good an enterprise that now hee would not relinquish nor desist to follow the same desiring him further because hee was appertaining to the Countesse of Richmond mother to the Earle Henry that hee would with all diligence resort to her then lodging in her husbands place within the citie of London and to declare on the Queenes behalfe to the Countesse that all the friends and favourers of King Edward her husband should assist and take part with the Earle of Richmond her sonne so that he would take a corporall oath after the Kingdome obtained to espouse and take to wife the Lady Elizabeth her daughter or else Lady Cecile if the eldest daughter were not then living Master Lewes with all dexteritie so sped his businesse that he made and concluded a finall end and determination of this enterprise betweene the two mothers and because hee was a Physitian and out of all suspition and misdeeming hee was the common currer and daily messenger betweene them ayding and setting forth the invented conspiracie against King Richard So the Lady Margaret Countesse of Richmond brought into a good hope of the preferment oâ—
her sonne made Reyghnold Bray her most faithfull servant cheife soliciter and privie procurer of this conspiracie giving him in charge secretly to invegle and attract such persons of nobility to joyne with her and to take her part as hee knew to bee ingenious faithfull diligent and of activity This Reighnold Bray within few daies brought unto his lure first of all taking of every person a solemne oath to be true and secret sir Gyles Daubeney sir Iohn Cheiney knight Richard Guylford and Thomas Raine Esquiors and divers others The Countesse of Richmond was not so diligent for her part but Queene Elizabeth was as vigilant on the other side and made friends and appointed Councellers to set forward and advance her businesse In the meane season the Countesse of Richmond tooke into her service Christopher Vrswicke an honest and a wise Priest and after an oath of him for to bee secretly taken and sworne shee uttered to him all her mind councell adhibiting to him the more confidence and truth that he all his life had favoured and taken part with King Henry the sixt and as a speciall jewell put to her service by sir Lewes her Physitian So the mother studious for the prosperitie of her sonne appointed this Christopher Vrsewicke to saile into Britaine to the Earle of Richmond and to declare and to demonster to him all pacts and agreements betweene her and the Queene agreed and concluded But sudenly shee remembring that the Duke of Buckingham was one of the first inventers and a secret founder of this enterprise determined to send some personage of more estimation then her chaplaine and so elected Hugh Conway esquire and sent him into with a great some of money to her son giving him charge to declare to Earle the great love especiall favour that the most part of the nobilitie of the Realme bare towards him the benevoleÌ„t minds which the whole commonaltie frankly offered liberally exhibited to him willing advising him not to neglect so good an occasion apparently offered but with all speede diligence to addict and settle his minde full intention how to returne home againe into England where hee was both wished and looked for giving him farther monition and counsell to take land and arrivall in the principalitie of Wales where hee should not doubt to find both aide comfort and friends Richard Guylford lest Hugh Conwey might fortune to bee taken or stopped at Plimmouth where he intended to take his navigation sent out of Kent Thomas Rame with the same instruction and both made such diligence and had such winde and weather the one by land from Calice and the other by water from Plimmouth that within lesse then an hower both arrived in the Duke of Britaines court and spake with the Earle of Richmond w ch from the death of K. Edward went at his pleasure and liberty and to him counted and manifested the cause and effect of their message and Embassage When the Earle had received this joyfull message which was the more pleasant because it was unlooked for hee rendred to Jesu his saviour his most humble and harty thankes being in firme credence and beleefe that things as hee with busie minde and laborious entent had wished and desired could never have taken any effect without the helpe and preferment of Almighty God And now being put in comfort of his long longing he did communicate and breake to the Duke of Brittaine all his secrets and privie messages which were to him declared advertizing him that hee was entred into a sure and steadfast hope to obtaine and get the Crowne and Kingdome of the Realme of England desiring him both of his good will and friendly helpe toward the achiving of his offered enterprise promising him when hee came to his intended purpose to render to him againe equall kindnesses and condigne gratulations Although the Duke before that day by Thomas Hutton Embassadour from King Richard had both by money and prayers been solicited and moved to put againe into safe custody the Earle of Richmond hee neverthelesse promised faithfully to aide him and his promises hee truely performed The third yeere WHerupon the Earle with all diligence sent into England againe Hugh Conwey and Thomas Rame which should declare his comming shortly into England to the intent that all the things which by counsell might bee for his purpose provided should be accelerate and hasted and that all things doubtfull should of his friends bee prudently foreseene in avoiding all engins and snares which King Richard had or might have set in disturbance of his purpose and hee in the meane season would make his abode still in Britaine till things necessary for his journey were prepared and brought in a readinesse In the meane season the Chiefetaynes of the conjuration in England began together many enterprises Some in convenient fortresses put strong garrisons Some kept armed men privily to the intent when they should have knowledge of the Earles landing they would beginne to stirre up the warre Others did secretly move and solicite the people to rise and make an insurrection Others amongst whom Iohn Morton Bishop of Ely then being in Flanders was chiefe by privie letters and cloked messâ—ngers did stirre and invite to this new conjunction all such which they certainely knew to have a rooted hatred or to beare a cankered malice towards King Richard and his proceedings Although this great enterprise were never so privily handled and so secretly amongst so circumspect persons treated compassed conveyed yet knowledge thereof came to the eares of K. Richard which with the sodaine chance was not a little moved and astonied First because hee had no host ready prepared and conscribed Secondarily hee knew not where to occurre and meete his enemies or whither to goe or where to tarrie Wherefore he determined to dissemble the matter as though hee knew nothing till hee had assembled his host and in the meane season either by the rumour of the common people or by the diligence of his exploratours and espialles to investigate â—earch out all the Councells determinations intents and compasses of his close adversaries or else by crafty policie to intercept and take some person of the same conjuration considering that there is no more secret nor hid especiall than that which lurketh in dissâ—mulation of knowledge and intelligence or is hidden in the name and shaddow of counterfeit humanitie and fained kindnesse And because hee knew the Duke of Buckingham to bee the chiefe head and aide of the conjuration he thought it most necessary to pluck him from that part either by faire promises or open warre Whereupon he addressed his loving letters to the Duke as full of mellifluous words humanitie familiaritie as the interior cogitation privie meaning was full of malice rancor and poyson giving farther in charge to the messenger that carried the letter to promise to the Duke on his behalfe golden hilles and silver rivers and with all gentle and
to God requiring of him a safe conduct and licence to passe through his countrey of Normandy into Britaine The yong King having compassion of the misfortune and unfortunate chance of the Earle of Richmond not onely gently granted and assigned to him a pasporte but also literally disbursed and departed to him a convenient some of money for his conduct and expenses necessary in his long journey and passage But the Earle trusting on the French Kings humanity adventured to send his ships home into Britaine and to set forward himselfe by land on his journie making no great haste till his messengers were returned which being with the benefit so comforted and with hope of prosperous successe so encouraged marched towards Britaine with all diligent celeritie intending there to consult further with his lovers and friends of his affaires and enterprises When hee was returned againe into Britaine hee was certified by credible information that the Duke of Buckingham had lost his head and that the Marques Dorset and a great number of noble men of England had a little before enquired and searched for him there and were now returned to Vanues When hee had heard these newes thus reported hee first sorrowed dolorously lamented the first attempt and setting forward of his friends and especially of the Nobility not to have more fortunately succeeded Secondly hee rejoyced on the other part that God had sent him so many valiant and prudent Captaines to bee his companions in his martiall enterprises trusting surely and nothing doubting in his owne opinion but that all his businesse should bee wisely compassed and brought to a good conclusion Wherefore hee determining with all diligence to accelerate and set forward his new begun businesse departed to Renes and sent certaine of his privie servitours to conduct and bring the Marquis and the other Noble men to his presence When they knew that hee was safely returned into Britaine Lord how they rejoyced and applauded for before that time they missed him and knew not in what part of the world to make investigation or search for him For they doubted and no lesse feared lest hee had taken land in England and fallen into the hands of King Richard in whose person they knew wel was neither mercy nor compassion Wherefore in all speedy manner they galloped towards him and him reverently saluted which meeting after great joy and solace and no small thanks and gratifications given and rendered on both parts they consulted and advisedly debated commoned of their great businesse and weightie enterprise in the which season the solene feast of the Nativitie of our Saviour Christ happened on which day all the English Lords went with great solemnity to the chiefe Church of the Cittie and there each gave faith and promise to other The Earle himselfe first tooke a corporall oath and on his honour promising that incontinent after he should be possessed of the Crowne and dignity of the Realme of England hee would bee conjoyned in matrimony with the Lady Elizabeth daughter to King Edward the fourth Then all the company sware to him fealtie and did to him homage as though he had beene that time the Crowned King and annointed Prince promising faithfully fiâ—mely assuring that they would not onely lose their worldly substance but also bee deprived of their lives and worldly felicity rather then to suffer King Richard that tyrant longer to rule and â—aigne over them Which solemne oathes made and taken the Earle of Richmond declared and communicated all these doings to Francis Duke of Brittaine desiring and most heartily requiring him to aide him with a great army to conduct him into his Countrey which so sore longed and looked for his returne and to the which he was by the more part of the Nobilitie called and desired which with Gods ayde and the Dukes comfort hee doubted not in short time to obtaine requiring him further to lend to him a convenient some of money affirming that all such somes of money which he had received of his especiall friends were spent and exhausted in the preparation of the last journey made towards England which somes of money after his enterprise once atchived he in the word of a Prince faithfully promised to repay and restore againe The Duke promised him aide and helpe upon confidence wherof he rigged his ships set forth his Navie well decked with ordinance warlikely furnished with all things necessary to the intent to saile forward shortly and to see no convenient time slackly overpassed nor bee pretermitted In the meane season King Richard apprehended in divers parts of the Realme certaine gentlemen of the Earle of Richmonds faction and confederation which either intended to saile into Britaine towards him or else at his landing to assist and aide him Amongst whom sir George Browne sir Roger Clifford and foure others were put to execution at London and sir Thomas Sentliger which had married the Dutches of Exeter the Kings owne sister and Thomas Rame and diverse others were executed at Exeter Besides these persons diverse of his houshold servants whom either hee suspected or doubted were by great crueltie put to shamefull death After this hee called a Parliament in the which he attainted the Earle of Richmond and all other persons which were fled out of the Realme for feare of any other cause as enemies to him their naturall countrey and all their lands goods and possessions were confiscate and seased to the Kings use And yet not content with this prey which no doubt was of no small value and moment hee laid on the peoples neckes a great taxe and tollage and surely necessity to that act in a manner compelled him For what with purging and declaring his innocencie concerning the murther of his Nephewes towards the world what with cost to obtaine the love and favour of the commonaltie which outwardly glosed and openly dissembled with him hee gave prodigally so many and so great rewards that now both hee lacked and scarce knew honestly how to borrow In this troublous season nothing was more marvelled at then that the Lord Stanley had not beene taken and reputed as an enemie to the King considering the working of the Lady Margaret his wife mother to the Earle of Richmond but forasmuch as the enterprise of a woman was of him reputed of no regard or estimation and that the Lord Thomas her husband had purged himselfe sufficiently to be innocent of all doings and attempts by her perpetrated and committed it was given him in charge to keepe her in some secret place at home without having any servant or company so that from thenceforth shee should never send letter nor messenger to her sonne nor any of his friend or confederates by the which the King might bee molested or troubled or any hurt or prejudice might bee attempted against his realme and commonaltie Which commandement was a while put in execution and accomplished according to his dreadfull commandement Yet the wild
worme of vengeance wavering in his head could not bee content with the death of divers gentlemen suspected of treason but also he must extend his bloudy fury against a poore gentleman called Collingborne for making a small Rime of three of his unfortunat Councellers which were the Lord Lovell sir Richard Radcliffe his mischievous minion and sir William Catesbey his secret seducer which meeter was The Rat the Cat and Lovell our dog Rule all England under the hog Meaning by the hog the dreadfull wild Bore which was the Kings cognisaunce but because the first line ended in dog the metrician could not observing the regiments of meeter end the second verse in Bore but called the Bore an hogge This poeticall Schoole-master corrector of breves and longs caused Collingborne to be abbreviated shorter by the head and to be divided into foure quarters King Richard being thus tormented and tossed in his owne conceipt and imagination calling to his remembrance that considerations amities and other honest bonds and pacts made concluded and appointed betweene Princes and politique governours are in the cause efficient especiall introduction that their Realmes and Countries are fortified and munited with a double power that is to say with their owne strength and the ayde of their friends devised with himselfe to practise a league and amitie with the King of Scotts which not long before had made diverse incursions and rodes into the Realme of England where although hee got little yet surely he lost not much and thereupon sued to have a truce or peace concluded which came even as King Richard had wished it Wherefore commissioners were assigned for both parts to meete at Notingham the seventh day next ensuing at which time came thither for the King of England Iohn Bishop of Lincolne Chancellor of England Richard Bishop of Saint Asse Iohn Duke of Norfolke Henry Earle of Northumbâ—rland Thomas Lord Stanley George Stanley Lord Strange Iohn Gray Lord Powes Richard Lord Fitzhngh Iohn Gunthorpe keeper of the Kings Privie Seale Thomas Barow Master of the Roules sir Thomas Bryan chiefe Justice of the Common Place sir Richard Ratcliffe Knight William Catesbey and Richard Salkeld Esquiers And for the King of Scots were deputed Colin Earle of Ergile Lord Campâ—ell Lord Chancellour of Scotland William Bishop of Aberden Robert Lord Lyle Laurence Lord Oliphant Iohn Drummond of Stobhall Archibald Qwitelator Archdeacon of Lawdene and Secretarie to King Iames Lyon K. of Armes Duncane Dundas These Councellers diverse times met and after long debating demanding and denying in the end of September they fully concluded and made a determination the effect whereof followeth in Articles I. First It was appointed and concluded that a perfect Amitie and an Inviolable peace should be had and kept betweene the Realmes of England and Scotland for the space of three yeares to beginne at the Sunne rising the twentie ninth day of September in the yeere of our Lord One thousand foure hundred eighty foure and to continne to the setting of the sunne the twenty ninth day of September in the yeare of Christs incarnation one thousand foure hnndred eightie seven II. Item that during the said yeares none of both the Princes nor their ministers shall make war or invade the Realme or dominion of the other by sea or land or vexe perturbe or molest the subjects or vassalles of either of them nor shall give counsell excite or move any other person to make warre or invasion on the territories of any of the said Princes III. Item that the towne and Castle of Barwicke with all such bounds as were thereto belonging â—hich were in the English mens hands at the deliverance of the same towne by King Henry the sixt to the King of Scotts shall so peaceably remaine in the possession of the King of England dnring the said truce IIII. Item that all other Castles holdes and fortresses shall peaceably remaine in the hands of the possessor and owner without chalenge or demand during the said truce the Castle of Dumbar only excepted which was delivered into the English mens hands by the appointment of the Duke of Albany when he fled into France V. Item If the King of Scotts doe intimate and declare to the King of England within the space of fortie daies next ensuing the date hereof that hee will not suffer the said Castle of Dumbar to be possessed of the English nation above the terme of sixe moneths that then during the said sixe moneths neither the English men in the Garison of Dumbar nor the Scotts dwelling and inhabiting about the limits of the same shall doe any hurt prejudice or dammage to any of the sald parties the said terme contiâ—ning VI. Item If after the said sixe moneths any variance or warre shall arise betweene the said two Princes either for the recovering or defending the said Castle of Dumbarre yet the said truce leagne and amitie for all other rights and possessions shall stand in force and be effectuall and that it shall bee lawfull to each of the said Princes to doe what they shall thinke necessary both for the obtaining and defending the said Castle of Dumbarre any thing contained in the treaty of peace notwithstanding VII Item It is conclvded and appointed between the parties aforesaid that during the said truce none of both the Princes aforesaid shall receiue into his Realme territories or dominions any traitour or rebell of the other Prince nor shall maintaine favour aide or comfort any rebell or traytor which is already fled or shall hereafter fly into either the said Princes dominions nor there suffer him or them to tarry or make their abode VIII Item If any such rebell or traytour shall fortune hereafter to arrive in the Realme or territorie of any of the said Princes that thâ—n the said Prince in whose dominion the said traytour or rebell is so arrived at the instance and request of the other Prince to whom the offence and crime was committed shall bee bound incontinently to deliver the said rebell or traytour to the said demander withont fraud or male engine IX Item That all Scotchmen now inhabiting in England and sworne to the King of England shall and may there inhabite and tarry so that their names within sortie daies after the date of this league bee certified to the King of Scotts or to his Chancellour by the King of England or the warden of the Marches X. Item If during the said amity and peace it shall fortune any of the Wardeines of the said Princes without commandment assent or knowledge of his soveraigne Lord and Master to invade or raise an army in the dominion of the other Prince and there to slay burne or spoyle that then the said Prince to whom the said Wardeine is or shall be subject and vassaile shall within sixe daies next after the fact done and perpetrate declare the said Wardeine a traytour and rebell and thereof shall make certificate to the other Prince to whom the injury was
committed within twelve daies after the said declaration made and denounced XI Item That in every safe conduct to be granted by either of the said Princes this clause to bee added Provided alwaies that the obtainer of this safe conduct be no traytour or rebell XII Item If during this amity and truce any of the subjects of either Prince doe presume or attempt to aide helpe maintaine or serve any other Prince against any of the said contractors Then it shall be lawfull to the Prince and his subjects against whom he shewed himselfe enemy and adversarie to apprehend and attach the said subject going comming or tarrying any act article or clause in this league to the contrary comprehended notwithstanding XIII Item It is agreed apointed and accorded that in this traatie and amitie shall bee comprehended the friends obliged and confederates of both the Princes if they list to enter and accept the league and thereupon to declare their pleasures within sixe moneths next ensuing and specially for the King of Englands part were named for confederates The King of Castile and Lyon the King of Arragon the King of Portugall the Archduke of Austryche and Burgony and the Duke of Britaine On the part of the King of Scotts were named for confederates Charles the French King Iohn King of Denmarke and Norwey and the Duke of Geldres and Brittaine XIIII Item It is agreed and concluded betweene the parties aforesaid that the Lordship of Lorne in the Realme of Scotland nor the Island of Londay lying in the river of Severne in the Realme of England shall not be taken nor comprised within the league but to stand at large as they did before XV. Item That this concord peace and amity should be published proclaymed and divulged the first day of October next ensuing in the most noble and famous cities and townes of both the Realmes and Regions And conservatours were appointed for the sure observation of this league aud amitie on both parts whose names follow For the King of England Iohn Earle of Lincone Henry Earle of Northumberland Ralph Lord Nevell Ralph Lord Greystocke Richard Lord Fitz Hugh Iohn Lord Scrope Thomas Lord Scrope of Massam Sir Christopher Moresby William Clapton Esquier Humfrey Lord Daker Sir Richard Ratcliffe Sir Iohn Conyers Sir Edward Hastings Sir Robert Donstable Sir Hugh Hastings Sir William Evers Sir Iohn Huldeston William Musgrave Esquier Richard Salkeld Esquier For the King of Scotts David Earle of Crafford and Lord Linsey George Earle of Huntlâ—y Lord Gordâ—n and Badzâ—nath Iohn Lord Dornelâ—y Iohn Lord Kynedy Robert Lord Lile Patricke Lord Hales Lawrence Lord Oliphaunt William Lord Borthwike Sir Iohn Rosse of Halkehed Sir Gilbert Iohnson of Elphynstone Sir Iohn Lundy Sir Iames Ogilly of Arly Sir Robert Hamilton of Fingaltâ—n Sir William Balze of Lamington Sir Iohn Kinedy of Blarqhon Sir Iohn Wemes Sir William Rochewen Edward Crochton of Kirke Paty Iohn Dundas Iohn Rosse of Montgrenane these three last were Esquiers XVI Item It is further condesconded and agreed that these commissioners whose names ensue shall meete at Loughmabanstane the eighteenth day of November next ensuing aswell for redresse to bee had of certaine offences done on the Westmarches as also for declaring and publishing of the peace and amitie Commissioners of the English part The Lord Dacre The Lord Fitz Hugh Sir Richard Radcliffe Sir Christopher Moresby Sir Richard Salkeld or three of them Commissioners for the Scottish part The Lord Kenedy The Lord Mountgomory The Lord Lile Iohn Maxwell Stuarde of Annerdâ—le Robert Crechton of Sanquhane or three of them XVII Item The like Commissioners were assigned to meete at Raydon Borne for the East Marches the first day of December and also meete at Haldanstanke the fourth day of the said moneth for the midle Marches Commissioners for the King of England The Earle of Northumberland The Lord Greystorcke The Lord Scrope of Massam Sir William Gastoyn Sir Robert Constable Commissioners for the King of Scotts The Earle of Huntley The Earle of Angus The Earle of Ergile Chancellour of Scotland The Lord Wandale The Lord Seton The Lord Olyphaunt The Lord Stobhill XVIII Item It is agreed that the commessioners aforesaid shall depute and assigne certaine persons to view and declare the bounds and limits appertaining to the Towne of Berwicke according to the true meaning of the league XIX Item It is agreed and appointed that no person of England or Scotland shall during the said truce build eare or sow any lands or ground being within the bounds of the batable ground but to suffer the same to continue in the same condition that it now remaineth When this league and amitie was thus concluded finished and sealed with all due circumstances thereunto required although King Richard judged deemed himselfe somewhat the more strong and quiet by force of this new amitie and concluded confederacie yet to augement more the familiaritie begunne betweene the King of Scots and him and to have a double string for his bow hee entreated a new aliance and marriage to bee concluded betweene the Prince of Rothsay eldest son to the King of Scots and Lady Anne de la Poole daughter to Iohn Duke of Suffolke and Lady Anne sister to King Richard which sister he so much favored that he studying all the waies by the which hee might advance her off-spring and linage did not onely procure and seeke meanes how to make her daughter a Princesse and consequently a Queene but also after the death of his son he proclaimed Iohn Earle of Lincolne his Nephew her son heire apparent to the Crowne of England disinheriting King Edwards daughters whose brethren before you have heard he shamefully killed and murthered The King of Scots having neede of Friends but not so much neede as King Richard which was of necessitie compelled to seeke aiders and to entertaine fautours the one for favouring of flatterers and base borne persons and the other not only for tyranny and unnaturall homicide but also for the usurpation of the Crowne being of all the Realme detested and disdained gladly accepted and joyously consented to King Richards device and conjunction of amitie perfectly remembring that amongst all bonds and obligations of love and amitie that there is neither a surer nor a more perfect locke then the knot of conjunction in the Sacrament of Matrimonie which was in the very beginning of the first age of man ordained and instituted in the holy place of Paradice terrestiall by God himselfe by reason whereof the propagation and succession of the humane nature stablished upon the sure seate of lawfull Matrimonie betweene Princes may nourish peace concord and unity asswage breake the furious rage of truculent Mars and terrible battaile and encrease love favour and familiaritie Wherefore the said Princes sent their Embassadours and Councellors againe to the Towne of Nottingham where the said marriage was by writings and instruments covenanted condiscended and agreed and affiances made and taken by Procters and Deputies on
not this first begun assault sent the Earle of Oxford with an elected company of Souldiers to raise the siege and rescue the Castle Which at their first arriving pitched their campe not farre from their enemies And while King Richards men gave vigilant eye weighing lest the Earle of Oxford should take any advantage of them that laie on that side of the Castle Thomas Brandon with thirty approved men of warre by a marish which lay on the other side entred into the Castle The souldiers within greatly animâ—â—ed and much comforted by this new succour and aide grieved the enemies by shooting from the walle more then they were accustomed to doe And they of the Castle vexed their enemies on the forepart the Earle of Oxford no lesse molested and unquieted them on the other part which was the occasion that King Richards men offered of their owne meere motion license to all being within the Castle to depart in safetie with bagge and baggage nothing excepted which condition the Earle of Oxford comming onely for that purpose to deliver his loving friends out of all perill danger and chiefely of all his old hostesse Iane Blunt wife to Iames Blunt the Captaine would in no wise repudiate or refuse And so leaving the Castle bare and ungarnished both of vitaile and artillery came safe to the Earle of Richmond sojourning in Paris During this time King Richard was credibly informed of his explorators and espials that the Earle of Richmond was with long suite in the Court of France sore fatigate and wearied and desiring great aide could obtaine small reliefe In so much that all things went so farre backward that such things as were with great diligence and no lesse deliberation purposed and determined to be set forward were now dashed and overthrown to the ground King Richard either being to light of credence or seduced and deluded by his craftie tale-tellers greatly rejoyced as though he had obtained the ooverhand of his enemies with triumph and victorie and thought himselfe never so surely delivered of all feare and dreadfull imaginations so that he needed now no more once for that cause either to wake or breake his golden sleepe Wherefore he called home againe his ships of warre which he had appointed to keepe the narrow seas and dispatched all such souldiers as hee had deputed to keepe certaine garisons and to stoppe certaine passages as you have heard before Yet lest he might for lacke of provision bee suddenly trapped hee straightly charged and gave in commandement to all noble men and in especial such as inhabited neere to the Sea coast and on the frontiers of Wales that according to the usage of the countrey they should keepe diligent watch and strong ward to the intent that his adversaries in no wise should have any place apt or oportune easily to take land without defence or rebutting backe For the custome of the Countreyes adjoyning neere to the Sea is especially in the time of warre on every hill or high place to erect a Beacon with a great lanthorne in the toppe which may be seene and discerned a great space off And when the noyse is once bruted that the enemie approacheth neere the land they suddenly put fire in the lanthornes and make shoutes outrages from towne to towne and from village to village Some runne in post from place to place admonishing the people to bee ready to resist the jeopardy and defend the peril And by this policie the fame is soone blowne to every citie and towne insomuch that as well the citizens as the rurall people be in short space assembled and armed to refell and put backe the new arrived enemies Now to returne to our purpose King Richard thus alleviate of his accustomed pensivenesse began to bee somewhat more merrier and tooke lesse thought and care for outward enemies then hee was wont to doe as who say that hee with politique provisioÌ„ should withstand the destinie which hung over his head and was ordeined in briefe time suddenly to fall Such is the force and puissance of divine justice that every man shall lesse regard lesse provide lesse bee in doubt of all things when hee is most neerest punishment and next to his mischance for his offences and crimes About this season while the Earle of Richmond was desiring aide of the French King certaine noble men were there appointed to rule the Realme of France during the minoritie of King Charles which amongst themselves were not of one opinion Of which dissention Lewes Duke of Orleance was the chiefe stirrer which because he had married Lady Iohanne sister to the French King tooke upon him above other the rule and administratioÌ„ of the whole Realme By reason of which controversie no one man onely was suffered to rule all wherefore the Earle of Richmond was compelled to make suite to every one of the Councell severally one after another requiring and desiring them of aide and reliefe in his weighty businesse and so his cause was prolonged and deferred During which time Thomas Marques Dorset which was as you have heard entised by his mother to returne againe into England partly despairing in the good successe of the Earle of Richmond and partly onerate and vanquished with the faire glosing promises of King Richard secretly in the night season stole out of Paris and with all diligent expediton tooke his journey towards Flanders When relation of his departure was made to the Earle of Richmond and the other Noble men no marvell though they were astonied and greatly amased Yet that notwithstanding they required of the French King that it might bee lawfull for them in his name and by his commandement to take and stay their companion confederate and partaker of all their councell in what place within his Realme territorie wheresoever they could finde him Which petition once obtained they sent out curriers into every part amongst whom Humfrey Cheiny playing the part of a good bloud hound followed the tract of the flyer so even by the sent that hee overtooke and apprehended him not farre from Comprigne and so what with reason and what with faire promises being perswaded hee returned againe to his companions The Earle of Richmâ—nd unburdened of this misadventure lest by procrastination of dayes and prolonging of time hee might lose the great oportunity of things to him offered and ministred also lest hee should further wound or molest the mindes of his faithfull and assured friends which daily did expect and tarry for his comming determined no longer to protract and deferre the time but with all diligence and celerity to attempt his begunne enterprise so obtaining of King Charles a small crew of men and borrowing certaine summes of money of him and of divers other his private friends For the which he left as debtor or more likelyer as a pledge or hostage Lord Thomas Marques Dorset whom he halfe mistrusted and Sir Iohn Burâ—hier hee departed from the French Court and came to the
winges of horsemen coasting and ranging on every side And keeping this array he with great pompe entred the towne of Leiceste after the sunne set The Earle of Richmond raised his campe and departed from Lichfield to the towne of Tomworth thereto neere adjoyning and in the mid way passing there saluted him Sir Walter Hungerford and sir Thomas Burchier Kinghts and divers other which yeelded and submitted themselves to his pleasure For they being advertised that King Richard had them in suspition and jelousie a little beyond Stony stratford left forsooke privily their Captaine Robert Brakenbury and by nocturnall wandering and in manner by unknowne pathes and uncertaine waies searching at the last came to the Earle Henry Diverse other noble personages which inwardly hated King Richard worse then a toade or a serpent likewise to him resorted with their power and strength There happened in this progression to the Earle of Richmond a strange chance worthy to be noted for albeit he was a man of hautie and valiant courage and that his army encreased and daily more and more he waxed puisaunt and stronger yet hee was not a little afraid because he in no wise could bee assured of his father in law Thomas Lord Stanley which for feare of the destruction of the Lord Strange his sonne as you have heard as yet enclined to neither partie For if hee had gone to the Earle and that notified to King Richard his sonne had shortly beene executed Wherefore sith the Earles feare sprang not of nothing he accompanied with twenty light horsemen lingered in his journey as a man disconsolate musing and imagining what was best to bee done And the more to aggravate his melancholy pensivenesse it was shewed him that King Richard was at hand with a strong power and a populous army While he thus pensive dragged behind his hoast the whole army came before the town of Tomwoorth when he for the deepe darkenesse could not perceive the steppes of them that passed on before and had wandered hither and thither seeking after his company and yet not once hearing any noyse or whispering of them hee diverted to a little village being about three miles from his army taking great thought and much fearing lest hee should be espied and so trapped by K. Richards scoutwatch There hee tarried all night not once adventuring to aske or demand a question of any creature he being no more amased with the jeopardy and perill that was passed then with this present chaunce sore feared it should bee a prognostication or prodigiall signe of some unfortunate plague afterward to succeede As he was not merry being absent from his company likewise his army much marvelled and no lesse mourned for his sodaine and in tempestious absence The next morning early in the dawning of the day hee returned and by the conduct of good fortune espied and came to his army excusing himselfe not to have gone out of his way by ignorance but for a policie devised for the nonce he went from his campe to receive some glad message from certaine of his privie friends secret alies This excuse made hee privilie departed againe from his hoast to the towne of Aderstone where the Lord Stanley and sir William his brother with their bands were abiding There the Earle came first to his fatherinlaw in a little close where hee saluted him and sir William his brother and after diverse congratulations many friendly embracings each rejoyced of the state of the other and suddenly were surprised with great joy comfort and hope of great fortunate successe in all their affaires and doings Afterward they consulted together how to give battaile to K. Richard if hee would abide whom they knew not to be far off with an huge army In the evening of the same day sir Iohn Savage sir Brian Sanford sir Simon Digby and many other leaving King Richard turned came to the part of the Earle of Richmond with an elect company of men Which refusall of King Richards part by men of such experience did augment and increase both the good hope and the puissance of the Earle of Richmond In the meane season King Richard which was appointed now to finish his last labour by the very divine justice and providence of God which called him to condigne punishment for his scelerate merits and mischievous deserts marched to a place meete for two battailes to encounter by a village called Bosworth not farre from Leicester and there hee pitched his field refreshed his souldiers and tooke his rest The fame went that hee had that same night a dreadfull and terrible dreame for it seemed to him being asleepe that hee saw divers images like terrible devills which pulled and haled him not suffering him to take any quiet or rest The which strange vision not so suddenly strake his heart with a sudden feare but it stuffed his head and troubled his minde with many dreadfull and busie Imaginations For incontinent after his heart being almost damped hee prognosticated before the doubtfull chance of the battaile to come not using the alacritie and mirth of minde and of countenance as he was accustomed to doe before hee came towards the battell And lest that it might bee suspected that hee was abashed for feare of his enemies and for that cause hee looked so pittifully hee recited and declared to his familiar friends in the morning his wonderfull vision and terrible dreame But I thinke this was no dreame but a punction and pricke of his sinfull conscience for the conscience is so much more charged and aggravate as the offence is greater and more haynous in degree which prick of conscience although it strike not alwaies yet at the last day of extreame life it is wonte to shew and represent to us our faults and offences and the paines and punishments which hang over our heads for the same to the intent that at the instant we for our deserts being penitent and repentant may bee compelled to lament and bewaile our sinnes like forsakers of this world jocund to depart out of this miserable life Now to returne againe to our purpose the next day after K. Richard being furnished with men and all abiliments of wa◠bringing all his men out of their campe into the plaine ordered his foreward in a marvellous length in which hee appointed both horsemen and footmen to the intent to imprint in the hearts of them that looked a farre off a sodaine terrour and deadly feare for the great multitude of the armed souldiers and in the fore front hee placed the archers like a strong fortified trench or bulwarke over this battaile was captaine Iohn Duke of Norfolke with whom was Thomas Earle of Surrey his sonne After this long vangard followed King Richard himselfe with a strong company of chosen and approved men of warre having horsemen for winges on both the sides of his battell After that the Earle of Richmond was departed from the communicatiō of his friends as you
have heard before hee began to be of a better stomacke and of a more valiant courage and with all diligence pitched his field just by the Campe of his enemies and there he lodged that night In the morning betime hee caused his men to put on their armour apparell themselves ready to fight and give battell and sent to the Lord Stanley which was now come with his Band in a place indifferently betweene both the Armies requiring him with his men to approach neer to his Army and to helpe to set the Souldiers in array hee answered that the Earle should set his owne men in a good order of battell while hee would array his company and come to him in time convenient Which answer made otherwise then the Earle thought or would have judged considering the opportunity of the time and the weight of the businesse and although hee was therewithall a little vexed began somewhat to hang the head yet hee without any time delaying compelled by necessity after this manner instructed and ordered his men He made his fore-ward somewhat single and slender according to the small number of his people In the front hee placed the Archers of whom he made Captaine Iohn Earle of Oxford to the right wing of the battell hee appointed Sir Gilbert Talbor to be the leader to the left wing hee assigned Sir Iohn Savage and hee with the aide of the Lord Stanley accompanied with the Earle of Pembroke having a good company of horse-men and a small number of footmen For all his whole number exceeded not five thousand men beside the power of the Stanleys whereof three thousand were in the field under the Standard of Sir William Stanley The Kings number was double as much and more When both the Armies were thus ordered and all men ready to set forward King Richard called his Chieftains together and to them said Most faithfull and assured fellowes most trusty and welbeloved friends and elected Captaines by whose wisdome and policie I have obtained the Crowne and Type of this famous Realme and noble Region by whose puissance and valiantnesse I have enjoyed and possessed the state Royall and dignity of the same maâ—gâ—e the ill will and seditious attempts of all my cankerd enemies and insidious adversaries by whose prudent and politick counsell I have so governed my Realme people and subjects that I have omitted nothing appertaining to the office of a just Prince nor you have pretermitted nothing belonging to the duty of wise and sage Counsellors So that I may say and truly affirme that your approved fidelity and tryed constancie maketh mee to beleeve firmely and thinke that I am an undoubted King and an indubitate Prince And although in the adâ—ption and obtaining of the Garland I being seduced and provoked by sinister counsell and diabolicall temptation did commit a facinorous and detestable act yet I have with strict penance and salt teares as I trust expiated and cleerely purged the same offence which abominable crime I require you of friendship as cleerly to forget as I daily doe remember to deplore and lament the same If you will now diligently call to remembrance in what case and perplexity wee now stand and in what doubtfull perill wee be now intricked I doubt not but you in heart will thinke and with mouth confesse that if ever amity and faith prevailed betweene Prince and subjects or between subject and subject or if ever bond of allegeance obliged the vassaile to love and serve his naturall Soveraigne Lord or if any obligation of duty bound any Prince to aide and defend his subjects All these loves bonds and duties of necessity are this day to be experimented shewed and put in experience For if wise men say true there is some policie in getting but much more in keeping the one being but fortunes chance and the other high wit and policie for which cause I with you and you with mee must needes this day take labour and paine to keepe and defend with force that preeminence and possession which by your prudent devises I have gotten and obtained I doubt not but you know how the Devill continuall enemy to humane nature disturber of concord and sower of sedition hath entred into the heart of an unknown Welshman whose father I never knew nor him personally saw exciting him to aspire and covet our Realme Crown and Dignity and thereof cleerely to deprive and spoile us and our posterity yee see further how a company of traitors theeves out-lawes and runagates of our owne Nation be aiders and partakers of his feat and enterprise ready at hand to overcome and oppresse us you see also what a number of beggerly Britaines and faint-hearted French men bee with him arrived to destroy us our wives and children which imminent mischiefes and apparent inconveniencies if we will withstand wee must live together like brethren fight together like Lions and feare not to dye together like men And observing and keeping this rule and precept beleeve mee the fearefull Hare never fled faster before the greedy Greyhound nor the silly Larke before the Sparrow hawke nor the simple Sheepe before the ravenous Wolfe then your proud bragging adversaries astonied and amazed with the onely sight of your manly visages will flye run and skir out of the Field For if you consider and wisely ponder all things in your mind you shall perceive that wee have manifest causes and apparent tokens of Victory And to begin with the Earle of Richmond Captaine of this rebellion hee is a Welsh milk-sop a man of small courage and of lesse experience in Martiall acts and feates of warre brought up by my brothers meanes and mine like a captive in a close Cage in the Court of Francis Duke of Britaine and never saw Armie nor was exercised in Martiall affaires by reason wherof hee neither can nor is able on his owne wit and experience to guide an Hoast For in the wit and policie of the Captaine consisteth the chiefe adeption of the victory and overture of the enemies Secondly feare not and put away all doubts for when the Traytors and Runagates of our Realme shall see us with Banner displayed come against them remembring their oath promise and fidelity made unto us as to their Soveraigne Lord and anointed King they shall bee so pricked and stimulate in the bottome of their scrupulous consciences that they for very remorce and dread of the divine plague will either shamefully flye or humbly submit themselves to our grace and mercy And as for the Frenchmen and Britaines their valiantnesse is such that our Noble Progenitors and your Noble Parents have them oftner vanquished and overcome in one month then they in the beginning imagined possible to compasse and finish in a whole yeere What will you make of them braggers without audacity Drunkards without discretion rybauds without reason cowards without resisting and in conclusion the most effeminate and lascivious people that ever shewed themselves in front of Battaile ten