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A28237 The history of the reigns of Henry the Seventh, Henry the Eighth, Edward the Sixth, and Queen Mary the first written by the Right Honourable Francis Lord Verulam, Viscount St. Alban ; the other three by the Right Honourable and Right Reverend Father in God, Francis Godwyn, Lord Bishop of Hereford.; Historie of the raigne of King Henry the Seventh Bacon, Francis, 1561-1626.; Godwin, Francis, 1562-1633. Rerum Anglicarum Henrico VIII, Edwardo VI, et Maria regnantibus annales. English.; Godwin, Morgan, 1602 or 3-1645. 1676 (1676) Wing B300; ESTC R19519 347,879 364

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Now did the Sign 〈◊〉 and the 〈◊〉 was come under 〈◊〉 Perkin should appear And therefore he was straight sent unto by the Duchess to go for Ireland according to the first designment In Ireland he did arrive at the Town of Cork When he was thither come his own Tale was when he made his Confession afterwards That the Irish-men finding him in some good clothes came flocking about him and bare him down that he was the Duke of Clarence that had been there before and after that he was Richard the Third's base Son and lastly that he was Richard Duke of York second Son to Edward the Fourth But that he for his part renounced all these things and offered to swear upon the Holy Evangelists that he was no such man till at last they forced it upon him and bad him fear nothing and so forth But the truth is that immediately upon his coming into Ireland he took upon him the said Person of the Duke of York and drew unto him Complices and Partakers by all the means he could devise Insomuch as he wrote his Letters unto the Earl of Densmond and Kildare to come in to his Ayd and be of his Party the Originals of which Letters are yet extant Somewhat before this time the Duchess had also gained unto her a near Servant of King Henry's own one Stephen Frion his Secretary for the French Tongue an active man but turbulent and discontented This Frion had fled over to Charles the French King and put himself into his service at such time as he began to be in open enmity with the King Now King Charles when he understood of the Person and Attempts of Perkin ready of himself to embrace all advantages against the King of England instigated by Frion and formerly prepared by the Lady Margaret forthwith dispatched one Lucas and this Frion in the nature of of Ambassadors to Perkin to advertise him of the King 's good inclination to him and that he was resolved to ayd him to recover his right against King Henry an Usurper of England and an Enemy of France and wished him to come over unto him at Paris Perkin thought himself in heaven now that he was invited by so great a King in so honourable a manner And imparting unto his Friends in Ireland for their encouragement how Fortune called him and what great hopes he had sailed presently into France When he was come to the Court of France the King received him with great honour saluted and stiled him by the name of the Duke of York lodged him and accommodated him in great State And the better to give him the representation and the countenance of a Prince assigned him a Guard for his Person whereof the Lord Congreshall was Captain The Courtiers likewise though it be ill mocking with the French applied themselves to their King 's bent seeing there was reason of State for it At the same time there repaired unto Perkin divers English-men of Quality Sir George Nevile Sir John Taylor and about one hundred more and amongst the rest this Stephen Frion of whom we spake who followed his fortune both then and for a long time after and was indeed his principal Counsellor and Instrument in all his Proceedings But all this on the French King's part was but a Trick the better to bow King Henry to Peace And therefore upon the first Grain of Incense that was sacrificed upon the Altar of Peace at Bulloign Perkin was smoaked away Yet would not the French King deliver him up to King Henry as he was laboured to do for his Honors sake but warned him away and dismissed him And Perkin on his part was as ready to be gone doubting he might be caught up under-hand He therefore took his way into Flanders unto the Duchess of Burgundy pretending that having been variously tossed by Fortune he directed his course thither as to a safe Harbour No ways taking knowledge that he had ever been there before but as if that had been his first address The Duchess on the other part made it as new and strange to see him pretending at the first that she was taught and made wise by the example of Lambert Simnel how she did admit of any Counterfeit stuff though even in that she said she was not fully satisfied She pretended at the first and that was ever in the presence of others to pose him and sift him thereby to try whether he were indeed the very Duke of York or no. But seeming to receive full satisfaction by his answers she then feined her self to be transported with a kind of astonishment mixt of Joy and Wonder at his miraculous deliverance receiving him as he were risen from death to life and inferring that God who had in such wonderful manner preserved him from Death did likewise reserve him for some great and prosperous Fortune As for his dismission out of France they interpreted it not as if he were detected or neglected for a Counterfeit Deceiver but contrariwise that it did shew manifestly unto the World that he was some Great matter for that it was his abandoning that in effect made the Peare being no more but the sacrificing of a poor distressed Prince unto the utility and Ambition of two Mighty Monarchs Neither was Perkin for his part wanting to himself either in gracious and Princely behaviour or in ready and apposite answers or in contenting and caressing those that did apply themselves unto him or in pretty scorn and disdain to those that seemed to doubt of him but in all things did notably acquit himself Insomuch as it was generally believed as well amongst great Persons as amongst the Vulgar that he was indeed Duke Richard Nay himself with long and continual counterfeiting and with oft telling a Lye was turned by habit almost into the thing he seemed to be and from a Lyar to a Believer The Duchess therefore as in a case out of doubt did him all Princely honour calling him always by the name of her Nephew and giving him the Delicare Title of the White-Rose of England and appointed him a Guard of thirty persons Halberdiers clad in a party-coloured Livery of Murrey and Blew to attend his Person Her Court likewise and generally the Dutch and Strangers in their usage towards him expressed no less respect The News hereof came blazing and thundering over into England that the Duke of York was sure alive As for the name of Perkin Warbeck it was not at that time come to light but all the news ran upon the Duke of York that he had been entertained in Ireland bought and sold in France and was now plainly avowed and in great honour in Flanders These Fames took hold of divers in some upon discontent in some upon ambition in some upon levity and desire of change and in some few upon conscience and belief but in most upon simplicity and in divers out of dependance upon some of the better sort who did in secret favour and
few words That the French King and the Duke of Britain were the two persons to whom he was most obliged of all men and that he should think himself very happy if things should go so between them as he should not be able to acquit himself in gratitude towards them both and that there was no means for him as a Christian King and a common Friend to them to satisfie all Obligations both to God and man but to offer himself for a Mediator of an Accord and Peace between them by which course he doubted not but their King's Estate and Honour both would be preserved with more Safety and less Envy than by a War and that he would spare no cost or pains no if it were To go on Pilgrimage for so good an effect And concluded that in this great Affair which he took so much to heart he would express himself more fully by an Ambassage which he would speedily dispatch unto the French King for that purpose And in this sort the French Ambassadors were dismissed the King avoiding to understand any thing touching the re-annexing of Britain as the Ambassadors had avoided to mention it save that he gave a little touch of it in the word Envy And so it was that the King was neither so shallow nor so ill advertised as not to perceive the intention of the French for the investing himself of Britain But first he was utterly unwilling howsoever he gave out to enter into War with France A Fame of a War he liked well but not an Atchievement for the one he thought would make him Richer and the other Poorer and he was possessed with many secret fears touching his own People which he was therefore loth to arm and put Weapons into their hands Yet notwithstanding as a prudent and couragious Prince he was not so averse from a War but that he was resolved to choose it rather than to have Britain carried by France being so great and opulent a Dutchy and situate 〈◊〉 opportunely to annoy England either for Coast or Trade But the King's hopes were that partly by negligence commonly imputed to the French especially in the Court of a young King and partly by the native power of Britain it self which was not small but chiefly in respect of the great Party that the Duke of Orleance had in the Kingdom of France and thereby means to stir up Civil troubles to divert the French King from the Enterprize of Britain And lastly in regard of the Power of Maximilian who was Cotrival to the French King in that pursuit the Enterprize would either bow to a Peace or break in it self In all which the King measured and valued things amiss as afterwards appeared He sent therefore forth with to the French King Christopher Urswick his Chaplain a person by him much trusted and employed choosing him the rather because he was a Church-man as best sorting with an Embassy of Pacification and giving him also a Commission That if the French King consented to Treat he should thence repair to the Duke of Britain and ripen the Treaty on both parts Urswick made declaration to the French King much to the purpose of the King's answer to the French Ambassadors here instilling also tenderly some overture of receiving to grace the Duke of Orleance and some tasted of Conditions of Accord But the French King on the other side proceeded not sincerely but with a great deal of art and dissimulation in this Treaty having for his end to gain time and so put off the English Succours under hope of Peace till he had got good footing in Britain by force of Arms. Wherefore he answered the Ambassador That he would put himself into the King's hands and make him Arbiter of the Peace and willingly consent that the Ambassador should straightways pass into Britain to signifie this his 〈◊〉 and to know the Duke's mind likewise well fore-seeing that the Duke of 〈◊〉 by whom the Duke of Britain was wholly led taking himself to be upon terms irreconcilable with him would admit of no Treaty of Peace Whereby he should in one both generally abroad veil over his Ambition and win the reputation of just and moderate proceedings and should withal endear himself in the 〈◊〉 of the King of England as one that had committed all to his Will Nay and which was yet more fine make faith in him That although he went on with the War yet it should be but with his Sword in his hand to bend the stiffness of the other party to accept of Peace and so the King should take no umbrage of his arming and prosecution but the Treaty to be kept on foot to the very last instant till he were Master of the Field Which grounds being by the French King wisely laid all things fell out as he expected For when the English Ambassador came to the Court of Britain the Duke was then scarcely perfect 〈◊〉 his memory and all things were directed by the Duke of Orleance who gave audience to the Chaplain Urswick and upon his Ambassage delivered made answer in somewhat high terms That the Duke of Britain having been an Host and a kind of Parent or Foster-father to the King in his tenderness of age and weakness of fortune did look for at this time from King Henry the renowned King of England rather brave Troops for for his Succours than a vain Treaty of Peace And if the King could forget the good Offices of the Duke done unto him 〈◊〉 yet he knew well he would in his Wisdom consider of the future how much it imported his own Safety and Reputation both in Foreign parts and with his own People not to suffer Britain the old Confederates of England to be swallowed up by France and so many good Ports and strong Towns upon the Coast be in the command of so potent a Neighbour-King and so ancient an Enemy And therefore humbly desired the King to think of this business as his own and therewith brake off and denyed any further Conference for Treaty Urswick returned first to the French King and related to him what had passed Who finding things to sort to his desire took hold of them and said That the Ambassador might perceive now that which he for his part partly imagined before That considering in what hands the Duke of Britain was there would be no Peace but by a mixt Treaty of force and perswasion And therefore he would go on with the one and desired the King not to desist from the other But for his own part he did faithfully promise to be still in the King's power to rule him in the matter of Peace This was accordingly represented unto the King-by Urswick at his return and in such a fashion as if the Treaty were in no sort desperate but rather stayd for a better hour till the Hammer had wrought and beat the Party of Britain more pliant Whereupon there passed continually Pacquets and Dispatches between the two Kings
of his Partakers and confiscation of his Traytors and Rebels more than which could not come from Subjects to their Sovereign in one action This he taketh so well at your hands as he hath made it a Resolution to himself to communicate with so loving and well-approved Subjects in all Affairs that are of publick nature at home or abroad Two therefore are the causes of your present Assembling the one a Forein business the other matter of Government at home The French King as no doubt ye have heard maketh at this present hot War upon the Duke of Britain His Army is now before Nantes and holdeth it straitly Besieged being the principal City if not in Creremony and Preheminence yet in Strength and Wealth of that Duchy Ye may guess at his Hopes by his attempting of the hardest part of the War first The cause of this War he knoweth best He alledgeth the entertaining and succouring of the Duke of Orleance and some other French Lords whom the King taketh for his Enemies Others divine of other Matters Both parts have by their Ambassadors divers times prayed the King's Ayds The French King Ayds or Neutrality the Britons Ayds simply for so their case requireth The King as a Christian Prince and blessed Son of the Holy Church hath offered himself as a Mediator to treat a Peace between them The French King yieldeth to Treat but will not stay the prosecution of the War The Britons that desire Peace most hearken to it least not upon considence or stiffness but upon distrust of true meaning seeing the War goes on So as the King after as much pains and care to effect a Peace as ever he took in any business not being able to remove the Prosecution on the one side nor the Distrust on the other caused by that Prosecution hath let fall the Treaty not repenting of it but despairing of it now as not likely to succeed Therefore by this Narrative you now understand the state of the Question whereupon the King prayeth your Advice which is no other but whether he shall enter into an auxiliary and defensive War for the Britons against France And the better to open your understandings in this Affair the King bath commanded me to say somewhat to you from him of the Persons that do intervene in this Business and somewhat of the Consequence thereof as it hath relation to this Kingdom and somewhat of the Example of it in general making nevertherless no Conclusion or Judgement of any Point until his Grace hath received your faithful and politique Advices First for the King our Sovereign himself who is the principal Person you are to eye in this business his Grace doth profess that he truly and constantly desireth to reign in Peace But his Grace saith he will neither buy Peace with Dishonour nor take it up at interest of Danger to ensue but shall think it a good Change if it pleased God to change the inward Troubles and Seditions wherewith he hath been hitherto exercised into an honourable Forein War And for the other two Persons in this Action the French King and the Duke of Britain his Grace doth declare unto you that they be the men unto whom he is of all other Friends and Allies most bounden the one having held over him his hand of Protection from the Tyrant the other having reacht forth unto him his hand of help for the Recovery of his Kingdom So that his affection toward them in his natural Person is upon equal terms And whereas you may have heard that his Grace was enforced to fly out of Britain into France for doubts of being betrayed his Grace would not in any sort have that reflect upon the Duke of Britain in defacement of his former benefits for that he is throughly informed that it was but the practice of some corrupt persons about him during the time of his Sickness altogether without his consent or privity But howsoever these things do interess his Grace in his particular yet he knoweth well that the higher Bond that tyeth him to procure by all means the safety and welfare of his loving Subjects doth dis-interess him of these Obligations of Gratitude otherwise than thus that if his Grace be forced to make a War he do it without Passion or Ambition For the consequence of this Action towards this Kingdom it is much as the French King's intention is For if it be no more but to range his Subjects to reason who bear themselves stout upon the strength of the Duke of Britain it is nothing to us But if it be in the French King's purpose or if it should not be in his purpose yet if it shall follow all one as if it were sought that the French King shall make a Province of Britain and joyn it to the Crown of France then it is worthy the consideration how this may import England as well in the increasement of the greatness of France by the addition of such a Countrey that stretcheth his Boughs unto our Seas as in depriving this Nation and leaving it so naked of so firm and assured Confederates as the Britons have always been For then it will come to pass that whereas not long since this Realm was mighty upon the Continent first in Territory and after in Alliance in respect of Burgundy and Britain which were Confederates indeed but dependant Confederates now the one being already cast partly into the greatness of France and partly into that of Austria the other is like wholly to be cast into the greatness of France and this Island shall remain confined in effect within the Salt-Waters and girt about with the Coast-Countries of two mighty Monarchs For the Example it resteth likewise upon the same Question upon the French King's intent For if Britain be carried and swallowed up by France as the World abroad apt to impute and construe the Actions of Princes to Ambition conceive it will then it is an Example very dangerous and universal that the lesser Neighbour-Estate should be devoured of the greater For this may be the case of Scotland towards England of Portugal towards Spain of the smaller Estates of Italy towards the greater and so of Germany or as if some of you of the Commons might not live and dwell safely besides some of these great Lords And the bringing in of this Example will be chiefly laid to the King's charge as to him that was most interessed and most able to forbid it But then on the other side there is so fair a Pretext on the French King's part and yet pretext is never wanting to power in regard the danger imminent to his own Estate is such as may make this Enterprize seem rather a work of Necessity than of Ambition as doth in reason correct the Danger of the Example For that the Example of that which is done in a man 's own defence cannot be dangerous because it is in another's power to avoid it But in all this business
to the number of eight thousand choise men and well armed who having a fair wind in few hours landed in Britain and joyned themselves forthwith to those Briton Forces that remained after the Defeat and marched straight on to find the Enemy and encamped fast by them The French wisely husbanding the possession of a Victory and well acquainted with the Courage of the English especially when they are fresh kept themselves within their Trenches being strongly lodged and resolved not to give Battel But mean-while to harrass and weary the English they did upon all advantages set upon them with their Light-horse wherein nevertheless they received commonly loss especially by means of the English Archers But upon these Atchievements Francis Duke of Britain deceased an accident that the King might easily have foreseen and ought to have reckoned upon and provided for but that the Point of Reputation when news first came of the Battel lost that somewhat must be done did over-bear the Reason of War After the Duke's decease the principal persons of Britain partly bought partly through faction put all things into confusion so as the English not finding Head or Body with whom to joyn their Forces and being in jealousie of Friends as well as in danger of Enemies and the Winter begun returned home five Months after their landing So the Battel of Saint Alban the death of the Duke and the retire of the English Succours were after some time the causes of the loss of that Duchy which action some accounted as a blemish of the King's Judgement but most but as the misfortune of his times But howsoever the temporary Fruit of the Parliament in their Ayd and Advice given for Britain took not nor prospered not yet the lasting Fruit of Parliament which is good and wholesom Laws did prosper and doth yet continue to this day For according to the Lord Chancellor's admonition there were that Parliament divers excellent Laws ordained concerning the Points which the King recommended First the Authority of the Star-Chamber which before subsisted by the ancient Common-Laws of the Realm was confirmed in certain Cases by Act of Parliament This Court is one of the sagest and noblest Institutions of this Kingdom For in the distribution of Courts of Ordinary Justice besides the High Court of Parliament in which distribution the King's-Bench holdeth the Pleas of the Crown the Common-Place Pleas-Civil the Exchequer-Pleas concerning the King's Revenue and the Chancery the Pretorian power for mitigating the rigour of Law in case of extremity by the conscience of a good man there was nevertheless always reserved a high and preheminent power to the King's Council in Causes that might in example or consequence concern the state of the Common-wealth which if they were Criminal the Council used to sit in the Chamber called the Star-Chamber if Civil in the White-Chamber or White-Hall And as the Chancery had the Pretorian power for Equity so the Star-Chamber had the Censorian power for Offences under the degree of Capital This Court of Star-Chamber is compounded of good Elements for it consisteth of four kinds of Persons Counsellors Peers Prelates and chief Judges It discerneth also principally of four kinds of Causes Forces Frauds Crimes various of Stellionate and the Inchoations or middle acts towards Crimes capital or heinous not actually committed or perpetrated But that which was principally aimed at by this act was Force and the two chief Supports of Force Combination of Multitudes and Maintenance or Headship of Great persons From the general peace of the Countrey the King's care went on to the peace of the King's House and the security of his great Officers and Counsellors But this Law was somewhat of a strange composition and temper That if any of the King's Servants under the degree of a Lord do conspire the death of any of the King's Council or Lord of the Realm it is made Capital This Law was thought to be procured by the Lord Chancellor who being a stern and haughty man and finding he had some mortal Enemies in Court provided for his own safety drowning the envy of it in a general Law by communicating the priviledge with all other Counsellors and Peers and yet not daring to extend it further than to the King's Servants in Check-roll lest it should have been too harsh to the Gentlemen and other Commons of the Kingdom who might have thought their ancient Liberty and the clemency of the Laws of England invaded If the will in any case of Felony should be made the deed And yet the reason which the Act yieldeth that is to say That he that conspireth the death of Counsellors may be thought indirectly and by a mean 〈◊〉 conspire the death of the King himself is indifferent to all Subjects as well as to Servants in Court But it seemeth this sufficed to serve the Lord Chancellor's turn at this time But yet he lived to need a General Law for that he grew afterwards as odious to the Countrey as he was then to the Court. From the peace of the King's House the King's care extended to the peace of Private Houses and Families For there was an excellent Moral Law molded thus The taking and carrying away of Women forcibly and against their will except Female-Wards and Bond-Women was made Capital The Parliament wisely and justly conceiving that the obtaining of Women by force into Possession howsoever afterwards Assent might follow by Allurements was but a Rape drawn forth in length because the first Force drew on all the rest There was made also another Law for Peace in general and repressing of Murthers and Man-slaughters and was in amendment of the Common Laws of the Realm being this That whereas by the Common Law the King's Suit in case of Homicide did expect the Year and the Day allowed to the Parties Suit by way of Appeal and that it was found by experience that the Party was many times compounded with and many times wearied with the Suit so that in the end such Suit was let fall and by that time the matter was in a manner forgotten and thereby Prosecution at the King's Suit by Indictment which is ever best Flagrante crimine neglected it was Ordained That the Suit by Indictment might be taken as well at any time within the Year and the Day as after not prejudicing nevertheless the Parties Suit The King began also then as well in Wisdom as in Justice to pare a little the Priviledge of Clergy ordaining That Clerks convict should be burned in the hand both because they might taste of some corporal Punishment and that they might carry a Brand of Infamy But for this good Acts sake the King himself was after branded by Perkin's Proclamation for an execrable breaker of the Rites of Holy Church Another Law was made for the better Peace of the Countrey by which Law the King's Officers and Farmors were to forfeit their Places and Holds in case of unlawful Retainer or partaking in Routs and
altogether improvided His will was good but he lacked money And this was made known and spread through the Army And although the English were therewithal nothing dismayed and that it be the manner of Soldiers upon bad news to speak the more bravely yet nevertheless it was a kind of preparative to a Peace Instantly in the neck of this as the King had laid it came news that Ferdinando and Isabella Kings of Spain had concluded a peace with King Charles and that Charles had restored unto them the Counties of Russignon and Perpignian which formerly were Mortgaged by John King of Arragon Ferdinando's Father unto France for three hundred thousand Crowns which debt was also upon this Peace by Charles clearly released This came also handsomly to put on the Peace both because so potent a Confederate was faln off and because it was a fair example of a Peace bought so as the King should not be the sole Merchant in this Peace Upon these Airs of Peace the King was content that the Bishop of Exceter and the Lord Daubigny Governour of Calice should give a meeting unto the Lord Cordes for the Treaty of a Peace But himself nevertheless and his Army the fifteenth of October removed from Calice and in four days march sate him down before Bulloign During this Siege of Bulloign which continued near a Month there passed no memorable Action nor Accident of War only Sir John Savage a valiant Captain was slain riding about the Walls of the Town to take a View The Town was both well fortified and well manned yet it was distressed and ready for an Assault which if it had been given as was thought would have cost much blood but yet the Town would have been carried in the end Mean while a Peace was concluded by the Commissioners to continue for both the Kings Lives Where there was no Article of importance being in effect rather a Bargain than a Treaty For all things remained as they were save that there should be paid to the King seven hundred forty five thousand Ducats in present for his Charges in that Journey and five and twenty thousand Crowns yearly for his Charges sustained in the Ayds of the Britons For which Annual though he had Maximilian bound before for those Charges yet he counted the alteration of the Hand as much as the principal Debt And besides it was left somewhat indefinitely when it should determine or expire which made the English esteem it as a Tribute carried under fair Terms And the truth is it was paid both to the King and to his Son King Henry the Eighth longer than it could continue upon any computation of Charges There were also assigned by the French King unto all the King 's principal Counsellors great Pensions besides rich Gifts for the present Which whether the King did permit to save his own Purse from Rewards or to communicate the Envy of a Business that was displeasing to his People was diversly interpreted for certainly the King had no great fancy to own this Peace And therefore a little before it was concluded he had under-hand procured some of his best Captains and Men of War to advise him to a Peace under their hands in an earnest manner in the nature of a Supplication But the truth is this Peace was welcom to both Kings To Charles for that it assured unto him the possession of Britain and freed the enterprise of Naples To Henry for that it filled his Coffers and that he foresaw at that time a storm of inward troubles coming upon him which presently after brake forth But it gave no less discontent to the Nobility and principal persons of the Army who had many of them sold or engaged their Estates upon the hopes of the War They stuck not to say That the King cared not to plume his Nobility and People to feather himself And some made themselves merry with that the King had said in Parliament That after the War was once begun he doubted not but to make it pay it self saying he had kept promise Having risen from Bulloign he went to Calice where he stayed some time From whence also he wrote Letters which was a Courtesie that he sometimes used to the Mayor of London and Aldermen his Brethren half bragging what great summs he had obtained for the Peace knowing well that full Coffers of the King is ever good news to London And better news it would have been if their Benevolence had been but a Loan And upon the seventeenth of December following he returned to Westminster where he kept his Christmas Soon after the King's return he sent the Order of the Garter to Alphonso Duke of Calabria eldest Son to Ferdinando King of Naples an honour sought by that Prince to hold him up in the eyes of the Italians who expecting the Arms of Charles made great account of the Amity of England for a Bridle to France It was received by Alphonso with all Ceremony and Pomp that could be devised as things use to be carried that are intended for Opinion It was sent by Urswick upon whom the King bestowed this Ambassage to help him after many dry Employments AT this time the King began again to be haunted with Spirits by the Magick and curious Arts of the Lady Margaret who raised up the Ghost of Richard Duke of York second Son to King Edward the Fourth to walk and vex the King This was a finer Counterfeit Stone than Lambert Simnel better done and worn upon greater hands being graced after with the wearing of a King of France and a King of Scotland not of a Duchess of Burgundy only And for Simnel there was not much in him more than that he was a handsom Boy and did not shame his Robes But this Youth of whom we are now to speak was such a Mercurial as the like hath seldom been known and could make his own Part if at any time he chanced to be out Wherefore this being one of the strangest Examples of a Personation that ever was in Elder or Latter times it deserveth to be discovered and related at the full Although the King's manner of shewing things by Pieces and by Dark Lights hath so musfled it that it hath left it almost as a Mystery to this day The Lady Margaret whom the King's Friends called Juno because she was to him as Junb was to Aeneas stirring both Heaven and Hell to do him mischief for a foundation of her particular Practices against him did continually by all means possible nourish maintain and divulge the flying Opinion That Richard Duke of York second Son to Edward the Fourth was not murthered in the Tower as was given out but saved alive For that those who were employed in that barbarous Fact having destroyed the elder Brother were stricken with remorse and compassion towards the younger and set him privily at liberty to seek his Fortune This Lure she cast abroad thinking that this Fame and Belief together with the
dispositions had bred a mutual affection to awake him for that having Elected him they were purposely come an accustomed ceremony to Adore him and dissolve the Conclave Priulo having signified to him with testimonies of excessive joy the intent of these Cardinals was gently blamed by him and they dismissed with this answer That a matter of so great consequence carrying with it so great a burthen that it would deterr an 〈◊〉 man from the acceptation of it was not to be tumultuously but upon mature deliberation orderly to be transacted as for the season it was utterly unfit for asmuch as God was the God of Light and not of Darkness they should therefore do well to deferr it until the next day and if then their resolutions proved the same he would submit himself to their pleasures The Italian Cardinals conceiving these delays to proceed out of stupidity began to contemn him and changing their determinations a little after pitched upon Cardinal Montanus whom they created Pope by the name of Julius the Third ANNO DOM. 1550. REG. 4. THe Duke of Somerset having now for three months continued a prisoner and not convicted of any crime which might touch his life it being not thought fitting that so great a man lately Protector of the King's Person and Realm should for a small offence be condemned to perpetual imprisonment is under-hand dealt with to submit himself with acknowledgement that he had deserved this or whatsoever greater punishment the King should be pleased to inflict on him and withal to implore the favour of his Majesty's Royal Clemency To this he easily condescended and was on the sixth of February set a liberty but not restored to the dignity of Protector only contenting himself with the rank of a Privy Counsellor But it being conceived that revenge might draw the Duke to new practices by mediation of Friends he is reconciled to the Earl of Warwick and that this atonement might be the more firm and sincere the Duke's Daughter is on the third of June married to the Viscount Lisle the Earl of Warwick's Son the King gracing the Nuptials with his presence Thuanus I know not upon what grounds writeth That the Earl by a kind of counterfeit shew that he was desirous of the restitution of the Romish Religion had setled himself in the good opinion of the vulgar who had not yet learned to renew themselves by casting off the old skin but reverenced Superstition for its reputed Antiquity and that his dissimulation being discovered fearing lest he should be forsaken of them whom he had with false hopes deluded the consideration thereof and of the Duke 's mild and free disposition would endear his Adversary to them to prevent this danger he contrived this alliance with the Duke and procured his liberty In the mean of these passages on the nineteenth of January the Lord Russel Lord Privy Seal was created Earl of Bedford William Lord Saint-John Earl of Wiltshire and Sir William Paget Lord Paget The Earl of Bedford and the Lord Paget were within three days after with Sir William Peters and Sir John Mason dispatched into France for the Treaty of a Peace with the Deputies appointed by the French who were Montmorency Governour of Picardy Gasper Coligny Lord of Chastillon afterward Admiral of France Andrew Gillar Mortair and William Boucherelle The Lord Paget not long before had been sent to the Emperour to signifie how we were distressed on the one side by the Scots and on the other by the French and miserably rent at home by intestine dissentions that our necessities required speedy succours or would force us to condescend to an inconvenient Peace with France But perceiving nothing was to be obtained of him we strook hands with the French upon these conditions That Boloigne and all the Forts in Boloignois should be surrendred to the French together with the Artillery and other military provision That in lieu thereof the King of France should pay unto Edward four hundred thousand Crowns by equal portions at two payments That the English should restore to the Scots Lauder and Douglas and if the Queen of Scots should desire it should rase their Fortifications in Haymon and at Roxburgh The Emperour was on both sides comprehended in the League and the Queen of Scots by the French The two Kings presented each other with their Military Orders and as one writeth it was on both parts agreed on that Edward should marry one of the Daughters of France For the ratification of the Articles on the eighth of April Hostages were given By Us The Duke of Suffolk The Earl of Hertford Son to the Duke of Somerset The Earl of Arundel The Earl of Derby The Earl of Bath By the French John of Bourbon Duke of Anguien Glaud of Lorain Marquis of Mayenne Francis Son to the Constable Montmorency Lewis of Tremoville Francis of Vendosme Vidame of Chartres Claud d'Annebalt This Peace between us and France was on the third of March solemnly Proclaimed in London and on the five and twentieth of April Bouloigne being accordingly furrendred to the French our Hostages were returned On the thirtieth of July died the Lord Wriothsley Knight of the Garter late Lord Chancellour of England and Earl of Southampton He had about the beginning of this King's Reign delivered up the Seal the Custody whereof was committed to the Lord Rich. But having been about half a year past removed as was also the Earl of Arundel but for what cause is uncertain from the Council Table he at length whether out of Grief or some other cause fell sick and died He was Father to Henry the second Earl and Grandfather to Henry the third Earl of Southampton not long since deceased who having tasted of both fortunes did heretofore as generously behave himself in adversity as he did since moderately in prosperity whereto by the Clemency of our late Sovereign he was restored ANNO DOM. 1551. REG. 5. MEntion hath formerly been made concerning the Sweating Sickness a disease to which England hath given a name as well in regard of its original as of the known disposition of our Bodies to admit of this virulent contagion England had been formerly afflicted with it but never so mortally as this present year Shrewsbury was now the first place acquainted with this Pestilence there it began in April and thence diffusing it self over the most part of the Kingdom at length it vanished away in the North about the beginning of October The fury of it 〈◊〉 such as if it would never end but by its proper cruelty when it should not have left subjects whereon to feed The dead whom it swept away were numberless In London only eight hundred was scarce a seven-nights stint It made its first entry into this Island in the Reign of Henry the Seventh 〈◊〉 1486 and from hence it took its progress into other Nations The Infected flowed away and within the space of twenty four hours when this
the Church And to add more majesty to their act by some devout Solemnity they go in Procession to Pauls singing that admirable Hymn of those holy Fathers St. Ambrose and St. Augustine commonly known by its first words Te Deum Then they dispatcht away some Companies to seize on the Tower and command the Duke of Suffolk to render himself The Duke as easily dejected at the news as he had formerly been elevated by vain hope entring his Daughters Chamber forbad the farther use of Royal Ceremonies wishing her to be content with her return to a Private fortune Whereto she answered with a setled countenance Sir I better brook this message than my forced advancement to Royalty out of obedience to you and my Mother I have grievously sinned and offered violence to my self Now I do willingly and as obeying the motions of my Soul relinquish the Crown and endeavour to salve those faults committed by others if at least so great an errour may be salved by a willing relinquishment and ingenuous acknowledgement Having spoken thus much she retired into a withdrawing-room more troubled at the Danger she had incurred than the defeasance of so great hopes The Duke himself presently repaired to the rest of the Council and subscribed to their Decree This Proclamation was on the nineteenth of July published and entertained with such Acclamations that no part of it could be heard after the first mention of Queen Maries Name The Earl of Arundell and the Lord Paget having thus ordered this weighty Affair accompanied with thirty Horse rid post that night unto the Queen to certifie her of the gladsom tidings of her Subjects loyal intentions In the mean time the Lords of the Council certifie Northumberland of these Passages commanding him withal to subscribe to the Decree and dismiss his Army But he out of the Presage of his own Fortune had before the receipt of their Letters proclaimed her Queen at Cambridge where in a counterfeit joy he threw up his Cap with the sincerer multitude Then he cashiered the rest of his wavering Companies and almost all the Lords who had hitherto followed him with a Legal Revolt passing over to the Queen and making Northumberland the sole author and cause of these disloyal Distractions were upon their Submission pardoned Lady Jane having as on a Stage for ten days only personated a Queen was committed to safe custody and the Ladies who had hitherto attended her were commanded each to their homes The Duke of Northumberland was by the Queens command apprehended by the Earl of Arundell and committed to the Tower The manner of his taking is reported to have been thus After so many checks uncertain what course to take resolved to flie but not knowing whether the Pensioners who with their Captain Sir John Gates had followed him in this Expedition while he was pulling on his Boots seised on him saying that It was fit they should excuse themselves from the imputation of Treason by his testimony The Duke withstanding them and the matter being likely to grow to blows at the very instant came those Letters from the Council which commanded them all to lay aside their Arms and peaceably to repair to their homes These Letters took up the matter and set the Duke at liberty which notwithstanding lasted not long For the next morning as he was ready to take Horse the Earl of Arundell intercepted him and with him apprehended the Earl of Huntingdon the Earl of Warwick Northumberland's eldest Son and two others younger Lord Ambrose and Lord Henry Dudley Sir Andrew Dudley the Duke's Brother Sir Thomas Palmer Sir John Gates his Brother Henry Gates and Doctor Edwin Sands who on the five and twentieth of July were brought to London and presently committed to the Tower The Earl of Huntingdon was not long after set at liberty but his Son was presently Sir John Gates whom Northumberland accused to have been the contriver of all this mischief and Sir Thomas Palmer were after Executed The Earl of Warwick died in Prison The Lords Ambrose and Henry Dudley were Pardoned Henry was afterward slain with a shot at the Siege of St. Quintin but Ambrose finding Fortune more propitious out-lived Mary and by Queen Elizabeth created Earl of Warwick long flourished in the happiness of her Favour Sir Andrew Dudley after his Condemnation was also Pardoned Doctor Sands being then Vicechancellour of the University of Cambridge had by Northumberland's command in the Pulpit publickly impugned Queen Maries Cause and defended that of Lady Jane but with that Wisdom and Moderation although upon the short warning of some few hours that he abundantly satisfied the Duke and yet did not so deeply incur the displeasure of the adverse part but that his Friends prevailed with the Queen for his Pardon So that after a years Imprisonment he was set at liberty and presently fled over into Germany After the death of Queen Mary returning from his voluntary Exile he was Consecrated Bishop of Worcester from which See he was translated to London and thence again to the Archbishoprick of York A man for his Learning Virtue Wisdom and Extract very famous but most especially happy in his Issue whereof many were admirable for their Endowments both internal and external and of whom we have in our Age seen three honoured with Knighthood On the six and twentieth of July the Marquis of Northampton afterward Condemned and Pardoned Doctor Ridley Bishop of London who two years after was Burned at Oxford and beside many others Lord Robert Dudley that great Earl of Leicester under Queen Elizabeth were brought to the Tower On the seven and twentieth the Duke of Suffolk to whom the Queen with admirable Clemency within four days restored his liberty Sir John Cheeke King Edward's Schoolmaster Sir Roger Cholmley Chief Justice of the King's Bench and Sir Edmond Mountague Chief Justice of the Common Pleas were committed to the same place who were all on the third of September set at liberty On the thirtieth of July the Lady Elizabeth accompanied by a great train of Nobles Knights Gentlemen and Ladies to the number of five hundred some say a thousand set forward from the Strand through London and so to Wansted towards the Queen to congratulate her happy Success in vindicating her Right to the Crown Who on the third of August having dismissed her Army which had not yet exceeded the number of thirteen thousand attended by all the Nobility made a triumphant entrance through London to the Tower where the Duke of Norfolk Edward Courtney Son to the Marquis of Exceter Beheaded in the year 1538 Gardiner late Bishop of Winchester and Anne Duchess of Somerset presented themselves on their Knees and Gardiner in the name of them all spake a congratulatory Oration which ended the Queen courteously raised them and kissing each of them said These are all my own Prisoners and gave order for their present discharge Edward Courtney she restored to his Father's honours making