he is mentioned for a witnesse to his Fathers graunt of lands in Wittenham to Ethelwolfe a Duke of England in those daies as appeareth by the Charter thereof bearing date in the yeere aforesaid 8 Bertfrid an other and as it seemeth an elder sonne of King Edred was borne before his father was King without any mention also of his Mother who liuing in the second yeare of his fathers raigne namely Anno 948. was written for a witnesse in the same yeare to his grant of lands in Bedlaking to Cuthred one of his Barons the Charter whereof is extant to bee seene vnto this day EDVVY THE TVVENTIE EIGHTH KING OF THE VVEST-SAXONS AND TWENTIE NINTH MONARCH OF THE ENGLISHMEN HIS RAIGNE ACTS AND DEATH CHAPTER XLI EDwy the eldest sonne of King Edmund after the decease of his vncle Edred succeeded him in his dominions and was the twentie eighth King of the West-Saxons and the twentie ninth Monarch of the Englishmen he began his raigne in the yeare of the worlds saluation 955. and was annointed crowned at Kingston vpon Thamesis by the hands of Otho the 22. Archbishop of Canterbury 2 Yong hee was in yeares and vitious of life if the Monkish Story-writers of those times his deadly enemies may be credited not past thirteene when he entred gouernment and that begun with a capitall sinne for they report that vpon the solemne day of his Coronation and insight of his Nobles as they sate in Counsell with shamelesse and vnprincelike lust he abused a Lady of great estate his neere kinswoman whose husband shortly after he slew the more freely to possesse his incestuous pleasure and to fill the pennes of his further infamy ready to their hands that wrote his life hee was a great enemy vnto the Monkish orders a sore in those dayes very tender to be touched and may well be thought the cause of many false aspersions on him whom from the Monastery of Malmsbury Glasenbury and others hee expelled placing married Priests in their roomes Dunstan likewise the Abbot Saint of Glasenbury hee banished the Realm for his ouer-bold reprehensions if not rather for retaining the treasure deliuered him by King Edred and demaunded againe in his sicknesse when by the voice forsooth of an Angell from heauen his iourney was staid and those rich Iewels not deliuered the King in his life I will not say kept backe lest Dunstan with Balaam whose stories are not much vnlike should bee thought to follow as he did the wages of deceit 3 Howsoeuer the reuerent opinion of the Monks single life and the conceiued holines of Abbot Dunstan in those misty times did daily counterpoize young Edwy in esteeme which made his best acts construed and recorded to the worst insomuch that his Subiects minds ebbing as the Sea from the full drew backe the current of their subiectiue affections and set the eye of obedience vpon Prince Edgar his Brother and albeit his young yeeres may seeme to cleare him from the imputation of so lustful a fact as he is charged with at the day of his assuming the Crowne and the separation from his wife as too neere in consanguinity wrought griefe enough in his distressed heart yet pittilesse of his estate and carelesse of their owne allegiance the Mercians with the Northumbrians did vtterly cast off obedience and sweare their fealty to Edgar not fully foureteene yeeres aged Edâ—… then raigning in a 〈◊〉 decaying estate was heâ—…d of such his subiects in no better esteeme then was Iehoram of Iudah who is said to haue liued without being desired for very griefe whereof after foure yeares raigne hee ended his life the yeare of our Lord 959 whose body was buried in the Church of the new Abbey of Hide at Winchester erected without the Wall in the North of that City His Wife 4 Elfgine the wife of King Edwy was a Lady of great beauty and nobly descended yea and by some deemed somewhat too neare in the bloud roiall to bee matched with him in spousall bed her fathers name is not recorded but her mother was Etheigiue whom some scandalized to haue beene his Concubine and the onely causer of Dunstans banishment The subiects disliking of this vnlawfull marriage further instigated by the Monkes whose humorous pleasures or displeasures could very much sway the state in those daies failed by degrees to performe their duties to their King and her they likewise enforced to a separation in the third yeere of his regardlesse gouernment and of Christ Iesus 958. without other mention of her life or death EDGAR SVRNAMED THE PEACEABLE THE THIRTIETH MONARCH OF THE ENGLISH-MEN HIS RAIGNE ACTS WIVES AND ISSVE CHAPTER XLII EDgar the second son of King Edmund hauing raigned two yeares ouer the Mercians and Northumbrians in the dayes of Edwy his Brother to the great impairing of King Edwyes reputation and esteeme after his death at sixeteen yeares of age was chosen to succeed in all his dominions and was the thirtieth Monarch of the Englishmen or rather now of whole England all other titles of Kingdomes falling vnder his scepter and becomming Prouinces annexed vnto his absolute Monarchie 2 He beganne his raigne in the yeere of Christs Natiuity 959. and was crowned as some write the same yeare at Kingston vpon Thamesis by Otho Archbishop of Canterbury But Randulphus Higden in his Polychronicon referreth it to the twelfth yeere of his raigne William Monke of Malmesbury to the thirtieth yeare of his age and the Sax Chronicle of Worcester Church to the yeere of Christ 972 and that in the City of Bath hee was annointed and consecrated with great solemnity by Dunstan Archbishop of Canterbury 3 The raigne of this King is said to haue beene altogether in a calme tranquility and therefore hee was surnamed the Peaceable his vertues were many and vices not a few the one gloriously augmented and the other fairely excused by those Monkish writers vnto whose professions he was most fauourable his Guides were Dunstan Archbishop of Canterbury Ethelwold Abbot of Glasenbury and Oswald Bishop of Worcester three stout Champions against the married Clergie for women in those dayes were great bugs in their eyes therfore the married Priests he displaced brought in Monkes of single life to possesse their roomes whose sinnes of incontinency grew after to be great as the world did then witnes which caused Treuâ—…sa the translator of Higden to blame King Edgar charging him to bee lewdly moued in following their counsell against married Clerkes 4 So doe Malmsbury and Higden taxe him with too fauourable affections towardes the Danes who dwelled alike in euery town with the English though formerly they had sought the destruction of all and still lay in wait attending for the spoile of his true subiects who apt enough vnto euil lerned the beastly sinne of quaffing and emptying of cups which King Edgar was enforced to redresse by enacting a law
sonne Iohn first in the Catalogue of the Conspirators against him in that action hee bitterly cursed the howre of his birth laying Gods curse and his vpon his sonnes which hee would neuer recall for any perswasion of the Bishoppes and others but comming to Chinon fell there grieuously sicke and feeling death approch hee caused himselfe to be borne into the Church before the Altar where after humble confession and sorrow for his sinnes hee departed this life 100 It shal not in contempt of humane glory be forgotten that this puissant Monarch being dead his people presently left him and fell to spoile all he had leauing him naked of whom one saith trulie and grauely Verè melmuscae c. Surely these flies sought honey these wolues a Carcase these Ants grain for they did not follow the Man but the spoile and bootie Neither must it be vnremembred that the fierce and violent Richard now heire of all comming to meete his Fathers body roially adorned for the buriall according to the Maiestie of his estate the very Corse as it were abhorring and accusing him for his vnnaturall behauiours gushed forth bloud whereat Richard pierced with remorse melted into flouds of teares in most humble and repentant maner attending vpon the remaines of his vnfortunate Father to the Graue His Wife 101 Eleanor the Wife of King Henry was the eldest of the two Daughters and the sole Heire of William Duke of Aquitaine the fift of that name the ninth in succession sonne of Duke William the fourth her Mother was Daughter to Raimund Earle of Tholoâ—…se and her great Dowrie was motiue first to King Lewis who had two daughters by her Mary and Alice and after to King Henry to marry her There are of the French Historians who report that king Henry had a former wife and that shee bare vnto him Prince Henry but Writers of our owne affaires and some also of the French acknowledge but onely Eleanor for his Wife Certain it is that king Henries times were much famoused by two Women of much differing qualities the one was his renowmed Mother Matildis whose Epitaph thus comprised part of her glory Ortu magna viro maior sed maxima prole Hic iâ—…cet Henrici Filiâ—… Sponsa Parens Here Henries Mother Daughter Wife dothrest By Birth much more by Spouse by Child most blest The other was this Eleanor his Wife the first cause of these bloudie Warres which long after continued as hereditary betwixt England and France yea and the bellows of that vnnaturall discord betwixt her husband and his sonnes Shee much out-liued her husband as a bad thing stickes longest beeing so happie as to see three of her sonnes aduanced to the Crowne and so vnhappie as to see two of them in their graues for she liued till King Iohns time His Issue 102 William the eldest sonne and first child of King Henry and Queene Eleanor his wife was borne before his father was King and while hee was but Duke of Normandy in the eighteenth yeere of the raigne of King Stephen 1152. and the fourth yeere after his father beeing then King and in the second yeere of his raigne the Nobilitie of England sware vnto him their fealtie as to the heire apparant of the Kingdome at the Castle of Wallingford in Barkeshire but he deceased the yeere following being the third of his fathers raigne and the fift of his owne age 1156. He was buried in the Monastery of Reading at the feete of his great Grandfather King Henrie the first 103 Henrie the second sonne of King Henry and Queene Eleanor beeing borne the last of Februarie 1156. was their heire apparant after the death of his brother William was Duke of Normandie Earle of Aniou and Maigne and was crowned King of England at Westminster by Roger Arch-bishop of Yorke the fifteenth of Iulie 1170. His wife was Margaret daughter of Lewis the Yonger King of France married to him at Nuburgh in Normandy the second of Nouember 1160. crowned Quene at Winchester by Rotrocke of Warwicke Arch-bishop of Roan the 21. of Nouember 1163. and suruiuing him was remarried to Bela King of Hungarie He died without issue before his father at Marcell in Tourâ—…ine the eleuenth of Iulie the twentie sixe yeere of his fathers raigne 1182. and was buried in the Church of our Lady at Roan 104 Richard the third sonne of King Henrie and Queen Eleanor was born at Oxford in the Kings Pallace there called Beau-Mount in September the fourth yeere of his fathers raigne 1157. He proued a Prince of great valor and was therefore surnamed in French Cuer-de-Lion in English lions-Lions-Heart hee was created Earle of Poyton and had the whole Dutchie of Aquitaine for which he did his homage to King Lewis the Yonger of France in the eighteenth yeere of his fathers raigne 1170. yet afterward he conceiued some discontentment against his father and maintained warres vpon him but was reconciled againe into his loue and succeeded him in his Kingdome 105 Geffrey the fourth sonne of King Henrie and of Queene Eleanor was borne the twentie third of September in the fifth yeere of his fathers raigne 1159. Hee married Constance daughter and heire of Conan Duke of Britane and in her right was Duke of Britane and did his homage to his brother Henry for the same Dutchie and receiued the homages of the Barrons of the same hee died at Paris in the thirtie two yeere of his fathers raigne 1186. the nineteenth of August and is buried in the quire of our Ladies Church there hee had issue Arthur Duke of Britane borne after his fathers decease the heire apparant of King Richard and by some supposed to bee made away by King Iohn and also Eleanor called the Daâ—…sell of Britane who died in prison in the raigne of King Henrie the third 106 Philip the fifth sonne of King Henrie and Queene Eleanor may bee mistrusted to be mistaken by Antiquaries of our time as misunder-standing the ancient writers who mentioning the birth of Philip the Kings sonne might by good likelihood be thought to meane Philip sonne of Lewâ—… the Yonger King of France who was borne about this time and was after King of the same Countrey But Mr Thoâ—…as Talbot an exact trauailer in genealogies hath not onely set him downe in this place amongst the children of this King but also warranteth the same to bee done with good authoritie howsoeuer it is apparant his life was verie short 107 Iohn the sixth and yongest sonne of King Henrie and Queene Eleanor was borne in the thirteenth yeere of his fathers raigne in Anno 1166. hee was iestinglie surnamed by his father Sans-terre in English without Land because hee was borne last as if there had beene nothing left for him Notwithstanding soone after hee was created Earle of Mortaigne and had more-ouer by degrees the Earledomes of Cornwall and Glocester the Counties of Derby and Lancaster the Honors of Wallinford and Nottingham the Castles of
possessions and forcing them euen to the Sea-shoare being a people allotted vnto miserie and by these strangers pursued so vehemently that lastly they were driuen into the West-Angle of this Iland and their liues defended and maintained among those waste Mountaines and hard Rockes which therein were more propitious and gentle then the stonie hearts of their Oppressors CEadwalla a valiant young man and of the bloud-Royall of the Genisses saith Beda being banished from his Country through the enuie of others who maligned him only for his vertues and worthinesse succeeded Kenwin his kinsman in the kingdome of the West-Saxons and with greater glory raigned then any other in that Prouince before him had done He was the Sonne of Kenbert whose Father was Ched the second Sonne of Cuth and Cuth was the third Sonne of Kenrik who was the eldest Sonne of Cherdik that laid the first stone of this kingdomes foundation His first brunt of furie was against Edilwach King of the South-Saxons whom in field he slew and in another battell Berthun that had made himselfe King of that State The I le of Wight also he almost quite wasted and though he were vnbaptized yet did hee binde himselfe by vow to giue the fourth part of the spoile vnto Gods vse and performed it accordingly vnto Bishop Wilfrid who with Bernewine and Hildila conuerted the people from their Idolatrous superstition vnto the true seruice of Christ it beeing the last part of the Saxons possessions that was turned from their Pagan manners Of which his specious deuotion Malmesburie giueth this censure although wee praise his affestion saith hee yet allow wee not the example for it is written that who so offereth vnto God the goods of the poore dooth as it were sacrifice the sonne in the sight of the Father Kent also with greeuous warres hee twice afflicted and therein spilt so much Christian blood that nature her selfe was therein offended and hee at last as much lamented in repentance whereof after hee had raigned in great stoutnes the space of two yeeres in a zealous deuotion went to Rome where of Pope Sergius he was baptized vpon Easter Euen saith Beda the yeere of our Redemption 689. by the name of Peter and wearing as yet the white Robes of innocencie put as the rite then was vpon him at his lauer of Baptisme fell sicke and the twentieth day of April following died hauing had neither wife nor childe that we read of He was buried in Saint Peters Church in Rome vnder a faire Monument with this inscription thereon engrauen Heere Cedwall otherwise named Peter King of the West-Saxons is buried who died the twentieth of Aprill in the second Indiction and liued thirty yeeres or thereabouts when that noble and mighty Prince Iustinian was Emperour of Rome and had raigned foure yeeres in the Empire and Sergius a true paterne of the Apostles had sate two yeeres in Peters Seat What hath beene written of this Ceadwall King of the West-Saxons by Beda the Saxon and his followers hath beene attributed to Cadwalader King of the Britaines by Geffrey of Monmouth the Britaine Iohn Castor and More affirming him to be the same man and that vpon the admonition of an Angell hee went to Rome tooke penance of Pope Sergius there died in the twelfth Kalends of May and was there buried with the same Epitaph and after the same manner But the Writer of the Historie of Cambria of Cadwaladers going to Rome and the other appendances seemeth to be doubtfull and saith that it differed from the assertion of Bernardus Guidonius the neerenesse of the names being the very cause of the like relations and confidently affirmeth that it was Edwall the sonne of Cadwalader who in such deuotion went to Rome and there made such a religious end about the yeere of our Lord 720. INe whom Beda calles Hun others Ina the sonne of Kenred the sonne of Cuth the sonne of Cuthwin the sonne of Chelwin the third King of the West-Saxons the sonne of Kenrik the second and hee the sonne of Cherdik the first King in that Prouince after Ceadwals departure to Rome tooke vpon him the gouernment of that Kingdome which hee managed with continuall Victories the terme of thirty eight yeeres His first attempts were against the Kentish-Saxons in reuenge of his cosen Molloes death whose wrath Withred pacified by the paiment of thirty thousand Markes saith William of Malmesbury In the yeere of Grace seuen hundred and eight and twenty one of his owne raigne as Matthew of Westminster hath obserued he fought with the Britaine 's vnder their Captaine Gerent whom he victoriously subdued and in his twenty sixth yeere against Cheolred King of Mercia with doubtfull victorie at the place then called Wodenesbury and in his thirty sixth inuaded the South-Saxons with such successe that hee reduced the same Kingdome into a Prouince and annexed it in subiection to the West-Saxons and manifesting his good desires both to the administration of Iustice and the aduancement of Diuine Pietie he ordained many good Lawes for the amendment of manners in his people which are yet extant written in the Saxon Tongue and translated into Latine by the learned M. William Lambert He built at Wels a Colledge dedicated vnto God and bearing the name of S. Andrewes which afterwards Kenulph King of the West-Saxons made an Episcopall Sea The renowned Abbey of Glastenburie most statelie hee built to the honour of Christ Peter and Paul whereof Malmesburie maketh mention in his booke of Glastenburies Antiquities in a fennie place sequestred frō the road way where formerly had stood the old Cell of Ioseph of Aremathea and that being decaied Deuy Bishop of S. Dauids had thereon erected a new which time also hauing ruinated twelue men well affected in the North parts of Britaine had repaired but now by this Ina was quite pulled downe and after a most sumptuous manner new built the Chapell whereof hee garnished with gold and siluer and gaue rich ornaments thereto as Altar Chalice Censor Candlestickes Bason and holie water Bucket Images and Pale for the Altar of an incredible value for the gold thereupon bestowed amounted to three hundred thirtie three pound waight and the siluer to two-thousand eight hundred thirty fiue pound beside precious Gemmes embrouched in the Celebrating Vestures Hee instituted also a certaine yeerely paiment to the See of Rome enioining euery one of his subiects that possessed in his house of one kinde of goods to the value of twenty pence that he should pay a penny to the Pope yeerely vpon Lammas day which at first was contributed vnder the name of The Kings Almes but afterwards was called and challenged by the name of Peter-pence At length by the instigation and earnest perswasion of Ethelburga his Queene hee renounced the glittering glorie of his present and princely estate wherein hee had in great prosperitie
ordinary mouth of that high Court hee saluted and spake to them at large concerning the premises where as hee vttered the mind of his place by anothers tongue so hee elsewhere prosecuted all affaires by other mens hands and Organs 4 The Duke of Bedford as the nature of his place exacted to settle and preserue the State of France for his young Nephew the King together with Philip Duke of Burgoigne who as yet continued a stedfast friend to the English Soueraignety knowing the Daulphin busie to recouer France strengthned the confines of their gouernment with Garrisons assembled their powers and laboured to retaine the hearts of their owne party The Duke of Bedford Regent of France had words to them to this effect in open assemble That they should not violate their plighted and sworne alleagiance neither by themselues endeauour nor endure that by others their Soueraigne Lord young Henry should be defrauded of his inheritance or that the hatreds and enmities which now beganne to die betweene the French and English names should through the practises of most faithlesse men be renued and reinflamed That they would remember how by Gods speciall fauour and goodnesse the two Kingdoms of France and England were vnited vnder one most faire and goodly Monarchie in an eternall league and lately so established that no humane force could râ—…st That albeit they had sustained dammage by the warre yet the same would bee recouered with aduantage if they honored loued and obeyed their lawfull Soueraigne Lord King Henry and prosecuted his enemies with extremity according to bounden duty This Oration found plausible admission in shew Henry is proclaimed King of England and of France and such chiefes as were present did their homages taking oath to be true The like Obligation and Sacrament of alleagiance was put vpon all the French through the English Dominions in France 5 Charles who as sonne and heire to the late King entitled himselfe King of France by the name of Charles the seuenth being then about the seauen and twentieth yeere of his age full of courage and new hopes gathered what force he could his chiefe Leuies were made in Daulphynois and Italy from whence for money he drew sundry troupes But the best sinews of his Army moued in certain thousands of the Scotish Nation which serued vnder him The first steppe which the Charolines or forces of Charles made into hostile action was vnfortunate for comming to raise the siege which the English held about Crepan they were put to flight with the losse of about two thousand of their numbers This was noble in Charles and his Charolines that their minds sunke not at the horrour of such an euill Omen It was saith Aemylius of them resolued to encounter aduerse fortune with encrease of courage The Regent on the other side was vigilant vpon all occasions the power of his Regency extended it selfe without contradiction through Vimew Pontieu and Picardie from Paris to Reines Chalons and Troyes vp to the water of Loyr and the Sea A goodly scope of territory and absolutely the best of France That late losse foile of the Charolines was repaired shortly after by an ouerthrow in skirmish which they gaue to the English party from whom with the slaughter of about fifteene hundreth they recouered a great booty specially of Cattel which the English had gotten in the Countries of Nugion and Main but thus intercepted vpon their return into Normandy Charles which Paul Aemylius omitteth doubteth that successe for Meulan vpon Sein is by him taken where all the English are put to the sword but the possession was short and the reuenge speedy Thomas Montacute Earle of Salisbury a man saith Polydor more like the old Romans then people of that age so great was his vertue and cheualrie hauing with him Iohn of Luxemburg Generall of the Burgundian horsemen recouers the place killing all the French which were found therein 6 At the Citie of Amiens in Picardie the three great Dukes of Bedford Regent of France Burgoign and Britaine meet to consult of the whole course summe of affaires There they renued the League adding that each should be others friend and that all of them should defend King Henries right with their best forces For the better assurance of this profitable amity the Regent then a Bachelour tooke to wife the Lady Anne sister to Philip Duke of Burgundie while the Regent was absent from Paris vpon these iust occasions the Parisians who not long before had sent Ambassadors into England to acknowledge their obedience to King Henry practised with Charles to deliuer their City The Regent had notice of this dangerous treason and with his presence retained them in duety The chiefe Actors paied their liues for satisfaction of the trespasse In good time there arriued out of England ten thousand fresh Souldiers Ouer them hee ordeined Captaines the famous Earle of Salisbury William Pole Earle of Suffolke Robert Willoughby and others Himselfe lead about with him for the generall seruice eighteene hundred horsemen and eight thousand foote With these field-forces the maime of the English estate in France was held together though not without difficulty and diuers aduentures In them he tooke from Charles sundry strong Townes and Fortresses as Crotoy Baside Riol Rula Gyrond Basile Mermound Milham Femel Seintace and many other 7 The Regents chiefe designe was to draw Charles to fight hoping by his ouerthrow to conclude many daies workes in one For this cause he drew into Normandy Charles was then in Tourain where he mustereth his people The Regent prospers in the meane time and takes by siege a place of good importance presuming so to dare the French out to a Battell Iohn Duke of Alanson is sent with an Army and instructions to fight if occasion serued but Charles himselfe was not suffered to hazard his person Not farre from the Towne of Vernoil which the English had taken before the Duke of Alanson and his Charolines could succour it the two Armies embattelled themselues The fight began with shot which seeming not quicke enough to dispatch the work the battels came to hand-stroaks where for some houres there was maintained a constant and doubtfull battell with great furie on both sides The English enured to the French warres hauing borne the first heats of their enemies which are in that Nation most ragefull by perseuerance vtterly brake and put them to flight The Regent himselfe with a battle-axe fought most fiercely winning immortall honor in that bloody iourney There were slaine of the enemies side Iohn Earle of Boughwhan Constable of France Archenbald Dowglas Duke of Tourain and Lieutenant of France Archembald his sonne Earle of Wigton with many other of the Scots Of the French there were slaine the Earle of Vantadowr and sundry others In all there died vpon that side certaine thousands None writes of fewer then foure or fiue thousand nor
the short time wherein he continued the name of a King which onlie was two monthes and sixteene daies and in them also he sate vncrowned without Scepter or ball all which Richard aimed at and perfidiously got before they could come to his head or into his hands His age at the death of his father and entrance into his throne was eleuen yeeres fiue monthes and fiue daies and within three monthes after was with his brother sin othered to death in the Tower of London as shall be shewed in his Raigne of whom we are now by order of succes sion to write RICHARD THE THIRD KING OF ENGLAND AND FRANCE AND LORD OF IRELAND THE FIFTIE SIXTH MONARCH OF THE ENGLISH HIS RAIGNE ACTS ISSVE AND DEATH For the most part written by Sir Thomas Moore CHAPTER XIX RIchard the third sonne of Richard Duke of Yorke born at Fotheringhay Castle in the County of Northampton was first honoured with the title of Glocester being the third Duke of that number consequently by vsurpation crowned King of England the third of that name a name indeed noted to the Kings so called to bee euer ominous and the title of Glocester to those Dukes euer fatall all of them both dying violent and vntimely deathes which ought to haue beene the more fearefull vnto Richard now hauing possession and interest in them both But that not regarded or destiny enforcing his aspiring mind gaue him no rest till his restlesse body found it lastly in the graue For his brother deceased when his life was most desired no man in shew tooke his death so heauily as himselfe or tendered the young King with a more honourable respect when as God knowes his mind ranne vpon deepe reaches how to compasse the wreath for his owne head which the better to fashion hee withdrew a while into the North and at Yorke in most sad and solemne manner obserued the Funerals of the dead King but howsoeuer the Maske couered this subtle Dukes face from the eie of the multitude yet Buckingham well knew the ambitious desire of his aspiring heart and indeed was the Dedalus that made him the wings wherwith he mounted so neere vnto the Sun as that the wax melting like the high-minded young Icarus he caught his last fall 2 What intendments they had before the Kings death is vncertaine though it may be suspected but sure it is he now gone the Duke of Buckingham twice sollicited Gloucester by his messengers in the North met him at Northampton himselfe accompanied him to London forwarded him in Counsell and was the first Actor in this following tragedy For first making him Protector procuring his young Nephew forth of Sanctuary disabling the young King bastardizing them both perswading the Citizens working the Nobility and all this done to set the Crowne vpon crookt Richards head and so moulded their minds vnto the man as they all became humble petitioners vnto him for to accept of the same who in the meane while had well conned his owne part by profuse liberalitie by passing great grauity by singular affability by ministring of iustice and by deepe and close deuises whereby hee wonne to himselfe the hearts of all but the Lawyers especially to serue best his turn which was so affected that in the name of all the States of the Realme a Petition was drawne and presented him to accept the wearing of the Crown the true copy wherof as we find it recorded in the Parliament Rol we haue inserted is as followeth In Rotulo Parliamenti tenti apud Westm. die Veneris Vicesimo tertio die Ianuarii An. Regni Regis Richardi 5. primo inter alia continetur vt sequitur Memorandum quod quaedam billa exhibita fuit coram Domino Rege in Parliamento praedicto in haec verba Where late heretofore that is to say before the consecration coronation and inthronization of our soueraigne Lord the King Richard the third a roll of parchment containing in writing certaine Articles of the Tenor vnderwritten on the behalfe and in the name of the three Estates of this Realme of England that is to witte of the Lords Spirituall Temporall and of the Commons by name and diuers Lords Spirituall and Temporall and other Nobles and notable persons of the Commons in great multitude was presented and actually deliuered vnto our said Soueraigne Lord the intent and effect expressed at large in the same roll to the which Roll and to the considerations and instant petition comprised in the same our said Soueraigne Lord for the publike weale and tranquility of this land benignely assented Now forasmuch as neither the said three Estates neither the said persons which in their name presented and deliuered as it is aforesaid the said Roll vnto our said Soueraigne Lord the King were assembled in forme of Parliament by reason whereof diuers doubts questions and ambiguities beene moued and engendred in the minds of diuers persons as it is said Therefore to the perpetuall memory of the truth and declaration of the same be it ordained prouided and established in this present Parliament that the Tenor of the said roll with all the contents of the same presented as is abouesaid and deliuered to our foresaid Soueraigne Lord the King in the name and in the behalfe of the said three Estates out of Parliament now by the same three Estates assembled in this present Parliament and by authority of the same bee ratified enrolled recorded approued and authorized into remouing the occasions of doubts and ambiguities and to all other lawfull effects that shall now thereof ensue So that all things said affirmed specified desired and remembred in the said rol in the tenor of the same vnderwrittē in the name of the said 3. Estates to the effect expressed in the same roll be of the like effect vertue force as if al the same things had bin so said affirmed specified desired remembred in a full Parliament and by authority of the same accepted approued The Tenor of the said Roll of parchment wherof aboue is made mention followeth is such To the high and Mighty Prince Richard Duke of Glocester Please it your noble Grace to vnderstand the considerations election and petition vnderwritten of vs the Lords Spirituall temporalll and Commons of this Realme of England and thereunto agreably to giue your assent to the common and publike weale of this land to the comfort and gladnese of all the people of the same First we consider how that heretofore in time passed this land many yeers stood in great prosperity honour and tranquilitie which was caused forsomuch as the King then raigning vsed and followed the aduise and counsell of certaine Lords spirituall and temporall and other persons of approued sadnesse prudence policy experience dreading God and hauing tender zeale and affection to indifferent ministration of iustice and to the common and publike weale of
then was Guilfords Bride Iane the elder daughter of Suffolke whose mother Lady Francis then liuing was the daughter of Mary the French Queen the younger sister to King Henry the eight vnto whom King Edward ouer-wrought in his weakenes ordained his Crowne by Will at the suggestions of such Politiques as mount to disherite the two lawfull Princes Mary and Elizabeth and to impugne the Statute in case prouided for the succession of K. Henry the eight his children vnto which Will O griefe to heare subscribed all the Kings Councell most of the Nobility the reuerend Bishops and all the Iudges of the land one onely excepted ouen Sir Iames Halles knight a Iustice of the common Pleas vpright in iudgement a fauourer of the Gospell he I say neuer would write or consent to the disheriting of the Lady Mary 76 The King thus accomplishing what his Statists had wrought lay languishing in his faintnes the end wherefore could not be expected but onely by death and now being worne almost to nothing his last 〈◊〉 drawing to the limits of Nature he lift vp his eyes with a prepared heart and prayed as followeth Lord God deliuer me out of this miserable and wretched life and take me among thy Chosen howbeit not my will but thy will be done Lord I câ—â—â—iâ—… my spirite to thee O Lord thou knowest how happy it were for mee to be with thee yet for thy chosen sake if it bee thy will send me life and health that I may truly serue thee O my Lord blesse thy people and saue thine inheritance O Lord God saue thy chosen people of England O my Lord God defend this Realme from Papistrie and maintaine thy true religion that I and my people may praise thy holy 〈◊〉 for thy sonne Iesus Christs sake So turning 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and seeing some by him saide I thought you had not beene so nigh you said Doctor Owen wee heard you speake to your selfe then said the King I was praying to God O I am faint Lord haue mâ—…rcy 〈◊〉 me and reuiue my spirit 〈◊〉 so saying gaue vp the Ghost to the g 〈…〉 of â—â—glâ—â—d in whom they had conceiued most hopes 77 His vertues were rare and many exceeding most Princes and vices so few that none can be taxed with lesse very learned according to his yeeres he was in the Latine and Greek tongues the French Spanish and Italian yea and saith Hieronymus Cardanus he was adorned with the skill of Logicke naturall Philosophie and Musicke and for Astronomy saith he my selfe had experience whom he learnedly opposed of the cause and course of Comets for Humanity he is the very Image of Morality and in princely graue Maiesty best beseeming a King briefly hee may well seeme to be a miracle in Nature nor doe I speake thus Rhetorically to amplifie things or to make them more then truth is for the truth is more then I do vtter and in this hee was most admirable that hee could tell and recite all the Ports Hauens and Creekes not within his owne Realme onely but also in Scotland and likewise in France what comming in there was how the tide serued in euery of them what burden of Shippe and what winde best serued the comming in into them 78 Of all his Nobles Gentry Iustices and Magistrates he tooke speciall name of their Hospitality and religious conuersations and that which is best accepted of a Prince hee was very liberall louing mercifull meeke and gentle towards his people and so farre from bloud as hee euer fauoured and spared as much as might bee the life of man yea euen of Rebels as wee haue seene neither was hee willing to put Heretickes to death as in a certaine dissertation had once with M. Cheeke it appeared insomuch that when Ioan Butoher should be burned for her heresie all the Councell could not moue him to set his hand to the warrant of her execution vntill D. Cranmer his Godfather Archbishoppe of Canterbury laboured to induce him vnto whom â—…ee said what my Lord will you haue me to send 〈◊〉 quicke to hell and taking the pen vsed this speech I will lay all the charge hereof vpon Cranmer before God Then how his hand had beene gotten for his vncles death is to bee admired 79 But his constancy vnto Christs Gospell with the abandoning of all superstition was very admirable one example among many wee will not let to declare Lady Mary his sister through the suit of Charles the Emperour made great meanes to haue Masse said in her house and that to bee done without all preiudice of law the greatnesse of her Person being the immediate successor and the might of the Emperour in amitie with England moued the Councell to giue their consent to the suit to forward which Cranmer Archbishoppe of Canterbury accompanied with Ridley Bishoppe of London were imployed from them to the King who hearing their message gaue the replication so grounded vppon Scripture as they gaue ouer to vrge more that way but like Politicians alleadged the danger in breach of amity with the Emperour to which the King answered hee would rather aduenture the hazard of his own life then to grant that which was not agreeable to the truth The Bishops yet vrged him with the bonds of nature and submissiuely said they would haue no nay the King seeing himselfe so importunated burst into weeping and sobbingly desired them to be content whereat the teares so abundantly burst from their eyes as they departed his presence not able to speake And for a further testimony of this yong Kings zeale reade if you please a letter sent vnto his sister the Princesse Lady Mary out of the originall 80 Right deare and right entirely beloued sister we greet you well and let you know that it grieneth vs much to 〈◊〉 no amendment in you of that which wee for good cause your soules health our conscience and common tranquility of our Realme haue so long dâ—…sired assuring you that our sufferance hath more demonstration of natâ—…r all loue then contentation of our conscience and fore-sight of our safety Wherefore although you giue 〈◊〉 â—…sion asmuch almost as in you is to diminish our naturall lode yet bee wee loath to feele it decay and meane not to bee so carelesse of you as wee bee prouoked And therfore meaning your weale and therewith ioyning a care not to be found guilty in our own conscience to God hauing cause to require forgiuenesse that wee haue so long for respect of loue towards you omitted our bounde duety we do send at this present our right trusty right welbeloued Counsellor the L. Rich our Chancellor of England our trusty and right well beloued Counsellor Sir Anthony Wingfield Knight Comptroler of our Houshold and Sir Will. Peter Knight one of our two principall Secretaries in message to you touching the order of your house willing you to giue theÌ„ firme credite in those things they shal