Saint Albones and Waltham without presence of the Nobilitie or confluence of the Commons and without the expence of a dinner after the celebrating of the Funerall But Henrie the fift caused his body to bee taken up and removed to Westminster and there interred amongst the Ancestors with Queene Anne his first wife in expiation of his Fathers violent and unfaithfull dealing it was not amisse in regard of the Common-wealth that hee was dead yet they who were actors in his death had small reason to reckon it among their good deeds These accidents attend such Princes as being absolute in power will bee too resolute in will and dissolute in life Humphry the Sonne and heire of the Duke of Glocester in his returne out of Ireland where King Richard had left him prisoner dyed of the plague at Chester the newes whereof kild the Dutchesse his Mother about this time dyed Thomas Mowbray the exiled Duke of Norfolke who had outlived his honour hee married two wives both named Elizabeth the first the Daughter of the Lord Strange who dyed without issue the second Sister and coheire of Thomas Fitzâ—…llayne Earle of Arundel by whom hee had issue Thomas and Iohn Margaret and Isabell. In this yeare also deceased Iohn Duke of Britaine who had taken a Wife Mary Daughter to King Edward the third but by her hee had no issue Also this yeare dyed Edmond Duke of Yorke surnamed of Langley the first sonne of Edward the third his reputation hee kept unblemished and honour untainted hee was not carelesse of good fame nor greedy of greatnesse wary and circumspect in his behaviour not desirous of other mens wealth nor too parcimonious of his owne hee did not by obstinate opposing himselfe against the torrâ—… of the time rashly hazard his fame or fall but by moderation attained safely that degree of praise which others aspiring unto by desperate courses wonne an ambitious death without further profit Hee married two Wives the first was Isabell second Daughter and coheire of Peter King of Castile by whom hee had issue Edward Duke of Albemarle Richard Earle of Cambridge and Constance first married to Thomas Spencer Earle of Glocester and afterwards to Thomas Holland Earle of Kent his second Wife was Ioane Daughter of Thomas Holland Earle of Kent and Sister and coheire of Edmond Earle of Kent but by her had no issue King Charles though Lucidus per intervalla yet sensible of dishonour moved with his Daughters disgrace made preparation to invade England and brought downe his Army into Piccardy but upon the certaine relation of King Richards death hee gave over the enterprise and sent over Embassadours into England to treate or rather intreate that his Daughter with her Dowry might bee restored to him againe King Henry gave them audience and answer that hee would speed Commissioners to Callice to commune and conclude with them both of this and other waighty affaires concerning both the Realmes whither hee sent Edward Duke of Yorke and Henry Earle of Northumberland The French King sent the Duke of Burbon and certaine others to Bulloigne These Commissioners often met sometimes at one place some-times at the other The Frenchmen instantly required their Kings Daughter to bee restored without the doing whereof they had no order to treat of any thing The Englishmen made a proffer to have a match betwixt Prince Henry and the Lady alleaging that there was no disparagement of birth nor disparitie of yeares betwixt them but thereto they would give no consent neither would they agree to the proposition of a perpetuall amitie But in the end it was concluded that Queene Isabell should bee redelivered to her Father but sauns Dowry because the marriage betwixt her and King Richard was never consummate by reason whereof she was not Dowable upon the Treatie of the marriage the surcease from Armes was agreed upon in King Richards dayes for thirtie yeares which was now mutually confirmed for the terme of these yeares unexpected Shortly after King Henry sent the Lady Isabella under the conduct of Thomas Lord Piercy Earle of Worcester in royall estate to Callice being accompanied with a brave troope of honourable Personages of both sexes shee carried with her all the Iewells and Plate which she brought into England with a great surplusage of rich gifts bestowed upon her by the King At Callice shee was received by Valerian Earle of Saint Paul Lieutenant in Picardy and by him conducted to her Father who afterwards gave her in marriage to Charles sonne to Lewis Duke of Orleans and so was rest or rather respite of warre in France procured But the fire and fury of the late sedition was hardly quenched when the Welchmen upon advantage of the doubtfull and unsettled estate of King Henry brake forth into a defection before the King could either lay the groundworke of his Authority or the people frame themselves to a new obedience and having beene taught that common causes must bee maintained by concord they sought by assemblies to establish an association and to set up their owne principalitie againe They Created for their Prince Owen Glendor a fellow of a turbulent spirit and factious disposition and apt to stirre up sedition and strife and though hee was of no great estate by birth he was stout in stomacke of an aspiring spirit and wit somewhat above the ordinary ranke of those untrained people bold crafty agile and as hee liâ—…t to bend his minde mischievous or industrious in equall degree in desires immoderate and rashly adventurous more desirous to doe then circumspect what to doe in his younger yeares hee was a student at the Innes of Court at London and being incensed by a verdict given against him for tithe of land betwixt him and the Lord Gray of Ruthin and by nature being a man not of the mildest disposition by this provocation hee was made savage and rough and determined either to repaire or revenge his losse by setting the whole State on fire Also his expences had beene too excessive for a great man to continue which brought him to barenesse too base for a meane man to endure and therefore hee was necessitated to doe or dare something more then ordinary And more danger hee thought there was in orderly dealing then in hazarding rashly and now opportunitie is presented for troublesome times are most fit for such attempts And some likelihood there was whilst the King and his Nobles were at variance that harme might bee easily wrought to them both upon these causes his desires were founded and upon these troubles his hopes But that his ambitious humour might beare some pretext of honest meaning hee pretended to his Countrymen the recovery of their freedome the desire whereof is so naturally pleasing That birds will rather live hardly abroad in the cold fields then bee daintily dieted in a warme cage and that now occasion was fitly offered or else never to bee expected to ridde them of their servilitie falsly entituled peace whilst the Kings
the point of beliefe for the most of the Councell suggested his innocencie first by his voluntary submission when he had power sufficient either to have kept the field or to have assured his retraite then by his request made not for himselfe but for the ease of the poore Commons next his carefull and honourable endevours both in France and Ireland where if he had had any such traiterous intent he had the pan by the stale and might have kept it But while the Councell are debating this at the very instant the Earle of Kendall and the Lord Lespar crave present admission to the Borde and audience as Embassadours from Burdeux for businesse of great import and speedy dispatch they being admitted declare to the Kings Councell how readily and really the inhabitants of Burdeux are to submit their obedience to the Crowne of England if they might but bee assured to bee defended by it they therefore offer upon the appearance of an Armie in Gascoygne if come before the plot bee discovered to yeeld all up unto them To second this commeth a constant urged report that Edward Earle of March Sonne and heire to the Duke of Yorke with a great power of March-men made a speedy march towards London These newes troubled the Queene those the Councell it is therefore resolved on That the Duke of YORKE lest private dissention should hinder publicke designes of such consequence as the reduction of GASCOIGNE should in the presence of the KING and his Nobilitie and all the Congregation at the high Altar at Pauls take his oath of submission and allegiance to the King of England which he accordingly did and so had liberty to depart to his Castle of Wigmore After his departure the Earle of Shrewsbury with about three thousand men was sent to Gascoyne who arriving in the I le of Madre passed forth with his power and tooke Fronsacke and other pieces But having received in the nightinstructions from Burdeux hee makes all speed thither and was entred therein before the French had notice of his comming so that many of them were slaine by the Lord Espar in their beds shortly after the destruction of Burdeux there arrived at Blay the Earle of Shrowsburies Sonne Sir Iohn Talbot with the Bastard of Somerset with divers others with two and twenty hundred men furnished and victualed by whose meanes Burdeux is well mand with English and provided for at full whilst the Earle was not idle but went from place to place to receive the offred submission of all places whither hee came and having taken Chattillon he strongly and sufficiently fortifieth and furnisheth the same The French King rayseth an Army and forthwith besiegeth by his Commanders Chattillon to the reskue wherof the Earle maketh all possible speed with eight hundred Horse appointing the Earle of Kendall and the Lord Lespar to follow with the foot In his way hee surprised a Tower the French had taken and put all within it to the sword and meeting five hundred French-men that had beene forraging hee slew a great number of them and chased the rest to the Campe upon whose approach the French understanding which way the enemy came they left the siege and retired to a place which they had formerly trenched and fortified whither the Earle followeth them and resolutely chargeth them so home that he got the entry of the Campe where being shot thorow the thigh with a Harquebush and his horse slaine under him his sonne desirous to relieve his Father lost his owne life and therein was accompanied with his Bastard brother Henry Talbot and Sir Edward Hall and thirty other Gentlemen of name the Lord Molynes with threescore others were taken prisoners the rest fled to Burdeux but in the way a thousand of them were slaine Thus on the last day of Iuly at Chattillon the thrice honourable Earle of Shrowsbury the first of that name gave the last testimony of his true service to his King after hee had employed the same to his never-dying Honour in the parts beyond the Seas by the space of foure and twenty yeares hee had married two wives The first was Matild daughter and sole heire of Thomas Nevill Lord Furnivall by whom he had issue Iohn that succeeded him in the Earledome Sir Christopher Talbot and Sir Humphry Talbot Knights His second wife was Margaret elder Daughter and Coheire of Richard Beuchamp Earle of Warwicke by whom hee had issue Iohn Talbot in right of his Wife Vicount Lisle slaine with his Father Sir Humphry Talbot slaine at Mount Sinay Elizabeth married to Iohn Mowbray Earle of Norfolke and Elianor Wife to Thomas Boteleer Lord of Sudley Castle And a naturall sonne slaine as afore with his Father his body was buried in a tombe at Roan in Normandy with this inscriptioa Here lyeth the right noble Knight Iohn Talbot Earle of Shrowsbury Weshford Waterford and Valence Lord Talbot of Goodritch and Orchenfield Lord Srange of Blackmere L. Verdon of Acton L. Cromwell of Wingfield L. Lovetoft of Worsop L. Furnivall of Sheffield L. Fauconbridge knight of the noble orders of St. George St. Michael and the golden Fleece great Marshall to K. Henry the sixt of his Realme of France The Earle of Kendall the Lords Mountferrat Rosayne and Dangladas entred into the Castle of Chattillon which they made good against the French by the space of ten dayes and then without hope of succour delivered it upon composition to have liberty to depart to Burdeux Now the tyde turned againe the Gascoynes levitie being as ready to open the gates to the French as they were but little before to the English by meanes whereof in short time the French recovered againe all Gascoyne except Burdeux which the French King in person layeth siege unto and at length hath it surrendered upon condition that both garrisons and inhabitants with all their substance might safely depart for England or Callice and that the Lords Lespar and Durant with thirty others whose names were expressed upon paine of death should never after be found in the territories of France the neglect of which oath within few yeares after caused Lespar to leave his head behind him there whilst the rest in safetie came to England this losse of Aquitane was palliated by the happy delivery of the Queene of a Sonne who was Christened The King and the Dukes beginning to bandy one against the other gave a beginning to that faction whose end was not procured without the deplorable losse of so many thousand Englishmen and now as a praeludium to that tragedy upon Saint Bartholmewes day an antient custome being that the Maior of London and the Sheriffs should be present in giving prizes to the best Wrastlers at the wrastling place neere More-fields The Prior of Saint Iohns being there to see the sport a servant of his not brooking the disgrace to bee foyled before his Master against the custome of the place would have wrastled againe and with foule
their importunate travaile especially of Sir Iohn Bashy who had procured himselfe to be made Speaker of that Parliament all the Chartells of pardon formerly granted by the King were in this Parliament annulled The Prelates perceiving the intention of drawing divers of the Nobilitie and others in question for their lives did Constitute Sir Henry Piercy their Procurator and depart the house because they might not be present at judgement of blood Then the Earles of Arundel and Warwicke were arraigned for those offences for which they were formerly pardoned and thereupon were condemned to bee hanged drawne and quartered but the King so moderated the severitie of this sentence that the Earle of Arundel was only beheaded and the Earle of Warwicke committed to perpetuall imprisonment in the Isle of Man It was thought a point of policie and peace not to bring the Earle Duke of Glocester to publicke tryall but secretly to put him to death and so hee was strangled betweene two feather-beds by the appointment of Nottingham Earle Marshall of Calice which death howsoever hee might bee thought to him deserved yet dying as hee did not legally called or heard hee may be truly sayd to dye guiltlesse Thomas Archbishop of Canterbury was likewise there accused for executing the Commission against Michael de la Poole for which causes his temporalities were seized his lands and goods forfeited and he himselfe adjudged to exile and to depart the Realme within sixe weekes The Lord Cobham was banished into the Islle of Gernsey and Sir Reignold Cobham condemned to death not for any attempt against the King But because hee was appointed by the Lords to bee one of his governours in the eleventh yeare of his raigne Now the King falsly supposing himselfe free from danger and that the humour against him was cleane purged away conceived more secret content then hee could openly bewray as more able to dissemble his joy then conceale his feare being so blinded and be witched with continuall custome of flatteries that hee perceived not That the state of a Prince is never stablished with cruelty nor confirmed by craft The common people were much dismayd having now lost their only helpes and hopes as well for private affaires as support of the publike state The Plebeians were much incensed against the King And to make their deaths seeme the more foule The Earle of Arundel hath the reputation of a martyr and Pilgrimages are made to the place of his interment yea it went for current likewise that his head was miraculously joyned to the body This being generally affirmed but without any ground The Corps therefore are taken up ten dayes after the buriall and finding the fame to bee fabulous the King caused the ground to bee paved where the body was layd publickly forbidding all further speeches thereof afterward to bee used But this restraint raysed fame the more and they that if it had beene lawfull would have beene silent being now forbidden could not forbeare to talke The King Createth five Dukes Henry Earle of Darby was created Duke of Hereford Edward first Earle of Rutland was created Duke of Ammerlo and Corke in Ireland Thomas Holland the Earle of Kent was created Duke of Southry Sir Iohn Holland Earle of Huntington was created Duke of Exceter Iohn Lord Moubrey Earle of Nottingham was created Duke of Norfolke This Title of honour long time after the Conquest amongst the Normans whose chiefest Rulers had no greater Tytle was accounted too high for a subject to beare the forme of the R. P. being framed by the Conquerour far from equalitie of all and yet the King exempted from alike eminency of any The King likewise created Margaret daughter and heire of Thomas Brockerson Countesse of Norfolke Dutchesse of Norfolke Iohn Bewfort sonne of Iohn of Gaunt Earle of Sommerset was created Marquesse of Sommerset Thomas Lord Spencer was created Earle of Gloucester Ralph Lord Nevill was created Earle of Westmerland William Lord Scroope sonne of Richard Lord Scroope Lord Chancellor was created Earle of Wiltes Sir Thomas Piercy Vicechamberlaine was created Earle of Worcester Amongst whom was made a distribution of a great part of the Lands of the Duke of Glocester and of the Earles of Arundell and Warwicke supposing by this double bountie of Honour and meanes to maintaine it to have tyde them with a double obligation of dutie and affection but â—…ired friends for the most part are seldome either satisfied or sure but like the Ravens in Arabia that full gorged have a tunable sweet record but empty scrich horribly The Duke of Hereford as it were to rayse his desires to his dignities either upon the disdaine of the undeserved favours and advancement of some persons about the King or disliking that his Soveraigne should bee so abused and abased by such or else to make knowne his owne sufficiency in matters of controlement and direction one day having familiar conference with the Duke of Norfolke complained that the King too much undervalued the Princes of the blood royall and much discouraged the rest of the Nobilitie from intermedling in publike affaires That in steed of these hee was wholly guided by a few new-found and new-fangled Favourites of dunghill-breed of base qualities having no sufficiency either for Councell for peace or courage for warre who being of all men both the most unhonest and most unable which hatefulnesse of the one and contempt of the other were generally despised in all the Realme whereby the Honour of the Kings person was much blemished for ungrate and ungratious adherents to a King are alwayes the path to hatred and contempt secondly the safety of his estate might bee endangered for extraordinary favours to men of apparant weake or bad desert doth breed insolency in them and discontentment in others two dangerous humours in a Common-wealth Thirdly the dignitie of the Realme was much impayred whose valour and successe being guided by the ill successe of such unlucky leaders stood never in the like doubts of danger and distresse as now it did so that matters of peace were tumultuous and uncertaine and atchievements in warre were never brought to honourable conclusions And that it was high time that the King should looke unto them for the Nobilitie grew out of heart the Commons out of hope and all the people were fallen into a discontented murmuring And this hee affirmed hee sayd not for any grudge to any particular person but for griefe for the publike grievance and good will to his Soveraigne and therefore desired the Duke who was one of the Kings Cabinet counsell to discover unto him these deformities and dangers that by repayring the one hee might happily repell the other These words procured to the Duke of Hereford both great offence and great glory At the delivery whereof the Duke of Norfolke made shew of good liking well approving them and made promise of sincere dealing therein And had they afterward by him beene as faithfully related and
bee adjudged as unworthy as hee seemed unwilling to retaine the Soveraigntie whereupon certaine Articles were ingrossed and publikely read in which was contained how unprofitable he had beene to the Realme how unjust and grievous to the Subjects repugnant both to his oath and honour The principall of which Articles were 1. That hee had wastfully spent the Treasure of the Kealme and had to unworthy persons given the possessions of the Crowne by reason whereof many great and grievous taxes were daily layd upon the Commons 2. That whereas divers Lords aswell spirituall as temporall were by the high Court of Parliament appointed to treate of matters concerning the State of the Kingdome they being busied about the same Commission hee with others of his accomplices went about to appeach them of high Treason 3. That by force and threats hee enforced the Iudges of the Realme at Shrowsbury to condiscend to his way for the destruction of the said Lords That thereupon hee raised warre against Iohn Duke of Lancaster Thomas Earle of Arundell Richard Earle of Warwicke and others contrary to his promise in derogation of the honour of the King That hee caused his fathers owne brother the Duke of Glocester without law to be attached and sent to Callice and there without reason secretly murthered That notwithstanding the Earle of Arundell at his arraignment pleaded his Charter of pardon hee could not bee heard but was shamefully and suddenly put to death That hee assembled certain Lancashire and Cheshire men to make warre upon the foresaid Lords and suffered them to robbe and spoyle without reproofe or prohibition 4. That though hee dissembled and had made Proclamation That the Lords were not attached for any crime of Treason but for oppression done within the Realme yet hee objected against them in the Parliament treason and rebellion 5. That notwithstanding his Pardon granted to them hee enforced divers of the Lords partakers to bee againe intollerably fined to their utter undoing 6. That contrary to his promise in Parliament hee to his great dishonour kept away divers Rowles and Records which by agreement should have beene showne to certaine Commissioners appointed to treate of the affaires of the Common-wealth 7. That hee commanded that no man upon paine of death should entreat for the returne of Henry now Duke of Lancaster 8. That whereas the Realme is immediately holden of God he after he had obtained in Parliament divers Acts for his owne particular ends procured Bulls and heavy censures from Rome to compell his Subjects under heavy censures from Rome to observe and performe them contrary to the Honour and antient priviledge of this kingdome 9. That though the Duke of Lancaster had done his devoyre against the Duke of Norfolke in defence of his quarrell yet hee banished him the land without showing just cause contrarie to equitie and the law of Armes 10. That having under the great Seale given leave to the said Duke of Hereford to make Proxies and Attornies to prosecute and defend his causes The said King after the Dukes departure would not permit any to appeare for him 11. That hee had put out divers high Sheriffes having beene lawfully elected putting into their roomes some of his Favourites subverting the course of the law contrary to his oath and honour 12. Hee borrowed great summes and bound himselfe for repayment but no peny thereof payed 13. That hee layd taxations upon his Subjects at his pleasure consuming the Treasure in idle expences but not paying the poore subject for his owne viands 14. That hee affirmed all the Law lay in his head and brest by which phreneticall conceit divers of the Nobilitie were destroyed and the poore Commons fleeced 15. That hee procured by his Solicitors in the Parliament an Act to bee established that no Act of Parliament should bee more prejudiciall to him then it was to his Predecessors through which proviso hee did what he list and not what the law did allow 16. That for his ends hee would keep Sheriffes of shires longer then two or one yeare in the office 17. That hee put out divers Knights and Burgesses legally elected and put others of his owne choice in their roomes to serve his owne turne 18. That hee had spies and informers in every Countrey to heare and observe the words and demeanours of the people And if any reproved his loose and licentious courses they were convented and grievously fined 19. The spiritualitie objected against him that at his going into Ireland hee squeesed out many summes of money besides jewels and Plate without Law or Custome contrary to his oath at his Coronation That divers Lords and Iustices being sworne to speake the truth in divers things concerning the honour and safetie of the Realme and profit of the King hee did so threaten them that no man would or durst deliver the truth 20. That without the assent of the Peeres hee carried the Iewels and Plate of this Kingdome into Ireland to the great impoverishing of the Realme many of them being there lost 21. That hee caused all remembrances of the great exactions and extortions by him used and safely deposited amongst the Parliamentary Records to bee privily imbeazeled and carried away 22. That in all his Letters to the Pope and other Princes his stile was cunning and obscure that neither they nor his owne Subjects were certaine of his true meaning 23. That hee forgetfully affirmed that all the lives of his Subjects were in his hands to dispose at his pleasure 24. That hee contrary to the great Charter of England procured divers able men to appeale aged people upon matters determinable at Common law in the Marshalls Court because in that Court there is no tryall but by battaile whereby such Appealers knowing their insufficiencie submitted themselves to his mercie whom he at his pleasure unreasonably fined 25. That hee devised strange formes of oathes contrary to law and enforced divers his subjects to take and observe the same and to that end bound them by Recognizance to the great hinderance of many poore men and the dishonour of God 26. That where the Chancelour upon good grounds denyed a Prohibition to a certaine person moving for the same yet hee granted it to the same persons under the privie Seale with a grievous paine if not obeyed 27. That hee banished the Archbishop of Canterbury without just cause or judgement and kept him with armed men in the Parliament Chamber 28. That hee granted all his goods to his successors conditionally that he should maintaine all the Statutes made Anno 21. at Shrousbury and the 22. yeare of his Raigne at Coventrie 29. That upon the first convention of the Bishop of Canterbury he cunningly perswaded the Archbishop to make no answer for hee would bee his warrant perswading him to decline the Parliament And so without answer hee was condemned to be exiled and his goods seized on foure other Articles in behalfe of the Bishops were layed against him by whose
round about The Scots under the leading of Archibald Dowglasse about the number of twenty thousand with barbarous crueltie entred into Northumberland making havocke by the way but at a place called Homildon they were encountred by the English under the leading of Henry Lord Piercy surnamed Hotspur and George Earle of March on holy-rood day in harvest who put them to flight and tooke prisoners after the slaughter of ten thousand of them five hundred whereof Mordack Earle of Fife the sonne of the Generall who in the fight lost one of his eyes Thomas Earle Murry Robert Earle of Angus the Earles of Atholl and Mentits were chiefe and amongst the slaine were Sir Iohn Swinton Sir Adam Gordon Sir Iohn Leviston Sir Alexander Ramsey of Dalehowsey and twenty three other Knights Piercy having put his prisoners in safe keeping entred Tividale wasting all in the way and there besieged the Castle of Cockclawes of which Sir Iohn Greenlow was Captaine who upon condition that if hee were not relieved within three moneths compounded to surrender the Castle The first two moneths were past and no reskue nor likelihood thereof appeared But before the expiration of the third moneth the souldiers were sent for to attend the King in his expedition as before against Glendour and so they raised the siege and departed with a plentifull bootie The French King to backe Glendour in his trayterous designes not so much for love of him as hatred to King Henry sent twelve hundred men of qualitie to bee Captaines and Commanders to those rebellious disorderly troopes but the windes were so contrary and the violence of the storme such that they lost twelve of their best ships with their fraught and the rest with great difficultie returned to France The English deriding the whilst the French Kings ill successe whose enterprises though they threatned much yet they alwayes vanished to nothing The report whereof so exasperated his resolutions that forthwith hee sent into Wales twelve thousand men who safely landed and joyned with the Welch But upon notice of the English Armies approach suspecting their owne strength or their partakers fidelitie amazed and heartlesse they ran to their shippes and without any service done disgracefully turned home King Henryes Embassadours lately sent into Britaine for the Lady Iane de Navar Dutchesse of Britaine the relict of Iohn de Mountford surnamed the Conqueror with whom the King by procurators had contracted matrimony in the beginning of February returned with her in safetie The King met her at Winchester where the seventh of February the Mariage was solemnized In the meane time Valerian Earle of St. Pauls out of a malitious hatred to King Henry with seventeene hundred men of warre from Harâ—…ew landed in the Isle of Wight where burning two Villages and some few Cottages in token of triumph hee made some Knights But hearing the people of the Island to have assembled hee hasted to his shippes and retired About that time Iohn Earle of Cleremont the heire of Bourbon wonne from the English the Castles of Saint Peter and Saint Mary and the new Castle The Lord de la Bret wonne the Castle of Calafyn of great consequence for the honour of England to bee questioned The Piercies Earles of Northumberland and Worcester with Henry Hotspur which in the initiation of King Henryes attempts had beene both advisers and coadjutors about this time began to turne retrograde to obedience their reason was for that the King not only refused at their request to redeeme their kinsman Mortimer from Glendours slavery though often by them and their friends to that purpose solicited But likewise contrary to the law of the field and Martiall custome as they pretended had challenged as of right pertaining to him all such prisoners as by their martiall prowesse had beene taken of the Scots either at Homeldon or Nesbyt of which they formerly whether of curtesie or duty by them it was disputable only had delivered unto him Morduk the Duke of Albanyes sonne Neverthelesse they came to the King at Windsor where of purpose to prove him they required that either by ransome or otherwise hee would procure the liberty and inlargement of their cousin german Edmond Mortymer â—…avishly shackled and abused as they affirmed for being true to him The King made answer That the Earle of March was not taken prisoner in defence of his Title nor in his service but willingly suffered himselfe to bee taken because he would not withstand the attempts of the Traytor Owen and his Complices and therefore neither would relieve nor ransome him Whereupon Henry Hotspur brake forth and in passion said The heire of the Realme is bereaved of his right and the robber will not allow him part of his owne for his redemption and therewith the Piercies departed the Kings presence and presently procured Mortymers delivery and to adde more waight to King Henrye's displeasure they entred into a league offensive and defensive with Glendour And by their Proxies in the house of the Archdeacon of Bangor they agreed upon a tripartite Indenture under their hands and seales respectively to bee made to divide the Kingdome into three parts whereby all England from Severne and Trent South and Eastward was assigned for the portion of the Earle of March all Wales and the lands beyond Severne Westward were assigned to bee the portion of Owen Glendour and all the remainder of land from Trent Northward to bee allotted to Lord Piercy This was devised or advised say some by Glendour whom they would make a Southsayer by occasion of a Prophesie as though King Henrie was the Mowldwarpe cursed of Gods owne mouth and they three must bee the Lyon the Dragon and the Wolfe which should divide the land among them But the event proved those blinde fantasticall dreames of the Welch Southsayers to bee Deviationes non divinationes In the meane time King Henry not acquainted with these Conspiracies caused a Proclamation to bee made intimating thereby that the Earle of March had voluntarily caused himselfe to bee taken prisoner That the Rebells having him in their custody and company might pretend some colour wherewith to varnish such conspiracies as secretly they had complotted and contrived against his Crowne and him And therefore his discretion for his safetie advised him not to hearken to any motion for his being redeemed Hereupon the Piercies assisted with a company of Scots whom they by setting their Scottish Prisoners at libertie had procured drew to their partie the Earle of Stafford and Richard Scroope Archbishop of Yorke brother to the beheaded Earle of Salisbury and many others and with them purposed to joyne with the Captaine of the Welch And to set the better glosse to their treasonable attempts they framed by way of accusation certaine Articles against the King which they published and to this effect sent them unto him in writing Articles against King Henry 1. IN primis That when hee returned from his Exilement hee made faith only
to whom that place was assigned Fauconbridge and Blunt continue the leading of the vantguard And on Palme-Sunday by breake of day they came to Saxton from whence they made a full survay of King Henryes army and certified the Earle of March that the enemie was threescore thousand strong whereupon a second Proclamation was made through the Campe That no quarter should be kept nor prisoner taken a Course more savoring of policie then Religion yet by so much the more excusable by how much his number was so far short of his adversarie The armies being both in sight The Lord Fauconbridge gave direction to the bowmen upon a signall by him to be given to shoot every man a flight arrow for that purpose provided and then to fall backe three strides and stand which they accordingly did The Notherne men hereupon plied their bowes untill their sheaves were empty But all their arrowes fell short of the marke and turned to their owne disadvantage For their arrowes being spent hasting to ioyne to come to hand-blowes Their owne arrowes did themselves much hurt that had done the adversary no harme at all The works of those sticking galling their shinnes and the splinters of those broken piercing their feete whilst the Southerne men shot at their bodyes as if they had beene shooting at butts policy prevailing beyond strength Ten houres in doubtfull termes of victory The battaile continued when the Earle of Northumberland being slaine with the Lords Beamond Gray Dacres The Earles of Exceter and Somerset fled left the conquest to the Earle of March but the bloodiest that ever England felt for on that day fell there thirty six thousand seven hundred threescore and sixteene persons besides those that dyed of the hurts then received all of one nation no prisoners being taken but the Earle of Devon This Henry Earle of Northumberland now slaine was the third Earle of the familie of Peircyes he married Elianor Daughter and heire of Richard Lord Poyning by whom he had issue Henry that succeeded him in the Earldome and three daughters Elizabeth married to Henry Lord Scroope 2 Elianor married to West Lord Laware 3 Margaret married to Sir William Gascoyne The victor hasts to Yorke where he is readily admitted entrance when presently he causeth The heads of his father and his friends to be taken downe and buried with their bodyes setting in their places the heads of the Earle of Devon and three others there then executed This Earle of Devon was Thomas the xvi Earle and Lord of Ockhampton he married Margaret daughter of Iohn Beawford Earle of Somerset by whom he had issue three sonnes and two daughters Thomas who was taken with his father and presently by reason of the Proclamation slaine Henry the second sonne who was after beheaded at Salisbury and Iohn who was after slaine at Tewkesbury The father and the three sonnes with the losse of their best bloods witnessing their true affection to the house of Lancaster Iohan his eldest daughter was married to Sir Roger Clifford Knight and Elizabeth was married to Sir Hugh Courtney Knight The Earle of Somerset being the messenger of the late overthrow perswades and prevailes with King Henry his Queene and sonne from Yorke to flye to Barwicke where leaving the Earle of Somerset they slye further for succour to the King of Scots who comforteth them with promise of reliefe but maketh a sure bargaine and receiveth in liewe of a pension to be assigned to King Henry during his aboad there from him upon Saint Markes day the Towne and Castle of Barwick to such poore shifts was this potent King driven to pawne his best fortresse for bare food Queene Margaret and her sonne are sent to France to labour there whilst those that stayed with the King himselfe being onely intentive to devotion fayled not to solicite friends and make preparation for a second encounter The Queene upon her arrivall obtayned of Lewis the eleventh her Cousin that those of the house of Yorkes favorites were prohibted trafficke or stay in the French Kings dominions But all such as loved the Lancastrian line were permitted freely In triumphant manner the Earle of March commeth to London where he is by the Maior and Citizens gloriously entertained being by them upon the xxvi day of Iune from Lambeth attended to the Tower of London who upon his first entrance therein invested foure and twentie with order of Knighthood and upon the next day he did the like to foure more Vpon the xxviii day of Iune he rode through London from the Tower to Westminster where he was Crowned in the Abby there A Parliament is summoned which began at VVestminster upon the fourth of November in which all acts of Henry the sixt formerly made which might see me any way preiudiciall to Edw. title or profit were repealed And therein Iohn Earle of Oxford a learned valiant wise man he who in a former Parliament disputed the question concerning the precedency betweene the temporall and spirituall Barones a bold attempt in those dayes and by force of whose arguments iudgment was given for the Lords temporall with his sonne Aubry de Vere Sir Thomas Tiddenham Kinght William Terrill and VValter Mongomery Esquires were without answer convict of Treason and beheaded This Iohn Earle of Oxford married Elizabeth the daughter and heire of Sir Iohn Howard and had issue five sonnes and three daughters 1 Aubry de Vere beheaded with his father 2 Iohn de Vere that succeeded in the Earledome 3 George Vere Knight that died living his father 4 Richard Vere and 5 Thomas Vere Knights 1 Mary a profest Nunne at Barking in Essex 2 Ioan married to Sir VVilliam Norris and 3 Elizabeth married to VVilliam Bourcheir sonne and heire of Henry Bourcheir Earle of Essex King Edward to encourage others to obtaine like favour by well deserving at his hands after that he had created his two younger brethren George and Richard the one Duke of Clarence the other Duke of Glocester he maketh Iohn Lord Nevill first Vicount then Marquesse Mountacute Henry Bourcheir whose brother was Archbishop of Canterbury Earle of Essex and VVilliam Lord Fauconbridg Earle of Kent enobling many others with dignities and honorable titles To hansell their new Honors Essex and Kent with the Lord Audley and divers other of the nobility with ten thousand souldiers are sent to skowre the narrow Seas these land in Britaine and by force enter the Towne of Conquet and the Isle of Ree which having pillaged and the Coasts cleered they returne Henry Duke of Somerset Sir Ralph Peircy with some others come in and submit themselues to King Edwards mercy who gratiously receiveth and entertaineth them protesting his propension of free pardoning them and as many others as would follow their example of submission The distressed Queene with five hundred French a small stake to play an aftergame of Reputation with came to the Coasts of Scotland and from thence sailes to Timmothe where
all places provide such as had Castles or Piles of strength furnish them with men and amunition And others use their best meanes that money and men may bee got in readinesse against the Earles arrivall Bishop Morton who had gained opportunitie against the Duke of Buckinghams will to convey himselfe into the Lowe-Countryes is not slacke by Letters and private messages to conjure all such as hee knew either to hate or envy King Richard or to have loved King Edward to lay to their helping hands with all their might in this conjuration Now whether amongst so many through some false brothers treachery or out of his watchfull jelousie over Buckingham it is uncertaine But King Richard hath intelligence of the designe and politickly dissembleth it but secretly giveth order as it were but to take a muster to draw his forces together amongst whom hee suddenly comes and having appointed his carriages to follow him hee marcheth away without acquainting any of the Commanders with any particular place whither hee lead these forces In the meane time first by proffer of friendship by faire termes the King did solicite the Dukes presence at London where the King kept his standing house But receiving from him but delatory put offs The King then sent a peremptory message by the tye of his alleageance to come away which was returned with this resolute answer That hee would not if hee could avoid it have any conversation with an ungratefull per jured inhumane butcher of his owne flesh and blood so that now preparation to offend and defend by the sword is made on both parts The King holds on his march whereupon all the conjurators in every quarter are in overt commotion Thomas Marquesse Dorset preserved from slaughter by the only favour of Sir Thomas Lovell against the Kings will forsaketh Sanctuarie and in York-shire laboureth to raise forces The two Courtneys in Devon and Cornwall take the same course and they are seconded in Kent by Guilford and Rame so that civill combustion is in every quarter of the Realme King Richard notwithstanding severs not his forces but keepes on his march towards Buckingham who having notice thereof both readily and willingly setteth forward bending his course thorow the Forrest of Deane intending at Glocester to have passed Severne and so to have joyned forces with the two Courtneys and the Westerne Confederates but by the long continuance of wet weather the waters thereabouts were risen so high that Severne was broken out and had overflowne all the Countries so that it was a thing impossible for the Dukes forces to bee transported which the Welch-men drawne thither more for feare then love tooke advantage of saying it was a prodigious token of their ill successe in the enterprise and secretly by night slipt away from him whose example the residue followed so that the Duke upon this disbanding was left to shift by himselfe whereupon hee dismist all his followers and without or Page or Foot-man repayred to the house of one Humphry Bannister who dwelt neere Shrowsbury presuming there he might safely lodge in obscurity untill better fortune should smile the rather for that the many extraordinary favours formerly done to the said Bannister and his father before him might justly challenge willing entertainment during his secret stay there if not more The newes of this disaster added wings to the other conjurators to disperse their powers and flye some to Sanctuary others to unknowne places all of them making the best shift they could to escape but they sped best which conveyed themselves into Britanny Amongst whom the Marquesse Dorset John Lord Wells the Bishop of Exceter and his brother Sir John Bourchier Sir Edward Woodvile brother to Queene Elizabeth Sir Robert Willoughby Sir Giles Daubeney Sir Thomas Arundell Sir John Cheney and his two brethren Sir William Barckley Sir William Brandon and his Brother Thomas Sir Richard Egmond Hollowell and Poynings Captaines were chiefe King Richard having intelligence that the enemy was fled sent order presently to lay all the Ports with strict charge that none should goe on borde or come on shore without especiall warrant Hee likewise made publick Proclamation that if any one could bring tydings of the Duke of Buckingham who was now proclaimed Traitour and all his lands and goods seized into the Kings hands so that the Duke might bee apprehended if the person were a bondman hee should bee manumitted if a freeman hee should have a generall pardon and a thousand pound currant English coyne Whilst these things are thus in agitation King Richard hath information from Hutton his Leiger Embassadour in Britaine That the Duke thereof not only refused to keepe the Earle of Richmond in restraint of libertie Bu was seeming forward to give him his assistance to prosecute his intendmentt which was to worke some exploit in England Wherefore the King tooke especiall order for the present rigging and preparing his Navy to stop if possible the Earles landing in any Port of England In the interim whether feare to offend the law or greedy Covetousnesse to gaine the thousand pounds it is yet disputable but Bannister like an ungratefull servant perfidiously discovered his Master the Duke of Buckingham to Iohn Mitton then high Sheriffe of Shropshire who thereupon apprehended him in a little Grove neere Bannisters dwelling house and conveyed him to Shrowsbury where King Richard lay from whence upon All-Soules day hee was conveyed to Salisbury and then and there without arraignment or legall proceedings in the Market-place beheaded Whether Bannister received his proclaimed reward is uncertaine but that Gods judgements appeared afterwards against him and his is very remarkable for hee was afterwards hanged for man-slaughter his eldest daughter is debauncht by one of his Carters and his sonne and heire in a desperate lunacy became his owne butcher and was so found by the Coruors inquest This Henry Duke of Buckingham was Earle of Stafford Hereford Northampton Lord of Brecknocke Kimbolton and Tunbridge and high Constable of England Hee married Katherine Daughter of Richard Woodvile Earle Rivers by whom he had issue three Sons and two Daughters 1. Edward who by Henry the seventh was restored to blood and succeeded in his Fathers honours 2. Henry the said King Created Earle of Wilts 3. And Humphry that dyed young 1. Elizabeth married to Robert Radcliffe Lord Fitz-Waters 2. Anna married first to Sir Walter Harbert and afterwards George Lord Hastings Earle of Huntington Vpon the twelfth day of October the Earle of Richmond with fourtie ships and five thousand waged Britons tooke the Seas But that evening by the rage of an impetuous tempest the whole Navy was dispersed The ship wherein the Earle was with one only little Barke after they had endured the rage of the tempest eight and fourty houres was driven upon the coast of Cornwall where hee giveth expresse commandement that none should dare to take land untill the fleet were drawne together But after hee had huld up and downe the shore
inflicted on any only the Earle of Sarum and the Lord Morley who had beene in especiall grace with King Richard These two were committed but at the intercession of their friends they were quickly released the rest but especially the Duke of Aumerle and the Duke of Exceter the Governour of Callice hee received freely to favour Aumerle was Cousin german to both Kings Exceter halfe Brother to King Richard and Brother-in-law to King Henry as having espoused his Sister the Lady Elizabeth The greatest crime they could enforce against them was their being firme to King Richard because they did not only stomacke his dejection but stirre more then others and assay to raise forces on his behalfe The Dukes confessed the first accusation affirming they were unfortunately faithfull to King Richard but as they that are once false prove seldome after firmely sound so they that have approved themselves true to one Prince may bee the better trusted by another The King did rather admit this as a defence then remit it as a fault affirming that such examples were not to bee misliked of Princes and did afterwards by curtesie and liberalitie endevour to make them firme and faithfull unto him This fact was diversly interpreted according to mens severall dispositions some admiring the Kings moderation others disallowing his confidence And though these meanes have to that purpose prevailed with some yet the common course may move us to conjecture that there is small assurance to bee had in reconciled enemies whose affections for the most part are like to glasse which being once crackt will never bee otherwise then crazed and ever unsound During this time of Parliament held at Westminster the Archbishop had convoked a Synod which was held in Pauls Church to whom the King sent the Earles of Northumberland and Westmerland who declared to the Clergie that they were not sent to them from the King to require any moneys from them but to acquaint them with the Kings resolution which was to confirme all their priviledges and immunities unto them and to joyne with them as they should desire him in the punishment of all hereticks and opposites to their religion received for which so doing hee craved but their supplications to God for the safetie of him and his posteritie and prosperitie of the kingdome which was by all there present religiously promised Now to palliate all prejudice and hard opinion which other Princes might happily conceive of these his proceedings Hee dispatched Embassadours to divers his bordering neighbours intimating to them respectively both by what Title and whose favour hee had obtained the Kingdome To Rome he sent the Bishop of Hereford Sir Iohn Cheney Knight and Iohn Cheney Esquire to France the Bishop of Durham and the Earle of Worcester into Spaine the Bishop of Saint Asaphs and Sir William Par into Almaine the Bishop of Bangor and others most of these Princes as in a matter which little concerned them either in point of honour or hatred seemed to take no notice of what was done or were easily perswaded that all was done well But Charles of France was so disquieted with this dishonourable dealing with his Son-in-law that his passion upon the first relation thereof put him into his old fit of phrenzie but recovered thereof hee provided for to revenge the injury Many of the Nobilitie of France were forward to set a foot this enterprise but especially the Earle of Saint Paul who had married King Richards halfe Sister so that defiance is sent and on both sides preparation for warre is made These novelties much animated the Aquitains being under the English command some were grieved at the infamous blemish of disloyaltie which was cast upon the Nation others feared their being made a prey to the tyrannie of the French against whom they had cause to suspect that England being distracted by civill factions either would not attend or could not bee able to beare them out But the Burdisians were principally perplexed with King Richards wrongs because hee was borne and bred in their Citie The Frenchmen generally were nothing displeased at this discontentment of the Aquitanes supposing that opportunitie was now offered to regaine the possession of the Dutchy of Guian if either power or pollicie were seasonably applied Hereupon Lewis Duke of Burbon came downe to Angiers who from thence solicited the chiefe Townes of Guyan by faire speeches and large promises to change their allegiance but the Lieutenant there Sir Robert Knowles withall diligence industry laboured to suppresse the mutinous to stay the doubtfull to confirme the good and to retaine all in due obedience and order But hee prevailed very little his armie being but weake and the people stiffenecked Neither did Burbon much prevaile due consideration being had how heavy the yoke of France was above the subjection of the English having beene well acquainted with the tributes and taxes wherewith the Frenchmen were usually taxed who had in every Country assigned Lieutenants and Treasurers the one to draw the blood the other the substance of the slavish-made subjects whose cruelty and covetousnesse laid hold without exceptions of all the one tormenting by force the other by law Thus like a ship that the tyde driveth one way and the wind another betwixt obedience and revolt stood the Aquitanes they were willing enough to displease the English but most unwilling to indanger or undoe themselves by adhering to the French upon advertisement whereof the Earle of Worcester with a Company of able and willing souldiers is sent into Guyan who not by unseasonable exprobrating their fault but by reason convincing it partly by his wisdome and credit and partly by his authoritie and power so terrified the wavering multitude that he won them to his opinion and kept their allegeance The graver sort with respect of dutie and faith the rest with regard of feare and danger Then hee tooke their oathes for obedience unto King Henry and planted garrisons in places of import without molestation if they remained dutifull and yet of force sufficient to keepe them under if they should attempt to rebell and then returned to England there showing a faire example of moderation in seeming rather to have found then made the Aquitanes dutifull Subjects This stirre no sooner stinted when another more desperately dangerous did arise For divers who had dissembled or did repent the furtherance they had used to the advancement of King Henry conspired to compasse his destruction whether for favour to King Richard as the nature of man is to behold sudden miseries with the eyes of pitie or for envie to King Henry as commonly wee can endure excessive fortune no where so little as in those that have beene in equall degree with our selves or whether upon distaste received in the late Parliament or in disdaine to see others goe before them in the Princes favour it is uncertaine many sought to revenge their unjust anger with revolting There was in those times an Abbot
the wall to his Soveraignes house to bee done at his charge For which so saying the King sharply reprehendeth VVickham To whom VVickham modestly replieth that it was farre from his thought to ascribe by that inscription the Honour of building that tower to himselfe but his owne good hap for being preferred to that worke for not by any indifferent construction the words may seeme to import that VVickham built that Tower But his imployment thereabouts was the cause of making and preferring of Wickham for thereby hee had gained his Majesties gratious favour and countenance By this answer the King was pacified and as it were to make VVickham amends and deterre his calumniators from further persisting in such their envious courses the Kings favour is daily increased towards him and hee is enriched with many faire preferments Insomuch that within few yeares by the assistance and plotting of Iohn Buckingham Bishop of Lincolne and Sir Simon Burleigh Knight two of his antient and most intimate acquaintance in Oxford hee had gotten into his possession besides the spirituall livings before remembred twelve severall Prebendships and by dispensation from Pope Vrban and qualification by being the Kings Chaplaine hee held at one time in his hands so many Ecclesiasticall livings and promotions as the valew of them did amount in the Kings bookes to the summe of eight hundred seventy sixe pounds thirteene shillings and foure pence in those dayes a great summe such was his behaviour that hee held the Kings favour firme unto him and the Nobilitie for the most part did well approve his courses besides these Spirituall promotions the King had likewise honoured him with many temporall places of both profit and respect as being his principall Secretarie Keeper of the Privie Seale Master of the Wards and Liveryes Treasurour of the Kings Revenewes in France and some other Offices of lesse eminencie Now whilst his wealth and worship every day increased in Anno 1356. VVilliam Edendon Bishop of VVinchester departed this life leaving the sea void whereupon the King desiring the same the Monkes of Saint Swithins in VVinchester elected VVilliam of VVickham to that sea But Vrban the then Pope being sufficiently informed of the Elects little learning but great livelyhood deferd by the space of a whole yeare the confirmation of the Election in which time VVickhams good Angells interceding for him in the Court of Rome hee is permitted to take the benefit of the spiritualties and to have the temporalties in the meane time sequestred The King hearing how much the insufficiencie of schollership was obtruded upon VVickham began to expostulate with him to surcease further suit for the place which required to bee supplied by a man of more sufficiencie in Clerkship then hee was to whom VVickham replied that so please his Majestie to continue his gratious favour towards him so that hee might obtaine his desire therein hee doubted not but by Gods speciall assistance so to behave himselfe that hee would supply all defects of schollership in himselfe by providing for others meanes and maintenance to make and keepe able persons for the service of the State and the good of the kingdome wherewith the King was so taken that hee wrought so effectually That in the yeare 1367. hee was consecrated Bishop of VVinchester and was restored to all profits of that Bishopricke during the vacancie Within short time after hee was made Lord Treasurer and was imployed and trusted with all the affaires of the kingdome and had the disposition of all the Kings Treasure which was the occasion to advantage his enemies to strike the more easily at him For the King by the new Bishops care being rid of many troubles yet tooke a further benefit thereby for whatsoever was done that displeased the Councell or the Commons that was objected to the Bishop whereby when the Kings wants were pressing it was held the best pollicie at that time to give the King a supply by squeezing the full moistned spunge of the Bishops coffers And to yeeld some colour for their so doing The Bishop is charged to give account for eleven hundred ninetie sixe thousand pounds received during the time of his being Treasurer besides a hundred thousand Francks delivered him by Galeaze Duke of Millaine which must bee suddenly performed and the more to puzzle him at that very instant divers untrue and feyned cavillations by way of complaint are put up against him at the Councell boord to the answering whereof hee is instantly convented where whilst hee is intentive to save the bye hee hazarded the losse of the maine for whilst hee indevoureth to give satisfactory answers to the foresaid calumniations Iudgement is through the earnest importunitie of the Duke of Lancaster by William Skipwith Lord chiefe Iustice upon an information of deceipt suggested awarded in the Kings bench against him by meanes whereof all his temporalties were seized upon taken into the Kings hands and given to the Prince of VVales And for a further addition to his affliction by Iohn of Gaunts meanes hee is in the Kings name commanded upon paine of his Majesties high displeasure not to come within twenty miles of the Court The Bishop with a cleere conscience and a constant resolution awaits a fitter time to crave review of this sentence against him and like a discreet Pilat playeth with the wave which if hee should meet might indanger him and by giving way thereto escapeth the hazard Accesse to the King hee knew not how to obtaine to pacifie the Duke of Lancaster hee saw no possibilitie and how to procure any course to bee taken for his benefit hee was altogether ignorant His trayne therefore hee dismisseth expecting some few of whose honest fidelitie and otherwayes sufficiencie hee had made sufficient proofe these he imployeth to write out and ballast his accounts and such answers as hee had made to the accusations and informations which as aforesaid were exhibited against him which perfected the Copyes thereof hee privately disperseth amongst his brethren of the Clergie and such other as hee presumed would without prejudice to his cause vouchsafe the reading of them And therein amongst other things hee at large setteth forth the ground or occasion of the Duke of Lancasters irreconciliable malice against him which was thus Queene Philip wife to Edward the third upon her death-bed by way of Confession delivered unto VVinchester That Iohn of Gaunt was not the lawfull issue of King Edward but a suppositious sonne For when she was brought to bed at Gaunt of a maiden childe knowing how much the King desired to have a male issue shee consulted with one of her maides of honour by whose industry the Daughter was exchanged with a Dutch woman for a boy whereof shee had beene delivered about the same houre with the Queenes Thus much shee confessed and withall conjured the Bishop that if the said Iohn of Gaunt should at any time directly or indirectly attempt or affect the wearing of the Crowne or
Dutchy was likewise settled upon him notwithstanding the primogeniture of Edward and his heires The Crowne of England was likewise entayled for want of heires males of the body of King Henry upon Duke George and his heires for ever so proclive was the Parliament to give consent to whatsoever by the Earle of Warwicke on the behalfe of King Henry in which Well hee alwayes interwove some threds that might seeme for the strengthening of his Sonne-in-lawes good respect towards him was proposed By which meanes Clarence was kept within the Verge hitherto of the Earle of Warwickes devotion Iasper Earle of Penbrooke and Iohn Earle of Oxford are fully restored to Honour and lands Clarence and Warwicke are made Governours of the King and kingdome and all things both in Parliament Court and Councell consented unto and concluded on as they would propose and appoint The Queene is sent for into France but shee as if appointed not to tast any of the cup of her Husbands fairer fortunes is kept backe by contrary windes so that during the Winter season against the Kings will and her owne desires shee is kept on the other side the Sea Elizabeth Queene to King Edward is in the meane time in the Sanctuary at Westminster delivered of a Sonne christened by the name of Edward Warwicke that nothing might seeme to bee left undone that might conduce to the good of the Common-wealth and advantagious to their proceeding sent divers Companies over to Callice from thence to infest the Duke of Burgoines Dominions And it is not unworthy the observation the peoples levitie that whom as yesterday they had proclaimed Traitour and despightfully traduced That the bruite of his returne into England was no sooner spread but the Earle of Warwickes Cognizance the Beare and the ragged Staffe was worne in every mans cap yea Monsieur Vocleere was contented to surrender his new Patent and accepted of his former deputation now confirmed and weare the Earles Livery which he was pleased to vouchsafe him notwithstanding his former uncivill and unrespective demeanour both towards him and the Ladyes in his company The Duke of Burgoyne being sensible of this storme which was likely to fall upon him both from the French King and the Calliceans if not warily prevented wisely so wrought with the Duke of Clarence That the truce formerly concluded betwixt him and King Edward should in all things bee ratified and confirmed the Kings name only altered to Henry But with this cautionary restriction that no ayde should bee given to his Brother-in-law King Edward And hereof assurance by oath is given Neverthelesse within short time after whither by the Duke or Dutchesses meanes it is doubtfull but by one of theirs Edward was furnished with eighteene tall ships and two thousand Dutchmen and with fifteene thousand Florens of gold Thus furnished hee tooke land at a place called Ravenspur in Yorkshire in which place hee found but cold entertainment Neverthelesse as one that had no other hope left but that little stay hee had taken hold of hee made a wary march to Yorke where likewise hee found no great expression of welcome so that he was enforced most unlike himselfe to make use of the Divels sophistry and by most execrable oathes to winne beliefe the sooner amongst the Inhabitants of Yorke hee seriously vowed according as hee had prepublished in his passage thither That hee only challenged the benefit of his birth-right which was the Inheritance of the Dutchy of Yorke unlawfully with strong hand with-held against him utterly disclaiming any intention hee had to lay any claime to the Crowne of England which hee seemed ingeniously to acknowledge to bee King Henryes indubitable right The Citizens credulitie was such that they upon these protestations and upon taking the Sacrament to use the Citizens fairely and to bee true liegeman to King Henry permitted him entrance which before they utterly denyed him But hee was no sooner entred but that hee gave them a sufficient taste of his intendment which was not to want any thing whereof in that place hee might bee by any meanes furnished And having well refreshed his men and furnished himselfe with what men money and victuals the Citie could affourd him having left a sufficient garrison to keepe the Citie to his owne use Hee marched towards London waging by the way all the souldiers that either threats promises or money could winne or procure The Marquesse Mountacute whose actions and carriage were alwayes reserved and obscure from the vulgar yea so disputable and doubtfull amongst his owne Brothers and Allyes That none but himselfe could expatiate them Hee now when hee had power sufficient to doe it did not impeach King Edwards passage about Pomfret but suffered him to passe by him not fought with for which hee was much condemned by his Brother and deservedly for had Edward beene then but a little shaken hee had dyed at roote Being come to Nottingham divers of the Nobilitie came to him making tender of their service but with this proviso that hee would resolutely take upon him the stile and Title of King and accordingly take his State which hee without much contradiction was contented his former oath to the contrary being no scruple to his conscience to consent unto And as a river running farre from its first rising is still augmented by the accesse of other brookes and waters falling into it so King Enwards Army encreased by marching onward to a great number The Earle of Warwicke upon notice of these proceedings leaving King Henry at London hasted towards his Towne of Warwicke from whence he sent to the Duke of Clarence to advertise him of these occurrences desiring his speedy accesse thither where hee would abide his comming But the Duke lingring out the time and made not that speed that was expected and the businesse in hand required which gave cause of suspition of his tergiversation whereupon Warwicke with his forces withdrew toward Coventry where hee strongly entrencheth and fortifies himselfe whither King Edward followeth him and often provoked him to issue forth But hee wisely not being very confident of his souldiers fidelitie or courage as yet untried refused keeping himselfe close within his Trenches Whereupon King Edward marcheth to VVarwicke perswading himselfe that that course if any thing could would draw the Earle to fight But when that prevailed not hee bent his course towards the Duke of Clarence who with his forces made show to give him battell But when both their Armies were in sight the Duke of Glocester so wrought betweene them that they were both overtly reconciled as they privately were before and their forces were conjoyned The three brothers now by faire promises and liberall offers assayed to win the Earle of VVarwicke to embrace faire offers of favour and reconcilement but hee readier to bee broken then bent in stead of embracing these proffered courtesies upbraided the Duke of Clarence with perjurie and degenerate cowardlinesse returning them answer