so came on kyng Oswy fast rydyng Wher on the felde they met sore fyghtynge Whom Oswy slewe and .xxx. dukes also That with hym came and .xxx. M. moo The .xcv. Chapiter ¶ In the yere of oure lorde God .vi. hundreth and. âv Penda slewe the kyng of Escangles and the yere of our Lord God .vi. hundreth and .vi. Oswyne slewe Penda kynge of Marchelande and the foresayde kynge Oswyne condiscended to holde and kepe his Easter accordyng to the vse of Roome and Caunterburye the yere of oure Lorde vi huÌdreth and .lxiii. whiche before was celebrated accordyng to the Iudeicall custome THose battayls two after thincarnacion Syxe hundreth yere fyfty wer also fyue In the yere after by computacion That kyng Oswy made Penda kyng belyue Of Marces lande and to conuerte his lyue By teachyng of Dwyma made byshop thare And all his lande by vertue of his lare ¶ Kyng Oswy made houses .xii. of religion Sixe in Deyry and sixe in BeruÌ to bee With his doughter Elflede for deuocion Whom he auowed in clene virginitee To sacre so and lyue in chastitee For his triumphe and for his victorie Of kyng Penda and his panymerye ¶ The kyng Oswy of Christes incarnacion The yere .vi. C .lx. and also three Had all the clerkes of his dominacion With many other clerkes of farre countree For to dispute the Pasche when it should bee The whiche afore was held diuersly One vse at Yorke another at Caunterbury ¶ But this seynt Oswy then helde it at Whitby Where then saynt Hilde in all deuinitee Was hole instructe amonge all the clergie Where Wilfride with Egilbert and she Concluded all the clerkes of the countree And fro thens forth thei helde it in certeyne As Caunterbury vsed and did obeyne ¶ This kyng Oswyn then died in the yere Sixe hundreth hole sixti and also ten At Whytby then wher Hild was abbas clere At Streyneshalgh named was so then Emonge the couente of this holy woman And in Hildes schole .vi. byshops wer enfourmed In holy wryte as she theim had confourmed ¶ These were the names of the byshoppes right Bosa Oskford Etla and also Tatfryde Iohn of Beuerley the fyfte that then so hight The sixte then was the holy man Wilfryde All in the lawe of Christ enfourmed that tyde With this virgyne clene of royall discent Of kyng Edwyn and Oswalde bloode full gent. ¶ Whiche virgyne clene died so in the yere Of Christ .vi. C. and foure score also About whiche tyme saynt Awdry yâ virgyne clere At Hely died emonge hir floures tho Of holy virgyns and wydowes also Whiche she had gathered kept in cloyster clene Whyle she there was thabbasse as was sene ¶ Who wyfe was twyse in westsex first espoused The secounde tyme vnto the kyng Egfryde Of NorthuÌberlande her maydenhed euer housed I dar well saye it was neuer set asyde There might no man hir herte froÌ Christe deuide So hole it was sette vnto chastitee Inuiolate she kepte her virginitee ¶ For good ne gold nor any great rychesse With her housebandes to been deuirginate Hetherto might neuer eschaunge her sekirnesse So sad it was it was neuer violate But euer clene as in her fyrst estate By her housbaÌdes for ought they could her hight But virgyne died through grace of God almight ¶ Thus Awdry then froÌ Egfride was deuorced For cause she would not lese hir maydenhede To tyme hir soule wer lowsed and vncursed In hely abode where then she made in dede An house of Nunnes as writteÌ hath saynt Bede To serue the God aboue celestiall In prayers good and matens nocturnall ¶ Wylfride from Yorke exiled and expelled The kyng of Sussex and all his lande Conuerte all hole and mawmetrye downe felled Wher so three yere afore I vnderstande Suche vengeaunce reigned in that kynges land That ther grewe no grasse nor no maner of corne The people died for hunger all for lorne ¶ And that same daye when they were conuerte The grasse and corne that welked were afore By three yere passed waxed grene and gan reuert Through prayer of Wylfryde that prayed therfore For whiche the kyng made hym bishoppe thore That fyue yere hole there so occupyed The byshopyes cure and Christes fayth edefied ¶ And in the yere .vi. hundreth .lxxx. and fyue Kyng Egfride rode with hoste into Scotlande And warred on pightes Scottes with mekel striue WhoÌ then they sâewe as Bede could vnderstande With many worthy knightes of NorthuÌberland At Nettansmore in an hye mynstre buryed A worthy place in Scotlande edified ¶ Eche kyng of seuen on other warred sore But kyng Cadwas that then was souerayn lorde Accorded theim as myster was ay where By his good rule he made euer good accorde Wher any strife or warre was and discorde And all the realines in Britayn hole baptized And bishoppes in theim sette and autorised ¶ Kyng Ethelride of Mors and quene Ostride His wyfe doughter of Oswy Berdnaye Buried Oswalde with myracles glorified Where many yere full styll there after he laye Vnto the tyme the suster as bookes saye Of kyng Edward thelder hym translate To Gloucester abbey to his estate ¶ Cadwallo kyng of Britons in the yere Of Christe goddes sonne .vi. C. sixty and sixtene So died awaye who reigned had full clere Full sixty yere and one as well was sene That souerayne lorde of all Britayn had been After the decease of the good kyng Edwyn And made all seuen kynges to hym enclyne ¶ He made his ymage of laton full clene In whiche he put his body balsomate Vpon an horse of laton fayre to sene With a sweorde in hande crowned like his estate Full hye sette vp to sight on Ludgate His battayles all and his greate victorie Aboute hym wrought was made for memorye The .xcvi. Chapiter ¶ Cadwalader kyng of Brytayn and lorde of all .vii. kynges in Britayne CAdwaladrus after hym gan succede Both young and fayre in florishyng iuueÌt That Cadwalader was called as I rede Who of Britayn had all the souerayntee Of Englyshe and Saxons in eche countree Of Pyghtes Iryshe Scottes his vnder regeÌce As souerayne lorde and moste of excellence ¶ Kentwyne the kyng of westsexe then died The yere of Christ sixe hundreth .lxxx. and sixe The mekill warre had made and fortifyed Vpon Britons and felly did hym wexe So combrous he was and cruell gan to wexe Whose realme the kyng Cadwalader conquered And Sussex also and slewe yâ kynge with his swerde ¶ In whiche yere then Gatta by shop died Whose sea was then at Hexham vpon tyne That byshop was of Yorke notified For Wilfryde was hold out with mekyll pyne And exiled from his benefice that tyme From Yorke that tyme by the kynge Alfride Of Northumberland whose cure Gatta occupied ¶ After whose decease then Iohn of Beuerlay Was made byshop of Yorke and had the sea Then the Cathedrall at Hexham so alwaye For wylfryde was in Sussex farre countre But then certayne Alfryde of cruelte CoÌmaunded
¶ Earle of Salisbury in kyng Edwardes soule there In lyke maner were sworne and biheste The .xix. daye then of Ianyuere The yere of Christ a. M. then was seste Thre hundreth and two and fourty at leest When these trues were taken so and sealed For afterwarde they shulde not be repeled The C .lxxxi. Chapiter ¶ Howe Henry duke of Lancaster went to Guyan in that yere of Christe a thousande thre hundreth .xlv. And of the batayle of Cressy in the yere of Christe a thousand thre hundeeth fourtye and syxe ANd then Henry duke of Lancaster create Went to Guyen with many bolde baron Where then he gate the cytees of estate And castelles fele many a walled towne And made the lande Englyshe both vp doune And to the kyng Edwarde obeied as they ought And great worshyp and ryches there he caught ¶ And in the yere a thousande and CCC gone Syxe and fourtye kyng Edwarde at Cressy Met with Philyp of Valoyes there anone That kyng of Fraunce was by intrusery At whiche batayle Edwarde had the victorye And with honoure and myght there gate that felde And Philyp fled and caste there doune his shelde ¶ And his eldest sonne with hym went awaye With an hundreth banners in her company The kynges of Beme were slayne that daye And of Maliogres there full manfully The dukes of Alaunson also theim by And of Loreyn slayne were in batayle And earles fyue without any fayle ¶ Of Flaunders Bloys Harcourt Melayne Of gentyls and other without any Essayne And of Guntpre were there in batayle slayne Fyue score thousande the twenty daye certayne And syxe also of Auguste accompted playne The kyng Edwarde had all the victorye The kyng Philyp had all the vilanye ¶ The king Dauid theu of Scotland with power To Duresme brent where on saynt Lukes daye The archbyshop with his clergye clere And syr Gylbert Vnifreuyle in good araye The Lorde Percy the Neuyle then laye With all the north a lytell frome Duresme Wher then they faught on that king Dauid came ¶ And take he was that yere of Christe was then A thousande full thre hundreth fourty and syxe Full sore wounded full lyke he was a man And also of his lordes mo then fyue or syxe Brought to London priuely through Essex For lordes shulde not hym take with greate power From Iohn of Coupland that was his taker clere ¶ And in the towre of London then kept in warde To tyme the king were come home out of FrauÌce That then in Fraunce mo castelles to regarde And townes walled goten by his hye puissaunce Then had the kyng Philip in gouernaunce And lyke was then all FrauÌce to haue conquerde With his alies he made that lande afferde The C .lxxxii. Chapiter ¶ Of the greate pestylence in the yere of Chryste a thousand thre hundreth fortye and nyne and the yere nexte after the kynge wente vnto Fraunce and the prynce of Wales vnto Guyan ANd in the yere of Christ clerly accompted A thousande hole thre C. fourty nyne The pestilence was in England amouÌted That kyng Edward newe warre ganne ymagine The nexte yere after agayne Fraunce fyne Thether he went prince Edward then went With greate power to Guien as Regent ¶ The kyng then put his sonnes yonge of age In Fraunce then forth in mighty gouernaunce Syr Lyonell Earle of Vlster in wage Regent of Fraunce hym made by ordynaunce Syr Iohn of Gaunt to haue hole attendaunce Of all the hoste as hye and greate constable To whiche he was accompte that tyme full able ¶ Sir Edmonde Langeley full of gentylnesse Sir Thomas Woodstok full of corage To their banners them put for worthynesse To haue rule in that worthy viage Whiche prynces fyue approued in yonge age There was no king christen had such sonnes fiue Of lyklynesse and persones that tyme on lyue ¶ So hye and large they were of all stature The leste of them was of persone able To haue foughten with any creature Singler batayle in actes marcyable The byshops wit me thinketh was coÌmendable So wel coulde chese the princesse that them bare For by practyse he knewe it or by lare The C .lxxxiii. Chapiter ¶ Howe the kynge of Fraunce was taken prysoner at the batayle of Poyters the yere of Christe a thousande thre hundreth fyftye and syxe IN the yere of Christe a M accoÌpted right Thre hundreth and syxe and fyfty mo The prince Edward at Poytexs sore dyd fyght The .xix. day of September was tho Where kyng Iohn of Fraunce his sonne also He toke and had the felde with victorye His eldst sonne then fledde fro hym cowardly ¶ The kyng Dauyd died and lette his hostage For his raunsome lygge ay forth in Englande The yere a thousande CCC by knowlage Eyght and fyftye as I can vnderstande And payde not yet ne quyt not out his bonde Ne his hostage he wolde not so displease To delyuer ne putte theim fro their ease ¶ The quene Isabell the quene of Scotlande Her doughter was and kyng Dauyds wyfe Sone after dyed and buryed I vnderstande At the graye Freres in lande knewen full ryfe The whiche that quene Isabell founded in their lyfe Full fayre entombed wrought full rychely Where the two Quenes reste full honorably The C .lxxxiiii. Chapiter ¶ Of the seconde pestylence and the greate wynde and earthquake the yere a thousande CCC lxi ANd in the yere of Christ a. M. wryten Thre hundreth also syxtye and one The .ii. pestylence reigned as was weten Duke Henry dyed for whome was mekyll mone Dame Blaunche his doughter full faire of fleshe and bone His heire was then whom Iohn of GauÌt did wed The duchy by hir had men saied he had well sped ¶ In that same yere was on sainct Maurys day The greate winde and earth quake meruelous That greately gan the people all affraye So dredfull was it then and perelous Specially the wind was so boistous The stone walles steples houses and trees Were blow doune in diuerse ferre couÌtrees ¶ And in the yere a thousand three hundred also Sixty and foure kyng Iohn of Fraunce dyed In London then in Sauoy had been sicke The dukes palice of Lancastre edified Full royally as it is notified His boweles buryed at Poules with royaltee His corps in Fraunce with all solempnitee ¶ In that same yere sir Iohn MouÌtfort of newe Duke of Brytain was by heritage As heire male his title was act trewe At Orrers faught again the Frenche linage Sir Charles de Bloys that clauned by mariage The duchy whole of Brytain by the might Of his wise wher he was slain by might ¶ Duke Iohn of Gaunt was at that battaile Sir Edmond also of Langley his brother dere Sir Iohn Chaundos treated without faill All daye and faught at eue through his auÌswere Whiche treaty is yet oft remembred here For ChauÌdos trewce that treted all daye to night And made bothe parties at eue together fight ¶ At whiche battaill duke
He eked then by his witte full curious With his lawe called lawe Moluntyne Chargyng all menne to theim fully to enclyne ¶ He graunted vnto the temples euery one And to the plough and all commen wayes To markettes faires wher meÌne should gonne Fraunchesies so greate and liberties alwais That all menne beeyng in theim night or dayes Should not betaken ne troubled in any wyse Neither by lawe nor by no maistries ¶ Sixe temples he made in CaÌbre Logres al 's And in the lande also of Albany Of Flamynes as fele to serue their goddes fals A temple also in troynouaunt sothely Of peace and concorde he made verely In whiche when there fell any discorde Emong his lordes there were thei made accorde ¶ When he had stond so kyng by fourty yere He dyed awaye and buryed was full fayre In his temple then of concord full clere At troynouaunt with greate repeir To whome Belyn was eldest soonne and heire And Brenny next was borne of younger age Wherfore Belyn had all the whole heritage The .xxxi. Chapiter ¶ Belyne kyng of Brytain who gaue to Brenny his brother Albany that made hym homage for it and sone after made hym greate warre and was false to hym and after frendes againe in other landes but not in Englande ne in Scotlande BElyn was kyng and sat in royall trone Crowned with all maner of royaltee To Brenny his brother he gaue the lande anone Of Albany for whiche homage feautee He made forthwith as to the souerayntee His man became and kyng of Albany Confirmed was and made full honorably ¶ But after sone his men hym sette to warre Vpon Belyn that fought in batayll sore But Brenny fled and his men discomfite wer For then he went vnto Norwaye therfore And in that he dwelled thore Wher he wedded the kynges doughter fayre That taken wer by sea homewarde in repayre ¶ By the kyng of Denmarke that Cuthelake hight Who by tempest into Logres wer driue And brought vnto Belyn mykell of might Wher he bande hym as chronycles doth briefe Denmark to holde of Belyn to haue leife Home with his wyfe to passe so anone Whom Belyn graunted home agayn so to gone ¶ Brenne anone great hoste of Belyne brought Wher in the forest that tyme of Colatre In batayll strong kyng Brenny all forfought Discomfite fled in Burgoyn for feare To duke Segwyn to whom he gan hym beare So manfully and wisely in all thyng That he hym wedded vnto his doughter ying Sone afterwarde this duke Segwyn dyed So Brenny than was duke by his wyfe That to his brother alwaye full sore anoyed Came with great hoste to fight with hym ful ryfe Conwen their mother by her prerogatyfe Betwyxte theim treated made there wel accorde On her blissyng nomore for to discorde ¶ With wordes peteous and mothers naturesse Shewyng her pappes and woÌbe with great beautie Lo here the wombe that bare you with syckenesse As womanhode would and femynitee Lo here the pappes as was necessitee That fed you ofte in your tendre age For my loue nowe let be all this outrage The .xxxij. Chapter ¶ These âi brethren wanne all Fraunce all Italie to Rome and besieged Rome gatte it and wer Emperours of it SO made she theim at one and well accorde And made theim kisse couÌcelled theim to gone To their laÌdes lest thei after discord Whiche thei did with hostes greate anone With manly men of armes full greate wonne All Fraunce thei wanne Sauoye and Lunberdy Tuskayne also and all great Italye ¶ Thei sieged Rome wherfore their couÌcellours Galbo and Porcenna came it to rescue With hostes greate wher then these Emperours Slewe syr Galbo and Porcenna the trewe And Rome thei wanne that alway was vntrewe Italye throughout obeyed theyr dominacion Without more stryfe or altercacion ¶ Kynge Belyne there no lenger would abyde But lefte Brenny alone with all that lande ⪠And home he came with mykill ioye and pride And Albyon he seased in his owne hand And so kyng and lorde of all Brytayn lande A citee fayre he made that Kaire vske hight Whiche meÌ nowe calleÌ CarlyoÌ by name ful right The .xxxiii. Chapter ¶ He made the hye wayes through out Britayn and he founded three archeflamynes at London one for Logres another at Yorke for Albany that nowe is Scotlande for that tyme fro Humbre north that was that tyme Scotlande the thyrde at Laklion in Wales for all Wales IN Brytayn then he made froÌ Cornwel sea Of lyme and stone through all Brytayn That men might ryde and go in al suertee Vnto the sea by northe Catenes certayne Whiche vnto all men was brode and playne Another he made in bredth fro saint Dauid towne Vnto the sea flowynge at Southamptone ¶ Thre archeflamynes he made through al Brytayn As archebyshoppes now in our lawes been There temples all to gouerne and domayne At Troynouaunt on Logres to ouer seen Her fals goddes to serue and to queme At Ebranke another for Albany And at KarleoÌ for Cambre on soueraynly ¶ A towne he made ful hie that hight Belyn gate At Troynouaunt his citee moste royall Thyrtene flamynes of bishoppes high estate And temples as many in citees all So that there were in his tyme ouer all With other so afore edificate Xxviii flamynes in temples ordynate ¶ And at his death he bad his corps to be brent Into powder all in a barell of golde To put and sete vpon his toure to represent His body hole who that seen it wolde His triumphes all that enemyes might beholde Well wrought about in ymagerie and scripture Full royally wrought for to refigure ¶ He reigned had then one and forty yere When he thus died and to his God had sent His woofull ghoost out of his corps full clere Emong the goddes euermore to bee present For whiche his people of wepyng coulde not stent There sorowes great in teares bitter thei did stepe Whiche in streames raÌne fro their eyeÌ did wepe The .xxxiiii. Chapiter GVrgwyn his soÌne was crowned after him Of Britayn bare then the diademe Who made his lawe vpon lyfe lymme His peace also he kepte as he did deme As his iudges coulde it full well exprime Into Denmarke he went for his truage Whiche kyng Cuthelake graunt him in heritage ¶ He slewe that kyng and Danes great multitude His seruise had and made the lande to enclyne To his lord shyppe and to his altitude There truage paye forthwarde nomore declyne And as he came by sea then homewarde fyne He founde shippes thyrty full of myghty men Accordyng well as many fayre women ¶ At whose request of his speciall grace He gaue to theim the land that nowe is Irelande Wher they did wone make their dwellyng place There gouernaunte so then I vnderstande Was Partheleyn to holde it then hym bande Of kyng Gurgwyn and all his lynage Perpetually by feautee and homage ¶ Neuerthelesse some chronicles reporte That Irelamall their
his goddes full hye He passed so and buryed full royally After their rites and their olde vsage With greate honour by all the baronage The .xxxix. Chapiter ¶ Eledour kyng of Brytein thrise crouned for his good rule and good condicions ELedour was kyng all newe made againe Thrise crouned that kepte his olde coÌdicion Of whome the lordes coÌmons wer full faine And sory for his wrongfull deposicion He reigned so fro losse and all perdicion Reignyng after full peacebly tenne yere Buried full faire at Alclude his citee clere ¶ Gorbonian that was Gorbonian his soonne The croune after his vncle in all thynges That ruled well fro tyme that he begonne Full well beloued with olde and also with young He reigned tenne yere of Brytein kyng And dyed then with worship whole enterred As to suche a prince of right should bee required ¶ Morgan that was the soonne of kyng Arthegall Was crowned then and held the royalte Full fourten yere he ruled the realme ouer all The lawe and peace with all tranquillite He kepte full well in all prosperite For whiche he was full greately magnified In all his realme with people landefyed ¶ Emnan his brother so was crouned kyng Seuen yere reigned in all kynd ofe tiranny For whiche he was deposed as an vnderlyng When he had reigned seuen yere fully That to god and manne was euer contrarie Till all his lordes and commons euerione Whiche wer full glad awaye that he was gonne ¶ Iuall the soonne of kyng Ingen did reigne Louyng alwaye to kepe all rightwesnese Hatyng all vices and of good menne was faine All vicious menne he helde in sore distres Helpyng poore menne fallyng in feblenes When he had reigned full well by twenty yere He dyed awaye as saieth the chronicler ¶ Rymo the soonne that of kyng Paradour Crouned was then louyng all gentilnes All vertue euer he louid and all honour And in his tyme was plenty and larges Of his people full well belouid I gese And dyed so in all felicite on hye Sixten yere whole reigned when he ganne dye ¶ Gerennes then the soonne of Eledour To reigne beganne and ruled well this daye And sone the deathe hym toke and dyd deuour If I the treuth of hym shall saye That twenty yere he reigned all menne to paye The lawe and peace full well aye conserued Of his commons the loue aye deserued Catellus his soonne then ganne succede Kepyng the lawe and peace as he had hight Oppressours all that poore menne did ouer lede He hanged euer on trees full hie to sight That ensample of theim euery manne take might Tenne yere reigned full of felicite And dyed so vnder his vnsure deite ¶ Coile his soonue after hym succede And crouned was reignyng so twenty yere In lawe and peace as to his worthihede Accordyng was for lawe and peace coÌserued clere As euery manne maye se bothe farre and nere The floures been of royall dignyte In whiche he reigned twenty yere ere he did dye ¶ Porrex his soonne was crouned in his astate Esye of porte to speake with euery wight Their comonnyng to hym was delicate Who reson spake he fauoured as was right Who viceous spake or did in his sight He chasticed theim after the cause required Reignyng fiue yere of no lande had he fered ¶ Cheryn his soonne norished in dronkennes Customably to whiche folowed all kynde of vyce It exiled witte out of his brayn doubteles And reason after that made hym full vnwyse He was of all his gouernaunce so nyce And reigned so in Brytein but one yere When he dyed laied was on the bere ¶ His soonne Fulgen reigned but one yere Eldred his brother and Androge hight the thirde Kynges after hym echeone were synguler A yere reignyng whose good rules are hid For why vnto no manne was it kyde Thei dyed sone for long that might not dure In suche droÌkennes full weake was their nature ¶ Vryan the soonne of kyng Androge Three yere reigned that was full lecherous A mayden young wher he did ride or goo He had euery daye he was so vicyous But yet he was gentill and bounteous All if he had maydens in suche charte Wedowes and wifes he had in greate plentie ¶ Elynde was kyng fiue yere bare the croune Full well ruled the realme in all kynd of thyng In Astronomye full redy aye and bowne Dedancius also reigned fiue yere full young Who the realme ruled in all maner thyng Full peseably frome that Elynde was dedde Bothe twoo dyed in their floreshed youthede ¶ Detonus then was kyng reignyng twoo yere Gurguncius so twoo yere bare also the croune And Meryan twoo yere by wrytyng clere Bledudo then full ready bowne Twoo yere also bare the croune Cappe and Owen and then Sicilyus Eche after other by twoo yere reigned thus ¶ Bledud Gabred reigned expert in song And in all musike instrumentes Farre passyng was all other and had been long Suche was his cunnyng and his sentementes That for a god in all folkes ententes In myrth and ioye and maner of melodye Thei honoured hym tenne yere onely ¶ Archiuall then his brother reigned so And Eldoll after his soonne succeded anone And Redon then his soonne came nexte hym thoo Redrike his soonne when his father was gonne Croune and septer receiued hath anone Samuell Pirre Peneysell and Capre Seuerally echeone reigned twoo yere The .xl. Chapiter ¶ Elynguellus kyng of Brytein had greate will to here all meÌne wheÌ thei came to hym whiche is a vertue For greate cunnyng maketh a manne wyse and to knowe muche and for mischefes to fynde remedies as my lorde Vmfrewill commended neuer a manne that putteth a mischief and canne fynde no remedie therfore ELynguellus whiche was Capre his soÌne Bothe wyse and sadde and in his realme helde right He herd all menne what counsaill that thei conne For oftymes a symple manne to sight More wysedome hath in his insight And better reason canne in his braynes fynde Then canne a lorde though he maye beres bynde ¶ Who in his lande did wrong or any vnright He prisoned hym in sore and greate distresse He gaue his menne that souldyours were full wight Lyuelode to liue vpon frome all destres Sicke folke and poore caste into feblenesse He visited aye and reigned had seuen yere When that he dyed and left his realme full clere ¶ Hely his soonne in all thyng good and wise Succeded then the Isle of Hely made His palais gaye that might right well suffice He buylded ther that was bothe long and brade Wherin he dwelled muche and moost abaide The lawe and peace he kepte and conserued Which himvpheld that he was neuer ouer terued ¶ Three soonnes he gatte Lud and Cassibalain The third was called that tyme sir Nemynus When he had reigned sixty yere in certaine The death cruell to menne that is aye noyeous In his commyng that is
thought it sufficience ¶ But wheÌ this kyng had reygned in coteÌplacioÌ Fyftie and .iiii. yere in all prosperitee He departed to God desyryng his saluacion In heauen to dwell with all felycytee Where the Aungelles synge incessauntely Glory honoure and euerlastyng prayse Be to the lambe of God nowe and alwayes ¶ At Cairglowe buried after his dignitee For whom all men made great lamentacion Who bare before the baptyme of propertee His Auncestres armes and after with consolacioÌ He bare the armes by his baptizacion Whiche Ioseph gaue vnto Aruigarus As the Briton saith that hight Mewynus ¶ For cause he had none heire to kepe the lande Through all Britayn the barons gan discorde Vnto the tyme that Romayns toke on hande To chese a prince by there stedfaste accorde But .iiii. yere wer gone or then they could accorde In whiche tyme then Seuer the senatour Hether came to be theyr gouernoure The .lii. Chapiter ¶ Howe that ther was Britons warre .iiii. yere after the death of Lucius SEuerus thus the worthy senatour DesceÌded downe right heire to Androgeê° The eldest soonne of Lud that with the Emperoure Out of Britayn that went with Iulius Whiche Senatoure afore sayd Seuerus To Britayn came and was intromizate And with a crowne of golde was coronate ¶ He brought with hym froÌ Rome two legion With whom great part of Britons helde ful sore And other parte of the northren Britons With Fulgen stode was kyng of Scotlande bore Gathered great people euer more and more With whom that Pightes fugitiues .viii. esenable Destroyed the lande by warre full violable The .liij. Chapter ¶ Howe Seuer made a dike with a wall on it of turues and soddes to kepe the Pightes and the Scottes from the Britons ouertwharte the land froÌ the east sea vnto that west sea BVt kyng Seuer hym droue with batayl sore Farre north vnto the Scottishe sea wher thei abode dwelled forth euermore Betwene the Scottishe sea and twede no lee But some bookes sayen to Tyne in certayn And so is like for Seuer there did make A dike and wall for the Scottes Pightes sake ¶ From Tymnouth to Alclud his fayre citee With turues soddes wer theim to againstand Where the water myght not the Enemytee Kepe of warre from his trewe Britayn lande By fyfty myles accompted I vnderstande To the weste sea that was of greate Brytayn This wal with dikes pightes Scottes did refrein ¶ But kyng FulgeÌ of Pightes Scottes again With hoste full great sieged Ebranke citee Whiche Seuer rescowed and was slayn And Fulgen also for beten there did dye Receaued his guerdon for his tyrannye At Ebranke the kyng Seuer was buried With victorie and honours glorified ¶ Getan his sonne a Romayne generate The Romaynes then hastely did crowne And Britons bloodde together congregate By hole assente and playne eleccion Bassyan chase without collucion For borne he was of the feminytee Of Britayn bloodde and consanguitee ¶ This Bassian with Getan then did fight In great batayll wher Getan so was slayn To Bassian so discended all the right Of whiche the Brytons all were full fayn Within .iiii. wekes was all this done full playn But Bassian then his brother buried And Romayns all on hepes mortifyed Bassian then was crouned kyng of Brytayn Full well he helde the realme .vii. yere in peace To tyme Caranse confedered hym agayn With Scottes Pightes vpoÌ hym gon encrease All fugitiues outlawes to hym came prease For long he had a robber been by the sea And richer was then any kyng myght bee By his manhode set all on roberye Of lowe bloodde came rysen by insolence To soudyours he gaue wages full greatly For to betraye the kyng by diligence He to the kyng so made by violence Whiche promyse kepte he slewe the kyng anonâ In place wher as thei wer with hym alone The .liiii. Chapiter ¶ Carense kyng of Britayne reigned .iiii. yere by treason borne of lowe bloodde and rose vp of robery by the sea THrough treason of Carense Scottes the Pightes Assented so by fals coÌfederacioÌ Through his giftes his subtyll slightes Betwene theim wrought in councell priuatly This false Carense so gatte the monarchie Of all Britayn within the sea aboute Foure yere he reigned of porte that was ful stoute ¶ The Barons were so with gold englaymed By this Carense and by his language swete Semyng like truth in maner as he proclaymed As nothyng is more redy for to mete Then coueteous and falshode as men lete So wer they all with his giftes enfecte The kynge was slayne and he was electe ¶ But wheÌ to Rome was knowne that false disceyt Of this Caranse and his wronge intrucion The Senate sent a letter by theyr conceyte Hym to distroye by dewe execucion Who for his faute gaue hym absolucion In batell stronge slewe hym and had the felde And Scottes all and pyeghtes that with hym helde The .lv. Chapiter ¶ The wordes of the maker of this booke vnto my Lorde of yorke touchynge gouernaunce of this lande by example of this kyng Caranse through robbery refen of poore bloude to royall estate O Worthy lorde and duke of Yorke that been Consyder well this case full lamentable The righwes kig wel gouerned as it was sene Thus murdred was of him that was vnhable And set hym selfe in trone moste honourable Of all Britayne yet came he vp of nought And of lowe bloude and it were wysely sought ¶ Good lorde when ye be set well vnder crowne With treytours and misruled ryatours Dispence right so with all suche absolucyon And lette hym seke no other correctours But maynteyne theim your lawes gouernours And ouer all thyng be ye the chefe Iustyce To kepe the peace that no false you suppryse The .lvi. Chapiter ALlecto then crowned and made kyng Of all Britayne reigning fully yeres thre And well he ruled in all maner werkyng By power of the Romans greate postee That brought with him from Rome legions thre But Britayns then dyd set a parlyament And chase a kyng by theyr hole assent ¶ Asclipiade that was duke of Cornewayle Who with Brytons to troynouaunt came Whylest Romans were by theyr hole gouernalle At sacrifyce of their goddes faynte and lame Agaynste whome Alecto of greate fame Full mightly then faught tyll he was slayne But Gallus drewe all Romans in agayne And kepte the wallys for whiche Asclepiadote The seege aboute the cytee strongly layde In which meane while BritoÌs brake in god wote And slewe Gallus and Romains sore affrayde All out of araye and sore dismayde Besyde a broke that walbroke men nowe call That Galbroke then was called there ouer all Of Gallus name that slayne was in that place And some sayne of walshemen afterwarde Walbroke it called for a sodaine case That then byfell vpon a daye full harde Of the Brytons that with theim so miscaryed Ouer that ylke brooke full sore harde distressed By Cornyshmen slayne downe ther oppressed The
.lvii. Chapiter ¶ Asclepiadote kynge of Britayne reygned .x. yere in whose tyme was great persecucyon in Britayne sayncte Albons slayne and many thousandes slayne for Chrystes sake ASclepiadote was crowned king agayne In royall wyse with all solempnyte The lawes well he helde and put in great payne Ouer trespassours for their peruersite Theuys and robbers on galowis hanged to be But in his tyme the Emperoure Dioclesyan Into Britayne then sente Maximian ¶ This Maximian to surname Hercelyus A tyraunte false that christente anoyed Through all Britayne of werke malycious The christoned folke felly and sore destroyed And thus the people with hym foule accloyed Religyous men the prestes and clerkes all Wemen with chylde and bedred folkes all ¶ ChyldreÌ soukyng vpon the mothers pappis The mothers also withouten any pytee And chyldren all in theyr mothers lappys The crepyls eke and all the christentee He kylled and slewe with full great cruelte The churches brent all bokes or ornamentes Bellys relyquys that to the churche appendes The .lviii. Chapter ¶ This persecucion was in that yere of Christes birth a C. lxxx and .iiii. yere and the .x. yere of kyng Asclepiadote HE slew that time martyred saint Albone And with him also Iulus and Araon And Amphimabal that wolde not dye alone But offered hym to dye with him anone For Christes loue as faste as he myght gone For thousandes sele were martered in those daies Whose soules be nowe in blysse and shal alwaies ¶ Asclepiadote reygned fully but .x. yere Who for great feare suffred all this payne And durste nothyng agayne this tyraunt steare But him withdrewe to hyde hym was full fayne This persecucyon as some chronyclers sayne The .x. yere was of Asclepiadote For whiche duke Coyle agayne him rose ful hote ¶ The duke Caire colun that hight Coylus Whiche cytee nowe this daye Colchester hight Then crowned was that slewe Asclepiadotus For cause he came not fourth with all his might The tyraunt fell to agaynstande as he hight Wherfore Britayns were all full gladde fayne Of kynge Coylus that succured all theyr payne The .lix. Chapiter ¶ Kyng Coyle of Briteyne reygned .xi. yere that was father to saynte Elyne HE ruled the realme in lawe and peace ful wel That for his wyt and vertuosyte Able he was as chronycles coulde fele To haue ruled all the emperalyte For ryghtwesnesse manhode and moralytee A doughter had he and none other heire Elyne that hyght farre passyng good and fayre ¶ That afterwarde she was and is canonyzed In shryne at Rome that is saynt Elyne Her father Coyle set her to be excercysed In philosophye and other scyence clene In whiche she coulde her selfe ryght wel demeane That she was able by wytte and sapience The realme to rule and haue therof the regence The .lx. Chapiter ¶ Howe Constancius Senatoure and Emperour of Rome wedded saynt Elyne and by her was kyng of this lande THe Romans seÌt to Britayne Constancius That Spayne had put in hole subieccyon Vnto Rome as chronicles haue writeÌ thus Who landed here withoute reieccyon To whome kyng Coyle by good direccyon His message sente offeryng hym his truage And he to stande king and holde his herytage ¶ Of whiche Constance was glad of his entente And here abode at prayer of the kynge His doughter wed by their whole assente Elyne his heyre that was both good and yonge Of hye wysdome and womanly conning And there with all the fairest that men knewe More Angelyke then womannyshe of hewe ¶ Within fyue wekes after her father dyed Buryed at Care Colune his owne cytee Greatly coÌmended well famed and laudifyed Both on this syde and beyonde the sea Eleuen yere reigned in greate dignyte And ouer all thyng alway comon publyke Of his realme wrought not many kiÌges him lyke The .lxi. Chapiter COnstance was kiÌg crowned with Diademe And Elin quene through al great britain On whom he gate a sonne that had bapteme That Constantyne called was then in certayne But kyng ConstauÌce of Rome was hye cheftaine By the senate fyrste made the Emperoure And after kyng of Britayne and gouernoure Whiles he laboured for Romes publyke profete With his felowe that hyght Galerius That Emperoure of Rome by greate delyte Whiche of maxence of porte malicyous Werryd full sore with werke full cheualrous And all the weste this constaunce had and hylde Galerius had the Este there into bylde ¶ And after when this Constaunce of Britayne Was crowned kyng the comon wele preferryd Of all his realme not lettyng for disdayne He wrought it aye and no tyme it differed As chronycles of hym sayde and referred And when he had reygned hole .xv. yere At Ebranke was he buryed full clere The .lxii. Chapiter ¶ Constantyne kyng of Britayne sonne of Constaunce and of saynte Elyn by xxxiiii yere was fyrst kynge of Brytayne and afterwarde Emperoure of Rome HIs sonne ful yonge Constantyne his heire Then crowned was by all the baronage Who lykely was semely and ryght feire Of .xv. yeres so in his tender age Great manhode had to rule his heritage Of greate wysdome was and of sapience By discrecyon had he intellygence ¶ He had also a lambishe pacience To here all pleyntes mekely with sobernes A lyons chere in felde with good regence Discrecion good to chastysh wickednes The welfare of his realme with busines Preserued euer and kepte in regyment And wher nede was he made suppowelment ¶ The Senatours of Roome by letters well endite Praied hym to come to Roome as emperour For to destroye Maxence and disherit Of Christen folke the cruell turmeutour Of Christen faieth the cursed confoundour For of his birth thei saied it sette hym so Maxence to stroye that was his fathers fo ¶ For whiche he went to Roome with greate power Of Britons strong with flemynges and Barbayns Henauldes Gelders Burgomans Frenche full clere DuchemeÌne LuÌbardes also many Almains The yere of Christ three C. and ten with Romains Mette with Maxence and with Dioclesian And their feloe that hight Maximian ¶ Sumwhat afraid of their multitude Constantyne then he held vp to heuen And sawe a crosse in whiche was enclude This reason good in hoc vinco full euine His ferdnes so anone then did hym leuen In signe of whiche a crosse of goules he bare In his baner white with hym faught he there ¶ He had the felde and putte theim to the flight Wherfore euer after he bare twoo armes clere In all likenes to euery mannes sight As Englishemenne in this lande bare theim here Sainct Georges armes nowe called wtouteÌ wer Thus hath the kyng of englande to theim right Throughe eldres gootteÌ by god his verey might ¶ The senate whole hym mette and magnified His high tryumphe and mighty victorye With laude and honour fully glorified As vsage was that tyme of Romanye At certain gates sette vp for memory And crouned hym in imperiall trone That so manly had quit theim of their foone The .lxiii.
citees all and castels sufficiaunt To lette hym passe awaye without troublaunce Whiche Engist graunted because of aliaunce The .lxix. Chapiter ¶ Howe Engist caused Logres to bee called then Engestlande of whiche the commons putte gest awaye in their common speache and callâ it England for shortenes of speache ENgist with his hoost had all thorient The South North in all the greate Britain In his kepyng except thoccident Whiche Brytons held of warre and muche pain By olde chronicles as I haue herd saine And then anone he called it Engestes lande Whiche after was shorted and called England ¶ Through the coÌmons that thought it long to say And muche lighter in tongue to saie Englande Then with their mouth ouer long to name it aye By long producyng to call it Engistislande And thus came first in as I vnderstande As I conceiue thus came first Englandes name For short speach corrupt per sincopene ¶ But Engist then gaue all the lande about To Saxons all and kyng was so of Kent But Vortiger in Cambre sought through out To buylde vpon a castell to his entent To holde hym in fro the panymes violent Whiche in Cambre the castell of Genoren He made full strong in the lande of Hergigyen ¶ Vpon the ryuer of Ewey on Cloarte hill But of dragons and of the water vnder That Merlyn saied that castell did so spill Ne of his birth that many menne on wounder Of that werke bothe aboue and vnder That no father had ne of his prophecye I cannot wryte of suche affirmably ¶ Notwithstandyng that philophiers wise Affirme well that sprites suche there been Bitwene the moone and therth called Incubice That haue gotten chyldren of wemen vnseene As in stories diuerse I haue so seen Howe the philosophier wise Magancius Affirmeth it also and Apuleyus The .lxx. Chapiter ¶ Aurelius Ambrose kyng of Brytain the seconde soonne of Constantyne AVrelius Ambrose brother of Constaunce Into Britain with strong greate power And segid then Vortiger by ordinaunce In his castell of Genoren full clere Whiche with wild fire he brent and hym in feere And crouned was by all the baronage To reioyse Britain that was his heritage ¶ He sought Engist that panyme was full grym With hoostes thei faught but Aurele had that better The Saxons fled before that were full brime For in their quarel it might bee no better Duke Eldoll toke Engist and did hym fetter In Kent as he hym mette awaye fleyng At Conanburgh hym brought to the kyng ¶ Where he was heded with swerd and decollate And Occa then and his soonne Ebissa His cousin 's dere at Yorke came in ful late And with hym Saxons full many one moo Wher then the kyng hym segid with muche woo But Occa then and al his compaignie Came to the kyng to whome he gaue mercye ¶ The kyng then made a worthy sepulture With that stone hengles by Merlins whole aduise For all the lordes Brytons hye nature That there were slain in false and cruell wise By false Engest and his feloes vnwise In remembraunce of his forcasten treason Without cause or any els encheson ¶ But Pascencius the soonne of Vortiger With hoost of Irish Cambre he destroyed With whome the kyng faught with his power And droue hym out to Irelande sore anoyed Of his people many slain and foule acloyed But Eopa then clad in monkes clothyng With his poysonis then poysoned had the kyng ¶ But then the kyng of Irelande and Pascence In Cambre brent the kyng full sicke then laye He sent Vterpendragon for defence With hoost royall and mighty greate araye He faught with hym for whiche thei fled that daye With shame and hurt to Irelande home again Vterpendragon the felde so had full plain ¶ Then Vter sawe a starrye beame full bright And asked Merlyn what that it might meane He said it is Stella Cometa righte It sygnifieth the kyng his death to been That nowe is gonne to the blisse I ween The dragon also thy self dooeth signifye With beames twoo extendyng seuerally ¶ The beame southward to FrauÌce that dooeth extende Thy soonne that thou shalt haue dooeth signifie That shall conquere all Fraunce vnto th end Almaignie also and all Germanie And so to Roome throughout al Romanie Aboue all princes in his tyme moost fained Through Christente moost dred and best named ¶ That other beame to Irelande extendyng Thy doughters eke dooeth also signifie Their children also that of theim shal be comynge The realme to haue with all the regalie Thus Merlyn to hym dooeth specifie So went he furth anone to Cairgwente Where he had woorde of his brothers enterremeÌt ¶ Within the GiauÌtes carole that so then hight The stone hengles that nowe so named been Where prelates dukes erles lordes of might His sepulture to worship there were seen Thus this worthy kyng was buryed by dene That reigned had that tyme but thirten yere When he was dedde and laied so on beere The .lxxi. Chapiter ¶ Vter PendragoÌ kyng of Brytain and of his armes that he bare HIs brother Vter at CairgweÌt was crouÌd In trone royall theÌ fully was admit Twoo dragons made of gold royall that stound That one offred of his deuout wit In the mynster there as he had promit That other before hym euer in battaile bare Of gold in goulis wher so he gan to fare ¶ Tharmes also of Troye that Brutus bare Tharmes also of good kyng Lucius Whiche after baptyme his armes alwaye ware The same armes that kyng Constantynus At his batayll against Maxencius So bare alwaye that saynt George armes we call Whiche Englyshemen nowe worshippe ouer all ¶ And for he bare the dragon so in warre The people all hym called then Pendragor For his surname in landes nere and farre Whiche is to saye in Britayn region In theyr language the head of the dragon And in the north as he a castell made Pendragon hight wher he his dwellyng had ¶ But Occa sonne then of that false Engist And Oysa also the sonne of Occa with That northlande brent of which when Vter wyst He faught with theim there saued theim no grith Nor none of the people that came theim with He tooke Occa and Oysa in batayll Beside Dane hill wher they did hym assayle ¶ The Saxones also he slewe that with hym came And had the felde with all the victorie For ioye of whiche he made great ioye and game Proclaymed his feast of Pasche solemply To holde at London wher then he made his crye That euery lorde his wife with hym shuld bryng For worshippe of that feast and of the kyng The .lxxii. Chapiter ¶ Howe the kyng was an amoured of the duke of Gorloys wyfe and how he gatte on her kyng Arthure EMonges other Gorloys duke of Cornewayle His wife did bring Igrene fayre of figure Whose beautee their all others made to faile So well and hole auised was nature Her womanhede exceded euery creature That though nature her beautee
with dughty duke Cordrik ¶ And leyde hym hostage all this to spede And when they were vpon the sea agayne They landed eft at Totnesse so in dede And seged Bathe where Arthure was full faine Their hostages honged in their syght ful plaine And with them fought Colgrym Baldof slewe To Cordryk gaue westsex to be his man trewe ¶ Duke Cador then folowed vpon the chace And slewe Cheldryk and his of Saxonie And to the kyng agayne came for this case That kyng beseged was in Albanye Wherfore they went with hoste full manly To Alclud where Scottes peightes laye about Theim discomfyted and hym delyuered oute The Scottes peightes he droue into oute ysles Of Scotland then there became his men To lyue in peace that euer were full of wyles But Gwillomare the kyng of Irelande then Ouer kyng Arthure full harde warre beganne With hoste full greate of Iryshe and Saxonye In Scotlande brent and also in Albanye ¶ But then that kyng hym met with hym faught Discomfyted hym and put hym to the flygt Vnto Irelande with batayle sore vnsaught Of Scotlande then of Lowthyan by ryght The kyng was then that loth of Lowthian hight The fyrste knyghte was so of the table rounde To Arthure true also his lyegeman founde ¶ His syster Anne vnto his wyfe had wed On whome he gate the curteous knyght Gawen In Dunbar castell his lyfe there he ledde And Aguzell was kyng that tyme certayne Of Albanye and Vryan of Murref playne The kyng was then to kyng Arthure full trewe His lyegeman aye and chaunged not of newe ¶ The kyng Arthure then wedded to his wyfe Gwaynore faiereste of any creature That tyme accompted for passyng birth natyse So Iuly fayre she was of her fygure More aungelyk then womannyshe of nature In so ferfurth meÌ thought them selues wel eased Her to beholde so well al folke she pleased ¶ The table rounde of knightes honourable That tyme were voyde by great defycience For many were through actes marcyable Dispended then by warres violence Wherfore the kyng then of his sapience The worthyest of euery realme aboute In the table rounde then sent without doute ¶ The thre kynges foresayde of Scotlande Two kynges also of Walys full chyualrous Howell the kyng of lesse Briteyne lande And duke Cador of Cornewayle corageous And worthy Gawen gentyll and amarous And other fel theyr rule was wronges to oppresse with their bodyes where lawe myght not redresse The fayth that church Maydens widowes clene Chyldren also that were in tender age The coÌmon profyte euer more to sustene Agayne enchauntmentes his body for to wage Agayne whiche crafte of the deuelles rage Theim to destroye and all kinde of sorcerye Of whiche were many that tyme in Brytaynye ¶ On whitsonday alwaye euery yere They shoulde eche one at the feaste be with the king In anye place where euer so that he were But yf he were in prysone or harde lettyng By dede of armes death or elles sycke lyeng In whiche cases one of the table rounde Shulde seke hym all that yere tyll here were found ¶ Also their rule was eche one should tell His owne actes of warrys auenture Afore the kyng at meate howe hym byfell In his trauayle or of his misauenture The Secretorye should put it in scrypture For none auaunt it should not then betake But for his rule to holde the king then dyd it make ¶ Also to steare moue yonge knightes corage To seche armes and warrys of worthynesse And of dyuerse landes to learne the language That elles wolde lyue at home in ydylnesse For honoure ease abideth not together doutlesse Also it moueth these poore yonge knighthode To be auaunced by theyr ladies lyuelode ¶ For doute it not Ladies ne gentylwemen No cowardes loue in maner that is abusyon And shamefull also repreuable amonges men His cowardyse doth him greate confusyon A man to withdrawe him by feynt collusyon For better is with honour for to dye Then with lyfe ay ashamed for to be ¶ The somer nexte Arthure went to Ireland With batayle sore forfoughten yt conquered And of the kyng had homage of that lande To holde of hym so was he of hym feared And also gate as chronycles haue vs lered Denmarke Friselande Gotelande Norway Iselande Greneland Thisle of Man Orkynay ¶ He conquered these to hold of hym euermore He made kyng Loth that was of Lowthian Of Norway kyng wher he had fought full sore And Lowthyan he made his soonne Gawayne The kyng to hold of hym by homage then For Norway was his veray heritage Discent of bloodde of kyng Sechelynes lynage ¶ Kyng Arthure then through ChristeÌtie moost famed And conquerour aboue all kynges royall Was theÌ moost doubted of maÌhode best named But kynges and princes of Septentrionall His to present moost high emperiall Eche daye came newe that then more like it semid An heuenly life then erthely as menne demid ¶ He held his houshold and the rounde table Some time at Edenburgh some tyme at Striue line Of kynges renomed and moost honourable At Carleile sumwhile at Alclud his citee fyne EmoÌg all his knightes and ladies full femenine At Bamburgh also and Ebrank citee At London at Wynchester with greate royalte ¶ At Carlion Cardif and Aualyne In Cornwaile also Douer and Cairelegion And in Scotlande at Perthe and Dunbrytain At Dunbar Dumfrise and sainct Iohns towne All of worthy knightes moo then a legion At Donydoure also in Murith region And in many other places bothe citee and towne ¶ But euer as next the valey is the hill After long rest commeth sharpe labour Kyng Arthure then had so firmely sette his will To conquer Fraunce as his progenitour Maximian did with full greate honour Wherfore he sent to all his homagers That to hym came with all their powers The .lxxiiii. Chapiter ¶ Howe kyng Arthure conquered Fraunce and sleugh kyng Frolle of frauÌce and wan many laÌdes thitherward and when he had wone Fraunce and ruled it nyne yere he came to Carlion and he and the quene were crouned there again with greate solempnite dewe seruice dooen by his homagers ANd into Fraunce anone so furth he went And in Paris Frolle that was gouernour Bysegid then who vnto Arthure sent Profered hym bataile with full greate honour With hande for hande for right of themperour To fight with hym to iudgen all the right Whiche to fulfill Arthure graunted and hight ¶ At a daye assigned thei twoo together mette Within an Isle without Paris citee Wher either other with wepons sore then bette But kyng Arthure by greate humanyte That daye hauyng of hym the souereingte Sleugh Froll that daye with Caleburne his swerd For whiche all Fraunce of hym were sore aferd ¶ Paris thei yeld and all the realme of Fraunce The royals all to kyng Arthure obeyed Seruice did hym and all whole obeisaunce As to their kyng and hym nomore disobeyed He sent Howell with hoost and hym conueighed
ladyes many were drowned as was sene And then the kyng wed Hadelyse the quene The duke Godfrey daughter that was of Loreyne Of his mournyng to comforte him agayne ¶ And in the yere a thousande fully accompte And an C. twenty and also fyue Themperour Henry the death surmounte And passed to God fro Maude that was his wife Who to her father king Henry came belyfe Abode with hym in Englande then ⪠two yere Maude Empryce was called then full clere ¶ And in the yere of Chrystes incarnacyon A thousande was an C. twenty and seuen When kyng Henry in greate prosperacyon His doughter Maude thempryce to neuen The earle Geffrey Plantagenet euen Earle of Angeou the sone of Fowke Tailboys So maryed had of fame that had the voyce ¶ On whome he gate a sonne that Henry hyght By surname called Henry fitz Empryce Then dyed his eme Alexaunder forth ryghte The kyng of Scottes a priÌce of great enterpryce That homage dyd for Scotlande as suffyce So dyed then to whome Dauyd succede His brother was saint Margarete sonne in dede ¶ That to kyng Henry made his homage And then to Maude the foresayde Empryce By hole assent of all his Baronage By letter wryten and sealed as maye suffyce which Iohn HardiÌg in Scotland brought of pÌce with many mo for foure C. marke and fyftye At biddiÌg coÌmaundement of the with king Henry ¶ Cadwalan prynce of Wales at Wadeyet In batayle faught where kyng Henry him slewe And greate people of Wales that there forset Were slayne that daye to hym that were vntrewe Of whiche batayl Wales maye alway rewe The yere a thousande an C. and thyrtye And there tyll two as made is memorye ¶ Then went the kyng to Normandye agayne And there abode and kepte all Normandy To tyme he dyed of whome that lande was fayne But Englande then of it was full heuy When he had reygned so full worthy He dyed in the syxe and thyrtye yere At Boys Leon of his reygne then full clere ¶ Of Chrystes date was then a thousande yere An hundreth also and. ix and thyrtye moo Buryed at Redynge as well it doth appere In the abbaye whiche there he founded so Of monkes blake where euer they ryde or goo That pray for hym for quene Maude his wyfe Who eyther other loued withouten stryfe The C .xxvii. Chapiter ¶ Stephan of Bloys kynge of Englande reygned .xix. yere beganne the yere of Chryst a thousande C. and. xxxix and dyed in the yere a thousande C .lviii. STephaÌ of Blois his sister soÌne was crouÌd A manly maÌ was theÌ of great power And king was made of England that stound Withoute stryfe or any maner warre To Normandy he went and seazed all there and gaue it to his sonne syr Eustace And made hym duke therof with great solace ¶ Thus Eustace then duke of Normandy To Parys went to kyng lewys of Fraunce His homage made for his lande so in hye And put oute then with greate contraryaunce The offycers that dyd to Maude pleasaunce And wed the suster of kyng Lewes to wife For supowaill of it without strife ¶ The kyng StephaÌ to EnglaÌd theÌ home came And tidynges had howe kyng Dauid had distroied The North parties dooen full muche harme Wherfore he brent Edenburgh then and noyed And the countree aboute he sore accloyed For wiche Dauid his soonne to Henry then sent To bee his manne thens furth at his entent ¶ To whome kyng Stephan therldoÌ of HuÌtyngton Then gaue and erle therof hym so create Who then for it by verey due reason His homage did as it was ordinate Whiche HeÌry dyed and neuer had kynges estate For whiche the Scottes seyn thei owe no seruice To Englishe kynges but onely of this wise ¶ Kyng Stephan then bet the castell doune In England so that stode hym to defence His menne thei gaue to their enheritesoun And all foon for cause of their offence He disherite with might violence Diuers erles and lordes he disherite And many other of his frendes enherite ¶ The yere of Christ a thousand was then gone An hundred thirty and eight also Kyng Stephan brake all his othes a none That he had made vnto the barons tho For whiche thei rose full sore again hym so And warred hym felly on euery side And he on them also with mikyl pryde ¶ The yere a thousande an C. thyrty and nyne Maude Empryce in England claymed her right With earle Robert of Gloucestre her brother fine And earle Randolf of Chester with all his might Syr Bygot earle of Northfolke then hyght Awbrey Ver then earle of Oxenforde And Willyam Bawne that then was earle of Herforde ¶ Willyam Legroos earle of Almarle tho Robert Louell Willyam lorde Percy Kyng Dauyd her eine and many other mo Of earls and barons that were full hardy The castell then Lyncolne gate on hye The cytee helde of Lyncolne with also With hoste full greate lyggyng with them so ¶ Where then the kyng yâ castell seged longe Tyll he it had by treaty and conuencyon And bode therin with power greate and stronge Tyll Maude and he as made is mencyon With stronge batayles and great discencyon Besyde Lyncolne where then she had the felde And StephaÌ taken hurt sore through his sheld To Brystowe then earle Roberte Clare hym led And in the towre there kepte in stronge pryson The Empryce Mawde with power that she had To Wynchester then she rode segyng the towne Where the quene Maude as made is mencyon Kyng StephaÌ his wyfe it rescowed with batayl sore And toke the earle Clare his eme thore The C .xxviij. Chapiter ¶ Thenterchaunge of kyng Stephan and of tht duke Robert Clare duke of Glocester FOr which cause theÌ to haue hir eme again Themperesse and quene Maude accordid To enterchaunge that kyng so then full fain For erle Robert without more concordid This enterchaunge thus made and recordid The kyng hir sued vnto Oxenford Fro whens she went by night to Walyngford ¶ Vpon the frost in the wynter season In her smocke alone with hir vncle dere That none hir knewe of theim without the towne So like hir smocke and the snowe was in feer The kyng knewe not in what place that she wer For Oxenford he gate and Awbray slewe Of Oxenford that was an erle full trewe ¶ The kyng Stephan a castell then began At Wilton where kyng Dauid with power And erle Robert of Glocester that was then Hym droue awaye out of that place full clere And bet it downe to the ground full nere To Walyngford the kyng with power went Themperesse to sech was his entent ¶ Hir partie then droue hym then awaye With greate slaughter of menne and occâsion And euery lorde on other made greate affraye And spoyled other through al this region By greate impression and cruell sore raunson The kyng treated with erle Randolf full trewe But false then was his treaty as menne knewe ¶ For when
he came vnto his presence Anone he putte hym in sore prisone To tyme he had by his magnificence The castell of Lyncolne vnto his croune And putte hym then to fyne and greate raunsom So variaunt he was alwaye of hight Fro eueÌ to morowe that no man trust hym might The fiftene yere of the same kyng Stephen Th erle Geffrey of Angeou decessid A noble prince as all menne did beleuen Henry his soonne of persone well encressed Of childishe wit also full relesed And of age he was then fiftene yere To Scotland came kyng Dauid to require ¶ Of his socour and of his supportacion England to gette that was his heritage Who made hym then full greate consolacion And with hym came without fee or wage With full assent of all his baronage Vnder baners kyng Dauid made hym knight Vpon the felde again kyng Stephen to fight ¶ But suche treaty was made and good accorde That kyng Stephen to Henry shoulde retourne As very heire without more discorde At his decesse to Henry whole retourne The croune of England without more soiourne Who died then after in his .xix. yere At Feuersham buried he was full clere ¶ Of Christes date was then a thousande yere And an hundreth fyftye and eyght also His wyfe and he there buried both in feer The whiche he found whyles he was lyuyng so And reigned here in muche trouble and wo And had this realme without any ryght For themprise Maude that fayre lady bright The C .xxix. Chapiter ¶ Henry fitz Emprice kyng of Englande and erle of Angeou duke of Normandye and Guyen by .xxxvi. yere and beganne to reygne the yere of oure Lorde a thousande a hundreth .lviii. and dyed the yere a thousande an hundreth and .xciiii. HEnry therle of Angeou was tho In this meane tyme had beÌ in NormaÌdy And set his rule therin for frende or foo And crouned was at London worthely With all the lordes of his hye monarchie And made hym then theyr feautee and homage The prince of Wales also for his heritage ¶ He wedded then a lady fayre and bright Dame Alianor the dukes doughter of Guyen And heyre therof and lady by all right Possession had with all the profytes then And welbeloued was she with her men Deuorced fro the kyng Lewes of Fraunce That hyr had wed to wyfe of his puysaunce ¶ And on her gatte two doughters fayre gente But for sibrede and consanguinitee They were departed by papall iudgement On whome kyng Henry by Christes decree Gatte sonnes foure of great humanitee Henry Richarde Geffrey and Iohn also Elianor and Ihone his doughters two The C .xxx. Chapiter ¶ Howe Malcolyne the seconde kyng of Scottes made homage for Scotlande for therldome of huntyngdon IN this meane whyle kyng Dauid then so dyed To whoÌ Malcolyn HeÌryes soÌne was heire Whiche Henry was erle notified Of Huntyngdon without any dispayre Of that erldome bothe good and fayre And sonne was to this noble kyng Dauy That wedded had erle Waldens doughter onely ¶ To enioye therldome by her enheritaunce That gat on her this Malcolyne that was kyng Of Scotlande nowe of mighty hye puysaunce That homage made for his enherityng Vnto Henry that then was of Englande kyng For all Scotlande and also for Huntyngdon Whiche seruices both were due vnto the croune The C .xxxi. Chapiter ¶ This kyng Henrye exiled Thomas becket byshop of Cauntorburye HE maried then his sonne the young Henry To the doughter of the kyng of Fraunce He exiled then Thomas of Cauntorbury Out of Englande and many of his aliaunce For cause of his rebellious gouernaunce And as he came fro Rome by Fraunce awaye With language fel he prayed the kyng that daye ¶ The poyntes to mende and so to EnglaÌd went For which the kyng was with hym sore displeased That then he sayd had I had men that ment Myne honeste I were not thus diseased With suche a clerke thus greued and vneased Therfore three knightes Raynold le Fitz Vrsy Hughe Moruyle hym slewe with Robert Tracy ¶ But kyng Malcolyne died that was full true Of his homage at Westchester ensealed To kyng Henry dooen so as it was due For it should not be gaynsayd ne counselled Nor afterwarde of Scottes be repeled To whiche Malcolyne WillyaÌ his sonne heyre Was crouned kyng of Scotlande then full fayre The C .xxxii. Chapiter ¶ Howe kynge Wyllyam of Scotlande wente in to Normandye with kyng Henry of Englande the seconde as his liegeman THis kyng Wyllyam then rode with hoste full stronge The NorthreÌ laÌd he brent sore distroyed By east and west of both Merches of Englande The lorde Vesty with it was anoyed The lorde Vnfreuyle with syckenesse so accloyed With power great at Alnwike with hym faught Wher he was takeÌ in batayll sore and caught ¶ WhoÌ to the kyng to LondoÌ then thei brought Vnto kyng Henry with great honoure Then had the kyng tydynges he liked nought His sonne Henry by kyng Lewys socoure Besieged Roan with hoste great and rygoure For when the kyng to Normandy then went The kyng Wyllyam with hym his labour spent ¶ And Dauid also his brother with al his might That erle was then create of Huntyngdon And Robert ferers erle of Leycester so hight And Roger clare with theim of great renoume Of Gloucester that erle was in possession With other lordes and the siege sone remeued And his cytee of Roan full well rescued ¶ The siege and saute perdoned and forgeuen At the prayer of kyng Lewys of Fraunce Within fewe yeres in peace and rest to liuen He crowned his sonne without distaunce Kyng of Englande and gaue hym gouernaunce And at the feast of his coronacion He sewed afore hym for his consolacion The C .xxxiii. Chapiter ¶ This yonger Henry reigned but .iiii. yeres and died before his father wherfore he is not accompted as kynge because his father outlyued hym and reigned after his death ANd to hiÌ said soÌne thinke I do you honour A kynge to serue you thus nowe at youre meate He aunswered hym full vnthankefully that houre And sayd it was no reproue ne forfete An erls sonne to serue the kynges sonne at meate For whiche the father Henry to Irelande went Tyll young Henry the kyng was dead and spent Then came Henry and had the gouernement The father and kyng was then admytte agayn And reigned then and had the regiment And but .iiii. yere his sonne reygned soth to sayen Wherfore he is among kynges certeyne Not accoumpted by no chronicler For his father was kynge afore and after clere The C .xxxiiii. Chapiter ¶ Howe kyng Wyllyam of Scotlande made his homage to kyng Henry the seconde THe kyng Wyllyam at his daye assigned To Yorke came to do there his homage That made it then nothyng it repugned But for his due dette then for his heritage Of Scotlande whole by veraye due knowlage Of his barons and by his euydence Agayne it founde he then no
trewe defense ¶ The kynge Henry then coÌquered all Irelande By papall dome there of his royaltee The profytes and reuenues of the lande The dominacion and the souerayntee For errour whiche agayn the spiritualtee They helde full longe would not been correcte Of heresyes with which they were infecte ¶ He founded then the priory of Newstede Within Shirwod and Waltham founded newe Afore were secular without hede Whiche regular he made in order due And other two houses of order trewe He founded there for his soule to praye Where was holy seruyce kepte euery daye ¶ Geffreye his sonne the thyrde gotten and bore That duke of Britayne was hole create By his wyues right to enioye for euermore Whiche was a prince of royall great estate At Parys dyed that Arthure create To sonne and heyre and Isabell the fayre His doughter was without any dispayre ¶ In the yere of Christ a thousande clere An hundreth and sixty also and one Baudewyn the thyrde died taken priesoner By the Sarysens that were his mortall foone Of his body that yssue then had none To whome his brother Almarike did succede To Ierusalem and there was kyng in dede ¶ By treason of therle Triples then The Christen hoste that had foule betrayed When Bawdewyn was so taken through that false man That great people of ChristeÌ had theÌ reised And on the felde nothyng to be praysed To the Sarysyns went with all his power And discomfyt the chrysten hoost full clere The C .xxxv. Chapiter ¶ Howe Geffrey Plantagenet otherwyse called Plantageneth Earle of Angeou elder brother of Bawdewyne and Almaryk shoulde haue ben king of Ierusalem afore and so by consequens thys kynge Henrye shoulde haue be kynge of it BVt yf ryght had lynally procede Geffray Plantagenet Earle of Angeou The elder brother of Bawdwyn so in dede And of Almaryk with mykell blysse and ioye Whiche Geffray so Earle of Angeou Shulde haue be kyng afore of all that realme Both of Surry and also Ierusalem ¶ When duke Robert Ierusalem forsoke For couetyse to haue and ioyse Englande Godfray Boleyne the realme of Surry toke And of Ierusalem eke I vnderstande And erowned was to be kynge of that lande That duke had bene afore of all Loueyne A noble prynce and a worthy Chyefteyne ¶ A thousande was an hundreth sixty syxtene Withoute yssue of his body coÌmynge Dyed to whome his brother as was sene Bawdwin succeded and of that realme was king That ruled the lande as was full well semyng Full worthy accompted amonge all estates That chrysten fayth susteyned without debates To whom his sonne king Bawdewin did succede The seconde was that had so borne that name A noble Prynce of all marcyall dede And in that lande greate honoure had and fame Whiche on his wyfe gate without blame A doughter then had vnto his heyre That lande to haue enheryte and repayre Whom then earle Fowke of Angeou wed to wife And kyng was of that lande then by her ryght On whome he gate thre sonnes in his lyfe Worthy knyghtes and men of greate myght The eldest Geffray Plantagenet hyght That gate this same Henry fytz Empryse Kyng of Englande of noble and hye enterpryse The .ii. sonne of Fowke was Bawdewin that thirde Dyed prysoner as it is expressed afore Without yssue of his body betyd The third sonne then of Fowke laste was bore Hyght Almaryk whiche two were kynges thore Where erle Geffrey their elder brother had ryght That suffred them to ioye that lande by myght ¶ Which Almaryk dyed kyng so of that realme After whome then reygned his sonne Bawdwyn That fourth was of that name of Yerlam That impotent was without medecyn To mayntayne warre he myght no more enclyne Who called was Bawdewyn Paraliticus For with the palsye stryken was he full hydeous The C .xxxvi. Chapiter ¶ Howe that kyng Henry the seconde was very heyre of Ierusalem and by consequens Rycharde of Yorke shoulde be the same Wherfore he sent to kynge Henry his crowne His banner also of his armes full fayre Of Ierusalem that were of great renowne As to hym that was then the very heyre Of earle Geffray eldest sonne full fayre Was to kyng Fowke and to his wyfe the quene Doughter and heyre to Baudewin the .ii. clene ¶ This fourth Bawdewyn called Paraliticus This message sent the yere of Christe a thousand An hundreth ful foure score and thre ryght thus When Henry was requyred to haue that lande Whiche he proroged and sent agayne his sounde He shulde be there yf that the kyng of Fraunce And he myght well accorde of gouernaunce ¶ He went so forth anon to Normandye With hoost full great with kyng Philyp to treat Of that voyage and warre accorded on hye But then the death hym felly ganne reherte Wherfore anon he satte vp in his seate And to his sonne Rycharde greate soÌme he gaue Thether to go that holy lande to saue ¶ And then he dyed at Pount Euerard buryed The sorowe of herte and great contricyon A prynce chrysten fully notifyed Withouten pere in all comparyson Of worthy knygthode and manly renowne A thousande yere an C lxxx and fourtene And of his reygne was syxe thirty clene The C .xxxvii. Chapiter ¶ Howe Richard king of England duke of NormaÌdy earle of Angeou reygned .x. yere and beganne the yere of Chryst a. M. an C lxxxxiiii dyed the yere M CC. and .iiii. RYchard his soÌne to kiÌg theÌ was crowned By Bawdewyn archbyshop primate Of Cauntorbury of England that stound That ruled the churche then by lawe ordynate His brother Geffray of baste so procreate Archbyshop was of Yorke then newe electe The Northren churche vnder him to be protecte ¶ The lorde Lueye that Godfray Lucye hight Afore hym bare a royall pyllyon And Iohn Marshal his spores of gold ful bright Willyam Maundeuile his mighty hye crowne That earle was then of Almarle vp and downe Of his wyues ryght willyam Marshal bolde Earle of Strigeyll the scepter bare of golde ¶ Willyam Patryk that was then Longspee That Earle was then create of Salysbury A staffe of golde for constable then was he Of Englande hole to haue the regeny By ryght of his offyce of constablery For yf the lande were voyde none heire knowe To kepe the realme by his offyce hym owe. ¶ This ylke Willyam was earle also create Of Gloucestre by whiche that offyce grewe To hym of ryght for he was generate Of Roberte Clare earle of Gloucestre trewe Foure Barons bare by theyr seruyce full dewe Aboue his hed then in processyon A cloth of golde by good direccyon ¶ Earle Dauyd then that tyme of Huntyngdon Brother of the kyng Willyam of Scotlande And Iohn the earle of Morten of renowne Kyng Rychardes brother as I vnderstone Ryght worthy lordes that tyme of this lande And Robert Ferrers earle of Leycester tho Thre swordes bare afore the kyng there so Syxe Earls then and Barons of estate A cheker
to whom they did homage ¶ Syr Iames Douglas erle Patrike DuÌbare With all theyr helpe at the Candilmasse On Edwarde roase the Bailiol or he were ware And slewe all that they found doutlesse That fayn he was to Englande to flee helpelesse At Marche after he entred then Scotlande With thesame lordes then of the north lande ¶ On both sydes they rode and fast destroyed And to Berwike Edwarde Bailol came And sieged it and felly was annoyed To whiche Edwarde of Englonde with great fame Came with his hoost and laye there at thesame The Douglas then and Dunbare with power Northumberlande all through brent full clere The C .lxxix. Chapiter ¶ Of the battayle of Halidon hill and howe Edwarde Bayliol did homage leege to kyng Edwarde of Englande TO Halydon hill they came with their prayes Barwike castell and towne so to rescue Wher to oure hoste ful oft they made frayes Both day euen and morowes or day dewe But then the kyng of Englande to hym drewe The kyng also of Scotland with his might Full sore that daye in batayll did they fight ¶ Where Edwardes two had al the victorye The royaltes of all Scotlande there wer slayn Thyrty thousande with theim liggand by Of men of armes and archers dead certayn Then in the yere next after soth to sayn At newcastell Edwarde kyng of Scotlande His homage did to the kyng of Englande ¶ For whiche that coÌmons of ScotlaÌd on hym rose And slewe his men that he into Englande came And gatte an hoste and rode vpon his fooes Through Anand through Kylay Conyngham Carrike and Glascowe slewe al that he fouÌd at hame The kyng Edwarde of England with power Through Lowthian so did to Stryuelyn clere ¶ And both met there with great gladnesse And home they came destroiyng all the waye Another yere in Iule for to redresse Scotlande agayn with hostes they gan a fraye At saynt Iohns towne they met in great araye And ther they made therle of Athelis regent Whome the commons felly slewe and shent ¶ Kyng Edwarde sent after in another yere In Maye Henry Lancastre a noble knight To Scotlande with an hoste of good power And afterwarde he came with mekill might To saynt Iohns towne on the monthes right Through Murrey to Elgyne Giluernes Rosse Throughout mounteynes woddes myre mosse ¶ Kyng Edwarde then came home into EnglaÌde And proclaymed his sonne Edwarde nominate The prince of Wales thens forth I vnderstande Henry Lancastre the younger he create Erle of Derby to beare the hole estate Wyllyam Mountague erle of Salisbury Of Northampton Wyllyam Bowne full manly ¶ Of Gloucester he made Hugh of Awdely Of Suffolke then he made Robert Hufforth Of Huntyngdon Wyllyam Clinton gay Whiche erles the kyng toke with hym forth With many a worthy knyght bothe of south and north And with the quene so vnto Andwarpe And there abode by all the wynter sharpe ¶ With great people and worthy chyualrye Agayn the kyng of Fraunce to clayme his right And wrote his title vnto that Romishe bishop on hie The duke of Barre and other lordes of might The quenes frendes then socoure had hym hight Where then the quene of hyr sonne Lionell Delyuered was as chronicles do tell ¶ He cherished then Flaundres that they forsoke Theyr naturall lorde and swore feautee To hym and his theyr power they betoke To byde and dwell vnder his souerayntee Because they sawe in hym suche humanitee He chaunged his armes in banners and penons And in his seale quartred of both regions ¶ And in the yere then of his reygne thyrtene His armes chaunged and called kyng of FrauÌce He rode in Fraunce on warre as then was seen A thousande tounes he brent by his puysaunce The kyng of Fraunce without variaunce Sent hym worde that he wold with hym fight But at the poynt he did not as he hight ¶ For at that tyme in sonder they were a myle He fled awaye kyng Edward held the felde Two dayes after he sued and Vmfreuile Of hym had sight and then he founde his sheld By whiche he knewe his couenaunt he not held Wherfore the kyng to Brabant went agayn The dukes three of Barre Earle and Brabayn ¶ The parliameÌt theÌ at Westmynster was hold Wher they grauÌted hym the .ix. laÌbe flees shaue Of the commons but the churche nomore wold Hym graunt but one dysme of theim to haue For which he grauÌted generall perdone and gaue The .ix. lambe slees shaue graunt was two yere To helpe the kyng his right to conquere The C .lxxx. Chapiter ãâã ¶ Howe kynge Edwarde smote the battayle on the sea at Sluse besyde Brydges howe the kyng firste rode into Fraunce and quartred his armes with the armes of Fraunce and sent to kyng Philip to trye the ryght betwene theim two ANd in his yere next after then fourtene At Sluse that kiÌg faught with the FreÌch nauy Fro noone to eue to the morowe as was seen Where all wer drouned slayn myghtely And kyng Edward to Fraunce went hastely With hoste full great destroied the lande brent The cytee of Turnais besieged and shente ¶ Then wrote he to the kyng Philip of Fraunce Not namyng hym kyng of that lande But to Philip of Valoys for greuaunce Willyng alone they two to take on hande To fyght for the cause and for to stande Who hath the better for euer to holde Fraunce Withoute warre or any more dystaunce ¶ Or elles they two eyther with an C. knyghtes And yf these wayes please hym not to excepte Come with his hoste all his strongest wyghtes To the cytee of Tournay none excepte At a certayne daye iustly to be kepte And who the felde maye get brooke well Fraunce Withoute more stryfe or any varyaunce ¶ The kyng then wrote vnto kyng Edwarde agayne That he wolde not for the letters fight Whiche touche not kyng Philyp in certayne But Philyp Valoys as sheweth well to syght To whiche he wolde set neyther daye ne highte But when he thought it were for his honoure He shulde hym chase awaye without socoure ¶ Out of his land which wrongfully he sheweth Agayne his fayth feautye made and homage To his auncesters by letter as it sheweth Vnder his seale of hole and good knowlage For Guyan and his other herytage And fro Turnace into Brabane agayne The kyng Edwarde in wynter dyd remayne ¶ To byde the byshoppes rule and disposicyon Of good accorde for then two cardynalles To take a trewce by good prouisyon Duryng two yere betwene them generals And all theyr frendes that were princypalles Then came the kyng to Edwarde into Englande His offycers newe made I vnderstande ¶ To the trewce then taken at Maltrete The dukes two of Burgoyne and Burbone In the kynges soule of Fraunce swore and hete Truly to kepe for frendes or for foone And duke Henry of Lancaster sad as stone Willyam Bowne Earle of Northhampton And Willyam Mountague full hye of renoune
Iohn of GauÌt in dede And his brother Edmond then faught full sore Were neuer twoo better knightes theÌ thei in dede That better faught vpon a feld afore It was but grace that thei escaped thore Thei putte theim selfes so ferfurth ay in prces That wounded wer thei bothe full sore no lees The C .lxxxv. Chapiter ¶ Howe prince Edward of Wales wedded dame IohaÌ doughter of Edmond Wodstoke erle of Kent he of that third degree and she of the second THese brethreÌ twoo with their Englishe power Set Iohn MouÌtfort iÌ his whole ducherie With great honour manhode all in fere Erle Iohn of Kent dedde was afore sothely Erle EdmoÌdes sooÌne to whom dame IohaÌ truly His sister was heire whome therle Mountague Of Salisbury had wed of maiden newe ¶ And hir forsoke after repudiate Whom his styward sir Thomas Holand wed And gate on hir Thomas erle of Kent late And Iohn Holand hir other soonne she hed Thomas their father dyed of sickenes bested The prince hir vowid vnto a knight of his She saied she would none but hym self I wis ¶ For hir beaute all onely he hir tooke And wed hir so and to Guyan went The yere was then a thousand who so loke Three hundred also sixty and fiue extent Rychard his soonne whiles he was there regent In Burdaur borne was theÌ with great gladnes Supposyng then of hym greate worthynes ¶ The kyng Peter of Castell and Lyon To Burdeaux came ther prince Edward beheld To gette again his worthy region Fro whiche his brother bastard with full strong beeld Had putte hym out thought it for to weeld For whiche the prince with all his hole power Rode into Spain to helpe hym to conquer ¶ Wher theÌ he faught against the bastard stroÌg The third daye of Aprill accompted then In battaill sore ferfoughten ther full long In whiche were slain full many a Spanish maÌne The basterd fled the prince the feld there wan And sette the kyng Peter in his region In peace and rest without rebellion The C .lxxxvi. Chapiter ¶ Howe the lordes of Italy sent ambassiate to kyng Edward for sir Leonell of Andwarp to make hym kyng of Italy who was create erle of Vister by his wife doughter heire to Rychard erle of Vister of whom he gate dame Philip wedded to Edmond Mortimer erle of Marche whiche erle of Marche gate Roger erle of Marche and my lady Percy THe duke of Milayn that hight sir Bernabo The lord MaÌtowe the marques Ferrar The lord of Mountpollestrme then also The lordes of Iene of Pyse that then were The lordes of Venis and Florence there To kyng Edward sent ambassiate By commen assent of papall senate ¶ For Lionell his soonne with theim to send The duke his doughter of Melayn for to wed Promisyng hym then hym so to recommend That of Itale the rule sholde all be led By hym and his frendes of Italye bred And in short tyme to ioye and bere the croune Of all Italye the royal region ¶ His wife was dedde and at Clare was buried And none heire he had but his doughter faire Philp that hight as chronicles specified Whom quene Philip Christened for his heire Tharchbishop of Yorke for his compeire Hir godmother also of Warwyk the countesse A lady was of all greate worthynes ¶ The kyng his soonne sir Leonell create Duke of Clarence and to Melayn hym sent With chiualrie of fame well ordinate And squyers freshe galaunt and sufficient With officers and yomen as appent And with hym went that greate ambassiate At his costage to Melayn consociate The C .lxxxvii. Chapiter ¶ Howe sir Leonell when his wife Elionor was dedde was create duke of Clarence and weddid the dukes doughter of Melayn in Lumbardy and dyed ther had no childe with her and some saye he is buried there and some saye his boones were brought home and buried at Clare in Essex but in trouth of Clare he had his name and honoure of duke of Clarence for Clare is called Clarencia in Latyne and also Clarence in Frenche THis duke royall of Clarence excellent At Melayne wedded was theÌ in royal wise With that lady fayre and beneuolent Full royally as to suche a prince shuld suffice And all the rule he had by councell wyse Fro mount Godard vnto the citee of Florence And well beloued was for his sapience ¶ In citees all he helde well vnitees Greate iustes ay and ioyus tournementes Of lordes knightes he made great assemblees Through all the lande by his wyse regimentes They purposed hole by theyr commen assentes To croune hym kyng of all great Italie Within halfe a yere for his good gouernaly ¶ In all the world was then no prince hym like Of hie stature and of all semelynesse Aboue all men within his hole kyngrike By the shulders he might be seen doutlesse As a mayde in halle of gentilnesse And in all other places sonne to rethorike And in the felde a Lyon marmorike ¶ In whiche meane tyme his iustes his excesse His great riot and wynes delicacie His ghoste exiled out of his corps doutlesse Afore the daye set of his regence For whom was made great mone through Italie Some sayen he is buried at Melayn And other some saye at Clare certayn ¶ But chyldren had he noone but Philip heire By Elizabeth his first wyfe whiche the kyng Edwarde maryed to Emond Mortymer Th erle of Marche that was his warde fulying Who gate on hir Roger their derelyng And Elizabeth wed to Henry Percy Sonne and heyre vnto therle Henry ¶ Of Northumberland which two both father sonne Wer knightly men in warres ay occupied Beyonde the sea great worshyp had they wonne In many a realme full greatly magnified For marcyall actes by theim multiplied The whiche were long here to reporte For in theyr tyme they were of noble porte ¶ But of the prince Edwarde yet wold I saye Howe he fro Spayne departe then in dede The kyng Peter toke hym his doughters tweyn Thelder hight dame Constaunce as I rede To duke Iohn wedded his lyfe with her to lede The yonger hight dame Isabell by name The duke EdmoÌd of Yorke wedded of great fame ¶ And in the yere a thousande fully written Thre hundreth eke sixty and also fouretene The prince Edwarde died as well was weten At Kenyngton which was his palice clene And buryed was at Cauntorbury as I wene Betooke hym hole to goddes disposicion After his mercy to suffre his punycion ¶ And in the yere of Christes incarnacion A thousande hole and three hundreth signified The prince pereles by all informacion Sixty and seuentene clerely notified Great syckenesse so had hym victoried And droue hym out from all his region That neuer prince might haue dooeÌ by persecucioÌ Â¶ In Iune the .xxii. daye expresse Was when he died from this world expired That was the floure of earthly worthynes That to the height of knighthode had aspired His owne hande pereles as was
it there moste clere Where these fyue lordes came armed by one asseÌt Appealed the duke of Irelande of greate entent The archbyshop of Yorke that hyght Neuyle And Michell poole earle of Suffolke that whyle ¶ Sir Nichol BreÌbyr of London that was Mayre Tresilyan also and syr Symonde Bourley Whiche they exyled some they honge vnfeyre Some they heded that tyme that was full gaye Holt and Belknap exyled were awaye In to Irelande for hye contryued treasone Agayne the kyng and his royall crowne ¶ The earle Douglas the earle of March also Northumberlande by west the newe castell Vnto Morpath norwarde dyd mikyll wo At Otturborne as chronycles dyd tell Henry Percy with small hoste on hym fell And slewe Douglas many put to the flyght And gate the felde vpon his enemyes ryght ¶ He sent the lorde syr Thomas Vmfreuyle His brother Robert also sir Thomas Grey And sir Mawe Redmayn beyond that Scottes that whyle To holde them in that they fled not awaye Wherfore the Scottes releued agayne alway Through which Henry was take there anone To DuÌbar led for whom was made great mone ¶ The felde was his all yf that he were take The Vmfreuyle Grey Ogle and Redmayne Helde the felde hole that myght so for his sake And knewe nothyng whetherwarde he was gayn The Earle of Marche with preuy men alane Full priuely to Dunbarre with hym rode And kepte hym there for he was greatly ferde ¶ The Douglas all that many were that daye Laboured full sore with wyles and great wyt Hym to haue slayne for euer and ay For Douglas death so sore they rewed it This batail was on saynt Oswoldes daye coÌmyt The .xii. yere of the kyng and of Christes date Thirtene C. foure score and eyght socyate The C .xci. Chapiter ¶ Howe the quene Anne dyed and howe kyng Rychard went fyrste to Irelande with his hooste ANd in the yere a thousand .iii. C. and mo Foure score fourtene quene Anne died The .xviii. yere was of the kyng then so And buryed was as well is notifyed Of all vertue she was well laudefyed To womanhede that myght in ought appende At Westminster she is full well commende ¶ At Michelmasse nexte after folowyng In that same yere the kyng to Irelande went With greate power hoste therin warrynge Vpon Makmur with all his hole entente And on the greate Aneell by one ascent Of his lordes where Makmurre greate Aneel To him obeyed and made hym homage leel ¶ The earle of Marche syr Roger Mortymer The kynge made then LeuetenauÌt of Irelande That yonge was then and home he came that yere And great hoshoulde helde as I can vnderstand Far passyng kynges of any other lande For whiche the voyce on hym rose and name Through christendom he bare then furth that fame ¶ And in the yere a thousande as was then Thre hundreth eke foure score also syxtene Of his reygne the .xviii. yere was then At Alhalowmasse kyng Rychard as was sene At Calys wed dame Isabell the quene KiÌg Charles doughter that then was kiÌg of FrauÌce At Christmasse crowned by gouernaunce ¶ And in Smithfelde great iustes tornement Of all realmes and dyuers nacyon Of Englyshe Iryshe and Walshe present Of Scottes also were at the coronacyon And iusted there with greate coÌmendacy on By .xiiii. dayes iusted who so wolde Henry of Derby bare hym then full bolde Henry Percy and Raufe his brother gaye Robert Morley and syr Iohn Grene Cornewell Heer Nichol Hauberke and eke syr Mawburney Walter Bytterley syr Thomas Blankeueile Syr Hugh Spencer and Iamco saunz fayle Heer Hans heer Iohn the lorde fitz Walter Blaket Dynmoke and also the lorde Spencer ¶ Vmfreuyle and his brother Roberte Vmfrey Stafforde and syr Rychard Arundell These .xx. helde the felde within full sinert Agayne all other that wolde with Iustes mell Of what nacyon he were that man can tell Of in any lande the knyghtes iusted thare And squyers also without that well them bare The C .xcii. Chapiter ¶ Howe the kyng arest the duke of Gloucester the Earles of Warwyk and Aroundell and foreiuged them for treason and made fyue Dukes a Marquis and foure Earles and watched daye and nyghte with Cheshyre men for drede of insurreccyon THe yere of Christe a. M. was so then Thre C. eke foure score also seuentene At mydsomer the kyng with many a man At Plashe toke Thomas of Wodstoke full kene Of Gloucester the duke that was full clene That smyten was in fell and great syknesse And in the towre hym put in great distresse ¶ Whome sone he sente to Calyce secretely And murthered hym in the prynces inne By hole aduice of his councell priuely And in eche shyre of which he did greate synne His confessyon of treason more and mynne Of .ix. poyntes fayned he then proclaymed To staunche the folke that for hym cryed claymed ¶ He then arest Thomas earle of Warwyke And Earle Rycharde of Arundell no lees The lorde Cobham full trewe and also manlyke Foringed them by strength of men and prees The earle of Warwyk his name for to distresse Vnto thisâe of Man in sore prison Of Arundell therle hedded for treson ¶ The lord Cobham in to prisone perpetuall In the towre to abide for euer more At Mighelmasse next so then did bifall The kyng then held his greate parlyament thore At Westminster wher the kyng mustred sore At the Blakeheth an hundred thousand menne To make the commons for to dred hym then ¶ At whiche parlyameÌt he made therle of Derby Duke of Herford therle of Rutland also Of Almarle duke therle of Kent duke of Surry Th erle of Huntyngton duke of Excester tho Th erle Marshall he made and no mo Duke of Northfolke thus were there dukes fiue Of newe create and none was substantiue ¶ He made therle of Somerset marques Of Dorset then sir Iohn Beaufort that hight Of poore liuelode that was that tyme doubtles Foure erles next he made in mantiles full right With swerdes girt the lord Spencer on hight That create was then erle of Gloucester Thomas Percy also erle of Worcester ¶ The lord Neuell then erle of Westmerland Wyllyam Scrope erle of Wiltshire create That Chamberleyn was then I vnderstand And tresourer of England ordinate These foure erles were thus consociate Then all these dukes and erles with many mo Of lordes young he had aye with hym ¶ Bishopes thirtyne he held then furth eche daye Barons many and many a worthy knight To greate nombre and squiers freshe and gaye And officers well mo then nedid right In eche office by tenfold mo to sight Then were afore for then he had eche daye Twoo hundred menne of Cheshire wher he laye ¶ To watche hym aye wher so euer he laye He dred hym aye so of insurreccion Of the commons and of the people aye He trusted none of all his region But Chesshire menne for his proteccion Wher euer he rode with arowes and
At Agyncourt so homeward in his waye The nobles there of FrauÌce afore him weÌ Proudly battailled with an huÌdred thousaÌd in araie He sawe he must nedes with theim make afraye He sette on theim and with theim faught full sore With nyne thousand no more with hym thore ¶ The feld he had and held it all that night But then came woorde of hoste and enemies For whiche thei slewe all prisoners doune right Sauf dukes and erles in fell and cruell wise And then the prees of enimies did supprise Their owne people that mo were dede through pres Then our menne might haue slain that tyme no lese ¶ On our side was the duke of Yorke ther slain Th erle also of Suffolke worshipfully And knightes twoo with other then soth to sain And at the siege therle of Suffolke sothely The father dyed of the flixe contynually But mikell folke at that siege yet dyed Of frute and flixe and colde were mortified ¶ On that FreÌch partie that dukes of Barre Lorein And of Alaunson in battaill ther were dedde And take were of Christeans in certain The duke Lewes of Orliaunce their hedde The duke of Burbone in that stede Th erle of Vendom and Arthure also of Brytain And sir Bursigaloâ marshall of Fraunce certain ¶ And therle of Ewe was taken ther also Fyue barons also that were at their baner And fiftene hundred knightes and squyers mo Were sâain that daye in full knightely maner With woundes so as then did apere As werres would vpon Chrispyn daye And Chrispynian that sainctes in blisse been aye The CC .xv. Chapiter ¶ Howe themperour and the duke of Holand came to the kyng the CouÌte palatine the duke of Melayn the marquys Farrar the lorde Mantowe and the marques Mount Ferrete the lorde MouÌt Palestrine came with themperour the same tyme and the duke Bauers and Embeir and the prince of Orenge also AND in the yere of Christ a thousand clere Foure hundred also therwithall fiftene When this battaill was smiten as dooth apere In the third yere of his reigne as was seen To Caleice so he came and home bee dene With themperour of Roome sir Sigemond Vnto hym came then in to England ground ¶ With a thousand meÌne that were full clene araied The duke of Melayn the counte Palatyne The marques Ferrer that lord Mantowe wel apayed The couÌte Carmeler the counte Palestryne With many lordes of the water of the Ryne And of the Garter was made the secondarye And in it stalled for he would not varye ¶ The duke of Holand then by sea came With .lx. shippes in Thamis that did aryue And to the kyng he went vnto lambe To Themperoure after he went belyue As chronycles then did discryue Then was he made knight of the Garter At his desyre as sayth the chronicler The CC .xvi. Chapiter ¶ Of the battayle of Sayne of the carykes there taken in the sea afore the mouth of Sayne THe kyng sent then that duke vnto the sea Of Bedforde that with four huÌdreth sayles To vitayl Hareâlete with therle of Marche no lee Th erle Marshall without any fayles With therles armed in plate and mayles Of Orenforde Warrewike and Huntyngdon Of Salisbury Deuonshire many a baron ¶ Of Arondell also these erles all Were in that flote vnto the noumbre of men Twenty thousande Herouldes did theim call On our Lady daye thassumpcion then All these lordes with many worthy men The fyfth yere of the kynge was then expresse WheÌ there enemies theim met at Sayn doutelesse ¶ They faught ful sore afore the water of Sayn With carrikes many well stuffed and arayed And many other shippes great of Hispayne Barges Balyngers and galeys vnfrayed Whiche proudly came vpoÌ our shippes vnprayed And by theuen there sayles aualed were set Theyr enemyes slayn in battayll and sore bet ¶ And many dryent were that daye in the sea That as our flete rode there then alwaye Vnto the feast nexte of his natiuitee The bodies flete amonge our shippes echedayâ Full piteous was and to see theim ay That thousaÌdes were .xx. as they then tolde That taken were in that same batayll bolde ¶ In which meane while whiles our ships there laye It was so calme without any wynde We might not sayle ne fro thens passe awaye Wherfore theyr galeys eche day there gaÌ vs fynd With ores many about vs dyd they wynde With wildfyre oft assayled vs daye and night To breÌâe our shippes in that they could or might ¶ The flete came home than at our Lady day FroÌ Sayn whiche tyme that kyng then had coÌueied Themperoure then to Caleys on his waye And home agayn was come right well apayed Of the welfare of that worthy flete assayed So well in armes vnto his hie pleasaunce Vpon his foes kepte theim selfe by gouernauÌce The CC .xvii. Chapiter ¶ Howe the kyng weÌt into FrauÌce in the .v. yere of his reigne the seconde time and landed at Towke in Constantyne in Normandy THe king theÌ in his .v. yere weÌt into FrauÌce And landed at Towke and gatte the castell than And so came with all his ordinaunce And layde his siege aboute with many a man Whiche by processe at the last he wan Whiche to Vmfreuile that theÌ was erle of Kyme He gaue to kepe for great manhode that tyme ¶ Bayons Falace Cees and Argenton Doumfront Mortyne and Iuory also Musterdeuilers Euerons and Alaunson Caldebeke and Depe Arkes Vnycort tho With other townes and castels many mo Gurnaye Newcastell Gysours Estoutuile Roan Louers and also Vmfreuile ¶ Pountlarge Pountoyes also Pount DorsoÌ Maunte Vire Balom and also Aueraunce Castell Galiard with many other toune Bolham in Perche saynt Ioilian in Maunce Merteyn in Perche Chirbroke and eke CoÌstauÌce Vernell in Perche Seintlowe and Alauayle Vernon on Sayn without any battayle ¶ All Normandy he gate within two yere And after then he trauayled in Fraunce For mariage and conuencion clere Betwene kyng Charles and hym at instaunce Of duke Philip of Burgoyn of aliaunce In whiche tyme so they were by appoyntment Accorded well and clerely condiscent ¶ That then he wed his doughter Katheryne And proclaymed was then of Fraunce regent And heritour of Fraunce by ryght lyne Of his owne right fro kyng Edwardes discent And Normendy and Guyan as appent Remayn should to hym and to his heyres Kynges of Englande euermore and to theyrs ¶ Then layde he siege to Melon anone right Aboue Paris âv legges vpon Sayn Whiche by processe and laboure of his might And full sore siege full long with passyng payne He had at laste of whiche he was full fayn And toke it to Vmfreuile erle of Kyme To haue for euer ay forwardes fro that tyme ¶ Sauncer in Burgoyn then gate he mightely And Motreux also where the duke was buried Of Burgoyn then whom he toke vp in hie And at Dugyon as it is notified Hym buried so in Burgoyn vndenyed With high honour and great solempnitee As to
then therle of Huntyngdon And Somerset the earle his wyues sonne The CC .xx. Chapiter Howe on Easter euen the duke of Clarence smote that batell of Bawgy in the yere of Christe a thousand .iiii. hundreth twenty and in the nynth yere of kyng Henry for that yere the feaste of the Annuncyacyon of oure Lady fell on Ester twysdaye and the date chaunged after that batayle in the Easter weke ANd nere at Bawge came Gylberte Vmfreuyle Marshal of Fraunce with .v. horse no mo And of good wyt counsayled hym that whyle To kepe the churche and goddes seruyce tho And after the feaste to seke vpon his foo And he aunswered hym yf thou be aferd Go home thy waye and kepe the churche yerde ¶ For thou haste bene with the kyng to longe To make me lese my worshyp and my name Thou haste ay gote the worshyp euer amonge And I haue none thus wolde thou lose my fame With suche wordes chidyng he dyd hym blame To whome he sayde yf that thou be afrayde And kepe the churche as thou me nowe hast saide ¶ With that he saide my lorde ye haue no menne With the enemyes thus hastely to fyght Youre men wot not of this ne howe ne whenne To semble to you of power ne of myght For trewly nowe my cousen Graye nowe right And I haue here but ten men and no mo But yet ye shall neuer saye we leaue you so ¶ So rode they furth ay chidyng by the waye Tyll they to Bawgy ouer the bridge were gone Where the enemyes were batayled in araye Where then they light faught with them anon The duke was slayne that day there with his foone With hym were slayne then therle Vmfreuyle And syr Iohn Graye the Earle of Tankeruyle The lorde Roos and syr Iohn Lumley With many other were with hym slayne that daye Whose names I can not wryte nor saye The Earles two of Huntingdon no naye Of Somerset also were taken there I saye For prysoners and put to greate raunson And laye full longe in Fraunce then in pryson ¶ Thenglishe power came when all was done And rescowed then the deed men where they laye And brought that lordes home fro thens theÌ ful sone That were there vpon the felde that daye And buryed them in Englande in good araye Echeone in his owne abbaye or colage Afore founded within his herytage ¶ At Cauntorbury the duke was of Clarence Besyde his father kynge Henry buryed With suche honoure costage and expence As the duches his wyfe coulde haue signifyed Whiche neded not to bene modifyed She was so well within her selfe auysed Of greate sadnesse and womanhede preuised The CC .xxi. Chapiter Howe the quene wente agayne to Fraunce lefte the quene in Englande with chylde and wanne dyuerse cytees townes and castelles in somer in the nyngth yere of his reigne THe kyng then let the quene in Englande byde In somer then the. ix yere of his date And into Fraunce agayne he went that tyde With heuy harte to Parys went algate The castell of Perfount soone he gate A royall place of all that men haue sene The greate cytee of Compyne also I wene ¶ The cytees also of Cassons Bray and Crayle Of Owsare also with many cytees moo And to Parys agayne without fayle In his castell of Lowre abidynge tho Tidynges then came to him full glad and mo That of a prynce delyuered was the quene Of whiche all men reioysed as was sene Saynt Dionis then and castell Boys Vynccent Corbell Pount Melanke and full great parte of Fraunce Burgoyne Artoys and Pycardy to hym sent To bene his men without contraryaunce And eche cytee to hym sworne in substaunce Walled townes and castelles euerychone As hye regent of Fraunce by hym one ¶ Then rode he furth to Bawgy and Orleaunce Wynnyng the tounes and citees in his waye And castelles all that were of greate defence Crepy Lawnesse and Milly with greate affraye Nongentle Roy he gatte with greate araye Pount Caranton with many other obeyed To his highnesse and were his menne conueghed ¶ The duke of Brytain then was his manne For fee belaste without rebellion The counte sainct Paule his manne was then The duke of Burgoyn without suspicion With many other his menne without collucion Were sworne theÌ whole the couÌtrees in yâ same wise Castelles and tounes eke as he couth deuise ¶ In August so of his reigne the tenth yere He toke sickenes and laye at Boy Vincent In pain strong as then it did appere Full like to passe wherfore in his entent The duke of Bedford he made hâe regent Of Fraunce and of his other landes all Beyond the sea as chief in generall ¶ And of his soonne Henry he made custode Thomas Beauford his vncle dere and trewe Duke of Excester full of all worthy hode To tyme his soonne to perfecte age grewe He to kepe hym chaungyng for no n ãâ¦ã With helpe of his other eme then fu ãâ¦ã The bishop of Wynchester of good a ãâ¦ã ¶ Th erle then of Salisbury manly That Mountague then hight by surname He sette to kepe then all Normandie Vnder the regent as knight of full greate fame With other lordes full sage and worthy of name Th erle of Oxenford and of Suffolke also Of his counsaill to been with many mo The CC .xxii. Chapiter ¶ Howe the kyng dyed the last daye of August the yere of Christ a thousand foure hundred two and twenty and of his reigne the tenth yere for all his rightwisnes and iustice that he did he had no conscieÌce of vsurpement of the croune THe last daye of August then full clere Of Christ his date a thousand signified Foure hundred and twoo and twenty yere When that this prince of princes so dyed At Boys Vincent with death then victoried That neuer prince in earth might theÌ haue dooen But he alone that ruleth sonne and moonne ¶ With whose bones the quene came to EnglaÌd The kyng of Scottes Iames with hir also The duke of Excester as I can vnderstand Th erle of Marche Edmond Mortimer tho Rychard Beauchampe then erle of Warwike so Humfrey then erle of Stafford young of age And erle Edmond of Morten wise and sage ¶ O good lord God that art omnipotent Why streched not thy power and thy might To kepe this prince that sette was and consent With themperour to conuert Surrey right And with Christen inhabite it had hight Why fauoured so thyne high omnipotence Miscreaunce more then his beneuolence ¶ Aboue all thyng he keped the lawe and peace Through all England that none insurreccion Ne no riotes were then withouten lese Nor neighbour werre in faute of correccion But peasebly vnder his proteccion Compleyntes all of wronges in generall Refourmed were well vnder his yerd egall The CC .xxiii. Chapiter ¶ Howe through ãâ¦ã we and peace conserued was the encreaso of his conquest and els had he been of no power to haue conquered in out landes WHen he in Fraunce was dayly
Wherfore the duke loste his great auauntage And was no more then after defensour But then he fell in a greate errour Moued by his wyfe Elianor Cobham To truste her so men thought he was to blame ¶ He waxed then straunge eche day vnto that kyng For cause she was foriudged for sossery For enchaunmentees that she was in workyng Agayne the churche and the kyng cursedly By helpe of one mayster Roger Donly And into Wales he went of frowardnesse And to the kyng had greate heuynesse ¶ Wherfore the lordes then of the kinges couÌsaile Made the kyng to set his hye parlyament At Burye then whether he came without fayle Where in parlesey he dyed incontynent For heuynesse and losse of regyment And ofte afore he was in that sykenesse In poynt of death and stode in sore destresse ¶ When of the kyng was .vii. and twenty yere Then he so dyed in full and h ãâ¦ã creaunce As a christen prince of royall bloude full clere Contryte in herte with full greate repentaunce With mouth confessed to Goddes hye pleasaunce Vnto the earth that is all fleshe his neste His body went his soule to heauens reste ¶ And of the kyng the .xxix. yere In Maye ⪠the duke of Suffolke toke the sea On pilgramage to passe as dyd apere With Brigauntes then with compassed enmyte Hym slewe and heded with full great cruelte Agayne assuraunce of the kynges proteccyon That worthy were the death for insurreccyon ¶ That same yere then at the hye parlyament Was made a playne and a hole resumpcyon Of all the landes by sad and hole aduysement Whiche the kyng had geuen of his affeccyon To any wyght by patent or conccssyon Then taxe ceased and dymes eke also In all Englande then raysed were no mo The CC .xxxiii. Chapiter ¶ The duke of yorke was made protectour and chyef of councell the thyrty yere of kyng Henry the sixte and the Earle of Salisbury was chaunceller of Englande THe duke of Yorke then made was protectour And gouerned wel but .ii. yere not endured Discharged he was with passing great mur mour Of coÌmons hole amonge them theÌ ensured To helpe hym so with power auentured For he was set the comon wele to auayle By his laboure and his hole counsayle ¶ But ay the better that he to God was set The more were other by worde and dede The contrarye to laboure and to let His good purpose to pursue and to spede So that he had no hap for to procede For sotell menne hym let ay at the ende The coÌmon wele to mayntene and amende ¶ The Earle Richard also of Salisbury So was disposed in all thynges to the same Whiche was the cause of theyr death fynally For whiche of ryght ne muste folowe blame Their lyues well kepte had bene without shame For tho princes two died in their kynges right For the publike wele of eche Englishe wight ¶ The .xxx. yere this was then of the kyng When they the kyng then had in gouernaunce And ruled hym well in all maner thyng And made good rule and noble ordynaunce Auoyding all misrule and misusaunce For worshyp of the kyng and of his realme Without doubte or any other probleme The CC .xxxiiii. Chapiter ¶ Howe the Earle of Northumberlande the duke of Somerset and the lorde Clyfforde were slayne at saynte Albones the thyrty and .iiii. yere of his reigne where that duke of yorke the Earle of Salisbury and the earle of Warwike toke the kyng ãâã kept hym in good rule the twenty two days of Maye that was then the Thursdaye next of Pen tecoât the yere of Christ a thousand foure huÌdred lv THei were put by from all their good entent And strauÌge were hold after many a daye To the thirty yere and thre by hole consent At sainct Albones then vpon the thursdaye Accompted then next afore Witsondaye Thei slewe the duke Edmond then of Somerset For cause he had the realmes we le so lette ¶ Th erle then of Northumberland was there Of sodein chaunce drawen furth with the kyng And slain vnknowne by any manne ther were The lord Clifford ouer busie in werkyng At the barres theim mette sore fightyng Was slain that daye vpon his owne assaut As eche manne saied it was his owne defaute ¶ Th erle of Wiltshire with fiue hundred menne Fled fro the kyng full fast that tyme a waye The duke of Buckyngham was hurte there then The kyng thei tooke and saued in good araye To Wistminster with hym thei tooke the waye And ruled hym well in all prerogatife As kyng of right without any strife The CC .xxxv. Chapiter ¶ Howe that lord Audely faught with therle of Salisbury at Bloreheth at Mighelmas terme in the thirty and eight yere of his reigne ¶ Yet were these lordes voyde fro that kyng again The duke of Yorke and therle of Salisbury Th erle also of Warwike nought to layn Without cause I can not remembre why But at Bloreheth the lord Audely in hie With therle of Salisbury faught full sore Th erle preuailed and Audely slain was thore ¶ The thirty yere and eight of the kyng And so he went to Ludlowe on his waye The duke of Yorke in Wales had shippyng To Ireland then he went full well awaye Therles of March and Salisbury that daye And of Warwike as God it had purueighed To Calais went their waye no thyng denied The CC .xxxvi. Chapiter ¶ Of the battaill of Northampton wher the Earle of March therle of Warwike preuailed led the king to Westminster kept hym there the yere of his reigne right and thirty and the yere of Christ a thousaÌd foure hundred nyne and fiftie and slewe the duke of Bokyngham therle of Shrowisbury tresorer of England the lord Beaumont sir Thomas Percy lord Egremond and led the kyng with theim to London and gouerned hym full well and worthely the tenth daye of Iuly AT Couentree the king in his parlyament Proclaimed theim all thre for rebellours But afterward all three of one assent At Northampton came as worthy warriours In somer after to been the kyng his socours Wher then the duke of Buckyngham theim met With power greate and trust haue theim ouerset ¶ Th erle of Shrewesbury was with hym thore The lord Baumount with hym was also The lord Egremount full stout in feate of warre Whiche foure were slain with mikell people mo Beside Northampton on the Thursdaye tho The third daye of the moneth of Iuly And in the reigne of the kyng eight and thirty ¶ Thei saued the kyng kept hym sauf sound With greate honour therle of Marche Edward Th erle also of Warwike in that stound And with hym rode so furth to London ward Full worshipfully thei kept hym thens forward In all state royall as did append And as his menne vnto hym did attend The CC .xxxvii. Chapiter ¶ Howe the battaill of Wakefeld wher the North partie preuailed was the fifth daye of Christmasse and of the kyng his reigne
the nyne and thirty THen in the winter afore the Christemas The duke of Yorke therle of Salisbury Th erle of Rutland with theim I gesse With power greate for their aduersarie To saue theim selfes as then was necessarie At their owne weld at Yool so then had been The robberies there to haue staunchid clene ¶ Wher theÌ that lordes of the North were assembled And faught with theim at Wakefeld theÌ full sore And slewe theim downe whiles thei were disseÌbled And gate the feld that daye vpon theim thore And Southward came thei then therfore To sainct Albones vpon the fastyngange eue Wher then thei slewe the lorde Bonuile I leue The CC .xxxviii. Chapiter ¶ Howe therle of Northumberland the lord Neuell and the North partie faught at sainct Albones that seueÌtene daye of Feueryere and slewe the lord Boânuile ãâã six Thomas Kiryell and many other the thirty and nyne yere of the kyng and the yere of Christ a thousand foure hundred sixty and led the king to Yorke AND sir Thomas Kyriell also of Kent With mekell folke that pitee was to se And spoyled fast ay homeward as thei weÌt Without rule into their countree Thei sette theim nought on rule and equitee Ne to kepe lawe nor peace in nokynd wyse Howe might thei dure long in suche a guyse ¶ But then the kyng alone left on the feld Came to the quene and went to Yorke his waye With the North partie that theÌ so with hym held The duke of Excester with hym went a waye The duke of Somerset it is no naye Th erle also then of Deuenshire And sir Iames Drmond erle of Wiltshire ¶ The lord Moleyns the lord Roos also The chief Iudge and sir Rychard Tunstall The lord Ryuers the lord Scales his soonne also The lord Welles and Wiloughby with all Sir Wyllyam Tailboys so did befall And many other went to the North partie For to maintein then the sixte kyng Henry The CC .xxxix. Chapiter ¶ Howe Edward duke of Yorke and erle of Marche toke on hym that roiall charge for the we le of the realme the fourth daye of Marche the yere of Christ a thousand foure hundred and sixty folowed kyng Henry that refused tho the rule of the land and gaue vp Berwike to the Scottes and fled in to ScotlaÌd and gaue battaill to the North partie at Feribrig on Palmesondaye wher kyng Edward the fourth preuailed the yere of Christ a thousand foure huÌdred sixty and one whiche was then the twenty and nyne daye of Marche foure dayes after our lady daye that tyme. THe duke Edward of March theÌ the .iiii. day Of Yorke full young therle of Marche was then By counsaill of the lordes by south menne saye Bothe spirituall and temporall as meÌne saie then Vpon hym toke estate royall and began To reigne as kyng and with hym reised the land With lordes fele by south I vnderstand ¶ At Towton feld he faught on Palmesondaye Wher then therle Henry of Northumberland The lord Neuell the lord Clifford that daye The lord Dacres were dedde I vnderstand The kyng Henry then out of the land To Berwike toune that stounte in Scotland grouÌd With certain lordes and with the quene that stound ¶ And gaue the toune and castell to the Scottes By whole assent of his simple counsaill Whiche might well bee accompted then for sottes As foules that were then of no gouernaill In to Scotland with foule misgouernaill The quene Margarete and the dukes both twoo Of Excester and Somerset fled also ¶ The lord Roos and eke the lord Moleyns And the chief Iudge that called was Forscue And Tailboys also with other eiuill capitains That after shall full sore repent and rewe If thei also well as I nowe Scotland knewe Thei would not so haue hasted thitherward From the presence and grace of kyng Edward ¶ Kyng Edward thus had then the victorie With his lordes and menne that were full trewe That halpe hym so and were contributorie To wyn his right whiche then the people knewe To Yorke he went and found it not vntrewe To Duresme also and to the Newcastell That to hym were as trewe as any stele ¶ At Yorke was hedded that time and decollate Th erle that then was of Deuenshire And at the Newcastell so destinate Hedded then was therle of Wiltshire The kyng then sette the land at his desire Saue castelles fewe with force that then were hold By North and West with rebell manyfold ¶ And South he went for his disporte and plaâe At Leycestre helde he then his great counsayl In the moneth that then was called Maye And ordeyned there for good gouernayl Of al his realme that enemies nought it assayle Then in wynter Margarete that had bene quene Fro Fraunce so came by shippe as then was sene ¶ Into Scotlande with .iiii. thousande FreÌchmeÌ Of soudyours for whiche the kynge anone With hoste royall to Durisme came he then And sent therle of Warwike agayn his fooen Th erle of Kent also with good menne many one They layde a siege to the castell of Bamburgh And to the castell also of Dunstanburgh ¶ Syr Raulfe Percy and the duke of Somerset Delyuered theim to the kyng by poyntment By whiche the kyng without any let Gaue the kepyng of theim incontynent Vnto syr Raulfe Percy of good entent And Alnewike castell was kepte many a daye To rescouse came and fet theim thens a waye ¶ Whiche stode in stale not ferre from the castell But .viii. thousande to whom the castelleyns Came anone out as men were there to tell With horse harnes home rode through that playnes Into Scotlande as good wise chieftayns I can well thynke it was a manly dede To noye theyr foes and helpe theimselfes at nede ¶ My lorde Vmfreuile whom that I dyd serue Sayd to me it was the best thyng might befall Any chiefteyne to greue his fo and ouerterue And kepe hymselfe harmelesse therwithall He that maye hurte his fo without fall And passe away to his socoure harmelesse He is a foole to abyde any distresse ¶ But when that they wer gone so home agayn And theyr frendes with theim from thens awaye Two hundreth men of commons came full fayne Out of Alnewike castell in symple araye Our men bet theim in agayn there alwaye Tyll they were glad to yelde theim haue grace The whiche they had without longer space The quenes power that she so brought fro Fraunce Was so litle the wardeyns naught it dread They hight the kyng for all hir ordinaunce To kepe the lande for any helpe she had How may she ought of great power besped WheÌ Charles doughter of FrauÌce void of dower Despoyled was of Fraunce fayled all power ¶ Quene Isabel that was kyng Rychardes wife Deposed was by kyng Henry of Derby Of her âwels as it is knowen full ryfe And home was sent without remedye What auayled hir kynne and progenye Of nought els but great vexacion That Frenchemen made to theyr owne
And all these wer behedded .ii. dayes after in that selfe same towne sauyng only the quene Margaret and her soonne Edwarde Shortelye after prynce Edwarde was brought before the kyng and there asked wherfor he did inuade hys realme which answered boldly and sayde to recouer my kyngedome as heritage by my forefathers and progenie dew to me At the which wordes Edwarde sayde nothyng but thrustyng hym from hys syght wyth hys hande whoÌ the duke of Clarence and Glouceter and that lorde Hastynges dyd kyll mooste cruelly at hys departyng Hys mother the quene was caryed to London prysoner and froÌ thence raunsomed was had to Fraunce where she lyued in perpetuall sorowe and care not so much for her selfe or her husband as for her onely sonne Edwarde whome both she and Henry her husband trusted should lyue and possesse the croune When kinge Edward had thus ouercome theim he went to London and ther for iii. dayes caused procession to bee through euerye place after the moost solempne and deuoute fassy on And here was the last ciuile battaile that this king kept which was the yere of our lord M .iiii. C .lxxx. and .xi. After that kynge Edwarde was returned backe after the subduynge of hys rebelles one Fauconbrydge the Earle of Kente hys basterde a stoute harted manne beynge admyrall of the sea that none shoulde passe betwixte Calysse and Douer to ayde or socoure kynge Edwarde by the appoyntemente of the earle of Warwyke then after dryuen to nede and pouertee beganne to bee a pyrate and rouer in the seea In so much that he had throughe his robberye and shamefull spoylynge gotte vnto hym a greate nauye of shyppes and at the laste landed in Kente and there getting to hym a greate multitude of Kentyshemenne wyth the assistence of theim and hys ryotouse compaignye of shyppemenne came to London and sayde wyth a lowde voyce they woulde defende kynge Henrye and restore hym to hys crowne But the people and cytezyns of London perceauyng that quene Margarete was ouercome in battayle woulde geue theim no passage but wyth greate myghte and vyolence enforsed Fawconbrydge to geue backe and to take shyppe and kylled and toke prysoners the better parte of his menne Shortely after the same Fauconbridge landing vnware at Southampton was taken and behedded But to speake of the earle of Penbrucke wheÌ he had knowne that the quene was taken at Tewkesburye where she had waged battayle then goynge of hys waye to her turned backe agayne to Chepstey And there lamentyng greatly both his owne chaunce also the euell fortune that kinge HeÌry had dyd breath alitle deliberate with him selfe what wer best to be done In the meane time king Edward seÌt one Roger VaughaÌ to take that erle by some train or guile But the erle certified of it did take yâ self same maÌ hedded hiÌ so that he was killed that intended to kyll From that place that erle went to his toune PeÌbrucke wher he was besiged of Thomas Morgan then seÌt froÌ the king that he could get oute by no meanes but on the eyght daye one Dauid the brother of the forsayde Morgane his moost assured frende conueyed him awaye which then went to a toune by the sea syde called Tinby and there takynge shyppe into Fraunce wâth the lorde Henrye his nephewe by the earle of Rychemonde his brother by chaunce came to Britaine and there shewing the duke the cause of hys comminge committed him selfe wholy into his handes The duke entertayned the earle and all his company after that most best maner that he could made of theim as though they had bene hys brethren promysing to theim sure passeporte saueconduite ouer ani place that he had rule or gouernaunce of Nowe kinge Edwarde after that hys realme was pacified and these great tumultes apeaced he tooke his iourny into Rence and there setting his iustices caused inquisicion and serche to be made of this busines and insurrection by yâ basterd and his adherentes for the which offence manye were put to death and suffered execution moost sharply accordiÌg to their merites And not longafter to th entent that king Edward myght bee out of al dauÌgers assaultes of his enemies HeÌry that was depriued not loÌg before of his crowne was also spoiled of his life that is was killed And as the report fame went the duke of Glouceter was suspected to haue done that dede which sticked him with a dagger And when he was dead his corps was brought vnreuereÌtly froÌ the towre through that stretes of that citee vnto Poules ther lay all that daye on the morow folowing conueyed caried to the abby or blak freres at Chertessey ther was buried And shortely after had to WiÌdesore castell laied in the newe chapell of s George in a soleÌpne toumbe This Henry reigned .xxviii. yere and after he had repossessed his kyngdome but halfe a yeare He lyued vnto he was .lii. yeres of age and had by his wife quene Margaret one sooÌne called Edward Nowe to the entent that Edward the kyng might liue in quiet after this manne his death he went a boute to serche all the rebelles that thei might bee weeded out of the compaignie of menne as pernicious and vnprofitable to the publique weale At what tyme he tooke tharchebishop of Yorke brother to therle of Warwike and sent hym prisoner to Guynes wher he long remained in holde but after dimissed dyed shortely for thought and pensifulnes of mynde also he attached the erle of Oxenford the whiche from the ceason of Barnet felde had holden sainct Michaelles Mounte by his coÌmaundement was had to a castell beyond that sea called Hant wher he remained prisoner that space of xii yeares Furthermore vpoÌ coÌsideracioÌ that no rebelles or traitours might haue any refuge to strauÌge couÌtres he had made a league with the kyng of scottes of peace amitee to bee obserued kepte for that ãâ¦ã of .xx. yeares Yet he was not out of all feare for yâ ãâ¦ã e of PeÌbruck of Richemond wer with the duke of Britain wher thei had moost honorable intretainmeÌt coÌsideryng also that the young erle of RichemoÌd would clayme the croune iÌ tyme to come he was in the more feare for the whiche matter he sent priuie ambassadours to the duke promisyng hym that if he would restore deliuer vnto their haÌde bothe therles he should haue an ample large porcioÌ of monye for so dooyng But that duke to make a short tale would by no meanes deliuer theim out of his handes but so kepte theim that thei neuer might bee in any dauÌger of their enemies through hym Edward therfore in this his thirtene yere of his reigne whiche was the yere of our lord a thousand foure hundred three score and thirteen helde his parlyament at Westminster wher first he caused all the statutes and actes of his whiche wer abrogated by Henry the sixt to stand and bee of good effecte then the goodes of these
that dede being very sore moued therwith weÌt to the dukes place coming before his grace stode lyke a man strykeÌ with some sodeyn dysease very pale holding his head downe the duke maruayling at hym enquyred what the matter was To whom he sayde O moost noble duke my time is at hande thys palenes betokeneth death without remidy That I would God yt had come before this day then it should not haue greued me so much And thys all cometh to me through a deed that you haue done of late which wil ether cause me to lose my life or els to lyue in moost miserie wretchednes as one wery of thys present lyfe The noble actes that you haue doone moost noble prynce haue enhaunsed your fame glory to the fardest part of the world but this one thing me thynke I praye you pardoÌme what I saye is a great blemyshe to your dygnitee that forgetting the promyse that you made so faythfully haue geuen the innoceÌt erle of Richmounte to be destroyed pitefully killed emonge wretched knau es hangmen Wherfore they that loue you of whom I am one cannot but lamente âo see you dyshonored by this great fault of periury WheÌ he had sayd the duke answered hold thy peace man I praye the ther is no such harme shal chaunce to him Edwarde the kinge woulde haue him to mary his daughter Then sayd Iohn Beleue me mooste excellente and redoubted prynce this Henry is nowe almoste famyshed and loste yf he once goo out of your countree he is but cast awaye and paste all recouerye At these wordes the duke was persuaded through the whych he commauÌded one Peter LaÌdoson hys receauer to take the same Henry froÌ the ambassadours The sayd receauer pursued the Englyshe ambassadours to Maclonium and there holdyng theim wyth long coÌmunication made him to be conueyed into a seÌtuary whych was then almost ded through that feuer and thought whych he was caste in And so after that he was emended broughte hym to the duke The ambassadours then beyng spoiled and deceaued both of theyr pread and mony that they brought desyred that same receauer that they might not goo home in that wyse whyche receauer promised that he woulde eyther kepe hym in sentuary or eles cause hym to be imprisoned at the duke his place so that they should neuer neede to feare hym In all thys tyme Edwarde beynge desyreous to knowe what became of the Earle was enfourmed that he was taken prysoner but after that escaped they re handes where at the kinge was verye angrye but when he knewe that he should bee kepte in holde was well pleased then dyd take no thought And liued after that most welthy sparing no expeÌses nor cost in kepyng his house neuertheles he dyd fall into one great offence in this time For sodeÌly he coÌmaunded his brother the duke of Clarence to be killed drowned in an hogshhed of malmesey And the cause of hys death was as men report through a certaine prophecie which sayd the after kyng Edwarde one shuld reigne whose name begaÌ wyth a. G. which prophecye some sayde was completed fulfilled when the duke of Glouceter the after hym had the kingdome dyd reigne Some holdeth another opinion of this his death saiyng that at what time the olde malice dyd breke out bewixt theÌ both the duke through his sisters councel woulde haue maried lady Mary that duke of Burgoyn his only daughter which mariage the kyng did infringe stoppe as one enuiyng of his brothers felicitee or good chaunce After that they both beryng in theyr mindes mortall hatred one of the sayde duke hys seruauntes was accused of wichcraft charming for which offence he was put to death The duke ãâ¦ã g that could not but speake resist againste the ãâ¦ã g his coÌmaundement and therfore was com ãâ¦ã ted to prison ther beyng was killed and procla ãâ¦ã d after as a traytour to the kyng for whose ãâ¦ã that the king was verye sory and whan any ãâ¦ã kneled to hym and asked pardon ãâ¦ã der he would saye O infortunate bro ãâ¦ã that noman would aske thy pardon And this duke had .ii. children one lady Margarete that was after maried to Richard Pole an other Edward whome the kyng made earle of Warwyke but this childe folowyng the fate and destenie of his father was after putte in prisone there priuely put to death And these thinges were doone in the yere of oure Lorde a thousand foure hundreth and foure score and the .xix. yere of the reigne of kyng Edward And two yeres then after folowing the kyng died before the whiche yeres he beganne to bee very harde and couetouse in getting monye and also very diligent in marking attaching his lordes that did offend In this time the kyng of Scottes willed his sooÌne Iamy to be maried to the kynges doughter lady Cicile which was the yonger that should haue been maried to Charles the kyng his soonne of Fraunce But it chaunced not thorow Lewes the kyng that brake his promise bothe in geuing his seruice and payeng his raunsome the laste yere of his reigne Likewise the kyng of Scottes seing that Lewes the kyng was false of his promise he thoughte he might bee so bolde too and so breaking league of amite sette vpon the Englishe men At the which Edward was sore vexed and entended batayl against hym yet after that he knewe the it was not by his wyll but thorowe the councell and euell disposed mindes of his lordes woulde haue borne it in good worthe had not kyng Iames owne brother streight vpon that prouoked hym to fighte Furthermore suche was the nature of the Scottishe kyng that when he had sette his minde vpon a thing no manne coulde turne hym and because that no manne mighte reproue hym in any thing he promoted laye people menne of basse bloude to his counsell putting to deathe or banishyng euermore the nobilitee Emong whom this duke of Albanie his brother consydering the condicyons of the king fled to the kyng of EnglaÌd at what time he was sent into FrauÌce ther counsailed the kyng to fight against hym The king willing to reueÌge his olde iniuries vpon many consideracioÌs gathered enteÌded no lesse by the helpe of the saied duke of Albany then to kepe open warre So that he did send the duke of Gloucestre the erle of NorthumberlaÌd syr Thomas Stanley this duke of Albany with a great power of men against the Scottes The king knowing of their coÌming went to Barwyke with his army to kepe theim from the borders but perceiuing that he was not hable so resist their great power fled backe in the night to Edinbrough ther taryed for his enemies And the duke of Gloucestre folowing burned and spoyled all the way when he was somewhat nighe his enemies perceiuing also that none of the Scottishe lordes came to the duke of Albanye mistrusted that some deceyte or crafte was
wrought so laboured to haue peace whiche gotten he went backe to the castell of Barwike that sir Thomas Stanley had wonne a lytell before And the duke of Albany the authoure of this warre for that he had but lytle thankes of England for his so dooing fled into Fraunce there was kylled running at the tylte in Parys After this businesse Edward assembled his counsell together willed theim to prepare batayle againste the Frenche kyng for that he had neyther payde nor woulde paye his raunsome nor yet geue his soonne in mariage to his doughter as he promised to the setting forth of the which batayl certaine mony was exacted of the prestes religiouse men to be payde At the which time the kyng was sodeÌly sickened shortly after died at Westminster the .ix. day of April then being .l. yeres of age reigning xxiii after the date of oure Lorde a. M .iiii. C .lxxx. and thre whose corps was after conueyghed and had with great pompe and solempnitee to Winde sore and there buried in saint George his chapell Whiche kyng had by his wyfe the quene ten children of theim lefte aliue behinde hym Edward prince of Wales and Richard duke of yorke and one bastarde called Arthure and fyue doughters Elisabeth Cicilie Anne Catherine and Brigyde whiche after were maryed all sauyng that ladye Brigide was a nonne This Edward was a goodly man of personage of stature hyghe of countenaunce and beautee comely of sight quicke brode brested and well sette in euery other parte conformable to his bodye of a pregnant wytte stomake stoute haulte courage of perfect memori of such thinges as he conceaued in his braine diligent in his affaires weighti busines in auentures bold and hardy againe his aduersaries fearce terryble to his frendes liberal bounteous hauing in all his warres most prosperous lucky successe escheuing all pleasure sensualitee to the which he was by nature most proue vnto for the which cause and for the lowlines and humanite that is in hym in gendred by nature most pleÌtifully he bare him self honestly amoÌg his priuate persons otherwise theÌ the degre or dignite of his maieste required wherfore the fame ranne that he was poysened A lytell before his death it was saied that he gaue hym selfe to auarice whiche before as you see vsed greate liberalytee Yet the realme whiche thorowe ciuile sedicyon was greatly impoueryshed he made ryche and plenteouse at his death daye Also he gaue spiritual promocions to the moste excellent and famous clerkes and made theim of his councell other of the laye sorte whome he loued he did not enriche with possessions but with monye and other lyke goodes the whiche many prynces hauyng no respecte of the honoure dooe not alwayes obserue By the whiche suche giftes rewardes he had so farre wonne the hartes of the people that after his deathe many menne dyd lamente the losse of his grace ¶ Edward the fyfth WHEN ALMIGHTIE GOD had called to his mercye the noble prince kyng Edwarde the fourth of that name Edward his eldest sonne prynce of Wales began his reygne the .ix. daye of Aprill in that yere of oure Lorde a. M CCCC .lxxxiij. and in the .xxij. yere of Lewes the .xi. then Frenche kyng Whiche younge prince reigned a smal space and lytle season ouer this realme other in pleasure or libertee for his vncle Richard duke of Gloceter within .iij. monethes depriued hym not only of his croune and regalytie but also vnnaturally bereft hym his naturall life and for the declaracion by what craftie engine he first attempted his vngracious purpose by what false colourable vntrue allegacioÌs he set forth openly his pretensed enterprise fynally by what shamefull cruell and detestable acte he perfourmed the same Ye muste fyrst consyder of whom he and his brother descended there natures condicions inclynacions and theÌ you shall easely perceaue that there could not be a more crueller tyraunt appoynted to acheue a more abomynable enterpryse There father was Richard Plantagenet duke of Yorke whiche began not by warre but by lawe to chalenge the croune of Englande puttyng his clayme in the parliameÌt holden that .xxx. yere of kyng Henry the .vi. where ether for right or for fauoure his cause was so set forthe and auaunced that the bloodde of the sayd kyng Henry although he had a goodly sonne was clerely abiected and that croune of the realme by autorytee of parliamente entayled to the duke of Yorke and his heyres after the discease of the sayd kyng Henrye the .vi. But the duke not entendyng so long to tary but myndyng vnder the preterte of discencion growen and arysen within the realme and of couenauntes made in the parliament not kepte but broken to preueÌte the tyme and to take vpon hym the gouernaunce in kyng Henryes life was by to muche hardynes slayne at the battayle of Wakefylde leuynge behynde hym three sonnes Edwarde George Richard Al these three as they wer greate estates of byrth so were they greate and statelye of stomake gredy of autoritee and impacieÌt parteners of rule and autoritee This Edward reueÌged his fathers death and deposed kyng Henry the .vi. and atteyned the croune and sceptre of this realme George duke of Clarence was a goodlye and well feautured prince in all thynges fortunate yf ether his owne ambicioÌ had not set him against his brother or thenuie of his enemies had not set his brother agaynst hym for were it by the quene or the nobles of her bloode which highly maligned the kynges kynred as women coÌmenlye not of malyce but of nature hate suche as theyr husbandes loue or wer it aproude appetite of the duke hym selfe entendyng to bee kyng at the leaste wise heynous treason was layde to his charge and finally were he in faute or were he fautelesse attaynted was he by parliament and iudged to deathe and thereupon hastely drouned in a butte of malmesey within the towre of LondoÌ Whose death kyng Edward although he commaunded it when he wyste it was done pyteouslye he bewayled and sorowfullye he repented it Richard duke of Gloucestre the .iij. sonne of whiche I muste mooste entreate was in witte and courage eguall with the other but in beautee and lyniamentes of nature farre vnderneth both for he was lytle of stature euill feautered of lymmes croke backed the lift shulder much higher then the right harde fauoured of vysage suche as in estates is called a warlike vysage and amonge commen persons a crabbed face He was malycious wrothfull and enuyous and as it is reported his mother the duches had much a dooe in her trauayle that she could not be delyuered of hym vncutte and that he came into the worlde the fete forwarde as men be borne outwarde and as the fame ranne not vntothed whether that men of hatred reported aboue the truthe or that nature chaunged his course in his begynnyng which in his life many thynges vnnaturally coÌmytted
kynges thesame his neighbours he thanked Fernand his wife Elizabeth for the they caused this peace to bee made betwixte hym and the Scottes and rewarded the Ambassadoure moste worthely after a princely maner And the tyme that this vnitee and concorde was made it was the yere of oure Lorde a thousande foure hundreth foure score and eighten and the .xii. yere of kyng Henry his reigne And the kynge of Scottes kepte his promesse well ynoughe For when he perceiued manifestly that he was deluded he called vnto hym Perkin Warbeck and first declared his benefites pleasures that he had dooen vnto hym and then counsailed hym to gette hym vnto some place where he mighte byde in safegarde and come againe another time when he shoulde haue more oportunitee But neuer after to looke for any helpe at his haÌd partely because he had made peace with the kyng of Englande and partely because he sawe that no Englishemen came to take his parte wherfore he desired hym not to bee misgreued that he did thus leaue hym also counsailed hym to goo into some other place or regyon wherfore this Perkin was veraye sorye as the kyng had counsailed hym departed thence with his wife and went into Ireland determining with hym selfe if he might haue no helpe of the menne of Cornewale to retourne thence as faste as myghte bee home to his greate mailres aunte Margaret into Flaundres But he was no soner come thither then he heard by diuers messengers that they of Cornewale were as ready to fyght against kyng Henry as euer they wer before of hoope of the whiche he went streyght in to Cornewall there dyd sturre vp their heartes with gyftes and promyses that all immediatelye called him their capitain saied that thei woulde folow hym and in all thinges obey promptly hys commaundementes TheÌ was PerkeÌ in as good hoope as euer he was and because he would do nothynge rashelye and withoute aduisemente he purposed fyrste to ouercome citees and all wel defeÌded places that lay in his way and so to get as many as he coulde to folowe hym and to take his part and incontinently to buckle with the kynges host WheÌ he had thus deliberate he weÌt streight to Exeter which was the next citee that he coulde come vnto and besieged it and because he had no gunnes to breake downe the walles he laboured all that myght bee to breake the gates but when he saw that thei could not easely be betten downe with any thyng streight with he set fyre on theim Whereof the citezins were veray sore afraied and priuely in the night let downe diuerse ouer the walles with ropes to go certifie the kyng of their trouble and in the meane tyme wheÌ thei saw that their enemies had almost breÌt vp the gates of the one side tooke great blockes and set them on fyre on the other side for none other cause but that aswell their enemyes therby might be excluded as thei them selfes included And thei not trusting to this only made also wtin great ditches other thiÌges to defend theÌ from the inuasioÌ of the rebelles When PerkeÌ saw this he got ladders and would by that meanes haue come into the citee but they came not so sone vp but thei were beate downe again and by this meanes many were there slayne þet would he not thence depart but trusted surely at the laste that thei should be glad to yelde theim selfes al that wer within for lack of viandrie But as sone as the kyng hearde of this he hasted with his hoost toward Exeter as faste as was possible and sente dyuerse souldiours beefore to certifie all menne of his commyng and preparaunce for at that tyme there was set forth to helpe theym of Exeter Thomas Trencherd William Corteney Walter Cortney Edmond Carre Ihon Halemel Peter Eggecomb Thomas Fulford IhoÌ Crook William Saintmaur with a great host whose capitain was Edward Corteny erle of Denshire his sonne William whiche was a young man of mooste noble courage whiche thyng when Peter heard tell of he left besiegyng of Exeter and went to the nexte towne whiche is called TauÌtun there vieued his hoost and set it in aray redye to fyght howbeit he had but lytle affiaunce in the same because many of his souldiours were so slenderly harneissed and no better skylled in warre When the kyng sawe he was gone to TauÌtun he hasted thither after him with all spede Thether came also Edward the duke of Buckingham a young maÌ veray valiaunt and of lustie courage and hym folowed a greate compaignye of noble men as Giles Brigge Alexander BrayhaÌ Moryshe Barkeley Robert Tame Ihon Sapcot Ihon WadhaÌ Hugh Lutrel and Nycholas hys sonne William Sâorton Thomas Lynde Ihon Semar Wylliam Norris Thomas Blunt Ihon Guyse Roberte poynte Harry Vernon Ihon Mortimer Ihon Speke Rychard BeaucaÌp Fraunces Chenie Roger Tokete Roger Wenburg Henry Roger Edwarde Darell Ihon Langforde Richard Lacon Thomas Tremaile Edwarde Sutton Amis Paulet Ihon Byknell Wyllyam Sayntemaur Thomas Longe Nycholas Latimer Ihon Turbaruyll Wylliam Martyne Walter Hungorforde Moryshe Barons Rycharde Corbet Thomas Cornuall and many other besydes these But the king when he came nygh to the towne sente before to begynne battayle Roberte Broke Lorde Rycharde Thomas and Giles Dabeney with a great and stronge hoost to the entent that he hym selfe with his souldiours myght set vpon them behynd But this deuise and purpose of the kyng was al superfluous For Perkin so sone as he espyed that the kyng was redie to fight fledde priuely in the nyght into a sanctuary at Bellylo abbey and there lurked But whether this PerkeÌ so dyd for feare least his men should forsake hym or for the timeditie of hym selfe it is as much vncertayne as it is probable and sure that the kyng tooke by hys flyght greate commoditee For the Corneshe menne were surelye purposed eyther to wynne and ouercome theyr enemies or elles not one of theim to haue lyued anye daye lenger When kynge Henrye knewe that Perkin was gone he sente after hym many horse menne that yf it myghte bee they shoulde ouertake hym in hys iourney and brynge hym backe But Perkyn Warbecke made suche spede that he was not seene before he came into the Sanctuarie but his petie capitaines coulde not scape so clene For of theim the moost part were ta ken and brought backe againe to the kyng The residue of the souldiours when thei vnderstode the Perkyn their chief capitain was fled and the other taken gaue vp theim selfes by and by to the king without any more busines and of hym most gently wer forgeuen When all was dooen the kynge went again to Ereter and there both gaue great thankes to such as wer worthy and punished the authoures and sturrers vp of this insurrection moost straitlye And in the meane tyme many of the souldiours road to s Mighels mounte there as chaunce was found Katherin Perking wife and brought her streight like a bond
¶ The chronicle of Ihon Hardyng in metre froÌ the first begynnyng of EnglaÌde vnto that reigne of Edwarde the fourth where he made an end of his chronicle And from that tyme is added with a coÌtinuacion of the storie in prose to this our tyme now first emprinted gathered one of diuerse and soundrie autours of moste certain knowelage substanciall credit that either in latin or els in our mother toungue haue writen of the affaires of Englande ⧠LONDINI ⧠In officina Richardi Graftoni Mense Ianuarii 1543. Cum priuilegio ad imprimendum solum RG ¶ The dedicacion of this present woorke vnto the right honorable lorde Thomas duke of Norffolke by thenprynter Richard Grafton LOrde Thomas of Norffolke duke moste gracious Of noble auncestrie and blood descended A captain right woorthie and auenturous And froÌ ScotlaÌd euen newely retended Wher Englandes querele ye haue reuenged In the behalf of our noble kyng Henry I wyshe you all health honour and victorie ¶ And because it hath pleased almightie God In the right title and quercle of Englande To vse your stocke as an iron rod Wherewith to scourge the falsehood of Scotland In whom is no truthe ne holde of any bande Ihon Hardynges chronicle as me thought was Moste mete to bee dedicated to your grace ¶ For Hardyng a true herted Englysheman An esquier valiaunt hardie and bolde And not vnlearned as the time was than Serched out of chronicles bothe late an olde All that euer by thesame hath bee told How froÌ the begynnyng ScotlaÌde dooeth reigne Vnder kynges of Englande as their soueram ¶ And Hardynges owne self hath the partie bee That from Scotlande oft tymes hath brought Their seales of homage and fealtee Vnto the kyng of Englande as he ought Vnto whom the Scottes then sued and sought Yeldyng to liue in humble subieccion Of Englandes gouernaunce and proteccion ¶ But that people of their propre nature Hath euen from the first been so vntowarde So vnstedfast inconstaunte and vnsure That nothyng maie possibly bee more frowarde So haue thei continued from thens foorthwarde Neuer gladde to bee in quiet and rest But to defeccion aye readie and prest ¶ Wherefore Thon Hardyng to his lorde maister Whom in his tyme he serued without blame Edwarde first duke of Yorke and after Kyng of this realme the fourthe of that name In this chronicle affermeth of thesame That thei will rebell till by prouision The kyng of EnglaÌd shall haue made theim both ¶ And in deede EnglaÌd hath oft been coÌstreigned one The Scottes slackenesse in dooyng their homage To pricke forewarde wheÌ thei would haue refreined With that sharpe spurre of marciall forceage And to abate their wantonnesse of courage With the iron rodde of due correccion As oft as thei attempted defeccion ¶ For the Scottes will aye bee bostyng crakyng Euer sekyng causes of rebellion Spoyles booties and preades euer takyng Euer sowyng quereles of dissension To burne and steale is all their intencion And yet as people whom God dooeth hate curse Thei alwaies begynne and euer haue the woorse ¶ Englande hitherto hath neuer lacked power As oft as nede wer the Scottes to compell Their duetie to dooe and menne of honour Englande hath had as stories dooe tell Whiche whensoeuer the Scottes did rebell Wer hable at all tymes theim to subdue And their obedience to England renue ¶ EmoÌges the whiche noumbre your noble father In the twelfth yere of Henry the seuenths reigne By aunciente recorde as I can gather Beeyng of suche credence as cannot feigne Yode into Scotlande their pryde to restrein With seÌbleable power as bookes dooen auowe And like commission as your grace had now ¶ That season he did so valiauntely The Scottes vanquishyng and puttyng to flight That thei ranne awaye moste shamefully Not hable of hym tabide the sight Nor hable to sustein the brunt of his might Soondrie castelles he raced down to the grounde Whiche to the honour of Englande did redound ¶ Kyng Iamy also makyng greate braggue and vauÌte Hauyng his armie not a myle of that daie Your father as a captain valyaunt Made in a moment for feare to runne awaye The Scottish kyng seÌding foorth heraldes tway Chalenged your father with many a proude woorde Battayle to wage and trye it by the sworde ¶ And choose thou sir Earle ê kyng Iamy then Whether we shall fight armie against armie Orelles I and thou trye it manne for manne For sparyng bloodshed of either compaignie That if it chaunce me to haue the victorie Nought shall I demaunde for Englandes losse thine Sauig Barwike toune for euer to bee mine ¶ Then to the heraldes saied this noble knight Shewe to your kyng that in this place purposely Battayle for to wage my tentes haue I pight I am not come to flee but to fyght sharpely As where he standeth he maye see with his eye And fyrst where he would bloodshed saued to bee Therof am I no lesse desirous then he ¶ Secundarily where it is his likyng That I a poore Earle and of meane estate Maye combattre with hym beyng a kyng That our two fightes may ceasse all debate He dooeth me honour after suche highe rate That I must nedes grauÌt my selfe bound in this case Humble thankes to reÌdre to his grace ¶ Now as for the towne of Barwike it is knoweÌ Which your lorde requireth in case I bee slaine Is the kyng my souereins and not mine owne So that graunte therof in me dodeth not remain But thys maie ye bear worde to your lord again My person and lyfe aduenture I shall More precyous to me then the round worlde all ¶ When kyng Iamy by his heraldes twoo Spedefullye returnyng had due knowlage Muche otherwyse then he loked for thoo Of the Earles stout aunswer and message Fled out of hand and would no battayle wage So that your father retourned home victour With coumfort laude praise ioye and honour ¶ The same your father in the fyfth yere Of our moost noble kyng Henry the eyght When hys grace and his armie at Turney were And the same kyng Iamy of Scotland streyght Agaynst England his banner dyspleyght Vanquished the Scottes with your helpyng haÌd Slew there king Iamy and brought him to England ¶ Agayne in the .xv. yere of the same reygne Your selfe in proper personne full courageous Set forth against the Scottes without dysdeygne Lyke a captayne valyaunt and venturous Wher ye breÌt Iedworth a toune right populous Wyth diuers victories that your grace then had Whiche made all Englande to reioyse be glad ¶ The yere folowyng also as bookes testify The Scottes came with an houge power Of .lx. thousande men vnder the Duke of Albany Besiegyng Warke castel thynkyng it to deuour But heryng that your grace dyd approch that houe The Scottes trembled and so dyd theyr Duke And cowardly fled to their shame and rebuke ¶ Sembleably by thys your last viage Nowe thys last October and Nouember Made into Scotlande to
soonne was of good kyng Edwarde That wedded dame Blaunch ful of feminytee Duke Henryes doughter and heire afterwarde Of Lancastre by lawe of kynde and forwarde Who gat and bare the fourth kyng Henry That kyng Rycharde deposed wrongfully ¶ Who gatte Henry the fyfth lyke conqueroure Of Normandy and mykill parte of Fraunce That excelled bothe kyng and Emperoure In marcyall actes by his gouernaunce Who gatte Henry the sixte at Gods pleasaunce Of suche symplenesse and disposicion As menne maye se by his discrecion ãâã For when Henry the fourth first was crouned ãâ¦ã ny a wyseman sayd then full commenly ãâ¦ã third heyre shuld not ioyse but be vncrouned And deposed of all regalitee To this reason they dyd there wittes applye Of euill gotten good the third should not enioyse Of longe agone it hath bene a commen voyse ¶ Howe the maker of this booke saieth his auyse in briefe for the duke of Yorke ¶ O my lorde of Yorke God hath prouyde In this for you as men sayen commenly So that no slouth you from his grace deuyde But take it as he hath it sent manly And rule well nowe ye haue the remedye But neretheles let euery man haue the right Both frende and foo it may encrease your might ¶ Treate well Percy of marchys lyne discended To helpe your right with might and fortifye By tender meanes to holde hym well contented Remembryng hym by wyttie polycye Howe by processe of tyme and destenye Your right might all bene his as nowe is yours Through gods might make theÌ your successours ¶ EdmouÌde was then the .iiij. sonne at Langlay Borne as knowen was well in the lande A noble prince after as men might say At battayle of Orray that fought sore with his haÌde And Iohn of Gaunt his brother I vnderstande That fought ful sore for IhoÌ of Mountfortright Agayne Charles of Bloys a manly knight ¶ This EdmouÌde was after duke of Yorke creat And had a sonne that Edward had to name Whom kyng Richarde made to be denominate In all his writtes exaltyng his fame Kyng of Portyngale his father yet at hame Lyuyng in age I trawe of .lxxx. yere A fayre person as a man might se any where ¶ Thomas Woodstoke the .v. sonne was in dede Duke of Gloucester that tyme made and create By kyng Richarde murdered whom for his mede Kyng Henry quyt with death preordinate By Goddes dome and sentence approbate Who sleeth so shall he be slayne by his sentence Well more murder whiche asketh ay vengeaunce ¶ Who laye afore Paris amoneth daye With hoste royall without any batell Of all enemyes moste dred he was alwaye And Scottes moste hym bred without any fayle For as they trowed by theyr owne rehersaile Of prophecyes he shulde theyr lande conquere And make the kyng to Englande homegere ¶ Nowe haue I made vnto your owne knowlege A remembraunce of Edwardes sonnes fyue Your exampler to geue you a corage So noble princes I trowe were none alyue After my wytte as I can discryue The eldest sonne whose lyfe I haue lefte oute Who that in Fraunce all landes was moste doute ¶ Of the ryghte and tytles that my Lorde of Yorke hath to Fraunce and Spayne with Portingale other landes by yonde the sea Ierusalem and other landes ¶ At batell of Poytiers tooke kynge Iohn With greate honoure triumphe and vyctory By merciall actes and verteous life aloone And in Spayne as made is memorie The kyng Petro by knightly victorie To his kyngdome he did restore again By his brother putte out with muche pain ¶ The appoinctement bytwixt duke Iohn duke Emund who should bee kyng of Castle and Lyon and what the maker of this booke sawe and red at LondoÌ to syr Robert Vmfrewill then lorde Vmfrewill ¶ This kyng Petro to giue hym to his mede Had nothyng els but doughters twoo full faire Whiche he betooke to that prince in deede For his wages for cause thei where his heire With whome he did to Englande so repaire And Constaunce wedde vnto his brother Iohn Emund his brother the younger had anone ¶ Dame Isabell the younger hight by name Bytwene these brethren was appoinctment The first heire male whiche of the sisters came The kyng should been and haue the regiment To you my lorde of Yorke this dooeth appent For your vncle Edwarde was first heire male To whome your father was heire with out faile ¶ So kyng of Spayne and also of Portyngall Ye should nowe bee by lyne of bloodde discent By couenaunt also and appoinctement whole As I haue seen of it the mununent Vnder seale wryten in all entent Whiche your vncle to my lorde Vmfrewill At London shewed whiche I red that while ¶ For Spayne Portyngale beare the renoume And commen name as I haue herde expressed Both to the realmes of Castyll and Lyon And so the kynge of Spayne hath aye adressed His royall style in wrytyng well impressed Kyng of Castill and also of Lyon Accompted both so for his region ¶ Nowe be ye knowe of your title to Englande By consequens to Wales and Scotlande For they perteyne as ye maye vnderstande Of auncient tyme to the crowne of Englande By papall bull ye haue the right to Irelande Gascowe Paitowe and Normandye Pountyf Bebuile Saunxie and Sauntignye ¶ And all the lande beyonde the charente Of Dangolesme Dangolismoys Luyre zyne Of Caoure CaourenoÌ Pyridor PiryguÌt couÌtre Of Rodis Ronegeauis DagoÌ Dagenoyse that fine Tharbe Wigor Gaure shoulde to you enclyne With all the fraunchyses and all souerayntie As hath the kyng of Fraunce in his degre ¶ NoÌ that I Ihon Hardyng maker of this booke delyuered to kyng Henry the syxte the copie of the treatie of this land as kyng Edward the thyrd treated and had them after the battayll of Poytours ¶ Calys Marke Colne HaÌmys Oye Wale Sandegate Guysons with all the whole couÌtre With all the landes and townes betwene theÌ all With all fraunchyses and royall souerayntie All those of right be yours in propertie What by treate and what by veraye right As kyng Edwarde them had of mykyll might ¶ To Ierusalem I saye ye haue great right For erle Geffraye that hight Plantagenet Of Aungeoy erle a prince of passyng might The eldest sonne to Fouke and first begette Kyng of Ierusalem by his wife dewly sette Whose sonne Geffray foresaide gatte on his wyfe Henry the seconde that knowen was full ryfe ¶ Yet haue ye more fro Bawdewyn Paraliticus Kyng afterward to thesame kyng Henry The croune sente and his banner precious As veraye heyre of whole auncestrie Descent of bloode by tytle lynyally From Godfray Boleyn and Robert Curthose That kynges were therof and chose ¶ He sente hym also the Sepulture keyes Resygnyng wholy vnto hym all his ryght For to defende the lande from Sarizenes For he was sicke and had therto no might And all the lande destroyed was to sight By the
of Crete began A famouse and a ryght notable man And Crete gatte a sonne hight Cely Who gatte Saturne a wyse man and a wittye ¶ Of whome came then Iubiter of Frigy Whiche is Turky wherin Troyes citee In honoure stode and in great victorye And Iubiter gate Dardanus no lee That of Frigy in greate felicitee So reygned kyng greatly magnifyed And as a God amonge theim glorifyed ¶ Of whom came so his sonne Eritonus Who gatte a sonne that firste Troye edifyed That Troilus hight of whome came kyng Ilis That Ilyon made a palays of great pryde Whiche for passyng other was both long wyde Where Hercules slough kynge Lamadone And led awaye the royalles of the towne ¶ Lamedone gatte the kyng Priamus Who made agayn his palays Ilion And Troies citee also more glorious Then they were before their subuercion And royall without peruercion In ioye and myrth they stode many a yere And Achilles with hym his brother dere The .viij. Chapiter ¶ A shorte lamentacioÌ of the maker for kyng Lamedone lose his life and his estate that might haue stande in peace and suertie for a litle succour of Iasone in his voiage O Lamedon of Troye that bare the crowne What fortune droue the to dooe Iasone vnkyndnesse Where he to paye was so readye and bowne For his vitayle that came in by distresse Of tempest greate standing in heuinesse Hym for to dryue oute of the regyon And not refreshe hym at his requisicyon Whiche was the cause after of thy heuynesse When he the slough and destroyed all thy cytee And caste downe all thy myght and great nobles With lytell thing that sauyd might haue bee O good lorde why shoulde thy royal dignytee To straungers shewe that cruell vnkyndnesse That to thy lande purposed no distresse Of Priamus came Hector and Troylus Dephebus Helenus and Parys Of royall bloude and dukes full glorious Of excellence and greatest of empryse Whiche were all slayne by fortunes excercyse All the sege of Troye knyghtly in the defence In mercyall actes as princes of excellence ¶ The palays greate and the noble cytee By Grekes seeged longe and many a yere Was wonne at laste and wast as men yet see This kyng quene both two were slayne in feere Where Anchises and Eneas his sonne dere And Ascaneus the sonne of Eneas Escapyd awaye and on the sea dyd passe The .ix. Chapiter ¶ Howe Eneas exyled oute of Troye came to Cecyle and to Affrike to the cytee of Carthage and fro thence to Italye there was made kynge of Tuskayne and of Latene ANd in Cicile they after did aryue Where Anchises dyed and was dispent Eneas and his sonne to the sea gan dryue With shippes .xii. to Italy had they mente But wynde theim droue again there entent Into Affrique where for Eneas sake They welcome wer and worthely vptake ¶ Fro thence after he tooke the sea agayn And landed then in Italia In Tibre mouth with trauayll with payne Where the towne and porte is of hostia Where by the God he bidden was to ga To helpe the kyng Euandre in his right For after hym the God that land hym hight ¶ To whom he went as hym was prophecied And welcome was into Italie Of kyng Euandre greatest magnified For his wisedome fame and cheualrye For his worshippe and for his auncetrye He gaue hym than greate lordshippe and riches And gold enough right of his worthynes ¶ Kyng Euandre made warre on kyng Latene In whose defence Turnus kyng of Tuskayn Came with greate hoste of Tuskalayns so fyne Agayn Euandre wher Turnus then was slayn Eneas did that dede and that derayn With mighty strokes courage and cheualrous He wanne the felde in batell fortunous Betwene Euandre so and the kyng Latene The peace he made reste and concordaunce And kyng Latens his doughter that hight Labyne Wedded to his wyfe by veray good accordaunce Betwene theim forth was no more discordaunce And Eneas kyng was made of Tuskayne Of whiche the kynge Euandre was full fayne ¶ Sone after then dyed the kyng Latene Whose realme Eneas had also in peace In which he made a castell fayre and fyne Labynyon it hyght wythout leace His wyues name to worshyppe and encreace Of whome he gatte a soonne and dyed afore That he was brought into this worlde and bore ¶ This worthy prince kyng Eneas mortally Ended his lyfe that was of hye prowesse Where so God wyll to reigne eternally Within the house of fame where as I gesse ãâ¦ã er knightes fell of noble worthynesse That more desyred in armes to haue a fame âhen be the best in dede and beare no name The .x. Chapiter ¶ Of the house of fame where knightes be rewarded after the merites in armes by Mars the God of armes some translate wich kyrcheues of pleasaunce some with rynges and onches their sepulture in the felde of pitee by heuen gates that haue be veraye louers of theyr louers ladyes and neuer panyneles but aye graceles BUt than hys soonne Siluius Postumus Newe borne so young and tendre of age Kyng of this lande was made Astanius His brother dere that ruled his heritage And peaceably kepte out of all seruage Twenty wynter and eyght full mannely And gatte a soonne that called was Syluy ¶ Whiche Siluius gatte and generate His soonne Brutus on Crensa labius nece All priuelie by hym de virginate And sore besought by his subtilitees And sumwhat of hir womanly petees That tendred hym of god femynete As womanhod would of all humilitee ¶ Soo after sone the fate of death would soo That passe away muste nede Ascanius He gaue his brother Siluius posthumus tho His heritage and riches plentuous But Brutus waxed echedaye full beauteous And in mannehod well more in all vertue Was none hym like in no place that meÌne knewe ¶ Of .xv. yere when he was commen to age At huntyng as he shotte at a dere He sleugh his father vnto his greate damage And at his birth as saieth the chronicler His mother dyed as wrytten is full clere Anone after as he was of hir bore For whiche .ii. causes his herte was wonder sore ¶ Seyng Iuly this fals fortunite The soroes greate in hym so multiplied That there for shame of his fortunite In no wyse would he no lenger dwell ne byde But into Grece his sorowes for to hide He went anone where exiles wer of troye Whose sorowes great he leched all with ioye ¶ Sir Helenus was Priamus sonne of Troye And Anchises an olde worthy knight And .vi. M. that of hym had great ioye Of gentilmen of Troye exiled forth right That hym besought with instauÌce day and night To helpe theim out of their great heped sorowe In whiche they lay oppressed euen and morowe ¶ For whiche he wrote his letter in that tide To kyng Pandras that kyng was of that lande
Requiryng hym to let hym passe and ride Frely where so they would withouten bande For whiche the kyng with power tooke on hande To siege Brutus within his castell fayre To whom Troyans strongly gan repayre ¶ To Brutus so to helpe theim at there might Who then anone sent forth Anacletus His prysoner whom he had taken ryght Vnto the hoste to tell theim how Antigonus Laye in the wood stollen awaye fro Brutus Who went to theim that next the wood then laye And bad theim come and rescowe hym or daye ¶ Whiche warde so brake to the wood can ryde Brutus with that with all his hole power There brake in and would no longer abyde But slough the Grekes and tooke the kyng infer But than as saith the veray chronicler No lenger wolde he there abyde ne dwell But furthermore as chroniclers doeth tell ¶ With kyng Pandras he made his appoinctement Hym to deliuer on this condicion To wedde his doughter by will and assent Dame Innogen and shippis of his region With vitaile and riches to wynne lande towne For there he woulde no longer make soiourne But with Troyans to their lande attourne ¶ All this promysses and whole apoinctement Fulfilled and spede Brute with his wife So sailed furth thorowe the Grekish oryent To marytayne and twoo pillers ganne he driue That Hercules also with busy liue To tyme he came to an olde citee No creature therin that tyme coulde see ¶ But a goddas menne called Diane That coulde declare and expounde destynie To whome Brute anone went vp alone And laye afore hir there full deuoutely With candell brennyng and with ceremonie Besekyng hir of succour and grace Where that he might hir worship in sum place ¶ With his Troyanes therin for to abyde And inherite to whome then saied Dyane By yonde all Gualle an Isle full long and wide Enclosed whole within the occiane With Giauntes kepte his destyned the alaan And thy Troyanes to haue and enhabite Therin to dwell for euermore and enheret ¶ So sailyng furth by Columânes of Hercules Whiche been of brafse by Hercules their sette For when he came into the sea no lees Of Spayne wher that his meny Troianes mette Of their lynage as it was to their dette Thei came with hym echeone by one accorde Corneus their capitain was and lorde The .xi. Chapiter ¶ Howe Brute came frome Grece into Albion and named it Britaine and howe he arryued at Totnesse in Deuinshire HE sailed so fourth by the sea Aquitaine Where that he arriued that nowe is GuyaÌ laÌde And sleugh the buckes of whiche thei wer full faine The bere the bore and hartes all that thei fande With out licence or yet any warand Wherfore Guffor kyng of the lande full fell With Troyanes faught but Goryne their bare the bell ¶ Brute tooke shippe and arriued in Albion Where Diane saied should been his habitacion And when he came the coastes of it vpon He was full glad and made greate exultacion Reioysed highly of his fortunacion In armes of Troye couered and well araid Of whiche Troyanes wer full well apaid He bare of goulis twoo liones of golde Countre Rampant with golde onely crouned Whiche kynges of Troie inbataill bare ful bolde To whiche froÌ Troye was distroyed confouÌded Their children slain the next heire was he founde And in tho armes this Isle he did conquere As Marian saieth the veray chronicler ¶ At Totnesse so this Brutus did arriue Corneus also and all their coumpaignie The giauntes also he sleugh doune beeliue Through all the lande in battaile mannely And left no moo but Gogmagog onely In all this Isle so had he theim destroyed Whom in prisone he kepte and anoyed The .xii. Chapiter ¶ Howe Corneus wrastilled with Gogmagog the giaunt of the Isle and sleugh hym BVt for he would knowe all his resistens What he might dooe more then Corneus He made theim bothe dooe their sufficieÌce In all wrastleyng whiche was moost rigorous And to defende or sawte moost curious On the sea banke afore Brutus thei mette Where by accorde the daye and place was sette ¶ This Gogmagog so thrafte Corneus That rybbes three were broken in his side Corneus then of might full laborous Thought he would sone reuenge that tide With that he stode and sette his leggues wyde And gatte hym vp betwene his armes faste And ouer the roche into the sea hym caste ¶ Whiche place hight yet Gogmagoges sawte By cause he leped their frome Corneus All if it wer nothyng in his defaute But by the might of Coryn full vigorous Who was alway in bataill fortunous For whiche Brutus had hym in greate deynie And gaue hym aye worship and dignite ¶ This Brutus thus was kyng in regalite And after his name he called this Isle Briteyn And all his menne by that same egalite He called Briteynes as chroniclers all saine Of whiche thei all were full glad and faine To Corneus he gaue to his availe The duchie whole and lande of Cornwayle The .xiij. Chapiter ¶ Howe he buylded the citee of Troynouaunt that nowe is called London SO was the name of this ilke Albyon All sette on side in kalandes of achaunge And putte awaye with greate confusion And Briteyn hight so furth by newe eschaunge After Brutus that slewe these Giauntes strauÌge And wanne this Isle by his magnyficence In whiche he dwelled long tyme in excellence ¶ The citee greate of Troynouaunt so faire He buylded then on Thamis for his delite Vnto the north for his dwellyng for his moost Whiche is to saie in our laÌguage perfect Newe Troye in bookes as I canne nowe endicte repeier And nouell Troye in frenche incomperable Of Breteyne a citee moost profytable ¶ This Briteyne is in length eyght C. myle Fro Monsehole that is in Cornewayle right Vnto the northend of Catenes to compile And also in bredeth frome sainct Dauid that hight To Yarmoth that in Norffolke is by sight Twoo hundred myle accoumpted well and clene As autours saie this Isle dooeth whole contein The .xiiij. Chapiter ¶ Howe Brute sette his lawes peace of Troye in this Isle without whiche a kyng is no better then his subiecte or his leege manne IN which through out his peace lawe he set Whiche been the floures of all regalite With out whiche but if thei twoo bee met There maie no prince holde prncipalite Ne endure long in worthy dignite For if those twoo bee nought vp holden than What is a kyng more worth then his liege maÌne ¶ This kyng Brute kepte well this Isle in peace And sette his lawes of Troye with ordre rites And consuetudes that might the lande encreace Suche as in Troye he knew was most profittes Vnto the folke and the common profettes He made theim wryten for long rememory To rule the Isle by theim perpetually ¶ His menne he did rewarde full royally
yere and was slayne The quene was of all Logres laÌdes so fine And of all Albaine also through out incertayne Crowned quene and so reigned with mayne And seruyce tooke of Cambre for his lande Who gouerned well her tyme I vnderstande ¶ Fyftene yere and then her sonne she crowned That Maddan hyght into Cornewaile went And then she dyed with sycknesse sore confounded And to her goddes her wofull herte she sent And thus this quene in her beste entente To set amonge the goddesse euerychone Euer to complayne her wedowhed alone The .xx. Chapiter ¶ Howe Maddan kynge of Britayne reygned after Gwendolena his mother and reygned .xi. yeres MAddan her soÌne was king of Britain then Hauyng Logres and also Albany That fourty yere there reygned as a man Kepyng the lande in peace from tyrannye In whose tyme was none in his monarchye Durste ought vary or any thing displease So was he dred and set the realme in ease Throughe all Britayne durste none another dysplese So wel the lawe and peace he dyd conserue That euery man was gladde other to please So dred they hym they durst no thing ouer terue Againe his lawe nor peace but theim conserue So was he dred through his great sapience Both in and oute by all intellygence ¶ He dyed so and to his father yede His sonnes two Maulyne and eke Memprise A daye then sette whiche of theim shoulde precede To the croune but then by couetyse And that ylke daye the yonger Memprise Slewe his brother Maulyne elder of age To that entent to haue the herytage Memprise thus kyng destroied his men all oute Their landes their goddes or elles their liues certayne He tooke from theim all his lande aboute Fulfylled all with pryde and great disdayne His comonnes all with taxes did distrayne So tirauntely he lefte theim nought to spende By consequent thrifteles he was at ende His wyfe he dyd refuse and foule forsake Vsynge the synne of horribilyte With beastes ofte in stede right of his make Whiche by all ryght and equytee Vengeaunce asked by fell bestialitee And so hym fell as to the wood he wente A route of wolffes hym slough and all to rent The .xxi. Chapiter ¶ Ebranke kyng of Britayne had Logres and Albany Also he had .xx. wyues .xx. sonnes and .xxx. doughters he made Yorke Bamburgh Edenburgh Dumbritayne and Alclude Also he made an archeflaume at Yorke his temple that nowe is an archebishoppe EBranke his soÌne theÌ crowned was anone Who shippes great made on the sea to sayle Withhelde his knightes with hym so forthe to gone Vpon warre he went without fayle Then into Gaule with a full manly tayle Wher that he had riches innumerable To holde estate royall incomparable ¶ XX. wyues he had as chronicles saith And .xx. sonnes of his owne generacion And doughters fayre .xxx. that wer not laith Whiche doughters so for theyr releuacion Into Italie with great supportacion There to be wedded in Troyan bloodde maried For ladies theyr with Troyans wer alyed ¶ In Albany he made and edifyed The castell of Alclude whiche Dumbritayne And some autours by chronycle hath applied And some sayen on the pight wall certayne And the west ende it stode that nowe is playne And some menne sayen it is Yorke cytee Thus stande menne nowe in ambyguytee ¶ But sooth it is he made this Dunbrytayne A castell stronge that standeth in Albany Vpon a roche of stone hard to optayne About the whiche the sea floweth dayly And refloweth again nocturnally Twyse in his course and to the sea again In the whiche no horsse maye dunge certain ¶ He made also the mayden castell stronge That men now calleth the castell of Edenburgh That on a roche standeth full hye out of throng On mounte Agwet wher meÌ may see out through Full many a towne castell and boroughe In the shire aboute it is so hye in heigth Who wyll it scale he shall not fynde it light ¶ He made also vpon mounte Dolorous A castell strong that this daye Bamburgh hight That on a roche is sette full hye and noyous Full hard to gette by any mannes might The castell is so stronge and so well dight If menne therin haue stufe sufficient Or it be wonne many one muste bee shent ¶ His sonnes all he sent to Germanye To wynne thesame lande by labour and conquest Vnder the rule of their brother Analye Duke Assarake that was the eldest A worthy knight proued with best All Germanye they gatte at theyr entent And lordes wer made their as there father ment ¶ Sixty yere whole he stoode and bare the crowne Reignyng fully in all prosperytee No enemyes durst again hym vp ne downe Warre ne do in no wyse again his royaltee He made a temple in * Ebranke citee Of Dyane where an archeflame he sette To rule temples as that tyme was his dette The .xxii. Chapiter ¶ Howe after the death of Ebranke reygned Brutus greneshilde BRutus Greneshilde then by his name full ryght Both good trewe and easy of all porte His people all that came into his syght With all his might euermore he recomforte Of all there sorowe that they to hym reporte And why he hight Greneshilde to his surname Because he bare on grene ay wher he became ¶ Xii yere he stoode reignyng full well in peace And dyed so and by his father buryed In Ebranke afore Dyane no lees With Britons hole thyther accompanyed With all honours that might bee multiplyed In any wyse with all seruyse funerall As longed to the fate of death ouer all The .xxiii. Chapiter ¶ Leyle kyng of Brytayn had Logres Brytayne he made at Carlele a temple flamyne and a flaume to rule it THeÌ Leyle his soÌne was kyng of Britain so That Carleele made that tyme in Albany That now Carleile is called by frend to Whiche in Englyshe is to say fynally The cytie of Leyle for in brytayn tongue playnly Cair is to saye a citee in theyr language As yet in Wales is there commen vsage ¶ This ilke kyng Leyle made then in that citee A temple greate called a temple flaumyne In whiche he sette a flaume in propertee To gouerne it by their lawes dyuyne Of Iupiter Saturne and Appolyne That then wer of all suche in dignitee After theyr lawes as nowe our byshoppes bee ¶ When he had reigned hole .xx. yere and fyue In youth full well and kepte lawe and peace But in his age his people beganne to stryue Failyng his lawes cyties wold not warre cease Cyuill warres greately beganne to encreace And he dyed then settyng no remedy Buried at Carleyle in his citee royally The .xxiiij. Chapiter ¶ Rudhudebras kyng of Brytayne had Logres and Albany he made Caunterbury Wynchester and Shaftesbury and three temples and three flaumes of theim RVdhudebras his sonne was kyng anone Cair kent he made that now is CauÌterbury Cair went also buylded of lyme
stone That Wynchester is nowe a towne full mery Caire Paladoure that nowe is Shaftesbury Where an Engel spake syttyng on the wall Whyle it was in workyng ouer ãâã ¶ In whiche citees he made then temples three And flaumes also as nowe these bishoppes been To kepe the rites after their moralytee Of there goddes as in there bookes was seen Of their fals lawes as thei dyd meen When he had reigned by thyrtye yere and nyne The dulful death made hym to earth enclyne The .xxv. Chapiter ¶ Bladud kynge of Britayne had Logres and Albany He made an vniuersitee and a study at Stamforde a flaume and his temple at Bathe his citee whiche vniuersitee dured to the commyng of saynt Augustyne and the byshoppe of Roome enterdited it for heresyes that fell emong the Saxones and the Britons together mixte BLadud his soÌne sone after hym did succede And reigned after then full .xx. yere Cair Bladud so that now is Bath I rede He made anone the hote bathes there infere When at Athenes he had studied clere He brought with hym .iiii. philosophiers wise Schole to holde in Brytayne and exercyse ¶ StaÌforde he made that SaÌforde hight this daye In whiche he made an vniuersitee His philosophiers as Merlyn doth saye Had scolers fele of greate habilitee Studyng euer alwaye in vnitee In all the seuen liberall science For to purchace wysedome and sapience ¶ In cair bla ãâ¦ã m he made a temple right And sette a flamyne theirin to gouerne And afterward a* Fetherham he dight To flye with wynges as he could beest descerne Aboue the aire nothyng hym to werne He flyed on high to the temple Apolyne And ther brake his necke for al his great doctrine The .xxvi. Chapiter ¶ Kyng Leyr of Brytaine gaue away with his doughter all his lande and had it all again and dyed kyng possessid HIs sooÌne was kyng high sette in royaltee Of all Brytaynes by name that hight kyng Leyr Who Laiceter made after hym called to bee Cair Leyr his citee that buylded was full faire He had doughters three to been his heire The first of theim was called Gonorelle The next Ragan and the youngest Cordelle ¶ Emonges theim as Leyr satte on a daye He asked theim howe muche thei hym loued Gonorell saied more then my self ay And Ragan saied more then was after prouid For ioye of whiche the kyng was greately moued I loue you more then all this worlde so fayre He grauÌted theim twoo of thre partes to bee heire ¶ Cordell the youÌgest then saied full soberly Father as muche as ye been in value So muche I loue you and shall sikirly At all my might and all my herte full trewe With that he greuid at hir and chaunged hewe Senne thou me loues lesse then thy sisters twain The leest porcion shalt thou haue of Bryteine ¶ With that Maglayn duke of Albaine Gonorell weddid and had the lande all out Euin of Walis and of Cornwayle ther by That duke was of those twoo landes stoute Ragan weddid to whiche twoo dukes no doubte Kyng Leyr gaue rule and gouernaunce Of all Bryteine for age and none puissaunce The .xxvii. Chapiter ¶ Howe Leyr made a temple and a Flamyne to rule at all Laiceter A Temple that in his citee of Kaireleir A Flamyne also as he a bishop were In name of Ianus the folke into repere And then he wente Gonorell to requier Of the greate loue that she aught hym so dere That of hir promyse she failed vnkyndly Wherfore he wente vnto Ragan in hye ¶ She failed also for all hir greate promyse And to Cordell that weddid was into Fraunce Long after that he wente in greate distres To helpe to wynne hym his inheritaunce She succurred hym anon with all plesaunce Bothe with gold syluer of right greate quaÌtitee To gette his lande again in all suertee ¶ Aganippe hir lorde was kyng of Fraunce That graunt hym menne and goud sufficient And sent his wife with hym with greate puisauÌce With all aray that to hir wer apent His heire to been by their bothes assent For he was olde and might not well trauell In his persone the warres to preuaile ¶ Kyng Leyr thus waÌne his lande with all might again And riegned well there after full thre yere And died so buried at Kairleir menne sayn In Ianus temple in whiche tyme for age clere The kyng of Fraunce Aganype infere Dyed wherfore Cordell his ayre was soo To rule Brytaine alone with outen moo The .xxviii. Chapiter ¶ Howe Cordell quene of Fraunce and doughter of kyng Leyr reigned after the death of hir father COrdell quene of FrauÌce and doughter to kyng Leyr Quene of EnglaÌde after hir fathers daye Fiue yeres reigned as for hir fathers heyre And gouerned well the realme all menne to paye His sister soonne then Morgan of Albanie And Condage also of Cambre and Cornewaile In battaill greate hir tooke and putte in baill ¶ For sorow then she sleugh hir selfe for tene And buried was by side hir father right In Ianus teÌple whiche kyng Leyr made I went At Kairleyr so that nowe Laicester hight Thus died this quene that was of muche might Hir soule went to Ianus whome she serued And to Mynerue whose loue she had deserued The .xxix. Chapiter ¶ Morgan kyng of Albanie that claânyd all Briteyne but this Isle of Britayne was departed for this kyng had but Albany MOrgan that eldest sooÌne of Dame Gonorell Clamed Brytein as for his heritage Warred sone of Condage as I spell That kyng was of Cambre in younge age Duke of Cornewaile also for his homage But this kyng Morgan was kyng of Albany Soonne and heire of the eldest soonne varelie ¶ CoÌdage was kyng of CaÌbre that Walis is nowe And duke of Cornewaile his patrimonye Claymed Logres as soonne and heire to Regawe The myddill sister for his mothers proprete As she that aught to haue hir partourye At Glomorgane with Morgan did he meete In bataill sleugh hym there casten vnder fete The .xxx. Chapiter ¶ Condage kyng of Logres Cambre and duke of Cornewaile gatte all Bryteine againe and made a temple with a Flamyne at Bangor COndage was kyng of all greate Britaine And in his hande he seased all Albanie For his eschete that ought to hym againe Resorte of right and returne verelye He made a Flamyne a temple also in hye Of Mars at Perch that nowe his s Iohns towne In Albany that now is Scotlande region ¶ He made another temple of Mynerue In Cambre which now is named bangour The thyrde he made in Cornwayle for to serue Of Mercury in place where he was bore For his people to serue the goddes there Wherby he reygned .xxx. yere and three In rest and peace and all tranquilitee ¶ Ryueall his sonne that was pacificall Crowned was than easye of gouernaile In whose tyme the greate tempest dyd befall That dayes thre the flyes did hym assayle Enuenoned foule vnto the death
no faile And rayned bloodde the same .iii. dayes also Greate people dyed the lande to mykell woo ¶ Gurgustyus his sonne so reygned then In mykill ioye and worldly celynesse Kepyng his landes from enemyes as a manne But drunken he was echedaye expresse Vnaccordynge to a prince of worthynesse Out of drunkennesse succedeth euery vice Whiche all men shuld eschewe if thei wer wise ¶ Scicilius his sonne then did succede In whose tyme echeman did other oppresse The lawe and peace was exiled so in dede That ciuill warres and slaughter of men expresse Was in euery parte of the lande without redresse And murderers foule through all his lande dayly Without redres or any other remedy ¶ Iago succeded and kyng was of this lande As eiuill as was the kyng of Scicilus The same vices as I vnderstand Orels wourse and more malicious Wherfore our lorde toke vengeauÌce of hym thus He smote theim bothe in suche aletargie That sone thei dyed for marrid with frenesie ¶ Kymar his soonne had then the diademe And kyng then was with all kyndes of royalte Kepyng his lande as well did so hym seme In lawe and peace with greate felicite The common weale and their vtilite He did prefer euer in vniuersall Whiche to a prince is a vertu principall ¶ First if he kepe not lawe nor peace certein His people will nothyng dred ne doubt Than stande he moost in parell to bee slaine Orels putte doune right by his vnderlout No better is he bee he neuer so stout Then is his subiect or another wight That with rebell vnlawfull kill hym might ¶ Gorbonyan that was his soonne and heire Was kyng who had that tyme but soonnes twoo The eldre hight Ferrex that was full faire The younger hight Porrex whiche discordid so That either of theim was alwaye others foo For that the father sent Ferrex into Fraunce To kyng Syward that was of greate puisaunce ¶ But after long when he had reigned .xi. yeres Dyed awaye frome all royalte Leuyng his lande by his good rule inclere In sufficiente and all prosperite Ferrex heryng of his mortalite With power strong came to this lande againe And with Porrex faught sore wher he was slaine ¶ For sorow of whiche ther mother that IudoÌ hight To Ferrex came with hir maydens all in ire Slepyng in bed slew hym vpon the night And smote hym all on peces sette a fyre Loo this cruell mother sett on fyre With suche rancor that she could not ceas Whiche for passyng ire was mercyles The .xxxi. Chapiter ¶ Clotane Pynner Ruddan Stater reigned with baroÌs warres .xl. yere howe this Isle of Brytaine was departed in foure parties stood departed .xl. yere in baroÌs warres CLotane that then was duke of Cornwaile Next heire then was by all succession But Pinner theÌ had Logres iÌ gouernaile And kyng ther of was by wrong ingression Ruddan had Cambre in his possession And Stater was then kyng of Albany Thus was this Isle then lede by tirannye ¶ Thus Brytain was to foure kynges deuided Echeon of theim warryng on other The barons also on warre were so prouided That all the people to wast father and mother Thei spared none all wer thei sister or brother And eche citee on other bothe towne and tour And eche tyranne was a conquerour ¶ And lordes faine subiectes then to been The poore menne that afore that warre wer desolate Of all honour and worship that was seen Through their manhode with people congregate Lordeship conquered and roose to high astate Laddes and boyes the ladeis tho did wedde Their kynne afore nether lande ne hous hadde ¶ Fourty wynter thus duryng barons warre This Isle so stoode in sorowe and in strife In faute of might the weaker had the wer And suffered wrong that was then their life For who that might aught gette with spere or knife He helde it furth as for his heritage And waxid a lorde that a fore was a page ¶ Defaute of peace lawe sette theim on hight To ouer runne lordes and bee victorious As worthy was for of their wrongfull might The lordes were cause that thei were rygurous That would not so their wronges malicious At first with stande and punishe trespassoures But suffer theim endure in their erroures The .xxx. Chapiter ¶ The conseipt of the maker of this booke touchyng barrons warres in defaute of peace and lawe DEfaut of lawe was cause of this mischief Wronges susteined by mastry by might And peace laied downe that should haue been the chief Through whiche debates folowed all vnright Wherfore vnto a prince accordeth right The peace and lawe euen with equite Within his realme to saue his dignite ¶ What is a kyng without lawe and peace Within his realme sufficiently conserued The porest of his maye so encrease By iniury and force of menne preserued Till he his kyng so with streÌgth haue ouerthrowed And sette hym self in royall maieste As tratour Cade made suche an iuoperte ¶ O ye my lorde of Yorke and veraie heire Of Englande so this matter well impresse Deipe in your breste lette it synke softe and feire And suche defautes sette you aye to represse At the begynnyng lette your high noblenes The trespassoures to chastes and to restreine And lette theim not lawe ne peace disobeine ¶ O ye lordes that been in high estate Kepe well the lawe with peace and gouernaunce Lest your hurtes you hurte and depreciate Whiche been as able with wrongfull ordynaunce To reigne as ye and haue also greate puisaunce For lawe and iustices in lordes vnpreserued Causeth many of theim to bee ouerthrowed The .xxxi. Chapiter ¶ Dunwallo Moluncyus kyng of Cornewayle conquerid Logers Lambry and Albanie as right heire of Brytayne he gaue fraunchises to the temple plough merkettes feyres and hie wayes so that none should disturbe by lawe nor by wrong he made sixe temples in Logers Cambre Albanie and also many FlaÌynes to rule theim of estate as bishoppes nowe dooen KYng Clotein died that reigned in Cornewaile Wherfore his sooÌne DuÌwallo MoluÌcius Was kyng of all his realme without faile A mannly prince in armes full cuorageous Assembled his hoost and came full vigorous Of kyng Pynner in Logres intrusour And sleugh hym ther as wrongfull gouernour ¶ Kyng Ruddan and kyng Stater Of Albanie with hoostes strong and wyght Gaue hym battaill with mighty power Where Ruddan Stater wer slain downe right With all their hoostes and their greate might And Dunwallo had the victory With muche ioye and manhod mightely ¶ Dunwallo so called Moluncius At Troynouaunt with royall diademe Of gold crouned moost riche and precious Vpon his hede as did hym well besene The first he was as chronicles expreme That in this Isle of Brytein had croune of golde For all afore copre and gilt was to beholde ¶ He graunted pardon vnto all trespasoures Of whiche thei were full glad and ioyus Amendyng all their faultes and errours With all their hertes full beneuolous
alwaye douteous Hym sleugh a waye who was at Hely buryed Afore his god that ther was edified The .xli. Chapiter ¶ Lud kyng of Brytain buylded frome London stone to Lud gate called that parte Luds toune after by processe was called London by turnyng of tongues HIs soonne and heire was Lud of muche might TheÌ crouned by all the baronage His citees all eke his heritage castelles wight He did repeire that were his heritage And where was worthy his seruesse and homage To hym was doone in landes al aboute Was none withstode so was he dred and doubte With walles faire and towres freshe about His citee great of Troynouaunt full fayre Full well he made and batelled throughout And palays fayre for royalles to appeare Amendyng other defectyfe and vnfayre From London stone to his * palays royall That nowe Ludgate is knowen ouer all ¶ Betwene Londonstone Ludgate forth right That called was then for his name Ludstone He made men buyld that London so then hight His Palays fayre then made he there anone With toures high bothe of lyme and stone Besyde Ludgate and his temple nere thereby His God to serue and hym to glorifye ¶ When he had reigned by fourty yere all out He died so and in his temple fayre Entoumbed was with stories all about Androgeus was then his sonne and heyre Passyng of sight and Iuly fayre Tenancius his yonger sonne of age Which wer to young to rule the heritage ¶ Cassibalayn there vncle then was kyng And founde his neuewes full honestly and well And nourtred theim while thei wer chylder ying And at there age when they could reason fele He theim auaunced right worshipfully and well Androge he made and created duke of Kent Of Troynouaunt also by whole entent The .xlii. Chapiter ¶ How Iulius Caesar came to Britayn that nowe is Englande and arryued in Thamis and fled to Fraunce for newe succour HE made also then Tenancius Duke of Cornwail that time of mikel might In whiche tyme so came Caesar Iulius Into the lande of Fraunce that nowe so hight And on a daye walkyng vp and downe full right On the sea syde wher he this lande did see Desyryng sore of it the souerayntee ¶ His nauye greate with many soudyoures To sayle anone into this Britayn made In Thamis aroue wher he had ful sharpe shores And countred was with Brytons that abade With Cassibalayn the kyng of Brytons brade Wher after battayll smytten and forfought Iulius fled and then preuayled nought ¶ To Fraunce agayn and there he did soiorne The Frenche wer fayn of his discomfiture And trowed to make hym so fro theim retorne But the Britons full besely did there cure In this batell as came them of nature The dukes of kent and eke of Cornewayle And Nemynus theyr Eme did moste preuayle ¶ Crudan the kyng that tyme of Albany Gnechet the kyng also of Venedose That northwales nowe is called specially And kyng Bretayle that was full vertuous A manne in armes passyngly curious Of Denycye southwales that nowe hight He asked helpe of Fraunce that fayled hym right ¶ Then sent he to all landes there about To poore menne all he gaue full great ryches And exyled men of warre that wer full stoute He gaue liuelode and felons all douteles He delyuered quyte fre of all distres All outlawed menne he graunted full perdon The bondemen also of euery region The .xliii. Chapiter ¶ Howe whan Iulius Caesar failed power he gatte newe power by wily polycy to haue his purpose and came again to Brytayn and fled the seconde tyme. IN whiche meane tyme wheÌ he was redy so With his nauy came to brytayn again Into Thamis where Cassibalayn tho Great pyles of tree and yron sette hym again His shippes to peryshe and so he did certain Throughe whiche greate parte of hys nauy was drowned And some other in batayl wer coÌfouÌded ¶ Then fled he eft with shippes that he had Into the lande of Fraunce wher he was ere Hym purposyng to Rome full wo by stad Of his rebuke with sorowe and with care But then the kyng full glad of his euell fare A feaste royall at Troynouaunt he made Where great discorde with his neuewes he had The .xliiii. Chapiter ¶ Howe Iulius Caesar came agayne to Britayne the thyrde tyme accorded with the kyng and had truage of hym PVrposed fully on theim to bee auenged For whiche thei sent anone to Iulius And prayed to come his right that he had chaleÌged To clayme it hole thei wrote hym right thus Thei should hym helpe with people plenteous Through whose councell ful gladly then he came At Douer arryued with mykeil ioye and game ¶ Where then the kyng Cassybalayn he met And fought full sore where that Androgeus Out of a woode on Cassibalayn set And to a mounte hym droaue where that Iulius And he hym sieged again full coragious He fought full sore with all manly defence All nyght afore by myghty resistence ¶ But some for drede of famyshement He treated with the duke Androgeus To paye his tribute to Roome in good entent And to amende all thynges greuous With all his might and hertes beneuolence Androgeus to all this did assente And made Iulius to this fully consent ¶ This truage was .iii. M. âi well payde Eche yere to Rome of siluer good and fyne These princes thus accorded wer and daied In peace and reste and Iulius went fro heyne To warre vpon Pompey that nought wold enclyne To Romys Senate after that Iulius Hym had conquered by warre full fortuous ¶ With whome then went the duke Androgeus And in Britayne no lenger wolde abyde He lefte his brother duke Tennancius In Britayne with Cassybalyn that tyde And so to Rome with Iulius dyd ryde But Neminus brother of Cassybalayne Full manly fought on Iulius tymes tweyne ¶ With strokes sore ayther on other bette But at the laste this prynce syr Iulius Crosea mors his swerde in shelde sette Of the manly worthy sir Neminus Whiche of manly force and myght vigorous The swearde he brought away oute of the felde As Iulius it set faste in his shelde ¶ Through which stroke sir Neminus then died And buried was at the north gate certayne Of London then where nowe is Scotlande edified London cytee royall of all Britayne Thus this worthy knyght in his graue befayne Crosea mors his swearde layde by his syde Whiche he brought from Iulius that tyde ¶ After whiche accorded this kyng Cassybalayn Reigned fully in Britayne then .vii. yere Payeng trybute to Rome alwaye certayne Rulyng his lande in lawe and peace full clere And reygned had in all full thyrtye yere And foure aboue vnto his god so yede Buryed at Ebranke with all knyghtly worthihede The .xlv. Chapiter TEmancius his neuewe then full faire Kyng Luds sonne that duke was of Cornewayle With Diademe was crowned as ryght heire Of all Britayne had the gouernalle Who kepte the lande in his tyme by good gouernalle Full
woulde haue ameÌde Hir coÌnyng might therto in no wise exteÌde ¶ Of whiche beautee and of her goodlyhede The kyng with loue so greatly was oppressed It chaunged all his corage and manhede In kalendes of eschaunge he was so impressed For whiche the duke with hir then home adressed Perceauynge well the kynges fykelnesse Was set for loue on her womanlynesse ¶ In Tyntagell his castel strong he her set Hymselfe then laye in castell Dymyoke Wher then the kyng hym sieged her to get But Merlyne then from it hym did reuoke And by his councell subtelly dyd prouoke Knowyng his loue he had to dame Igrene By coniurisons made in haste full yerne ¶ He made the kyng vnto duke Gorloys like Hymselfe like to Brethel in all semblaunce That then was the dukes preuy myke And Vlfyn lyke by all kyns gouernaunce Vnto Iordan in all maner conysaunce That moste knewe of the dukes preuytee By whiche he brought to Igrene all three ¶ Thus laye the kyng hir by euer wheÌ he would She trustyng then that he had been hir lorde But euer his siege he made sadly to been holde His people assautyng the castell by one accorde But Gerloys men then pleynly did recorde Theyr lorde was slayn and Vter had the felde Of which she merueyled then fast hym behelde ¶ There gatte he then on hir a sonne full fayre And fro hir went vnto his hooste agayn The duke was slayne with all his moste repayre Of whiche the kyng glad is not to layne To Tyntagell with all his hoste full fayne He came anone and had it at his wyll He comforted hir and bad her holde it styll ¶ But then betwene theim two he did discure The priuetee in all as it was wrought And sette his daye to wed hir and to cure Of heuynes that she was then in brought Her lordes death so muche was in hir thought For hir so slayne hir wyfehode also defouled Afore that tyme that euer was kept vnfouled ¶ And at the daye he wedded hir and cround And she ferforth with childe was then begonne To comforte her he sette the table rounde At Wynchester of worthiest knightes alone Approued best in knighthode of their foone Whiche table rounde Ioseph of Arimathie For brether made of the seynt Grall onely ¶ In whiche he made the seege pereleous Where none shulde sytte without great mischiefe But one that shuld be moste religious Of knightes all of the rounde table chiefe The saynt Graal that shuld recouer and acheue By aduenture of his fortunitee And at his death a virgyne shulde bee ¶ But at hir tyme the quene had borne a soonne That Arthure hight and was of statur fayre More large of lymme and wysest vnder sunne Of his age then to bee his fathers heyre Of all his lymmes right comly stronge fayre But Occa then and Oysa that afore Stale home were come warred in Britayn sore ¶ The kyng sent forth syr Loth of Lowthian A worthy prince hardy and bounteous His doughter had wedded that hight theÌ dame Anne A manly manne and right cheualrous The first knight that was electe right fortunous Of the table round that ofte with theim did fight That ofte preuayled and sometyme put to flight ¶ For whiche the kyng ordeyned a horse litter To beare hym so then vnto the verolame Wher Occa laye and Oysa also in feer That saynt Albones nowe hight of noble fame Bet downe the walles but to hym forth they came Wher in battayll Occa and Oysa were slayne The felde he had and therof was full fayne ¶ There was a well whiche his enemyes espied That he vsed the water ofte to alaye His drynkes all his sores to be medifyed Whiche they venomyd with poyson on a daye Of whiche he dyed and went to blisse for aye In the carole besyde his brother dere As to suche a prynce it dyd ryght well affere ¶ He reygned had then ix and thyrtye yere And in the yere of Chrystes natiuyte Fyue hundreth and syxtene then was full clere The realme he lefte in good felicyte Arthure his sonne to haue the royalte To reygne and rule the realme that then was able That of his age was none so coÌmendable The .lxxiii. Chapiter ¶ Arthure kyng of Britayne reygned .xxvi. yere Howe the kynge bare syxe banners in his warre and howe he renewed and increased the table rounde and helde vp royally the rule of it and howe he conquered Irelande and Denmarks with all the ysles of theim ARthure his soÌne vp growen then peerlesse Throughout that world approued of his age Of wyt and strength beawte and largesse Of persone hye aboue his Baronage And other all of Brytons vasselage By his shoulders exceded in longitude Of all membres full fayre in latytude ¶ At Circestre then of .xv. yere of age When Dubryk archbishoppe of Carilyon With all estates within his herytage Assembled there Duke earle lorde and baron And commentye of all the regyon Vpon his hedde did sett the dyademe In royall wyse as wele hym dyd beseme ¶ The yere of Christes byrth .v. C. and syxtene Was whan he was crowned all with golde Where than he made a vowe for to sustene The chrysten fayth the churche also to vpholde The peace and lawes mawgre who so other wold The Saxons also to warre and destroye That of longe tyme had done vs greate anoy ¶ King Arthure sought that Saxons in Scotland His chiefe baner of goules was to see An ymage of our Lady of golde enthronde Crowned of golde as freshe as it myght be His other banner was of the Trynite Of golde and goulis of saynt george was that third The .iiii. was Brutus armes knowen and kyd ¶ The fyfte baner of goulis .iii. crownes of gold The syxte of Goulis a dragon of golde fyne With hoost full great of Britons that were holde On Douglas water the Saxons he did vntwine Colgrim that was their capitayne fled fro thyne To Yorke anon and it with people helde His men then slayne the kyng had so the felde ⪠¶ Cheldrik Baldoffe two dukes of Germanie With hostes great then landed in Britayne To Colgrym came and brent that lande in hye But to Arthure kyng Howell came full fayne With hoost great his systers sonne certayne Of lesse Britayne that with his vncle went Against Colgrym to fyght in his entent ¶ Cador the duke that tyme of Cornewayle The kynges brother of his mothers syde Came to the kyng with people that might auayle So dyd all other of all Britayne full wyde With their enemies then met of mikell pryde And vaynqueshed theim at Lyncolne then seging For whiche they fled full faste that syege leauing ¶ To Calidon wood nere vnto the sea Where the kynges two theim seged sore about That for famishment fought they swore to be The kynges men and their lande throughoute For to voide their people of all the land out out Colgrym Baldolffe and also duke Cheldryk That chieftayns were
¶ He gaue to thambassatours royall giftes and sent his letters with his ambassatis to passe to Roome with theim in coÌpaignie he with his hoost folowed sone after theim THe kyng then gaue vnto that hie ambassate Full riche giftes golde enough to spend And bad theim giue their lordes in whole senate His letters so whiche he then to hym send And bad theim saie that soner then he wend He should hym se before the daye assigned In trust of whiche theim with his seale assigned ¶ This noble kyng Arthure his princes prayed And barons all and knightes honorable To passe with hym at wagis to bee payed With their power and their retenue able For to directe his right full resonable Marciall actes thempire to obtein To whome thei all consented whole and clene ¶ And with the kyng thei passed forth anone Into Brytain wher Howell then was kyng Wher then he hard yâ countre make greate mone For a Gyaunt horrible in all thyng That rauished had by his cruell werkyng Kyng Howell sister Elein without pere Bytwene his armes was slain and layed on bere ¶ For whiche that kyng to mount Michell theÌ weÌt With that Gyaunt that faught a bataile sore With Caliborne his sweord or that he stint He sleugh hym there to death for euermore And charged Kay for his victorie thore To smyte his hedde of then for memorye In worship of his worthy victorye ¶ In whiche mount kyng Howell hir toÌbe made A chapell faire theron edefied Sith that tyme hether vpon that place abade Wher that Gyaunt and she were homycied But all his hoost and people hym magnified And all the landes about wholy enioyed Of that Gyauntes death so felly anoyed ¶ The kynges all of Portyngale and Spain Of Nauerne also and eke of Catheloyne Vnto hym came and dukes of Almaigne The dukes of Sauoy and of Burgoyne Douze peres of Fraunce and the duke of Lorain The kynges also of Denmarke and Irelande Of Norwey Iselande and of Gotelande ¶ Through FrauÌce Burgoyn Sauoye Lumbardie Into Italy and so through all Tuskayn Fro Tuskayn then so into Romany To Awbe ryuer kyng Arthure came so than And loged on that water as manne Wher with Lucius he faught in battaile strong Either other proued with strokes sore emong ¶ But kyng Arthure and the princes all His knightes also there of the round table So manfully theim bare that daye ouer all That neuer their better were seen nor more able So were Romaynes that daye full coÌmendable Ne none might dooe better in any wise So worthely thei faught without feyntise ¶ And at the last the Brytons bare the bell And had the felde and all the victorye Wher Arthure sleugh as chronicles dooeth tell Themperour Lucius Hibery And toke his feloe contributorye But Lucyus hedde to Roome for his truage He sent his corps also for their arerage The .lxxxii. Chapiter ¶ Howe the senate and the citee of Roome mette hym in seuen processions and crouned hym and there wintred hym by all the whole winter THe senate sent vnto the kyng Arthure And prayed hym thempire to admit Whiche became hym semed hym of nature As Constantyne did in the honour sitte And al truage forthward thei would remitte Of greate Brytain neuer to aske it more But make it free as it was euer before ¶ To whiche prayer kyng Arthure did consent And came to Roome in royall high astate Wher the citee by good and whole assent Full richely hym mette and the senate With greatest laude that might been estimate And euery gate his triumphe and his glorie Full curyously was wrought in greate storie ¶ The seuen orders in procession Full solemplye at Peters churche hym mette The wifes whole by good discrecion The wydowes after full deuoutly sette In order came then nexte as was there dette The virgyns then of pure virgynitee And then thynnocentes of tender iuuentee ¶ Thorders all of good religion The preastes and clerkes seculer The byshop and cardinalles in vnyon With the sacrement and lightes clere And Belles ryngyng therewith in fere Euery order with laude and reuerence Reioysed greatly of his magnificence ¶ At the Capytole in the sea imperiall They crowned hym with crownes thre of golde As Emperoure moste principall And conquerour that daye moste worthy holde Wher then he fested the citee manyfolde Of Rome the byshop and all his cardinals The senatours with other estates al 's The .lxxxiii. Chapiter ¶ Howe that tydynges came to the kynge at Roome that Mordred had wedded his wyfe and vsurped the crowne of Englande for the whiche he came home agayne and gaue Mordred batayll at Douer where Arthure preuayled and after again at Wynchester wher the round table began and fell for euer ALl that wynter at Rome he did soiourne In palays of Mayns palacium The somer caÌ that home he might retourne At whiche somer so when it was come Tydynges came to Arthure hole and some That duke Mordred was kyng of all Britayn And wedded Gwaynour to his wyfe certayn ¶ For whiche at Rome he made his ordenaunce To rule that lande and all the hole Empire And home in hast with full great purueyaunce To Britayne came to venge hym on that sire That trayterously agayn hym did conspire To rauyshe his wife by stronge and mighty haÌde And also for vsurpyng the crowne of his lande ¶ At porte Rupyn whiche nowe Douer hight He landed then where duke Mordred hym met And fought full sore by all a daye to night Wher syr Gawen Anguzell were sore bet And slayne both two so sore they were ouer set But Arthure had the felde and Mordred fled To Wynchester that night full fast hym sped ¶ The kyng folowed fast vpon the chace And there he fought agayn with hym full sore Where many princes and lordes in that case Were slayn on bothe sydes for euermore Of the round table that longe had been afore Many worthy knightes there were spended For Arthures loue that might not been amended ¶ The rounde table at Wynchester beganne And there it ended and there it hangeth yet For there were slayn at this ylke battayl than The knightes all that euer did at it sitte Of Britayne borne saue Launcelot yode quyte And with the kyng folowed on the chase When Mordred fled to Cornwayle for that case The .lxxxiiii. Chapiter ¶ The battayll of Camblayn where Arthure preuayled and sâewe Mordred and Arthure had his deathes wounde and howe Arthure died and was buried in the Blacke chapel of Glastenbury WHer on the water that called was Camblayne Mordred abode with mightie hoste stronge With Arthur fought that day of hie disdayne Full oft alone euer as they met amonge But Arthure slewe Mordred with his knyfe long That Calibourne was called of suche vertue That whomsoeuer he smote therwith he slewe ¶ But this Mordred gaue Arthure deaths wouÌd For whiche he yode his woundes to medifie Into thysle of Aualon that stound And gaue Britayne that was
prynce euer had or any kyng ¶ But one defaute he had of greate offence Of Sodome synne he wolde it not amende He haunted it euer withoute any defence Whiche greued god and brought hym to an end Two and twenty yere as dyd appende His lande he helde in peace and vnyte Without suppryse of any enmytee ¶ Carreys was then crowned kyng anone That loued well in all cytees debate Betwene townes and citees euery chone And in suche wyse maynteyned early and late Imagened of his wyll preordinate So muche in warre that cytees and countrees Full comen were of his malicyousnesse ¶ For which Britons made hym full mykel war And Saxons also vnto kyng Gurmound sent Of affrycans that then in Irelande were Who with his fleete to perfourme his entent To Britayne came by all theyr hole assent But Saxons then and he were full accorde And Britons also that had ciuyle discorde The .lxxxvii. Chapiter ¶ Howe Gurmounde kynge of Affrycans conquered Brytayne and departed it in seuen kyngdomes to Saxons ãâã Englyshe and went to wynne moo landes made Gurmonde Chester GVrmouÌde that then was mighty coÌquerour King of AffricaÌs most dred in euery lond with helpe of BritoÌs theyr great socour And of Englishe Saxons had made theÌ bonde That dwelled that tyme in Northumberlande And other places in Britayne vnder truage Rose with hym whole agayne that kynges outrage ¶ And fought with him and put hym to that flight To Circestre went and strongly helde the towne But kyng Gurmound that towne then seeged right And gate it so with myght greate renowne Wherfore he fled to wales for his proteccyon what came of him myne authour nought expÌssed But with the death I trowe he was oppressed ¶ But Gurmound then Britaine hole destroied Bothe churche and towne eke the christen faith For he a Paynym was and sore anoyded The chrystentye as Gyldas wrote and seyth Through Logres that whole was lost with payniÌ leyeth The prelates all curates and religyous With reliques all fledde awaye full dolorous ¶ And hid them then in hilles woodes and caues Tharchbishops the one of London then And Tadyok of Yorke that fled fro Knauis With sainctes bones to wildernes fast ranne And hid hym there and Gurmond sore did banne With crosse and bell with greate candill light Thei cursed hym as ferre as the churches might ¶ This kyng GurmoÌd gaue all NorthuÌberland Frome Trent North that then hight Berun deyre Northfolke Southfolke and CaÌbrydge shire at haÌde Whiche EstaÌgle Bede calleth in his storie And all fro Trent to Themis for memorye Mers he called all to English gaue That dwelled ther for euer to reioyse and haue ¶ He gaue all these to Englishe menne in deede Whiche came out of a lande hight angulo In Germany that was and with woodes I rede Replenished of wild bestes buck and doo Sith that tyme hether hathe been and yet is so Wherfore thei were of it called Englishemenne All Logres Northumberlande Anglande then ¶ He gaue Sussex then to the Saxons Essex Midelsed with Surry whole and Kent But then Hamshire Barkeshire toures townes And Shropshire whole Gloucester as theÌ apeÌt All these were called Westsex as Bede ment Thus dalt he the lande to theim therin dwellyng Whiche long afore paied truage to the kyng ¶ TheÌ went he home through FrauÌce it distroied And many other landes and regions But Brytons then to that West parties sore anoyed Droue theim of Logres with all religions To liue in peace for dred of rebelions For after Carreis was fled thei had no kyng To tyme Cadwan was made by their chosyng ¶ So stode thei then kyngles by twenty yere Fro the yere of Christ fiue hundred and four score And therto three as clerly dooeth apere Vnto the yere after that Christ was bore Sixe hundreth and three without any more When Cadwan was of Brytons kyng elect And crouned was to rule theim and protect ¶ O kyng Carreis vnhappiest creature That in Brytain reigned euer afore What infortune made the flee from thy cure What caused the to maintene so euermore Eyuile discord within thy realme so sore That might haue reigned ouer many a lande Through whiche thyne owne is lost I vnderstaÌd ¶ Thou vnderstandest full litill theuangilye That euery realme within it selfe deuide Shall desolate bee made as clerkes tell And euery hous on other shall fall and slyde Thy wycked will that nowe is knowen wyde That suffred so debate bytwyne lorde and lorde Bytwyne citees and landes cyuyle discord ¶ The cause was of thy disheriteson And of thy realmes desolacion That with lawe and peaceble constitucion Might haue been saued with greate consolacion And the churche preserued in greate prosperacion The Christen faith in thy lande distroyed That with the peace shuld haue be kept vnnoyed ¶ O woful Carreis thyne heires thy Brytons Their children all the widdowes and their wife 's The commonalte in citees and in townes The churche also may baÌne full sore those striues By thy supporte that rest so many their liues Wher lawe and peace if thou had well conserued All had been saued with thanke of god deserued ¶ Defaute of lawe was cause of this mischiefes Wronges sustened by maistry and by might And peace layed downe that should haue been the chief For whiche debate folowed and vnright Wherfore vnto a prince accordeth right To kepe the peace with al tranquillite Within his realme to saue his royalte ¶ What is a kyng without lawe and peace Within his realme sufficiently conserued The poorest of his realme maye so encrease By iniury and force to bee preferred Till he his kyng with strength haue ouerterued And sette hym self in royall maieste If that he bee in suche a ieopardie ¶ O ye lordes and princes of high astate Kepe well the lawe and peace in gouernaunce Lest your subiectes defoule you and depreciate Whiche been as able with wrongfull gouernauÌce To reigne as ye and haue as greate puysaunce If peace and lawe been voyed and vnytee The floures are lost of all your souerentee ¶ O worthy prince O duke of Yorke I meane Discendid downe of highest bloodde royall Se to suche ryotes that none sustene And specially that alyens none at all Inhabite not with power greate ne small That maye this lande ought trouble or ouer ride For twies it was so wonne with muche pride ¶ Through Vortiger by Engist and Horsus Whome he receiued whiche after hym distroyed And with his helpe full false and noyous The worthy bloodde of Brytain sore anoyed At the Caroll murdred and all accloyed And nowe again when Carreis was exiled The kyng GurmoÌd the Saxons hym beguiled ¶ For Saxons Peightes and Englishemenne Reigned then through all the Logres lande Deuided in seuen realmes fully then Westser Sussex and Kente I vnderstande Estser and Mers Estangle Northumberlande That droue Brytons into the West countre To Walis and Cornwaile fro
Without mercy cracked vpon the croune The kyng came home with honour and victorye As Flores saieth right in his memorye ¶ And in the yere eyght hundred fourty and one The Danes watched thest sea cost throughout With diuers hostes for which that king made great mone All helples theÌ the Danes that were so stout In many places with many dyuerse rout All harmles went without hurt or pain By dyuers tyme that yere home again ¶ In the yere eyght hundred foure and fourtye At Carham then the kyng full sore did fight With Danes fell and had the victorye And at Alnewik he faught again furth right With Danes also wher kyng Redwolf that hight Of NorthumberlaÌde and erle Alffride was slain And full greate parte of their hoost certain ¶ Kyng Athilwolf came to the South contree Wher Danes then in battaile with hym faught In Somersetshire wher he made many dye And gate the feld and sleugh all that he caught Wher great people that daye the death hath raught Tharchbishop with his full wise clergie Bysyde Sandwiche of Danes had victorye ¶ And in the yere eyght hundred fifty and one The Danishe hoost in Thamis did arriue Kent and Southray Sussex and HaÌshire anone Distroyed sore and throughe that South gan dryue Wher muche folke thei sleugh bothe maÌne wife Whiche host the kyng with battaile slewe doune sore That home again retourned thei no more ¶ And in the yere eyght hundred fifty and three The kyng Edmond of Estangle began To reigne after Albert of greate beautee That holy was as his legend tell can But Athilwolf the kyng buryed then The kyng of Mers that had his doughter wed All Wales wan theim thought thei had well sped ¶ This Athilwolf to Roome toke his waye In pilgremage with hym his soonne Alurede Cardinall was of Wynchester that daye Wher then he had the bishoprike in deede A perfecte clerke he was as saieth sainct Bede A philosophier wise and well approued And by the bishop of Rome coÌmeÌdid well loued ¶ And there thei were abydyng ful twoo yere And home thei came vnto the kyng of Fraunce And his doughter Indith ther weddid clere By assent of hym and all his hole puysaunce And so with worship and noble gouernaunce Fro thens he came sone into England With hir and with his soonne as I vnderstand ¶ And in the yere eyght hundred fifty and three The death his soule gan frome his body dryue Vnto the blisse eternall there to bee In heuen aboue wher is euerlastyng life To Peter and Pole he graunted infenitife The Roome pence then of all Englande As Flores saieth as I can vnderstande ¶ He was then buryed at Winchester in royall wise As to suche a prince of reason should affere And with his wife as did full well suffice Foure soonnes he had worthy without pere Sir Athilwold Ethelbert Elfride the dere And Alrude the youngest of echone Afore theim all one bast had Athelston ¶ Athelbold was kyng after hym and heire And protector with all the prerogatif His stepdame wed menne saied it was not faire The churche him gan punishe and chastiue For cause he wed hir so vnto his wife Again the lawe and christen conciense Vnaccordant with his magnificence ¶ That reigned whole twoo yere and no more In greate sikenes and pain inmorderate Greately vexed and punisshed was right sore Menne saied it was for sinne inordinate With his stepdame that was so consociate But then he had as God would repentaunce For his trespas and misgouernaunce ¶ Afore he dyed he did full sore repent And for his synne stode to correccion Of holy churche for his amendement Submitted whole without obieccion And for to liue in clene perfeccion Departed were by lawe and deuorced Afore his soule was passed and vncorced The C .vi. Chapiter ¶ Ethelbert kyng of Westsex protector of Englande that reigned fiue yere SIr Ethelbert his brother gan succede In whose dayes the Danes destroied sore The east parties of England then in deed And home againe they went harmeles therfore Destroyed the people and the lande right sore But sone ther after kyng Ethelbert them mette And sleugh theim downe in bataile sore and bet ¶ An other hoost then newe spoyled all Kent And by treaty wyntred within the Isle Of Tenet then by Kentishe mennes assent But at last thei with a subtell wyle Despoyled all Kent and falsely did beguyle And to their shipis went without delaye Into Denmarke with muche riche araye ¶ This Ethelbert reigned whole fiue yere And dyed the yere of verey Christ his date Eyght hundred whole and therto sixty clere As Flores saieth and hath it approbate But with sykenesse he was so alterate He dyed then and at Shirborne buryed With greate worship and honour laudified The C .vii. Chapiter ¶ Elfride kyng of Westsex protector of Englande reigned sixe yere and dyed in the yere of Christ eyght hundred lxvi ELfride was kyng after his brother then That reigned so with all the dignitee In Westsex whole and mightely began Protector was as was necessitee For Danes then of greate iniquite His lande foule brent wasted and destroyed That all Englande was combred and anoyed ¶ In the east cost of Englande specially In Estangle wher Edmond then was kyng Ther did greate hurte full cruelly In Northumberlande full felly warryng The people destroiyng and the lande brennyng Wher Danes then sleugh the kyng of that lande Byside Yorke so as Flores dooeth vnderstande ¶ Also thei sleugh in Northfolke all about The people doune and in Suffolke also The kyng Edmond thei sleugh without doubt Of Estangland with arowes sharpe tho Was shot to death with muche other woo That is a sainct honored this daye in blisse At Edmondes bury canonyzed I wisse ¶ Hungar and Vbba sleugh hyw full cruelly And brent abbeis throut all England that tyme By North and South and prestes full cursedly All holy folke fled out of that realme Thei sleugh all people that had take bapteme At Colyngham sainct Ebbe that was abbesse Their nonnes putte from theim in sore distresse ¶ For dred of the tyrauntes twoo full cruell And their people cursed and full of malice That rauished noÌnes euer wher their herd tell In hir chaptre ordeined again their enemies Should not deffoule their clene virginitees She cut hir nose of and hir ouer lippe To make hir lothe that she might from hym slipe ¶ And counseled all hir susters to dooe the same To make their fooes to hoge so with the sight And so thei did afore thenimies came Echon their nose and ouer lipe full right Cut of anone whiche was an hogly sight For whiche tho fooes thabbey and nonnes brent For thei theim self disfigured had shent ¶ FroÌ Twede to Thamys abbais then thei breÌt And churches hole and people sleugh right doune Wiues maydens widdowes and nonnes shent Through all the lande and the est region People sleyng in euery borough and towne The women euer thei diuiciate In
royaltee Endewed theim all in lande and tenemente Sufficiently with all establyshemente ¶ He wedded Elfbede that dukes doughter Ozmere On whom he gate a sonne both good and fayre That after was saynt Edwarde the marter Who was his eldest sonne and his heyre A lykely prince towarde both comly and fayre Elflede died he wedded Elfrith to wyfe That doughter was to duke Orgare be life ¶ On whom he gate Ethelbert so anone The kynges of Wales he had in subieccion The Scottes kynge Kynowth withouten moon Made hym homage without obieccion Thus all were vnder his proteccion And rode with hym alwaye in warre and peace In all his tyme withouten leas ¶ So trewe he was and in his dome wyse That for no mede nor fauoure wold he false The trewe leuers his lawe did not despyse He socoured euer and felons hanged hy the halse Conspiratours murtherers and traytours al 's The coÌmon weale aboue all thyng preferred Which euery prince shuld se wer wel obserued ¶ He taxed not his commons ne supprysed Ne holy churche nor yet the clergie But lyued on his owne as it was assised Vpon his rentes and landes morallye His officers hym ruled full no tably In euery shire he went in priuetee To spie and knowe who hurtes the commontee ¶ He was a kyng full worthy and condigne That let not for his ease nor his laboure To searche and see defautes that were maligne And theim correcte he was a gouernoure God set neuer kyng to be a ryotoure To trippe on tapettes and lyue in ydelnesse But for to rule with all kyndes of busynesse ¶ He died the yere .ix. hundreth sixty and eleuen When he had reygned full eyghtene yere Buried he was at Glastenbury to neuen His corps to the earth his soule to heauen clere When he had been dead foure and twenty yere Byshop Oswald of that same diocise By counsell of thabbot that was wyse ¶ Abbot Edwarde of that place that hight Who layde hym in a toumbe made of newe For it was shorte he brake his legges wight Of whiche the bloodde as rede and freshe of hewe As euer it was sprent out all hote and newe Into his eyen by whiche he lost his sight Men sayd it was for he had so hym dight ¶ Edwarde his sonne that eldest was and heire Saynt Dunstan then as made is mencion Tharchbyshop of Cauntorbury fayre So crowned hym kyng of this region Whom dame Alfrith of false presumpcion His stepmother to crowne syr Ethelrede At Cornisgate so cut his throte in dede ¶ As he with her did drynke of good entent And buryed was at Warham then anone But afterwarde the B. of Rome to England sent To take hym vp and laye hym hye anone In a toumbe made of siluer gold and stone As a marter then hym canonized At Shaftesbury where he is autorized ¶ And dyed in the yere of Christ .ix. huÌdreth clere Sixty also accoumpted and fyftene That reigned had in Englande but .iiii. yere His soule to blysse went then as is well sene Where nowe he muste euer dwell and been In ioye eterne emonge the sayntes of heauen And there with Christ goddes sonne beleuen The C .xvi. Chapiter ¶ Kyng Ethelrede kyng of Englande reigned .xxxviii. yere and dyed in the yere of Christ a thousande and thirtene THen Ethilrede withouten tariyng At Kyng stone tho by all the baronage Crowned was fayre royally as kyng His brother was and heyre of heritage But saynt Dunstan then by his trewe language Prophecied and sayd withouten leas In all his tyme he should not reigne in peace ¶ For to this realme he sayd he had no right But by murther and cruell homycede Of your brother that for you was dight Whiche murther euer asketh vengauÌce on euery syde Wherfore he said serue God what so betyde And then it is the fayrest chastisement To be put out fro that same regyment ¶ Saynt Dunstan died and went to heauen The kyng rode forth to London his citee And as he rode he sawe a cloude full euen As rede as bloodde as all the people did see Whiche Englande hole ouerspred in quantitee Fro whiche the bloodde reyned vpon the ground That men trouwed to haue ben peryshed that stound The next yere after the Danes at SouthhaÌpton Arryued and brent the countre there aboute Also they spoyled and sore brente the towne And so they dyd all Cornewayle throughout And Deuenshire also and somerset no doubte With Dorsetshire and Wylshyre Barkeshrye brent And to London came or euer that they stent The suburbes there they spoyled sore and brent Two dukes then of Denmarke and Norwaye Northfolke Southfolke Essex or they stent Brent and spoyled and so forth helde the waye To London then where theyr felowes laye So assembled they and passed into Kente Where that countre they spoyled sore and brent ¶ The lande of kent to them graunted truage To lyue in peace and home agayne they went But in Northfolke an other hoste their passage Made then and so to Lyncolne or they stent All Lyncolneshyre throughout then they brent And Yorkeshyre also and home they went againe With pylage great of which they were full faine ¶ The king might get no helpe with them to fight For which he treated with king Anlaaf of Norway And with king Swaan of Denmarke for his right That destroyed had the lande in fell araye And truage hight them furthwarde to paye For they had no power amongest theÌ to prayse And was full fayne the warres for to cease But yet kyng Swayne wold nothiÌg rest for this He came agayne and crowned was for kyng Greate tallage of all this lande a mysse He toke alwaye and specyally all other thyng Saynt EdmuÌdes landes he hurt by great taskiÌg And tallage which of it that he raysed Vnegally he pondred then and peysed For whiche warrys quene Emme to Normandy To her brother duke Rycharde the thyrde With her sonnes Alurede and Edwarde her by And Edmunde Ironesyde then it so betyde All these the toke and in a shyppe she dyd And with kyng Ethelrede by the sea led pryuely For helpe to haue gotte his lande there by ¶ In whiche tyme whyls he in Normandye Was soâournyng kyng Swayn full lowde then cryed And sayde vnto his men fast gan crye I am but deed saint Edmunde hath me spyed And with a speare hath me here mortifyed Wo worth that day I noied S. Edmundes ground For with his speare my hert he hath sore wounde ¶ He dyed ryght so without confessyon And whyther he went I ne wote ne whare But well I wote in good and true professyon Saynt Edmonde king dyed and made his fare To blysse eterne withoute any care But then the Barons and lordes of Englande Sent worde to Ethylrede with hym for to stande And wrote to him how that kyng Swayn was deed And bade hym come to his lande agayne And so he dyd by councell and theyr rede He exyled all the Danes
greate meyne hym mette greate honour As if he had been of Roome themperour ¶ At his commyng again into England He gaue Norway vnto his soonne sir Swayne And to Herold his soonne as I vnderstand England he gaue of whiche he was full fain And to Harknowt Denmarke he gaue certain And so dyed in Christen whole creaunce At Shaftisbury buryed by his ordynaunce ¶ The yere of Christ a thousand so was than And thirty foure also truly written When he had reigned fro the tyme that he began Eightene yere whole as well it was wrytten With the darte of death wheÌ that he was smitten In whose dayes the land was inquiet Full of riches and of welfare whole replete The C .xviij. Chapiter ¶ Herold kyng of England the soonne of kyng Kno wt reigned fiue yere and dyed in the yere a thousand and .xxxix. HErolde his soonne was crouned then in deede By Loofrike that duke of Leiscestre By Londoners in Flores as I reede By Danyshyr also as saieth the letter That strong werre then and of power greater Then other lordes of Englishe nacion At London made was this coronacion ¶ Alurede the soonne of kyng Ethelrede With fifty sailes landed at Southampton Wher kynge Herold with hoste hym met in deede Redy to fight with hym for the croune But certain lordes of Englondes region Betwene theim treated that Alurede went again To Normandy to duke Robert full plain ¶ But afterward as Alurede so rode Fro his mother vnto the kyng Herold The duke Goodwyn on Gyldismore hym bode With people greate of nombre manyfold And slewe his menne downe there as he would And led hym furth to Ely and hym slewe As traitour false that euer had bee vntrewe ¶ Some chronicle saieth he putte out bothe his eyen Fro whiche he dyed sone for pain and woo Some other sayin he slette his wombe full keen The lengest gut to a stacke he nayled tho Led hym about the stack ther with muche wo Till all came out that was his wombe within Thus sleugh thei hym with sobteltie and gyn ¶ His mother quene Eme Edward then sent To Normandy to duke Wyllyam anone That hir cousyn was to kepe he were not shent By kyng Herold of his cruelty alone Warnyng hym of the treasoÌ that Herold had dooen For whiche cause Herold hir exild Out of England and Edward also hir child ¶ To Flaundres she fled then full sore amoued To erle Badwyn hir cousyn nie of bloodde Declaryng to hym howe Herold had distroyed Hir soonne Alurede that heyre of England stood And exiled hir without socour or good And Edward also hir soonne heire of England His brother children also awaye in vncouth land ¶ Wherfore therle to kyng Hardknowt then wrote All hir compleynt and of his socour prayed And he should help with all his might God wote It were amendid of that she was affrayed He came anone in warre full well aryed Into Flaundres his mother for to please Hir for to socour and sette hir hert in ease ¶ In whiche meane while the kyng Herold dyed At Westminster and buried was full feire After he had reigned as it is notified Fiue yere reigned without any heire Of his body gotten after hym to repeire England to gouerne wherfore the lordes by asseÌt To kyng Hardknowte then into Flaundres sente ¶ To bee their kyng sith Herold was a gone To please hym with and his mother to comfort Who came to England furth with anone And crouned was with all the whole disport That lordes conde as Flores dooeth report Thus kyng Hardknowt was kyng of Englande than Who worthily that tyme to reigne tho began ¶ This kyng began his brothers death to venge On erle Gowyn that erle was then of Kent That peased was for he should not reuenge With riche giftes whiche that he on hym spent With meekenesse lowe swore that he was sent To dooe that thyng on pein of high treson By kyng Herold charged without reason ¶ Through good and giftes mighty hie riches And of his kyn that meekely hym obeyed And by acquaintauÌce that thei made then expresse Vpon the holy euangelis sworne vndelayed The kyng grauÌted hym his grace was well payed To make hym of his couÌsell of gouernauÌce Without more wrath or any discordaunce ¶ He maried then his sister Gunylde to Henry Themperour that falsly was accused Of synne and cryme vsed in auoutry With a young manne the whiche hir excused After the lawe of the land that was there vsed By battaill of his hand that then their flewe His accusour approuyng hym vntrewe ¶ For the whiche she would nomore come in his bed But lyued sole euer after so hir life For good ne gold for aught that he hir beed For loue ne threte for betyng ne for strife With hym dwellyng forthwarde as his wife In all thynges els euer at his gouernaunce Bothe daye and night in womanly pleasaunce ¶ Kyng Hardknowt then his doughter maryed Vnto a duke of the Danishrie At Lambirgh dyed at his feast magnified Emong his lordes and all his prelacie And putte hym whole in God his high mercye And charged theim his brother Edward to crouÌe To reioyse the land of Englandes region ¶ This was the yere of Christ then inscriued A thousand whole fourty also and one When that he had reigned as was subscribed The twoo yere whole wheÌ he was thus wyse gone For whom was made that tyme full muche mone At Wynchester byside his father buryed With lordes all thither full well accompaignied The C .xix. Chapiter ¶ Kyng Edwarde the confessour kyng of EnglaÌd reigned twenty and foure yeres that began the yere of Christ a thousand fourty and one and dyed the yere a thousand sixty and fiue EDward his brother soÌne of kiÌg Ethelrede was crowned then kyng of Englande The yere of Christ a M. then in dede Fourtye one as Flores could vnderstande To whom the kyng Swayn of Denmarke lande The tribute whiche he had fully relesed And warres all betwene theim ceassed ¶ To sende hym then the hole Englyshe nauy Agayn Magnus that kynge was of Norwaye That helde it so by wrong and tirannie Whiche Edwarde sente anone in great araye With lordes knightes and squiers freshe gaye With archers many by whiche he gate his lande Of Norwaye hole and seazed it in his hande ¶ Erle Eustace of Boleyn that had wed Edwardes suster on his mother syde To Edwarde came at Douer sore bested Where then his men a burges slewe that tyde Wherfore therle Goodwyn set full of pryde Asked the kyng to haue delyueraunce Of therls men to byde his ordynaunce ¶ Notwithstandyng that Burges slewe his knight For that same cause wherfore he it denyed But made peace then as he therle had hight Of Boleyne so his brother in lawe alied For whiche therle Goodwyn sore replied And warred sore vpon the kyng eche daye With his sonnes fyue in full great araye ¶ Not coÌsideryng that kyng
his doughter had wed And his treason perdoned had and hyd Of his brothers death when that he murthered had Whom then the kyng Somond coÌmaunde bid Vpon his legeaunce whatsoeuer betid For to aunswer in his courte and amende Defautes all betwene theim might be kende ¶ At whose summons he would not then apeare But warred sore both he and his sonnes fyue For whiche the kyng theim exiled out all clere But after they landed and did aryue At Sandwiche so the kyng theim met belyue Where lordes then theim treated and accorded And afterwarde nomore they discorded The C .xx. Chapiter ¶ Howe Sywarde duke of Northumberlande slewe in battayle Maclom kyng of Scotlande and crowned Malclome kyng at Scome accordyng to saynt Edwarde the confessoures commaundement whiche Malclome did homage to saynt Edwarde as apeareth by his letters patent DVke Siwarde then was of NorthuÌberlaÌd In batayle slewe kyng Maclom so in dede Of Scotlande then that false was of his baÌd Whiche to the kyng he made who taketh hede Wherfore the kyng in Marian as I reade By his letters charged duke Siward take on haÌd To croune Malcolin that was of Comberland ¶ The whyche he dyd full myghtely anon At Skone abbey wher kynges were all crouned Vpon his hed he set the crowne anone And toke homage of hym vpon the grounde In Edwardes name as he of right was bounde For that ylke realme and as his elders dyd Suche fortune then to Englande was betid ¶ The kyng Gryffyn of Wales then was slayn That Herford shire spoyled had and brent His hed set vp at Gloucester full playne For his vntruthe and falshed that he ment And sone therafter his brothers hed was sent Vnto the kyng for his rebellion So wer they both foringed for treason ¶ And as kyng Edward in his palayce of pride Duke Goodwyne then sittyng at his table Sawe the butler on his one fote slyde And lyke to fall that other fote full stable As he was seruyng the kyng at his table Then held hym vp that he fell not to grounde Kyng Edward sayd to Gudwyn in that stounde ¶ As his one fote ye se helpe that other Full well and trewe I fynde it dayly nowe Had ye ne bene thus had helpe me my brother Th erle then to the kyng on side gan bowe And sayd if I wer cause I praye God nowe This breade passe not my throte but dead I bee And straungled here anone that ye maye see ¶ At his prayer anone with that he died For with that breade straungled was he that stound It might not passe his throte as men espied Wherfore the kyng then bad drawe out that hounde Vnder the boorde as he that false was founde On whome God shewed an hasty iudgement Approued well by good experiment ¶ Wher Herolde had therle Algare exiled Fro Leycestre where erle he was so then The kyng Eward agayn hym reconsiled And perdoned hym and toke hym for his man Of Couentre as Flores tell it can The lord he was and there thabbey founde And buried there is with his wyfe that stound ¶ This Algare was the sonne of erle Leofryke Whiche Leofrike was the duke Lofwynes sonne That erles had been there none afore theim like But duke Siwarde as he did wonne Syckenesse hym tooke and sore vpon hym ronne In whiche he dyd hym arme in all degree And had his axe in hand full lyke to dye ¶ He sayd vnto the lordes then hym about Thus semeth well in armes a knight to dye And not in bed to lye loure and loute Tyll death hym kyll with paynes cruelly As would God here were my moste enemye That I myght dye vpon hym nowe in right In armes thus arayed like a knight ¶ With that he died for paynes that he felt Vpon his fete standynge in that arays And shoke his axe while that his hert gan swelt And to the ground he fell in that afraye Who buried was at saynt Marie abbeye At Yorke citee with worshyp and honoure As likely was for suche a gouernoure ¶ The kyng Edward the duke of NorthuÌberlaÌd To Tosty gaue the sonne of duke Goodwyn Vnder the name of erle as Flores doth vnderstaÌd After whiche tyme all haue been erles syne With landes and rentes both fayre and fyne Whiche estate suffice for princes ben both two In euery lande accompted where they go ¶ He disherited erle Waldyue his owne sonne Who erle was then create of Huntyngdon Of Northampton also as chronicles tell can A worthy prince of all this region That rule a realme coulde well then by reason Another prince was Loafrike that daye Erle of Leycestre and Couentry no naye ¶ Whiche Loefrike had a wyfe that Godiue hight That naked throughout all Couentree The tolles sore and seruage agayn right To redeme hole of her femynitee She in her heare hangyng beneth her knee Vpon a daye rode so through all the towne To bye it free by her redempcion ¶ For otherwise therle would not it free But yf that she rode naked through all the towne Vpon the daye that all men might her see Trustyng she would not for no waryson Haue doen it so by suche redempcion But thus by witte she kept her selfe vnshamed And freed the towne worthy was he blamed ¶ Kyng Edwarde sente then into Hungary For his cousyn the sonne of Emond Ironesyde Themperoure sent hym Edwarde gladly His brother sonne and folke with hym to ryde His sonne Edwarde Athelyng by his syde Margarete and eke Christine his doughter dere Whiche kyng Edward receyued with good chere ¶ He maried Margarete mighty with great riches To kyng Malcolyne of Scotland was that daye That on her gatte fiue sonnes of great noblinesse Edwarde Dunkan Edgare Alixander the gaye And Dauid also that kynges were all no naye Eche after other of Scotlande throughout Whose mother is now S. Margrete wtout doute ¶ At Dumfermlyn shryned and canonized On whom Malcolyne a doughter gate also Kyng Henryes wife the first full wel auised Quene Mawd that hight that well loued EnglaÌde tho These crosses fayre and roiall as menne goo Through all Englande she made at hic expense And dyuerse good orders throwe his prouidence ¶ Another sustre this same saint Margarete had That Christine hight kyng Edwarde theÌ êfessed In religion to lyue she was full glad To holy lyfe disposed and adressed An holy woman of lyfe and of god blessed Who at hir death hir soule then vncouered And to our lorde full mekely so it offred ¶ In his forest as he pursued a dere In Essex a palmer with hym met Askyng hym good whome gladly he dyd here He claue his ryng and in sonder it bette The halfe of whiche he gaue without lette To the Palmer that went awaye anone That other good to geue hym there had he none ¶ But after that full longe and many a daye Two pylgrames came vnto that noble kynge And sayde saint Iohn thappostell in pore araye Vs prayed and bad straytly aboue
that countre slewe doune right The kyng then made a lord that Awbryke hight Erle of that countre that durst not Scottes withstande Wherfore he gaue Robert Mowbray that lande ¶ And made hym erle of Northumberland The kyng then sent vnto euery shire Iustices to sitte throughout all the land Of all lordshipis and knightes fees enquere What temporales he had to knowe he had desire And what perteined vnto his royall croune And what the churche had of deuocion ¶ Vnto his soonne eldest then generate All Normandy he gaue in heritage And England whole to Wyllyam nominate His second soonne gaue with all thauauntage And to Henry his third soonne young of age Therldome gaue then of Gloucester sea With the honour of slede for euer in certente ¶ He dyed the yere a thousand four score and ten And of his reigne twenty yere and four tho At Cane buried in thabbey that hight then Sainct StepheÌs abbey by Cane that staÌdeth so His doughter Ade afore had maried tho Vnto therle StepheÌ of Bloyes a prince of might Of warres wyse and a full manly knight The C .xxiij. Chapiter ¶ Wyllyam Rufus kyng of England reigned thirtene yere and began to reigne in the yere of our lorde a thousand four score and ten dyed that yere a thousand one hundred three HIs sooÌne Wylliam Rufus as he deuised Was crouned then with great solempnitee But after soone duke Robert was auised To clayme England by his priorite And Normandy also as for his proprete As he that was his eldest soone and heire With hoste full greate in England game repeire ¶ And made greate warre vpon his brother so Three yere all out betwene theim so continued Till at last thei bothe betwene theim twoo Did condiscende as well to theim perteined With whole herte and will nothyng feined The iudgement of kyng Philip of Fraunce To vndergo and bide his ordinaunce ¶ In whiche meane while his brother erle HeÌry The castels all belongyng to the croune As high constable of England properly Then seazed had in his possession As his office by good dereccion Asked of right and of good consuetude To kepe theim sure to the crounes excelsitude ¶ The kyng Philip by his auised parliament Gaue iudgement betwene the brethren twoo As kyng Wyllyam their father full ment All Normandy Robert should haue euer moo And Wyllyam England frendes should bee so And liue in peace without any clayme And either other releace and whole disclayme ¶ Th erle Henry of England then constable Deliuered all the castels and citees right To kyng Wyllyam his brother enheritable As he was bound and fully so had hight Duke Robert then his brother a worthy knight To England came to sport hym with his brother At whiche tyme either was glad of other The C .xxiiij. Chapiter ¶ Howe kyng Malcolyn of Scotland warred in England for his wife 's right pretendyng that she was right heire of England and afterward he did homage to kyng wyllyam Rufus for the realme of Scotland His Malcolin of ScotlaÌd greatly claimed T To haue England then by his wifes right Margarete suster of Edgar heire êclamed Of England whole that expelled was by might Of kyng Wyllyam conquerour by vnright So for his right the Northland he destroyed And home he went again nothyng annoyed ¶ But then the kyng and his brethren twoo To Scotland rode and wasted sore the land Till Malcolyne came and did his homage By letter wrytten and sealed I vnderstand Whiche Hardyng gaue in to kyng Henryes haÌd Without reward or any recompence Of mayne labour his costagis and expence ¶ The duke Robert went home to Normandy And kyng Malcolyne his soonne then Edward Warred again Northumberland in hie But erle Robert that kepyng had and ward Of NorthuÌberland with hym then faught full hard Byside Alnwike at Malcolyne well were slain There Malcolyne and Edward his sooÌne certain ¶ WheÌ quene Margret so of that tidynges knewe She eate neuer meate for sorowe dyed anone At Dunfermelyn buryed as then was dewe But nowe she is there shryned in fleshe and bone Workyng miracles as sayeth many one Entombed faire and in the firetree translate Of whiche abbey nowe is she aduocate ¶ The Scottes then made Dunwalde so their kyng Malcolynes brother that to it had no right But DunkaÌ sonne of Malcolyne that knowyng With helpe of kyng Wyllyam and royall might Of Scotlande so droaue hym awaye to flight And crouned was as chronicles vnderstande And homage made to wyllyam for his lande ¶ Sone after kyng Dunkan of Scotland slayn By treason was and Dunwall restitute Vnto the croune of Scotlande then agayne Whome Edgare then by succoure and refute Of kyng Wyllyam droue out all destitute Of any helpe and crouned was in Scotlande To kyng Willyam did homage for his lande ¶ Of whose homage Iohn Hardyng gaue that letter Full clerely made written well and sealed The whiche also with other letters better That by reason maye not be repeled The whiche yf he would haue enbeseled The kyng Iames vnto his waryson A M. marke hym hight of his discrecion ¶ And in his tyme Roes that Richarde hight The kyng of Wales in battayl strong was slayn Besyde the castell of Brekenham then full right Fro whiche tyme forthe theyr kynges seazed full playn And princes called they were soth to sayn The kyng with hoste on Robert Monbraye rode Who with the kyng faught of his traytourhode ¶ And discomfite helde Bamburgh castell then And the kyng enduryng full .vii. yere Consentyng with the lordes that so began For to depose the kyng of his croune clere And duke Robert his brother with great power To croune and make the kyng of all Englande With Normandy to ioyse I vnderstande ¶ The kynge exiled Anselme of Cauntorbury Tharchebyshop that withstode his wronges Doen to the churche and to the prelacie To the commons also that theim belonges SeueÌtene tounes with also many churches amoÌges And abbeys foure he wasted and confounde The newe forest in Hamshire for to founde ¶ He buylded the Newcastell vpon Tyne The Scottes to gaynstande and to defende And dwell therin the people to enclyne The towne to builde and walle as did append He gaue theim ground golde ful great to spend To buylde it well and wall it all aboute And fraunchised theim to paye a free rent out ¶ The rentes frutes to tharchbishop êteinyng And to the byshoppes of Wynchester Sarum And also .ix. abbeys lyuelod conteynyng In his handes leazed and held all and some But for his workes buylynges held eche crome With whiche he made then westmynster hall And the castel of Newecastell withall ¶ That staÌdeth on Tyne therin to dwel in warre Agayne the Scottes the countree to defende Whiche as men sayd was to hym mekill deer And more pleasyng then otherwyse dispende And muche people for it did hym coÌmende For cause he dyd the commen wealthe sustene Of marchers vnnumerable to mayntene The
C .xxv. Chapiter ¶ This kyng Willyam Rufus taxed so sore the commons that they'might not mayntene tilthe for whiche fell great derth and great myschiefe and moren of catel for defaute of food for whiche the commons wer glad of his death GReat tallage of England then was raysed In so ferforth that tilthe of land was leyd Of which sued mischiefe nothyng praysed For faute of food morayn of bestiall frayed And death of people for hunger sore arayed A kyng woteth not what harmeth housbandrye Housbande to pill and taxe outragiously ¶ To Godis dome haue no consyderacion Howe that this kyng on huntyng as he stoode Vnder a tree and as writynges maketh mencion Walter Tyrel at his game in that wood Shotyng at a dere of whiche he drewe no bloode But stroke the kyng vnto the dethes wounde That there anone he died vpon the ground ¶ At Wynchester then buried anone The date was then of his reygne .xiii. yere For whome the folke no sorowe made nor moone He hurte theim so with taxe and tallage here Of Christ a thousande an C. and three yere clere Whose death the folke in no wise did complayn Were they all therof bothe glad and fayn The C .xxvi. Chapiter ¶ Henry the first kyng of Englande and duke of Normandyâ reigned .xxxvi. yere and died in the yere of Christe a thousande C. and .xxxix. HEnry his brother that first was of that name was crouned theÌ with al that honour might be He recoÌsiled saynt Anselne that cam hame Who crouned Maude his wyfe full fayre free That doughter was full of benignitee To kyng Malcolyne saint Margarete that quene Of Scotlande whiche afore that tyme had been ¶ On whom he gate Willyam Richard Mold Whose goodnesse is yet spoken of full wide If she were fayre hir vertuous manyfolde Exceaded farre and vices she set aside Debates all that engendred were of pride She staunched hole with all beneuolence And visited sycke and poore with diligence ¶ The presoners also wemen eke with childe And in gesene lyuyng ay where aboute Clothes and meate and beddyng newe vnfiled Wyne also and ale she gaue without doubte Where she sawe nede in countrees al throughout These crosses all that yet bee moste royall In the hye wayes with gold she made theim all ¶ Kyng Edgare theÌ hir brother was of ScotlaÌd That to kynge Henry then made homage The byshop of Duresme then toke on hande The duke Robert to gone in message To make hym clayme Englande his herytage The whiche he dyd anon withoute delaye As they accorded vpon a certayne daye ¶ But Anselne byshop of Caunturbury And also quene Maude then made them well accorde The kyng to paye thre M. marke yerely To duke Robert withoute more discorde And counsayled then the kyng as was recorde To loue the lordes that made the discencyon Betwyxte his brother and hym by conuencyon ¶ The kyng Henry warred Robert Estenuyle The eldest sonne of Roger Mountgomery And his brother that was so called that whyle And create Earle of Shrewysbury Who his castell of Arundell helde for thy And Shrewysbury also and the cytee With other mo castels in his countre ¶ Whiche to the kyng he yelde by conuencyon He and his brother to passe to Normandye With all theyr men without discencyon To theyr father Roger Mountgomerye That earle was there of Bolesmo manly The kyng went then to Caue and to Baxhous Helde them with force and herte full couetous Whiche towres Robert the duke of Normandy Asked of hym to haue delyueraunce And his money of thre thousand marke yerely Whiche he ought hym by the hole concordaunce Whiche he agayne sayde and stode at variaunce Wherfore they fell on warre and toke the felde With hostes greate full sore faught vnder shelde ¶ At Tenarthbray that is in Normandye Where Nigell then of Albany that hyght Toke duke Robert in batayll manfully And brought him bound vnto the kyng with might For which that kyng anone there made him knight And gaue hym landes that were forfet afore By Robert Stutuyle in Englande for euermore ¶ He gate also a castell besyeged longe Whiche he scalyd with noble polycie And to the kyng it gaue though it were wronge For whiche the kyng gaue hym anon in hye The landes all that forfet were only By Robert Monbray earle of Northumberland In his brothers tyme as I vnderstande ¶ The same Nygell that hyght Albanye A sonne had then whome the kyng Henry Roger Monbray dyd call euer after ay Thus Albany was chaunged morally Vnto Monbray for the lyuelod onely Whiche Monbray had afore of herytage These Monbrayes nowe rose fyrst of hye corage ¶ This kynge Henry then seazed Normandye And made his sonne Willyam duke of that lande And home came to Englande then in hye And in the yere of Chryste to vnderstande A thousande hole an C. and ten on hande His doughter Maude he maryed to Henry That Emperour was then of Romanye He put his brother duke Robert in straite warde And many other that were of his cognisaunce Where he released couenauntes and forwarde Afore wryten of his enherytaunce That betwene them myght make any dystaunce And founde hym euer in all royall estate By good auyse and councell ordynate ¶ Whiche duke ordred was so for he forsoke The realme of al the lande of Ierusalem When he was chose therto and nought it toke For couetyse to haue this Englyshe realme For he forsoke that fortune as men dyd deme Agayne goddes wyll and his hye ordynaunce For chosen he was by all chrysten creaunce ¶ For at wynnynge of Ierusalem Where prynces many kynges and dukes were He was the worthyest of any realme And bare hym beste in knyghtly dede of warre At all assautes moste knyghtly dyd hym beare The honoure all and fame he had euermore And chosen was there to be kynge therfore ¶ Men saide that God gaue hym suche punyshmeÌt His brother to put hym in greate myserye Vnto his death agayne his owne entente For he forsake Chrystes owne monarchye In whiche he was borne for man lyste to dye The chrysten fayth to mayntayne and encrease For couetyse his brother to discreace ¶ The yere of Chryste a thousande was ful cleâ And an hundreth also and therwithall eyghtene When good quene Maude was deed laide on beâ At Westminster buryed as well was sene For heuynesse of whiche the kyng I wene To Normandy then went vnto his sonne The duke William there with hym dyd wonnâ ¶ The third yere after to England came agayâ The duke his sonne Willyam of Normandye His brother Rycharde also the sothe to sayne And earle Rycharde of Chester in company With many other lordes in shyppes them bye Vpon the sea were dreynt in greate distresse Of the whiche the kyng had then great heuinesse ¶ Which duke WilliaÌ had wed yâ doughter then Of Fowke Tailboys Earle of Angeou had bene With whome a C .lx. knyghtes with many men And
bare with Iueles full royall And clothes ryche that were well ordynaté For that ylke feste and state imperyall Fro South vnto the Septentrionall Where then none suche accompted of rychesse As there were then as wryten is expresse The C .xxxviii. Chapiter ¶ How kyng William of Scotland made homage for Scotlande and then after his coronacyon at Westmynster he went to Fraunce and so to Ierusalem by the assent of the Kynge Phylippe THe bishop of Duresme on his right hande The bishop also of Bathe on his left syde The kiÌg of Scottes WillyaÌ for ScotlaÌd Made hym homage and feaute leege that tyde Kyng Rychard then to FrauÌce with muche pride Anone so yode tharchebishop Bawdewyne With hym then went worthy clerkes and fyne ¶ Sir Rauf Fulgence erle of Perche then also Robert Ferrers erle of Lecester then With erles fell and barons many moo Of all this land went many a worthy then Of England and Scotland many a manne Of Ireland Wales Guyan and Normandy Then with hym went in that voyage on hie ¶ The kyng Philip shippid his hoste at Iene The kyng Rychard tooke the sea at Marsile With all his hoste without other meene Within short tyme arriued vp in Cisile Wher he full faire receiued was that while By kyng Tancred soonne of Wyllyam Whiche WyllyaÌ wed his suster Iohan by name ¶ The kyng Rychard twoo Isles ther coÌquered Byside Cisile to his suster theim gaue To hir lyuyng and bade hir not bee fered For he should se hir dower she should haue Longyng to the right that she should craue And at Meschyne kyng Rychard then did make A Bastell strong the Sarsyns for to wake ¶ And sailed furth to Cipres then hy sea Wher his mother hym mete with dame Barnage The kyng his doughter of Nauerne faire free Whom ther he wed in lawfull mariage At Lymosyn in his pilgremage A citee great full of all habundaunce Whiche by assaute he gate of his puysaunce ¶ The kyng Rychard rode then to Nichosie And gate the citee with force and might The citee also of Cheryn mightely Wher his doughter and heire he toke full right To Buffenet and Baffe that were full wight To Dendamour and Candor his citees He went anone with greate felicitees ¶ He gate theim all all the realme throughout And toke the kyng Isaak and hym slewe And wed his doughter vnto the kyng full stout Of Ierusalem whose wife was dedde then newe That Sibill hight that doughter was meÌne knewe Of Almarike kyng of Ierusalem The brother of Geffrey of Angeou hir eme ¶ This kyng Rychard that realme of Cipris waÌne To whome the lordes echeone did their homage And anone by sea with many a manne To Acres wher in that ilke voyage He toke a ship of high and greate auantage Of ablementes for warre and ordinaunce The whiche he had with hym in gouernaunce ¶ But fiftene Sarsyns there he dreyncte And twoo hundred he kept that ship to gnie To Acres then wher kyng Philip full feynâ Had sieged long without remedie But kyng Rychard of Acres toke in hie The stronger syde and gaue it greate affraies Late and erly bothe by nightes and dayes ¶ He gate it sone with his greate ordinaunce And on the walles his baners full hie he sette The kynges armes he sette vp also of Fraunce And kyng Guyes armes of Ierusalem well bette The duke of Oistrich Lympold without lette Set vp his armes after aboue theim all Whiche kyng Rychard did cast douÌe ouer that wall ¶ With wages greate and riches manifold He ryched his meÌne rode throughoute all Surry The citees all and castelles that he would He gate with force and came again in hie To castell Pilgrym whiche kyng Philip pleinly Beseged had full long and went his waye Whiche Rychard beseged in greate araye ¶ To the whiche there was no waye but one full straite On a cawsey with dikes depe and wyde Strongly walled with towres on to wayte With many drawe bridges wher none might go ne ryde Strongly cheined with barris on eche side Whiche castell then he gate in dayes ten With battaill sore wher he sleugh many menne ¶ The cheynes of yrone he stroke vp with his axe Bothe at Acres and at castell Pilgrym And brent theim all as thei had been of waxe Cheynes barres with muche might that tyme The Sarasyns also he slewe with muche gryme The kyng Philip fell sicke and home would gone To Fraunce anone and toke his menne echeone ¶ Vnto the duke of Burgoyn theim to lede To bide for hym vpon the warres there And home so went to Fraunce without drede Wher then he made greate warre and muche dere In Normandy and Guyan fouly hym bere Against his othe and his greate assurauÌce At their passage by couenaunt and concordaunce The C .xxxix. Chapiter ¶ Howe kyng Rychard sold the realme of Cipres to Statyn once an other tyme to the kyng Guyâ Lezinaunt to resorte to hym to his heires in de faute of issue of theim HE sold Cipresse to kyng Statyn of might An other tyme to Guy LizenauÌt full bold For great riches the resort again of right And for greate sommes of innumerable of gold His prisoners he raunsomed sore and sold But with his hoste full well he distribute All that he gate vnto their greate refute ¶ Ioppen he gate and it repaired newe He and the duke of Burgoyn full sore sought On the Soudan and felly did pursue To castell Assure fro whens he fled vnfought But kyng Rychard that of no perill rought Was hurt right ther with dartes venemous Fiue woundes sore mortall and perelous ¶ The droue hym then into Ierusalem And layed a sege about the citee rounde And kyng Rychard hard howe fro Egipt realme Came strong vitail and ryches in that stounde With full greate hoste the Christen to confounde By night he came and there theim discomfete With worship greate and farpassyng profite ¶ Gase he buylded full faire and Ascaloyn To the templers to whome afore thei longid He deliuered and made hym redy boun For to assayle the citee and haue fongid With might of menne laddirs full well hongid Engynes and gonnes greate stones for to cast Whiche to haue wonne thei were full like at last ¶ The Soudan out by night then stale awaye And Christen menne the citee gate anone And kyng Rychard with all the hoste his waye Toke to the Flum of Cedar on his foon He folowed fast with hoste as he might goon With the Soudan faught putte hym fro that feld And mightely fro hym he rest his sheeld The C .xl. Chapiter ¶ Howe the SoudaÌ toke a trewce with kyng Rychard after he had putte hym to flight wonne his citee and castels in Surry Kyng Rychard gaue Ierusalem and that realme of Surry to his susters soonne Henry erle of Campanya with the heire Sibill to his wife and homewardwas takeÌ prisoner in Oistrich but in his gift of Surrry ãâã
his entente For they disobeyed the lettre whiche he sent For they had chosen mayster Stephan Langton An worthy clarke of all disposicion ¶ Whom kyng Iohn then wold not admytte For Romayn bull ne for the prelates prayer But prisoned some and some to death commytte Some he exiled and theyr eyen clere And all personnes and prelates in fere He then put out and seazed theyr benefice Through all the lande as his mortall enemyes The Romyshe byshoppe curssed hym openly And all the realme fully did enterdite That sacramentes none therin should occupie And to the kyng of Fraunce without respite He wrote his letters so full fayre endite To take Englande hole in gouernaunce For kyng Iohn his great misgouernaunce ¶ Many erles also and many great barons Vnto the kyng of Fraunce wrote openly To sende his sonne Lewes the rebellions To helpe to whome they promysed sikerly To croune hym kyng of England worthely If that kyng Iohn would not his trespasse ameÌd Vnto the churche in whiche he had offend ¶ Wherfore that kyng of FrauÌce to England sente His sonne Lewes with hoste and power strong With whom many lordes susteyned his entent And other some maynteyned kyng Iohn in wroÌg Thus stode this lande Englande Wales longe Hole enterdite froÌ all holy sacramentes That none was done without priuelegementes ¶ Lewes the sonne of kyng Philip of Fraunce Had castelles fees and citees many one At his good rule and full wyse gouernaunce In Englande then well mo then had kyng Iohn Tyll on a daye to lordes he made his moone By whose couÌcel vnto that Romishe bishop he wrote His letters meke as best he could theim note ¶ Besekyng hym of mercy and of grace Of forgeuenesse and absolucion His defautes all to mend and his trespasse And vndirguage all his punysion For to release thenterdiccion For whiche the Romishe bishop as he that letters see Wepte fore hauyng full greate pitee ¶ Thenterdiccion fully he releassed And to the kyng of Fraunce anone sent To ceasse the warre the peace to be encreassed Betwene hym and kyng Iohn bayssent To whiche he would put so all his entent To Lewes then he sent thesame message And of Englande to haue his hole costage ¶ And for Lewes with Lordes of Englande Obeyde not the byshops commaundement He sent Gwalo his legate I vnderstande To cursse Lewes and all of his assent Then died kyng Iohn in Christen hole entent At Croxton abbey and buried was full fayre At Worcester with lordes and great repayre ¶ Some bookes sayen he poysoned was to dead Of plummes so syttyng at his meate In thabbey of Cistews at Swynsheade With whiche a monke there hym did rehete Wenyng of God greate thanke to gette At Newerke died at Worcester sepultured In chronicles as is playnly scriptured ¶ He gate a soÌne that HeÌry of Wynchester hight And other after and Richarde was his name That erle was of Cornwayle of great might A Worthy knight and of right noble fame These sonnes on his wyfe that noble dame And gate Isabell the wyfe of Frederyk Emperoure of Rome a lorde full poletyk ¶ In his tymes were these earles in Englande Geffry Maundeuile earle of Essex than Syr Quincy as I can vnderstande Earle of Winchester that was a manly man And the earle of Cornewayle that was than Roger of Clare then earle of Gloucester That in Englande was none his better ¶ Roger Bygot earle of Northfolke then That Marshall was that tyme of Englande Henry Bowne then earle of Herforde as I can Conceyue was then Constable of the lande Aryght worthy knyght of his hande And Dauyd then was of Huntyngdon Willyam Marshall earle of Penbroke full boon ¶ Randolfe of Chester the earle of good estate Robert Veer of Oxenforde full wyse Willyam Groos of Almaryk generate Willyam LoÌgspee earle then of great enterpryse In actes marcyall a man knyghtly and wyse Of Salysbury a mighty lorde that daye Through all Englande knowen of greate araye ¶ Willyam the earle of Arundell that hyght Awbeny by his surname full well then knowe At Wimondham in Northfolke buryed ryght Father was of Philyp full yonge vnknowe That full curteous was both to hye and lowe That after hym was earle of Arundell As chronycles wryten can clerely tell ¶ This kyng Iohn dyed in hole creaunce The yere of Chryste a. M was then knawe Two hundreth .xxi. by remembraunce In chronycles as I haue red and sawe And full cumbreous bothe to hye and lawe At Worcester buryed in good araye As a prynce royall of reason ought that daye The C .xliii. Chapiter ¶ Henry the thyrde kynge of Englande duke of Normandye and Guyen and Earle of Angeou that beganne to reygne the yere of Chryste a thousande CC. xxi and dyed in the yere a thousande CC .lxxiii. and of his reygne the .lvi. yere ¶ In his tyme was a batayl at Lincolne where Earle Raudolfe of Chester discomfyted Lewys that sonne of kyng Philyppe of Fraunce HEnry his sonne then was of .ix. yere age At Gloucester crowned with the dyademe By the Legate Gwalo the Baronage Stephan of Langton helpyng as did well seme Archbyshop then as the byshop coulde deme The same yere then the kyng with Lewys faught Besyde Lincolne where Lewys was nere caught ¶ Foure C. knyghtes of Lewis there was slaine Th erle of Perche was slayne on Lewis syde And many fled with Lewys soth agayne Th erle Randolf of Chester knowen wyde The felde there gate that daye with mikell pryde And Lewys then all his ryght relesed And home he went with mony well appesed ¶ In the seconde yere he wedded Alyanor Therls doughter of Prouynce good and fayre Whose elder syster kyng Lewys wed afore This earle was then famed amonge repayre The noblest prynce without any dispeyre That tyme alyue through all chrystente Of all honoure and greate nobilyte And Iohn the sonne of Dauyd of Huntingdon That of Huntyngdon Chester earle had bene Without chylde dyed his erldome to the crowne Then sezed were to tyme that it was sene Howe his systers myght them departe betwene The parliament graunted that wardes to the kyng That helde of hym by knyghtes seruyce doyng ¶ To make statutes at Oxenforde ordynauÌce By whiche there shulde none alyence enheryte And put the kyngvnder the gouernaunce Of certayne lordes wysest moste parfyte Whiche after made amonge them great dispyte And batayles stronge greate contrariaunce Through all the lande by longe continuaunce The C .xliiii. Chapiter ¶ Of the byrthe of Edwarde his eldest sonne and heyre was in the .xxix. yere of his father and in the yere of Chryste a thousande CC .xxxix. Howe Symonde Mountforte Earle of Leycester was create HIs eldest sonne and heyre that Edward hyghe At Westmynster of Chrystes incarnacyon The yere a thousand CC .ix. and .xxx. ryght Whome the legate Otho by informacyon Baptyzed in funt saynt Edmondes confirmacy ãâ¦ã To hym then made as the churche deuysed In his baptime holy then autoryzed
exercyse ¶ A thousande ladyes excellynge in beaute He had there also in tentes hye aboue The iustes that they myght well clerely se Who iusted best there for theyr lady loue For whose beautie it should the knyghtes moue In armes so etchone other to reuie To geate a fame in playe of chiualrie ¶ This Mortimer was then lord Mortimer But in these iustes he held great feastes eche daye By fourty dayes conteined whole and clere At whiche one part of ladyes faire and gaye Gaue hym the price of fame of all that playe Wherfore the kyng to encrese his estate Proclamed hym erle of Marche there create The C .lvi. Chapiter ¶ Howe Edmond erle of Lancaster and of Leicester faught at Bayon with the power of Fraunce and was slain there sir Wyllyam Valence erle of PeÌ broke was dedde ther and many other lordes in the yere a thousand twoo hundred four score sixtene BVt erle Edmond the kynges brother dere With twenty sixe baners proud stout The fifth daye of Iune was accompted clere Of Christ his date a thousand yere all out Four score and sixtene with out doubt At Bayon faught with the FreÌchemenne certain Wher he in that feld that daye like a knight was slaine ¶ Sir WilliaÌ Valence erle of PeÌbroke was theÌ Sir Iohn Rychmond and many other baron Sir Iohn saynct Iohn right a full manly maÌne Thenglishe hoste felly ther was bore doune By a busshement laied by colucion That brake on theim sore fighting in the feld Out of a wode in whiche that daye were beld The C .lvii. Chapiter WHen Iohn of Gaunt that sone of king Edwarde For cause his brother that duke was of ClareÌce None yssue male had then that menne of herd But female by all intelligence When kyng Rychard in his greate excellence None yssue had he would haue been his heire Apparaunt then by act in perlyament feire ¶ The whiche Thomas Wodstok duke of Gloucester And all nobles of England ther present Proclaymed then by wrytyng and by letter Howe that therle of Marche then in perlyament Vnto the kyng was then heire apparaunt Wher duke Iohn in diuers places made Feined chronicles that shewed were full brade ¶ Howe this Edmond thelder soonne of kyng Henry Broke backed and bowbacked bore Was vnabled to haue the monarche And Edward so the younger kyng therfore Shuche chronicles then he feined full sore And putte in place of diuers religion To make his soonne right heire of this region ¶ But when kyng Henry this chronicle shewed It was defect and clerely sette at nought And vnderfoote cast doune and eke stroyed The contrarie by chronicles truly wrought Was proued trewe and then his title he sought By resignement and renunciacion By depoisale and playne coronacion ¶ It is not true that croke backed he hight For valyaunt he was in all his doynges And personable with all to euery mannes sight Although false chronicles haue other saiynges Kyng Alexander of Scotland then dyed That wedded had the kynges suster Margarete And Alexander his sonne beyng in thesame stede Who with Margatete his wife on the sea perished The C .lviii. Chapiter ¶ How FloreÌce erle of HolaÌd his persuers bouÌd hym to vide the iudgement of the kyng Edward if he should be kyng of ScotlaÌd FLorence therle of Holand his compeers That claimed then the croune of ScotlaÌd After the death of Margaret as pursuers Came to kyng Edward then of England Requeryng hym in God his name all weldand As he that was of Scotland souereigne lord To trye the right and sette theim in accorde ¶ For whiche he sette at Norham a parliament After Easter then next folowyng In the kirke of Norham to that entent That all Scottes and other that were pursuyng Might ther appere their titles claymyng At whiche parliament the pursuantes theim bond At his decree and iudgement to stond ¶ By one letter with all their seales ensealed Whiche doublid was thei gaue vnto the kyng The other part for it should not be repeled Thei kept with theim selfes alwaye abydyng Which lettre Iohn Hardyng maker of this boke To kyng HeÌry delyuered that gaue hym in recoÌpeÌce The manoure of GedyngtoÌ w e all that appurteneÌce ¶ For whiche manoure then the cardinall Of Wynchester vnto the quene disposid In hir dower and fro hym toke it all When that the kyng by death was deposid Hym recompence he promised and composid But nought he had but might that priÌce haue lyued He durst full eiuill his excellence haue greued ¶ An other letter duble in like wyse The saied heires deliuered to the kyng That other part as shuld of right suffice Semblably with theim was remainyng By whiche thei bound theim self by their sealyng Hym to delyuer the kyng his castels all To kepe to tyme his iudgement were byfall ¶ Of whiche iudgement without possession Of castell strong throughout ther all the lande He might not well dooen execucion Wherfore the heires to hym so their theim bound Whiche letter also Iohn Hardyng toke on hand And did deliuer so then at Boys Vincent For the saied reward together by one entent The C .lix. Chapiter ¶ Howe kyng Edward made sir Iohn Balyoll kyng of Scotland AND in the yere of Christ his incarnacion A thousaÌd whole two huÌdred four scoure And therto three by verye computacion At the feast of sainct Michael set afore The kyng Edward to Scotland came therfore Wher twenty then chosen were of England And other twenty persones also of Scotland ¶ By whose aduyse all other rightes excl ude The kyng iudged to Iohn Bailyol the croune That was discent as clearely was conclude Of theldest doughter of Dauid of Huntyngdon As chronicles make therof good mencion Margarete wedded to Aleyne of Galawaye Whose doughter was kyng Iohns mother that day ¶ That Dernegull hight and was Iohn Bailiols wyfe Whose sonne heire kyng Iohn was theÌ cround That Bailioll hight that knowen was full ryfe In that mynster of Skone within Scotland grouÌd Syttyng vpon the regall stone full sound As all the kynges there vsed had afore On saynt Andrewes daye with all ioye therfore ¶ At Christmas nexte after the same kyng Iohn To Newcastell to kyng Edwarde came His homage made and feautee leege anone Of his free wyll without any blame And with greate ioye agayn retourned hame But then that Scottes chose theim .xii. lords by asseÌt To rule the kynge Iohn by their entent The C .lx. Chapiter ¶ Howe kyng Iohn of Scotlande made confederacye with Fraunce agayn Englande WHiche made him then to make confederacy With kyng Philip of Fraunce and aliauÌce Perpetually to be contributorie Ether with other by strong great assuraunce Englande to warre with al theyr hole puyssaunce The kyng Edwarde seynge this hye falshede To Barwike came with hoste and great maÌhede ¶ At the nonnes of Barwyke then he laye And layde a siege about on euery syde At after Easter but flemynges then that daye
Whiche that land couth there gouerne mikel better And seruyce dyd to Logres ofte by letter ¶ Also the same Iohn Baylioll I made Kyng of Scotlande as lawe and reason wolde Who made homage to me with hert full glad And afterwarde was false manyfolde He stroyed my lande with hostes stoute and bolde Wherfore I made hym warre tyll he were fayne To my presence to come and hym obeyne ¶ Where then for trespasse and rebellyon He surrendred to me and to my heyres The realme of Scotlande also the crowne The lordes of all Scotlande for them theyrs Made me homage for theyr proper landes By theyr letter wryten and theyr bandes ¶ Wherfore then hauyng therof possessyon The pryde of my subiectes and insolence Where I dyd fynde theyr false rebellyon As ryght and lawe wolde be my regence I chastysed ay at myne intellygence Wherfore please it to youre fatherhede Myne aunciente rightes to haue coÌmend in dede The C .lxv. Chapiter ¶ Howe the lordes wrote to the byshop of Rome for the same cause THe date was of this letter a. M. yere Thre hundreth also one the. viii daye of Mayr And of his reygne .xxix. clere With that the lordes in Englande were that daye By theyr letter and the byshop dyd praye The kynges ryght not to put in questyon Of eldest tyme longyng to his crowne ¶ For in theyr letter the bishop they did remeÌber They wolde not suffer his disherityson His crowne so foule to hurte and dismembre His royalty to put in questyon For desyre of his rebels false suggestyon The whiche ryghtes for death or lyfe mayntaine They wer so bound they could none other meane ¶ So seased the byshop and the mater lette And kyng Edwarde then in to Scotlande went Through all Catnesse destroyed it in greate hete The monthes hye oute ysles strayte he shent Tyll they obeyed all hole his regiment And wyntred then at Dunfermlin abbey Where saint Margarete is worshpped euer ay The C .lxvi. Chapiter ¶ Of the batayle of Argyle where Vmfreuyle tooke Wyllyam Waleys and Iohn Waleys ANd then therle of Angos Robert Vmfreuile That regeÌt was of ScotlaÌd coÌstitute Toke william Wales then at Argyle His brother Iohn also without resute With rebelles mo that were all destytute By batell sore there smyten full cruelly Where Vmfreuile then had the victorye ¶ And to London them brought to iudgement Where they were draweÌ hanged on galowe tre And quartred then their quarters home were seÌt At certayne townes hanged vp there to be Theyr traytourhede and falshede for to se Theyr heddes also full hye vpon the towre At London brydge were set to great terroure The C .lxvii. Chapiter ¶ How Peirs of Gauerstone erle of Cornwaile was exyled ANd in the yere a thousand .iii. C. and fyue He exyled out Peyrs Gauerston of Cornewayle That Earle was then for treason knowen ryue And in the yere after without any fayle Earle Robert Bruis of Carrike ganne assayle Earle Iohn Comen of Bongham at Dunfryse And slewe hym there in feueryere wheÌ it did fryse ¶ Bycause he wolde not to hym there assent To be crowned then kynge of Scotlande And forthe he fled to se who wolde consent And many one drewe to hym in that lande Became his men and made syker bonde To whome Walter Wareyne the yonger sonne Of therle of Surrey that then dyd wonne ¶ With the lorde Vesty that had his syster wed That fro her went vnto this Robert Bruys Eyther of other were fayne for they were fled Out of Englande their liuyng had such Guris For their ryotous lyuyng and male auentures Thus went they aboute harkening euery where Who were foes and who their frendes were ¶ All Scotland through this Robert weÌt about On fote to spye who wolde with hym holde And who wolde not he warred them all oute And kylled them downe in places manifolde And muche harme dyd in chronycle as is tolde And with hym was alwaye Walter Wareyne That with hym went through mountaynes woode and playne ¶ On nightes they lay in woodes in mouÌtaine At morowe on theyr foes came downe and kyll On day they were thousaÌdes at euen but twayne There knews no moo at eueÌ where they drewe tyl So were they euer at nyght of lodgyng wyll For drede of guyle and of greate traytourye They lodged them on nyghtes full priuely ¶ But on the feaste of the Annuncyacion Of our lady saynt Mary the virgyne Robert Bruys with greate supportacyon Was crowned at Skone as he coulde ymagyne To whom great folke with good wyl did enclyne Full glad of his welfare his coronacyon With greate hoste came to Perch with prosperacion The C .lxviii. Chapiter ¶ Howe syr Robert Vmfreuile Earle of Angeou and syr Aymer Valence Earle of PeÌbroke discomfyted kyng Robert Bruys besyde saynte Iohns towne and put hym vnto the flyghte ON the morowe sir Robert erle Vmfreuile Of Angeous then that regent was by north The Scottes sea and Aymer Valence that while Erle of PeÌbroke by south the water of Forth Wardayne was of Scotlande forsoth That daye faught with kyng Robert Bruis Beside Iohnstoune where he fled wtout rescowes ¶ Vnto the Kentir many Scottes there slaine Where then they toke the wyfe of kyng Robert And his brother Nygell the sothe to sayne And the earle of Athels myght not a sterte And sent them to the kyng with full glad hert Whome the kyng kepte after theyr estate At London well together consoâyate ¶ Henry Percy toke the brethren two Of kyng Robert Alexaunder Thomas that hight To the Iustes them sent that hanged were tho His other brother at London hanged ryght Kyng Roberte then sieged the Percy full wyght But Vmfreuyle hym anon rescowed And the syege from hym anone remoued ¶ Kyng Robert Bruys faught with Aimer ValeÌce Earle of Penbroke and put hym to the flyght At Methfen so and slewe with violence All Englyshemen in batell there downe ryght Th erle of Gloucester Gylbert Clare that hight Thre dayes after he syeged hym in Are But kyng Edward therle then rescowed thare ¶ The king Edwarde with hoost hym sought full sore But ay he fled into woodes strayte forest And slewe his men at straytes daungers thore And at marreys and mires was ay full prest Englyshmen to kyll without any rest In the mountaynes cragges he slewe ay where And in the nyght his foes he frayde full sere The king Edward with hornes houÌdes him soght With meÌne on fote through marris mosse myre Through wodes also mouÌteÌs wher thei fought And euer that kyng Edward hight men greate hyre Hym for to take and by might conquere But thei might hym not gette by force ne by train He satte by the fyre when thei in the rain ¶ The kyng Edward for anger fell in accesse And homeward came full sycke and sore annoyed And bade his soonne he should for no distresse No trewce take with Scottes that sore
mikell of Yorkshire discomfited that archebishop of Yorke his clergy at Milton on swale THe kyng Edward began to siege Berwyk like And wonne it had but false tales it let And tidinges newe that nought the kyng did For Robert Bruys the kyng of Scotlande mette With the bishop of Yorke and hym ouersette Wherfore he loste the siege and went awaye But Bruys had stroyed England in fell araye ¶ To Borough brydge by east and west he brent And home agayne with many a prysoner Without harme or lette of his entent With mykell good but in Myton medowe nere To Swale water laye then with great power Walter Wareyn among the hay kockes bushed Vpon the byshop sodenly with Scottes yssued ¶ And .xv. hundreth Englyshe there he slewe And home he went with kyng Edward full glad With prysoners many mo then men knewe The byshop fled fro the felde full woo bestad With his clerkes that then were full mad For whiche therle Thomas of Lancastre there And kyng Edward depatted halfe in werre The C .lxxiiii. Chapiter ¶ Howe at the nexte parliamente after Thomas of Lancaster and Leycester erle and certayne lordes exiled the twoo Spencers out of the land but then that Spencers made great persecucion with the kyng agayn the lordes and slewe the erle of Lancaster and the other lordes AT the parliameÌt theÌ at westminster next hold Erle Thomas that then was called ful trewe Th erle Vmfrey of Herford that was bold Th erle of Marche full manly as men knewe The Monbrey also Percy and Clyfford drewe All armed came and two Spencers exiled Out fro Englande neuer to be reconsyled ¶ But sone the Spencers came to that kyng again Syr Hugh the lorde and syr Hugh his sonne And put therle of Marche in great disdayn Roger his sonne that with hym did wonne Appeched hym then of hye treason Agaynst the kyng wherfore the kyng hym sent Into the toure tabyde the parliament ¶ Then went the kyng and Spencers both two With hostes full great to Burton vpon Trent Where the lordes laye and sparled theim then so That north they went then wayes by one assente To rayse mo men they trust in theyr entent The Spencers two fully for to destroye Who all the realme full cruelly did noye ¶ At Borinbrig syr Andrewe Hertlaw met With erle Vmfrey of Herford and hym slewe And toke the erle Thomas without let And to the kyng that then to Pountfret drewe Where then were sette vpon hym iudges newe Th erle Edmound of Arondell for iustice And syr Robert Mapilthorpe his enemyes ¶ There he was headed anone vpon the hyll And buryed was there in a chapell fayre Henry his brother stode at the kynges wyll Whom the kyng graunted to bee his heyre That wedded then Alyce without despayre The doughter and heyre of therle Henry Lacy Of Lyncolne so graunted by the kynges mercy ¶ WyllyaÌ fitz Wareyn many another knight In diuers shyres some hanged and some head That hold with hym or with his compeers right Syr Bartholomewe Badelismore without rede Drawen and hanged and put to foul dead Roger Clyfford and Iohn Monbraye barons Headed then were for theyr rebellions ¶ Th erle of Marche syr Roger Mortymer His sonne Roger foriuged were for treason And by the kyng of death pardoned were And put were then in perpetuall pryson Into the towre for that same encheson Fro that tyme forth the Spencers other excede The quene was but an hand mayden in dede ¶ To tyme the kyng to her brother hir sent And also his sonne Edwarde to dooen homage For Guyen so to haue at his entente And for they dwelled so long in that viage The kyng theim had suspecte of theyr message By councell of the Spencers theim exiled As in chronicle pleynly is compiled ¶ The kyng then made and playnly did create Andrewe Hertlawe erle then of Carlele Whiche tyme the kyng Robert full fortunate Rode all the east Marche full proudly and well The byshopryke and Yorkeshire euery dele Andrewe Hertlawe erle of Carlele absent To Lancastre hym drewe in false entente ¶ The kyng Robert was passed home agayn With prayes greate and many prysoners Fro Humber north the people downe were slayn Of whiche the kyng and all his councelers Blamed therle Andrewe and his compeers For he had men enough with hym arayed The Scottes all that might haue slayn frayed ¶ He hight the kyng haue brought to hym great powers Into yorkshyre held nothing his hight Therfore the kyng by counsell of the Spencers Gaue charge to take hym either by daye or night Or kyl hym downe wher they mete with hym might To all shryues was sent this commaundement Fro Trent northwarde by writtes maundemeÌt The C .lxxv. Chapiter ¶ Howe syr Roger Mortymer the younger wente oute of the toure of London went into Fraunce to the quene of Englande and to the prince Edwarde hir soonne and also howe the lorde Lucye tooke syr Andrewe Hertlawe erle of carlele and headed hym at Carlele for treason THen âr Roger the yongest Mortimer Made his kepers dronke and went away Out of the toure by night other in feer And into Fraunce anone he toke his waye Vnto the quene Isabell in poore araye And bode with her at hyr gouernaunce All tyme that she was soiournyng in Fraunce ¶ And then Antony Lucye lorde of Cokirmouth Syr Robert Lowther with other many in feere At Carlele toune as knowe was full couth Toke syr Andrewe Hertlawe with mekill steeâ They put on hym he toke royall power In truce takyng with therle of Murrey Withouten power in trayterous araye ¶ In wrongyng of the kynges hye estate And of his right full great derogacion And howe he toke greate golde immoderate Of kyng Edwarde through cauelacion To bryng hym power for his supportacioÌ Agayn the kyng Robert that then destroyed His lande full foule and had hym self anoyed ¶ And howe he had the people hole withdrawe With hym Westwarde by false confederacie Betwene hym and therle of Marrowe Couened fully before cast traytorie Wherfore they drewe hym first all openly And hanged after and to London sent Vnto the kynge his head for great present The C .lxxvi. Chapiter ¶ Howe the quene Isabell treated mariage of one of the doughters of therle of Henaulde for hir sonne Edwarde to haue to wife by thauice of her brother kyng Charles came to Englande with great power and toke that kyng and slewe his counsell for treason THere by aduise and good consyderacion Of the kyng of Fraunce her brother dere Quene Isabell accorded for supportacion Hir sonne should wed one of the doughters clere Of therle of Henauld that fyue then were Through whose succour she hir sonne Edward Toke then the sea to Englande warde ¶ Erle Edmond of Kent then with her came Kyng Edwardes brother syr Aymer valence Erle of Penbroke whiche came with hir fro hame And Mortymer the yonger in hir presence Henauldes and Frenche with great
bowes bent Thei were with hym aye redy at his entent The C .xciii. Chapiter ¶ Howe in the tyme of kyng Rychard reigned ouer passyng pryde aduoutree and lechery as well in menne of the spiritualtie as in other of his hous TRuly I herd Robert Ireleffe saye Clerke of the grenecloth that to the houshold Came euery daye for moost partie alwaye Ten thousand folke by his messis tould That folowed the hous aye as thei would And in the kechin three hundred seruitours And in eche office many occupiours ¶ And ladies faire with their gentilwomen Chamberers also and lauenders Three hundred of theim were occupied then Ther was greate pride emong thârfficers And of all menne farpassyng their compeers Of riche araye and muche more costious Then was before or sith and more precious ¶ Yemenne and gromes in cloth of silke arayed Sattyn and damaske in dublettes and gounes In cloth of grene and scarlet for vnpayed Cut werke was greate both in court and tounes Bothe in meÌnes hoddis and also in their gounes Broudur and furres goldsmith werke aye newe In many awise eche daye thei did renewe ¶ In his chapell were bishoppes then of Beame Some of Ireland and some also of Fraunce Some of England and clerkes of many a realme That litill connyng had or conisaunce In musike honorably God his seruice to auaunce In the chapell or in holy scripture On mater of Goddis to refigure ¶ Lewed menne thei were in clerkes clothyng Disguysed faire in fourme of clerkes wise Their peryshyns full litill enfourmyng In lawe deuine orels in God his seruise But right practyfe thei were in couetyse Eche yere to make full greate colleccion At home in stede of soules correccion ¶ Greate lechery and fornicacion Was in that house and also greate aduoutree Of paramoures was greate consolacion Of eche degre well more of prelacie Then of the temporall or of the chiualrie Greate taxe ay the kyng tooke through all the laÌd For whiche commons hym hated bothe free boÌd The C .xciiii. Chapiter ¶ Howe the duke of Herford and the duke of Northfolke wer exiled out of England ANd in the yere M. and thre hundred clere Foure score and therwithall eightene And of his reigne the twenty twoo yere The duke Henry of Herford as was seen At Couentree in barres armed clene Again the duke of Northforke for treson Whiche bothe the kyng exiled fro his region ¶ The duke Henry exiled was for ten yere The other was also for terme of life That died duke at Venys leide on bere But duke Henry exiled was beliue Like as the chronicle can openly discriue For ten yere whole for to abide in Fraunce And to auoyde the realme without variaunce ¶ Vpon the pain of decollacion And hiyng sone before sainct Edwardes daye In Octobre called the translacion Vpon whiche daye he shipid fourth his waye At Calice londed and so rode on alwaye Vnto Paris wher he was faire recepte With lordes many and worshipfully was mette ¶ In lenton next duke Iohn his father dyed Of Lancaster of weakenes and of age Entombed faire at sainct Poules buryed His heire in fraunce should haue his heritage In Maye then next the kyng with baronage To Ireland went with hoste and greate power The wild Irishe to wynne and to conquere ¶ For then Roger therle of Marche was slain With wild Irishe in bushment for hym laye His soonnes then full young were bothe twein In ward were take vnto the kyng that daye And then the kyng made full fell araye In euery shire blanke charters to bee sealid For cause his actes should not bee repeiled In the yere of Christ a. M. was then clere Three C. also foure score and eke ninetene And of his reigne the twoo twenty yere Begynnyng at Midsomer then as I meane Whiche afterward turned hym to mikell tene He was then landed in Ireland with his hoste Of chiualrie and power with the moste The C .xcv. Chapiter ¶ Howe duke Henry of Herford and of Leicestre landed in Holdernesse in the same yere and Thomas Arundell archebishop of Cantorbury that before was exiled and howe duke Henry swore to therle of NorthuÌberland and to sir Henry Percy wardeyns of the Marches and to therle of Westmerland and to other lordes of that North. AT whiche tyme so that duke Henry toke land At ReueÌsporn i Yorkeshire as was knowe Tharchbishop Thomas I vnderstand Of Cauntorbury Arondell that was lowe Bothe of ryches and gold as menne sawe For the kyng had hym out of the land exiled Fro Cauntorbury neuer more to bee reconsiled ¶ In Holdernesse he landed with fourty menne Wher the lordes of Lyncolneshire hym mette Bothe Wyloughby Roos and Darcy then And BeaumouÌt also with Penouns proudly bette By ordinaunce of Henry Percy sette Erle of Northumberland and sir Henry His soonne wardeyns of the Marche seuerally ¶ To Dancaster he rode full manfully Wher bothe the wardeyns of the Marche mette Then with the duke with hostes great chiualry Th erle also of Westmerland was sette With his power as then it was his debt For he had wed the dukes suster dere A full good lady without any were ¶ Ther swore the duke vpon the sacrament To claime no more but his mothers heritage His fathers landes and his wife 's in good entent And to laye downe bothe taxe and tallage Whiles he might liue but of the baronage And all the states somouned in parlyament Thought it nedefull and therto whole assent ¶ He swore also the kyng in gouernaunce To be put by good and hole prouision And Chesshyre men for theyr misgouernaunce To voyde out of his house of eiuill condicion And officers of good disposicion To rule his house like his estate royall Thus was his othe there made in speciall ¶ Then rode they forth to Bristowe were theÌ lay Scrop and Busshe and also syr Henry Grene And headed theim but Baget fled away And then the kyng at Flynt as was sene Great monstres made of people that was kene Whiche toke his wage and came to duke Henry And rode ay forth with hym full redely ¶ In this meane whyle therle of NorthuÌberlaÌde Treated with the kyng that tyme in Conwaye To mete with duke Henry then in Englande And brought hym then to hym in meke araye With litell speche to Chester then the waye They rode anone and put hym there in warde And so to London from thens came southwarde The C .xcvi. Chapiter ¶ Howe duke Henry of Lancaster was made kyng by resignacion renunciacion and deposayle and election of the parliamente and crouned at Westmynster on saynte Edwardes daye in Octobre ANd set hym in the toure where he resigned His right his realme his royall croune To duke HeÌry which no maÌ theÌ repugned And there he made a playn renunciacion Of all his righte for whiche by prouision The parliament then for his misgouernaunce Deposed hym so then by greate ordinaunce ¶ Then went they to a free election
Seyng the youth then of the Mortimer That erle of the Marche by trewe direccion Was then and heire of England then moste nerâ To kyng Richarde as well then did appere Consydred also the might of duke Henry They chose hym kyng there durst none it deny ¶ Th erle of Northumberlande then had sent His power home by councell of duke Henry So did his sonne Henry that truly ment Supposyng well the duke wolde not vary From his othe ne in no wyse contrary And he and his kepte all theyr power Tyll he was crouned kyng as it did appere ¶ Therles two then of Northumberlande Of Worcester and syr Henry Percy And theââe also of Westmerlande Councelled hym then fro his oth not to varye And though at eue he did to theim applie On the morowe by a pryue counsayl He would be crouned kyng without fayle The C .xcvii. Chapiter ¶ Henry the fourth kyng of Englande and of Fraunce was electe by that hole parliament the morowe after Michelmasse daye the yere of our Lorde a thousande thre hundreth foure score and nynetene and reigned .xiiii. yere died at Westmynster the .xix. daye of Marche in the yere of Christe a thousande foure hundreth and .xiii. and of his owne reygne the .xiiii. yere THis duke Henry by great loue of the land Of many lordes and of the commontee Tharchebyshop Arondell toke on hande To croune hym then in royall maiestee On saynt Edwardes day with great solempnitee But kyng he was the morowe after Mighelmesse His reygne begynnyng that day without distresse ¶ Th erle of Warwike and therle of Arondell That exiled were and the Lorde Cobham eke With all theyr frendes that kyng Richard did expell The dukes frendes of Gloucester nought to seke Whiche then began for to encrease and eke Through all the realme with kyng Henry to staÌd To croune hym kyng that tyme of all Englande ¶ An hundreth thousande cryed all at ones At Westmynster to croune hym for kyng So hated they kyng Rychard for the nones For his mysrule and wrong gouernyng For taxes and for blanke charters sealyng For murder of duke Thomas of Woodstoke That loued was well more then all the floke ¶ The great parliament then he made rehersed The dukes of Almarle Excestre and Surry He depryued and the iudgement reuersed That then was made gaue full wylfully Agayne Woodstoke and Warwyke for enuie Arondell and the lorde Cobham full trewe Whiche was reuersed and reuoked newe ¶ The duke of Almarle was then erle Rutlande The duke of Surry erle of kent was agayn And eke the duke of Excester I vnderstande Of Hungtyngdon therle was to be fayn The marques eke of Dorset was full bayn Of Somerset erle agayn to bene He chastised theim no feller as was sene ¶ Th erle of Gloucester was lord Spencer Then set agayn to his first estate The kyng then made his eldest sonne full clere The prince of Wales in parliament hole create Duke of Cornewayle and erle denominate Of Chester also that then was yong of age But yet he was that tyme of hye courage The C .xcviii. Chapiter ¶ Howe the kyng gaue the Constablerie and the Marshalsee to therles of Northumberlande and Westmerlande wyth certayn landes and how syr Robert Vmfreuile was made knight of the Garter capitayn of Rokesburgh faught on fote on Fulhoplewe and wan the feld with victorie and was made lorde Vmfreuile AT this tyme that kyng grauÌted by parliameÌt The Constablery certayn of Englande In heritage so at his coronoment To therle then of Northumberlande Also of Man thifle I vnderstande To holde of hym and of his heyres alwaye By seruyce royall as wrytten was that daye ¶ And to therle of Westmerlande also The Marshalsee of Englande then he gaue All Richemond fee that was in Englande tho By patent also for terme of life to haue The lordes all he pleased so God me saue With office ay orels with lande or rent With liberall herte as to a prince appent ¶ And whyles that parliament so did endure The Scottes rode by North and sore had stroyed In Cokedale then where Vmfreuyle had cure That with theim faught had theim sore anoyed At Fulhaplowe on fote he theim acloyed For there he toke syr Richard Rotherforde His sonnes fyue full fell of dede and worde ¶ Syr Wyllyam Stiwarde also he toke The lorde of Gordowne he put to flight And Willibarde the felde there then forsoke And prisoners brought home well mo at night Then he had men with hym the felde to fight For whiche the kyng hym had ay after in cherte Consyderyng well his knightly aperte The C .xcix. Chapiter ¶ Howe the kyng Henry remeued kyng Richard from place to place by night in preuey wise in whiche tyme theries of Kent Salisbury and Huntyngdon the lorde Spencer and syr Raulfe Lomley were headed THe kyng theÌ sent kyng Richard to Ledis There to be kepte surely in preuitee Fro theÌs after to Pykeryng weÌt he nedes And to Knauesburgh after led was he But to Pountfrete last where he did die Bothe therles of Kent and Salisbury Th erle of Huntyngdon and SpeÌcers sothelye ¶ And syr Raulfe Lomley with mo in company After Christmasse thought to haue slayn the kyng They were distured and fled awaye in hye But they were slayn at Circester fleyng By the commons with theim there fyghtyng Therles of Kent and of Salysbury And syr Raulfe Lomley in theyr companye ¶ The lorde Spencer take was vpon the sea At Bristowe was headed and decollate Th erle also of Huntyngdon did flee And brought vnto the countesse of estate Of Herforde then who had hym forth algate To Plasshe where she made men hym hede Without counsayll of any lorde or rede ¶ Syr Thomas shelly set full hye in pride And Mawbleyn with Ferebye drawe and honge Syr Barnard Brockeys was heded theim beside The byshop also of Carleile theim among In Westmynster his life there to prolonge Perpetually by iudgement was commytte Among his brethren in order for to sytte The CC. Chapiter ¶ Howe kyng Richard was brought deade froÌ Pountfret to Powles and after buried at Langley for menne shoulde haue no remembraunce of hym And howe syr Robert Vmfreuyle faught with that Scottes at Redeswere and had the felde and the victorye IN march next after kig Rychard theÌ was dede Fro Poumfret brought with great solempnyte Men sayde forhungered he was lapped in lede At Poules his masse was done and diryge In hers royall semely to royalte The kyng lordes clothes of golde there offerde Some .viii. some .ix. vpon his hers were proferde ¶ At Westminster then dyd they so the same When truste he shuld there haue buryed bene In that mynster lyke to a prynce of name In his owne tombe together with the quene Anne that afore his fyrste wyfe had bene But then the kyng hym faste to Langley sent There in the freres to be buryed secretement ¶ On Michelmasse day next after his coronacioÌ
to the towne of Ayre Are twentie myles and foure wele accompted A good countree for your armye euery where And plenteous also by many one recounted For there I was and at the same I mounted Towarde Lamarke towne .xxiiii. myles Homeward trudging for feare of Scottish giles ¶ From the towne of Ayre in kyle to Galloway Through Carryct passe vnto Nithysdayle Where Dumfryse is a pretye towne alwaye And plentifull also of all good vytayle For all your army wythout any fayle So that kepyng this iourney by my instruccion That realme ye shall bring in subieccion ¶ Then from Domfrise to Carlill ye shall ride xxiiii miles of veray redy waye So maye ye wynne the lande on euery syde Within a yere withouten more delaye For castelles there is none that withstande you may Nor abide your seage against your ordinaunce So simple and weake is their purueiaunce ¶ And yf ye like good Lorde at home to abide With litell cost your Wardens ye may sende Charging theim all with hostes for to ride In proper persone through wynter to th ende With morow forraies they may them sore offend And burne Iedburgh Hawike Melrose LaÌder CodinghmÌ Donglasse the toune of Dombarre ¶ Then send an hoste of footemen in At Lammesse next through all Lawde âayle And LaÌmermore woddes and mossis ouer rynne And eke therwith the Stowe of Weddale Melrose lande Etryke forrest and Tyuydale Lyddisdale Ewysdale and the Ryngwod selde To the Creke Crosse that ryden is full selde ¶ The wardens then of bothe the marches twoo To bee their stayle and eke their castelles strong Then to reskewe from enemies wher euer thei go With fleyng stayles to folowe theim ay emong Les nor then foes theim suppresse and fong And euery night to releue to the hoste And lodge together all vpon a coast ¶ And also than at the next Myghelmesse The west warden to Domfryse ryde he maye Four and twentie myles from Carelyl as I gesse And than passe forthwarde through galowaye To Carricke after into good araye And then from thence to the towne of Ayre In Kile that countree plentifull and fayre ¶ Nexte than from Ayre vnto Glasgew go A goodly cytee and vniuersitee Where plentifull is the countree also Replenished well with all commoditee There maye the warden of the east marche bee And mete the other twayne as I wene Within tenne dayes or at the moost fyftene ¶ The thyrde army from Barwyke passe it shall Through Dumbarre Edenburgh and Lythkâ And then to Sterlyng with their power al And nexte from that vnto Glasgo Standyng vpon Clyde and where also Of corne and cattell is aboundaunce Youre armye to vittayle at al suffysaunce ¶ Thus these thre armies at Glasgew shal mete Well arayed in theyr armour clene Which hoÌward froÌ theÌce thei shal returne coÌplete Four and twentie myles to Lamarke so shene To Pebles on Twede is syxtene myles I wene To Soltray as muche thaÌ tweÌtie miles with spede From thence returne they shal to Wark on twede Within a moneth this lande maye bee destroyed All a south forth if wardens wyll assent So that our enemies shal bee sore annoied And wasted bee and eke for euer shent If Wardens thus woorke after mine intent They maye well quenche the cruell enmitee This daye by south all the Scottishe see ¶ Now of this matter I haue sayed mine intent Like as I could espye and diligently inquire Whiche if it maye your highnesse well content It is the thing that I hartely desire And of your grace no more I dooe require But that your grace will take in good parte Not only my peines but also my true harte EX FRVCTIBVS EORVM COGNOSCETIS EOS ⧠LONDINI ⧠In officina Richardi Graftoni 1543. ¶ A continuacion of the chronicle of England begynnyng wher Iohn Hardyng left that is to saie frome the begynnyng of Edward the fourth vnto this present thirty foure yere of our moost redoubted souereigne lorde kyng HeÌry the eight gathered oute of the moost credible and auteÌtique wryters RG To the reader FOrasmuche moost benyng reader as this former autour IhoÌ Hardyng wrote no ferther then to kyng Edward the fourth in whose dayes it should apere that he departed out of this world also consideryng the length of yâ tyme sence and the manifolde goodly historyes battailles decres and statutes with the disceÌt and lyne of the kynges of England sence that tyme I thought it not onely my dutie to labour that knowledge of thesame historyes to th eÌtent to adioyne annexe thesame herunto but also it should bee a greate offence in me to suffre you to bee depriued of so many fruitefull necessarie thynges Wherfore I haue here to the vttermost of my poore wit gathered and set foorth vnto you thesaid histories not in metre like as Iohn Hardyng hath dooen before partely because I would therby declare a dyfference betwene the former wrytyng of Iohn Hardyng and this my addicion but specially that these excellent storyes should nether in sence ner woordes bee defaced of the eloquence and greate grace that the autoures of thesame haue all readie geuen theim and therfore haue I wrytten theim vnto you in prose and at length that whiche thynges howe muche the more that thei shall delyte and please you so muche the more glad shall I bee of my peynes taken ¶ Edward the fourth AFTER TAHT EDVVARD had vaÌquished put to flight Henry the sixte beyng then verie ioious and proude partely thorowe that victorie that he had gotten and partely for that the commons began to cleaue vn to hym and to take his parte and lykewise did the states of the realme then departed he with all conuenyent spede to London and ther assemblyng his counsaill together was shortely after proclaimed kyng at Westminster that nyne and tweÌty daye of Iune and was called Edward the fourth of that name after Wyllyam the conquerour and this was in the yere of Christ his incarnacion a thousand foure hundred three score and one And the self same yere kyng Edward held his parliameÌt again in the whiche first the realme was sette in good ordre and all thynges wholy redressed whiche was very good expedient for the commen weale for that it had not been looked to all yâ tyme that ciuile battaill did continue And also thorowe his decree will all the statutes that kyng HeÌry that sixt had made was vtterly abrogated of no vertue or strength finally his twoo brethren that wer younger then he George was made duke of Clarence and Rychard duke of Gloucestre and Iohn the brother of Rychard Erle of Warwike was made marques Montacute and Henry Burchire the brother of Thomas bishop of Caunturbury erle of Essex and Wyllyam Faucounbridge erle of Kent this Henry Burchire beeyng a noble manne moost puissaunte in feactes of warre had gyuen hym to mariage the suster of Rychard duke of Yorke called Elizabeth And for this cause chiefely that the
maryage for the humylytie or basenes of stocke that the lady was of he wold no prynce or kynges to haue knowne of it no not so muche as her owne father Rycharde the earle for the whyche cause when it was blased abrode euerye man dyd meruayle greatelye kynges and prynces were dyspleased and grudged at it and sayde playnelye that it was not for hys honoure so to dooe and beganne to reproue the foresayde maryage shamefullye and for that he was led rather by blynde Cupyde than by anye reason they dyd incessauÌtlye reproue the same And ether thys was the cause of the sedycion whyche afterwarde dyd ryse betwyxte kynge Edwarde and the earle of Warwycke or els the pryuie enuye and malice whiche was in both theyr hertes nowe brastynge out wherby an occasioÌ or quarel might be picked For Edward after that he had got his kyngdome as it was openly knowne by the erle of Warwykes meane and helpe begonne to suspect hym for that he was in such authoritee so that he woulde haue plucked somewhat frome him diminished his powre wherby he myght haue ruled all thynges at his owne pleasure both in hys owne countree in other nacions So that a man may see it ofte chaunceth that frendes will geue very seldome condygne rewarde to a mans deseruinges yea eftsones when a greate benefite is bestowed or coÌferred vpon theim thei will like ingrate persons nothyng coÌsider it Of this the earle of Warwycke was not vnknowing the whiche although he loked for better thankes a more ample benefite at his haÌdes yet neuertheles he thought best to disseÌble and cloke yâ matter vntill such oportunitie might be had wherby he myght considering the wylfulnes of the kynge exprobrate vnto hym the pleasures that he had done for him And it is verye true and euideÌt that king Edward dyd make serche in his house for a thing that touched much his honestie wher the earle in dede was a man that loued women well and had great fantesie to their company But what soeuer it was ether euell wyll or desire of the empire that theyr league shuld bee infringed or broken after that the earle had sure knowledge by the letters of hys frendes that the king had got him a wife priuely and that al that he had done with king Lewis in his embassad for the ioyning of this newe affinitee was but frustrate and in vain he was so ernestly moued with it that he thought best that the kynge shuld be deposed froÌ the crowne and as one not worthy of such a kingly offyce But to oure purpose The earle of Warwyke beyng then sore vexed and moued wyth the kynge least that in this his furoure hys inteÌt beyng rashely gone aboute shulde bee broughte to no good ende he determined so loÌge to suffer beare suche iniuries vntyll suche tyme that he myghte brynge his matters to passe as he wolde haue theÌ whiche shortly after came into Englande and salutyng the kynge dyd hys message vnto hym makinge hym selfe to bee ignoraunte of that maryage And after that the earle throughe the licence of the king went into his shyre of Warwike partly to take his pleasure and partly for the preseruation of his safetie and helth whyche was the yere of oure lorde God a. M CCCC .lxvii. and the. vi yeare of the reygne of kynge Edwarde In the whiche yeare George Neuell brother to the earle was made archebyshoppe of Yorke after the dyscease of Wyllyam late archebyshoppe before him beeynge the .lii. byshoppe that had possessed that rome and Phylyppe duke of Burgoyne dyed the same yeare and Charles hys soonne was made duke a manne bothe for manhode and valyantenes in warre moste exellente Thys Rycharde as we sayde before was in hys shyre of Warwycke and there callynge to hym George the archebysshope of yorke and Iohn Montacure Marques hys brethren bothe and after long communycation had of many thinges the space of .ii. or .iii. dayes at length gettynge meete occasion to speake of the kynge and hys doinges dyd shewe hys mind to theim desyrynge theim by all the wayes that he coulde possyble to take kynge Henry hys part and to helpe him to the crowne saiynge after this wyse and maner Brethren it is not of anye lyghtenes of mynde but of playne iudgemente that I am moued to speake of kynge Edward and king Henrye Thys Henrye is a very godlye manne and loueth theim that bee hys faythfull subiectes and doth coÌsyder also who taketh paynes for him whyche hathe a soonne borne by nature to bee of greate worthynes prayse and free lyberalitee by whome euerye manne maye perceaue muche god lynes whyche helpeth hys father nowe beynge in thraldome and captiuitee as muche as in hym lyeth And as for kynge Edwarde he is a man full of contumelye and ingratytude geuen all to pleasure euell wyllynge to take anye paynes and promotynge rather theim that come of nought than noble and auncient men Wherefore I thyncke it wyll come to passe shortlye that eyther he wyll destroye all nobilitee or elles nobilitee destroye him But before al other we shulde fyrste enterprise to reuenge oure cause whych haue fyrste taken hurt at hys handes For he as I am sure you knowe it bothe after that he was kynge dyd fyrste pryuelye gooe aboute to defyle oure dygnitee and then after dyd openly intende our confusyon and losse of honoure as thoughe he was not broughte to that dygnitee by vs and not we by hym and therfore euen now of late when I went ambassadour to Fraunce I was had in no regard whereby the estimation whiche all kynges haue conceaued of vs partely gotten by our auncetours partly by our owne trauailes peines shal nowe be extynguished vtterly nothinge sette by And by these êsuacions he wonne his brother the archebishoppe his hert brought him to be of his minde but he could not so sone nor easelye persuade the Lorde Marques for at that first he would by no meanes be moued to worke treason at any haÌd against kyng Edward but at the last wheÌ the earle had promysed him the helpe powre of many noble prynces he was coÌtented to kepe warre The which Marques as he was vnwilling to consent to this at that fyrst so dyd he at the time of warre holde more of king Edwardes side theÌ king Henryes as it shal appere more plain hereafter the which was both destruccion to him his .ii. brethren After this the earle of Warwike a man of greate wytte perceauing George the duke of ClareÌce brother to kiÌg Edward to beare no great good wyl toward his brother that king what so euer the matter was first to proue hym and to knowe his minde begaÌne to complain a lytle of the king his doinges then after that the duke was in the same tale wyth hym again shewed him also what iniuries he had taken at his brothers hand he beyng somwhat bolder to speake brake his mynde more at large
in Yorkeshire called Middelame and there to bee kepte fast in hold But yet the kyng could bee in no place nor prisone but that shortely it was knowen the whiche caused many menne to bee sorie lament his chaunce But he hym self after that he was in prisone spake faire to the kepers of the castell and with muche intreatyng and greate promises made did so tempte and corrupt theim that he was dimissed althoughe the rumour was that the erle was willyng to it the whiche might bee of likelyhood if therle had gyuen ouer fightyng but suche was that eiuill fortune of kyng Henry wherby a manne maye perceiue that he could neuer haue his purpose seyng mannes strength nor policie is not able to ouercome for therle with all his freÌdes did ventre their bodyes and spent their substauÌce to haue brought Henry to the royall dignitee for because he knewe suerly that as long as Edward reigned neither could he nor yet kyng HeÌry beare any rule And yet neuerthelesse thei lette hym goo when he was in holde when kyng Edward was deliuered he went streight to Yorke and there beyng honorably receiued of his citezens taried for the space of twoo dayes to gette hym an hoost of menne but when he could not haue a worthy compaignie consideryng that he should goo to London emong the middest of his hoost went frome Yorke to Lancastre there found Wyllyam Hastynges lord chamberlain of whoÌ he hauyng greate helpe came safe to LoÌdon But therle of Warwike and the duke after thei had perceiued kyng Edward to bee deliuered throughe the meanes of false trai tours that all thynges that thei had appoincted was to none effecte was greately moued with anger and sorowe and by and by callyng together all their chief frendes consulted howe thei might begynne battaill again the whiche wheÌ the kyng was taken and in hold was ended and dooen And thus dooyng there was certain that for veray angre and for the loue that thei had to warre offred theim selfes to fight of freshe for nothyng that whiche moued the chief capitaines to be the more earnest Also kyng Edward was as wyllyng to fight as thei were wherby he might either bryng theim by force of armes to quietnes peace or els destroy and kylle theim euery mother soonne that the realme might bee in ãâ¦ã tter state For thorowe their sedicious rebellyng the people wer greately impouerished seyng that the churcheâ and houses of menne were spoiled and âobbed and menne sâain in euery place the corne grasse also destroyed that was of the grounde and many other mischiefes dooen the whiche dooe chaunce eftsons in battaill The consideracion wherof it pitiâd many menne to see the coÌmen weale in that case the whiche weÌt dayly and hourely aswell to therle as to the kyng for atonemeÌt desieryng counselyng theim bothe that thei would rather kepe peace haue the loue of all menne for their quiet lyuyng then to liue in angre and enuie fightyng one with an other to that vndooyng of all the realme wher as it wer a wicked deede to kylle the father but yet a greate dele more wicked to destroye the whole bodie of the commen weale whiche is the father of all menne and by the whiche euery manne is maynteyned kept By this greate entreatyng of noble menne therle and the kyng gyuyng feyth one to an other peace was had for a tyme wherein the erle and the duke went bothe to London with a small compaignie of menne in comparison to the daunger that thei wer in and at Westminster was with the kyng for the reformacion and stablishyng of all thynges and for peace to bee had wher the kyng and thei beeyng at greate woordes nothyng was determyned or ended Therfore the kyng for the vowe that he had made departed and said lytle and the erle with the duke also went to Warwike and in Lyncolne shire gotte vp a newe hoost and made sir Robert Welles the soonne of Rychard Welles grauÌde capitain a noble manne of warre These tydynges commyng to London moued the kyng veray sore whome he thought would rather haue kepte peace theÌ warre but the more that it was shewed to hym vnlokyng for it that battaill was at hande with so muche that sooner more spede he gathered an armie at the same tyme seÌt dyuerse messeÌgers and haroldes for Rychard Welles and thesame Rychard âeeyng often so sent for made his excuse that he was sicke diseased but afterward wheÌ his excuse was not admitted he thynkyng to purge hymself sufficieÌtly before the kyng came to London bringyng with hym sir Thomas Democke his brother in lawe and wheÌ he was there certain of his frendes certified hym that the kyng was sore moued with hym whiche for feare of the kyng did take sentuarie at Westminster his brother also mindyng to tary there vnto suche tyme as that kyng his anger wer couled apeaced But kyng Edward trustyng to pacifie all this tumulte without bloddeshede promisyng those meÌne his feith that he would not harme theÌ caused theim bothe to come out of sentuarie Then the kyng callyng Rychard to hym warned hym to byd his brother Robert that he should leaue of warre and goo frome the erle and in the meane season the kyng went foreward with his hoost against his enemies bryngyng with hym this foresaid Rychard Thomas and beeyng but frome Stamforde wher his enemies did lie the space of twoo dayes iourney was informed that Robert kepte that armie still nothyng moued with that letters of his fathers wrytyng for the whiche the kyng beyng sore greued caused bothe Rychard and Thomas euen there coÌtrarie to his promise moost shamefully to haue their heddes chopped of Robert wheÌ he sawe the kyng drawe nigh and hard that his father sir Thomas Democke was put to death stoode first in a doubte whether he should fight or no for because it was ieoperdeous to ventre vpon suche a greate power before that erle came yet at the last for the stoute courage and manly boldenes that was in hym thei went together and fought sore long and many menne killed on bothe sydes and at the last wheÌ the fore named Robert encouraged his menne that wer ready to geue ouer was coumpassed about of his enemies taken and also sir Thomas DelalaÌt with many ãâ¦ã o the whiche capitaines beyng taken all the hoost was putte to flight driuen awaye The kyng beyng glad of this victorie coÌmaunded Robert sir Thomas Delalant with many other to bee put to death at that same tyme place And in this battaill ther was kylled as meÌne reported tenne thousand menne The erle at this tyme beeyng at his owne toune of Warwike and commyng shortely to his armye at Stamforde with his power was enformed that the battayle was foughte quickelyer then he looked for and that his men had the worse parte although he might now be discouraged yet he made as thoughe he passed not and would
this I leue to Goddes iudgemeÌt He was none euell capitayn in warre as to whiche his disposicion was more enclyned to then to peace SoÌdry victories he had some ouerthrowes but neuer for defaute in his owne person either for lacke of hardynes or polytike order Fre he was of his dispences somwhat aboue his power lyberall with large giftes he gatte hym vnstedfast freÌdship for whiche cause he was fayn to borowe pil extorte in other places which gat hym stedfast hatred He was close secrete a depe dyssymuler lowly of couÌtenauÌce arrogaÌte of herte outwardly famylyer where he inwardly hated not lettyng to kysse whome he thought to kyll dispiteous and cruell not alwaye for eiuyll wyll but after for ambycion and to serue his purpose frende fooe wer all indifferent where his auauÌtage grewe he spared no maÌnes death whose lyfe withstode his purpose He slewe in the towre kyng Henry the .vi. saiyng nowe is there no heyre male of kyng Edward the thyrde but we of the house of Yorke whiche murder was done without kynge Edwardes assent whiche would haue appoynted that bocherlye office to some other rather then to his owne brother Some wise meÌ also wene that hys drift lacked not in helpyng forth his owne brother of Clarence to his death whiche thyng in all apparaunce he resisted although he inwardly mynded it And the cause thereof was as men notynge his doynges and procedynges did marke because that he longe in kyng Edwardes tyme thought to opteyne the croune in case that the kyng his brother whose life he loked that euyl dyet would sone shorten should happeÌ to disease as he did in dede his chyldreÌ beyng youÌg And then that if duke of Clarence had lyued his pretensed purpose had been farre hyndered For yf the duke of Clarence had kept hym self true to his nephewe the yong kyng or would haue takeÌ vpoÌ him to be kyng euery one of these castes had been a troumpe in the duke of Gloucesters waye but when he was sure that hys brother of Clarence was dead then he knewe that he might woorke without ieopardye But of these poyntes there is certentie and whosoeuer deuyneth or coÌiectureth maye as well shote to ferre as to shorte but this coÌiecture afterward toke place as fewe dooe as you shall êceaue here after But afore I declare to you howe this Rychard duke of Gloucestre began his mischeuous imagened pretenced enterprise as apêantly shal be opened I must a litle putte you in remeÌbrauÌce of a louyng and charitable acte no lesse profitable theÌ amiable to that whole coÌmynaltie if it had been so inwardely thought as it was outwardly dissimuled whiche kyng Edward did liyng on his deathe bedde not long before he dyed for in his life althoughe that the deuision emongest his frendes somewhat greued yrked hym yet in his helth he lesse regarded tooke hede to it by reason that he thought that he was hable in all thynges to rule bothe êties were thei neuer so obstinate But in his last sickenesse whiche coÌtinued longer then false fantasticall tales haue vntruly falsely surmised as I my self that wrote this pamphlet truly knew wheÌ he perceiued his natural streÌgth was gone hoped litle of recouery by the artes of al his phicysyans whiche he perceaued onely to prolong his life TheÌ he began to consider the youth of his children howe be it he nothyng lesse mistrusted then that that happened yet he wisely forseyng and consideryng that many harmes might ensue by that debate of his nobles while the youth of his children should lacke discrecion and good counsaill of their frendes for he knew well that euery part would woorke for their owne coÌmoditee and rather by plesaunt aduise to wynne theim selfes fauour theÌ by êfitable aduertismeÌt to do that childreÌ good wherfore liyng on his death bed at Westminster he called to hym suche lordes as theÌ wer aboute hym whoÌ he knewe to be at variaunce in especiall the lord marques Dorset soonne to the quene the lord Hastynges against whoÌ the quene especially grudged for that fauor that the kyng bare hym also she thought him familier with the kyng in waÌton coÌpaignie hir kynne bare hym sore aswel for that the kyng made hym capitain of Caleys which office the lord Riuers brother to the quene claimed of that kynges former promise as of diuerse other giftes whiche he receaued that thei loked for when these lordes with diuerse other of both parties were come vnto that kynges presens he caused hymself to be raised vp with pillous as I caÌ gesse saied thus or muche like in seÌteÌce to theim My lordes my dere kynsmeÌ alies in what plight I nowe lye you se I êfectly fele by that whiche I looke that lesse while to liue with you therfore that more depely I am moued to care in what case I leue you for suche as I leue you suche are my children like to fynd you whiche if thei shuld fynd at variauÌce as god forbid thei theim felfes might hap to fall at werre or their discresioÌ wuld serue to set you at peace you sâ their youth of whiche I rekeÌ the onely suerty to rest in your concord For it suffiseth not all you to loue theim if eche of you hate other if thei wer meÌ your feithfullnes might hap to suffice but childhod must be mainteined by meÌnes autorite slipê youth vnderproÌpted with elder couÌsaill whiche thei can neuer haue except you geue it nor you geue it except you agre for wher eche laboureth to breake that other maketh for hatred eche impugneth others couÌsail ther must nedes be a loÌg tract or any good coÌclusioÌ can forward And ferther while eche êtie laboreth to be chief flaterer adulacioÌ shall theÌ haue more place theÌ plain feithful aduise of whiche must nedes ensue that euill bringyng vp of yâ priÌce whose mynd iÌ teÌder youth infecte shall redily fall to mischief riot drawe doune this noble realme to ruyne But if grace turne hym to wisdome whiche god seÌd hym theÌ thei which by eiuill meanes pleased hym best shall after fal farthest out of fauour so that at the leÌgth euell driftes driue to naught good plain wayes êsper florishe Great variauÌce hath euer beeÌ betwene you not alwais for great causes Some tyme a thyng right wel enteÌdid miscoÌstrued hath been turned to that woorse or a smal displeasure dooeÌ to you ether by your owne affecioÌ ether by instigacioÌ of eiuill tooÌges hath been sore agrauate But this I wot well you had neuer so great cause of hatred as you haue of loue because we be men that we be all christeÌ meÌ This I will leaue to prechers to tell you yet I wot not whether any pÌchers wordes ought more to moue you theÌ that his gooyng by by to yâ place that thei all preche of But this shal I desire you to remeÌbre that the one part
of you beyng of my blod that other of my alies eche of you with other either of kynred or affinite whiche is that very spirituall affinitie kynred in christ as all êtakers of that sacamentes of christes churche The weight of whiche coÌsanguynite if we did beare as would to god we did then should we more be moued to spirituall charite then to fleshly coÌsanguinyte Our lord forbid that you loue that woorse together for yâ self same cause that you ought to loue yâ better yet that ofteÌ happeneth for no wher fynd we so dedly as emoÌgest theim whiche by nature lawe moost ought to agre together Suche a serpent is ambicioÌ desire of vanyne glory souere ingtie whiche emoÌgest estates when he is once entered he crepith foorth so ferre till with deuision varyaunce he turneth all to mischief First longyng to bee next to that best afterward egall with the beest at the last chief aboue that beest Of whiche immoderate appetite of woorship the debate discencion that grewe there by what losse what sorowe what trouble hath win these fewe yeres growen with in this realme I praye God as well to forget as we well remeÌbre whiche thyng if I could aswell haue forsene as I haue with my more pane theÌ pleasure proued by god des blessed lady that was his commoÌ othe I would neuer haue wonne the curtesyes of mennes knees with the losse of so many heddes But sith thynges passed can not be called agayn muche more ought we to bee ware by what occasion we haue taken so great hurte before that we eftsones fall not into that occasion again Nowe bee these greues passed and all is quiet thanked bee God likely well to prosper in welthfull peace vnder your cousins my children if God send theim life and you loue and coÌcord Of whiche .ii. thynges that lesse losse wer thei by whoÌ all though God did his pleasure yet should this realme alwayes fynd kynges êadueÌtur as good kynges as thei But if you emoÌgest your selfes in a childes reigne fall at debate many a good manne shall innocently perishe happely he you also or it is long fynd peace quiet again wherfore in these last woordes that euer I looke to speake to you I exhort and require you all for the loue that you haue borne to me and for that loue that I haue borne to you for the loue that our lord bereth to vs all FroÌ this tyme forward all greues forgotteÌ eche of you loue other which I verely trust you wyll yf you any thyng regarde God or your kynges affinitee or kynred this realme your owne couÌtre or your owne suretie wealthe And there with al the kyng for fayntnes no longer endurynge to syt vp layde hym downe on his right side his face toward theim And ther was none presente that could forbeare wepyng but that lordes coÌfortynge hym with as good woordes as thei could answeryng for that tyme as they thought should stande with his pleasure And there in his presence as by theyr wordes appeared eche forgaue other and ioyned theyr haÌdes together when as it after appeared by theyr dedes there hartes were farre asoÌder And so with in a fewe dayes thys noble prynce dysceased at Westmynster the .ix. daye of Apryll in the yere of our Lorde a. M CCCC .lxxxiii. after that he had reygned .xxii. yeres one moneth and .viii. dayes was with great funeral pompe conueyed to Wyndsore leuyng behynd hym .ii. soonnes Edwarde the prynce of whom this story entreateth a chylde of xiii yeres of age Richarde duke of Yorke .ii. yeres yonger then the prince and fiue doughters Elizabeth which by goddes grace was maryed to kyng Henry the .vii. and mother to kyng HeÌry the eyght Cycile not so fortunate as fayre fyrst wedded to the vycouÌt Welles after to one Kyne and lyued not in great wealth Brydget professed her selfe a close nonne of Syon Anne was maryed to lorde Thomas Hauwarde after erle of Surrey and duke of Norffolke Katheryne that yoÌgest doughter was maryed to lorde WillyaÌ Courtney sonne to that earle of DeuoÌshire which loÌgtyme tossed in other fortune somtyme in welth after in aduersitee tyl that benignitee of her nephewe kyng HeÌrye the .viii. brought heâ into a sure estate accordyng to her degre êgeny This kyng Edward was suche a prince of gouernaunce and behaueour in the tyme of peace for in tyme of warre eche must be others enemye that ther was neuer any kyng in this realme in attaynyng the croune by warre and battayle so hartely beloued with the more substaunce of his people nor he hym selfe so specially fauoured in any parte of his life as at that tyme of his death whiche fauoure and affeccion yet after his death by the crueltie myschiefe trouble of the tempesteous world that folowed highlye towardes hym more encreased At suche time as he died the displeasure of those that bare hym grudge for kyng Henry that .vi. sake whoÌ he deposed was wel assuaged in effect quenched within that space of .xxii. yeres which is a great part of a mans life and some wer reconsiled growen into his fauour of yâ which he was neuer strauÌge when it was with true harte demaunded He was goodly of personage princely to beholde of hert couragious politike in councell and in aduersitee nothyng abashed in prosperitee rather ioyful then proude in peace iuste mercyfull in warre sharpe and fearce in the felde bold and hardie yet neuer thelesse no farther then reason and policie woulde aduenture whose warres whosoeuer circumspectly ãâã aduisedly considereth he shal no lesse coÌmend his wisdome policie where he auoyded theim then his manhode where he vanquished theim He was of visage full faced louelie of bodie mightie stronge cleane made with ouer lyberall and waÌtoÌ dyet he waxed somewhat corpuleÌt bourly but neuerthelesse not vncomely He was of youth greatly geuen to fleshely wantoÌnes from that which health of bodie in great prosperitee fortune with out an especiall grace hardlye refrayneth Thys faulte litle greued his people for neyther coulde any one mannes pleasure stretche or extende to the displeasure of veraye many nor a multitude bee greued by a priuate mannes fantesie or volupteousnesse wheÌ it was doeÌ wtout violeÌce And in his latter dayes he left al wild daliauÌce fel to grauitee so that he brought his realme into a wealthie êsperous estate al feare of outwarde enemies were clerely extinguished no warre was in hande nor none toward but suche as no maÌ looked for The people wer toward their prince not in a coÌstrayned feare but in a true louyng and wylfull obedience emongest theimselfe and the commons wer in good peace The lordes whome he knewe at variaunce he in his death bed as he thought he brought to good concord loue and amytee And a lytle before his death he left gatheryng of mony of his subiectes
whiche is the only thyng that draweth that heartes of EnglyshmeÌ froÌ their kynges prynces nor nothyng he ether entreprysed ndr toke in haÌd by that which he shuld be dryueÌ thereunto For his tribute out of FrauÌce he had a litle before recouered obteyned And that yere before he dyed he recouered the toune of Berwike against that kyng of Scottes And albeit that all that tyme of his reigne he was so benigne courteous and famylyer that no parte of his vertues was estemed more theÌ those high humilitees Yet that condycion in th ende of his last dayes decayed not in the whiche many princes by a longe coÌtinued souereingtie declyne to a proude porte behaueoure from theyr condicions accustomed at their begynnyng Yet lowlynes and gentlenes so farre forth in hym encreased that the soÌmer before died he beyng at the haueryng at the bowre sente for the mayre and aldermenne of London thyther only to hunte and make pastyme where he made theim not so hartie but so famylyer and frendlye chere and sent also to theyr wyues suche plentie of venyson that no one thyng in many dayes before gatte hym eyther mo heartes or more hartie fauoure emongest the commen people whiche often tymes more esteme and take for greate kyndnes a lytle courtesye then a greate profyte or benefyte And so this noble prynce deceassed as you haue hearde in that tyme when his lyfe was mooste desyred wheÌ his people moste desyred to kepe hym Whiche loue of his people their entiere affeccioÌ towarde hym had bene to his noble chyldren hauyng in theim selfes also as many gyftes of nature as many princely vertues as much good towardnesse as their age coulde receaue a meruelous fortresse and a sure armoure yf the deuysion and dissencion of their frendes had not vnarmed them left them destitute the execrable desyre of souereingtie êuoked him to their destruccioÌ which if either kynd or kyndnesse had holdeÌ place muste nedes haue beeÌ their chiese defence For Richarde duke of Glouceter by nature their vncle by office their protectoure to their father greatly beholden and to theim by othe and allegeaunce bounden all the bandes broken and violated that bynde manne and manne together withoute anye respecte of God or the worlde vnnaturally contryued to bereaue theim not onely of their dignytee and preheminence but also of their natural lyues and worldely felicytee And fyrste to shewe you that by coniecture he pretended this thing in his brothers lyfe ye shall vnderstande for a trueth that the same nyght that king Edward died one called Mistelbrooke long ere the daye sprange came to the house of one Potier dwelling in Redcrosse strete withoute Creple gate of London and when he was with hastie rapping quickely let in yâ saied Mistelbrooke shewed vnto Potier that kyng Edward was that nighte deceased by my trueth ê Potier then wil my master the duke of Gloucetre be kyng and that I warraÌt the. What cause he had so to thinke harde it is to say whether he being his seruauÌt knewe any such thing prepensed or otherwise had any inklingther of but of all likelihode he spake it not of naughte But nowe to retourne to the trewe history wer it that the duke of Gloucetre had of olde sore practised this conclusyon or was before tyme moued therunto and put in hope by the tender age of the young princes his nephewes as oportunitee and likely of spede putteth a manne in courage of that that he neuer entended Certen it is that he being in the Northe partyes for the good gouernaunce of the countrey being aduertised of his brothers deathe contriued the destruccion of his nephewes with that vsurpacion of the roiall dignitee croune And for asmuche as he well wyste and had holpe to maynteine a long continued grudge and harte burnynge betwene the Quenes kynred and the kynges bloodde either parte enuiyng others authorytee he nowe thought as it was in dede a fertherly beginning to the pursute of his entent and a sure grounde situacion of his vnnaturall building if he might vnder the pretence of remeÌbring of olde dyspleasures abuse the ignoraunce angre of the one partie to the destruccion of that other and then to wynne to his purpose as many as he coulde and suche as coulde not bee wonne might bee loste or they looked therfore But of one thing he was certaine that if his intent wer once perceaued he should haue made peace betwene both parties with his owne bloodde but all his intente he kept secrete tyll he knewe his frendes of the whiche Henry the duke of Buckingham was the fyrste that sent to hym after his brothers deathe a trusty seruaunt of his called Persall to the cytee of Yorke where the Duke of Gloucetre kepte the kyng his brothers funeralles This Persall came to Iohn Ward a secrete chaumberer to the duke of Gloucetre desiryng that he in close and couerte manier might speake with the duke his maister wherupoÌ in the deed of the nyght the duke sente for Persall all other beyng aduoyded whiche shewed to the duke of Gloucetre that the duke of Buckingham his maister in this newe worlde would take suche parte as he woulde woulde farther wayte vpon hym with a. M. good fellowes yf nede were The duke sent backe that messanger with great thankes and diuerse preuey instruccions by mouthe which Persall did somuche by his trauaile that he came to the duke of Buckyngham his maister into the marches of Wales eftsones with newe instruccions met with the duke of Gloucetre at Notingham whiche was come oute of the NorthcouÌtrey with many knightes gentylmenne to the noumbre of .vi. C. horse more in his iourney towarde London And after secrete meting and coÌmunicacion had betwene hym the duke of Gloucetre he retourned with suche spede that he brought the duke of Buckingham his master to mete with the duke of Gloucetre not farre from Northampton with .iii. C. horsses so they twoo came together to Northampton where they fyrst beganne their vnhappy enterprice and so the duke of Buckingham contynued stil with the duke of Gloucetre till he was crouned kyng as ye shall plainly perceaue hereafter The younge kyng at the deathe of his father kepte housholde at Ludlowe for his father had sente hym thyther for Iustice to bee doone in the marches of Wales to the ende that by the authoritee of his presence the wylde Welshemenne and euell dysposed personnes shoulde refraine frome their accustomed murthers and outerages The gouernaunce of this younge Prynce was coÌmitted to Lorde Anthony Wooduile Earle Riuers Lorde Scales brother to the Quene a wise hardye and honourable personage as valyaunte of hande as pollitick of counsell and with him were assocyate other of the same partye and in effecte euery one as he was nere of kinne vnto the quene so was he planted nexte aboute the Prynce That dryfte by the Quene semed to bee deuysed whereby her bloodde myghte of
ryghte in tender youth bee so planted in the prynces fauoure that afterwarde it shoulde hardely bee eradicated oute of the same The duke of Gloucetre turned all this to their distruccion and vpon that grounde sette the foundacion of his vnhappy building For whome soeuer he perceaued to bee at varyaunce with theim or to beare toward hym self any fauoure he brake vnto theim some by mouthe some by writing and secrete messengers that it was neither reason nor yet to bee suffered that the younge kyng their maister and kinsmanne should bee in the handes and custody of his mothers kinrede sequestred in maner frome their company attendaunce of which euery one ought hym as faithfull seruice as they and many of theim of farre more honorable parte of kynne then his mothers syde whose bloodde ê the Duke of Gloucetre sauyng the Kynges pleasure was farre vnmete to bee matched with his whiche nowe to bee remoued frome the kyng and the least noble to bee lefte aboute hym is ê he neyther honourable to his maiestie nor to vs also to hym lesse suretye to haue the noblest and mightiest of his frendes frome hym and to vs all no lytle ieopardye to suffer and specially oure well proued euel willers to growe in too too greate authorytee with the king in youth namely whiche is light of belefe and soone perswaded Ye remembre that kyng Edward hym self albeit he was both of age and discrecion yet was he ruled in many thinges by that bende more then stoode either with his honoure or oure profyte or wyth the commoditee of anye manne elles excepte onely the immoderate aduauÌcemente of theim selues whiche whether they thristed sore after theyr owne we le or no it were harde I thynke to gesse And yf some folkes frendshype had not holden better place wyth the kynge then anye respecte of kynred they myghte paraduenture easely haue trapped and brought to confusyon some of vs or thys why not as easly as they haue done some other or thys as nere of the blood royall but oure lorde hathe wroughte hys wyll and thanked be hys grace that perell is past how beit as greate is growing if we suffer this young kynge in his enemyes handes whyche wythoute his wyttinge myghte abuse the name of hys commaundemente to any af our vndoing which thynges God good prouysion forbyd of whych good prouysion none of vs hathe any thynge the lesse nede for the late attonemente made in which the kynges pleasure had more place then the parties heartes or willes nor none of vs is so vnwise ouersone to truste a newe frende made of an olde fooe or to thynke that anye onely kyndenes so sodenly contracted in an houre contynued scantlye yet a fortnyght shoulde be deper set in our stomackes then a longe accustomed malice many yeres rooted With these perswasions and wrytinges that duke of Glouceter set a fyre theim whiche wer easye to kindle in especyall twayne Henry duke of Buckyngham and Wyllyam Lorde Hastynges and Lorde Chamberlayn both menne of honour and of great power the one by loÌg sucecessioÌ from his aunceters the other by hys offyces and the kynges fauoure These two not bearynge eache to other so muche loue as hatred both to the quenes bloodde accorded together with the duke of Glouceter that they would remoue frome the kyng all his mothers freÌdes vnder the name of theyr enemyes Wherupon the duke of Glouceter beynge aduertysed that the lordes about the kyng entended to brynge him to London to hys coronation accoÌpanyed wyth such a nomber of theyr frendes that it shoulde be harde for hym to bryng hys purpose to passe wythoute the assemblinge and gathering of people and in maner of open warre wherof the ende he wyst was doubtefull and in the whyche the kynge beynge on the other syde he shoulde haue the name and face of rebellion He secretelye therefore by dyuers meanes caused the quene to be perswaded that it was nether nede and shoulde also bee ieopardeous the kinge to come vp so stronge for as nowe euery lorde loued other and none other thynge studyed for but the tryumphe of his coronation and honoure of that kyng And the lordes aboute the kyng should asseÌble in the kinges name much people they shuld geue the lordes betwyxte whome and theim there had bene some tyme debate to feare and suspecte leaste they shoulde gather thys people not for the kynges sauegarde whom no man impugned but for theyr destruccyon hauynge more regarde to theyr olde varyaunce then to theyr newe attonemente for the whyche cause they on the other part myght assemble men also for theyr defence whose powres she wyste well farre stretched and thus should al the realme fall in a roare and of the mischiefe that thereof shoulde ensue whiche was lykly to be not a lytle the most harme was lyke to fal where she leaste woulde and then all the worlde woulde put her and her kynred in the blame saiynge that they had vnwselye and vntruely broken the amytie and peace whyche the kynge her husbande had so prudently made betwene her kinred hys whyche amytee hys kinne had alwaies obserued The quene beyng thus perswaded sente worde to the kynge and to her brother that there was no cause ner nede to assemble anye people and also the duke of Glouceter and other lordes of his beÌd wrot vnto the kinge so reuerently and to the quenes frendes there so louyngely that they nothing earthlye mystrustyng broughte the young kyng toward London with a sober compaignie in greate hast but not in good spede til he came to NorthaÌpton and froÌ theÌce he remoued to Stony stratford On whyche daye the two dukes and theyr bende came to Northampton faynynge that Stonye stratforde coulde not lodge theim all where they founde the Earle Ryuers entendynge the nexte moruynge to haue folowed the kynge and to bee wyth hym earely in the mornyng So that nyght the dukes made to the earle Riuers frendly chere but assone as they were departed verye famylier wyth greate curtesie in opeÌ syghte and the erle Riuers lodged the .ii. dukes with a few of theyr pryuye frendes fell to councell wherein they spente a greate part of the nyght and in the dawning of the daye they sente about pryuely to ther seruauntes in theyr lodgynges to haste to horsebacke for theyr lordes were in maner redy to ryde wheruppon all theyr seruauntes were ready or the Lorde Ryuers seruauntes wer awake Nowe had the dukes taken the keyes of the ynne in to theyr possession so that none shoulde yssue oute wythout their concente And ouer thys in the hygh way toward Stony stratforde they set certaine of theyr folkes that shoulde cause and compell to retourne again all persons that were passinge frome NoÌrthampton to Stony stratforde sayinge that the dukes theim selfes woulde be the fyrst that should come to the kynge from Northampton thus they bare folkes in hande But when the earle Ryuers vnderstode the gates closed and the wayes
on euery syde beset nether hys seruauntes nether hym self suffered to goo oute perceauinge so great a thing wythoute his knowledge not begon for noughte comparyng thys preasent dooynge wyth the laste nyghtes cherein so fewe houres so great a chauÌce marueleously myslyked it Howbeit syth he could not get awaye he determined not to kepe him self close leaste he shoulde seme to hyde hym selfe for some secret fear of hys owne faute wherof he saw no such cause in him selfe wherfore on the suretie of hys owne consience he determyned to go to theÌ and to inquire what thys matter myghte meane Whome assone as they saw they beganne to quarell wyth hym affyrmyng that he pretended to set dystaunce betwene the kyng and theim to bryng theim to confucyon whyche should not lye in his powre and when he began as he was an el oequeÌt manne in godly wise to excuse hym self thei would not here his aunswer but tooke hym by force and putte hym to ward And then he mounted on horsback and came in Stony stratford wher the kyng was goyng to horsbacke because he would leaue yâ lodgyng for theim for it was to strayte for bothe the compaignies And when thei came to his presence thei alighted and their compaignie aboute theim and on their knees saluted hym and he theim geÌtely receaued nothyng erthely knowyng ner mistrustyng as yet The duke of Buckyngham saied aloude on afore gentlemenne and yomenne kepe your roumes and therwith in that kyng his presence thei picked a quarell to the lord Rychard Grey the quenes soonne and brother to the lord marques halfe brother to the kyng saiyng that he and the marques his brother and the lorde Ryuers his vncle had coÌpassed to rule the kyng the realme and sette varyauÌce betwene thestates and to subdewe and destroye the noble bloodde of the realme And toward thaccomplishment of thesame thei saied yâ lord marques had entred into the toure of London thence had takeÌ oute treasure and sent meÌne to the sea whiche thynges these dukes knewe well were dooen for a good purpose as very necessary appoincted by that whole counsail at LondoÌ but somewhat thei must haue saied vnto the whiche woordes the kyng aunswered what my brother Marques hath dooen I cannot saie but in good faith I dare well aunswer for myne vncle Ryuers and my brother here that thei bee innocent of suche mattiers yee my leege ê the duke of Buckyngham thei haue kepte the dealyng of these matters farre from the knowledge of your good grace and foorthwith thei arrested the lord Rychard and sir Thomas Vaugham and sir Rychard Hawte in the kyng his presence brought the kyng and all to NorthaÌpton where thei tooke ferther counsaill in their affaires And there thei sent from the kyng whom it pleased theim and set aboute hym suche seruauntes as better pleased theim then hym At whiche dealyng he wept but it booted not And at dynner the duke of Gloucester sent a dyshe from his owne table to the lorde Ryuers praiyng hym to bee of good chere and all should bee well he thanked hym and prayed the messenger to beare it to his nephiewe the lord Rychard with like woordes whom he knewe to haue neede of conforte as one to whom suche aduersite was straunge but he hym self had been all his dayes ennured therwith and therfore could beare it But for all this message the duke of Gloucester sent the lord Ryuers the lord Rychard and sir Thomas VaughmÌ and sir Rychard Hawte into the Northparties into dyuers prisones but at last all came to Poumfrette where thei all foure were behedded without iudgeâet In this maner as you haue heard the duke of Gloucester tooke on hym the gouernaunce of the younge kyng whom with muche reuerence he conueighed towardes London These tidynges came hastely to the quene before mydnight by a very sore reporte that the kyng hir soonne was taken and that her brother and her other soonne and other hir frendes were arested and sent no manne wyst whither With this heuye tydynges the quene bewayled her childes ruyn hir frendes mischaunce and her awne infortune curssyng the tyme that euer she was perswaded to leaue the gatheryng of people to bryng vp the kyng with a greate powre but that was passed and therfore nowe she tooke hir younger soonne the duke of Yorke and hir doughters and went oute of the palais at Westminster into the sanctuary and there lodged in the abbotes place and she and all her children and compaignie were regystred for sanctuary persones The same night there came to docter Rotheram archebysshop of Yorke and lorde chauceloure a messenger from the lorde chambrelayne to Yorke place besyde Westminster the messenger was brought to the bysshoppes bed syde and declared to hym that that dukes were gone backe with the younge kyng to NorthamptoÌ and declared ferther that the lorde Hastynges his master sent hym woord that he should feare nothyng for all should bee well Well ê the bisshop bee it as well as it will it will neuer bee so well as we haue seen it and then the messenger deparâted Whereupon the bysshop called vp his seruauntes before daye light and tooke with hym the greate seale and came before daye to the quene about whom he founde muche heuynesse rumble haste busynesse conuerghaunce and caryage of hir stuffe into sanctuary euery manne was busye to carye beare and conueigh stuffe chestes and ferdelles no manne was vnoccupied and some caryed more then thei were commaunded to another place The quene sat alone belowe on the russhes all desolate and dysmaied whom the archebisshop conforted in the best maner that he coulde shewynge her that the matter was nothynge so sore as she tooke it for and that he was put in good hope and oute of feare by the message sente to hym froÌ the lorde Hastinges A wo worth him ê the quene for it is he that goeth aboute to destroye me and my bloodde Madame ê he be of good comforte and I assure you yf they crowne anye other king then your soonne whome they nowe haue we shal on the morowe croune his brother whoÌ you haue here with you And here is the greate seale which in lykewise as your noble husbande delyuered it to me so I deliuer it to you to the vse of your soÌne and therewyth delyuered her the greate seale and departed home in the dawnynge of the daye and when he opened his windowes and looked on the Themys he myghte see the riuer ful of boates of the duke of Glouceter hys seruauntes watchyng that no person shoulde goo to sanctuary ner none shoulde passe vnserched Then was there great rumoure and commocion in the citee and in other places the people diuersly deuined vpoÌ thys dealyng And dyuerse lordes knyghtes and gentylmen ether for fauour of the quene or for feare of them selues assembled compaignies together and went flockyng together in harneyes And many also for that they recompted thys demeanour attempted not so
credite and fauoure with her for whiche consideracions none semeth more meately to me then the reuerende father my Lorde Cardinall archbishop of Cauntourbury who maye in this matter doo mooste good of all menne yf it please hym to take the paine whiche I doubte not of his goodnesse he wil not refuse for the kynges sake oures and wealth of the younge duke hym selfe the kyn ges moost honorable brother and for the comforte of my souereigne Lord hym selfe my moost derest Nephiewe considering that therby shal be ceassed the sclaunderous rumour obloquy nowe goyng abroade and the hurtes auoyded that therof myght ensue then must reste and quietnesse growe to all the realme And if she percase bee obstinate and so precisely sette in her owne wyll and opynion that neither his wyse and feithfull aduertysement can moue her nor any mannes reason satisfye her theÌ shal we by myne aduice by the kynges authoritee fetche hym oute of that prysone and bring hym to his noble presence in whose continuall companye he shal be so well cheryshed and so honorablye intreated that all the worlde shall to oure bonoure and her reproche perceaue that it was onely malyce frowardnesse foly that causeth her to kepe hym there This is my minde for this tyme excepte that any of you my Lordes anye thinge per ceaue to the contrarye for neuer shall I by Goddes grace so wedde my selfe vnto myne owne wyll but I shal be redye to chaunge it vpon youre better aduice When the Protectoure had saied all the coun cell affirmed that the mocion was good and reasonable and to the kyng and the duke his brother honorable and a thing that shoulde ceasse great murmoure in the realme yf the mother myght by good meanes bee induced to deliuer hym whiche thing the Archbishop of Cauntourburye whome they all agreed also to bee moost conuenient thervnto tooke vpon hym to moue her and therto to dooe his vttermoste endeuoure How be it yf she coulde in no wise bee intreated with her good wil to delyuer hym then thought he and suche of the spirytualtye as were presente that it were not in anye wyse to bee attempted to take hym oute agaynste her wyll for it woulde bee a thyng that should turne to the grudge of all menne and high displeasure of God if the pryuiledge of that place should bee broken which had so many yeres been kepte whiche bothe kynges and bishoppes had graunted and confyrmed whiche grounde was sanctifyed by sainct Peter hym selfe more then v hundreth yeres agone and syth that tyme was neuer so vndeuoute a kynge that euer enterprysed that sacred priuyledge to vyolate nor so holy a bishoppe that durste presume the churche of the same to consecrate and therfore ê the Archbysshoppe God forbyd that any manne shoulde for any erthely enterpryse breake the immunyte and libertee of that sacred Sanctuary that hath bene the sauegard of so many a good mannes lyfe but I truste ê he we shall not nede it but for any maner of nede I would we should not doo it I trust that she with reason shal be contented all thyng in good maner obteigned And yf it hap that I bring it not to passe yet shal I further it to my best power so that you all shall perceaue my good wyl diligence indeuoure But the mothers dreade womannishe feare shal be the let yf any bee Naye womannish frowardnesse ê the duke of Buckingham for I dare take it on my soule that she wel knoweth that she nedeth no suche thyng to feare either for her sonne or for her selfe For as for her here is no manne that wyll be at warre with womenne would God some menne of her kynne wer womenne to and then should all bee sone in rest How be it here is none of her kynne the lesse loued for that they bee of her kynne but for their owne euell deseruing And put the case that we nether loued her nor her kinne yet there were no cause why we should hate the kinges noble brother to whose grace we oure selues be kynne whose honoure yf she desyred as oure dyshonoure and asmuche regarde tooke to his wealthe as to her owne wyll she coulde bee as lothe to suffer hym to be absente from the kyng as any of vs yf she had any wytte as woulde God she had as good wyll as she hath frowarde wytte For she thynketh her selfe no wiser then some that are here of whose feithful myndes she nothing doubteth but verely beleueth know legeth that they woulde bee as sorye of his harme as her owne selfe and yet they woulde haue hym frome her yf she abyde there And we all I thinke bee content that bothe her children bee with her if she came frome thence and bee in suche place where they maye bee with theyr honoure Nowe yf she refuse in the deliueraunce of hym to folowe the wisdome of theim whose wisdome she knoweth whose approbate fidelitee she trusteth it is easye to perceaue that frowardnesse letteth her and not feare But goo to suppose that she feareth as who maye let her to feare her owne shadowe the more she feareth to deliuer hym the more we oughte to feare to leaue hym in her handes for yf she caste suche fonde doubtes that she feare his hurte then wyll she feare that he shall be fette thence for she wyll soone thynke that yf menne were sette whiche God forbydde on so greate a mischief the Sanctuarye wyll lytel lette theim whiche sanctuary good menne as me thinketh myghte withoute synne somewhat lesse regarde then they dooe Nowe then yf she doubte leaste he might bee fetched from her is it not licklye that she will sende hym some where oute of the realme verely I looke for none other And I doubte not but she nowe as sore mindeth it as we mind the let therof And if she might hap to bring that purpose to passe as it were no great mastery to doo we letting her alone all that world would say that we were a sorte of wyse councelers aboute a king to let his brother to bee cast away vnder our noses And therfore I ensure you feithfully for my minde I wyll rather maugre her stomacke fetche hym awaye then leaue hym there tyll her feare or fonde frowarde feare conuey hym awaye and yet wyll I breake no sanctuarye for verely sithe the priueledge of that place other of that sorte haue so long contynued I woulde not go about to breake yt but yf they were nowe to begynne I would not be he that shoulde make theim yet wyl not I saye nay but it is a deede of pitie that such men as the chauÌce of yâ sea or theyr euil debters haue brought into pouertee shoulde haue some place of refuge to kepe in theyr bodies out of the dauÌger of theyr cruel credytoures And yf it fortune the croune to come in question as it hath done before thys time whyle eatch parte taketh other for traytoures I thyncke it
arrande was not onely one maÌnes mynde or were it for that the protectoure entended not in this matter to trust one manne alone or els if she finally were determined to kepe hym some of the compaignie had paraduenture some secrete instruccioÌ incontineÌt maugre her will to take hym and to leaue her no respyte to conueigh hym When the quene and the lordes were come together in presence the Cardynall shewed vnto her that it was thought to the lord protectour and the whole caunsaill that hir kepyng of that kynges brother in that place highly souÌded not onely to that grudge of the people and their obloquy but also to the unportable greefe and displeasure of that kyng his royall maiestie to whose grace it were a synguler coÌforte to haue his naturall brother in compaignie and it was their bothes dishonoures and theirs hirs also to suffre hym in sanctuarye as though the one brother stoode in daungier and perell of the other And he shewed her ferther that the whole counsaill had sent hym to requyre of her the delyuerye of hym that he might bee brought to that kyng his presence at his libertie oute of that place whiche meune reconed as a prisone there should he bee demeaned accordyng to his estate and degree and she in this doyng should bothe dooe greate good to the realme pleasure to the couÌsaill profite to her self succoure to her frendes that were in destresse ouer that whiche he wist well she speciallye tendered not onelye greate conforte honoure to the kyng but also to the younge duke hym self whose bothe greate wealthe it were to bee together aswell for many greater causes as also for their bothe dysporte recreacyon whiche thynges the lordes estemed not sleight though it semed light well poÌde ryng that their youthe without recreacion and playe caÌnot endure ner any estraunger for the conuenieÌcie of bothe their estates so metely in that poinct for any of theim as the either of theim for theother My lorde ê the quene I saie not naye but that it were very conueniente that this gentlemanne whom you requyre were in the compaignie of the kyng his brother and in good faith me thynketh it were as greate commodite to theim bothe as for yet a while to bee in the custodie of their mother the tendre age consydered of the elder of theim bothe but in especiall the younger whiche besydes his infancye that also nedeth good lookyng too hath awhyle been so sore deseased with syckenesse and is so newlye rather a lytle amended then well recouered that I dare putte no persone earthely in trust with his kepyng but my self onely consyderyng there is as phisicians saie and as we also fynde double that perell in the resylynacion that was in the first syckenesse with whiche desease nature beyng sore laboured forweried weaked waxeth the lesse hable to bear oute a newe surfett ãâ¦ã And albeit there might bee fouÌden other that would happely dooe their best vnto hym yet is there none that ether knoweth better howe to ordre hym then I that so loÌg haue kepte hym or is more tendrely like to cherishe hym then his owne mother that bare hym No maÌne denieth good madame ê yâ cardinall but that your grace of all folke were moost necessarie aboute your chyldreÌ so would all that couÌsaill not only bee content but also glad yâ it were if it might stand with your pleasure to be i suche place as might staÌde with their honour But if you apoinct your self to tarie here theÌ thynke thei it more coÌuenieÌt the Duke of Yorke were with that kyng honorably at his lybertie to the coÌforte of theim bothe then here as a sanctuary maÌne to their bothe dishonoure and obloquy sith there is not alwaie so greate necessite to haue that childe with the mother but that occacioÌ sometyme maye bee suche that it should bee more expedieÌt to kepe hym els where whiche in this well apereth that at suche tyme that your moost derest soonne theÌ prince nowe kyng should for his honour good ordre of the countre kepe houshold in Wales farre out of your kepyng your grace was well coÌtent therw t your self Not very well content ê the quene pet the case is not like for theone was then in helth theother is nowe sicke in whiche case I meruell greatly why my lord protectour is so desierous to haue hym in his kepyng where if the childe in his sickenesse miscaried by nature yet might he roÌne into slaunder and suspicion of fraude And thei call it a thyng so sore against my childes honoure and theirs also that he abideth in this place it is all their honoures there to suffre hym abide wher no manne doubteth he shal be best kepte and that is here while I am here whiche as yet entend not to come foorth and ieopard my selfe after other of my freÌdes whiche would God were rather here in suertie with me then I were there in ieoperdie with theim Why Madame ê the lord Hawarde knowe you any thyng why thei should bee in ieopardie Naye verely ê she nor why thei should bee in prisone neither as thei nowe bee but I trowe it is no greate maruell though I feare leaste those that haue not letted to put theim in duraunce with out coloure will let as litle to procure their distrucion without cause The cardinall made a countenaunce to the lord Haward that he should harpe no more vpon that stryng and theÌ saied he to the quene that he nothyng doubted but those lordes of her kynne the whiche remeyned vnder a rest should vpon the matter âramined dooe well ynough and as toward her noble persone was neither could bee any maner of ieopardie Wherby should I truste that ê that quene in that I am guyltlesse as though thei were guyltie in that I am with their enemies better beloued then thei wheÌ thei hate theim for my sake in that I am so nere to the kyng and howe ferre bee thei of that would helpe as God seÌde grace thei hurt not And therfore as yet I purpose not to departe hence as for this gentlemanne my soonne I minde he shall be wher I am till I se further for I se some meÌne so gredy whthout any substanciall cause to haue hym whiche maketh me muche more afrayd and scrupulous to delyuer hym Truly madame ê the cardynall the more afrayde that ye bee to delyuer hym the more other menne feareth to suffre you to kepe hym leaste youre causelesse feare mighte cause you farther to conueye hym many thynke he can here haue no pryuiledge whiche can haue neyther wyll to aske it nor yet malyce or offence to nede it And therfore they recon no priuiledge broken although they fetche hym out of sanctuarye whiche yf you fynallye refuse to delyuer hym I thynke verely the councel wil enfraunchese hym so muche drede hathe my lorde his vncle for the teÌdre loue he beareth hym least your grace should sende hym
awaye Ah ê the quene hath he so tendre a zele to hym that he feareth nothyng but least he should escape hym Thynketh he that I would sende hym hence whiche is neyther in the plight to sende oute and in what place coulde I recone hym sure if he bee not sure in sanctuarye whereof was there neuer tyraunte yet so deuelyshe that durste attempte to breake the priuiledge and I truste God is nowe as stronge to wythstande his aduersaries as euer he was But my soonne can deserue no sanctuarye you saye and therfore he cannot haue it forsothe the lorde protectoure hath sente a goodly glose by the whiche that place that may defend a these may not saue an innocent but he is in no ieopardye nor hath no nede thereof I woulde God he had not Troweth the protectoure I praye God he maye proue a protectour rather then a destroyer whereunto his peynted processe draweth Is it not honourable that the duke byde here it were confortable to theim bothe that he were with his brother because the kyng lacketh a playe feloe yea bee you sure I praye God sende hym better playefelowes then hym that maketh so hyghe a matter vpon suche a tryfleynge pretexte as though there coulde none bee founde to playe with the kynge but yf his brother whiche hathe no lu ãâ¦ã to playe for syckenesse muste come oute of Sanctuarye oute of his sauegarde to playe with hym as though that prynces so young as they beâ coulde not playe without their peres or chyldreÌ coulde not playe without theyr kynred with whome for the more parte they agree muche woorsse then with straungiers But the chyld you saye cannot require the priuiledge who tolde the protectoure so Aske hym and you shall here hym aske it and so shall he if ye wyll Howebeit this is a straunge matter suppose he coulde not aske it and thynke he woulde not aske it and ymagene he woulde aske to go oute yf I saye he shall not Note if I aske the priuiledge but for my selfe I saye that he that agaynst my wyll taketh out hym breaketh Sanctuarye Serueth thys lyberty for my personne onlye or for my goodes too you maye not frome hence take my horsse frome me yf I stale hym not nor owe you nothynge then foloweth it that you maye not take my chylde from me he is also my ward for as farre as my learned councell sheweth me he hath nothyng by dyssente holden by knyghtes seruage but by socage then the lawe maketh me his garden then maye no manne lawfully I suppose take my warde frome me oute of thys place wythoute the breche of Sanctuarye and yf my pryuyledge coulde not serue hym nor he aske it for hym selfe yet sythe the lawe commytteth to me the custodye of hym I maye requyre it for hym excepte the lawe geue the infaunte a garden onelye for hys gooddes dyschargynge hym of the cure and sauekepynge of his bodye for whiche onely bothe goodes and landes serue Wherfore here entende I to kepe hym sithe mannes lawe serueth the garden to kepe the infaunte and the lawe of nature wylleth the mother to kepe that chyld and Goddes lawe priuiledgeth the Sanctuarye and the Sanctuarye pryuyledgeth my soonne sythe I feare to putte hym to the protectoures handes that hathe his brother already whiche is yf bothe fayled inheritoure to the croune as heyre male as he sayth The cause of my feare no man hath to dooe to examen and yet feare I no further then the law feareth whiche as learned menne tell me forbyddeth euery manne the custody of theim by whose death he maye enheryte lesse lande then a kyngdome I can saye no more but whosoeuer he bee that breaketh this holy sanctuary I praye God sende hym shortelye nede of Sanctuary when he maye not come to it for I woulde not that my mortall enemie should be taken out of Sanctuary The Cardynal perceaued that the quene euer that lenger the farther of and also that she beganne to kyndle and chafe and spake sore bytynge woordes agaynst the protectoure and suche as he neyther beleued also was lothe to here he sayd to her for a finall conclusion that he would no more dispute the matter and if she were contente to delyuer the duke to hym and to the other lordes there present he durste laye his owne bodye and soule bothe in pledge not onlye for his suretie but also for hys estate and surely he knewe nor suspected no cause but he might so dooe but he knewe not all And further he saide if she would geue hym a resolute aunswere to the contrarye he would therewith departe incontinent and shifte who so woulde wyth this busynesse afterwarde for he neuer entended further to moue her in the matter in the whiche he thought that he and all other also saue her selfe lacked eyther wytte or truthe Wytte if they were so dull if they nothyng coulde perceaue what the protectoure entended and yf they should procure her soonne to bee delyuered into his handes in whome they shoulde perceaue towardes the chyld any euell wyll entended then she myghte thynke all the councell bothe euel aduysed and of lytle fydelyte to theyr prince The quene with these wordes stoode in a great studye and forasmuche as she sawe the lord Cardynall more redyer to departe then the remanauÌt and the protectoure hym selfe redye at hande so that she verelye thought that she coulde not kepe hym there but he shoulde bee incontynente taken thence and to conueye hym elles where neyther had she tyme to serue her nor place determyned nor personnes appoynted to conueygh hym and so all thyng was vnreadye when this message came so sodenly on her nothyng lesse lookyng for then to haue hym out of sanctuarye whiche she knewe nowe menne to bee set in all places about that he coulde not bee conueyghed oute vntaken and partely as she thought it myghte fortune her feare to bee false so well she wist it was ether nede lesse or botelesse Wherfore yf she should nedes go from hym she demed best to deliuer hym specially of that Cardinalles faith she nothing doubted nor of some other lordes whome she sawe there which as she feared least they might be deceaued so well was she assured that they woulde not bee corrupted then thoughte she that it woulde make theim the more warely to looke to hym and the more circum spectly to see his surety yf she with her owne handes betooke hym theim by truste and at the laste she tooke the young duke by the hande and saied vnto the Lordes my Lorde ê she and all my lordes nether am I so vnwise to mistruste youre wittes nor so suspicyous to mistruste your truthes of which thing I purpose to make such a proofe that yf either of bothe lacked in you might turne both me to greate sorowe the realme to muche harme and you to greate reproche For lo here is ê she this gentilman whome I doubte not but I could kepe salfe if I would whatsoeuer
the .xiii. daye of Iune were was much commonyng for the honourable solempnytee of the coronation of the whyche the tyme appoynted aproched so nere that the pageauÌtes were a making day nyght at Westminster vytayle kylled which afterwarde was cast awaye These lordes thus sittyng commoning of this matter the protectoure came in emong theÌ about ix of the clocke salutynge theim curteously excusynge hym selfe that he had bene frome theim so longe saiynge merely that he had bene a sseper that daye And after a lytle talkynge wyth theym he sayd to the bishop of Ely my lorde you haue very good strawberies in your garden at Holborne I requyre you let vs haue a messe of theim Gladly my lorde ê he I would I had some better thyng as redy to youre pleasure as that and wyth that he sente his seruaunte in al the haste for a dysh of strawberyes The protectoure set the lordes faste in commonynge and thereupon prayed theim to spare hym a lytle and so he departed and came in agayn betwene x and .xi. of the clocke into the chaÌber al chaunged with a sowre angry countenauÌce knyttynge the browes frownynge and frettynge and gnawynge on hys lyppes so set him downe in hys place All the lordes were dysmayed sore marueyled of thys maner and sodayne chaunge and what thynge should hym ayle When he had sytten a whyle thus he beganne What were they woorthy to haue that compasse and ymagyne the dystruccyon of me beynge so neare of bloodde to the kynge and protectoure of this hys royal realme At whyche questyon all the lordes sat sore astonned musynge muche by whom thys questyon shoulde be ment of whych euery man knewe hymselfe clere Then the lord Hastynges as he that for the familiaritee that was betwene them thoughte he myght be boldest wyth hym answered sayd that they were worthye to bee punyshed as heyneous traytours what so euer they were and all the other affyrmed the same that is ê he yonder sorceces my brothers wyfe and other wyth her meanynge the quene at these wordes manie of the lordes were sore abashed whyche fauoured her but the lorde Hastynges was better contente in hys mynde that it was moued by her then by anye other that he loued better albeit hys hearte grudged that he was not afore made of councel in this matter as well as he was of the takynge of her kynred and of theyr puttynge to deathe whyche were by hys assente before deuised to be behedded at Pomfrete thys selfe same daye in the whyche he was not ware the it was by other deuysed that he hym selfe shoulde the same daye be behedded at London then sayde the protectoure in what wyse that the sorceresse and other of hys counsayle as Shores wyfe wyth her affynitee haue by theyr sorcerye and wychcrafte thys wasted my bodye and therewyth plucked vp hys doublet cleane to hys elbowe on hys lyfte arme where he shewed a weryshe wythered arme and small as it was neuer other And thereupon euery mannes mynd mysgaue theim well perceauynge that thys matter was but a quarell for well they wyste that the quene was boothe to wyse to goo aboute anye suche foly and yf she woulde yet woulde she of al folke make Shores wyfe leaste of councel whom of all womenne she most hated as that concubinâ whom the kyng her husband most loued Also there was no manne there but knewe that hys arme was euer such syth the day of hys byrth Neuerthelesse the lorde Hastynges whyche from the death of kyng Edward kept Shores wyfe on whom he somewhat doted in the kynges lyfe sauynge it is sayd that he forbare her for reuerence towarde hys kynge or elles of a certayne kynd of fydelitee towarde hys frende Yet nowe his heart somwhat grudged to haue her whom he loued so hyghly accused and that as he knewe wel vntrulye therefore he aunswered and sayde certaynlye my lord yf they haue so doone they be worthie of heynous ponyshemente what ê the protectoure thou seruest me I wene wyth yf and wyth and I tell the they haue doone it and that I wyll make good on thy bodye traytoure And therewith in a greate anger he clapped his fyste on the boorde a great rappe at whych token geuen one cryed treason withoute the chamber and therewyth a doore claped and in came rushing men in harneyes as many as the chamber coulde holde And anone that protectoure sayd to the lorde Hastynges I arrest the traytoure what me lord ê he yea the traitour ê the protectour And one let flye at the lord StaÌley whyche shroncke at the stroake and fell vnder the table or elles his hed had bene cleft to the teth for as shortly as he shrancke yet ranne the blood aboute hys eares Then was the archebyshoppe of Yorke and doctoure Morton byshoppe of Ely and the lorde Stanleye taken and dyuers other whyche were bestowed in dyuers chambers saue the lorde Hastynges whome the protectoure commaunded to spede and shryue hym apace for by saint Poull ê he I will not dyne till I se thy hed of it booted hym not to aske why but heuilie he tooke a preeste at auenture made a shorte shrift for a lenger would not bee suffred the protectoure made so muche haste to his dyner whiche might not goo to it till this murther were dooen for sauing of his vngracious othe So was he brought foorth into the grene beside the chapell within the towre and his hed layde dowe on a logge of tymber that laye there for buyldyng of the chapell and there tyrannously stryken of and after his bodye hed were enterred at Wyndesore by his mayster kyng Edward the fourth whose soules Iesu pardon Amen A merueleous case it is to here either the warnynges that he should haue voyded or the tokens of that he could not voyde For the next nyght before his deathe the lorde Stanley sent to hym a trusty messenger at mydnight in all the hast requiryng hym to ryse and ryde awaye with hym for he was disposed vtterlye no lenger for to abyde for he had a fearfull dreame in the whiche he thought that a bore with his tuskes so rased theim bothe by the heddes that the bloodde ranne aboute bothe their shoulders and for asmuche as the protectour gaue the bore for his cognisaunce he ymagened that it should bee he This dreme made suche a fearfull impressioÌ in his hearte that he was throughly determined no leÌger to tarye but had his horsso readie if the lord Hastynges would goo with hym So that thei would ryde so ferre that night that thei should bee oute of daungere by the next daye A good lord ê the lord Hastynges to the messenger leaneth my lord thy master so muche to suche trifles and hath suche faith in dreames whiche either his awne feare faÌtesieth or doo rise in that nightes rest by reason of the dayes thought Tell hym it is plaine witchcraft to beleue in suche dreames whiche if thei were tokens of
the least rule more suite in his daies was to Shores wife a vile abhominable strompet then to all the lordes in England excepte vnto those that made her their Protectoure which simple woman was yet wel named honest tyll the Kynge for his luste and synfull affeceyon berefte her from her husband a right honest man and substanciall amongest you And in that point whiche in good fayth I am sorye to speake of sauing that it is vayne to kepe in councell that thyng that all menne knoweth the kynges gredy appetite was insaciable and euerye where ouer all the realme intollerable For no womanne was there any where younge or olde poore or ryche whome he set his iye vpon whome he any thing liked eyther for persone or beautie speche pace or countenaunce but without any feare of God or respecte of his honoure murmoure or grudgyng of the worlde he would importunately pursue his appe tite haue her to the great distruccion of many a good womanne and greate doloure to theyr husbandes and frendes whiche being honest people of theim selues so much regarded the clennesse of their houses the chastitee of their wiues and children that theim were leuer to loose all that they haue beside then to haue suche a vilame done to theim And albeit that with this and other importable dealing the realme was in euery place anoyed yet specially you the citezens of this noble citee as for that amongest you is moost plentie of suche thinges as minister matter to suche iniuries as for that you wer nerest hand sith that nere here about was his moost coÌmon abidyng And yet bee ye people whome he had as synguler a cause well and trewelye to intrete as any parte of his realme not only for that the Prynce by this noble citee as of his speciall chaumbre and renoumed citee of this realme muche honourable fame receaueth amongest all other nacyons but also for that you nowe withoute youre greate coste and sondrye fauoures and ieopardyes in al his warres bare euer youre especyall fauoure to hys parte whych your kynd myndes borne to that house of Yorke sith he hath no thiÌgworthely requited you ther is of that house now whyche by Goodes grace shall make you full recompence which thyng to shew you is the whole somme and effecte of oure errande It shal not I wote well nede that I rehersed vnto you agayne that you all redy haue hearde of him that can bet ter tell it and of whom I am sure ye wyll better beleue it and reason it is that it so be I am not so proude to loke therfore that you shoulde receaue my wordes of so greate authorytee as the preachers of the worde of God namely a man so connyng so wyse that no man wotteth better what he should do say and thereto so good and vertuous that he would not say the thynge which he wyst he shoulde not saye in the pulpyt namely in to the whiche no honeste manne commeth to lye which honourable preacher ye wel remember substancyally declared to you at Poules crosse on soÌ daye laste past the ryght and tytle of the most excellent prynce Rychard Duke of Glouceter nowe protectoure of thys hys realme whych he hath vn to the croune of the kingdome of the same For the worshipful man made yt perfytely and groundly open vnto you The chyldren of kynge Edwarde the .iiii. wer neuer laufully begotten for as much as the kynge lyuyng hys very wyfe dame Elizabeth Lucy was neuer laufully maried to the quene theyr mother whose blood sauyng he set hys volupteous pleasure before hys honour was ful vn metely to be matched with his the mynglyng of which two bloodes together hath bene the effusioÌ of a gret part of the noble blod of this realme wher by it may well be sene that mariage was not well made of which ther is so much myschiefe growen For lacke of which laweful copulatioÌ also of other thinges which the sayd worshipful doctour rather signified theÌ vtterly explaned which thing shall not be spoke for me as the thing that euery maÌ forbeareth to say that he knoweth in aduoiding the dy spleasour that my noble lorde protectour bearing as nature requireth a filiall reuerence to the duches his mother For these causes before remembred I say that for lack of yssue lawfully coÌming of the late noble prince Richard duke of york to whose roial blod the crownes of EnglaÌd of FrauÌce ar by high aucthoritee of parliament entayled the right tytle of the same is by iuste course of enheritauÌce according to the comon law of this land deuoluted come vnto the moost excellent prince the lord protectour as to the very lawful begotten soonne of the fore remeÌbred noble duke of yorke whiche thing wel coÌsidered the knightly prowesse with many vertues which in his noble person singulerly do habound The nobles comons of this realme and specially of that north partes not williÌg any bastard blood to haue the rule of the laÌd nor the abusions in the same before vsed exercised any leÌger to coÌtinue haue fully condiscended vtterly determyned to make hygh peticioÌ vnto yâ puisaunt prince the lord protectour that it may lyke his grace at our humble request to take vpoÌ him the guiding go uernauÌce of this realme to the welth increase of the same according to his very right iust title which thing I wote wel he wylbe loth to take vpon him as he whose wisdome wel perceueth the labour study both of mynd body that shal come ther with to hiÌ whosoeuer shal occupy the rome I dare say he wyl yf he take it for I warraÌte you that that roome is no childes office that the greate wise man wel perceaued wheÌ he sayd Ve regno cuius rex puer est wo to that realme whose king is a chylde wherefore so much more cause haue we to thank god that this noble personage which is so righteously eÌtitled therto is of so sad age therto of so great wisdome ioyned with so gret experieÌce which albeit he wylbe loth to take vpon hiÌ yet shal he to our peticioÌ in the behalfe the more graciously encline if ye the worshipful cytezins of this cite beyng the chefe cite of the realme ioyne with vs the nobles in our sayd request which for your owne weale we doubte not but that ye wyll And yet neuerthelesse we pray you so to do wherby ye shall do great profite to all this his realme Beside that in chosinge then so good a kinge yt shal be to your selfe a special commodite to whom his maiesty shal euer after bear so much the more tender fauour in how much he shal perceaue you the more prone and beneuolentlye mynded toward his eleccion wherin dere frendes what mynd you haue we require you playnelye to shewe vs WheÌ the duke had said loked that the people whom he hoped that the maire had
I was aboute to saye taken aswell as before God I mente it coulde deserue but thanke and yet taken as I wene it would myghte happen to turne me to lytle good and you to lesse Then longed the duke muche more to were what it was wherupon the byshop saied In good faith my lord as for the late protectoure âith he is now kyng in possessyon I purpose not to dispute his title but for the welthe of this realme whereof his grace hathe nowe the gouernaunce and wherof I my selfe am a poore membre I was aboute to wysh that to those good habilitees wherof he hath already righte many litle nedyng my prayse yet mighte it haue pleased God for the better store to haue geuen hym some of suche other excellent vertues mete for the rule of the realme as oure Lord hath planted in the persone of your grace there lefte of againe Of whiche woordes the duke perceauyng that the byshop bare vnto hym his good hearte and fauoure mystrusted not to entre more plaine coÌmunicacion with hym so farre that at the laste the byshoppe declared hym selfe to bee one of theim that would gladly helpe that Richard who then vsurped the croune mighte bee deposed if he had knowen howe it myghte conuenientely bee broughte to passe the suche a persone as had true title of inheritaunce vnto the same might bee restored therunto Vpon this the saied duke knowing the bishoppe to bee a manne of prudence and fidelitee opened to hym all his whole hart and entent saying my lorde I haue deuised the waye howe the bloodde both of kyng Edward and of kyng Henry the syxte that is lefte beyng coupled by maryage and affinitee maye bee restored vnto the croune being by iuste and true title due vnto theim both for kyng Richard he called not the brother of kyng Edwarde the fourth but his enemye and mortall fooe The waye that the Duke had deuysed was this that they shoulde with all spede and celerytee fynde meanes to sende for Henry earle of Rich mounte whome the rumoure wente immediatlye vpon knowledge of kynge Edwardes deathe to haue bene deliuered oute of prysone with Fraunces Duke of Brytaine the same Henry to helpe with all their power and strength so that the saied Henry woulde fyrste by his feithfull othe promise that ymmediatly vpon obteigning the croune he woulde mary and take to wyfe Elyzabeth the elder doughter of Edward the fourth The byshop of Ely ryghte well alowed bothe the deuyce and purpose of the duke and also the maner and waye howe the matter shoulde bee broughte to effecte and founde meanes that Reynold Breye seruauÌr with Margarete mother of the saied Henry then maried to Thomas Stanley came to the duke in to Wales and the dukes mynde throughlye perceaued and knowen with greate spede retourned to the saied Margarete aduertisyng the same of all thinges which betwene the duke and hym concerning aswell the coÌmon weale of the realme as also the aduauncemente of her and her bloodde had been debated Nowe it came so to passe that the duke of Buckyngham and the ladye Margaret mother to the saied Henrye had bene in communicacyon of the same matter before and that the saied lady Margarete had deuised the same meane and waye for the deposycion of kynge Rycharde and bringyng in of Henry her sonne the whiche the Duke nowe brake vnto the byshop of Ely wherupon theâe rested no more forasmuche as she perceaued the duke nowe willyng to prosecute and further the sayed deuice but that she should fynde the meanes that this matter myghte bee broken vnto Quene Elizabeth the wyfe of kyng Edwade the fourthe then beynge in the Sanctuarye And hereupon she caused one Lewes that was her physicyan in his owne name and as thoughe it came of hym selfe to breake this matter vnto the quene saying that yf she would consent and agree therunto a meane might bee founde howe to restore agayne the blood of kyng Edwarde and kyng Henrye the syxte vnto the croune and to bee aduenged of kynge Rycharde for the murther of kyng Edwardes chyldren and then declared that there was beyonde that see Henry Earle of Richemounte whiche was of the blood of Henry the sixte whome yf she woulde be content that he marye Elizabeth her eldest doughter there shoulde of his syde bee made righte many frendes and she for her parte myghte helpe in lyke maner wherby no doubte it shoulde come to passe that he shoulde possesse the croune by moost rightfull inheritaunce Whiche matter when she heard it it liked her excedingly well in so much as she counceled the saied phisicyan to breake the same vnto his maistresse the ladye Margaret knowe her mynde therein promisyng vpon her woorde that she would make all the frendes of kyng Edwarde to take parte with the sayed Henrye yf he woulde be sworne that when he came to the possessyon of the croune he woulde immediately take in maryage Elyzabeth her eldest doughter or elles yf she lyued not that tyme that then he would take Cicile her yongest doughter Whereupon the sayde Lewes retourned vnto the ladye Margarete hys maystresse declarynge vnto her the whole mynd and entent of the quene So that theÌ it was shortly agreed betwene these two wemen that wyth al spede thys matter shold be set forwarde in so much that the lady Margarete brake thys matter vnto Reynolde Bray wyllynge hym to moue and set forwarde the same with all suche as he shoulde perceaue eyther hable to doo good or wyllynge thereunto Then had the quene deuysed that one Chrystopher whome the foresayde Lewes the Physicyan had promoted into her seruyce shoulde bee sente into Brytayne to Henrye to geue hym knowledge of theyr myndes here and that he shoulde prepare and apoynt hym selfe redye and to come into Wales where he shoulde fynde ayde and helpe ynonghe readye to receaue hym But then shortly after yt came vnto her knowledge that the Duke of Buckingham had of himselfe afore entended the same matter whereupon she thoughte yt should be mete to sende some messenger of more reputacyon and credyte then was thys Chrystopher and so kepte hym at home and then sente Hughe Conewaye wyth a greate some of monye wyllynge hym to declare vnto Henrye all thynges and that he should hast hym to come and to lande in Wales as is aforesayde And after hym one Rycharde Guilforde oute of Kente sente one Thomas Ramey wyth the same message the whyche two messengers came in maner bothe at one tyme into Brytayn to the Earle Henrye and declared vnto hym all theyr commyssioÌs The whiche message when Henry had perceaued and throughly heard it reioysed his harte and he gaue thankes vnto God fully purposyng with al conuenyente spede to take his iourney towardes England desiryng the aide and helpe of the duke of Brytayne with promise of thanckfull recompence when God should sende hym to come to his ryghte The duke of Britayne notwithstanding that he had not longe after
Thomas Hutton newely retourned oute of Britein of whom afore is mencioned that Fraunces duke of Brytain would not onelye holde Henry Erle of Rychmount in prisone for his sake but also was readie to helpe thesame Henry with menne money and shippes in all that he might against hym he sette dyuerse and sondry shippes in places conuenyent by all the seacostes to Brytain ward that if Henry should come that waye he might either bee taken before his arriuall or els might bee kept froÌ landyng in any coaste of England And furthermore in euerie coaste and corner of the realme laied wondrefull wayte and watche to take partely any other of his enemies and specially thesaid duke of BuckynghmÌ Wherupon thesaid Homffrey Banaster were it for mede or for losyng his life and goodes disclosed hym vnto the kynges inquysyâours who ymediatly tooke hym and foorthwith all brought hym to Salisbury where kyng Rychard was The duke beyng dylygently examined vttred without any maner refusall or styckyng all suche thynges as he knewe trustyng that for his plain confession he should haue lybertee to speake with the kyng whiche he made moste instauÌt and humble peticion that he might dooe But assone as he had coÌfessed his offence towardes kyng Rychard he was oute of hande behedded And this death the duke receaued at the handes of kyng Rychard whom he had before holpen in his affayrs and purposes beyonde all Gods forbode Whyle these thynges wer in hand in England Henry Erle of Richmount made readye his hoste and strength to the nombre of fiue thousand Brytones and fiftene shippes the daye apoynted of his departure beyng nowe come whiche was the twelfe daye of the moneth of Octobre in the yere of our lorde God a thousand foure hundred .lxxxiiii. and the seconde yere of the reigne of kyng Richard and hauyng a fayre wynde hoysed vp the sayles setforwarde but towarde the night came suche a tempest that thei were dispersed one from another some into Britain and some into Normandy But the ship in whiche Henry was with one other ship tossed all the night with the waues of the sea and tempest when the mornyng came it waxed somewhat calme and faire weder and thei were come toward the South parte of England by a hauen or porte called Poole where thesaid Henry sawe all the shores or bankes sette full of harnessedmen whiche were souldyours apoynted there to wayte by kyng Rychard as we haue saied before for the comyng landyng of the erle While Henry there abode he gaue commaundement that no manne should land before that comyng of the other shippes And in the meane tyme that he wayted for theim he sent a litle bote with a fewe in it a laÌd to knowe what thei were that stoode on the shore his freÌdes or enemies To whom those souldyours beeyng before taught what thei should saie aunswered that thei were the frendes of Henry and were appoynted by the duke of BuckynghmÌ there to abide his commyng and to conducte hym to those castelles and holdes where his tentes pauylyons and arââllary for the warre laie and where remayned for hym a greate power that entended nowe with all spede to set vpon kyng Rychard while he was nowe sleâ for feare and cleane without prouision and therfore besought hym to come alande Henry suspectyng this to bee but fraude after that he saw none of his shippes apered hoysed vp the satles hauyng a meruelous good wynde euen apoynted hym of God to delyuer hym from that great ieopardy and sayled backe agayn into Nor mandy And after his landyng there he and his compaignie after their laboures arested theim for the space of .iii. dayes determynyng to go from thence afoote into Brytayne in the meane while sent messengers vnto Charles the Frenche kynge the sonne of Lewes that a lytle before departed be sechyng hym of lybertee and lycence to passe thorough NormaÌdy into Brytayn The young kyng Charles beeyng sory for his fortune was not onlye ready and well pleased to graunt his passage but also sent hym moneye to helpe hym foorthe in his iourneye But Henry before that he knewe the kynges mynde not doubtyng of his great humanytee and gentlenes had sent awaye his shippes towardes Britayne and had set hym selfe forwardes in his iourneye but made no greate haste tyll the messengers retourned whiche greate gentlenes when he receaued from the kyng reioysed his hearte and with a lustye stomacke and good hope set forwarde into Brytayne there to take ferther counsayle of his affayres And when he was in Brytayn he receaued froÌ his frendes out of Englande knowledge that the duke of Buckyngham was behedded and that the Marques of Dorcestre with a greate nombre of the noble men of Englande had bene there a lytle before to seke hym and that they wer now in Veneti a cytie in Brytayne The whiche thynges beynge knowen to the erle he on the one parte did greately lament the death and euel chaunce of his chiefe and princypall frende but yet on the other parte he greatlye reioysed in that he had so many noble menne to take his parte in the battayll And therfore conceauynge a good hope and opinion that his purpose shoulde well frame and come to passe determyned with hym selfe with all expedycion to set foorth warde and therupon wente to a place in Brytayn called Rhedon and from thence sent to the Marques with all the other noble men that they should come vnto hym Then when they hearde that Henrye was safe returned into Brytayne reioysed not a lytle for thei had thought he had landed in Englande and so fallen into the handes of kyng Richarde and they made not a lytle haste tyll they wer come vnto hym The whiche when they met after greatloye and gladnesse aswell of their parte as of his they began to talke of their prepensed matters and nowe was Christmasse come on the whiche daye they altogether assembled in the churche and there sware fayth and truthe one to another And Henry sware first promysyng that assone as he should possesse the croune of England that he woulde marye Elyzabeth the doughter of Edward the .iiii. and after warde they sware feaultie homage vnto hym eueÌ as though he had already bene kyng and so from that tyme foorthe dyd take hym promysyng hym that thei would spende bothe their lyfes and goodes with hym that Richard should no leÌger reigne ouer theim When this was dooen Henry declared all these thynges to the duke of Britayne praiynge desyryng hym nowe of helpe and that he woulde ayde hym with a greater nombre of menne also to lende hym a frendly honest somme of moneye that he might nowe recouer his right and enheritaunce of the croune of England vnto that which he was called desyred by al the lordes nobilitee of the realme whiche God wyllyng he was moste assured to possesse and after his possessioÌ he would moste faythfully restore the same again The duke
ye haue heard before he faigned hym selfe to be a good maÌ and thought the people had estemed hym euen so Notwithstandyng shortly after his foresaide vngracious purpose ouercame al this honest feare And first of all he absteyned from beddyng or lyyng with her and also found him self greued with the barreÌnesse of his wife that she was vnfruteful and brought hym forth no chyldren complamyng therof very greuously vnto the nobles of his realme and chieflye aboue other vnto Thomas Rotherame then archebishoppe of Yorke whome he had delyuered a lytle afore oute of pryson the whiche byshop did gather of this that the quene should be rid out of the waye ere it were long after suche experience had he of kyng Richardes complexcioÌ who had practised many lyke thynges not longe before thesame tyme also he made dyuerse of his secrete frendes preuy of thesame his coniecture After this he caused a rumoure to ronne amoÌg the commen people but he woulde not haue the autoure knowen that the quene was dead to th entent that she hearyng this meruelous rumour should take so greueous a conceyt that anone after she should fall into some great disease so that he would assay that waye in case it should chaunce her afterward to be sicke dead or otherwyse murdred that then the people might impute her death vnto the thought she tooke or els to the sickenesse But wheÌ the quene heard of so horryble a rumour of her death sproÌge abroade among the commen people she suspected the matter and supposed the worlde to be at an ende with her and incontinently she wente to the kyng with a lamentable countenaunce and with wepyng teares asked hym whether she had dooen any thyng whereby he might iudge her worthy to suffer death The kyng made aunswere with a smilyng and dissimulyng countenauÌce and with flatteryng woordes byddyng her to bee of good comforte and to plucke vp her heart for there was no suche thyng toward her that he knewe But howe so euer it fortuned either by sorowe or els by poysonyng within fewe daies after the quene was dedde and afterwarde was buryed in the abbay of Westminster This is the same Anne one of Rychard the earle of Warwikes doughters whiche once was coÌtracted to prince Edwarde kyng HeÌry the sixt his soonne The kyng beyng thus delyuered of his wife fantasied a pace ladye Elizabeth his nice desiryng in any wise to mary with her but because that all menne yee and the mayden her self abhorred this vnlawfull desire as a thyng mooste detestable he determined with hym self to make no greate hast in the matter chiefly for that he was in a pecke of troubles fearyng least that of the noble menne some would forsake hym runne vnto Henry his part the other at the leste would fauoure the secrete conspiracy made again hym so that of his ende there was almoost no doubte Also the more parte of the commen people were in so greate dispeare that many of theim had rather to bee accompted in the noumbre of his enemies then to put theim selfes in ieopardy bothe of losse of body and goodes in takyng of his parte And emongest those noble menne whom he feared first was Thomas Standley and Wyllyam his brother Gylbert Talbote of other a greate nouÌbre of whose purpose ⪠though kyng Rychard was ignoraunt neuerthelesse he trusted not one of theim and lest of all Thomas Standley because he had maryed Henryesanother as it maye well appeare by this that fol oweth For when the sayd Thomas woulde haue departed from the courte vnto his owne mansion for his recreacion as he saide but the truthe was because he woulde bee in a readynesse to receaue Henry and ayde hym at his commyng into the realme But the kyng did let hym and would not suffer hym to departe vntyll suche tyme he had left in the courte behynde hym George Strange his soonne and heyre for a pledge And whyle kynge Richarde was thus wrapped in feare and care of the tumulte that was to come lo euen then tydynges came that Henrye was entred into the lande and that the castell of Hammes was prepared to receiue Henry by the meanes of the erle of Oxenforde whiche then was fled with Iames Blunte keper of the castell vnto Henry Then kyng Rychard thynkyng at the begynnyng to stey all this matter sent forth with all hast âhe greater parte that were then at Calyce to recouer the said castell again Those that were in the castell when thei sawe their aduersaries make towardes theim spedely thei armed theim selfes to defence and in al hast sent messengers to HeÌry desyryng hym of ayde Henry forthwith sent the erle of Oxenforde with a chosen sorte of menne to assist theim and at their first commyng they laid siege not farre from the castell And whyle kyng Rychardes menne turned backe hauyng an yie towardes theim Thomas Brandon with thirty valeaunt menne of the otherside gate ouer a water in to the castell to strength theim that were within Then thei that were within laid heard to their charge that were without on the otherside the erle of Oxenford so valiantly assayled them of the backeside that thei were glad to make proclamacioÌ to theim that were within that if thei would be content to geue ouer the castell thei should haue free liberte to departe with all that euer thei had The erle of Oxenforde hearyng this whiche came onely to saue his frendes from hurte and namely Iames Bluntes wife was contented with this condicion and departed in saufgarde with all his frendes returning backe to Henry whiche was at Paris After this kyng Rychard was informed that the Frenche kyng was wery of Henry his compaignie and would doo nothyng for hym wherby Henry was nowe not hable in maner to helpe him self so that it was not possible that he shuld preuaile or goo forwarde in thenterprise that he thoughte to haue taken in hande agaynst kynge Rycharde Kynge Rycharde beeyng brought thus into a false paradice thought hym selfe to bee out of all feare and that there was no cause why he should beynge so sure ones to wake oute of hys slepe or trouble hym selfe any furder and therefore called backe hys nauye of shyppes that then was redy vpon the sea whyche was fullye furnyshed to haue scoured the seas But yet for the more suretie least he should bee sodenly oppressed he gaue commaundemente to the greatte men dwellynge by the sea syde and specyally the Welshemen to watche nyghte and daye leaste his aduersaries shuld haue eny oportunitee to entre into the lande As the fashyon is in time of warre that those that dwell by the sees side should make bekyns in the highest places there about whiche might bee sene afarre of so that when it should chaunce their enemyes to aryue towarde the lande by and by they should fyre theyr bekyns and rayse the countreye to th entent that quickely from place to place they might be ascerteyned of all the whole matter
tyme lo there came Wyllyam Stanley to aide theim with .iii. M. meÌne and euen at the verie same tyme the residue of kyng Richardes men were put to flight TheÌ Richard fightyng alone in the middest of all his enemies was ouerthrowne slain In the meane tyme therle of OxeÌford in the foreward after he had fought maÌfully a litle while put the residue to flight of whoÌ he slewe a greate noÌbre But agreate nombre more whiche folowed Richard more for feare then for loue helde their handes from fightyng went awaie without hurte for that thei loked not for his safegard but rather for his destruccion There were slain at this conflicte not many more then one thousand of the whiche these were noble menne Ihon duke of Norffolke Walter Feris Robert Brachyngbury Richard Radcliffe and many other more And within twoo daies after Wyllyam Catisby lawyer with certain other of his felowes was put to death at Leicestre and emonges those the ranne awaie was Fraunces Louell Humfray Stafford with Thomas his brother and other more that ranne into sanctuary at Colchestre in Essex There was of the captiues a greate nombre because that when Richard was slain euery manne cast doune his wepon and yeld hymself to Henry of the whiche the more parte would haue dooen so at the begynnyng if it had not been for feare of kyng Richardes spies whiche theÌ waÌdered in euery place And emongest these the nobles were the erle of Northumberlande the erle of Surrey of the whiche therle of Surrey was put in prisone this other as a frend was receiued in to fauour Henry at that felde loste not aboue an huÌdred menne emongest whom the chief was Wyllyam BraÌdone whiche bare Henryes baÌner This battaill was fought in the .xxii. day of the moneth of Auguste inthe yere of oure Lorde a thousand cccc .lxxxvi. the conflict indured more then .ii. howres Richard might as the fame went asaued hymself if he would afled awaie for those that were about hym when thei sawe his menne from the begynnyng fight but faintly and that some were ronne awaie vnto the other parte suspected treason and willed hym to flie and when the mater was manifest that all hope of victory was past thei brought hym a swiâte horse He puttyng a sied all hope and trust that was in fleiyng made as it was saied this aunswere that this daie he would haue ether an ende of battaill orels of his life suche was his greate audacite and manfulnes whiche because he did se certainly that in this daie he should ob ãâã the kyngdome quietely all daies of his life or ââs lose bothe for euer he entred in emoÌgest theim as it was declared before intendyng vtterly ether to lose all orels to wynne all And so the wretehe dyed hauyng the ende that all suche were wont to haue whiche in the stede of lawe honestie and all godlynes folowe their owne appetite vyllanye and all wyckednes And plainly this is an example whiche cannot be expressed to feare theim whiche will not suffer one howre to bee otherwyse speÌt then in cruelte mischief and all deuillishe fasshioÌs Henry when he had thus obtained the victorye he fell downe on his knees and with many praiers thankes referred all to the goodnes of God TheÌ after he stode vp beyng wounderfully replenished with ioye went vp vpoÌ alitle hill and there gaue two greate comendacions to his souldyours commaundyng theim that were hurte to be heled and the dede to bee buryed afterward he gaue immortall thankes to his noble capitains promisyng theim that he would neuer forgette their benifite The multitude in the meane tyme with one voyce one mynd proclaimed hym kyng WheÌ Thomas Stanley sawe the he toke kyng Richardes croune whiche was founde emongest the spoyle and by by putte it vpon his head as though he had been then created kyng by the eleccion of the people as it was wonte to bee in the olde tyme and this was the first token of his felicite After this kyng HeÌry with his compaignie and carriage went to Lecestre toward night to bed whether after he had refresshed his compaignie well for the space of twoo daies that thei might the better goo toward London Kyng Richardes bodye was brought naked ouer a horse backe the hed and the armes haÌgyng on the one side and the legges on the other caried in to the grey freres of Lecester and surely it was but a myserable sight to loke vpoÌ yet it was good inough coÌsideryng his wretched leuyng and there without any solempnite was buryed twoo dayes after He raygned twoo yeres twoo monethes one daie he was but of a small stature hauyng but a deformed bodie the one shoulder was higher then the other he had a shorte face a cruell looke whiche did betoken malice guyle and deceite And while he did muse vpoÌ any thing staÌding he would byte his vnder lippe continually whereby a maÌne might perceiue his cruell nature within his wreched bodie striued and chaffed alwaie with in hym self also the dagger whiche he bare aboute hym he would alwaies bee choppyng of it in and out he had a sharpe and pregnaunt witt subtill and to dessimule and fayne verie mete He had also a proude and cruell mynde whiche neuer went from him to the houre of his death whiche he had rather suffer by the cruell sworde though all his compaignie did forsake hym then by shamefull flight he would fauoure his life whiche after might fortune by sickenes or other condynge ponyshemeÌt shortely to perishe ¶ Henry the seuenth HENRY THE SEVENTH OF that name kyng of England First after that he had obteined his kyngdome and heritage by force of armes entended to stablishe all thynges extynguish sedicioÌ and before he departed from Leycester caused ser Robert Willoughby knight to bryng the youÌg erle of Warwike the duke of ClareÌces sooÌne before his presence whom kyng Richard to that tyme had kept at SheryhuttoÌ in Yorke shire fearyng muche least that by this young erle some occasioÌ might bee taken of renuyng battaill whiche entended nothyng more then to liue in peace and quietnes And so this erle was brought to hym at his commaundement conueighed to London and there cast in holde In the self same place also of Yorke shire was Ladie Elizabeth eldest doughter to the fornamed kyng Edwarde whom kyng Rychard her vncle would haue maried sore against the mynde and consent of the same ladie In so muche also that the people were sore against it and accompted it not onely as a reproche infamie to the kyng hymself but also to his counsaill the did agre to his naughtie purpose Albeit God of his infinite mercy preserued the ladie whiche shorte tyme after was brought to London to her mother In this time the kyng drawing nighe to London was there accepted of his citezens streyghte after his coÌming moste roially of all parties saluted after the moste louing fassion the they could
first hearyng of this the kyng was but litle moued but after that he was certified by the letters of his frendes that it was true he was in greate feare for that he had neyther an armye prepared nor harnyes for theim but because the mattier required haste least that by long taryeng his aduersaries power might bee encreased and multiplyed he commaunded the Duke of Bedforde to mete theim with three thousande meÌne whiche were harnysed but barely for theyr breste plates were for the moste parte lether And he hym selfe in that meane tyme would gather vp an hoste where he might in euery place The duke hauyng his meÌ nigh to the teÌtes of his enemyes coÌsulted with certain of his coÌpaignie by what waye he mighte traine theim to peace withoute bloodde shedyng After the whiche deliberation aduisement had it was decreed that certaine shoulde proclaime openly that all thei should haue their pardonne that woulde leaue battaile The whiche proclamation auayled muche for the Lorde Louell eyther for some feare or mystrust that he had in his people or feryng hym selfe of his owne behalfe fledde pryuely in a night from his compaignie to Lankeshire ther remained a space with syr Thomas Broghton knight And when hys army had knowledge therof thei also submittyng theim selfes all to the Duke asked pardonne for their heinous offence The Lorde Stafforde also hearyng this was in a great agony and for feare dyd take sanctuarye at Colname .ii. miles from Abindon But because that sanetuary was not a defence for traytours he was taken from that place and behedded and his brother was êdoned because he was thought not to haue done it of his owne will but thorowe the counsaill and perswasion of his brother After this businesse was asswaged and Yorke shyre set in peace and quietnes the Kyng went to London and shortelye after that to Wynchester where the Quene his wyfe was deliuered of a Prynce called Arthure and from Wynchester he retourned agayne to London Sone after it chaunsed that one syr Richard Symond preest borne by nature to be a traytour and sedicious personne and yet well learned had a chyld called Lambert Symenel to bee hys scholar by whome he inuented this crafte and disceat that he woulde make the chyld kyng of England and hym selfe archebyshoppe or some hygh potestate in the realme for he knewe verely that many menne supposed kyng Edwardes chyldren to bee fled into some straunge place and that Edwarde the Erle of Warwyke sonne to the Duke of Clarence ether was or should bee put to death shortly And to the ende he myght the better bryng hys purpose about he taught the chyld bothe learnyng good maners and also to order hym selfe as one linially descendyng from a hygh progenie Sone after the rumoure was that the younge Earle of Warwyke was dead in prysonne And when the preest heard of this he intendyng therby to bring his matters aboute chaunged the chyldes name and called hym Edwarde after the younge Earle of Warwyke the whiche were boothe of one age and then sayled into Irelande there opening his mynde to certain of the nobilitee whome he knew to beare but lytle fauoure to Kyng Henry where he was promysed ayde of the Lorde Gerardine chauncellour of all that countree and all that he coulde dooe Whyche Lorde fyrst callyng all hys frendes and louers together desyred their helpe in restoryng the yong Earle to his herytage And dyd sende certain into Englande to desire theym that were kynge Rychardes frendes to continue in their loue and faythfulnes towardes hym and helpe hys nephiewes chylde to his ryghte And that hys power myghte bee the stronger to ouercome hys enemyes he desyred Lady Margarete syster to kynge Edwarde and wyfe to the Duke of Burgondy to further hys purpose with her helpe whyche lady beyng then in Flaunders promised him by the messaungers that she would not onely maintaine his entente with large mony and substaunce but with all the laboure and peynes that she myght occasion other to be of the same conspiracie When kynge Henrye was certified of thys he was sore greued that by the meanes of suche a myscreaunte personne so great sedicion should bee neuerthelesse the kynge consideringe that it shoulde bee to the destruccion of manye menne yf that he shoulde fyghte with his enemies in open feelde called hys counsayle together at the Charter house besyde Rychemounde and there consulted to pacifie thys matter wythoute anye more dysturbaunce Where fyrste it was decreed that all thei shoulde bee pardoned for their offences and treasons latelye commytted whiche hath frome that tyme borne theim selfes vpryght towardes their kinge leaste that syr Thomas Broghton whyche kepte the Lord Louell from the king a great tyme wyth other despeyring of theyr pardon shoulde haue made some sodaine insurrection agaynst hym Further more that men shoulde not thyncke but that the Duke of Clarence was in Englande it was appoynted that he shoulde showe hym selfe abrode wherby the opynion that he was in Ireland myghte bee frustrate and accompted as a lye Also it was further determyned that the Ladye Elysabeth wyfe to kyng Edward the .iiii. shoulde lose al her landes because she had submitted her selfe and her doughters wholye to the handes of kynge Rychard contrary to the promyse made to the Lordes and nobles whyche at her desyre lefte al that they had in Englande and fledde to kynge Henrye in Brytayne and there dyd sweare hym to marye her eldeste daughter as she wylled theim to dooe But her purpose did not frame as God would Thys quene buylded a Collage in Cambrydge and gaue landes to the maynteyning of the same whiche at thys houre is called the quenes Collage When thys order and determynacion of the kynge was ended he wente to London and the nexte Sondaye folowynge he caused the young Earle to bee broughte out of the Tower through the streetes to Poules And there to shewe hym selfe to euerye bodye and taske with the chiefe and noble menne that were thoughte to haue conspyred agaynste kynge Henrye for thys cause that they myghte perceaue the Iryshe menne to moue battayle vnaduysedly and cause stryfe vppon no iuste occasion howebeit all thys nothyng auayled for the Earle of Lyncolne the Duke of Suffolkes soonne and nephewe to kynge Edwarde coulde not suffer kynge Henrye thus to reygne but as a traytoure sayled into FlauÌders to the Ladye Margarete takynge wyth hym Syr Thomas Broghton with certayne other Where also the Lorde Louell landed twoo or three dayes before And there they beynge all together determyned that the Earle of Lyncolne and the Lorde Louell shoulde goo to Irelande and there attend vpon the counterfeyte Earle and brynge hym to Englande with all the power they myghte agaynste kynge Henrye So that yf their dooynges had good successe that then the foresayde Lambarte misnamed the Earle shoulde by the consente of the counsayle be deposed and the true Earle to bee delyuered oute of pryson and enherite his right and iuste
sorowe to the Englishe men for thei cried out of the kyng and saied it was not for his honour so to dooe but the kyng as a wise manne moste prudent prince saied it should be the death of many noble puisaunt capitaines if he should continue thesame battaill therefore it might be to his sore reproche if it wer in his power not to tendre as well the health of his coÌmons as his owne whiche saiyng did somewhat coule pacifye their grief And after this dooen the kyng returned backe to Calise for because it was enformed hym that one Richard the named hym self the sonne of kyng Edwarde had made an insurreccion in FlauÌders through the counsaill of lady Margarete the quene to fight against hym which thyng kyng Henry consyderyng did the more spedely hasten to conclude a peace And the condicion of this peace to bee made was this that the Frenche kyng should paye to kyng Henry a certain summe of meny the whiche was leauyed by the ambassadours for the cost and charges that the kyng was put to in that battayll and also should yerely for a certain space paye or cause to bee payde to the kyng of EnglaÌd for a full recompence xâv thousand crounes The whiche Frenche kyng after that beyng in warre with the Italians payd the said tribute to the most noble prince and our souereigne lorde kyng HeÌrye the. vââ sonne to Henry the seuenth for a full recoÌ ãâ¦ã cion and frendship to bee had for euer This was the yere of our Lorde a thousand foure hundreth foure score and thirtene and the seueÌth yere of his reigne Also in this inuadyng besiegyng of Bonony whiche we spake of before there was none killed sauyng onely syr Ihon Sauage whiche goyng out of his tent with syr IhoÌ Riseley was taken priuely rydyng about the walles of the toune and there because he would not yelde was slain of the Frenche men albeit the other syr Ihon Rysely fled and escaped their daunger After this the kyng went froÌ Calis to England again yet that he might not be wtout some trouble or busynes quene Margaret of Spaine whiche euer watched to do hym a displeasure perceauyng that the erle with his coÌpaignie could not haue suche successe in their businesse as she would haue wished theim she inueÌted a new way to worke treason against him There was a certain youÌg maÌ of Tornace very beautiful faire in couÌtenaunce of a pregnaunt witte whiche youÌg maÌ was called Peter surnamed Warbecke for his cowardnes nycknamed of the Englishe men called Perkyn which youÌg maÌ trauaylyng many countrees could speake many laÌguages for his basenes of stocke birth was knowen of none almost Therfore the quene thynkyng this youÌg man to bee mete whoÌ she might feigne to be the duke of Yorke and soÌne to her brother kyng Edward kept hym a certain tyme with her priuely and tellyng hym what he should be that he might the rather persuade meÌ to be the kynges sonne did send hym into IrelaÌde after what time she knewe that kyng Henry had apointed to fight against the Frenche kyng where he was honorably receaued taken of euery manne as a prynce for whose right they promysed all to fight and helpe hym in all that they could After this it came to the FreÌche kynges eare that such an one was in Ireland for whoÌ the kyng did send to see caused hym to be brought before him when he came into his pÌsence the kyng accepted hym gladly after a princely fashioÌ intreteined hym But after the he came in loue with the kyng of England the sayd Charles did dimisse the youÌg maÌ would no loÌger kepe hym least that some inconueniencie or cause of strife should chaunce thorough it Wherfore the young manne went to Flaunders agayne to the quene Magarete whiche quene did receaue hym with suche gladnesse that she coulde not well rule her selfe for this cause onely she dyd shewe her selfe so ioyfull and merye that menne mighte perswade theim selfe that this was Richard the kynges soonne and vpon that cause truely men did the more reuerence to the younge manne and that more firmely beleue hym to bee the righte heire sonne to kyng Edwarde Also after this rumour blased abrode aswel in England Fraunce as Flaundres there beganne great sedicion to spryng and firste they that were long in sanctuary for the greate offences that they had commytted and other that wer cast in pouertie gathered a compaignie of meÌ and sayled ouer into Flaunders to the counterfaicte Edwarde otherwise named Peter also many of the noble men conspired together and to the entent they might bryng their purpose wel about they did send certain to the Quene Margarete to knowe when thesame Edwarde might come conueniently into Englande the thei beyng certified of thesame might the more easely receaue bryng hym into the realme So that by the consent and agrement of theim all syr Robert Clyfforde knight Wyllyam Barley wer sent to shewe all their myndes aduyce as concernyng the newe founde duke to the Quene Margarete Whome the Quene did accepte gladlye and persuaded theim that it was true that was publyshed of Rycharde the duke and streight vpon shewed theim thesame Peter whiche was muche lyke Richarde praysyng his vertues and qualitees that he had wonderfullye The said Robert wheÌ he had seen thesame youÌg manne beleued surely that he was of the kynges bloode and wrote to Englande to his coumpaignye and felowes of his conspiracie that he knewe hym to bee the kynges soonne by his face euery proporcion of his body And when these letters came vnto Englande the chief capitaynes of this businesse did openly diuulgate and publyshe that it was trewe that was spoken and saied abroad of the Duke but it was dooen by suche a crafte that no manne coulde tell who was the authoure of that rumoure When the kyng perceiued that many men did geue credence to his vaine fable he thought beste for his owne safegard to prouide a remedy for it also mystrusting that some conspiracye had bene made bicause that sir Robert Clifford had fled priuely into Flaundres commaunded certain knightes that were chosen and piked menne of warre with a bonde of menne to kepe the borders surely the no manne might escape or sayle ouer the sea without a pasporte or licence geuen by hym Also that men myghte not contynue in the false perswasion and belefe that they had conceyued of the duke he caused certain spies to search in all the citees of Belgike to knowe of what progenie this mysnamed Richarde was and to geue theim highe rewardes that would shewe the verite and truth of the same matter So that they sailynge into Fraunce euerye manne dyd gooe into a contraye quarter and enquired diligently for hym and at the length certain of theim came to a towne called Tornace and there were certifyed by the testymonye of
so doyng and wher as the kyng also remembring this benefyte dyd make hym his chiefe chamberlayn and gaue hym the hyghest promocions that he had he lytle regarded them and loked for some greater rewarde wherfore the king perceauynge that was sore greued with hym and so thei bothe dyd fall at debate and hatred eche wyth other Also at this time the king thought best to vse some asperite in correcting the offeÌces of his subiectes because the some had taken suche heart and audacitee to them the thei feared not to speake euel of his maiestie with most spiteful and contumeleous wordes trusting euer that the fayned Rychard duke of York now lately rysen from death to lyfe on gods name should claime the crowne enheret his counterfeted fathers possessions when such persoÌs had suffered due ponishment for their offences other learning by their neighbours mischaunce to beware dyd frome the tyme beare theim selfes as true faithfull subiectes assysted him with al their power at what time he required help of theÌ After the death of this William Stanley Giles Dabeney was chosen and made chiefe chaÌberlain And now the kyng was in a good staye for his realme sauyng that Ireland was not wel weded of the pernicious sede the was sowed by the young maÌ Perkin Warbeck and his secte Wherfore he sent sir Henry Deny late abbot of LanktoÌ abbey thither made him chauncellour ouer al that I le and Edward Ponyng to serch all places that the forenamed Perken was in to punish theÌ extremely in the example of other the were giltie of that crime but when thei heard of this thei fled for the most part into woddes marysh places for the defence safgard of them selfes there consultyng to kepe open warre agaynst hym whiche Edwarde after that he persued theim many times and coulde neuer try it wyth them because thei wer so disparsed as foren and wilde people he returned backe and suspectinge that the earle of Kyldare was the occasion of this attached him at the counsayl of the erle his euel willers and brought him as prisoner to England Wher when he was arained and certain matters of treason laied to his charge he aduoided theÌ all clerly quite him selfe whome the kynge dimissed and sente hym to Irelande there to bee gouernour and captayne ouer theim as he was before So that now the kyng beeyng oute of all feare of battayle dyd take hys progresse to shyre there to recreate his spirites and solace him selfe with his mother lady Margarete wyfe and countesse to the Earle of Darby Yet when the king was thus delityng hym selfe Perken Warbecke could not moderate or rule hym selfe although so manye suffered and were put to execucion for his mischife but to proue again the chaunce of battel gathered a great armye of men aswell prisoners slaues saÌnctuary men as other came into Kent because the wind so serued ther caused certayne to land to enquire yf the Kentish men would bear with him with whoÌ the Kentish meÌ working guiles promised the thei would assist him yf he his coÌpanie would land ther. Albeit the same PerkeÌ fearing the thei meaned falshode and craft would not descende him selfe but caused certain of his souldiours to lande whiche persones beynge a pretye way from their shippes wer sore beateÌ and put to flight and many of theim taken prisoners after wer condempned to dye Wherfore PerkeÌ failing of his purpose fled backe to Flaunders and there consulted with his frendes vntyll suche time he had been better prepared bothe of men and counsayle The kynge herynge that hys enemyes had made eÌtrauÌce into his realme left of his progresse purposed to go to London but beynge certified the next day after how wel thei had sped continued went forth of his progresse sendyng to theim Richard Gilford to geue thankes and promise of a good turne herafter for the good seruice that thei had done him in those tumultes and assaultes of his enemies Also that thei might not haue any accesse herafter into those parties the king commauÌded the lordes to bee defeÌded stroÌgely with bulwarkes other sure munimeÌtes fortresses of the whiche this same Perken beyng certified hastened the more to renue battaill against the kyng that he might not haue longer space through his delaye to dooe all these thynges for the defence of his realme and so came to Irelande with all his armie and there tariyng a space sailed to Scotlande for ayde and succour of kyng Iames trustyng to finde grace at his hand to whom he spake after this maner I thinke it is not vnknoweÌ to you moste noble kyng in what ruine the stocke of Edwarde the fourth of that name is now of late whiche if you dooe not know and it please your grace so to take me I am his soonne by the power of God preserued a liue at this houre from the mightie hand of a tiranne For my father when he died apointed his brother Richard duke of Gloucestre to bee our gouernour êtectour Albeit he was rather a destroyer of our progenie then a mainteiner of it for he wyllyng to be kyng hymself and depriue vs of our right and title commaunded that we should bothe bee slain and dispatched out of this worlde Therfore he hauyng then full power to ordre vs at his will did cause my brother to bee destroyed and because that he might bee without some parte of that offense and not shewe hymself all a tiraÌne he caused me to bee conueighed to some straunge and foren countree and there to bee desolate of all comforte and helpe And so kyng Richard did hold his crouÌe by dispatchyng away of vs two so that I could not tell by the reason of my tendre age what I was vntill now of late that myne aunte ladie Margarete beyng in FlauÌders did shewe me what I was after she had seen me and to the entent I might recouer again my fathers possessions she hath geuen me for her power a bonde of meÌne wyllyng me the I should desire the helpe of externe nacions and countrees And so I am come to you for succoure whoÌ as it is reported will helpe at all tymes euery manne in his right and in case bee I shall finde you fauorable to me you shall binde me and all myne neuer to thynke ourselfes hable to make you amendes When he had thus saied the kyng promised hym that it should neuer repente hym of his commyng to hym and bad him to take a good hearte after this the kyng assemblyng his counsaill together asked what thei thought best in that matter and whether any deliberacion should bee takeÌ of it or no. To whom some of theim that were wâsest aunswered that it were folishenes to go fur ãâ¦ã in suche a matter consideryng that he was but a painted and feigned duke and had no right to England Other also saied that it was for diuerse causes moste profitable to the coÌmen
wealth partely that this Parkyn if his matters goo well forwarde would rewarde theim as thei would desire and enriche their realme moste plentefully by his liberalite partely also that Henry the kyng perceiuyng their kyng to assist hym would gladly paie tribute to hym for a peace and concord to bee had When this counsaill was gyuen the kyng did gladly folowe it and that his loue might bee more apparent to the people he caused ladie Katherine doughter to therle of HuÌtley his nigh kinsemaÌ to be maried to hym After this was dooen the kyng willyng that this Perkyn should reigne in EnglaÌde hastened his iourney towarde the borders there coÌmyng proclamed openly the all should bee pardoned the would beare with the duke of Yorke fight in his quarell and that meÌne might for feare submitte theim selfes thei burned spoyled killed with out all mercie as ferre as thei did go but the kyng perceiuyng that no Englishemen came to aide this young duke that his souldiours wer so loden with praies spoiles that thei would not gladly go further he returned backe to ScotlaÌd cariyng with hym infinite goodes riches And when this duke came to Scotlande again consideryng the greate distruccion and losse of the Englishmen that none came to aide hym to the enteÌt that his iuglyng of his countrefeict dignite might not be perceiued he saied verie craftely with a loude voice Oh wretch and stonie hearte that I am not moued with the losse and death of so many Englishemen of myne and at that woorde he desired the kyng that he would not molestate his realme herafter with suche cruel tormentyng and fieryng To whom the kyng shaped hym this aunswere right shortely Truely sir me thynke you take charge and thought of an other mannes realme and not of your owne because that I coulde se no manne that woulde take your parte and helpe you with his power wheÌ you were now last emong theim And for this cause the kyng did litle esteme hym after that tyme countyng hym incoÌstant vnstable and speakyng woordes not agreyng to his promise When the English lordes and captaines hearde of this busines thei wer in greate feare fled for safegade of their life 's euery manne to his castell and holde and gatheryng an axmie to withstand their enemies certified the kyng in all post haste of the Scottes enterprise whiche hearyng prepared an armie in all the hast to fight against theim But the Scottes beyng lodeÌ with their praies and spoiles that thei had were gone backe to their countre ere the Englishe menne could bee readie And this was the first commocion busines of the Scottes against the Englishemen When the Scottes were thus gone and the kyng certified of it he thought not to suffer theim lenger leste that by long tariyng deferryng of the matter thei should take heart and so with more fearsenes inuade the realme again And assemblyng his counsaill together shewed theim that it was for the proffite of the publique weale to warre against his enemies to whom thei all agreed right gladly and for the mainteinyng of this battaill there was leuyed a certain summe or tribute to be paid on euery mannes hed whiche paiment although it was but easie and small yet many of the commen people grudged to paie it At this parliament also and conuocacion there was certain lawes actes and statutes confirmed and made as thought moste expedieÌt for the publique weale And after this was dooen the kyng prepared to fight in all the haste and gatheryng an armie made Giles Dabeney graund capitain ouer theim and in his goyng to Scotlande there beganne sodenly ciuile battaill in the realme whiche was for the paiment of this money for that the Cornishemen whiche made this insurreccion beeyng but poore could not well paie this tribute And so they gatheryng all together one Michael Ioseph Smyth and Thomas FlaÌmoke did take vpon theim the gouernaunce of all this compainie And seyng theim greued sore that they should paye so muche did more and more incense theyr myndes againste their prynce Albeit they layde this faulte and cause of exaction to Ihon MortoÌ bishoppe of CaÌtorbury and Ruigenald Braye because they were chief of the kynges house Thus they preparyng theim selues to warre wheÌ they had aswell sufficiente viandrye as all other thynges ready they tooke theyr iourney to Welles and from thence entended to go to London When the kyng was shewed of this by his auditours that they wer vp and that the lorde Twychet and the lorde Audely with other of the nobylitee had taken their partes he thought fyrste to scoure his realme of suche rebelles and traytours ere he would fight against the Scottes And therfore he caused Giles Dabeney to returne backe agayn then goyng vpon the Scottes whose armye he encreased and multiplyed with many pycked and freshe warryers that he might the better with lesse laboure ouercome these rebelles Also least that the Scottes might nowe hauyng good oportunite inuade the realme again in this time of ciuile battyle he caused lorde Thomas erle of Surrey a puissaunt and most redoubted warryer whome he had taken prysoner at the ouerthrowe of kyng Richard and a litle before that had set at libertie and made treasourer of EnglaÌde after the death of Iohn Dynham to gather a bond of men at Durham there to kepe of the Scottes yf they should chaunce to come vntyll suche tyme that that Cornyshe menne beyng pacified and subdued he might send to theim the forenamed Giles agayne with all his power and armye When as the nobles hearde of this busynes they came to London euery maÌ with as many as they could make to ayde the kyng yf nede shoulde be In the which compaignie there was the erle of Essex the lorde Mongey the erle of Suffolke Richard Thomas William Say lorde Haward the erle of Surrey his sonne a noble young man of stoute courage Robert Lytton Thomas Bande Robert Clyfforde Wyllyam Dauers George Verye Thomas Terell Richard Fizlewes Ihon Baynsforth Thomas MoÌtigomery Ihon Wyngfilde Roberte Brougthon Iames Terell Iames Huberte Ihon Wyndham Robert Fenys Wylliam Carye Robert Drurye Ihon Audely Robert Wyngfild with his brother Richarde Robert Brandon Thomas west de lauare Thomas Fenis Dacres Dauid Owen Henry Rosse Ihon Deuenysse Henry Selenger Ihon Paulet Ihon Burshere Thomas Woode Mathewe Broune Thomas Troys Wylliam Sandes EdmuÌde Graye of Wiltone Ihon Verney Thomas Brian Richard Poole Thomas Harecourte Ihon Hampden Edward Barkeley WillyaÌ Bolongue with his sonne Thomas Henry Haydon Robert Clarence Philip Calthorpe Robert Louell Ihon Shaye Thomas Frouwike with many other of lower degree that wer moste noble cunnyng warryers In this meane space Charles the Frenche kyng commyng from the warres that he had at Naples with Ferdinande sente Ambassadours to the kyng for a peace and league of amitee to bee confirmed When the kyng was enformed of their coÌmyng and that they were at Caleis he sente certayn of his nobilitie
to mete theim commyng and to kepe theim purposely at Douer vntyll suche tyme that this busynesse were ended that they might not knowe of it in any wise And nowe the Cornyshemenne gooynge from Welles where they had theyr graunde capitayne lorde Audeley went to Saulisbury and froÌ thence to Wynchester and so to Kent where they looked for helpe but they were deceaued for the earle of Kent and the lorde of Burgone Poole the lorde Cobham Thomas Burcher Edwarde Ponyng Richard Gilforde Wyllyam Scotte Iames Cromer Ihon Peche Iohn Darel Henry Wyat Rychard Haulte Ihon Fogge and other were ready to withstande theyr power and to cause the people to beare trewe heartes to theyr kynge For the whiche many of the Cornyshe men faynted and had lesse mynde to fight and for feare fled priuely in the nyght from their compaignie But the captaynes perceauyng they coulde haue no helpe at theyr handes trusted to theyr owne power and brought theim to Blackeheath feld nigh London and there pytched theyr tentes in the playn to byd battail to the kyng if he would mete theim or els to inuade the cytie whome the kynge perceauyng to be there readye to fight he caused Henry Burschere erle of Essex Edmunde Polam erle of Suffolke and Richard Thomas three noble warryers to besiege theim on both sydes wyth two wynges and so came hym self in the myddest sendyng before Giles Dabeney with a greate power And after his commyng thus to the felde bothe the erles and Richard Thomas sette vpon theim violently and at the first brunt put theim to flight and killed aboute two thousande that resâsied and tooke prisoners more then could bee told and emonges theim the Captaynes which shortely after wer put to death But this Michael Ioseph was a maÌ of suche stoute courage valiauÌtnesse that he neuer fainted or once gaue backe vntyll such tyme he was stryken downe and kylled openly When this battaile was ended the kynge loste but thre hundreth in all his compaignye that wer kylled at that presente Also the prysoners that were taken he pardoned sauyng the captaynes and first autours of that mischief whose quarters he would haue to bee put on stakes and set in dyuerse places of Cornewell that theyr naughtie dooynges and foolishe entrepryses might bee a document for other hereafter to beware but because there were many of that couÌtree that would gladly haue renewed battaile yf they might haue had some Capitayn and that they wer nothyng abashed for the ouerthrowe of theyr late insurreccion he turned his mynd so that thei wer not had thither nor their quarters set vpoÌ any stakes there WheÌ this busines was in haÌd the kyng of Scottes being certified of it by certain spies thought best to inuade Englande againe and burned all the waye as he did before lest that the kyng should prouoke hym to it of force because he had dooen so muche hurte to it before and thus came to Durham and there burned all aboute entending also to wynne Norham Castle whiche the Bishoppe had furnished a litle before with menne and vitaile sufficiently so that he coulde haue none accesse into that castell And this was the bishop Foxe that was bishop of Exeter and for his godlines and verteouse liuing after that made bishoppe of Welles and Bathe Whiche bishop nowe being in this businesse certified the kyng of it in all the haste and also therle of Surrey that was then in Yorke shyre with a greate army of menne To whome the Erle came shortly after with his compaignye and after hym folowed other noble menne of all quarters euery one bringiÌg for his habilitee as many as he could to aide the bishop and fight in the defence quarell of theyr kyng And in this compaygnie was there many Lordes therle of Westmerland Thomas Dacres George Graunge Rafe Neuel Richard Latimer George Lumley Iohn Scroppe George Oglie Thomas Baron of Hilton Henry Clifford William Coyners Thomas Dercy Also knightes Sir william Percy and thre other of that name as Percy Bulmery Gascogne Penington Sir Rauffe Bigot Sir Rauffe Bowes Sir Rauffe Elaker Sir Thomas Appar Sir thomas Thwarton Sir Thomas Stranguishe Sir Ihon Constable Sir Ihon Ratcliffe Sir Ihon Sauell Sir Ihon Gouer Sir Musgraue Sir Iohn Waller Sir Iohn Aloder Sir Iohn Euerinham Sir Brian Stapelton Sir Thomas Vortell Sir Marduke Constable Sir Christopher Pikeringe Sir Christopher ward Sir Walter Stringlande Sir Roger BellinghaÌ Sir William Heron Sir Rauffe Graye Sir Nicholas Ridley Sir Walter Griffit Sir Ihon Heron Sir Rauffe feneuike Sir Thomas Graye Sir Christo Curwen Sir Robert Varcoppe Sir Rouland Tempest Sir Iames Medcalfe With many other Capitaynes althoughe not so noble in degree yet as valiaunte in martiall feactes and prowesses of warre The Scottes hearing of the Earle of Surrey that he was coÌming and at hande with a greate power then beseging this forenamed Castell whiche they coulde by no meanes ouercome they fledde streighte backe to Scotlande whome the Earle folowed as longe as his vyttailles serued and after that returned backe to Durham theyr abiding vntyll such time he knewe furder of the kynges pleasure And in this meane space one Henrye Hailes was sente Ambassadoure frome Ferdinand vnto the kyng of Scottes for a generall peace to bee had with hym and the Kyng of Englande for he loued hym well and kyng Henrye also to whose soonne the younge Prynce Arthure he woulde haue geuen his doughter Ladye Katheryne in mariage that by affinytee and kyndered of blood their loue might continue for euer So this Henrye entreated hartelye the King of Scottes for a peace and when he had some hope in it he wrote vnto the kyng of Englande that it would please hym to sende one of his nobles to helpe to conclude this matter with hym and the Scottes The kyng because he had been in greate trouble and then veraye desierous of peace he sent the byshoppe of Durham to hym in all the haste So that this Henrye and the bishop reasoned with the Scottyshe ambassadours as concernyng this peace to be had albeit thei could not agree because that kyng Henrye desiered to haue Perkyn Warbecke that was the cause of all this busynes and had so greatly disquieted his realme whome the kyng woulde not delyuer although he might of ryghte consideryng his falsehode and deceyte that he had vsed with hym Therfore after that they had reasoned much of this matter could bring it to no ende yet a truce was taken for certain yeres of this condicion that the same Perkin Warbecke should bee conueyghed oute of Scotland not to tary there longer Whyle this was dooinge kyng Henry caused the Ambassadours of the Frenche kyng to bee brought to hym which as it is shewed before wer stopped at Douer of their iourney vntill suche tyme that the insurreccion of the Eornish men was ceassed and hearing that they came for a peace and league to bee made grauÌted theim it right gladly So that nowe beiÌg reconciled with .ii.
woman and captiue to the kyng And the kyng sent her by and by accompanied with a goodly sort of matrons because she was so goodly a young woman to London to the quene as a true and sure token of vyctorie And whiles he taried there at Exeter supposyng with him selfe that he could haue no perfect victory vntyl he had gotteÌ Perkin him self which was the beginner of all this sedicion and strife sent forth two companies of menne to besiege the sanctuarye wher Perkin was that by no meanes he myght scape away and sent him worde also by certain trustie messengers that yf he would humblie submit him selfe he should be forgeuen of all that was committed Wherfore Perkin now seynge and ponderynge the state of miserie that he was in weÌt voluntarily out of the sanctuary and commytted hym selfe to the kynges pleasure Then was the kyng weray glad and toke his iourney immediatly after towarde London not without the great metyng of people whych came out of euery quarter to se this feloe as he were a monstre because he beyng but an aliente durst bee so bold to come in to this so noble a realme to make battaill and delude noble menne after suche a fassion But wheÌ the kyng was come to London he appointed certain menne to kepe hym bothe night daie verie vigilantly to th entent that he might neither conueigh hymself out of the lande ner goo any whether within this realme to make any like perturbacion and disquietnes After this the kyng perceiuyng the there were many as well in Somerset as in DeueÌshire whiche were helpers of the rebelles greatly bothe goyng foorth commyng homeward thought it good to punishe theim also least peraduenture thei might be the more bold to dooe a like thyng after And therfore he committed this busines to Amis Paulet knight and Robert Sherburne deane of Poules to be dooen Which in serchyng out all suche thoroweout bothe the shires wer verie exacte and diligent but thei wer fauorable to al such as did it for feare or compulsion Yet were thei to none so fauorable but thei were thought for their defaultes indifferently to be punished So that equitie therin was verie well executed In the same yere of a small matter befell greate strife betwene kyng Henry and Iames kyng of Scotlande whiche strife beganne of this fassion Certain younge menne of the Scottes came armed vnto Duresme castell beheld it wonderous circumspectly as though thei had been desierous to know what was there dooen But wheÌ the kepers of the castle could not perceaue that thei went aboute any hurte or displeasure seing theim go awaie of their owne accorde thei made no woordes but let theim alone But when thei came again the nexte daie vieued it likewise the kepers of the said castel demaunded of theim what was their intent Thei auÌswered theim like rude and vnmanerlie ientlemenne as frowardly as could bee thought in so muche that at the laste through muche altercacion of bothe parties thei fell together by the eares and there were some of the Scottes slain the residue put to flight Which wheÌ thei came home certified their kyng of thesame Wherwith he beyng sore moued to angre seÌt woorde to kyng Henry that he would wtout doubt reuenge his querell wherfore kyng HeÌry being verie sorie not so much forfeare as for to liue in quietnes peace in his age made him auÌswere that it was not doeÌ through his default or couÌsaill but rather by the rashenesse of his subiectes whiche if thei could bee êued guiltie should be accordyng to the faulte punished Wherfore he desired him moste louingly to be coÌteÌted But this was not hable to mitigate or swage the Scottes angre outrageousnesse For the whiche cause Richard bishop of Duresme whiche was more heuie then all other because his seruuÌates were the beginners of this discord wrote many letters to kyng Iames to desire hym to kepe peace bee at quiet With the whiche letters the kynges rage was so quenched that he bothe sent verie kynd letters again to hym and desired hym hartely to come ouer and talke with hym Of the whiche tydynges the bishop was verie glad and went streight to kyng Henry to shewe hym the matter and had leaue of hym incontinenly to go ouer to hym When he came into ScotlaÌde he was receiued as louyngly as coulde bee thought of the kyng hymself at an abbey called Melrose and there after that he had complained muche of the crueltie that was vsed toward his menne here in EnglaÌde he beganne to commen secretly of other matters and especially of the amitie betwene kyng Henry and hym the whiche to bee for euer stablished and confirmed he desired that kinges doughter Margaret in mariage Of the whiche thyng albeit the bishop was glad in his heart yet he would make no perfect aunswere or sheweforth any sure hope of the same but saied that when he came home he would dooe the best in the matter that laie in hym Wherfore the kyng shortly after dimissed hym and desired hym ernestly to breake the same matter to kyng HeÌry And wheÌ he was come home so he did and the proffer pleased the kyng verie well because he was a manne whiche was alwaies more delited with peace quietnes then with the troublesomnesse of battaill And now did approch the death of Perkin Warbeck and of Edwarde erle of Warwicke whiche had so long lyen all readie in the tower But PerkeÌ thought that he would saue hymself and therfore on a tyme he tooke his leggues and ranne awaie but so sone as the kyng harde tell therof he made menne after hym with all the spede the might bee with whose clamours and shoutes Perkyn was so feared that of necessitie he was compelled to go to an abbaie which was called BetheleÌ ther intreacted the abbot of the place to desire the kyng of his pardon that he might not dye Whiche thyng the abbot did for hym and obteined it Wherfore Perken was brought bounde feitered to Westminster and there stoode an whole daie in the sight of all menne to the great shame and reproche of hym self And after partely because the kyng had promised hym his life and partely because he should no more renne awaie he was coÌmitted to the towre Where his wickednes boylong so hote within his breit would not suffre hym to escape the veÌgeauÌce punishemeÌt of God but shortly after was moste iustly worthely put to deathe as herafter shal be shewed Then it chaunsed the a monke whose name was Patricke had a scholer whome he promised if he would folowe his counsaill should easely come to the kyngdome of Englande Whiche scholer when he had ones heard his maisters mynd was verie instaunte in the matter and desired his maister not to forget his purpose but rather begynne it as sone as was possible Wherfore when thei be twene theim selfes had taken deliberacion and counsailled of the thyng how it should be