Peche Sir William Sandes Sir Thomas Bulleyn Sir Iohn Carre and by many other Knights Gentlemen and Ladies of great worth Shee landed at Bollen where with great magnificence and honor shee was receiued by the Dolphin and by many Lords of France who brought her to Abuyle where shee met with and was married to the King And within few dayes after at Paris The French King dyeth Francis the First The French Queen returneth into England The peace with France renewed shee was crowned Queene The French Nation thinking their King and Countrie to bee happie who to their Queene had the fairest Ladie in the world And at her Coronation the Dolphin vpon a generall challenge formerly made by himselfe Charles Brandon Duke of Suffolke Thomas Gray Marques Dorset his foure brethren and two others against all commers erected many honorable and martiall games as the lusts Turnay Barriers and such like All which were performed with great valour and to the great pleasure of the King and Queen But within twelue weeks after the said mariage King Lewys dyed and Francis the first succeeded him in that kingdome And by the Duke of Suffolke the said Queene Mary was brought againe into England where he won her loue All the deeds and actions of Cardinall Wolsey touching this storie are here set together because the discourse of the rest would otherwise by them be too much interrupted and maried her with the Kings consent In the seuenth yeare of King Henries raigne the former peace betwixt him and King Lewys the twelfth was renewed and confirmed with King Francis the first and great amitie and loue was exchanged betweene those two kings It now so chanced that Thomas Wolsey who was borne of base Parentage in the Towne of Ipswich and was first made the Kings Almoner then Bishop of Lincolne and then of the Priuie Counsell succeeded the Archbishop and Cardinall of Yorke who was named Doctor Benbrike in the said Archbishoprick And not long after hee was made Cardinall of Yorke by the mediation and procurement of those two Kings And now because the Kings affections towards him were extraordinarie His authoritie aboue all others eminent his couetousnesse insatiable and his excessiue Pride and Ambition boundlesse and vnlimitted which made him bold and peremptorie to doe all in all From henceforth for many years all things were cōmanded and gouerned according to his directions will vntill his monstrous oppressions and sawcie practizes brought him to ruine and to destruction And least his deedes and his actions by often interviewing should interrupt the other discourse of other occurrences and negotiations hapning in this Kings Raigne We haue therefore thought it conuenient yea necessarie to prosecute the Historie of his proceedings to a conclusion before wee intermedle much with the Narration of other passages and things He intermedles in other mens offices This prowd Cardinall so egerly hunted after authoritie and power to rule and to command all others that not contenting himselfe with his owne offices though they were great Hee intruded malepertly into the Enquirie and determining of such things as properly belonged vnto others but especially into the Chancelorship of this Realme He is made Lord Chancelor The Archbishop of Canterbury vnto whom it appertayned was much troubled with those his intermedlings But being old and perceiuing that the Kings affections were fast bound to his humours and that to crosse with him it was the readie way to crosse himselfe he therefore deliuered vp the Great Seale into the Kings hands who no sooner accepted of it but hee bestowed it vpon Wolsey which fauour and dignitie might well haue satisfied his prowd humour but nothing could For now he being an Archbishop a counsailor of Estate a Cardinall Chancelor of England and the Kings especial Fauourite directed all commanded all and did all He being thus imperiously great Required an accompt of the Captaines Treasurors and other Officers of the kings warres so that some of them who by the Kings conniuence had gotten much by excessiue Bribes excusing themselues He demands accompts and enriched him selfe thereby Hee erecteth new Courts Inriched him and left themselues poore Others whose Estates were more powerfull to please him shared that which vniustly they had gotten And some others who had deceiued the King and had prodigally spent all had nothing left and therefore were punished publikely and exposed to open shame He also erected sundrie Courts of equitie which might more truly be termed Courts of Iniquitie vnder a colour and pretence to heare and to determine the cases of distressed and poore people By meanes whereof the seates of Iustice belonging to the cōmon Lawes were little frequented for a while and by them he gained a masse of treasure to himselfe vntill the people perceiuing that by them hee waxed rich and they poore and that the Sentences and Iudgements of those Courts were not finall but controlable They of their owne accord forsooke them and commended their Controuersies to the censure of the common Lawes In the ninth yeare of King Henries raigne 1517. 9 Pope Leo sent vnto him Cardinall Campeius as his Legate to solicite him as likewise he had done to the Kings of France Spain By subtiltie he is made a Legate and the Princes of Germanie to make warre vpon the Turks But so outragious was the ocean of Wolseys pride that because he knew that Campeius in regard of his power Legantine was to haue the Precedency of place when they two met hee cunningly informed him by certaine Bishops who went vnto him to Calice vnder a fained colour to visite him that his iourney would not be successefull but come to none effect except Wolsey were ioyned in equall authoritie with him in that businesse wherevpon Campeius with all expedition dispatched Messengers vnto Rome by whom within fortie dayes hee receiued a new Commission by which Wolsey was also made the Popes Legate and Commissioner as well as he Cardinall Campeius Then was Campeius admitted to come into this Realme and both those two Legates within few dayes after repayred to the Kings Court at Greenwich hauing two siluer Crosses and two Pillars of the same mettel two Axes gilted with fine gold two imbrodered Cushions borne before them But the Cardinall of Yorke preferred his elder brother to the inferiour place And by an eloquent Oration which by an Italian was made vnto the King he was informed of the substance of their message But to make answere therevnto The King desired respit for a few dayes in which he might be advised and counselled in that matter The Court Legantine Then did Wolsey by his authoritie Legantine erect an honorable Court without the Kings notice or licence and called it the Legantine Court By the authoritie whereof he visited all Bishops and their Diocesses and other Clergie men punishing such as were poore and vnable to giue bribes but enriching himselfe by the enforced bountie of such as had
THE HISTORIE AND LIVES OF THE KINGS of England From WILLIAM the CONQVEROR vnto the end of the Raigne of King HENRIE the EIGHT By WILLIAM MARTYN Esquire Recorder of the Honorable Citie of EXETER Frustra fit per plura quod fieri potest per pauciora LONDON Printed for IOHN BILL William Barret and Henrie Fetherstone 1615. TO THE GENTRIE OF ENGLAND WOrthie Gentlemen omitting all elaborated Eloquence which oftentimes is vsed as a varnish to couer vnprofitable labours As cunning Goldsmithes doe enrich their basest Siluer when they Gilt it with their purest Gold J purpose to render to you an accompt of two reasons which induced me to take this paine and to publish this worke 1. Jt is common among Phisitions That though profound Learning and frequent Experience haue furnished them with abundant skill in their Honourable profession yet they doe still striue to make their knowledge more perfect in the discouerie of the imperfections of other mens bodies then of their owne Jn like sort it is the common custome of our times that many hopefull Gentlemen whom Nature and Arts haue beautified with the rich treasures of their bountie do endeauour to be more exact and refined in knowing the Religion Lawes Gouernment Maners Strength and Sites of forraine Countries then of that Kingdome wherein themselues were borne But as that man is wise in vaine who is not wise vnto himselfe So it is a simple grace nay to speake plainly it is a foule disgrace to a Gentleman especially to such a one as hath or doth intend to spend much time abroad to know the fashions of forraine Nations to be ignorant in the State of his owne Countrie at home The Historie of which affordeth as much varietie and profitable instruction to captiuate the Readers delight in the perusall as the fairest Pictures doe contentment when with their artificiall beauties they doe allure mens eyes to looke and to gaze vpon them To this end therefore that hencefoorth such worthy Gentlemen as are purposed in long traueling to enlarge their experience by the view of foraine Countries may first be furnished with a conuenient knowledge of their owne J vndertooke this labour and doe present it vnto you with this my first reason which induced me thereunto 2. The second reason of my so doing springeth out of mine owne conceit which as J coniecture deceiues me not For in regard that the Histories of this Kingdome are frequently interrupted yea blemished by too too many interuening Occurrences and by a multitude of extrauagant Obseruations which doe much differ from the true Method and Nature of a well digested and composed Chronicle and thereby doe extend it into a needlesse and an vnprofitable length J am resolued that the Readers capacitie to obserue and to remember is much weakned thereby And that many yong Gentlemen who doe egerly striue to attaine to much knowledge in a short time doe rather bend their Studies and their courses to reade ouer the more narrowly contracted Histories of other Countries then the voluminous Discourses of their owne Wherefore to inlighten their knowledge much by reading this little J haue thrust forth into the World this short Historie of the Raignes Deeds and Actions of twentie of our English Kings which J will neither praise least J wrong it by mine owne commendation nor dispraise least you beleeuing mee on my word should thinke your time ill spent to read what I haue written J know that such as are worthily descended or who by learning are made worthy will not only winke at some imperfections because some knowledge is to be gained by the rest but will also take in good part the presentment of a small gift if it be deliuered with a friendly hand To such only and to none other which are you doe J dedicate these my labors Being confidently assured that they cannot want their expected reward which is nothing but your kinde acceptance and gracefull loue Fare you well from my house in Exeter the twentieth of Ianuarie 1615. Your louing Friend WILLIAM MARTYN TO MY MOST DEARE Father WILLIAM MARTYN Esquire THough my vnpractis'd Muse might well conceale Her selfe from th'eye-reach of a publique view Yet my devoted heart stir'd on with zeale And dutie which are owing both to you Feares not the spleene of Criticks but shall beare Their heauiest censures True loue orecomes feare I will not speake of your vnwearied paine In gathring and disposing 't is a treasure Well worth the Readers paines when he may gaine With little reading profit mixt with pleasure These ruder lines your labors little neede To winne the Readers liking Let him reade NICHOLAS MARTYN To my most loued and dearest Father WILLIAM MARTYN ESQVIRE I Could deere Sir haue spoke with farre more ease In copious Prose than in strict Verse your praise But that I knew your fame would farre out-goe All foote-lesse Prose my Verse not full so slow Hauing the helpe of feete serues thus farre forth Though not to Vsher yet t' attend your worth You neede not either to inlarge your fame The Booke it selfe doth Chronicle the same WILLIAM MARTYN To my most dearly loued Father WILLIAM MARTYN Esquire WHil'st others send you Lines trickt out with Art My Infant yeares shall onely send mine heart Looke for no greater gift from so small store He that giues all he has can giue no more EDWARD MARTYN TO MY DEARLY HONORD FATHER-IN-Law WILLIAM MARTYN Esquire A Publique good must quell your priuate feare The profit of a Writers industrie Should be imparted to a generall Eare For good is better'd by communitie Nor may detraction or the injurie Of some mens censures dash what he doth write If but what only pleaseth all mens sight No worke should come to light no worke should come to light What though you gather'd haue the seuerall flowr's Of other Bookes into this Historie Distill'd to Spirit by you they 're wholly yours So honie suckt from the varietie Of flowr's is yet the honie of the Bee And though in these dayes Miracles are fled Yet this shall of your Chronicle be read It brings back Time that 's past and giues life to the Dead Peter Beuys THE SVMMARIES OR ABBREVIATES OF THE RAIGNES OF THE twentie Kings mentioned more largely in this Discourse King WILLIAM the Conqueror AFTER the death of King Edward Harold contrarie to his promise oath refuseth to giue the possession of the Crowne and kingdome of England to William the seuenth Duke of the Normans Wherefore to preuent the effusion of much bloud the Duke challenged him to a single combate which hee refused whereupon the Duke landeth and being assisted by the Natiues of this Countrie he obtayneth the victorie * 1066. and claymed this Crowne by conquest Pag. 2. He is in danger as he trauelleth towards Douer and makes his peace 3. His policies to suppresse the English Nation and his cruelties towards them 3 4 5 6. He taxeth them beyond measure they rebell twice and are twice
Treasure of his vncle The Kings liberalitie the last deceased King Which hee closed not vp in Chests or in Bagges as idle Archers doe their Arrowes in their Quiuers when for their honest recreation they should shoote but with a large and an open hand hee bountifully disposed of them among such as eyther by Armes or by Counsell were best likely to stand him in the greatest stead He also created sundrie Noblemen and dignified manie others with the honourable Title of Knighthood whose loue by those meanes he procured And because benefits receiued doe more please the vulgar and common sort of People than Right or Reason can doe he therefore released vnto them the Dane-gelt and all other extraordinarie Burthens and Exactions whatsoeuer causing a large Charter thereof and of the mitigation of the Seueritie and Penalties of sundrie Lawes to be made and bound himselfe by a solemne Oath to keepe and to obserue the same He also renounced the future Seisures of all Ecclesiasticall Dignities and Promotions Priuiledges graunted to the Clergie when they should become vacant Hee gaue to the Church and Church-men such gracefull and profitable Priuiledges and Immunities as they would demaund And among other things he freely exempted them from the authoritie of the Temporall Magistrate for all offences whatsoeuer except the Ordinarie should bee pleased that hee should deale therewith Finally he endeuoured to doe all things justly and pleasing vnto all Castles and Fortresses erected To preuent suddaine Eruptions Rebellions and Incursions tending to the generall disturbance of the common Peace by hauing manie strong and fortified places for good defence himselfe erected manie Forts Fortresses Bulwarkes and Castles and licenced his Nobles and his Gentrie and Clergie to doe the like He gaue vnto Dauid the King of Scots and vncle to Mauld the Empresse because hee should not second her in her demaunds The Scots flattered by the King or warlike attempts the whole Prouince of Cumberland and created his eldest sonne Henrie Earle of Huntingdon Yet notwithstanding not long after in her quarrell hee entred into the Northren parts of this Kingdome The King of Scots ouerthrowne by the Archbishop of Yorke which hee tormented with fire and sword But in the end he was encountred by Thurston then Archbishop of Yorke who compelled him being pursued with vnspeakable dangers to flye into Scotland and to leaue behinde him dead vpon the ground more than tenne thousand men of his Armie In the sixt yeare of his Raigne Mauld the Empresse Mauld the Empresse landeth in England being accompanied with her base brother Robert Earle of Glocester landed with an armie in England and was quickly strengthened and emboldened in her Enterprise by the plentifull accesse of manie of the English and of Raynulph Earle of Chester with a lustie crew of bold and forward Welchmen Hereupon the King imposing no confidence in delay but Experience instructing him that aduised Expedition is the chiefest enabler of good successe leuied a strong armie and marched with good resolution against the Empresse and her Forces who greeted him with such Musicke as her warlike Troupes did gallantly present So that a cruell and a bloudie Battaile with equall hopes for manie houres was fought betweene them But at length King Stephen ouerthrowne the Kings common Souldiors striuing faintly and as cowards rather endeuouring to saue themselues by flight than manfully to defend their King did basely leaue the King who with his Nobles and Gentrie scorning to turne their backes maintained their part with as much courage as manhood could affoord King Stephen taken prisoner till in the end the King was taken and committed to the Castle of Bristoll where hee remayned a prisoner about the space of three moneths and was at the last deliuered King Stephen is set at libertie to free the Earle of Glocester who had beene taken and was imprisoned by the Queene After this victorie thus obtained the Empresse with manie honourable Triumphs and Solemnities was receiued into the Cities of Circester Oxford Winchester and London The Londoners attempt to surprize the Empresse But the Londoners desiring the Restitution of King Edwards Lawes and not obtaining their request consulted to surprize the Empresse and to deliuer her vnto the King By meanes whereof good counsell aduised her to flye which suddainely she did and came vnto Oxford Where within few dayes and vnexpectedly shee was enuironed with a strong Siege So that despaire of good successe dis-heartening her The Empresse besieged in Oxford and teaching her a readie meanes for her escape taking the benefit of the Snow which at that time lay thicke vpon the ground she with her chiefest complices apparrelling themselues in white linnen secretly issued forth A politike flight and posting with all speede towards the Sea they embarked themselues and sayled into Normandie Manie yeares together after these turmoyles this Realme enjoyed a blessed Peace And in the seuenteenth yeare of this Kings Raigne died the most valorous and hardie knight Raynulph Earle of Chester Henry Short-Mantel heire apparant to the Empresse and so did Geoffrey Plantagenet husband to the Empresse And Henrie surnamed Short-Mantle her eldest sonne tooke to wife Elianor the daughter and heire of the Earle of Poytou which Elianor not long before for neerenesse in bloud and after she had borne him two daughters was diuorced from Lewis the seuenth then King of France So that Prince Henrie was now Duke of Normandie in the right of his Mother Earle of Angeou by descent from his Father and Earle of Poytou in the right of his wife by whome not long after he also had the Earledome of Tholouse This worthie Prince by manie of his friends and valiant men of Warre who longed to haue employment in so faire a journey was incited to leuie a strong armie and to transport them into England and by their helpe and the assistance of other wel-willers to attempt the recouerie of his Right and the rather for that king Stephen and Eustace his onely sonne did now begin to warre vpon manie of those who held their Castles for the Prince his vse His strong Expectation and hope to be enthroned in this Kingdome through the fauour of diuers Lords and Commons of this Realme easily persuaded him to lend a listening eare to their whisperings So that to giue vnto them good content and to forward the attayning of his owne desires Henry Short-Mantel inuadeth England hee raysed a strong power of willing and able men of Warre Which beeing brauely conducted by noble Captaines well skilled in those Affaires arriued safely in England where King Stephen and his sonne disdained to be idle for they had prouided with an equall strength to encounter him Both armies had daily newes the one from the other they threatned much did somewhat but it was but little Yet in those Expeditions Eustace the kings sonne by misaduenture was vnfortunately drowned Prince Eustace drowned
which ouercame the king with infinite passions of sorrow and extreame griefe But it made a quiet end of this quarrell For now the king not hauing anie sonne which might succeed him was well pleased to lend a listening eare to the faire proffer of a friendly Peace The quarrell is compâ—unded ended And thereupon hee adopted Prince Henrie for his Sonne proclaymed him to bee the Heire apparant of his Crowne gaue him manie honourable and kingly Gifts assured him of his vnchangeable loue and friendship And by these meanes all Armes were cast aside and Peace triumphed hauing gotten a certaine and a sure Victorie with few blowes And the Prince with his followers returned into Normandie where they were with much honour and incredible joy receiued And the next yeare after king Stephen died King Stephen dieth The Saxons bloud restored to the Crowne of England See the descent in the Raigne of King Henrie the first when hee had raigned almost nineteene yeares and lyeth buried in the Abbey of Feuersham in Kent which himselfe had founded And by the happie Succession of this Henrie the Saxon Bloud was againe restored vnto the Imperiall Crowne of this Realme THE HISTORIE OF KING HENRIE THE SECOND WHEN Henrie was returned into Normandie the French King fearing least Time and his Fortunes would make him too puissant and too great for his bordering Neighbours and intending to deale roughly with him before he should be the absolute Master and Commander of his owne strength very iniuriously seized vpon diuers of his Fortresses and Castles in Normandie and elsewhere which questionlesse ought to haue beene subiect to his Gouernment But Henrie being wise Henry Short-Mantels valour and courage and full of courage and heroicall Magnimitie and foreseeing that if hee should shrinke as a coward and not make himselfe knowne by his valour to the world when the wrongs which were done vnto him were too apparant raysed a faire Armie and for the regayning of one of those his Castles he girded it round about with a strong Siege And whilest he was thus employed to winne his right He sayleth speedily into England but first winneth the Castle which he had besieged the newes of King Stephens death came freshly vnto his eares And to preuent such vsurpation as oftentimes in the absence of the lawfull Kings depriueth them of their Crownes he was by his neerest and dearest friends aduised to abandon the Siege and without tarrying to transport himselfe into England But his answere was full of discretion and true valour to this effect A resolute speech The Kingdome of England quoth hee shall henceforth be at my commaund in despight of those who dare to crosse mee most And so shall these intruding Frenchmen ere I goe hence This Resolution redoubled his honour among his friends and so it did among his enemies For when the besieged were informed what he had said and determined fearing the euent if obstinately they should detaine him there too long they surrendred the Castle and submitted themselues to his mercie who receiued it and them with a fauourable and gracious acceptance And then giuing such directions as both the time and occasions did require and being accompanied with manie Lords and Gentlemen of the best and chiefest ranke he sayled with a prosperous winde into England where not long after hee was crowned King The singular zeale and loue which he bare to the furtherance of Iustice and to the execution thereof appeared manifestly by two Actions of his The King reformeth the Lawes performed the one in the beginning and the other towards the later end of his Raigne For first hee made an especiall choise of certaine men who were verie honest vpright and best learned in the Lawes of this Realme by whose industrious labours and trauailes hee refined and reformed the common Lawes making them to be more tolerable and profitable vnto his People England diuided into Circuits into which Iudges were sent to ease the people And towards the end of his dayes hee diuided his whole Kingdome into six seuerall Circuits and for the administration of Iustice and for the tryals of Causes betwixt men and men for the better ease and comfort of his Subiects hee appointed certaine Iudges twice in euerie yeare to ride and to trauaile through those Circuits which course and order is carefully continued at this day Strangers banished and the cause why Hee also banished the greatest part of Strangers who in those dayes by multitudes flocked hither and by their extraordinarie Sparing and painefull Industrie procured to themselues much Wealth and beggered such as were Natiues borne Oath-breakers banished Hee also exiled manie of the Nobles who contrarie to their publike Oathes Duties and Consciences had more than ordinarily adhered vnto King Stephen beeing fully resolued That the Cogitations of their owne Guiltinesse in that behalfe would neuer suffer them to be heartie and faithfull vnto him Hee differed much from the opinion of his last predecessor Castles politikely razed and ouerthrowne and affirmed That strong Forts and Castles erected and maintained in the Heart or Bodie of a Kingdome did rather animate great men vpon all displeasures to reuolt than in anie sort containe them within the bounds and limits of their Obedience and of their Dutie wherefore he caused them to be rased for the greater number to the ground Hee also seized into his owne hands such Territories Manors He seizeth on Crowneâ—ands formerly giuen away Lordships and Possessions as his Predecessors had eyther giuen or sold from the Crowne holding it to be the dutie of euerie Subiect to refuse the Gift or Purchase of such things as doe so immediately concerne the Honour and Maintenance of the King Nota. And the like he did in the Northren Parts where many great Men commaunding almost as they listed had wrought themselues and their Posterities into manie Honors Castles and Manors without title which in truth and in deed appertained to the King Hee also resumed into his owne hands the Prouinces of Cumberland and of Northumberland together with the Earledome of Huntingdon which Dauid the King of Scots and Henrie his sonne had receiued as a gift from King Stephen because they should not intermeddie in the furtherance of his mother Mauld the Empresse to her Right and Crowne In the thirteenth yeare of his Raigne Geoffrey the Kings yonger sonne is Duke of Britaine he married Geoffrey being one of his younger sonnes vnto Constance the daughter and heire apparant of Conaccus Duke of Britaine who died not long after and left vnto them that Duchie He also affied his younger sonne Richard vnto Adela one of the daughters of Lewis the King of France and married his daughter Mauld vnto Henrie Duke of Saxonie Mauld the Empresse dieth And about the same time the Empresse his mother died Hee loued Peace though he were passing valiant because hee found it to be pleasing and profitable Peace
publikely denounced against all such as either by Direction or by Armes or otherwise withstood or hindered the execution of those Lawes or the Authoritie of the Twelue Peeres These new proceedings so much augmented the Kings furie and implacable discontent that euen those things The King is full of indignation which by his naturall disposition hee chiefely delighted in were by him loathed and detested most And to the end that he might procure and purchase more contentment and joy abroad than hee could finde at home hee sayled into France He sayleth into France to visite King Lewis the ninth by whome he was with all gentlenesse and courtesie receiued and lodged in his owne Palace where hee was feasted as a friend and honoured with all accomplements appertaining to a great King And at the same time hee concluded a Marriage betwixt Iohn Duke of Britaine and one of his owne Daughters Normandie surrendred to the Kings of France by King Henrie The French King also held a Grand Parliament of Estate in which he protested publikely That his conscience was much grieued for that vnjustly and without Title hee detained from King Henrie his Duchie of Normandie and such other Territories in France as in right he ought to enioy And on the other side King Henrie intending to conclude an inuiolable Peace with so deare a friend and to remoue from him all future scruples of his conscience in that behalfe frankely and freely surrendred to him the said Duchie King Henrie is made Duke of Guyan together with the Lordships of Angeou Poytiers and Mayne And in the same Parliament with great solemnitie and honour hee receiued againe to himselfe and to his heires the said three Lordships with the style of the Duke of Guyan for which he did his Homage in that Assemblie Discord betweene the Prince and the Duke of Glocester Whilest these things thus proceeded in France a publike Quarrell vpon some secret displeasure conceiued by reason of the execution of those curbing Lawes began to breake forth betwixt Edward the young Prince and the Duke of Gloucester which by the Barons was stoutly suppressed vntill the Kings returne by whome they were not long after reconciled and made friends The King procureth two Bulls from Rome The King being vexed at the heart because his Regall Authoritie was diminished by the Twelue Peeres and not finding anie redresse thereof at home endeauoured to procure some remedie thereof by his friends abroad And for that purpose with the great expence of much Coyne and with rich and costly Gifts hee secretly obtained two Bulls from Pope Alexander the third by both which the King himselfe and all others who had formerly sworne to obserue and to maintaine those new Ordinances and Lawes and to support the Proceedings and the Authoritie of the twelue Peeres were freely absolued from their Oathes Yet the twelue Peeres not hauing anie notice of those Bulls ruled all and were so busily employed about their charge that the King had little or nothing at all to doe They had but small leysure to recreate themselues with anie sports but the King had time ynough to play for hee was a King in name but not in Authoritie nor in Power The Lord chiefe Iustice displaced Among others Sir Hugh le Spencer being then Lord chiefe Iustice of England and an especiall fauourite with the King administred the Lawes of this Realme not according to Equitie and Right but after his owne fancie and will and such was his indiscreete carriage of most things which belonged vnto his Office and to his place that the Twelue Peers farre against the Kings minde remoued him and supplied his roome by Sir Philip Basset a man well learned wise vertuous and discreet They also dismissed such Sherifs and Iustices errants as the King had made and bestowed those offices vpon others Iustices errants and Sherifs displaced The Popes Bulls are published by the King so that the king being vnable any longer to endure those indignities and deepely repining to be euery houre disgraced and crossed by his owne subiects resolued presently to make vse of the Popes Bulls for which purpose he caused them with great solemnitie and reuerence to be proclaimed in sundry eminent places in England Ireland and in Wales and therewithall he commanded straighty That all such of what estate condition He countermandeth the authority of the Twelue Peers The Londoners are sworne to obey and to aide him and degree soeuer they were as did from thenceforth by word or by deede support and maintaine the said Ordinances and Lawes or the authoritie of the said Twelue Peers should be committed to strong prisons and should not be enlarged but by his especiall notice and consent He also took a solemne oath in the Citie of London of all such as were twelue yeeres old or more to be true faithfull and ayding to him and to his heires and did perswade himselfe that by this means he should from thenceforth haue his owne will But he was much deceiued therein for such was the resolution of his Barons to the contrary that they protested they would rather die then cease to vphold all those things which in so honorable an assembly they had solemnly sworn to maintaine And some of them coniecturing The resolution of the Barons and peraduenture not without good cause that the King in priuat contriued som desperat plot The Barons raise an Armie to set himselfe at libertie by their ruine repaired to the Marches of Wales where they raised a strong Armie and furnished it with all things needfull and conuenient for the warre And standing thus vpon their Guard yet resolued to abstaine from all violence Their Letter to the K. except necessitie which obeyeth no King nor laws should vrgently compell them to take a sharper course They addressed their Letters in most submissiue and humble sort and sent them to the King protesting with many oaths their dutie and their seruice to his Grace and entreating his Highnesse for the honour of Almightie God for his owne soules health and for the welfare and happinesse of his people and Kingdome vtterly to defie except his Queene and Children all such as either counsailed him The King makes them no answer or did themselues intend to suppresse the Ordinances and laws which were established at Oxford or the authoritie and the power which for the Common-weales prosperitie was graunted to the Twelue Peeres The King hauing read those Letters was much displeased and returned not any answer to the Barons The Barons march toward London wherfore they maintained a stout march towards London vnder a Banner richly and beautifully flourished with the Kings Armes And as they passed by the houses or possessions of such as fauoured the Popes Bulls they robbed spoyled wasted burnt and consumed them with fire holding them for vndoubted enemies to the King and to his Crowne And when they approached neere to the Citie
field where was fought a long and a sharp battaile vntill King Dauid by an Esquire named Iohn Copland was taken prisoner and secretly conueyed out of the armie There were also at that time slaine of the Scots diuers Earles Lords Knights and Gentlemen besides more then fifteene thousand souldiers of the common ranke And the residue of them being defeated returned by continuall flight into Scotland The Queene much importuned Iohn Copland for the deliuerie of his Prisoner king Dauid But hee making challenge vnto him as to his onely behoofe by the Lawes of Armes made answere that hee would not deliuer him vnto any but to the King himselfe So that the Queene being highly displeased with him certified the king both of her Victorie and also in what sort Iohn Copland had answered her touching the deliuerie of the Scottish king Whereupon Iohn Copland being sent for went vnto Callice Iohn Copland is thanked and rewarded where hee was graciously and louingly welcomed by the king who thanked him hartily for his great seruice and made him an Esquire of his owne bodie and recompenced his trauailes King Dauid and others are committed to the Tower and his good fortune with the gift in Fee simple of fiue hundred pounds by the yeare in good Land and commanded him to deliuer his Prisoner to the Queene at his returne which hee performed accordingly And then the Queene committed the said king and the Earle of Morret and manie others Prisoners to the Tower of London where they remained long after The Queene passeth ouer to Callice And then the Queene being accompanied with a faire troupe of faire Ladies and beautifull Gentlewomen whose husbands fathers brothers and kinsfolkes had for a long time beene emploied in the French warres came vnto the king as he lay before Callice and were by the king and his whole armie receiued and entertained with much joy The Callicians craue mercie And now the distressed and the besieged Towne of Callice trauelling with many wants and being destitute of all hope to be relieued because the French King not long before had cashired and dismissed his whole Armie craued pardon A hard condition and mercie of King Edward Who in regard of their peruerse and long continued obstinacie and for that they had spoyled and robbed many of his English Marchants vpon the Sea before they were besieged would in no sort hearken to their request and submission except sixe of their worthiest Inhabitants did come vnto him Bare-legged Bare-headed in their Shirts and with Halters about their neckes to be corrected and disposed of as the king should please Ingens telum necessitas And though this condition was full of terrour and of bitternesse yet necessitie compelled them to accomplish the kings demaund So that they sent him the keyes both of the Towne and Castle by those sixe A heauie sentence who presented them to the king The keyes he receiued but forthwith commanded that the said Townesmen should bee hanged Whereupon all such in the kings Armie Intercession for the liues of the Callicians as were either Honourable by birth or had for their seruice deserued well or were graced by the kings especiall loue and fauour became earnest Petitioners to the king for the Pardon of those distressed men But such was the kings resolution and full determination to make them examples to the rest for the iniuries and for the wrongs which formerly they had done to the English Nation The Queene only procureth their Pardon that all their meanes was insufficient and vnable to deliuer them from death Which when the Queene perceiued on bended knees with Prayers and with Teares and with importunate request shee neuer ceased to vrge the king vntill shee had procured their Pardon and their inlargement from that danger Callice is yeelded to King Edward in An. Dom. 1347. and in the 22. yeere of King Edwards raigne A stranger made Captaine of Callice The King returneth into England Londoners are sent to dwell in Callice The chiefe Captaine named Sir Guy of Vyen and such knights and Gentlemen as were in the Towne and in the Castle were sent Prisoners into England where they remained about sixe monethes and were then ransomed by the French king Thus when the king was quietly and fully possessed of Callice the keye to France and had without sparing of any cost in wonderfull sort strengthned and fortified it He left none to remaine there but Englishmen the Captaine onely excepted Who being a Lombard by birth was named Sir Andrew de Pauye an especiall fauourite of the kings whom the king vpon the vndoubted trust and confidence which hee reposed in him placed chiefe Captaine and Commander there These things being thus setled in good order the king with the Queene and all his troupes returned into England and were receiued into London with extraordinarie Triumph and great joy And from thence hee sent sixe and thirtie rich wise and graue Cittizens with ther Wiues and Families to Callice to inhabite and to trade and traffique there Great priuiledges granted to the Callicians and gaue to the said Towne and Castle such profitable and large immunites priuiledges liberties and franchesses that they thought themselues to be very happy whom the king would licence to dwell there The Pope mediates a Truce Pope Clement the sixt hauing manie yeares laughed in his sleeue to see these two potent and mightie kings so busily to imploy themselues each against other in those bloudie Warres at length mediated a Truce betwixt them which on his motion was concluded for two yeares Callice should haue been betraied And in the meane time king Edward was informed that Sir Andrew de Pauie his chiefe Captaine of Callice for twentie thousand Crownes to him promised by the Lord Charney Captaine of Arras had conspired to betray the Towne and Castle into his hands Whereupon king Edward to make a triall of this newes and to surprise the said Lord The King passeth secretly vnto Callice and all his Companie if hee might when hee should come to take the possession of Callice departed secretly out of England with three hundred selected men at armes and in the depth of the night landed at Callice and was quickly receiued in where hee sharply reprehended the Lombard who vnder the pretext of honest dealing for the king excused himselfe of anie treacherous intent But within a night or two after the Lord Charney at the appointed time repaired thither with twelue hundred armed men to surprise both the Castle and the Towne The monie in good Gold was by the Captaine receiued at a posterne gate of the Castle The Money is receiued and one hundred only of that Company were suffred to enter in But they finding quickly that they were beguiled and betraied without noyse or resistance yeelded themselues and were closed vp in a strong Dungeon And then the king himselfe King Edwards valour and courage
Normandie and Aquitaine being all lost and no warres now busying the Nobilitie of this Realme franke and free libertie was thereby giuen to the Duke of Yorke The Yorkish Conspiracie grieuously to complaine to diuers Lords of the greatest power of the manifold trecheries and treasons of the Duke of Somerset as formerly he had done And at the same time Richard Earle of Salisburie being the second sonne of Rafe Neuil Earle of Westmerland whose daughter the Duke of Yorke had maried and Richard his sonne who hauing maried Anne the sister and heire of Henry Beauchampe first Earle and afterwards Duke of Warwicke and in whose right he was created Earle were men of prime honour and of great power and for their valour and their vertues were especially obserued and regarded both of the Nobles and also of the Commons of this Kingdome but chiefly Richard the sonne Earle of Warwicke whose courtesie wisdome and true manhood had gained him much loue These two Earles among others faithfully ioined themselues and their fortunes with the Duke of Yorke and his and chiefly by their meanes and good assistance he preuailed as in the sequell of this Historie it shall appeare When the Duke of Yorke had thus strengthned himselfe with these noble and powerfull friends he caused the Duke of Somerset to be arrested of high treason in the Queens great Chamber from whence he was drawen and conueied to the Tower The Duke of Somerset is arrested for treason and shortly after in the Parliament the Duke of Yorke accused him of all those treasons which are formerly mentioned But because the King indeed fell sicke or fained himselfe for the Dukes good to be diseased The Parliament breaketh off suddenly The Duke of Somerset is enlarged and made Captaine of Calice the Parliament was suddenly adiourned and the King by many protestations faithfully promised that he should answer those accusations at some other time But within few daies after hee was not onely by the Queene set at libertie but was graced with the Kings especiall and publike fauour and was made chiefe Captaine of the Towne and Castle of Calice whereat the Nobilitie the common people grudged much and exclaimed vpon the vniust proceedings of the King and Queene The Duke of Yorke and his associates supposing that their proiect would still be crossed if they remained quiet expected faire proceedings against the Duke of Somerset by the ordinarie course of Law The Duke of Yorke leuieth an Armie resolued once againe to shew themselues with an Armie in the field and by open warre not only to reuenge themselues vpon their enemies but also to settle the Crowne vpon the Duke of Yorkes head For which purpose they raised a puissant Armie within the Marches of Wales and confidently directed their march towards the Citie of London The King meeteth him with an Armie The battaile of S. Albons The King is ouerthrowen The King and his Counsell fearing lest the Duke of Yorke and his complices would finde too many friends if they came thither met them with another Armie at S. Albons and betwixt them a doubtfull and a bloudie battaile was fought from which the Duke of Buckingham and Iames Butler Earle of Ormond and of Wilshire fled and Edmund Duke of Somerset Henry the second Earle of Northumberland Humfrey Earle of Stafford sonne and heire to the Duke of Buckingham Iohn Lord Clifford and more then eight thousand Lords Knights Gentlemen and common souldiers were slaine on the Kings part He is taken prisoner and the King himselfe was taken prisoner and brought to the Duke of Yorke The King is vsed reuerently A Parliament The Duke of Yorke is made Protector And albeit hee might then haue put him to death and by that meanes might quietly haue possessed himselfe of the Crowne yet because his rising in Armes pretended none other thing but the reforming of some great abuses in the Common-weale hee reuerenced him with all dutie brought him with great honour vnto London where he praied him to assemble his high Court of Parliament which he did by that great Counsell honorable estate the Duke of Yorke was made Protector of the Kings royall person and of his Realme The Earle of Salisburie is made Chancelor The Earle of Warwicke is made Captaine of Calice Their good gouernment the Earle of Salisburie was made Lord Chancelor of England and his sonne the Earle of Warwicke was made Captaine of Calice And thus all the regiment of the ciuill estate of this Common-weale was settled in those former two and the disposing of warlike affaires and businesse was conferred on the third In the administration of which Offices they shewed no iniustice vsed no briberie oppressed no man were indifferent to the poore and rich and ordered all things in a most commendable and praisefull fashion to the good contentment of most of the Nobilitie Gentrie and Commons of this Realme But Humfrey Duke of Buckingham who in the battaile at S. Albons had lost his eldest sonne and Henry Beauford the new Duke of Somerset who then also lost his father with reuengefull mindes and inraged spirits informed the Queene that this faire and glozing shew was vsed but as a subtill meane to set the Crowne of England vpon the Duke of Yorkes head That the Kings life and his sonnes was secretly conspired That her vnfortunate miseries approched neere vnto her And that all would bee starke naught except the subtiltie and cunning of those three Lords were wittily preuented and their haughtie and ambitious stomackes were with force and violence subdued and beaten downe Hereupon the Queene and they assembled a great Counsell at Greenwich The Duke of Yorke and the Earle of Salisburie are remoued by the Queen Aspoile on the Merchant strangers in London by the authoritie whereof the Duke of Yorke and the Earle of Salisburie were remoued from their gouernment This sudden alteration bred many broiles in the Common-weale For the English Merchants in London perceiuing that the Common-weales gouernment was vnsettled quarrelled with the Venetians and Italians who dwelt among them and by their trading in merchandizing and by their parsimonie and sparing waxed rich and depriued them of their chiefest meanes to liue Those strangers they rifled and robbed for which offence not without much trouble and difficultie the principall offenders were corrected or put to death The Frenchmen also being diuided into many warlike Fleetes landed The Frenchmen land and burne The Scots inuade They flie home robbed and burnt some Frontier Townes within this Realme And the Scots being conducted by Iames their King did much harme to the Duke of Yorkes Countries in the North. Against whom the Duke himselfe marched with a braue Armie But the Scots fearing the sequell of their vnaduised inuasion suddenly fled and returned into their owne Countrey The Queene dissembleth with the Yorkish Faction The Queene who now ruled the King and almost all other
Common-weale But to preuent that mischiefe manie of the Nobilitie endeuoured day and night to mediate A parly for peace and to conclude a Peace so that Letters were written from the one part to the other Heralds of Armes were sent and the word of Peace was so pleasing to them all that euerie circumstance seemed to giue warrant that all things should bee qualified and set in tune This parly made the King too secure The King is taken in his Bed By meanes of this parlie King Edward became more carelesse of himselfe and of his charge then was fitting VVhereof when the Earle of Warwick was informed hee resolued though disloyally and dishonestly to make an aduantage thereby vnto himselfe so that in the midst of the Night when securitie suspected none euil the said Earle being accompanied with manie of his friends well armed and thorowly appointed rushed into the Kings Campe slew his Watches He is sent Prisoner to the Archbishop of Yorke and tooke him in his Bed and as secretly as hee could he sent him as a Prisoner to the Castle of Middleham in Yorkshire there to be safely kept by the Archbishop his brother who either repenting what hee had done against the King or being wonne by large promises of great fauour and good rewardes suffered him with his Garders to hunt and to hawke at his pleasure The King escapeth By meanes whereof fit opportunitie for a rescue was giuen to Sir William Stanley Sir Thomas Burgh and some others of his faithfull friends who not only did set him free but also by their carefull helpe The King commeth to London and assistance conueighed him from place to place vntill the Earle of Warwick was certainly informed that hee was within the Citie of London This his deliuerance much encumbred the said Earle the Duke of Clarence and their Confederates with new troubles and daily consultations what course was fittest for them to take For they had dissolued their Armie and permitted the kings to depart from them vntouched when he was taken supposing that by his Captiuitie there had beene a finall end of all those Ciuill wars But at length they resolued to rayse another Armie vnder colour of some Rebellion in the North and the King on his part was determined by one meanes or other to make them better minded and more dutifull or else to roote them and their Posteritie out of the Land Thus whilest all things were in a Combustion and nothing but Ciuill war was threatned in euerie place The Common Lawes were neglected Iustice was laid a sleepe Robberies and oppressions were too too rife and open violence without correction was practized vpon the weaker sort The Lords and Great men of the Land once more endeuoured to preuent this future mischeif and and vpon solemne oathes receiued for a quiet and friendly enteruiew An enteruiew the King and the confederated Lords met kindly in the great Hall at Westminster where the obiections of good deserts and of vnthankfull requitals were with such proud and bitter words repeated and maintained by the Earle of Warwicke that in a great furie they all departed one from another The parley broken off An Armie raised by the Lords Whereupon the King went to Canterburie and the confederated Lords into Lincolnshire where they raised an Armie of which they made Captaine Sir Robert Welles sonne and heire apparant to the Lord Welles because hee was a man right valiant and of good direction and iudgement in the Art of warre An Armie raised by the King The King who was inwardly vexed with this new preparation was by necessitie enforced to leuie another Armie which when he had done he sent for the Lord Welles who with his brother in law Sir Thomas Dymocke comming towards the King tooke Sanctuarie at Westminster because their hearts failed them to goe forward A cruâ—â—l aced for that they heard that the King was exceeding angrie But vpon the Kings solemne word and promise that no wrong should be done vnto them they came into his presence and were by him required to command the Knight to desist from his rebellious purpose and to repaire to the Kings Armie for his seruice and they accordingly tooke much paine and trauell to that purpose But as the King marched forth towards the Rebels he was informed that the said Sir Robert Welles was resolued to perseuere in that action whereat the King was so exceedingly enraged and so forgetfull of his princely promise that in his vnaduised furie he caused the heads of the said Lord Knight to be smitten off for which crueltie hee was euilly spoken of by many Nobles and inferiour men who otherwise wished him good successe in all his affaires and actions When both these Armies had pitched themselues neere to each other The battaile of 〈◊〉 Sir Robert Willes for a while doubted whether he should begin the fight or stay till the repaire of the confederated Lords who were within a daies iourney of him with an Armie But in the end deepe hatred to reuenge his Fathers and his Vncles deaths and an ardent desire which inflamed his heart with a small number to win much honour bred in him a constant resolution to begin the fight which forthwith hee did and for a long time maintained it with great discretion and true valour But the Kings numbers being farre the greater so tired out the Rebels by their fresh supplies that they began to flie and the King by violent pursuit followed after vntill he clearly won the honour of that day The Rebels oueâ—throwen This meeting was called the battaile of Loose-coats because the Rebels threw off their coats that they might therby make themselues more actiue and more nimble to run away In this battaile were slaine aboue 10000. men 10000. men slaine Execution And Sir Robert Welles with some others of good account being taken prisoners lost their heads The Duke of Clarence and the Earle of Warwicke being informed of this mishap although they were guarded with a huge Armie of desperate and wilful people yet fearing left this ouerthrow would make them faint-hearted Clarence and Warwicke dâ—e flie from their Armie and come befâ—re Calice mutable and vnconstant they left their charge and secretly fled to the Citie of Exeter and from thence to Dartmouth where they shipped themselues and came before Calice with their friends The King was much grieued because they had not been slaine or taken but especially the safetie of the Earle of Warwicke perplexed his minde because he knew him to be exceeding gratious and in much fauour with the common people Warwicke is exceedingly beleued by the common people who indeed were perswaded that the Sunne shined not cleare any where but where he was and that they could not miscarrie in any danger if he himselfe were present Now to preuent his future landing in England with a forraine power the King by his letters intreated his brother
endeuours and so industrious was King Edward who was compelled by necessitie to make prouision for his owne safetie that hee leuied a strong Armie and went forth with an high courage and with princely valour against the Rebels of his Countrie But being informed that all the Countries Cities Townes and places thorow which his enemies passed were aiders to their fortunes and hearing them oftentimes with loud voices to crie King Henry King Henry A Warwicke A Warwicke and distrusting vtterly the inconstant mindes and dispositions of his owne souldiers his heart failed him The King flieth in the night so that in secret manner and in the night with eight hundred of his best friends he left his Armie and posted into Lincolnshire and when all his hopes of helpe and succour there were spent in vaine they being altogether destitute of money and other prouisions needfull for a iourney into a forraine Countrey tooke shipping and sailed into Holland purposing to remaine with the Duke of Burgoine vntill they might haue good meanes for their returne and to be reuenged on the Earle of Warwicke and of all other their mortall enemies As soone as it was certainly knowen that King Edward was fled a rude multitude of factious Kentishmen delighting tumultuously and in a braine-sicke manner to fish in troubled waters came to the Gates of the Citie of London and would haue entred it A rebellion in Kent but being resisted in their purpose they rifled and robbed the Suburbes burnt diuers houses murdered many people and at Radcliffe and Lime-house they did the like Warwicke subdueth them But by the Earle of Warwickes power and endeuours they were quickly ouerthrowen and punished sharply for their offence which wonne him much fauour and loue among the better sort of the common people The Earle afterwards came to the Tower King Henry is enlarged where he not onely enlarged the deposed King Henry but in most triumphant fashion conducted him thorow the Citie of London to Pauls Church And when he had concluded his deuotions and performed his offrings as the Kings of this Realme haue beene accustomed to doe hee was brought to the Bishops Palace where he kept his Court with great magnificence and much bountie Hee also assembled his high Court of Parliament at Westminster A Parliament Aâ—taindors in which the late King Edward the Fourth and all his principall adherents were attainted of High Treason and all their goods and possessions were confiscate and giuen to the King The Duke of Clarence was by the same authoritie published to be the next heire of the deceased Richard late Duke of Yorke The Duke of Clarence aduanced his father And albeit that hee was but his second sonne yet all that Duchie was settled in him and in his heires The Crowne entailed The Crowne also was entailed to King Henry and to the heires males of his bodie and for default of such issue to the said Duke of Clarence and to his heires Iaspar Earle of Pembroke was also restored to his honour and his lands and so was Iohn Earle of Oxford and many others And the Earle of Warwicke and the Duke of Clarence who were enstiled friends to the King and friends to the Common-weale were established and made chiefe rulers in all things vnder the King The Queene dares not to put into the Sea When these affaires were thus ordered Queene Margaret with the Prince her sonne and their whole traine shipped themselues But so violent were the raging stormes and so furious was the troubled sea that albeit many profers were made yet durst they not to aduenture for that time Whereupon the common people of this Realme of whom the Queene was not beloued murmured and muttered saying that God was not pleased that such a woman as had occasioned so many battailes and such slaughters and executions in England should returne thither to plot more trecherie and to deuise more mischiefe The Duke of Burgoine furnisheth King Edward with money men munition and ships The Duke of Burgoine although he entreated King Edward and his friends kindly yet because hee himselfe had warred with France and feared lest the Earle of Warwicke would busie him with a new warre sent word to King Henry that hee would not in any sort assist his enemie for his returne into England Yet not long after when he vnderstood that King Edwards friends by daily messengers and by letters importunated his returne and had by their faire promise strengthned him with good hopes of fortunate successe hee deliuered to him fiftie thousand Floreines of gold and furnished him with eighteene tall and warlike ships in which he had only two thousand souldiers for seruice on the land 1470. With these small forces hee sailed into England and landed at Rauen-spurre in the Countie of Yorke where his expectation failed him very much King Edward landeth in England A small hope For few or none resorted to him for his helpe but all men there acknowledged themselues to be the friends and subiects of King Henrie This checke though it much troubled him yet was hee not vtterly dismaied thereby for meere necessitie and danger enforced him to march to the Citie of Yorke And in his passage thither He only claimeth his Duchie of Yorke he published to the people and to the inhabitants of that Citie that he came not to lay any claime or to make any challenge to the Crowne but intended only to possesse himselfe of his Duchie of Yorke of which vniustly hee was depriued wherein he affirmed hee ought by the lawes of equitie and right to be assisted and succoured by them and by all good men He sweareth it to the Citizens of Yorke They receiue him and releeue him The Citizens at his first repaire denied his entrance but by reason of a solemne oath which he tooke before them that he only intended the regaining of his Duchie and would remaine a true faithfull and an obedient subiect to King Henry he was receiued entertained and monied at his owne will But when he had staied in that Citie a day or two hee forgat the oath which so lately hee had sworne for hee placed a strong Garrison within the Towne He breaketh his oath He getteth money and wogeth souldiers He had neuer risen by all likelihood if he had beene defeated by the Marquesse and enforced the inhabitants to furnish him with many requisites and prouisions for an Armie And then leauing the Citie which was by strength reserued to his vse he hired souldiers euery where for money as he passed by towards London And in his march he came within foure miles of the Marquesse Montacute his old familiar and trustie friend who being accompanied with braue troupes and companies of valiant men of warre to encounter him gaue vnto him free passage without resistance to march forth so that by easie iournies hee came to Nottingham where diuers Nobles and Gentlemen who fauoured his
outwardly pretended to vnite them to the English forces But as a Riuer growing outragious by the abundance of much raine ouerfloweth the low adiacent grounds so this Armie with great violence and strength vnexpectedly rushed into the vnprouided Territories of Nauarre surprised the Citie of Pampalona and treacherously without blowes or resistance subdued the greatest part of that Kingdome which without right or title the Spaniards doe hold and enioy at this day And although that King Ferdinando by this vniust and deceitfull practise had easily attained to the height of his ambitious desires concerning that conquest Ferdinando aâ—â—â—râ—s no helpe or assistance at last yet did hee continue false and vnkinde to the English Armie whom he assisted not at the last but suffred them for the space of foure moneths to be oppressed with a thousand wants and to be consumed by the flux and other calamities in the open field by meanes whereof the common souldiers being heartlesse The Englishmen returne home without leaue and hopelesse of better vsage from the King of Aragon forsooke the field and without the licence of their Generall returned straglingly into England And thus was K. Henry grosly abused and wronged by his father in law the second time Whilest the English Armie was thus vnkindly deluded in Biskey the right valiant Knight Sir Edward Howard Lord Admirall of England Sir Edward Howard plagueth the Brittons and a younger sonne to the Earle of Surrey with a well appointed Fleet of ships which were well furnished with braue and lustie men kept and commanded the Narrow Seas daily tooke the French Merchants oftentimes landed in sundrie places within the Duchie of Britaine forraged their Fields ransacked their Villages and their Townes set them on fire and enriched his companies with great spoiles The Brittons dare him but run away The Brittons being hourely endammaged and knowing that no better fortune would attend them except by true valour and manhood they encountred the English assailants braggingly dared the Admirall into the Field of which challenge he ioifully accepted although that with six and twentie hundred and no more he was to fight against more then ten thousand men And incontinently with martiall skill and policie hee ordered his battaile in the open field But when the Brittons approched neere and with iudicious eies beheld the order and the courage of the English souldiers their hearts fainted their Leaders retired their common souldiers fled and would not once looke on an English face The King sendeth him more aid The King being aduertised of the valour of his Admirall and of the haughty courage of his men intending to giue them strength which should bee answerable to their desires did send vnto them some of his ships royall many others which were well ordinanced and plentifully manned both for the Sea also for the Land When the Admirall was thus prouided and had reduced all his ships into one Fleet He fighteth at Sea with the French Fleet. within few daies after he met and fought with the French Nauie at which time death was despised in regard that euery man sought by bloud to purchase honour and renowne vntill the Regent of England and in her Sir Iohn Carew of Deuonshire and Sir Thomas Knyuet with seuen hundred more and the great Carricke of Brest and in her Sir Pierce Morgan and nine hundred men of warre both those ships being fast grapped together were vnfortunately burnt The Regent and the Carricke are burned slaine and drowned in the Sea The view whereof being vnusuall was so terrible that whilest men fearfully looked on the fight ceased and the Frenchmen scattering themselues returned into the Sea The French King to make his match the better with the English Nauie augmented the number of his ships and men The French Fleet entreth into the Hauen of Brest and sent them thorowly prouided with ordinance powder shot and other necessaries into the Hauen of Brest And King Henry who scorned that his Admirall should be oppressed with a greater strength then he should be well able to resist rigged vp the most part of his Royall Fleet and some others King Henry augmenteth his Fleet. which safely arriued in Bartram Bay within the Duchie of Britaine With these and with all the rest the braue Admirall attempted to assaile the French Bottoms as they lay at ancors within the Hauen of Brest But as he was entring in the foremost ship which Arthur Plantagenet did command was splitted in sunder vpon a rocke which made the rest doubtfull to proceed except with better guidance they might safely enter in The French Captaines perceiuing the Englishmens intent The Frenchmen doe fortifie the Hauen ancoured as neere to the Castle of Brest as they were able and placed foure and twentie old Flemish Hulkes towards the mouth of the Hauen betwixt themselues and the English Fleet which they appointed to bee set on fire and to bee vnmoared when the ships of England did approch towards them that by them they might bee endangered They also raised and fortified diuers Rampiers and Bulwarkes vpon the entrance of the Hauen from which their great Ordinance might play vpon their enemies The Lord Admirall of England doubting lest the Hauen of Brest was too shallow to support his ships of greatest strength and burden The Admirall in Boats entreth into the Hauen and finding that the French cowards meant nothing lesse then to expresse their manhood by a resolute encounter resolued with oared Barges to be rowed into the Harbrough and there to doe some memorable exploit vpon his enemies ships With this determination which more manfully then aduisedly he did put in practise hee with such an haughtie courage and with such violence assailed the three great Gallies of the Rhoads He taketh the three Gallies of the Rhoads which were brought thither by a gallant Knight named Prior Iohn that hee wonne them quickly and possessed them as his owne But when the Frenchmen perceiued that the English Barges were gone out of the Hauen and were returned to their owne Fleet they then with great numbers of well armed men rushed into the said Gallies where the braue Admirall with that small remnant which were with him defended themselues a long time with great courage But being ouer-mastered and too much wearied with fresh supplies which euery minute did assaile them He is drowned the greater part of his men were slaine the Admirall with a pike was violently borne ouer boord and drowned in the Sea and the rest of them were taken prisoners by their enemies And thus were they ouerthrowen who if they had beene more prouident and better counselled might haue triumphed in their victories And within few daies after the Lord Thomas Howard the eldest brother of the said deceased Knight His brother is made Lord Admirall was by the King made Admirall who with all the extremitie of warre became a cruell reuenger of his brothers
commission granted by King Henry And secondly because the great seale of the Kingdome of England was in those Countries borne with great state before him which seemed to be the chiefest marke and badge by which King Henry would expresse the extraordinarie trust confidence which he reposed in him when as in truth and indeed hee foolishly and vnaduisedly caried the said Seale with him for his owne glorie without the Kings leaue so that in his absence no Sherifs could be made nor any Writs Commissions or Patents could bee sealed which wronged many particular men and was very preiudiciall to the present estate of the whole Kingdome His Oration Within a day or two after the Cardinals comming to Brudges the Emperour with his Counsell and Wolsey with his Associates seriously disputed and debated of the causes of the iarres and wars intended betwixt his Maiestie and the French King But when the Cardinall perceiued that the Emperour without restitution vnto him made of such of his Castles Forts Townes Cities and Territories as by the French King were detained from him would not incline to any peace hee then like a learned and like a wittie Oratour discoursed largely of the happinesse of peace and of the vnspeakable and insupportable miseries of bloudy war and forgat not to shew vnto the Emperour the kingly strength and puissance of his Soueraigne both in men and also in horses ships armour ordinance and all other materials for the warre And further adding that in regard of the league which was betwixt those two Kings his Lord and master should be vrged to take part with the French King if any violence by any other Prince should be offered to him The Emperour The Emperors answer acknowledging all to bee true whatsoeuer the Cardinall had spoken touching the benefits of peace the incommodities of warre answered that God who had giuen honors and possessions vnto Emperors Kings had includedly in the same gifts appropriated such an inheritable right in them vnto those to whom they were so giuen that he doubted not but with the pleasure of Almightie God they might not onely defend and keepe them with the sword from all Vsurpers and Intruders but might also by force and violence regaine them if iniuriously and besides right they were kept and detained And seeing that all Kings and Princes were bounden to support right and to suppresse al iniuries wrongs he said he doubted little of his vncle King Henries helpe and comfort if betwixt himselfe the French King there were no peace to be made without blowes The Emperors greeuances He also informed the English Commissioners that when his forces hee being at that time but Arch-duke of Austria had ouerthrowen the Armie of K. Charles the eighth at Gingate then the said King to procure his peace desired and espoused the Lady Margaret his daughter now wife to the Duke of Sauoy and vpon the same conclusion of the said mariage hee gaue with her to the said French King a good portion in money with diuers Townes and Castles in Piccardie which were still detained and kept from him notwithstanding that the said King Charles perfidiously refused afterwards to marie her and sent her home He told them likewise that he himselfe being lawfully betrothed vnto the Lady Iane the yong Duches of Britaigne hee trecherously gate her from him and tooke her to his owne wife He shewed them also that whereas the Duke of Gueâ—ders was his Subiect and ought to liue vnder his homage and obedience he by the procurement of the now French King stood out as a Rebell Refusing to be reformed without blowes Hee complained also that the French King trecherously surprized from the house of Castile the Realme of Naples but should restore it againe by friendship or by warre Thus when the Emperour had discoursed and had made an end of speaking the Cardinall replyed little leauing him to his owne will and taking a friendly and a kinde farewell hee returned to Calice where hee againe but more coldly then before debated with those Embassadours vpon the conclusions of a peace But when he perceaued that no such matter could be effected hee tooke his leaue and returned into England and was gratiously welcommed as a friend and liberally feasted as a stranger by the King In the fifteenth sixteenth and seuenteenth yeares of King Henries Raigne this prowd Cardinall vnder the colour of the Kings partaking with the Emperor in his warres against the French king of his owne authoritie and without the Kings commandement granted forth Commissions vnder the great Scale of England into euery Shire and Prouince of the Kingdome and directed them to the principall and chiefest men He granteth strange commissions for taxes and gaue vnto them priuate instructions how and in what sort they should proceed and demeane themselues in the execution of that businesse And by the same Commissions euery man was required to depose the certaine and true value of his Estate And then Of euery fiftie pounds and vpward there was demanded foure shillings the pound And for euery pound aboue twentie and vnder fiftie two shillings And for euery pound aboue twentie shillings vnder twentie pounds twelue pence The payment thereof to bee in money or in plate And in London hee made himselfe the chiefe Commissioner In which he behaued himselfe insolently as a Tyrant not so much to enrich the King as to stuffe vp his owne purse The like Commissions he granted forth against all the Clergie of this Land of whom he demanded foure shillings the pound of all their liuings The commons will not obey These vniust proceedings grieued the Clergie and common People at the heart and generally they refused to submit themselues in that busines Their reasons 1. First because those Commissions were not established nor were grounded vpon the Lawes of this Kingdome and common-weale 2. Secondly because the execution of them would be a dangerous president against the libertie and freedome of this kingdome in time to come 3. Thirdly because many mens credits exceeded their estates and to discouer their inabilities either vpon their oathes or otherwise it might and would tend to the subuersion and vtter ouerthrow both of them and of their Families 4. And lastly because the thing demanded and required to be paid was so much That not one man among ten generally had that value in money or in plate though hee were worth much more And therefore if the King by force of these Commissions should get into his hands all his Subiects plate and money they then should for necessities sake be constrayned to barter and to exchange and chop Lead for Clothes Tinne for Bread and Cloth for Cheese But these reasons preuailed not with the Cardinall but contrariwise he being by a generall Petition entreated to perswade the King to deâ—ist from that course and by the Lawes to deuise some other made this froward and sullen answer That he would