KNESVVORTH likewise that had beene lately Maior of London and both his Sheriffes were for Abuses in their Offices questioned and imprisoned and deliuered vpon one Thousand foure hundred pounds payed HAVVIS an Alderman of London was put in Trouble and died with Thought and Anguish before his Businesse came to an end Sir LAVVRENCE AILMER who had likewise beene Maior of London and his two Sheriffes were put to the Fine of one Thousand Pounds And Sir LAVVRENCE for refusing to make payment was committed to Prison where hee stayed till EMPSON himselfe was committed in his place It is no marueile if the Faults were so light and the Rates so heauie that the Kings Treasure of store that hee left at his death most of it in secret places vnder his owne Key and keeping at Richmond amounted as by Tradition it is reported to haue done vnto the Summe of neare Eighteene hundred thousand pounds Sterling a huge Masse of Money euen for these times The last Act of State that concluded this kings Temporall Felicitie was the Conclusion of a Glorious Match betweene his Daughter MARIE and CHARLES Prince of Castile afterwards the great Emperour both beeing of tender yeares Which Treatie was perfected by Bishop FOXE and other his Commissioners at Calice the yeare before the Kings Death In which Alliance it seemeth hee himselfe tooke so high Contentment as in a Letter which hee wrote thereupon to the Citie of London commaunding all possible demonstrations of ioy to bee made for the same hee expresseth himselfe as if hee thought hee had built a Wall of Brasse about his Kingdome When hee had for his Sonnes-in-law a King of Scotland and a Prince of Castile and Burgundie So as now there was nothing to bee added to this great Kings Felicitie beeing at the top of all worldly Blisse in regard of the high Marriages of his Children his great Renowne throughout Europe and his scarce credible Riches and the perpetuall Constancie of his prosperous Successes but an opportune Death to withdraw him from any future blowe of Fortune Which certainely in regard of the great Hatred of his People and the Title of his Sonne being then come to Eighteene yeares of age and being a bold Prince and liberall and that gained vpon the People by his very Aspect and Presence had not beene impossible to haue come vpon him To crowne also the last yeare of his Raigne as well as his first hee did an Act of Pietie rare and worthy to bee taken into Imitation For hee granted forth a Generall Pardon as expecting a second Coronation in a better Kingdome Hee did also declare in his Will that his minde was that Restitution should bee made of those Summes which had beene vniustly taken by his Officers And thus this SALOMON of England for SALOMON also was too heauie vpon his People in Exactions hauing liued two and fiftie yeares and thereof Raigned three and twentie yeares and eight Moneths beeing in perfect Memorie and in a most Blessed Minde in a great Calme of a Consuming Sickenesse passed to a better World the two and twentieth of Aprill 1508. at his Palace of Richmond which himselfe had built THis King to speake of him in Tearmes equall to his Deseruing was one of the best sort of VVonders a Wonder for VVisemen Hee had parts both in his Vertues and his Fortune not so fit for a Common-place as for Obseruation Certainly hee was Religious both in his Affection and Obseruance But as hee could see cleare for those times through Superstition so he would be blinded now and then by Humane Policie Hee aduanced Church-men hee was tender in the Priuiledge of Sanctuaries though they wrought him much mischiefe Hee built and endowed many Religious Foundations besides his Memorable Hospitall of the Sauoy And yet was hee a great Almes-giuer in secret which shewed that his VVorkes in publique were dedicated rather to GODS Glorie than his owne Hee professed alwaies to loue and seeke Peace and it was his vsuall Preface in his Treaties That when CHRIST came into the World Peace was sung and when HEE went out of the World Peace was bequeathed And this Vertue could not proceede out of Feare or Softnesse for he was Valiant and Actiue and therefore no doubt it was truely Christian and Morall Yet hee knew the way to Peace was not to seeme to bee desirous to auoyde Warres Therefore would be make Cffers and Fames of Warres till hee had mended the Conditions of Peace It was also much that one that was so great a Louer of Peace should be so happie in VVarre For his Armes eyther in Forraine or Ciuill VVarres were neuer Infortunate neyther did be know what a Disaster meant The VVarre of his Comming in and the Rebellions of the Earle of Lincolne and the Lord AWDLEY were ended by Victorie The VVarres of France and Scotland by Peaces sought at his hands That of Brittaine by accident of the Dukes death The Insurrection of the Lord LOVEL and that of PERKIN at Excester and in Kent by flight of the Rebells before they came to Blowes So that his Fortune of Armes was still Inuiolate The rather sure for that in the quenching of the Commotions of his Subiects hee euer went in Person Sometimes reseruing himselfe to backe and second his Lieutenants but euer in Action and yet that was not meerely Forwardnesse but partly Distrust of others Hee did much maintaine and countenance his Lawes Which neuerthelesse was no Impediment to him to worke his VVill. For it was so handled that neyther Prerogatiue nor Profit went to Diminution And yet as hee would sometimes straine vp his Lawes to his Prerogatiue so would hee also let downe his Prerogatiue to his Parliament For Minte and Warres and Marshall Discipline things of Absolute Power hee would neuerthelesse bring to Parliament Iustice was well administred in his time saue where the King was Partie Saue also that the Councell-Table intermedled too much with Meum and Tuum For it was a very Court of Iustice during his time especially in the Beginning But in that part both of Iustice and Policie which is the Durable Part and cut as it were in Brasse or Marble which is The making of good Lawes he did excell And with his Iustice hee was also a Mercifull Prince As in whose time there were but three of the Nobilitie that suffered the Earle of Warwicke the Lord Chamberlaine and the Lord AWDLEY Though the first two were in stead of Numbers in the Dislike and Obloquie of the People But there were neuer so great Rebellions expiated with so little Bloud drawne by the hand of Iustice as the two Rebellions of Black-heath and Excester As for the Seueritie vsed vpon those which were taken in Kent it was but vpon a Scumme of People His Pardons went euer both before and after his Sword But then hee had withall a strange kinde of Interchanging of large and inexpected Pardons which seuere Executions Which his Wisedome considered could not bee imputed to any
yet hee knew there was a very great difference betweene a King that holdeth his Crowne by a cicuill act of Estates and one that holdeth it originally by the Law of Nature and descent of Bloud Neither wanted there euen at that time secret Rumors and whisperings which afterwards gathered strength and turned to great troubles that the two young Sonnes of King EDWARD the Fourth or one of them which were said to be destroyed in the Tower were not indeed murthered but conueyed secretly away and were yet liuing which if it had beene true had preuented the Title of the Lady ELIZABETH On the other side if he stood vpon his owne Title of the House of Lancaster inherent in his Person hee knew it was a Title condemned by Parliament and generally preiudged in the common opinion of the Realme and that it tended directly to the disinherison of the Line of Yorke held then the indubiate Heires of the crowne So that if he should haue no Issue by the Lady ELIZABETH which should bee Descendents of the Double-Line when the ancient flames of Discord and intestine Warres vpon the Competition of both Houses would againe returne and reuiue As for Conquest notwithstanding Sir WILLIAM STANLEY after some acclamations of the Souldiers in the Field had put a Crowne of ornament which RICHARD wore in the Battaile and was found amongst the Spoiles vpon King HENRIES head as if there were his chiefe Title yet he remembred well vpon what Conditions and Agreements hee was brought in and that to claime as Conquerour was to put as well his owne Partie as the rest into Terror and Feare as that which gaue him power of disanulling of Lawes and disposing of Mens Fortunes and Estates and the like points of absolute power being in themselues so harsh and odious as that WILLIAM himselfe commonly called the Conquerour howsoeuer he vsed and exercised the power of a Conquerour to reward his Normans yet he sorbare to vse that Claime in the beginning but mixed it with a Titularie pretence grounded vpon the Will and designation of EDWARD the Confessor But the King out of the greatnesse of his owne minde presently cast the Die and the inconueniences appearing vnto him on all parts and knowing there could not be any Interreigne or suspension of Title and preferring his affection to his owne Line and Bloud and liking that Title best which made him independent and being in his Nature and constitution of minde not very apprehensiue or forecasting of future Euents a-farre off but an Intertainer of Fortune by the Day resolued to rest vpon the Title of Lancaster as the Maine and to vse the other two that of Marriage and that of Battaile but as Supporters the one to appease secret Discontents and the other to beat downe open murmur and dispute not forgetting that the same Title of Lancaster had formerly maintained a possession of three Descents in the Crowne and might haue proued a Perpetuitie had it not ended in the weaknesse and inabilitie of the last Prince Whereupon the King presently that very day being the two and twentieth of August assumed the Stile of King in his owne name without mention of the Lady ELIZABETH at all or any relation therunto In which course hee euer after persisted which did spin him a threed of many seditions and troubles The King full of these thoughts before his departure from Leicester dispatched Sir ROBERT WILLOVGHBY to the Castle of Sheriffe-Hutton in Yorkeshire where were kept in safe custodie by King RICHARDS commandement both the Lady ELIZABETH daughter of king EDWARD and EDWARD PLANTAGENET Sonne and Heire to GEORGE Duke of Clarence This EDWARD was by the Kings warrant deliuered from the Constable of the Castle to the hand of Sir ROBERT WILLOVGHBY and by him with all safetie and diligence conueyed to the Tower of London where he was shut vp Close-prisoner Which Act of the Kings being an Act meerely of Policie and power proceeded not so much from any apprehension he had of Doctor Shawes tale at Pauls Crosse for the bastarding of EDWARD the fourths Issues in which case this young Gentleman was to succeed for that Fable was euer exploded but vpon a serled disposition to depresse all Eminent persons of the Line of Yorke Wherin still the King out of strength of Will or weaknesse of Iudgement did vse to shew a little more of the Partie then of the King For the Lady ELIZABETH shee receiued also a direction to repaire with all conuenient speed to London and there to remaine with the Queene Dowager her Mother which accordingly she soone after did accompanied with many Noble-men and Ladies of Honour In the meane season the King set forwards by easie iourneys to the Citie of London receiuing the Acclamations and Applauses of the People as he went which indeed were true and vnfained as might well appeare in the very Demonstrations and Fulnesse of the Crie For they thought generally that hee was a Prince as ordayned and sent downe from Heauen to vnite and put to an end the long dissentions of the two Houses which although they had had in the times of HENRY the Fourth HENRY the Fifth and a part of HENRY the Sixth on the one side and the times of EDWARD the Fourth on the other Lucide-interuals and happy Pauses yet they did euer hang ouer the Kingdome readie to breake forth into new Perturbations and Calamities And as his victorie gaue him the Knee so his purpose of marriage with the Lady ELIZABETH gaue him the Heart so that both Knee and Heart did truely bow before him Hee on the other side with great wisedome not ignorant of the affections and feares of the people to disperse the conceit and terrour of a Conquest had giuen order that there should be nothing in his iourney like vnto a warlike March or manner but rather like vnto the Progresse of a King in full peace and assurance Hee entred the Citie vpon a Saturday as hee had also obtained the Victorie vpon a Saturday which day of the Weeke first vpon an Obseruation and after vpon Memorie and Fancie hee accounted and chose as a day prosperous vnto him The Major and Companies of the Citie receiued him at Shore-ditch whence with great and Honorable attendance and troups of Noble-men and Persons of Qualitie hee entred the Citie himselfe not being on Horse-backe or in any open Chaire or Throne but in a close Chariot as one that hauing beene somtimes an Enemie to the whole State and a Proscribed person chose rather to keepe State and strike a Reuerence into the people then to fawne vpon them He went first into Saint Paules Church where not meaning that the people should forget too soone that hee came in by Battaile hee made Offertorie of his Standards and had Orizons and Te Deum againe sung and went to his Lodging prepared in the Bishop of Londons Palace where he stayed for a time During his abode there he assembled his Counsell and other
although the French seemed to speake reason yet Arguments are euer with multitudes too weake for Suspitions Wherefore they did aduise the King roundly to embrace the Britons quarrell and to send them speedy aides and with much alacritie and forwardnesse granted to the King a great rate of Subsidie in contemplation of these aides But the King both to keepe a decencie towards the French King to whom he profest himselfe to be obliged and indeed desirous rather to shew Warre then to make it sent new solemne Ambassadors to intimate vnto him the Decree of his Estates and to iterate his motion that the French would desist from Hostilitie or if Warre must follow to desire him to take it in good part if at the motion of his people who were sensible of the cause of the Britons as their ancient Friends and Confederates hee did send them succours with protestation neuerthelesse that to saue all Treaties and Lawes of Friendship hee had limited his Force to proceed in aide of the Britons but in no wise to warre vpon the French otherwise then as they maintained the possession of Britaine But before this formall Ambassage arriued the Partie of the Duke had receiued a great blow and grew to manifest declination For neere the Towne of Saint Alban in Britaine a Battaile had beene giuen where the Britons were ouerthrowne and the Duke of Orleance and the Prince of Orange taken Prisoners there being slaine on the Britons part six thousand Men and amongst them the Lord WOODVILE and almost all his Souldiers valiantly fighting And of the French part one thousand two hundred with their Leader IAMES GALEOT a great Commander When the newes of this Battaile came ouer into England it was time for the King who now had no subrerfuge to continue further Treatie and saw before his Eyes that Britaine went so speedily for lost contrarie to his hopes knowing also that with his People and Forreiners both he sustained no small Enuie and disreputation for his former delayes to dispatch with all possible speed his succours into Britaine which hee did vnder the conduct of ROBERT Lord BROOKE to the number of eight thousand choise Men and well armed who hauing a faire wind in few houres landed in Britaine and ioyned themselues forthwith to those Briton-Forces that remained after the Defeat and marched straight on to find the Enemie and incamped fast by them The French wisely husbanding the possession of a Victorie and well acquainted with the courage of the English especially when they are fresh kept themselues within their Trenches being strongly lodged and resolued not to giue battaile But meane while to harrasse and wearie the English they did vpon all aduantages set vpon them with their Light-Horse wherein neuerthelesse they receiued commonly losse especially by meanes of the English-Archers But vpon these atchieuements FRANCIS Duke of Britaine deceased an accident that the King might easily haue foreseene and ought to haue reckoned vpon and prouided for but that the Point of Reputation when newes first came of the Battaile lost that somewhat must bee done did ouerbeare the Reason of Warre After the Dukes decease the principall persons of Britaine partly bought partly through faction put all things into confusion so as the English not finding Head or Bodie with whom to ioyne their Forces and being in iealousie of Friends as well as in danger of Enemies and the Winter begun returned home fiue moneths after their landing So the Battaile of Saint Alban the death of the Duke and the retire of the English succours were after some time the causes of the losse of that Duchie which action some accounted as a blemish of the Kings Iudgement but most but as the misfortune of his times But howsoeuer the temporarie Fruit of the Parliament in their aid and aduice giuen for Britaine tooke not nor prospered not yet the lasting Fruit of Parliament which is good and wholsome Lawes did prosper and doth yet continue to this day For according to the Lord Chancellours admonition there were that Parliament diuers excellent Lawes ordained concerning the Points which the King recommended First the authoritie of the Star-chamber which before subsisted by the ancient Common-Lawes of the Realme was confirmed in certaine Cases by Act of Parliament This Court is one of the sagest and noblest Institutions of this Kingdome For in the distribution of Courts of Ordinarie Iustice besides the High-Court of Parliament in which distribution the Kings-Bench holdeth the Pleas of the Crowne the Common-Place Pleas Ciuill the Exchequer Pleas concerning the Kings Reuenue and the Chancery the Pretorian power for mitigating the Rigour of Law in case of extremitie by the conscience of a good man there was neuerthelesse alwaies reserued a high and preheminent power to the Kings Counsell in Causes that might in example or consequence concerne the state of the Common-wealth which if they were Criminall the Counsell vsed to sit in the Chamber called the Star-Chamber if Ciuill in the White-Chamber or White-hall And as the Chancery had the Pretorian power for Equitie so the Star-chamber had the Censorian power for Offences vnder the degree of Capitall This Court of Star-chamber is compounded of good Elements for it consisteth of foure kindes of Persons Councellors Peeres Prelates and Chief-Iudges It discerneth also principally of foure kinds of Causes Forces Frauds Crimes various of Stellionate and the Inchoations or middle acts towards Crimes Capitall or hainous not actually committed or perpetrated But that which was principally aimed at by this Act was Force and the two chiefe Supports of Force Combination of multitudes and Maintenance or Headship of great Persons From the generall peace of the Countrie the Kings care went on to the peace of the Kings House and the securitie of his great Officers and Counsellors But this Law was somwhat of a strange composition and temper That if any of the Kings seruants vnder the degree of a Lord doe conspire the death of any of the Kings Counsell or Lord of the Realme it is made Capitall This Law was thought to bee procured by the Lord Chancellor who being a sterne and haughtie man and finding he had some mortall Enemies in Court prouided for his owne safetie drowning the enuie of it in a generall Law by communicating the priuiledge with all other Councellors and Peeres and yet not daring to extend it further then to the Kings seruants in Check-rowle lest it should haue beene too harsh to the Gentlemen and other Commons of the Kingdome who might haue thought their ancient Libertie and the clemencie of the Lawes of England inuaded If the will in any case of Felonie should be made the deed And yet the reason which the Act yeeldeth that is to say That hee that conspireth the death of Councellors may be thought indirectly and by a meane to conspire the death of the King himselfe is indifferent to all Subiects as well as to Seruants in Court But it seemeth this sufficed to serue the Lord
his Raigne the King called his Parliament Wherein a man may easily guesse how absolute the King tooke himselfe to bee with his Parliament when DVDLEY that was so hatefull was made Speaker of the House of Commons In this Parliament there were not made any Statutes memorable touching publike Gouernement But those that were had still the Stampe of the Kings Wisedome and Policie There was a Statute made for the disanulling of all Patents of Lease or Grant to such as came not vpon lawfull Summons to serue the King in his Warres against the Enemies or Rebels or that should depart without the kings license With an Exception of certaine Persons of the Long-robe Prouiding neuerthelesse That they should haue the kings Wages from their House till their Returne home againe There had beene the like made before for Offices and by thin Statute it was extended to Lands But a man may easily see by many Statutes made in this kings time that the king thought it safest to assist Martiall Law by Law of Parliament Another Statute was made prohibiting the bringing in of Manufactures of Silke wrought by it selfe or mixt with any other Threed But it was not of Stuffes of whole piece for that the Realme had of them no Manufacture in vse at that time but of Knit-Silke or Texture of Silke as Ribbands Laces Caules Points and Girdles c. which the People of England could then well skill to make This Law pointed at a true Principle That where forraine materials are but Superfluities forraine Manufactures should bee prohibited For that will either banish the Superfluitie or gaine the Manufacture There was a Law also of Resumption of Patents of Gaoles and the Reannexing of them to the Sherifwicks Priuiledged Officers beeing no lesse an Interruption of Iustice than priuiledged Places There was likewise a Law to restraine the By-lawes or Ordinances of Corporations which many times were against the Prerogatiue of the King the common-Common-law of the Realme and the Libertie of the Subiect beeing Fraternities in Euill It was therefore Prouided that they should not bee put in Execution without the Allowance of the Chancellor Treasurer and the two Chiefe-Iustices or three of them or of the two Iustices of Circuit where the Corporation was Another Law was in effect to bring in the Siluer of the Realme to the Mint in making all clipped minished or impayred Coines of Siluer not to bee currant in payments without giuing any Remedie of weight but with an exception onely of a reasonable wearing which was as nothing in respect of the incertaintie and so vpon the matter to set the Mint on worke and to giue way to New Coines of Siluer which should bee then minted There likwise was a long Statute against Vagabonds wherein two things may bee noted The one the Dislike the Parliament had of Gaoling of them as that which was chargeable pesterous and of no open Example The other That in the Statutes of this Kings time for this of the Nineteenth yeare is not the onely Statute of that kind there are euer coupled the punishment of Uagabonds and the Forbidding of Dice and Cards and vnlawfull Games vnto Seruants and meane people and the putting downe and suppressing of Ale-houses as Strings of one Roote together and as if the One were vnprofitable without the Other As for Riot and Retainers there passed scarce any Parliament in this time without a Law against them The King euer hauing an Eye to Might and Multitude There was granted also that Parliamemt a Subsidie both for the Temporaltie and the Clergie And yet neuerthelesse ere the yeare expired there went out Commissions for a generall Beneuolence though there were no Warres no Feares The same yeare the Citty gaue fiue thousand Markes for Confirmation of their Liberties A thing fitter for the Beginnings of Kings Raignes than the latter Ends. Neither was it a small matter that the Mint gained vpon the late Statute by the Recoinage of Groats and Halfe-groats now Twelue-pences and Six-pences As for EMPSON and DVDLEY'S Mills they did grinde more than euer So that it was a strange thing to see what Golden Showres powred downe vpon the Kings Treasurie at once The last paiments of the Marriage-money from Spaine The Subsidie The Beneuolence The Recoinage The Redemption of the Cities Liberties The Casualties And this is the more to bee marueiled at because the King had then no Occasions at all of Warres or Troubles Hee had now but one Sonne and one Daughter vnbestowed Hee was Wise Hee was of an High Mind Hee needed not to make Riches his Glorie Hee did excell in so many things else saue that certainely Auarice doth euer finde in it selfe matter of Ambition Belike hee thought to leaue his Sonne such a Kingdome and such a Masse of Treasure as hee might choose his Greatnesse where hee would This yeare was also kept the Serieants Feast which was the second Call in this Kings Dayes About this time ISABELLA Queene of Castile deceased a right Noble Ladie and an Honour to her Sexe and Times and the Corner-stone of the Greatnesse of Spaine that hath followed This Accident the King tooke not for Newes at large but thought it had a great Relation to his owne Affaires especially in two points The One for Example the Other for Consequence First hee conceiued that the Case of FERDINANDO of Arragon after the death of Queene ISABELLA was his owne Case after the death of his owne Queene and the Case of IOAN the Heire vnto Castile was the Case of his owne Sonne Prince HENRY For if both of the Kings had their Kingdomes in the right of their Wiues they descended to the Heires and did not accrew to the Husbands And although his owne Case had both Steele and Parchment more than the other that is to say a Conquest in the Field and an Act of Parliament yet notwithstanding that Naturall Title of Descent in Bloud did in the imagination euen of a Wise-man breed a Doubt that the other two were not safe nor sufficient Wherefore he was wonderfull diligent to inquire and obserue what became of the King of Arragon in holding and continuing the Kingdome of Castile And whether he did hold it in his owne Right or as Administrator to his Daughter And whether he were like to hold it in Fact or to bee put out by his son-in-Sonne-in-Law Secondly hee did reuolue in his minde that the Stateof Christendome might by this late Accident haue a turne For whereas before time Himselfe with the Coniunction of Arragon and Castile which then was one and the Amitie of MAXIMILIAN and PHILIP his Sonne the Arch-Duke was farre too strong a Partie for France hee beganne to feare that now the French King who had great Interest in the Affections of PHILIP the young King of Castile and PHILIP himselfe now king of Castile who was in ill Termes with his father-in-Father-in-law about the present Gouernment of Castile And thirdly MAXIMILIAN PHILIPS Father who was euer variable and
of warre 94 Pope Ambassadour to him 38 Poynings law in Ireland 118 Priest of Oxford Simon 20 Pretence of the French king 45. 46 Prerogatiue how made vse of 235 Price of cloth limitted 75 Prisoners Edw. Plantagenet 6 Prince of Orenge Duke of Orleance 62 Maximilian by his subiects 77 Priuiledges of Clergie abridged 66 Priuiledges of Sanctuary qualified in three points 39 Proclamation of Perkin what effect 160 Protection for being in the kings seruice limited 101 Prouerbe 182 Prouidence for the future 72 Q QVeene Dowager 21. enclosed in the Monastery of Bermondsey 26. Her variety of fortune 26 Queenes Colledge founded in Cambridge 27 Queene Elizabeth crowned after two yeares 38 Queene Elizabeths death 208 R REbellion of Lord Louel and Staffords 17 Rebellion iu Yorkeshire 68 Rebellion how to be preuented 59 Rebellion how frequent in k. Henries time 68 Rebellion of the Cornishmen 163 Rebels but halfe couraged men 171 Religion abused to serue policie 213 Remorse of the king for oppression of his people 229 Restitution to be made by the Kings Will. 231 Returne of the King from France 112 Retribution of k. Henry for treasure receiued of his subiects 71 Reuenge diuine 1 Reuenge of bloud 213 Reward proposed by Perkin 159 Richard the third a Tyrant 1 Richard slaine at Bosworth field ibid. His ignominious buriall 2 Murder of his two Nephews ib. Iealous to maintaine his honour and reputation 3 Hopes to win the people by making lawes ibid. His vertues ouerswayed by his vices 2. yet fauoured in Yorksh. 67 Riches of k. Henry at his death 230 Riches of Sir William Stanley 133 Richmond built vpon what occasion 187 Riot and retainers suppressed by Act of Parliament 216 Rome euer respected by king H. 70 A Rumour false procuring much hatred to the king 19 Rumour false enquired after to be punished 37 Rumour that the D. of York was aliue first of the K. own nourishing 244 S SAnctuary at Colneham could not protect Traytors 18 Sanctuary priuiledges qualified by a Bull from the Pope in three points 39 Saturday obserued and fansied by K. Henry 7. 170 Saying of the king when hee heard of Rebels 69 Scottish men voyded out of England 101 Seruice of escuage 164 Simon the Priest 20 Skreenes to the king who 164 A sleight ingenuous and taking good effect in warre 103 Sluce besieged and taken ibid. Southsayers prediction mistaken 71 Speeches 51. 82. 91 Speech of the king to Parliament 96 Speech of Perkin 148 Speech conditionall doth not qualifie words of Treason 134 Speeches bitter against the king 111 Sparkes of rebellion neglected dangerous 20 Spies from the king 124 Sprites of what kinde vexed k. H. 112 Stanley Sir William Stanley crownes K. Henry in the field 5 Motiues of his falling from the K. 135 Sir Will. Stanley appeached of Treason 132. is confined and examined and confesseth 133. is beheaded 134. Reasons which alienated the kings affections 136 Starre Chamber Court confirmed in certaine cases 63 Starre Chamber Court described what causes belong to it 64 Statute of non claime 72 Steward publick the K. 60 Strength of the Cornishmen 171 Spoyles of Bosworth field 135 Spoyles as water spilt on the ground 176 Subsidie denyed by the inhabitants of Yorkshire and Durham the reason wherefore 67 Subsidies denyed by the Cornishmen 163 Subsidie Commissioner killed 165 Subsidie how much 163 Swart Martin 30 Sweating sicknesse 9 The maner of the cure of it 9 Sweating sicknesse the interpretation the people made of it 36 T ATale pleasant concerning the K. 243 Terror among the kings seruants and subiects 137 Tirrill Sir Iames a murderer of K. Edw. 2. sonnes 123 Tirrill executed 213 Thanks of the king to the Parliament 52 Thanksgiuing to God for the victorie 1. 36. 38. 106 Three Titles to the kingdome meete in king Hen. 3 Title to France stirred 93 By the king himselfe 98 Treasure to bee kept in the kingdome 75 Treasure raised by the King how 37 50. 209 Treasure inordinately affected by the king 211 Treasure how increased 216 Treasure left at the kings death how much 230 Trade the increase therof considered 59 Trade in decay pincheth 161 Traytors taken out of Sanctuary 18 Tower the kings lodging wherefore 132 A Triplicity dangerous 166 Triumph at the marriage of the Ladie Elizab. to k. H. 16 Truce with Scotland 40 Tyrants the obsequies of the people to them 2 V VIctory wisely husbanded by the French 62 Victory at Black Heath 171 Vnion of England and Scotland its first originall 174 Voyage of k. Henry into France 109 Voyage for discouerie 188. 189 Vrswick Ambassador 112 Vsury 66 W WAlsingbam Lady vowed to by k. Henry 32 Wards wronged 210 Warre betweene the French king and the Duke of Brittain 48 Warre the fame thereof aduantagious to king Henry 49. 50 Warre gainfull to the king 163 Warre pretended to get money 99 Warre of Fraunce ended by a peace wherat the souldiers murmur 111 White Rose of England 120. 184 Wilford counterfeit Earle of Warw. 194 A Wifes affection 226 Wooduile voluntarily goes to aide the Duke of Brittaine 49 Wooduile slaine at S. Albans in Brittaine 62 Wolsey employed by the king 227 Women carried away by violence a law enacted against it the reasons 65 Womens ingratitude punished by law 146 Y YEomen of the Guard first instituted 10 Yeomanrie how maintained 73 Yorke house and title fauoured by the people 4. 19 Yorke Title and Line depressed by k. Henry 6. 16 Yorke Title fauoured in Ireland 23 Yorkeshire and Durham deny to pay the Subsidie 67 FINIS The Originall of this Proclamation remaineth with Sir Robert Cotton a worthy Preseruer and Treasurer of rare Antiquities from whose Manuscripts I haue had much light for the furnishing of this Worke.
THE HISTORIE Of the REIGNE of KING HENRY THE SEVENTH Written by the Right Hon FRANCIS LO Virulam Viscount S. ALBAN Whereunto is now added a very vsefull and necessary TABLE London printed by I. H. and R. Y. and are to be sold by Philemon Stephens and Christopher Meredith At the Signe of the Golden Lyon in Pauls-Church-yard 1629. TO THE MOST ILLVSTRIOVS AND MOST EXCELLENT PRINCE CHARLES Prince of Wales Duke of Cornwall Earle of Chester c. It may Please Your Highnesse In part of my acknowledgment to Your Highnesse I haue endeuoured to doe Honour to the Memory of the last King of ENGLAND that was Ancestour to the King your Father and Your selfe and was that King to whom both Unions may in a sort referre That of the Roses beeing in him Consummate and that of the Kingdomes by him begunne Besides his Times deserue it For hee was a Wise Man and an Excellent King and yet the Times were rough and full of Mutations and rare Accidents And it is with Times as it is with Wayes Some are more Vp-hill and Downe-hill and some are more Flat and Plaine and the One is better for the Liuer and the Other for the Writer I haue not flattered him but took him to life as well as I could sitting so farre off and hauing no better light It is true Your Highnesse hath a Liuing Patterne Incomparable of the King your Father But it is not amisse for You also to see one of these Ancient Peeces GOD preserue Your Highnesse Your Highnesses most humble and deuoted Seruant Francis St. Alban THE HISTORIE OF THE REIGNE OF King HENRY the Seuenth AFter that RICHARD the third of that name King in fact onely but Tyrant both in Title and Regiment and so commonly termed and reputed in all times since was by the Diuine Reuenge fauouring the designe of an Exilde man ouerthrowne and slaine at Bosworth-field There succeeded in the Kingdome the Earle of Richmond thence-forth stiled HENRY the Seuenth The King immediately after the Victorie as one that had beene bred vnder a deuout Mother and was in his nature a great Obseruer of religious formes caused Te Deum Laudamus to be solemnely sung in the presence of the whole Armie vpon the place and was himselfe with generall applause and great Cries of Ioy in a kind of Militar Election or Recognition saluted King Meane-while the body of RICHARD after many indignities and reproches the Dirigies and Obsequies of the common people towards Tyrants was obscurely buried For though the King of his noblenesse gaue charge vnto the Friers of Leicester to see an honourable interrment to be giuen to it yet the Religious People themselues being not free from the humors of the Vulgar neglected it wherein neuerthelesse they did not then incurre any mans blame or censure No man thinking any ignominie or contumely vnworthy of him that had beene the Executioner of King HENRY the Sixth that innocent Prince with his owne hands the Contriuer of the death of the Duke of Clarence his Brother the Murderer of his two Nephewes one of them his lawfull King in the Present and the other in the Future fayling of him and vehemently suspected to haue beene the Impoisoner of his wife thereby to make vacant his Bed for a Marriage within the Degrees forbidden And although he were a Prince in Militar vertue approued iealous of the honour of the English Nation and likewise a good Law-maker for the ease and solace of the common people yet his Cruelties and Parricides in the opinion of all men weighed downe his Vertues and merits and in the opinion of wise men euen those Vertues themselues were conceiued to bee rather fained and Affected things to serue his Ambition then true Qualities ingenerate in his Iudgement or Nature And therfore it was noted by men of great vnderstanding who seeing his after Acts looked backe vpon his former Proceedings that euen in the time of King EDWARD his Brother he was not without secret Traines and Mines to turne Enuie and Hatred vpon his Brothers Gouernement as hauing an Expectation and a kind of Diuination that the King by reason of his many disorders could not be of long life but was like to leaue his Sonnes of tender yeares and then hee knew well how easie a step it was from the place of a Protector and first Prince of the Bloud to the Crowne And that out of this deepe root of Ambition it sprang that aswell at the Treatie of peace that pussed betweene EDWARD the Fourth and LEWIS the Eleuenth of France concluded by Enteruiew of both Kings at Piqueny as vpon all other Occasions RICHARD then Duke of Glocester stood euer vpon the side of Honour raising his owne Reputation to the disaduantage of the King his Brother and drawing the eyes of all especially of the Nobles and Souldiours vpon himselfe as if the King by his voluptuous life and meane marriage were become effeminate and lesse sensible of honour and Reason of State then was fit for a King Andras for the Politique and wholesome Lawes which were enacted in his time they were interpreted to be but the Brocage of an Vsurper therby to wooe and winne the hearts of the people as being conscious to himselfe that the true obligations of Soueraigntie in him failed and were wanting But King HENRY in the very entrance of his Reigne and the instant of time when the Kingdome was cast into his Armes met with a Point of great difficultie and knotty to solue able to trouble and confound the wisest King in the newnesse of his Estate and so much the more because it could not endure a Deliberation but must be at once deliberated and determined There were fallen to his lot and concurrent in his person three seuerall Titles to the Imperiall Crowne The first the title of the Lady Elizabeth with whom by precedent Pact with the Partie that brought him in he was to marry The second the ancient and long disputed Title both by Plea and Armes of the House of Lancaster to which he was Inheritour in his owne Person The third the Title of the Sword or Conquest for that he came in by victorie of Battaile and that the King in possession was slaine in the field The first of these was fairest and most like to giue contentment to the people who by two and twentie yeares Reigne of King EDWARD the Fourth had beene fully made capable of the clearnesse of the Title of the White-Rose or House of Yorke and by the milde and plausible Reigue of the same king toward his Latter time were become affectionate to that Line But then it lay plaine before his Eyes that if he relied vpon that Title he could be but a King at Curtesie and haue rather a Matrimoniall then a Regall power the right remaining in his Queene vpon whose decease either with Issue or without Issue he was to giue place and bee remoued And though he should obtaine by Parliament to bee continued
principall persons in presence of whom he did renew againe his promise to marrie with the Lady ELIZABETH This hee did the rather because hauing at his comming out of Britaine giuen artificially for seruing of his owne turne some hopes in cale he obtained the Kingdome to marrie ANNE Inheritresse to the Duchie of Britaine whom CHARLES the Eight of France soone after married It bred some doubt and suspicion amongst diuers that he was not sincere or at least not fixed in going on with the match of England so much desired which Conceit also though it were but Talke and Discourse did much afflict the poore Lady ELIZABETH her selfe But howsoeuer he both truly intended it and desired also it should be so beleeued the better to extinguish Enuie and Contradiction to his other purposes yet was he resolued in himselfe not to proceed to the Consummation thereof till his Coronation and a Parliament were past The one least a ioynt Coronation of himselfe and his Queene might giue any countenance of participation of Title The other least in the intayling of the Crowne to himselfe which he hoped to obtaine by Parliament the Votes of the Parliament might any wayes reflect vpon her About this time in Autumne towards the end of September there began and reigned in the Citie and other parts of the Kingdome a Disease then new which of the Accidents and manner thereof they called the Sweating Sicknesse This Disease had a swift course both in the Sicke-Body and in the Time and Period of the lasting therof for they that were taken with it vpon foure and twentie houres escaping were thought almost assured And as to the Time of the malice and reigne of the Disease ere it ceased It began about the one and twentieth of September and cleared vp before the end of October insomuch as it was no hinderance to the Kings Coronation which was the last of October nor which was more to the holding of the Parliament which began but seuen dayes after It was a Pestilent-Feuer but as it seemeth not seated in the Veynes or Humors for that there followed no Carbuncle no purple or liuide Spots or the like the Masse of the Bodie being not tainted onely a maligne Vapour flew to the Heart and seased the vitall Spirits which stirred Nature to striue to send it forth by an extreme sweat And it appeared by experience that this Disease was rather a Surprise of Nature than obstinate to remedies if it were in time looked vnto For if the Patient were kept in an equall temper both for Clothes Fire and Drinke moderately warme with temperate Cordials wherby Natures worke were neither irritated by Heat nor turned backe by Cold hee commonly recouered But infinite Persons died sodainly of it before the manner of the Cure and attendance was knowne It was conceiued not to bee an Epidemicke Disease but to proceed from a malignitie in the constitution of the Aire gathered by the predispositions of Seasons and the speedie cessation declared as much On SIMON and IVDES Euen the King dined with THOMAS BOVRCHIER Arch-Bishop of Canterburie and Cardinall and from Lambeth went by Land ouer the Bridge to the Tower where the morrow after hee made twelue Knights-Bannerets But for Creations hee dispensed them with a sparing hand For notwithstanding a Field so lately fought and a Coronation so neere at hand hee onely created three IASPER Earle of Pembroke the Kings Vncle was created Duke of Bedford THOMAS the Lord STANLEY the Kings father-in-Father-in-law Earle of Darbie and EDWARD COVRTNEY Earle of Deuon though the King had then neuerthelesse a purpose in himselfe to make more in time of Parliament bearing a wise and decent respect to distribute his Creations some to honour his Coronation and some his Parliament The Coronation followed two dayes after vpon the thirtieth day of October in the yeare of our Lord 1485. At which time INNOCENT the Eight was Pope of Rome FREDERICKE the Third Emperour of Almaine and MAXIMILIAN his sonne newly chosen King of the Romans CHARLES the Eight King of France FERDINANDO and ISABELLA Kings of Spain and IAMES the Third King of Scotland with all which Kings and States the King was at that time in good peace and amitie At which day also as if the Crowne vpon his head had put perils into his thoughts he did institute for the better securitie of his person a Band of fiftie Archers vnder a Captaine to attend him by the name of Yeomen-of-his Guard and yet that it might be thought to be rather a matter of Dignitie after the imitation of that hee had knowne abroad then any matter of Diffidence appropriate to his owne Case hee made it to be vnderstood for an Ordinance not temporarie but to hold in succession for euer after The seuenth of Nouember the King held his Parliament at Westminster which hee had summoned immediately after his comming to London His Ends in calling a Parliament and that so speedily were chiefly three First to procure the Crowne to bee entayled vpon himselfe Next to haue the Attaindors of all of his Partie which were in no small number reuersed and all Acts of hostilitie by them done in his quarrell remitted and discharged and on the other side to attaine by Parliament the Heads and Principals of his Enemies The Third to calme and quiet the feares of the rest of that Partie by a Generall-Pardon not being ignorant in how great danger a King stands from his Subiects when most of his Subiects are conscious in themselues that they stand in his danger Vnto these three speciall Motiues of a Parliament was added that hee as a prudent and moderate Prince made this iudgement that it was fit for him to hasten to let his people see that hee meant to gouerne by Law howsoeuer hee came in by the Sword and fit also to reclaime them to know him for their King whom they had so lately talked of as an Enemie or Banished-man For that which concerned the Entayling of the Crowne more then that he was true to his owne Will that hee would not endure any mention of the Lady ELIZABETH no not in the nature of Speciall-Intaile he carried it otherwise with great wisdome and measure For he did not presse to haue the Act penned by way of Declaration or Recognition of right as on the other side he auoyded to haue it by new Law or Ordinance but chose rather a kind of middle-way by way of Establishment and that vnder couert and indifferent words That the inheritance of the Crowne should rest remaine and abide in the King c. which words might equally be applied That the Crowne should continue to him but whether as hauing former right to it which was doubtfull or hauing it then in Fact and possession which no man denied was left faire to interpretation eyther way And againe for the limitation of the Entaile he did not presse it to goe further then to himselfe and to the Heires of his body not speaking of
his right Heires but leauing that to the Law to decide so as the Entaile might seeme rather a personall fauour to him and his children then a totall Dis-inherison to the House of Yorke And in this forme was the Law drawne and passed Which Statute hee procured to be confirmed by the Popes Bull the yeare following with mention neuerthelesse by way of Recitall of his other Titles both of Descent and Conquest So as now the wreath of Three was made a wreath of Fiue for to the three first Titles of the two Houses or Lines and Conquest were added two more the Authorities Parliamentarie and Papall The King likewise in the Reuersall of the Attaindors of his Partakers and discharging them of all offences incident to his seruice and succour had his Will and Acts did passe accordingly In the passage whereof exception was taken to diuers Persons in the house of Commons for that they were attainted and therby not legall nor habilitate to serue in Parliament being disabled in the highest degree And that it should bee a great incongruitie to haue them to make Lawes who themselues were not Inlawed The truth was that diuers of those which had in the time of King RICHARD beene strongest and most declared for the Kings Partie were returned Knights and Burgesses for the Parliament whether by care or recommendation from the State or the voluntarie inclination of the People many of which had beene by RICHARD the third attainted by Outlawries or otherwise The King was somewhat troubled with this For though it had a graue and specious Shew yet it reflected vpon his Partie But wisely not shewing himselfe at all moued therewith hee would not vnderstand it but as a Case in Law and wished the Iudges to be aduised therupon who for that purpose were forthwith assembled in the Exchequer-Chamber which is the Councell-Chamber of the Iudges and vpon deliberation they gaue a graue and safe Opinion and Aduice mixed with Law and Conuenience which was that the Knights and Burgesses attainted by the course of Law should forbeare to come into the House till a Law were passed for the reuersall of their Attaindors It was at that time incidently moued amongst the Iudges in their Consultation what should be done for the King himselfe who likewise was attainted But it was with vnanimous consent resolued That the Crowne takes away all defects and stops in bloud and that from the time the King did assume the Crowne the fountaine was cleared and all Attaindors and Corruption of bloud discharged But neuerthelesse for Honours sake it was ordained by Parliament that all Records wherein there was any memorie or mention of the Kings Attaindor should be defaced cancelled and taken off the File But on the part of the Kings Enemies there were by Parliament attainted the late Duke of Glocester calling himselfe RICHARD the Third The Duke of Norfolke the Earle of Surrey Viscount LOVEL the Lord FERRERS the Lord ZOVCH RICHARD RATCLIFFE WILLIAM CATESBY and many others of degree and qualitie In which Bills of Attaindors neuerthelesse there were contained many iust and temperate Clauses Sauings and Prouisoes well shewing and fore-tokening the wisdome stay and moderation of the Kings spirit of Gouernment And for the Pardon of the rest that had stood against the King the King vpon a second aduice thought it not fit it should passe by Parliament the better being matter of Grace to impropriate the thankes to himselfe vsing onely the opportunitie of a Parliament time the better to disperse it into the Veines of the Kingdome Therfore during the Parliament hee published his Royall Proclamation offering Pardon and Grace of restitution to all such as had taken Armes or beene participant of any Attempts against him so as they submitted themselues to his mercie by a Day and tooke the Oath of Allegeance and Fidelitie to him Whereupon many came out of Sanctuary and many more came out of Feare no lesse guiltie then those that had taken Sanctuarie As for Money or Treasure the King thought it not seasonable or fit to demand any of his Subiects at this Parliament both because he had receiued satisfaction from them in matters of so great importance and because hee could not remunerate them with any Generall Pardon being preuented therin by the Coronation Pardon passed immediatly before but chiefly for that it was in euery mans eye what great Forfeitures and Confiscations he had at that present to helpe himselfe Wherby those Casualties of the Crowne might in reason spare the Purses of the Subiect especially in a time when he was in peace with all his Neighbours Some few Lawes passed at that Parliament almost for forme sake amongst which there was One to reduce Aliens being made Denizens to pay strangers Customes and another to draw to himselfe the Seisures and Compositions of Italians Goods for not imployment being Points of Profit to his Coffers whereof from the very Beginning he was not forgetfull and had beene more happie at the Latter End if his early prouidence which kept him from all necessitie of exacting vpon his people could likewise haue attemp'red his nature therin He added during Parliament to his former Creations the Innoblement or aduancement in Nobilitie of a few others The Lord CHANDOS of Brittaine was made Earle of Bathe and Sir GILES DAWBENY was made Lord Dawbeny and Sir ROBERT WILLOVGHBY Lord Brooke The King did also with great Noblenesse and Bountie which Vertues at that time had their turnes in his Nature restore EDWARD STAFFORD eldest sonne to HENRY Duke of Buckingham attainted in the time of King RICHARD not onely to his Dignities but to his Fortunes and Possessions which were great to which he was moued also by a kind of gratitude for that the Duke was the man that moued the first Stone against the Tyrannie of King RICHARD and indeed madethe King a bridge to the Crowne vpon his owne Ruines Thus the Parliament brake vp The Parliament being dissolued the King sent forthwith Money to redeeme the Marquesse Dorset and Sir IOHN BOVRCHIER whom hee had left as his Pledges at Paris for Money which hee had borrowed when he made his Expedition for England And thereupon hee tooke a fit occasion to send the Lord Treasurer and Master BRAY whom hee vsed as Councellor to the Lord Maior of London requiring of the Citie a Prest of six thousand Markes But after many Parlees hee could obtaine but two thousand pounds Which neuerthelesse the King tooke in good part as Men vse to doe that practise to borrow Money when they haue no need About this time the King called vnto his Priuie-Councell IOHN MORTON and RICHARD FOX the one Bishop of Elie the other Bishop of Excester vigilant men and secret and such as kept watch with him almost vpon al men else They had beene both versed in his Affaires before hee came to the Crowne and were partakers of his aduerse Fortune This MORTON soone after vpon the death of BOVRCHIER he made
with some inward Vapours of Ambition and Affection in the Earles owne minde left him fully possessed that it was the true PLANTAGENET The Earle presently communicated the matter with some of the Nobles and others there at the first secretly But finding them of like affection to himselfe hee suffered it of purpose to vent and passe abroad because they thought it not safe to resolue till they had a taste of the Peoples inclination But if the Great ones were in forwardnesse the People were in furie entertayning this Airie bodie or Phantasme with incredible affection partly out of their great deuotion to the House of YORKE partly out of a proud humour in the Nation to giue a King to the Realme of England Neither did the Partie in this heat of affection much trouble themselues with the Attaindor of GEORGE Duke of Clarence hauing newly learned by the Kings example that Attaindors doe not interrupt the conueighing of Title to the Crowne And as for the daughters of King EDWARD the Fourth they thought King RICHARD had said enough for them and tooke them to bee but as of the Kings Partie because they were in his power and at his disposing So that with maruellous consent and applause this Counterfeit PLANTAGENET was brought with great solemnitie to the Castle of Dublin and there saluted serued and honoured as King the Boy becoming it well and doing nothing that did bewray the basenesse of his condition And within a few dayes after hee was proclaimed King in Dublin by the name of King EDWARD the Sixt there beeing not a sword drawne in King HENRY his quarrell The King was much moued with this vnexpected accident when it came to his eares both because it strooke vpon that String which euer he most feared as also because it was stirred in such a Place where hee could not with safetie transferre his owne person to suppresse it For partly through naturall valour and partly through an vniuersall suspition not knowing whom to trust he was euer readie to wait vpon all his atchieuements in person The King therefore first called his Councell together at the Charter-house at Shine Which Councell was held with great secrecie but the open Decrees thereof which presently came abroad were three The first was that the Queene Dowager for that she contrarie to her Pact and Agreement with those that had concluded with her concerning the Mariage of her daughter ELIZABETH with King HENRY had neuerthelesse deliuered her daughters out of Sanctuarie into King RICHARDS hands should be cloistered in the Nunnerie of Bermondsey and forfeit all her lands and goods The next was that EDWARD PLANTAGENET then Close-prisoner in the Tower should be in the most publike and notorious manner that could be deuised shewed vnto the people In part to discharge the King of the Enuie of that opinion and bruit how he had beene put to death priuily in the Tower But chiefly to make the people see the leuitie and imposture of the proceedings of Ireland and that their PLANTAGENET was indeed but a puppit or a Counterfeit The third was that there should be againe proclaimed a Generall-Pardon to all that would reueale their offences and submit themselues by a day And that this Pardon should be conceiued in so ample and liberall a manner as no High-Treason no not against the Kings owne person should be excepted Which though it might seeme strange yet was it not so to a wise King that knew his greatest dangers were not from the least Treasons but from the greatest These resolutions of the King and his Councell were immediatly put in execution And first the Queene Dowager was put into the Monasterie of Bermondsey and all her estate seized into the Kings hands whereat there was much wondering That a weake woman for the yeelding to the menaces and promises of a Tyrant after such a distance of time wherein the King had shewed no displeasure nor alteration but much more after so happie a mariage betweene the King and her Daughter blessed with Issue-male should vpon a sodaine mutabilitie or disclosure of the Kings mind be so seuerely handled This Lady was amongst the examples of great varietie of Fortune Shee had first from a distressed Suitor and desolate Widdow beene taken to the Mariage-Bed of a Batchellour-King the goodliest personage of his time and euen in his reigne she had endured a strange Eclipse by the Kings flight and temporarie depriuing from the Crowne Shee was also very happie in that she had by him faire Issue and continued his Nuptiall loue helping her selfe by some obsequious bearing and dissembling of his pleasures to the very end Shee was much affectionate to her owne Kindred euen vnto Faction which did stirre great Enuie in the Lords of the Kings side who counted her Bloud a disparagement to be mingled with the Kings With which Lords of the Kings bloud ioyned also the Kings Fauorite the Lord HASTINGS who notwithstanding the Kings great affection to him was thought at times through her malice and Splene not to be out of danger of falling After her husbands death she was matter of Tragedie hauing liued to see her Brother beheaded and her two Sonnes deposed from the Crowne Bastarded in their bloud and cruelly murthered All this while neuerthelesse shee inioyed her libertie State and Fortunes But afterwards againe vpon the Rise of the Wheele when she had a King to her son-in-Sonne-in-Law and was made Grand mother to a Grand-child of the best Sexe yet was she vpon darke and vnknowne Reasons and no lesse strange Pretences precipitated and banished the World into a Nunnery where it was almost thought dangerous to visit her or see her and where not long after she ended her life but was by the Kings Commandement buried with the King her husband at Windsore Shee was Foundresse of Queenes-College in Cambridge For this Act the King sustained great obloquie which neuerthelesse besides the reason of State was somwhat sweetned to him by a great Confiscation About this time also EDWARD PLANTAGENET was vpon a Sonday brought throughout all the principall Streets of London to be seene of the people And hauing passed the view of the Streets was conducted to PAVLS Church in solemne Procession where great store of people were assembled And it was prouided also in good fashion that diuers of the Nobilitie and others of Qualitie especially of those that the King most suspected and knew the person of PLANTAGENET best had communication with the young Gentleman by the way and entertayned him with speech and discourse which did in effect marre the Pageant in Ireland with the Subiects here atleast with so many as out of error and not out of malice might be mis-led Neuerthelesse in Ireland where it was too late to goe backe it wrought little or no effect But contrarivvise they turned the Imposture vpon the King and gaue out That the King to defeat the true Inheritor and to mocke the World and blinde the eyes of simple man had
the King might appoint him Keepers to looke to him in Sanctuarie The King also for the better securing of his estate against mutinous and malecontented Subiects wherof He saw the Realme was full who might haue their refuge into Scotland which was not vnder Key as the Ports were For that cause rather then for any doubt of Hostilitie from those parts before his comming to London when he was at Newcastle had sent a solemne Ambassage vnto IAMES the third King of Scotland to treate and conclude a peace with him The Ambassadors were RICHARD FOXE Bishop of Excester and Sir RICHARD EDGCOMBE Comptroller of the Kings House who were honourably receiued and entertained there But the King of Scotland labouring of the same disease that King HENRY did though more mortall as afterwards appeared that is Discontented Subiects apt to rise and raise Tumuh although in his owne affection hee did much desire to make a Peace with the King Yet finding his Nobles auerse and not daring to displease them concluded onely a Truce for seuen yeeres giuing neuerthelesse promise in priuate that it should bee renewed from time to time during the two Kings liues HItherto the King had beene exercised in setling his affaires at home But about this time brake forth an occasion that drew him to looke abroad and to hearken to forraine businesse CHARLES the eight the French King by the vertue and good fortune of his two immediate Predecessors CHARLES the seuenth his Grand-father and LEWES the eleuenth his Father receiued the Kingdome of France in more flourishing and spread Estate than it had beene of many yeares before being redintegrate in those principall Members which anciently had beene portions of the Crowne of France and were after disseuered so as they remained onely in Homage and not in Soueraigntie being gouerned by absolute Princes of their owne Angeou Normandy Prouence and Burgundie There remained only Brittaine to be revnited and so the Monarchie of France to be reduced to the ancient Termes and Bounds King CHARLES was not a little inflamed with an ambition to repurchase and reannex that Duchie Which his ambition was a wise and well weighed Ambition not like vnto the ambitions of his succeeding enterprizes of Italie For at that time being newly come to the Crowne he was somewhat guided by his Fathers Counsels Counsels not Counsellors for his Father was his owne Counsell and had few able men about him And that King be knew well had euer distasted the designes of Italie and in particular had an eye vpon Brittaine There were many circumstances that did feed the ambition of CHARLES with pregnant and apparant hopes of Successe The Duke of Britaine old and entred into a Lethargie and serued with Mercenarie Counsellors father of two only daughters the one sickly and not like to continue King CHARLES himselfe in the flower of his age and the Subiects of France at that time well trayned for Warre both for Leaders and Souldiers men of seruice being not yet worne out since the warres of LEWIS against Burgundie Hee found himselfe also in peace with all his Neighbour-Princes As for those that might oppose to his enterprise MAXIMILIAN King of Romans his Riuall in the same desires as well for the Duchy as the Daughter feeble in meanes and King HENRY of England aswell somwhat obnoxious to him for his fauours and benefits as busied in his particular noubles at home There was also a faire and specious occasion offered him to hide his ambition and to iustifie his warring vpon Britaine for that the Duke had receiued and succoured LEWIS Duke of Orleance and other of the French Nobilitie which had taken Armes against their King Wherfore King CHARLES being resolued vpon that Warre knew well he could not receiue any opposition so potent as if King HENRY should either vpon Policie of State in preuenting the growing greatnesse of France or vpon gratitude vnto the Duke of Britaine for his former fauours in the time of his distresse espouse that quarrell and declare himselfe in aide of the Duke Therfore hee no sooner heard that King HENRY was setled by his victorie but forth with he sent Ambassadours vnto him to pray his assistance or at the least that hee would stand neutrall Which Ambassadours found the King at Leicester and deliuered their Ambassage to this effect They first imparted vnto the King the successe that their Master had had a little before against MAXIMILIAN in recouerie of certaine Townes from him which was done in a kind of priuacie and inwardnesse towards the King as if the French-king did not esteeme him for an outward or formall Confederate but as one that had part in his affections and fortunes and with whom he tooke pleasure to communicate his businesse After this Complement and some gratulation for the Kings victorie they fell to their errand declaring to the King that their Master was enforced to enter into a iust and necessarie Warre with the Duke of Britaine for that hee had receiued and succoured those that were Traitors and Declared Enemies vnto his Person and State That they were no meane distressed and calamitous Persons that fled to him for refuge but of so great qualitie as it was apparant that they came not thither to protect their owne fortune but to infest and inuade his the Head of them being the Duke of Orleance the first Prince of the bloud and the second Person of France That therfore rightly to vnderstand it it was rather on their Masters part a Defensiue Warre then an Offensiue as that that could not bee omitted or forborne if he tendred the conseruation of his owne Estate and that it was not the first Blow that made the Warre inuasiue for that no wise Prince would stay for but the first Prouocation or at least the first Preparation Nay that this Warre was rather a Suppression of Rebels then a Warre with a iust Enemie where the case is That his Subiects Traitors are receiued by the Duke of Britaine his Homager That King HENRY knew well what went vpon it in example if Neighbour-Princes should patronize and comfort Rebels against the Law of Nations and of Leagues Neuerthelesse that their Master was not ignorant that the King had beene beholding to the Duke of Britaine in his aduersitie as on the other side they knew he would not forget also the readinesse of their King in ayding him when the Duke of Britaine or his mercenary Councellors failed him and would haue betrayed him And that there was a great difference betweene the courtesies receiued from their Master and the Duke of Britaine for that the Dukes might haue ends of vtilitie and Bargaine whereas their Masters could not haue proceeded but out of entire Affection For that if it had beene measured by a politicke line it had beene better for his affaires that a Tyrant should haue reigned in England troubled and hated then such a Prince whose vertues could not saile to make him great and potent whensoeuer he
Chancellors turne at this time But yet hee liued to neede a Generall Law for that hee grew afterwards as odious to the Countrie as hee was then to the Court. From the peace of the Kings House the Kings care extended to the peace of Priuate Houses and Families For there was an excellent Morall Law moulded thus The taking and carrying away of Women forcibly and against their will except Female-Wards and Bond-women was made Capitall The Parliament wisely and iustly conceiuing that the obtaining of Women by force into Possession howsoeuer afterwards Assent might follow by Allurements was but a Rape drawne forth in length because the first Force drew on all the rest There was made also another Law for Peace in generall and repressing of Murthers and Man-slaughters and was in amendment of the Common Lawes of the Realme being this That wheras by the Common Law the Kings-suit in case of Homicide did expect The yeare and the day allowed to the Parties Suit by way of Appeale and that it was found by experience that the Partie was many times compounded with and many times wearied with the Suit so that in the end such Suit was let fall and by that time the matter was in a manner forgotten and therby Prosecution at the Kings suit by Indictment which is euer best Flagrante crimine neglected it was ordained That the Suit by Indictment might bee taken as well at any time within the yeare and the day as after not preiudicing neuerthelesse the Parties Suit The King began also then as well in Wisdome as in Iustice to pare a little the Priuiledge of Clergie ordaining That Clarkes conuict should bee burned in the hand both because they might taste of some corporall punishment and that they might carry a Brand of infamie But for this good Acts sake the King himselfe was after branded by PERKINS Proclamation for an execrable breaker of the Rites of Holy Church Another Law was made for the better Peace of the Countrey by which Law the Kings Officers and Farmors were to forfeit their Places and Holds in case of vnlawfull Retainer or partaking in Routs and vnlawfull Assemblies These were the Lawes that were made for repressing of Force which those times did chiefely require and were so prudently framed as they are found fit for all succeeding times and so continue to this day There were also made good and politicke Lawes that Parliament against Vsurie which is the Bastard vse of Money And against vnlawfull Chieuances and Exchanges which is Bastard Vsurie And also for the securitie of the Kings Customes And for the imployment of the Procedures of Forraine Commodities brought in by Merchant-strangers vpon the Natiue Commodities of the Realme Together with some other Lawes of lesse importance But howsoeuer the Lawes made in that Parliament did beare good and holesome Fruit yet the Subsidie granted at the same time bare a Fruit that proued harsh and bitter All was inned at last into the Kings Barne but it was after a Storme For when the Commissioners entred into the Taxation of the Subsidie in Yorkeshire and the Bishopricke of Duresme the people vpon a sudaine grew into great mutinie and said openly that they had endured of late yeares a thousand miseries and neither could nor would pay the Subsidie This no doubt proceeded not simply of any present necessitie but much by reason of the old humour of those Countries where the memorie of King RICHARD was so strong that it lies like Lees in the bottome of mens hearts and if the Vessell was but stirred it would come vp And no doubt it was partly also by the instigation of some factious Male-contents that bare principall stroke amongst them Hereupon the Commissioners being somewhat astonished deferred the matter vnto the Earle of Northumberland who was the principall man of Authoritie in those Parts The Earle forthwith wrote vnto the Court signifying to the King plainely enough in what flame hee found the people of those Countries and praying the Kings direction The King wrote backe peremptorily That hee would not haue one penny abated of that which had beene granted to him by Parliament both because it might encourage other Countries to pray the like Release or Mitigation and chiefely because hee would neuer endure that the base Multitude should frustrate the Authoritie of the Parliament wherein their Votes and Consents were concluded Vpon this dispatch from Court the Earle assembled the principall Iustices and Free-holders of the Countrey and speaking to them in that imperious Language wherein the King had written to him which needed not saue that an Harsh businesse was vnfortunately fallen into the hands of a Harsh-man did not onely irritate the People but make them conceiue by the stoutnesse and haughtinesse of deliuerie of the Kings Errand that himselfe was the Author or principall Perswader of that Counsell Whereupon the meaner sort routed together and suddenly assayling the Earle in his House slew him and diuers of his seruants And rested not there but creating for their Leader Sir IOHN EGREMOND a factious person and one that had of a long time borne an ill Talent towards the King and being animated also by a base Fellow called IOHN A CHAMBER a very Boutefeu who bare much sway amongst the vulgar and popular entred into open Rebellion and gaue out in flat termes that they would goe against King HENRY and fight with him for the maintenance of their Liberties When the King was aduertised of this new Insurrection being almost a Feuer that tooke him euery yeare after his manner little troubled therewith hee sent THOMAS Earle of Surrey whom hee had a little before not onely released out of the Tower and pardoned but also receiued to speciall fauour with a competent Power against the Rebels who fought with the principall Band of them and defeated them and tooke aliue IOHN A CHAMBER their firebrand As for Sir IOHN EGREMOND hee fled into Flanders to the Ladie MARGARET of Burgundie whose Palace was the Sanctuarie and Receptacle of all Traitors against the King IOHN A CHAMBER was executed at Yorke in great state for he was hanged vpon a Gibbet raised a Stage higher in the midst of a square Gallowes as a Traitor Paramount And a number of his men that were his chiefe Complices were hanged vpon the lower Storie round about him and the rest were generally pardoned Neither did the King himselfe omit his custome to be first or second in all his warlike Exploits making good his Word which was vsuall with him when he heard of Rebels that He desired but to see them For immediatly after he had sent downe the Earle of Surrey he marched towards them himselfe in person And although in his iourney hee heard newes of the Victory yet hee went on as farre as Yorke to pacifie and settle those Countryes And that done returned to London leauing the Earle of Surrey for his Lieutenant in the Northerne parts and Sir RICHARD TVNSTALL for his principall Commissioner
to leuie the Subsidie whereof he did not remit a Denier About the same time that the King lost so good a Seruant as the Earle of Northumberland hee lost likewise a faithfull friend and Allie of IAMES the third King of Scotland by a miserable disaster For this vnfortunate Prince after a long smother of discontent and hatred of many of his Nobilitie and People breaking forth at times into seditions and alterations of Court was at last distressed by them hauing taken Armes and surprised the person of Prince IAMES his sonne partly by force partly by threats that they would otherwise deliuer vp the Kingdome to the King of England to shadow their Rebellion and to bee the titular and painted Head of those Armes Whereupon the King finding himselfe too weake sought vnto King HENRY as also vnto the Pope and the King of France to compose those troubles betweene him and his Subiects The Kings accordingly interposed their Mediation in a round and Princely manner Not only by way of request and perswasion but also by way of protestation of menace declaring that they thought it to be the common Cause of all Kings If Subiects should be suffered to giue Lawes vnto their Soueraigne and that they would accordingly resent it and reuenge it But the Rebels that had shaken off the greater Yoke of Obedience had likewise cast away the lesser Tye of Respect And Furie preuailing aboue Feare made answer That there was no talking of Peace except the King would resignehis Crowne Whereupon Treatie of Accord taking no place it came vp to a Battaile at Bannocks Bourne by Striuelin In which Battaile the King transported with wrath and iust indignation inconsideratly fighting and precipitating the charge before his whole numbers came vp to him was notwithstanding the contrarie expresse and straight commandement of the Prince his sonne slaine in the Pursuit being fled to a Mill scituate in the field where the Battaile was fought As for the Popes Ambassie which was sent by ADRIAN DE CASTELLO an Italian Legate and perhaps as those times were might haue preuailed more it came too late for the Ambassie but not for the Ambassador For passing through England and being honourably entertained and dreceiued of King HENRY who euer applied himselfe with much respect to the See of Rome hee fell into great grace with the King and great familiaritie and friendship with MORTON the Chancellor In so much as the King taking a liking to him and finding him to his minde preferred him to the Bishopricke of Hereford and afterwards to that of Bath and Wells and imployed him in many of his affaires of State that had relation to Rome Hee was a man of great learning wisedome and dexteritle in businesse of State and hauing not long after ascended to the degree of Cardinall payd the King large tribute of his gratitude in diligent and iudicious aduertisement of the occurrents of Italie Neuerthelesse in the end of his time hee was partaker of the conspiracie which Cardinall ALPHONSO PETRVCCI and some other Cardinalls had plotted against the life of Pope LEO. And this offence in it selfe so hainous was yet in him aggrauared by the motiue therof which was not malice or discontent but an aspiring minde to the Papacie And in this height of impietie there wanted not an intermixture of leuitie and follie for that as was generally belieued hee was animated to expect the Papacie by a fatall Mockerie the prediction of a Southsaier which was That one should succeed Pope LEO whose name should bee ADRIAN an aged man of meane birth and of great learning and wisdome By which Character and figure hee tooke himselfe to bee described though it were fulfilled of ADRIAN the Flemming sonne of a Dutch Brewer Cardinall of Tortosa and Preceptor vnto CHARLES the Fift the same that not changing his Christen-name was afterwards called ADRIAN the Sixt. But these things happened in the yeare following which was the fift of this King But in the end of the fourth yeare the King had called againe his Parliament not as it seemeth for any particular occasion of State But the former Parliament being ended somewhat sodainly in regard of the preparation for Britaine the King thought hee had not remunerated his people sufficiently with good Lawes which euermore was his Retribution for Treasure And finding by the Insurrection in the North there was discontentment abroad in respect of the Subsidie hee thought it good to giue his Subiects yet further contentment and comfort in that kind Certainly his times for good Common-wealths Lawes did excell So as he may iustly be celebrated for the best Law giuer to this Nation after King EDWARD the first For his Lawes who so markes them well are deepe and not vulgar not made vpon the Spurre of a particular Occasion for the Present but out of Prouidence of the Future to make the Estate of his People still more and more happie after the manner of the Legislators in ancient and Heroicall Times First therfore he made a Law sutable to his owne Acts and Times For as himselfe had in his Person and Marriage made a finall Concord in the great Suit and Title for the Crowne so by this Law hee setled the like Peace and Quiet in the priuate Possessions of the Subjects Ordaining That Fines thence-forth should bee finall to conclude all Strangers Rights and that vpon Fines leuied and solemnely proclaimed the Subiect should haue his time of Watch for fiue yeares after his Title accrued which if hee fore-passed his Right should be bound for euer after with some exception neuerthelesse of Minors Married-Women and such incompetent Persons This Statute did in effect but restore an ancient Statute of the Realme which was it selfe also made but in affirmance of the Common-Law The alteration had beene by a Statute commonly called the Statute of Non-claime made in the time of EDWARD the Third And surely this Law was a kind of Prognostick of the good Peace which since his time hath for the most part continued in this Kingdome vntill this day For Statutes of Non-Claime are fit for times of Warre when mens heads are troubled that they cannot intend their Estate But Statutes that quiet Possessions are fittest for Times of Peace to extinguish Suits and Contentions which is one of the Banes of Peace Another Statute was made of singular Policie for the Population apparantly and if it bee throughly considered for the Souldiery and Militar Forces of the Realme Inclosures at that time began to be more frequent whereby Arrable Land which could not be manured without people and Families was turned into Pasture which was easily rid by a few Heards men and Tenancies for Yeares Liues and At Will whereupon much of the Yeomanrie liued were turned into Demesnes This bred a decay of People and by consequence a decay of Townes Churches Tithes and the like The King likewise knew full well and in no wise forgot that there ensued with all vpon this a decay
and diminution of Subsidie and Taxes for the more Gentlemen euer the lower bookes of Subsidies In remedying of this inconuenience the Kings Wisdome was admirable and the Parliaments at that time Inclosures they would not forbid for that had beene to forbid the improuement of the Patrimonie of the Kingdome nor Tillage they would not compell for that was to striue with Nature and Vtilitie But they tooke a course to take away depopulating Inclosures and depopulating Pasturage and yet not by that name or by any Imperious expresse Prohibition but by consequence The Ordinance was That all Houses of Husbandry that were vsed with twentie Acres of Ground and vpwards should bee maintained and kept vp for euer together with a competent Proportion of Land to be vsed and occupied with them and in no wise to be seruered from them as by another Statute made afterwards in his Successors time was more fully declared This vpon Forfeiture to be taken not by way of Popular Action but by seizure of the Land it selfe by the King and Lords of the Fee as to halfe the Profits till the Houses and Lands were restored By this meanes the Houses being kept vp did of necessitie inforce a Dweller and the proportion of Land for Occupation being kept vp did of necessitie inforce that Dweller not to be a Begger or Cottager but a man of some substance that might keepe Hiends and Seruants and set the Plough on going This did wonderfully concerne the Might and Manner-hood of the Kingdome to haue Fermes as it were of a Standard sufficient to maintaine an able Body out of Penurie and did in effect amortize a great part of the Lands of the Kingdome vnto the Hold and Occupation of the Yeomanrie or Middle-people of a condition betweene Gentlemen and Cottagers or Peasants Now how much this did aduance the Militar Power of the Kingdome is apparant by the true Principles of Warre and the examples of other Kingdomes For it hath beene held by the generall Opinion of men of best Iudgement in the warres howsoeuer some few haue varied and that it may receiue some distinction of Case that the principall Strength of an Armie consisteth in the Infanterie or Foot And to make good Infanterie it requireth men bred not in a seruile or indigent fashion but in some free and plentifull manner Therefore if a State runne most to Noblemen and Gentlemen and that the Husband-men and Plough-men be but as their Work-folkes and Labourers or else meere Cottagers which are but Housed-Beggers you may haue a good Cauallerie but neuer good stable Bands of Foot like to Coppice-Woods that if you leaue in them Staddles too thicke they will runne to Bushes and Briars and haue little cleane Vnderwood And this is to be seene in France and Italie and lome other Parts abroad where in effect all is Noblesse or Pesantrie I speake of People out of Townes and no middle People and therefore no good Forces of Foot Insomuch as they are inforced to imploy Mercenarie Bands of Switzers and the like for their Battalions of Foot Whereby also it comes to passe that those Nations haue much People and few Souldiors Whereas the King saw that contrariwise it would follow that England though much lesse in Territorie yet should haue infinitly more Souldiours of their natiue Forces then those other Nations haue Thus did the King secretly sow Hidraes teeth wherevpon according to the Poets fiction should rise vp Armed men for the seruice of this Kingdome The King also hauing care to make his Realme potent as well by Sea as by Land for the better maintenance of the Nauie ordained That wines and woads from the parts of Gascoigne and Languedocke should not be brought but in English bottomes Bowing the ancient Policie of this Estate from consideration of Plentie to consideration of Power For that almost all the ancient Statutes incite by all meanes Merchant-Strangers to bring in all sorts of Commodities hauing for end Cheapnesse and not looking to the point of State concerning the Nauall-power The King also made a Statute in that Parliament Monitory and Minatory towards Iustices of Peace that they should duly execute their office inuiting complaints against them first to their Fellow-Iustices then to the Iustices of Assise then to the King or Chancellor and that a Proclamation which hee had published of that Tenor should be read in open Sessions foure times a yeare to keepe them awake Meaning also to haue his lawes executed and therby to reape either Obedience or Forfeitures wherein towards his latter times hee did decline too much to the left hand he did ordaine remedie against the practice that was growne in vse to stop and dampe Informations vpon Penall Lawes by procuring Informations by collusion to be put in by the Confederates of the Delinquents to be faintly prosecuted and let fall at pleasure and pleading them in Barre of the Informations which were prosecuted with effect He made also Lawes for the correction of the Mint and counterfaiting of forreine Coyne currant And that no payment in Gold should bee made to any Merchant-stranger the better to keepe Treasure within the Realme for that Gold was the mettall that lay in leastroome He made also Statutes for the maintenance of Draperie and the keeping of Wools within the Realme and not only so but for stinting and limiting the prices of Cloth one for the Finer and another for the Courser sort Which I note both because it was a rare thing to set prices by Statute especially vpon our Home-Commodities and because of the wise Modele of this Act not prescribing Prices but stinting them not to exceed a rate that the Clothier might drape accordingly as he might affoord Diuers other good Statutes were made that Parliament but these were the principall And here I doe desire those into whose hands this worke shall fall that they do take in good part my long insisting vpon the Lawes that were made in this Kings reigne Whereof I haue these reasons Both because it was the preheminent vertue and merit of this King to whose memorie I doe honour and because it hath some correspondence to my Person but chiefly because in my iudgement it is some defect euen in the best writers of Historie that they doe not often enough summarily deliuer and set downe the most memorable Lawes that passed in the times whereof they write being indeed the principall Acts of Peace For though they may bee had in Originall Bookes of Law themselues yet that informeth not the iudgement of Kings and Councellors and Persons of Estate so well as to see them described and entred in the Table and Pourtrait of the Times About the same time the King had a Loane from the Citie of Foure thousand pounds which was double to that they lent before and was duely and orderly payd back at the day as the former likewise had beene The King euer choosing rather to borrow too soone then to pay too late and so
keeping vp his Credit Neither had the King yet cast off his cares and hopes touching Britaine but thought to master the occasion by Policie though his Armes had beene vnfortunate and to bereaue the French King of the fruit of his Victorie The summe of his designe was to encourage MAXIMILIAN to goe on with his suit for the marriage of ANNE the heire of Britaine and to aide him to the consummation therof But the affaires of MAXIMILIAN were at that time in great trouble and combustion by a Rebellion of his Subiects in Flanders especially those of Bruges and Gaunt wherof the Towne of Bruges at such time as MAXIMILIAN was there in person had sodainly armed in tumult and slaine some of his principall Officers and taken himself prisoner and held him in durance till they had enforced him and some of his Councellors to take a solemne oath to pardon all their offences and neuer to question and reuenge the same in time to come Neuerthelesse FREDERICKE the Emperour would not suffer this reproach and indignitie offered to his sonne to passe but made sharpe warres vpon Flanders to reclaime and chastise the Rebels But the Lord RAVENSTEIN a principall person about MAXIMILIAN and one that had taken the oath of Abolition with his Master pretending the Religion therof but indeed vpon priuate ambition and as it was thought instigated and corrupted from France for sooke the Emperour and MAXIMILIAN his Lord and made himselfe an Head of the Popular Partie and seized vpon the Townes of Ipre and Sluce with both the Castles And forthwith sent to the Lord CORDES Gouernour of Picardie vnder the French King to desire aide and to moue him that hee on the behalfe of the French King would bee Protector of the United Towns and by force of Armes reduce the rest The Lord CORDES was readie to embrace the occasion which was partly of his owne setting and sent forthwith greater Forces then it had beene possible for him to raise on the sodaine if hee had not looked for such a summons before in aide of the Lord RAVENSTEIN and the Flemmings with instructions to inuest the Townes betweene France and Bruges The French Forces besieged a little Towne called Dixmue where part of the Flemmish Forces ioyned with them While they lay at this siege the King of England vpon pretence of the safety of the English Pale about Calice but in truth being loth that MAXIMILIAN should become contemptible and therby bee shaken off by the States of Britaine about this marriage sent ouer the Lord MORLEY with a thousand men vnto the Lord DAVBIGNY then Deputie of Calice with secret instructions to aide MAXIMILIAN and to raise the siege of Dixmue The Lord DAVBIGNY giuing it out that all was for the strengthning of the English Marches drew out of the Garrisons of Calice Hammes and Guines to the number of a thousand Men more So that with the fresh Succours that came vnder the Conduct of the Lord MORLEY they made vp to the number of two thousand or better Which Forces ioyning with some Companies of Almaines put themselues into Dixmue not perceiued by the Enemies and passing through the Towne with some re-enforcement from the Forces that were in the Towne assailed the Enemies Campe negligently guarded as being out of feare where there was a bloudy fight in which the English and their Partakers obtained the victorie and slew to the number of eight thousand Men with the losse on the English part of a hundred or there abouts amongst whom was the Lord MORLEY They tooke also their great Ordnance with much rich spoiles which they carried to Newport whence the Lord DAVBIGNY returned to Calice leauing the hurt Men and some other Voluntaries in Newport But the Lord CORDES being at Ipre with a great power of Men thinking to recouer the losse and disgrace of the fight at Dixmue came presently on and sate downe before Newport and besieged it and after some dayes siege hee resolued to trie the fortune of an Assault Which hee did one day and succeeded therein so farre that hee had taken the principall Tower and Fort in that Citie and planted vpon it the French Banner Whence neuerthelesse they were presently beaten forth by the English by the helpe of some fresh Succours of Archers arriuing by good fortune at the instant in the Hauen of Newport Whereupon the Lord CORDES discouraged and measuring the new Succours which were small by the Successe which was great leuied his Siege By this meanes matters grew more exasperate betweene the two Kings of England and France for that in the warre of Flanders the auxiliarie Forces of French and English were much blouded one against another Which Bloud rankled the more by the vaine words of the Lord CORDES that declared himselfe an open Enemie of the English beyond that that appertained to the present Seruice making it a common by-word of his That hee could bee content to lie in Hell seuen yeares so hee might winne Calice from the English The King hauing thus vpheld the Reputation of MAXIMILIAN aduised him now to presse on his Marriage with Britaine to a conclusion Which MAXIMILIAN accordingly did and so farre forth preuayled both with the young Lady and with the principall persons about her as the Marriage was consummate by Proxie with a Ceremonie at that time in these Parts new For shee was not onely publikely contracted but stated as a Bride and solemnly Bedded and after shee was laid there came in MAXIMILIANS Ambassadour with letters of Procuration and in the presence of sundry Noble Personages Men and Women put his Legge stript naked to the Knee betweene the Espousall Sheets to the end that that Ceremonie might bee thought to amount to a Consummation and actuall Knowledge This done MAXIMILIAN whose propertie was to leaue things then when they were almost come to perfection and to end them by imagination like ill Archers that draw not their Arrowes vp to the Head and who might as easily haue bedded the Lady himselfe as to haue made a Play and Disguise of it thinking now all assured neglected for a time his further Proceeding and intended his Warres Meane while the French King consulting with his Diuines and finding that this pretended Consummation was rather an Inuention of Court then any wayes valide by the Lawes of the Church went more really to worke and by secret Instruments and cunning Agents as well Matrons about the young Lady as Councellors first sought to remoue the Point of Religion and Honour out of the minde of the Lady her selfe wherein there was a double labour For MAXIMILIAN was not onely contracted vnto the Lady but MAXIMILIANS daughter was likewise contracted to King CHARLES So as the Marriage halted vpon both feet and was not cleare on either side But for the Contract with King CHARLES the Exception lay plaine and faire for that MAXIMILIANS daughter was vnder yeares of consent and so not bound by Law but a power of Disagreement left to
either part But for the Contract made by MAXIMILIAN with the Lady her selfe they were harder driuen hauing nothing to alledge but that it was done without the consent of her Soueraigne Lord King CHARLES whose Ward and Client shee was and Hee to her in place of a Father and therfore it was void and of no force for want of such Consent Which defect they sayd though it would not euacuate a Marriage after Cohabitation and Actuall Cosummation yet it was enough to make void a Contract For as for the pretended Consummation they made sport with it and said That it was an argument that MAXIMILIAN was a Widdower and a cold Wooer that could content himselfe to be a Bridgrome by Deputie and would not make a little Iourney to put all out of question So that the young Lady wrought vpon by these Reasons finely instilled by such as the French King who spared for no Rewards or Promises had made on his side and allured likewise by the present Glory and Greatnesse of King CHARLES being also a young King and a Batchelor and loth to make her Countrey the Seat of a long and miserable Warre secretly yeelded to accept of King CHARLES But during this secret Treatie with the Ladie the better to saue it from Blasts of Opposition and Interruption King CHARLES resorting to his wonted Arts and thinking to carry the Marriage as hee had carried the Warres by entertaining the King of England in vaine beliefe sent a solemne Ambassage by FRANCIS Lord of Luximburge CHARLES MARIGNIAN and ROBERT GAGVIEN Generall of the Order of the Bonnes Hommes of the Trinitie to treat a Peace and League with the King accoupling it with an Article in the nature of a Request that the French King might with the Kings good will according vnto his right of Seigniorie and Tutelage dispose of the Marriage of the young Duchesse of Britaine as hee should thinke good offering by a Iudiciall proceeding to make void the Marriage of MAXIMILIAN by Proxie Also all this while the better to amuse the world hee did continue in his Court and custodie the Daughter of MAXIMILIAN who formerly had beene sent vnto him to bee bred and educated in France not dismissing or renvoying her but contrariwise professing and giuing out strongly that hee meant to proceed with that Match And that for the Duchesse of Britaine hee desired onely to preserue his right of Seigniory and to giue her in Marriage to some such Allye as might depend vpon him When the three Commissioners came to the Court of England they deliuered their Ambassage vnto the King who remitted them to his Councell where some dayes after they had Audience and made their Proposition by the Prior of the Trinitie who though hee were third in place yet was held the best Speaker of them to this effect MY Lords the King our Master the greatest and mightiest King that raigned in France since CHARLES the Great whose Name he beareth hath neuerthelesse thought it no disparagement to his Greatnesse at this time to propound a Peace yea and to pray a Peace with the King of England For which purpose hee hath sent vs his Commissioners instructed and enabled with full and ample power to treat and conclude giuing vs further in charge to open in some other businesse the secrets of his owne intentions These be indeed the precious Loue-tokens betweene great Kings to communicate one with another the true state of their affaires and to passe by nice Points of Honour which ought not to giue Law vnto Affection This I doe assure your Lordships It is not possible for you to imagine the true and cordiall Loue that the King our Master beareth to your Soueraigne except you were neare him as we are He vseth his Name with so great respect he remembreth their first acquaintance at Paris with so great contentment nay hee neuer speakes of him but that presently he falls into discourse of the miseries of great Kings in that they cannot conuerse with their Equalls but with Seruants This affection to your Kings Person and Vertues GOD hath put into the Heart of our Master no doubt for the good of Christendome and for purposes yet vnknowne to vs all For other Root it cannot haue since it was the same to the Earle of Richmond that it is now to the King of England This is therefore the first motiue that makes our King to desire Peace and League with your Soueraigne Good affection and somewhat that hee findes in his owne Heart This affection is also armed with reason of Estate For our King doth in all candour and franknesse of dealing open himselfe vnto you that hauing an honourable yea and a holy Purpose to make a Voyage and Warre in remote Parts he considereth that it will be of no small effect in point of Reputation to his enterprise if it be knowne abroad that hee is in good peace with all his Neighbour Princes and specially with the King of England whom for good causes he esteemeth most But now my Lords giue me leaue to vse a few words to remoue all scruples and misse-vnderstandings betweene your Soueraigne and ours concerning some late Actions which if they be not cleared may perhaps hinder this Peace To the end that for matters past neither King may conceiue vnkindnesse of other nor think the other conceiueth vnkindnesse of him The late Actions are two That of Brittaine and that of Flanders In both which it is true that the Subiects swords of both Kings haue encountred and stricken and the wayes and Inclinations also of the two Kings in respect of their Confederates and Allies haue seuered For that of Brittaine The King your Soueraigne knoweth best what hath passed It was a Warre of necessitie on our Masters part And though the Motiues of it were sharp and piquant as could be yet did he make that Warre rather with an Oliue-branch then a Laurel-Branch in his Hand more desiring Peace then Victorie Besides from time to time he sent as it were Blank-papers to your King to write the conditions of Peace For though both his Honour and Safetie went vpon it yet he thought neither of them too precious to put into the King of Englands hands Neither doth your King on the other side make any vnfriendly interpretation of your Kings sending of succours to the Duke of Brittaine for the King knoweth well that many things must bee done of Kings for satisfaction of their People and it is not hard to discerne what is a Kings owne But this matter of Brittaine is now by the Act of GOD ended and passed and as the King hopeth like the way of a Ship in the Sea without leauing any impression in either of the Kings mindes as hee is sure for his part it hath not done in his For the Action of Flanders As the former of Brittaine was a Warre of necessitie so this was a Warre of Justice which with a good King is of equall necessitie with danger
bodies were remoued by the Priest of the Tower and buried by him in some place which by meanes of the Priests death soone after could not be knowne Thus much was then deliuered abroad to be the effect of those Examinations But the King neuerthelesse made no vse of them in any of his Declarations whereby as it seemes those Examinations left the businesse somewhat perplexed And a for Sir IAMES TIRREL hee was soone after beheaded in the Tower-yard for other matters of Treason But IOHN DIGHTON who it seemeth spake best for the King was forthwith set at libertie and was the principall meanes of diuulging this Tradition Therefore this kind of Proofe being left so naked the King vsed the more diligence in the latter for the tracing of PERKIN To this purpose hee sent abroad into seuerall parts and especially into Flanders diuers secret and nimble Scouts and Spies some faining themselues to flie ouer vnto PERKIN and to adhere vnto him and some vnder other pretences to learne search and discouer all the circumstances and particulars of PERKINS Parents Birth Person Trauailes vp and downe and in briefe to haue a Iournall as it were of his life and doings Hee furnished these his imployed-men liberally with Money to draw on and reward Intelligences giuing them also in charge to aduertise continually what they found and neuerthelesse still to goe on And euer as one Aduertisement and Discouerie called vp another hee employed other new Men where the Businesse did require it Others hee employed in a more speciall nature and trust to be his Pioners in the maine Counter-mine These were directed to insinuate themselues into the familiaritie and confidence of the principall Persons of the Partie in Flanders and so to learne what Associates they had and Correspondents either heere in England or abroad and how farre euery one ingaged and what new ones they meant afterwards to trie or board And as this for the Persons so for the Actions themselues to discouer to the Bottome as they could the vtmost of PERKINS and the Conspiratours their Intentions Hopes and Practices These latter Best-be-trust-Spies had some of them further instructions to practise and draw off the best Friends and Seruants of PERKIN by making remonstrance to them how weakly his Enterprize and Hopes were built and with how prudent and potent a King they had to deale and to reconcile them to the King with promise of Pardon and good Conditions of Reward And aboue the rest to assayle sappe and worke into the constancie of Sir ROBERT CLIFFORD and to winne him if they could being the man that knew most of their secrets and who being wonne away would most appall and discourage the rest and in a manner breake the Knot There is a strange Tradition That the King being lost in a Wood of Suspicions and not knowing whom to trust had both intelligence with the Confessors and Chaplaines of diuers great men and for the better Credit of his Espialls abroad with the contrarie side did vse to haue them cursed at PAVLS by Name amongst the Bead-roll of the Kings Enemies according to the Custome of those Times These Espials plyed their Charge so roundly as the King had an Anatomie of PERKIN aliue and waslikewise well informed of the particular correspondent Conspiratours in England and many other Mysteries were reuealed and Sir ROBERT CLIFFORD in especiall wonne to bee assured to the King and industrious and officious for his seruice The King therfore receiuing a rich Returne of his diligence and great satisfaction touching a number of Particulars first diuulged and spred abroad the Imposture and iuggling of PERKINS Person and Trauailes with the Circumstances therof throughout the Realme Not by Proclamation because things were yet in Examination and so might receiue the more or the lesse but by Court-fames which commonly print better than printed Proclamations Then thought hee it also time to send an Ambassage vnto Archduke PHILIP into Flanders for the abandoning and dismissing of PERKIN Heerein hee employed Sir EDWARD POYNINGS and Sir WILLIAM WARHAM Doctor of the Canon Law The Archduke was then young and gouerned by his Councell before whom the Ambassadours had audience and Doctor WARHAM spake in this manner MY Lords the King our Master is very sorie that England and your Countrey here of Flanders hauing beene counted as Man and Wife for so long time now this Countrey of all others should be the Stage where a base Counterfeit should play the part of a King of England not onely to his Graces disquiet and dishonour but to the scorne and reproach of all Soueraigne Princes To counterfeit the dead Image of a King in his Coyne is an high Offence by all Lawes But to counterfeit the liuing Image of a King in his Person exceedeth all Falsifications except it should bee that of a MAHOMET or an Anti-Christ that counterfeit Diuine Honour The King hath too great an Opinion of this sage Counsell to thinke that any of you is caught with this Fable though way may be giuen by you to the passion of some the thing in it selfe is so improbable To set Testimonies aside of the Death of Duke RICHARD which the King hath vpon Record plaine and infallible because they may bee thought to bee in the Kings owne Power let the thing testifie for it selfe Sense and Reason no Power can command Is it possible trow you that King RICHARD should damne his soule and foule his Name with so abominable a Murther and yet not mend his Case Or doe you thinke that Men of Bloud that were his Instruments did turne to Pitty in the middest of their Execution Whereas in cruell and sauage Beasts and Men also the first Draught of Bloud doth yet make them more fierce and enraged Doe you not know that the Bloudie Executioners of Tyrants doe goe to such Errands with an Halter about their necke So that if they performe not they are sure to die for it And doe you thinke that these men would hazard their owne liues for sparing anothers Admit they should haue saued him What should they haue done with him Turne him into London Streets that the Watch-men or any Passenger that should light vpon him might carry him before a Iustice and so all come to light Or should they haue kept him by them secretly That surely would haue required a great deale of Care Charge and continuall Feares But my Lords I labour too much in a cleare Businesse The King is so wise and hath so good Friends abroad as now hee knoweth Duke PERKIN from his Cradle And because hee is a great Prince if you haue any good Poet here hee can helpe him with Notes to write his Life and to parallel him with LAMBERT SIMNELL now the Kings Faulconer And therefore to speake plainely to your Lordships it is the strangest thing in the World that the Lady MARGARET excuse vs if wee name her whose Malice to the King is both causelesse and endlesse should now when she is
old at the time when other Women giue ouer Child-bearing bring forth two such Monsters being not the Births of nine or tenne Moneths but of many yeares And whereas other naturall Mothers bring forth Children weake and not able to helpe themselues she bringeth forth tall Striplings able soone after their comming into the World to bid Battaile to mightie Kings My Lords wee stay vnwillingly vpon this Part. Wee would to GOD that Lady would once taste the Joyes which GOD Almightie doth serue up vnto her in beholding her Neece to Reigne in such Honour and with so much Royall Issue which shee might bee pleased to accompt as her owne The Kings Request vnto the Archduke and your Lordships might bee That according to the Example of King CHARLES who hath already discarded him you would banish this vnworthy Fellow out of your Dominions But because the King may iustly expect more from an ancient Confederate than from a new reconciled Enemie hee maketh his Request vnto you to deliuer him vp into his hands Pirates and Impostures of this sort beeing fit to bee accounted the Common Enemies of Mankinde and no wayes to bee protected by the Law of Nations After some time of Deliberation the Ambassadours receiued this short Answer THat the Archduke for the loue of King HENRY would in no sort aide or assist the pretended Duke but in all things conserue the Amitie hee had with the King But for the Duchesse Dowager shee was absolute in the Lands of her Dowrie and that hee could not let her to dispose of her owne THe King vpon the returne of the Ambassadours was nothing satisfied with this Answer For well he knew that a Patrimoniall Dowrie carried no part of Soueraignty or Command of Forces Besides the Ambassadors told him plainly that they saw the Duchesse had a great Party in the Arch-Dukes Counsell that howsoeuer it was carried in a course of conniuence yet the Arch-Duke vnder hand gaue aid and furtherance to PERKIN Wherefore partly out of Courage and partly out of Policie the King forthwith banished all Flemmings as wel their Persons as their Wares out of his Kingdom Commanding his Subiects likewise and by name his Merchants-Aduenturers which had a Resiance in Antwerpe to return translating the Mart which commonly followed the English Cloth vnto Calice embarred also all further trade for the future This the King did being sensible in point of honour not to suffer a Pretender to the Crowne of England to affront him so neare at hand and he to keep termes of friendship with the Countrie where he did set vp But he had also a further reach for that hee knew well that the Subiects of Flanders drew so great commoditie from the trade of England as by this Embargo they would soon waxe weary of PERKIN and that the Tumults of Flanders had bin so late fresh as it was no time for the Prince to displease the People Neuerthelesse for formes sake by way of requitall the Arch-Duke did likewise banish the English out of Flanders which in effect was done to his hand The King being well aduertised that PERKIN did more trust vpon Friends and Partakers within the Realme than vpon forraine Armes thought it behooued him to apply the Remedy where the Disease lay to proceed with seueritie against some of the principall Conspirators here within the Realme Thereby to purge the ill Humours in England to coole the Hopes in Flanders Wherefore hee caused to bee apprehended almost at an instant IOHN RATCLIFFE Lord Fitz-water Sir SIMON MOVNTFORD Sir THOMAS THWAITES WILLIAM DAWBIGNEY ROBERT RATCLIFFE THOMAS CHRESSENOR THOMAS ASTWOOD All these were arraigned conuicted and condemned for High-Treason in adhering and promising aide to PERKIN Of these the Lord FITZWATER was conueighed to Calice and there kept in hold and in hope of life vntill soone after eyther impatient or betrayed he dealt with his Keeper to haue escaped thereupon was beheaded But Sir SIMON MOVNTFORD ROBERT RATCLIFFE and WILLIAM DAWBIGNEY were beheaded immediately after their Condemnation The rest were pardoned together with many others Clerkes and Laikes amongst which were two Dominican Friars and WILLIAM WORSELEY Deane of Paules which latter sort passed Examination but came not to publike triall The Lord Chamberlaine at that time was not touched whether it were that the King would not stir too many humours at once but after the maner of good Physitians purge the head last or that CLIFFORD from whom most of these Discoueries came reserued that Piece for his own cōming ouer signifying only to the King in the meane time that he doubted there were some greater ones in the businesse whereof he would giue the King further accompt when he came to his presence Vpon Al-hallowes-day-euen being now the tenth yeare of the Kings Reigne the Kings second Sonne HENRY was created Duke of Yorke as well the Duke as diuers others Noblemen Knights-Batchlours Gentlemen of Quality were made knights of the Bath according to the Ceremony Vpon the morrow after Twelfth-Day the King remoued from Westminster where he had kept his Christmas to the Tower of London This he did as soon as he had aduertisement that Sir ROBERT CLIFFORD in whose Bosom or Budget most of PERKINS secrets were layed vp was come into England And the place of the Tower was chosen to that end that if CLIFFORD should accuse any of the Great-ones they might without suspition or noise or sending abroad of Warrants be presently attached the Court Prison being within the cincture of one Wal. After a day or two the king drew vnto him a selected Councel admitted CLIFFORD to his presence who first fell downe at his feet and in all humble manner craued the Kings Pardon which the King then granted though hee were indeed secretly assured of his life before Then commanded to tell his knowledge he did amongst many others of himself not interrogated appeach Sir WILLIAM STANLEY the Lord Chamberlaine of the Kings Houshold The King seemed to be much amazed at the naming of this Lord as if he had heard the Newes of some strange and fearfull Prodigie To heare a Man that had done him seruice of so high a nature as to saue his life set the Crown vpon his head a Man that enioied by his fauor aduancement so great a fortune both in Honour Riches a Man that was tied vnto him in so near a Band of alliance his Brother hauing married the Kings Mother and lastly a Man to whom he had cōmitted the trust of his Person in making him his Chamberlain That this Man no waies disgraced no waies discontent no waies put in feare should be false vnto him CLIFFORD was required to say ouer again againe the Particulars of his accusatiō being warned that in a matter so vnlikely that concerned so great a Seruant of the Kings he should not in any wise go too far But the king finding that he did sadly constantly without
consisted but of strangers borne and most of them base People and Free-booters fitter to spoile a Coast than to recouer a Kingdome resorting vnto the principall Gentlemen of the Countrie professed their loyaltie to the King and desired to bee directed and commanded for the best of the Kings seruice The Gentlemen entring into Consultation directed some forces in good number to shew themselues vpon the Coast and some of them to make signes to entice PERKINS Souldiers to land as if they would ioyne with them and some others to appeare from some other Places and to make semblance as if they fledde from them the better to encourage them to land But PERKIN who by playing the Prince or else taught by Secretarie FRION had learned thus much That People vnder Command doe vse to consult and after to march in order and Rebells contrariwise runne vpon an Head together in confusion considering the delay of time and obseruing their orderly and not tumultuary Arming doubted the worst And therefore the wily Youth would not set one foote out of his Ship till hee might see things were sure Wherefore the Kings Forces perceiuing that they could draw on no more than those that were formerly landed set vpon them and cut them in pieces ere they could fly backe to their ships In which Skirmish besides those that fledde and were slaine there were taken about an hundred and fifty persons Which for that the King thought that to punish a few for example was Gentlemans-play but for Rascall-People they were to bee cut off euery man especially in the beginning of an Enterprize and likewise for that hee saw that PERKINS Forces would now consist chiefly of such Rabble and scumme of desperate People hee therefore hanged them all for the greater terrour They were brought to London all rayl'd in Ropes like a Teame of Horses in a Cart and were executed some of them at London and Wapping and the rest at diuers places vpon the Sea-Coast of Kent Sussex and Norfolke for Sea-markes or Light-houses to teach PERKINS People to auoyd the Coast. The King being aduertised of the landing of the Rebels thought to leaue his Progresse But being certified the next day that they were partly defeated and partly fled hee continued his Progresse and sent Sir RICHARD GVILFORD into Kent in message Who calling the Countrie together did much commend from the King their fidelitie manhood and well handling of that seruice and gaue them all thankes and in priuate promised Reward to some particulars Vpon the sixteenth of Nouember this beeing the eleuenth yeare of the King was holden the Serieants-Feast at Elie-Place there being nine Serieants of that Call The King to honour the Feast was present with his Queene at the Dinner being a Prince that was euer ready to grace and countenance the Professors of the Law hauing a little of that That as he gouerned his Subiects by his Lawes so he gouerned his Lawes by his Lawyers This yeare also the King entred into League with the Italian Potentates for the defence of Italie against France For King CHARLES had conquered the Realme of Naples and lost it againe in a kinde of Felicitie of a Dreame Hee passed the whole length of Italie without resistance so that it was true which Pope ALEXANDER was wont to say That the Frenchmen came into Italie with Chalke in their hands to marke up their lodgings rather than with swords to fight Hee likewise entred and wonne in effect the whole Kingdome of Naples it selfe without striking stroke But presently thereupon he did commit and multiply so many Errours as was too great a taske for the best fortune to ouercome Hee gaue no contentment to the Barons of Naples of the Faction of the Angeouines but scattered his rewards according to the mercenarie appetites of some about him He put all Italie vpon their Guard by the seizing and holding of Ostia and the protecting of the Libertie of Pisa which made all men suspect that his purposes looked further than his title of Naples He fell too soone at difference with LVDOVICO SFORTIA who was the Man that carried the Keyes which brought him in and shut him out Hee neglected to extinguish some reliques of the Warre And lastly in regard of his easie passage through Italie without resistance hee entred into an ouermuch despising of the Armes of the Italians Whereby he left the Realme of Naples at his departure so much the lesse prouided So that not long after his returne the whole Kingdome reuolted to FERDINANDO the younger and the French were quite driuen out Neuerthelesse CHARLES did make both great threats and great preparations to re-enter Italie once againe Wherfore at the instance of diuers of the States of Italie and especially of Pope ALEXANDER there was a League concluded betweene the said Pope MAXIMILIAN King of Romanes HENRY King of England FERDINANDO and ISABELLA King and Queen of Spaine for so they are constantly placed in the originall Treaty throughout AVGVSTISSIMO BARBADICO Duke of Venice and LVDOVICO SFORTIA Duke of Millan for the common defence of their estates Wherein though FERDINANDO of Naples was not named as principall yet no doubt the Kingdome of Naples was tacitly included as a Fee of the Church There dyed also this yeare CECILE Duchesse of Yorke mother to King EDWARD the Fourth at her Castle of Barkhamsted beeing of extreame yeares and who had liued to see three Princes of her bodie crowned and foure murthered Shee was buried at Foderingham by her husband This yeare also the King called his Parliament where many Lawes were made of a more priuate and vulgar nature than ought to detaine the Reader of an Historie And it may bee iustly suspected by the proceedings following that as the King did excell in good Common-wealth Lawes so neuerthelesse hee had in secret a designe to make vse of them as well for collecting of Treasure as for correcting of Manners and so meaning thereby to harrow his People did accumulate them the rather The principall Law that was made this Parliament was a Law of a strange nature rather Iust than Legall and more magnanimous than prouident This Law did ordaine That no person that did assist in Armes or otherwise the King for the time beeing should after bee impeached therefore or attainted either by the course of the Law or by Act of Parliament But if any such Act of Attainder did happen to bee made it should bee voyde and of none effect For that it was agreeable to reason of Estate that the Subiect should not enquire of the iustnesse of the Kings Title or Quarrell and it was agreeable to good Conscience that whatsoeuer the fortune of the Warre were the Subiect should not suffer for his Obedience The spirit of this Law was wonderfull Pious and Noble beeing like in matter of Warre vnto the spirit of DAVID in matter of Plague who said If I haue sinned strike mee but what haue these sheepe done Neither wanted this Law parts of prudent
and deepe fore-sight For it did the better take away occasion for the people to busie themselues to prie into the Kings Title for that howsoeuer it fell their safety was alreadie prouided for Besides it could not but greatly draw vnto him the loue and hearts of the people because hee seemed more carefull for them than for himselfe But yet neuerthelesse it did take off from his Partie that great Tie and Spurre of necessity to fight and goe Victors out of the fielde considering their liues and fortunes were put in safety and protected whether they stood to it or ranne away But the force and obligation of this Law was in it selfe Illusorie as to the latter part of it by a precedent Act of Parliament to binde or frustrate a future For a supreme and absolute Power cannot conclude it selfe neither can that which is in nature reuocable bee made fixed no more than if a man should appoint or declare by his Will that if hee made any Latter will it should bee voyde And for the Case of the Act of Parliament there is a notable President of it in King HENRIE the Eight's time Who doubting hee might dye in the minoritie of his Sonne procured an Act to passe That no Statute made during the minoritie of the King should binde him or his Successours except it were confirmed by the King vnder his great Seale at his full age But the first Act that passed in King EDWARD the Sixth his time was an Act of Repeale of that former Act at which time neuerthelesse the King was Minor But things that doe not binde may satisfie for the time There was also made a shoaring or vnderpropping Act for the Beneuolence to make the summes which any person had agreed to pay and neuerthelesse were not brought in to bee leuiable by course of Law Which Act did not only bring in the Areres but did indeed countenance the whole businesse and was pretended to bee made at the desire of those that had beene forward to pay This Parliament also was made that good Law which gaue the Attaint vpon a false Uerdict betweene Partie and Partie which before was a kinde of Euangile irremediable It extends not to causes Capitall as well because they are for the most part at the Kings Suite as because in them if they bee followed in Course of Indictment there passeth a double Iurie the Indictors and the Triers and so not Twelue Men but Foure and twentie But it seemeth that was not the onely reason for this reason holdeth not in the Appeale But the great reason was lest it should tend to the discouragement of Iurors in Cases of Life and Death if they should bee subiect to Suite and Penaltie where the fauour of Life maketh against them It extendeth not also to any Suite where the Demand is vnder the value of fortie pounds for that in such Cases of pettie value it would not quite the Charge to goe about againe There was another Law made against a branch of Ingratitude in Women who hauing beene aduanced by their Husbands or their Husbands Ancestors should alien and thereby seeke to defeate the Heires or those in Remainder of the Lands whereunto they had bin so aduanced The remedie was by giuing power to the next to enter for a forfeiture There was also enacted that Charitable Law for the admission of poore Suiters In Forma Pauperis without Fee to Counsellor Atturney or Clerke whereby poore men became rather able to vexe than vnable to sue There were diuers other good Lawes made that Parliament as we said before but we still obserue our manner in selecting out those that are not of a Vulgar nature The King this while though hee sate in Parliament as in full Peace and seemed to account of the designes of PERKIN who was now returned into Flanders but as a May game yet hauing the composition of a wise King Stout without and apprehensiue within had giuen order for the watching of Beacons vpon the Coasts and erecting more where they stood too thin and had a carefull eye where this wandering Cloude would breake But PERKIN aduised to keepe his fire which hitherto burned as it were vpon greene Wood aliue with continuall blowing Sailed againe into Ireland whence he had formerly departed rather vpon the hopes of France than vpon any vnreadinesse or discouragement hee found in that People But in the space of time betweene the Kings Diligence and POYNINGS Commission had so settled things there as there was nothing left for PERKIN but the blustring affection of wilde and naked people Wherefore hee was aduised by his Councell to seeke aide of the King of Scotland a Prince yong and valourous and in good termes with his Nobles and People and ill affected to King HENRY At this time also both MAXIMILIAN and CHARLES of France began to beare no good will to the King The one beeing displeased with the Kings Prohibition of Commerce with Flanders The Other holding the King for suspect in regard of his late entrie into league with the Italians Wherefore besides the open Aides of the Duchesse of Burgundy which did with Sayles and Oares put on and aduance PERKINS designes there wanted not some secret Tides from MAXIMILIAN and CHARLES which did further his fortunes In so much as they both by their secret Letters and Messages recommended him to the King of Scotland PERKIN therefore comming into Scotland vpon those hopes with a well appointed company was by the King of Scots beeing formerly well prepared honourably welcommed and soone after his arriuall admitted to his Presence in a solemne manner For the King receiued him in State in his Chamber of Presence accompanied with diuers of his Nobles And PERKIN well attended as well with those that the King had sent before him as with his owne Traine entered the roome where the King was and comming neare to the King and bowing a little to embrace him hee retired some paces backe and with a loud voyce that all that were present might heare him made his Declaration in this manner HIgh and Mighty King your Grace and these your Nobles here present may be pleased benignely to bow your Eares to heare the Tragedie of a young Man that by Right ought to hold in his hand the Ball of a Kingdome but by Fortune is made Himselfe a Ball tossed from Miserie to Miserie and from Place to Place You see here before you the Spectacle of a PLANTAGENET who hath beene carried from the Nurserie to the Sanctuarie from the Sanctuarie to the direfull Prison from the Prison to the Hand of the cruell Tormentor and from that Hand to the wide Wildernesse as I may truely call it for so the World hath beene to mee So that hee that is borne to a great Kingdome hath not Ground to set his foote vpon more than this where hee now standeth by your Princely Fauour EDWARD the Fourth late King of England as your Grace cannot but haue heard left
so order as shall bee to the great comfort of both Kingdomes BVt PERKINS Proclamation did little edifie with the people of England neither was hee the better welcome for the company hee came in Wherefore the King of Scotland seeing none came in to PERKIN nor none stirred any where in his fauour turned his enterprise into a Rode and wasted and destroyed the Countrie of Northumberland with fire and sword But hearing that there were Forces comming against him and not willing that they should finde his Men heauie and laden with bootie hee returned into Scotland with great Spoyles deferring further prosecution till another time It is said that PERKIN acting the part of a Prince handsomely when hee saw the Scottish fell to waste the Countrey came to the King in a passionate manner making great lamentation and desired That that might not bee the manner of making the Warre for that no Crowne was so deare to his minde as that hee desired to purchase it with the bloude and ruine of his Countrey Whereunto the King answered halfe in sport that hee doubted much hee was carefull for that that was none of his and that hee should bee too good a Steward for his Enemie to saue the Countrie to his vse By this time beeing the Eleuenth yeare of the King the Interruption of Trade betweene the English and the Flemmish beganne to pinch the Merchants of both Nations very sore Which mooued them by all meanes they could deuise to affect and dispose their Soueraignes respectiuely to open the Entercourse againe Wherein time fauoured them For the Arch-Duke and his Councell beganne to see that PERKIN would prooue but a Runnagate and Citizen of the World and that it was the part of children to fall out about Babies And the King on his part after the Attempts vpon Kent and Northumberland beganne to haue the businesse of PERKIN in lesse estimation so as hee did not put it to accompt in any Consultation of State But that that mooued him most was that beeing a King that loued Wealth and Treasure hee could not endure to haue Trade sicke nor any Obstruction to continue in the Gate-veine which disperseth that bloud And yet he kept State so farre as first to bee sought vnto Wherein the Merchant-Aduenturers likewise beeing a strong Companie at that time and well vnderset with rich Men and good order did hold out brauely taking off the Commodities of the Kingdome though they lay dead vpon their hands for want of Vent At the last Commissioners met at London to Treate On the Kings part Bishop FOXE Lord Priuy Seale Viscount Wells KENDAL Prior of Saint IOHNS WARHAM Master of the Rolles who beganne to gaine much vpon the Kings opinion VRSWICK who was almost euer one and RISELY On the Arch-Dukes part the Lord BEVERS his Admirall the Lord VERVNSEL President of Flanders and others These concluded a perfect Treatie both of Amitie and Intercourse betweene the King and the Arch-Duke Contayning Articles both of State Commerce and Free-Fishing This is that Treatie which the Flemmings call at this day Intercursus Magnus both because it is more compleat than the precedent Treaties of the Third and Fourth yeares of the King and chiefly to giue it a difference from the Treatie that followed in the One and twentieth yeare of the King which they call Intercursus Malus In this Treatie there was an expresse Article against the Reception of the Rebels of either Prince by other purporting that if any such Rebell should bee required by the Prince whose Rebell hee was of the Prince Confederate that forthwith the Prince Confederate should by Proclamation command him to auoyde the Countrey Which if hee did not within fifteene daies the Rebell was to stand proscribed and put out of Protection But neuerthelesse in this Article PERKIN was not named neither perhaps contained because hee was no Rebell But by this meanes his wings were clipt of his Followers that were English And it was expresly comprised in the Treatie that it should extend to the Territories of the Duchesse Dowager After the Intercourse thus restored The English Merchants came againe to their Mansion at Antwerpe where they were receiued with Procession and great Ioy. The Winter following beeing the Twelfth yeare of his reigne The King called againe his Parliament where hee did much exaggerate both the Malice and the cruell Predatory Warre lately made by the King of Scotland That that King being in Amitie with him and no wayes prouoked should so burne in hatred towards him as to drinke of the Lees and Dreggs of PERKINS Intoxication who was euery where else detected and discarded And that when hee perceiued it was out of his reach to doe the King any hurt hee had turned his Armes vpon vnarmed and vnprouided People to spoyle onely and depopulate contrary to the Lawes both of Warre and Peace Concluding that hee could neither with Honour nor with the safety of his People to whom he did owe Protection let passe these wrongs vnreuenged The Parliament vnderstood him well and gaue him a Subsidie limited to the summe of one hundred and twentie thousand Pounds besides two Fifteenes For his Warres were alwaies to him as a Mine of Treasure of a strange kind of Ore Iron at the top and Gold and Siluer at the bottome At this Parliament for that there had beene so much time spent in making Lawes the yeare before and for that it was called purposely in respect of the Scottish Warre there were no Lawes made to bee remembred Onely there passed a Law at the Sute of the Merchant-Aduenturers of England against the Merchant-Aduenturers of London for Monopolizing and exacting vpon the Trade Which it seemeth they did a little to saue themselues after the hard time they had sustained by want of Trade But those Innouations were taken away by Parliament But it was fatall to the King to fight for his money And though hee auoyded to fight with Enemies abroad yet hee was still enforced to fight for it with Rebels at home For no sooner beganne the Subsidie to bee leuied in Corne-wall but the People there began to grudge and murmure The Cornish being a Race of Men stout of stomacke mighty of Bodie and Limme and that liued hardly in a barren Countrey and many of them could for a neede liue vnder ground that were Tinners they muttered extreamely that it was a thing not to be suffered that for a little stirre of the Scots soone blowne ouer they should be thus grinded to Powder with Payments And said it was for them to pay that had too much and liued idly But they would eate the bread they got with the sweat of their browes and no man should take it from them And as in the Tides of People once vp there want not commonly stirring Windes to make them more rough So this People did light vpon two Ring-leaders or Captaines of the Rout. The one was one MICHAEL IOSEPH a Black-smith or Farrier of Bodmin anotable
in such things as hee thought either not decent or not pleasant to proceede from himselfe putting them off as done by the Counsell of FERDINANDO Wherefore hee was content that HIALAS as in a matter mooued and aduised from HIALAS himselfe should goe into Scotland to treate of a Concord betweene the two Kings HIALAS tooke it vpon him and comming to the Scottish King after hee had with much Art brought King IAMES to hearken to the more safe and quiet Counsells wrote vnto the King that hee hoped that Peace would with no great difficultie cement and close if hee would send some wise and temperate Counsellour of his owne that might treate of the Conditions Whereupon the King directed Bishop FOX who at that time was at his Castle of Norham to conferre with HIALAS and they both to treate with some Commissioners deputed from the Scottish King The Commissioners on both sides met But after much dispute vpon the Articles and Conditions of Peace propounded vpon eyther part they could not conclude a Peace The chiefe Impediments thereof was the demand of the King to haue PERKIN deliuered into his hands as a Reproach to all Kings and a Person not protected by the Law of Nations The King of Scotland on the other side peremptorily denied so to doe saying That he for his part was no Competent Iudge of PERKINS Title But that he had receiued him as a Suppliant protected him as a Person fled for Refuge espoused him with his Kinswoman and aided him with his Armes vpon the beleefe that hee was a Prince And therefore that hee could not now with his Honour so vnrippe and in a sort put a Lye vpon all that hee had said and done before as to deliuer him vp to his Enemies The Bishop likewise who had certaine proud instructions from the King at the least in the Front though there were a pliant clause at the Foote that remitted all to the Bishops discretion and required him by no meanes to breake off in ill tearmes after that he had fayled to obtaine the deliuerie of PERKIN did mooue a second point of his Instructions which was that the Scottish King would giue the King an Enteruiew in Person at Newcastle But this being reported to the Scottish King his answer was That he meant to treate a Peace and not to goe a begging for it The Bishop also according to another Article of his Instructions demanded Restitution of the Spoyles taken by the Scottish or Damages for the same But the Scottish Commissioners answered That that was but as Water spilt vpon the ground which could not bee gotten vp againe and that the Kings People were better able to beare the losse than their Master to repaire it But in the end as Persons capable of reason on both sides they made rather a kinde of Recesse than a Breach of Treaty concluded vpon a Truce for some moneths following But the King of Scotland though hee would not formally retract his iudgement of PERKIN wherein he had engaged himselfe so farre yet in his priuate opinion vpon often speech with the English-men and diuers other aduertisements began to suspect him for a Counterfeit Wherefore in a Noble fashion hee called him vnto him and recounted the Benefits and fauours that he had done him in making him his Allie and in prouoking a Mighty and Opulent King by an Offensiue Warre in his Quarrell for the space of two yeares together Nay more that he had refused an Honourable Peace whereof he had a faire Offer if he would haue deliuered him and that to keepe his promise with him he had deepely offended both his Nobles and People whom he might not hold in any long discontent And therefore required him to thinke of his own Fortunes and to choose out some fitter place for his Exile Telling him withall that he could not say but the English had forsaken him before the Scottish for that vpon two seueral Trials none had declared themselues on his side But neuerthelesse hee would make good what he said to him at his first receiuing which was That hee should not repent him for putting himselfe into his hands For that he would not cast him off but helpe him with Spipping and meanes to transport him where he should desire PERKIN not descending at all from his Stage-like Greatnesse answered the King in few words That he saw his time was not yet come But whatsoeuer his Fortunes were he should both thinke and speake Honour of the King Taking his leaue hee would not thinke on Flanders doubting it was but hollow ground for him since the Treatie of the Arch-Duke concluded the yeare before but tooke his Ladie and such Followers as would not leaue him and sailed ouer into Ireland This Twelfth yeare of the King a little before this time Pope ALEXANDER who loued best those Princes that were furthest off and with whom he had least to doe taking very thankefully the Kings late entrance into League for the defence of Italie did remunerate him with an Hallowed-Sword and Cap-of Maintenance sent by his Nuncio Pope INNOCENT had done the like but it was not receiued in that Glory For the King appointed the Maior and his Brethren to meet the Popes Orator at London-Bridge and all the Streets between the Bridge-foote and the Palace of Paules where the King then lay were garnished with the Citizens standing in their Liueries And the Morrow after being All-hallowes day the King attended with many of his Prelates Nobles and Principall Courtiers went in Procession to Paules and the Cap and Sword were borne before him And after the Procession the King himselfe remaining seated in the Quire the Lord Archbishop vpon the greece of the Quire made a long Oration setting forth the greatnesse and Eminencie of that Honour which the Pope in these Ornaments and Ensignes of Benediction had done the King and how rarely and vpon what high deserts they vsed to bee bestowed And then recited the Kings principall Acts and Merits which had made him appeare worthy in the eyes of his Holinesse of this great Honour All this while the Rebellion of Cornewall whereof wee haue spoken seemed to haue no relation to PERKIN saue that perhaps PERKINS Proclamation had stricken vpon the right Veine in promising to lay downe Exactions and Payments and so had made them now and then haue a Kind-thought on PERKIN But now these Bubbles by much stirring began to meete as they vse to doe vpon the top of Water The Kings lenitie by that time the Cornish Rebels who were taken and pardoned and as it was said manie of them sold by them that had taken them for twelue pence and two shillings a-peece were come downe into their Countrey had rather imboldened them than reclaymed them Insomuch as they stucke not to say to their Neighbours and Countrey-men that The King did well to pardon them for that hee knew hee should leaue few Subiects in England if hee hanged all that were of their minde
Seisines and Alienations being the fruites of those Tenures refusing vpon diuers Pretexts and Delayes to admit men to trauerse those False Offices according to the Law Nay the Kings Wards after they had accomplished their full Age could not bee suffered to haue Liuerie of their Lands without paying excessiue Fines farre exceeding all reasonable Rates They did also vexe men with Informations of Intrusion vpon scarce colourable Titles VVhen men were Out-lawed in Personall Actions they would not permit them to purchase their Charters of Pardon except they paid great and intolerable summes standing vpon the strict Point of Law which vpon Out-lawries giueth Forfeiture of Goods Nay contrarie to all Law and Colour they maintained the King ought to haue the halfe of mens Lands and Rents during the space of full two yeares for a Paine in Case of Out-lawrie They would also ruffle with Iurors and inforce them to finde as they would direct and if they did not Conuent them Imprison them and Fine them These and many other Courses fitter to be buried than repeated they had of Preying vpon the People both like Tame Hawkes for their Master and like Wild Hawkes for themselues in so much as they grew to great Riches and Substance But their principall working was vpon Penall Lawes wherein they spared none great nor small nor considered whether the Law were possible or impossible in Vse or Obsolete But raked ouer all old and new Statutes though many of them were made with intention rather of Terrour than of Rigour hauing euer a Rabble of Promoters Questmongers and leading Iurors at their Command so as they could haue any thing found either for Fact or Valuation There remayneth to this Day a Report that the King was on a time entertained by the Earle of Oxford that was his principall Seruant both for Warre and Peace nobly and sumptuously at his Castle at Henningham And at the Kings going away the Earles Seruants stood in a seemely manner in their Liuerie Coats with Cognisances ranged on both sides and made the King a Lane The King called the Earle to him and said My Lord I have heard much of your Hospitalitie but I see it is greater than the speech These handsome Gentlemen and Teomen which I see on both sides of me are sure your Meniall Seruants The Earle smiled and said It may please your Grace that were not for mine ease They are most of them my Retainers that are come to doe me seruice at such a time as this and chiefly to see your Grace The King started a little and said By my faith my Lord I thanke you for my good Cheare but I may not endure to haue my Lawes broken in my sight My Atturney must speake with you And it is part of the Report that the Earle compounded for no lesse than fifteene thousand Markes And to shew further the kings extreme Diligence I doe remember to haue seene long since a Booke of Accompt of EMPSONS that had the kings hand almost to euery Leafe by way of Signing and was in some places Postilled in the Margent with the Kings hand likewise where was this Remembrance Item receiued of such a one fiue Markes for the Pardon to be procured and if the Pardon doe not passe the Monie to bee repaied Except the Partie bee some other-wayes satisfied And ouer against this Memorandum of the Kings owne hand Otherwise satisfied Which I doe the rather mention because it shewes in the king a Nearenesse but yet with a kind of Iustnesse So these little Sands and Graines of Gold and Siluer as it seemeth helped not a little to make vp the great Heape and Banke But meanewhile to keepe the king awake the Earle of Suffolke hauing beene too gay at Prince ARTHVRS Marriage and sunke himselfe deepe in Debt had yet once more a mind to bee a Knight-Errant and to seeke Aduentures in Forraine parts And taking his Brother with him fled againe into Flanders That no doubt which gaue him Confidence was the great Murmur of the People against the Kings Gouernement And beeing a Man of a light and rash Spirit he thought euerie Vapour would bee a Tempest Neither wanted hee some Partie within the Kingdome For the Murmur of People awakes the Discontents of Nobles and againe that calleth vp commonly some Head of Sedition The King resorting to his wonted and tried Arts caused Sir ROBERT CVRSON Captaine of the Castle at Hammes beeing at that time beyond Sea and therefore lesse likely to bee wrought vpon by the king to flie from his Charge and to faine himselfe a seruant of the Earles This Knight hauing insinuated himselfe into the Secrets of the Earle and finding by him vpon whom chiefly hee had either Hope or Hold aduertised the King thereof in great secrecie But neuerthelesse maintained his owne Credit and inward trust with the Earle Vpon whose Aduertisements the King attached WILLIAM COVRTNEY Earle of Deuonshire his brother-in-Brother-in-Law married to the Ladie KATHERINE daughter to King EDVVARD the Fourth WILLIAM DE-LA-POLE Brother to the Earle of Suffolke Sir IAMES TIRREL and Sir IOHN WINDHAM and some other meaner Persons and committed them to Custodie GEORGE Lord ABERGAVENNIE and Sir THOMAS GREENE were at the same time apprehended but as vpon lesse Suspition so in a freer Restraint and were soone after deliuered The Earle of Deuonshire being interessed in the bloud of Yorke that was rather Feared than Nocent yet as One that might bee the Obiect of others Plots and Designes remained Prisoner in the Tower during the Kings life WILLIAAM DE-LA-POLE was also long restrained though not so straitly But for Sir IAMES TIRREL against whom the Bloud of rhe Innocent Princes EDVVARD the Fifth and his Brother did still crie from vnder the Altar and Sir IOHN WINDHAM and the other meaner ones they were attainted and executed The two Knights beheaded Neuerthelesse to confirme the Credit of CVRSON who belike had not yet done all his Feates of Actiuitie there was published at PAVLES Crosse about the time of the said Executions the Popes Bull of Excommunication and Curse against the Earle of Suffolke and Sir ROBERT CVRSON some others by name and likewise in generall against all the Abettors of the said Earle Wherein it must be confessed that Heauen was made too much to bow to Earth and Religion to Policie But soone after CVRSON when hee saw time returned into England and withall into wonted Fauour with the King but worse Fame with the People Vpon whose returne the Earle was much dismayed and seeing himselfe destitute of hopes the Ladie MARGARET also by tract of Time and bad Successe being now become coole in those Attempts after some wandering in France and Germanie and certaine little Proiects no better than Squibbs of an Exiled man being tired out retired againe into the Protection of the Arch-Duke PHILIP in Flanders who by the death of ISABELLA was at that time King of Castile in the right of IOAN his Wife This yeare beeing the Nineteenth of
vpon whom the surest Aime that could bee taken was that hee would not be long as hee had beene last before would all three being potent Princes enter into some strait League and Confederation amongst themselues Whereby though hee should not be endangered yet hee should be left to the poore Amitie of Arragon And whereas he had beene heretofore a kind of Arbiter of Europe he should now goe lesse and bee ouer-topped by so great a Coniunction Hee had also as it seemes an inclination to marrie and bethought himselfe of some fit Conditions abroad And amongst others hee had heard of the Beautie and vertuous Behauiour of the young Queene of Naples the Widdow of FERDINANDO the younger being then of Matronall yeares of seuen and twentie By whose Marriage he thought that the Kingdome of Naples hauing beene a Gole for a time betweene the king of Arragon and the French King and being but newly setled might in some part be Deposited in his hands who was so able to keepe the Stakes Therefore hee sent in Ambassage or Message three Confident Persons FRANCIS MARSIN IAMES BRAY-BROOKE and IOHN STILE vpon two seuerall Inquisitions rather than Negotiations The One touching the Person and Condition of the young Queene of Naples The Other touching all particulars of Estate that concerned the Fortunes and Intentions of FERDINANDO And because they may obserue best who themselues are obserued least hee sent them vnder Colourable Pretexts giuing them Letters of Kindnesse and Complement from KATHERINE the Princesse to her Aunt and Neece the Olde and Young Queene of Naples and deliuering to them also a Booke of new Articles of Peace which notwithstanding it had beene deliuered vnto Doctor de PVEBLA the Leigier Ambassadour of Spaine here in England to be sent yet for that the King had beene long without hearing from Spaine hee thought good those Messengers when they had beene with the two Queenes should likewise passe on to the Court of FERDINANDO and take a Copie of the Booke with them The Instructions touching the Queene of Naples were so curious and exquisite beeing as Articles whereby to direct a Suruey or framing a Particular of her Person for Complexion Fauour Feature Stature Health Age Customes Behauiour Conditions and Estate as if the King had beene young a Man would haue iudged him to bee Amorous but being ancient it ought to be interpreted that sure he was verie Chaste for that hee meant to finde all things in one Woman and so to settle his Affections without ranging But in this Match hee was soone cooled when hee heard from his Ambassadors that this young Queene had had a goodly Ioynture in the Realme of Naples well answered during the time of her Vnckle FREDERICKE yea and during the time of LEVVIS the French King in whose Diuision her Reuenue fell But since the time that the Kingdome was in FERDINANDO'S hands all was assigned to the Armie and Garrisons there and shee receiued only a Pension or Exhibition out of his Coffers The other part of the Inquirie had a graue and diligent Returne informing the King at full of the present State of King FERDINANDO By this report it appeared to the King that FERDINANDO did continue the Gouernment of Castile as Administrator vnto his Daughter IOAN by the Title of Queene ISABELLA'S Will and partly by the Custome of the Kingdome as he pretended And that all Mandates and Grants were expedited in the name of IOAN his Daughter and himselfe as Administrator without mention of PHILIP her Husband And that king FERDINANDO howsoeuer hee did dismisse himselfe of the Name of King of Castile yet meant to hold the Kingdome without Accompt and in absolute Command It appeareth also that hee flattered himselfe with hopes that king PHILIP would permit vnto him the Gouernement of Castile during his life which hee had layed his plot to worke him vnto both by some Councellors of his about him which FERDINANDO had at his deuotion and chiefly by Promise that in case PHILIP gaue not way vnto it hee would marrie some young Ladie whereby to put him by the Succession of Arragon and Granada in case hee should haue a Sonne And lastly by representing vnto him that the Gouernement of the Burgundians till PHILIP were by continuance in Spaine made as Naturall of Spaine would not bee indured by the Spaniards But in all those things though wisely layed downe and considered FERDINANDO failed But that PLVTO was better to him than PALLAS In the same Report also the Ambassadours beeing meane men and therefore the more free did strike vpon a String which was somewhat dangerous For they declared plainely that the People of Spaine both Nobles and Commons were better affected vnto the part of PHILIP so hee brought his wife with him than to FERDINANDO And expressed the reason to bee because hee had imposed vpon them many Taxes and Tallages whith was the Kings owne Case betweene him and his Sonne There was also in this Report a Declaration of an Ouerture of Marriage which AMASON the Secretarie of FERDINANDO had made vnto the Ambassadours in great secret betweene CHARLES Prince of Castile and MARIE the Kings second Daughter assuring the king that the Treatie of Marriage then on foot for the said Prince and the Daughter of France would breake and that shee the said Daughter of France should bee married to ANGOLESME that was the Heire apparant of France There was a touch also of a speech of Marriage betweene FERDINANDO and Madame de FOIS a Ladie of the Bloud of France which afterwards indeed succeeded But this was reported as learned in France and silenced in Spaine The King by the returne of this Ambassage which gaue great light vnto his Affaires was well instructed and prepared how to carrie himselfe betweene FERDINANDO King of Arragon and PHILIP his son-in-Sonne-in-law King of Castile resoluing with himselfe to doe all that in him lay to keepe them at one within themselues But howsoeuer that succeeded by a moderate Carriage and bearing the Person of a Common-friend to loose neither of their Friendships but yet to runne a Course more entire with the King of Arragon but more laboured and officious with the King of Castile But hee was much taken with the Ouerture of Marriage with his Daughter MARIE Both because it was the greatest Marriage of Christendome and for that it tooke hold of both Allies But to corroborate his Alliance with PHILIP the Windes gaue him an Enter-view For PHILIP choosing the Winter-Season the better to surprise the King of Arragon set forth with a great Nauie out of Flanders for Spaine in the Moneth of Ianuarie the one and Twentieth yeare of the Kings Raigne But himselfe was surprised with a cruell Tempest that scattered his Ships vpon the seuerall Coasts of England And the Ship wherein the King and Queene were with two other small Barkes onely torne and in great perill to escape the Furie of the weather thrust into Waymouth King PHILIP himselfe hauing
not beene vsed as it seemes to Sea all wearied and extreame sicke would needes land ro refresh his Spirits though it was against the Opinion of his Councell doubting it might breed Delay his Occasions requiring Celeritie The Rumour of the Arriuall of a puissant Nauie vpon the Coast made the Countrie Arme. And Sir THOMAS TRENCHARD with Forces suddenly raised not knowing what the matter might bee came to Waymouth Where vnderstanding the Accident hee did in all Humblenesse and Humanitie inuite the King and Queene to his House and forthwith dispatched Posts to the Court. Soone after came Sir IOHN CAROE likewise with a great troupe of Men well armed vsing the like Humblenesse and Respect towards the king when hee knew the Case King PHILIP doubting that they being but Subiects durst not let him passe away againe without the Kings Notice and Leaue yeelded to their Entreatieâ— to staie till they heard from the Court The king as soone as hee heard the Newes commanded presently the Earle of Arundell to goe to visite the king of Castile and let him vnderstand That as hee was verie sorrie for his Mishap so hee was glad that hee had escaped the Danger of the Seas and likewise of the Occasion himselfe had to doe him Honour and desiring him to thinke himselfe as in his owne Land and that the king made all hast possible to come and imbrace him The Earle came to him in great Magnificence with a braue Troupe of three hundred Horse and for more State came by Torch-Light After hee had done the Kings Message King PHILIP seeing how the world went the sooner to get away went vpon speed to the King at Windsore and his Queene followed by easie iourneys The two kings at their meeting vsed all the Caresses and louing Demonstrations that were possible And the king of Castile said pleasantly to the King That hee was now punished for that he would not come within his walled Towne of Calice when they met last But the king answered That walles and Seas were nothing where Hearts were open and that hee was here no otherwise but to bee serued After a Day or two's refreshing the kings entred into speech of renewing the Treatie The King saying That though King PHILIPS Person were the same yet his Fortunes and State were raised In which Case a Renouation of Treatie was vsed amongst Princes But while these things were in handling the king choosing a fit time and drawing the king of Castile into a Roome where they two onely were priuate and laying his hand ciuilly vpon his arme and changing his Countenance a little from a Countenance of Intertainment said to him Sir you haue beene saued vpon my Coast I hope you will not suffer mee to wracke vpon yours The King of Castile asked him What hee meant by that speech I meane it saith the King by that same Harebraine wilde Fellow my subiect the Earle of Suffolke who is protected in your Countrie and begins to play the Foole when all others are wearie of it The King of Castile answered I had thought Sir your Felicitie had beene aboue those thoughts But if it trouble you I will banish him The King replied Those Hornets were best in their Nest and worst then when they did stie abroad that his desire was to haue him deliuered to him The King of Castile here with a little confused and in a studie said That can I not doe with my honour and lesse with yours for you will bee thought to haue vsed mee as a Prisoner The King presently said Then the matter is at an end For I will take that dishonour vpon me and so your honour is saued The King of Castile who had the king in great Estimation and besides remembred where hee was and knew not what vse hee might haue of the kings Amitie for that himselfe was new in his Estate of Spaine and vnsetled both with his father-in-Father-in-Law and with his People composing his Countenance said Sir you giue Law to mee but so will I to you You shall haue him but vpon your honour you shall not take his life The king embracing him said Agreed Saith the king of Castile Neither shall it dislike you if I send to him in such a fashion as hee may partly come with his owne good will The king said It was well thought of and if it pleased him hee would ioyne with him in sending to the Earle a Message to that purpose They both sent seuerally and meane while they continued Feasting and Pastimes The King beeing on his part willing to haue the Earle sure before the king of Castile went and the king of Castile beeing as willing to seeme to bee inforced The King also with many wise and excellent Perswasions did aduise the king of Castile to bee ruled by the Councell of his father-in-Father-in-Law FERDINANDO a Prince so prudent so experienced so fortunate The King of Castile who was in no verie good termes with his said father-in-Father-in-Law answered That if his Father-in-Law would suffer him to gouerne his Kingdomes hee should gouerne him There were immediatly Messengers sent from both Kings to recall the Earle of Suffolke Who vpon gentle wordes vsed to him was soone charmed and willing enough to returne assured of his Life and hoping of his Libertie Hee was brought through Flanders to Calice and thence landed at Douer and with sufficient Guard deliuered and receiued at the Tower of London Meane while King HENRY to draw out the time continued his Feastings and Entertainments and after hee had receiued the king of Castile into the Fraternitie of the Garter and for a Reciprocall had his Sonne the Prince admitted to the Order of the Golden-Fleece hee accompainied King PHILIP and his Queene to the Citie of London where they were entertayned with the greatest Magnificence and Triumph that could bee vpon no greater warning And as soone as the Earle of Suffolke had beene conueyed to the Tower which was the serious part the Iollities had an end and the Kings tooke leaue Neuerthelesse during their beeing heere they in Substance concluded that Treatie which the Flemings terme Intercursus malus and beares Date at Windsore for that there bee some things in it more to the Aduantage of the English than of them especially for that the Free-fishing of the Dutch vpon the Coasts and Seas of England granted in the Treatie of Undecimo was not by this Treatie confirmed All Articles that confirme former Treaties beeing precisely and warily limitted and confirmed to matter of Commerce onely and not otherwise It was obserued that the great Tempest which draue PHILIP into England blew downe the Golden Eagle from the Spire of PAVLES and in the fall it fell vpon a Signe of the Blacke Eagle which was in PAVLES Church-Yard in the place where the Schoole-House now standeth and battered it and brake it downe Which was a strange stooping of a Hawke vpon a Fowle This the People interpreted to bee an Ominous Prognosticke vpon the Imperiall House
which was by Interpretation also fulfilled vpon PHILIP the Emperours Sonne not onely in the Present Disaster of the Tempest but in that that followed For PHILIP arriuing into Spaine and attaining the Possession of the Kingdome of Castile without resistance insomuch as FERDINANDO who had spoke so great before was with difficultie admitted to the speech of his Sonne-in-Law sickned soone after and deceased Yet after such time as there was an Obseruation by the wisest of that Court That if hee had liued his Father would haue gained vpon him in that sort as hee would haue gouerned his Councells and Designes if not his Affections By this all Spaine returned into the power of FERDINANDO in state as it was before the rather in regard of the infirmitie of IOAN his Daughter who louing her Husband by whom shee had many Children dearely well and no lesse beloued of him howsoeuer her Father to make PHILIP ill beloued of the People of Spaine gaue out that PHILIP vsed her not well was vnable in strength of minde to beare the Griefe of his Decease and fell distracted of her Wittes Of which Maladie her Father was thought no wayes to endeuour the Cure the better to hold his Regall Power in Castile So that as the Felicitie of CHARLES the Eighth was said to bee a Dreame so the Aduersitie of FERDINANDO was said likewise to bee a Dreame it passed ouer so soone About this time the King was desirous to bring into the House of LANCASTER Celestiall Honour and became Suitor to Pope IVLIVS to Canonize King HENRY the Sixt for a Saint the rather in respect of that his famous Prediction of the Kings owne Assumption to the Crowne IVLIVS referred the matter as the manner is to certaine Cardinalls to take the verification of his Holy Acts and Miracles But it died vnder the Reference The generall Opinion was that Pope IVLIVS was too deare and that the King would not come to his Rates But it is more probable That that Pope who was extremely iealous of the Dignitie of the Sea of Rome and of the Actes thereof knowing that King HENRY the Sixth was reputed in the world abroad but for a Simple Man was affraide it would but diminish the Estimation of that kinde of Honour if there were not a distance kept betweene Iunocents and Saints The same yeare likewise there proceeded a Treatie of Marriage betweene the King and the Ladie MARGARET Duchesse Dowager of Sauoy onely Daughter to MAXIMILIAN and Sister to the King of Castile a Ladie wise and of great good Fame This Matter had beene in speech betweene the two Kings at their meeting but was soone after resumed and therein was imployed for his first piece the Kings then Chaplaine and after the great Prelate THOMAS WOLSEY It was in the end concluded with great and ample Conditions for the king but with promise De Futuro only It may be the king was the rather induced vnto it for that he heard more and more of the Marriage to goe on betweene his great Friend and Allie FERDINANDO of Arragon and Madame de FOIS whereby that King beganne to piece with the French King from whom hee had beene alwayes before seuered So fatall a thing it is for the greatest and straitest Amities of Kings at one time or other to haue a little of the Wheele Nay thereis a further Tradition in Spaint though not with vs That the King of Arragon after hee knew that the Marriage betweene CHARLES the young Prince of Castile and MARIE the Kings second Daughter went roundly on which though it was first mooued by the King of Arragon yet it was afterwards wholly aduanced and brought to perfection by MAXIMILIAN and the Friends on that side entred into a iealousie that the King did aspire to the Gouernment of Castilia as Administrator during the Minoritie of his son-in-Sonne-in-Law as if there should haue beene a Competition of Three for that Gouernment FERDINANDO Grand-father on the Mothers side MAXIMILIAN Grand-father on the Fathers side and King HENRIE father-in-Father-in-Law to the young Prince Certainely it is not vnlike but the Kings Gouernment carrying the young Prince with him would haue beene perhaps more welcome to the Spaniards than that of the other Two For the Nobilitie of Castilia that so lately put out the King of Arragon in fauour of King PHILIP and had discouered themselues so farre could not bee but in a secret Distrust and Distaste of that King And as for MAXIMILIAN vpon Twentie respects hee could not haue beene the Man But this purpose of the Kings seemeth to mee considering the Kings safe Courses neuer found to bee enterprizing or aduenturous not greatly probable except hee should haue had a Desire to breathe warmer because hee had ill Lunger This Marriage with MARGARET was protracted from time to time in respect of the Infirmitie of the King who now in the two and Twentieth of his Raigne beganne to bee troubled with the Goute But the Defluxion taking also into his Brest wasted his Lungs so that thrice in a Yeare in a kinde of Returne and especially in the Spring hee had great Fitts and Labours of the Tissicke Neuerthelesse hee continued to intend Businesse with as great diligence as before in his Health Yet so as vpon this warning hee did likewise now more seriously thinke of the World to come and of making himselfe a Saint aswell as King HENRIE the Sixth by Treasure better imployed than to bee giuen to Pope IVLIVS For this Yeare hee gaue greater Almes than accustomed and discharged all Prisoners about the Citie that lay for Fees or Debts vnder fortie shillings Hee did also make haste with Religious Foundations and in the Yeare following which was the Three and Twentieth finished that of the Sauoy And hearing also of the bitter Cryes of his People against the Oppressions of DVDLEY and EMPSON and their Complices partly by Deuout Persons about him and partly by publicke Sermons the Preachers doing their Dutie therein Hee was touched with great Remorse for the same Neuerthelesse EMPSON and DVDLEY though they could not but heare of these Scruples in the Kings Conscience yet as if the Kings Soule and his Money were in seuerall Offices that the One was not to intermeddle with the Other went on with as great rage as euer For the same three and Twentieth Yeare was there a sharpe Prosecution against Sir VVILLIAM CAPEL now the second time and this was for Matters of Misgouernment in his Maioraltie The great Matter beeing that in some Payments hee had taken knowledge of False Moneys and did not his diligence to examine and beate it out who were the Offendours For this and some other things layed to his Charge hee was condemned to pay Two Thousand Pounds and beeing a Man of stomacke and hardened by his former Troubles refused to pay 2 Mite and bee like vsed some vntoward Speeches of the Proceedings for which hee was sent to the Tower and there remayned till the Kings Death
and Daintiest Monuments of Europe both for the Chappell and for the Sepulchre So that hee dwelleth more richly Dead in the Monument of his Tombe than hee did Aliue in Richmond or any of his Palaces I could wish he did the like in this Monument of his Fame FINIS An Index Alphabeticall directing to the most obserueable passages in the foregoing Historie A AN Accident in it selfe triuiall great in effect pag. 189 Aduice desired from the Parliament 53. 57. 98 A Emulation of the English to the French with the reasons of it 61 Affabilitie of the King to the Citie of London 198 Affection of k. Henry to the king of Spaine 105 Affection of the king to his children 241 Aide desired by the Duke of Brittaine 53 Aide sent to Brittaine 62 Aiders of rebels punished 37 Almes deeds of the king 229 Ambassadors to the Pope 38 into Scotland 39 Ambassadours from the French King 41 Ambassadors in danger in France 49 Ambassadors into France 94 Ambition exorbitant in Sir William Stanley 135 Answer of the Archduke to the kings Ambassadors 129 Appeach of Sir William Stanley 132 Armes of king Henries still victorious 234 Arrows of the Cornishmen the length of them 171 Articles betweene the King and the Archduke 162 Arthur Prince married to the Ladie Katherine 203 Arthur Prince dyes at Ludlow 218 Aton Castle in Scotland taken by the Earle of Surrey 174 Attainted persons in Parliament excepted against 12 Attaindor and corruption of bloud reacheth not to the Crown 13. 24 Auarice of king Henry 236 Audley Generall of the Cornish rebels 165 B BAnishment of Flemings out of the kingdome 130 Battaile at Bosworth field 1 at Stokefield 35 at S. Albans in Brittain 62 Bannocks bourne in Scotland 70 at Blacke Heath 168 Behauiour of king Henry towards his children 205 Beneuolence to the king for his warres 100 Beneuolence who the first author ibid. Beneuolence abolished by Act of Parliament ibid. Beneuolence reuiued by Act of Parliament 100 A Beneuolence generall to the king 216 Birth of Hen. 8. 95 Bishops why imployed by the king 16 Bloud not vnreuenged 196. 213 Brittain Duchie distressed 62 Three causes of the losse of the Duchie of Brittaine 63 Brittaine vnited to France by marriage 95 Brackenbury refused to murder king Edw. 2. sonnes 123 Broughton Sir Thomas ioyned with the rebels 32 A Bull procured from the Pope by the king for what causes 39 Bulloigne besieged by king Henry 110 C CArdinall Morton dyeth 198 Capel Sir William fined 139. 229 Capp of maintenance from the Pope 178 Ceremony of Marriage new in these parts 80 Chauncery power and description of that Court. 64 Clifford Sir Robert flyes to Perkin 122 Reuolts to the king 125 Clergie priuiledges abridged 66 Christendome enlarged 106 Columbus Christopher Bartholomeus inuite the king to a discouery of the West Indies 189 Confiscation aymed a by the king 133 Conference betweene king Henry and the king of Castile by casualtie landing at Waymouth 223 Conquest the Title vnpleasing to the people declined by William the Conq. 5. and by the king 7 Conspirators for Perkin 121 Contraction of Prince Hen. and Lady Katherine 207 Conditionell speech doth not qualifie words of Treason 134 Commissioners into Ireland 138 Commissioners about trading 161 Coronation of king Henry 10 Coronation of the Queene 38 Counsell the benefite of good 40 Counsell of what sort the French king vsed 51 Counsell of meane men what and how different from that of Nobles ibidem Lord Cordes enuie to England 79 Cottagers but housed Beggars Counterfeits 74 Lambert proclaimed in Ireland 24 Crowned at Dublin 31 Taken in battell 35 Put into the Kings Kitchin 36 Made the Kings Fawlconer ibid. Duke of Yorke counterfeit See Perkin Wilford another counterfeit Earle of Warwick 194 Courage of the English when 62 Court what pleas belong to euerie Court 64 Court of Starre-chamber confirmed ibid. Creations 10 Crowne confirmed to king Henry by Parliament 11 Cursing of the kings enemies at Pauls Crosse a custome of those times 125. 213 D DAm a towne in Flanders taken by a slight 103 Lord Dawbeny 170 Deuices at Prince Arthurs marriage 203 Deuice of the King to diuert enuie 111 Decay of trade doth punish merchants 161 Decay of people how it comes to passe 73 Declaration by Perkin to the Scottish King 148 Desires intemperate of Sir William Stanley 136 Dighton a murderer of K. Edw. 2. children 124 Dilemma a pleasant one of Bishop Morton 101 Diligence of the King to heap Treasures 211 Displacing of no Councellers nor Seruants in all K. Henries Reigne saue of one 242 Dissimulation of the French King 46. 48. 81 Dissimulation of k. Henrie in pretending warre 99 A Doubt long kept open and diuersly determined according to the diuersitie of the times 206 Dowry of L. Katherine how much 204 Dowrie of Lady Margaret into Scotland how much 208 Drapery maintained how 76 Dudley one of the kings horseleeches 209 Duke of Yorke counterfet See Perkin E EArle of Suffolke flyes into Flanders 212. Returnes 225 Earle of Northumberland slaine by the people in collecting the Subsidie somewhat harshly 68 Earle of Warwick executed 195 Earle of Warw. counterfeit 21. 194 Earle of Surrey enters Scotland 174 Edmund a third sonne borne to king Henry but died 191 Edward the fift murthered 149 Enuie towards the king vnquenchable the cause of it 196 Enuie of Lord Cordes to England 79 Enteruiew between the king Arch-Duke with the respectiue carriage of the Arch-Duke to the king 197 Enteruiew betweene the king and the king of Castile 223 Embleme 167 Empson one of the kings horseleeches 209 Errors of the French king in his businesse for the kingdome of Naples 143 Errors of king Henry occasioning his many troubles 264 Escuage seruice 164 Espials in the Rebels campe 33 Espousals of Iames king of Scotland and Lady Margaret 207 Exchanges vnlawfull prohibited 66 Exeter besieged by Perkin 181 The loyaltie of the Towne ibid The Towne rewarded with the kings owne sword 184 Execution of Humphrey Stafford 18 Iohna Chamber and his fellow rebels at Yorke 68 Sir Iames Tyrril murderer of king Edw. 2. sonnes 124 Of diuers others 131 Sir William Stanley 134 For Rebels 138 Perkins companie 141 Audley and Cornish Rebels 171 Another counterfeit Earle of Warw. 194 Perkin Warbeck ibid The Mayor of Corke and his son 195 Earle of Warwick 195 F FAme ill affected 172 Fame entertained by diuers the reasons of it 121 Fame neglected by Empson Dudley 209 Feare not safe to the king 137 Fines 72 Without Fines Statute to sell land 101 Flammock a Lawyer a rebell 164 Flemmings banished 130 Flight of king Henry out of Brittaine into France wherefore 55 Forfeitures and confiscations furnish the kings wants 14. 27 Forfeitures aimed at 75. 133 Forfeitures vpon penall lawes taken by the king which was the blot of his times 139 Fortune various 26. 36 Forwardnesse inconsiderate 170 Foxe made priuie Counsellor 16 Made L. Keeper of the priuie Seal
ibid. His prouidence 173 Free fishing of the Dutch 225 Title to France renewed by the king in Parliament 98 Frion ioynes with Perkin 118 First fruits 16 In forma pauperis a law enacted for it 146 G GAbato Sebastian makes a voyage for discouerie 187 Gordon Lady Katherine wife to Perkin 153 Granado vindicated from the Moores 105 Guard Yeomen first instituted 10 Gifts of the French king to king Hen. Counsellors and Souldiers 111 Gratitude of the Popes Legat to king Henry 70 H HAllowed sword from the Pope 178 Hatred of the people to the king with the maine reason of it 19 Heartie acclamations of the people to the king 7 K. Henry his description 233. c. His pietie 1. 105 Hee hath three titles to the kingdome 3 Heretickes prouided against a rare thing in those times 202 Herne a Counsellor to Perkin 179 Hialas otherwise Elias to England how 174 Holy warre 200 Hopes of gaine by warre 111 Hostages redeemed by the King 15 Houses of husbandry to be maintained to preuent the decay of people 75 Histories defects in them what 76 I IAmes the third king of Scotland his distresse and death 70 Idols vexe God and king H. 185 Iohn Egremond leader of the rebels 68 Inclosures their manifest inconueniencies and how remedied 73 Ingratitude of women punished 146 Innouation desired 20 Incense of the people what 207 Instructions of Lady Margaretto Perkin 115 Intercursus Magnus 162 Intercursus Malus ib 225 Inuectiues of Maximilian against the French king 95 Inuectiues against the king and Counsell 137 Improuidence of k. Henry to preuent his troubles 20. 23 Improuidence of the French 142 Ioynture of La. Katherine how much 204 Ioynture of Lady Margaret in Scotlland how much 208 Ioseph a rebell 164 Ireland fauoureth Yorke Title 23 Ireland receiueth Simon the Priest of Oxford with his counterfeit 23 Irish adhere to Perkin 117 Iubile at Rome 199 Iuno i. e. the Lady Margaret so called by the kings friends 113 K KAtherine Gordon Perkins wife royally entertained by k. Henry 184 Kent loyall to the King 141. 166 The king the publick Steward 60 Kings their miseries 83 King of Rakehels Perkin so called by king Henry 181 The kings skreene who 164 King of France protector of k. Henry in his trouble 54 Kingdome of France restored to its integritie 40 King of France buyes his peace of K. Henry 111 King of Scots enters England 153. Againe 173 Knights of the Bath 132 Knights of Rhodes elect king Henry Protector of the Order 202 L LAncaster Title condemned by Parliament 4 Lancaster house in possession of the Crowne for three descents together 6 Lambert Simnel 20. See Counterfeit Lawes enacted in Parliament 63 Diuers Lawes enacted 215 Law charitable enacted 146 A good Law enacted 145 A Law of a strange nature 144 A Law against carrying away of women by violence the reasons of it 65 Law of Poynings 138 Lawes penall put in execution 139 A Legate from the Pope 70 Preferred to be Bishop in England by king Henry ibid. His gratitude to K. H. 70 Lenitie of the K. abused 179 Letters from the king out of France to the Mayor of London 112 A Libell 94 Libels the causes of them 137 Libels the femals of sedition ibid Libels the authors executed 138 A Loane from the Citie to the king repaid 76 London entred by king Hen. in a close chariot wherefore 8 London in a tumult because of the rebels 169 London purchase confirmation of their liberties 216 M MAle Contents their effects 67 Margaret of Burgundy the fountaine of all the mischiefe to k Henry 29 Shee entertains the rebels 68. 119 Shee a Iuno to the king 113 Shee instructs Perkin 115 Lady Margaret desired in marriage by the Scottish king 191 Manufacture forraine how to bee kept out 60. 215 Marriage of king Henry with Ladie Elizabeth 16 Of the French king with the Duchesse of Brittaine 95 Of Prince Arthur 203 Mart translated to Calice the reasons of it 130 Maintenance prohibited by law 64 Merchants of England receiued at Antwerpe with procession great ioy 162 A memorable Memorandum of the King 212 Military power of the kingdome aduanced how 73 Mills of Empson and Dudley what and the gains they brought in 216 Mitigations 209 Money bastard imployments thereof repressed 59 Money left at the kings death how much 230 Morton made priuie Councellor 16 Made Archbish. of Canterbury ib. His speech to the Parliament 57 Mortons Forke 101 Morton authour of the vnion of the two Roses 199 Moores expelled Granado 106 Murmuring 22 Murmurs of the people against the K. 121 Murther manslaughter a law concerning it in amendment of the common Law 65 Murther of king Edw. 5. 149 Murther of a Commissioner for the Subsidie 165 N NAuigation of the kingdome how aduanced 75 Neighbour ouerpotent dangerous 56 57 Bad Newes the effect thereof in souldiers 109 Nobilitie neglected in counsell the ill effects of it 51 Nobilitie few of them put to death in king Henries time 235 North the kings iourney thither for what reasons 17 O OAth of Allegeance taken 14 Oath enforced vpon Maximilian by his subiects 77 Oath kept ibid. Obedience neglected what followes 70 First occasion of a happy vnion 191 Obsequies for the French King performed in England 192 Obsequies to Tyrants what 2 An ominous answer of the king 208 An ominous prognostick 226 Opinions diuerse what was to be done with Perkin 184 Orator from the Pope met at London bridge by the Mayor 178 Order of the Garter sent to Alphonso 112 Ostentation of Religion by the king of Spaine 105 Ouer merit preiudicial to Sir William Stanley 133 Outlawrics how punished 210 Oxford Earle fined for breach of the law 211 P PAcificator K Henry betweene the French king Duke of Brittaine 50 Pardon proclaimed by the king 14. 18. 25 A Parliament called speedily 11 A Parliament called for two reasons 52 Another 16. 214 Parliaments aduice desired by the K. 53. 57. 98 Passions contrary in K. Henry ioy and sorrow with the reasons of both 58 Peace pretended by the French king 47 Peace to be desired but with two conditions 54 Peace concluded betweene England and France 111 People how brought to decay the redresse of it by the king 73 Pensions giuen by the king of France 111 A Personation somewhat strange 113 A great plague 196 Edw. Plantagenet sonne and heire of George Duke of Clarence 6 Edw. Plantagenet shewed to the people 27 Plantagenets race ended 195 Perkin Warbeck History of him 112 His parentage 114 Godsonne to king Edw. 4. 115 His crafty behauiour 114. 120 Fauoured by the French king 118 By him discarded 119 Fauoured by the Scottish King 47 He yeeldeth and is brought to the Court 186 Set in the stockes 192 Executed at Tiburne 194 A pleasant passage of Prince Arthur 206 Policie to preuent warre 42 A point of policie to defend the Duchie of Brittaine against the French 47. 56 Policie of State 41 Pope sowes seeds
Friar condemned to perpetuall Imprisonment This also hapning so opportunely to represent the danger to the Kings Estate from the Earle of Warwicke and thereby to colour the Kings seueritie that followed together with the madnesse of the Friar so vainely and desperately to divulge a Treason before it had gotten any manner of strength and the sauing of the Friars life which neuerthelesse was indeed but the priuiledge of his Order and the Pitie in the Common People which if it runne in a strong Streame doth euer cast vp Scandal and Enuie made it generally rather talked than belieued that all was but the Kings deuice But howsoeuer it were hereupon PERKIN that had offended against Grace now the third time was at the last proceeded with and by Commissioners of Oyer and Determiner arraigned at Westminster vpon diuers Treasons committed and perpetrated after his comming on land within this Kingdome for so the Iudges aduised for that he was a Forreiner and condemned and a few dayes after executed at Tiburne Where hee did againe openly read his Comfession and take it vpon his Death to bee true This was the end of this little Cockatrice of a King that was able to destroy those that did not espie him first It was one of the longest Playes of that kind that hath beene in memorie and might perhaps haue had another end if hee had not met with a King both wise stout and fortunate As for PERKINS three Councellors they had registred themselues Sanctuarie-men when their Master did And whether vpon pardon obtained or continuance within the Priuiledge they came not to bee proceeded with There was executed with PERKIN the Maior of Corke and his Sonne who had beene principall Abettors of his Treasons And soone after were likewise condemned eight other Persons about the Tower-Conspiracie whereof foure were the Lieutenants men But of those Eight but two were executed And immediatly after was arraigned before the Earle of Oxford then for the time High-Steward of England the poore Prince the Earle of Warwicke not for the Attempt to escape simply for that was not acted And besides the Imprisonment not beeing for Treason the Escape by Law could not bee Treason But for conspiring with PERKIN to raise sedition and to destroy the King And the Earle confessing the Inditement had Iudgement and was shortly after beheaded on Tower-hill This was also the end not onely of this Noble and Commiserable Person EDVVARD the Earle of Warwicke eldest Sonne to the Duke of Clarence but likewise of the Line-Male of the PLANTAGENETS which had flourished in great Royaltie and Renowne from the time of the famous King of England King HENRIE the Second Howbeit it was a Race often dipped in their owne Bloud It hath remained since onely transplanted into other Names as well of the Imperiall Line as of other Noble Houses But it was neither guilt of Crime nor reason of State that could quench the Enuie that was vpon the King for this Execution So that hee thought good to export it out of the Land and to lay it vpon his new Allie FERDINANDO King of Spaine For these two Kings vnderstanding one another at halfe a word so it was that there were Letters shewed out of Spaine whereby in the passages concerning the Treatie of the Marriage FERDINANDO had written to the King in plaine termes that hee saw no assurance of his Succession as long as the Earle of Warwicke liued and that hee was loth to send his Daughter to Troubles and Dangers But hereby as the king did in some part remoue the Enuie from himselfe so hee did not obserue that hee did withall bring a kind of Malediction and Infausting vpon the Marriage as an ill Prognosticke Which in euent so farre proued true as both Prince ARTHVR enioyed a verie small time after the Marriage and the Ladie KATHERINE her selfe a sad and a religious woman long after when King HENRIE the Eight his resolution of a Diuorce from her was first made knowne to her vsed some words That shee had not offended but it was a Iudgment of GOD for that her former Marriage was made in bloud meaning that of the Erale of Warwicke This fifteenth yeare of the king there was a great Plague both in London and in diuers parts of the Kingdome Wherefore the king after often change of Places whether to auoide the danger of the Sickenesse or to giue occasion of an Enteruiew with the Arch-Duke or both sayled ouer with his Queene to Calice Vpon his comming thither the Arch-Duke sent an honourable Ambassage vnto him aswell to welcome him into those parts as to let him know that if it pleased him hee would come and doe him reuerence But it was said withall That the King might bee pleased to appoint some place that were out of any Walled Towne or Fortresse for that hee had denied the same vpon like occasion to the French king And though hee said he made a great difference betweene the two kings yet hee would bee loth to giue a President that might make it after to bee expected at his hands by another whom hee trusted lesse The king accepted of the Courtesie and admitted of his Excuse and appointed the place to be at Saint PETERS Church without Calice But withall hee did visit the Arch-Duke with Ambassadors sent from himselfe which were the Lord Saint IOHN and the Secretarie vnto whom the Arch-Duke did the honour as going to Masse at Saint Omers to set the Lord Saint IOHN on his right hand and the Secretarie on his left and so to ride betweene them to Church The day appointed for the Enteruiew the king went on Horse backe some distance from Saint PETERS Church to receiue the Arch-Duke And vpon their approaching the Arch-Duke made hast to light and offered to hold the kings Stirrope at his alighting which the king would not permit but descending from Horse backe they embraced with great affection and withdrawing into the Church to a place prepared they had long Conference not onely vpon the Confirmation of former Treaties and the freeing of Commerce but vpon Crosse Marriages to bee had betweene the Duke of Yorke the Kings second Sonne and the Arch-Dukes Daughter And againe betweene CHARLES the Arch-Dukes Sonne and Heire and MARIE the Kings second Daughter But these Blossoms of vnripe Marriages were but friendly wishes the Aires of louing Entertainement though one of them came afterwards to Conclusion in Treatie though not in Effect But during the time that the two Princes conuersed and communed together in the Suburbs of Calice the Demonstrations on both sides were passing heartie and affectionate especially on the part of the Arch-Duke Who besides that hee was a Prince of an excellent good nature beeing conscious to himselfe how driely the King had beene vsed by his Councell in the matter of PERKIN did striue by all meanes to recouer it in the Kings Affection And hauing also his eares continually beaten with the Councels of his Father and
father-in-Father-in-law who in respect of their iealous hatred against the French King did alwayes aduise the Arch-Duke to anchor himselfe vpon the Amitie of King HENRY of England was glad vpon this occasion to put in vre and practice their precepts calling the King Patron and Father and Protector These very words the King repeates when he certified of the louing behauiour of the Arch-Duke to the Citie and what else hee could deuise to expresse his loue and obseruance to the King There came also to the King the Gouernour of Picardie and the Bailiffe of Amiens sent from Lewis the French King to doe him honour and to giue him knowledge of his victorie and winning of the Duchie of Millan It seemeth the king was well pleased with the honours hee receiued from those parts while hee was at Calice For hee did himselfe certifie all the Newes and Occurrents of them in euerie particular from Calice to the Maior and Aldermen of London which no doubt made no small talke in the Citie For the King though hee could not entertaine the good will of the Citizens as EDVVARD the fourth did yet by affabilitie and other Princely Graces did euer make very much of them and apply himselfe to them This yeare also did IOHN MORTON Arch-Bishop of Canterburie Chancellor of England and Cardinall He was a Wise man and an Eloquent but in his nature harsh and haughtie much accepted by the King but enuied by the Nobilitie and hated of the People Neither was his name left out of PERKINS Proclamation for any good will but they would not bring him in amongst the Kings Casting-Counters because hee had the Image and Superscription vpon him of the Pope in his Honour of Cardinall Hee wanne the King with Secrecie and Diligence but chiefly because hee was his olde Seruant in his lesse Fortunes And also for that in his affections hee was not without an inueterate malice against the House of YORKE vnder whom hee had beene in trouble He was willing also to take Enuie from the King more than the King was willing to put vpon him For the King cared not for Subterfuges but would stand Enuy and appeare in any thing that was to his mind which made Enuie still grow vpon him more vniuersall but lesse daring But in the matter of Exactions time did after shew that the Bishop in feeding the Kings humour did rather temper it He had beene by RICHARD the third committed as in Custody to the Duke of Buckingham whom hee did secretly incite to reuolt from King RICHARD But after the Duke was engaged and thought the Bishop should haue beene his chiefe Pilot in the Tempest the Bishop was gotten into the Cocke-boat and fled ouer beyond Seas But whatsoeuer else was in the Man hee deserueth a most happie Memorie in that hee was the principall Meane of ioyning the two Roses Hee died of great yeares but of strong health and Powers The next yeare which was the Sixteenth yeare of the King and the yeare of our Lord one thousand fiue hundred was the yeare of Iubile at Rome But Pope ALEXANDER to saue the Hazzard and Charges of mens Iourneys to Rome thought good to make ouer those Graces by Exchange to such as would pay a conuenient Rate seeing they could not come to fetch them For which purpose was sent into England IASPER PONS a Spaniard the Popes Commissioner better chosen than were the Commissioners of Pope LEO afterwards imployed for Germanie for hee carried the Businesse with great wisedome and semblance of Holinesse In so much as hee leuied great summes of Money within this Land to the Popes vse with little or no Scandall It was thought the King shared in the Money But it appeareth by a Letter which Cardinall ADRIAN the Kings Pensioner wrote to the King from Rome some few yeares after that this was not so For this Cardinall beeing to perswade Pope IVLIVS on the Kings behalfe to expedite the Bull of Dispensation for the Marriage betweene Prince HENRIE and the Ladie KATHERINE finding the Pope difficile in granting thereof doth vse it as a principall Argument concerning the Kings merit towards that Sea that hee had touched none of those Deniers which had beene leuied by PONS in England But that it might the better appeare for the satisfaction of the Common people that this was Consecrate Money the same Nuntio brought vnto the King a Briefe from the Pope wherein the King was exhorted and summoned to come in Person against the Turke For that the Pope out of the care of an Uniuersall Father seeing almost vnder his eyes the Successes and Progresses of that great Enemie of the Faith had had in the Conclane and with the Assistance of the Ambassadours of forraine Princes diuers Consultations about an Holy Warre and a Generall Expedition of Christian Princes against the Turke Wherein it was agreed and thought fit that the Hungarians Polonians and â—â—â—â—nians should make a Warre vpon Thracid The French and Spaniards vpon Grecia and that the Pope willing to sacrifice himselfe in so good a Cause in Person and in Companie of the King of England the Venetians and such other States as were great in maritime Power would saile with a puissant Nauie through the Mediterrane vnto Constantinople And that to this end his Holinesse had sent Nuncio's to all Christian Princes Aswell for a Cessation of all Quarrels and Differences amongst themselues as for speedie Preparations and Contributions of Forces and Treasure for this Sacred Enterprize To this the King who vnderstood well the Court of Rome made an Answer rather Solemne than Serious Signifying THat no Prince on Earth should bee more forward and obedient both by his Person and by all his possible Forces and Fortunes to enter into this sacred VVarre than himselfe But that the distance of Place was such as no Forces that hee should raise for the Seas could be leuied or prepared but with double the charge and double the time at the least that they might be from the other Princes that had their Territories nearer adioyning Besides that neither the manner of his Ships hauing no Gallies nor the Experience of his Pilots and Mariners could bee so apt for those Seas as theirs And therefore that his Holinesse might doe well to mooue one of those other Kings who lay fitter for the purpose to accompany him by Sea Whereby both all things would be sooner put in readinesse and with lesse Charge and the Emulation and Diuision of Command which might growe betweene those Kings of France and Spaine if they should both ioyne in the VVarre by Land vpon Grecia might bee wisely auoyded And that for his part hee would not bee wanting in Aydes and Contribution Yet notwithstanding if both these Kings should refuse rather than his Holinesse should goe alone hee would waite vpon him as soone as hee could bee readie Alwaies prouided that hee might first see all Differences of the Christian Princes amongst themselues fully laide downe and appeased as