hold of the opportunitie the Kings absence presents unto us For in enterprizes which never are commended before atchieved delayes are dangerous And safer it is to bee found in open action then private Counsell For they that deliberate only to rebell have rebelled already Hereupon the Confederates returne for England to provide armes and prepare necessaries against the Dukes arrivall who presently acquaints the King of France that hee intended to goe to visit his kinsman Iohn Duke of Britaine and obtained from him Letters of safe conduct there hee waged some souldiers with whom from Callice he made for England giving forth at his comming aborde that hee only endevoured to regaine the Dutchy of Lancaster and the rest of his lawfull inheritance which King Richard wrongfully detained from him with him came Arundel Archbishop of Canterbury and Thomas heire to Richard late Earle of Arundel the residue of his retinue exceeded not twenty launces so that it is hard to judge whether was the greater marvaile either that hee durst attempt or that hee did prevaile with so small a company But his confidence was in the favour and assistance of the people in the Realme Hee for a time did beare up for England but not in a straight course but hulling about the shore making show to land sometimes on one coast sometimes on another thereby to discover what forces were in readinesse either to receive or resist him In the meane time Edmond Duke of Yorke the Kings Vncle and Vicegerent having intelligence of the Duke of Herefords designe Convoked Stafford Bishop of Chichester Lord Chancelor William Scroope Earle of Wiltshire the Lord Treasurer Sir Iohn Bushy Sir Henry Greene Sir William Bagot Sir Iohn Russell and others of the Kings privy Councell and entred into Counsell what was best to be done Where it was concluded deceitfully by some unskilfully by others and by all pernitiously for King Richard to quit the Sea coasts to leave London and to make the randevow at Saint Albones to gather forces to oppose the Duke who was lately landed about the Feast of Saint Martine without any resistance or rub at Ravenspur in Holdernesse whose side was by nothing more advantaged then by that dissembling and deceitfull deliberation of the Kings Councell upon his arrivall Henry Piercy Earle of Northumberland and Henry surnamed Hotspur his sonne the Earle of Westmerland the Lords Nevill Rosse and Willoughby and many other personages of honour came unto him whose accession both increased reputation to their cause and was a great countenance and strength to the Dukes further purposes But first they tooke an oath of him that hee should neither procure nor permit any bodily harme to bee done to King Richard and thereupon they pawnd to the Duke of Hereford their honours to joyne with him in all extremitie to prosecute the Kings mischievous Councellors The Common-people desperate upon new desires head and headlong flocked to these Noblemen The better sort for love to the Common-wealth some upon lenitie and itching desire of change others to repayre their distressed and decayed estates who all setting up their rests upon a generall disturbance were in conceit then most safe when the common state was most unsure So betweene the one and the other the number in short time increased to thirty thousand able souldiers The Duke finding successe to favour him not only beyond expectation but even above his wish Hee followed the chanell whilst the current went strong and cutting off unnecessary delayes with all celeritie he hasted to London that possessing himselfe thereof being the chiefe place within the kingdome for strength and store hee might best there make the seat of Warre and be easiest accommodated with provision and amunition In this expedition no opposition was seene nor hostilitie showne but in his passage the Gentlemen of best ranke and qualitie joyned themselves unto him som for affection others for feare but most in hope of reward after victorie every one though upon causes dislike yet with like ardent desire contending lest any should seeme more forward then they In every place also where hee made stay rich gifts and pleasant devises were presented unto him with large supply of necessaries farre above his necessitie The common people with showtes and acclamations gave their applause extolling the Duke as the only man of courage saluting him King with contumelious termes depraving Richard as a simple and sluggish man a dastard a niddie and altogether unworthy to beare rule without rule rayling at the one and without reason flattering the other The Duke was no niggard of his complement nor negligent of popular behaviour knowing the common people are much delighted with affable gestures accounting that for courtesie which the severer sort reckon abasement At London hee was richly and royally entertained with Processions and Pageants and many triumphant devises and showes and the unable multitude who otherwise could not by their words wishes and wills did testifie their loving affection towards him At which time there appeared not any memory of faith or allegiance to King Richard But as in sedition it alwayes appeareth as the most swayd all went The Duke of Yorke was mustering at Saint Albones for the King But as the people out of divers Countries were drawne thither many of them protested that they would doe nothing to the prejudice of the Duke of Lancaster who they affirmed was unjustly expelled his Country and unlawfully kept from his inheritance Then the Earle of Wiltshire Sir Iohn Bushy Sir William Bagot and Sir Henry Greene forsooke the Duke of Yorke and fled to Bristol intending to passe the Seas iâ—…o Ireland to the King These foure were they that were supposed to have taken of the King his kingdome to farme and therefore were so odious to the people that their presence turned away many of the Subjects hearts Nay it is probable that more for displeasure taken against them then against the King the revolt was enterprised For they being the only men of credit and authoritie with the King under false cover of obedience they wholly governed both the Realme and him abusing his name either against his will or without his knowledge insomuch that hee was cleerely innocent of many things which passed under his Commandement But the people could not indure that two or three should rule all not because they were not sufficient but because they were in favour and they distasted the King in that hee permitted them whom hee might have bridled or to runne without respect at least for that hee was ignorant of that hee should have knowne and by conniving at their faults made them his owne and opened thereby the gappe to his destruction For it is as dangerous to a Prince to have hurtfull hatefull Officers in eminent places as to bee hurtfull and hatefull to himselfe The Duke of Yorke either amazed at the sudden change or fearing his adventure if hee should proceed to resistance gave over the cause and
a meane descent and but a poore scholler in the now but new founded Colledge of Saint Maryes in Oxford at length came to bee Chaplaine there and stepping on by degrees attained to the Deanry of Yorke and finding the ginge of the Court made such use thereof that hee thereby got to bee Lord Treasurer of England And after that Richard the second had banished Thomas Arundel Archbishop of Canterbury the Realme who in Parliament before but minùs justè was attaint of Treason VValden was Consecrate and authorized Archbishop of Canterbury and so for the space of two yeares continued but after a deposall of King Richard Arundell by King Henry was restored and by Pope Boniface Roger was pronounced an intruder who now being Archbishop but without a Bishopricke as afflictions seldome come uncoupled hee was called to account for the Treasurership and though hee produced his quietus est yet were all his temporalties seized and hee imprisoned yet from thence being delivered by the charitable condition of the now Archbishop hee led a private life but then was made Treasurer of Callice and then with great hope of rerising hee was promoted to bee Bishop of London The Duke of Orleans besieged the Townes of Burgh and Bloy in Gascoygne with a great power but after eight weekes siege and the losse of six thousand of his souldiers hee raised his siege and departed The Lord Camoyes being arraigned before the Earle of Kent for that day Lord high Steward upon supposition without ground which some forgetfull persons had accused to have plotted the Kings surprisall by Pirats upon the Thames in a ship whereof he had the charge was by his Peeres acquit and restored to his goods lands offices and the Kings fauour Northumberland and Bardolfe after they had beene in Wales France and Flaunders to raise a power against King Henry returned backe to Scotland where after they had continued a yeare with a great power of Scots and strangers they returned into England recovered divers Castles formerly belonging to the Earle to whom great multitudes of people resorted wherewith they came into Yorkeshire making great spoyle by the way making proclamation That they were come for the comfort of the English and the reliefe of the Common-wealth therefore willed all that desired to retaine their libertie to repaire unto them Sir Thomas Rokesby high Sheriffe of Yorke having leavied the power of the Countie with that only upon Bramham More gave the Rebells battell wherein Northumberland was slaine Bardolfe taken but wounded to death and the rest put to flight This Henry Earle of Northumberland had two Wives the first was Margaret daughter of Ralph Lord Nevill of Raby by whom hee had issue Henry Hotspur slaine as afore Sir Thomas Piercy Sir Ralph Alane that dyed young His second Wife was Maud daughter of Thomas Lord Lucy by whom hee had no issue This yeare a Parliament began in which the Commons preferred a Petition to the King and the upper house therein expressing their desire that the King might have the temporall possessions which the Bishops and Clergie consumed in unnecessary courses the value thereof they pretended would bee sufficient maintenance for one hundred and fiftie Earles one thousand five hundred Knights sixe thousand two hundred Esquires and one hundred Hospitalls for maymed souldiers besides them already erected They craved likewise that the Clerkes convict should not bee delivered to the Bishops prison and that the Statute made in the second yeare of the King against Lollards might bee repealed which â—…avoured of too much curiositie and too little charitie The King upon advised consideration justly distasting their distempered zeale denied their Petitions and in person commanded them upon paine of his indignation from thenceforth not to presume to trouble their braine about any such businesse In this Parliament the King moved in every yeare wherein there was no Parliament kept to have allowed him a tenth of the Clergie and a fifteenth of the Laytie the Bishops assented but the Commons would not agree thereto Sir Robert Vmfrevill the Vice-Admirall of England with tenne men of warre entred the Forts in Scotland lying there fourteene dayes together landing every day on one side or other taking great preyes and doing greater hurt hee burnt the great Gallyot of Scotland and many ships over against Lyeth and carried away with him fourteene tall ships laden with Corne and other Staple commodities which at his returne hee sent to the Markets round about which brought downe the prises of all things and purchased to him the name of Mend-market Hee likewise made a road by land into Scotland and burnt Iedworth and most part of Tiuidale The King Created his sonne Thomas Duke of Clarence his brother Thomas Beufort third sonne of Iohn of Gaunt hee Created Earle of Dorset upon some distaste taken not given against the young Prince whose youthfull carriage was well-neere censured by the graver sort to bee wilde and uncivill the King removed him from the place of President of the Councell and gave it to his third sonne Iohn and giving too much eare to his severer Councellours against the said Prince hee made at least-wise was said to make a misconstruction of all his actions seasoning the same with jealousie that hee ambitiously affected the Crowne and that he would not stay the leisure of time to have it after the Kings death but would use some stratagem though with the losse of his Fathers life to take present possession thereof To feed this suspition all the youthfull actions of the Prince are set on the tentours and exemplified beyond the degree of wildnesse his merriments are termed ryots his company are stiled Swaggerers his behaviour branded with dissolutenesse and his words and gesture dangerous Whereupon a vigilant eye is carried over him and a note taken of all his followers and Fashions The Prince all this while innocent would not seeme though hee had intelligence of thus much to take notice of these passages but continued his sporting merriments with his old companions amongst whom as in all ages some such have beene there were those that would dare and doe many forgetfull prankes the blame whereof still was laid on the Prince his shoulders whose greatnesse was able to countenance their great follyes which hee many times and not unwillingly did undergoe At length being informed that two things were necessary for a Christian to observe Credit and Conscience the one for his acquaintance sake the other for his owne and that hee would bee censured to bee cruell to himselfe if that hee neglected the opinion of others as relying only on the assurance of his owne Conscience hee resolved to give this satisfaction to the world that such as had given his Father intimation of any sinister intention on his part were in an error undeniable hee first by severall Letters of his owne both inditing and writing expostulated with such as hee knew to bee guiltie of doing ill offices
by craftie subtiltie to accomplish first they worke upon the inconstancy of the Duke of Britaine and his Brother Arthure by King Henry the fift Created Earle of Yewry these two by gifts had promises things that blind the eyes of the treasonally minded wife they suborned perfidiously to deliver over into their possession the Castle of Crotoy and Yernye and what the English had wonne by true manhood and valour they stole away with craft and trechery but little to their praise or profit for the English before the garrisons were settled fell upon Crotoy and tooke the prey out of the Leopards jawes and like unkind hosts made them pay too deere a price for their lodgings Crotoy thus regained the Regent straightly begirts Yenrye and by secret myning fierce assaults and violent batteryes so shooke the walls that composition was made to yeeld it up if not relieved by a certaine time The Regent was throughly resolved to set up his rest and to abide battell what forces soever should appeare and thereof permitted the besieged to send notice to the French King The Duke of Alanson thereupon with sixteene thousand French approached but when he perceived the English were ready prepared to receive him according to the French fashion at that time to bragge much and doe little hee wheeled about to Vernoyle whereas perjury is the concomitant of every other sinne hee joyned it to his cowardise swearing to the Townsmen that hee had put the Regent to flight and had beaten him out of the field and reskued Yenrye by this false report hee got Vernoyle Whilst the Regent had Yurye surrendred unto him which being strengthened and furnished hee followed the cowards to their conny-borrough at Vernoyle who by the encouragement of some fresh companies of Scots come unto their succour came to a battell in the field where the English with the losse of two thousand one hundred common souldiers and two of the Nobilitie Lord Dudley and Lord Charleton got the glory of the day and slew of their enemies five Earles two Vicounts and twenty Barons and above seven thousand other of the French besides two thousand seven hundred Scots lately arrived The Duke himselfe with the Bastard of Alanson the Lord of Hormyt and divers other French and Sir Iohn Turnbull and two hundred Gentlemen besides common souldiers were taken prisoners This battell was strooke the twentie eight day of August Vernoyle hereupon without battery or assault upon promise of safetie of life only was delivered and there of Sir PHILIP HALL made Captaine and sufficient garrison left him from thence the Armie marched to Roan and from thence to Paris both which places were at strife which should exceed other in freedome of welcome and loving entertainment to the Regent This overthrow so weakened the new King that hee was enforced to quit the country and went to Poyteers where hee established his high Court of Parliament and laboureth his owne establishment The valiant Earle of Salisbury with ten thousand men taketh in the strong Towne of Maunts the towne of Saint Susan le fort St. Bernard and others from thence hee went into Angeou where hee performed such heroicke acts that his very name grew terrible in all France for instance The new high Constable perfidious Richmond in hope to doe some what to advance the reputation of his new Office with fourty thousand men layeth siege to the good towne of Saint Iames in Bevion the garrison whereof consisted but of six hundred English who being droven to some extremitie bravely I might say desperately at one time sallied forth crying Saint George a Salisbury the French men fearing that they had some token given that Salisbury was come to the reskue or that hee was behind in the Towne with more forces were so suddenly affrighted that the craven cowards casting away their weapons ranne all away saving some few that yeelded themselves prisoners leaving all their tents fourteene peeces of Ordnance fourty barrells of Powder three hundred Pipes of wine two hundred Pipes of Bisket and flower two hundred pieces of Raisins and Figges five hundred barrells of Herrings much Armour and some Treasure At this time Sir Iohn Montgomery and Sir Iohn Falstaffe with two thousand men entred into Ainon and Mayne and tooke the Castles of Beamont Vicount Teune Sillye Osce Courceriers Ronsey Vasike Couetenement and very many others so that it appeareth at that time it was but for the English to aske and have so pittifully were the French Cowde with the Regents prosperitie The French were come to their old course of fraud and had compounded with a Gascoyne Captaine there for the delivery of Alanson to the enemy notice being given hereof the Lord Willoughby and Sir Iohn Falstaffe with two thousand men were sent to spoyle she Market who encountering with the chiefe Merchant Charles de villiers who with two hundred horse and three hundred foot were come to the place appointed for their entry tooke and slew them all except some few horse which saved themselves by flying away The Lord Willoughby with his troopes returned to the Earle of Salisbury who victoriously proceeded taking in and demolishing above fourty Castles and strong piles the newes thereof in England caused publike Processions and generall thanks-giving to God in London and other places Neverthelesse an unkind variance and a jarre betwixt the Protector and the Bishop of Winchester Lord Chancellour arising endangered the quiet of the Common-wealth for the appeasing whereof the Regent having substituted the Earle of Warwicke Lieutenant generall in his absence came into England where a Parliament being convoked hee therein discreetly arbitrated and compounded all differences betwixt the Protector and Winchester and to the comfort of the Councell and content of all stinted the quarrell In honour whereof the King of England kept a solemne feast at which time the Regent dubbed the King Knight who invested with that dignitie many of his servants and Created Richard Sonne of Richard late Earle of Cambridge Duke of Yorke and restored Iohn Mowbray to the Dutchy of Norfolke In the meane time the Earle of Warwicke conquered many strong pieces in Mayne and made preparation to fight a set battell whereunto hee was challenged by the French but they said never the sooner for a hasty word their hearts were in their heeles and in stead of comming on to fight they tooke their flight another way a day before the prefixed time of battell All things peaceably settled in England the regent with the Bishop of Winchester returned into France where at the intercession of the Duke of Burgoyne the Duke of Alanson was ransomed for two hundred thousand Crownes The Bishop of Winchester returned to Callice where hee was invested with the Hat habit and dignitie of a Cardinall I dare not thinke because hee was a Clergie man that hee ambitiously affected or otherwise contracted for that place But the advantage of a Bull from the Pope was
Warwicke and Salisbury who all three present themselves upon their knees before him making humble petition unto him for pardon for what was past for now since that the common enemy was slaine they had what they aimed at to whom the King throughly affrighted said Let there be no more killing then and I will doe what you will have me The Duke therefore in the Kings name commands a surcease from further hostilitie and so comforting the King in what hee could with good words hee went to take order for the quartering his men This first battell of Saint Albones was fought upon the three and twentieth day of May in the three and thirtieth yeare of King Henryes raigne The bodyes of the Noble men the Duke of Somerset the Earle of Northumberland and the Lord Clifford were buried in the Chappell there Had it not beene Somersets unhappinesse to stand in the eye of Yorke or to live in that age when all actions were accounted of according to the event This Somerset might have beene ranked amongst the best Commanders of those times but his ambition at first crost Yorke in all his designes so Yorkes malice at the last did him a courtesie before the calamities of this kingdome were swolne to their full extent Hee married Elianor one of the Daughters and heire of Richard Beachamp Earle of Warwicke and had issue by her foure Sons and five Daughters Henry who succeeded him in the Dukedome Edmond who succeeded his brother therein Iohn and Thomas Elianor his eldest Daughter was first married to Iames Earle of Wiltshire and after to Sir Robert Spencer 2. Ioane was married to the Lord Hoth of Ireland and after to Sir Richard Fry Knight 3. Anne was married to Sir William Paston Knight Margaret was first married to Humphry Earle of Stafford and after to Sir Richard Dorrel Knight and Elizabeth was married to Sir Henry Lewis all which to the last breath continued firme and faithfull to the Lancastrian Familie Henry Lord Piercy Earle of Northumberland now slaine married Elianor Daughter of Ralph Nevill first Earle of Westmerland and had issue Henry that did succeed him in the Earledome Thomas Lord Egrimond William Bishop of Carlile Anne married to Thomas Lord Hungerford Katherine was Wife to Edmond Gray Earle of Kent and Elizabeth married to Thomas Lord Clifford Humphry Earle of Stafford married Margaret Sister and coheire of Edmond Bewford Duke of Somerset who had issue Henry Stafford who succeeded his Grandfather in the Dukedome of Buckingham The Duke of Yorke with all befitting complements conveyeth the King to London where they keepe the Feast of Pentecost together and in the mean time a Parliament is summoned at Westminster to begin the ninth day of Iuly whither the King commeth and there it is enacted that the late Duke of Glocester should bee declared publickly a loyall subject both to the King and Realme and that none should misreport or dispute the actions of the Duke of Yorke or any in his company For that they had like good subjects enterprised nothing but what was for the Kings safety In this Parliament the Duke of Yorke is made Protector of the Kings royall Person and of the Realme the Earle of Salisbury Lord Chancelour and the Earle of Warwicke Captaine of Callice The former two have the administration of all civill government of the Common-weale at home and upon the third is conferred the disposing of all Militarie affaires abroad Their demeanours in their severall places were judged unblameable for with that respective moderation and orderly proceedings they managed their affaires That they shewed no injustice used no bribery exercised no oppression but practised indifferencie to poore and rich to their great commendation But all this while the high spirited Queene cannot but distaste their proceedings shee puts the Duke of Buckingham in mind as though his revenge were slow and sleepie that tâ—…se traitours had slaine that noble Gentleman and hopefull sonne of his at Saint Albones shee tells the now Duke of Somerset that there his deere Father fell and both retort to the Queene the unsufferable indignity done to her in making her Husband a Whitsontide lord only a King in name whilst the Duke of Yorke and his complices must manage all what needs spurres to willing mindes or provocations to rage thorowly incensed all are apt enough to revenge But the curst Cow hath short hornes envy must invent and malice execute the course of revenge a womans wit througly stung with disgrace and vily stird with despight cannot long bee undelivered of some plot to doe mischiefe All the enemies of the Yorke faction for now the divell began to deale his almes and to make a faction are assembled by the Queene at Greenwitch where it is amongst them debated what course is fittest to bee used for restitution of the King to his pristine liberty and government at length it is concluded that the Protector should bee commanded to leave off his place of Protectorship and the Earle of Salisbury his Chancelours place the one in respect the King was of yeares and discretion sufficient without a Tutor or Guardian to rule and raigne and therefore a Protectors place needlesse and the Earle of Salisbury to surrender his title of being Lord Chancelour for that the great Seale was never delivered unto him and that that which was now used was made since the Kings restraint of liberty and so not sufficient The Kings easie yeelding condition is quickly wrought upon to countenance their proceedings against the Duke and Earle and thereupon in his name they are both discharged from their offices and summoned to appeare at the Councell table at Greenwitch whither if they had beene so forgetfull as to have gone they had been entrapped but they better advised returned answer That none had power either to displace them or command their appearance in any place but in Parliament and so they continued about London placing their friends and fautours in all places of government and displacing others whom they either not affected or had cause to suspect and with a triumvirate authoritie they tooke Iohn Holland Earle of Exceter out of the Sanctuary and sent him prisoner to Pomfret Castle These proceedings gave occasion to the licentious Commons to take hold of any occasion for a commotion And thereupon an Italian Merchant being by a Mercers apprentice reprehended for wearing a dagger contrary to the lawes of their owne countrey gave disdainfull speeches which moved the English man to take his dagger from him and to breake it over his coxcombe hereof the Merchant complaineth to the Maior the Mercer is convented and committed the Maior in his returne is met by divers terming themselves Prentices that would not bee perswaded to depart untill the Mercer was sent for out of Newgate who now being at libertie drawes divers willing enough of themselves to goe to spoile the strangers about London and ransacke their houses wherewith like furious mad bedlam men they
rifled and robbed the outlandish Merchants in all places of the Citie doing them much mischiefe and committing many outrages The Maior to suppresse these enormous courses assembleth a company of honest and substantiall Citizens who with good discretion but not without some blood-shed appeased their rage and quieted the many whilst the ringleader which more for revenge of his commitment to Newgate then any desire to enrich himselfe with their spoile got himselfe to Westminster and there taketh Sanctuary The Councell being advertised of this misdemeanour sent the Duke of Buckingham by the Qeenes direction with Commission to enquire and punish these offences But when the Maior and the Commissioners were set tidings came that tâ—… Commons were up in armes to stop all proceedings against any of those offenders the Commissioners thereupon well knowing how distastfull their Commission would bee to the multitude when thereby the Maiors power should be abridged and the government of the Citie questioned departed and left the businesse to bee proceeded in by the Maior and his Brethren who with great care and much industry so managed things that many of the offenders were punished some by death others by fines and imprisonment and all things quieted and well ordered The French in this time of uncivill dissentions manned out two Fleetes whereof one under the conduct of William Lord Pomyers the other of Sir Peter Bressy went Eastward and Westward the Lord fell upon Fulnay and burning certaine houses soone retyred the Knight spoyled Sandwich the people for feare of the plague which mightily raged there being fled from thence but with no great booty or harme done returned The Scots under colour and countenance of their Kings presence came into Northumberland burning and spoyling the Borders but hearing of the Duke of Yorkes approach retired Thomas Piercy Lord Egremond one of the younger sonnes of the Earle of Northumberland had a great conflict with the Earle of Salisburies Sonnes in which many were slaine But the Lord was taken and brought before the Councell by whom hee was committed to Newgate and deeply fined but hee escaped with many other prisoners to the great trouble of the Sheriffs of London Whilst the Duke of Yorke was absent for repelling the rebellious Scots in the North the King went to Greenwitch to the Queene who perswaded him for his health and recreation as she alleaged but her drift was for that shee found by experience that the Duke of Yorke was more favoured and his favourites respected about London then either shee or the King so that it was in vaine to attempt any thing against him there yet something must be done against him or else she should be undone to take his Progresse Northward into Warwickshire which he did by the way hawking hunting the Queen making shew of minding nothing but pastimes had caused private Letters under the Kings privie signet in most loving termes to be sent unto the three Lords whereby they-were earnestly solicited by an houre appointed to be at Coventry which they reverently intended But by the way they have true information of the mischiefe plotted against them and so warily by flight but not without some danger escaped for they causing their stewards with their retinue to goe forward on the way to the Court whilst the Duke of Yorke but with a groome and a Page sped him to Wigmore Castle The Earle of Salisbury to his Castle of Middilham in the North And the Earle of Warwicke to the Sea-side and so to Callice but before they departed they agreed upon an alphabet by which they might have entercourse of letters which though intercepted yet their intentions might be kept vndiscovered The King unwitting of this intended mischiefe against the Duke of Yorke and his friends returneth to London whither he calleth a Councell And therein of his owne accord desireth some course to be invented for the banishing of Rancour and malice out of the hearts of his nobilitie and to the end he might have the glory of the reconcilment though themselues the good he promised on his salvation a thing unusuall with him so to assevere so to entertaine the Duke of Yorke and his friends that all discontents and injuries should be outwardly respectively forgotten and inwardly religiously forgiven and perpetuall love and amitie on all parties established to this end Messengers are dispatched to the Duke of Yorke and all other of what ranke soever worthy notice to be taken of which since the battaile of Saint Albones had expressed themselues to be displeased on either part Commanding them for vrgent affaires of the realme and upon royall promise of safe conduct to repaire to his Court at London at a time appointed The Duke of Yorke having intimated to his confederates his resolution and given them admonition to provide for prevention of the wrong observantly came and with foure hundred men well appointed lodged at his house called Baynards Castle The Earle of Salisbury with fivehundred men likewise lodged at his house called the herbor the Dukes of Exceter lately released and Somerset with eight hundred men were lodged without Temple-barre The Earle of Northumberland the Lord Egrimond and the Lord Clifford with fifteene hundred men were lodged in Holborne the Earle of Warwicke with sixe hundred in red Iackets with ragged staves embrodered behind and before were lodged at the Gray-Friers in London upon the seventeenth of March the King and Queene came to London and were lodged at the Bishops pallace The Maior like a provident Magistrate Commanded every Alderman in his Aldermanry to keepe a standing watch in armes both by day and night himfelfe having five thousand well appointed men in readinesse upon any occasion rode with a competent number all day long round the City for preservation of the Kings peace on all sides The Lords lodging within the Citie held their Councell at Black-friers the others at the Chapter house at Westminster Betweene both the reverent Archbishop of Canterbury the sonne of Henry Bourchyer Earle of Essex a man every way Compleat without exception with some such prelates of whose modest condition and learning he had made experience did diligently intercede and so effectually laboured that both sides by his mediation were well contented to come to Communication the good successe whereof was good for that after much conference the wisedome of the indifferent being such that all repetitions of wrongs on either side done should be forborne it was finally concluded that all wrongs iniuries and misdemenors on every side should be forgotten and forgiven that each side should be friends to the other and both be obedient to the Commandes of the King And by their further consent the Duke of Yorke the Earle of Salisbury and the Earle of Warwicke should assure forty five poundes per annoum to the Abby of Saint Albones for obites and ceremonions suffrages of the Church at that time usuall for the benefit of the soules of all such as were
newes of these proceedings set wide open the gates of the rebellion gave courage to the Northamptonshire men who prepared before to that purpose tooke this opportunity to make a commotion under the conduct of one Robert Hiliard by them stiled Robert of Risdate came to Grafton and there tooke the Queenes father Earle Rivers and his Son Sir Iohn VVoodvile and at Northampton without trial or judgement courses out of use amongst unruly rebells caused them to be beheaded Richard Woddevile Baron of Wymington married Iaquiet daughter of the Earle S. Pauls the widdow of Iohn Duke of Bedford for which not having the kings license he was fined to K. Henry the sixt in one thousand pounds he was installed knight of the Garter 30. Octob. Anno. H. 6. 28. And 4. of K. Ed. 4. he was created Earle Rivers made high Constable of England he had issue by the said Iaquet 7. sons and 6. daughters 1 Anthony that succeeded his father 2. Lewis dyed young 3 Iames dyed young 4 Iohn with his father taken at Edgcote and with him beheaded at Northampton as afore 5 Lionell Bishop of Salisbury that begat upon his Concubine Stephen Gardner afterwards Bishop of VVinton 6 Edward who died without issue 7. Richard that succeeded his brother Anthony in the Earldome but dying without issue left it to his sisters all living 1 Elizabeth at first married to Sir Iohn Gray of Groby and afterward to Edward the fourth 2 Margaret married to Thomas Fitzallan Earle of Arundel 3 Anne married to William Burcher sonne of Henry Earle of Essex first and after to George Gray Earle of Kent then to Sir Edw. Wingfield knight 4 Iaquet was married to Iohn Lord Strange of Knocking 5 Mary was married to William Harbert Earle of Huntington and 6 Katherine first married to Henry Stafford second Duke of Buckingham and then to Iasper of Hatfield Duke of Bedford The Lord Stafford having long lurked without discouery about Devonshire is apprehended for his base departure from the Earle of Pembrook beheaded at Bridgwater The Northerne men haue opportunitie to joyne with the Earle of Warwicke The whole body of the common-wealth thus fearefully groning under the fearefull expectation of unchristian cruelty The effects whereof divers of the nobility Clergy endevored by all means possible to prevent to that end on both sides mediated for some pacification But whilst it is in agitation both parts having drawne their forces together a generall preparation is made for an unauoydable banquet for death whilst King Edward the lesse circumspect by reason of some overtures of submission Cautelously tendred gave advantage to the Earle of Warwick who had secret intelligence of the order in the Kings camp in the dead of the night to fall upon it where with some small slaughter having slaine the sentinells they tooke the king prisoner in his bedwho was presently conveied to Midleham Castle in Yorkeshire to be kept safely by the Archbishop of Yorke The Earle of Warwicke relying vpon his brothers care of his charge considering that he was the Key of their worke And being perswaded that the brunt of the warres was past dismist most of his army but as one that reckoned without his host must make a new account so to that exigent he was driven For whilst he made search and diligent enquiry after King Henry whose place of imprisonment was not knowne King Edward escaped but whether by over-great promises seduced or through guilt of Conscience induced thereunto it is questionable But howsoever The Archbishop permitted him to have so much liberty by way of recreation on hunting that by the contrivement and assistance of Sir William Stanly and Sir Thomas Burgh he was both rescued from his keepers and in safty conducted to Yorke such is the instabilitie of occurrences in this world That therein is certaintie of nothing but incertaintie the secrets of Gods providence being inscrutable King Edward that in the morning was a prisoner at the Earle of VVarwicks devotion is now at liberty to provide how to question his mitred keeper and his late triumphant committer for their undutifull presumption From Yorke he posteth to Lancaster where his Chamberlaine the Lord Hastings had raised some forces with those he marcheth to London the love of whose Citizens he mainly relied upon and thereof found himselfe not deceived for they with willing readinesse receive him The Earle of VVarwick having information of what was past makes a vertue of necessitie and dispatches letters and Messengers to all his friends and confederates to draw to an head which they accordingly did But by the earnest solicitation and industry of those good patriots which before had laboured to have the sword of civill dissention sheathed Now an interview Vpon interchange of oathes for safety and faire returne on both sides is had betwixt the king the Duke of Clarence and the Earle of VVarwicke in VVestminster-Hall But the Earle like one endevoring to infect the ayre takes poyson into his mouth and spits it into the wind makes repetition of former courtesies done to Edward and for requitall thereof indignities returned which with such peremptory phrase he urged that they savoured so much of exprobration that the King unable to endure such harsh ill-becomming language from a subject in a scornefull fury departed the Hall and went to Canterbury And the Duke and Earle to Lincolne whither they had preappointed their powers to repayre under the conduct of Sir Robert VVells sonne and heire of the Lord VVells a valiant Gentleman and of approved sufficiency The King with intent to take off Sir Robert from VVarwicks part sends for Richard Lord VVells who with his brother in Law Sir Thomas Dymock comming to attend the kings pleasure received information from some of their friends in Court that the King was much incensed against them whereupon they take Sanctuary at VVestminster From whence upon the kings promise of generall pardon they came to his presence who gave command to the Lord VVells effectually by letter to solicite his son Sir Robert VVells to leave the Earle of VVarwick come to the kings service which was accordingly done but because it procured not desired effect the king not without blemish to his Honor in his rage caused both their heads to be strooke off The report wherof so enraged the young knight that no perswasion could prevaile with him to abide the Earle of VVarwicks cōming which was every day expected but passion having blinded his judgement led on by fury the inevitablenes of his fate he with his forces charged the kings army And whilest he laboured to go beyond man in doing his valour not checkt by discretion he proves lesse then a sucking child and for sinking under an oppressing multitude he was taken prisoner which so discouraged his men that they fled and the lighter to runne away they cast of their coates And thereby gave a name unto the place from whence
sober looke submisly said If the Queene have conspired which word was no sooner out of the Chamberlaines mouth when the Protector in great show of choler clapping his fist upon the borde frowning looking upon him said tellest thou mee of if and and I tell thee they and none but they have done it and thou thy selfe art not only acquainted with but partaker of the villany and that I will make good upon thy body And there with upon a watch-word given those prepared before for that purpose in the outer chamber cryed Treason treason wherewith a great number of men in arms came rushing in as it were the guard to the Protector one of which with a Pollax strooke a maine blow at the Lord Strange and wounded him on the head and had slaine him outright had bee not to avoid the stroke slipt backward and falne downe upon the ground Forthwith the Protector arrested the Lord Hastings of high Treason and wisht him to make hast to bee Confessed for hee sware by Saint Paul his usuall oath That hee would not touch bread or drinke untill hee had his head from his shoulders Hastings calling to mind his last nights dreames his solicitations that morning by his sweet Mistris from either trusting the Bore or that day to bee at the Councell borde the speeches that had past betwixt the Lord Stanley and him in riding together and the ominous predictions of ill speed by the often stumbling of his horse and such old peoples observations hee was easily perswaded to give credit to what the Protector had sworne yet being about to say somewhat hee was presently hurried away and lest hee should have beene too long at shrift or therein might discover what hee knew which though it were not much yet it was more then the Protector would have willingly knowne lest the world might bee acquainted with his villany he was upon the next Timber-log they were at though layd there for a better use beheaded on the greene neere the Chappell of the Tower So absolute was the Protectors progresse in policy that incited Hastings on to plot the death of Earle Rivers the Lord Gray and the rest of the Queenes kinred at Pomfret on the same day whereon Buckingham by the like traine had plotted to make him headlesse And that there might seeme some ground for what was done The Lords grace of Canterbury the Bishop of Ely the Lord Stanley and divers others were presently clapt Prisoners in sundry holds of the Tower And for a further colourable glosse of this so plaine a text Divers Citizens of London prepared before to give credit to whatsoever rumour should bee set abroach are sent for with all speed to come with what forces and power they could drawe together to the Tower to the Protector who is pretended and so it was generally bruited abroad assoone as ever the Lords were entred within the Tower gates to bee in great jeopardie occasioned by a plot of treason contrived against him by the late Lord Chamberlaine and others his complices And to countenance the rumour somewhat the more at the approach of such friends whom the Protector had sent for and who to purchase his custome or procure his countenance would goe beyond the losse of a limme hee together with the Duke of Buckingham covered in rustie and unfashionable armour present themselves to their view pretending the hast and the appropinquitie of the perill would not permit them to stay for provision of better And then with a counterfeit show of great perturbation the Protector told them How the Lord Hastings by the contrivance and instigation of his late Brothers Wife and Concubine Iane Shore had well-nie entrapped my good cousin pointing to Buckingham and my selfe for suddenly they resolved to have destroyed vs as wee sate at Councell table this morning and notwithstanding the happy discovery thereof yet the uncertainty of the number or qualitie of the confederates enforced us to prevent the mischiefe and preserve the King who what the Traitours intended against him was uncertaine in safetie to runne an unusuall but no unlawfull course against the said Lord Hastings considering the necessitie of the time and their so eminent danger And without orderly Triall which as now was needlesse in regard hee was taken in the manner and presumed to have beene reskued if execution had beene deferred instantly to have him beheaded Then the Protector heartily thanked the Londoners great love and paines whereby they did expresse their readinesse to bring him succour so opportunely desiring them to acquaint their neighbours with what had passed and so dismissed them but with them sent an Harrold at armes with a Proclamation which for the length and faire writing in a set hand in Parchment to all of judgement did appeare to bee prepared long before the intimated offences against the Lord Hastings therein so fully expressed were either knowne or suspected This Proclamation in the Kings name was publikely made the Maior and the Sheriffs present in all places usuall wherewith howsoever the vulgar seemed satisfied which seldome understand the truth of State matters and are carried away more with opinion then judgement yet those of more understanding did not forbeare publikely to say that the Proclamation was dictated by divination and ingrossed by sorcery Presently upon this Jane Shores lodgings are searched narrowly and ransacked throughly and to the valew of three thousand Markes in Iewells Plate Money and houshold-stuffe and all that ever shee had seized to the Kings use and put under safe custodie shee her selfe is committed to straight Prison The crime laid to her charge was witchcraft pretended to bee wrought against the Protectors person which when neither by subordination suggestion testimonie colour or inference could bee made good against her yet that somewhat might bee done that might bee a meanes to make her obnoxious to the tongues of the multitude The staine of incontinence is laid to her charge and for that only by the Bishop of Londons Officiall shee is adjudged to open penance which shee underwent with that deportment and well-becomming countenance that it strooke malice blind and drew pitie from all the beholders so that they that hated her course of former life and were well pleased to see vice â—…o corrected tooke commiseration of her punishment when they had considered that it was procured by the Protector more upon old malice then new matter rather to worke his private revenge then her reformation But this thus done was left to bee the subject of the peoples discourse as but the bye The maine was of more consequence which must carefully bee expedited During these transactions all the Nobilitie that were at libertie were suspicious one of another and few or none could imagine any 〈◊〉 grounds for suspect being altogether ignorant of what the Protector aymed at In the meane time hee with glozing termes sprinkled Court holy-water amongst all and secret promises of preferment to those whose power and will to
1384. R. 6. A subsidy demanded and denyed Commissioners appointed to receive the Susibdie The Lord Treasurer removed by Parliament Ann. 1386 R. 6. Anno. Dom. 1387. R. 9. An. 1387. R. 9. The King accompanieth the Duke of Ireland towards Wales A good office of the Bishop of London The Bishops sent to the Barons Ann. 1388 R. 10. The Lord Chancellors speech to the Lords Ann. D. 13â—… R. 10. Proceeding in the Parliament against Favourites The modesty of the Earle of Darby An oath exacted from the King An. 1389. R. 11. An. 1390. An expedition into Barbary Ann. 1392 R. 14. The priviledges of London seized into the Kings hands are abridged and part restored An. 1393. R. 15. An intervenew between the Kings of Fraâ—…ce and England An. 1396. Reg. 18. The Earle of Saint Pauls advise to the King Ann. 1396 R. 18. The Duke of Glocester betrayed Glocester murthered not executed The Earle of Arundel supposed a martyr An. 1398. Reg. 21. 5. Dukes created Ann. 1397 R. 21. Herefords complaint of the government to Norfolke An. 1397. R. 22. An. 1398. Reg. 22. 1. 2. 3. Ann. 1398 R. 22. An. 1399. R. 23. Archbish. Arundels speech to Henry Earle Henries answer The Duke of Hereford setteth forward The Duke of Hereford landeth in Holdernesse The Duke of Heref. sworne not to doe or suffer any violence to bee done to King Richard The Duke of Herefard entreth into Councell at London Warre proclaimed against King Richard Lancasters Oration The Lord Treasurer pursued to Bristoll The Treasurer with Sir Iohn Bushye surprised in Bristol Castle and afterwards executed The Sons of the Duke of Glocester and Lancaster imprisoned in Trim Castle in Ireland King Richard arriveth at Milford Haven Discouraged His Councellors disagree Lancaster marcheth towards the King The Lord Steward dissolveth the Kings houshold King Richard expostulateth with himself Consulteth with his followers A Parliament summoned by the Duke in the Kings name King Richards speech Lancasters easie conquest A fainâ—…d Title D. Lancaster layeth his claime to the Crowne The Duke of Lancaster accepted for King The Commissioners acquaint King Richard with the resolution of the House Edward the fourth crowned Ann. 1399 R. 1. The Bishop of Carliles Oration Deut. 17. 12. Rom. 13. 12. Sap. 6. Ann. 1399 R. 2. The Bishop committed Nobles degraded of then Titles Officers removed Ann. 1400 Reg. 2. Burbon soliciteth the inhabitants of Guyan to revolt The Earle of Worcester sent to Guyan The Abbot of Westminsters proceedings The Duke of Exceters perswasions to rebell The Conspirators plot The Duke of Yorkes speech to his Son The Duke of Aumerle discovereth the Conspiracy The King leaveth Windsor The Maior of London furnisheth King Henry with Archers Queen Isabels womanish course The Inhabitants of Ciceter assault the conspirators An. 1401. R. 2. An. 1401. R. 3. An. 1403. R. 3. The King married An. 1403. R. 3. An 1â—… 04. R. 4. A byting Subsidie Archiepisc. Parker fol. 257. In regist Simonis Larg fol. 12. Fox Martir fo 1100. Godwyn fol. 184. Continuator histo Ranulphi Antiquitates Britt fol. 257 Vbi supra Stowe 562. Isa. Worke fo 90. In the Colledge Libraty Ann. 1404 Reg. 5. The French Kings brothers challenge The French attempt Dartmouth and are repulsed The Kings third sonne with some forces land at Sluice Three Carricks of Genoa taken Northumberland and others with him rebell The Archbi Yorke perswades the people to rise against the King Westmerland circumvents the Archbish. of Yorke He is beheaded at Yorke Northumberland his partakers proclaimed Traytours Anno 1408. The Prince of Scotland taken prisoner and sent to the Tower 1408. An. 1408. R. 9. The Lord Camoys arraigned for treason is acquit by his Peetes 1408. 1410. A Petition by the Commons against the Bishops Meanes to maintaine Earles 150 Knights 1500 Esquires 6200. and an hundred Hospitalls of new to bee erected Sir Robert Vmphrevill tearmed Mend-market An. 1411. R. 11. The Prince of Wales removed from being President of the Councell From hence was the honorable ornament of the coller of S. S. worne by these in eminent places in remembrance of this Princes reconcilement to his Father devised The Prince presents himselfe to the King The King Prince reconciled The King having taken upon him the Crusado prepareth accordingly The death of Henry the fourth An. 1412. R. 12. 1. 2. 3. An. 1412. R. 13. 4. 2. Daughters Ann. 1413 R. 1. King Henry taketh leave of his antient companions The forwardnesse of the Nobilitie to tender their homage The Lord Oldcastle convented Oldcastle escapeth out of the Tower Ann. D. 1414 R. 1. Punishment of treason and heresie Ann. 1414 Reg. 1. An. 1414. R. 2. Motives for the King to lay claime to the Crowne of France Embassadors sent into France Embassadors sent to the Councell at Constance The King armes in France Harstew besieged Harstew taken The Peasants assayled King Henry Pro recuperatione sigilli sui The order of the battell of the French The Duke of Yorke leads the English Voward The beginning of the sight The disorder of the French The English having rowted the van charge the battaile of the French The French submit An. 1415. R. 3. Edward Plantagenet Duke of Yorke maried Philip daughter and coheire of Iohn Mahun Lord of Dunster but dyed without issue Michael de la Poolâ—… Earle of Suffolke died without issue also Ann. 1416 R. 4. The Duke of Glocester entertaineth the Emperour at Dover Harstew besieged by the French Relieved by the Duke of Bedford Penancâ—… done King Henry accompanieth the Emperour to Callice The Duke of Bedford made Regent The Earle of Huntingtons fortune at Sea Cane taken Boyeux taken The Kings good pollicie to allure the French Courfey Castle yeelded An. 1418. R. 4. Sees submits to K. Henry Falays taken 1418. A great storme 6. Reg. Ann. 1416 Reg. 6. Captaines made over severall places The Dolphin and Duke of Burgoigne reconciled Eureux besieged Loveirs besieged and rendred An. 1418. R. 6. New inventions for passage over waters Roane besieged The English Navy passeth the river The good service of the Irish. King Henryes charitie Ann. 1418 R. 9. Roane comes to composition Surrendred An Overture for an interview crossed by the Dolphins default An. 1419. R. 7. A Conspiracie in Roane discovered Ponthoys surprised by the English The English army severed into three parts French Embassadours sent to King Henry An. 1420. R. 8. King Henry sends to the Duke of Burgoyne King Henry giveth meeting at Troyes to the Queen King Henry affianced to the Lady Katherine The Duke of Burgoynes oath The Articles of agreement certified A League with the Duke of Burgoyne The creation of Garter principall King of armes The ratification of the agreement layed up in the Treasury at Westminster An. 1421. R. 9. Queene Katherine Crowned King Henryes Pietie The Duke of Clarence betrayed Robert Vmphrevile here slaine was both Earle of Argus and Kime 1421. A Parliament at Westminster King Henry returnes to France Dreux
Iustice of the Kings bench Belknapp chiefe Iustice of the Cōmon pleace Holt Stil◅urpe Burgh Iustices of the Cōmon-pleas men learned in Court-law to please those in highest place these were charged upon their alleageance particularly to answer these propositions 1. Whether the Statute Ordinance and Commission meaning that granted against the Duke of Suffolke set out the last Parliament did derogate from the royall prerogative of the King 2. How they were to bee punished that did procure that Statute to bee inacted 3. How they were to bee dealt with that provoked the King to consent thereto 4. What punishment did they deserve that compelled the King to yeeld consent 5. What did they merit that resisted the King to exercise his regall authoritie in remitting or releasing any penalties or debts due to him 6. When a Parliament is assembled and the affaires of the State and cause of convoking the Parliament declared and Articles limited by the King upon which only the Lords and Commons should meddle the Lords and Commons will proceed upon other and not those by the King appointed untill the King hath given answer to the other by them propounded whether in this case the King ought to have the rule of the Parliament and so to order the fact that the Lords and Commons upon the Articles limited by the King or that they should first have answer of the King to the Articles by them propounded before they proceed any further 7. Whether may the King at his pleasure dissolve the Parliament and command the Lords and Commons to depart 8. Since the King may at his pleasure remove any Officers and Iustices and punish them for their offences whether may the Lords and Commons without his leave accuse his Officers and Iustices in Parliament yea or no 9. What punishment have they deserved who moved a Parliament that the statute whereby King Edward Carnarvon was deposed should be brought forth by view whereof the last Statute and Commission aforesaid were framed 10. Whether the judgement given in the last Parliament against Michael de la Poole Earle of Suffolke were erroneous and revocable yea or no These propositions which were drawne by the direction of the chiefe Iustice Tresilian to which the afornamed Iustices answer as followeth 1. They did derogate from the Honour of the King because extorted against his will 2. 3. That they deserved to bee punished by death except the King in mercy would remit 4. 5. Worthy to bee punished as Traytours 6. Whosoever resisteth the Kings rule in that point was punishable as a Traytour 7. That the King may at his pleasure dissolve the Parliament and who so afterwards shall presume to proceed against the Kings manifest will as in a Parliament is worthy the punishment of a Traytor 8. That they cannot whosoever doth the contrary deserveth a Traytors punishment 9. Aswell the mover as the bringer of that Statute to the house are worthy the same death 10. And lastly that the said judgement seemed erronious and revocable In witnesse whereof they with Iohn Lockton the Kings Sergeant at Law subscribed and so under their Seales at armes sent it When those hard sentences of death and treason were under generall and large termes thus fastened upon the Lords the King supposed his attempts against them whether by violence or colour of Law sufficiently warranted but his power both wayes as it was terrible against weake resisters so against such mighty defendants was of small force to effect that which he so much affected yet hee did not omit his best endevours and first accounting the Lords as condemned persons hee made division of their lands and goods amongst those he favoured Then hee waged souldiers to bee in readinesse for his assistance and sent the Earle of Northumberland to arrest the Earle of Arundell at his Castle in Rygate where hee then lay but he either upon advertisement or suspition of the Kings intent bandied himselfe so strong that when the Earle of Northumberland came thither to him hee dissembled his intent and left his errand untold The Duke of Gloucester having secret intelligence of the Kings displeasure and of his projects sent the Bishop of London to perswade the King to entertaine a more favourable opinion of him solemnly swearing unto the Bishop that hee never intended any thing against the King either in person or state The Bishop not unskilfull to joyne profitable perswasions with honesty declared to the King that the ground of his displeasure against the Lords was either by false suggestions of their enemies or misconstruction of some of their actions by himselfe Then declared hee how desirous they were of his grace and favour how faithfull and forward they promised to persist in all dutifull service and further intimated how honourable this agreement would bee to the King and how profitable to the kingdome nay which was above both how pleasing it would bee to God and how displeasing to him and dangerous it would be to both sides if these troubles should increase The King by this speech seemed inclinable to attonement But Delapoole a turbulent person against quiet counsell standing neere the King quickly hardned his minde against all impression of friendship by meanes whereof contention arose betwixt the Bishop and the Earle which violently broke out into heate of words The Earle reproched the Lords with the ordinary objection against great men popularitie and ambition sparing no spight of speech but using all rethoricke to aggravate matters against them The Bishop replyed the Earle was thus fiercely bent not upon any necessity of his owne or respect unto the King but only to satisfie his bloody and ambitious humour wherein he was so immoderate that rather then the Lords should not be destroyed he would overwhelme them with the ruines of the State For tumults might bee indeed raysed by men of little courage like himselfe but must bee maintayned by hazard and ended with the losse of the most violent that neither his counsell against what was desired in this cause was to bee followed being the principall firebrand of the disturbance nor his complaints against any man in any thing to bee regarded being himselfe a condemned person and one that held his life and livelihood of the Kings favourable mercy wherewith the King was so exceedingly wroth that hee commanded the Bishop out of his presence The Duke of Gloucester hearing this signifies the danger to the Earles of Arundel Warwicke and Darby inciting them to armes and thereupon they confederate themselves for a common defence For in so doubtfull and suspected peace open warre said they was the better safety The King having intelligence of their courses indevoured to prevent the Lords in joyning their forces and to that end sent some power either to set upon the Earle of Arundel in his lodging or to intercept him in his passage to the Duke But the Earle had marched all night before their comming and so unencountred came to the Duke with whom
hee found the Earles with a sufficient company aswell to make an attempt as to stand upon resistance This much distracted the King being now in choice either to relent or resist much disdayning the one and distrusting the other his followers also were divided in counsell some fretting at the disgrace others fainting at the danger The Archbishop of Yorke perswaded with the King that occasion was now offered to shew himselfe a King indeed If hee would rayse a royall army and by maine might beat downe the boldnesse of their presumption This was more readily advised then done saith another The adversaries army is mightie the Commanders are great men both for courage and skill and greatly favoured by the Commons whereby that which is accounted so ready pay may prove a desperate debt Therefore it were better with some show of yeelding to enter into conditions of quiet then by standing upon too nice punctilioes of Honor to hazard the doubtfull event of battaile wherein the King cannot joyne but by his weakning nor loose without danger of his undoing There was present old Sir Hugh Linne a good souldier but a shuttle braine of whom the King in merriment demanded in this case what was as hee thought fittest to bee done Sir Hugh swore blood and wounds let us charge home and kill every mothers sonne and so wee shall make quicke dispatch of the best friends you have in the kingdome this giddy answer more wayed with the King then if it had beene spoken in grave and sober sort And thus it often happeneth that wise counsell is more sweetly followed when it is tempered with folly and earnest is the lesse offensive if it bee delivered in jest In the end the raysing of armes is layd aside not as displeasing being so agreeable to former proceeding but as despayring to prevaile thereby The Archbishop of Canterbury with the Bishop of Ely Lord Chancellor were sent unto the Lords to understand the cause of their assembly Answer was made that it was for the safety of themselves the honour of the King and the overthrow of those that sought destruction of both but by the mediation of the Bishop it was concluded that the Lords should come before the King at Westminster upon caution of his protection and there have publike audience concerning their grievances The Bishop of Ely giving private promise faithfully to discover any danger hee could descry who accordingly gave notice or little before the Lords appointed to come of an awaite that was purposed for their entrapping at the place called the Mewes neere London advised them either to make stay or to come provided but rather to make stay then to come forward lest further provocation might make reconciliation more difficult Whereupon they came not at the time appointed The King marvelling at their faylance demanded of the Bishop of Ely the cause who boldly answered that the Lords found want of true meaning and that they neither did nor durst repose assurance in the Kings words which they apparantly saw was but a meanes to ensnare them The King made the matter very strange unto him protesting that hee was free from deceit both in consent and knowledge and presently gave command to the Sheriffes of London to goe to that place and to slay or take all such as they fonnd there in waite whether this was but a countenance of his or whether hee was not privie to the practice it is not assuredly knowne but the matter was not false but the place mistaken For Sir Thomas Tryvet and Sir Nicholas Bramber had assembled divers armed men at Westminster to assault the Lords at their best advantage but perceiving the discovery of their plot they secretly dissolved their company and sent them away Then the Lords upon new faith for their securitie came to the King to Westminster but brought a guard with them so many as in a place where they were entirely favoured was able to defend them from any sudden defeate The King upon their comming entred into Westminster great Hall apparelled in his royall robes and when hee was placed in his seate and composed himselfe to majestie and state The Lord Chancellor made a large Oration to the Lords in the Kings name wherein hee declared the heynousnesse of their offence and the greatnesse of their perill how easie a matter it had been for the King to have levyed a power sufficient to have destroyed them and yet for the generall spare of his subjects blood and in particular favour to the Duke and other Nobles hee made choice to encounter and overcome them rather by friendship then by force and therefore was willing not only to pardon their ryot but also to heare their griefe and in a quiet and peaceable way to redresse them The Lords alledged the cause of their taking armes to be first the necessitie of their owne defence secondly their true love both to King and Realme whose fame and fortune did daily decline by meanes of certaine traytours who lived only by the dishonour of the one and decay of the other like mothes in bookes and garments that thrive by others losse Those whom they particularly challenged to bee Traytours were Robert Uear Duke of Ireland Nevill Archbishop of Yorke Delapoole Earle of Suffolke Robert Tresilian Lord chiefe Iustice Sir Nicholas Bramber with certain others more secret but little better And to justifie this their appeale they threw downe their gloves and offered themselves to the tryall of the Combat The King replyed that oftentimes the causes of action being good yet if the meanes want moderation and judgement the ends prove pernitious And therefore though these complaints should bee true yet were these courses not tolerable which did beare an open face of rebellion and by the licentiousnesse of the multitude might soone have sorted to such a period for it is more easie to raise the people then to rule them whose fury being once stirred will commonly bee discharged some wayes But saith hee since we have broken this broyle wee will not by combating give occasion of new but at our Parliament which I will instantly convoke both you and they shall bee present and Iustice indifferently done to all In the meane time I take you all into my protection that neither of you shall endanger or endamage other wishing the Lords to remember that as Princes must rule without limitation so Christian subjects must use a meane in their liberty Then he caused the Dukes and the Earles which all this while kneeled to arise and goe with him into his private chamber where they talked together and after with a most friendly farewell hee licenced them to depart They of the adverse part were absent at this meeting and if they had not it might have beene feared the Kings presence should have beene but a poore protection unto them The Kings demeanour herein was divers wayes censured some argued him fearefull others moderate and mercifull in preventing the effusion of his
subjects blood The Lords were well pleased with his good will and favour which as by base and servile meanes they would not seeke being thus gotten they did highly esteeme yet they thought it the safest course not to separate themselves suspecting the mutabilitie of the King and the malice of their enemies of whom neither knew they where they were nor what they did intend and being persons of great wealth and greater power but most bent to hurtfull practises they were feared not without cause For the Duke of Ireland either by setting on or sufferance of the King was all this time mustering of souldiers in Cheshire or Wales where hee gathered an army both for number and goodnesse of men sufficient if another had beene Generall to have carried a side whereof the Lords advertised they divided themselves and beset the wayes by which the Duke should passe to London with an intent to encounter him before hee did increase his power and countenance his action with the name of the King The Earle of Darby met him at a place called Babbelake neere Burford where the Earles souldiers full of hearty courage disliking nothing more then delay thinking losse of time was a procrastinating of the victory came on bravely But the Duke being mutinous but not fit for action apter to stirre strife then stint it upon sight of their approach would have fled But Sir Thomas Mollineux an approved souldier Constable of Chester upon whose leading all that countrey men did depend perswaded the Duke that this was but a part of the forces led only by the Earle of Darby a man no way eminent and if they could not beare through that resistance it was in vaine to expect any atchievement of honour by armes Whereupon the Duke made stay but his faint spirits were moved by this speech rather to desire victory then hope it his souldiers also were dull silent and sad and such as were rather ready to interpret then execute the Captaines command They wind battaile but scarce ten ounces of blood was lost on both sides before the Duke of Ireland set spurres to his horse and forsooke the field his souldiers thereupon more out of indignation then feare refused their rankes yeelded to the Earle the honour of the field Sir Thomas Mullineux flying was ouertaken and slaine by Sir Thomas Mortimer the rest submitted themselves to the discretion of the conquerours making them the Lords of their lives and death yeelding was no sooner offered then excepted by the Earle who commanded that none should be reproched or ill intreated but the obstinate which was obeyed the souldiers willing to shew favour to their countrey-men who were led into this action partly upon simplicitie partly for company sake The Gentlemen and those of the better sort were retayned by the Earle the rest unarmed were licenced at their pleasure to depart The Duke in his flight was enforced to take a river and in the midst of the streame forsooke his horse and swam to the other side and by the benefit of the night escaped first into Scotland then into Flaunders and lastly into France from whence hee never returned his horse with his helmet and gauntlets with other abiliments of his were found whereupon it was generally conceived that hee was drowned and as in great uncertainties it often hapneth some affirmed they saw him dye with the manner thereof which other men either glad to heare or not too curious to search did easily beleeve His Trunke also was taken with certaine letters of the Kings therein the contents whereof were for his present repaire to London with all power and speed hee could make and the King would bee there ready to dye in his defence so unskilfull was the Kings government that to pleasure a few hee did not respect to give discontent to many The Earle of Suffolke hereupon disguised fled to Callice from whence hee never returned hee was a cruell spoiler and a carelesse spender in warre contemptible in peace insupportable an enemy to all counsell of others and in his owne conceit wondrously wise obstinately contentious of a quicke wit and ready speech both which hee abused to the cunning commending of himselfe and crafty depraving of others he was lesse loved but more heard of the King then the Duke the more hurtfull man and the more hatefull The Duke being indeed guilty of no great fault but the Kings excessive favour in their course of good and bad fortune both of them alike famous This Duke of Ireland was Robert de Vere the fourth of that name and ninth Earle of Oxford hee married Philip the Daughter of Ingeram de Guisnes by Isabel his wife the Daughter of Edward the third from whom he was divorsed and tooke to his second wife Lantegroine a Bohemian of an unknowne parentage but died without issue This Michael de la Poole Earle of Suffolke married Isabel Daughter of Sir Iohn Wingfield and had issue five sonnes Thomas William Michael Richard and Iohn and three daughters Margaret married to William Lord Ferrers of Groby Elizabeth and Anne The Archbishop of Yorke Iustice Tresilian and others of that faction ran every man like Conyes to their covert yea the King betooke himselfe to the tower of London and there made provision for his winter abode having all his courses now crossed first by rashnesse in taking of armes and afterward by cowardlinesse in maintaining them The Earles of Darby signified this successe to his associates by Letters but without vaunting his speeches also were moderate rather extenuating then extolling his fact but by stopping his fame it increased men esteeming his high thoughts by his humble words and his consent of greater attempts by contempt of this The Lords met and marched together to London whither with forty thousand men they came upon Saint Stephens day and first they shewd themselves in battaile array in the fields within view of the King then encamped in the Suburbs The Maior of London and his brethren came forth and offered the Lords free entertainment within the Citie but not accepted They give liberall allowance of victuall and necessaries to the souldiers This discord seemed to draw to a dangerous distraction of the Common-wealth the vanquished part being full of malice and the Conquerours of presumption the one wanting power the other right to command and rule The Archbishop of Canterbury and certaine others of the neutralitie fearing the sequell perswaded the King to come to a treaty with the Lords but hee made shew but of a slight regard he made of these dealings let them saith hee stay untill their numerous power have wearied them and eate out their provision and then we will finde a time to talke with them at my leasure But the Lords suspecting the devise stopt all passages and beset the Thames generally protesting not to depart without conference with the King face to face The King having neither strength to resist nor roome to scape consented to a treatie And to
King should take the revenews of his land untill he was satisfied of such sommes of money as hee had received out of the Kings coffers for the payment of the garrison of Calice And he further sayd That the King commanded upon paine of his high displeasure that no man from thenceforth should presume to petition the King in behalfe of either of those Dukes to alter this Decree The sentence thus read the King called the exiles before him and tooke of them a solemne oath that they should never converse together nor willingly come into each others company lest common discontent should draw first reconcilement and after desire of revenge But this pollicie is ever weake to prevent such purposes for oathes are often spurnd aside when they lye like rubbeâ—… to stoppe the way to honour or revenge Therefore the Princes of the Realme have with more safetie for the most part abolished the use of abjuration and either by death extinguish the power or by pardon alter the will of great offendors from entring into desperate and dangerous attempts which men in miserie and disgrace with more vehemency begin and with more obstinacy continue When the Samnites had so enclosed the Roman Legions that they had neither space to fight nor meanes to flye and without fight had enforced them to yeeld they sent for advise to one Pontius an antient Ruler of their State what to doe with them His answer was that the Romans should bee permitted to depart without losse or derision But this not pleasing those that were either cruell or covetous Pontius was the second time consulted with whose answer then was That the Romans should bee generally slaughtered and not one spared This contrarietie of advise brought Pontius into suspition of dotage which he suspecting came in person and maintained both to be advantageous The first by an unexpected favour might provoke the Romans to a perpetuall friendship the second would deferre the warres for many yeares The third Counsell quoth he there cannot be given that may be fafely followed yes say the Samnites to grant them their lives but to take away their armes and bootie This is a way replies old Pontius which can neither win friends nor weaken enemies but may increase fury but not diminish force So that that course of punishment is out of course which doth neither reclaime the minde of man nor restraine the might from mischievous endevours The Duke of Norfolke with great griefe and perturbation of minde now â—…ving it to bee true that greatnesse abused by whispering untruthes draweth if discovered certaintie of destruction departed into Almaine and from thence travailed to Venice where shortly after hee ended his dayes It is observed that this Duke was banished the same day of the yeare wherein the Duke of Yorke by his contriving was strangled at Calice The Duke of Hereford tooke his leave of the King at Eltham where foure yeares of his exilement were strooke off The Dukes deportment was with that moderation that in his countenance he made shew neither of sorrow or stupiditie and at his departure let not fall any either intemperate or unseemely sillable The Commons much lamented his departure not sparing to exclaime that it was against the Law of armes the custome of the Realme and all Iustice that hee should bee exiled who had honourably endevoured to maintaine his appeale according to the law of the field Their affection was the more excessive by reason the ground of his speech was against those that the people hated and he was the only survivor of the popular faction The Duke of Hereford sayleth to Callice and from thence to Paris where hee was honourably received by the King of France and in short time found that favour with him that hee was offered for wife the only Daughter of Iohn Duke of Berry Vncle to the French King But the King of England upon notice thereof made such meanes that the Mariage was stopt Many things hapned this yeare which were interpreted to presage the revolt of the people which hapned the yeare following observation likewise was taken that when King Richard brought his first wife with him out of Beanne shee was no sooner on shore but such a tempest arose as the like thereof had not beene seene in many yeares before wherein many shippes and amongst them the ship the Queene came in was cast away The like storme and the like losse did betide when the King brought his second wife out of France Many prodigies are likewise storied to appeare about these times both strange and fearefull I dare not avouch them all to be true neither will I detract all truth from such things so antiently reported Many are perswaded that these things which are fatally allotted though they are unavoidable yet are they some times foreshowne not so much that we may prevent them as that we should prepare our selves against them About this time died Iohn of Gaunt Duke of Lancaster who was buried on the North side of the high Altar of the Cathedrall Church of Saint Paul in London he was a man advised and wary liking better safe courses with reason then happy by hazzard neither unrespective nor ambitiously carefull of his owne glory Hee carried himselfe towards the King in termes honourable enough for a moderate Prince and yet not so plausible as an uncollected man might desire whereby nothing hapned unto him extraordinary either in prejudice or preferment This Iohn of Gaunt so named of the place where hee was borne fourth sonne of Edward the third did write in his stile Iohn sonne to the King of England Duke of Aquitaine and Lancaster Earle of Richmond of Darby Lincolne Leicester and high Constable of England hee married three Wives Blanch Daughter and coheire of Henry first Duke of Lancaster by whome hee had issue Henry afterwards King of England Philip married to Iohn King of Portugal Elizabeth married to Iohn Holland Duke of Exceter His second wife was Constance daughter and one of the Coheires of Peter King of Castile by whom he had issue Katherinâ—… married to Henry son of Iohn King of Spaine His third Wife was Katherine daughter of Payne Rurt King of armes and Widow of Sir Otes Swinford Knight by whom hee had issue Iohn Bewford Earle of Somerset and Marquesse Somerset Henry Bewford Bishop of Winchester Thomas Bewford Earle of Dorset and Duke of Exceter Ioane married to Ralph Nevill Earle of Chester and afterwards to Robert Ferrers Lord of Ousley all these Children though borne before espousall by a Bull from Rome were made legitimate hee lyeth buryed in Pauls After his death the Dutchy of Lancaster did lineally descend to his eldest sonne the Duke of Hereford But as the nature of man is prone to hate those whom hee hath injured the King seized all the lands and goods of the deceased Duke and endevoured to perpetuate the banishment of the young Duke revoked the Letters patents granted and consented unto
both voluntarily resigne and also solemnly bee deposed by consent of all the States of the Realme For resignation would bee imputed only to feare deprivation to force whereof the one is alwayes pitied and the other envied But if both concurre and his desire be combined with his desert being willing to forsake that which hee is adjudged worthy to forgoe Then it will appeare that he is neither expelled his kingdome by meere constraint nor leaveth it without just cause this advise generally pleased And for execution thereof upon the Feast of Saint Michael which was the day before the Parliament should begin there assembled at the Tower Thomas Arundell Archbishop of Canterbury Richard Scroope Archbishop of Yorke Iohn Bishop of Hereford Henry Duke of Lancaster Henry Earle of Northumberland Radulph Earle of Westmerland Lord Hugh Burnell Lord Thomas Berckley Lord Rosse Lord Willowbigh Lord of Abergany the Abbot of Westminster the Pryor of Canterbury William Thirmings and Iohn Markham chiefe Iustices Thomas Stokey and Burbacke Doctors of the Law Thomas Herpingham Thomas Gray Knights William Ferly and Dionise Lophane Notary publicks and divers others neither noted nor remembred When all were set in their places King Richard was brought forth apparelled in a royall Roabe the Diadem on his head and his Scepter in his hand and was placed amongst them in a chaire of State never was Prince so gorgeous with lesse glory and more griefe To whom it was not thought disgrace sufficient to lose both the honour and ornaments of a King But hee must openly to his greater scorne renownce the one and surrender up the other After hee had sate a while and pawsed he used these words to the assembly I perswade my selfe that some here present and many more hereafter will account my case lamentable eiâ—…her that I have deserved this dejection if it be just or if it bee wrongfull that I could not avoyd it I confesse with shame and griefe that many times I have appeared both lesse provident and lesse painfull for the benefit of the republicke then I should or might or would have beene hereafter and have in many actions more respected the satisfying my owne particular humour then either in justice to some private persons or the common good of all yet did I not at any time either altogether omit dutie or commit grievance upon supine dulnesse or set malice but partly by abuse of corrupt Counsellors chiefely by error of my youthfull rash conceit without true judgement The remembrance of these oversights are to no man so unpleasant as to my selfe and the rather because I have no meanes left either by injuries done or to testifie to the world my reformed affections which experience and maturitie of yeares had already begun to correct and would I assure my selfe have growne to a more perfect frame if but permitted to have continued But whether all imputed to mee be true either in substance or qualitie according as they are suggested or whether being true they be so exorbitant as to enforce these extremities or whether any other Prince especially in youthfull blood and in the space of two and twenty yeares the time of my unfortunate raigne doth not sometimes either for advantage or displeasure in as deepe manner grieve some particular subject I will notnow examine it bootes not to use defence nor much availeth to make complaint there is left no place for the one nor pitie for the other And therefore I refer all to Gods pleasure and your more collected considerations I accuse no man I blame not fortune I complaine of nothing There is no pleasure in such ayrie comforts it may bee if I had had will to have stood upon termes I could have procured great favours abroad and presume some good friends at home who would have beene ready it may be too forward on my behalfe to set up a dangerous and doubtfull war But I estimate not worldly dignitie at so high a rate to hazard the spilling of so much Christian blood and the spoyling of so flourishing a Country as thereby might have beene occasioned in my quarrell Therefore that the Common-wealth may rather rise by my fall then I stand by the ruine thereof I willingly submit to your desires and am here come to dispossesse my selfe of all Regall and publike authoritie or title And to make it free and lawfull for you to Elect and Create for your King Henry Duke of Lancaster my Vncles son whom I know to be as worthy to take that place as I see you willing to conferre it upon him Then hee read openly and distinctly the forme of his cession wherein hee did declare that he had discharged his Subjects from their obligations of Fealtie and homage and all other tyes whatsoever And of his owne will and free motion did repudiate the title dignitie and authority of a King and rendred up the possession of the Realme with the use and title thereof and all the rites thereunto appertaining and thereunto subscribed and made oath for the performance And then with his owne hands delivered the Crowne Scepter Roabe and ornaments to the Duke of Lancaster saying Cousin I wish you more happinesse herewith then ever hapned to my selfe Then did hee Constitute the Archbishop of Yorke and the Bishop of Hereford his Procurators to intimate and declare this his resignation to all the States of the Parliament Lastly hee gave all his Treasure to the summe of three hundred thousand pounds in coine besides his jewels and Plate for satisfaction of injuries done desiring the Duke and those present severally by their names not altogether to forget that hee had been their King nor yet too much to thinke upon it but to retaine a moderate remembrance of him and in recompence of the ease hee had done them by this voluntary resignation to permit him to live safely in a private life with the contemplation whereof he was so taken that from thenceforth hee would preferre it before any worldly preferment This was done with voice and countenance so consonant to his present passion that not any present not unmindfull of humane instabilitie which was not in some measure moved thereat insomuch that some few teares secretly dropped from many eyes there present in whose thoughts a confused but obscure alteration already began to take rising so prone is man-kinde to pitie misery though by themselves procured and to envie prosperitie even in those themselves have raised The Munday following the Parliament began at Westminster and there the Archbishop of Yorke and the Bishop of Hereford the late Kings Attorneys for this purpose openly declared to the States there assembled the Kings voluntary resignation and demanded whether they would assent and agree thereunto The Barons of the Realme by particular assent the Commons with generall voice accepted and admitted the fame Then it was thought requisite that some defects and misdemeanours in point of government should bee objected against the late King for which hee might
doings only the King was utterly undone Then was demanded of the Nobilitie and Commons of the Realme what they judged of the substance and truth of these Articles who all agreed that the crimes were notorious And that the King was worthy for the same to bee deposed from his Princely dignitie The Noble men partly corrupted by favour part awed by feare gave their voices And the Commons who commonly are like a flocke of Cranes as the first flye all followers did the like Commissioners are appointed by both houses who pronounced sentence of Deposition against King Richard in manner and forme as followeth In the name of God Amen Wee Iohn Bishop of Asaph Iohn Abbot of Glassenbury Thomas Earle of Glocester Thomas Lord Barkley Sir Thomas Erpingham and Sir Thomas Gray Knights and William Thirning Iustice Commissioners for the causes hereafter specified By the Lords Spirituall and temporall and the Commons of the Realme of England representing all the States of our Kingdome specially deputed sitting in place of judgement considering the manifold perjuries and cruelties and many other the crimes and offences by Richard late King of this Realme committed and done contrarie to good government in the Realmes and dominions aforesaid during the time of his raigne Also considering the Articles which were openly exhibited and read before the said States which were so publike notorious manifest and famous that they could nor can by any shift or cover be concealed or avoyded considering also the Confession of the sayd King acknowledging and reputing and truly upon his certaine knowledge judging himselfe to have beene and to bee altogether insufficient and unskilfull for the rule and government of the Realme and Dominions aforesaid and not unworthy to bee Deposed for the notorious demerits by the said Richard first acknowledged and after by his will and mandate before the said States published and to them opened and declared in the English tongue upon these and other matters which were done concerning the same businesse before the said States and us by the delegation place name and Authoritie to us in this part committed in pursuance whereof Wee pronounce decree and declare the said Richard to have beene and bee unprofitable unable and altogether unsufficient and unworthy for the rule and government of the said Realmes and in regard and respect of the premisses worthy to bee deposed from all kingly dignitie and honor if any such dignitie and honor remaineth in him And for the like cautele We do depose him by our sentence definitive in this Writing inhibiting from henceforth expresly all and singular Lords Archbishops Bishops Prelats Dukes Marquesses Earles Barons Knights Vassales and all other persons whatsoever of the said Realmes heretofore the subjects of the same and every of them that from henceforth none obey or intend to obey the said Richard as King or Lord of the Dominions aforesaid And afterwards the same Commissioners by the conseâ—…t and suffrage of both houses were constituted Procurators joyntly and severally for all the States of the Realme to resigne and surrender unto King Richard for them and all other homagers of the Realme all the homages and fealties which were both due and done unto him as King and Soveraigne And also to declare unto him all the premisses concerning his Deposition Now Henry Duke of Lancaster that hee might bee reputed or reported at the least not to attaine the kingdome by intrusion and wrong was counselled by his friends to pretend some lawfull challenge or claime thereunto And being in power it was no sooner advised what was to bee done but it was presently devised how to doe it So a Title was drawne from Edmond sonne to King Henry the third whom they nicknamed Crookbacke affirming that he was the eldest sonne of King Henry and that hee for his deformitie was put from his right of succession which was for that cause given to King Edward the first To this Edmond the Duke was next of blood by his mother Blanch sole Daugter and heire to Henry Duke of Lancaster and Sonne to the same Edmond This cunning conveyance was perceived by most but seeming not to perceive it was a point of friendship in some and of obedience in the rest Therefore the Crowne of England being supposed unpossessed both by the resignation and also by the deposition of King Richard Duke Henry arose from off his seate and standing in the most view of the assembly making the signe of the Crosse on his forehead and brest said as followeth In the name of God Amen I Henry of Lancaster claime as my right the Crowne and Realme of England with all the Dominions and appendices to the same as being lineally descended by the right of lyne from the blood Royall comming from that good Lord King Henry the third and through the right that God of his grace hath sent mee by his assistance and the helpe of my ready kindred and noble friends have adventured to recover the same which was in point of destruction for want of good government and orderly distribution of justice therein and therewith reseated himselfe Then was it demanded in both Houses upper and lower whether they did consent that the Duke should raigne over them who all with one voice accepted of him for their King Then the Archbishop of Canterbury tooke him by the hand and placed him in the Throne of estate the Archbishop of Yorke assisting him and all the Parliament testifying their owne joy and wishing his Then the Archbishop of Canterbury upon this place of Scripture 1 Reg. 9. 17. See this is the man whom I spake to thee of this same shall raigne over my people did make a paraphrasticall exposition which ended the Duke was generally proclaimed King by the name of Henry the Fourth King of England and France Lord of Ireland The Common people voide of cares not searching into sequels but without difference of right or wrong inclinable to follow the mightie with showtes and clâ—…mours gave their applause not all upon judgement or faithfull meaning but only upon received custome at first to flatter the Prince whatsoever hee bee But lest the humour thereof should allay by delay it was forthwith Proclaimed that upon the thirteenth of September next ensuing the Coronation of the King should be celebrated at Westminster These matters being thus dispatched the proclaimed King rose from his Seate and went to Whitehall where hee feasted the Assembly royally yet hee made no show of statelinesse or pride or change of deportment in this so great change of fortune Vpon Wednesday following the before-remembred Procurators went to the deposed King to the Tower and declared to him the admission of his resignation and the manner of his Deposition and in the name of the States of the Realme did surrender backe the Homage and Fealtie formerly due unto him with this attestation that no man from thenceforth would beare unto him faith and allegeance as due to a King The
to Dowglasse Earle George not being used to bee confronted or sit downe with disgrace could hardly enforce his patience to endure this scorne And first hee demanded restitution of his money not so much for desire to have it as to picke an occasion to breake his Allegeance The King refused to make payment or give promise but deluded him with frivolous delayes whereupon with his family hee fled to the Earle of Northumberland intending by disloyaltie to revenge the indignitie and to repaire his losses by his enemies ruine if possible the English with wide and open armes imbrace the opportunitie with whose helpe and assistance the Earle made divers incursions into Scotland where hee burnt many Townes and slew much people enriching himselfe with booty and spoyle King Robert depriveth the Earle of his honour seizeth all his lands and possessions and writes to King Henry that as hee would have the truce betwixt them longer to continue either to deliver unto him the Earle of March and his adherents or else to banish them the Realme King Henry perceiving that these warres arising had almost put the peace out of joynt was determined not to lose the benefit of the discontented subjects of his adversarie whereupon he returned answer to the Herald of Scotland that hee was neither weary of peace nor fearefull of warre and ready as occasion should change either to hold the one or hazard the other But the word of a Prince was or ought to bee of great waight And therefore sith he had granted unto the Earle of March his safe conduct it were a great impeachment to his honour without just cause to violate the same Hereupon the King of Scots did presently proclaime open warre against the King of England who thought it pollicie rather to begin the war in the enemies countrey then to expect it in his own because that land which is the seat of warre doth commonly furnish both sides with necessary supplies the friend by contribution the enemy by spoyle sending certaine troopes of horsemen before him both to espie and to induce an uncertaine terror upon the enemy hee entred into Scotland with a puissant army and with fire and sword proceeded sparing nor Castle Towne or Citie but burned Churches and religious houses so that in all places that hee passed the spectacle was ugly and grisly which hee left behinde him being such as commonly accompany the Chariot of warre They that fled before the army filled all places with feare and terror extolling above truth the English forces to diminish thereby their shame in running from them About the end of September hee besieged the Castle of Maydens in Edenbrough where Prince David and Earle Douglasse were the inconstancie of the one and the ambition of the other being the principall movers of all this losse of blood During this siege Robert Duke of Albany the Governour during the King of Scots inabilitie through sicknesse to manage the businesse sent an Harold to King Henry protesting upon his honour that if hee would abide but five dayes at the most hee would either remove the siege or lose his life The King bountifully rewarded the Harold and promised in the word of a Prince to abide there during the time by him prefixed But six times sixe dayes were past but neither Governour nor other appeared Winter came on victuall in the Campe fayled the Countrie was cold and comfortlesse it rained every day in great abundance which distemperature of weather and want of befitting sustenance caused the death of many a tall souldier it may bee these discommodities arising stayed the Governour from performing his promise for policie was against it to hazard his men to fight when Winter and want two forcible foes had given the charge upon his enemy sure it is that they moved the King to remove his siege and depart out of Scotland unfought with Both the Wardens of the Marches were all this time in Scotland with the King upon which advantage the Scots did breake into Northumberland and did some spoyle in Banborough shire the English quickly tooke the Alarum but the Scots with as much speed retired But when King Henry had discharged his Army the Scots not so desirous of life as revenge made a speedy road into England under the conduct of Sir Thomas Hahbarton of Dirleton and Sir Patricke Heborne of Hales but all the hurt they did did rather waken then weaken the English and they themselves were somewhat encouraged but nothing enriched by what they had got But Sir Patrick puft up with desire hope resolved upon a greater exployt The people which are easily led by prosperitie in great numbers resorted unto him but he was loath to have more fellowes in the spoyles then he thought should need in the danger therefore with a competent Army of the men of Loughdeane he invaded Northumberland where he made great spoyle and loded his souldiers with prisoners and prey They thought of no perill that might bee in the retrayt so they marched loosly and licentiously neither keeping themselves to their colours or rankes But the Earle of Northumberlands Vicewarden and other Borderers in good array set upon them at a Towne called Nesbyt The Scots valiantly received the charge and the battell was sharpe in the end the Scots rankes grew thin as being rather confusedly shouffled together then orderly composed which when the Vice warden felt with a company which he purposely retained about him for sudden dispatches hee charged them home and rowted them Sir Patricke bereaved of counsell and comfort ranne up and downe from place to place commanding many things and presently forbidding them And the lesse of force his directions were the oftner did hee change them at last as it hapneth in lost and desperate cases every man became a Commander but none a putter in execution so the rankes loosed and brake and could not bee reunited the Victor closely pursuing the advantage Sir Patricke thinking of nothing lesse then either flying or yeelding but thrusting himselfe amongst the thickest of the enemies honourably lost his life many of his Linage and the flower of Loughdeane were likewise slaine there were taken Sir Iohn and William Cockborne Sir William Basse Iohn and Thomas Hablington Esquires and a multitude of common souldiers on the English part no great number were slaine and none of ranke or qualitie About this time King Henry sent his eldest Daughter Blaunch accompanied with the Earle of Somerset the Bishop of Worcester the Lord Clifford and others into Almaine who brought her to Colleyne where with great triumph shee was married to William Duke of Bavier Sonne and heire to Lewis the Emperour About the midst of August the King with a great power went into Wales to pursue Owen Glendour but lost his labour for Glendour had conveyed himselfe into his lurking holes amongst the Mountaines The King through the extremitie of foule weather was enforced to retire having spoyled and burnt a great part of the Country
Gravelin wherefore the King came the Bishop of Winchester Iohn Duke of Norfolke with Humphry Earle of Stafford and others For the Duke appeared his Dutchesse the Bishop of Arras and the Lord of Croys where truce for a very small time is concluded on and for lesse kept This yeare was memorable for the death of three great Princesses Katherine Queene of England and Sister to the King of France The old Dowager of Henry the fourth King of England Daughter of the King of Navar and Mother to the Princes of Britaine And the old Countesse of Armanacke Daughter to the Duke of Berry and Mother to the Duke of Savoy which all dyed within eight and fourty houres the one of the other The fury of fighting growing cold Traffick for townes was againe set on foot and Harflew sold For the recovery whereof the Duke of Somerset with the Lord Talbot and a brave company of souldiers beset it both by land and water there being within to defend it Sir Iohn Estontvile and his brother with six hundred men and upward the Earles of Ewe with the Bastards of Orleance and Burbon with foure thousand men came to the reskue but so well were the English entrencht that the French could neither succor their friends nor annoy their enemies and so as they came they returned Whereupon the towne was surrendred upon composition About this time the Dutchesse of Bedford followed Queen Katherines example making election for an Husband of a gallant young Gentleman but of small meanes yet fortunate only enough by being affected one Sir Richard Woodvile whom she took to Husband to the great discontent of her French friends but especially her Vncle the Bishop of Terwine but she cared not who was vext so her selfe was pleased and God not offended who blest her and made her Mother of many children and amongst the rest of the Lady Elizabeth afterwards married to King Edward the fourth Iames King of Scots which before had bin fifteen yeares prisoner in England and from thence released with a Wife a great dower and many honourable presents yet proved ingratefull was murthered by certaine his traiterous subjects in his bed-chamber by night who being found out were cruelly tortured The Duke of Burgoine having attempted the unworthy traffick of bartering for Callice with mony but not able to compasse it being infinitely desirous to bee Master of it when neither force nor fraud could prevaile attempts it by a strange pollicy but of like successe to the former for hee was perswaded by a rediculous practise so to cut a ditch that hee might at his pleasure drowne both the Towne and Countrey about this hee imployed much labour and more cost but this fantasticall fancy of a flood vanished away like his Flemmish army at the siege there of like a vapour The Lord Talbot besieged Tanckervile and hath it after foure moneths lying before it simply rendred unto him In leiw whereof the French King in his owne person layes siege to Monstrew fault Yonne Whilst the Duke of Yorke was providing for the reskue of this Towne hee was discharged of his office by which meanes Sir Thomas Gerrard had the more colour to sell not lose the Towne which the King of France making his owne contract with him bought of him for rewards and preferment both promised but how performed I know not only having sold his honour with his charge hee lived disgraced and discarded in much discontent an exile in France where hee died This yeare is a Parliament holden at Westminster in which were made many good and profitable acts aswell for the preservation of peace at home as for provision to maintaine the warres abroad Arthur Constable of France and Iohn Duke of Alanson besieged the Towne of Auranches whither the Lord Talbot came and offered them battell which they refusing hee marched in despight of them none daring to make resistance into the Towne from whence next morning he sallyed out and having made a greatslaughter amongst them tooke divers prisoners and retreated at pleasure the French being well contented so to bee rid of him The French the next morning were called from the siege pretended for Pautou de Santrelis for the Hire had sent Letters unto them that they had the promise of divers Bourgers of Roan when their watch-night came to let them in they wisht therefore the Constable to meet them at Rize a place within foure leagues of Roane here of the Lord Talbot having notice covertly marcht to Roan and from thence though wearied with a bad journey marcheth before day to Rize where he surprizeth the French taketh the Lord Fontaines Sir Allaine Geron and many other the Hire by the helpe of his horse though not unwounded by him that pursued him escaped and so Talbot returneth to Roan with a faire bootie and full instructions to discover the Traitours who convicted had the reward of their treason The sixtday of November the Earle of Warwicke who seven times having beene abourd and still beat backe by tempestuous and contrary winds landed at Hoinflew with a thousand fresh souldiers came to Roan whither the Duke of Yorke was come downe and from thence returned for England The Duke of Burgoine taking advantage as hee thought of a still water with tenne thousand men besiegeth the Towne of Crotoy to relieve whom the new Regent sent the Lord Talbot with five thousand men whereof the Duke having notice upon their approach retyreth with his power except foure hundred with whom hee had manned a Bastileo by him there erected to Abvile but the Bastilio is soone gained and all the souldiers either taken or slaine The valiant Talbot sent the Duke word that if hee would save his Countrie of Piccardy from vastation that hee should come into the field where hee attended him and would give him if he dared to come battell But the Duke of Burgoine was not in the fighting humour neither loved to bee too neere so cholericke an enemy that would strike if hee might come at him and therefore from Abvile secretly conveyes himselfe to Amiens Twenty dayes together did the Lord Talbot with fire and sword passe thorow Piccardy and Arthoys destroying all that stood in his way and so returneth unencountred Sir Thomas Kiryel seized upon the Dukes Carriages and Ordnance and having left in Crotoy victual enough for six hundred men for a whole yeare hee brought the rest to the Earle of Warwicke who thankfully received them Henry Earle of Mortaine sonne to Edmond Duke of Somerset arrived with three hundred Archers and three hundred Speares and past thorow Normandy to Mayne and tooke in his March by assault the Cattle of Saint Anian wherein were three hundred Scots and French-men the Scots hee slew all and hanged the French-men for that they had sworne fealty to England and broke it hee tooke likewise the Castle of Algarche and by meanes of an Ambush taketh the Lord of Camerois comming
Petitioning the King for exemplary punishment to be inflicted upon such that had plotted or consented to the dishonourable release and resignation of Anion and Mayne whereof by name they did instance the Duke of Suffolke Iohn Bishop of Salisbury Sir Iames Fynes Lord Say and others This Petition was seconded by the Lords of the upper House whereupon to give some satisfaction to the Houses the Lord Say Lord Treasurer is sequestred from his place The Dukes Offices are all discarded and himselfe formally banished for five yeares but with an intent after the multitude which are quickly forgetfull of what is not ever in sight had put out of mind the hatred conceived against him to have revoked him But God did otherwise dispose of him For when hee was shipped in Suffolke with intent to have wasted over into France hee was met by an English man of Warre taken and carried to Dover Sands had there his head chopt off on the side of the long boat which together with the body were left there on the sands as a pledge of some satisfaction for the death of Humphry This William de la Poole married Alice Daughter and heire of Sir Tomas Chaucer who had issue by her Iohn who succeeded him and William Whilst these things are in agitation the Duke of Yorke though in Ireland began to spread his nets in England to catch such as either through disgraces were discontented or otherwise envious at the unworthy preferment of ill-deserving persons or such as were any way ill-affected with the present government ever suggesting by the way his Title to the Crowne as descended from Philip Daughter and heire of George Duke of Clarence elder brother of Iohn of Gaunt great Grandfather of Henry the sixt Then is it privatly whispered 1. That the King was simplie of a weake capacitie 2. The Queene incorrigibly ambitious 3. The Privie Councell if wise yet not honest enough for their places 4. That through their inabilities all France was lost And that God would not blesse the usurped possession of King Henry the sixt Amongst others that were caught with these reportative engines The Kentishmen swallowed downe the hooke and are taken therewith which being observed by an Instrument of the Duke of Yorkes called Mortimer he taketh his time and telleth the many that if they will bee ruled by him hee will put them into a course to worke a generall reformation both in Court and Country and free them for ever from those great and insupportable burthens of taxations so often upon every slight occasion obtruded upon them The people are so taken with these promises of reformation and freedome of impositions that they draw to a head and make Mortymer otherwise Iacke Cade their Leader who stiling himselfe Captaine Mend-all marcheth with no great number but those well-ordered to Black-heath where betweene Eltham and Greenwich hee lay by the space of a moneth exercising his men and sending for whom hee pleased and for what he pleased in that majestick manner as if hee were Lord Paramount of all Kent nay of London also To him resort fresh Companies of all sorts and from all parts Then he presents unto the Parliament then assembled at Westminster the complaints of the Commons and a justification of the cause of their assembly to be for the glory of God the honor of the King and the good of his faithfull subjects And first whereas it was generally voiced That the Countie of Kent should be depopulated and made a wild Forrest for the death of the Duke of Suffolke they justifie their innocency of the fact and therefore crave the aversion of any such sentence or decree Then they make remonstrance 1. That the Queenes Fauorites share among them the revenewes of the Crowne whereby the King is enforced for the supportation of his present estate to taxe and burthen the Commons with many great and vnusuall payments to their utter undoing and the generall impoverishment of the Kingdome 2. That the Lords of the blood royall are sequestred from the Kings presence and the places of Councell are supplyed by persons of poore condition who to enrich themselves make sale of justice 3. That the Commons have their commodities daily taken from them for the purveyance of the Kings houshold for which they are not payed nor any assurance for payment thereof given but Court promises 4. That upon the apprehension of any man for treason or felony before conviction the Kings meniall servants beg the goods and lands of the impeached Whereupon indirect and unlawfull proceedings are used by subornation of witnesses embracery of Iurors And great mens Letters to the Iudges whereby Iustice is perverted and the innocent after attainted and if not executed yet perpetually imprisoned to their undoing and the enriching of such Court Barratours 5. That the Commons can have no legall proceedings in their law suites so that the rightfull owners of inheritance dare not if opposed by any Courtier or their Favourites maintaine their titles or attempt the recovery of their interest or maintenance of their possession how just soever 6. That the treachery of making sale of the Kings possessions in France have brought to beggery many thousand English who now for want of imployment are ready to starve or steale whilst these Towne-robbers are suffered to enjoy the benefit of their traiterous compositions and are opulent and mighty 7. That the Kings Collectors and other accomptants are much troubled in passing their accompts by new extorted fees and by being enforced to procure a late invented Writ of quorum nomina for allowance of the Barons of the Cinque-ports and there suing out their quietus at their owne charge without allowance from the King 8. That the Sheriffes and under-Sheriffes let to farme their Bayliwicks whereby those that buy deere being to make a saving bargaine are compelled to sell deere whereby they so fleece and sharke upon the poore Commons that they are hardly able to subsist 9. That such Bailiffs under colour of the greenwax out of the Exchequer doe levy greater summes then are by the record justifiable yet maintained 10. That the Officers of Dover Castle did usually upon feyned actions doe arrest through the shire forcing poore people to give their demaunds rather then they would bee at that expence to goe to the Court and there dance attendance at pleasure by meanes whereof they are often driven to spend more then the thing demanded to the great vexation of the Commons 11. That they cannot have the freedome of election of Knights of the shires Citizens and Burgesses for the Parliament but by letters from the Favorites of the Court to their friends and retainers the Knights Citizens and Burgesses are chosen and commonly such as to please the Courtiers displease the Commons 12. That the Collectours offices are bought and sold at the pleasure of the Iustices of the peace taking bribes of some that are of a soft disposition to be spared and taking bribes
slaine and buried at Saint Albones And that those their slaine should be reputed and taken in an equall degree of loyall subiects with those that survived of the adverse part That the Duke of Yorke should give to Elianor Dowager of Somerset and Henry Duke of Somerset her sonne an assignement of five thousand marks due to him from the King at his being in Ireland to be distributed amongst her Children That the Earle of Warwick should likewise assigne a thonsand Markes due to him from the King to be distributed amongst the children of the late Duke of Somerset That whereas Thomas Percy Lord Egremond Richard Percy sonnes of the Countesse of Northumberland were at a Sessions in Yorkeshire fined at divers great summes of mony to the Earle of Salisbury his wife and children And that the said Lord Egremond was for the payment thereof committed to the prison from whence he escaped for whose escape Verney and Steward Sheriffs of London were sued That the sayd Earle should acquite all those fines to the sayd Lord Egremond and his brother and release all actions to the said late Sheriffs That the said Lord Egremond should enter into recognizance of ten thousand pounds in the Chancery to keepe the peace against the Earle of Salisbury his Lady children servants and tenants That Generall releases on all parts should be made of all Appeales and personall actions whatsoever That the two Lords chiefe Iustices should heare and determine any debates and controversies that might casually arise for any thing formerly done amongst the tenants or servants of either partie without further proceedings That the recognizances to be entred into of all hands for the performance of this award should stand of force without pardoning or parcelling the summes This award order and agreement was ratified under the great seale of England the foure and twentieth day of March in the sixe and thirtith yeere of the Raigne of King Henry the sixt Vpon the publication whereof at the Feast of the Anuntiation of our Lady Saint Mary the Virgin a solemn procession was made in the Cathedrall of Powles At which the King was present in royall habit wearing his Crowne imperiall before him hand in hand went the Duke of Somerset and the Earle of Salisbury the Duke of Exceter and the Earle of Warwicke and so one of one and another of the other part till they were all Marshalled behind the King came the Queene the Duke of Yorke leading her by the hand who in going made shew of favorable countenance towards him service ended they returne as afore to the Court in all outward apparance truly reconciled But the apparance of the blazing Starre the strange apparitions in the elements The more strange sight of a seeming monstrous Cock to come out of the Sea and in the presence of a multitude of people at Portland to make a hideous Crowing three times each time turning about clapping his wings and beckning towards the North the South and the West with many prodigious births did but presage the admirable occurrences of things this yeare following In which as if with a generall deluge of civil dissention the whole Christian world should be overthrowne beside the rent in the Church by the schisme of any Popes No Country being free rebellions factions subjects against their King the brother against the brother the sonne against the Father the wife against the husbands sonne For example desire of rule saith the Spanish Historian being an affection of a greater magnanimous nature did so farre possesse Prince Charles sonne of Henry the fourth King of Castile that he opposed his father against whom his mother in Law tooke armes in defence of King Henry her husband from which pernicious quarrell which proved successes to the same did spring the two factions of Beamont and Gramont which for many yeeres together infested Navare and Leon and was the cause of effusion of much Christian blood The Gauntoys rebell against the Duke of Burgoyne who being succored by the Hollanders rowtes their forces and makes a great slaughter amongst them and Charles the seventh sends the Earle of Dampmurtyn in a miserable imployment sayth the French Historian against the Dolphine who was in armes against his father whom they enforce to flye to the Duke of Burgoyne who about that time to make his bastard Bishop of Vtrich had committed much slaughter amongst the Brabanters and raised his sonne a stayer of slaughtered carcasses to mount into the Bishops Chaire More Popes then one bred disorder to the great scandall in religion and preiudice of Christians The Emperor not being able to cure the infirmitie of the mind by force hath recourse to the authoritie of the Church he intimateth to all the Kings and Potentates of Christendome his desire to have a generall Councell at Constance to which all consent and the Emperors of Constantinople and Trapisond with the Churches of Greece send their Embassadors In this Councell Iohn 23. is convented condemned deposed and imprisoned Gregory the 12. and Benedict the 13. are deprived and Otho Colom by the name of Martin the 15. is chosen Pope by the Councell somewhat before this time in England Iohn Wickliff and Iohn Husse in Bohemia had so perswaded that divers were ready to disclaime the Popes authoritie teaching them not only to leave the abuse of manners but the doctrine it selfe affirming that it was lawfull for subjects to reforme religion when Princes refuse to doe it but their dangerous opinions were condemned for heresies the Councell ended but the schisme continued and during these confusions in the Westerne Church the Christians in the Easterne parts are utterly ruinated the Emperor smothered to death in a presse of people and Constantinople made the seat of the Mahometan Emperor An affray unfortunately falleth out betwixt a servant of the Earle of Warwicke and a Courtier who in the encounter is dangerously wounded The Earles man flyeth The Kings servants seeing their fellow hurt and the offender escaped watch the Earles comming from the Councell table and assaile him many are hurt the Earle getteth a wherry and so escapeth to London The Queene incontinently commands him to be commited to the Tower but he seeing where it began to raine in at posts to Yorkeshire where he acquaints the Duke of Yorke and his father of all the occurences with the palpable discovery of the Queenes cankred disposition advising them to stand upon their guard and to provide to keepe out the approching storme And so speeds to Callice And being then Lord Admirall to prevent revocation of that office he speeds himselfe to sea with all the Kings ships that were in readinesse and skowreth the Seas meetes with five great Carricks three of Genoa and two of Spaine and after two dayes fight takes three of them with which he returned to Callice where he discharged their fraight and found it worth ten thousand pounds in staple Commodities besides the ships and prisoners
In the meane time as it was before agreed upon The Earle of Salisburie with about five thousand men marcheth through Lancashire to passe that way to the King and to acquaint him with the affront offred to his sonne and the inveterate malice discovered in the Queene against him The Queene with the Dukes of Somerset and Buckingham gave order unto the Lord Audley to apprehend Salisbury sending to him as to that end she had provided many badges of a white Swan for a publick expression of being firme to her and her sonne one badge thereof for himselfe and divers other to bestow on such well deservers as should by him be approved of whereupon he levieth of Cheshire and Shropshire ten thousand men with which about a mile from Drayton in a plaine called Bloreheath he attended the Earle there being a small brooke but of some depth between them Earlie in the morning the Earle made a seeming retreat which the Lord Audley observing he presently causeth his troopes to passe the river but before they could be reduced againe in order the Earle with his whole strength falls upon them and with the slaughter of the Lord Audley and most of them that had past the river he discomfited the residue there were slaine about foure and twenty hundred of them Sir Iohn and Sir Thomas Nevil Knights the Earles sonnes are sore wounded who with Sir Thomas Harrington travayling into the North Country were apprehended and sent as prisoners towards Chester But upon a message sent from the March-men their keepers quickly released them The Duke of Yorke now begins to resent these proceedings and resolveth no longer to be looker on but like a free gamester to venter a Cast for all he levies men makes preparation to take the field sends to Salisbury to doe the like who sends to Warwicke and all resolue to set up their rest amongst others of approved valiancy that Warwicke had brought from Callice with him were two principall noted men for direction and policy Andrew Trollop and Iohn Blunt The armie in the marches of Wales neere Shropshire are strongly encamped The King with the Dukes of Somerset and Exceter the chiefe of the Lancastrian family draw their forces to Worcester from whence Richard Beuchampe Bishop of Salisbury is sent to offer the Yorkists a full and generall pardon if they would give over this enterprise and become loyall subjects this message was answered that there was no trust in the Kings pardons as long as the hen crowed therefore they durst not submit unto them but if any course might be given them of assurance of their safety they would expresse their loyaltie and render themselves at his service The King thereupon advanceth neerer and approching the Lords army he causeth Proclamation to be made that whosoever would abandon the Duke of Yorke should be received to mercy and have pardon whereupon the night following Andrew Trollop with all the Callicians submit to the King and by him are all the counsels of the Duke of Yorke discovered which so much discouraged the Duke of Yorke that he with his young sonne the Earle of Rutland fled first into Wales then into Ireland the Earles of March Salisbury and Warwicke got into Devonshire where by the meanes of Iohn Dinham they were shipt from Exmouth to Gernsey and so to Callice where they were well entertained The King pardons all the common Souldiers makes some exemplary punishment of few Captains sendeth the Dutches of York her two younger children to the Dutches of Buckingham her sister to be safely kept then having spoyled the town and Castle of Ludlow he dismist his Army A Parliament is convoked at Coventry in which amongst other things the Duke of Yorke and all his confederates are convict of treason all their lands goods seized on to the Kings use Henry Duke of Somerset the inheritour with his fortunes of his Fathers favour with the Queen by her means is made Captain of Callice whither comming to take possession of his new charge he was forced to retire out of the harbour the Ordnance from Ricebank playing so hot upon him The Queen herewith much incensed in heat of passion giveth order to furnish and make ready all the Kings ships lying at Sandwich to give assistance to Somerset but the before-mentioned Iohn Dinham with his Westerne Mariners who all well affected the Earle of March bourded those ships in the harborand tooke the Lord Rivers who was designed Admirall for that service and carried both him and the ships to Callice from whence the Earle sayled to Ireland to the Duke of Yorke where having conferred and concluded what course to take he returned to Callice the new Admirall the Duke of Exceter not daring to stop his course in his returne Sir Simon Momford was appointed to guard the Cinque-ports having divers ships under his command to bar the Earle of Warwicks entrance but the Earle by his espialls having perfect intelligence of all passages fell suddenly upon Sir Simon before his ships were full ready tooke him prisoner ransackt the Towne of Sandwich and carried his Prisoner and the ships to Callice by the way he understood how much the Kentish-men desired his speedy returne and to come on shore in their Country where they were ready to give him all assistance Whereupon the second time the Earle came to Sandwich to whom presently resorted the Lord Cobham and divers Gentlemen insomuch that now they were 25000 strong with which the Earle of VVarwicke marched towards London against whom the Lord Scales was appointed to oppose and with some convenient troopes to assure London but the Lord Maior utterly refused to admit him entrance saying he was able enough without his counsell or helpe to keepe what the King had committed to his charge Whereupon the Lord Scales resorted to the Tower from whence afterward he did the Londoners many discourtesies VVarwicke well pleased with the Londoners promise not to impeach his passage having notice that his Father was upon march to meet him passeth over his men and without impeachment joyned with his Father and his friends neere Exceter The King with the Dukes of Somerset Buckingham with a great Army marcheth towards them neere unto the town of Northampton both armies meet The Earle of March with the advise of the Earle of VVarwick prepares for the fight The Queen the King more intentive of devotion then fighting did the like The fight began and continued on uncertaine termes above two houres In the meane time were slain on both sides above 10000 men But upon the fal of Humphry Duke of Buckingham by the good policy of the Earle of VVarwicke and the Lord Gray of Ruthens joyning with them who led the Vantgard of the Kings part withdraw to the Lords side the Earles party prevailed and Iohn Talbot Earle of Shrowsbury Thomas Lord Egremond Iohn Vicount Beamont and some others of Marke were slain The
newes and the generall acclamations that went through all places of King Henry and a Warwicke caused King Edward to distrust his owne souldiers and fearing the tyde would turne his heart failing him in the dead of the night only with eight hundred of whose constancy hee was assured most of them the Lords Rivers Hastings and Sayes retinue hee posted from besides Nottingham toward Lincolnshire but having notice that Warwicke to impeach his retreate had sent his light horsemen before and followed himselfe with the body of the Army with great hazard and losse of his carriages which were sunke in the sands he past the Washes and came to Lynne from whence with the Duke of Glocester the Lord Scales and about seven hundred men without any change of rayment or other necessaries or other victuals but what they brought on horsebacke with them or what they had left their horses for in the Towne they set sayle bending their course for Holland The Lord Chamberlaine stayed behind aswell to make what provision hee could for the better accommodation of the King to carry with him as to take order with such of their followers as were to stay behind whom hee entreated to temporize things standing as they did till the wind came about againe which hee affirmed would bee very shortly but upon the first faire gale that blew with King Edward to open their sayles on his behalfe whilst hee was upon this negotiation fortune that makes a tennis ball of the greatest thus playd her part with King Edward No sooner was hee past ken of shore but certaine Easterlings enemies both to England and France were descried to have them in chase so that the Mariners were driven to clap on all their canvasse to beare up for the next shore of Holland The Easterlings plyed after them so close that the English durst not take land but where their landing might bee favoured by some Fort or Towne so that they were forced to fall lower then the first Coast and came to anchor before a Towne in the Netherlands called Alquemare as neere it as with conveniencie they might the ebbe being falne too low to enter the Haven The Easterlings whose ships were of greater burden came as neere them as they durst for feare of running on ground intending at the next flood to lay them aborde But in the interim the Lord Hastings being landed in Holland making enquiry after King Edward but receiving no tydings of his being come on shore presently dispatcheth Curryers to all the Maritine Townes thereabouts to give notice that Edward King of England was upon the Coasts to visit his Brother-in-law and Sister the Duke and Dutchesse of Burgoyne The Lord Gronteer Governour of Alquemare being hereof informed suspecting what was true that the King of England was aborde those shippes that the Easterlings had chased in Hee presently mand out a Boate unto them with these messages that the King of England was in league with that Country and his subjects and shipping should ride safe in that harbour without impeachment of any man and therefore commanded them in the Dukes name not to disturbe the English in their landing as they would run the hazard of the Cannon from the Towne by which meanes the King was permitted quietly to come on shore and was honourably entertained by the Governour who conducted him to the Hage where they stayed the comming of the Duke King Edward having now almost in a miraculous manner past the pikes in his owne Kingdome and the perills both of Seas and Pirates presuming that Gods providence had protected him for some good purpose Hee by the advise of his Sister who in all things exprest her selfe a dutifull Wife to her Husband but a deere friend to her Brother did intimate unto the Duke that hee had now under God none to relie upon in this lâ—…s extremity but himselfe and therefore hee earnestly doth sollcite him for present succours which hee obtaineth but whilst forces are raising to secure King Edwards returne out of Holland his Queene Elizabeth forsaketh the Tower and secretly taketh Sanctuary at Westminster upon report of Warwicks approach who made the more hasty march for London for that hee was informed That some seditious persons about Kent such that only awaited opportunitie to fish in troubled waters more out of greedy desire to gaine bootie then get glory had plotted the pillaging of London from which they were hardly restrained notwithstanding the carefull resolute and industrious courses of the Maior and his Compeeres These Scatter-goods played reaks about Limehouse places adjoyning untill the Earle of Warwick suppressed them and made exemplary punishment to bee inflicted upon many of them to the great content of the more sober-minded people And much commendation from the Citizens for his care of the Cities safety Execution of these pillages done VVarwicke commeth to the Tower which two dayes before the Maior by a bloodlesse stratagem had entred and did now make good on the the behalfe of King Henry who was by him removed out of his hold of durance into his owne lodging and there served according to his state which the Earle of VVarwicke as the more sensible of the two did more congratulate then the King himselfe King Henry upon the sixt day of October accompanied with the Archbishop of Yorke the Prior of Saint Iohns the Bishop of London the Duke of Clarence the Earle of Warwicke and other Nobles with great solemnitie was conducted through London to the Bishops Pallace where hee rested untill the thirteenth of that moneth on which day hee went in solemne procession about Pauls Church wearing his imperiall Crowne the Earle of Warwicke bearing up his traine and the Earle of Oxford the Sword before him in whom it appeared that mortality was but the stage of mutabilitie The next day as the usuall adjunct of like proceedings in all usuall places about London King Edward was proclaimed an Vsurper and all his partakers and abettors Traitors to God and the King whereof Iohn Lord Tiptoft Earle of VVorcester as a partaker with King Edward was made the first example and on that day beheaded at Tower-hill Hee had to wife Elizabeth sister and heire of Sir VValter Hopton Knight by whom hee had issue Edward who after did succeed him in the Earledome The high Court of Parliament as a cloake to cover all bracks of eruption in the State is assembled at Westminster wherein King Edward and all his knowne friends and followers are attainted of high Treason and all their lands and goods seized on to King Henryes use And like a Well with two buckets whereof one came up full to be empticd the other goes downe empty to bee fill'd one Parliament set up an Edward and puts downe Henry and the next acknowledgeth Henry and explodeth Edward George Plantaget Duke of Clarence is by the authoritie of this Parliament adjudged to bee heire to Richard Duke of Yorke his father and that
his teeth with haire on his head and nayles on his fingers and toes with a viperous strength enforcing as it were his passage through his mothers wombe whom afterwards he shamed not to accuse of adultery but as one that then wrought journy-worke with the Divell his manners and qualities seconded the feature and lineaments of his body and members which were much deformed being hooke shouldred splay footed and goggle eyd his countenance sower the composure of his face little and round his complexion swarfie his left arme from his birth drye and and withered Nature supplied these deformities of the body with a strong brayne a quicke apprehension a good memory and a most fluent tongue which he seldome exercised but to the abuse of credulitie And with the sweetnesse of his delivery hee could so prevaile with such whom he ment to worke upon that he would ofentimes as it were infatuate them and enforce their beliefe of his oathes and protestations which were by Saint Paul and wishing God to damne him if hee did not performe his word which at the time of the speaking was no part of his thought sometimes against the hearers knowledge and conscience hee was neither morally honest nor religiously good He usd to make authority the stawking horse to his will and his will the sole commander of his conscience the largenesse whereof could without any scruple swallow murther of brother Nephewes wife and neerest friends nay attempt rape and incest with his owne brothers daughter yet did with artificiall dissimulation so cover his dishonest and abhominable intentions that not many could discover them Who or whatsoever opposed his aspiring pride or profitable pleasure was by his plotting cunningly and covertly taken away or removed Hee was so throughly perfect in the Hypocriticall art of simulation and dissimulation that hee would use most complement and shew greatest signes of love and courtesie to him in the morning whose throat he had taken order to be cut that evening He held it for a maxime in policy that halfe doing in any thing was worse then no doing And therefore whatsoever he once attempted hee went through with it howsoever it seemed to others unnaturall and unchristian He used the instruments of his bloudy plottes as men doe their Candles burne the first out to a snuffe and then having lighted another tread that under foote yet howsoever his birth were proaigious and life monstrous yet his death was not dishonorable For though his cause were bad he fought bravely and dyed fighting leaving behind an ample testimony of his great valour and little grace with the end of his raigne by the sword which he had used for the moving of civill dissention betwixt the two houses of Yorke and Lancaster which had beene so long drawne and so often bathed in the blood of Christians was happily sheathed And the passage to concord prepared whilst this poore Island that had beene imbroyled with warre and her companions had leasure to call to minde the many murthers stratagemes slaughters overthrowes and calamities which through their unnaturall division of the two Roses she had sustained and thereby she found that from the time that Richard Duke of Yorke who was slaine in the battaile at Wakefield seeking to anticipate the time allotted unto him by authoritie of the Parliament whereby the Crowne was entayled to him and his issue to gaine the possession thereof and from whence all those praerecited miseries did proceed untill the death of the usurper there were slaine fourescore Princes of the blood royall and twice as many natives of England as were lost in the two conquests of France The dissension that fell was betwixt the house of Yorke descended from Lionel borne at Antwerpe Duke of Clarence second sonne of Edward the third and the house of Lancaster issued from Iohn of Gaunt the third surviving but otherwise fourth sonne of the same King the first giving for his cognizance the white Rose the other the Red. Lionell Duke of Clarence married to his first wife Elizabeth daughter heire of William Burgh Earle of Vlster and to his second wife Violenta of Galens Viscount of Mislaine by his first wife he had issue Philip sole only childe which Philip was married to Edmond Mortimer Earle of March and Vlster who had issue by her 1 Roger March the fourth Earle of March 2 Sir Edmond Mortymer that married the daughter of Owen Glendore 3 Sir Iohn Mortymer beheaded 3. H. 6. 1 Elizabeth married to the Lord Percy stiled Hotspur Philip first married to Iohn Hastings Earle of Pembrook and afterward to Richard Earle of Arundel and lastly to Iohn Lord Saint-Iohn dyed without issue Roger the fourth Earle of March 1387. nominated by King Richard the second successor to the Kingdome of England who married Elianor daughter of Thomas Holland Earle of Kent by whom he had issue two sonnes and two daughters 1 Edmond his eldest sonne who succeeded him in the Earldome 2 Roger died leaving his father 1 Anne who was married to Richard Earle of Cambridge sonne of Edmond of Langley Duke of Yorke 2 Elianor married to Edward Courtney Earle of Devonshire Richard of Conisborough married Anne sister and heire of Edmond Mortymer and had issue Richard Duke of Yorke This Richard was the first mover of the faction against the the house of Lancaster the bearer of the red rose He married Ciceley the daughter of Ralph Nevill first Earle of Westmerland and had issue 1 Henry that dyed before his Father 2 Edward of that name the fourth King of England 3 Edmond Earle of Rutland slaine at Wakefield by the Lord Clifford 4 Iohn that all dyed young 5 William and 6 Thomas 7 George Duke of Clarence murdered as afore 1 Anne the eldest daughter was first married to Henry Holland Duke of Exceter and after to Sir Thomas Sayntleoger 2 Elizabeth married to Iohn de la poole Duke of Suffolke 3 Margaret married to Charles Duke of Burgundy 4 Vrsula never married and thus was the title of Yorke derived Iohn of Gaunt so named of the place where he was borne fourth sonne of King Edward the third married three wives the first 1 Blaunch daughter and coheire of Henry first Duke of Lancaster by whom he had issue 1 Henry Plantagenet borne at Bullingbrooke 1 Philip married to Iohn King of Portingall and 2 Elizabeth married to Iohn Duke of Exceter 2 The second wife was Constance daughter and one of the Coheires of Peter king of Castile by whom he had issue Katherine afterward married to Henry sonne of Iohn the King of Spaine 3 His third wife was Katherine daughter of Payne Ruet aliàs Guyen King of armes and the relict of Sir Otes Swinford knight by whom hee had issue but before marriage 1 Iohn surnamed Beauford Earle of Somerset 2 Henry Bishop of Winchester 3 Thomas Branford Earle of Dorset 1 Iohan Branford first married to Ralph Nevill first Earle of Westmerland and then to Robert Ferrers Lord of Ousley This
Tressilian Lord chiefe Iustice Nicholas Bramber Alderman of London and others neither eminent by birth or desert but observant and plyable to the Kings humour These were highly in credit with the King both in company and counsell alwayes next him By these hee ordered his private actions by these he managed his affaires of State hee spared neither the dignity nor death of any man whose authority or life interposed their pleasure or profit Hee remoued Sir Richard Scroope from being Lord Chancelor of England to which place hee was appointed by the Parliament because hee refused to set the great Seale to the grant of certaine lands which had beene abusively drawne from the King alledging for his so doing the great debts of the King the small demerits of the graunts upon whom the King might consume much but orderly give nothing wishing the King might bee well advertised thatryot might deceive him under the termes of bounty and that gifts well ordered procure not so much love as indiscreetly imparted incite envie This Chancellor used not to cauterize his conscience with partiall maintaining of such as were mighty but being alike to all was the sooner disliked of all that were lewd The destruction of the Duke of Lancaster was plotted upon the like dislike by Iustice Tresilian offences were suggested appellors appointed Peeres named sudden arrest intended and present arraignment condemnation and execution concluded But the Duke upon notice of these contrivances escaped to Pomfret Castle and there made preparation for his defence against the King from hence grew a head of division which the common people at that time very busily sought But the Kings Mother incessantly travailing betweene the King and the Duke notwithstanding her unweldinesse and age drew them both to reconcilement The King in regard of the dangerous and discontented times the Duke in respect of his dutie and alleageance the more easie to bee made inclinable and so partly by her entreatie and counsell and partly by their inclination bending to the safest course all apparance of displeasure on the one part and distrust on the other was for that time removed The Frenchmen againe land in England and did much harme at Dover Winchelsey Hastings and at Graves end and unincountred returned to France For prevention of which outrages and revenge of those injuries offered a Parliament is assembled at Westminster in which a Subsidie of foure pence for poll of each sexe throughout the kingdome above the age of fourteene yeares is granted to the King The levying whereof procured much heart-burning and did much alyen the hearts of the subjects from the King With that money preparation is made and eight thousand men sent over into France under the conduct of Thomas of Woodstocke the Kings Vncle who passing over Soam Oyse and Marne Rivers spoyled and burnt all the Countrey and ransomed the Inhabitants untill hee came to Brittany where by the Duke Iohn Momford hee was joyfully received and royally entertained About this time one Iohn Balle a factious clergy man a scholler of Wickcliff observing the common people much to murmure at the payment of the foresaid Subsidie in all places where hee came used secretly to informe the inferiour sort of people such as were poore and needy That by discent from Adam all men were of one condition that the lawes of this kingdome were injurious and much hindred us of participating Christian liberty nay most unjust by making so great a difference of mens estate preferring some to bee Peeres and Potentates giving to some others large authority and enlarging others possessions and taking advantage of the humble and plyable condition and carriage of others in servilitie and basenesse hardly giving them allowance of sustenance and that not that neither but with sweat and hard labour where amongst Christians there should be an equall share of all things and that in common taking this for his theame When Adam delv'd and Eve span who was then a gentleman with such like trayterous perswasions hee did prepare the vulgar apt to entertaine the proffers of rebellion and fitte them for insurrection upon the slightest occasion This doctrine once on foot runne from rusticke to villanie and from shire to shire that at length it infatuated them and infected the Citie of London the Commons whereof I meane the poorer sort of mechanicks and handicrafts desperately inclined to mutinie upon the reasons aforesaid incited and invited the multitude prepared as aforesaid to come thither promising their best assistance and furtherance Whereupon a rude rowte of rascalls under the leading of Wat Tyler a Taylor who commanded in chiefe with their grave minister Iohn Wall Iacke Straw a Thresher Iack Sheppard of the Councell of warre under the tytle of the Kings men and the servants of the Common-wealth of England came to London ransacking by the way and demolishing from Essex side all the faire structures and great buildings of the Nobility and Gentry They summoned the King to give them a meeting who accordingly accompanied with the most of his best Councellours tooke-his Bardge and went to Graves End but seeing the rabble so ragged and rogue-like a company of swadds compact of the off-skum of the people it was held no discretion for the King to venture his person among them and so returned to the Tower from whence hee came The next day these unruly rake-shames approched London but finding the gates lockt and the bridge drawne and well guarded they threatned the slaughter of man woman and childe on Southwarke side the sacking of their houses and lastly the firing of the Borough and Churches there For prevention whereof and somewhat to keepe the staggering Commons from precipitate running with them in rebellion the Gates were opened and the bridge let downe and by permission they entred where their furie with faire words and kinde usage was for that night pacified only the Commander Tyler sent for his quondam Master Richard Lyon an antient grave Citizen and in thankfull requitall of moderate and deserved punishment given him in his apprentiship hee caused his head to be strucke off and pitched upon a pole and in triumph borne before him the next day when hee went to the Savoy a house belonging to Iohn of Gaunt the Kings Vncle which they rifled burnt and inhumanly murdred all the chiefe Officers they found there They commit sacriledge in all Churches and religious houses robbing the houses of the students in the Law committing to the fire all their bookes and Records proclayming death to any that should bee found to know law or literature they spoyled all Forrainers inhabiting in or neere London and their numbers increasing to threescore thousand They came to Saint Katherines from thence sending to the King to attend their pleasure at Mile End no sooner was the King gone forth of the tower to the place appointed when Tyler with some of his comrades entred the Tower gates ryfled the Kings lodging barbarously entreating the Kings Mother
that end desired the Lords to come to him into the Tower but they refused that place of meeting upon feare of false measure untill the King permitted them to search diligently and come as strongly as they thought meet then they came to the King well guarded and after a few cold complements and strange salutations they layd before him his proceedings against them at Nottingham his Letters which hee sent to the Duke of Ireland contrary to his word for the raysing of armes against them his agreement with the French King for the yeelding up of Callice and other strong houlds which hee had in possession in those parts with divers other poynts of dishonourable dealing and negligent government What should the King then have done or said all these objections were so evident and evill that there was no place left either for deniall or defence Therefore ingenuously first with silence and patience afterwards with teares and dejected countenance hee confessed his errors And certainely the stiffe stomacks of the Lords more relented to those luke-warme drops then they would have done to his greatest violence A meeting was concluded the next day at Westminster there to treate of these and other necessary affaires of the Realme Then the Duke and the rest of the Lords departed except the Earle of Darby who stayed supper with the King and all that time kept him in his proposed resolution But when he was also gone some of the abusers of the Kings eare suggested that his going thither was neither seemely nor safe and would not only bring to his person present danger and contempt but afterwards abasement and abridgement to his authoritie whereupon the Kings minde turned But the Lords being now nettled feeling the Kings hand weake to governe the raynes became the more violent and sent him word that if hee did vacillate with them and not come according to agreement that they would choose a new King who should bee more respective to his Nobilitie This peremptory message so terrified the King that hee not only went thither but permitted the Lords to take their pleasure they caused him much against his liking to remove out of the Court Nevil Archbishop of Yorke Foord Bishop of Duresme the Bishop of Chichester the Kings Confessor the Lord Souch the Lord Harmyworth Lord Burnell Lord Beamont Sir Alberick Uear Sir Baldwyne Bereford Sir Richard Alderbury Sir Iohn Worth Sir Thomas Clifford and Sir Iohn Lovell taking caution of them for their appearance at the next Sessions of Parliament And certaine Ladies likewise were expelled the Court and went under sureties the Ladyes Mowen Moling Poynings wife to Sir Iohn Worth They put under arrest Simon Burly William Ellingham Iohn Salisbury Thomas Trivet Iames Bernis Nicholas Dagworth and Nicholas Bramber Knights Richard Clifford Iohn Lincolne and Richard Motford Clerkes Iohn Beacham the Kings private Purse-bearer Nicholas Lake Deane of the Chappell and Iohn Blake Barrister were all committed to diyers Prisons to be forth-comming at the next Parliament The Parliament began at London though the King used many meanes to dash or deferre the same to which the Lords came attended with full strength pretending to represse any ryot that might arise but in truth by terror thereof to draw all the mannage of affaires to themselves The assembly continued from Candlemasse untill Whitsontide with great feare of some and hope of others and expectation of all There Tresilian by the Councell of the Lords against the Kings minde was condemned to bee drawne and hanged which judgement was presently executed the like passed against and upon Nicholas Bramber Iohn Salisbury Iames Barnes Iohn Beauchamp and Iohn Blake Robert Belknap Iohn Holt Roger Fulthorpe and William Burgh which last foure were condemned to perpetuall exile though they opposed not but intermedled by constraint to subscribe their opinions against the Lords Sir Simon Burly Captaine of Dover Castle was beheaded for conspiring to deliver the same to the Frenchmen hee was infinitely proud equall to the meanest in vertue but in port and bravery not inferiour to any Duke Divers others were put to death or exile and some as it hapneth when the reines of fury are let loose without any great cause The Earle of Darby promoued no mans punishment but did labour the life and liberty of many insomuch that harsh language did passe betwixt the Duke of Gloucester and him for so doing whereby hee purchased a favourable opinion amongst those of the contrary part There was then also an oath exacted from the King an example without president to stand to the government of the Lords and an Oath of the Subjects to bee loyall to the King The King in taking this oath of the Lords discovered his inward conceit by his overt countenance looking pleasantly on those he favoured and frowningly on others by which untimely discovery he made them more heedfull and himselfe more hatefull which was the occasion that afterward the revenge was prevented which hee so desired and the mischiefe was procured which hee so little feared Lastly a Subsidie was granted and so the King comming as it were to capitulation had allowance of the name of a King and the Lords the authoritie and Majestie so the contention for that time ceased The yeare following the King began to take upon him more libertie and rule and upon extreame disdaine that both his power and pleasure were thus restrained hee bore a hard conceit against the partaking Lords and having assembled them in the Councell chamber he demaunded of the Lords of what yeares they tooke him to bee being answered that hee was somewhat above one and twentie then replied hee I am of lawfull age to make use of any birth-right and to have the regiment in my owne hands and therefore you doe me wrong to hold me still under tutelage as though the condition of a King were harder then that of a subject This the Lords were unwilling to grant and more unable to deny and therefore they either kept silence or spake to little or no purpose Well said the King since I am no longer an infant I here renounce your rule and take upon mee such free administration of the Iustice of thâ—…â—…alme as the Kings thereof my Predecessors heretofore lawfully used And then commanding the Bishop of Ely then Lord Chancellour to resigne the great Seale which received the King put it up and departed out of the Chamber but returning delivered the same to William of Wickam Biâ—… of Winchester thereby constituting him Lord Chancellor other officers he likewise displaced placing others in their room partly to manifest his authoritie partly to satisfie his displeasure he suspended Glocester Warwick others from his privy Councell and tooke in their roomes such as humoured him more but honoured him lesse He 10. Octob. An. Regni sui 11. Created Iohn Beauchamp of Holt Baron of Kedermister by letters Patents before which time all Barons were chosen by Writ it was suggested to the
King that the Duke of Gloucester was raising a power against him which the King in private questioned the Duke about but upon examination it was found a tale the Duke would not have pocketted up such dangerous reports but that the King either delighting to be tickled with such false rumours or upon some particular desire to picke a quarrell to the Duke upon his allegeance injoynes him not to expostulate the matter or to question the reporters The Citizens of Geneva implore ayde against the Barbarians of Africke The King sends a company of choyce souldiers under the conduct of Henry Earle of Darby who with them passed into France and there joyned with the French forces when with might and mindes united they sayled together into Africke at their arrivall the Barbarians were ready on the shoare to impeach their landing But the Earle commanded his Archers to beate the enemy from the shoare while he landed his other forces The French seconded the English And so whilst both Companies contended the one to bee accounted an helpe and the other to seeme to need no helpe The enemies were forced to flye and leave the shore to the Christians In this conflict were slaine and taken seven Dukes of the Barbarians and an infinite number of common people The Christians marched directly to Tunis which they layd siege to and in short time tooke the English first skaling the walls and reared thereon the English colours in this Citie were taken and slaine above foure thousand Barbarians the Kings brother also was slaine but hee himselfe fled into the Castle which was strongly scite'd well fortified and furnished with men and amunition sufficient for a competent number for some good space This they besieged by the space of sixe weekes in which space they lost many of their men by sicknesse The Barbarians also were distressed for want of beverage having too too many unprofitable mouthes to consume it They sent to the Christians to desire peace offering them a great summe of money to depart their Countrey This was accepted upon condition that they might freely carry with them all their prey and prisoners and that the Barbarians should from thenceforth surcease pillaging the coasts of Italy and France This voyage had a prosperous and speedy end The only service which the English and French performed together without breach of amitie or jarre in good quarter keeping About these times certaine discontentments grew betwixt the King and the Londoners which set the favour of the one and the faith of the other at great distance The one was denying of the King the loane of one thousand pound though offered to bee lent by a Lombard which received but a harsh language for his forwardnesse another came upon the neck of that thus one of the Bishop of Salisburies servants tooke a loafe of horse-bread out of a Bakers basket in the open street and by the rude demaund of the one and the rough denyall of the other choller was kindled and the Bakers head bled the neighbours would have stayed the Bishops man but hee fled into the Bishops house The Constable came and demaunded a peaceable delivery of the offendor The Bishops men shut the gates and made resistance then many threatned to fire their way and began to use violence but the Maior and Officers upon notice presently repayred thither and partly by perswasions that it was not courage but outrage that they shewed and chiefly by their presence and authoritie they repressed the multitude and preserved the Kings peace for that time hitherto the harme was but small and all night have beene quieted without much adoe had not the Bishop kindled the fuell of unkindnesse afresh for the Londoners were not only secretly suspected but openly noted to bee favourers and followers of Wickliffs but then new broched opinions for which doing they were much maligned by the Clergie especially by Iohn Bishop of Salisburie Lord Treasurer who made a grievous complaint hereof to Thomas Archbishop of Yorke and the Lord Chancellor affirming that if upon every light pretence the Citizens might be suffered in this sort to insult upon the Bishops without reproofe and punishment they would bring into hazzard not only the dignitie and state but the libertie also of the whole Church Hereupon they went to the King and so incensed his displeasure against the Citizens being prepared thereto by former provocations that he was once resolved to make spoyle of the Citie and utterly raze it But being perswaded to some more moderation in revenge hee caused the Maior Sheriffes and Aldermen to bee convented who were at first resolved to have justified their innocencie and to that end had plighted faith each to defend other but there was falshood in fellowship and one peached the other and were all committed to prison and then all the liberties of the Citie were seized and taken into his owne hands ordaining that no Maior should from thenceforth bee elected but it should bee at his pleasure to appoint a Warden This Office was first conferred upon Sir Edward Darlington who for his gentlenesse towards the Citizens was shortly removed and Sir Baldwyne Radington a man of a more rugged disposition placed in his roome The King likewise induced by the Archbishop of Yorke did remove the termes and Courts of Iustice from London to bee kept at Yorke where they continued from Midsummer Anno 1393. untill Christmasse following to the great hindrance of the Citizens of London At last the King at the earnest entreatie of the Dukes of Lancaster and Gloucester called the Londoners before him to Windsor and there hee caused all their priviledges of the Citie both old and new to bee brought forth whereof he restored some and restrained the rest that might prove any way advantagious unto him Neverthelesse the Londoners were not fully received to favour neither recovered they at that time the Title or dignitie of their Maior But shortly after the King came to London where the Citizens entertained him with such showes of triumphs and rich presents As if it had beene the day of his Coronation for they supposed with their curtesies and cost to have removed his displeasure yet were they not fully restored to their liberties againe untill they had payed ten thousand pound Thus did they manifest in tâ—…emselves a strange diversitie of disposition the inferiors licentiously to commit offence and the Superiours patiently to endure punishment having rashnesse and rage tempered with obedience so were they at last easily punished that could not at first possiblie bee ruled The King passed over to Callice the King of France came downe to Arde betweene the two Townes a place was appointed and tents erected for the Kings meeting where after interchange of complement and expences a cessation of armes betweene them for thirtie yeares was concluded And the King espowseth Isabel the French Kings Daughter of the age of eight yeares The Duke of Gloucester was so offended both
with the match and truce that he lost all patience exclayming that it was more meet to bee in armes then amitie with the French who being inferiour to the English in courage did ever outreach them in craft and being too weake for warre did oftentimes prevaile by peace That the French Kings Daughter being but a childe was an unmeet match for King Richard aswell for the disparitie of age as for that the King had no issue by his first wife and was not like to have any by this except perhaps in his old age But when the Duke saw his arguments would not availe ought hee suborned the Londoners to make petition to the King that seeing there was peace with France hee would release them of the Subsidie which was granted unto him in the last Parliament in respect of those warres to have beene maintained This suite was by them importunately followed and much perplexed the King untill at length the Duke of Lancaster assured them that the procuring of this peace had spent and lost the King three hundred thousand pounds wherewith they were pacified though not well pleased Guido Earle of Saint Paul was sent by King Charles to visit and salute in his name King Richard and his Queene Isabel To this Earle the King did relate with what fervency Gloucester contended to disturbe the peace betwixt England and France and that because this opinion was not therein followed hee moveth the people to seditious attempts bending himselfe wholly to maintaine discord in his owne countrey rather then not at all he further reported what stiffe strife the Duke in former times had stirred which howsoever they were done yet as they were delivered sounded harsh and odious Whereupon the Earle replied that the Duke was too dangerous a subject to bee permitted to live That greatnesse was never safe if once it grew excessive and bold That the King ought not to affect the poore commendation of Clemency with his owne perill and that it touched him both in honour to revenge the disgrace which hee had by him formerly received and in policie to prevent the dangers which hee had some cause to feare This set such an edge on the Kings displeasure that from thenceforth hee busied his braynes about no one thing more then how to bring the Duke to his end Whereupon hee begun to pry more narrowly into his deportment to watch his words to observe his actions and to interpret them to the worst framing unto himselfe many vaine and needlesse feares often would he to the Dukes of Lancaster and Yorke complaine of the Duke of Glocesters aversnesse in actions and crossenesse in speech whose answer thereunto was that their brother indeed was more vehement then they could commend yet his fiercenesse was joyned with faithfulnesse and his crossenesse proceeded from care lest the Common-wealth should decrease either in honour or possessions and therefore the King had neither cause to feare or dislike him The King seemeth to approve of their answers and tobe satisfied that Gloucester was what they reported him And in the meane time Lancaster and Yorke withdrew themselves to their private houses The Duke of Glocester also went to Plashey in Essex Vpon this accidentall separation the King entred into Councell with Iohn Holland Earle of Huntington his brother by the Mothers side and Thomas Mowbray Earle of Nottingham how the Duke of Glocester might bee suppressed the cruelty which was but wavering nay wanting in the King was soone confirmed by evill advise and being once thereby enclinable to blood hee did not faile either of lewd example of vile action to follow or direction of cruell counsell what to doe The plot is contrived and according thereunto the King and the Earle of Nottingham ryde together into Essex as though they went on hunting When they were in the Forrest the Earle with a selected troope made stay in the Forrest whilst the King with a small and unsuspected trayne came to Plashey and there by the Duke of Gloucester was lovingly entertained and freely feasted pretending action of present returne the King desires the Duke to accompany him to London The Duke supposing that only to bee intended indeed which was in words and show pretended went to horsebacke with the King with a very small company appointing the rest to follow him to London They pleasantly rode together in familiar conference untill they came neere the Earles ambuscadoe and then the King suddenly put spurres to his horse the Duke following easily was suddenly intercepted and stayed and with violence hurryed to the Thames side and there blindfolded unvoluntarily shipped and conveyed to Callice The next day the King did invite the Earle of Warwicke to dinner and gave him gratious countenance but in his returne he was arrested and sent to prison and so a double breach of hospitalitie is committed when feasted by the Duke of Gloucester the host is committed and feasting the Earle of Warwicke the guest is imprisoned In the like manner was the Earle of Arundel and his sonne entrapped and imprisoned In the Isle of Wight the Common-people having notice of the apprehension of these three Noble men whom they only affected were in a great confusion and there then wanted but a head to draw them to commotion every man murmured and daring no further stood wayting for one to lead them the way every one being ready to follow that which any one was loath to begin The Dukes of Lancaster and Yorke upon information of these strong proceedings gathered a strong Army and came there with to London where they were readily received by the Citizens contrary to the Kings expresse command But this seemed to bee a guard to themselves rather then a regard to other The King lay within foure miles of London with a great power of armed men drawne out of Cheshire and VVales and to pacifie the people caused to be proclaimed That the foresaid Lords were not questioned upon any old displeasures but for offences lately committed and for which they should be orderly appealed by the course of Law and receive open and legall tryall in the next parliament presently to begin The like message was sent to London to the Dukes to whom the King made faith for the safety of their persons and indemnitie of their goods and that nothing should be done without their privitie and advise all this was as rashly beleeved as readily given out Whereupon the Dukes dissembled their feares and dissolved their forces in expectancy of what would ensue The Parliament began at London wherein Sir Iohn Bushy Sir VVilliom Bagot and Sir Henry Greene were principall agents for the Kings purpose These were the Kings chiefe Schoolemasters both of cruelty and deceit they were proud ignorant and ambitious and presuming on the Kings favour professed themselves enemies to the antient Nobilitie to the end that being but Mushrumpes lately start up they might become famous by maintaining contention with greater persons At first by
whereby his Attornies had beene enabled to sue out his Ouster le maine and Livery of those lands which during his exile might fall unto him his homage being formerly concluded upon to bee respited at a reasonable fine But these violent proceedings was rather a meanes to provoke then prevent mischiefe Edmond Duke of Yorke the Kings only Vncle that survived who hitherto had enforced his patience to endure many things against his liking now either in disdaine of this indignitie or distrust of his owne safety and the Realmes disturbance he with the Duke of Anmerle his sonne retired themselves to his house at Langley At this time the whole frame of the State was much shaken and matters of greatest consequence hung but on slender threads The King was plunged in pleasure and sloth by whose example others also gave themselves over to ease and luxurie whereby cowardice and effeminacie crept in and shipwracke was made both of manhood and reputation The chiefest affaires of state had beene for a long time ordered according to private respects whereby the Common-wealth lost both the fatte and the favour and seemed not at seasons and by degrees but with a maine course and at once to bee ruinate and fall The North parts were many times canvased and by small yet often Iosses almost consumed by the Scots who had taken many Castles and Townes and defaced all the countrey with slaughter and spoile The South parts were divers times pillaged by the French and in France many strong holds were lost for want of convenient succour it was much about these times that there was a secret pact renewed betweene the two Kings for the delivery of Callice and other pieces thereabout to the French But the performance thereof was resisted both by the Court and Councell Ireland which in the time of Edward the third was kept in order and awe and the people were taught Religion and civilitie and well reclaimed yeelding to the Kings coffers thirtie thousands per annum was suffered now to bee loose and licentious and thereby the people growne rude and untractable so that now the King instead of receiving was enforced to bee at the charge to expend thirty thousand pounds yearely Many succours were every day sent abroad but so scatteringly and at such unseasonable times and often so ill accommodated that they were occasions rather of losse then helpe whereupon the King endevoured some expeditions in person with great preparation and much charge but his reputation being once cryed downe whatsoever therein succeeded well was attributed to his Commanders but all misfortunes only to him on the other side if any exploit were well atchieved by any of the Nobilitie it received misconstruction by the Court Parasitâ—…â—…d by them to whom Militarie vertue was altogether unpleasant so exteâ—…ed depraved or envied that it seldome times received recompence or praise yea sometime it drew on suspition and danger it being whispered to the King that to commaund well in the field and to bee skilfull and valiant was a vertue meerely to bee appropriated to a Prince and that it was perilous to have the name of a private subject famous for such experience in every mans mouth whereby few sought to raise their fortunes by vertue and valour when the way was easier for to rise by humouring the Prince Affaires of State in peace were managed by those of weakest apprehension by whose corrupt or ignorant counsell the overthrow of the well-minded Nobilitie was many times attempted and at the last wrought The profits and revenewes of the Crowne were let to farme the King making himselfe Landlord of the Realme challenging no greater priviledge by his Raigne but a dissolute and uncontrouled life Great summes of money were by new found and unwonted meanes every day rather exacted then voluntarily granted from the Subject whereof no good did ensue but the Kings private pleasures maintained and his unworthy Favourites advanced To these hee was beyond expectation too liberall to continue for which he was inforced to borrow begge and extort in many places but purchased not so much love by the one as hee procured thereby hatred from the other over and above Tenths and Fifteenes which were many times gathered double in one yeare strange impositions were devised and put in practise sometimes exacting twelve pence per poll of every subject throughout the Realme sometimes of every religious person male and female vj. s. viij d. of every secular Priest as much Vnder the favourable terme of benevolence hee drew from the people great summes of money hee borrowed so much upon privie Sâ—…ales that no man of abilitie could escape his loane but seldome and to few was repayment made He sent certaine Commissioners Bishops and Lords temporall to all shires and corporations within the kingdome to make knowne the Kings heavy displeasure against them for having abetted the Duke of Gloucester and the Earles of Arundel and Warwicke which without due acknowledgement of the offence and submission to his mercy could not be pacified Whereupon the chiefe in every shire and all Corporations made their acknowledgement and submission under their hands and seales for the redemption whereof and for procuring of the Kings favour insupportable fines were payd and all so impoverished that few or none were able to subsist none to resist Strange and unheard-of oathes were obtruded upon the Commons for performance of what was under their hands and seales promised by them nay to adde affliction to affliction blancke Charters were sealed and delivered to the Kings use wherein whatsoever hee pleased might bee inserted These courses were quite contrary to the government of Henry the second who though borne a stranger and comming young to the Crowne and in a scarce settled time maintained great warres woon large Dominions more then ever were hereditary to any his Predecessors had many children and alwayes maintained a Kingly port yet never demanded Subsidie of his subjects neverthelesse hee left nine hundred thousand pounds besides jewels and Plate of inestimable value in his Treasurie having in all his life-time held a good correspondency betwixt his care and respect towards his subjects and of their obedience and loyaltie to him But this King bearing a heavy hand over his people they beare an hard heart towards him and hee being shallow in judgement not of sufficiency enough to cover his vices but with or by a cloke of seeming powerfull at length drave then many to revolt whose resolution was rather to run the hazard of ruine by rebellion then to continue safety with slavery and did but waiting occasion to begin which was thus offered The King received advertisement out of Ireland that the wild Irish had massacred all his garrison souldiers and barbarously slaine Roger Mortymer Earle of Marsh who had beene declared heire to the Crowne and that they proceeded with that cruelty that wrath and rage being master of the field could incite or cowardly conquerours practise This losse being greater was much
was notwithstanding made a partner in the punishment For King Henry observing how farre the Lords might have prevailed with their late stratagem for if their stomacks had beene but answerable to their strength and their bold beginning had not ended in faintnesse and sloth they might have driven him to an hard hazard hee caused King Richard to bee put to death thereby to make sure that no man should cloke open rebellion under the colour of following sides nor countenance his Conspiracie either with the person or name of King Richard But whether hee did expresly command his death or no it is a question but out of question he showed some liking and desire to the action gave approvement thereto when it was done The report went that King Richard was Princely served every day with abundance of costly dishes but was not suffered to touch or taste one of them and so perished with famine I perswade my selfe this is meerely fabulous for such barbarous and unnaturall cruelty against a King and a kinsman is not likely to proceed from King Henry a Christian But it is more probable which a Writer about those times affirmeth That King Henry sitting at his Table sad and pensive after a deepe sigh said Have I never a faithfull friend that will ridde me of him whose life will breed destruction to mee and disquiet to the Realme and whose death will bee a meanes of safetie and quiet to both And how can I be freed from feare so long as the cause of my danger doth continue what securitie what hope shall we have of peace unlesse the roote of rebellion bee plucked up A Knight called Sir Pierce of Exton hearing this with eight of his followers posteth to Pomfret and pretending warrant from the King had entrance into the Castle where hee commanded the Esquire who sued to King Richard to surcease his service whereupon when King Richard being set at Table saw that hee was not served as afore with assay and demanded of the Esquire the reason of this his neglect of dutie therein Hee was answered that Sir Pierce had brought such order from King Henry comming lately from the Court Richard moved with this act and answer said The divell take thee and Henry Duke of Lancaster with that Sir Pierce with his Retinew before him entred into the Chamber and locked the dore after them Whereupon King Richard spying their drift and suspecting his owne danger stepped couragiously to the first man and wresting the Halbert out of his hands therewith slew foure of his mischievous assaylants and with admirable resolution fought with the other untill comming by the Chayre wherein the King used to sit in which the cowardly Knight himselfe was got for his owne safetie he was by him strucken with a Pollax on the hinder part of the head who being at the point of death groned forth these words Edward the second my great Grandfather was in this manner Deposed imprisoned and murthered whereby my Grandfather Edward the third obtained the Crowne and now is this punishment fallen upon mee his next Successor This is right for me to suffer but not for you to doe your King may for a time joy at my death and injoy his desire but let him qualifie his pleasure with expectation of the like justice for God who measureth all our actions by the malice of our mindes will not suffer this violence to passe unrevenged whether these words did proceed from a distempered desire or from the judgement of his fore-sight they were not altogether idle Sir Pierce expecting great rewards for his ungratious service was frustrate of both and not only missed that countenance for which hee hoped but lost that which before hee had so odious are crying sinnes even to him for whom they were committed Hereupon at first hee grew discontented and afterwards tormented in conscience and in a rage would often exclaime that to pleasure one ungratefull person hee had made both himselfe and posteritie infamous and odious to all the world King Henry with disquiet held the kingdome during his life and so did his Sonne King Henry the fift in whose time by continuall warre with France the malice of the humor was otherwise exercised and spent But his second Successor King Henry the sixt was dispossessed thereof and together with his young Sonne Prince Henry imprisoned and put to death either by command or connivence of Edward the fourth and hee also escaped not free for hee dyed not without many and manifest suspitions of poyson And after his death his two sonnes were disinherited imprisoned and butchered by the Vsurper the Duke of Glocester who was slaine at Bosworth field and so in his person having no issue the Tragedy ended These are excellent examples both to comfort them that are oppressed and of terror to violent oppressors That God in his secret judgement doth not alwayes so certainly provide for our safetie as revenge our wrongs and oppressions and that allour unjust actions have a day of payment and many times by way of retaliation even in the same manner and measure they were committed Thus as most of the chiefe Writers doe agree was King Richard by violence brought to his end although all Historians agree not of the manner of the violence Hee was a man of personage rather well proportioned then tall of gracefull and comely presence of good strength and no abject spirit but the one by ease the other by flattery were much abused and abased hee deserved many friends but found but few because hee bought them by his bounty not sought them by vertuous behaviour hee was infortunate in all his actions which may bee imputed to his slothfull carelesnesse for hee that is not provident can seldome prosper for his loosenesse will lose whatsoever fortune or other mens labours doe cast upon him Hee lived three and thirty yeares and raigned two and twenty in his younger yeares he was too much ruled by greene heads little regarding the counsell of the grave and judicious Councellors which turned to the disquiet of the Realme and his owne destruction Hee married two wives the first was Anne the Daughter of Charles the fourth and Sister of Winceslaus King of Bohemia shee was crowned Queene the twenty two of Ianuary 1384. but dyed without issue The second wife was Isabell Daughter of Charles the sixt King of France an infant of seven yeares of age who after his death was returned into France but without Dower because the mariage was never consummate for want of copulation The Lord Henry Piercy had the conveying of her over in Anno 1401. His dead body was embalmed and seared and covered with leade all save the face and carried to London where hee had a solemne obsequie kept in the Church of Saint Paul the King being present and the chiefe Companies of the Citie From thence hee was conveyed to Langley Abby in Buckinghamshire and there obscurely interred by the Bishop of Chester the Abbots of
the wall to his Soveraignes house to bee done at his charge For which so saying the King sharply reprehendeth VVickham To whom VVickham modestly replieth that it was farre from his thought to ascribe by that inscription the Honour of building that tower to himselfe but his owne good hap for being preferred to that worke for not by any indifferent construction the words may seeme to import that VVickham built that Tower But his imployment thereabouts was the cause of making and preferring of Wickham for thereby hee had gained his Majesties gratious favour and countenance By this answer the King was pacified and as it were to make VVickham amends and deterre his calumniators from further persisting in such their envious courses the Kings favour is daily increased towards him and hee is enriched with many faire preferments Insomuch that within few yeares by the assistance and plotting of Iohn Buckingham Bishop of Lincolne and Sir Simon Burleigh Knight two of his antient and most intimate acquaintance in Oxford hee had gotten into his possession besides the spirituall livings before remembred twelve severall Prebendships and by dispensation from Pope Vrban and qualification by being the Kings Chaplaine hee held at one time in his hands so many Ecclesiasticall livings and promotions as the valew of them did amount in the Kings bookes to the summe of eight hundred seventy sixe pounds thirteene shillings and foure pence in those dayes a great summe such was his behaviour that hee held the Kings favour firme unto him and the Nobilitie for the most part did well approve his courses besides these Spirituall promotions the King had likewise honoured him with many temporall places of both profit and respect as being his principall Secretarie Keeper of the Privie Seale Master of the Wards and Liveryes Treasurour of the Kings Revenewes in France and some other Offices of lesse eminencie Now whilst his wealth and worship every day increased in Anno 1356. VVilliam Edendon Bishop of VVinchester departed this life leaving the sea void whereupon the King desiring the same the Monkes of Saint Swithins in VVinchester elected VVilliam of VVickham to that sea But Vrban the then Pope being sufficiently informed of the Elects little learning but great livelyhood deferd by the space of a whole yeare the confirmation of the Election in which time VVickhams good Angells interceding for him in the Court of Rome hee is permitted to take the benefit of the spiritualties and to have the temporalties in the meane time sequestred The King hearing how much the insufficiencie of schollership was obtruded upon VVickham began to expostulate with him to surcease further suit for the place which required to bee supplied by a man of more sufficiencie in Clerkship then hee was to whom VVickham replied that so please his Majestie to continue his gratious favour towards him so that hee might obtaine his desire therein hee doubted not but by Gods speciall assistance so to behave himselfe that hee would supply all defects of schollership in himselfe by providing for others meanes and maintenance to make and keepe able persons for the service of the State and the good of the kingdome wherewith the King was so taken that hee wrought so effectually That in the yeare 1367. hee was consecrated Bishop of VVinchester and was restored to all profits of that Bishopricke during the vacancie Within short time after hee was made Lord Treasurer and was imployed and trusted with all the affaires of the kingdome and had the disposition of all the Kings Treasure which was the occasion to advantage his enemies to strike the more easily at him For the King by the new Bishops care being rid of many troubles yet tooke a further benefit thereby for whatsoever was done that displeased the Councell or the Commons that was objected to the Bishop whereby when the Kings wants were pressing it was held the best pollicie at that time to give the King a supply by squeezing the full moistned spunge of the Bishops coffers And to yeeld some colour for their so doing The Bishop is charged to give account for eleven hundred ninetie sixe thousand pounds received during the time of his being Treasurer besides a hundred thousand Francks delivered him by Galeaze Duke of Millaine which must bee suddenly performed and the more to puzzle him at that very instant divers untrue and feyned cavillations by way of complaint are put up against him at the Councell boord to the answering whereof hee is instantly convented where whilst hee is intentive to save the bye hee hazarded the losse of the maine for whilst hee indevoureth to give satisfactory answers to the foresaid calumniations Iudgement is through the earnest importunitie of the Duke of Lancaster by William Skipwith Lord chiefe Iustice upon an information of deceipt suggested awarded in the Kings bench against him by meanes whereof all his temporalties were seized upon taken into the Kings hands and given to the Prince of VVales And for a further addition to his affliction by Iohn of Gaunts meanes hee is in the Kings name commanded upon paine of his Majesties high displeasure not to come within twenty miles of the Court The Bishop with a cleere conscience and a constant resolution awaits a fitter time to crave review of this sentence against him and like a discreet Pilat playeth with the wave which if hee should meet might indanger him and by giving way thereto escapeth the hazard Accesse to the King hee knew not how to obtaine to pacifie the Duke of Lancaster hee saw no possibilitie and how to procure any course to bee taken for his benefit hee was altogether ignorant His trayne therefore hee dismisseth expecting some few of whose honest fidelitie and otherwayes sufficiencie hee had made sufficient proofe these he imployeth to write out and ballast his accounts and such answers as hee had made to the accusations and informations which as aforesaid were exhibited against him which perfected the Copyes thereof hee privately disperseth amongst his brethren of the Clergie and such other as hee presumed would without prejudice to his cause vouchsafe the reading of them And therein amongst other things hee at large setteth forth the ground or occasion of the Duke of Lancasters irreconciliable malice against him which was thus Queene Philip wife to Edward the third upon her death-bed by way of Confession delivered unto VVinchester That Iohn of Gaunt was not the lawfull issue of King Edward but a suppositious sonne For when she was brought to bed at Gaunt of a maiden childe knowing how much the King desired to have a male issue shee consulted with one of her maides of honour by whose industry the Daughter was exchanged with a Dutch woman for a boy whereof shee had beene delivered about the same houre with the Queenes Thus much shee confessed and withall conjured the Bishop that if the said Iohn of Gaunt should at any time directly or indirectly attempt or affect the wearing of the Crowne or
high Court of Parliament to Westminster wherein hee enforced the necessity of speedy pursuance of the Dolphin and his Adherents and easinesse of revenging the losse of his brother and their friends and allyes in case they would furnish him with money men and amunition being in readinesse provided Whereupon the Clergie cheerefully granted two tenths and the temporalty readily one fifteene and for that the Kings hast could not well stay the wonted course of collection thereof The Bishop of Winchester layed forth to bee received againe of the Designes of the spiritualty twenty thousand pounds so willing was the rich Cardinall to have his brother Clarence death revenged The King thus provided with money sent his brother the Duke of Bedford with the Army to Callice consisting of foure thousand men at armes and foure and twenty thousand Archers himselfe about the middle of May followeth and safely arriving at Callice hee hasted to relieve Charters whom the Dolphin with seven thousand men had besieged and comming to Maunt heard that the Dolphin was retired to Tours The Duke of Burgoyne who had received and feasted the King with his Father and Mother-in-law at Monstruell and from thence came with the King to Maunt went backe to Piccardy to resist the insolencies of Sir Iaques de Harcourt The King of Scots with the Duke of Glocester about the eight of Iuly besieged Dreux which upon the eight of August compounded That if they were not reskued before the twentieth of that moneth to deliver up the Towne the souldiers with their goods to march whither they would upon which day no reskue came they had all leave to depart except one Searle an Englishman fled thither for Treason out of Roane whom they presently executed and the Towne was delivered to the King of Scots whereof the Earle of Worcester was made Captaine and Sir Henry Mortimer Bayliffe The King pursued the Dolphin from place to place but hee was too flit of foot to bee easily overtaken In the way King Henry surprized the Towne of Baugency but tooke them all to mercy that craved it the like he did at Rugemounte from thence victuall failing hee went to Orleans and from thence to Vignei Sainct Yon where hee stayed awhile to refresh his men and from thence to Paris and having there fitted himselfe with supplies hee went and fate downe before Meuix in Brye a Towne no lesse well victualed then manned and no better furnished then fortified neverthelesse after many assaults the besieged forsooke the Walls and drew into the Market place where they began workes for their defence from whence being likewise beaten the King had possession of that and all the Fortresses in the Isle of France in Lonvaus in Brye and in Champayne The Duke of Bedford in the Kings absence called a Parliament in England in which was granted to the King towards the maintenance of his warres one Fifteene to bee payed in such moneyes as at the time of the graunt were current Vpon Saint Nicholas day Queene Katherine was brought to bed of a Sonne at Windsor who was by the Duke of Bedford and Henry Bishop of Winchester and the Countesse of Holland Christened by the name of Henry whereof when the King had notice out of a propheticke disposition hee sayd Good Lord I Henry borne at Monmouth shall small time raigne and much get and Henry borne at Windsor shall long Raigne and lose all but Gods will be done Divers Frenchmen under the leading of Oliver de Many who had given faith never to beare armes against the King of England entred Normandy and did rob and spoyle the countrey But being by the Earle of Suffolke encountred hee was after a long and desperate fight taken and all his Confederates rowted the King notwithstanding his breach of faith put him not to death but sent him prisoner to England where he dyed The Dolphin layed siege to Cosney who made composition that if they were not reskued by the King of England within tenne dayes to surrender The King was so intentive to the reskue that hee over-heat himselfe with travell and comming to Senlis found himselfe so distempered that hee was enforced to remaine there and send his brother Duke of Bedford to prosecute the dissigne who effected the same the Dolphin upon his approach raised the siege and dishonourably retired into Berry whereof in mockage hee was after called King of Berry the Queenes untimely visit who not long before having taken shipping at Southampton with a gallant Company of freshmen raysed and furnished at her owne charge under the conduct of the Duke of Bedford was come into France and had met the King at Paris where hee left her but shee having notice of his sicknesse was come unto him did much increase the Kings Fever insomuch that by the perswasion of the Doctors and direction of the Kings Councell against her owne will and the Kings desire whose ardent affection unto her could hardly brooke her absence shee left the King who after her departure growing worse and worse was removed to Bloys where within few dayes hee yeelded up his conquests to the all-Conquerour who sent him Crowned with never-dying victory to place of ever-living glory Somewhat before his departure out of this world hee made the Duke of Bedford Lieutenant generall of Normandy and Regent of the kingdome of France And the Duke of Glocester Protector of England and his sonnes person exhorting all to bee true and friendly to the Duke of Burgoyne to bee at unitie amongst themselves to bee loyall to their young Prince to bee seruiceable to his dearely beloved Queene to hold and preserve what he by his valour and Gods assistance had wonne never to conclude contract of amitie with the Dolphin or the Duke of Alanson untill they had submitted themselves to the Kings grace and so giving God thankes for all his former favours and blessings bestowed upon him hee dyed the last of August 1422. in the eight and thirtieth yeere of his age when hee had raigned nine yeares five moneths and foure and twenty dayes his body was carried to Westminster and there buried amongst his Ancestours his character appeareth best when it is referred to his recollection of himselfe for as hee was in youth the most untowardly so in his riper yeares hee approved himselfe of great noblenesse and vertue his stature was tall his personage slender but very strong active he was saith Walsingham modestus vultu actu magnanimus of courage invincible and fortunately victorious in all his battells never receiving checke in any of nature liberall of disposition affable of a generous spirit of infatigable constancy hee was wise and provident in Councell in judgement upright and just in his speech sober in countenance majesticke in comportment magnanimous borne and bred for conquest of life unreprovable and in his death generally greatly lamented in briefe his deeds gave cause of admiration to contemporaries and imitation
end of August following In which time the truce began to be forgotten for the French awaiting all occasions of advantage by secret plots and devises had cunningly possessed themselves of divers Castles places of strength justifying their actions and affirming that what was politickly obtained without blows was no infringement of the Truce And afterwards they perfidiously conveyed 200. men at armes into the Castle of Roan presuming to have surprized it but being discouered they were all taken and either executed as traytours or ransomed The Regent knowing these coles would quickly kindle speeds him to his charge and preparation on both sides is made for war wherein he found the Duke of Burgoine lesse forward then he had used to be whereby the Regent found his affection did slacke but would not seeme to take notice thereof The Lord Talbot having payed his ransome commeth to the Regent bringeth with him 700. tryed souldiers They take the field on both sides in warlike manner making shews of encounter but twice together being provoked by the Regent to fight the French slunke away in the darke as not daring to abide the hazard of a battell The Peasants of Normandy pretending to shake off the English yoke which never had beene made insupportable rudely armed themselves and in outragious manner drew towards Cane but having neither power to command nor honesty to obey they were by the Earle of Arundel and the Lord Willoughby encountred and easily overthrowne with the slaughter of 1000. of them the rest were all taken whereof the chiefe Leaders were executed as traytors and the baser sort upon submission and acknowledgement of their errours permitted to depart to their severall homes But the Earle and the Lord Willoughby being now in the field and having intelligence that le Hire had besieged the Castle of Gorbury drew thither with intent to have succoured it but finding themselves too weak they made account to have retired to Beavoys but being descried they were pursued by le Hire who having advantage charged the Earle perceiving no safetie but not to hope of help resolved to win or dye fought valiantly but the Earle is dangerously wounded by the shot of a Culvering which caused the Lord Willoughby to retyre and convey the wounded Earle to Beavoys where within three dayes hee dyed say the Historians but the Harrolds say he dyed and was buried at Lewis in Sussex he married Mawd the Daughter of Sir Robert Lovell and had issue Humphry that succeeded him and Avitie married to Iames Butler Earle of Ormon and Wiltshire After the death of Arundel the Lord Willoughby dispierced his forces to their former garrisons but stayed himselfe there The Duke of Burbon taken at the battell of Agincourt after eighteene yeares imprisonment paying 18000 pounds for his ransome the same day hee was enlarged dyed at London Charles his Son who had married the Sister of the Duke of Burgoyn succeeded his Father Betwixt the two brother-in-lawes an unnaturall jarre was raysed but by the mediation of Mary Dutchesse of Berry they are reconciled by whose labour and industry with the helpe of the Duke of Burbon a reconciliation is likewise wrought betweene the French King and Burgoyne The jealousie between the Regent and the Duke of Burgoyne now was publickly discerned Whereby those that cald to mind the great charge that Henry the Fift gave on his death-bed carefully to retaine that Dukes amity laboured an enterview betwixt them to remove all scruples on either part which was obtained and Saint Omers was the place agreed upon where both Dukes being arrived they both standing too punctually on points of Honour who should give prioritie of visitation the Duke of Bedford as the Sonne Brother and Vncle of a King and Regent of France pretended it dishonourable for him to begin and the other challenging the same as of right belonging to him to have the first place the same being within his own Dominions The wisest in some points are foolish they both departed more discontented then before the haughtinesse of the spirit of the one and the great stomacke of the other being unable to give way to their unruly passions And hereupon the Duke of Burgoyne made choice rather to enter league with him that had murthered his Father then to keepe his oath with the King of England or the bond of love so often plighted with the Regent his friend and Brother-in-law And upon the receipt of a blancke Charter under the French Kings Seale to insert what Conditions of peace hee would hee proved renegado and falsified his faith to England lost his reputation to the world and sold himselfe slave to perpetuall ignomy The Towne of Saint Dennis by the perfidiousnesse of Mathew Gougley was betrayed to the Bastard of Orleance but the Lord Talbot presently beguirt the same with a siege to raise which the bastard Orleance drew great forces together but before their approach the Towne was given up and beatento the ground The inhabitants of Pontoys neverthelesse rebell and thrust out the English garrison whose examples did set the Parisians mindes on worke to tread the same steps but the Regents vigilancie over them hindred their intentions But now began the bright light of Englands glory to be ecclipsed those glorious beames of victory which they formerly had obtained every day more and more to decline The triple twine being cleane untwisted for the thrice renowned wise and circumspect Iohn Regent of France Duke of Bedford Aniou and Alanson Earle of Mayne Harecourt Dreux Richmond and Carlile and Vicount Beamond the Atlas whose shoulders kept the realme of France from sliding from their allegiance sworne to King Henries Father and Sonne upon the fourteenth of September 1435. at Paris exchanged all his glory here for the fruition of a more sempiternall felicitie in another place he was buried at Roan in our Ladies Church Whereat the Nobilitie of Normandy much repined as seeming desirous to have had some place of their owne territories to have been honoured by giving sepulture to so nobly deserving a Patriot unto them Yet such was their levitie that within few yeares after in the Raigne of Lewis the Sonne of Charles they instantly desired to have the Monument erected over him to bee demolished alleaging it was dishonourable to have so arch an enemy to France interred in the Metropolitan Citie of that Province But Lewis answered God forbid I should give way to so dishonourable an act as to molest the quiet of his dead bones that living would if offended have molested all here and it savours of too much basenesse to insult upon a dead Lyon Hee had two wives the first was Anne Sister of the Duke of Burgoyne the second Iaqueline daughter of Peter Earle of Saint Paul but had issue by neither No sooner was his death divulged but infinite alterations followed aswell in England as France Edmond Duke of Somerset as much affecting Soveraigne command underhand laboured to
engratiated he not only supplanted him from the place but procured it for himselfe to the no little hart-burning of the Duke of Yorke and his friends but hee had wit in his anger and rested silent The towne of Mauns according to the agreement is not given up The King of France prepares to besiege it but upon the motion of the Marquesse order is given for the present surrender thereof now no man in grace with the King but hee none can have any favour from the Queene but by him the extent of his power over-reacheth all the Councell hee gets of the King the Wardship of the body and lands of the Countesse of Warwicke and of the Lady Margaret sole Daughter and heire of Iohn Duke of Somerset afterward Mother to King Henry the seventh The Kings facile nature and flexible condition was the occasion that many enormities encreased and many things made worse that might have beene better if observed and stopt in the beginning The Duke of Glocester for his moderation and provident care in all things stiled good and for his paines in delivery of his mind honest is an eye-sore to an ambitious minion and an imperious woman shee will no longer admit any curbe to her vast desires of empery shee is as well able to advise the King as all his Councell to what purpose then needeth a Protector The Duke of Glocester must therefore bee removed and excluded not only from command but Councell and to adde to affliction shee permitted if not procured divers sinisterly affected to informe against him whereof the new Marquesse and the Duke of Buckingham were not the most backward and the Cardinall Bishop of Winchester and Archbishop of Yorke would not bee much behind one objection was made against him that he had caused divers persons to be executed contrary to the judgement of the Court denounced and against the law of the land in these cases provided his too much zeale of execution of justice if zeale in that point may be justly termed a crime made him subject to be censured to have perpetrated a criminall offence But to avoid tumultuary partakings for he was generally well esteemed howsoever by purblind observers deemed worthy taxe it was concluded by those that maligned his sincere and just proceedings that hee should without any publicke denuntiation of his offence bee privately convicted and condemned to which end a Parliament by the procurement of his enemies unwitting to the King is called at Bury to which the Duke of Glocester resorting is on the second day of the Session by the Lord Beamond then high Constable abetted by the Duke of Buckingham arrested and put to Ward all his followers without exception sequestred from him whereof thirty two are committed to severall prisons the next day after his commitment hee is found in his bed murthered yet shewed the same day being the foure and twentieth day of February publickly making show as though hee had dyed of an impostume but all indifferent persons that saw his corps could not but deeme he dyed of an unnaturall cause his corpes were the same day conveyed to Saint Albones and there buried five of his meniriall servants Sir ROGER CHAMBERLAIN Knight MIDDLETON HERBERT ARTZIS Esquire and IOHN NEEDHAM Gentlemen were condemned to bee drawne hanged and quartered But the Marquesse of SVFFOLKE to make a show to the world of his having no finger in the businesse brought their pardon and delivered it at their proposed place of execution some criticall observers have affirmed the stile of Gloucester as ominous and make instance of Hugh Spencer Thomas of Woodstock and this Duke Humphry but it may be well collected that this Dukes death gave a prodigious presage of the ensewing Calamitie of the Common-wealth sometimes in quenching of smoke men burne their fingers in the fire so the Queene casting to preserue her husbands honor and her owne regalitie in making away this honest Duke affected that which discretion should have most labored to prevent which was the decay of the house of Lancaster which was vnlikely to have chanced if this Duke had lived For his primogeniture would haue kept backe the Duke of Yorkes claime to the Crowne this Richards father being but the fift sonne of Edward the third Humphry Plantagenet was the fourth sonne of Edward the third Duke of Gloucester Earle of Hennault Holland Zeland and Pembroke Lord of Frisia great Chamberlaine of England he married two wives Iaquet from whom he was divorced and Elianor daughter of Reginald Lord Cobham by whom before marrage he had a daughter called Antigona married to Henry Gray Lord of Tanckervile but no issue legitimate The new Marquesse of Suffolk by the great fauour of the King But more desire of the Queene is created Duke of Suffolk which brought him within the compasse of Contempt of the Kings surviving Vncle The Duke of Yorke who now beginning to sucke the venome of his kinswoman the Lady Cobhams sorcery and awakened with his brothers losse her disgrace and his owne disrepute having by consanguinitie and affinity a faire meanes to draw a partie observing that they onely sat at the stearne that were vnable yea vnworthy to use the oare of the common-wealth and that all affares of state were meerly managed by the Queene and her fauourite the Duke of Suffolk the King being as a Cipher but at their pleasure to make a number did amongst his familiars privily whisper his title and right to the Crowne and afarre off as in a landskip to make a show of desire to see the flourishing encrease of the white Rose And so politikly carried his intent that all things were provided to further his proiect ere his purpose was published during this plotting Henry Bewford the rich Cardinall Bishop of Winchester takes his leave of this world and leaves more riches behind him then either good deeds or glorious name he was more noble in blood then notable in learning of high looke and haughty stomacke constant in nothing more then malice and mischiefe and that chiefly employed against good Duke Humphry his desires were insatiable for mony still coveting more but misimploying nothing in expence for he only horded to make others rich and himselfe poore what his ends were except he was perswaded never to dye no living man did know and had he desired to have measured his greatnesse by his goodnesse he had never been administrator to his owne good name for that dyed long before him without which we leave him to be seconded in the Bishopricke of Winchester by a more deserving Prelate which was William Wanfleet so stiled of the place he was borne in but his name was Pattern of the worshipfull family whereof he was descended The fifth of August following dieth Iohn Holland Duke of Exceter Earle of Huntington and Iuory in Normandy Lord of Sparr Leivetenant generall of the Dutchy of Aquitaine Admirall of England and Constable of the Tower of London he married
on the other side of turbulent spirited men to have leave to execute the place 13. That they are too much troubled with too often comming to attend the generall Sessions being enforced in many places to make five dayes journey to the place where they are kept hereof they made complaint and crave redresse and that speedily The Captaine likewise for his owne particular after protestation made to live and die in the quarrell of the King and in justification of his being Soveraigne and undoubted Lord and of affirmation of his desire of the Kings welfare and prosperitie of the Realme maketh Petition that the King would be himself not live of the almes of his poore Cōmons whilst his proud Courtiers ryot out the revenewes of the Crown to that end hee craveth that the King wil resume into his own hands all the demeasne lands rights and profits of the Crowne now sold or leased or farmed or otherwise disposed of 2. That his Majestie would be pleased to call backe and into favour to receive the truly noble Prince the Duke of York now exiled from his presence and with him the right honourable the Dukes of Exceter Buckingham and Norfolke and the antient Noblemen of the Realme by the undue practises of Suffolke and his complices commanded from his presence And that all their antagonists and ill-willers might bee banished the Court or bard their place in Councell and displaced of their Offices 3. That condigne punishment might be impartially inflicted upon all the plotters contrivers of the Duke of Glocesters death their associates abettors and of all such as were the causes of the death of the Dukes of Exceter and Warwicke with the irrecuperable losse of the Kings possessions in France 4. That there mightbe a generall amotion of corrupt officers an abolition of the green Wax and other instruments of extortion out of the Exchequer a qualification of the rigor of proceeding in the Kings bench an inhibition of unequall purveyance of provision for the Kings houshold a cessation of proceedings against the offenders of the Statute of Laborers and a present execution of the Promooters Slegge Cromer Isell and East whom he pretended by wrongfull informations to have abused the King and wronged his subjects These bills of intimation and petition are sent from the lower House to the upper from whence the examination of the circumstances are committed to the Lords of the Kings privy Councell who having throughly perused them and maturely examined the particulars explode them as frivolous and conclude the promovers and authors there of proud and presumptuous rebells Whereupon the King is solicited by his privy Councell to punish the unlawfull attempt of these rebellious pretenders rather by force then entreaty This advise is seconded by the Queen whom she perceived now they principally aimed at though not as yet in overt termes discovered The King drawes his forces to Greenwitch from whence he appointed divers namelesse Lords to assaile the rebells but they were told by their followers that they would not fight against their friends as only laboured the reformation of abuses and the punishment of such traytors about the King as the Lord Say the Kings Chamberlain was whose name was rife in every mans mouth as well on one side as other to be reproched whereupon the L. Chamberlaine is presently cōmitted to the tower until other forces come the King Queen retire to London from whence within two daies being nowful 15000. strong the King in person marcheth towards Captaine Amend all who politickly withdraweth his forces to Senock wood upon notice where of the King retireth to London But the Queen thirsting after their ruine that plotted hers sends the two Staffords Sir Humphry William with many gallants to follow the rebels these proud of imployment make more hast then good speed for they found Iacke Cade in good order ready to receive them who in the first encounter slew Sir Humphry afterwards his brother put all the rest to ◅ight The Kings forces being at Blackheath could not by threats or entreats bee enforced or perswaded to goe to the reskues But hearing of the discomfiture of the Staffords and the forward Courtiers they began to whistle treason wishing the Queene and her favourites in Staffords roome or that the Duke of Yorke were in England to ayd his Cousin Mortimer never ownd to be of the house of March untill now But all expressing their backwardnesse to make resistance many of them steale to the Kentishmen and others from Sussex and Surrey encrease his number whom he ordereth restraineth from forraging or taking any thing by force or without payment yet how or from whence he had provision of food for this numerous company or mony to provide it had not some Londoners underhand given him assistance might have beene wondered But hee returneth againe to Black-heath and encampeth where the Kings army lay the night before who were now falne downe to Green-witch The Archbishop of Canterbury and the Duke of Buckingham are sent to expostulate with the rebells and their Captaine about their demmand a miserable time the while when two such peeres must be imployed in such a manner to so meane a person and a rebell But now beeing together Iack Cade with a sober composed countenance and great moderation expressed himselfe in very good termes but without show of reluctation or cessation from armes except the King in person would heare the grievances of the subject and passe his Princely word for reformation of their wrongs thus setled if not peremptory resolution made knowne to the King who was in doubt of his owne forces as being unsure of his owne Souldiers faith marcheth presently to Killingworth Castle in Warwickshire where he fortifieth and victualleth as suspecting to be besieged having left nor power nor Commander of note behind but onely the Lord Scales who with some forces were left to gard the Tower The Kentish Captaine taking advantage of the Kings departure commeth to Southwarke where he orderly quartereth his men earnestly exhorting his Souldiers to be Examples of that in themselves that they made pretence to find wanting in others and to be regular and modest and to Commit no outrage either in or about their lodging he himselfe kept the watch and kept all things faire and square The next morning they marched to London-bridge where they made shift with their swords to cut the ropes of the draw bridge no force being used for resistance and so in good order they march by London stone vpon which the Captaine strooke his sword saying Loe Mortymer is now Lord of London The Maior of London Sir Thomas Chalton standing upon the threshold of his doore with a bold countenance as though he had power enough if he would to represse him told the Captaine that if he should attempt any thing against the quiet of the City that he should feele hands enough about their eares to stop them before they
went too farre whereunto Iacke Cade not permitting him to proceed with a setled brow sayd Let the world take notice of our honest intention by our actions wee pretend not publicke reformation and intend private ends of inriching our selues by vndoing others let us have your favourable opinions if you will not give us further assistance and in the meane time to give you assurance our tongues and hearts are relatives observe our demeanours and so giving the word his Souldiers faced about and returned to their last quarter not doing by the way the lest thing that might be tearmed wrong to the Citizens This orderly carriage of himselfe with the care of the Commanders to keepe the men in obedience to the statutes and provisions of their Generall wonne them a good opinion amongst the most of the lower ranke of Citizens he therefore assuming to himselfe the place of chiefe sendeth out his Letters of safe conduct to such whom hee pleased to make use of amongst whom he wrote this to Thomas Cocke Draper of London By this one writing ensealed wee grant and will permit truly That Thomas Cocke of London Draper shall come in suretie and in safeguard to our presence without any hurt to his person and to avoid from us againe at his pleasure with all other persons asigned at his denomination with him comming in subscribed thus His Majesties loyall subject Iohn Mortimer Captaine amend all Vpon Cocks admission he had private conference with three other with him and the Captaine at his departure gave him these instructions in writing You shall charge all Lombards and Merchant strangers Genowayes Venetians Florentines and others This day to draw themselves together And to ordaine for us the Captaine twelve harnesse compleat of the best fashion foure and twenty Brigandines twelve battell Axes twelve glaves six horses with saddle and bridle compleatly furnished and a thousand markes in ready money And if this our demand bee not performed and done wee shall have the heads of as many as wee can get of them Next morning being the third of Iuly having received the Lombards contribution hee returned in battell array to London and from thence sent to the Lord Scales for the bringing of his prisoner the Lord Say to the Guild-hall whither hee had called the Maior with his brethren and before whom hee caused the Lord Say to bee arraigned who craved the benefit of the Law to bee tried by his Peeres was forth with taken from his Keepers and brought to the Standard in Cheap and there had his head chopt off which being pitched upon a Pike was carried before him to Mile-end whither hee went to have conference with the Mutiners of Essex which were encamped there by the way casually meeting with Sir Iames Cromer the high Sheriffe of Kent who had lately married the Lord Sayes Daughter hee caused his head to bee strucke off and carried with his Father-in-Lawes before him in derision From thence hee returned into Southwarcke and orderly kept his watches tying the Companies to their martiall duties In the morning they came againe to London where after publick execution made of some of his followers that had done things contrary to his Proclamation for hee made the transgression of his Edicts criminall without the least partialitie or sparing any upon some displeasure formerly taken against Alderman Malpas hee sent and seized upon all his Wares and goods and sent it to his quarter in Southwarcke and fined Alderman Horne at five hundred Markes and began in a more insolent manner then hitherto hee had used to beare himselfe which caused the graver Citizens to take advise amongst themselves for some speedy course to be taken for the repressing of these insolencies and the assurance of their lives and substance from the fury of such Rebells They send therefore by night to the Lord Scales who promiseth them his best assistance and to that end sendeth to them Mathew Gough an old souldier and an able Captaine with some forces and furnitures out of the Tower who presently are drawne downe to London Bridge and at the foot thereof stand to debarre the Kentish rebells from passage that way whereupon the alarum is given and Cade endevoured to force his passage so that a cruell fight began which did continue many houres sometimes joyning sometime losing ground at length the Rebells prevailed so farre that they drove the Londoners from the draw-bridge then they began to set fire on the houses when the aged and impotent betweene the mercilesse elements of fire and water whilst the more able were slaine by the sword most miserablie perished Captaine Bough Alderman Sutton and Robert Haysand valiantly fighting were slaine now had the Londoners lost the Bridge and were driven to S. Magnus corner but a fresh supplie being come they recouered the Bridge and droue the Kentish beyond the stoope in Southwarke at which time both being weary agreed of a truce untill the next day neither partie to goe into the others quarters after the retreate Cade found that he had lost many of his most able men he was therefore driven for supplie to set at liberty all the prisoners in Southwarke aswell fellones as debtors to fill up his number but now his Souldiers entring into consideration of their danger and the desparate services their Captaine had brought them to and though which the latest advising privately amongst themselves of some Course to retyre and returne to their houses and families being weary of the life of a Souldier they hung downe their heads only wayted but opportunity to give their Captaine the bag which being wisely apprehended by the Lord Archbishop of Canterbury collecting by their Countenances their change of opinion he together with the Bishop of Winchester came from the Towen by water to Southwarke where they shewed the kings Generall pardon under the great seale of England which being publickly published the people were not more weary of rebelling then glad of the pardon and without bidding the Captaine farewell they that night withdrew themselves to their severall habitation Iack Cade having sent his pillage by water with some few followers bent his joureney to Quinborough Castle where contrary to expectation being debarred entrance he disguised himselfe and privily fled but Proclamation being made that he that should bring him alive or dead should have for his reward a thousand Markes he was afterward by one Alexander Eden Gentleman attached but making resistance in a Garden at Hothfield in Sussex he was slaine his body was brought to London and there beheaded and quartered the one placed on London Bridge the other sent into diuers places in Kent to be set up upon this newes the King sends his Commissioners into Kent to enquire of the abettors of the Kentish rebells whither himselfe followeth in person and notwithstanding five hundred were found guiltie eight only were executed The slippes of this rebellion did spring about this time in many places of this kingdome but chiefly
in Sussex Surry and Wilshire but were soone appeased without much hurt done only the Wilshire men upon the nine and twenteth day of Iune drew William Askots Bishop of Salisbury from the high altar celebrating Masse in Edington Church in his albe with his stole about his necke to the top of the hill and their inhumanly murdered him Their rage having blinded their reason banisht humanitie and drowned all pitty they stripped him naked every one of his tenants striving to have a peece of his bloody shirt not as others to have the relikes of the Martyr to celebrate his memory but as glorying in their owne villany they having the day before robbed his carriage and taken the sum of ten thousand marks The French King taking hold of these disorders in England winneth out of their hands all whatsoever was in their possession in France no succour though often and earnestly by writing and Messengers required being sent unto them so that England at this time suffred a totall eclipse of glory in France They every day loosing more or lesse untill they had nothing left in France to loose but the Towne of Callice and the Castles of Hames and Gnynes so that King Henry the Fifts propheticke declaration that what Henry of Monmouth got in France Henry of Windsor should lose was now verified The Duke of Somerset having so well discharged his place of Regency that hee had lost but few men but consumed much Treasure and kept never a Towne commeth into England and at a Parliament which began at Westminster the sixt of November was put under arrest upon notice whereof the commons of London despoiled his house at Black-fryers and ransacked the same making havocke of all things untill Proclamation was made on pain of death that no man should meddle with any the Dukes houses or stuffe and one for disobeying the Proclamation was beheaded at the Standard in Cheape The Duke of Yorke under pretence of comming to this Parliament came out of Ireland and at London had private conference with Iohn Duke of Norfolke Richard Earle of Salisbury the Earle of Devon and other his assured Friends where it was resolved to keepe the chiefe purpose the pretence to the Crowne secret and only make shew of his endevours to bee bent to remove those from the Councell of the King that had so dishonoured the Realme and wasted the revenewes of the Crowne in losing so many good Townes in France and doing nothing worthy their place or credit they held about the King whereof the Duke of Somerset must bee the chiefe man to bee instanced and the rather for that hee was in great contempt of the Commons and was the only hee that opposed the Duke of Yorke in all things The Duke having layed the foundation of this his so long intended enterprise sent divers Letters unto the King wherein hee intimated the many unworthy proceedings plotted against him by his enemies whereby they had well-nie if hot altogether withdrawne his Majesties affection from him and though hee were and was ready to lay downe his life at the Kings command as a testimony of his ever to continue loyalty yet by their secret and dishonourable practises they had besmeared his honour with suspition of his integrity which was a griefe unutterable and an injury unsupportable That his patience abused might turne to furie neverthelesse his only request was to know his accuser and either to have libertie to defie him and make good his challenge by the law of Armes or bee permitted to take that course for the reparation of his Honour as was appertaining to his condition and birth To this the King maketh answer that hee would take his complaint of wrongs into consideration and endevour to give him faire satisfaction but withall somewhat blames him for the death of the Bishop of Chester by his meanes suspected to bee slaughtered and of dangerous speeches uttered by his servants tending to rebellion concluding that notwithstanding any thing said or done to the contrary he did take and esteeme him as a faithfull subject and a loving kinsman The Duke of Yorke not herewith satisfied intending at once both to promulgate his protestation and display his colours departeth into Wales and there levieth men making his colour for the good of the Common-wealth and the removing the bad Councellers that sought the ruine of his subjects from the Kings Councell Newes hereof being brought the King with the Duke of Somerset now enlarged with an Army marched towards Wales whereof the Duke of Yorke having notice by his Scoutes which way the King came by a contrarie way marched towards LONDON but having from thence received advertisements that hee would bee prohibited entrance hee past the River Thames at Kingstone bridge and marched into Kent expecting there to find many friends at least partakers and encamped upon Burnt heath The King in his pursuit came to Blackheath and there pitcht his Tents From whence the King sent the Bishops of Winchester and Ely the Lord Rivers and Richard Andrews the keeper of the Privie Seale to know the cause of this Commotion and to make offer of reconcilement if the Dukes Demaunds were consonant to reason The Duke made answer that there was nothing intended that might bee prejudiciall to the Kings person his Crowne or Dignitie nor to the hinderance of any good man but to remove certaine blood-suckers evill disposed persons oppressours of the poore and infamous impostors from about the King but especially Edmond Duke of Somerset whom if the King would bee but pleased to commit to Ward untill by a legall tryall in Parliament hee might receive judgement of such treasonable crimes as should then and there bee proved against him that then he would not only dismisse his Army but come unto his presence as a true and loyall subject in dutie was bound so to doe and to tender him all befitting service Hereupon the Duke of Somerset is committed to prison the Duke of Yorke dismisseth his Army and commeth in person to the King where finding the Duke of Somerset in the Presence hee chargeth him with Treason The Duke of Somerset denieth the accusation and recriminates the Duke of Yorke to have conspired the death of the King and the usurpation of the Crowne The King removeth to London and the Duke of Yorke as a prisoner rode before the King but the Duke of Somerset at liberty which ministred much occasion of heart-burning amongst the friends of Yorke The King calleth a Councell at Westminster where the Dukes are earnest in accusing each other Somerset instantly craved of the Councell that the Duke of Yorke might by compulsion or otherwise bee made to confesse his Conspiracy and to doome him to condigne punishment and his children taken as enemies to their country as the only meanes to represse the so much to bee feared civill dissention This hee with great show of vehemency urged but not how true soever to
succeeded in the Earledome 2. Iohn the second was Created Marquesse Mountague 3. Thomas married the Widow of the Lord Willoughby 4. George was Archbishop of Yorke and Lord Chancellor 1. Ioane the eldest Daughter was married to William Fisz-Allen Earle of Arundell 2. Cecily was married to Henry Beuchamp Duke of Warwicke 3. Alice was married to Henry Lord Fitz-Hugh 4. Elianor to Thomas Stanley Earle of Darby 5. Katherine to William Bonvile Lord Harrington and 6. Margaret to Iohn Vere Earle of Oxford Richard Plantagenet Duke of Yorke tooke to wife Cecily Daughter of Ralph Nevill first Earle of Westmerland and had issue eight Sonnes and foure Daughters 1. His eldest Sonne Henry dyed young 2. Edward afterwards King of England 3. Edmond Earle of Rutland slaine with his Father 4. Iohn dyed young 5. William 6. Thomas 7. George after Duke of Clarence 8. Richard surnamed Croutchbacke after King of England 1. Anne his eldest Daughter was married to Henry Holland Duke of Exceter 2. Elizabeth married to Iohn de la Poole Earle of Suffolke 3. Margaret married to Charles Duke of Burgundie 4. And Vrsula The Earle of March having tidings of his Fathers death encreaseth his Army and borne up with two wings desire of revenge and expectation to raigne hee tooke his leaue at Shrowsbury of the Inhabitants intimating to them at his departure the murther of his Father and Brother the destruction intended of himselfe and Familie and downfall of all that wisht well to his part if not heedfully prevented hee craved therefore their utmost assistance and their neighbours which they accordingly performed and then with some good strength presently tooke the field and having advertisement that Iasper Earle of Penbrooke with the Earles of Ormond and Wiltshire with a great power of Welch and Irish did follow after him hee suddenly marcheth backe againe and in a plaine neere Mortimers Crosse on Candlemasse day in the morning hee gave them battaile and with the slaughter of three thousand and eight hundred put the Earles to flight Owen Teuther who had married Queene Katherine Mother to Henry the sixt and divers Welch Gentlemen were taken and at Hereford beheaded The Queene encouraged by the death of the Duke of Yorke with a power of Northerne people with an intent to undoe what was done in the last Parliament marcheth towards London but when her souldiers were once South of Trent as if that River had beene the utmost limits of their good behaviour they did most licentiously forrage the Country harrowing burning and spoyling the same as if they had beene in the most barbarous land of heathens Approaching Saint Albones they were advertised that the Duke of Norfolke and the Earle of VVarwicke were ready to give them battaile The Queenes Voward hasteth to passe thorow Saint Albones but were saluted from the Market place with such a showre of arrowes that they were for safeguard glad to retire and sought to passe by another way which but not without some blowes they did and encountred with their enemies in the field who perceiving the maine battaile to stand and not to move by the trechery of Lonelace who with the Kentish men led the Van. the Southerne men turned afide and fled and by the Northerne prickers were slaughtered untill night saved their backes When night was come the residue despairing of each others well-meaning shifted away The Nobles about the King perceiving how the game went withdrew themselves The Lord Bonvile comming in a complementall manner to the King saying It grieved him to leave his Majestie but necessitie for safeguard of his life enforced it was importuned and Sir Thomas Kiryell like wise by the King to stay hee passing his royall word that their stay should not endanger their bodyes upon which promise they stayed but to their cost for such was the inplacable fury of the Queen that hearing Baron Thorpe was by the Commons beheaded at Highgate she the day after the battell being Ashwednesday caused both their heads to bee smitten off at Saint Albones whose death reckoned with the rest maketh up of the slaughtered the number of three and twentie hundred The King was advised to send one Thomas Hoe that had beene a Barrester to the Victors to thanke them for their paines and to tell them that hee would gladly come to them if with convenience it might be done The Earle of Northumberland appointed divers Lords to attend him to the Lord Cliffords Tent where the Queene and young Prince met to their great joy it was now observed that victory alwayes fled from where the King was present At the Queenes request he honored with the order of Knighthood thirty that the day before fought against the part where hee was the Prince likewise was by him dubbed Knight Then they went to the Abby where they were entertained with Anthems and withall an humble Petition to be taken into the Kings protection thereby to bee freed from the tiranny of the loose souldiers which was promised and Proclamation accordingly made but to small purpose for the Northerne men said it was made in their bargaine to haveall the spoyle in every place after they had passed the River of Trent and so they robbed and spoyled all they could come at which gave just cause of dislike to the indifferent-minded which only wisht the quiet and peace of the Country not respecting which Rose the red or white prevailed for now began that distinction by those Badges for the factions of Yorke and Lancaster to bee worne The Londoners hearing of this disorder were warned to looke to themselves and they were resolved since there was no more assurance in the Kings promise to keepe the Northerne men out of their gates The gentlenesse and tendernesse of a King not accompanied with courage and severitie is both hurtfull to himselfe and his estate In the Kings name the Londoners are sent to to send over to the Campe certaine Cart-loades of Lenton provision The Maior accordingly provides and makes all things ready but the Commons rose about Cripplegate and by strong hand say or doe what the Maior or his officers can they kept the Carts from going forth of the Citie The Maior sends the Recorder to the Kings Councell and knowing the predominancy of the Queenes passion if never so little troubled they entreat the Dutchesse of Bedford and the Lady Scales with all the Fathers of the Church resiant about London to intercede for him and excuse his not using force considering how apt the multitude was to take fire upon the least flash and how dangerous it might bee in these doubtfull times to raise their fury that would not easily bee allayed it was well advised to send women to entreat women for they so prevailed That some of the Lords of the Councell with a guard of foure hundred good souldiers were appointed to goe for London to enquire and certifie the truth of these things But before they set forth divers
Northerne men that long looked to have the ransacking of London came unto the gates and would have entred had not the Citizens valiantly repelled them and with the slaughter of some three or foure they were sent to carry word to the Campe that the Earle of March with a great Army was marching towards them neither was it a fiction For at Chipping-Norton by Cotsall the Earle of Warwicke having drawne together as many of his scattered troopes as hee could find met with the earle of March and his victorious troopes which being joyned they hasted towards London and were joyfully received upon the eight and twentieth day of Februarie and upon Sunday the second of March the Earle of Warwicke mustered all this Army in Saint Iohns fields and having cast them in a ring the Leader read unto them the agreement of the last Parliament and then demanded whether they would have King Henry to raigne still who all cryed No no then they were askt whether they would have the Earle of March eldest Sonne of the Duke of Yorke by that parliament proclaimed King to raigne over them and with a great clamour they cryed yea Then went there certaine Captaines and others of the Common Councell of the Citie to the Earle of March to Baynard Castle whom they acquainted with what was passed whereof hee expressed himselfe in some termes as unworthy of the place and unable to execute it yet hee thanked God for the gift and them for their good wills And by the advise of the Archbishop of Canterbury and theanimation of the Bishops of London Exceter and the Earle of Warwicke he resolved to take it upon him And the next morning he went in Procession at Pauls and offered there and after Te deum sung he was with great royalty conveyed to Westm. and there in the great Hall seated in the Kings seat with the Scepter of Saint Edward in his hand And then the people whereofthere was a great Concourse were alowd demanded if they would acknowledge him to bee their King to which with great willingnesse they cryed Yea yea Then taking homage of divers Noble men then present hee was with Procession and great State conveyed to the Abby there and placed in the Quier as King whilst Te deum was singing that done hee offered at Saint Edwards shryne and then returned by water to Pauls and was lodged in the Bishops Pallace Vpon the fourth of March hee was generally proclaimed King by the name of Edward the fourth THE LIFE AND RAIGNE OF KING EDVVARD THE FOVRTH EDWARD Earle of March borne at Roan in Normandy Sonne and Heire of Richard Plantagenet Duke of Yorke by Cecily Nevill Daughter of Ralph Earle of Westmerland and Ioane Daughter of Iohn of Gaunt by Lady Katherins Swinford upon the fourth day of March rode in State to the Church of Saint Paul in London and there made his Oblation And after Te Deum sung hee was with great solemnitie attended to Westminster and there being placed in the great Hall with the Scepter Royall in his hand before a confluence of people there assembled well knowing with what baite to angle to catch the many Hee makes a solemne declaration of his right to the Crowne of England challenging it to belong unto him by a double Title The first as Sonne and heire to Richard Duke of Yorke the rightfull Heire of the same The second as elected by Authority of Parliament upon King Henryes forfeit hereof Neverthelesse he was resolved to wave both Title and right by either except the people would willingly approve of his proceeding therein and lovingly allow of his Claime Whereupon it was againe publickly demanded of the assembly if they would unanimously admit and acknowledge the said Earle to bee their King and Soveraigne Lord whereupon all with one voice cryed Yea yea King Edward King Edward Thereupon hee went from thence to Westminster Abby and entred the same with solemne Procession and there as King offered and afterward by the name of Edward the Fourth was proclaimed King throughout the Citie of London In the meane time King Henry in the North was raising what powers hee could to stopthis Torrent But the Earle of March great in the favour of that great beast of many heads the multitude presuming of their ready willingnesse to assist him makes preparation to encounter King Henry To Edward resort men of all ages and condition the one making tender of their persons the other of their patrimonies to be spent at his devotion and for the support of his cause by which meanes he suddainly was furnished with a puissant and well accommodated army And being perswaded that no other meanes would serue for direction of his claime but the sword he resolued to set up his rest and by battaile to give a certaine determination to the question Vpon the twelfth of March his forces marched from London and by easie journeys came to Pomfret Castle where he rested and from thence the Lord Eitz-walter with some companies was sent by him to guard the passage at Ferry-brigg to stop the enemies approch that way King Henry likewise advanceth forward and sends his power under the conduct of the Duke of Somerset the Earle of Northumberland and the Lord Clifford Whilst himselfe Queene and sonne stay at Yorke The Lord Clifford very early on Palme Saterday in the morning with a troope of Northerne Prickers falls upon those that had the guard of the passage at Ferry-brig and defeated them with the slaughter of the Lord Fitzwalter and the bastard of Salisbury The Earle of Warwicke hearing of this defeate postes to the Earle of March his Campe and in his presence killing his horse said Sir I pray God have mercy on their soules which in the beginning of your enterprise have for your love lost there lives The enemie hath won the passage at Ferrybrigg There is no hope now but in God yet let him flye that will flye when kissing the Crosse of his sword he sayd by this good signe I will stand by him that will stand by me fall backe fall edge The Earle of March no whit amated but somewhat moved with Warwicks resolution presently made Proclamation that all such of his company as were unwilling to stay or afraid to fight should at their pleasure depart But to those that would abide he promised good reward Adding withall that if any that stayed should after turne his backe or flee That he that should kill such a Changeling should have double pay Then gave he order to the Lord Fauconbridge and Sir Walter Blunt to lead on the Vowarde who in their March about Dindingdale encountred with the Lord Clifford who formerly in cold blood had slaugtered the young Earle of Rutland him with Iohn Lord Nevill sonne and heire of the Earle of Westmerland they slew with most of their companies putting the rest to flight The next day likewise the Duke of Norfolke being dangerously sicke
bee supported and though to the offence of many hee had made his office the stauking-horse of his will yet none should dare say blacke to his eye Whilst these things are projecting the Queene appointeth Earle Rivers her Brother and her Sonne Richard Lord Gray and the rest of her Allyes and friends to provide with a strong power of able souldiers to guard the young King from Ludlowe to London The Duke of Gloucester being herewith acquainted might well thinke that if this plot were not effected before that time his pollicie hardly afterwards would in that point prevaile Hee therefore cunningly writes to the Queene whom ever since her husbands death hee had with a great show of respect by visitation and intercourse of message brought to a fooles beliefe to take seeming for being and shadowes for realityes And by his Letters intimates to her that it was rumored abroad that her Brother and Sonne against her will and without the knowledge of the late Kings kinred was providing with a mighty power of armed souldiers to conduct his Majestie in hostile manner from Wales to London which if it should bee so done would breed a great jelousie in the mindes of the common people who are apt enough to make an ill construction of the best action whereof they are ignorant That there were ill members whom the King had cause to suspect and therefore enforcedly came thus armed And where as now there was no appearance or likelihood but of true love and affection betwixt his kinred and her Allyes if any armed troopes should bee now raised and no cause knowne to what end the so late unfeyned reconcilement so happily by his late Brother procured would bee in question to bee dissolved yea any the least mistake mislike or distaste that might bee taken arise or given amongst the meanest of the common souldiers might minister occasion to disquiet the peace of the kingdome and set him and her Brother and partakers on both sides together by the eares and the mischiefe that thereby should ensue as it is to be feared a great deale would was like enough to fall on that part to which shee wisht least hurt and all the blame would redound to her and her kinred which now shee might easily so please her prevent if shee would but addresse her Letters to her Brother and Son to assure them from his mouth and upon his honour that himselfe and all the late Kings kinred were constantly resolved inviolably to observe the amicable attonement made by his Soveraigne and her Husband upon his death-bed betweene her Allyes and friends and the Kings kinred The too credulous Lady gave plenary consent to what the Duke of Glocester requested and to that end dispatched messengers to her Brother and Sonne who somewhat unwillingly but upon her request were perswaded to forbeare levying any more men and cashired those they had provided and attended only with their owne meniall servants they set forwards towards the Queene with the young King And with more hast then good speed came to North-Hampton and from thence the King went to Stony-Stratford where the two Dukes with a great traine well provided and mounted arrived And pretending the Towne to bee too little for the entertainment of their Companies they went to Northampton and alighted at the same Inne where the Earle Rivers had taken up his lodging that night resolving to overtake the King the next morning Vpon this their accidental meeting much Court complement enterchange of faire language show of courtesie passed and not the least colour for distaste or dislike taken or given on either side neither by themselves or followers But no sooner was supper ended but the Dukes pretending wearinesse through hard riding retire to their lodgings and the Earle goeth to his But the Dukes with their private friends when the Earle went to bed went to Councell what course to take with the least suspition and the most safetie to make away the Earle and his kinred In this consultation they continue the most part of the night And towards morning they tooke the keyes of the Inne gates and disperst their followers to keepe the passages with instruction not to permit horse-man or foot-man to passe the way towards Stony-Stratford pretending that none should goe before because the two Dukes might expresse their dutifull respect to the King the better by being first ready to give their attendance at his going to horse The Earle having notice by the Host of these proceedings imagining his destruction was plotted yet being debard of any meanes either to make resistance or escape hee set a good countenance upon the matter and came boldly to the Duke of Glocester his Chamber where hee found Buckingham and the rest with whom hee expostulates the reason of this course taken to imprison him and his in their Inne against their wills But they in stead of shaping him an answer made their will the law and without more speaking commanded the Earle to bee layd hands on objecting those crimes to him whereof themselves only were faulty And having taken order for his safe imprisonment they speedily tooke horse and came to Stony-Stratford at such time as the King was taking horse whom in all faire and reverent manner they saluted But a staffe was quickly found that a dogge may be smitten an offence is taken before given a quarrell is pickt against the Lord Richard Gray the Kings halfe brother in his own presence The Duke of Buckingham making relation to the King That he and the Marquesse his Brother with Earle Rivers the Queens Brother had endevoured and almost effected to drawe unto themselves the sole managing of the affaires of the kingdome and to sowe dissension betwixt the Blood-royall of your Fathers side and those scarce loyall on the Queenesside who greedily seeke after the others ruine and the better to effect it The Lord Marquesse without any warrant but of his owne head out of the Tower of London your principall Magazine hath taken both the Treasure and Armour to a great quantitie But what his purpose was to doe therewith though they were ignorant yet there was just cause to suspect it was to no good end And therefore it was thought expedient by the advise of the Nobilitie to attach him at Northampton to have him forth-comming to make answer for these and other his over-bold actions done against common honesty The King for want of experience unable to sound the depth of these plots mildly said to him What my Brother Marquesse hath done I cannot say but for my Vncle and Brother here I dare answer they are innocent of any unlawfull practises either against mee or you Oh quoth the Duke of Buckingham that hath beene their cunning to abuse your Majesties gentlenesse with keeping their trechery from your knowledge And thereupon instantly in the Kings presence they arrested the Lord Richard Sir Thomas Vaughan Sir Richard Hall and coveyed them to Northampton and from the
our so humble entreaty accept of this so presently proffered prefermēt But if as we shall be most unhappy and disconsolate to heare it your grace will refuse us we must then seeke and hope not to faile to find one that shall and not unworthily with halfe these entreaties undertake to undergoe the danger or hazard which you may be pleased sinilterly to suppose is in the acceptance These words in the apprehension of the auditory from Buckingham were so emphaticall and patheticall that they wrought so feelingly upon his passions That the Protector could not but be contented to expatiate his desire yet with some change of countenance and not without seeming reluctation he did say Since it is manifestly demonstrated unto men that the whole realme is so resolved That they will by no meanes admit my to me in my particular conceite most deerely respected Nephewes my intirely beloved new deceased brothers children and your late Kings sonnes being now infants to reigne over you whom no earthly creature without your good approbation can well governe And since the right of inheritance of the Crowne justly appertaineth to me as to the truly legitimate and indubitate heire of Richard Plantagenee Duke of York my illustrious father To which title your free and faire election is conjoynd which we chie◅ly embrace as effectuall and operative we are contented to condescend to your importunities and to accept of the royall government of this kingdome And will to the uttermost of our poore abilities endeuor the good and orderly managing thereof And therewith all descended from the upper Gallery where all the while before he had stayed and came downe and formally saluted them all where-with the gyddy headed multitude made the streets ecchoe with their loude acclamation of long live King Richard our dread Soveraigne Lord. And so the Duke of Buckingham tooke his solemn leave and every man departed to make a descant at home of the playne song abroad as every ones severall fancies did minister occasion All this time the two innocent infants are entertained with sports and pastimes but unacquainted with any thing that had passed as afore to their prejudice THE LIFE AND RAIGNE OF KING RICHARD THE THIRD THe next day the late Protector with a great traine rode to Westminster Hall and seating himselfe in the Kings bench where the Iudges of that Court in the terme time usually sit he sayd that it was the principall duty of a good King carefully to looke to the due administration of the municipall lawes of the kingdom in which part he would not be defective And then proceeding with a well compact oration in Commendations of peace and discovery of the discommodities of dissention He caused a generall Proclamation to be made for abolition and pardon of all injury wronges and enmity past And to give it the better colour He caused one Fogge which had formerly given him occasion of just exception for abusing him with a tale of truth to be sent for out of sanctuary at Westminster whither to prevent the Protectors anger he was fled and set presently at liberty and caused him in publicke to kisse his hand In his returne from Westminster his affable complement in the streets was so free and frequent That by the discreeter sort it seemed to savour more like fawning servility then courtly courtesie rather base then welbehaved After his returne home by the faire helpe of a fowle but close covered plot he had wonne an unconstant woman and procured the consent I dare not thinke good will or affection of the Lady Anne the youngest daughter of great Warwicke the relict of Prince Edward to be his wife howsoever she could not be ignorant that her sutor had bin the instrument if not the author of the tragicall murthers of both her husband and father But the reason of most womens actions are as indiscoverable as Reason in most of them is undiscernable To prevent had I wist and to secure his coronation five thousand men are sent for out of the Northern parts The guilt of a biting conscience like an atturny generall ever informing against the soule alwayes suggesting unto him feares and causes of suspition where no need was These souldiers ill clad and worse armed being come and all things prepared for the Coronation at least wise those put in use or action that were intended for the investiture of Edward the fifth in the regalitie the but late Protector now King Richard upon the fourth day of Iuly together with his new bride came from Baynards Castle to the Tower by water where he created Thomas Lord Howard Duke of Norfolke his sonne Sir Thomas Howard Earle of Surry William Lord Barckley Earle of Nottingham Francis Lord Lovell Vicount Lovell and Chamberlaine to the King and the Lord Stanley who had beene committed prisoner to the Tower in regard that his son was reported to have levied forces in Lancashire was not onely that day released out of prison but made Lord Steward of the kings houshold The Archbishop of York was likewise then delivered but the Bishop of Eley was committed to the custody of the Duke of Buckingham who tooke order to have him sent to his Castle of Brecknock in Wales The same night were made seventeene Knights of the Bath Edmond the Duke of Suffolks sonne George Gray the Earle of Kents sonne William sonne to the Lord Zouche Henry Aburgaveney Christopher Willougby Henry Babington Thomas Arundle Thomas Boloigne Gervois of Clifton William Say Edmond Beding field William Enderby Thomas Lewkener Thomas of Vrmon Iohn Browne and William Berckley Vpon the fift day of Iuly the King in great state rode thorough the City of London from the Tower to Westminster and on the morrow following the K. the Queene came from the Pallace to the great hall from thence barefooted upon cloth of raye they went to S. Peters Abby at Westminster every one of the nobles officers of state attending according to their several ranckes places The Cardinall sang Masse after Pax the king Queene descended from before S. Edwards shrine to the high altar before which they were both howseled having but one host divided betwixt them Then returned they both and offred at the shryne where the king left the Crowne of S. E. and tooke his own Crown And then in order as they came they returned All ceremonies of solemnitie finished the King gave licence to all the nobility and others that were thereof desirous to depart to their severall habitations except the Lord Stanley respectively giving unto them strict commandement at their departure from him To be carefull to maintaine the truth of Religion to preserve the peace and quiet of the kingdome and to prevent extortion and wrong that otherwise through their negligence might happen unto his subjects setting them forth a lesson himselfe never meant to learne at least wise practise For like Sylla he commanded others under great penalties to be vertuous and modest when
two wives Anne daughter of Edmond Earle of Stafford by whom he had issue Henry that succeede in the Dukedome his second wife was Anne daughter to Iohn Mountacute Earle of Salisbury by her he had issue a daughter Anne married to the heire of Westermerland Iohn Nevill by whom she had no issue Then she was married to Thomas Nevill brother of Ralph the father of her first husband by whom she had issue Ralph the third house of Westmerland and her third husband was Iames Earle Dowglasse by whom she had no issue Before the time of truce was expired the divell cast a bone by meanes of an overforward Curre that set all on snarling For Sir Francis Suryens and Araganois thought worthy to be admitted into the honourable societie of the Garter taking advantage of the securitie the French Garrisons did sleepe in sodainely upon our Lady day eve in Lent at night surprised a Frontier Towne belonging to the Duke of Brittaine called Fougeirs ransaking it killing the inhabitants and caried away all the spoyle the Duke advertiseth the French King lying at Râ—…unes thereof who by his Embassadors complaine both to the King of England and the regent Somerset the fault is all layd upon the Aroganoys who did it without warrant or wit the King or Councell nether advising or approving what was done neverthelesse for restitution or satisfaction a meeting is appointed at Lanveirs where the Commissioners treat of the businesse But whilst they talke of this newes are brought to the regent That the French by a stratagem of a Carter that with a load of hay comming over the draw-bridge caused the axeltree to breake and whilst the porter was ready to helpe the Carter the Porters braines were beaten out and the Towne of Ardes surprised and the Lord Fauconbridge Captaine thereof taken prisoner restitution is demanded by the English they are answered with their owne language what was done was neither by the privitie or porcurement of the French King or any of his Councell so they hold fast on both sides their ill gotten bargaines and from thence forward the truce on both side is broken all things grow worse and worse The French King assembleth a mightie army and dividing it into three parts imployeth every one in a severall quarter who according to direction get possession of Louviers Gerbury and Vernuele all which by composition attended twenty dayes to be reskued but none came This warre is begun before the terme of truce expired the English gave the first occasion and are payed with their owne coyne whilst the new Regent which like the sonnes of Zebede presumed of more abilities then he had knowes not where to begin nor what to say or doe makes ready to recken the Townes lost but newes is brought of a conspiracie against him in the same Towne he goes about to suppresse that whilst the enemie is at another towne ready to carry it without speedy succor whereupon he giues Command to such troopes to march as he thinks fit but they in steed of putting his Command in execution expostulate the reason of such directions then calls he to Councell but there is more time spent in chiding and finding fault then in debating for the amending of what is out of square whereby his proceedings as it were make a parenthesis to a discourse betweene the good government of the Duke of Yorke and the bad event of the murthered Duke of Gloucester Thus perplexed the regent in a desperate case complaines of want of Councellors talkes much to no purpose does many things to as little proofe or profit so having tir'd himselfe to no end retires himselfe to his Chamber and there with more deliberation then discretion debates with himselfe what is best to be done The Cocks now begin to ctow upon their dunghill which but a while before were cowed by the English if staying or Cravend by themselves if they fell a running Constance Guisard Gahard Pontean sa meare S. Loe Festampo Newcastle Tongue Moleor Argenton Lisseux and some other peices in Normandy are reduced to the Crowne of France Maulisson in Guyen upon notice of their defections arme against their Garrison and set open the gates to the Earle of Foys who enters and taketh it This is seconded by the Citizens of Roan who vexed the regent and the Earle of Shrousbury more within then the French army abroad and enforced them to make composition to have liberty with bag and baggage to march to Cane and to procure by a certaine day divers adiacent strong peices to be surrendred unto the French and untill the same were delivered the Earle of Shrousbury and the Lord Butler the heire to the Earle of Ormond to remaine pledges who were sent to be safely kept in the Castle of Eureux Succors are sent for into England but an unexpected occasion diverted the passage of them for the necessitie of present meanes to suppresse an insurrection made by rebells in Ireland for the effecting whereof the Duke of Yorke is with an army sent thither where he so behaved himselfe that he not only suppressed the insurrection but purchased the good will and affection of the Irish nation firme to him and his for ever after The Frenchmen now throughly flesht assault Harflew but are by Sir Robert Curson for along time valiantly repelled but in the end fearing to be forced he makes composition to depart with body and goods Fougers and Sir Iames de Benron are likewise received by the Duke of Britaine A fresh supply of fifteene hundred men under the conduct of Sir Thomas Kiryell are sent over who did as much as with so small an handfull could be expected taking in some Townes but marching with the rest of the army towards Bauguenx at a place called Formigney he was encountred by the Earle of Cleremont and seven thousand French and Scots at first the French were driven to recoyle and lost two peeces of their ordnance but the Constable of France with foure hundred men at armes and eight hundred archers came to the reskew and being fresh so beat upon the tyred English that they with the losse of three thousand seven hundred threescore and thirteene besides divers prisoners gave proofe that it was not altogether unpossible but that the English might be overcome which hitherto in France for many yeares they never had been Sir Thomas Vere and Captaine Goughe escaped to Roven The French King with an army royall besiegeth Cane which is bravely defended till the Dutches importuneth her husband to take pitie of her and his children to give over the Towne her entreaties his childrens teares so far prevaile that he moves the surrender to Sir David Hall whowas there in right of his Master the Duke of Yorke owner of Cane who knowing that there was no great Correspondency betwixt the Duke of Somerset and his Colonel boldly told the Duke that he had the charge of that Citie delivered to
Queen with the Duke of Somerset some few others taking with them the young Prince fled to the Bishoprick of Durham The King was taken and as a prisoner conveyed to London At their comming thither the Tower of London is yeelded unto the Earle of Warwicke by his souldiers the Lord Scales in disguised apparell endevoured to escape is taken by the Watermen and by them without due course of Law or orderly proceeding beheaded and his corps carelesly left upon the sands Tho Thorpe one of the Barons of the Exchequer upon whose advise the Lancastrians much relyed in the habit of a Monke his or owne shorne purposely to fly to the Queen is taken and committed prisoner to the Tower The Duke of York at this time being neither idle nor asleepe being advertised of this good successe leaveth Ireland and posts to London where by the advise and consent of the York faction he thought fit to discover the head of that ambitious serpent that hitherto had bin covered in the grasse of reformation and so that in the Kings name he summoneth a Parliament which being assembled in the presence of the Lords in the upper House he placeth himselfe in the Imperiall seate and with great courage and a confident brow hee layeth open his rightfull claime and Title to the Crowne of England as being the Sonne and heire of Anne Daughter and heire of Roger Mortimer Earle of March Son and heire of Philip the sole Daughter and heire of Lionell Duke of Clarence the third Son of Edward the third and elder Brother of Iohn of Gaunt Duke of Lancaster Father of the usurper Henry the fourth grand Father to Henry the fift who was Father to him that untruly stileth himselfe King Henry the sixt He further related that God had not blessed this unlawfull usurpation for by meanes thereof the Common-wealth had suffered so many and so grievous calamities that had not God been the more mercifull the same had bin overwhelmed by the multitude and grievousnesse thereof that though Henry the fift had made many conquests in France and Normandy yet as of ill-gotten possessions his heire could not take any benefit by them And how much heaven is at this time offended with his government wee may well feare if wee but call to mind the cruell butchering of so many honourable great Lords in defence of his title abroad the slaughter of so many thousand of his loyall subjects in maintenance of his quarrell the inutterable exhaust of the treasure unnecessarily consumed in France Normandy and else-where The civil broiles at home the losse of all formerly got in France and those parts the losse occasioned by the excursion and depredations of the Scots and French And lastly the oppressions extortions and violence daily unsufferably practised by the tiranny of an insolently ambitious woman upon the meaner sort of people And then concluded that he craved no favour from them except that justice did warrant his claime nor would expect or desire the possession of the Crowne except his descent were undisputable and his Title without just exception and for his owne particular he presumed that since vertue might be as bold to challenge its due as vice is apt to borrow of insinuation he might without offence put in his claime and demand allowance thereof This being a businesse of import required deliberation and mature consideration but in conclusion the Duke having before hand by his agents prepared the Lords Spirituall and few of the Nobilitie present that were not on his part the Burgesses were easily perswaded and that was generally resolved and enacted accordingly That King Henry during his life should retaine the name and honour of a King That the Duke of Yorke should be proclaimed Heire apparant to the Crowne and the Protector of the Kings person his Land Dominions and Country That at any time any King Henryes Friends Allies or Favourites in his behalfe should attempt the disanulling of this act that then the Duke should have present possession of the Crowne No sooner was the Parliament dissolved when the Duke dispatcheth Letters into Scotland requiring in the Kings name the Queene the Dukes of Somerset and Exceter and all other of the Nobilitie that remained in that kingdome with all speed to repaire to his Presence to London But they were otherwise resolved And having gotten together of English and Scots to the number of eighteene thousand men they marched into England The Duke of Yorke with his younger Sonne the Earle of Rutland with the Earle of Salisbury leaving the King in the custodie of the Duke of Norfolk and the Earle of Warwicke marched towards the Queene and approaching neere her Army at Wakefield the Dukes Scowâ—…s being returned certified him that the enemy farre exceeded their power in number and all warlike preparation Whereupon the Earle of Salisbury advised the Duke to retire and attend the comming of the Earle of March who was gone into Wales to raise the Marchmen But it being appointed that here his ambitious desires should come to a period The pride of his former victory and overweening of his souldiers valours made him deafe to all counsell of forbearing the field and hastened on by his destiny from Sandall Castle hee marched to Wakefield greene where the Lord Clifford on the one side and the Earle of Wilts on the other were placed in ambuscado The Duke of Yorke supposing that the Duke of Somerset who had the battell had no more forces but what were with him valianly and in good order marcheth towards him but being entred within their danger the Ambushes on both sides broke out upon him and slew him and three thousand of his side the rest with number and confusion overborne fled the Earle of Salisbury is taken prisoner and harmelesse Rutland that came thither but to see fashions is made a sacrifice for his Fathers transgression and kneeling upon his knees instructed by his infant feares with teares begging life is unmercifully stabbed to the heart by the Lord Clifford in part of revenge as he sware of his Fathers death The Queene unwilling to bee behind hand in crueltie as unlike a mercifull woman as he an honourable gentleman in cold blood without due forme of tryall causeth the Earle of Salisbury and as many as were taken prisoners to bee beheaded at Pomfret Castle and to have their heads as it were in scorne to be placed on poles about the walls of the Citie of Yorke an incitement as it were to make all interessed in the shame to adde spurres to the speedy course of vindicative desires and to draw on revenge to the uttermost This Richard Nevill Earle of Salisbury was third Sonne of Ralph Nevill first Earle of Westmerland by Ioane his second wife Daughter of Iohn of Gaunt Duke of Lancaster hee married Elianor Daughter and heire of Tho Montague Earle of Salisbury had issue foure Sons six daughters 1. Richard the eldest was restored and
if the Duke of Britaine were disturbed wherupon K. Lewis rested satisfied though not contented whilst K. Edw. forslowed no time to acquaint the Duke of Britayne with all the passages some think that had not the desire of compassing the E. of Richmond and Pembrook now in the D. of Britaines countries bin a better motive then any respect unto the D. the French K. might have had better successe in his requests K. E. to give K. Lewis a tast of his respect towards him notwithstanding his deniall of the proposition for the Duke of Brittaine sends a messenger unto him to acquaint him with trechery of the Constable against him and to carry the more credit of the truth of what was intimated hee sent two letters written with the Constables owne hand which were sufficient testimonies to accuse and convince the Constable of those crymes wherewith afterwards King Edward charged him The mony to be payd by the Articles is borowed of the Parisians so willing they were to see the Englishmens backs accordingly payed over the hostages are delivered wherupon the army retiers to Callice frō thence are trāsported into England performance of the agreement to the content of both parts made the hostages are with great prōises rewards redelivered Some forbeare not to say that K. E. lost more honour in this voyage then hee had purchased in nine victories before gotten but they were such as measure kings actions by the crooked level of their own erroneous fancies But those of better understanding affirme that it had bin a great error in judgement for the K. to be longer absent frō his so late conquered kingdom but great wisdome policie in him to take hold upon such an occasion to come off so fairely with a match for his daughter which had it taken effect had sufficiently recompenced his charge trouble But private men must not dispute the actions of Princes And further to examine the reason of what in this kind at this time was done might give occasion of discourse but not instruction King Edward being returned into England not unmindful that a great storme might follow though but a smal cloud as yet appeared dispatched Embassador to the Duke of Brittain to perswade with him to have the young Earle of Richmond sent over unto him for that he desired to match him in mariage with the Lady Cecily his younger daughter this faire overture of marriage or rather the feeling mediation of Angels wherof some store were sent but more promised so prevailed with the D. That upon the receipt of the sum sent the E. of Richmond is delivered to the Embassadors who thence conducted him to S. Malos where whilst they staied for a wind by the cunning advise and plotting of the D. treasurer who as it may be by the sequel gathered not wel pleased not to have bin treated withal according to that court custome with a feeling respect a more then ordinary proportion or common gratuity being inseparably incident to his treasurers place more scorne to be so neglected then love to Richmond The young L. escapes into Sanctuary From whence nor promises nor prayers could procure him Neverthelesse upon Peter Londoys his promise he should be safely kept there The Embassadors without their marchandize or mony departed to the no little discontent of the K. who greived much that the lambe had escaped his woolvish intention But being taught the rule what he could not avoyd he made shew to receive willingly he for that time said little At Christmas following he created his eldest son Ed. Prince of Wales D. of Cornwale and E. of Chester his second son Duke of York giving the order of knighthood to the son heire of the E. of Lincolne many others He created foure and twenty knights of the Bath upon the creation of the Prince of Wales whereof Bryan chiefe Justice and Littleton a Iudge of the common Pleas were two Thus whilst K. Edw. in England lived in peace quiet the turbulent D. of Burgoyne never constant but alwayes in contention reaped the triple fruit therof this yeare at three several times The first at Ganson where he lost some honour but more wealth The second at Morat where he lost more honour and many men The last at Nancy where he not only lost men mony reputation but life also by the Switzers whom he had driven to a desparate resolution then not in hope to escape but to sell their lives when submissiō would not be accepted at the deerest rate they fought prevailed Now begins Rich. D. of York to set on foote his untill then close contrived divelish devises to compasse the attainment of the crown of England for the first seene of the ensewing tragedy to facilitate his passage he secretly begins to with draw the Kings affection from his brother George Duke of Clarence and to that purpose susurreth unto him that some of Clarence followers were sorcerers and Nigromancers and that they had given forth speeches that one one whos 's Christen name began with the letter G. should dishinherit his children and carry the crowne of England and to put some varnish upon this suggestion one of the Duke of Clarence his servants which came with him out of Ireland from Dublin where the Duke was borne is in his Masters absence he being then in the country by the procurement under hand of Glocester endighted arraigned condemned and executed at Tiborne for conjuration and all within the space of two dayes hereof the Duke of Clarence being thereto irritated by his brother Glocester grieuously complaines to King Edward who insteed of giving redresse suspecting now the truth of the Duke of Glocesters buzz tooke an occasion likewise by Glocesters advise howsoever he made a glozing shew to Clarence of being jealous of his honour and disliking of the kings disrespect as he termd it of his brothers abuse frame a colour to commit Clarence to the Tower where his loving Brother Richard not as it was feared without the Kings privitie tooke that order that hee should not for so hee faithfully promised him upon his first commitment lye long in prison before hee would procure his release That he was drowned in a but of Malmesey and then layd in his bed to perswade the people that he dyed of discontent This George Duke of Clarence was Earle of Warwicke and Salisbury Lord of Richmond and great Chamberlaine of England he married Isabell daughter and coheire of Richard Nevill the great Earle of Warwicke by whom hee had issue Edward afterwards Earle of Warwicke who dyed without issue and Margaret married to Sir Richard Pole knight who had issue Henry Lord Mountayne and Reginald Pole Cardinall The Pestilence about this time raged with that fury in most parts of this kingdome that the sword in fifteene yeeres before devoured not so many as that did in foure moneths The King upon some present occasion sent to
the Citizens of London a privie seale for the loane of five thousand markes for a yeere which were presently provided and at the time prefixed as orderly repayed which with the royall entertainment he gave them upon invitation at Windsor and the store of venson sent by him with them to make merry with their wives at home won the harts affectiōs of the Londoners both male female That from thence forth no pleasure was denied that they could procure him The Scots make an inrod into Northumberland against whom the Duke of Gloce. was sent with some power but they were retreated before his comming Iames King of Scotland shortly afterward sent Embassadors to treat of a marriage between his eldest son Iames Duke of Rothsay Cecily the kings second daughter This overture for a match was by King Edward his councell embraced and divers great sums of mony as part of her portion were delivered to the Scots but with this proviso that if the marriage did not take effect that the provost and Marchants of Edenborough should be bound to repay the same This Iames K. of Scotland was too much wedded to his own opinion couldnot endure any mans advise how good soever it were that he fancied not he would seldom aske counsel but never follow any by reason wherof such of his counsell as more respected the honour of the kingdom the publike good then what should be pleasing to his private conceits or peculiar fancy did divers times reape exilement and ill will for truth speaking and well meaning so that the way to win his favour could not be found out or followed but by flattery whereby few or none but thrasonicall parasites and camelion timepleasers would follow the court or continue their places therin hence came it that many ignoble affronts were offred to the King of England more disrespects done to his own nobility Insomuch that his brother the Duke of Albany was enforced to ◅and on the Country and to fly for refuge into England where he was by King Edward respectively entertained From him was the King of England truely informed of the weake disposition of King Iames wherewith King Edward was so much incensed that hee made speedy preparation of a competent army which being sufficiently accōmodated withall necessaries for the field under the conduct of Richard Duke of Glocester accompanied with the Duke of Albany they marched towards Scotland The Duke in the way tooke in Barwick and besieged the Castle which was resolutely defended by the Earle Bothwell The Duke perceiving no good to be done against the Castle but by famishing them having sufficiently taken course to secure the towne from sallies leaving the Lord Stanley behind to continue the siege he with the residue of the army marched toward Edenbrough where within the Castle of Maydens the King of Scotland had immurde himselfe The nobility of Scotland observing the miserable spoyle that the English army did the impossibility to prevent it by opposition endevored by humble submission to procure a peace at least a cessation from wars which with much importunitie they obtained at the hands of the general under these conditions 1 That ful satisfaction should be presently given to the English for all damages and wrongs done by the late incursions 2 That the D. of Albany whose friendship the general laboured to be made firme unto him should be fully restored to grace place whatsoever had bin taken or withheld from him by the king his brother and an abolition of all former discontents betwixt them 3 That the Castle of Barwick should immediately be surrendred into the generalls hands from thence no reduction either of that or the town attēpted 4 That all such sums of mony as had bin upon the proposition of the mariage as aforesayd delivered should be repayed or that befitting security should be given by the Provost Citizens of Edenborough for the orderly repayment therof at the Tower of London at some reasonable time before the day prefixed in case K. Edw. should signifie unto them that there should not be any further prosecution of the said proposition of marriage Al which except the first article were accordingly performed A Generall pardon and loving letters from the king are sent unto the Duke of Albany with an authentick instrument under the common seale of the Provost and Citizens of Edenborough for the performance of that part that belonged to them to the D. of Gloc. who upon the receipt therof the surrender of the Castle of Barwick with all ordnance and amunition therin of which and of the towne the Lord Stanley with a competent number of Souldiers to gard the same being made Captaine The generall with the rest of the army joyfully returned for England leaving nothing undon by the way to endeer himselfe to the good opinion of the Captaines the applause of the common Souldiers The faire proceedings in the Scotish expeditiō did not bring so much content to the K. of England but the dishonorable forgetful breach of oath of the French K. did much more molest and trouble him For he had received certaine intelligence from his Embassador leidger that the French K. not onely denied the paiment of the annual tribute of 5000. crowns agreed upon sworne to upon the ratification of the late conluded peace betwixt the kings kingdoms of England France But had also married the Dolphyn of France to the Lady Margaret daughter of Maximilian the son of the Emperor And therby notoriously infringed both the Article concluded for a match betweene him and the Lady Elizabeth K. Edwards daughter therby brokē his faith for the performāce thereof so solemnly plighted which much incensed the King of England so much the more by how much the care to provide a fitting match for his daughter when he deemed it to be past was now to begin to be taken hee resolves therefore to vindicate this unsufferable disgrace offred his daughter by punishment of the French kings periury herewith acquaints his Councell who unanimously conclude open wars to be proclaimed and provision to be prepared to prosecute the same to the uttermost in this businesse the Duke of Glocester was not slacke but daily though he knew it needlesse did inculcate to the King his brother how much it did import his honour to draw his sword and not to sheath it untill Lewis for expiation of his jniury had submitted his Crowne to the rightfull owner and given the King of England possession thereof And did make proffer both of purse and person to give him assistance therin to the uttermost preparation for the invasion of France is making in every place to which the King is very proclive But whilst he is intentive in the businesse hee is suddainly attached by the hand of death and without Glouc. hand though not without his wish upon the ninth of Aprill 1483. at Westminster departed this mortall life
five thousand men William Harbert Earle of Penbrooke Sir Richard Herbert and eight Knights more are taken and beheaded at Banbury The Earle Rivers and Sir John his Sonne are beheaded at Northamton The Earle of Worcester John Tiptoft at London The Lord Willoughby at Doncaster The Lord Stafford at Bridgewater The Lord Wells and Sir Robert Dymocke were beheaded in the march but uncertaine where Neere Stamfort in Lincolnshire was a Batraile fought the first of October wherein were slaine ten thousand men but no men of note but Sir Robert Wells and Sir Thomas de land those that were put to flight for their more ease to escape cast away their coates whereupon it was called Losecoate field Vpon the fourteenth day of Aprill being Easter day upon a Plaine talled Gladmore Heath betweene Barnet and Saint Albones The Earles of Warwicke Oxford and the Marquesse Mountacute Commanders in chiefe on behalfe of Henry the sixt against Edward the fourth there was a terrible battell fought wherein were slaine ten thousand three hundred men amongst whom were the Earle of Warwicke the Marquesse Mountacute the Lord Cromwell the Lord Say the Lord Mountjoy Sir Henry Bourchier Sir William Terrill Vpon the fourth of May being Saterday Prince Edward with his Mother Queene Margaret to redeeme Henry the sixt gave battaile to King Edward wherein Queene Margaret was taken Prisoner and Prince Edward was slaine in cold blood There were slaine at this incounter John Somerset Marquesse Dorset Thomas Courtney Earle of Devon Thomas Lord Wenlake Sir Joâ—… Delves Sir Edward Hampden Sir Robert Whittingham Sir John Lewkner and three thousand others Edmond Duke of Somerset John Lonstrother Lord Prior of Saint Johns Sir Thomas Tresham Sir Jervoys Clifton Sir Richard Vaux Sir William Harvye Sir Thomas Fielding Sir Robert Lewknor Sir Thomas Lirmoth Sir William Vrman Sir John Seymor Sir Thomas Roose Sir Thomas Fitzhony Sir Robet Flamden were taken and executed in Tewkesbury the one day and Sir Humphry Audley Sir William Crymby Sir William Cary. Sir William Newbourgh were likewise with Henry Tresham VValter Courtney Iohn Flory Lewis Miles Robert Iackson Jame's Gower Iames Delves heire of Sir Iohn Delves beheaded there the next day This was the last battell that was fought in the dayes of King Edward the fourth but not all the bloodshed about this quarrell For at London by the treason of Bastard Fauconbridge there were seven hundred and eighty of his partakers and three hundred and twelve Citizens Londoners slaine Vpon Redmore Downe neere Bosworth in Leicestershire on the twentie two of August was the twelfth set Battaile in this unkind quarrell fought wherein King Richard the Vsurper was slaine and with him on his part John Duke of Norfolke Walter Lord Ferrers Sir Richard Radcliffe and Sir Robert Brackenbury with foure thousand and eight And on Richmonds side Sir William Brandon and 180. with him After this Battell there was a conjunction of the so long severed Rose branches Neverthelesse the enemy to Englands quiet would not suffer the gate of concord to stand quite open but raised up Impostors and counterfeits to interrupt the same But since the cause of the dissention by the Vnion of the Red and White in Henry the seventh and the Lady Elizabeth their so happy enter-marriage was taken away what occasion of expence of blood did after fall out within the Realme ought under favour bee it delivered rather to bee imputed to the effect of treasonable machinations then to any just occasion of the Roses Title And therefore I purposely omit to intermix the number of those that were slaine since Bosworth field amongst those that are to bee reckoned up in the generall slaughter in the twelve Battells and the occasions of expence of blood intervening by skirmishes and accidentall meanes and content my selfe with the only recapitulation of the severall numbers of Kings Princes Dukes Marquesses Earles Barons Vicounts Bishops Mitred Prelates Knights Esquires Gentlemen and private souldiers That during the rage of these civill warres which followed that breach of the due course of succession attempted by the intrusion of Henry the fourth fell under the alternate fortunes of the Victors sword untill that ever to bee blessed reuniting the two houses of Lancaster and Yorke whereby righteousnesse and Peace did kisse each other and Mercy and Truth which I pray God ever to continue established the Crowne of England in an hopefull and happy descending Line And as Henry the seventh conjoyned the Roses so hath King James of ever-blessed memory united the predivided kingdomes of England and Scotland espousing their Vnion to our Soveraine Lord King Charles to Gods glory the Churches good and his Subjects great comfort HENRY the Roses IAMES the Kingdomes knit And CHARLES of both partakes the benefit Oh! thou of Iesse flower of Iudah Lyon In his dominion plant the peace of Syon And never let hearts quiet follow those That shall the holding of this Knot oppose But let thy best of blessings wait on them That zealously shall guard his Diadem The totall of private souldiers that perished in the time of these civill warres and suffered the punishment of immature death for taking part on the one side or the other is Fourscore foure thousand nine hundred and ninetie eight persons besides Kings two Prince one Dukes tenne Marquesses two Earles one and twentie Lords twentie seven Vicounts two Lord Pryor one Iudge one Knights one hundred thirty nine Esquires foure hundred forty one The number of the Gentrie is every way so uncertainly reported that if I should endevour to set downe a generall of what is particularly related I should but give occasion of further question then I am willing should bee moved for a thing of so little moment and therefore willingly omit it And the rather for that they are for the most part included in the number of the private souldiers as aforesaid set downe to bee slaine to which but adde the number of six hundred thirty and eight the totall of all the persons of eminencie not therein accounted and then there appeareth in all to have beene slaine Fourescore five thousand six hundred twenty and eight Christians and most of them of this Nation not to bee repeated without griefe nor remembred without deprecation that the like may never happen more Pax una triumphis innumeris potior FINIS An. 1377. R. 1. Ann. 1378 R. 3. Anno. Dom. 1376. R. 2. An. 1380. R. 2. Anno 1381. R. 3. The Earle of Warwicke made sole Tutour to the King Scroop Lord Chancellor removed Ann. 1381 R. 3. Ann. D. 1382 R. 4. An. 1382. R. 4. In 〈◊〉 celebratione deprâ—…ersum Digito â—…abijs admoto c. Ann. 1382 R. 5. The Maior slayeth Wat Tyler Perditus pernitiosus praesbyter The Lord chiefe Iustice slaine by rebells The Bishop of Norwich suppresseth the rebells in Norfolke Cambridge spoyled by the rebells Ann D. 1382 R. 5. Anno. Dom. 1384. R. 6. An.