did kenne Wher Ethelfryde on Idell was downe slayne And Redwald the feld ther had with payn ¶ Kyng Cadwan then out of this worlde so died Thesame yere so dyd Austyne also And Laurens made fully and glorifyed Archebyshop of Caunterbury tho And Ethelbert of Kent to heauen dyd go Thus chaunged they theyr habitacion Some to payne and some to saluacion ¶ Cadwall then the sonne of kyng Cadwan After his father had reigned .xiii. yere Was crowned at Westchester as a man Of Britons all as clerely dyd appeare The yere of Christ .vi. C. and .xvi. cleare That reygned well full syxtye yere and one Aboue all kynges as souerayne of echeone ¶ But kyng Edwyn then of Northumberlande The sonne and heyre vnto kyng Ethelfryde Was crowned kyng at Yorke I vnderstande For whiche the kyng Cadwall hym defyed And made hym warre with Britons fortifyed And sente hym worde no crowne for to were And elles he should vnder it his hed of shere Which Edwyn then accompted at ryght nought But kepte estate full royall and condigne with crowne of gold at yorke ful freshly wrought Elfrydes sonnes of his wronge wyfe vndigne Goten and borne he felly dyd repugne Hym dyd exyle in Scotlande dyd abyde For his mother was exyled by Ethelfryde ¶ And Ethelfryde hym gate on his wrong wyfe And had exyled his owne wyfe truely wed Edwyns mother as knowen was full ryfe Full great with chylde with hym as Bede hath red Then made he welles in dyuerse countrees spred By the hye wayes in cuppes of copper clene For trauelyng folke faste chayned as it was sene ¶ And euery daye he rode withouten reste With trompettes lowde afore him where he rode That euery wyght myght suerly in hym truste That he wolde then of his ryghtwyshode Do euery man ryght without more abode All complayntes here as lawe wolde reforme So all his lyfe to rule he did confirme ¶ He sente vnto Ethilbalde kyng of kent His syster for to haue and wed her to wyfe Dame Ethelburge that was full fayre and gent But Ethelbalde then sent hym worde by lyfe It was not good but lykely to make stryfe That a christē woman to a Paynim shuld be wed And elles he sayde his message had be sped ¶ Edwyne then sent his message so agayne He wolde well she kepte her owne creaunce And bade hym sende with her a chapelayne And clerkes wyse without any varyaunce To kepe her in her fayth and in all suraunce And yf her fayth be better then is myne When it is knowen I wyll therto enclyne ¶ Kyng Ethelbald her sent with Paulyne That sacred was byshop of Yorke that tyme By Iusto archbyshop that was full fyne Of Caunterbury to kepe her true Bapteme And her beleue that none her fethers lyme With heresye to foule his owne creaunce Thus wedded he her at Yorke in all suraunce ¶ The yere of our Lorde .vi. hundreth .xx. tho And fyue therto as Bede hath clerely writen And in the yere .vi. hundreth and twenty so And syxe therto kyng Edwyn as is weten To westsex went where batayle sore was smyten Betwene hym and byshop Quychelyne King Kinigils sonne of westsex then so fyne ¶ Where then he slewe this manly Quichelyne For cause he had compassyd his death afore By pryuey wyse as he coulde ymagyne He put the lande then vnder trybute sore And Kynygell the kyng of westsex thore Became his man and helde of hym his lande At his byddyng to ryde with hym and stande The .xci. Chapiter ¶ Howe Cadwall fled and was dryuen from his realme by kynge Edwyn and helde it in subieccion and was baptyzed by saynt Pawlyn archbyshop of Yorke KYng Cadwallo then of all Brytons The yere of Chryste .vi. C. and eyghtene By wronge councell on Edwyns regions Great warres made but Edwyn then full kene Faught with hym there full sore as it was sene And to the flyght hym droue out of the felde All Britayne lande he conquered so and helde ¶ Cadwallo fled vnto lytell Britayne And dwelled there in heuynesse and in payne By dyuers yeres and durste not come agayne For power none he myght not yet obteyne The Britaynes durste hym not obeyne For kyng Edwyn had hole dominacyon Of theim and Saxons of the Scottyshe naciō ¶ And in the yere of Chryste .vi. C .xx. and .vi. Edwyns doughter that named was Eufled At Yorke was borne to whome men dyd complex Maydens twelue to take the chrystenhede That lordes doughters wer of great worthihed◠Whiche saynt Paulyn archbyshop dyd baptyse In Yorke mynster in full holy wyse ¶ And in the yere of Chryste .vi. C .xx. seuen The chrysten lawe disputed amonge his lordes Was founde beste to wynne the blysse of heuen Wherfore Edwyn by good and hole concordes Both of his comons and also of his lordes With all his realme baptime toke as goddes mē Of saint Paulin that archbishop was then ¶ In that same yere byshoppe Honorius To Paulyn sent the palle of dignyte The kyng Edwin and this ylke Paulins Yorke mynster made newe of greate beaute And comons all full well so baptized he In Northumberlande in Swale Owse Trent And other ryuers in countrees where he went ¶ By thyrty dayes and sixe labored he thus And then he came to Lyncolne with Edwyn Where he conuerted Blecca as Bede sayth to vs The Mayre and all the cōmons by his doctryne And Lyndsey hole vnto the fayth deuyne And made the mynstre of Lincolne at his costage Of kyng Edwyn and also the colage ¶ And in the yere .vi. hundreth and thyrty moo Iusto dyed to whome Honoure dyd succede Of Caunterbury archbishop made was tho Whome saint Paulin as wryten hath sent Bede Dyd sacre then at Lyncolne so in dede In the mynster that he and Edwyn founde The kynges colage named that ylke stounde ¶ And in the yere .vi. hundreth thyrty and two Kynge Edwyne by holy doctryne Of saynt Felyx an holye preste that was tho And preachyng of the holy archbyshop Paulyn Of Chrystes worde and verteous discyplyne Conuerted Edordwolde of Estangle the kyng And all the realme where Felyx was dwellyng ¶ At Dōmok then was Felyx fyrste byshop Of Estangle and taught the chrysten fayth That is full hye in heauen I hope But then the kyng Edwyn as Bede sayth Had made the people stable in the chrysten layth To Yorke went home with hym also Paulyn To rule the lande after the lawe deuyne The .xcii. Chapiter ¶ Howe Cadwall and Penda slewe kyng Edwyn and reigned ouer Brytons agayne BVt in the yere .vi. hundreth thyrty thre Kyng Cadwall of Britaine that had been With king Penda of Merces great coūtre Assembled stronge with hostes fell and kene And Northumberlande brent as then was sene And slewe both wyfe and chylde olde and yinge Prestes and clerkes they spared there no thyng The churches all they brente and foule destroied Whome Edwyn met with power that he might At Hatfelde towne in herte
Iohn to vexe and noye wylfryde But tender loue they helde on eyther syde The .xcvii. Chapiter ¶ How Cadwalader fel in greate impotencye that he might not gouerne the lande wherfore in defaute of lawe peace fell Barons warre and ciuyle discorde in all the realmes THe kyng Cadwaladre beyng impotent So euery daye helde no gouernaunce Nether lawe ne peace wtin his regiment Wherfore Britons dred none ordynaunce But eche one toke on other great vengeaunce Fro that time forth eche countre on other warred And euery cytee agaynste other marred ¶ Thus in defauee of lawe and peace conserued Cōmon profyte was wasted and deuoured Percyall profyte was sped and obserued And Venus also was cōmonly honoured For lechery and aduoutry was moste adoured Amonge them was cōmon as the carte waye Ryot robbery oppressyon nyght and daye Of which came then manslaughter homicide And cyuyle stryfe with sore contencyons Through Britons land euery where on eche side With batayles greate and fell discencions As Bede wryteth amonge his mencyons They dred nother the kyng ne god almyght Wherfore he sent vengeaunce on them full ryght That through the warre the tylth was all destroied Churches all and husbandrye vnoccupyed That with hunger the people were sore anoyed That people great in stretes and feldes dyed And muche folke as Bede hath specifyed The fayth of Chryste for hunger then forsoke And drowned thē selues so sore the payne thē toke ¶ Their catell dyed for faute of fode eche daye Without meate or any sustenaunce In townes and feldes and the cōmon waye Through which their enfecte was with that chaūce That multitude of folke in greate substaunce On hepys laye full lyke vnto mountaynes That horryble was of sight aboue the playns Vnburyed hole withoute Sacrament By pestylence also many one dyed Some woode some raynage went And some were in lytargie implyed An other some with batayle mortifyed With murther also amonge themselues dispent Full many were that none an other lament Through which defautes not amēded nor correct The bishoppes fled the prestees clerkes anoyed To Walys went there to be protecte In cauys hyd accombred and accloyed Full heuely deseased and full greatly anoyed With saynctes bones and relyques many one Morning full sore and makyng there their mone ¶ Then fel a yere of pardone and of grace At Rome where the kyng Cadwaladrus All desolate and sory for that case In pylgrymage thyther purposed thus With herte deuoute and wyll beneuelous With his Brytons together consociate Of worthy bloude so borne and generate ¶ To haue pardone and playne remissyon Of theyr trespasse synnes and neglygence That they put nought reddour ne punissyon By lawe payne and discrete prouidence On trespassours that dyd violence Through which their land they were so mischeued That with law kept might wel haue bene acheued To Rome they came of whom the bishop was glad Sergio that hyght who them graunt remissyon Of all their synnes with herte and wyll glad Saue onely then of their omissyon And neglygence of hole punissyon That they put nought vpon the trespassoures Of cōmon people that were destroyours Whiche was not in his power to relese Without amendes made and restitucyon To common weale and theyr due eucrease As they were hurte in faute of due punissyon He charged them for theyr playne remissyon The cōmonte to supporte and amende Of as 〈…〉 te good as they were so offende In the meane whyle whyls they at Rome so were The Saxons hole and Englyshe consociate Toke all theyr lande liuelod and other gere To Saxon they sente ambassyate To Angulo to be assocyate With many mo of theyr countree men For Britons all at Rome were bidyng then ¶ And bad them come in haste and tary nought For theyr owne helpe and for their waryson The whiche they dyd and hither fast they sought The Brytons lande they toke in possessyon And kepte it forth with many a garyson For Brytons came no more therto agayne For king Cadwallader thē dyed at Rome certain His Brytous also dyed homewarde by the waye In dyuerse places and some went to Britayne Other some to Fraunce there to abyde for aye And some also to Normandy and to Spayne That to theyr owne they came no more agayne But Saxons hole and Englyshe it occupyed Euer more after and strongly edifyed ¶ Some chroniclers saye he had by visyon No more to come into Britayne the more But to the bishop of Rome with great contricion Confesse hym and take his penaunce thore And absolucyon for his synnes sore And howe the bishop of Rome buryed him royally And on his tombe set his Epitaphye ¶ In laten letters in marble stone well graue Declared hole his conuersacyon Forsakyng all the worlde heuen to haue And howe the byshop of Rome by his confyrmaciō Called hym Peter whome Bede by relacyon Calleth a saynt in blysse hole disposed Fro whiche he may in no wyse be deposed ¶ This Cadwalader of Britons was the kyng That reygned full as souereygne lorde .xii. yere And in the yere .vi. hundreth and nynte beyng And dyed so as sayeth the chronyclere That of westsex then had be kyng two yere Of whome walshemen holden opinyon Of Englande yet to haue the reuercyon ¶ When that his bones be brought fro rome again Amonge them all haue suche a prophecye And Englande then efte synce called Britayne Thus stande they yet in suche fonde matesye In truste of whiche vayne fantasye They haue full ofte Englande sore anoyed And yet they wyll proue yf it maye be destroyed The .xcviii. Chapiter ¶ The lamentacyon of the maker of this booke and his counsayle to my Lorde of Yorke for good rule in the realme of Englande O Gracyous lorde O very heyre in ryght Of great Britayne enclosed with a sea O very heyre of Logres the now England hyght Of wales also of scotland which all thre Britayne so hyght of olde antiquyte O very heyre of Portyngale and Spayne Whiche castell is and Lyons soth to sayne ¶ O very heyre of Fraunce and Normandye Of Guyan Peytowe Bayen Man Angeoy Membrys of Fraunce of olde warre openly O very heyre of Ierusalem and Surry All this meane I by you that should enioye Ye or your heyres my lorde of Yorke certayne That wrongefully haue bene holde out to seyne ¶ But O good lorde take hede of this mischieue Howe Cadwaladore not kepyng lawe ne peace Sufferyng debates and cōmon warrys acheue And fully reygne and put hym nought in preace By lawe nor myght to make it for to cease For whiche there fell so great diuisyon That he was put vnto deheryteson ¶ Not he alone but all his nacyon Deuolued were and from theyr ryght expelled Full fayne to flee with greate lamentacyon From greate Britayne in which they had excelled In which their aūcetour afore lōg time had dwelled And knew their foes mortal shuld it occupy For euermore without remedye ¶ Which is the payne most fell aboue all payne
full fine That chaunged then mayden castell name To Edenbrough a towne of greate fame The C .j. Chapiter ¶ Cuthred kyng of Westsex protectonr of England and reigned sixtene yere CVthred was kyng crouned of al Westser And protectour of all Englāde that daye His kynges vnder hym that then wer full sixe Did hym homage anone withouten delaye Saue Ethelbald of Mers that saied hym naye For whiche he warred on hym then full sore That bothe their landes troubled were therfore ¶ Full oft thei mette faught with great power Some that one some tyme that other had Victorie in felde with strokes bought full dere But when that kyng Ethelbald was moste glad This kyng Cuthred that was nothyng a drad At Berford with hym mette in strong battaill And slewe hym then as Bede maketh rehersall ¶ Which Ethelbald in Mers one fourtye yere Had reigned hole and diuerse abbeys founded In Mers lande at Crouland one full clere Of Monkes blacke within the fennes groūded To whiche Turketyll his chaunceler founded Gaue sixe maniers to theyr foundacion And abbot there was made by installacion ¶ This Battayl was of Christes natiuitee Seuen hundreth and fyue and fyftye yere Wher Ethelbalde of Mers the kyng did dye To whom Borrede there was the kyng full clere But this Cuthrede of Westsex layed on here Was in the yere of Christes birth to weten Seuen hundreth hole and syxe and fyfty written ¶ To whome Segbert in all regalites His cousyn next of bloode by all recorde Was kyng crowned and had the dignitee But full he was of malice and discorde That with his kynges could no tyme wel accorde Wherfore they would no lenger of hym holde But droaue hym out of all his lande full bolde ¶ For lawe ne peace he did not well conserue But chaunged lawe euer after his deuise From good to euell eche other to ouerterue To spoyle and robbe his commons to supprise Thus in the lande he made full great partyes Wherfore the kynges and lordes did hym expell That but one yere he dyd in it excell ¶ And afterwarde exiled as he hym hyd Within a wood a swynherd made his ende Then with his staffe he slewe hym so betyd For all his hye estate thus was he spend A prouerbe is of olde was wysemen kend That wronge lawes make euer shorte lordes Whiche wysemen yet remembre and recordes The C .ii. Chapiter ¶ Kynulphe kyng of Westsex protectoure of Englande the whiche reigned .xxvi. yere KYnulphe succeded had the gouernaunce Of Westsex then with all to it appente Protectour was by all thordinaunce Of kynges all and the lordes assent As his elders afore had regimente The yere of Christ .vii. hundreth fyfty and seuen As Bede hath written and accompted full euen ¶ Of all the kynges and lordes of Englande He tooke feautee and royall hole homage As souerayn lorde honoured in all the lande And mightly mayntened his heritage His kynges all and all his baronage The peace and lawe he kepte by diligence Was none that would displease his excellence ¶ He reigned hole in all kyndes suffisaunce Sixe and twentye yere fully accoumpted In greate honoure and myghty great puysaunce Was none hym like nor none hym surmounted But death alone to his corps amounted Dryuyng his soule out fro the worldly nest To heauens blisse eternally there to rest ¶ At wynchester he was full fayre buryed The yere .vii. hundreth foure score and also thre Emong the people highly magnifyed As to suche a prince longeth of royaltee Right well beloued of his lordes and cōmontee In whose tyme Offa of Mers kyng Vnto the B. of Roome sent his letters prayeng ¶ To depriue Lambert of Cauntorbury Of primacy and also of the palle Whiche the byshop Adrian anone hastely Graunted hym then by bulles written papall Lambert depriuyng of his sea primall By whiche Aldulphe byshop then of Lychfelde Hye primate was and thestate there helde ¶ The pall he had and all the dignitee Lambert depryued without any delay Of primacie and of all souerayntee Of all the churche of Englande hole that day From Humber south to Aldulphe did obeye And Lychfeld then for metropolitan sea Was set aboue and had the dignitee ¶ But Egfryde then the sonne of Offa kyng Of Mers the pall and all the primacie Did well restore to Christes hye pleasyng To Award then byshop of Caunterburye Wher it abode euer after worthyly Vnto this daye with all the dignitee As of olde right it should haue souerayntee ¶ This tyme Kynot of Pyghtes was the kyng Fro forth to Carleile and from the Scottishe sea To Tyne that tyme his lordshyp was dwellyng The whiche he helde by homage and feautee Of the kyng then of Northumberlande in fee And was his man also in warre and peace As his elders had doen without leace ¶ In whose dayes tharchbyshop Egbert Of Yorke brother was as I can vnderstande To the kyng of Northumberlande Edbert The primacye and pall brought to Yorkes lande By the B. of Rome graunted without gaynstand Whiche from the death of the good kyng Edwyn Had ceased long from the tyme of saynt Paulyn ¶ About this tyme as well is expressed Vnguste the kyng of Pyghtes rode in Englande On warre wher then he was full sore distressed By the manly kyng of Northumberlande Where he auoiwed yf he came to his lande A churche to make of full great dignitee In worship of saynt Andrewe should it bee ¶ And at his home commyng one Regalo Fro Constantyne by reuelacion Brought certayn bones of saynt Andrewe tho To kyng Vngust where by his relacion He founded then a mynster of his fundacion Of saynt Andrewe wher his bones shryned been As there in dede I was and haue it seen The C .iii. Chapiter ¶ Brightryke kyng of Westsex protectour of Englande reigned .xvi. yere that began to reigne in the yere of our Lorde vii hundreth .iiii. score and three and died in the yere .vii. C. foure score and nynetene BRightrike cousyn that was nexte of bloode To kyng Kenulphe by hole intelligence Of Westsex was kyng full wise good And protectour of Englande in regence Whiche gouerned right well with great sapience The yere of Christ .vii. hundreth .iiii. score three When that he tooke on hym the dignitee ¶ He wedded Edburge kyng Offa his doughter fayre Of Mers for loue peace good accorde Betwene theyr landes with all theyr hole repayre The kyng Albert also of good accorde Only of purpose to make concorde Of Eastlande came to Offa for peace Betwene theyr lande the warres for to ceasse ¶ And his doughter to wed vnto his wyfe For more suertee of loue and good accorde Whom quene Eburge of Mers because of strife Afore had be betwene hym and hir lorde And for she would not vnto the mariage accorde Made hym to bee slayn in full priue wise Within his bed afore that he myght ryse ¶ For whiche Offa greatly was agreued And buried hym at
At Agyncourt so homeward in his waye The nobles there of FrauÌ„ce afore him weÌ„ Proudly battailled with an huÌ„dred thousaÌ„d in araie He sawe he must nedes with theim make afraye He sette on theim and with theim faught full sore With nyne thousand no more with hym thore ¶ The feld he had and held it all that night But then came woorde of hoste and enemies For whiche thei slewe all prisoners doune right Sauf dukes and erles in fell and cruell wise And then the prees of enimies did supprise Their owne people that mo were dede through pres Then our menne might haue slain that tyme no lese ¶ On our side was the duke of Yorke ther slain Th erle also of Suffolke worshipfully And knightes twoo with other then soth to sain And at the siege therle of Suffolke sothely The father dyed of the flixe contynually But mikell folke at that siege yet dyed Of frute and flixe and colde were mortified ¶ On that FreÌ„ch partie that dukes of Barre Lorein And of Alaunson in battaill ther were dedde And take were of Christeans in certain The duke Lewes of Orliaunce their hedde The duke of Burbone in that stede Th erle of Vendom and Arthure also of Brytain And sir Bursigaloâ— marshall of Fraunce certain ¶ And therle of Ewe was taken ther also Fyue barons also that were at their baner And fiftene hundred knightes and squyers mo Were sâ—ain that daye in full knightely maner With woundes so as then did apere As werres would vpon Chrispyn daye And Chrispynian that sainctes in blisse been aye The CC .xv. Chapiter ¶ Howe themperour and the duke of Holand came to the kyng the CouÌ„te palatine the duke of Melayn the marquys Farrar the lorde Mantowe and the marques Mount Ferrete the lorde MouÌ„t Palestrine came with themperour the same tyme and the duke Bauers and Embeir and the prince of Orenge also AND in the yere of Christ a thousand clere Foure hundred also therwithall fiftene When this battaill was smiten as dooth apere In the third yere of his reigne as was seen To Caleice so he came and home bee dene With themperour of Roome sir Sigemond Vnto hym came then in to England ground ¶ With a thousand meÌ„ne that were full clene araied The duke of Melayn the counte Palatyne The marques Ferrer that lord Mantowe wel apayed The couÌ„te Carmeler the counte Palestryne With many lordes of the water of the Ryne And of the Garter was made the secondarye And in it stalled for he would not varye ¶ The duke of Holand then by sea came With .lx. shippes in Thamis that did aryue And to the kyng he went vnto lambe To Themperoure after he went belyue As chronycles then did discryue Then was he made knight of the Garter At his desyre as sayth the chronicler The CC .xvi. Chapiter ¶ Of the battayle of Sayne of the carykes there taken in the sea afore the mouth of Sayne THe kyng sent then that duke vnto the sea Of Bedforde that with four huÌ„dreth sayles To vitayl Hareâ—lete with therle of Marche no lee Th erle Marshall without any fayles With therles armed in plate and mayles Of Orenforde Warrewike and Huntyngdon Of Salisbury Deuonshire many a baron ¶ Of Arondell also these erles all Were in that flote vnto the noumbre of men Twenty thousande Herouldes did theim call On our Lady daye thassumpcion then All these lordes with many worthy men The fyfth yere of the kynge was then expresse WheÌ„ there enemies theim met at Sayn doutelesse ¶ They faught ful sore afore the water of Sayn With carrikes many well stuffed and arayed And many other shippes great of Hispayne Barges Balyngers and galeys vnfrayed Whiche proudly came vpoÌ„ our shippes vnprayed And by theuen there sayles aualed were set Theyr enemyes slayn in battayll and sore bet ¶ And many dryent were that daye in the sea That as our flete rode there then alwaye Vnto the feast nexte of his natiuitee The bodies flete amonge our shippes echedayâ— Full piteous was and to see theim ay That thousaÌ„des were .xx. as they then tolde That taken were in that same batayll bolde ¶ In which meane while whiles our ships there laye It was so calme without any wynde We might not sayle ne fro thens passe awaye Wherfore theyr galeys eche day there gaÌ„ vs fynd With ores many about vs dyd they wynde With wildfyre oft assayled vs daye and night To breÌ„â—e our shippes in that they could or might ¶ The flete came home than at our Lady day FroÌ„ Sayn whiche tyme that kyng then had coÌ„ueied Themperoure then to Caleys on his waye And home agayn was come right well apayed Of the welfare of that worthy flete assayed So well in armes vnto his hie pleasaunce Vpon his foes kepte theim selfe by gouernauÌ„ce The CC .xvii. Chapiter ¶ Howe the kyng weÌ„t into FrauÌ„ce in the .v. yere of his reigne the seconde time and landed at Towke in Constantyne in Normandy THe king theÌ„ in his .v. yere weÌ„t into FrauÌ„ce And landed at Towke and gatte the castell than And so came with all his ordinaunce And layde his siege aboute with many a man Whiche by processe at the last he wan Whiche to Vmfreuile that theÌ„ was erle of Kyme He gaue to kepe for great manhode that tyme ¶ Bayons Falace Cees and Argenton Doumfront Mortyne and Iuory also Musterdeuilers Euerons and Alaunson Caldebeke and Depe Arkes Vnycort tho With other townes and castels many mo Gurnaye Newcastell Gysours Estoutuile Roan Louers and also Vmfreuile ¶ Pountlarge Pountoyes also Pount DorsoÌ„ Maunte Vire Balom and also Aueraunce Castell Galiard with many other toune Bolham in Perche saynt Ioilian in Maunce Merteyn in Perche Chirbroke and eke CoÌ„stauÌ„ce Vernell in Perche Seintlowe and Alauayle Vernon on Sayn without any battayle ¶ All Normandy he gate within two yere And after then he trauayled in Fraunce For mariage and conuencion clere Betwene kyng Charles and hym at instaunce Of duke Philip of Burgoyn of aliaunce In whiche tyme so they were by appoyntment Accorded well and clerely condiscent ¶ That then he wed his doughter Katheryne And proclaymed was then of Fraunce regent And heritour of Fraunce by ryght lyne Of his owne right fro kyng Edwardes discent And Normendy and Guyan as appent Remayn should to hym and to his heyres Kynges of Englande euermore and to theyrs ¶ Then layde he siege to Melon anone right Aboue Paris â—v legges vpon Sayn Whiche by processe and laboure of his might And full sore siege full long with passyng payne He had at laste of whiche he was full fayn And toke it to Vmfreuile erle of Kyme To haue for euer ay forwardes fro that tyme ¶ Sauncer in Burgoyn then gate he mightely And Motreux also where the duke was buried Of Burgoyn then whom he toke vp in hie And at Dugyon as it is notified Hym buried so in Burgoyn vndenyed With high honour and great solempnitee As to
of Crete began A famouse and a ryght notable man And Crete gatte a sonne hight Cely Who gatte Saturne a wyse man and a wittye ¶ Of whome came then Iubiter of Frigy Whiche is Turky wherin Troyes citee In honoure stode and in great victorye And Iubiter gate Dardanus no lee That of Frigy in greate felicitee So reygned kyng greatly magnifyed And as a God amonge theim glorifyed ¶ Of whom came so his sonne Eritonus Who gatte a sonne that firste Troye edifyed That Troilus hight of whome came kyng Ilis That Ilyon made a palays of great pryde Whiche for passyng other was both long wyde Where Hercules slough kynge Lamadone And led awaye the royalles of the towne ¶ Lamedone gatte the kyng Priamus Who made agayn his palays Ilion And Troies citee also more glorious Then they were before their subuercion And royall without peruercion In ioye and myrth they stode many a yere And Achilles with hym his brother dere The .viij. Chapiter ¶ A shorte lamentacioÌ„ of the maker for kyng Lamedone lose his life and his estate that might haue stande in peace and suertie for a litle succour of Iasone in his voiage O Lamedon of Troye that bare the crowne What fortune droue the to dooe Iasone vnkyndnesse Where he to paye was so readye and bowne For his vitayle that came in by distresse Of tempest greate standing in heuinesse Hym for to dryue oute of the regyon And not refreshe hym at his requisicyon Whiche was the cause after of thy heuynesse When he the slough and destroyed all thy cytee And caste downe all thy myght and great nobles With lytell thing that sauyd might haue bee O good lorde why shoulde thy royal dignytee To straungers shewe that cruell vnkyndnesse That to thy lande purposed no distresse Of Priamus came Hector and Troylus Dephebus Helenus and Parys Of royall bloude and dukes full glorious Of excellence and greatest of empryse Whiche were all slayne by fortunes excercyse All the sege of Troye knyghtly in the defence In mercyall actes as princes of excellence ¶ The palays greate and the noble cytee By Grekes seeged longe and many a yere Was wonne at laste and wast as men yet see This kyng quene both two were slayne in feere Where Anchises and Eneas his sonne dere And Ascaneus the sonne of Eneas Escapyd awaye and on the sea dyd passe The .ix. Chapiter ¶ Howe Eneas exyled oute of Troye came to Cecyle and to Affrike to the cytee of Carthage and fro thence to Italye there was made kynge of Tuskayne and of Latene ANd in Cicile they after did aryue Where Anchises dyed and was dispent Eneas and his sonne to the sea gan dryue With shippes .xii. to Italy had they mente But wynde theim droue again there entent Into Affrique where for Eneas sake They welcome wer and worthely vptake ¶ Fro thence after he tooke the sea agayn And landed then in Italia In Tibre mouth with trauayll with payne Where the towne and porte is of hostia Where by the God he bidden was to ga To helpe the kyng Euandre in his right For after hym the God that land hym hight ¶ To whom he went as hym was prophecied And welcome was into Italie Of kyng Euandre greatest magnified For his wisedome fame and cheualrye For his worshippe and for his auncetrye He gaue hym than greate lordshippe and riches And gold enough right of his worthynes ¶ Kyng Euandre made warre on kyng Latene In whose defence Turnus kyng of Tuskayn Came with greate hoste of Tuskalayns so fyne Agayn Euandre wher Turnus then was slayn Eneas did that dede and that derayn With mighty strokes courage and cheualrous He wanne the felde in batell fortunous Betwene Euandre so and the kyng Latene The peace he made reste and concordaunce And kyng Latens his doughter that hight Labyne Wedded to his wyfe by veray good accordaunce Betwene theim forth was no more discordaunce And Eneas kyng was made of Tuskayne Of whiche the kynge Euandre was full fayne ¶ Sone after then dyed the kyng Latene Whose realme Eneas had also in peace In which he made a castell fayre and fyne Labynyon it hyght wythout leace His wyues name to worshyppe and encreace Of whome he gatte a soonne and dyed afore That he was brought into this worlde and bore ¶ This worthy prince kyng Eneas mortally Ended his lyfe that was of hye prowesse Where so God wyll to reigne eternally Within the house of fame where as I gesse 〈…〉 er knightes fell of noble worthynesse That more desyred in armes to haue a fame â—hen be the best in dede and beare no name The .x. Chapiter ¶ Of the house of fame where knightes be rewarded after the merites in armes by Mars the God of armes some translate wich kyrcheues of pleasaunce some with rynges and onches their sepulture in the felde of pitee by heuen gates that haue be veraye louers of theyr louers ladyes and neuer panyneles but aye graceles BUt than hys soonne Siluius Postumus Newe borne so young and tendre of age Kyng of this lande was made Astanius His brother dere that ruled his heritage And peaceably kepte out of all seruage Twenty wynter and eyght full mannely And gatte a soonne that called was Syluy ¶ Whiche Siluius gatte and generate His soonne Brutus on Crensa labius nece All priuelie by hym de virginate And sore besought by his subtilitees And sumwhat of hir womanly petees That tendred hym of god femynete As womanhod would of all humilitee ¶ Soo after sone the fate of death would soo That passe away muste nede Ascanius He gaue his brother Siluius posthumus tho His heritage and riches plentuous But Brutus waxed echedaye full beauteous And in mannehod well more in all vertue Was none hym like in no place that meÌ„ne knewe ¶ Of .xv. yere when he was commen to age At huntyng as he shotte at a dere He sleugh his father vnto his greate damage And at his birth as saieth the chronicler His mother dyed as wrytten is full clere Anone after as he was of hir bore For whiche .ii. causes his herte was wonder sore ¶ Seyng Iuly this fals fortunite The soroes greate in hym so multiplied That there for shame of his fortunite In no wyse would he no lenger dwell ne byde But into Grece his sorowes for to hide He went anone where exiles wer of troye Whose sorowes great he leched all with ioye ¶ Sir Helenus was Priamus sonne of Troye And Anchises an olde worthy knight And .vi. M. that of hym had great ioye Of gentilmen of Troye exiled forth right That hym besought with instauÌ„ce day and night To helpe theim out of their great heped sorowe In whiche they lay oppressed euen and morowe ¶ For whiche he wrote his letter in that tide To kyng Pandras that kyng was of that lande
He eked then by his witte full curious With his lawe called lawe Moluntyne Chargyng all menne to theim fully to enclyne ¶ He graunted vnto the temples euery one And to the plough and all commen wayes To markettes faires wher meÌ„ne should gonne Fraunchesies so greate and liberties alwais That all menne beeyng in theim night or dayes Should not betaken ne troubled in any wyse Neither by lawe nor by no maistries ¶ Sixe temples he made in CaÌ„bre Logres al 's And in the lande also of Albany Of Flamynes as fele to serue their goddes fals A temple also in troynouaunt sothely Of peace and concorde he made verely In whiche when there fell any discorde Emong his lordes there were thei made accorde ¶ When he had stond so kyng by fourty yere He dyed awaye and buryed was full fayre In his temple then of concord full clere At troynouaunt with greate repeir To whome Belyn was eldest soonne and heire And Brenny next was borne of younger age Wherfore Belyn had all the whole heritage The .xxxi. Chapiter ¶ Belyne kyng of Brytain who gaue to Brenny his brother Albany that made hym homage for it and sone after made hym greate warre and was false to hym and after frendes againe in other landes but not in Englande ne in Scotlande BElyn was kyng and sat in royall trone Crowned with all maner of royaltee To Brenny his brother he gaue the lande anone Of Albany for whiche homage feautee He made forthwith as to the souerayntee His man became and kyng of Albany Confirmed was and made full honorably ¶ But after sone his men hym sette to warre Vpon Belyn that fought in batayll sore But Brenny fled and his men discomfite wer For then he went vnto Norwaye therfore And in that he dwelled thore Wher he wedded the kynges doughter fayre That taken wer by sea homewarde in repayre ¶ By the kyng of Denmarke that Cuthelake hight Who by tempest into Logres wer driue And brought vnto Belyn mykell of might Wher he bande hym as chronycles doth briefe Denmark to holde of Belyn to haue leife Home with his wyfe to passe so anone Whom Belyn graunted home agayn so to gone ¶ Brenne anone great hoste of Belyne brought Wher in the forest that tyme of Colatre In batayll strong kyng Brenny all forfought Discomfite fled in Burgoyn for feare To duke Segwyn to whom he gan hym beare So manfully and wisely in all thyng That he hym wedded vnto his doughter ying Sone afterwarde this duke Segwyn dyed So Brenny than was duke by his wyfe That to his brother alwaye full sore anoyed Came with great hoste to fight with hym ful ryfe Conwen their mother by her prerogatyfe Betwyxte theim treated made there wel accorde On her blissyng nomore for to discorde ¶ With wordes peteous and mothers naturesse Shewyng her pappes and woÌ„be with great beautie Lo here the wombe that bare you with syckenesse As womanhode would and femynitee Lo here the pappes as was necessitee That fed you ofte in your tendre age For my loue nowe let be all this outrage The .xxxij. Chapter ¶ These â—i brethren wanne all Fraunce all Italie to Rome and besieged Rome gatte it and wer Emperours of it SO made she theim at one and well accorde And made theim kisse couÌ„celled theim to gone To their laÌ„des lest thei after discord Whiche thei did with hostes greate anone With manly men of armes full greate wonne All Fraunce thei wanne Sauoye and Lunberdy Tuskayne also and all great Italye ¶ Thei sieged Rome wherfore their couÌ„cellours Galbo and Porcenna came it to rescue With hostes greate wher then these Emperours Slewe syr Galbo and Porcenna the trewe And Rome thei wanne that alway was vntrewe Italye throughout obeyed theyr dominacion Without more stryfe or altercacion ¶ Kynge Belyne there no lenger would abyde But lefte Brenny alone with all that lande â–ª And home he came with mykill ioye and pride And Albyon he seased in his owne hand And so kyng and lorde of all Brytayn lande A citee fayre he made that Kaire vske hight Whiche meÌ„ nowe calleÌ„ CarlyoÌ„ by name ful right The .xxxiii. Chapter ¶ He made the hye wayes through out Britayn and he founded three archeflamynes at London one for Logres another at Yorke for Albany that nowe is Scotlande for that tyme fro Humbre north that was that tyme Scotlande the thyrde at Laklion in Wales for all Wales IN Brytayn then he made froÌ„ Cornwel sea Of lyme and stone through all Brytayn That men might ryde and go in al suertee Vnto the sea by northe Catenes certayne Whiche vnto all men was brode and playne Another he made in bredth fro saint Dauid towne Vnto the sea flowynge at Southamptone ¶ Thre archeflamynes he made through al Brytayn As archebyshoppes now in our lawes been There temples all to gouerne and domayne At Troynouaunt on Logres to ouer seen Her fals goddes to serue and to queme At Ebranke another for Albany And at KarleoÌ„ for Cambre on soueraynly ¶ A towne he made ful hie that hight Belyn gate At Troynouaunt his citee moste royall Thyrtene flamynes of bishoppes high estate And temples as many in citees all So that there were in his tyme ouer all With other so afore edificate Xxviii flamynes in temples ordynate ¶ And at his death he bad his corps to be brent Into powder all in a barell of golde To put and sete vpon his toure to represent His body hole who that seen it wolde His triumphes all that enemyes might beholde Well wrought about in ymagerie and scripture Full royally wrought for to refigure ¶ He reigned had then one and forty yere When he thus died and to his God had sent His woofull ghoost out of his corps full clere Emong the goddes euermore to bee present For whiche his people of wepyng coulde not stent There sorowes great in teares bitter thei did stepe Whiche in streames raÌ„ne fro their eyeÌ„ did wepe The .xxxiiii. Chapiter GVrgwyn his soÌ„ne was crowned after him Of Britayn bare then the diademe Who made his lawe vpon lyfe lymme His peace also he kepte as he did deme As his iudges coulde it full well exprime Into Denmarke he went for his truage Whiche kyng Cuthelake graunt him in heritage ¶ He slewe that kyng and Danes great multitude His seruise had and made the lande to enclyne To his lord shyppe and to his altitude There truage paye forthwarde nomore declyne And as he came by sea then homewarde fyne He founde shippes thyrty full of myghty men Accordyng well as many fayre women ¶ At whose request of his speciall grace He gaue to theim the land that nowe is Irelande Wher they did wone make their dwellyng place There gouernaunte so then I vnderstande Was Partheleyn to holde it then hym bande Of kyng Gurgwyn and all his lynage Perpetually by feautee and homage ¶ Neuerthelesse some chronicles reporte That Irelamall their
his goddes full hye He passed so and buryed full royally After their rites and their olde vsage With greate honour by all the baronage The .xxxix. Chapiter ¶ Eledour kyng of Brytein thrise crouned for his good rule and good condicions ELedour was kyng all newe made againe Thrise crouned that kepte his olde cōdicion Of whome the lordes cōmons wer full faine And sory for his wrongfull deposicion He reigned so fro losse and all perdicion Reignyng after full peacebly tenne yere Buried full faire at Alclude his citee clere ¶ Gorbonian that was Gorbonian his soonne The croune after his vncle in all thynges That ruled well fro tyme that he begonne Full well beloued with olde and also with young He reigned tenne yere of Brytein kyng And dyed then with worship whole enterred As to suche a prince of right should bee required ¶ Morgan that was the soonne of kyng Arthegall Was crowned then and held the royalte Full fourten yere he ruled the realme ouer all The lawe and peace with all tranquillite He kepte full well in all prosperite For whiche he was full greately magnified In all his realme with people landefyed ¶ Emnan his brother so was crouned kyng Seuen yere reigned in all kynd ofe tiranny For whiche he was deposed as an vnderlyng When he had reigned seuen yere fully That to god and manne was euer contrarie Till all his lordes and commons euerione Whiche wer full glad awaye that he was gonne ¶ Iuall the soonne of kyng Ingen did reigne Louyng alwaye to kepe all rightwesnese Hatyng all vices and of good menne was faine All vicious menne he helde in sore distres Helpyng poore menne fallyng in feblenes When he had reigned full well by twenty yere He dyed awaye as saieth the chronicler ¶ Rymo the soonne that of kyng Paradour Crouned was then louyng all gentilnes All vertue euer he louid and all honour And in his tyme was plenty and larges Of his people full well belouid I gese And dyed so in all felicite on hye Sixten yere whole reigned when he ganne dye ¶ Gerennes then the soonne of Eledour To reigne beganne and ruled well this daye And sone the deathe hym toke and dyd deuour If I the treuth of hym shall saye That twenty yere he reigned all menne to paye The lawe and peace full well aye conserued Of his commons the loue aye deserued Catellus his soonne then ganne succede Kepyng the lawe and peace as he had hight Oppressours all that poore menne did ouer lede He hanged euer on trees full hie to sight That ensample of theim euery manne take might Tenne yere reigned full of felicite And dyed so vnder his vnsure deite ¶ Coile his soonue after hym succede And crouned was reignyng so twenty yere In lawe and peace as to his worthihede Accordyng was for lawe and peace cōserued clere As euery manne maye se bothe farre and nere The floures been of royall dignyte In whiche he reigned twenty yere ere he did dye ¶ Porrex his soonne was crouned in his astate Esye of porte to speake with euery wight Their comonnyng to hym was delicate Who reson spake he fauoured as was right Who viceous spake or did in his sight He chasticed theim after the cause required Reignyng fiue yere of no lande had he fered ¶ Cheryn his soonne norished in dronkennes Customably to whiche folowed all kynde of vyce It exiled witte out of his brayn doubteles And reason after that made hym full vnwyse He was of all his gouernaunce so nyce And reigned so in Brytein but one yere When he dyed laied was on the bere ¶ His soonne Fulgen reigned but one yere Eldred his brother and Androge hight the thirde Kynges after hym echeone were synguler A yere reignyng whose good rules are hid For why vnto no manne was it kyde Thei dyed sone for long that might not dure In suche drōkennes full weake was their nature ¶ Vryan the soonne of kyng Androge Three yere reigned that was full lecherous A mayden young wher he did ride or goo He had euery daye he was so vicyous But yet he was gentill and bounteous All if he had maydens in suche charte Wedowes and wifes he had in greate plentie ¶ Elynde was kyng fiue yere bare the croune Full well ruled the realme in all kynd of thyng In Astronomye full redy aye and bowne Dedancius also reigned fiue yere full young Who the realme ruled in all maner thyng Full peseably frome that Elynde was dedde Bothe twoo dyed in their floreshed youthede ¶ Detonus then was kyng reignyng twoo yere Gurguncius so twoo yere bare also the croune And Meryan twoo yere by wrytyng clere Bledudo then full ready bowne Twoo yere also bare the croune Cappe and Owen and then Sicilyus Eche after other by twoo yere reigned thus ¶ Bledud Gabred reigned expert in song And in all musike instrumentes Farre passyng was all other and had been long Suche was his cunnyng and his sentementes That for a god in all folkes ententes In myrth and ioye and maner of melodye Thei honoured hym tenne yere onely ¶ Archiuall then his brother reigned so And Eldoll after his soonne succeded anone And Redon then his soonne came nexte hym thoo Redrike his soonne when his father was gonne Croune and septer receiued hath anone Samuell Pirre Peneysell and Capre Seuerally echeone reigned twoo yere The .xl. Chapiter ¶ Elynguellus kyng of Brytein had greate will to here all mēne whē thei came to hym whiche is a vertue For greate cunnyng maketh a manne wyse and to knowe muche and for mischefes to fynde remedies as my lorde Vmfrewill commended neuer a manne that putteth a mischief and canne fynde no remedie therfore ELynguellus whiche was Capre his sōne Bothe wyse and sadde and in his realme helde right He herd all menne what counsaill that thei conne For oftymes a symple manne to sight More wysedome hath in his insight And better reason canne in his braynes fynde Then canne a lorde though he maye beres bynde ¶ Who in his lande did wrong or any vnright He prisoned hym in sore and greate distresse He gaue his menne that souldyours were full wight Lyuelode to liue vpon frome all destres Sicke folke and poore caste into feblenesse He visited aye and reigned had seuen yere When that he dyed and left his realme full clere ¶ Hely his soonne in all thyng good and wise Succeded then the Isle of Hely made His palais gaye that might right well suffice He buylded ther that was bothe long and brade Wherin he dwelled muche and moost abaide The lawe and peace he kepte and conserued Which himvpheld that he was neuer ouer terued ¶ Three soonnes he gatte Lud and Cassibalain The third was called that tyme sir Nemynus When he had reigned sixty yere in certaine The death cruell to menne that is aye noyeous In his commyng that is
tyde Waldeue the duke cōmended and landifyed Of Northumberlande a lorde of greate power Fro Humbar north to Twede then was full clere ¶ Kynge Aguzell that was of Albany Kyng Vriayn of Murref with Ewayne His sonue that was corageous and manly And the noble and curteous knyght Gawayne That kyng was then of all fayre Lowthyan And syster sonne vnto the kyng Arthure Mordred his brother was of the same ordoure ¶ Loth of Lowthian that kyng was of Norway Of Lowthyan that kyng afore had been Father to Gawayne and murdred was that days Kyng Vryan of South walys I wene The kyng Pellis of Northwalis full clene The kyng Howell also of lytell Britayne Boers and Hester Degionaunt and Ewayn ¶ Syr Percyuall Launcelot Delake and kaye Sir Colingraunt Bedewer and syr Degarye Geryn of Charters the douzepers of Fraunce gaye The kynges of man Orkeney Irelande all thre Of Iselande Gotlande and dukes of dignyte Of Portyngale Nauerne and Cateloyne Of Spayne the kinges the duke of Burgoyne ¶ Syr Lyonell Gryffith Kynkar Olenius Donalde Macoyle Cynmarke Gorbonian Kymbalyn Rydran Eualake and Carthelius Crade and Cradok Dunwallon and Morgan Gadwaloure Eneas and Ternuan And many mo that were full longe to wryte Whiche with my style I canne not nowe endyte The .lxxix. Chapiter ¶ Howe the embassado of the Emperoure Lucius was receyued solemplye and presented the Emperours letters vnto kynge Arthure and also of the tenoure of the same letters the whiche Lucius sent to hym BVt whyles the kyng sate in his trone royal His prynces all and knyghtes of dignite Aboute him there thambassade imperyall Were fayre brought vnto his royall dignite That Prynces were of authoryte Of moste rype age and reuerende chere With Olliffe Braunchies in their landes clere ¶ Otokyn of message and legacye A stately pase vnto his hye presence Where they offered of Lucius Heberye The letters then on knees with reuerence Of whiche this the wordes and comprehence As foloweth nowe when they were reed and sene As chronyclers wryten thus do contene ¶ Lucius of Rome the Emperoure Procurator for all the hole senate Of the Publyke profyte chiefe gouernoure By hole Senate made and denominate To Arthure kyng of Britayne procreate Sendeth gretyng lyke as thou haste deserued Nowe in Fraunce which was to vs preserued ¶ Amerueled much of wronges that thou hast done Within our lande of Fraunce by great rygour Without ryght that better had bene vndone But yf thy wytte amende thy foule erroure That syth of Fraunce then were the gouernour No trybute payde but as thyne owne conquest Haste holde it aye vnder thyne areste ¶ And for thou haste no wyll it to amende And were so prowde to do so cruell a dede Kyng Froyle to sle to vs that dyd apende And mekell more for cause thou takest no hede Of the gate imperyall that we lede To whiche all landes obey and paye truage Saue thou alone gaynstandest of thyne outrage ¶ Wherfore we byd strayghtly and cōmaunde That from August nowe nexte within a yere Thou come to Rome and pay that we demaunde The truage which thou haste of thy power Of Britayne longe withholde so in feare And thy defautes amende thou did in Fraunce By sentence of the Senates ordynaunce ¶ And elles we shall approche to thy countre And what so thy foly hath vs be refte With sweordes wee shall it make restored bee Till our senate as first it was infefte The liuelode that thy father so the lefte Thou art els like for thine intrusion To lose and be brought into confusion ¶ Wrytten at Roome in the consistorye By whole auise of all the wise senate At Pasche last past to byde in memorie Their regestred and determinate Lest thy youthed our letters and the date Would couer with feyned forgetfulnesse Trustyng in vs the same defaute I gesse ¶ With that the kyng went to the Giaūtes toure With princes all that were of his counsaile By their aduise to wryte to the themperour For his honour and for his gouernall Of whiche so wise would not for gette ne faill So well were made to Lucius and endite Whiche saied right thus as in my stile I wryte The .lxxx. Chapiter ¶ The letter that kyng Arthure sent again to Lucius themperour of Roome ARthure kyng of all the greate Brytain And Emperour of Rome by title of right Whiche deforced by Lucius Romain Pretendyng hym for Emperour of might Vnto the same Lucius for thyne vnright Vsurper of the sea emperiall Sendeth gretyng as enemie moost mortall ¶ To the senate of Roome it is well knowen Howe Iulyus Ceaser with iniurye The truage had Brytain was brought so lowe By helpe of erle Androgeus and his traytorye That brought hym in by his false policye Without right or title of discent Or any right that to the senate appent ¶ And what so he had then by iniurye Leefull to vs nowe is it to withstande For what euer thyng is take vniustly Maye neuer be had as I can vnderstande By any other to hold it with strong hand Frome hym that had it well and rightfully By none other maye bee had lawfully ¶ By whiche reason the wrong we shall defende And hold our realme so in our first astate Of seruage free as it to Brute apende Who held it free afore that Roome bare date Whose right to vs is nowe determinate And by suche right as thou dooest nowe pretende We maye clayme Roome to thempire ascende ¶ For kyng Belyn that was our auncetour And Brenny also the kyng of Albanye All Roomain did wyn by conquest there Of Roome thei had and all greate Italie And sleugh themperour by their great maistrie And crouned were in the sea empiriall Wher no prince was that tyme to theim egall ¶ But yet we haue a better title of right To thempire whiche nowe we will pretende For Constantyne sainct Elyn soonne of right By right of bloodde of Constaūce downe discēde Emperour was that Roome did well defende Again Maxence and his feloes tweyn Whiche there made muche Christē people to dien ¶ Maximian kyng of greate Brytain By whole decre and will of the senate Was emperour of Roome and ruled almaigne Whose rightes we haue and al their whole astate And heire of bloodde borne and generate Wherfore we clayme the throne empirial Frome hens furth by lawe Iudicial ¶ As to the daye whiche thou hast vs sette To paye to Roome the tribute and truage We shall bee their to chalenge of dewe debte Truage of Roome with all their rerage And to enioyse and hold our heritage Of Roome citee to kepe the souereigne sea With all that longeth to themperalite ¶ And if thou wilt me sonner haue or seeke Bryng Romanye with the wher so thou will With me I shall bryng Brytain eke And whiche of vs that daye maye other kyll Bere Roome with hym and Brytain also their till Wryten at our citee of Cairlion By whole aduise of all our region The .lxxxi. Chapiter
full sore anoyed All redy so in batayle for to fyght within yorkeshyre where Edwin was slaine right And all his realme was wasted and subuerte By kyng Penda that a Paynym was peruerte ¶ The same yere then for cause of warre stryfe Saint Paulyn went to Kent there to dwell With Ethelburge that was kyng Edwyns wyfe That welcome were as Bede surely doth tell At Rochester as that tyme befell Saint Paulyn was vnto the sea translate And byshop therof then denominate ¶ Kyng Cadwall reygned full hole agayne In Britayne lande as prynce without pere Aboue Englyshe as lorde souerayne Ouer Saxons Scottes peightes clere And Englyshe also as clere did appere And Eufryde then and Osdryk paynimes fell Northumberlande then helde as Bede doth tell ¶ Whome Cadwall and Penda felly slewe From tyme they two had reygned but a yere Oswolde theyr cosyn as knowen was full trewe That in Scotlande noryshed was full clere To Englande came with mighty greate power And gate his ryght and all his herytage With helpe and socoure of his Baronage The .xciii. Chapiter ¶ Howe Oswolde kynge of Englande reygned ouer Brytons Scottes and Peightes Iryshe and ouer all Logres and Cambre THis kyng Oswolde in Englāde gan succede The yere of Christ vi .c. was thē clere Thirty and fiue replete of all manhed And afterwarde full clerely did apere As to suche a prince of nature should affere That Yorke minster repaired then all newe Of lyme and stone as Christen prince and trewe ¶ Who for ayde then into Scotlande sent An holy monke he was and religious And bishop sacred after Christes entent In Christes doctrine he was full laborous Whome for teachyng and preachyng vertuous He made hym bishop of all Northumberlande Whose sea was chief then at the holy Isse lande ¶ In that same yere Oswold to Westsex rode For Christ his loue at prayer of sainct Biryne Wher thei the kyng Kynygill of paynymhode Baptized and made a Christen manne full fyne And sette Westsex vnder tribute syne For to bee payed to hym and his heires Perpetually by yere at certeine feires ¶ Sainct Biryne bishop thei made furth right Of all Westsex at Dorchester was his sea Frome Oxenforde but litill waye to sight Kyng Oswold wedded Beblam his wife to bee Kyng Kynygilles doughter full faire to see And on hir he gatte a soonne hight Cidilwold In Deyre reigned vnder his father Oswold ¶ And in the yere sixe hundrith thyrty and sixe Kyng Penda sleugh Ordewold of Estanglande In bataile strong and mighty gan to vexe That wastid sore about hym euery lande As tyraunt fell wher he the Christen fonde He sleugh theim downe and cruelly ouer ran Sparyng nother wife childe ne manne ¶ The kyng Oswold so mighty was in deede That ouer Scottes Peightes and Brytaines Irish Westsex and English I rede And ouer Logres and all the Saxons None so mighty aboue all regions As Flores and Bede hath wrytten thus Whose wrytynges are full vertuous ¶ As he at meate did sitte vpon a daye At Bamburgh a palmer came to his gate Asked some good for Christ his loue alwaye To whome he sent his dishe of syluer plate For cause he had not els for his astate The poore manne to refresh and comforte Sainct Bede of hym thus clerely dooeth reporte ¶ An holy manne within his hermitage Desired sore in his meditacion If any better of any maner age Wer in the lande of any nacion To whome was said by reuelacion That kyng Oswold more holy was of life Notwithstandyng he had weddid a wife The .xciiii. Chapiter ¶ Howe an hermite proued sainct Oswold his wife at his desire by biddyng of sainct Oswold WHerfore he came vnto the kyng Oswold And prayed hym he might knowe his life And of his reuelacion then hym told Wherfore he toke to hym his ryng by life And bade hym saye the quene that was his wife To dooe with hym on nightes twoo or three As she was wonte at home to dooe with me ¶ This token had he he satte with hir at meate His meate drynke when he would haue the best But water and brede he might none other gette And then at night she leide hym for to rest Right with hir self so well hir self she trest And when he was ought sette to dooe amisse In water he was cast his fleshe to keele and lisse ¶ But when the daye came he was full fain And of the quene full soone he toke his leue Vnto the kyng he went anone again And prayed hym fast he might passe home at eue For of his life he would no more preue Whiche more holy was one daye and night Then all his life he euer been might ¶ But Cadwall the kyng of Brytons sent The kyng Penda to warre on kyng Oswold Whome Oswold mette with greate assemblemēd In battaile strong at Heuenfeld as God would Wher people fled with people manyfold To kyng Cadwall who with Penda anone Assembled an hoost on Oswold for to gon ¶ Oswold thei mette on Marfeld that tyde Wher he was slain the yere of Christ was than Sixe hundred whole and fourty and twoo beside His hedde and armes as Bede the holy manne In his chronicle hath write who so rede it can Vpon a tre was hong many a daye That rotted not nor in this world neuer maye ¶ Oswy then in all Northumberlande The croune had and all the royalte With Cadwallo he hight allwaye to stande As souereigne lorde of Bryton then was he And ouer all other had then the mageste But this Oswy made Humwald for to kyll The kyng Oswyn that feloe was hym tyll ¶ For cause he rose on hym with multitude And nought for thy when thei together mette All his people of full greate fortitude He withdrewe then and with Humwald sette In pryue wise without any lette But false Humwald priuely hym slewe On whome he trusted and trowed had bee trewe ¶ Quene Eufled that was kyng Oswys wife Kyng Edwyn his doughter full of goodnesse For Oswyns soule a minster in hir life Made at Tynmouth and for Oswy causeles That hym so bee slain and killed helpeles For she was kyn to Oswy and Oswyn As Bede in chronicle dooeth determyn ¶ This Oswyn nowe is canonized in shryne Saynt Oswyn called at Tynmouth gloriously But kyng Oswy to Cadwall did enclyne And Oswalde his hed and arme had leue to burye Whiche he betoke to quene Bebla in hye Who closed theim in siluer fayre and clene And theim betooke to saynt Aydan I wene ¶ This kyng Cadwall his feast at Londō made To hym all kynges as souerayne lorde obeyed Saue kyng Oswy at home that tyme abade For whiche he trowed that he hym disobeyed Wherfore he sent to Penda and hym prayed To warre on Oswy without delaye And make hym to his souerayne lorde obey ¶ In which meane tyme this Penda slewe Anne Of Estangle that long had ben kyng A Christen prince and a full manly manne And
greate meyne hym mette greate honour As if he had been of Roome themperour ¶ At his commyng again into England He gaue Norway vnto his soonne sir Swayne And to Herold his soonne as I vnderstand England he gaue of whiche he was full fain And to Harknowt Denmarke he gaue certain And so dyed in Christen whole creaunce At Shaftisbury buryed by his ordynaunce ¶ The yere of Christ a thousand so was than And thirty foure also truly written When he had reigned fro the tyme that he began Eightene yere whole as well it was wrytten With the darte of death whē that he was smitten In whose dayes the land was inquiet Full of riches and of welfare whole replete The C .xviij. Chapiter ¶ Herold kyng of England the soonne of kyng Kno wt reigned fiue yere and dyed in the yere a thousand and .xxxix. HErolde his soonne was crouned then in deede By Loofrike that duke of Leiscestre By Londoners in Flores as I reede By Danyshyr also as saieth the letter That strong werre then and of power greater Then other lordes of Englishe nacion At London made was this coronacion ¶ Alurede the soonne of kyng Ethelrede With fifty sailes landed at Southampton Wher kynge Herold with hoste hym met in deede Redy to fight with hym for the croune But certain lordes of Englondes region Betwene theim treated that Alurede went again To Normandy to duke Robert full plain ¶ But afterward as Alurede so rode Fro his mother vnto the kyng Herold The duke Goodwyn on Gyldismore hym bode With people greate of nombre manyfold And slewe his menne downe there as he would And led hym furth to Ely and hym slewe As traitour false that euer had bee vntrewe ¶ Some chronicle saieth he putte out bothe his eyen Fro whiche he dyed sone for pain and woo Some other sayin he slette his wombe full keen The lengest gut to a stacke he nayled tho Led hym about the stack ther with muche wo Till all came out that was his wombe within Thus sleugh thei hym with sobteltie and gyn ¶ His mother quene Eme Edward then sent To Normandy to duke Wyllyam anone That hir cousyn was to kepe he were not shent By kyng Herold of his cruelty alone Warnyng hym of the treasō that Herold had dooen For whiche cause Herold hir exild Out of England and Edward also hir child ¶ To Flaundres she fled then full sore amoued To erle Badwyn hir cousyn nie of bloodde Declaryng to hym howe Herold had distroyed Hir soonne Alurede that heyre of England stood And exiled hir without socour or good And Edward also hir soonne heire of England His brother children also awaye in vncouth land ¶ Wherfore therle to kyng Hardknowt then wrote All hir compleynt and of his socour prayed And he should help with all his might God wote It were amendid of that she was affrayed He came anone in warre full well aryed Into Flaundres his mother for to please Hir for to socour and sette hir hert in ease ¶ In whiche meane while the kyng Herold dyed At Westminster and buried was full feire After he had reigned as it is notified Fiue yere reigned without any heire Of his body gotten after hym to repeire England to gouerne wherfore the lordes by assēt To kyng Hardknowte then into Flaundres sente ¶ To bee their kyng sith Herold was a gone To please hym with and his mother to comfort Who came to England furth with anone And crouned was with all the whole disport That lordes conde as Flores dooeth report Thus kyng Hardknowt was kyng of Englande than Who worthily that tyme to reigne tho began ¶ This kyng began his brothers death to venge On erle Gowyn that erle was then of Kent That peased was for he should not reuenge With riche giftes whiche that he on hym spent With meekenesse lowe swore that he was sent To dooe that thyng on pein of high treson By kyng Herold charged without reason ¶ Through good and giftes mighty hie riches And of his kyn that meekely hym obeyed And by acquaintaūce that thei made then expresse Vpon the holy euangelis sworne vndelayed The kyng graūted hym his grace was well payed To make hym of his coūsell of gouernaūce Without more wrath or any discordaunce ¶ He maried then his sister Gunylde to Henry Themperour that falsly was accused Of synne and cryme vsed in auoutry With a young manne the whiche hir excused After the lawe of the land that was there vsed By battaill of his hand that then their flewe His accusour approuyng hym vntrewe ¶ For the whiche she would nomore come in his bed But lyued sole euer after so hir life For good ne gold for aught that he hir beed For loue ne threte for betyng ne for strife With hym dwellyng forthwarde as his wife In all thynges els euer at his gouernaunce Bothe daye and night in womanly pleasaunce ¶ Kyng Hardknowt then his doughter maryed Vnto a duke of the Danishrie At Lambirgh dyed at his feast magnified Emong his lordes and all his prelacie And putte hym whole in God his high mercye And charged theim his brother Edward to croūe To reioyse the land of Englandes region ¶ This was the yere of Christ then inscriued A thousand whole fourty also and one When that he had reigned as was subscribed The twoo yere whole whē he was thus wyse gone For whom was made that tyme full muche mone At Wynchester byside his father buryed With lordes all thither full well accompaignied The C .xix. Chapiter ¶ Kyng Edwarde the confessour kyng of Englād reigned twenty and foure yeres that began the yere of Christ a thousand fourty and one and dyed the yere a thousand sixty and fiue EDward his brother sōne of kīg Ethelrede was crowned then kyng of Englande The yere of Christ a M. then in dede Fourtye one as Flores could vnderstande To whom the kyng Swayn of Denmarke lande The tribute whiche he had fully relesed And warres all betwene theim ceassed ¶ To sende hym then the hole Englyshe nauy Agayn Magnus that kynge was of Norwaye That helde it so by wrong and tirannie Whiche Edwarde sente anone in great araye With lordes knightes and squiers freshe gaye With archers many by whiche he gate his lande Of Norwaye hole and seazed it in his hande ¶ Erle Eustace of Boleyn that had wed Edwardes suster on his mother syde To Edwarde came at Douer sore bested Where then his men a burges slewe that tyde Wherfore therle Goodwyn set full of pryde Asked the kyng to haue delyueraunce Of therls men to byde his ordynaunce ¶ Notwithstandyng that Burges slewe his knight For that same cause wherfore he it denyed But made peace then as he therle had hight Of Boleyne so his brother in lawe alied For whiche therle Goodwyn sore replied And warred sore vpon the kyng eche daye With his sonnes fyue in full great araye ¶ Not cōsideryng that kyng
ladyes many were drowned as was sene And then the kyng wed Hadelyse the quene The duke Godfrey daughter that was of Loreyne Of his mournyng to comforte him agayne ¶ And in the yere a thousande fully accompte And an C. twenty and also fyue Themperour Henry the death surmounte And passed to God fro Maude that was his wife Who to her father king Henry came belyfe Abode with hym in Englande then â–ª two yere Maude Empryce was called then full clere ¶ And in the yere of Chrystes incarnacyon A thousande was an C. twenty and seuen When kyng Henry in greate prosperacyon His doughter Maude thempryce to neuen The earle Geffrey Plantagenet euen Earle of Angeou the sone of Fowke Tailboys So maryed had of fame that had the voyce ¶ On whome he gate a sonne that Henry hyght By surname called Henry fitz Empryce Then dyed his eme Alexaunder forth ryghte The kyng of Scottes a priÌ„ce of great enterpryce That homage dyd for Scotlande as suffyce So dyed then to whome Dauyd succede His brother was saint Margarete sonne in dede ¶ That to kyng Henry made his homage And then to Maude the foresayde Empryce By hole assent of all his Baronage By letter wryten and sealed as maye suffyce which Iohn HardiÌ„g in Scotland brought of pÌ„ce with many mo for foure C. marke and fyftye At biddiÌ„g coÌ„maundement of the with king Henry ¶ Cadwalan prynce of Wales at Wadeyet In batayle faught where kyng Henry him slewe And greate people of Wales that there forset Were slayne that daye to hym that were vntrewe Of whiche batayl Wales maye alway rewe The yere a thousande an C. and thyrtye And there tyll two as made is memorye ¶ Then went the kyng to Normandye agayne And there abode and kepte all Normandy To tyme he dyed of whome that lande was fayne But Englande then of it was full heuy When he had reygned so full worthy He dyed in the syxe and thyrtye yere At Boys Leon of his reygne then full clere ¶ Of Chrystes date was then a thousande yere An hundreth also and. ix and thyrtye moo Buryed at Redynge as well it doth appere In the abbaye whiche there he founded so Of monkes blake where euer they ryde or goo That pray for hym for quene Maude his wyfe Who eyther other loued withouten stryfe The C .xxvii. Chapiter ¶ Stephan of Bloys kynge of Englande reygned .xix. yere beganne the yere of Chryst a thousande C. and. xxxix and dyed in the yere a thousande C .lviii. STephaÌ„ of Blois his sister soÌ„ne was crouÌ„d A manly maÌ„ was theÌ„ of great power And king was made of England that stound Withoute stryfe or any maner warre To Normandy he went and seazed all there and gaue it to his sonne syr Eustace And made hym duke therof with great solace ¶ Thus Eustace then duke of Normandy To Parys went to kyng lewys of Fraunce His homage made for his lande so in hye And put oute then with greate contraryaunce The offycers that dyd to Maude pleasaunce And wed the suster of kyng Lewes to wife For supowaill of it without strife ¶ The kyng StephaÌ„ to EnglaÌ„d theÌ„ home came And tidynges had howe kyng Dauid had distroied The North parties dooen full muche harme Wherfore he brent Edenburgh then and noyed And the countree aboute he sore accloyed For wiche Dauid his soonne to Henry then sent To bee his manne thens furth at his entent ¶ To whome kyng Stephan therldoÌ„ of HuÌ„tyngton Then gaue and erle therof hym so create Who then for it by verey due reason His homage did as it was ordinate Whiche HeÌ„ry dyed and neuer had kynges estate For whiche the Scottes seyn thei owe no seruice To Englishe kynges but onely of this wise ¶ Kyng Stephan then bet the castell doune In England so that stode hym to defence His menne thei gaue to their enheritesoun And all foon for cause of their offence He disherite with might violence Diuers erles and lordes he disherite And many other of his frendes enherite ¶ The yere of Christ a thousand was then gone An hundred thirty and eight also Kyng Stephan brake all his othes a none That he had made vnto the barons tho For whiche thei rose full sore again hym so And warred hym felly on euery side And he on them also with mikyl pryde ¶ The yere a thousande an C. thyrty and nyne Maude Empryce in England claymed her right With earle Robert of Gloucestre her brother fine And earle Randolf of Chester with all his might Syr Bygot earle of Northfolke then hyght Awbrey Ver then earle of Oxenforde And Willyam Bawne that then was earle of Herforde ¶ Willyam Legroos earle of Almarle tho Robert Louell Willyam lorde Percy Kyng Dauyd her eine and many other mo Of earls and barons that were full hardy The castell then Lyncolne gate on hye The cytee helde of Lyncolne with also With hoste full greate lyggyng with them so ¶ Where then the kyng yâ— castell seged longe Tyll he it had by treaty and conuencyon And bode therin with power greate and stronge Tyll Maude and he as made is mencyon With stronge batayles and great discencyon Besyde Lyncolne where then she had the felde And StephaÌ„ taken hurt sore through his sheld To Brystowe then earle Roberte Clare hym led And in the towre there kepte in stronge pryson The Empryce Mawde with power that she had To Wynchester then she rode segyng the towne Where the quene Maude as made is mencyon Kyng StephaÌ„ his wyfe it rescowed with batayl sore And toke the earle Clare his eme thore The C .xxviij. Chapiter ¶ Thenterchaunge of kyng Stephan and of tht duke Robert Clare duke of Glocester FOr which cause theÌ„ to haue hir eme again Themperesse and quene Maude accordid To enterchaunge that kyng so then full fain For erle Robert without more concordid This enterchaunge thus made and recordid The kyng hir sued vnto Oxenford Fro whens she went by night to Walyngford ¶ Vpon the frost in the wynter season In her smocke alone with hir vncle dere That none hir knewe of theim without the towne So like hir smocke and the snowe was in feer The kyng knewe not in what place that she wer For Oxenford he gate and Awbray slewe Of Oxenford that was an erle full trewe ¶ The kyng Stephan a castell then began At Wilton where kyng Dauid with power And erle Robert of Glocester that was then Hym droue awaye out of that place full clere And bet it downe to the ground full nere To Walyngford the kyng with power went Themperesse to sech was his entent ¶ Hir partie then droue hym then awaye With greate slaughter of menne and occâ—sion And euery lorde on other made greate affraye And spoyled other through al this region By greate impression and cruell sore raunson The kyng treated with erle Randolf full trewe But false then was his treaty as menne knewe ¶ For when
Ierusalem he reserued the resort to hym to his heires THe Soudā toke a trewce with kyng Richard For thre yere whole to bye all marchandise And sell and passe saufly thitherward To the sepulcre in all maner wyse With entercomen as then it did suffice And home he went for cause his brother Iohn Then purposed had for to bee crouned anon ¶ He sent his mother and wife to Cisile And of Acres he made then capitain The baron bold sir Rychard Vmfreuile Ierusalem to Henry erle of Champein With all Surry to haue and to demain And made hym kyng therof without delay For his susters soonne he was without nay ¶ For the marquis Wyllyam Mountferrate That kyng therof was by his wife enherite Was slain in Tire his citee by debate All sodeinly for cause of greate dispite Vetulo de Mount his brothers death to quite His bretherne twoo to Tire with power hath sent That slewe hym there by Vetulo his assent ¶ Whose wife he gaue to Henry his cousyn For she was heire of Ierusalem He made kepers in euery place full fyne And homeward came then by the sea stream Hoostyng by diuerse countres and realme To Romany Tuskan and Lumberdy In to Oistrich and there was take in hye ¶ Thēperour led home thē to Mēske he brought In strong ward brought to tyme that his finaūce Was fully payed emong his commons sought Of holy churche vnto ful greate greuaunce The marchaūtes also thē made great cheuisaūce Of all the shryues was take full greate riches Through all England to raūsom with his highnes ¶ And home he came Iohn his brother chastised And his fautours emprisoned all full sore To Normandy then went and there supprised The kyng Philip and werred hym euer thore That stroyed his land of Normandy afore Against his othe and his hie assuraunce Whilest he labored vpon the miscreaunce ¶ He then appeled the kyng Philip to fight Thei twoo alone hand for hand in feld That he was false of his promise and hight Whiche kyng Philip graunted but not it held But cowardly with royall hoste hym beld Vpon hym came all sodeinly to fight Within three dayes then for their brothers right ¶ Beside Gysours thei faught with hostes sore Wher kyng Rychard had the victorie Kyng Philip fled fro his baner thore With muche shame reproffe and vilanie Kyng Rychard segid a castell then in hie That Caluce hight not ferre fro Lymosyne Wher hurt he was full sore and dyed fyne ¶ An arblaster with a quarell hym smot As he about the castell went to spie But then he made therto a saute full hote On euery syde about full cruelly And gatte the place so then full myghtely And slewe theim all without any grace Agayn hym so that holden had that strong place ¶ He shroue hym then vnto abbots three With great sobbyng and hye contricion And wepyng teares that pitee was to see Mekely askyng penaunce and absolucion That it might please God at his peticion To forgeue his offences tyll domysday So afterwarde in blysse he might been ay ¶ He quethed his corps then to bee buried Al Fount Euerard there at his fathers feete To whom he graunted and made it notifyed Traytour he was and false of his behete His herte inuyncyble to Roan he sent full mete For their greate truth stedfast great constaunce His bowelles lose to Poytou for deceyuaunce ¶ Whose soule from the body dyd departe And into heauen went where is eternall ioye Because from synne he did conuerte Longyng for that blessed daye To see Christ that for his synne dyd paye That crucyfied was vpon the roode Redemyng his synne by the shedyng of his blode ¶ And of his reigne he died the .x. yere And in the yere of Christes incarnacion A thousande hole two hundreth and .iiii. clere As written is by clere computacion Who in his life had hole dominacion In Normandy Guyen Cypers and Surry Whose honoure shone aboue all other clerely The C .xli. Chapiter ¶ Iohn kyng of Englande duke of Normandy and Guyan 〈◊〉 erle of Angeou began to reygne the yere M CC. and .iiii. and reigned .xvii. yere and died the yere M CC .xxi. HIs brother Iohn was kyng then of Englande And crouned was at westminster ful faire By all estates and lordes of his lande And sone therafter deuorced full vnfayre From his wife wedded that there afore was heyre Vnto therle of Gloucestre full wyse That sonnes had that tyme of great enterprise ¶ For cause of whiche and of consanguinitye Deuorce was made and toke another wyfe Dame Isabell therles doughter fayre and free Of Englande and his heyre knowen ryfe Whiche after made hym ful great warre stryfe For she was wyfe of Hugh Brune of Toreyn The Viscount then toke fro hym a virgyne ¶ Wherfore Hugh Brune nomore of hym wolde hold But warred hym on euery side aboute Tyll he hym toke with other many folde And slewe theim all were thei neuer so stoute In his first yere a taxe he tooke full out Of eche plough land thre shyllynges fully payed For whiche the people bitterly for hym prayed The C .lxii. Chapiter ¶ Howe kyng Wyllyam of Scotlande did homage leege to kyng Iohn at Lyncolne the duke Arthure of Britayne all the lordes of Irelande did the same IN his first yere kyng Wylliā of Scotlād Made hys homage in Lyncolne his citee And Arthure duke of Britayne I vnderstande Sone after made hys homage feautee At London then with great humilitee The prince of Wales there made his homage For Wales then that was his heritage ¶ The great a Neele and Makmurre also And al the lordes and kynges of Irelande Therles also of Vlster did right so Of Ormond and Desmond for there lande And all estates there as I vnderstande Wer sworne to hym and to hym did homage For theyr lyuelodes and theyr heritage ¶ The kyng Philip confedered with Arthure To rebell sore agayne his eme kyng Iohn And graunte hym men power stronge and sure To gette Guyan Poytou and Angeou anon Wherfore kyng Iohn to Normandy gan gone And there he tooke Arthure duke of Britayn In castell Mirable dyed in mykell payne ¶ Dame Isabell the suster also of Arthure In the castell of Bristowe was then holde And died there in pryson then full sure As kyng Iohn hir vncle so it wolde A lady of greate beautee she was hold Beshet in pryson in paynes strong So endeth her life for sorowe liued not long ¶ Thus slewe he both Athure and Isabell The chyldren of his brother duke Geffrey To ioye the croune of Englande as men tell Wherfore moste parte of all his landes that daye Beyonde the sea forsoke hym then for ay Retournyng to the kyng of Fraunce in hye To holde of hym and his perpetually ¶ Bishop Hubert of Cauntorbury tho died Wherfore kyng Iohn vnto the couent sente To chose his clarke whiche they refused denied Wherfore the kyng was wroth in
his entente For they disobeyed the lettre whiche he sent For they had chosen mayster Stephan Langton An worthy clarke of all disposicion ¶ Whom kyng Iohn then wold not admytte For Romayn bull ne for the prelates prayer But prisoned some and some to death commytte Some he exiled and theyr eyen clere And all personnes and prelates in fere He then put out and seazed theyr benefice Through all the lande as his mortall enemyes The Romyshe byshoppe curssed hym openly And all the realme fully did enterdite That sacramentes none therin should occupie And to the kyng of Fraunce without respite He wrote his letters so full fayre endite To take Englande hole in gouernaunce For kyng Iohn his great misgouernaunce ¶ Many erles also and many great barons Vnto the kyng of Fraunce wrote openly To sende his sonne Lewes the rebellions To helpe to whome they promysed sikerly To croune hym kyng of England worthely If that kyng Iohn would not his trespasse amēd Vnto the churche in whiche he had offend ¶ Wherfore that kyng of Fraūce to England sente His sonne Lewes with hoste and power strong With whom many lordes susteyned his entent And other some maynteyned kyng Iohn in wrōg Thus stode this lande Englande Wales longe Hole enterdite frō all holy sacramentes That none was done without priuelegementes ¶ Lewes the sonne of kyng Philip of Fraunce Had castelles fees and citees many one At his good rule and full wyse gouernaunce In Englande then well mo then had kyng Iohn Tyll on a daye to lordes he made his moone By whose coūcel vnto that Romishe bishop he wrote His letters meke as best he could theim note ¶ Besekyng hym of mercy and of grace Of forgeuenesse and absolucion His defautes all to mend and his trespasse And vndirguage all his punysion For to release thenterdiccion For whiche the Romishe bishop as he that letters see Wepte fore hauyng full greate pitee ¶ Thenterdiccion fully he releassed And to the kyng of Fraunce anone sent To ceasse the warre the peace to be encreassed Betwene hym and kyng Iohn bayssent To whiche he would put so all his entent To Lewes then he sent thesame message And of Englande to haue his hole costage ¶ And for Lewes with Lordes of Englande Obeyde not the byshops commaundement He sent Gwalo his legate I vnderstande To cursse Lewes and all of his assent Then died kyng Iohn in Christen hole entent At Croxton abbey and buried was full fayre At Worcester with lordes and great repayre ¶ Some bookes sayen he poysoned was to dead Of plummes so syttyng at his meate In thabbey of Cistews at Swynsheade With whiche a monke there hym did rehete Wenyng of God greate thanke to gette At Newerke died at Worcester sepultured In chronicles as is playnly scriptured ¶ He gate a sōne that Hēry of Wynchester hight And other after and Richarde was his name That erle was of Cornwayle of great might A Worthy knight and of right noble fame These sonnes on his wyfe that noble dame And gate Isabell the wyfe of Frederyk Emperoure of Rome a lorde full poletyk ¶ In his tymes were these earles in Englande Geffry Maundeuile earle of Essex than Syr Quincy as I can vnderstande Earle of Winchester that was a manly man And the earle of Cornewayle that was than Roger of Clare then earle of Gloucester That in Englande was none his better ¶ Roger Bygot earle of Northfolke then That Marshall was that tyme of Englande Henry Bowne then earle of Herforde as I can Conceyue was then Constable of the lande Aryght worthy knyght of his hande And Dauyd then was of Huntyngdon Willyam Marshall earle of Penbroke full boon ¶ Randolfe of Chester the earle of good estate Robert Veer of Oxenforde full wyse Willyam Groos of Almaryk generate Willyam Lōgspee earle then of great enterpryse In actes marcyall a man knyghtly and wyse Of Salysbury a mighty lorde that daye Through all Englande knowen of greate araye ¶ Willyam the earle of Arundell that hyght Awbeny by his surname full well then knowe At Wimondham in Northfolke buryed ryght Father was of Philyp full yonge vnknowe That full curteous was both to hye and lowe That after hym was earle of Arundell As chronycles wryten can clerely tell ¶ This kyng Iohn dyed in hole creaunce The yere of Chryste a. M was then knawe Two hundreth .xxi. by remembraunce In chronycles as I haue red and sawe And full cumbreous bothe to hye and lawe At Worcester buryed in good araye As a prynce royall of reason ought that daye The C .xliii. Chapiter ¶ Henry the thyrde kynge of Englande duke of Normandye and Guyen and Earle of Angeou that beganne to reygne the yere of Chryste a thousande CC. xxi and dyed in the yere a thousande CC .lxxiii. and of his reygne the .lvi. yere ¶ In his tyme was a batayl at Lincolne where Earle Raudolfe of Chester discomfyted Lewys that sonne of kyng Philyppe of Fraunce HEnry his sonne then was of .ix. yere age At Gloucester crowned with the dyademe By the Legate Gwalo the Baronage Stephan of Langton helpyng as did well seme Archbyshop then as the byshop coulde deme The same yere then the kyng with Lewys faught Besyde Lincolne where Lewys was nere caught ¶ Foure C. knyghtes of Lewis there was slaine Th erle of Perche was slayne on Lewis syde And many fled with Lewys soth agayne Th erle Randolf of Chester knowen wyde The felde there gate that daye with mikell pryde And Lewys then all his ryght relesed And home he went with mony well appesed ¶ In the seconde yere he wedded Alyanor Therls doughter of Prouynce good and fayre Whose elder syster kyng Lewys wed afore This earle was then famed amonge repayre The noblest prynce without any dispeyre That tyme alyue through all chrystente Of all honoure and greate nobilyte And Iohn the sonne of Dauyd of Huntingdon That of Huntyngdon Chester earle had bene Without chylde dyed his erldome to the crowne Then sezed were to tyme that it was sene Howe his systers myght them departe betwene The parliament graunted that wardes to the kyng That helde of hym by knyghtes seruyce doyng ¶ To make statutes at Oxenforde ordynaūce By whiche there shulde none alyence enheryte And put the kyngvnder the gouernaunce Of certayne lordes wysest moste parfyte Whiche after made amonge them great dispyte And batayles stronge greate contrariaunce Through all the lande by longe continuaunce The C .xliiii. Chapiter ¶ Of the byrthe of Edwarde his eldest sonne and heyre was in the .xxix. yere of his father and in the yere of Chryste a thousande CC .xxxix. Howe Symonde Mountforte Earle of Leycester was create HIs eldest sonne and heyre that Edward hyghe At Westmynster of Chrystes incarnacyon The yere a thousand CC .ix. and .xxx. ryght Whome the legate Otho by informacyon Baptyzed in funt saynt Edmondes confirmacy 〈…〉 To hym then made as the churche deuysed In his baptime holy then autoryzed
¶ Symond the soÌ„ne of earle Symond MouÌ„tfort Came oute of Fraunce for ferdnesse of that quene To kyng Henry whome he gaue great comforte He gaue hym then his man for ay to bene Of Leycester the earldome fayre and clene With the Stewarde of Englande in herytage Whiche is an offyce of greate priuelage ¶ And wed his doughter dame Elyanore To Willyam Marshall earle of Penbroke After whose deathe she auowed chastyte for euermore But he her maryed and her betoke For all her vowe as sayeth the booke To Earle Symond Mountfort to be his wyfe Notwithstandyng that she vowed chastyte her lyfe ¶ Tho dyed Lewelyn the prynce of Wales then Betwene his sonnes Gryffyth and Dauid grewe Greate discencyon and stryfe ay when and when And dame Beatryce the kynges doughter trewe To earle Symonde of Britayne wedded newe The yere of Chryste a thousand was accompted Two hundreth moo fourty and one amounted The C .xlv. Chapiter ¶ The 〈◊〉 of 〈…〉 of Lancaster and of Leicester long after in the yere of his father one and thirty and in the yere of Christ M. iiC xli THe same yere then Edmond his sooÌ„ne was At LaÌ„castre that yere of Christ theÌ„ writeÌ„ A thousand whole twoo C and fourty mo bore And one therto in Flores as is wryten And in the yere next after then ouersetten The kyng his doughter Margaret then maryed To Alexaunder kyng of Scotland notified ¶ At Yorke citee wher he then did homage For Scotland whole and Isles apperteinyng Then dyed â—hemperour full sage Wherfore the lordes of Almaignie variyng Some chose Rychard kyng Henryes brother beyng And some that kyng of Castile would haue algate But erle Rychard of Menske had all the state ¶ Then rose discorde betwene the kyng Henry And certain lordes of mighty greate power Symond Mountfort vpon hym toke boldly To bee cheftein to hold the feld full clere At Lewis faught of christ then was the yere A thousand twoo hundred and sixty accompted And foure also so muche more amounted ¶ This erle Symond had then the kyng Henry And his brother Rychard themperour In his kepyng and ward wer hold strongly But prince Edward was sette in Herford toure And erle Henry of Herford that was floure Themperours soonne at Herford with hym laye A myle about disported theim euery â—aye ¶ Fro whens at last with horse thei brake awa 〈…〉 And to Wigmour castell thei came in hie To sir Roger Mortymer wher he laye That theim receiued then full gladly And so thei assembled with greate hoste manfully And held the feld the lordes fast to theim drewe And at Euesham thei stroke a battaill newe ¶ In the yere of Christ a thousand was tho Twoo hundred mo sirty also and fiue When prince Edward faught with his foo Symond MouÌ„tfort and raught hym fro his liue The feld discomfited there anone as bliue With help of erle Gilbert then called Clare And other lordes with hym that were thare ¶ He slewe many and some awaye exiled And some he held in prisone and distres He toke out then his father as is compiled His eme Rychard holden in greate dures And all his frendes of his hie worthynes He socoured euer and with his gold supported And wher it want with his woord theim coÌ„forted The C .xlvi. Chapiter ¶ Howe Robert Ferrers erle of Darby was dishe rite and many other of their compaignie RObert Ferrers that erle was of Darby Disherite then for his insurreccion With many other at Chesterfeld in hie Faught with Edward of their presumpcion And fled awaye with greate confusion Vnto the Isle of Axholme and fro thens Vnto Lyncolne and spoyled the citezens ¶ Fro thens to Ely thei went anone Wher prince Edward thisle proudely assailed Thei fled fro it soone to Yorkeshire gan gone In freres clothis that were full long tailed Robbyng their fooes when thei of good failed And other some to Kilyngworth then fled To Henry Hastynges who then the castell had ¶ Wher then that kyng great siege laied all about But nought auailed so strongly thei defende And for ther was in euery shire throughout So greate robbery and nothyng amende The kyng was fain for lordes then to send By whose aduise he ordeined for that case That all disherite and exiled should haue grace ¶ All disherite should buye their landes again To paye for theim gold as thei might accorde With theowners so that no man should payen More then the land were worth by greate recorde In seuen yere whole and if thei might concorde For lesse money so it exceade a yere The value of the yerly rent full clere ¶ Robet Ferrers erle of Derby then The soonnes also of erle Symond exclude That perpetuall iudgement fully then Neuer to redeme their landes but been exclude So that theowners be not with theim delude Vnto a daye that fifty thousand pound Be paide of nobles whole and round ¶ Edmond the soonne of the same kyng Henry Was weddid first vnto dame Auelyn Erle Willyam his doughter of Almarle womaÌ„ly None issue had neither male ne feminine Then was he wed to Blaunche that quene full fyne Of Nauerne and so of Lancaster create With Leicestre also therle denominate The C .xlvii. Chapiter ¶ Howe Edward theldest sooÌ„ne heire of kyng Henry the third and his brother erle Edmond of Lancaster and of Leicestre went to IerusaleÌ„ with greate power whiche twoo princes were couÌ„ted the semeliest of all the hoste of Christendome HIs brother Edward and he associate To Ierusalem their voiage theÌ„ auowed Two semely princes together adioynate In all the world was none theim like alowed So large faire thei were eche manne he bowed Edward aboue his menne was largely seen By his shulders more hie and made full clene ¶ Edmond next hym the comeliest prince aliue Not croke backed ne in no wyse disfugured As some menne wrote the right lyne to depryue Through great falsehed made it to bee scriptured For cause it should alwaye bee refigured And mencioned well his yssue to preuaile Vnto the croune by suche a gouernaile ¶ But prince Edward and he held fourth their waye To Ierusalem so did themperour Rychard his eme and Henry his soonne full gay To Cisile came by sea through many a shoure Edward with hym then had his wife that houre Elianour doughter of the kyng of Aragon A princesse faire at his eleccion ¶ The kyng Lewes also then thither went And in his waye dyed and expired Sainct Lewes nowe is named by all assent Of holy churche as it is well enquired Approued trewe as reason well required But Edward prince and EdmoÌ„d abode two yere With werres greate and mighty strong power ¶ For nacions all vnto prince Edward drewe And to Edmond his brother for their semelines And greate maÌ„hode whiche in theim that thei knewe Sir Charles that brother of king Lewes doubteles Kyng of Cisile of noble worthynes By the Soudan was chasid without beld Whome prince Edward socoured had the
hym noyed But werre theim aye to tyme thei were distroyed For he saied thus thou shalt neuer fynd theim trewe But whiles thei bee in thy subieccion dewe ¶ At Burgh vpon the sande he died anone And to London caried then daye by daye At Westminster buried with muche mone With quene 〈…〉 garete he had thē soōnes tway Thomas Bro 〈…〉 ton erle of Northfolke gay And marshall of England the other of Kent Edmond Wodstok was erle in all entent ¶ This noble kyng died in Iuly the third daye And toward heauen he then tooke his waye The yere of Christ a thousand south to saie Three hundred whole and seuen by calculacion And of his 〈…〉 ne and coronacion Fiue and thirty not fully whole complete When he so went vnto the blisse so swete The C .lxix. Chapiter ¶ Edward the second kyng of England began to reigne the yere a thousand three hundred and seuen the eyght daye of Iuly and was deposed the yere a thousand thre hundred twenty and sixe and of his reigne nyntene yere EDward his soōne prince of Wales lord At Carnaruan of his mother bore Was croūed kīg by good whole cōcord Of all the lordes that were assembled thore At Westminster as was his father afore And at the feast of thassumpcion Of our lady he sent for Peers Gauerston ¶ Whom then he made therle of Cornwaile Again the will of all the baronage Whom his father exiled for misgouernaile The third yere after for his misused outrage The lordes rose of ire and greate courage And heddid hym as for an hie traytour That wasted had and spent the kyng his tresour ¶ And in that mean while kyng Robert Bruys had ge◠All Scotland nere wherfore that kyng Edward To Scotland went at Bannokesburne thei me◠And faught full sore till slain was the vaward And discomfited was the midelward And to the rereward kyng Edward hym drewe For greate socour wher he had battayl newe ¶ Whiche kild was doune sauf fewe that led the kyng To Dunbarre then fleand with hym away Ther was therle of Gloucester slain fleyng The lord Clifford and all the lordes that daye Th erle of Herford to Bothuile fled his waye Th erle Edmond of Arundell and erle of Valence Therles of Warwike Oxenford take at defence ¶ This battaill was the yere of Christ smitten A thousand whole three hundred and fiftene On midsomer daye and of his reigne thē written The seuenth yere by chronicle as is seen Then was Vmfrey erle of Herford frethed clene And enterchaungid for kyng Robertes wife That holden was in England then full ryfe The C .lxx. Chapiter ¶ Of the relesse that kyng Edward made to Robert Bruys at Dūbarre whiche relesse Iohn Hardyng deliuered in to the tresorye in the dayes of kyng Henry the fifth at Boys Vincent in Fraunce with other for whiche he gaue hym Godyngton that the quene hathe nowe PAtrike Dūbarre erle of Marche that daye To kyng Edward was leege mā lōg afore To his father and trewe had been alwaye Sent kyng Edward to Barwik but therfore He toke of hym a relesse for euermore Of his seruice that due was to the croune Anentes kyng Bruys to execute his treason ¶ Whiche relesse the maker of this booke Iohn Hardyng brought with other euidence And to the kyng Henry the fifth it toke With other mo afore at Boys Vincent Perteignyng to England royall regiment And nought he hath vnto his sustenaunce As oft a fore here in his remembraunce The C .lxxi. Chapiter ¶ Howe kyng Robert Bruis toke all the lordes of England and sleugh many at Stryuelin bridge distroied the Marches and bete doune castelles therin KYng Robert Bruys toke Robert Vmfreuile Erle of Angeos Henry then lord Percy Th erle of Marche and also that lord Neuile Acton and Scropen and also the lord Lucy At Stryuelyn bridge fightyng mightely In the vaward of the forsaid battaill Taken prisoners and raunsomed for auaill ¶ Thē kyng Robert that Marchis whole distroied The castelles wanne and bet theim to the ground And all Scotland afore that he had noyed Obeyed to hym and were his lieges bounde And maintened well thē furth all Scotlād groūd The bishoprike of Duresme all throughout Northumberland he brent with hoste full stout ¶ Two cardinales that B. of Rome to Scotlād sent To treate a trewce a twene the kynges twoo And for to stall Lewes Beamount present Bishop of Duresme that then was sacred so Whose brother was Henry lord Beaumont tho Licensed and graunted by the kyng of Fraunce To bee liege menne to Edwardes whole plesaūce ¶ But sir Gilbert Midelton theim mette And sir Walter Selby misruled knightes A litell fro Duresme their waye forsett And robbed theim openly on the lightes And to Midford castell led theim fourth rightes And held theim ther in mighty and strong hold To tyme thei had their iwels and their gold ¶ Whiche knightes twoo robbed the lād about That castell held by force and rebellion A quarter of a yere with rebelles stout But thei were take within that garison And to the kyng sent by that enchesone That hanged were ▪ as traytours all should been On galowes hie that all might theim seen ¶ Then after soone sir Gosselyn Deynuile His brother Robert with twoo hundred in habite As thei were friers went about in exile Robbyng the land in full greate dispite The bishopes places of Duresme in circuite Thei spoiled clene leuyng nothyng in theim But walles bare whiche thei would not claime The C .lxxii. Chapiter ¶ Howe the lordes of England with powre royall dur 〈…〉 not ryde into Scotlande passyng fourtene mile England was so at vnder that tyme. THerle Edmond then of Arundell Wardein of the Marches then constitute Th erle Robert of Angeos Vmfreuile Of his landes hauyng no refute Th erle Dauid of Athell destitute Of his erldome the lord Percy full hardy The lord Neuell the lord Beaumont manly ¶ With all the power of the North contree Distroyed then Scotland and brent Vpon the March vnto Lyntell Lee Whome sir Walter Wareyn by whole assent Of Iames Douglas pursued as thei went With great power alwaye at their side That thei were fain again to England ride ¶ But sir Walter Wareyn and Douglas With their power brent all Northumberland Tyndale became Scottes and false then was And rode with theim brent through all the land To Alerton and so rode home to Scotland Through the West March brent it all through out And home thei went without any doubt ¶ The castell then of Berwyke and the towne Kyng Robert gatte after strong greate defence By treaty with peace Spaldyng and treason The Wendesoaye before Easters reuerence Wher that traitour without long suspence Betrayed the towne and into Scotland went By Scottes slain as to a traytour appent The C .lxxiii. Chapiter ¶ Howe kyng Edward laied siege to Barwyke and for sooke the siege and went South for Robert Bruys had destroyed
mikell of Yorkshire discomfited that archebishop of Yorke his clergy at Milton on swale THe kyng Edward began to siege Berwyk like And wonne it had but false tales it let And tidinges newe that nought the kyng did For Robert Bruys the kyng of Scotlande mette With the bishop of Yorke and hym ouersette Wherfore he loste the siege and went awaye But Bruys had stroyed England in fell araye ¶ To Borough brydge by east and west he brent And home agayne with many a prysoner Without harme or lette of his entent With mykell good but in Myton medowe nere To Swale water laye then with great power Walter Wareyn among the hay kockes bushed Vpon the byshop sodenly with Scottes yssued ¶ And .xv. hundreth Englyshe there he slewe And home he went with kyng Edward full glad With prysoners many mo then men knewe The byshop fled fro the felde full woo bestad With his clerkes that then were full mad For whiche therle Thomas of Lancastre there And kyng Edward depatted halfe in werre The C .lxxiiii. Chapiter ¶ Howe at the nexte parliamente after Thomas of Lancaster and Leycester erle and certayne lordes exiled the twoo Spencers out of the land but then that Spencers made great persecucion with the kyng agayn the lordes and slewe the erle of Lancaster and the other lordes AT the parliameÌ„t theÌ„ at westminster next hold Erle Thomas that then was called ful trewe Th erle Vmfrey of Herford that was bold Th erle of Marche full manly as men knewe The Monbrey also Percy and Clyfford drewe All armed came and two Spencers exiled Out fro Englande neuer to be reconsyled ¶ But sone the Spencers came to that kyng again Syr Hugh the lorde and syr Hugh his sonne And put therle of Marche in great disdayn Roger his sonne that with hym did wonne Appeched hym then of hye treason Agaynst the kyng wherfore the kyng hym sent Into the toure tabyde the parliament ¶ Then went the kyng and Spencers both two With hostes full great to Burton vpon Trent Where the lordes laye and sparled theim then so That north they went then wayes by one assente To rayse mo men they trust in theyr entent The Spencers two fully for to destroye Who all the realme full cruelly did noye ¶ At Borinbrig syr Andrewe Hertlaw met With erle Vmfrey of Herford and hym slewe And toke the erle Thomas without let And to the kyng that then to Pountfret drewe Where then were sette vpon hym iudges newe Th erle Edmound of Arondell for iustice And syr Robert Mapilthorpe his enemyes ¶ There he was headed anone vpon the hyll And buryed was there in a chapell fayre Henry his brother stode at the kynges wyll Whom the kyng graunted to bee his heyre That wedded then Alyce without despayre The doughter and heyre of therle Henry Lacy Of Lyncolne so graunted by the kynges mercy ¶ WyllyaÌ„ fitz Wareyn many another knight In diuers shyres some hanged and some head That hold with hym or with his compeers right Syr Bartholomewe Badelismore without rede Drawen and hanged and put to foul dead Roger Clyfford and Iohn Monbraye barons Headed then were for theyr rebellions ¶ Th erle of Marche syr Roger Mortymer His sonne Roger foriuged were for treason And by the kyng of death pardoned were And put were then in perpetuall pryson Into the towre for that same encheson Fro that tyme forth the Spencers other excede The quene was but an hand mayden in dede ¶ To tyme the kyng to her brother hir sent And also his sonne Edwarde to dooen homage For Guyen so to haue at his entente And for they dwelled so long in that viage The kyng theim had suspecte of theyr message By councell of the Spencers theim exiled As in chronicle pleynly is compiled ¶ The kyng then made and playnly did create Andrewe Hertlawe erle then of Carlele Whiche tyme the kyng Robert full fortunate Rode all the east Marche full proudly and well The byshopryke and Yorkeshire euery dele Andrewe Hertlawe erle of Carlele absent To Lancastre hym drewe in false entente ¶ The kyng Robert was passed home agayn With prayes greate and many prysoners Fro Humber north the people downe were slayn Of whiche the kyng and all his councelers Blamed therle Andrewe and his compeers For he had men enough with hym arayed The Scottes all that might haue slayn frayed ¶ He hight the kyng haue brought to hym great powers Into yorkshyre held nothing his hight Therfore the kyng by counsell of the Spencers Gaue charge to take hym either by daye or night Or kyl hym downe wher they mete with hym might To all shryues was sent this commaundement Fro Trent northwarde by writtes maundemeÌ„t The C .lxxv. Chapiter ¶ Howe syr Roger Mortymer the younger wente oute of the toure of London went into Fraunce to the quene of Englande and to the prince Edwarde hir soonne and also howe the lorde Lucye tooke syr Andrewe Hertlawe erle of carlele and headed hym at Carlele for treason THen â—r Roger the yongest Mortimer Made his kepers dronke and went away Out of the toure by night other in feer And into Fraunce anone he toke his waye Vnto the quene Isabell in poore araye And bode with her at hyr gouernaunce All tyme that she was soiournyng in Fraunce ¶ And then Antony Lucye lorde of Cokirmouth Syr Robert Lowther with other many in feere At Carlele toune as knowe was full couth Toke syr Andrewe Hertlawe with mekill steeâ— They put on hym he toke royall power In truce takyng with therle of Murrey Withouten power in trayterous araye ¶ In wrongyng of the kynges hye estate And of his right full great derogacion And howe he toke greate golde immoderate Of kyng Edwarde through cauelacion To bryng hym power for his supportacioÌ„ Agayn the kyng Robert that then destroyed His lande full foule and had hym self anoyed ¶ And howe he had the people hole withdrawe With hym Westwarde by false confederacie Betwene hym and therle of Marrowe Couened fully before cast traytorie Wherfore they drewe hym first all openly And hanged after and to London sent Vnto the kynge his head for great present The C .lxxvi. Chapiter ¶ Howe the quene Isabell treated mariage of one of the doughters of therle of Henaulde for hir sonne Edwarde to haue to wife by thauice of her brother kyng Charles came to Englande with great power and toke that kyng and slewe his counsell for treason THere by aduise and good consyderacion Of the kyng of Fraunce her brother dere Quene Isabell accorded for supportacion Hir sonne should wed one of the doughters clere Of therle of Henauld that fyue then were Through whose succour she hir sonne Edward Toke then the sea to Englande warde ¶ Erle Edmond of Kent then with her came Kyng Edwardes brother syr Aymer valence Erle of Penbroke whiche came with hir fro hame And Mortymer the yonger in hir presence Henauldes and Frenche with great
couth Full mekill skyll of a woman alwaye That so couth chese a lady that was vncouth And for that mery woordes that came of his mouth Thei trowed he had right great experience Of womanes rule and hir conuenience ¶ Kyng Robert Bruys smitten in lepry dyed To whom his soonne Dauid then did succede And crouned was for kyng and notified His wife also was crouned quene in deede Kyng Edwardes suster she was then as I rede Sir Roger then that was lord Mortimer With Isabell the quene was holden dere ¶ Through hardinesse of whiche he wasted clene The kyng his tresour as was notified For whiche Henry erle of Lancastre for tene Rose with greate hoste as then was fortified To haue withstand and clerely haue replied The wantonnes of Roger Mortymer That was that tyme the quenes playfeer ¶ But treated he was to sitte in rest and peace Notwithstandyng at the coronacion Of kyng Edward chose he was without lees His custode then for good informacion Of the kyng his persone and preseruacion But quene Isabell and the Mortimer Would not suffre ne while that so it were ¶ Edmond Wodstok that then was erle of Kent By kyng Edward of Carnaruan create Whose brother he was by quene Isabelles entēt And Mortimer his mighty and greate estate Arested was and stode repudiate At Winchester foriudged in parliament And hedid there again the common assent ¶ A brother he had hight Thomas of Brothertō Erle of Northfolk and marshall of England That of his death made none execucion For lordes all the greatest of the land Full sory were but nought thei tooke on hand Fro noone till euen without the castell gate He stoode condempned as a repudiate ¶ Whome then at euen a boye of the marshalse Stroke of his hedde for whome the lordes than And commons all displeased were inwardly At Notyngham sone after thei began Wher Mortimer therle of Marche then Arested were and his soonne sir Roger And to the toure of London sent thei were ¶ On sainct Andrewes daye thei wer drawe and hong At London so by dome of the parlyament At Westminster holden by processe long Sir Simond Bedford was of their assent Drawe and hanged therfore thei went And fro the quene his mother he resumed His landes all for she had so consumed ¶ His treasour foule and all his greate riches He putte hir to hir dower and nomore To liue vpon at the frere minours doubtles Wher she had not been brought before And there she dyed and buryed is therfore At London nowe full feire and reuerently Wher she had dwelt long full honourably ¶ Edward Baylioll to claim Scotland thē went And with hym went sir Gilbert Vmfreuile Claimyng to bee erle by his whole entent Of Angeous then as chroniclers compile Sir Henry Beaumont also went that while His heritage to gette and to conquere Therledome of Boughan should bee his clere ¶ Henry Percy with Edward Bailioll went Galoway to claime as for his heritage By shippe thei went all whole by one assent At Rauensporne and landed with greate corage At Kincorne wel in Fyfe by all knowlage Dauid Strabolgy erle of Athellis by right With theim thē went for his landes ther to fight ¶ Thei were accōpted twoo M. fightyng menne And fiue hundred byside the mariners At their landyng their shipis thei brent right then And bored some and sanke at good leysers Thei thought theim self of good strong powers Thei toke none hede of shippis home again But landeway ride for all the Scottes dain ¶ Thei toke none hede nor yet consideracion Of thousandes many ne of greate multitude As lordes dooe nowe of commons congregacion But putte their cause to god his hie excelsitude And in their owne handes solicitude At Kincorne then faught with therle of Fyffe Discomfit hym and fled awaye with life ¶ His menne were slain vpon the feld echeone Thē Robert Bruys the bastard soōne their Guyde The lord Seton with power came anone And newe battaill theim gaue with mekell pryde That noumbred were ten thousand on their side Whiche slain were all for thei would take none Saufe the chiefteynes that fled awaye alone ¶ The kyng Edward Baylioll with his power To Dunfermelyne abbey then furth so went Wher in Glasinore that Scottes then sembled were Fourty thousand full proud in their intent And all were slain without suppowelment Th erle of Marre and therle of Murray Th erle of Carryk and Menth dyed that daye ¶ And after soone at Deplyng More mette Sir Neel Bruys with ten thousand in feer That slain were there and to therth doune beet The Englishe had the feld that daye full clere Their ordinaunce was to take no prisoner Wherfore thei slewe the Scottes without mercie Lest newe bataill came on theim in hie ¶ At these battailles afore that been wrytten Sixty thosaund Scottes slain and mortefied Were more with prees as afterward was weten Then with mānes hand thei were so feel multiplied Echeone on other of pride so reuied Without rule of marcill gouernaunce Thei smored were by their contrariaunce ¶ And but twoo knightes thirty thre squiers Whiche ther were dedde of the Englishe power In foure battailles faught with axe swerd speris At Diplyng Moore fro tyme the soōne rose clere To three after noon as saieth the chronicler Within seuē dayes thei smote these .iiii. battailies As chronicles make full clere rehersailes ¶ Thē wēt thei furth vnto sainct Iohns towne That was replete and full of all vitaile And kept the toune with manly direccion Archebald Douglas and erle Patrik no faile Of Dunbarre then the toune began tassaile With thirty thousand but there thei were well bet With cast of stones and greate defence ouerset ¶ The citees then and tounes to the sea side At their costage to Scotland sent a flete To helpe our lordes and get theim good that tide And with the shippis of Scotland for to mete And so thei did and sore theim all to bete And brought theim home and some with wildfyre brēt In Taye water and some thei sanke shent ¶ Wherfore the Scottes the siege then forsooke Thenglish lordes at Skone the kyng did croune Edward Baliol the soonne was who will looke To Iohn Baliol kyng of that region Whome then afore Henry Beaumount brought Frome Baliol wher he was lord in Fraunce As his aunceters had been of remembraunce ¶ This kyng Edward Baliol his fooes sought And at Rokisburgh faught ▪ with therle of Murrey Discomfited theim in battaill sore ther fought And to Duresme sent hym fro thens awaye Ther to bee kept in siker strong araye Then sir Archbald Douglas and erle Patrike Then of Dunbar their kyng thought to bee swi 〈…〉 ¶ Thei toke with hym a trewce to Candylmasse From October in trust of whiche he sent Thenglishe lordes to England home expresse Trustyng he had been sure in his entente All was falshede that the two erles ment For they vphelde Dauid in tendre age Kyng Robartes sonne
Sir Robert then my mayster Vmfreuyle At Redeswyres withoute excusacyon With Richarde Rotherforde fought that whyle And toke the stewarde as I can compyle And Iames Douglas with the lorde Seton And prisoners many for to geue raunson ¶ Two hundreth men vpon that felde were slayne Thre hundreth fled some hole some maymed sore That dyed at home with sorowe and with payne Some died homeward the home they came nomore Where so he fought vnto his men right thore A mery worde he wòlde saye or they met To glad theyr hartes enemyes to ouerset ¶ The .ii. yere of his reygne then he went In haruest tyme so into Scotlande And Edenburgh with the countre brente In whiche tyme the Scottes brent our lande All Bamburgh shyre in Northumberlande For both wardeyns with the kyng were gone No wardeyne there but husbandes by their owne The CC .i. Chapiter ¶ Howe Owen of Glendoure rose in Wales againe the king and made warre on the lorde Gray Ruthin and toke the lorde Graye and syr Edmonde Mortymer THe king came home and to London went At Michelmasse wher thē he had message That Owen Glendoure then felly blent In Englande sore and did full great damage For cause the lorde Graye helde his herytage And to the kyng of it full sore had playned No remedye gate so was he then demeaned ¶ The lorde Gray Ruthin did hym great wrong Destroyed his lande and he did hym the same So both Marches destroyed were full longe But Owen wanne him selfe eche day great name Of vasselrie of gentyls and of fame That he them did for whiche to him they drewe And became his men to him were full trewe ¶ So on a daye the lorde Graye and he met With great power vpon eyther syde Where then they faught in batayle sore bet And toke hym then his prysoner that tyde And there the felde he had with mikyll pryde Greate people toke and slewe home he went The lorde Graye he raunsomed at his entent ¶ Syr Edmonde then Mortimer warred sore Vpon Owen and dyd hym mekyll tene But at laste Owen laye hym before Where in batell they faught as well was sene Where Owen toke him prisoner as then ful kene With mekell folke on eyther syde slayne And set Edmonde in prysone and great payne ¶ He wrote vnto the kyng for great socoure For he had made with Owen his fynaunce To whom that kyng wolde graunt then no fauoure Ne nought he wolde thē make him cheuesaunce For to comforte his foes disobeysaunce Wherfore he laye in feters and sore prysone For none payment of his greate raunsone The CC .iii. Chapiter ¶ The Earle of Northumberlande his sonne Henry Percy stroke the batayle of Hamildon with the Scottes toke syxe Earles and discomfyte .xl. thousande Scottes IN the .iii. yere Th erle of Fyffe Murrey Of Athell and Angos Douglas also And of Menteth with barons fell that daye The nomber was .xl. thousande and mo Had brent the lande by south Northward tho To Homildon where on holy rode daye The earle them met in good stronge araye ¶ His sonne also Henry Percy was there George of Dunbar was in theyr company And with the Scottes that daye fought full sere Discomfyted them and had the victorye Six earles taken and .xl. thousande playnly Some fled some died some maimed there for euer That to Scotlande agayne came they neuer ¶ The kyng Henry thryce to wales went In the haye tyme and haruest dyuers yere In euery tyme were mystes and tempestes sent Of wethers foule that he had neuer power Glendour to noye but euer his caryage clere Owen had at certayne straites and passage And to our hoste dyd full greate damage ¶ The king had neuer but tempest foule raine As longe as he was ay in Wales grounde Rockes mystes windes stormes euer certaine All men trowed that witches it made that stounde The cōmens all then of all Englande grounde Warred his gate to Wales euery yere For haye and corne were loste both two in fere Whiche made greate derth of catell morayne And euen ay in hylles and in mountaynes Kepte him ful strong that king ay wrought in vaine The king might not but euer more held that pleines And waste his owne lord shippes his demaines And full great parte Owen had and occupyed By processe so in Wales and victoryed ¶ Th erle Henry then of Northumberland Brought to the kyng his owne prisoner Th erle of Fyffe was then I vnderstand Heire vnto the duke of Albany clere Regent that was of Scotland without pere But sir Henry his soonne then would not bryng His prisoners in no wise to the kyng ¶ But the kyng he prayed for Mortimer That raunsomed might he been with his frendes so He saied hym nay for he was taken prisoner By his consent and treson to his foo Whom he would not comfort for to ouergoo The prince his landes ne his owne to destroye For ay he had greate trust that he should hym noye ¶ The kyng hym blamed for he toke not Owen When he came to hym on his assuraunce And he aunswered then to the kyng again He might not so kepe his affiaunce To shame hym self with suche a variaunce The kyng blamed hym for his prisoner Th erle Douglas for cause he was not there ¶ And saied he should hym fette but he hym sēde Sir Henry sawe no grace for Mortimer His wifes brother he went awaye vnkende To Berwyk so and after came no nere Afore thei mette at Shrowesbury in fere Wher then thei faught for cause of his entent He purposed had Mortimer his coronoment ¶ The lordes all of England had hym hight And Owayn also on seuerne hym to mete Except therle of Stafford young to fight By their letters vnder their seales mete But in the poinct thei brake all their behete And he was slain and all the cause conselid Why he the feld tooke and the kyng appelid The CC .iii. Chapiter ¶ Howe for therle of Marche his right sir Henry Percy and sir Thomas Percy his vncle erle of Worcester faught with the kyng and were slain at the battaill of Shrewesbury wher all the lordes deceiued them the yere of Christ a thousand foure hundred and thre and of his reigne the fourth yere that were bounde to theim by their seales except therle of Stafford whiche letters I sawe in the castell of Werkeworth when I was constable of it vnder my lord sir Robert Vmfre uile who had that castell of kyng Henry his gift by forfeture of therle of Northumberland ON Madleyn euen was on the Saterdaye After long trete the prince began to fight The yere of Christ a thousād was no nay Foure hundred also and three therto full right When the battaill was streken of mikell might And of the kyng then was the fourth yere Of his reigne accompted well and clere ¶ His vncle dere was with hym there dedde His father came not out of
Northumberland But failed hym foule without witte or rede But to the kyng he came I vnderstand Holy submittyng hym vnto his royall hand Whom then he putte to hold in sore prisone With twoo menne of his owne in Bagyngton ¶ His castelles all his meÌ„ne held then full stroÌ„g To tyme the kyng had graunt hym plener grace But the lordes in counsaill then emong Hight hym to help the sixte yere at the Pasche But none durst come that tyme so fell the case But bishop Scrop and therle marshall The lord Bardolfe then of our lordes all The CC .iiii. Chapiter ¶ Howe in that yere of his reigne in that yere of Christ a thousand foure hundred and fyue master Rychard Scorpe archebishop of Yorke Thomas Mombrayâ—â—rle marshall sir Iohn Lamplewe and sir Wyllyam Plompton were hedded byside Yorke IN lenton after he came home to his land By perliameÌ„t whole deliuered and acquit And twoo yere after in peace I vnderstaÌ„d With kyng Henry full peasebly did sitte Then in the yere as menne remembre it Of his reigne the sixte the bishop Scorp went Th erle marshall with hym of one entent ¶ To Yorkes More and ther assembled power Of their owne and their frendes also Of therles menne of Northumberland that were To the nombre of twenty thousand tho Afore the daye assigned that was so By therle then of Northumberland That there Cheften with theim should haue staÌ„d ¶ With other lordes that were to theim assent But the bishop and therle marshall Wher slain afore the daye of assignement Betwene theim made afore in speciall Hedded were then nere Yorke as then did fall Sir Iohn Lamplewe and sir Wyllyam PlomtoÌ„ With the bishop were hedded there for treson The CC .v. Chapiter ¶ Howe the lord Hastynges the lord Fauconbridge and sir Iohn Coluile of the Dale and his make and sir Iohn Ruthyn were hedded at Duresme by the kyng for therles of Northumberland then he gate therles castelles and stroke of seuen heddes at Berwyke THe lord Hastynges at Duresme was then take The lord FaucoÌ„brige together in coÌ„pany Sir Iohn Coluile of the Dale his make Sir Iohn Ruthyn that knightes were full maÌ„ly To therle of Northumberland openly Were hedded there all foure vpon a daye And to Werkworth remeuid in greate araye ¶ Wher the castell with in a weke was yolde Vnto the kyng after assautes fell and sore The casteleyns to passe free wher thei would With horse and harnes without chalenge more Then to Alnwike the kyng remeued thore Wher the capitains vnto the kyng then sent Wyn Berwyke ones he should haue his entent ¶ So went he then to Berwyke without delaye With assaut and shotte of gonnis strong that were He had it then and ther hedded on a daye The barons sonne of Graistoke taken there Sir Henry Bowton and Blenkensop therfore And Prendirgest ran on the sea also And Tuwile with other squiers twoo ¶ To Alnwike then the kyng laied siege again Without assaute by whole conuencion Henry Percy of Athel with hert fain And Wyllyam Clifford without discencion The castell yeld at the kynges entencion With horse and harnes without enpechement Or forfeture or els impediment ¶ Prodhow Langley and also Cokirmouth Alnham Newsted deliuered were anone Thei remoued then furth in to the south Th erle of Northumberland was then gone Afore Northward to Scotland with great mone The lord Bardolf with hym thither went And there abode with their suppowelment ¶ The sommer next by sea to Wales thei went Vnto Glendour and after then to Brytain And so by sea to Flaunders or they stent The other sommer to Scotland came again By thest sea and ther thei did remain To the winter then of snowe full depe That thei were slain for whom that folke sore wepe ¶ The nynth yere was then of the kyng Henry In Feueryer afore the fastyngange Of Christ his date a thousand certainly Foure hundred and eight counted emong At Bramham more with speres sharp and long In Yorkshire so the Rokeby with theim mette Shrief of the shire with power that he gette The C. C .vi. Chapiter ¶ Howe the kyng his soonne of ScotlaÌ„d heire Iames was taken on the sea and brought vnto the kyng and then dyed Owayn and the kyng of Scotland THe same yere also that prince theÌ„ of ScotlaÌ„d Vpon the sea sailyng then in to Fraunce Was taken brought to that kyng of EnglaÌ„d Eleuen yere old was he then by remembrauÌ„ce Whom the kyng then putte in gouernaunce For like a prince as to a kyng appent In all honour as was conuenient ¶ The tenth yere then of the kyng his date The kyng of Scotland and Owayn of Glendor His soonne also the world forsoke then algate And dyed awaye of theim then was no more The prince of Scotland then was kyng therfore And Wales all became the kyng his menne In rest and peace without rebellion then ¶ In that same yere Gilbert Vmfreuile Lord was then of Riddisdale in keyme That passid not seuentene yere that while And ward was to the kyng that tyme But seuentene yere of age was that tyme At Arrays then faught full worthely Wth George Turnuile in lyestes syngulerly ¶ With axe and sworde and dagger vpon foote Twenty strokes with euery wepen smyten Vndeparted without any mote And on the morowe there they syten Twenty coursses with speres together hitten A quarter bare vnarmed and vnarayed Saue there serkes slewe with speres vnasayed The CC .vii. Chapiter ¶ Howe Robert Vmfreuile went into Scotlande and lay in the Scottishe sea .xiiii. dayes and euery daye faught with that Scottes somedaye on the northsyde and some daye on the southsyde and gatte .xiiii. greate shippes brent there Galiot with ordinaunce and sore battayll in the Scottishe sea afore Edynburghe and at the Blakenesse THe yere eleuenth of this same kyng Henry Syr Robert Vmfreuile toke the see With .x. sayles to kepe it notably When trewce was taken in specialtee Betwene Scotlande and vs in ceâ—tentee To the Scottishe sea both by sea and lande And to Monshole on our syde I vnderstande ¶ In the Scottishe sea with his shippes he laye Where .xiiii. shippes he toke with his manhede And faught full sore at full sea euery daye Sometyme vpon the northside so in dede And some tyme on the southsyde out of drede With the duke of Albany and of Fyffe And his proude scottes that faught then full ryffe ¶ With therle of Douglas and theim of LothiaÌ„ And brought his fiers brennyng vpon the sea In botes and cogges ordened by theim than With other botes with meÌ„ of armes in propertee And archers good well pauyÌ„shed in specialitee That brent theyr shippes and theyr galiot A shyppe of auantage was then God wote ¶ When he had ben there .xiiii. dayes to th ende With his prises he came to Englande Full of cloth wollen lynnen that land to amend Pytche and tarre both for fre and bonde For to amende the shepes of
grouÌ„d wel whet Enuenemed sore to slee him if he had on them set ¶ Some made for hym diuers enchauntmentes To waste hym oute and vtterly destroye And some gaue hym batayle full felonoment In felde within his realme hym for to noye And on them selfes the hurte and all the anoye Ay fell at ende that honged were and heded As traytours ought to bene in euery stede ¶ This kyng dyed of his reygne in the yere Fourtene accompted of Marche that .xix. daye The sondaye was then by Kalendre Of whome the realme great ioye at first had ay But afterwarde they loued not his araye At his begynnyng full hye he was coÌ„mende With coÌ„mons then also lytell at the ende The CC .xi. Chapiter ¶ Henry the fyfth kyng of Englande and of Fraunce began to reygne the twenty daye of Marche that was saynte Cuthbertes daye and was crowned the ninth daye of Apryl the yere of Christe a thousande foure hundreth twenty two after he had reigned .ix. yere and an halfe And in the houre that he was crowned and anointed he was chaunged from all vyces vnto vertuous lyfe and lycensed the folke to offer vnto Richarde Scrop and buryed kyng Rychard at West mynster and graunted to Henry Percy his landes HEnry his soÌ„ne that prynce of wales was thaÌ„ On saynt Cuthbertes day in Marche folowynge Kyng was so as I remember canne On passyon sondaye after was this kyng Anoynted and crowned without taryeng The ninth daye it was of Apryll so With stormes fell and haylestones greate also ¶ In his fyrste yere the lorde Cobham heretike Confedered with lollers insapient Agayne the churche arose and was full lyke It to haue destroyed by theyr entendment Had not the kyng then made suppowelment And put hym fro the felde by good direccyon That sembled were by greate insurreccyon ¶ Then fled the lorde Cobham herrorious To Wales so with lollers many one Musyng in his opinyon venemous Howe that he myght destroye the churche anone But God that syt in heuen aboue alone Knowyng his herte naked of all good entent Let hym betake to haue his iudgement ¶ And put he was to prisone in the towre Of whiche he dyd escape awaye by nyght And take was agayne within an houre And after sone dampned by lawe and ryght For heresye by the clergy in syght And brent he was to ashes deed and pale Through cursed lyfe thus came he in greate bale ¶ The houre he was crowned and anoynt He chaunged was of all his olde condicyon Full vertuous he was fro poynt to poynt Grounded all newe in good opinyon For passyngly without comparyson Then set vpon all ryght and conscyence A newe man made by all good regimence ¶ He gaue leue then of good deuocyon All men to offer to byshop Scrop expresse Without lettynge or any questyon He graunted also of his hye worthynesse To laye the kyng Rycharde and Anne doutlesse His wyfe that was at Westmynster buryed As kyng Richard hym selfe had sygnifyed ¶ And fro the freres of Langley where he laye He caryed hym to Westmynster anone And buryed hym of royall greate araye With the quene Anne in tombe of marbel stone Full royally arayed as royals by them sone And to Henry Percy he grauÌ„ted his landes clere That to the duke of Bedforde then geuen were ¶ My lorde of Clarence fro GuyaÌ„ home agayne Came to the kyng with ioye greate pleasaunce The second yere of whome the kyng was fayne At Leycester then as made is remembraunce In his parlyament without varyaunce His brother Iohn duke of Bedforde create His brother vinfrey duke of Gloucester of estate ¶ Thomas Beauford that was earle of Dorcet He made duke then of Excester that whyle He gaue in charge that tyme withouten let Vnto syr Robert there Vinfreuyle By his wysdome and manhode that whyle To treate with the Scottes to get Henry Percy Layde in hostage by his grauntsirez foly The CC .xii. Chapiter ¶ Howe sir Robert Vmfreuile faught at Geteryng the third yere with the Scottes that had but seuen score speres and three hundreth howe 's on Madâ—lyn day and discomfited of theim .iiii. M. menne made chase twelfe mile on theim in to their owne land and went with the kyng to Harflite to the siege with whom I went thether THen was it warre betwene vs Scotland That sir Robert Vmfreuile might it spede But at Geteryng with Scottes haÌ„d for haÌ„d He faught on fote on Maudelyn daye in deede Wher eightene score Scottes were take I rede Three score sâ—ain a thousand putte to flight With four C. meÌ„ne discoÌ„fited theim fourth right ¶ Twelfe mile theÌ„ he made on theim great chase In to their land and home he came again To his castell of Rokesburgh in that case Whiche he had then in kepyng soth to sain Of his greate labour in harte beyng full fain With prisoners many one hurte full sore Hym self and his that then had wounded thore ¶ At Lammasse next the kyng then as he laye At Southampton therle of Cambridge toke The lord Scorp also and eke sir Thomas Graye And hedded theim the cause was who so looke Emong theim selfes for thei this counsaill toke And purposed therle of Marche to croune Kyng of England by their prouision The CC .xiii. Chapiter ¶ Howe the kyng weÌ„t in to NormaÌ„dy and steged Hareflete and gate it with greate peyn and losse of menne But who maye casâ— of rennyng houÌ„dis and many racches but he must lese some of theim THE kyng held furth by sea to Normandy With all his hoste at Kydcans landed theÌ„ And laied a siege to Hareflete myghtely On euery side by land and water wanne With bulwerkes stoute and bastell he began In whiche he putte therle of Huntyngton Th erle of Kent also of greate renoune ¶ Whiche erles twoo with other to theim assigned Cornwaile and Gray Steward also and Porter Full greate assautes made eche daye repugned Whiles at last thei bette the towne toures their And what the kyng with fagottes that there were And his connyng werching vnder the wall With his guÌ„nes castyng thei made that toure to fall ¶ And their bulwerke brent with shot of wildfyre At whiche place then therles twoo vp sette Their baners bothe without any hyre The kyng therwith his gonnes the walles bette The duke did so of Clarence without lette On the ferreside wher as he then laye Th erle Mountague did well ther alwaye ¶ The lord Gawcort that theÌ„ was their capitain Of Hareâ—lete tho with other of the toune Offred then the toune to the kyng full fain And he with other to stand at the kynges direccioÌ„ Then made he there his vncle of greate renoune Capitain of it duke of Excester than And homeward went through Fraunce like a maÌ„ The CC .xiiii. Chapiter ¶ Howe the kyng came homewarde through NormaÌ„dy and Picardie and s 〈…〉 ote the battaill of Agyncorâ— wher I was with my maister AN hundred mile to Calais had he then
then therle of Huntyngdon And Somerset the earle his wyues sonne The CC .xx. Chapiter Howe on Easter euen the duke of Clarence smote that batell of Bawgy in the yere of Christe a thousand .iiii. hundreth twenty and in the nynth yere of kyng Henry for that yere the feaste of the Annuncyacyon of oure Lady fell on Ester twysdaye and the date chaunged after that batayle in the Easter weke ANd nere at Bawge came Gylberte Vmfreuyle Marshal of Fraunce with .v. horse no mo And of good wyt counsayled hym that whyle To kepe the churche and goddes seruyce tho And after the feaste to seke vpon his foo And he aunswered hym yf thou be aferd Go home thy waye and kepe the churche yerde ¶ For thou haste bene with the kyng to longe To make me lese my worshyp and my name Thou haste ay gote the worshyp euer amonge And I haue none thus wolde thou lose my fame With suche wordes chidyng he dyd hym blame To whome he sayde yf that thou be afrayde And kepe the churche as thou me nowe hast saide ¶ With that he saide my lorde ye haue no menne With the enemyes thus hastely to fyght Youre men wot not of this ne howe ne whenne To semble to you of power ne of myght For trewly nowe my cousen Graye nowe right And I haue here but ten men and no mo But yet ye shall neuer saye we leaue you so ¶ So rode they furth ay chidyng by the waye Tyll they to Bawgy ouer the bridge were gone Where the enemyes were batayled in araye Where then they light faught with them anon The duke was slayne that day there with his foone With hym were slayne then therle Vmfreuyle And syr Iohn Graye the Earle of Tankeruyle The lorde Roos and syr Iohn Lumley With many other were with hym slayne that daye Whose names I can not wryte nor saye The Earles two of Huntingdon no naye Of Somerset also were taken there I saye For prysoners and put to greate raunson And laye full longe in Fraunce then in pryson ¶ Thenglishe power came when all was done And rescowed then the deed men where they laye And brought that lordes home fro thens theÌ„ ful sone That were there vpon the felde that daye And buryed them in Englande in good araye Echeone in his owne abbaye or colage Afore founded within his herytage ¶ At Cauntorbury the duke was of Clarence Besyde his father kynge Henry buryed With suche honoure costage and expence As the duches his wyfe coulde haue signifyed Whiche neded not to bene modifyed She was so well within her selfe auysed Of greate sadnesse and womanhede preuised The CC .xxi. Chapiter Howe the quene wente agayne to Fraunce lefte the quene in Englande with chylde and wanne dyuerse cytees townes and castelles in somer in the nyngth yere of his reigne THe kyng then let the quene in Englande byde In somer then the. ix yere of his date And into Fraunce agayne he went that tyde With heuy harte to Parys went algate The castell of Perfount soone he gate A royall place of all that men haue sene The greate cytee of Compyne also I wene ¶ The cytees also of Cassons Bray and Crayle Of Owsare also with many cytees moo And to Parys agayne without fayle In his castell of Lowre abidynge tho Tidynges then came to him full glad and mo That of a prynce delyuered was the quene Of whiche all men reioysed as was sene Saynt Dionis then and castell Boys Vynccent Corbell Pount Melanke and full great parte of Fraunce Burgoyne Artoys and Pycardy to hym sent To bene his men without contraryaunce And eche cytee to hym sworne in substaunce Walled townes and castelles euerychone As hye regent of Fraunce by hym one ¶ Then rode he furth to Bawgy and Orleaunce Wynnyng the tounes and citees in his waye And castelles all that were of greate defence Crepy Lawnesse and Milly with greate affraye Nongentle Roy he gatte with greate araye Pount Caranton with many other obeyed To his highnesse and were his menne conueghed ¶ The duke of Brytain then was his manne For fee belaste without rebellion The counte sainct Paule his manne was then The duke of Burgoyn without suspicion With many other his menne without collucion Were sworne theÌ„ whole the couÌ„trees in yâ— same wise Castelles and tounes eke as he couth deuise ¶ In August so of his reigne the tenth yere He toke sickenes and laye at Boy Vincent In pain strong as then it did appere Full like to passe wherfore in his entent The duke of Bedford he made hâ—e regent Of Fraunce and of his other landes all Beyond the sea as chief in generall ¶ And of his soonne Henry he made custode Thomas Beauford his vncle dere and trewe Duke of Excester full of all worthy hode To tyme his soonne to perfecte age grewe He to kepe hym chaungyng for no n 〈…〉 With helpe of his other eme then fu 〈…〉 The bishop of Wynchester of good a 〈…〉 ¶ Th erle then of Salisbury manly That Mountague then hight by surname He sette to kepe then all Normandie Vnder the regent as knight of full greate fame With other lordes full sage and worthy of name Th erle of Oxenford and of Suffolke also Of his counsaill to been with many mo The CC .xxii. Chapiter ¶ Howe the kyng dyed the last daye of August the yere of Christ a thousand foure hundred two and twenty and of his reigne the tenth yere for all his rightwisnes and iustice that he did he had no conscieÌ„ce of vsurpement of the croune THe last daye of August then full clere Of Christ his date a thousand signified Foure hundred and twoo and twenty yere When that this prince of princes so dyed At Boys Vincent with death then victoried That neuer prince in earth might theÌ„ haue dooen But he alone that ruleth sonne and moonne ¶ With whose bones the quene came to EnglaÌ„d The kyng of Scottes Iames with hir also The duke of Excester as I can vnderstand Th erle of Marche Edmond Mortimer tho Rychard Beauchampe then erle of Warwike so Humfrey then erle of Stafford young of age And erle Edmond of Morten wise and sage ¶ O good lord God that art omnipotent Why streched not thy power and thy might To kepe this prince that sette was and consent With themperour to conuert Surrey right And with Christen inhabite it had hight Why fauoured so thyne high omnipotence Miscreaunce more then his beneuolence ¶ Aboue all thyng he keped the lawe and peace Through all England that none insurreccion Ne no riotes were then withouten lese Nor neighbour werre in faute of correccion But peasebly vnder his proteccion Compleyntes all of wronges in generall Refourmed were well vnder his yerd egall The CC .xxiii. Chapiter ¶ Howe through 〈…〉 we and peace conserued was the encreaso of his conquest and els had he been of no power to haue conquered in out landes WHen he in Fraunce was dayly
cōuersaunt His shadowe so obumbred all England That peace and lawe kept continuaunt In his absence throughout all this land And els as I can seyne and vnderstand His power had been lite to conquere Fraunce Nor other realmes that well were lesse perchaūce ¶ The peace at home and lawe so well conserued Were croppe and rote of all his hie conquest Through whiche the loue of God he well deserued And of his people by North South Est West Who might haue slain y◠prince or downe him kest That stode so sure in rightfull gouernaunce For common weale to God his hie plesaunce The CC .xxiiii. Capiter ¶ Henry the sixte kyng of England and of Fraunce that fled in to Scotland without cause on Palmesondaye the thirty and nyne yere of his reigne and of Christ a thousand foure hundred three score and one began to reigne the yere of Christ a thousand foure hundred twenty and twoo HEnry his soōne thē not .iii. quarters olde That borne was at s Nicholas daie afore At Windesore so as that realme thē would Vnto the croune succede as he was bore All England hole by might of lordes thore The duke of Gloucester then disired To haue the kepyng of the kyng enspired ¶ The bishop of Wynchester it withstode With all the lordes there hole of his assent Then would he haue been as for that next of bloode Leuetenaunt then of England and regent The bishop aye withstode all his entent That chaūceler was by that fifth kyng Henry made And so furth stode and in thoffice bade ¶ For cause he was so noyous with to dele And office would he haue and gouernaunce Wherfore thei made hym for the common wele Protectour of the realme by ordinaunce To kepe the land fro mischief and varyaunce The kyng of Fraunce for sorowe then dyed The quene his wife also as was notified ¶ The lord Cromwell lost therof nothyng For he had bothe theim in his gouernaunce And home then came when buryed was the kyng Charles of Fraunce with worthy ordenaunce Quene Isabell also with purueaunce Accordaunt well to their royall estate With costages greate as was preordinate ¶ The first daye of the moneth of Septembre He gan to reigne then was a thousand yere Foure hundred as I can remember Twenty and twoo accompted then full clere As I finde write in the chronicler But not crouned for tendernes of age Nor yet anoynte for dred of youthes outrage ¶ The duke of Bedford stode so furth ay regent The duke of Gloucester here was so protectour The bishop of Wynchester by perlyament Was chaunceller and hiest gouernour Of the kyng his persone and his greate socour His godfather and his fatheres eme And supportour was moost of all this realme ¶ The regēt then of Fraunce wed Anne his wife The duke his suster of Burgoyn good and faire The duke of Brytain hir suster knowen rife Had wed afore without any dispeire Whiche was lady of greate repeire ▪ Whiche dukes twoo were sworne and aliede With the regent to stand strongly fortified The CC .xxv. Chapiter ¶ Howe the regent with lordes of Englād smote the vattaill of Vernoyle in Perche in the third yere of kyng Henry that .vi. ¶ Th erle of Boughan and therle Douglas Th erle of Wigton with power of Scotland And lordes of Fraunce to gether assembled was Wher the regent with lordes of England At Vernoyle in Perche as I can vnderstand Faught with theim sore slewe the Scottes cruelly And bade theim thynke emong on Bawgy ¶ The regent had the felde and victorie With greate honour and laude full comfortable Therles were ther with hym of Salisbury Of Suffolke also that were full honorable The lord Wiloughby full fortunable The lord Scales of greate and hie corage With many other of the baronage ¶ Th erle of Ewe and his brother manly Faught in that feld and gate aworthy name And many mo did tho full doughtely I dare well saie was none therfore to blame All other also whiche that were worthy of fame I would haue wrytē if I had knowen their mede But to heraldes I will commit their deede ¶ Thei sleugh therles of Boughan Douglas And of Wigton of Scotland that wer there The lord of Enermeth of Scotland then was With greate people that dedde then there were Our Englishmenne full manly theim bere The regent was there that daye a lion And faught in armes like any champion The CC .xxvi. Chapiter ¶ Howe Mountague erle of Salisbury layde siege to Orle aunce and was slayne there THerle of Salisbury then Mountague With great power layd siege to Orliaūce Wher slayn he was for whō men sore gan rewe So manly was his knightly diligence He laboured euer in marciall excellence Vnto the tyme as would th ende of fate With a quarell was slayne infortunate ¶ And buried was in Englande that yere With greate worshippe and hie solempnitee Richard Neuell had wed his doughter clere And erle was made that tyme by her in fee The regent then of great nobilitee By counsell of the duke then of Burgoyn Kepte Fraunce full well without any essoyn ¶ Then died his wife and wed then sone agayn The countee seynt Paules sister of Fraunce That leegeman was to kyng Henry certayne To the regent sworne as by full greate assuraūce With true seruice and all trewe aliaunce He kepte bothe Fraunce and eke all Normandy In peace and rest full well and worthely ¶ Th erle Richarde of Warwike kepte the kyng By all this tyme sith the duke was dead Of Excester that first hym had in kepyng Th erle Richard in mykell worthyhead Enfourmed hym but of his symplehead He coulde litle within his brest conceyue The good from eiuill he could vneth perceyue The CC .xxvii. Chapiter ¶ Howe the kyng was enoynted and crouned in England in the yere of Christe a thousande CCCC and .xxix. and of his reigne the .viii. yere And afterwarde he was crouned in Fraunce the yere a thousand CCCC and .xxxi. and of his reigne the .x. yere in whose presence the regent ceased of his office for whiche he was wroth with the cardinall is vncle for asmuche as the kynge was there presente therfore there shulde bee no regente THe kyng then in his .viii. yere in Englande At Westmynster vpō saynt Leonardes daye The sondaye then as I can vnderstande And of Christ was then a thousande full I saye Foure hundreth and .xx. and .ix. no naye He crouned was with all solempnitee By whole assent of lordes and commontee ¶ Then of his reigne accompte the .x. yere To Fraunce he went wher then at saynt Denys His fathers eme the cardinall full clere Hym crouned fayre with bishoppes there full wise The regent was there with suche seruice As was due of reason and to hym appent The duke of Burgoyne also obedient ¶ The duke also was there of Britayne The counte saynt Paule and the duke Embarre Th erle of Foys with other lordes of Guyan
The prouoste of Parys with other great repaire Of lordes knightes and many ladyes fayre The gouernours of all the great citees And prelates fele and Barons for there fees The CC .xxviii. Chapiter ¶ Howe the lorde Cromwell was chamberleyne in Fraunce at his coronacion and discharged at his commyng home in to Englande and the duke of Bedforde regent of Fraunce died and then that duke of Burgoyne was made regent a yere and then therle of Warwike was made regent a yere died at Roan in the castell THe lorde Cromwel was his chamberlayn Who was so wise he was of great record His homagers as to hym did perteyne In Fraunce that tyme by good and trewe accorde For his fees as they and he concorde Of Christes date was then a thousande yere Foure hundreth also and one and thyrty clere ¶ The regeÌ„t died for whoÌ„ was made great mone Then bothe councels of Englande and of FrauÌ„ce Chose the duke of Burgoyn then anone To regent of that lande for great affiaunce That kepte it well a yere in all assuraunce But sone thereafter with the dolphyn accorde And was his man as then was well recorde ¶ Th erle Richard of Warwike then conceyued Of the symplesse and great innocense Of kyng Henry as he it well perceyued Desired to be discharged of his diligence About the kyng and by his sapience Was sent to Fraunce and so was regent And kepte it well in all establishement ¶ Tyll that he dyed out of this worlde awaye For whom great mone was made and lamentacioÌ„ For his wisedome and for his manhode ay For his norture and communicacion He stode in grace of hie commendacion Emonge all folke vnto the daye he died Regent of Fraunce full greately laudified The CC .xxix. Chapiter ¶ Howe the duke of Burgoyn besieged Calys and set vp his bastell there and howe the duke of Gloucester rescowed it THe duke of Burgoyn then to Calis came And set a bastell then afore the toune The which therle of Morteyn by his name Edmond Beaufort as made is mencion With soudyours it gatte and bet it downe The duke weÌ„t home and left the siege with shame When he our flete sawe saylyng on thesame ¶ The protectour with his flete at Calys then Did lande and rode into Flaunders a litle waye And litle did to counte a manly man But that the siege for hym then fled awaye The duke distracte sore sycke was many a daye For sorowe and shame he helde hym out of sight Many a yere he went not out to fight The CC .xxx. Chapiter ¶ Howe kyng Iames of Scotlande besieged syr Raulfe Gray in Renkesburgh and howe Henry Percy erle of Northumberlande rescowed it with seuen score thousande men IN that same tyme also of ScotlaÌ„d kiÌ„g Iames To ReÌ„kesburgh caÌ„ layd his siege about Syr Raulfe Graye theÌ„ kept it froÌ„ all shames Agayn his sautes that then were full stoute Th erle then of Northumberlande throughout Raysed vp the lande and when he came it nere The kyng trumped vp and went awaye full clere ¶ Who sawe euer afore two hostes royall So easely without stroke discomfite Of diuers landes and neither had a fall And on no parte smote no stroke perfite But for the shadowes that were imperfite Of our hostes so fled and sawe nothynge But vmbres two of our hoste then commynge ¶ But thus I deme tho princes wer forswore The kyng of Scottes the duke of Burgoyn eke That they not durst on no grounde abide therfore Their vntruthes made there hertes feynt seeke Truste neuer their manhode after worth a leeke That vncompelled forsworne or wilfully Shall neuer after haue honour ne victorie ¶ Take hede ye lordes of these great princes two What came of theim in shorte tyme after this The kyng murthered at home in Scotlande tho The duke was wod and frantike for his misse Thus vengeaunce fell vpon theim bothe I wysse Alas a prince shulde haue suche cowardise To be vntrewe or false in any wise ¶ Sith he nede nought so strecheth ay his power To kepe his trouthe and make his â—o thesame To kepe to hym with strength of sworde full clere Or els destroye his land and all his fame And put hym so to foule and open shame For periury occupied and lawe vnpreserued Caused many a man for to bee ouerterued The CC .xxxi. Chapiter ¶ Howe therle of Stafforde was .ii. yere regent of Normandy and howe therle of Huntyngdon was other two yere and howe Richard duke of Yorke was regent of Normandy vii yere with holden and afterwarde was made liuetenaunte of Irelande BVt after then therle of Stafforde went With power strong to kepe all NormaÌ„dy Two yere with holde with all lordes assent Whiche well he keped and full honorably With litle losse of places fewe sodenly By enemyes won that might not longe ben holde And home he came when spended was his golde ¶ Then went therle thyther of Huntyngdon That kept that lad with sad and trewe seruice With great power truely vnto the croune For all the foes and eke the kynges enemyes And fewe places loste ne had no great supprise And home he came agayn at two yeres ende When his wages were gone and all hole spende And after hym the duke of Yorke full ying Thether was sent with great power royall And regent was of all that longed to the kyng And kepte full well Normandye in especyall But Fraunce was gone afore ingenerall And home he came at seuen yere ende agayne With mekell loue of the lande certayne ¶ The duke of Yorke sent was then to Irelande Leuetenaunt then he was there many a daye And greate thanke there and loue of all the land He had amonge the Iryshe alwaye And all the Iryshe beganne him to obey He ruled that lande full well and worthely As dyd afore his noble auncetrye The CC .xxxii. Chapiter ¶ Howe Edmonde Duke of Somerset was made keper of Normandy THe kyng then made that marquis of Dorset EdmoÌ„d Beauford at the cardinals request Without delay then duke of Somerset And sent hym fourth anon withoute reste To Normandye to kepe it for his beste But in his tyme Fastolfe and Kyriell Discomfyte were in batayle sore and fell ¶ Where .vii. M. Englyshe were ouerthrowe Wherfore the Frenche assembled newe eche daye And gate the lande ay by and by on rowe For whiche the duke wrote his letters ay Vnto the kyng and his councell alwaye For more power elles he myght not byde To kepe the lande the French were of suche pryde ¶ He coulde none get this land was theÌ„ so pylde Through war of FrauÌ„ce they wolde not hiÌ„ releue So was the lande with Frenchmen wonne welde With siege eche daye and sautes fell and breue The Frenche nought reste that tyme a daye to eue We loste more then certayne within two yere Then kyng Henry gate in seuen clere ¶ Then was the kyng come vnto mannes age Wherfore the lordes wolde no protector
Wherfore the duke loste his great auauntage And was no more then after defensour But then he fell in a greate errour Moued by his wyfe Elianor Cobham To truste her so men thought he was to blame ¶ He waxed then straunge eche day vnto that kyng For cause she was foriudged for sossery For enchaunmentees that she was in workyng Agayne the churche and the kyng cursedly By helpe of one mayster Roger Donly And into Wales he went of frowardnesse And to the kyng had greate heuynesse ¶ Wherfore the lordes then of the kinges couÌ„saile Made the kyng to set his hye parlyament At Burye then whether he came without fayle Where in parlesey he dyed incontynent For heuynesse and losse of regyment And ofte afore he was in that sykenesse In poynt of death and stode in sore destresse ¶ When of the kyng was .vii. and twenty yere Then he so dyed in full and h 〈…〉 creaunce As a christen prince of royall bloude full clere Contryte in herte with full greate repentaunce With mouth confessed to Goddes hye pleasaunce Vnto the earth that is all fleshe his neste His body went his soule to heauens reste ¶ And of the kyng the .xxix. yere In Maye â–ª the duke of Suffolke toke the sea On pilgramage to passe as dyd apere With Brigauntes then with compassed enmyte Hym slewe and heded with full great cruelte Agayne assuraunce of the kynges proteccyon That worthy were the death for insurreccyon ¶ That same yere then at the hye parlyament Was made a playne and a hole resumpcyon Of all the landes by sad and hole aduysement Whiche the kyng had geuen of his affeccyon To any wyght by patent or conccssyon Then taxe ceased and dymes eke also In all Englande then raysed were no mo The CC .xxxiii. Chapiter ¶ The duke of yorke was made protectour and chyef of councell the thyrty yere of kyng Henry the sixte and the Earle of Salisbury was chaunceller of Englande THe duke of Yorke then made was protectour And gouerned wel but .ii. yere not endured Discharged he was with passing great mur mour Of coÌ„mons hole amonge them theÌ„ ensured To helpe hym so with power auentured For he was set the comon wele to auayle By his laboure and his hole counsayle ¶ But ay the better that he to God was set The more were other by worde and dede The contrarye to laboure and to let His good purpose to pursue and to spede So that he had no hap for to procede For sotell menne hym let ay at the ende The coÌ„mon wele to mayntene and amende ¶ The Earle Richard also of Salisbury So was disposed in all thynges to the same Whiche was the cause of theyr death fynally For whiche of ryght ne muste folowe blame Their lyues well kepte had bene without shame For tho princes two died in their kynges right For the publike wele of eche Englishe wight ¶ The .xxx. yere this was then of the kyng When they the kyng then had in gouernaunce And ruled hym well in all maner thyng And made good rule and noble ordynaunce Auoyding all misrule and misusaunce For worshyp of the kyng and of his realme Without doubte or any other probleme The CC .xxxiiii. Chapiter ¶ Howe the Earle of Northumberlande the duke of Somerset and the lorde Clyfforde were slayne at saynte Albones the thyrty and .iiii. yere of his reigne where that duke of yorke the Earle of Salisbury and the earle of Warwike toke the kyng 〈◊〉 kept hym in good rule the twenty two days of Maye that was then the Thursdaye next of Pen tecoâ—t the yere of Christ a thousand foure huÌ„dred lv THei were put by from all their good entent And strauÌ„ge were hold after many a daye To the thirty yere and thre by hole consent At sainct Albones then vpon the thursdaye Accompted then next afore Witsondaye Thei slewe the duke Edmond then of Somerset For cause he had the realmes we le so lette ¶ Th erle then of Northumberland was there Of sodein chaunce drawen furth with the kyng And slain vnknowne by any manne ther were The lord Clifford ouer busie in werkyng At the barres theim mette sore fightyng Was slain that daye vpon his owne assaut As eche manne saied it was his owne defaute ¶ Th erle of Wiltshire with fiue hundred menne Fled fro the kyng full fast that tyme a waye The duke of Buckyngham was hurte there then The kyng thei tooke and saued in good araye To Wistminster with hym thei tooke the waye And ruled hym well in all prerogatife As kyng of right without any strife The CC .xxxv. Chapiter ¶ Howe that lord Audely faught with therle of Salisbury at Bloreheth at Mighelmas terme in the thirty and eight yere of his reigne ¶ Yet were these lordes voyde fro that kyng again The duke of Yorke and therle of Salisbury Th erle also of Warwike nought to layn Without cause I can not remembre why But at Bloreheth the lord Audely in hie With therle of Salisbury faught full sore Th erle preuailed and Audely slain was thore ¶ The thirty yere and eight of the kyng And so he went to Ludlowe on his waye The duke of Yorke in Wales had shippyng To Ireland then he went full well awaye Therles of March and Salisbury that daye And of Warwike as God it had purueighed To Calais went their waye no thyng denied The CC .xxxvi. Chapiter ¶ Of the battaill of Northampton wher the Earle of March therle of Warwike preuailed led the king to Westminster kept hym there the yere of his reigne right and thirty and the yere of Christ a thousaÌ„d foure hundred nyne and fiftie and slewe the duke of Bokyngham therle of Shrowisbury tresorer of England the lord Beaumont sir Thomas Percy lord Egremond and led the kyng with theim to London and gouerned hym full well and worthely the tenth daye of Iuly AT Couentree the king in his parlyament Proclaimed theim all thre for rebellours But afterward all three of one assent At Northampton came as worthy warriours In somer after to been the kyng his socours Wher then the duke of Buckyngham theim met With power greate and trust haue theim ouerset ¶ Th erle of Shrewesbury was with hym thore The lord Baumount with hym was also The lord Egremount full stout in feate of warre Whiche foure were slain with mikell people mo Beside Northampton on the Thursdaye tho The third daye of the moneth of Iuly And in the reigne of the kyng eight and thirty ¶ Thei saued the kyng kept hym sauf sound With greate honour therle of Marche Edward Th erle also of Warwike in that stound And with hym rode so furth to London ward Full worshipfully thei kept hym thens forward In all state royall as did append And as his menne vnto hym did attend The CC .xxxvii. Chapiter ¶ Howe the battaill of Wakefeld wher the North partie preuailed was the fifth daye of Christmasse and of the kyng his reigne
soonne was of good kyng Edwarde That wedded dame Blaunch ful of feminytee Duke Henryes doughter and heire afterwarde Of Lancastre by lawe of kynde and forwarde Who gat and bare the fourth kyng Henry That kyng Rycharde deposed wrongfully ¶ Who gatte Henry the fyfth lyke conqueroure Of Normandy and mykill parte of Fraunce That excelled bothe kyng and Emperoure In marcyall actes by his gouernaunce Who gatte Henry the sixte at Gods pleasaunce Of suche symplenesse and disposicion As menne maye se by his discrecion 〈◊〉 For when Henry the fourth first was crouned 〈…〉 ny a wyseman sayd then full commenly 〈…〉 third heyre shuld not ioyse but be vncrouned And deposed of all regalitee To this reason they dyd there wittes applye Of euill gotten good the third should not enioyse Of longe agone it hath bene a commen voyse ¶ Howe the maker of this booke saieth his auyse in briefe for the duke of Yorke ¶ O my lorde of Yorke God hath prouyde In this for you as men sayen commenly So that no slouth you from his grace deuyde But take it as he hath it sent manly And rule well nowe ye haue the remedye But neretheles let euery man haue the right Both frende and foo it may encrease your might ¶ Treate well Percy of marchys lyne discended To helpe your right with might and fortifye By tender meanes to holde hym well contented Remembryng hym by wyttie polycye Howe by processe of tyme and destenye Your right might all bene his as nowe is yours Through gods might make thē your successours ¶ Edmoūde was then the .iiij. sonne at Langlay Borne as knowen was well in the lande A noble prince after as men might say At battayle of Orray that fought sore with his hāde And Iohn of Gaunt his brother I vnderstande That fought ful sore for Ihō of Mountfortright Agayne Charles of Bloys a manly knight ¶ This Edmoūde was after duke of Yorke creat And had a sonne that Edward had to name Whom kyng Richarde made to be denominate In all his writtes exaltyng his fame Kyng of Portyngale his father yet at hame Lyuyng in age I trawe of .lxxx. yere A fayre person as a man might se any where ¶ Thomas Woodstoke the .v. sonne was in dede Duke of Gloucester that tyme made and create By kyng Richarde murdered whom for his mede Kyng Henry quyt with death preordinate By Goddes dome and sentence approbate Who sleeth so shall he be slayne by his sentence Well more murder whiche asketh ay vengeaunce ¶ Who laye afore Paris amoneth daye With hoste royall without any batell Of all enemyes moste dred he was alwaye And Scottes moste hym bred without any fayle For as they trowed by theyr owne rehersaile Of prophecyes he shulde theyr lande conquere And make the kyng to Englande homegere ¶ Nowe haue I made vnto your owne knowlege A remembraunce of Edwardes sonnes fyue Your exampler to geue you a corage So noble princes I trowe were none alyue After my wytte as I can discryue The eldest sonne whose lyfe I haue lefte oute Who that in Fraunce all landes was moste doute ¶ Of the ryghte and tytles that my Lorde of Yorke hath to Fraunce and Spayne with Portingale other landes by yonde the sea Ierusalem and other landes ¶ At batell of Poytiers tooke kynge Iohn With greate honoure triumphe and vyctory By merciall actes and verteous life aloone And in Spayne as made is memorie The kyng Petro by knightly victorie To his kyngdome he did restore again By his brother putte out with muche pain ¶ The appoinctement bytwixt duke Iohn duke Emund who should bee kyng of Castle and Lyon and what the maker of this booke sawe and red at Londō to syr Robert Vmfrewill then lorde Vmfrewill ¶ This kyng Petro to giue hym to his mede Had nothyng els but doughters twoo full faire Whiche he betooke to that prince in deede For his wages for cause thei where his heire With whome he did to Englande so repaire And Constaunce wedde vnto his brother Iohn Emund his brother the younger had anone ¶ Dame Isabell the younger hight by name Bytwene these brethren was appoinctment The first heire male whiche of the sisters came The kyng should been and haue the regiment To you my lorde of Yorke this dooeth appent For your vncle Edwarde was first heire male To whome your father was heire with out faile ¶ So kyng of Spayne and also of Portyngall Ye should nowe bee by lyne of bloodde discent By couenaunt also and appoinctement whole As I haue seen of it the mununent Vnder seale wryten in all entent Whiche your vncle to my lorde Vmfrewill At London shewed whiche I red that while ¶ For Spayne Portyngale beare the renoume And commen name as I haue herde expressed Both to the realmes of Castyll and Lyon And so the kynge of Spayne hath aye adressed His royall style in wrytyng well impressed Kyng of Castill and also of Lyon Accompted both so for his region ¶ Nowe be ye knowe of your title to Englande By consequens to Wales and Scotlande For they perteyne as ye maye vnderstande Of auncient tyme to the crowne of Englande By papall bull ye haue the right to Irelande Gascowe Paitowe and Normandye Pountyf Bebuile Saunxie and Sauntignye ¶ And all the lande beyonde the charente Of Dangolesme Dangolismoys Luyre zyne Of Caoure Caourenō Pyridor Pirygūt coūtre Of Rodis Ronegeauis Dagō Dagenoyse that fine Tharbe Wigor Gaure shoulde to you enclyne With all the fraunchyses and all souerayntie As hath the kyng of Fraunce in his degre ¶ Nō that I Ihon Hardyng maker of this booke delyuered to kyng Henry the syxte the copie of the treatie of this land as kyng Edward the thyrd treated and had them after the battayll of Poytours ¶ Calys Marke Colne Hāmys Oye Wale Sandegate Guysons with all the whole coūtre With all the landes and townes betwene thē all With all fraunchyses and royall souerayntie All those of right be yours in propertie What by treate and what by veraye right As kyng Edwarde them had of mykyll might ¶ To Ierusalem I saye ye haue great right For erle Geffraye that hight Plantagenet Of Aungeoy erle a prince of passyng might The eldest sonne to Fouke and first begette Kyng of Ierusalem by his wife dewly sette Whose sonne Geffray foresaide gatte on his wyfe Henry the seconde that knowen was full ryfe ¶ Yet haue ye more fro Bawdewyn Paraliticus Kyng afterward to thesame kyng Henry The croune sente and his banner precious As veraye heyre of whole auncestrie Descent of bloode by tytle lynyally From Godfray Boleyn and Robert Curthose That kynges were therof and chose ¶ He sente hym also the Sepulture keyes Resygnyng wholy vnto hym all his ryght For to defende the lande from Sarizenes For he was sicke and had therto no might And all the lande destroyed was to sight By the
stone That Wynchester is nowe a towne full mery Caire Paladoure that nowe is Shaftesbury Where an Engel spake syttyng on the wall Whyle it was in workyng ouer 〈◊〉 ¶ In whiche citees he made then temples three And flaumes also as nowe these bishoppes been To kepe the rites after their moralytee Of there goddes as in there bookes was seen Of their fals lawes as thei dyd meen When he had reigned by thyrtye yere and nyne The dulful death made hym to earth enclyne The .xxv. Chapiter ¶ Bladud kynge of Britayne had Logres and Albany He made an vniuersitee and a study at Stamforde a flaume and his temple at Bathe his citee whiche vniuersitee dured to the commyng of saynt Augustyne and the byshoppe of Roome enterdited it for heresyes that fell emong the Saxones and the Britons together mixte BLadud his soÌ„ne sone after hym did succede And reigned after then full .xx. yere Cair Bladud so that now is Bath I rede He made anone the hote bathes there infere When at Athenes he had studied clere He brought with hym .iiii. philosophiers wise Schole to holde in Brytayne and exercyse ¶ StaÌ„forde he made that SaÌ„forde hight this daye In whiche he made an vniuersitee His philosophiers as Merlyn doth saye Had scolers fele of greate habilitee Studyng euer alwaye in vnitee In all the seuen liberall science For to purchace wysedome and sapience ¶ In cair bla 〈…〉 m he made a temple right And sette a flamyne theirin to gouerne And afterward a* Fetherham he dight To flye with wynges as he could beest descerne Aboue the aire nothyng hym to werne He flyed on high to the temple Apolyne And ther brake his necke for al his great doctrine The .xxvi. Chapiter ¶ Kyng Leyr of Brytaine gaue away with his doughter all his lande and had it all again and dyed kyng possessid HIs sooÌ„ne was kyng high sette in royaltee Of all Brytaynes by name that hight kyng Leyr Who Laiceter made after hym called to bee Cair Leyr his citee that buylded was full faire He had doughters three to been his heire The first of theim was called Gonorelle The next Ragan and the youngest Cordelle ¶ Emonges theim as Leyr satte on a daye He asked theim howe muche thei hym loued Gonorell saied more then my self ay And Ragan saied more then was after prouid For ioye of whiche the kyng was greately moued I loue you more then all this worlde so fayre He grauÌ„ted theim twoo of thre partes to bee heire ¶ Cordell the youÌ„gest then saied full soberly Father as muche as ye been in value So muche I loue you and shall sikirly At all my might and all my herte full trewe With that he greuid at hir and chaunged hewe Senne thou me loues lesse then thy sisters twain The leest porcion shalt thou haue of Bryteine ¶ With that Maglayn duke of Albaine Gonorell weddid and had the lande all out Euin of Walis and of Cornwayle ther by That duke was of those twoo landes stoute Ragan weddid to whiche twoo dukes no doubte Kyng Leyr gaue rule and gouernaunce Of all Bryteine for age and none puissaunce The .xxvii. Chapiter ¶ Howe Leyr made a temple and a Flamyne to rule at all Laiceter A Temple that in his citee of Kaireleir A Flamyne also as he a bishop were In name of Ianus the folke into repere And then he wente Gonorell to requier Of the greate loue that she aught hym so dere That of hir promyse she failed vnkyndly Wherfore he wente vnto Ragan in hye ¶ She failed also for all hir greate promyse And to Cordell that weddid was into Fraunce Long after that he wente in greate distres To helpe to wynne hym his inheritaunce She succurred hym anon with all plesaunce Bothe with gold syluer of right greate quaÌ„titee To gette his lande again in all suertee ¶ Aganippe hir lorde was kyng of Fraunce That graunt hym menne and goud sufficient And sent his wife with hym with greate puisauÌ„ce With all aray that to hir wer apent His heire to been by their bothes assent For he was olde and might not well trauell In his persone the warres to preuaile ¶ Kyng Leyr thus waÌ„ne his lande with all might again And riegned well there after full thre yere And died so buried at Kairleir menne sayn In Ianus temple in whiche tyme for age clere The kyng of Fraunce Aganype infere Dyed wherfore Cordell his ayre was soo To rule Brytaine alone with outen moo The .xxviii. Chapiter ¶ Howe Cordell quene of Fraunce and doughter of kyng Leyr reigned after the death of hir father COrdell quene of FrauÌ„ce and doughter to kyng Leyr Quene of EnglaÌ„de after hir fathers daye Fiue yeres reigned as for hir fathers heyre And gouerned well the realme all menne to paye His sister soonne then Morgan of Albanie And Condage also of Cambre and Cornewaile In battaill greate hir tooke and putte in baill ¶ For sorow then she sleugh hir selfe for tene And buried was by side hir father right In Ianus teÌ„ple whiche kyng Leyr made I went At Kairleyr so that nowe Laicester hight Thus died this quene that was of muche might Hir soule went to Ianus whome she serued And to Mynerue whose loue she had deserued The .xxix. Chapiter ¶ Morgan kyng of Albanie that claâ—nyd all Briteyne but this Isle of Britayne was departed for this kyng had but Albany MOrgan that eldest sooÌ„ne of Dame Gonorell Clamed Brytein as for his heritage Warred sone of Condage as I spell That kyng was of Cambre in younge age Duke of Cornewaile also for his homage But this kyng Morgan was kyng of Albany Soonne and heire of the eldest soonne varelie ¶ CoÌ„dage was kyng of CaÌ„bre that Walis is nowe And duke of Cornewaile his patrimonye Claymed Logres as soonne and heire to Regawe The myddill sister for his mothers proprete As she that aught to haue hir partourye At Glomorgane with Morgan did he meete In bataill sleugh hym there casten vnder fete The .xxx. Chapiter ¶ Condage kyng of Logres Cambre and duke of Cornewaile gatte all Bryteine againe and made a temple with a Flamyne at Bangor COndage was kyng of all greate Britaine And in his hande he seased all Albanie For his eschete that ought to hym againe Resorte of right and returne verelye He made a Flamyne a temple also in hye Of Mars at Perch that nowe his s Iohns towne In Albany that now is Scotlande region ¶ He made another temple of Mynerue In Cambre which now is named bangour The thyrde he made in Cornwayle for to serue Of Mercury in place where he was bore For his people to serue the goddes there Wherby he reygned .xxx. yere and three In rest and peace and all tranquilitee ¶ Ryueall his sonne that was pacificall Crowned was than easye of gouernaile In whose tyme the greate tempest dyd befall That dayes thre the flyes did hym assayle Enuenoned foule vnto the death
no faile And rayned bloodde the same .iii. dayes also Greate people dyed the lande to mykell woo ¶ Gurgustyus his sonne so reygned then In mykill ioye and worldly celynesse Kepyng his landes from enemyes as a manne But drunken he was echedaye expresse Vnaccordynge to a prince of worthynesse Out of drunkennesse succedeth euery vice Whiche all men shuld eschewe if thei wer wise ¶ Scicilius his sonne then did succede In whose tyme echeman did other oppresse The lawe and peace was exiled so in dede That ciuill warres and slaughter of men expresse Was in euery parte of the lande without redresse And murderers foule through all his lande dayly Without redres or any other remedy ¶ Iago succeded and kyng was of this lande As eiuill as was the kyng of Scicilus The same vices as I vnderstand Orels wourse and more malicious Wherfore our lorde toke vengeaūce of hym thus He smote theim bothe in suche aletargie That sone thei dyed for marrid with frenesie ¶ Kymar his soonne had then the diademe And kyng then was with all kyndes of royalte Kepyng his lande as well did so hym seme In lawe and peace with greate felicite The common weale and their vtilite He did prefer euer in vniuersall Whiche to a prince is a vertu principall ¶ First if he kepe not lawe nor peace certein His people will nothyng dred ne doubt Than stande he moost in parell to bee slaine Orels putte doune right by his vnderlout No better is he bee he neuer so stout Then is his subiect or another wight That with rebell vnlawfull kill hym might ¶ Gorbonyan that was his soonne and heire Was kyng who had that tyme but soonnes twoo The eldre hight Ferrex that was full faire The younger hight Porrex whiche discordid so That either of theim was alwaye others foo For that the father sent Ferrex into Fraunce To kyng Syward that was of greate puisaunce ¶ But after long when he had reigned .xi. yeres Dyed awaye frome all royalte Leuyng his lande by his good rule inclere In sufficiente and all prosperite Ferrex heryng of his mortalite With power strong came to this lande againe And with Porrex faught sore wher he was slaine ¶ For sorow of whiche ther mother that Iudō hight To Ferrex came with hir maydens all in ire Slepyng in bed slew hym vpon the night And smote hym all on peces sette a fyre Loo this cruell mother sett on fyre With suche rancor that she could not ceas Whiche for passyng ire was mercyles The .xxxi. Chapiter ¶ Clotane Pynner Ruddan Stater reigned with barōs warres .xl. yere howe this Isle of Brytaine was departed in foure parties stood departed .xl. yere in barōs warres CLotane that then was duke of Cornwaile Next heire then was by all succession But Pinner thē had Logres ī gouernaile And kyng ther of was by wrong ingression Ruddan had Cambre in his possession And Stater was then kyng of Albany Thus was this Isle then lede by tirannye ¶ Thus Brytain was to foure kynges deuided Echeon of theim warryng on other The barons also on warre were so prouided That all the people to wast father and mother Thei spared none all wer thei sister or brother And eche citee on other bothe towne and tour And eche tyranne was a conquerour ¶ And lordes faine subiectes then to been The poore menne that afore that warre wer desolate Of all honour and worship that was seen Through their manhode with people congregate Lordeship conquered and roose to high astate Laddes and boyes the ladeis tho did wedde Their kynne afore nether lande ne hous hadde ¶ Fourty wynter thus duryng barons warre This Isle so stoode in sorowe and in strife In faute of might the weaker had the wer And suffered wrong that was then their life For who that might aught gette with spere or knife He helde it furth as for his heritage And waxid a lorde that a fore was a page ¶ Defaute of peace lawe sette theim on hight To ouer runne lordes and bee victorious As worthy was for of their wrongfull might The lordes were cause that thei were rygurous That would not so their wronges malicious At first with stande and punishe trespassoures But suffer theim endure in their erroures The .xxx. Chapiter ¶ The conseipt of the maker of this booke touchyng barrons warres in defaute of peace and lawe DEfaut of lawe was cause of this mischief Wronges susteined by mastry by might And peace laied downe that should haue been the chief Through whiche debates folowed all vnright Wherfore vnto a prince accordeth right The peace and lawe euen with equite Within his realme to saue his dignite ¶ What is a kyng without lawe and peace Within his realme sufficiently conserued The porest of his maye so encrease By iniury and force of menne preserued Till he his kyng so with strēgth haue ouerthrowed And sette hym self in royall maieste As tratour Cade made suche an iuoperte ¶ O ye my lorde of Yorke and veraie heire Of Englande so this matter well impresse Deipe in your breste lette it synke softe and feire And suche defautes sette you aye to represse At the begynnyng lette your high noblenes The trespassoures to chastes and to restreine And lette theim not lawe ne peace disobeine ¶ O ye lordes that been in high estate Kepe well the lawe with peace and gouernaunce Lest your hurtes you hurte and depreciate Whiche been as able with wrongfull ordynaunce To reigne as ye and haue also greate puisaunce For lawe and iustices in lordes vnpreserued Causeth many of theim to bee ouerthrowed The .xxxi. Chapiter ¶ Dunwallo Moluncyus kyng of Cornewayle conquerid Logers Lambry and Albanie as right heire of Brytayne he gaue fraunchises to the temple plough merkettes feyres and hie wayes so that none should disturbe by lawe nor by wrong he made sixe temples in Logers Cambre Albanie and also many Flāynes to rule theim of estate as bishoppes nowe dooen KYng Clotein died that reigned in Cornewaile Wherfore his soōne Dūwallo Molūcius Was kyng of all his realme without faile A mannly prince in armes full cuorageous Assembled his hoost and came full vigorous Of kyng Pynner in Logres intrusour And sleugh hym ther as wrongfull gouernour ¶ Kyng Ruddan and kyng Stater Of Albanie with hoostes strong and wyght Gaue hym battaill with mighty power Where Ruddan Stater wer slain downe right With all their hoostes and their greate might And Dunwallo had the victory With muche ioye and manhod mightely ¶ Dunwallo so called Moluncius At Troynouaunt with royall diademe Of gold crouned moost riche and precious Vpon his hede as did hym well besene The first he was as chronicles expreme That in this Isle of Brytein had croune of golde For all afore copre and gilt was to beholde ¶ He graunted pardon vnto all trespasoures Of whiche thei were full glad and ioyus Amendyng all their faultes and errours With all their hertes full beneuolous
capitayn had to name By whome it was so bigged and supporte That out of Spayn wer exiled and thither came And some sayth that Hiberus of great fame There duke was than and there gouernour That of Spayne afore had been the floure ¶ This king Gurgwyn his surname was Batrê° Came home agayn after the voyage sore All forbeten so was he corageus That from his corps his ghoste departed thore Reigned that had .xxx. yere afore In Carlion after his high degre Was buried so with full greate royaltee The .xxxv. Chapiter ¶ Howe Guytelyn kyng of Britayne wedded Marcian to wife that Mercian lawes made by her great wisedome GVytelyn his sonne gan reigne as heyre Of all Brytayn aboute vnto the sea Who wedded was to Marcyan full fayre That was so wyse in her femynitee That lawes made of her syngularytee That called wer the lawes Marcyane In Britayne tongue of her owne witte alane ¶ This Guytelyn was good of his estate Full iuste he was in all his iudgement Wise and manly of porte erly and late Right meke and good euer in his entente Although of state he was right excellent With eche poore man that came to his presence Through whiche he waxed of moste hie sapience ¶ When he had reigned ful peacebly .x. yere He lefte the realme to his sonne and heire And to his wife to be his counceller For his sonne then was .vii. yere olde full fayre Whom at her death she sent for all repayre Of Barons all their she delyuered hym To kepe in payne of losse life and lymme ¶ Sicilius his sonne reygned .xxiiii. yere And crowned was and dyed in iuuentude That gouerned wel the realme full well and clere At Karlyon buryed after consuetude As kynges afore in all simylitude With all repayre of all his Baronage As well accorded vnto his hye parage ¶ Rymar his sonne the barons dyd crowne With honoure suche as fell to his degree Who twenty yere and one so bare the crowne And kepte lawe and all tranquilytee And peteous was euer as a king shulde be In ryghtwesnesse accordyng with his lawe Hauyng pytee and mercy where hym sawe ¶ Danius kyng his brother dyd succede Duryng .x. yere in warre and greate payne Withouten reste he was alwaye in dede The lawe vnkepte was cause there of certayne As myne authour it lyste nothyng to layne I wyll it nowe wryte and in this boke expresse That men may knowe his foly and lewdenesse The .xxxvi. Chapiter ¶ Howe Moruile kyng of Britaine was slayne by his owne immoderate Ire withoute knowledge of eny man with a fysshe bestyall of the sea MOruyle his sonne a baste goten and bore On Tangusta his specyall paramour Was crowned then after faught full sore with the kyng of Morians as a conqueroure Where he hym kylled and had the felde that houre And lefte no man on lyue and brente theim all His Ire exceded his wytte and gouernall ¶ Sone after then came fro the yrishe sea A bestyous fyshe a monstre sume dyd it call Wherof afrayde was all the comontye For it deuoured the folke both great and smalle Wherfore the kyng his yre myght not apall Ne cesse afore he foughten with it had All sodaynly alone as a man ryght mad ¶ Where both were dead or any man it knewe His yre full fell was and vntemperate His discrecyon out of his brayne flewe But he coulde not by reason ordynate Proroge his wyll ne yre inordynate By other meanes with people multytude It to haue slayne by wytte and fortytude ¶ He reigned had that tyme but seuentene yere When he thus dyed and fondly dyd expire Vnsemingly of any prynce to heare That he with suche a monstre shoulde desyre To fyghte alone so preuely of yre But sonnes he had full fayre then fyue Of manly men also substantyfe ¶ Gorbonian his eldest sonne of fyue Was after kyng and helde the maieste Ryghtwesse and trewe to euery creature In peace his realme and all tranquillyte And to his people he helde all equyte Tyllers of lande with golde he dyd comforte And soudiours all with goodes he dyd supporte ¶ Arthegall his brother signed with Diadene The kyng was then with all solempnytee By natyfe byrth nexte brother as men deme Who good men hated of his iniquyte Oppressyng them by greate subtylyte And all fals folke with ryches dyd auaunce His Barons all deposed hym for that chaunce The .xxvii. Chapiter ¶ Howe this kyng was crowned in defaute of his elder brother and after of pure pytee crowned his brother agayne CLydoure then the thirde brother generate Was kyne create by all successyon And bare the crowne with all royal estate By lordes wyll and there concessyon That ruled well withoute oppressyon When he had reigned so fully fyue yere Arthegall he founde that was his brother dere ¶ As he was gone on huntyng for his disporte In the forest and woode of collatre That sought had frendes and found had no comforte But heuy was and of full simple chere Whome Eledoure toke in his armes clere And brought hym to his cytee of Alclude That then was of great myght and fortytude ¶ In Albany then was it the greatest citee tho Besyde the woode that tyme of collatre Where his Barons and many other moo At his biddyng were come and presente there Whome syngulerly he made them for to swere Vnto Arthegall his brother to be trewe So purposed he to crowne hym all newe ¶ And then anon in haste so forth they rode To Ebranke and helde then his parlyament Where of good loue and tender brotherhod The crowne he set with very trewe entente On Arthegalles hede thought it was wel spent By hole decree and iudgement of his mouth And made hym kyng agayne by north and south ¶ Arthegall kyng crowned so all newe agayne Full well his lordes after dyd loue all perlees Forsoke all vyces and tooke to vertue playne And set his lande and people in all kyne and ease Reigning .x. yere he fell in greate disease In maladye of dyuerse great syckenesse Dead and buried at Carleyle as Igesse The .xxxvii. Chapiter ¶ Howe Eledoure was that seconde tyme crowned king of Britayne for his good rule THe Briteines all crowned Eledoure That reygned after .xiii. yere in dignytee So well theim payde to haue hym gouernoure For his goodnesse and his benignyte And for he was so full of all pytee That in all thynge mercy he dyd preserue Well better euer then men coulde it deserue ¶ Iugen with force and eke syr Peredoure His brethren two on hym rose traytorously Deposed hym oute of his hye honoure And prisoned hym full sore and wrongfullye All in the towre of Troynouaunt for thy And parted the realme betwixte theim two Together reignyng .vii. yere and no mo ¶ Paredour then had all the lande full clere And crouned was reignyng after worthely His lawe and peace kepyng full well foure yere And dyed then and to
full solitarie To Constantyne duke Cader sonne on hye His neuewe was for Cader was his brother As well was knowen they had but one mother ¶ Kyng Arthure then in Aualon so died Wher he was buried in a chapell fayre Whiche nowe is made and fully edified The mynster churche this daye of great repayre Of Glastenbury where nowe he hath his leyre But then it was called the blacke chapell Of our Lady as chronycles can tell ¶ Wher Geryn erle of Charters then abode Besyde his toumbe for whole deuocion Whether Launcelot delake came as he rode Vpon the chace with trompette and clarion And Geryn tolde hym ther all vp and downe Howe Arthure was there layde in sepulture For whiche with hym to byde he hight full sure ¶ And so they abode together in contemplacion And preastes were aboute his toumbe alwaye In prayers greate and holy meditacion With heare the fleshe repressyng night and daye Three dayes eche weke at breade and water aye They fasted lyued in great sorowe and penaūce To soules helth and Goddes hye pleasaunce ¶ But whē the quene Gwaynour had perceyued Howe Mordred was fled awaye then thryse Frō Yorke then yode lest she were deceyued On fote by night with a mayden full wise To Carlion to lyue in Goddes seruice In the mynster of saynt Iuly with Nonnes In prayers whole and greate deuocions ¶ This kyng Arthure to whō none was cōdigne Through all the world so was he then perelesse His life and soule to God he dyd resigne The yere of Christ as chronicles expresse Fyue hudreth and two in sothefastnesse And fourtye also accompted hole and clere At his endyng without any were The .lxxxv. Chapiter ¶ The commendacion of Arthure after the conceipte of the maker of this booke in fewe woordes and also the compleynte and lamentacion of the sayde maker for the death of Arthure REigned he had then sixe and twenty yere Moste redoubted in erth moste famous The worthiest and wysest without pere The hardyest man and moste coragious In actes marciall moste victorious In hym was neuer a drope of cowardise Nor in his herte a poynte of couetyse ¶ There was neuer prince of giftes more liberal Of landes geuyng ne of meate so plenteous Agayn his fooen was moste imperiall And with his owne subiectes moste bounteous As a Lyon in felde was moste douteous In house a lambe of mercy euer replete And in iudgement euer eguall was and discrete ¶ O good lorde God suche treason vnrightes Why suffred thy deuyne omnipotente That of theim had precience and forsightes That myght haue lette that cursed violence Of Mordredes pryde and all his insolence That noble kyng forpassyng conqueroure So to destroye by treason and erroure ¶ Fortune false executryse of weerdes That euermore so with thy subtilitee To all debates thou strongly so enherdes That where men euer would lyue in charitee Thou doest perturbe with mutabilitee Why stretchest thou so thy whele vpon Mordred Agayne his eme to do so cruel dede ¶ Wherthrough that high noble conqueroure Without cause shuld algates peryshed bee With so many kynges and princes of honour In all the worlde might none there better bee O fals Fallas of Mordredes propertee Howe might thou so in Gwynoure haue such might That she the death caused of so many knightes ¶ O false beautie of Gwaynour predestinate What vnhappe made the false to thy lorde So good a prince and so fortunate Was neuer yet seen as all men can recorde The whiche betwene you made so greate discorde That he and all his princes wer there slayne Thy chaungeable hert to venge he was so fayne ¶ But O Mordred tofore so good a knight In greate manhode proudly aye approued In whom thyne eme the noblest prince of might Put all his trust so greately he the loued What vnhappe thy manly ghost hath moued Vnto so foule and cruell hardynesse So many to be slayn through thyn vnhappynes ¶ The highnesse of thyne honoure had a fall When thou began to do that iniurie That great falshode thy prowesse did appall As soone as in the entred periurie By consequens treason and traitourie Thy lorde and eme and also thy kyng souerayn So to betraye thy felowes eke certayne The .lxxxvi. Chapter ¶ Constantyne kynge of Britayne sonne of duke Cador of Cornewayle reygned foure yere COnstantine his brother sōne was crowned Duke Cador sōne of Cornwaile boūteous Afore had been one of the table rounde In Arthures tyme a knight was ful auenturous In trone royall was set full precyous With Diademe on his hed sygnifyed At Troynouaunt where no wight it replyed ¶ Who then anone with Saxons sore did fight And also with Mordred sonnes two Their capitaynes were put theim to the flyght That one fled to wynchester and hyd hym so That other to London with mykyll woo Where Constātyne theim bothe in churches slew At the autres where they were hyd in mewe ¶ This constantyne set all his lande in peace And reygned well foure yere in greate noblesse And dyed then buryed at Caroll no lesse Besyde Vterpendragon full expresse Arthures father of greate worthynesse Whiche called is the stone Hengles certayne Besyde Salysbury vpon the playne ¶ Aurelius Conan his cosyn fayre The sea royall then helde and ganne succede To hym as nexte then of bloude and heyre His vncle and his sonnes two in dede In prysone slewe to crowne hym selfe I rede That should haue been kynges of all Britayne Afore hym so yf they had not be slayne ¶ He maynteyned aye ciuyle warre and debate Bytwene Cytees Castelles and countees Through al his realme with mysruled mē associate Whiche was greatly agaynst his royaltees And but thre yere he reygned in dignitees As God so wolde of his hye ordynaunce For wronge lawes maketh shorte gouernaunce ¶ Then Vortyper succeded after hym Crowned was then with all the royalte Agaynste whome the Saxons stronge grym Made full greate warre destroyed the comente But in batayle by greate humanyte He them ouercame and set his lande in peace Vnto the tyme that death made him decease ¶ Seuen yere he reigned and his people pleased And tender was he of his comynalte Aboue all thyng he sawe that they were eased The publyke cause afore the syngulerte Preserued also as it of ryght should be For cōmons fyrst for prynces supportacion Were set and nought been waste by dominacion ¶ Malgo nexte hym to the crowne attayned Feyrest of other that euer was in his daye All tyranny fully he restreyned And conquered holy thryse of Orkenay Irelonde Denmarke Iselonde and eke Norway And Gotlande also obeyed his royalte He was so wyse full of fortunyte Within his realme was none so large ne strong Ne none that was in feacte of warre so wise With swerde or axe to fyght in the thronge Nor with his speare that had suche exercyse For to assayle hys fooes and them suppryse And defence also he had great keenyng As any
prynce euer had or any kyng ¶ But one defaute he had of greate offence Of Sodome synne he wolde it not amende He haunted it euer withoute any defence Whiche greued god and brought hym to an end Two and twenty yere as dyd appende His lande he helde in peace and vnyte Without suppryse of any enmytee ¶ Carreys was then crowned kyng anone That loued well in all cytees debate Betwene townes and citees euery chone And in suche wyse maynteyned early and late Imagened of his wyll preordinate So muche in warre that cytees and countrees Full comen were of his malicyousnesse ¶ For which Britons made hym full mykel war And Saxons also vnto kyng Gurmound sent Of affrycans that then in Irelande were Who with his fleete to perfourme his entent To Britayne came by all theyr hole assent But Saxons then and he were full accorde And Britons also that had ciuyle discorde The .lxxxvii. Chapiter ¶ Howe Gurmounde kynge of Affrycans conquered Brytayne and departed it in seuen kyngdomes to Saxons 〈◊〉 Englyshe and went to wynne moo landes made Gurmonde Chester GVrmoūde that then was mighty cōquerour King of Affricās most dred in euery lond with helpe of Britōs theyr great socour And of Englishe Saxons had made thē bonde That dwelled that tyme in Northumberlande And other places in Britayne vnder truage Rose with hym whole agayne that kynges outrage ¶ And fought with him and put hym to that flight To Circestre went and strongly helde the towne But kyng Gurmound that towne then seeged right And gate it so with myght greate renowne Wherfore he fled to wales for his proteccyon what came of him myne authour nought exp̄ssed But with the death I trowe he was oppressed ¶ But Gurmound then Britaine hole destroied Bothe churche and towne eke the christen faith For he a Paynym was and sore anoyded The chrystentye as Gyldas wrote and seyth Through Logres that whole was lost with paynī leyeth The prelates all curates and religyous With reliques all fledde awaye full dolorous ¶ And hid them then in hilles woodes and caues Tharchbishops the one of London then And Tadyok of Yorke that fled fro Knauis With sainctes bones to wildernes fast ranne And hid hym there and Gurmond sore did banne With crosse and bell with greate candill light Thei cursed hym as ferre as the churches might ¶ This kyng Gurmōd gaue all Northūberland Frome Trent North that then hight Berun deyre Northfolke Southfolke and Cābrydge shire at hāde Whiche Estāgle Bede calleth in his storie And all fro Trent to Themis for memorye Mers he called all to English gaue That dwelled ther for euer to reioyse and haue ¶ He gaue all these to Englishe menne in deede Whiche came out of a lande hight angulo In Germany that was and with woodes I rede Replenished of wild bestes buck and doo Sith that tyme hether hathe been and yet is so Wherfore thei were of it called Englishemenne All Logres Northumberlande Anglande then ¶ He gaue Sussex then to the Saxons Essex Midelsed with Surry whole and Kent But then Hamshire Barkeshire toures townes And Shropshire whole Gloucester as thē apēt All these were called Westsex as Bede ment Thus dalt he the lande to theim therin dwellyng Whiche long afore paied truage to the kyng ¶ Thē went he home through Fraūce it distroied And many other landes and regions But Brytons then to that West parties sore anoyed Droue theim of Logres with all religions To liue in peace for dred of rebelions For after Carreis was fled thei had no kyng To tyme Cadwan was made by their chosyng ¶ So stode thei then kyngles by twenty yere Fro the yere of Christ fiue hundred and four score And therto three as clerly dooeth apere Vnto the yere after that Christ was bore Sixe hundreth and three without any more When Cadwan was of Brytons kyng elect And crouned was to rule theim and protect ¶ O kyng Carreis vnhappiest creature That in Brytain reigned euer afore What infortune made the flee from thy cure What caused the to maintene so euermore Eyuile discord within thy realme so sore That might haue reigned ouer many a lande Through whiche thyne owne is lost I vnderstād ¶ Thou vnderstandest full litill theuangilye That euery realme within it selfe deuide Shall desolate bee made as clerkes tell And euery hous on other shall fall and slyde Thy wycked will that nowe is knowen wyde That suffred so debate bytwyne lorde and lorde Bytwyne citees and landes cyuyle discord ¶ The cause was of thy disheriteson And of thy realmes desolacion That with lawe and peaceble constitucion Might haue been saued with greate consolacion And the churche preserued in greate prosperacion The Christen faith in thy lande distroyed That with the peace shuld haue be kept vnnoyed ¶ O woful Carreis thyne heires thy Brytons Their children all the widdowes and their wife 's The commonalte in citees and in townes The churche also may bāne full sore those striues By thy supporte that rest so many their liues Wher lawe and peace if thou had well conserued All had been saued with thanke of god deserued ¶ Defaute of lawe was cause of this mischiefes Wronges sustened by maistry and by might And peace layed downe that should haue been the chief For whiche debate folowed and vnright Wherfore vnto a prince accordeth right To kepe the peace with al tranquillite Within his realme to saue his royalte ¶ What is a kyng without lawe and peace Within his realme sufficiently conserued The poorest of his realme maye so encrease By iniury and force to bee preferred Till he his kyng with strength haue ouerterued And sette hym self in royall maieste If that he bee in suche a ieopardie ¶ O ye lordes and princes of high astate Kepe well the lawe and peace in gouernaunce Lest your subiectes defoule you and depreciate Whiche been as able with wrongfull gouernaūce To reigne as ye and haue as greate puysaunce If peace and lawe been voyed and vnytee The floures are lost of all your souerentee ¶ O worthy prince O duke of Yorke I meane Discendid downe of highest bloodde royall Se to suche ryotes that none sustene And specially that alyens none at all Inhabite not with power greate ne small That maye this lande ought trouble or ouer ride For twies it was so wonne with muche pride ¶ Through Vortiger by Engist and Horsus Whome he receiued whiche after hym distroyed And with his helpe full false and noyous The worthy bloodde of Brytain sore anoyed At the Caroll murdred and all accloyed And nowe again when Carreis was exiled The kyng Gurmōd the Saxons hym beguiled ¶ For Saxons Peightes and Englishemenne Reigned then through all the Logres lande Deuided in seuen realmes fully then Westser Sussex and Kente I vnderstande Estser and Mers Estangle Northumberlande That droue Brytons into the West countre To Walis and Cornwaile fro
A man to haue bene in hye felycite And to fall downe by infortune agayne In myserye and fell aduersyte Howe maye a man haue a thyng more contraye Then to haue been well and after woo begone Incomperable to it bee paynes echone ¶ Wherfore good lord the peace euermore mainteine And ryottes all chastyce by prouisyon And lawe vpholde ryghtfully and sustene And ouer all thyng se there bee no deuisyon But reste and peace without discencyon For where a realme or a cytee is deuyded It maye not stand as late was verified ¶ In Fraunce as fell full greate diuision Through whiche that first Henry kyng of EnglaÌ„de Ouer rode their lande by greate prouision And conquered theim thei might not hym with staÌ„de All their citees were yeld into his hande For cause of their cruell descencion Emong theim sustened by contencion ¶ Roome Carthage and many other citees And many realmes as clerkes haue specified Haue been subuert and also many countrees By diuision emong theim fortified Wher vnite and loue had been edified Might theim haue saued in all prosperite Frome all hurt and all aduersite ¶ Whexfore good lord thynke on this lessoÌ„ nowe And teache it to my lorde of Marche your heire While he is young it maye bee for his prowe To thynke on it wheÌ„ that the wether waxeth faire And his people vnto hym dooeth repaire And litill hath theim to releue and pease Then maye it hap with it his people case ¶ For what sauour a newe shell is taken with When it is olde it tasteth of the same Or what kynd of ympe in gardein or in frith Ymped is in stocke fro whence it came It sauourith euer and it nothyng to blame For of his rote frome whiche he dooth out spryng He must euer tast and sauour in eatyng ¶ While he is young in wisedome hym endowe Whiche is full hard to gette without labour Whiche labour maye not bee with ease nowe For of labour came kyng and emperour Let hym not bee idill that shall bee your successor For honour and ease together maye not been Wherfore writh nowe the wand while it is grene ¶ Endowe hym nowe with noble sapience By whiche he maye the wolf werre frome the gate For wisedome is more worth in all defence Then any gold or riches congregate For who wanteth witte is alwaye desolate Of all good rule and manly gouernaunce And euer enfect by his contrariaunce ¶ Endowe hym also in humilitee And wrath deferre by humble pacience Through whiche he shall increace in dignitee And catch alway full greate intelligence Of all good rule and noble regymence And to conclude wrath will euer sette a side All maner of thyng whiche wisedome would prouide ¶ Behold Bochas what prices haue through pride Be cast downe frome all their dignitee Wher sapience and meekenes had bee guyde Full suerly might haue saued bee And haue stand alwaye in might greate suertee If in their hartes meekenes had bee ground And wisedome also thei had not be confound ¶ Nowe foloweth of the Englyshe kynges and Saxones The .xcix. Chapiter THis Cadwalader nowe laide in sepulture That some tyme was that kyng of great Brytain And of Westsex also ther with full sure To whome succedid Iuore his soonne certain Reignyng ouer Brytons that did remain In Wales then without any socour But onely he became their gouernour ¶ With whome Iue his cousin was at nede That warred sore the Englishe and Saxonye Many winters and nought preuayled in deede Sauyng thei reigned vpon the Vasselry That wer out castes of all Brytany But Ingils and Iue his brother dere In westsex reigned which CoÌ„rede his sonnes were ¶ Whom Englishe then and all the Saxonye Theim chose and made to bee their protectours Again Iuor and his cousin Iuy That were that tyme the Brytons gouernours To Wales fled for helpe and greate socours But Ingils and Iue of Englishe bloodde discent Then kept Englande full well by one assent ¶ A yere all whole and then this Ingils dyed And Iue was kyng of Westsex fully cround That reigned then full greately magnified Eyght and thyrty wynter full well and sounde With his brother and what alloen that stouÌ„de In whose tyme Theodore then dyed Of Cauntorbury archebishop signified ¶ Whiche Ingile Iue did call this lande Englande After Inglis as thei had harde afore After Engest it called was Engestes lande By corrupt speach Englande it hight therfore And afterwarde so that name it hath euer bore As Gurmound also afore it had so named Whiche sith that tyme hath been ful hougely famed ¶ Kyng Iue and Ingils in Westsex first began The yere sixe hundred foure score therto nyne So did Iuo and Iue in Wales then Ouer the Walshe that were of Brytons line In muche trouble and woo as fill that tyme Kyng Alfride in all Northumberlande Wittred and Welbard in Kent I vnderstande ¶ In Englande yet were kynges seuen Vnder kyng Iue that twenty battailes smote Vpon Iuor and Iue accompted euen But in the yere as Bede hath saied and wryte That euery manne his debte to kynd paye mote Kyng Iue dyed at Roome then was the yere Seuen hundred and seuen and twenty clere ¶ And at his death he gaue to Roome eche yere The Roome pence through Westsex all about Perpetually to bee well payed and clere For vnto Roome he went without doubt And with theim lordes and gentils a greate route In pilgrymage for Eld and impotence When he might not the lande well defence The C. Chapiter ¶ Etheldred kyng of Westsex protector of Englande that reigned thyrty yere ETheldred in Westsex to hym gan succede And kyng was then and held the royalte Protector was of EnglaÌ„de their in deede And helde his tyme euer furth the souereingtee In heritage and perpetualitee That thyrten yere reigned in good astate Whiche cherished peace and chastised all debate ¶ Wher any wrath was growyng in his lande Emong prelates or lordes temporall In citees or in cuntrees wher he fande Accordid theim in euery place ouer all And in his tyme the kynges inspeciall Vnder his rule and sure proteccion He kept in peace by lawfull direccion ¶ Who dyed so of Christ his incarnacion The yere sixe hundreth fourty accompted tho Entombed at Bathe with sore lamentacion Of all Englande as well of frende as foo Which Bathe citee some tyme was called soo Achamany in Brytain language By Achaman that had it in heritage ¶ In his tyme was Oswyk in NorthumberlaÌ„d And dyed then to whome Colwolphe did succed Edbertpren in Kent I vnderstand And Ethelbald in Mers was theÌ„ I rede In Essex also was then reignyng Selrede And Ethelrede in Estangle that daye All these wer kynges and vnder hym alwaye ¶ So fro that tyme furth fro the Scottish sea To Sulwath â—loud and to the water of Tyne The Peightes had and kept without lee Wher kyng Edwin their kyng was by right line Rulyng that lande in peace and lawe
euery place and fouly defflorate ¶ And in the yere .viii. hundreth fyftie and sixe He died so and from this worlde expired Whom all his tyme the Danes full sore did vexe Agayn hym euer full sore they had conspired Theyr hertes in malice alwaye sore affcerd Sometyme the worse they had sometyme that better As Flores sayth and written hath in letter The C .viii. Chapiter ¶ Alurede kyng of Westsex protectour of Englande reigned xxi yere and died the yere .viii. C .xcv. ALurede kyng was of this region That brother was to this noble Elfryde A perfect clerke proued in opynyon As clerkes could discerne and proued In knighthode also approued and notified So plenerly that no man knewe his peer So good a knight he was and singuler ¶ In battayles many in his fathers dayes And also in his brethren tyme all thre He fought full ofte and bare hym wel alwayes That for his dedes and singularitee He was commended amonge thenemytee Within the lande and out as well was knowe His fame among the people hye was blowe ¶ Whyles he was kyng he had aduersitee With Danes oft that on hym did ryue Destroyed his lande with great iniquitee The whiche full oft with might he did out driue And slewe thousandes that lost theyr lyue Through the warres begon of theyr outrage That meruayll was to sene of one lynage ¶ And in the yere viii hundreth sixty and eyght The Danes came to Yorke and toke the towne Hunger and Vbba with many a wyle sleight Wasted the lande about both vp and downe And so came forth to Mars with hostes boune And to Westsex whom then the kyng Alurede Discomfited there with the hoste that he did lede ¶ The Danyshe hoste to Redyng came agayn Another hoste at London was with pride Of Danes also that wrought hym mekyll payne But whyles these hoostes were parted and deuide With his power Alurede gan to ryde And at Anglefeld he fought in Barkeshyre right Where victorie he had maugre of theyr might ¶ At Redyng in Barkeshire then he mette An hoste full greate where he had then agayn The victorye and his fooes downe bette At Basyng also he slewe theim downe certeyne At Asshenden he droue theim out all pleyne And gotte the felde with all the victories As Flores sayeth right in his memories ¶ And in the yere .viii. C. syxty and fourtene The Danishe hoste rode Lyndsey Mars coūtre And home agayn as then was well sene In Northumberlande with greate prosperitee The Danes rode doyng great aduersitee Where the bishoppe then of holye Isselande And all his monkes were full fast fleand ¶ With s Cuthberts bones bare about .vii. yere Nowe here nowe there in dyuers places aboute For dread of Danes and enemyes that there were In Northumberlande dwellyng that tyme ful stout But then the kyng the sea sayled throughout ▪ And shyppes gatte with much great ryches For to defende his lande fro greate distresse ¶ In Westsex then with fooes agayn he met Wher they fro hym to Exeter that night Fled full faste where Alurede theim ouer sette And slewe theim downe in batayll and in fyght And then in Mers anone he fought forth ryght With Danes tho and also with Norwayes That wasted had all Mers in many wayes ¶ Then fought he also at Chipnā in Wilshire And Hunger and Vbba and duke Haldene Tyrauntes cruell hote as any fyre The Christen folke did brenne wast and slene With cruell tourmentes did theim care and tene Where Alurede had the victorie And slewe that daye all the Danyshyre The C .ix. Chapiter ¶ Howe kynge Alurede fled to Ethelyngay in Hidils for dreade of Danes and serued an oxherde of the countree GVtron the kinge of Denmarke that was tho In Westser werred ful sore brent y◠lond Wyth whych the kyng so marryd was with wo He wyst not well whether to ryde or stond But to Ethelyngay anone he tooke on honde To ryde where then he hyd hym in a place For drede of Danes suche was hys hap grace ¶ In Denwolfes house thoxerd of the towne So was he then in poore and symple araye Wher Denwolf cladde hym in hys owne gowne And tender was to hym there alwaye But hys wyfe made hym to laboure aye Wyth bakynge and wyth bruynge wonder sore In water beryng she made hym worke euer more Where then hys lordes knyghtes in good araye Came to hym then wyth hooste and greate powre Where than the kynge vpon Gutron that daye In batayle stronge wyth corage freshe and clere Foughte sore and tooke Gutron prysonere And thyrtye dukes wyth hym in companye Vnchrysten were they all of panymrye ¶ And had the felde wyth all the vyctorye And of Danes manye thousande slewe He baptyzed than as made is memorye Thys kynge Gutron that after was full trewe And named was Athylstan all newe To whome the kynge gaue than all Estenglande As Edmonde had to holde of hym that lande ¶ And all hys dukes were also there baptyzed And chrysten menne bycame for goddes loue The yere of Chryste .viii. C. thenne compeysed Seuente and .viii. as Flores doth approue The kyng was then agayne at his aboue Remembred hym of Denwolfe that hym hyd And sent for hym to Ethelingay he dyd ¶ His wyfe was deed somwhat was he letred At his desyre the kyng set hym to lerne To tyme that he was wyse and mekell betred In holy wryt that he coulde well discerne And then the kyng made hym byshop as yerne Of Winchester when Dunbert there so dyed That byshop was afore hym sacrafyed ¶ In the yere .viii. C. and foure score The Danes in Thamis wintred at Foulham The kyng came in somer after thore And slewe them all that they went neuer hame The deed the quycke the maymed and the lam◠All buryed wer where the batayle was smyten As Flores sayeth and clerly hath it wryten ¶ At Rochester the Danes were efte on londe With whom the kyng there faught many slew Many drowned and lyeng on the sonde As they vnto theyr shyppes agaynwarde flewe He droue them there vnto a warmly stowe After theyr laboure to haue recreacyon Vpon the sondes to make theyr habitacyon The C .x. Chapiter ¶ How Marine bishop of Rome graūted to kyng Alurede to found an vniuersytee and study for clerkes which he made at Dxenforde where the clerkes be sworne they shall not rede for theyr fourme at Stamforde ANd in the yere .viii. C .lxxx. and tweyne Marine bishop of Rome graūted to kīg A lurede To foūd make a study thē again And an vniuersyte for clerkes in to rede The whiche he made at Oxenforde in dede To that entent that clerkes by sapyence Agayne heretykes should make resystence And chrysten fayth mayntayne by theyr doctryne The kyng also to comforte and counsayle By theyr teachyng and wytty disciplyne As Phylosophers of olde dyd great auayle To kynges prynces and cytees gouernayle Gaue all theyr wyt in studye and
royaltee Endewed theim all in lande and tenemente Sufficiently with all establyshemente ¶ He wedded Elfbede that dukes doughter Ozmere On whom he gate a sonne both good and fayre That after was saynt Edwarde the marter Who was his eldest sonne and his heyre A lykely prince towarde both comly and fayre Elflede died he wedded Elfrith to wyfe That doughter was to duke Orgare be life ¶ On whom he gate Ethelbert so anone The kynges of Wales he had in subieccion The Scottes kynge Kynowth withouten moon Made hym homage without obieccion Thus all were vnder his proteccion And rode with hym alwaye in warre and peace In all his tyme withouten leas ¶ So trewe he was and in his dome wyse That for no mede nor fauoure wold he false The trewe leuers his lawe did not despyse He socoured euer and felons hanged hy the halse Conspiratours murtherers and traytours al 's The coÌ„mon weale aboue all thyng preferred Which euery prince shuld se wer wel obserued ¶ He taxed not his commons ne supprysed Ne holy churche nor yet the clergie But lyued on his owne as it was assised Vpon his rentes and landes morallye His officers hym ruled full no tably In euery shire he went in priuetee To spie and knowe who hurtes the commontee ¶ He was a kyng full worthy and condigne That let not for his ease nor his laboure To searche and see defautes that were maligne And theim correcte he was a gouernoure God set neuer kyng to be a ryotoure To trippe on tapettes and lyue in ydelnesse But for to rule with all kyndes of busynesse ¶ He died the yere .ix. hundreth sixty and eleuen When he had reygned full eyghtene yere Buried he was at Glastenbury to neuen His corps to the earth his soule to heauen clere When he had been dead foure and twenty yere Byshop Oswald of that same diocise By counsell of thabbot that was wyse ¶ Abbot Edwarde of that place that hight Who layde hym in a toumbe made of newe For it was shorte he brake his legges wight Of whiche the bloodde as rede and freshe of hewe As euer it was sprent out all hote and newe Into his eyen by whiche he lost his sight Men sayd it was for he had so hym dight ¶ Edwarde his sonne that eldest was and heire Saynt Dunstan then as made is mencion Tharchbyshop of Cauntorbury fayre So crowned hym kyng of this region Whom dame Alfrith of false presumpcion His stepmother to crowne syr Ethelrede At Cornisgate so cut his throte in dede ¶ As he with her did drynke of good entent And buryed was at Warham then anone But afterwarde the B. of Rome to England sent To take hym vp and laye hym hye anone In a toumbe made of siluer gold and stone As a marter then hym canonized At Shaftesbury where he is autorized ¶ And dyed in the yere of Christ .ix. huÌ„dreth clere Sixty also accoumpted and fyftene That reigned had in Englande but .iiii. yere His soule to blysse went then as is well sene Where nowe he muste euer dwell and been In ioye eterne emonge the sayntes of heauen And there with Christ goddes sonne beleuen The C .xvi. Chapiter ¶ Kyng Ethelrede kyng of Englande reigned .xxxviii. yere and dyed in the yere of Christ a thousande and thirtene THen Ethilrede withouten tariyng At Kyng stone tho by all the baronage Crowned was fayre royally as kyng His brother was and heyre of heritage But saynt Dunstan then by his trewe language Prophecied and sayd withouten leas In all his tyme he should not reigne in peace ¶ For to this realme he sayd he had no right But by murther and cruell homycede Of your brother that for you was dight Whiche murther euer asketh vengauÌ„ce on euery syde Wherfore he said serue God what so betyde And then it is the fayrest chastisement To be put out fro that same regyment ¶ Saynt Dunstan died and went to heauen The kyng rode forth to London his citee And as he rode he sawe a cloude full euen As rede as bloodde as all the people did see Whiche Englande hole ouerspred in quantitee Fro whiche the bloodde reyned vpon the ground That men trouwed to haue ben peryshed that stound The next yere after the Danes at SouthhaÌ„pton Arryued and brent the countre there aboute Also they spoyled and sore brente the towne And so they dyd all Cornewayle throughout And Deuenshire also and somerset no doubte With Dorsetshire and Wylshyre Barkeshrye brent And to London came or euer that they stent The suburbes there they spoyled sore and brent Two dukes then of Denmarke and Norwaye Northfolke Southfolke Essex or they stent Brent and spoyled and so forth helde the waye To London then where theyr felowes laye So assembled they and passed into Kente Where that countre they spoyled sore and brent ¶ The lande of kent to them graunted truage To lyue in peace and home agayne they went But in Northfolke an other hoste their passage Made then and so to Lyncolne or they stent All Lyncolneshyre throughout then they brent And Yorkeshyre also and home they went againe With pylage great of which they were full faine ¶ The king might get no helpe with them to fight For which he treated with king Anlaaf of Norway And with king Swaan of Denmarke for his right That destroyed had the lande in fell araye And truage hight them furthwarde to paye For they had no power amongest theÌ„ to prayse And was full fayne the warres for to cease But yet kyng Swayne wold nothiÌ„g rest for this He came agayne and crowned was for kyng Greate tallage of all this lande a mysse He toke alwaye and specyally all other thyng Saynt EdmuÌ„des landes he hurt by great taskiÌ„g And tallage which of it that he raysed Vnegally he pondred then and peysed For whiche warrys quene Emme to Normandy To her brother duke Rycharde the thyrde With her sonnes Alurede and Edwarde her by And Edmunde Ironesyde then it so betyde All these the toke and in a shyppe she dyd And with kyng Ethelrede by the sea led pryuely For helpe to haue gotte his lande there by ¶ In whiche tyme whyls he in Normandye Was soâ—ournyng kyng Swayn full lowde then cryed And sayde vnto his men fast gan crye I am but deed saint Edmunde hath me spyed And with a speare hath me here mortifyed Wo worth that day I noied S. Edmundes ground For with his speare my hert he hath sore wounde ¶ He dyed ryght so without confessyon And whyther he went I ne wote ne whare But well I wote in good and true professyon Saynt Edmonde king dyed and made his fare To blysse eterne withoute any care But then the Barons and lordes of Englande Sent worde to Ethylrede with hym for to stande And wrote to him how that kyng Swayn was deed And bade hym come to his lande agayne And so he dyd by councell and theyr rede He exyled all the Danes
with greate disoayne And slewe them downe in batayle with great payne For whiche therle Edryk sent to kyng Knowte To Englande to come with hoost great and stout ¶ This ylke kyng knowte that sonne was to kyng Swain To England cam with host great power Whome Ethylrede then met and faught agayne In batayle stronge droue him home full clere With whome Edryk then fled as dyd apere Into Denmarke as a false traytoure vntrewe Purposyng so to come agayne all newe But kyng Ethelred in the meane tyme then dyed The yere of Chryste a thousande and thyrtene And reygned had as Colman notifyed Thyrtie and eyght in warre and intene Euer ne we and newe vexed as was sene His owne lande fled for drede of en myte Without socoure fro it he was fayne to flee ¶ Thus was he chastysed for his mothers gylt Accordyng well to holy trewe scrypture For cause that she his brother had slain spylt And lyke the wordes of saynt Dunstane full sure That sayde it was a punishyng full pure Oute of the realme to be dryuen and expelled In whiche by syn he had so hye excelled The C .xvii. Chapiter EDmond Ironeside goteÌ„ generate Of his first wife a dukes doughter of EnglaÌ„d After Ethelrede his father was ê“rogate Vnto the crowne of all this royall lande Men called hym so as I can vnderstande Where euer he rode armed was he ay Oppressours all to chastyce in his waye ¶ Kno wt of Denmarke assayled ofte this lande So in this tyme that euer he armed went To vse the feate of armes I vnderstande As to knyghthode full well it dyd appent Thus Colman sayth and Flores that he ment But syxe batayles agayne kyng Kno wt he smote With victorye as Flores hath it note ¶ But then to voyde the greate effusyon Of chrysten bloude they two together accorde To fyght them selfe for full conclusyon Within an yke of Seuerne by concorde Withouten warre or any more discorde And who so then myghte get the victorye Reioyse the realme and all the monarchye ¶ And at theyr daye and place so assygned They armed met with strokes knyghly set With speare and swerd eyther other so repugned With axe and dagger eyther on other bette Eyther of them tryste the ouerhande to gette But at laste kyng Kno wt to hym alayde These wordes there and thus to hym he sayde ¶ Wolde god Edmonde thou were so couetouse As I am nowe and as myne herte now wolde And in this case as glad and desyrous We shulde not longe this batayle thus holde And to our men great gladnesse manifolde Yf thou the halfe of Denmarke had with me And I the halfe of Englande had with the. With whiche they both the wepons fro theÌ„ caste And eyther other in armes gan them embrace That both theyr hostes amarueled were ful faste What it dyd meane to ceasse in so lytell space But when they knewe betwne them the case They kneled all and Chryste they laudifyed With herte deuoute the eche of them so victoryed ¶ Their realmes both they parted then in two By hole accorde betwene them so concorded And loued euer as brethren after so As chronycles haue well hole recorded Fro that tyme forth no more then they discorded This ysle where they faught hyght Clyues Of coÌ„mon langage as then it dyd them please ¶ But Edryk of Lyncolne euer vntrewe Reconsyled home by Edmonde was agayne By subtyll meane this good king Edmond slewe In pryde wyse without wounde or mayne But in what fourme I can not wryte nor sayne When he had reygned that tyme fully .iii. yere Buryed he was but where no man durste spere ¶ But in the yere of Chryste a thousande so He dyed awaye accompte and syxtene Vnknowen to his people and Lordes tho For whom they made great dole as theÌ„ was seen But neuerthelesse it myght no better bene This false Edryk so falsely it couered That openly it was not then discouered The C .xviii. Chapiter KYng Kno wt reigned in EnglaÌ„d theÌ„ anon And wedded had quene Eme of England Ethelrede wife which gate him loue anon In Englande of all the estates of the londe Of coÌ„mons also that were both fre and bonde On her he gate a sonne that harde Kno wt hight On his fyrste wyfe had Swayne Herold ryght ¶ He sent Edmonde and Edwarde that sonnes two Of EdmoÌ„d Ironeside to Swithen to kiÌ„g Kno wt To slee or lowse to kepe in pouerte so That they should neuer haue power in nor oute To claime England neyther with hoost ne route Whome he sent forth then into Hungry To the emperoure with letters worthely ¶ Besechyng hym to noryshe them and saue Declaryng hym whose sonnes that they were The whiche he dyd full worthy and gaue Vnto Edmonde his owne doughter dere Whiche Edmonde then dyed and she in fere Without chylde wherfore Agas his coosyn Doughter of Herry he gaue to Edwarde fyne ¶ Of whiche Edwarde called Edwarde thexylâ— Came Edgare then called Edgar Athelyng But Kno wt it let hym self then crounyng That to London to hold his Christmas With his houshold went then with greate solas ¶ Wher erle Edrik to kyng Kno wt hym coÌ„fessed That he had slain kyng Edmond Ironeside His owne leege lorde with cruell death impressed To gette his loue and with hym dwell and bide For vnlikely it was to goo or ride Twoo kynges together in Englande He saied was not accordyng in the land ¶ The kyng his woordes well herd and coÌ„ceiued And howe he asked a reward for his mede There made hym tell howe he his lorde disceiued Afore the lordes as he had dooen in deed The whiche boldely he did without dreed Hauyng no shame to aske a greate reward For whiche the kyng lordes gaue whole award ¶ To hang hym on the toure duryng his liue To he were dedde that all folke might hym se And his treson there openly to shriue And after that to hang there till he dye For whom then was emong the commons truily A greate biworde as many one that woundre roÌ„ne As did on therle Edryke of Strettoun ¶ The kyng went to Norway and it conquered And droue the kyng O 〈…〉 f out of that land And held it so by conquest of his swerd Full worthily he gouerned euery land To peace and lawe he kept theim as he faund And in his domes was rightwyse and stable And to the poore alway merciable ¶ Kyng Malcom of Scotland theÌ„ did homage To hym and furth became for euer his manne So did the kynges of Wales of hye parage And all the North West Occian For their kyngdonies and for their landes than And in his tyme moste he was redoubted Of all princes and in all londes loaued ¶ To Roome he rode in royall goodly wyse And there was with the bishop greately commed As Christen prince by papall whole aduise The cardynalles foure whiche the bishop had sed At Malburgate foure mile fro Roome extende With
that countre slewe doune right The kyng then made a lord that Awbryke hight Erle of that countre that durst not Scottes withstande Wherfore he gaue Robert Mowbray that lande ¶ And made hym erle of Northumberland The kyng then sent vnto euery shire Iustices to sitte throughout all the land Of all lordshipis and knightes fees enquere What temporales he had to knowe he had desire And what perteined vnto his royall croune And what the churche had of deuocion ¶ Vnto his soonne eldest then generate All Normandy he gaue in heritage And England whole to Wyllyam nominate His second soonne gaue with all thauauntage And to Henry his third soonne young of age Therldome gaue then of Gloucester sea With the honour of slede for euer in certente ¶ He dyed the yere a thousand four score and ten And of his reigne twenty yere and four tho At Cane buried in thabbey that hight then Sainct StepheÌ„s abbey by Cane that staÌ„deth so His doughter Ade afore had maried tho Vnto therle StepheÌ„ of Bloyes a prince of might Of warres wyse and a full manly knight The C .xxiij. Chapiter ¶ Wyllyam Rufus kyng of England reigned thirtene yere and began to reigne in the yere of our lorde a thousand four score and ten dyed that yere a thousand one hundred three HIs sooÌ„ne Wylliam Rufus as he deuised Was crouned then with great solempnitee But after soone duke Robert was auised To clayme England by his priorite And Normandy also as for his proprete As he that was his eldest soone and heire With hoste full greate in England game repeire ¶ And made greate warre vpon his brother so Three yere all out betwene theim so continued Till at last thei bothe betwene theim twoo Did condiscende as well to theim perteined With whole herte and will nothyng feined The iudgement of kyng Philip of Fraunce To vndergo and bide his ordinaunce ¶ In whiche meane while his brother erle HeÌ„ry The castels all belongyng to the croune As high constable of England properly Then seazed had in his possession As his office by good dereccion Asked of right and of good consuetude To kepe theim sure to the crounes excelsitude ¶ The kyng Philip by his auised parliament Gaue iudgement betwene the brethren twoo As kyng Wyllyam their father full ment All Normandy Robert should haue euer moo And Wyllyam England frendes should bee so And liue in peace without any clayme And either other releace and whole disclayme ¶ Th erle Henry of England then constable Deliuered all the castels and citees right To kyng Wyllyam his brother enheritable As he was bound and fully so had hight Duke Robert then his brother a worthy knight To England came to sport hym with his brother At whiche tyme either was glad of other The C .xxiiij. Chapiter ¶ Howe kyng Malcolyn of Scotland warred in England for his wife 's right pretendyng that she was right heire of England and afterward he did homage to kyng wyllyam Rufus for the realme of Scotland His Malcolin of ScotlaÌ„d greatly claimed T To haue England then by his wifes right Margarete suster of Edgar heire ê“clamed Of England whole that expelled was by might Of kyng Wyllyam conquerour by vnright So for his right the Northland he destroyed And home he went again nothyng annoyed ¶ But then the kyng and his brethren twoo To Scotland rode and wasted sore the land Till Malcolyne came and did his homage By letter wrytten and sealed I vnderstand Whiche Hardyng gaue in to kyng Henryes haÌ„d Without reward or any recompence Of mayne labour his costagis and expence ¶ The duke Robert went home to Normandy And kyng Malcolyne his soonne then Edward Warred again Northumberland in hie But erle Robert that kepyng had and ward Of NorthuÌ„berland with hym then faught full hard Byside Alnwike at Malcolyne well were slain There Malcolyne and Edward his sooÌ„ne certain ¶ WheÌ„ quene Margret so of that tidynges knewe She eate neuer meate for sorowe dyed anone At Dunfermelyn buryed as then was dewe But nowe she is there shryned in fleshe and bone Workyng miracles as sayeth many one Entombed faire and in the firetree translate Of whiche abbey nowe is she aduocate ¶ The Scottes then made Dunwalde so their kyng Malcolynes brother that to it had no right But DunkaÌ„ sonne of Malcolyne that knowyng With helpe of kyng Wyllyam and royall might Of Scotlande so droaue hym awaye to flight And crouned was as chronicles vnderstande And homage made to wyllyam for his lande ¶ Sone after kyng Dunkan of Scotland slayn By treason was and Dunwall restitute Vnto the croune of Scotlande then agayne Whome Edgare then by succoure and refute Of kyng Wyllyam droue out all destitute Of any helpe and crouned was in Scotlande To kyng Willyam did homage for his lande ¶ Of whose homage Iohn Hardyng gaue that letter Full clerely made written well and sealed The whiche also with other letters better That by reason maye not be repeled The whiche yf he would haue enbeseled The kyng Iames vnto his waryson A M. marke hym hight of his discrecion ¶ And in his tyme Roes that Richarde hight The kyng of Wales in battayl strong was slayn Besyde the castell of Brekenham then full right Fro whiche tyme forthe theyr kynges seazed full playn And princes called they were soth to sayn The kyng with hoste on Robert Monbraye rode Who with the kyng faught of his traytourhode ¶ And discomfite helde Bamburgh castell then And the kyng enduryng full .vii. yere Consentyng with the lordes that so began For to depose the kyng of his croune clere And duke Robert his brother with great power To croune and make the kyng of all Englande With Normandy to ioyse I vnderstande ¶ The kynge exiled Anselme of Cauntorbury Tharchebyshop that withstode his wronges Doen to the churche and to the prelacie To the commons also that theim belonges SeueÌ„tene tounes with also many churches amoÌ„ges And abbeys foure he wasted and confounde The newe forest in Hamshire for to founde ¶ He buylded the Newcastell vpon Tyne The Scottes to gaynstande and to defende And dwell therin the people to enclyne The towne to builde and walle as did append He gaue theim ground golde ful great to spend To buylde it well and wall it all aboute And fraunchised theim to paye a free rent out ¶ The rentes frutes to tharchbishop ê‘teinyng And to the byshoppes of Wynchester Sarum And also .ix. abbeys lyuelod conteynyng In his handes leazed and held all and some But for his workes buylynges held eche crome With whiche he made then westmynster hall And the castel of Newecastell withall ¶ That staÌ„deth on Tyne therin to dwel in warre Agayne the Scottes the countree to defende Whiche as men sayd was to hym mekill deer And more pleasyng then otherwyse dispende And muche people for it did hym coÌ„mende For cause he dyd the commen wealthe sustene Of marchers vnnumerable to mayntene The
C .xxv. Chapiter ¶ This kyng Willyam Rufus taxed so sore the commons that they'might not mayntene tilthe for whiche fell great derth and great myschiefe and moren of catel for defaute of food for whiche the commons wer glad of his death GReat tallage of England then was raysed In so ferforth that tilthe of land was leyd Of which sued mischiefe nothyng praysed For faute of food morayn of bestiall frayed And death of people for hunger sore arayed A kyng woteth not what harmeth housbandrye Housbande to pill and taxe outragiously ¶ To Godis dome haue no consyderacion Howe that this kyng on huntyng as he stoode Vnder a tree and as writynges maketh mencion Walter Tyrel at his game in that wood Shotyng at a dere of whiche he drewe no bloode But stroke the kyng vnto the dethes wounde That there anone he died vpon the ground ¶ At Wynchester then buried anone The date was then of his reygne .xiii. yere For whome the folke no sorowe made nor moone He hurte theim so with taxe and tallage here Of Christ a thousande an C. and three yere clere Whose death the folke in no wise did complayn Were they all therof bothe glad and fayn The C .xxvi. Chapiter ¶ Henry the first kyng of Englande and duke of Normandy◠reigned .xxxvi. yere and died in the yere of Christe a thousande C. and .xxxix. HEnry his brother that first was of that name was crouned thē with al that honour might be He recōsiled saynt Anselne that cam hame Who crouned Maude his wyfe full fayre free That doughter was full of benignitee To kyng Malcolyne saint Margarete that quene Of Scotlande whiche afore that tyme had been ¶ On whom he gate Willyam Richard Mold Whose goodnesse is yet spoken of full wide If she were fayre hir vertuous manyfolde Exceaded farre and vices she set aside Debates all that engendred were of pride She staunched hole with all beneuolence And visited sycke and poore with diligence ¶ The presoners also wemen eke with childe And in gesene lyuyng ay where aboute Clothes and meate and beddyng newe vnfiled Wyne also and ale she gaue without doubte Where she sawe nede in countrees al throughout These crosses all that yet bee moste royall In the hye wayes with gold she made theim all ¶ Kyng Edgare thē hir brother was of Scotlād That to kynge Henry then made homage The byshop of Duresme then toke on hande The duke Robert to gone in message To make hym clayme Englande his herytage The whiche he dyd anon withoute delaye As they accorded vpon a certayne daye ¶ But Anselne byshop of Caunturbury And also quene Maude then made them well accorde The kyng to paye thre M. marke yerely To duke Robert withoute more discorde And counsayled then the kyng as was recorde To loue the lordes that made the discencyon Betwyxte his brother and hym by conuencyon ¶ The kyng Henry warred Robert Estenuyle The eldest sonne of Roger Mountgomery And his brother that was so called that whyle And create Earle of Shrewysbury Who his castell of Arundell helde for thy And Shrewysbury also and the cytee With other mo castels in his countre ¶ Whiche to the kyng he yelde by conuencyon He and his brother to passe to Normandye With all theyr men without discencyon To theyr father Roger Mountgomerye That earle was there of Bolesmo manly The kyng went then to Caue and to Baxhous Helde them with force and herte full couetous Whiche towres Robert the duke of Normandy Asked of hym to haue delyueraunce And his money of thre thousand marke yerely Whiche he ought hym by the hole concordaunce Whiche he agayne sayde and stode at variaunce Wherfore they fell on warre and toke the felde With hostes greate full sore faught vnder shelde ¶ At Tenarthbray that is in Normandye Where Nigell then of Albany that hyght Toke duke Robert in batayll manfully And brought him bound vnto the kyng with might For which that kyng anone there made him knight And gaue hym landes that were forfet afore By Robert Stutuyle in Englande for euermore ¶ He gate also a castell besyeged longe Whiche he scalyd with noble polycie And to the kyng it gaue though it were wronge For whiche the kyng gaue hym anon in hye The landes all that forfet were only By Robert Monbray earle of Northumberland In his brothers tyme as I vnderstande ¶ The same Nygell that hyght Albanye A sonne had then whome the kyng Henry Roger Monbray dyd call euer after ay Thus Albany was chaunged morally Vnto Monbray for the lyuelod onely Whiche Monbray had afore of herytage These Monbrayes nowe rose fyrst of hye corage ¶ This kynge Henry then seazed Normandye And made his sonne Willyam duke of that lande And home came to Englande then in hye And in the yere of Chryste to vnderstande A thousande hole an C. and ten on hande His doughter Maude he maryed to Henry That Emperour was then of Romanye He put his brother duke Robert in straite warde And many other that were of his cognisaunce Where he released couenauntes and forwarde Afore wryten of his enherytaunce That betwene them myght make any dystaunce And founde hym euer in all royall estate By good auyse and councell ordynate ¶ Whiche duke ordred was so for he forsoke The realme of al the lande of Ierusalem When he was chose therto and nought it toke For couetyse to haue this Englyshe realme For he forsoke that fortune as men dyd deme Agayne goddes wyll and his hye ordynaunce For chosen he was by all chrysten creaunce ¶ For at wynnynge of Ierusalem Where prynces many kynges and dukes were He was the worthyest of any realme And bare hym beste in knyghtly dede of warre At all assautes moste knyghtly dyd hym beare The honoure all and fame he had euermore And chosen was there to be kynge therfore ¶ Men saide that God gaue hym suche punyshmēt His brother to put hym in greate myserye Vnto his death agayne his owne entente For he forsake Chrystes owne monarchye In whiche he was borne for man lyste to dye The chrysten fayth to mayntayne and encrease For couetyse his brother to discreace ¶ The yere of Chryste a thousande was ful cle◠And an hundreth also and therwithall eyghtene When good quene Maude was deed laide on be◠At Westminster buryed as well was sene For heuynesse of whiche the kyng I wene To Normandy then went vnto his sonne The duke William there with hym dyd wonn◠¶ The third yere after to England came agay◠The duke his sonne Willyam of Normandye His brother Rycharde also the sothe to sayne And earle Rycharde of Chester in company With many other lordes in shyppes them bye Vpon the sea were dreynt in greate distresse Of the whiche the kyng had then great heuinesse ¶ Which duke Williā had wed y◠doughter then Of Fowke Tailboys Earle of Angeou had bene With whome a C .lx. knyghtes with many men And
he came vnto his presence Anone he putte hym in sore prisone To tyme he had by his magnificence The castell of Lyncolne vnto his croune And putte hym then to fyne and greate raunsom So variaunt he was alwaye of hight Fro euē to morowe that no man trust hym might The fiftene yere of the same kyng Stephen Th erle Geffrey of Angeou decessid A noble prince as all menne did beleuen Henry his soonne of persone well encressed Of childishe wit also full relesed And of age he was then fiftene yere To Scotland came kyng Dauid to require ¶ Of his socour and of his supportacion England to gette that was his heritage Who made hym then full greate consolacion And with hym came without fee or wage With full assent of all his baronage Vnder baners kyng Dauid made hym knight Vpon the felde again kyng Stephen to fight ¶ But suche treaty was made and good accorde That kyng Stephen to Henry shoulde retourne As very heire without more discorde At his decesse to Henry whole retourne The croune of England without more soiourne Who died then after in his .xix. yere At Feuersham buried he was full clere ¶ Of Christes date was then a thousande yere And an hundreth fyftye and eyght also His wyfe and he there buried both in feer The whiche he found whyles he was lyuyng so And reigned here in muche trouble and wo And had this realme without any ryght For themprise Maude that fayre lady bright The C .xxix. Chapiter ¶ Henry fitz Emprice kyng of Englande and erle of Angeou duke of Normandye and Guyen by .xxxvi. yere and beganne to reygne the yere of oure Lorde a thousande a hundreth .lviii. and dyed the yere a thousande an hundreth and .xciiii. HEnry therle of Angeou was tho In this meane tyme had bē in Normādy And set his rule therin for frende or foo And crouned was at London worthely With all the lordes of his hye monarchie And made hym then theyr feautee and homage The prince of Wales also for his heritage ¶ He wedded then a lady fayre and bright Dame Alianor the dukes doughter of Guyen And heyre therof and lady by all right Possession had with all the profytes then And welbeloued was she with her men Deuorced fro the kyng Lewes of Fraunce That hyr had wed to wyfe of his puysaunce ¶ And on her gatte two doughters fayre gente But for sibrede and consanguinitee They were departed by papall iudgement On whome kyng Henry by Christes decree Gatte sonnes foure of great humanitee Henry Richarde Geffrey and Iohn also Elianor and Ihone his doughters two The C .xxx. Chapiter ¶ Howe Malcolyne the seconde kyng of Scottes made homage for Scotlande for therldome of huntyngdon IN this meane whyle kyng Dauid then so dyed To whō Malcolyn Hēryes sōne was heire Whiche Henry was erle notified Of Huntyngdon without any dispayre Of that erldome bothe good and fayre And sonne was to this noble kyng Dauy That wedded had erle Waldens doughter onely ¶ To enioye therldome by her enheritaunce That gat on her this Malcolyne that was kyng Of Scotlande nowe of mighty hye puysaunce That homage made for his enherityng Vnto Henry that then was of Englande kyng For all Scotlande and also for Huntyngdon Whiche seruices both were due vnto the croune The C .xxxi. Chapiter ¶ This kyng Henrye exiled Thomas becket byshop of Cauntorburye HE maried then his sonne the young Henry To the doughter of the kyng of Fraunce He exiled then Thomas of Cauntorbury Out of Englande and many of his aliaunce For cause of his rebellious gouernaunce And as he came fro Rome by Fraunce awaye With language fel he prayed the kyng that daye ¶ The poyntes to mende and so to Englād went For which the kyng was with hym sore displeased That then he sayd had I had men that ment Myne honeste I were not thus diseased With suche a clerke thus greued and vneased Therfore three knightes Raynold le Fitz Vrsy Hughe Moruyle hym slewe with Robert Tracy ¶ But kyng Malcolyne died that was full true Of his homage at Westchester ensealed To kyng Henry dooen so as it was due For it should not be gaynsayd ne counselled Nor afterwarde of Scottes be repeled To whiche Malcolyne Willyā his sonne heyre Was crouned kyng of Scotlande then full fayre The C .xxxii. Chapiter ¶ Howe kynge Wyllyam of Scotlande wente in to Normandye with kyng Henry of Englande the seconde as his liegeman THis kyng Wyllyam then rode with hoste full stronge The Northrē lād he brent sore distroyed By east and west of both Merches of Englande The lorde Vesty with it was anoyed The lorde Vnfreuyle with syckenesse so accloyed With power great at Alnwike with hym faught Wher he was takē in batayll sore and caught ¶ Whō to the kyng to Londō then thei brought Vnto kyng Henry with great honoure Then had the kyng tydynges he liked nought His sonne Henry by kyng Lewys socoure Besieged Roan with hoste great and rygoure For when the kyng to Normandy then went The kyng Wyllyam with hym his labour spent ¶ And Dauid also his brother with al his might That erle was then create of Huntyngdon And Robert ferers erle of Leycester so hight And Roger clare with theim of great renoume Of Gloucester that erle was in possession With other lordes and the siege sone remeued And his cytee of Roan full well rescued ¶ The siege and saute perdoned and forgeuen At the prayer of kyng Lewys of Fraunce Within fewe yeres in peace and rest to liuen He crowned his sonne without distaunce Kyng of Englande and gaue hym gouernaunce And at the feast of his coronacion He sewed afore hym for his consolacion The C .xxxiii. Chapiter ¶ This yonger Henry reigned but .iiii. yeres and died before his father wherfore he is not accompted as kynge because his father outlyued hym and reigned after his death ANd to hī said sōne thinke I do you honour A kynge to serue you thus nowe at youre meate He aunswered hym full vnthankefully that houre And sayd it was no reproue ne forfete An erls sonne to serue the kynges sonne at meate For whiche the father Henry to Irelande went Tyll young Henry the kyng was dead and spent Then came Henry and had the gouernement The father and kyng was then admytte agayn And reigned then and had the regiment And but .iiii. yere his sonne reygned soth to sayen Wherfore he is among kynges certeyne Not accoumpted by no chronicler For his father was kynge afore and after clere The C .xxxiiii. Chapiter ¶ Howe kyng Wyllyam of Scotlande made his homage to kyng Henry the seconde THe kyng Wyllyam at his daye assigned To Yorke came to do there his homage That made it then nothyng it repugned But for his due dette then for his heritage Of Scotlande whole by veraye due knowlage Of his barons and by his euydence Agayne it founde he then no
bare with Iueles full royall And clothes ryche that were well ordynaté For that ylke feste and state imperyall Fro South vnto the Septentrionall Where then none suche accompted of rychesse As there were then as wryten is expresse The C .xxxviii. Chapiter ¶ How kyng William of Scotland made homage for Scotlande and then after his coronacyon at Westmynster he went to Fraunce and so to Ierusalem by the assent of the Kynge Phylippe THe bishop of Duresme on his right hande The bishop also of Bathe on his left syde The kīg of Scottes Willyā for Scotlād Made hym homage and feaute leege that tyde Kyng Rychard then to Fraūce with muche pride Anone so yode tharchebishop Bawdewyne With hym then went worthy clerkes and fyne ¶ Sir Rauf Fulgence erle of Perche then also Robert Ferrers erle of Lecester then With erles fell and barons many moo Of all this land went many a worthy then Of England and Scotland many a manne Of Ireland Wales Guyan and Normandy Then with hym went in that voyage on hie ¶ The kyng Philip shippid his hoste at Iene The kyng Rychard tooke the sea at Marsile With all his hoste without other meene Within short tyme arriued vp in Cisile Wher he full faire receiued was that while By kyng Tancred soonne of Wyllyam Whiche Wyllyā wed his suster Iohan by name ¶ The kyng Rychard twoo Isles ther cōquered Byside Cisile to his suster theim gaue To hir lyuyng and bade hir not bee fered For he should se hir dower she should haue Longyng to the right that she should craue And at Meschyne kyng Rychard then did make A Bastell strong the Sarsyns for to wake ¶ And sailed furth to Cipres then hy sea Wher his mother hym mete with dame Barnage The kyng his doughter of Nauerne faire free Whom ther he wed in lawfull mariage At Lymosyn in his pilgremage A citee great full of all habundaunce Whiche by assaute he gate of his puysaunce ¶ The kyng Rychard rode then to Nichosie And gate the citee with force and might The citee also of Cheryn mightely Wher his doughter and heire he toke full right To Buffenet and Baffe that were full wight To Dendamour and Candor his citees He went anone with greate felicitees ¶ He gate theim all all the realme throughout And toke the kyng Isaak and hym slewe And wed his doughter vnto the kyng full stout Of Ierusalem whose wife was dedde then newe That Sibill hight that doughter was mēne knewe Of Almarike kyng of Ierusalem The brother of Geffrey of Angeou hir eme ¶ This kyng Rychard that realme of Cipris wāne To whome the lordes echeone did their homage And anone by sea with many a manne To Acres wher in that ilke voyage He toke a ship of high and greate auantage Of ablementes for warre and ordinaunce The whiche he had with hym in gouernaunce ¶ But fiftene Sarsyns there he dreyncte And twoo hundred he kept that ship to gnie To Acres then wher kyng Philip full feyn◠Had sieged long without remedie But kyng Rychard of Acres toke in hie The stronger syde and gaue it greate affraies Late and erly bothe by nightes and dayes ¶ He gate it sone with his greate ordinaunce And on the walles his baners full hie he sette The kynges armes he sette vp also of Fraunce And kyng Guyes armes of Ierusalem well bette The duke of Oistrich Lympold without lette Set vp his armes after aboue theim all Whiche kyng Rychard did cast doūe ouer that wall ¶ With wages greate and riches manifold He ryched his mēne rode throughoute all Surry The citees all and castelles that he would He gate with force and came again in hie To castell Pilgrym whiche kyng Philip pleinly Beseged had full long and went his waye Whiche Rychard beseged in greate araye ¶ To the whiche there was no waye but one full straite On a cawsey with dikes depe and wyde Strongly walled with towres on to wayte With many drawe bridges wher none might go ne ryde Strongly cheined with barris on eche side Whiche castell then he gate in dayes ten With battaill sore wher he sleugh many menne ¶ The cheynes of yrone he stroke vp with his axe Bothe at Acres and at castell Pilgrym And brent theim all as thei had been of waxe Cheynes barres with muche might that tyme The Sarasyns also he slewe with muche gryme The kyng Philip fell sicke and home would gone To Fraunce anone and toke his menne echeone ¶ Vnto the duke of Burgoyn theim to lede To bide for hym vpon the warres there And home so went to Fraunce without drede Wher then he made greate warre and muche dere In Normandy and Guyan fouly hym bere Against his othe and his greate assuraūce At their passage by couenaunt and concordaunce The C .xxxix. Chapiter ¶ Howe kyng Rychard sold the realme of Cipres to Statyn once an other tyme to the kyng Guy◠Lezinaunt to resorte to hym to his heires in de faute of issue of theim HE sold Cipresse to kyng Statyn of might An other tyme to Guy Lizenaūt full bold For great riches the resort again of right And for greate sommes of innumerable of gold His prisoners he raunsomed sore and sold But with his hoste full well he distribute All that he gate vnto their greate refute ¶ Ioppen he gate and it repaired newe He and the duke of Burgoyn full sore sought On the Soudan and felly did pursue To castell Assure fro whens he fled vnfought But kyng Rychard that of no perill rought Was hurt right ther with dartes venemous Fiue woundes sore mortall and perelous ¶ The droue hym then into Ierusalem And layed a sege about the citee rounde And kyng Rychard hard howe fro Egipt realme Came strong vitail and ryches in that stounde With full greate hoste the Christen to confounde By night he came and there theim discomfete With worship greate and farpassyng profite ¶ Gase he buylded full faire and Ascaloyn To the templers to whome afore thei longid He deliuered and made hym redy boun For to assayle the citee and haue fongid With might of menne laddirs full well hongid Engynes and gonnes greate stones for to cast Whiche to haue wonne thei were full like at last ¶ The Soudan out by night then stale awaye And Christen menne the citee gate anone And kyng Rychard with all the hoste his waye Toke to the Flum of Cedar on his foon He folowed fast with hoste as he might goon With the Soudan faught putte hym fro that feld And mightely fro hym he rest his sheeld The C .xl. Chapiter ¶ Howe the Soudā toke a trewce with kyng Rychard after he had putte hym to flight wonne his citee and castels in Surry Kyng Rychard gaue Ierusalem and that realme of Surry to his susters soonne Henry erle of Campanya with the heire Sibill to his wife and homewardwas takē prisoner in Oistrich but in his gift of Surrry 〈◊〉
feld ¶ And with the Soudan faught in bataill sore Discomfit hym and putte hym to the flight Wher Edward then was hurt and wouÌ„ded thore Of woundes fiue that mortall werre to sight His brother Edmond also wounded in that fight But as Edward in his bedde sicke then laye A Sarasyne came to hym vpon a daye ¶ To leche his hurtes with salues many one But false he was for with a knife full sore He strake hym foule as thei were then alone But yet that prince the knife fro hym gate thore And slewe hym then with it for euermore At Acres laye he then with woundes fele With medicyns to lech and to hele ¶ The lech so false was by the Soudan sent Hym to haue slain in any maner wyse For cause he had discomfite hym and shent And when he was all whole that he might ryse Message he had fro all the lordes wyse Of England then of his father dedde That praied hym home to come been their hede ¶ Kyng Henry had then made the minster faire Of Westminster as it is nowe at this daye The remnaunt he left vnto his heire To edifie and make in like araye Or els a some of money for to paye The whiche he graunted to the edificacion At his death then bequeth and assignacion ¶ Edward then toke a trewce for tenne yere With the Soudan and to Cisile saylid And landed at Rome wher theÌ„ he had good chere Bothe of the bishop and cardinalles not failed That sore had mourned and greately bewailed That curssed sore syr Guy Mountforte eche daye For the slaughter of Henry his cousyn gaye ¶ The sonne that was of Richarde themperoure Erle of Cornwayle whome at Veterbe he slewe Right in the churche for olde wrath and rancoure In Englande dooen his fathers death to renewe At masse knelyng horrybly hym all to hewe Fro Acres as he came as goddes knight Without cause of reason or of right ¶ But price Edward EdmouÌ„d his brother dere To Sauoye caÌ„ where iustes wer made tournameÌ„t And ther desired thei their knightes in fere With the duke of Sauoye and his there presente To iuste and proue eche other in good entente Theyr knightes younge to learne as dyd suffice In marcyall fete knighthode to exercyse ¶ Wher he foriust the duke full manly His brother also the dukes neuewe And bare hym downe both horse and man egerly And euery knight with other euer iusted newe Daye by daye whyles echeone other knewe By .xiiii. dayes enduryng and conteyned With feast solempne by the duke susteyned ¶ An hundreth ladyes of worthy good estate Were set on hye aboue within a tente By the duke of Sauoye well ordinate To geue the gree and thanke by iudgement Whiche then awarde playnely by hole assent To prince Edwarde erle Edmound his brother That had foriust the duke and many other ¶ The duke hym gaue gyftes of great honoure And to his brother gyftes of hye pleasaunce And to his knightes giftes of great valoure And conueyed hym into the lande of Fraunce Where of the kyng with worthy gouernaunce Receaued he was as prince full excellente And homage made to hym in good entente ¶ For his landes lyeng beyonde the sea The whiche was true as chronicles witnesse And home he came with great felicitee Of whose coÌ„myng the people had great gladnesse Hym to receaue in all kynde of worthynesse And of his brother Edmound also in feer They were full glad at all theyr hole power ¶ But kyng Henry was gone to God afore The yere of Christ a thousande hole accompted Two hundreth hole syxty and thirtene more On saynt Edmondes daye when he amounted This worlde leuyng full of trouble accompted Vnto the blysse of heauen for euer to reste Emong good soules where Christe so liked best The C .xlviii. Chapiter ¶ Howe kyng Edwarde of Englande the first after the conqueste called Edwarde with the longe shankes beganne to reigne on the morowe after saynt Edmondes daye that kyng in the yere a. M CC. and .lxxiii. died the yere M CCC and .vii. the eyght daye of Iulye and the .xxxiiii. yere of his reygne EDwarde his sonne heire first generate With all honour by all the baronage Crouned was in all royall estate And of thestates receyued hole homage Kyng Alexander for his heritage Of Scotlande hole and ysles apperteynyng His homage did right then vnto the kyng ¶ The duke also of Britayne made homage For Britayn hole and there became his man Whiche princes two had wed in mariage His susters two Margarete and Beatrice then Margarete to Scotland Beatrice to Britayne Both two maried and wed in hye estate By their father full wysely ordinate ¶ A marchaunt toke the wife of prince Lewlyn Erle Symonds doughter of Leycester that had ben And to the kyng hir brought full femenyn Wherfore the prince by heste as then was seen To be his man and homage did full clere And led his wyfe to Wales in good entent By the kynges grace and by hole assent ¶ The kyng then did great right and iustice Vpon clippers and peirers of the coyne And newe money made that then might suffice Of syluer plate made out of Boloyne The grote half grote all in newe coyne He coyned fast peny halfpeny and ferthyng For porayll to bye with theyr leuyng ¶ That same tyme he made a newe statute That no man should graunt lande ne tenement To the churche ne geue nor constitute No maner grounde nor no maner rente Without licence of the lorde and his assent Of whome it is holden aboue in chiefe And els that church this realme had put in mischiefe ¶ The prince Lewlyn and of Dauid his brother Made warre vpon the kyng in greate araye The Marche brent and many harmes other In Englande did wherfore the kyng his waye To Wales held in all the haste he maye The lorde Mortimer toke then the prince Lewlyn And to the kyng hym brought for to enclyne ¶ The kyng hym headed and to the toure it sent The Walshemen made Dauid his brother then Prince of Wales by theyr commen assent Wherfore the kyng to warre on theim began And of the Walshemen slewe full many a man And had Dauid vnto his presence brought Hanged and drawen as then he had it sought ¶ Then seazed he Wales for euer into his hande And ordeyned that no prince therin should be But he or els his heyre I vnderstande And that no man of Wales hole countre One night shulde lye in castell nor cytee But voyde out fro sunne to sunne theÌ„ euery night Thus kept he Wales his tyme by royall might The C .xlix. Chapiter ¶ Howe Gladowys Dewy the doughter of Dauyd prynce of Wales was wedded to syr Raufe Mortymer of whom came the Earles of Marche GWenlyan that doughter was of Lewlyne Without chylde dyed a vyrgyne aye In a â—onnery of the order of Gylbertyne And Gladowys Dewy Dauyds doughter gaye Yonge freshe and lusty
as the rose in Maye To Raufe was wed that was lorde Mortymer Of whome that earles of Marche become full clere ¶ Then went the kyng and quene to Gascâ—yne And Gwyan to set that lande in pees And so forth then he went to Aragon To sporte them with theyr father there no lees To Gwyan then agayne for his encrees He came anone and set in peace that lande And so came agayne to Englande The C .l. Chapiter ¶ Howe the kyng dyd atteynt his Iustices and sette enquery of peace breakers ryouters oppressours extorcyoners and of the vsurye of Iewes HIs Iustyces all by lawe he dyd attaynt For wrong domes false iudgement For couetyse that false were then faynt To helpe the poore coÌ„mons to theyr entent He set Iustyces in heyre by all assent That called was that tyme Troilebaston For to enquere of all extorcyon ¶ Of Ryouters fyghters and baratours Of market beters that raysed greate debates Of peace breakers and all the susteynours That were with theim of preuy assocyates Of oppressours of all the pore estates And all that were then founde culpable Emprysoned were or by theyr pursse excusable ¶ Of Iewes within this lande that was abidyng Great plaintes were made of Okoure and vsury Howe they dyd waste the folke by suche winning And preuy bondes made without measure In payne of double or elles forfeture The king theÌ„ voided for whiche that church a disme Hym graunted so dyd the coÌ„mons a quindecyme ¶ Rys Ap Madoke a warre in Wales gan take Agayne the kyng that great warres had sustened And prynce hym called of Wales without make Who then at Yorke by lawe full wel mainteyned On galous hye as to hym well apperteyned Was drawen and hanged his hed vpon the towre was set anon as rebell and traytoure The C .li. Chapiter ¶ Howe Edmonde Earle of Lancaster and of Leycester kept Gwyan and wed quene Blaunche of Nauerne the kynges syster of Fraunce and therfore he bare the labell in his armes for dyfference fro the kynges of Englonde euer after KYng Edward sent his brother theÌ„ ful dere To kepe GuyaÌ„ and with him stroÌ„g chiualry Who gouerned there that land without pere To hye honoure as made is memorye In Fraunce sore dred amonge the aduersarye And other landes lyeng there all aboute Aboue all men he was there moste bedoute For euer he put them to the worse in felde In armes ay he had the victorye And in Parys at Iustes vnder shelde Far passyng was and dyd ay notably That for his manhode and famous chyualrye In so ferforth that all landes hym commende For his manhode whiche so in hym they kende ¶ He wed dame Blaunche of Nauerne that was quene King Philip sister that was ful good faire Of whome he gate Thomas of LaÌ„caster I wene And Henry his brother that afterwarde was heire And earles both they were without dispayre Of Lancaster and also of Leycestre As Flores hath expressed well by lettre ¶ For whiche weddyng and noble alyance He and his heyres bare for a difference Englande armes with labell hole of Fraunce By whiche all men maye haue intellygence That Edmonde was yonger in existence Then kyng Edward though some say that coÌ„trary And from the truth yet haue they wyll to vary The C .lii. Chapiter ¶ Howe the fyue portes toke the nauy of Fraunce on the seâ— in batell THe kyng of FrauÌ„ce a nauy great then seÌ„â— Vpon Englande to warre in great aray Which that .v. portes toke on the sea shent And people greate there slewe dreynt that daye Theyr shyppes all by batayl and affraye Were take and brought then into Englande With capitaynes many and lordes of that lande ¶ Kyng Philyp then at Parys in parlyament Somonde Edwarde afore hym to appere Surmittyng hym of robbery felonoment Vpon his flete so done by tymes sere For faute of aunswere foreiuged hym there Destroyed his land in eche place where he might But kyng Edwarde then went to Fraunce ryght ¶ And gate agayne his landes euerychone And sought ay where vpon the kyng of FrauÌ„ce But he fled euer and batayle wolde geue none Sone after so Philyp by ordynaunce A trewce toke by good ordynaunce For all his landes beyonde the sea To set in peace with all tranquilyte The C .liii. Chapiter ¶ Howe Morgan and Madoke his brother were sette in the towre for rebellyon in Wales made by comforte of kynge Phylip of Fraunce IN Wales Morgan made war great distaunce And Madoke also his brother ful vntrew For whiche the kyng with all his ordenauÌ„ce To Wales went faught with them all newe At straytes great whiche tho traytours knewe Yet were they take and put in sore pryson Within the towre for theyr rebellyon ¶ The kyng Philyp had sent then golde to waâ— On England then with sir Thomas Turbiruile Who was espyed by sotell meanes afferre And heded was anon for all his guyle His wyt not holpe hym then ne yet his wyle He dyed with shame repreef and vilany Engendred all of mede and surquedrye The C .liiii. Chapiter ¶ Howe Earle Edmonde was Leuetenaunt of Guyan and warred vpon the kyng of Fraunce and defyed hym by letter for he brake the promyse made to Edwarde his brother kynge of Englande SIr EdmoÌ„d erle of Lancaster theÌ„ ful trewe LeuetenauÌ„t then of Guian all throughout On whom that king Philip then rode al new And brake the trewce with hostes great and stout Wherfore he went to hym without doubte To se howe that it myght be well defende He bade hym thus set to his knee and amende ¶ Wherfore in ire he gaue hym vp homage The whiche he ought for his lande that he helde And aunswered hym agayne of great corage From hens forwarde I shall you holde the felde And at my power eche daye vnder shelde Proue howe ye do vnto my lorde greate wronge The whiche I shall amende or it be longe And so departed withoute more langage And into Guyan came with all his myght And to his brother wrote made hym knowlage And bade hym come with power for to fyght With spere and bowe for other writ of ryght Maye not be got within the courte of Fraunce For to recouer his hye enherytaunce ¶ Eche day theÌ„ce forth with baÌ„ners hole displeyed He helde the felde and kyng Philyp warred And leters sent hym defyals and vmbrayde Of hys suraunce and othe that he had erred And castelles gate fâ—ll many not differred Kyng Edward sent his brother then suppowaile The Frenche partye to warre and assayle The C .lv. Chapiter ¶ Howe syr Roger Mortymer was made Earle of Marche at Kyllyngworthe and set the rounde table of a thousande knyghtes and as many ladyes ANd in the yere a. M. was full then Two hundreth also syxty and nyntene When syr Roger Mortymer so began At Kelyngworth the rounde table as was sene Of a thousande knyghtes for disciplyne Of yonge men after he coulde deuyse Of turnementes and iustes to
exercyse ¶ A thousande ladyes excellynge in beaute He had there also in tentes hye aboue The iustes that they myght well clerely se Who iusted best there for theyr lady loue For whose beautie it should the knyghtes moue In armes so etchone other to reuie To geate a fame in playe of chiualrie ¶ This Mortimer was then lord Mortimer But in these iustes he held great feastes eche daye By fourty dayes conteined whole and clere At whiche one part of ladyes faire and gaye Gaue hym the price of fame of all that playe Wherfore the kyng to encrese his estate Proclamed hym erle of Marche there create The C .lvi. Chapiter ¶ Howe Edmond erle of Lancaster and of Leicester faught at Bayon with the power of Fraunce and was slain there sir Wyllyam Valence erle of Pē broke was dedde ther and many other lordes in the yere a thousand twoo hundred four score sixtene BVt erle Edmond the kynges brother dere With twenty sixe baners proud stout The fifth daye of Iune was accompted clere Of Christ his date a thousand yere all out Four score and sixtene with out doubt At Bayon faught with the Frēchemenne certain Wher he in that feld that daye like a knight was slaine ¶ Sir Williā Valence erle of Pēbroke was thē Sir Iohn Rychmond and many other baron Sir Iohn saynct Iohn right a full manly māne Thenglishe hoste felly ther was bore doune By a busshement laied by colucion That brake on theim sore fighting in the feld Out of a wode in whiche that daye were beld The C .lvii. Chapiter WHen Iohn of Gaunt that sone of king Edwarde For cause his brother that duke was of Clarēce None yssue male had then that menne of herd But female by all intelligence When kyng Rychard in his greate excellence None yssue had he would haue been his heire Apparaunt then by act in perlyament feire ¶ The whiche Thomas Wodstok duke of Gloucester And all nobles of England ther present Proclaymed then by wrytyng and by letter Howe that therle of Marche then in perlyament Vnto the kyng was then heire apparaunt Wher duke Iohn in diuers places made Feined chronicles that shewed were full brade ¶ Howe this Edmond thelder soonne of kyng Henry Broke backed and bowbacked bore Was vnabled to haue the monarche And Edward so the younger kyng therfore Shuche chronicles then he feined full sore And putte in place of diuers religion To make his soonne right heire of this region ¶ But when kyng Henry this chronicle shewed It was defect and clerely sette at nought And vnderfoote cast doune and eke stroyed The contrarie by chronicles truly wrought Was proued trewe and then his title he sought By resignement and renunciacion By depoisale and playne coronacion ¶ It is not true that croke backed he hight For valyaunt he was in all his doynges And personable with all to euery mannes sight Although false chronicles haue other saiynges Kyng Alexander of Scotland then dyed That wedded had the kynges suster Margarete And Alexander his sonne beyng in thesame stede Who with Margatete his wife on the sea perished The C .lviii. Chapiter ¶ How Florēce erle of Holād his persuers boūd hym to vide the iudgement of the kyng Edward if he should be kyng of Scotlād FLorence therle of Holand his compeers That claimed then the croune of Scotlād After the death of Margaret as pursuers Came to kyng Edward then of England Requeryng hym in God his name all weldand As he that was of Scotland souereigne lord To trye the right and sette theim in accorde ¶ For whiche he sette at Norham a parliament After Easter then next folowyng In the kirke of Norham to that entent That all Scottes and other that were pursuyng Might ther appere their titles claymyng At whiche parliament the pursuantes theim bond At his decree and iudgement to stond ¶ By one letter with all their seales ensealed Whiche doublid was thei gaue vnto the kyng The other part for it should not be repeled Thei kept with theim selfes alwaye abydyng Which lettre Iohn Hardyng maker of this boke To kyng Hēry delyuered that gaue hym in recōpēce The manoure of Gedyngtō w e all that appurtenēce ¶ For whiche manoure then the cardinall Of Wynchester vnto the quene disposid In hir dower and fro hym toke it all When that the kyng by death was deposid Hym recompence he promised and composid But nought he had but might that prīce haue lyued He durst full eiuill his excellence haue greued ¶ An other letter duble in like wyse The saied heires deliuered to the kyng That other part as shuld of right suffice Semblably with theim was remainyng By whiche thei bound theim self by their sealyng Hym to delyuer the kyng his castels all To kepe to tyme his iudgement were byfall ¶ Of whiche iudgement without possession Of castell strong throughout ther all the lande He might not well dooen execucion Wherfore the heires to hym so their theim bound Whiche letter also Iohn Hardyng toke on hand And did deliuer so then at Boys Vincent For the saied reward together by one entent The C .lix. Chapiter ¶ Howe kyng Edward made sir Iohn Balyoll kyng of Scotland AND in the yere of Christ his incarnacion A thousād whole two hūdred four scoure And therto three by verye computacion At the feast of sainct Michael set afore The kyng Edward to Scotland came therfore Wher twenty then chosen were of England And other twenty persones also of Scotland ¶ By whose aduyse all other rightes excl ude The kyng iudged to Iohn Bailyol the croune That was discent as clearely was conclude Of theldest doughter of Dauid of Huntyngdon As chronicles make therof good mencion Margarete wedded to Aleyne of Galawaye Whose doughter was kyng Iohns mother that day ¶ That Dernegull hight and was Iohn Bailiols wyfe Whose sonne heire kyng Iohn was thē cround That Bailioll hight that knowen was full ryfe In that mynster of Skone within Scotland groūd Syttyng vpon the regall stone full sound As all the kynges there vsed had afore On saynt Andrewes daye with all ioye therfore ¶ At Christmas nexte after the same kyng Iohn To Newcastell to kyng Edwarde came His homage made and feautee leege anone Of his free wyll without any blame And with greate ioye agayn retourned hame But then that Scottes chose theim .xii. lords by assēt To rule the kynge Iohn by their entent The C .lx. Chapiter ¶ Howe kyng Iohn of Scotlande made confederacye with Fraunce agayn Englande WHiche made him then to make confederacy With kyng Philip of Fraunce and aliaūce Perpetually to be contributorie Ether with other by strong great assuraunce Englande to warre with al theyr hole puyssaunce The kyng Edwarde seynge this hye falshede To Barwike came with hoste and great māhede ¶ At the nonnes of Barwyke then he laye And layde a siege about on euery syde At after Easter but flemynges then that daye
to whom they did homage ¶ Syr Iames Douglas erle Patrike Dūbare With all theyr helpe at the Candilmasse On Edwarde roase the Bailiol or he were ware And slewe all that they found doutlesse That fayn he was to Englande to flee helpelesse At Marche after he entred then Scotlande With thesame lordes then of the north lande ¶ On both sydes they rode and fast destroyed And to Berwike Edwarde Bailol came And sieged it and felly was annoyed To whiche Edwarde of Englonde with great fame Came with his hoost and laye there at thesame The Douglas then and Dunbare with power Northumberlande all through brent full clere The C .lxxix. Chapiter ¶ Of the battayle of Halidon hill and howe Edwarde Bayliol did homage leege to kyng Edwarde of Englande TO Halydon hill they came with their prayes Barwike castell and towne so to rescue Wher to oure hoste ful oft they made frayes Both day euen and morowes or day dewe But then the kyng of Englande to hym drewe The kyng also of Scotland with his might Full sore that daye in batayll did they fight ¶ Where Edwardes two had al the victorye The royaltes of all Scotlande there wer slayn Thyrty thousande with theim liggand by Of men of armes and archers dead certayn Then in the yere next after soth to sayn At newcastell Edwarde kyng of Scotlande His homage did to the kyng of Englande ¶ For whiche that cōmons of Scotlād on hym rose And slewe his men that he into Englande came And gatte an hoste and rode vpon his fooes Through Anand through Kylay Conyngham Carrike and Glascowe slewe al that he foūd at hame The kyng Edwarde of England with power Through Lowthian so did to Stryuelyn clere ¶ And both met there with great gladnesse And home they came destroiyng all the waye Another yere in Iule for to redresse Scotlande agayn with hostes they gan a fraye At saynt Iohns towne they met in great araye And ther they made therle of Athelis regent Whome the commons felly slewe and shent ¶ Kyng Edwarde sent after in another yere In Maye Henry Lancastre a noble knight To Scotlande with an hoste of good power And afterwarde he came with mekill might To saynt Iohns towne on the monthes right Through Murrey to Elgyne Giluernes Rosse Throughout mounteynes woddes myre mosse ¶ Kyng Edwarde then came home into Englāde And proclaymed his sonne Edwarde nominate The prince of Wales thens forth I vnderstande Henry Lancastre the younger he create Erle of Derby to beare the hole estate Wyllyam Mountague erle of Salisbury Of Northampton Wyllyam Bowne full manly ¶ Of Gloucester he made Hugh of Awdely Of Suffolke then he made Robert Hufforth Of Huntyngdon Wyllyam Clinton gay Whiche erles the kyng toke with hym forth With many a worthy knyght bothe of south and north And with the quene so vnto Andwarpe And there abode by all the wynter sharpe ¶ With great people and worthy chyualrye Agayn the kyng of Fraunce to clayme his right And wrote his title vnto that Romishe bishop on hie The duke of Barre and other lordes of might The quenes frendes then socoure had hym hight Where then the quene of hyr sonne Lionell Delyuered was as chronicles do tell ¶ He cherished then Flaundres that they forsoke Theyr naturall lorde and swore feautee To hym and his theyr power they betoke To byde and dwell vnder his souerayntee Because they sawe in hym suche humanitee He chaunged his armes in banners and penons And in his seale quartred of both regions ¶ And in the yere then of his reygne thyrtene His armes chaunged and called kyng of Fraūce He rode in Fraunce on warre as then was seen A thousande tounes he brent by his puysaunce The kyng of Fraunce without variaunce Sent hym worde that he wold with hym fight But at the poynt he did not as he hight ¶ For at that tyme in sonder they were a myle He fled awaye kyng Edward held the felde Two dayes after he sued and Vmfreuile Of hym had sight and then he founde his sheld By whiche he knewe his couenaunt he not held Wherfore the kyng to Brabant went agayn The dukes three of Barre Earle and Brabayn ¶ The parliamēt thē at Westmynster was hold Wher they graūted hym the .ix. lābe flees shaue Of the commons but the churche nomore wold Hym graunt but one dysme of theim to haue For which he graūted generall perdone and gaue The .ix. lambe slees shaue graunt was two yere To helpe the kyng his right to conquere The C .lxxx. Chapiter 〈◊〉 ¶ Howe kynge Edwarde smote the battayle on the sea at Sluse besyde Brydges howe the kyng firste rode into Fraunce and quartred his armes with the armes of Fraunce and sent to kyng Philip to trye the ryght betwene theim two ANd in his yere next after then fourtene At Sluse that kīg faught with the Frēch nauy Fro noone to eue to the morowe as was seen Where all wer drouned slayn myghtely And kyng Edward to Fraunce went hastely With hoste full great destroied the lande brent The cytee of Turnais besieged and shente ¶ Then wrote he to the kyng Philip of Fraunce Not namyng hym kyng of that lande But to Philip of Valoys for greuaunce Willyng alone they two to take on hande To fyght for the cause and for to stande Who hath the better for euer to holde Fraunce Withoute warre or any more dystaunce ¶ Or elles they two eyther with an C. knyghtes And yf these wayes please hym not to excepte Come with his hoste all his strongest wyghtes To the cytee of Tournay none excepte At a certayne daye iustly to be kepte And who the felde maye get brooke well Fraunce Withoute more stryfe or any varyaunce ¶ The kyng then wrote vnto kyng Edwarde agayne That he wolde not for the letters fight Whiche touche not kyng Philyp in certayne But Philyp Valoys as sheweth well to syght To whiche he wolde set neyther daye ne highte But when he thought it were for his honoure He shulde hym chase awaye without socoure ¶ Out of his land which wrongfully he sheweth Agayne his fayth feautye made and homage To his auncesters by letter as it sheweth Vnder his seale of hole and good knowlage For Guyan and his other herytage And fro Turnace into Brabane agayne The kyng Edwarde in wynter dyd remayne ¶ To byde the byshoppes rule and disposicyon Of good accorde for then two cardynalles To take a trewce by good prouisyon Duryng two yere betwene them generals And all theyr frendes that were princypalles Then came the kyng to Edwarde into Englande His offycers newe made I vnderstande ¶ To the trewce then taken at Maltrete The dukes two of Burgoyne and Burbone In the kynges soule of Fraunce swore and hete Truly to kepe for frendes or for foone And duke Henry of Lancaster sad as stone Willyam Bowne Earle of Northhampton And Willyam Mountague full hye of renoune
¶ Earle of Salisbury in kyng Edwardes soule there In lyke maner were sworne and biheste The .xix. daye then of Ianyuere The yere of Christ a. M. then was seste Thre hundreth and two and fourty at leest When these trues were taken so and sealed For afterwarde they shulde not be repeled The C .lxxxi. Chapiter ¶ Howe Henry duke of Lancaster went to Guyan in that yere of Christe a thousande thre hundreth .xlv. And of the batayle of Cressy in the yere of Christe a thousand thre hundeeth fourtye and syxe ANd then Henry duke of Lancaster create Went to Guyen with many bolde baron Where then he gate the cytees of estate And castelles fele many a walled towne And made the lande Englyshe both vp doune And to the kyng Edwarde obeied as they ought And great worshyp and ryches there he caught ¶ And in the yere a thousande and CCC gone Syxe and fourtye kyng Edwarde at Cressy Met with Philyp of Valoyes there anone That kyng of Fraunce was by intrusery At whiche batayle Edwarde had the victorye And with honoure and myght there gate that felde And Philyp fled and caste there doune his shelde ¶ And his eldest sonne with hym went awaye With an hundreth banners in her company The kynges of Beme were slayne that daye And of Maliogres there full manfully The dukes of Alaunson also theim by And of Loreyn slayne were in batayle And earles fyue without any fayle ¶ Of Flaunders Bloys Harcourt Melayne Of gentyls and other without any Essayne And of Guntpre were there in batayle slayne Fyue score thousande the twenty daye certayne And syxe also of Auguste accompted playne The kyng Edwarde had all the victorye The kyng Philyp had all the vilanye ¶ The king Dauid theu of Scotland with power To Duresme brent where on saynt Lukes daye The archbyshop with his clergye clere And syr Gylbert Vnifreuyle in good araye The Lorde Percy the Neuyle then laye With all the north a lytell frome Duresme Wher then they faught on that king Dauid came ¶ And take he was that yere of Christe was then A thousande full thre hundreth fourty and syxe Full sore wounded full lyke he was a man And also of his lordes mo then fyue or syxe Brought to London priuely through Essex For lordes shulde not hym take with greate power From Iohn of Coupland that was his taker clere ¶ And in the towre of London then kept in warde To tyme the king were come home out of Fraūce That then in Fraunce mo castelles to regarde And townes walled goten by his hye puissaunce Then had the kyng Philip in gouernaunce And lyke was then all Fraūce to haue conquerde With his alies he made that lande afferde The C .lxxxii. Chapiter ¶ Of the greate pestylence in the yere of Chryste a thousand thre hundreth fortye and nyne and the yere nexte after the kynge wente vnto Fraunce and the prynce of Wales vnto Guyan ANd in the yere of Christ clerly accompted A thousande hole thre C. fourty nyne The pestilence was in England amoūted That kyng Edward newe warre ganne ymagine The nexte yere after agayne Fraunce fyne Thether he went prince Edward then went With greate power to Guien as Regent ¶ The kyng then put his sonnes yonge of age In Fraunce then forth in mighty gouernaunce Syr Lyonell Earle of Vlster in wage Regent of Fraunce hym made by ordynaunce Syr Iohn of Gaunt to haue hole attendaunce Of all the hoste as hye and greate constable To whiche he was accompte that tyme full able ¶ Sir Edmonde Langeley full of gentylnesse Sir Thomas Woodstok full of corage To their banners them put for worthynesse To haue rule in that worthy viage Whiche prynces fyue approued in yonge age There was no king christen had such sonnes fiue Of lyklynesse and persones that tyme on lyue ¶ So hye and large they were of all stature The leste of them was of persone able To haue foughten with any creature Singler batayle in actes marcyable The byshops wit me thinketh was cōmendable So wel coulde chese the princesse that them bare For by practyse he knewe it or by lare The C .lxxxiii. Chapiter ¶ Howe the kynge of Fraunce was taken prysoner at the batayle of Poyters the yere of Christe a thousande thre hundreth fyftye and syxe IN the yere of Christe a M accōpted right Thre hundreth and syxe and fyfty mo The prince Edward at Poytexs sore dyd fyght The .xix. day of September was tho Where kyng Iohn of Fraunce his sonne also He toke and had the felde with victorye His eldst sonne then fledde fro hym cowardly ¶ The kyng Dauyd died and lette his hostage For his raunsome lygge ay forth in Englande The yere a thousande CCC by knowlage Eyght and fyftye as I can vnderstande And payde not yet ne quyt not out his bonde Ne his hostage he wolde not so displease To delyuer ne putte theim fro their ease ¶ The quene Isabell the quene of Scotlande Her doughter was and kyng Dauyds wyfe Sone after dyed and buryed I vnderstande At the graye Freres in lande knewen full ryfe The whiche that quene Isabell founded in their lyfe Full fayre entombed wrought full rychely Where the two Quenes reste full honorably The C .lxxxiiii. Chapiter ¶ Of the seconde pestylence and the greate wynde and earthquake the yere a thousande CCC lxi ANd in the yere of Christ a. M. wryten Thre hundreth also syxtye and one The .ii. pestylence reigned as was weten Duke Henry dyed for whome was mekyll mone Dame Blaunche his doughter full faire of fleshe and bone His heire was then whom Iohn of Gaūt did wed The duchy by hir had men saied he had well sped ¶ In that same yere was on sainct Maurys day The greate winde and earth quake meruelous That greately gan the people all affraye So dredfull was it then and perelous Specially the wind was so boistous The stone walles steples houses and trees Were blow doune in diuerse ferre coūtrees ¶ And in the yere a thousand three hundred also Sixty and foure kyng Iohn of Fraunce dyed In London then in Sauoy had been sicke The dukes palice of Lancastre edified Full royally as it is notified His boweles buryed at Poules with royaltee His corps in Fraunce with all solempnitee ¶ In that same yere sir Iohn Moūtfort of newe Duke of Brytain was by heritage As heire male his title was act trewe At Orrers faught again the Frenche linage Sir Charles de Bloys that clauned by mariage The duchy whole of Brytain by the might Of his wise wher he was slain by might ¶ Duke Iohn of Gaunt was at that battaile Sir Edmond also of Langley his brother dere Sir Iohn Chaundos treated without faill All daye and faught at eue through his aūswere Whiche treaty is yet oft remembred here For Chaūdos trewce that treted all daye to night And made bothe parties at eue together fight ¶ At whiche battaill duke
Iohn of Gaūt in dede And his brother Edmond then faught full sore Were neuer twoo better knightes thē thei in dede That better faught vpon a feld afore It was but grace that thei escaped thore Thei putte theim selfes so ferfurth ay in prces That wounded wer thei bothe full sore no lees The C .lxxxv. Chapiter ¶ Howe prince Edward of Wales wedded dame Iohā doughter of Edmond Wodstoke erle of Kent he of that third degree and she of the second THese brethrē twoo with their Englishe power Set Iohn Moūtfort ī his whole ducherie With great honour manhode all in fere Erle Iohn of Kent dedde was afore sothely Erle Edmōdes soōne to whom dame Iohā truly His sister was heire whome therle Mountague Of Salisbury had wed of maiden newe ¶ And hir forsoke after repudiate Whom his styward sir Thomas Holand wed And gate on hir Thomas erle of Kent late And Iohn Holand hir other soonne she hed Thomas their father dyed of sickenes bested The prince hir vowid vnto a knight of his She saied she would none but hym self I wis ¶ For hir beaute all onely he hir tooke And wed hir so and to Guyan went The yere was then a thousand who so loke Three hundred also sixty and fiue extent Rychard his soonne whiles he was there regent In Burdaur borne was thē with great gladnes Supposyng then of hym greate worthynes ¶ The kyng Peter of Castell and Lyon To Burdeaux came ther prince Edward beheld To gette again his worthy region Fro whiche his brother bastard with full strong beeld Had putte hym out thought it for to weeld For whiche the prince with all his hole power Rode into Spain to helpe hym to conquer ¶ Wher thē he faught against the bastard strōg The third daye of Aprill accompted then In battaill sore ferfoughten ther full long In whiche were slain full many a Spanish māne The basterd fled the prince the feld there wan And sette the kyng Peter in his region In peace and rest without rebellion The C .lxxxvi. Chapiter ¶ Howe the lordes of Italy sent ambassiate to kyng Edward for sir Leonell of Andwarp to make hym kyng of Italy who was create erle of Vister by his wife doughter heire to Rychard erle of Vister of whom he gate dame Philip wedded to Edmond Mortimer erle of Marche whiche erle of Marche gate Roger erle of Marche and my lady Percy THe duke of Milayn that hight sir Bernabo The lord Mātowe the marques Ferrar The lord of Mountpollestrme then also The lordes of Iene of Pyse that then were The lordes of Venis and Florence there To kyng Edward sent ambassiate By commen assent of papall senate ¶ For Lionell his soonne with theim to send The duke his doughter of Melayn for to wed Promisyng hym then hym so to recommend That of Itale the rule sholde all be led By hym and his frendes of Italye bred And in short tyme to ioye and bere the croune Of all Italye the royal region ¶ His wife was dedde and at Clare was buried And none heire he had but his doughter faire Philp that hight as chronicles specified Whom quene Philip Christened for his heire Tharchbishop of Yorke for his compeire Hir godmother also of Warwyk the countesse A lady was of all greate worthynes ¶ The kyng his soonne sir Leonell create Duke of Clarence and to Melayn hym sent With chiualrie of fame well ordinate And squyers freshe galaunt and sufficient With officers and yomen as appent And with hym went that greate ambassiate At his costage to Melayn consociate The C .lxxxvii. Chapiter ¶ Howe sir Leonell when his wife Elionor was dedde was create duke of Clarence and weddid the dukes doughter of Melayn in Lumbardy and dyed ther had no childe with her and some saye he is buried there and some saye his boones were brought home and buried at Clare in Essex but in trouth of Clare he had his name and honoure of duke of Clarence for Clare is called Clarencia in Latyne and also Clarence in Frenche THis duke royall of Clarence excellent At Melayne wedded was thē in royal wise With that lady fayre and beneuolent Full royally as to suche a prince shuld suffice And all the rule he had by councell wyse Fro mount Godard vnto the citee of Florence And well beloued was for his sapience ¶ In citees all he helde well vnitees Greate iustes ay and ioyus tournementes Of lordes knightes he made great assemblees Through all the lande by his wyse regimentes They purposed hole by theyr commen assentes To croune hym kyng of all great Italie Within halfe a yere for his good gouernaly ¶ In all the world was then no prince hym like Of hie stature and of all semelynesse Aboue all men within his hole kyngrike By the shulders he might be seen doutlesse As a mayde in halle of gentilnesse And in all other places sonne to rethorike And in the felde a Lyon marmorike ¶ In whiche meane tyme his iustes his excesse His great riot and wynes delicacie His ghoste exiled out of his corps doutlesse Afore the daye set of his regence For whom was made great mone through Italie Some sayen he is buried at Melayn And other some saye at Clare certayn ¶ But chyldren had he noone but Philip heire By Elizabeth his first wyfe whiche the kyng Edwarde maryed to Emond Mortymer Th erle of Marche that was his warde fulying Who gate on hir Roger their derelyng And Elizabeth wed to Henry Percy Sonne and heyre vnto therle Henry ¶ Of Northumberland which two both father sonne Wer knightly men in warres ay occupied Beyonde the sea great worshyp had they wonne In many a realme full greatly magnified For marcyall actes by theim multiplied The whiche were long here to reporte For in theyr tyme they were of noble porte ¶ But of the prince Edwarde yet wold I saye Howe he fro Spayne departe then in dede The kyng Peter toke hym his doughters tweyn Thelder hight dame Constaunce as I rede To duke Iohn wedded his lyfe with her to lede The yonger hight dame Isabell by name The duke Edmōd of Yorke wedded of great fame ¶ And in the yere a thousande fully written Thre hundreth eke sixty and also fouretene The prince Edwarde died as well was weten At Kenyngton which was his palice clene And buryed was at Cauntorbury as I wene Betooke hym hole to goddes disposicion After his mercy to suffre his punycion ¶ And in the yere of Christes incarnacion A thousande hole and three hundreth signified The prince pereles by all informacion Sixty and seuentene clerely notified Great syckenesse so had hym victoried And droue hym out from all his region That neuer prince might haue dooē by persecuciō ¶ In Iune the .xxii. daye expresse Was when he died from this world expired That was the floure of earthly worthynes That to the height of knighthode had aspired His owne hande pereles as was
enquired At Westmynster buried in royall wyse As to suche a prince of reason ought suffice ¶ Who was the first of Englyshe nacion That euer had right vnto the croune of Fraunce By succession of bloode and generacion Of his mother without variaunce The whiche me thynketh should be of moste substaūce For Christ was kyng by his mother of Iudee Whiche sykerer side is ay as thynketh me ¶ And of his pedegre vnto the croune of Fraūce With his bloode wherof he is discent Within this booke without any varyaunce Mencion is made only to this entente That reders by all good auysemente The title of his right and heritage May well conceyue and haue therof knowlage The C .lxxxviii. Chapiter ¶ Richarde the seconde kyng of Englande and of Fraunce began to reigne the yere a thousand thre hundreth .lxxvii. and was deposed by parliamente in the yere a. M CCC .cxix. and the .xxii. yere of his reygne RIchard his heyre that sōne of prīce Edward Crowned was then with all solempnitee By all the lordes and barons hole award Obeying hole vnto his maiestee Who that tyme was in tendre iuuensee Of eleuen yere fully accompted of age When he had so his croune and heritage ¶ And kyng was called of Englāde of Fraūce In Iune the .xxii. daye full clene Of Christes death without variaunce A thousande was thre hundreth sixty to neuen And .xvii. yere therwith to beleuen When the two realmes fell to hym by discente As nexte heyre to kyng Edwarde thexellent ¶ And in the yere a thousande thre hundreth mo Sixty adioynt and therwith all nynetene The thyrde pestilence reigned in Englande so So sore that moste parte of the people clene Dyed awaye as through the realme was sene And of his reignes of Eglande and of Fraunce The thyrde yere was by very remembraunce ¶ And of his reigne in Iune then the .v. yere And of our Lorde a thousande then accompted Thre hundreth eke .iiii. score and one full clere The commons rose an hūdreth thousād amoūted Of Kent and Essex whiche that tyme surmounted The kynges power and all the hie estates For whiche the lordes fled then as exulates ¶ And lefte the kyng alone then in the toure With tharchbyshop of Cauntorbury there so And the priour to been his gouernoure Of Clerken well whiche the commons heded tho And brought the kyng forth with theim to go They asked hym all bondmen to bee free And taxe none euer after payed to bee ¶ They asked eke Iake Strawe Wat Tiler To bee made dukes of Essex and Kente To rule the kyng thens forth in peace and warre For they bee wyse of royall regiment Thus tolde they the kyng all theyr entent The whiche he graunte in all thyng by and by For he durste no poynt then theim denye ¶ Afore Iake Strawe that kyng thē stode hodlesse Of which Walworth the Mayre of Londō trewe Areasoned hym then of his greate lewdenesse With a dagger in Smythfelde then hym slewe The citezens with hym then strongly drewe And slewe theim downe and put theim to flight And brought the kyng into the citee right ¶ The cōmons brent the Sauoye a place fayre For eiuill wyll they had vnto duke Iohn Wherfore he fled northwarde in great dispayre Into Scotlande for socoure had he none In Englande then to whō he durste make moone And there abode tyll commons all were ceased In England hole and all the lande well peased ¶ The .xx. daye of Maye nexte folowyng And one therwith as calculers it knowe The date of Christ a thousande then beynge Thre hundreth also foure score two on rowe Th earth quake was whiche that tyme I sawe That castelles walles toures and steples fyll Houses and trees and cragges fro the hyll ¶ And in the yere afore kyng Richarde wed Quene Anne vpon saynt Agnes day that floure That doughter was as I haue sene and red Vnto the kyng of Beeme and Emperoure And suster also vnto his successoure Themperour of Rome that Segemond hight Who to kyng Henry in Englāde came full right The C .lxxxix. Chapiter ¶ Howe kyng Richard wente into Scotlande in the yere a thousande three hundreth and .lxxxvi. and in his reygne the .x. yere and howe he create two dukes of Yorke and of Gloucestre ANd in the yere of Christ a thousande so Thre hūdreth also foure score .vi. ther tyl And of his reigne the .x. yere and mo The kyng Richard with hoste went at his wyl In to Scotlande his corage to fulfyll To Edinburgh and brent the lande also Without lettyng there of any foo ¶ At London so then at his parlyament He made therle of Cambrydge his vncle dere The duke of Yorke to be incontynent And so he was proclaymed there full clere That Edmonde hyght of Langley of good chere Glad and mery and of his owne ay lyued Without wronge as chronicles haue breued When all the lordes to councell and parlyament Went he wolde to hunte and also to hawekyng All gentyll disporte as to a lorde appent He vsed aye and to the pore supportyng Where euer he was in any place bidyng Without suppryse or any extorcyon Of the porayle or any oppressyon ¶ He made also the earle of Bokyngham Thomas Wodstoke that same daye and create His other vncle duke of Gloucester by name Proclaymed hole and so denominate With his brother to be consociate The foxe tayle he bare ay on his spere Where he so rode in peace or elles in warre ¶ The kyng then made that duke of yorke by name Maister of the mewhouse his haukes fayre Of his venery and mayster of his game In what countree he dyd repeyre Which was to hym without any dispeyre Well more comforte and great gladnesse Then bene a lorde of worldly greate rychesse ¶ His vncle Thomas the duke then of Gloucester And wed the doughter then of therle of Herforth By whiche he had by writyng by letter The Constablery of Englande then ay forth Both by South Est West and North By herytage of his wyues lande and ryght Of auncyent tyme by kynges graunt hyght ¶ And in the yere of kyng Richarde elleuen The duke Thomas that was of Gloucester Henry the earle of Derby dyd beleuen With hym by worde and also by his letter The earle Marshall did so then for the better Th erle Beanchampe of Warwyk by his name Of Arundell the earle dyd the same ¶ These lordes fyue together boldely sworne Agayne Robert Veer then duke of Irelande The kinges pleasure one of age both like borne Whom he loued moste as they could vnderstand With batayl stronge at Rotcot bryge toke on hād To fyght with hym where then he fled awaye Ouer Thamis without retourne for ay The C .xc. Chapiter ¶ Of the great parlyament where the fyue lordes foriuged that duke of Irelande and his compeers AT Lenton nexte accompted in the yere At London then the king set his parliamēt At westminster to hold
it there moste clere Where these fyue lordes came armed by one asseÌ„t Appealed the duke of Irelande of greate entent The archbyshop of Yorke that hyght Neuyle And Michell poole earle of Suffolke that whyle ¶ Sir Nichol BreÌ„byr of London that was Mayre Tresilyan also and syr Symonde Bourley Whiche they exyled some they honge vnfeyre Some they heded that tyme that was full gaye Holt and Belknap exyled were awaye In to Irelande for hye contryued treasone Agayne the kyng and his royall crowne ¶ The earle Douglas the earle of March also Northumberlande by west the newe castell Vnto Morpath norwarde dyd mikyll wo At Otturborne as chronycles dyd tell Henry Percy with small hoste on hym fell And slewe Douglas many put to the flyght And gate the felde vpon his enemyes ryght ¶ He sent the lorde syr Thomas Vmfreuyle His brother Robert also sir Thomas Grey And sir Mawe Redmayn beyond that Scottes that whyle To holde them in that they fled not awaye Wherfore the Scottes releued agayne alway Through which Henry was take there anone To DuÌ„bar led for whom was made great mone ¶ The felde was his all yf that he were take The Vmfreuyle Grey Ogle and Redmayne Helde the felde hole that myght so for his sake And knewe nothyng whetherwarde he was gayn The Earle of Marche with preuy men alane Full priuely to Dunbarre with hym rode And kepte hym there for he was greatly ferde ¶ The Douglas all that many were that daye Laboured full sore with wyles and great wyt Hym to haue slayne for euer and ay For Douglas death so sore they rewed it This batail was on saynt Oswoldes daye coÌ„myt The .xii. yere of the kyng and of Christes date Thirtene C. foure score and eyght socyate The C .xci. Chapiter ¶ Howe the quene Anne dyed and howe kyng Rychard went fyrste to Irelande with his hooste ANd in the yere a thousand .iii. C. and mo Foure score fourtene quene Anne died The .xviii. yere was of the kyng then so And buryed was as well is notifyed Of all vertue she was well laudefyed To womanhede that myght in ought appende At Westminster she is full well commende ¶ At Michelmasse nexte after folowyng In that same yere the kyng to Irelande went With greate power hoste therin warrynge Vpon Makmur with all his hole entente And on the greate Aneell by one ascent Of his lordes where Makmurre greate Aneel To him obeyed and made hym homage leel ¶ The earle of Marche syr Roger Mortymer The kynge made then LeuetenauÌ„t of Irelande That yonge was then and home he came that yere And great hoshoulde helde as I can vnderstand Far passyng kynges of any other lande For whiche the voyce on hym rose and name Through christendom he bare then furth that fame ¶ And in the yere a thousande as was then Thre hundreth eke foure score also syxtene Of his reygne the .xviii. yere was then At Alhalowmasse kyng Rychard as was sene At Calys wed dame Isabell the quene KiÌ„g Charles doughter that then was kiÌ„g of FrauÌ„ce At Christmasse crowned by gouernaunce ¶ And in Smithfelde great iustes tornement Of all realmes and dyuers nacyon Of Englyshe Iryshe and Walshe present Of Scottes also were at the coronacyon And iusted there with greate coÌ„mendacy on By .xiiii. dayes iusted who so wolde Henry of Derby bare hym then full bolde Henry Percy and Raufe his brother gaye Robert Morley and syr Iohn Grene Cornewell Heer Nichol Hauberke and eke syr Mawburney Walter Bytterley syr Thomas Blankeueile Syr Hugh Spencer and Iamco saunz fayle Heer Hans heer Iohn the lorde fitz Walter Blaket Dynmoke and also the lorde Spencer ¶ Vmfreuyle and his brother Roberte Vmfrey Stafforde and syr Rychard Arundell These .xx. helde the felde within full sinert Agayne all other that wolde with Iustes mell Of what nacyon he were that man can tell Of in any lande the knyghtes iusted thare And squyers also without that well them bare The C .xcii. Chapiter ¶ Howe the kyng arest the duke of Gloucester the Earles of Warwyk and Aroundell and foreiuged them for treason and made fyue Dukes a Marquis and foure Earles and watched daye and nyghte with Cheshyre men for drede of insurreccyon THe yere of Christe a. M. was so then Thre C. eke foure score also seuentene At mydsomer the kyng with many a man At Plashe toke Thomas of Wodstoke full kene Of Gloucester the duke that was full clene That smyten was in fell and great syknesse And in the towre hym put in great distresse ¶ Whome sone he sente to Calyce secretely And murthered hym in the prynces inne By hole aduice of his councell priuely And in eche shyre of which he did greate synne His confessyon of treason more and mynne Of .ix. poyntes fayned he then proclaymed To staunche the folke that for hym cryed claymed ¶ He then arest Thomas earle of Warwyke And Earle Rycharde of Arundell no lees The lorde Cobham full trewe and also manlyke Foringed them by strength of men and prees The earle of Warwyk his name for to distresse Vnto thisâ—e of Man in sore prison Of Arundell therle hedded for treson ¶ The lord Cobham in to prisone perpetuall In the towre to abide for euer more At Mighelmasse next so then did bifall The kyng then held his greate parlyament thore At Westminster wher the kyng mustred sore At the Blakeheth an hundred thousand menne To make the commons for to dred hym then ¶ At whiche parlyameÌ„t he made therle of Derby Duke of Herford therle of Rutland also Of Almarle duke therle of Kent duke of Surry Th erle of Huntyngton duke of Excester tho Th erle Marshall he made and no mo Duke of Northfolke thus were there dukes fiue Of newe create and none was substantiue ¶ He made therle of Somerset marques Of Dorset then sir Iohn Beaufort that hight Of poore liuelode that was that tyme doubtles Foure erles next he made in mantiles full right With swerdes girt the lord Spencer on hight That create was then erle of Gloucester Thomas Percy also erle of Worcester ¶ The lord Neuell then erle of Westmerland Wyllyam Scrope erle of Wiltshire create That Chamberleyn was then I vnderstand And tresourer of England ordinate These foure erles were thus consociate Then all these dukes and erles with many mo Of lordes young he had aye with hym ¶ Bishopes thirtyne he held then furth eche daye Barons many and many a worthy knight To greate nombre and squiers freshe and gaye And officers well mo then nedid right In eche office by tenfold mo to sight Then were afore for then he had eche daye Twoo hundred menne of Cheshire wher he laye ¶ To watche hym aye wher so euer he laye He dred hym aye so of insurreccion Of the commons and of the people aye He trusted none of all his region But Chesshire menne for his proteccion Wher euer he rode with arowes and
bowes bent Thei were with hym aye redy at his entent The C .xciii. Chapiter ¶ Howe in the tyme of kyng Rychard reigned ouer passyng pryde aduoutree and lechery as well in menne of the spiritualtie as in other of his hous TRuly I herd Robert Ireleffe saye Clerke of the grenecloth that to the houshold Came euery daye for moost partie alwaye Ten thousand folke by his messis tould That folowed the hous aye as thei would And in the kechin three hundred seruitours And in eche office many occupiours ¶ And ladies faire with their gentilwomen Chamberers also and lauenders Three hundred of theim were occupied then Ther was greate pride emong thâ—rfficers And of all menne farpassyng their compeers Of riche araye and muche more costious Then was before or sith and more precious ¶ Yemenne and gromes in cloth of silke arayed Sattyn and damaske in dublettes and gounes In cloth of grene and scarlet for vnpayed Cut werke was greate both in court and tounes Bothe in meÌ„nes hoddis and also in their gounes Broudur and furres goldsmith werke aye newe In many awise eche daye thei did renewe ¶ In his chapell were bishoppes then of Beame Some of Ireland and some also of Fraunce Some of England and clerkes of many a realme That litill connyng had or conisaunce In musike honorably God his seruice to auaunce In the chapell or in holy scripture On mater of Goddis to refigure ¶ Lewed menne thei were in clerkes clothyng Disguysed faire in fourme of clerkes wise Their peryshyns full litill enfourmyng In lawe deuine orels in God his seruise But right practyfe thei were in couetyse Eche yere to make full greate colleccion At home in stede of soules correccion ¶ Greate lechery and fornicacion Was in that house and also greate aduoutree Of paramoures was greate consolacion Of eche degre well more of prelacie Then of the temporall or of the chiualrie Greate taxe ay the kyng tooke through all the laÌ„d For whiche commons hym hated bothe free boÌ„d The C .xciiii. Chapiter ¶ Howe the duke of Herford and the duke of Northfolke wer exiled out of England ANd in the yere M. and thre hundred clere Foure score and therwithall eightene And of his reigne the twenty twoo yere The duke Henry of Herford as was seen At Couentree in barres armed clene Again the duke of Northforke for treson Whiche bothe the kyng exiled fro his region ¶ The duke Henry exiled was for ten yere The other was also for terme of life That died duke at Venys leide on bere But duke Henry exiled was beliue Like as the chronicle can openly discriue For ten yere whole for to abide in Fraunce And to auoyde the realme without variaunce ¶ Vpon the pain of decollacion And hiyng sone before sainct Edwardes daye In Octobre called the translacion Vpon whiche daye he shipid fourth his waye At Calice londed and so rode on alwaye Vnto Paris wher he was faire recepte With lordes many and worshipfully was mette ¶ In lenton next duke Iohn his father dyed Of Lancaster of weakenes and of age Entombed faire at sainct Poules buryed His heire in fraunce should haue his heritage In Maye then next the kyng with baronage To Ireland went with hoste and greate power The wild Irishe to wynne and to conquere ¶ For then Roger therle of Marche was slain With wild Irishe in bushment for hym laye His soonnes then full young were bothe twein In ward were take vnto the kyng that daye And then the kyng made full fell araye In euery shire blanke charters to bee sealid For cause his actes should not bee repeiled In the yere of Christ a. M. was then clere Three C. also foure score and eke ninetene And of his reigne the twoo twenty yere Begynnyng at Midsomer then as I meane Whiche afterward turned hym to mikell tene He was then landed in Ireland with his hoste Of chiualrie and power with the moste The C .xcv. Chapiter ¶ Howe duke Henry of Herford and of Leicestre landed in Holdernesse in the same yere and Thomas Arundell archebishop of Cantorbury that before was exiled and howe duke Henry swore to therle of NorthuÌ„berland and to sir Henry Percy wardeyns of the Marches and to therle of Westmerland and to other lordes of that North. AT whiche tyme so that duke Henry toke land At ReueÌ„sporn i Yorkeshire as was knowe Tharchbishop Thomas I vnderstand Of Cauntorbury Arondell that was lowe Bothe of ryches and gold as menne sawe For the kyng had hym out of the land exiled Fro Cauntorbury neuer more to bee reconsiled ¶ In Holdernesse he landed with fourty menne Wher the lordes of Lyncolneshire hym mette Bothe Wyloughby Roos and Darcy then And BeaumouÌ„t also with Penouns proudly bette By ordinaunce of Henry Percy sette Erle of Northumberland and sir Henry His soonne wardeyns of the Marche seuerally ¶ To Dancaster he rode full manfully Wher bothe the wardeyns of the Marche mette Then with the duke with hostes great chiualry Th erle also of Westmerland was sette With his power as then it was his debt For he had wed the dukes suster dere A full good lady without any were ¶ Ther swore the duke vpon the sacrament To claime no more but his mothers heritage His fathers landes and his wife 's in good entent And to laye downe bothe taxe and tallage Whiles he might liue but of the baronage And all the states somouned in parlyament Thought it nedefull and therto whole assent ¶ He swore also the kyng in gouernaunce To be put by good and hole prouision And Chesshyre men for theyr misgouernaunce To voyde out of his house of eiuill condicion And officers of good disposicion To rule his house like his estate royall Thus was his othe there made in speciall ¶ Then rode they forth to Bristowe were theÌ„ lay Scrop and Busshe and also syr Henry Grene And headed theim but Baget fled away And then the kyng at Flynt as was sene Great monstres made of people that was kene Whiche toke his wage and came to duke Henry And rode ay forth with hym full redely ¶ In this meane whyle therle of NorthuÌ„berlaÌ„de Treated with the kyng that tyme in Conwaye To mete with duke Henry then in Englande And brought hym then to hym in meke araye With litell speche to Chester then the waye They rode anone and put hym there in warde And so to London from thens came southwarde The C .xcvi. Chapiter ¶ Howe duke Henry of Lancaster was made kyng by resignacion renunciacion and deposayle and election of the parliamente and crouned at Westmynster on saynte Edwardes daye in Octobre ANd set hym in the toure where he resigned His right his realme his royall croune To duke HeÌ„ry which no maÌ„ theÌ„ repugned And there he made a playn renunciacion Of all his righte for whiche by prouision The parliament then for his misgouernaunce Deposed hym so then by greate ordinaunce ¶ Then went they to a free election
Seyng the youth then of the Mortimer That erle of the Marche by trewe direccion Was then and heire of England then moste nerâ— To kyng Richarde as well then did appere Consydred also the might of duke Henry They chose hym kyng there durst none it deny ¶ Th erle of Northumberlande then had sent His power home by councell of duke Henry So did his sonne Henry that truly ment Supposyng well the duke wolde not vary From his othe ne in no wyse contrary And he and his kepte all theyr power Tyll he was crouned kyng as it did appere ¶ Therles two then of Northumberlande Of Worcester and syr Henry Percy And theâ—â—e also of Westmerlande Councelled hym then fro his oth not to varye And though at eue he did to theim applie On the morowe by a pryue counsayl He would be crouned kyng without fayle The C .xcvii. Chapiter ¶ Henry the fourth kyng of Englande and of Fraunce was electe by that hole parliament the morowe after Michelmasse daye the yere of our Lorde a thousande thre hundreth foure score and nynetene and reigned .xiiii. yere died at Westmynster the .xix. daye of Marche in the yere of Christe a thousande foure hundreth and .xiii. and of his owne reygne the .xiiii. yere THis duke Henry by great loue of the land Of many lordes and of the commontee Tharchebyshop Arondell toke on hande To croune hym then in royall maiestee On saynt Edwardes day with great solempnitee But kyng he was the morowe after Mighelmesse His reygne begynnyng that day without distresse ¶ Th erle of Warwike and therle of Arondell That exiled were and the Lorde Cobham eke With all theyr frendes that kyng Richard did expell The dukes frendes of Gloucester nought to seke Whiche then began for to encrease and eke Through all the realme with kyng Henry to staÌ„d To croune hym kyng that tyme of all Englande ¶ An hundreth thousande cryed all at ones At Westmynster to croune hym for kyng So hated they kyng Rychard for the nones For his mysrule and wrong gouernyng For taxes and for blanke charters sealyng For murder of duke Thomas of Woodstoke That loued was well more then all the floke ¶ The great parliament then he made rehersed The dukes of Almarle Excestre and Surry He depryued and the iudgement reuersed That then was made gaue full wylfully Agayne Woodstoke and Warwyke for enuie Arondell and the lorde Cobham full trewe Whiche was reuersed and reuoked newe ¶ The duke of Almarle was then erle Rutlande The duke of Surry erle of kent was agayn And eke the duke of Excester I vnderstande Of Hungtyngdon therle was to be fayn The marques eke of Dorset was full bayn Of Somerset erle agayn to bene He chastised theim no feller as was sene ¶ Th erle of Gloucester was lord Spencer Then set agayn to his first estate The kyng then made his eldest sonne full clere The prince of Wales in parliament hole create Duke of Cornewayle and erle denominate Of Chester also that then was yong of age But yet he was that tyme of hye courage The C .xcviii. Chapiter ¶ Howe the kyng gaue the Constablerie and the Marshalsee to therles of Northumberlande and Westmerlande wyth certayn landes and how syr Robert Vmfreuile was made knight of the Garter capitayn of Rokesburgh faught on fote on Fulhoplewe and wan the feld with victorie and was made lorde Vmfreuile AT this tyme that kyng grauÌ„ted by parliameÌ„t The Constablery certayn of Englande In heritage so at his coronoment To therle then of Northumberlande Also of Man thifle I vnderstande To holde of hym and of his heyres alwaye By seruyce royall as wrytten was that daye ¶ And to therle of Westmerlande also The Marshalsee of Englande then he gaue All Richemond fee that was in Englande tho By patent also for terme of life to haue The lordes all he pleased so God me saue With office ay orels with lande or rent With liberall herte as to a prince appent ¶ And whyles that parliament so did endure The Scottes rode by North and sore had stroyed In Cokedale then where Vmfreuyle had cure That with theim faught had theim sore anoyed At Fulhaplowe on fote he theim acloyed For there he toke syr Richard Rotherforde His sonnes fyue full fell of dede and worde ¶ Syr Wyllyam Stiwarde also he toke The lorde of Gordowne he put to flight And Willibarde the felde there then forsoke And prisoners brought home well mo at night Then he had men with hym the felde to fight For whiche the kyng hym had ay after in cherte Consyderyng well his knightly aperte The C .xcix. Chapiter ¶ Howe the kyng Henry remeued kyng Richard from place to place by night in preuey wise in whiche tyme theries of Kent Salisbury and Huntyngdon the lorde Spencer and syr Raulfe Lomley were headed THe kyng theÌ„ sent kyng Richard to Ledis There to be kepte surely in preuitee Fro theÌ„s after to Pykeryng weÌ„t he nedes And to Knauesburgh after led was he But to Pountfrete last where he did die Bothe therles of Kent and Salisbury Th erle of Huntyngdon and SpeÌ„cers sothelye ¶ And syr Raulfe Lomley with mo in company After Christmasse thought to haue slayn the kyng They were distured and fled awaye in hye But they were slayn at Circester fleyng By the commons with theim there fyghtyng Therles of Kent and of Salysbury And syr Raulfe Lomley in theyr companye ¶ The lorde Spencer take was vpon the sea At Bristowe was headed and decollate Th erle also of Huntyngdon did flee And brought vnto the countesse of estate Of Herforde then who had hym forth algate To Plasshe where she made men hym hede Without counsayll of any lorde or rede ¶ Syr Thomas shelly set full hye in pride And Mawbleyn with Ferebye drawe and honge Syr Barnard Brockeys was heded theim beside The byshop also of Carleile theim among In Westmynster his life there to prolonge Perpetually by iudgement was commytte Among his brethren in order for to sytte The CC. Chapiter ¶ Howe kyng Richard was brought deade froÌ„ Pountfret to Powles and after buried at Langley for menne shoulde haue no remembraunce of hym And howe syr Robert Vmfreuyle faught with that Scottes at Redeswere and had the felde and the victorye IN march next after kig Rychard theÌ„ was dede Fro Poumfret brought with great solempnyte Men sayde forhungered he was lapped in lede At Poules his masse was done and diryge In hers royall semely to royalte The kyng lordes clothes of golde there offerde Some .viii. some .ix. vpon his hers were proferde ¶ At Westminster then dyd they so the same When truste he shuld there haue buryed bene In that mynster lyke to a prynce of name In his owne tombe together with the quene Anne that afore his fyrste wyfe had bene But then the kyng hym faste to Langley sent There in the freres to be buryed secretement ¶ On Michelmasse day next after his coronacioÌ„
our lande Floure and mele of whete and rye he solde The market he so amended manyfolde ¶ And wood he had and other marchaundise Woll and hide and yron great quantitee Woll skynnes cloth of golde and spyceries Iewelles in chestes and stones of precioustee And other marchauntes in specioustee And prisoners also and mykell flaxe Wynes swete and mykell poleyn waxe The CC .viii. Chapiter ¶ Howe syr Robert Vmfreuile brent Pebles on there market daye and made his men to mete their clothe with speres bowes and after the Scottes called hym Robyne Mendmarket and his neuewe brente Iedworth and Teuidale sone after AT Pebles long afore that tyme .iiii. yere He brent the toune vpon their market daye And met theyr cloth with speres bowes sere By his biddyng without any naye Wherfore the Scottes from thence forthward ay Called hym Robyn mendmarket in certayn For his measures were so large and playn ¶ His neuewe Gilbert and he the .xi. yere Of kyng Henry vpon the water of Calme than And also on Roule and Iedworth forest clere Forrayed full sore with many a manly man His banner first there was displayed then When he was clerely but .xiiii. yere nomore When his vncle had battled hym so sore The CC .ix. Chapiter ¶ Howe the prince Henry of Wales sent power to the duke of Burgoyn to helpe hym the two Vmfreuiles syr Iohn Graye with other where Vmfreuile with the Englyshe men helde the felde for he would not kyll the prysoners as the duke of Burgoyn had ordeyned THe prince Henry to duke Philip then sent That of Burgoyn was so both syr lorde Syr Gilbert Vmfreuile his vncle veramēt His cousyn also syr Ihō Gray as mē recorde With many other worthy with speare sweorde Willyam Porter agayn the duke of Orleaunce And his armynakes with men of great defence ¶ At S 〈…〉 ncle then again the duke of Orleaūce And the duke of Burbon by all a daye Thenglyshe faught with great sufficience And wanne the brydge with battayll bet awaye Tharmynakes with many sore affraye Where Vmfreuile proclaymed was erle of Kyme Cheiften was of all Englyshe that tyme. ¶ At Durdan also and at Etham agayn They faught all newe where then they had that feld And prisoners many they did opteyne The which the duke of Burgoyn wold haue weld Because to hym they were so vnbelde Theim to haue slayn he cōmaunded then eche capitayn His prisoners to kyll then in certeyn ¶ To whiche Gilbert Vmfreuile erle of Kyme Aunswered for all his felowes and there men They shuld all die together at a tyme Or theyr prisoners so shulde be slayn then And with that toke the felde as folke did ken With all theyr men and all theyr prisoners To die with theim as worship it requyers ¶ He said they wer not come thyther as bouchers To kyll the folke in market or in feire Ne theim to sell but as armes requiers Theim to gouerne without any dispeyre As prysoners owe home agayn repeire For fyne paying as lawe of armes wyll And not on stockes nor in market theim to sell ¶ With whō syr Iohn Graye as his cousyn dere And all Englyshe with many other of Fraunce With their prysoners full familier Batayled in felde with full strong ordinaunce More like to fight then to make obeysaunce And helde therle of kyme for theyr cheiftayn To lyue and dye vnder his baner certayne ¶ The duke Philyppe full of sapyence Sawe his manhode and his knightly courage Lothe was to lese his noble aduenture By treaty and by other tender message Of prisoners graunt them to do auauntage And hym withhelde with all his feloship As Earle of Kyme proclaymed of great worshyp ¶ Then after sone oure Englishemen anone Came home agayne with great and hye rewarde Whome then the duke by letter cōmende alone In writyng specifyed with herte inwarde Vnto the prynce that sent them to hymwarde And thanked them greatly of his seruyce In his warres shewed agayne his enemies ¶ The king discharged that prince fro his coūsayle And set my lorde syr Thomas in his stede Chief of counsayle for the kynges more auayle For whiche the prynce of wrath and wilfull hede Agayne hym made debate and frowardhede With whom the kyng toke parte helde the felde To tyme the prince vnto the king him yelde ¶ The king then made his sōne duke of Clarēce My lorde Thomas and sent hym into Fraūce To helpe the duke Lewys of Orlyaunce Agayne the duke of Burgoyne at instaunce Of my lorde Thomas againe that prince suraunce Whiche was the cause also of theyr heuynesse So to refuse duke Philyppes loue causelles ¶ But then the duke of Clarence with power Came to the duke Lowes of Orlyaunce Kīg Charles brother who made hym noble chere And hym receyued with full hye reuerence They two warryed with mighty suffycience Vpon the duke of Burgoyne and hym outrayed That he went into Burgoyne all formayed ¶ Then rode the duke of Clarence into Guien Through Fraunce with hoste then full royall And kepte that lande with helpe of duke Lewis thē In whiche meane while kyng Henry gan fall In great syknesse that his strength did pall With contryte herte and humble yelden chere He sayde O lorde thy me 〈…〉 I requyre The CC .x. Chapiter ¶ The wordes that the Kynge sayde at hys deathe of hyghe complaynt but nought of repentaūce of vsurpement of the realme ne of the restorement of ryght heyres to the crowne O Lorde he sayde O God omnipotent Nowe se I well thy godhede loueth me That suffred neuer my foes to haue theyr entent Of myne persone in myne aduersrte Ne in myne sycknesse ne in myne infyrmyte But ay haste kepte it fro theyr maleuolence And chastysed me by thy beneuolence ¶ Lorde I thanke the with all my herte With all my soule and my spirytes clere This wormes mete this caryon full vnquerte That some tyme thought in worlde it had no pere This face so foule that leprous doth apere That here afore I haue had suche a pryde To purtraye ofte in many place full wyde ¶ Of which ryght nowe that porest of this lande Except only of theyr benignyte Wolde loth to looke vpon I vnderstande Of whiche good lorde that thou so visyte me A thousande tymes the lorde in trinyte With all my herte I thanke the and cōmende Into thyne handes my soule withouten ende ¶ And dyed so in fayth and hole creaunce At Cauntorbury buryed with greate reuerence As a kyng shulde be with all kynde of circumstaūce According vnto his hye magnifycence Besyde the prynce Edward with great expence Of Christ was then a. M. yere full oute Four hundreth eke and thirtene oute of doubte ¶ O very God what torment had this kyng To remember in bryef and shorte entent Some in his sherte put ofte tyme venemyng And some in meate and drinke great poysonment Some in his hose by great ymagenement Some in bedstraw yrōs sharpe
dampnacion The CC .xl. Chapiter ¶ The mocion conceypte of the maker of this booke touchynge kynge Henrye the syxte his wife and his sonne to be gotten home and putte in gouernaunce with all that fled with hym cōsyderyng their trouth that forsoke their lyuelodes and welfare for his sake and fro they so gotten home that after they will be as trewe to you and els to geue sore iudgement vpon theim O Gracious lord kyng Edward fourth accompte Consydre howe kynge Henrye was admytte Vnto the croune of Englande that did amounte Not for desert nor yet for any witte Or might of hym selfe in otherwyse yet But onely for the castigacion Of kyng Richardes wicked peruersacion ¶ Of whiche the realme then yrked euerychone And full glad were of his deposicion And glad to croune kyng Henry so anone With all theyr hertes and whole affeccion For hatred more of kyng Richardes defection Then for the loue of kyng Henry that daye So chaunged then the people on hym aye ¶ Yet kept he aye therle of Marche full ying In erles estate as he that was his warde And brought hym vp in all maner thyng As his estate asked and coulde awarde And cheryshed hym in norture to regarde As his owne sonnes duryng all his lyfe To make hym loue hym without any stryfe ¶ Thus by wisedome his sonne Henry right so Hym cherished by good and wise counsayl Whiche he assigned vnto hym tho Of good rule that would not let hym faile For cause he should agayn hym not preuayle And into Fraunce in his hole estate Had hym with his brother associate ¶ All this he did of full good policie To wynne his loue and kept hym in direccion From entisement of all eiuill and folie To his pleasaunce without all suspection This was greate witte and circumspeccion To rule hym thus his heighnes to obaye Without stryfe to sitte in peace his daye ¶ O gracious lorde nowe of your sapience Consydre well this sixtye yere and three Your kyn and ye by all intelligence Haue been deuorced of all the royaltee To nowe that God of his specialitee Hath graūted you grace your rightes to recouer And your enemyes all to rule at ouer ¶ Considre well the benigne innocence Of kyng Henry that nowe is in Scotlande By Goddes dome of small intelligence For your preuayle as men can vnderstande Gette hym nowe home agayn into Englande With all the meanes ye maye of sapyence His wyfe and sonne with all your dilygence ¶ For truste it well yf they maye passe to Fraūce Or power get to theim in any wyse Eche yere they wyl you trouble and do greuaūce By Scottes assent and theyr exercyse To brag and boste as they wolde on you ryse To make your people and cōmons for to yrke Iackes and salades ay newe and newe to wirke ¶ For truste it well as God is nowe in heuen The Scottes wyll ay do you the harme they may And so they haue full ofte with odde and euen Afore that Christe was borne so of a maye As yet they do at theyr power euery daye Wherfor good lord brīg home these persons thre With all theyr men geue them grace all fre ¶ And loue them better for theyr great lewte That they forsoke theyr landes and herytage And fled with hym in aduersyte To byde in payne sorowe and seruage Good herte shulde rewe well more theyr trewe corage Then them that wold haue gone and durste nought Consyder howe thei shewed as they thought ¶ Yf ye might get them all for any good To be your men and haue theyr herytage And youre enemies that agaynst you stode Ye shulde make trewe men to your auauntage To passe with you in warres and hostage As trewe as they haue bene to kyng Henry And mekell trewce for your ryght auncetry ¶ For yf ye myght theim get nowe euery chone Youre warres were done thē might you syt in rest Without trouble of any lande alone For all youre lande throughout thē might ye trest Yf it were hole that ye nede not mistryst No prynce christen myght do you any dere But in his lande ye myght make him were ¶ Graunt Henry grace with all his owne liuelode The duchye hole of Lancaster that is his ryght Not as it is but of worthyhede Fyrste duke Henry had the noble knight At his laste daye that was of mikyll might His wyfe and sonne get home by ordynaunce And geue them councell for theyr gouernaunce ¶ Suche as you truste wyll rule them worthely To youre plesaunce in all tranquillyte In peace and reste with all good polyce For better were to haue them in suretye Than lette theim bene with your aduersyte With Scottes or French that wold se your destresse And helpe to it with all theyr busynesse ¶ And yf ye maye by no meane nor treate Get them home ordeine then faste youre flete On the easte sea into Scotlande in hye At Edenburgh so maye it with you mete With all vitayle and ordynaunce full mete And set vpon the castell they bene in Escape they maye not but ye shall them wyn ¶ For I haue sene theyr castelles stronge echone That strongest bene and worste to get and wyn Amonge them all for certayne is there none That may bene holde out longe when ye begyn Saue Dunbretayne the sea aboute doth ryn Eche daye and nyght twyce withouten doubte Whiche may be wonne by famyshyng aboute ¶ With shippes by sea siege vpon the lande Ye maye not fayle to haue it at the laste All other wyll bene yelde into youre hande So that ye haue by workemen well fore caste Youre ordynaunce and gonnes for to caste With abylementes of warre suche as ye nede No castell elles maye withstande in dede ¶ Therfore in what castell·that they bene in Go to the same withoute impedyment Not in wynter but in somer ye begyn When Iuyll moneth or Auguste is present That forage may begot as doth appent Of corne and grasse for horses sustenaunce And fayre wether to mennes hye pleasaunce ¶ O righteous prince bring home the scatred men To theyr pasture forsaken and forlore For of your breste shulde greate foyson ren To nedy men of grace and helpe euermore Consyder howe God hath you set therfore And ouer the flocke to seke the scatered shepe And laye them in your folde surely to slepe ¶ Consider nowe most gracious soueraine lorde Howe longe nowe that your noble auncetrye In welth and helth hath reigned of hye recorde That kepte lawe and peace continually And thynke they bene of all your monarchye The fayrest floures and highest of enterpryce And sonest maye youre foreyne foes supprice ¶ Consider also in this symple tretyse Howe kynges kepte neyther lawe ne peace Went sone awaye in many dyuerse wyse Without thanke of God at theyr decese And nought were dred wtin ne without doutlesse But in defaute of peace and lawe conserued Destroyed were right as they had deserued ¶ Consyder also moste erthly souerayne lorde
Of French nor Scottes ye get neuer to your pay Any treaty or trewce or good concorde But yf it be vnder your banner aye Whiche maye neuer be by reason any waye But yf youre realme stande well in vnyte Conserued well in peace and equyte ¶ Your marchis kepte also your sea full clere To FrauÌ„ce or Spaine ye may ride for your right To Portyngale Scotlande with your banner Whils your rerewarde in EnglaÌ„d staÌ„deth wyght Vnder your banner your enemies well you hight A better treaty within a lytell date Then in foure yere to your ambassate ¶ Remembred bene vnto youre excellence The tytles all that longe to youre regiment Of Scotlande hole with all my dilygence That third parte is of Britayne by extent And owe to bene at your coÌ„maundement And membre of your royall monarchye As Chroniclers haue made therof memorye ¶ Englande and Wales as to their soueraygne To you obey whiche shuld thinke shame of ryght To se Scotlande thus proudly disobeyne Agayne them two that bene of greate myght It is a shame to euery mannes syght Sith Iohn Baylioll his ryght of it resygned To kyng Edward why is it thus repugned ¶ Within thre yere theyr greate rebellyon Ye myght represse and vtterly restrayne And kepe them euer in youre possessyon For to obey youre might make them full fayne As kyng Edward dyd with hunger and with payne Them conquered hole to his subieccyon To byde euermore vnder his proteccyon ¶ Wherfore good lorde nowe girde you with your swerde And set vpon the frowarde heretykes That erren fro the two partes of the herde And strayen oute as they were litargykes Whiche haue forget their lorde as cronnatykes Hauyng no shame of theyr peruersyte Nor chaunge hewe for theyr falsyte ¶ And truste it well as God is nowe in heuen Ye shall neuer fynde the Scottes vnto you trewe Where they maye with youre enemies ay beleuen They wyll to you then alwaye be vnttewe Yet through your manhede it maye them rewe For lenger then ye haue them in subieccyon Truste neuer truth in them ne perfeccyon The CC .xli. Chapiter ¶ The kynges tytle to all his landes briefely reported with a mocyon to vnion Scotlande and Englande TO England haue ye right as ye maye se By Brutus chronycle SaroÌ„s NormaÌ„s To Wales that same ScotlaÌ„d also perde Who that the gifte and right well vnderstandes Of Iohn Bayloll howe he into the handes Of kyng Edwarde it gaue and resygned Why shulde it nowe be voyde and repygned ¶ To Fraunce youre title is writen well know For saynte Lowis to you by hole discente And Normandye all hole bothe hye and lowe Fro Willyam Conqueroure by hole entent Guyen and Poytowe withall to them appent For Elianour the mother of kyng Iohn Doughter and heyre to duke Willyam anon ¶ To Angeou also by Geffrey Plantagenet Father of Henry le fytz Empryce That of Angeou was Earle withouten let And of Mayne also a prynce of greate empryce To Irelande also by kyng Henry le fytz Of Maude doughter of fyrste kyng Henry That conquered it for theyr greate heresye ¶ To Casteil and to Lion also ye been Thenhe ritour also and verie heire By right of bloodde discended clere and clene Of Portyngale wher Lusshborne is full faire Fro kyng Petro without any dispeir For tho twoo bee the verie regions That named bee Castile and Legions ¶ Your graunsirez mother duchesse Isabell Full lady like faire and femenine To kyng Petro as I haue heard tell Was verie heire of theim by rightfull lyne To whom ye been heire as menne determyne By small hackeneys greate coursers men chastice As Arthure did by Scottes wanne all fraunchese ¶ Though scripture saieth of North all eiuill is shewed Me thynketh I can auauÌ„te it as properly That thei bee as manly learned and lewed As any folke and as muche pain maye dry Better menne of warre are not vnder the skye And of lyuyng Dauid saieth in his boke Of Scotland well who so that will it loke ¶ If ScotlaÌ„d were youres to Wales EnglaÌ„d Who hath power to make you resistence In any wise in any vncouth land Your rereward then scant in all sufficience To kepe England surely in your absence Make theim Albion and passe furth wher ye list To other landes ye nede none other trist The CC .xlii. ¶ Thexcusacion of the maker touchyng defautes of this booke and of the simplenes of it OF all maters I haue saied myne entent So as I couth espie in all wise enquere Whiche if it maye your highnes well coÌ„tent My hearte reioyseth to comfort your desire And of your grace euermore I you require For to consider my losse and my mayme in fere For Englandes right as well as I couth spere ¶ Besechyng ay vnto your royaltee If ought bee saied in this simple treatise Displeasyng to your hie nobilitee For to resume it in a better wise Hauyng my witte excused that neuer was wise And thinke I would haue meÌ„t vnto your plesauÌ„ce To whiche I lacke nothyng but suffisaunce ¶ Please it also vnto your royaltee The quene maye haue a vereie intellecte Of your eldres of greate antiquitee And of England of whiche she is electe Soueraigne lady full worthily protecte Vnder your rule and noble gouernaunce Whiche God ay kepe without variaunce ¶ The whiche should please her good femenite To reade vpon for her comfort and disporte To se and knowe the greate nobilite Of your eldres regalie and porte Whiche maye her glad alwaye and recomforte And if it maye please her souereingtie Of my labour I would reioysed bee ¶ For women haue femenine condicion To know all thynges longyng to their housband His high worship and his disposicion His hertes counsaill also to vnderstonde As at weddyng to her he made his bounde And moste of all his hertes priuetie And thestate of his good auncetrie ¶ O souereigne lorde that quene hath all fufficieÌ„ce As touchyng you but of your auncetrie In this treatise of all their excellence The quene maie se the worthy regence Of this your realme and noble monarchie Whiche hath been kept in greate nobilitee By your eldres of greate antiquitee ¶ This booke I call after my name Hardyng Sith God lent me that disposicion To enforme hym that laboured the wrytyng By plain language of small prouision Through Godes grace and his supposicion All destitute of language and science And desolate of rethoryke eloquence ¶ Moste cause was why I drew this ilke treatise To make your father haue had ê‘fecte knowlage And you also of Scotlande in all wise That percell was of your eldest heritage And of all landes moste nere your auauntage To haue it whole no more to bee dismembred Whiche might bee gote as it is afore remembred ¶ I had it leuer then Fraunce and Normandy And all your rightes that are beyonde the sea For ye maye kepe it euermore full sikirly Within your self and drede none enmytee And
in Yorkeshire called Middelame and there to bee kepte fast in hold But yet the kyng could bee in no place nor prisone but that shortely it was knowen the whiche caused many menne to bee sorie lament his chaunce But he hym self after that he was in prisone spake faire to the kepers of the castell and with muche intreatyng and greate promises made did so tempte and corrupt theim that he was dimissed althoughe the rumour was that the erle was willyng to it the whiche might bee of likelyhood if therle had gyuen ouer fightyng but suche was that eiuill fortune of kyng Henry wherby a manne maye perceiue that he could neuer haue his purpose seyng mannes strength nor policie is not able to ouercome for therle with all his freÌ„des did ventre their bodyes and spent their substauÌ„ce to haue brought Henry to the royall dignitee for because he knewe suerly that as long as Edward reigned neither could he nor yet kyng HeÌ„ry beare any rule And yet neuerthelesse thei lette hym goo when he was in holde when kyng Edward was deliuered he went streight to Yorke and there beyng honorably receiued of his citezens taried for the space of twoo dayes to gette hym an hoost of menne but when he could not haue a worthy compaignie consideryng that he should goo to London emong the middest of his hoost went frome Yorke to Lancastre there found Wyllyam Hastynges lord chamberlain of whoÌ„ he hauyng greate helpe came safe to LoÌ„don But therle of Warwike and the duke after thei had perceiued kyng Edward to bee deliuered throughe the meanes of false trai tours that all thynges that thei had appoincted was to none effecte was greately moued with anger and sorowe and by and by callyng together all their chief frendes consulted howe thei might begynne battaill again the whiche wheÌ„ the kyng was taken and in hold was ended and dooen And thus dooyng there was certain that for veray angre and for the loue that thei had to warre offred theim selfes to fight of freshe for nothyng that whiche moued the chief capitaines to be the more earnest Also kyng Edward was as wyllyng to fight as thei were wherby he might either bryng theim by force of armes to quietnes peace or els destroy and kylle theim euery mother soonne that the realme might bee in 〈…〉 tter state For thorowe their sedicious rebellyng the people wer greately impouerished seyng that the churcheâ— and houses of menne were spoiled and â—obbed and menne sâ—ain in euery place the corne grasse also destroyed that was of the grounde and many other mischiefes dooen the whiche dooe chaunce eftsons in battaill The consideracion wherof it pitiâ—d many menne to see the coÌ„men weale in that case the whiche weÌ„t dayly and hourely aswell to therle as to the kyng for atonemeÌ„t desieryng counselyng theim bothe that thei would rather kepe peace haue the loue of all menne for their quiet lyuyng then to liue in angre and enuie fightyng one with an other to that vndooyng of all the realme wher as it wer a wicked deede to kylle the father but yet a greate dele more wicked to destroye the whole bodie of the commen weale whiche is the father of all menne and by the whiche euery manne is maynteyned kept By this greate entreatyng of noble menne therle and the kyng gyuyng feyth one to an other peace was had for a tyme wherein the erle and the duke went bothe to London with a small compaignie of menne in comparison to the daunger that thei wer in and at Westminster was with the kyng for the reformacion and stablishyng of all thynges and for peace to bee had wher the kyng and thei beeyng at greate woordes nothyng was determyned or ended Therfore the kyng for the vowe that he had made departed and said lytle and the erle with the duke also went to Warwike and in Lyncolne shire gotte vp a newe hoost and made sir Robert Welles the soonne of Rychard Welles grauÌ„de capitain a noble manne of warre These tydynges commyng to London moued the kyng veray sore whome he thought would rather haue kepte peace theÌ„ warre but the more that it was shewed to hym vnlokyng for it that battaill was at hande with so muche that sooner more spede he gathered an armie at the same tyme seÌ„t dyuerse messeÌ„gers and haroldes for Rychard Welles and thesame Rychard â—eeyng often so sent for made his excuse that he was sicke diseased but afterward wheÌ„ his excuse was not admitted he thynkyng to purge hymself sufficieÌ„tly before the kyng came to London bringyng with hym sir Thomas Democke his brother in lawe and wheÌ„ he was there certain of his frendes certified hym that the kyng was sore moued with hym whiche for feare of the kyng did take sentuarie at Westminster his brother also mindyng to tary there vnto suche tyme as that kyng his anger wer couled apeaced But kyng Edward trustyng to pacifie all this tumulte without bloddeshede promisyng those meÌ„ne his feith that he would not harme theÌ„ caused theim bothe to come out of sentuarie Then the kyng callyng Rychard to hym warned hym to byd his brother Robert that he should leaue of warre and goo frome the erle and in the meane season the kyng went foreward with his hoost against his enemies bryngyng with hym this foresaid Rychard Thomas and beeyng but frome Stamforde wher his enemies did lie the space of twoo dayes iourney was informed that Robert kepte that armie still nothyng moued with that letters of his fathers wrytyng for the whiche the kyng beyng sore greued caused bothe Rychard and Thomas euen there coÌ„trarie to his promise moost shamefully to haue their heddes chopped of Robert wheÌ„ he sawe the kyng drawe nigh and hard that his father sir Thomas Democke was put to death stoode first in a doubte whether he should fight or no for because it was ieoperdeous to ventre vpon suche a greate power before that erle came yet at the last for the stoute courage and manly boldenes that was in hym thei went together and fought sore long and many menne killed on bothe sydes and at the last wheÌ„ the fore named Robert encouraged his menne that wer ready to geue ouer was coumpassed about of his enemies taken and also sir Thomas DelalaÌ„t with many 〈…〉 o the whiche capitaines beyng taken all the hoost was putte to flight driuen awaye The kyng beyng glad of this victorie coÌ„maunded Robert sir Thomas Delalant with many other to bee put to death at that same tyme place And in this battaill ther was kylled as meÌ„ne reported tenne thousand menne The erle at this tyme beeyng at his owne toune of Warwike and commyng shortely to his armye at Stamforde with his power was enformed that the battayle was foughte quickelyer then he looked for and that his men had the worse parte although he might now be discouraged yet he made as thoughe he passed not and would
thys he prophecied that the self same Henry shuld in tyme to come as it chaunsed in dede haue the kyngedome and rule of all the realme And nowe Edwarde althoughe he was oute of his countree yet dyd he not dyspayre but that he shulde haue mattre and redy occasion to recouer his kingdome for the duke of Burgoyne partlye had promised hym both greate ayde and socoure and partly the priuy frendes that he had in Englande dyd councell hym by letters sente from tyme to time that he would hasten his iournay homward and incontinâ—tly after very many fled to hym oute of Englande eyther for feare of the lawes that they had offended or elles for sorowe that the worlde was so turned that they could not haue theyr wyll as they had before in accomplyshynge theyr couetouse myndes and desyres and caused hym to make the more haste homewarde And kynge Edwarde beynge rauished with their golden promises thoughte nothyng more payneful or wretched then to tary one daye lenger and nothyng more pleasaunt theÌ„ to go of his iourney and so takynge no moo wyth them then two thou sande harnesed menne at the sprynge of the yeare sayled into Englande landynge in the coastes of Yorkeshyre at an hauen towne called Rauinsport And there settynge for the all hys menne dyd reason wyth hys captaynes and consulte to what place they shoulde fyrste goo For it was ieoperdious consydering the small companie that he had to take anye waye for the. But after longe delyberation they were all agryed that some certayne knightes and horsemen of that smal compaignie shuld bee sent one to euerie quarter to the townes that wer nyghe to the intente that they myghte drawe the hartes myndes of the people to king Edwardes syde But it is not lykelye that kynge Edwarde beyng a wyse manne durst be bolde or would in any wyse come into England with such a small power excepte he had knowen surely that he should haue had great helpe at hys commyng the whych is a plain token that the duke of Clarence and the lorde Marques had procured hys fauoure promysinge him all their helpe that they coulde make for the tryall of the whych ther was manifest tokens that dysclosed and bewrayed all their falshed For they priuilie weÌ„t about to know mennes mindes and to what parte they would declyne and the nexte day after came to kinge Edwarde and shewed him that the common people dyd stande stiflye of kynge Henrye his syde and woulde defende hys quarell as ryghte and iuste at al times and that they had nomore nede nowe to make anye tumulte in so much that no manne would althoughe eftsons desired and prayed go to king Edward yea and that noman woulde for feare of the earle of Warwike heare anye thinge spoken of that matter whose myndes after that kinge Edwarde had throughlye serched and knowen he chaunged his mynd and purpose wher as before he claymed the crowne then he publyrshed abrode that he woulde haue but hys ryghte that was his landes and heritage of Yorke shyre And â—t that worde it cannot be well spoken howe redily meÌ„ wer willinge to helpe him consideringe that he claymed nothinge but hys ryghte in somuch yâ— very pytie dyd moue manye althoughe they woulde not helpe hym yet at no hande to resyste him And kynge Edwarde reconsilyng him selfe to the common people by these meanes toke hys iournye towarde Yorke and wente to Beuer lay The earle then beinge at Warwik after that he knew that king Edward was landed about York streyght sent a post to his brother lord MoÌ„tacute then liyng that winter at Pomfreit with a great army to shewe him what daunger mighte ensue yf king Edward got that towne of york bed theim yf his enemies drewe nigh ether to mete with theÌ„ in plain felde or elles to bete theim from the towne vnto such tyme that he came wyth a greater host which he prepared then in all the hast he coulde And because he knew not surely which way his enemies wolde come he fyrst sent to euery towne in york shyre and to yorke it selfe certayne postes to bid euery man be in his harnesse ready and that that citezins should shut the gates surelye that kynge Edward myght haue no accesse In the meane tyme king Edward came peaceably and wythoute the resistaunce of anye man towardes the towne of Yorke of whose commyng when the citezens were certified they made sure the gates and standynge in harnesse for the defence of it dyd sende twoo of the aldermen to warne the kyng the comming nyghe that he dooe not enterpryse to farre or put hym selfe in ieopardie for they were mynded to dryue him and all hys awaye wyth all the power they myghte When Edwarde had heard theyr myndes he was in so greate feare agonie that he could not tell what to dooe for yf he shuld haue goone back he feared that the common people as men gredye of a praye woulde persue him and yf he should goo forth he was in daunger of the Yorke shyre men leaste they shoulde sodenlye faull vpon hym and take hym and therefore seeyng that he was not able to match them in battayle thought to mollyfie theim with fayre wordes and so beganne to entreat after the most lowlye and gentle maner the messaungers that they woulde in hys name shewe the cytezyns that he came not to clayme the crowne but hys herytage and ryghte of Yorke shyre and therfore that they woulde helpe theyr lorde and duke of Yorke and yf that he myghte be receaued through theyr meanes he wolde requyte theyr kindenes and remember theyr benifyte as longe as he lyued And by suche fayre speaking and flatterie he dimissed theÌ„ and folowed straighte after to the gates with his companie The citezins beynge somwhat moued wyth thys answer for that he entended no harme agaynst kyng Henrie they spake wyth hym from the wall and badde hym to go frome thence and if he would go quickely he should take no harme But he speakyng veraye gentely to euerye one of theim callyng some by name moost gentely did desire theim that he might come into his owne toune And so passyng all the daye in that coÌ„municacion at that length the citezens partely ouer come with his moost geÌ„tle speakyng large promises made fell to this poincte that if Edward would swere to handle his citezens after a gentle sorte hereafter bee obedient to kyng Henry his coÌ„maundement thei would receiue hym in to that citee and helpe hym with all that power that thei might Edward beyng glad to here this the next daye after early a masse was said at the gates wher he receiuyng the sacrament promised feithfully vpon his othe that he would obserue bothe the thyngeÌ„s afore named so was receiued in to the citee Neuerthelesse it was so ferre vnlike that he would obserue one of theim that he minded none other thyng then that he might depriue the kyng of his croune as here after shall
appere more euidēt So that oftē tymes we se noble men aswell as the laye people thorowe ambicion filthy couetousnes thei forgettyng god all godlynes dooe swere greate othes in promisyng thynges the whiche entendyng before thei make their othe to breake it shortely after Yet suche persons oftymes haue their rewardes of God at one or other tyme as this Edward had so that some tyme the punishment falleth on the nephewes for the offence that the vncle had cōmitted But of this thyng I will speake more in Rychard the third in a place wher a manne maye see that the progenie of Edward wer punished for this offence when Edward had thus framed his matters he forgettyng the othe that he had made did se that the citee was strōgly kepte and gettyng hym an army together thought he wold not lynger his busines bycause he harde his enemies made no greate preparaūce or haste but tooke his iourney towarde London in his goyng did purposely goo out of his waye that led hym to Pomfret wher the lord marques was toke on that right hand within lesse thē .iiii. miles of his enemies And whē he perceiued that thei made no skyrmishe nor mocion came in to the right waie again when he was past theim wēt to Notynghame But this greued the Yorke shire mēne that he should deceiue theim so vnhonestly otherwise then did become a kyng or noble manne After that it was knowen that kyng Edward came with out all daunger of his enemies to Notyngham then came there to hym many noble mēne vpon this consideracion that the lord Moūtacute either would not entre vpō his enemies as though he had agreed with theim or els durst not come out of his tentes for that he was not able to matche with theim Therfore menne thought better to take Edwardes part consideryng that his power was so greate then to hold with kyng Henry and hee in daunger of their liues and losse of all their goodes landes Edward reioysyng at this went to Lecestre hearyng that therle was at his toune of Warwicke therle of Oxenford with hym hauyng a greate armie and that thei bothe entended to bryng hym to theim preuentyng their purpose wet awaye with his hoost either wyllyng to fight or els ioyne in frendeship and loue with his brother duke of Clarence with whome then commyng frō London with an hoost of mēne he thought to speake before that he came to therle his cōpaignie fearyng leste that he would not stand to that promise that he made for that he was variable incōstāt In the meane tyme therle of Warwike was very heuie sore moued with the lord marques because he would neither kepe the kyng from Yorke as he was bed nor yet when thei came before his nose would not proffer theim ones to fight therfore cōsideryng that his enemies multiplied more more in his gooyng towardes hym made an hoost sent for that duke of Clarence to come to hym then hauyng an hoost at London Whō whē he perceiued to linger as a man doubtyng whether he should kepe battaill or peace to haue no mind of settyng forth his mē mistrusting also that he was by some traine allured to folowe his brethren and take their partes tooke his waye to Couētrie to th ende that there he might meete his enemies Then Edward came to Warwike and frome thens to the erle and pitched his tentes by hym and the next daie after bad battaill to therle the whiche erle durst not come oute for feare that the duke of Clarence whome he thought had deceaued hym which duke in deede came as it was shewed after with a greate power of menne The whiche when Edward perceaued he made towardes hym that it should not bee thought to bee a made guyle sette his hoost in araye as though he would fight and so did the duke But when thei came in sight Richard duke of Gloucestre as one that should take vp this matter firste spake with the duke priuely in his eare and then came to Edward and did the same to hym and at the laste peace was proclaimed wherby euery manne puttyng doune their weapons Edward his brethrē enbraced louyngly one an other After this Edward made it bee proclaimed that that duke with all theim that came with hym should bee perpetuall frendes that thei three should loue like thre brethren as thei wer in brotherly loue for euer Neuer thelesse God dooeth not seme to haue forgiuē this Edward his offēce of periury although euē nowe fortune fauored hym for yer it were long he was again vexed with werre beside that plage distruciō of his children after his death When thei wer thus come together thei minded to proue if that erle wold come to theim also hold with theim to whō the duke of Clarēce sēt certain of his frendes that whiche first shuld excuse that he had done thē desire hym if that he would to bee at one with kyng Edward Whose mynde whē therle heard he vtterly detested hym with muche cursyng cryed oute of hym that he had contrary to his feith othe made fled to kyng Edward And to his cōmaūdemēt biddyng that he sēt he made none other aunswer but this that he had rather bee like hym self thē like a false periured duke So that he appoincted vtterly neuer to leaue battaill before that either he wer killed and ded or his enemies ouercomed After this Edward hauyng suche a strong power of mēne went boldely to London wher after that it was knowen that the duke of Clarence had taken his parte and that all the brethren were come in to one knot the citezens were in suche a feare that thei could not tell what to dooe but at the lengthe they were dryuen for feare to take kyng Edward his parte At thesame tyme there came letters from the earle to kyng Henry to that duke of Somerset to that archbyshop of Yorke and other of the kyng his counsel that they should kepe the citee from their enemies handes for the space of .ij. or .iij. dayes he would come streyght with a great armye of mēne They defended the citee as strongely as they coulde but it was to no purpose for the citezens cōsyderyng the kyng Henry was no greate warryer and that he had but small policie in the feates of thesame and contrary wise that kyng Edwarde was a man that of hym selfe coulde rule a realme maruelous well and suche a man that woulde not onelye preserue hym selfe and all his but also defende theim from all maner of iniuryes and harmes that shoulde chaunce thought best to leane on his syde And at his commyng to London the people coulde by no thretenyng or strayt cōmaundement be otherwyse kepte backe but that they would mete hym then comyng salute hym altogether as kyng ruler of the realme At whose commynge in the duke of Somerset and certayn other
deed and that no man after fainyng that he was aliue myght sowe sedicion againe in reuenging his quarel Yet the kyng was not so glad at the death of therle but he was as sory for the losse destruccion of that lord Marques whome he dyd esteme and take for his great frende After this quene Margaret hearing that Edward was come into Englande had done much hurte in that realme purposed to come into England her soonne also prince Edward with a great armye of chosen picked Frenchmen so to land at Waimouth But for that greate tempest that was on the see she could not come so soone as she woulde But after she had landed heard that kyng Edward had conquered all her husband to be takeÌ„ prisoner as destitute of all his frendes and that the erle with his brother lord Marques was slaine in felde and all their army discomfyted and slayne putte to fâ—ight she began like a piteful desperate ladye to mourne and lament the fate calamitee of her husband the whiche she did nowe see to haue chauÌ„sed and sowith this great feare agonie she was in that case that she had rather dye then lyue The quene mighte haue thought that this euell had chaunsed to her for the putting to death of the duke of Gloucestre of whose deathe althoughe peradueÌ„ture she was not giltie yet she offended in that she dyd not saue suche a good man For yf he had liued and had the dominion of the publike weale king Henry had neuer been in suche trouble But nowe to leaue of this that quene despering bothe of her owne life her soÌ„nes also went therby to a monastery of the charterhouse monkes at a place called Bewe lieu in englishe called faire place ther taking sentuarie remained with her soonne And when it was knowen that she was there in sentuarie there came to her the duke of Somerset his brother the erle of Deuonshire whiche man euen frome the beginnyng had taken the other parte whose returning after redounded to his euell and destruccion also the erle of Penbroke Ihon Wen locke Ihon Longstrother Capytaines and rulers of the Rhodes The quene being in sorowe miserye was somwhat comforted at the sighte of her frendes with whome she talked and shewed the cause that she came no rather desiryng theim to prouyde for the safegard of her soonne to helpe her nowe and the she would if the wether serued goo to Fraunce againe and bryng with her god willing at a more better mature time a greater power of meÌ„ The duke began to putte her in good comforte would in any wise the she should set her mind whole vpon batail nowe to fight against Edward wheÌ„ he was bothe vnprepared also not furnyshed of men that were hable to fight considering the great batell that he had with therle of Warwike in that which his men were sore hurted weryed all together that it myght be their chauÌ„ce now to haue that better of hym although he discoÌ„fyted therle his hoste for because that victorie turneth oftentymes from one to an other in a momeÌ„t short space Furthermore he shewed her the the most part of that nobilyte bare theyr good mindes hertes to kyng Henry if so bee that she would bee a capitaine as she had bene in tyme passed he promised her a great army of his owne costes and charges and that he woulde make other noble menne to take her parte and defende her at all times The Quene mistrusting and fearing yet muche of her owne soonne aunswered saied that she allowed his counsell well yf so that she only might bee in daunger and not her sonne And therfore fearing that when they fought most earnestly for their countree her soonne might bee destroied or caste awaye she thought best either to putte of and differre the battayl to an other time or elles to sende her soonne into Fraunce there to bee kepte vnto suche tyme the they had some better successe in their warres And truely the mother was not withoute a cause so louing to her chylde for that her owne husbande was a prisoner and a captiue persone and therfore as one caste awaye so that nexte after hym she loued mooste tenderly this her soonne Also that they might goo that more wisely aboute their entente the quene counsayled theim all to laye their heedes together and caste all the waies howe to conuey their businesse and then yf they would fight she promised theim both her helpe and good councell Then the Erle saied it was no nede to waste any more wordes for he all they woulde fight stoutely agaynste their enemies and therfore they woulde doo that with all their might and power that they had determined and apointed vpon So they all gathered their armye euery manne for his parte oute of his owne countree shire The quene brought now in good hope of warre saied wel be it streight went by that councell of that duke to Bathe looking and tarieng there for the armye but to what place so euer she went she would be aknowen to none to th entent that her aduersaries might not knowe vnto such time that she came wher she woulde bee Edward hearyng that the quene was come and that the duke of Somerset had prepared an hoost to ayde her sente certayne spies to viewe of what number the armye was And when they had shewed hym the nomber but yet not knowyng whether they wold goo the kyng apoynted to mete them before they came to London And gathering his armie went to Oxforde shyre and there pytched hys tentes at Abyngton encreasinge hys nomber and army as much as he could But perceauyng that they wer at Bathe and there taryed purposely to multyply and enlarge their company came to Malebrydge xv myles frome Bathe so hasted to come to theÌ„ before they did go to Wales as he suspected whether in dede thei entended to the erle of Penbruck hauyng theyr a great bonde of men From which toune of Bathe the quene fled and frome thence to Brystowe and wyllinge to goo by Glouceter sent spyes before to knowe yf she myght haue passage to whome aunswere was broughte that she coulde not nor that thei of the towne would by anye meanes geue her place she hearynge of that went from Bristowe to Teukisbury And ther the duke pytched hys battayle agaynst the wyll and aduise of many other captaynes whych counsayled hym to tarye the erle of Penbruches comyng Where Edwarde dyd take the quene and kylled or at the least imprysoned euery one almoost that came with her And of the nobilitee there was killed the earle of Deuonshyre Iohn Wenlock captayn of the Rhodes and the brother of the duke of Somerset wyth manye other moo And taken prisoners the quene Margaret her soÌ„nne prince Edward that duke of Somerset that lord of s Ihons more then .xx. knyghtes besyde theÌ„
wrought so laboured to haue peace whiche gotten he went backe to the castell of Barwike that sir Thomas Stanley had wonne a lytell before And the duke of Albany the authoure of this warre for that he had but lytle thankes of England for his so dooing fled into Fraunce there was kylled running at the tylte in Parys After this businesse Edward assembled his counsell together willed theim to prepare batayle againste the Frenche kyng for that he had neyther payde nor woulde paye his raunsome nor yet geue his soonne in mariage to his doughter as he promised to the setting forth of the which batayl certaine mony was exacted of the prestes religiouse men to be payde At the which time the kyng was sodēly sickened shortly after died at Westminster the .ix. day of April then being .l. yeres of age reigning xxiii after the date of oure Lorde a. M .iiii. C .lxxx. and thre whose corps was after conueyghed and had with great pompe and solempnitee to Winde sore and there buried in saint George his chapell Whiche kyng had by his wyfe the quene ten children of theim lefte aliue behinde hym Edward prince of Wales and Richard duke of yorke and one bastarde called Arthure and fyue doughters Elisabeth Cicilie Anne Catherine and Brigyde whiche after were maryed all sauyng that ladye Brigide was a nonne This Edward was a goodly man of personage of stature hyghe of countenaunce and beautee comely of sight quicke brode brested and well sette in euery other parte conformable to his bodye of a pregnant wytte stomake stoute haulte courage of perfect memori of such thinges as he conceaued in his braine diligent in his affaires weighti busines in auentures bold and hardy againe his aduersaries fearce terryble to his frendes liberal bounteous hauing in all his warres most prosperous lucky successe escheuing all pleasure sensualitee to the which he was by nature most proue vnto for the which cause and for the lowlines and humanite that is in hym in gendred by nature most plētifully he bare him self honestly amōg his priuate persons otherwise thē the degre or dignite of his maieste required wherfore the fame ranne that he was poysened A lytell before his death it was saied that he gaue hym selfe to auarice whiche before as you see vsed greate liberalytee Yet the realme whiche thorowe ciuile sedicyon was greatly impoueryshed he made ryche and plenteouse at his death daye Also he gaue spiritual promocions to the moste excellent and famous clerkes and made theim of his councell other of the laye sorte whome he loued he did not enriche with possessions but with monye and other lyke goodes the whiche many prynces hauyng no respecte of the honoure dooe not alwayes obserue By the whiche suche giftes rewardes he had so farre wonne the hartes of the people that after his deathe many menne dyd lamente the losse of his grace ¶ Edward the fyfth WHEN ALMIGHTIE GOD had called to his mercye the noble prince kyng Edwarde the fourth of that name Edward his eldest sonne prynce of Wales began his reygne the .ix. daye of Aprill in that yere of oure Lorde a. M CCCC .lxxxiij. and in the .xxij. yere of Lewes the .xi. then Frenche kyng Whiche younge prince reigned a smal space and lytle season ouer this realme other in pleasure or libertee for his vncle Richard duke of Gloceter within .iij. monethes depriued hym not only of his croune and regalytie but also vnnaturally bereft hym his naturall life and for the declaracion by what craftie engine he first attempted his vngracious purpose by what false colourable vntrue allegaciōs he set forth openly his pretensed enterprise fynally by what shamefull cruell and detestable acte he perfourmed the same Ye muste fyrst consyder of whom he and his brother descended there natures condicions inclynacions and thē you shall easely perceaue that there could not be a more crueller tyraunt appoynted to acheue a more abomynable enterpryse There father was Richard Plantagenet duke of Yorke whiche began not by warre but by lawe to chalenge the croune of Englande puttyng his clayme in the parliamēt holden that .xxx. yere of kyng Henry the .vi. where ether for right or for fauoure his cause was so set forthe and auaunced that the bloodde of the sayd kyng Henry although he had a goodly sonne was clerely abiected and that croune of the realme by autorytee of parliamente entayled to the duke of Yorke and his heyres after the discease of the sayd kyng Henrye the .vi. But the duke not entendyng so long to tary but myndyng vnder the preterte of discencion growen and arysen within the realme and of couenauntes made in the parliament not kepte but broken to preuēte the tyme and to take vpon hym the gouernaunce in kyng Henryes life was by to muche hardynes slayne at the battayle of Wakefylde leuynge behynde hym three sonnes Edwarde George Richard Al these three as they wer greate estates of byrth so were they greate and statelye of stomake gredy of autoritee and impaciēt parteners of rule and autoritee This Edward reuēged his fathers death and deposed kyng Henry the .vi. and atteyned the croune and sceptre of this realme George duke of Clarence was a goodlye and well feautured prince in all thynges fortunate yf ether his owne ambiciō had not set him against his brother or thenuie of his enemies had not set his brother agaynst hym for were it by the quene or the nobles of her bloode which highly maligned the kynges kynred as women cōmenlye not of malyce but of nature hate suche as theyr husbandes loue or wer it aproude appetite of the duke hym selfe entendyng to bee kyng at the leaste wise heynous treason was layde to his charge and finally were he in faute or were he fautelesse attaynted was he by parliament and iudged to deathe and thereupon hastely drouned in a butte of malmesey within the towre of Londō Whose death kyng Edward although he commaunded it when he wyste it was done pyteouslye he bewayled and sorowfullye he repented it Richard duke of Gloucestre the .iij. sonne of whiche I muste mooste entreate was in witte and courage eguall with the other but in beautee and lyniamentes of nature farre vnderneth both for he was lytle of stature euill feautered of lymmes croke backed the lift shulder much higher then the right harde fauoured of vysage suche as in estates is called a warlike vysage and amonge commen persons a crabbed face He was malycious wrothfull and enuyous and as it is reported his mother the duches had much a dooe in her trauayle that she could not be delyuered of hym vncutte and that he came into the worlde the fete forwarde as men be borne outwarde and as the fame ranne not vntothed whether that men of hatred reported aboue the truthe or that nature chaunged his course in his begynnyng which in his life many thynges vnnaturally cōmytted
of you beyng of my blod that other of my alies eche of you with other either of kynred or affinite whiche is that very spirituall affinitie kynred in christ as all ê‘takers of that sacamentes of christes churche The weight of whiche coÌ„sanguynite if we did beare as would to god we did then should we more be moued to spirituall charite then to fleshly coÌ„sanguinyte Our lord forbid that you loue that woorse together for yâ— self same cause that you ought to loue yâ— better yet that ofteÌ„ happeneth for no wher fynd we so dedly as emoÌ„gest theim whiche by nature lawe moost ought to agre together Suche a serpent is ambicioÌ„ desire of vanyne glory souere ingtie whiche emoÌ„gest estates when he is once entered he crepith foorth so ferre till with deuision varyaunce he turneth all to mischief First longyng to bee next to that best afterward egall with the beest at the last chief aboue that beest Of whiche immoderate appetite of woorship the debate discencion that grewe there by what losse what sorowe what trouble hath win these fewe yeres growen with in this realme I praye God as well to forget as we well remeÌ„bre whiche thyng if I could aswell haue forsene as I haue with my more pane theÌ„ pleasure proued by god des blessed lady that was his commoÌ„ othe I would neuer haue wonne the curtesyes of mennes knees with the losse of so many heddes But sith thynges passed can not be called agayn muche more ought we to bee ware by what occasion we haue taken so great hurte before that we eftsones fall not into that occasion again Nowe bee these greues passed and all is quiet thanked bee God likely well to prosper in welthfull peace vnder your cousins my children if God send theim life and you loue and coÌ„cord Of whiche .ii. thynges that lesse losse wer thei by whoÌ„ all though God did his pleasure yet should this realme alwayes fynd kynges ê‘adueÌ„tur as good kynges as thei But if you emoÌ„gest your selfes in a childes reigne fall at debate many a good manne shall innocently perishe happely he you also or it is long fynd peace quiet again wherfore in these last woordes that euer I looke to speake to you I exhort and require you all for the loue that you haue borne to me and for that loue that I haue borne to you for the loue that our lord bereth to vs all FroÌ„ this tyme forward all greues forgotteÌ„ eche of you loue other which I verely trust you wyll yf you any thyng regarde God or your kynges affinitee or kynred this realme your owne couÌ„tre or your owne suretie wealthe And there with al the kyng for fayntnes no longer endurynge to syt vp layde hym downe on his right side his face toward theim And ther was none presente that could forbeare wepyng but that lordes coÌ„fortynge hym with as good woordes as thei could answeryng for that tyme as they thought should stande with his pleasure And there in his presence as by theyr wordes appeared eche forgaue other and ioyned theyr haÌ„des together when as it after appeared by theyr dedes there hartes were farre asoÌ„der And so with in a fewe dayes thys noble prynce dysceased at Westmynster the .ix. daye of Apryll in the yere of our Lorde a. M CCCC .lxxxiii. after that he had reygned .xxii. yeres one moneth and .viii. dayes was with great funeral pompe conueyed to Wyndsore leuyng behynd hym .ii. soonnes Edwarde the prynce of whom this story entreateth a chylde of xiii yeres of age Richarde duke of Yorke .ii. yeres yonger then the prince and fiue doughters Elizabeth which by goddes grace was maryed to kyng Henry the .vii. and mother to kyng HeÌ„ry the eyght Cycile not so fortunate as fayre fyrst wedded to the vycouÌ„t Welles after to one Kyne and lyued not in great wealth Brydget professed her selfe a close nonne of Syon Anne was maryed to lorde Thomas Hauwarde after erle of Surrey and duke of Norffolke Katheryne that yoÌ„gest doughter was maryed to lorde WillyaÌ„ Courtney sonne to that earle of DeuoÌ„shire which loÌ„gtyme tossed in other fortune somtyme in welth after in aduersitee tyl that benignitee of her nephewe kyng HeÌ„rye the .viii. brought heâ— into a sure estate accordyng to her degre ê“geny This kyng Edward was suche a prince of gouernaunce and behaueour in the tyme of peace for in tyme of warre eche must be others enemye that ther was neuer any kyng in this realme in attaynyng the croune by warre and battayle so hartely beloued with the more substaunce of his people nor he hym selfe so specially fauoured in any parte of his life as at that tyme of his death whiche fauoure and affeccion yet after his death by the crueltie myschiefe trouble of the tempesteous world that folowed highlye towardes hym more encreased At suche time as he died the displeasure of those that bare hym grudge for kyng Henry that .vi. sake whoÌ„ he deposed was wel assuaged in effect quenched within that space of .xxii. yeres which is a great part of a mans life and some wer reconsiled growen into his fauour of yâ— which he was neuer strauÌ„ge when it was with true harte demaunded He was goodly of personage princely to beholde of hert couragious politike in councell and in aduersitee nothyng abashed in prosperitee rather ioyful then proude in peace iuste mercyfull in warre sharpe and fearce in the felde bold and hardie yet neuer thelesse no farther then reason and policie woulde aduenture whose warres whosoeuer circumspectly 〈◊〉 aduisedly considereth he shal no lesse coÌ„mend his wisdome policie where he auoyded theim then his manhode where he vanquished theim He was of visage full faced louelie of bodie mightie stronge cleane made with ouer lyberall and waÌ„toÌ„ dyet he waxed somewhat corpuleÌ„t bourly but neuerthelesse not vncomely He was of youth greatly geuen to fleshely wantoÌ„nes from that which health of bodie in great prosperitee fortune with out an especiall grace hardlye refrayneth Thys faulte litle greued his people for neyther coulde any one mannes pleasure stretche or extende to the displeasure of veraye many nor a multitude bee greued by a priuate mannes fantesie or volupteousnesse wheÌ„ it was doeÌ„ wtout violeÌ„ce And in his latter dayes he left al wild daliauÌ„ce fel to grauitee so that he brought his realme into a wealthie ê“sperous estate al feare of outwarde enemies were clerely extinguished no warre was in hande nor none toward but suche as no maÌ„ looked for The people wer toward their prince not in a coÌ„strayned feare but in a true louyng and wylfull obedience emongest theimselfe and the commons wer in good peace The lordes whome he knewe at variaunce he in his death bed as he thought he brought to good concord loue and amytee And a lytle before his death he left gatheryng of mony of his subiectes
ryghte in tender youth bee so planted in the prynces fauoure that afterwarde it shoulde hardely bee eradicated oute of the same The duke of Gloucetre turned all this to their distruccion and vpon that grounde sette the foundacion of his vnhappy building For whome soeuer he perceaued to bee at varyaunce with theim or to beare toward hym self any fauoure he brake vnto theim some by mouthe some by writing and secrete messengers that it was neither reason nor yet to bee suffered that the younge kyng their maister and kinsmanne should bee in the handes and custody of his mothers kinrede sequestred in maner frome their company attendaunce of which euery one ought hym as faithfull seruice as they and many of theim of farre more honorable parte of kynne then his mothers syde whose bloodde ê™ the Duke of Gloucetre sauyng the Kynges pleasure was farre vnmete to bee matched with his whiche nowe to bee remoued frome the kyng and the least noble to bee lefte aboute hym is ê™ he neyther honourable to his maiestie nor to vs also to hym lesse suretye to haue the noblest and mightiest of his frendes frome hym and to vs all no lytle ieopardye to suffer and specially oure well proued euel willers to growe in too too greate authorytee with the king in youth namely whiche is light of belefe and soone perswaded Ye remembre that kyng Edward hym self albeit he was both of age and discrecion yet was he ruled in many thinges by that bende more then stoode either with his honoure or oure profyte or wyth the commoditee of anye manne elles excepte onely the immoderate aduauÌ„cemente of theim selues whiche whether they thristed sore after theyr owne we le or no it were harde I thynke to gesse And yf some folkes frendshype had not holden better place wyth the kynge then anye respecte of kynred they myghte paraduenture easely haue trapped and brought to confusyon some of vs or thys why not as easly as they haue done some other or thys as nere of the blood royall but oure lorde hathe wroughte hys wyll and thanked be hys grace that perell is past how beit as greate is growing if we suffer this young kynge in his enemyes handes whyche wythoute his wyttinge myghte abuse the name of hys commaundemente to any af our vndoing which thynges God good prouysion forbyd of whych good prouysion none of vs hathe any thynge the lesse nede for the late attonemente made in which the kynges pleasure had more place then the parties heartes or willes nor none of vs is so vnwise ouersone to truste a newe frende made of an olde fooe or to thynke that anye onely kyndenes so sodenly contracted in an houre contynued scantlye yet a fortnyght shoulde be deper set in our stomackes then a longe accustomed malice many yeres rooted With these perswasions and wrytinges that duke of Glouceter set a fyre theim whiche wer easye to kindle in especyall twayne Henry duke of Buckyngham and Wyllyam Lorde Hastynges and Lorde Chamberlayn both menne of honour and of great power the one by loÌ„g sucecessioÌ„ from his aunceters the other by hys offyces and the kynges fauoure These two not bearynge eache to other so muche loue as hatred both to the quenes bloodde accorded together with the duke of Glouceter that they would remoue frome the kyng all his mothers freÌ„des vnder the name of theyr enemyes Wherupon the duke of Glouceter beynge aduertysed that the lordes about the kyng entended to brynge him to London to hys coronation accoÌ„panyed wyth such a nomber of theyr frendes that it shoulde be harde for hym to bryng hys purpose to passe wythoute the assemblinge and gathering of people and in maner of open warre wherof the ende he wyst was doubtefull and in the whyche the kynge beynge on the other syde he shoulde haue the name and face of rebellion He secretelye therefore by dyuers meanes caused the quene to be perswaded that it was nether nede and shoulde also bee ieopardeous the kinge to come vp so stronge for as nowe euery lorde loued other and none other thynge studyed for but the tryumphe of his coronation and honoure of that kyng And the lordes aboute the kyng should asseÌ„ble in the kinges name much people they shuld geue the lordes betwyxte whome and theim there had bene some tyme debate to feare and suspecte leaste they shoulde gather thys people not for the kynges sauegarde whom no man impugned but for theyr destruccyon hauynge more regarde to theyr olde varyaunce then to theyr newe attonemente for the whyche cause they on the other part myght assemble men also for theyr defence whose powres she wyste well farre stretched and thus should al the realme fall in a roare and of the mischiefe that thereof shoulde ensue whiche was lykly to be not a lytle the most harme was lyke to fal where she leaste woulde and then all the worlde woulde put her and her kynred in the blame saiynge that they had vnwselye and vntruely broken the amytie and peace whyche the kynge her husbande had so prudently made betwene her kinred hys whyche amytee hys kinne had alwaies obserued The quene beyng thus perswaded sente worde to the kynge and to her brother that there was no cause ner nede to assemble anye people and also the duke of Glouceter and other lordes of his beÌ„d wrot vnto the kinge so reuerently and to the quenes frendes there so louyngely that they nothing earthlye mystrustyng broughte the young kyng toward London with a sober compaignie in greate hast but not in good spede til he came to NorthaÌ„pton and froÌ„ theÌ„ce he remoued to Stony stratford On whyche daye the two dukes and theyr bende came to Northampton faynynge that Stonye stratforde coulde not lodge theim all where they founde the Earle Ryuers entendynge the nexte moruynge to haue folowed the kynge and to bee wyth hym earely in the mornyng So that nyght the dukes made to the earle Riuers frendly chere but assone as they were departed verye famylier wyth greate curtesie in opeÌ„ syghte and the erle Riuers lodged the .ii. dukes with a few of theyr pryuye frendes fell to councell wherein they spente a greate part of the nyght and in the dawning of the daye they sente about pryuely to ther seruauntes in theyr lodgynges to haste to horsebacke for theyr lordes were in maner redy to ryde wheruppon all theyr seruauntes were ready or the Lorde Ryuers seruauntes wer awake Nowe had the dukes taken the keyes of the ynne in to theyr possession so that none shoulde yssue oute wythout their concente And ouer thys in the hygh way toward Stony stratforde they set certaine of theyr folkes that shoulde cause and compell to retourne again all persons that were passinge frome NoÌ„rthampton to Stony stratforde sayinge that the dukes theim selfes woulde be the fyrst that should come to the kynge from Northampton thus they bare folkes in hande But when the earle Ryuers vnderstode the gates closed and the wayes
especyallye agaynst other lordes as agaynst the kyng him self in the dysturbaunce of hys coronat ion therefore they assembled by and by together to common of thys matter at London The archebyshoppe of Yorke fearynge that it woulde be ascrybed as it was in dede to ouermuche lightnes that he so sodeynly had yelded vp the great seale to the quene to whome the custodie therof nothyng apperteigned without especiall commaundement of that kyng secretly sent for the seale agayn brought it wyth hym after the accustomed maner to mete with the lordes At this metyng was the lord Hastynges whose truthe towarde the kyng no manne doubted nor neded not to doubte perswaded the lordes to beleue that the duke of Glouceter was faythfull sure towardes his prince and that that lord Ryuers the lorde Richard and other knyghtes apprehended wer for matters attempted by theim agaynste the dukes of Gloucetre Buckyngham put vnder arest for their suretie and not for the kynges icopardye and that they were also in sauegarde there to remayne tyll the matter were not by the dukes only but also by all the other lordes of the kynges councell indifferentlye examyned and by their discrecions ordred and eyther iudged or appesed And one thyng he aduysed theim to beware of that they iudged not the matter to farreforth or they knewe the truthe nor turnyng theyr pryuate grudges into the commen hurte irrityng and prouokyng men vnto angre and disturbyng the kynges coronacion toward whiche the dukes wer coÌ„myng for that then might paraduenture bryng that matter so farre out of ioynte that it shoulde neuer bee brought in frame agayne whiche yf it should happe as it were lykely to come to a felde though all parties were in all other thynges eguall yet shoulde the autoryte bee on that syde where the kynge is hym selfe with these persuasyons of the lorde Hastynges whereof parte he hym selfe belcued and of parte he wyste well the contrarye these commocyons were somewhat appeased But in especiall because the dukes of Buckyngham and Glouceter wer so nere and came on so shortly with the kynge in none other maner nor none other voyce or sembleaunce then to his coronacion causyng the fame to be blowen about that suche persones as were apprehended had contryued the distruccion of the dukes of Gloucetre and of Buekyngham and other of the noble bloodde of thys realme to th entent that thei alone would rule and gouerne the kyng And for the coloure therof such of the dukes seruauntes as rode with the cartes of their stuffe which wer taken amonge the which stuffe no maruayle thoughe some were harneyes whiche at the brekynge vp of suche an housholde muste be brought awaye or caste awaye they shewed to the people and as they went sayde lo here be the barrelles of harneyes that these traytoures hadde preuely conueighed in their caryages to destroye the noble lordes withall This dyuerse although it made the matter to wise menne more vnlykely well perceauyng that thentendoures of suche a purpose woulde rather haue had theyr harnesse on theyr backes then to haue bounde theim vp in barrelles yet muche parte of the commen people were therewith ryght well satisfyed When the kyng approched nere the cytie Edmonde Shawe Goldesmythe then Mayre of the cytie with the aldremenne and shreues in skarlet and fyue hundreth commoners in murraye receaued his grace reuerently at Harnesaye parke and so conueighed hym to the cytee where he entred the fourthe daye of Maye in the fyrste and laste yeare of his reigne and was lodged in the bisshoppes palayce but the duke of Goucetre bare hym in open sight so reuerently saiyng to all men as he rode beholde youre prynce and souereygne lorde and made suche sembleaunce of lowlynes to his prince that frome the greate obloquy that he was in so late before he was sodeynly fallen in so greate truste that at the councell next assembled he was made the onlye chiefe ruler and thoughte mooste mete to bee protectoure of the kynge and his realme so that were it desteny or were it folye the lambe was betaken to the wolfe to kepe At whiche councell the archebyshoppe of yorke was sore blamed for delyueryng the greate seale to the quene and the seale taken from hym and delyueto docter Iohn Russell byshoppe of Lyncolne a wyse manne and a good and of muche experyence and dyuerse lordes and knightes were appoynted to dyuerse roumes the lorde chamberlayn and some other kepte the roumes that they were in before but not many Nowe were it so that the protectour whiche alwayes you muste take for the duke of Gloucetre sore thristed for the acheuyng of his pretensed entrepryse and thought euerye daye a yere tyll it were perfourmed yet durste he no ferther attempte aslong as he hadde but halfe his praye in hys hande well wyttynge that yf he deposed the one brother all the realme would fall to the other yf he remayned in sanctuary or should happely be shortelie coÌ„ueyghed to his farther libertee Wherfore in contineÌ„t at the next metyng of the lordes in councell he purposed to theim that it was an heynous thyng of the quene procedyng of great ma lyce toward the kynges councelers that she shoulde kepe the kynges brother in sanctuarye from hym whose special pleasure conforte wer to haue his brother with hym and that to be done by her to none other inteÌ„t but to bryng all the lordes in an obloquy and murmoure of the people as though they wer not to be trusted with the kynges brother which lordes wer by that whole assâ—t of the nobles of that realme appoynted as that kynges nere frendes to the tuycion of his royall person the prosperitee wherof ê™ he standeth not alonely froÌ„ the kepyng of enemyes euill dyate but partely also in recreacion moderate pleasure whiche he cannot take in his tendre youth in the coÌ„pany of old auncient persons but in the famylyer conuersacion of those that be not farre vnder nor farre aboue his age neuerthelesse of estate coÌ„uenieÌ„t to accompany his maiestie wherfore with whom rather then with his owne brothere and if any man thinke this coÌ„syderacioÌ„ light I thynke no man so thinketh that loueth the kyng let hym coÌ„syder that sometyme that with out smal thynges greater cannot stande and verelye it redoundeth greatly to the dyshonoure of the kynges highnes and of all vs that bee about his grace to haue it come in any mannes mouthe not in this realme onely but also in other landes as euell woordes walke farre that the kynges brother should be fayne to kepe saÌ„ctuary For euery maÌ„ wyl iudge that no man wil so do for nought such opinioÌ„s fastened in mennes hertes be harde to be wrested oute and many growe to more grefe then any manne here can diuine Wherfore me thinketh it were not the worste to sende to the quene some honourable and trustye personage suche as tendereth the kynges weale and the honoure of his counsell and is also in
arrande was not onely one maÌ„nes mynde or were it for that the protectoure entended not in this matter to trust one manne alone or els if she finally were determined to kepe hym some of the compaignie had paraduenture some secrete instruccioÌ„ incontineÌ„t maugre her will to take hym and to leaue her no respyte to conueigh hym When the quene and the lordes were come together in presence the Cardynall shewed vnto her that it was thought to the lord protectour and the whole caunsaill that hir kepyng of that kynges brother in that place highly souÌ„ded not onely to that grudge of the people and their obloquy but also to the unportable greefe and displeasure of that kyng his royall maiestie to whose grace it were a synguler coÌ„forte to haue his naturall brother in compaignie and it was their bothes dishonoures and theirs hirs also to suffre hym in sanctuarye as though the one brother stoode in daungier and perell of the other And he shewed her ferther that the whole counsaill had sent hym to requyre of her the delyuerye of hym that he might bee brought to that kyng his presence at his libertie oute of that place whiche meune reconed as a prisone there should he bee demeaned accordyng to his estate and degree and she in this doyng should bothe dooe greate good to the realme pleasure to the couÌ„saill profite to her self succoure to her frendes that were in destresse ouer that whiche he wist well she speciallye tendered not onelye greate conforte honoure to the kyng but also to the younge duke hym self whose bothe greate wealthe it were to bee together aswell for many greater causes as also for their bothe dysporte recreacyon whiche thynges the lordes estemed not sleight though it semed light well poÌ„de ryng that their youthe without recreacion and playe caÌ„not endure ner any estraunger for the conuenieÌ„cie of bothe their estates so metely in that poinct for any of theim as the either of theim for theother My lorde ê™ the quene I saie not naye but that it were very conueniente that this gentlemanne whom you requyre were in the compaignie of the kyng his brother and in good faith me thynketh it were as greate commodite to theim bothe as for yet a while to bee in the custodie of their mother the tendre age consydered of the elder of theim bothe but in especiall the younger whiche besydes his infancye that also nedeth good lookyng too hath awhyle been so sore deseased with syckenesse and is so newlye rather a lytle amended then well recouered that I dare putte no persone earthely in trust with his kepyng but my self onely consyderyng there is as phisicians saie and as we also fynde double that perell in the resylynacion that was in the first syckenesse with whiche desease nature beyng sore laboured forweried weaked waxeth the lesse hable to bear oute a newe surfett 〈…〉 And albeit there might bee fouÌ„den other that would happely dooe their best vnto hym yet is there none that ether knoweth better howe to ordre hym then I that so loÌ„g haue kepte hym or is more tendrely like to cherishe hym then his owne mother that bare hym No maÌ„ne denieth good madame ê™ yâ— cardinall but that your grace of all folke were moost necessarie aboute your chyldreÌ„ so would all that couÌ„saill not only bee content but also glad yâ— it were if it might stand with your pleasure to be i suche place as might staÌ„de with their honour But if you apoinct your self to tarie here theÌ„ thynke thei it more coÌ„uenieÌ„t the Duke of Yorke were with that kyng honorably at his lybertie to the coÌ„forte of theim bothe then here as a sanctuary maÌ„ne to their bothe dishonoure and obloquy sith there is not alwaie so greate necessite to haue that childe with the mother but that occacioÌ„ sometyme maye bee suche that it should bee more expedieÌ„t to kepe hym els where whiche in this well apereth that at suche tyme that your moost derest soonne theÌ„ prince nowe kyng should for his honour good ordre of the countre kepe houshold in Wales farre out of your kepyng your grace was well coÌ„tent therw t your self Not very well content ê™ the quene pet the case is not like for theone was then in helth theother is nowe sicke in whiche case I meruell greatly why my lord protectour is so desierous to haue hym in his kepyng where if the childe in his sickenesse miscaried by nature yet might he roÌ„ne into slaunder and suspicion of fraude And thei call it a thyng so sore against my childes honoure and theirs also that he abideth in this place it is all their honoures there to suffre hym abide wher no manne doubteth he shal be best kepte and that is here while I am here whiche as yet entend not to come foorth and ieopard my selfe after other of my freÌ„des whiche would God were rather here in suertie with me then I were there in ieoperdie with theim Why Madame ê™ the lord Hawarde knowe you any thyng why thei should bee in ieopardie Naye verely ê™ she nor why thei should bee in prisone neither as thei nowe bee but I trowe it is no greate maruell though I feare leaste those that haue not letted to put theim in duraunce with out coloure will let as litle to procure their distrucion without cause The cardinall made a countenaunce to the lord Haward that he should harpe no more vpon that stryng and theÌ„ saied he to the quene that he nothyng doubted but those lordes of her kynne the whiche remeyned vnder a rest should vpon the matter â—ramined dooe well ynough and as toward her noble persone was neither could bee any maner of ieopardie Wherby should I truste that ê™ that quene in that I am guyltlesse as though thei were guyltie in that I am with their enemies better beloued then thei wheÌ„ thei hate theim for my sake in that I am so nere to the kyng and howe ferre bee thei of that would helpe as God seÌ„de grace thei hurt not And therfore as yet I purpose not to departe hence as for this gentlemanne my soonne I minde he shall be wher I am till I se further for I se some meÌ„ne so gredy whthout any substanciall cause to haue hym whiche maketh me muche more afrayd and scrupulous to delyuer hym Truly madame ê™ the cardynall the more afrayde that ye bee to delyuer hym the more other menne feareth to suffre you to kepe hym leaste youre causelesse feare mighte cause you farther to conueye hym many thynke he can here haue no pryuiledge whiche can haue neyther wyll to aske it nor yet malyce or offence to nede it And therfore they recon no priuiledge broken although they fetche hym out of sanctuarye whiche yf you fynallye refuse to delyuer hym I thynke verely the councel wil enfraunchese hym so muche drede hathe my lorde his vncle for the teÌ„dre loue he beareth hym least your grace should sende hym
awaye Ah ê™ the quene hath he so tendre a zele to hym that he feareth nothyng but least he should escape hym Thynketh he that I would sende hym hence whiche is neyther in the plight to sende oute and in what place coulde I recone hym sure if he bee not sure in sanctuarye whereof was there neuer tyraunte yet so deuelyshe that durste attempte to breake the priuiledge and I truste God is nowe as stronge to wythstande his aduersaries as euer he was But my soonne can deserue no sanctuarye you saye and therfore he cannot haue it forsothe the lorde protectoure hath sente a goodly glose by the whiche that place that may defend a these may not saue an innocent but he is in no ieopardye nor hath no nede thereof I woulde God he had not Troweth the protectoure I praye God he maye proue a protectour rather then a destroyer whereunto his peynted processe draweth Is it not honourable that the duke byde here it were confortable to theim bothe that he were with his brother because the kyng lacketh a playe feloe yea bee you sure I praye God sende hym better playefelowes then hym that maketh so hyghe a matter vpon suche a tryfleynge pretexte as though there coulde none bee founde to playe with the kynge but yf his brother whiche hathe no lu 〈…〉 to playe for syckenesse muste come oute of Sanctuarye oute of his sauegarde to playe with hym as though that prynces so young as they beâ— coulde not playe without their peres or chyldreÌ„ coulde not playe without theyr kynred with whome for the more parte they agree muche woorsse then with straungiers But the chyld you saye cannot require the priuiledge who tolde the protectoure so Aske hym and you shall here hym aske it and so shall he if ye wyll Howebeit this is a straunge matter suppose he coulde not aske it and thynke he woulde not aske it and ymagene he woulde aske to go oute yf I saye he shall not Note if I aske the priuiledge but for my selfe I saye that he that agaynst my wyll taketh out hym breaketh Sanctuarye Serueth thys lyberty for my personne onlye or for my goodes too you maye not frome hence take my horsse frome me yf I stale hym not nor owe you nothynge then foloweth it that you maye not take my chylde from me he is also my ward for as farre as my learned councell sheweth me he hath nothyng by dyssente holden by knyghtes seruage but by socage then the lawe maketh me his garden then maye no manne lawfully I suppose take my warde frome me oute of thys place wythoute the breche of Sanctuarye and yf my pryuyledge coulde not serue hym nor he aske it for hym selfe yet sythe the lawe commytteth to me the custodye of hym I maye requyre it for hym excepte the lawe geue the infaunte a garden onelye for hys gooddes dyschargynge hym of the cure and sauekepynge of his bodye for whiche onely bothe goodes and landes serue Wherfore here entende I to kepe hym sithe mannes lawe serueth the garden to kepe the infaunte and the lawe of nature wylleth the mother to kepe that chyld and Goddes lawe priuiledgeth the Sanctuarye and the Sanctuarye pryuyledgeth my soonne sythe I feare to putte hym to the protectoures handes that hathe his brother already whiche is yf bothe fayled inheritoure to the croune as heyre male as he sayth The cause of my feare no man hath to dooe to examen and yet feare I no further then the law feareth whiche as learned menne tell me forbyddeth euery manne the custody of theim by whose death he maye enheryte lesse lande then a kyngdome I can saye no more but whosoeuer he bee that breaketh this holy sanctuary I praye God sende hym shortelye nede of Sanctuary when he maye not come to it for I woulde not that my mortall enemie should be taken out of Sanctuary The Cardynal perceaued that the quene euer that lenger the farther of and also that she beganne to kyndle and chafe and spake sore bytynge woordes agaynst the protectoure and suche as he neyther beleued also was lothe to here he sayd to her for a finall conclusion that he would no more dispute the matter and if she were contente to delyuer the duke to hym and to the other lordes there present he durste laye his owne bodye and soule bothe in pledge not onlye for his suretie but also for hys estate and surely he knewe nor suspected no cause but he might so dooe but he knewe not all And further he saide if she would geue hym a resolute aunswere to the contrarye he would therewith departe incontinent and shifte who so woulde wyth this busynesse afterwarde for he neuer entended further to moue her in the matter in the whiche he thought that he and all other also saue her selfe lacked eyther wytte or truthe Wytte if they were so dull if they nothyng coulde perceaue what the protectoure entended and yf they should procure her soonne to bee delyuered into his handes in whome they shoulde perceaue towardes the chyld any euell wyll entended then she myghte thynke all the councell bothe euel aduysed and of lytle fydelyte to theyr prince The quene with these wordes stoode in a great studye and forasmuche as she sawe the lord Cardynall more redyer to departe then the remanauÌ„t and the protectoure hym selfe redye at hande so that she verelye thought that she coulde not kepe hym there but he shoulde bee incontynente taken thence and to conueye hym elles where neyther had she tyme to serue her nor place determyned nor personnes appoynted to conueygh hym and so all thyng was vnreadye when this message came so sodenly on her nothyng lesse lookyng for then to haue hym out of sanctuarye whiche she knewe nowe menne to bee set in all places about that he coulde not bee conueyghed oute vntaken and partely as she thought it myghte fortune her feare to bee false so well she wist it was ether nede lesse or botelesse Wherfore yf she should nedes go from hym she demed best to deliuer hym specially of that Cardinalles faith she nothing doubted nor of some other lordes whome she sawe there which as she feared least they might be deceaued so well was she assured that they woulde not bee corrupted then thoughte she that it woulde make theim the more warely to looke to hym and the more circum spectly to see his surety yf she with her owne handes betooke hym theim by truste and at the laste she tooke the young duke by the hande and saied vnto the Lordes my Lorde ê™ she and all my lordes nether am I so vnwise to mistruste youre wittes nor so suspicyous to mistruste your truthes of which thing I purpose to make such a proofe that yf either of bothe lacked in you might turne both me to greate sorowe the realme to muche harme and you to greate reproche For lo here is ê™ she this gentilman whome I doubte not but I could kepe salfe if I would whatsoeuer
any manne saye and I doubte not also but there bee some abrode so deedly enemies vnto my bloodde that yf they wiste where any of it laye in theyr owne body they woulde lette it oute we haue also experience that the desyre of a kingdome knoweth no kynred the brother hath bene the brothers bane and may the nephewes bee sure of the vncle eache of these children are others defence whyle they bee a sunder and eache of their liues lyeth in others body kepe one salfe and bothe bee sure and nothing to bothe more perylous then bothe to bee in one place for a wise marchaunt neuer auentureth all his good des in one shyp all this notwithstanding here I deliuer hym his brother in hym to kepe to your handes of whome I shall aske theim bothe before God and the worlde Feithfull you bee and that I wot well and I knowe you be wyse and of power and strength if you list to kepe hym for you lacke no helpe of your selues nor nede to lacke no helpe in this case yf you cannot elles where then may you leaue hym here But onely one thing I besech you for the trust that his father putte you in euer and for the truste that I put you in nowe that as farre as you thincke that I feare to muche ye bee well ware that you feare not to lytle And therwith all she saied to that childe fare well myne owne swete soonne God sende you good kepyng let me once kysse you or you gooe for God knoweth wheÌ„ we shall kisse together againe therwith she kyssed hym and blessed hym and tourned her backe wepte gooing her waye leauyng the poore innocent chylde wepyng as faste as the mother When the Cardinall and the other lordes had receaued the younge duke they brought hym into the starre chaumbre where that protectoure tooke hym in his armes and kyssed hym with these wordes nowe welcome my lorde with all my very hert and he saied in that of likelihode euen as he inwardly thought and therupon forthwith brought him to the king his brother into the bishoppes palaice at Powles and from thence thorowe the citee honourably into the towre oute of whiche after that daye they neuer came abrode Whenne the Protectoure had bothe the chyldren in his possessyon yee and that they were in a sure place he then beganne to thryste to see the ende of his enterprise and to auoyde all suspicion he caused all the Lordes whiche he knewe to bee feythfull to the kyng to assemble at Baynardes castell to coÌ„men of the ordre of the coronacyon whyle he and other of his complyces and of his affinitee at Erosbyes place contriued the contrary to make the Protectours kyng to whiche counsel there were adhibite very fewe and they very secrete Then beganne here there some maner of muttering amongest the people as though all thing should not longe bee well though they wyste not what they feared nor wherfore were it that before suche great thinges mennes hertes of a secrete instyncte of nature misgeueth theim as that southwinde somtime swelleth of hym selfe before a tempeste or were it that some one manne happely perceauing fylled many men with suspicyon thoughe he shewed fewe menne what he knewe howbeit the dealing it selfe made to muche on the matter thoughe the counsayle were close for lytle and lytle all folke drewe from the towre where the kyng was and drewe to Cros byes place so that the Protectoure had all the resorte and the kyng in maner desolate while some made suyte vnto theim that had the doyng some of theim were by theyr frendes secetely warned that it myghte happely tourne theim to no good to bee to muche attendaunte on the Kyng withoute the Protectoures apoyntmente whiche remoued dyuerse of the kynges olde seruauntes froÌ„ hym and set newe in theyr romes aboute hym Thus many thinges comming together partly by chaunce and partely by purpose caused at length not coÌ„mon people onely whiche wauer with the winde but wise menne also and some Lordes to marke the matter muse therupon in so much as the lorde Stanley whiche afterward was erle of Derby wisely mistrusted it and saied to that lorde Hastinges that he muche misiyked these two seueral couÌ„selles for while we ê™ he talke of one matter at that one place lytle wot we wherof they talke in the other place Well ê™ the Lorde Hastynges on my lyfe neuer doubte you for whyle one man is there whiche is neuer thence neither can there bee any thing once mynded that shoulde sounde amisse towarde me but it shoulde bee in mine eares or it were well oute of their mouthes This ment he by Catesby whiche was nere of his secret councell and whome he familyerly vsed in his moost weightye matters putting no manne in so speciall trust as hym sith he wiste well there was no manne to hym so muche beholdyng as was this Catesbye whiche was a manne well learned in the lawes of this lande and by the speciall fauoure of the lorde Hastynges in good authorytee and muche rule bare in the countrees of Leicestre and Northampton where that lorde Hastinges power laye But surely greate pitie was it that he had not had either more trueth or lesse wit for his dissimulacyon onely kepte all that myschiefe vp in whome yf the lorde Hastinges had not put so special trust that lord Stanley and he with diuers other lordes had departed into their couÌ„trees broken al the daunce for many euel signes that he sawe which he now construed al for the best so surely thought he that there coulde be no harme towarde hym in that counsayle entended where Catesbye was And of truth the protectour and the duke of Buckyngham made very good sembleaunce vnto the lorde Hastynges and kepte hym muche in they re compaignie And vndoubtedlie the protectour loued hym well and lothe was to haue loste hym sauynge for feare least hys lyfe shoulde haue quayled theyr purpose for the whyche cause he moued Catesby to proue wyth some wordes caste oute a farre of whether he coulde thyncke it possible to wynne the lorde Hastynges to theyr part But Catesby whether he assayed hym or assayed hym not reported vnto hym that he founde him so fast and heard him speake so terrible wordes that he durst no farther breake and of a truth the lorde Hastinges of very truste shewed vnto Catesby the mystrust that other began to haue in the matter And therfor he fearyng least theyr mocyons myght with the lorde Hastynges haue mynished his credence wherunto only al the matter leaned procured the protectour hastly to ryd hym muche the rather for he trusted by hys death to obtayne much of that rule whyche the lorde Hastynges bare in hys couÌ„tree the onelye desyre whereof was the thynge that enduced hym to be procurer one of the speciallest contriuers of al thys treason Wherupon the lorde protectoure caused a counsayle to be set at the towre on the frydaye
the .xiii. daye of Iune were was much commonyng for the honourable solempnytee of the coronation of the whyche the tyme appoynted aproched so nere that the pageauÌ„tes were a making day nyght at Westminster vytayle kylled which afterwarde was cast awaye These lordes thus sittyng commoning of this matter the protectoure came in emong theÌ„ about ix of the clocke salutynge theim curteously excusynge hym selfe that he had bene frome theim so longe saiynge merely that he had bene a sseper that daye And after a lytle talkynge wyth theym he sayd to the bishop of Ely my lorde you haue very good strawberies in your garden at Holborne I requyre you let vs haue a messe of theim Gladly my lorde ê™ he I would I had some better thyng as redy to youre pleasure as that and wyth that he sente his seruaunte in al the haste for a dysh of strawberyes The protectoure set the lordes faste in commonynge and thereupon prayed theim to spare hym a lytle and so he departed and came in agayn betwene x and .xi. of the clocke into the chaÌ„ber al chaunged with a sowre angry countenauÌ„ce knyttynge the browes frownynge and frettynge and gnawynge on hys lyppes so set him downe in hys place All the lordes were dysmayed sore marueyled of thys maner and sodayne chaunge and what thynge should hym ayle When he had sytten a whyle thus he beganne What were they woorthy to haue that compasse and ymagyne the dystruccyon of me beynge so neare of bloodde to the kynge and protectoure of this hys royal realme At whyche questyon all the lordes sat sore astonned musynge muche by whom thys questyon shoulde be ment of whych euery man knewe hymselfe clere Then the lord Hastynges as he that for the familiaritee that was betwene them thoughte he myght be boldest wyth hym answered sayd that they were worthye to bee punyshed as heyneous traytours what so euer they were and all the other affyrmed the same that is ê™ he yonder sorceces my brothers wyfe and other wyth her meanynge the quene at these wordes manie of the lordes were sore abashed whyche fauoured her but the lorde Hastynges was better contente in hys mynde that it was moued by her then by anye other that he loued better albeit hys hearte grudged that he was not afore made of councel in this matter as well as he was of the takynge of her kynred and of theyr puttynge to deathe whyche were by hys assente before deuised to be behedded at Pomfrete thys selfe same daye in the whyche he was not ware the it was by other deuysed that he hym selfe shoulde the same daye be behedded at London then sayde the protectoure in what wyse that the sorceresse and other of hys counsayle as Shores wyfe wyth her affynitee haue by theyr sorcerye and wychcrafte thys wasted my bodye and therewyth plucked vp hys doublet cleane to hys elbowe on hys lyfte arme where he shewed a weryshe wythered arme and small as it was neuer other And thereupon euery mannes mynd mysgaue theim well perceauynge that thys matter was but a quarell for well they wyste that the quene was boothe to wyse to goo aboute anye suche foly and yf she woulde yet woulde she of al folke make Shores wyfe leaste of councel whom of all womenne she most hated as that concubinâ— whom the kyng her husband most loued Also there was no manne there but knewe that hys arme was euer such syth the day of hys byrth Neuerthelesse the lorde Hastynges whyche from the death of kyng Edward kept Shores wyfe on whom he somewhat doted in the kynges lyfe sauynge it is sayd that he forbare her for reuerence towarde hys kynge or elles of a certayne kynd of fydelitee towarde hys frende Yet nowe his heart somwhat grudged to haue her whom he loued so hyghly accused and that as he knewe wel vntrulye therefore he aunswered and sayde certaynlye my lord yf they haue so doone they be worthie of heynous ponyshemente what ê™ the protectoure thou seruest me I wene wyth yf and wyth and I tell the they haue doone it and that I wyll make good on thy bodye traytoure And therewith in a greate anger he clapped his fyste on the boorde a great rappe at whych token geuen one cryed treason withoute the chamber and therewyth a doore claped and in came rushing men in harneyes as many as the chamber coulde holde And anone that protectoure sayd to the lorde Hastynges I arrest the traytoure what me lord ê™ he yea the traitour ê™ the protectour And one let flye at the lord StaÌ„ley whyche shroncke at the stroake and fell vnder the table or elles his hed had bene cleft to the teth for as shortly as he shrancke yet ranne the blood aboute hys eares Then was the archebyshoppe of Yorke and doctoure Morton byshoppe of Ely and the lorde Stanleye taken and dyuers other whyche were bestowed in dyuers chambers saue the lorde Hastynges whome the protectoure commaunded to spede and shryue hym apace for by saint Poull ê™ he I will not dyne till I se thy hed of it booted hym not to aske why but heuilie he tooke a preeste at auenture made a shorte shrift for a lenger would not bee suffred the protectoure made so muche haste to his dyner whiche might not goo to it till this murther were dooen for sauing of his vngracious othe So was he brought foorth into the grene beside the chapell within the towre and his hed layde dowe on a logge of tymber that laye there for buyldyng of the chapell and there tyrannously stryken of and after his bodye hed were enterred at Wyndesore by his mayster kyng Edward the fourth whose soules Iesu pardon Amen A merueleous case it is to here either the warnynges that he should haue voyded or the tokens of that he could not voyde For the next nyght before his deathe the lorde Stanley sent to hym a trusty messenger at mydnight in all the hast requiryng hym to ryse and ryde awaye with hym for he was disposed vtterlye no lenger for to abyde for he had a fearfull dreame in the whiche he thought that a bore with his tuskes so rased theim bothe by the heddes that the bloodde ranne aboute bothe their shoulders and for asmuche as the protectour gaue the bore for his cognisaunce he ymagened that it should bee he This dreme made suche a fearfull impressioÌ„ in his hearte that he was throughly determined no leÌ„ger to tarye but had his horsso readie if the lord Hastynges would goo with hym So that thei would ryde so ferre that night that thei should bee oute of daungere by the next daye A good lord ê™ the lord Hastynges to the messenger leaneth my lord thy master so muche to suche trifles and hath suche faith in dreames whiche either his awne feare faÌ„tesieth or doo rise in that nightes rest by reason of the dayes thought Tell hym it is plaine witchcraft to beleue in suche dreames whiche if thei were tokens of
thynges to come why thynketh he not that we might as likely make theim true by our goyng if we were caught and brought backe as frendes fayle flyers for then had the bore a cause lykely to race vs with his tuskes as folkes that fled for some falshed wherfore either is their perell nor none there is deede or if any bee it is rather in goyng then abydyng And if we should nedes fall in perell one waye or other yet had I leuer that menne should se it were by other mennes falshed then thynke it were either our awne faute or faynte and feble heart and therfore goo to thy master and commende me to hym and I praye hym to bee mery and haue no feare for I assure hym I am assured of that maÌ„ne he wotteth of as I am of myne owne hande God sende grace ê™ the messenger and so departed Certen it is also that in rydyng toward the towre thesame mornyng in whiche he was behedded his horsse that he accustomed to ryde on stombled with hym twise or thrise almost to the fallyng whiche thyng although it happeneth to theim daylye to whom no myschaunce is towarde yet hath it been as an olde eiuill token obserued as a gooyng toward myschief Nowe this that foloweth was no warnyng but an enuyous scorne thesame mornyng ere he were vp from his bed where Shores wife laye with hym all night there came to hym sir Thomas Hawarde soonne to the lorde Hawarde the whiche sturryng that mornyng very earlye as it were of courtesie to accompaignie hym to the counsaill but forasmuche as the lorde Hastynges was not readye he taried awhile for hym and hasted hym awaye This sir Thomas while the lorde Hastynges stayed awhile commonyng with a preest whom he met in the towre strete brake the lordes tale saiyng to hym merely what my lord I praye you come on wherfore talke you so long with that preest you haue no nede of a preest yet and laughed vpon hym as though he would saie you shall haue nede of one sone But lytle wist the other what he meant but or night these woordes were well remembred by theim that heard theim so the true lorde Hastynges litle mistrusted and was neuer merier ner thought his life in more suretye in all his dayes whiche thyng is often a sygne of chaunge but I shall rather lette any thyng passe me then the vayne suretye of mannes mynde so nere his deathe for vpon the towre wharffe so nere the place where his hedde was of so sone after as a manne might well cast a balle a pursyuanÌ„t of his awne called Hastynges mette with hym of their metyng in the place he was put in remembrauÌ„ce of another tyme in whiche it had happened theim to mete before together in the same place at whiche tyme the lord Hastynges had beeÌ„ accused to kyng Edward by that lord Ryuers the quenes brother in somuche that he was for awhile which lasted not long highly in that kynges indignacion stode in great feare of hymself forasmuch as he nowe met thesame pursyuaunt in thesame place the ieopardy so well passed it gaue hym greate pleasure to talke with hym therof with whoÌ„ he had talked in thesame place of that matter and therfore he saied Ah Hastynges arte thou remembred when I met the here once with an heuy herte Ye my lord ê™ he that I remembre well and thanked bee God thei gatte no good ner you no harme therby thou woldest saie so ê™ he if thou knewest so muche as I dooe whiche fewe knowe yet and mo shall shortly that meant he that the erle Ryuers and that lord Richard and sir Thomas VaughmÌ„ should that daye bee behedded at Pomfrette as thei were in deede whiche acte he wyst well should bee dooen but nothyng ware that that axe honge so nere his owne hed In feith manne ê™ he I was neuer so sorye ner neuer stoode in so greate daungier of my life as I did when thou and I mette here and loe the worlde is turned nowe nowe stande myne enemies in the daungier as thou mayst happe to heare more hereafter and I neuer in my life meryer nor neuer in so greate suertie I praye God it proue so ê™ Hastynges proue ê™ he dowtest thou that naye naye I warraunt the and so in maner dyspleased he entered into the towre where he was not long on lyue as you haue hearde O lord God the blyndenesse of our mortall nature when he mooste feared he was in moost suretie and when he reconed hym self moost surest he loste his life that within .ii. houres after Thus ended this honorable manne a good knight and a gentle of great autorite with his priÌ„ce of liuyng somewhat dissolute plain and open to his enemie and sure and secrete to his frende easye to beguyle as he that of good herte and courage foresawe no perelles a louyng manne and passyng welbeloued verye faythfull trustie ynough but trustyng to much was his destruccion as you maye perceaue Nowe flewe the fame of this lordes death thorough the cytie and farther about like a wynde in euery mannes eare but the protectoure immediatly after dynner entendynge to set some coloure vpon the matter sent in all the hast for many substanciall menne out of the cytie into the towre and at their commynge hym selfe wyth the duke of Buckyngham stoode harnessed in olde euell fauoured bryganders â–ª suche as no manne woulde wene that they would haue vouchesalued to haue putte on their backes excepte some sodeyne necessitee had constreigned theim Then the lorde protectoure shewed theim that the lorde Hastynges and other of his conspyracye hadde contryued to haue sodenly destroyed hym and the duke of Buckyngham there thesame daye in councell what they entended farther was as yet not wel knowen of whiche their treason he had neuer knowledge before ten of the clocke thesame fornoone whiche sodeyne feare draue theim to put on suche harnesse as came nexte to theyr haÌ„des for their defence so God holpe theim that the mischiefe turned vpon theim that would haue done it and thus he required theim to reporte Euerye manne aunswered fayre as thoughe no manne mystrusted the matter whiche of truthe no manne beleued Yet for the farther appeasyng of the peoples myndes he sent immedyatlye after dynner an Heralde of armes with a proclamacion through the citee of London whiche was proclamed in the kynges name that the lord Hastynges with dyuerse other of his treyterous purpose had before coÌ„spired thesame daye to haue slain the protectoure and the duke of Buckyngham sittyng in counsaill after to haue takeÌ„ vpon theim the rule of the kyng and the realme at their pleasure and therby to pill and spoyle whom thei list vncomtrolled and muche matter was deuised in thesame proclamacion to the sclaunder of the lord Hastynges as that he was an eiuill counsaillour to the kynges father entisyng hym to many thynges highly redoundyng to the minisshyng of his honoure and to the
her in her age aduersite but me semeth that chauÌ„ce so much more worthy to be remeÌ„bred in howe muche after welth she fâ—ll to pouerte froÌ„ richesse to beggerie vnfreÌ„ded oute of aquayntaunce after great substauÌ„ce after so great fauoure with her prince after so great suite and seking to as many other menne were in their times whiche be nowe famous onlye by the infamye of theyr euell dedes her doinges were not muche lesse remembred because they were not so euell for none vse to wryte an euell turne in marble stone but a good turne they write in the duste whiche is not worste proued by her for after her welthe she wente begginge of manye that hadde begged theim selfes yf she had not holpen theim suche was her chaunce Nowe was it deuysed by the protectoure and his counsayle that the same daye that the lorde chaumberlayne was behedded in the towre of LoÌ„don and aboute the same houre should be behedded at Poumfret the earle Riuers the lorde Richard the quenes soonne sir Thomas Vaugham and syr Richard Haute which as you haue harde were taken at Northampton and Stonye Stratforde by the consent of the lorde Hastinges which execucion was done by the ordre in the presence of sir Richard Ratcliff knight whose seruice yâ— protectoure specially vsed in the councell in the execucion of suche lawlesse enterprises as a manne that had bene longe secrete wyth hym hauynge experyence of the worlde and shrewed wytte shorte rude in speche rough and boysterours of behaue oure bold in myshiefe as farre from pitie as from feare of God Thys knyghte broughte these foure persoonnes to the scaffolde at the daye appoynted and shewed to all the people that they were traytoures notsufferynge the lordes to speake and to declare theyr innocencye leaste their wordes myghte haue inclyned menne to pytie theym and to hate the protectour and hys part and so wyth oute iudgemente and processe of the lawe caused theim to bee behedded withoute other erthly gylt but onely that they were good menne true to the kyng and to nye to the quene insomuche as Syr Thomas Vaughan going to his deathe saied A wo woorth theim that tooke the prophecie that 〈◊〉 should destroy kyng Edwardes children mea 〈…〉 that by the duke of Clarence lorde George which for that suspicion is nowe dead but nowe remayneth Richard G. duke of Gloucetre whiche nowe I see is he that shall wyll accomplishe the prophecye and destroye kyng Edwardes chyldren all theyr alyes and frendes as it appereth by vs this daye whom I appele to the hygh tribunal of God for his wrongful murder and oure true innocencye and then Ratclyffe saied you haue well apeled laye downe your hed ye ê™ Syr Thomas I dye in ryght beware you dye not in wrong and so that good knight was beheded and that other .iii. and buried naked in the monastery at Pomfret When the lorde Hastinges and these other lordes and knyghtes were thus behedded ryd oute of the waye then the Protectoure caused it to bee proclaimed that the coronacyon for dyuerse great and vrgent causes shoulde be deferred tyll the second day of Nouembre for then thought he that whyle men mused what the matter ment whyle the lordes of the realme were aboute hym oute of their owne strengthes and while no manne wyste what to thynke nor whome to truste or euer they should haue tyme and space to digest the matter and make partes it were best hastely to pursue his purpose and put hym selfe in possessyon of the croune or menne coulde haue tyme to deuise any wyse to resyst But nowe was all the studye thys matter beynge of it selfe so heynous myghte bee fyrst broken to the people in such wise as it might be well taken To thys counsayle they tooke dyuerse suche as they thoughte metely to be trusted and lykelye to be enduced to that parte and hable to stande them in stede ether by powre or by pollycy Amonge whoâ—e they made a counsayle Edmounde Shaa then mayre of LondoÌ„ whych vpoÌ„ truste of his owne auauncement wher he was of a proude heart hyghly desyreous toke on hym to frame the cyte to theyr appetite Of spirituall meÌ„ they tooke suche as had wyt and were in auctorytee emongest the people for opynion of theyr learnynge and hadde no scrupulous conscyence Emongest these had they tooke Raffe Shaa clerke brother to the Mayre and Freer Pynkie prouyncyall of the Augustyne Freers both doctoures in diuinitee both great preachers both of more learning then vertue of more fame then learnyng yet of more lernyng then truthe For they wer before greatelye estemed emonge the people but after that neuer none of these two were regarded Shaa made a sermonde in prayse of the protectour before the coronacion and Pynky made one after the coronation bothe so full of tedious flatterye that no good mans eares coulde abyde theÌ„ Pynkye in hys sermonde so lost hys voyce that he was fayne to leaue of and come downe in the myddest Doctoure Shaa by hys sermonde loste hys honestye and soone after hys lyfe for verye shame of the worlde into the whyche he durst neuer after much come abrode but the Freer forced for no shame and so yt harmed him the lesse How beit some doubte and many thyncke that Pinkey was not of counsayl before the coronation but after the common maner fell to flattery after namely because his sermounde was not incontinente vpon it but at Saynt Mary Spittle the Eastre after But certayne it is that Doctoure Shaa was of counsayle in the begynnynge in so muche that they determyned that he shoulde fyrst breke the matter in a sermoÌ„d at Paules crosse in which he shulde by the authorytee of hys preachyng induce the people to enclyne to the protectoures ghoostly purpose But nowe was all the laboure and studye in the deuyse of some conuenyent pretexte for whyche the people shoulde be contente to depose the prynce and accepte the protectoure for kyng In whyche dyuerse thynges they deuysed but the chiefe thynge and the weyghte of all that inuention rested in thys that they shoulde alledge bastardy in kynge Edwarde hym selfe or in his chyldren or both so that he should seme disabled to enherite the crowne by the duke of yorke and the prynce by hym To laye basterdy in king Edward sounded openly to the rebuke of the protectoures owne mother which was mother to the bothe For in that poynte coulde bee none other colour but to pretend that hys owne mother was an auoutresse but neuerthelesse he woulde that poynt should be lesse and more fynely and closely handled not euen fully playne and dyrectlye but touched a slope craftely as though menne spared in that poynte to speake all the truthe for feare of his displeasure But that other poynt concerning the basterdy that they deuysed to surmise in king Edwardes children that woulde he shoulde be openly declared and enforced to the vttermost The coloure and pretexte
repete those woordes agayne This is the very noble prince the especyall patrone of knyghtlye prowes whyche aswell in all pryncely behaueoure as in the lyniamentes and fauoure of his vysage representeth the veraye face of the noble duke of Yorke his father This is the fathers owne fygure this is his owne countenaunce the veraye prynte of his visage the sure vndoubted ymage the playne expresse lykenesse of that noble duke whose remembraunce can neuer dye whyle he lyueth Whyle these wordes were in speakynge the protectour accompanyed with the duke of Buckyngham wente throughe the people vp into the place where the doctors stande and there hearde they out the sermond but the people were so farre from cryenge kynge Richard that they stoode as they had bene turned into stones for wonder of this shamefull sermond after whiche once ended the preacher gate him home and neuer after durst looke out and when he asked any of his olde frendes what the people talked of hym although that his owne conscience well shewed hym that they talked no good yet wheÌ„ the other aunswered hym that there was in euerye mannes mouthe of hym muche shame spoken it so strake hym to his heart that in fewe dayes after he wythered awaye Then on the tuysdaye after nexte folowynge this sermonde beeynge the. â—vii daye of Iune there came to the Guylde hal of London the duke of Buckyngham and dyuerse lordes and knightes mo then happely knewe the message that they brought And at the east ende of the hall where the hoystynges be kepte that duke and the mayre and the other lordes sate downe and the aldermen also all the commons of the cytee beyng assembled standynge before theim After sylence commaunded vpon a greate payne in the protectoures name The duke stoode vp and as he was well learned and of nature meruel cously well spoken he sayde to the people wyth a cleare and a lowede voyce Frendes for the zeale and hertie fauoure that we beare you we be come to breke of a matter ryghte great weightie and no lesse weyghtye then pleasyng to God and profitable to all the realme nor to no part of the realme more proffitable theÌ„ to you the cytezens of thys noble cytee For why the thinge that you haue longe lacked and as we welknowe sore longed for that you woulde haue geuen greate good for that you woulde haue gone farre to fetche that thyng bee we come hether to bring you withoute youre laboure payne coste aduentnre or ieopardy What thing is that Certes the suretie of youre owne bodies the quiet of youre wiues and doughters and the sauegard of your goodes Of all whiche thinges in times passed you stoode in doubte for who was he of you al that coulde recone hym selfe Lorde of his owne good amongest so many gynnes and trappes as were set therfore amonge so muche pilling polling amongest so many taxes and talliages of the which there was neuer ende and oftimes no nede and yf any were it grewe either of ryot or of vnreasonable waste then any necessarye honourable charge so that there was daily plucked and pylled from good and honest menne great substauÌ„ce of goodes to be lashed oute amonge vnthryftes so farforth that fiftenes suffised not nor any vsual termes of knowen taxes but vnder an easy name of beneuolence and good will the coÌ„missioners so muche of euery manne tooke as no manne would with his goo wyll haue geuen As though that name of beneuolence had signifyed that euery man should paye not what he of hym self of his good will lust to grauÌ„t but what that Kyng of his good wyl lust to take who neuer asked lytle but euery thyng was haunsed aboue the measure amercyamentes turned into fines fines into raunsomes small trespaces into misprision misprision into treasoÌ„ wher of I thynke that no manne looketh that we shall remeÌ„bre of examples by name as though Burder were forgotten that was for a woorde spoken in hast cruelly behedded by the misconstruing of the lawes of the realme for the princes pleasure with no lesse honoure to Merkam chiefe Iustice then whiche loste his office rather then he would asseÌ„t to that iudgement to the dishonestie of those that other for feare or flatterie gaue that iudgemente what nede I to speake of Thomas Cooke Aldremanne maire of this noble cytee who is of you ether for negligence that wotteth not or so forget full that he remeÌ„breth not or so heard harted that he petieth not that worshipful mannes losse what speke I of losse his wounderfull spoile and vndeserued distruccion onely because it happed theim to fauoure hym whome the Prince fauoured not We nede not reherse of these any mo by name sith I doubte not that here bee many preseÌ„t that either in theim selfes or their nyghe frendes aswell their goodes as persones were greatly endaungered other by fained quarels or smal matters aggreued with heinous names and also there was no crime so great of which there could lacke a pretexte For sith the king preuenting the time of his inheritauÌ„ce atteined the croune by battail it suffised in a riche manne for a pretext of treason to haue been of kinred or aliaunce nor of familiarite or lenger of acquaintaunce with any of those that wer at any time the kiÌ„ges enemies which was at one time or another more then halfe the realme Thus were nether your goodes nether laÌ„des in suerte yet they brought your bodies in ieopardie beside that comen adueÌ„ture of opeÌ„ war which albeit that it is euer that well occasion of much mischief yet is it neuer so mischeuous as where any people fal in deuisioÌ„ at al distauÌ„ce among theim selues in no realme erthly so deadly and so pestyleÌ„t as when it happeneth amongest vs. And among vs neuer continued so long disceÌ„cion nor so many batailes in any season nor so cruel nor so deadly foughteÌ„ as wer in that kinges daies that dead is god forgeue it his soule In whose time and by whose occasioÌ„ what about that getting of the garland keping it lesing winning again it hath coste more English blood then hath the twise winning of FrauÌ„ce In which inward war amongest our selues hath bene so great effusion of yâ— auncieÌ„t noble blood of this realme that scacely the halfe remaineth to the great enfebling of this nobleland beside many a good toune ransaked spoiled by theÌ„ that haue been going to that feld or retourning from thence peace after not much surer then war So that no tyme was there in the which riche men for theyr money great men for their landes or some other for some feare or for soÌ„e displeasure wer out of perell For whom mistrusted he that mistrusted his owne brother Whom spared he that killed his owne brother Could not such maner of folke that he moste fauoured dooe somwhat we shall for his honoure spare to speke howbeit this ye wote wel all that who so was best bare euer
framed before should after this flatering pÌ„posicion made haue cryed kiÌ„g Richard king Richard all was styl mute not one word answered to wher with the duke was meruelously abashed and takyng the Mayre nere to him with other that were about hym preuy to the matter sayde vnto theim softelye What meaneth this that the people be so styll Sir ê™ the Mayre percase they perceaue you not wel the shal we ameÌ„d ê™ he yf that wyl helpe therwith somewhat lowder rehersed the same matter again in other ordre other wordes so well and ordinately neuerthelesse so euydently plain with voyce gesture and countenaunce so comely so conuenient that euery man muche marueiled that heard hym thought that thei neuer hearde in their liues so euell a tale so well tolde But wer it for wonder or for other the eache loked that other should speake fyrst not one worde was there aunswered of all the people that stode before but all were as styll as the midnight not so much as rounyng emong theim by which they might seme once to commen what was beste to do When the Mayre sawe this he with other parteners of the councel drewe about the duke and said that the people had not bene accustomed ther to bee spoken to but by the recorder whyche is the mouth of the citee happly to hym they wyl aunswer With that the recorder called Thomas Fize William a sad man an honest whiche was but newly come to the offyce neuer had spoken to the people before loth was with that matter to begyn notwithstanding therunto commaunded by the Mayre made rehersall to the coÌ„mons of that which the Duke had twyse purposed hys self but the recorder so tempered hys tale that he shewed euery thyng as the Dukes wordes were and no parte of his owne but all this no chauÌ„ge made in the people whych alwaye after one stoode as thei had bene amased Whereupon the Duke rouned with the mayre and said this is a marueleous obstynate scylence and therwith turned to the people again with these woordes Deare frendes we come to moue you to that thyng whiche paraduenture we so greatly neded not but that the lordes of this realme and commoÌ„s of other parties might haue sufficed sauyng suche loue we beare you and so muche set by you that we would not gladly dooe with oute you that thyng in whiche to bee parteners is your weale and honoure whiche as to vs semeth you se not or waye not Wherfore we require you to geue vs an auÌ„swer one or other whether ye bee mynded as all the nobles of the realme bee to haue this noble prince nowe protectoure to bee your kyng And at these woordes the people beganne to whisper emong theim selfes secretlye that the voyce was nether lowde nor base but like a swarme of bees till at the last at the nether ende of the halle a bushement of the dukes seruauntes and one Nashfeelde and other belongyng to the protectoure with some prentices and laddes that thrusted into the halle emongest the preace began sodenly at mennes backes to crye kyng Rychard kyng Rychard and there threwe vp their cappes in token of ioye and thei that stoode before caste their heddes maruelyng therat but nothyng thei saied And when the duke and the mayre sawe this maner thei wisely turned it to their purpose and saied it was a goodly crye a ioifull to here euery manne with one voyce and no maÌ„ne saiyng naye Wherfore frendes ê™ the duke sith we perceaue that it is all your whole myndes to haue this noble manne for your kyng wherof we shall make his grace effectuall report that we doubte not but that it shall redounde to your great wealth coÌ„modite We therfore requier you that to morowe ye go with vs we with you to his noble grace to make humble peticioÌ„ request to hym in maner before remeÌ„bred And therwith the lordes came downe and the coÌ„paignie dissolued departed the more parte all sad some with glad sembleaunce the were not verye merie and some of theim that came with the duke not hable to dissemble their sorowe were faine euen at his backe to turne their face to the wall while the doloure of their heartes brast oute of their yâ—es Then on the morowe the mayre aldremen and chief commoners of the citee in their best maner appareled asseÌ„blyng theim together at Paules resorted to Baynardes castel where the ê“tectour laye to whiche place also accordyng to the apointement repaired the duke of BuckynghmÌ„ dyuerse nobles with hym besydes many knightes geÌ„tlemen And therupon that duke sent woord to the lord protectoure of the beyng there of a great honourable coÌ„paignie to moue a great matter to his grace Wherupon yâ— protectoure made great difficultie to come downe to theim excepte he knewe some part of their erraÌ„d as though he doubted partly mistrusted the commyng of suche a noumbre to hym so sodenly wtout any warning or knowledge whether thei came for good or harme TheÌ„ when the duke had shewed this to the mayre other that thei might therby se howe litle the protectoure looked for this matter thei seÌ„t again by that messenger suche louyng message ther with so humblie besought hym to vouchesalue that thei might resorte to his presence to purpose their enteÌ„t of which thei would to none other persone disclose at the last he came oute of his chauÌ„bre and yet not downe to theim but in a galary ouer theim with a bishop on euery haÌ„d of him where thei beneth might se hym speake to hym as though he would not yet come nere theim till he wist what thei meant And therupoÌ„ the duke of BuckynghmÌ„ first made huÌ„ble peticioÌ„ to him on the behalfe of theim all that his grace would pardone theim licence theim to purpose vnto his grace th eÌ„tent of their coÌ„myng wtout his displeasure wtout whiche ê‘done obteined thei durst not bee so bold to moue hym of that matter In whiche albeit thei meant asmuche honoure to his grace as wealth to al the realme beside yet were thei not sure howe his grace would take it whom thei would in no wise offende Then the protectour as he was verie gentle of hym self also loÌ„ged sore apparauÌ„tly to knowe what thei meaÌ„t gaue him leaue to purpose what hym liked trustyng for the good mind that he bare theim all none of theim any thing would entend to hymward wherw t he thought to bee greued WheÌ„ the duke had this leaue pardoÌ„ to speake theÌ„ wexed he bold to shewe hym their entent purpose with all the causes mouyng theim therto as ye before haue hearde And finally to beseche his grace the it would like him of his accustomed goodnesâ—e zeale vnto the realme nowe with his yie of pite to behold the long coÌ„tinued distresse decaie of yesame to set his gracious haÌ„d to redresse ameÌ„demeÌ„t therof by
takyng vpoÌ„ hym the croune gouernaunce of the realme accordyng to his right title laufully disceÌ„ded vnto hym to the laude of God profite surete of the laÌ„d vnto his grace so much the more honour lesse pain in that that neuer prince reigned vpon any people that were so glad to liue vnder his obeysaunce as the people of this realme vnder his When the protectoure had hearde the preposicion he looked very strangely thereat and made aunswer that albeit he knewe partely the thynges by theim alledged to be true yet suche entiere loue he bare to kyng Edward and his children and so muche more regarded his honoure in other realmes aboute then the croune of any one of whiche he was neuer desyrous so that he could not fynde in his hearte in this poincte to incline to their desyre for in all other nacions were the truthe not well knoweÌ„ it should paraduenture be thought that it were his owne ambicious mynde and deuice to depose the prince and to take hym self the croune with whiche infamye he would in no wise haue his honoure steyned for any croune in whiche he had neuer perchaunce perceaued muche more laboure pain then pleasure to hym that so would vse it as he that would not and were not worthy to haue it Notwithstandyg he not only perdoned theim the mocion that thei made hym but also thaÌ„ked theim for the loue and hartie fauoure thei bare hym praiyng theim for his sake to beare the same to the prince vnder whome he was and would bee contente to liue and with his laboure and couÌ„saill as ferre as it should like the kyng to vse it he would dooe his vttermost deuoyre to sette the realme in good estate whiche was all readye in the tyme of his protectourship lauded bee God well begonne in that the malice of suche as were before the occasion of the contrarie and of newe entended to bee were nowe partely by good policie partely more by Goddes specyall prouydence then mannes prouysion repressed and put vnder Vpon this aunswer geuen the duke of Buckyngham by the protectoures licence a lytle rounded aswell with other noble menne about hym as with the mayre and recorder of LondoÌ„ And after that vpon like perdon desyred opteyned he shewed alowde vnto the protectour for a fynall conclusion that the realme was apoynted that kyng Edwardes lyne shoulde no lenger reygne vpon theim bothe that they had so farre gone that it was nowe no suretie to retreate as for that they thought it for the weale vnyuersall to take that waye although they had not yet begon it Wherfore if it woulde like his grace to take the croune vpon hym they would humbly beseche hym thervnto and if he woulde geue theim a resolute aunswer to the contrarye whiche they would bee lothe to here then muste they seke and should not fayle to fynde some other noble man that would These woordes muche moued the protectoure whiche as euery manne of small intelligeÌ„ce maye wyt would neuer haue enclyned thereto but when he sawe there was none other waye but that he muste take it or els he and his bothe to go from it he sayde to the lordes and commoÌ„s sith it is we perceaue well that all the realme is so set whereof we be very sory that they wyll not suffre in any wyse kyng Edwardes lyne to gouerne theim whome no manne earthly can gouerne agaynste their owne wylles And we also perceaue that no manne is there to whome the croune can by so iuste tytle apperteyne as to our selfe as very right heire lawfully begotten of the body of our moste dread and dere father Rychard late duke of Yorke to which title is now ioyned your eleccion the nobles commoÌ„s of the realme whiche we of all tytles possible take moste effectuall we be content and agree fauourably to enclyne to your peticion request and accordyng to the same here we take vpon vs the royall estate of prehemynence and kyngdome of the two noble realmes Englande and Fraunce the one froÌ„ this daye forwarde by vs and oure heyres to rule gouerne and defende the other by Goddes grace and your good helpe to get agayne subdewe and establyshe for euer in due obedience vnto this realme of Englande thaduauncement wherof we neuer asâ—e of God lenger to lyue then we entende to procure and set foorth With this there was a greate crye and showte criyng kyng Richard and so the lordes went vp to the kyng and so he was after the daye called But the people departed talkyng dyuersly of the matter euery manne as his fantasie gaue hym but muche thei merueled of this maner of dealyng that the matter was on bothe partes made so straunge as thoughe neuer the one parte communed with the other parte therof before wheÌ„ they wyst that there was no man so dul that heard theim but he perceaued well ynoughe that all the matter was made betwene theim Howbeit some excused that agayne saiyng all thyng muste bee done in good ordre and men must sometyme for the maner sake not be acknoweÌ„ what thei knowe For at the consecracion of a byshop euery manne perceaueth by payment of his bulles that he enteÌ„deth to bee one yet when he is twise asked whyther he wil be a byshop he must saye naye and at the third tyme take it vpon hym as compelled therto by his owne wyll And in a stage playe the people knowe right well that he that playeth the sowdane is per case a sowter yet yf one of acquayntaunce perchaunce of lytle nurture should call hym by his name while he standeth in his maiestie one of his tourmentours might fortune breake his hed for marryng the playe And so they sayde these matters be kynges games as it were staige playes and for the mooste parte played vpon scaffoldes in which poore men be but lookers on and they that wise be wyll medle no ferther for they the steppe vp with theim wheÌ„ they can not playe their partes they disorder the playe and do theim selues no good ☞ ¶ Rychard the third RYCHARD THE THIRDE of that name vsurped the croune of England and opeÌ„ly tooke vpoÌ„ hym to be kyng the .xix. daye of Iune in the yere of our Lord a thousand foure hundreth and. lxxxiii in the .xxv. yere of Lewes the xi then beyng Frenche kyng and with greate solempnitee rode to Westmynster and there sate in the seate royall and called before hym the iudges of the realme streyghtly commaundynge theim to execute the lawe without fauoure or delaye with many good exhortacions of the which he folowed not one and then he departed towarde the abbaye and at the churche doore he was met with procession and by the abbot to hym was delyuered the sceptre of saint Edward so went offred to sant Edwardes shryne whyle the monkes sange Te deum with a faynt courage and from the churche he retourned to the palayce where he lodged tyll the coronacion
promysed hym ayde vpon the truste wherof he beganne to make redye his shippes that they might with all expedicion bee redy to sayle that no tyme should be loste In the whiche tyme kyng Richard was agayn retourned to London had taken dyuerse of theim that wer of this conspyracy that is to say George Browne Roger Clyfforde Thomas Selenger knyghtes Also Thomas Ramme Robert Clyfford and dyuerse other whom he caused to be put to death After this he called a parliament wherin was deereed that all those that were fled oute of the lande should be reputed and taken as enemyes to the realme and all their landes and goodes to bee forfayte and confiscate And not content with that preade which was no smal thyng he caused also a great taxe and some of monye to be leuyed of the people For the large giftes and lyberalytee that he first vsed to buye the fauoures frendshippes of many had now brought him in nede But nothing was more like then that Thomas Stanley shoulde haue bene reputed takeÌ„ for one of those enemies because of the woorkyng of Margarete his wife which was mother vnto Henry erle of RichemouÌ„t the which was noted for the chiefe hed worker of this coÌ„spyracy But for asmuch as it was thought that it was to small purpose that wemen coulde dooe Thomas beynge nothyng fauty was delyâ—ed and coÌ„mauÌ„ded that he should not suffre Margarete his wyfe to haue any seruauÌ„tes about her neither that she should not go abroad but be shut vp and that from thence foorth she should sende no message neyther to her soonne nor to any of her other frendes wherby any hurte mighte be wrought agaynst the kyng the whiche commaundemeÌ„t was accomplyshed And by the authoryte of the same perliament a peace was concluded with the Scottes whiche a lytle before had skyrmyshed with the borderers Which thyng brought to passe the kyng supposed all conspiracye to bee clene auoyded for asmuche as the duke with other of his compaignie were put to death and also certen other bannyshed Yet for all this kyng Richard was daylye vexed and troubled partelye mystrustynge his owne strength and partely fearyng the commyng of Henrye with his compaignye so that he lyued but in a myserable case And because that he would not so continue any lenger he determyned with hym selfe to put awaye the cause of this his feare and busynesse either by pollecye or elles by strength And after that he hadde thus purposed with hym selfe he thought nothyng better then to tempte the duke of Britayn yet once again eyther with money prayer or some other speciall rewarde because that he had in kepyng the erle Henry moste chiefly because he knewe that it was only he that might delyuer hym from all his trouble by delyueryng or imprisoning the sayed Henry Wherfore incontmentlye he sente vnto the duke certein Ambassadoures the whiche should promesse vnto hym besyde other greate rewardes that they broughte with theim to geue hym yerely all the reuenues of all the landes of Henry and of all the other lordes there beyng with hym yf he woulde after the receyte of the ambassadoures put theim in prysone The Ambassadoures beynge departed and come where the duke laye could not haue communicacion with hym for asmuch as by extreme sicknesse his wyttes were feble and weake Wherfore one Peter Landose his Treasourer a manne bothe of pregnaunte wytte and of greate authoritee tooke this matter in hand For whiche cause he was afterwarde hated of all the lordes of Britain With this Peter the Englishe ambassadoures had communicacion declaring to hym the kynges message desyred hym instantlye for asmuche as they knewe that he might bring theyr purpose to passe that he woulde graunt vnto kyng Richardes request and he shoulde haue the yerely reuenues of all the landes of the sayed lordes Peter considering that he was greatly hated of the lordes of his owne nacion thoughte that yf he myght bring to passe thoroughe kyng Richarde to haue all these greate possessyons and yerely reuenues he should then bee hable to matche with theim well ynough and not to care a rushe for theim whereupon he aunswered the ambassadoures that he would doo that Richard dyd desire yf he brake not promesse with hym And this did he not for any hatred that he bare vnto Henry for he hated hym not for not longe before he saued his lyfe where the earle Henry was in greate â—eoperdye But suche was the good fortune of Englande that this craftye compacte tooke no place for whyle the letters and messengers ranne betwene Peter and kyng Kichard Iohn Bishoppe of Ely beinge then in Flaundres was certifyed by a preest whiche came oute of England whose name was Christopher Vrswicke of all the whole circumstaunce of this deuyce purpose Wherupon with all spede the sayed byshop caused the saied preest the same daye to cary know ledge therof into Britayn to Henry erle of Richemounte willing hym with all the other noble men to dyspatche theim selues with all possible haste into Fraunce Henry was then in Veneti wheÌ„ he heard of this fraud without tariaunce sent Christopher vnto Charles the Frenche kyng desiring lycence that Henry with the other noble men myght safely come into Fraunce the which thing being sone obteigned the messenger retourned with spede to his lorde and Prince Then the earle Henry setting all his businesse in as good staye ordre as he mighte talked lytle and made fewe a counsail herof for the more expedicyon hereof he caused therle of Penbrucke secretly to cause all the noble men to take their horses dissembling to ride vnto the duke of Bretain but when they came to the vttermost partes therof they should forsake the waye that led theim toward the duke and to make into Fraunce with all that euer they might Then they dooing in euery thing as they were biddeÌ„ loste no tyme but so sped theim that shortely they obteygned and gate into the couÌ„tie of Angeou Henry then within .ii. dayes folowyng being then styll at Veneti tooke .iiii. or fyue of his seruauntes with hym and feigned as thoughe he woulde haue ryden therby to visyte a frende of his and forasmuche as there were many Englishmenne lefte there in the toune no manne suspected any thynge but after that he had kepte the ryghte waye for the space of fyue myles he forsooke that and turned streyghte into a woode that was thereby and tooke vpon hym his seruauntes apparell and putte his apparell vpon hys seruaunte and so tooke but one of theym with hym on whome he waited as thoughe he had bene the seruaunte and the other the maister And with all conuenyente and spedy haste so sette forthe on theyr iourney that no tyme was loste and made no more tariaunce by the way then onelye the baitynge of theyr horses so that shortly he recouered the coastes of Angeou where all his other companye was But within foure dayes after that the Earle was thus escaped
and also to arme theim selfes spedelye agaynste theyr enemies And so to come to our purpose agayn kyng Richard thorough the aforesaide tydynges beganne to bee more carelesse and rechelesse as who saye he had no power to withstand the desteny that honge ouer his hedde Suche is the prouydent iustyce of God that a manne dooeth leste knowe prouyde beware when the vengeaunce of God is euen at hande for his offences And to go forth at the tyme when Henry the earle of Richemounte remayned in Fraunce entretyng and suyng for ayde helpe of the Frenche men many of the chiefe noble men which had the realme in gouernaunce because of the young age of Charles the kyng fel somewhat at dissencion of the whiche variaunce Lewes the prynce of Orlyaunce was the chiefe and hedde whiche because he had maryed Iohanne the kynges syster looked to haue bene chiefe gouernoure of all the realme By the which meanes it came to passe that no one man had the princypall gouernaunce of the realme And therefore Henry the erle was constraigned to sue vnto all the nobles seuerallye one after another desyrynge and praiynge theim of aide and helpe in his purpose and thus the matter was prolonged In the meane tyme Thomas the Marques of Dorcet of whome we spake afore was preuely sent for to come home by his mother partely mystrustynge that Henrye should not preuayle and partly for the greate and large promesses that kyng Richard had made to her for hym before Whiche letters when the sayd Marques had receaued he beleuyng all thynges that his mother wrote vnto hym and also thynkyng that Henry should neuer preuayle and that the Frenchemen did but mocke and daylye with hym he sodeynly in the night tyme conueyed hym selfe out of Parys and with great spede made towardes Flaūders The whiche thyng when the erle and other of the Englishe lordes heard of thei wer sore astonned amased with all spede purchased of Charles the kyng a lycence and commaundement that the Marques might by steyed whersoeuer he wer found with in the dominion of Fraūce chiefly for that he was secrete of their councel and knewe all there purpose The cōmaundemēt was quickly obteyned postes made forth euery waye emōgest whom one Humfrey Cheyncy plaiyng the parte of a good blooddehounde so truely smelled out and folowed the trace that by and by he found out and toke the Marques and so handled persuaded hym with gentle and good woordes that shortely after he was content to retourne Then Henry beyng delyuered of this chaunce thought it best to prolonge the matter no farther least he should loose both the present oportunytee and also wery his frendes that looked for hym in Englande Wherfore he made haste and set forewarde with a small army obteyned of the Frenche kyng of whom he also borowed some money and some of other of his frendes for the whiche he left the Marques and Ihon Burchere behynde for a pledge And so setting forward came to Roan and whyle he taryed there and prepared shippyng at the hauen of Seyne tydynges cam to hym the kyng Richardes wyfe was deade purposed to mary with the lady Elysabeth kyng Edwardes eldest doughter being his nice that he had maried Cycile her syster to a mannes sonne of the lāde far vnderneth her degre At the whiche thyng Henry was sore amased and troubled thynkyng that by this meanes al his purpose was dashed for that there was no other waye for hym to come to the kyngdome but only by the maryage of one of kyng Edwardes doughters And by this menes also he feared least his frendes in Englande would shrynke frō hym for lacke of an honest title But after thei had consulted vpon the matter thei thought it best to cary a lytle to proue if they might gette more helpe and make mo frendes And among all other they thought it best to adioyne the lord Harbarte vnto theim whiche was a mā of great power in Wales and that should be brought to passe by this meanes for that the lorde Harbarte had a syster maryable whō Henry would be content to mary if he would take their part And to brīg al this matter to passe messengers were sent to Henry the erle of Northhumberlande whiche had maryed the other syster so that he should bryng this matter about but the wayes were so beset that the messengers could not come to hym And in the meane season came veray good tydynges from Ihon ap Morgan a temporall lawyer whiche signified vnto theim that syr Ryce ap Thomas a noble and valiaunt man and Ihon Sauage fauoured his parte earnestlye and also syr Reynolde Braye had prepared a greate summe of mony to wage battayl on his parte and to helpe hym and therfore he woulde they should make hast with all that euer they could and make towarde Wales Then Henry spedely prepared hym selfe because he would lynger his frendes no lenger And after that he had made his prayer vnto almightye God that he might haue good successe in his iourney only with two thousande menne and a fewe shyppes in the calendes of August he sayled from the hauen of Seyne and the seuēth daye after whiche was the .xxii. daye of August he aryued in Wales aboute sonne set lāded at Wilforde hauen in the parte whiche is called the Dale where he hearde that there was dyuerse layde in wayte for hym to kepe hym backe From thence in the mornyng betymes he remoued towarde a towne called Harford with in tēne myle of the Dale where he was very ioyfully receyued Here he had contrarye tydynges brought to that he hearde in Normādy afore that syr Ryce ap Thomas and Ihon Sauage wythal that euer they coulde make were of kyng Richardes parte Notwithstandynge they had suche tydynges sent theim frō the menne of Pembruche by a valiaūt gentlemā whose name was Arnold Butteler that it reioysed all their heartes whiche was that yf all former offences might bee remitted they woold bee in a redynesse to sticke vnto there owne Gespare the erle Then Henryes company by this meanes beeyng encreased departed frō Harforde fyue myle towarde Cardygane and then while he refreshed his menne sodenly came a rumoure vnto hym that the lorde Harbarte whiche dwelled at Carmerdyne was nye at hande with a greate armye of menne At the whiche rumoure there was a greate sturre amongeste theim euerye manne tooke hym selfe to his weapon and made theim selfes redye if nede were to fight and a lytle while they were all afrayed tyl such tyme as Henrye had sent out horsemen to trye the truthe whiche when thei came agayn declared that all thynges was quiet and that ther was no suche thyng But moste of all master Gryffythes a verye noble man did conforte theim and gladden their heartes whiche although before he had ioyned hym self to the lorde Harberte at that very tyme he cleued to Henry with suche companye as he had although they were but
fewe and thesame tyme came Ihon ap Morgā vnto hym Henry went styll forward caried almoste in no place because he would make suer woorke and the better spede he inuaded suche places afore that thei were armed against hym the whiche places he bette downe with very litle strēgth But afterward hauyng knowlage by his spyes the the lorde Harbert syr Ryce were in a redynes to geue hym battail he determyned to set vpō theim either to put theim to flight orels to make theim sweare homage and feaultee vnto hym to take theim with hym in his hoste against kyng Richard And because he woulde ascertayne his frendes in Englande howe all the matter went forwad with hym he sent of his moost trustye frendes to ladye Margarete his mother to Standely to Talbot and to other of his most especial frendes with certain commaundementes The effecte of the commaundementes were that he intended with the helpe of hys frendes to passe ouer Seuerne and by Shrewesbury to make toward London Ther fore he desyred theim with those that were of their councell in tyme place conuenient to mete hym So the messaungers going forth with these commissyons Henry went forward toward Shrewesbury and in the waye mette with syr Rice ap Thomas with a great noumber of menne which came vnto hym and was of his parte For two dayes afore Henry promysed hym to bee chiefe ruler of all Wales as soone as he came to the croune yf he would come vnto hym which afterward he gaue to hym in dede In the meane time the messengers executing the message diligētly returned back agayne with large rewardes of theim to whome they were sent and came to Henry the same day he entred into Shrewesburye and shewed howe all his frendes were in a redynesse to dooe the vttermoste that laye in theim This tidynges put Henry in suche greate hope that he went forth with a courage and came to the towne of Newporte and there set vp his tentes vpon a lytle hyll and there laye all night That night came to hym syr Gylberte Talbot with aboue two hundreth menne After that they went forthe to Stafforde whyle they were there Willyam Standley came to hym with a fewe after hym and when he had talked a litle with him retourned backe again to his hoste whiche he had prepared From thence he went to Lichfelde and that nyght laye without the toune but in the morning betime he entred into the citee and was receiued honourably A daye or .ii. afore Thomas Standley was there with fyue M. men armed whiche when he knewe of Henries cōming forthwith went afore to a village called Aderstone there to tarye tyll Henrye came This he dyd to auoide suspicion beyng afraid least kyng Richard knowing his intent would haue put his soonne to deathe whiche as I telled you before was lefte with hym as a pledge for his father But kynge Rychard in the meane tyme which then was at Nottingham hearing that Henry with a fewe more of banished men was entred into Wales so lightly regarded the matter that he thoughte it was not muche to bee paste vpon for that he came in with so fewe in noumbre and that the lorde Harbart sir Rice which wer rulers of all Wales would other kyll hym or elles take hym and bring hym aliue But afterward when he remembred him self that oftentimes a smal matter in batel if it bee not looked vnto betymes would make at the laste a great sturre he thought it best to remedy the matter betimes and commaunded Henrye the earle of Northumberlande with other of the nobles of the realme whome he thoughte had set more by hym then by their owne goodes to rayse vp an army to come to hym with speede Also he sente dyuers messengers with letters to Robert Brakenburye keper of the Towre of London commaundynge hym to come vnto hym in all haste and to brynge with hym as felowes in battell Thomas Burschere Walter Hungerforde and dyuerse other knyghtes whome he dyd not a litell suspecte In this tyme it was shewed that Henrye was come to Shrewisburye without any hurte With the which tidinges the kyng beganne to rage and made exclamacion againste theim that contrary to their faithes they had vtterly deceiued hym then he beganne to mistrust all menne and wiste not whome he mighte truste so that he thoughte it best to sette forthe hym selfe ageinst his aduersaryes And forthwith he sent out spies to knowe which waye Henry did take They when they had dooen their diligence retourned backe again and shewed hym howe that Henry was come to Lichfeld The which thing after he knew because now there was a greate noumbre of souldyours come together by and by his menne set in araye he commaunded theim forwarde and to gooe foure and foure together and by that waye which they kept they hearde saye their enemies were commynge The suspecte persones he putte in the myddes he hym selfe with those he trusted came behind with winges of horsemen running on euery syde And thus keping their order aboute sonne sette came vnto Leicestre When Henrye in the meane season had remoued from Lichefelde vnto the nexte village called Tamworth in the mydwaye he mette with Walter Hungerforde Thomas Burschier and many other more which had promised to aide hym afore And forbecause they perceyued that they were susspected of Richard least they should be brought violentlye vnto hym beyng their enemye they forsooke Robert Brakenbury their capitaine and in the nyghte tyme stale priuely awaye and wente to Henry Vnto whome there chaunced by the waye that was worthy to bee marked whiche was that Henry althoughe he was a manne of noble courage and also his companye dyd dailye encrease yet for all that he stoode in great feare because he was vncertayne of Thomas Standly whiche as I telled you before for the feare of puttynge his soonne to deathe inclyned as yet vnto no parte that the matter was not so slēder of kyng Richard as reporte was made to hym of his frendes Wherfore as all afrayde withoute a cause he tooke onely twenty menne with him and steyed in his iourney as a manne in dispaire and halfe musynge with hym selfe what was beste to bee dooen and to aggrauate the matter tidinges was broughte hym that kyng Richard was comming nere to mete hym with a great and houge hoste of menne And while he thus lyngered for feare behinde his hoste came afore to the toune of Tham worth and because it was then darke night he lost bothe his company and also his waye then wandryng frome place to place at laste came to a lytle village .iii. myle from his hoste being full of feare and leste he should fall into the daunger of scoute watche he durste not aske a questyon of any man and partly for the feare that was presente partely for that was to come he laye there that nyght and tooke this for a sygne or a pronosticacyon of
first hearyng of this the kyng was but litle moued but after that he was certified by the letters of his frendes that it was true he was in greate feare for that he had neyther an armye prepared nor harnyes for theim but because the mattier required haste least that by long taryeng his aduersaries power might bee encreased and multiplyed he commaunded the Duke of Bedforde to mete theim with three thousande meÌ„ne whiche were harnysed but barely for theyr breste plates were for the moste parte lether And he hym selfe in that meane tyme would gather vp an hoste where he might in euery place The duke hauyng his meÌ„ nigh to the teÌ„tes of his enemyes coÌ„sulted with certain of his coÌ„paignie by what waye he mighte traine theim to peace withoute bloodde shedyng After the whiche deliberation aduisement had it was decreed that certaine shoulde proclaime openly that all thei should haue their pardonne that woulde leaue battaile The whiche proclamation auayled muche for the Lorde Louell eyther for some feare or mystrust that he had in his people or feryng hym selfe of his owne behalfe fledde pryuely in a night from his compaignie to Lankeshire ther remained a space with syr Thomas Broghton knight And when hys army had knowledge therof thei also submittyng theim selfes all to the Duke asked pardonne for their heinous offence The Lorde Stafforde also hearyng this was in a great agony and for feare dyd take sanctuarye at Colname .ii. miles from Abindon But because that sanetuary was not a defence for traytours he was taken from that place and behedded and his brother was ê‘doned because he was thought not to haue done it of his owne will but thorowe the counsaill and perswasion of his brother After this businesse was asswaged and Yorke shyre set in peace and quietnes the Kyng went to London and shortelye after that to Wynchester where the Quene his wyfe was deliuered of a Prynce called Arthure and from Wynchester he retourned agayne to London Sone after it chaunsed that one syr Richard Symond preest borne by nature to be a traytour and sedicious personne and yet well learned had a chyld called Lambert Symenel to bee hys scholar by whome he inuented this crafte and disceat that he woulde make the chyld kyng of England and hym selfe archebyshoppe or some hygh potestate in the realme for he knewe verely that many menne supposed kyng Edwardes chyldren to bee fled into some straunge place and that Edwarde the Erle of Warwyke sonne to the Duke of Clarence ether was or should bee put to death shortly And to the ende he myght the better bryng hys purpose about he taught the chyld bothe learnyng good maners and also to order hym selfe as one linially descendyng from a hygh progenie Sone after the rumoure was that the younge Earle of Warwyke was dead in prysonne And when the preest heard of this he intendyng therby to bring his matters aboute chaunged the chyldes name and called hym Edwarde after the younge Earle of Warwyke the whiche were boothe of one age and then sayled into Irelande there opening his mynde to certain of the nobilitee whome he knew to beare but lytle fauoure to Kyng Henry where he was promysed ayde of the Lorde Gerardine chauncellour of all that countree and all that he coulde dooe Whyche Lorde fyrst callyng all hys frendes and louers together desyred their helpe in restoryng the yong Earle to his herytage And dyd sende certain into Englande to desire theym that were kynge Rychardes frendes to continue in their loue and faythfulnes towardes hym and helpe hys nephiewes chylde to his ryghte And that hys power myghte bee the stronger to ouercome hys enemyes he desyred Lady Margarete syster to kynge Edwarde and wyfe to the Duke of Burgondy to further hys purpose with her helpe whyche lady beyng then in Flaunders promised him by the messaungers that she would not onely maintaine his entente with large mony and substaunce but with all the laboure and peynes that she myght occasion other to be of the same conspiracie When kynge Henrye was certified of thys he was sore greued that by the meanes of suche a myscreaunte personne so great sedicion should bee neuerthelesse the kynge consideringe that it shoulde bee to the destruccion of manye menne yf that he shoulde fyghte with his enemies in open feelde called hys counsayle together at the Charter house besyde Rychemounde and there consulted to pacifie thys matter wythoute anye more dysturbaunce Where fyrste it was decreed that all thei shoulde bee pardoned for their offences and treasons latelye commytted whiche hath frome that tyme borne theim selfes vpryght towardes their kinge leaste that syr Thomas Broghton whyche kepte the Lord Louell from the king a great tyme wyth other despeyring of theyr pardon shoulde haue made some sodaine insurrection agaynst hym Further more that men shoulde not thyncke but that the Duke of Clarence was in Englande it was appoynted that he shoulde showe hym selfe abrode wherby the opynion that he was in Ireland myghte bee frustrate and accompted as a lye Also it was further determyned that the Ladye Elysabeth wyfe to kyng Edward the .iiii. shoulde lose al her landes because she had submitted her selfe and her doughters wholye to the handes of kynge Rychard contrary to the promyse made to the Lordes and nobles whyche at her desyre lefte al that they had in Englande and fledde to kynge Henrye in Brytayne and there dyd sweare hym to marye her eldeste daughter as she wylled theim to dooe But her purpose did not frame as God would Thys quene buylded a Collage in Cambrydge and gaue landes to the maynteyning of the same whiche at thys houre is called the quenes Collage When thys order and determynacion of the kynge was ended he wente to London and the nexte Sondaye folowynge he caused the young Earle to bee broughte out of the Tower through the streetes to Poules And there to shewe hym selfe to euerye bodye and taske with the chiefe and noble menne that were thoughte to haue conspyred agaynste kynge Henrye for thys cause that they myghte perceaue the Iryshe menne to moue battayle vnaduysedly and cause stryfe vppon no iuste occasion howebeit all thys nothyng auayled for the Earle of Lyncolne the Duke of Suffolkes soonne and nephewe to kynge Edwarde coulde not suffer kynge Henrye thus to reygne but as a traytoure sayled into FlauÌ„ders to the Ladye Margarete takynge wyth hym Syr Thomas Broghton with certayne other Where also the Lorde Louell landed twoo or three dayes before And there they beynge all together determyned that the Earle of Lyncolne and the Lorde Louell shoulde goo to Irelande and there attend vpon the counterfeyte Earle and brynge hym to Englande with all the power they myghte agaynste kynge Henrye So that yf their dooynges had good successe that then the foresayde Lambarte misnamed the Earle shoulde by the consente of the counsayle be deposed and the true Earle to bee delyuered oute of pryson and enherite his right and iuste
tytle of his dominion But the kyng not mistrusting any man to bee so foolysh hardy as to fyght in such a cause or anye so vndyscrete especiallye of hys realme as to beleue it dyd onelye mynde the suppressynge of the Iryshe menne and theyr enterpryse to subdue Yet hearynge that the Earle of Lyncolne with other were fledde and gooen to hys aduersaries he caused the borders to bee dilygentlye kepte that none other myghte escape or geue theym socoure and commynge to the abbaye of Sayncte Edmundes Burye it was certified that the Lorde Thomas Marques was come to excuse and pourge hym selfe before hym for certayne thynges that he was suspected to whome the kynge dyd sende the Earle of Oxford to take him commynge and conueyghe hym to the Towre of London for thys cause that yf he were his frende as he was in dede that he should not bee myscontented to suffer a lytle imprysonmente for the safetie of hys kynge yf he were not hys frende there to tarye that he myghte haue no damage or hurte by hym And so the kynge wente forthe to Norwyche and tariynge there Christemas daye went after to Walsingham and from thence to Cambridge and so streyght to London In this tyme the erle of Lincolne the lord Louell had got about two thousande Germaynes wyth Martyn Swarte to be theyr captayne and so saylynge to Ireland came and made the fornamed Lambarte kyng of Englande at Deuelynge And so wyth the greate multitude of Iryshe menne aswell naked and vnarmed personnes as other that the Lorde Gerardyne had vnder hym they sayled into Englande and landed for a purpose wythin a lytle of Lancastre trustynge there to bee ayded of Syr Thomas Broghton the chiefe authoure of thys conspiracie The kynge not slepynge hys mattiers but mystrustynge that such thynges shoulde chaunce sente certayne Knyghtes throughe all the Easte parties to attende the commynge of hys enemyes and gatherynge all hys hooste together went hym selfe to Couentree where he beynge it was certified hym that the Earle of Lyncolne was landed at Lancastre wyth the newe kynge Whome the kynge appoynted to meete after the consente and agremente of hys counsayle and to goo vppon theym wythoute anye farther delaye least that theyr power by long sufferaunce should bee augmented and multiplyed And so after suche aduisemente taken he went to Notingham and there by a lytle woodde called Boures he pytched hys tentes To whome shortelye after came the Lorde Talbote Earle of Shrowesburye the Lorde Straunge the Lorde Cheiney wyth a greate armye of menne and manye other noble menne whose names here after ensue Rauff Longforde Ihon Montigomery Henry Vernone of Pek Rauff Shurley Godfrey Folgehan Thomas Gryfley Edwarde Sutton Humfrey Stanley an other Humfrey StaÌ„ley Wyllyam Hugton Wyllyam Meryng Edward Stanope Geruase Clifton Brian Stapulton Henry Wylloughby Wyllyam Perpoyntes Ihon Babyngton Wyllyam Bedyll Robert Brundell Ihon MarkhamÌ„ Wyllyam Merbury Edwarde Aborogh Wyllyam Tyrwite Ihon Hussey Robert Shefilde Wyllyam Newporte Roger Ormeston Thomas Tempest Wyllyam Knyuett Henry Wyllaybet Lord Edward Hastyngges Ihon Dygby SimoÌ„ Digby HaringtoÌ„ Richarde Sachenerell Ihon Vyllers Edwarde Fyldyng Thomas Polteney Nicholas Vaux Thomas Gryne Nicolas Griffin Edmund Lucy Edwarde Belknap Robert Throgmarton George Graie of Ruthin Guide Wolstone Thomas Fynderye Dauid Phillips Thomas Cheiney Robert Cotton Ihon Saint Ihon Ihon Mordant Thomas Terell Ihon Raynsford Robert Paynton Robert Danyell Henry Marney Edmunde Aroundell Also there came froÌ„ the ferdest partes of his realme other noble men as these George Oglye Rauff Neuill Richard Latemere Wyllyam Bulmere Ihon Langforde Wyllyam Norrys Ihon Neuill of Thortinbridge and Ihon Wyllyams The erle of Lyncolne in the meane season went forth softely with his compaignie into Yorkeshire without hurte or discommoditie of any maÌ„ne that dwelt therabout trustyng partely therby ê‘tely also bycause he was well knowen and acquainted emong theim that he should get greate ayde and socour there But when he perceiued very few or none to folowe hym and that he could not seyng his enemies were so nigh hand and he also so far entred in safegard with his hoste returne bacward yet he thought it best to abyde taste the chaunce of battaill and so muche that rather because he sawe Henry within twoo yeres before accompaignâ—ed but with a fewe and small sorte of souldiers ouercome kyng Richard whiche brought with hym a greate hoste of well armed menne Wherfore he beeyng now in a greate hope of victory toke his iorney thens towarde Newarke there to sette his souldyours in araye and mete the kyng whom he knew well though not to bee paste .ii. dayes iorney from hym But before he could come thither kyng HeÌ„ry whiche was surely certified of all thynges that he did or weÌ„t about came to Newarke alitle before the euen that thei should fight on that morowe other wyse then the erle loked for and there tariyng not long went forth three myles ferther and sette his tentes and taryed all night Of whose commyng although therle knewe yet he went foorth lustely of his tourney and came that night to a village nigh to his enemies which is called Stooke and there pitched his tentes The next daie the kyng so sone as he had sette his souldyours in due ordre and araye went forwarde with all spede to the place where the erle with all his laye To the whiche place when he was come had appointed the felde which was moste mete for the battaill to bee fought in by by gaue place for his enemies to come foorth and prouoked theim to battaill But as ready as he was to prouoke so readie wer thei of their owne courage to come foorth so that of bothe parties thei ranne to battaill and fought moste egerly in whiche toÌ„flicte it did euidently appere that the Germaines whiche were sette in the forewarde whose capitain was Martine Swarte were nothyng woorse in manlynesse and cheualry which thei gotte chiefly by daily and long exercise then the Englishemen And the Ireshmen although thei fought verie lustely yet by the reason that thei ware not harnes accordyng to their fasshioÌ„ and custome were discomfcited and beate downe bothe more in noÌ„bre and soner then all the other Yet was this battaill so earnestlie boldly fought for a whyle of bothe parties that it could not bee wel discerned to whiche syde the victorie would incline But at the last the kynges forewarde which there abode all ieoperdie so lustely couragiously ranne vpon their enemies that they were none hable to resist or abyde their power so that all aswell Germaines as Irish men were there slain orels made to flie of the whiche none at all could escape awaie Whiche battaill wheÌ„ it was thus dooen all meÌ„ne might se of what boldnes audacitie these rebellioÌ„s were For their capitaines Ihon erle of Lincolne FraÌ„cis Louell Thomas BroghtoÌ„ Martine Swart Thomas Gerardine neuer gaue backe one foote but were slaine all in the same place where thei began first to fight
many honest menne that he came but of a lowe and course parentage and he was named Peter War becke whiche thing also the kynges frendes certified hym by their letters and writynges to hym more plaine and euidentelye Therfore when the kyng had knowen the matter wholy aswel by his frendes as by his spies sent foorth purposelye for the same he caused it to bee proclaimed openly aswell in other regions countrees as in England that the disceate and deuelish crafte might appere euident to euery manne And firste he sent ambassadours to Philyp the chiefe capitaine in Flaundres and to his councell because he was but of a younge age whiche were sir Edward Poninges knight and sir William Varame preest and lawyer that they might shewe euidently howe falsely the younge manne hath vsurped the name of Richarde duke of Yorke whiche was kylled with his brother Edward in the Towre of London at the cōmaundement and will of kyng Richard his vncle as euery man coulde testifye and affirme most surely Also that he was borne of a poore stocke and an obscure famulie in Tornace and there named Perkin Warbecke and therfore that it woulde please hym his councel not to suffer theim selfes to bee blynded or seduced with suche mere impostures and craftie illusions nor yet to aide hym at any hande to cause sedicion or strife consideryng that he had no iuste title to the enheritynge of the same And that they would the rather bee his frendes nowe because that he helped Maximilian theyr kyng the yere before againste the power and violencye of the Frenche menne where as he of hym selfe was not hable to refyste theyr myghte and stronge power When the Ambassadours had dooen their message they were gentely entretayned of hym and had their request that he woulde not for the loue that he oughte vnto the kynge no nor any of his counsaile helpe thesame Perkin any thinge at all Neuerthelesse yf the quene Margaret would persiste and continewe in her malice towardes the kyng whome the Ambassadour sir William Varame had reproued and checked sore for bringing vp of suche monsters and commune plagues to the publike weale in his oration that he made vnto Philippe and his counsayle it was not in their power to withstande it for because that she might doo in her owne herytage all thinges at her owne wyll and pleasure Whiche quene entended fully to arme this Perkin with a stronge compaignye of menne against kyng Henry After that kynge Henrye dyd heare of this he purposed to pacyfye all this busynesse that was like to chaunce by wytte and policye and streight dyd sende foorthe certaine spies whiche shoulde fayne theim selfes to haue fledde vnto the Duke and by that meanes searche foorthe and knowe the whole entente of theyr coniuracion and after what waye they framed theyr matters Other also shoulde promyse a pardon and remyssyon vnto syr Roberte Clyfforde and Willyam Barley for their offence cōmitted to the kyng And when they had so dooen many of theim returned to Englande and broughte the names of certayne that were chief of the same conspiracye Other taried vntyll suche tyme that sir Robert Clifforde came to Englande agayne And when the kyng had knowen the chief capitaines of this tumulte by his spyes that were there with theim he caused all them to bee attached brought to London before his presēce whose names wer sir Iohn Ratclyffe syr Simon Monforde syr Thomas Thwarte knightes William Dabeney Roberte Ratcliffe Richard Lesey with many other Also certaine preestes and religious menne as sir William Richeford and Thomas Poynes bothe monkes of sainct Dominikes order sir William Sutton sir William Vrseley Deane of Poules Robert Layborne Other that were giltie of the same crime hearing that many of their compaignie wer taken fledde and did take sanctuarye And the other that were taken wer condempned all of treason of the whiche there was heded sir Simon Monford sir Robert Ratcliffe and William Dabeney as authours chiefe capitaines of this busines The other were pardoned and the Preestes also for their order that they had taken Also sir Iohn Ratcliffe was pardoned of his lyfe but after that he came to Calisse there caste in prisone he was behedded because he corrupted the kepers with many promises to haue escaped out of the same Shortly after sir Robert Clifford trusting to find fauour grace at the kynges hande came to England of whose cōming when the kyng was certified he went streight to the towre of London there taryed tyll suche tyme the syr Robert Clyfford came whiche thyng he vsed vnder this pretence that yf sir Robert Clifford had accused any man to hym of the treason that then euerie suche person mighte bee called thether withoute anye suspectiō of anie euel and there streight to bee cast in holde but before I goo furder I wyll shewe the opinion that many men conceaued of the knightes goynge to Flaunders Some men helde this opinion that kyng Henrye dyd sende hym as a spye to Flaunders and therfore he came the soner into his fauoure Neuerthelesse this is not lyke to bee true by diuerse reasōs Fyrst that it tourned to the great infamye and hurt both of hym selfe and his frendes Secondarly that he was not in so greate fauoure with the kyng as he had ben in tymes past for because that he was giltie in that part Therfore the saied sir Robert now comming to the king after his retourne into England kneled mekelye downe at his feet and desired pardō of his grace and after that beyng enquired of the coniuration and examined who wer the authours of this mischiefe he pronounced saied that William Stāly whome the kynge made Earle was one of the chief when he had so saied the kyng was greatly dismayed greued that he should offend whō he had made chief of his priuie chamber considering also that he had founde great kindenes hertofore at his hande and that he dyd ouercome kyng Rychard chiefly by his helpe and meanes So that the kyng coulde not bee perswaded that he was any suche offender had not it bene shewed him after by manifest tokens and apparēt argumentes the it was true as he saied Whom the king thē caused to be taken and examined of the matter after the which examinacion he was proued to be an offender Then the kynge doubtynge what to dooe with him dyd consult and breath a lytle with him selfe for he feared that his brother lord Thomas by whom he had shewed great kyndnesse woulde take it greuously also yf he shoulde remitte that faulte other would abuse his lemtee and trespace more highly Albe it at the laste he wylled that he shoulde suffer for his offence and so caused hym to bee behedded The cause that their loue as mē reporte dyd chaunge into hatred was this The lorde Wylliā consideryng that he saued the kyng and brought hym to this realme to be gouernour thought he could neuer bee recompensed for hys
wealth partely that this Parkyn if his matters goo well forwarde would rewarde theim as thei would desire and enriche their realme moste plentefully by his liberalite partely also that Henry the kyng perceiuyng their kyng to assist hym would gladly paie tribute to hym for a peace and concord to bee had When this counsaill was gyuen the kyng did gladly folowe it and that his loue might bee more apparent to the people he caused ladie Katherine doughter to therle of Hūtley his nigh kinsemā to be maried to hym After this was dooen the kyng willyng that this Perkyn should reigne in Englāde hastened his iourney towarde the borders there cōmyng proclamed openly the all should bee pardoned the would beare with the duke of Yorke fight in his quarell and that mēne might for feare submitte theim selfes thei burned spoyled killed with out all mercie as ferre as thei did go but the kyng perceiuyng that no Englishemen came to aide this young duke that his souldiours wer so loden with praies spoiles that thei would not gladly go further he returned backe to Scotlād cariyng with hym infinite goodes riches And when this duke came to Scotlande again consideryng the greate distruccion and losse of the Englishmen that none came to aide hym to the entēt that his iuglyng of his countrefeict dignite might not be perceiued he saied verie craftely with a loude voice Oh wretch and stonie hearte that I am not moued with the losse and death of so many Englishemen of myne and at that woorde he desired the kyng that he would not molestate his realme herafter with suche cruel tormentyng and fieryng To whom the kyng shaped hym this aunswere right shortely Truely sir me thynke you take charge and thought of an other mannes realme and not of your owne because that I coulde se no manne that woulde take your parte and helpe you with his power whē you were now last emong theim And for this cause the kyng did litle esteme hym after that tyme countyng hym incōstant vnstable and speakyng woordes not agreyng to his promise When the English lordes and captaines hearde of this busines thei wer in greate feare fled for safegade of their life 's euery manne to his castell and holde and gatheryng an axmie to withstand their enemies certified the kyng in all post haste of the Scottes enterprise whiche hearyng prepared an armie in all the hast to fight against theim But the Scottes beyng lodē with their praies and spoiles that thei had were gone backe to their countre ere the Englishe menne could bee readie And this was the first commocion busines of the Scottes against the Englishemen When the Scottes were thus gone and the kyng certified of it he thought not to suffer theim lenger leste that by long tariyng deferryng of the matter thei should take heart and so with more fearsenes inuade the realme again And assemblyng his counsaill together shewed theim that it was for the proffite of the publique weale to warre against his enemies to whom thei all agreed right gladly and for the mainteinyng of this battaill there was leuyed a certain summe or tribute to be paid on euery mannes hed whiche paiment although it was but easie and small yet many of the commen people grudged to paie it At this parliament also and conuocacion there was certain lawes actes and statutes confirmed and made as thought moste expediēt for the publique weale And after this was dooen the kyng prepared to fight in all the haste and gatheryng an armie made Giles Dabeney graund capitain ouer theim and in his goyng to Scotlande there beganne sodenly ciuile battaill in the realme whiche was for the paiment of this money for that the Cornishemen whiche made this insurreccion beeyng but poore could not well paie this tribute And so they gatheryng all together one Michael Ioseph Smyth and Thomas Flāmoke did take vpon theim the gouernaunce of all this compainie And seyng theim greued sore that they should paye so muche did more and more incense theyr myndes againste their prynce Albeit they layde this faulte and cause of exaction to Ihon Mortō bishoppe of Cātorbury and Ruigenald Braye because they were chief of the kynges house Thus they preparyng theim selues to warre whē they had aswell sufficiente viandrye as all other thynges ready they tooke theyr iourney to Welles and from thence entended to go to London When the kyng was shewed of this by his auditours that they wer vp and that the lorde Twychet and the lorde Audely with other of the nobylitee had taken their partes he thought fyrste to scoure his realme of suche rebelles and traytours ere he would fight against the Scottes And therfore he caused Giles Dabeney to returne backe agayn then goyng vpon the Scottes whose armye he encreased and multiplyed with many pycked and freshe warryers that he might the better with lesse laboure ouercome these rebelles Also least that the Scottes might nowe hauyng good oportunite inuade the realme again in this time of ciuile battyle he caused lorde Thomas erle of Surrey a puissaunt and most redoubted warryer whome he had taken prysoner at the ouerthrowe of kyng Richard and a litle before that had set at libertie and made treasourer of Englāde after the death of Iohn Dynham to gather a bond of men at Durham there to kepe of the Scottes yf they should chaunce to come vntyll suche tyme that that Cornyshe menne beyng pacified and subdued he might send to theim the forenamed Giles agayne with all his power and armye When as the nobles hearde of this busynes they came to London euery mā with as many as they could make to ayde the kyng yf nede shoulde be In the which compaignie there was the erle of Essex the lorde Mongey the erle of Suffolke Richard Thomas William Say lorde Haward the erle of Surrey his sonne a noble young man of stoute courage Robert Lytton Thomas Bande Robert Clyfforde Wyllyam Dauers George Verye Thomas Terell Richard Fizlewes Ihon Baynsforth Thomas Mōtigomery Ihon Wyngfilde Roberte Brougthon Iames Terell Iames Huberte Ihon Wyndham Robert Fenys Wylliam Carye Robert Drurye Ihon Audely Robert Wyngfild with his brother Richarde Robert Brandon Thomas west de lauare Thomas Fenis Dacres Dauid Owen Henry Rosse Ihon Deuenysse Henry Selenger Ihon Paulet Ihon Burshere Thomas Woode Mathewe Broune Thomas Troys Wylliam Sandes Edmūde Graye of Wiltone Ihon Verney Thomas Brian Richard Poole Thomas Harecourte Ihon Hampden Edward Barkeley Willyā Bolongue with his sonne Thomas Henry Haydon Robert Clarence Philip Calthorpe Robert Louell Ihon Shaye Thomas Frouwike with many other of lower degree that wer moste noble cunnyng warryers In this meane space Charles the Frenche kyng commyng from the warres that he had at Naples with Ferdinande sente Ambassadours to the kyng for a peace and league of amitee to bee confirmed When the kyng was enformed of their cōmyng and that they were at Caleis he sente certayn of his nobilitie
kynges thesame his neighbours he thanked Fernand his wife Elizabeth for the they caused this peace to bee made betwixte hym and the Scottes and rewarded the Ambassadoure moste worthely after a princely maner And the tyme that this vnitee and concorde was made it was the yere of oure Lorde a thousande foure hundreth foure score and eighten and the .xii. yere of kyng Henry his reigne And the kynge of Scottes kepte his promesse well ynoughe For when he perceiued manifestly that he was deluded he called vnto hym Perkin Warbeck and first declared his benefites pleasures that he had dooen vnto hym and then counsailed hym to gette hym vnto some place where he mighte byde in safegarde and come againe another time when he shoulde haue more oportunitee But neuer after to looke for any helpe at his haÌ„d partely because he had made peace with the kyng of Englande and partely because he sawe that no Englishemen came to take his parte wherfore he desired hym not to bee misgreued that he did thus leaue hym also counsailed hym to goo into some other place or regyon wherfore this Perkin was veraye sorye as the kyng had counsailed hym departed thence with his wife and went into Ireland determining with hym selfe if he might haue no helpe of the menne of Cornewale to retourne thence as faste as myghte bee home to his greate mailres aunte Margaret into Flaundres But he was no soner come thither then he heard by diuers messengers that they of Cornewale were as ready to fyght against kyng Henry as euer they wer before of hoope of the whiche he went streyght in to Cornewall there dyd sturre vp their heartes with gyftes and promyses that all immediatelye called him their capitain saied that thei woulde folow hym and in all thinges obey promptly hys commaundementes TheÌ„ was PerkeÌ„ in as good hoope as euer he was and because he would do nothynge rashelye and withoute aduisemente he purposed fyrste to ouercome citees and all wel defeÌ„ded places that lay in his way and so to get as many as he coulde to folowe hym and to take his part and incontinently to buckle with the kynges host WheÌ„ he had thus deliberate he weÌ„t streight to Exeter which was the next citee that he coulde come vnto and besieged it and because he had no gunnes to breake downe the walles he laboured all that myght bee to breake the gates but when he saw that thei could not easely be betten downe with any thyng streight with he set fyre on theim Whereof the citezins were veray sore afraied and priuely in the night let downe diuerse ouer the walles with ropes to go certifie the kyng of their trouble and in the meane tyme wheÌ„ thei saw that their enemies had almost breÌ„t vp the gates of the one side tooke great blockes and set them on fyre on the other side for none other cause but that aswell their enemyes therby might be excluded as thei them selfes included And thei not trusting to this only made also wtin great ditches other thiÌ„ges to defend theÌ„ from the inuasioÌ„ of the rebelles When PerkeÌ„ saw this he got ladders and would by that meanes haue come into the citee but they came not so sone vp but thei were beate downe again and by this meanes many were there slayne þet would he not thence depart but trusted surely at the laste that thei should be glad to yelde theim selfes al that wer within for lack of viandrie But as sone as the kyng hearde of this he hasted with his hoost toward Exeter as faste as was possible and sente dyuerse souldiours beefore to certifie all menne of his commyng and preparaunce for at that tyme there was set forth to helpe theym of Exeter Thomas Trencherd William Corteney Walter Cortney Edmond Carre Ihon Halemel Peter Eggecomb Thomas Fulford IhoÌ„ Crook William Saintmaur with a great host whose capitain was Edward Corteny erle of Denshire his sonne William whiche was a young man of mooste noble courage whiche thyng when Peter heard tell of he left besiegyng of Exeter and went to the nexte towne whiche is called TauÌ„tun there vieued his hoost and set it in aray redye to fyght howbeit he had but lytle affiaunce in the same because many of his souldiours were so slenderly harneissed and no better skylled in warre When the kyng sawe he was gone to TauÌ„tun he hasted thither after him with all spede Thether came also Edward the duke of Buckingham a young maÌ„ veray valiaunt and of lustie courage and hym folowed a greate compaignye of noble men as Giles Brigge Alexander BrayhaÌ„ Moryshe Barkeley Robert Tame Ihon Sapcot Ihon WadhaÌ„ Hugh Lutrel and Nycholas hys sonne William Sâ—orton Thomas Lynde Ihon Semar Wylliam Norris Thomas Blunt Ihon Guyse Roberte poynte Harry Vernon Ihon Mortimer Ihon Speke Rychard BeaucaÌ„p Fraunces Chenie Roger Tokete Roger Wenburg Henry Roger Edwarde Darell Ihon Langforde Richard Lacon Thomas Tremaile Edwarde Sutton Amis Paulet Ihon Byknell Wyllyam Sayntemaur Thomas Longe Nycholas Latimer Ihon Turbaruyll Wylliam Martyne Walter Hungorforde Moryshe Barons Rycharde Corbet Thomas Cornuall and many other besydes these But the king when he came nygh to the towne sente before to begynne battayle Roberte Broke Lorde Rycharde Thomas and Giles Dabeney with a great and stronge hoost to the entent that he hym selfe with his souldiours myght set vpon them behynd But this deuise and purpose of the kyng was al superfluous For Perkin so sone as he espyed that the kyng was redie to fight fledde priuely in the nyght into a sanctuary at Bellylo abbey and there lurked But whether this PerkeÌ„ so dyd for feare least his men should forsake hym or for the timeditie of hym selfe it is as much vncertayne as it is probable and sure that the kyng tooke by hys flyght greate commoditee For the Corneshe menne were surelye purposed eyther to wynne and ouercome theyr enemies or elles not one of theim to haue lyued anye daye lenger When kynge Henrye knewe that Perkin was gone he sente after hym many horse menne that yf it myghte bee they shoulde ouertake hym in hys iourney and brynge hym backe But Perkyn Warbecke made suche spede that he was not seene before he came into the Sanctuarie but his petie capitaines coulde not scape so clene For of theim the moost part were ta ken and brought backe againe to the kyng The residue of the souldiours when thei vnderstode the Perkyn their chief capitain was fled and the other taken gaue vp theim selfes by and by to the king without any more busines and of hym most gently wer forgeuen When all was dooen the kynge went again to Ereter and there both gaue great thankes to such as wer worthy and punished the authoures and sturrers vp of this insurrection moost straitlye And in the meane tyme many of the souldiours road to s Mighels mounte there as chaunce was found Katherin Perking wife and brought her streight like a bond
brought to passe thei went bothe together into Kent And there beganne this young feloe to tell priuely to many that he was the erle of Warwicke and had gotte out of the tower by the helpe of this monke To the whiche when he perceiued credence geuen he declared it openly and desyred al men of helpe But or euer this sedicion beganne to goo foreward the heddes and principalles of thesame wer taken and casle into prysone Of whiche the one was condempned to death and the other condeÌ„pned to perpetuall pryson and darkenesse For at that tyme here in Englande was so muche attrybuted to prestes and al religious meÌ„ that though they had committed felonie murder yea or treason they should not haue bene therfore condempned to death Moreouer whosoeuer could reade though it wer neuer so lytle what crime soeuer he had committed saue treason should by his booke bee saued and therfore it was inuented that if the default wer so great that another manne shoulde suffer death for thesame he should onely be burnt in the hande wherfore he the had committed thefte should bee marked in the hand with this letter T. if he had committed murdre with M. and after that yf he were deprehended in lyke cryme then there should no fauour at all more then to other menne bee shewed Whiche acte was made and confyrmed by this kyng Henry in the second yere of his reigne and takeÌ„ of the Frenchemen whiche are wonte if thei take any suche to cutte of one of his cares and let hym go Whiche priuiledges of bookes made thefes both bolde plentie thorowe out all the coastes and parties of this his realme of Englande But nowe to my matier again Perkyn of whom we spake muche before whyles he was in the towre corrupted many of the kepers partly with giftes and partely with fayre promyses so that they were all agreed saue the leuetenaunt whome he fully determined to kyll that he and the erle of Warwike should gooe theyr waye out of the toure and afterwarde to make the best shyfte that they could for theim selfes But this his purpose came not to full effecte For it was knowne within shorte tyme after for the whiche he and his felowes all of the same counsayle were hanged by the neckes And the earle of Warwike because he was foundegyltie in thesame defaulte was behedded whiche was dooen in the yeare of oure Lorde a thousand foure hundreth and .xcix. and in the .xiii. yeare of this kyng Henry his reigne The nexte yere after was here in Englande a a greate plague wherof menne died in many places vereye sore but especiallye and mooste of all in London For there died in that yere aboue thyrtye thousande Wherfore the kynge sayled ouer to Caleis and there taryed a greate while In his beyng there came ouer to hym Philippe Erle of Flaunders and was receaued of hym as louyngly as could bee thought and also or euer they departed the league whiche was made betwene theim two not longe before was renewed Sone after when the plague was slaked the kyng returned agayne into Englande and was no soner come thyther but there met him one Gasper Pons sente from Alexander the byshoppe of of Roome which brought with hym indulgences and perdoâ—es whereby he made the kyng beleue that he and his should flye streight to heauen but those could not bee graunted withoute a greate somme of money the whiche the rather that he might obteyne he promysed parte of it to the kyng hymselfe so deceauyng both the kyng and the people In this same yere was burnt a place of the kynges whiche he after buylded vp againe and named it Richemount Aboute this tyme died three bishoppes here in England Ihon Morton bishop of Cantourbury Thomas Langton bishop of Wynchester and Thomas Rotherham bishoppe of Yorke Also in this yere there were greate maryages made for kyng Henry had geuen his doughter ladye Margarete to the kyng of Scottes and his sonne prince Arthur to Ladie Katherine doughter to Ferdinande kyng of Spayne whiche mariages were made specially for this cause that he might liue in peace with those kynges in his olde age After this prynce Arthure that came to LondoÌ„ purposely to bee maryed went to Wales agayne with his lady and wife to ouersee all thynges well there and to the entente he might not miscarye or go out of the waie in rulyng his domimon he had with hym many noble meÌ„ as first Richard Poole his nighe kynsman which was made chief of his priuie chaumbre and Dauid Philippe husher of his halle Also he had of his counsaill certayne knyghtes as Wyllyam Vdall Richarde Croft Peter Neuton Henrye Varnam Thomas Englefelde And other besides theim as Ihon Walestone Henry Marine Wyllyam Smyth preest chief of his couÌ„sayle late bishop of Lincolne syr Charles Booth a lawer then byshop of Herforde A litle before this mariage EdmuÌ„d Poole erle of Suffolke sonne to ladye Elizabeth the sysler of kyng Edward was accused for killyng of a maÌ„ although the kyng pardoned hym whoÌ„ he might iustely haue condeÌ„â—ed for that offence yet because he was rayned at the barre whiche he thought a great main and blemishe to his honoure tooke it heuely and shortely after fled to Flaunders wtout any passeporte or liceÌ„ce of the kyng to quene Margarete his aunte but he returned again so excused hymselfe before the kynge that he was founde fautles in any thyng that was obiected vnto hym Also when this mariage was kepte at London with great pompe soleÌ„nitee this Edmunde fled again to Flaunders with his brother Richard either for that he had been at great charges at thesame mariage and so farre cast in debte that he was not hable to paye either because the quene Margarete his aunte had allured hym orels for eiuill will enuie that the kyng should prosper so well WheÌ„ it was knowen that he was gooen the kyng certified there of he feared that some busynes should ryse by his meanes was sory that he had pardoned hym for his offeÌ„ce lately coÌ„mitted But sone after that the erle came from Flaunders syr Robert Cursone knight capitaine of HaÌ„mes castel feignyng hym selfe to bee one of that conspiracye wente purposely to espye what the quene entended against kyng Henrye whyche afterwarde for his so doynge was in greate fauoure wyth hym For the kynge was so vigylaunte and circumspecte in all his matters that he dyd knowe theim namelye that either bare hym eiuill will or woorked any in theyr mynde whom he caused to bee attached and caste in holde And emong theim Wyllyam the erle of Deuonshyres sonne whiche maried ladie Catheryne daughter to kyng Edward was taken and another Wyllyam brother to Edmonde earle of Souffolke Iames Tyrell Ihon Wyndham But these two wylliams were taken rather of suspection then for any offence of gyltines Wherefore Wylliam this Earles sonne of Deuonshyre after the death of kynge Henrye was deliuered had in
the signe of the cardinalles hat in cornehill suche a sodein showre there came fell with suche force thicknesse that the canapy borne ouer her was not sufficient to defend her froÌ„ wetyng of her maÌ„tell furre of powderd eâ—mines win the same but the she was fain to be coÌ„ueighed vnder the houell of the Drapers stalles till the shower were ouer passed whiche was not long And then she passed on her waie whoÌ„ folowed .vii. chariotes with ladies In the first was two ladies vpon the chariot waited .vii. gentlewomeÌ„ ridyng on palfreyes that is to saie foure in one suyte thre in another And vpon the secoÌ„d chariot waited also seuen gentle women And vpon the other thre sixe whiche all wer clothed in silke and .iiii. of the first chariottes were couered with cloth of gold all the horsses trapped in sondrie couloured veluettes to the heard pauement And after all theforsaid chariottes gentlewomeÌ„ came ridyng vpon a bushement .ccc. of the garde the more parte of theim hauyng bowes arowes and theother hawberdes other weapoÌ„s And ye shall vnderstand that all the side of Cornehill from sainct Mighelles to the stockes was hanged with gremed clothe of sondrie coloures as scarlettes crimosing sanguines murries light browne beuties and violetes And vpon theotherside all with riche tapetâ—es clothes of arras And as for Chepe was garnished with clothes of golde of veluet of silke in moste richest wise wheron was dooen no litle hurte with theforsaid showre VpoÌ„ the morow beyng Midsomer daie the kyng the quene about .viii. of the clocke in the mornyng on foote came froÌ„ their palaies through the greate hail the palais courte vnto the churche of Westminster In whiche progresse passed before theim eight and thirty bishopes abbottes mitered in procession and so were conueighed to a space betwene the high aulter and the quere where by the Bishop of Cauntourbury the kyng the quene were set in honorable seates vpon a scaffold in the forenamed place made of a competent heigth there of the archbishop was gloriouslye crouned to the great comforte of all the lande And after that longe and honorable solempnizacioÌ„ was done the kyng and quene wer again coÌ„ueighed vnto Westmynster hall there set to dynner where was that daie holden a tryumphant plenteous feast with all honorable seruyce to suche a feaste apperteignynge And for the ordre of the settyng the kyng sate in the myddle of the table the quene vpon his lift haÌ„de by the space of two yardes length from hym And vpon the right hand at the tables ende sate the archebishop of CauÌ„tourbury alone no mo at the table After whiche thre estates thus set all their .iii. seruyces wer brought together till they came vnto the steppes of the deyse where a while rested the quenes and archebishoppes seruyces till the kyng was serued and then the quenes and tharchbishoppes set forwarde together but the quene was first serued and her seruyce set downe before the other Here I wyll passe ouer the orderyng of the hall with the offyciers garnyshyng of the side tables with many noble menne women many other ceremonyes executed there that day by lordes and other hed officers as the lorde stewarde the duke of Buckyngham the chief buttler the erle of AruÌ„dell the lorde marshall with many other The exceadyng rychesse of the cupboorde garnished with weightie massy flagonnes pottes and cuppes of golde syluer gilte with the gifte of .ii. cuppes of gold geueÌ„ by the kyng the quene vnto the Mayre of LondoÌ„ as his accustomed fee at euery coronacioÌ„ Al the which actes with many mo I here passe ouer Then vpon the tuesdaye next ensuyng was begonne a merciall iustes within the paleys of Westmynster Of the which the lord Haward sir Edward his brother with sir Richard brother to the lord Marques Gyles Capel two other wer chaleÌ„gours And syr IhuÌ„ Pechy Master Carre Master Charles BrandoÌ„ syr Rowland with other ii wer defeÌ„dours VpoÌ„ the which day two of the chief of the said chalengers enclosed in a mouÌ„tayne goodly curiously garnished wer by a lyon made of glitteryng golde conueighed out of Westmynster hall into the paleys so led about the tylt tyll they came right agaiÌ„st the kyng quenes staÌ„ding And there the mouÌ„tain opened the said two chief chaleÌ„goures road to the clene armed vnto the tiltes ende with the other foure folowyng theim wher they houed til the defendours wer fet in The which sone after came in at the gate by the kynges strete but syr Ihon Pechy as chiefe defendour came enclosed in a castell drawen with a lyonesse garnished with glytteryng syluer And vpoÌ„ the forpart of this castel was set a pomegranate tree wel curiously brought and so cunnyngly that it semed to the people to be very pomegranades that honge on that tree And vpon the toppe of this sayd castell stoode a fane with the armes of Saynt George theron paynted The which castel was so drawen about the tilt wheÌ„ it came right again the kynges tent it was opened by a vyce out roade that said defeÌ„dour after his obeysauÌ„ce made to the kyng quene in like maner did all his feloes then he roade vnto that ende of the tilt nexte the gate wher he entred before then the said syr Ihon Pechy as chief chalengour receaued a speare as the lorde Hawarde before had done ranne together v. coursses coÌ„tinually to the great prayse laude of theim both And then raÌ„ne the other as thei wer called vpon assigned sondry tymes by the kyng specially the kynges highnes coÌ„mauÌ„ded master Gyles Capel to roÌ„ne howbeit his horsse that daye did hiÌ„ not moste plesauÌ„t seruice And thus thei coÌ„tinued their disporte .iiii. houres to that greate coÌ„forte of the beholders to that honour of them al. Howbeit the most speres wer brokeÌ„ by the lord Haward syr IhoÌ„ Pechy Then vpon the thursday next foloyng the said chalengeours defendours made a goodly disporte as first the said chalengeours coÌ„myng out of Westmynster hal caused to be coÌ„ueighed before them a pageauÌ„t like to a forest pitched full of grene boughes within the which sate a virgyn appareled after the Spanishe guise semblauÌ„tes of buckes dooes aboute her And wheÌ„ the said chalengeours with their said pageauÌ„t came before the kynges standyng sodeynly raÌ„ne out of the said forest a pryket after him a brase of grehouÌ„des the which courssed the said pricket there shortly after slewe it And after that a foster blewe a moote for the death therof smote of the hed quickly presented it vnto the quene And the done the said chaleÌ„geours passed ouer to th end of the tilt there houed a while And then shortly after the troÌ„pettes many of the said geÌ„tlemeÌ„ wel horssed apointed that before had coÌ„ueighed into the place
this lusty compaignie was thus passed by Immediatly ensued a pauilion or tente of blewe purple satine paled and after that two other of the same fassyon all thre beyng garnished with letters of brodery werke And laste of all came in the fourth teâ— made of clothe of golde and purple veluet paled whereof the panes of veluet were poudered with these two letters H. and K as H. for Henry and K for kyng and the skirtes of the said pauilion was borne vp rounde aboute with .xxxvi. or .xl. gentlemeÌ„ as esquiers for the body all beyng clad in short Iackettes of blewe and purple sylke the whiche were conueighed aboute the tylte tyll they came before the quenes tent Where euery chalengeour according to their roomes rode oute of their tentes after obeisaunce made vnto the quene roade vnto the tiltes ende and there taried the coÌ„minge of the defendours Howbeit the kynges highnesse roade into the pauilyon where the daye before he chauÌ„ged his apparell and there taried their comming The whiche shortely after were brought in but or I procede any ferther I must of a conueniency bring in a matter necessary to bee reherced the which negligeÌ„tly I haue ouerpassed and the is this When the kynges pauilion was as is aforsaid come out of the hall immediately folowed thesaid pauilion nyne folowers or henchemen all clothed in clothe of golde and purple veluet parted the veluet side beyng garnisshed with theforsaid letters of golde as the pauilion was Of the whiche folowers the first courser was trapped with the armes of Englande the second with the armes of Fraunce the third with the armes of Castell the fourth with a riche trapper poudered with red roses and white the fift with cloth of golde furred with poudered armines the sixte with cloth of siluer and purple veluet parted the seuenth of purple veluet garnished wtth massy plates of gold a parte wher of was an arme from the elbowe armed with an hearte of golde whiche was of greate weight and value thewhiche arme and heart were sette vpon either side of the brest of the horsse and again in the trapper vpoÌ„ bothe sides of the crupper The eight with a trappoure of chaungeable sarcenet after blewe and white full of gold belles The 〈…〉 nthe last was trapped in cloth of golde and blewe veluet paled After whiche folowers ensued the yoman of the horsse vpoÌ„ a faire double horsse ledyng in his hande the self same horsse whiche the kyng roade out of the felde vpoÌ„ as before I haue reherced and then as last and hynmoost came rydyng vpoÌ„ a lustie courser sir Mathew Baker as master of the kynges henchemenne right well and sadly apoincted and like a manne of good age and sadnes thus repaired through the felde with suche demeanour as before is reherced Then to retorne vnto the defendoures Trouth it is that sir Charles BrandoÌ„ as first came into the felde enclosed in a tower and led by a iaylour holdyng a greate keye in his hande the whiche pageaunt when it came ouer against the quenes standyng the iaylour with his keye made a countenaunce as though he had opened the gate of the tower oute of the whiche issued a manne on horsebacke clad in a long course and prisoners weede with a pylgrymes long staffe in his hande and a pylgremes hat vpon his heed with a long and forgrowen bearde reachyng to his sadell bowe He also had hangyng vpon the hooke of his staffe apayre of bedes of gold and vpon the top of that staffe was fasâ—ened a lettre the whiche staffe with the bedes and letter were sent and deliuered vnto the quenes grace vpon the whiche when she had awhile looked she sent suche aunswer that the prisoner cast from hym hastely his clothyng beard and hat and shewed hym self in bright harneys and soorth with smote his horsse with the spurres and made a lustie pace vnto the tiltes ende and from thence tooke his course and ranne aboute the tilt all moste lusty wise And after the said Charles was thus come in there ensued tenne mo of the said chalengeoures of the whiche if I should wryte all the apparell and circumstauÌ„ce of their cundite vnto their place assigned it would aske a long tracte of tyme but shortely to procede to the effect of this matter So sone as all the defendours were come vnto their place assigned The kynges grace issued oute of his pauilion and called for a spere the whiche wheÌ„ he had receiued he ranne and brake right vigorously so ranne seuen coursses more or he would stynt in the whiche at euery coursse he brake aspeare or gaue a taynt And one thyng was greately noted in hym that at euerie coursse that he ranne he would neuer charge hym with his speare in the rest till he came nere vnto the copyng Then by exhortacioÌ„ of suche lordes as were aboute hym he rested for a season And when the other chalengeours had disported theim a while with suche defendours as the kyng had not before tasted The kyng then came foorth agayne and ranne many and sondry coursses the whiche he performed to his greate laude and honoure And albeit that the other chalengeours did full knightely and well and likewise the defendours as the lorde Marques sir Charles Brandon and other yet the feates of the kyng so ferre excelled theim that none was spoken of but his alone whiche so continued duryng the tyme of their disporte till foure of the clocke at after none at whiche season so sone as the defendours wer coÌ„ueighed out of the felde he called for a speare the whiche he settyng vpon his thigh roade with his hed pece vpon his head rouÌ„de aboute the tylt and at twoo tymes when he came ouer against the quenes staÌ„dyng he made as lowe obeysaunce as his sadle would licence hym and so roade into his pauilyoÌ„ there vnarmed hym And anone after came out of the same pauilion sittyng vpon the same spare horsse whiche the yoman of that horsse brought in his haÌ„d into the feld when the kyng first entred And then he was chaunged into a demy gowne of clothe of golde furred with sables the whiche when thei were shewed defaced so theother that sir Nicholas Vaus ware that thei semed matyrns in comparison of the other Then the gentlemenne sette forward and after folowed the three chalengours rydyng bare heded and their three helmettes borne before theim by three lordes and last of all came the kynges grace whose helmet was borne by the lorde of Burgeyny And in like maner as his folowers folowed hym into the feelde so in like wise thei folowed hym in his gooyng oute at whiche season as then he stured his horsse nothyng but suffered hym to goo a softe trot through all the felde And at the twoo tymes that his grace came before the quene his grace forgate not his humble obeysaunce to the crudicion and learnyng of all well nurtered and gentle wedded menne And thus with all honour
people on bothe parties wer distressed and taken prisoners and aboue the nombre of thirty M. slaine In the .iiii. yere was Edmond de la Poole behedded and aboute the moneth of Auguste Syr Thomas Kneuet beynge chyefe capytaine of the kynges greate shippe called the regent and a few shyppes mo sette vpon a great Caricke and other shippes of the Frenche kyngs liyng then nere vnto a toune of Britaine named Brest where after a longe and cruell fight thesaide Caricke regent being clasped together with hookes and cheynes as the maner of fyghtinge vpon the see betwene enemies is sodeynly thesaied shippes with other were set on fyre and brent so feruently that before they mighte bee losed or disseuered the shippes with the men vpon bothe parties were consumed with violence therof so that fewe escaped whiche were of the poraill But thesaide sir Thomas Kneuet with many other gentlemen of this land and also of fraunce were brent on whose soules Iesu haue mereyt This yere also after haruest wheate roase sobeinly of pryce for where for the more parte of the yere it was not solde aboue sixe shilliÌ„ges .viii. d. a quarter After haruest for so muche as wheat was so sore blasted and striken was of so smal yelde it was solde for .xii. s. and .xiii. s .iiii. d. a quarter In the .v. yere the kyng besieged Turwin and discomfited the power of Fraunce at Boemy and tooke the citees of Turwyn and Turney But in the meane season the kyng of Scottes espiyng his tyme inuaded Englande with an hoste of an hundred thousande menne with whome the Earle of Surraye beynge the Kynges Leuetenaunte encountred and by the helpe of the Lorde Hawarde his soonne slewe the sayde kynge with a leuen Earles and wanne the felde For the whiche noble facte the kynge created hym afterwarde Duke of Norffolke and his soonne Earle of Surrey In the .vi. yere a peace was concluded betwene Englande and Fraunce And on saincte Denis daye the Frenche kyng maried the Lady Mary the kynges sister And he died on newe yeres daye after And therfore the kyng sente for her againe by the duke of Suffolke and other In this yere in the moneth of Februarye was borne Lady Mary the kynges doughter at Grenewiche In Aprill the Frenche Quene came in to Englande and was maryed to Lorde Charles duke of Suffolke This yere Ladye Margarete quene of Scottes and syster to the kynge fledde into Englande and laye at Harbottell And she was deliuered of a doughter named Margaret And came to London in Maye and taried there a hole yere In this yere was suche a froste that all menne myghte passe with cartes betwene Westmynster and Lambeth This yere on Maye euen was an insurreccyon of younge persones against Aliens of whiche diuers were put to execucion and the residue came to Westmynster Halle with halters aboute their neckes and were pardoned And the .xviii. daye of Mayeyquene of Scottes retourned into her countree againe This yere in Octobre the admiral of Fraunce came into England and Tourney was deliuered to the Frenche kyng In this yere at Frankforde Charles the fyfte was chosen Emperoure And the Earle of Surrey was sent to Ireland In this yere the kyng and the Frenche kynge met at the campe betwene Arde Guines where were greate triumphes And after the kynge and the Emperoure mette and the kyng went to Graueling with the Emperoure And the Emperoure came to Caleys with the kyng had greate chere and the kyng retourned This yere the duke of Buckyngham was beheaded at the toure hyll the .xvii. daye of Maye And in Iune the Cardinall weÌ„t to Calays to entreate a peace betwene themperoure the French kyng and â—aried there to Decembre without any thinge concluded This yere the fridaye before Penthecoste that is to wytt the sixte daye of Iune Charles the emperoure was honourably receiued into the Cytee of London of the Maire Aldermenne and cominaltye oure saied soueraigne Lorde accoÌ„paignieng hym And fro London he went to Windesore and sat in his stall of the Garter And from thens went to Hampton and sayled into Spaine Duringe whiche tyme the Earle of Surrey Lorde Admirall brent Morleys in Brytaine and after landed at Caleys and entred Picardye and brent tounes and castelles and besyeged Hesdyn but because of wynter he reysed his syege and retourned This somer the duke of Albany was entring England with a greate armye but when he heard that the Earle of Shrewisburye was comminge to fyghte with hym he tooke a truce for vi monethes In this .xiiii. yere Christian Kynge of Denmarke came into Englande in Iune Also the Earle of Surrey brent Iedworth and many other townes in Scotlande This yere also the Turke besieged the Rhodes and on Christmas daye he tooke it The Duke of Suffolke wente into Fraunce with ten thousand menne and passed the water of SomÌ„e withoute battayle and tooke and destroyed many townes and in Decembre retourned The same yere the duke of Albanye besieged the castell of Warke and hearing of therle of Surreys comming with a greate armye he cowardely sledde In the .xvi. yere there came oute of Scotlande the byshop of Dunkell and other ambassadours vnto that kynges maiestie And on saynt Mathews daye was the French kyng taken by themperour A mutyng in Norffolk and Suffolke for paymeÌ„t of mony A peas concluded betwene EnglaÌ„d and Fraunce And the French kyng was deliuered in Marche This yere was the coyne enhaunced In the .xviii. yeare the citee of Roome by the viceroy of Naples and the duke of Burbon the same dake beinge fyrste slaine was taken and almost distroied And ClemeÌ„t the .vii. than byshop of Rome diuers Cardinalles there found were taken and broughte in captiuitee and vnder the rule of Charles the Emperoure This yere also the Cardinall went into Fraunce with greate pompe In October the great master of Fraunce came to London with great triumphe In this xix yere was the sweatyng sickenesse for the which cause ther was no watch at midsomer In the .xx. yere was the Cardinall deposed of the chauncellourshyp and a peace betwene the Emperour and the kyng concluded In the .xxi. yere was holden a parlyament wher was refourmed diuerse enormitees of the clargye In the .xxii. yere was a man boyled in Smith feeld for poysoning The cardinal dyed on saynct Andrewes euen In the .xxiii. yere Gryffeth Rice was behedded for treason In October the kyng wente ouer the sea and met the Frenche kyng at Caleis In the .xxv. yere in Apryll was a Nonne called the holy mayde of Kent ii Monkes and two Freers hanged and behedded for treasoÌ„ blasphemye and ypocrysie This yere a peace was concluded wyth Scotlande In this xxvi yere was holden a Parlyamente at Westminster wherin emong other moost godly and necessary statutes it was ther decreed and enacted that the kynges maiestie should be from thensforth
accordyng to the lawe of God taken reputed as supreme heed of this his realme nexte and immediatly vnder Chryst This yere the erle of Kyldare died in the Towre and his sonne rebel led and slewe the byshop of Dubelyn wherfore the kyng dyd send sir Wylliam Skeuynton thether This yere was graunted to the king the fyrst frutes and the tenthes of all spirituall possessyons In Iune was the byshoppe of Rochester and sir Thomas Moore behedded for deniyng the kyng to be supreme hed of the church of Englande This yere wer .iii. Monkes of the Charterhouse executed for the same offence In this .xxvii. yere in Ianuary dyed lady Katheryn princesse dowager and is buryed at Peter borowe This yere quene Anne was attaynted of treason and was beheded And the kynge maried lady Iane Seymer And in October beganne a fololyshe commocion in Lyncolnshyre another in Yorke shyre by the meanes of Lord Darey lord Husey sir Robert CoÌ„stable Robert Aske Which only by the kynges wysedome his discrete counsayle were appeased withoute bloode shedynge In this .xxviii. yere the Thamis was ouer fro 〈…〉 in December wherfore the kyng and the quene rode throwe London with a goodlye companye This yere also syr Fraunces Bygot lord Darcy syr Robert Constable and other beganne a newe coâ—spyracie and thei were attaynted and putte to death in Iune In February was Thomas Fytzgarred and fyue of his vncles hanged drawen quartered And on saynt Edwardes euen Prynce Edwarde was borne at HamptoÌ„ court The. xxiii daye of October dyed quene Iane and is buryed at Wyndsore In this .xxix. yere in Maye was Frere Foreste hanged and brente in Smithfeelde for treason heresy with the Image of Daruell Gathern In thys yere all ydolatry was forbyddeÌ„ And dyuers ymages that had engynnes to make their eyes other lymmes to styre wyth many other disceates wer destroyed And all Freers and Monkes chauÌ„ged their garmentes In this .xxx. yere in DeceÌ„ber was the Marquis of Ereter the Lord Montacute and syr Edward Neuell behedded for hygh treasoÌ„ duly proued In May the cytesyns of LondoÌ„ mustred al in bright harneisse with coates of whyte clothe and whyte sylke wyth chaynes of golde in thre great armyes to the great wonder of straungers Nowe for a fynal coÌ„clusioÌ„ as touchiÌ„g this most noble exelleÌ„t prince and for the closing vp of this preseÌ„t werke If that his highnes had by al the space of his reigne heretofore whiche hath bene .xxxiiii. yeres done no more but only these three thynges as in dede his grace hath done a great infinite noÌ„bre of moste prudente beneficial thynges bothe for the quietnes of his realme wealth of his subiectes that is to saie the extirpyng abholyshyng of the vsurped authoritee of the B. of Rome out of all his dominions and restoring vnto vs the holy most blessed worde of God the is to saie the whole scripture in our Englishtongue to th entent chiefly that we mighte knowe oure dutie to almightie God oure obedyence to our prince and hys successours kynges of thys realme lyue a godlye and Christen life one with another Secondarely in takynge a waye all supersticion and ydolatrye whiche was a thyng moost detestain â–ª the sight of God And thirdlye and laste of all the dissoluynge of cloisters and suppressynge all conterfete and false religion which so long as thei coÌ„tinued wer not only teachers preachers of false and supersticious doctryne but also wer euer the autours begynners of all mischiefes commocions For reformacion I saye of which thynges who is hable to rendre woorthy thankes and prayses to his highnes And therfore to conclude infinite thankes be geueÌ„ to almightie God that so hath wrought by his speciall grace in the hearte mynde of his hihgnes let earnest prayers and supplicacioÌ„s incessantly be made of all his faythful subiectes for the preseruacion of his highnes in mooste triumphant honoure and wealth and ouer vs longe to reigne rule And that when nature shall geue place to death in his grace that then thesame giftes of prudence pollecie and godly iudgement that his highnes is so plentifully endewed with maye yet be planted in the personne of that goodly ympe and mooste flory shyng brauÌ„che prynce Edwarde that the same maye finishe mainteine that whiche his noble father and our souereigne lord kyng Henry the eyght hath moste graciously begoÌ„ne To this all true Englishe heartes saie Amen LONDINI In officina Richardi Graftoni Cmm priuilegio ad imprimendum solum per septennium Numeri .xxvii. Salphaat 〈…〉 ke 〈…〉 orn in GauÌ„t 〈…〉 y◠〈…〉 〈…〉 y◠〈…〉 〈…〉 that 〈…〉 EdmouÌ„d duke of yorke Thomas of wood stoke duke of gloucester Mat. 〈…〉 vii Edward prince of Wa 〈…〉 the eldest sonne of kynge Edward the .iii. Duke of Yorke The tytle of the kinges of EnglaÌ„de to Scotland and Ireland Godfrayâ— Boleyn Robert cur those Out of old bookes coÌ„meth newe knowledge The dukes wyfe named Cecely Kyng DioclesyaÌ„ and Albyne his wyfe This chronicle is not true Saul was the fyrste kyng in the thyrde age This sâ—e 〈…〉 that our chronicle is false in the beegynnyng Brutus The oâ—acyon of the authoure for that makyng of this booke The names of false goddes The armis of Brute Brutus Dute of oldbokes coÌ„meth new wisedome Adam The geneâ—aâ—ion of â—â—ute 〈…〉 〈…〉 〈…〉 h. 〈◊〉 〈…〉 th 〈…〉 m. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Cely. Saturne Iubiter Dardanus Eriotonus Troilus Ilis Ilyon Hercules Lamadone Priamus Achilles was Priamus brother LamedoÌ„ shewed to Iason vnkindnesse Hector Troilus Dephebus Helenus Parys came of Pryamus Greekes Anchyses Eneas Ascaneus Eneas EuaÌ„dre Latene Turnus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Siluius the father of Brutus The praise of Brute Howe Brutus slewe his father Helenus Priamus Anchises Pandras Brutus Anacletus 〈…〉 onê° Pandras The pillers that Hercules made of brasse Diane the Goddes Corneus capitain of that TroyaÌ„s Goryne The armes of 〈…〉 e Maryan chronicler Corneus Gogmagog Coryn This Isle Briteyne Corneus London 〈…〉 The leÌ„gth and bredth of the Isle of Bryteyne Howe Brutus deuided this ysle Thre sonnes of Brute Locryne 〈◊〉 Albanacte Brutus ordered the people to sowe corne Locryne * The death of Albanact The ryuer of Humbar wherof it tooke that name How Loâ—yn was 〈…〉 e in betrayle by hys wyâ—e Gwendolyne The ryuer of Seuerne wherofit tooke the name Guendolena MaddaÌ„ kyng of Britain that is EnglaÌ„d Scotlande Howe the one 〈…〉 to be kynge MeÌ„pryse kyng of Britaine The wretched end of Mempryse Ebranke reygned â–ª lx yeres The Castell of DuÌ„brytayne in ScotlaÌ„d The castel of Ediburgh The castell of Bamburgh That is yorke Brutus greneshilde reigned xii yeres Leyle kyng of Britain reygned .xxv. yeres The cytee of Carleile by whoÌ„ it was buylded Rudhudebras kynge reygned xxxix yeres Bladud reigned .xx. yeres StaÌ„forde A manne decked in fethers Leyr kyng Cordell quene of Fraunce Morgan CoÌ„dage is that which we nowe call Walis Condage
reigned xxxiii yeres Ryueall reygned vxii yeres Gurgustius reygned xv yeres Scicilius reygned xiiii yeres Kyng Iago reigned x. yere Kyng Kimar reigned .xx. viii yere GorboniaÌ„ reigned .xi. yere Clotane with his feldes reigned xâ— yeres DuÌ„wallo reigned .xl. yeres DuÌ„wallo was the first king of Bryteine that was croned with golde This teÌ„ple was s Poules churche in LoÌ„don Bolyn Gurgwyn reigned xxx yeres Howe Irelande was hold of this kyng his heires Guytelyn reygned .x. yere Sicilius reygned .xxiiii. yeres * Rymar kynge * Danius kynge Moruyle reygned .xvii. yere Gorbonyâ— reygned .x. yere Arthegall * Eledoure kyng reygned v. yeres * Arthegall reygned 〈◊〉 yere Eledoure reigned xiii yere Iugen and Peredour reigned vii yere together Paradour reigned by hym self iiii yeres Eledour reigned .x. yeres GorboniaÌ„ kyng of Brytaine Morgan reigned .xiiii. yere Emnan kyng reigned .vii. yere Kyng Iuall reigned .xx. yere Kyng Rymo reigned xvi yere Kyng GereÌ„nes reigned xx yere Kyng Catellus reigned x. yere Kyng Coile reigned xx yere Kyng Porrex Kyng Cheryn Fulgen FulgeÌ„ce Eldred Androge Vryan Elynde Dedancius Detoâ—â— GurguÌ„cius Merian Bledudo Cappe Owen Sicilius all these reigned eche of theim .ii. yeres Bledud Gabred cantor Archiuall Eldoll Redon Redrike Samuel Pirry Penisell Capre eche of these reigned two yeres Howe Hely the soonne of Elyngwellus made the Isle of Hely Kyng Hely reigned .xl. yere Kyng Lud reigned .xl. yere This palays is nowe the bishop of LondoÌ„s palays beside Poules Cassibalayn reigned .xxxiii. yere Temancius reygned .xvii. yere Kymbelyne Guyder reigned xi iiii yere Aruiragus reigned xl.iiii yere 〈◊〉 Wher of Gloucester was so named Vaspasian Agrestes Howe Galway had fyrst the name of kyng Gadelus The regall of scotlande The subieccion of ScotlaÌ„d Coylus reigned xiii yere Lucyus kyng Seuerus kyng GetaÌ„ king of Britain chosen by that Romayns Bassian reygned vii yere Caranse reigned liii yeres * Allectus kyng reygned .iii. yere Asclepiadote reygned .x. yere Kyng Coylus reygned .xi. yere ConstauÌ„ce kyng reygned xv yere Constantyne reygned .xxxiiii. yere Sorcerie ConstaÌ„tine first grauÌ„ted to the. b. of Româ— that primacye Octauius Kyng Traherne Maximian reigned in all xxx .iiii. yere The .xi. M. vyrgins Gracian kyng ConstaÌ„tyne reigned .x. yere ConstauÌ„ce kyng Vortiger kynge of Britayn reygned .xviii. yeres * Wednysdaye wherof it was named Vortymer kynge of Britayne The craft pollicye of Engist EnglaÌ„de wherof it was so named Vter PendragoÌ„ kyng of Brytain Kynge Arthure The saynt Graall what it is The death of kyng Arthure * Aurelius Conan kiÌ„g of Britayne reygned thre yere * Vortiper king of Britayne reygned vii yere Malgo kiÌ„g of Britayn reygned .xxii. yere * Carreys kiÌ„g of Britayne reygned thre yere Cursyng Howe that Britons were kyn glesse xx yere A lamen tacion of that maker of this booke to that lordes Mat â–ª xii The couÌ„cel of the maker to duke Richard of Yorke Homage of the Scottes A murder of MoÌ„kes Cadwall lxi yeres reigned The subieâ—cion of the Scottes SubiecctoÌ„ of Scottes Oswold Oswy kyng of NorthuÌ„berlande Kynge Cadwal Cadwalader kyng SubiercioÌ„ of that Scottes * A greate plage Mat .xii. Roome pence Etheldred Kyng Cuthred Segbert kyng Kynulph kyng IgnorauÌ„ce in those dayes Kyng Egberte 〈◊〉 Tythes firste grauÌ„ted to the clergy in Englande Kyng Ethel bert Kyng Elfride Alurede kyng Supersticion Superset cyonsnesse with daÌ„pnable ydolatrye Homage of the Scottes RebellyoÌ„ of the Scottes Homage of the Scottes Guy of Warwicke Kyng Eâ—moÌ„d reigned â—i yere Homage of the scottes Edrede kynge of EnglaÌ„de RebellioÌ„ of the Scottes Homage of the Scottes Edwyn kynge Edgare Homage of that Scottes Thoffice of a king Edwarde marter kynge of Englande Ethilrede kyng A wonderfull token Edmonde Ironesyde reigned kiÌ„g of EnglaÌ„d thre yere * Kno wt kynge of Englande and of DeÌ„marke Homage of that Scottes Herold Kyng Hard kno wt â–ª King Edwarde that 〈…〉 coÌ„fessou Th erle Goodwyn Homage of that Scottes Ignorance and supersticyon * Herolde kynge of Englande duke Good wins soÌ„ne Duke WillyaÌ„ of Normandye Homage of the Scottes Kyng Wâ—lliam Rufus Homage of the Scottes Homage of that Scottes Homage of that Scottes Kyng Henry the first Homaeg of that Scottes * Homage of that Scottes * Homage of that Scottes Kyng Stephan Homage of the Scottes kyng HeÌ„rye the seconde Homage of that Scottes Raynold fitz Vrsy Hughe Maruile Robert Tracy Homage of that Scottes Subieccion of that Scottes Homage of that Scottes Kyng Rycharde the fyrst called Cure de L◠〈…〉 Homage o the Scottes IhoÌ„kyng of Englande The piteous lameÌ„ table storye of king IhoÌ„ who by the Roomyshe byshop and his adhereÌ„tes was most sham fully vylanously abused as by this hystory doeth appeare Kyng Henry that thirde Homage of the Scottes Battaile of Lewes The battaill of Euesh 〈…〉 Kyng Edwarde the fyrst after that conquest The homage of that kynge of Scotlande to kyng Edwarde A restraint of laÌ„des to be geuen to the clergye Howe a chronicle was feygned to make Edmond the elder brother This was to Henry the fyfth Homage of the Scottes Submyssion of the Scottish kyng al his lords vnto kiÌ„g Edward the first Howe the Scottyshe kynge all the lordes of ScotlaÌ„d made homage vnto dyng Edwarde The deathe of Edward the first Kyng Edward the second The battaille of BaÌ„nokesburne Gilbert MideltoÌ„ robbed that cardinalles Edward the thyrde Homage of that Scottes Kyng Iohn of FrauÌ„ce A battaill in Spain Kyng Richard the seconde Insurrec * The batail of Rotâ—ote bridge * The batayl of Otturborne Blancke chartres Kyng Richard his voiage in to IrelaÌ„o Kyng Henry that fourth The kynges voiage into Scotlande The kynges voyages into Wales Robyn meÌ„dmarket The conceyte of the maker Lorde Coâ—ham King HeÌ„ry that sixte The duke of Gloucester protectour of EnglaÌ„d The duke of BedfordregeÌ„t of frauÌ„ce The coÌ„ceâ—â— of that maker touchynge kiÌ„g Iames. Kyng Richardes wife sent home again into â—raunce The casteâ— of Dunbretayne The tyme to beginne warre in Scotlande FroÌ„ Barwyke to DoÌ„barre .xx. Haddingtosie xii EdeÌ„burgh xii Lythko xii Sterlyng .xii. FroÌ„ EdeÌ„burgh to Leith i to Blaknesse .ix. to Sterling xiiii FroÌ„ Sterlyng to the doune of of Monteth .iiii. FroÌ„ Sterlynge to FalklaÌ„d .xxx. The first yere Howe HeÌ„ry that duke of Somersette lefte kyng HeÌ„ry the .vi. and fled to kyng Edward and after repented fled againe to HeÌ„ry the .vi. The discomfitur of Henry the sixt The duke of Somerset taken beheded The takynge of HeÌ„ry the xyxte â–ª The coynynge of royalles nobles The sixt yere The .ix. yere King 〈◊〉 â—y 〈◊〉 vii The prophecye of Henrye the vi of kyng Henry the vii The .xix. yere * Tâ—e descripcion of Edward the fourth The descripcioÌ„ of Richarde the thyrde The exhortacyoÌ„ 〈◊〉 kynge Edward 〈…〉 〈…〉 〈…〉 〈…〉 〈…〉 The descâ—ipcioÌ„ of Edward 〈◊〉 fourth 〈◊〉 〈…〉 ion 〈…〉 hâ—â—â—s wife The oration of that duke of BuckynghaÌ„ â–ª made â—o the cy 〈…〉 of London Howe and after what maner the two soÌ„nes of king Edward were destroyed The murtherynge of kynge Edward his chyldren The garde fyrste ordeined by kiÌ„ge Henry the vii The sweating sickenesse The coÌ„mocion made by the lord Louell and the lorde Stafforde Themurde ryng of the erle of NorthuÌ„berland 〈…〉 The kyng of Scottes slain of his subiectes 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Perkyn warbeck * The blacke Smyth The .xii. pere of HeÌ„ry the .vii. 〈…〉 〈◊〉 〈…〉 〈…〉 all 〈…〉 done The noble wise saiyng of HeÌ„ry the seuenth The .iii. yere The .iiii. yere The .v. yere The .vi. yere 〈…〉 〈…〉 The .lx. yere The .x. yere The .xi. yere The .xii. yere The .xiii. yere The .xiiii. yere The .xv. yere 〈…〉 〈…〉 viii The .xix. yere The .xx. yere The .xxi. yere The. xxii yere The .xxiii. yere The. xxv yere The. xxvi yere The. xxvii yere 〈◊〉 xviii 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 xxix yere The. xxx yere
sufficience Of people stronge at Orwell with her lande Where lordes many her mette I vnderstande ¶ To London then she hir sonne tho wrote The councellours and traitours for to take That ruled had in mykell mysryote The kyng Edwarde her lorde also hir make And in prieson to kepe theim for hir sake Wherfore they voyded out of the citee then The quenes enemyes echone ay when when ¶ The kyng then fled into the west countree She and the prince full sore hym then pursued And at Bristowe she headed as men might see Syr Hugh Spenser the father that was renewed And syr Hugh his sonne that was transumed In hye estate and erle had be create Of Wynchester wher he stode all mate ¶ Syr Hugh SpeÌ„ser his sonne at Herforde take Was headed then and vnto London sente So was Edmond there headed for hyr sake That was erle of Arondel there present His hed smote of for treason so was shent Theyr hedes set vp in dyuerse sere place In recompence of all theyr great trespasse ¶ And at London they heded the Chaunceler With dyuers other whiche they founde vntrewe So dyd they also the kynges tresourer And there set they a parlyament all newe But fyrste they put the kyng as all men knewe In Killyngworth there to be holde in warde To tyme they se howe lordes wolde awarde ¶ At which parlyameÌ„t .iii. bishoppes erles thre Thre Barons also thre Banarettes electe To Kyllyngworth to ryde with the cominalte All homage leege by parliament hole directe To surrender vp without any reiecte The which they dyd for his mysgouernaunce With heuy chere and mournyng countenaunce ¶ The kyng full sad with wordes well auysed Thanked them all knowynge his hye trespasse And that he was of rule not well prouysed To the pleasure of God whiles he had space Ne coÌ„mon wele to kepe in-euery case Ne to his wyfe had bene a trewe husbande But falsly had her exyled oute of lande ¶ Mekely he prayed the lordes at parlyament His sonne to admytte vnto the regyon Syth he vnable was to the regyment And foule had ruled the lande withoute reason He them besought for gylte of his caryon His sonne were not refused ne chastyzed But set in rule by councell well aduyzed ¶ These lordes twelue with heuy countenaunce Reported vnto the quene and lordes all The sorowfull chere and wordes with repentaunce Of kyng Edwarde as then it was befall His prayer meke and his desyre fynall Of whiche the lordes in that same parlyament Reioysed were of his noble agrement The C .lxxvii. Chapiter ¶ Edwarde the thyrde kynge of Englande and of Fraunce beganne to reygne the yere a thousand thre hundreth twentye and syxe and dyed the yere a thousande thre hundreth thre score and seuentene and of his reygne one and fyftye yere EDward his sonne that prince of wales was In tender age that time of .xiii. yere Was crowned on saint Brice day begaÌ„ than The yere of Christ was then accompted clere A thousande hole thre C. and syxe and .xx. were Whose father then had reygned .xix. yere oute And in his twenty yere withouten doute ¶ From the third daye of Iuly by computacyon Of the yere vnto sayncte Brycez daye So muche in his twenty by relacyon He reygned had then put downe for aye From Kyllingworth to the castell of Berkeley By nyght he was caryed and translate From wyfe and chylde forsake and repudyate Where he was slayne with an hote brenning spyt Through his towayle vp to his herte within In September his bowelles brent for hete That deed he was without noyse or dyn On saynt Mathewes daye so they dyd hym breâ— The fyrste yere was it then accompted wonne Of kyng Edward the third that was his sonne ¶ At Gloucester entombed fayre and buryed Where some say god shewed for him great grace Sith that tyme with miracles laudifyed Ofte tymes in dyuerse many case As is wryten there in that same place For whiche kyng Richard called the seconde To translate hym was purposed hole and sounde ¶ Sir Iames Douglas in EnglaÌ„d with an hoste Destroyed the lande wherfore the kyng Edward With Frenche henauldes Englysh for that moste In myghty hoste great then came northward The seconde yere of his reygne to regarde Whome in Stanhope parke he besieged then That compted were of Scottes ten M. menn◠¶ By .xv. dayes that syege there endured He helde them in they myght not passe oute But through a mosse that all men trowed was sured So depe of myre and brode it was aboute No siege was layde for there they had no doute By which that Scottes cast them what so betyde To escape awaye in the nyghtes tyde But Iames Douglas their flekes fell dyd make Whiche ouer the mosse echeone at others ende He layde anon with fagottes fell ouer the lake There gate awaye and passage to pretende On whiche by nyght they led their horse vnkend And home they went to Scotlande harmelesse Wherof the kyng was heuy there doutlesse ¶ When they were ouer that quaking mosse mire They drewe the flekes ay after as they went That Englyshe should not them sue ne conquere This was a poynt of warre full sapyent But on our syde there was by consequent But lytell wytte that lefte the myre vnwatched And by good watch that Scottes myght haue be cached ¶ And in the yere a thousande â—ompted clere Quene Isabell her doughter maryed Dame Iane of the towre to Dauid Bruis her pere Kyng Robertes sonne and heyre hole notifyed At Berwyk towne the seconde daye signifyed Of Iuill and of kyng Edwarde then was thre By cause of whiche the kynge in pryuite The C .lxxviii. Chapiter ¶ Of the relesse that kynge Edwarde made in his tender age to kynge Robert of his seruyce of Scotlande whiche Iohn Hardinge delyuered to kyng Edwarde the .iiii. at Leycester with a patent by which the earle of Dunbar bound him and his heyres to holde his landes of that kinges of Englande BY councel of his mother the Mortymer were Relesed there the hole soueraynte And seruyce dewe that to the crowne then â—t Berwike then without autorite Or any parlyament in especialte In tender age and youthes intelligence In his third yere so of his hie regence ¶ He sent 〈…〉 th then to Henauld for a wife A bishop 〈…〉 other lordes temporall Wher in chaumbre preuy and secretife At discouerit dischenely also in all As semyng was to estate virginall Emong theim selfes our lordes for hie prudence Of the bishop asked counsaill and sentence ¶ Whiche doughter of fiue should bee the quene Who counsailled thus with sad auisement Wee will haue hir with good hippis I mene For she will bere good soonnes at myne entent To whiche thei all accorded by one assent And chase Philip that was full feminine As the bishop moost wise did determyne ¶ But then emoÌ„g theim selfes thei laugh fast ay The lordes then saied the bishop