Counsell But because the most of them were Clergie-men they afforded no manner of redresse where at the Protector was much displeased But to requite him with more vexation and a greater trouble they caused the Lady Eleanor his wife The Protectors wife condemned for witchcraft to be accused and conuicted for conspiring of the Kings death with Witches and such like gracelesse people for which shee was inforced three times to doe publike Penance in the Citie of London and afterwards shee was committed to perpetuall Imprisonment But diuers of her condemned associates were Executed and put to sundrie kinds of death And now to returne to the French Warres King Henrie in regard of former seruices and of future hopes of the like performance Created the Lord Iohn Talbot Earle of Shrewsburie Iohn created Earle of Shrewsbury A worthy Captaine and sent him into Normandie with three thousand selected men for the better securing of that Duchie In which expedition hee worthily demeaned himselfe and wonne much Honour This yeare the Countesse of Coming in Guyen died without issue and her inheritance was claimed by the French King And likewise the Earle of Arminacke pretended himselfe to be her next heire A mariage offered to King Henrie And to strengthen himselfe the better to gaine his right he offered his Daughter in marriage to King Henrie with the gift of much money and with the surrendring into his hands of all such Territories and possessions within the Duchie of Aquitaine and Guyen as either by Conquest or by discent did belong vnto him The King is offered to the Earle of Arminaks daughter This offer was willingly hearkned vnto and accepted by the King who by his Ambassadors was publikly offered to the said Lady But the French King minding rather to preuent dangers before they come then to remooue them after they were hapned so suddenly inuaded the said Earles Countries and Dominions with an Armie that with small or no resistance hee quickly made himselfe the Owner of them all The King refuseth her The newes whereof so altered and changed the minde and the affections of King Henrie towards his offered Lady that he would neuer after be perswaded to hearken vnto or to thinke vpon that match The grieued compassion which forraine Princes tooke vpon the lamentable distresse of poore France because the bloud of Christians was so vnmeasurably and so vnmercifully shed in those warres incited them to mediate both these Kings to make a friendly peace which was not effected according to their endeuours and desires A truce for eighteene moneths The Earle of Suffolke solliciteth another mariage for King Henry without authority giuen to him A dishonorable match propounded and concluded Reasons why this match was disliked but a truce only was concluded for eighteene moneths In the handling whereof the Earle of Suffolke not warranted by his Commission nor making his associates acquainted with his purpose sollicited a mariage betwixt his Lord and master King Henry and the Lady Margaret cosen to the French King and daughter vnto Reyner Duke of Angeow being the titularie King of Sicilie Naples and Ierusalem With her hee made no demand for any money because her father was but poore nay which was much worse hee consented that if the said mariage might be effected King Henry should freely and frankly release vnto her father all his right and title to the said Dutchie of Angeow and to the Country of Mayne The Lords of France were quickly wonne to hearken to this motion and King Henry was glad at the heart that he should haue for his wife such a faire and fresh Lady as the Earle of Suffolke could neuer praise enough But the Protector strongly opposed himselfe against this match terming her descent to be but Titularie and vrging much the pouertie of her father and told the King that his honour and reputation would receiue many scandals if he should reiect the Earle of Arminaks daughter vnto whom with all due ceremonies he was publikely affied and also that his losse would be lamentable if he released his lawfull and iust title to the Dutchie of Angeow and to the Country of Mayne according to the Earle of Suffolkes vnaduised offer But all his reasons as friuolous were reiected and his counsell was not cared for But the King to gratifie and to please such of his Noble-men as therein enclined themselues to his humour Creation of Lords bestowed on them new Dignities and honours For Iohn Lord Holland Earle of Huntingdon was created Duke of Exeter as his father had beene Humfrey Earle of Stafford was made Duke of Buckingham Henry Earle of Warwicke was made Duke of Warwicke and the said Earle of Suffolke was created Marques of Suffolke Which Marques being very honourably accompanied with great troupes of Lords The new Marquesse fetcheth the yong Queen The King is maried Ladies and other personages of great worth and honour went richly prouided into France and according to his condition receiued the Lady Margaret from the French King and from Reyner her father and conueied her with great pompe and princely magnificence into England where within few daies after she was maried to the King and crowned Queene Now as the prefixed time for the truce drew towards an end so King Henry perceiued that this his new alliance with the French King promised him not any certaintie that it should be enlarged or that he should haue peace For in France fresh supplies were hourely prouided to reuiue the former warre and euery day offered euident demonstrations that nothing was more to be expected then blowes Wherefore to encounter those preparations with the like prouisions the King assembled his high Court of Parlament A Parliament The Marquesse of Suffolks oration His motion in which the Marques of Suffolke in a powerfull glozing and tedious Oration extolled his owne deserts aboue the skies as well in his seruice in the French warres as also in mouing and in concluding the late truce and the Kings mariage He also admonished his Highnesse and the two houses there assembled what preparations for warre were made in France and how behoouefull it was for the King to doe the like And vpon this motion proceeding from his haughtie pride and ambitious minde the whole assemblie became humble suters to his Maiestie A Record made of his acts that not only his said admonition and aduice but also all his said former seruices and doings might in most ample sort be registred among the Rolles of Parliament for the perpetuallizing of his honour and of his name which with wonderfull applause was consented vnto and shortly after he was created Duke of Suffolke He is made a Duke Yet for all this before many yeares were expired he was in the same place accused conuicted and condemned for sundrie treasons Humana caduca misprisions and offences for which he was exiled taken and without law put to death as hereafter wee shall
the Duke of Yorke what the Duke of Somerset had done whereat he was so highly displeased The Duke of Yorke maliceth the Duke of Somerset that he neuer ceased priuatly and openly to practise vntill the said Duke of Somerset deseruedly had lost his head For this insupportable and vnfortunate losse of the Dutchie of Normandie the Queene and the Duke of Suffolke were first secretly blamed by the whispering common people of this kingdome who afterwards by open slanders and with publike reprochfull speeches exclaimed and accused the said Duke of many notable trecheries and grosse treasons 1450. which chiefly consisted of these particulars Treasons obiected against the Duke of SVFFOLKE FIrst That by his wicked and vngodly meanes the Duke of Glocester was depriued both of his Protectorship and of his life 2 Item that by his appointment such Counsellors of State were placed about the King and Queene as aduised all things for their gaine and not for the profit of the Common-weale 3 Item that the Queene and the said Duke ruled the whole kingdome as they listed so that by reason thereof all things succeeded ill and hurtfull to this kingdome 4 Item that the said Duke was the meanes and occasion that the Kings right to Aquitanie and Guyan were yeelded vp which weakned and at length lost all the Duchies of Aquitanie and of Normandie 5 Item that he had maried his sonne Iohn to the Lady Margaret sole daughter and generall heire to Iohn Duke of Somerset and had reported that she was the next heire to the Crowne of England if King Henry hapned to die without issue 6 Jtem that he had perswaded the Earle of Dumoys and other great Lords and Officers of France to transport an Armie into this Realme to destroy the King and consequently to make his said sonne Iohn successor to this Crown and kingdome 7 Item that he procured the Duke of Orleance to be set at libertie for a ransome contrary to the commandement and the last Will and Testament of King Henry the fifth by whose means after wards the affaires of France were made more powerfull and fortunate then formerly they had been and King Henries forces were daily enfeebled and made more weake thereby in those Countries 8 Item that he had counselled the said Duke before his departure out of England to perswade the French King to augment and to increase his armie and to make sharper warres both in Normandie and in France against King Henry who so did by which meanes the King lost all his possessions in those Countries 9 Item that assoone as he came Ambassador into France he secretly informed King Charles of the chiefe points of his Commission and instructions by meanes whereof he grew obstinate and refused to conclude any peace 10 Item that the said Duke at his last being in France reuealed to the French king the weaknesse of King Henries prouisions to withstand him by meanes wherof the Frenchmen became more bold and hardie in those warres 11 Item that boastingly and foolishly he had reported in the presence of many noble and honourable personages that he had as high a place in the Counsell house of France as bee had in England and that by reason of his especiall interest in the French Kings loue hee could dispossesse the neerest and the greatest of the French Kings Counsellours if hee were disposed so to doe 12 Item that when men money and munitions were in a readinesse to be transported into France to aide and to assist King Henries forces there the said Duke being wickedly corrupted and being a secret friend to the kings enemies caused them to be kept at home by meanes whereof the kings armies in those Countries wanting due and necessary supplies were vanquished both in Normandie and in France 13 And lastly that by meanes of his great fauour with the Queene he had deceitfully and fraudulently enriched himselfe with the kings lands and treasures and had procured to himselfe a monopolie of all the greatest offices for his owne gaine These and many more foule and treasonable Articles were in full Parliament publikely obiected against him and laid vnto his charge all which hee faintly denied but could scarce cleare himselfe of one of them The Queens pollicie to helpe the Duke of Suffolke The Queene to preuent the Duke of Suffolkes further perill and danger because she entirely loued him caused him to be committed to the Tower where hee had libertie at his owne will and then concluding the Parliament vpon a sudden shee not onely enlarged him but restored him into high fauour with the King so that he proudly ietted and swaggered as formerly he had done The Commons are displeased A rebellion but appeased The common people repined much thereat and spake scandalously and reprochfully of the Queene and of her gouernment and some of them wickedly rebelled making a turbulent mate nick-named Blew-beard their chiefest Captaine But this insurrection was quickly nipped in the budde their ring-leaders were put to death and the rest of them receiued friendly admonition and the Kings gratious pardon The King and Queene intending to reconcile all discords and to giue some better contentment to the Commons held a Parliament at Leicester The Parliaments request But their purpose failed them for the lower house instantly importuned the King that iustice might be done vpon the Duke of Suffolke and also vpon his associating Conspirators Iames Fynes Lord Say and Lord Treasurer of England Iohn Bishop of Salisburie and vpon some others The King to pacifie this broile and to weaken their importunitie by doing of something wherewith hee thought hee should please them exiled the said Duke for fiue yeares The Duke is exiled He is taken at Sea and beheaded But as he sailed towards France he was taken by an English man of warre who landed him vpon Douer Sands and chopt off his head on a boats side And thus was the guiltlesse bloud of Humfrey the good Duke of Glocester in some measure reuenged and the rest of those delinquents were sequestred from their Offices and imprisoned by the King The Duke of Yorke intendeth to claime the Crowne His practises to further it Whilest these things were thus in handling the Duke of Yorke albeit resiant in Ireland sollicited and procured his allies friends in England by some secret plottings pretending some other ends to set on foot his claime and title to the Crowne hee being lineally descended from Philip the daughter and heire of George Duke of Clarence who was the elder brother of Iohn of Gaunt great grandfather to King Henry the sixth And first of all it was whispered priuately reported that the Kings wits were weake the Queens heart ambitious the Kings Counsellors of State not wise enough to rule and that all France Normandie and Aquitaine were lost because God blessed not the vsurped succession of King Henry Vpon these speeches too too commonly diuulged A Rebellion in Kent Iacke Cade
Normandie and Aquitaine being all lost and no warres now busying the Nobilitie of this Realme franke and free libertie was thereby giuen to the Duke of Yorke The Yorkish Conspiracie grieuously to complaine to diuers Lords of the greatest power of the manifold trecheries and treasons of the Duke of Somerset as formerly he had done And at the same time Richard Earle of Salisburie being the second sonne of Rafe Neuil Earle of Westmerland whose daughter the Duke of Yorke had maried and Richard his sonne who hauing maried Anne the sister and heire of Henry Beauchampe first Earle and afterwards Duke of Warwicke and in whose right he was created Earle were men of prime honour and of great power and for their valour and their vertues were especially obserued and regarded both of the Nobles and also of the Commons of this Kingdome but chiefly Richard the sonne Earle of Warwicke whose courtesie wisdome and true manhood had gained him much loue These two Earles among others faithfully ioined themselues and their fortunes with the Duke of Yorke and his and chiefly by their meanes and good assistance he preuailed as in the sequell of this Historie it shall appeare When the Duke of Yorke had thus strengthned himselfe with these noble and powerfull friends he caused the Duke of Somerset to be arrested of high treason in the Queens great Chamber from whence he was drawen and conueied to the Tower The Duke of Somerset is arrested for treason and shortly after in the Parliament the Duke of Yorke accused him of all those treasons which are formerly mentioned But because the King indeed fell sicke or fained himselfe for the Dukes good to be diseased The Parliament breaketh off suddenly The Duke of Somerset is enlarged and made Captaine of Calice the Parliament was suddenly adiourned and the King by many protestations faithfully promised that he should answer those accusations at some other time But within few daies after hee was not onely by the Queene set at libertie but was graced with the Kings especiall and publike fauour and was made chiefe Captaine of the Towne and Castle of Calice whereat the Nobilitie the common people grudged much and exclaimed vpon the vniust proceedings of the King and Queene The Duke of Yorke and his associates supposing that their proiect would still be crossed if they remained quiet expected faire proceedings against the Duke of Somerset by the ordinarie course of Law The Duke of Yorke leuieth an Armie resolued once againe to shew themselues with an Armie in the field and by open warre not only to reuenge themselues vpon their enemies but also to settle the Crowne vpon the Duke of Yorkes head For which purpose they raised a puissant Armie within the Marches of Wales and confidently directed their march towards the Citie of London The King meeteth him with an Armie The battaile of S. Albons The King is ouerthrowen The King and his Counsell fearing lest the Duke of Yorke and his complices would finde too many friends if they came thither met them with another Armie at S. Albons and betwixt them a doubtfull and a bloudie battaile was fought from which the Duke of Buckingham and Iames Butler Earle of Ormond and of Wilshire fled and Edmund Duke of Somerset Henry the second Earle of Northumberland Humfrey Earle of Stafford sonne and heire to the Duke of Buckingham Iohn Lord Clifford and more then eight thousand Lords Knights Gentlemen and common souldiers were slaine on the Kings part He is taken prisoner and the King himselfe was taken prisoner and brought to the Duke of Yorke The King is vsed reuerently A Parliament The Duke of Yorke is made Protector And albeit hee might then haue put him to death and by that meanes might quietly haue possessed himselfe of the Crowne yet because his rising in Armes pretended none other thing but the reforming of some great abuses in the Common-weale hee reuerenced him with all dutie brought him with great honour vnto London where he praied him to assemble his high Court of Parliament which he did by that great Counsell honorable estate the Duke of Yorke was made Protector of the Kings royall person and of his Realme The Earle of Salisburie is made Chancelor The Earle of Warwicke is made Captaine of Calice Their good gouernment the Earle of Salisburie was made Lord Chancelor of England and his sonne the Earle of Warwicke was made Captaine of Calice And thus all the regiment of the ciuill estate of this Common-weale was settled in those former two and the disposing of warlike affaires and businesse was conferred on the third In the administration of which Offices they shewed no iniustice vsed no briberie oppressed no man were indifferent to the poore and rich and ordered all things in a most commendable and praisefull fashion to the good contentment of most of the Nobilitie Gentrie and Commons of this Realme But Humfrey Duke of Buckingham who in the battaile at S. Albons had lost his eldest sonne and Henry Beauford the new Duke of Somerset who then also lost his father with reuengefull mindes and inraged spirits informed the Queene that this faire and glozing shew was vsed but as a subtill meane to set the Crowne of England vpon the Duke of Yorkes head That the Kings life and his sonnes was secretly conspired That her vnfortunate miseries approched neere vnto her And that all would bee starke naught except the subtiltie and cunning of those three Lords were wittily preuented and their haughtie and ambitious stomackes were with force and violence subdued and beaten downe Hereupon the Queene and they assembled a great Counsell at Greenwich The Duke of Yorke and the Earle of Salisburie are remoued by the Queen Aspoile on the Merchant strangers in London by the authoritie whereof the Duke of Yorke and the Earle of Salisburie were remoued from their gouernment This sudden alteration bred many broiles in the Common-weale For the English Merchants in London perceiuing that the Common-weales gouernment was vnsettled quarrelled with the Venetians and Italians who dwelt among them and by their trading in merchandizing and by their parsimonie and sparing waxed rich and depriued them of their chiefest meanes to liue Those strangers they rifled and robbed for which offence not without much trouble and difficultie the principall offenders were corrected or put to death The Frenchmen also being diuided into many warlike Fleetes landed The Frenchmen land and burne The Scots inuade They flie home robbed and burnt some Frontier Townes within this Realme And the Scots being conducted by Iames their King did much harme to the Duke of Yorkes Countries in the North. Against whom the Duke himselfe marched with a braue Armie But the Scots fearing the sequell of their vnaduised inuasion suddenly fled and returned into their owne Countrey The Queene dissembleth with the Yorkish Faction The Queene who now ruled the King and almost all other
came for his repose into the Lordship and Manour of Grafton where the Ladie Iaquet daughter to Peter of Luxenburgh late Earle of S. Paul and sometimes the widow of Iohn the renowned Duke of Bedford and wife to Sir Richard Wooduile Lord Ryuers then lay vpon whom there attended her daughter the faire and fresh Ladie Elizabeth the widow of Sir Iohn Grey who was slaine as hee fought for King Henry at S. Albons in the last yeare of his raigne The King in his absence marieth the Lady Elizabeth Grey This Lady was on the sudden so liked so loued so fawned and doated on by the lustie and young King that for dalliance sake hee resolued to make her his wanton play-fellow if he might But her constant modestie and amorous denials repulsing him from his vnchaste hopes he to obtaine the fruits of his desires without any further delay aduice or counsell tooke her to his wife and created the Lord Ryuers Creation of Lords her father Earle Ryuers and made him high Constable of England Her brother Anthony whom he had made Lord Anthony was by his procurement maried to the sole and only daughter and heire of Thomas Lord Scales and was in her right dignified with that honour Her sonne Sir Thomas Grey was created Marquesse Dorset and was by the Kings motion maried to the Ladie Cicilia the only daughter and heire to the Lord Bonuyle and of Harrington And though this his mariage with the Queene were pleasing for a time yet was it most vnhappie and vnfortunate in the end Euill effects of the Kings mariage For it occasioned his expulsion out of this Realme Secondly the deaths of his true friend Richard the most eminent and valorous Earle of Warwicke and of the Marquesse Montacute his brother Thirdly the slaughter and execution and the murdering of many Nobles Gentlemen and braue souldiers Fourthly the destruction of the Kings two sonnes and almost the vtter ruine and destruction of the Queenes kindred and of her bloud as hereafter in this Historie it shall appeare When the sudden newes of King Edwards hastie mariage was published in France 1464. 4 euery person whom it concerned was highly displeased at this frumpe which thereby hee gaue to his worthiest and dearest friend the Earle of Warwicke The Earle of Warwicke hateth the King and the Earle himselfe by reason thereof conceiued such an inward hatred against the King that in his heart he resolued when time should serue to depose him if he might yet notwithstanding he made faire weather He dissembleth for a time and at his returne seemed rather to make sport at his own disgrace then to take any discontented notice of it The King also who chiefly by this Earle was seated and setled in his Throne endeuoured secretly to abridge him of his authoritie and power because hee feared lest his greatnesse might doe him harme And the Earle although hee staied a while at the Court after his returne out of France yet as long as hee remained there he imagined that he stood on thornes Wherefore hee asked leaue of the King to depart vnto his Castle of Warwicke for his repose and for recreations sake But being come thither his head was busied with new proiects and all his thoughts were imployed how and by what meanes hee might subdue and depose the King The Lady Elizabeth borne And at this time was borne the Lady Elizabeth who was afterwards the wife of King Henrie the seuenth and mother vnto king Henrie the eight The King purposing to gaine the loue of forraine Princes that by meanes thereof he might with the more securitie defend himselfe against Lewis the French King A truce with the Scots who threatned to bee reuenged for the iniurie which by King Edwards marriage was done to him and to the sister of his Queene concluded a Truce for fifteene yeares with the King of Scots Notwithstanding that by the deliuerie of the Queene Margaret hee detained from him his strong Castle of Barwicke He also sent vnto Henrie King of Castiell and vnto Iohn King of Arragon many Cotshall Sheepe English sheep sent to the Kings of Castiell and of Arragon which neuer before vpon any entreatie or request they nor any other Prince could obtaine From which Sheepe such a multitude haue increased that it hath since turned to the vnspeakable preiudice and hurt of this kingdome and Common-weale The King also contrarie to the opinion and good liking of the Earle of Warwicke contracted and afterwards married his Sister the Lady Margaret vnto Charles the Duke of Burgoine The Duke of Burgoine marrieth the Kings Sister as formerly he had done two other of his Sisters to the Dukes of Exeter and of Suffolke The Earle of Warwicke who secretly thirsted for reuenge and thought the time to be long before hee had restored king Henrie the sixt to his libertie and Crowne by faire promises and insinuating perswasions wonne his two brothers the Archbishop of Yorke The Marques of Montacute was still a secret friend to king Edward and the Marques Montacute to take his part But the Marques who was exceeding hardly induced to giue his consent to so ill an intended action performed all things with an vnwilling minde which in the end turned to his owne ruine and to the destruction of his brethren The Earle likewise being right wel assured that the Kings brother George Duke of Clarence secretly enuied the King because he had preferred Anthonie the Queenes brother in marriage with the sole daughter and heire of the Lord Scales The Duke of Clarence ioyneth with the Earle of Warwicke against his brother the King and Sir Thomas Gray her Sonne in marriage with the sole daughter and heire of the Lord Bonuile and Harrington and the Lord Hastings to the sole daughter and heire of the Lord Hongerford was carelesse of his aduancement by such a match watched a fit opportunitie to complaine to the Duke of Clarence of the Kings sullen vngratefulnesse towards him Why quoth the Duke can you my Lord thinke that the King will be thankfull to his friend who is too too vnkind to his owne brethren Thinke you that friendship or good deserts can worke in him more vertuous effects then nature hath afforded him Is hee not now so highly mounted that hee vouchsafeth not to cast downe an eye vpon such as are of his owne bloud Nay who lay in his owne Mothers wombe Are not the allies and kinsfolkes of his Wife preferred by him to all Promotions Dignities Offices and good places And are not his owne brothers and his truest friends who haue fought in many assaults skirmishes and battailes to make him a Soueraigne King neglected vnrewarded and vncourteously shaken off Were my brother of Glocester of mine humour and disposition my Lord we would with your assistance and aide make him to know himselfe better and to set a difference betwixt his auncient and truely dignified Nobilitie and such
was himselfe stabbed with a dagger 10. E. 4. and slain in the Tower of London by the said Richard Duke of Glocester And not long after 10. E. 4. the Duke of Clarence was found dead in his bed he hauing beene drowned in a Butte of Malmesie not without the Kings consent as it was supposed And thus open and ciuill warres by the sword and the common Executioner with his axe and inueterated enuie and malice with bloudie hands bereaued and tooke away the liues of the greater number of the most renowned and valiant Noblemen Captaines and Gentlemen of this Realme THE HISTORIE OF KING EDVVARD THE FIFTH IF our memories be pleased to take a reuiew of the life and actions of the late deceased King Edward the Fourth Edward the Fourth described wee may thereon make this pretie abbreuiate and short collection That hee was of a goodly personage and of a kingly presence That he was very strong and passing valiant not proud in prosperitie nor deiected with aduerse fortune That hee was moderately pleasant and merie That he was pleasing to his Nobles familiar with his souldiers and amiable to his inferiour subiects That he was mercifull to offenders and fauoured all such as did well That he was very wise discreet prouident and soundly aduised in all his actions Yet was he somewhat too credulous and too wanton and in his latter daies more couetous then formerly he had beene By many worthy endeuours he expressed how much hee longed for his peoples loue His affabilitie and by one action hee more particularly declared it then by all the rest For in the next Summer before he died hee required the Lord Maior of London and his brethren to repaire to his Castle of Windsour where hee then lay And when they expected some extraordinarie imploiment in State affaires because so many of them were called thither not troubling them with any businesse either great or small priuate or publike nor requiring of them any supplies from their plentie hee royally feasted banqueted and entertained them not only with the choisest best and most costly delicates that could bee gotten but also hee gladded them vnspeakably with his owne presence and companion-like behauiour Hee afterwards carried them into his Parke where the thicke fall of fat Deere besides many other things gaue them warrant of their kinde welcome And at their departing from him he sent such great store of venison into the Citie for the friendly feasting of their neighbours there that nothing euer won him more heartie loue among his subiects of that place He left behinde him two sonnes Edward who being of the age of thirteene yeares vnfortunately succeeded him in this Kingdome and Richard Duke of Yorke who was two yeares younger and fiue daughters namely Elizabeth who afterwards maried King Henry the seuenth and was mother to King Henry the eighth and Cicilie Bridget and Katherine whose fortunes seldome laughed and Anne who maried Thomas Lord Haward who after was created Earle of Surrey Richard Duke of Glocester described The said noble King when he died left behinde him but one brother namely Richard Duke of Glocester who was by common report a monster in nature For he had many teeth when he was borne He was exceedingly deformed in the composure of his bodie for of stature he was but low crooke-backed his left shoulder was much higher then the other his visage was vncomely his complexion swart and browne he was exceeding strong yet much withered in his left arme he was violent fierce and bloudily cruell a good souldier discreet to order well and politicke to rule Hee was very hastie and forward in great expeditions and weightie actions yet wise and well aduised before hee would attempt to fight He was ambitious beyond measure and his desires for soueraigntie had no bounds What he contriued were it good or bad hee would by one meanes or by another assuredly effect it Hee made his conscience in all things to serue his will though his will could not bee obtained without the effusion of guiltlesse bloud He would oftentimes make himselfe poore by his lauish bountie to such as wickedly serued his turne and would againe quickly enrich himselfe by pilling and by polling of ciuill and of honest men Hee was so cunning a dissembler that hee would accompanie most familiarly and iest pleasantly with such as hee inwardly hated in his heart Hee spared no mans death whose life resisted his vngodly purposes nor punished any man for any offence if his wickednesse might be applied to his seruice This ambitious this fierce and this cruell man in his brother King Edwards daies as wise men did coniecture directed his aime to make himselfe a King 10. E. 4. For he with others murdered Prince Edward the eldest sonne of King Henry the Sixth 10. E. 4. and with his owne hand hee slew the same King when he was a prisoner in the Tower and was consenting as the world blabbed to the death and destruction of his elder brother George Duke of Clarence in the same place 10. E. 4. King Edwards death and the minoritie of his two sonnes Richard aimeth to the Crowne gaue him fit opportunitie to worke mischiefe which first of all he resolued to prosecute by the reuiuing of olde grudges betwixt the Queenes kindred and the Kings although the last King in his death-bed had reconciled them and made them all friends For he knew that where malice and hatred are of counsell there no good action or sound conclusion can be expected And by this practise he endeuoured first to make him selfe equall with the best and then to be the best of all Wee must also now obserue that at the time of King Edwards death the young Prince in his owne person kept his residence and Court at Ludlow in the dominion of Wales that by his presence he might restraine the Welshmen from such outragious enterprises as oftentimes their licentious and bad manners incited them to commit And the protection of his person was by the last King appointed to Anthonie Earle Ryuers the Queenes brother and by the mothers side Vncle to the said Prince And her allies and her kinsfolkes did now possesse all roomes and offices of honour and of profit about him hee being King which the Duke of Glocester much maligned and so scorned it that in his conceits he contriued how he might thrust them all out of those places For which purpose hee oftentimes secretly and seriously conferred with Edward Duke of Buckingham and Richard Lord Hastings who was Chamberlaine to the last King To them hee discouered the meane descent of the Queene and of her kinsfolkes in respect of theirs and told them plainly that if those Vpstarts remained so neere vnto the King in his youth they would through his fauour be so powerfull when he came to his full age that all their honours their possessions and their liues would be in danger to be made
and of Holdernes William de Fortibus maried Hawse or Avice the daughter and heire of the aforenamed Stephen and was in her right created Earle of Albemarle and of Holdernes by King Stephen William de Fortibus their sonne succeeded and was Earle of Albemarle and of Holdernesse William de Fortibus his sonne was Earle of Albemarle and Holdernes and dyed without issue Male. R. 2. Thomas Plantagenet otherwise called Thomas of Woodstock a yonger sonne of King Edward the Third was by his Nephew King Richard the Second created Earle of Albemarle Holdernes Darby Lancaster and Leicester Henrie Plantagenet his sonne was Earle of Albemarle Holdernes Darby Lancaster and of Leicester R. 2. Edmund Plantagenet the sonne of Edmund of Langley another of the yonger sonnes of King Edward the Third and Duke of Yorke was by king Richard the Second his Cosen created Earle of Rutland and Duke of Albemarle Thomas Plantagenet Duke of Clarence and sonne to King Henrie the Fourth was by him created Earle of Warwick and of Albemarle Arundell Conq. ROger Mountgomery was by William the Conquerour created Earle of Arundell and of Shrewsbury Hugh Mountgomery his sonne succeeded him and died without issue Robert Mountgomery his brother being Earle of Belesme succeeded and dyed without issue Wiliam de Albeney was by Mawld the Empresse created Earle of Arundell Mauld and Sussex because he tooke her part against King Stephen he maried Adeliza the widdow of King Henrie the First and was confirmed in his honors H. 2. by king Henrie the Second William de Albeney his sonne succeeded in those honors R. 1. William de Albeney his sonne was by King Richard the First restored to the said Earledomes which for displeasure had been kept from him by Henrie the Second William de Albeney his sonne succeeded in those Earledomes Hugh de Albeney was Earle after his brother and dyed without issue H. 3. William de Albenetto was created Earle of Arundell by king Henrie the Third and dyed without issue E. 1. Richard Fitz-Alen maried Isabel who was one of the daughters of the last Earle William and was by king Edward the First created Earle of Arundell hee was before that time Lord of Clun and Oswaldstry Edmund Fitz-Alen their sonne was Lord of Clun and Oswaldstry and succeeded in the Earledome of Arundell but was beheaded on displeasure and by the commandement of Queene Isabel the wife of king Edward the second Richard Fitz-Alen his sonne succeeded in all those honors hee was also Earle of Warren and of Surrey Richard Fitz-Alen his sonne was Lord of Clun and Oswaldstry and Earle of Arundell Warren and of Surrey hee was also Lord of Bromfield and Yale and was beheaded at Bristow whilst king Richard the second liued Thomas Fitz-Alen his sonne was Lord of Clun Oswaldstry Bromflet and Yale and Earle of Arundell Warren and of Surrey and died without issue Male. Iohn Fitz-Alen and Lord Maltrauers H. 6. being the next heire Male to the said Thomas was by King Henrie the sixt created Earle of Arundell and Duke of Torayne Humfrey Fitz-Alen his sonne was Earle of Arundell and dyed without issue William Fitz-Alen his Vncle and brother to the last Earle Iohn was Lord of Clun and Maltrauers and Earle of Arundell Thomas Fitz-Alen his sonne succeeded and was Lord of Clun and Maltrauers and Earle of Arundell William Fitz-Alen his sonne was Lord of Clun and Maltrauers and Earle of Arundell Henrie Fitz-Alen his sonne was Lord of Clun and Maltrauers and Earle of Arundell and dyed without issue Male. Thomas Howard Earle of Surrey and the fourth and last Duke of Northfolke maried Marie one of the daughters and coheires of the said Henrie Fitz-Alen and was in her right Lord Maltrauers and Earle of Arundell The other moytie descended to the Lord Barkley Philip Howard his sonne was Lord Maltrauers and Earle of Arundell and of Surrey Thomas Arundell his sonne is Lord Maltrauers K. Ia. and Earle of Arundell to which honours hee was restored by the mightie Prince King Iames. Bathe PHilbert de Chandew a Britton borne H. 1. was by King Henrie the first created Earle of Bath he dyed without issue Male. Iohn Bourchier Lord Fitz-Warren of Towstock in Deuon being the sonne of Foulke Bourchier Lord Fitz-Warren who was the sonne of William Bourchier Lord Fitz-Warren who was the yonger sonne of William Bourchier H. 8. Earle of Ewe in Normandie who was the yonger brother of Henry the first Earle of Ewe was by king Henry the eight created Earle of Bath Iohn Bourchier his sonne was Lord Fitz-Warren of Towstock and Earle of Bath William Bourchier the sonne of Iohn Bourchier who was the sonne of the said Iohn last Earle of Bath is now Lord Fitz-Warren of Towstock and hath issue one sonne only who is named Edward Lord Fitz-Warren of Towstock Bedford E. 3. INgram Lord Concy a Frenchman borne maried Isabel the daughter of king Edward the third and being by him created Earle of Bedford he dyed without issue Male. Iohn Plantagenet the third sonne of king Henrie the fourth was by his father created Duke of Bedford H. 4. and whilst king Henrie the sixt liued to whom he was Vncle he was Regent of France Ruled it with great wisedome and valour and dyed without issue George Neuil was by king Edward the fourth created Duke of Bedford E. 4. and dyed without issue Iaspar Tuthar surnamed Iaspar of Hatfield sonne to Owen Tuthar and of Queene Katherine the widdow of king Henrie the fifth was by his halfe brother king Henrie the sixt created Earle of Pembroke H. 7. and was after by his Nephew king Henrie the seuenth created Duke of Bedford and dyed without issue Iohn Russel was by king Henrie the eight made Lord Russel and by king Edward the sixt E. 6. he was created Earle of Bedford Francis Lord Russel his sonne succeeded and was Earle of Bedford Edward Lord Russel his sonnes sonne viz. the sonne of Francis third sonne to the said Earle Francis is now Earle of Bedford Bridgewater GIles Dawbeney was by king Henrie the Seuenth made Lord Dawbeney H. 8. and his sonne Henrie was after his fathers death created Earle of Bridgewater by king Henrie the Eighth and died without issue But Alice his sister and heire was maried to Iohn Bourchier Lord Fitz-Warren of Towstocke in Deuon from whom William Lord Fitz-Warren of Towstocke and Earle of Bath is descended Buckingham WAlter Gifford Earle of Longuile in Normandie Conq. and cosen to the Conquerour was by him created Earle of Buckingham and Pembroke Walter Gifford his sonne succeeded and died without issue Thomas Plantagenet surnamed Thomas of Woodstocke the sixth sonne of King Edward the Third was by his nephew King Richard the Second created Earle of Buckingham Northampton and Essex R. 2. and afterwards he made him Duke of Glocester And for his good counsell to the same King he was sent prisoner to
Edward Plantagenet surnamed The Blacke Prince E. 3. was by his father king Edward the Third in Parliament created Prince of Wales Duke of Cornwall and Earle Palatine of Chester Richard Plantagenet sonne to the blacke Prince E. 3. was by his Grandfather king Edward the Third created Prince of Wales Duke of Cornwall and Earle Palatine of Chester which hee enioied vntill he was King Richard the Second Henry Plantagenet the eldest sonne of king Henry the Fourth was Prince of Wales Duke of Cornwall and Earle Palatine of Chester vntill he was king Henry the Fifth Edward the sonne of king Henry the Sixth was Prince of Wales Duke of Cornwall and Earle Palatine of Chester and was murdered Edward the sonne and heire apparant of King Richard the third was Prince of Wales Duke of Cornwall and Earle Palatine of Chester and died without issue Arthur Tuther the eldest sonne of king Henry the Seuenth was Prince of Wales Duke of Cornwall and Earle Palatine of Chester and died without issue Henry Tuther his brother enioied the Principalitie of Wales the Duchie of Cornwall and the Earledome of the Palatinate of Chester vntill he was king Henry the Eighth Edward Tuther the sonne of king Henry the Eighth was Prince of Wales Duke of Cornwall and Earle Palatine of Chester vntill hee was King Edward the Sixth Henry Stewart the eldest sonne of King Iames the First was Prince of Wales Duke of Cornwall and Earle Palatine of Chester vntill hee died without issue Charles Stewart his brother is Earle Palatine of Chester Duke of Rossay Yorke and Cornwall and Prince of Wales Cumberland Conq. RAlphe Meschynes a Norman was by the Conquerour created Earle of Cumberland and Carlile H. 8. Henry Lord Clifford Bromflet and Vessey was by King Henry the Eighth created Earle of Cumberland George Lord Clifford Bromflet and Vessey being his sonne was Earle of Cumberland and died without issue male Francis Lord Clifford his brother is Earle of Cumberland Darbie Conq. WIlliam Peuerell base sonne to the Conquerour was by him created Earle of Darbie and of Nottingham William Peuerell his sonne succeeded in those Earledomes K. Steph. Robert de Ferrers Lord of Tedburie and Earle of Ferrers and of Nottingham was also Earle of Darbie William de Ferrers succeeded his father in those honours William de Ferrers his sonne was Lord of Tedburie Chartley and Groby and Earle of Ferrers Nottingham and of Darbie Robert de Ferrers his sonne possessed his fathers dignities Hee was disherited because he sided with the Barons against King Henrie the Third Edmund Plantagenet surnamed Crowch-backe being Earle of Lancaster second sonne to King Henry the Third and brother to king Edward the First H. 3. was by his said father created Earle of Lecester and of Darbie Thomas Plantagenet his sonne being Earle of Lancaster Lecester Lincolne and Salisburie was by descent Earle of Darbie and died without issue Henry Plantagenet his brother was dignified with all those honours Henry Plantagenet his sonne enioying those Earledomes together with the Earledomes of Albemarle and Holdernes was by king Edward the Third created Duke of Lancaster E. 3. And his daughter and heire named Blanch was maried to Iohn of Gaunt the fourth sonne of the same King Iohn Plantagenet surnamed Iohn of Gaunt being Duke of Lancaster Earle of Leicester Lincolne and Salisbury was also Earle of Darby Henrie Plantagenet surnamed Bullingbroke being his sonne was Duke of Lancaster and Hereford and Earle of Leicester Lincolne and of Salisbury he was likewise Earle of Darby and was king by the name of king Henrie the Fourth Thomas Stanley Lord Stanley whose Father Thomas was by king Henrie the Sixth made Lord Stanley was by king Henrie the Seuenth created Earle of Darby H. 7. Thomas Stanley his Grand-child viz. the sonne of his sonne Henrie who married Ione the daughter and heire of Iohn Lord Strange and Knoking being Lord Stanley and Strange was also Earle of Darby Edward Lord Stanley Strange and Knoking being his sonne succeeded and was Earle of Darby Henrie Lord Stanley Strange and Knoking being his sonne was Earle of Darby Ferdinando Lord Stanley Strange and Knoking being his sonne was Earle of Darby and dyed without issue Male. William Lord Stanley Strange and Knoking his brother is now Earle of Darby Deuonshire RIchard de Bruer surnamed Richard of the Heath being a Norman was by the Conqueror created Earle of Deuonshire Conq. hee dyed without issue Adela de Bruer his sister and heire Conq. was by the Conqueror created Viscountesse of Deuonshire Baldwine de Riuers being Earle of Exeter H. 2. was by King Henrie the second created Earle of Deuonshire Richard Riuers his sonne succeeded in those honors Baldwine Riuers his sonne was Earle after him and dyed without issue Richard Riuers his brother was Earle and dyed without issue William Riuers surnamed de Valentia was their Nephew and heire was after them Earle of Deuonshire Baldwine Riuers his sonne was Earle of Deuon Iohn Riuers his sonne being Earle dyed without issue Isabel Riuers surnamed de Fortibus being the Generall heire of the Earles of Deuonshire did enioy the said Earledome Shee married one who was named William de Fortibus Earle of Albemarle and Lord of Holdernes by whom shee had a plentifull issue But King Edward the Third would not permit them to enioy the said Earledome of Deuonshire Hugh Courtney Knight who was descended from the before named Earles of Deuonshire E. 3. was by King Edward the Third created Earle of Deuonshire Hugh Courtney his sonne was Earle after him Edward Courtney surnamed the Blinde who was the sonne of Edward the sonne of the last Hugh Courtney was Earle of Deuonshire Hugh Courtney his sonne was Earle of Deuonshire Thomas Courtney his sonne being Lord of Okehampt in Deuon was also Earle of Deuonshire Hee tooke part in the warres with King Henrie the sixt and being taken prisoner at the battaile of Towton in Yorkeshire he lost his head E. 4. Humfrey Stafford Esquire was by King Edward the Fourth first made Lord Stafford of Southweeke and afterward Earle of Deuonshire and because he cowardly left the field at Banbury in the ciuill warres at Bridgewater hee was beheaded by the commandement of the said King Edward Courtney Lord of Hackham being Cosen and heire to the said Thomas Courtney H. 7. was by king Henry the seuenth created Earle of Deuonshire William Courtney his sonne married the Lady Katherine one of the daughters of king Edward the Fourth and was Earle of Devonshire Henrie Courtney his sonne was Earle of Deuonshire and by his Cosen German king Henrie the Eight H. 8. hee was created Marques of Exeter but lost his head Q. Ma. Edward Courtney his sonne was by Queene Marie restored to the Earledome of Deuonshire but dyed at Padua without issue K. Ia. Charles Blunt Lord Mountioy was by King Iames the First created Earle of Deuon he dyed without issue
Dorset Conq. OSmond a Norman being by the Conquerour created Earle of Dorset dyed without issue Thomas Beauford the sonne of Iohn of Gaunt Iohn of Gaunt called all his Children by that Wife by the name of Beaufords by Katherine Swinsford his third wife was by king Richard the Second created Earle of Somerset and Marques Dorset which latter dignitie was taken from him in Parliament in An. 1. H. 4. Iohn Beauford his brother was Earle of Somerset only and was afterward by king Henrie the Fourth created Marques Dorset H 4. and by king Henrie the Sixt hee was created Duke of Somerset His daughter and heire named Margaret was married to Edmund Tuther Earle of Richmond and they two had issue king Henrie the seuenth Edmund Beauford his brother was Earle of Somerset and by king Henrie the Fifth hee was created Earle of Mortoigne in Normandie and by king Henrie the Sixt Marques Dorset H. 6. and Duke of Somerset Henrie Beauford his sonne was Earle of Mortaigne Marques Dorset and Duke of Somerset and dyed without issue Thomas Grey the sonne of Sir Iohn Grey knight and of the Lady Elizabeth his wife and widdow who was afterwards married to king Edward the Fourth E. 4. was by the same king created Marques Dorset he was also Lord of Groby Astley Bonduile and Harrington Thomas Grey succeeded his Father in those honors Henrie Grey his sonne being Lord Ferrers of Groby Lord Harrington Bonduile and Astley was after his fathers death Marques Dorset and by king Edward the Sixt he was created Duke of Suffolke and was executed in Queene Maries raigne Thomas Sackvile Lord Buckhurst and Lord Treasuror of England was by king Iames created Earle of Dorset K. Ia. Robert Sackvile his sonne was Lord Buckhurst and Earle of Dorset Richard Sackvile his sonne is Lord Buckhurst and Earle of Dorset Essex GEoffrey de Magna Villa otherwise Mandevile K. Steph. was by king Stephen created Earle of Essex Geoffrey his sonne was Earle of Essex and dyed without issue William his brother was Earle of Essex and dyed without issue Geoffrey Fitz-Pearce otherwise Ludgarshall married Beatrice the heire of the said William Mandevile K. Ioh. and was by king Iohn created Earle of Essex shee had by him two sonnes Geoffrey and William whom at his wiues request hee named Mandeviles according to the name of their Grand-father Geoffrey Mandevile their sonne was Earle and dyed without issue William Mandevile his brother was Earle and died without issue H. 3. Humfrey Bohun was by King Henrie the Third created Earle of Essex and of Hereford Humfrey Bohun his sonne succeeded in those honors Humfrey Bohun his sonne was Earle after him Humfrey Bohun his sonne was Earle of Essex and of Hereford Iohn Bohun his sonne was Earle and dyed without issue Humfrey Bohun the sonne of William Bohun who was the sonne of the last Humfrey was Earle of Essex Hereford and Northampton and died without issue Male. And Eleanor his eldest sister was maried vnto Thomas of Woodstock one of the sonnes of king Edward the Third E. 3. Thomas of Woodstock the sixt sonne of King Edward the Third was by his father created Earle of Essex Buckingham Hereford and Northampton and by his Nephew king Richard the Second he was created Duke of Glocester and murdred in prison at Calice because he had warned the king friendly of his faults Humfrey Plantagenet his sonne succeeded in those Earledomes and dyed without issue Male. Henrie de Bargo Caro otherwise Bourchier being Earle of Ewe in Normandie who was the sonne of William Bourchier who by king Henrie the Fift was at Maunt in Normandie created Earle of Ewe was by king Edward the Fourth E. 4. created Viscount Bourchier and Earle of Essex his sonne William had issue Henrie and dyed whilest his father liued Henrie Bourchier was Viscount and Earle and died without issue H. 8. Thomas Cromwel was by King Henrie the eighth made Lord Cromwel and was by him created Earle of Essex but lost his head H. 8. William Parre was by king Henrie the eighth made Lord Parre of Kendall and Earle of Essex and by king Edward the Sixt he was made Marques of Northampton and dyed without issue Walter Deuereux Lord Ferrers of Chartly and Viscount Hereford was by Queene Elizabeth Q. Eliz. created Earle of Essex Robert Deuereux his sonne was Lord Ferrers of Chartly Viscount Hereford and Earle of Essex Robert Deuereux his sonne was restored to all his fathers honors by king Iames the First K. Ia. and now liueth Exeter Iohn Holland halfe-brother to King Richard the Second R. 2. was by him created Earle of Huntington and Duke of Exeter Hee was executed because he conspired against King Henrie the Fourth Thomas Beauford one of the sonnes of Iohn of Gaunt H. 4. by his third wife Katherine Swinford was by his brother K. Henry the Fourth created Earle of Dorset and Duke of Exeter He died without issue Iohn Holland the sonne of the aforenamed Iohn H. 6. was by King Henrie the Fifth restored to his Earledome of Huntington and by King Henrie the Sixth to his Duchie of Exeter Henry Holland his sonne was attainted when King Edward the Fourth raigned and was drowned on Calice Sands Henry Courtney Earle of Deuonshire H. 8. was by king Henrie the Eighth created Marquesse of Exeter and lost his head Thomas Cecil Lord Burleigh K. Iames. was by King Iames the First created Earle of Exeter and yet liueth Glocester WIlliam Fitz-Eustace Conq. being by the Conquerour created Earle of Glocester died without issue Robert Fitz-Hamon Lord of Astreuile in Normandie Conq. was by the Conquerour created Earle of Glocester William Fitz-Hamon his sonne was Earle of Glocester Robert de Millent base sonne to king Henry the First H. 1. was by him created Earle of Glocester He died without issue H. 2. Iohn Plantagenet the sonne of king Henry the Second was by his father created Duke of Glocester But hee was afterwards King of England Geoffrey Mandeuile the last of that name Earle of Essex K. Iohn was by King Iohn created Earle of Glocester and died without issue Almericus Earle of Eureux K. Iohn was by King Iohn created Earle of Glocester and died without issue Gilbert de Clare being Earle of Hartford H. 3. was created Earle of Glocester by King Henry the Third Richard his sonne was Earle of Clare and Glocester and Hartford Gilbert de Clare his sonne had those three Earledomes Gilbert de Clare his sonne was Earle of Hartford Clare and Glocester and died without issue male E. 1. Ralphe Mounthermer who maried Ione of Acres one of the daughters of King Edward the First and who was widow to the last Gilbert de Clare was by the same King created Earle of Hartford and Glocester and died without issue E. 2. Pierce Gaueston a Gascoigne borne was by King Edward
a child without issue Edward Fines Lord Clinton was by Queene Elizabeth Q. Eliz. created Earle of Lincolne Henrie Fines Lord Clinton the sonne of the said Edward was Earle of Lincolne after his Father and yet liueth March EDwin a Saxon at the time of the Conquest was Earle of March hee with Marcarus and Swardus kept the Isle of Waight against the Conqueror and was banished Roger Mortimer Lord Mortimer of Wigmore E. 3. was by king Edward the Third created Earle of March and was executed for Treason Roger Mortimer the sonne of Edmund Mortimer who was the sonne of the said Earle Roger E. 3. was by the same king restored to the Baronie of Wigmore and to the Earledome of March. Edmund Mortimer his sonne married Philip the daughter and heire of Lionel Duke of Clarence the third sonne of king Edward the Third and was Earle of March and from them two did descend the heires of the Familie of Yorke Roger Mortimer their sonne was Earle of March and of Vlster in Ireland and by king Richard the Second was proclaimed heire apparant to the Crowne of England and was slaine long after in Ireland Edmund Mortimer his sonne was Earle of March and after one and twentie yeares imprisonment in Wales and elsewhere he died without issue Richard Plantagenet Earle of Cambridge was the sonne of Edmund of Langley Duke of Yorke the fift sonne of King Edward the third hee maried Anne the sister and heire of the said Edmund daughter to the said last Earle Roger and in her right he was Earle of March and they two had issue Richard Duke of Yorke who was father to King Edward the fourth Richard Plantagenet sonne to Richard Earle of Cambridge was Earle of March and Duke of Yorke and had issue Edward the fourth Edward his sonne was first Earle of March then by his Fathers death he was Duke of Yorke and by his victorie at Barnet field hee attained the Kingdome of England and was King Edward the fourth Mountgomery K. Ia. SIr Philip Herbert Knight the second sonne of Henry late Earle of Pembroke and younger brother to William Lord Herbert now Earle of Pembroke was by K. Iames created Earle of Mountgomery Northfolke RAlph Waer at the time of the Conquest was Earle of Norfolke and Suffolke and fled for treason Conq. Ralph Bygot President of the East Angles was by the Conqueror created Earle of Northfolke but hee was disherited for conspiring against him H. 1. Hugh Bygot was by King Henry the first created Earle of Northfolke Roger Bygot his sonne was Earle after him Hugh Bygot his sonne was Earle of Northfolke Roger Bygot his sonne succeeded in that Earledome Roger Bygot his Nephew vizt the sonne of his brother Robert was Earle of Northfolke and dyed without issue E. 2. Thomas Plantagenet surnamed Brotherton who was a yonger son to King Edward the first and brother to King Edward the second was by his brother created Earle of Northfolk he had one daughter and heire who was named Margaret Iohn Lord Segraue maried the said Margaret they two had issue Margaret R. 2. which Margaret was by King Richard the second created Duchesse of Northfolke after her husbands death and then she maried Iohn Lord Mowbray Thomas Lord Mowbray their sonne R. 2. was by King Richard the second created Earle of Nottingham Marshall of England and Duke of Norfolke hee dyed without issue Hee complained of Henry of Bullinbrooke to King Richard the second and should haue fought a combate with him but died at Venice in his banishment Thomas Lord Mowbray his sonne was neuer Duke of Northfolk but was in his fathers life time only Earle of Nottingham and was executed for treason with Richard Scroop Archbishop of Yorke by King Henry the fourth and his brother Iohn succeeded their father and was Marshall of England Earle of Nottingham and Duke of Northfolke Iohn Lord Mowbray his sonne was Earle of Nottingham Warren and Surrey High Marshall of England and Duke of Northfolke Iohn Lord Mowbray his sonne succeeded his father in all those honourable Dignities he died and had issue Anne Richard Plantagenet Duke of Yorke and second sonne to King Edward the fourth was maried in his childhood to the said Anne and was in her right possessor of all those honors But he was murdred by his Vncle King Richard the third and died without issue The said Anne also died without issue whereby all the Lordshippes of the Mowbrays by course of inheritance was devolued to Iohn Lord Howard and to William Lord Barkley Iohn Lord Howard who by his mothers side R. 3. was discended from the before named Mowbrayes was by King Richard the third created Duke of Northfolke and lost his life in the said Kings quarell at Bosworth field H. 8. Thomas Howard his sonne who by King Richard the third was made Earle of Surrey was created Duke of Northfolke by King Henry the eighth Thomas Howard his son succeeded and was Duke of Northfolk Thomas Howard the sonne of Henry who was the sonne of the last Thomas Duke of Northfolke was Duke of Northfolke and Earle Marshall of England He was also in the right of his wife Marie the eldest daughter of Henry Fitz-Allen Earle of Arundell Northumberland MArcarus at the time of the Conquest was Earle of Northumberland and Lincolne he with others kept the I le of Wighte against the Conqueror and was taken dyed in prison and had no issue Conq. Robert de Cumine was by the Conqueror created Earle of Northumberland but was slaine by the Northumbers Conq. Gospatrick was created Earle of Northumberland by the Conqueror but he tooke it from him againe Conq. Waldrofe was by the Conqueror created Earle of Northumberland but lost his head for treason Conq. Walcher Bishop of Durham bought the Earledome of Northumberland of the Conqueror and died without issue Conq. Robert de Mowbray was by the Conqueror created Earle of Northumberland but he rebelled and lost it Steph. Dauid Prince of Scotland sonne to King Malcolme the third was Earle of Northumberland Cumberland and Huntington Henrie his sonne assoone as his father was King enioyed all those Earledomes Malcolme his son was Earle of Northumberland and of Cumberland and Huntington William his brother succeeded him in his Kingdome and was Earle of Northumberland Cumberland and Huntington he warred against King Henry the second was taken Prisoner ransomed and lost those honors R. 1 Hugh de Puddsey Bishop of Durham was by King Richard the first created Earle of Northumberland and died without issue R. 2. Henry Percy was by King Richard the second created Earle of Northumberland hee was father to Henry surnamed Hotspurre who was slaine in their rebellion against King Henry the fourth H. 5. Henry the sonne of Henry Hotspur was by King Henry the fifth restored to the Earledome of Northumberland Henry Percy his sonne was Earle of Northumberland Hee and his
second husband Hugh de Brun H. 3. was by his halfe-brother King Henrie the Third created Earle of Pembroke Aymer de Valentia his sonne was Earle of Pembroke and was by King Edward the First made Vice-roy of Scotland and died without issue Laurence Lord Hastings was by King Edward the Third created Lord of Abergauenny and Earle of Pembroke Iohn Lord Hastings and Abergauenny was Earle of Pembroke Iohn his sonne succeeded and died without issue Humfrey Plantagenet the youngest sonne of King Henry the Fourth H. 5. and brother to King Henry the Fifth was by his brother created Earle of Pembroke and Duke of Glocester He was also Protector to his Nephew King Henrie the Sixth and died without issue H. 6. William de la Pole was by King Henry the Sixth created Earle of Pembroke Earle Marquesse and Duke of Suffolke Iaspar of Hatfield the second sonne of Owen Tuthar and of Queene Katherine his wife widow to King Henry the Fifth and being halfe-brother to King Henry the Sixth H. 6. was by him created Earle of Pembroke and by King Henry the Seuenth Duke of Bedford He died without issue E. 4. William Herbert was by King Edward the Fourth made Lord of Cardisse and Earle of Pembroke and was slaine at Banbarie field William Herbert his sonne succeeded and resigned the said Earledome to King Edward the Fourth Edward the Prince being sonne and heire apparant to King Edward the fourth E 4. was by his father created Earle of Pembroke Flint and March He was King Edward the Fifth Anne Bullen H. 8. who was afterwards maried to King Henry the Eighth was by him created Marchionesse of Pembroke and lost her head William Lord Herbert sonne to Richard Herbert who was brother to the last Earle William E. 6. was by King Edward the Sixth created Earle of Pembroke Henry Lord Herbert his sonne succeeded in those honours Williom Lord Herbert his sonne is Lord of Cardiffe Fitz-Hugh Marmion and S. Quintens and Earle of Pembroke Richmond EVdo was by the Conqueror made Lord of Middleham and Earle of Richmond Conq. Allen Fergaunt surnamed The Red being his sonne was Lord of Middleham and Earle of Britaine and of Richmond He died without issue Allen surnamed The Blacke being his brother succeeded him and died without issue Stephen his brother possessed all those honours Allen his sonne by descent enioied the said dignities Conan his sonne succeeded him and had issue Constance Geoffrey Plantagenet the third sonne of King Henry the Second maried the said Constance and was in her right Earle of Richmond Arthur Plantagenet his sonne was Earle of Richmond and died without issue Ralphe Blundeuile being Count Palatine of Chester K. Iohn was by King Iohn created Earle of Richmond Peter Earle of Sauoy who built the Sauoy H. 3. was by King Henrie the Third created Earle of Richmond Iohn de Dreux Duke of Britaine sonne to Iohn the first Duke of Britaine was by King Edward the First created Earle of Richmond E. 1. Iohn de Dreux his sonne was Earle of Richmond Iohn de Dreux his sonne succeeded and died without issue Robert de Arthoys sometimes Earle of Arthoys but disinherited by Philip de Valoys the French King E. 3. was by King Edward the Third created Earle of Richmond Iohn Plantagenet the sonne of King Edward the Third being surnamed Iohn of Gaunt being Duke of Lancaster E. 3. was by his father created Earle of Richmond Henry of Bollingbroke his sonne was Duke of Lancaster and Hereford and Earle of Richmond vntill he was King Henry the Fourth Ralphe Lord Neuil of Rabie Castle the first Earle of Westmorland was by King Henry the Fourth created Earle of Pembroke for his life only H. 4. Iohn Plantagenet Duke of Bedford and brother to King Henry the Fifth H. 4. was by his father created Earle of Richmond He died without issue H. 6. Edmund of Hadham called Edmund Tuthar the eldest sonne of Owen Tuthar and of Queene Katherine his wife the widow of King Henry the Fifth and daughter to Charles the Sixth of France and halfe brother to King Henry the Sixth was by him created Earle of Richmond He maried Margaret the daughter and heire of Iohn Beauford Marquesse Dorset and Duke of Somerset who was the sonne of Iohn Beauford who was the sonne of Iohn of Gaunt by Katherine Swinsford his third wife and had issue Henry who was king Henry the Seuenth Henry Tuthar their sonne was Earle of Richmond vntill hee obtained the Crowne and was King Henry the Seuenth H. 8. Henry Fitz-Roy base sonne to King Henry the Eighth was by him created Earle of Nottingham and Duke of Richmond and died without issue in the sixteenth yeare of his age Rutland EDward Plantagenet the sonne of Edmund of Langley the fifth sonne of King Edward the Third and Duke of Yorke was by his cosen King Richard the Second created Earle of Rutland R. 2. and Duke of Albemarle After his fathers death he was Duke of Yorke and was slaine at Agencourt field Edmund Plantagenet brother to Edward who was afterward King Edward the Fourth was Earle of Rutland and died in his childhood without issue being slaine H. 8. Thomas Mannors Lord Roos of Hamlake Beluoyr and Trusbut was created Earle of Rutland by King Henry the Eighth Henry Mannors his sonne succeeded his said father Edward Mannors his sonne enioied those honours and died without issue male Iohn Mannors his brother succeeded him Roger Mannors his sonne enioied those honours and died without issue Sir Francis Mannors his brother is now Lord Roos Hamlake and Trusbote and Earle of Rutland Ryuers RIchard Wooduile of Grafton Knight maried Iaquet the widow of Iohn Duke of Bedford Regent of France and daughter to Peter of Luxenburgh Earle of S. Paul He was by King Henry the sixth made Lord Ryuers Afterwards king Edward the Fourth maried his daughter the Ladie Elizabeth Grey the widow of Sir Iohn Grey deceased by whom he was made Lord Treasurer of England and Earle Ryuers He and his sonne Iohn were slaine by the Commons in an vprore Anthonie Wooduile his sonne being Lord Scales and Earle Ryuers was by King Richard the Third beheaded vniustly at Pomfret Castle and died withour issue Richard Wooduile his brother succeeded him in that Earledome and died without issue Salisburie STephen Patrick of Eureux was by the Conquerour created Earle of Salisburie Conq. William his sonne was Earle of Salisburie and died without issue male William Longspée the base sonne of King Henry the Second by the faire Rosamond Clifford his Concubine R. 1. was by King Richard the First his halfe-brother created Earle of Salisburie William Longspee his sonne was Earle of Salisburie after his father and was slaine in the warres in the Holy Land Henry Lacy was by King Henrie the Third created Earle of Salisburie H. 3. and died without issue Thomas Plantagenet the sonne of Edmund
Crowch-backe being Earle of Lancaster was also Earle of Salisburie Lecester and Lincolne and died without issue Henry Plantagenet his brother was Earle of Salisburie Lecester Lincolne and Lancaster Henry Plantagenet his sonne was created Duke of Lancaster He was also inheritor to all those Earledomes His daughter and heire called Blanch was maried to Iohn of Gaunt and from them descended the house of the Lancastrians E. 4. William Mountague Lord of the I le of Man was by King Edward the Fourth created Earle of Salisburie William Mountague his sonne being Lord of the I le of Man and Lord Mounthermer was also Earle of Salisburie and died without issue Iohn Mountague sonne to Sir Iohn Mountague brother to the said William was Lord Mounthermer and Earle of Salisburie Hee with others conspired the death of King Edward the Fourth at Oxford and was slaine Thomas Mountague his sonne was Lord Mounthermer and Earle of Salisburie Richard Neuil the second sonne of Ralphe Neuil who was the first Earle of Westmorland H. 6. maried Alice the eldest daughter and coheire of the said Thomas and was by King Henry the Sixth created Earle of Salisburie He was taken prisoner in the battaile of Wakefield by Queene Margaret wife to King Henry the Sixth and lost his head Richard Neuil his sonne was Earle of Salisburie and of Warwicke also in the right of Anne his wife who was the daughter and heire of William Beauchampe Earle of Warwicke This was that great Earle of Warwicke who deposed and raised King Henry the Sixth and was slaine at Barnet Field by King Edward the Fourth Richard Pole a Knight of Wales maried Margaret Plantagenet the daughter of George Duke of Clarence brother to King Edward the Fourth which the said George begot on Isabel the eldest daughter and coheire of the last Richard Earle of Warwicke and Salisburie She was by Parliament in the fifth yeare of King Henry the Eighth restored to those Earledomes H. 8. but in Parliament in the one and thirtieth yeare of King Henry the Eighth shee with Gerthrude the widow of Henry Courtney Marquesse of Exeter Reynold Pole Cardinall being her sonne and others were attainted of treason and she lost her head She was the last of the name and royall stocke of the Familie of the Plantagenets out of which had issued successiuely fourteene Kings of England Robert Cecil the second sonne of William Cecil Lord Burleigh and Treasurer of England was by King Iames created Lord Cecil of Essendeu in Rutlandshire Viscount Cranborne in Dorsetshire and Earle of Salisbury William Cecil his sonne is now Lord of Essenden Viscount Cranborne and Earle of Salisbury Shrewsburie EDrick a Saxon sirnamed the wilde being Earle of Shrewsbury was by the Conqueror dishinherited Roger de Mountgomery Earle of Belesme in Normandy Conq. was by the Conqueror made Earle of Arundel and of Shrewsbury Hugh de Mountgomery his sonne succeeded and died without issue Robert Mountgomery his brother being Earle of Shrewsbury and of Arundel was taken by king Henry the first and depriued of his eyes Iohn Lord Talbot Strange Blackmore Furnivall and Verdon H. 6. was by Henry the sixth created Earle of Shrewsbury Iohn Talbot his sonne succeeded in those honors Iohn Talbot his sonne was Lord c and Earle of Shrewsbury George Talbot his sonne was Lord c. and Earle of Shrewsbury Francis Talbot his sonne was Lord c. and Earle of Salisbury George Lord Talbot his sonne succeeded in those honors Gilbert Lord Talbot his sonne is Lord Talbot Strange Blackmore Furnival and Verdon and Earle of Shrewsbury Somerset OSmond Bishop of Salisbury was by the Conqueror Conq. made earle of Somerset William de Mohun was by King Henry the first H. 1 created Earle of Somerset Reynold de Mohun in King Iohns time K. Ioh. receiued the inheritance of his Grandfather Earle William and was created Earle of Somerset he was disinherited by King Henry the third because he tooke part against him with the Barons in their warres Iohn Beauford the sonne of Iohn of Gaunt by Katherine Swinsford his thitd wife was by King Richard the second created Earle of Somerset and Marques Dorset but the latter of those two hee voluntarily did renounce H. 5. Henry Beauford his sonne was Earle after him Iohn Beauford his brother was created Earle of Somerset by K. Henry the fifth H. 6. Edmund Beauford his brother was Earle of Somerset and by king Henry the sixt was created Marques Dorset and Duke of Somerset and was slaine at Saint Albons by Richard Duke of Yorke Henry Beauford his sonne was Duke of Somerset hee revolted from King H. the sixth to King Edward the fourth and afterward from King Edward the fourth to King H. the sixth and was by the Yorkish faction taken Prisoner at Hexhamfield and lost his head Edmund Beauford his brother was Duke of Somerset and being taken prisoner at Tewkisbery-field by king Edward the fourth he lost his head and had no issue H. 7. Edmund Tuther a yonger sonne to king Henry the seuenth was at fiue yeares of his age created Duke of Somerset and died without issue at that age Henry Fitz-Roy base son to king H. the eight was created earle of Nottingham and Duke of Somerset and Richmond and died without issue Edward Seymour Earle of Hartford was by his Nephew King Edward the sixth created Duke of Somerset and lost his head Sir Robert Carre was by king Iames created Viscount Rochester Earle of Somerset Southampton BEavoys was at the Conquest Earle of Southampton E. 1. H. 8. William Gobion was by Kng Edward the first created Earle of Southampton and died without issue male William Fitz-William was by King Henry the eight created Earle of Southampton and died without issue male E. 6. Thomas Wryothesley Lord Chancelor of England was by King Henry the eighth created Baron of Tichfield in Hamshire and by King Edward the sixt hee was created Earle of Southampton Henry Wryothesley his sonne was Lord Tichfield and Earle of Southampton Henry Wryothesley his sonne is Lord Tichfield and Earle of Southamton Stafford RAlph Stafford was by King Edward the third E. 3. created Earle of Stafford Hugh Stafford his sonne succeeded in that Earledome Thomas Stafford his Grandchild by Ralph his sonne was Earle of Stafford William Stafford his brother was Earle of Stafford after him Edmund Stafford his brother was Earle and died without issue Humfrey Stafford his sonne was Earle and by king Henry the sixt he was created Duke of Buckingham and was slaine in Yorkeshire in the said kings quarrell Humfrey Stafford his son was dignified with those honors Humfrey Stafford his sonne H. 7. succeeded and was beheaded by king Richard the third Edward Stafford his son was restored by king Henry the seuenth and lost his head in the raigne of king Henry the eighth Suffolke RAlph Glandvile Lord of Bromhelme H. 2. was by king Henry the second created Earle
of Suffolke William Glandvile his sonne being Lord of Bromhelme was Earle of Suffolke Gilbert Glandvile his sonne enioyed those Honors Ralph Glandvile his son was Lord Bromhelme and Earle of Suffolke and died without issue William de Vessey who maried Mauld his Daughter and Heire E. 2. was by King Edward the second created Earle of Suffolke Robert de Vfford who married Sarah daughter and heire of the said William was by King Edward the third E. 3. created Earle of Sufolke William de Vfford his son being Lord of Eay and Framlingham was Earle of Suffolke Michael de la Poole a man more rich then honorably discended R. 2. was Chancelor to king Richard the second R. 2. and by him created Earle of Suffolke and was banished as a corrupter of him by his lewd counsell he died with griefe at Paris Michael de la Poole his son was Lord Wingfield and Earle of Suffolke and dyed at the siege of Harflew Michael de lâ— Poole his son succeeded his father but died within one moneth after H. 6. William de la Poole his brother was Lord Wingfield and Earle of Suffolke he was by king Henry the sixt created Earle of Pembrooke then Marques of Suffolke and last of all Duke of Suffolke hee was banished taken at Sea and lost his head on a boats side Iohn de la Poole his sonne was Lord Wingfield Earle of Pembrooke and Duke of Suffolke Edmund de la Poole his sonne was of a turbulent disposition in the fifth yeare of Henry the eighth he was executed for treason H. 7. Charles Brandon the sonne of Sir William Brandon knight who was Standard-bearer to the Earle of Richmond in Bosworth field was slaine by king Richard the third was by Henry the seuenth made Viscount Lisle H. 8. and hauing maried king Henry the eight his second sister Mary Queen Dowager of France he was by Henry the eight created Duke of Suffolke Henry Brandon his sonne was Earle of Lincolne and Duke of Suffolke and died without issue Henry Grey Lord Ferrers of Groby Lord of Astley Harington Bonvile being also Marques Dorset and hauing maried Francis who was one of the Daughters and Coheires of Charles Brandon E 6. was by king Edward the sixth created Duke of Suffolke and was attainted of treason whilest Queene Mary raigned their daughter was the Lady Iane who maried Guilford Dudley the fourth son of the Earle of Northumberland K. Ia. who lost her head Thomas Lord Howard of Walden second sonne to Thomas the last Duke of Northfolke was by king Iames created Earle of Suffolke Surrey Rufus William Warren Earle of Warren in Normandie maried one of the Conquerors daughters named Goundred and was by king William Rufus created Earle of Surrey William Warren his sonne succeeded and was Earle of Surrey William Warren his sonne was Earle and dyed without issue male William de Blois sonne to king Stephen being Earle of Mortaigne Bolloigne and Eagle and being Lord of Lancaster maried Isabel the daughter and heire of the last Earle William and was in her right Earle of Surrey and died without issue Hamlyn Plantagenet brother to king Henry the second maried the said Ladie Isabel and was in her right Earle of Surrey and king Henry the second created him Earle of Warwick William Plantagenet their sonne was Earle of Surrey and of Warwicke Iohn Flantagenet his sonne was Earle of Surrey Warren and Sussex and died without issue male Iohn Flantagenet his brother succeeded him in those Earledomes and died without issue Edmund Fitz-allen Earle of Arundel maried Alice the daughter of the aforesaid William and was in her right Earle of Surrey and of Warren Richard Fitz-allen their sonne was earle of Arundel Surrey and Sussex Richard Fitz-allen his sonne was earle of Arundel Surrey and Sussex Thomas Fitz-allen his sonne was earle of Surrey Arundel and Sussex and died without issue Thomas Holland R. 2. halfe brother to king Richard the second was by him created earle of Kent and Duke of Surrey Edmund Holland his sonne was earle and Duke Iohn Lord Mowbray sonne to the Duke of Northfolke was discended from the earles of Warren and Surrey H. 6. and was by king Henry the sixth dignified with those honors and also after his fathers death he was Duke of Northfolke Thomas Howard the sonne of Iohn Howard R. 3. whome King Richard the third had created Duke of Northfolke was by the same King created earle of Surrey and by king Henry the eighth Duke of Northfolke Thomas Howard his sonne E. 4. by Anne daughter to king Edward the fourth was by the same King created earle Marshal of England and earle of Surrey Henry Howard earle of Surrey was in his fathers life time attainted and executed and had issue Thomas Thomas Howard his sonne was Duke of Northfolke Q. Ma. and earle of Surrey after his Grandfathers death being restored by Q. Mary Philip Howard his sonne was Earle of Surrey and of Arundel Thomas Howard his sonne is Earle of Arundel and of Surrey Sussex H. 2. VVIlliam de Albaney was Earle of Sussex and of Arundel by his mariage with Queene Adeliza the widdow of king H. the first which Earledomes were her joynture and those honours were giuen to him by king Henry the second William de Albaney their sonne succeeded and was Earle VVilliam de Albaney his sonne was Earle of Sussex and of Arundel William de Albaney his sonne succeeded his father Hugh de Albaney his brother enioyed those Earledomes and died without issue Iohn Plantagenet the seuenth Earle of Surrey was Earle of Sussex and died without issue male Iohn Plantagenet his brother enioyed those honours and died without issue H. 8. Robert Ratclife Lord Fitzwater Egremount and Burnel was by King Henry the eighth created Viscount Fitzwater and Earle of Sussex Henry Ratclife his sonne enioyed all those honors Thomas Ratclife his son was Lord Viscount and Earle and died without issue Henry Ratclife his brother succeeded in those dignities Robert Ratclife his sonne is Lord Egremount and Burnel Viscount Fitz-water and Earle of Sussex Warwicke TArquinius a Saxon was Earle of Warwick at the Conquest hee was banished and died without issue Conq. Henry Beamount alias Newburgh brother to Robert Earle of Millent and of Leicester was by the Conqueror created Earle of Warwick Roger Beamount alias Newburgh his sonne was Earle of Warwick William Beamont alias Newburgh his sonne was Earle of Warwick Walteran Beamount alias Newburgh his brother was Earle of Warwicke after him Henry Beamount alias Newburgh his sonne was Earle of Warwicke Thomas Beamount alias Newburgh his sonne succeeded his father Iohn Marshall maried Margerie the sister and heire of the said Thomas and was Earle of Warwicke in her right but died without issue Iohn de Plessetis the second husband of the said Margerie was in her right Earle of Warwicke Hugh de Plessetis their sonne succeeded and died without
and Robert Tresilian the chiefe Iustice was hanged at Tiborne and the rest of those Iudges had beene hanged in like sort Execution if vpon the importunate and vncessant request of the Queene their liues had not beene redeemed by their banishment Banishment And thus were the threatnings of ciuil wars conuerted into some assurance of prosperitie and of peace ANNO. 12 The Scots do inuade But the next yeare following the Scots inuaded this realme and did much harme against whom great preparations were made by the King who resolued to recompence his owne damage by iust and seuere reuenge A Truce betwixt England France and Scotland for seuen yeares ANNO. 13 Iohn of Gant goeth with an Armie into Spaine But the wisdome and discretion of manie great Estates were such that a Truce was concluded to endure for three yeares betwixt England France and Scotland which shortly after was enlarged for foure yeares more So that now all matters betwixt those three Kingdomes and their Kings being blessed with tranquilitie and with peace the Kings fourth Vncle Iohn of Gaunt Duke of Lancaster was suffered by the King to leuie a strong Armie which hee transported into Spaine where he demanded his right to the Kingdome of Castile in the behalfe of Constance his wife who was the eldest daughter of Peter the deposed and slaine king ANNO. 14 How his bran attempts succeeded there His two Daughters are married to the Kings of Spaine and of Portingall In those Warres the Duke and his Armie performed manie honourable seruices and with the assistance of the king of Portugale so preuailed that to conclude a sued for peace the king of Spaine married with Constance the Dukes eldest daughter by his said wife and gaue vnto him eight Waggons loaden with massie Gold and secured him and his wife of the yearely payment of ten thousand Markes during both their liues And then the Duke went into Portugale where he married Anne his yonger daughter to the king of that Countrie and then returned into England with great riches and much honour ANNO. 16 Lawes against the Popes vsurped Authoritie This time of peace betwixt England other nations bred some quarrelling betwixt the king and the Pope who vsurped too too much authoritie and iurisdiction within this Realme Wherefore to preuent such mischiefes as this intolerable sufferance mght beget in a Parliament vpon graue and great aduise it was enacted That the Popes pretended authoritie within this kingdom should cease and be determined and that no appeale for anie matter or cause whatsoeuer should from thenceforth bee made to the See of Rome vpon the penaltie of a premunire which did extend to perpetuall imprisonment and to the forfeiture of the Lands and goods of such as contrarie to that law presumed to offend ANNO. 17 In the seuenteenth yeare of king Richards Raigne his faire and vertuous Queene Anne died ANNO. 19 And about two yeares after the king married the Ladie Isabel daughter to the French king Charles the sixth By reason whereof a peace was concluded betwixt those two kings King Richard marrieth the French kings daughter A Peace for thirtie yeares Brest is yeelded vp The Duke of Glocester reprooues the King for it The death of the Duke of Glocester the Kings Vncle is plotted A Machauillian pollicie Ambition makes euill Princes confident that their Vertues doe deserue much The King intendeth the destruction of his Barrons being gulled with an vntrue report Certaine Lords surprised A ParliameÌ„t A grosse flâ—ttering Speaker The Archbishop of Canterburie is accused of Treason How the king wronged the Archbishop to endure for thirtie yeares And king Richard being too kind but too little aduised of his owne accord and free will surrendred and gaue vp to the Duke of Brittaine the strong Towne and Castle of Brest which verie much grieued and discontented his Nobilitie especially his Vncle Thomas of Woodstocke Duke of Glocester who told him plainly that it was not conuenient that without blowes with the said Duke of Brittaine hee should haue departed with that strong Towne and Castle which his ancestors had wonne with the expence of much bloud Whereat the king was so much displeased that in his heart hee causelessely vowed seuere reuenge and in this his hastie passion he was abused and furthered by such of his Fauourites as enuied the estate the vertues and honour of the Duke causing strangers to informe the king flateringly and malitiously that diuers of the Princes Electors intended to haue made him Emperor had not some others of them gainsaid it and alleadged that he was altogether vnfit to gouerne the dispersed Segniorieâ— and Dominions of the Empire who could not rule and command his owne subiects at home The greedie desire which king Richard had to bee magnified and made great by being dignified with the name and power of the Empire and his strong reliance vpon the vntrue report which was suggested vnto him by such as only endeuoured to whet his anger against his Lords armed him with subtletie and with a heartie desire to circumuent his Barons though it were done with the breach of his oath and with the shipwracke of his honour So that pretending much loue and fauour towards them but especially to the Duke of Glocester his Vncle and to the two Earles of Arondell and Warwicke hee caused them to be apprehended when as they imagined they had least cause to feare And hauing so done he assembled his High Court of Parliament In which his basest and his grossest flatterer the speaker of the Lower House named Sir Iohn Bush who was a man of a most proud insolent and aspiring spirit irreligiously profanely and dishonestly in a formall and in a tedious speech attributed vnto the King the highest titles of diuine honour and therefore condemned almost to Hell all such as traiterously had conspired against his Maiestie Among whom hee particularly impeached Thomas Lord Archbishop of Canterburie sitting next vnto the King who made no answere at all thereto because the King himselfe vnder pretence of more then ordinarie loue and fauour had priuatly enioyned him vnto silence and vnto future absence from that Assembly promising and protesting that nothing should be attempted or done against him by anie meanes Yet notwithstanding for want of his presence and of his answere to the said vntrue obiections he was with the Kings consent banished this Realme He is banished Warwicke and Arundell are condemned as Traytors Arundell is beheaded Salisburie is banished and dieth miserably The Duke of Glocester murdered at Callice by Thomas Mowbray Earle of Notingham A weake parliament to grant such an vnreasonable Commission And the two Earles of Arundell and of Warwicke were also condemned of High Treason and shortly after the former of those two lost his head And so had Thomas Beauchamp Earle of Warwicke if by his humble confession of thinges vntrue and vpon his great submission steeped in teares and much
sorrow he had not procured a mitigation of his punishment For hee was confined into the I le of Wight where contrarie to the Kings promise hee endured such miserie and was so grieuously oppressed with the griefe which hee sustained by reason of his great wants that he quickly died But the good Duke of Glocester the Kings Vncle being vnsentenced was sent to Callice where according to the Kings directions Thomas Mowbray Earle of Nottingham betwixt two feather-beds caused him to be smothered to death for which good seruice he was afterwards made a Duke This being done the King procured the Vpper and the Lower Houses of Parliament to make an example without precedent by granting full and absolute authoritie vnto six or eight such persons as he should nominate finally to determine all such causes and to enact them as then remained vndiscussed and not ended there This act not only made him proud but to serue his present turnes he nominated for that purpose such as to please his humour decreed manie thinges which were dishonourable to the King and hurtfull to the Common-weale The King will be called Prince of Cheshire The King also to please his Guard who for the most part were Cheshire men of ordinarie parentage and of base birth caused himselfe verie ridiculously to bee stiled Prince of Cheshire as if it had beene more honourable for him to be such a Prince then to be the King and Monarch of the whole Realme And to adde more strength and liking vnto those thinges which then were done amisse the King bestowed manie honorable dignities vpon some of his best liked Noble-men So that his Cousin Henrie of Bullingbrooke sonne and heire apparant to the Kings fourth Vncle Iohn of Gaunt Duke of Lancaster and who was at that time Earle of Darby was by him created Duk of Hartford his Cousin Edward Plantagenet being Earle of Rutland Creation of Noblemen was created Duke of Aubemarle and Thomas Mowbray Earle of Nottingham was made Marshall of England and Duke of Norfolke and the Earle of Kent was created Duke of Surrie and Sir Iohn Holland his brother being Earle of Huntington was made Duke of Exeter and the Earle of Somerset was created Marquesse Dorset and the Lord Spencer was made Earle of Glocester the Lord Neuil Earle of Westmerland the Lord William Scrope Earle of Wilshire and the Lord Percie was created Earle of Worcester and vpon all these he bestowed many great Lordships Mannors and large reuenewes which of late did belong to his murdred vncle Thomas of Woodstock sometimes Duke of Glocester and vnto the said two deceased Earles of Arundell and of Warwicke He also granted his free pardon to all offendors whatsoeuer A craftie Pardon which inabled the King to much mischiefe fifteene only excepted whom he would not nominate By which vngodly and craftie pollicie hee hedged his Nobilitie â—ound about with continuall feare and made them most seruile and most base For if anie one of them in anie high measure had offended him hee would then pronounce him to bee one of those fifteene who were excepted out of his free and generall pardon and then would put his life vpon triall for supposed and surmised Treason It happned about this time ANNO. 22 that Henrie Bullinbrooke Duke of Hartford and Cousin to the King The Kings Cousin desireth reformation in the King by his friend Tho. Mowbray Duke of Norfolke whom the King did fauour extraordinarily was much grieued daily to heare such slanderous reports as were too commonly noysed of the King partly vpon his too much libertie which beyond the Lawes hee challenged in the course of his Gouernment and partly by reason of his vniust and vnskilfull managing of the weightie affaires and businesses of his Kingdome And though affection by meanes of his neere consanguinitie with the King moued him heartily to wish for and to desire a present reformation of those euills yet could hee not better deuise how hee might effect that which hee so much craued than by making vse of his great familiaritie and acquaintance with Thomas Mowbray Duke of Norfolke who had an extraoâ—dinarie interest in the Kings fauour Wherevpon very priuately and in great secrecie as vnto a most kind and louing friend he imparted the causes of his griefe in that behalfe vnto the said Duke and earnestly entreated him vpon fit opportunitie and at his leasure and as from himselfe seriously to informe the King of the said reports and withall to entreate his Highnesse to extend more grace and more fauour to those Lords who for his honour and the Kingdomes good had both incurred his displeasure and also were with too much extremitie condemned of High Treason But the Duke of Norfolke who more respected his owne preferment than the kings honour and strongly presumed that hee had now gotten fit meanes to advance himselfe by his friends fall related all his sayings to the King A false and an vnfaithfull friend in the rudest and most vnciuill maner which he could deuise and added manie things to his relation which were vntrue and neuer spoken thereby aggrauating an offence which was not committed and incensing the king with high indignation to vow reuenge and punishment when the Duke of Hartfords fidelitie and loyall seruice deserued great thankes and a good reward The King is angrie The Duke of Hartford answereth for himselfe The king was so much vexed and enraged by meanes of these tidinges that nothing could giue him anie contentment in anie thing vntill his Cousin the Duke had made his answere therevnto And being sharply pressed thereunto by the king Such things as in that secret and friendly manner hee had desired might bee reformed he both confessed and iustified But the vntrue suggestions which falsly and malitiously were added he denied The Combat challenged and accepted And to cleare himselfe of them hee challenged the Duke of Norfolke to a single Combate which was by him accepted and consented vnto by the king But when the appointed day was come and the two Dukes were within the Lists readily prepared and aduanced themselues each toward the other for the encounter The King would not permit them to proceed but banished the Duke of Norfolke for euer Banishment who shortly after died at Venice and his Cousin the Duke of Hartford hee exiled for six yeares King Charles the sixt Whereupon Hee sayled into France and was honourably receiued by King Charles the sixth Father to the Queene of England King Richards wife who so effectually iustified him in his said actions and doings and so highly affected his Descent his Personage his Wisdome his Vertues and his right Noble Conditions that he would haue bestowed vpon him in marriage the Daughter of his Vncle the Duke of Berrie if his Sonne-in-law King Richard by extraordinarie sollicitations and by vnusuall meanes had not beene the hinderer thereof Iohn of Gant dieth Not long after this Dukes Banishment his
was accustomed infected manie of his men with gieuous fluxes and strange feuers and occasioned the death of the Earle of Stafford of the Bishop of Norwich and of the Lords of Molines and of Burnel and of more then fifteene hundred men And notwithstanding The French dare not to incounter with King Henrie in his March Thirteene thousand men Siluer and Gold â—id â—o pleasure to the English Armie The Dolphin brâ—ggeth but doth not any thing that sicknesse and manie wants afflicted his armie yet king Henrie marched with great confidence and resolution through the bowels of those Countries in despight of the French forces who only made proud brags and faire shewes of encounters But like vnto hunted and affrighted Deere gazed a farre off vpon the English armie yet dared not by handie strokes to make the least triall of their valour albeit King Henries strength did then consist only of two thousand Horsemen and of thirteene thousand Archers and no more Manie of which number wanted health meat wood and rest and had not anie plentie of anie thing sauing only of Siluer and of Gold which could not in that place supply vnto them such thinges as most of all they needed The Dolphin of France to whom the mannaging of those wars was committed hauing assembled more then thirtie thousand fighting men saw that hee was much dishonoured by his owne cowardize and lest he should be infamous among his own people he determined to giue battaile to King Henrie but his fainting ignoble heart being terrified and his courage passing in post out at his heeles suffered him not to attempt anie thing so that King Henrie still marched on-wards burning and spoiling and doing in his passage whatsoeuer himselfe best liked The French king who lay at Roan was highly discontented The French King taketh Counsell for that the English armie vnfought with had proudly passed ouer the Riuer of Soame wherefore hee entred into a serious consultation concerning those businesses with fiue and thirtie of his discreetest and wisest Counsellors and the question was The question Whether it were better to giue Battaile to the English Armie or for that time to giue King Henrie a free march without resistance vnto Callice By thirtie of that number it was aduised and concluded on that they should be fought with but the other fiue vrged manie substantial reasons and arguments to maintaine the contrarie But they were not hearkned vnto The King is defied and a Battaile promised So the French king incontinently by his Herald at Armes sent a defiance to K. Henrie and promised that within few dayes he would trie his best strength by handie strokes in the open field King Henries discrete answere King Henrie with a Princely boldnesse and magnanimitie returned him this answere That because his armie was afflicted with much sicknes and manie wants he bended his course directly to his Towne of Callice where hee would goe and refresh himselfe and his companies and would not therefore at that time seeke the French King But if hee endeuoured and dared to interrupt him in his passage he was of sufficient force and strength to repell all violence which the French Nation should oppose against him The Battaile of Agencourt When this answere was returned the French King by his Proclamations caused manie thousand men at armes and valiant Souldiors to repaire to the Constable of France to fight for honor and for their Countrie with king Henrie who being informed that the day drew neere in which the Frenchmen intended to giue him battaile placed his Armie in good order and array betwixt the Townes of Blangie and of Agencourt within the Countie of Saint Paul This being done the Constable of France being brauely accompanied with diuers great and honourable personages The number of the French Armie well experienced Captaines and lustie men of warre to the number of threescore thousand on horsebacke besides his Footmen Pages Waggoners and other attendants approched neere to the English armie and placed them in good order of battaile and in the night time they made great fires about their standard How the French Armie passed the night They reckoned without their Hoste The Englishmens resolution disposed themselues to extraordinarie mirth and jollitie and made such sure account of the Victorie on the next day by reason of their great numbers and for that the English forces were so small so weake and sickly that they fell to the casting of lots for such prisoners as they would take And on the other side king Henrie and his people hauing humbly reconciled themselues to God and by repentance and by publike and priuate prayer purchased the happie contentment of quiet consciences sounded their trumpets and musicall instruments of all sorts and were resolued to sell their liues deare and to die like men seeing that now they were vnable by anie meanes excepting only by the sword to worke vnto themselues any deliuerance from infamie and from death Vpon friday being the fiue and twentieth day of October The Lord Dalabreth the Lord Dalabreth High Constable of France arranged all his companies into three battailes 1. In the first he placed eight thousand wel-armed Knights The first Battaile of the French and Esquires foure thousand Archers and fifteene hundred Crosbowes and strongly garded them with two wings The one of them consisted of fifteene hundred men at armes and the other of eight hundred And this battaile and these wings were commanded by himselfe and by the Dukes of Orleance and of Burbon and by the Earles of Ewe Richmond and Vandosme and by the Lord Dampter Admirall of France and by the Marshal Bouciqualt and manie others 2. In the middle battaile were placed more men at armes The middle Battaile of the French than in the former and it was commaunded by the Dukes of Barre and of Alanson and by the Earles of Vawdemont Salings Blamont Grant-Preé and Russie 3. And the third battaile being composed of all the remnant was marshalled and guided by the Earles of Marke Damp-Martin The Rere battaile af the French and of Fawlconbridge and by the Lord Lurrey Captaine of the Towne of Arde. And on the other side the Vauntgard of King Henrie King Henries vantgard which consisted of good Archers only was conducted by the Duke of Yorke who being right valiant and of an hautie courage by great entreatie obtained that place and with him were the Lords of Beamond Willoughby and of Fanhope The maine battaile was commanded by the King himselfe King Henries maine Battaile in which were his strongest bil-men and some archers and with him were the Duke of Glocester his brother the Earle Marshall Oxford and of Suffolke And the Reareward was directed by Thomas Duke of Exeter The Kings Rereward the Kings Vncle. And all the Horsemen as wings attended all these companies on both sides And to preuent by pollicie such breaches Stakes driuen into the
hundred valiant men at armes who had kept together and had not fought one stroke that day But as a small and a weake vessell is quickly swallowed vp into a wrathfull Sea so this poore handful was by and by crushed and almost euerie one of them was slaine Afterwardes when King Henrie by his Scoutes receiued certaine intelligence that euerie Coast about him was cleare and that such of his Enemies as were couragious and would fight lay dead vpon the ground The King his Armie giue thankes to God for their great victorie and none were so hardie as to shew their faces the king about foure of the clocke in the afternoone of the same day caused his whole armie vpon their knees to ioyne with him in heartie prayer and in thankfulnesse vnto Almightie God who only and alone by his powerfull aid and assistance had giuen to him and them a most incredible and a glorious Victorie This dutie being thus deuoutly accomplished The spoiles the common souldiours had franke leaue and licence granted them to rifle those whome they had slaine By meanes whereof they not only waxed rich but also stored themselus with al such necessaries and prouisions as before they wanted and then the King marched forward and with much ioy and great honour was receiued into his strong towne of Callice In this battaile The French Noble◠were slaine were slaine Charles Lord Delabreth high Constable of France Iaques of Chastilion Lord of Dampier High Admirall of France Iohn Duke of Alenson Anthonie Duke of Brabant Edward Duke of Barre the Earles of Marle Vawdemont Blawmount Grand-preé Russey Fawlconbridge Foys and Lastrake twentie and fiue Lords eight thousand Knights and Esquires and Gentlemen of armes and name and about sixteene hundred of the common sort besides those who were taken Prisoners taken and remained prisoners among whom these were the chief Charles Duke of Orleance Iohn Duke of Burbon the lords of Donuart Fosseux Humiers Roy Cawny Hamcourt Noell Bonciqualt and some others And on the other part were slaine Edward Duke of Yorke and the Earle of Suffolke The slaine Englishmen and of all others not aboue six hundred persons When King Henrie and his souldiours had a while refreshed themselues in Callice The King with his armie arriue in England they tooke shipping and being enriched with Siluer Gold and braue and costly Armours they all arriued safely in England and the King was receiued into London triumphantly and with much joy When the French king and the Dolphin were informed of the said great and insupportable ouerthrow it is not to be wondered at if melancholie passions and much griefe surcharged them to the verie heart and made them doubtfull of the euent of this businesse But the slaughter of the French prisoners foolishly occasioned by the base attempt of Robynet of Bonuyle Robynet of Bonuyle and his complices imprisoned and of his companions who cowardly ransacked the English Campe and the kings Tents in the heat and furie of the aforesaid Battaile perplexed them more than all the rest but especially the Dolphin who imprisoned the Ringleaders of that follie and would haue sentenced them to death if suddainely himselfe had not after died The Dolphin dieth whose death much amazed the weake and much diseased French King But making a vertue of necessitie and intending by some prouident course to preuent such mischiefes which future attempts did threaten The Earle of Arminake is made High Constable of France he made the Earle of Arminack who was a stout and a warlike Captaine High Constable of France and placed in his other great martiall Offices none but such as by their valour and good tryall had made best proofe of their sufficiencie to performe them New French Officers These newly established Officers leuied manie companies of the most able and stoutest men in sundrie places of that kingdome And at the same time the Kings vncle Thomas Duke of Exeter Thomas duke of Exeter has gallant seruice and Captaine of Hareflew intending to exercise his souldiors in feates of Warre and by some suddaine seruice both to enrich them to winne honour to himselfe and to endamage his enemies issued out of that Towne with three thousand men well armed to the proofe and marched through those Countries burning rifling and spoyling vntill hee came almost to the Citie of Roan where hee was encountred by the new Constable of France who with fiue thousand horsemen hauing a resolution in this exploit to winne his Spurres so sharpely charged the Duke and his followers that hee compelled him though in good order The new Constable is ouerthrowne and with little losse to retyre But the Frenchmen determining their vtter ouerthrow pursued them still with eager spirits vntill they came almost to the Barriers of Harflew which when the rest of the Englishmen who were within the Towne perceiued they issued forth in good order joyned with the Dukes companies and then they all with their entire strength so furiously opposed themselues against the Constable and his Associates that with the slaughter of manie of their horses and souldiors they were enforced to flie away and were chased by the English Victors more than two myles and diuers of them who were taken prisoners could not obtaine their libertie vntill they had procured it with large Ransomes Sigismond the Emperor in vaine mediateth a peace About this time Sigismond the Emperour of Germanie came into England endeuouring to conclude a friendly peace betwixt England and France His heartie welcome and his great entertainment liberally sorted with the high calling of so great a Prince But his motion was barren and fruitlesse of good speeding In his departure the King accompanied him to Callice from whence hee returned home And thither vpon honourable hostages repaired to King Henrie the Duke of Burgoine and betwixt them a friendly peace The Duke of Burgoine is suspected by the French King concerning onely the Counties of Flanders and of Arthois was concluded For which matter the Duke was had in great jealousie and suspected to be a secret enemie to the Crowne of France Not long after the new Constable of France with a strong armie vpon the Land 4. 1415. Harflew besieged by the French and Iohn Vicount Narbon Vice-admirall of France with fiue hundred ships at the mouth of the Riuer of Seyne besieged Harflew on euerie side and made little doubt to winne it in few weekes But when King Henrie was aduertized in what sort the Towne and his Subiects were distressed with extraordinarie care and expedition hee leuied a powerfull armie The English Nauie doe ouerthrow the French Fleet consisting of 500. shippes and transported it thither in two hundred warlike and strong shippes of these hee made Generall his brother Iohn Duke of Bedford and associated to him in that expedition the Earles of March Oxford Huntingdon Arondel Salisburie and Deuonshire and manie Barons Knights and
their Prince And in Februarie following the Queene was crowned at Westminster 9 1420. The Duke of Clarence is betrayed by his friend and is slaine with great solemnitie and much honour The noble and the valiant Duke of Clarence being aduertised That the Duke of Alanson entitling himselfe the Lieutenant Generall of the Dolphin with diuers other Noblemen had leuied an Armie assembled the greatest part of his garrisons in Normandie and marched strongly into the Prouince of Angeou and pitched not farre off from the Citie of Angiers and spoyled and burnt the Countrey round about it To performe this Enterprise with honour and with safetie the Duke of Clarence had strengthened himselfe with sufficient Forces and Prouisions if they had beene well and wisely ordered But hauing in his Armie a false and a trayterous Lombard named Andrew Forgusa Andrew Forgusa whome hee too too much loued and trusted hee sent the said Lombard to discouer the preparations and the power with which hee was resolued to encounter Who brought him word That their number was but small their prouisions defectiue and their order orderlesse and that the Duke of Alanson was altogether vnable and too too weake to contend with him The Duke of Clarence firmely and strongly relying vpon the faith and the trust which hee reposed in this Traytor and being desirous with a small number to winne the honour of that day marched forward with his horsemen onely leauing behinde him his lustie and his strong Archers But when hee was entred within the secret ambushments which purposely were placed to distresse him and saw that his enemies were in number foure for one and were well prouided well armed and arranged in good order of battaile The battaile of Blangy and that no militarie discipline or art was wanting and that himselfe was villanously abused and betrayed by the Lombard whome hee trusted hee could not flye nor make any safe retreat but was enforced to aduenture his fortunes with too much inequalitie on his part So the fight began And though it was long maintained by the Englishmen with as much constancie and resolute valour as any men liuing could performe yet they being euerie minute oppressed with new supplyes and multitudes which still came rushing in vpon them tyring oppressing spoyling and hauocking of them wastfully on euerie side they were at length ouer-mastred and ouerthrowne The Englishmen slain and taken prisoners In this Battaile there were slaine on the French part more than twelue hundred of their choysest men and of the English there were slaine the braue Duke of Clarence the Earle of Tankeruyle Sir Gilbert Vmfreuyle Earle of Kent a prudent man and a worthie Commander the Lord Rosse and almost two thousand others And there were taken prisoners the Earles of Somerset Suffolke and Perch the Lord Fitz-water and manie others Sir Thomas Beauford surnamed the bastard of Clarence who had the direction of the Archers which were left behinde being informed but all too late that the Duke of Clarence was betrayed and that the numbers of the Frenchmen and their Power did farre exceede the Lombards report and that the English were distressed with incredible speede marched forth to succour them with his best helpes But the Frenchmen perceiuing his approach and contenting themselues with the honour of the day and with their prisoners as they had taken with posting haste and speede fled and ranne away as fast as they were able Cowardly Frenchmen leauing the new Forces of the Englishmen to performe sad Exequies for their slaine friends the bodies of whome they buried But the Duke of Clarence was carried into England and honourably interred at Canterburie by his father King Henrie the fourth The heauie newes of this vnexpected ouerthrow The Earle of Mortaigne succeedeth the Duke of Clarence and especially the death of the Duke of Clarence occasioned by the aforesaid Treacherie and Treason much grieued the King his brother Who purposing to reuenge himselfe if hee might vpon the Duke of Alanson and the late Dolphin and his adherents sent into Normandie the Earle of Mortaigne brother to the late taken Earle of Somerset and gaue to him the same Authoritie and Place which the Duke of Clarence formerly had He also assembled his High Court of Parliament In which hee substantially discouered in what sort the Estate of both his Kingdomes stood and how conuenient nay how necessarie and how needfull it was that the Dolphin and his adherents should speedily be pursued Hee likewise told them That hee wanted neyther Men Munition nor Courage but that Money was too scarce with him to vndertake that businesse Whereupon the Temporaltie with all chearefulnesse and alacritie gaue vnto him one Fifteene and the Clergie gaue him two And because much time would be spent before it could be leuied therefore the Kings vncle the Bishop of Winchester disbursed vnto him in readie coyne twentie thousand pounds which hee receiued againe out of the said Fifteenes The King hauing leuied a gallant Armie Iohn Duke of Bedford carrieth an army into France which consisted of foure thousand men at Armes and of foure and twentie thousand Archers sent and with all speede prosperously landed them at his owne Towne of Callis vnder the commaund of his worthie brother Iohn Duke of Bedford whome himselfe in his owne person followed The King followeth And vnderstanding that the Dolphin with seuen thousand men had besieged and much distressed the Citie of Chartieres which was valiantly defended by the Bastard of Thyan hee marched swiftly vnto Paris and from thence toward his Enemies and in his journey he was met by his heartie and true friend Philip Duke of Burgoine He meeteth his friend Philip Duke of Burgoine and Earle of Flanders who brought vnto him foure thousand men and diligently attended him in that Negotiation and Seruice The Dolphin raysed his siege The King was now informed That the Dolphin distrusting his owne strength had raysed his Siege and was retyred vnto Tours into Towrayne Wherefore to represse the rage and violence of Sir Iaques Harcourt who wasted the Countrey of Picardie hee sent the Duke of Burgoine thither And with other Forces hee caused the young and couragious Iames Iames the King of Scots winneth Direx the King of the Scots to lay siege vnto the Towne of Direx which he performed accordingly and dayly with such violence and valour so assaulted it for the space of sixe weekes that with mayne strength hee compelled it to be yeelded into his hands to King Henries vse The Dolphin flyeth from place to place And whilest this Siege did thus continue the King himselfe passed ouer the Riuer of Loyer intending to haue encountred with the Dolphin But hee distrusting his owne strength fled from Tours vnto Burgys in Berrye and there expected a change of his frowning fortunes The King perceiuing his flight from place to place to bee so quicke and hastie hee thought it not conuenient to
things at her pleasure could not be contented vntill the said three great Lords either by strength or policie were cut off yet outwardly she seemed in some measure to affect them and with her cheerefull countenance and smoothing words shee made them a little to be credulous of her loue A subtill policie but discouered But to effect what earnestly she intended she caused the King for recreation and for his healths sake to make his progresse towards the North hunting hauking vsing many other pastimes and delightfull sports in the middest of all which pretending businesses of great import shee caused letters to be written to those three Lords requiring them to come to a speedie conference with the King whereupon those Lords not suspecting any guilefull treacherie to be conspired against them did as they were commanded and were with all cheerefull familiaritie receiued by the King and Queene But being secretly informed by their friends that their destruction was neere at hand the Duke of Yorke fled from thence into Wales the Earle of Salisburie to his owne Countrey and his sonne the Earle of Warwicke vnto Callice and yet by their daily messengers and letters sent mutually the one to the other New proiects were deuised and put in practise shortly after The King being aduised by his Counsellors that these mortall iarres at home would incite his enemies abroad to attempt much mischiefe against him and his kingdome The King laboureth for vnitie and peace How both the Factions met at London endeuoured by gentle perswasions to reconcile his discontented Nobles and to vnite their hearts in true friendship and in loue For this purpose hee appointed a generall meeting of all his Lords at London whither they resorted but were attended on by multitudes of their meniall seruants and by such as for that time were desirous and willing to strengthen them with their best seruice The Lancastrian Faction lodged themselues in the Suburbes and consulted daily what course was best for them to take The Yorkish Confederates soiourned within the walles of the Citie and met daily and aduised themselues how all things should be ordered in this businesse But neither of the aduerse parties came neere vnto the other And the Citizens of London being Neuters and fearing the euent of blowes furnished euery street with armed men both by day and night to maintaine and to preserue the Kings peace Thus whilest euery houre bred much suspicion and when iealousie among the Noble-men made the hearts of the Commons to be vnstable the Arch-bishop of Canterburie and sundrie other Clergie-men by fitting perswasions and arguments of great force and consequence so preuailed that the King the Queene and all the Lords were pleased A dissembled friendship in friendly and in kinde sort to meet and to entertaine each other and all iarres and discontented humours were outwardly in words but not inwardly in heart reconciled and instruments in writing for future amitie and loue were mutually subscribed sealed and deliuered And for the greater solemnitie of this new friendship a religious procession was made thorow the Citie of London in which the Kings head was adorned with the Imperiall Crowne and whereon the Duke of Yorke often times looked with a scornefull eie And one Lord of either Faction marched together hand in hand The Duke of Yorke lead the Queene and with great familiaritie and gracefull honour seemed to be highly respected and esteemed by her The King likewise reioiced much at this Vnion the Lords made shewes of much applauding and the multitude being ignorant that secret rancour was dawbed ouer with counterfeited dissimulation skipped leaped and gaue great shouts for ioy But within few daies after it hapned that vpon a sudden debate and falling out betwixt one of the Kings seruants and a gentleman belonging to the Earle of Warwicke A dangerous affray an affray was made neere vnto the Kings Court in which the Kings seruant was grieuously wounded and the other fled Hereupon the Yeomen of the Kings Gard with Holberds and Swords and the skullerie with Spits and Forkes The Eâ—rle of Wâ—rwiâ—â—e 〈◊〉 assaulted assaulted the Earle and his followers as he came from the Counsell Boord to take his Barge Betwixt them many a rude blow was giuen much bloud was shed but no man slaine The Queene who was forward to picke a quarrell to the Earle vpon any small occasion and knowing that in a whirrie he was passed into London gaue strait command for his apprehension and commitment to the Tower But by reason that his secret friends had forewarned him to looke vnto himselfe hee poasted with all expedition into Yorkeshire He posteth into Yorkeshire where hee discouered to his father and to the Duke of Yorke the great iniurie and wrong which was done vnto him by the Kings seruants and the intention of the Queene notwithstanding the late reconcilement and friendship which was concluded with great protestations and much solemnitie betwixt them And lest some Carpet fauourite might expulse him for his place of trust and Captainship of Calice He saileth vnto Calice hee forthwith sailed thither and assoone as he was gone his father the Earle of Salisburie marched towards the Kings Court with an Armie of fiue thousand men An Armie raised to complaine vnto his Highnesse not onely of the violence and wrong which his meniall seruants had done vnto his sonne but also of the sugered and secret dissimulation of the Queene But when the Queene had certaine notice of his resolued purpose she commanded the Lord Awdley to encounter him on his way with ten thousand men which she had leuied and peremptorily she required him to bring vnto her the said Earle quick or dead Bloar-heath field Her selfe also with another Armie came after him and in Shropshire in Bloar-heath the said Earle and the Lord Awdley met each other where the one fought for honour but the Earle for his life neither of them intending to yeeld or to steppe backe But at length the Earle his followers being in despaire of good successe or pardon if they maintained not the encounter with bold hearts and strong armes fought with such resolution and vnconquerable stomackes The Lord Awdley is ouerthrowen by the Earle of Salisburie that the Lord Awdley with foure and twentie hundred of his souldiers and associates were slaine the rest fled and the Earle of Salisburie was Lord and master of the field By these practises the Duke of Yorke perceiued plainly that the liues of him and of his Complices were secretly hunted for The Duke of Yorke raiseth an Armie and claimes the Crowne and therefore he now determined no longer to hide and couer his purpose as formerly he had done but by armes in the open field to maintaine his claime and title to the Crowne And therefore himselfe with the Earle of Salisburie marched into Wales and thither the Earle of Warwicke repaired to them and brought with him for their
assistance Andrew Trollop and Iohn Blunt two of the most approued English Captaines which then liued and had beene best exercised in the warres of France And when they had plentifully increased their Armie partly in Wales and in the Marches thereof and partly by such companies as resorted daily out of the North vnto them The Kings armie they set onwards and came vnto a little Towne called Lud low where the King and diuers of his Nobilitie presented a strong Armie to the view of the Yorkish Faction so that they lay not farre asunder that night But in the euening the two braue Captaines Trollop and Blunt surueying the Kings forces Andrew Trolop and Iohn Blunt flie into the Kings armie and discouer all espied a certaine way and meanes to endanger the King and all his so that it was resolued by the Duke and Earles that their aduice counsell should fiercely be executed the next morning before the King should be able to set his Armie in a readinesse to fight But in the first watch those two Captaines making it a matter burdensome to their consciences not onely to fight against their Soueraigne Lord and King but also to betray him into the hands of his owne subiects secretly fled and came vnto the King to whom they plainly discouered the proiect and the intention of his enemies and aduised him of the best and chiefest meanes how not onely they might be resisted but driuen to the worst And for this seruice they were gently receiued and pardoned and rewarded by the King The Duke and Earles being certified of their Reuolts beganne to be diffident of their good successe and not daring to set vp their rest on the next daies fight they determined to expect another time which might affoord them more suretie and better hopes And taking aduantage by the darknesse of the night The Lords flie in the night they departed from their Armie into seuerall places for the Duke with his younger sonne Edmund Earle of Rutland retired into Wales and from thence they sailed into Ireland The other two with Edward Earle of March eldest sonne to the Duke of Yorke came into Deuonshire and being safely shipped in Ex-mouth Hauen by the fauour and procurement of a worthy Gentleman named Iohn Dynham they sailed to Calice where notwithstanding their misfortunes they were receiued with much ioy The King who reioiced much at their departure coasted the Countries with multitudes of Horsemen to ouertake them but all their labours were in vaine For the present feare which alwaies remained with them gaue them wings to flie He also pardoned the ordinarie souldiers of the Yorkish Faction which were forsaken by their chiefest guides and as sheepe were exposed to a slaughter But their Captaines who were deliuered vp into the Kings hands were executed in sundry places within this Realme Hee also proclaimed the said Lords to be Arch-traitors to him and to his Kingdome confiscated their goods offices The Lords are proclaimed Traitors and their lands committed the gouernment of the Northerne parts to the Earle of Northumberland to the Lord Clifford his trusty friends and made Henry the young Duke of Somerset Captaine and chiefe Commander of his Towne and Castle of Calice Henry Duke of Somerset is made Captaine of Calice Hee was coursly entertained and of the Marches thereof who sailing thither with a purpose to take possession of his new charge and not suspecting that his enemies were there was on his first arriuall well beaten and battered with the great shot and ordinance which from the Castle plaied on him and by those meanes he was compelled to retire and to keepe off The Queene hauing intelligence of this rude and vnkinde entertainment of her new Captaine and great fauourite resolued to send vnto him fresh and new supplies for which purpose some ships of the Nauie Royall were made ready within the Hauen of Sandwich Iohn Dynham taketh some of the Kings ships But the before-named Iohn Dynham disposing himselfe to all seruices which might support the Yorkish Faction and being furthered by the Mariners who highly fauoured and inwardly loued the young and lustie Prince Edward Earle of March and being accompanied with many gallant spirits and braue men boorded the said ships as they lay there at anchor took the Lord Ryuers who was appointed Admirall to conduct them and carried him and those ships to Calice from whence the Earle of Warwicke sailed in them into Ireland The Earle of Warwicke saileth into Ireland and conferred largely with the Duke of Yorke concerning those affaires But in his returne the Duke of Exeter being Admirall of the Seas and hauing vnder his charge a warlike and a strong Fleet making no doubt to haue taken him was much deceiued for his owne Mariners more adhered to the Yorkish faction then to the Kings and shewed themselues to bee exceeding cold and sparing in the performance of their duties He returneth to Calice when neede required their seruice so that the Earle of Warwicke returned back againe safely vnto Calice And now the King vpon good aduice assembled his high Court of Parliament A Parliment Attainders for Treason Preparations against the laâ—â—ing of the Lords in which hee caused all the Lords of the Yorkish Conspiracie to bee attainted of High Treason And lest this Realme might be disturbed by their inuasion or secret entrance diuers Captaines with their companies were lodged in all Townes and Ports which neare adioined to the Sea and were the best likely places for their landing Sir Simon Mountfort likewise who was a right worthie and a valiant Knight hauing vnder his charge diuers of the Kings ships was appointed to keepe and to defend the Cinque-ports But nothing was done in the Kings Chamber or in any other place of greatest secrecie or counsell whereof the said Earles had not certaine and quicke intelligence at Calice wherefore they prouided furnished and strongly manned such of the Kings ships as formerly by the said Iohn Dynham had beene brought thither The Kings Fleet taken in Sandwich in which they sailed and safely arriued within the Hauen of Sandwich and suddenly they tooke Sir Simon Mountfort prisoner vanquished the towne and caried away with them such of the Kings ships as they found there And hauing receiued good intelligence from their friends that nothing was more expected then their returne into England The Lords doe land at Sandwich they prepared for their iourney and arriued the second time at Sandwich and were within few daies assisted by the Lord Cobham and by many Gentlemen and braue souldiers insomuch that their Armie consisted of more then fiue and twenty thousand men with which they marched towards London Their Army But the Lord Scales was sent against them with a small companie to that Citie to defend it and to secure the King of the fidelitie of the Inhabitants thereof when time should serue But the Lord Maior refused to receiue
them The Londoners refuse to receiue the Lord Scales and told the Lord Scales that hee was able enough without his helpe or counsell to keepe that Citie which by the King was committed vnto his charge whereat he was much displeased and went to the Tower from which hee much wronged and damnified the inhabitants of London The King to defend himselfe The King marcheth towards the Lords and to master his rebellious enemies being accompanied with the Dukes of Somerset and of Buckingham and many other Lords Knights Gentlemen and a strong Armie marched towards them And though the King himselfe for necessities sake was personally present yet his minde and cogitations were more religiously bent to his praiers and his desires affected nothing more then quietnesse and peace But the Queene whose heart was manly The Queene encourageth and threatneth and whose anger threatned death with souldier-like termes and speeches cheared vp her followers debased their enemies promised rewards if they deserued well and the seuerest of all punishments to such as fled At length neere vnto the Towne of Northampton the two Armies met the Earle of March being very frolicke The Armies doe meet The battaile of Northampton and in the heat and flower of his youth by the aduice and counsell of the Earle of Warwicke ordered his Armie for the battaile The Queene and her adherents did the like The fight quickly beganne and fiercely continued somewhat more then two houres but at length the Earles became victors The King is ouerthrowen Ten thousand men slaine Slaughter slew more then ten thousand men on the kings part among which were Humfrey Duke of Buckingham Iohn Talbot Earle of Shrewesburie Thomas Lord Egremont Iohn Viscount Beamond and many others The Queene with the Duke of Somerset and diuers others Flight taking with them the young Prince fled into the Bishopricke of Durham where they hoped to raise a new Armie or resolued in default thereof to goe into Scotland and to remaine there vntill fortune and their friends should inable them to recouer what they had lost The King taken prisoner The Tower is deliuered to the Lords The King who was left behinde was taken prisoner and conueied by the Earles with great pompe and much honour vnto London and at their comming thither the Tower was deliuered into their possession by the souldiers against the liking and good will of the Lord Scales who attempted to flie from thence disguised in a Whirrie But being discouered by the Water-men he was by them taken The Lord Scales beheaded by the Water-men Tho. Thorpe taken and imprisoned The Duke of Yorke commeth into England A Parliament What the Duke of Yorke did and said in the Parliament house The Duke of Yorkes title and made shorter by the head and his body was negligently left vpon the sands And Thomas Thorpe the second Baron of the Exchequer who mortally hated the house of Yorke purposing in the habit of a Monke with a shauen Crowne to flie vnto the Queene was taken and brought to the Earle of Warwicke who sent him to the Tower where hee remained long after The Duke of Yorke being speedily informed of this victorie left Ireland and came to London and procured a Parliament to be assembled in the Kings name and in the presence of all the Lords in the Vpper House hee sate himselfe downe in the Imperiall Seat and in an eloquent and powerfull Oration hee discouered to the Nobles his rightfull claime and title to the Crowne he being the sonne and heire of Anne the daughter and heire of Roger Mortimer Earle of March sonne and heire to Philip the sole daughter and heire of Lionel Duke of Clarence the third sonne of King Edward the Third and elder brother to Iohn of Gaunt who was father to the Vsurper King Henry the Fourth who was father to King Henry the Fifth who was father to the King who was vntruly named King Henry the Sixth Englands plagues He also related vnto them that because God blessed not his vnlawfull gouernment therefore the Common-weale of England had beene plagued with many mischiefes As first by the murdering and by the executing of many honourable and great Lords Secondly by the slaughter of thousands of the common people in France Normandie and elsewhere Thirdly by ciuill and bloudie warres at home Fourthly by the losse of all Territories beyond the Sea belonging to the Crowne of England excepting Calice and the Marches thereof Fifthly by sudden incursions made by the Frenchmen and by the Scots And lastly by all manner of violence 1460. extortion and oppression practised vpon the poorer sort And in his conclusion hee craued no fauour vnlesse that iustice gaue them warrant The title to the Crowne settled by act of Parliament nor quiet possession of the Crowne except they found his descent and title to be infallibly true When the Lords and the Commons there assembled had with mature deliberation and good aduice debated soundly of this important businesse it was by them all enacted that King Henry should so long as he liued retaine the name and honour of a King and that the Duke of Yorke should be proclaimed to be the heire apparant of the Crowne and should be the Lord Protector both of the Kings person and also of his dominions and countries and that the said Duke should haue the present possession of the Crowne of this Realme deliuered vnto him if at any time King Henry or his friends allies or fauourites in his behalfe attempted the infringing of the said Acts which were agreed and confirmed by their oathes The Duke of Yorke hauing by these meanes gotten the gouernment of the Kings person and of all his dominions into his hands The Lords in Scotland refuse to come to the Duke of Yorke dispatched his letters into Scotland in the Kings name requiring the Queene the Dukes of Somerset and of Exeter the Earle of Demonshire the Lords Clifford and Rosse and such other great men as were fled and remained in that Kingdome to repaire with all expedition to the Kings presence They come on with a great Armie But they all not onely refused to obey this peremptorie command but with an Armie of eighteene thousand Englishmen Scots they marched boldly towards the Kings Court. Whereupon the Duke of Yorke with his younger sonne the Earle of Rutland and the Earle of Salisburie leauing the King in the custodie of the Duke of Norfolke and of the Earle of Warwicke and being accompanied with no more then fiue thousand men directed his iourney towards the Queene They are encountred The battaile of Wakefield Haste made waste The Duke of Yorke ouerthrowen and slaine A blâ—udie fact and met her neere to the Towne of Wakefield where no perswasions or good aduice could preuaile but the Duke of Yorke who euery houre expected the approch of Edward Earle of March his eldest sonne with a strong Armie would forth with
fight which vnfortunately he did for in lesser time then the space of one houre himselfe with almost three thousand of his companie were slaine and his younger sonne Edmund Earle of Rutland being but twelue yeares old kneeling vpon his knees and desiring mercie was cruelly and wickedly stabbed to the heart by the Lord Clifford who horribly did sweare that by that act he would be reuenged for his fathers death And the rest of that small Armie being discomforted confusedly ranne away and saued themselues by flight The Queene who had taken the Earle of Salisburie prisoner caused his head to be stricken off and executed many others The Earle of Salisburie beheaded all whose heads to despight the Yorkish Faction she caused to be set vpon the walles of the Citie of Yorke Which reuengefull deede not long after was requited by the ruine and destruction of the King the Queene the young Prince and of the greater number of such as fauoured and assisted the house of Lancaster and opposed themselues against the rightfull and iust claime of the Duke of Yorke as hereafter we shall heare The new and braue Duke of Yorke being informed of this ouerthrow The new Duke of Yorkes victorie and of his fathers death augmented his Armie which was but small and consisted only of three thousand men with which hee fought with the Kings halfe-brother Iaspar Earle of Pembroke Owen Tuthar his father Iames Butler Earle of Ormond and of Wiltshire and their companies And almost at their first encounter those two Earles fled foure thousand of their friends were slaine many others were taken prisoners Owen Tuthar beheaded The Queenes Armie preuailed The King is enlarged and among them Owen Tuthar father in law to King Henry was one who with some others were incontinently put to death But the Queenes Armie neere about that time hauing fought with the Duke of Norfolke and all his forces compelled them to flie to leaue King Henry behinde them whereat she conceiued much ioy This victorie at the first made her insolent and proud but when she vnderstood how well the young Duke of Yorke had preuailed and that his Armie was now winged with the Earle of Warwickes Regiments and Companies shee with her adherents retired backe into the Northerne parts of this Realme and raised a huge Armie of threescore thousand men The Queenes Armie of 60000. men The Duke of Yorkes Army of 49000. men Towton field 36000. Englishmen slaine The Dukes victorie and neere vnto a Towne called Towton Edward Duke of Yorke the noble and victorious Richard Earle of Warwicke and almost nine and fortie thousand men met with the Queenes Armie where they fought a cruell and a fierce battaile in which more then six and thirtie thousand Englishmen were slaine among which were the Earles of Northumberland and of Westmerland the Lords Dacres Welles and Clifford Sir Iohn Neuil Andrew Trollop and many others The two Dukes of Somerset and of Exeter saued themselues by flight but the Earle of Deuonshire with sundrie moe were taken prisoners The King and the Queene with Prince Edward their onely sonne fled to the Castle of Barwicke and from thence into Scotland where they were courteously receiued and friendly entertained by the young King In recompence of which fauours and in hope of future assistance Barwicke deliuered to the King of Scots King Henry deliuered vnto him the Castle and Towne of Barwicke which the Scots not only much desired but with exceeding great losse and detriment had oftentimes but still in vaine attempted to make their owne This victorie being thus happily obtained the Duke of Yorke rod triumphantly to the Citie of Yorke from whose walles hee tooke the heads of his deceased father and of his friends and causing the Earle of Deuonshire and some others to be executed Execution hee set vp their heads in the same places King Henry being hopelesse of all other helpe and assistance The Duke of Yorke commeth triumphantly into London sent the Queene his wife and the young Prince their sonne to her father Reyner the Titularie King of Sicilia Naples and of Ierusalem praying to vse his best endeuours and diligence to procure him aide and succour from the French King And in the meane time he himselfe remained in Scotland patiently expecting the euent of his future Fortunes THE HISTORIE OF KING EDVVARD THE FOVRTH EDVVARD Duke of Yorke hauing ouerthrowen the King Queen and hauing slaine and executed many of his greatest enemies at Towton Field Edward the Fourth proclaimed and crowned King returned triumphantly to the Citie of London and was proclaimed King of this Realme the fourth day of March and was crowned the nineteenth day of Iune then next following In the beginning of his Raigne he remoued from all Offices all such as were voiced to be the oppressors of his people and carefully prouided that all things might be ordered well for their commoditie and profit And in his high Court of Parliament many things were established and enacted for the peace and welfare of the Common-weale A Parliament And all former Statutes which had beene made by the last King Acts for treasons repealed and conuicted him and his adherents of High Treason were defaced cancelled and made void The Earle of Oxford and Sir Awbrey Vere his son and some other Counsellors to King Henry the Sixth Execution being attainted of sundrie treasonable practises lost their heads And to strengthen his part with powerfull and with faithfull friends he created his two brothers George Duke of Clarence Lords created and Richard Duke of Glocester and Sir Iohn Neuil brother to the Earle of Warwicke he created Lord Montacute and Henry Bourchier who had maried the Ladie Elizabeth Aunt vnto the King and was brother vnto Thomas Bourchier Archbishop of Canterburie was created Earle of Essex and William Lord Fawconbridge was made Earle of Kent The Duke of Somerset Sir Ralphe Percie and diuers others being the Kings inueterated enemies perceiuing this settlement of the State Some of the Kings enemies submit themselues but afterwards doe reuolt and finding no hope for reliefe but onely in the Kings grace and mercie voluntarily and humbly submitted themselues to his Highnesse whereupon they receiued his pardon and were entertained with his loue Queene Margaret who with the Prince her sonne was abiding in France by her fathers meanes procured from the French King certaine ships and an aide of fiue hundred men The Queene landeth and flieth into Scotland with which she arriued safely in England at Tyne in the North Country But her successe was vnfortunate for by the Kings friends foure hundred of them were taken prisoners and ransomed and the rest were slaine and the Queene her selfe fled and with much difficultie went into Scotland where shee found such fauour and such friendship that many a lustie Scot accompanied her the King and the Prince their sonne to the Castle of Barwicke where she
new Gentlemen as vnworthily doe rule and gouerne all to our dishonour and reproach The Earle of Warwicke finding the Duke of Clarence thus tractable The plot is strengthened by a mariage and inclining to his humour consulted with him oftentimes touching this businesse And to tie him vnto himselfe by a fast bond of friendship and of loue He offered to him in marriage one of his daughters who was named Isabel with halfe the inheritance of his wife Whereof the Duke in all kindly and friendly sort accepted And thereupon the plot was contriued thus The plot against King Edward The Earle himselfe with the Duke of Clarence would goe vnto Calice where the yong Lady who was there should bee married And in their absence as if it hapned without their knowledge or consent the Earles two brothers the Archbishop of Yorke and the Marques Montacute were appointed with their friends to raise a Rebellion in the Countie of Yorke And this proiect was put into Execution in this maner The Husbandmen of Yorke-shire by an ancient custome in the end of Haruest The cause of the Rebellion vsed yearely to giue a certaine quantie of Corne and Graine towards the maintenance and reliefe of diuers poore people who liued in the Hospitall of Saint Leonard within the Citie of Yorke Now the Earles friends scandalously and falsely reported in the Countrie thereabout That the said poore people were not relieued by the said Almes but that the Gouernour and Priests of the said Hospitall enriched and fatted themselues therewith So when the Proctors according to their wonted fashion came abroad to collect the peoples deuotion in that kind they were shrewdly beaten by the Rustickes and misused beyond measure Hereupon many Religious and well disposed people tooke part with the Proctors and with rough words and some blowes they requited the iniurie which was done vnto them From this beginning sprang forth a dangerous Insurrection So that within few dayes there were vp in Armes more then fifteene thousand men This was done by him in fauour of the King as it seemes afterwards Who with their ring-leaders came proudly before the Citie of Yorke and with vnciuile and rude tearmes they threatned the ruine and destruction of it But in the darkenesse of the night the Marques Montacute being accompanied with many lustie and braue men set vpon the Rebels slew many hundreds of them and strake off the Captaines head and strongly fortified that Citie When the King who was truely informed of this Rebellion was told this newes hee rested doubtfull whether his old friend the Marques had done this seruice to make an amends for his reuolt Sir Iohn Conyers captaine of the Rebels or else to colour his ill intendements thereby The Rebels who still increased perceiuing that they should loose their labour to linger about the Towne left the Citie and marched towards London being then conducted by Sir Iohn Conyors a worthie and a valiant Knight The King being hereof aduertised commanded the Lord William Herbert Earle of Pembroke and Humphrie Lord Stafford of Southweeke who was nominated in hope of future good seruice but not indeed created Earle of Deuonshire to leauie a strong power in Wales and with all expedition to fight with the Rebels And hee himselfe promised to assist them with a faire Armie The Lord Stafford ouerthrowne These Lords with eight or nine thousand men right well ordered and apointed marched towards these Rebels And as they drew neere to Northampton they vnderstood that they were not farre off Whereupon the Lord Stafford and Sir Richard Herbert a valiant Knight and brother to the Earle of Pembroke taking with them out of the whole Armie two thousand strong skilful Archers plotted a secret Ambush to take a view of the Northren Rebels as they passed by but as soone as they were gone beyond them these Archers rushed violently vpon their Rereward But the Rebels who were nimble and well ordered by their carefull Generall turned about stuck to their tacklings and with their greater numbers slew most of those Welchmen and the rest fled hastily to their owne Campe. An vnfortunate dissentiō And the next night by reason of an vnkind diuision which hapned betwixt the Lord Stafford and the Earle of Pembroke who at Banburie remoued him from a common Inne where hee vsed to lodge with an vnchaste Queane the Lord Stafford with his Archers departed from the Armie and left them to their fortunes among their foes This froward slinking away nothing at all dismaied the noble Earle though as he had iust cause he were much displeased thereat Banburie field but made him to resolue with the more alacritie and courage to set vpon the Rebels with whom hee fought the next day and with his Welshmen saw many tokens of victorie neere at hand But suddenly a Gentleman named Iohn Clapham and seruant to the Earle of Warwicke hauing his masters Banner with the white Beare trouped towards the battaile with fiue hundred men who were by him collected of the off-skumme of the rascall and basest sort of the inhabitants of the Towne of Northampton and of the villages thereabout All these presenting themselues afarre off and aduancing their Standard and crying A Warwicke A Warwicke A policie so incredibly daunted and confounded the Welshmen who supposed that the Earle of Warwicke was come thither with another Armie The Kings forces are ouerthrowen 5000. men slaine that they began to flie and were on the sudden ouerthrowen and more then fiue thousand of them were slaine And Sir Richard Harbert and eight others being taken prisoners were beheaded at Banburie by the Rebels This fortunate successe animated sundrie leaud and ill disposed people of Northamptonshire to enter into new broiles insomuch that they making a notorious Rascall named Robin of Riddisdale The Queenes father is beheaded by the Rebels their Captaine entred into the Manour of Grafton where they apprehended the Earle Ryuers whom they loued not and Sir Iohn his sonne caried them to Northampton and without questioning with them or any legall proceeding smote off their heads The Lord Stafford beheaded The King marcheth towards the Rebels The Duke of Clarence and the Earle of Warwicke doe some with the Rebels And the Lord Stafford being by the Kings directions taken at Brentmarsh in Somersetshire was caried to Bridgewater and was there executed because hee trecherously departed with his companies from the Earle of Pembroke as formerly we haue heard The King notwithstanding these troubles was so full of courage and heroicall magnanimitie that hee was not any thing at all dismaied with any crosse or ill newes but marched confidently with his Armie against the Northerne Rebels to whom the Earle of Warwicke had ioined himselfe with a great power and likewise the Duke of Clarence brought all his forces to the Earle so that now a fearfull expectation of vnchristian crueltie disquieted the vast and great body of the
in law Charles Duke of Burgoine to prohibit his subiects and his friends from giuing to the said Earle any aide Warwicke is enuied by the Duke of Burgoine helpe or succour and with a Nauie to surprise him The Duke willingly consented to the Kings request First because the said Earle opposed himselfe against his mariage with the Ladie Margaret the Kings sister Secondly because the said Earle loued Lewys the French King whom the Duke mortally hated And lastly because the Earle was so generally beloued of the English Nation that when he was at home he clipped the wings of the Kings authoritie in his owne Kingdome When the Duke of Clarence and the Earle of Warwicke came before Calice Clarence and Warwicke â—eateaâ—â—â—â— at Calice The Duchesse deliuered 〈◊〉 a 〈…〉 the 〈…〉 Mâ—nsieur de Vawcler made Câ—ptaine of Calice A peâ—â—iâ—n is giuen him hauing their wiues and many other Ladies and Gentlewomen with them in stead of friendly entertainment the Earles vnkinde Deputie Monsieur de Vawcler kept their ships off with the great Ordinance of the Castle And though the Duchesse was in ship boord deliuered of a sonne yet would hee not permit that it should be landed or Christned there neither would hee affoord any thing needfull and necessarie in that extremitie to the said distressed Ladie The King tooke so much ioy to heare of this good newes that forthwith by his Letters Patents hee granted the chiefe Captainship of that place to the said Deputie And the Duke of Burgoine so thanked him that he gaue him an yearely pension of one thousand Crownes Yet for all this Monsieur de Vawcler was so vncertaine in all his dealings towards the King that hee aduised the said Earle to direct his course to the King of France and promised to yeeeld vnto him a good account for Calice when time and opportunitie should it require This counsell gaue some hope and contentment to the Earle who intending to do as he directed lanched his ships into the sea The Earle of Warwicke taketh the Duke of Burgoines subiects at Sea The French King is gratious to the Lords where hee met with diuers of the Duke of Burgoines subiects fully loaden with great varietie of rich merchandises of all sorts all which he rifled and tooke away and landed at the Towne of Deepe and from thence by the French Kings inuitation they came to the Castle of Amboys which standeth vpon the riuer of Loyer where hee met them receiued them cheerefully feasted them with great bountie supplied their present wants and faithfully promised to aid and to assist them when time should serue with his best meanes all which hee did not in regard of any grounded loue towards them but because he knew that they were enemies to his enemies King Edward the Duke of Burgoine Queene Margaret and Prince Edward her son together with Iaspar sometimes Earle of Pembroke some others who with him had broken prison in England were fled into France vnderstanding that the Duke of Clarence the Earle of Warwick and others of their friends were friendly entertained in the French Court repaired to them New plotting against K. Edward where they entred into new conferences and communications for the restoring of K. Henry to his Crowne Kingdome and solemnly tooke their oathes neuer voluntarily to leaue each other vntill they had done their best to effect the same And the Earle of Warwicke to make his own part the stronger gaue his second daughter in mariage to Prince Edward Prince Edward maried to Warwickâ—s second daughter This mâ—riage mâ—keth Clarence a secret enemie to Warwicke whereof when the Duke of Clarence had deliberately considered and thought what might be the sequell of this businesse hee euidently foresaw that this mariage and their newly intended warres would be the vtter confusion of him and of the whole familie and house of Yorke For Kings doe alwaies looke with a iealous eie vpon all such as by any possibilitie may lay any leuell towards their Crowne This consideration not without good cause made him very distrustfull of his own fortunes And to preuent a great mischiefe which as hee thought began to threaten him and his estate his loue his heart began secretly to forsake the Earle of Warwicke and that Faction insomuch that hee gaue priuate intelligence to his brother King Edward Clarence his mâ—ssage to the King that at their landing within the Kingdome of England he would be but a faint and a weake enemie in those affaires Thus when those Lords had concluded to returne The Lâ—rds prâ—â—â—â— fâ—rth for England they were with all expedition well furnished with men munition money ships and all things fitting by the French King But being in a readinesse to passe out of the Riuer of Seyne the Burgundians met them with a strong Fleet at the mouth of that Riuer and purposed to defeat them if they might But an euening storme approching with vnwonted rage and furie The Burgundians drowned compelled the Burgundians to runne into the Sea where many of them were drowned some were driuen into Scotland and the rest being all dispersed laboured and toiled hardly to saue themselues The Earle of Warwicke who by letters some few daies before receiued from his friends was certified that his landing was hourely expected and sufficient strength prouided to backe him and his although they came destitute of all other helpes and succours determined to loose no time but making a present benefit to himselfe and his of the Burgundians mishap and hard fortune and leauing the Queene and the Prince her sonne behinde him the next morning entred into the Sea and with much speed and safetie he landed with all his companies and friends at Dartmouth in Deuonshire The Lords doe land at Dartmouth The King was too secure from whence hee gaue speedie notice of his arriuall to his dearest and nearest friends The King so much relied vpon the bold seruice intended by the Burgundians Fleet and not knowing what shipwracke and dammage it had receiued made no preparation at all either to withstand their arriuall or to encounter them after they were landed but hauked hunted and solaced himselfe according to his humour and wonted fashion in the societie and companie of young Ladies and faire maidens to whom his affections were more obliged then to the warres Warwickes Proclamation But the Earle of Warwicke marshalled his small companie in good order and by publike Proclamations which he made in King Henries name he required all men to repaire vnto his aide with money victuall armour and all things needfull for that purpose and valiantly to fight against the Duke of Yorke who as hee affirmed by meere vsurpation and bloudie tyrannie vntruly and falsly called himselfe King He hath a â—uge Armie This politicke practise within few daies increased his small companies to a huge Armie with which they marched towards London And such were the quicke
Barwicke is deliuered to the Duke of Glocester who making the Lord Stanley the chiefest Captaine and Commander thereof returned ioifully with his whole Armie and was much praised and thanked by the King This good newes from Scotland was quickly checked with a bad out of France The French King breaketh all the Articles of Peace For the French King not only refused to pay vnto King Edward the foresaid tribute of fiftie thousand Crownes by the yeare which was granted to him during his life but also maried his sonne the Dolphin to the Ladie Margaret daughter to Maximilian the sonne of Fredericke the Emperour thereby breaking his oath and infringing those Articles which vpon the last conclusion of peace he had sworne solemnly to obserue and keepe Whereat King Edward iustly conceiued such an high displeasure and hatred against King Lewys that after long and serious consultation with his Counsell K. Edward resolueth to goe with an Armie into France Nobilitie Clergie and Commons he did resolue to passe againe with a royall Armie into France and to reuenge himselfe of all those iniuries and wrongs But whilest those preparations made manifest to the world the Kings intention to make warre hee being either surcharged with deepe melancholie or with some surfet for excesse of diet and of pleasure did oftentimes disquiet him waxed exceeding sicke He sickneth He dieth and shortly after died when he had raigned more then two and twentie yeares Profitable Notes extracted out of the troublesome raignes of King HENRIE the Sixth and of King EDVVARD the Fourth THe whole Kingdome of France was lost in the seuen and twentieth yeare of King Henry the Sixth 27. H. 6. And the next yeare after all Normandie was lost 28. H. 6. 31. H. 6. And in the one and thirtieth yeare of his raigne the Duchie of Aquitaine was quite taken from him It is likewise to be obserued that whilest hee gouerned and enioied Normandie and France these heroicall Nobles lost their liues there that is to say Thomas Montacute Earle of Salisburie 6. H. 6. 12. H. 6. 14. H. 6. 18. H. 6. 31. H. 6. who was slaine at the siege of Orleance Iohn Earle of Arundel who was slaine at the siege of Rue the noble and renowned Lord Iohn Duke of Bedford and Regent of France and Richard Beauchampe Earle of Warwicke both which died of a greeuous sicknesse and Iohn Lord Talbot Earle of Shrewesburie who was slaine at the battaile of Chastilion Besides many braue skirmishes and strong encounters there were fought during his raigne betwixt the two factions and Confederates of the houses of Lancaster and of Yorke fiue cruell and fierce battailes 1. The first was called the battaile of S. Albons 34. H. 6. wherein the Yorkish did preuaile and among others Edmund Duke of Somerset Henry the second Earle of Northumberland Humfrey Earle of Stafford and Iohn Lord Clifford were then slaine 2. The second was termed the battaile of Bloarheath 37. H. 6. in which the confederated Lords wonne the victorie in which the Queenes Generall the Lord Awdley was slaine 3. The third was the battaile of Northampton 38. H. 6. in which King Henry was ouerthrowen In this battaile there died aboue tenne thousand men among which were these Nobles Humfrey Duke of Buckingham Iohn Earle of Shrewesburie Thomas Lord Egremont Iohn Viscount Beamount and the Lord Scales was beheaded 39. H. 6. 4. The fourth was the battaile of Wakefield in which the King was victorious In this battaile there were slaine almost three thousand men among which was the renowned and most valiant Richard Duke of Yorke and many others And certaine prisoners were then taken and lost their heads among which Richard Neuil Earle of Salisburie and father to Richard Earle of Warwicke was the chiefe And at the end of that battaile the young Earle of Rutland named Edmund being of the age of twelue yeares and second sonne to the slaine Duke of Yorke was cruelly murdered by the Lord Clifford 39. H. 6. 5. The fifth battaile was called the battaile of Towton in which the new Duke of Yorke preuailed and in the same there were slaine almost 37000. Englishmen among which were the Earle of Westmerland Henry Earle of Northumberland the Lords Dacres and Welles and many worthie Gentlemen and Knights And the Earle of Deuonshire with some of his Complices being taken prisoners lost their heads 29. H. 6. Whilest this King liued there were also executed for diuers Treasons touching the said two Factions William de la Pole Duke of Suffolke and Iames Fynes Lord Say High Treasurer of England And Humfrey 25. H. 6. surnamed The good Duke of Glocester being Vncle and Protector to the King and being vniustly committed to the Tower for surmised but not for approued Treasons was cruelly murdered in his chamber King EDVVARD the Fourth IN the raigne of King Edward the Fourth there were principally fought fiue battailes betwixt the houses of Lancaster and Yorke 2. E. 4. 1. The first was the battaile of Exham in the North in which King Edward obtained the victorie and tooke these prisoners among many others Henry Duke of Somerset William Taylboys who named himselfe Earle of Kent the Lords Roos Molynes and Hungerford all which were within few daies after put to death 8. E. 4. 2. The second was called Banburie Field in which were slaine aboue 8000. men 8. E. 4. 3. The third was called the battaile of Loose-coats because the souldiers threw off their coats to run away the faster And in it aboue ten thousand men lost their liues 4. The fourth was Barnet field 10. E. 4. in which more then ten thousand died among which were the most renowned Richard Neuil Earle of Warwicke Iohn Marquesse Montacute his brother whom King Edward entirely loued And on King Edwards part there was slaine a noble and a valiant Gentleman named Sir Humfrey Bourchier sonne to the Lord Barnes 5. And the fifth was called Tewkesburie Field in which 3000. 10. E. 4. Englishmen were slaine among which were the Duke of Somerset and the Lord Iohn his brother and the Earle of Deuonshire In this Kings raigne there were beheaded the Lord Stafford 8. E. 4. who left the Earle of Pembroke vpon a priuate falling out in the Field and caried from him part of the Kings Armie The Lord Welles and Sir Thomas Dymocke 8. E. 4. without any offence at all by them done Richard Wooduile Earle Ryuers and father to Queene Elizabeth 8. E. 4. King Edward wife was taken by the Rebels and lost his head And the Lord Wenloke was murdered by the Duke of Somerset 10. E. 4. because he came not to his rescue with his Companies in the field The young Prince Edward eldest sonne to King Henry the sixth 10. E. 4. to please King Edward was cruelly murdered by the two Dukes of Clarence and of Glocester and by some others King Henry the sixth
subiect to their willes And therefore he aduised them to ioine with him for their remoue and to diuide and share betwixt themselues all such benefits as by those meanes should be atchieued These faire perswasions and their owne ambitious humours quickly wrought the said two great Lords His practise against the Queenes kindred not onely to hearken willingly to this discourse but also to bee confederates with the Duke of Glocester in that practise which quickly was attempted in this manner The Queene with the Earle Ryuers her brother and with her sonne Richard Lord Grey and with her other friends being guarded with a strong power of armed men and souldiers intended to bring the young King from Wales towards London to be crowned And the Duke of Glocester knowing that if his feat were not wrought before that time it could not easily be effected after and considering likewise that if he with his confederates should come armed against the King to meet him and by open violence attempt to get the Kings person into their possession their said enterprise would be censured and adiudged to be a rebellious action and no lesse then Treason Wherefore he cunningly directed and sent his letters to the Queene and called to her remembrance the heartie loue and friendship which the late King her deceased husband in his death-bed had ratified and confirmed betwixt the Lords of his owne bloud and alliance and the kinsfolkes of the Queene He likewise informed her that it was commonly reported that her brother and her friends which were neere about the Kings person intended with a strong power and with many armed men to conduct his Maiestie for his Coronation from Wales to the Citie of London He protested and swore vnto her that his humble dutie to his Soueraigne and his vnfained loue to her and to her kinsfolkes and children incited him seriously and earnestly to aduise and counsell her and them to dismisse those companies of armed men for that he feared much lest the gathering of them together would be the occasion of new broiles and of ciuill wars For seeing quoth he that many former battailes triumphing in bloud haue now made peace and seeing that the state of the whole Kingdome hateth Armes and seeing that the King hath no Competitor for his Crowne and that loue and friendship hath vnited and knit together the mindes and the hearts of all his Nobles and seeing that perfect tranquillitie and a secure reconciliation hath quieted and gladded all the people certainly the Kings comming towards the Citie of London with an armed traine will make the Lords of the deceased Kings bloud and many others exceeding iealous of their intention and to be fearfull lest some secret plot be cunningly contriued to surprise them when in dutie and for seruice they shall make their accesse vnto the King and that such feare and iealousie will occasion them for their defence and safetie to raise the like forces whereof might ensue much danger discontentment and perhaps blowes The Queene and her friends who meant none ill taking much comfort in this aduice The Kings strength is sent away because she supposed it sprang from heartie loue and also because the Duke of Glocester had at the same time with all respectiue dutie and reuerence likewise written vnto the King and louingly to the Earle Ryuers her brother and vnto Richard Lord Grey her sonne caused all such strength of armed men as was prouided for the Kings conduction towards London to bee dismissed and sent away And the said Earle and Lord and some others of their friends brought the King forth in his iourney to the Citie of Northampton and the next day to Stony Stratford being ten miles from thence And because that little Towne was not capable of the whole traine the Earle Ryuers and his priuate followers remained that night in Northampton The Queens kindred is betraied But on the sudden and vnlooked for the Dukes of Glocester and of Buckingham being strongly accompanied with great store of resolute attendants dismounted themselues in the Earles Inne and with all complements of loue and friendship they passed the time with him and by reason of their extraordinarie familiaritie he secured himselfe of their heartie and vnfained loue But assoone as their companies were in their beds the two Dukes seised vpon all the keies of the same Inne and caused all the waies betwixt those two Townes so to be watched and warded that no person of what degree or qualitie soeuer he were could haue any passage there And they reuealead that the pretence of their so doing was because no man before them should in the morning preuent them for diligence to attend vpon the King Whereof when the Earle Ryuers had intelligence necessitie compelled him to dissemble and to seeme as if he suspected none euill although he knew that by the Dukes policie and craftie cunning he was ouertaken and beguiled Yet in friendly and in a iocund manner he came vnto the two Dukes and asked them why they had so done But suddenly they entred into a needlesse and causelesse quarrell with the said Earle They are imprisoned surprised his person and committed him to safe keeping And then in good and quiet manner the two Dukes rode to Stony Stratford and humbly presented their duties and their seruice to the King who being altogether ignorant of that which so newly had hapned receiued them with a cheerfull countenance and with much ioy But presently they also seised vpon Richard Lord Grey the Kings halfe-brother and vpon Sir Thomas Vaughan and some others all which they sent vnder a strong Guard to the Castle of Pomfret in the North where without any iudiciall sentence or legall proceeding against them they were beheaded vpon the same day that the Lord Hastings Lord Chamberlaine who conspired in that action with the two Dukes did lose his head The Kings seruants are remoued The two Dukes also and the Lord Chamberlaine remoued from the King all his other Officers and most of his meniall seruants informing all men which attended the King or expected the sequell of this businesse that the said Earle Lord and Knight with some others had resolued to destroy all the Lords of King Edwards bloud and to rule both the King and Common-weale according to their owne will The Queene with her children take Sanctuarie When the Queene who at that time lay with the Kings brother the young Duke of Yorke and with her fiue daughters at Westminster heard of these tumults and what had hapned to her brother sonne and friends it repented her much that she had aduised them vpon the Duke of Glocesters cunning letters to dismisse and to discharge their souldiers and men of warre And because she had good cause to feare the euent thereof shee with her children entred into the Sanctuarie there The young King also mourned grecuously to see the wofull tragedie wherein his friends misfortunes were so vnexpectedly acted
great victorie He thanketh and praiseth God and with promises of large rewards the whole Armie was dissolued and the Earle and his Nobles departed to their rest Thus liued and thus died King Richard when he had raigned as a Tyrant two yeares two moneths and one day THE HISTORIE OF KING HENRIE THE SEVENTH AS after a sharpe winter men doe receiue the sweet comforts of a pleasant Spring and like as Aduersitie is fully recompenced with more ioifull tidings when abundance of Prosperitie doth follow so the hearts of all such as were sad and heauie by reason of the ciuill wars were now cheered and made iocund by the happie peace and concord which at this instant blessed all England in the succession of King Henrie The King marieth â—he Ladie Elizabeth who being crowned King according to his oath and promise maried the faire and vertuous Ladie Elizabeth eldest daughter to King Edward the fourth ioining thereby in one the two great Families of Lancaster and of Yorke betwixt whom for Principalitie and for the Crowne infinite contentions and mortall warres had formerly consumed and destroied many thousands of braue and valiant men Now that the state of this Kingdome might be confirmed in its happinesse by the safetie of the Kings person The King chuseth a Guard and by other requisites King Henrie taking his President and ensample from the Kings of France selected a certaine number of warlike men in all places to attend vpon him Rewards giuen Noblemen created whom he termed the Yeomen of his Crowne He also rewarded with great bountie all such as for his sake had beene eminent in his seruice and created his vncle Iaspar Earle of Pembroke Duke of Bedford His father in law Thomas Lord Stanley was made Earle of Darbie He also made his faithfull and firme friend and fauourite the Lord Chandew of Britaine Earle of Bath Sir Giles Dawbeney was made Lord Dawbeney Sir Robert Willoughbie Lord Brooke and Edward Stafford the eldest sonne of Humfrey Duke of Buckingham who in his quarrell lost his head was by him restored to his fathers dignitie and possessions A Parliament Acts repealed The Crowne is intailed New Lawes His Pardons Then hee assembled his High Court of Parliament at Westminster in which hee frustrated cancelled and made void all former Acts which conuicted him and his adherents as guiltie of High Treason The Crowne of this Kingdome was entailed to him and to the heires of his bodie Hee also caused such Lawes and such Statutes to bee made as were behoouefull and beneficiall to this Common-weale Hee pardoned all such as hauing conspired or borne armes against him submissiuely by their oathes acknowledged and receiued him for their true and lawfull King His Counsellors Hee elected the most noble graue and wise men of this Kingdome to be of his Priuie Counsell by whose direction and aduice the gouernment of this Realme was established in prosperitie and in peace The Duke of Britaine is recompenced Hee bountifully recompenced the Duke of Britaine for all his former courtesies towards him and also paid vnto him all such summes of money as at any time hee had disbursed for his maintenance and releefe So is the French king The like he did to the French King and thereby redeemed his two Hostages the Lord Marquesse Dorset and Sir Iohn Bourchier whom he left there 1486. 2 Thus whilest King Henry was carefull willing and endeuoured to please all men and by his vertuous imploiments laboured to settle things in peace A Rebellion the malignant spirits of such as tormented themselues at his happinesse and placed their owne hope for preferment in rebellious attempts and seditious courses would not permit him to liue at rest and quietly to performe the duties of a gratious King For Francis Lord Louel Humfrey Stafford and Thomas his brother leauing the Sanctuarie at Colchester which for their safetie they had taken seduced and animated much people in the North against King Henry and caused them vpon vntrue surmises rashly and without aduice or counsell to put themselues in armes The King who was not farre away from them being somewhat troubled with this newes The Kings celeritie in raising an Armie began to raise an Armie to withstand them and such was his strange and wonderfull celeritie and expedition to preuent the increase of their further strength that hastily he sent against them his Vncle the Duke of Bedford with three thousand men whose breast-plates were made of tanned leather for want of other armour and he himselfe trauailed day and night to second his souldiers with a better strength But when the Lord Louel and his associates perceiued that King Henry resolued to make them fight before they were sufficiently prepared and that fresh forces would giue them a second onset if at the first they should happen to bee victorious their courage failed The Rebels flie their hearts fainted so that in the darknesse of the night they fled and left their vnarmed Armie to the mercie of King Henry the two Staffords taking Sanctuarie in the Abbie of Culnham not farre from Oxford and the Lord Louel being shrowded by Sir Thomas Broughton in the North. The next day the poore distressed Rebels being destitute of their Leaders humbly submitted themselues to the Kings mercie and receiued his free pardon But because no Sanctuarie could protect malefactors in cases of High Treason therefore the two Staffords were by violence seized on and the said Humfrey being indicted arraigned found guiltie Humfrey Stafford is executed and condemned was put to death but his younger brother was preserued by the Kings fauour because it was conceiued that his transgression was not hatched by his owne malice but by the peacelesse instigation of his brother No sooner was this flame quenched but a greater fire was presently kindled by a Priest whose name was Sir Richard Symond a man very leaud but well learned and in all his actions vniust Richard Symonds conspiracie against K. Henry craftie and too too cunning Hee knowing that Edward Plantagenet Earle of Warwicke and sonne and heire vnto George Duke of Clarence brother to King Edward the Fourth being now of the age of seuenteene yeares had from his infancie beene kept as a Prisoner by the two last Kings in the Castle of Sherry-hutton in the Countie of Yorke and that King Henry had secretly remoued him to the Tower got into his tutorship a young boy Lambert the counterfet Duke of Yorke prettie and wittie yet borne of a base parentage and stocke whose name was Lambert Him hee instructed with as much varietie of learning Court-like complements and Gentleman-like behauiour as his yeares would suffer him to comprehend and then hee informed him that by his birth and linage hee was not onely noble but descended of the royall bloud that hee was the onely sonne of the Duke of Clarence and the first heire male of the house of Yorke and therefore
inheritable to the Crowne This lesson with the daily repetitions of his heroicall Pedegree hee so inculcated into his young Scholar that hee was as able and as ready to discourse thereof as if by inspiration that knowledge had beene infused to him from aboue The Irish were too credulous Thus when this subtill Priest had prepared his Pupill for his purpose he transported him into Ireland where hee first vented and spred abroad this false and vntrue noueltie among the wilder and more barbarous sort of that fickle and busie Nation who being too too credulous and flexible to any change gaue to the youth all honour and reuerence as vnto their soueraigne and liege Lord. And within few daies after diuers of the Nobilitie of that Countrey were taken in the same net of follie and beleeued as the Commons did among whom the Lord Chancellor Sir Thomas Gerandine was the chiefe who hauing had much familiar conference with the young counterfet and finding his amiable aspect the trimme composure of his bodie his princely presence his pregnancie of wit his sufficient learning his ingenious capacitie his quicke spirit his discreet speech and seemely complements to be answerable and fitting to a Prince not onely censured him to bee the true and the vndoubted sonne and heire of the Duke of Clarence and pitied his estate but endeuouring to doe him good disbursed vnto him for the enlargement of his expenses traine and honour diuers and sundrie great summes of money and perswaded many other great Lords of Ireland to doe the like He also with great speed and secrecie informed the Ladie Margaret The malice of Margaret Duchesse Dâ—wager of Burgoine to K. Henry sister to King Edward the Fourth and Duchesse Dowager vnto Charles the deceased Duke of Burgoine and the supposed Aunt of this counterfet of his being there And albeit that shee was well assured that this newes was false yet because being of the house of Yorke shee mortally hated and enuied King Henry who was the head and the chiefe of the Familie of Lancaster she not only gladded her heart to heare thereof but also pleased her conceits with infinite delectation that now an opportunitie was presented to her to execute her furie vpon King Henry and that shee might by this plot if it succeeded well enlarge her true Nephew the young Earle of Warwicke and make him King First of all therefore shee caused the false report of this young counterfet to bee noised thorowout England that thereby shee might vnsettle the mindes of such as were credulous and might be inclined to take his part She also published that the Irish Nobilitie and Nation had not onely receiued him for their Lord and Soueraigne and would take his part but also that shee her selfe would strengthen his attempts with money men and armes to the vttermost of her power These vaine and fabulous reports carried vnto her into Flanders Francis Lord Louel and her nephew the Earle of Lincolne sonne and heire to Iohn de la Pole Duke of Suffolke and of Elizabeth one other of the sisters of King Edward the Fourth The Traitors land in England Sir Thomas Broughton and some others and after many speeches and much conference touching those affaires and businesses the Duchesse caused to be leuied in her Country about two thousand men which were conducted by Martin Sward an approued Captaine of great resolution and much skill All these with quicke expedition sailed into Ireland and ioined with Sir Thomas Gerardine the Chancellor who was in a readinesse with more then two thousand men of his owne Nation and they all determined to transport themselues into England with all speed Wee may not imagine that King Henry who was valiant prouident and wise was secure carelesse or negligent in these affaires and weightie businesses A politicke act For to the end that certainly it might bee knowen that Lambert was but a counterfet hee caused Edward the young Earle of Warwicke to be publikely brought thorow the streets of London from the Tower vnto Pauls Church where infinite numbers of the Nobilitie Gentrie and Commons of this Kingdome had the sight and view of him and many of them spent some time in conferring with him The King prepareth against Lambert Lambert landeth in England He also made great preparations to repell and to subdue all such as in Lamberts aide should either attempt any ciuill warre or inuade his land And thus when he had ordered all things well these forraine powers arriued neere vnto Lincolne where they expected more succour then they found or were in any possibilitie to haue But when the King was informed that they were come he marched towards them with a constant resolution to trie the vtmost of his fortune in the field insomuch that it was now too late for those Inuaders to step backe for vrgent necessitie did require The battaile of Stoke that either they must flie fight or yeeld But the truth is though they were not strong yet they were no cowards The Irish people were strangely actiue and passing valiant but they wanted Armes and their braue resolution so animated their courage that with haughtie stomackes and Lions hearts they ioined in battaile with the King But within lesse space then one houre Lambert is ouerthrowen the vnprouided and vnfurnished Irish with their Captaines the Earle of Lincolne Francis Lord Louel Sir Thomas Gerardine Martin Sward Lambert is made a Skullian and then the Kings Faulconeâ— and Sir Thomas Broughton were all slaine and the rest submitted themselues to the King who pardoned their offence and committed the Priest Sir Richard Symond vnto perpetuall imprisonment and his counterfeited Pupill being first abased in the Skullerie was within few yeares after chiefe Faulconer to the King Then was the Kings wife with all honour and princely solemnities crowned Queene The Queene is crowned D. Morton made Archbishop of Canterburie and Lord Chancellor and a Cardinall and Thomas Bourchier Archbishop of Canterburie died and was succeeded by Iohn Morton Bishop of Elie who was also made Lord Chancellor of this Kingdome and not long after hee was dignified with the Hat and habit of a Cardinall by Pope Alexander the Sixth Now though King Henry through the benefit of a generall peace at home was made fortunate and happie yet forraine iarres among his neighbours prouoked him to new imploiments vpon this occasion The French King quarrelleth with the Duke of Britaine Charles the French King hauing warred successefully against Maximilian King of the Romans complained that he was much wronged by Lewys Duke of Orleance who had married the Ladie Iane his sister and was his next heire apparant to the French Crowne for that hee with some others tooke part against him with his enemie But in the end when King Charles had affied himselfe to the Ladie Margaret daughter to Maximilian and had concluded a peace betweene themselues the said Duke of Orleance and his complices
of Richmond And at the same time the Lord Henrie Courtney Cosen german to the King was made Marques of Exeter the Lord Henrie Brandon the eldest sonne of the Duke of Suffolke and of the French Queene Marie his wife being but two yeares old was created Earle of Lincolne Sir Thomas Manners Lord Roos was made Earle of Rutland and Sir Henrie Clifford was created Earle of Cumberland and Sir Robert Ratclife Lord Fitz Water was made Earle of Sussex and Sir Thomas Bullein the Treasurer of the Kings houshold was made Lord Rochford And thus in regard of great seruices honorably performed the king requited them with such honours as were answerable to their deserts and callings The French were humble to serue their owne turnes The Queene Regent of France foreseeing what present misery was likely to ruinate that Estate and Kingdome if in time by carefull prouidence it were not preuented sent Monsieur de Bryond chiefe President of Paris and some other Lords Ambassadors into England who not only according to their commission in a most submissiue and an humble sort confessed the iniuries and the wrongs done by the French Nation to King Henry and to his subiects both by sea and land in the absence of King Francis but for a requitall and satisfaction thereof and for the arrerage of his tribute they made offer to pay vnto the King the summe of twenty hundred thousand crownes whereof fiftie thousand pounds sterling should be paid in hand and fitting securitie should bee giuen for the rest they also promised the continuance of the said tribute and assumed to pay Queene Marie her dowrie and all the arrerages thereof if the King would grant them peace and receiue them into his loue and fauour The King and his Counsel hauing seriously considered of these motions and large offers for many important causes assented to their requests Peace concluded and caused those his conclusions and agreements to be proclaimed solemnely both in England and in France and receiued both money and good securitie accordingly But betwixt King Henrie and his nephew the Emperour by the subtill practises and craftie jugglings of Thomas Wolsey Cardinall of Yorke warres were denounced with euill termes Warres betweene the Emperor and King Henry but little or nothing was done thereon sauing that in England Spaine and in the Low-Countries the Merchants of either Nation and their goods and substance were attached to the infinite losse and damage of them all but vpon seuerall truces oftentimes concluded and againe broken they were released and againe arrested Merchants vexed wherby the ancient saying of the Poet was truly verified Quicquid Delirant Reges Plectuntur Achiui When Princes iarre and for reuenge doe seeke The meaner sort must pay for their dislike But in this place we must now obserue That in regard of those often concluded truces and in regard of the peace which vnited the kingdomes of England France and Scotland in one minde little or nothing worthie of our discourse more then hath formerly beene written hapned in sixe of the next ensuing yeares for the greater part of that time was spent and consumed in debatings enquirings ordering handling and disposing of the businesse of the Kings marriage with the Ladie Katherine of Spaine sometime his brothers wife And now the King who in a manner was wholly guided and directed by the priuate aduice and counsell of his chiefe fauorite Thomas Cromwel somtimes seruant to Cardinall Wolsey whom he had made a Baron and a Counseller of State The Popes authoritie curbed proceeded daily more and more to diminish nay by succeeding degrees clearely and absolutely to abrogate and to make voide the claimed power and authoritie of the Pope within this Realme In so much that in his Parliament he procured it to be enacted for a law That the penaltie of the Premunire should bee inflicted vpon the bodies lands and goods of euery such person as for any matter thing or cause whatsoeuer appealed to the See of Rome or did procure from thence any Processe Citation Inhibition Suspension Sentence or Iudgement whatsoeuer And in the next Session of the same Parliament to please and to content him the whole Clergie of this kingdom freely submitted themselues to the King touching their Spirituall and Ecclesiasticall affaires and busines and the Pope was vtterly depriued of all Annates and first fruits which formerly for Bishoprickes and other spirituall promotions and dignities had vsually been payed vnto him and likewise to establish and to confirme the lawfulnes of his marriage with Queene Anne and to settle the inheritance of his Crowne vpon her issue he procured it by Parliament to bee enacted That his former mariage with his brothers wife was absolutely void The Kings marriage made voide The Crowne entailed and of none effect in Law because it was contrarie to the Law of God and that the Popes dispensation had none effect or power to make it good and by the same Act the Crowne of this kingdome was entailed to the King and to his heires of his bodie out of which the Ladie Marie was inclusiuely excluded and to this Act all the Lords Burgesses there present were particularly sworne B. Fisher sauing Doctor Fisher Bishop of Rochester and Sir Thomas Moore Knight sometimes Chancellor of England who some few yeares before disliking the Kings proceeding against Queene Katherine Sir Thomas Moore and against the authoritie and iurisdiction of the Pope had deliuered vp the great Seale of England into the kings hands These two not only refused to sweare as the rest did but publikely contested and protested against the said Act of Parliament which nullified the kings said first mariage by reason of the Popes dispensation giuen to inable the same and to make it lawfull For which causes the said Bishop and Knight were sent vnto the Tower where they remayned vntill as Traitors they lost their heads They are beheaded for denying of the kings Supremacie in Ecclesiasticall things and causes and attributing it to the Pope of Rome of which the kings supremacie a Statute was made in Parliament the next yeare after About this time diuers treasonable practizes by malicious and lewd Conspirators were surmised and intimated to haue beene intended and contriued against the kings person by the Lord Dacres of the North. The Lord Dacres And thereupon he was Indicted and arraigned but the guiltlesse and well affected Lord with such a temperate boldnesse and with such a modest courage so discreetly and so wisely defended his innocencie against those false suggesters that he was freely acquited and discharged from all suspition and from all blame But by the whole Parliament Elizabeth Burton nick-named the holy maid of Kent and her Companions in mischiefe who vnder an hipocriticall shew and shadow of Religious deuotion The holy maid of Kent and of holinesse had conspired the Kings death being attainted and condemned were executed as Traitors according to
for other lands Policie with his Nobles and Gentrie of his Kingdome many of whose Estates at this day doe wholly consist of possessions of that nature or else are greatly aduanced by those lands This hauocke thus made on Churchmen and of their possessions proceeded not as most men thought from the loue which the King bare vnto the reformation of Religion out of extraordinarie deuotion nor from the puritie of his minde desiring the extirpation of that wickednesse and sinne which indeede abundantly raigned and ruled among those irreligious religious men but from the couetous humour of his Nobles and from the secret grudge and vnreconcileable hatred which he bare vnto the Pope But thus the world then fared and thus was the Church pared and pruned and made a prey euery bird being desirous to beautifie her selfe with her faire feathers Cromwels match for the King with Anne of Cleue When the Lord Cromwel had thus effected that great businesse then he vndertooke another which in the end brake his owne necke For vpon his perswasiue motions strengthened by the view of flattering pictures and of vnmerited immoderate commendations the King tooke to wife the Ladie Anne of Cleue who was exceeding religious and replenished with many vertues but in her person and countenance she was neither well composed faire nor louely The King likes not his match Her religion and her vertues were not much respected by the King For when he first saw her he liked her not insomuch that albeit he were maried vnto her foure moneths and somwhat more yet his amorous appetite towards her was so amated and so insensible was he of wanton passions when he was priuate in her companie that he neuer did nor could know her as his wife Whereupon the Bishops and Clergie of this Land who for feare of after-claps were well pleased to daunce after the Kings pipe in their solemne Conuocation His mariage is dissolued published an authenticall Instrument in writing vnder the Scales of the two Arch-bishops by which they made it knowen to the Christian world that the Kings mariage with the said Ladie Anne of Clene was a nullitie void frustrate and of none effect because the said Ladie vnder her owne hand had vpon due examination confessed that the king neuer had nor could performe to her that beneuolence which by a husband was due vnto his wife The like sentence was enacted pronounced and published by the Parliament with these additions that it was lawfull for his Maiestie whensoeuer and with whomsoeuer to marie and to take another wife according to the Ecclesiasticall Lawe of this Realme and likewise that it was lawfull for the said Ladie Anne of Cleue to marie and take another husband when shee should please according to the Lawes of the holy Church Treason And further it was then enacted that all such as by writing printing speaking or by any other ouert act did expresse or maintaine the contrary should be guiltie of Treason and receiue punishment accordingly The King who was thus enlarged and freed from his bonds of discontented matrimonie tooke to wife within twentie daies after Katherine Howard the daughter of the Lord Edmund Howard The King marieth againe The King frowneth on Cromwel brother to the Duke of Norfolke and from thenceforth he began to alter the copie of his countenance and looked discontentedly vpon his great fauourite and inward Counsellor the Lord Cromwel who had fettered him in those his former troubles And because this alteration in the King was quickly perceiued by many who longed for his ruine and his downefall a long and a tedious Bill by some of them was vnexpectedly preferred against him into the Parliament Cromwels downefall in which rather in a generalitie then by many particulars hee was accused of sundrie Treasons Misprisions and of Heresie And among other obiections laid vnto his charge it was suggested that ioining with the last Queene Anne hee fauoured the Lutherans aboue measure and so strongly supported them against the Catholike Priests and Prelates of this Kingdome that when by some of the Clergie hee was told that they doubted not but that the King would shortly curbe their boldnesse and presumption the said Lord Cromwell did replie that the King should allow of their Religion whether he would or no. But how true or how false soeuer these surmises were the said bill was found Yet was hee not called to make his answere or defence thereto so that being by the said Parliament attainted of Heresie and of Treason He with the Lord Hungerford was beheaded on a scaffold on the Tower hill whereat his enemies did reioyce some of them attributing the cause to his haughtinesse and pride and some of them affirming that it was Gods reuenge and punishment for his hatefull defacing and wasting of the Church The Lord Leonard Gray executed And neare about the same time the Lord Leonard Gray who not long before had beene the kings deputie in Ireland was condemned for many treasons by him committed in that Countrie during the time of his Gouernement especially for that secretly he had once procured the Irish Rebels to enter into and to make havock within the English Pale all which hee of his owne accord confessed to bee true wherefore hee receaued his iudgement and lost his head The King who was but newly married to Queene Katherine was now informed by some who presumed that they knew it wel that before her mariage with the King Queene Katherine beheaded shee had liued a licentious and an euill life with a Gentleman named Francis Dyrham And furthermore it was much presumed and suspected that since shee was the Kings wife Francis Dyrham Thomas Culpeper The Lady Rochford shee had vnchastly conversed with another Gentleman whose name was Thomas Culpeper for it was fully proued that in her last Progresse the said Thomas was secretly brought by the Ladie Rochford into the Queenes chamber at eleuen of the clock in the night and that hee remayned there almost fiue hours And that at his departure he was gifted with a chaine of gold and a rich wrought cap. For these offences the said two Gentlemen at Tyborne suffered death And not long after the Queene by Parliament was attainted and so was the Lady Rochford and some others and lost their heads for the said offence And in the same Parliament King of Ireland The King marieth againe the King was proclaimed King of Ireland which Title his Predecessors neuer had The King likewise tooke to wife the Lady Katherine Parre sister to the Marques of Northampton and sometimes the wife of the Lord Lattimer who in the latter end of the Kings raigne was in a faire possibilitie to haue lost her head if her owne vertue modestie and the Kings sodaine sicknesse and death had not reserued her for a better fortune At this time Eustace the Great Oneyl and Matthias his sonne repaired to the Kings Court and with
Calice and there murdered Humfrey Plantagenet his sonne was Earle of Buckingham Northhampton and Essex and died without issue Humfrey Stafford Lord of Brecknocke and Holdernes H. 6. and being Earle of Stafford was by King Henrie the Sixth created the first Duke of Buckingham Henrie Stafford his sonne being Lord of Brecknocke and Holdernes was Earle of Stafford and Duke of Buckingham and was beheaded by King Richard the Third Edward Stafford his sonne being Lord of Brecknocke and Holdernes and Earle of Stafford by restitution from King Henrie the eight was the third and last Duke of Buckingham H. 7. and was beheaded whilest King Henrie the Eighth raigned Cambridge E. 3. IOhn of Henault brother to William Earle of Henault and vncle to Queene Philip the wife of King Edward the Third was by him created Earle of Cambridge But hee reuolted to the French King and thereby lost his honour E. 3. William Marquesse of Iulier Bergen and Cleueland was by King Edward the Third created Earle of Cambridge E. 3. Edmund Plantagenet surnamed Edmund of Langley being the fifth sonne of King Edward the Third and Duke of Yorke was by his father created Earle of Cambridge Edward Plantagenet his sonne was Duke of Yorke and Albemarle Earle of Rutland and of Cambridge and being slaine in the battaile of Edgingcourt he died without issue Richard Plantagenet his brother was Earle of Cambridge and had issue Richard Richard Plantagenet was Lord of Clare and of Wigmore Duke of Yorke and Earle of Vlster March and Cambridge and was slaine in his warres against King Henrie the Sixth Edward Plantegenet his sonne succeeded him in all those honourable dignities and was afterwards King Edward the Fourth Chester Conq. HVgo Lupus Viscount of Aurenges in Normandie nephew to the Conquerour was by him created Earle Palatine of Chester Richard Lupus his sonne succeeded and died without issue Ralphe Meschynes being the sonne of Margaret the sister and heire of Hugo Lupus was by King Henrie the First created Earle of Chester H. 1. Ralphe Meschynes his sonne succeeded and was Earle of Chester Hugh Meschynes surnamed Keuelitocke because hee was there borne succeeded his father in the Earledome of Chester Ralphe Meschynes surnamed Blundeuile his sonne being Lord of Little Britaine was Earle of Chester Lincolne and of Richmond K. Iohn Iohn surnamed Scot was by King Iohn created Earle of Chester and died without issue male Edmund Plantagenet surnamed Crowch-backe the second sonne of king Henrie the Third and brother to king Edward the First H. 3. was by his father created Earle Palatine of Chester Edward the Prince sonne and heire apparant to king Edward the First was by his father created Earle Palatine of Chester E. 1. Duke of Cornwall and Prince of Wales He was afterwards king Edward the Second Edward the Third was in his fathers daies created Earle Palatine of Chester Duke of Cornwall and Prince of Wales E. 2. and was afterwards king Edward the Third Edward Plantagenet surnamed The Blacke Prince the eldest sonne of king Edward the Third was in Parliament created Prince of Wales Duke of Cornwall and Earle Palatine of Chester Richard Plantagenet sonne to the Blacke Prince was Prince of Wales Duke of Cornwall and Earle Palatine of Chester and was after that king Richard the Second Henrie Plantagenet the eldest sonne of king Henrie the Fourth was Prince of Wales Duke of Cornwall and Earle Palatine of Chester vntill he was king Henrie the Fifth Edward the sonne of king Henrie the Sixth was Prince of Wales Duke of Cornwall and Earle Palatine of Chester vntill hee was shamefully murdered Edward Plantagenet the sonne of king Richard the Third was Prince of Wales Duke of Cornwall and Earle Palatine of Chester and died without issue Arthur Tuther the eldest sonne of king Henrie the Seuenth was Prince of Wales Duke of Cornwall and Earle Palatine of Chester and died without issue Henrie Tuther the second sonne of king Henrie the Seuenth was Prince of Wales Duke of Cornwall and Earle Palatine of Chester vntill he was king Henrie the Eighth Edward Tuther his sonne was Prince of Wales Duke of Cornwall and Earle Palatine of Chester vntill he was king Edward the Sixth He died without issue Henrie Stewart the eldest sonne of the illustrious Prince King Iames the First was Prince of Wales Duke of Cornwall and Earle Palatine of Chester and died without issue Charles Stewart his brother is Prince of Wales Duke of Yorke Cornwall and Rossay and Earle Palatine of Chester Clarence K. Steph. GIlbert de Clare was by king Stephen created Earle of Clarence Roger de Clare his brother succeeded and was Earle of Clare Richard de Clare his sonne succeeded and was Earle of Clare E. 3. Lionel Plantagenet the third sonne of king Edward the Third was by his father created Duke of Clarence He had no issue male but his daughter and heire Philip was maried to Edmund Mortimer Earle of March from whom the Familie of Yorke did lineally descend H. 4. Thomas Plantagenet the second sonne of king Henrie the Fourth was by his father created Earle of Albemarle and Duke of Clarence George Plantagenet the third sonne of Richard Duke of Yorke and brother to king Edward the Fourth was by him created Duke of Clarence and was murdered in the Tower Cornwall CAndor a Briton was Earle of Cornwall at the time of the Conquest and did homage to the Conquerour for the same Candor his sonne was the second Earle of Cornwall Conq. Robert Earle of Mortaigne in Normandie was by the Conquerour created Earle of Cornwall William his sonne being Earle of Mortaigne was also Earle of Cornwall K. Steph. Reynold the base sonne of king Henrie the First was by king Steuen created Earle of Cornwall H. 2. Iohn the second sonne of king Henrie the Second was by his father created Earle of Cornwall He was afterwards king Iohn H. 3. Richard the second sonne of king Iohn was by his brother king Henrie the Third created Earle of Cornwall Hee was also king of the Romans Henrie Plantagenet his sonne succeeded and was Earle of Cornwall and died without issue E. 1. Edward Plantagenet the eldest sonne of king Edward the First was by his father created Prince of Wales Earle Palatine of Chester and Duke of Cornwall and hee was afterwards king Edward the Second Pierce Gaueston a Gascoigne borne E. 2. was by king Edward the Second created Lord of Wallingfold and Earle of Cornwall and Glocester He was beheaded by the Barons because hee misse-lead the king He died without issue Iohn Plantagenet second sonne to king Edward the second E. 2. was by his father created Earle of Cornwall He died without issue Edward Plantagenet the eldest sonne of king Edward the Second E. 2. was by his father created Prince of Wales Duke of Cornwall and Earle of Chester which hee enioied vntill hee was king Edward the Third
the Second created Lord of Wallingford Earle of Cornwall and Glocester and died without issue being executed by the Barons Hugh Spencer the younger was by King Edward the Second created Earle of Glocester and was executed at London E. 3. Hugh Awdley Lord Awdley of Helie Castle was by King Edward the Third created Earle of Glocester and died without issue R. 2. Thomas Plantagenet surnamed Thomas of Woodstocke the sixth sonne of King Edward the Third was by his father created Earle of Essex Buckingham and Northampton and by King Richard the Second his nephew hee was created Duke of Glocester but was murdered at Calice in prison for reprouing the King friendly of his faults R. 2. Thomas Lord Spencer the grand-childe of the aforenamed Hugh Spencer was by King Richard the Second created Earle of Glocester and died without issue male H. 4. Humfrey Plantagenet the fourth sonne of king Henrie the Fourth being Earle of Pembroke was by his father created Duke of Glocester and died without issue E. 4. Richard Plantagenet the sonne of Richard Plantagenet Duke of Yorke and brother to King Edward the Fourth was by the same King created Duke of Glocester Hee was also King Richard the Third and died without issue Hartford H. 2. ROger de Clare Earle of Clarence was by King Henrie the Second created Earle of Hartford Richard de Clare his sonne enioied both those Earledomes Gilbert de Clare his sonne was Earle of Clare Hartford and of Glocester Richard de Clare his sonne enioied those three Earledomes Gilbert de Clare his sonne succeeded in those honours Gilbert de Clare his sonne succeeded and died without issue male Ralphe de Mounthermer who maried Ione of Acres one of the daughters of king Edward the First E. 1. was by him created Earle of Glocester and of Hartford he dyed without issue Edward Saint-Maure alias Seymour H. 8. was by king Henrie the Eight made Viscount Beauchamp and Earle of Hartford hee was Vncle and Protector to king Edward the Sixt by whom hee was created Duke of Somerset and lost his head Edward Saint-Maure alias Seymour his sonne Q. Eliz. was by Queene Elizabeth created Viscount Beauchamp and Earle of Hartford and he now liueth Hereford WIlliam Fitz Osborne Conq. who first perswaded the Conqueror to vndertake that weightie businesse was by him created Earle of Hereford and Lord of the Isle of Waight because he made the first Conquest thereof Roger Fitz-Osborne his sonne who succeeded was attainted of Treason and dyed a prisoner without issue Miles Fitz-Water was by King Henrie the First H. 1. created Earle of Hereford Roger Fitz-Water his sonne succeeded and dyed without issue Walter Fitz-Water his brother was Earle and dyed without issue Henrie Fitz-Water his brother succeeded and dyed without issue Humfrey Bohun was by king Henrie the Third H. 3. created Earle of Hereford and of Essex Humfrey Bohun succeeded his father in those Earledomes Humfrey Bohun his sonne was Earle after him Humfrey Bohun his sonne was his successour in those Dignities Iohn Bohun his sonne was Earle and dyed without issue Hurmfrey Bohun his Nephew viz. the sonne of William brother to the said Iohn was Earle of Hereford Essex and Northampton and dyed without issue Male. Thomas of Woodstock the sixt sonne of king Edward the Third E. 3. married Eleanor the eldest sister of the said Humfrey and was by his Father created Earle of Hereford Essex Buckingham and Northampton he was afterwards by his Nephew king Richard the Second created Duke of Glocester and was murdred in prison at Calice because he informed the king friendly of his faults Humfrey Plantagenet his sonne was Earle and dyed without issue Male. Henrie Plantagenet surnamed Bullingbroke the sonne and heire apparant of Iohn of Gaunt Duke of Lancaster being Earle of Darby was by his Cosen R. 2. king Richard the Second created Duke of Hereford and was afterwards king Henry the Fourth Humfrey Stafford was Earle of Stafford Northampton and Hereford and was by king Henrie the Sixt created Duke of Buckingham but he lost his head Huntington Conq. WAldolf a Saxon married Iudith the Conquerors Neece and was by him created Earle of Huntington hee dyed without issue Male. Simon de S. Lize otherwise Saint-Leger married Mawld one of the daughters of Waldolf Rufus and was by William Rufus created Earle of Huntington and Northompton and hauing issue Simon hee dyed Dauid Prince of Scotland and sonne to Malcolme the Third being Earle of Northumberland Steph. and Cumberland was by king Stephen made Earle of Huntington for Simon was but a child and vniustly kept from his Inheritance Henrie Prince of Wales assoone as Dauid his father was king of Scotland enioyed the Earledomes of Northumberland Cumberland and Huntington After the death of King Stephen the said Simon being sonne to the said Simon entred into his Earledomes of Huntington and Northampton and enioyed the same in peace during his life Malcolme Prince of Scotland and sonne to the before named Henrie because the rightfull Earle of Huntington was in his minoritie was by king Henrie the Second H. 2. made Earle of Huntington as he was Earle of Northumberland and of Camberland William his brother being Prince of Scotland and Earle of Northumberland Cumberland and of Huntington made warres vpon King Henrie the Second after he was king of the Scots and was taken prisoner in the field ransomed and lost those honors Simon de S. Lize otherwise Saint-Leger the third of that name was by king Henrie the Second restored to his Earledome of Huntington and was also Earle of Northampton and died without issue Dauid the brother of the aforenamed William was by the fauour of king Richard the Second restored to the Earledome of Huntington R. 1. Iohn his sonne succeeded and was Earle of Huntington and died without issue male He was surnamed Scot. William Clinton was by king Edward the Third created Earle of Huntington and died without issue E. 3. Guischard a Gascoigne borne in Angolesme R. 2. was by king Richard the Second created Earle of Huntington and died without issue Iohn Holland halfe-brother to King Richard the Second R. 2. was by him created Earle of Huntington and Duke of Exeter and lost his head for conspiring against king Henrie the Fourth Iohn Holland his sonne was restored to his Earledome by King Henrie the Fifth H. 5. and by king Henrie the Sixth to his Duchie of Exeter Henry Holland his sonne was attainted when king Edward the Fourth raigned and was drowned on the coast of Calice Thomas Grey sonne in Law to king Edward the Fourth was by him created Marquesse Dorset and Earle of Huntington Thomas Grey his sonne succeeded in those honours William Herbert the eldest sonne of William Herbert whom king Edward the Fourth had made Earle of Pembroke E. 4. was by the same King made Earle of Huntington George Hastings Lord
son Henry tooke part with King Henry the sixt and in his quarrell he was slaine at Towton field but Henrie his sonne fled with the king into Scotland Iohn Lord Mountacute brother to Richard Earle of Warwick was by king Edward the fourth created Earle of Northumberland E. 4. but the said Henry Percy obtained the kings fauour by his friends mediation so that Iohn Lord Mountacute surrendred his Patent to the King And was created Marques Mountacute Henry Percy was by King Edward the fourth E. 4. restored to the Earledome of Northumberland and was slaine by the Common People there because he leuied a tax for the King which much displeased them Henry Percy Lord Percy Crockermouth Petworth Poynings Fitz-Payne and Brian his sonne succeeded and was Earle of Northumberland Henry Percy his sonne enioyed all those honorable titles and possessions and died without issue Iohn Dudley Earle of Warwick and Viscount Lissle Lord Basset Tyes was created Duke of Northumberland by King Edward the sixt and lost his head in the raigne of Queene Mary Thomas Percy being the heire male of the house of the Earles Percies was restored by Queene Mary Q. Ma. to the Earledome of Northumberland and for default of issue male of his bodie it was entayled to his Brother Henry Percy and to the heires males of his body And whilest Queene Elizabeth raigned the said Thomas died without issue male Henry Percy his brother according to the aforesaid entailement was Earle of Northumberland and died Henry Percy his sonne is now Lord of Petworth Crockermouth Poynings Fitz-Paine and Brian and Earle of Northumberland Nottingham VVIlliam Peuerel base sonne to the Conqueror Conq. was by him created Earle of Nottingham and of Darby William Peuerel his sonne was Earle of Nottingham and Darby Robert Earle of Ferrers in Normandie K. Steph. and Lord of Tedbery in Staffordshire was by King Stephen created Earle of Nottingham William his sonne was Earle of Nottingham and by King Iohn he was also created Earle of Darby Iohn de Mowbray was by King Richard the second R. 2. created Earle of Nottingham and died without issue Thomas de Mowbray his brother was by K. Richard the second R. 2. first created Earle of Nottingham and then Duke of Northfolk hee was challenged by Henry of Bullingbroke Duke of Hereford to a single combate for his false reports to the King and was banished and died in his exile Thomas Mowbray his sonne was Earle of Nottingham and executed for treason with Richard Scroop Archbishop of Yorke In the Raigne of King Henry the fourth Iohn Mowbray his brother was by King Henry the sixt created Earle of Nottingham H. 6. and Duke of Northfolke Iohn Mowbray his sonne was Earle of Nottingham Warren and Surrey and Duke of Northfolke Iohn Mowbray his sonne enioyed all those honours and died without issue male R. 3. William Lord Barkley being one of his Generall heires was by King Edward the fourth made Viscount Barkley and by King Richard the third he was created Earle of Nottingham and by King Henry the seuenth Marques Barkley Henry Fitz-Roy the base sonne of King Henry the eighth and of Elizabeth Blount was by the same King created Earle of Nottingham H. 8. and Duke of Richmond and died without issue Charles Lord Howard of Effingham was by King Iames created Earle of Nottingham Oxford EDgar Atheling the sonne of Edward the Out-law who was the sonne of Edmund Ironside was at the Conquest Earle of Oxford and was by the Conqueror depriued of that honour Mauld Awbrey de Vere was by Mauld the Empresse created and by her sonne King Henry the second confirmed Lord High Chamberlaine of England in feee and Earle of Oxford Awbrey de Vere his sonne enioyed those honors and dyed in the dayes of King Iohn without issue Robert de Vere his brother was High Chamberlaine of England and Earle of Oxford and sided with the Barons in their warres against King Iohn when they tooke part with the Dolphin of France by reason of the Popes Curse Hugh de Vere his sonne was high Chamberlaine of England and Earle of Oxford he was Viscount Bolbeck and Lord Samford Robert de Vere his sonne succeeded in those Honors Robert de Vere his sonne enioyed the same and dyed without issue Iohn de Vere the sonne of Alphonsus de Vere brother to the last Robert was Lord Samford Vicount Bolbeck High Chamberlaine of England and Earle of Oxford Thomas de Vere his sonne held all those honorable dignities Robert de Vere his sonne being Lord Samford Viscount Bolbeck Earle of Oxford and high Chamberlaine of England was by king Richard the Second created Marques of Dublin and Duke of Ireland he died without issue Awbrey de Vere his Vncle was Lord Samford Viscount Bolbeck and Earle of Oxford But the inheritance of his high Chamberlainship of England hee voluntarily surrendred to king Richard the Second who gaue it to his halfe brother Iohn Holland Duke of Exeter Richard de Vere his sonne was Lord Samford Viscount Bolbeck and Earle of Oxferd Iohn de Vere his sonne enioyed those Honors He and his eldest sonne Awbrey de Vere were attainted and executed in the time of king Edward the Fourth Iohn de Vere his sonne was by King Henry the Seuenth H. 7. restored to the honors of Bolbeck Samford and Scales was made high Chamberlaine of England and Earle of Oxford Iohn de Vere his Nephew by George his brother succeeded him in all those Honors and dyed without issue Iohn de Vere the sonne of Iohn de Vere who was the sonne of Robert de Vere who was brother to Iohn de Vere the twelfth Earle of Oxford of that name who was Father to the before named George enioyed all those dignities Iohn de Vere being the heire male of that Familie was the sixth Earle of that Christian name He was also Lord Samford and Badilsmere Viscount Bolbeck and high Chamberlaine of England Edward de Vere his sonne enioyed all those Honors Henrie de Vere his sonne is Lord Samford and Badilsmere Viscount Bolbeck High Chamberlaine of Engl â—d and Earle of Oxford Pembroke WAlter Gifford was by the Conquerour Conq. created Earle of Pembroke and Buckingham Walter Gifford his sonne succeeded and died without issue Gilbert de Clare was by King Stephen created Earle of Pembroke Richard de Clare surnamed Strongbow being his sonne was Earle of Pembroke and died without issue male K. Iohn William Marshall Earle Marshall of England was by King Iohn created Earle of Pembroke William Marshall his sonne enioied all those honours and died without issue Richard Marshall his brother succeeded him and was slaine and died in Ireland without issue Gilbert Marshall his brother was Earle Marshall and of Pembroke and died without issue Walter Marshall his brother was Earle Marshall and of Pembroke and died without issue William de Valentia the sonne of King Iohns wife Isabel and of her
issue William Maledoctus otherwise Manduyt Lord of Hanslop cosen and heire to the said Margerie Countesse of Warwicke was Earle of Warwicke and died without issue William de Beauchampe maried Isabel sister and heire to the said William and had issue William William Beauchampe their sonne was Earle of Warwicke Guido de Beauchampe his sonne succeeded his father Thomas de Beauchampe his sonne was Earle of Warwicke Thomas de Beauchampe his sonne was Earle of Warwicke Richard de Beauchampe his sonne was Earle of Warwicke He was Lieu-tenant of Munster in Ireland and a great Warriour in France in the daies of King Henry the Fifth and King Henry the Sixth Henry Beauchampe his sonne was Earle of Warwicke and by King Henry the Sixth he was created Duke of Warwicke H. 6. Hee died without issue male Richard Neuil the eldest sonne of Richard Neuil Earle of Salisburie maried Anne the daughter and heire of Richard Beauchampe and was in her right Earle of Warwicke Hee is termed The great Earle of Warwicke for he was so powerfull that he aduanced King Edward the Fourth deposed King Henry the Sixth and made him King againe but was at last slaine by King Edward the Fourth at Barnet Field George Plantagenet Duke of Clarence and brother to King Edward the Fourth maried Isabel the eldest daughter of the said Earle Richard and was in her right Earle of Warwicke They had issue Edward who was beheaded by King Henry the Seuenth and Margaret maried to Sir Richard Pole She lost her head in the one and thirtieth yeare of the raigne of King Henry the Eighth Edward Plantagenet their sonne was Earle of Warwicke He liued a prisoner from his infancie and was beheaded by King Henry the Seuenth because he sought to escape with Perkin Warbecke out of the Tower and died without issue Iohn Dudley Lord Somery Basset and Tays and Viscount Lisle was by King Edward the Sixth created Earle of Warwicke E. 6. and Duke of Northumberland But in Queene Maries daies hee lost his head Iohn Dudley his sonne died in his fathers life time but was Earle of Warwicke and had issue Ambrose Ambrose Dudley his sonne was Lord Somery Basset and Tays and Earle of Warwicke and died without issue Westmorland RAlphe Neuil Lord Neuil of Rabie Castle Standrop and Branspeth was by King Richard the Second created Earle of Westmorland Ralphe Neuil his grand-childe viz. the sonne of Sir Iohn Neuil was Lord Neuil of Rabie Standrop Branspeth Warkworth and Sherrie-hutton and was Earle of Warwicke Ralphe Neuil his Nephew by Sir Iohn Neuil his brother succeeded his vncle in all those honours Ralphe Neuil his grand-childe by Ralphe Lord Neuil his sonne enioied those Lordships and was the fourth Earle of Westmorland Henry Neuil his sonne was Lord Neuil of Rabie Standrop Branspeth Warkley Sherrie-hutton and Middleham and Earle of Westmorland Charles Neuil his sonne succeeded in all those honours and was in the raigne of Queene Elizabeth attainted of Treason by Parliament with others Wilshire R. 2. WIlliam le Scrope was an euill Counsellor to King Richard the Second and was by him created Earle of Wilshire But hee lost his head Aymer Butler the sonne and heire apparant of Iames Butler the fourth Earle of Ormond in Ireland H. 6. was by King Henry the Sixth created Earle of Wilshire He died without issue Iohn Stafford the younger sonne of Humfrey the first Duke of Buckingham was by K. Edward the Fourth created Earle of Wilshire E. 4. Edward Stafford his sonne was Earle after him and died without issue Henry Stafford of the house of Buckingham H. 8. was by King Henry the Eighth created Earle of Wilshire Thomas Bullen was by King Henry the Eighth made Viscount Bullen and Earle of Wilshire H. 8. Hee was father to Queene Anne Bullen and grandfather to Queene Elizabeth William Pawlet was by King Henry the Eighth made Lord S. Iohn of Basing E. 6. and by King Edward the Sixth he was created Earle of Wilshire and Marquesse of Winchester Iohn Lord S. Iohn his sonne enioied all those honours William Pawlet his sonne succeeded his father and was Lord S. Iohn of Basing Earle of Wilshire and Marquesse of Winchester William Pawlet his sonne is Lord S. Iohn of Basing Earle of Wilshire and Marquesse of Winchester Winchester CLyton a Saxon was at the Conquest Earle of Winchester and was banished and died without issue Saer de Quincy Lord Quincy of Groby K. Iohn was by King Iohn created Earle of Winchester Ralphe Quincy his sonne was Earle after him and died without issue male Hugh Lord le Despencer E. 2. was by King Edward the Second created Earle of Winchester and died without issue being beheaded Lewys de Burgh a Burgundian and Lord of Granthouse was by King Edward the Fourth in Parliament created Earle of Winchester E. 4. because hee had highly fauoured and releeued King Edward when he fled from the great Earle of Warwicke and from King Henry the Sixth This Earledome he afterwards surrendred to King Henry the Seuenth William Pawlet was by King Henry the eighth made Lord S. Iohn of Basing and by King Edward the Sixth Earle of Wilshire E. 6. and Marquesse of Winchester Iohn Pawlet his sonne succeeded in those honours William Pawlet succeeded and was Lord Earle and Marquesse William Pawlet his sonne is Lord S. Iohn of Basing Earle of Wilshire and Marquesse of Winchester Worcester Rufus VRsus de Abtot was by King William Rufus created Earle of Worcester Walteran de Beamount Earle of Millent in Normandie was by King Stephen created Earle of Worcester K. Steph. Thomas Percie brother to Henrie the first Earle of Northumberland R. 2. was by King Richard the Second created Earle of Worcester Hee conspired with his Nephew Henry Hotspurre against King Henry the Fourth and lost his head H. 5. Richard Beauchampe was by King Henry the Fifth created Earle of Worcester and died without issue male H. 6. Iohn Lord Tiptost was by King Henrie the Sixth created first Viscount and then Earle of Worcester but was beheaded for taking part against the said King with Edward Earle of March who was afterwards king Edward the Fourth E. 4. Edward Tiptost his sonne was by King Edward the Fourth restored to his Viscountship and to the Earledome of Worcester and died without issue H. 8. Charles Somerset Lord Herbert and Gower was by King Henrie the eighth created Earle of Worcester Henry Somerset his sonne was Lord Herbert Chepstow Ragland and Gower and was also Earle of Worcester William Somerset his sonne succeeded in all those honours Edward Somerset his sonne is Lord Herbert Chepstow Gower and Ragland and Earle of Worcester Yorke EDrick a Saxon was Earle of Yorke at the Conquest He lost his eies and died a prisoner H. 1. Robert Escouyle was by King Henry the First created Viscount of Yorke Robert Escouyle his sonne was Viscount of Yorke Edmund Plantagenet
174 Hastings Lord. 173 Fawconbridge 173 Bardolf 174 Rich. Earle of Cambridge 180 Henry Lord Scroop 180 Sir Thomas Grey 18 Inhabitants of Cane 191 At Montz 219 Frr Periury 232 Michael de la Poole 246 Lord Scales 258 Rich. Neuil Earle of Salisbury 259 Owen Tuthar 260 Courtney Earle of Devon 260 Suffolke 244 Earle of Oxford 263 Sir Awbrey de Vere 263 Hen. D. of Somerset 265 Tayboys 265 Roos 265 Molines 265 Hungerford 265. 410 Henry Neuil 265 Wentworth 265 Tunstall 265 Sir Ralph Grey 265 Earle Riuers 271 Humfrey Lord Stafford 171 Lord Wels 273 Sir Thomas Dymock 273 Sir Robert Wells 274 Sir Henry Stafford 529 L. Hastings in the Tower 307 Earle Riuers 307 Richard Lord Grey 307 Sir Thomas Vaughan 307 Duke of Buckingham 317 393 Sir William Stanley 341 Humfrey Stafford 329 Empson 356 Dudly 356 Sir Thomas Moore 402 Fisher Bishop of Rochester 402 Queen Anne Bullen 403 and Queene Katherine Howard 410 Lord Howard for his mariage 403 Execution of Rebels 406 Marques of Exeter 406 Lord Dacres 406 Lord Hussey 406 Fryar Forest 406 Carew Sir Nich. 406 Margaret Countesse of Salisbury 407 Gerthrude Marchiones of Exeter 407 Leonard Lord Grey 410 Cromwel 410 Francis Dyrham Thomas Culpeper 410 Lady Rochford 410 Thomas Earle of Surrey 420 Exeter 349. 347 Exeter Marquesse 400 Exton Sir Nich. 142 Extortion 86 F FAlse friend 153 Famine 172. 94. 193 Fanhope 183 Fastolfe 183 Fawconbridge 165. 173 131. 164 Feast solemne 113 Ferdinando 357 Fisher wrongs the Parliament 382 Fifteenes denied 142 Fifteenes conditionall 144 Fitz-William 161. 196. 406 Fitz-Warren 192 Fitz-Water 112. 206 Flatterers 18 Flatterie 151 Flight 277 Flodden Field 161 Forgusa 206 French title 105. 178 Frenchmen in Wales 167 French faint-harted 181 French vnthankfull 414 Friar Forest 406 Funerals 178 G GArd Yeomen 327 Gascoine recouered 63 Gascoine Sir William 362 Gauelkind 3 Gaueston 86. 89. 90. 91. 92 Glendor 166. 172 Glocesters practises 299 Glocester murdred 240 Glottenry 18 Gouernment changed 290 Gough 242 Greene. 155 Grey degraded 265 Grey Sir Thomas 180 Grey Lord Richard 307 Grey Lord Leonard 407 410 Griffith 324. 362 Grobyn of Grace 118 H HAll Sir Philip 215 Hall Sir Dauid 243 Hampton Court 375 Harflew 241 Harkley 98 Harold 1. 2 Hartford Earle 406 415 Hastings 173. 307 Hastings Lord. 305 Hastings Earles of Huntington 385 Henalt reuolteth 156 Henry Hotspurre 167. 169 Henry Fitz-Roy 400 Herbert Earle of Pembroke 270 Herbert Lord. 392 Herings 221 Holland Sir Thomas 117 153. 164. 181 Holland Sir Iohn Holy Land 45. 77. 108. 174. 141. 153. 164. 189 Holy Pilgrims 405 Hongerford 222. 265 Hostages 3. 73. 130. 390 Howard Sir Edw. 358 359 Howard Sir Tho. Earle of Surrey 360. 361. 394. He dieth 400 Howard Lord executed for marying c. 403 Hunters 5. 6. 16 Hunting 5 I IAcke Cade 247 Iane Countesse of Henalt 109. 111 Iaques Dartuell 110. 114 115 Ierningham 396. 397 Ierusalem 17. 47 Iest 284 Iewels 90 Images defaced 406 Iohn of Gaunt 132. 150 Ingratitude 14. 44 Insanum Parliamentū 66 Interdiction 55. 58 Inuesture of Bishop 22. 23 Ireland conquered 36. rebelleth 407. King of Ireland 410 Iudges followed the Court. 5 Iudges and Iustices 355 Iudges banished 150 K KEntishmen 3 Holy maid of Kent 402 King Henry the Eighth stout 404 Keryell 232. 242 King Knighted 217 King Richard the Second called to a reckoning 143 King of Castile entertained 352 King of Ireland 410 Knights Fees 6 Knowles 132. 166 Knyuet Sir Thomas 358 L LAmbert 324 Landoys 289. 317 Langton 54 Lanfrank 9 Laterane 58 Lawes seuere 4 Lawes mitigated 18 Lawes restored 18. 63 Lawes against robbers 18 Lawes refined 34 Lawrence 363 League broken 64. 213 Legates 38 41. 55 Lewknor 283 Liberalitie 18. 45. 121 128. 186. 288 Little Iohn 50 Lluellen 80 Lomley 406 London against Mauld the Empresse 29 London with the Barons 70. 149 Londoners submit themselues 75 London should haue been burnt 74 A rebellion in London 71. 76 Londons liberties restored 85 London pleaseth the Rebels 138 Londons Armes 140 Constables of London 71 London receiues King Edward the Fourth 280 London 84. 140. 148. 180 Londoners graced by king Edward the Fourth 297 Londons Maior 59 London bridge 59 Longchampe 46. 47. 48 Louell Lord. 329 331 Luther 393 Lion Richard 138 M MAgistrates ouer Priests 28. 38 Magna Charta 63 Malcolme slaine 11 Manners Earle of Rutland 400 Manors 5 Manny Sir Walter 124 Marchants 353. vexed 401. 414 Marchant strangers 34 251. 389. 489 Marquesse Dorset 357 Mariages of Wards 63 Mariage of K. Henry the Seuenth 327 Mariage of K. Edward the Fourth 267 Mariage of Prince Arthur 350 King Henry the Eighth his widow 355 Mariage with Scotland 351 Mariage with Anne of Cleue 404 Mariage with Lewys the 12. of France 364 Mariage with Scotland broken off 415 Mart in Flanders 125 340. 346 Marney Sir Henrie 392 Martiall feats 103 Martin Sward 331 Mary Rose drowned 418 Mauld marieth Plantagenet 24 Mauld the Empresse 19 23. 24. 29 Measures 18 Mercie 44 Metham 362 Miracle 405 Michael de la Pole 142 144 Molynes 181. 265 Money scarce 108 Money borrowed 109 Morbeck 127 Morgan 324 Morley Lord. 392 Morleys taken and burnt 393 Morton 332. 311. 315. 317. 331 Mortimer Sir Roger. 71 103 Mortimer beheaded 105 Mortimer proclaimed 141 Mortmaine 82 Mountague or Mountacute 216. 220 216 265. 266 Mountford 72 Mountioy 398 Murders of Becket 41 Edward the second pag. 101. 105 Iaques Dartwell 114 Richard the second pag. 160 Ho. D. of Glocester 240 158 Lord Scales 258 Archbishop of Canterburie 139 Iohn Duke of Burgoine 199 Henry the sixth pag. 283 George Duke of Clarence 290. 295 Lord Wenlock 295 Prince Edward 293 Edward the fift and Richard Duke of Yorke 312 Rutland 281 Murder by the Lord Darcy 406 Murder reuenged 307 318. 328 Musgraue William 412 N NAuarre taken 357 Neck broken 8. 81 Neuill Sir Iohn 260 New Forrest 5 Nobles created 152 240. 363. 267. 327. 385 400. 406 Nobilitie despised 142 Nobilitie wasted 497 Mowbray 242 Normandy 53. 68. 117 Normandy lost 53. wonne 168. lost 238 Normauile 363 Northfolk Duke High Steward 392 Notes especiall 293 Nicenesse banished 18 O Oath to the succession and of fidelitie 24 56. 69 Oath to obserue c 24 Oath broken 27. 145. 279 34 Oath of the Scots 86 Oath touching Gaveston 89 Obstinacie 41 Odo 10 Officers examined in Parliament 144 Officers euill 133 Officers displaced 144 170 Opinion of the Vniuersities 386. 389 Ouerthrowes of Harold 2 Rebels 6. 7. 273 Scots 11. 83. 171 Welshmen 11. 12 13 Robert Mowbray 13 Barons 20. 96 Prince Edwnrd 71 King Stephen 29 Fifteene thousand Genowayes 119 French 58. 371. 120. 187 King Edward 2 pag 93 94 Percies 171 English 206. 222. 242 Miraculous 216 King H. 6. pag. 250. 257 266. 280 Duke of Yorke 259 Iames the fourth King of Scots 362 Frenchmen 418 Owen Glendor 166. famished 172 Owen Tuthar 260 Earle of Oxford 133 Duke of Burgundie thrice
ouerthrowne in one yeare 289 Iohn Earle of Oxford 144 Oxford Earle P PAgeants 376 Pandulphus 55. 56 Partialitie 71 Pardon craftie 153 Parents honored 43 Paris is English 204. and reuolteth 229 Parliament and the King striue 142. 143 Parliament the first 23 Parliament once a yeare 142 Parliament complaines 133 Parliament threatned 143 Parliament makes a King 160 Parliamentum insanum 60 Parliament breakes vppe suddenly 256 Parliament wronged by Bishop Fisher 382 Pawlet made Lord Saint Iohn 406 Peace 52. 64. 285. 333 336. 364. 392 Penall lawes 290. 351 Penance 42 People wasted 14 Percies 171. 362. 363 Percies will not deliuer Scottish Prisoners 67 Percies doe ransome Edmund Mortimer 169 Percie Sir Thomas 406 Periury 232 Perkin Werbeck 337. c. Peter Landoys 289. 315 Petition of the Rebelles 404 Pickering 363 Pilgrims holy 405 Piracie 96 Pitie 44 Plantagenet Geoffry 24 Plantagenet Arthur 51 53 Plimouth 136 Poydras 93 Pollicies 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 12. 18 23. 29. 35. 82. 117. 140 212. 215. 233. 246. 250 299. 331. 339. 340 408. Pollicies touching Warbeck 339. 340. 341 Pollicies touching Lambert 331 Pollicie touching Cade 247 Pollicie by fire 347 Pomfret 301 Pontlarch 241 Popham Sir Iohn 113 Pope 14. 15. 18. 53. 150 curbed 401 Popish blindnesse 57 Popish pride 54 Poynings 341. 361 Poysoned 59 Poyters 63 Practises of Richard Duke of Glocester 299. c. Premunire 380. feared by the Cleargy 388 Prerogatiue crossed 66 Presumption 140 Prey rich 395 Pride 396 Pride of Longchamp 46 47. 48 Primacie 7 Prince of Chester Prince imprisoned 86 177 Prince of Wales 114 Prince reclaimed 177 Prior Iohn 364 Prisoners Marcarus 7 Edwinus 7 Egelwinus 7 Mowbray 13 Curthose 20 Belesme 20 King Stephen 29 Queene Elianor 43 King Richard the first p. 48 Bayliol 84 The Prince 86. 177 Queene Isabel 105 King Dauid 122 King Iohn of France 127 Earle of Pembroke 132 King Richard the second pag. 156 Edmund Mortimer 166 French Pris slaine 185 Lord Talbot 222 Lord Scales 222 Lord Hongerford 222 Duke of Suffolke 222 King Henry the Sixth 257. 266. 281 King Edward the fourth 271 Duke of Burbon 277 Duke of Orleance 235 Scottish prisoners 413 Mordack Earle of Fife 167 Archibald Douglas 167 Earle Murrey 167 Priuie Seales 397. 398 Proclamations 192. 276 387 Proclaimed heire of Fra. 141. 200. 204 Proscribed 248. 319 Protector 61. 251 Protector displaced 240 Q QVartered 345 Queen Anne beheaded 403 Queene Katherine beheaded 410 R RAgman 104 Ramsey 136 King Richard the First ransomed 48 Douglas ransomelesse 171 King of Scots ransomed 214 Duke of Burbon ransomed 227 Duke of Orleance ransomed 235 Edmund Mortimer ransomed 164 Queene Margaret ransomed 283 Raine 405 Rebellions 6. 7. 10. 11. 12 13. 20. 22. In London 71. 76. Lluellen 80 Wat Tilar 137. In Kent 277. Owen Glendor 166. Percies 170 171. In Ireland 241. Iacke Cade 247. 264. 273. 328. 334 Cornishmen 345. 347. 349. In Yorkshire 269. In Lincolnshire 404. In the North 405. In Ireland 407 Rebels flie 405. quietly depart 405 Reconcilement 64. 279 Reformation 66. 69. 64 153 Regents 43. 201 Regent dieth 228 Regent drowned 358 Religious houses 178. 374 403. 403 Repayment 327 Repeales 4. 263. 328 Repentance 8. 353 Reprofe 167 Reseisure 35. 34 Resolution 15. 34. 95 Restitution 18 Returne vnlicenced 358 359 Reuenge 49 Reuolt 214. 242. 244 Renulph 81 Ribamont 124 Riceap Thomas 344 King Richard the First valiant 46 47 Rich Souldiers 191 King Henry the Second Rich 37 Richmond Earle in danger 289. 317. sweareth 320. landeth 323 and is victorious 325 Rifling 389 Roan 192. 193. 197. 241 Robberies 14. 18. 33 Robin Hood 50 Robinet of Bonuile 187 Rochford 400. 410. 411 Bolloigne Viscount Rochford 385 Rokesbie 174 Rosamond Clifford 37 Rosbrough 112. 130 Rowclif 363 Rufus staine 16 Russell Lord 406 Rutland murdered 281 Rutland Earle 400 Ryuers 256 S SAnctuarie 302. 303 304 Saluo honore Dei 41 Sands 365. 396. 397 Sarum secundum vsum 7 Sauadge 324 Scales 218. 222. 257. 258 Scot Earle of Chester 64 Scottish homage 11. 214 Scots 25000. slaine 83 Scots sweare obedience 86 Scots ouerthrowne in Ireland 97 Scots ouerthrow K. Edw. the Second 93 94 Scots inuade England 11 28. 111. 122. 167. 171. 251. 291. 361. their crueltie 343. They inuade 345. and are slaine 346. 412 Scots misuse the French 147 Scots aide Warbecke 342 345 Scottish King slaine 363 Scotland surrendred 81 82. 84 Scotland gouerned by England 84 Scotland wasted 346 Scotland inuaded 97. 103 306. 111 147. 174. 412. 415. 416. 419 Scotland disposed by King Edward the Third 106 Scotland claimed by the Pope 86 Scottish King ransomed 214 Scottish tenure released 106 Scottish chaire 86 Scottish prisoners 413 Scroope 155. 173. 180. 265 Sea victories 62. 110. 125 188. 189 Seales Priuie 394 Secrecie 107 Secundum vsum Sarum 7 Securitie 221. 271 Seisure 3. 35 Seymour Earle of Hartford 406. 415 Seymor Sir Iohn and Ladie Iane 403 Shawes Sermon 408 Shepard Iacke 137 Sherborne Sir Henrie 361 Ships 300. taken 56 500. Ships 188 1200. Ships 146 Ships in Sandwitch 256 Sheepe 268 Sheriffe of Northumberland 174 Shoreswife 309 Shrewesburie Earle 392 Shrines destroied 406 Sicknesse 181 Slaine King William Rufus 5. 16 Malcolme 11 King Edward the Second 101 King Richard the first 50 King Richard the second 160 Simon Montfort 74 Lord Beamont 113 Peter of Castile 131 Wat Tilar 140 Vere Duke of Ireland 149 Prisoners French 185 Thirtie six slaine by King Henry the Fourth 171 Edward Duke of Yorke 187 Richard Duke of Yorke 259 Duke of Suffolke 187 Iohn Earle of Shrewesburie 249 Earle of Salisburie 220 Clarence 206 Earle of Warwicke 281 Arundell 226 Marquesse Montacute 281 Courtney Earle of Deuon 283 Wooduile 333 Iames the Fourth King of Scots 362 Stafford 329 Humfrey Duke of Buckingham 257 Thomas Lo. Egremount 257 Iohn Viscount Beamont 257 Northumberland 260 Westmorland 260 Lord Dacres 260 Lord Welles 260 Lord Clifford 260 Somerset Sir Charles 360 Spencers 92. 94. 96. 99 Northumberland 334 Spencer chiefe Iustice 74. 68 Speeches 194 195. 209 Spencers executed 100 Souldiers vnlicensed returne 358. 397 Sonnes disobedient 36 Southampton Earle 406 Stafford Earle 181 Stakes 183 Stanley 341. 344 Stapleton B. of Exeter 99 Stapleton 363 Stoutnesse of K. H. 8. 404 Strangers Marchants 34 251. 138 Subiects dutie 35 SubmissioÌ„ of K. Io 56. 66 Submission of the Barons 58 Submission of King Richard the Second 155 Submission of Londoners 75 Submission of Lluellen 80 Supremacie 403 Duke of Suffolke 237. 238. 244. 392. 418 Duke of Suffolke warreth valâ—antly in France 396 Surfet 24 Surrey beheaded 420 Surprisall 173 Sussex Earle 385 Swanus 6 Swimming 48 149 Sword giuen to Exeter 349 Sydney 362 T TAle-bearers 227 Talbots name terrible 226 Talbot 106. 324 Talbot slaine 220 Talbot Gilbert 192 Talbot Lord George 360 Taxes 5. 10. 97. 109 Taxes causing rebellions 6. 7. 136. 333. 335. 343 Taxes lost Aquitaine c. 130 Taxes pleasing 12. 52. 189 Taxes released 18. 28 Taxes not demanded 37 45 Tax on Wools and Hides 83 Tempest Nicholas 406 Temporalties 20. 21 Terryll 312 Terwyn 360. 361 Thankfulnesse 24. 297 Thanksgiuing 171. 186 190. 282. 325 Theeues 50. 93 Thorp 258 Thwaits 396 Title to France 105. 107 relinquished 129 Title King of Ireland 410 Title Defensor Fidei 357. 393 Tournay taken 361. redeliuered 380 Trade restored 346 Translation 7 Transubstantiation 58 Traitor Archb. of Cant. 151 Treasons 64. 164. 180 226 Treason to speake c. 409 Treason at Oxford 164 Traitors 145. 173 Trecherie 152. 213 252 Trenchard 352 Treport 364 Tresham 283 Tresilian 147. 149 Troyl-Baston 86 Tuthar 260. 249 Tylar Wat. 137 Tylney 362 Tyron Earle 410 Tyrwyn taken and burnt 361 V VAlour 33. 46. 47. 124 Vaughan 283. 307 Vere 142. 149. 242 Vernoyle 205 Vicar generall 107 Victorie in Castile 130 King Edward the Fourth victorious 281 Victorie without blowes 168 Victorie miraculous 216 Victorie ouer the Percies 171 Victories at Sea 62. 110 125. 188. 189 Vicegerent Cromwell 406 Victuals cheape 108 Visited by three Kings 130 Vmfreuyle 192. 206 Vniuersitie opinions 386 Vnthankfulnesse 14. 44 Vnthankfull Frenchmen 414 Vsurpers Rufus 9 Henricus Primus 17 Stephanus 27 Edwardus Tertius 101 Henricus Quartus 160 Henricus Quintus 177 Henricus Sextus 211 Richardus Tertius 311 W WAights 18 Wales 86. Prince 114 Wallop 364. 396 Warres in the Holy Land 45. c. 77 Wars with Arthur Plantagenet 51 Hee is drowned 53 Wars incommodious 272 Wars with Charles the Emperour 401 Ward Sir Christopher 362 Wardships 63 Warbeck 337. c. Warlike discipline 35 Warwicke Protector 251 Warwicke slaine 281 Warrens 18 Watermen 258 Welles 260. 273 Welshmen rebell 11. 12. 13. 22. 80. 81. 83. 84. 85 166 Wenlocke 283 Wharton Lord 412 Whipped 42 Wife a good one 43 Willoughbie 363. 183. 392 Witchcraft 236 Wiues paid for 24 Wooduile 231. 333 Woods in Wales burnt 81 Woolsey 365. c. vntill pag. 388 Wounding 77 Worcester Earle 392 Wryothesley 417 Errata PAg. 305. lin 4. for daughter to the Dukes son reade son to the Dukes daughter Pag. 324. lin 3. for George Stanley reade George Talbot
as if hee onely waited for a fit oportunitie to depart Yet in the meane time king Philip his father with great care and cost prepared new Forces for his aide and shipped them for this Realme But Hugh de Burgh being a man prouident Hugh de Bergh preuaileth on the sea and truly valiant and being chiefe Master of the fiue Ports hauing fitted a strong Fleete of good Shippes and furnished them to the proofe with choice Mariners and expert men of Warre encountred them brauely vpon the Sea and with such hardie blowes so fiercely did assayle them that beeing altogether vnable to resist him they submitted themselues and all their Shippes vnto his mercie The French are absolued and doe returne This noble Exploit being thus attended by Victorie forthwith drew Prince Lewis to a milde entreatie of Peace So that being absolued by Guallo and receiuing good summes of money to further his returne he surrendred all such Forts Castles and Townes as hee had taken and with his companies sayled into France leauing his English friends who had supported his Estate and part in all these Warres to the censure of the Lawes and to end their miserable dayes with sundrie executions and strange deaths The Common-weale being now suffered to breath A Parliament and hauing found some leisure to prouide fitting medicines to cure such maladies as distempered her estate required that a Parliament might be sommoned which was graunted King Edwards lawes restored and in it the ancient Lawes of King Edward were reduced and restored to their former vigor and strength And the Grand Charter in those dayes called Magna Charta comprising sundry laws Magna Charta which were both easefull and commodious to the common people was ratified and confirmed And whereas the Wardships of the heires of such of the Kings tenants as died Warships marriages Ann. 902. Ann. 1056. seized of any lands by them holden in Knights seruice was graunted to King Edgar during their minorities and their marriages were afterwards granted to King Edward the Confessor Those lawes which a long time had lien asleepe were now reuiued and awaked and were restored to their former vse In the same Parliament also a voluntarie Taxe was frankely giuen to the King A voluntarie Taxe partly to discharge such debts as former warres had occasioned and partly to leuie new forces to be conducted by Richard the kings brother for the recouering of Poyters and of Gascoyne which of late yeers most iniuriously and with too much violence had been vsurped and taken from King Henries predecessors by the French King The Parliament being ended the said Taxe An Armie transported into Gascoyne c. with great celeritie and without contradiction by any was soone leuied so that the Kings Coffers were replenished with siluer and with gold and all requisits were carefully prouided and a gallant Armie of couragious men of warre were assembled and safely transported Richard recouereth Poyters and Gascoine With which Richard the Kings brother did almost wonders subduing where he found resistance and seizing vpon Lordships Towns Forts Castles and other defenced places quietly and without blowes where no head was made against him So that within few moneths such was his valor and good fortune he recouered both those Prouinces wholly for the king and returned with much honor into England But the kings absence from those places The French King winneth Poyters Perigot c. ministred opportunity to the French king to be vnfriendly and daily to make wars roads incursions and inuasions into those Prouinces which without colour of right he endeuored to subdue So that hee refusing no aduantage which might in any sort further his desires suddenly led a new Armie into Poyters and quickly made himselfe the Lord thereof And then he marched into Pierigot and Aluerne and other places in Guian where he did the like But king Henry sent thither another Armie A new Army transported with which his brother Richard Earle of Cornwall fought many cruell and sharpe battailes and in the most of them Fortune assisted him with good successe and all things afforded him great hopes A peace is concluded that hee should recouer whatsoeuer in his absence had been lost But in the height of all these broyles a friendly peace was concluded betwixt the two Kings and Richard returned safely into England The causes of dislike betwixt the K. and his Barons These troubles being thus ended and peace gladding the hearts of all such as had been tired with those warres vnkinde iealousies began to breed much hart-burning betwixt the King and his own Barons for that as they conceiued the King reposed little confidence in their faith neglected their seruice and societie and applied himselfe and his fauours wholly vnto strangers whom neither alliance nor Countrie bound to performe any dutie towards him nor would be found trustie when the hand of his bountie and liberalitie was closed vp The King reconcileth himself to his Barons And the King perceiuing their discontent entered into the secret closet of his owne breast and tooke a strict examination of his owne dealings And finding them to bee such as iustly might displease he reformed his error remoued the causes of those dislikes and louingly reconciled himselfe to his Nobles Iohn Scot Earle of Chester dieth About this time Iohn Scot Earl of Chester died without issue male hauing foure daughters heirs From them the king resumed into his own hands that Earledom and all the Territories belonging thereunto which he augmented with large additions of yearely reuennues and many Regall Priuiledges Liberties and Honours And for a recompence and by way of exchange he gaue vnto those Ladies many Honors Lordships Castles and Mannors which exceeded their owne in true value And hauing married Prince Edward Chester and Wales annexed to the Kings eldest sonnes his sonne to Elyanor sister vnto the King of Spain he gaue vnto him the Prouince of Guyan the Lordship of all Ireland and created him Earle of Chester and Prince of Wales which two later dignities he then annexed to the eldest sonnes of the Kings of this Realme The murdering of the King is attempted And not long after a Clerk dwelling in Oxford counterfeiting a kind of madnesse attempting to murther the King for which purpose in the depth of the night he crept in at the window of the Kings chamber in which most commonly hee lodged But failing of his purpose because the King lay not then there hee was taken examined confessed his villanie and by the course of law being condemned he was put to a cruell death The French King breaks the league We haue heard before that a peace was concluded between the Kings of England and of France but the French kings were alwaies secretly or openly malicious to the Kings of this Realme because they had certaine Territories and Prouinces in France which bordered on their Countries And
Scotland the Low Countries Gascoyne Guyan and elsewhere and then he displaced those corrupted Officers and placed better in their steads The Prince is committed to prison and Pierce Gaueston is banisht Cornwall and Wales giuen to the Prince 29. 1300. Peace betwixt England and Scotland The Scots doe sweare obedience The Popes claime to be high Lord of Scotland and his command to King Edward About the same time Doctor Langton then Bishop of Chester complained grieuously to the King vpon Edward the yong Prince who by the lewd aduice and instigation of Pierce Gaueston his loose and gracelesse companion brake forcibly into his Parke and made hauocke of his game for which the Prince was committed to prison and Gaueston was banished the land and required not to return on paine of death And the next yeere after Edmund Earle of Cornwall sonne to Richard King of the Romans died without issue so that that Earldome reuerted to the Crowne which together with the Principalitie of Wales the King gaue vnto Prince Edward his eldest sonne and heire apparant to his Crowne In the three and thirtieth yeer of King Edwards raigne a generall peace was proclaimed betweene England and Scotland and Robert le Bruse and many other knights Lords and Earles of that Country came into England and voluntarily swore their fealtie and their homage to the king yet before one yeare was fully expired the said Lord Bruse and many others secretly procured from the Pope an instrument in writing by which the Pope made claime to the kingdome of Scotland as holden of his Church of Rome and the king was thereby peremptorily required to surcease from all demands of Tenure and of Soueraintie ouer it The Kings message to the Pope But the king by the aduice of his Nobles signified by his Embassadors to the Pope That the Signiory and Lordship of the said kingdome of Scotland did only belong to the kings of England and not vnto the See of Rome nor vnto any other and therefore he prayed him to reuoke his said Instrument and vniust claime for that both hee and his Nobles were resolued to maintain his right and lawfull inheritance therein with the vtmost expence of their goods lands and liues But whilst those things were thus handling Robert le Bruse doth vsurp in Scotland The King in his owne person the fourth time subdueth the Scots The vsurper flieth into Norway The King dieth Robert le Bruse by the Popes consent caused himself to be crowned king of that Realm which occasioned king Edward the fourth time to enter into Scotland with a puissant Armie where he so largely extended his valor and with the sword so fiercely deuoured the Inhabitants which ioynd with their vsurping king that they were compelled with extraordinarie tokens of subiection and humilitie to yeeld themselues to the kings mercie And Robert le Bruse finding no meanes to make good his false title to that Crown secretly withdrew himselfe and fled into Norway where he remained vntill king Edwards death which happened soone after when hee had raigned victoriously almost thirty fiue yeeres THE HISTORIE OF KING EDVVARD THE SECOND AFTER the Kings death his sonne Edward succeeded and was crowned King His tall and comely Personage An euill King graced with outward Majestie seemed to promise manie blessings to ensue But his Maners being grossely corrupted by lewd and gracelesse companions were so lasciuious and vnbefitting the condition of a King that he became burthensome to his Nobilitie and almost a skorne to his inferior subjects For hee neglected the societie and the counsell of such as were wise and graue and consorted himselfe with his owne Minions by meanes whereof he put in practise euerie loathed thing wherein hee could either take pleasure or expresse his follie So that his euill Gouernment made his Kingdome to be vnfortunate and himselfe a president of wretchednesse to succeeding Ages as in the discourse of his Historie it will more particularly appeare No sooner was his head adorned with his Imperiall Crowne Pierce Gaueston but his heart longed for Pierce Gaueston the wicked corrupter of his youth and the professed enemie of all honestie and vertue For albeit that he was exiled by the last King The King breakes his Oath to recall Gaueston who tooke an Oath of this his Successor neuer to permit him vnpunished to come backe againe into England yet the remembrance of his villanies consorting with the Kings bad nature and euill disposition was a quicke messenger for his returne Pierce Gaueston is all in all And his arriuall so aboundantly replenished the Kings conceits with extraordinarie joy that nothing else in comparison of it gaue him anie contentment Neither could anie man besides him expect for anie gracefull entertainement from the King The Nobles tell the King of his Oath The Noble men who perfectly knew how wickedly this Gaueston was enclined perceiuing that the King doted on him and that his affections towards him were vnlimited being perplexed with inward griefe and fearing the Ruine which through his insolencie threatened the subuersion of the whole Realme emboldened themselues to put the King in minde of his oath But as his conscience troubled him not for the breach thereof So their disliking encreased his desires towards Gaueston and to make him great For Gaueston alone and none but Gaueston was likely to doe all in all and frowne hee that frowne would the King cared not who was displeased hee was resolued that Gaueston should be great And therefore hee first Lorded him with the Baronie of Wallingford Gaueston is aduanced and soone after he created him Earle of Cornwall and made him the sole and onely Commander ouer his Iewels and his Treasure In which Office so absolute was his power and so cunning was his craftie head to prouide in the time of his prosperitie for aduerse fortune which might ensue that secretly he conueyed beyond the Sea a faire Table and Tressels He conueyes the Kings Iewels out of the Realme all made of beaten gold and manie rich and precious Ornaments and Iewels to the great hurt and prejudice of the King and of this Realme Hee also tooke much pleasure to feede the Kings fancies with great varietie of new delights The King liueth loosely and lewdly and by his example hee enured him to Banquet Drinke and to Carowse beyond measure And his dishonest persuasions and enticements made him carelesse of the Bed and of the societie and fellowship of Isabell his Religious and vertuous Queene the daughter of the French King Philip the faire and sister to his Successor Charles the fourth and trayned him to the adulterous consortship of wanton Curtizans and shamelesse Whores The Queene in vaine seeketh to reclaime the King The Queene who sorrowed hereat beyond measure reposed all means for redresse of those her vnsufferable wrongs in her prayers vnto God and in her modest wooings for her Kings loue But all her endeuours
Prince Edward of England the great Lord and master of those Countries Malum consilium consultori pessimum And to effect what therein hee did intend hee called a generall Councell of the Lords and great men of those Territories and appointed the place of their meeting to bee at Sluce where hee also procured the presence of king Edward and of the Prince his sonne To draw these States together he proposed nothing publikely but the necessitie of a sound conference touching their proceedings with the King of England against France And within the Hauen there the place of Councel was in King Edwards great ship called the Katharine But vnexpectedly to the Flemish Lords Iaques Dartuell discoursed boldly and at large of the great Honour Prowes and valour of King Edward and of the yong Prince his Sonne And by many circumstances and deuised arguments hee endeauoured to extenuate the worth of their owne Earle as being altogether vnfit and vnable to be a Lord of so great a coÌ„mand and in the conclusion of his speech hee strongly striued to perswade them all to depose the Earle Loys and his posteritie and to adde an inuincible strength to their Estates by electing and chusing the Prince of England to be their Master and great Lord. The Nobles and the great men of Flanders being now made eare witnesses of Iaques Dartuells attempt Displeasing Counsell And inwardly detesting to leaue vnto a future age a memoriall of such treacherous infidelitie and wrong made answere that albeit no people in the world did more then they respect King Edward Nor more affect the aduancement and the Honour of the Prince his Sonne Yet this motion could not preuaile except the Natiues and common people of those Countries who had as large an interest as they in the deposing of the said Earle and in the disposing of his Lordship and command would willingly assent thereto And though in their heartes they intended and ment nothing lesse yet to make faire weather for the present time They told the King that they liked the motion exceeding well and that they would foorthwith depart vnto the seuerall places of their habitations and would informe the people of this proiect and do their best endeauours to perswade and to incourage them to consent thereunto And hauing promised the King that at the end of one Moneth they would returne againe with their full answere to the said motion And hauing mutually performed all complements requisite for a kind farewell they departed thence But when this newes was diuulged and when it was publikely knowne what Iaques Dartuell had proposed No trusting to the peoples fauour Iaques Dartuell is hated and murdred both he and his practise were inwardly detested and so hated that he was not esteemed to be a true borne Fleming who had the least inclination to giue any furtherance thereunto Yet notwithstanding such was the great confidence which this great Commaunder reposed in the fauour of the common people and such was the resolution of him whose authoritie before that time was vnlimited and whose prosperitie was equall to the greatnesse of a potent King that his presence would worke wonders and change the minds of the common people That to make triall of his power in that behalfe he came to Gaunt But as he passed through the streetes he might well perceiue that his entertainment was nothing correspondent to his former wel-comes and that the countenances of the Inhabitants bewrayed their inward contempt and loathing both of him and of his despised motion And no sooner was hee entred into his house but by many thousands of mutenous and armed Swaggarers it was compassed round about and then was hee rayled on with the foulest words and reuiled with the most bitter termes that either their hearts could deuise or their tongues vtter So that hee perceiued that it auailed him not to looke bigge nor to presume by his authoritie to appease their rage Wherefore at a great window of the house hee began mildly and with humble termes to pleade in his owne excuse and promised to giue them a full satisfaction vpon what grounds points and reasons he had vnaduisedly conceiued that motion But the sight of him whom in former times they loued and honoured as an Angell was now so lothsome and so vile and his words were so vnpleasing to them that with dirt and stones they beate him from the window King Edward looseth many powerfull friends assaulted his house brake it open entred in and slaughtered him with a thousand wounds And thus died that great Commander of the Flemings who for his power and absolute authoritie among them had neuer his equall in those Countries And by these meanes King Edward not onely lost a sound and a potent friend But euer after that time the hearts of the Flemings more fauoured the French King then they did him At the same time also his noble and worthy friend and vncle Sir Iohn of Henalt Sir Iohn of Henalt reuolteth to the French Lord Beamont reuolted from him and adheared to the French King because King Edward vpon some priuate vnkindnesse conceiued did with-hold and keepe from him a Pension which for his faithfull and good seruice hee had formerly giuen and duly paid vnto him And though King Edward did daily growe more strong in his hopes A valiant King to possesse himselfe of the Crowne of France yet the losse of some great friends being his associates in those Warres made him indeede more weake yet those his misfortunes so little auailed to discourage him that it increased his magnanimitie and his resolutions to maintaine those his Warres with the greater helpes of his owne strength ANNO. 20 Aguillon is besieged by 100000. men Now was the King informed that Iohn the eldest Sonne of the French King had strongly besieged the Castle of Aguillon in Gascoyne wel-neere with an hundred thousand men within which were the Noble Earle of Pembroke and the renowned Knight Sir Walter of Manny and diuers others of especiall note and place The King transporteth an Armie into Normandy Whereupon King Edward leuied the number of fourteene thousand men which he and the Prince his Sonne being accompanied with eight Earles fifteene Barrons and a great number of braue Knights and gallant Gentlemen by the aduice and counsell of Sir Godfray Lord Harcourt a French banished Noble man of great wisdome and wonderfull valour in the Warre caried into Normandie and with them he besieged the rich and strong Towne of Harflew Harflew is taken but because the English Armie seemed terrible in the sight of the Inhabitants it was not defended but the King tooke it without blowes and gaue the spoyle thereof to his common Souldiers so that he filâ—ed their Purses with Crownes and thereby prepared them with the greater courage Diuers towns and Castles are taken and resolution for more dangerous attempts So that within few dayes after hee wonne rifled and spoyled the
rich Townes of Cheirbrough Mount-brough and Quarenâ—ue and the Castle there Then King Edward marched foorth in great strength through that Countrie Normandie harrowed by King Edward being hedged in on the one side by his Marshall the Lord Harcourt and fiue hundred chosen men of warre which hee commanded and by his other Marshall on the other side with a like number And with such seueritie ransacked spoiled burned and haâ—owed all places as he passed by The English Armie is rich The English Armie increaseth that euerie coÌ„mon souldier was now a rich man and the Kings Armie was encreased and now consisted of nineteene thousand fighting men with which he pitched before the city of Cane in which were the Earles of Tankeruile and of Ewe Besides the Earle of Guyens who being high Constable of France had gathered and brought vnto that place manie braue and approued men at Armes and made a flourishing shew as if hee meant to issue forth and to giue battaile to the King But feare possessing his heart he made but a faint resistance The Citie of Cane is taken and in short time and with litle losse the Citie was taken and ransacked by the English souldiers who conueighed all their spoiles into England Sir Thomas Holland Loureys is taken Why King Edward medled with no walled Townes nor Castles in the Prouince of Eureux In the yeelding vp of this Citie First the three Earles submitted their fortunes to Sir Thomas Holland a valiant English Knight who had but one eye of whom the King bought them for tenne thousand markes in Gold and receiuing them as prisoners into his Armie hee marched to the Towne of Loures which hee quickly won and then entred into the Prouince of Eureux all which he wasted spoiled and burned without pittie the walled Townes Cities and Castles only excepted with none of which hee medled â—east by them his strength should bee deminished before hee met with the French King who had solemnely sworne and protested that King Edward should not returne into England before a battaile fought between them Many towns wonne by the English After this King Edward in his march wonne Gisours Vernon Saint Germans in Lay Mountrell Saint Clowde Rely and the whole Countrie about Roan Pont de' Larch Nants Newlench Robboys Fountaine Poys and Vimew in all which places he found but weake resistance King Philip of France hauing true intelligence that King Edward with al his Armie was within two leagues of Paris The French King forsaketh the Parisians left that Citie and went to S. Dennis where his Armie lay perswading the Parisians that King Edward dared not to looke them in the face but they beleeued him not and feare made them greatly displeased with their king Those of Amyens are slaine and taken Neere about the same time Sir Godfrey Lord Harcourt being one of King Edwards Marshals encountred with certaine Burgesses of Amyens whom the French king had appointed to come vnto Paris for the better defence therof if neede should so require and though they defended themselues with much valor yet at length twelue hundred of them were slaine and the rest being taken prisoners were brought vnto the king The English Armie so eagerly pursued the happinesse of their fortune That they possessed the whole countrie through which they passed yea euen to the gates of Aubeuile The English Armie is inuironed on the suddaine and of Saint Valary yet were they vnawares enuironed with the Riuer of Some on the one side and with the French Kings armie consisting of more then an hundred thousand men on the other side The place wherein he was promised him no manner of aduantage if he should fight but many inconueniencies presented themselues vnto him So that hee consulted with his Prisoners if anie of them could direct him to any Ford where he might transport his Armie among whom one who was named Gobyn of Grace Gobyn of Grace directed him to a conuenient passage But when the King came thither it was defended by twelue thousand of the French Kings Armie Yet notwithstanding when the Sea was ebbed King Edward with the Prince and the whole Armie did put themselues into the water and so did the French men on the other side King Edward passeth through the riuer of Some and slaughtereth the French so that they all encountred pell mell in the midst of the Riuer and fought with such desperate resolution on either part that manie a man was striken downe being slaine or by that meane was drowned But at length the Frenchmen being much wasted by the sword fled and the Englishmen slaughtered them in the Chase a full league and more And now approached the time in which this journie made by king Edward and his sonne was to be blessed with much honor and happinesse or to be vnfortunate The famous and victorious Battaile of Cressey though hitherto it had proceeded well For the French king being resolued to bee reuenged without pitie and in regard that his Armie contained in number more then six times as manie fighting men as king Edward had and making no doubt Great oddes but that a triumphant victorie should preuent all future danger of Englands claime to the French Crown marched with all his strength in good order of battaile against king Edward Who knowing that only the sword was then to decide the controuersie and to pronounce the judgement entred into a spacious field neere vnto Cressey where he did set his whole Armie in good order and diuided it into three battailes All which hee so imparked behind with carriages and carts that no man was easily able to interrupt or to endanger them in the Reareward The Battaile of the Blacke Prince And when the battaile should begin the first Companies were conducted by the yong Prince who was assisted by the Earles of Warwicke and of Canford and by the Lords of Harcourt Stafford Manny De Lauarre Chandoys Clifford and Bourchier Sir Reynold Cobham Sir Thomas Holland Sir Roger Neuill and manie other Lords knights and Gentlemen of name And in that battaile were eight hundred men at Armes Two thousand Archers and one thousand other lustie and good Souldiers The second battaile was directed by the Earles of Northampton The second Battaile of the English and of Arondel who were accompanied with the Lords Rose Lygo Willoughby Basset Saint Awbin Myleton and De La Sell and by manie other Lords knights and Gentlemen And in this battaile there were eight hundred men at Armes and twelue hundred Archers And the third and maine battaile being placed betwixt the other two was led by the king himselfe who was assisted by many Earles Lords knights Esquires and Gentlemen of the best ranke The Kings Battaile And in that battaile there were seuen hundred men at Armes Two thousand Archers and tenne thousand other common souldiers well approued and expert men of warre The English Armie hauing exercised
Armie landeth at Callice and marcheth to Burdeaux He beates the French King ANNO. 44 An other Armie sent into France The English doe preuaile with an armie into Callice who to the terror and spoyle of the Frenchmen marched from thence vntill he came to Burdeaux to the Prince his Brother without opposition or resistance wasting and hauoking in all places as he passed by sauing that he was once met with and encountred by king Charles who being soundly beaten was enforced to retire and to giue free passage to the Duke King Edward as much as in him lay though hee beganne to grow old yet he was very carefull of those affaires For as soone as his sonne Iohn of Gaunt was gone out of England hee sent another Armie vnto Saint Omers which was conducted by Sir Robert Knowles who marching through those adiacent Countries with fire and sword depopulated it yea almost vntill he came to the Citie of Paris And then hee marched into the Earledome of Angeou where hee wonne the strong Townes of Vaas and Ruylly and sundrie others thereabout But the French king being informed that there was great dissention in the English armie betwixt Sir Robert Knowles and the Lords Fitz-water and of Grauntson rushed vpon them sodainly with an armie and finding their mindes diuided and their forces by great disorder broken Dissention caused the Englishmens ouerthrow preuailed against them and slew about one thousand Englishmen Whereupon the said Townes which they had taken were againe yeelded into the French kings hands He also following the good hap of his fawning Fortune sent another armie into the Prouince of Guyan ANNO. 45 where the Prince was weakly assisted and his Townes and Castles daily reuolted from him King Edward being much perplexed with the common reports of his declining Fortune ANNO. 46 and being resolued to doe his best to preuent the worst assembled his high Court of Parliament at Westminster A ParliameÌ„t wherein to supply his wants and to giue better strength and furtherance to his French Warres the Temporaltie with much cheerefulnesse granted him a Subsidie of fifteene thousand pounds A Subsidie granted and the like summe hee requested of the Cleargie who were contented to giue him faire words but no monie Whereat he was so much displeased The Clergie will grant none The Clergie disgraced ANNO. 46 The Earle of Pembroke defeated and taken at Sea that wheras at that time the Bishops and the Cleargie men were chiefly honoured with all Places and Offices of Honour and of Profit and of Commaund disgracefully hee depriued them and dismissed them all and placed more thankfull Subjects of the Laitie in their roomes King Charles had now besieged the Towne of Rochell almost one whole yeare For whose reliefe and to remoue the siege king Edward sent the Earle of Pembroke with an armie to the Sea but hee was encountred fought with and put vnto the worst by Henrie the vsurper of Castile who in fauour of the French king and thankfully to requite his former loue when hee assisted him against king Peter kept the narrow Seas with a strong Fleet. In this fight the Earle himselfe and one hundred and threescore others were taken Prisoners manie men were slaine The French King winnes Rochell c. and the rest who escaped returned altogether discomforted into England And vpon the certaine report of this disaster The Towne of Rochell Angolesme Xants and Saint Iohns of Angley and diuers other Prouinces were giuen vp vnto the French king Sir Iohn de Mountford Duke of Brittaine perceiuing that good successe accompanied the French king in all his actions beganne to feare ANNO. 47 Iohn of Gant and the Duke of Britaine oppose themselues against the French King They waste the Countrey ANNO. 48 left in the height of his prosperitie he would attempt some quarrell against him Wherefore Hee fortified his Countries and then came into England and offred his assistance to K. Edward who forthwith leuied a strong armie and commited it to the gouernment of his sonne the Duke of Lancaster Who being accompanied with the Duke of Brittaine landed at Callice and with sword and fire wasted the whole Countrie vntill hee came to Burdeaux where the Duke of Lancaster found his brother the Prince of Wales exceeding sicke who made him Gouernour of all King Edwards Prouinces And hauing scene all such Noble men as hee could command Iohn of Gant is made Gouernour The sicke Prince commeth into England ANNO. 49 ANNO. 50 to take their solemne oathes for the performance of their duties and obedience to his brother the Duke he sailed into England After whose arriuall three parles for peace betwixt England and France were entertained vpon the motion and by the mediation of Pope Gregorie the eleuenth But not one of them was made fruitfull with any fortunate successe In the last yeare of King Edwards Raigne in a Parliament holden at Westminster the King required a Subsidie from the Cleargie and from the Temporaltie of his Kingdome towards the supporting of his warres The Lower house of the Parliâ—ment complaine vpon the K ngâ— euill Officers But the Lower house of that assembly complained grieuously against the Lord Latimer chiefe Chamberlaine to the King and of manie other of his Officers for that they not only misled the King in his old age but also vnthriftily spent and consumed the Treasure of his Kingdome Wherefore they refused to yeild vnto the kings demand except those euill Officers might bee displaced and better men setled in their roomes Which being by the king through the important perswasions of the Prince consented vnto he cheerefully obtained his demand And now approched the ends of these two famous .1376 and most worthie Princes the Father and the Sonne For the Prince of Wales died the eight day of Iune The Blacke Prince dieth in the yeare of our Lord God one thousand three hundred threescore and sixteene when hee had liued fortie yeares and lieth buried at Canterburie The King restoreth his euill Officers And no sooner was hee dead but king Edward verie vnaduisedly to his great dishonour and to the great discontentment of his people remoued from him such new Officers as in the late High Court of Parliament were established and placed neere about him and restored the Lord Latimer Richard is Created Prince of Wales Duke of Cornwall and Earle of Chester King Edward dieth and all the rest to their former Offices and places And finding himselfe exceeding weake by reason of his sharp and grieuous sicknesse he created his Nephew Richard Sonne to the Prince deceased Prince of Wales Earle of Chester and Duke of Cornwall and committed the Regencie of his kingdome to his son Iohn of Gaunt Duke of Lancaster died when he had raigned fiftie yeares and somewhat more THE HISTORIE OF KING RICHARD THE SECOND RICHARD the second being the Son and heire of the Blacke Prince ANNO. 1. 1377.
execrable and a vile oath hee swore that the Esquire should loose his head bâ—fore he himselfe would either eat any meat or drinke anie drinke The Major of London named Iohn Hadley who then attended on the King disdaining that a proud Traitor should so confront and braue the King drew forth his sword and strake him so sound on the head that he felled him to the ground and incontinently he was slaine Whereat some hope was sodenly conceiued that the rest of the Rebels would haue gone away But they being desperatly resolued to reuenge his death according to their litle skil cast themselues in some order so that now euery minute of time threatned the destruction and slaughter of manie men The Citizens of London being informed what had hapned and purposing with all speed to aide the King and to free themselues and the Câ—â—ie from ruine and from spoile sent an Armie of eight thousand men well armed and well appointed to the King all which were quickly marshalled and readie to giue the charge But first the King required the Rebels to submit themselues or else to deliuer vnto him such of his Banners and Free Pardons and Manumissions as they had gotten into their hands But so farre off were they from being sorrie or repentant for their Treasons that in a proud brauerie and in much scorne they redeliuered them all vnto the King Who caused them in their open view to be cancelled and to bee torne in peeces The doing whereof so sodainely daunted and quailed the heartes and courages of those insolent and gracelesse Rebels that when the King expected nothing but all violence to be executed by the sword they cowardly dispersed themselues and ranne away The Rebels flye euery man without any order or staying making all possible hast and shift to saue themselues And thus vanished this cloud which threatned an outragious storme of much danger and mischiefe to the King and Common-weale And the chiefest of those malefactors a thing which neuer faileth in such tumultuous rebellions were by their owne companions to insinuate grace and fauour with the King deliuered into the hands of Iustice who afterwardes The Captaines deliuered to the King by the Rebels themselues Fifteene hundred Rebels Executed with fifteene hundred more of the principall agents in this businesse were vpon due enquiries and iust conuictions according to the Law executed and put to sundrie tortures and deaths in diuers places of this Realme The King hauing thus pacified this Rebellion and Vproare ANNO. 5. King Richard marrieth married the Ladie Anne daughter to the deceased Emperour Charles the fourth and sister vnto Wenceslaus the Emperour who then raigned and was made happie through much prosperitie and peace vntill the ninth Yeare of his Gouernment ANNO. 9. 1385. A ParliameÌ„t Two of the Kings Vncles were created Dukes of Yorke and Glocester Henrie of Bullingbroke created Earle of Darby Other Earles created King Richards euill Counsellours And then hee summoned and held his High Court of Parliament at Westminster In which he created his fifth and sixth Vncles Edmund of Langly being then Earle of Cambridge Duke of Yorke and Thomas of Woodstock who was then Earle of Buckingham Duke of Glocester He also created his Cousin Henrie of Bollingbrooke sonne and heire apparant to his fourth Vncle Iohn of Gaunt Duke of Lancaster Earle of Darbie and his Cousin Edward Plantagenet the sonne and heire apparant of his said Vncle Edmund of Langley he created Earle of Rutland and Sir Iohn Holland brother to the Earle of Kent was made Earle of Huntingdon and Thomas Lord Mowbray was made Earle of Nottingham The King whose affections were but greene and who was easily seduced by such as hee best loued was at this time wholy directed and counselled into manie euill and vngodly courses by his vnworthie fauourites Michael De la Pole his Chauncellor whom he created Duke of Suffolck and by Robert de Vere Earle of Oxford and Marquesse of Dublyn whom hee made Duke of Ireland Affection without reason and would haue made him King of that Countrie if his Nobilitie would haue consented thereunto In the same Parliament Roger Mortymer Proclaimed heire Apparent He caused his Cousin Sir Roger Mortimer Earle of March who was the sonne and heire of Edmund Mortimer and of Philip his wife who was the Daughter and heire of the Kings third Vncle This Sir Roger Mortimer was slaine many yeares after ANNO. 10 1386. The King neglecteth his Nobilitie and their Counsell Michaell de la Poole Robert de Vere Alexander Archbishop of Yorke Robert Tresilian The King intendeth the surprisall of the Duke of Glocester and of the Earles of Warwicke and of Arundell They come well garded to the Parliament Foure Fifteenes demanded It is denied A ParliameÌ„t may be held once a yeare In what case the Knights and Burgesses may depart The Houses of ParlameÌ„ts demands Lionel Duke of Clarence to bee proclaimed heire apparant to his Crowne But hee was long afterward slaine in Ireland by such Rebels as he endeuored to suppresse It is now to bee obserued that from henceforth the King respected not the sage aduice and counsell of his grauest and most experienced Lords and that he began careleslely to neglect the Nobilitie and his great Officers of his Kingdome and that hee did all things preposterously by the lewd and vnskilfull perswasions and directions of his two newly-created Dukes of Suffolke and of Ireland and of Alexander then Archbishop of Yorke and of Robert Tresilian his Chiefe Iustice And as they all did lead him into many erros so did they especially exasperat him without iust cause against his renowned and truly noble Vncle Thomas of Woodstocke Duke of Glocester and against the two Earles of Warwick and of Arondel which three hee intended to haue surprized at a Banquet in London if Nicholas Exton then Major of that Citie would haue consented thereunto But because his helpe then failed and the King could not at that time obtaine his purpose Hee resolued to effect it at a more solemne meeting For which cause principally He summoned his High Court of Parliament but the said three Lords vpon good information being jealous of such vnkindly entertainment repaired to the said assembly being strongly garded by a multitude of valiant men at armes by meanes whereof they secured their own libertie and the vngodly project of the King and of his wicked Counsellors came to nought Now when this long Parliament produced nothing worthie to bee noted Michael de la Pole in the Kings behalfe required a Tax of foure fifteenes affirming that a lesser gift could not support his Estate and maintaine such warres as hee was likely to vndertake But the Lords and the Lower House not only refused to yeeld vnto this motion but made a solemne declaration That as the Kings of this Realme for the better ordering and preseruing of their Estate and Kingdome might once in euery yeare assemble a
Armie And King Henrie to withstand him did the like But the English Armie landing in those Countries before the French King was in a readinesse and being boldly commanded and conducted by the Lord Percie Earle of Worcester vnto Sir Thomas Knowles the King of Englands Lieutenant there The French King giueth ouer his enterprise and they hauing taken the fealtie and the homage of the Lords of those Prouinces for their obedience and alleageance vnto King Henrie caused the French King to change his mind and dishonourably to disband all such companies as hee had leuied Yet for all this King Henrie still distrusting the weakenesse of his vsurped title and endeuouring to support it with a more sure foundation entreated the French King Charles the sixt to giue in marriage his daughter Isabel sometime King Richards wife vnto his eldest sonne Henrie Marriages with France are seldome fortunate Prince of Wales But her father obseruing that marriages betwixt England and France were but seldome fortunate denied the kings request whereupon she was conueied into France with Princely attendance and great honour And not long after shee was married to her Cousin Charles the eldest sonne of Lewes Duke of Orleance her Vncle. The aforesaid Treason conspired against the king by the aforesaid Lords and the late preparations of the French King first to haue inuaded the Kingdome of England and secondly to haue wrought wonders in Aquitaine and in Guyan and the frequent speeches which euerie where were vttered touching the manner of the Kings attaining to the Crowne animated the Welchmen and the Scots to shew themselues troublesome neighbours vnto the King Owen Glendor rebelleth For in Wales Owen Glendor a bold Squire with manie hundreds of his lawlesse and vnciuill companions entred into Armes and did much harme in the Marches which bordered neere vnto them Against whom Edmund Mortimer taken and sharply imprisoned the Lord Gray of Ruthen and Edmund Mortimer who was the true and rightfull Heire of the Crowne conducted their Forces and fought with him But they both were taken Prisoners and the said Edmond was by him kept close in a darke Dungeon which was both cold and vnhealthie where hee was ouerburdened with daily wants and much miserie All which were with the greater extremitie laid vpon him because king Henrie his Cousin should bee enforced the sooner to redeeme him with a great Ransome Wherein because the King was too too slacke and negligent hee was entreated and vrged by his Lords The King would not redeeme him but especially by the distressed Earles kinsmen the Percies But vnto them all he turned the deafe eare rather desiring his destruction then holding it safe for him to set him free The Scots also inuaded the Northerne parts of this Kingdome The Scots inuade but King Henrie with a puissant Armie entred into their Countrie and reuenged his wrongs euerie where with fire and sword at his owne pleasure The king curbeth them But because the Winter was extraordinarily wet and cold hee dissolued his Armie and with great honour victoriously he returned backe But as soone as hee was gone the angrie Scots being in number twentie thousand at the least entred with barbarous crueltie into England vpon the Northumbers The Scots againe doe inuade Henrie Hotspurre ouerthroweth them His great Prisoners but were gallantly encountred by Sir Henrie Hot-spurre the sonne and heire apparant of Henrie Percie Earle of that Prouince who with tenne thousand lustie and braue men gaue the Scots such a bloudie ouerthrow that he slew of them more then tenne thousand in the field and tooke aboue fiue hundred Prisoners among whome Mordake Earle of Fyffe Archibald Earle Douglasse Thomas Earle of Murrey and Robert Earle of Angus were the chiefe The next yeare following ANNO. 1. The Frenchmen spoyled by a storme at Sea the French King sent for Wales to assist Owen Glendor in his rebellious enterprises twelue hundered Lords Knights and Gentlemen of good accompt that they might be leaders and directors to those disordered Traytors But the winds not being answerable to their desires were so contrarie at the Sea and a storme so violently encreased that twelue of their greatest shippes with all their men and furniture were swallowed into the Sea and the rest with great difficultie returned into France This misfortune so animated the English Nation The English doe deride the French that they beganne euerie where to talke of and to iest at the French King because all his warlike expeditions had still beene vnfortunate and disastrous and though they threatned much Twelue thousand Frenchmen sent into Wales yet alwayes they vanished as a cloude The report whereof so whetted and exasperated his resolutions to doe some memorable seruice that forthwith hee sent vnto the said rebelling Welchmen an armie of twelue thousand men who safely landed and ioyned with ten thousand of that Nation The King marched into Wales This Armie occasioned King Henrie to prepare soundly for his safetie For hee was well assured that if anie neglect or want of skill or of courage should giue them the least aduantage whatsoeuer then his Crowne would be shaken and manie miseries would threaten his ouerthrow Wherefore hee in his owne person marched with a strong and with a compleat Armie into Wales But assoone as the Frenchmen had certaine notice of his comming they thought it was high time for them to aduise what course to take perchance not because they were distrustfull of their owne valour and resolution but because the inconstancie of that turbulent and fickle Nation when danger did appeare affrighted them fully with feares and with doubts least they would flie into the Woods and craggie Mountaines and forsake them when they should craue the best performance of their helpe The Frenchmen flie to their ships And so strongly did this doubtfull feare possesse them that suddenly like men amazed and heartlesse they ranne vnto their ships and not hauing performed anie manner of seruice whatsoeuer disgracefully and cowardly they returned into France The King is victorious without blowes Hereupon the Welch Rebelles desperatly shifting for themselues fled euerie man his owne way so that king Henrie found those Traiterous multitudes dispersed and quite vanished and would not be fought with Wherefore hee dissolued his great armie and returned in peace without blowes The King marrieth the Dutches of Britaine The King makes great friends abroad ANNO. 3. The King requireth the Percies to deliuer to him their Scotish Prisoners They refuse it The Percies resolue to set Edmond Mortimer at libertie and to restore him to the Crown Afterwards King Henrie tooke to wife Iane the widdow of Iohn the deceased Duke of Brittaine and gaue Blanch his eldest daughter in marriage vnto William Duke of Bauier the sonne and heire apparant of the Emperor Lewes of Bauier And some few yeares after hee matched Philip his yongest daughter with the King of Denmarke For his daily
troubles and turmoiles at home gaue him aduise to make himselfe more strong by procuring of great friends abroad In the third yeare of his Raigne hee required Henrie Percie Earle of Worcester Henrie Percie Earle of Northumberland and Henrie Hot-spurre his sonne to deliuer vnto him such Scottish Prisoners as they had taken in those last warres But they affirmed stoutly that by the Lawes of Armes and Chiualrie those Prisoners belonged vnto them and thereupon they refused to deliuer them vnto the King By meanes whereof some vnkindnesse grew betwixt the king and them which not long after was made apparant to the World For the Percies now beganne to resolue vpon the restoring of their inthralled Cousin Edmund Mortimer Earle of March both vnto his libertie and also to his Crowne and to depose King Henrie if by anie meanes and endeauours they could bring their purposes to passe Yet for a time they concealed their intent and making none other shew but of naturall kindnesse and friendship to the said Earle in regard of their affinitie and kindred earnestly praied the king to ransome him and to set him free They desire the King to Ransom him because he was vnfortunately taken in his seruice and was oppressed with much miserie But the king not hearkning to their sute nor indeed desiring that he should bee enlarged made answere and caused it to be proclaimed The King wil not but accuseth him that the said Earle had voluntarily caused himselfe to bee taken prisoner so that Rebels hauing him in their custodie and companie might pretend some colour therwith to varnish such Conspiracies and Treasons as secretly they had plotted and contriued against his Crowne and him and that therefore his owne safetie and his good discretion gaue him aduise and counsel not to hearken to their motion but to punish his offence The Percies hauing receiued this answere ANNO. 4. Sir Edmond Mortymer is Ransomed by the Percies and being much grieued with the said Proclamation and being resolued no longer to delay and to deferre the enlargement of the said Earle paid his Ransome to Owen Glendor and redeemed him at their owne cost and secretly entred into such a League of friendship and familiaritie with Owen Glendor Owen Glendor conspireth with the Percies that hee faithfully promised to sticke vnto them stoutly whensoeuer they would attempt the deposing of king Henrie And then the said Lords Percies being by reason of their Scottish prisoners assisted with a multitude of warlike Scots ioyned vnto their part the Earle of Stafford and Richard Scrope Archbishop of Yorke brother to the beheaded Earle of Salisburie and manie others who encreased their numbers with Englishmen and purposed to ioyne with Owen Glendor and his Welch Consorts in the deposing of the king against whom by way of accusation they framed certaine Articles which they published and sent them to him in writing to this effect Articles against King HENRIE 1. INprimis That when hee came into England from his Banishment he tooke an oath only to challenge and to recouer his inheritance and his wiues and not to intermedle with the King nor with the Crowne By reason of which oath diuers loyall and good Subiects to King Richard resorted vnto him not hauing anie treasonable intent But when he perceiued that his strength was so much encreased that he might doe what hee pleased hee wickedly brake his oath and without anie title or right procured himselfe to be made and to be crowned King 2 Item that not only as an Archtraitor hee had imprisoned his naturall and vndoubted Lord and Master King Richard but had caused him wickedly and traiterously to be murdered that with greater securitie hee might enioy his Crowne and his Kingdome 3 Item that euer since the death of King Richard hee had vniustly kept the Kingdome and the Crowne from his Cousin Edmund Mortimer Earle of March who was the sonne and heire of Philip the daughter and heire of Lionel Duke of Clarence elder brother to Iohn of Gaunt father to the vsurping King 4 Item that when no want or need compelled him hee had imposed diuers Subsidies and taxes vpon the people to their great griefe and discontentment of which they willingly would but dared not to complaine 5 Item that no iustice could be expected at his hand because contrarie to the oath which hee tooke when hee was crowned he had by letters written and sent into sundrie Shires procured certaine Burgeships for the Parliament all which hee bestowed vpon such as would not faile to serue his turne when opportunitie did serue 6 And lastly that whereas in honour and for affinities sake hee ought to haue ransomed and redeemed his said Cousin the Earle of March from his strait and loathsome imprisonment and the rather for that hee was earnestly solicited so to doe he not only denied the said request but falsly and vntruly published and proclaimed that the Earle himselfe was of his owne accord become a voluntarie Prisoner to the end that Traitors and Rebels ioyning with him might haue somwhat wherewith they might colour such Treasons as they would conspire against him For all which causes and manie others more The Percies doe defie the King they vtterly defied him as a Traytor and as a Vsurper and as an enemie they vowed his destruction and the restoring of the said Earle to his Right The King perceiuing that nothing but strong blowes could end this strife and being persuaded The King rayseth an Armie that if hee became victorious in this Rebellion he should bereaue all his enemies of all hope to preuaile in the like attempts had leuied a strong Armie with which hee marched couragiously against those Lords hoping to meet with them before they should joyne their forces with the Welchmen and so great was his care The battaile of Shrewsburie that he failed not therein of his purpose For both their Armies met neare vnto Shrewsburie and in their first encounter the Scots gaue a braue onset vpon the King But with such hardie violence he receiued them The Scots are ouerthrowne that almost in a moment the greatest part of them were slaine Yet notwithstanding the Lords and their Armie stoutly performed their taske and fought with such admired courage and resolution that they persuaded themselues of good successe vntill the King and the martiall Prince his sonne determining by honourable death rather to be subdued 3. 1401. The Percies are ouerthrowne than to become the laughing stocks of aduerse and froward fortune redoubled their strength and valour and by their particular examples each to the other they so renewed the fight that Sir Henrie Hotspurre and some others of the principall Leaders of those companies and manie thousands more were slaine and his vncle the Earle of Worcester was taken prisoner in the field and the rest fled And so the King with the losse of sixteene hundred of his souldiours The King himselfe slew 36. Douglas is
released by the King without ransome hauing slaine more than six thousand of his enemies of which thirtie and six fell by his own sword obtained a famous victorie And because the Earle Douglas in a single combate with the King himselfe performed the part of an approued and of a worthie knight the King granted him his libertie without ransome The next day following the King and all his armie with great deuotion and reuerence gaue thankes vnto Almightie GOD for their good and honourable successe Thanksgiuing vnto God The Earle of Worcester is beheaded and then he caused the Earle of Worcester to be beheaded and manie others being ring-leaders in that Rebellion to be drawne hanged and quartered and did set their heads vpon London Bridge The Prince marcheth into Wales Owen Glendor forsaken by his companions He is famished to death And the King intending forthwith to pursue and prosecute his good fortunes for the surer setling of his estate in future time sent the Prince of Wales and his whole armie into Wales But when hee came thither his chiefest enemie Owen Glendor was vtterly forsaken by his whole companies and shrowded himselfe in the Woods and being compassed round about by the Princes forces who eagerly hunted to apprehend him hee was miserably famished to death and manie of his associates being taken were put to death and then the Prince returned joyfully to the King The Earle of Northumberlands voluntarie submission Now whilest the Prince was thus busied in Wales Henrie Percie Earle of Northumberland came of his owne accord and submitted himselfe to the Kings mercie protesting and swearing with manie oathes That he was neuer made acquainted nor intermedled in those Treasons And though the King conceiued not the least thought which might excuse him yet for that time hee entertained him with smooth words and with a smiling countenance and suffered him to come and to goe at his pleasure because he had in his possession the Castle of Barwike and other places of great strength A Chalenge sent by the Duke of Orleans to king Henrie When all these Troubles had found an end Lewis Duke of Orleance brother to the French King being prowd and vainglorious sent a Chalenge to King Henrie requiring him with one hundred chosen men at armes of his Kingdome in some indifferent and conuenient place to fight with him and with the like number of Frenchmen for honours sake But the King with great discretion and wisdome made him this answere King Henries discreet answere That his former actions in warlike employments could clearely acquite him from the infamous name and title of a Coward And that Kings ought not to be so carelesse of their Countries and of their people whome GOD had committed vnto their charge and gouernment as to fight for anie cause except it were for the furtherance or for the maintenance of true Religion or in defence of their Rights or to defend their Kingdomes from forraine enemies or to reuenge their wrongs and for such like important causes And also that a Soueraigne and an annointed King by the Lawes of Armes and of Honor was not bound to answere anie Chalenge in the field except it were made vpon good cause by his Equall in Dignitie and in Office And yet hee further added this That hee would at all times be verie readie to repulse and to represse anie violence or wrong which the Duke should dare rashly or vnaduisedly at anie time to attempt against him or anie of his people The Duke A rash attempt had a disgracefull end being ouer-passionate when he receiued this discreet and mild answere with all expedition besieged the Towne of Vergie in Guian and remained there for the space of three moneths and somewhat more In which time hee offered manie sharpe assaults and much violence but receiued as manie stout repulses as he could well endure And in the end hauing lost manie of his best men and chiefest friends he was compelled disgracefully to raise his siege and to returne into France The Duke of Burgoine also supposing that the instabilitie of king Henries estate at home The Duke of Burgoyne attempteth the regaining of Callice could not permit him to leaue his Kingdome and to warre abroad obtained leaue of the French King to attempt the regaining of Callice to the French For which purpose he procured a puissâ—nt Armie in which he had six thousand valiant men at armes fifteene hundred crosbowes and twelue thousand ordinarie Souldiers on foot But when the French Kings Councell were informed of the great preparations made in England by King Henrie to defeat them and had maturely considered of the difficultie yea almost of the impossibilitie of this attempt the said Duke was commanded to desist from his intended seruice He is required to desist whereat hee was much grieued and did coniecture that the proud Duke of Orleans and some others had discouraged the King in that businesse because they were iealous that by his valour hee would winne too much honour and renowne Experience teacheth vs that as the highest Trees are subiect most to bee hurted by a storme ANNO. 6. A new Rebellion secretly plotted but discouered so the greatest Estates are in greatest danger to be shaken by Enuie An euident poofe therof appeared plainly in the whole course of this Kings Raigne For no sooner was hee freed from one mischiefe but incontinently he was threatned by another And though he had now escaped the great dangers of two former Treasons and Rebellions and had beene victorious ouer the Scots and the Welch Rebels and had out-faced the French who if they had dared would haue attempted high Atchieuements at Callice and in Aquitaine and in Guian yet was he now againe in hazard to haue beene turmoiled with an other Ciuill Warre at home which secretly was plotted and contriued by Henrie Percie Earle of Northumberland Richard Scrope Archbishoppe of Yorke Thomas Mowbray Earle Marshall and by the Lords Hâ—stings Faulconbridge and Bardolf and by diuers others But as in such like cases it often falleth out The King sodainely surpriseth the Traitours so this Traiterous Conspiracie was secretly reuealed to the King who came so vnexpectedly with an Armie into the North that ere anie man reported the newes of his comming hee surprized the said Lords the Earle of Northumberland and the Lord Bardolf excepted and strake off their heads But the said Earle fled into France from whence hee came afterwards into Scotland The Prince warreth in Scotland prosperously where hee was promised to be aided against the King But to preuent such mischiefes as those intendements did threaten the Prince of Wales was sent into Scotland with an Armie where he burnt and spoiled without controlment at his owne will and pleasure and recouered to the Kings vse the Castles of Barwicke and of Anwicke and enforced the Scots to craue a truce which was granted vnto them for a few monethes and then
the Prince returned to the King The King in danger to be taken on the Thames by French Pirates The Lord of Camoys in trouble cleareth himselfe ANNO. 9. A valiant Sheriffe And now it chanced that as king Henrie passed ouer the Riuer of Thames from Kent into Essex vnder the conduct of the Lord of Camois hee was almost taken by the French Pirats for which cause the said Lord was suspected and attached as a Traitour and receiued his due triall by his Peeres but was clearely acquited of that offence and receiued into fauour In the ninth yeare of this kings Raigne the Earle of Nothumberland and the Lord Bardolfe animating the Scots to a new war entred with them into Northumberland and did much mischiefe whereupon king Henrie leuied a strong armie and by great iournies trauailed to encounter them But before his comming forth they were fought with and ouerthrowne by Sir Ralph Rokesby then Shirif of that Countie who tooke the said Lords and manie others and smote off their heads and sent them for presents to the king ANNO. 11 Thomas is made Duke of Clarence Iohn Duke of Bedford Humphrie Duke of Glocester The King prepareth to Warre in the Holy land The King falleth â—kâ— His Crowne is placed on his Pillow In the eleuenth yeare of his raigne he assembled his high Court of Parliament in which he created his three yonger sonnes Thomas Duke of Clarence Iohn Duke of Bedford and Humfrey Duke of Glocester and enacted manie Lawes which were helpefull and profitable to this Common-weale And from that time forth vntill hee died hee enioyed a happie peace and rested from all hostilitie and warres both at home and abroad And to expresse his thankfulnesse to God for all his goodnesse and great bountie towards him hee made great and costly preparations of men monie victuals and armour and shippes and all other thinges requisite and needfull and purposed to haue waged warres with the Turkes in the Holy-land But whilest he busily imploied himselfe in those affaires hee was attached by a deadly apoplexie and being neere vnto his last end hee caused his Crowne to be placed by him vpon his pillow least peraduenture in his extremitie of sicknesse it might bee deliuered to some other who had better right thereto then hee had But when his attendants verily supposed that he was dead the yong Prince of Wales seized vpon his Crowne Whereat the king started vp The Prince seized on the Crowne The Kings speech to the Prince and raysing himselfe vpon his armes he demanded who it was that had taken away his Crowne The Prince answered that it was he and then he fell backe into his bed and fetching a deepe sigh and sending forth manie pensiue groanes My sonne quoth he my sonne what right I had vnto this Crowne and how I haue enjoyed it God knoweth and the World hath seene Comfort your selfe in God good Father said the Prince The Crowne you haue and if you die The Prince has answere The King dieth I will haue it and keepe it with my sword as you haue done And within a short time after king Henrie died in the six and fortieth yeare of his age when he had raigned almost fourteene yeares And his bodie was carried to Canterburie where with all Princely and due requisites it was buried THE HISTORIE OF KING HENRIE THE FIFTH IT is well knowne That King Henrie the fifth whilest he was but a Prince associated to himselfe diuers vnthriftie and lewd companions A wilde Prince but a wise King by whose instigation among manie other vnworthie passages in his fathers dayes hee smote the Lord chiefe Iustice of England in the face for which offence he was imprisoned and dismissed of the Presidentship of the kings Councell and to his great griefe and disgrace was succeeded therein by Thomas Duke of Clarence his younger brother But when hee was crowned king hee disposed himselfe into a new course qualifying his behauiour with such heroicall vertues as might beseeme both his Person and his Honour He banisheth his loose companions and banished from his Court his loose and base consorts after he had enabled them to liue by such gifts as were proportionable to their callings He also elected for his Councell and into places of Iustice and publike Gouernment such as were wise discreet His good choice of good Gouernors He reformeth the Clergie He ruleth the Laitie learned and temperate well able to rule themselues and to command others He painefully laboured to reforme Pride Couetousnesse and such other grosse abuses as were crept into the Church among the Clergie and enjoined them strictly to frequent Praier Preaching to Hospitalitie and to the sincere seruing of Almightie GOD. And by the administration of his Lawes with moderate seueritie hee made the Laitie tractable in the performance of their duties And to settle his Estate in peace and in tranquilitie at home so that neyther the Scots nor the Welchmen should molest him when hee was busied in his Warres abroad hee erected diuers Castles He erecteth Castles in the frontiers of Scotland and of Wales Bulwarkes and other Fortifications vpon their frontiers and so disposed of them that with manie thousands of able men and skilfull Captaines to command them he was still readie and powerfull with great violence and force to suppresse and qualifie such rebellious Insurrections as they might make King Richards bodie remoued to Westminster In the first yeare of his Raigne with great pompe and solemnitie hee brought the bodie of King Richard the second from Langley vnto Westminster and buried it by Queene Anne his first wife 2. 1413. A motion in Parliament to suppresse Religious Houses In the second yeare hee held his High Court of Parliament at Leicester in which hee was importunately petitioned to suppresse the Religious Houses of this Kingdome because they being ill vsed were made the Nurseries of Idlenesse Gluttonie Lecherie and of Pride and were the Cages of vncleane birds The Reuenewes which belonged to those Houses were proportioned to yeeld vnto the Kings Cossers the annuall Rent of twentie thousand pounds and would also for the encrease of the Kings power and strength maintaine fifteene Earles fifteene hundred Knights and more than six thousand men at Armes besides a great number of Almes-houses for the poores reliefe The Clergies policie to quench this fire To diuert this streame into another Channell the fat Abbots Priors idle Monkes wanton Friers and the puling Nunnes procured Henrie Chichley then Archbishop of Canterburie in a verie learned and excellent Oration to discouer to the King his Right and his Title to the Crowne of France The Kings title to the Crowne of France set abroach to refresh him with confident hopes of good successe to direct him into a course answerable to his hopes and in the Clergies behalfe and for the furtherance of those Warres to offer vnto the King an incredible masse of money
tyre out his Armie to pursue him Wherefore hee returned ouer the Riuer of Loyre and tooke eyther by force or by voluntarie yeelding manie Townes and Castles vnto his owne vse Pâ— Henry is borne About the same time Queene Katherine was deliuered of a Sonne at Windsour who was named Henrie Of whose birth as soone as the King had notice he said vnto the Lord Fitz-Hugh his Chamberlaine The Kings words I HENRIE borne at Monmouth shall remaine but a short time and gaine much but HENRIE borne at Windsour shall raigne long and lose all The King who for manie weekes together had besieged the well-defended Towne of Meux in Bry enforced it to bee yeelded into his hands and thereupon all the Townes and Fortresses in the Isle of France in Lanuoys in Bry and in Champaigne did the like The Dolphin entreth into the Duke of Burgoines countrey When the Dolphin vnderstood that the King with his Armie was departed farre away from him hee raysed another Armie and entred into the Duke of Burgoines Countries wasting and consuming it with Sword and with Fire and straitly besieged the Citie of Cosney Cosney is besieged which by composition was to be yeelded to him if it were not rescued within tenne daies Of this Agreement notice was sent by the Duke of Burgoine to the King with a request That he would send a power conuenient for the remoue of the said Siege The King goeth to relieue Cosney Whereupon the King in his owne person being accompanied with a gallant companie marched towards that Citie to set it free But as he trauelled on the way he fell so sicke that he was vnable to trauaile anie further The King falleth sick So the charge of that expedition was committed to his brother Iohn Duke of Bedford whose passage forth was noysed to the Dolphin to be with such an high courage and souldior-like resolution that the Dolphin fearing to grapple with him raysed his siege The Dolphin sayeth and most dishonourably retyred himselfe and his Armie into Berry And thus was that Citie rescued and deliuered by the English The King by reason of his encreasing sicknesse waxing more weake and feeble was carried vnto Boys in Vyncennes where within few dayes he was summoned by Death to depart into another world But before he died The Kings Speech before he died he called vnto him his two brothers Iohn Duke of Bedford and Humfrey Duke of Glocester the former hee made Lieutenant Generall of Normandie and Regent of the kingdome of France and the other he made Protector of England and of his sonnes owne person Hee embraced his approaching end comfortably in regard that though his time had been but short yet it was beautified with matchlesse fame and honour which longer continuance being the professed enemie of stabilitie might haue changed He exhorted them and his Nobles who then were present to maintaine true and heartie loue and friendship with his noble and faithfull friend Philip Duke of Burgoine and neuer to be at variance with him Hee persuaded them to nourish and to cherish an vnseparable vnitie and faithfull friendship among themselues to be faithfull and louing to his young infant sonne and their succeeding king Henrie and by all meanes to bee helpefull ayding and assisting to his most sad dolorous and mournefull Queene to preserue and to maintaine by Wisdome Policie and Armes those things which he by valour and GODS furtherance had honourably wonne and gotten Neuer to conclude any peace or amitie with the late Dolphin and Duke of Alanson vntill they were enforced to submit themselues to his sonnes grace and mercie Finally he thanked Almightie GOD who had made him Religious Vertuous Honest and Victorious The King died and died the last day of August in the yeare of our LORD GOD 1422. in the eight and thirtieth yeare of his Age when hee had raigned but nine yeares fiue moneths and foure and twentie dayes And his bodie being conueyed into England was buried among his noble Progenitors at Westminster with extraordinarie solemnitie and great pompe THE HISTORIE OF KING HENRIE THE SIXT KIng Henrie the fifth died when his sonne Henrie was but nine months old 1422. 1 A yong king but well gouerned Yet was hee so fortunate in his beginning that his Youth and Gouernment were worthily supported by his three vncles Humfrey Duke of Glocester who when the King was crowned was made Protector both of his Person and also of his Realme Iohn Duke of Bedford who was established Regent of France and Thomas Duke of Exeter who graced all his actions with much wisdome and great valour Needfull it was that the new Protector and the Regent should make the vtmost tryall of their sufficiencies to the World For whereas in the end of the Kings fathers dayes France is vnwilling to remain English the Nobilitie of France incorporated themselues to the English Nation and heartily enuied the Dolphin King Charles about this time died and the vnconstant Frenchmen began to play an Irish game For on a suddaine manie of those dissembling and fained friends renounced their duties and obedience to King Henrie and vtterly neglecting the performance of Oathes of Allegeance made vnto him they reuolted and not onely adhered to Charles their new King but by all sinister practises and meanes they endeuoured to extirpe the English Nation among them if they might The Regents Policies The Protector at home by the aduise and counsell of the Statists plotted manie Proiects for the retayning of the Kings inheritance in Normandie and in France and for that purpose he furnished the Regent with store of Souldiours Siluer and of Gold The Regent also leuied a strong Armie in Normandie among his choysest and chiefest friends whome by substantiall arguments and sound reasons hee persuaded to perseuere and to continue loyall to his Master and not to be wearied with anie labour or daunted with anie danger because a peacefull and a blessed conclusion should make them rich and fortunate and winne to them the loue and fauour of their young King as hee encreased in wisedome and in yeares And on the other side Charles the new King spared not anie paines but did the like insomuch that nothing but tyrannizing Warre and the vnchristian effusion of much bloud was thought vpon And to begin those Troubles the French King sent the Lord Grandeuyle Pont-Melance taken with a selected companie to Pont-Melance which standeth on the Riuer of Seyne which hee surprized and slew the most part of them whom he found there before anie notice of his approach gaue anie warning to the English garrison to defend it The Earle of Salisburie a famous man Thomas Montacute the Earle of Salisburie for his admired courage and expert managing of martiall actions was at that time more fitly to be compared to a choise Roman than to anie other who liued in his dayes To this Earle the Regent commended the regayning
of that Towne in the siege whereof hee spent three moneths Pont-Melance regained but at length it was yeelded into his hands and the Lord Grandeuyle by a solemne Oath promised his faithfull and perpetuall seruice to King Henrie but reuolted as soone as he was set at large Sens is taken From thence the said Earle marched into Champaigne besieged and tooke the Towne of Sens and deuoured the surprized souldiors with the Sword The Parisians craue protection The vnconstant Parisians more coueting to make an outward shew of their fidelitie to the English than to be true indeede sent diuers of their greatest and grauest Citizens into England to craue protection and defence against King Charles Who were receiued not onely with a chearefull welcome heartie thankes and bountifull entertainement but also were promised the fruition of much happinesse if they persisted loyall vnto King Henrie About that time the Regent meeting at Amiens with the Dukes of Burgoine and of Britaine 1423. 2 A League renewed The Regent marrieth renewed the League formerly concluded betweene them And to make it the more firme and sure hee married the Ladie Anne of Burgoine sister vnto the Duke The triumphant Shewes and Pastimes which were prepared to augment the honour of this Match The Parisians are vnfaithfull and conspire with the French king persuaded the Parisians in his absence that the Regent attended nothing but Iolitie and Mirth Which conceit of theirs made them trecherously to inuite their longed for King Charles to come vnto them and to receiue that Citie into his hands This newes brought comfort to his soule The trecherie discouered So that hee appointed the day when his desire should bee effected in that businesse But as it euer falleth out where many are of counsell nothing can be secret so some of those Conspirators acquainted the Regent with euerie particular of this Plot Who with his Armie posted vnto Paris with greater expedition than may well be credited and entred into the Citie gates before anie notice was giuen of his repaire thither For this Conspiracie manie of the chiefest confederates were executed publikely with sundrie kinds of death And from thenceforth he mastred the Parisians with English Garrisons The Regent curbeth the Parisians and replenished their Castle Towers Fortresses and Places of Defence and Strength with such English Souldiors as solaced themselues in being froward Commanders and imperious Rulers of the inhabitants of that Citie And likewise by strong Assaults and enforced Compositions hee wonne the two Castles of Pacy and Coursay Pacy and Coursay wonne by the English which were not farre from it both which hee strengthened in like manner Whilest these things were thus acted the Lord William Steward Constable of Scotland the Earle of Ventadore The siege of Crauant is raysed and manie others with a strong Armie besieged the strong Towne of Crauant within the Territories of Burgoigne But the Earle of Salisburie with an Armie of fifteene thousand men rushed fiercely vpon the besiegers and with the losse of one and twentie hundred of his companies and with the slaughter of eight thousand of his enemies hee raysed the Siege and gayned libertie to the Towne The Earle vpon his returne to Paris was substituted vice-Regent of the Countries of France Bry Champaigne and Sir Iohn Fastolfe an approued Knight in Arms was appointed to be Deputie in the Duchie of Normandie Which worthie Captaines performed such noble deedes of Chiualrie and obtayned such vnexpected victories as made them famous their Followers rich and their Countrey renowned in all Kingdomes In the meane time whilest the Protector prouidently endeuoring to preuent the encreasing strength of the Kings enemies in France and to secure the tranquilitie and peace of this Common-weale at home The King of Scots ransomed for a small ransome hee enlarged Iames the young and martiall King of Scots who for manie yeares had beene a prisoner And receiuing of him in the Kings behalfe his homage and his fealtie for Scotland He doth homage for Scotland hee gaue to him in marriage by the consent of all the English Nobilitie the Ladie Iane daughter to the deceased Earle of Somerset and cousin german to the King He is an excellent Prince but vnfaithfull and vnthankefull This gallant Prince by meanes of his excellent Learning and Education in feats of Armes vnder the last King Henrie was better enabled to rule a Kingdome than any of his progenitors did before him In so much that making the best vse of those heroicall vertues with which he was adorned he reduced that Realme into extraordinarie Ciuilitie made his souldiors expert in warlike discipline and his Nation more learned than euer they had been before his dayes Yet was he altogether vnfaithfull and vnthankfull to England his nearest and his dearest friend Prouision an Armie sent into France The Protector who was wise and industrious neuer suffered the Regent in France to complaine of any want For as in former times so now he sent vnto him an Armie of tenne thousand men with much Treasure The Regent and his assistants daily wonne Townes Cities Castles and Forts with prouident policie and true valour But the French King by grosse Flatterie cunning Deuises secret Treacherie Valour was encountred by trecherie and couert Dealings among others possessed himselfe of the strong Townes of Crotoy and some others which were suddainely regayned for true Manhood was encountred with Subtletie and approued Valour with Treacherie and Craft The Duke of Britaine and his brother doe reuolt The Duke of Britaine fearing least the Regent growing strong would at length be Lord of his Countrey basely and perfidiously reuolted to the French King And so did his brother Arthur Earle of Richmond who by King Henrie the fifth was created Earle of Yurye in Normandie Yury in Normandie besieged and made Gouernor of that Towne Whereupon the Regent besieged it and with many secret Mynes violent Batteries and fierce Assaults made it so subject to apparant dangers that the besieged concluded to yeeld it vp if at an appointed day they were not relieued by the French King The Regents resolution For the Regent being throughly resolued to purchase his peace with a short and with a sharpe warre determined to abide battel what force soeuer should be sent to relieue the miseries of that distressed Towne And to further his purpose in that behalfe hee freely permitted messengers to be sent vnto his enemies to informe them of the conclusion which he had made Within few dayes after the Duke of Alanson with sixteene thousand Frenchmen approched neare to the English Campe A cowardly French Armie who did put themselues into a readinesse to receiue him But according to the French fashion he made manie bragging shewes to performe much but on a suddain he cowardly quited the place Vernoyle besieged and wonne by a false report not giuing any one blow and pitched
with his whole strength before the Towne of Vernoyle in the prouince of Perch where he falsely informed the inhabitants That at Yurye hee had fought with the Regent defeated his Armie slaine thousands Policie taken many prisoners freed that Towne and had compelled him by swift riding to prouide for the safetie of his owne life This false report soone made the Duke owner of that Towne Yury wonne and his Retreat made the Regent Lord of Yurye and as soone as sound prouisions were made to strengthen it the Regent with his whole Armie marched vnto Vernoyle where meeting with the French cowards and with diuers Scots who did assist them hee compelled them to engage their fortunes by a bloudie battaile in a pitched field The fight was cruelly maintained for the space of three houres But in the end the Englishmen The battaile of Vernoyle with the losse of one and twentie hundred of their common souldiors wonne the honour of that day and slew of their enemies fiue Earles two Vicounts one and twentie Barons and more than seuen thousand other men besides two thousand and seuen hundred Scots who were sent thither by their King But the Duke of Alanson himselfe with many Lords Knights and Gentlemen of Name The Frenchmen are ouerthrowne were taken prisoners And the Towne of Vernoyle without Assault or Batterie was surrendred into the Regents hands Vernoyle is regayned who hauing fortified it with a strong Garrison commanded by their worthie Captaine Sir Philip Hall marched to the Citie of Roan where hee was receiued with many triumphant Shewes And from thence he came to Paris where his kinde entertainment proclaymed his welcome and his honour This ouerthrow so weakened the French King that none other Prouinces or Territories but onely Burbon Aluerne Berry The English doe preuaile Poytou Towrayne part of Angeou and Languedoc could giue vnto his Royall Person anie warrant of safetie and assurance Yet least he should want the true honors belonging to a King in the Citie of Poytiers hee established his High Court of Parliament and his Chancerie The French King laboureth his owne establishment with the publike vse of his broad Scale and of all other things needfull and requisite for the due administration of his Lawes and the distribution of Iustice The Earle of Salisburie winneth many Townes The Regent taking the aduantage of his late victorie sent into the Countrey of Mayne an Armie of tenne thousand men which with great resolution were brauely conducted by the valorous and prudent Earle of Salisburie who quickly wonne the strong Citie of Mauns and the Townes of Saint Susan le Fort Saint Barnard and manie others And from thence he went into Angeou where with the Sword hee performed such and so manie wonders His name is feared that the verie Name of Salisburie became terrible in all France 1425. 4 The perfidious Earle of Richmond whome King Charles had newly made High Constable of France intending to make himselfe famous in the minoritie of his Gouernment raised an Armie of fortie thousand men which consisted of Britons French and Scots The Siege of Saint Iames. with which he besieged the strong Towne of Saint Iames in Beuyon which was defended only by six hundred Englishmen who hauing resolutely endured many sharpe assaults and hard bickerings A miraculous ouerthrow vpon a suddaine issued boldly out of the Towne and proclaymed their approach with an hideous shout of Saint George Salisburie Saint George Salisburie and fell vpon the multitude of their enemies like a storme This terrible crie and the inconsolable feare and terror which made them thinke that the Earle of Salisburie with his Armie had secretly conueyed himselfe into the Towne for their rescue so amazed and daunted the faint-hearted multitude that casting away their Armour abandoning all Order and entertaining nothing but Despaire they leapt headlong into the Riuer In which many of them were drowned more were slaine some were taken prisoners and the rest who ranne away left vnto this little handfull all their Tents foureteene Peeces of Ordnance fortie barrels of Powder three hundred Pypes of Wine two hundred Pypes of Bisket and of Flower and two hundred Peeces of Raisins and Figges fiue hundred Barrels of Herrings much Armour and manie other things A poore reuenge The New Constable intending to redeeme his honour with some better fortune recollected and furnished his Armie with which hee marched into the Countrey of Angeou where without resistance hee burnt a few of the smallest poorest and most vnworthie Villages of that Prouince This childish Seruice puft him vp with much pride and made him to imagine that he was now a warlike man though his owne Nation and all others did publikely mocke and scoffe at his grosse follie Whilest thus the Regent and his Captaines daily triumphed in France a dangerous and an vnkind jarre brake forth at home Variance betweene the Protector and his vncle the Bishop of Winchester betwixt the Protector and his vncle Henrie Bishop of Winchester and Lord Chancelor of England which threatened the breach of the Peace and Tranquilitie of this Kingdome and Commonweale For the appeasing whereof the Regent hauing made the Earle of Warwike his Lieutenant Generall and hauing set his affaires and businesse in good order came into England Where in a Court of Parliament the differences betwixt them were discouered arbitrated and the quarrell ended to the great comfort and contentment of their friends In honour whereof It is appeased the King kept a solemne Feast in which the Regent dubbed the King a Knight The King is dubbed Knight The King also inuested manie of his Great subjects with the same Dignitie and created his cousin Richard sonne to Richard late Earle of Cambridge Duke of Yorke and restored Iohn Mowbray who was Earle Marshall to his fathers Duchie of Norfolke Creation of Lords And in this meane time the Earle of Warwike approued himselfe to be a worthie Commander ouer his great charge and conquered manie things in Mayne and prepared to fight a set battaile whereunto he was challenged by the French But their threatnings were but brags and their courage fell downe into their heeles For A French bragge a little before the appointed time they basely and cowardly ranne away When all things were thus quieted at home the noble Regent being accompanied with his vncle the Bishop of Winchester returned into France And vpon the request of his brother in law 1426. 5 The Duke of Alanson is ransomed the Duke of Burgoine hee set at libertie the Duke of Alanson for the ransome of two hundred thousand crownes The most part of which money he would haue giuen backe againe A worthie Duke if the said Duke would haue sworne his homage to King Henrie which he refused to doe and did affirme That the whole world should not alienate his faith from King Charles nor his dutie from his
owne countrey At this time the rich and proud Bishop of Winchester being at Callice according to his ambitious desires Winchester is made a Cardinall He heapeth great treasure together was inuested with the Hat Habite and Dignitie of a Cardinall and receiued from the Pope a Bull which gaue him meanes in a short time to heape together a great part of the Treasure of this Land so that all men wondered at him for his Wealth but no man had cause to commend him for his Learning or to respect him for his Vertue After the Regents returne into France the Lord Rustian Marshall of Britaine hauing strongly fortified Pontorson pitched with his Armie before the Towne of Auranches in the Prouince of Constantine A notable victorie within the Duchie of Normandie purposing to haue besieged it But such was the resolute valour of the English Garrison there that like vnto Lyons greedie of their prey they issued suddainely out of the Towne and set vpon the Marshall so successefully that he was taken prisoner and the greater part of his followers as they fled were slaine Pontorson besieged by the English This victorie gaue fresh hopes of Good-speeding elsewhere So that the Earle of Warwike and the Lord Scales being sent with seuen thousand men to Pontorson besieged it a long time where being much enfeebled through manie wants the Lord Scales for the reliefe of their necessities taking with him three thousand of their companies grieuously foraged the Countries of his enemies But in his returne with plentie of Prouisions hee was encountred by sundrie French Lords The Lord Scales defeateth the Frenchmen and six thousand other fighting men against whome so luckily he preuayled that most of those Nobles and a thousand more were taken prisoners many hundreds were slaine and the rest by a quicke flight procured their owne safetie Ramfort taken The Garrison also at Saint Susan made such a suddaine roade into Angeou that they surprized the Castle of Ramfort before any newes gaue notice of their comming But they no sooner possessed it but that they were besieged by twentie thousand men who were appointed to rayse the siege at Pontorson To these the Castle yeelded vpon composition Ramfort regained so that the Frenchmen beeing much elated with this poore conquest imagined that they were braue men and that they had done seruice sufficient for that time And this conceit made them altogether carelesse to relieue the distressed estate of Pontorson Whereupon it was yeelded to the Earle of Warwike Pontorson w nne by the English who fortified it with good Prouisions and with a strong Garrison and came with great honour to the Regent Mouns is betrayed Whilest things were thus in handling some of the Clergie and some of the Magistrates of the Citie of Mouns knowing that the Duke of Britaine was reuolted and that his brother the Earle of Richmond now wholly adhered to the French King offered by treacherie to yeeld it to King Charles if a conuenient and an able Force might be sent thither to worke that feat This Citie was eagerly longed for on the French part Wherefore that it might be gotten the Lords Dalabreth and Fayet Marshals of France with sundrie moe Barons Captaines Gentlemen and old souldiors to the number of fiue hundred came in the depth of the night to the Castle walls Crueltie and then the conspirators within without anie compassion or manlike pitie massacred all such English Guarders as then maintained the first Watch and setting wide open all the Gates the Surprizors armed with barbarous crueltie entred into the Citie murdering and killing their enemies as they pressed forth Lamentable was the fearefull crie which so suddainely amazed the English Garrisoners within the Citie And it was the more full of terror for that the cause thereof was not vnto them perfitly knowne The Earle of Suffolke who was chiefe Gouernor of the Towne and the greatest part of the English souldiors entred into the Castle and were betimes in the morning sharpely assaulted by the Frenchmen And though they were altogether vnprouided of all necessaries for a long defence yet their lustie courage againe and againe gaue their enemies the repulse who making no doubt but through Famine or by violence to be owners of the Castle carelesly disposed themselues to all ease jolitie and mirth Whereof when the Lord Talbot was aduertised he forthwith marched thither in the night with seuen hundred men Mouns is recouered by the Lord Talbot The Earle of Suffolke to whome secret intelligence was giuen of his comming left the Castle and with his companies vnlooked for and vnthought vpon rushed into the Towne lustily crying and showting Policie Saint George Talbot Saint George Talbot Which vnexpected noyse so wonderfully amazed the lazie sleepie and drunken Frenchmen that some of them vnclothed in their shirts leapt ouer the Towne walls to saue their liues but lost them So that within and without the Towne foure hundred Gentlemen being slaine and taken prisoners and the rascall pesants being enlarged thirtie Citizens Execution twentie Priests and fifteene Friers by whose conspiracie the Towne had beene treacherously betrayed were as Traytors 1427. 6 tortured with miserable deaths And thus was the Citie of Mouns brauely regayned to King Henrie Not long before this time died the Tutor of the Kings Royall Person the right Noble Thomas Duke of Exeter So that the Earle of Warwike was sent for into England to vndergoe that charge And in his stead the renowned and most valiant Captaine Thomas Mountacute A new Armie sent into France Earle of Salisburie whose former Seruices so appalled and daunted the hearts and courages of the Frenchmen that they feared no man more was sent into France with fiue thousand men To which number as manie more were added Orleance is besieged by the Earle of Salisburie And with them all the said Earle marched to besiege the strong and warlike Citie of Orleance which standeth vpon the Riuer of Loyer This Citie was newly fortified and incredibly strengthned by the Bastard and by the Bishop of that place with Towers Bulwarkes and Forts and the Suburbes together with twelue other Parish Churches foure Abbies and all Houses and Vines being within fiue leagues of the Towne they caused to be ruinated defaced and cut downe because they should not afford any helpe sustenance or succour to the Englishmen When this siedge was strongly planted The Bastard of Orleance defeated the Bastard of Orleance intending to make famous his hautie courage to his enemies brauely issued out of a strong Bulwarke which was erected vpon the Bridge But being vnable to maintaine his bold challenge hee was compelled with the losse of that Fort and with the slaughter of the greater number of his Souldiers to flie into the Towne Within this Bulwarke there was raised an high Tower with a window in it at which the Englishmen vsually pried into the Towne taking the
them to reuolt and yeeld to King Charles By meanes whereof King Henrie as hee was counselled sayled with a puisant Armie from Douer 1431. 10 King Henrie crowned in Paris and arriued at Calice And taking Roan in his way Hee marched vnto Paris where hee was with all beseeming requisities annointed and crowned King of France and receiued homage and fealtie vpon the Othes of the Nobles Gentlemen and common People of that Citie These French warres were famous in all the Westerne parts of the world And the more were they spoken off because men generally did wonder how it was possible that so small an Iland England admired at as England was should for so many yeares together so grieuously torment and scourge so large so populous and so potent a Kingdome as France was and put it to the worst At length and after frequent mediations vsed by Eugenius the Fourth then Pope of Rome and by many other Christian Princes Such great hopes as made the fairest shew of an happie Peace An vnperfect Truce vanished quite and came to nothing sauing that an vnperfect Truce for sixe yeares was consented vnto which lasted but a while For shortly after King Henries returne into England Vnfortunately it hapned that the Ladie Anne wife vnto the Regent The Regents wife dyeth and sister to the Duke of Burgoine died And not long after hee married the faire and fresh Ladie Iaquet daughter vnto Peter Earle of S. Paul The Regent newly maried and thereby allied himselfe to the ancient and honorable Familie and house of Luxenbourgh and from thenceforth the great loue The Regent looseth a good friend which for many yeares had made the Regent and his brother in law the Duke of Burgoin fortunate happie waxed faint and feeble by meanes whereof the Duke won nothing and the Regent became lesse powerfull then he had beene in former times 1432. 11 The Truce broken The solemnities of this mariage were no sooner finished but that the six yeares truce which was so lately concluded was quite broken and warre began to threaten the effusion of much bloud For the aduerse part by secret vnderminings and trecherous perswasions possessed it selfe daily of many of the Regents Castles and Townes and iustified that manner of proceeding by affirming That politike gainings without blowes infringed not any Truce and so farre off were the Frenchmen from restoring those things which by those subtleties they had gained that to procure more Treason discouered they secretly conuaied two hundred Souldiers into the Castle of Roan hoping to haue surprized it but the treason was reuealed and the Conspirators were with maine strength beaten into the Dungeon From whence they were sentenced some to the Gallowes others to death by cruell torments others to sharpe imprisonment and such of them as sped best were for great ransomes and summes of money set at large 1433. 12 Talbots name was terrible in France These coales quickly kindled the fire of rage in so much that either partie made it selfe strong by the speedie supply of a new Armie And the Regents forces were much augmented by Iohn Lord Talbot who was of late redeemed out of prison who though hee brought with him out of England but only eight hundred chosen men at Armes yet his name and his presence more terrified the Frenchmen The Frenchmen would not fight then halfe the English Armie besides Oftentimes the two Armies by their neare approch striued to out-face and to daunt each other And twice the Regent boldly challenged the Frenchmen to entertaine the fight but they only made faire shewes to performe much and seemed as if they thirsted to make themselues famous by their manhood yet in two seuerall places and at two times they fled in the night and would not in any sort hazard their Fortunes in the field Now A Rebellion in Normandy whilest the Regent was thus carefully employed abroad the Rustickes of Normandie treacherously attempting to shake off the English yoke which was neuer burthensome vnto them rudely armed themselues and marched towards Cane exercising much violence and crueltie in all places where they did preuaile The Rebels are subdued But they were speedily encountred and ouerthrowne by the Earle of Arundell and the Lord Willoughby who slew more than a thousand of them and tormented their rebellious Leaders and Captaines with sundry sorts of deaths but permitted the baser sort to return home The Earle of Arundell slaine This noble and couragious Earle purposing to reseise for King Henrie the Towne of Rue which grieuously punished the Countries of Ponthew Arthois and Bolenois perceiued as hee marched that an old decayed Castle called Gerbory neere vnto Beauois was newly reedified and made strong This Castle hee assaulted with great courage but being mortally wounded on the ancle with the shot of a Culuerine hee was taken prisoner from the ground but within few daies after he died About the same time the Duke of Burbon who about eighteene yeares before was taken prisoner at the battaile fought at Agencourt paied his ransome of eighteene thousand pounds The Duke of Bourbon is ransomed and dieth but died in London the same day in which hee intended to set forwards towards France In the end of the raigne of King Henrie the Fifth The Regent and the Duke of Burgoine haue stout stomacks we may reuiew or remember what a precise charge and command that King gaue to his Brethren and to his Nobles neuer to loose the amitie and friendship of Philip Duke of Burgoine and this Historie maketh mention how carefull they haue beene euer since to obserue his counsell in that behalfe but the busie tongues of Tell-tales and of foisting Flatterers obtayning credit where reprehension was more fitting preuailed in such sort That the said Duke causelesly waxed iealous and his loue was cold towards the Regent Tale-bearers or Tale-tellers yet through the perswasions and by the mediation of their honorable friends an enteruiew to reuiue their friendship was procured and S. Omers was the place appointed for that purpose But when they both had made their entrance into that Towne The Duke of Bedford because he was Regent and the sonne brother and Vncle vnto Kings expected the prioritie of visitation by the Duke but he because he was the Lord and Soueraigne of that Towne supposed that he should be checked for dishonorable basenesse if hee should first repaire to the Regents lodging These conceits touching their preheminence and superioritie were very likely to distemper their humors more then formerly they had beene For the preuenting whereof their friends endeuoured to perswade them both to meete together in some indifferent place But the Regent refused to yeeld thereunto So they departed and left the Towne The Duke of Burgoine forsakes the Regent beeing both displeased and discontented with each others haughtinesse of spirit and great stomacke And forthwith the Duke of Burgoine entred into
league and friendship with the French King who had before murdered his Father Which falling off from the English aduantaged not him nor sounded to his honour 1434. 13 Saint Dennis trecherously betrayed About the same time the Towne of Saint Dennys neere vnto Paris was treasonably yeelded to the French King by the secret practise of the Bastard of Orleance who was surnamed the Earle of Dumoys But the Lord Talbot and some other Lords accompanied with fiue thousand men compassed it round about with a strong Siege Whereof when the Earle of Dumoys was informed to remoue the Siege he collected a strong power of chosen horsemen But ere he came thither the Towne by composition was surrendred Saint Dennis is recouered and the Walls and Towers thereof were beaten to the ground And though in this place the English gayned yet the inhabitants of Ponthoys which standeth on the Riuer betwixt Normandie and Paris did rebell Ponthois reuolteth and thrust the English Garrison out of the Towne which from that time forward animated the inhabitants of Paris to thinke on nothing more than how they might by Treason or by Violence reduce themselues to the subjection of the French King But behold a greater mishap than the losse of manie Townes and Cities did vnexpectedly weaken King Henries part For now the most renowned The Regent dieth wise politike and worthie Regent of France died and was with all Princely Ceremonies and Solemnities buried in a stately Monument which was erected for him in our Ladie Church He was buried in Roan within the Citie of Roan Whereat the mutable and vnconstant Nobilitie of the Duchie of Normandie who had receiued from him manie benefits and fauors much repined And within few yeares after they instantly requested the French King Lewis the eleuenth who was the sonne of King Charles the seuenth to plucke it downe His Sepulcher enuied and to cast the Regents carkasse into the open fields alledging That it was much dishonourable and a great disgrace for them to suffer such an enemie as hee was to them and to the Kings of France to be so richly interred within the Metropolitan Citie of that Prouince But King Lewis who worthily withstood their base attempt affirmed did publikely protest A Kingly Speech That a more sumptuous Sepulcher was too too bad to couer the dead corps of him who in his life time scorned vpon anie occasion whatsoeuer to step one foot backe for all the power and souldierie of France and who in all his proceedings and in all his Gouernment had approued himselfe to be so wise politike faithfull and hardie that all heroicall and generous spirits should rather endeuour to immortalize his Fame and with the Trumpet of Honor to proclaime his manlike acts than in the least measure labour to shadow or to eclipse them with Enuie or Disgrace And that there was no stronger an argument or proofe of basenesse and of cowardise than to insult ouer the dead bodie of him who whilest he liued was amiable and courteous in time of Peace 1435. 14 Richard Duke of Yorke made Regent but bold and terrible in Armes The death of this renowned Prince was the cause of infinite alterations and changes within the Kingdome of France and elsewhere For after his death Richard Duke of Yorke was made Regent against the liking and good will of Edmund Duke of Somerset cousin to the King who for himselfe inwardly affected that authoritie and place The treacherous Citie of Paris also and manie other Townes Paris reuolteth and is cruell to the English Castles and Forts rebelliously yeelded themselues and wholly became French And not onely so but villanously they murdred taunted and scoffed the English Nation whom in outward shew and with faire words they seemed not long before to honor and extraordinarily to respect The Normans also reuolted and tyrannized ouer the Englishmen whome with the Sword and by a thousand meanes The rebellious Normans are subdued they consumed vntill by the slaughter of fiue thousand of their companies they were subdued by the Lord Talbot the Lord Scales Sir Thomas Kyriel and by some others When Paris Saint Dennys Saint Germans in Ley and manie more Cities and Townes were lost the new Regent Priuate enuie hindered the publike good with eight thousand souldiors landed at Harflew and from thence came to the Citie of Roan where his Presidents for Iustice were much admired and commended But in the whole course of his Gouernment he effected nothing else to be wondered at by reason that the Duke of Somersets secret grudgings hindered those Expeditions which might haue made him famous and his Countrey fortunate and happie The reuolted Duke of Burgoine who not long before had falsified his Oath and Promise to King Henrie The Duke of Burgoine besiegeth Calice and to his Father pretending a rightfull Title vnto the Towne of Callice besieged it with an Armie which consisted of fortie thousand men This Towne was newly strengthened with manie hundreds of braue souldiors who by Henrie Earle of Mortayne and by the Lord of Cammoys from England were brought thither The Duke attempted to winne the Towne by three terrible assaults but he was a great loser by them all And the incredible strength of the place and of his enemies depriued him vtterly of all hope to winne it by any other meanes than onely by Famine and scarsitie of foode But that course he was not able to pursue because the English Nauie was Master of the Sea But yet to shut vp the Hauen and then for a while to attempt what might bee done hee prepared foure great Hulkes and filled them with square and massie stones semented and joyned close together with Iron and with Lead because they should as a Rock remayne together and not be beaten in sunder by the Sea But so vnskilfull were they who had the charge to sinke them that they missed the Channell So that when the water was at an ebbe the shippes lay drie and were by the Callicians torne all abroad and the Stones and Timber being taken in serued for the prouision and fortifications of the Towne The Dukes Bastyle taken by the English The Duke also built a strong Bastyle which he furnished with foure hundred fighting men Which though for a few dayes it prejudiced the besieged yet it did them no memorable harme For not long after it was erected certaine Troupes of horsemen issued out of the Towne who fought proudly with the Dukes Forces and in the mean time the Bastyle was assaulted and wonne by others who tooke all such prisoners as were not slaine therein burned the Fort and returned with verie little losse into the Towne The Duke of Burgoine flyeth in the night The Duke of Burgoine who seemed much to rejoyce because the Protector had promised to attempt the raysing of the Siege within few dayes made great preparations to withstand it But being surprized with a
slew the Watch wonne the Towne killed the greater part of all the men found there and tooke manie prisoners which yeelded them good ransomes in a short time This bold Attempt so passionately vexed the French King The French King besiegeth Ponthois that in his owne Person he came before the Towne with a great Armie with which and with manie Trenches Bastyles Forts and Rampiers hee compassed it round about and gaue vnto it manie fierce assaults In all which he lost much and was scorned by the besieged And whilest he thus lay before the Towne Richard Beauchampe Earle of Warwike and Regent of France died and Richard A new Regent Duke of Yorke was the second time made Regent of that Kingdome Who being accompanied with the Earle of Oxford the Lord Bourchier Earle of Ewe the Lord Talbot and manie others raysed a great Armie repayred to the Siege and dared the French King into the field Which he refused and leauing his Ordnance in the strongest Bastyle of Saint Martyn which he had erected He runneth away in the night he raysed his Siege in the middest of the night and went vnto Poysy But in the morning when the English Armie perceiued that their enemies had fearefully abandoned the place and had left their Tents behinde them they possessed them with much joy and found much riches and store of all prouisions with which they comforted themselues and the Towne And leauing there Sir Geruase Clifton with a thousand valiant men to defend it and neglecting the Bastyle which neither could without much losse be suddenly gotten nor was able to doe any harme The Regent with all his Companies directed his iourney towards Poysie and being come thither he set his Armie in a warlike maner nothing doubting He is dared yet playes the Coward but that the French King whose strength was much increased by the repaire of the chiefest Lords and gallantrie of France would haue answered him in the open field but hee kept himselfe close within the Towne In so much that when the Regent perceiued that no bold bragging nor scornefull tauntings could moue his patience nor make him valiant Hee left him there and by easie Marches he came to Roan Ponthoys besieged the second time The French King as soone as hee heard that the English Armie was so farre off entred into a serious consideration of his estate And being mindfull that the Parisians by often scandals had reproued his faint heart and that the Towne of Ponthoys was an euill enemie to that Citie To regaine his reputation and Honor by winning of that Towne he vsed extraordinarie expedition It is valiantly defended and with a puisant Armie hee besieged it round about And because hee feared least small delayes might depriue him of his hopes he assaulted it almost euery houre and lost before it aboue three thousand men It is taken But in the end he wonne the Towne and slaughtered foure hundred Englishmen the rest of them were taken Prisoners and ordered according to the French Kings will And when he had thus preuailed diuers other Cities and townes greedily embracing all reportes of their Kings valour treacherously reuolted and became French Naturalists haue taught vs that when two Lions haue by Combate tired themselues they doe depart proudly each from the other neither of them seeming to yeeld and both of them expressing many signes of much triumph A Parley And our Histories doe report that both King Henrie and King Charles being wearied with the infinite vexation of their Warres and with their daily trauailes seemed both of them to be Conquerours yet were they both easily perswaded to harken to such indifferent motions for a Truce as were proposed by their friends For this conference Callice was appointed the place to meete in which Towne was chosen before any other because Charles the noble Duke of Orleance who euer since the Battaile of Agencourt had continued a Prisoner in England was to bee conueied ouer that for his Ransome of three hundred thousand Crownes if it could be gotten he might be enlarged and set free The Ambassadours which met there about this businesse consulted often times but at length they adiourned those negotiations vntill some other time King Henries demands because the demands of King Henrie were thought to bee vnreasonable in three points FJrst in regard of the ouer-great summe of Money which was demanded for the Dukes Ransome Secondly for that the peaceable and the quiet possession of the whole and entire Dutchies of Aquitaine and of Normandie was required and to bee inioyed freely without any acknowledgement of Homage or of Soueraigntie of the Crowne of France And thirdly because the surrendring and yeelding vp into King Henries hands was vrged of all such Cities townes Castles Forts and Territories in France The Parley is dissolued as the English Nation had enioyed at any time within the space of thirtie yeares then last past Yet not long after this meeting was dissolued Philip Duke of Burgoine pitying the enthrals estate of the Duke of Orleance The Duke of Orleance is Ransomed and remembring Iohn his father had cruelly murdered Lewys the father of the said Duke paide his Ransome and at his own charge transported him with honourable attendance into France And now the Regent purposing to preuent the Frenchmans Warres 1440. with which they intended to disturbe the Peace of the Duchie of Normandie diuided all his Companies into foure Troopes which were seuerally commanded by himselfe Cruell Warres by the Duke of Sommerset by Robert Lord Willoughby and by Iohn Lord Talbot All these in seuerall places inuaded the Territories of France and of Britaine and preuailed euery where sauing at the Towne of Deepe which though they long besieged yet was it cleared in the end And in the meane time the French King with his Sonne the Dolphin of Vyen with the Bastard of Orleance A huge Armie surnamed the Lord Dumoys entred into Aquitaine and Guyan with an Armie of threescore thousand men and receiued many Castles Townes and Cities into their bands which voluntarily and without blowes were yeelded vnto them but they were not long inioyed For the French Armie being very great Much is gotten and lâ—st againe and pinched with extreame Famine and diuers wants was broken vp And immediatly after their departure into France the Englishmen recouered whatsoeuer was formerly gotten by the French King About the same time the good Duke of Glocester Protector of the Kings person and of this kingdome Disliked much the vndue proceedings of his Vncle Dissention betweene the Protector and the Cardinal No redresse the rich Cardinal of Winchester and of the Archbishop of Yorke Who without his consent or the Kings Warrant attempted and did many publike things for their owne profit and priuate gaine For the reformation whereof hee preferred vnto the King certaine Articles against them The consideration of which was referred to the Priuie
a Kentish Rebell named Iacke Cade but falsly nominating himselfe Iohn Mortimer made an Insurrection in that Countrey and with his rudely-armed crew and banners displayed he marched towards the King who was then at Greenwich His message to the King But before hee came vnto him by messengers he informed him that hee intended not any hurt against his Royall Person but would displace and punish some of his euill Counsellors who were his flatterers and partiall to their owne friends bitter to their enemies enrichers of themselues oppressors of the common people greedie of too much honour and who for rewards corruptly ordered or rather disordered all things as they pleased When the King and his Counsell had maturely considered of this vndutifull and insolent message he was aduised to encounter them not with faire words which might breed further contempt but with the Sword for ensamples sake that others might by their punishment afterwards take better heede The Kings Armie pursueth the Rebels And thereupon a strong Armie was suddenly prepared of which when the Rebels were informed to gaine aduantage by their valour vnder a false pretence of cowardly feare they retired many miles The Queene who was resolued that this retreat rather proceeded from basenesse then from pollicie and wit sent after them Sir Humfrey Stafford and William Stafford his brother they being accompanied with many lustie Gentlemen and braue Souldiers Some of the Kings forces are ouerthrowen But most of them were quickly slaine by the Rebels who boldly and couragiously confronted them when opportunitie and place gaue them good aduantage to returne This victorie being thus obtained The Rebellion is appeased Iacke Cade to whom multitudes of rude and gracelesse people from many shires daily resorted pressed forth againe and boldly came into Blacke Heath and from thence to London where they did much harme But at length the Kings Generall Pardon was proclaimed by the Archbishop of Canterburie and by the Bishop of Winchester A good policie to all such as were not the Ring-leaders of that vngodly rebellion by means whereof the inconstant and fearfull multitude left their Captains and returned home Then was Iacke Cade proscribed by the King and proclamation was made by which a reward by the gift of one thousand markes was promised to him that could take him aliue or dead The hope of this paiment occasioned very many to make good inquiries and narrow searches after him Iacke Cade is prescribed and slaine so that in the end being found he was slaine as he fought desperately for his life and his head was presented to the King who willingly paid the reward which was promised Thus was this caitiffe destroied and thus was this commotion appeased which threatned destruction to the King and Common-weale Such of the Nobilitie and such of the Commons as could no longer endure or digest the euill gouernment of the Queene and of her adherents The Duke of Yorke commeth into England aduertised the Duke of Yorke who remained in Ireland that a Parliament was neere at hand and praied him to consider what was fittest to be done for the redresse thereof and for his owne good Whereupon he left his deputation in Ireland and returned home and openly conferred with his best friends Iohn Duke of Norfolke Thomas Courtney Earle of Deuonshire Richard Earle of Salisburie Richard Neuill his sonne Earle of Warwicke Edward Brooke Lord Cobham and with diuers others how and by what meanes he might soberly without vsurpation or treason set forth his right and title to the Crowne The causes for which he leuied an Armie After this matter had beene long debated it was concluded that the Duke of Yorke should raise an Armie vnder pretence to remoue the Duke of Somerset from the King and Queene because he ruled them both and the Common-weale too and against him it was publikely alleged that he was an oppressor of the people a deceiuer of the King a secret friend to his enemies a principall occasion that England had lost France Normandie and Aquitaine and had by his manifold treacheries and treasons deserued ill of the Prince and of his Countrey The King raiseth an Armie The King also fearing the worst raised another Armie but being certified from the Duke of Yorke that he intended nothing against his royall person nor against his State but onely craued that in a Parliament the Duke of Somerset might receiue his triall he committed the said Duke for a shew only to the Tower and thereupon the Duke of Yorke expecting fitter opportunitie dissolued his Armie A dissembled pacification and priuately repaired to the King where contrary to his expectation hee met with the Duke of Somerset who accused him of treason The Duke of Somerset accuseth the Duke of Yorke of high Treason He is imprisoned and enlarged for that without the Kings leaue or commandement he had raised an Armie with which he intended to haue murdered the King and to make himselfe the inheritor and possessor of his Crowne And though the Kings iealousie being grounded vpon strong presumptions that it was true caused the King to detaine and keepe the Duke of Yorke as a prisoner yet within few daies after he was enlarged because it seemed vnlikely to the Kings Counsell that his aime was directed to the Crowne seeing that without compulsion he had dissolued his Armie vpon the Duke of Somersets commitment vnto prison when he was strong enough to haue made his partie good against the King by force of Armes in the open field This businesse was the more easily passed ouer by the King because that in the middest of those disturbances the Lords of Aquitaine vpon whose fidelities Guyan and Aquitaine yeelded to King Henry but regained by the French King the French King being departed into France King Henry much relied by secret messengers had made offer to surrender al that Duchie againe into his hands if he would speedily send vnto them a conuenient Armie to defend and keepe it as his owne And thereupon the Lord Talbot Earle of Shrewesburie was sent thither with three thousand selected and valiant men who receiued that Duchie to the Kings vse as it was promised But assoone as the French King had notice of this Reuolt hee marched thither with an Armie of two and twentie thousand men fought with the English Iohn Earle of Shrewesburie slaine slew the most renowned and braue Earle and almost all his followers and in few daies regained all Aquitaine and almost all Guyen into his owne hands The Queene was now deliuered of a faire sonne Prince Edward borne who was afterwards named Edward and liued vntill almost hee came to a mans estate Creation of Lords And neere about the same time King Henry created his two brothers by the mothers side Edmund Tuthar who was father to King Henry the Seuenth Earle of Richmond and Iaspar Tuthar Earle of Pembroke but he died without issue France
left her sonne The Queene raiseth a new Armie and with the King began once more to leuie a strong Armie in Northumberland and in the Bishopricke of Durham whereof when the Kings reconciled enemies the Duke of Somerset Sir Ralphe Percie and some others had intelligence they treacherously slunke away and came vnto the Queenes aide Now when King Edward perceiued that neither his estate nor his succession could be established without bloud The Kings resolution he sent a gallant and a strong Fleet of ships well furnished into the Northern Seas and raising a puissant Armie hee sent the Lord Montacute with some part thereof before him and with the rest hee himselfe speedily followed after The Lord. Montacutes braue victory The said Lord boldly seeking aduentures and longing much to make himselfe famous by his valour couragiously did set vpon the Lords Hungerford and Roos and vpon Sir Ralphe Percie and their troupes These Nobles in the beginning of the fight fearing their owne shadowes quickly ran away but Sir Ralphe Percie and some others preferring an honourable death before a cowardly and a shamefull flight disdained to turne their backes The Lord Montacute setteâ—â— on the Queenes Armie fought stoutly and were slaine like valiant men of warre From this victorie the Lord Montacute with much confidence and true magnanimitie marched towards the King and Queenes Armie Exhamfâ—â—ld and met with them in Exhamshire Many prouocations he vsed to dare them to the fight whereof they seemed to take no notice whereupon he furiously pressed them in their owne Campe so that despaire depriuing them of all good hope except they fought like men they confronted their assailants with such courage that nothing for a while was more vncertaine then vnto whom the honour and victorie of that day would fall But in the end the Lord Montacute determining to enlarge his fame with the hazard of his life before King Edward should enter into the field to succour him rushed with such violence into the Kings battaile that he disordered it wholly in a moment Then blowes were exchanged with desperate resolution on both sides and either partie fought in bloud The King and Queene are ouerthrowen Great Prisoners taken But in the end the Kings Armie was discomforted and ouerthrowen and such as were vnslaine fled But in the pursuit there were taken these prisoners Henry Duke of Somerset William Taylboys who enstiled himselfe Earle of Kent the Lords Roos Molynes and Hungerford Sir Henry Neuil Sir Thomas Wentworth and Sir Richard Tunstal all which were beheaded in sundrie places A terrible execution and seuen and twentie others suffred the like executions shortly after But King Henry with fast riding escaped into Scotland so did his halfe-brother Iaspar Earle of Pembroke Sir Ralphe Grey and some others And King Edward when he came forth with his Armie and vnderstood perfectly what was done humbly thanked Almightie God and then praised the Lord Montacute and all his followers for this honourable and great victorie and with part of his Armie he sent the Earle of Warwicke and the Lords Montacute Fawconbridge An Armie sent into the North. and Scrope into Northumberland for the recouerie of such Forts and Castles as were detained and kept from him where they wonne the Castles of Alnewike and Dunstanburgh with the Castle of Bambrough in which was Captaine Sir Ralphe Grey who had formerly sworne his seruice to King Edward Him they beheaded Sir Ralphe Grey degraded and executed when they had degraded him from the honour of Knighthood by hewing off his spurs renting in peeces of his Coat of Armes and breaking his sword ouer his head The King to despight the Earle of Northumberland who fought against him dignified the Lord Montacute with his Title and gaue the Earledome of Pembroke from Iaspar Tuther vnto William Lord Harbert But within few daies after the said late Earle of Northumberland in all submissiue manner reconciled himselfe to the Kings fauour and was by him restored to his possessions and estate And lest hee should disgrace and wrong the Lord Montacute by taking from him so quickly that dignitie which so lately for his great seruice he had bestowed on him he created him Marquesse Montacute The Lord Montacute is created Marquesse Montacute and gaue him full contentment in that behalfe After this victorie was thus obtained the King bestowed many rich and princely gifts vpon his Lords and Gentlemen which serued him faithfully and valiantly in his warres and with such familiaritie and kindnesse demeaned himselfe among them that they were confidently assured of his loue Captaines and souldiers rewarded The Kings care of his Common-weale He pardoneth offenders He fortifieth Hee also shared and diuided the lands and goods of his slaine enemies among his souldiers and wonne their hearts by his great bountie He augmented some of his coines of siluer and of gold and with new stampes and inscriptions he minted others Hee published sundrie proiects and effected them for the commoditie and welfare of his people Hee pardoned such as had borne armes against him in the field or elsewhere vpon their humble submission and contrition for their offence He builded strong Forts Castles Rampiers and Bulwarkes vpon the Sea-coasts to prohibite his enemies landing within this Kingdome And on the maine land hee did the like to hinder all traiterous Rebels from collecting of new forces to do him harme And whilest King Edward was thus disposing of his affaires and ordering the businesses of the Common-weale King Henry is taken and imprisoned King Henry who in a disguised fashion for some secret purpose was trauelling towards London was taken in the North and brought vnto King Edward who committed him to a strait imprisonment within the Tower of London And when he had settled and ordered his estate and kingdome The King intendeth to mâ—rte because hee was young and lustie about the age of foure and twentie yeares hee was intreated by his Counsell and Nobilitie to consider of his succession and to take a wife whereunto he willingly gaue consent There were nominated vnto him the Ladie Margaret sister to the King of Scots and Elizabeth the sister and heire apparant to Henry King of Castile But the former of those two was thought to be vnfit because she was continually diseased and infirme The latter also was not liked because shee was not seuen yeares old But the Ladie Bona daughter to Lewys Duke of Sauoy and sister to Queene Carlot the wife of King Lewys the eleuenth of France was most of all desired And for that purpose the Kings best friend The Earle of Warwicke obtaineth the Duke of Sauoyes daughter Richard Neuil Earle of Warwicke was sent Ambassadour into France with an honourable traine where in the behalfe of the King he wonne his sute and with much ioy on all parts obtained his request But in his absence the King as hee hunted in Wich-wood neere to Stony-Stratford
Common-weale But to preuent that mischiefe manie of the Nobilitie endeuoured day and night to mediate A parly for peace and to conclude a Peace so that Letters were written from the one part to the other Heralds of Armes were sent and the word of Peace was so pleasing to them all that euerie circumstance seemed to giue warrant that all things should bee qualified and set in tune This parly made the King too secure The King is taken in his Bed By meanes of this parlie King Edward became more carelesse of himselfe and of his charge then was fitting VVhereof when the Earle of Warwick was informed hee resolued though disloyally and dishonestly to make an aduantage thereby vnto himselfe so that in the midst of the Night when securitie suspected none euil the said Earle being accompanied with manie of his friends well armed and thorowly appointed rushed into the Kings Campe slew his Watches He is sent Prisoner to the Archbishop of Yorke and tooke him in his Bed and as secretly as hee could he sent him as a Prisoner to the Castle of Middleham in Yorkshire there to be safely kept by the Archbishop his brother who either repenting what hee had done against the King or being wonne by large promises of great fauour and good rewardes suffered him with his Garders to hunt and to hawke at his pleasure The King escapeth By meanes whereof fit opportunitie for a rescue was giuen to Sir William Stanley Sir Thomas Burgh and some others of his faithfull friends who not only did set him free but also by their carefull helpe The King commeth to London and assistance conueighed him from place to place vntill the Earle of Warwick was certainly informed that hee was within the Citie of London This his deliuerance much encumbred the said Earle the Duke of Clarence and their Confederates with new troubles and daily consultations what course was fittest for them to take For they had dissolued their Armie and permitted the kings to depart from them vntouched when he was taken supposing that by his Captiuitie there had beene a finall end of all those Ciuill wars But at length they resolued to rayse another Armie vnder colour of some Rebellion in the North and the King on his part was determined by one meanes or other to make them better minded and more dutifull or else to roote them and their Posteritie out of the Land Thus whilest all things were in a Combustion and nothing but Ciuill war was threatned in euerie place The Common Lawes were neglected Iustice was laid a sleepe Robberies and oppressions were too too rife and open violence without correction was practized vpon the weaker sort The Lords and Great men of the Land once more endeuoured to preuent this future mischeif and and vpon solemne oathes receiued for a quiet and friendly enteruiew An enteruiew the King and the confederated Lords met kindly in the great Hall at Westminster where the obiections of good deserts and of vnthankfull requitals were with such proud and bitter words repeated and maintained by the Earle of Warwicke that in a great furie they all departed one from another The parley broken off An Armie raised by the Lords Whereupon the King went to Canterburie and the confederated Lords into Lincolnshire where they raised an Armie of which they made Captaine Sir Robert Welles sonne and heire apparant to the Lord Welles because hee was a man right valiant and of good direction and iudgement in the Art of warre An Armie raised by the King The King who was inwardly vexed with this new preparation was by necessitie enforced to leuie another Armie which when he had done he sent for the Lord Welles who with his brother in law Sir Thomas Dymocke comming towards the King tooke Sanctuarie at Westminster because their hearts failed them to goe forward A cruâ—â—l aced for that they heard that the King was exceeding angrie But vpon the Kings solemne word and promise that no wrong should be done vnto them they came into his presence and were by him required to command the Knight to desist from his rebellious purpose and to repaire to the Kings Armie for his seruice and they accordingly tooke much paine and trauell to that purpose But as the King marched forth towards the Rebels he was informed that the said Sir Robert Welles was resolued to perseuere in that action whereat the King was so exceedingly enraged and so forgetfull of his princely promise that in his vnaduised furie he caused the heads of the said Lord Knight to be smitten off for which crueltie hee was euilly spoken of by many Nobles and inferiour men who otherwise wished him good successe in all his affaires and actions When both these Armies had pitched themselues neere to each other The battaile of 〈◊〉 Sir Robert Willes for a while doubted whether he should begin the fight or stay till the repaire of the confederated Lords who were within a daies iourney of him with an Armie But in the end deepe hatred to reuenge his Fathers and his Vncles deaths and an ardent desire which inflamed his heart with a small number to win much honour bred in him a constant resolution to begin the fight which forthwith hee did and for a long time maintained it with great discretion and true valour But the Kings numbers being farre the greater so tired out the Rebels by their fresh supplies that they began to flie and the King by violent pursuit followed after vntill he clearly won the honour of that day The Rebels oueâ—throwen This meeting was called the battaile of Loose-coats because the Rebels threw off their coats that they might therby make themselues more actiue and more nimble to run away In this battaile were slaine aboue 10000. men 10000. men slaine Execution And Sir Robert Welles with some others of good account being taken prisoners lost their heads The Duke of Clarence and the Earle of Warwicke being informed of this mishap although they were guarded with a huge Armie of desperate and wilful people yet fearing left this ouerthrow would make them faint-hearted Clarence and Warwicke dâ—e flie from their Armie and come befâ—re Calice mutable and vnconstant they left their charge and secretly fled to the Citie of Exeter and from thence to Dartmouth where they shipped themselues and came before Calice with their friends The King was much grieued because they had not been slaine or taken but especially the safetie of the Earle of Warwicke perplexed his minde because he knew him to be exceeding gratious and in much fauour with the common people Warwicke is exceedingly beleued by the common people who indeed were perswaded that the Sunne shined not cleare any where but where he was and that they could not miscarrie in any danger if he himselfe were present Now to preuent his future landing in England with a forraine power the King by his letters intreated his brother
dismounted himselfe quickly from his horse and making an incredible slaughter of his enemies he pressed so farre into their battaile to be reuenged on his chiefest aduersaries that hauing no power nor meanes to returne againe he was slaine and the Marquesse Montacute who euer honoured King Edward and was his secret friend rushing into King Edwards Armie not to doe it any harme but to rescue and to releeue his brother met with the like fortune Thus both of them being dead their whole Armie ran away and King Edward was master of the Field And in the afternoone of the same day carrying with him King Henry as his prisoner hee returned triumphantly like a Conquerour into the Citie of London and in Pauls Church hee offred vp his Standard A thankesgiuing to God 10000. men slaine Sir Humfrey Bourchier and rendred thankes to Almightie God for his victorie thus happily obtained In this battaile there were slaine at the least ten thousand men but none other of any noted name sauing only on the Kings part Sir Humfrey Bourchier sonne to the Lord Barnes who was a right valiant and an approued man in Armes The King sorrowed much and was greeued exceedingly at the death of the Marquesse Montacute because hee had lost a faithfull and a deare friend Yet to assure the people that those two brothers were dead indeed The dead bodies of the two brethren laid open in Pauls Church Queene Margaret landeth too late Noble men doe repaire to her he caused them to be brought into London in one coffin and for the space of three daies to lie open faced in Pauls Church and then among their honourable Ancestors in the Priorie of Bissam they were both buried in one graue Queene Margaret not hearing of this newes but intending to bring some succours to the Earle landed at Waymouth where these tidings appalled her sences and depriued her of all future good hope or good hap Wherefore in the Abbey of Beawly in Hampshire shee with the Prince her sonne tooke Sanctuarie and thither repaired to her the Duke of Somerset Iaspar Earle of Pembroke Thomas Courtney Earle of Deuonshire Iohn Lord Wenloke and diuers others And when the Queene and they had thorowly debated what course was fittest to be taken They raise a new Armie they resolued once more to aduenture their fortunes in the Field for which purpose euery one of those Noblemen resorted into their own Countries where they prepared such men and furnitures for the war as they could get The Queene and the Duke of Somerset leuied an Armie about Bristow and Glocester and from thence they endeuoured to goe into Wales to ioine their forces with such companies as the Earle of Pembroke had raised there The King preuenteth them The King who was more strong then they purposed to preuent their meeting if he might and so closely followed them that though the Queene and most of her associates supposed it to bee best to flie disordered into Wales yet the Duke of Somerset would not consent thereunto The Duke of Somersets resolution to fight Tewkesburie field by reason whereof both those Armies met neere vnto Tewkesburie in Glocestershire and after a long fight which with a small companie the Duke of Somerset had maintained against the Duke of Glocesters battaile he not being seconded by the Lord Wenloke by whom their middle Ward was commanded retired towards the said Lord and with cursed words hee bitterly reuiled him for his base cowardlinesse and with his Pole-axe he suddenly strake out his braines But within one houre after King Edward ouerthrew them all The King getteth the victorie hauing slaine aboue three thousand of them among whom were the Earle of Deuonshire the Lord Iohn brother to the Duke of Somerset Sir Iohn Lewknor Sir Iohn Delues and many others Great Prisoners There were also taken prisoners the Queene the Duke the Prior of S. Iohns of Ierusalem Sir Geruase Câ—ifton Sir Thomas Tresham and twelue others of eminencie and of note all which Queene Margaret only excepted were beheaded the next day Execution Prince Edward cruelly murdered And the young Prince Edward who was taken prisoner by Sir Richard Crofts was presented to the King and because he answered him stoutly to some questions which he demanded of him hee was slightly stricken by the King and suddenly murdered by the Dukes of Clarence and of Glocester Queene Margaret is a prisoner and by Thomas Marquesse Dorset and the Lord Hastings And this was the last Ciuill Battaile which was fought in England in King Edwards daies When the King had thus obtained this victorie hee returned to London carrying with him Queene Margaret as his prisoner and was with triumphant ioy receiued into the Citie from whence he sent one Roger Vaughan a powerfull Gentleman into his Countrey of Wales requiring him by some secret traine or other to entrap the Earle of Pembroke and to behead him if he could Râ—gâ— Vaugâ—an is 〈◊〉 and bâ—â—â—aded But the Earle being informed of his comming and of his errand caused him suddenly to bee apprehended and put to death And then the said Earle with his nephew Henry the young Earle of Richmond who was but ten yeares old sailed into Britaine and were courteously receiued and louingly entertained by Francis the Duke of that Prouince Not long after Reyner the Titularie King of Naples Sicilie Queene Margaret is ransomed and of Ierusalem with the sale of the Kingdomes of Naples and of Sicilie for money ransomed Queene Margaret his daughter and vpon that Title and none other Charles the Eighth King of France conquered Naples as in the Historie of those warres it appeareth King Henry is found dead in the Tower The Duke of Glocester murdered him King Henry brought open faced into Pauls Church Now when no man by reason of King Edwards peace and prosperitie thought of any euill tidings suddenly it was noised thorowout the Citie of London that King Henry was found dead in his chamber within the Tower and so he was indeed being cruelly and wickedly murdered and stabbed with a dagger by Richard Duke of Glocester brother to King Edward as the report commonly went And his bodie was brought into Pauls Church where his face lay vncouered one whole day that thereby the people might bee assured that he was dead And thus was King Edward freed from his great enemies But his two brothers of Clarence and of Glocester being for their periuries murders and euill courses punished by Almightie God embrewed their hands in their owne bloud not long after When King Edward for two or three yeares had enioied an happie peace his brother in law Charles Duke of Burgoine heartily detesting the French King The Duke of Burgoine animateth K. Edward to worre for his title to France Reasons mouing the King so to doe and secretly intending to worke him some despight perswaded King Edward to renew his French warres for the recouering of his
and had finished his owne troubles and that he would with carefull diligence make good prouision to defend himselfe Thus liuing in hope of her liking and pleasing himselfe by yeelding to her request hee disposed himselfe wholly in making all needfull preparations to resist But whilest he was thus busied hee was informed by such Flatterers as neuer ceased to abuse him that his Arch-enemie the Earle of Richmond and his coadiutors receiued such small comfort of the French King that all their hopes were vanished and that they were so infinitely oppressed with many wants that hee needed not to feare any opposition which they could make This newes was by him so quickly credited False newes makes him secure that too much securitie made him carelesse to proceed nay he discharged all his Garrisons which formerly with great charge and trauaile he had placed neere vnto the Sea-coasts so that we may by the way make this profitable vse thereof A note that such is the strength of Gods iudgements and iustice that wicked and vngodly men are euermore least heedfull and vigilant for their own safetie and good when punishments are neerest at hand to correct them for their greeuous offences and transgressions against God Whilest these things were thus acting in England the Earle of Richmond was informed that his Ladie and her sisters were by their mother deliuered into King Richards hands that his own Queen was suddenly found dead and that the old Lecherer made loue and daliance to the Ladie Elizabeth who was the anchor and the stay of all his hopes Richmond saileth into England being aided by the French King Wherefore it is not to be wondred at that now with more then wonted importunitie he sollicited the young French King and his Counsell for present aid And to say the truth so gratiously was he fauoured by them all that he obtained a quicke supplie of money ships armour artillerie and two thousand men to make triall if his fortune had determined that he should weare a Crowne With this little but resolued companie hee arriued and landed at Milford Hauen in Waies when he was least thought on He landeth where hee saw no great appearance of such succours as he hoped for But when the Welshmen were put in minde that being the sonne of Owen Tuthar hee was of their owne bloud The Welshmen do sticke vnto him and would bee an especiall fauourer of them all and that his mariage with the Ladie Elizabeth would settle the whole estate of this Kingdome in perfect vnitie and in peace they flocked vnto him and thronged about him with resolued mindes and willing hearts vnder their skilfull and hardie Captaines among which Iohn Sauage Arnold Butler Richard Griffith Iohn Morgan and Rice Aâ— Thomas were the chiefe To him also repaired Sir George Stanley More aid who conducted the power and strength of the young Earle of Shrewesburie he being then in ward which consisted of two thousand men Sir Walter Hungerford and Sir Thomas Bourchier two valiant and worthie Leaders of many a lustie man presented vnto him their seruice so did Thomas Lord Stanley father in law to the said Earle of Richmond who was accompanied with fiue thousand fighting men K. Richards people reuolt All these forces were first leuied and prouided for King Richards aide but God who purposed to correct and punish him for his fore passed wicked deeds conuerted their hearts made them to reuolt from a Tyrant and to submit themselues to a more lawfull power whereat King Richard greeued and tormented him selfe in vaine Yet hauing leuied an Armie of more then twentie thousand few of which besides his true friend Iohn Duke of Norfolke and his followers remained firme and faithfull he marched against his enemies fully resoluing to cast all his fortunes in the aduenture of one battaile K Richard is deâ—perate thereby to establish himselfe without further feare in his Kingdome or else by his death in the open field to conclude the wofull tragedie of his wicked life Iohn Duke of Norfolke And albeit that many practises were daily vsed to haue withdrawen the Duke of Norfolke from King Richards seruice yet none of them preuailed Wherefore to make him iealous and diffident of the case wherein he stood the night before the two Armies ioined this ryme was fixed vpon his chamber doore Iacke of Norfolke be not too bold For Dickon thy master is bought and sold Yet for all this he persisted loyall vntill his death and the next morrow being the two and twentieth day of August and in the third yeare of King Richards raigne Bosworth field at Bosworth in Lecestershire the two Armies met and encountred each other and fought for the space of two houres But when King Richard perceiued that the smallest number of his souldiers contended to winne the victorie and that the residue of them either cowardly left the field or reuolted to his enemie or stood as Neuters intending to ioine with him who was best likely to ouercome despairing of his fortune and knowing that death was readily prepared to attache him K. Richard is valiant he left his owne Armie and dashing his spurres into his horses sides he rushed furiously into the Earles battaile and with his sword he desperately made himselfe a free passage vntill he was strongly encountred by Sir William Brandon who was Standard-bearer to the Earle him he slew valiantly And then singling out Sir Iohn Cheyney a right hardie man in armes by meere courage and fine strength he tumbled him to the ground and came to the Earle of Richmond The Earle of Richmond staieth King Richard with whom he fought with desperate resolution hand to hand vntill hee was by him slaine And thus by his death this mortall quarrell ended the Earle hauing lost in this battaile not aboue one hundred men and King Richard about one thousand among which the Duke of Norfolke was the chiefe When King Richard was thus slaine his carrion carcase being found starke naked in the field His bodie rudely vsed and being wounded and filthily polluted with dirt and goarie bloud was cast vpon a horse backe behinde a Pursuiuant at Armes Gods iudgement on a wicked murderer to bee carried to the Towne of Lecester his head and his hands hanging downe on the one side and his legges on the other side like a calfe and there it was interred with as base a funerall as was bestowed vpon his two Nephewes in the Tower His Crowne being found among the spoiles and dead men in the field The Earle of Richmond is crowned in the field was brought to the Earle of Richmond by his father in law the Lord Stanley who with the generall acclamations of the people who shouted for ioy and cried King Henrie King Henrie crowned him therewith in the open field And then the Earle with all his Armie in the field gaue heartie and humble thankes to Almightie God for this
against his owne Subiects Prouision against the Scots wherefore to preuent that emminent and like danger he by his letters required Thomas Lord Howard Earle of Surrey and Richard Fox sometimes Bishoppe of Exeter and then promoted to the See of Durham to raise a strong Armie and to withstand the Scots if they endeauoured to attempt any such thing vntill he sent another power to aid and to assist them which thing should with all celeritie and diligence be performed assoone as hee had vanquished the Cornishmen who so desperately opposed themselues against him Now as the King imagined so fell it out true indeede The Scots inuade England For the Scots proudly insulting at his troubles and expecting the worst that hee could doe when hee should bee in peace at home resolued by anticipating warre to enrich themselues with new Rapines and Spoiles and to make hauocke vpon the Borderers that by meanes thereof they might the more weaken him and the better enable themselues to make resistance when time and opportunitie should serue With the same resolution the King of Scots and his Armie againe entred vpon the English Pale But ere they could proceede farre or doe much harme the aforesaid Earle and Bishoppe and manie other Nobles Knights and Gentlemen of the North assembled themselues and their friends to the number of twentie thousand fighting men and marched boldly towardes the Scottish Armie vnto which when they drew neare their King vpon good occasion being timerous and feareful retired hastily The Scots flie and fled into his owne Countrie But the English forces with braue courage and manly resolution entred into his Kingdome The English Armie hauaketh in Scotland and battered assaulted wonne and razed to the ground many of his strongest Townes Castles and Holds and were not resisted albeit the Scottish King with all his Armie was not distant from them aboue one mile Only hee challenged the field the next daie which was accepted but in the night before hee raised his Armie and dispersed them who ranne into the Woods and high Mountaines and were to no purpose pursued and hunted by the Englishmen six or seuen daies But so barren was that Countrie and so poore and destitute of all good things and so vnseasonable was the weather there which abounded with continuall Raine Wind Snow Haile Thunder and Hideous stormes and tempests that the Earle and the Bishop returning brake vp their Armies and themselues went to Barwick where they attended directions from the King Whilest these thinges were thus in action Peter Hyalus who was sent Embassador from Ferdinando King of Castile to mediate a peace betwixt the kings of England and of Scotland A truce with Scotland Perkin Warbeck is sent out of Scotland The peace with France newly ratified could not effect that businesse according to his mind Yet a Truce was concluded betwixt them to endure for certaine yeares conditionally that Perkin Warbecke were forthwith banished and exiled out of that Countrie The French King also at the same time sent his Embassadors into England to ratifie the former peace established betwixt the King and him which was performed with much honour and solemnitie to the great contentment and ioy of all the People of both those Kingdomes The English trade is restored to the flemings and their ioy thereas Likewise Philip the Arch-Duke of Austria and Duke of Burgoine sonne to Maximilian King of the Romans by his Embassadors importuned the restitution of the English trade and the returne of the Marchants into his Countrie of Flanders because his subiects were exceedingly impouerished by them did obtain his sute whereat such comfort was conceiued that when the Englishmen were for trade returned againe vnto Antwerpe they were receiued into the Citie with solemne Processions Princely Triumphs Sumptuous Feastings Rare Banquettings and with the expression of great loue and of much ioy And thus was King Henrie at this time made fortunate and happie for he enioyed peace and friendship both at home and abroade sauing only with Perkin Warbeck Perkin Warbeck saileth into Cornwal who ceased not to vexe and trouble him for a while to his owne ouerthrow and destruction For being compelled to forsake Scotland and vnderstanding that though the Cornishmen had lately been ouerthrowne yet were they not pacified or appeased he with foure ships only and with sixe score ragged landing Souldiers and no more sailed into Cornwall where hee was receiued by the rusticke The Cornish men rebell and doe take Perkin Warbecks part Exeter is befieged and meanest sort of the Inhabitants of that Prouince with ioyfull acclamations and with good welcome And within few dayes after they aided him with three thousand men With these and with some others he marched Eastwards and came as farre as the Citie of Exeter where hee vsed manie persuasiue and rethoricall arguments and speeches to incite the Inhabitants voluntarily to become his subiects and to surrender the Citie into his hands But finding that the fidelitie of the Cittizens was constant and vnremoueable from their King And that their resolutions to indure extremities if otherwise they could not be auoided was strongly setled and vnchangeable they besieged the Citie round about And because they wanted artillerie and great Ordinance to make batteries vpon their walles therefore with Ladders Crookes Ropes and other Engines they desperately attempted to scale them in manie places at one instant But still and euery where with manlike Courage and with approoued Valour they were repulsed ouerborne and tumbled into the Ditches and deepe Trenches with which that Citie is enuironed on all parts So that in those assaults many of those Rebels with great obstinacie lost their liues Now when they perceiued Fire encountred by fire that those their attempts daily failed and succeded not they desperately approached vnto the Citie gates which they endeuored by manie slights to open or to ouerthrow But when none of their practises could preuaile then they caused great fires to be kindled against thē so that by consuming of them they might make an easie passage entrance into the Citie This stratagem of warre because it was vnusuall did at the first somewhat abash the Cittizens But they considering with themselues that base cowardlinesse was the betraier of true manhood and that perfect valour despaired not in any danger assumed the hearts of vndaunted men and by their endeuourous attempts and imploiments they ceased not to prouide for their owne present safetie insomuch that with fire they encountred fire and made greater fires within their Gates then the Rebels did without which they maintained by adding store of matter and of fewell for a long time vntill that with rampiers bankes bulwarks and other defensiue fortifications they had secured those places from the entrie of their enemies When this their practise auailed not then they againe busied the Citizens with daily scalings and climings against their walles But the inhabitants so confidently persisted to
good respects hee cheerefully consented to his request First because by all likelihood and probable coniecture this mariage would establish a perpetuall peace betwixt those two Kingdomes And secondly because if issues males and females failed of the bodies of his two sonnes then the Kingdome and the Crowne of this Realme descending to the said Ladie Margaret and to her issue would draw the Scottish King into England as vnto an estate of greater power magnificence honour and riches whereas if she were ioined to a Prince equall or exceeding her father in those respects this Kingdome would then wait vpon the greater and more worthie and so might be guided gouerned directed and commanded by a Deputie or a Substitute which would bee derogatorie from the maiestie of such a Monarchie and Common-weale These Halcyon daies Prince Arthur dieth which made King Henry fortunate and happie were suddenly exchanged into daies of heauinesse and of sorrow for Prince Arthur within fiue moneths after he was maried departed out of this troublesome and transitorie vale of miserie and was buried with great pompe and incredible lamentation both of the Nobles Gentlemen and common people in the Cathedrall Church within the Citie of Winchester by whose decease without issue his brother Henry Duke of Yorke without Creation was Prince of Wales 1502. as vnto him of right that dignitie did belong and appertaine and the next yeare after he was created Earle of Chester by his Father The King not long after by an honorable attendance of Lords Knights Ladies and men and women of especiall note and qualitie sent his eldest daughter the Ladie Margaret into Scotland to her espoused husband Iames the Fourth who receiued her vpon the limits of his owne Kingdome from the Earles of Surrey and Northumberland and was the next day maried to her in his Citie of Edenburgh 1503. to the great reioicing of the people of both those Nations Now when King Henry had thus ouercome his enemies and the Rebels and had settled himselfe in peace 1504. hee determined to plucke downe the high stomackes and stout courage of his people The King taketh aduantage of forfeitures vpon Penall Lawes supposing that their wealth and riches occasioned their rebellions and was the cause that many enormous insolencies were done and committed in the Common-weale And by that meane hee also intended to enrich himselfe And the plot whereby he intended to effect it was by taking of the aduantage of the breach of Penall Lawes Empson and Dudley And the principall charge of that polling businesse hee committed to Sir Richard Empson and Edmund Dudley men learned in the Law but ready enough to execute the Kings commands in a worser matter if occasion did so require These two being attended by troupes of base Informers Promoters Catch-poles Cheaters Knaues and cousening Rascals Many are vndone prosecuted and persecuted many of the Kings good Subiects to their vtter ruine and ouerthrow insomuch that many people in euery Shire of this Kingdome by their oppressions waxed poore and were vtterly decaied in their estates But the Kings Coffers were filled his Bagges were stuffed and those two gracelesse and cruell Cormorants got to themselues the Deuill and all But no remedie there was to cure this maladie for the King authorized them and they so rigorously and so vnconscionably executed their tyrannie that no man could assure himselfe that hee was free and without the danger of their lash 1605. In the 21. yeare of K. Henries raigne Elizabeth Q. of Castile wife to Ferdinando K. of Aragon and Spain died without issue male of her bodie so that her Kingdom not being deuidable among sisters according to the custome of that Countrie discended to her eldest daughter the Ladie Iane The King and Queene of Castile doe come into England by a storme wife to Philip Arch-Duke of Austria and Duke of Burgoine so that hee being King of Castile in her right prepared a Nauie of strong and well appointed ships and entred into the Sea purposing to take the possession of his new Kingdome But by the violence of an outragious storme himselfe with his Queene was driuen into Waymouth in Dorset shire where at his landing hee was receiued by Sir Thomas Trenchard a worthie Sir Thomas Trenchard entertaineth them at his house and a compleate Knight who instantly importuned the King to accept of the entertainment of his house vntill King Henrie were certified of his being there which courteously he did Whereof when he had louingly accepted hee was conducted thither and feasted like as hee was a King The Knight forthwith sent diuers Posters to King Henrie who being much gladded by this newes because the said King and he were vnfained and faithfull friends They are entertained by the King forthwith sent for his better direction and attendance the Earle of Arundell and some others who inuited him and his Queene and their Companie to the Kings Court which was then at his Castle of Windsor of which great courtesie he accepted with a kind hart and as he came within fiue miles of the Castle he was met by the Noble Henrie Prince of Wales who was accompanied by diuers Earles Lords Knights and Gentlemen of choice reckoning aad account and within halfe a mile of his iournies end the King himselfe with the greatest part of his Nobilitie Ladies and Personages of great worth and honour being richly apparrelled and brauely mounted met him likewise where kind salutations and friendly greetings proceeded from the heart and were performed with most exquisite complements of loue that by any could be imagined From the Kings Castle of Windsor the King conducted him and his Queene to the Citie of London where nothing was omitted that anie deuise or cost could make sumptuous thereby to expresse the heartie welcome of such beloued guests And thus when with great contentment mirth and pastime the King and he had spent some dayes they renewed the League which was betwixt them and taking kind farewels each of other the said King and Queene imbarked themselues againe lanched into the Sea and safety arriued according to their owne wils But not long after King Philip and his wife died and that Kingdome discended to Charles his eldest sonne From this time forwards King Henrie waxed sickly weake 1506. and infirme and by meanes thereof the two scourgers of the Common-weale Empson and Dudley tooke larger libertie to extend their villanies then was giuen to them and did oppresse torment and vex the People of this land But when the King perceiued that his time was short 1507. hee depriued them of their authoritie remitted and pardoned all offences committed against his penall Lawes and enlarged all prisoners The King waxeth sickly His deeds of charitie which were in durance for any offence treason and murder excepted only he also paid the debts of all such as for trifling and smal summes were prisoners in any Ward and gaue certaine
outwardly pretended to vnite them to the English forces But as a Riuer growing outragious by the abundance of much raine ouerfloweth the low adiacent grounds so this Armie with great violence and strength vnexpectedly rushed into the vnprouided Territories of Nauarre surprised the Citie of Pampalona and treacherously without blowes or resistance subdued the greatest part of that Kingdome which without right or title the Spaniards doe hold and enioy at this day And although that King Ferdinando by this vniust and deceitfull practise had easily attained to the height of his ambitious desires concerning that conquest Ferdinando aâ—â—â—râ—s no helpe or assistance at last yet did hee continue false and vnkinde to the English Armie whom he assisted not at the last but suffred them for the space of foure moneths to be oppressed with a thousand wants and to be consumed by the flux and other calamities in the open field by meanes whereof the common souldiers being heartlesse The Englishmen returne home without leaue and hopelesse of better vsage from the King of Aragon forsooke the field and without the licence of their Generall returned straglingly into England And thus was K. Henry grosly abused and wronged by his father in law the second time Whilest the English Armie was thus vnkindly deluded in Biskey the right valiant Knight Sir Edward Howard Lord Admirall of England Sir Edward Howard plagueth the Brittons and a younger sonne to the Earle of Surrey with a well appointed Fleet of ships which were well furnished with braue and lustie men kept and commanded the Narrow Seas daily tooke the French Merchants oftentimes landed in sundrie places within the Duchie of Britaine forraged their Fields ransacked their Villages and their Townes set them on fire and enriched his companies with great spoiles The Brittons dare him but run away The Brittons being hourely endammaged and knowing that no better fortune would attend them except by true valour and manhood they encountred the English assailants braggingly dared the Admirall into the Field of which challenge he ioifully accepted although that with six and twentie hundred and no more he was to fight against more then ten thousand men And incontinently with martiall skill and policie hee ordered his battaile in the open field But when the Brittons approched neere and with iudicious eies beheld the order and the courage of the English souldiers their hearts fainted their Leaders retired their common souldiers fled and would not once looke on an English face The King sendeth him more aid The King being aduertised of the valour of his Admirall and of the haughty courage of his men intending to giue them strength which should bee answerable to their desires did send vnto them some of his ships royall many others which were well ordinanced and plentifully manned both for the Sea also for the Land When the Admirall was thus prouided and had reduced all his ships into one Fleet He fighteth at Sea with the French Fleet. within few daies after he met and fought with the French Nauie at which time death was despised in regard that euery man sought by bloud to purchase honour and renowne vntill the Regent of England and in her Sir Iohn Carew of Deuonshire and Sir Thomas Knyuet with seuen hundred more and the great Carricke of Brest and in her Sir Pierce Morgan and nine hundred men of warre both those ships being fast grapped together were vnfortunately burnt The Regent and the Carricke are burned slaine and drowned in the Sea The view whereof being vnusuall was so terrible that whilest men fearfully looked on the fight ceased and the Frenchmen scattering themselues returned into the Sea The French King to make his match the better with the English Nauie augmented the number of his ships and men The French Fleet entreth into the Hauen of Brest and sent them thorowly prouided with ordinance powder shot and other necessaries into the Hauen of Brest And King Henry who scorned that his Admirall should be oppressed with a greater strength then he should be well able to resist rigged vp the most part of his Royall Fleet and some others King Henry augmenteth his Fleet. which safely arriued in Bartram Bay within the Duchie of Britaine With these and with all the rest the braue Admirall attempted to assaile the French Bottoms as they lay at ancors within the Hauen of Brest But as he was entring in the foremost ship which Arthur Plantagenet did command was splitted in sunder vpon a rocke which made the rest doubtfull to proceed except with better guidance they might safely enter in The French Captaines perceiuing the Englishmens intent The Frenchmen doe fortifie the Hauen ancoured as neere to the Castle of Brest as they were able and placed foure and twentie old Flemish Hulkes towards the mouth of the Hauen betwixt themselues and the English Fleet which they appointed to bee set on fire and to bee vnmoared when the ships of England did approch towards them that by them they might bee endangered They also raised and fortified diuers Rampiers and Bulwarkes vpon the entrance of the Hauen from which their great Ordinance might play vpon their enemies The Lord Admirall of England doubting lest the Hauen of Brest was too shallow to support his ships of greatest strength and burden The Admirall in Boats entreth into the Hauen and finding that the French cowards meant nothing lesse then to expresse their manhood by a resolute encounter resolued with oared Barges to be rowed into the Harbrough and there to doe some memorable exploit vpon his enemies ships With this determination which more manfully then aduisedly he did put in practise hee with such an haughtie courage and with such violence assailed the three great Gallies of the Rhoads He taketh the three Gallies of the Rhoads which were brought thither by a gallant Knight named Prior Iohn that hee wonne them quickly and possessed them as his owne But when the Frenchmen perceiued that the English Barges were gone out of the Hauen and were returned to their owne Fleet they then with great numbers of well armed men rushed into the said Gallies where the braue Admirall with that small remnant which were with him defended themselues a long time with great courage But being ouer-mastered and too much wearied with fresh supplies which euery minute did assaile them He is drowned the greater part of his men were slaine the Admirall with a pike was violently borne ouer boord and drowned in the Sea and the rest of them were taken prisoners by their enemies And thus were they ouerthrowen who if they had beene more prouident and better counselled might haue triumphed in their victories And within few daies after the Lord Thomas Howard the eldest brother of the said deceased Knight His brother is made Lord Admirall was by the King made Admirall who with all the extremitie of warre became a cruell reuenger of his brothers
death The King not minding any longer to trifle or to dallie with the French King leuied two Armies Two Armies sent into France In the one of them were eight thousand men and in the other six thousand The former of them was commanded by George Lord Talbot Earle of Shrewesburie and the other by Sir Charles Somerset Lord Harbert Chamberlaine to the King These two Generals with their companies departing from Portsmouth arriued safely at Calice from whence they marched to the strong Citie of Tyrwyn Tyrwyn is besieged and besieged it on euery side And within few weekes after the King himselfe hauing first committed the gouernment of this Kingdome to the generall charge of the Queene his wife and the particular protection of the Northerne parts vnto the noble and worthie Lord Thomas Howard Earle of Surrey The King with a third Armie commeth before Tyrwyn if peraduenture the Scots according to their custome should in his absence beyond the Seas enter into those Countries being accompanied with many of his Nobles and Gentrie and hauing an Armie of eleuen thousand lustie and gallant men departed out of England came to his Towne of Calice and marched forth in warlike order vntill hee had ioined himselfe with all his other force which lay strongly encamped before Tyrwyn Now whilest King Henry thus lay in this siege the inhabitants oftentimes sallied out of their gates and with great resolution skirmished with their enemies but were alwaies loosers in their Retreats The French Armie attempteth to raise the siege By the Englishmen likewise daily batteries and hourely assaults were made and manfully resisted by the Citizens vntill the French King to raise the siege caused a huge Armie to be leuied which appeared and approched neere to the English Campe and made many a boasting and a proud bragge as if they were determined to doe much but still and still they trifled not doing any thing which might merit praise But in the end they being prouoked more by the taunting reproches of their owne Nation and by the daily scornes which for their want of courage they receiued from the sharpe tongues of their daring enemies then by their owne valour they attempted to raise the siege by strong blowes In so much that the two Armies met together fought stoutly and on either part performed many braue deedes of Chiualrie with great courage But the presence of King Henrie and his example of good Knighthood so animated his men of Warre that with vndaunted spirits they redoubled their strength in times and in places of greatest neede and extremities so that at the last The French Armie is ouerthrowne Tyrwyn is yeelâ—ed and burnt the Frenchmen being dissolued into many heaps of breathlesse carkasses and many of their Nobles and Gentrie being taken prisoners the rest fled and within few dayes after the Citie of Tyrwin by composition was yeelded to King Henrie who only preseruing the Bishops Palace in which hee lodged and the Cathedrall Church razed the Walls Towers Bulwarks and Fortresses thereof to the ground and consumed the rest of that Citie with fire In this siege Maximilian the Emperour The Emperor â—rueâ—l vnder King Henrie with thirtie approued men at Armes repaired to the Kings camp and after his great welcome amply expressed by his Princely entertainement hee with them were al enrolled into the Kings pay This victorie and the said Citie being thus wonne Torray is besâ—â—ged and yeelâ—ed King Henry with all conuenient expedition besieged the strong and the warlike Citie of Tournay which for a while was by the Inhabitants manfully defended and preserued But after many bitter and sharpe assaults and bloudie skirmishes when they perceiued that their hopes for succour and helpe were frustrated and in vaine they then by composition yeelded themselues to the Kings mercie who for the summe of ten thousand pounds gratiously receiued them as his owne subiects and by his Almoner Thomas Wolsey tooke the oathes of their fidelitie and alleageance as to their soueraigne Lord and King And then King Henrie leauing there a strong Garrison hee committed the gouernement and safetie of that Citie to Sir Edward Poynings who was valiant King Henrie reâ—â—â—neâ— into England The Lord Admirall vexetâ— the Freâ—h nation Iames the 4. Kâ—ng of Sâ—â—ts in the abâ—â—â— oâ— his brother kâ—ng Henrie rivâ—â—ieth England and a worthie Knight And dissoluing his Armie because the cold winter was vnfit for the continuance of warlike imployments he safely returned to England where he was receiued by his subiects with louely acclamation and great ioy Now must we vnderstand that whilst the king was thus busied in France the Lord Thomas Howard his chiefest Admirall intollerably tormented vexed and daily grieued the French Nation both by Sea and Land And likewise at the same time Iames the Fourth king of the Scots although he had maried with the Ladie Margaret the eldest sister of king Henrie made open warre and wilfull breach of his Promise and of the Peace which had been confirmed by his solemne Oath and beganne vniustly to pick quarrels against the King In so much that vpon notice giuen to the Earle of Surrey that in Scotland daily preparations and prouisions were made for warre He commanded Sir William Bulmer Sir William Bulmer a valiant Knight a valiant Knight with two hundred lustie and tall Archers to harbour in some Towne or Village neare to the Scottish Pale to the intent that hee might not only giue speedie notice and intelligence how things passed but also might doe his best to withstand and to resist their power Within few dayes after the Lord Humes Chamberlaine to the King of Scots entred with an Armie of eight thousand men into the Kingdome of England slew the Inhabitants burned their houses ransacked their goods and foraged their fields And hauing enriched himselfe and his souldiers with money and great spoyles he returned securely not thinking that any reckoning was to bee made for his good speeding But on a sodaine and vnexpectedly hee was encountred by Sir William Bulmer who with one thousand Archers and no more so thickly showred arrowes vpon the Scots and with their swords in such a desperate and strange manner assailed and assaulted them that quickly they were ouerthrowen and fiue hundred of them being slaine and foure hundred at the least taken prisoners the rest fled leauing their spoiles and their booties behinde them and so returned beggerly into Scotland The King of Scots who not only meant to reuenge this disgrace but also to worke wonders if hee might in the absence of King Henrie entred into this Realme with an Armie in which were more then one hundred thousand fighting men 100000. fighting men and besieged the strong Castle of Norham which through the Captaines prodigall expence of all his powder and shot to little or no purpose hee tooke and kept it as his owne The Earle of Surrey marcheth against the King of Scots The valiant and renowmed
Earle of Surrey was no idle person in this businesse But being aided and assisted by his eldest sonne the Admirall who vnderstanding of his Fathers preparations for those warres came from the Sea to New-castle and brought with him one thousand Mariners and lustie fighting men and by the Lords Dacres Clifford Conyers Latymer Scrope Ogel and Lomley and by Sir Edward Stanley Sir William Bulmer Sir Nicholas Apple-yard Sir William Sydney Sir Stephen Bull Sir Iohn Everningham Sir Henrie Sherborne Sir Thomas Metham Sir Marmaduke Constable Sir William Percy Sir Christopher Ward Sir Philip Tylney Sir William Gascoyne Sir Thomas Barkeby Sir Walter Griffeth Sir George Darcy Sir Christopher Pickering Sir Thomas Butler Sir Guy Dawney Sir Iohn Booth Sir Iohn Rowcliffe Sir Iohn Stanley Sir Iohn Normauile Sir Lionel Percie Sir Iohn Willoughby Sir Edward Echingham and Sir Brian Stapleton Knights and by Ralfe Brearton Iohn Laurence Brian Tunstall Richard Bold Iohn Donne Iohn Bygod Iohn Claruis Thomas Fitz-Williams Brian Stapleton Robert Warcop and Richard Cholmley Esquires and by many other Gentlemen or worthie reputation and great valour 26000. fighting men And hauing in his Armie six and twentie thousand men able and fit for warre he marched towards the King of Scots and vpon the ninth day of September in the yeare of our Lord God 1513. in a Field which was called Flodden Flodden field both the Armies came in view each of other The English forces being marshalled in good order made two maine battailes both which were politickly and strongly guarded by their wings And the Scottish Armie was diuided into foure battailes The Scots are ouerthrowen All these after some few skirmishes and the expence of much shot both small and great ioined together pell mell and fell to handie strokes and made such an incredible expression of their manhood by the indifferent exchange of blowes and wounds that many a strong and lustie man was quickly depriued of his life Nobilitie and Gentrie were no priuiledges to protect any man from danger nay from death insomuch that King Iames himselfe fighting couragiously among his people as a common souldier The King of Scots is slaine triumphed ouer the dead carcases or such as by his sword hee had prepared for the graue But in the end he himselfe was also slaine and so were two Bishops twelue Earles fourteene Lords and twelue thousand Knights Esquires Gentlemen and common souldiers of the Scottish Nation And on the English part fifteene hundred and no more were slaine Thus was this Field wonne by the blessing of Almightie God and by the victorious courage and true manhood of the Earle of Surrey and of his sonne and of such Nobles Knights Gentlemen and braue souldiers as in that battaile approued themselues hardie and strong in Armes And the suruiuing Scots finding their chiefest helpe and safetie to consist in the agilitie and nimblenesse of their light heeles forsooke the Field and with more then posting speede they fled and returned with heauie hearts into their owne Countrey King Henry after his returne into England bountifully rewarded such as in France and against the Scots in England Noblemen created had done him the best seruice and some of them he aduanced to higher places by giuing to them an increase of dignitie and of honour For he created Thomas Howard who was then Earle of Surrey Duke of Norfolke and the Admirall his sonne was made Earle of Surrey Sir Charles Brandon being Viscount Lysle was made Duke of Suffolke Sir Charles Somerset being then Lord Harbert and Chamberlaine to the King was created Earle of Worcester Sir Edward Stanley was made Lord Mountegle And the Kings Almoner Thomas Wolsey was created Bishop of Lincolne which fauour hee vnthankfully requited The enclosures about London throwen downe to his owne ruine as hereafter wee shall see In the end of this yeare the inhabitants of Islington Hoxston Shordich and of other Townes and Villages bordering neere to the Citie of London inclosed their Champion Fields in which the Citizens were accustomed for their recreation and pastimes sake to walke runne shoot leape and to vse such like sports at their willes and pleasures with high hedges and wide ditches because they would more priuately appropriate the commodities of those grounds vnto themselues But multitudes of the meaner sort of the Citizens issued forth with mattockes spades shouels and such like tooles of husbandrie with which they ouerthrew the said hedges filled vp those ditches and leuelled the said grounds vsing in them their former exercises and pastimes and so they are enioied at this day 1514. 6 Not long after the Kings returne into England the before named Prior Iohn with his Gallies and some Foists being well manned and prouided Prior Iohn landeth but is well beaten arriued in Sussex and landed in the night and burnt a poore Village named Brigh-helmston But being discouered himselfe wounded in the face with an arrow and diuers of his men slaine he with the rest were compelled to runne into the Sea out of which being drawen into their vessels they returned with small gaine Spoiles in Normandie by Sir Iohn Wallop But to requite their boldnesse the Lord Admirall of England with some few ships and eight hundred souldiers besides the Mariners sent Sir Iohn Wallop to the Sea whose often landing in Normandie was very preiudiciall to the inhabitants for he burnt one and twentie of their Villages and Townes and many boats and ships which were ancoured in Traport and in other Hauens ransacked the Countrey and slew much people And much wondring there was how with so small a number he could land so often and performe such great things A peace concluded The French king marieth with the Kings sister The old French King Lewys the twelfth vnderstanding that the Flemings would not according to their former agreements receaue into their Countrie the goodly faire and vertuous Ladie Marie sister to King Henrie to be espoused vnto Charles the yong Prince of Castile because the Spaniards had not consented to that match by his Embassadors craued peace and became an earnest suter to the King that shee might be his wife whereupon to settle loue and amitie betwixt those two Kings and their kingdomes and to make the said Lady so great a Queene and that shee might be endowed with an yearely pension of ten thousand marks during her life and might againe returne into England if the French King died The King and the said Ladie consented and yeelded to his request And therupon the Duke of Longvyle and such other Frenchmen as had beene taken at the battaile of Tyrwyn were now released and set free And within few dayes after the said Ladie being by the King and Queen accompanied to Douer and there shipped and attended on by Thomas Duke of Norfolke Thomas Marques Dorset and his foure brethren the Earle of Surrey the Lords De la ware Barnes and Mountegle Sir Mawrice Barkley Sir Iohn
as if the kings Maiestie had beene his inferior and at his command 3 Item That to induce the Pope to giue vnto him a power legantine he in his letters for that purpose had this phrase ecclesia Anglicana facta est in reprobum sensum The Church of England is become reprobate whereby hee vnchristianly disgraced and abominably slandred the Church of England as being faithlesse And that therefore necessity did instantly vrge and require that by a power Legantine to be granted vnto him it might be reduced to a right beliefe 4 Item That when hee was sent an Ambassador to Calice there to conferre with the Ambassadors of the Emperor and of the French king Hee carried with him without the kings leaue the great Seale of this kingdome and from thence he also caried it into Flanders to the Emperors court for his owne honor and vaine glorie 5 Item That without the kings knowledge or consent he had sent a commission sealed with the great Seale of England to Sir Gregorie de Cassado authorizing him thereby in the kings name to conclude a peace betwixt the Duke of Ferrara and the kings Maiestie 6 Item that he being filthily powdred with the french pocks by reason of his excessiue lecherie and dishonest life did oftentimes presume to talke with and to cast his vnholsome breath into the kings face 7 Item That to magnifie his owne power both at home and with forren Nations he caused a Cardinals hat to be stamped on some of the the Kings coine without his Maiesties appointment or consent 8. Item that hee would not suffer the Kings Clerke of the market to execute his office in S. Albons because the same Towne was parcell of his Abbey 9. Jtem that to obtaine his dignities and to continue the loue and fauour of the Pope and of his Cardinals towards him hee had in sixteene barrels conueied to Pope Clement the seuenth and to his Cardinals toward their redemption out of prison wherein after the sacking of Rome they were kept by the Emperour Charles the fifth and to the French king in the Popes behalfe to make warres vpon the Emperour so much gold as did amount to the summe of two hundred and fortie thousand pounds at one time and incredible summes of other money at other times to the great impouerishing of this kingdome and Common-weale and to enrich the king againe had of his owne accord sent out such Commissions into all Shires within this kingdome for the exacting of infinite summes of money as quenched the peoples loue towards the king and made them rebelliously to disturbe the peace of this kingdome in Norfolke and elsewhere These Articles and many more being comprised in the said booke Wolsey confesseth the Articles the Cardinall by a subscription written with his owne hand frankly and freely confessed and submitted himselfe to the Kings mercie About the same time the King for honourable and good seruice created Sir Thomas Bulleine who was Viscount Rochford Earle of Wilshire Noblemen created and Viscount Fitz-water was made Earle of Sussex and the Lord Hastings was created Earle of Huntingdon The King because he was informed that the Emperour and the Pope were together in Bononie sent thither as Ambassadors the said Earle of Wilshire and some others An ambassage protesting that the question touching his mariage was not begotten nor motioned by him nor by his consent but first by the President of Paris who receiued it as he affirmed from the Counsell of Spaine and since by the grauest and the best learned Diuines within his Kingdome and not vpon any dislike which he conceiued against his Queene nor for any desire to change and therefore hee earnestly intreated them The King craueth a sentence that for the clearing of his troubled conscience the same matter might one way or other receiue a speedie and a finall end by a sentence or iudgement declaratorie in the Consistorie of Rome The Emperour said little but onely answered that the iudgement of the Law should content and satisfie him in that point And the Pope said that when he came to Rome the matter should receiue an end but yet hee meant nothing lesse for hee knew right well that if he pronounced sentence against the dispensation granted by Pope Iulie his predecessor although hee knew well that it was flatly against the Law of God then the Popes future dispensations would be little or nothing at all respected or regarded And hee likewise knew that by giuing of sentence against the Queene he should againe make the Emperour his enemie who was now newly become his friend Thus this vnthankfull Pope flattered and dallied with the Kings Ambassadors making them hopefull but in vaine yet with this answer they returned to the King who fearing lest the Pope and his Cardinals would indeede by long delaies abuse and dallie with him imploied diuers Lords and the greatest Diuines within his Kingdome at his exceeding great costs and charges to trauell into all the Vniuersities in the Christian world and there to be resolued of their opinions touching the validitie or nullitie of his said mariage And when they all returned they brought with them twelue Instruments sealed with the publike Seales of so many Vniuersities and also the opinions of sundrie great and famous learned men The opinion of Vniuersities by all which it appeared that they agreed and consented in one that the Kings mariage with his brothers wife was vtterly void and contrary to the Lawes of God and man notwithstanding the dispensation of the Pope Wolsey is licensed to goe to Yorke The King at this time by the aduice of his Counsell licensed Wolsey to liue within his Diocesse of Yorke for which cause he went thither But diuers of his seruants by their friends meanes got into the Kings seruice among whom Thomas Cromwell being a wise and a discreet man was one whom the King entertained with publike demonstration of his good affections towards him and of his fauour The Cardinals Colleges Now though such of the Cardinals lands as he intended to haue bestowed vpon his two Colledges were clearely forfetted vnto the King yet his Maiestie in regard of his great loue which he bare to learning and vnto learned men bestowed the same wholly vpon his Colledge founded in Oxford called the Cardinals Colledge but then newly named the Kings Colledge but now it is called Christs Church And the other of his Colledges founded at Ipswich the King destroied as being vnprofitable and seruing to no purpose The King being secretly informed that the Cardinall had gotten a Bull from Rome to curse him 1530. except hee would restore him to all his goods lands and dignities A Bull from the Pope A proclamation and that none but hee no not the King himselfe should for any offence whatsoeuer correct or punish any Clergie man proclaimed that all prouisions appeales and instruments within the space of one yeare next before
with fire razed it to the ground This seruice was by diuers Gentlemen so gallantly performed that in honour thereof the Admirall dignified with the honour of Knighthood these worthy Gentlemen Francis Brian Iohn Russel Anthonie Browne Iohn Rainsford George Cobham Giles Hussey Richard Cornwal Iohn Cornwallis Thomas Moore and some others And daily other braue and warlike exploits were still made and performed in Brittaine neare vnto the Sea coasts Of which it will be too tedious to make particular relation neither will wee much busie our selues with the discourse of such things as hapned betwixt the Emperour and the French king in their warres because they doe not properly belong to the Historie of this kingdome The King who was informed that the Duke of Albanie intended to invade the Northren marches of his Realme commanded the Lord Roos The Scots are troublesome and the Lord Dacres of the South by an anticipating warre to enter into the Borders of Scotland with a slight Armie which they did and burnt fourescore Hamblets Villages and Townes razed and destroyed diuers Castles Bulwarkes and Towers forraged their fields and without any encounter returned into England The King likewise made the Earle of Shrewsbury Lieftenant generall of the North whose charge was to make strong prouision to withstand all sodaine invasions which the Scots should attempt to make And likewise hee leuied an Armie of twelue thousand men Another Armie sent into France which hee commended to the Gouernement of the Admirall for the supply and maintenance of his warres in France Thus the King being daily imployed and wanting money to defray his charge by way of loan vpon priuie Seales Priuie seales hee borrowed of the Citie of London twentie thousand pounds And of many others great summes of money In all Shires and Prouinces within his kingdome whereat his Subiects much grieued But afterwards they were much more displeased thereat because the said loanes by an Act of Parliament They are released were clearely released to the King And yet for all this Wolsey by strange commissions and by other vnlawfull meanes without the Kings consent or notice endeuoured to raise and to leauie more money as formerly wee haue heard The Admirall who maugre his Enemies Braue seruice in France hauing landed his Armie at Callice Marched from thence and passed in good order of Battaile ouer Newnam Bridge wasting spoiling burning and ransacking sundrie Townes Villages Castles and Forts as namely Selloys Brunbridge Senkerke Frynge Blanioy Dorlans and other places as they passed by so terrified the people that they would not abide his sight And in those seruices these Gentlemen as chiefe Captaines Chiefe Gentlemen of seruice and worthie of the best praise are principally to be noted Sir William Sands Sir William Fitz-William Sir Maurice Barkley Sir Iohn Wallop Sir Richard Ierningham Captaine Coo and Captaine Thwayts The three former of them among other imploiments were by the Admirall sent with three thousand men to the strong Towne of Marquison which was newly builded fortified and well defended for a while But at length they tooke it ransacked it and vtterly consumed it with fire The like they did at the Townes of S. Iohns Rhode and Temple A great bootie and with great spoiles returned to their Generall Then all the Armie being collected the Admirall marched vnto Calice and brought thither with him 14000. Sheepe 1400. Oxen and Kine 1300. Hogges and 700. Horses Geldings and Mares And then hee commended and rewarded his souldiers dissolued his Armie and with great honour and in the especiall fauour of his Soueraigne he returned into England The Scots inuade Whilest these things were thus ordered in France the Kings professed enemie Iohn Duke of Albanie Protector to the young King and of his Realme by the procurement of the French King leuied a great Armie purposing with fire and sword to haue entred into the West Marches of England But the Lord Dacres and the Lord Roos and many other Knights and Gentlemen hauing carefully prouided and wel furnished an Armie of eight and twentie thousand men They will not fight to make head against him and likewise the Earle of Shrewesburie hauing leuied another Armie of great strength and appearing boldly into the Scots sight the Scots began wisely to doubt of their successe and the rather because the most of them knew not the cause or ground of that quarrell and therefore would not fight but leauing to assist their Captaine they returned home and were not pursued by the English who by their Commission were not authorized to inuade but to defend themselues The Duke of Suffolke warreth in France Bell Castle The next yeare Charles Brandon Duke of Suffolke was sent to Calice with an Armie of thirteene thousand men with which he marched forth burning spoiling foraging without compassion vntill he came to the strong Castle of Bell which after many gallant and braue assaults was yeelded and razed to the ground Thither repaired to the Dukes Armie Aide from the Emperor as seruants to the Emperour three thousand footmen and fiue hundred horsemen being Burgundians Flemings and of their neighbouring Nations all which besieged the strong Towne of Bray Bray which was well fortified and furnished with goodly Ordinance and with two thousand men This Towne they tooke not by composition but by assault But because the Frenchmen themselues had first fired it and were runne away the Englishmen and their friends besides the winning of it receiued small commoditie thereby Then with vndaunted courage they passed ouer the Riuer of Some into France Roy. and to them vpon seuerall summons were yeelded vp the Townes of Roy and Lyhome Lyhome Mount dedyer But they were compelled to besiege the warlike Towne of Mount dedyer in which were two thousand men and fiue hundred horse This Towne they daily battered with the continuall shot of their great Ordinance so that it was made assaultable and then the Frenchmen vpon composition to depart with bagge baggage and with their Armes yeelded the Towne to the Dukes forces in which there was exceeding plentie of costly linnen arras tapestrie bedding and of choice houshold stuffe Afterwards they tooke the Castle of Boghan Boghan which had not the Marishes beene excessiuely hardned by a continuall frost was not accessable nor pregnable by any strength This Castle they razed to the ground because it was not commodious to their seruice These atchieuements being thus manfully and honourably performed the English souldiers by reason of the extremitie of the weather and the sharpnesse of the Winter English souldiers returne without leaue of the Generall long nights and short daies were altogether vnwilling to proceed any further at that time and the rather for these two other causes First for that the Duke of Burbon who was reuolted from the French King to the Emperour came not according to his promise to the Dukes Armie with ten thousand men
but applied them about Marcelles and by them they had no helpe And secondly because the Burgundians Flemings and their companions hauing Carts Waggons and other carriages and being neere vnto their owne Countries tooke and were able to carrie away the greater and the better part of all their spoiles and yet they would seldome fight as the Englishmen were compelled and enforced to doe The Duke not knowing what allowance the King would giue to the dissoluing of the Armie without his consent sent the Lord Sands and Sir Richard Ierningham to the King to informe him of the state of his Armie and also to know his pleasure touching the breaking of it vp But the King would not in any sort assent to their returne but prepared the Lord Mountioy with an Armie of 6000. men money and store of victuals and of other necessaries to hasten vnto their aide But before the returne of those two messengers the souldiers without the Dukes leaue wilfully departed home thorow Burgundie and Flanders And because the greater number of them had so done The Armie is dissolued therefore the Duke was compelled to breake vp his whole Armie whereat the King was highly displeased for a while but at length finding the Duke and chiefest Captaines faultlesse they returned home and were by his Maiestie receiued into his especiall grace and fauour The Scots are againe busie Whilest the Duke of Suffolke was thus busied in France the Duke of Albanie raised another Armie of 80000. men But to resist and to fight with them the Lord Admirall and Treasurer of England marched forth with an Armie of fortie thousand But the Scots not well enduring the sight of such powerfull and well appointed enemies presently ran away and would not strike one stroke And had the Earles commission beene enlarged and giuen them leaue to haue followed them into their owne Countrie vndoubtedly the Scots had receiued a fatall blow at that time but by quicke message A truce the Queene of Scots who was the Kings eldest sister againe obtained a truce so that in the meane time a triall might be made whether a peace woulde be concluded and agreed on or no. Betwixt the Marches of Bulleyn and of Calice diuers feats of Armes were euermore valiantly performed for honors sake in which sometimes the vanquished were againe victors and such as preuailed now were by and by ouercome The Duke of Albanie perceiuing that the Nobilitie of Scotland would no longer endure that hee being a Frenchman borne and next to the King the inheritor of that Crowne should haue the rule and gouernement of their King and Countrie The Duke of Albanie forsaketh Scotland Feared least any mischiefe might befall him or least by some deuise he should be deliuered to the King Wherefore hee secretly fled into France vpon whose departure much peace and quietnesse ensued betwixt the King and that kingdome For the Queene and Nobles of the Realme of Scotland The Scots desire peace by their Embassadors desired Peace And that the Ladie Marie who was then the only daughter of King Henrie and Heire apparant to his Crowne might be giuen in mariage to Iames their yong King To this motion it was answered that touching the said Peace if honorable and fit conditions might be proposed and concluded the King would willingly assent thereto But concerning the other point of their demaund hee said That hee was not yet resolued how to dispose of his said daughter for that shee was but yong yet in the end a peace was assented vnto and proclaymed in both those Realmes Likewise the Ladie Margaret Duches of Sauoy The Emperours Regent craueth peace and great Aunt to the Emperour and in his absence the Gouernour of the Low Countries by her Embassadours proposed to his Maiestie these requests First that the Lady Marie his daughter might bee giuen in mariage to the Emperour who longed for her with his best affections and respected her with his heartie loue Secondly that because the Emperour intended to giue vnto her for her Dowrie the Provinces of the Low Countries his desire was that forthwith shee might be sent thether to officiate the Protectorship of them in his absence Thirdly that such summes of money as the King intended to giue vnto her as her mariage portion might presently bee disbursed for the maintenance of the Emperors warres And last of all that the King himselfe would be pleased in his owne person the next spring to enter with a Royall Armie into France vpon the territories of the French King who in contempt of them both did diuers iniuries and wrongs vnto their Subiects and had made the first breach of the Peace which was concluded and by their oathes confirmed betwixt them three But because King Henrie was secretly displeased with the Emperor for that he by the raising and enhauncing of the prices and value of this gold and other coines within the Prouinces of the Low Countries had politikely drawne the greatest part of his money out of this Realme and in some other things had not respected him as his inleagued friend therefore hee only returned thanks for a fashions sake but made answere That his daughter was too yong to be maried to the Emperour and was as yet vnfit to be coupled with any Prince At the same time also the French King by his Embassadours The French desire to renew the peace desired that the said Ladie might bee espoused to his sonne the Dolphin And that the former peace betwixt the King and him might be renewed and reviued during both their liues These his motions to speake truly were best receiued and digested and were most likely to haue taken place if the French king him selfe and his children had not shortly after beene taken prisoners by the Duke of Burbons Armie and by the Marques of Pescarie as he lay at the siege of Paura where he lost fourteen thousand men and was defeated although he had then in his Armie almost fiftie thousand men The King in danger of death Among these friendly motions for peace and mariages an euill chance hapned to the King For one day as he hawked for his recreation and delight hee offered to leap ouer a wide and a watrie ditch but his staffe brake in sunder and his head pitched fast into the clay so that hee had assuredly dyed there if a footman of his owne named Edmund Moody had not quickly plucked his head out of the dirt About this time dyed the most Noble and Victorious Thomas Howard Duke of Norfolke and was honourably buried at Thetford in his owne Countrie The King who for a long time had wantonly conversed with a beautifull and a lasciuious Gentlewoman of his Court named Elizabeth Blunt begate on her a sonne Noble men created who by the King was called Henrie Fitz Roy This yong Gentleman being now of the age of sixe yeares was by the King created Earle of Nottingham and forthwith Duke
their deserts The next yeare the King in Parliament was made and acknowledged to be the supreme head of the Church within all his Countries and Dominions The Supremacie of the King in all Spirituall and Ecclesiasticall things and causes and the Popes Bulles Pardons Indulgences and other Instruments of the like nature were vtterly banished frustrated made void and of none effect validitie or force concerning the King and his Subiects And likewise the First Fruits and Tenths of all Benefices and Ecclesiasticall dignities and promotions were in the same Parliament giuen and granted to the King and to his heires and successors for euer And not long after Queene Anne sometimes the Kings dearest wife was beheaded yet innocently as at her death shee religiously protested and as all men present did beleeue Queen Anne Bulleine beheaded for that it was vniustly surmised and falsly testified that she had incestuously conuersed with and prostituted her bodie to the Lord Rochford her owne brother Execution who likewise with some others receiued the like sentence and were put to death This Tragedie being thus ended The King marieth the King within twentie daies after maried a vertuous and a faire Gentlewoman whose name was Iane the daughter of Sir Iohn Seymor Knight who bare vnto him a goodly Prince named Edward who succeeded and was King But within few daies after his birth the good Queene died We haue formerly heard that Iames the Fourth King of Scots was slaine at Flodden Field And wee must now know that Queene Margaret his wife being the eldest sister of King Henry was maried afterwards vnto Archibald Douglas Earle of Angus who by her had a daughter named Margaret This Ladie the Lord Howard without the Kings notice or consent tooke to wife The Lord Th. Howard is beheaded for which vnaduised boldnesse and offence she being of the bloud royall he was condemned as a Traitor and lost his head The King who within his owne Territories and Dominions daily furthered his owne intentions to abrogate the authoritie power and iurisdiction of the Bishop of Rome The 32. Commissioners procured it by Parliament to be enacted that thirtie and two such persons spirituall and temporall as his Maiestie should vnder his great Seale nominate and appoint should haue authoritie and power to make and establish Lawes and Ordinances Ecclesiasticall which should binde the Subiects of this Kingdome And by the same Parliament all religious houses Petit houses of Religion suppressed whose possessions in yearly reuenue exceeded not the summe of two hundred pounds were suppressed and dissolued and all their scites and possessions whatsoeuer were giuen for euer to the King The booke of Articles The Clergie also at the same time of their owne accord and to insinuate themselues into grace and fauour with the King composed and published in printed bookes certaine Articles for the ordering and gouerning of the Church in which mention was made of three Sacraments only and the rest of them which former times superstitiously receiued and did maintaine were left out of the said bookes A rebellion in Lincolnshire These proceedings of the King and Clergie against the Pope and holy Church were so generally disliked by the rude ignorant and wilfull people that in many places their lauish tongues were witnesses of their inward griefe and discontent so that they publikely affirmed that the Kings Counsell irreligiously and absurdly aduised and directed him amisse and that the soothing smoothing and temporizing Clergie of this Land prophanely and wickedly practised by all meanes possible to extinguish all deuotion and vtterly to subuert the ancient rites ceremonies and commendable gouernment of the Church And in madde humour and franticke fashion the rude and vnrulie people in Lincolnshire to the number of 20000. assembled themselues in armes taking vpon themselues to frame and to deuise better orders for the gouerning of the Church and Common-weale The King marcheth against the Rebels The King who scorned to be thus checked by his owne Vassals and loathing to proue himselfe a coward at home seeing that forraine Nations had found him to be valiant and full of courage leuied a strong and a puissant Armie with which in his owne person he marched with princely magnanimitie against those rebellious people The Rebels petition who as he drew towards them by their petition craued a reformation of those things which lately had beene done and concluded against Religious Houses and against the former and ancient gouernment of the Church which things being consented and yeelded to they solemnly protested their humble dutie and seruice to the King The King is stout But hee who highly disdained that such plaine Swads and rusticke people should presume to giue instructions vnto him and vnto his whole Clergie and Court of Parliament in matters so farre aboue their vnderstanding and capacitie reiected their petition and resolued by an exemplarie course of iustice to be by the sword martially vsed in the open Field to punish and to correct them except one hundred of those their chiefest Conspirators might be sent and deliuered absolutely into his hands This resolution and quicke demand so appalled the fainting hearts of the rude and headlesse multitude that they suspecting each other of being to be sent vnto the King forsooke the Field The Rebels flie Captaine Cobler Execution and with all speed resorted to their owne houses But Captaine Cobler their chiefest Ring-leader being indeed Doctor Makarell with some others were shortly after apprehended and executed according to their merits and deserts The King who now supposed that all things had beene settled in a sure and in a firme peace was suddenly informed of another Insurrection in the North A rebellion in the North. and that their greeuance was grounded vpon the same points and that the number of those Rebels exceeded the number of 40000. men The holy Pilgrims who termed themselues the Holy Pilgrims who intended nothing but the establishing of true Religion and the reformation of great abuses which defaced the gouernment of the Church To encounter these men The Kings Armie and to correct their braine-sicke humour and foolish madnesse the King appointed the two Dukes of Norfolke and of Suffolke and some other Lords with a strong and well appointed Armie to march against them with all speed And the Rebels expressing much ioy because they were to fight came neere vnto the Dukes Armie and before them expressed many signes and tokens of vndaunted courage and desperate boldnesse But in the night before the two Armies intended to haue ioined together in handie strokes A strange accident a little brooke which ranne betwixt them and which with a drie foot might the day before haue beene passed ouer grew so outragiously great and violent by the fall of immoderate and continuall showres of raine that the Armies could not meet as they determined This miraculous pitie and this mercifull compassion
which by Almightie God himselfe was immediately extended towards his people for the preseruation of their liues so effectually wrought in the hearts and mindes of the two Armies that vpon the faithfull promise of the two Dukes The Rebels quietly doe depart home that the Kings free and ample pardon should remit and acquite them all the Rebels left the Field and quietly departed to their owne houses And thus was this Kingdome and Common-weale deliuered the second time without blowes from as great danger and perill as at any time before had threatned the ruine and destruction of the people of this Land By meanes whereof the King waxed more absolute and more strong in his gouernment then he was in former times especially concerning his Clergie and the ordering of the Church wherein hee disposed of all things vncontrolled according to his owne will A third rebellion Yet as a lightning so on a sudden in Westmerland Thomas Tilbie and Nicholas Musgraue with some others for the onely causes aboue mentioned and for none other brake forth into an open Rebellion with eight thousand men against the King But by the Duke of Norfolke many of them were slaine The Rebels ouerthrowen the rest were ouerthrowen and threescore and fourteene of their Commanders and chiefest Actors in that Rebellion were as Traitors by Martiall Law and Iudgement executed in sundrie places in the North. Execution At this time before Henry Courtney Earle of Deuonshire Marquesse of Exeter cosen german to the King and Lord High Steward for that day were brought The Lord Darcy The Lord Hussey Execution touching the Supremacie arraigned found guiltie and condemned the Lord Darcy and the Lord Hussey and both of them were executed accordingly the former for a Murder and the latter for High Treason Likewise Sir Robert Constable Sir Thomas Percie Sir Francis Bigot Sir Steuen Hambleton and Sir Iohn Bulmer Knights William Lomley Nicholas Tempest Robert Aske two Abbots and some others being condemned as Traitors for denying of the Kings Supremacie were executed in diuers places of this Realme Frier Forest and Frier Forest for the same matter and also for maintaining certaine Heresies with an obstinate and vnrepentant resolution receiued the iudgement of a Traitor and of an Hereticke and being hanged in irons vpon a Gibbet he was burnt Noblemen created The King being gratious to some whom he much fauoured and who had deserued well bestowed Titles of Honour on them For the Viscount Beauchampe was created Earle of Hartford Sir William Fitz-William high Admirall of England was made Earle of South-hampton Sir William Paulet Treasurer of the Kings houshold was made Lord S. Iohn The Lord Cromwell is made Vicegerent in Ecclesiasticall matters and things Sir Iohn Russel Knight was made Lord Russel and Sir Thomas Cromwel a Counsellor of Estate Knight of the Garter Lord Priuie Scale Lord Cromwel was made the Kings Vice-gerent in all cases and matters Ecclesiasticall and Spirituall by vertue whereof both in Parliament and elsewhere he had the precedence of the Arch-bishop of Canterburie and almost in all things did all in all so that by reason of that authoritie hee vtterly defaced burnt and destroied all senselesse and dumme Images and Shrines to whom any thing was superstitiously offred or vnto whom Praiers Images and Shrines are suppressed Inuocations or Pilgrimages were fantastically and foolishly made Hee also suppressed the Orders of Begging and Craftie Friers and Puling Nunnes whose houses and possessions came vnto the King And about the same time the Marquesse of Exeter Attainders Henry Poole Lord Montagne and Sir Nicholas Carew of Beddington in the Countie of Surrey Knight of the Garter and master of the Kings horses were attainted and executed for high Treasons especially because that with Cardinall Foole brother to the Lord Montagne they endeuoured to procure forraine Princes in the Popes aide to inuade this Land and to reforme the businesses of the Church by the Apostolicall authoritie of the See of Rome For this offence the said Cardinall being beyond the Seas was by Parliament attainted and within a few moneths after his mother the Ladie Margaret Countesse of Salisburie who was the last of the princely line of the Plantagenets the said Cardinall only excepted for shee was the daughter of George the last Duke of Clarence together with Gerthrude the widow of the late Marquesse of Exeter Sir Adrian Foskew and diuers others were also attainted of high Treason for the same Conspiracie and so were the Abbots of Reading Colchester and Glastenburie with many Monkes Friers and religious men because they obstinately denied the Kings Supremacie and confidently attributed it vnto the Pope And all these except the Cardinall who came not home whilest the King liued were afterwards executed in sundrie places of this Realme Many others also for the same offence suffered the like deaths whose names by reason of their meane estate and vndignified qualities may not in this our Historie challenge a place of particular remembrance Whilest the King was thus busily imploied in cutting off his Subiects heads the great Oneyle and Odoneyle with a rude rabble of sauage Out-lawes wilde Kernes and desperate Irishmen A rebellion in Ireland entred more then twentie miles within the English Pale and did much mischiefe But by the Lord Deputie being the Lord Leonard Gray brother to the Marquesse Dorset they were so well fought with in the open field that he obtained the victorie But such was the nimblenesse of those Rebels that when by blowes they failed to maintaine their match then according to their common vse and custome they swiftly ran ouer the bogges and marshes into the woods and rockes vnto which the more sober and well ordered Englishmen could not approch without apparant hazard and danger to their liues The King who in a manner was wholly directed and gouerned by the Lord Cromwel now Earle of Essex Religious houses suppressed and made high Chamberlaine of England pretended many quarrels against the fat Abbots Priors Monkes Friers Nunnes and Cloisterers of this Kingdome for many exorbitant misdemeanours daily by them committed and done especially because they were abominably lecherous and vnmeasurably idle and slow-bellies fruges consumere nati vnprofitable yea a burden to the Church and Common-weale Those faults the King endeuoured not like a good Magistrate by correction to amend but he resolued with the deluge of his displeasure to wash them cleane away And so he did indeed For his high Court of Parliament which was then holden at Westminster vtterly dissolued and cleerely suppressed all Abbies Monasteries Priories and other religious houses some few being only excepted and gaue their houses scites Lordships and possessions which in yearely reuenue amounted to more then two hundred thousand pounds vnto the King who with his worldly policie to the intent that future posteritie should not bee enabled to restore them backe againe to their former vses exchanged them liberally
all submissiue and humble contrition they confessed their late rebellion Earle of Tyron and treasons and so gratious was the King vnto them both that hee not only gaue them his free pardon but in hope of future seruice according to their promise he created him Earle of Tyron and made his sonne Lord of Duncan The Scots who for a long time had beene quiet did now beginne to swagger and by sodaine invasions to hurt Contention with the Scotish King and damnifie the Subiects of this Land which occasioned the King 1 To require of their king Iames the Fifth and Nephew to the king these things First That the said king Iames should doe his homage and his fealtie to king Henrie for his kingdom of Scotland as his Auncestors in former times had often done But the Scottish king with great obstinacie and with froward messages refused to yeeld thereunto 2 King Henrie likewise required the deliuerie of some small and triffling Territories bordering close vpon the inheritance of the said Scottish king And for the proofe of his rightfull Title therevnto Hee caused certaine auncient and old euidences to bee shewed forth But the Scottish Commissioners with taunts and skornes reiected them Saying that they were written and sealed by Englishmen who for their owne profit and gaine might write and seale what they listed 3 Vpon these and some other grieuances king Henrie who rather desired a friendly reconciliation betwixt himselfe and his Nephew then by the dint of sword to shed Christian bloud concluded to meet and to conferre with king Iames in kinde manner vpon the borders of either kingdome For which purpose king Henrie made his Progresse vnto Yorke and was there certified that the Scottish king intended not according to his promise to meet with him But would by Commission authorize some of his Counsellors of estate to conferre and to conclude with his Maiesties Commissioners of England touching the matters then in difference betwixt them two 4 The king though he were thus deluded yet did he not expresse any touch of impacience for that wrong but authorizing certaine Commissioners in that behalfe hee ended his Progresse and returned home All these Commissioners met but whilest they were in Parlee two notorious and great despights were offered to king Henrie 5 For though the Commissioners daily communed of vnitie and of peace yet at the same time the Scots invaded the Westerne marches of this Realme burnt slue spoiled and riffled beyond charitie and reason and yet no warre was then denounced betwixt the said two kings For this iniurie and for this wrong sufficient and liberall amends and recompence was promised by the said Commissioners but no manner of restitution or satisfaction was made in that behalfe 6 And lastly although the King of Scots commission was very large and ample and authorized those his Agents to doe almost whatsoeuer they themselues pleased yet did the said Commissioners so strictly stand vpon sundrie points which were too too much vnreasonable and dishonorable for king Henrie to yeeld vnto that by the English Commissioners who had throughly viewed and pervsed their authoritie and power they were condemned as enemies to the peace and to their owne Countrie For that by the meanes of their frowardnesse there would be warres Whereupon the Scottish Commissioners to cleare themselues of this blame imputed to their obstinacie and follie shewed forth their priuate instructions from their King which for feare of death they dared not to exceede By which instructions it appeared plainly that their authority expressed in their said Commission was in all things curbed and made of little or of no force except the said English Commissioners would yeeld to such demands as were vnprofitable and dishonourable to their king Warres in Scotland These notorious iniuries and wrongs and this daliance and craftie dissimulation enforced King Henrie to send an Armie of twentie thousand men into Scotland vnder the command of the Duke of Northfolk who was accompanied by the Earles of Shrewsburie Darby Cumberland Surrey Hertford Angus and Rutland and with the greatest part of the Lords Knights and Gentlemen of the North All these marched on their iourney and for eight daies space being vnresisted and vnfought with they killed riffled burned forraged and spoiled the Scottish Townes Castles Fortresses Houses and Fields with as much crueltie violence and furie The English Armie returneth as the extremitie of warres could execute in so short a time Which when they had done the Armie retyred was dissolued and euery man repaired loaden with spoiles to his owne home The Scots inuade England With this deserued and seuere reuenge the King of Scots was infinitely grieued and perplexed at the heart In so much that he caused with all expedition to be raised an Armie of fifteene thousand men which was sent into the West marches of this kingdome where they began to spoile and did much mischiefe But Thomas the Bastard Dacres William Musgraue and the Lord Thomas Wharton hauing at a short warning collected a small number of approued A notable ouerthrow and valiant men at armes taking with them some part thereof and leauing the rest for a secret stale or ambush to annoy their enemies when time should serue encountred vnexpectedly with the Scots vpon whom in the Rereward the said ambush valiantly issued which did so terrifie and affright them that they supposed verily the Duke of Norfolke with a great Armie did fall on them wherefore to saue themselues they fled and in the pursuite there were taken prisoners the Earles of Cassels Prisoners and Glancarne the Lords Maxwel Fleming Sommerwel Oliphant Gray and Oragy and the Lord Carre of Gredon two hundred Gentlemen and about eight hundred common Souldiers so that euery English man had two or three prisoners to recompence their adventerous paines and trauaile The Englishmen also tooke brought away foure and twentie peeces of Ordinance and foure Carts loaden with Speares this ouerthrow many men then imputed and peraduenture truly to the Scottish Kings vnaduised and indiscreet direction Disdaine who made so meane a Springall the Generall in that armie in which so many Lords Earles and worthy Captaines were who scorned to be commanded by such an Vnderling and therefore hazarded their owne liues by a willing flight rather then by obtayning the Victorie to lay on him such honour as they knew he was not able to deserue Of these prisoners foure and twentie of the chiefest were sent to the Tower of London from whence after two dayes they were remoued and committed to the care and custodie of diuers Noblemen Knights and Gentlemen of worth at whose hands they receiued such kinde welcome and bountifull entertainment that with multiplyed wordes of extraordinary praise and commendation they ceased not to extoll their friendly and good vsage to the skies This vnexpected strange The King of Scots dieth and vnfortunate ouerthrow of so faire an Armie with so small a
Hastings Botreaux and Molines was by king Henrie the Eighth created Earle of Huntington H. 8. Francis Hastings his sonne succeeded in those honours Henry Hastings his sonne being Lord Hastings Hungerford Botreaux Molines and Moeles was also Earle of Huntington George Hastings his brother succeeded and died without issue Henry Hastings the sonne of Francis Hastings who was the sonne of the said George now liueth and doth enioy the said Lordships and Earledome of Huntington Kendall GAscoigne de Fois a Gascoigne borne was at Maunt in Normandie created by king Henrie the Fifth Earle of Longuile and Kendall He reuolted and became French H. 5. Iohn de Foys his sonne maried the Neece of William de la Pole Duke of Suffolke H. 6. by whose mediation he was by king Henrie the Sixth restored But he became French H. 6. Capdaw de Beuffs was by king Henry the Sixth created Earle of Kendall But he reuolted to the French King Kent WIlnotus at the Conquest being brother to King Harold was Earle of Kent But for feare he fled into Denmarke and died without issue Conq. Odo Bishop of Bayon and halfe-brother to the Conquerour was by him created Earle of Kent and he died without issue K. Steph. William de Ipre Earle of Flanders was by King Stephen created Earle of Kent and died without issue Hubert de Burgh being Lord chiefe Iustice of England was by king Henrie the Third created Earle of Kent H. 3. and died without issue male Edmund Plantagenet surnamed Edmund of Woodstocke being sonne to king Edward the First E. 2. and brother to king Edward the Second was by his brother created Earle of Kent but lost his head in the raigne of his nephew king Edward the Third R. 2. Thomas Holland halfe-brother to King Richard the Second was by him created Earle of Kent and Duke of Surrey Thomas Holland his sonne was Earle of Kent and Duke of Surrey and died without issue Edmund Holland brother to the said Thomas was Earle of Kent and Duke of Surrey and died without issue William Neuil Lord Fawconbridge a younger brother to Ralphe Neuil E. 4. the first of that Familie Earle of Westmorland was by king Edward the Fourth created Earle of Kent and died without issue male Edmund Grey Lord Grey of Ruthen was by king Edward the Fourth created Earle of Kent E. 4. Richard Grey his sonne succeeded and died without issue Reynold Grey who was descended lineally from the said Edmund Q. Eliz. was restored to the Earledome of Kent by Queene Elizabeth and died without issue Henry Grey his brother is now Earle of Kent Lancaster IOhn Plantagenet brother to king Richard the First R. 1. was by him created Earle of Lancaster Lecester and Darbie Hee was afterwards King of England Edmund Plantagenet surnamed Crowch-backe the second sonne of king Henry the Third was by his father created Earle of Lancaster H. 3. Lecester and Darbie He maried Blanch the Queene of Nauarre and had issue by her Thomas and Henry Thomas Plantagenet his sonne was Earle of Lancaster Lecester Lincolne Salisburie and Dorset and died without issue Henry Plantagenet his brother was dignified with all those honours Henry Plantagenet his sonne enioying all those Earledomes together with the Earledomes of Albemarle and Holdernes was by king Edward the Third created Duke of Lancaster E. 3. His daughter and heire named Blanch maried Iohn of Gaunt the fourth sonne of king Edward the Third Iohn Plantagenet surnamed Iohn of Gaunt enioied all those Earledomes and was Duke of Lancaster Henry Plantagenet his sonne surnamed Bolingbroke held all those Earledomes and was Duke of Lancaster and Hereford and was king Henry the Fourth by deposing of king Richard the Second Lecester LEofrick was Earle of Lecester when Edward the Confessor liued Algarus his sonne succeeded in that Earledome Edwin his sonne was Earle at the Conquest Robert de Beamont was created Earle of Lecester by king Henrie the First H. 1. Robert de Beamont his sonne was Earle after him Robert his sonne surnamed Blanch-Maynes was his successor Robert his sonne was Earle and died without issue Simon de Mountfort was by king Iohn created Earle of Lecester K. Iohn and was slaine at the siege of Tholouse Simon de Mountfort was Earle of Lecester He tooke king Henrie the Third prisoner in the Barons warres But the young Prince Edward set his Father at libertie and slue this Simon with many more at the battaile of Eversham and his possessions were confiscate to the king Edmund Plantagenet surnamed Crowchback second sonne to king Henrie the Third was by his Father created Earle of Lecester Lancaster c. Thomas Plantagenet his sonne succeeded and died without issue Henrie Planagenet his brother possessed all those honors Henrie Plantagenet his sonne was Earle of Lecester c. and was by King Edward the Third E. 3. created Duke of Lancaster his daughter and heire named Blanch was married to Iohn of Gaunt Iohn Plantagenet surnamed Iohn of Gaunt the fourth sonne of king Edward the Third married Blanch and was Earle of Lecester c. and Duke of Lancaster Henrie of Bullingbroke his sonne was Earle of Lecester c. and Duke of Lancaster and of Hereford and was afterwards king Henry the Fourth Robert Sutton otherwise Dudley a yonger sonne to Iohn Duke of Northumberland was by Queene Elizabeth created Earle of Lecester and dyed without any lawfull issue Lincolne MArcarus being Earle of Lincolne and Northumberland at the time of the Conquest rebelled and dyed in prison without issue Rufus William de Romara was by King William Rufus created Earle of Lincolne and died without issue Steph. Gilbert de Gaunt was in the right of Avis his wife created Earle of Lincolne and died without issue Male. Lewis Gilbert de Gaunt in the troublesome times of King Iohn was created Earle of Lincolne by the Dolphin Lewes son to the French King Ralf de Meschynes surnamed Blundevile being the sixt Earle of Chester H. 3. was by king Henrie the Third created Earle of Lincolne and of Richmond because he tooke his part against the Barons he dyed without issue Iohn Lacy Baron of Haulton was by king Henrie the Third created Earle of Lincolne Henrie Lacy the sonne of Edmund Lacy sonne to the said Iohn succeeded and was Earle of Lincolne Thomas Plantagenet the sonne of Edmund Crowchback was Earle of Lancaster Leicester Darby and Salisbury Hee married Alice the daughter and heire of Henrie Lacy and was in her right Earle of Lincolne and died without issue Iohn de la Pole the sonne of Iohn de la Pole the second of that name Duke of Suffolke was created Earle of Lincolne E. 4. by king Edward the Fourth and dyed without issue Henrie Brandon the sonne and heire apparant of Charles Brandon Duke of Suffolke was by his Vncle king Henrie the eighth H. 8. created Earle of Lincolne he dyed
11 E. 1. Wales was subdued Anno 1283 25 E. 1. Scotland surrndred to King E. the third as to the supreame Lord thereof 1296 19 E. 3 The order of the Garter deuised 1344 14 E. 3. England first quartred the armes of France 1339 21 E. 3. Calice was wonne in Anno 1346 5 Mariae Calice was lost in Anno 1557 34 E. 3. The French title on Composition was released 1359 5 H. 5 Normandy was wonne in Anno 1416 8 H. 5 King H. the fifth was proclaimed heire apparant and Regent of France in Anno 1419 10 H. 6. Henry the sixth was crowned King of France in the Citie of Paris 1431 27 H. 6. France was lost in Anno 1449 28 H. 6. Normandy was lost in Anno 1449 31 H. 6. Aquitaine c. were lost in Anno 1453 4 R. 2. Wat Tylors rebellion 1380 29 H. 6. Iack Cades Rebellion 1450 4 H. 8. Nauarre surprized by the Spaniards 1512 A TABLE FOR THE READY finding of all the materiall things which are contained in the Histories of the before named TWENTIE KINGS A ADela 8 Affabilitie 297 Agencourt 182 Aid pur file marrier 23 Albanie Duke forsakes Scotland 398 Alexander King of Scots 81 Ambush 184 Anne Bullen 389. 403 Anne of Cleue 408 Anselmus 14. 15. 20 Appeales to Rome 14. 54 Appleyard 362 Archb. striue 7 Archers 184 Armes of France 109 Armes of London 140 Armies great 182. 235. 260. 145 Armies 3. in France 361 Armies afflicted 98 Armies two in France 416 Arthur Plantagenet 51 He is drowned 53 Articles of peace 129. 200. 286 335 Articles against King Richard the Second 156 Articles against King Henry the Fourth 169 Articles against the Duke of Somerset 244 Articles against the Clergie 381. 404 Articles against Wolsey 383 Arundell beheaded 100 Arundell Archb. 144 Aske Robert 406 Assifes 34 Auricular confession 58 Awdley 254 B BAgot 155 Bailiol 82. 83 Banishment 86. 91 95. 152. 150 154. 157. 246 Bardolph 173. 365 Barkley 362. 365. 396 Barons wars 66. Distressed 58. Ouerthrowen 72. 74. 96. Executed 97 Barnes Lord. 365 Basset 69 Battailes of The Conquerour in which were slaine of the English 67974. and of the Normans 6013. Iohn Stow pag. 128. Nice 22 Lewys 72. 74 Euersham 74 Fanrike 85 Estryulin 93 Cressey 119 Poyters 126 Shrewesburie 191 Agencourt 182 Blangy 206 Vernoyle 215 Herings 221 S. Albons 250 Bloar-heath 254 Wakefield 259 Northampton 257 Exham 264 Banburie 271 Loose-coats 273 Barnet 280 Tewkesburie 283 Bosworth 324 Stoke 331 Blackheath 344 Flodden 363 Beauchampe 231. 233 Beauchamp Duke of Warwicke 237 Beamount 183. 257 Becket and his doings 37. c. Belasme 20 Beneuolence 284. 335. 374. 417. Betraied 301 Bishop made an Earle 10 Blunt 254 Body of King Edward the Fourth 178 Bold 363 Bolleyn 336. taken 417 Bolleyn Anne 389. 403 Bolleyn Sir Tho. 365 Bolleyn Lord Rochford 400 Bollingbroke in Armes 155 Boothe 363 Bootie rich 396 Borrowing 109 Bountie 45. 18. 121. 128 186. 288 Bourchier 198. 282. 233 363. 344. 392 Brandon 325. 365 Is valiant in France 396 Brandon Henry Earle of Lincolne 400 Brest yeelded vp 151 Brearton 363 Brembere 147. 149 Briberie 99 Bristow 100 Britaine Brooke Lo. Cobham 248 256. Lo. Brooke 392 Buckingham Duke 257 Buckingham Duke beheaded 393 Buildings of Forts 4. 28 Bulles from Rome 68. 69 387 Bull Sir Stephen 362 Bulmer 362. 406 Burbon ransomed 227 Burgh Lord. 62 Burgoine 285. is angrie 286 Buriall denied 8 Buriall maligned 228 Burnell Lord. 181 Burning 358 Butler 324. 363 Bygot Sir Fra. 406 C CAde Iacke 247 Calice 121. 123. 124 173. 230 Cambridge Richard 180 Camoys Lord. 174 Campeius 367. c. 379 380 Cane 190. 243 Captaine Cobler 405 Carre 365 Cardinall of Winchester 217. 218 Cardinall Wolsey 365. c. Cardinall Poole 406. 407 Carew Sir Iohn 358 Carew Sir Nicholas 406 Carew Sir George 418 Castles builded 28. 178 Castles razed 35 Challenges 173. 223 Charles is Emperour 391 Charters 208 Chayre of Scotland 86 Chester Palatine 64 Children disobedient 36 Cholmley 363 Churches robbed and wronged 4. 14. 49. 80. 138 Circuits 34 Clare Gilbert 76 Clarence 268. 275. 290 Clarvys 363 Clergie articled 381 Clergie feare the Premunire 388. and are liberall 388 Clifford 138. 260. 281. 339. 340 Clifford Earle of Cumberland 400 Clifton Sir Geruase 233 282 Colledges of Wâ—olsey 386 Combats 125. 154 Commission de les douz pyers 67. c. Commissioners Traitors 145. 368 Commissioners 114. 152 32. 32 Commissioners 403 Compassion 44 Complaint of the Parliament 133 Coniers 270 Constable 262. 406 Constable of London 71 Constancie 279 Contention with the Scots 411 Coo 396 Copland 122 Cornwall 89 Cornish Rebels 345 Couer le fiew 4 Counsell receiued 91. 391 Counterfeits Poydras 93 Magdalen 165. Lambert 234. Warbecke 333. c. Courtney E. of DevoÌ„ 392 Courtesie 297 Cowardize 84 Courage 171. 223. 233 234 Croffts 289 Crowne 164. 225. 258. 277. 328. 402 Crowned twice 49 Crowne resigned 156 Crowne on the pillow 174 Cornwall 406. 407. 409 Crueltie 138. 13. 343 Cuer de Lyon 44 Culpepper 410 Cumberland Scottish 28 Curse 41. 55. 57. 62 67 107 Curthose rebelleth 7. invadeth and compoundeth 9. He rebelleth compoundeth 12. 19 He is subdued 19. and dis-eyed 20 Cyprus 46. 47 D DAcres acquitted 402 Dacres 412 Damnation 58 Danes 6 Dane gelt 18. 28 Dacres 260 Darcie 262 Dartmouth 136. 276 Dartwell 110. 114 115 Dawney 363 Defensor fidei 357. 393 Degrading 265 Delawarre Lord 392 Delues 283 Demaunds 235. 411 Depopulation 5 Deposed 101. 160 Derby E. 392 Descriptions 8. 59. 239 297 298. 420 Deuorce 389 Disarming 3 Discipline Warlike 35 Discord 73. 132 Disdained 413 Disobedient children 36 Disobedience punished 36 49 Dissention 89. 128 189 191. 229 Distrust 64 Dolphin scoffeth 179 Donn 363 Dorset Marques 392 Douglas mariage 430 Douz Pyers 66. 69 Drunkennesse 22 Drowned 22. 30. 53. 359 H. 8. almost drowned 400. Mary Rose 118 Dudly 351. 356 Duglas 171 Duke of Guyan 68 Duke of Ireland 149 Durant 55 Durham burnt 111 Dyet moderate 18. 28 Dymock 273 Dynham 256 Dyrham executed 410 E EAarnesly 84 Echinham 363 Egremount 257 Elianor Queene 43 Emperor debased 59. and excommunicated 14 Emperor Charles 391 Empson 351. 356 England giuen to the Pope 56 England is admired 225 Englishmen oppressed 6 10. 14 Enclosures 364 Enlargement 73. 85. 128 277 Enteruiew 200 227. 273 Escape 272 Escape of Morton 317 Escape of King Edward the fourth pag. 271 Escape of Wâ—rbeck 350 Escape of Edward E. of W. 350 Estrevlin 85 Eueringham 362 Excommunication 14. 58 Execution of Lluellin 81 Arundel 100. 152 Spencers 100 Gaueston 91 Poydras 93 Warbeck 350 Edward Earle of Warw. 350 Two and twentie Barons 92 Harkley Earle of Carlyel 98 Stapleton D. of Exeter 99 Earle of Kent 104 Mortimer 104. 105 Fifteene hundred Rebels 141 Brembre 149 Trefilian 149 Greene 155 Bush 155 Scroop Earle of Wilshire 155 Earle of Worcester 171 Scroop Archbishop of York 173 Mowbrey D. of Norfolk 173 Percy Earle of Northum 171.