their importunate travaile especially of Sir Iohn Bashy who had procured himselfe to be made Speaker of that Parliament all the Chartells of pardon formerly granted by the King were in this Parliament annulled The Prelates perceiving the intention of drawing divers of the Nobilitie and others in question for their lives did Constitute Sir Henry Piercy their Procurator and depart the house because they might not be present at judgement of blood Then the Earles of Arundel and Warwicke were arraigned for those offences for which they were formerly pardoned and thereupon were condemned to bee hanged drawne and quartered but the King so moderated the severitie of this sentence that the Earle of Arundel was only beheaded and the Earle of Warwicke committed to perpetuall imprisonment in the Isle of Man It was thought a point of policie and peace not to bring the Earle Duke of Glocester to publicke tryall but secretly to put him to death and so hee was strangled betweene two feather-beds by the appointment of Nottingham Earle Marshall of Calice which death howsoever hee might bee thought to him deserved yet dying as hee did not legally called or heard hee may be truly sayd to dye guiltlesse Thomas Archbishop of Canterbury was likewise there accused for executing the Commission against Michael de la Poole for which causes his temporalities were seized his lands and goods forfeited and he himselfe adjudged to exile and to depart the Realme within sixe weekes The Lord Cobham was banished into the Islle of Gernsey and Sir Reignold Cobham condemned to death not for any attempt against the King But because hee was appointed by the Lords to bee one of his governours in the eleventh yeare of his raigne Now the King falsly supposing himselfe free from danger and that the humour against him was cleane purged away conceived more secret content then hee could openly bewray as more able to dissemble his joy then conceale his feare being so blinded and be witched with continuall custome of flatteries that hee perceived not That the state of a Prince is never stablished with cruelty nor confirmed by craft The common people were much dismayd having now lost their only helpes and hopes as well for private affaires as support of the publike state The Plebeians were much incensed against the King And to make their deaths seeme the more foule The Earle of Arundel hath the reputation of a martyr and Pilgrimages are made to the place of his interment yea it went for current likewise that his head was miraculously joyned to the body This being generally affirmed but without any ground The Corps therefore are taken up ten dayes after the buriall and finding the fame to bee fabulous the King caused the ground to bee paved where the body was layd publickly forbidding all further speeches thereof afterward to bee used But this restraint raysed fame the more and they that if it had beene lawfull would have beene silent being now forbidden could not forbeare to talke The King Createth five Dukes Henry Earle of Darby was created Duke of Hereford Edward first Earle of Rutland was created Duke of Ammerlo and Corke in Ireland Thomas Holland the Earle of Kent was created Duke of Southry Sir Iohn Holland Earle of Huntington was created Duke of Exceter Iohn Lord Moubrey Earle of Nottingham was created Duke of Norfolke This Title of honour long time after the Conquest amongst the Normans whose chiefest Rulers had no greater Tytle was accounted too high for a subject to beare the forme of the R. P. being framed by the Conquerour far from equalitie of all and yet the King exempted from alike eminency of any The King likewise created Margaret daughter and heire of Thomas Brockerson Countesse of Norfolke Dutchesse of Norfolke Iohn Bewfort sonne of Iohn of Gaunt Earle of Sommerset was created Marquesse of Sommerset Thomas Lord Spencer was created Earle of Gloucester Ralph Lord Nevill was created Earle of Westmerland William Lord Scroope sonne of Richard Lord Scroope Lord Chancellor was created Earle of Wiltes Sir Thomas Piercy Vicechamberlaine was created Earle of Worcester Amongst whom was made a distribution of a great part of the Lands of the Duke of Glocester and of the Earles of Arundell and Warwicke supposing by this double bountie of Honour and meanes to maintaine it to have tyde them with a double obligation of dutie and affection but â—…ired friends for the most part are seldome either satisfied or sure but like the Ravens in Arabia that full gorged have a tunable sweet record but empty scrich horribly The Duke of Hereford as it were to rayse his desires to his dignities either upon the disdaine of the undeserved favours and advancement of some persons about the King or disliking that his Soveraigne should bee so abused and abased by such or else to make knowne his owne sufficiency in matters of controlement and direction one day having familiar conference with the Duke of Norfolke complained that the King too much undervalued the Princes of the blood royall and much discouraged the rest of the Nobilitie from intermedling in publike affaires That in steed of these hee was wholly guided by a few new-found and new-fangled Favourites of dunghill-breed of base qualities having no sufficiency either for Councell for peace or courage for warre who being of all men both the most unhonest and most unable which hatefulnesse of the one and contempt of the other were generally despised in all the Realme whereby the Honour of the Kings person was much blemished for ungrate and ungratious adherents to a King are alwayes the path to hatred and contempt secondly the safety of his estate might bee endangered for extraordinary favours to men of apparant weake or bad desert doth breed insolency in them and discontentment in others two dangerous humours in a Common-wealth Thirdly the dignitie of the Realme was much impayred whose valour and successe being guided by the ill successe of such unlucky leaders stood never in the like doubts of danger and distresse as now it did so that matters of peace were tumultuous and uncertaine and atchievements in warre were never brought to honourable conclusions And that it was high time that the King should looke unto them for the Nobilitie grew out of heart the Commons out of hope and all the people were fallen into a discontented murmuring And this hee affirmed hee sayd not for any grudge to any particular person but for griefe for the publike grievance and good will to his Soveraigne and therefore desired the Duke who was one of the Kings Cabinet counsell to discover unto him these deformities and dangers that by repayring the one hee might happily repell the other These words procured to the Duke of Hereford both great offence and great glory At the delivery whereof the Duke of Norfolke made shew of good liking well approving them and made promise of sincere dealing therein And had they afterward by him beene as faithfully related and
King Henries armes and plucked away his Cognizance from those that as his servants attended upon her and having there with somewhat eased her swolne heart shee with the Lords departed to Wallingford and from thence to Abington stirring up by the way the people to take armes in ayde of King Richard At length they came to Cicester and there tooke up their lodgings The Duke of Surry the Earle of Salisbury in one Inne the Duke of Exceter and the Earle of Glocester in another Inne the Army encamped in the fields The Bayliffe of the Towne suspecting what was true that these guests were no good subjects besets the house where the Duke of Surry lay who with his retinue growne desperately bold made strong defence against the assaylants The Duke of Exceter and his Company had not force enough to rescue their Companions Whereupon a Priest of their consort supposing thereby to divert the Townsmen from the assault set divers houses on fire but the fire more inflamed the townsmens furie and made them insist more obstinately in the attempt swearing not to rescue their losses but revenge them and quench the flames with the Traytors blood The Earle of Exceter and they that were with him perceiving the force of the assaylants to increase and that it was impossible for a few so to sustaine the fury of so many obstinately bent they fled out of the backside towards the Campe intending to bring the Army to the reskue But the souldiers having heard the alarum and seeing the fire within the Towne supposing the King was entred with his forces were strucke with a sudden and causlesse feare and wanting Commanders of courage to confirme them they disbanded and fled and whilst every one sought to save one they brought themselves all to confusion The Duke of Surry and his company manfully maintained the fight with great bloodshed on all sides from midnight untill three of the clocke the next after-noone and then being inferiour in number and fortune the Duke and the Earle of Salisbury were both wounded to death and taken and that evening dying their heads were strooke off and sent to the King to London There were then taken prisoners Sir Bennet Sherley Sir Bernard Brockas Sir Thomas Blount and twenty eight Lords and men of note who were afterwards upon King Henryes comming to Oxford sent thither unto him and there executed The Duke of Exceter with Sir Iohn Sherley fled into Essex from whence many times they attempted to have escaped to France but by contrary windes were driven backe againe and then lurking in secret places the Duke was taken and lead to Plashey and there beheaded There wanted not some in those times that made conjectures that now the Duke of Glocesters death was brought to bee reckoned for who by Exceters counsell and contrivance in the same place had beene wrongfully apprehended An example for those which square out their actions by the crooked line of their pleasure or power to other mens disprofit or disparagement but punishment of such impietie though it bee prolonged doth never faile but commeth at length and then surely though perhaps slowly This Duke of Exceter was a man of high Parentage great power and honourable Alliance Created Earle of Huntington in the eleventh yeare of King Richard now deposed in the one and twentieth hee was Created Duke of Exceter and upon the resignation of the place and release of the right thereto by Aubery de Vere Earle of Oxford was made that yeare Lord Chamberlaine of England and married Elizabeth the Daughter of Iohn of Gaunt Duke of Lancaster and Blaunch his wife by whom hee had issue Richard that dyed young Iohn afterwards Duke of Exceter Earle of Huntington Edward that dyed without issue and a Daughter named Constance first married to Thomas Mowbray sonne and heire of Thomas Mowbray Duke of Norfolke and after to Iohn Lord Gray of Ruthyn hee was popular and openly praise-worthy but his secret actions were hardly censured hee was partaker of all his brothers vices and of counsell to many of them yet somewhat more circumspect and close and not so much partaker of his prosperitie as violently carried with the torrent of his misery Thomas Spencer Earle of Glocester fled toward Wales but in the way was taken and beheaded at Bristoll hee married Constance Daughter of Edmond of Langly Duke of Yorke and had issue Richard that dyed young Elizabeth dyed young and Isabell who was borne seven moneths after her Fathers death and was first married to Richard Beauchamp Earle of Worcester by whom shee had issue Elizabeth her second husband was Richard Beauchamp Earle of Warwicke cosin german to her first husband by whom she had issue Henry afterwards Earle of Warwicke The counterfeit of King Richard flying into Scotland was apprehended committed to the Tower and from thence drawne and hanged and quartered and one Ferby and an other of K. Rich. Chaplaines with him divers others of all sorts Lords and Gentlemen with a great number of common souldiers were in other places put to death insomuch that the King though otherwise of a moderate and peaceable disposition seemed in this too too vindicative of his owne injurie or rather in maintaining the injury that hee had done The heads of the chiefe Conspirators were pitched upon poles and set over London bridge lamentable spectacles of heads and quarters of unfortunate dismembred wretches were visible in many parts of this Realme putrifying above ground not all for desert but many to satisfie either the malice or want of King Henryes friends Insomuch that some of those of deepest apprehension openly gave forth That in short time there would be just cause to wish King Richard againe as being more tolerable to indure the crueltie of one then of many and to live where nothing then where any thing might bee permitted was most safe The Abbot of Westminster in whose house and head this Conspiracy tooke life and light hearing of these disasters going from his Monastery Grange neere Westminster was taken with a dead Palsie and suddenly dyed speechlesse And although in this enterprise accident gave policie the checke and by a strange fortune which wisdome could not prevent overturned the project yet it is apparant that this Abbot first moved the stone that rowling along was likely toturne King Henry out of his Chaire The Bishop of Carlile was condemned for his treason but the extremity of his passion closed up his dayes and prevented the violence and shame of publicke execution King Richard as afore having abdicated his Regalitie did but a short time injoy that sweet securitie wherewith hee so flattered himselfe For first his goods which hee had given in satisfaction of the wrongs by him done were shared amongst his enemies and hee removed first to the Tower of London and then from thence to the Castle of Leeds in Kent and from thence to Pomfret where being kept in straight Prison innocent and ignorant of this offence
to Dowglasse Earle George not being used to bee confronted or sit downe with disgrace could hardly enforce his patience to endure this scorne And first hee demanded restitution of his money not so much for desire to have it as to picke an occasion to breake his Allegeance The King refused to make payment or give promise but deluded him with frivolous delayes whereupon with his family hee fled to the Earle of Northumberland intending by disloyaltie to revenge the indignitie and to repaire his losses by his enemies ruine if possible the English with wide and open armes imbrace the opportunitie with whose helpe and assistance the Earle made divers incursions into Scotland where hee burnt many Townes and slew much people enriching himselfe with booty and spoyle King Robert depriveth the Earle of his honour seizeth all his lands and possessions and writes to King Henry that as hee would have the truce betwixt them longer to continue either to deliver unto him the Earle of March and his adherents or else to banish them the Realme King Henry perceiving that these warres arising had almost put the peace out of joynt was determined not to lose the benefit of the discontented subjects of his adversarie whereupon he returned answer to the Herald of Scotland that hee was neither weary of peace nor fearefull of warre and ready as occasion should change either to hold the one or hazard the other But the word of a Prince was or ought to bee of great waight And therefore sith he had granted unto the Earle of March his safe conduct it were a great impeachment to his honour without just cause to violate the same Hereupon the King of Scots did presently proclaime open warre against the King of England who thought it pollicie rather to begin the war in the enemies countrey then to expect it in his own because that land which is the seat of warre doth commonly furnish both sides with necessary supplies the friend by contribution the enemy by spoyle sending certaine troopes of horsemen before him both to espie and to induce an uncertaine terror upon the enemy hee entred into Scotland with a puissant army and with fire and sword proceeded sparing nor Castle Towne or Citie but burned Churches and religious houses so that in all places that hee passed the spectacle was ugly and grisly which hee left behinde him being such as commonly accompany the Chariot of warre They that fled before the army filled all places with feare and terror extolling above truth the English forces to diminish thereby their shame in running from them About the end of September hee besieged the Castle of Maydens in Edenbrough where Prince David and Earle Douglasse were the inconstancie of the one and the ambition of the other being the principall movers of all this losse of blood During this siege Robert Duke of Albany the Governour during the King of Scots inabilitie through sicknesse to manage the businesse sent an Harold to King Henry protesting upon his honour that if hee would abide but five dayes at the most hee would either remove the siege or lose his life The King bountifully rewarded the Harold and promised in the word of a Prince to abide there during the time by him prefixed But six times sixe dayes were past but neither Governour nor other appeared Winter came on victuall in the Campe fayled the Countrie was cold and comfortlesse it rained every day in great abundance which distemperature of weather and want of befitting sustenance caused the death of many a tall souldier it may bee these discommodities arising stayed the Governour from performing his promise for policie was against it to hazard his men to fight when Winter and want two forcible foes had given the charge upon his enemy sure it is that they moved the King to remove his siege and depart out of Scotland unfought with Both the Wardens of the Marches were all this time in Scotland with the King upon which advantage the Scots did breake into Northumberland and did some spoyle in Banborough shire the English quickly tooke the Alarum but the Scots with as much speed retired But when King Henry had discharged his Army the Scots not so desirous of life as revenge made a speedy road into England under the conduct of Sir Thomas Hahbarton of Dirleton and Sir Patricke Heborne of Hales but all the hurt they did did rather waken then weaken the English and they themselves were somewhat encouraged but nothing enriched by what they had got But Sir Patrick puft up with desire hope resolved upon a greater exployt The people which are easily led by prosperitie in great numbers resorted unto him but he was loath to have more fellowes in the spoyles then he thought should need in the danger therefore with a competent Army of the men of Loughdeane he invaded Northumberland where he made great spoyle and loded his souldiers with prisoners and prey They thought of no perill that might bee in the retrayt so they marched loosly and licentiously neither keeping themselves to their colours or rankes But the Earle of Northumberlands Vicewarden and other Borderers in good array set upon them at a Towne called Nesbyt The Scots valiantly received the charge and the battell was sharpe in the end the Scots rankes grew thin as being rather confusedly shouffled together then orderly composed which when the Vice warden felt with a company which he purposely retained about him for sudden dispatches hee charged them home and rowted them Sir Patricke bereaved of counsell and comfort ranne up and downe from place to place commanding many things and presently forbidding them And the lesse of force his directions were the oftner did hee change them at last as it hapneth in lost and desperate cases every man became a Commander but none a putter in execution so the rankes loosed and brake and could not bee reunited the Victor closely pursuing the advantage Sir Patricke thinking of nothing lesse then either flying or yeelding but thrusting himselfe amongst the thickest of the enemies honourably lost his life many of his Linage and the flower of Loughdeane were likewise slaine there were taken Sir Iohn and William Cockborne Sir William Basse Iohn and Thomas Hablington Esquires and a multitude of common souldiers on the English part no great number were slaine and none of ranke or qualitie About this time King Henry sent his eldest Daughter Blaunch accompanied with the Earle of Somerset the Bishop of Worcester the Lord Clifford and others into Almaine who brought her to Colleyne where with great triumph shee was married to William Duke of Bavier Sonne and heire to Lewis the Emperour About the midst of August the King with a great power went into Wales to pursue Owen Glendour but lost his labour for Glendour had conveyed himselfe into his lurking holes amongst the Mountaines The King through the extremitie of foule weather was enforced to retire having spoyled and burnt a great part of the Country
his Care that he would give a good account of the keeping of it or leave his life as a testimony of his good will to have done it the Duke of Somerset vrged his authoritie which so incensed the old Captaine that he sayd that he could never better have expressed his insufficiency then ambitiously having affected so iminent a place now durst not abide the hazard to stay in it this so moved the Regent that he complaineth hereof to the rest of the Captaines to whom hee maketh show of more danger then there was and so farre prevailed with them that they for the most part agree to make composition for their departure with bagge and baggage which being granted Sir David with some few of his retinue departed into Ireland where to his Colonell hee related all the passages betwixt him and the Duke which set a roote of rankor in the heart of the Duke of Yorke against Somerset that the seeds were never after dead till drowned in blood The French triumphed in Normandy having cleerely gotten it after an hundred yeares possession out of the English mens hands and finally wonne all France to the obedience of Charles their King the reasons of this totall reduction of these Provinces are diversly delivered Some affirme that the English had grasped more with their hand then they could well hold joyning more Townes then they could man and having more lands then they could manure so that their store bred their povertie Others say that the Captaines kept not halfe the number in their Companies that they received pay for Others affirme that Somerset was blinded with French-crowne dust that hee could not discerne danger till the souldiers tasted destruction But it is most agreeable to truth that the triple-headed Gerion in England presumption in government by some unmeet to rule the inveterate malice and insufferable pride of the last created Nobilitie and the universall distaste of the Commons too much oppressed with exactions and burdens was the originall and finall cause of the ill successe our Armies had in France Yet by the way consider but the deportment of the English Nation the concurrence of martiall men their counsell discipline designes from the beginning of Edward the first untill this time and you will acknowledge that they were men of worth and prowes and caried the palme of victory before them wheresoever they went But Suffolke must beare a share and a great one of the blame for this businesse for hee is not only exclaimed against as the cause of the surrender of Anion and Mayne The chiefe procurer of the Duke of Glocesters death The occasion of the losse of Normandy but they accuse him further to have wilfully wasted the Kings Treasure for being a meanes to remove sufficient men from the Councell borde and admitting of Favourites that were only to serve his turne his ambition ayming at the advancement of his faction though with the destruction of the King and the subversion of the Common-wealth The Queene taketh notice of these aspersions and too well knowing how farre they were guiltie that were thus toucht doubting the Dukes destruction and her owne downefall if this current were not stopt so wrought that the Parliament assembled at the Black-Fryers is adjourned to Leicester and from thence to Westminster In the meane time all meanes possiblie are used to stop the mouthes of those that were incensed against the Duke but it prevailed not For the Lower house exhibited their Bill of grievance against the Duke of Suffolke to this purpose 1. That hee traiterously had incited divers the Kings enemies as namely the Bastard of Orleance the Lord Presigny and others to levie warre against the King to the intent that thereby the King might bee destroyed and that Iohn the Duke of Suffolkes Son who had taken to Wife Margaret Daughter and sole heire of Iohn Duke of Somerset whose Title to the Crowne the Duke of Suffolke had often declared in case King Henry should die without issue might be King 2. That by his sinister practises Charles Duke of Orleance notwithstanding the many cautions upon great reasons by King Henry the fift to the contrary given obtained his liberty 3. That through his trecherie by the abetment of the Duke of Orleance the French King hath gotten possession of all the Dutchy of Normandy and taken prisoners the valiant Earle of Shrewsbury the Lord Fauconbridge and many other brave Commanders But to all these hee affirmed himselfe not guilty neither in thought or deed Then was further allegations made against him to this purpose 1. That being with others sent Embassadours into France hee transcended his Commission and without privitie of his fellow Commissioners presumed to promise the surrender of Anion and the deliuery of the Countie of Maunts and the Citie of Mants to Duke Rayner which accordingly was performed to the great dishonour of the King and detriment of the Crowne 2. That hee had traiterously acquainted the Councell of the French King with all the affaires of State and passages of secrecie by whose trayterous information the enemy was througly instructed in all the designes of the King and Councell 3. That hee had received rewards from the French King whereby all succours sent to the Kings Friends in France were disappointed and frustrate 4. That by his wicked practises the good Duke of Glocester was deprived both of Protectorship and life 5. That by his labouring such only were made of the Kings privy Councell that more respected the Dukes particular profits then the good of the King or Realme 6. And lastly that hee had underhand fraudulently enriched himselfe with the Kings Treasure and revenewes and had possessed himselfe by abusing the Queenes favour of all Offices of charge and credit about the King All these hee faintly denyed but could not acquit himselfe of them But to bleare the eyes of the people and to keepe them hoodwinckt during the time of Parliament The Duke is committed to the Tower but the Parliament is no sooner dissolved but hee is set at liberty which so much incensed the vulgar people that they could not be restrained within the limits of obedience but in many places after they had vented their swolne spleenes in garrulent exclaiming against the corruption of times and the wrongs the Common-wealth sustained by the misgovernment of the Queene and her Favourite They fell to an insurrection and under the leading of a desperate Commander stiling himselfe Blewbeard they began to commit some outrages but by the diligence of the Gentlemen of the Country the Captaine was apprehended and the rebellion ceased The Parliament is againe assembled and great care taken of the Election of moderate-minded men for Citizens and Burgesses presuming thereby to stop any further proceedings against Suffolke But his appearance gave such a generall distaste in the House that though hee came in the company of the King and Queen they would not forbeare but begin the assembly with
the point of beliefe for the most of the Councell suggested his innocencie first by his voluntary submission when he had power sufficient either to have kept the field or to have assured his retraite then by his request made not for himselfe but for the ease of the poore Commons next his carefull and honourable endevours both in France and Ireland where if he had had any such traiterous intent he had the pan by the stale and might have kept it But while the Councell are debating this at the very instant the Earle of Kendall and the Lord Lespar crave present admission to the Borde and audience as Embassadours from Burdeux for businesse of great import and speedy dispatch they being admitted declare to the Kings Councell how readily and really the inhabitants of Burdeux are to submit their obedience to the Crowne of England if they might but bee assured to bee defended by it they therefore offer upon the appearance of an Armie in Gascoygne if come before the plot bee discovered to yeeld all up unto them To second this commeth a constant urged report that Edward Earle of March Sonne and heire to the Duke of Yorke with a great power of March-men made a speedy march towards London These newes troubled the Queene those the Councell it is therefore resolved on That the Duke of YORKE lest private dissention should hinder publicke designes of such consequence as the reduction of GASCOIGNE should in the presence of the KING and his Nobilitie and all the Congregation at the high Altar at Pauls take his oath of submission and allegiance to the King of England which he accordingly did and so had liberty to depart to his Castle of Wigmore After his departure the Earle of Shrewsbury with about three thousand men was sent to Gascoyne who arriving in the I le of Madre passed forth with his power and tooke Fronsacke and other pieces But having received in the nightinstructions from Burdeux hee makes all speed thither and was entred therein before the French had notice of his comming so that many of them were slaine by the Lord Espar in their beds shortly after the destruction of Burdeux there arrived at Blay the Earle of Shrowsburies Sonne Sir Iohn Talbot with the Bastard of Somerset with divers others with two and twenty hundred men furnished and victualed by whose meanes Burdeux is well mand with English and provided for at full whilst the Earle was not idle but went from place to place to receive the offred submission of all places whither hee came and having taken Chattillon he strongly and sufficiently fortifieth and furnisheth the same The French King rayseth an Army and forthwith besiegeth by his Commanders Chattillon to the reskue wherof the Earle maketh all possible speed with eight hundred Horse appointing the Earle of Kendall and the Lord Lespar to follow with the foot In his way hee surprised a Tower the French had taken and put all within it to the sword and meeting five hundred French-men that had beene forraging hee slew a great number of them and chased the rest to the Campe upon whose approach the French understanding which way the enemy came they left the siege and retired to a place which they had formerly trenched and fortified whither the Earle followeth them and resolutely chargeth them so home that he got the entry of the Campe where being shot thorow the thigh with a Harquebush and his horse slaine under him his sonne desirous to relieve his Father lost his owne life and therein was accompanied with his Bastard brother Henry Talbot and Sir Edward Hall and thirty other Gentlemen of name the Lord Molynes with threescore others were taken prisoners the rest fled to Burdeux but in the way a thousand of them were slaine Thus on the last day of Iuly at Chattillon the thrice honourable Earle of Shrowsbury the first of that name gave the last testimony of his true service to his King after hee had employed the same to his never-dying Honour in the parts beyond the Seas by the space of foure and twenty yeares hee had married two wives The first was Matild daughter and sole heire of Thomas Nevill Lord Furnivall by whom he had issue Iohn that succeeded him in the Earledome Sir Christopher Talbot and Sir Humphry Talbot Knights His second wife was Margaret elder Daughter and Coheire of Richard Beuchamp Earle of Warwicke by whom hee had issue Iohn Talbot in right of his Wife Vicount Lisle slaine with his Father Sir Humphry Talbot slaine at Mount Sinay Elizabeth married to Iohn Mowbray Earle of Norfolke and Elianor Wife to Thomas Boteleer Lord of Sudley Castle And a naturall sonne slaine as afore with his Father his body was buried in a tombe at Roan in Normandy with this inscriptioa Here lyeth the right noble Knight Iohn Talbot Earle of Shrowsbury Weshford Waterford and Valence Lord Talbot of Goodritch and Orchenfield Lord Srange of Blackmere L. Verdon of Acton L. Cromwell of Wingfield L. Lovetoft of Worsop L. Furnivall of Sheffield L. Fauconbridge knight of the noble orders of St. George St. Michael and the golden Fleece great Marshall to K. Henry the sixt of his Realme of France The Earle of Kendall the Lords Mountferrat Rosayne and Dangladas entred into the Castle of Chattillon which they made good against the French by the space of ten dayes and then without hope of succour delivered it upon composition to have liberty to depart to Burdeux Now the tyde turned againe the Gascoynes levitie being as ready to open the gates to the French as they were but little before to the English by meanes whereof in short time the French recovered againe all Gascoyne except Burdeux which the French King in person layeth siege unto and at length hath it surrendered upon condition that both garrisons and inhabitants with all their substance might safely depart for England or Callice and that the Lords Lespar and Durant with thirty others whose names were expressed upon paine of death should never after be found in the territories of France the neglect of which oath within few yeares after caused Lespar to leave his head behind him there whilst the rest in safetie came to England this losse of Aquitane was palliated by the happy delivery of the Queene of a Sonne who was Christened The King and the Dukes beginning to bandy one against the other gave a beginning to that faction whose end was not procured without the deplorable losse of so many thousand Englishmen and now as a praeludium to that tragedy upon Saint Bartholmewes day an antient custome being that the Maior of London and the Sheriffs should be present in giving prizes to the best Wrastlers at the wrastling place neere More-fields The Prior of Saint Iohns being there to see the sport a servant of his not brooking the disgrace to bee foyled before his Master against the custome of the place would have wrastled againe and with foule
Queen with the Duke of Somerset some few others taking with them the young Prince fled to the Bishoprick of Durham The King was taken and as a prisoner conveyed to London At their comming thither the Tower of London is yeelded unto the Earle of Warwicke by his souldiers the Lord Scales in disguised apparell endevoured to escape is taken by the Watermen and by them without due course of Law or orderly proceeding beheaded and his corps carelesly left upon the sands Tho Thorpe one of the Barons of the Exchequer upon whose advise the Lancastrians much relyed in the habit of a Monke his or owne shorne purposely to fly to the Queen is taken and committed prisoner to the Tower The Duke of York at this time being neither idle nor asleepe being advertised of this good successe leaveth Ireland and posts to London where by the advise and consent of the York faction he thought fit to discover the head of that ambitious serpent that hitherto had bin covered in the grasse of reformation and so that in the Kings name he summoneth a Parliament which being assembled in the presence of the Lords in the upper House he placeth himselfe in the Imperiall seate and with great courage and a confident brow hee layeth open his rightfull claime and Title to the Crowne of England as being the Sonne and heire of Anne Daughter and heire of Roger Mortimer Earle of March Son and heire of Philip the sole Daughter and heire of Lionell Duke of Clarence the third Son of Edward the third and elder Brother of Iohn of Gaunt Duke of Lancaster Father of the usurper Henry the fourth grand Father to Henry the fift who was Father to him that untruly stileth himselfe King Henry the sixt He further related that God had not blessed this unlawfull usurpation for by meanes thereof the Common-wealth had suffered so many and so grievous calamities that had not God been the more mercifull the same had bin overwhelmed by the multitude and grievousnesse thereof that though Henry the fift had made many conquests in France and Normandy yet as of ill-gotten possessions his heire could not take any benefit by them And how much heaven is at this time offended with his government wee may well feare if wee but call to mind the cruell butchering of so many honourable great Lords in defence of his title abroad the slaughter of so many thousand of his loyall subjects in maintenance of his quarrell the inutterable exhaust of the treasure unnecessarily consumed in France Normandy and else-where The civil broiles at home the losse of all formerly got in France and those parts the losse occasioned by the excursion and depredations of the Scots and French And lastly the oppressions extortions and violence daily unsufferably practised by the tiranny of an insolently ambitious woman upon the meaner sort of people And then concluded that he craved no favour from them except that justice did warrant his claime nor would expect or desire the possession of the Crowne except his descent were undisputable and his Title without just exception and for his owne particular he presumed that since vertue might be as bold to challenge its due as vice is apt to borrow of insinuation he might without offence put in his claime and demand allowance thereof This being a businesse of import required deliberation and mature consideration but in conclusion the Duke having before hand by his agents prepared the Lords Spirituall and few of the Nobilitie present that were not on his part the Burgesses were easily perswaded and that was generally resolved and enacted accordingly That King Henry during his life should retaine the name and honour of a King That the Duke of Yorke should be proclaimed Heire apparant to the Crowne and the Protector of the Kings person his Land Dominions and Country That at any time any King Henryes Friends Allies or Favourites in his behalfe should attempt the disanulling of this act that then the Duke should have present possession of the Crowne No sooner was the Parliament dissolved when the Duke dispatcheth Letters into Scotland requiring in the Kings name the Queene the Dukes of Somerset and Exceter and all other of the Nobilitie that remained in that kingdome with all speed to repaire to his Presence to London But they were otherwise resolved And having gotten together of English and Scots to the number of eighteene thousand men they marched into England The Duke of Yorke with his younger Sonne the Earle of Rutland with the Earle of Salisbury leaving the King in the custodie of the Duke of Norfolk and the Earle of Warwicke marched towards the Queene and approaching neere her Army at Wakefield the Dukes Scowâ—…s being returned certified him that the enemy farre exceeded their power in number and all warlike preparation Whereupon the Earle of Salisbury advised the Duke to retire and attend the comming of the Earle of March who was gone into Wales to raise the Marchmen But it being appointed that here his ambitious desires should come to a period The pride of his former victory and overweening of his souldiers valours made him deafe to all counsell of forbearing the field and hastened on by his destiny from Sandall Castle hee marched to Wakefield greene where the Lord Clifford on the one side and the Earle of Wilts on the other were placed in ambuscado The Duke of Yorke supposing that the Duke of Somerset who had the battell had no more forces but what were with him valianly and in good order marcheth towards him but being entred within their danger the Ambushes on both sides broke out upon him and slew him and three thousand of his side the rest with number and confusion overborne fled the Earle of Salisbury is taken prisoner and harmelesse Rutland that came thither but to see fashions is made a sacrifice for his Fathers transgression and kneeling upon his knees instructed by his infant feares with teares begging life is unmercifully stabbed to the heart by the Lord Clifford in part of revenge as he sware of his Fathers death The Queene unwilling to bee behind hand in crueltie as unlike a mercifull woman as he an honourable gentleman in cold blood without due forme of tryall causeth the Earle of Salisbury and as many as were taken prisoners to bee beheaded at Pomfret Castle and to have their heads as it were in scorne to be placed on poles about the walls of the Citie of Yorke an incitement as it were to make all interessed in the shame to adde spurres to the speedy course of vindicative desires and to draw on revenge to the uttermost This Richard Nevill Earle of Salisbury was third Sonne of Ralph Nevill first Earle of Westmerland by Ioane his second wife Daughter of Iohn of Gaunt Duke of Lancaster hee married Elianor Daughter and heire of Tho Montague Earle of Salisbury had issue foure Sons six daughters 1. Richard the eldest was restored and
to whom that place was assigned Fauconbridge and Blunt continue the leading of the vantguard And on Palme-Sunday by breake of day they came to Saxton from whence they made a full survay of King Henryes army and certified the Earle of March that the enemie was threescore thousand strong whereupon a second Proclamation was made through the Campe That no quarter should be kept nor prisoner taken a Course more savoring of policie then Religion yet by so much the more excusable by how much his number was so far short of his adversarie The armies being both in sight The Lord Fauconbridge gave direction to the bowmen upon a signall by him to be given to shoot every man a flight arrow for that purpose provided and then to fall backe three strides and stand which they accordingly did The Notherne men hereupon plied their bowes untill their sheaves were empty But all their arrowes fell short of the marke and turned to their owne disadvantage For their arrowes being spent hasting to ioyne to come to hand-blowes Their owne arrowes did themselves much hurt that had done the adversary no harme at all The works of those sticking galling their shinnes and the splinters of those broken piercing their feete whilst the Southerne men shot at their bodyes as if they had beene shooting at butts policy prevailing beyond strength Ten houres in doubtfull termes of victory The battaile continued when the Earle of Northumberland being slaine with the Lords Beamond Gray Dacres The Earles of Exceter and Somerset fled left the conquest to the Earle of March but the bloodiest that ever England felt for on that day fell there thirty six thousand seven hundred threescore and sixteene persons besides those that dyed of the hurts then received all of one nation no prisoners being taken but the Earle of Devon This Henry Earle of Northumberland now slaine was the third Earle of the familie of Peircyes he married Elianor Daughter and heire of Richard Lord Poyning by whom he had issue Henry that succeeded him in the Earldome and three daughters Elizabeth married to Henry Lord Scroope 2 Elianor married to West Lord Laware 3 Margaret married to Sir William Gascoyne The victor hasts to Yorke where he is readily admitted entrance when presently he causeth The heads of his father and his friends to be taken downe and buried with their bodyes setting in their places the heads of the Earle of Devon and three others there then executed This Earle of Devon was Thomas the xvi Earle and Lord of Ockhampton he married Margaret daughter of Iohn Beawford Earle of Somerset by whom he had issue three sonnes and two daughters Thomas who was taken with his father and presently by reason of the Proclamation slaine Henry the second sonne who was after beheaded at Salisbury and Iohn who was after slaine at Tewkesbury The father and the three sonnes with the losse of their best bloods witnessing their true affection to the house of Lancaster Iohan his eldest daughter was married to Sir Roger Clifford Knight and Elizabeth was married to Sir Hugh Courtney Knight The Earle of Somerset being the messenger of the late overthrow perswades and prevailes with King Henry his Queene and sonne from Yorke to flye to Barwicke where leaving the Earle of Somerset they slye further for succour to the King of Scots who comforteth them with promise of reliefe but maketh a sure bargaine and receiveth in liewe of a pension to be assigned to King Henry during his aboad there from him upon Saint Markes day the Towne and Castle of Barwick to such poore shifts was this potent King driven to pawne his best fortresse for bare food Queene Margaret and her sonne are sent to France to labour there whilst those that stayed with the King himselfe being onely intentive to devotion fayled not to solicite friends and make preparation for a second encounter The Queene upon her arrivall obtayned of Lewis the eleventh her Cousin that those of the house of Yorkes favorites were prohibted trafficke or stay in the French Kings dominions But all such as loved the Lancastrian line were permitted freely In triumphant manner the Earle of March commeth to London where he is by the Maior and Citizens gloriously entertained being by them upon the xxvi day of Iune from Lambeth attended to the Tower of London who upon his first entrance therein invested foure and twentie with order of Knighthood and upon the next day he did the like to foure more Vpon the xxviii day of Iune he rode through London from the Tower to Westminster where he was Crowned in the Abby there A Parliament is summoned which began at VVestminster upon the fourth of November in which all acts of Henry the sixt formerly made which might see me any way preiudiciall to Edw. title or profit were repealed And therein Iohn Earle of Oxford a learned valiant wise man he who in a former Parliament disputed the question concerning the precedency betweene the temporall and spirituall Barones a bold attempt in those dayes and by force of whose arguments iudgment was given for the Lords temporall with his sonne Aubry de Vere Sir Thomas Tiddenham Kinght William Terrill and VValter Mongomery Esquires were without answer convict of Treason and beheaded This Iohn Earle of Oxford married Elizabeth the daughter and heire of Sir Iohn Howard and had issue five sonnes and three daughters 1 Aubry de Vere beheaded with his father 2 Iohn de Vere that succeeded in the Earledome 3 George Vere Knight that died living his father 4 Richard Vere and 5 Thomas Vere Knights 1 Mary a profest Nunne at Barking in Essex 2 Ioan married to Sir VVilliam Norris and 3 Elizabeth married to VVilliam Bourcheir sonne and heire of Henry Bourcheir Earle of Essex King Edward to encourage others to obtaine like favour by well deserving at his hands after that he had created his two younger brethren George and Richard the one Duke of Clarence the other Duke of Glocester he maketh Iohn Lord Nevill first Vicount then Marquesse Mountacute Henry Bourcheir whose brother was Archbishop of Canterbury Earle of Essex and VVilliam Lord Fauconbridg Earle of Kent enobling many others with dignities and honorable titles To hansell their new Honors Essex and Kent with the Lord Audley and divers other of the nobility with ten thousand souldiers are sent to skowre the narrow Seas these land in Britaine and by force enter the Towne of Conquet and the Isle of Ree which having pillaged and the Coasts cleered they returne Henry Duke of Somerset Sir Ralph Peircy with some others come in and submit themselues to King Edwards mercy who gratiously receiveth and entertaineth them protesting his propension of free pardoning them and as many others as would follow their example of submission The distressed Queene with five hundred French a small stake to play an aftergame of Reputation with came to the Coasts of Scotland and from thence sailes to Timmothe where
A report is secretly raised but upon what ground unknown that this wel-intended charitable contribution went not the right way But that the givers were abused the poore people defrauded the benefit of the gift going to certaine officers of the house that made a divident therof amongst themselues allowing little or none at all thereof to the poore people This rumor once on foot spread it self far neer in the Country The husband men willing enough to take any advantage to with-hold their charity which in that age began to wax cold but in this is quite frozen when the Proctors according to the accustomed maner came to make collection of the charitable devotion of the people they were sent empty away but not without in some places either foule language or someblowes sometimes both which orcasioned retortion partakers are found on both parties sides The religious better sort of people helping to defend the collectors whom with great fury the ploughmen followed This sparke thus appearing is fed with combusable stuffe but underhand by the Archbish. so that it tooke flame rose to a great height Neverthelesse the Marquesse Mountacute more out of policy then piety seeming not to approve of what was done speeds with some forces to York whither the unruly multitude to the number of 15000. drew giving forth speeches by the way That they would utterly demolish the hospitall fire the City The Marquesse with his power taking advantage of the darknes of the night and the ignorance or negligence of the watch sallies out upon them takes their Captaine strikes of his head putting the rest with some little losse to flight whom he followeth no further as not intending their further hurt but retreated to Yorke which he carefully made show to man and fortifie The more to endeere his service he sends the newes therof post to the K. who being certified of the proceedings was well pleased with what was done howsoever he had smal reason to think himself assured of the integrity of the doer but as yet the actions of the Marquesse like the countenance of Ianus carried two faces which his cunning yet covered In the mean while the rebells have reallied their dispersed troopes and encreased their numbers Instead of Robert Huldron their Captaine by the Marquesse beheaded they had new conductors Hen. son of the Lord Fitz-Hugh and Hen. Nevil son heire of the Lord Latimer The one being Nephew the other cosin german to Marquesse Mountacute These having received full instructions from the Archbishop of Yorke ioyntly take upon them the command being assisted by S. Iohn Conyers a kinght of great courage and good direction By his councel in regard they wanted engines where with to force the walls of Yorke which they had but disorderly beleagred The rebels left the siege And directedtheir march towards London giving out by the way according as they were instructed by their leders their private directions That K. E. was but a tirannous vsurper And that they like good subjects only endevored the restauration of their lawful soveraigne K. H. adding withall that if any mischiefe were done to the body of K. H. before his being restored to liberty That they would not leave a live any of the house of Yorke K. Ed. hereupon gives order to Wil. L. Harbert the new created E. of Pem. to stop this Northerne storme to leavy power to withstaÌ„d their further approaching he both in obedience to K. E. coÌ„mand willing to revenge some former ashe conceived affronts unto himby the sticklers in this coÌ„motion Fitz hugh Nevil accoÌ„panied with his brother Rich. about 7000. Welsh men to whoÌ„ the L. Stafford of Southwick with some 800. bowmen ioyned embraced the occasion willingly undertooke the charge Sir Rich. Harb with 2000 horsmen neere Northam charged the rere of the Northern men in which was Sir Iohn Conyers who coÌ„manding faces about so entertained them That the Welsh men with some losse made more hast backe then good speed forward hereupon the Northern men having to that end received letters of direction shape their course towards Warwick whither the E. with his son in law Clarence were come had levyed forces to ioyne with them The K. rather sullen for anger then amated with feare upon the tydings of his brothers unnaturall backsliding related unto him by his other brother Rich. stood a while silent but having made recollection of his spirits he sayd brother yet I am beholding to you that have made a full expression both of your love and duty in acquainting me with the danger staying loyally on any side But time permits not discourse we must prepare our selues to withstand their fury and to that end take order to second Pemb. And accordingly he makes preparation But before his succors could come the Nothern men did reach Warwick upon S. Iames even some distast having bin given by the E. of Pemb. to the Lord Stafford either for dispossessing him of his usuall Inne at Banbury or withholding from him some light commodity in that Inne which he formerly had made use of Stafford with his Archers departed Sir Hen. Nevill having intelligence therof the next morning gave a camisad with some horse to the 〈◊〉 Pembrooks Camp and charged so home that his seconds unable to releive him he was enclosed with the multitude and miserably slaine which so incensed the Northern men that they all gave on and so feircely assayled their opposites that though for a time the Welsh stood close and kept order yet when a suddain rumor was spread That the E. of Warwick was come with his power to charge them in the rere they rowted fled True it was that Iohn Clopton a retainer of the E. of Warwicks having drawn together about 500 men weakly armed worse disciplind he brought them to the top of an hilâ—… sight of both armies displaying theron the Beare ragged staffe the E. of War colors and making shew to descend was the occasion those the Welsh turned their backe in the flight 5000. were slaine besides that were taken prisoners wherof the E. of Pemb. Sir Rich. Harbert his brother who for their valour and sound direction that day shewed had successe followed their attempts deserve to be enrowled amongst the best commanders with ten other not by the law of the field but by the unbounded will of the victors were beheaded at Banbury This VVilliam E. of Pemb. married Anne daughter of VValter L. Ferrers of Chartley by whom he had issue three sons VVilliam that succeeded him in the Earledome Sir VValter Harbert Knight and Sir George Harbert Knight and six daughters Cicely Baronesse of Greystock Mawd married to Henry Percy Earle of Northumberland Katherine married to George Earle of Kent Anne married to the Lord Powes Isabel married to Sir Thomas Cooksey knight and Margaret married to Vicount Lisley first and then to Sir Henry Bodringham kinght The
That hee would rather die like himselfe then live and have to doe with such usurping disloyall and ill-conditioned base Turne-coates The King taking notice of his head-strong resolution with his two Brothers and all their forces Vnited marcheth towards London where after some little show of resistance the Weathercocke Citizens moving like the eares of standing corne altogether which way soever the wind blew received him with great applause and lowd acclamations of welcome delivering up unto him the miserable King Henry like a ball to bee bandied with the racket of his pleasure into what hazard he pleased The Earle of Warwicke with all his forces warily followed them at the heeles but could never find opportunitie as hee expected either upon advantage to cut off their rere or hinder their approach to London And having certaine intelligence that King Edward was entred London and King Henry reimprisoned hee encamped at Saint Albones aswell to refresh his souldiers as to take counsell what course to take and how to dispose of their journey King Edward being advertised of the Earle of VVarwicks approach thinking it not fit to have him to advance too neere London drew out his forces and with them marcheth to meet his Adversary The resolution was equall on both parts to set up their rests upon the hazard of that encounter upon Easter eve the King with his power lodged in Barnet towne the Earle of VVarwicke encamped upon the hill betweene Saint Albones and Barnet the Campes each in sight of other Early on Easter day in the morning an unfit day chosen for so unpleasing a service to God The souldiers on both sides are put in array The Earle of Warwicke appointed the command of the right wing which consisted of horse to his Brother the Marquesse Mountacute and the Earle of Oxford The least wing likewise consisting of horse was led by the Duke of Exceter and the battell consisting of Bills and Bowes was conducted by the Duke of Somerset The Voward on the Kings part was commanded by the Duke of Glocester The battell in which was King Henry was led by King Edward himselfe and the Lord Hastings brought on the rere There wanted on neither side befitting encouragement to incite the souldiers to show themselves valiant and each one to doe his endevour to conquer the exhortations ended the fight began and with great valour and resolution on both sides maintained by the space of six houres without any disadvantage on either part appearing untill King Edward gave order to certaine fresh troopes of Rutters for that purpose reserved to charge the now wearied battell of the enemy which the Earle of Warwicke observing alighted from his horse with a desperate courage hee entred amongst his Adversaries whom his brother the Marquesse Mountacute in hope to reskue followed and so were both enclosed and slaine And with their fall fell the victory to King Edwards part who being assured thereof leaving his Brothers to Marshall the field and to take order for the quartering the souldiers he with King Henry in his company went on the spurre to London and there at Evening-song in Saint Pauls Church offered his Banner and the Earle of Warwicks Standard On King Edwards part was slaine no man of extraordinary note but the Lord Cromwell Sonne and heire of the Earle of Essex and the Lord Barnes Sonne and heire of the Lord Say On the other part were slaine the Earle of Warwicke the Marquesse Mountacute and three and twenty Knights on both sides fell foure thousand six hundred and odde The bodyes of the Earle of Warwicke and his brother were stripped starke naked and put in one coffin and the next day brought to London where in the body of Saint Pauls Church they lay by the space of two dayes bare visaged This Earle of Warwick commonly stiled the Great Earle of Warwick whose usuall phrase was That hee had rather bee able to set up or pull downe a King then bee a King was Richard Nevill Sonne and heire of Richard nevill Earle of Salisbury who married the Daughter of Richard Beauchampe the sixt Earle of Warwicke in whose right hee was Earle of Warwicke and in his owne Earle of Salisbury and Lord Mounthermer hee was great Chamberlaine and Lord high Admirall of ENGLAND Lord Warden of the North-Marches towards SCOTLAND and of the Cinque-ports Captaine of Callice and high Steward of the Dutchy of Lancaster hee had issue two Daughters ISABELL married to GEORGE PLANTAGGNET Duke of Clarence and ANNE first married to EDVVARD titulary Prince of Wales and after to Richard the Vsurper Iohn Nevill Brother to the said Earle was first Created Lord Mountague after that Earle of Northumberland upon the attainder and banishment of Henry Piercy Earle thereof But upon his returne into England and restoring in blood Nevill surrendred his graunt of the Earledome of Northumberland and was Created Marquesse Mountacute hee married Isabell Daughter and heire of Sir Edmond Inglesthorpe Knight and had issue George Nevill Created Duke of Bedford but aftere degraded by Act of Parliamhnt and five Daughters who after their Brothers decease which dyed without issue were Coheires of his estate Anne married to Sir William Stonhurst Knight Elizabeth married to Thomas Lord Scroope of Risdale Margaret married to Sir John Mortimer Knight Lucy married to Sir Thomas Fitz-Williams Knight Isabell married to Sir William Huddleston Knight and all these Daughters had issue After these Brothers had beene made a spectacle of mortalitie and the subject of their spectators spight scorne or pitie three dayes in that manner they were permitted to be carried to the Monastery of Bissam and there in one grave buried amongst their Ancestors Queene Margaret when it was too late with some French forces landed at Waymouth where having unwelcome tidings of this disastes znd that the Duke of Excester supposed slaine was strangely recovered and had taken Sanctuary at Westminster shee with her Sonne conveyed her selse to Bewly in Hampshire where shee tooke Sanctuary having sent her souldiers into Wales to Jasper Earle of Penbrooke who with the Duke of Somerset Thomas Courtney Earle of Devon Iohn Lord Wenlocke and some others repaired thither unto her Amongst these it is resolved once more to bring their forces together into the field and hazard one stroke more From Bewley the Queene and the Earle of Somerset speed towards Bristoll intending with what powers they could raise in Glocestershire to march to VVales to joyne with Penbrooke who was gone thither to make preparation accordingly The King made acquainted with these overtures resolves if possible to crosse the conjunction and followes Queene Margaret with a great power so close that neere Tewkesbury in Gloucestershire hee overtakes her forces who resolutely turne and make head against the Kings power where Somerset on the Queenes part leading on the Van did performe the part of a good Commander and a stout souldier maintaining the fight for a long time resolutely and bravely But
all places provide such as had Castles or Piles of strength furnish them with men and amunition And others use their best meanes that money and men may bee got in readinesse against the Earles arrivall Bishop Morton who had gained opportunitie against the Duke of Buckinghams will to convey himselfe into the Lowe-Countryes is not slacke by Letters and private messages to conjure all such as hee knew either to hate or envy King Richard or to have loved King Edward to lay to their helping hands with all their might in this conjuration Now whether amongst so many through some false brothers treachery or out of his watchfull jelousie over Buckingham it is uncertaine But King Richard hath intelligence of the designe and politickly dissembleth it but secretly giveth order as it were but to take a muster to draw his forces together amongst whom hee suddenly comes and having appointed his carriages to follow him hee marcheth away without acquainting any of the Commanders with any particular place whither hee lead these forces In the meane time first by proffer of friendship by faire termes the King did solicite the Dukes presence at London where the King kept his standing house But receiving from him but delatory put offs The King then sent a peremptory message by the tye of his alleageance to come away which was returned with this resolute answer That hee would not if hee could avoid it have any conversation with an ungratefull per jured inhumane butcher of his owne flesh and blood so that now preparation to offend and defend by the sword is made on both parts The King holds on his march whereupon all the conjurators in every quarter are in overt commotion Thomas Marquesse Dorset preserved from slaughter by the only favour of Sir Thomas Lovell against the Kings will forsaketh Sanctuarie and in York-shire laboureth to raise forces The two Courtneys in Devon and Cornwall take the same course and they are seconded in Kent by Guilford and Rame so that civill combustion is in every quarter of the Realme King Richard notwithstanding severs not his forces but keepes on his march towards Buckingham who having notice thereof both readily and willingly setteth forward bending his course thorow the Forrest of Deane intending at Glocester to have passed Severne and so to have joyned forces with the two Courtneys and the Westerne Confederates but by the long continuance of wet weather the waters thereabouts were risen so high that Severne was broken out and had overflowne all the Countries so that it was a thing impossible for the Dukes forces to bee transported which the Welch-men drawne thither more for feare then love tooke advantage of saying it was a prodigious token of their ill successe in the enterprise and secretly by night slipt away from him whose example the residue followed so that the Duke upon this disbanding was left to shift by himselfe whereupon hee dismist all his followers and without or Page or Foot-man repayred to the house of one Humphry Bannister who dwelt neere Shrowsbury presuming there he might safely lodge in obscurity untill better fortune should smile the rather for that the many extraordinary favours formerly done to the said Bannister and his father before him might justly challenge willing entertainment during his secret stay there if not more The newes of this disaster added wings to the other conjurators to disperse their powers and flye some to Sanctuary others to unknowne places all of them making the best shift they could to escape but they sped best which conveyed themselves into Britanny Amongst whom the Marquesse Dorset John Lord Wells the Bishop of Exceter and his brother Sir John Bourchier Sir Edward Woodvile brother to Queene Elizabeth Sir Robert Willoughby Sir Giles Daubeney Sir Thomas Arundell Sir John Cheney and his two brethren Sir William Barckley Sir William Brandon and his Brother Thomas Sir Richard Egmond Hollowell and Poynings Captaines were chiefe King Richard having intelligence that the enemy was fled sent order presently to lay all the Ports with strict charge that none should goe on borde or come on shore without especiall warrant Hee likewise made publick Proclamation that if any one could bring tydings of the Duke of Buckingham who was now proclaimed Traitour and all his lands and goods seized into the Kings hands so that the Duke might bee apprehended if the person were a bondman hee should bee manumitted if a freeman hee should have a generall pardon and a thousand pound currant English coyne Whilst these things are thus in agitation King Richard hath information from Hutton his Leiger Embassadour in Britaine That the Duke thereof not only refused to keepe the Earle of Richmond in restraint of libertie Bu was seeming forward to give him his assistance to prosecute his intendmentt which was to worke some exploit in England Wherefore the King tooke especiall order for the present rigging and preparing his Navy to stop if possible the Earles landing in any Port of England In the interim whether feare to offend the law or greedy Covetousnesse to gaine the thousand pounds it is yet disputable but Bannister like an ungratefull servant perfidiously discovered his Master the Duke of Buckingham to Iohn Mitton then high Sheriffe of Shropshire who thereupon apprehended him in a little Grove neere Bannisters dwelling house and conveyed him to Shrowsbury where King Richard lay from whence upon All-Soules day hee was conveyed to Salisbury and then and there without arraignment or legall proceedings in the Market-place beheaded Whether Bannister received his proclaimed reward is uncertaine but that Gods judgements appeared afterwards against him and his is very remarkable for hee was afterwards hanged for man-slaughter his eldest daughter is debauncht by one of his Carters and his sonne and heire in a desperate lunacy became his owne butcher and was so found by the Coruors inquest This Henry Duke of Buckingham was Earle of Stafford Hereford Northampton Lord of Brecknocke Kimbolton and Tunbridge and high Constable of England Hee married Katherine Daughter of Richard Woodvile Earle Rivers by whom he had issue three Sons and two Daughters 1. Edward who by Henry the seventh was restored to blood and succeeded in his Fathers honours 2. Henry the said King Created Earle of Wilts 3. And Humphry that dyed young 1. Elizabeth married to Robert Radcliffe Lord Fitz-Waters 2. Anna married first to Sir Walter Harbert and afterwards George Lord Hastings Earle of Huntington Vpon the twelfth day of October the Earle of Richmond with fourtie ships and five thousand waged Britons tooke the Seas But that evening by the rage of an impetuous tempest the whole Navy was dispersed The ship wherein the Earle was with one only little Barke after they had endured the rage of the tempest eight and fourty houres was driven upon the coast of Cornwall where hee giveth expresse commandement that none should dare to take land untill the fleet were drawne together But after hee had huld up and downe the shore
marriage betwixt Iohn of Gaunt and Katheryne Swinford was approved of and the issue borne before the espousalls made legitimate by act of Parliament and confirmed by a Bull from Rome This is the Catalogue of the pedegree of the two houses of Lancaster and Yorke betwixt whom the competition for the Crowne of England was the occasion of expence of so much blood Although the Crowne of England upon the decease or deposition of Richard the second without issue was jure haereditario to descend to Edmond Mortimer the younger the Sonne of Philip Daughter and heire of Lionel Duke of Clarence the third Sonne of Edward the third yet his cosin Henry of Bullingbrooke Duke of Hertford and Sonne and heire of John of Gaunt the younger Brother of Lionell of Clarence taking advantage of the peoples forwardnesse and his kinsmans being generally distasted was Created and Crowned King From the yeare of our Lord 1399. untill the fourth of March 1460. In three Descents the slips of the red Rose in the line of Lancaster did beare sway but not without some interruptions and hazard For though Edmond Plantagenet Duke of Aumerle Sonne and heire of Edmond of Langley set not the White Rose claime on foot yet as maligning the prosperitie of Henry the fourth hee was a maine stickler in the conspiracie against him intended to have beene executed at Oxford But the eruption of Yorke never was manifest untill Richard Plantagenet Sonne of Richard of Bonysborough Anno 1455. drew his Sword to make good his claime to the Crowne of England And from his time I shall endevour to drawe a Compendiary of the times and places of the severall battells betweene these two houses strooke and the slaughter on both sides made The three and twentieth day of May at Saint Albones in Hertfordshire Richard Duke of Yorke gave battell to King Henry the sixt on whose side was slaine Edmond Duke of Somerset Henry Earle of Northumberland Humphry Earle of Stafford Thomas Lord Clifford say some others John with divers Knights and Esquires to the number of 37. with five thousand common souldiers and Henry himselfe was taken Prisoner on the Dukes part only sixe hundred in the totall 5641. A Battell was fought at Bloarheath in Shropshire the thirteenth day of September betweene the Lord Audly Lieutenant to Henry the sixt and the Earle of Salisbury in which Audly was slaine and his Army overthrowne at this battell was slaine in all two thousand foure hundred men with Sir Thomas Dutton beside six other Cheshire Knights and two Esquires thereof in all 2411. Sir Osbert Mountfort with twelve Gentlemen of his company was taken at Sandwich and carried to Ricebanke and there beheaded by the Lord Fauconbridge The Earle of Wiltes at Newbery causeth twenty Yorkists to bee hanged and quartered The tenth of Iune in the thirty eight yeare of the King at Northampton was a battell fought wherein was slaine Humphry Duke of Buckingham John Talbot Earle of Shrowsbury Thomas Lord Egremond John Viscount Beamond and Sir William Lucy with tenne thousand and thirty men slaine The Lord Skales is slaine upon the Thames seeking to escape by the Earle of Warwicks men The thirtieth of December at Wakefield was a battell strooke wherein the Queene prevailed with the slaughter of two thousand eight hundred persons not numbring Richard Duke of Yorke Edmond Earle of Rutland a child and the Earle of Shrowsbury taken prisoner but afterwards beheaded Sir John Mortimer and Sir Hugh Mortimer the Dukes base Vncles Sir Davy Hall Sir Hugh Hastings Sir Thomas Nevill Sir William Parry Sir Thomas Parry Sir Richard Limbricke Knights then likewise slaine on Candlemasse day vpon the plaine neere Mortimers crosse in Hereford-shire a field was fought betwixt the new Duke of Yorke and the Earles of Penbrooke and Wiltes wherein the Duke prevailed with the slaughter of 3800. men but no man of qualitie but Sir Owen Tyther that had married Queene Katherine Vpon Shrovetuesday the seventeenth of February at Saint Albones the second Battaile was fought betweene Queene Margaret and the Duke of Norfolke and others wherein were slaine two thousand three hundred men besides the Lord Bonvile Sir Thomas Keryell Sir John Gray and Baron Thorpe The most cruell and deadly Battaile of all others during the rage of this unnaturall division was fought at Towton or betweene Towton and Saxton within foure miles of Yorke the nineteenth day of March being Palme Sunday wherein were slaine of English-men Thirty five thousand ninetie and one and of strangers one thousand seven hundred fourty five besides two hundred and thirty slaine the day before at Ferry Brigge with the Lord Fitzwater and the base brother of the Earle of Warwicke The most remarkable men that fell in this bloody fight were Henry Piercy Earle of Northumberland The Earle of Shrowsbury The Earle of Devon John Lord Clifford The Lord Beamond The Lord Nevill The Lord Willoughby The Lord Wells The Lord Rosse The Lord Gray The Lord Dacres The Lord Fitz-Hugh The two base Sonnes of Henry Holland Duke of Exceter Sir Thomas Mollineux Sir Otes Beckingham Sir Aubrey Trussell Sir Richard Piercy Sir William Heyton Sir Jervoys Clifton Sir Foulke Hamys Sir Thomas Crackenthorpe Sir James Crackenthorpe Sir William Throllop Sir Andrew Throllop Sir Walter Harle Sir John Ormond Sir William Mollyns Sir Thomas Pigot Sir William Norborough and William Burton Knights The Earle of Devonshire there taken Prisoner with three other Knights were beheaded at Yorke and so may be reckoned amongst the slaine so that the account of the whole number besides those that died after of hurts then received thirty seven thousand fourty and six At Hegley More the Lord Mountacute charged and put to flight two thousand Lancastrians who were on foot to march to Henry the sixt at which time Sir Ralph Piercy with one hundred and seven were slaine the residue flying gave alarum to the Kings Army and upon the 15. of May in a plaine called Livels neere the water of Dowill in Hexam shire the battaile was fought against Henry the sixt by the Lord Mountague Generall for Edward the fourth wherein were taken Prisoners Henry Duke of Somerset The Lord Rosse The Lord Mollins and The Lord Hungerford Sir Thomas Wentworth Sir Thomas Hussey Sir John Finderne and sixteene Knights more executed at Hexam and Yorke Sir William Talboys titulary Earle of Kime or Angus and not Kent as Master Martin relateth Sir Ralph Nevill Sir Ralph Gray and Sir Richard Tunstall were taken afterwards but beheaded The number slaine is uncertainly set downe the most of our common Writers not naming any only faabian saith about two thousand so that I make that my skale to reckon by At a place called Danes more neere the Towne of Edgcot within foure miles of Banbury was a great Battaile fought upon Saint Iames his day the five and twentieth of Iuly wherein were slaine
and love of thy Subjects who whilst they have wealth so long shalt thou have obedience but being made poore by oppression will be ever ready to stirre and make insurrections And so turning about said God blesse thee and have mercy on mee and so hee gave up the ghost in a Chamber of the Abbot of Westminster which the servants there called Ierusalem the twentieth of March 1412. in the fortieth sixe yeare of his age when hee had raigned thirteene yeares sixe moneths lacking ten dayes His body with all Funerall pomp was conveyed to Canterbury and there solemnly buried Hee had beene twice married his first wife was Mary Daughter and coheire of Humphry de Bohan Earle of Hereford Essex and Northampton and Constable of England shee died anno 1394. and was buryed at Canterbury hee had issue by her Henry his eldest Sonne who succeeded him Thomas Plantagenet his second sonne who was Created Duke of Clarence in the eleventh yeare of his Fathers raigne hee was slaine at Bongy bridge in France by the Duke of Orleance this Thomas tooke to Wife Margaret Daughter of Thomas Holland Earle of Kent and Widow of Iohn Beuford Earle of Pomfret who dyed without issue Iohn Plantagenet his third Sonne was made Duke of Bedford the eleventh yeare of his Fathers raigne and Earle of Richmond and Lord of Kendall hee married to his first Wife Anne Daughter of Iohn Duke of Burgondy who dyed without issue his second Wife was Ioquellyne Daughter of Peter Earle of Saint Paul and by her had no issue shee was after married to Richard Woodvile Earle Rivers and had issue Elizabeth Wife to King Edward the fourth This Iohn as Constable of England determined the Controversie betwixt Reignold Lord Gray of Ruthen and Sir Edward Hastings for the bearing of the armes of Hastings and at Vernoyle together with the same Towne tooke the Duke of Alanson prisoner and with the losse of two thousand one hundred private souldiers slew of the advers part five Earles two Vicounts one and twenty Barons seven thousand French and two thousand five hundred Scots and dyed at Paris and the fourteenth of September 1435. was buried at Roan under a sumptuous Monument which when Lewis the eleventh King of France being advised by some of his Nobles to deface Hee said What honour will it bee to us or you to demolish the Monument aâ—…d pull out thereof the bones of him whom in his life-time neither my Father nor your Progenitors were of abilitie to make budge one foote backward wherefore let his body now rest in quiet which if hee were alive would have disquieted the proudest of us all such respect to well-got honour hee obtained in the mindes of his enemies Humphry Plantagenet fourth Sonne who was stiled Humphry by the grace of God Sonne Brother and Vncle to Kings hee was Duke of Glocester Hennalt Holland Zealand and Earle of Penbrocke Lord of Freezland great Chamberlaine of England Protector of the Realme and Defender of the Church of England Hee had two Wives the first was Iaquet Daughter and heire of William Duke of Bavaria who being before betrothed to Iohn Duke of Brabant was divorced from this Humphry before issue His second Wife was Elianor Daughter of Reignold Lord Cobham of Sterburghe in Surry who for Sorcery and poysoning was much defamed hee was found murthered in hss bed at Bury in Suffolke and was buried at Saint Albones in Hartfordshire Blaunch King Henryes eldest Daughter was married as afore at Collen to William Duke of Bavaria after his death shee was married to the King of Arragon and afterwards to the Duke of Barre but dyed without issue Philip second Daughter of King Henry was married to Iohn King of Denmarke but dyed without issue King Henry was of a middle stature well proportioned and formally compact of a quicke conceit and active spirit of great resolution and courage In his later dayes with courtesie and affable cariage hee purchased a great deale more love and respect amongst the Nobilitie then hee had in all the beginning of his raigne with his austeritie and rigorous courses and redeemed from the common people a great portion of good opinion which he by his impositions and taxes had formerly lost among them But if their payments had beene more and his exactions greater in my opinion they were not undeserved that were so ready to alter the due course of succession to joyne hands with him in the deposing of the rightfull and naturall Leige-Lord whose only fault that could bee truly objected was this that hee had beene too bountifull to his friend too mercifull to his foes but most unrespective of himselfe THE LIFE AND RAIGNE OF KING HENRY THE FIFT HENRY the Fift surnamed of the place of his birth which was a Towne in Wales upon the River of Wye Monmouth tooke upon him the Regality over England the twentieth day of March and the next day was proclaimed King and the ninth day of Aprill hee was Crowned King at Westminster by Thomas of Arundell Archbishop of Canterbury with all usuall rites and Ceremonies After the solemnitie past the next day hee caused all his wonted Companions to come into his presence to whom hee used these words It is sufficient that for many yeares together I have fashioned my selfe to your unruly dispositions and have not without some reluctation in the very action followed you in your debosht and swaggering courses I have to my sorrow and shame I may say to thinke of it irregularly wandered in all rude and unseemely manner in the vast wildernesse of ryot and unthriftinesse whereby I was made almost an alian to the hearts of my Father and Allyes and in their opinions violently carried away by your meanes from grace by keeping you company therein I have so vilified my selfe that in the eyes of men my presence was vulgar and stale and like the Cuckow in Iune heard but not regarded One of you being convented before the Lord chiefe Iustice for misusing a sober-minded Citizen I went to the publike Sessions house and stroke him on the face and being by him deservedly committed to the Fleet for which act of justice I shall ever hold him worthy the place and my favour and wish all my Iudges to have the like undaunted courage to punish offendors of what ranke soever it occasioned my Father to put mee from my place in Councell appointing it to bee supplyed by my younger Brother how often have I by your animation committed thefts even on my Fathers and my owne Receivers and robd them of the mony provided for publicke appointments to maintaine your midnight revellings and noone beselings But it is time now to give a period to these exorbitant and unbefitting courses and to salve the wounds my intemperance hath made in my reputation and to turne over a new leafe and not only to decline the company of such misleaders of yours but desert their conditions of all
end of August following In which time the truce began to be forgotten for the French awaiting all occasions of advantage by secret plots and devises had cunningly possessed themselves of divers Castles places of strength justifying their actions and affirming that what was politickly obtained without blows was no infringement of the Truce And afterwards they perfidiously conveyed 200. men at armes into the Castle of Roan presuming to have surprized it but being discouered they were all taken and either executed as traytours or ransomed The Regent knowing these coles would quickly kindle speeds him to his charge and preparation on both sides is made for war wherein he found the Duke of Burgoine lesse forward then he had used to be whereby the Regent found his affection did slacke but would not seeme to take notice thereof The Lord Talbot having payed his ransome commeth to the Regent bringeth with him 700. tryed souldiers They take the field on both sides in warlike manner making shews of encounter but twice together being provoked by the Regent to fight the French slunke away in the darke as not daring to abide the hazard of a battell The Peasants of Normandy pretending to shake off the English yoke which never had beene made insupportable rudely armed themselves and in outragious manner drew towards Cane but having neither power to command nor honesty to obey they were by the Earle of Arundel and the Lord Willoughby encountred and easily overthrowne with the slaughter of 1000. of them the rest were all taken whereof the chiefe Leaders were executed as traytors and the baser sort upon submission and acknowledgement of their errours permitted to depart to their severall homes But the Earle and the Lord Willoughby being now in the field and having intelligence that le Hire had besieged the Castle of Gorbury drew thither with intent to have succoured it but finding themselves too weak they made account to have retired to Beavoys but being descried they were pursued by le Hire who having advantage charged the Earle perceiving no safetie but not to hope of help resolved to win or dye fought valiantly but the Earle is dangerously wounded by the shot of a Culvering which caused the Lord Willoughby to retyre and convey the wounded Earle to Beavoys where within three dayes hee dyed say the Historians but the Harrolds say he dyed and was buried at Lewis in Sussex he married Mawd the Daughter of Sir Robert Lovell and had issue Humphry that succeeded him and Avitie married to Iames Butler Earle of Ormon and Wiltshire After the death of Arundel the Lord Willoughby dispierced his forces to their former garrisons but stayed himselfe there The Duke of Burbon taken at the battell of Agincourt after eighteene yeares imprisonment paying 18000 pounds for his ransome the same day hee was enlarged dyed at London Charles his Son who had married the Sister of the Duke of Burgoyn succeeded his Father Betwixt the two brother-in-lawes an unnaturall jarre was raysed but by the mediation of Mary Dutchesse of Berry they are reconciled by whose labour and industry with the helpe of the Duke of Burbon a reconciliation is likewise wrought betweene the French King and Burgoyne The jealousie between the Regent and the Duke of Burgoyne now was publickly discerned Whereby those that cald to mind the great charge that Henry the Fift gave on his death-bed carefully to retaine that Dukes amity laboured an enterview betwixt them to remove all scruples on either part which was obtained and Saint Omers was the place agreed upon where both Dukes being arrived they both standing too punctually on points of Honour who should give prioritie of visitation the Duke of Bedford as the Sonne Brother and Vncle of a King and Regent of France pretended it dishonourable for him to begin and the other challenging the same as of right belonging to him to have the first place the same being within his own Dominions The wisest in some points are foolish they both departed more discontented then before the haughtinesse of the spirit of the one and the great stomacke of the other being unable to give way to their unruly passions And hereupon the Duke of Burgoyne made choice rather to enter league with him that had murthered his Father then to keepe his oath with the King of England or the bond of love so often plighted with the Regent his friend and Brother-in-law And upon the receipt of a blancke Charter under the French Kings Seale to insert what Conditions of peace hee would hee proved renegado and falsified his faith to England lost his reputation to the world and sold himselfe slave to perpetuall ignomy The Towne of Saint Dennis by the perfidiousnesse of Mathew Gougley was betrayed to the Bastard of Orleance but the Lord Talbot presently beguirt the same with a siege to raise which the bastard Orleance drew great forces together but before their approach the Towne was given up and beatento the ground The inhabitants of Pontoys neverthelesse rebell and thrust out the English garrison whose examples did set the Parisians mindes on worke to tread the same steps but the Regents vigilancie over them hindred their intentions But now began the bright light of Englands glory to be ecclipsed those glorious beames of victory which they formerly had obtained every day more and more to decline The triple twine being cleane untwisted for the thrice renowned wise and circumspect Iohn Regent of France Duke of Bedford Aniou and Alanson Earle of Mayne Harecourt Dreux Richmond and Carlile and Vicount Beamond the Atlas whose shoulders kept the realme of France from sliding from their allegiance sworne to King Henries Father and Sonne upon the fourteenth of September 1435. at Paris exchanged all his glory here for the fruition of a more sempiternall felicitie in another place he was buried at Roan in our Ladies Church Whereat the Nobilitie of Normandy much repined as seeming desirous to have had some place of their owne territories to have been honoured by giving sepulture to so nobly deserving a Patriot unto them Yet such was their levitie that within few yeares after in the Raigne of Lewis the Sonne of Charles they instantly desired to have the Monument erected over him to bee demolished alleaging it was dishonourable to have so arch an enemy to France interred in the Metropolitan Citie of that Province But Lewis answered God forbid I should give way to so dishonourable an act as to molest the quiet of his dead bones that living would if offended have molested all here and it savours of too much basenesse to insult upon a dead Lyon Hee had two wives the first was Anne Sister of the Duke of Burgoyne the second Iaqueline daughter of Peter Earle of Saint Paul but had issue by neither No sooner was his death divulged but infinite alterations followed aswell in England as France Edmond Duke of Somerset as much affecting Soveraigne command underhand laboured to
to the reskue thereof on the other side the Townes of Neux in Bry and Susan were sold and delivered to the French by the trecherous Burgers All manner of graine in England in respect of the scarcity thereof was at exceeding high prices and had not the care and industry of the then Maior Stephen Browne beene such that hee had caused provision of corne especially Rye to bee bought and brought from farre Countries thither the famine would have raged as much in London as the fearefull Pestilence did in Paris where those that dyed in the streets lay unburied untill the ravenous Wolves made their mawes the sepulture of their flesh but God in his mercy ceased the plague in Paris and replenished London with graine in abundance to the great reliefe of remoter parts of the kingdome which before that time were driven to make their sustenance of Fearne rootes and Ivy berryes In Iune the Earle of Huntington with two thousand Archers and foure thousand Speares was sent into Gascoyne whither the Earle of Danoyes was lately come throughly instructed and provided to buy the best penny-worths of Townes â—…nd Castles hee could compasse but the Earle of Huntington upon his comming thither changed all the Captaines and Officers and put others in their roomes whereby hee warily prevented the Bastards chafferours This strumpet Bribery and whore covetousnesse began to spread their wings so farre that in Normandy the English Captaines had small confidence in the Natives and not too much in some of their owne Nation Whereupon Sir Richard Woodvile Sir William Chamberlaine Sir William Peto with a thousand men were sent thither to stoppe the current of French crownes from corrupting the yet faithfull souldiers with them They according to their directions narrowly sifted all and where they found fault or cause of suspition they punished or removed and having settled all things in good order returned A gap began this yeare to bee opened whereby the English might have entred to have made a reduction of those pieces the French had bought or conquered but the wisdome of the Councell of France stopped it by reconciling the King and his sonne the Dolphin betweene whom by the sinister perswasions of base Sycophants on both sides there were discurtesies taken before given and discontent without any ground the sonne deeming his Fathers grave deportment too too much austerity and the Father the Dolphins youthfull countenance to a kind of contempt beyond filiall dutie neither having just cause of jealousie yet both suspitious of each others countenance But the knot of seditious faction tyde betweene the Dukes of Burgoyne Alanson and the Dolphin is dissolved and the King and his Sonne in show reconciled Some small peeces were in this time regayned but Paris for which provision was making for the reduction thereof was left off upon the notice of the reconcilement In a great bend of Frost with a deepe snow the English under the conduct of Iohn Lord Clifford having covered their armour with white shirts and their heads with white Alman skulls come to Ponthoys by night and undiscovered past the ditches skaled the walls slew the guards and tooke the Towne with many good prisoners and a great spoile presently upon the regaining of which Towne the Earle of Warwicke died in the Castle of Roan and was from thence conveyed to England and buried in his Colledge at Warwicke hee was the sixteenth Earle of Warwicke and Lord Lisle in the right of his Wife hee married two wives the first Elizabeth Daughter and heire of Thomas Lord Barckley and Margery his Wife Daughter and heire of Warren Lord Lisley and Tyes by whom hee had issue three Daughters Margaret the eldest married to Iohn Talbot Earle of Shrewsbury who had issue Iohn Talbot Vicount Lisley Elianor married with Thomas Lord Rosse of Hamlocke and after to Edward Bewford Duke of Somerset Elizabeth maried to George Nevill Lord Latimer Earle Richard Beauchampes second Wife was Isabell Daughter of Thomas Spencer Earle of Glocester by whom hee had issue Henry Duke of Warwicke and Anne married to Richard Nevill Earle of Salisbury who in her right was after Earle of Warwicke To reduce Ponthoys the French King in person layeth siege thereunto and useth all possible meanes hee can to enforce it but the defendants but flowt him for his paines and many times send his assaulting souldiers haulting home with fleaes in their eares Richard Duke of Yorke being the second time made Regent being arrived with the Earle of Oxford and the Earle of Ewe levies a power to raise the siege and arriving there giveth notice to the King that the next morning hee would bid him battell But the King not liking the breath of Talbot leaves his Ordnance and best provision in the Bastile of Saint Martins and in the midst of the night stole to Poysy The English possesse his tents furnish the Towne with the provision therein left and thereof make Sir Gervoys Clifton Captaine with a thousand souldiers for the defence thereof and then marched to Poysy where he braved the French King and thought with taunts and revilings to have put valour in him but hee was too patient to bee provoked to fight wherefore hee left him there and returned to Roan A motion of parlie is moved the place appointed Callice by the mediation and solicitation of the Dutchesse of Burgoyne shee being a Portugall by birth very solicitous of the safetie of her husband and the quiet of France a woman of no ordinary capacitie but of an extraordinary understanding by her meanes the King of France sendeth the Archbishop of Reimes and Narbon and the Earle of Dunoys For the King of England the Cardinall of Yorke and the Duke of Exceter with whom came Charles Duke of Orleance who having beene long kept Prisoner was in good hope of enlargement but the successe of the meeting not answering the expectation nothing was done for his enlargement for in such treatises such as have the possession of strong holds doe commonly use policie and delayings the stronger giving lawes to the weaker so that the English would not bate an ace of what they had gotten to keepe and would have for the ransome of the Duke their first asking which was more then his meanes could any way compasse and the French King not very forward to give him any assurance so that the disconsolate Duke patiently returnes but his misery so moved the heart of the Dutchesse of Burgoyne that shee prevailed so farre with her husband that hee passeth his credit for the payment of three hundred thousand Crownes for his ransome at Callice at a day prefixt at which time and place the Duke of Orleance in person and the Duke of Burgoynes money meet where the one being received the other after five and twenty yeares imprisonment is released and by his sonne that had slaine his Father and sought the ruine of his house but now a firme league of
succeeded in the Earledome 2. Iohn the second was Created Marquesse Mountague 3. Thomas married the Widow of the Lord Willoughby 4. George was Archbishop of Yorke and Lord Chancellor 1. Ioane the eldest Daughter was married to William Fisz-Allen Earle of Arundell 2. Cecily was married to Henry Beuchamp Duke of Warwicke 3. Alice was married to Henry Lord Fitz-Hugh 4. Elianor to Thomas Stanley Earle of Darby 5. Katherine to William Bonvile Lord Harrington and 6. Margaret to Iohn Vere Earle of Oxford Richard Plantagenet Duke of Yorke tooke to wife Cecily Daughter of Ralph Nevill first Earle of Westmerland and had issue eight Sonnes and foure Daughters 1. His eldest Sonne Henry dyed young 2. Edward afterwards King of England 3. Edmond Earle of Rutland slaine with his Father 4. Iohn dyed young 5. William 6. Thomas 7. George after Duke of Clarence 8. Richard surnamed Croutchbacke after King of England 1. Anne his eldest Daughter was married to Henry Holland Duke of Exceter 2. Elizabeth married to Iohn de la Poole Earle of Suffolke 3. Margaret married to Charles Duke of Burgundie 4. And Vrsula The Earle of March having tidings of his Fathers death encreaseth his Army and borne up with two wings desire of revenge and expectation to raigne hee tooke his leaue at Shrowsbury of the Inhabitants intimating to them at his departure the murther of his Father and Brother the destruction intended of himselfe and Familie and downfall of all that wisht well to his part if not heedfully prevented hee craved therefore their utmost assistance and their neighbours which they accordingly performed and then with some good strength presently tooke the field and having advertisement that Iasper Earle of Penbrooke with the Earles of Ormond and Wiltshire with a great power of Welch and Irish did follow after him hee suddenly marcheth backe againe and in a plaine neere Mortimers Crosse on Candlemasse day in the morning hee gave them battaile and with the slaughter of three thousand and eight hundred put the Earles to flight Owen Teuther who had married Queene Katherine Mother to Henry the sixt and divers Welch Gentlemen were taken and at Hereford beheaded The Queene encouraged by the death of the Duke of Yorke with a power of Northerne people with an intent to undoe what was done in the last Parliament marcheth towards London but when her souldiers were once South of Trent as if that River had beene the utmost limits of their good behaviour they did most licentiously forrage the Country harrowing burning and spoyling the same as if they had beene in the most barbarous land of heathens Approaching Saint Albones they were advertised that the Duke of Norfolke and the Earle of VVarwicke were ready to give them battaile The Queenes Voward hasteth to passe thorow Saint Albones but were saluted from the Market place with such a showre of arrowes that they were for safeguard glad to retire and sought to passe by another way which but not without some blowes they did and encountred with their enemies in the field who perceiving the maine battaile to stand and not to move by the trechery of Lonelace who with the Kentish men led the Van. the Southerne men turned afide and fled and by the Northerne prickers were slaughtered untill night saved their backes When night was come the residue despairing of each others well-meaning shifted away The Nobles about the King perceiving how the game went withdrew themselves The Lord Bonvile comming in a complementall manner to the King saying It grieved him to leave his Majestie but necessitie for safeguard of his life enforced it was importuned and Sir Thomas Kiryell like wise by the King to stay hee passing his royall word that their stay should not endanger their bodyes upon which promise they stayed but to their cost for such was the inplacable fury of the Queen that hearing Baron Thorpe was by the Commons beheaded at Highgate she the day after the battell being Ashwednesday caused both their heads to bee smitten off at Saint Albones whose death reckoned with the rest maketh up of the slaughtered the number of three and twentie hundred The King was advised to send one Thomas Hoe that had beene a Barrester to the Victors to thanke them for their paines and to tell them that hee would gladly come to them if with convenience it might be done The Earle of Northumberland appointed divers Lords to attend him to the Lord Cliffords Tent where the Queene and young Prince met to their great joy it was now observed that victory alwayes fled from where the King was present At the Queenes request he honored with the order of Knighthood thirty that the day before fought against the part where hee was the Prince likewise was by him dubbed Knight Then they went to the Abby where they were entertained with Anthems and withall an humble Petition to be taken into the Kings protection thereby to bee freed from the tiranny of the loose souldiers which was promised and Proclamation accordingly made but to small purpose for the Northerne men said it was made in their bargaine to haveall the spoyle in every place after they had passed the River of Trent and so they robbed and spoyled all they could come at which gave just cause of dislike to the indifferent-minded which only wisht the quiet and peace of the Country not respecting which Rose the red or white prevailed for now began that distinction by those Badges for the factions of Yorke and Lancaster to bee worne The Londoners hearing of this disorder were warned to looke to themselves and they were resolved since there was no more assurance in the Kings promise to keepe the Northerne men out of their gates The gentlenesse and tendernesse of a King not accompanied with courage and severitie is both hurtfull to himselfe and his estate In the Kings name the Londoners are sent to to send over to the Campe certaine Cart-loades of Lenton provision The Maior accordingly provides and makes all things ready but the Commons rose about Cripplegate and by strong hand say or doe what the Maior or his officers can they kept the Carts from going forth of the Citie The Maior sends the Recorder to the Kings Councell and knowing the predominancy of the Queenes passion if never so little troubled they entreat the Dutchesse of Bedford and the Lady Scales with all the Fathers of the Church resiant about London to intercede for him and excuse his not using force considering how apt the multitude was to take fire upon the least flash and how dangerous it might bee in these doubtfull times to raise their fury that would not easily bee allayed it was well advised to send women to entreat women for they so prevailed That some of the Lords of the Councell with a guard of foure hundred good souldiers were appointed to goe for London to enquire and certifie the truth of these things But before they set forth divers
Northerne men that long looked to have the ransacking of London came unto the gates and would have entred had not the Citizens valiantly repelled them and with the slaughter of some three or foure they were sent to carry word to the Campe that the Earle of March with a great Army was marching towards them neither was it a fiction For at Chipping-Norton by Cotsall the Earle of Warwicke having drawne together as many of his scattered troopes as hee could find met with the earle of March and his victorious troopes which being joyned they hasted towards London and were joyfully received upon the eight and twentieth day of Februarie and upon Sunday the second of March the Earle of Warwicke mustered all this Army in Saint Iohns fields and having cast them in a ring the Leader read unto them the agreement of the last Parliament and then demanded whether they would have King Henry to raigne still who all cryed No no then they were askt whether they would have the Earle of March eldest Sonne of the Duke of Yorke by that parliament proclaimed King to raigne over them and with a great clamour they cryed yea Then went there certaine Captaines and others of the Common Councell of the Citie to the Earle of March to Baynard Castle whom they acquainted with what was passed whereof hee expressed himselfe in some termes as unworthy of the place and unable to execute it yet hee thanked God for the gift and them for their good wills And by the advise of the Archbishop of Canterbury and theanimation of the Bishops of London Exceter and the Earle of Warwicke he resolved to take it upon him And the next morning he went in Procession at Pauls and offered there and after Te deum sung he was with great royalty conveyed to Westm. and there in the great Hall seated in the Kings seat with the Scepter of Saint Edward in his hand And then the people whereofthere was a great Concourse were alowd demanded if they would acknowledge him to bee their King to which with great willingnesse they cryed Yea yea Then taking homage of divers Noble men then present hee was with Procession and great State conveyed to the Abby there and placed in the Quier as King whilst Te deum was singing that done hee offered at Saint Edwards shryne and then returned by water to Pauls and was lodged in the Bishops Pallace Vpon the fourth of March hee was generally proclaimed King by the name of Edward the fourth THE LIFE AND RAIGNE OF KING EDVVARD THE FOVRTH EDWARD Earle of March borne at Roan in Normandy Sonne and Heire of Richard Plantagenet Duke of Yorke by Cecily Nevill Daughter of Ralph Earle of Westmerland and Ioane Daughter of Iohn of Gaunt by Lady Katherins Swinford upon the fourth day of March rode in State to the Church of Saint Paul in London and there made his Oblation And after Te Deum sung hee was with great solemnitie attended to Westminster and there being placed in the great Hall with the Scepter Royall in his hand before a confluence of people there assembled well knowing with what baite to angle to catch the many Hee makes a solemne declaration of his right to the Crowne of England challenging it to belong unto him by a double Title The first as Sonne and heire to Richard Duke of Yorke the rightfull Heire of the same The second as elected by Authority of Parliament upon King Henryes forfeit hereof Neverthelesse he was resolved to wave both Title and right by either except the people would willingly approve of his proceeding therein and lovingly allow of his Claime Whereupon it was againe publickly demanded of the assembly if they would unanimously admit and acknowledge the said Earle to bee their King and Soveraigne Lord whereupon all with one voice cryed Yea yea King Edward King Edward Thereupon hee went from thence to Westminster Abby and entred the same with solemne Procession and there as King offered and afterward by the name of Edward the Fourth was proclaimed King throughout the Citie of London In the meane time King Henry in the North was raising what powers hee could to stopthis Torrent But the Earle of March great in the favour of that great beast of many heads the multitude presuming of their ready willingnesse to assist him makes preparation to encounter King Henry To Edward resort men of all ages and condition the one making tender of their persons the other of their patrimonies to be spent at his devotion and for the support of his cause by which meanes he suddainly was furnished with a puissant and well accommodated army And being perswaded that no other meanes would serue for direction of his claime but the sword he resolued to set up his rest and by battaile to give a certaine determination to the question Vpon the twelfth of March his forces marched from London and by easie journeys came to Pomfret Castle where he rested and from thence the Lord Eitz-walter with some companies was sent by him to guard the passage at Ferry-brigg to stop the enemies approch that way King Henry likewise advanceth forward and sends his power under the conduct of the Duke of Somerset the Earle of Northumberland and the Lord Clifford Whilst himselfe Queene and sonne stay at Yorke The Lord Clifford very early on Palme Saterday in the morning with a troope of Northerne Prickers falls upon those that had the guard of the passage at Ferry-brig and defeated them with the slaughter of the Lord Fitzwalter and the bastard of Salisbury The Earle of Warwicke hearing of this defeate postes to the Earle of March his Campe and in his presence killing his horse said Sir I pray God have mercy on their soules which in the beginning of your enterprise have for your love lost there lives The enemie hath won the passage at Ferrybrigg There is no hope now but in God yet let him flye that will flye when kissing the Crosse of his sword he sayd by this good signe I will stand by him that will stand by me fall backe fall edge The Earle of March no whit amated but somewhat moved with Warwicks resolution presently made Proclamation that all such of his company as were unwilling to stay or afraid to fight should at their pleasure depart But to those that would abide he promised good reward Adding withall that if any that stayed should after turne his backe or flee That he that should kill such a Changeling should have double pay Then gave he order to the Lord Fauconbridge and Sir Walter Blunt to lead on the Vowarde who in their March about Dindingdale encountred with the Lord Clifford who formerly in cold blood had slaugtered the young Earle of Rutland him with Iohn Lord Nevill sonne and heire of the Earle of Westmerland they slew with most of their companies putting the rest to flight The next day likewise the Duke of Norfolke being dangerously sicke
shee went on shore but speedily resorted againe to shipbord and by tempest was beaten to Barwicke Erom whence with the encrease of some few Scots leaving the Prince at Barwicke she with the king her husband marched into the Bishopricke of Durham having by the way in Northumberlaine somewhat more encreased their army To them resorteth the so late reconciled and now newly revolted Duke of Somerset Sir Ralph Peircy and divers of King Henryes welwishers who altogether made shew of a competent army But their disorderly burning and spoyling wheresoever they went whatsoever they could come at lost the goodwill of many and purchased the ill will of more King Edward to be prepared to meet the enemie at every turne makes preparation both by Sea and Land he sends Vicount Mountacute into Northumberland with Commission to raise forces whom King Edward in person followeth with his whole power leasurely but hasts some Companies after the Vicount to prevent any attempt of the Bishopricke men in case they should prove trecherous with these the Vicount marcheth towards King Henry and by the way encountreth the Lord Hungerford at Hegley-More but he with the Lord Rosse upon the first charge ran away leaving Sir Ralph Peircy alone with his owne regiment who there with them died valiantly fighting Mountacute having intelligence that King Henry was encamped in Levels plaine neer the River of Dowell in Hexamshire marcheth thither by night and set upon him in his Campe. The Northerne men with a desperate resolution receive the charge But were in the end with great slaughter overthrowne Henry Bewford Duke of Somerset the Lords Rose Mollins Hungerford Wentworth Hussey and Sir Iohn Finderne Knight with many others are taken prisoners King Henry escaped but very hardly The Duke of Somerset was presently beheaded at Exham he was never married but had a naturall sonne named Charles Somerset who was afterward created Earle of VVorcester The other prisoners were sent to New-Castle and there beheaded Thus was the White Rose in every place dyed red with the blood of the Nobilitie and the red Rose turnd pale with the horror to view the calamities occasioned by this dissention King Edward came to Durham and from thence sent the Earle of VVarwicke and others into Northumberland to reduce such Castles and forts as yet held out for King Henry which effected King Edward marched to Yorke King Henry shifting from place to place is at length discovered and in the manner of a notorious offender with his legges tyde under the horse belly without other company then Doctor Manning Deane of Windsor taken with him is by the Earle of Warwicke brought to the Tower of London a suddaine and strange alteration of estate when he that was the most potent Monark for Dominions that ever England had was not now the Master of a Molehill nor owner of his owne liberty so various are the changes and chances of this transitory life His distressed and disconsolate Queene with her sonne are driven once againe to fly for shelter into France K. Edward to raise some with ruine of others distributeth the Lands and Possessions of those that held with King Henry amongst his owne favorites and followers having the better to palliate his proceeding therein first made Proclamation that whosoever of the contrary faction would come in and submit should be received to grace and restored to their patrimonies King Edward having as it were a breathing from martiall imployments knowing that he was to deale with a people more easily to be drawne then driven addicted his courses altogether to endeer himselfe to their good affections and the better to settle in their minds a good opinion of his after-government he applied himselfe to accomplish those things whereof report had given out his predecessors have beene neglective in And first he began to set the beame even that was to carrie the scale of Iustice in equall point of right and to that end in Michaelmas terme in the second yeare of his raigne three dayes together hee sat publickly with his Iudges in Westminster-Hall on the Kings-bench to acquaint himselfe with the orders of that Court and the proceedings therein and to observe what deserved reformation in that Court either at bench or at barre He likewise ordered the Officers of his Exchequor to take more moderate fees and to be more intentive of their duties for the benefit of the subject then their owne unjust gaine And not under colour of preserving the Kings revenewes to enrich themselues and undor the subjects thereby wronging both King and people Then he complies himselfe to the multitude and publickly with such extraordinary shewes of unusuall congies and complements from a Soveraigne entertaines them That he thereby tyes their pliable tongues to set forth his uncessant commendation drawing out their loves to the largest extent He daily frequentes the Councell Table which he furnished for the most part with such as were most gracious amongst the Citizens and were most facile either to give dispatch or Court holy water to petitioners These he imployes about references and businesses of private consequence whilst misteries of state were intimated only to such whom he selected to be of his more private Cabinet Councell with whom now he adviseth how to encrease his forraine correspondence and advance his estate with some linck of faire alliance with such that might stand him instead and be a comfort or countenance in his proceedings as occasion should fall out For which purpose the fittest meanes is concluded to be some match to be made with France By which all meanes of succour might be withdrawne from his femall persecutor Queene Margaret and assistance drawne to persecute her husband and such as should oppose his Soveraignty For the better effecting whereof the Earle of Warwick is made choice of and imployed by the King into France to treate of a match betwixt King Edward and the Lady Bona daughter to Lewis Duke of Savoy and sister to the Lady Carlote Queene of France Vpon the first proposition this motion was readily embraced and was willingly assented unto on all parts And Mounseir Dampmortyn with some others are incontinently sent into England for the full accomplishment thereof but before his arrivall the game is changed and a new triumph turned For upon the first of May the King had taken to wife the Lady Gray the widdow of Sir Iohn Gray of Groby slaine at the last battaile of Saint Albons a Lancastrian she was daughter of Richard VVoodvile Baron of VVymington and Iaquet daughter of Peter of Luxenborough Earle of Saint Paul the widdow of Iohn Duke of Bedford sometimes Regent of France a sharer with her daughter of troubles to ensue upon their marriage for as the marriage of the mother gave the first cause of distast to the Duke of Burgoyne whose severing after from the English was partly if not principally the overthrow of our Conquest in France so this match of the daughter
by the space of a day and a night and never a Vessell appearing observing an hourely encrease of armed souldiers upon the Coasts by Poole being assured they were none of his partakers because no tokens before agreed upon at his approach to bee used were presented The wind blowing a fresh gale the Earle hoisteth sayle and returning toward France arrived in Normandy From whence he dispatcheth messengers to the French King Charles the eight by whom hee readily received a safe conduct together with a liberall quantitie of French Crowns to beare his charges on the way whereupon the Earle sent his shipping about whilst hee by easie journies came by land into Brittaine where hee received the newes of the Duke of Buckinghams death and the dispersing of the Confederates forces which somewhat troubled him at first But afterwards hee was much comforted at the sight of the Marquesse Dorset and those brave Commanders that were come with him And presently they enter into consultation what course was to bee taken in their beginning and progresse of the intended action amongst whom it was then generally concluded That King Richard as a Tyrant and a Traitour should be proscribed That Richmond should take upon him the Regall Dignitie then by Richard usurped That Richmond should publickly make a solemne protestation to take to Wife the Lady Elizabeth eldest Daughter of Edward the fourth That all the Nobles Gentlemen and others of the English Nation there present should doe homage and sweare allegiance to the Earle of Richmond as to their Soveraigne Lord And each to other enterchangeably give assurance upon the seale of their salvation alone and together with others to prosecute Richard and protect Richmond to the expence of the last drop of blood in their bodyes and the profusion of all their substances This thus concluded on upon Christmasse day before the high Altar in the great Church of Reimes the Earle of Richmond gave oath to marry the Lady Elizabeth immediatly after hee was quietly seated in the government of England And thereupon all the Lords and Knights there present the Bishop of Exceter showing them the way did doe him homage And in the same place each to other religiously did vow taking the Sacrament thereupon never to surcease prosecuting warre against Richard the Vsurper untill his deposition or destruction Relation hereof being made to the Duke of Britain he voluntarily made offer to furnish the Earle with all things necessary for the enterprise all things are accordingly providing in those parts whilst King Richard makes a diligent enquiry after all those that might bee suspected to bee favourers or furtherers of Richmonds association many of them are apprehended amongst whom Sir George Browne and Sir Roger Clifford with foure Gentlemen more are executed at London Sir Thomas Sentleger who had married Anne the Duke of Ezceters Widow the Kings owne sister and Thomas Rame Esquire were executed at Exceter And at an Assises held at Torrington for the Countie of Devon Thomas Marquesse Dorset and all such as were with the Earle of Richmond were indicted of high Treason and at the Parliament which presently followed all those so indicted were attainted and all their lands and good seized upon Thomas Lord Stanley is enforced to purge himselfe by oath and to sweare that hee then was altogether innocent of any trecherous practise against the King and unacquainted with any his Wives courses touching the succouring her Sonne yet neverthelesse hee is commanded to keepe her close and not to suffer any to have libertie to write to or confer with her A truce is concluded betwixt England and Scotland to continue for three yeares And for the better settling of amitie and concord betwixt the two kingdomes a Marriage is treated of betwixt the Duke of Rothsay the King of Scots eldest Sonne and the Lady Anne de la Poole King Richards Sisters Daughter formerly married to John de la Poole Duke of Suffolke John Earle of Lincolne the said Annes Brother King Richards Nephew is likewise the Daughters of Edward the fourth being excluded proclaimed heire of the Crowne of England Suspition seldome but slumbers never sleepes And a guiltie conscience is ever-more broad waking The jelousie of Richmonds Title and the horrour of King Richards conscience for the murther of his two innocent Nephewes so justly affright him that his sleepes are evermore interrupted with fearefull dreames insomuch that hee did often leape out of his bed in the darke and catching his sword which alwayes naked stucke by his side hee would goe distractedly about the Chamber every where seeking to find out the cause of his owne occasioned disquiet And in the day time hee alwayes would hold his hand upon his Ponyard as though hee would not bee behind-hand to requite the stroke of a sword with a stabbe his braines were still working and his cogitations hammering out strange stratagems for Massacres There must be no stone left unremoved whereupon Richmon might have footing Embassadours are sent to the Duke of Britaine with instructions upon any termes to procure or purchase his Person to bee delivered unto them But the Duke by extremitie of sicknesse was falne into that weaknesse that the Embassadours could have no audience Whereupon they addressed themselves to Peter Landoyes chiefe Treasurer to the Duke and his great Favourite They having found out the length of his foot by the experience of other mens successe that negotiated with him They so annointed him with oyle of Angels and large promises of the King of Englands ready willingnesse to make more ample satisfaction for any courtesie therein by him to be done That he resolutely undertaketh that the Kings pleasure shall bee in that point procured what injoyned this Treasurer that at Saint Mallowes not long before had countermined King Richards Enginers and preserved the Earle from the danger of the plotte That now hee should undertake to ingulph him in that quagmire from whence so lately hee had freed him cannot easily bee conjectured except that the eminencie of his place farre transcending his descent or desert had brought him into the generall hatred of those whom either hee by his inward power with the Duke had any wayes injured a course too common amongst those of like condition and qualitie or otherwise had not given that fulnesse of content that was expected And thrust him into the contempt of his betters by birth that scorned to have such a bubble to take place before them or into the envie of all such that would but could not obtaine like favour and preferment or into the hatred of the Commons who seldome or never thinke or speake well of Officers in like place that purchase their Masters favours by filling his coffers and emptying their purses And that hee could not devise a better meanes how to arme himselfe strongly against the machinations and excursions of such incertaine enemies but by the friendship and protection of so potent a Monarch as the King of
it so home that the adverse part not able or at lest not willing to endure the shock for the cause of quarrell in a Souldier encreaseth the courage or abateth the edge of resolution gave grownd which moved King Richard to bring on the maine battaile And with a desperat resolution entred so farre into the enemies battaile that with his own hands hee slew Sir William Brandon Richmonds chiefe standard bearer and unhorst Sir Iohn Cheney a strong and stout man at armes And at length encountring with the Earle of Richmond enterchanged some buffets But Henry ayded by the divine helpe and favoured with the uprightnesse of his cause with stood Richards forceable assault But whilst the armies on both sides stood striving in a doubtfull hazard who should win the price Sir William Stanley with three thousand fresh men crying S. George a Richmond joyned with his brothers Souldiers brake into King Richards battayle who thereupon fled incontinently leaving their King behind to make a bloody catastrophe of his slaughterly raigne who throughly enraged furiously fighting without discretion or ability to prevaile he fell under the sword of his enemies The rumor of his death and the rowting of the battaile gave occasion to the reregard Commanded by Henry Earle of Northumberland who rather wished then expected what did befall to submit without striking stroke whereby the victory fell to the Earle Richmonds part who upon certainty thereof instantly in most religious divotion gave order for publicke thanks giving to God for their happy preservation and he himselfe that gave the precept made himselfe the patterne therein alighting from his horse and kneeling upon his knees first privatly to himselfe and then publickly with the rest gave glory to his maker There were not above one thousand slaine on both sides the cheife of whom was Iohn Duke of Norfolke who was often warned and much laboured that day to forbeare the field in regard there was found written upon his tent-dore Iack of Norfolke be not to boold For Dickon thy Master is bought and sold. But what God had before appointed could not be prevented This Iohn Howard was the sonne of Sir Robert Howard knight and Margaret eldest daughter and coheire of Thomas Mowbray Duke of Norfolk in whose right he was created Duke of Norfolk the five and twentieth day of Iune in the yeare of our Lord 1483. He married two wives the first was Katherine daughter of William Lord Mullyns by whom he had issue one sonne and foure daughters Thomas that succeeded him and was created Earle of Surry in the first yeare of King Richard the third and was restored to grace and made Lord Treasurer in the sixteenth yeare of Henry the seventh and 1 Anne married to Sir Edmond Gorge knight 2 Isabell married to Robert Mortymer of Essex knight 3 Iane married to Thomas Tymperley Esquire and Margaret married to Iohn Windham of Cowtherck in Norfolk knight This Dukes second wife was Margaret daughter of Sir Iohn Chadworth knight by whom he had issue Katherine married to Iohn Bourcheir Lord Berners and no more Walter Lord Ferrers Sir Richard Ratcliff and Sir Robert Brackenbury knights with William Catesby an utterbarrister with some others were taken flying And shortly after executed at Leicester Francis Vicount Lovell and the two Staffords escaped and tooke Sanctuary in S. Iohns at Glocester Henry Earle of Northumberland submitting himselfe was not onely pardoned but received into favour whilst Thomas Howard Earle of Surry eldest sonne of Iohn Duke of Norfolk that then and there rendred himselfe as the other did to the conquerors mercy was committed close prisoner in Leicester and from thence sent to the Tower of London There were not on the Earle of Richmonds part above one hundred slaine the principall whereof was William Brandon This battaile was fought at Rodner neere Bosworth the two and twentieth day of August in the yeare of our Lord God 1486. After publicke thanks giving was as before prescribed orderly and religiously performed Earle Henry gave order to search amongst the slaine for such as were but wounded commanding those carefully to be drest and the other to be with decency on both sides buried The body of King Richard being amongst the slaughtered carkases found the whole armie gave a generall shoute and with loud acclamations of long live King Henry made the field ecchoe againe The Lord Stanly having in his custody King Richard the usurpers Crowne which amongst the spoyles his souldiers had found and brought to him placed the same on Earle Henryes head wherewith the souldiers reiterated their joyfull acclamations making the fields resound with long live King Henry of that name the seventh as if by their onely suffrages he had bin elected and confirmed King of England Here with the tent-keepers of the usurper came and submitted themselves to the Lord Stanly and brought with them young George Strange whom the usurper upon the Lord Stanlyes refusall presently to draw downe his forces to joyne with him had sworne before he went to dinner by the life of S. Paul to have had beheaded But was perswaded by his councell to forbeare the execution untill the battaile should be determined now being brought to the presence of his father The young Gentleman being thereto by his keepers instructed before craved the help of his mediation to the king for their pardon which was willingly undertaken and as easily procured From thence the camp presently removed and King Henry marched to the Towne of Leicester where for the more refreshing of his men and the better accommodation of himselfe for his journey towards the City of London he remained two dayes In the meane time the body of the usurper starke naked all mangled and besmeared with blood and dust without so much as the lest ragge to cover his privities was trussed behind Blanch Senigleer his owne Pursevant of armes like butchers ware his heads and his armes hanging on the one side of the horse his legs on the other and so was brought to Leicester where for a spectacle of hate and scorne by the space of two dayes he lay bare and uninterred At last by the Charitie of the Gray Fryers there without solemne funerall pompe scarce with ordinary solemnitie he was inhumed in their Monastery there he reigned two yeares two moneths and one day This Richard married Anne second daughter of Richard Nevill commonly stiled great Earle of Warwicke by whom he had issue Edward whom at twelue moneths old he created Prince of Wales but happily dyed before his father This Richard was borne at Fodringhay Castle in Northamptonshire the third sonne of Richard Duke of Yorke younger brother of George Duke of Clarence by him murdred in the Tower After the death of his brother King Edward the fourth he procured himselfe to be made Protector and guardian of his two Nephewes of whom he made himselfe the execrable murtherer For a fuller expression of his Character he was borne a monster in nature with all
his teeth with haire on his head and nayles on his fingers and toes with a viperous strength enforcing as it were his passage through his mothers wombe whom afterwards he shamed not to accuse of adultery but as one that then wrought journy-worke with the Divell his manners and qualities seconded the feature and lineaments of his body and members which were much deformed being hooke shouldred splay footed and goggle eyd his countenance sower the composure of his face little and round his complexion swarfie his left arme from his birth drye and and withered Nature supplied these deformities of the body with a strong brayne a quicke apprehension a good memory and a most fluent tongue which he seldome exercised but to the abuse of credulitie And with the sweetnesse of his delivery hee could so prevaile with such whom he ment to worke upon that he would ofentimes as it were infatuate them and enforce their beliefe of his oathes and protestations which were by Saint Paul and wishing God to damne him if hee did not performe his word which at the time of the speaking was no part of his thought sometimes against the hearers knowledge and conscience hee was neither morally honest nor religiously good He usd to make authority the stawking horse to his will and his will the sole commander of his conscience the largenesse whereof could without any scruple swallow murther of brother Nephewes wife and neerest friends nay attempt rape and incest with his owne brothers daughter yet did with artificiall dissimulation so cover his dishonest and abhominable intentions that not many could discover them Who or whatsoever opposed his aspiring pride or profitable pleasure was by his plotting cunningly and covertly taken away or removed Hee was so throughly perfect in the Hypocriticall art of simulation and dissimulation that hee would use most complement and shew greatest signes of love and courtesie to him in the morning whose throat he had taken order to be cut that evening He held it for a maxime in policy that halfe doing in any thing was worse then no doing And therefore whatsoever he once attempted hee went through with it howsoever it seemed to others unnaturall and unchristian He used the instruments of his bloudy plottes as men doe their Candles burne the first out to a snuffe and then having lighted another tread that under foote yet howsoever his birth were proaigious and life monstrous yet his death was not dishonorable For though his cause were bad he fought bravely and dyed fighting leaving behind an ample testimony of his great valour and little grace with the end of his raigne by the sword which he had used for the moving of civill dissention betwixt the two houses of Yorke and Lancaster which had beene so long drawne and so often bathed in the blood of Christians was happily sheathed And the passage to concord prepared whilst this poore Island that had beene imbroyled with warre and her companions had leasure to call to minde the many murthers stratagemes slaughters overthrowes and calamities which through their unnaturall division of the two Roses she had sustained and thereby she found that from the time that Richard Duke of Yorke who was slaine in the battaile at Wakefield seeking to anticipate the time allotted unto him by authoritie of the Parliament whereby the Crowne was entayled to him and his issue to gaine the possession thereof and from whence all those praerecited miseries did proceed untill the death of the usurper there were slaine fourescore Princes of the blood royall and twice as many natives of England as were lost in the two conquests of France The dissension that fell was betwixt the house of Yorke descended from Lionel borne at Antwerpe Duke of Clarence second sonne of Edward the third and the house of Lancaster issued from Iohn of Gaunt the third surviving but otherwise fourth sonne of the same King the first giving for his cognizance the white Rose the other the Red. Lionell Duke of Clarence married to his first wife Elizabeth daughter heire of William Burgh Earle of Vlster and to his second wife Violenta of Galens Viscount of Mislaine by his first wife he had issue Philip sole only childe which Philip was married to Edmond Mortimer Earle of March and Vlster who had issue by her 1 Roger March the fourth Earle of March 2 Sir Edmond Mortymer that married the daughter of Owen Glendore 3 Sir Iohn Mortymer beheaded 3. H. 6. 1 Elizabeth married to the Lord Percy stiled Hotspur Philip first married to Iohn Hastings Earle of Pembrook and afterward to Richard Earle of Arundel and lastly to Iohn Lord Saint-Iohn dyed without issue Roger the fourth Earle of March 1387. nominated by King Richard the second successor to the Kingdome of England who married Elianor daughter of Thomas Holland Earle of Kent by whom he had issue two sonnes and two daughters 1 Edmond his eldest sonne who succeeded him in the Earldome 2 Roger died leaving his father 1 Anne who was married to Richard Earle of Cambridge sonne of Edmond of Langley Duke of Yorke 2 Elianor married to Edward Courtney Earle of Devonshire Richard of Conisborough married Anne sister and heire of Edmond Mortymer and had issue Richard Duke of Yorke This Richard was the first mover of the faction against the the house of Lancaster the bearer of the red rose He married Ciceley the daughter of Ralph Nevill first Earle of Westmerland and had issue 1 Henry that dyed before his Father 2 Edward of that name the fourth King of England 3 Edmond Earle of Rutland slaine at Wakefield by the Lord Clifford 4 Iohn that all dyed young 5 William and 6 Thomas 7 George Duke of Clarence murdered as afore 1 Anne the eldest daughter was first married to Henry Holland Duke of Exceter and after to Sir Thomas Sayntleoger 2 Elizabeth married to Iohn de la poole Duke of Suffolke 3 Margaret married to Charles Duke of Burgundy 4 Vrsula never married and thus was the title of Yorke derived Iohn of Gaunt so named of the place where he was borne fourth sonne of King Edward the third married three wives the first 1 Blaunch daughter and coheire of Henry first Duke of Lancaster by whom he had issue 1 Henry Plantagenet borne at Bullingbrooke 1 Philip married to Iohn King of Portingall and 2 Elizabeth married to Iohn Duke of Exceter 2 The second wife was Constance daughter and one of the Coheires of Peter king of Castile by whom he had issue Katherine afterward married to Henry sonne of Iohn the King of Spaine 3 His third wife was Katherine daughter of Payne Ruet aliàs Guyen King of armes and the relict of Sir Otes Swinford knight by whom hee had issue but before marriage 1 Iohn surnamed Beauford Earle of Somerset 2 Henry Bishop of Winchester 3 Thomas Branford Earle of Dorset 1 Iohan Branford first married to Ralph Nevill first Earle of Westmerland and then to Robert Ferrers Lord of Ousley This
1384. R. 6. A subsidy demanded and denyed Commissioners appointed to receive the Susibdie The Lord Treasurer removed by Parliament Ann. 1386 R. 6. Anno. Dom. 1387. R. 9. An. 1387. R. 9. The King accompanieth the Duke of Ireland towards Wales A good office of the Bishop of London The Bishops sent to the Barons Ann. 1388 R. 10. The Lord Chancellors speech to the Lords Ann. D. 13â—… R. 10. Proceeding in the Parliament against Favourites The modesty of the Earle of Darby An oath exacted from the King An. 1389. R. 11. An. 1390. An expedition into Barbary Ann. 1392 R. 14. The priviledges of London seized into the Kings hands are abridged and part restored An. 1393. R. 15. An intervenew between the Kings of Fraâ—…ce and England An. 1396. Reg. 18. The Earle of Saint Pauls advise to the King Ann. 1396 R. 18. The Duke of Glocester betrayed Glocester murthered not executed The Earle of Arundel supposed a martyr An. 1398. Reg. 21. 5. Dukes created Ann. 1397 R. 21. Herefords complaint of the government to Norfolke An. 1397. R. 22. An. 1398. Reg. 22. 1. 2. 3. Ann. 1398 R. 22. An. 1399. R. 23. Archbish. Arundels speech to Henry Earle Henries answer The Duke of Hereford setteth forward The Duke of Hereford landeth in Holdernesse The Duke of Heref. sworne not to doe or suffer any violence to bee done to King Richard The Duke of Herefard entreth into Councell at London Warre proclaimed against King Richard Lancasters Oration The Lord Treasurer pursued to Bristoll The Treasurer with Sir Iohn Bushye surprised in Bristol Castle and afterwards executed The Sons of the Duke of Glocester and Lancaster imprisoned in Trim Castle in Ireland King Richard arriveth at Milford Haven Discouraged His Councellors disagree Lancaster marcheth towards the King The Lord Steward dissolveth the Kings houshold King Richard expostulateth with himself Consulteth with his followers A Parliament summoned by the Duke in the Kings name King Richards speech Lancasters easie conquest A fainâ—…d Title D. Lancaster layeth his claime to the Crowne The Duke of Lancaster accepted for King The Commissioners acquaint King Richard with the resolution of the House Edward the fourth crowned Ann. 1399 R. 1. The Bishop of Carliles Oration Deut. 17. 12. Rom. 13. 12. Sap. 6. Ann. 1399 R. 2. The Bishop committed Nobles degraded of then Titles Officers removed Ann. 1400 Reg. 2. Burbon soliciteth the inhabitants of Guyan to revolt The Earle of Worcester sent to Guyan The Abbot of Westminsters proceedings The Duke of Exceters perswasions to rebell The Conspirators plot The Duke of Yorkes speech to his Son The Duke of Aumerle discovereth the Conspiracy The King leaveth Windsor The Maior of London furnisheth King Henry with Archers Queen Isabels womanish course The Inhabitants of Ciceter assault the conspirators An. 1401. R. 2. An. 1401. R. 3. An. 1403. R. 3. The King married An. 1403. R. 3. An 1â—… 04. R. 4. A byting Subsidie Archiepisc. Parker fol. 257. In regist Simonis Larg fol. 12. Fox Martir fo 1100. Godwyn fol. 184. Continuator histo Ranulphi Antiquitates Britt fol. 257 Vbi supra Stowe 562. Isa. Worke fo 90. In the Colledge Libraty Ann. 1404 Reg. 5. The French Kings brothers challenge The French attempt Dartmouth and are repulsed The Kings third sonne with some forces land at Sluice Three Carricks of Genoa taken Northumberland and others with him rebell The Archbi Yorke perswades the people to rise against the King Westmerland circumvents the Archbish. of Yorke He is beheaded at Yorke Northumberland his partakers proclaimed Traytours Anno 1408. The Prince of Scotland taken prisoner and sent to the Tower 1408. An. 1408. R. 9. The Lord Camoys arraigned for treason is acquit by his Peetes 1408. 1410. A Petition by the Commons against the Bishops Meanes to maintaine Earles 150 Knights 1500 Esquires 6200. and an hundred Hospitalls of new to bee erected Sir Robert Vmphrevill tearmed Mend-market An. 1411. R. 11. The Prince of Wales removed from being President of the Councell From hence was the honorable ornament of the coller of S. S. worne by these in eminent places in remembrance of this Princes reconcilement to his Father devised The Prince presents himselfe to the King The King Prince reconciled The King having taken upon him the Crusado prepareth accordingly The death of Henry the fourth An. 1412. R. 12. 1. 2. 3. An. 1412. R. 13. 4. 2. Daughters Ann. 1413 R. 1. King Henry taketh leave of his antient companions The forwardnesse of the Nobilitie to tender their homage The Lord Oldcastle convented Oldcastle escapeth out of the Tower Ann. D. 1414 R. 1. Punishment of treason and heresie Ann. 1414 Reg. 1. An. 1414. R. 2. Motives for the King to lay claime to the Crowne of France Embassadors sent into France Embassadors sent to the Councell at Constance The King armes in France Harstew besieged Harstew taken The Peasants assayled King Henry Pro recuperatione sigilli sui The order of the battell of the French The Duke of Yorke leads the English Voward The beginning of the sight The disorder of the French The English having rowted the van charge the battaile of the French The French submit An. 1415. R. 3. Edward Plantagenet Duke of Yorke maried Philip daughter and coheire of Iohn Mahun Lord of Dunster but dyed without issue Michael de la Poolâ—… Earle of Suffolke died without issue also Ann. 1416 R. 4. The Duke of Glocester entertaineth the Emperour at Dover Harstew besieged by the French Relieved by the Duke of Bedford Penancâ—… done King Henry accompanieth the Emperour to Callice The Duke of Bedford made Regent The Earle of Huntingtons fortune at Sea Cane taken Boyeux taken The Kings good pollicie to allure the French Courfey Castle yeelded An. 1418. R. 4. Sees submits to K. Henry Falays taken 1418. A great storme 6. Reg. Ann. 1416 Reg. 6. Captaines made over severall places The Dolphin and Duke of Burgoigne reconciled Eureux besieged Loveirs besieged and rendred An. 1418. R. 6. New inventions for passage over waters Roane besieged The English Navy passeth the river The good service of the Irish. King Henryes charitie Ann. 1418 R. 9. Roane comes to composition Surrendred An Overture for an interview crossed by the Dolphins default An. 1419. R. 7. A Conspiracie in Roane discovered Ponthoys surprised by the English The English army severed into three parts French Embassadours sent to King Henry An. 1420. R. 8. King Henry sends to the Duke of Burgoyne King Henry giveth meeting at Troyes to the Queen King Henry affianced to the Lady Katherine The Duke of Burgoynes oath The Articles of agreement certified A League with the Duke of Burgoyne The creation of Garter principall King of armes The ratification of the agreement layed up in the Treasury at Westminster An. 1421. R. 9. Queene Katherine Crowned King Henryes Pietie The Duke of Clarence betrayed Robert Vmphrevile here slaine was both Earle of Argus and Kime 1421. A Parliament at Westminster King Henry returnes to France Dreux
haec licentia sit omninò irrita Gulielmus Haywood Capell dom RR. P. Archiep. Cant. A CONTINVATION OF THE HISTORY of ENGLAND Liber tertius RICHARD the Second RIchard the second borne at Burdeaux sonne of Edward the blacke Prince and Ioane the daughter of Edmond Earle of Kent and grandchild to Edward the third being eleven yeares olde was crowned King at Westminster the 21. day of Iune 1377. by Simon Sudbury Archbishop of Canterbury at the time of whose Coronation the Duke of Lancaster per nomen Iohannis Regis Castiliae Legionis Dux Lancasteur put his clayme as Earle of Lecester to have the place of Earle Marshall of England as Duke of Lancaster to carry the Sword at the Coronation called Curtana as Earle of Lincolne to be Carver that day all which to be executed by himselfe or his sufficient Deputie which with the fees thereunto belonging were confirmed unto him and hee accordingly did them and there in person execute the place of high Marshall at such years As this King was then of the minde of man is like unto the potters earth apt to be wrought into any fashion and then which way soever it hardeneth by custome it seldome swerves from the same The gouernance of the King at the first was committed to certaine Bishops Earles Barons and Iustices but either by nicenesse and feare of discontenting the King or negligence to discharge their duty or both every one was more ready to please him with delightfull conceits then with profitable counsell to doe him good for smoothe and pleasing speeches need small endevour and alwayes finde favour whereas to advise that which is most meet is a point of some paines and many if not most times but a thanklesse office Hereupon two dangerous evills did ensue Flattery brake in and private respects as eversince it hath done did passe vnder publike pretences At his Coronation he Created foure Earles Thomas Woodstocke King Edward the thirds youngest sonne Earle of Buckingham and Northampton Thomas Mowbray younger brother of Iohn Lord Mowbray was created Earle of Nottingham Gifford Angolisme a Gascoigne Earle of Huntington and Henry Piercie sonne of Henry Lord Piercy was Created Earle of Northumberland In the beginning of this Kings raigne the French on the one side and the Scots on the other did cruelly infest this Land the one making depredations in the Isle of Wight harying the same and attempting the Castle from whence they were manfully repulsed by a Captaine whose name I will forbeare because in some Authors I finde him stiled by another appellation The other forraged the Country round about and burnt the Towne of Rocksborough This course of each side spoyling the English they both French and Scots combining continued by sea untill Iohn Philpot Citizen and Alderman of London lamenting the misery of the times occasioned by common neglect of scouring the Coasts and scouring the seas whereby the Merchant durst not traffique abroad for feare of Pyrats which hovered in every corner but especially of one Mercer a Scottish Rover who had drawne together a great flect of French Scottes and Spaniards and with them did robbe and spoyle all they met and did great mischiefe complayned hereof to the Kings Councell and demonstrated to them the daily wrongs sustained by the sayd Mercer imploring their ayd but receiving from them no reliefe he at his owne proper costs victualed and manned forth a company of tall shippes himselfe in person going with them to sea and in short time tooke the sayd Mercer and recovered all the prises formerly taken with fifteene Spanish Bottoms well fraught with riches besides many French and Scottish ships For which action hee encurred the hard censure of most of the Noble men from whom hee seemed to have snatcht by this his fortunate attempt the native cognisance of true nobilitie Amongst whom Hugh Earle of Stafford nettled with the generall commendations given to Philpot for this designe publikely at the Councell table objected against him the vnlawfulnesse of the act without authoritie being but a private man to attempt to levy armes But Philpot with a kinde of vndaunted resolution not only justified the act as though not altogether lawfull yet very expedient being done for the honour of God and the King and the security of the republicke but retorted the objection of improvidence and slothfull neglect upon the Earle and the rest of the Councell so that they were much to seeke for a reply and hee returned with the generall applause of the Citizens and most of the Courtiers The King of France presuming of the Kings minoritie with some Spanish ayde landed in the Southwest part of England and ransackt and burnt the townes of Plymmoth Dartmoth Portsmoth Rye and diverse other Coast townes and marched further into the mayne untill by the Earle of Cambridge the Kings vncle and the Earles of Salisbury and Buckingham and their forces they were encountred and beat backe unto their shippes About that time also by the King of France his instigation Alexander Ramsey a brave Scot with forty of his country-men in the night surprised the Castle of Barwicke and intended to have falne upon the Towne But the inhabitants suspecting some treason by the noyse they have endevoured to prevent mischiefe hewed downe the stayes of the draw-bridge on the towne side so that when the Scots let fall the Bridge the chaynes breaking the Bridge fell into the ditch by meanes whereof the Scots were imprisoned by their owne conquest yet as well as they were able they fortified them in the Castle which presently was besieged and assaulted and though valiantly defended was with some losse at length surprised upon the taking whereof not one man but the Captaine Ramsey was spared In the third yeare of this Kings raigne it was concluded that to avoide unnecessary charge the tutelage of the King should bee committed but to one man and by the whole consent of the Parliament dissembled this office was deputed to Lord Thomas Beuchampe Earle of Warwicke and a competent pension was assigned him out of the Kings Exchequer for his paines and care thereabouts to be taken But the King being plunged in the gulfe of pleasure did immoderately bend himselfe to advance and favour such persons as were reprovable for life and generally condemned for deboshment and this was the cause of two great inconveniences for many of the younglings of Nobilitie observing the secret favours and distastes of the King gave over themselves to a dissolute and dishonest course which findeth some followers when it hath no furtherancers much more when it doth flourish and thrive by countenance and abetement The King also by favouring these was himselfe little favoured and lesse loved by many For it is as dangerous to a Prince to have evill and despised adherents as to be evill and despicable himselfe The chiefe actors in this scene were Nevill Archbishop of Yorke Robert Uear Earle of Oxford Michael Delapoole Robert
subjects blood The Lords were well pleased with his good will and favour which as by base and servile meanes they would not seeke being thus gotten they did highly esteeme yet they thought it the safest course not to separate themselves suspecting the mutabilitie of the King and the malice of their enemies of whom neither knew they where they were nor what they did intend and being persons of great wealth and greater power but most bent to hurtfull practises they were feared not without cause For the Duke of Ireland either by setting on or sufferance of the King was all this time mustering of souldiers in Cheshire or Wales where hee gathered an army both for number and goodnesse of men sufficient if another had beene Generall to have carried a side whereof the Lords advertised they divided themselves and beset the wayes by which the Duke should passe to London with an intent to encounter him before hee did increase his power and countenance his action with the name of the King The Earle of Darby met him at a place called Babbelake neere Burford where the Earles souldiers full of hearty courage disliking nothing more then delay thinking losse of time was a procrastinating of the victory came on bravely But the Duke being mutinous but not fit for action apter to stirre strife then stint it upon sight of their approach would have fled But Sir Thomas Mollineux an approved souldier Constable of Chester upon whose leading all that countrey men did depend perswaded the Duke that this was but a part of the forces led only by the Earle of Darby a man no way eminent and if they could not beare through that resistance it was in vaine to expect any atchievement of honour by armes Whereupon the Duke made stay but his faint spirits were moved by this speech rather to desire victory then hope it his souldiers also were dull silent and sad and such as were rather ready to interpret then execute the Captaines command They wind battaile but scarce ten ounces of blood was lost on both sides before the Duke of Ireland set spurres to his horse and forsooke the field his souldiers thereupon more out of indignation then feare refused their rankes yeelded to the Earle the honour of the field Sir Thomas Mullineux flying was ouertaken and slaine by Sir Thomas Mortimer the rest submitted themselves to the discretion of the conquerours making them the Lords of their lives and death yeelding was no sooner offered then excepted by the Earle who commanded that none should be reproched or ill intreated but the obstinate which was obeyed the souldiers willing to shew favour to their countrey-men who were led into this action partly upon simplicitie partly for company sake The Gentlemen and those of the better sort were retayned by the Earle the rest unarmed were licenced at their pleasure to depart The Duke in his flight was enforced to take a river and in the midst of the streame forsooke his horse and swam to the other side and by the benefit of the night escaped first into Scotland then into Flaunders and lastly into France from whence hee never returned his horse with his helmet and gauntlets with other abiliments of his were found whereupon it was generally conceived that hee was drowned and as in great uncertainties it often hapneth some affirmed they saw him dye with the manner thereof which other men either glad to heare or not too curious to search did easily beleeve His Trunke also was taken with certaine letters of the Kings therein the contents whereof were for his present repaire to London with all power and speed hee could make and the King would bee there ready to dye in his defence so unskilfull was the Kings government that to pleasure a few hee did not respect to give discontent to many The Earle of Suffolke hereupon disguised fled to Callice from whence hee never returned hee was a cruell spoiler and a carelesse spender in warre contemptible in peace insupportable an enemy to all counsell of others and in his owne conceit wondrously wise obstinately contentious of a quicke wit and ready speech both which hee abused to the cunning commending of himselfe and crafty depraving of others he was lesse loved but more heard of the King then the Duke the more hurtfull man and the more hatefull The Duke being indeed guilty of no great fault but the Kings excessive favour in their course of good and bad fortune both of them alike famous This Duke of Ireland was Robert de Vere the fourth of that name and ninth Earle of Oxford hee married Philip the Daughter of Ingeram de Guisnes by Isabel his wife the Daughter of Edward the third from whom he was divorsed and tooke to his second wife Lantegroine a Bohemian of an unknowne parentage but died without issue This Michael de la Poole Earle of Suffolke married Isabel Daughter of Sir Iohn Wingfield and had issue five sonnes Thomas William Michael Richard and Iohn and three daughters Margaret married to William Lord Ferrers of Groby Elizabeth and Anne The Archbishop of Yorke Iustice Tresilian and others of that faction ran every man like Conyes to their covert yea the King betooke himselfe to the tower of London and there made provision for his winter abode having all his courses now crossed first by rashnesse in taking of armes and afterward by cowardlinesse in maintaining them The Earles of Darby signified this successe to his associates by Letters but without vaunting his speeches also were moderate rather extenuating then extolling his fact but by stopping his fame it increased men esteeming his high thoughts by his humble words and his consent of greater attempts by contempt of this The Lords met and marched together to London whither with forty thousand men they came upon Saint Stephens day and first they shewd themselves in battaile array in the fields within view of the King then encamped in the Suburbs The Maior of London and his brethren came forth and offered the Lords free entertainment within the Citie but not accepted They give liberall allowance of victuall and necessaries to the souldiers This discord seemed to draw to a dangerous distraction of the Common-wealth the vanquished part being full of malice and the Conquerours of presumption the one wanting power the other right to command and rule The Archbishop of Canterbury and certaine others of the neutralitie fearing the sequell perswaded the King to come to a treaty with the Lords but hee made shew but of a slight regard he made of these dealings let them saith hee stay untill their numerous power have wearied them and eate out their provision and then we will finde a time to talke with them at my leasure But the Lords suspecting the devise stopt all passages and beset the Thames generally protesting not to depart without conference with the King face to face The King having neither strength to resist nor roome to scape consented to a treatie And to
King should take the revenews of his land untill he was satisfied of such sommes of money as hee had received out of the Kings coffers for the payment of the garrison of Calice And he further sayd That the King commanded upon paine of his high displeasure that no man from thenceforth should presume to petition the King in behalfe of either of those Dukes to alter this Decree The sentence thus read the King called the exiles before him and tooke of them a solemne oath that they should never converse together nor willingly come into each others company lest common discontent should draw first reconcilement and after desire of revenge But this pollicie is ever weake to prevent such purposes for oathes are often spurnd aside when they lye like rubbeâ—… to stoppe the way to honour or revenge Therefore the Princes of the Realme have with more safetie for the most part abolished the use of abjuration and either by death extinguish the power or by pardon alter the will of great offendors from entring into desperate and dangerous attempts which men in miserie and disgrace with more vehemency begin and with more obstinacy continue When the Samnites had so enclosed the Roman Legions that they had neither space to fight nor meanes to flye and without fight had enforced them to yeeld they sent for advise to one Pontius an antient Ruler of their State what to doe with them His answer was that the Romans should bee permitted to depart without losse or derision But this not pleasing those that were either cruell or covetous Pontius was the second time consulted with whose answer then was That the Romans should bee generally slaughtered and not one spared This contrarietie of advise brought Pontius into suspition of dotage which he suspecting came in person and maintained both to be advantageous The first by an unexpected favour might provoke the Romans to a perpetuall friendship the second would deferre the warres for many yeares The third Counsell quoth he there cannot be given that may be fafely followed yes say the Samnites to grant them their lives but to take away their armes and bootie This is a way replies old Pontius which can neither win friends nor weaken enemies but may increase fury but not diminish force So that that course of punishment is out of course which doth neither reclaime the minde of man nor restraine the might from mischievous endevours The Duke of Norfolke with great griefe and perturbation of minde now â—…ving it to bee true that greatnesse abused by whispering untruthes draweth if discovered certaintie of destruction departed into Almaine and from thence travailed to Venice where shortly after hee ended his dayes It is observed that this Duke was banished the same day of the yeare wherein the Duke of Yorke by his contriving was strangled at Calice The Duke of Hereford tooke his leave of the King at Eltham where foure yeares of his exilement were strooke off The Dukes deportment was with that moderation that in his countenance he made shew neither of sorrow or stupiditie and at his departure let not fall any either intemperate or unseemely sillable The Commons much lamented his departure not sparing to exclaime that it was against the Law of armes the custome of the Realme and all Iustice that hee should bee exiled who had honourably endevoured to maintaine his appeale according to the law of the field Their affection was the more excessive by reason the ground of his speech was against those that the people hated and he was the only survivor of the popular faction The Duke of Hereford sayleth to Callice and from thence to Paris where hee was honourably received by the King of France and in short time found that favour with him that hee was offered for wife the only Daughter of Iohn Duke of Berry Vncle to the French King But the King of England upon notice thereof made such meanes that the Mariage was stopt Many things hapned this yeare which were interpreted to presage the revolt of the people which hapned the yeare following observation likewise was taken that when King Richard brought his first wife with him out of Beanne shee was no sooner on shore but such a tempest arose as the like thereof had not beene seene in many yeares before wherein many shippes and amongst them the ship the Queene came in was cast away The like storme and the like losse did betide when the King brought his second wife out of France Many prodigies are likewise storied to appeare about these times both strange and fearefull I dare not avouch them all to be true neither will I detract all truth from such things so antiently reported Many are perswaded that these things which are fatally allotted though they are unavoidable yet are they some times foreshowne not so much that we may prevent them as that we should prepare our selves against them About this time died Iohn of Gaunt Duke of Lancaster who was buried on the North side of the high Altar of the Cathedrall Church of Saint Paul in London he was a man advised and wary liking better safe courses with reason then happy by hazzard neither unrespective nor ambitiously carefull of his owne glory Hee carried himselfe towards the King in termes honourable enough for a moderate Prince and yet not so plausible as an uncollected man might desire whereby nothing hapned unto him extraordinary either in prejudice or preferment This Iohn of Gaunt so named of the place where hee was borne fourth sonne of Edward the third did write in his stile Iohn sonne to the King of England Duke of Aquitaine and Lancaster Earle of Richmond of Darby Lincolne Leicester and high Constable of England hee married three Wives Blanch Daughter and coheire of Henry first Duke of Lancaster by whome hee had issue Henry afterwards King of England Philip married to Iohn King of Portugal Elizabeth married to Iohn Holland Duke of Exceter His second wife was Constance daughter and one of the Coheires of Peter King of Castile by whom he had issue Katherinâ—… married to Henry son of Iohn King of Spaine His third Wife was Katherine daughter of Payne Rurt King of armes and Widow of Sir Otes Swinford Knight by whom hee had issue Iohn Bewford Earle of Somerset and Marquesse Somerset Henry Bewford Bishop of Winchester Thomas Bewford Earle of Dorset and Duke of Exceter Ioane married to Ralph Nevill Earle of Chester and afterwards to Robert Ferrers Lord of Ousley all these Children though borne before espousall by a Bull from Rome were made legitimate hee lyeth buryed in Pauls After his death the Dutchy of Lancaster did lineally descend to his eldest sonne the Duke of Hereford But as the nature of man is prone to hate those whom hee hath injured the King seized all the lands and goods of the deceased Duke and endevoured to perpetuate the banishment of the young Duke revoked the Letters patents granted and consented unto
King answered that hee little regarded titular circumstances but contented himselfe with hope that his Cousin would bee a gratious Lord and good friend unto him and accordingly upon the day appointed which was upon the day of the translation of King Edward the Confessour the Duke of Hereford with all accustomed Ceremonies was by the Archbishop of Canterbury sacred and annointed and Crowned upon the very same day that the yeare before hee had beene banished the Realme Hee was annointed with an oyle which a religious man had given to Henry the first Duke of Lancaster grandfather to the King by the Mothers side when hee served in the warres of King Edward the third in France together with this Prophesie that those Kings which should bee annointed therewith at their Coronation should bee the Champions of the Church Duke Henry delivered this Oyle in a golden Violl to Prince Edward eldest Sonne of King Edward the third who locked up the same in a barred Chest in the Tower with a ticket of the prediction with intent to bee therewith at his Coronation annoynted But hee dying before his Father it remained there either not remembred or not regarded untill this present yeare wherein the King being on his voyage into Ireland and making diligent search for the Iewells and Relickes of his Progenitors found this Violl and Prophesie And understanding the mistery thereof was desirous to bee annoynted againe with that oyle But the Archbishop of Canterbury perswaded him that both the fact was unlawfull and the president never seene that a King should be annointed twice Whereupon the King tooke the Violl with him into Ireland and when he yeelded himselfe at Flint The Archbishop of Canterbury demanded it of him and receiving it reserved the same untill the Coronation of Henry the fourth who was the first King that ever was annoynted therewith To discourse either of the authoritie or certaintie of these Prophesies I presume not but this is observed many of them faile or are fulfilled in another sense then as they are ordinarily conceived and taken During the time of this Kings raigne execution by fire was first put in practise within this Realme for Controversies in point of religion in any other matter hee did make the Church as much Champane as show himselfe Champion of the Church But afterwards his successors were entituled Defenders of the Faith And how in action the first receiver of that Title did verifie the same I referre to the report of those times Vpon mature consideration it was found that the title derived from Edmond surnamed Crouchbacke to Henry would upon examination appeare but a jeere for that the said Edmond was neither eldest Sonne to Henry the third nor yet a deformed person but a proper Gentleman and a brave Commander in the field and so respected of his Father that hee gave him both the heritage and honours of Simon Mumford Earle of Leicester of Ferrare Earle of Darby and of Iohn Baron of Monmoth who to their owne ruine had displayed seditious ensignes against the King under which Leicester was slaine at the battaile of Euesham and to engratiate him to Blaunch the Queene of Navarre hee first Created him Earle of Lancaster and gave unto him the Countie Castle and towne of Lancaster with the Forrests of Wiresdale Lonsdale Newcastle beneath the Linne the Mannor Castle and Forrests of Pickering the Mannor of Scalby the Towne of Glocester of Huntingdon c. and made him high Steward of England with many priviledges and other titles of Honour Therefore King Henry upon the day of his Coronation caused to bee Proclaimed that hee claimed the Crowne of England first by right of Conquest Secondly because King Richard had resigned his estate and designed him for his Successor Lastly because he was of the blood royall and next heire male to King Richard Haeres malus indeed cryed Edmond Mortimer Earle of March to some of his familiars and so is a Pirat to a Merchant when hee dispoyleth him of all that ever hee hath This Edmond Earle of March was Sonne to Roger not long before slaine in Ireland and had beene publickly declared heire to the Crowne in case King Richard should have died without issue as descended by his Mother Philip from Lionel Duke of Clarence who was elder Brother to Iohn Duke of Lancaster King Henryes Father and therefore the said Edmond thought himselfe as in truth he was neerer heire Male to succession of the Crowne Then hee that by colour of right clayming it carried it by dint of force But the condition of the time was such that hee supposed it was in vaine for him to stirre where King Richard could not stand whereupon he dissembled either that hee saw his wrong or that hee regarded it and chose rather to suppresse his Title for a time then by untimely opposing himselfe to have it oppressed and depressed for ever he withdrew himselfe therefore from London to his Lordship of Wigmore in the West parts of this Realme and there settled himselfe to a quiet and retired life hee counted it a point of wisdome to meddle with nothing whereof any man was chargeable to render account in revenewes he was not great in apparell moderate in company and traine not excessive yet in all these honourable and according to his degree so that they that esteemed men by the outward apparance only could see in him no great show of witte or courage to be feared or of wealth or honour in his estate to bee envied And thus whilst that a greater enemie was feared hee passed unregarded making himselfe safe by contempt where nothing was so dangerous as popular opinion and raked up those coles in securitie for a time which afterward set all the Realme on fire King Richard being now deposed was sent after his resignation to Leeds in Kent but afterwards to Pomfret Castle where wee leave him THE LIFE AND RAIGNE OF KING HENRY THE FOVRTH HENRY surnamed Bullingbrooke Duke of Hereford and Sonne of Iohn of Gaunt Duke of Lancaster fourth Sonne of King Edward the third beginning his Raigne the 29. of September 1399. presently after his Coronation Created his eldest Sonne Lord Henry being about thirteene yeares of age Prince of Wales Duke of Cornwall and Earle of Chester and soone after Duke of Aquitaine hee made also many new officers his second Sonne Thomas he made Lord high Steward of England appointing the Earle of Worcester his Assistant during the minoritie of the said Thomas the Earle of Northumberland Lord high Constable the Earle of Westmerland Marshall of England He was Crowned at Westminster the thirteenth of October following being Munday the day kept in cōmemoration of St. Edward the Confessor The Dukes of Yorke Surrey Albemarle with the Earle of Glocester bare the Canopie over him which office the Barons of the Cinqueports doe at this day execute Sir Thomas Dymock was Champion and armed cap-a-pe road about the Hall challenging any that should gainsay the Kings
was notwithstanding made a partner in the punishment For King Henry observing how farre the Lords might have prevailed with their late stratagem for if their stomacks had beene but answerable to their strength and their bold beginning had not ended in faintnesse and sloth they might have driven him to an hard hazard hee caused King Richard to bee put to death thereby to make sure that no man should cloke open rebellion under the colour of following sides nor countenance his Conspiracie either with the person or name of King Richard But whether hee did expresly command his death or no it is a question but out of question he showed some liking and desire to the action gave approvement thereto when it was done The report went that King Richard was Princely served every day with abundance of costly dishes but was not suffered to touch or taste one of them and so perished with famine I perswade my selfe this is meerely fabulous for such barbarous and unnaturall cruelty against a King and a kinsman is not likely to proceed from King Henry a Christian But it is more probable which a Writer about those times affirmeth That King Henry sitting at his Table sad and pensive after a deepe sigh said Have I never a faithfull friend that will ridde me of him whose life will breed destruction to mee and disquiet to the Realme and whose death will bee a meanes of safetie and quiet to both And how can I be freed from feare so long as the cause of my danger doth continue what securitie what hope shall we have of peace unlesse the roote of rebellion bee plucked up A Knight called Sir Pierce of Exton hearing this with eight of his followers posteth to Pomfret and pretending warrant from the King had entrance into the Castle where hee commanded the Esquire who sued to King Richard to surcease his service whereupon when King Richard being set at Table saw that hee was not served as afore with assay and demanded of the Esquire the reason of this his neglect of dutie therein Hee was answered that Sir Pierce had brought such order from King Henry comming lately from the Court Richard moved with this act and answer said The divell take thee and Henry Duke of Lancaster with that Sir Pierce with his Retinew before him entred into the Chamber and locked the dore after them Whereupon King Richard spying their drift and suspecting his owne danger stepped couragiously to the first man and wresting the Halbert out of his hands therewith slew foure of his mischievous assaylants and with admirable resolution fought with the other untill comming by the Chayre wherein the King used to sit in which the cowardly Knight himselfe was got for his owne safetie he was by him strucken with a Pollax on the hinder part of the head who being at the point of death groned forth these words Edward the second my great Grandfather was in this manner Deposed imprisoned and murthered whereby my Grandfather Edward the third obtained the Crowne and now is this punishment fallen upon mee his next Successor This is right for me to suffer but not for you to doe your King may for a time joy at my death and injoy his desire but let him qualifie his pleasure with expectation of the like justice for God who measureth all our actions by the malice of our mindes will not suffer this violence to passe unrevenged whether these words did proceed from a distempered desire or from the judgement of his fore-sight they were not altogether idle Sir Pierce expecting great rewards for his ungratious service was frustrate of both and not only missed that countenance for which hee hoped but lost that which before hee had so odious are crying sinnes even to him for whom they were committed Hereupon at first hee grew discontented and afterwards tormented in conscience and in a rage would often exclaime that to pleasure one ungratefull person hee had made both himselfe and posteritie infamous and odious to all the world King Henry with disquiet held the kingdome during his life and so did his Sonne King Henry the fift in whose time by continuall warre with France the malice of the humor was otherwise exercised and spent But his second Successor King Henry the sixt was dispossessed thereof and together with his young Sonne Prince Henry imprisoned and put to death either by command or connivence of Edward the fourth and hee also escaped not free for hee dyed not without many and manifest suspitions of poyson And after his death his two sonnes were disinherited imprisoned and butchered by the Vsurper the Duke of Glocester who was slaine at Bosworth field and so in his person having no issue the Tragedy ended These are excellent examples both to comfort them that are oppressed and of terror to violent oppressors That God in his secret judgement doth not alwayes so certainly provide for our safetie as revenge our wrongs and oppressions and that allour unjust actions have a day of payment and many times by way of retaliation even in the same manner and measure they were committed Thus as most of the chiefe Writers doe agree was King Richard by violence brought to his end although all Historians agree not of the manner of the violence Hee was a man of personage rather well proportioned then tall of gracefull and comely presence of good strength and no abject spirit but the one by ease the other by flattery were much abused and abased hee deserved many friends but found but few because hee bought them by his bounty not sought them by vertuous behaviour hee was infortunate in all his actions which may bee imputed to his slothfull carelesnesse for hee that is not provident can seldome prosper for his loosenesse will lose whatsoever fortune or other mens labours doe cast upon him Hee lived three and thirty yeares and raigned two and twenty in his younger yeares he was too much ruled by greene heads little regarding the counsell of the grave and judicious Councellors which turned to the disquiet of the Realme and his owne destruction Hee married two wives the first was Anne the Daughter of Charles the fourth and Sister of Winceslaus King of Bohemia shee was crowned Queene the twenty two of Ianuary 1384. but dyed without issue The second wife was Isabell Daughter of Charles the sixt King of France an infant of seven yeares of age who after his death was returned into France but without Dower because the mariage was never consummate for want of copulation The Lord Henry Piercy had the conveying of her over in Anno 1401. His dead body was embalmed and seared and covered with leade all save the face and carried to London where hee had a solemne obsequie kept in the Church of Saint Paul the King being present and the chiefe Companies of the Citie From thence hee was conveyed to Langley Abby in Buckinghamshire and there obscurely interred by the Bishop of Chester the Abbots of
Saint Albones and Waltham without presence of the Nobilitie or confluence of the Commons and without the expence of a dinner after the celebrating of the Funerall But Henrie the fift caused his body to bee taken up and removed to Westminster and there interred amongst the Ancestors with Queene Anne his first wife in expiation of his Fathers violent and unfaithfull dealing it was not amisse in regard of the Common-wealth that hee was dead yet they who were actors in his death had small reason to reckon it among their good deeds These accidents attend such Princes as being absolute in power will bee too resolute in will and dissolute in life Humphry the Sonne and heire of the Duke of Glocester in his returne out of Ireland where King Richard had left him prisoner dyed of the plague at Chester the newes whereof kild the Dutchesse his Mother about this time dyed Thomas Mowbray the exiled Duke of Norfolke who had outlived his honour hee married two wives both named Elizabeth the first the Daughter of the Lord Strange who dyed without issue the second Sister and coheire of Thomas Fitzâ—…llayne Earle of Arundel by whom hee had issue Thomas and Iohn Margaret and Isabell. In this yeare also deceased Iohn Duke of Britaine who had taken a Wife Mary Daughter to King Edward the third but by her hee had no issue Also this yeare dyed Edmond Duke of Yorke surnamed of Langley the first sonne of Edward the third his reputation hee kept unblemished and honour untainted hee was not carelesse of good fame nor greedy of greatnesse wary and circumspect in his behaviour not desirous of other mens wealth nor too parcimonious of his owne hee did not by obstinate opposing himselfe against the torrâ—… of the time rashly hazard his fame or fall but by moderation attained safely that degree of praise which others aspiring unto by desperate courses wonne an ambitious death without further profit Hee married two Wives the first was Isabell second Daughter and coheire of Peter King of Castile by whom hee had issue Edward Duke of Albemarle Richard Earle of Cambridge and Constance first married to Thomas Spencer Earle of Glocester and afterwards to Thomas Holland Earle of Kent his second Wife was Ioane Daughter of Thomas Holland Earle of Kent and Sister and coheire of Edmond Earle of Kent but by her had no issue King Charles though Lucidus per intervalla yet sensible of dishonour moved with his Daughters disgrace made preparation to invade England and brought downe his Army into Piccardy but upon the certaine relation of King Richards death hee gave over the enterprise and sent over Embassadours into England to treate or rather intreate that his Daughter with her Dowry might bee restored to him againe King Henry gave them audience and answer that hee would speed Commissioners to Callice to commune and conclude with them both of this and other waighty affaires concerning both the Realmes whither hee sent Edward Duke of Yorke and Henry Earle of Northumberland The French King sent the Duke of Burbon and certaine others to Bulloigne These Commissioners often met sometimes at one place some-times at the other The Frenchmen instantly required their Kings Daughter to bee restored without the doing whereof they had no order to treat of any thing The Englishmen made a proffer to have a match betwixt Prince Henry and the Lady alleaging that there was no disparagement of birth nor disparitie of yeares betwixt them but thereto they would give no consent neither would they agree to the proposition of a perpetuall amitie But in the end it was concluded that Queene Isabell should bee redelivered to her Father but sauns Dowry because the marriage betwixt her and King Richard was never consummate by reason whereof she was not Dowable upon the Treatie of the marriage the surcease from Armes was agreed upon in King Richards dayes for thirtie yeares which was now mutually confirmed for the terme of these yeares unexpected Shortly after King Henry sent the Lady Isabella under the conduct of Thomas Lord Piercy Earle of Worcester in royall estate to Callice being accompanied with a brave troope of honourable Personages of both sexes shee carried with her all the Iewells and Plate which she brought into England with a great surplusage of rich gifts bestowed upon her by the King At Callice shee was received by Valerian Earle of Saint Paul Lieutenant in Picardy and by him conducted to her Father who afterwards gave her in marriage to Charles sonne to Lewis Duke of Orleans and so was rest or rather respite of warre in France procured But the fire and fury of the late sedition was hardly quenched when the Welchmen upon advantage of the doubtfull and unsettled estate of King Henry brake forth into a defection before the King could either lay the groundworke of his Authority or the people frame themselves to a new obedience and having beene taught that common causes must bee maintained by concord they sought by assemblies to establish an association and to set up their owne principalitie againe They Created for their Prince Owen Glendor a fellow of a turbulent spirit and factious disposition and apt to stirre up sedition and strife and though hee was of no great estate by birth he was stout in stomacke of an aspiring spirit and wit somewhat above the ordinary ranke of those untrained people bold crafty agile and as hee liâ—…t to bend his minde mischievous or industrious in equall degree in desires immoderate and rashly adventurous more desirous to doe then circumspect what to doe in his younger yeares hee was a student at the Innes of Court at London and being incensed by a verdict given against him for tithe of land betwixt him and the Lord Gray of Ruthin and by nature being a man not of the mildest disposition by this provocation hee was made savage and rough and determined either to repaire or revenge his losse by setting the whole State on fire Also his expences had beene too excessive for a great man to continue which brought him to barenesse too base for a meane man to endure and therefore hee was necessitated to doe or dare something more then ordinary And more danger hee thought there was in orderly dealing then in hazarding rashly and now opportunitie is presented for troublesome times are most fit for such attempts And some likelihood there was whilst the King and his Nobles were at variance that harme might bee easily wrought to them both upon these causes his desires were founded and upon these troubles his hopes But that his ambitious humour might beare some pretext of honest meaning hee pretended to his Countrymen the recovery of their freedome the desire whereof is so naturally pleasing That birds will rather live hardly abroad in the cold fields then bee daintily dieted in a warme cage and that now occasion was fitly offered or else never to bee expected to ridde them of their servilitie falsly entituled peace whilst the Kings
power was wayning and the other not yet fully waxen either being growen weak by wasting other neither was there any oddes which did prevaile sith the warre touched both alike insomuch that warre would ruine the one and victory the other and like the Vulture sitting on the tree whilst the Beare and Lyon fought they need not feare prey if either fell Thus hee exhorted them to take courage and armes And for the introduction to kill all the English within their territories for libertie and Lords were incompatible Then to resume their antient Lawes and Customes whereby more then by armes Common-wealthes are confirmed and continued established and inlarged so should they bee a Nation uncorrupt without commixture of forraine manners or blood and so forgetting servitude they might either live at libertie or be lords over others upon this many flocked unto him the better sort for love of libertie other in hope of bootie insomuch that in short time hee had under his command a competent army where with to take the field and to make some proofe of his souldiers resolution hee set upon his old adversary the Lord Gray slew many of his men and tooke him prisoner yet promised him releasement if hee would take his Daughter to wife But the Lord at first did not so much refuse as skorne the offer saying Hee was too old to bee a Ward to have his marriage obtruded upon him Well quoth Owen though you bee not my Ward yet you are in my ward and your Ouster le maine shall cost you double the Marriage money you shall procure elsewhere The Lord Gray seeing no orher meanes of his deliverance at length accepted the condition and tooke the Damsell to wife yet his death preceded his enlargement The Welchmen proceed and breake into the borders of Hereford shire doing much spoyle therein against whom Edmond Mortimer Earle of March withdrawne for his quiet to Wigmore Castle with the Gentlemen of the Countrey to him assembled did drawe head betweene whom was a cruell conflict not in forme of a loose skyrmish but making a maine stand they endevoured by might and maine to breake and beare down each other The courage and resolution on both sides was equall but the Welch exceeded in number and direction for they were commanded by one knowne Leader who with his presence every where assisted at need inciting his souldiers some with shame and reproofe others with praise and encouragement all with hope and large promises But the English had no certaine Generall but many confused Commanders yea every man was a Commander to himselfe pressing on or drawing backe as courage or feare did move Insomuch that they had taken a great blow that day by ill-governed boldnesse had not Glendor upon their beginning to rowte ceased to pursue the execution showing himselfe more able to get a victory then skilfull to use it But his men being most wounded all weary the night approching and being in his enemies country may in good judgements quit him from that aspersion The night befriended the English with liberty to retire without running away no man appearing to follow the chase They lost about a thousand men who sold their lives at such a rate that when manhood had done the worst against them some mannish or rather divellish women whose rage and malice are implacable and immortall exercised a vaine but barbarous revenge upon their dead bodyes first by stripping them then cutting off their privy parts and noses the one they stuffed into their mouthes and pressed the other betweene their buttocks yet would not suffer their carkasses thus mangled to bee buried untill they were ransomed by a summe of money by which unheard-of cruell covetousnesse the faction lost reputation and credit with the moderate sort of their owne people who had reason to suspect that it was not libertie but licentiousnesse which was desired And that subjection to such inhumane mindes would be more insupportable then any bondage In this conflict the Earle of March was taken prisoner and kept close in a darke dungeon which was cold and dampish where hee was overburdened with daily wants and much misery which were with the greater extremity and in more abundance inflicted upon him that thereby King Henry his kinsman should be the sooner perswaded to redeeme and ransome him hee was earnestly solicited by many of the Nobilitie but principally by his Kinsmen the Piercies for to procure his enlargement but the King could not heare of that eare hee could have beene well contented that his Sisters had beene with him there or that all three were in heaven For then the only blemish of his Title had beene covered over so that it appeared thereby that he more desired his destruction then to procure his deliverance Glendor by his prosperous successe was growne now more hard to bee dealt withall proceeding further to invade the Marshes on the West side of Severne where hee burnt many Townes and slew much people and returned with prey and praises of his adherents where ever hee came now hee found that weake resistance that hee seemed rather to exercise a spoyle then a warre King Henry being then detained with his chiefest forces in an other more dangerous service which besides these former vexations and hazards this first yeare of his raigne had happened unto him For the Scots knowing that changes of Princes raignes was a time most apt for depredations attempts taking advantage of the absence of all the chiefe English borderers partly by occasion of the Parliament and partly by reason of the Pestilence which was that yeare very hot in the North parts of the Kingdome They made a roade into the Countie of Northumberland and there did much harme they surprised the Castle of Waroke the Captaine whereof Sir Thomas Gray was one of the Knights of the shire for that Parliament which they held awhile and then plundred and dismantled it and departed in requitall whereof the English invaded burnt and spoyled certaine Ilands of Orckney whereupon the Scots set forth a fleet under the conduct of Sir Robert Logon with direction to attempt as occasion should bee offered he purposed to have begun upon our Fishermen but by the way hee was encountred by certaine shippes of Linne and the greatest part of his fleet was sunke or taken Thus though peace continued still betweene both the Realmes yet a kind of theevish hostilitie was daily practised which after brake forth into open warre upon this occasion George of Dunbar Earle of the Marches of Scotland had affianced Elizabeth his Daughter to David the Sonne and heire apparant of Robert King of Scots and in consideration of marriage shortly to bee celebrated hee had delivered into the Kings hands a great summe of money for his Daughters portion But Archibald Earle of Dowglasse disdaining that Donbars blood should bee preferred before his so wrought with the King that Prince David refused the Earle of the Marches Daughter and tooke to wife Mariel daughter
round about The Scots under the leading of Archibald Dowglasse about the number of twenty thousand with barbarous crueltie entred into Northumberland making havocke by the way but at a place called Homildon they were encountred by the English under the leading of Henry Lord Piercy surnamed Hotspur and George Earle of March on holy-rood day in harvest who put them to flight and tooke prisoners after the slaughter of ten thousand of them five hundred whereof Mordack Earle of Fife the sonne of the Generall who in the fight lost one of his eyes Thomas Earle Murry Robert Earle of Angus the Earles of Atholl and Mentits were chiefe and amongst the slaine were Sir Iohn Swinton Sir Adam Gordon Sir Iohn Leviston Sir Alexander Ramsey of Dalehowsey and twenty three other Knights Piercy having put his prisoners in safe keeping entred Tividale wasting all in the way and there besieged the Castle of Cockclawes of which Sir Iohn Greenlow was Captaine who upon condition that if hee were not relieved within three moneths compounded to surrender the Castle The first two moneths were past and no reskue nor likelihood thereof appeared But before the expiration of the third moneth the souldiers were sent for to attend the King in his expedition as before against Glendour and so they raised the siege and departed with a plentifull bootie The French King to backe Glendour in his trayterous designes not so much for love of him as hatred to King Henry sent twelve hundred men of qualitie to bee Captaines and Commanders to those rebellious disorderly troopes but the windes were so contrary and the violence of the storme such that they lost twelve of their best ships with their fraught and the rest with great difficultie returned to France The English deriding the whilst the French Kings ill successe whose enterprises though they threatned much yet they alwayes vanished to nothing The report whereof so exasperated his resolutions that forthwith hee sent into Wales twelve thousand men who safely landed and joyned with the Welch But upon notice of the English Armies approach suspecting their owne strength or their partakers fidelitie amazed and heartlesse they ran to their shippes and without any service done disgracefully turned home King Henryes Embassadours lately sent into Britaine for the Lady Iane de Navar Dutchesse of Britaine the relict of Iohn de Mountford surnamed the Conqueror with whom the King by procurators had contracted matrimony in the beginning of February returned with her in safetie The King met her at Winchester where the seventh of February the Mariage was solemnized In the meane time Valerian Earle of St. Pauls out of a malitious hatred to King Henry with seventeene hundred men of warre from Harâ—…ew landed in the Isle of Wight where burning two Villages and some few Cottages in token of triumph hee made some Knights But hearing the people of the Island to have assembled hee hasted to his shippes and retired About that time Iohn Earle of Cleremont the heire of Bourbon wonne from the English the Castles of Saint Peter and Saint Mary and the new Castle The Lord de la Bret wonne the Castle of Calafyn of great consequence for the honour of England to bee questioned The Piercies Earles of Northumberland and Worcester with Henry Hotspur which in the initiation of King Henryes attempts had beene both advisers and coadjutors about this time began to turne retrograde to obedience their reason was for that the King not only refused at their request to redeeme their kinsman Mortimer from Glendours slavery though often by them and their friends to that purpose solicited But likewise contrary to the law of the field and Martiall custome as they pretended had challenged as of right pertaining to him all such prisoners as by their martiall prowesse had beene taken of the Scots either at Homeldon or Nesbyt of which they formerly whether of curtesie or duty by them it was disputable only had delivered unto him Morduk the Duke of Albanyes sonne Neverthelesse they came to the King at Windsor where of purpose to prove him they required that either by ransome or otherwise hee would procure the liberty and inlargement of their cousin german Edmond Mortymer â—…avishly shackled and abused as they affirmed for being true to him The King made answer That the Earle of March was not taken prisoner in defence of his Title nor in his service but willingly suffered himselfe to bee taken because he would not withstand the attempts of the Traytor Owen and his Complices and therefore neither would relieve nor ransome him Whereupon Henry Hotspur brake forth and in passion said The heire of the Realme is bereaved of his right and the robber will not allow him part of his owne for his redemption and therewith the Piercies departed the Kings presence and presently procured Mortymers delivery and to adde more waight to King Henrye's displeasure they entred into a league offensive and defensive with Glendour And by their Proxies in the house of the Archdeacon of Bangor they agreed upon a tripartite Indenture under their hands and seales respectively to bee made to divide the Kingdome into three parts whereby all England from Severne and Trent South and Eastward was assigned for the portion of the Earle of March all Wales and the lands beyond Severne Westward were assigned to bee the portion of Owen Glendour and all the remainder of land from Trent Northward to bee allotted to Lord Piercy This was devised or advised say some by Glendour whom they would make a Southsayer by occasion of a Prophesie as though King Henrie was the Mowldwarpe cursed of Gods owne mouth and they three must bee the Lyon the Dragon and the Wolfe which should divide the land among them But the event proved those blinde fantasticall dreames of the Welch Southsayers to bee Deviationes non divinationes In the meane time King Henry not acquainted with these Conspiracies caused a Proclamation to bee made intimating thereby that the Earle of March had voluntarily caused himselfe to bee taken prisoner That the Rebells having him in their custody and company might pretend some colour wherewith to varnish such conspiracies as secretly they had complotted and contrived against his Crowne and him And therefore his discretion for his safetie advised him not to hearken to any motion for his being redeemed Hereupon the Piercies assisted with a company of Scots whom they by setting their Scottish Prisoners at libertie had procured drew to their partie the Earle of Stafford and Richard Scroope Archbishop of Yorke brother to the beheaded Earle of Salisbury and many others and with them purposed to joyne with the Captaine of the Welch And to set the better glosse to their treasonable attempts they framed by way of accusation certaine Articles against the King which they published and to this effect sent them unto him in writing Articles against King Henry 1. IN primis That when hee returned from his Exilement hee made faith only
King sent forth a Fleet which arriving in Britaine tooke fourty Shippes laden with Oyle Sope and Rochel Wines and burnt about fourty more and then landed at Pennarch burning Townes and Villages sixe leagues within the Countrey together with the Town of Saint Mathew and all the building there three leagues about the same and returned laden with spoyle and bootie sufficient with advantage to recompence the losses received at Plymmouth A Parliament was called at Coventry about the feast of all Saints but at Saint Andrewes tyde for want of good accommodation then the same was prorogued to London untill the Feast of Epiphany The Frenchmen about that time attempted to have ransacked the Isle of Wight and to that end set on land one thousand footmen who having got together a great booty of cattell the Ilanders enforced them to their Shippes and to leave their prey behind them with many of their men to helpe pay the damage done An unaccustomed surcharging Subsidy of every Knights fee whether the same were held by Mesnaltie or otherwise twenty shillings to the King every one that could dispend twenty shillings per annum ultra reprises and so upward of what holding soever twelve pence the pound and aboue twenty pounds in goods according to the rate twelve pence in the pound is in this Parliament granted but with this caution and protestation that it should not hereafter bee drawne for a President and that no Records thereof should be kept in the Treasurie or Exchequer but that presently upon the account made all the Rowles thereof to be burnt This yeare there dyed that ever to bee reverenced with gratefull remembrance William of Wickam Bishop of Winchester who more affecting by workes of Piety and Charity to doe good unto his Countrey then to propagate Posteritie left behinde him many monuments of his zeale to Religion and love to the Church howsoever his primitive name is uncertaine and disputable For the discordancie of Writers of those times have left too many scrupulous questions about his descent and originall surname I have therefore as neere as God hath enabled mee endevoured to cleere the point and what with some search I have found hereof to set downe the truth And though to some it may here appeare impertinent yet I presume it will not altogether prove unprofitable In the yeare of our Lord God 1324. William the sonne of Iohn Long was borne at Witkham in the Countie of Southampton This Iohn was Parish Clerke of Wickham aforesaid in which place hee taught Children to write and amongst others his owne sonne who profited so well that hee attained to the writing of a very faire hand a qualitie in those dayes much respected and by the better sort greatly desired From Wickham this Iohn with his wife and family removed to Litchfield there as afore-time he continued the course aforesaid And thither amongst others did one Nicholas Woodall then Constable of the Castle of Winchester send a Sonne of his to be instructed who upon his returne making relation to his Father of this William his skill of faire writing was a meanes that this Constable of the Castle procured the said William of his Father and kept him together with his owne child at Schoole in Winchester where hee learned his Latine French tongues in both which he profited exceedingly From Winchester at Master VVoodhalls charge hee is sent to Oxford where hee applyed himselfe to the study of the Cannon lawes but from them before any degree in Schoole taken hee by his Patron was sent for who being made Surveyor generall of his Majesties workes a place in those dayes of more then ordinary regard hee is by him imployed as his Clerke and in short time grew so expert therein that hee farre surpassed all others in orderly keeping the Account booke and faire engrossing of the same Insomuch that King Edward the Third about that time much addicted to reaâ—…ing magnificent sttructures comming in Progresse and lodging at the Castle heard a large commendation from the Bishop of VVinchester Adam de Orleton of this VVilliam Longs sufficiency who affirmed unto the King that hee had divers times by his Masters leave imployed the young man and upon full proofe found him every way of sufficiencie to doe his Majestie any requirable service Whereupon the King told the Bishop That if without doing wrong to his Master hee might obtaine it hee was desirous to have this VVilliam to serve him The Bishop thereupon perswadeth and prevaileth with Master VVoddall to preferre this his servant to the King who more tendring his Clerkes preferment then his owne ease or service a course not over frequent in this Age accordingly tendreth him whom the King gratiously entertaineth and presently imployeth him in contriving and overlooking his Fortifications at Doven and Quinborough Castles and afterwards made him Surveyor of his buildings at VVindsor Castle and his Houses of Henley and East-Hamstead in all which his imployments hee so dexteriously behaved himselfe that hee not only got the generall good will of his contemporary officers and workmen but also the favour of the King and his Councell and all the Courtiers of whom by discreet observation he had sufficiently learned to make use of the time to his best advantage And having sufficiently seene proved by others experience that service is no certaine heritage And that only to depend on the Kings favour and the peoples praise was a brittle and slippery course to run in wisely therewithall observing that spirituall promotions the wind blowing as it did was easily to bee obtained presuming the King would not bee offended if hee should enter into Orders when thereby preferment was every day promised no doubt inwardly feeling himselfe to bee sufficiently called hee entred into holy Function And according to the custome of the Clergie men of those times bee was from thence forth written and called by the name of William of Wickham and by that time was instituted first Parson of Saint Martins in the field Then made Minister of Saint Martins le grand afterwards Archdeacon of Lincolne Provost of Wells and Rector of Manyhent in Devonshire But within short time after notwithstanding his watchfull care in his deportment to give no occasion of offence as neere as possible to any much lesse to the King yet hee was falne into the jawes of Envie a common plague to Court favourites and by some or others be traduced to the King For over-ambitiously affecting vaine-glory as arrogating the renowne of the Kings choice-peece of building to bee the worke of VVickham only and for an instance thereof they produce a sculpture in a stone of the wall in VVinchester Tower in VVindsor Castle set up at that time when hee was imployed in that worke which imported This made VVilliam of VVickham And this upon the first relation gave just cause of indignation to the King as derogating much from his honour to have a subject to attribute the building of
hee left the doing thereof to his Executours But so please those that shall seeme to move that question to observe the time of the date of his Testament and the date of the Codicill to the same annexed by which it is appointed by him that whatsoever hee in his life-time shall undertake that therewith his Executours shall not be chargeable though by the Will hee hath given them order to doe it so that notwithstanding by his Will hee appointed his Executors to repaire the Church and erect his Tombe yet hee lived to doe both himselfe And now after all these so memorable actions saith Bishop Godwine in his lives of Bishops fol. 187. hee having runne the course of a long happy and most honourable life hee ended the dayes of his Pilgrimage in peace in the yeare 1404. aged above 80. yeares when hee had sate Bishop of Winchester 37. yeares I have heard it reported that this pious Bishop did bestow upon the King many rich jewells of inestimable price And to every Officer of houshold attending upon the King to every one of them one Iewell or other And that hee likewise distributed to every Parish Church within his Diocesse of Salisbury amounting in the whole to the number of sixe hundred fiftie and foure Churches a decent Sattin Cope imbrodered with a Challice and pix of silver whereon was engraven Ex dono VVilli de VVickham but upon what ground to build the truth of this relation certainly I know not more then this That in Salisbury I saw in the house of Thomas Grafton one of the Aldermen thereof an old Challice whereon was graven Ex dono Guil de Wickham And it appeares in Howes Prosequution of Stowes abstract to 561. That Bishop VVickham gave many things to the King to his Courtiers to every Church in his Diocesse to his owne servants and to his Colledges And therefore doubts not but that hee that thus lived now liveth with God whom hee beseecheth to raise up many more such good Benefactors in this Kingdome to whose good wish with all my heart I say So be it Amen The French afresh cast anchor before the Isle of VVight and sent Messengers on shore to demand the delivery of the Isle to their possession but upon the stout answer of the Ilanders and notice of their preparation and resolution to fight the French wayde anchor and departed presently upon this Monseur Lewis the proud Duke of Orleance Brother to the French King in a vaiâ—… glorious stile sent a Challenge to King Henry requiring him with an hundred men of name and Cotearmour armed at all points with Speares Axes Swords and Ponyard to fight the Combat to yeelding every Victor to have his Prisoner and his ransome at pleasure offering to come to Angulesmâ—… if the King would come to Bourdeux to defend the Challenge The King with great moderation made him this discreet answer That his former actions in martiall exploits hee presumed had sufficiently acquited him from any the least touch of cowardise And withall that Kings sacred and annoynted as hee was ought not to bee so carelesse of the people committed to their charge for any cause to fight except for furtherance or maintenance of true Religion or for preservation of their rights or defence of their Kingdomes from depradations or to revenge injuryes obtruded or other such like important causes neither was hee by the law of Honour or Armes bound to answer in Camp-fight except upon good ground with his equall in dignitie and office But added withall that hee would be at all times prepared to repulse or represse any that unadvisedly or otherwise should attempt to offer him or his either violence or disgrace To this the Duke replies and the King rejoynes but not without some unfitting taunts and jeeres which so nettled the over-passionate Duke that with all expedition hee falls upon Vergye a Towne in Guian which for the space of three moneths notwithstanding many desperate assaults was bravely defended by Sir Robert Antfield and three hundred Englishmen insomuch that the Duke after the losse of many men despayring to carry it without honour or spoyle returned into France Presently upon that the Admirall of Britaine who the yeare before had taken from the English certaine shippes laden with wine accompanied with the Lord du Castile and some thirtie sayle of shippes attempted to land at Dartmouth but were repelled in which service the Lord Castell and two of his brethren and foure hundred of his men were slaine and two hundred taken prisoners amongst whom the Lord Baquevile Marshall of Britaine was one Five hundred men of armes five hundred Crosse-bowes and one thousand Flemmings on foot under the conduct of the Earle of Saint Paul layd siege to the Castle of Marcke three leagues from Callice Sir Philip Hall the Captaine thereof with fourescore Archers and foure and twenty other souldiers valiantly defended the same and put the first assault the next day the French entred the base court where they tooke some kyne horses and other cattell But they having notice that Sir Richard Aston Lieutenanr of the English pale under the Earle of Somerset with two hundred men of armes three hundred footmen and ten Waggons of amunition approached kept close in their trenches from whence being beaten upon by the Bowmen on both sides they were forced and fled The Earle of Saint Paul escaped to Saint Omers but left threescore most men of qualitie dead behind and fourescore Prisoners besides his Camp to be rifled by the souldiers with the spoyle whereof they retreated to Callice And within five dayes after their returne thither they issued forth in hope to have surprised Arde but by the valour of Sir Manfrid de Boyes the Captaine they retired with the losse of forty of their fellowes whose carkasses they burned in an old house that the French should not certainly know their losse The Lord Thomas of Lancaster the Kings third Sonne and the Earle of Kent the two and twentieth day of May with competent forces entred the Haven of Sluice burnt foure great Shippes ryding at anchor and in expectation to have met the Duke of Burgoigne they landed but without resistance having spoyled the Country round about they returned to the reliefe of Callice which by the French was besieged in the way they were encountred by three Carricks of Genoa one of which with winde tide and full sayle bare so hard upon the Shippe wherein the Lord Lancaster was that hadnot his Pilat beene the perfecter hee had beene in danger to have beene overborne for his vessell was much bruised the fight was doubtfull untill the Earle of Kent bare with them and then they tooke the three Carricks richly laden and brought them to the Chambet at Rye where one of them by misfortune was fired and to the gaine of neither side perished The coles of the Northerne rebellion was not so cleane extinguished but that by removing of the ashes under
which they were hid the sparcks thereof were afresh discovered For envy which alwayes lyeth beneath staring upward had so infected their eyes that they could not endure to looke upon King Henryes so great prosperitie so that by the watring therof the sorenesse was discovered amongst whom Henry Piercy Earle of Northumberland Richard Scroope Archbishop of Yorke Thomas Mowbray Earle Marshall the Lords Hastings Fawconbridge Bardolfe and divers others conspired at a time appointed to meet upon Yorkeswould downts with all the forces they could raise and that under the leading of old Northumberland they should bid defyance to King Henry The Earle Marshall invented and the Archbishop contrived divers Articles of grievances both generall and particular wherewith they spared not to calumniate the King these first they covertly showed amongst themselves but afterwards sent Copies of them to their friends further off with these protestations that to vindicate such injuries and to redresse such oppressions they would if need were not spare the last drop of their best blood Then these Articles are set up in the publicke streetes and upon the gates and entrances into Churches and Monasteries That thereby all men might be throughly informed what they would endevour to reforme and what they were thus resolved by force of armes to undertake hope of reformation of some and desire of innovation of others drew on multitudes of all sides to bee partakers of this enterprise to whom the Archbishop clad in abiliments of warre presents himselfe and first giving them his benediction and plenary indulgence to all such as should dye in the exploit hee exhorted some and encouraged others to undertake and proceed with him in this enterprise The gravitie of his countenance the perswasion of his integritie of life and the opinion of his deepe learning were motives sufficient to induce many to accompany him and all men to reverence him His fervor erected his zeale but discretion did not direct his fervor for hee too suddenly discovered their projects so that the King about to make an expedition into Wales upon notice of these passages turned his march Northwards Ralph Nevill Earle of Westmerland with Lord Iohn the Kings second sonne having had intelligence of this insurrection assembled what forces they conveniently could and with the ayde of the Lords Henry Fitz-Hughes Ralph Eevers and Robert Vmphrevile They made head against the Rebells and comming into a plaine in the Forrests of Galtree they sate downe right against the Archbishop and his retinue who were twenty thousand strong Westmerland perceiving the enemies forces to exceed theirs endevoured to sowe the Foxes taile to the Lyons skin and by a politicke devise to circumvent the Archbishop to this end hee sent a messenger unto him demanding the cause why hee a Churchman and a grave Prelate should drawe so great a confluence of people together and in that manner in armes to fright the Kings subjects and disquiet his peaceable government The Archbishop returned answer That hee neither had or would doe any thing that should tend to the breach of the Kings peace but that hee alwayes had and ever would pray for the continuance of the same without violation And that the cause of his being armed was for his owne defence whom the King had without just cause threatned by the instigations of such sycophants as in too too great multitude swarmed daily about him whereby his accesse unto him without such forces could not bee obtained and herewith hee sends unto VVestmerland a scrowle of the Articles desiring his patience to reade them which upon the messengers returne When VVestmerland had read hee made show of approving the Archbishops pious purpose promising with his assistance to prosecute the same and desired some conference privately to be had betweene them In the meane time acquainting Lord Iohn the Kings Sonne with his intention The credulous Archbishop though a great Clerke none of the wisest men was so forward to beleeve what was proposed that hee perswaded the Earle Marshall though most unwilling to doe so to goe with him to the place appointed to conferre where with equall company they met The Articles are read and allowed of and reformation resolved on all hands to bee endevoured Whereupon VVestmerland seemed to commiserate the souldiers being in armour all day and weary wisht the Archbishop to acquaint his partie as hee would his with the mutuall agreement and so shaking hands in most courtly friendship dranke unto him Whereupon the souldiers were willed to disarme and to repaire to their lodgings which they willingly obeyed but were no sooner gone when a troope of horse which in colourable manner seeming to depart wheeled about but afterwards returned and being now in sight the Earle of VVestmerland arrested both the Archbishop and Earle Marshall and brought them both prisoners to Pomfret to the King who was advanced so farre with his power and from thence marched to Yorke whither the Prisoners likewise were brought and the next day both the Archbishop and the Earle Marshall who dyed a batcheler were beheaded The Archbishop tooke his death with that patience and constancie that the common people did not feare to affirme hee dyed a martyr From Yorke after the Citizens had beene put to their fines and ransomes the King departed thence thirty seven thousand strong every way well appointed and furnished and marched towards the Earle of Northumberland At Durham the Lords Hastings and Fauconbridge with two other Knights being convict of the Conspiracy were executed Northumberland hearing his plots discovered with three hundred horse sped him to Barwicke from whence after hee heard that the King followed him and had taken the Castle of VVareworth hee with the Lord Bardolfe fled into Scotland where they were entertained by David Lord Fleming The King gave summons to the Castle of Barwicke which they refused to obey hee planted a great peece which being discharged against one of the towers of the battlement so shook the same that presently they within yeelded without composition Whereupon William Greystocke Henry Baynton and Iohn Blinkinsop Knights and five others were put to present execution and many other put into severall prisons In his returne hee tooke in all such Castles and peeces of strength as had beene belonging to the Earle of Northumberland or any other his partakers who were all proclaimed Traytors Iames Sonne and heire of Robert King of Scotland attended on by the Earle of Orckney and a mitred Prelate sayling towards France whither the Prince being an Infant of nine yeares old was sent by his Father for to bee instructed in safetie was taken by certaine Mariners of Norfolke and presented to the King at Windsor the thirtieth of March 1408 from whence the Prince and Earle were sent for safe keeping to the Tower of London but the Bishop escaped Roger de Walden the tennis ball of Fortune who had lived to turne the wheele of chance about its circle dyed this yeare who from
a meane descent and but a poore scholler in the now but new founded Colledge of Saint Maryes in Oxford at length came to bee Chaplaine there and stepping on by degrees attained to the Deanry of Yorke and finding the ginge of the Court made such use thereof that hee thereby got to bee Lord Treasurer of England And after that Richard the second had banished Thomas Arundel Archbishop of Canterbury the Realme who in Parliament before but minùs justè was attaint of Treason VValden was Consecrate and authorized Archbishop of Canterbury and so for the space of two yeares continued but after a deposall of King Richard Arundell by King Henry was restored and by Pope Boniface Roger was pronounced an intruder who now being Archbishop but without a Bishopricke as afflictions seldome come uncoupled hee was called to account for the Treasurership and though hee produced his quietus est yet were all his temporalties seized and hee imprisoned yet from thence being delivered by the charitable condition of the now Archbishop hee led a private life but then was made Treasurer of Callice and then with great hope of rerising hee was promoted to bee Bishop of London The Duke of Orleans besieged the Townes of Burgh and Bloy in Gascoygne with a great power but after eight weekes siege and the losse of six thousand of his souldiers hee raised his siege and departed The Lord Camoyes being arraigned before the Earle of Kent for that day Lord high Steward upon supposition without ground which some forgetfull persons had accused to have plotted the Kings surprisall by Pirats upon the Thames in a ship whereof he had the charge was by his Peeres acquit and restored to his goods lands offices and the Kings fauour Northumberland and Bardolfe after they had beene in Wales France and Flaunders to raise a power against King Henry returned backe to Scotland where after they had continued a yeare with a great power of Scots and strangers they returned into England recovered divers Castles formerly belonging to the Earle to whom great multitudes of people resorted wherewith they came into Yorkeshire making great spoyle by the way making proclamation That they were come for the comfort of the English and the reliefe of the Common-wealth therefore willed all that desired to retaine their libertie to repaire unto them Sir Thomas Rokesby high Sheriffe of Yorke having leavied the power of the Countie with that only upon Bramham More gave the Rebells battell wherein Northumberland was slaine Bardolfe taken but wounded to death and the rest put to flight This Henry Earle of Northumberland had two Wives the first was Margaret daughter of Ralph Lord Nevill of Raby by whom hee had issue Henry Hotspur slaine as afore Sir Thomas Piercy Sir Ralph Alane that dyed young His second Wife was Maud daughter of Thomas Lord Lucy by whom hee had no issue This yeare a Parliament began in which the Commons preferred a Petition to the King and the upper house therein expressing their desire that the King might have the temporall possessions which the Bishops and Clergie consumed in unnecessary courses the value thereof they pretended would bee sufficient maintenance for one hundred and fiftie Earles one thousand five hundred Knights sixe thousand two hundred Esquires and one hundred Hospitalls for maymed souldiers besides them already erected They craved likewise that the Clerkes convict should not bee delivered to the Bishops prison and that the Statute made in the second yeare of the King against Lollards might bee repealed which â—…avoured of too much curiositie and too little charitie The King upon advised consideration justly distasting their distempered zeale denied their Petitions and in person commanded them upon paine of his indignation from thenceforth not to presume to trouble their braine about any such businesse In this Parliament the King moved in every yeare wherein there was no Parliament kept to have allowed him a tenth of the Clergie and a fifteenth of the Laytie the Bishops assented but the Commons would not agree thereto Sir Robert Vmfrevill the Vice-Admirall of England with tenne men of warre entred the Forts in Scotland lying there fourteene dayes together landing every day on one side or other taking great preyes and doing greater hurt hee burnt the great Gallyot of Scotland and many ships over against Lyeth and carried away with him fourteene tall ships laden with Corne and other Staple commodities which at his returne hee sent to the Markets round about which brought downe the prises of all things and purchased to him the name of Mend-market Hee likewise made a road by land into Scotland and burnt Iedworth and most part of Tiuidale The King Created his sonne Thomas Duke of Clarence his brother Thomas Beufort third sonne of Iohn of Gaunt hee Created Earle of Dorset upon some distaste taken not given against the young Prince whose youthfull carriage was well-neere censured by the graver sort to bee wilde and uncivill the King removed him from the place of President of the Councell and gave it to his third sonne Iohn and giving too much eare to his severer Councellours against the said Prince hee made at least-wise was said to make a misconstruction of all his actions seasoning the same with jealousie that hee ambitiously affected the Crowne and that he would not stay the leisure of time to have it after the Kings death but would use some stratagem though with the losse of his Fathers life to take present possession thereof To feed this suspition all the youthfull actions of the Prince are set on the tentours and exemplified beyond the degree of wildnesse his merriments are termed ryots his company are stiled Swaggerers his behaviour branded with dissolutenesse and his words and gesture dangerous Whereupon a vigilant eye is carried over him and a note taken of all his followers and Fashions The Prince all this while innocent would not seeme though hee had intelligence of thus much to take notice of these passages but continued his sporting merriments with his old companions amongst whom as in all ages some such have beene there were those that would dare and doe many forgetfull prankes the blame whereof still was laid on the Prince his shoulders whose greatnesse was able to countenance their great follyes which hee many times and not unwillingly did undergoe At length being informed that two things were necessary for a Christian to observe Credit and Conscience the one for his acquaintance sake the other for his owne and that hee would bee censured to bee cruell to himselfe if that hee neglected the opinion of others as relying only on the assurance of his owne Conscience hee resolved to give this satisfaction to the world that such as had given his Father intimation of any sinister intention on his part were in an error undeniable hee first by severall Letters of his owne both inditing and writing expostulated with such as hee knew to bee guiltie of doing ill offices
entertaines them royally and tooke order with the Archbishop of Canterbury to give them answer to this effect That if the King of France would not give his Daughter and with her the lands and Seignioryes demanded that he would not disband but with all extremities that follow warre prosecute his right and never give over till hee had recovered his Patrimonie the King avowing the Archbishops speeches promising by the word of a Prince to performe the same and to visit them sooner then they should have cause to bid him welcome and so hee dismissed them All things prepared and in readinesse for France as the King having shipt his men was ready to goe on shipboord himselfe a plot of treason is discovered plotted by Richard Earle of Cambridge Henry Lord Scroope of Masham Lord Treasurer Sir Thomas Gray of Northumberland and plotted and procured by the French agents These hee caused to bee apprehended and upon examination they confessed the treason and the summe of money by them for that end received and were immediately executed This Richard of Connesburgh second Sonne of Edmond of Langley married Anne Sister and heire of Edmond Mortymer Earle of March and had issue Richard Earle of Cambridge Duke of Yorke and Isabel married to Henry Lord Burcher Earle of Essex Some gather and I must confesse it is very probable that the Earle of Cambridge was not so mercenary as to commit Treason for money but would have confessed the cause had it not beene for feare to bring the Earle of March in question That his Title was by him and others intended to have beene set on foot and strongly backt by Sir Iohn Oldcastle and others if not as afore prevented but hereby were the sparkes discerned that afterwards blazed so ragingly over the Lancastrian family The windblowing a faire gale King Henry weighs Anchor and with his whole fleet puts to Sea and on our Lady Eeve landeth at Caux where the River of Sayne runneth into the Sea without resistance being come on shore hee caused Proclamation to be made that none upon paine of death should take any thing out of any Church or Chappell or offer any violence to any that should bee found unarmed and that no quarrell should bee renewed whereby any affray may bee made Then layes hee siege to Harflew the Lords of Toutevile and Gaucourts being within the same The French King advertised of the arrivall of the English sent the Constable the Seneschal and Marshall of France with others to the Castle of Candebecke from thence as occasion should bee offered to relieve Harflue But the English ceased not daily to forrage whilst the Duke of Glocester to whom the ordering of the siege was committed ceased not to plye the battery and so kept them in the Towne waking with continuall assaults The Captaines of the Towne perceiving that they were not able long to hold out the walls being undermined and the Earles of Huntington and Kent possest of the brest and thereon had pitcht their Colours about midnight sent to crave parlie Whereupon the Duke of Exceter the Lord Fitzhugh and Sir Thomas Erpingham were sent with this instruction that if they would not instantly surrender the Towne without condition there should no time bee sâ—…ent in communication yet upon the Lords importunitie the King gave themâ—…ve dayes respite in which time if no reskue came they should surrender the Towne into the Kings hand and for their lives and goods to stand to the Kings mercy Hereupon the Lord Bacquevile was sent to the French King to acquaint him with the composition but no reliefe comming they surrendred within three dayes the souldiers were ransomed and the Towne sacked The Duke of Exceter was appointed Captaine thereof who left there for his Lieutenant Sir Iohn Falstaffe with fifteene hundred men The dead of Winter approaching the King caused all those souldiers that had not payed their ransomes to sweare to render themselves prisoners at Callice at the feast of Saint Martine following Whereupon two Forts which stood on the North side of Harflue which till then expecting aydé stood out rendred likewise and then having repayred the Bulwarcke and furnished it with all things necessary hee marched to Porthouse intending to passe the River there before the Bridges were broken The Dolphin had taken order to carry into places of safetie all kinde of provision which might bee usefull for the reliefe of the English But King Henry kept on his way enforcing the Townes as hee went to supply his wants and comming to the river of Soame hee found all the Bridges broken and the fourds stakt hee marched to Arams in that orderly manner that the enemy durst not offer to impeach passage untill hee came to the Bridge of Saint Maxenae where thirtie thousand French appearing hee pitcht his Campe expecting to bee fought with where the more to encourage his men hee gave the order of Knighthood to Iohn Lord Ferrers of Groby Reignold Graystocke Percy Tempest Christopher Morisbye Thomas Pickering William Hadvesten Iohn Hoshalton Henry Mortymer and divers others But not perceiving the French to have any great will to come on hee marched by the Towne of Amiens to another place of strength called Bowes and there stayed two dayes expecting battell and from thence marched to Corby where the Peasants in multitudes relying upon their numbers and the ayde of the garrisons of Corby gave the King a Camisadoe and having forestald the passage in a straight with certaine men of armes sent from the Dolphyn they charged the right wing of the English which was led by Sir Hugh Stafford Lord Bourchier so hotly that they wonne away his Standard But the same was againe recovered by Iohn Bromley of Bromley who being a Commander in Staffords Regiment not only made the retiring troopes to stand but renewing the fight with his owne sword slew him that had the Lord Bourchiers Colours and taking them up displayd the same with sight whereof the English were so much encouraged that they fell in with that vehemence upon the French that they presently rowted and fled the Lord recompenced the valiant exploit of his kinsman and for the same gave to him an annuitie of fiftie pounds per annum assigning out of all his lands in Staffordshire as by the enrolment of that deed is extant the Seale is a Cheuron charged with a Mullet about the same engraven Signa Hugonis de Stafford militis The same night after the retreat sounded the King found a shallow fourd betwixt Corby and Peron never spied before at which the night following he passed safe making what march hee could without Alte towards Callice Notwithstanding the extremities which attend his Army marching through an enemies Country where no forrage could be found and small store of pillage yet did the King so strictly observe the due performance of his first Proclamation against Church-robbing that hearing one complaynd of to the Marshall for having stolne or as
thirteenth of Iuly the Captaine whereof was Barbason a Gascoyne a skilfull souldier and of approved valiancy And as Hanniball in warre was not more ready to invent stratagems then Quintus Fabius to prevent them so King Henryes counsell could not bee more wily to winne then Barbason was warie to defend The King by land and water stopped all passages making use of his before-mentioned floates to passe his souldiers over the River yet Barbason sallied out and fell upon the Earle of Warwickes quarter where if hee had not beene the more valiantly resisted The Duke of Burgoynes men had tasted of their fury The Duke of Bavier another of King Charles Sonin-lawe but his Dutchesse was dead with seven hundred well-appointed Horse-men came to the Campe which were presently listed under the Kings pay Barbason countermined some and stopt other mines made by the English and fought hand to hand in the Barryers with King Henry yet notwithstanding all his circumspect care and praise-worthy diligence when hee found hee was to fight against the two bitter arrowes of Gods wrath Famine and Pestilence hee humbled himselfe to the King who pardoned all that were not guilty of the forenamed murther whereof Barbason being suspected and others that were found faultie were sent to Paris under the conduct of the Duke of Clarence whom King Charles made Captaine of Delea that Citie and was accordingly admitted into the possession of all the strength thereof And presently thereupon both the Kings with their Queenes the Duke of Burgoyne and his Dutchesse with a royall traine came thither where they were most magnificencly entertained the French King was lodged in the house of Saint Paul and the King of England in the Castle of Louer Here the three States of France anew under their hands and seales in most authenticke manner ratified the former agreement the instruments whereof were delivered to the King of England who sent them to bee kept in his Treasurie at Westminster Now King Henry began to exercise his Regency and as a badge of his authoritie hee caused a new coyne which was called a Salute to bee made whereon the armes of France and England were quarterly stamped Hee there heard the Appeale of the Dowager of Burgoine against the Dolphin whose Advocates in his behalfe made large offers for satisfaction but they were adjourned to another day Hee placed and displaced divers officers and appointed the Duke of Exceter with five hundred men to the guard of Paris Sir Gilbert Vmfrevile was made Captaine of Melun and the Earle of Huntington of Bloyes de Vinces King Henry awarded out Processe against the Dolphin to appeare at the Marble table at Paris which hee not obeying sentence was denounced against him as guilty of the murther of the Duke of Burgoyne and by the sentence of the Parliament the Dolphin was banished the Realme The King with his beloved Queene Katherine the sixt of Ianuary left Paris and came to Roane where hee received homage of all the Nobilitie aswell such as were enobled by descent of the French as such as were dignified by desert of the English And making Thomas Duke of Clarence Lieutenant generall of France and Normandy and his Deputie in Normandy the Earle of Salisbury Having finished his Christmas he with his Queene went to Amiens and from thence to Callice and thence landing at Dover came to Canterbury and afterward thorow London to Westminster where the Queene upon Saint Mathewes day the fourth of February with all ceremonies rites and accustomed solemnities was Crowned The King of Scots sitting at dinner in his Estate but on the left hand of the Queene the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Kings Vncle the Bishop of Winchester being on the right hand all were serued with covered messes of silver but all the Feast was fish in observation of the Lent season King Henry by his ghostly father being instructed that the surest stone that can bee layd for the foundation of future felicitie must bee digged out of the quarry of Pietie first visited many places for devotion by way of Pilgrimage and then tooke his Progresse thorow the Land and knowing that great evills may grow out of the smallest causes if neglected hee by the way reformed all misdemeanours whereof he received notice hearing with a diligent eare the complaints of his poore subjects taking order for the administring of Iustice to high and poore neither sparing the great for might nor the meane for misery And shewing that Examples are the best Lectures and Vertue the best example after hee had set his ministers a copy thereof Hee gave meeting to the Queene at Leicester where they kept their Easter In the meane time the Duke of Clarence making a road into Aniou with the garrisons of Normandy came to the City of Ampers where hee knighted Sir William Rosse Sir Henry Goddard Sir Rowland Vider Sir Thomas Bewford his naturall Sonne And retutning home laden with prey was advertised that the Duke of Alanson intended to intercept his passage hee therefore sent the skowt-Master Andrew Fogosa to discover the face of the enemy who being a trecherous Lombard and having beene corrupted by the enemy at his returne reporteth their number to bee but small meanly armed and worse ordered so that if presently charged there could bee no resistance The Dukes credulitie caused him to draw all his horses together leaving the strength of the field his Bowes and Bills behind with them hee makes towards the enemy the traitour leading to a straight where by his appointment an ambush was layed that the Duke could neither retreat nor flee which perceiving the Duke with a valiant courage told the Earle of Tanckervile that their chance was very hard when no meanes was left but to sell their lives at the dearest rate to their enemies and so setting spurres to his horse charged upon the enemy but over-layed with multitude and over-wearied with fight The Duke of Clarence the Earle of Tanckervile the Lord Rosse the Earle of Angus Kyme Sir Iohn Lumley and Sir Iohn Verend with above two thousand English slaine The Earles of Somerset Suffolke and Pearch Sir Iohn Berckley Sir Ralph Nevile Sir William Bowes and threescore Gentlemen were taken prisoners The Bastard Clarence having an inckling of the Lombards treachery brought on his Archers whom the French perceiving to approach fled with their Prisoners leaving the dead undispoyled by which meanes the Lord Fitzwater and some others were found wounded and almost stifled amongst the carkasses The bodyes of the dead were by the foot-men buried except the Duke of Clarence who by Sir Iohn Beauford his base sonne the Duke dying without other issue wac conveyed to England and buried at Canterbury besider his father This happened upon Easter Eeve The King was at Beverly when he had notice of his brothers death and presently thereupon hee dispatced away Edmond Earle of Mortaigne into Normandy making him Lieutenant thereof Then calls hee his
a meanes for him in short time to gather a great masse of money so that many wondred at his wealth but few approved his proceedings Whilst thus in France the English prosperously aided by the Almightie power in a good quarrell every where prevailed Humphry Duke of Glocester who inveigled by the enticing behaviour of an unconstant woman had married more for lust which alwayes hunts after new pleasures then for love which is contented with due delights Iaqueline of Bavier Countesse of Henolt Holland and Zeland who had formerly beene coupled in Matrimony to Iohn Duke of Brabant yet living with whom shee had lived as man and wife tenne moneths with his said Lady crost the Seas to Bergen Hennalt and tooke in her right the homage of the Countrey which not a little disquieted her former Husband and much displeased his brother the Duke of Burgoyne insomuch that the Duke of Burgoyne relying of his familiaritie with the English and their respect to Honour wrote a kind Letter unto the Duke wherein hee intimated how hee was abused by his said Lady and how great a disrepute hee would cast upon his actions if upon notice of her husbands the Duke of Brabants claime both to her and her possessions hee did not freely relinquish both unto him withall admonishing him with the danger of holding another mans wife and usurping her first husbands rights and titles But the Duke of Burgoyne perceiving that hee sowed but in the sands whilst hee wrote in that kind sends him a Challenge on part of the Duke of Britaine to fight with him body to body according to the law of armes but Glocesters hot affection being by this time somewhat slacked and remembring himselfe how much his honour by these courses was blemished he did neither accept nor deny the Challenge but only craved time to returne into England to dispose of his estate and then hee would give him requirable satisfaction In the meane time the incendiary of these turmoyles is betrayed by the Montists to the Duke of Burgoyne who conveyed her to Gaunt from whence shee escaped into Holland where shee made a defensive warre against her Husband and the Duke of Burgoine who both layed hard unto her Territories But Pope Martin having pronounced the contract of Matrimonie with Glocester utterly unlawfull made the Dukes the more earnest in the prosecution against the Lady In the meane time the Duke of Glocester though he declined his affection not willing the world should thinke hee deserted her altogether sent the Lord Fitzwalter to her ayde with a power of English-men who joyning with the Dutchesse forces about Brewers haven neere Zerix was encountred by the Duke of Brabant who gave them a great overthrow the fowlenesse of the cause and the unjustnesse of the quarrell having blunted the wonted resolution of the English the newes of that overthrow and of the Popes sentence comming together to the Duke of Glocesters eares to comfort himselfe against the one and to free himselfe from the other hee gave his old wife a discharge and forsaking Iaqueline takes for a second Elianor daughter of Lord Cobham of Sterborough his old Mistris The Constable of France with fourty thousand men besieged the Towne of St. Iames de Benuron and having planted his battery made a breach as they deemed assaultable which whilst the French were straining courtesie who should first enter Sir Nicholas Burdet with all his forces leaving the Towns-men to receive the assaylants sallyes forth both they within and those without crying aloud a Salisbury a Suffolke the names whereof stroke such a terrour amongst the besiegers that they either disorderly ranne away or stood like men amazed till their throates were cut of which sixe hundred were slaine two hundred drowned in the ditches fifty taken prisoners and eighteene Standards were taken with one Banner The Constable was glad to quit the place with great losse and retired to Fongeeres The Earle of Warwicke and the Lord Scales with seven thousand men besieged Ponterson many weekes together in which time all provision grew very scantie insomuch that the Lord Scales for the reliefe of their so pressing necessities with three thousand men forraged a great way into the enemies countrey and in his returne with plentie of provision was encountred with six thousand French but hee slew many hundreds of them and tooke a thousand and odde prisoners and so came in safetie to the Campe. The enemy had raysed a great power to raise the siege but by the way they fell upon the Castle of Ramfort which the garrison of Susan had a little before surprised and there they stayed untill Ponterson was yeelded and wel funnished and fortified by the Earle of Warwicke who was returned to the Regent A Conspiracie of the Clergie and Magistrates in Mounts so prevailed that the Marshalls by France with five hundred men about midnight came to the Towne walls where the guard of English by those that seemed their friends and of one company were suddenly massacred and setting open the gates gave way to the enemy to enter upon the alarum given the Earle of Suffolke with the surviving English according to directions formerly given in case any treachery should be plotted withdrew to the Castle wherein they were sharply assayled by the French who perceiving no good to bee done upon them by assault knowing how ill they were provided for necessaries for a siege carelesly neglected them falling to ransacking houses and making good cheere whereof the Lord Talbot having intelligence by Captaine Goffe whom the Lord Talbot who from Alanson was by night marches with some forces come within two miles of Mounts had sent to discover the state of the French hee secretly gave notice to the Earle of Suffolke who at the houre appointed sallied forth of the Castle at what time the Lord Talbot was ready with his troopes and on both sides crying Saint George a Talbot they fell upon the carelesse French who lost foure hundred of their best men the residue were all taken the Towne regained and the Conspirators thirty Citizens twenty Priests and fifteene Fryers found out condemned and executed Now the triple cord began to be untwisted and one of the great supporters of the young Kings weaknesse the right noble Thomas Beuford sonne of Iohn of Gaunt and Katherine Swyneford Duke of Exceter Protector of the King makes King Henry his heire and at East Greenwich in Kent takes leave of this mortall life This Thomas Duke of Exceter married Margaret the Daughter of Sir Thomas Nevill of Hornby Castle but had no issue by her To supply his roome as Tutor to the King was the Earle of Warwicke appointed whose place in France was supplied by the Earle of Salisbury the terrour of the French who with five thousand men came to Orleans and for an entrance to his imployment with one thousand old souldiers joyned with the new he besieged the Citie The Bastard Orleance had by
friendship is sworn and confirmed betwixt them by the marriage of the Duke of Burgoines Neece Mary of Cleurs to the Duke of Orleance which justifies the Proverbe The best meanes to vanquish an enemie is to doe him all the good you can The Regent divided his Forces into three parts hee sent the Lord Willoughby into Amyens the Lord Talbot to Deep and himselfe with the Duke of Somerset went into the Dutchie of Anion The Lord Willoughby made such speed that hee tooke many prisoners before they could get to any place of defence but presently the garrisons drawne together and make opposition but they are defeated and six hundred men of armes slaine such as escaped fell into the hands of the Earle of Saint Paul who was comming to the aide of the Lord Willoughby The Regent returneth with a great prey to Normandy whither Willoughby likewise commeth But the Duke of Somerset re-entreth the Marches of Britaine and tooke la Gearch by assault from thence hee marches to Ponsay The Marshall Loach intended to have surprized the Duke of Somerset in his Tents but the Duke to prevent that hazard meets him halfe way and chargeth so suddenly and soundly that the Marshall is rowted and threescore and two of his men are taken Prisoners then hee marched and tooke the Towne of Beamond and having manned all fitting places upon the Frontiers laden with rich spoyle he returneth The Lord Willoughby had entrenched himselfe round Deipe and built a Bastile upon Mount Pawlet which did much annoy the besieged But wanting amunition and supplies of men hee left his naturall Sonne to prosecute the siege himselfe posting to Roan The Dolphin with sixteene thousand men commeth to raise the siege and three dayes together plye the Bastile with assaults but could not carry it untill shot and powder fayling they were overpressed with multitude and young Talbot is taken prisoner with Sir Iohn Peyto and Sir Iohn Repley all which were shortly redeemed by exchange The rest of the souldiers seeing the Bastile wonne stood in armes all day but the enemy not over-willing to doe too much and they as willing to give way not being able to cope in the darke of night they retired to Roan The Earle of Saint Paul forsakes the English and is reconciled to France The English besieged Tartus for the raysing whereof the French King marcheth downe threescore thousand strong and relieveth the Towne and from thence marcheth to Saueryne which hee taketh in and therein Sir Iohn Rampston prisoner Then tooke hee in Arques the Captaine with all the souldiers by composition withdrawe to Burdeux The English cut off all convoyes of victuals from comming to the King for want whereof the King is driven to returne after whose departure the English reduce all that the King of France had taken and take his Lieutenant prisoner slaying or hanging all his souldiers The Lord Talbot this while taketh in Conquet and driveth the Bastard of Orleance from the siege of Galiordon The French in the Castle of Cornill detained many English prisoners Sir Francis the Aragonist apparelleth halfe a dozen lusty fellowes like Pesants carrying baskets with corne and victuals and sends them to the Castle hee with his company lye in ambush in a valley neere the Castle the six unsuspected are admitted and comming to the Captaines chamber seize upon him and give the signall to the ambush who came readily on entred the Castle put the souldiers to the sword and set the prisoners at liberty burnt downe the Castle and with the Captaine and the booty of the Castle returned to Roan Whilst thus the ball of warre was by the English honourably tost from one end to the other in the tennis court of France The divell and his ministers sowe the seeds of unnaturall sedition betweene the two brothers in England the one seeking by a legall course the reformation the other the ruine of a brother The Protector articles against the Cardinall for too ambitiously affecting preheminence to the derogation of the Kings prerogative and contempt of his lawes these Articles are delivered to the King and by the King to bee maturely examined by them to his Councell who being most of the Clergie and not daring to give occasion of offence to the Cardinall leave them unmedled withall whilst the Lady Elianor Cobham the Dukes Wife by the Cardinalls plot is accused of treason by sorcery and Witchcraft to have intended the overthrow of the King and advancement of her husband to the Crowne for this howsoever shee was acquitted of the treason shee is adjudged open Penance and perpetuall imprisonment in the Isle of Man Thomas Southwell Iohn Hun Priests Roger Bullingbrooke a supposed Necromancer and Margery Iourden stiled the Witch of Eley are arraigned for devising of a picture of Waxe to be made in proportion of the King which by their Sorcery they should make to consume and so accordingly should the Kings body for this they are condemned the Witch was burnt in Smithfield Bullingbrooke was hanged constantly affirming upon his death that there never was any such thing devised or thought of by them neither at any time was more desired of from him by the Dutchesse or any other from her but if hee could by his Art find out how long the King should live Iohn Hun had his pardon and Southwell died the night before hee should have beene executed The Duke of Glocester silently sees what speech could not amend undergoes all these affronts with patience attending equall distribution of Iustice as it had past on his forgetfull Wife so it might passe on his unnaturall brother the Archbishop But the Cardinall by his orall sanctitie and mentall impurity had so bewitched the King and those of the Church of his Councell that the good Duke hoped in vaine The Duke of Yorke hath a Sonne borne at Roane in Normandy and Christened there by the name of Edward The Countesse of Camings being dead the King of France and the Earle of Arminacke are Competitors for the inheritance The Earle takes ' possession but doubting and not without cause That the King of France would not be pleased to take a Rowland for an Oliver makes offer to the King of England of his Daughter in marriage and besides a large portion in money with her to deliver over full possession of all such Townes and Castles as were by him or his Ancestors detained in Aquitaine and had beene formerly by the Progenitors of the King of England conquered or by the King of France to any of them given And further to furnish the King with money sufficient to recover all or whatsoever was with-held from him there by any person whatsoever The Embassadors for this businesse were by the King of England graciously heard and honourably returned after whom were sent Sir Edward Hall Sir Robert Rose and others to conclude all things and by proxcie the young Lady is affiranced to King Henry The King of
engratiated he not only supplanted him from the place but procured it for himselfe to the no little hart-burning of the Duke of Yorke and his friends but hee had wit in his anger and rested silent The towne of Mauns according to the agreement is not given up The King of France prepares to besiege it but upon the motion of the Marquesse order is given for the present surrender thereof now no man in grace with the King but hee none can have any favour from the Queene but by him the extent of his power over-reacheth all the Councell hee gets of the King the Wardship of the body and lands of the Countesse of Warwicke and of the Lady Margaret sole Daughter and heire of Iohn Duke of Somerset afterward Mother to King Henry the seventh The Kings facile nature and flexible condition was the occasion that many enormities encreased and many things made worse that might have beene better if observed and stopt in the beginning The Duke of Glocester for his moderation and provident care in all things stiled good and for his paines in delivery of his mind honest is an eye-sore to an ambitious minion and an imperious woman shee will no longer admit any curbe to her vast desires of empery shee is as well able to advise the King as all his Councell to what purpose then needeth a Protector The Duke of Glocester must therefore bee removed and excluded not only from command but Councell and to adde to affliction shee permitted if not procured divers sinisterly affected to informe against him whereof the new Marquesse and the Duke of Buckingham were not the most backward and the Cardinall Bishop of Winchester and Archbishop of Yorke would not bee much behind one objection was made against him that he had caused divers persons to be executed contrary to the judgement of the Court denounced and against the law of the land in these cases provided his too much zeale of execution of justice if zeale in that point may be justly termed a crime made him subject to be censured to have perpetrated a criminall offence But to avoid tumultuary partakings for he was generally well esteemed howsoever by purblind observers deemed worthy taxe it was concluded by those that maligned his sincere and just proceedings that hee should without any publicke denuntiation of his offence bee privately convicted and condemned to which end a Parliament by the procurement of his enemies unwitting to the King is called at Bury to which the Duke of Glocester resorting is on the second day of the Session by the Lord Beamond then high Constable abetted by the Duke of Buckingham arrested and put to Ward all his followers without exception sequestred from him whereof thirty two are committed to severall prisons the next day after his commitment hee is found in his bed murthered yet shewed the same day being the foure and twentieth day of February publickly making show as though hee had dyed of an impostume but all indifferent persons that saw his corps could not but deeme he dyed of an unnaturall cause his corpes were the same day conveyed to Saint Albones and there buried five of his meniriall servants Sir ROGER CHAMBERLAIN Knight MIDDLETON HERBERT ARTZIS Esquire and IOHN NEEDHAM Gentlemen were condemned to bee drawne hanged and quartered But the Marquesse of SVFFOLKE to make a show to the world of his having no finger in the businesse brought their pardon and delivered it at their proposed place of execution some criticall observers have affirmed the stile of Gloucester as ominous and make instance of Hugh Spencer Thomas of Woodstock and this Duke Humphry but it may be well collected that this Dukes death gave a prodigious presage of the ensewing Calamitie of the Common-wealth sometimes in quenching of smoke men burne their fingers in the fire so the Queene casting to preserue her husbands honor and her owne regalitie in making away this honest Duke affected that which discretion should have most labored to prevent which was the decay of the house of Lancaster which was vnlikely to have chanced if this Duke had lived For his primogeniture would haue kept backe the Duke of Yorkes claime to the Crowne this Richards father being but the fift sonne of Edward the third Humphry Plantagenet was the fourth sonne of Edward the third Duke of Gloucester Earle of Hennault Holland Zeland and Pembroke Lord of Frisia great Chamberlaine of England he married two wives Iaquet from whom he was divorced and Elianor daughter of Reginald Lord Cobham by whom before marrage he had a daughter called Antigona married to Henry Gray Lord of Tanckervile but no issue legitimate The new Marquesse of Suffolk by the great fauour of the King But more desire of the Queene is created Duke of Suffolk which brought him within the compasse of Contempt of the Kings surviving Vncle The Duke of Yorke who now beginning to sucke the venome of his kinswoman the Lady Cobhams sorcery and awakened with his brothers losse her disgrace and his owne disrepute having by consanguinitie and affinity a faire meanes to draw a partie observing that they onely sat at the stearne that were vnable yea vnworthy to use the oare of the common-wealth and that all affares of state were meerly managed by the Queene and her fauourite the Duke of Suffolk the King being as a Cipher but at their pleasure to make a number did amongst his familiars privily whisper his title and right to the Crowne and afarre off as in a landskip to make a show of desire to see the flourishing encrease of the white Rose And so politikly carried his intent that all things were provided to further his proiect ere his purpose was published during this plotting Henry Bewford the rich Cardinall Bishop of Winchester takes his leave of this world and leaves more riches behind him then either good deeds or glorious name he was more noble in blood then notable in learning of high looke and haughty stomacke constant in nothing more then malice and mischiefe and that chiefly employed against good Duke Humphry his desires were insatiable for mony still coveting more but misimploying nothing in expence for he only horded to make others rich and himselfe poore what his ends were except he was perswaded never to dye no living man did know and had he desired to have measured his greatnesse by his goodnesse he had never been administrator to his owne good name for that dyed long before him without which we leave him to be seconded in the Bishopricke of Winchester by a more deserving Prelate which was William Wanfleet so stiled of the place he was borne in but his name was Pattern of the worshipfull family whereof he was descended The fifth of August following dieth Iohn Holland Duke of Exceter Earle of Huntington and Iuory in Normandy Lord of Sparr Leivetenant generall of the Dutchy of Aquitaine Admirall of England and Constable of the Tower of London he married
Warwicke and Salisbury who all three present themselves upon their knees before him making humble petition unto him for pardon for what was past for now since that the common enemy was slaine they had what they aimed at to whom the King throughly affrighted said Let there be no more killing then and I will doe what you will have me The Duke therefore in the Kings name commands a surcease from further hostilitie and so comforting the King in what hee could with good words hee went to take order for the quartering his men This first battell of Saint Albones was fought upon the three and twentieth day of May in the three and thirtieth yeare of King Henryes raigne The bodyes of the Noble men the Duke of Somerset the Earle of Northumberland and the Lord Clifford were buried in the Chappell there Had it not beene Somersets unhappinesse to stand in the eye of Yorke or to live in that age when all actions were accounted of according to the event This Somerset might have beene ranked amongst the best Commanders of those times but his ambition at first crost Yorke in all his designes so Yorkes malice at the last did him a courtesie before the calamities of this kingdome were swolne to their full extent Hee married Elianor one of the Daughters and heire of Richard Beachamp Earle of Warwicke and had issue by her foure Sons and five Daughters Henry who succeeded him in the Dukedome Edmond who succeeded his brother therein Iohn and Thomas Elianor his eldest Daughter was first married to Iames Earle of Wiltshire and after to Sir Robert Spencer 2. Ioane was married to the Lord Hoth of Ireland and after to Sir Richard Fry Knight 3. Anne was married to Sir William Paston Knight Margaret was first married to Humphry Earle of Stafford and after to Sir Richard Dorrel Knight and Elizabeth was married to Sir Henry Lewis all which to the last breath continued firme and faithfull to the Lancastrian Familie Henry Lord Piercy Earle of Northumberland now slaine married Elianor Daughter of Ralph Nevill first Earle of Westmerland and had issue Henry that did succeed him in the Earledome Thomas Lord Egrimond William Bishop of Carlile Anne married to Thomas Lord Hungerford Katherine was Wife to Edmond Gray Earle of Kent and Elizabeth married to Thomas Lord Clifford Humphry Earle of Stafford married Margaret Sister and coheire of Edmond Bewford Duke of Somerset who had issue Henry Stafford who succeeded his Grandfather in the Dukedome of Buckingham The Duke of Yorke with all befitting complements conveyeth the King to London where they keepe the Feast of Pentecost together and in the mean time a Parliament is summoned at Westminster to begin the ninth day of Iuly whither the King commeth and there it is enacted that the late Duke of Glocester should bee declared publickly a loyall subject both to the King and Realme and that none should misreport or dispute the actions of the Duke of Yorke or any in his company For that they had like good subjects enterprised nothing but what was for the Kings safety In this Parliament the Duke of Yorke is made Protector of the Kings royall Person and of the Realme the Earle of Salisbury Lord Chancelour and the Earle of Warwicke Captaine of Callice The former two have the administration of all civill government of the Common-weale at home and upon the third is conferred the disposing of all Militarie affaires abroad Their demeanours in their severall places were judged unblameable for with that respective moderation and orderly proceedings they managed their affaires That they shewed no injustice used no bribery exercised no oppression but practised indifferencie to poore and rich to their great commendation But all this while the high spirited Queene cannot but distaste their proceedings shee puts the Duke of Buckingham in mind as though his revenge were slow and sleepie that tâ—…se traitours had slaine that noble Gentleman and hopefull sonne of his at Saint Albones shee tells the now Duke of Somerset that there his deere Father fell and both retort to the Queene the unsufferable indignity done to her in making her Husband a Whitsontide lord only a King in name whilst the Duke of Yorke and his complices must manage all what needs spurres to willing mindes or provocations to rage thorowly incensed all are apt enough to revenge But the curst Cow hath short hornes envy must invent and malice execute the course of revenge a womans wit througly stung with disgrace and vily stird with despight cannot long bee undelivered of some plot to doe mischiefe All the enemies of the Yorke faction for now the divell began to deale his almes and to make a faction are assembled by the Queene at Greenwitch where it is amongst them debated what course is fittest to bee used for restitution of the King to his pristine liberty and government at length it is concluded that the Protector should bee commanded to leave off his place of Protectorship and the Earle of Salisbury his Chancelours place the one in respect the King was of yeares and discretion sufficient without a Tutor or Guardian to rule and raigne and therefore a Protectors place needlesse and the Earle of Salisbury to surrender his title of being Lord Chancelour for that the great Seale was never delivered unto him and that that which was now used was made since the Kings restraint of liberty and so not sufficient The Kings easie yeelding condition is quickly wrought upon to countenance their proceedings against the Duke and Earle and thereupon in his name they are both discharged from their offices and summoned to appeare at the Councell table at Greenwitch whither if they had beene so forgetfull as to have gone they had been entrapped but they better advised returned answer That none had power either to displace them or command their appearance in any place but in Parliament and so they continued about London placing their friends and fautours in all places of government and displacing others whom they either not affected or had cause to suspect and with a triumvirate authoritie they tooke Iohn Holland Earle of Exceter out of the Sanctuary and sent him prisoner to Pomfret Castle These proceedings gave occasion to the licentious Commons to take hold of any occasion for a commotion And thereupon an Italian Merchant being by a Mercers apprentice reprehended for wearing a dagger contrary to the lawes of their owne countrey gave disdainfull speeches which moved the English man to take his dagger from him and to breake it over his coxcombe hereof the Merchant complaineth to the Maior the Mercer is convented and committed the Maior in his returne is met by divers terming themselves Prentices that would not bee perswaded to depart untill the Mercer was sent for out of Newgate who now being at libertie drawes divers willing enough of themselves to goe to spoile the strangers about London and ransacke their houses wherewith like furious mad bedlam men they
rifled and robbed the outlandish Merchants in all places of the Citie doing them much mischiefe and committing many outrages The Maior to suppresse these enormous courses assembleth a company of honest and substantiall Citizens who with good discretion but not without some blood-shed appeased their rage and quieted the many whilst the ringleader which more for revenge of his commitment to Newgate then any desire to enrich himselfe with their spoile got himselfe to Westminster and there taketh Sanctuary The Councell being advertised of this misdemeanour sent the Duke of Buckingham by the Qeenes direction with Commission to enquire and punish these offences But when the Maior and the Commissioners were set tidings came that tâ—… Commons were up in armes to stop all proceedings against any of those offenders the Commissioners thereupon well knowing how distastfull their Commission would bee to the multitude when thereby the Maiors power should be abridged and the government of the Citie questioned departed and left the businesse to bee proceeded in by the Maior and his Brethren who with great care and much industry so managed things that many of the offenders were punished some by death others by fines and imprisonment and all things quieted and well ordered The French in this time of uncivill dissentions manned out two Fleetes whereof one under the conduct of William Lord Pomyers the other of Sir Peter Bressy went Eastward and Westward the Lord fell upon Fulnay and burning certaine houses soone retyred the Knight spoyled Sandwich the people for feare of the plague which mightily raged there being fled from thence but with no great booty or harme done returned The Scots under colour and countenance of their Kings presence came into Northumberland burning and spoyling the Borders but hearing of the Duke of Yorkes approach retired Thomas Piercy Lord Egremond one of the younger sonnes of the Earle of Northumberland had a great conflict with the Earle of Salisburies Sonnes in which many were slaine But the Lord was taken and brought before the Councell by whom hee was committed to Newgate and deeply fined but hee escaped with many other prisoners to the great trouble of the Sheriffs of London Whilst the Duke of Yorke was absent for repelling the rebellious Scots in the North the King went to Greenwitch to the Queene who perswaded him for his health and recreation as she alleaged but her drift was for that shee found by experience that the Duke of Yorke was more favoured and his favourites respected about London then either shee or the King so that it was in vaine to attempt any thing against him there yet something must be done against him or else she should be undone to take his Progresse Northward into Warwickshire which he did by the way hawking hunting the Queen making shew of minding nothing but pastimes had caused private Letters under the Kings privie signet in most loving termes to be sent unto the three Lords whereby they-were earnestly solicited by an houre appointed to be at Coventry which they reverently intended But by the way they have true information of the mischiefe plotted against them and so warily by flight but not without some danger escaped for they causing their stewards with their retinue to goe forward on the way to the Court whilst the Duke of Yorke but with a groome and a Page sped him to Wigmore Castle The Earle of Salisbury to his Castle of Middilham in the North And the Earle of Warwicke to the Sea-side and so to Callice but before they departed they agreed upon an alphabet by which they might have entercourse of letters which though intercepted yet their intentions might be kept vndiscovered The King unwitting of this intended mischiefe against the Duke of Yorke and his friends returneth to London whither he calleth a Councell And therein of his owne accord desireth some course to be invented for the banishing of Rancour and malice out of the hearts of his nobilitie and to the end he might have the glory of the reconcilment though themselues the good he promised on his salvation a thing unusuall with him so to assevere so to entertaine the Duke of Yorke and his friends that all discontents and injuries should be outwardly respectively forgotten and inwardly religiously forgiven and perpetuall love and amitie on all parties established to this end Messengers are dispatched to the Duke of Yorke and all other of what ranke soever worthy notice to be taken of which since the battaile of Saint Albones had expressed themselues to be displeased on either part Commanding them for vrgent affaires of the realme and upon royall promise of safe conduct to repaire to his Court at London at a time appointed The Duke of Yorke having intimated to his confederates his resolution and given them admonition to provide for prevention of the wrong observantly came and with foure hundred men well appointed lodged at his house called Baynards Castle The Earle of Salisbury with fivehundred men likewise lodged at his house called the herbor the Dukes of Exceter lately released and Somerset with eight hundred men were lodged without Temple-barre The Earle of Northumberland the Lord Egrimond and the Lord Clifford with fifteene hundred men were lodged in Holborne the Earle of Warwicke with sixe hundred in red Iackets with ragged staves embrodered behind and before were lodged at the Gray-Friers in London upon the seventeenth of March the King and Queene came to London and were lodged at the Bishops pallace The Maior like a provident Magistrate Commanded every Alderman in his Aldermanry to keepe a standing watch in armes both by day and night himfelfe having five thousand well appointed men in readinesse upon any occasion rode with a competent number all day long round the City for preservation of the Kings peace on all sides The Lords lodging within the Citie held their Councell at Black-friers the others at the Chapter house at Westminster Betweene both the reverent Archbishop of Canterbury the sonne of Henry Bourchyer Earle of Essex a man every way Compleat without exception with some such prelates of whose modest condition and learning he had made experience did diligently intercede and so effectually laboured that both sides by his mediation were well contented to come to Communication the good successe whereof was good for that after much conference the wisedome of the indifferent being such that all repetitions of wrongs on either side done should be forborne it was finally concluded that all wrongs iniuries and misdemenors on every side should be forgotten and forgiven that each side should be friends to the other and both be obedient to the Commandes of the King And by their further consent the Duke of Yorke the Earle of Salisbury and the Earle of Warwicke should assure forty five poundes per annoum to the Abby of Saint Albones for obites and ceremonions suffrages of the Church at that time usuall for the benefit of the soules of all such as were
slaine and buried at Saint Albones And that those their slaine should be reputed and taken in an equall degree of loyall subiects with those that survived of the adverse part That the Duke of Yorke should give to Elianor Dowager of Somerset and Henry Duke of Somerset her sonne an assignement of five thousand marks due to him from the King at his being in Ireland to be distributed amongst her Children That the Earle of Warwick should likewise assigne a thonsand Markes due to him from the King to be distributed amongst the children of the late Duke of Somerset That whereas Thomas Percy Lord Egremond Richard Percy sonnes of the Countesse of Northumberland were at a Sessions in Yorkeshire fined at divers great summes of mony to the Earle of Salisbury his wife and children And that the said Lord Egremond was for the payment thereof committed to the prison from whence he escaped for whose escape Verney and Steward Sheriffs of London were sued That the sayd Earle should acquite all those fines to the sayd Lord Egremond and his brother and release all actions to the said late Sheriffs That the said Lord Egremond should enter into recognizance of ten thousand pounds in the Chancery to keepe the peace against the Earle of Salisbury his Lady children servants and tenants That Generall releases on all parts should be made of all Appeales and personall actions whatsoever That the two Lords chiefe Iustices should heare and determine any debates and controversies that might casually arise for any thing formerly done amongst the tenants or servants of either partie without further proceedings That the recognizances to be entred into of all hands for the performance of this award should stand of force without pardoning or parcelling the summes This award order and agreement was ratified under the great seale of England the foure and twentieth day of March in the sixe and thirtith yeere of the Raigne of King Henry the sixt Vpon the publication whereof at the Feast of the Anuntiation of our Lady Saint Mary the Virgin a solemn procession was made in the Cathedrall of Powles At which the King was present in royall habit wearing his Crowne imperiall before him hand in hand went the Duke of Somerset and the Earle of Salisbury the Duke of Exceter and the Earle of Warwicke and so one of one and another of the other part till they were all Marshalled behind the King came the Queene the Duke of Yorke leading her by the hand who in going made shew of favorable countenance towards him service ended they returne as afore to the Court in all outward apparance truly reconciled But the apparance of the blazing Starre the strange apparitions in the elements The more strange sight of a seeming monstrous Cock to come out of the Sea and in the presence of a multitude of people at Portland to make a hideous Crowing three times each time turning about clapping his wings and beckning towards the North the South and the West with many prodigious births did but presage the admirable occurrences of things this yeare following In which as if with a generall deluge of civil dissention the whole Christian world should be overthrowne beside the rent in the Church by the schisme of any Popes No Country being free rebellions factions subjects against their King the brother against the brother the sonne against the Father the wife against the husbands sonne For example desire of rule saith the Spanish Historian being an affection of a greater magnanimous nature did so farre possesse Prince Charles sonne of Henry the fourth King of Castile that he opposed his father against whom his mother in Law tooke armes in defence of King Henry her husband from which pernicious quarrell which proved successes to the same did spring the two factions of Beamont and Gramont which for many yeeres together infested Navare and Leon and was the cause of effusion of much Christian blood The Gauntoys rebell against the Duke of Burgoyne who being succored by the Hollanders rowtes their forces and makes a great slaughter amongst them and Charles the seventh sends the Earle of Dampmurtyn in a miserable imployment sayth the French Historian against the Dolphine who was in armes against his father whom they enforce to flye to the Duke of Burgoyne who about that time to make his bastard Bishop of Vtrich had committed much slaughter amongst the Brabanters and raised his sonne a stayer of slaughtered carcasses to mount into the Bishops Chaire More Popes then one bred disorder to the great scandall in religion and preiudice of Christians The Emperor not being able to cure the infirmitie of the mind by force hath recourse to the authoritie of the Church he intimateth to all the Kings and Potentates of Christendome his desire to have a generall Councell at Constance to which all consent and the Emperors of Constantinople and Trapisond with the Churches of Greece send their Embassadors In this Councell Iohn 23. is convented condemned deposed and imprisoned Gregory the 12. and Benedict the 13. are deprived and Otho Colom by the name of Martin the 15. is chosen Pope by the Councell somewhat before this time in England Iohn Wickliff and Iohn Husse in Bohemia had so perswaded that divers were ready to disclaime the Popes authoritie teaching them not only to leave the abuse of manners but the doctrine it selfe affirming that it was lawfull for subjects to reforme religion when Princes refuse to doe it but their dangerous opinions were condemned for heresies the Councell ended but the schisme continued and during these confusions in the Westerne Church the Christians in the Easterne parts are utterly ruinated the Emperor smothered to death in a presse of people and Constantinople made the seat of the Mahometan Emperor An affray unfortunately falleth out betwixt a servant of the Earle of Warwicke and a Courtier who in the encounter is dangerously wounded The Earles man flyeth The Kings servants seeing their fellow hurt and the offender escaped watch the Earles comming from the Councell table and assaile him many are hurt the Earle getteth a wherry and so escapeth to London The Queene incontinently commands him to be commited to the Tower but he seeing where it began to raine in at posts to Yorkeshire where he acquaints the Duke of Yorke and his father of all the occurences with the palpable discovery of the Queenes cankred disposition advising them to stand upon their guard and to provide to keepe out the approching storme And so speeds to Callice And being then Lord Admirall to prevent revocation of that office he speeds himselfe to sea with all the Kings ships that were in readinesse and skowreth the Seas meetes with five great Carricks three of Genoa and two of Spaine and after two dayes fight takes three of them with which he returned to Callice where he discharged their fraight and found it worth ten thousand pounds in staple Commodities besides the ships and prisoners
In the meane time as it was before agreed upon The Earle of Salisburie with about five thousand men marcheth through Lancashire to passe that way to the King and to acquaint him with the affront offred to his sonne and the inveterate malice discovered in the Queene against him The Queene with the Dukes of Somerset and Buckingham gave order unto the Lord Audley to apprehend Salisbury sending to him as to that end she had provided many badges of a white Swan for a publick expression of being firme to her and her sonne one badge thereof for himselfe and divers other to bestow on such well deservers as should by him be approved of whereupon he levieth of Cheshire and Shropshire ten thousand men with which about a mile from Drayton in a plaine called Bloreheath he attended the Earle there being a small brooke but of some depth between them Earlie in the morning the Earle made a seeming retreat which the Lord Audley observing he presently causeth his troopes to passe the river but before they could be reduced againe in order the Earle with his whole strength falls upon them and with the slaughter of the Lord Audley and most of them that had past the river he discomfited the residue there were slaine about foure and twenty hundred of them Sir Iohn and Sir Thomas Nevil Knights the Earles sonnes are sore wounded who with Sir Thomas Harrington travayling into the North Country were apprehended and sent as prisoners towards Chester But upon a message sent from the March-men their keepers quickly released them The Duke of Yorke now begins to resent these proceedings and resolveth no longer to be looker on but like a free gamester to venter a Cast for all he levies men makes preparation to take the field sends to Salisbury to doe the like who sends to Warwicke and all resolue to set up their rest amongst others of approved valiancy that Warwicke had brought from Callice with him were two principall noted men for direction and policy Andrew Trollop and Iohn Blunt The armie in the marches of Wales neere Shropshire are strongly encamped The King with the Dukes of Somerset and Exceter the chiefe of the Lancastrian family draw their forces to Worcester from whence Richard Beuchampe Bishop of Salisbury is sent to offer the Yorkists a full and generall pardon if they would give over this enterprise and become loyall subjects this message was answered that there was no trust in the Kings pardons as long as the hen crowed therefore they durst not submit unto them but if any course might be given them of assurance of their safety they would expresse their loyaltie and render themselves at his service The King thereupon advanceth neerer and approching the Lords army he causeth Proclamation to be made that whosoever would abandon the Duke of Yorke should be received to mercy and have pardon whereupon the night following Andrew Trollop with all the Callicians submit to the King and by him are all the counsels of the Duke of Yorke discovered which so much discouraged the Duke of Yorke that he with his young sonne the Earle of Rutland fled first into Wales then into Ireland the Earles of March Salisbury and Warwicke got into Devonshire where by the meanes of Iohn Dinham they were shipt from Exmouth to Gernsey and so to Callice where they were well entertained The King pardons all the common Souldiers makes some exemplary punishment of few Captains sendeth the Dutches of York her two younger children to the Dutches of Buckingham her sister to be safely kept then having spoyled the town and Castle of Ludlow he dismist his Army A Parliament is convoked at Coventry in which amongst other things the Duke of Yorke and all his confederates are convict of treason all their lands goods seized on to the Kings use Henry Duke of Somerset the inheritour with his fortunes of his Fathers favour with the Queen by her means is made Captain of Callice whither comming to take possession of his new charge he was forced to retire out of the harbour the Ordnance from Ricebank playing so hot upon him The Queen herewith much incensed in heat of passion giveth order to furnish and make ready all the Kings ships lying at Sandwich to give assistance to Somerset but the before-mentioned Iohn Dinham with his Westerne Mariners who all well affected the Earle of March bourded those ships in the harborand tooke the Lord Rivers who was designed Admirall for that service and carried both him and the ships to Callice from whence the Earle sayled to Ireland to the Duke of Yorke where having conferred and concluded what course to take he returned to Callice the new Admirall the Duke of Exceter not daring to stop his course in his returne Sir Simon Momford was appointed to guard the Cinque-ports having divers ships under his command to bar the Earle of Warwicks entrance but the Earle by his espialls having perfect intelligence of all passages fell suddenly upon Sir Simon before his ships were full ready tooke him prisoner ransackt the Towne of Sandwich and carried his Prisoner and the ships to Callice by the way he understood how much the Kentish-men desired his speedy returne and to come on shore in their Country where they were ready to give him all assistance Whereupon the second time the Earle came to Sandwich to whom presently resorted the Lord Cobham and divers Gentlemen insomuch that now they were 25000 strong with which the Earle of VVarwicke marched towards London against whom the Lord Scales was appointed to oppose and with some convenient troopes to assure London but the Lord Maior utterly refused to admit him entrance saying he was able enough without his counsell or helpe to keepe what the King had committed to his charge Whereupon the Lord Scales resorted to the Tower from whence afterward he did the Londoners many discourtesies VVarwicke well pleased with the Londoners promise not to impeach his passage having notice that his Father was upon march to meet him passeth over his men and without impeachment joyned with his Father and his friends neere Exceter The King with the Dukes of Somerset Buckingham with a great Army marcheth towards them neere unto the town of Northampton both armies meet The Earle of March with the advise of the Earle of VVarwick prepares for the fight The Queen the King more intentive of devotion then fighting did the like The fight began and continued on uncertaine termes above two houres In the meane time were slain on both sides above 10000 men But upon the fal of Humphry Duke of Buckingham by the good policy of the Earle of VVarwicke and the Lord Gray of Ruthens joyning with them who led the Vantgard of the Kings part withdraw to the Lords side the Earles party prevailed and Iohn Talbot Earle of Shrowsbury Thomas Lord Egremond Iohn Vicount Beamont and some others of Marke were slain The
newes of these proceedings set wide open the gates of the rebellion gave courage to the Northamptonshire men who prepared before to that purpose tooke this opportunity to make a commotion under the conduct of one Robert Hiliard by them stiled Robert of Risdate came to Grafton and there tooke the Queenes father Earle Rivers and his Son Sir Iohn VVoodvile and at Northampton without trial or judgement courses out of use amongst unruly rebells caused them to be beheaded Richard Woddevile Baron of Wymington married Iaquiet daughter of the Earle S. Pauls the widdow of Iohn Duke of Bedford for which not having the kings license he was fined to K. Henry the sixt in one thousand pounds he was installed knight of the Garter 30. Octob. Anno. H. 6. 28. And 4. of K. Ed. 4. he was created Earle Rivers made high Constable of England he had issue by the said Iaquet 7. sons and 6. daughters 1 Anthony that succeeded his father 2. Lewis dyed young 3 Iames dyed young 4 Iohn with his father taken at Edgcote and with him beheaded at Northampton as afore 5 Lionell Bishop of Salisbury that begat upon his Concubine Stephen Gardner afterwards Bishop of VVinton 6 Edward who died without issue 7. Richard that succeeded his brother Anthony in the Earldome but dying without issue left it to his sisters all living 1 Elizabeth at first married to Sir Iohn Gray of Groby and afterward to Edward the fourth 2 Margaret married to Thomas Fitzallan Earle of Arundel 3 Anne married to William Burcher sonne of Henry Earle of Essex first and after to George Gray Earle of Kent then to Sir Edw. Wingfield knight 4 Iaquet was married to Iohn Lord Strange of Knocking 5 Mary was married to William Harbert Earle of Huntington and 6 Katherine first married to Henry Stafford second Duke of Buckingham and then to Iasper of Hatfield Duke of Bedford The Lord Stafford having long lurked without discouery about Devonshire is apprehended for his base departure from the Earle of Pembrook beheaded at Bridgwater The Northerne men haue opportunitie to joyne with the Earle of Warwicke The whole body of the common-wealth thus fearefully groning under the fearefull expectation of unchristian cruelty The effects whereof divers of the nobility Clergy endevored by all means possible to prevent to that end on both sides mediated for some pacification But whilst it is in agitation both parts having drawne their forces together a generall preparation is made for an unauoydable banquet for death whilst King Edward the lesse circumspect by reason of some overtures of submission Cautelously tendred gave advantage to the Earle of Warwick who had secret intelligence of the order in the Kings camp in the dead of the night to fall upon it where with some small slaughter having slaine the sentinells they tooke the king prisoner in his bedwho was presently conveied to Midleham Castle in Yorkeshire to be kept safely by the Archbishop of Yorke The Earle of Warwicke relying vpon his brothers care of his charge considering that he was the Key of their worke And being perswaded that the brunt of the warres was past dismist most of his army but as one that reckoned without his host must make a new account so to that exigent he was driven For whilst he made search and diligent enquiry after King Henry whose place of imprisonment was not knowne King Edward escaped but whether by over-great promises seduced or through guilt of Conscience induced thereunto it is questionable But howsoever The Archbishop permitted him to have so much liberty by way of recreation on hunting that by the contrivement and assistance of Sir William Stanly and Sir Thomas Burgh he was both rescued from his keepers and in safty conducted to Yorke such is the instabilitie of occurrences in this world That therein is certaintie of nothing but incertaintie the secrets of Gods providence being inscrutable King Edward that in the morning was a prisoner at the Earle of VVarwicks devotion is now at liberty to provide how to question his mitred keeper and his late triumphant committer for their undutifull presumption From Yorke he posteth to Lancaster where his Chamberlaine the Lord Hastings had raised some forces with those he marcheth to London the love of whose Citizens he mainly relied upon and thereof found himselfe not deceived for they with willing readinesse receive him The Earle of VVarwick having information of what was past makes a vertue of necessitie and dispatches letters and Messengers to all his friends and confederates to draw to an head which they accordingly did But by the earnest solicitation and industry of those good patriots which before had laboured to have the sword of civill dissention sheathed Now an interview Vpon interchange of oathes for safety and faire returne on both sides is had betwixt the king the Duke of Clarence and the Earle of VVarwicke in VVestminster-Hall But the Earle like one endevoring to infect the ayre takes poyson into his mouth and spits it into the wind makes repetition of former courtesies done to Edward and for requitall thereof indignities returned which with such peremptory phrase he urged that they savoured so much of exprobration that the King unable to endure such harsh ill-becomming language from a subject in a scornefull fury departed the Hall and went to Canterbury And the Duke and Earle to Lincolne whither they had preappointed their powers to repayre under the conduct of Sir Robert VVells sonne and heire of the Lord VVells a valiant Gentleman and of approved sufficiency The King with intent to take off Sir Robert from VVarwicks part sends for Richard Lord VVells who with his brother in Law Sir Thomas Dymock comming to attend the kings pleasure received information from some of their friends in Court that the King was much incensed against them whereupon they take Sanctuary at VVestminster From whence upon the kings promise of generall pardon they came to his presence who gave command to the Lord VVells effectually by letter to solicite his son Sir Robert VVells to leave the Earle of VVarwick come to the kings service which was accordingly done but because it procured not desired effect the king not without blemish to his Honor in his rage caused both their heads to be strooke off The report wherof so enraged the young knight that no perswasion could prevaile with him to abide the Earle of VVarwicks cōming which was every day expected but passion having blinded his judgement led on by fury the inevitablenes of his fate he with his forces charged the kings army And whilest he laboured to go beyond man in doing his valour not checkt by discretion he proves lesse then a sucking child and for sinking under an oppressing multitude he was taken prisoner which so discouraged his men that they fled and the lighter to runne away they cast of their coates And thereby gave a name unto the place from whence
they fled which ever since hath beene called Loose Coate field in this place were slaine of the Earles part ten thousand and odde of the Kings side thirteen hundred but no man of marke Sir Robert Wells with all the prisoners then taken were there presently executed Sir Robert beheaded the other hanged which were threescore seven The report of this disaster turnes Clarence and his father in Law to Exceter from whence having dismist their army they fled to Dartmouth from thence they shipped to Callis having their Ladyes and divers Gentlewomen in their Company intending there to goe on shore but their expectation was frustrated for whilst he was about to land he was saluted with a great shot from the platforme which assured them there was no going on shoare there without apparant danger whereupon the Earle by messenger entreated Mounseir Vocleer the Earles Deputie leiftenant there But to give way to the Ladyes to land the Dutchesse of Clarence being then in travaile which Vocleer uncourteously refused and like the hedghog kept his Captaine out of his owne lodging not doing or permitting to be done any the least office of humanitie but denying the sicke and tender Ladies all courtesie and comfort wherefore the Earle was enforced to put againe to Sea Whilst King Edward for this so discourteous usage of the Earle sent the ungratefull Gascoyne a patent of the Captaines place of Callice under the great Seale of England And the Duke of Burgoyne gave him an annuitie of one hundred pounds per annum during life Notwithstanding Warwick being at Sea received intelligence from Vocleer whom it seemes did love the Earle in the second place but himselfe in the first That the Duke of Burgoine plotted his destruction whereupon the Earle kept the Seas and tooke all the Burgonians he cold meet making prize of their ladings wherewith he landed in France and from Deepe by the French Kings solemn invitation he went to the Castle of Amboyes where the King then kept his Court. And there the Ladies wants are supplied and honorable welcome and liberall entertainment given to the Earle and all his company The newes of the Earle of Warwickes being at the French Kings Court drew thither Queene Margaret and her sonne Edward with Iasper late Earle of Pembrock for this Iasper having beene attainted of treason William Lord Harbert was created Earle of Pembrook but being slaine William his sonne succeeded in the Earledome This Iasper and others with him who were lately broke out of prison in England and fled thither joyne in confederation with the Earle of Warwick and a solemn oath passeth betwixt the Duke of Clarence the Earles of Warwicke Oxford and Iasper of Pembrook never to deserte one the other during life nor desist to the uttermost of their best abilities to procure the releasment of King Henry and his restoration to the Crowne of England and to give the better Countenance to this confederation Prince Edward is married to the Earle of Warwicks daughter But therein the Earle of Warwick sitting in his ownlight overshot himselfe and by overdoing in policy to strengthen his part both himselfe and partakers are undon The water intended to drive the Mill being drawne to drowne the same for the Duke of Clarence after he had taken into his owne more serious consideration the purposed end of this match he easily perceived that that being seconded with the intended prosecution of the warres against King Edward would if succesfull prove the utter overthrow of his Brothers and the finall extirpation of the house of Yorke From hence arose and not without just ground the Dukes distrust of his owne fortunes For the prevention of which mischiefe hee inwardly became lesse forward to the businesse and began to cast about how to come fairely off from his Father-in-law propinquitie of blood proving a stronger incentive to affection then contracted affinitie though never so much combined with solemne promises and overt protestations From henceforth underhand he gives perfect intelligence to King Edward of all proceedings against him and withall assures him that he was resolved upon his comming into England to play the part of a loving Brother and as hee did now in heart decline the confederation so he would then cleane desert their cause herewith when King Edward acquainted his Brother the Duke of Yorke hee said hee alwayes thought as much for hee that at one time had turned Traitour to his Soveraigne would at another prove trecherous to his friend but wee may saith he presume better hereafter of our Brother The French King having furnished the new Confederates with men money and amunition and with necessary shipping They all went aborde and falling downe to the mouth of the river of Seyne they descried the Burgonians with a strong fleet prepared to interrupt their sayling forth Whereupon the Lords strike sayle and call to Councell But during their time of such consultation a strong Southwest wind comes from land with a terrible tempest of raine by fury whereof the Burgonian Fleet was driven to Sea and severed many of them being driven on ground in Scotland The storme being ceased having set the Queene and Prince with his Wife on shore Warwicke with his Complices hoise sayle and with a merry gale arrive safely at Dartmouth from whence hee gave notice to his partakers of his arrivall King Edward presuming of the strength of the Burgonian Fleet and their watchfulnesse had omitted preparation either to impeach his Adversaries landing or to affront them being landed by meanes whereof the Lords land at ease and having a cleere passage march forward in good array making Proclamation in every place where they come in King Henryes name to command all his loving subjects to bee ready both with purse and person to give him assistance against the Duke of Yorke who like a tyrant and an usurper withheld from him his Crowne and Patrimony by this meanes in few dayes his Army greatly encreased wherewith in good order and by easie marches keeping his men alwayes in action by exercising them and fitting them to their weapons hee made towards London upon notice of whose approach on the Sunday next after Michaelmasse day one Doctor Goddard a Chaplaine of the Earle of Warwicke appointed to preach at Pauls Crosse did so set forth the pious intention of the Earle his Master that endevoured the restoring of a wronged King to his liberty and Dominion and to free the kingdome from an Vsurper that his pithy perswasions prevailed so farre with his Auditory that none reproved him for his boldnesse but so approved of his Sermon that divers put their ghostly Fathers advice in practice insomuch that the Marquesse Mountacute who had as was pretended on King Edwards behalfe levied sixe thousand men about London found them all enclinable to goe with him to the Earle of Warwicke and accordingly went and joyned with him so suddenly and easily will the vulgar bee seduced This
where advised thereto by his Councell hee sent great Warwickes Brother the Archbishop of Yorke to bee kept prisoner in the Castle of Guisnes and the Earle of Oxford who had submitted himselfe upon pardon of life only to the Castle of Hams and layed all the Ports for the stopping of the Earle of Penbrookes going out of England which hee neverthelesse afterwards did with the young Earle of Richmond King Edward much displeased with the escape of the Earle of Penbrooke but more of that of Richmond by how-much the one could but abet the other might lay claime sent his Letters over to the Duke of Britaine whither those two Earles had found meanes to convey themselves and were in Britanny by him kindly entertained intimating therein his earnest desire either to have them sent over to him or at least watchfully kept from attempting any thing which he had iust causte to suspect they would to his prejudice by their being at liberty with many promises of thankfull respect for this courtesie if granted and for an earnest thereof sent him a token worthy the receiving which so prevailed with the Duke that the two Earles were debard each others company and all their English attendants taken from them and Britons appointed in their places which somewhat satisfied the King of England but gave no content to the English Gentlemen in France A Parliament is called at Westminster wherein all acts formerly made by him are confirmed And those that King Henry after his redemption of the Crowne had abrogated were revived And an ordinance made for the confiscation of all their lands and goods that had taken part against him and were fled with a restauration of all such as for his part had beene attainted both to blood and patrimony Towards his charges in this Parliament a competent summe of mony is voluntarilie given and in respect thereof a generall pardon is granted The Duke of Burgoyne not willing that his courtesies formerly done to his brother in law should be thought upon and willing to ingulph him in the warres of France That he in the meane time might have the better opportunitie to worke some malicious stratagem against the French king sends over Embassadors with ample instructions to solicit the King of England to set on foot his title to the Crowne of France making great offers with protestations to ayd and assist him therein both with purse and person The Embassadors have audience and after much debating the poynt amongst the privy Councell it was thus amongst them concluded 1 That the Crowne of France was not ambitiously affected But the title thereof legally Challenged as the unquestionable right of the now King of England 2 That the French warres if orderly pursued alwayes enriched English Souldiers 3 That France being made the seat of the war it would keepe them from making invasion on England and hinder them from supporting any against the King of England 4 That the French King had in an unsufferable fashion given an affront to the King of England in ayding and abetting Queene Margaret and her trayterous complices against him and prohibiting any his true subiects to reside within his territories And in continually sending combustible stuffe to feed the fire of rebellion which had so disquieted the common-wealth of England 5 That the King of France infested the Duke of Burgonies Countries with warres who was a friend and Collegue with the King of England and one that was in league with him both offensive and defensive Therefore this proposition from the Duke of Burgoin to vndertake the warres against France was to be approved of as being both lawfull and behoofefull for the honour of the King and the good of the Kingdome But the meanes how to pursue the warre being once undertaken was an other cause considerable For treasure the sinewes of warre was wanting and to procure a supply by Parliamentary courses would take up too much time They were therefore driven to find out and set on foote a proiect till then unheard of which was to draw by way of benevolence from the subject a seeming voluntary howsoever often very unwillingly payed contribution Thereby to supply the want of mony for the pursuance of these warres To this end divers Commissioners are assigned with letters to the knights and Gentlemen and severall instructions are sent into every County who did therein so effectually Comply themselues to doe the King service that by their perwasions most men of abilitie did enlarge their contributions to this so faire an enterprise and readily departed with their mony And a Kings kys to a sparing and therefore a rich widdow amongst many others drawne in by Court holy water to make oblation brought in twenty pounds more then was demanded for that being but twenty she gave forty It is almost a matter of admiration in these dayes how in those dayes The King could out of this little Island be furnished with able men for his warres old men women and children with sufficient meate to put in their mouthes the Cleargy and Schollers with competent maintenance and the markets with necessary provision considering the infinite number of those in the late Civill broyles slaughtered the paucitie of Ploughmen and husbandmen the want of farmers and the indigency of Cattell wherewith to stocke their farmes infinite quantities of ground lying unmanurde or tilled and the pastures and downes without sheepe or Cattell The generall spoyle and wastment which the Souldiers wheresoever they came and that was almost every where in this kingdome made and the generall ceasing and neglect of commerce or trafficke the shipping not daring to stir abroad the danger being so great to be robbed and spoyled either by hombred pirates or forraine foes yet such was Gods great mercies that every one of these respectively were supplied and did subsist without any notable defect or extraordinary want Henry Holland Duke of Exceter and Earle of Huntington dishinherited by act of Parliament with Henry Duke of Somerset and Thomas Earle of Devonshire in the fourth yeere of King Edward the fourth was this yeare found dead stript naked betwixt Dover and Callice but how hee came by his death no inquiry could bring to light he married Anne daughter of Richard Duke of Yorke and sister to Edward the fourth but had no issue by her she was after married to Sir Thomas Saytleoger and had issue by him a daughter to George Mannors Lord Rosse of Hâ—…mlack Provision for this French expedition of all things necessary being throughly made aad order taken for the quiet government of the kingdome in his absence and the stop of incursiones if any should by the Scots be made King Edward with an army of fifteene hundred men at armes and all of the nobility and Gentry gallantly mounted and wel attended with fifteene thousand archers on horsebacke eight thousand common souldiers whereof five thousand were sent to Brittaine and three thousand pioners to attend the ordnance and
if the Duke of Britaine were disturbed wherupon K. Lewis rested satisfied though not contented whilst K. Edw. forslowed no time to acquaint the Duke of Britayne with all the passages some think that had not the desire of compassing the E. of Richmond and Pembrook now in the D. of Britaines countries bin a better motive then any respect unto the D. the French K. might have had better successe in his requests K. E. to give K. Lewis a tast of his respect towards him notwithstanding his deniall of the proposition for the Duke of Brittaine sends a messenger unto him to acquaint him with trechery of the Constable against him and to carry the more credit of the truth of what was intimated hee sent two letters written with the Constables owne hand which were sufficient testimonies to accuse and convince the Constable of those crymes wherewith afterwards King Edward charged him The mony to be payd by the Articles is borowed of the Parisians so willing they were to see the Englishmens backs accordingly payed over the hostages are delivered wherupon the army retiers to Callice frō thence are trāsported into England performance of the agreement to the content of both parts made the hostages are with great prōises rewards redelivered Some forbeare not to say that K. E. lost more honour in this voyage then hee had purchased in nine victories before gotten but they were such as measure kings actions by the crooked level of their own erroneous fancies But those of better understanding affirme that it had bin a great error in judgement for the K. to be longer absent frō his so late conquered kingdom but great wisdome policie in him to take hold upon such an occasion to come off so fairely with a match for his daughter which had it taken effect had sufficiently recompenced his charge trouble But private men must not dispute the actions of Princes And further to examine the reason of what in this kind at this time was done might give occasion of discourse but not instruction King Edward being returned into England not unmindful that a great storme might follow though but a smal cloud as yet appeared dispatched Embassador to the Duke of Brittain to perswade with him to have the young Earle of Richmond sent over unto him for that he desired to match him in mariage with the Lady Cecily his younger daughter this faire overture of marriage or rather the feeling mediation of Angels wherof some store were sent but more promised so prevailed with the D. That upon the receipt of the sum sent the E. of Richmond is delivered to the Embassadors who thence conducted him to S. Malos where whilst they staied for a wind by the cunning advise and plotting of the D. treasurer who as it may be by the sequel gathered not wel pleased not to have bin treated withal according to that court custome with a feeling respect a more then ordinary proportion or common gratuity being inseparably incident to his treasurers place more scorne to be so neglected then love to Richmond The young L. escapes into Sanctuary From whence nor promises nor prayers could procure him Neverthelesse upon Peter Londoys his promise he should be safely kept there The Embassadors without their marchandize or mony departed to the no little discontent of the K. who greived much that the lambe had escaped his woolvish intention But being taught the rule what he could not avoyd he made shew to receive willingly he for that time said little At Christmas following he created his eldest son Ed. Prince of Wales D. of Cornwale and E. of Chester his second son Duke of York giving the order of knighthood to the son heire of the E. of Lincolne many others He created foure and twenty knights of the Bath upon the creation of the Prince of Wales whereof Bryan chiefe Justice and Littleton a Iudge of the common Pleas were two Thus whilst K. Edw. in England lived in peace quiet the turbulent D. of Burgoyne never constant but alwayes in contention reaped the triple fruit therof this yeare at three several times The first at Ganson where he lost some honour but more wealth The second at Morat where he lost more honour and many men The last at Nancy where he not only lost men mony reputation but life also by the Switzers whom he had driven to a desparate resolution then not in hope to escape but to sell their lives when submissiō would not be accepted at the deerest rate they fought prevailed Now begins Rich. D. of York to set on foote his untill then close contrived divelish devises to compasse the attainment of the crown of England for the first seene of the ensewing tragedy to facilitate his passage he secretly begins to with draw the Kings affection from his brother George Duke of Clarence and to that purpose susurreth unto him that some of Clarence followers were sorcerers and Nigromancers and that they had given forth speeches that one one whos 's Christen name began with the letter G. should dishinherit his children and carry the crowne of England and to put some varnish upon this suggestion one of the Duke of Clarence his servants which came with him out of Ireland from Dublin where the Duke was borne is in his Masters absence he being then in the country by the procurement under hand of Glocester endighted arraigned condemned and executed at Tiborne for conjuration and all within the space of two dayes hereof the Duke of Clarence being thereto irritated by his brother Glocester grieuously complaines to King Edward who insteed of giving redresse suspecting now the truth of the Duke of Glocesters buzz tooke an occasion likewise by Glocesters advise howsoever he made a glozing shew to Clarence of being jealous of his honour and disliking of the kings disrespect as he termd it of his brothers abuse frame a colour to commit Clarence to the Tower where his loving Brother Richard not as it was feared without the Kings privitie tooke that order that hee should not for so hee faithfully promised him upon his first commitment lye long in prison before hee would procure his release That he was drowned in a but of Malmesey and then layd in his bed to perswade the people that he dyed of discontent This George Duke of Clarence was Earle of Warwicke and Salisbury Lord of Richmond and great Chamberlaine of England he married Isabell daughter and coheire of Richard Nevill the great Earle of Warwicke by whom hee had issue Edward afterwards Earle of Warwicke who dyed without issue and Margaret married to Sir Richard Pole knight who had issue Henry Lord Mountayne and Reginald Pole Cardinall The Pestilence about this time raged with that fury in most parts of this kingdome that the sword in fifteene yeeres before devoured not so many as that did in foure moneths The King upon some present occasion sent to
perswaded to yeeld consent to part with her child hee presented the innocent Babe unto them of whom the Protector had no sooner taken a glimpse when with all ceremonious reverence hee ariseth and embraceth him in this armes vowing with affectionate protestations that nothing next the welfare of his Soveraigne which hee esteemed above all earthly things brought him more content then his Nephew of Yorke wisht for Presence and then Judas-like kissing his cheeke hee takes leave of the borde and presently conducteth him to the King his Brother who with joyfull heart and great affection entertained him which was by so much the more to be esteemed by how much it was unfayned The Protector now having the game hee hunted in his owne toyles under pretext of provident care that they might securely repose themselves untill the distempers of the Common-wealth wherof himselfe only 〈◊〉 actor and author might bee quieted he causeth them within few dayes in great pompe and state to bee conveyed thorow London to the Tower there at pleasure to remaine untill the time of the Coronation towards which there was great show of preparation made The Protectors machinations could not well worke by themselves they must have assistance hee wanted Achitophel The Duke of Buckingham whose authoritie and power did beare a great sway amongst the Courtiers must cunningly be drawne to his bent To which purpose hee proposed to him that whereas he had beene formerly an earnest Petitioner to King Edward the fourth his brother-in-law for the Earldome of Hertford whereunto it did appeare the Duke to have a good Title yet hee could never attaine it yet now if hee would bee constant and joyne hand in hand with him hee would put him in a way whereby to bee assured to obtaine it And so upon faithfull promise to procure Buckingham to bee estated in that Earledome and of a match to bee concluded betwixt their issue and an equall partition of the treasure of the Crowne betwixt them two for performance whereof the Protectors oathes are not wanting Buckingham is not only drawne to condescend but is most forward to contrive and plot stratagems and the best courses to compasse the worst of ill effects which was by depriving their innocent Nephews for Glocester was Vncle by the Fathers side and Buckingham by the marriage of their Fathers Sister of their right and livelyhood and some others of their lives to make the Protector a more facile passage to lay hold on the Crowne The Protector having purchased so true a partner of his ambitious designes well knowing it was no good pollicy to play the villaine by halfe-deale is resolved to suffer never a rubbe to lye in the way that might hinder the true running of his bowle And having a farre off sounded the Lord Hastings and finding him so constant to the King his old Masters Sonnes that nothing could withdraw him from doing them true service hee himselfe must bee removed out of the way the effecting whereof was none of the least straines of pollicie for hee must not yet bee meddled with untill by his nayle the nayles of his Antagonists the Queenes Brother and Sonnes by Sir John Gray her former husband bee driven out the compassing whereof was meerely Hastings his share But no sooner was the engine up by his device that should make them headlesse but by Buckinghams device Hastings himselfe is brought to his blocke All the Lords of the Privie Councell are in the Protectors name generally convoked to the Tower where at the Councell table fitting preparations for the speedy Coronation of the young King are proposed and other like businesse wherewith to amuse the Lords and entertaine time untill the Protector came in who excusing himselfe for having overslept himselfe that morning taking his Chaire very affably saluted them merrily jesting with some and more then ordinarily pleasant with them all But on a sudden he framed an excuse for his present absence leaving them in the meane-time somewhat to conferre upon untill his returne which hee promised should be very speedily hee so went out of the Chamber Within the space of an houre hee returned but the wind was turned his affable countenance and familiar language are changed into distracted lookes and much show of inward perturbation which with sighing and other passionate gestures hee expressed to the uttermost After long silence the better to prepare them to the more attention hee confusedly interrogates what they deserved that had nefariously practised his destruction being of the blood royall Vncle to the King and Protector of his person This unexpected interrogation in that strange manner urged strooke such an amazement amongst the Lords that they all stood gazing one on another as if the Protectors speeches had had the vertue of Medusaes head At length the Lord Hastings by Buckinghams instigation and presuming of his as he thought more then ordinary intimacie with the Protector and the innocencie of his owne conscience boldly answered That they deserved to undergoe the punishment of Traitours whatsoever they were which the rest by their silence approved with that the Protector riseth up from his seate with a sterne looke upon Hastings replied why it is the old sorceresse my brothers Widow and her partner that common strumpet Jane Shore that have by incantation conspired to bereave mee of my life And had I not by Gods great mercy happily come to the discovery of their practises and found out the plot they had effected their villanie before suspected Yet have I not altogether escaped free from their malice for behold and then hee bared his left arme to the elbow and showed it how mischievously they have caused this deere lim of mine to wither grow uslesse and thus should all my body have bin served if they might have had their will and a little longer space Those to whom the Queenes religious courses and Christian condition were not unknowne and were not altogether ignorant to what hard shifts the Protector was driven that could provide no other colour for his accusation but the showing of his late discoloured arme the defect whereof all knew that knew him had bin as it was ever since his birth and the coupling of his Queene sister and his Brothers Concubine in one and the same plot of conspiracie against him betweene whom there was such an antipathy of disposition was the occasion that the Lords at his first speech so now sate gazing one upon the other untill the Lord Hastings though not well pleased that he was not aswell made privie to this intended stratagem as with that day es conclusion to have the Queenes Brother Sonne and Allyes to bee executed at Pomfret willing out of malignitie to her to helpe forward the accusation against the Queene but with some pretext to extenuate the aspersion cast upon his Paramore Mistris Shoare whom ever since the death of the King he had entertained for his bedfellow and had but that morning parted from her with a
our so humble entreaty accept of this so presently proffered prefermēt But if as we shall be most unhappy and disconsolate to heare it your grace will refuse us we must then seeke and hope not to faile to find one that shall and not unworthily with halfe these entreaties undertake to undergoe the danger or hazard which you may be pleased sinilterly to suppose is in the acceptance These words in the apprehension of the auditory from Buckingham were so emphaticall and patheticall that they wrought so feelingly upon his passions That the Protector could not but be contented to expatiate his desire yet with some change of countenance and not without seeming reluctation he did say Since it is manifestly demonstrated unto men that the whole realme is so resolved That they will by no meanes admit my to me in my particular conceite most deerely respected Nephewes my intirely beloved new deceased brothers children and your late Kings sonnes being now infants to reigne over you whom no earthly creature without your good approbation can well governe And since the right of inheritance of the Crowne justly appertaineth to me as to the truly legitimate and indubitate heire of Richard Plantagenee Duke of York my illustrious father To which title your free and faire election is conjoynd which we chie◅ly embrace as effectuall and operative we are contented to condescend to your importunities and to accept of the royall government of this kingdome And will to the uttermost of our poore abilities endeuor the good and orderly managing thereof And therewith all descended from the upper Gallery where all the while before he had stayed and came downe and formally saluted them all where-with the gyddy headed multitude made the streets ecchoe with their loude acclamation of long live King Richard our dread Soveraigne Lord. And so the Duke of Buckingham tooke his solemn leave and every man departed to make a descant at home of the playne song abroad as every ones severall fancies did minister occasion All this time the two innocent infants are entertained with sports and pastimes but unacquainted with any thing that had passed as afore to their prejudice THE LIFE AND RAIGNE OF KING RICHARD THE THIRD THe next day the late Protector with a great traine rode to Westminster Hall and seating himselfe in the Kings bench where the Iudges of that Court in the terme time usually sit he sayd that it was the principall duty of a good King carefully to looke to the due administration of the municipall lawes of the kingdom in which part he would not be defective And then proceeding with a well compact oration in Commendations of peace and discovery of the discommodities of dissention He caused a generall Proclamation to be made for abolition and pardon of all injury wronges and enmity past And to give it the better colour He caused one Fogge which had formerly given him occasion of just exception for abusing him with a tale of truth to be sent for out of sanctuary at Westminster whither to prevent the Protectors anger he was fled and set presently at liberty and caused him in publicke to kisse his hand In his returne from Westminster his affable complement in the streets was so free and frequent That by the discreeter sort it seemed to savour more like fawning servility then courtly courtesie rather base then welbehaved After his returne home by the faire helpe of a fowle but close covered plot he had wonne an unconstant woman and procured the consent I dare not thinke good will or affection of the Lady Anne the youngest daughter of great Warwicke the relict of Prince Edward to be his wife howsoever she could not be ignorant that her sutor had bin the instrument if not the author of the tragicall murthers of both her husband and father But the reason of most womens actions are as indiscoverable as Reason in most of them is undiscernable To prevent had I wist and to secure his coronation five thousand men are sent for out of the Northern parts The guilt of a biting conscience like an atturny generall ever informing against the soule alwayes suggesting unto him feares and causes of suspition where no need was These souldiers ill clad and worse armed being come and all things prepared for the Coronation at least wise those put in use or action that were intended for the investiture of Edward the fifth in the regalitie the but late Protector now King Richard upon the fourth day of Iuly together with his new bride came from Baynards Castle to the Tower by water where he created Thomas Lord Howard Duke of Norfolke his sonne Sir Thomas Howard Earle of Surry William Lord Barckley Earle of Nottingham Francis Lord Lovell Vicount Lovell and Chamberlaine to the King and the Lord Stanley who had beene committed prisoner to the Tower in regard that his son was reported to have levied forces in Lancashire was not onely that day released out of prison but made Lord Steward of the kings houshold The Archbishop of York was likewise then delivered but the Bishop of Eley was committed to the custody of the Duke of Buckingham who tooke order to have him sent to his Castle of Brecknock in Wales The same night were made seventeene Knights of the Bath Edmond the Duke of Suffolks sonne George Gray the Earle of Kents sonne William sonne to the Lord Zouche Henry Aburgaveney Christopher Willougby Henry Babington Thomas Arundle Thomas Boloigne Gervois of Clifton William Say Edmond Beding field William Enderby Thomas Lewkener Thomas of Vrmon Iohn Browne and William Berckley Vpon the fift day of Iuly the King in great state rode thorough the City of London from the Tower to Westminster and on the morrow following the K. the Queene came from the Pallace to the great hall from thence barefooted upon cloth of raye they went to S. Peters Abby at Westminster every one of the nobles officers of state attending according to their several ranckes places The Cardinall sang Masse after Pax the king Queene descended from before S. Edwards shrine to the high altar before which they were both howseled having but one host divided betwixt them Then returned they both and offred at the shryne where the king left the Crowne of S. E. and tooke his own Crown And then in order as they came they returned All ceremonies of solemnitie finished the King gave licence to all the nobility and others that were thereof desirous to depart to their severall habitations except the Lord Stanley respectively giving unto them strict commandement at their departure from him To be carefull to maintaine the truth of Religion to preserve the peace and quiet of the kingdome and to prevent extortion and wrong that otherwise through their negligence might happen unto his subjects setting them forth a lesson himselfe never meant to learne at least wise practise For like Sylla he commanded others under great penalties to be vertuous and modest when
Duke of Yorke Then he begins to solicite me and sometimes by entreaties he endevoreth to perswade and then againe with minatory words to enforce me and the Lords present by constraint as it were to permit him to take upon him the execution of the Regall state and government of this Kingdome untill the young King were ripe and able to undergoe the burden thereof and beare the loade upon his own shoulders at least wise untill he should attaine to the age of foure and twentie yeeres which project of his in regard the example was without president And that would be as strange if not more to have an ambitious mind to disinantell himselfe of a place of that eminent power of Command one obtained as for him at that instant to effect it I seemed not well to relish it and the rather for that I found by the countenance of all there present he was as then unprovided of seconds at the table to backe his proposition He thereupon not altogether unprovided of his baytes to fish with to give some colourable pretext of reason for what he had moved he produced many seeming authenticke instruments and resolutions upon depositions of credible witnesses subscribed by the Civilians and Canonists the most famous in these times for judgement and learning by whom it was resolved and so adjudged that the children of Edward the fourth were to be reputed illegitimate and no way capable of the inheritance of the Crowne which overture then unfeinedly I speake it I thought as reall and true as now I know the deponents names were counterfeited and the whole businesse forged These depositions and resolutions thus by him produced were read and thoroughly by us at the Councell table debated and long discussed upon untill the Protector himselfe stood up and sayd My Lords as on the one part I and your Lordships are most willing that King Edwards children should receive no injury so on the other side I beseech you doe not you bethe occasion that I suffer apparant wrong For this point being thus cleered that my brothers sonnes are not inheritable behold me the unquestionable and undoubted heire of Richard Plantagenet Duke of Yorke my deceased but deere father who was by authoritie of the Parliament adjudged and so proclaimed lawfull heire of the Crowne of England whereupon we silly seduced men thinking all had beene Gospell that had beene delivered gave consent that in regard the Duke of Clarence his son by reason of the former attainder of the father besides the obtruded illegitimation of him too was likewise disabled too carry the inheritance to accept of the bramble for our King and Soveraigne Lord the which I was rather induced to doe by how much he had often with solemne protestations both publike and private given me his faithfull promise that the two young infants should no way be abused but that they should have sufficient assurance for maintenance such as I and the rest of the nobility should well like and approve of which how well he hath perfomed judge you when he was no sooner by my procurement from a private person made Protector and from a subject sole Soveraigne but he cast the ladder by by which he had climed to this preferment changing his manners with his honours And not onely denied me to enjoy the liberty of my undoubted right as touching the Earldome of Hertford unjustly detained from me by his predecessor King Edward And which at our first conference about these proceedings this Richard with many execrable oaths and promises had assured me but kept touch in nothing with me of what was formerly concluded betwixt us But in liewe thereof I was entertained with flowtes and uncurteous language giving out as though I had never furthered but rather hindred his most waighty designes yet this foule Ingratitude and his undeserved unkindnesse I patiently for a seasonunder-went But when I had received certaine notice of the unnaturall murther of his two naturall Nephewes I was so transported with scorne and indignation that I had very much to doe to temper my passion from publicke revenge of their death and my owne disgrace in his owne Court untill weighing the doubtfulnesse of the event I deemed it the safest way with patience to waite a fitter opportunity and in the meane time to take out a coppy of his dissimulation and that I might with the more safty worke upon his owne scene I framed my cariage and countenance at all times towards him in that manner as though I knew no pipe to dance after but his never crossing him in any point nor seeming to dislike or distast though much against my nature any thing he moved or did And by this meanes I obtained libertie to retire my selfe to this place But in my journey homewards by the way I had many strong conflicts in my mind which way to begin to worke that I might make this usurper to acknowledge his error and to pull of the lyons skin from his hoglike backe First I thought with my selfe that there was a faire path beaten for me he being now by the murther of his tender Nephewes growne despicable to God all good men to lay hold of the Garland in regard there was not one whom I could then call to remembrance either of power or pretence sufficient to debar me from enioying it being no way unprovided of meanes men or mony for imployment And in this Conceit I continued a while untill that afterwards that came into my mind that to come in by way of conquest would prove both hard and hazardfull In regard that most of the Nobilitie and Gentlemen would oppose me therein if for no other end or reason but onely for the preservation of their tenures and titles which in a conquerors hands are liable to his disposall And then and there that embrions conceit of Conquering continued so formles Then my fancy suggested to me that the Lord Edmond Duke of Somerset my grandfather was within degrees lineally descended from Iohn of Gaunt for Edmond Beuford Earle Moryton was sonne of Iohn surnamed Beauford of Beauford in France which came to the house of Lancaster by Blaunch of Arthoyes wife to Edmond first Earle of Lancaster sonne of Iohn of Gaunt Duke of Lancaster That my mother being his eldest daughter I was next heire to Henry the 6. And hereupon I set up my rest thereon to lay a foundation whereupon to erect my building But as God would have it whilst my braines were busie and as I rode debating with my selfe how to the best advantage I might set my engines going betwixt Worcester and Bridgnorth I accidentally encountred Margaret Countesse of Richmond the true and only heire of my Grandfathers elder brother Iohn Duke of Somerset who married Margaret daughter and heire of Sir Iohn Beauchamp of Bletsoe kinght By whom he had issue one onely daughter Margaret who married Edmond of Haddam sonne of Owen Tewder by Queene Katherine and halfe brother by the mother
to King Henry the 6. But she was as absolutely forgotten by me as if I had never seene or knowne her Now she and her sonne Henry Earle of Richmond being both cutworke and percullis betwixt me and that port which I must of necessitie passe if I should at any time attempt to enter into the Court royall of Maiestie my presupposed title was in my imagination now scarce worth a tittle And herewithall calling to mind that those inseparable dangers insupportable cares and unavoydable troubles that necessarily awaite upon a Crowne are so imminent numerous That no one if he but man can with safety escape wel undergoe or with patience endure the least of many of them except by lineall descent the law doe cast it upon him or he be by Gods especiall providence as David was preordaind or before appoynted thereunto And further taking it into consideration That if I once assumed unto my selfe the swaying of the Scepter howsoever I might perchance be of abilitie sufficient to lay hold of it yet on the one part I should bee sure to find many foes but few faithfull friends who in this age are all for the most part gone on Pilgrimage and their returne is uncertaine And on the other side King Edwards Daughters and their Allyes whose patience so infinitely abused might incite some furious partakers or my cousin Richmond with his friends and followers or some discontented Lords for it would bee an impossible thing to give plenary content to all would bee ever snatching or snarling at mee upon every the least occasion and upon any advantage so that in all likelyhood my life and livelihood should bee ever hanging but by a very slender thread so that I should never bee secure but ever in danger of death or deposition wherefore from thenceforth I concluded with my selfe to banish out of my thoughts all ayrie-built Castles to looke after the government of the kingdome either in my owne right or to my owne use and concluded watchfully to attend if at any time it should please God to make mee his instrument to relieve the wronged and to scourge the oppressour And now I am verily perswaded that it is the good pleasure of the Almightie to make this the meanes by which both may bee to his glory effected for the Earle of Richmond to take to Wife Elizabeth the eldest Daughter of King Edward the fourth to bring which orderly to effect neither my person power or purse shall bee wanting In respect that by this match The two houses of Yorke and Lancaster at this time so miserably dis-joynted may bee brought to unitie and conjunction And whereas my Grandfather and Father did both lose their lives in abetting the side of Lancaster I will now hazard mine to conjoyne them both hand in hand These words the Duke uttered with that vehement earnestnesse that the good Bishop and not without reason was thorowly perswaded that it was asmuch the love of Richmond as the hatred to Richard that made him make this forward and friendly offer And from thenceforth afterward hee so condited his discourses with such powerfull and significant words and prevalent reasons that hee kept him firme and constant to his first proposition insomuch that at length by this Bishops advise and procurement of Reignold Bray a Gentleman attending upon the Countesse of Richmond this whole plot is discovered to the Dutchesse and very well approved of by her And presently from her Doctor Lewis her Phisitian is imployed to Queene Elizabeth who still remained in Sanctuary at Westminster to sound how shee stood inclinable Who upon the first proposition before shee would expresse any thing unto the Doctor shee prostrated her selfe upon her knees and humbly invoked the blessed Trinitie to bee propitious to this so much desired Vnitie And then raising her selfe up shee did professe her selfe next unto God to be much bound to him or her that first invented the meanes whereby to restore my poore children to their right and redeeme my selfe from that thraldome and feare wherein now I am And with great thankes returned to the Doctor wishing him to assure the contriver thereof whosoever That if Earle Richmond would take his corporall oath to espouse either her Daughter Elizabeth or Cicely in case it should please God Elizabeth should dye before that time assoone as hee had obtained the enjoyment of the Crowne That shee would not only give hers and get her Daughters consent to the match But procure all the Friends and Allyes of her deceased husband King Edward and her owne to take his part and in all things to give him their best assistance The Mothers thus having expressed their intentions to keepe the game on foot Doctor Lewis preferred to the Queene a religious and learned Priest called Christopher Vrswicke who up on oath taken for secrecy was as occasion should bee offered to bee imployed in these businesses so that now Bray and Vrswicke doe travaile only about home whilst the Physitian who might doe it with more safetie and lesse suspition negotiated in more remote places first to sound then to incite as many of the Nobilitie and Gentrie as they should discover to bee willing to give their assistance but alwayes with this caution to offer to treate with none without making oath first for truth and secrecie In few dayes Bray had drawne into confederacy Sir Giles Daubeney Sir Iohn Cheney Richard Guilford and Thomas Rame with some others Vrswicke likewise for his share had prevailed with Hugh Conoway Thomas Culpepper Thomas Rooper with some others And in the meane time Doctor Lewis was not idle but had wonne Edward Courtney and his brother Peter Bishop of Exceter amongst whom it was carefully agreed upon that convenient messengers should bee speedily dispatched for Britannie to Earle Richmond to acquaint him with the whole proceedings For this purpose by the contrivement of Vrswicke Hugh Conoway is imployed from Plimmouth with great summes of money Thomas Rame by the advice of Bray is with like instructions sent out of Kent by Callice both which within the space of little more then an houre though divers wayes the one most part by Sea the other most part by land came to the presence of the Earle who graciously received them and gladly embraced both the concord and condition The Earle acquaints the Duke of Britanny both with the plot and the confederation earnestly imploring his advise and ayde which the Duke as readily promised as really performed Howsoever Hutton Embassadour from King Richard had endevoured to preoccupate the Scene and in his Masters name had both by private Letters and many proffers of much money and more courtesies laboured the Duke for the Earles restraint But to little or no purpose The Earle thus encouraged returnes Connoway and Rames by the same way they came to give notice of his speedy repaire with ample instructions for the manner of preparation against his approach to be made Whereupon the Confederates in
Brother Sonne and kinsfolkes the calumny of her royall husband the aspersion of adultery obtruded to her selfe the imputation of bastardy layd to her Daughters And her firme faith plighted to the contrary to the Dutchesse of Richmond the assurance thereby of her elder daughters preferment upon K. Richards glosing speeches was contented first to commit her daughters to the custody of him that was author and actor of all these calumniations and cruelties and afterwards by Letters mandatory to solicite her Sonne the Marquesse of Dorset to desert the Earle of Richmond and to encline to King Richard who shee assured him had not only granted him his free and generall pardon but had provided honourably to preferre him upon his returne This done King Richard with great solemnitie and formall show of extraordinarie affections the surest ginnes to catch women and rattlebraines entertaineth the abused Mother and seduced Daughters And presently takes order to make one Saint the more in heaven by sending his Wife thither before her time but how or by what meanes it is not made manifest Shee is with all solemnity which the shortnesse of time to prepare would permit interred at Saint Peters Church in Westminster where some few forced teares for a show are wrung from his eyes at the Funerall whilst his thoughts are plotting how to compasse incestuous copulation with his owne Brothers Daughter whom hee immoderately visiteth and entertaines with all varieties of pompous pleasures as it were by such musicke to prepare her affection the sooner to admit of his love-suite But her harmelesse innocencie not diving into his villanous purposes takes all things from him as honourable courtesies Now only feare to lose that little good Opinion which the Common-people had cast away upon him induced thereunto by his late formall show of repentance and protestation of his heartie detestation of his former bloody course of life did with-hold this monster of man-kind as yet to discover his beastly desire which was to purchase his pleasure by rape if not otherwise procurable But for that it behoved him to labour to prevent the growing storme threatned from beyond the Seas and to hinder the further growth of his enemies forces at home against his will hee prorogues the execution of his desires and leaves love-matters untill another season The Lord Stanley is commanded to levie all his forces for the Kings aide as he will justifie his integritie to him Neverthelesse cannot be permitted to go downe into his Countrey untill hee had left George Lord Strange his first begotten sonne as a sure pledge of his love and loyaltie be hind him The surrender of the Castle of Hammes to the Earle of Richmond by Captaine Blount is come to the eares of King Richard who presently giveth order to the garrison of Callice and the Forts adjoyning to reduce the same which they accordingly attempted But the Captaine at his departure having left his wife therein had sufficiently furnished it to withstand any assault untill reliefe might with conveniency be sent unto it The Earle of Richmond having notice of the siege sendeth the Earle of Oxford with some forces to remove it or relieve the besieged Thomas Brandon a servant of the Earle of Oxford with thirty resolute souldiers find the meanes to enter into the Castle carrying with them such amunition as was then most wanting whilst the Earle of Oxford with his other forces are marching thither upon notice whereof the Callicians offered the besieged that if they would surrender the Castle all that were within it should have faire and noble quarter with free liberty to depart with bagge and baggage which was accordingly readily embraced being the only end of the Earle of Oxfords journey which was to redeeme his friends in especiall the Genlewomen in the Castle out of danger And then leaving the Castle cleane bare without either men amunition or ordnance they retreated in safetie to the Earle of Richmond The shippes which King Richard had appointed to guard the Seas to debarre the Earles passage hee having beene informed though untruly that Richmond was haplesse and hopelesse of helpe from the French King are called home and all the souldiers discharged only order given for the diligent watching the Beacons Thomas Marquesse Dorset to give the better colour to the report of Richmonds backwardnesse to doe any thing suddenly and not induced thereto by his Mothers solicitation maketh a show to forsake Richmond and conveyeth himselfe toward Flaunders but by the way is overtaken by Humphry Cheney who was appointed to follow him and was not only perswaded to returne but to remaine hostage with Sir John Bourcheir for securitie of performing the Articles concluded on betwixt the Earle of Richmond and divers his friends in France and for the repayment of sundry sums of money by Richmond for this expedition borrowed But report being come into Britaine that the Vsurper laboured the speedy making up of a match betwixt him and the Lady Elizabeth and had likewise prepared and proposed an husband for her Sister Cicely There was too little time left to bee employed for longer consultation what more to doe or further expectation of aide how to doe For experience did manifest it that the longer they stayed every day the lesse ready they were for either victuall or other provision grew sowre or stinking and every houre would grow worse and worse And that all the passages and Ports were so stopped and guarded that it was a thing almost impossible to send or receive any further intelligence out of England which was the more demonstrated by the certaine relation of Morgan Kidwelly a student of the Common law of England who with great hazard had brought information to the Earle That Rice ap Thomas and John Savage two approved Commanders and most powerfull in their owne Country were ready with all the forces they could make to abet his course upon his first landing though with hazard of their lives And that his trusty Friend Reignold Bray was ready provided of money and all other necessaries to furnish Richmonds necessities and only awaited his approach And for the reasons aforesaid advised him to steere his course for Wales and further from them adjured him to make all possible festination assuring him that nothing could procure better speed then present expedition Whereupon Richmond with not much above two thousand stipendaries and but convenient Bottoms to transfreate them about the middle of August following put to Sea and on the seventh day after their departure from Harflew they arrived at Milford haven where without trouble or impeachment he landed his forces and from thence peaceably marched to Hereford where by the Inhabitants there he was joyfully received A common report is raised that Rice ap Thomas and John Savage stood out for King Richard which gave some occasion of mistrust to Richmond But the trouble was lessened when he was resolved by Captaine Arnold Butler that the Earle of Penbrooke with all
but halfe codled souldier This linsie-woolsie Welchman with a crew of poore rakeshame runnagates to attempt thus to robbe mee of my Crowne and you of your liberties and lives I know not except the divell owe his ambitious pride a shame and hath brought him this day to your hands to receive your condigne chastisement for it The beggerly Britons and faint-hearted French-men what further aime have they then to make prey on your Patrimonies to abuse your wives and daughters and to enrich themselves by your losses and to extirpate your posterities For prevention of all which let us this day but show our selves the inheritors of our Ancestors valours and but fight like men and you shall quickly make them run like cravens or die like dogs For my part take the word of your Prince I am thorowly resolved either this day to be a Conquerour or else to lose my life in quest of victory And so Saint George let us charge with courage But these words were not powerfull enough to worke any great effect in the hearts of the souldiers by reason they were delivered not with that alacritie of spirit he was wont in astrained composure of his countenance as being dejected by the remembrance of his horrid dreames which the gnawing of his conscience had suggested in his sleepe that night which made it appeare that he had no great hope to prevaile whatsoever he said or shewed The Earle of Richmond unwilling to be behind hand in orderly direction made unto his men this exhortation If ever God gave victory to his servants fighting in a just quarrell or gave ayde to those that endevoured the welfare of the Common-wealth or gave a blessing to such as laboured the suppression of a tyrannous usurper the vindication of innocent blood-shedding or the just punishment of fratricide and most execrable treason We neede not then deere Countrymen and my kind companions in armes make any doubt but that he will be pleased this day to give us a glorious victory and give us just occasion to triumph in the Conquest over this usurping bloud-sucker It is not I presume unknowne to any one of you that our cause is just for he against whom we oppose that wrongfully stileth himselfe King unjustly detaineth from me the Scepter of this Kingdome which injustice was initiated with blood by the unnaturall murther of his brother nephewes and neerest allyes continued by machivilian plots and sinister practises to betray the nobility and gentry to the losse of their lives the confiscation of their goods seizure of their lands disinheriting of their children and finall extirpation of their families as having no care of his conscience neither reverencing God nor respecting man Am not I and you nay all the truehearted nobilitie of this kingdome woefull witnesses of this his so insupportable tyranny doe we not every day and houre more and more sustaine the wounds contusions and dislocations that this Richard by his bloody raigne tyrannous usurpation hath made in the body of this Common-wealth and shall we part of her members as if not sensible of her disgraces or injuries sit still and silently suffer the ravenous bore of the Forrest to roote up the sweete Vine of peace of this Kingdome and prey upon our rightfull inheritance And as it were willingly lay downe our necks to carry the servile yoke of his imperious cruelty and insolent usurpation the Lord forbid What are his associate confederates but of like feather such as his bare donation without right or title wrongfully usurpe as he doth the Crowne from me so they your patrimony and unquestionable right from you and yours without right or colour-like right Let us therefore plucke up our spirits and setting all feare and diffidence a part let us like faithfull fellowes and loving friends in Gods name joyne hand and heart to quell this monster of men and either make in this dayes action the date of our life honourable or the beginning of our victorie triumphant And God who is the onely giver of victory will I faithfully beleeve looke upon the justnesse of the cause and give successe accordingly unto us It is not multitude but vnited hearts for a just quarrell that procures Conquest and the God of glory can show his power through our weakenesse the lesse our numbers the more our renowne if we be victors and if we dye as we all owe God a death in this so well an intended action neither rust of time which devoureth all things else nor any thing whatsoever can debar us from a perpetuitie of life here on earth after death and a Crowne of everlasting glory in heaven This ingratefull wretch hath deffiddnce in all men and who then can have confidence in him Let us therefore like true Heroes against a tyrant honest hearted men against a traytor and true patriots against an usurper like free borne undanted spirits against the monster of the earth both in birth and behavior being from his infancy branded for a stigmaticke expresse our selves noble honest true hearted and valiant goe forward then advance our colours incite your courages and in the name of God cry Saint George for England and God I doubt not will give us his blessing and make the day ours In assurance whereof thus I plight you the faith of a friend I will rather be found dead by fighting resoltely then alive by flying ignominiously These words were with gesture of body and alacritie of spirit so confidently delivered that it drew from the hearers teares of joy and put such resolution into their hearts that they presently exprest the same in their present falling to handle their armes and by the way to move encourage animate one an other to buye and vye for the victory bravely or to rate and sell their lives highly deerly And therewith advance and giving a great shout to shew their willingnesse upon the first sight of the enemy let flye a volly of shafts so close and home that King Richards voward hasted though against their wills to joyne to be out of the danger of a second shower The Earle of Oxford was as ready for the encounter and fearing to be disadvantaged by the thinnesse of his front he gave the word that no man should straggle but follow his leader and Commanded the fronters not to advance further nor otherwise then he gave direction by which discipline they were presently falne into a close body And so stood firme in which time Sir William Stanley had time to draw up his men likewise to encrease the length of the van which gave them occasion on the other side that were not well affected to the service to slacke their pace and spare their bow-strings which the Earle of Oxford well observing being encouraged by the approvement of the course by the Lord Stanley who was now come to the for-ward and publickly profest himselfe to wish well to his sonne in lawes proceedings gave on with a brave charge and followed
besieged 1422. A Parliament in the Kings absence called The birth of Henry the sixt The Dolphin besieged Cosney An. 1422. R. 9. King Henry dieth The Duke of Bedford made Generall of Normandy The Duke of Glocester Protector Ann. 1422 R. 1. The Dolphin proclaimed King Pont Melon surprized by the French An. 1422. R. 3. Reduced by the Earle of Salisbury The league renewed with Burgoine A conspiracy at Paris Preventtd and punished The French defeated Ann. 1422 R. 2. The King of Scots marieth the Duke of Somersets Daughter Crotoy lost and recovered The English are victorious at Vernoyle 1424. The reduction of Vernoyle An. 14. 24. R. 3. The French frighted with the name of Salisbury A jarre betwixt the brothers in England drawes the Regent into Ergland The young King knighted The Regent returnes to France Burgoyne by letter disswades Glocester from his new wife The name of Salisbury a bugbeare to the French 1426. Ponterson taken by the English Mounts retaken 1427. An. 1427. R. 6. The pollicy of the French The death of Salisbury the downfall of the English good fortune Both wind Sun against the English The French every where revolt The Regent defies the French King The Armies on both sides in array An. 1428. R. 7. 1429. Henry the sixt Crowned The constancy of the Lord Barbason Ann. 1429 Reg. 8. Charles attempts Paris But disappointed retreats The Regent desirous to cope with King Charles An. 1430. R. 9. The Earle of Britaine defeated 1430. The Pusil Ioane taken Proceeded against Burned King Henry in person goeth into France King Henry returnes for England after a Truce concluded The Regent having buried the sister of Burgoyne marrieth a second wife An. 1432. R. 11. The Peasants in Normandy rebell The Duke of Burbon receiveth liberty of body out of prison and losse of life all in one day At St. Omers the Dukes of Bedford and Burgoyne meet and depart without conference 1435. The death of the Regent Emulation betwixt the Vncle and Nephew thwart the businesse in France Ann. 1435 R. 12. Callice besieged by the Duke of Burgoyne The Duke of Burgoyne retreats from Callice An. 1437. R. 13. 1437. The death of three great Ladyes The King of Scots murthered Ann. 1439 R. 14. A Parliament at Westminster Roan attempted but with losse to the French An. 1437. R. 16. Ann. 1437 Reg. 15. The Lord Talbot harroweth Piccardy 1438. Famine in England Pestilence in Paris 1439. An. 1439. R. 18. Ponthoys taken by the English Ponthoys succoured The French King braved by the Regent but is patient Treaty for a peace Ann. 1441 Reg. 20. The Duke of Orleance released The Earle of Saint Paul forsaketh the English An. 1442. R. 20. The Castle of Cornhill surprized by a stratagem Vnnaturall dissention betwixt brothers An. 1442. R. 21. Ann. 1442 Reg. 21. King Henry betrothed to the Earle of Arminacks Daughter An. R. 22. A truce agreed upon The Earle of Suffolk transends his Commission An. 1444. R. 22. 23. King Henry marrieth Duke Rayners Daughter 1444. The Regent comes for England An. 1416. R. 24. Glocesiers destruction plotted 1448. The Cardinal of Winchester dies William Wanfleet consecrated Bishop of Winchester An. 1430. R. 26. The truce broken by the English Ardes surprised An. 1449. R. 27. The Duke of Yorke sent into Ireland The English overthrowne An overbold but true language An. 1450. R. 27. Suffolke traduced The Parliament adjourned from Black-fryers to Lecester and then to Westminster Suffolke committed to the Tower A Parliament summoned Mortymer incites the many to insurrection The grievances of the Commons tendred to the Parliament Captaine Mend-all his private petition The two Staffords defeated and slaine The forme of Iacke Cades Warrant The captaine of the rebells slaine The Bishop of Salisbury murthered An. 1452. R. 29. A Parliament The Duke of Yorkes policy to cloake his intention Yorke raiseth forces in Wales The King sends to the Duke of Yorke Yorks answer Yorke dismisseth his army Yorke takes the oath of allegiance Burdeux is reduced Shrowsbury with his fourth sonne and his naturall brother slain at Chattillon 1453. Ann. 1453 R. 30. The Queene delivered of a Sonne Norman the first Lord Maior that went by water to Westminster to take his oath The Queenes Attourney with others slaine in a fray The Duke of Yorke writeth to the King Ann. 1454 R. 33. First battell at St. Albones The Duke of Somerset slaine 1455. Ann. 1455 Reg. 33. The Duke of Yorke conveyeth the K. to London Yorke made Protector of the King The Merchant strangers rifled An invasion attempted by the French Sandwich plundered The Scots make an inroad The Sheriffs of London in trouble for the escape of the Lord Egrimond Ann. 1455 Reg. 33. The Duke of Yorke with the Earles of Salisbury and Warwick betake themselves to their severall strengths The General agreement amongst the Nobilitie by the mediation of the King An. 1449 Strange apparitions An. 1459. R. 34. Sonne against father 1459. Subjects against Soveraigns Father against Sonne A fray An. 1458. R. 34. Three great Carricks taken worth 10000. 2. Battailes fought The Lord Audley slaine The Duke of Yorke flyeth An. 1428. R. 38. A Parliament The Earle of Warwicke with 25000. men taketh the field 3. Battell at Northampton Warwicke possest of the Tower An. 1459. R. 39. The Duke of Yorke puts in claime The Duke of Yorke to be proclaimed heire to the Crowne and Protector 4. Battell at Wakefield Young Rutland butchered The Earle of Salisbury beheaded Ann. 1458 R. 34. 1461. Fift battell at Mortimers crosse Sixt battel second at Saint Albones The Lord Bonvile and Thomas Kiryell beheaded by the Queene contrary to the Kings promise 30. Knights made Prince Edward dubbed Knight The Families of Yorke and Lancaster distinguished by the red Rose and white The Archbishop of Canterbury animated the Duke of Yorke to take upon him the Crowne Ann. 1460 Reg. 1. The Dukes title to the Crowne double An. 1460. R. 2. Edward leaveth London Lord Fitzwalter slaine at Ferry-brig 1461. The Lord Clifford slaine Ann. 1461 Reg. 2. The Earle of Northumberland with 36776. English slaine at Caxton field Edward the 4. Crowned An. 1461. R. 24. An. 1462 R. 2. An. 1642. R. 2. Conquet and Ree taken and pillaged by the Earles of Essex and Kent Sir Ralph Piercy slaine The Earle of Somerset taken prisoner An. 1464 R. 3. King Henry brought prisoner to the Tower The Earle of Warwick sent into France An. 1466 R. 6. Of Thomas Lord Scales of Nucells An. 1466 R. 9. The Lord Stafford forsakes Pembrooke Sir Hen Nevil slaine Ann. 1469 R. 9. King Edward taken prisoner King Edward escapes An. 1470 R. 10. The Lord Wells and Sir Thomas Dymock beheaded Ann. 1470 R. 10. Loose Coatefield Warwick entertained by the French King Visited by Queene Margaret Ioyne inconfederacy against King Edward Prince Edward married to his daughter The Burgonian Fleet dispersed Doctor Goddards Sermon at Pauls crosse King Edward enforced to forsake the land King Edward in danger of Pirates King Edward craveth succour of the Duke of Burgoyne Queene Elizabeth taketh Sanctuary at Westminster Rebells of Kent suppressed by Warwicke King Henry set at libertie A Parliament The Crowne entayled upon Clarence The Queene delivered of a Sonne An. 1471. R. 11. King Edward is admitted into Yorke An. 1471. R. 11. Warwicke entrencheth at Coventry King Edward entreth London An. 1471. R. 10. Warwicke slaine An. 1472 R. 11. Marquesse Mountacute Queene Margaret taken prisoner Prince Edw. slaughtered King Henry murdered Ann. 1472 R. 12. An. 1473. R. 13. A Kings kys to a rich widdow procured 40. where but 20. was expected An. 1474. R. 14. The Duke of Exceter found dead Ann. 1474 R. 4. King Edward writes to the French King * 300. crowns in gold and 30. yards of red velvet The duke of Burgoyn excuseth his breach of promise The Constable repromiseth ayd An. 1474 R. 14. Burgoyne departeth promising speedy returne The policy of the French King King Edward sends an Herald of armes to Lewis * S. Leoger Burgoyne retornes displeased The French Kingliberally rewardeth the good carriage of the English The manner of the internew of the 2 Kings King Edward could not be drawne from ayding the Duke of Brittayne A. 1475. R. 15. King Edward attempteth by a colourable pretence to procure Richmands person to be delivered to him Delivered to the Embassadors Escapeth into Sanctuary An. 1477. R. 17. Clarence drowned An. 1480. R. 22. An. 1483. R. 23. An. 1483. An. 1483. R. 1. An. 1484. R. 1. An. 1484. R. 2. Humphry Duke of Buckirgham slain at St. Albones 1455. Humphry slain at Northampton 38. H. 6. 1460. An. 1484 An. 1484 R. 1. An. 1484. Reg. 2. Richmonds ex hertation Battaile 1. Anno 1455. Dukes 1. Earles 3. Lords 1. Knights 11. Esquires 18. 5641. Battaile 2. Anno 1459. Lord 1. Knights 7. 2411. Knight 1. Battaile 3. Anno 1459. Duke 1. Earle 1. Lord 1. Viscount 1. Knight 1. Lord 1. Battaile 4. Anno 1469. Duke 1. Earles 2. Knights 8. Battaile 5. Anno 1491. Knight 1. Battaile 6. Lord 1. Knights 3. Battaile 7. Anno 1491. Earles 4. Lords 9. Knights 22. 37046. Battaile 7. Anno 1463. Knight 1. 107. Anno 1464. Duke 1. Lords 3. Knights 20. 2024. Battaile 8. Anno 1469. 5009. Earles 3. Lords 3. Knights 11. Battaile 9. Anno 1470. Knights 〈◊〉 10000. Battaile 10. Anno 1471. Earle 1. Marquesse 1. Lords 3. Knights 2. 10000. Battaile 11. Anno praedict A Prince Dukes 2. A Marquesse A Lord Prior An Earle A Baron Knights 20. Esquires 37. 1092. Battaile 12. Anno 1485. King 100. Duke 1. Lord 1. Knights 3. * Knights eldest Sonnes * Of coat-armour and Ancestry
first alienated the heart of Warwicke from the King and gave the occasion of the effusion of so much Christian blood and the downfall of the great Beare and all his ragged staves This marriage at the Command of Love the Lord of Kings was begun in heat of desire and finished in hast without advise of any but his owne untamable affections it much distasted the French King displeased King Edwards mother and disquieted the Councell and state And as it commonly falls out when men ride post for such matches in the end of their journey they take sorrow for their Inne and make Repentance their host for speedy repentance followes precipitated hast in such affaires But in the Kings marriage and VVarwickes distast thereof appeared different effects of unbrideled passions The fervor of the kings desires are lessened but the fire of the E◅rage every way every day encreased flamed with greater fury until it consumed both him and his yet for a while he covered the coales concealed the cause of his indignation howsoever now then in private to his familiars he would complaine how much he was disgraced to be made an instrument to set a young Lady a Gog for a husband then to have her disappointed upon his returne he carried a faire countenance on the busines publickly approving the kings choice cōmending the new Queens beauty natural endowments applauding whatsoever she said or did But privately he only awaited how to displease her displace her husband wherin he was the more resolutely intentive by how much he presumed the K. of France and the D. of Savoy who were interessed in the disgrace the Q. her sister Bona which shared in thedishonorable affront would be alwaies as occasion should be offred ready to second him with power prayers in any thing that to that end he should attempt To have the more liberty to plot his designes the E. procures leave to leave the court retires himself to his Castle of Warwic K. E. in the mean time having just cause to suspect the French his discretion prōpting him to be watchfully valorous to retain his but yet borrowed title Wisdom admonishing him in day of Sunshine to provide a cloak to prevent being wet in case astorme should fal thought it good policy to strengthen himself by some befitting cōfederation abroad to that end entreth into a league with Iohn K. of Arragon H. K. of Castile to whō he sent for a present a score of Cotsall ewes and five rams which though they were but few in number yet hath the loss that hath therby redounded to Englād bin too too great yea more then he could then wel imagin greater then the reader can prima facie apprehēd but great evills may grow out of small causes To secure himself at home he took truce with the K. of Scots for 15. yeres And as he had former ly married his two sisters Anne the eldest to H. Holland E. of Exceter Eliz. to Iohn de la Poole D. of Suffolk so now he matched Margaret the third sister to Charles D. of Burgoin This last match added oyle flax to quench the flame of Warw. fury insomuch that now he gave it vent And having with much adoe drawn to his part his two brothers the Archbish. of York the Marquesse Moūtacute he now began to cast a windlace todraw in the kings two brothers The D. of Gloce. he found so reserved that he durst not close with him but finding the D. of Clarence more opē he addresseth himself to him And taking occasiō in private conference to cōplain to him of the kings uncourteous usage of him he said noble Sir if I might be my own judge my more then ordinary respect diligence to do the K. your brother acceptable service deserveth more thē cōmon curtesie but all whatsoever I have done do howsoever it hath bin more then could any way come to my single share for his advantage is ever unrespectively drēched in the whirlpit of duty for which I must be contented To whom presently the D. makes answer did or do you expect as to a friend courtesie from him that neglects the respect of blood to a loving brother it is all little enough for him to provide for to pleasure his deere Loves brave kindred all too little he bestows on thē whilst he that in the same belly with him must attend to be served withtheir leavings or have nothing hath he not made a match betweene his wives brother Antony the sole daughter of the L. Scales hath he not married Thomas her son with the daughter heire of the L. Bonvile and like wise his minion the L. Hastings with the sole daughter heir of the L. Hungerford But no such match can be thought of for me his brother Nay are not his brothers best friends that have opposed our selves to all dangers to abet his advancement undervalued unregarded have we not iustoccasion to be perswaded he loves vs not how then should you expect better dealings from him The E. finding the game comming wanted not words to whet nor reasons to incite to a settled distast of his brothers unrespective carriage towards him prevailed after much Communication betwixt thē so far that what he so much desired he effected for he counted the natural Current of brotherly affection which afore ran in the veines of Clarence to an vnnatural streame of rancor disobedience against a Soveraigne And now the better to knit a firme knot of association betwixt thē a match is to be concluded upon the D. is to take to wife Isabel the E. of Warw. daughter with her to have assured unto him halfe the lands the E. held in right of his wife the Lady Anne daughter of Rich. Bewchamp E. of Warw. deceased For the Consummation wherof Clarence accompanies of Warw. to Callice where the Countesse her daughter then resided by the way the E. unmasked himself discovereth to the Duke what hitherto he had concealed of his proiect for the restoring of K. H. hisplot how to accomplish it To which Clarence gave both approbation and promise to ayde assist him to the accomplishment thereof to the uttermost This thus concluded The E. dispatcheth messengers to his brother the Archbish. Marquesse to prepare all things ready to set on foot the intended revolt from K. E. to take hold but cautiously upon any ground to procure or prosecute some rebellious cōmotion or other in the North whilst he his new son in law would provide to go through stitch with the work To a willing mind occasion wil quickly be found the brothers entertaining the Earles advice tooke hold upon this accident The Yorkshire husband men annually by antient custome used to give to the poore people of S. Leonards in the Citie of York for their alimony certaine quantities of corne graine