still sounding foorth the prayses of Gustovus whose name shall neuer die so long as the memorie of the Swethen State indures CHAP. III. Ericke is crowned King of Swethland after the death and Funerall of his Father A marriage is plotted with Elizabeth Queene of England That failing another is tendered to the daughter of the King of Poland His brother Duke Iohn conspires against him AFter the death of Gustovus Erick his eldest sonne is with all generall applause and the Countries ceremonie crowned king of Swethland about the yeere of our Lord 1559. and in the same yeere an ouerture of mariage was made with Elizabeth Queene of England in the beginning of her raigne Duke Iohn his brother sent Ambassadour princely appointed in this negotiation who safely arriuing in England with his whole Fleete was honourably intertained Howbeit the matter of his Embassage was rather flattered then graunted rather fairely countenanced then embraced For some noble men at that time great in their places either in their owne respects or the honour of the Queene stood against it But the Queene her selfe did fairely intreate the Prince royally feasted him gaue him many princely gifts Told him in conclusion that she tooke the Tenor of his Embassage in very gratious manner Sent kind commendations to the king his Brother with this hopefull message that if it pleased him to take the paines to come into England she would take such order for his entertainement that hee should haue no iust cause to returne discontent For saith she I haue made this vow neuer to conâ—ract my selfe to any whom I haue not first seene The Duke thus furnisht with this answere takes his leaue imbarkes himselfe boyseth sayle arriues in Swethland and deliuers to the longing languishing King this hopefull doubtfull answere of the Quéene The young King imbraceth this newes and his brother for them flatters his fancie kisseth the Quéenes picture beguiles imagination buildes Castles in the ayre rigges his Fléete at Sea exhausteth his Treasure makes himselfe poore to enrich his hope which proued indéed farre aboue his Fortune The Winter following was spent in this preparation for England During which time Frederik then king of Denmarke a Wise and politike Prince stoodmuch against this Alyance with England foreséeing the danger that might redound to him in his neighbours marriage with so potent a Princesse sendeth Ambassadours to King Erick shewing both the inconuenience that would happen by marriage in a Countrey so farre remote as also the dangers that were like to ensue in ioynâ—ng with a Quéene more strong then himselfe But the king gaue a deafe eare to this Embassage Continuing his preparations still for England Some say that in that Winter ryding betwéene Vpsale and Wasten Castle a Maide of excellent beautie but obscure parentage whose name was Gondole comming amongst others to behold the king who by chance casting his cies vpon her was so sodainly ensnared in her beautie that that poyson which he drew then into his heart by his eies did so corrupt the whole body of his affaires that at last he loste both his life and kingdome but others say it was the winter after But to returne to our voyage for England The kinges fléete being royalty rigd and all thinges ready for so great a busines the king tooke shipping about the beginning of May leauing Duke Iohn his brother Uicegerent in his place and sayling along the Coasts of Norway Report saith that Frederick king of Denmarke had procured certaine Witches in that Country to drowne or dispearse the Fléete of king Erick and by their spelles and deuillish incantations to Confound this intended Uoyage whether this bee true or no I know not but this is certaine that the king being vpon the coast of Norway such a strange foggy thicknes did so cloath the ayre that the kings Fléete had soone loste sight of one another And then followed such horrible thunders and vnheard of Tempests that it séemed heauen and earth had met together in the disturbance of this intendment The king being at his wits end long before hée came to his waies end was so perplexed in his thoughtes that he knew not what to do either to goe forward or to returne The sight of y â— Eye was so taken away by the the thicknes of Aire the beneuÌ„t of the Eare was consounded by the noyse of the thunder the waters rose so high as if they meant to kisse the Cloudes Noe light but what the flashes of lightning made which amased them all the raine fell so thicke that they could scarce kéepe the Hatches the maister calles to the Boatson and is not heard the Sternes-man cryes to the Maister and is not regarded Thrée daies togeather continued these thrée nightes of darknes wherin was séene neither sunne Moone nor starre the kinges Fléete was diuersly dispearst some into the coast of Denmarke others back againe into Swetland the king himselfe vpon the Coast of Norway looks euery hower for his buriall in the Sea At last entering into cogitation with himselfe he thought that God had suffered his pride to be thus punisht for that he vndertook a Mariage with such a Quéene whose fame and glory was so great as well from her State and gouernment as for the riches and strength of her Crowne and kingdome that entering into cosideration of it he held himselfe much vnworthy of such a fortune Upon this the king rashly vowes that if it would please God to deliuer him from that daunger he would giue ouer his ouer high attempt returne into his Countrey and learne hereafter to suite his desires to his estate At last these stormes haue end the king returnes according to his vow shortly after arriues in Swethland And thus fayled this Negotiation for England The king soone after his landing beginnes say some renewes say others his loue to his faire Gondole that afterward prooued as fatall to him as Cleopatraes loue to Anthony His eies were seldome off either her person or her picture His minde museth on nothing but the pleasures of her body his tongue speakes of nothing but her delightes and praises all publicke affaires are abandoned the pallaces are like a wildernesse desolate the Court is kept where Gondole hath her byding reason and regard of gouerment are now banished pleasure and sensuallitie made his Counsellors of Estate The Noble men would oftentimes aduise him but all in vaine his brother Duke Iohn did still smooth the Kings humors not as being enamoured oâ— his delights but as from hence drawing a subiect that happyly hereafter might serue his turne in case the Nobility as they beganne a little should afterwards wholly withdraw their affections from him Thus whilest the king followes his pleasures Duke Iohn pursues his purposes would oftentimes complaine to certaine of the Rexen-Roade which we call The Blood Royall of his brothers effeminate and vnlikingly gouernement but especially to Duke Charles his youngest brother yet no further engaging himselfe to danger then
that the foure Dukes did still retaine their titles and authoritie vnder the King as the Senate of Rome did theirs vnder the Soueraintie of Caesar though it were subordinate The other thrée I say enuying that greatnesse loue and opinion which his vertues as well as the Nobilitiâ—e of his blood had got him sought by many deuises to betray him whom no honourable mind but would haue defended and to this end they bent all their courses A plot no doubt ful of honour and regard vnto the State the proiect whereof was either the murther or disinheritance of so lawfull a Prince Falshood and Enuie the accusers Suggession and Subornation the informers Thus was the plot laid The Quéene being mother in law of Gustovus and hauing a Sonne by the King and borne since the kingdome was erected as farre as she durst for she yet feared the greatnesse of Gustovus did many times buze matters of iealousie and suspition into the Kings eares of his sonnes cariage of himself in the kingdom which at first he did not either beleeue or dissemble The thrée Dukes knowing the Quéenes mind towards the Prince added fuell to her fire alledging that she should neuer finde a sure estabâ—ishment for her selfe and her sonne in the kingdome if Gustovus were not made away The heart that before began to burne with this desire was now more incensed hauing those thrée Noblemen the principall Counsellours of State in the kingdome to further her intendments The Quéene being throughly instructed by the Lords takes the aduantage of time in her complaint to the king Tels him that his sonne aspired and would shortly aspire against him that he affected popularitie receiued like Absolom his subiects Petitions not in loue but Ambition That he kept a Court and Port greater then the King and that all his actions did more sauour of Soueraigntie then subiection The Lords they second the Quéene in her vniust information alleadge matters probable to confirme it The King beleeues and in the error thereof hates Truth imbraceth Treason Thus all being inuerted Nature rebels in the Father but Loyaltie remaines in the Sonne The plot was hereupon laid for his apprehension Gustovus being then at Court who noting a straunge alteration in his Fathers countenance towards him began to suspect the drift of the Queene vpon the distrust of the Noblemen about her Himselfe being almost abandoned deuiseth with himselfe how to auoyd the daunger A Gentleman of the Kings comes secretly to Gustovus and tels him that the plot was laid that night for his Attainder The Prince being amazed at the suddaine immiuence of such a perill posteth presently from the Court with a few of his Retinew and the next day recouers his Dukedome of Doland where he meant to stay till he heard further of the Kings proceedings His departure was soone made knowne at which the Queene and the Lords though they mist of their purpose were not much sorry foreknowing that his suddaine flight from the Court in that manner would strongly confirme their accusation The King by them againe is incensed and messengers sent into Doland by whom the Prince was Summoned by a certaine day to make his appearance in Vpsale Castle which the Prince refuseth to doe affirming by his submissiue Letters to the King that though he knew his cause to bee iust and his heart loyall no probable suspition of any misdemenour from him either in act or intent that yet neuerthelesse he durst not hazard his life in the heat of the kings displeasure for that he knew his aduersaries were so great in power and in so gratious account that it would be an easie matter to haue his Maiesties grace and Nature her selfe peruerted to his vntimely and vniust destruction And that the onely cause why he retired himselfe into his owne Countrey was to stay the time vntill these mists of his Maiesties iealousie and suspition were blowen away that the Sunne of his alleagiance might shine cleere farre from the cloudes of all distrust or disloyaltie This answere being returned but not accepted the King by the Queenes continuall instigations was more and more prouokt insomuch that a great power was suddenly raised to fetch him by violence out of his Dukedome Which the Prince perceiuing and being neither able nor willing to resist his Fathers forces giues way to necessitie and in the habite of a slaue purposeth secretly to goe into Germanie And hauing past some daungers in his flight by the Kings pursuers at last he crossed the seas and holding on his course for Lubeck in Germany not many dayes safely arriued there All this while he kept his disguise for though he knew that the Lubeckers were heretofore beholding to him yet he doubted what minds they would put on in this chaunge of fortune Remembring Pompeyes vsage in his flight by Ptolomie King of Egypt and the like of Hanniball by Prusius king of Bithinia Chap. II. Gustovus is discouered in Lubecke The Lubeckers take his part The King his Father dies He recouers by their meanes the Kingdome of Swethland THe newes being arriued in Germany of Guâ—tovus his flight out of Swethland before his comming thither was diuersly intertained in Lubeck Some pittied the state and condition of the young Prince that so Noble a Gentleman so full of hope and expectation euen in the prime of his youth should in this vile manner suffer violence Others spake against him supposing that his owne naturall Father and others of his blood would not in this manner haue proceeded against him if he had not showne himselfe dangerous vnto the State as the mindes of the people are in this case diuersly distracted The Prince after his comming to Lubeck staied certaine dayes in a common Inne not daring to discouer himselfe and to auoid the suspition of a stranger in such common places found meanes to preferre himselfe vnto a rich Merchant of the Towne if such a place in the meanenesse of his fortune at that time may be called preferment Being there entertained he contented himselfe to doe any bodily labour in the house striuing to suite his minde vnto his misery yet could hee not so well counterfeit this part of his sinister fortune but that the Merchant did soone suppose him to be a better man then hee seemed to bee and perhaps the man hee was So hard a thing it is for Nature to learne to forget her custome Staying some few moneths in the Merchants house hee heard of a Gasant sent from the king to the State of Lubeck being supposed hee would bend his course thither The tenor of the Gasants message was to deliuer to the Lubeckers that the kings desire was that either they should not entertaine him at al or els send him backe to Swethland for that hee was knowen and proclaimed to bee an enemie But they being at that time ignorant of the Princes abiding answered for the time to those things that might stand with the Kings pleasure The Gasant being dispatcht Gustovus
and peaceable And set a side the staine of his brothers death he was doubtlesse a most excellent Prince and worthy of the Crowne and kingdome and although there were many times iarres betwixt him and his brother Duke Charles yet alwaies the matter was so handled that they were soone reconcilde againe By which were cut off all occasions of Ciuill warre In the twelfth yeare of his raigne his father in law the King of Poland dies for whose death the Quéene his daughter mourned heauily The young Prince Sigismond her Sonne was elected King of Poland and with an honourable conuoy being guarded thither was with all solemnity in all Princely manner Crowne King of Poland Shortly after Marries honourably into the house of Austria and in the twelth yeare of his raigne in Poland King Iohn his Father dies whose death being much bewailed of his subiects he was with appertaining solemnitie buried in the Chappell of the Kings in the Castle of Vpsale Duke Charles of Estergutland after the death of his brother sends into Poland for his Nephew Sigismond to come to receaue the Crowne of Swethland Sigismond takes heauily the death of his Father and deuines before hand of the troubles that followed in that kingdome Great preparation is made for his iourney into Swethland and doubting of his vnckles minde proiectes carrieth a great power of Poles with him to preuent all daungers The king arriues safely in Sweathland is with all honor and signe of loue receaued by his vnckle Duke Charles and the rest of the Nobilitie of Swethland He is honorably conueyed to Vpsale Castle where hee was louingly receaued of the Quéene his Mother whom he comforteth being a sorrowfull widdow for the death of King Iohn her husband Shortly after he was crowned K. of Swethland without any disturbance A Rex-day was held in the castle of Vpsale where all things being established Duke Charles is made vicegerent of the kingdome hauing with him ioynd in Comission foure Noblemen of the Rexen-road whose names were Hergusten Bonner Hersten Bonner his brother Herrerick Spare and Hartor Belk These fower Noble men being great in the kingdome but not very great with the Uicegerent were of purpose ioynd by the King in commission with the Duke to curbe or Controule all ouer haughty and headstrong attempts that the Duke might happely Commit by the greatnesse of his place and power in the absence of the King who was then ready to returne to Poland The Duke perceaues the drift but dissembles it before the Kings departure order was set downe by the King with the Duke and the Commissioners for the payment of certaine sommes of money which King Iohn his Father did owe vnto many Souldiours that were yet vnpaide since the time of expedition into Russia and vnto many Merchants of England Scotland and other Nations for the prosecuting of that warre After all things were thus setled and ordered the King returnes to Poland leauing behinde him that fire that afterward consumed the peace of the whole Kingdome for the Noblemen the Commissioners being commanded by the King that was euer iealous of his Unckle Charles to obserue and enforme his Maiestie of the manner of his gouernment did so oppose themselues against him in all his procéedinges and especially in the payment of this money that the Duke plainely perceiued that this new gouernment was but laide as a trap to ensnare his life A Rex-day was holden at Vpsale no order Concluded nor money paide and much adoe there was to kéepe them from factions the Commissioners would haue these summes paid out of the Subiectes purses the Duke out of the Common Treasury which the commissioners refuse alleaging the Kings want of money The Duke writes faithfully The Lords falsly to the King To whom they intimate feare of innouation and that the Duke by all likelyhoods aimed at the Crowne that he had paid parte of the money due to the Souldiours out of the Reuenues of the Dukedome to draw their affections to him that he sought to further the State and wealth of the Commons more then stood with the loyall nature of a Subiect that he kept the Porte and State of a King rather then a Deputie and that it was not like he would long yeeld his honors vnto Uassalage whose fortunes in such a minde and State as his might attaine to Soueraignty if preuention were not spéedily made The Duke intercepts these letters and sends them inclosed in his own vnto the King to whom he writes very humbly and with all protestations of duty and alleagance the king receaues the letters but beleeues the Lords and distâ—usteth the Duke sendeth secretly to the Commissioners that they should sodainely surprise him depose him from his gouernement and to that end he sent his authority and finally to kéepe him prisoner his wise and children during life in a castle built of purpose for that stratageme within the dukedome of Litto Oh that the nature of fortune should be so fickle and vncertaine neuer singular either in her frownes or fauours but that commonly in the height of any hope it produceth some crosse accident of vnhappy misfortune The Duke notwithstanding hauing intelligence of this plot beganne to looke about him hasted into his owne dukedome and raised a great power of men Some say that if hee had but staide one hower longer in Vpsale the plot had beene effected and the Duke vtterly vndone The Lords were in a maze vpon the Dukes departure knowing that their deuise was discouered they now perceaued their owne weakenesse to resist the Duke being in power place and opinion and farre aboue them And though they had the Kings authority yet was he farre from them and they néer vnto their danger they knew not well what course to take sometimes they purposed to flie to the King and then they feared the waies were forelayd To stay in the Castle of Vpsale were no safety it being a place of pleasure not of defence whereupon they determined to depart from thence Thrée of them vnto the Castle of VVasten in the Dukedome of Finland and Hartourbelk to Calmer Castle Hauing theis Castles deliuered vnto them they purposed to stay there to vnderstand the Dukes procéedings and in the meane time dispatcht letters vnto the King of the particulars of these troubles The Duke as I sayd before hauing raised a great power of men marcheth spéedily towardes the castle of Vpsale but vnderstanding of the Lords departure towards Wasten bends his course thither It is a world to sée what numbers of men came vnto the Duke from all parts proffeting their seruice to him All which hee gently welcomed Some he entertained and the rest sent home againe with speciall charge to looke vnto the Kinges peace signifying further that the cause why hee was now vp in Armes was but to right himselfe of such wronges done by those Lords who neither loued the King nor him The Lords that were in the Castle of Wasten vnderstanding of the
Dukes approach with such a power of men sodenly forsooke the castle and not being able to defend it fled in all hast to Poland whome the Duke would not pursue but taking the castle put in a strong Garrison and presently hastâ—d to the castle of Calmer which Hartourbelk had a little before taken in the Kings name who standing at defence and defiance with him the Duke besiegeth both the Citie and castle the cittizens more willing to entertaine him then resist him The Duke plants his ordinance against the Gates of the Citie and thereupon the Citizens resisting the command of Hartour Belk open the citie Gates and recaue him in The Duke besiegeth the castle and in short time by the helpe of the Towne Winnes it takes and keepes Hartour Belk prisoner and dischargeth all the rest From hence the Duke sent letters to the King informing truly the cause of these troubles That the vniust attempts of the Commissioners against him did moue him to raise these powers in defence of his state and liberty not in the disturbance of his Maiesties peace nor to make any innouation in the Land beseeching him that no false or fained suggestions of his aduersaries might stand as a barre betwixt his Maiesties grace towards him and his owne fidelitie Affirming further that it lay in his power to stopp their passage into Poland and that hee would at the Kings pleasure disperse his forces surrender vp the castles that he had taken be content to resigne his charge of gouernment to whoÌ„soeuer it pleased the King Prouided that hee might bee assured of the quiet enioyment and peaceable possession of such Lands and honors as he was born vnto by Nature and this quoth he I learne of necessity which teacheth euery creature to defend it selfe The King receiues the Dukes letters but giues no credit to his protestations During the time of the Dukes stay in the City of Calmer and vnderstanding of many disorders and misdemeanors that were commited in a Nunnery standing in the Towne One daye Came to visit the Nuns accompanied with certaine gentlemen of his house and vnderstanding some of their mindes to be discontent with their orders and some of their bodies well knowne to the Friers dissolues the Nunnery and transposeth the Nunnes according to their own disposing Some into other nunneries many to their Friends the most to Mariages The King by this time had answered the Dukes letters very coulorably that hee was sorry for the tarres that happened betweene him and the Lords That as soone as his businesse would giue him leaue he would visit the Lordes and him In the meane time he requested that hee would deliuer Hartourbelk or intreat him kindly The Duke though hee beléeued not what the King had written yet hee receaues the letters gladly and honourably feasted the messenger In this time another dangerous plot was laide to entrappe Duke Charles and to enforce him Prisoner in the Castle of Litto aforesaid whereupon there were forces very secretly and sodainely raised in Finland The king hauing a purpose to winne to that powre other forces that he meant himselfe to bring out of Poland and appointed a day of meeting in Stock-holland CHAP. V. The Duke hath intelligence of the plots that the King and his aduersaries had deuis'd against him He encounters part of the Kings army and discomforts them with other accidents THe Duke hauing intelligence of this dangerous plot deuised against him by the king assured himselfe to finde no fauour at his hand that no submissioÌ„ would serue y e turne For him to disperse hâ—s powers and to stand rather vpon the protestation of his allegeance then his guard were to put his neck vppon the block and to indure the stroke for raging strâ—ames are not stayed with gentle hands Wherefore calling his friends about him hee told them that it was now no time to dally That the king by his aduersaries was so prouokt against him that nothing but his death or depriuation would satisfie the kings displeasure These vnwilling armes quoth hee that I now beare are for the defence of you and my Country vnto which I owe my life and whaâ—soeuer else is deere vnto mee I sée quoth hée the drifte of the king and my aduersaries is to ouerthrow our customes and to gouerne you according to the Polish Pollicy which is vnfit for any frée state To pursue this and to lay heauy yoakes vpon your necks my life is sought after which I shall bée alwaies ready to spend or end to doe you or my Country seruice His friends embrac't him willed him to go forward promised their aide to the vttermost of their powers and the Duke le ts slip no time but presently seizeth vpon the Nauy of Swhethland hauing it before vnder his command maruelling much that the King had not before that sent to seize vpon it himselfe but thereby belike hee thought hee should haue ministred matter for the Duke to suspect his deuice The Finland Fleete being vpon the Coast some few daies before the day appointed the Duke hauing furnished the Nauy with men and munition tooke the Opportunitie of Time and with all expedition made hast to meete them before their ioyning with the Kings power with whome had they met they had put the Duke to a great hazard The Finland Fleet consisted of thrée score and ten saile most of them vessels of great burthen and in them 14 thousand fighting men the Dukes forces by Sea were scarce so many The Duke deuides his Nauy into two parts the Fiulinders into thrée The Duke bearing as great a breadth in the front of his Nauy as his aduersaries did doubting least he should be engirt The charge being giuen by the Duke was semblably answered by the contrary party and now the voice of the Ordinance that was many yeares a stranger in those parts carried such hideous noyse in the Land as much amazed the quiet mindes of the inhabitants when they heard that the haruest of their Peace was now like to be reap't by the vngentle hand of warre Then began they to forethink the troubles that were like to follow these fearfull beginnings but happely not to remember the causes thereof it is either a naturall or Customary stupidity in man to be senselesse in the vnderstanding of their owne offences Pride Blasphemy Auarice Extortion Luxury and other the like enormities are in particular men the generall causes of the disturbance nay sometimes of the depopulation of a whole kingdome when the mindes of Princes corrupted with Ambition are stirr'd vp though in their owne respects euen by the power and sufferance of the almighty to plague by warre his consuming Minister the vnrepented sinnes of the people But to returne to Sea where the fight continued little more then two howers during which time the ayre was so troubled with smoake that the shippes at Sea could not see one another and the beholders at lande might iudge by the eye that they
were turn'd into a clowde But at last the Admirall of the Finlanders béeing struck betwéen winde and water did sinke in the midst of them all Their fléete began to take about to hoise vp their Sayles and flye the Duke followed them as far as he durst but being doubtfull of the Kings approch made his returne the sooner Landed his powers and hasted with his army to Stockholland Upon his comming to Stock-holland hee vnderstood of the Kings landing at Caâ—mer Castle his whole Nauy consisting of a hundreth Sayle or there abouts whereof there were eight and twentie English shippes which the King had hired of the Marchants being then resident in that coast bearing in the whole Fléete eight and twenty thousand fighting men Duke Charles béeing aduertised of the newes doubted what hee were best to doe Sometimes hée was in minde to giue place vnto his aduersaries considering the miseries that were like to attend this vnciuill warre And though hee knew himselfe well lyned with friends in the kingdome and that it might bee in his power to resist the king yet when he reduced into his mind the Calamities that might happen vnto the Land by the maintenance of this warre He did often perswade himselfe with Otho rather to giue place to Vitellius then to resist a Tyrant to the ouerthrow of his Counter but being otherwise aduised by his friendes that counselled him either to take vpon him the soueraigntie or at least to maintaine himselfe in his place as well for their liues as his owne hauing all gone so farre that they could not retyre without irreuocable danger His courage ouercomming his feare and the respect of the generality aboue his own particular he resolued to prosecute the war but yet in such manner that al the worlde might vnderstand hee did it rather to defend himselfe then offend the king howsoeuer his actes might be mistaken Whereupon the duke remooues from Stock-holand into the hart of y e countrey to a hold called the castle of Lynnkeeping By the way the King had taken the castle of Calmer and detained the Captaine of the castle placed there by the Duke close prisoner And though the Town was surely guarded by the King and alwaies by him forelayd to intercept all newes yet a certaine Townesman vndertooke to carry the Duke intelligence therof with the consent of the principall in the Town such was the loue they bare vnto him The Messenger because he could not passe the ports was let downe at a priuie ioyning to the Towne Walle and hauing past the kings Scowt-watch that lay in diuers places houering about the Town tooke so circumspectly the aduantage of the time y t in two daies he recouered the Dukes Army being vpon march to the castle of Linnekeeping The tenor of his message was that on no conditions hee should trust the King for that as well by the vsage of his officers in the castle of Calmer as other principall intelligence giuen to some that loued the Duke too well to keepe it close that the king purposed his vtter destruction and that there was no agréement to be made but onely coulorable vpon any reconcilement to foregoe a further mischiefe The Duke though sad to heare these newes yet imbraced and rewarded the messenger And vnderstanding there of the kinges remooue from Calmer to the castle of Sterborrow to his sister Preking Anne he bends all his forces thither and within three daies after came wâ—thin sight of the castle he pitcht his Tent within a myle of the Towne before hee attempted any thing in any hostile maner sent some of his principall friends vnto the king and humbly desired him to know the cause of thâ—se vniust warres vndertaken If the fault lay iustly in the Duke or any of his adherents they were content either to submit their liues to the law or to the kings mercy If any fault were supposed or but suggested they desired an indifferent Iudge And if the fault were found where in déede it lay they desired the same vpon their aduersaries Finally he besought his Maiestie that he would measure the nature of ill toÌ„gues not by their sound but by their quality for there were some about him that nether loued him nor them nor y e land The king receiued these messages gaue faire but dissembled words that if he would disperse his Army he would discharge his Confirme vnto him his place of gouernment and other offices he enioyed in the kingdome Prouided that Hartourbelk whom he detained as a prisoner might be deliuered and he with the rest of the Lords reconciled The Duke answered to the first that if it would please his Maiesty to disperse his Army hée would doe the like and for the other vpon due consideration he should find him conformable Twelue daies were thus spent in messages interchangeably between them The Duke meaning faithfully the King otherwise Both their Armies they still retaynd during which time the trapp was laid to intrappe the Duke That vpon an interuiewe betwixt them in the sight of both their Armies Feâ—â—becke Duke of Leif-lande should rush in and vpon the sodaine surprise the Duke take him prisoner and carry him to the Castle aforesaid But missing of his purpose beeing throughly countercharged by the Duke his minde was much perplexed in the vncertaine euent of his expectations His cogitations fought within themselues when sometimes hee would lay the fault vpon such as hee imployed in those businesses Sometimes he would place one somtimes displace another In his owne iudgement thinking such a man fit to bee a Commander and sometimes another Hée would like one to daye and to morrow vtterly distaste him To submit hee thought dishonorable and worse then death for by open disgraces the fame of men growes odious In this conflict of minde the King retyres with the Duke Ferns-becke to Steckborow knowing that the fortune of warre had not so done her worst but that she might beginne a new Tragedy and the rather for that his strength was weakened in the former assaults hauing lost two thousand of his men in the same The Duke returning to the Leager and resting there that night The next day the sonne had no sooner stept from the bed of Aurora but the Dukes Fléet remoues from Finland to Stock-borow beeing distante an hundreth leagues The Kings fléete lies in a haâ—â—n betwéene two rockes Duke Charles his Fléete ryding in the Mayne and the King perceiuing how he was charged by Sea and Land began to be diuersly distraughted sometimes hee resolues to vndergoe a meane estate alleaging that medium est tutissimum and Auli ca vita splendida miseria Cares are the Contiunall Companions of a Crown when rest remaines in a lowe condition and fortune Low shrubs féele least tempest In valleys is heard least thunder In Country rooms is great rest and in little wealth the least disquiet Dignitie treadeth vpon glasse and honor is like a fading herbe that when it bloometh most gorgeous then