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 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 challenge and recover his Inheritance and his wives and not to intermeddle with the King nor with his Crowne by reason of which oath divers loyall and good Subjects to King Richard resorted unto him not having any treasonable intent But after when hee saw his power so much increased that hee might doe what hee pleased hee wickedly brake his oath and without any right or colour-like right procured himselfe to bee made and Crowned King 2. Item That not only as an arch-Traytor hee had imprisoned his owne Liege Lord and undoubted Master King Richard but had caused him to bee barbarously murthered that so with the grearer securitie hee might enjoy his Masters Crowne and Kingdome 3. Item that eversince the death of King Richard hee had unjustly kept the Kingdome and the Crowne from his Kinsman Edmond Mortymer Earle of March who was the Sonne and heire apparant of Philip the Daughter and heire of Lionel Duke of Clarence elder brother to Iohn of Gaunt Father of the new usurping King 4. Item That when neither present occasion or need compelled him hee had imposed divers Taxes and Subsidies upon the people to their great griefe and impoverishing whereof they willingly would but durst not complaine 5. Item That no justice could bee expected at his hand because that contrary to the oath which hee had taken when hee was Crowned hee had by Letters sent into sundry Shires and thereby procured certaine Burgesses of the Parliament and Knights of the Shire to bee chosen whom hee knew would not faile to serve his turne as occasion should bee offered 6. And lastly That where in honour and for affinities sake hee ought to have ransomed or redeemed his said Cousin the Earle of March from his lothesome imprisonment being by some of his Privie Councell thereto often solicited hee not only denyed the said request but falsly and untruly published and declared that the Earle himselfe was of his owne accord become a voluntary Prisoner to the end that Traitors and Rebells joyning with him might have somewhat wherewith to colour such Treasons as they would conspire or plot against him For which causes and many other as bad they defied him as an usurping Traytor and as an utter enemy they vowed his destruction and the restoring of the said Earle to his right The King perceiving that nothing but strength of blowes could end this strife and being perswaded that if hee could victoriously suppresse this rebellion hee should bereave his enemies from future hope to prevaile in the like attempts with a great and well-composed Army hee marched towards the Lords forecasting in his March how to prevent the English from joyning with the Welch which with a provident care hee prevented and about Shrowsburie on Saturday Saint Marie Magdalens eve hee encountred the Piercies the Scots gave a brave onset on the King but hee so welcommed them that scarce one was left unhurt but most of them slaine yet the Conspirators stoutly maintained the fight and pursued it with that courage and resolution that they were confident of good successe untill the King with the young Prince Henrie and some young branches of honourable stockes in their company bravely resolving rather to die honourably then to live disgracefully put to their strengths to joyne with Valor and with a noble emulation to give faire example each to other They so shooke the enemies vauntguard that Hotspur and some other chiefe Commanders on his side and many thousands more were slaine The Earle of Worcester was taken Prisoner in the field together with Sir Richard Vernon Sir Theobald Trussell and the Baron of Kindarton and the rest fled On the Kings part besides the Earle of Stafford who had but that morning revolted from the other side were slaine Sir Hugh Sherley Sir Iohn Clifton Sir Iohn Cockayne Sir Nicholas Gansell Sir Walter Blunt Sir Iohn Calverley Sir Iohn Massey of Puddington Sir Hugh Mortymer and Sir Robert Gausell all which had beene but that morning before Dubbed Knights with Sir Thomas Wendesley who afterwards died of the wounds there received This Edmond Stafford was third Sonne of Earle Hugh and after the death of Thomas and William who dyed without issue was Earle of Stafford and Lord of Tunbridge hee married Anne the Daughter of Thomas of Woodstocke Duke of Glocester by whom hee had issue Humphry afterward Duke of Buckingham and Philip that dyed young and Anne first married to Edmond Mortymer Earle of March but had no issue by him and after was married to Iohn Holland Earle of Huntington by whom shee had issue Henry Duke of Exceter of common souldiers the King lost about sixteene hundred but had made slaughter of above sixe thousand of the Conspirators whereof thirty sixe fell by his owne sword neverthelesse Dowglasse once unhorsed him and in his presence slew Sir Walter Blunt who with divers others that day were in all things habited alike to the King for which so brave exploit after Dowglasse by the unfortunate fall of his horse having broken two of his ribbes being taken Prisoner was by the Kings speciall command carefully dressed and attended and ransomelesse with great commendation set at liberty so farre can vertue prevaile with a grievous foe The day following the King with the whole Army with great show of zeale gave God thankes for this victory by his assistance so happily atchieved and then caused the Earle of Worcester to be beheaded many of the Ring-leaders of that rebellion to bee drawne hanged and quartered and their heads placed on London bridge This Thomas Piercie Earle of Worcester and Lord high Admirall of England married Elizabeth eldest Sister and coheire of David Earle of Athol by whom hee had issue Henrie Earle of Atholl After this the King sent Henry Prince of Wales with the whole Army into that Countrey But before his comming Owen Glendor was abandoned by all his Company and lurking in the Woods was there famished many of his associates were taken and there put to death and the Prince joyfully returned to the King Whilst the Prince was in Wales Henry Piercy the Earle of Northumberland of his owne accord came and submitted himselfe to the King with many oathes and protestations of his innocency as not being once acquainted with any intent of Treason and rebellion And though the King conceived not the least thought that might excuse him yet for that time hee gave him a seeming show of faire entertainment and for that time with gentle language and kind countenance as it was thought for that hee had the possession of Barwicke Castle and other places of strength in his power permitted to goe free and come at his pleasure The Britons under the leading of the Lord of Castiles spoyled and burnt the Towne of Rlimmoth and returned unfought with his speed was the more and his fortune the better but lest hee should boast too much of his conquest the Westerne men under the command of William Wilford Esquire by order from the
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
for revolting from Nabuchadnezzar after homage done unto him did not Saul put all the Priests to death because one of them did relieve holy and harmlesse David did hee not prosecute his faithfull servant and dutifull son-in-law yet was not hee spared nay protected by him And was not David much grieved for but taking away the lap of his garment and afterwards caused the messenger to bee slaine that upon request and for pitie did lend his hand as himselfe reported to hasten the voluntary death of that sacred King As for the contrary examples of Iehu They were done by expresse Oracle and revelation from God and are no more set downe for our imitation then the robbing the Egyptians or any other particular or priviledged commandement but in the generall precept which all men must ordinarily follow not only our actions but our speeches also and our very thoughts are strictly charged with dutie and obedience to Princes whether they bee good or evill The law of God ordaineth That hee that doth presumptuously against the Ruler of the people shall die And the Prophet David forbiddeth both by precept and practise to touch the Lords annointed Thou shalt not saith the Lord rayle upon the Iudges neither sbeake evill of the Ruler of the people And the Apostles doe demand further that even our thoughts and soules bee obedient to higher powers And lest any should imagine that they ment of good Princes only they speake generally of all And further to take away all doubt they make expresse mention of the evill For the power and authoritie of wicked Princes is the ordinance of God And therefore Christ told Pilat That the power which hee had was given him from above And the Prophet Esay called Cyrus being a prophane and heathen Prince the Lords annointed For God turneth the hearts even of wicked Princes to doe his will And as Iehosaphat said to his Rulers they execute not the judgement of man but of the Lord In regard whereof David calleth them gods because they have the rule and authoritie even from God which if they doe abuse they are not to bee adjudged by their subjects for no power within their Dominion is superiour to theirs But God reserveth them to their sorest triall horribly and suddenly saith the Wise man will the Lord appeare to them and a hard judgement shall they have The law of God commandeth that the childe should not bee put to death for any contumelie done unto the Parents but what if the father be a robber if a murtherer if for excesse of villanies odious and execrable both to God and man surely hee deserveth the greatest degree of punishment and yet must not the sonne lift up his hand against him for no offence can bee so great to bee punished by parricide But our Country is or ought to bee more deere to us then our Parents And the Prince is the father of the country and therefore more sacred and deare to us then our Parents by nature and must not bee violated how imperious how impious soever hee bee doth hee command or demand our purses or persons we must not shun from the one nor shrinke from the other for as Nehemiah saith Kings have dominion over the cattell of their subjects at their pleasure Doth hee injoyne those actions which are contrary to the lawes of God wee must neither wholly obey nor violently resist but with a constant courage submit our selves to all manner of punishment and show our subjection by suffering and not performing yea the Church hath declared it to bee an heresie to hold that a Prince may be slaine or deposed by his Subjects for any default or disorder of life or default in government There will bee faults so long as there bee men and as wee endure with patience a barren yeare if it happen and unseasonable weather so must wee tolerate the imperfections of Rulers and quietly expect either reformation or alteration But alas what such cruelty what such impietie hath King Richard committed examine the imputations objected with the false circumstance of aggravation and you shall finde but little of truth or of great moment it may be many oversights have escaped as who lives without offending yet none so grievous to bee termed tyrannie as proceeding rather from unexperienced ignorance or corrupt counsell then from any naturall or wilfull malice Oh! how should the world bee pestered with tyrants if Subjects might be permitted to rebell upon pretence of tyrannie how many good Princes should often bee suppressed by those by whom they ought to be supported if they but levie a Subsidie or any other taxation it shall bee judged oppression if they put any to death for traiterous attempts against their persons it shall bee exclaimed at for crueltie if they shall doe any thing against the good liking of their people it shall bee proclaimed tiranny But let it bee that without desert in him or authoritie in us King Richard must bee deposed yet what right hath the duke of Lancaster to the Crown or what reason have wee without right to give it him If hee make Title as heire to King Richard then must hee stay King Richards death for no man can succeed as heire to the living But it s well knowne to all men who are not wilfully blinde or grosly ignorant that there are some yet alive lineally descended from Lionel Duke of Clarence whose issue by the judgement of the high Court of Parliament in the eighth yeare of King Richards raigne was declared heire apparant to the Crowne in case of Richard should die without issue The claime from Edmond Crouchbacke I passe over the authors thereof themselves being ashamed of so absurd an abuse And therefore all the pretence now on foot is by right of conquest and the Kings resignation and grant and the consent of the many it is bad stuffe that will take no colour what conquest can a subject make against a Soveraigne where the warre is insurrection and the victory high treason King Richards resignation being in prison is an act of exaction by force and therefore of no force to bind him And by the lawes of this realme the King by himselfe cannot alienate the antient jewells and ornaments of the Crowne much lesse give away his Crowne and Kingdome And custome wee have none for the vulgar to elect their King but they are alwayes tyde to accept of him whom the right of succession enables to the Crowne much lesse can they make good that Title which is by violence usurped For nothing can bee said to bee freely done when libertie is restrained by feare As for the deposing of Edward the Second it is no more to bee urged then the poisoning of King Iohn or the murdering of a lawfull Prince wee must live according to lawes not examples yet the kingdome then was not taken from lawfull successors But if wee looke backe to times past wee shall finde that these Titles were
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
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
Garter and sate in their Stalles at the solemnitie of the Feast The Emperour after the departure of the Duke stayed to mediate a peace betweene England and France which the King being advertized of the hard escape of his men in Normandy would not listen unto Neverthelesse the Emperour very politickly awaited his time where to take his best hint to perswade an agreement which might fortunately have beene found had not newes come of the besieging of Harflue so all was dasht The new Constable with a great power suddenly clapt downe before the Towne when the Viceadmirall of France brought up the whole Navy with intent whilst the Constable should assaile it by land to have entred the Towne by the water side But the Duke of Exceter defended the Towne valiantly by whose valour and indefatigable diligence they were defeated of their expectation King Henry in person was preparing to Sea with all speed but being by the Emperour disswaded he sent his Brother the Duke of Bedford accompanied with the Earles of March Oxford Huntington Warwicke Arundel Salisbury Devonshire and divers Lords and Barons with two hundred sayles to the reskue of Harflue they made sayle for Rye and not without some crosses at Sea upon the feast day of the Assumption of our Lady came to the mouth of the river Seyne Vpon notice of the approach of the English Navy Narbon set forward and got the mouth of the Haven The Duke sent before his strongest Ships two French Ships advancing too forward were layd aboard and taken The fight was continued and resolutely maintained untill the English having sunke five hundred vessels one and other and taken three great Carricks of Genoa wonne the harbour and notwithstanding some opposition made by the Gallies which had the advantage with oares to runne out of the reach of the Artillery of the English they relieved Harflue Vpon notice hereof the Duke of Arminacke raysed his siege and departed to Paris leaving somewhat more then a little provision of amunition behind him which they of Harflue tooke and stowed up for them The Duke of Bedford having finished what hee came about returned to the King who with the Emperour gave him great but no more then deserved commendation Whilst these broyles were honourably managed abroad two too uxorious husbands the Lord Strange and Sir Iohn Trussell of Warmingham in Cheshire who had married the Daughter of Sir Iohn Strange most dishonourably fought in maintaining their wives folly forgetfully striving for place at a Sermon in Saint Dunstons Church in the East by occasion whereof there was much partaking on both sides whereby the Congregation was much disturbed a great tumult raysed some slaughter and more bloodshed done the delinquents were committed to the Counter the Church suspended and upon examination the Lord Strange was found guiltie and by the Archbishop of Canterbury adjudged to penance which was thus performed all the Lords servants in their Shirts from Saint Pauls Church where the sentence was given followed the Parson of Saint Dunstons after them the Lord bare-headed with a waxe Taper in his hand the Lady bare-footed the Archdeacon Reignold Renwood following last went to Saint Dunstons in the East where at the rehallowing thereof the Lady filled all the vessells with water and according to the sentence shee offered to the Altar an Ornament of the value of tenne pounds and the Lord a Pixe of silver of five pounds There was then belike in use no commutation of penance Surely I am perswaded that if they might have bought out their penance for money they would have trebled their offerings I could wish that such severitie of discipline might now bee practised against such delinquents wee should then have devotion with more humilitie and lesse striving for places in the Church The Emperour desisteth from further mediation of peace with France and entreth in a League defensive and offensive with King Henry wherein only the Pope is excepted which concluded upon the the nineteenth of October Anno 1416. hee returned towards Germany King Henry accompanied him to Callice whither the Duke of Burgondy came to confirme the League concluded onbefore by the Earle of Warwicke and other the Kings Embassadours and him concerning Flaunders and Arthoyes only from Midsommer 1416. untill Michaelmasse following where it was prolonged further till Michaelmasse 1419. which gave occasion of suspition to France that the Duke was no firme friend of theirs The Emperour takes his journey to Holland the Duke returnes to Graveling and King Henry to Dover where he landed on Saint Lukes Eeve upon his arrivall hee sent new Embassadours viz. the Earle of Warwicke the Bishops of Salisbury Bath and Hereford the Abbot of Westminster and the Pryor of Worcester to the Councell of Constance whither the Emperour in person likewise went in this Councell it was decreed that England should have the title of the English nation and should-bee accounted one of the five principall Nations which often before had beene moved but never granted till then and herein were all Wickliffes positions condemned At this Councell the Antipope Iohn was prescribed and all his goods and Treasure amounting to the summe of 750000. were seized The Parliament by reason of the Emperours being in the Land prorogued began againe the nineteenth of October wherein towards the prosecution of warres in France was voluntarily granted unto the King from the Clergie two whole tenthes and from the Laitie a whole Fifteene In this Parliament during the Kings absence Iohn Duke of Bedford was made regent of the Realme having out of the Kings coffers allowance of one thousand pounds per annum and fourty pounds a year out of the fee farme of Exceter Whilst King Henry is preparing for invasion the French-men had waged divers Carricks and other great Ships of the Genoaes and Italians which jpyning with the French fleet lay at the mouth of the River of Seyne under the command of Iaques Bastard of Burbon to barre all succour from Harflew Iohn Earle of Huntington Son to the Duke of Exceter beheaded at Ciceter is sent to Sea to skowre the Coasts who encountring with the Bastard Burbon after a long fight took the said Bastard three of his great Carricks with all the money for the halfe yeares pay for the fleet and bowged three other Carricks and dispersing the rest cleered the mouth of Seyne and returned to the King at Southamton And upon the 23. of Iuly the King with the Dukes of Clarence and Glocester the Earles of Huntington Warwicke Devonshire Salisbury Suffolke and Somerset The Lords Rosse Willoughby Fitzhugh Clynton Scroope Matrevers Bourcher Ferrers of Groby and Ferrers of Chartley Fanhope Gray of Codnor Sir Gilbert Vmphrevile Sir Gilbert Talbot and a brave well-furnished Army from Portsmouth tooke shipping and upon the first of August landed in Normandy neere to the Castle of Foncke The Kings Army consisted of five and twentie thousand five hundred and eight and twenty fighting
Gravelin wherefore the King came the Bishop of Winchester Iohn Duke of Norfolke with Humphry Earle of Stafford and others For the Duke appeared his Dutchesse the Bishop of Arras and the Lord of Croys where truce for a very small time is concluded on and for lesse kept This yeare was memorable for the death of three great Princesses Katherine Queene of England and Sister to the King of France The old Dowager of Henry the fourth King of England Daughter of the King of Navar and Mother to the Princes of Britaine And the old Countesse of Armanacke Daughter to the Duke of Berry and Mother to the Duke of Savoy which all dyed within eight and fourty houres the one of the other The fury of fighting growing cold Traffick for townes was againe set on foot and Harflew sold For the recovery whereof the Duke of Somerset with the Lord Talbot and a brave company of souldiers beset it both by land and water there being within to defend it Sir Iohn Estontvile and his brother with six hundred men and upward the Earles of Ewe with the Bastards of Orleance and Burbon with foure thousand men came to the reskue but so well were the English entrencht that the French could neither succor their friends nor annoy their enemies and so as they came they returned Whereupon the towne was surrendred upon composition About this time the Dutchesse of Bedford followed Queen Katherines example making election for an Husband of a gallant young Gentleman but of small meanes yet fortunate only enough by being affected one Sir Richard Woodvile whom she took to Husband to the great discontent of her French friends but especially her Vncle the Bishop of Terwine but she cared not who was vext so her selfe was pleased and God not offended who blest her and made her Mother of many children and amongst the rest of the Lady Elizabeth afterwards married to King Edward the fourth Iames King of Scots which before had bin fifteen yeares prisoner in England and from thence released with a Wife a great dower and many honourable presents yet proved ingratefull was murthered by certaine his traiterous subjects in his bed-chamber by night who being found out were cruelly tortured The Duke of Burgoine having attempted the unworthy traffick of bartering for Callice with mony but not able to compasse it being infinitely desirous to bee Master of it when neither force nor fraud could prevaile attempts it by a strange pollicy but of like successe to the former for hee was perswaded by a rediculous practise so to cut a ditch that hee might at his pleasure drowne both the Towne and Countrey about this hee imployed much labour and more cost but this fantasticall fancy of a flood vanished away like his Flemmish army at the siege there of like a vapour The Lord Talbot besieged Tanckervile and hath it after foure moneths lying before it simply rendred unto him In leiw whereof the French King in his owne person layes siege to Monstrew fault Yonne Whilst the Duke of Yorke was providing for the reskue of this Towne hee was discharged of his office by which meanes Sir Thomas Gerrard had the more colour to sell not lose the Towne which the King of France making his owne contract with him bought of him for rewards and preferment both promised but how performed I know not only having sold his honour with his charge hee lived disgraced and discarded in much discontent an exile in France where hee died This yeare is a Parliament holden at Westminster in which were made many good and profitable acts aswell for the preservation of peace at home as for provision to maintaine the warres abroad Arthur Constable of France and Iohn Duke of Alanson besieged the Towne of Auranches whither the Lord Talbot came and offered them battell which they refusing hee marched in despight of them none daring to make resistance into the Towne from whence next morning he sallyed out and having made a greatslaughter amongst them tooke divers prisoners and retreated at pleasure the French being well contented so to bee rid of him The French the next morning were called from the siege pretended for Pautou de Santrelis for the Hire had sent Letters unto them that they had the promise of divers Bourgers of Roan when their watch-night came to let them in they wisht therefore the Constable to meet them at Rize a place within foure leagues of Roane here of the Lord Talbot having notice covertly marcht to Roan and from thence though wearied with a bad journey marcheth before day to Rize where he surprizeth the French taketh the Lord Fontaines Sir Allaine Geron and many other the Hire by the helpe of his horse though not unwounded by him that pursued him escaped and so Talbot returneth to Roan with a faire bootie and full instructions to discover the Traitours who convicted had the reward of their treason The sixtday of November the Earle of Warwicke who seven times having beene abourd and still beat backe by tempestuous and contrary winds landed at Hoinflew with a thousand fresh souldiers came to Roan whither the Duke of Yorke was come downe and from thence returned for England The Duke of Burgoine taking advantage as hee thought of a still water with tenne thousand men besiegeth the Towne of Crotoy to relieve whom the new Regent sent the Lord Talbot with five thousand men whereof the Duke having notice upon their approach retyreth with his power except foure hundred with whom hee had manned a Bastileo by him there erected to Abvile but the Bastilio is soone gained and all the souldiers either taken or slaine The valiant Talbot sent the Duke word that if hee would save his Countrie of Piccardy from vastation that hee should come into the field where hee attended him and would give him if he dared to come battell But the Duke of Burgoine was not in the fighting humour neither loved to bee too neere so cholericke an enemy that would strike if hee might come at him and therefore from Abvile secretly conveyes himselfe to Amiens Twenty dayes together did the Lord Talbot with fire and sword passe thorow Piccardy and Arthoys destroying all that stood in his way and so returneth unencountred Sir Thomas Kiryel seized upon the Dukes Carriages and Ordnance and having left in Crotoy victual enough for six hundred men for a whole yeare hee brought the rest to the Earle of Warwicke who thankfully received them Henry Earle of Mortaine sonne to Edmond Duke of Somerset arrived with three hundred Archers and three hundred Speares and past thorow Normandy to Mayne and tooke in his March by assault the Cattle of Saint Anian wherein were three hundred Scots and French-men the Scots hee slew all and hanged the French-men for that they had sworne fealty to England and broke it hee tooke likewise the Castle of Algarche and by meanes of an Ambush taketh the Lord of Camerois comming
two wives Anne daughter of Edmond Earle of Stafford by whom he had issue Henry that succeede in the Dukedome his second wife was Anne daughter to Iohn Mountacute Earle of Salisbury by her he had issue a daughter Anne married to the heire of Westermerland Iohn Nevill by whom she had no issue Then she was married to Thomas Nevill brother of Ralph the father of her first husband by whom she had issue Ralph the third house of Westmerland and her third husband was Iames Earle Dowglasse by whom she had no issue Before the time of truce was expired the divell cast a bone by meanes of an overforward Curre that set all on snarling For Sir Francis Suryens and Araganois thought worthy to be admitted into the honourable societie of the Garter taking advantage of the securitie the French Garrisons did sleepe in sodainely upon our Lady day eve in Lent at night surprised a Frontier Towne belonging to the Duke of Brittaine called Fougeirs ransaking it killing the inhabitants and caried away all the spoyle the Duke advertiseth the French King lying at Râ—…unes thereof who by his Embassadors complaine both to the King of England and the regent Somerset the fault is all layd upon the Aroganoys who did it without warrant or wit the King or Councell nether advising or approving what was done neverthelesse for restitution or satisfaction a meeting is appointed at Lanveirs where the Commissioners treat of the businesse But whilst they talke of this newes are brought to the regent That the French by a stratagem of a Carter that with a load of hay comming over the draw-bridge caused the axeltree to breake and whilst the porter was ready to helpe the Carter the Porters braines were beaten out and the Towne of Ardes surprised and the Lord Fauconbridge Captaine thereof taken prisoner restitution is demanded by the English they are answered with their owne language what was done was neither by the privitie or porcurement of the French King or any of his Councell so they hold fast on both sides their ill gotten bargaines and from thence forward the truce on both side is broken all things grow worse and worse The French King assembleth a mightie army and dividing it into three parts imployeth every one in a severall quarter who according to direction get possession of Louviers Gerbury and Vernuele all which by composition attended twenty dayes to be reskued but none came This warre is begun before the terme of truce expired the English gave the first occasion and are payed with their owne coyne whilst the new Regent which like the sonnes of Zebede presumed of more abilities then he had knowes not where to begin nor what to say or doe makes ready to recken the Townes lost but newes is brought of a conspiracie against him in the same Towne he goes about to suppresse that whilst the enemie is at another towne ready to carry it without speedy succor whereupon he giues Command to such troopes to march as he thinks fit but they in steed of putting his Command in execution expostulate the reason of such directions then calls he to Councell but there is more time spent in chiding and finding fault then in debating for the amending of what is out of square whereby his proceedings as it were make a parenthesis to a discourse betweene the good government of the Duke of Yorke and the bad event of the murthered Duke of Gloucester Thus perplexed the regent in a desperate case complaines of want of Councellors talkes much to no purpose does many things to as little proofe or profit so having tir'd himselfe to no end retires himselfe to his Chamber and there with more deliberation then discretion debates with himselfe what is best to be done The Cocks now begin to ctow upon their dunghill which but a while before were cowed by the English if staying or Cravend by themselves if they fell a running Constance Guisard Gahard Pontean sa meare S. Loe Festampo Newcastle Tongue Moleor Argenton Lisseux and some other peices in Normandy are reduced to the Crowne of France Maulisson in Guyen upon notice of their defections arme against their Garrison and set open the gates to the Earle of Foys who enters and taketh it This is seconded by the Citizens of Roan who vexed the regent and the Earle of Shrousbury more within then the French army abroad and enforced them to make composition to have liberty with bag and baggage to march to Cane and to procure by a certaine day divers adiacent strong peices to be surrendred unto the French and untill the same were delivered the Earle of Shrousbury and the Lord Butler the heire to the Earle of Ormond to remaine pledges who were sent to be safely kept in the Castle of Eureux Succors are sent for into England but an unexpected occasion diverted the passage of them for the necessitie of present meanes to suppresse an insurrection made by rebells in Ireland for the effecting whereof the Duke of Yorke is with an army sent thither where he so behaved himselfe that he not only suppressed the insurrection but purchased the good will and affection of the Irish nation firme to him and his for ever after The Frenchmen now throughly flesht assault Harflew but are by Sir Robert Curson for along time valiantly repelled but in the end fearing to be forced he makes composition to depart with body and goods Fougers and Sir Iames de Benron are likewise received by the Duke of Britaine A fresh supply of fifteene hundred men under the conduct of Sir Thomas Kiryell are sent over who did as much as with so small an handfull could be expected taking in some Townes but marching with the rest of the army towards Bauguenx at a place called Formigney he was encountred by the Earle of Cleremont and seven thousand French and Scots at first the French were driven to recoyle and lost two peeces of their ordnance but the Constable of France with foure hundred men at armes and eight hundred archers came to the reskew and being fresh so beat upon the tyred English that they with the losse of three thousand seven hundred threescore and thirteene besides divers prisoners gave proofe that it was not altogether unpossible but that the English might be overcome which hitherto in France for many yeares they never had been Sir Thomas Vere and Captaine Goughe escaped to Roven The French King with an army royall besiegeth Cane which is bravely defended till the Dutches importuneth her husband to take pitie of her and his children to give over the Towne her entreaties his childrens teares so far prevaile that he moves the surrender to Sir David Hall whowas there in right of his Master the Duke of Yorke owner of Cane who knowing that there was no great Correspondency betwixt the Duke of Somerset and his Colonel boldly told the Duke that he had the charge of that Citie delivered to
on the other side of turbulent spirited men to have leave to execute the place 13. That they are too much troubled with too often comming to attend the generall Sessions being enforced in many places to make five dayes journey to the place where they are kept hereof they made complaint and crave redresse and that speedily The Captaine likewise for his owne particular after protestation made to live and die in the quarrell of the King and in justification of his being Soveraigne and undoubted Lord and of affirmation of his desire of the Kings welfare and prosperitie of the Realme maketh Petition that the King would be himself not live of the almes of his poore Cōmons whilst his proud Courtiers ryot out the revenewes of the Crown to that end hee craveth that the King wil resume into his own hands all the demeasne lands rights and profits of the Crowne now sold or leased or farmed or otherwise disposed of 2. That his Majestie would be pleased to call backe and into favour to receive the truly noble Prince the Duke of York now exiled from his presence and with him the right honourable the Dukes of Exceter Buckingham and Norfolke and the antient Noblemen of the Realme by the undue practises of Suffolke and his complices commanded from his presence And that all their antagonists and ill-willers might bee banished the Court or bard their place in Councell and displaced of their Offices 3. That condigne punishment might be impartially inflicted upon all the plotters contrivers of the Duke of Glocesters death their associates abettors and of all such as were the causes of the death of the Dukes of Exceter and Warwicke with the irrecuperable losse of the Kings possessions in France 4. That there mightbe a generall amotion of corrupt officers an abolition of the green Wax and other instruments of extortion out of the Exchequer a qualification of the rigor of proceeding in the Kings bench an inhibition of unequall purveyance of provision for the Kings houshold a cessation of proceedings against the offenders of the Statute of Laborers and a present execution of the Promooters Slegge Cromer Isell and East whom he pretended by wrongfull informations to have abused the King and wronged his subjects These bills of intimation and petition are sent from the lower House to the upper from whence the examination of the circumstances are committed to the Lords of the Kings privy Councell who having throughly perused them and maturely examined the particulars explode them as frivolous and conclude the promovers and authors there of proud and presumptuous rebells Whereupon the King is solicited by his privy Councell to punish the unlawfull attempt of these rebellious pretenders rather by force then entreaty This advise is seconded by the Queen whom she perceived now they principally aimed at though not as yet in overt termes discovered The King drawes his forces to Greenwitch from whence he appointed divers namelesse Lords to assaile the rebells but they were told by their followers that they would not fight against their friends as only laboured the reformation of abuses and the punishment of such traytors about the King as the Lord Say the Kings Chamberlain was whose name was rife in every mans mouth as well on one side as other to be reproched whereupon the L. Chamberlaine is presently cōmitted to the tower until other forces come the King Queen retire to London from whence within two daies being nowful 15000. strong the King in person marcheth towards Captaine Amend all who politickly withdraweth his forces to Senock wood upon notice where of the King retireth to London But the Queen thirsting after their ruine that plotted hers sends the two Staffords Sir Humphry William with many gallants to follow the rebels these proud of imployment make more hast then good speed for they found Iacke Cade in good order ready to receive them who in the first encounter slew Sir Humphry afterwards his brother put all the rest to ◅ight The Kings forces being at Blackheath could not by threats or entreats bee enforced or perswaded to goe to the reskues But hearing of the discomfiture of the Staffords and the forward Courtiers they began to whistle treason wishing the Queene and her favourites in Staffords roome or that the Duke of Yorke were in England to ayd his Cousin Mortimer never ownd to be of the house of March untill now But all expressing their backwardnesse to make resistance many of them steale to the Kentishmen and others from Sussex and Surrey encrease his number whom he ordereth restraineth from forraging or taking any thing by force or without payment yet how or from whence he had provision of food for this numerous company or mony to provide it had not some Londoners underhand given him assistance might have beene wondered But hee returneth againe to Black-heath and encampeth where the Kings army lay the night before who were now falne downe to Green-witch The Archbishop of Canterbury and the Duke of Buckingham are sent to expostulate with the rebells and their Captaine about their demmand a miserable time the while when two such peeres must be imployed in such a manner to so meane a person and a rebell But now beeing together Iack Cade with a sober composed countenance and great moderation expressed himselfe in very good termes but without show of reluctation or cessation from armes except the King in person would heare the grievances of the subject and passe his Princely word for reformation of their wrongs thus setled if not peremptory resolution made knowne to the King who was in doubt of his owne forces as being unsure of his owne Souldiers faith marcheth presently to Killingworth Castle in Warwickshire where he fortifieth and victualleth as suspecting to be besieged having left nor power nor Commander of note behind but onely the Lord Scales who with some forces were left to gard the Tower The Kentish Captaine taking advantage of the Kings departure commeth to Southwarke where he orderly quartereth his men earnestly exhorting his Souldiers to be Examples of that in themselves that they made pretence to find wanting in others and to be regular and modest and to Commit no outrage either in or about their lodging he himselfe kept the watch and kept all things faire and square The next morning they marched to London-bridge where they made shift with their swords to cut the ropes of the draw bridge no force being used for resistance and so in good order they march by London stone vpon which the Captaine strooke his sword saying Loe Mortymer is now Lord of London The Maior of London Sir Thomas Chalton standing upon the threshold of his doore with a bold countenance as though he had power enough if he would to represse him told the Captaine that if he should attempt any thing against the quiet of the City that he should feele hands enough about their eares to stop them before they
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
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