the Combat ended and Trustie Thomas hanged dead in his steele Saddle grouelyng and fooming with his necke broken whereat the people with wonderfull admiration shooted and caused Drummes and Trumpets to be sounded in signe of victorie But a litle before the Combat began the King gaue the Lord Marshall this charge that if the Defendant tooke the foyle his Armour should not be vnbuckled nor the dead coarse discouered except it were in his presence The Marshall as well to accomplish the Kinges pleasure as a full discharge of his office caused the sayd dead body to be transported before the King vpon whose commaundement certayne Dominick Fryers sworne to the same effect immediatly burned the Peasaunts filthy corpes promysing them rich rewardes and great promotions for their faythfull seruice shewed therein CHAP. 4. ¶ How the Duke of Suffolke was banished England and Queene Katherine condemned to die with other thinges that happened ALthough the victorious Duke in plaine troth thought his enemie dead and vanquishe and when that he expected releasement he had his calamities the more increased For the King being sturred vp with indignation against him and fearing least this bace enterprize should be bruted to the eares of the common people to his vtter disgrace and infamie he gaue this requitall to the victorious Cumbitant and committed by vniuersall proclamation that the good Duke should within two dayes be banished not onely the Court but also the boundes and territories of England with all his Lordly possessions landes reuenewes rentes fees inheritaunces but also from his kindred friendes and acquaintance Which heauie and vnprincely iudgement did not onely trouble his thoughtes but greeued the hart of gratious Queene Katherine that although she was not destitute of many singuler good friendes yet bereft of her best friende the onely staffe of her lyfe the losse of whose company stroke such an extreame sorrow vnto her hart that she lyued lyke one without a soule weary of the worlde and all other pleasures which as then did but smally comforther The Duke of Suffolke an houre before the tune of his departure came to the Queenes lodging to take his leaue who gaue him a Hoope of gold round fastened to his necke the Posie about the same was this What earthly place so euer harbours thee Till death depart braue Lord remember mee The which being clasped about his necke with two siluer claspes prepared for the same purpose whereon was very curiously ingraued two bloody Hartes bounde togither with a True-loues-knot with many interrupted sighes and panting stomackes departed they the one from the other to the great griefe of all the beholders there presâ—â—â— But within an houre after the Dukes departure the King directed his letters to the Lord high Marshall that within two dayes following the Queene should be beheaded Which heauie newes and tyrannicall furie displeased the mindes of the whole Countrey for the Kinges vitious lyfe was manifested to euery man besides the common people of England cast their eyes to the multitude of false flatterers which continually haunted the Kinges Court euery man seruing his owne will glutting in pride ambition and whoredome reaching and rouing after stately honour seathering and warming their nesses whistling merry songes in the Kings eare and feeding the world with pleasant delightes besides that many desperate Ruffines were harbored about the Kings person whereby euery man became lawlesse to liue as he lysted yet many noble Lordes vertuous wise and learned Iudges of his Maiesties priuie Counsell inwardly mourned the state and time they liued in by which meanes the commones loues were drawne to the Queenes saueguard so that she wanted no prayers good will nor earnest sute for her deliuerance the more her forrowes encreased the greater was she fauaured The King hereby fell to extreame hatred thorow his vniuersall Dominion and euery man redely held vp his weapon to pull the Princely Scepter out of his handes And whilst he expected the Queenes execution a present message was returned him that she was with childe all which being true yet Ielosie hauing so much power in his vnruly senses that he could neither alter his present purpose nor find a resting place for his vnquiet thoughts nor holsome counsell to eure the dissease of his minde which tiranicall resolution being wholly bent to the confusion of the gratious Queene chiesly incensed through his Concubines smiling beautie on whose poysoned sweetnes he now baighted sed vpon did rather apply with curtesie to her humor then to repriue his Queene from her appoynted execution which resolute purpose when the good Earle of Sommerset vnderstood as well to content sundry other Lordes being partners in the cause as the purchasing of ciuell tranquillety to the Kingdome made this oration to King Edward the effect following ¶ The Earle of Sommersets Oration to King Edward for the Queenes repriue NO greater ornament of glorie most mightie King may adorne your royall Maiestie then to reuert to your Princely estate magnificence Iustice and clemencie the onely standard of protection which all your Subiects must rest vpon therefore let wisedome perswade you to make a conquest of those vices which in the eyes of the word are apparent for your Subiects in generall repute your honourable deare spouse and vertuous Queene but your Princely opinion by flatterers enuie is hardly perswaded which if it be continued will in the end greedely vanquish and leaue you a common â—â—oty to the world And further more your common people grudge that your worthy Queene hath bin so nearely examined wroungfully imprisoned shamefully araigned hatefully handled cruelly condemned and without sparke of fauour adiudged to die Also they report that the good Duâ—â— of Suffolke being victor in the Combat is against law and iustice banished the land All these strange customes most noble Prince is reâ—iculous to your gouernment and offensiue to your people and since your Queene is falsely accused misreported and belyed it were a royall glory onely for hope of posteritie that your vertuous Spouse were repriued If you hacke downe the tree first saue the fruie If you graspe vp the gallant flowers conserue the seedes hereby you regard your dessent royallice your name and familie otherwise you ouerthrow your princely Throne Seate and Scepter for euer As I protest vttering my wordes before the supernall Iudge of heauen that the chast body of Queene Katherine is pure vntouched from all despight of villanie So most noble Prince take her againe into your fauour adorne your princely Throne with her beautifull countenance recouer your royall name weede from your Court these faigned flatterers gaping ambitiously after gaine discouer the morninges light and cut the loftie hilles that ouershadow your pleasant springs Be not perswaded but that the fruite which her body hath formed from your Maiesties loynes first issued is rightly planted and of a perfect of spring considering the Duke of Suffolke vpon waightie affaires was sent Ambassadoure into Normandie in the time of your
a rigorous boldnesse caused a bloody pursute presently to be made when the Lord Marshall his wife children and femelie were put to sharpe dint of sworde and hot broyles of consuming fire saue onely one of his chyldren a proper faire virgin being as then absent from her father and mother brought vp with the Earle of London the Queenes owne brother who after was trayned vp in all honourable education by Queene Katherine whom we will leaue trauelling like banished exiles from their natiue Countrey The Barron after this murthersome conflict returned safe to King Edwardes presence who not onely rewarded his valiant seruice with gold and rich treasures but indewed him with great laudes and reuenewes and besides all which by letter of Deputation he constituted him to guide and gouerne his whole dominions CHAP. 6. ¶ How King Edwardes Concubine the faire Casiope was deliuered of a bastard Sonne and of the secret fauours betweene her and the Barron THE King after all these things were finished as you heard discoursed in the former Chapter promised securety to him selfe princely renowne to his minion Casiope and royal aduancement to his trustie counsellour the Barron of Buckingham yet the loue of Subiectes a guiltles conscience and a good name being the chiefe groundworkes of peace were wanting besides which the King vtterly deceyued in his owne imaginations for that penall shame began euery hower to knocke at his gates stayning his glory with iufamie and dishonour Casiope his amorous Lady being great with childe the which shame heauen had appoynted for the common sort of people continually to talke vpon besides which the Kinges vile affection possessed with leawd lust neuer glutted but dayly shyning in the sea of vaine delectations Casiope on her behalfe with prouident discretion preuented her sodaine downefall for perceiuing the Kinges head tossed with inconstant inclinations his treadinges loose and vnsure on whom she principally depended she iudged that she could not be so safely imbarked as her expectation desired and therefore dayly wished that she had ended well where she had so ill begun Thus tottering vpon a broken bridge by little and little cast her selfe into the loue and good liking of the Barron who vsed many secret contemplations feeding each other with artificiall fauours as opportunitie happely ministred occasion and misspent no one hower in the day without yeelding some amorous fruites King Fdward being vtterly vnaquainted with these vntrustie trickes neuer mistrusted the cunning conueyance of Casiopes leawd life who passed foorth her time so warely without suspition vntill she was deliuered the which being fully expired was to the King a secret solace but an open shame a priuate comfort to him selfe but a publique infamie to the land a man childe was brought foorth into the world the which in processe of time approued the only poyson by which the King was choaked and a Caterpiller through whom the common wealth was gnawne But alas who would regard esteeme of an vnnaturall Bastard borne in a sower crab-stacke and vtterly reiect the good Children of Queene Katherine bred and nourished in the sweete Apple iuyce which was christoned in mourning and sorrowfull teares without any pompe and glory Where contrary wise this Bastard the childe of a Harlot was royally receiued into the Church and christoned by the name of Vallentinus with such sumptuous magnificence as no King could surpasse in such a case for many were the triumphes solemne iustes and costly banquetings that were kept in the English Court in the honour of his name the which for breueties sake I here passe ouer least I should be a hinderaunce to our following discourses No small consolation tooke King Edward in the education and bringing vp of this filthy young venimous vermine Vallentinus who being dazeled in dotage immagined winter stormes ouerpast and the pleasant ariuall of a faire sommer to be at hand yet was he nipt and attached with a priuie disease in his browes by meanes of the new enioyned loue of the Barron and Casiope whose league of friendshyp and falshood of flatterie so blinded the Kings conceites that no mistrustfulnesse of their lewde sportes could arise First sweetning his mouth with the braue beautie of Casiope Secondly reioyceing in the pollecie of the Barron And thirdly allured with the hope and budding foorth of the bastardly blossome Vallentinus the which I compare to three broken Staues whereon the King tooke his chiefest hold What a long relation could I make of the sport and dalliance begunne betweene the wicked Barron and proude Casiope hauing bended the King to their bow commaunding the whole dominion and contrâ—wlyng what so euer seemed best to them selues And whereas in the dayes of vertuous Queene Katherine the Kinges head was diseased and fraughted with the rhewme of â—elousie so now his Darling cunning Counceller gaue him a greater glister beneath for his headaking Kerchife aboue for she yeelded her body loue to the Barrons pleasure When the King was sleeping they would be waking when the King was in his Chamber they were handling prettie toyes in the Closset when the King was in one place they were in another keeping company togither discoursing vpon louers lawes In which pleasure we will leaue them solacing and returne to Queene Katherine and her brother the Earle of London CHAP. 7. ¶ Of Queene Katherines ariuall in Normandie and of her entertainment in Duke Roberts Court AFter the Queene by the pollecie of her brother had escaped the furious intended tyrranie of her foes accompanied with the Lord Marshalles Daughter tending and waighting vpon the Queenes person with great care and indeuour tooke Shippe hauing a merrie winde hoysted vp sayle towardes Normandie into which countrey her young sonne Prince Edmond was before conueyed and ariued The tediousnesse of this iourney was not so much troublesome as the dangerous dashing vpon craggie Rockes hazarded their liues but yet Fortune in the middle of their miseries fauouring them cast them happely vpon a fruitefull Iland bordering vpon the confines of Normandie in which place a right noble Knight inhabited gouerning the people with great wisedome into whose presence being no sooner come but the Earle of London in the name of the Queene and Lord Marshals daughter spake to the Knight as followeth Most worthy man sayd he we being strangers to thy people and Iland by vnhappy misaduentures are compelled hither to make our refuge and to seeke friendshyp among you for I am to let you vnderstande that here is the renowned Queene Katherine of England whose fame I know hath full often sounded in your eares the which distressed Queene long vexed with captiuitie arraigned and condemned to die but yet by good fortune escaping the subtile snares of her enemies hath betooke her selfe to banishment and now hardly auoyding shypwracke committeth her selfe to your mercie She hath not left her natiue soyle for any euill desart leawd behauiour or misgouerning her lyfe for she is a continent and chast Matron bearing the glory
slayne as a Caulfe in the shambles his skinne fleade of his head set up as a signe of a murtherer a rauisher of holy chastety and his corpes throwne to the kinges Houndes to be deuoured Infinite examples might be remembred amongst the radiant florishing Ladyes that haue been inspired with excellent guiftes of vertue I could discourse manifolde warnings but chiefly I will prefixe before your eyes the misery teares and vnmeasurable forrowes of Lady Aelana a paragon and mirrour of true continency whose portion was vexation and vnrestfulnesse cruelly bereft from chast integrety and renowned honour but such was the proofe of her rare and exquesite vertue by the fauorable Gods that greedy Beares as Lieftenants of Iustice deuowred her enemies Thus if right were not mayntayned by immortall meanes violence dissimulation and deceitfull flatterers would florish amongst mortall men to the subuertion of Kingdomes inquiatations of Kings houses tirrable cryes in iudgement seates distruction of Citties and ouerturning of common wealthes wherefore most honorable Princesse if the righteous honesty of your cause be buylded vpon a sure rocke mercy shal be gayned mallice vanquished by modesty and thraldome depriued by libertie thus resting our selues with this resolution till King Edwards minde and pleasure be further knowne herein After this kind promise pronounced by the good Earle of Sommerset the Queene pulled from her golden locks certaine sumptious pearles rich iewels hanging in most beautifull brightnes and gaue them to the Earle of Sommerset saying I doe not right honortable Lord impart these guyftes as a bribe couertly to ballance my cause but as a proofe of my good will and a requital of your paines in visiting me thus in my miseries which if they be gratiously accepted I shal thinke my selfe most highly honored No sooner were these speaches finished and thankes giuen for the Queenes gentle Rewardes but the Nobles departed the Prison and conueiged them selues into a secret Chamber where euery one deliuered his opinion measuring out a direct meanes for her enlargment all which proceeded of true loue and firme beliefe of her chastetie But after many consultations with a generall consent they concluded to write vnto the King not onely to alter his discontented minde but to discouer the falsehood and flatterie of the wicked Barron The Counsels Supplication to King Edward IF vnfaigned affections which loyall Subiectes beare to the Common-wealth of England or the true chastetie of your Queene vniustly wronged by flatterie may mooue you most excellent Prince to remember the holy vow of Wedlocke where your inseperable loues were ioyned together and of two persons made but one body we assure our selues then that your vertue and wisedome will lenefie the honourable cause of your nuptiall Spouse and gather these vnioynied members into right course againe For why should your Grace be dismembred hauing all the partes of naturall proportion redefied in your person Why should you make your felfe a poynting stocke of infamie to forraigne enemies and a domesticall contempt to your owne Subiectes Let naturall regard perswade you to driue out these pernitious poysons which flattering Subiectes haue lodged in your breast inchaunting you with vncurable Ielosie which except you speedely reforme your Royall estate may fall into present ruine These dangers considered lyeth you vpon speedelie to frequent the companie of your chast Queene whose honourable vndefiled foote-steppes we haue made good tryall of to the hope of your fauour her speedie deliuerie and a iust discharge of our dueties This Supplication receiued by the King could nothing at all preuaile to enlarge her seruitude for a litle before the wicked Barron had presented to King Edward a Gold-smithes daughter of London named Casiope a Damsell of a lewde behauiour yet beautifull and passing amorous who with her flattering smiles so intangled his eyes and bewitcht his fancie in such sort that he delighted onely in her companie wholly changing his auntient loue from his loyall Queene thinking all times too long till the tender thred of her lyfe were cut off which Vertue before time had so honourably spunne King Edwards minde being thus obscured with thicke fogges of flatterie and ouerwhelmed into a pernitious gulfe of darknesse his disease of Ielosie prooued more incurable which could neither be holpen through the earnest loue of his Queene nor perswaded through the long seruice of learned Counsellers Oh it is a worlde to beholde how flattering deceiuers can temper deslicate drinkes for euery mans appetite stoppe wisedomes eares by false inchauntments and subuert true conscience by wrongfull insinuation The King on the other side mistrusted not vulgar reports of populer men neither the ouerthrow of his Kingdome by such a deâ—ision nor regarded the patient minde of his vertuous Queene called for certaine of his priuie Counsell who being comde before him he gaue them this sharpe ediet for the arraignement and sentence against Queene Katherine and the Duke of Suffolke the tenure of the Kings words were as followeth If wilde Iuie my noble Lordes ruinate the walles of my House reaching within the windowes of my secret Chamber were it not necessarie to be plucked vp If in pleasant Gardens one spreading Weede disorder all the other odoriferous Flowers is it not requisite to haue it destroyed And although the rare beautie and excellent orniamentes of my Queene might easely inflame simple minde to beleeue her faigned holynesse yet one filthie stayne blemisheth all the rest One wrintle in Apelles tinsell blurred the costly Tables of Bacchus Doth not one vnsauery corner pester a whole House One lothfome odoure ouercome many pretious Oyntmentes Why are you then my Lordes so blinded with her deceitfull practises plagued with her desembling wordes and alured with her pestilent poysons What do you repute her a demie God Doe you thinke her an Angell of heauen Is she twise blest my selfe a thousand times accurst I sweare by the honoure of my Scepter to punish her lewd lyfe in such a maner that neuer after the blacke cloudes of her shame may obscure the glory of my Kingdome Let it not therefore most noble Lordes be imagined that I can be ouercome by any mans flatterie or my wits so lightly carryed away to be deceyued without good and due proofe all which great iniuries to my person impeachment to my Kingdome and wrong to my Subiects shall be followes with seueere iudgement therefore I charge you vpon your dueties as you hope to winne the garland of my fauour to prosecute my determination which is the desertfull fall of my vntrusty Queene and the confusion of her proude minnion the Duke of Suffolke And in saying this lyke one wholly bent to a resolute will not staying for any answere he departed from his Lordes and left them euery one sodaynely surprysed with griefe ready to cast them selues headlong into the desartes of dispaire yet durst they not by any meanes seeke to contradict his will but presently to perseuecre in this sinister iudgement CHAP. 3. ¶ How the
Queene and the Duke of Suffolke were arraigned and condemned of adultrie through false witnesses and what after happened THe very next morning after King Edward had giuen charge for their arraignment were they called foorth before certaine of the honourable Lords of the priuie Counsell and were tryed vpon the proofe of their accusation where the wicked Barron of Buckingam with two other bace Gentlemen of the Kinges Court did sweare by the immortall powers of heauen that the filthy fact of adultrie was committed betweene Queene Katherine and the Duke of Suffolke against the honour of his Maiesties person After which detestable oath falsely protested the good Earle of Sommerset stood vp in open audience and with a dischearefull countenance spake as followeth Oh you wretched betrayers of Innocent blood quoth he although they taste the bitter toâ—mentes in this worlde yet I feare not but they will shortly wander to that celestiall Paradice from whence will descend fierie vengance vpon your heades Oh you Diuels and Feendes of impietie woe worth the time that euer you attempted so vile a periurie for you haue taken a vertuous Queene from vs a Queene that is the merrour of true continencie and onely patterne of a constant woman the lyke clamor and pittifull lamentation was in the whole Countrey rounde about Then in the middest of which sorrowfull moane the Duke of Suffolke desired the Counsellours and Iudges that he might vtter some speaches in his owne behalfe and likewise to discharge his conscience of the vile acte his accuser had layde against his lyfe his speaches were in this maner deliuered I am not ignorant right Honorable assemblie that this my tender body clothed with Innocencie must shortly be discharged from the prison of this worlde and must take my iourney vp to heauen for true protection for this lyfe is nothing but a wandering pilgrimage of woe a mercilesse sea which often times vomiteth vs into the mouth of prying Pirates dashing vs vpon many dangerous Shipwracks and now since my duetie tyeth me to solemnize an honorable memorie of this aflicted Queene deliuer out a true discharge of her chastetie and a preseruation of mine owne honestie For if euer I presumed such a deede against the maiestie of her worthy person let this Ghost of mine be deliuered a pasture for infernall woormes to gnaw vpon or if my senses had been so arrogantly disposed her vertues might haue easely kilde my desiers yea and disclosed the same to my vtter ruine and confusion But I see my proffered diligence lyke a trusty Seruant proffered to her commaundement hath brought this woe vpon vs both therefore if her fame be brought in question through my misusage or if the proude Barron enuiously thirsting for my blood hath thus wrongfully damnified my gratious Princesse let a doble death for her deliuerance be layde vpon my lyfe let my sorrowes be twice imbrewed to deminish her paynes let the ransome of her pictie be layde vpon my body a graue and pit to finish vp her sorrowes Now this I speake as a witnesse of my last will hauing enioyed this worlde twentie sixe yeeres sufficiently proouing the vanities thereof and now willing to resigne this lyfe to a more better hope and as my young forepassed lyfe is free from staine so will I neuer blush nor hide my face as one suspected or blotted with any such crime of which I am now condemned of With these wordes pronounced by the Duke of Suffolke was the Earle of Sommerset depriued of speach and for the inwarde griefe which swelled in his breast he could not vtter any one worde humane sorrow powred downe from his eyes abundant streames of teares manifesting the good will and true affection he bore to trueth and iustice his soule grecued that true honour nursed vp to ripe age should in a short moment be deliuered to a cruell and most vntimely death But the Earle of Westmerland which as then presented the Kinges person hauing somewhat a more chearefull hart stoode vp in the Iudgement seate and spake as followeth Most gracious Queene quoth he and you my honorable Lord the Duke of Suffolke know that we in Iustice cannot release nor helpe your miseries for it behooueth vs to fulfill the Kinges commaundement least we incurre displeasure to our selues hindering vs and nothing furthering you but yet this remedy in my conceite standes with iustice that you my Lord of Suffolke may reobtaine your honourable fame challenging a combat of the wicked Barron and so reueale to the worlde your giltlesse perfection for he in presence of vs all hath spit out most vile wordes of despight blemishing and ouerthrowing your credite euen so noteaÌ„e before the face of men your true intencion and respect to honour and to the same effect frameman humble Supplication to his Maiestie and in doing so we the estates of this land heare present will eternally crownacle your endeuours to after ages And in speaking these wordes the whole Counsell brooke vp court for that day and departed euery one seuerally to their lodginges the Queene and the Duke were conducted againe to their wonted captiuitie whereas the Duke of Suffolke greatly comforted with this counsell thought euery day a yeere vntill he had giuen the challendge and that the Barron was prouoked to the combat so taking pen and incke he writ this knightly petition to his Maiestie The Duke of Suffolkes challenge of combat sent to King Edward IF your royall person most mighty Prince hath bin wronged thorow my counterfeite seruice let me be attached with the scourge of penall iudgment so that reasonable desiers be first fauoured for now honour burning hot in the closure of my hart in tryall of my honesty doth craue this permission at your princely handes that I may combat with the mischieuous varlet and false flatterer the proud Barron of Buckingham in disproofe of his cloaked falsehood If my quarrell be vniust the eternall powers of heauen will not prosper it If his ground-worke be well layde and haue a sure foundation his intent will be expressed the better For he that dares commit these wronges openly will not be abashed to auow them openly He that launcheth in the puddle of discord knoweth a cleare passage how to escape therefore most noble Prince let the holy fountaine of mercifull pittie straine out that it may mooue your Grace to graunt my requestes I ende By me the sorrowfull and dessolate Duke of Suffolke King Edward receiuing this Supplication in the manner of a Challenge thought it a deadly bane prepared against the Barron of Buckinghams lyfe yet he iudged the deniall of it would greatly preiudice his dignitie so desembling an outward respect to honour though inwardly harbouring fraudulent deceipt he with a smiling countenance made motion of the combat to the Barron as well for expressing of fame as publishing of fayth The Barron tendering his owne insufficiencie being loth to performe the Combat was astonished at the Kinges request and stroken into sodaine dumpes like
one that had lost his speach but yet after a great pause and long stay he spake in this maner I will not refuse sayd he the accomplishment of any thing commaunded by your Maiestie although your will and pleasure herein seemeth strange and vniust in that a true Subiecte should hazard his lyfe with a false Traytor The Barron sometimes silent sometimes ouer talcatiue sometimes lusty sometimes a coward so that standing betweene fraude and feare he fayntly represented an offer Vpon this the King procured a day of Combat and publyshed throughout the whole land this proclamation that followeth I EDWARD by long sufferance of diuine fortune King Prince and chiefe Ruler of all the partes of England c. Whereas the determined purpose of the noble and hardy Gentleman the Lord Barron of Buckingam is to defende himselfe against the miserable and condemned catiue the Duke of Suffolke a fable for the worlde to gaze vpon an infamous wretch of notable dishonour harbouring in his hart long Treasons against our Person Subiectes and dominion in excuse of his leawde lyfe for his best aduantage challengeth open warre against my good Subiect the Lord Barron vnto whose request in fauour of auntient prowesse I haue yeelded But as touching the trespasse of my Queene no Combat shall preuaile to acquite her disgrace nor no mortall benefites pardone her offences Thus fare you well Edward of England Thus did the King thinke no paynes ill bestowed that might bring her in hatred of the common people and also very much thirsted after her blood through the perswasion of his vnchast Curtizan faire Casiope that euery day sealed his lippes with so many kisses as her sute could neither-be frustrated nor at no time forgotten The Barron and he likewise roued in a vnetie of mischiefes and did priuely hyer a kitchen drudge named Trustie Thomas a slaue full of pouertie yet a lusty tall fellow glad to obtaine the Kinges fauour by accomplyshyng of any exployt for gayue who in receipt of a thousand Crownes tooke vpon him the name and person of the Barron of Buckingam to fight the combat with the Duke of Suffolke being of equall proportion and stature This Trustie Thomas had free libertie to make choyce in the Kinges Armorie fitting him selfe best for his defence in the surest coate of Steele and the like passage into the Kinges Stable for the choyce of the most couragious Courser Thus furnished in most seemely order for the gayne of money was content to commit himselfe to the mallice of fortunes hate The Duke of Suffolke on the other side as well furnished in all respectes nothing doubted the good successe of his aduenture being borne of a Noble famelie valiant and well exercised in the feates of Armes reputed for the goodlyest Gentleman in the vniuersall countrey of England so laying aside his courtly delightes vsed in the blooming time of his youth and putting on inuincible firme and approued magnanimitie of body he came the nyght before the Combat should be tryed to Queene Katherines chamber window being both prisoners in one Tower nothing but a wall betweene their seberall lodginges where as the Duke of Suffolke sung thefe verses folowing Reuenge ring out thy knell let trueth appeare To change my bitter Springes to Waters cleare Goe packe Dispaire thy sight I doe disdaine My Knightly deedes bright Honour shall obtaine Faint Feare dislodge thee from my noble brest Thou art no friende of mine nor wished guest For coward Captaines wins no stately Fortes Nor rotten Barke arriues in pleasant Portes Assurance tels the secrets of my hart That Falsehood shall receaue his due desart Proud Enuie then shall not obscure the light Of Honours brightnesse with his hatefull spight Oh sacred Heauens accomplish my desier That I may quench the heate of enuies fier Whereby my sad and discontented minde May gentle solace and sweete comfort finde This sorrowfull Songue stroke such a passion to the Queenes hart like one despising this vaine lyfe that she desired dolefull death hastely to finish her callamities but yet bearing a Princely minde in some measure to requite the Dukes curtesie she answered hun with these Verses following Queene Katherines Song to the Duke of Suffolke Good lucke conduckt thy minde vnto content To conquer him that is so lewdly bent To set deuision betwixt my Lord and me In spoyling of my blooming chastetie Stay stately Pride climbe vp thy steps no higer But soone disgorge thy hot ambitious fier For if Queene Katherine euer lyued so Let grauelled Graue be cradle for her woe Suspition leaue to vexe such worthy wightes Which spendes their dayes in vertues sweete delightes Nor let the crucltie of spightfull foes Plant vp a Docke vnroote a smelling Rose Victorious pome will shortly seeke to crowne Thy princely browes with garlandes of renowne Which euermore shall spring and florish greene For thus defending of a wronged Queene In this or such lyke maner spent they the night away to the exceeding comfort of each other vntyll the radient beautie of the next morning began to glifter in the easterne worlde which caused them then to take leaue of each other for at that same instant the Lord high Marshall in soueraigne iustice called foorth the Duke of Suffolke to auow his prize of Combat hauing ten olde sage Fathers going before him in mourning Gownes and white Wandes in their handes lyke one that went to fetch away the golden Garland of renowne and comming to the place appoynted he met Trustie Thomas as defendant in stead of the proude Barron vnto whom with a boulde courage he spake as followeth Ah thou false Traytor spoyler of true honour thou vnshamefast butcher of innocent blood Can nothing quench thy insatiate thirst of flatterie but the guyltlesse blood of Queene Katherine and my lyfe I doubt not but thou hast purchased a iust reuenge for thy infamous wickednesse thou at this present seekest after honorable fame but the Gods I hope will cast thy corpes vnto the most vnworthyest vermine of the earth to pray vpon Thou feedest thy selfe with false honour but perpetuall shame shal be thy best reward Doth not thy hart throbbe at this enterprize And doth not thy conscience declare thy impietie It would be a most seemely thing before any blow passe betwixt vs that thou with sharpe penaunce reconcile thy selfe vnto the Gods to haue a comfortable ioy after this lyfe for there is such inumcible manhood sealed in my hart that the reuenge of thy blood shall acquite thy villanie The simple slaue in hearing this knightly resolution was so amazed that with more willingnesse he was ready to deliuer vp his Marshals staffe then defend the enterprise taken in hand But the Duke with valtant magnanimitie hastely bucklde on his enemie blessing him with sound blowes as if he should say now is the time eyther of winning or loosing honour now eyther the spot of dishonour shall blurre me or the shyning light of renowne cleare me for euer Within sixe blowes
Queenes conception long before many weekes after Therfore I doubt not most excellent Prince but these my speaches may â—â—llifie your hart and procure present pittie to appeare and in doing so humanetie curtesie and noble worthinesse shall illustrate your person and with pregnant pollecie odorne your high estate and Imnage a rare blossome sprouting out to the exceeding comfort of all England The King being resolued at this the Earle of Sommersets request with the perswasion of diuers other noble men to graunt her repriuement vntill her deliuerance of childbirth were accomplished so that his desier in putting her to death might not afterward be hindred This her repriuement did not so much reioyce the sorrowfull heartes of the English Lords as it bred anger and discontentment in the Barron of Buckingames breast who imbouldned Casiope the Kinges Concubine to call for the Queenes secret distruction greatly mistrusting that continuall windes would at length shake the Tower of their prosperiites The beautie of this fayre Casiope seemed in the eyes of King Edward a little earthly Paradice which chaunged his inclinations to any way shee pleased for what soeuer he openly promised to his Nobles would he secretly denie before Casiope and what soeuer was obtayned contrary to her good liking was contiually crossed with a bad successe This costly magnificent Lady thus vndermined high mountaines builded bridges ouer mighty Seas and stood as a sure Irone post in the defence and safe conduct of the wicked Barron hir professed friend by art of wordes winding the Kinges mind to her ready bent bow and with beautyfull countenance indooting his concupicence against the whole dominion of England all which as a manifest trueth on a time approuedly fell out for after that sundrey of the Queenes friendes haâ—â—eliuered many pittifull petitions for her enlargement Casiope secretly betweene them selues taunted the King as followeth To what solletary wildernes is the ripenes of your pollecy wandred Shall euery bace Subiect hauing aspired some promosion rather of your goodnes then their owne desartes chaung your inclination as they list For shame my Lord put on a princely mind put off this bace relenting hart let Subiectes penetrate your minds not as they lust but as you please let them euermore seeke and neuer finde the secret depth of your hart let them rather grate vpon hard Irone then soft melting waxe my counsell herein followed and put in practise will bring speaciall welfare to your state and worthy estimation to all those which attende your person Further if Queene Katherine be the pleasant flower that euery one seeketh to smell at doe but vnroote the stalke and all their delightes will perish And to conclude her life will be your death and my dishonour King Edward harkening still to the voyce of this night Rauen which dayly crooked for the sweetlife of the vertuous Queene and spent much commumcation with the King as well for her dispatchance after her deliuerance from childbirth as conuaying the state of the Kingdome to her isshue The which pricks and darts of mortall shot throwne out so inwardly greeued the Lordes of the priuy Counsell that they departed the Kinges court resigned their offices and rich fees and sould their Patrimonies so that the Kingdome and dominion of Brittaine which before abounded in prosperous felicitie with manyfould orniaments of honour was now ruinated with great pouertie wretchednesse and miserie The King neglected the care of his people the people on the other side enuied the person of the King their martchandize and trafficke decayed their husbandry foreslowed ground became barron with out tillage miserable famine ouer spred the whole Countrey the which consumed breede of cattle The gold siluer and treasures was incroached among the wealthiest subiectes who for their better saffety betooke both themselues their riches vnder forraine gouernmentes Presently vppon this hurlie burlie which happened throughout the whole dominioÌ„ the heauens sent this good fortune to Queene Katherine that in the Lord high Marshals house she was deliuered in childbirth of two Twins a Sonne and a Daughter being two children of an excellent beauty which by the Marshall was presented to King Edward who although vtterly despising the Mother yet not altogeather choaked in ill nature toward the infantes speedely celebrated a soliemne Christoning and caused the man child to be called Edmond and the woman child by the name of Siluia the which being performed by officiall Priestes as the manner was in those dayes but yet not in such a royall sort as Princes childred ought to haue been christoned the which being no sooner finished but the King kindled in fuery against the Infantes through the perswasion of fayre Casiope caused young Edmond to be conuayed into the Dukedome of Normandy in which dominion the young Infant in company of his English nurses was most honourably receiued both because that Duke Robert being the first of that name was vnissued as being a Kings child of royal blood thinking that the Infant being naturally brought vp would proue in time to be a louing Prince to his people and a careful gouernour amongst them Further King Edward in the dispoyle of lawfull posterety from his dominion and Kingdome likewise transported fayre Siluia with her English nurses into Denmarke where very honourable intertaynement and comfort was giuen in the Kinges Court who through age and time gayned woonderfull estimation for as nature had rewarded her with excellent beauty so fortune forgot not to replenish her with wealthy prosperety who from her childhood in Princely orniamentes proued the only Parragon of Denmarke where now we will leaue her for a time to her good fortunes and likewise Prince Edmond in the Court of Normandie and discourse of the miseries that happened to Queene Katherine after her deliuery of childbirth CHAP. 5. ¶ How Queene Katherine was deliuered from prison by the pollecy of the Earle of London being her owne brother and what happened to the Lord Marshall after her departure KIng Edward not ending his Ielous fuery in the bannishment first of the Duke of Suffolke the young infant Edmond his ligitimate procreation and fayre Siluia his naturall daughter but with a greater determination of mischeife presently sent letters to the high Marshall giuing him a spetiall charge for the Queenes beheading protesting by the same letters what peace and tranquillety thereby might be purchased to his countrey After receipt of these newes the night before her death anpoynted Lord Marshall entered the Queenes lodging and made relation of his charge giuen by the King for her execution to whom she with a sober countenance answered in this manner My Lord Marshall sayd the Queene be not amazed but accomplish your duty herein nor thinke me displeased either with these newes from my deare husband or with you the messenger for I am fully resolued that my death more greeueth you then my selfe and as you haue been euer carefull in my cause so it is no little sorrow vnto your heart
I know in that my blood thorow your handes must be imbrued but this is the day which long I haue looked for the which being now come I greatly reioyce that my miseries must be finished and the time of my sorrowes expired But yet a further comfort relieueth my afflicted minde in that young Edmond my Sonne is transported into the handes of the Normaine Duke and my deare daughter Siluia brought vp in the King of Denmarkes Court a Prince of singular vertue and honourable fame their causes being thus solicited by straungers helped of vnknowne men the vigilant eye of fortune cannot chose but be euermore cast vpon them And now for you my Lord Marshall I can but giue thankes for all curtedes and assuered friendshippes approuedly shewed to me in these my heauy woes good my Lord to morrow in the morning when death hastneth vpon me by the execution of your office departing and shaking handes with this life let it not be tedious or ouersmartsome vnto me but rid me quickly from my miferies The Lord Marshall and the vertuous Lady his wife being as then present with the Queene bathing their cheekes with floodes of teares spake to her and sayd in these wordes If that power were in vs fayre Princesse your death should be deferred vntill the appoyntment of the mightie powers whose leasure your enemies should waight vpon but we fearing the vnhappy successe and heauy burthen thereof would lodge vppon our backes and incurre the Kinges tyranicall fury and wrath No no my deare honorable friendes replyed the Queene I do ioyfully prostrate my lyfe to death Why should I hope after lyfe sith my Lord and King desireth my dispatchance If any such accedent take place you my keepers shall taste the sower and feele the smart thereof If I escape some vniust lot will fall vpon you if my lyfe through your good meanes should be saued my enemies would flesh them selues vpon you in contempt Nay noble Queene sayd the Lord Marshall we are not affrayd to aduise our selues in defence of your vertues but shall in time to come rid and dispatch these bloody varlets from the boosome of this land which now is made vnhappy by their cursed flatterie All which could nothing chaung her vertuous intent but was readely prepared in minde to scale the immortall throwne of heauen Her wroungfull imprisonment the false accusations layde agaynst her the vnchast lyfe of the King hir husband the infinite cares which she was wel acquainted with al which gaue full instruction and perswaded her soule to prepare for a heauenly pilgrimage Oh sayd the sorrowfull Queene this lyfe is a wildernes of woe I do abandon my whole reputation honours children friends and worldly estimation as fading shaddowes Oh sayd she my enemies hath charged me with adultry but the Gods know me a blameles innocent as yet neuer staynd with the purple spot of infamie The high Marshall and his wife passing all the whole night in these such like vertuous speaches addressing and framing her minde to the euerlasting voiage where she purposed to rest her vnspotted consience and to weare the celestial crowne of peace prepared for all such chast Ladies wrongfully accused But now speake we againe of the wicked Barron of Buckingham who early in the morning came with a mightie band of warlike Souldiers appoynted to execute the Kinges commaundement besetting the Lord Marshals house round about least the condemned Queene should be reschewed from death and being thus placed in the streets the Earle of London being the Queenes owne brother accompanied with sertayne other Gentlemen of worth all which attired in Friers garmentes craued lisence of the common Souldiers to goe and talke with the Queene touching the estate of her conscience belonging to their function and calling that through their good Counsell she might at the houre of death be well aduised lest either vanquished with impenitencie or throwne downe into desperation another lyfe should be tedious and full of torments These good causes earnestly considered by the Barron and his Souldiers obtayned them a free recourse to the condemned Queene whom they presently chaunged from Princely orniaments into a Friars weede and so concucted her through the whole garrison of Souldiers without examination or suspition and being in this secret and disguysed maner transported to the end of the towne the Earle of London had there prepared a Wagon which speedely caryed her onely in his company far from the daunger of their enemies This renowned possecie do I repute for a vertuous deede in deliuering the guiltlesse Queene from the handes of such tyrants an action worthy to be registred in the golden booke of fame to shine as a mirrour to all ensuing ages Shortly after the Queenes departure thus succoured by her beloued brother the wicked Barron called at the Marshals gate commaunding him to bring foorth his Prisoner shewing him selfe as though he were greatly displeased and stirred vp with impassible choller chasing and fuming as though he would teare her in peeces him selfe saying What doe you daslie with the Kinges commaundement Or doth it grieue her to leaue this transitorie world Is this the patient Queene which with her faigned holynesse hath so craftely crept into the fauour of the common people Bid her not feare to hoyst vp sayle towardes heauen hauing a merrie winde bid her beholde how Angels and celestiall troupes stande here attending safely to conduct her to the Gods them selues These spightfull tauntes giuen against the Queene bred such a furie in the Lord Marshals wife that she could not withhold her anger any longer but desperatly stept foorth and reuiled the Barron in this maner saying Oh thou incarnate Diuell quoth she art not thou content to wreake thy villanous minde by wrongfull accusation against the good Queene but thus rediculously to abuse her miseries She vttered a thousand such dispightful words inforced with deadly furie and fierie choller after the simple sexe of woman kinde as if it had consisted in her power to haue punished the Barron she yeelded so much to wrathful desires that no law could haue tamed her tongue nor restrayned the rage of her irefull indiscretion Goe seeke the gilelesse Queene sayth she it is vnknowne to my Lord and husband where and to what place she hath attayned I verely suppose that she is gon downe into the bottomlesse pit of hell to seeke such a wicked varlet as thou art for in heauen I know she can not finde thee foorth Well sayth the Barron bring her foorth according to the sentence of iudgement or els the smart will fall vpon your shoulders as well for violating the lawes of our land as contenming the Kings will and pleasure Vpon these wordes certaine of his most trustiest Souldiers violently rushed into the Lord Marshals house and with diligent view left no corner vnsearched and at last perceiuing it a manifest trueth that the Queene was secretly conueyed away they brought present word backe to the Barron who in
bastard King that he grew desperate of good happe and being left as a naked man he secretly conueyed himselfe to the Tower and hid himselfe in an obscure den Thus Prince Edmond without any further disturbance quietly entred the Kingdome where he tooke vpon him the possession of the English crowne placing the banished English men in honorable dignities most richly aduanced the Normane souldiers the which being so luckely accomplyshed he caused the bastard to be searched foorth his mouth likewise to be stuffed closed vp with burning Pepper and hanged aliue in chaynes of Iron by the Barron Casiope vpon the top of the Tower as you heard before so vsed Euery thing brought thus to so good a passe England in short time became well unpeopled againe the Realme multiplied in gold siluer noble Famelies adorned with honorable possessions Lords Knights Esquires Gentlemen in semblable degree endowed Marchantes and Artificers well placed for traffique from forraigne regions great vent and tillage and breede of cattle increased learning and liberall artes maintained Marshall prowesse exercised and all things els in most decent maner placed the which we will passe ouer and speake of King Edward lyuing in the King of Denmarks Court. CHAP. 11. ¶ Of the Warres betweene King Edward and his owne Sonne and the successe thereof with other thinges that hapned THese affaires could not be so priuatly handled in England but that King Edward had intelligence thereof in Denmarke who with a resolute determination desired to returne into his natiue Countrey not onely that his olde age might be there comforted but that his daughter Siluia might be ioyned in marriage with Essricke the Prince of Denmarke whose father in the redresse of King Edwards long offlictions caused the second part of all his able men at armes to be mustred vp and prouided rich treasures for Souldiers pay with warlike weapons armour and store of shyppes necessary for such a dangerous exployte and published by Proclamation through all the Prouinces of Denmarke that king Edward was to reclaime his lawfull right in England vniustly vsurped by his owne Sonne with many other incouragements giuen out to animate his Subiectes to proceede with resolution This busie preparation in Denmarke so pierced Sir Perce of Winchesters eares in England that he mistrusted his estate to be dangerous and that his doble dealing would be shortly espied in the preuention whereof the better to protect and defend him selfe he writ this priuie Letter to King Edward as followeth Sir Perce of Winchesters Letter sent to king Edward NOTHING shall intice my hart most Soueraigne Lord to prooue disloyall to your Matestie nor nothing restraine the seruiceable duetie which I owe vnto your Excellence And although I was in my cradle when first you left your naturall Countrey of England but yet now being growne vp to sufficient reason do assemble all my powers of nature what pollecie chiefly may preuayle or practise procure your recouerie For there is nothing that my drouping soule wisheth for more then your happy returne to your former possessions I loue Prince Edmond if he reuerence your Maiestie and I wish him good successe if he shew the duetie of a sonne vnto his father against whom if he lift but his hand in wrath the Gods will wreake iust vengeance and destruction vpon Therefore most noble Lord thinke it not danger to returne for I will counsell him to submission shewing what execrable vengeance is pottended to them which draw the sworde of tyrranie against their owne Fathers I will admonish him to conuerse least his owne wilfull conceite bring him to perdition Thus may I both defend and counsell him without suspition of the world and also therevpon shew fauour and reuerence to your worthy Maiestie Thus fare you well THIS Letter being transported to King Edward into Denmarke was receined as sweete flowers with promised requitall the which refreshed his drouping senses and changed dispaire into perfect assurance and thinking now to recouer his former right by the meanes of Sir Perce vpon whose backe the common wealth of England depended but fearing least his proffered affections should alter he sent this answere to his letters as followeth King Edwards answere to Sir Perce of Winchesters Letter I Neuer dispaired but the Gods which hitherto hath gouerned all my attemptes would at last send some comfort to my miseries and bring me againe to the full perfection of my felicitie which through your wisedome and pollecie must be attained Therefore in most humble sort I do accept your kind proffer and this your loyall enterprise shall in the highest degree be blazed amongst my best friendes and vntill my soule be diuorsed from my body I shall neuer forget the loue of so faythfull a Subiect hencefoorth vowing to put off all feminine affection and vaine delightes which haunt Princes Pallaces and the Courtes of mightie Kinges Haue not I iust cause to render thankes to the immortall Gods that in the middest of my miseries I haue found so prudent and worthy a friend as is your noble selfe whose loyall hart is wholly consecrated to my good fortunes Euery day do I wash my face with teares for the tragicall ruine of my Countrey and euery day do I breath out sorrowfull sighes from the closure of my soule to thinke how the light beames of my princely honours hath been darkened by the falsehood of Casiope and the Barrons cunning craft whereby my poore Subiectes haue bin in â—angâ—râ—â— and my selfe plundged in carefull calamities all which greeueth not my soule so much as that mine owne childe now contrary to the duetifull obedience of a Soune doth vsurpe my Crowne and holdeth vp the sword of sedition against his owne Father But yet I see the Gods will still preserue both my lyfe and honour in that you are appoyuted to remedy my distresse and correct the trâ—yterous trespasse of a wicked Sonne Thus I end assuring my selfe that my fortune shall amount to the loftie turrets of my desire and likwise tread â—owne disgrace and quench the scorching flames of noysome enemies thus wishing you as my selfe I bid you farewell YET for all this King Edward regarded this person but as a prodigall and climbing traytor pâ—ouâ—ly aspyring after princely dignities and therefore entertained and placed in the ranke of false friends vsing him as a shaddow and image of a dead man without either respecting his valloure or trusting to his faigned flatteries But now in the meaue space whilst these things were a working Prince Edmond vnderstood by a priuate friend of Winchesters pestiferous treasons to the reformation whereof he sent foorth a trustie band of Souldiers for his apprehention which newes by Sir Perce was first vnderstood and therefore he fled secretly into Denmarke and disclosed to King Edward all the pollecies practised in England for which he was richly recompenced and rewarded with sumptuous entertainement After whose departure Prince Edmond felt the toundation of his Kingdome to begin to
natures of English-men be euermore such that they wil not indure nor sustame the burthens of any forraine Prince In the reformation of which rule they did not onely dispirse suâ—â—y infamous slaunders against him throughout the whole â—â—untrey but also trayterously conspired the finall distruction of his life which wilfull treacheries might haue easely bin preuented had not Lord Essricke misliked the sweete and pleasant mariage estate of virtuous Siluia his wife for after hir company became loathsome to his good liking the dominion could not long continue vnhazarded Lord Essricke was not only now led with an ambitious and princely desire but also had his affections ouer mastered with witlesse cogitations feruently burning with the strange Iust of the English Ladies and being thus vainely intended he disdayned the comely beauty and honorable personage of faire Siluia whereby bright gold seemed drosse pure wine reputed stinking water and the pleasant flowers before smelling sweetely were now esteemed stinking weedes Thus his holsome senses being corrupted with lust faire Siluias vertues in his eyes seemed nothing delightsome so loathsome he accompted her presence to his company that he dayly practised a meane wherby she might be dispatched but at last after many deuises touching her death he consulted about the same with a doctor of Phisicke who although well qualletied and singulerly experienced deepely seene in that noble and reuerent science yet a couetous gaine and a desire of estimation as a lewde instrument to any vile purpose puffed him vp and made him consent to the ouerthrow and fatall finishyng of the sweete and tender life of Lady Siluia who hauing receiued an earnest of a rich rewarde from Lord Essricke he prepared a fatall potion to cast her into her euerlasting sleepe The which Potion or rather deadly Poyson being no sooner ministred by the Phisitian and receiued by faire Siluia but presently she was drowned in a deadly and vnwakefull sleepe wherein her vitall senses were so mortified that her sweete body loosing both strength and operation yeelded vp her dellicate life without hope of â—â—â—ouerie The vncertaintie of Siluias death being reported abroad caused many doubtfull surmises to be made some one way some another of her tragicall end but yet to salue this contagious sore Lord Essricke her husband by proclamation published throughout the dominion of England her honorable and liberall Funerall the which was openly solemnized in the cittie of London not only to creepe into the fauours of the vulgar sort of people but also to cloake and burie the murther vp in hidden secrecie by which cunning meanes he thought the more safer to climbe to the highest top of the Kingdome without either stop or impedimented stay by any one whatsoeuer After the honorable funerall of Lady Siluia was finished and her dellicate body intombed in the grauelled earth certaine English Priestes by a generall speach dayly giuen out by the common sort heard reported that Lady Siluia was buried by her husbandes appoyntment with great store of treasure about her to the attayning thereof to the number of fourtie officiall Priestes in a night secretly attempted to digge vp the Ladyes body thereby to inrich themselues with inestimable store of treasure that all their liues afterward might be stored with plentie of wealth But now to put this exployet and vile enterprise in practise in the mddle houre of the night they met all together at Siluâ—â—es Tombe where they speedely delued digged vp her sanctified body the which being taken vp they perceiued their intentes to be frustrate and missing the gaiue of that which they most desired they sodainly departed and lett the coarse naked vpon the bare ground the which so openly was left to be seene of euery one that all the beholders might easely perceuie that she had her death contriued by the violence of poyson The body of Sâ—â—â—ia being thus priuily vntombed present newes of the same was transported to he hearing of Lord Essricke who fearing his vnnaturall murthering of her daintie life would be brought in publique question to the worlde therfore presently sending for the Phisitian whose counsell he chiefly reâ—uired in this cause and diligently fadomed the deapth thereof how Lord Essricke might best regard his owne person defend his credite and possesse the Kingdome in the honour of the people But now such was the frawdullem attempts of these two secret murtherers by inâ—â—â—sition they found that the conspiracie treason in digging vp of Siluias body proceeded from the English Prelacie for which fact most execrable crueitie was prepared for them for by the worthy and diligent search and the Phisitians pollecie the general number of those English priestes which were at the fact doing were found out taken and apprehended and by order of law put to death Thus were the end of the said wicked Prelates who at their dying howers inwardly mourned and greeuously lamented their misspent lyues and their ill disguysed manners in the religion which they professed before God whose soules were drawned in the lake of couetousnes extortion in pride letcherie and ambition which Priestes were the rather put to death because the common sort of people dayly complayned of their wicked conuersations then their wilfull practises at faire Siluias Tombe Lord Essricke to throw him selfe into the fauour of the vulgar sort as well to disguise his owne leawd life as to appease the peoples murmurations he made a resolute determination vtterly to displease the religious Prelates all which nothing preuayled to couer his wickednes or make him the better liked amongst the ruder people whose natures alwayes loatheth and mislyketh strange vnnaturall gouernments yet this was the Phisitians counsell to tame and chastice the manners of the people which cannot be performed sayd he except by cruelty tirrany inissgouernment vsurpation taxes heauie tributes and such lyke all other gentle meanes helped not but rather made them more fircer and in manners and conditions the more ruder But now discourse we againe of the vertuous Queene Katherine that in the middest of there troubles in England had her fame and renowne made lorious in forraigne Nations for during her abode in the Normaine Court shee preferred the late Lorde high Marshalls daughter of England to Duke Robert in marriage estate who not long before had buried his Dutchesse and committed her vertuous spirit to the mighty and supernall maiesty of heauen This young Lady which nowe the Normaine Duke had matched withall by the motion and preferment of Queen Katherine was the Lorde Marshals daughter whose father spent the best bloud of his heart and yeelded his life with his famely in the right and defence of Queene Katherines chastery as you heard before discouered in the beginning of the history in recompence wherof the Queene thus preferred and aduanced his onely child and daughter being of long time vnder her tuition educated in honorable manner instructed But now by the appointment of the immortal powers of heauen Queene Katherine
to the accomplishment of al the tragicall calamities that long had oppressed her country England whose happines she inwardly in hart most entirely loued long sighed after with the ayde of the Normaine Duke and other Princes of Christendome which tenderly affected her vertues shee returned with great admiration praise and renowne from her banishment who being placed in a Coach of pure gold drawne with foure milke white Palfries with a rich imperiall Diadem vppon her head a Septer of bright siluer in her hande with many other gorgeous ornaments which most gloriously adorned bit princely person in which sumptuous maner shee entered vpon the coast of her natiue Country from whence shee was vniustly banished whereon being no sooner come on land but there met her such multitudes of distressed English people that the pleasant pastures where she trauailed seemed to be ouerspread who entertained her with exceeding ioy saying aloude with a generall voice Oh happy is the hower and blessed is the day that our renowned Queene is returned from banishment the gods preserue and blisse hir with euerlasting peace and send her long to raigne and gouerne vs with ioy and great tranquility in more admired glorie then did euer Queene in this happy Iland These and such like speeches was spoken both of young and olde not onely to her great ioy but to the excreding comfort of all the forraine Princes her well willers But nowe Lord Essricke and his chiefe Counseller the Physition perceiuing the whole Country to reuolt from their subiection willingly yeelded to the wished gouernment of Queene Katherine which vnexpected alteration caused them both to submit themselues to hir gratious fauour who remembring the death of Prince Edmund and the murdering of Siluia her deare children and also what inconuenience and disturbance by prolonging their liues might happen to the common-weale Therfore in straight execution she commanded her will effectually to be discharged which was to haue Lord Essrick and his Councellers head presently deseuered from their shoulders the which was not so strictly commanded as speedely performed The great prosperitie and wealth wherewith Queene Katherine by her returne from banishment bewtified and inriched England did so much reioice the dying spirits of the mournfull people that they were glorified in their own desires and euerie one deemed their fortunes lifted from long continued misery to euerlasting felicitie But nowe the vertuous Queene to make requital for the good Duke of Soffolkes banishment and hainous iniuries besides in times past extended through the vnbrideled fury of her husbands wrath much desired his returne into England to possesse his owne patrimonies lands and lofty dignities so long witholden from him Therefore to the same effect she sent Embassadors speedily into Porttingall where shee heard he remained and gouerned in Princely estate which knowledge was no sooner giuen to the Duke but with maiestie sumptuous renowne and aboundant of treasures furnished on euery side he hastened into England who by the vertuous Queene was receiued with surpassing glorie and magnificence long had not these two princely personages remained in the English Court but by the consent of the whole Countrey they were ioyned and matched together in the lawfull estate of marriage by whose wise gouernement the lande of Egland in short time not only became populous rich honourable and quiet but replenished with all maner of necessary thinges And finallie Queene Katherine marrying the good Duke of Suffolke together with the consent and aduice of the whole dominion were crowned legetimate gouernors of England where they inioyed issue and posteritie betweene them with long life prosperous renowne eternall honour and euerlasting felicitie * ⎠* FINIS Imprinted at London by William White dwelling in Cow-lane 1600.