Somerset for hereafter he must be no otherwise called was committed into their power and committed to custody in Beâ—…uchampe tower within the castle The next day he was brought to London as if he had bin a captaine caried in triumph He rode through Holborne betweene the Earles of Southhampton and of Huntington and was followed with Lords and Gentlemen to the number of 300 mounted on horsebacke At Holborne bridge certaine Aldermen attended on horsebacke and the cittisâ—…ns housholders stood with halberds on all sides of the streets through which he passed At Sopherlane he was receiued by the Maior Shâ—…riffes Recorder and diuers Knights of especiall note who with a great traine of officers and attendants bearing halbeards carryed him forthwith to the Tower all this was to beare in shew both that the Duke was a dangerous man and that the common both aide and applause concurred in his restraint Forthwith the King was brought to Hampton courte where all things being borne as done well because nothing was ill taken seauen of the Lords of the counsaile and 4 Knights were appointed by turnes to attend the Kings person The Lords were the Marquis of Northhampton the Earles of Warwicke and Arundell the Lordes Russell S t Iohn and Wentworth the knights were these S r Andrew Dudley S r Edward Rogers S r Thomas Darcy and S r Thomas Worth As for affaires of state the gouernment of them was referred to the whole body of the counsaile Soone after the King rode to his house in Southwarke then called Suffolke place there dined all-After dinner he rode in great estate through the citty to Westminster as if the people should be giuen to vnderstand that nothing was dâ—…minished either from the safety or glory of the King by imprisonment of the Duke And now when the Duke had breathed a small time in the tower certaine Lords of the counsaile were sent vnto him who after a shorte preface in such termes as hate and dissimulation could temper together remembring how great the amity had beene betweene them and of what continuance Then acknowledging what offices seruices he had done for the commonwealth yet enterlacing some errors defects wherewith they seemed to reproach him Lastly they presented him certaine articles as from the residue of the priuy counsaile desiring his present answere whether hee would acknowledge them to be true or else stand vpon his iustification The articles obiected against him were these 1 That he tooke vpon him the office of Protector vpon expresse condition that he should doe nothing in the Kings affaires but by assent of the late Kings executors or the greatest part of them 2 That contrary to this condition he did hinder iustice subuert Lawes of his owne Authority aswell by letters as by other commande 3 That he caused diuers persons arrested and imprisoned for treason murther manslaughter and felloâ—…y to be discharged against the lawes and statutes of the realme 4 That he appointed Lâ—…euetenants for Armies and other officers for the weighty affaires of the king vnder his own writing and seale 5 That he communed with Embassadors of other realmes alone of the weighty matters of the realme 6 That he would taunt and reproue diuers of the kings most honourable counsailors for declaring their aduice in the Kings weighty affaires against his opinion sometimes telling them that they were not worthy to sit in counsaile and sometimes that he needed not to open weighty matters to them and that if they were not agreeable to his opinion he would discharge them 7 That against law he held a court of request in his house and did enforce diuers to answere there for their freeholde goods and did determine of the same 8 That being no officer without the aduice of the counsaile or most part of them he did dispose offices of the Kings guift for money grant leases and wards and presentations of Benefices pertaining to the King gaue Bishoprickes and made sales of the Kings lands 9 That he commanded Alchimie and multiplication to be practised thereby to abase the Kings coine 10 That diuers times he openly said that the nobility and gentry were the only cause of dearth Whereupon the people rose to reforme matters of themselues 11 That against the minde of the whole counsaile he caused proclamation to be made concerning enclosures wherevpon the people made diuers insurrections and destroied many of the Kings subiects 12 That he sent forth a commission with Articles annexed concerning enclosures commons highwaâ—…es cottages and such like matters giuing the commishioners authority to heare 〈◊〉 determine those causes whereby the lawes and statutes of the realme were subuerted and much rebellion raised 13 That he suffered rebells to assemble and lie armed in campe against the nobility and gentry of the realme without speedie repressing of them 14 That he did comfort and encourage diuers rebells by giuing them money and by promising them fees rewards and seruices 15 That he caused a proclamation to be made against law and in fauour of the rebells that none of them should be vexed or sued by any for their offences in their rebellion 16 That in time of rebellion he said that he liked well the actions of the rebells and that the auarice of gentlemen gaue occasion for the people to rise and that it was better for them to dye then to porish for want 17 That he said the Lords of the Parliament were loath to reforme enclosures and other things therefore the people had a good cause to reforme them themselues 18 That after declaration of the defaults of Bouline and the pieces there by such as did surview them he would neuer amend the same 19 That he would not suffer the Kings pieces of Newhauen and Blacknesse to be furnished with men and prouision albeit he was 〈◊〉 of the defaults and aduised thereto by the Kings 〈◊〉 whereby the French King was emboldned to attempt vpon them 20 That he would neither giue authority nor suffer noble men and gentlemen to suppresse rebells in time conuenient but wrote to them to speake the rebells â—…aire and vse them gently 21 That vpon the fifth of October the present vâ—…ere 〈◊〉 Hampton courte for defence of his owne priuate causes hee procured seditious bills to be written in counterfeit hands and secretly to be dispersed into diuerse parts of the realme beginning thus Good people intending thereby to raise the Kings subiects to rebellion and open warre 22 That the Kings priuy counsaile did consult at London to come to him and moue him to reforme his gouernment but he hearing of their assembly declared by his letters in diuers places that they were high traitors to the King 23 That he declared vntruly aswell to the King as to other yong Lords attending his person that the Lords at London intended to destroy the King desired the King neuer to forget but to reuenge it and required the yong Lords to put the King in remembrance thereof
mixture of honest delight Vnder these teachers the Prince thrived so well that in short time he spake the French tongue perfectly In the 〈◊〉 tongue he could declaime vpon the suddaine no lesse both readily and purely then many who were reputed amongst the most learned of these times He attained not only commendable knowledge but speech in the Greeke Spanish and Italian languages having alwaies great iudgment in measuring his words by his matter his speech being alike both fluent and weightie such as best beseemed a Prince as for naturall Philosophie for Logicke Musicke Astronomie and other liberall sciences his perfections were such that the great Italian Philosopher Cardane having tasted him by many conferences and finding him most strongly to encounter his new devised paradoxes in Philosophie seemed to be astonished betweene admiration and delight and divulged his abilities to be miraculous These his acquirements by industrie were exceedingly both enriched and enlarged by many excellent endowments of nature For in disposition he was milde gracious and pleasant of an heavenly wit in body beautifull but especially in his eies which seemed to haue a starrie liuelynes and lustre in them generally hee seemed to be as Cardane reported of him A MIRACL'E OF NATVRE When he was a few moneths aboue nine yeeres of his age great preparation was made either for creating or for declaring him to be Prince of Wales Duke of Cornewall and Count Palatine of Chester In the middest whereof K. Henry his Father ended his life of a dropsie accompanyed with a spreading scaâ—…e of his thigh Herevpon Edward Earle of Hartford and S r Anthony Browne knight of the order and Master of the horse were forthwith dispatched by the residue of the counsâ—…ile to the young King then lying at Hartford These came vnto him and the next day brought him to Enfield neither with preparation nor traine any more then ordinarie Here they first declared vnto him and to the Lady Elizabeth his sister the death of K. Henry their father Vpon which tidings they both brake forth into such vnforced and vnfained passions as it plainely appeared that good nature did worke in them beyond all other respects Never was sorrow more sweetly set forth their faces seeming rather to beautifie their sorrow then their sorrow to clowde the beautie of their faces Their young yeares their excellent beauties their louely and liuely enterchange of complaints in such sort graced their griefe as the most yron eies at that time present were drawne thereby into societie of their Teares The next day following being the last of Ianuarie the young king advanced towards London The Earle of Hartford riding next before him and S r Anthony Browne behinde The same day he was proclaimed King and his lodging was prepared within the Tower He there was received by the Constable and Lieuetenant on horse backe without the gates and vpon the bridge next the Ward-gate by all the chiefe Lords â—…o his counsailo These attended him to his chamber of presence and there sware allegiance vnto him Here he remained about three weekes and in the meane time the counsaile appointed vnto him by his Fathers will dayly sate for ordering the affaires of the Kingdome Among these the Earle of Hartford was elected and forthwith proclaimed protector of the Realme and governour of the kings person vntill he should accomplish the age of eighteene yeares To this office he was deemed most fit for that he was the kings vnkle by the Mothers side very neere vnto him in bloud but yet of no capacitie to succeede by reason whereof his naturall affection and dutie was lesse easie to be over-carryed by Ambition A few daies after the Lord Protector knighted the king within the Tower and immediatly the king stood vp vnder his cloath of estate tooke the sword from the Lord Protector and dubbed the Lord Maior of London knight Herehence ensued diverse other advancements in honour For S r Edward Seymer Lord Protector and Earle of Hartford was created Duke of Somerset The Lord William Parre Earle of Essex was proclaimed Marquis of Northampton Sâ—… Thomas Seymer the kings vnckle was made Lord of Sudley and high Admirall of England S t Richard Rich was made Lord Rich Sâ—… William Willoughby Lord Willoughby of Parreham and Sir Edmund Sheffield Lord Sheffield of Buterwike And because high titles of honour were in that time of the Kings minority sparingly granted because dignity then waited vpon desert which caused it againe to be waited on by respect every of these testified for others that it was the pleasure of the Kings Father before his death that these titles should thus bee conferred During this time the body of King Henrie was with honorable solemnities conveyed from London to Sheene and thence to Windsore and there buryed within the Colledge All his officers brake their staues and threw them into the graue but at their returne to the tower new staues were delivered vnto them this solemnitie being finished the King vpon the nineteenth of Febr. 1547. rode in great state from the Tower to the Palace of Westminster and the day following was crowned by the Archbishop of Canterbury assisted with other Bishops and all the chiefe nobilitie of the Realme About the twenty-ninth yeere of the Empire of Charles the fifth and the 33 of the Raigne of Francis the first of France and in the fifth yeere both of the raigne and age of Marie Queene of Scotland The same day a generall pardon was granted to all persons as it hath beene vsuall at coronations But by some envious oppositions or for some other causes vnknowne fixe onlie were excepted The Duke of Northfolke Cardinall Poole Edward â—…e Courtney eldest sonne to the Marquesse of Exceter Doctor Pates Master Fortescue and Master Throgmorton But they overlived that envie and had their pardons afterwards in the first yeere of the Raigne of Queene Marie A few daies after the Earle of Southampton Lord Chancellor of England for being opinatiue as it was reported and obstinately opposite to the rest of the Lords in matters of counsaile was removed both from his office of being Chancellor and from his place and authority in counsaile and the great seale was delivered to Sir William Pawlet Lord S â— Iohn who was Lord great Master of the Kings houshold But this wound of disgrace never left bleeding vntill it was stopped by the Protectors fall It is certaine that from the first entrance of this King to his raigne never was King either more loving to others or better beloved generally of all The one whereof proceeded from the goodnes of his disposition the other from many graces and vertues illustrious in him for besides his excellent beauty and modestie beseeming a Prince besides his sweet humanity the very life of mortall condition besides a naturall disposition to all literature whereto he seemed rather borne then instructed many noble and high virtues sparckled in him especially Clemencie Courage Care and knowledge in affaires of
might both discourage his peope and bring diâ—…reputation to himselfe forbad any report to be made not only of the euent but of the iourney After this the French King leuied an army by lande wherewith marching towards Bulloine he tooke Blackenesse and Newhauen two fortes of the English neere vnto Bulloine This he did effect chiefly by the treason of one Sturton a bastard sonne of Lord Sturtons and by reuolt of diuers Almaines who serued in the garrisons who being meerely mercenarie did easily encline to the strongest From whence the French King marched towardes Bullaine vpon whose approach S t Nicholas Arnault captaine of Bullingberge holding the place not of strength to be held withdrew all the ordinance matters of worth into high Boullaine and with gunpowder blew vp the Forte So the French Kinge brought his armie before Boulline but because the plague raged amongst his souldiers the weather was vnseasonable by reason of much fall of raine he departed from his army and left Chastilion gouernor in his steed Chastilion bent his siege against the Pierre which was erected in Boulline haven and after batterie of 20000 shot or more the breach was thought reasonable and therevpon the assault was giuen But the same was so well encountred by the valour of the defendants helped with advantage of place that the obstinacy of the assailaÌ„ts did nothing but increase their losse so as the first fury being broken and spent The French resolued to attempt the peice no more by assault notwithstanding they continued the seige presented diuers skermishes false attempts but they spent both their labour shot without putting the defendants in any feare Then they planted their artillery against the mouth of the hauen to impeach supply of victualls to the towne Yet the English victualers surceased not at the Kings adventure to bring all things necessary vntill the end the souldiers of the towne set vpon the French suddainly by night slue many of them and dismounted their pieces Then the French applied their batterie againe wherein they sometimes spent 1500 shot in one day But finding this to be a fruitlesse fury they afterwards vsed it more sparingly and rather vpon a shew of hostility then vpon any hope thereby to prevaile In the meane season they charged a galley with grauel and stones and prepared to sinke it in the middest of the hauen But the English tooke the galley before it sunke and drew it to the shoare and vsed the stones to reenforce the Pierre After this they made faggots of light matter mixed with pitch tarre tallow rosin powder and wildfire with intention to fire the ships in the hauen but that enterprise was defeated by the Bullenois and their fagots taken from the French During these enterfeits diverse skirmishes passed betweene the English and the French about the frontires of Calleis which as they were but light so most of them ended with disadvantage to the French And now if all these troubles had not beene sufficient to trauaile the realme of England at once a great diuision fell among the nobility so much the more dangerous by how much the spirits were more actiue and high And albeit the heat thereof was much appeased for a timâ—… by the great iudgement and moderation of the King yeâ—… did it breake forth in the end to tragicall euents not vpon particular persons only but did much ouerslow and 〈◊〉 ouerwhelme the whole realme with disquiet and here of the most apparent originall was this The King had two vnkles brothers to Queene Iaue his deceased mother Edward D. of Somerset Lord Protector Thomas Lord Seymer Baron of Sudley high Admirall of England as the Duke was elder in yeares so was hee more staied in behauiour The Lord Sudley was fierce in courage courtly in fashion in personage stately in voice magnificent but somewhat empty of matter both were so faithfully affected to the King that the one might well bee termed his sword the other his target The Duke was greatest in fauour with the people the Lord Sudley most respected by the nobility both highly esteemed by the King both fortunate alike in their advancements both ruined alike by their owne vanity and folly whilest these two brothers held in amity they were like two armes the one defending the other and both of them the King but many things did moue together to dissolue their loue and bring them to ruine First their contrary disposition the one being tractable and milde the other stiffe and impatient of a superior whereby they liued but in cunning concord as brothers glued together but not vnited in graine then much secret enuy was borne against them for that their new lustre did dimme the light of men honoured with ancient nobility Lastly they where openly minded as hasty and soone moued so vncircumspect and easy to be minded By these the knot not only of loue but of nature between them was dissolued so much the more pitty for that the first cause proceeded from the pride the haughty hate the vnquiet vanity of a mannish or rather of a diuelish woman For the Lord Sudley had taken to wife Katharine Parre Queene Dowager last wife to King Henry the 8 th A woman beautified with many excellent vertues especially with humility the beauty of all other vertues The Duke had taken to wife Anne Stanhope a woman for many imperfections intollerable but for pride monstrous she was exceeding both subtle and violent in accomplishing her ends for which she spurned ouer all respects both of conscience and of shame This woman did beare such invincible hate first against the Q. Dowager for light causes and womans quarrells especially for that she had precedency of place before her being wife to the greatest Peere in the land then to the Lord Sudley for her sake That albeit the Q. Dowager dyed by childbirth yet would not her malice either dye or decrease But continually she rubbed into the Dukes dull capacity that the Lord Sudley dissenting from him in opinion of religion sought nothing more then to take away his life as well in regard of the common cause of Religion as thereby happely to attaine his place Many other things she boldly fained being assured of easie beliefe in her heedlesse hearer alwaies fearfull and suspitious as of feeble spirit but then more then euer by reason of some late opposition against him Her perswasions she cunningly intermixed with teares affirming that she would depart from him as willing rather to heare both of his disgraces and dangers then either to see the one or participate of the other The Duke embracing this womans counsaile a womans counsaile indeede and nothing the better yeelded himselfe both to aduise and deuise for destruction of his brother The Earle of Warwicke had his finger in the businesse and drew others also to giue either furtherance or way to her violent desires Being well content she should haue her minde so as the Duke might thereby incurre infamy
great in multitude in bodies able assured in minde not only for the safetie but the glory of their common state That hereby would follow assurance of desence strength to enterprize ease in sustaining publike burthens and charge That herein the English desired no preheminence but offered equalitie both in liberty and priviledge and in capacitie of offices and imployments and to that end the name of Brittaines should be assumed indifferent to both nations That this would be the accomplishment of their common felieitie in ease by their evill either destinie or advice they suffered not the occasion to be lost The authority and reasons of this letter weighed much with persons of most weighty iudgements but others more powerful in that state partly vpon vaine hope in regard of the young yeares of the king partly vpon feare of alteration in religion and partly in favour of their ancient amitie with the French and doubting to be brought vnder by the English were altogether carryed another way yet they dispatched an Embassador into England but neither was any thing done neither do I finde what was propounded to haue bin done Herevpon diverse hostilities began to be practised And first a small ship of the kings called the Pensie hovering at sea was assailed by the Lyon a principall shippe of Scotland The sight began farre off and slow but when they approached it grew very furious wherein the ' Pensie so applyed her shot that therewith the Lyons or◅ loope was broken her sailes and tacklings torne and lastly shee was boarded and taken But as shee was brought for England shee was cast away by tempest and negligence neere Harewich haven and most of her men perished with her I would not haue staide vpon this small adventure but that it seemed a presage to the succeeding warre wherein the English acquired a glorious victorie but lost the fruit thereof by reason of their stormie disorders at home Many such small actions were enterprised dayly which were but scattering drops in regard of the great tempest which did ensue For in the meane season an armie was prepared for invasion of Scotland vnder the fortune and commande of the Lord Protector The souldiers first assembled at Newcastle and were there mustred by the Earle of Warwicke Heere they so◅ourned three daies in which time the kings fleete arrived consisting of 65. Bottomes whereof one galley and 34. tall ships were well appointed for fight the residue served for carriage of munition and victuals Of this sleete Edward Lord Clinton was Admirall and Sir William UUoodhouse his Uiceadmirall in this time also a generall muster was taken and order appointed for the March. In the whole armie were betweene 12. and 1300 thousand foot 1300 men at Armes 2800 light horse being such men for their goodly personages their ready horses their braue apparell their armour and weapons as never before was an armie set forth into those parts in all points better appointed The Lord Protector being Generall represented the person and Maiestie of the king The Earle of Warwicke was Lieutenant generall The Lord Gray of UUilton was Marshall of the field and captaine generall of the horsemen Sir Ralph Uane Lieutenant of all the men at Armes and Dimilances Sir Ralph Sadler was generall Treasurer other gentlemen had their particuler charges But vpon the Generall and the Earle of Warwicke both the hopes and hazards of the maine adventure did wholy turne And because much shal be said of these two hereafter because during the raigne of king Edward they were the principall actors in every sceane I will briefly declare both what persons and of what demerits at that time they were Edward Seymer Duke of Somerset Lord Generall was a man little esteemed either for wisedome or personage or courage in armes But being in favour with king Henry and by him much imploied was alwaies observed to be both faithfull and fortunate as well in giving advise as in managing a charge About fiue yeares before hee being Warden of the Marches against Scotland the invasion of Iames the 5. was by his direction encountred and broken at Solome Mosse whereof diverse of the Scottish nobility were taken prisoners The yeare next after hee and the Earle of Warwicke with a handfull of men to speake of fired Lieth and Edenburgh and returned by a leasurely march 44 miles through the body of Scotland The yeare next ensuing he invaded the Scottish borders was◅ed T◅uedale the marches and deformed the country with ruine and spoile The yeare then next following being appointed to view the fortifications vpon the marches of Cale◅s he not only did that but with the hardy approach of 7000 English men raised an armie of 21000 French encamped over the River before Bulloine wanne their ordinance carriage treasure and tents with the losse only of one man and returned from thence by land to Guisnes wan in his way within shot and rescue of Arde the castle of Outing cōmonly called the redpile The yeare next ensuing this he invaded spoiled Picardy began the forces of Newhaven Blacknesse and Bullingberge and so well applyed his endeavours that in a few weekes and before his departure they were made tenible vpon these and other like successes his succeeding fortunes were esteemed alwaies rather new then strange and his onlie presence was reputed a susticient surety for an army and yet did he never rise hereby either into haughtines in himselfe or contempt of others but remained courteous affable choosing a course least subiect to envie betweene stiffe slubbornes and filthy slattery never aspiring higher then to be the second person in state Iohn ' Dudley Earle of Warwicke was a man of ancient nobilitie comely in stature and countenance but of little gravitie or abstinence in pleasures yea sometimes almost dissolute which was not much regarded if in a time when vices began to grow into fashion a great man was not over severe He was of a great spirit and highly aspiring not forbearing to make any mischiefe the meanes for attaining his ambitious endes Hereto his good wit and pleasant speeches were altogether serviceable having the art also by emptie promises and threats to draw others to his purpose in matters of armes he was both skilfull and industrious and as well in fore-sight as resolution present and great Being made L. Lieutenant of Bulloine when it was first taken by the English the walls sore beaten shaken and in very truth searce mainetaineable he defended the place against the Dolphine whose armie was accounted to consist of 52000 men And when the Dolphine had entred the base towne not without slaughter of divers of the English by a braue sally he cast out the French againe with the losse of aboue 800 of their men esteemed the best souldiours in France The yeare next ensuing when the French had a great ◅leete at sea for invasion of England he was appointed Admirall and presented battaile to the French Navy which they refused and returned home
with 3000 Almaines and as many borderers to demolish the towne and to bring the artillerie a way to Barwicke The Earle not only accomplished his Charge but made wide wast in his passage by ruine and spoyle Herewith the castle of Hame was sodenly surprised by the Scots and all the English therein either taken or ◅laine This was effected by meanes of certaine Scots who vsed to bring victualls to the English and were reputed their assured frindes these both obseruing the weakenes of the place and orders of the garrison discouered them to their fellowes and gaue entertainement for the surprise Giueing also warning to others never to trust either the cur◅syes or services of those whom they haue provoked to be their enimies About these times S r Edward Bellingham Lo Deputie of Ireland first with great diligence and care then credite and ◅eputation especially gained by that service tooke Ocanor and Omor and reduced the other seditious Lords to good subiection Ocanor and Omor guided by overlate counsaile of necessity left their Lordships and had a yeerely pension of 100 l assigned to either of them And now the French supposing that by reason partly of suspence of hostility betweene England and France and partly of the English affaires in other places matters with them would be neglected determined to attempt a suddaine surprise of the fortresse of Bullingberge to this end 7000 men were appointed vnder the conduct of M r Chastilion furnished with ladders and other preparations for the surprise They marched secretly in the dead time of the night and when they approached within a quarter of a league On Carter who had beene discharged of his pay by the English for takeing a French woman to wife and then serued vnder the French ranne privily before and gaue the Alarme to those in the Forte The English drewe him vp the walles betweene two pikes and vnderstanding the danger addressed thē selues to their defence by reason wherof the French at their approach had so warme a welcome every of the English contending that his valour might be noted for some helpe in the fight that at their departure they laded 15 wagons with their dead Carter himselfe adventured brauely in places of greatest danger and receiued two great hurts in his body S r Nicholas Arnault the captaine was likewise hurte with a pike in the face diuers others were wounded about 25 slaine The assault continued with great obstinacy from midnight vntill somwhat after the breake of day Shortly after 300 English on foote and 25 horsemen were appointed to goe to a wood about 2 leagues from Bullingberge hauing carriages with them for bringing certaine timber for mounting great Artillery and some other vses when they approached neerer the edge of the woode about 500 French horsemen issued forth and gaue three sharpe charges vpon them the English empaled themselues with their pikes and therewith bare off their enimies and being lined with shot the cruell plague of horsemen the French were in such sort galled with arrowes that many were wounded M r Ca◅ret and diuers others slaine 70 great horses lay dead in the field and one Cornet was taken The English fearing greater forces began to retyre and therewith appeared about 2000 French and Almaines on foote But the English maintained an orderly retreat vntill they came within favour of the shot of Bullingberge and then the enimy adventured no further in this manner the old wounds of warre began freshly to open bleede betweene England and France But in this meane time such tempests of sedition tumbled in England more by default of governors then the peoples impatience to liue in subiection that not only the honour but the safetie of the state was thereby endangered For as the commissioners before mentioned passed to divers places for establishing of their new iniunctions many vnsavory scornes were cast vpon thē ◅he further they wenr from London as the people were more vnciuill so did they more rise into insolencie contempt At the last as one M r Body a commissioner was pulling downe images in Cornwall he was sodainely stabbed into the body by a Priest with a knife Herevpon the people more regarding commotioners then commissioners slocked together in diverse parts of the shire as clouds cluster against a storme and albeit iustice was afterwards done vpon the offenders the Principall being hanged and quartered in Smithfield and divers of his chiefe complices executed in divers parts of the Realme albeit so ample a pardon was proclaimed for all others within that shire touching any action or speech tending to treason yet could not the boldnesse be beaten down either with that severity or with this lenity be abated For the mischiefe forthwith spread into Wiltshire and Somersetsoire where the people supposing that a common wealth could not stand without Commons beat downe enclosures laid parkes and fields champaine But S r William Herbert afterwardes Earle of Pembroke with a well armed ordered company set sharpely vpon them and oppressing some of the forwardest of them by death suppressed all the residue by feare But their duty depending vpon feare the one was of no greater continuance then the other The like motions followed in Sussex Hampshire Kent Glocestershire Warwickeshire Essex Hartfordshire Leicestershire Worcestershire and Rutlandshire But being neither in numbers nor in courage great partly by authority of Gentlemen and partly by entreaty and advice of honest persons they were reduced to some good appeasement as with people more guided by ◅age then by right yet not altogether mad it was not vneasy But herein happely some error was committed that being only brought to a countenanc◅ of quiet regard was not had to distinguish the rebellion fully For soone after they brake forth more dangerously then before for no part could content them who aimed at all After this the people in Oxfordshire ' Devonshire Northfolke and Yorkeshire fell into the same madnes incensed by such who being in themselues base and degenerate and dangerous to the state had no hope but in troblesome times To Oxfordshire the Lord Gray of Wilton was sent with 1500 horse and soote to whō the gentlmen of the country resorted drawing many followers with them the very name of the Lord Gray being knowne to be a man of great valour and fortune so terrified the seditious that vpon the very report of his approach more then halfe fell away and dispersed of the residue who being either more desperate or more sottish did abide in the field many were presently slaine many taken and forthwith executed To Devonshire was sent Iohn Lord Russell Lord of the priuy seale whose forces being indeed or being by him distrusted to be inferior to the importance of the service he sate downe at Honington whilest the seditious did almost what they would vpon this heavines of the kings forces going forward interpr◅ted to be feare and want of mettle divers either of the most audacious or such as pouerty
because when he might haue done it he did not and further against the persons of them whose examinations had beene read against him he obiected many things desiring they might be brought to his face which in regard he was a person of dignity and estate he claimed to be reasonable especially against S r Thomas Palmer he spake much euill and yet in opinion of many farre short of the truth Hereto no answere was made but that the worse they were the fitter they were to be his instruments fit instruments indeed said he but rather for others then for me The fast being made the Kings learned counsaile auouched the law to be to assemble men with intent to kill the Duke of Northumberland was treason by a statute of the 3 4 th or K. Edward then raigning made against vnlawfull assemblies that to raise London or the North parts of the realme was treason that to minde resisting his attachment was felony that to assault the Lords and to devise their deaths was felony But vnder fauour of their iudgement the statute alleaged bears no such sense either for treason or for felony indeed by a statute of K. Henry 7 it is felony for inferior persons to contriue the death of a Lord of the counsaile but Lordes are therein expresly excepted The Lordes went together and first the Duke of Suffolke nobly said that he held it not reasonable that this being but a contention betweene priuate subiect vnder pretention thereof any meane action should to draw to intention of treason The Duke of Northumberland in countenance bearing shew of sadnesse but in truth stifly obstinate denyed that he would euer consent that any practise against him should be either imputed or reputed to be treason yet this was not taken to proceede from modesty as he expected but for that he could not with his honour or with reason so enforce it The Marques of Northampton was crossed and contentious with many but neuer replied to any answere a manifest marke of no strong spirit Some of the rest plainly brake forth that they held it vnfit that the Duke of Northumberland the Marques of Northampton and the Earle of Pembrooke should be of the triall because the prisoner was chiefly charged with practises intended against them But hereto answere was made that a Peere of the Realme might not be challenged After much variation of opinions the prisoner at the barre was acquit of treason but by most voices most fauouring the Duke of Northumberland he was sound guilty of felony Hereupon iudgement followed that he should be hanged but this would neuer haue gone so hard had they not prosecuted all vnder pretence of treason The Duke of Somerset might haue craued his clerge but he suffered iudgement to passe thanked the Lords for his gentle triall craued pardon of the Duke of Northumberland the Marques of Northampton and the Earle of Pembrooke for his ill meaning against them and made suit for his life in pitty to his wife children and seruants and in regard of paiment of his debts As he departed because he was acquit of treason the axe of the tower was not openly carried whereupon the people supposing that he was altogether acquit shooted halfe a dozed times so loud that they were heard beyond Charing Crosse. It is certaine the people fauoured him the more because they saw that there was much secret hate borne against him But as this immoderate fauour of the multitude did him no good so will it vndoe so many as shall trust vnto it It was told the King that after the Dukes returne to the tower he acknowledged to certaine Lords that he had hired Bartuile to make them away that Bartuile confessed so much and that Hamond was not ignorant thereof which whether it were true or whether deuised to make the King more estranged from him of iudgement could not hold themselues assured About this time Cuthbert Tonstall Bishop of Durham a man famous in those times for learning and integrity of life was sent to the tower for concealement of I know not what treason written to him I know not by whom and not discouered vntill what shall I call the party did reueale it But the Lord Chancellor Rich hauing built a faire estate and perceiuing what nimble ears were borne to listen after treason also for that a parliament was towards wherein he was doubtfull what questions might arise made suit to the King that in regard of the infirmities of his body he might be discharged of his office giuing good example to men sometimes by their owne moderation to auoid disgrace So he deliuered the seale at his house in great S t Bartholomewes to the Duke of Northumberland the Earle of Pembrooke sent by the King with commission to receiue it The same seale was forthwith deliuered to D r Godricke Bishop of Ely a man if happily able to discharg the place assuredly no more It was first deliuered vnto him only during the sicknesse of the Lord Rich but in short time after he was sworne Lord Chancellor because as keeper of the seale he could not then execute such matters as were to be dispatched in parliament And now after iudgement against Somerset the Lords were not negligent to entertaine the King with all delights they could deuise partly to winne his fauour but especially to conuert his thoughts from his condemned Vnkle to this end they often presented him with stately masques braue challenges at title and at barriers and whatsoeuer exercises or disports they could coniecture to be best pleasing to him then also he first began to keepe hall and the Christmas time was passed ouer with banquetings masques plaies and much other variety of mirth Often they would call him to serious affaires wherein he tooke especiall pleasure Sometimes they would remember him how dangerous the Duke of Somerset was who hauing made away his only brother contriued the death of the chiefe of the nobility And where say they would his mischiefe haue rested Would it haue raged against all and left the King only vntouched Verily hauing beene alwaies both cruell and false there would haue beene no end of his mischiefe and all his submissions must now be taken for counterfeit and dissembled But his auarice and ambition once remoued the way will be laid open to vertue and merit So about two moneths after his iudgement the 5 th and last act of his tragedie was brought vpon the stage When being so often exposed to fortunes mercy before he was placed by a strong guard vpon a seaffold at tower hill about eight of the clocke in the morning to suffer death albeit straight charge had beene giuen the day before to euery housholder in the citty not to permit any to depart out of their houses before ten of the clocke that day yet the people the more vnruly by this restraint by such thick throngs swarmed to the place that before seauen of the clocke the hill was couered and