he had created Earle of Pembrooke to be his Generall in the North who partly to deserue the Kings liberality in aduancing him to such honour and partly in emulation he bare toward Warwicke being the sole obstacle as he tooke it why he obtained not the wardship of the Lord Bonuils daughter and heire for his eldest sonne did not a little reioice of that his imploiment And therefore accompanied with Sir Richard Herbert his brother and eighteene thousand well furnished Welshmen marched towards the enemie and after him was sent Humfrey Lord Stafford with sixe thousand Archers to second him in his warres These Lords meeting together â—…ad notice by espials that the Northern made forwards towards Northampton to intercept whom the Lord Stafford lately made Earle of Deuonshire was imploied and Sir Richard Herbert who with two thousand horse laid themselues couertly by the side of a wood and sodeinely set vpon the rereward the rest hauing passed but the Northern verie nimbly turned about and bad the Welshmen such welcome as few of them returned to tell of their entertainement 33 The King vnderstanding of this hard beginning mustred his subeicts on euerie side intending to cope with the Northern himselfe And Earle Warwicke as forward to forward his fortunes gathered his friends with purpose to encounter with Pembrooke and his Welsh But before any supplies came to either of both it chanced the Armies to meete at vnawares vpon a faire plaine called Danes more neere to the Towne Hedgecot three miles from Banburie and presently fell to a bickering wherein Sir Henrie Neuill Knight sonne of the Lord Latimer vpon a lusty courage venturing somewhat too farre was taken prisoner and notwithstanding he yeelded himselfe to his Takers was cruelly slaine which vnmartiall act rested not long vnrepaied with the losse of most of the Welsh the next day For the field withdrawne the Lord Stafford repaired to Banberie and there tooke his lodging where his affections were much enamoured vpon a faire damsell in the Inne But the Earle of Pembrooke comming to the same Towne tooke into the same Inne and commanded the Lord Stafford to prouide him elsewhere contrary to their agreements made before whereat Stafford was displeased and departing thence with his whole Band left the Earle naked of men in the Towne and disabled the field of the Archers whereby the day was lost vpon the kings part for which he shortly lost his owne head 34 The Northern enflamed for the death of young Neuill the next morning most valiantly set vpon the Welshmen and by the force of Archers draue them from their ground of aduantage which Pembrooke wanting supplied with his owne prowesse and Richard his brother with his Pollaxe twice made way through the battell of the Northern without anie mortall or deadly wound so that by their valours it was verily supposed the field had beene wonne had not Iohn Clappam an Esquire and seruant to Warwicke displaied his Lords Colours with his white-beare and from an eminent place cried a Warwicke a Warwicke whereat the Welsh were so terrified as they turned and fied leauing their General and his brother alone in the field who valiantly figh ting were incompassed and taken with the 〈◊〉 of fiue thousand of their men The Earle with hâ—… brother Sir Richard Herbert were brought to Banbery where with ten other Gentlemen they lost their heads Conyers and Clappam being their Iudges 35 This second victory thus got and the Northern now fleshed vnder the leading of Robbin of Riddisdale hasted to the Kings mannor of Grafton where the Earle Riuers father to the Queene then lay whom with his sonne Iohn they sodeinely surprized and in Northampton strucke off their heads without any iudgement The deathes of these Lords the King greatly lamented and sought to reuenge first therefore writing his Commissions for the apprehension of Lord Humfrey Stafford of Southwicke who by diligent search was found at Brentmarch and beheaded at Bridgewater as he worthily deserued next he prepared a mighty Armie and with the same marched towardes Warwicke his company increasing euer as he went 36 King Edward set downe his tents at Wolney foure miles from Warwicke where the Duke and the Earle of Warwickes host lay readie for Battell but by the mediation of friends a peace was intreated and letters written from either parties expressing the griefes and wrongs sustained with proffers of redresse in amending all and in shew so farre it proceeded as the King conceiuing a certaine hope of peace rested secure not fearing any foule-play which politique Warwicke by his spiall perceiuing thought it not wisdome to loose the aduantage and thereupon in the dead of the night with a selected Company he entred the Kings Camp killing them that kept the watch tooke the king in his bed and brought him his prisoner to his Castle of Warwicke and thence by easie iourneys in the night had him conueyed to Midelham Castle in Yorkeshire not farre from Richmond where vnder the custody of his brother George Neuill Archishop of Yorke hee was reteined 37 His vsage was Princely and according to his estate which he often acknowledged to the Archbishop with all kind thankes and complements of wordes whereby he wrought himselfe into such trust and fauour as he had the Forrests to hunt in and the parkes for his pleasure whose pales are well knowne vnsufficient wals to pen the lyon in as appeared by this King who being abroad and on hunting Sir VVilliam Stanly with Sir Thomas Burgh brought him fresh horse and such a crew of followers that his keepers more feared their owne liues then were forward to force him backe againe to prison and so let the game goe without further chase King Edward thus escaped VVarwicke like a wild man furiously raged but seeing no remedy made vse of necessity and gaue forth that himselfe so caused it hauing power to make Kings and to vnmake them againe 38 The King forthwith repaired to Yorke where with great honour hee was ioifully receiued and abode certaine daies which made him well hope of a further supply of friends and men but fayling thereof and fearing the Archbishops pursuite with a small traine he posted to Lancaster where he found the Lord Hastings his Chamberlaine well accompanied for his Conuey his spirits then reuiued and traine daily increasing with speedie iourneyes hee came vnto London where all his studies and consultations were how to be reuenged vpon these disloiall Lords his brother and Earle VVarwicke and they againe fretting at the Archbishoppes follie sought to make stronger their factions against the King 39 The Land thus rent by these vnnaturall diuisions and no estate sure to enioy what was theirs the Nobles anew began to sollicite the parties vnto a Peace hauing first obtained libertie to post to and fro without their impeachments and so effectually laid downe the state of the Land whose ruines now
egresse whereupon the Duke of Lancaster caused thē to bee assaulted so both of them being taken by surrender were razed to the ground though some English first lost their liues among which was Sir Robert Swinarton a valiant Knight of Staffordshire and Iohn de Bolton a couragious Esquier of Yorkeshire whom the sodaine ruine of a Tower ouerturned by mining whelmed and slew outright Sharpened with the successe of this victorie they commit themselues to God and the Sea and prosperously arriue with the whole Fleet in the Port Corone or the Groyne in August 61 The French belike thought England could not furnish an other Army for France as she had for Spain wherupon there was now no false nor vain rumor spread again that the French would besiege Calis The King to secure that pretious transmarine part of his Dominions sent thither store of men and of all prouisions The most eminent person was Henry Lord Percie sonne to Henry Earle of Northumberland This was hee whom the Scots by-named Hotspur a young Gentleman in whom saith Walsingham the patterne of all vertue and martiall prowesse shined and indeed his nature did answere his by-name for hee made such ridings into the quarters about Calis that they could neuer wish a worse neighbour After which when the fame went that the French king would not delay or as they call it beleaguer Calis but rather inuade England hee returned to bee present where the greatest danger was expected At this time the English Seamen of warre brought two French prizes to Sandwich in which was taken a part of an huge strong Timber-wall which the French king preparing now for Englands inuasion had caused to bee built in length three miles in height twenty foot which had at euery twelue paces a Tower ten foot higher and each capable of ten men the whole to be a defence for the French encampments against our shot and a shelter for theirs there was also in the same Ships the Enginer and master workeman who was an Englishman and great quantities of powder and store of Ordinance together with the French Kings Master Gunner 62 There was in this time a great resemblance betweene England and France in the chiefe points of State As England had Richard so had France her Charles both young Kings Charles with an huge armie had prepared to inuade England but did nothing Richard with no lesse forces entred Scotland and did no great thing Richard had vncles which bare great sway in the Realme so had Charles Richard had his vncle Iohn more potent then the rest Charles had his vncle Lewis Iohn vpon his wiues title claimeth the kingdomes of Castile and Leon Lewis by the gift of Ioan the Queene claimes the Kingdomes of Naples and Sicil. Lewis went with an Army of thirty thousand horse into Italie to atchieue his claime with what force Iohn set forth you haue heard But Lewis died without obtayning Iohn preuailed so farre as to settle his child by marriage The King and great Lords of France were glad with any charge to enioy the absence of Lewis and Richard and his fauourites were not sad that the Realme was for the present rid of Iohn 63 The forces of the French prouided for this inuasion of England were reported in open Parliament which the King held about Michaelmas in London to consist of 15 Dukes 26. Earles two hundreth Lords an hundreth thousand souldiers and a thousand Ships assembled about Sluse with full purpose to take reuenge of all the euils which the English nation had formerly wrought in France and to destroy the English kingdome But though these reports were not fained for the French attended nothing in a manner but a faire gale of winde to bring them yet could not the King without Capitulations made by the Duke of Gloster obtaine any aides of money so that whereas it seemed to the King that by the Duke of Lancasters departure he was become more free yet had he left behind spirits much more stiffe and intractable O deare Countrey hadst thou not then beene apparantlie in Gods protection for the French hauing stayd for a wind till Hallontide and then hauing it halfe-way were beaten backe and the voyage made vtterly voyd certainely thy ruine had then beene certaine What shall wee thinke or say of those popular Lords by this gentle King armd to his owne bane with power and greatnes who vnder the specious pretext of reforming abuses did satisfie their enuie and inbred insolency 64 The King tels them that England is as they saw in manifest danger and prayes their succour in money what is the answere That the Duke of Ireland for now the Marquesse of Dublin was made a Duke and Michaell at the Pole so they scornfully called the Earle of Suffolke and other must be remoued Things are badly carried at home say they and they perhaps said truly but where was now the care of our Countrey God indeed turned from vs the mercilesse point of the French sword but here began the seeds of innumerable worse miseries neuer to be remembred without sighes and teares 65 The seedes we say of those fearefull calamities were then first here sowne whose sum a flourishing Writer in our age willing neerely to haue imitated Lucan as hee is indeed called our Lucan doth not vnfortunately expresse though hee might rather haue said he wept them then sung them but so to sing them is to weepe them I sing the ciuill warres tumultuous broiles And bloudy factions of a mighty land Whose people hauty proud with forraine spoiles Vpon themselues turne backe their conquering hand While kinne their kinne brother the brother foiles Like Ensignes all against like Ensignes band Bowes against Bowes a Crowne against a Crowne While all pretending right all right throwne downe But Robert de Vere saith Thomas Duke of Glocester and his party was vnworthily created Duke of Ireland and De la Pole the Lord Chancellour seemed to the onely great Lords for so they would seeme to be in the Kings debt Strange colours for Subiects to capitulate with their King vpon giuing their ioynt aides against the common enemy now ready with one destruction to ouerwhelme them all The time they tooke to worke this pretended amendment in state was not well fitted It sauoured of somewhat else besides the loue of common-weale Priuate ambitions and passions could not bee wanting in such oppositions This is some mens iudgement let the sequels shew how iust 66 There were called vp at this Parliament for defence of the Realme innumerable people out of al Shires which forces lay about London within twentie miles round and had no pay but liued vpon spoile These at last were licenced to depart to be ready at warning There was also the Lord Chancellour accused of we wot not what petty crimes for the abuses of following ages haue made them seeme so as for paying to the Kings Coffers but twentie markes yeerely
his vnderhand workings they obiected also that hee had secretly practised to flie with the Duke of Ireland into France and to deliuer vp to the French Kings possession Callis such pieces as the Crowne of England held in those parts to proue which dishonourable act they as some write produced the French packets intercepted This wrung teares perhaps of disdaine from the King and hee yeelded to come to VVestminster vpon the next day there to heare and determine farther The King in signe of amitie stayed his Cosen the Earle of Derbie the same who afterward dethroned him to supper O where was the courage of a King The Lords in their owne quarrell could draw vp fortie thousand men but in the generall danger of the Realme when the Commons were vp and the French hung ouer their heads with no lesse hatred then preparations no such numbers appeared Was it fortheir honour or praise that their most rightful King should by their violence be driuen to consult vpon flight out of his proper Kingdome The Citie of London was also in no little perill at this present by their accesse which drawne by iust feare was contented to open the gates and harbour the Lords and their partakers These Lords who so often are called here the Lordâ—… are named in our Statute bookes to be but these fiue The Duke of Glocester the Earles of Derbie Arundel Warwicke and Marshal 76 The next day hee would haue deferred his repaire to Westminster This being signified to the Kings Lords for so they might bee called as being more Masters then the King they labour not by humble words and dutious reasons to perswade the vse or necessity of his presence in that place but contrarie to their allegiance and all good order send him word That if hee came not quickly according to appointment they would choose them another King who both would and should obey the counsell of the Peeres They had him indeed amongst them whom belike they euen then meant to haue surrogated that is to say the before said Earle of Derby heire to the D. of Lancaster The Lords certainely had so behaued themselues towards the King that they well saw they must bee masters of his person and power or themselues in the end perish 77 The King after a preposterous and inuerted manner attending his Subiects pleasures at Westminster heauily and vnwillingly is drawne to disclaime Alexander Neuil Archbishoppe of Yorke the Bishops of Duresme and Chichester the Lords Souch and Beaumount with sundry others Neither was the Male-sexe onely suspected to these curious pruners the Lady Poinings and other Ladies were also remoued and put vnder baile to answere such things as should bee obiected Sir Simon Burley Sir William Elinham Sir Iohn Beauchampe of Holt Sir Iohn Salisbury Sir Thomas Triuet Sir Iames Berneys Sir Nicholas Dagworth and Sir Nicholas Brambre knights with certaine Clerks were apprehended and kept in straite prison to answere such accusations what if meere calumniations as in the next Parliament at Westminster should be obiected 78 The Parliament began at Candlemas where the King was vnwillingly present The first day of the Session all the Iudges Fulthrop Belknap Care Hott Burgh and Lockton were arrested as they sate in Iudgement on the Bench and most of them sent to the Tower The cause alleadged was that hauing first ouerruled them with their counsels and directions which they assured them to bee according to law they afterward at Nottingham gaue contrarie iudgement to that which themselues had fore-declared Trysilian the chiefe Iustice preuented them by flight but being apprehended and brought to the Parliament in the forenoone had sentence to be drawne to Tyborne in the afternoone and there to haue his throat cut which was done accordingly Sir Nicholas Brambres turne was next This Brambre saith Walsingham was said to haue imagined to be made Duke of new Troy the old supposed name of London by murthering thousands of such Citizens whose names hee had billed for that purpose as were suspected of likelihood to resist him Then Sir Iohn Salisbury and Sir Iames Bernes two young Knights Sir Iohn Beauchamp of Holt Steward of the Household to the King and Iohn Blake Esquier were likewise sacrificed to reuenge Sir Simon Burley onely had the worshippe to haue but his head strucken off Loe the noble respect which the gentle Lords had to iustice and amendment This was no age wee see for a weake or slothfull Prince to sit in quiet for now the people and then the Peeres foile and trample the regall authority vnder foote the Duke of Ireland the Archbishoppe of Yorke the Earle of Suffolke and others had their estates confiscated to the kings vse by Act of Parliament as in the booke of Statutes may bee seene together with a great part of the whole proceedings 79 These troubles boiling and burning within in the Bowels of the State the Scots abroad had oportunity to inuade the North of England vnder the conduct of Sir William Dowglasse a noble young knight a parallel and riuall in the honour of Armes to Henry Hotspur Lord Percy whom Hotspur fighting hand to hand slew in battell but the Earle of Dunbar comming with an excessiue number of Scots tooke Hotspur and his brother prisoners killing many English not without such losse to themselues that they forthwith returned 80 But these vnneighbourly hostilities soone after found some surcease there being a meeting at Calis betweene the English and French about establishing a peace and albeit because the French would haue the Scot and Spaniard included therein the conclusion was deferred yet shortly after it was resolued vpon for three yeeres the Scots being comprehended therein 81 King Richard being now of age declares himselfe free to gouerne of himselfe without either controlement or help of any other then such as hee selected to that place and in token that he was at liberty he takes the Great Seale of England from Thomas Arundel Archbishop of Yorke Alexander Neuill being attainted and fled and departs out of the Councell Chamber After a while hee returnes and giues it backe to William Wickham the renowned Bishoppe of Winchester who was vnwilling to haue accepted the same Hee also puts out sundrie Officers substituting such others as best liked him From the Councell Table hee remoued his vncle Thomas of Woodstocke Duke of Glocester the Earle of Warwicke and others which as it might encouraged the Dukes enemies about the King to doe euill offices betweene them Yet the king did not presently credite what was whispered into his care concerning a purpose suggested to be in the Duke to raise forces againe but acquainting him withall was satisfied Neuerthelesse he would not suffer the Duke to pursue an orderly or any reuenge vpon the Authors whom indeed it had beene wisdome to haue punished in an exemplary manner 82 Michael de la Pole late Earle of Suffolke whom the popular Lords had made most
them to encrease their numbers were that Henry of Lancaster meaning the King was fled with his sonnes and friends to the Tower of London and that King Richard was escaped Maudlen also one of Richards Chapleins tooke vpon him the person of his said Lord the more strongly to seduce the multitude by so bold and perilous a fiction Thus seemed they to fit their words and sute their Arts to the place At Sunning Richard they said was at Pomfret for there the guile had beene transparent but at Circester Richard was not at Pomfret but present 17 How beit the successe was not answerable to the deuise for besides that King Henry was in the heart of his strengths at London where sixe thousand men were put into a readines and would come vpon them like a storme the Townesmen of Circester assailed the Lords tooke them and because their Town was fired of purpose by some of their followers the better to recouer them while the quenching found the people employment haled them forth and without longer tarriance seuered their heads from their bodies The Earle of Huntington with a trustie Knight of his Sir Iohn Sheuele hauing after the faile at Windsore in vaine attempted to escape by Sea was taken by the Commons at Pitwel perhaps Prittlewel in Essex brought first to Chelmsford and lastlie to Pleshie the house of the late Duke of Glocester whose Ghost a tragicall Poet would suppose did haunt his persecutors for reuenge where partlie also by this Earles instigation the said Glocester was first arrested The Commons out of whose hearts the image of that Duke was not vanished at the Countesse of Herefords instigation who was the Dukes widdow tooke satisfaction vpon the Earle with the escheate of his head which there was sundred from his shoulders The Lord Spencer called Earle of Glocester one of the Conspirators had like execution done vpon him by the Commons at Bristol Some other of them were put to death at Oxford and some at London where Iohn Maudlen the Counterfeit Richard who as it seemes was a beautifull and goodlie person and one William Ferby were drawne hanged and headed The Bishop of Carleol neuerthelesse was by the Kings clemencie preserued aliue after the condemnatory sentence There were nineteene in all whereof two had beene Dukes put to death for this conspiracy most of which were men of speciall note 18 The designes and misfortunes of King Richards friends being made known vnto him could not but worke strongly in a soule opprest with griefe but whether so strongly as to make him resolue by voluntary abstinence to starue himselfe as the fame went may bee doubted though it be past doubt that King Henry was not sorrie hee was dead howsoeuer That he was starued seemes verie plaine though as it is not certaine neither yet vnlikely that King Henry was priuy to so foule a parricide so neither is it knowne but that Richard might as well be starued of purpose as starue himselfe Master Stow a man for honest industry very praiseworthie saith that king Richard was fifteene daies and nights together kept in hunger thirst and cold till hee died How true that was in the circumstance who knows but in the point of staruing hee is clearelie with Walsingham and a Knight liuing about those times calleth it a death neuer before that time knowne in England Harding also liuing vnder King Edward the fourth agrees of the rumour of staruing Master Cambden saith of Pomfret Castle that it is a place principum cade sanguine infamis but seemes to insinuate that some other torments were most wickedly practised vpon this King as made out of the way with hunger cold and vnheard-of torments Polydore therefore may in this bee beleeued who writes of this poore deposed Monarke that which may well be called vnheard-of torments his diet being serued in and set before him in the wonted Princely manner he was not suffered either to taste or touch thereof Idle therefore seemes his dreame who writes hee was murthered in the Tower and not more credible theirs who tell vs of Sir Peirs of Extons assault and the murther basely by him acted vpon this most miserable Princes person but much more are they to blame who negligently for credit of the fable quote Walsingham in whom no syllable of such a thing is found Onely Hector Boetius wils vs to belieue that Richard fled disguised into Scotland was discouered to King Robert and honourably entertained but Richard who would no more of the world gaue himselfe wholy to contemplation and both liued died and was buried at Striueling Which fond fable hath neuerthelesse somewhat in it for that some personated Richard might so doe is neither impossible nor improbable and indeed it was so 19 The late King Richard thus cruelly and heinously murthered for in regard of pining death the seeming fable of his fight with Sir Peirs of Exton was a sport it being both noble and full of comfort for a man of honour and courage to die with weapon in hand King Henry causeth his dead body to bee brought vp to London O Henry if thou wert Author or but priuie though for thine owne pretended safetie and for that errors cause which is lewdly mis-called reason of state of such a murther we doe not see how the shewing of the people his vncouered face in Pauls did either conceale or extenuate the execrable crime But to let the world know that there was no hope nor place for a Richard that course was vsed which may the rather confirme the truth of his enfamishment for a violent death by braining could not but deforme him too much and it is most probable that such a death would bee sought as might least appeare Surely he is not a man who at the report of so exquisite a barbarisme as Richards enfamishment feeles not chilling horror and detestation what if but for a iustly condemned galley-slaue so dying but how for an annointed King whose Character like that of holy Orders is indeleble The tragicall spectacle of his dead body perhaps because it moued too much both pittie and enuie was after a while transported without honor to Langley in Hartfordshire where the last rites were performed by the Bishop of Chester the Abbats of S. Alban and Waltham but neither King Henry present as at the exequies in London and the great Lords and such other as were had not so much as a funerall feast bestowed on them for their labour But Henry the fifth in the first yeere of his raigne with great honour did afterward cause those royall remaines to be interred in the Sepulture of his Ancestors at Westminster Among the riming Latine verses of his Epitaph ye may maruell to reade these considering vpon what points he was triced out of Maiestie and State Ecclesiam fauit elatos suppeditauit Quemuis prostrauit
regalia qui violauit Fabians English of them The Church he fauoured casting the proud to ground And all that would his roiall State confound The said Author therefore Robert Fabian obseruing the scope of those lines to dampe their force doth vnderwrite and annex this Stanza with much greater discretion then elegancie But yet alas though that this meeter or rime Thus doth embellish this noble Princes fame And that some Clerke which fauoured him sometime List by his cunning thus to enhance his name Yet by his Story appeareth in him some blame Wherefore to Princes is surest memory Their liues to exercise in vertuous constancie More tart and seuere is the censure of Gower vpon this Prince one of whose verses Stow giues vs thus So God doth hate such rulers as here viciously do liue That beautifull picture of a King sighing crowned in a chaire of estate at the vpper end of the Quier in Saint Peters at Westminster is said to be of him which witnesseth how goodly a creature he was in outward lineaments 20 King Henry to diuert the humors and eyes of the people from the remembrance of this Tragedie prepareth now a puissance therewith to inuade Scotland some subiects whereof together with their Admirall Sir Robert Logon a Scotish Knight were taken at Sea by certaine English ships But K. Henry may seeme to haue done any thing rather then to haue made a warre for albeit hee did some hurt by wasting the Country yet did not the Scots offer battel and the rest will wel appear in these words of Boetius He did small iniuries to the people thereof for he desired nought but his banner to bee erected on their wals He was euer a pleasant enemy and did great humanity to the people in all places of Scotland where he was lodged Finally hee shewed to the Lords of Scotland that hee came into their Realme rather by counsell of his Nobles then for any hatred he bare to Scots Soone after hee returned into England Whether the remembrance of the curtesies shewed to his Father Duke Iohn or the feare of his owne great state so neere to an ouerthrow by the late furious conspiracy wrought these gentle effects it was not long before the euent shewed that his prouidence in not creating new acerbities was therein needfull 21 For albeit the face of England seemed smooth yet God thrust a thorne into King Henries side when and where he little expected for the Welsh whom former Kings of England had so yoaked and subiected did contrary to all mens expectation breake forth into open acts of hostility vnder the conduct of a Gentleman of that Nation surnamed Glendowr of the Lordship of Glendowr in Merionithshire whose owner he was the wrath and iustice of heauen is alwayes so well furnished with meanes to exercise the mightiest those chiefly at whose amendment God aimes by chastisement The originall of so great an euill was in the seed but little as but this Owen Glendowr whom the Welsh call the sonne of Gruffith Vachan descended of a yonger son of Gruffith ap Madoc Lord of Bromfield was at first a Student of the common laws and an Vtter Barister but not therefore an apprentise of law as Doctor Powell mistakes for an apprentise of the law is hee that hath been a double Reader did afterward serue the late King Richard in place of an Esquier was well beloued of him but in King Henries time retiring himselfe as it seemes to his Mannour of Glendourdwy the L. Gray of Ruthen entred vpon a peece of common which lay betweene Ruthen and Glendowr which Owen despite the Lord Gray while Richard continued King had formerly holden though not without contention Owen a man of high courage and impatient of force armes hereupon and encounters the Lord Gray in the field where he scattered the said Lords people and tooke him prisoner as hereafter will else-where bee touched 22 It seemes herein that hee had forgotten the lawes which he had formerly studied and wherin hee had been a licentiate for shortly after as hee had troden law vnder foot so did he also cast off loyaltie burning destroying the Lord Grays inheritances and killing sundry his seruants The King aduertised hereof passeth with an Army into Wales burnes kils and takes such reuenge as that time would permit Meanewhile Owen whom pride folly armed to the farther ruine of his Country with his trustiest friends which were not few withdrawes into the inexpugnable fastnesses of Snowdon where during this tempest he kept his head safe Shortly after the King with such riches and spoiles as those Parts had afforded returnes His next most noted action was peaceable For one of the house of Paâ—…logus and Emperour of Constantinople came into England to pray some succour against the Turke and vpon the day of S. Thomas the Apostle was met at Blackeheath by King Henry highly feasted richly presented and his charges borne till departure But as Tilius saith of his successe in France verbis promissis tantum adiutus est so here his speed was not much better the point of armed aides being only therein assisted with words and promises 23 In a Parliament held the next yeere by reason of the numbers of Lolards so called encreasing the punishment for them enacted was burning And in the same yeere also the Articles of peace beeing first agreed vpon betweene the two Nations English and French notwithstanding that they had denied to match with the young Prince of Wales because the former marriage with Richard thriued so badly the Lady Isabel who had beene crowned Queene of England as Spouse of the late King was now sent backe into France after a most princely maner shee being not as yet twelue yeeres old had no dowrie allowed her in England for that the marriage was neuer consummated Before shee was restored to her friends the Lord Henry Percie before the Ambassadors of both the Nations where they were met betweene Caleis and Boloigne protested That the King of England his Master had sent her to be deliuered to her Father cleare of all bonds of marriage or otherwise and that hee would take it vpon his soule that shee was sound and entire euen as shee was the same day shee was deliuered to King Richard and if any would say to the contrary hee was ready to proue it against him by combat But the Earle of Saint Paul saying hee beleeued it to be true the Lord Percie tooke her by the hand and deliuered her vnto the Earle and then the Commissioners of France deliuered certaine letters of receipt and acquitall She was afterward married to Charles Duke of Orleance 24 Owen Glendowr persisting in his pride and disobedience made incursions vpon the English doing them great harme and returning himselfe without any but K. Henries danger was greater at home for treason had crept into his most secret Chamber In his
Oxford with eight hundred fled the field leauing the chance to be cast for the Crowne which when Warwicke perceiued with words like a souldier he incouraged his men and seeing the fresh supply of his enemie draw now vnto fight he furiouslie rushed into the midst of their Battell wherein he aduentured so farre as he could not be reseued but valiantly fighting was strucke downe and among them slaine hauing repaid his danger with many a wound The Marquesse Montacute made forward to second his brother who till then had beene the Mars and Make-King of England but was so ouerlaid by his Opposites that they sent his soule likewise from his bodie whereby was ended that bloody daies taske 65 In this Battell vpon King Edwards part died the Lord Cromwell the Lord Bourcher the Lord Barnes sonne and heire to the Lord Say and Sir Iohn Lisle Knight In the quarrell of Henrie died Richard Neuill Earle of Warwicke and Iohn Neuill Marquesse Montacute his brother and vpon both sides of common souldiers saith Hall ten thousand Stow saith foure thousand as Fabian farre lesse all which were buried vpon the same Plaine where afterwards a Chappell was built the Duke of Excester being left for dead in the field recouered and tooke Sanctuarie at Westminster Edmund Duke of Sommerset and Iohn Earle of Oxford escaped the field and fled into Wales where with Iasper Earle of Pembrooke they still plotted to set vp King Henry whom God and destinie would haue to be cast downe 66 The same King Edward vpon the same day as an absolute Conquerour lead the vnfortunate Henry his Captiue to London and entring the City in triumph wise offered his roiall Standerd in the Cathedrall Church of Saint Paul whither the slaine bodies of Warwicke and Montacute in two Coffins were brought and lay there bare faced and vnburied the space of three daies least a false Brute should be made that they were not dead After which they were conueied to Bilsam Abbey and interred in that Priorie among their Ancestors 67 Edwards affaires thus farre prospered at London the windes that had crossed Queene Margaret before came fauourably about to fill her Sailes for England indeed to accomplish the decree which heauen had appointed shee with her sonne Prince Edward and their French followers landed vpon Easter Eue at Weymouth and the Countesse of Warwicke at Portesmouth who hearing the sorrowfull newes of her husbands death tooke Sanctuary within the Abbey of Beaulieu And Queene Margaret vnderstanding of the losse of Barnet-field withdrew as◅de to the Abbey of Ceerne vnto whom presently resorted Edmund Duke of Sommerset with Lord Iohn his brother Iohn Courtney Earle of Deuonshire Iasper Earle of Pembrooke Iohn Lord Wenlock and Iohn Longstrother Prior of Saint Iohns 68 These with many words of hope comforted the sorrowfull Queene and proffered her their assistance to erect Prince Edward her sonne though it were done with the losse of their owne liues requiring her only to vndertake the authority of the war and themselues would vndergo the charge and burden thereof by whose valor and power they doubted not to daunt the pride of the vsurping Edward who now held himselfe sure and beganne to grow carelesse To these their resolutions the warlike Queene most gladly consented and gaue all encouragements vnto them shee could when falling in counsell how to proceed her care according to the naturall affection of a mother was most vpon the safety and life of her sonne and theresore aswel for their owne parts if fortune should faile in this their first attempt as for the feare which the Yorkist would possesse who whiles Prince Edward his corriuall hued could not account the Diadem his Bride shee thought it best to send him backe againe into France till God had set the Crowne where it should stand whence hee might supply them with new forces or at least wise ouer-awe Edward for tyrannizing too farre But the Lords contrariwise alleadged that Prince Edward being the morning Sunne of the Lancastrians hopes and the rayes very splendent to most English eyes was to be present in field himselfe whose sight would both heat the courage of his owne Souldiers and attract the glance of his aduersaries hearts either to fight faintly or else and that rather to come to his side Thus their counsel at that time preuailed and thus resolued euery man departed to make ready his power the Queene with her French repairing to Bath 69 But Edward in London had not sate two daies in rest before hee heard of Queene Margarets arriuage and the confluence of people out of Cornwall Deuonshire and of the Westerne parts which hourely flew to giue her assistance wherefore committing to the Tower King Henry and George Archbishoppe of Yorke with a selected company he marched to meet them intending to cut off many springs before they should ioyne to the body of a riuer whose streame without danger could not be passed therefore from Windsor Abington Chichester and Malmesbury hee proceeded seeking and vrging his enemies to battell but the Queene and her forces fearing to abide in Bath remoued to Bristow Berkeley and Glocester and lastly at Tewkesbury Duke Sommerset her Generall pitched down his Tents not staying the comming of the Earle of Pembroke his battell he marshalled into three fights whereof himselfe and his brother Iohn Lord Sommerset lead the foreward the middle Battalion was commanded by Edward the young Prince vnder the conduct of the Lords Saint Iohn and Wenlocke and the Rereward gouerned by Iohn Courtney Earle of Deuonshire a mortall enemy against the house of Yorke 70 King Edward who was come now within sight of his enemies diuided likewise his Army into 3. Battalions cōmitting the Foreward vnto the guidance of his brother Richard D. of Glocester a good Souldier and of a deepe reach and policy the Main hee vndertooke to gouerne himselfe and the Rereward was commanded by the Lord Hastings his Chamberlaine The field thus marshalled and the signe of battell being giuen a most bloudy fight beganne the King had planted his Ordinance at most aduantage which Glocester frankly bestowed among the Dukes men and they lodged betwixt ditches bushes and hedges with their showers of arrowes galled Glocesters followers so as by his command his battell gaue backe as though they would shrinke which Sommerset no sooner perceiued but that he came on and ouercome with courage came out of his strength when by a certaine passage before hand prouided he came vnto the place where King Edward was embattelled thinking verily that Wenlocke had followed at his backe who as it seemed meant nothing lesse 71 The aduantage espied Duke Richard made good his retreat and with fresh supplies of two hundred speares so charged Sommerset as his battell was disordered and put to fearefull flight himselfe recouering the Midle-ward found there the L. Wenlock idle whilest others were thus working
for their liues whom he most opprobriously reuiled in the termes of a Traitor with his Battell-axe stroke his brains out of his head when presently Glocester and after him the King entred the Trench wherein all of the Queenes part went to wracke for there were slaine in this battell on her side Iohn L. Sommerset Iohn Courtney Earle of Deuonshire the Lord Wenlocke in manner as wee haue said Sir Iohn Delues Sir Edward Hampden Sir Robert Whittingham and Sir Iohn Lewkener with three thousand others besides 72 Among them that fled Prince Edward was one whome Sir Richard Crofts apprehended before hee got to Tewkesbury but Edmund Duke of Sommerset Iohn Longstrother Prior of Saint Iohns many Knights and Esquiers tooke Sanctuary in the Abbey and other places of the Towne notwithstanding they were taken forth and arraigned before Richard Duke of Glocester who that day sate Constable of England where they were condemned and had iudgement of death which they immediatelie suffered vpon a Scaffold set vp in the Town With these two Lords died twelue worthy Knights besides others of inferior degrees 73 Then was Proclamation made for the apprehension of Prince Edward promising to his taker an annuitie of an hundred pounds during his life if the Prince were liuing his life to be spared vpon which promises Sir Richard Crofts presented young Edward vnto the King whom with a sterne countenance hee a while beheld and as sternely demanded how he durst so presumptuously with Banner displayed enter into his Realme wherunto the Prince made this reply to recouer said hee my fathers Kingdomes and his most rightfull inheritance possessed by his Father and Grandfather and from him immediately belonging vnto me how darest thou then which art his Subiect display thy colour against him thy liege-Liege-Lord which answere moued King Edward so much as with his Gantlet hee dashed the Prince on his mouth whom Richard Duke of Glocester with others of the kings seruans most shamefully murthered euen in his presence and at his feete whose body was buried without all solemnity among other poore and meane persons in the church of the Monastery of the Blacke-Fryers in Tewkesburie 74 Queene Margaret in this fatall day of battell fled towards Worcester and by the way tooke into a poore religious house in that her present distresse but three dayes after shee was apprehended and brought vnto Worcester to King Edward who committed her to sure and straite keeping in which City she a while remained But sodain news brought him that the Northern men were in Armes and meant to aduenture for her liberty the Conquerour marched to Couentrie and there made preparation further to proceed which when these hote spirits pefectly vnderstood their courages grew colder their weapons cast away they came thronging to Edward to offer him subiection yet the Lancastrians were not so minded but rather inâ—…ended once more to trie whether fortune would afford them her smile 75 A fitte instrument they had to forward the enterprise namely Thomas Neuill bastard Fanconbridge sonne of Lord Fanconbridge Earle of Kent a great supporter of King Edwards Crowne howbeit this Bastard being a man of a turbulent spirit and forward for action Earle Warwicke had made him his Admirall to keepe the narrow seas that none should haue way to strengthen King Edward which his office he executed beyond his Commission and became a taker of all Merchants goods being aided with 300. Malecontents from Calleis 76 His enterprise desperate and his name growne fearefull at sea hee meant to make it no lesse on the land for putting in at Douer many misgouerned and loose persons dayly drew to him so as his power grew to bee seuenteene thousand strong with these through Kent he made his way towards London meaning to doe much the land so molested with intestine warres and lodging his hoast on the Southside of London commanded the Citizens to giue him accesse that with King Henry whom hee meant to release from the Tower he might passe through their streetes to meet and encounter the vsurping Edward But the Londoners knowing the rudenesse of these Rakehels kept their gates shut and garded the same with sufficient strengthes whence some Lords of the royall bloud therein residing sent vnto Edward of their present danger who presently sent them fifteene hundred of his best Souldiers after whom in person hee warily marched leading with him his prisoner Queene Margaret whose bounds hee well knew gaue him the full scope of liberty 77 Fauconbridge in the meane while thirsting after spoile with his shippes secured the Thamesis aboue S. Katherines purposing with his land Forces to passe the Riuer at Kingston but hearing that Edward was on his March and fearing to bee cut off from the benefite of his ships hee altered his mind when to open his way into London hee caused the Bridge to bee fiered and three thousand of his men being set ouer Thamesis by his ships diuided themselues into two Companies the one assaying to enter at Algate and the other at Bishopsgate both which they likewise set on fire so that the Citie was in three places fired and assaulted at once but with such euill successe to the assailants that seuen hundred were slaine and the bold Bastard driuen to his ships 78 Vpon the twentieth of May the Conquerour Edward with his Captiue Queen Margaret entred London and so into the Tower the one in pomp commanding the place at his pleasure the other in teares to remaine a most pensiue prisoner where her husband the downcast King Henry was kept in hard durance The place being thus charged with the presence of two Kings and their Queens the Crokebacke of Glocester intended to cleare by taking him away that stood in his brothers way whose successor as is thought hee then meant to bee and making his inward mind more deformed then were his outward lineaments without regard of bloud-defiled hands stabbed the most innocent Henry to the heart with his dagger in which act at once beganne the ones happy rest and the others foule guilt which accompanied his conscience to the day of his death 79 The body of this murthered King was vpon the Ascention Eue laide in an open Coffin and from the Tower guarded with many bils and glaues was so carryed through the streetes vntâ—… 〈◊〉 Cathedrall Church of Saint Paul where it rested vncouered one day and beganne to bleed againe afresh a sorrowfull spectacle to most of the beholders and thence was it carried to the Blacke-Fryers Church where it likewise lay bare faced and bled as before all men being amazed at the sorrowfull sight and lastly it was put in a boat without Priest Clerke Torch or Taper singing or saying and was ferried vnto the Abbey of Chertsey in Surrey there without pompe enterred But afterwards King Henry the seuenth translated his body vnto his Castle of Windsor
Inuenters of this enterprise shee likewise sent Hugh Conway an Esquire into Britaine with a great summe of money giuing him in charge to declare to the Earle the great loue that the most part of the Nobility of the Realme bare towards him willing him not to neglect so good an occasion offered but with all speed to setle his mind how to return into England and therewithall aduising him to take land in Wales When the Earle had receiued this ioyfull message hee brake to the Duke of Britaine all his secrets aduertising him thathe was entred into a sure stedfast hope to obtaine the Crown of England desiring him of help towards the atchieuing of his enterprise which the Duke promised afterwards performed wherupon the Earle sent back again Hugh Conway Th. Ramney to declare his cōming shortly into Englād 32 In the meane season the chiefe of the conspiracy in England beganne many enterprises which being neuer so priuily handled yet knowledge therof came to King Richard and because hee knew the Duke of Buckingham to be the chiefe head and aide of this combination he thought it most necessarie to plucke him from that part and thereupon addressed his louing letters vnto the Duke requesting him most earnestly to come to the Court whose graue aduise for counsell hee then stood much in need of with many words of kind complements to bee vttered from the mouth of the messenger but the Duke mistrusting those sweet promises proceeded out of a bitter intent and knowing K. Richard to speak most fayrest when he meant foulest play desired the king of pardon excusing himself that he was sickly not wel able to trauel which excuse the king would not admit but sent other letters with checking wordes commanding him without delay to repaire to his presence vnto which the Duke made a determinate answere that hee would not come to his mortall enemy and immediately prepared war against him Whereupon Thomas Marquesse Dorset came out of Sanctuary and gathered a great band of men in the County of Yorke Sir Edward Courtney and Peter his brother Bishoppe of Excester raised another Armie in Deuonshire and Cornwall and in Kent Sir Richard Guilford and other Gentlemen raised a Company and all this was done euen in one moment 33 King Richard rouzed from his pleasures in progresse sent forth commission to muster his men and with a great preparation from London marched towardes Salisbury thinking it not best to disparkle his power into small parts in pursuing his enemies euery way at once and therfore omitting all others with a great puissance went to set vpon the Duke of Buckingham the head of the spring The Duke hearing of the Kings approach made out to meet him before hee came too farre accompanied with a great power of wild Welshmen whom hee had enforced to follow him more by his Lordly commandement then by liberall wages which thing indeed was the cause that they fell off and forsooke him His march was through the forrest of Deane intending for Glocester where hee meant to passe Seuerne and so haue ioined his Army with the Courtneys other Western men which had he done no doubt K. Richard had been in great ieopardie But before hee could attaine the Seuerne side by force of continuall raine the riuer rose so high that it ouerflowed all the country adioyning and was not againe bounded within his owne bankes for the space of ten dayes so that the Duke could not get ouer nor his complices any wise come vnto him during which time the Welshmen lingring idle without wages or victual sodainelie brake vp Campe and departed whereupon the Duke was wonderously perplexed not knowing how to recouer this vnfortunate chance and destitute of power to shew himselfe in field sought to secure himselfe in secret till destiny assigned him a better day 34 A seruant he had in especiall fauour trust brought vp tenderly by him and risen to great wealth and esteeme his name was Humfrey Ba◅ister and place of residence neere vnto Shrewsburie whither the distressed Duke in disguise repaired intending there to remain secret vntil he might either raise a new power or else by some meanes conuay himselfe vnto Britaine to Henry Earle of Richmund but as soone as the others which had attempted the same enterprise against the King had knowledge that Buckingham was forsaken of his Company and could not be found as men strucke in sodaine feare shifted euery one for himselfe many of them taking Sanctuary but the most of the chiefest took into Britaine among whom were Peter Courtney Bishoppe of Excester with his brother Edward Earle of Deuonshire Thomas Marquesse Dorset the Queenes sonne and his young sonne Thomas being a Childe Edward Wooduile Knight brother to the Queene Iohn Lord Wells Sir Robert Willoughby Sir Iohn Bourchier Sir Giles Daubeney Sir Thomas Arundell Sir Iohn Cheinie with his two brethren Sir William Barkley Sir Richard Edgecombe and Sir William Brandon Edward Poinings an excellent Captain and others 35 Richard thus farre proceeded and no enemy seene his hopes were encreased and feares daily lesse yet being a Prince politicke and vigilant he commanded the Ports to be securely kept knowing that Buckingham was not fled with the rest made proclamation for the apprehending of that Duke promising a thousand pound to the man that could bring him forth with pardon of his faults to enioy the Kings fauour and if hee were a bondman presently to bee made free Banister minding the present and forgetting what was past spread his lappe first to receiue this golden shower and in hope of this gaine made no conscience to betray his own Lord who had now laid his life vpon trust in his hands hee therefore repayring to the Shiriffe of Shrewsbury reuealed the Duke who disguised like a poore Countriman and digging in a groue neere vnto Banisters house was apprehended and with a great guard of men was brought vnto Salisbury where King Richard then lay and where without arraignement or iudgement vpon the second of Nouember he lost his head whose death was the lesse lamented for that himselfe had been the chiefe Instrument to set the Crowne wrongfully vpon Richards head and yet the treachery of Banister was most seuerely punished as many haue obserued not onely in the losse of his reward promised which he neuer had and infamy receiued neuer after shaken off but also in himselfe and children as are thus reported his eldest sonne and heire fell mad and dyed so distracted in a Boares Stye his second sonne became deformed in his limmes and fell lame his third sonne was drowned in a small puddle of water his eldest daughter was sodainely strucke with a foule leprosie and himselfe being of extreame age was arraigned and found guilty of murder and by his Clergy saued his life 36 An other Commotion at the same time was in Kent where George Browne
yeeres were yet added to her life but whether in conceit for sorrow or of poison I cannot say she died shortlie after and was solemnely buried in the Abbey of Westminster 43 The King thus deliuered from the bands of Matrimony and now a widower at liberty to choose where he would cast glances of loue towards the Lady Elizabeth his owne brothers daughter and began to court her for his second Queene but the thing was so offensiue to the law of nature and so directly against the Law of God as all men abhorred the motion and most of all the maiden her selfe which Richard perceiuing hee forbare ouer earnest pursuite to gaine his time and all fit occasions but most especially hauing no leasure to woo his subiects on al sides daily reuolting and his Nobles more and more had in suspect among whom one was Lord Thomas Stanley Earle of Darby who had married Lady Margaret Countesse of Richâ—…nd Earle Henries owne mother him therefore hee most mistrusted and before he would admit his departure from Court he commanded him to leaue his sonne and heire George Stanley the Lord Strange for his hostage which he did though it little auailed to binde Darbies affection vnto his side 44 In this while King Richard hearing that Oxford had escaped out of the Castle of Hammes and that he with the Captaine thereof Iames Blunt were fled into France and ioined with Richmund thought it high time to quench the sparkes in those parts before they should rise to a higher flame and therefore hee appointed which was presently accomplished the Garrison at Callis to strait the said Castle with a hard siege being well assured that many welwillers to the Earles proceedings lay there harboured who vpon the least aduantage would be ready to play But Henry not vnmindfull of his distressed friends nor Oxford forgetting his kinde Hostesse Captaine Blunts wife made vnto the Peece and on the sudden put Thomas Brandon with thirty approued Souldiers into the Castle who from the walles plaied vpon the beseigers whiles Oxford annoied them vpon their backes so that presently they offered and came to a composition which was that they within should safely depart but the Castle to remaine in Subiection to the King 45 Hammes thus restored in danger to be lost and nothing had thence besides a woman and a few suspected persons King Richard thought himselfe now sure of all and fearing no inuasion at home imagined that much harme could not bee done abroad for Henry in France as he thought found very few friends and was fully perswaded that the French Kings assistance stood more of words then in deedes And indeed some occasion of such suspition was ministred for King Charles but young and the Princes at variance Earle Henry was enforced to make suite vnto them man by man Besides Thomas Marquesse Dorset sent for by his mother the Queene suddenly in the night made an escape from Paris with purpose for England which stroke great feare among Earle Henries part chiefely for that all their Counsels were knowne vnto the Marquesse which if he should reueale their designes were made desperate To preuent which hee was posted after and brought backe againe though much against his will These things considered King Richard to lessen his great charges discharged his Nauy at seas commanding the Welsh to watch the shoare Beacons to be built and armour to bee ready at euery call then giuing his affections leaue to entertaine more security saw not the sword that hung ouer his head 46 But Earle Henrie deliuered from the feare of the Marquesse thought it not best to prolong time lest others vpon like purposes should bewray his intents and thereupon obtaining a small aide of the French with a certaine summe of money for which the Lord Marquesse whom he much mistrusted and Sir Iohn Bourchier were left in pledge hee set forward to Roâ—…n and prepared his shipping in the mouth of Seyn whither tidings was brought him of Queene Annes death that King Richard purposed to marry Lady Elizabeth a feare indeed farre exceeding the former shee being the Princesse by whom hee must claime whereupon much distemperature arose euery mans braine working vpon the newes But after much consultation it was held the best to make ouer into England to interpose the proceedings ere the match was fully made whereupon Earle Richmund with two thousand men onely and a small number of ships set sayle from Harflent the fifteenth of August and the seuenth day following arriued at Milford hauen in Wales where taking land hee came vnto Dale and thence the next day marched to Hereford west ten miles into the Maine from thence he marched to Cardigan where he had newes that the Countrey was forelaid against him but finding that vntrue he made still forward beating downe such Houlds as held against him then sending secretly to Lady Margaret his mother to the Lord Stanley Talbot and others signified vnto them he meant to passe Seuerne at Shrewesbury and thence to march directly towards London In his way to Shrewesbury there mette him Sir Rice ap Thomas a man of great command in Wales with a number of men to side in his quarrell which Henry afterwards requited in making this his first aider the Gouernour of Wales 47 The Earle more boldly from Shrewsburie held on his march to the Towne of Newport whither Sir Gilbert Talbot with two thousand strong from the young Earle of Shrewsbury gaue him his aide Then passed he forward to Stafford and had conference there with Sir William Stanley and proceeding forward was honourably receiued into the City Lichfield where Thomas Earle of Darby with fiue thousand armed men had beene some few daies before but hearing of Earle Henries approach remoued to Anderson to auoide suspition of the jealous King that kept his sonne Hostage for his further truth 48 King Richard at this time helde his Court at Notingham where being informed that Earle Henrie with a small company was landed in Wales made small account of what he could doe altogether relying vpon the Lord Walter Herbert and Sir Rice ap Thomas two principall men in whom hee conceiued no little trust yet lest this new risen spring might gather in more heads he sent to Iohn Duke of Norfolk Henry Earle of Northumberland and Thomas Earle of Surrey willing them with a selected power to represse the insolency of this head-strong Earle moreouer he sent for Sir Robert Brakenburie Lieutenant of the Tower Sir Thomas Bourchier and Sir Walter Hungerford Knights all of them in great iealousie and mistrust commanding them with their forces to come and attend vpon his person which accordingly they set forward to doe meane while sending his Spials to know the way Henrie went had intelligence that hee was past Shrewsbury without any impeachment whereat storming in choller and cursing their vntruthes whom hee had
put in trust craued vengeance from heauen and instantly intended to reuenge it himselfe then hauing notice the Earle was at Lichfield and his partie increased by daily repaire incontinently hee marshalled his followers and like a valiant Captaine and politike leader set forward his Battailes fiue and fiue in a rancke In the middest of his troopes he bestowed the Carriages belonging to his Army and himselfe mounted vpon a white Courser inuironed with his Guard followed by his footmen and the wings of Horsemen ranged on euery side with a frowning sterne countenance but yet in great Pompee ntred the towne of Leicester after the Sun was set being full of indignation and swelling in anger which somewhat he asswaged with threats of reuenge 49 Earle Richmund from Lichfield departed for Tamworth and in the way met Sir Thomas Bourchier and Sir Walter Hungerford going towards the King who vpon this vnlooked for occasion and knowing themselues in what suspition they stood secretly left the company of their Captaine Brakenbury the night following and wandring in waies vnknowne with much adoe gotte safely vnto the Earles Companies 50 In the like danger through darkenesse of night Henry himselfe chanced to come for albeit he was a man both valiant and forwad and by his owne wisdome could manage his weightiest affaires Yet now hauing notice that King Richard with a strong army was neere and that his father in law the Lord Stanley stood as a Neuter he was strucke deepe in his dumps and with twenty light Horse-men lingering behind so seriously musing what was to bee done as lastly he lost the sight of his Host and by the darkenesse of night missed his way neither durst he for the Kings Scout-watch demand direction to Tamworth but lay in a small village about three miles distant to his no little griefe and his whole Armies great amasement the one prognosticating it to be a presage of an ill beginning and the other doubting some detriment of their Lord but in the dawning of the next morning cōducted by good fortune he came to his Host excusing that his absence was to haue conference with his secret friends and then priuily departing to the Lord Stanley had conference with him and was put in good comfort 51 But contrariwise King Richard was wrapped and perplexed with feare not onely with the departure of Sir Iohn Sauage Sir Brian Sanford and Sir Simond Digby in whom he had reposed great trust but also in the dreadfull dreames which nightly he suffered wherein to his seeming terrible diuels so pulled and haled him as by nomeanes he could take any rest which fearefull imaginations strucke so deep an impression vnto his heart that the signes thereof appeared in his countenance howsoeuer hee sought to put them off in shew 52 But being determined to put himselfe to the triall of battell or else and that rather enforced by diuine Iustice to pull the reuenging hand of heauen against him in the morning he marched toward the enemy and vpon a faire plaine called Redmore neere vnto Bosworth about seuen miles west from Leicester he pitched downe his Tents and thence sent a Purseuant to the Lord Stanley commanding him to aduance ◅orward with his companie and to come to his presence which if hee refused to doe he sware by Christs passion his sonnes head should off before that he dined The Lord Stanley answered the Purseuant that if the King did so he had more sonnes aliue but to come to the King hee was not at that time determined This answere declared King Richard commanded the Lord Strange incontinent to be beheaded at the very season when the two Armies came in sight each of others but his counsellors tolde him that the time was now to fight and not to execute which might better bee done when the field was fought whereupon the Lord Strange was deliuered prisoner to the keepers of the Kings Tents and the Kings holy vow thus broke the Lord Strange escaped with life by this bad tyrants too good a death 53 But now the time and houre of Battel being come he drew out his Army vpon the plaine whose order for fight he thus placed the foreward he ordered of a maruellous length to strike the more terror in the Beholders hearts in whose forefront he placed his Archers as a Bulwarke to defend the rest the leading whereof was committed to Iohn Duke of Norfolke with whom was Thomas Earle of Surrey his sonne his owne Battaillion was furnished with his best approued men of warre hauing Horsmen for wings on both sides of his battel and being thus ordered for their further incouragement King Richard mounted in place to bee heard thus said to his Souldiers 54 My faithfull followers friends and selected Chiefetaines I confesse by your puissant valours I first aspired to the top of this royal estate in obtaining wearing this Diademe of Imperiall Maiesty and maugre the seditious attempts of all cankered aduersaries by your prudent politike counsels I haue so gouerned the Realm People and Subiects as I haue omitted nothing I hope appertaining to the office of a iust Prince nor you pretermitted any thing belonging to the parts duties of most prudent Counsellors And albeit that in the getting of the Garlād I was prouoked by sinister Counsell and seduced by a diabolical temptation to cōmit a most wicked detestable Act yet with salt teares and straite pennance I haue I trust expiated that hainous offence which abominable crime I desire you as clearely to forget as I daily remember to deplore and lament If you will now vouchsafe to call to minde in what case we al stand and in what doubtfull perill wee are intrapped I doubt not but that you will with me confesse that if euer amity preuailed betwixt the raised and the raisers betwixt the Prince and his Subiects this day requires as much in vs both For if wise men say true that there is not so much power in getting as there is pollicy in keeping the one meere fortunes chance the other wisdoms deepe insight then I with you and you with mee this day must needs take labour and paines to keepe that preheminence possession by force which by your prudent labour I haue obtained The diuel you know a continuall enemy to humane society a disturber of Concord and a sower of sedition hath entred into the heart of an vnknowne Welshman whose father I neuer knew nor him euer personally saw exciting him to aspire and couet our Realme and Crowne to the disheriting of vs and of our posterity you see further how a company of Traitors Theeues Out-lawes and runnagtes of our owne Nation besides a number of beggerly Britaines and faint hearted Frenchmen are ayder◅ and partakers of this his wicked enterprize ready at hand to oppresse and spoile vs our lands our wiues and children which eminent mischiefes if we then will withstand and resist wee must
it were obliged to them both could acknowledge no lesse Charles more ambititiously then iustly desired exceedingly to annex Britaine to the Crowne of France taking occasion of the time and other circumstances which all seemed to conspire with his affections The Duke old and the father of one onely daughter suruiuing till marriage Maximilian King of Romans and riuall of King Charles in the same desires aswell for the Dutchy as the daughter feeble in meanes and King Henry aswell obnoxious to the French for benefits as busied in his particular at home and the Duke of Britane by succouring Lewis Duke of Orleance and other French Lords whom King Charles reputed his aduersaries ministred to the French an occasion or colour at least of warring vpon Britaine and so by the apt concurrence of circumstances to annexe it by conquest if by treaty hee could not Henrie of England now knowne to bee victoriously setled seemes worth the Courting Ambassadors come from the French who lay open the wrong offered by the Britaines in succouring the enemies of France put Henrie in minde of passed benefits and pray his assistance or at the least a neutrality but altogether concealing the mystery of this warre which was to annexe Britaine to the Crowne of France Howsoeuer Henry though he well enough knew that a King must euer bee the best part of his Councell for what are others opinions if himselfe want the happinesse or iudgement to choose the best propounds the points to his priuy Councell whereupon he Christianly offers himselfe a Mediatour betweene the French and Britaine an office in which it was apparant he might best satisfie all obligations and duties both to God and them The French pretend liking but in the meane time follow their designe hard Henry sends his Chaplen Master Christopher Vrswicke a man * whom he very often imploied The French maske on Things come to some extremities It becomes manifest that King Charles abused the King of Englands credulity for the City of Nant's in Britaine was brought by siedge to point of yeelding while messengers and packets outwardly osled with the name of peace slide to and fro and the French doubt nothing so much as lest the English should stirre before their victorie had made Britain irrecouerable The Lord Wooduile as without the Kings will or priuity slips ouer into Britaine with three or foure hūdred choise men to assist the Duke and came time enough to bee slaine with almost all his Souldiers at the battel of Saint Albin where the French wanne the day notwithstanding that the Britains the rather to appall their enemies had apparelled seuenteene hundred of their owne Souldiers in white Coates with redde Crosses after the English manner and made thereby a shew of two Regiments of English The Britaines had a great losse in that battel wherein they were made fewer by sixe thousand The Duke of Orleance and Prince of Orange who then were British in faction were taken Prisoners in the same fight The French lost about twelue hundreth and their Generall an Italian So that the state of Britaine seemed ripe for a fall 25 But King Henry hauing long since suspected and foreseene what the vttermost marke of the French might be and seeming to haue enough suffered the interest which they might expect in him as a man to be abused by their practises to the preiudice of his other friend the Duke of Britaine who forgate not to sollicit and vrge that point had made the quality of this affaire known to the body of State in open Parliament for that purpose assembleb as meaning by authority thereof to purge himselfe from all imputation if as a King he did that which the reason of Gouernment required which would not assent that Britaine should be made French lest by that accession their Neighbourhood might grow intollerable Britaine hauing so many Sea-townes and Out-lets to mischiefe the English trafficke Himselfe was otherwise also sufficiently resolued that the general good ought to predominate the particular and that his priuate obligations ought not to entangle or preiudice the publike seruice The Parliament therefore considering that which stood for the Common-weale decrees aide of men and money on behalfe of the Duke of Britaine it being besides all other respects a perillous example to suffer the great to deuoure the lesser Neighbour States vpon pretences of iustice or reuenge Forces are leuied but for respect of King Charles and in hope that the shew of preparations would stoope him to equall conditions not yet so roundlie as the Britons necessities expected Meane while that no formality or Princely Ceremony should be vnaccomplished King Henry by his Ambassadours certifies King Charles of his Parliaments decree praies him to desist from farther Hostilitie otherwise that he must assist the Duke but yet for the French Kings sake with this reseruation of pursuing his subiects no where but in Britaine Charles made small account of these ouertures because hee truly perswaded himselfe that the English aides would not arriue in season which fell out accordingly for before that time the French had gotten that victorie whereof euen now wee spake at the Battell of Saint Albin Vpon newes whereof the English Regiments were immediatly sent ouer vnder Robert Lord Broke Generall Sir Iohn Cheiney Sir Iohn Midleton Sir Ralfe Hilton Sir Richard Corbet Sir Thomas Leighton Sir Richard Lacon and Sir Edmund Cornewall Knights and Coronels The whole Army contained eight thousand men These march toward the enemy who acquainted with the temper of the English whiles they are fresh as being then almost inuincible containe themselues within their Campe but yet molest the English with continuall skirmishes on horsebacke in seueral places at once smally to the profit of the French who were alwaies put to the worse the Archers receiued them with such perpetuall stormes In the meane space Francis Duke of Britaine dies leauing in effect one only daughter the Lady Anne for the other being the younger deceased not long after This altered the whole state of the case The British Nobility vnder their young Mistresse immediatly fall at variance among themselues and the English thereby were on euery hand in danger so that God as it appeared by the sequele had destined Britain◅ to bee annexed to the Crowne of France for the English after fiue moneths stay were in wisdome compelled to returne the rather for that Winter now was come vpon them and Britaine destitute of competent defence her Rulers disagreeing among themselues was finally by the marriage of King Charles with the Lady Anne made a parcell of the French Monarchy as heereafter will appeare 26 King Henry the while was againe in danger to haue had present vse of Souldiers at home Wee shewed what care was heeretofore taken by him to weede the North and free it from lurking enemies That notwithstanding when the Earle of Northumberland Lieutenant of
in earnest so these honors making our Peter to bury in vtter obliuion his birthes obscurity he seemed to bee perswaded that hee was indeed the selfe partie whom hee did so exactly personate Nouelty and impudency were scarce euer knowne to haue found more applause or beliefe euen among many verie wise and otherwise worthy men who moued in conscience and not onely vpon discontent inclined to partake with this new Plantagenet as the onely right heire of the English Diadem as if whether he had beene the true one it was past dispute This intoxication abusion of the world was wonderfully encreased by the secret reuolt of Sir Robert Clifford Knight whom as one that had seene and knowne the true Richard the cunning conspirators in England had sent ouer to informe himselfe and them whether he was indeed as hee seemed Sir Robert whose presence and errand were to the Dutchesse most welcome being brought to his sight did forthwith giue credite and constantly signifie that this was indeed Richard Plantagenet the true Duke of Yorke and that he well knew him for such Money and encouragements were hereupon sent out of England from such as fauoured him among whom was Sir William Stanley Lord Chamberlain to King Henry by whose punctual reuolt from K. Richard he had principally atchieued the Crowne of England Iohn Ratcliffe L. Fitzwalter Sir Simon Montfort Sir Thomas Thwates Knights and others but the maine countenance of the cause in forraine parts was Sir Robert Clifford a knight of an honourable fame and family which moued the secret friends of the new Duke to set the rumor so cunningly on foot among the English that sooner might a cloud which causeth thunder bee caught or knowne then the Author thereof and multitudes beeing weakened therewith store of humor dangerously prepared to mutation did euery where discouer it selfe 36 For preuention therfore of all those effects which might issue out of these causes being in their proper nature most generatiue of sedition and of all sorts of ciuill furies King Henrie diligently causeth the coasts of England to be well and strongly watcht aswell to empeach the landing of enemies as the escape of fugitiues but aboue all he writes letters to his best friends in forraine parts also emploies nimble wits with seueral instructions some to assaile the constancy of Sir Robert Clifford the maine stay and credite of Perkins cause with promise of immunity and fauour if hee would returne into England in quiet others to find out the truth of Perkins quality being furnished with treasure to draw and requite intelsigences and all of them as occasion should serue to pretend themselues vehement fauorers of the new Duke These necessary hypocrites and double faced Ambidexters called Spies whose seruices howsoeuer conducible to such as sets thē on worke yet their perfidious quality cōmonly partakes with that of Iudas Iscariot and often meetes with like reward doe plie their charge so roundly that Sir Robert Clifford is secretly drawne off the new Duke is discouered aswell by them as by sundry letters from friends abroad to bee but Perkin Warbecke and many other mysteries are reuealed This gaue to the wise King great satisfaction who to weaken the enemies practise the more not onely diuulgeth the fraud but sends ouer sea Sir William Poinings Knight and Sir William Warham his Ambassadors to the Arch-Duke Philip Duke of Burgundy then gouerned by others by reason of his tender age who promised not to assist the said Perkin but if the Dutchesse Dowager would doe any such thing to the preiudice of King Henry it was not in him to hinder her for that she might dispose of her owne A maine argument vsed by these Ambassadors before the Archdukes Counsell to conuince that Richard the very Duke of Yorke was murdered as well as King Edward his brother German as Polydor who seemes to haue had good means to vnderstand these times rehearseth it was That their vncle Richard should in vaine haue made away the elder brother if the younger had beene suffered to suruiue for that the right of the elder was immediately vpon his death in the younger and that consequently during his life King Richard could haue no more assurance then if the elder were still aliue which Argument notwithstanding doth at most proue nothing but this That their vncle the Vsurper might intend that both his Nephewes should bee murdered and that hee knew nothing perhaps to the contrary Whereas facts are to bee proued by confessions of parties by witnesses or vehement presumptions though vehement presumptions are said to constitute but an half proof al which are otherwhere so supplied as leaus smal cause to doubt of both their deathes But Warham a learned Priest and Doctor in the lawes the mouth of that Ambassage sent to the Arch-Duke in the end of his oration vsed this bitter scoffe and Sarcasme against the Lady Margaret That shee in her old age brought forth two Monsters within the space of a few yeeres and both of them not in the eight or ninth moneth after their conception as naturall mothers but in the one hundred and eightieth moneth and whereas other women brought forth Infants vtterly vnable to helpe themselues these birthes of hers were tall striplings and as soone as they were borne offered battell vnto mighty Kings And albeit the Arch-Dukes answere seemed reasonable yet was not King Henry so satisfied but that within a while after for that the Arch-Duke had secretly furnisht Perkin with leaders hee tooke occasion to banish all Flemings and Flemish wares out of his Dominions and inhibited his Subiects to trade in any Countries within the obedience of Maximilian King of Romans or of the Archduke Philip his sonne who by way of talio and requitall did the like against the English 37 Let vs come now from the addresses of things to their doing The high prudence and industry of Henry hauing thus discouered the foundations of Perkins hopes in England and the humors which were most vnsound made it his first worke to raze those groundworks and purge the veines of his Realme from that corruption by needfull Phlebotomie The Lord Fitzwalter a principall conspirator being condemned and sent to Caleis liued there in hope of pardon but for practising with his Keepers to escape hee finally payed his head for satisfaction Sir Simon Montfort Robert Ratcliffe and William Dawbeney Gentlemen of noble houses as Captaines and Authors of the conspiracy were beheaded but all the rest aswel Clerkes as Lay-men had their pardons Not long after these executions and pardons the King vpon sure intelligence that Sir Robert Clifford in whose bosome the secret of all Perkins plot lay was arriued entred the Tower of London and there continued that so if Clifford should accuse any of the great and whom hee then would accuse it is probable King Henry knew they might without suspition or tumult bee
C William Wickham Bishoppe of Winchester 0639 08 07 oo  Iuxta Winchester H Henry Beauford Cardinall of Winchester founded it and gaue it lands to the value of 158. l. 13. s. 4. d. And S. Iohn de Fodering bridge an Hoâ—…pital was giueÌ„ to it Two Chaplens 35 Poore Men. 3. Women      Iuxta Southampton Le teley alias Leâ—…o loco S. Edward and M S. Marie Henry the third and Peter de Rupibus Augustine Eriers 0160 02 09 ob o Iuxta Southampton Sancti Dionis P K. Richard the first called Cordâ—…-Lion Anno Dom. 1179. Blacke Canons 0091 09 00 o  Southampton Beatae Mariae Magd. H Confirmed by Pope Alexander Anno Dom. 1179. 0016 16 02 ob o Apple-durwell in the Isle of Wight P Nicholas Spenser and Margerie his wife      〈◊〉 Praeceptoria 0118 16 7 oo  Bello-loco M. King Iohn 0428 06 08 oo o Bromere S. Trinity P S. Mary S. Michael Baldwin Earle of Riuers and Deuonshire Blacke Canons 0200 05 01 ob o Chritwynhâ—…ms si â—…e Christ-church of Twynham P Isabel de Fortibus sometime Countesse of Albemarle and Deuonshire and Lady of the Isle founded it for William de Fortibus Earle of Albemarle and Richard de Redâ—…ers Earle of Deuonshire A. D. 1161. This is placed also in Deuonshire 0544 06 00 oo o Caresbroc in the Isle of Wight S. Mary Magd. P Blacke Monks      Deretford in the Isle of Wight SaÌ„ctae Elizabetha P King Edward the third      Hamâ—…le Saint Andrew P Grey Monks      Hide Saint Peter M Saint Paul S. Grimball First King Alfride after performed by K. Edward Senior and lastly the Monks themselues remoued from the old tempore Henrici primi Blacke Monkes 0865 01 06 ob q Mottisfount Sanctae Trinitatis P Ranulph Flammard Bishoppe of Durham Richard de Riparijs Earle of Deuonshire and William de Bruere tempore Gulielms Rufi Blacke Canons or Augustines of Berton 0167 15 08 ob o Portsmouth A Church and Hospitall Peter de Rupibus 0033 19 05 ob o Quarrer in the Isle of Wight S. Mary Magd. M Baldwine Earle of Deuonshire and Richard his sonne About the time of King Stephen White Monkes 0184 01 10 o o Redford or Redbridge M      Romsey N King Edgar and Earle Alwyn Nunnes 0528 08 10 ob o Southwyke Saint Mary P William Pontlarge siue Pont-le-arch and William Danys Normans Also William de Ponteys a Benefactor Regular Canons 0314 17 10 ob o Tychefeild Saint Marie M Peter de Rupibus Bishop of Winchester 0280 19 10 ob o Whorwell Sanctae Crucis N Saint Peter Queene Aelfrith Blacke Nunnes 0403 12 10 o o Wyntney P 0059 01 00 oo o SaÌ„ctae Elizabethae C 0112 17 04 ob o Sanctae Crucis H Henry Blois brother to King Stephen 0084 04 02 o o HEREFORD-SHIRE Places Dedication Founder and Time Order Value     l s d ob q Hereford S. Mary EpaÌ„ tus S. Ethelbert Milfrid a petty King of the Country Reinelm Bishop tempore Henrici primi Secular Canons      Hereford S. Guthlac F Henry Penbrigge Grey Friers 0121 03 03 ob o Hereford S. Peter S Paul P Iohn Peâ—…brigge Blacke Monkes      Acornebury S. Katherine N VVhite Nunnes 0075 07 05 ob o Barrone Blacke Monks      Clyfford Saint Marie P Blacke Monkes 0065 11 11 oo o Dore. Saint Mary M Robert Lord of Ewiasâ—… White Monkes 0118 00 02 o o Flansford M Richard Talbot Regular Canons 0015 08 09 oo o Kilpeke P      Ledbury S Katherine H Iohn Bishop of Hereford 0022 05 00 oo o Leomenstre Saint Iacob P Mâ—…rewald a King of the Mercians and K. Henry the first Blacke Monks of Râ—…ding      Lymbroke N VVhite Nunnes â—…023 17 08 o  Wiggemore Sancto Iacobo P Blacke Canons      Wormesty P 0083 10 02   Hertford a Cel to S. Albans P Blacke Monkes 0086 14 8   Saint Albans Saint Alban Martyr M Offa King of the Mercians Anno Dâ—… 795. Blacke Monkes 2510 06 01 ob q HERTFORD-SHIRE Places Dedication Founder and Time Order Value     l s. d. ob q. Beluero a Cel to S. Albans Saint Mary S. Ioh. Baptist. P Blacke Monkes 0135 05 10 oo o Bosco neere Flamsteed S. Egidius N Nunnes 0046 16 01 ob o Button Saint Marie P Monkes      Binham in Com. Norff. A Cel to S. Albant P 0160 01 00 oo o Chesthunte N Henr. Rex Angliae Domin us Hibernia Dux Norm Aquitan Comes Anged confirmed Shestrehunt Moniales totam terram Dom. ten cumpertin suis quae Canonicis de Cathale quos amoueri fecimus At Westm. 11. Aug. 24. Regni nostri Nunnes 0027 06 8   Chille N Blacke Nunnes      Chiltree N Blacke Nunnes      Hatfeild Peuerel in Com. Essex A Cell to Saint Albans Saint Mary P Daughter of Ingelrick and wife to Peuerel in K. William the Conquerors time Blacke Monkes of Saint Albans 0083 19 07 o o Hychin F K. Edward the second Iohn Blomnil and Adam Rouse and Iohn Cobham Carmelites or White Friers 0004 09 04   Langley Regis F Robert sonne of Roger Helle Baron Preaching Friers 0150 14 08 o o Langley vidâ—… Leicestershire N Fundator Antecessor vxoris Francisci Bigoâ—… Militis einsdem vxoris Sororum Nunnes      Mersey S. Helen P Alien Roger Fitz-Ranâ—…lph      Mirdiall Saint Mary P Blacke Canons      Monketon in Dioc. S. Dauids A Cel to S. AlbaÌ„s P 0113 02 06 ob q New-bigging infra villam de Huchyn P 0015 01 11 oo o Royston alias Crâ—…x Rohaysiae S. Iohn Baptist S. Thâ—…m Martyr P Eustach de Marc Knight Lord of Nâ—…cels and Radulphus de Rancester and others renued it Canons 0106 03 01 oo o Royston S. Iohn S. Iâ—…mes Apostles H 0005 06 10 oo o Roweney A Free Chappel or Hospitall 0013 10 09 o o Sopewell Saint Mary N The Abbots of Saint Albans Blacke Nunnes 0068 08 00 oo o Thele C William Bishop of London A Master 4 Chaplens      Tynmouth in com Northb. a Cel to S. Albans P Fundator Antecessor Dueis Norfolcia 0511 04 01 ob o Ware P The Progenitors of King Richards mother      Wymondley P Richard Argenten Canons 0037 10 06 ob o HVNTINGDON-SHIRE Places Dedication Founder and Time Order Ualue     l. s. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 q. Huntingdon Saint Mary P Eustachius Loâ—…tot Blacke Canons Augustines 0232 0 00 ob  Huntingdon S. Iohn Baptist H Founded by Dauid Earle of Huntingdon Lord of Connington tempore H. 2. 0006 07
signified to Rollo choosing out the tallest and goodliest persons of his company and such as were of greatest wisedom with them he very ioyfully meeteth the King is entertained presents him with great gifts but receiueth greater Then sitting downe to talke and commune 12 I am saith King Alstenus right gladde most worthy Duke Rollo to see you in this my Court. The renowne of your Nation hath beene related to mee a Martiall kind of Peopleyee are and infight vnconquerable And you your selfe also for your prowesse are not vnnoted among the rest of your famous Worthies your valiant exploits are well knowne vnto vs It is right pleasing vnto vs to enter with such men into amitie Behold our whole kingdome is before you choose out a seate for your selfe and your people wheresoeur you best like for wee will haue an euerlasting league between vs. 13 Rollo glad of so faire promises replied Most worthy and renowmed King I highly esteem of your bountifull and most liberall proffers God grant a happy successe of our affaires I doe thinke myselfe most bounden deuoted to your worthines and if destinie euer answer to our desires we will not be vnthankfull for this your so great benignity To seate ourselues in your kingdome though indeede we are very willing and your Royall proffers do much more incite vs yet Fate doth not permit it I haue determined and will certainly performe to goe into France For your gifts bestowed on me I esteeme them in the highest degree and right well content I am to haue a perpetuall League with you that the like Fortune may betide vs both the one to be a safeguard to the other This I both offer and accept of I his League God grant may to vs both proue happy and fortunate 14 With such like interchanges the time much spent and night drawing on they were brought to banquet And early the next morning comming forth of their lodgings most louingly embraced each other when each gaue receiued presents best suting with their estates and occasions Neither doth Krantzius stay his penne there but proceedeth to particular affaires betwixt these two Princes without the concurrence of any of our owne writers 15 As how the English rose in Armes against Alstenus their King taking oportunity of the time for that Rollo whom they knew to bee ioined in a most strait confederacy with their Soueraigne beeing then imployed in the warres of France could not come or send to his aide Alstenus therefore oppressed with a tumultuous kingdome remembred Rollo his faithful friend and sending Ambassadors declared vnto him what distresse he was in who not vnmindfull of the firme league betwixt them left his French wars and prepared for England with all his Forces where entring the Iland he easily quieted the tumultuous rebels ransacking their Cities curbing their wildenes and so reducing them at last to an orderly subiection For which his great loue care pains the King not vnthankful resolued to requite him with the halfe of his kingdom appointing the Cities and limiting the bounds which each of them should rule and gouerne as their owne possessions 16 Rollo in the meane time as carefull of the peaces continuance as regardlesse of so great remunerations taketh pledges of the Rebels for securing their loialtie to the King and peaceable bearing towards himselfe vpon accomplishment whereof repairing to Alstenus he thus bespake him 17 Seeing King Alstenus you haue so highly rewarded me both with princely entertainment and bountifull presents I can doe no lesse then willingly bestow vpon you these my paines for your safetie it iâ—… no more then your deserts doe challenge neither will I accept or seeme so vncourteous as to expect for my paines any part of your dominion Your selfe now may well gouerne it for France calles for my presence keepe therefore those your Pledges brought to you by your Subiects and there is no doubt but you shall hence-forward gouerne your Kingdome in a setled and contentfull quietnesse 18 The King could not containe those his eies which now beheld in a stranger so strange and vnexempled kindnes from resoluing into teares giuing him both hearty thanks and rich gifts seeing hee could not fasten on him any portion of his Kingdome of whom all that Rollo desired was this that he would giue licence to such voluntary Souldiers as would goe with him into France whereto Alsten ready in all things to gratifie his desire gladly condescended and furnished him with attendants 19 But leauing Krantius the Dane as likewise Gemeticensis the Norman to fauour their Country these their reports to the best liking of the iudicious most certaine it is that the French King Charles commonly called the Simple gaue the Duchie of Normandy with his daughter Gilla whose mother was Aeguina the daughter of Edward the Elder King of England vnto Rollo the Dane as is recorded in an old manuscript belonging to the Monastery of Angiers And when Rollo was baptized Charles receiuing him for his God-sonne at the Font he was there required to doe homage for his Dukedome receiued and inioined therein to kisse the Kings foot which hee did but with some disgrace to King Charles and bound it with an oath that hee did not receiue it vpon courtesie 20 This Rollo by his second wife Popee for Gilla died childlesse daughter to the Earle of Bessin and Baileulx had a sonne named William surnamed Longespee and a daughter called Girlâ—…ta who was afterwards married to the Duke of Guyan 21 William Long-espee so called of the Long Sword he vsually wore the second Danish Duke of Normandy took vnto wife Spâ—…rta the daughter of Hubert Earle of Seâ—…tlis by whom hee had onely Richard his sonne this William receiuing baptisme receiued therewith a new name and was thenceforth called Robert who hauing gouerned his Dukedome with great moderation the space of twenty yeeres was guilefully murthered by the working of Lewes King of France to the great griefe of his people who so far followed the reuenge that they intercepted Lewes in the Citie Rothâ—…mage and deteined him their prisoner till he agreed to these Articles That young Richard should succeed his slaine Father in the foresaid Dukedome and that thenceforth when the King Duke should conferre together the Duke should bee girt with his Sword and the King disabled either of Sword or knife to which Lewes yeelded vpon his corporall oth 22 Richard thus established gouerned his Dukedome the space of fifty two yeeres Hee was a man of an admirable fortitude and therefore was called Richard the Hardy His first wife was Agnes daughter to Hughle Grand Earle of Paris Lord Abbat of Germans and Father to Hugh Capet of France but she dying issuelesse he secondly married Gâ—…or a Gentlewoman of the Danish bloud whom he had kept his Concubine before by whom he had three sonnes and three daughters the first was Richard that succeeded in his dominions the second
he imprisoned and many of the English depriued as we haue heard 63 Besides his many other stately buildings both for fortification and deuotion three Abbies of chiefe note he is said to haue raised and endowed with large priuiledges and rich possessions The first was at Battle in Sussex where hee wonne the Diadem of England in the valley of Sangue-lac so called in French for the streames of bloud therein spilt but William of Newberie deceiued in the soile it selfe which after raine sheweth to bee red affirmeth that after any small showre of raine the earth sweateth forth very fresh bloud as by the euident sight thereof saith hee doth as yet plainly declare that the voice of so much Christian bloud there shed doth still crie from the earth to the Lord. 64 But most certaine it is that in the very same place where King Harolds Standard was pitched vnder which himselfe was slaine there William the Conquerour laid that Foundation dedicating it to the Holy Trinity and to Saint Martine that there the Monks might pray for the soules of Harold and the rest that were slaine in that place whose Priuiledges were so large that they and others of the like condition were afterwards dissolued by Act of Parliament when it was found by experience that the feare of punishment being once taken away desperate boldnes and a daring will to commit wickednesse grew still to a greater head for it was enfranchised with many freedomes and among others to vse the words of the Charter were these If any Thiefe Murtherer or Felon for feare of death flie and come to this Church let him haue no harme but let him be dismissed and sent away free from all punishment Be it lawfull also for the Abbot of the same Church to deliuer from the Gallowes any thiefe or robber wheresoeuer if he chance to come by where any such execution is in hand The Standard it selfe curiously wrought all of gold and pretious stones made in forme like an armed man Duke William presently vpon his victory with great complements of curtesie sent to Pope Alexander the second as good reason it was the Popes transcendent pleasure and power being the strongest part of the Dukes title to the Crowne and his cursing thunderbolts the best weapons whereby he attained to weare it 65 At Selby also in Yorkeshire where his yongest sonne Henry was borne he founded the Abbey of Saint Germans at Excester the Priorie of Saint Nicholas and to the Church and Colledge of Saint Martins le grand in London hee gaue both large priuiledges and much land extending from the corner of the City wall by Saint Giles Church without Criplegate vnto the common Sewer receiuing the waters running then from the More and now More-fields 66 At Cane in Normandie lie founded the Monastery of Sant Stephen the first Christian Martyr adorning it with most sumptuous buildings and endowing it with rich reuenewes where his Queene Maud had erected a Nunnerie for the societie of vailed Virgines vnto the honour of the blessed virgine Mary Thus much of his Acts and now of his marriage and issue His Wife 67 Maud the wife of King William was the daughter of Baldwine the fifth surnamed the Gentle Earle of Flaunders her mother was Alice daughter of Robert King of France the sonne of Hugh Capet Shee was married vnto him when hee was a Duke at the Castle of Angi in Normandy and in the second yeare of his raigne ouer England she was crowned Queene vpon Whit-sunday the yeere of Grace 1068. And although she maintained Robert in his quarrell for Normandy and out of her owne coffers paid the charges of warre against his Father and her owne Husband yet because it did proceed but from a motherly indulgence for aduancing her sonne it was taken as a cause rather of displeasure then of hatred by King William as himselfe would often auouch holding it an insufficient cause to diminish the loue that was linked with the sacred band of a matrimoniall knot Shee departed this life the second day of Nouember the sixteenth yeere of his raigne and of Christs humanity 1083. for whom he often lamented with teares and most honourably enterred her at Cane in Normandy in the Church of S. Maries within the Monasterie of Nuns which she had there founded His Issue 68 Robert the eldest sonne of King William and of Queene Maude his wife was surnamed Curtuoise signifying in the old Norman-French Short-Bootes he succeeded his father onely in the Duchie of Normandy and that also he lost afterwards to his brother Henry King of England at the battell of Ednarchbray in that Dukedome the yeere of our Lord 1106. where he was taken prisoner and hauing his eies put out an vnbrotherly punishment was committed to the Castle of Cardiffe in South-Wales and after twenty eight yeeres imprisonment there deceased the yeere before the death of his said brother Anno 1134 and was buried at Glocester in the midst of the Quier of Saint Peters Church where remaineth a Tombe with his Carued Image at this day Hee had two wiues the first Margaret daughter of Herbert Earle of Maygne both married in their Child-hood and shee died before they came to yeeres of consent The other was Sibyll daughter of Geffrey and sister to William Earles of Conuersana in Italy and Neece of Robert Guiscard Duke of Apulia By her he had two sonnes William and Heny this Henry was he that was slaine by mischance as he was hunting in the New-Forest in Hampshire William the Elder surnamed in Latine Miser was Earle of Flanders in right of Queene Maude his Grand-mother succeeding Charles of Denmarke in that Earledome he also had two wiues the first Sibyll whose Mother called also Sibyll was the daughter of Fowlke Earle of Anion after diuorced from him and remarried to Terry of Alsac his Successour the second was Ioan the daughter of Humbert Earle of Morien now called Sauoy sister of Queene Alice of France wife of King Lewis the Grosse hee died sixe yeeres before his father of a wound receiued at the Siege of the Castle of Angi in Normandy the 27. of Iuly in the 28. yeere of the Raigne of King Henrie his vncle and of our Lord 1128. hee was buried at Saint Omers in the Monastery of Saint Bertin and left no issue behinde him 69 Richard the second sonne of King William and Queene Maude was born in Normandy and after his Father had attained the Crowne came into England where being then verie yong as hee was hunting in the New-Forest of Hampshire he came to a violent sudden death by the goring of a Stagge others say by a pestilentayre and is noted to bee the first man that died in that place the iustice of God punishing on him his Fathers dispeopling of that Countrey his body was thence conueied to Winchester and there buried on the Southside of the Quire
the right side of King Edward the Confessor 61 Ad◅licia or Alice the second wife of King Henry was the daughter of Godfrey the first Duke of Louaine by the daughter of the Emperour Henrie the fourth and sister to Duke Godfrey and Iocelin of Louain Shee was married vnto him the nine and twentieth of Ianuary in the twentie one of his raigne and yeere of Christ 1121. and was crowned the morrow after being Sunday Shee was his wife fifteene yeeres but euer childlesse and suruiuing him was remarried to William Daubeny Earle of Arundel and was mother of Earle William the second Rayner Godfrey and Ioan married to Iohn Earle of Augi c. His Issue 62 William the sonne of King Henry and Queen Maud his first wife was born the secōd of his Fathers Raigne and of Christ 1102. When he came to age of foureteene yeeres the Nobility of England did him homage and sware their fealties vnto him at Shrewsburie The third yeere after hee married the daughter of Foulk Earle of Aniou and the same yeere hee was made Duke of Normandy doing his homage for the same to Lewes the Grosse King of France and receiued the homage and oathes of the Nobility of that Country but in his returne for England hee was vnfortunately drowned neere vnto Barbfleet vpon the twenty sixt of Nouember the yeere of Grace 1120. and eighteenth of his owne age without any issue to the great griefe of his Father 63 Maud the daughter of King Henry and of Queene Maud his first wife was borne the fourth yeere of her Fathers raigne She was the second wife of the Emperour Henrie the fourth espoused at sixe yeeres of age and at eleuen with great solemnity was married and crowned his Empresse at Mentz in Germany 6. Ianuary Anno 1114. the ninth of her husbands and foureteenth of her Fathers Raignes Shee was his wife twelue yeeres and suruiued him without any issue of him comming into England a widdowe she had fealty sworne vnto her by the Nobility and was remaried to Geffrey Plantaginet Earle of Aniou sonne of Foulke King of Ierusalem vpon the third of Aprill and yeere of Grace 1127. by whom shee had issue Henry the Second King of England Geffery Earle of Nantes in Britanie and William who was called Earle of Poyto she was his wife twenty three yeeres and suruiuing him also continued a widdowe the last seuenteene yeeres of her life which she ended in the City of Roan the tenth of September 1167. the foureteenth of the raigne of King Henry her sonne and was buried in the Abbey of Bee in Normandy 64 Richard a second sonne to King Henry and Queene Maud by the testimony of Geruasius the Monke of Canterbury who maketh Maud their eldest Child William the second and lastly Richard and then saith he she left bearing but Malmsbury saith she had but two Children one of each sexe 65 Eufem also another daughter and fourth Child by Hector Boetius the Scottish Historian is said to be borne vnto the Beauclearke by Queene Maud the credite of the two last I leaue to the reporters who onely thus name them without any further relation His Naturall Issue 66 Robert the naturall sonne of King Henry was Earle of Gloucester and married Ma◅l daughter and heire of Robert Fitzhamon Lord of Glamorgan by whom hee had issue William Earle of Gloucester Richard Bishop of Bayon Roger Bishop of Worcester and Maud the wife of Randolph Gernon the mother of Hugh Keueliot Earle of Chester and Richard his brother Earle William married Auis daughter of Robert Bossu Earle of Leicester and had issue three daughters and heires of that Earledome which by Au◅s the second of them in the end descended to Clare Earle of Hertford This Earle Robert died the last of October in the twelfth yeare of King Stephen and was buried at Bristow in the Church of S. Iames which hee had founded and his body laide in the midst of the Quire vnto him William Malmsbury dedicated his Booke called Historia Nouella 67 Richard another naturall sonne of King Henry was as it seemeth by an ancient Register of the Monastery at Abington borne in the raigne of King William Rufus of the widow of Anskill a Nobleman of the Country adioining to the said Monastery and it seemeth hee is that Richard that was drowned in the Norman Seas neere Barbfleet among the rest of King Henries children 68 Raynold the naturall sonne of King Henry was borne of a daughter vnto Sir Robert Corbet Lord of Alcester in Warwickeshire by the gift of the King in fauour of her who was after married to Henry Fitz-herbert his Chamberlaine This Raynold was created Earle of Cornwall and Baron of Castle comb with consent of King Stephen and had issue foure Daughters of whom haue sprung many faire branches 69 Robert another of that name was borne of Edith the sister of Iue sonne and daughter of Forne the sonne of Sigewolfe both of them great Barons in the North which Edith afterwards King Henry gaue in marriage to Robert D◅lie Baron of Hook-Norton in Oxfordshire and with her gaue him the Mannor of Eleydon in the County of Buckingham by whom he had issue Henry Doylie Baron of Hook-Norton who oftentimes mentioneth this Robert in his Charters euer calling him Robert his brother the Kings sonne 70 Gilbert another naturall sonne of King Henry is named in the additions to the story of William Gemeticensis the Norman Monke in the Chronicle of that country written by Iohn Taylor being a Translator of that worke out of Latine into French and lastly in the Treaties betwixt England and France written in the French tongue by Iohn Tillet Secretarie to their late King Henry the second and yet in them not any other mention is made but only of his name 71 William also a narurall sonne of Henry the King had giuen vnto him the Towne of Tracie in Normandy of which hee tooke his surname and was called William of Tracie But whether he were the Progenitot of the Tracies sometime Barons in Deuonshire or of them that now be of the same surname or whether Sir William Tracie one of the foure Knights that slew Thomas Becket Archbishop of Canterbury were any of his posterity is not certainely reported nor any thing else of him more then that hee died a little after his Father which was in the yeere of Christ 1135. 72 Henry another naturall sonne of King Henry was borne of the Lady Nesta daughter of Rees ap Tewdor Prince of South-Wales who was the Wife of Sir Gerald Windsor and of Stephen Constables of the Castles of Pembrooke and Abertinie in Wales and Progenitors of the Families of the Fitz-geralds and the Fitz-Stephens in Ireland he was borne and breed and liued and married in Wales hauing issue two sonnes namely Meiler and Robert of which Meiler the elder married the daughter of Hugh Lacie Lord of Methe in Ireland
to such an enterprise which thus tooke beginning 50 Dermot Mac Murgh beeing in possession of his fatall Helen the adulterous wife of Rothericke was pursued so eagrely with the reuenging sword of his enemie who howsoeuer wounded in heart with the abuse of his Bed reioiced in the colour and occasion ministred therby for him to seise vpon the flourishing Prouinces of Leinster as hee was driuen to flie from place to place and at the length to quitte his kingdome also the subiects whereof his tyrannie and vices had vnsetled in their affections toward him Thus desperate of help at home his last deliberations were to draw in forreine aides the necessity of his case requiring it and for that purpose finally resolues to repaire to the court of the wise and potent Henrie King of England beeing then in Aquitain neither could Dermot but knowe that it had heeretofore beene in Henries designes at such time as hee ment to subdue it for William of Angion his yongest brother and also because his present Dominions did halfe as it were enuiron it In which hopes he was not deceiued for Henrie listened therunto verie willinglie as to a thing which hee had indeede some yeeres before proiected 51 King Dermot therefore was heard in his suite But because the thing as at that time neither seemed great enough for such a Prince as Henrie to vndertake directly nor as yet was held sufficiently discouered to his hand that therefore the Ice might be broken by inferiour meanes and aswell the conueniences as inconueniences sounded to the depth without engaging the roiall person name or power it was by the Kings letters permitted to Dermot the exiled Prince to draw what aduenturers or voluntaries either the commiseration of his estate or other respects of pietie profit or delight in armes could allure to the action Now whether it were for that he whose Countreis lay toward the coasts of Wales and within ken vpon a cleere day by commodity thereof might entertaine intelligence aswell as trafficke with the inhabitants of those parts or for that the fame of their Cheualrie did inuite or for that his acquaintance at his arriuall grew there first or for that these and many other circumstances mette in this accident sure it is that Dermot raised his first and principall succours from among the English Colonies there 52 The Welsh had then in their hands a valiant Gentleman of Norman race one Robert Fitz-Stephen who by Gilbert de Clare was entrusted with the defence of the towne of Cardigan but through treachery the Towne being surprised Robert was also deliuered vp to Rhese ap Gruffin Prince of South Wales who would hearken to no other endentments of his liberty but onely that he should for euer abandon his possessions in Wales Whereupon the oportunity of Dermots quarrel giuing hopes of new fortunes immediately hee entred into contract with the Irish king promising by a certaine day to come to his succour with as many Voluntaries as his remaining fortunes or the hope of the voiage could stirre which he did accordingly performe leauing it very disputable whether with more successe or courage But Dermot well knowing that the fortunes of this Gentlemā to whose valor nothing see med impossible were vnable to vndergo the whole weight of the vnknowne worke had formerly dealt with that renowmed Lord Richard of the house of Clare Earle of Pembrooke surnamed Strong-bow the man whom the Fate of Ireland did expect 53 Dermotes perswasions to the Earle were of this kind That the enterprise besides the facultie thereof was full of pietie honour Iustice and commoditie That it appeared so to King Henry himselfe by whose leaue hee was free to gather what forces he could That hee was driuen out by the cruell ambition of Neighbours treacherie of wicked Subiects That Leinster was a Kingdome and though but a part yet cleerely the best and richest part of Ireland That multitudes offered themselues to his aid but his cares were not onely for a Generall to lead them but for one to whom hee might leaue his kingdome also That the Earle was he as the onely man in whose person all the respects of birth honour bounty valour youth and fortunes did happily meete That the Earle in his conceit did dwell but narrowly considering what hee was worthie of pent-vp in the straights of an Earledomes title for whom a great Kingdome was not great That they who would not allow Leinster for a kingdome did forget that England once was broken into lesser states and if Dermot were not a King neither then were Ella Cissa Vffa Sigbert Crida and the rest in the Saxon seuen-headed gouernment that the quantity of Dominion made more or lesse strong but not more or lesse a King That he was rightfull King of Leinster as Sonne and Heire to Murgh King of Leinster that if hee must forgoe his inheritance it should be to such as had done him no wrong and were worthy of it to Richard Strong-bow and his followers and not to Rothericke and Rebels That hee was not vnking'd though vnkingdom'd that Eua his daughter Eua the pearle and starre of Ireland should indeed be Eua to his enemies to bring vpon them death and iust confusion that yet in defeating the Tyrant Rotherick of his hopes by plā ting Earle Richard and his Forces hee should prouide for his Country not destroy it That if it did fall out otherwise yet his disloiall people had their iust deserts who obiecting vices to their Soueraigne did themselues commit vile treasons Indeed quoth he I was neuer such a King as that I was not also a Man But for those matters betweene God and me here is now no place to account for though his iustice hath found me out yet his mercy hath left me more friends at home then the number measure of my sinnes deserue My quarrell is most iust as against most wicked rebels and vsurpers Restore me then my Lord by your puissance to my natiue soile and my lawfull rights therein restore with me Religion and Discipline to the ancient splendor thereof which was not greater in any Realme about vs then in Ireland reduce the stray enlighten our ignorance polish our rudenesse and let not such abundant matter of merite and immortall glory escape you God himselfe will prosper the enterprise holy Church hath long since approued it and vpon such Authors what can miscarry And though in thy noble and Christian courage nothing can weigh so much and these I see work mightily yet to satisfie all respects Thou shalt haue far larger territories then here Thou canst possesse and goodly lands to distribute for reward among thy friends and followers My last offers now shall not shew a more desire to vse thy forces then a loue to thy person vertues They are not trifles I propose but that of which God himselfe doth seeme to me to haue
rights whereupon the King gaue the same to his sonne Iohn whose Coronation stung with the like before his father onely did delay at such time as two Cardinales offered to celebrate that solemnitie 92 At Windsor therefore his father giuing him the Order of knight-hood at which time hee was about twelue yeeres old sent him foorth with into Ireland where the Arch-bishop of Dublin and the State entertained him but by reason of such parsimonie toward his souldiers as was vsed hee returned the same yeere without doing much but not without hauing wasted the most part of his Armie in skirmishes with the Irish. His Stile in his seale of Ireland though Houeden saith his father made him Regem aâ—…king was onely Sigillum Iohannis filij regis Angliae Domini Hiberniae Lord of Ireland 93 King Henrie hearing now that his martiall sonne Earle Richard had fortified in Poictou against him and vanquished Geffrey Earle of Britane prepares a puissant armie vpon terror whereof Richard came in rendring vp Poictou to his mother Elienor whose inheritance it was at his fathers commandement The same yeere wherein the West was thus defiled with vnnaturall diuisions the East was likewise polluted with the cursed Apostasie of one Richard de S. Albane whom wee shame to thinke was English who renouncing the Christian beleefe vpon the Patriarcks discomfortable returne became a principall Commander vnder the Sultan of Babilon Saladine whom the Christians draue with losse and slaughter of his armie from Hierusalem But on the other side reuenge of disobedience still pursued Gef frey sonne of King Henrie who was in a Torneament at Paris troden to death vnder the horse feete A miserable end and a fearefull 94 About which times betweene the French and English all things stoode vnsure now warre then peace and warre againe by reason that Philip who had been crowned King some yeeres before during the life of Lewis challenging the custodie of Arthur the Posthumus sonne and heire of Geffrey Earle of Britane and sometimes one thing and sometime another could not haue his will Whiles Earle Richard turning to Philip against his Father but obtaining a truce for two yeeres such amity if there be any amity among mighty Princes grew between king Philip and Earle Richard Heire apparant of England and Normandy c. that one bed and boord serued both The Father perplexed cals his sonne home who pretending many griefes as the detention of Alice his Spouse the doubt of disinherison and other things stood out againe and againe after a while submits to his Father Then bursts forth Philip into Armes and things so standing the heauy newes of Ierusalem lost flew into Christendom When this City was formerly recouered by Godfrey of Bolein an Vrban was Pope a Fredericke was Emperour an Heraclius Patriarch so now when it was lost an Vrban was Pope a Fredericke was Emperor and an Heraclius Patriarch 95 Vpon these news Henry and Philip meet and for the honour of God laying downe displeasure in presence of William Archbishop of Tyre at which time some say a Crosse appeared in the aire take vpon them as Souldiers of Christ the badge of the Crosse and there the better to distinguish themselues it was agreed that the French should weare read Crosses the English White and the Flemish Greene. And this determination was seconded with warlike preparations leuies of money and institution of martiall Discipline all which notwithstanding nothing went forward 96 At Richard began the breach of this honourable confederation who taking reuenge vpon certaine Rebels of his in Poictou who brooked not his hard hand one mischiefe drew another and at the last both the Kings of England and France became parties to the quarrell greatly against the minde of K. Henry whose heart was firmely 〈◊〉 as it seems to reuenge the cause of Christ vpon Sultan Saladine for that in his answere to the Patriarch of Antioch imploring aide he concludes That among other Princes himselfe and sonne reiecting this worlds glory and despising all pleasures whatsoeuer and setting behind all things which were of this World would in their owne person with their whole Forces by the fauour of the Lord speedily visite him And sure the state of those parts required it Saladine hauing slaine many of the Knights Templars and Nobles and aboue thirty thousand footmen with innumerable other in Cities and Townes by him subdued Among all which grieuous accidents we cannot to season sower therby with sweet omit one noble protestation made by the chiefe crossed Lords Philip Earle of Flanders the Earle of Bloys and other who being required to take parts made answere That they would not contrary to their promise to God put armour on against any Christian till they had done their deuoire against Saladine 97 In the treaties therefore between Henry and Philip the demaunds of Philip on the behalfe of Richard were such and so vnsafe for the King as that all his subiects should sweare fealty to Richard during the Fathers life but yet reseruing their allegiance to the Father that Richard apparantly fell off and became Liegeman for Normandy c. to Philip King of France and at a new Treaty by mediation of a Cardinall Legate the demaunds of Philip being more hard then before as that King Henry should not onely settle the Kingdome vpon Richard but take Iohn also with him into Palestine or that otherwise Richard would not goe being iealous of his brothers grace with his Father Henrie would consent to none of those insolent propositions but disdaining to seeme to be enforced they betooke them selues on all sides to their swords 98 The effect whereof was that former good fortunes forsaking King Henry hee sustained many losses by the Armies of King Philip and Richard was driuen out of Mentz in Main the city where he was born which he loued aboue all other places by firing of the Suburbes before the enemy came being casually consumed hee was glad to yeeld to such conditions as it pleased Philip to prescribe It is written that at the meeting of these two Kings the skie being cleare a thunderbolt stroke betweene them and after a little pause comming together againe it thundered more terribly so that Henry had falne off his horse but that his people sustained him whereupon hee came presently to an end though it were to his vnspeakable griefe his Kingly heart being vsed to giue and not to take conditions 99 Fearefull was the speech which King Henrie when hee abandoned Mentz by reason of the fire vttered against Richard which was That sith he had taken from him that day the thing that hee most loued in this world he would requite him for after that day hee would depriue him of that thing which in him should best please a Child to wit his Heart But after the peace concluded vpon mediation between the sides another thing strucke neerer for finding the name of his
Tikhill Marlborow and Ludgarfall with many other great Seigniories and aboue them all was also Lord of Ireland and at the last succeeded his brother Richard in all his-Dominions and was King of England 108 Maud the eldest daughter of King Henry and Queene Eleanor borne in the third yeere of her fathers raigne married to Henrie surnamed the Lion Duke of Saxonie Lothar that died yong Otho the fourth German Emperour and William borne at Winchester progenitor of the Dukes of Brunswicke who bare for their Armes the Coat of England with the two Lions as King Henrie his Grandfather bare before the match with Queene Eleanor and Maud married to Geffrey Earle of Perch Shee suruiued him and died in the first yeere of the raigne of her brother King Richard and was buried by her husband in the Church of S. Blase at Brunswicke 109 Eleanor the second daughter of King Henrie and Queene Eleanor was borne at Roan in Normandy in the eight yeere of her fathers raigne 1162. She was married to Alfâ—…se the ninth of that name surnamed the Good King of Castile in Spaine and had issue by him Saâ—…ches that died in his infancie Ferdinando that died in his youth Henry King of Castile after his Father Blaunch Queene of France wife to King Lewis the 8. and mother of Saint Lewis Berengar married to Alfonso king of Lion Vrraca Queene of Portugall and Eleanor wife of Iames king of Arragon 110 Ioane the third and yongest daughter of king Henry and Queene Eleanor his wife was born at the City of Angiers in France in the moneth of October the 13. yeare of her Fathers raigne which was the yeere of our Lord 1166. when shee was eleuen yeeres of age shee was with great honour conueied to the City of Palermo and there married to William the second of that name king of Sicil Duke of Apulia and Prince of Capua vpon Sunday the 13. day of Februarie 1177. and was crowned Queene the same day at the same place Shee had a sonne by him named Boamund whom his Father when hee was returned from his Christning created Duke of Apulia but the child died first and the Father after leauing no issue And she suruiuing married againe and was the third wife of Raimund the fourth of that name Earle of Tholouz by him shee had Issue Raimund the last Earle of that house Bertrand Lord of Branquell Montelore and Saluiac and a daughter married to Berald of Elbeine Prince of Orenge His Naturall Issue 111 William the Naturall sonne of king Henry born of Rosamund the daughter of Walter Lord Clifford which Lady for her incomparable beauty was reputed with allusion to her name Rosa-mundi the Rose of the world the deare affection the king bare her caused both burning iealousie in the Queene and fatall ruine to her selfe albeit the amorous king for her secresie and security but what walles will not a iealous eye pierce through had built for her a most artificiall Labyrinth at Woodstocke in Oxfordshire with such cunning windings and intricate passages as had not Fate and Heauens reuenge on Adultery shewed the way the enraged Queen had not so soone beene rid of her Riuall nor that wanton Dame of her life Shee was buried in the Nunnery of Godstow by Oxford with this Epitaph Hac iacet in Tumba Rosa 〈◊〉 non Rosa munda Non redolet sed olet quaredolere solet Rose This Tombe doth here enclose the Worlds most beâ—…teous Rose passing sweet ere while Now â—…ght but edour vile But Hugh called the Saint Bishop of Lincolne thought the Hearse of a Harlot no fit spectacle for a Quire of Virgins to contemplate therefore himselfe in person caused her bones to be cast foorth of the Church which yet those chast sisters afterward recollected and placed there againe with much honour â—…cting a goodly Crosse thus inscribed to the honour of her memory Qui meat hac oret Signumque salutis adoret Vtque tibi detur requies Rosamunda precetur All you which passe this way This Crosse adore and pray That Rosamunas Soule may True rest possesse for â—…ye The first Sonne which by her King Henry had was the said William surnamed in French Longespee in English Long-Sword He was Earle of Salisburie in right of Ela his Wife Daughter and hâ—…ire of William Earle of that County son of Earle Patrick by whom hee had Issue William Earle of Salisbury Stephen Earle of Vlster Ela Countesse of Warwicke Ida Lady Beucham of Bedford and Isabell Lady Vescie his sonne Earle William the second had Earle William the third Father of Margaret Wife of Henry Lacie Earle of Lincolne hee died in the Castle of old Salisbury and was buried in the Cathedrall Church of the New City in the ninth yeare of the raigne of king Henry the third 112 Geffrey an other Naturall sonne of king Henry was borne of the Lady Rosamund aforesaid This man in his tender youth was by his Fathers procurement made Archdeacon of Lincolne and after Bishop of that See which hee held aboue seauen yeeres without consecration and then resigning it in the yeare 1181. into the hands of Richard Archbishop of Canterbury and his Father hee was made Chancellour of England and afterward by his brother king Richard hee was aduanced to the Archbishopricke of Yorke being consecrated at Tours in France An. 1191. which See he gouerned with good approbation But in the time of his Brother King Iohn hee vnderwent many difficulties by opposing the Kings purposes who therefore made seisure of his whole state and An. 1207. he left the Land and after fiue yeeres banishment died viz. Ann. 1213. 113 Morgan an other Naturall sonne of King Henry is thought by some because so small mention is made of him to haue beene of no long life after his birth and to haue beene borne of some woman in Wales where this Christian name is most commonly vsed and whither this King vpon many occasions sometimes resorted But some others whose studious paines deserue much thankes of posteritie report that hee was gotten on the wife of one Rodulph Bloeth or Blewet a knight and liued both to bee Prouost of Beuerley and to be elected to the Bishopricke of Durham when comming to Rome for a dispensation because his Bastardie made him otherwise vncapable the Pope willed him to professe himselfe Blewets lawfull son and not the Kings Naturall promising to consecrate him on that condition but he vsing the aduise of one William Lane his Clerke told the Pope that for no worldly promotion he would renounce his father or deny himselfe to bee of roiall bloud so blind were some Prelats of those times who esteemed spirituall functions to be but worldly promotions RICHARD THE FIRST DVKE OF NORMANDY GVYEN AND AQVITAINE c. THE FORTIE FOVRTH MONARCH OF THE ENGLISH-MEN HIS RAIGNE ACTS AND ISSVE CHAPTER VI. RICHARD succeeding to his deceased Father Henrie brought forth that wonder which a Writer ofthat age
Emperour as likewise the Empresse stooping low receiued on his head the Diadem from the Popes feet and presently againe the Pope strake the Emperors crowne with his foot and dasht* it to the ground signifying that hee had power to throw him vpon his demerites out of his Empire but the Cardinals catching vp the crowne put it againe on the Emperours head 25 The same day in which Philip his French Forces set saile out of the Hauen of Messana arriued Alienor King Richards mother accompanied with Berengaria his new intended Spouse daughter to* Sanctius King of Nauaire whome afterward he tooke to wife in Cyprus but his Mother after a short stay returned by Rome into England leauing the young Lady with Ioan Queene Dowager of Sicilie both which accompanied the King toward the holy Land his whole Nauie being one hundred and fifty great ships and fifty three Gallies well appointed for the warre and many other Sailes and Vessels and not to omit the same because it is recorded as a singularity he had among all these * thirteen Buces or Buscies which had each of them three course of Sailes to saile with but no Writer so farre as we yet find declares what numbers of Souldiers were in the English Armie 26 This Nauie roiall betweene the Isles of Rhodes and Cyprus for the honor and good of King Richard was scatterd by God with a terrible tempest some one or two of which suffered wreack vpon the Isle of Cyprus whom Cursac or as other call him Isakius Emperour of the Griffons being a tyrant did spoile and contrary to Christian Religion which was his profession though some mistake and all honour and humanity he would not among other his vnprincely or rather barbarous behauiours suffer the Kings sister and Lady Berengaria with other of that tender societie to come into harbour to their great discontentment and perill a Shippe or two sinking there but neither would God nor King Richard forgiue it him 27 For the said vnworthy Prince hauing thrice refused to make restitution of his vnlawfull seisures and prisoners was entred vpon by the English driuen from the shoares with great dishonour and slaughter the City Limeszun left for a prey to the victors and himselfe beaten againe out of his Campe and taken and after an escape made by him his onelie daughter and heire yeelding her selfe and her Father lastly comming againe of his owne accord as despairing to lie hid vnder custodie and thrust into fetters of gold and siluer the whole Iland with all the people strength and riches thereof became subiect to the King of England and both Father and Daughter led away into captiuity 28 There arriued at Limeszun to salute and honour King Richard within three dayes after his first victory Guido King of Ierusalem Geofrey de Lenizant his brother Raimund Prince of Antioch Earle Boemond his sonne c. offering their seruices and swearing to bee his against all men with whose priuity King Richard seised the flourishing and spatious Iland of Cyprus by antiquity celebrated as the very seate of Venus which that it might so proue to himselfe in the ioyous moneth he solemnly took to wife his beloued Lady Berengaria 29 The person of the Emperour for by that lofty title Writers call him was sent to Tripolis in Syria vnder the custody of Ralph Fitz Godfrey Lord Chamberlaine to King Richard his daughter was committed to the two Queenes Berengaria and Ioan the Iland it selfe was entrusted to Richard de Camuile and Robert de Turnham his Viceroyes with competent force and prouisions and the Ilanders suffered to enioy all such lawes and liberties as they held in the time of Manuel the Emperour of Constantinople or as now they call it of Sâ—…mboli 30 This fame of Richard was much enlarged by his conquering a mighty Argosey called a Dromond wherein were aboord one thousand and fiue hundreth Sarazens though disguised vnder French Flagges furnished besides all other prouisions with fire-workes barrelles or cages of venemous serpents and the like for the vse of the Sarazens at Acon anciently called Ptolomais to the siege whereof he was then sailing thirteene hundreth of which Miscreants he sacrificed to Mars Neptune keeping the rest for ransome 31 Philip King of France in hope perhaps to conquere Acon before the English could arriue and to winne thereby that glory intire came safe before that City in Easter weeke but as yet had not forced the same at which time that the Reader may obserue the generall disposition of the western Christians in those dayes there engirded Accon omitting the many great Prelates Princes Earles and Honourable Cheifes these Nations following the Genowayes and Florentines the English vnder Hubert Bishop of Salisbury afterward Archbishop of Canterbury Flemings Almaines Danes Dutch Friselanders Pisans Lombardes besides the Knights Templars collected out of all Nations and beside the aides of the Asians all which lay quartered at the Seige in order as here they are placed at that time in which the King of France arriued But Richard King of England with his victorious and triumphant Nauie which when it went out of Cyprus being much belike augmented* did containe 254. tall shippes and aboue 60. Galliots brought terrour dismay to the besieged and comfort to the Christians * vpon the Sunday after Pentecost being about the middest of Iune 32 The siege was so vehemently plied that notwithstanding sundry dissentions between Philip and Richard the two competitors of glorie in this voiage after seuerall breaches and assaults the last whereof was made by the Pisans and English vpon the twelfth of Iuly following many offers of composition made by the Saladine being vtterly refused the City of Accon was rendred to the Christians vpon these conditions 1 That Saladine Prince of Miscreants should by a certaine day restore the holy Crosse. 2 That he should set at liberty fifteen hundreth Christian Captiues 3. That the City with all the things contained therein should remain and be to the Christians 4. That the Turks or Sarazens should haue their liues onely saued if these conditions were performed 5. That they should pay twenty thousand Bizants peeces of gold toward the charges of the Kings * To take possession for the French there was sent in Drogou de Merlou and one hundreth men of Armes and for the English Hugo de Gurnay with the like number who equally parted the City goods and people betweene them 33 And euen now Philip King of France aswell because the Earle of Flanders died at the siege without issue whose countries hee long had coueted as for euill will to Richard whose noble Acts so farre outwent his and because as some * write hee had taken bribes of Saladine meditates nothing but return asking licence of King Richard to depart being then but the tenth day after the Cities surrender so badly his enuious eyes could as
it seemed endure the splendor of his companions glory The chiefe commanders of his Army hearing this shewing themselues true French-men and sensible of their obligation to God and honour with many teares besought him not to forsake that holy affaire ita impudenter so shamelesly In what Prince would not this haue kindled a desire of a better resolution But impotent passions carrying him and miscarrying him he persisted to get leaue of Richard who but two dayes before would haue had him sweare to a stay of three yeeres longer in that seruice but hee who had other cogitations farre more vnworthy of a King would needes depart giuing his oath vpon the holy Gospels without which oath King Richard would not grant his good will That he would well and faithfully keepe the lands and subiects of the King of England and neither doe dammage nor grieuance to them by himself nor suffer it to be done by others * till his returne 34 The King of France thus leauing Accon in the Castle whereof King Richard his Queene and Sister were lodged and the Duke of Burgunaie remaining behind with the French hoast to whome King Philip not without sundry secret instructions had with it committed a great part of his treasure king Richard in the same day set forward vpon a new enterprize but it is true which one writes * that by reason of the dissention betweene the Kings which of them should seeme the greater little or nothing prospered iust cause had King Richard to complaine in his letters that Philip to the eternall reproch of himselfe and Kingdome had fouly forsaken his purpose and vow vnto God 35 But when the Saladine could not by any means obtaine a longer day for performance of the said Articles of composition hee cut off the heads of all his Christian Captiues in reuenge whereof King Richard brought out his Turkish Captiues being about two thousand and fiue hundreth and in the sight of the Saladines hoast caused their heads to be chopt off the Duke of Burgundie doing the same to the like number neere vnto the walles of Acon seuen onelie being kept aliue by the Christian Generals whereof Karakeys Salaadines * foster Father was chiefe But Richard proceeding in his vndertaken action and in his march to Ioppa being set vpon by Sultan Salaadine who had put the Duke of Burgundie to flight and slaine the valiant Iaques de Auennis who onely with a few in the Reregard made resistance so couragiously encountred him that the Salaadine with the losse of three thousand his choisest Souldiers was glad to turn his back and flie whiles therefore this Champion is thus imploied in the Holy-land let vs looke backe a litle how the affaires of his Kingdome are managed at home 36 Iohn the Kings brother making vse in England of such discontentments as the incredible insolencies and intollerable tyrannies of the Chancellour who carried himselfe both like a Pope and a King had bred among the Nobility and people to aduance thereby his owne designes stirred against him though strengthning himselfe like a Generall in the field so powerfull opposition that in the end vpon warrant of a new Commission sent from the King his Brother hee with the rest of the Peeres suddenlie thrust him out of all commaund and shortly after most reprochfully as it happened for he fled and was taken in a Curtesans attire il beseeming a Popes Legate out of the Kingdome also vpon occasion as of other foule demetites so particularly of a sacrilegious and barbarous outrage committed by the Chancellours commaund vpon the person of Geffrey Elect Archbishop of Yorke naturall brother to King Richard and the Earle on pretence that he entred England contrarie to his oath giuen to his brother King Richard where as he then came to take possession of his See to which hee was aduanced by the Kings owne procurement and by Queene Eleanors owne trauaile to Rome in his behalfe And albeit this punishment shame deseruedly followed the Chancellors pride and oppression yet in one maine point of opposing the Earles Ambition who sought to assure to himselfe the remainder of the Crowne which in right of bloud belonged to his Nephew Arthur his seruice to the State had beene very commendable if it had proceeded from loialty of affection and not from a swelling desire of greatnesse which he hoped still to enioy if Arthur a child should succeed in the kingdome wheras he knew Earle Iohns aduancement could not be without his apparant ruine 37 But Philip King of France in all places labouring by wrongfull and vnprincely aspersions to deface the renowne of King Richard though finding small credite to his words because the man had done nothing himselfe deuised after his return how to trouble and endammage his friends dominions and had effected it if the Lordes of France whom he sollicited to that wicked worke vpon pretence of the composition made with King Richard at Messana had not to their immortal glory refused to assist him therein till Richards returne aswel in regard of their owne oathes as because the sentence of excommunication was denounced against all such as did attempt to endammage him in his absence 38 King Richard notwithstanding that the relation of these things greatly troubled him gaue not ouer as yet but after sundry other matters of importance performed did march vp within the sight of Ierusalem where he skirmished with the enemie ouerthrew the Conuoy or Carauan of the Salaadine which came laden from Babylon guarded with ten thousand men whom King Richard valiantlie encountring with fiue thousand selected souldiers put most of them to the sword and took three thousand Camels and four thousand Horses and Mules besides those that were slaine and so gained the rich spoile of all the Carriages 39 After this and many other worthy thinges done as the rescue of Ioppa and repulse of Saladine from thence c. the King indefatigable in his braue attempts desirous to regaine Ierusalem and the City Baruck was abandoned in that enterprise by the Duke of Burgundie who is * said to haue beene apparently corrupted with gifts from Saladine and the regiments of French vnder his conduct wherupon he was the rather perswaded by the Knights Templars and chiefes of the Christian hoast not to refuse Saladines offers for a surceasance from hostility considering that hee had a purpose to returne with re-enforced numbers and meanes that his present powers by diuisions by sicknesse by battales were wasted and that the dangerous estate of his owne Dominions did require his presence the greatest motiue for he had supplies of money for his Souldiers wages from Pope Celestine by reason of some vndue practises at home and the rancour of King Philip his vnreconcilable aduersary abroad Wherupō a truce was taken for three yeers and Saladine repaid such charges as Richard had been at in fortifying Askalon which was brought to
towards the Subiect obtained an oath of Fealty to himselfe in remainder in case his brother should die childlesse hauing now therefore the way to those his designs made smoother by the last Wil of King Richard and allegiance of his Nobles then attending for these courses may facilitate but not make a iust claime wee may not thinke that either hee was cold now for the accomplishment of that which so hotely hee had before pursued or so nice as to neglect a Kingdome vpon scrupulous points of Titles and Right Propinquity of Bloud pleaded for Iohn as Lineall descent for Arthur the Kings Brother being neerer then his Brothers sonne but Iohn who knew that the weaker vse to argue their Titles whiles the stronger hold the possession resolued to trie the strength of his claime by no other Law then of Armes and therefore being at time of King Richards death in those forraine parts hee makes it his first care to fasten to himselfe by present largesse and large promises of future fauours the vsuall Rhetoricke of Competitours all the Stipendiary Souldiers and other Seruitours of his deceased Brother To winne himselfe the like assurance of loue at home and to settle it it might be an vniuersall quiet he forthwith despeeded into England there to concurre with Queene Eleanor his experienced mother three of the choisest men of the State Hubert Lord Archbishop of Canterbury William Marshall a potent Peere and Geoffry Fitz-Peter the great Iusticiar by whose seuerall interests the three States of Clergy Chiualry and Commonalty might best bee eyther allured to him by fauours or awed by feare himselfe the whiles posting to Chinon where King Richards great Treasure was kept as knowing that hee should hardly get or keepe a Crowne by Forces or Friends if hee wanted Coine Crowns to winne and hold such needfull Ayders 3 The Treasurer though himselfe with his Store Castles and Fidelity thus assured to the Earle had yet a powerfull Nephew the Castellan of Angiers wholy deuoted to Duke Arthur to whose vse hee yeelded vp that City and Castle with whom also sided the Nobility of Aniou Maine and Turaine surrendring those large Territories as to their liege Lord iointly auowing it to be the Law and Custom of those Signiories that the heritage which was to accrew to the elder Brother if hee had suruiued should descend vnto his Sonne But Constance Arthurs mother no lesse desirous to be Regent to a King for her son was but twelue yeeres young then Queene Eleanor disdainefull to goe below a Dutchesse did not dare to build her high hopes on so low grounds for that such subordinate Princes as fauoured her cause might easily be corrupted by faire meanes or crushed by foule and therefore vpon newes of King Iohns successes in England for with general applause and homages hee was now proclaimed King distracted with violent and Woman-like Passions Ambition of her sonnes Right Rage for his Wrong Feare of his Safety and not the least Emulation that Queene Eleanor whose Prudence and Grace with the English had swayed exceedinglie should effect more in a wrong then her selfe in a iust cause shee flies to Turon to the French King Philip to seeke a Wolfe to whom shee might commit her Lambe to whose Protection shee wholy surrenders his Person his Cause his Countries Philip pretending as Princes vse atender care of his neighbour Princes state but meaning indeede out of so wished a prize to raise aduantage to his owne forthwith without regard of Truth or Truce sworne to King Richard reenforceth all Arthurs Cities and Castles with his French Garrisons some of which had scarse put their foot into Maunz but King Iohn was at their heeles to prouide them their last lodging sacking that Citie and demolishing it to the ground for a terror to all others which after fealty once sworne vnto him as they had done should dare to reuolt 4 Queene Eleanor who hauing setled England in Peace was now come ouer to forward her sonne in the Warres and was present at the surprising of Maunz is censured to haue too much sharpened his edge against her Nephew Arthur and his friends out of her implacable disdaine and Enuie towards Constance her Daughter in-Law and appears no lesse for the King passing thence into Aniou left there his Captaines and Forces with his mother who made Angiers participate the Fortunes of Maunz the City ruined the Citizens captiuated whiles himselfe comming to Roan was there by the hands of Walter the Archbishop in the Cathedrall Church with great pompe on Saint Marks Festiual girt with the Ducall Sword of Normandy and crowned with a Coronet of Golden Roses taking his Oath for faithfull administration in that Dukedome which was the pledge or earnest of his vnquestionable admittance to the English Diademe which euery day now expected him Neither yet may wee thinke albeit King Iohns mature experienced age his home-bred and well knowne education his reannexing of Irelands Kingdom to Englands made his person more gracious then Arthurs that yet his Agents all this while in England found no rubbs in their way before all the Earles Barons Burgesses Free-holders could bee induced to disclaime Arthurs apparant Right and to sweare fealty to King Iohn against al men liuing yea many of the English Peeres who through their last Kings absence and others conniuences had habituated in them a conceit of vncontrouled Greatnes which they miscalled Liberties and Rights vnder vayle whereof they after drew not onely vndue restraints vpon the Regaltie but also infinite calamities and massacres on the people whose good they pretended in the great Assembly at Northamton yeelded onely to sweare a Conditionall Fealty to keepe Faith and Peace to King Iohn if hee would restore to euery of them their Rights which was the first seed of disloyalties which after grew to so great a height Thus howsoeuer all domesticke difficulties ouerblowne and Queene Eleanor left in Aquitane to prouide against Forraigne King Iohn arriued at Shoreham and the next day comes to London preparing for his Coronation to bee at Westminster the morrow following being Assention day 5 Strange it was to consider if ought bee strange in State-plots how men otherwise very prudent transported once with Wordly and seemingpoliticke respects can so wilfullie cloud their Reason as to attempt those things which leaue both a present staine on their Soules and a lasting disreputation both of their Integrity and Wisedome wherein so much they glory For what else did Hubert Archbishoppe of Canterbury the man so famoused as the Pillar of the Common-wealthes stabilitie incomparable for deepe-reaching Wisedome when in that sacred and celebrious Assembly of all the States addressing for the roiall Inauguration hee added
Engines of battery against it but eftsoones before one stone of the wals was shaken or any one of their men had lost the least haire of their heads they dishonourably surrendred the Fort a matter of very great consequence to King Philips pleasure who though abundantly pleased with the deed yet so contumeliously but most iustly and prince-like recompensed the Doers for Traytors alwayes become odious though the Treason becommodious that for so base a part he commanded them to be fettered in chaines and basely intreated in close prison till they had deerely redeemed their liberty though they could hardly their reputation Another noble Baron Captaine of Castle Galliard which being built on a very high Rocke ouer Seyne King Richard had made impregnable by his vndaunted prowesse and great slaughter made vpon Philips hoast lying 6. moneths in siege about him was far from any suspition of dastardie but yet escaped not the blemish both of ingratitude and infidelity in that at length hee not onely yeelded vp that Castle to the enemies but also secretly by night brought them into the Castle of Montfort which hee betraied vnto them not weighing his faith to his Leege Lord who had bestowed on him that Castle with all the honour and demaines thereto belonging Otherwise for his first surrender his case had beene more excusable the famine an vnresistable enemy in the Castle being so great that as the French Recorders themselues confesse when the Women and others of the vnseruiceable sort were put forth for sparing of prouant and being betwixt the Castle and the Enemies found pitty and releefe of neither in the sight of them all a Woman great with Child was deliuered and her infant presently eaten vp Amongst those and other of King Iohns reuolting Barons like so many falling Starres if we should pretermit that fixed and bright Starre of vnmoueable fidelity and resolution the Lord Robert de Lacy wee should bee guilty of high offence against true honour who hauing receiued of his Prince the custody of the goodly Castle Rocke-Andely which was builded also by King Richard did brauely beare of the siege and power of King Philip and his hoast almost a whole yeere in which space though by their continuall batteries and vnderminings a great part of the walles were flatted yet they could neuer make entry vpon him but were repulsed with slaughter till his prouision of victuals being now spent to the last howre he called his Souldiers together encouraging them after so long proofe of their Manhood not to faint now in the last Act but to consider that though it were better for them to die by famine then to liue with reproch of false or faint-hearttednesse yet it is more noble for souldiers to die fighting then famishing and together with their owne liues to sacrifice to their Countries honour the bloud of their slaughtered enemies Whereupon fiercely sallying forth with his Resolutes after a bloody shambles made in the middest of his beleaguers hee was by multitude ouerborne and taken but in regard of his exemplary faith and prowesse in maintaining his charge by King Philips expresse command a second princely and prudent fact to discipline his Subiects by thus entreating his foes hee was honourably vsed and without râ—…int of a prisoner 23 But as the fact of this Peere was peerelesse so was this Clemency in that King but rare and vnaccustomed towards such Cheiftains as stifly out-stood his assaultes some of whom formerly hee had caused to bee dispiteously dragged at horse-heeles for the terrour of others Of which indignities other irkesome extremities the inseparable companions of warre indured by his people when King Iohn had notice by Messengers sent vnto him for reliefe and aides no maruaile is it if his griefe were aboue beleefe or measure finding himselfe vtterly destitute of meanes to relieue their wants or his owne losses albeit for the time hee bare it out with a manly shew saying that these were but the French pilferings of which he meant in due time to exact an account with interest For what else could hee doe The Normans to omit those others in open Rebellion either wholy fallen away from him or but dissemblingly adhering to him his Barons from home failing him at his need his Nobles there about him being vnder pretext of a speedy comming againe returned into England by which meanes the King was left very dispeopled hauing onely a small traine which could in so great a need doe him but very small seruice but that these important and vnportable matters did no whit moue him nor could retriue him from the bosome of his too-dear Enchantresse which occasioned some to think him infatuated with sorcery is a thing past capability of beleefe 24 The King thus disfurnished of all helps Innocentius the stirring Bishoppe of Rome made fayre shew to salue these temporall wounds with a spirituall playster which doubtlesse made King Iohn more secure then stood with his good for 〈◊〉 in so great distresses there was no forraine Prince fitter for the King to conbine with then Otho the Emperor his owne Nephew and Philips professed enemy so the Pope on the one side beginning to bee-iealous of Otho's greatnesse mistrusted the concurrence of two such great friends and therefore vndertooke to vmpeere the debates betwixt those two great Enemies and King Iohn on the other side willing to make vse of the Popes fauour durst not yet comply with any whom his Sanctitude any whit disfauoured His Legates for this businesse were the Abbots of Cafmer and Troisfons his motiue that these dissentions of Christendom weakned the wars against Turky his colour that this contention being a matter of faith-breach as of Leagues Oath and Couenants the cognizance thereof did properly appertaine to his sacred iudicature whereof hee made so little doubt as that the very letter then sent to the French Peeres is to this day registred for a pontificall decree and this audacious Law then by Innocentius first brought to the world for current That whensoeuer one Prince is delinquent against another the correction thereof appertaines to the Pope Their Commission was to call the Bishops and Princes of both Kingdoms for setling a Peace to inhibite all hostility to reserue the further triall of the Right to the Pope as Soueraigne Iudge to enioyne that all Religious places by the warres destroied or empouerished should be restored to their due State if either of the Kinges should bee refractary his whole Kingdom presently to bee put vnder Interdict Philip albeit the Pope was then offended with him vpon other terms for that hee imposed towards his warres a taxe of certaine Tenthes vpon his Clergy against the Popes will alleadging it was necessary that out of their priuate abundance they should beare a charge in the
beleeue all things touching God aright all the articles of the Creed only they blaspheme and hate the Church of Rome No maruail if this horrible heresie did trouble his Holinesse and therefore whereas his Predecessor and himselfe had kept much adoe in Christendome to excite men to take the Signe of the Crosse and warre against the Turke which the Fryers did perswade men vnto teaching that whosoeuer were polluted with any hainous offence as Parricide Incest Sacrilege hee was presently acquited both from the sinne and the punishment of it if hee thus tooke the Crosse vpon him now because the Earle of Tholous and his people entertained the foresaid Heresie the Crosse and holie warres were by the Pope denounced against them Of which Earle yet let vs heare the iudgement of another Fryer then liuing Those saith hee who thus tooke the Warres and Crosse against him did it more for feare of the French King and the Popes Legate then for zeale of Iustice it seeming to many a wrong thus to infest a faithfull Christian man and one who with many teares desired the Legate to examine the faith of euerie one of his Cities and if any one held against the Catholike faith hee would punish him according to the iudgement of the Church and if any City should resist him hee would enforce it to make satisfaction As for himselfe hee offered to bee examined by the Legate touching his faith and if hee were faulty hee would make satisfaction to God and the Church But all these things the Legate scorned nor could that Catholike Earle find anie fauour vnlesse hee would for sake his Inheritance and abiure it both for himselfe and his heires for euer These were the Heretikes against which Lewis was now imployed by the Pope and King Henry the while commanded to surcease from impeaching his holy enterprize Wherein Lewis had spent a moneth in the siege of Auinion and endured for all his sacred Crossings maruailous losses by a terrible plague dedeuouring his Army by a strange kind of venemous flies dispatching many by a sodaine drowning of a great part of his Armie and lastly by being himselfe poysoned by one of his Earles an vnchast Riuall of his Bedde though it was giuen forth of him as of his late Enemy King Iohn whom some thinke that Lewis his friends did make away that hee died onely of a Flux 22 The newes of the French Kings death seconded with sure relations of sundry discontentments and open factions vnder the young King who was but about twelue yeeres of age bred an hope in King Henries mind that now the time was come wherein hee might recouer those ancient inheritances which his Forefathers held in France and to aduance his hopes he had his mother Queene Isabel wife to the Earle of March in those parts an earnest sollicitor Peter Duke of Britaine was the principall man who tooke offence that himselfe had not a chiefe hand in directing the young King Lewis but his prudent mother Queene Blanch weakned his party by drawing his brother Robert Earle of Dreux from him and albeit the Duke had repaired the breach by affinitie with the Earle of Champain one of the twelue Peeres of that Realme to whom the Duke marrieth the Ladie Blanda his daughter and heire yet was the Earle driuen by a short warre to continue quiet The Duke hereupon castes himselfe vpon King Henrie Sed sera auxilia Anglica the English aides come slowlie saith Aemylius These and the like inducements moued the King to send Walter Archbishoppe of Yorke with others to the chiefe men of Normandie Angiou and Poictou that by large promises they might procure them to acknowledge Henrie for their King or by partakings facilitate their reduction to the English Souereigntie who accordinglie prosecuted their emploiment 23 These opportunities for that designe moued the King to bethinke how to gather money to furnish so chargefull an enterprize whereby while he sought to prouide to recouer that which was lost he ministreth occasion to hazard that which he had The onely great man in Court now was Hubert de Burgh For the King protesting himselfe of age to gouerne without a Tutor or Protector did principally conferre with him about all his most weightie affaires Hence grew more enuy against Hubert and perill to the King From the Londoners besides the granted aides of a fifteenth which all degrees were subiect vnto he wrung fiue thousand Markes for that they had as was alleaged to his preiudice giuen Lewis the like summe In the Parliament at Oxford by aduice of Hubert his Lord Chiefe Iustice he reuokes the Charters of Liberties which now for about two yeeres had been practised through the Realme pretending that at the time of their Grant the King was vnder age and had then no liberty either of his person or Signature though otherwise the royall power of the English Monarchie neuer pleads pupillage or minoritie It serued the turne for the time and all men were faine to pay what Huberts pleasure was to assesse for obteining the new Seale The fortune of such Arts whereby they were wont to fill Princes Treasuries was not alwaies without repentance to the Authors and Authorisers The Clergie was compelled vnder paine of Papall Censures to pay the Fifteenth not only for their temporall goods but also for their Ecclesiasticall and yet in the end after so much tossing of the People the Kings Ambassadors returne out of France without hauing effected that which they went about so that the whole enterprize quailed For Queene Blanch by sweet and prudent courses so preuailed among the factious that there was left no place for Henrie to take sure hold vpon The Duke of Britain who expected the English succours not till the Spring was so neerely prest and almost opprest with a winter war that he thought himselfe beholding to his brother Robert Earle of Dreux for procuring his peace though it were with such a condition as euer after left vpon him the by-name of Mauclerk or Maledoctus He acknowledged the Dutchie of Britain to be the Fee of the Crowne of France and that by right it ought to hold thereof this acknowledgment because against all apparant truth and Record procured to him that By-name Such conclusion at this present had King Henries French designes Our auncient Authors write that this dishonourable homage was done long after and with an halter about his necke at such time as the King of England refused to goe in person to his succours but offered foure Earles and other competent Forces which hee refused as harbouring a reuoit in his bosome and turned Pyrate 24 The euill will which the other great Lords secretly harboured against Hubert whose Enuy the Kings fauour in creating him Earle of Kent had lately encreased now openly discouered it selfe vpon this occasion Richard Earle of Cornwall the Kings brother lately returned
him this answere Thou dost see ô Hertold that my forces are scarce sufficient to defend my selfe Our Lord and Sauiour was betraied by his Disciple Iudas and therefore who shall be safe Behold the Earle of March whom I tooke and reuerenced as my Father hath giuen a pernicious president I haue trusted in a staffe of reed and the splinters thereof haue wounded my hand Thou art the only man who hast behaued thy selfe honestly whatsoeuer therefore thou doest tossesse of mine by any iust title take it to thee as thine owne I giue it thee Prouide other want could make him forget his magnificence and bountie hee caused the East-part of the great Church at Westminster to bee taken downe and by aduise of expert Workmen newly to bee builded and ioyned to the West The effect of the Kings expedition into Wales was that after he had fortified the Castle of Gannocke in North-Wales vpon the passage into Anglesey and by the Irishmen wasted that fertile Iland hee was himselfe enforced by sharpenesse of the weather and for want of victuals to returne about the end of October hauing taken all courses hee could to sterue the Welsh forbidding the Irish vpon pain of death to bring any reliefe into Wales and left that they of Cheshire or the neighbour parts should giue them any succour hee so spoiled them of all their prouisions that they were scarse able to feed themselues and if the Welsh compelled by famine ventred out of their strengthes or fastnesses in or about Snowdon the Garrison Souldiers of Gannocke were ready to intercept and kill them and on the other side the Lords of Brumfield and Powys though Welshmen held with the King so that they were miserably straitned The King pawnd his Iewels to his brother Richard at this iourney for 3000. Markes which holpe to piece out the charge thereof Paris hath a long list of great names which dying about this time left neither name nor issue to preserue the memory of their Greatnes but none so strange as of the Marshals fiue brethren of them successiuely Earles of Pembroke and all dying issulesse which he attributeth to the iudgement of God for the iniquity of their Father and of themselues who would neuer restore certaine Manours which their Father in warre-time had taken in Ireland from the Bishoppe of Ferus an holy Irish man who often required restitution and for want thereof did put them vnder Gods curse and his One doth indeed obserue that the Irish Saints are vindicatiue but certainely the examples of punishments for Sacrilege and violent extortions are terrible in holy Scripture and most fearefull was the sentence it selfe which Gods Prophet pronounced against Ahab for Naboths vineyard agreeing with the very plague which this yeare fell vpon the house of Marshall 72 The Popes furie was now so much inflamed against King Henry and the English for so disgracing him publikely in the Generall Councell that hee vsed lofry threats if once the Emperour were quelled to tame England also and whetted on the French King to enter on the land promising him all the helpes of the Church and Papall power But the iust King not only refused so vniust an offer as hauing no title to England themselues also knit by kindred and by truce their Queenes being sisters the attempt bloody for Christians c. but further ratified the former truce and enlarged it with the addition of more yeers because King Lewis was prepared to make warre against the Infidels which voyage King Henrie would not hinder but aduance And that nothing might disturbe the peacefull life with which the King of England was most delighted Dauid Prince of Wales departed out of the vale of the dying as Paris elegantly saith into the vale of the dead The King seeing all things quiet and safe about him doth now conuert his whole cares to the reformation of the inward maladies of his dominions calling the estates of the land together for that purpose To whom he there deliuered in writing sundrie Articles of the greeuances and oppressions of his Kingdome and the Church 1. that the Pope extorts great Contributions of the Clergy without the Kings assent against â—…he rightes and liberties of the Kingdome 2. that Patrons cannot bestow Church liuings on fit men but the Pope giues them to his Romans who can speake no English â—…r celebrate diuine seruice nor preath nor keepe hospitalitie nor câ—…e for soules c. but only begger the Land with carrying away the Coine 3. that the Popes Prouisions and Pensions are vnsufferable 4. that Englishmen are dâ—…awne forth of the Land to end their causes 5. that the Pope by his non obstante ouerthrowes Oathes Customs Charters Graunts Statutes Priuiledges Rights c. whereupon the King Bishops Nobles Abbots and Priors did all write their seuerall complaints to the Pope requiring speedie redresse of those infinite wrongs to the King the Kingdome the Clergie the Nobles and the People who would rather die then thus daily endure those oppressions Notwithstanding sundry Prelates either out of ambition or feare vnderhand furthered the Popes desires when secretly he craued an annuall tallage of the Clergie for maintenance of his Souldiers and that the State should take no notice thereof the Pope caused his Agents to make them swear not to reueale this their Contribution to any man liuing for the space of halfe a yeere Yet the King came to the knowledge thereof and sent forth his writs forbidding vnder great penaltie that the money should be carried forth of the Land This the Kings displeasure was much augmented vpon the returne of his messengers from the Councell of Lyons who related how proudlie the Pope reiected the iust complaints of the State saying the King himselfe did Frederize and holding his People as Schismaticks Which incensed the King to publish his Proclamation in Euery Citie and Towne that none of his subiects should dare to contribute any money to the Pope but it came to no effect for that some Popizing Bishops and ambitious Clerks of his Councell fearing the Papall threats where no cause of feare was drew him to leaue his purpose womanly which he manfully vndertooke 73 The Bishop of Worcester a principall worker herein was said to haue had authoritie from the Pope to interdict the land which perhaps was it which the King so greatly feared and which the Monke said was not worth the fearing The Earle of Cornwall also with others who fauoured not the Emperour Fredericks cause laboured to change the Kings minde so that the wonted extortions were as current as euer insomuch that a Cardinall truely told the Pope that England was to the Pope as Balaams Asse which being so often wronged spurgalled and cudgeld it was no maruaile if at length shee opened her mouth to complaine and for themselues and their Romane Court they were like Ismael euerie mans hand against
carelesse neither yet by his care able to doe much as one whom God was not well pleased with had ordered his battels with some aduise but vpon the dismall and vnexpected discomfiture of his horse in those mischieuous holes or ditches was enforced after some troubled resistance to leaue to the Scots the greatest victory that euer they had before or after Hardly could K. Edward bee drawne to flie the courage which it became such a Monarch to haue then first disclosing it selfe till by his friends hee was enforced to seeke his preseruation by that more necessary then noble meanes and with him besides others the Lord Hugh Spencer whom our Courtier cals a ◅aint hearted Kite betooke himselfe to like remedie 24 All things proued vnfortunate to the English in this iorney for when they perceiued their Cauallerie thus miserably ouerthrowne in the ditches they shot their arrowes compasse with purpose to kill or gall such Scots as came to the execution but did them little or no harme as they who were armed in the fore-parts and in stead of that slew their friends whose backes being toward them were vnarmed 25 The losse fell much vpon the Noblest for there were slaine in this Battell Gilbert Earle of Glocester a man of singular valour and wisdom the Lord Robert de Clifford and besides other Lords about seuen hundreth Knights Esquiers and men of Armories Of the rest the slaughter could not bee but great though much the lesse in regard the Scots fought on foot Hector saith that there were not slaine fewer then fifty thousand English no Writer else that hitherto wee can meet with exceedes the fifth part of that number the riches gotten by spoiles and ransomes of the English were doubtlesse very great Among the number of prisoners the principall was H◅y de Bohun Earle of Hereford but recouered af◅rd by exchange for King Roberts wife who all this while was detained in England This battell was fought at Banocksbourne neere Striuelin in Scotland 26 From this ouerthrow King Edward escaping to Berwicke King Robert who to his great glory as hauing himselfe beene trained vp among the English vsed such as were taken prisoners with singular humanity sent thither to him the bodies of the Earle of Gloster Lord Clifford that they might receiue honourable interrement among their owne friends But Edward vnder whose vnfortunate leading the English name sustained so great dishonour and dammage withdrew to Yorke resoluing therein onely Princelike to assemble new force and either to bee reuenged or to die But all enterprises and attempts of that nature miscarried for aboue twelue yeeres after insomuch that great feare raigned among the Northern̄e English who lay open to the first brunts and violences of the Scots ouer whom many faire dayes shone And to augment the calamities of the North many of the disloiall English conspired with the enemie and iointly spoyled the west parts of Northumberland nothing being secure but that which wals defended 27 God to humble the English who through long prosperities had forgotten both themselues him drew not backe his heauy hand so for seldom hath so terrible a famine beene heard of here as succeeded to this ouerthrow so that for moderation of prices a Parliament was assembled at London but saith Walsingham as if God had beene displeased at the said rates which not long after were repealed things grew scarser day by day and the dearth was generally such that vpon Saint Laurences Eue there was scarsely bread to be gotten for sustentation of the Kings owne family This famine which lasted about two yeeres was accompanied with much mortality of people 28 But neither the dishonours taken in Scotland nor innumerable afflictions and discontentments at home made Edward suspend the celebration of his Gauestons funerals whose Body with great pompe hee caused to bee transferred from the place of his former buriall which was among the Friers Preachers at Oxford to Kings-Langley in Hertfordshire where hee in person with the Archbishoppe of Canterbury foure Bishoppes many Abbots and principall Churchmen did honour the exequies but few were present of the Nobility whose great stomackes would not giue them leaue to attend Somewhat also to sweeten these generall acerbities Lewelin Bren and his two sonnes were brought vp prisoners to London hauing burnt many towns vpon the Marches and committed some murthers with their Welsh adherents 29 Meane-while the state of the Kingdome was miserable there being no loue betwixt the King and the Peeres nor any great care in him or them of the common affaires neuerthelesse they assembled at a Parliament in London where no great matter was concluded for the famine and pestilence encreased The famine was growne so terrible that horse dogs yea men and children were stolne for food and which is horrible to thinke the theeues newly brought into the Gaoles were torne in peeces and eaten presently halfe aliue by such as had been longer there In London it was proclaimed that no corne should be conuerted to Brewers vses which Act the King moued with compassion toward his Nation imitating caused to bee executed through all the Kingdome otherwise saith Walsingham the greater part of the people had died with penury of bread The bloudie flux or dissenterie caused through raw and corrupt humors engendred by euil meat and diet raged euery where and together with other maladies brought such multitudes of the poorer sort to their end that the liuing could scarse suffice to bury the dead 30 The King was now in so great dislike and distrust with the Lords and Barons that they would not appeare at Clarendon where hee held a great Councell To augment this fatall auersion a certaine Knight belonging to Iohn Earle Warren stole away from Caneford in Dorsetshire the wife of Thomas Earle of Lancaster chiefe of the Lords faction not without the Kings consent as it was said and brought her to the said Earle Warrens Castle at Rigate with great pompe and in despight of the Earle whom one Richard de Saint Maurice a wretched lame and bunchbackt Dwarfe challenged for wife pretending that he was formerly contracted and had lien with her which she the greatest and noblest Inheretrix of her time did openly confesse to her immortall infamie incurring alas saith Walsingham the publike note of a most filthie strump◅t This deformed Elfe hauing mighty seconds durst hereupon claime the Earledomes of Lincolne and Salisburie as in her right and in the meane time the name and honor of Thomas the great Earle was baffold as it were by a light and wicked woman 31 The parts of England beyond Humber were now more and more afflicted for such as till then had opposed themselues against the Scots in defence of the Country perceiuing all things left at large in stead of Protectors became Tyrants saith our Author of defenders destroyers and of valiant Champions treacherous Chapmen so that as
issue RICHARD THE SECOND KING OF ENGLAND AND FRANCE LORD OF IRELAND THE FIFTIETH MONARCH OF ENGLAND HIS RAIGNE ACTS AND TROVBLES CHAPTER XIII RIchard of Burdeaux sonne to that Great Star of English Cheualrie Edward by-named the Blacke Prince and grand-child to the most renowned Edward the third both of them lately deceased was crowned in the eleuenth yeare of his age and vpon the sixteenth day of Iuly Seldome hath been seen so magnificent a Coronation as that of this young King but the thing which gaue a better lustre of hope at his beginning then the shine and maiesty of that publike Act was the wise course which in this his childhood was taken to wit the reconciliation of the Lord Iohn Duke of Lancaster and the Citizens of London with the restitution of Sir Peter de la Mare Knight Speaker in the late Parliament whom King Edward had committed to prison at the instigation of Dame Alice Peeres now banisht and confiscated not onely to former liberty but likewise to fauour and honor extraordinary 2 At this Coronation which as matters not vnworthie to bee kept aliue wee following the immethodicall order of the Record haue here for perpetuall memory thought good to abridge out of authentike Monuments Iohn the Kings eldest vncle vnder the stile of Iohn King of Castile and Leâ—… and Duke of Lancaster by humble petition to the King claimed to bee now Steward of England in right of his Earledome of Leicester and as he was Duke of Lancaster to beare the Kings chiefe sword called Curtana and as Earle of Lincolne to cutte and carue at the royall Table before the King His petitions being found iust were confirmed to him and to his Assignes the two Earles of Derby and Stafford the first to beare the Sword while the Duke should be busied about other offices as Steward and the other to cut and carue The Duke then in great estate held this the Kings high Court of Stewardship in the VVhite-hall of the Kings Pallace at Westminster Knight the Constable thereof which yet the Earle of Northumberland vpon the ninth day after recouered by force putting those who had surprized it to the sword 9 Neither was the spirit of the English after it began to requicken idle elsewhere for as Sir Robert Rous had diuers wayes vexed the French and taken Olâ—…uer the brother of that renowned Bertrand de Glequin prisoner so Sir Iohn de Harleston Captaine of Cherbrough after him slew and took diuers French in a skirmish These the few foregoing drops of greater approaching showers For Sir Hugh Caluerlee and Sir Thomas Percy made admirals of the narrow Seas tooke many rich prizes and exploited sundry other things very praise worthily bringing home the acceptable newes of the dislike which the Britons had conceiued against the French Kings Gouernment for he commanded them to render vp to him all their strengths Castles and walled Townes and many of them who refused to obey hee put to death 10 These emploiments and fresh designes for other like found need of pecuniary supplies whereupon in a Parliament holden at London it was agreed that for supply of the Kings wants the Commons should be spared and the burthen be wholie vndergone by the able The rates then of that taxe were these Dukes Archbishops Earles and Bishops at ten marks each mitred Abbots at as much besides fortie pence for euery Monke vnder their subiection Briefly saith Thomas Walsingham there was no religious person man or woman Iustitiar Sheriffe Knight Esquire Parson Vicar or Chauntry Priest free from this taxâ—… rated according to the value of their yeerely receiptâ—… 11 We formerlie mentioned how Iohn Shakell the other companion of Robert Haulee so execrablie murdered in Gods-house was taken He now vpon condition that the King besides 500. markes in money should giue him lands to the yeerely value of one hundreth markes and should also found and sufficiently endow at the Kings costs a Chantrie with fiue Priests for their soules whom the kings Officers had wickedly murthered he rendred vp his Hostage the eldest but naturall sonne of the said Earle of Dean At the discouery and bringing-forth of whom all men were stroken with wonderfull loue and admiration for the yong Gentleman hauing giuen his faith not to disclose himselfe appeared in the shape of a base groome in which vnknowne to all the world but his Master hee had of his owne accord lurked An example of such a point of perfect honestie as cannot be forgotten without iniurie 12 The same yeere the Lord Iohn Mountford whom the French had driuen out being inuited home by his Barons returned into his Dutchy of Britaine accompanied with the valiant Knights Caluerley and Percy aforesaid where he his friends and followers were receiued with singular honor Soone after Sir Iohn of Arundell brother to the Earle of Arundell being sent into Britaine to aid the Duke was with many other valiant Knights and Esquires drowned It is imputed by our Author to a iust effect of Gods anger against the said Sir Iohn and his houshold for their manifold vices and outrages practised by him and them before they set out from England for which they had the bitter curses of the people and the Angell of destruction to execute those imprecations vpon the delinquents 13 But the action of â—…iding did more deepely import then that it should bee abandoned for the losse of that vnfortunate fellowship and the exceeding riches which were with them therefore the Lord Thomas of Woodstock Earle of Buckingham with Caluerlee Percy Knols Windleshores or Windsor verie valiant knights other competent forces was sent to assist the Duke of Britaine But because the French Galleys houered vpon the narrow Seas they landed at Calleys and from thence march through France spoiling Countries burning townes the French not daring to empeach them and killing people till they and their whole equipage came safe into Britaine 14 There were about these times ciuill diuisions in France for the Duke of Burgundie younger brother of King Charles lately dead being made Guardian of the person and dominions of his Nephew Charles then in minority had the Duke of Aniou being an elder brother to the Duke of Burgundie a mortall enemie Their bloudy quarrels fell out luckily for the English aides in the Dutchie of Britaine out of which as Duke Iohn had beene driuen for adhering to his father in law the late king Edward so the English did their best to vphold him in it as there was cause 15 The French in these extremes are releeued by their ancient diuersion for the Scots entring about that time with fire and sword into Cumberland and Westmerland and the forrest of Inglewood draue away much Cattle slew the Inhabitants rifled the booths and houses of Perith in the Faire time killing and taking many and driuing away the rest The Earle of Northumberland preparing a bloudy
both by Clergy and Laity Hereupon the Lord Henry Percy Hotspur who had redeemed himself was called from his charge at Callis and made Warden of the Marches against Scotland Thomas Moubray Earle of Nottingham succeeding in the Captaineship of Calys The Dukes chargefull emploiment in France bare no other flower then a yeeres short truce 89 The Kings wants still encreasing with his imploiments the Londoners carried away with euill counsell did a thing most vnworthy of their Citie and themselues and it might to them haue proued as hurtfull as it was vnworthy at such time as the King desired the loane but of one thousand pounds which was not onely churlishly denied but a certaine Lumbard honestly offering to lend the same was badly vsed beaten and almost slain Their liberties for that and other disorders are seised and their proper Magistracy dissolued Guardians being giuen them first Sir Edward Dallinging then Sir Baldwin Radington and their Maior and some chiefe Citizens layed in prisons farre off from London The punishment brought the fowlenesse of their errors to their sight but by the Duke of Glocesters intercessions who did not vnwillingly lay hold vpon such occasions of popularity the king and Queene are wonne to enter the City which gaue them triumphall entertainement The sea is not sodainely calmed after a tempest neither a Princes anger By degrees yet and not without deare repentance they were at last restored to their former condition in all points 90 The king declaring his purpose to crosse into Ireland had an aide of money conditionally granted foure yeeres truce by the trauaile of the two Dukes of Lancaster and Glocester being concluded in France This yeere was farther notable for many great Funerals Constance Dutchesse of Aquitaine and Lancaster a Lady of great Innocency and deuotion the Countesse of Derby her daughter in law Isabel the Dutchesse of Yorke and a Lady noted for too great a finenesse and delicacy yet at her death shewing much repentance and sorrow for her loue to those pestilent vanities left this present life But all the griefe for their deaths did in no sort equall that of the kings for the losse of his owne Queene Anne which about the same time hapned at Sheene in Surrey whom he loued euen to a kind of madnesse but Ladies onely died not for Sir Iohn Hawkwood whose cheualrie had made him renowned ouer the Christian world did in this yeere depart an aged man out of this world in Florence where his ashes remaine honoured at this present with a stately Tombe and the statue of a Man at Armes erected by the gratitude of that State and City which chiefly by his conduct courage and valour to this day admired amongst them was preserued The Italian Writers both Historians and Poets highlie celebrating his matchlesse prowesse enstyle him Anglorum decus decus addite genti Italicae Italico prasidiumque Solo. Englands prime honour Italies renowne Who vpheld all Italie from sinking down But the Duke of Lancaster hauing all things ready sets saile to Burdeaux there with the consent of the State to take possession of his lately granted Dutchie 91 The King doth the like for Ireland where that sort of the Irish which are called the wild had greatly inuested the English Pale and other good Subiects there to the great dammage of the Crown of England In the times of Edward the third Ireland yeelded to the kings coffers thirty thousand pounds yeerly but now things were so grown out of order that it cost the King thirty thousand Marks by yeere To reduce the rebellious himselfe conducts thither an Armie attended vpon by the Duke of Glocester the Earles of March Nottingham and Rutland all the Irish being commanded to auoid out of England The terror of the preparatiōs shining presence of a king which aboue al worldly things is pleasāt to the Irish had such effects that sundry great men were compelled to submit themselues To supply the Kings wants growne in the Irish expedition Edmund D. of Yorke the Kings vncle and Custos or Warden of England called a Parliament at London whither the Duke of Glocester repaired to declare the Kings wants and hath contributions granted Neuerthelesse so strong a party against the Clergy Fryarly abuses of those times discouered it selfe therein that the Archbishop of Yorke the Bishop of London and others prest ouer Sea to the King at Dublin beseeching him to returne the sooner to represse the Lollards so called they the embracers of Wicliffes doctrine and their fauourers who sought not onely as they vntruly pretended to wring away all the possessions of the Church but that which was worse to abrogate and destroy al Ecclesiasticall constitutions whereas they aimed onely at the redresse of exorbitancy in the Papal Clergy The King hereupon returnes by whose arriuall and authority those consultations of the Laity were laid downe Sir Richard Storie a seruant of his had been forward against the Prelates of him therefore hee takes an oath vpon the holy Gospell that he should not hold such opinions any longer The Knight takes that oath and we saith the King doe sweare that if thou doest breake it thou shalt die a most shamefull death The rest hearing the Lion roare so terribly drew in their hornes and would be seen no more 92 The King caused the body of the late Duke of Ireland to bee brought into England His exceeding loue to him was such that he commanded the Cypresse chest wherein his body lay embalmed to bee opened that hee might see view handle and openly expresse his affection The dead remaines of that noble young Gentleman by his birthright Earle of Oxford and by race a Vere were buried at the Priorie of Coln in Essex there being present the King himselfe the Countesse Dowager of Oxford the Dukes mother the Archbishoppe of Canterburie with many Bishops Abbots and religious persons but few of the Lords for they had not as yet digested the hate they bare him 93 The Duke of Lancaster was this while in Aquitaine where he had sought to winne the people with incredible largesse to accept of his Soueraignty according to the tenor of King Richards grant Little did he then thinke that within lesse then sixescore and three yeeres after an Ambassador of King Henry the 8. should write thus of Burdeaux it selfe the Capitall City of Gascoign and Guien Anglorum nulla ferè vestigia remanent c. There are saith that learned Gentleman scarse any foot-prints of the Englishmen remaining In the Churches and other places newly refreshed and reedified such Armories of the English as stood were vtterly blotted and defaced yet in the Church of the Fryers Preachers the Armories of the Duke of Lancaster stand entire in a Glasse-window and in the oldest wall of the City those also of England though consumed in a manner with age The Lawes Statutes and Ordinations which were
had as some say suborned Edward Earle of Arundel Thomas Earle Marshall Thomas Holland Earle of Kent Iohn Holland Earle of Huntington Thomas Beaufort Earle of Somerset Iohn Montacute Earle of Salisbury Thomas Lord Spencer and Sir William Scroope Lord Chamberlaine 100 In September begins the Parliament at London where the king had a great guard of Chesshire men to secure his person and the Lords attended also not without sufficient numbers The Kings chiefe Agents were Sir Iohn Bushy Sir William Bagod and Sir Henry Greene knights In the first act after the liberties of the Church and people confirmed we find these words The commons of the Parliament haue shewed to our Souereigne Lord the King how in the Parliament holden at Westminster the first day of October in the tenth yeere of his reigne Thomas Duke of Glocester and Richard Earle of Arundell traitours to the King and his Realme and his people by false imagination and compassing caused a Commission to bee made c. and that the said Duke of Glocester and Earle of Arundel did send a great man and Peere of the Realme in message to our Lord the King who of their part said that if he would not grant and assent to the said Commission HEE SHOVLD DE IN GREAT PERIL OF HIS LIFE and so as well the said Commission as the said Statute touching the said Commission were made by constraint c. Wherefore the Commons pray their Soueraigne Lord the King that the said Commission c be vtterly anulled as a thing done TRAITEROVSLY c. 101 The sanctuary of former lawes and all particular Charters of pardon being now taken away from the Duke Earle and others they lay open to manifest ruine The Duke of Lancaster sate in iudgement as High Steward vpon Richard Earle of Arundel where for no other but for the old attempts though the other accusations seeme to haue been auerred by the eight Appellants by which as ye haue heard so many were displaced and put to death hee adiudged him to die that soule death of a common Traitor but the King satisfied himselfe with onely his head which was at one stroake taken of at Tower-hill That he was a traitour either in word or deede he vtterly did deny and died in that deniall The constancy of this Earles carriage aswell at his arraignement passage and execution as in which he did not discolour the honour of his blood with anie degenerous word looke or action encreased the enuie of his death vpon the prosecutors The Earle of Warwicke confessed with teares and as some say drawne by faire hope of life that in adhering to the Duke of Glocester in those ridings and assemblies hee was guilty of treason The same sentence was therefore pronounced vpon him The King neuerthelesse did only banish him into the I le of Man But the Duke of Glocester whom as the peoples darling it seemed not safe to bring to a publike triall was secretlie smothered at Calis with pillowes and feather-beds 102 The great Parliament for so it seemes to haue beene called by reason of the extraordinarie numbers of Peeres and their retinues which came thereunto was holpen by adiournment at Shewsbury In it those Iustitiars who were partly put to death and partly banished but all attainted at such time as the Duke of Glocester and the rest were in armes doe all of them stand thereby cleared from dishonor and such Articles as they subscribed being together with their answeres set downe in the Act are publikely ratified and the offendors against them pronounced Traitours Amongst these Articles one conteining these great Lawyers iudgements concerning the orderly proceedings in al Parliament is very obseruable That after the cause of such assembly is by the Kings commandement there declared such Articles as by the King are limitted for the Lords and Commons to proceed in are first to bee handled but if any should proceed vpon other Articles and refuse to proceed vpon those limitted by the King till the King had first answered their proposals contrary to the Kings command such doing herein contrary to the rule of the King are to be punished as Traitors But the King to content all parts and to kindle new lights in the place of such as he had extinguished hauing first created himselfe Prince of Chester made his cosen Henry Earle of Derby Duke of Hereford the Earle of Rutland Duke of Aumarl the Earle of Nottingham Duke of Norfolke the Earle of Kent Duke of Surrey the Earle of Huntington Duke of Excester the Earle of Somerset Marquesse Dorset the Lord Spencer Earle of Glocester the Lord Neuile Earle of Westmorland William Scrope Earle of Wiltshire Thomas Percy Earle of Worcester The King also saith Walsingham added to his Scucheon Royall the armories of Saint Edward King and confessor 103 The formost in this goodly ranke being Henry Duke of Hereford not long after accused Thomas Duke of Norfolke of certaine words sounding to the kings dishonour which hee should priuately vtter to the said Henry Polydor though very negligently hee makes Mowbray the Accuser and Hereford Defendant may yet be heard in reporting the effect of the words as That King Richard held the Peeres of the land in no account but as much as lay in him sought to destroy them by banishing some and putting others to death That hee neuer troubled his mind with considering how his Dominions were diminished through his Idlenesse Finally that all things went to wracke as well in peace as war But the Duke of Norfolke who vnlesse it had beene to feele how the Duke of Herefords heart was affected to the king had little reason so to complaine most constantly denying that euer he spake such wordes it should haue come to a combat within lists but the king to â—…uoid as hee pretended such deadly fewds as might rise in the families of two such potent Peeres but indeed to bee rid of an enemie with the losse of a friend banished Norfolke for euer and Hereford first for ten yeeres then for sixe Walsingham saith that this censure was giuen against Norfolke vpon that very day in which the yeere before he by the kings commandement had taken order for putting to death the Duke of Glocester at Callis whereof the said Duke of Norfolke had the Captaineship 104 Fearefull were the tragedies which ensued these times and heare now what is written of some Portents or wonders presaging the same The Bay or Laurell trees withered ouer all England and afterward reflourished contrary to many mens opinion and vpon the first of Ianuary neere Bedford towne the riuer between the villages of Swelston and Harleswood where it was deepest did vpon the sodaine stand still and so diuided it selfe that the bottome remained drie for about three miles space which seemed saith Walsingham to portend that reuolt from the King and the diuision which ensued 105 Roger Mortimer Earle of March
Lieutenant of Ireland hauing in the yeere before while he too much trusted to his owne Forces been slaine with very many others by O-Brin and the Irish of Leinster at a place called Kenlis King Richard determines in person to reuenge the bloud of his Noble kinsman being the man to whom hee meant the Crowne of England if issue failed to himselfe Hee remembred not how broken an estate hee had in England where the peoples hearts were strongly alienated not onely for the death of the late great Lords and banishment of the Duke of Hereford whose calamitie encreased his popularity or for the like passed exasperations but for that to furnish his Irish voyage he had extorted money on al hands taking vp carriages victuals and other necessaries without any recompence whereby the hatred of his gouernment grew vniuersall 106 But the euill fortune which hung ouer his head laid forth an alluring baite to haste his destruction by occasion of the Duke of Lancasters decease which hapned about Candlemas and the absence of his banished sonne and heire Lord Henry The king most vniustly seizeth vpon the goods of that mighty Prince his vncle as if all things now were lawfull which but liked him he determines to banish the new rightfull Duke of Lancaster Henrie not for a few yeeres but for euer for which cause hee reuoked his Letters Patents granted to the said Henry by which his Atturnyes were authorised to sue his Liuerie and to compound for the respite of his homage at a reasonable rate whereby he made it seem plaine to the world that hee had not banished him to auoid dissentions but as many said to fill vp the breaches which his riote had made in the roiall treasures with plentifull though an vndue Escheate as that of his deceased vncles fortune 107 The one stedfast base and buttresse of all lawfull Empire is Iustice that supports the kinglie throne This he ouerthrew and how then could himselfe hope to stand long He lands at Waterford in Ireland with a Nauie of two hundreth ships hauing with him the sonne of the late Duke of Glocester and of the now Duke of Lancaster to secure himselfe the rather His forces consisted much of Cheshire men But that king is deceiued who reposeth his safetie in violence It was no great matter hee did there that which fell out to bee done elsewhere was great indeed His warre in Ireland was more dammagefull then fishing with an hooke of gold for here the baite and hooke was not onely lost but the line rod and himselfe were drawne altogether into the depthes of irrecouerable ruine Duke Henry sees the aduantage which King Richards absence gaue him and vseth it In his Companie were Thomas Arundel the banished Archbishoppe of Canterbury and his Nephew the sonne and heire of the late Earle of Arundel and not aboue fifteen Lanciers His strength was where the Kings should haue beene in the peoples hearts Neuerthelesse the Duke did not sodainely take land but houered vpon the Seas shewing himselfe to the Country people in one place now and then in another pretending nothing but the recouery of his rightfull Heritage 108 Edmund Duke of Yorke whom King Richard had left behind him to gouerne England hearing this cals vnto him Edmund Stafford Bishoppe of Chichester Lord Chancellor the Earle of Wiltshire Lord Treasurer and the Knights of the Kings Councell Bushie Bagot Greene and Russell Their conclusion was to leuie a force to impeach Duke Henries entrance The assembly was appointed to bee at S. Albans which came to worse then nothing for the protestation that they would not hurt the Duke whom they knew to bee wronged was generall This made the Treasurer Sir Iohn Bushie and Sir Henrie Greene flie to the Castle of Bristoll Sir William Bagot to Chester from whence he got shipping into Ireland Meane while Duke Henry lands at a village heretofore called Rauenshire to whom repaired Henry Earle of Northumberland his sonne Henry Lord Percie lands at Neuill Earle of Westmerland and many others who saith Walsingham greatly feared King Richards tyrannie With an Armie of about threescore thousand multitudes offering their seruice they come to Bristoll besiege the Castell take it and in the same the foresaid Treasurer Bushie and Greene whose heades at the cries of the Commons were the next day after their surrender seuered from their bodies 109 King Richard was in the City of Dublin when these most heauie newes arriued His courage which at no time seemed great was shortly none at all Somewhat must bee done hee leaues the sons of Duke Henry of his late vncle of Glocester which hee retained as pledges for his owne indemnity in the Castell of Trim and returnes himselfe into England entending to encounter the Duke before his force should bee too much established The great names which accompanied him were his late noble Creatures the young Dukes of Aumarle Excester and Surrey the Bishops of London Lincolne and Carleol and many others There had beene some more hope for vpholding his right if hee had not made the worlde know that tenne yeers space was not able to burie in him the appetite of reuenge which made many forget their owne loyalty to him and the Crowne Princes see in him the vse of obliuion but some conscience of euill deserts seeming to haue taken from him all confidence he dismisseth his Armie bidding his Steward Sir Thomas Percy others to reserue themselues for better dayes 110 His last refuge is in Parlea For that cause there repaired to him at the Castell of Conway in Northwales for thither he was now come the late Archbishoppe of Canterbury and the Earle of Northumberland at the Kings appointment The sum of his demaundes were that if hee and eight whome he would name might haue honourable allowance with the assurance of a quiet priuate life he would resigne his Crowne This Northumberland did sweare should be whereupon he forthwith departs to the Castle of Flint in their company After a short conference there had with the Duke they all ride that night to the Castell of Chester being attended by the Lancastrian Armie If to spare his peoples bloud he was contented so tamely to quit his royall right his fact doth not onely not seeme excusable but glorious but men rather thinke that it was sloth and a vaine trust in dissimulation which his enemies had long since discouered in him and for that cause both held his amendment desperate and ran themselues into these desperate Treasons 111 The King did put himselfe into the Dukes hands vpon the twentieth day of August beeing but the forty and seuenth from the Dukes first landing From thence they trauell to London where the King lodged in the Tower Meane while writs of Summons are sent out in King Richards name for a Parliament to bee holden at Westminster Crastino Michaelis The tragicall forme of Resignation you haue had already in Edward the second of whom this
King is a Parallel There are named to haue been present at this wofull-ioyfull Act Arundel Archbishoppe of Canterburie Richard Scrope Archbishoppe of Yorke Iohn Bishoppe of Hereford Henry Duke of Lancaster who in this serious play must seeme as if hee were but a looker on the Earles of Northumberland and Westmerland the Lords Burnell Barckley Ros Willoughby and Abergeuenie the Abbot of Westminster c. 112 In their presence Richard as yet a King and in his Tower of London but not otherwise then as a prisoner reades the Instrument of his surrender with a seeming chearefull countenance as if he were glad the hower was come in which hee might taste what it was to be a priuate man and hauing otherwise first done and said what then he could to put all right out of himselfe subscribes it with his hand but prayes that his Cosen the Duke of Lancaster might succeed him in the regall gouernement and in token that it was his desire for he must seeme to desire what hee could not hinder hee plucked off his Signetring and put it vpon the Dukes finger Then did he constitute the Archbishoppe of Yorke and Bishop of Hereford his Procurators to declare to the whole Body of Parliament what he had done how willingly where euery one except the loyal magnanimous Bishop of Carleol being particularly asked did particularly accept of the resignation Neuerthelesse it was not thought inough to haue his Crowne vnlesse they also published his shame Thirty and two Articles are therefore openly but in his absence read of all which it was said for then men might say what they listed that he had confessed himselfe guilty In the front was placed his abuse of the publike treasure and vnworthy waste of the Crown-land whereby he grew intollerably grieuous to the Subiects The particular causes of the Dukes of Glocester and Lancaster the Archbishop of Canterburie and Earle of Arundel filled sundry Articles They charged him in the rest with dissimulation falshood losse of honour abroad in the world extortions rapine deniall of Iustice rasures and embezelling of Records dishonourable shifts wicked Axiomes of state cruelty couetousnesse subordinations lasciuiousnesse treason to the rights of the Crown periuries and briefly with all sorts of vnkingly vices and with absolute tyranny 113 We may be assured that nothing could then be obiected so vntrue or incredible but would haue gone for current and vndenyable with affections so throughly prepared Hereupon it was concluded that in all those thirty and two Articles hee had broken the Oath of Empire taken at the Coronation al the States of the Kingdom strange that so many should so concurre in disloyalty vnder pretence of equity being asked what they thought did hold that those causes seemed notorious and sufficient to depose King Richard Commissioners were therefore nominated by consent of the whole house to pronounce the sentence of Deposition which were the Bishop of Asaph the Abbot of Glassenbury the Earle of Glocester the Lord Barkly William Thyrning Chiefe Iustice of the common Pleas and some others The forme of pronuntiation was IN THE NAME OF GOD AMEN We Iohn Bishop of Saint Asaph Iohn Abbat c. Commissioners specially chosen by the Lords spirituall and temporall of the Realme of England and Commons of the said Realme representing all the States of the said Realme sitting in place of iudgement c. 114 The definitiue sentence of Deposition giuen thus in open Parliament there were further named certaine persons amongst whom William Thirning Chiefe Iustice of the Cōmon Pleas was thoght the fittest man by whose lawlesse mouth that vniust doome should be deliuered to the King and who on the behalfe of the Realme should renounce to the said Richard the fealties and homages heretofore made vnto him and to make relation of the whole manner and causes of their proceedings The Regall seate was now reputed void whereupon Duke Henrie riseth from his place and stands vpright that hee might be seene of the people then signing himselfe with the signe of the Crosse vpon the forehead and breast and inuocating the name of Christ he challenged the Crown and Realm of England with all the members and appurtenances His words are said to be these In the name of God Amen I Henry of Lancaster claime the Realme of England and the Crowne with all the appurtenances as comming by the blood royall from King Henry and by that iustice which God of his grace hath sent to me by the helpe of my kinfolke and friends for recouery of the said Realme which was in point of perdition through default of Gouernment and breach of lawes 115 Which challenge and claime being thus made all the States of the Kingdome doe with one consent grant that the said Lord Duke should reigne ouer them The Archbishop of Canterbury brother to the late Earle of Arundel takes him then by the right hand and the Archbishop of Yorke the late Earle of Wiltshires kinseman being his assistant placeth him in the royall throne with the generall acclamation and applauses of the people Lastly in full complement of the present solemnity the Archbishoppe of Canterburie that we may see how the Diuinity as well as the Law of those times were degenerated into temporizing Policie made a Sermon vpon these words in Samuel A Man shall raigne ouer the People By occasion whereof hee describeth out of the holy Scriptures the happinesse of that Kingdom which is gouerned by a man and the infelicity of those Realmes where a Child whether in age or discretion weeldes the Scepter The euill whereof as they had dangerously felt vnder the late King so they hoped abundantly to enioy the other in King Henry To all which the whole Auditorie ioyously answered Amen Then rose the affable new Monarch among a few other words hee gaue the world to vnderstand that none should thinke hee would as by way of Conquest disinherite any man certaine bad members onelie excepted 116 From henceforth hee was taken for King and all Writs issued and went forth in his name which disorderly matters being orderly related to the deposed Prince in the Tower by Thirning the Chiefe Iustice hee onely vsed these words That hee looked not after such things but quoth he my hope is that after all this my cosen will bee my good Lord and friend The Archbishop otherwise inexcusable in those proceedings yet in his said Sermon seemeth grauely and truly to haue described the cause of this effect for quoth hee the child or insipient which are with him aequiparable drinketh the sweet and delicious words vnaduisedly and perceiueth not intoxication which they beene mingled with till hee bee enuironed and wrapped in all dauger as lately the experience thereof hath beene apparant to all our sights and knowledges and not without the great danger of all this Realme Being thus brought downe to the show and littlenesse of a priuate man wee leaue
bed there lay hidden a Galtrop or Engine with three small yron pikes long slender and passing sharpe all of them with their points set vpward but God so disposing it the King before hee laid himselfe downe perceiued them and thereby auoided that hidden mischiefe but who was actor therein it doth not appeare 25 This appeares that the splendors of his new regality had drawne vp many thicke and poisonous cloudes of enuie and practise to darken if it were possible the farther brightnesse thereof Neither was it long before it grew to some extremity For Owen Glendowr vpon the causes beforesaid wasting the Lord Reynald Grayes lands was encountred by him as presuming that Owen and his friendes might easily be ouercome but the contrary hapned for there in fight hee lost very many of his companie and was himselfe taken Prisoner This fortune made the swelling mind of Owen ouerflow in vaine hopes who compelling the said Lord to marry his daughter yet obtained hee not his liberty the sooner but died say some in the power of Owen if perhaps our Author mistake not the Lord Gray for Edmund Lord Mortimer Earle of March who indeed did marrie so after hee was also ouerthrowne by the said Owen with the slaughter of aboue a thousand principall persons of Herefordshire assembled vnder his conduct to resist the Welsh inuasions and there also himselfe was by trecherie taken prisoner 26 Walsingham doth write that about this time sundrie conspiracies were discouered in the yolke as it were or embrion the whole hopes whereof rested vpon calumniations and forgery for by the first they traduced in libels Henries actions so to make him hatefull and by the second they diuulged that Richard was still aliue thereby to raise an head of separation Henry thus galled in his honour and endangered in the main resolued to spare none vpon whom the crime or concealement was found The first of them that fell vnder his iustice was a Priest of Ware with whom was taken a list or roll of names which hee had gathered supposing them such as in regard of benefites receiued would liue and die for King Richard which vanitie of his created trouble to many till it appeared that he had therein wronged them as persons who were vtterlie ignorant both of the man and matter Whereupon hee was drawne and hanged The like fate had Walter Baldocke Prior of Lawnd who confest that he had concealed others counsels against the King though himselfe had acted nothing A Frier Minor also being taken with some other of his Order for like intendments was asked What hee would doe if King Richard were aliue and present hee confidently answered that hee would fight for him till death against any whosoeuer which cost him his life being drawn and hanged in his Fryars weeds Neither did this hard fortune fall onely vpon the Clergy for Sir Roger Claringdon Knight reputed the base sonne of Edward late Prince of Wales together with an Esquier and seruant of his finished the affection which they bare to the deceased Richard by hanging Not long after eight Franciscan Fryars or Minorites were taken conuicted hanged and headed for the like causes which made the King an heauy Lord to that whole Order It is said that somewhat before this knot was discouered the diuell appeared in the habit of a Minorite at Danbury Church in Essex to the incredible astonishment of the parishioners for at the same time there was such a Tempest thunder with great fire-bals of lightning that the vault of the church brake and halfe the Chancell was carried away 27 But howsoeuer these out-branches were pared away the rootes of all the practise lay deeper out of sight for the Percies Henry Earle of Northumberland Thomas Earle of Worcester and Henrie Hotspur Lord Percy because perhaps they thought they had done wickedly in helping to set vp Henry beganne to imagine that bloudy mischiefe which afterward was prosecuted This malice the late successe of Owen Glendowr against the Lord Mortimer Earle of March taken prisoner as is said with no little slaughter of his Herefordshire men did perhaps nourish for that hee saw an enemie appeare who was not vnlikely to proue an able member of a greater rebellion Certainely the King hauing in September led an Armie into Wales to take reuenge vpon his Rebels was in great danger to haue perished with sodaine stormes and raines the like whereof none of his people had euer felt or seene so that after he had done some wasts vpon the Country hee returned The common fame went that Owen was a Coniurer and had raised those hideous tempests by hellish arts they seemed so excessiue which whether true or false did yet impart no little strength to the Welsh faction 28 The Kings fortune was happier in the North where his Lieutenants had two faire victories the one at Nisbet and the other at Halidowne-hill neere to a village called Woller And although the first was not a small one yet the other deserued the name of a iust battell and garland To the Scots hauing with aboue ten thousand men vnder conduct of Archibald Earle of Dowglas whom the Scots nick-named Tyne-man because he neuer wanne field though no sort of true manhood was wanting in his person made great spoiles in England as farre as to Newcastle and were now vpon returne Henrie Percie Earle of Northumberland the noble Henry Hotspur Lord Percie his sonne and George Earle of Dunbar who fled as you haue heard out of Scotland with the forces of the Countries there about not meaning to let them to passe in so slight a sort opposed themselues The chiefe feare was wrought by the English Archers who first with their stiffe close and cruell stormes of arrowes made their enemies footmen breake and when the noble Dowglasse descended to the charge with his choisest bands himselfe being in a most rich and excellently tempered armour and the rest singularly well appointed the Lord Percies Archers making a retreat did withall deliuer their deadly arrowes tam viuidè tam animosè tam grauitèr saith our Monke so liuely so couragiously so grieuously that they ranne through the men of Armes bored the helmets pierced their very swords beate their lances to the earth and easily shot those who were more slightly armed through and through There were taken prisoners the Earle of Dowglas himselfe who notwithstanding his armour of the best proofe had fiue wounds and lost an eye Murdake Stewart Earle of Fife eldest sonne to Robert Duke of Albanie George Earle of Angus the Earles of Murrey and Orkney the Lords Montgomerie Erskin and Grane with about fourscore Knights besides Esquiers and Gentlemen There were slaine the Lords Gourdon and Swyntonn Belindens Boetius cals them Knights with sundrie other men of honour and marke beside store of common souldiers The riuer Tweed to shew it selfe meere English did likewise fight for them by
swallowing about fiue hundreth in his vnknowne depthes as they who fled from the battell sought to passe This victory hapned vpon Holyrood in haruest The troubles which afterward hapned did not onely hinder the Lord Percie from farther prosecution of such a victorie but eclypsed the honour hee had gotten now and gaue his dayes a bloudy foule Catastrophe 29 The Lord Edmund Mortimer Earle of March next generall heire in bloud to the Crowne of England after the death of Richard the second hauing through feare of Owen whose prisoner hee was or hope of recouering his right or for reuenge because the King did not ransom him married Owens daughter by which hee must necessarily declare himselfe an enemie to King Henrie entertained intelligence with his neere kinsmen the Percies and sundry other his friends in Cheshire and elsewhere to what purpose will shortly appeare The night in which this Lord Mortimer though some referre it to Owens birth was born all the horses in his fathers stable are said to haue bin found standing Belly-deep in bloud A fearefull prodigie as euen then it seemed but verified afterward in the farre more fearefull euents when vpon the quarrell of Mortimers title by which the house of Yorke claimed the horses of warre did not onely stand belly-deepe in bloud but also swam therein The mischiefe was already begun for Henry Earle of Northumberland when now his owne and his houses strengths were mightily encreased by this late victory against the Scots which he vnder-hand seemes to haue conuerted to his secret priuate ends closely animated his brother the Earle of Worcester and his fiery spirited son against the King to both their confusions 30 The King tooke to wife the Lady Iane of Nauarre widdow of Iohn de Montfort Duke of Britaine named the Conquerour who died the yeere before by whom she had issue both sons and daughters but by the King none He met and married her at Winchester and crowned her Queene at Westminster The King was not trusted with the custody of any her three sonnes Iohn Richard Arthur who remained in France 31 Euents are the best interpreters of prophesies and prodigies Strange was that which Walsingham hath written of a fatall Spectrum or Apparitions in the summer time betweene Bedford and Bickleswade where sundry monsters of diuers colours in the shapes of armed men were often seene to issue out of the woods at morning and at noone which to such as stood farre off seemed to encounter one the other in most terrible manner but when they drew neer nothing was to be found Of another nature were the fiery attempts of the Percies The first of them who discouered in armes his mortall hatred was the noble Hotspur who vnder colour of the Scottish warre made head about Chester and the marches of Wales To him by the priuitie of Hotspurs father repaires the naughtie old man the Earle of Worcester leauing the young Prince of Wales and the Princes houshold ouer both which for their better Gouernment the King had placed him Now was the torch of warre lighted vp and began to blaze for though the chiefe plot-master the Earle of Northumberland was not ioined to them as hee did intend yet were their numbers growne mightily with which they meant to enter the Towne of Shrewsbury to make thereof a Seat of warre 32 Colourable causes of their armes were the ordinarie paintings of the like attempts Care of common-wealths reformation and their owne safeties for hauing first protested their intentions not to be the breach of loyaltie they pretend and by letters sent about doe signifie 1. That the publike monie was not employed vpon the pretended defence of the kingdome but vnduly wasted 2. That by reason of bad tongues about the King they durst not approach him to declare their innocency vnlesse the Prelates and Peeres of the Realme did first intercede for them 3. That they tooke armes onely to guard their owne heads and to see the Kingdome better gouerned These Articles had the place of the Huske but the kernell of the enterprize had principallie these 1. To thrust King Henry out of his seat and consequently to depriue him of life 2. To aduance the title of the Lord Mortimer Earle of Mâ—…ch their neerest Allie for the Earle of Northumberland had married Elizabeth the daughter of the Lord Edmund Mortimer the elder Earle of March by Philip daughter to Lionel Duke of Clarence 3. To take reuenge of King Henry for seeking to drawe the chiefe benefit to himselfe of the victory at Halidowâ—… hill whose principall prisoners he required and for such other priuate grudges 4. To share the Kingdome betweene Mortimer Percy and Owen Glendower Concerning which partition it is in some found written that Indentures tripartite were sealed showing that South-England should remaine to Mortimer North-England to Percy and Wales beyond Seuern to Glendower But Archembald Earle of Dowglas who did his Countrey good seruice by making one in our Combustions by common consent was allowed for his share to be free from ransome and to haue Berwicke 33 This in our English Adages is called to reckon without our host or to count our chickens before they are hatched But though at this time God would haue it so yet who doth not easily see what a wild horse a kingdome so gotten is and how hard to sit and not to manage onlie Yet it seemeth that if Mortimer hauing so iust a title to the Crowne had openlie professed the cause of his attempt against King Henry it might iustlie haue beene exempted from all staine of disabilitie But this partition is said to haue beene wisely built vpon a sound Welsh prophesie of Merlins as if King Henry were the Mowldwarp cursed of Gods owne mouth and Mortimer Percy and Glendower the Dragon Lyon and Wolfe which should diuide this Realme betweene them Surely the Welsh hauing any hand in such a partition it is not likelie they could thinke it had the right feete if it stood not vpon the supposed Merlins his ridiculous cosenages and riddles The English not to be behind in leasings doe in the meanetime euery where spread that Richard was safe aliue and in the Castle of Chester Who can wonder that this name should be so gratious as if alone it were enough to haue shaken Henry out of his State when Nero himselfe had so many fauorites that twenty yeeres after his death an obscure fellow faining himselfe Nero was so backt and countenanced by the Parthians and others that not without much difficulty the Romans could get him into their hands 34 On the other side King Henry assailed with so vnexpected ieopardies defends his cause by letters and strongly puts the blame vpon the accusers saying That he maruelled exceedingly seeing the Earle of Northumberland and Henry his Sonne had the greatest part of the publike moneys deliuered to them for defence of the borders against
Scotland why they should make that a quarrell which was a meere calumnie And to take away all pretence of feare from the Conspirators hee sends to the Earles of Northumberland and Worcester and to the hot Lord Percie a safe conduct vnder his roiall Seale by which he secures their accesse but vnbridled rashnesse saith Walsingham despising the roiall clemencie did put on the rigour of rebellion Meane while the King armes with all speed against the enemie the rather at the counsell of George Earle of Dunbar who like a valiant man at Armes and a wise friend aduised him so to doe before their aduersaries numbers were too mightily augmented The King with his sonne the young Prince of Wales and a very noble fellowship was now aduanced within sight of Shrewsbury as the gallant Percie stood ready to assault the Towne But so soone as the roiall Standard was discouered that enterprise was left off and he drew out his people being about fourteene thousand choice and hardie bodies of men to try the fortune of war against a well tride warrior 35 Peace notwithstanding by the exceeding tendernesse of the King had ensued but that the mischeeuous Earle of Worcester by misreporting and falsifying his Soueraignes words did precipitate his Nephew into sudden battell If there were any praise or good example to bee drawne out of so detested bloodshed as that of ciuill warre we would willingly describe vnto you the order and actions but we cannot too soone passe ouer such mournfull obiects which are rather to bee celebrated with teares then triumphes There is no doubt but Percie Dowglas and the rest fought terrible Why should we admire that in them So doe Lyons Tygers Beares and yet wee admire them not Where was dutie where conscience where the other respects of which onely we are called men Let none of vs honour or imitate them in whose eyes the price of English blood is so vile as that for priuate fansies they can bee content to confound all regards and make sport for common foes with mutuall massacres Therefore wee will content our selues with the knowledge of Gods part in this daies worke who gaue the garland to the King though the first arrowes flew from the Percies Archers 36 The Kings courage was not small in the fight as neither was the danger the yong Prince of Wales also being then first to enter himselfe into the schoole of blood and battell gaue no small hopes of that perfection which afterward shone in him being wounded with an arrow in the face The Lord Percy and Earle Dowglas then whom the wide world had not two brauer Champions in steed of spending themselues vpon the multitude set the point of their hopes vpon killing the King as in whose person they were sure ten thousand fell For this cause they most furiously rushed forward with speares and swords but the noble Earle of Dunbarre discouering their purpose drew the King from the place which he had chosen to make good and thereby in likelyhood for that present saued his life for the Standard royall was ouerthrowne and among other valiant men the Earle of Stafford Sir Walter Blunt the Kinges Knight and the Standard-bearer himselfe was slaine such was the fury of these sodaine thunderbolts That day the Dowglas slew with his owne hands three in the Kings Coat-armour perhaps some in Heralds Coats though Boetius yet saw a fourth Sure it is that manie of the subiects thought the King was slaine and not a few ranne out of the field Who notwithstanding like a valiant Prince did reenforce the fight performing maruels in armes with his owne hands The slaughter could not be small on both sides the Archers shooting so continually and the men of armes doing their vtmost for about the space of three whole houres 37 That which gaue an end to this wofull worke was the death of Hotspur who ryding in the head of the battell in defiance of danger and death was by an vnknowne hand suddenly killed with whose fall as if his whole army had had but one heart the courages of all others fell into feete which now altogether they trusted to But the King abhorring to make farther execution of the misguided multitude suffered them to shift for themselues The Earles of Worcester and Dowglas Sir Richard Vernon the Baron of Kindlaton and diuers others were taken Of the Kings side was slaine besides the Earle of Stafford ten new Knights whose names as dying in an honest cause deserue immortality and were Sir Hugh Shorly Sir Iohn Clifton Sir Iohn Cokain Sir Nicholas Gausel Sir Walter Blunt Sir Iohn Caluerly Sir Iohn Massie Sir Hugh Mortimer Sir Robert Gausell and Sir Thomas Wendesley who dyed of his hurts not long after as most of the other did about the Standard all which fighting for their spurs as being knighted but that morning bought them with the honourable losse of their whole bodies there were also slaine many Esquires Gentlemen and about one thousand and fiue hundreth common souldiers besides three thousand sorely wounded On the other part omitting that second Mars the Lord Percy who drew a ruine after him sutable to his Spirit and greatnesse there fell most of all the Esquires and Gentlemen of Cheshire to the number of two hundred and about fiue thousand common souldiers This battell was stricken neere to Shrewsbury vpon a Saturday the one and twentieth of Iuly and the Eue of Saint Marie Magdalen 38 The Earle of Worcester the seducer and destroier of his noble Nephew Hotspur and therefore if but for that very worthy to haue dyed Sir Richard Vernon Knight and the Baron of Kinderton had their heads cut off vpon the Monday following Hotspurres body had beene buried by permission but vpon other aduise the King caused it to be drawne out of the graue beheaded quartered and the parts sent into diuers Citties of the Kingdome The Earle of Northumberland pretending to come with forces to the Kings aide was empeached by the Earle of Westmorland and Robert Waterton who had raised a great host Northumberland taking neither of them for friend wheeles about and returnes to his Castle of Warkworth But what can be secure to a subiect against the victorious armie of a martiall King The Earle knew as much manifestly feeling the irrecouerable maimes of his house in the losse of his sonne and brother and therefore shaped his course accordingly The King therefore being altogether as prudent as fortunate hauing setled the state ofthings in the Marches about Shrewsbury sets forward to the City of Yorke from thence to take order for such perils as he foresaw might happen He setled himselfe the more seriouslie and entirelie to this needfull worke for that his Ambassadors had effected an abstinence from warre with France till the first of March which pausing space though it might seeme little was not a little welcome to the King the Realme of England being then
13. of Richard 2. which disabled the Alien Religious to enioy any Benefices within England and now fearing to nourish a snake in his bosome King Henry forbad the French from all preferments Ecclesiasticall and those Priors Aliens conuentual who had institution and induction to put in security not to disclose or cause to be disclosed the counsell nor secrets of the Realme and that the French might hold his dealings honourable and open hee sent Antilop his purseuant at Armes vnto King Charles with letters of defiances next making Queene Ioan his mother in Law the Regent of the land he drew his forces vnto Southampton commaunding his followers there to attend him in readinesse by the feast of Saint Iohn Baptist ensuing 30 Charles the French King expecting present inuasion sent his Ambassadors vnto Iohn the sixt Duke of Britain who had married his daughter with an hundred thousand Crowns to leuie forces for his aide and a Iewell worth fiue thousand Crownes more to himselfe which the Duke promised to come in person to performe And as it is reported King Charles sent to Scrope Grey and Cambridge all three in especiall fauour with the King a million of gold to betray Henry into his hands or to murther him before hee should arriue in Normandy These to make their faction stronger though Scroope was Lord Treasurer Grey a Priuie Councellour Cambridge the sonne of Edmund Duke of Yorke meant to draw in Edmund Earle of March the sonne of Roger Mortimer and lineally the heire vnto Lionell Duke of Clarence the next in succession for the house of Yorke and reuealing their intended purpose forced him to sweare to their secresie which if hee refused they threatned his death whereupon he required but an howres respite which hardly granted he went to the King and reuealed the conspiracie euen the night before the day that hee meant to put to sea 31 The parties apprehended and brought before him in presence of many nobles King Henry thus spake With what horrour O Lord may anie true English heart consider that you for pleasing of a forreine enemy should imbrue your hands in our blood as also in the blood of our brethren to the ruine of your owne natiue soile reuenge herein touching my person though I seeke not yet for the safegard of you my deare friends and for due preseruation of the Realme I am by place and office to minister remedy against these Offenders Get you hence therefore you miserable wretches to receiue the iust reward of your deserts wherein God giue you repentance for your so foule sinnes 32 Notwithstanding this their offence their inditement as it standeth in the Record includes matter of other quality that Richard Earle of Cambridge of Conesburgh in the County of Yorke and Thomas Grey of Heton in the Countie of Northumberland Knight for that they in the twentieth of Iuly and third of King Henry the fifts raigne at Southampton had conspired together with a power of men to haue lead away the Lord Edmund Earle of March into Wales and to haue procured him to take the Gouernment of the Realme in case that King Richard the second were dead with a purpose to haue put forth a Proclamation in the name of the said Earle as heire to the Crowne against King Henry by the name of Lancaster vsurper and further to haue conuayed a Banner of the Armes of England and a certaine Crowne of Spaine set vpon a Pallet layd in gage to the sayd Earle of Cambridge into Wales As also that the said conspirators had appointed certaine into Scotland to bring thence one Trumpington and another resembling in shape fauour and countenance King Richard And Henrie Scroope of Masham in the Countie of Yorke was likewise indited as consenting to the Premisses Thus well appeared their purpose though Richard Earle of Cambridge considering the possibility of his owne issue had secretly carried that businesse whose sorrowfull letter of his owne hand writing as it came to ours we thinke not amisse here to insert Most dreadfull and Soueraigne Liege Lord I Richard Yorke your humble subiect and very Leigeman beseech you of grace of all manner of offences which I haue 〈◊〉 or assented vnto in any kind by stirring of other folke egging me vnto wherein I wot well I haue highly offended to your Highnesse beseeching you at the reuerence of God that you like to take mee into the hands of your mercifull and piteous grace thinking yee will of your 〈◊〉 goodnes my Leige Lord my full trust is that you will hauâ—… consideration though that my person be of none valew your high goodnesse where God hath set you in sâ—… high estate to euery Leigeman that you longeth plent 〈◊〉 to â—…ue that you like to accept this my simple request for the loue of our Lady and the blessed holy Ghost to whom I pray that they moue your heart euer to all pittie and grace for their high goodnes Notwithstanding this his humble petition vpon the sixt of August following hee with Scroope and Grey were beheaded and his body with head enterred in the Chappell of Gods-house in South-hampton whose apprehensions arraignements and deaths were so followed each after others as the French knew not but that the treason had successe and their returned Ambassadours told it for certaine that King Henry had either dismissed his Army or which was thought more true himselfe was slaine by the Conspirators so easie an entrance hath babling report into the wide eares of credulous desire 33 But King Henrie now ready to embarke his men vpon Wednesday the seauenth of August with fifteene hundred Saile tooke to Seas attended with sixe thousand speares and twenty foure thousand footmen besides Gunners Enginers Artificers and Labourers a great number and the fifteenth of the same month cast Anchor in the mouth of Seyne at a place called Kideaux about three miles from Harflew where he landed his men and falling deuoutly vpon his knees desired Gods assistance to recouer his right making Proclamation vpon paine of death that Churches should be spared from all violence of spoile that Churchmen women and Children should not be hurt abused or wronged then giuing the order of Knighthood to many of his followers hee assigned his Standards to men of most strength and courage which done he tooke the hill neere adioyning and thence sent his spiall to the Towne of Harflew making that the first assay of his fortunes in France But before we enter any further discourse in the affaires of that Kingdome it shall not be amisse to speake of things commenced in England before that King Henry tooke to the Seas 34 The Churches throughout Christendome hauing beene disquieted the space of twentie nine yeers and now growne intollerable through the schismaticall ambitions maintained by three Papall Monarchs mounted into Saint Peters seate each of them grasping the Chaire with so fast a fist that the ioints thereof
any of aboue fifteene The great number of the slaine is not the measure of a victory but the vse and effects which it drawes The Duke of Alanson himselfe was taken prisoner with about two hundred others of speciall worth The English paid for this noble victory the bodies of about two thousand of their souldiers which lost life there for it was fought vpon faire termes in the open fields and carried by meere manhood That which followeth till the siege of Orleance Paul Aemylius comprehendeth in some few lines The fierce Conquerour besiegeth Mants in Main and with Ordinance beates downe part of the wals It yeelds heereupon The English Garrison left therein after the taking not being sufficient to containe the Towne in due subiection is compelled to flie to a Tower for their safetie the enemies which were admitted into it by the Burgers enioying the rest The Lord Talbot the most noble Captaine of the English presently arriues to the rescue and puts the malefactors to death The English Empire extends it selfe to the Riuer of Loyr Charles they call in scorne the King of Berry Thus roundly he In nine Articles and capitulations drawne and concluded at the yeelding of Mâ—…nts this was one as perhaps it was in euery like occasion That if any persons were found within the City which had beene consenting to the murther of Iohn Duke of Burgoin father to Philip Duke of Burgoin in full reuenge whereof he had hither to adhered to the English that they should simply bee at the Regents mercy 8 The chiefe things which passed in England during these happy proceedings in France were briefly these Iames Steward the young King of Scots hauing beene casually taken vpon the Sea in the reigne of King Henry the fourth and after his fathers death not sufficiently tendered nor respected by the Scots remained still a Prisoner The rather therefore to hinder the Scots that was the hope from aiding the French it was now thought fit by the Councell of England to enlarge him Which was accordingly done vpon pledges Not long after the which he married the Ladie Iane daughter to Iohn Earle of Sommerset neere cosen to King Henry Principall setters forward of this marriage as by likelihood of his liberty also to honour their family with a Kingly alliance were the Earle of Sommerset and the Bishop of Winchester both of them Beauforts who together with sundry other of the English Nobility conducted the new married Couple to the Scottish Borders Much of his ransome was abated and his new kinsemen bestowed vpon him store of plate gold and siluer among other gorgeous Ornaments suit of hangings in which the labors of Hercules were most curiously wrought But this wise King hauing had the benefit of excellent and Princely education in England did not suffer any obligations contracted in the time of his durance to preponderate with him the Generall state of Scotland whose freedome did much depend vpon the fortune of France whereby the maine drift of his enlargers was not much aduanced The reason notwithstanding which lead this action was probable and so much the more commendable for that it was tempered with humanity The forreine mischiefe thus howsoeuer intended hereby to be auoided or qualified Sir Iohn Mortimer a dangerous firebrand at home being Prisoner in the Tower was arraigned for many treasonable speeches vsed to a yeoman seruant to Sir Robert Scot keeper of the Tower of London to draw the said yeoman to let him escape promising him great matters The points of his speeches were as that fellow charged vpon him in open Parliament 1. That the said Mortimer meant to flie into Wales to the Earle of March and with an armie of forty thousand men to enter England and strike off the Protectors head and the Bishop of Winchesters 2. That the Earle of March ought by right to bee King of England and if the Earle would not that then hee himselfe was next heire 3. That if he could not safely reach to the Marches he would saile to the Daulphin of France and there serue with honor which he was assured of For these ouertures of escape and conspiracie the Knight was drawne hanged and headed Of whose death no small slander arose Perhaps he that writes so doth meane that the whole was but a stratageme to rid him out of the way Edmund Lord Mortimer Earle of March the party whom the said knight mentioned was sent not long after with many other Lords and competent numbers of men into Ireland where he deceased without issue whose great patrimony descended to Richard Plantagenet Earle of Cambridge the fatall disturber of the Realme of England vpon the pretence of Mortimers title to the Crowne 9 The amity with the Duke of Burgoin which the English had hitherto found so auailable toward their Conquests hauing otherwise receiued some few slight flawes was now in danger of vtter breaking vpon this occasion Humfrey Duke of Gloucester Protector of the Realme following councell vnworthy of his person and place contracted himselfe with the Lady Iaqueline of Baâ—…aria Inheretrix of Holland Zeland Henaâ—…lt and many other faire dominions in the Netherlands notwithstanding that Iohn Duke of Brabant her former husband was then liuing and that the suit of diuorce commenced by Iaqueline depended still betweene them The Duke of Burgoin held with Brabâ—…t This bred bitter humor in the Duke of Glocester who being not vsed to meet with any rubs or confrontments and now when in person he came with an armie to take seison of Henault in right of his supposed wife finding himselfe hard set vnto by the aids which Burgoin ministred to the Duke of Brabant he challengeth Combat of the Duke of Burgundy calling him traitour It was accepted and the lie strongly thrust vpon Gloucester who leauing the light Lady at her Towne of Monts in Henault returned into England doing nothing of that for which at that time he came Mediation tooke vp the quarrell afterward betweene the Duke of Burgundy and him Not long after the returne of the Duke of Gloucester into England the first marriage which had beene made and consummated betweene the Duke of Brabant and the said Lady Iaqueline was pronounced lawfull by Pope Martin the fifth Hereupon the Duke of Glocester hauing susteined many losses aswell of friends as treasure in punishment of that great sinne in taking anothers wife forthwith marries Eleanour daughter to Reignald Lord Cobham of Sterborough whereby he made her amends for that vnlawfull familiarity which had formerly passed betweene them Meanewhile the Court of England doth well shew that the King was an infant for it was full of dangerous emulations and sidings the Duke of Gloucester whose high office it was to tender the welfare of the King and State laying sundry grieuous accusations against the Cardinall Beaufort sonne of Iohn Duke of Lancaster Bishop of Winchester and Lord
to Kenelworth Her pride falshood auarice and lechery were causes of her confusion saith Stow who hath set forth that businesse very diligently though not seeming to attribute much credit to that accusation of treason The Duke of Glocester her vnhappy Lord and husband whom shee by loue-cups and enchantments was said to haue enucigled vsing therein one Margerie Gurdmain a witch of Ey in Suffolke who was burnt in Smithfield stung with this reproach might reasonably be thought not vnwilling to doe somewhat Howsoeuer that was his destruction borrowed countenance from that opinion The Duke therefore being come to attend in this Parliament at Burie was arrested of high treason by Iohn Lord Beaumont high Constable of England the Dukes of Buckingham and Sommerset with others Certaine of the Kings houshold were appointed to guard him Not long after he was found dead His body was shewed to the Lords and Commons as if he had died of a palsey or an aposteme Of thirty and two of his seruants which were attached Sir Roger Chamberlaine Knight Richard Middleton Thomas Herbert Arthur Tursey Esquires and Richard Nedham Gentleman were condemned of high treason and had this vnexampled punishment They were drawne from the Tower to Tiburn hanged let down quick stript naked marked with a knife to be quartered and then a Charter of pardon shewed for their liues by the Marquesse of Suffolke But the yeoman of the Crowne had their liuelihood the executioner their cloathes Their pardons were thus obtained by the earnest diligence of Doctor Gilbert Worthington a famous preacher parson of S. Andrewes in Holborne Thomas Wilde Esquire the Dukes seruant also being condemned and pardoned among other had for a preamble in his letters patents words importing that hee had beene one among many other traitours against the King with Humfrey Duke of Gloucester who went about and practised to deliuer Eleanour late wife to the Duke from out of prison for which purpose he had gathered a great power and number of men to come to the Parliament at Berie there to haue contriued the Kings destruction 42 Such was the end of this great Prince who notwithstanding this open shewing of his body and these pretended crimes was by the people of England thought to be doublie murthered by detraction and deadly practise He was not only a true louer of learned men but himselfe also learned and saith our Author a father of his Countrey His maine opinion concerning the gouernment of King Henries French dominions was as mainely opposed by the Cardinall of Winchester and others who altogether perswaded Peace to which the noble Duke standing precisely vpon the honor and Maiesty of the English name was an absolute enemie From this troubled fountaine of diuided Councell many following blacke aduentures did flow The Duke thus brought to his end goodmen saith Polydore fearfull of their owne safeties did of their owne accord forsake the Court into whose roomes many succeeded who for the more part looking how to rise in dignity made open an easie way for new factions The Cardinall of Winchester the other halfe-arch of the Kingdome ouerliued not the Duke aboue fifteene or sixteene daies The whole frame of gouernment was thus drawne to repose it selfe vpon the Queene and such fauourites as the King by her commendation the rather liked 43 The Marquesse of Suffolke prime man in grace was created Duke which made him a more conspicuous marke of enuie then that any shadow of the King or Queene could shelter or protect After the Cardinals death the affaires in France where Sommerset was now Regent wereneither duelâ—…e looked vnto nor the gouernours of the Countrey well aduised But the King and Realme of England lay much more then France open to the ineuitable deepe and pernicious conspiracies of Richard Duke of Yorke Hee by the error of King Henry and the euill starres of our Countrey being of himselfe a great Prince and growne stronger by affected popularitie perceiuing the King to be a Ruler and not to Rule began secretlie to allure his friends of the Nobilitie and priuily declared to them his title to the Crowne as likewise he did to certaine Gouernors of Cities and townes which attempt was so politickly and closely carried that his prouision was readie before his purpose was opened The very state of things inuited this fatall conspiracie a milder King then England was worthy of a Councell out of fauour with the people manifold losses and dishonours abroad a turbulent and iealous condition of things at home Of all which and much more the Duke of Yorke hauing King Henrie the fourth the enemie of his house for a perillous example made his pretious vse cherishing the popular auersions without seeking to redresse any euils but representing them worse then they were thereby to ripen that breach of loialty in the hearts of men which his ambition wrought vpon His displacement from the Regency of France did not a little perhaps offend him at first because the Duke of Sommerset got it ouer his head but it will not be long before Sommersets euill carriage of that trust and the declining fortune of England will giue him occasion to reioice at the foile of his dreaded enemy Let vs not be long in the rehearsall of the publike shame and dammage of our nation 44 During the truce betweene England and France one Sir Francis Surien an Arragonois Knight of the Garter seruing vnder the Regent vnlawfullie surprized Fougers a towne of Britaine vpon the confines of Normandy Restitution is demanded The Duke of Sommerset a proud man saith Serres who thinking to dâ—…e better then the rest did absolutely ruine the English affaires contrary to good discipline cherishing his souldiers in their riots and disorders neglected the iustice of nations in that point The French make this their example and surprize Port del ' Arch and towne after towne so many and so fast that King Charles who that he might haue God on his side and wrong on his enemies conteined himselfe with great modesty till he saw all quiet restitution desperate recouered Roan Caen and all Normandie within a short space after 45 Thus Sommerset and the English are compelled to quit Normandy not only inglorious but also in England it selfe vncommiserated The next maine parcell of the English inheritance beyond our Ocean was Gascoigne King Charles and his people desirous against plaine right to make all that theirs whatsoeuer was comprehended within the French language inuaded that Dutchie also and within verie few yeeres after the fortune of warre and disloialty of the people euery where fauouring them extorted the same out of the English-mens possession after it had continued theirs about two hundreth fourescore and nine yeeres to the immortall dishonour and dammage of our nation The Duke of Yorke in the meane time who thirsted for the Crowne of England hath occasion ministred to impe more feathers into
powred forth their liues for their Country in the warre of France hee serued in them foure and thirty yeeres in seuenteene of the which hee neuer returned home hee was once taken prisoner being then but a Knight and paied for his ransome twenty thousand pounds sterling hee was fifteene yeeres priuy Counsellour and thirty yeeres Knight of the Garter Notwithstanding all which the same Author truly addeth That as for these causes he was in highest grace with the King so he was the more disgratious or hated of the people and for certaine very sleight matters and those not very apparant hee was driuen into banishment and as you haue already heard was intercepted vpon the sea in his passage to France and by his aduersaries killed What honest heart doth not melt at the relation of these violent contempts of all religion honour reason and iustice yet are they but the drops which doe forego those many bloudy showres which the cloud of Yorkes faction rainde vpon our miserable Nation They who murthered this great triumphant Gentleman were certaine persons who wafted vpon the Seas in a Barke called the Nicholas of the Tower which belonged to Iohn Holland Duke of Excester Constable of the Tower of London whom Gods reuenging hand shall not leaue vnpunished 50 The Yorkists hauing thus rid Suffolke out of the way thought it now a fitte season to spring their practise Hereupon the Commons of Kent who haue seldome refrained in such turbulent times while the Duke of Yorke was as yet in Ireland take Armes One Iacke Cade is their Captaine hee had beene the seruant of a Sussex Knight Sir Thomas Dagre kils a woman with Child abiureth the land turnes French swearing seruice to them and now returning is the instrument to hang out Mortimers name like a flagge to draw a party faining himselfe to bee a Cosen to the Duke of Yorke A pestilent deuise to sound the affections of the multitude and to proclaime the Title to the Crown which the Duke as heire of that family afterward challenged for who would not aske what should moue him to vse the name of Mortimer This Cade whom some by contraries call Iohn Amend-all that is Iohn Marre-all hauing drawn great numbers to follow him encampes at Blacke-Heath by Greenewich and in his writings cals himselfe the Captaine of Kent His pretences as of al like disloial actions were the common good and such other The King at the report of these stirres is stirred The Captaine of Kent demaunds 1 That Richard Duke of Yorke bee called out of Ireland and with certaine others named for stales and colour be principally vsed in Counsell 2 That as the Duke of Glocester was falsly proclaimed a Traitour so the Authors of his death might bee punished 4 For the third Article contained no demand but onely seandalous matter to aggrauate hatred against the dead Duke of Suffolke and his liuing adherents That all the extortions so the Rebels phrased them daily vsed among the common people might be laid downe that is to say the greene waxe which is falsly vsed to the perpetuall destruction of the Kings true Commons of Kent Also the Kings Bench the which is too grieuous to the Shire of Kent without prouision of our Soueraigne Lord and his true Councell And also in taking wheat and other graines beefe mutton and all other victuall the which is importable to the saide Commons without the briefe prouision of our said Soueraign Lord and his true Councell they may no longer beare it And also vnto the Statute of Labourers and the great extortioners the which is to say the false Traitors Sleg Cromere Isley and Robert East 51 Thus traiterously to the Kings welfare and scandalously to his most gentle gouernment writes this arrogant Captaine of Rebels The King vpon view of these braues beginnes to feele the indignity and danger An Armie is raised Cade retires to Seuenoke in Kent The King supposing hee had fled sends after him Sir Humfrey Stafford Knight and other Gentlemen with some forces Wee reade none of these things without a suspition that the King was alwayes betrayed by such hypocrites about him as would not haue him prosper Marke the euent At Seuenoke Cade abides probably not without encouragement from secret Traitours and after long fight slew Sir Humfrey with many others Hee armed himselfe in the dead Knights abillements with guilt spurres The King and Queene hearing of this mishappe leaue the Tower of London to the custodie of the Lord Scales and of that renowned Esquire Mathew Gowgh and London it selfe to the Lord Maiors fidelity themselues departing to Kenilworth The headlong crewes of London fauour the Rebell and giue entrance Robert Horne Alderman like an honest wise man would haue had them resisted This free necessary speech endangered his life honourable in his memory for the hazard onely what should hee haue beene if hee had gloriouslie lost it but money buyes out his perill with the Tyrant who fined him at fiue hundred Markes The time was very slippery and loose for the Essex men also were encamped vpon Mile-end by London All men are afraid of their owne estates such secret well-wishings attended vpon the Arch-Rebels pretences The King before hee had left London was enforced by such hollow friends as were about him to commit the Lord Say Treasurer of England to the Tower after that the valiant and loyall Sir Humfrey Stafford was slaine and the newes of his vnlucky defeate were confirmed 52 Cade therefore being admitted into London vpon the second of Iuly with his forces where for a short while to delude the people with a shew of conscience they abstained from robberies strikes with his sword vpon London-stone saying Now is Mortimer Lord of this City At night hee returnes into Southwarke One Robert Poinings of Southwarke Esquire was his Sword-bearer and Caruer It is needlesse to be particular in this Rebels behauiour The next day hee returnes and the Lord Say is beheaded in Cheapside as is before said at Cades commandement and his body cut into quarters The King being by the losse of so trusty and graue a seruant not a little weakened 53 The next tragedie was Cromeres an Esquire and high Sheriffe of Kent the Lord Sayes sonne in law who is drawn out of the Fleet and to appease the Essex Rebels sacrificed by beheading without any triall at Mile-End The City stirres not for all this Malpas and Gerstie two rich Citizens at whose houses Cade had seuerally dined being spoiled and robbed by him left perhappes it might appeare that he who durst commit treasons had not also the heart to commit felonies teach what others are to expect The Maior Thomas Chalton and the wiser wealthy ones ouerruled by faction till then see their danger now and secretly send to the Lord Scales for aide Mathew Gowgh at night is come among them as sent by him The Kentish-men hearing
their entrie was barred runne furiously to armes Cade endeauors to open his way by force but in despight of all his power the Citizens made good defended London-bridge against him though with the losse of many valiant and honest men for the conflict endured all night till nine in the morning Among such as were slaine on the Kings side were Iohn Sutton Alderman Mathew Gowgh himselfe and Robert Heysand Citizen This Gowgh an Esquire of Wales was a man of excellent vertue manhood and zeale to his Country and of great renown in the warre of France where he had serued with speciall commendations faithfully for the space of aboue twenty yeeres His deserts at this time deserued a Statue in the City for whose safety hee spent his last bloud To giue a quicke end to these miseries impunity is proclaimed for all offenders and sent to them in the Kings name by the Archbishoppe of Canterbury Lord Chancellour vnder the great Seale of England the rebels are scattred with this assurance of their safeties and euery man retires in peace from following so pestilent an Impostor A thousand Markes when Cade afterward attempted new troubles are promised to him who kils or takes this counterfeit Mortimer Alexander Eden a Gentleman of Kent had the happinesse to discouer and kill him at Hothfield in that County his wretched carkase was brought to London where his false head was set sentinell vpon London-bridge and his quarters were aduanced for terrour in seuerall parts of Kent There died also by the stroke of iustice twenty and sixe more whereof eight were executed at Canterbury and the rest elsewhere in Kent and Sussex The multitude it selfe came naked in their shirts to the King on Blacke-heath humbly praying mercy which they obtained 54 The Kentish rebellion thus pacified farre greater and farre more dangerous troubles ensued as it fareth in humane bodies which relapsing into sickenesses are shaken so much the more terribly These troubles had their fountaine and mediate Originall from Richard Duke of Yorke no degenerous sonne of that Richard whom King Henry the fifth had created Earle of Cambridge and enriched with much wealth honoring him aboue others in regard of his blood and parentage but no bountie nor benefits could change a treacherous disposition for as you haue heard before he conspired to murther his benefactor King Henry the fifth as the Duke of Yorke his true progenie labored to depose this King Henrie his aduancer The humors of the popular body were in the last commotion not obscurely discouered The Common weale had perhaps some few enormities through the abuse of Magistrates and men in place but yet such as the maladie was infinitely lesse pernicious then the remedy Vpon this intelligence the Duke comes sodeinely out of Ireland and to begin his vsurped censureship and dictature apprehends Iohn Sutton Lord Dudley Reignald Abbot of Saint Peters at Glastenbury and another whom he imprisoneth within his Castle of Ludlow Intollerable beginnings of more intollerable sequele Edmund Duke of Sommerset was the man who after Suffolks death most supported the Kings side by his vigilancie caresdangers and good Counsels endeuouring by all meanes to cleare the Realme from factions and to preserue the King and state in quiet 55 Yorke seeing this doth find that Suffolke perished in vaine if Sommerset held like grace against whose person he had a particular pretence of quarrell for that the City of Caen in Normandy which was the Duke of Yorkes charge was rendred vp to the French by him when the English affaires grew desperate in those parts Sir Dauid Hall Knight being at that time Captaine there for his Lord and Master the Duke of Yorke and not allowing it although the renowned Talbot himselfe was present at the render and became an hostage for performance of the Capitulations Yorke hereupon consults with his speciall friends Richard Earle of Salisbury and Richard his son who was afterward that most seditious great fighting Earle of Warwicke Thomas Courtney Earle of Deuonshire Edmund Brooke Lord Cobham and others how Yorke might get the Crowne of England and for that cause how to ruine or fret out the Duke of Sommerset who standing they were to looke for strong opposition In the end they conclude to take armes but yet to smother the mention of the Duke of Yorkes title giuing out to the world for the reason of their doings that they meant all honour and obedience to King Henry and only to remoue certaine bad men from about his person who afflicted the people and made a pray of the Common-wealth which to gaine the more credit and to blind the good King the subtile Duke declares by Proclamation wherein thus speaketh that Ambitious Hypocrite God knoweth from whom no thing is hid I am haue beene and euer will be his true liege man c. And to the very proofe it is so I offer my selfe to sweare that on the blessed Sacrament and receiue it the which I hope shall be my saluation at the day of doome c. In that it was the euill hap of the Duke of Sommerset that Normandy was lost during his Regencie his enemies had the more commoditie to incommodate him with the people who forbare not at his returne to offer to him sundry dishonours and iniuries till vpon paine of death they were restrained for breach of which Proclamation one had his head cut off in West Cheap London 56 The King notwithstanding all his Cosens arts and dissimulations seeing the hooke through the baite and the snake through the grasse by the aduise of his trusty friends chiefly of Edmund Duke of Sommerset thinkes not fit to relie vpon his enemies good nature but hauing a strong power and store of honorable men to conduct them he marcheth toward Wales against the Duke The King did herein wisely but not so much as the cause required Yorke hauing notice of the Kings approach turnes aside and with all speed marcheth toward London That City the vaine hope of all Rebellions would not harken Thereupon he slides with his people into Kent the nest of his hopes and at Brent-heath neere Dertford a towne about twelue miles from London encampeth meaning to fight The King is not slow but leauing his march toward Wales pitcheth vp his roiall pauilion vpon Black-Heath with a purpose to teach his cosen of Yorke more duty Behold the fortune of England God puts an excellent opportunity into the Kings hands of tearing vp the danger of his house by the rootes for the Duke was farre inferiour in numbers Such therefore as secretly fauoured him fearing his ouerthrow were willing to aduise a reconcilement Messengers goe betweene the hosts The Duke in his wonted manner pretends loialtie and particular iniuries as that the Kings seruants Sir Iohn I albot at Holt Castell Sir Thomas Stanley in Cheshire and others in other places were set to harken vpon him That by two
meant nothing vnto him but good faith vpon the morrow ride to London where in Iuly immediately following a Parliament is holden in King Henries name The fore-runner whereof was a Comet or blazing starre which appeared in the moneth of Iune the beams whereof extended themselues into the south The first popular act of this assembly was to restore the memory of Humfrey Duke of Glocester to honour declaring him to haue beene a true subiect to the King and Realme 65 The next prouisions which the Yorkists made were for themselues and their owne security willing and commanding that the Duke of Yorke his partakers should incur no blame by reason of the iourney at Saint Albans the whole fault whereof was laid vpon the dead Duke of Sommerset the Lord Chiefe Baron and one William Ioseph Esquier who say they kept from the King a pacificatory letter which the Duke of Yorke had sent It is a wonder and a shame to reade how officiously these violent Lords meaning nothing lesse behaued themselues to the King of whose maiesty they will needs seeme to be the onely Champions and conseruators The Duke of Yorke in the same Parliament creates himselfe Protector of England the Earle of Salisbury is made Lord Chancellour and the Earle of Warwicke his sonne Captaine of Caleis they spared as yet to touch King Henries life because the people did wonderfully honour esteeme and reuerence him for his singular holinesse and for that he had great friends left aliue and a sonne In the meane space that they might without trouble and at their pleasure vncrowne or kill him they by little and little displaced the ancient Counsellors and substituted their ass◅ed fauourites Another Act of that absolute force and fraud which they exercised in this dreadfull perturbation of all things was the drawing of Ionn Holland Duke of Excester out of Sanctuarie at Westminster conuaying him to Pomfret Castle in the North. 66 Henry Beauford Duke of Sommerset sonne of the former the Duke of Buckingham whose sonne and heire the Earle of Stafford was slaine at S. Albans and other the Kings friends perceiuing whereunto this faire shew tended consult with the Queene at Greenewich concerning her husbands danger and how to preuent it Hereupon the Duke of Yorke is displaced from the Protectorship a ridiculous title to be assumed where the king was aged about fiue and thirtie and had no other fault or vnfitnes but that he was too good to liue among them The Earle of Salisbury was also depriued of his Lord Chancellorship 67 The King hauing thus recouered his dignity and authoritie but not sufficient meanes to suppresse his dangers the French take courage at our intestine diuisions and landing at Sandwich with fifteene thousand men part of their forces they kill the Maior Bailifs and other Officers of that Towne with sundrie Gentlemen of the Countrey spoile all they could lay hand vpon and among all they rob two great vessels laden with merchandise which lay there bound for London and departed Another part of them burnes Foway and certaine other townes in Deuonshire On the other side the Scots hostillie entred into Northumberland but vpon notice that the Duke of Yorke approached with a power they returned hauing not as yet done any great harme 68 These indignities and losses might haue vnited the disioined affections of true English hearts which was greatly desired by such as loued their Countrey For which purpose the King Queene and their chiefe friends being at Couentrie the Duke of Yorke the Earles of Salisbury and Warwicke are sent for by the Kings letters vnder his priuie Seale to giue their attendance whither they come but they either warned of some plot contriued against them or fearing it or faining to feare sodeinely leaue the Court without leaue the Duke departing to Wigmore in the Welsh marches the Earle of Salisburie to his Castell of Midleham in the North-Countrey and the Earle of Warwicke to Calleis whose bodies though thus diuided their mindes continued most firmely factionated But the King a patterne of Christian goodnes being tender ouer the generall estate of his Countrey and wonderfully desirous to reconcile differences among his subiects that they might the better withstand their imminent forrein enemies returnes to London there to consult how to effect his holy wishes The great Lords are perswaded to meere there which they did but yet not without store of followers for the Duke brought with him foure hundred men the Earle of Salisburie fiue hundreth the Earle of Warwicke sixe hundreth The Dukes of Excester and Sommerset eight hundreth the Earle of Northumberland the Lords Egremond and Clifford fifteene hundreth This was the fashion of that swording age 69 In March the king and Queene with a very roiall company alight at Westminster to accomplish if it were possible this charitable and necessary worke of attonement and reconciliation Godfrey Bolein was at that time Lord Maior of London being the ancestor of two renowned and vertuous Queenes of England Anne second wife to King Henry the eight and Elizabeth their daughter through whose great vigilancie and prouidence the City stood so well guarded that the Kings peace was dutifullie kept notwithstanding the great Lords of both the factions Yorkists and Lancastrians were with so great troupes of followers lodged within and about the same for during the whole time of their abode he had fiue thousand Citizens in Harnesse himselfe riding daily about the City and suburbs to see the publike quiet preserued and for the night watch there were assigned to three Aldermen two thousand corslet-men 69 During this watch a great Councell was holden by the King and Lords where at length by the diligent trauaile good exhortation and prudent aduise of the Archbishoppe of Canterbury and of other learned and godly Prelates the parties offended were induced to a communication and afterward to a finall accord the points whereof considering they held so short a while for as one saith truly the dissimuled loue day hung but by a small threed it were friuolous to dwell in their rehearsall The King himselfe a singular testimonie of the opinion which all parties had of his integritie was whole arbitrator of their differences Certaine satisfactions were awarded to be made by the Duke of Yorke with the Earles of Warwicke and Salisbury for the death of Edmund Duke of Sommerset and others slaine at S. Albans And the same Duke of Sommerset the Earle of Northumberland and Lord Clifford slaine in that battell by the Yorkists are declared for true liegemen to the King at the day of their deathes aswell as the Duke of Yorke the Earles of Warwicke and Salisburie So both parts stand iustifide and recti in curia Many other articles and awards were made to solder and glue together their alienated harts and affections The reioicement caused by this seeming peace which on the behalf of the kings persō was
vndoubtedly sincere and true was wonderfully great among all good Englishmen who flocked to the publike celebration thereof For vpon our Ladies day in Lent a solemne procession was made within the Cathedrall Church of Saint Paul in London where the King adorned with Crowne and robes of maiestie went in person before whom went hand in hand the Duke of Sommerset and the Earle of Salisburie the Duke of Excester and the Earle of Warwicke and so of either faction one and one and behind the King himselfe came the Queene and Duke of Yorke with great familiarity in all mens sights O religion ô honour ô sinceritie that your diuine vertue should not haue contained these spirits in the harmonie of sweet obedience but if you could not what alas should England must be more seuerely scourged then that so goodly a blessing of publike reconciliation should continue whereby the proud tops of her nation offensiue to God and men being taken off the way might be opened to other names or races which as yet were nothing thought on 70 There is no reason to doubt but that the Duke of Yorke a man of deepe retirement in himselfe secretly continued his purpose for the Crowne notwithstanding all these his vernished pretences and did only therfore not as then put for it because he presumed the time was incommodious Againe the Queene true head and life of the contrary part aswell in regard of her selfe her husband and young sonne may in likelihood be thought to haue laid downe any thing rather then the wakefulnesse and iealousie which former perils and the enemies present strength might worthily keepe aliue in her The thinne ashes therefore which couered these glowing coles were thus againe first vnraked and set to blaze 71 The King and manie of the Lords still being at Westminster there hapned or perhaps was plotted a fray betweene one of the Kings seruants and a follower of the Earle of Warwicke who hurt the Kings seruant Hereupon his fellowes of all sorts as Cookes with their spits c in great disorder assaile the Earle himselfe as he was comming from the Councell and had there slaine him but that the euill fate of England and his owne reserued him to doe and suffer greater mischiefes The Earle hardly gets to his Barge and reputing all things vnsure about the King gets ouer to his place at Calleis The Yorkists directly charge the Queene with this as with a plot drawne for the Earles destruction Not long after this the young Duke of Sommerset is sent Captaine to Calleis Warwicke will resigne no roome notwithstanding the Kings command alleaging he was made by Parliament Sommerset is reiected with danger to his person Warwicke partly maintains himselfe and such as stucke to him in that charge with spoiles which he got at Sea How lawfullie it appeares not though Warwicke is said to haue been Admirall by Patent though now reuoked The Ordinarie bookes haue that he with foureteene faile of men of warre set vpon three Caricks of Gene or Genoa and two of Spaine greater then the Caricks three of which Merchant-fleete which how they should be lawfull prize we see not he vanquished after two daies fight with the losse of about an hundreth men of his owne and a thousand of theirs The bootie was worth at meane rates ten thousand pounds such also as followed the Duke of Sommerset comming into his hands he beheaded at Calleis These were strange darings in the Earle of Warwicke whom yet the vnskilfull and drunken multitude so highly praise but what are these in regard of them which will presentlie follow 72 The Duke of Yorke in the meane time and Warwicke with his father the Earle of Salisbury the Triumuirs of England consult of their affaires Salisburie is resolued with sword in hand to expostulate the danger and iniury offered to his sonne at Westminster The Queene a Lady of incomparable magnanimity and foresight confident in this that now King Henry or the Duke of Yorke must perish and that one Kingdome was not wide enough for both their Families bestirres her selfe to maintaine the possession of a Crowne and to aduance to the same her owne flesh and bloud Prince Edward by ruining his house whose whole building consisted of Lancastrian beneficence She consults she sends she speakes she giues and strengthneth her selfe with friends on all sides chiefly in Cheshire causing her sonne to distribute siluer swannes his badge or deuise to all the Gentlemen of that County and to many other through England Salisbury sets forward from his Castell at Middleham with foure or fiue thousand men Iames Touchet Lord Audeley encounters him vnaduisedly vpon Blore-heath neere Muckelstone The fight was long and bloudy but in the end K. Henries euill fortune gaue the better of the day to the Earle of Salisbury where besides the valiant Lord Audeley himselfe were slaine not fewer then two thousand and foure hundreth but the chiefe losse fel vpon the Cheshire men who ware the Princes Liuerie 73 The Earle of Salisbury in this sort opened to himselfe a way to Ludlow where the head of their combination Richard Duke of Yorke busied himself to gather forces being met they conclude that seeing the matter was now become deadly they would deale in cloudes no longer but fight it out to the extremity Men are drawne out of all parts with large hopes promises of sharing in their fortunes and the Earle of Warwicke bringing with him from Caleis which he left with his friends that valiant Captaine Andrew Trolop and a band of stout and choise Souldiers comes to the generall Rendeuoâ—… of the Yorkists the Castell of Ludlow The King in the meane space and not before it was need and time hath assembled a great puissance of faithfull Subiects and being attended with the Dukes of Sommerset and Excester and other of his chiefe friends marcheth against his enemies His first worke was to offer them generall pardon It is refused and called by them a staffe of reede or glasse Buckler The sword must decide the quarrels wherupon the king commands his Standards to aduance while he was in his March a letter fraught with the wonted hypocrisies is deliuered to the King There are in it among many other insinuations these also Most Christian King right high and Mighty Prince and our most dread Soueraigne Lord c. Wee sent vnto your good grace by the Prior of the Cathedral Church of Worcester and diuers other Doctors and among other by M. William Linwood doctor of Diuinity which ministred vnto vs seuerally the blessed Sacrament of the body of Iesus whereupon wee and euery of vs deposed of our said truth and duty 74 Thus these prophane and ambitious men play with God who in the end will seuerely bee auenged on them for their impietie but the letter made no ouerture of any course vpon which they would yeeld to lay downe Armes alleadging they wold but make
of London doe notwithstanding stand wholy for the beautifull Earle of March and stand the more confidentlie because they had sure intelligence that he had vanquished the Earle of Pembrooke in the Marches of Wales and that the Earle of Warwicke escaping from S. Albans had met with the Earle of March neere Costwold and that both with ioint forces were marching toward London These newes made the King and Queene retire into the North and leaue that Citie and the Southern Countreys to their Enemie till they might recouer a fairer opportunitie or more sufficiencies Edward vpon notice of the Kings departure entreth London and giues period to Henries reigne which is accounted to take end after he had successiuely ruled this Land the space of thirtie eight yeeres sixe moneths and foure daies His Wife 94 Margaret the wife of King Henrie was the daughter of Reyner King of Ierusalem Sicilie and Arragon Duke of Andegauia Lorraine Barre and Calabria Earle of Prouince Cenomania and Guize Shee by proxie was espoused vnto King Henrie at the Citie Towers in Touraine in the Church of Saint Martin William de-la-Poole being Procurator to the king in the presence of the French king and his Queen which king was vncle to the Brides Father and the Queene Aunt vnto her mother Shee with great pompe was conueyed to South-hampton and thence to the Abbey of Tichfield where the yeere of grace 1445. and twentie two of Aprill shee was solemnly married to king Henry and honorably attended by the greatest Estates of the Land was crowned at Westminster the thirtieth of May following Shee was exceedingly beautified in face and of goodly feature of a great wit and deepe pollicie but of stomacke farre aboue her sexe as in the managing of those trouble some times did too well appeare Shee was his wife twentie sixe yeeres and twentie nine daies and after her husbands depulsion from his regall throne her forces being vanquished at the battell of Tewksburie in a poore religious house whether shee had fled for the safetie of her life was taken prisoner and so carried Captiue to London where shee remained in durance till Duke Reiner her father did purchase her liberty with great summes of money vnto whom shee returned and lastly died in her natiue Countrie His Issue 95 Edward the only Child of king Henrie and Queene Margaret his wife was borne at Westminster the thirteenth day of October the yeere of Christ 1453. and the 31. of his fathers Raigne and the next yeere following vpon the fifteenth of March by authoritie of Parliament was created Prince of Wales Earle of Chester For the title of Duke of Cornwal as it is noted by warrant of record is reputed vnto the Kings eldest sonne the very day of his natiuitie and by vertue of a speciall Act is presumed and taken to be of full and perfect age so as he may â—…ue that day for his liuerie of the said Dukedome and ought by right to obtaine the same hauing his roialties in the Stannary wrackes at Sea Customes c the first Duke thereof was Edward commonlie called the Blacke Prince whome his Father King Edward the third created in great Estate Duke of Cornwall by a wreath on his head a ring on his finger and a siluer verge He proued a Prince of great hope and forwardnes being skilfull in martiall knowledge matters of gouernment and Lawes of the Realme At the age of seuenteene the better to bandie against his Fathers Competitor King Edward the Maul of the Lancastrians claime aâ—…ianced in France Anne the second daughter of Richard the Make-king Earle of Warwick whose other daughter was married to George Duke of Clarence This Prince when the day was lost at Tewkesburie sought to escape thence by flight but being taken was brought into the presence of king Edward whose resolute answeres enraged the Conqueror so much as he dashed him an vnprincely part on the mouth with his gauntlet and Richard the crooke backe ranne him into the heart with his dagger His Body was buried without all solemnity among the poore and meane persons slaine in the Monasticall Church of the blacke Friers in Tewkesburie Anno Domini 1471. EDVVARD THE FOVRTH FIRST KING OF THE HOVSE OF YORKE KING OF ENGLAND AND FRANCE LORD OF IRELAND THE FIFTIE FOVRTH MONARCH OF THIS LAND HIS RAIGNE ACTS AND ISSVE CHAPTER XVII EDward borne at Roan in Normandy and bearing the title of March in England hauing â—…unne the battell at Mortimers Crosse though the Lords his Confederates had lost that of Saint Albans from Ludlow hasted towardes London on his way was seconded by Richard Neuill the stout Earle of Warwicke to the great encrease of his number and power which so terrified Queene Margaret now â—…dy to poâ—…se the South 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 husâ—… 〈◊〉 soâ—… iâ—… 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to the 〈◊〉 vpon which 〈◊〉 now 〈◊〉 Yorke preâ—…ly pâ—…ed 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 prâ—… 〈◊〉 â—…ry powerfull and the other in possâ—… consulted for their safest estate when on the suddaine Edward with VVarwicke entred their gates whose warlike visages so daunted the aduerse affected that they beganne with the 〈◊〉 to make him way to the throne the Noblemen likewise made him offers of their seruice to establiâ—… 〈◊〉 claime neither were the Clergy to learne the obseruance of time or to sway with the man vpon whom the world smiled All these seâ—…n Counsell to confer of the 〈◊〉 Duke Edward made knowne his title to the Crowne and iâ—… well sâ—… 〈◊〉 â—…red how the body of the whoâ—… Parâ—…ment formerly 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 â—…d Hâ—…ry â—…selfe subâ—…â—…ith hiâ—… 〈◊〉 hâ—…d whose 〈◊〉 though now 〈◊〉 through 〈◊〉 desâ—… yâ—… what right Lâ—…er had they all 〈◊〉 and how 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 diâ—…our did wiâ—… 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 â—…gh his neglect whoâ—… siâ—…ity euer 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 his priuate deuotions then the potent managing of a Soueraignes command 2 These things vrged and most of them true their voices went current that Edward was the vndoubted King whereunto the Londoners the sooner yeelded for that his dreaded Northerne Army was then encamped in Saint Iohns field neither was any reseruation made as before of Henries naturall life but hee is now absolutely neglected as vnworthy of his Crowne how acceptable soeuer he had raigned till then whose following miseries were not so much lamented as his constant patience was admired in vndergoing the same Edward thus mounted before his foot had well touched the first steppe was vpon Sunday the second of March among his Northerne Souldiers proclaimed King William L. Fan onbridge Earle of Kent declaring his claime and disabling K. Henry of stile or Gouernement whose weake head as hee alleadged had ouer long blemished the English Crowne 3 Vpon the next day with all pompe hee was conueied to Westminster and set vpon the Kings seat in the Hall where holding the scepter of Saint Edward in his hand the voice of the people was againe demanded and againe granted such was
and Sommerset and the Earle of Deuonshire with an hundred and forty moe were attainted also and disherited so fortune dallieth in setting the dice of her fauours or frownes 12 Queene Margaret stored with men but in want of money with her French powers made into Scotland whose comming was most welcome to the two Kings there and thence with great shew of enterprize hoised her sailes for England but hauing touched the â—…y of Tinmouth whether vpon better aduise or feared with their owne shadowes shee with her French put backe to the Sea where such a sore tempest tooke them as had not Queene Margaret in a small Caruell got vnto Barwicke shee had not liued to vexe the new King nor seene the vnfortunate losse of her husband her son and Realme nor the miserable calamities of her owne old age her French by Bastard Ogle were heaâ—…e into Holy Iland many slaine and foure hundred of them put to their ransomes 13 This â—…inting French enterprize though it dulled the edge of some spirits yet did it nothing daunt the courage of the Queene her better hopes being fixed vpon the Scots valour so leauing Prince Edward for safetie in Barwicks with her husband and Scots shee entred Northumberland tooke the Castle of Bamburgh and so passed forward vnto the Bishopricke their forces daily increasing through the confluence of such English 〈◊〉 fauoured King Henrie 14 King Edward hearing these stirres in the North made his preparation both by Sea and Land and with his brethren and Nobles came to Yâ—…rke from whence he sent Iohn Neuil Lord 〈◊〉 with a power of men as some what mistrusting the loialties of the Northumbrians who passing forward vpon Hâ—…gely-Moore was sodeinely encountred by the Lords Hungerfâ—…rd and Roâ—…s with whom was Sir Ralph Ferciâ—… a most valiant Knight but Montaâ—… accompanied with such as would neither looke backe nor stand gaâ—…ing on â—…hode the encounter and at the first push put back the two â—…ords and 〈◊〉 slew the said 〈◊〉 who no waieâ—… would depart out of the field but in dying said I have saued the 〈◊〉 in my â—…rest meaning this oath mâ—…e to King 〈◊〉 15 valiantly 〈◊〉 their Camp as after great slaghter saith Grafton hee fled into Scotland which is more likelie 16 Edward thus cleered of the Cloud threatning storme thought best ere others did light to prouide for himselfe and therefore he raised Bulwarks built new Fortresses in places of danger put forth his espials vpon the Marches of Scotland and commanded that none should keepe Henrie or Margaret in secret whose sight he feared would draw the affections of many which otherwise stood in case of obedience But ouer-borne Henrie whether past al feare or inforced by destinie in disguised apparell past into England where he was soone apprehended by one Caâ—…tlow but Stow saith by Thomas Talbot in Cletherwood besides Bungerley Hipping stones in Lancashire being betraied in Waddington Hall as he sate at dinner and thence brought to London with his legs bound to the stirrups arrested by Warwicke his guilt spurres taken off and committed Prisoner to the Tower of London 17 The Lyon thus pent his pawes cut or pared and Queene Margaret in France with her father Reiâ—…er King Edward now quiet set his minde vpon Gouernment for the good of his Realme In his Court of Kings Bench he vsed to sit in person certaine daies together to see how his lawes proceeded with Iustice ordained penall Statutes against excessiue pride in Apparell especialle against long picked shooes then vsually worne which grew to such an extreme that the pikes in the Toes were turned vpward and with siluer chaines or silke laces tied to the knee But among many good prouisions one proued very bad as the sequell shewes for concluding a league with King Henrie of Castile and Iohn King of Arragon he granted a licence to transport certaine numbers of Câ—…teswold Sheepe which are since growne to such an exceeding increase as the Clothes made of their woolles is a great hindrance to our Marchants which aduenture in the Leuant Seas 18 His next care was to finde a fit Queene both for the hope of issue to succeed and for alliance and power to assistâ—…ed were against Henries claime Fist therefore minding to send into Scotland to desire in marriage the Ladie Margaret sister to king Iames the third thereby to frustrate Hâ—…tes further hope was made to belieue that the said Ladie was by reason of sickenesse not capable of conception which altogether declined his affection from that way Next as some say a motion was made for Lady Elizabeth sister and heire apparant vnto Henrie king of Castile as a much most conuenient considering king Edward had thereunto a Claime whose great Grandmother was one of the heires of Castile being the daughter of Don Peter the king besides which high match and combination of Alliances â—…hope was conceiued that the Dutchies of Guien and Aquitaine might be recouered by the assistance of these Castilians without great charge or trauell to the English But the tender spring of the one and the lusty growth of the other would not be grafted into one stocke to 〈◊〉 fruitâ—… shee little aboue 〈◊〉 and he about twenty three 〈◊〉 unfit to â—…taine till shee could giue him content 19 A third Princesse 〈◊〉 against whom feared This match being most approued in counsell none was held more fit to solicite the businesse then Lord Richard Neuil the great Earle of Warwick a man esteemed for power a Demy-King and for magnificence and hospitality matchlesse in whose house at London as some haue verified sixe oxen were spent euery day and most Tauernes in the City full of his meat 20 Warwicke in great state arriued at Tours his message knowne was accordingly entertained in the French Court where he wrought the Queen her selfe to be the chiefest Agent who drew on her sister Bona with recommending the state and stile of a magnificent Queene a sound very tunable in a Ladies eare and her husband Lewis with assurance of a potent and wise Allie a pleasing theame to soft natured Princes as the French King was And indeed to all shee vndertooke all good contentments so as on that side all things were cleare and Warwicke dismissed with Courtly French complements the Earle Damp-martin was to passe into England for the finall confirmation 21 But whilest Warwicke had beene industriously wooing in France King Edwards affection in England was working another way for being on hunting in the Forrest of Wychwood beside Stony-Stratford hee there found other game that made game in his eye which was the Lady Elizabeth Gray attending the Dutchesse of Bedford her mother who then soiorned at his Mannour of Grafton whither hee repaired for his recreation She had beene attendant vpon Queene Margaret the wife of King Henry the sixt and had
Nun in the Nunnery of Dartford in the same County founded by K. Edward the third where shee spent her life in contemplations vnto the day of her death 126 Marie the fift daughter of K. Edward the fourth by Queene Elizabeth his wife was promised in marriage vnto the King of Denmarke but died before it could be solemnized in the Tower of Greenewich the Sunday before Pentecost the twentieth two of her fathers raigne and yeere of Grace 1482. and was buried at Windsore 127 Margaret the sixth daughter of K. Edward the fourth by his wife Queene Elizabeth died an Infant without other mention in our Authors 128 Katherine the seuenth daughter of King Edward the fourth by Queene Elizabeth his wife and the last of them both was married vnto William Courtney Earle of Deuonshire and Lord of Ochaâ—…pton vnto whom shee bare Lord Henrie after the death of his father Earle of Deuonshire who by King Henrie the eight was created Marquesse of Excester in Anno 1525. His Concubines 129 Elizabeth Lucie is certainly known to haue been King Edwards Concubine though nothing so certainly mentioned whose Ladie or of what Parentage shee was that shee was conceiued by him with child is before declared but who that child was is as obscurely laid downe therefore in these things we must be silent and leaue the doubts to be resolued by others Three other concubines this king had whereof Shores wife was not the least beloued whose life falleth further to be spoken of in the Raigne of the vsurper Richard where her storie shall be shewed more at large His naturall Issue 150 Arthur surnamed Plantagenet the naturall sonne of K. Edward the fourth whose mother as is supposed was the Lady Elizabeth Lucie was created Viscount Lisle by King Henrie the eight at Bridewell in London the twentie sixth of Aprill and yeere of Saluation 1533. which title was confâ—…red vpon him in right of his wife Lady Elizabeth sister and heire vnto Iohn Gray Viscount Lisle and the late wife and then widdow of Edmund Dudley who bare vnto this Viscount three daughters which were Bridget Frances and Elizabeth all of them afterward married This Arthur Lord Lisle was made Lieutenant of Callis by the said K. Henry which Towne some of his seruants intended to haue betraied to the French for which their fact himselfe was sent to the Tower of London but his truth appearing after much search the King sent him a rich ring from his owne finger with such comfortable wordes as at the hearing thereof a sudden ioy ouercharged his heart was so immoderately receiued that the same night it made an end of his life whose body was honorably buried in the same Tower 151 Elizabeth the naturall daughter of K. Edward the fourth was married to Sir Thomas Lumley Knight the sonne of George Lord Lumley who died before his father shee bare vnto the said Sir Thomas Richard afterward Lord Lumley from whom the late Lord Lumley did descend EDVVARD THE FIFTH KING OF ENGLAND AND FRANCE AND LORD OF IRELAND THE FIFTIE FIFTH MONARCH OF THIS LAND HIS RAIGNE AND DEATH For the most part written by Sir Thomas Moore CHAPTER XVIII THe father thus dying in the strength of his yeeres and the sonne left to rule before he was ripe the Synders of dissensions which the sicke King had lately raked vp presently brake forth into a more raging flame for the king and Queenes blood that should haue supported young Edwards estate the one side being suspicious and â—…e other prouoked by the execrable desire of soueraignty left the tender king a Prince of such towardnes as his age could conteine destitute and vnarmed which if either kind or kindred had holden place must needes haue beene the surest pillars of his defence The raigne of this King if we may so cal the shorttime of his Soueraignty began the same day that his father died though he was neuer Crowned nor yet commanded the affaires of the Kingdome as an absolute Monarch his young brothers fortunes being ballanced with his 2 For Richard Duke of Gloucester by nature their vncle by office their Protector to their Father beholden to themselues by Oath and Alleagiance bounden all bands broken that holdeth man and man together without any respect of God or the World vnnaturally contriued to bereaue them not onlie of their dignity but also theirlines But forsomuch as the Dukes demeanour â—…reth in effect all the whole matter whereof the raigne of this yong and fift Edward must intreat itâ—… therefore conuenient somewhat to shew you ere we goe further what man this was and from whom he descended that could find in his heart so much mischief to conceiue 3 Know first then that Richard Duke of Yorke a noble man and a mighty beganne not by warre but by law to challenge the Crowne putting his claime into the Parliament where his cause was either for right or fauour so farre foorth aduanced that King Henries blood albeit he had a goodly Prince was vtterly reiected the Crowne by the authoritie of that high Court intailed to the Duke of Yorke and his issue male in remainder immediately after the death of King Henrie But the Duke not induring so long to tarrie intending vnder pretext of dissention and debate arising in the Realme to preuent his time and to take vpon him the rule in King Henries life was with many other Nobles slaine at Wakefield leauing three sonnes Edward George and Richard all of them as they were great states of birth so were they great and stately of stomacke greedy and ambitious of authority and impatient of partners 4 For Edward reuenging his fathers death depriued king Henry and attained the Crowne The second George Duke of Clarence was a goodly Noble Prince and in all things fortunate if either his owne ambition had not set him against his brother or the enuie of his enemies his brother against him For were it by the Queen and Lords of her blood which highly maligned the Kings kindred as women commonly not of malice but of nature hate them whom their husbands loue or were it a proud appetite of the Duke himselfe intending to be King at least-wise hainous treason was laid to his charge and finally were he faulty were he faultlesse attainted he was by Parliament and iudged to death as we haue saide 5 Richard the third sonne of whom we now entreat was in wit and courage equall with either of them in body and prowesse farre vnder them both little of stature ill-limmed and crook-backed his left shoulder much higher then his right very hard fauoured of visage and such as in States is called warly in other men otherwise he was malicious wrathfull and enuious yea and from afore his birth euer froward For it is for truth reported that the Dutchesse his mother had so much adoe in her trauaile that shee could not be deliuered of him vncut and that he came into the
Kings Highnesse out of that Towne Thus bare they folke in hand but when the Lord Riuers vnderstood the gates closed the wayes beset neither his seruants or himself suffered to goe out considering well so great a thing without his knowledge could not bee done for nought and comparing this present manner with his last nights cheare in so few howres to haue so great a change marueilously misliked it How beit sith hee could not get away nor keepe himselfe close hee would not lest hee should seeme to hide himselfe for some secret feare of his own fault wherof he saw no such cause in himselfe hee determined vpon the surety of his owne conscience to goe boldly vnto them and to enquire what this matter might meane whom as soone as they saw they beganne to quarrell with saying that hee entended to set distance betweene the King and them and to bring them to confusion but it should not lie in his power And when he beganne as hee was a very well spoken man in seemely wise to excuse himselfe they carried not the end of his answere but shortly took him put him in ward and that done forthwith went to horsebacke and tooke the way to Stony-Stratford where they found the King with his Company ready to leape on horsebacke and depart forward to leaue that lodging for them because it was too strait for both companies 17 And as soone as they came in his presence they alighted downe with all their company about them to whom the Duke of Buckingham said Go afore Gentlemen and Yeomen keepe your rooms In which goodly array they came to the King and on their knees in very humble manner saluted his Grace who receiued them in very ioyous and amiable manner nothing knowing nor mistrusting as yet what was done But euen by and by in his presence they picked a quarrell to the Lord Gray the Kings other brother by his mother saying that he with the Lord Marquesse his brother and the Lord Riuers his vncle had compassed to rule the King and the realm and to set variance among the States and to subdue and destroy the noble bloud of the Realme towards the accomplishing whereof they said that the Lord Marquesse had entred into the Tower of London thence taken out the Kings treasure and had sent men to the sea All which things these Dukes well knew were done for necessary and good purposes by the whole Councell at London sauing that somwhat they must say 18 Vnto which words the King answered what my brother Marquesse had done I cannot say but in good sooth I dare well answere for mine vncle Riuers my brother here that they are inocent of any such matter yea my liege quoth the Duke of Buckingham they haue kept their dealings in these matters farre from the knowledge of your good Grace And forth with they arrested the Lord Richard Sir Thomas Vaughan and Sir Richard Hawt Knights in the Kings presence and brought the king and all his company backe vnto Northampton where they tooke againe further counsell And there they sent away from the King whome it pleased them and set new seruants about him such as better liked them then him At which dealing the king wept and was nothing content but it booted not and at dinner the Duke of Glocester sent a dish from his owne Table to the Lord Riuers bidding him be of good cheere for all should bee well But the Lord Riuers thanking the Duke prayed the Messenger to beare it to the Lord Richard with the same message for his comfort as one to whom such aduersity was strange but himselfe had beene all his dayes inured therewith and therefore could beare it the better but for all this comfortable courtesie of the Duke of Glocester he sent the Lord Riuers and the Lord Richard with Sir Thomas Vaughan into the North Country into diuers places to prison and afterward all to Pomfret where they were in conclusion beheaded 19 In this wise the Duke of Glocester tooke vpon himselfe the Order and Gouernance of the yong King whom with much honour and humble reuerence he conuaied towards London But anone the tidings of this matter came hastily to the Queene a little before the midnight following and that in the sorest wise that the King her sonne was taken her brother her sonne and other friends arrested sent no man wist whither to bee done with God wot what With which tidings the Queen in great fright heauinesse bewailed her childes raigne her friendes mischance and her owne misfortune damning the time that euer shee disswaded the gathering of power about the King got her selfe in all hast possible with her young sonne and her daughters out of the Palace of Westminster in which shee then lay into the Sanctuary lodging her selfe and company there in the Abbots place 20 Now came there one likewise not long after night from the Lord Chamberlaine vnto the Archbishoppe of Yorke then Chancellor of England to his place no â—…re from Westminster and for that hee shewed his seruants that he had tidings of great importance that his M. gaue him in charge not to forbeare his rest they letted not to awake him nor hee to admit the Messenger vnto his bed side Of whom hee heard that these Dukes were gone backe with the Kings Grace from Stony-Stratford vnto Northampton notwithstanding Sir quoth he my Lord sendeth your Lordshippe word that there is no feare for hee assureth you that all shall bee well I assure him quoth the Archbishoppe bee it as well as it will it will neuer bee so well as we haue seene it And thereupon by and by after the messengers departure hee caused in all hast all his seruants to bee called vp and so with his owne houshold about him euery man weaponed hee tooke the Great Seale with him and came yet before day vnto the Queene About whom he found much heauinesse rumble hast and businesse carriage and conueiance of her stuffe into Sanctuary chests coffers packes and fardels trussed all on mens backs no man vnoccupied some lading some going some discharging some comming for more some breaking down the wals to bring in the next way and some drew to them to helpe to carry a wrong way The Queene her selfe sate alone alow on the rushes all desolate and dismayed whom the Archbishop comforted in the best manner hee could shewing her that hee trusted the matter was nothing so sore as shee tooke it for and that hee was put in good hope and out of feare by a message sent him from the L. Chamberlaine Ah woe worth him quoth the Queene hee is one of them that laboureth to destroy mee and my bloud 21 Madam quoth hee bee of good cheare for I assure you if they crowne any other King then your sonne whom they haue now with them we shal on the morrow crown his brother whom
you haue here with you and here is the great Seale which in like sort as that noble Prince your husband deliuered it vnto me so here I deliuer it vnto you to the vse and behoofe of your sonne and therewith hee betooke her the Great Seale and departed home againe euen in the dawning of the day by which time hee might in his Chamber window see all the Thames full of boates of the Duke of Glocesters seruants watching that no man should goe to Sanctuary nor none should passe vnsearched Then was there great commotion and murmur aswell in other places about as especially in the City the people diuersly diuining vpon this dealing And some Lords Knights and Gentlemen eyther for fauour of the Queene or for feare of themselues assembled in sundry Companies and went flocke-meale in harnesse and many also for that they accounted this demeanour attempted not so specially against the other Lords as against the King himself in the disturbance of his Coronation 22 But then by and by the Lords assembled together towards which meeting the Archbishoppe of Yorke fearing that it would bee ascribed as it was indeed to his ouermuch lightnesse that hee so sodainely had yeelded vp the great Seale to the Queene to whom the custody therof nothing appertained without speciall commandement of the King secretly sent for the Seale again brought it with him after the accustomed manner And at this meeting the Lord Hastings whose truth toward the King no man doubted nor needed to doubt perswaded the Lords to beleeue that the Duke of Glocester was sure and fastly faithfull to his Prince and that the Lord Riuers and Lord Richard with the other knight were for matters attempted by them against the Dukes of Glocester and Buckingham put vnder arrest for their surety not for the Kings ieopardy and that they were also in safeguard there no longer should remaine then till the matter were not by the Dukes onely but also by all the other Lords of the kings Councell indifferently examined and by other discretions ordered either iudged or appeased But one thing he aduised them beware that they iudged not the matter too farre forth ere they knew the truth nor turning their priuate grudges into the common hurt irking and prouoking men vnto anger and disturbing the kings Coronation towards which the Dukes were comming vp that they might peraduenture bring the matter so farre out of ioynt that it should neuer bee brought in frame againe Which strife if it should happen as it were likely to come to a field though both parties were in all things equall yet should the authority be on that side where the King is himselfe 23 With these perswasions of the Lord Hastings whereof part himselfe beleeued of part he wist the contrary these commotions were somewhat appeased but especially by that that the Dukes of Glocester and Buckingham were so neere and came so shortly on with the King in none other manner with none other voice or any other semblance then to his Coronation causing the fame to be blowne about that these Lords and Knights which were taken had contriued the destruction of the Dukes of Gloucester and Buckingham and of other the Noble blood of the Realme to the end that themselues would alone demeane and gouerne the King at their pleasure And for the Colourable proofe thereof such of the Dukes seruants as rode with the Carts of their stuffe that were taken amongst which stuffe no maruell though some were harnesse which at the breaking vp of the houshold must needs either be brought away or cast away they shewed vnto the people all the way as they went saying loe here be the barrels of harnesse that these Traitors haue priuily conueied in their Carriages to destroy the Noble Lords withall This deuise albeit it made the matter to wisemen more vnlikely well perceiuing that the intenders of such a purpose would rather haue had their harnesse on their backes then to be bound vp in barrels yet much part of the common people were therewith verie well satisfied and said it were almes to hang them 24 When the King approched neere to the City Edmund Shan Goldsmith then Maior with William White and Iohn Matthew Sheriffes and all the other Aldermen in scarlet with fiue hundred horse of the Cittizens in violet receiued him reuerently at Haruesey and ryding from thence accompanied him into the City which he entred the fourth day of May the first and last yeere of his Raigne The King was lodged in the Bishops Pallace where was kept a great Councell and there was sworne to the king the Duke of Gloucester the Duke of Buckingham and all the Lords But the Duke of Gloucester bare him in open sight so reuerentlie to the Prince with all semblance of fowlines that from the great obloquie in which he was so late before he was sodeinely falne in so great trust that at the Councell next assembled he was made the only man chose thought most meet to be Protector of the king and his realm so that were it destiny or were it folly the lambe was betaken to the wolfe to keepe At which Councell also the Archbishop of Yorke Chancellour of England which had deliuered vp the great Seale to the Queene was thereof greatly reproued and the Seale taken from him and deliuered to Doctor Russell Bishop of Lincolne a wise man and of much experience and vndoubtedly one of the best learned men that England had in his time diuers Lords Knights were appointed vnto diuers Roomes the Lord Chamberlaine and some others keeping still their offices they had before 25 Now although that the Protector so sore thirsted for the finishing of those designes which he had begun and thought euery day a yeere till they were atchieued yet durst he no further attempt so long as he had but halfe his pray in his hand well witting that if he deposed the one brother all the Realme would fall to the other if he either remained in Sanctuary or should be conueied to his further liberty wherfore incontinent at the next meeting of the Lords in Councell he proposed vnto them that it was a heinous deed of the Queene and proceeded of great malice towards the Kings Counsellers that shee should keepe in Sanctuary the Kings brother from him whose speciall pleasure and comfort were to haue his brother with him and that by her done was to none other intent but to bring all the Lords in obloquie and murmur of the people as though they were not to be trusted with the Kings brother who by assent of the Nobles of the land were appointed as the Kings neerest friends to the tuition of his owne royall person The prosperity whereof standeth quoth hee not all in keeping from enemies or ill viand but partly also in recreation and moderate pleasure which hee in his tender youth cannot take in the company of ancient
to her charge that shee went about to bewitch him and that shee was of Counsell with the Lord Chamberlaine to destroy him in conclusion when no colour could fasten vpon these matters then laid hee hainously vnto her charge the thing that her selfe could not deny that all the world wist was true and that neithlesse euery 〈◊〉 laughed at to heare it then so suddainly so highly taken that shee was nought of her body And for that cause as a good continent Prince cleare and faultlesse himselfe sent out of heauen into this vitious world for the amendment of mens manners after shee had laine Prisoner in Ludgate he caused the Bishop of London to put her to open penance going before the Crosse in procession vpon a sunday with a taper in her hand In which shee went in countenance and pace demure so womanly and albeit shee were out of all array saue her kirtle only yet went shee so faire and louely namely while the wondering of the people cast a comly rud in her cheekes of which before shee had most mist that her great shame wan her much praise among those that were more amorous of her body then curious of her soule And many good folke also that hated her liuing and glad to see sinne so corrected yet pitied the more her penance then reioiced therein when they considered that the Protector procured it more of a corrupt intent then any vertuous affection 50 This woman was borne in London worshipfully friended honestly brought vp and very well married sauing somewhat too soone her husband an honest Citizen young and goodly and of good substance But for asmuch as they were coupled ere shee were well ripe shee not very feruently loued for whom shee neuer longed which was haply the thing that the more made her incline vnto the Kings appetite when he required her Howbeit the respect of his roialty the hope of gay apparell ease pleasure and other wanton wealth was able soone to pierce a soft tender heart But when the King had abused her anone her husband as he was an honest man and one that could his good not presuming to touch a Kings concubine left her vp to him altogether When the King died the Lord Chamberlaine tooke her which in the Kings daies albeit he was sore enamoured vpon her yet he forbare her either for reuerence or for a certaine friendly faithfulnes proper shee was and faire nothing in her body that you could haue changed vnlesse you would haue wished her somewhat higher Thus they say that knew her in her youth Albeit some that now see her for as yet shee liueth deeme her neuer to haue beene well visaged whose iudgement seemeth to me somewhat like as though we could gesse the beauty of one long before departed by her scalpe taken out of the Charnell house for now shee is olde leane withered and dried vp nothing left but riueled skinne and hard bone and yet being euen such who so well aduise her visage might gesse and deuise which parts how filled would make it a faire face Yet delighted not men so much in her beauty as in her pleasant behauiour for a proper wit shee had and could both reade well and write merry in company ready and quicke of answere neither mute nor full of babble sometime taunting without displeasure and not without disport in whom King Edward tooke speciall pleasure whose fauour to say the truth for sinne it were to belie the Diuel she neuer abused to any mans hurt but to many a mans comfort and reliefe when the King took displeasure shee would mitigate and appease his mind where men were out of fauour shee would bring them in his grace for many that highly offended shee obtained pardon Of great forfeytures shee gate them remission And finally in many weighty suites shee stood many men in great stead either for none or very small rewards and those rather gay then rich either for that she was content with the deed it selfe well done or for that she delighted to bee sued vnto and to shew what shee was able to do with the King or for that wanton women and wealthy bee not alwaies couetous I doubt not some shall thinke this woman too slight a thing to be written of and set among the remembrances of great matters which they shall specially thinke that happily shall esteeme her onely by that they now see her But to my seeming the chance is so much the more worthy to be remembred in how much she is now in the more beggerly condition vnfriended and worne out of acquaintance after good substance after so great fauour with a Prince after so great suit and seeking to of all those that in those dayes had businesse to speede as many other men were in their times which bee now famous onely by the infamy of their ill deedes her doings were not much lesse albeit they bee much lesse remembred because they were not so euill for men vse if they receiue an euill turne to write it in marble and who so doth vs a good turne we write it in the dust which is not worst proued by her for at this day shee beggeth of many at this day liuing that at this day had begged if shee had not been 51 Now it was so deuised by the Protector and his Councell that the selfe same day in which the L. Chamberlaine was beheaded in the Tower of London and about the selfe same howre was then not without his assent beheaded at Pomfrait the fore-remembred Lords and Knights that were taken from the King at Northampton and Stony-Stratford which thing was done in the presence and by the order of Sir Richard Ratcliffe Knight whose seruice the Protector specially vsed in that counsell and in the execution of such lawlesse enterprises as a man that had beene long secret with him hauing experience of the world and a shrewd witte short and rude in speech rough and boisterous of behauiour bolde in mischiefe as farre from pitty as from all feare of God This Knight bringing them out of prison to the Scaffold and shewing to the people present that they were Traitors not suffering them to speake or declare their innocency lest their wordes might haue inclined men to pitty them and to hate the Protector and his part caused them hastily without Iudgement processe or manner of order to bee beheaded and without all guilt but onely that they were good men too true to the King and too nigh to the Queene 52 Now when the Lord Chamberlaine and those other Lords and Knights were thus beheaded and ridde out of the way then thought the Protector that while men mused what the matter meant while the Lords of the Realme were about him out of their owne strengthes while no man wist what to thinke nor whom to trust before they should haue space to dispute and digest the matter and make parties it were best hastily to pursue
his purpose and put himselfe in possession of the Crown ere men could haue time to deuise how to resist But now was all the study by what meanes the matter being of it selfe so hainous might be first broken to the people in such wife as it might bee well taken To this counsell they tooke diuers such as they thought meet to bee trusted likely to bee induced to that part and able to stand them in stead eyther by power or policy Among whom they made of counsell Edmond Shaa Knight then Maior of London who vpon trust of his owne aduancement wherof he was of a proud heart highly desirous should frame the City to their appetite Of Spiritual men they tooke such as had wit and were in authoritie among the people for opinion of their learning and had no scrupulous conscience Among these had they Iohn Shaa Clerke brother to the Maior and Fryer Pinker Prouinciall of the Augustine Friers both of them Doctors in Diuinity both great Preachers both of more learning then vertue and of more fame then learning for they were before greatly esteemed of the common people but after that neuer Of these two the one made a Sermon in prayse of the Protector before the Coronation the other after both so full of tedious flattery as no mans eare could abide them 53 Pinker in his Sermon so lost his voice that he was forced to leaue off and came downe in the middest Doctor Shaa by his sermon lost his honesty and soone after his life for very shame of the world into which he durst neuer after come abroad But the Fryer forced for no shame and so it harmed him the lesse Howbeit some doubt and many thinke that Pinker was not of counsell in the matter before the Coronation but after the common manner fell to flattery after namely sith his sermon was not incontinent vpon it but at S. Maries Hospitall in the Easter weeke following But certaine it is that Doctor Shaa was of counsell in the beginning so farre forth as they determined that he should first breake the matter in a Sermon at Paules Crosse in which hee should by the authority of his preaching incline the people to the Protectors ghostly purpose But now was all the labour and study in the deuise of some conuenient pretext for which the people should bee content to depose the Prince and accept the Protector for King In which diuers things they deuised but the chiefe thing and the weightiest of all the inuention rested in this that they should alleadge bastardy either in K. Edward himself or in his children or both So that hee should seeme disabled to inherite the Crowne by the Duke of Yorke and the Prince by him To lay bastardie in King Edward sounded openly to the rebuke of the Protectors owne mother who was mother to them both for in that point could bee none other colour but to pretend that his own mother was an adultresse which notwithstanding to further the purpose hee letted not but yet hee would that point should bee lesse and more fauourably handled not fully plaine and directly but that the matter should be touched aslope and craftily as though men spared in that point to speake all the truth for feare of his displeasure But the other point concerning the bastardie that they deuised to surmise in K. Edwards children that would hee should bee openly declared and enforced to the vttermost The colour and pretext whereof was a contract pretended to bee made by King Edward vnto the Lady Lucy whereof we haue spoken in the raigne of the said King which inuention how simple soeuer yet it liked them to whom it sufficed to haue somewhat to say while they were sure to be compelled to no larger proof then themselues list to make 54 Now then it was by the Protector and his Councell concluded that Doctor Shaa should signifie in his sermon aforesaid that neither King Edward himselfe nor the Duke of Clarence were lawfully begot nor were the very Children of the Duke of Yorke but begot vnlawfully by other persons by adulterie of the Dutches their mother And also that dame Elizabeth Lucy was verily the wife of K. Edward and so the Prince and all his other children begot by the Queene were all of them bastards And according to this deuise Doctor Shaa vpon Sunday the nineteenth of Iune at Pauls Crosse in a frequent assembly took for the theme of his sermō this saying Spuria vitulamina non agent radices altas Bastard slips shall neuer take deepe root Whereupon when he had shewed the great grace that God giueth and secretly infundeth in right generation after the lawes of Matrimonie then declared he that commonly those children lacked that grace and for the punishment of their parents were for the more part vnhappy which were begot in base but specially in adultery Of which though some by the ignorance of the world and the truth hid from knowledge inherite for the time other mens lands yet God alwaies so prouideth that it continueth not in their blood long but the truth comming to light the rightfull inheritors be restored and the bastards slip pulled vp ere it can take any deepe roote And when he had laid for the proofe and confirmation of this sentence certaine examples taken out of the old testament and other ancient histories then he began to descend into the praise of the Lord Richard late Duke of Yorke calling him the father to the Lord Protector and declared the title of his heires vnto the Crowne to whom it was after the death of King Henry the sixt entailed by authority of Parliament Then shewed he that the verie right heire of his body lawfully begotten was only the Lord Protector For he declared then that King Edward was neuer lawfully married vnto the Queene but was before God husband vnto Dame Elizabeth Lucy and so his children bastards And besides that neither King Edward himselfe nor the Duke of Clarence among those that were secret in the houshould were reckoned very certainly for the children of the Noble Duke as those that by their features resembled other knowne men more then him from whose vertuous conditions he said also that King Edward was farre off But the Lord Protector he said the very Noble Prince the speciall patterne of Knightly prowesse aswell in all Princely behauiour as in the lineaments and fauour of his visage representing the very face of the noble Duke his father This is he quoth he the fathers owne figure this is his owne countenance the verie print of his visage the very vndoubted Image and plaine expresse likenesse of that noble Duke 55 Now it was before deuised that in the speaking of these words the Protector sould haue come in among the people to the sermon ward to the end that those words meeting with his presence might haue beene taken among the hearers as though the holy Ghost had put them
the winning of France In which inward warre among our selues hath beene so great effusion of the ancient noble blood of this Realme that scarcely the halfe remaineth to the great infeebling of this noble Land beside many a good Towne ransacked and spoiled by them that haue beene going to the held or comming from thence And peace long after not much surer then warre So that no time there was in which rich men for their money and great men for their Lands or som or other for som feare or some displeasure were not out of perill for whom trusted he that mistrusted his owne brother whom spared he that killed his own brother or who could perfectly loue him if his owne brother could not what maner of folke hee most fauoured we shall for his honour spare to speake of howbeit this wot you well all that who so was best bare alway least rule and more suite was in those dayes vnto Shores wife a vile and abhominable strumpet then to all the Lords in England except vnto those that made her their Protector which simple woman was well named and honest till the King for his wanton lust and sinnefull affection bereft her from her husband a right honest substantiall yong man among you And in that point which in good faith I am sorry to speake of sauing that it is in vaine to keepe in counsell that thing which euery man knoweth the Kings greedy appetite was insatiable and euery where ouer all the Realme intollerable for no woman there was any where yong or olde rich or poore whom hee set his eie vpon in whom hee liked any thing either person or fauour speech pace or countenance but without all feare of God or any respect of his owne honour murmur or grudge of the world he would importunately pursue his appetite and haue her to the great destruction of many a good woman and great dolour to their husbands and other their friends which being honest people of themselues so much regard the cleannesse of their hoâ—…e the chastitie of their wiues and their daughters that they had rather loose all they had besides then to haue such a villany done against them And albeit that with this and his other importable dealings the Realme was in euery part annoyed yet specially you heere the Citizens of this noble Citie aswell for that amongst you is most plenty of all such things as minister matters to such iniuries as for that you were neerest at hand seeing that neere heereabout was commonly his most abieing And yet you bee the people whom he had a singular cause well and kindly to entreat as any part of the Realme not onely for that the Prince by this noble Cittie as his speciall Chamber and the speciall well renowned Citie of his Realme much honourable fame receiueth amongst all other nations but also for that yee not without your great cost and sundry perils and ieopardies in all his warres bare euen your speciall fauour to his part which your kind mindes borne vnto the house of Yorke sith he hath nothing worthily acquitted there is one of that house that now by Gods grace better shall which thing to shew you is the whole summe and effect of this our present errand It shall not I not well need that I rehearse you againe that yee haue already heard of him that can better tell it and of whom I am sure you will better beleeue it and reason is it so to bee I am not so proud to looke therefore that you should recken my words of as great authoritie as the Preachers of the word of God namely a man so learned and so wiâ—…e that no man better wotteth what he should say and thereto so good and vertuous as he would not say the thing which hee wist hee should not say in the Pulpit namely into the which no honest man commeth to lye which honourable Preacher you well remember substantially declared at Paules Crosse on Sunday last past the right and title that the most excellent Prince Richard Duke of Gloucester now Protector of this Realme hath vnto the Crowne and Kingdome of the same For as the Worshipfull Doctor substantially made knowne vnto you the children of King Edward the fourth were neuer lawfully begotten forasmuch as the King leauing his very wife Dame Elizabeth Lucy was neuer lawfully married vnto the Queen their mother whose blood sauing that he set his voluptuous pleasure before his honour was full vnmeet to be matched with his and the mingling of those bloods together hath bin the effusion of great part of the noble blood of this Realme Whereby it may well seeme the marriage was not well made of which there is so much mischiefe growne For lack of which lawful coupling as also other things which the said worshipfull D. rather signified then fully explaned and which things shall not be spoken for mee as the thing wherein euery man forbeareth to say what hee knoweth in auoyding displeasure of my noble Lord Protector bearing as nature requireth a filiall reuerence to the Dutchesse his mother For these causes I say before remembred that is for lacke of other Issue lawfully comming of that late noble Prince Richard Duke of Yorke to whose royall blood the crowne of England and France is by the high authoritie of Parliament entailed the right and title of the same is by the iust course of inheritance according to the common law of this Land deuolued and come vnto the most excellent Prince the Lord Protector as to the very lawfully begotten sonne of the fore-remembred noble Duke of Yorke Which thing well considered and the great knightly prowesse pondered with manifodle vertues which in his noble person singularly abound the nobles and commons also of this Realme and specially of the North part not willing any bastard blood to haue the rule of the Land nor the abusions before the same vsed any longer to continue haue condiscended and fully determined to make humble petition to the most puissant Prince the Lord Protector that it may like his Grace at our humble request to take vpon him the guiding and gouernance of this Realme to the wealth and encrease of the same according to his very right and iust title Which thing I know well hee will be loth to take vpon him as he whose wisedome well perceiueth the labour and study both of minde and body that shall come therewith to whomsoeuer so will occupie the roome as I dare say he will if hee take it Which roome I warne you well is no childs office and that the great wiseman well perceiued when hee sayd Vaeregno cuius Rex puer est Woe is that Realme that hath a childe to their King Wherefore so much the more cause wee haue to thanke God that this noble Personage which so righteously is intituled thereunto is of so sad age and so great wisedome ioyned with so great experience which
the short time wherein he continued the name of a King which onlie was two monthes and sixteene daies and in them also he sate vncrowned without Scepter or ball all which Richard aimed at and perfidiously got before they could come to his head or into his hands His age at the death of his father and entrance into his throne was eleuen yeeres fiue monthes and fiue daies and within three monthes after was with his brother sin othered to death in the Tower of London as shall be shewed in his Raigne of whom we are now by order of succes sion to write RICHARD THE THIRD KING OF ENGLAND AND FRANCE AND LORD OF IRELAND THE FIFTIE SIXTH MONARCH OF THE ENGLISH HIS RAIGNE ACTS ISSVE AND DEATH For the most part written by Sir Thomas Moore CHAPTER XIX RIchard the third sonne of Richard Duke of Yorke born at Fotheringhay Castle in the County of Northampton was first honoured with the title of Glocester being the third Duke of that number consequently by vsurpation crowned King of England the third of that name a name indeed noted to the Kings so called to bee euer ominous and the title of Glocester to those Dukes euer fatall all of them both dying violent and vntimely deathes which ought to haue beene the more fearefull vnto Richard now hauing possession and interest in them both But that not regarded or destiny enforcing his aspiring mind gaue him no rest till his restlesse body found it lastly in the graue For his brother deceased when his life was most desired no man in shew tooke his death so heauily as himselfe or tendered the young King with a more honourable respect when as God knowes his mind ranne vpon deepe reaches how to compasse the wreath for his owne head which the better to fashion hee withdrew a while into the North and at Yorke in most sad and solemne manner obserued the Funerals of the dead King but howsoeuer the Maske couered this subtle Dukes face from the eie of the multitude yet Buckingham well knew the ambitious desire of his aspiring heart and indeed was the Dedalus that made him the wings wherwith he mounted so neere vnto the Sun as that the wax melting like the high-minded young Icarus he caught his last fall 2 What intendments they had before the Kings death is vncertaine though it may be suspected but sure it is he now gone the Duke of Buckingham twice sollicited Gloucester by his messengers in the North met him at Northampton himselfe accompanied him to London forwarded him in Counsell and was the first Actor in this following tragedy For first making him Protector procuring his young Nephew forth of Sanctuary disabling the young King bastardizing them both perswading the Citizens working the Nobility and all this done to set the Crowne vpon crookt Richards head and so moulded their minds vnto the man as they all became humble petitioners vnto him for to accept of the same who in the meane while had well conned his owne part by profuse liberalitie by passing great grauity by singular affability by ministring of iustice and by deepe and close deuises whereby hee wonne to himselfe the hearts of all but the Lawyers especially to serue best his turn which was so affected that in the name of all the States of the Realme a Petition was drawne and presented him to accept the wearing of the Crown the true copy wherof as we find it recorded in the Parliament Rol we haue inserted is as followeth In Rotulo Parliamenti tenti apud Westm. die Veneris Vicesimo tertio die Ianuarii An. Regni Regis Richardi 5. primo inter alia continetur vt sequitur Memorandum quod quaedam billa exhibita fuit coram Domino Rege in Parliamento praedicto in haec verba Where late heretofore that is to say before the consecration coronation and inthronization of our soueraigne Lord the King Richard the third a roll of parchment containing in writing certaine Articles of the Tenor vnderwritten on the behalfe and in the name of the three Estates of this Realme of England that is to witte of the Lords Spirituall Temporall and of the Commons by name and diuers Lords Spirituall and Temporall and other Nobles and notable persons of the Commons in great multitude was presented and actually deliuered vnto our said Soueraigne Lord the intent and effect expressed at large in the same roll to the which Roll and to the considerations and instant petition comprised in the same our said Soueraigne Lord for the publike weale and tranquility of this land benignely assented Now forasmuch as neither the said three Estates neither the said persons which in their name presented and deliuered as it is aforesaid the said Roll vnto our said Soueraigne Lord the King were assembled in forme of Parliament by reason whereof diuers doubts questions and ambiguities beene moued and engendred in the minds of diuers persons as it is said Therefore to the perpetuall memory of the truth and declaration of the same be it ordained prouided and established in this present Parliament that the Tenor of the said roll with all the contents of the same presented as is abouesaid and deliuered to our foresaid Soueraigne Lord the King in the name and in the behalfe of the said three Estates out of Parliament now by the same three Estates assembled in this present Parliament and by authority of the same bee ratified enrolled recorded approued and authorized into remouing the occasions of doubts and ambiguities and to all other lawfull effects that shall now thereof ensue So that all things said affirmed specified desired and remembred in the said rol in the tenor of the same vnderwrittē in the name of the said 3. Estates to the effect expressed in the same roll be of the like effect vertue force as if al the same things had bin so said affirmed specified desired remembred in a full Parliament and by authority of the same accepted approued The Tenor of the said Roll of parchment wherof aboue is made mention followeth is such To the high and Mighty Prince Richard Duke of Glocester Please it your noble Grace to vnderstand the considerations election and petition vnderwritten of vs the Lords Spirituall temporalll and Commons of this Realme of England and thereunto agreably to giue your assent to the common and publike weale of this land to the comfort and gladnese of all the people of the same First we consider how that heretofore in time passed this land many yeers stood in great prosperity honour and tranquilitie which was caused forsomuch as the King then raigning vsed and followed the aduise and counsell of certaine Lords spirituall and temporall and other persons of approued sadnesse prudence policy experience dreading God and hauing tender zeale and affection to indifferent ministration of iustice and to the common and publike weale of
Lord c. To whom we know for certaine it appertaineth of enheritance so to bee chosen And hereupon wee humbly desire pray and require your most noble Grace that according to this electiō of vs the three estates of this Land as by your true inheritance you will accept and take vpon you the sayd Crowne and royall dignitie with all things thereunto annexed and appertaining as to you of right belonging aswell by inheritance as by lawfull election and in case yee so doe we promise to serue and assist your Highnesse as true and faithfull subiects and liege men and to liue and die with you in this matter and in euery other iust quarrel For certainlie we be determined rather to aduenture commit vs to the perill of our liues and ieopardie of death then to liue in such thraldom and bondage as wee haue liued long time heretofore oppressed and iniured by extortions and newe impositions against the Law of God and man and the libertie old policie and Lawes of this Realme wherein euery Englishman is inherited Our LORD GOD KING of all KINGS by whose infinite goodnesse and eternall prouidence all things beene principally gouerned in this world lighten your soule and grant you grace to doe as well in this matter as in all other that may bee according to his will and pleasure and to the common and publike weale of this Land so that after great clouds trouble stormes and tempests the Sun of Iustice and of Grace may shine vpon vs to the comfort and gladnesse of all true-hearted Englishmen Albeit that the right title estate which our Soueraigne Lord the King Richard the third hath to and in the Crowne and roiall dignitie of this Realme of England with all things thereunto within the same Realme and without it vnited annexed appertaining bin iust and lawfull as grounded vpon the lawes of God and of nature and also vpon the ancient lawes and laudable customes of this said Realme and so taken and reputed by all such persons as beene learned in the abouesaid lawes and customes Yet neuerthelesse for asmuch as it is considered that the most part of the people is not sufficiently learned in the abouesaid Lawes and customs wherby the truth right in this behalfe of likelyhood may be hid and not cleerely knowne to all the people thereupon put in doubt and question And ouer this how that the Court of Parliament is of such authoritie and the people of this Land of such a nature and disposition as experience teacheth that manifestation and declaration of any truth or right made by the three estates of this Realme assembled in Parliament and by the authority of the same maketh before all other things most feith and certaine and quieting of mens minds remoueth the occasion of all doubts and seditious language Therefore at the request and by the assent of the three estates of this Realme that is to say the Lords spirituall and temporall and Commons of this Land assembled in this present Parliament by authority of the same be it pronounced decreed and declared that our said Soueraign Lord the King was and is the very vndoubted King of this Realme of England with all things thereunto within the same Realm and without it vnited annexed and appertaining aswell by right of Consanguinity and inheritance as by lawfull election consecration and coronation And ouer this that at the request and by the assent and authority abouesaide be it ordained enacted and established that the said Crowne and royall dignity of this Realme and the inheritance of the same and all other things thereunto within the Realme or without is vnited annexed and now appertaining rest and abide in the person of our said Soueraigne Lord the King during his life and after his decease in his heires of his body begotten and in especiall at the request and by assent and authority abouesaid bee it ordained enacted established pronounced decreed and declared that the high and excellent Prince Edward son of our said Soueraigne Lord the King bee heire apparant of the same our Soueraigne Lord the King to succeed to him in the abouesaid Crowne and royall dignity with all things as is aforesaid thereunto vnited annexed and appertaining to haue them after the decease of our said Soueraigne Lord the King to him and to his heires of his body lawfully begotten Quae quidem Billa Communibus Regni Angl. in dicto Parliamento existent transportata fuit Cui quidem billae ijdem Communes assensum suum praebuerunt sub hijs verbis A Ceste bille les Communes sont assentus Quibus quidem billa assensis coram Domino Rege in Parliamento praedicto lectis auditis plenius intellectis de assensu Dominorum spiritualium temporal ◅min dicto Parliamento similiter existent ac Cōmunitatis praedictae nec non authoritate einsdem Parliamenti pronunciatum decretum declaratum existit omnia singula in billa praedicta contenta forever a indubia Ac idem Dominus Rex de assensu dictorum trium Statuum Regni authoritate praedicta omnia singula praemissa in billa praedicta contenta concedit ac ea pro vero indubio pronunciat decernit declarat 5 These things I haue laid forth more at large out of the Parliament Roll that ye may vnderstand both what and how great matters the power of a Prince the outward shew of vertue the wily fetches of Lawyers fawning hope pensiue feare desire of change and goodly pretences are able to effect in that most wise assembly of all the States of a Kingdome euen against all law and right so that the saying of Salomon in this State seemed most true that a liuing dogge is better then a dead Lyon But this Richard is not to be accounted worthy to haue been a Soueraigne had he not beene a Soueraign as Galba was reputed who when he was a Soueraigne deceiued all mens expectation but most worthy indeede of Soueraignty had hee not beene transported with ambition which blasted all his good parts by lewde practises and by mischieuous means made foule way thereunto for that by the common consent of all that are wise he was reckoned in the ranke of bad men but of good Princes as indeed King Richard through his short time of raigne is accounted to haue beene 6 The Crown and Scepter accepted as is said King Richard vpon the twentie fifth of Iune went in great pompe vnto Westminster hall and there in the Kings Bench Court tooke his Seat saying that he would take vpon him the Crowne in that place where the King himselfe ought to sit whose chiefest duety was to administer Iustice to his people and with a pleasing Oration so tickled the eares of his Auditors that hee lulled the rurall to thinke that his like had neuer raigned in England and to beginne himselfe with a pretenced clemency he pronounced pardon
his footemen thereto appointed And contrary to my owne affections or manner of my former proceedings I will yet continue the most honorable offices performed at his roiall enthroning with no little Admiration how these Lords assembled to set the Crowne vpon the young Princes head were so suddainly carried to Crowne his Protector and that vpon such false and slanderous pretences as euery one of them saw his title to be meerely an vniust vsurpation but in them may be seene that we are all the sonnes of Adam and in times of extremities foreslow all publike regard as ouermuch fearing our priuate and present estate 12 Vpon the sixt of Iuly King Richard with Queene Anne his wife set forth from White-hall towards Westminster roially attended and went into the Kings bench in the great hall from whence himselfe and Queen vpon ray Cloth both of them bare-footed went vnto King Edwards shrine in Saint Peters Church all the Nobility going with him in their degree the trumpets and Heraulds marshalling the way the Crosse with a solemne procession followed the Priests in fine surplesses and gray Amysses vpon them the Bishops and Abbots in rich Copes all of them mytred and carrying their Crosses in their hands next came the Earle of Huntington bearing a paire of gilt spurres signifying Knighthood after whom came the Earle of Bedford who bare Saint Edwards staffe for a Relique then followed the Earle of Northumberland with a naked pointles sword in his hand betokening mercy next whom the Lord Stanley bare the Mace of the Constableship vpon whose right hand the Earle of Kent bare a naked pointed swod and on his left hand the Lord Louell the like naked pointed sword the former signifying Iustice towards the temporalty the other Iustice to the Clergy the Duke of Suffolke then followed with the Scepter which signified Peace the Earle of Lincolne bare the Ball and Crosse which signified a Monarchy Then came the Earle of Surrey bearing the fourth sword sheathed in a rich scaberd and is called the sword of Estate next whom followed Garter King at Armes vpon whose right hand went the Gentleman Vsher of the Kings priuy Chamber and on his left the Lord Maior of London with a Mace in his hand Next vnto whom went the Duke of Norfolke bearing the Kings Growne betwixt his hands and then King Richard himselfe came in a Surcote and Robe of purple veluet hauing ouer his head a Canapie borne by the foure Barons of the fiue Ports the Bishop of Bath on his right hand and of Durham on his left The Duke of Buckingham bare the Kings traine and to signifie the office of high Steward of England he bare a White Staffe in his hand 13 Then followed the Queenes traine before whom was borne the Scepter the Iuorie Rod with the Doue and the Crowne her selfe apparelled in Robes like the Kings vnder a rich Canapie at euery corner thereof a bell of gold On her head shee ware a circlet set full of precious stones the Countesse of Richmond bearing her traine the Dutchesse of Norfolke and Suffolk in their Coronets attendants with twenty Ladies of estate most richly attired In this order they passed the Pallace into the Abbey and ascending to the high Altar there shifted their Robes and hauing other Robes open in diuers places from the middle vpward were both of them annointed and Crowned he with Saint Edwards Crowne hauing the Scepter deliuered into his left hand and the Ball with the Crosse a token of Monarchie in his right the Queene had a Scepter giuen into her right hand and the Iuory Doue in her left then after the Sacrament receiued hauing the host deuided betwixt them they both offered at Saint Edwards shrine where the King left his Crowne and put on his owne and thus done in the same Order and State as they came returned to Westminster hall and there held a most Princely feast Whereof let Hall and Grafton tell you for me 14 But this his faire Sunne was soone ouercast with many darke Cloudes and mischiefes which fell thicke vpon the necke of each other for as the thing euill gotten is neuer well kept through all the time of his raigne there neuer ceased death and slaughter till his owne destruction ended it Yet as he finished his daies with the best death and the most righteous that is to say his owne so began he with the most piteous and wicked I meane the lamentable murther of his innocent Nephewes the young King and his tender brother whose deaths and finall misfortunes haue neuerthelesse come so farre in question that some remaine yet in doubt whether they were in his daies destroied or no. Not for that only that Perkin Warbecke by the malice of many and the folly of more so long a time abusing the world was aswel with Princes as the other poore people reputed and taken for the younger of these two but for that also as all things were in late daies so couertly demeaned one thing pretended and another done that there was nothing so plaine and openly proued but for the common custome and close couert dealing men had it euer inwardly in suspect as many well counterfeit Iewels make the true mistrusted Howbeit concerning the opinion with the occasions mouing either party we shall haue place more at large hereafter to intreat of in the meane time for this present master shall be rehearsed the dolorous end of these young Babes not after euerie report I haue heard but by such men and by such meanes as to my seeming it were hard but it should be true saith Sir Thomas Moore 15 K. Richard presently after his mockish Electiō glorious Coronation made his progresse towards Gloucester to shew as was thought in that City his new Kingly estate which first had vouchsafed him his old honour in bearing her Title or else and that rather to besequestred from other busines the better to attend that vpon which his thoughts most busily ranne For albeit the Barke of his begunne aduentures had without perill well passed the straightes and now got sea roome to spread saile at will yet being vnder gale and at fortunes dispose he feared the gust of euery wind at leastwise suspected that his young Nephewes liuing would stay the course of his deepe reaches as doth the little fish Remora who holdeth as at Anchor the biggest shippe vnder saile His inward study therefore still forged howsoeuer his outward countenance was carried to cleare his passage by taking those dangerous lets away well knowing that his little Nephewes enioying their liues men would be medling with their downe cast cause and account him an vsurper without all rihgt to the Realme To stop which streame no other course could hee find but to cut off the current by which it ranne as though the killing of his Kinsmen could better his bad claime or vnkindly murther make him a kindly King But being resolued
hath continued what gouernour we now haue and what ruler wee might haue for I plainely perceiue the Realme being in this case must needes decay and be brought to confusion but one hope I haue that is when I consider your noble personage your justice and indifferencie your seruent zeale and ardent loue towards your naturall Countrey and in like manner the loue of your countrey towards you the great learning pregnant wit and eloquence which so much doth abound in your person I must needs thinke this Realme fortunate which hath such a Prince in store meete and apt to bee Gouernour But on the other side when I call to memory the good qualities of the late Protector and now called King so violated by-tyranny so altered by vsurped authoritie and so clouded by blind ambition I must needs say that hee is neither meet to bee King of so noble a Realme nor so famous a Realme meet to be gouerned by such a tyrant Was not his first enterprise to obtaine the Crowne begunne by the murther of diuers personages did hee not secondarily proceed against his owne natural mother declaring her openly to be a woman giuen to carnall affection and dissolute liuing declaring furthermore his two brethren and two Nephewes to bee bastards and to bee borne in adultery yet not contented after hee had obtained the Garland he caused the two poore innocents his Nephewes committed to him to bee most shamefully murthered the blood of which little babes daily cry to God from the earth for vengeance What surety can be in this Land to any person either for life or goods vnder such a cruell Prince which regardeth not the destruction of his owne blood and much lesse the losse of others But now to conclude what I meane towards your noble person I say affirme if you loue God your linage or your natiue countrey you must your selfe take vpon you the Crowne of this Realme both for the maintenance of the honour of the same as also for the deliuerance of your naturall countreymen from the bondage of such a tyrant And if your selfe will refuse to take vpon you the Crowne of this Realme then I adiure you by the faith you owe vnto God to deuise some wayes how this Realme may bee brought to some conuenient regiment vnder some good Gouernour When the Bishop hap ended his saying the Duke sighed and spake not of a great while so that night they communed no more 26 The next day the Duke sent for the Bishop to whom hee said My Lord of Ely I must needs in heart thinke and with mouth confesse that you bee a sure friend a trustie counsellor and a very louer of your countrey And sith that at our last communication you haue disclosed the secrets of your hart touching the now vsurper of the crown also haue alittle touched the aduancement of the two noble families of Yorke and Lancaster I shall likewise declare vnto you my priuie intents and secret cogitations And to beginne when King Edward was deceased I then began to studie and with deliberation to ponder in what manner this Realme should be gouerned I perswaded with my selfe to take part with the Duke of Gloucester whom I thought to be as cleane without dissimulation as tractable without iniurie and so by my means he was made Protector both of the King and Realm which authoritie being once gotten he neuer ceased priuily to require mee and other Lords aswell spirituall as temporall that he might take vpon him the Crowne till the Prince came to the age of foure and twenty yeres and were able to gouerne the Realme as a sufficient King which thing when hee saw me somewhat sticke at hee then brought in instruments authenticke Doctors Proctors and Notaries of the Law with depositions of diuers witnesses testifying King Edwards children to bee bastards which depositions then I thought to be as true as now I know them to bee fained When the said depositions were before vs read and diligently heard he stood vp bare headed saying Well my Lords euen as I and you would that my Nephewes should haue no wrong so I pray you doe mee nothing but right for these witnesses and sayings of famous Doctors bee true For I am onely the vndubitate heire to Richard Plantagenet Duke of Yorke adiudged to be the very heire to the Crowne of this Realme by authoritie of Parliament Which things so by learned men for veritie to vs declared caused mee and others to take him for our lawfull and vndoubted Prince and Soueraigne Lord. So againe by my ayde hee of a Protector was made a King but when he was once crowned King and in full possession of the Realme hee cast away his old conditions For when I my selfe sued to him for my part of the Earle of Hertfords Lands which his brother Edward wrongfully deteined from me and also required to haue the office of the high Constableship of England as diuers of my noble ancestors before this time haue had and in long discent continued in this my first suite hee did not only first delay mee and afterwards deny me but gaue mee such vnkinde words as though I had neuer furthered him all which I suffered patiently But when I was informed of the death of the two young Innocents O Lord my heart inwardly grudged insomuch as I abhorred the sight of him I took my leaue of the Court and returned to Brecknocke to you but in my iourney as I came I had diuers imaginations how to depriue this vnnaturall vncle First I fantasied that if I list to take vpon me the Crowne now was the way made plaine and occasion giuen For I well saw hee was disdained of the Lords Temporall and accursed of the Lordes Spirituall After diuers cogitations of this matter as I rode betweene Worcester and Bridgenorth I encountred with the Lady Margaret Countesse of Richmund now wife to the Lord Stanley who is the very daughter and sole heire to Iohn Duke of Sommerset my Grandfathers elder brother so that she her sonne Henry Earle of Richmund be both between me and the gate to enter into the Maiestie roiall getting of the Crowne and when wee had a little communed concerning her sonne and were departed I then beganne to dispute with my selfe whether I were best to take it vpon me by the election of the Nobility and Communalty or to take it by power Thus standing in a wauering ambiguity I considered first the office duety and paine of a King which surely I thinke that no mortall man can iustly and truly obserue except he be elected of God as K. Dauid was 27 But further I remembred that if I once took vpon me the Gouernance of the Realme the daughters of King Edward and their Allies being both for his sake much beloued and also for the great iniurie done to them much pittied would neuer cease to barke at
and Iohn Gilford Knights Foge Scot Clifford and Bonting with fiue thousand men attempted great matters at Grauesend but hearing of the Duke of Buckinghams surprise dispersed themselues for that time But when King Richard perceiued how hee was euery where beset he sent one Thomas Hutton vnto Francis Duke of Britaine with proffers of gold to circumuent and imprison Earle Henry who as hee feared was too well friended in those forraine parts which thing indeed this Hutton well perceiued and so to the King reported that the Duke was nothing forward to bite at this baite whereupon those that lately fled England were indited of treason and other of Henries factions beheaded whereof Sir George Browne and Sir Roger Clifford Knights with foure others were beheaded at London and at Exceter for the like cause dyed Sir Thomas Sentleger who had married Lady Anne Dutchesse of Excester King Richards own sister with others so icalous was the King of his vsurped Crowne and that nothing should be laide to vnprouident foresight the coasts hee stored with Armies of men furnished the Ports with store of Prouision and made all things ready to withstand Earle Henries arriuall Who now hauing gotten aide of fiue thousand Britaines with forty vessels wel furnished set saile from thence the twelfth of October but was taken with so terrible a tempest that his Fleet was disparkled some into Normandy and some compelled to returne into Britaine only the Earles ship with one other hept the Seas being sore tossed all night and in the morning arriued in the mouth of Poole in the County of Dorset where hee might behold the Shore full of men shining in armour to his great amasement whereupon hee sent out his shippe-boat to know whether they were friends or enemies their answere was that they were thither appointed by the Duke of Buckinghm to attend the comming of the Earle of Richmund to conduct him in safety to the Duke who lay encamped not far off that so ioyning their forces they might prosecute Richard the vsurper who being in a maner destitute of men was sore distracted and desperate in his owne designes These smooth vntruthes notwithstanding Earle Henry auoided and with a forward gale returned to Normandy whence he sent Messengers vnto young Charles King of France whose father King Lewis was lately departed this life to haue his safe conduct to returne into Britaine which easily was granted with fauourable complements returned to the Earle Lord Henry thus crossed by sea had present news of Buckinghams surprise and death with the flight of the Nobles escaped from Richard who meeting with Richmund in Britaine fell forthwith into Counsell where first it was determined that Earle Henry should take his oath to espouse the Lady Elizabeth eldest daughter vnto King Edward and the immediate heire to the Crowne which hee solemnly did in the Church at Rhedon and they for their parts sware vnto him fealty doing him homage with no lesse respect then vnto their sole and crowned King 37 Of these proceedings King Richard soone heard which indeed greatly appaled his thoughâ—… and all pensiue and sad he returned out of the West towards London where to cut off the hopes of Richmunds further claime hee caused a Parliament to be assembled at Westminster and therein attainted the said Earle Henry himselfe and all such as had fled the land in his behalfe enacting them enemies to their naturall Country their goods to be confiscated and all their lands and possessions to be seised vpon to the Kings vse which was so forwarded by his lewd Counsellors and so executed by his fawning followers that some better affected set forth the present and oppressed estate in these scoffing rimes to their further disgrace diuulging their names in manner as followeth The cat the rat and Louell the dogge Rule all England vnder a hogge Alluding to the names of Ratcliffe the Kings mischieuous Minion and of Catesby his secret traducer and to the Kings cognizance which was the Boare for which William Collingborne Esquier who had been Shiriffe of Wiltshire and Dorsetshire was condemned and vpon the Tower hill executed with al extremity 38 King Richards state standing in dangers abroad and not altogether free from conspiracies at hoâ—…e hee thought it best policy to enter amitie with Scotland which hee did for the terme of three yeeres and the more firme to assure himselfe of that King hee intreated a marriage betwixt the Duke of Rothsay the kings eldest sonne and the Lady de la Pole daughter to Iohn Duke of Suffolke and to the Dutchesse Elizabeth king Richards owne sister whom hee so much fauoured as that after the death of his owne sonne he proclaimed Iohn Earle of Lincolne her sonne and his Nephew heire apparant to the Crowne of England disinheriting King Edwards daughters whose brothers hee had before murdered 39 His feares nothing lessened but rather daily increased he attempted once more to stop the Currunt which led to the spring to which end he sent his Ambassadours loaden with gold and many gay promises vnto Francis Duke of Britaine offring to giue him all Richmâ—…nds lands and yeerely reuenues if he would either send the said Earle into England or commit him there vnto prison These comming to the Dukes Court could haue no communication with him he lying extremely sicke and his wits too weake to entertaine discourse Whereupon Peter Landose his Treasurer a man pregnant in wit and of great authority tooke the motion into hand vnto whom the English Ambassadors promised all the Earles Reuenews if he could bring King Richards request to passe He greedy of gaine and being in place to doe what he would promised to effect it conditionally that King Richard would make good his offer Thus whilest messengers posted betwixt Peter and Richard Iohn Bishop of Elie being then in Flaunders was certified by Christopher Vrswicke of all the circumstances of this purpose whereupon the Bishop with all possible hast sent the same intelligence the same day and by the same man vnto Earle Henry in Britain willing him to shift himself and followers into France who forthwith sent Vrswick vnto King Charles to haue his licence that he might with his good liking come into his dominions which being obtained he caused the other Lords vnder pretence to visite the sicke Duke to escape into Aniou and two daies after changing his Apparrell with his seruant waited vpon him as vpon his Master and posted thence into France whose escape when the Treasurer heard of he sent after to apprehend him and that in such hast as at his entrance into the French dominions they were hard at his heeles 40 This suddaine flight of the Earle and of the other English Lords the Duke of Britaine being somwhat recouered of his dangerous sicknes tooke very greeuously imputing it a great dishonour vnto himselfe to suffer the least suspect of breach betwixt
him and the Earle and therefore sore offended at Landose whom he suspected to be deepe in the deed he sent for Edward Wooduile and Edward Pownings two English Esquires vnto whom he deliuered a summe of money which he had promised to Earle Henrie with a conuey vnto all the rest of the English to depart Vannes bearing all their charges till they came to their Earle in France Neither was King Charles backward to forward Earle Richmond against the Tyrant and Vsurper of the English Crowne And the more to ioy Henry Iohn Earle of Oxford imprisoned by King Edward the fourth in the Castle of Hammes with Captaine Blunt his keeper and Sir Iohn Fortescue Porter of Callis came vnto Earle Henry to take their fortunes in following of his This Earle of Oxford as we haue seene was a continuall aider of King Henry the sixt against his opposite K. Edward and had done many seruices in the Lancastrians cause till destiny had cast downe the hopes of their side Him therefore Earle Henry made his chiefe Counsellor for warre as for experience policy valour and faith in that busines no man was more meete Whose prowesse further appeared when Earle Henry wan the wreath at Bosworth field where in the Front of that Battell he lead the band of Archers and euer after liued in great fauour with this King Henry the seuenth and in great honour died the fourth yeere of King Henry the eight In the like trust for Counsell and fauour with these Kings was Richard Fox Doctor of Diuinitie who being then a student in Paris was found by Earle Richmond to be the chiefest man for imploiment in his French busines which he so prudently and faithfully effected as the Earle being King acknowledging him one of his principall aduancers made him of his Priuie Councell Lord Priuie Scale and raised him to very great places in Church and Common-wealth and lastly to testifie in what deere esteeme hee held him made him Godfather to his sonne Prince Henrie who was after King of England with whom in great reuerence he liued a long time euen till his eye-sight failed through age and did many workes of piety whereof Copus Christi Colledge in Oxford is and shall be for euer a noble witnes and his honorable care of reuerend antiquity in preseruing the bones of many Saxon Kings and by him bestowed in faire Monuments in the Cathedrall Church of Winchester shall neuer want due celebration amongst all that honour antiquity and glorious studies But from these worthy Subiects we returne againe to their soueraigne King Henry 41 Whose beginnings thus forwarded by the Duke of Britaine and the French King drew many English into France and filled the heart of the Vsurper with an extreme feare therefore to accomplish by pollicy what was doubtfull by armes he sought to baite his hooke yet another way The title hee knew stood with the daughters of King Edward his sonnes being murdered and among them to Ladie Elizabeth the eldest whose marriage he well saw must bring Henry the Crowne But that once diuerted his streame of it selfe could beare no great floate nor bring any inundation into the Land and therefore Queene Elizabeth in Sanctuary must be Courted that her daughters might come to Court and there be regarded according to their degrees This so cunningly was carried by men that could carry themselues to fit womens affections that the King was purged of the murder of her sonnes shee made to beleeue that her selfe was respected a Dowager Queene and sister in law to the present King and that himselfe had a Prince and many Princely Peeres most fit matches for those Princes her daughters that her sonne Thomas Marquesse Dorset whilst he followed the Runaway Henry left his honorable preferments intended to himward and lastly requiring a reconciliation with the Queene forgaue all iniuries vttered against him out of her womanish passions with a most willing heart and indeed these messengers were such Crafts-masters as they brought Queene Elizabeth into a fooles Paradise and made her beleeue that their words were his heart Whereupon forgetting all things passed before as the murder of her sonnes the dishonour of her husband the bastardy of their Children and her owne scandall for Sorcery nor remembring the faithfull promise shee made to Lady Margaret Earle Henries mother shee deliuered her fiue daughters as lambes committed to the rauening wolfe in which act of hers is seene the weakenes of that Sexe and the ambition whereunto by nature they are inclined for presently vpon the deliuery of her daughters shee sent priuily for the Lord Marquesse Doset her sonne then residing in Paris willing him to desist from the Earles Faction and come vnto King Richard who promised him preferment and that her selfe and daughters were in high fauour all iniuries on both parts forgiuen and forgotten 42 This entrance made vnto the Tragedy intended to furnish the stage and finish the Scene of her owne life the next Actor must be Queene Anne who onely now stood in the Tyrants way her death he meant should giue life to his intruded regencie and adde a further Claime and strength to the possession which he already had by matching with his Neece the next heire vnto the Crowne the Lady Elizabeth the let onely resting that himselfe had a wife her death therefore must immediately bee sought yet so as the honorable repute of his name should no waies be impeached euer carrying himselfe in outward semblance for a good religious honest man and much desirous that his people should account him so First therefore he began to lament the barrennes of his wiues wombe and the great dangers that the Realme was like to sustaine if himselfe should die Issulesse complaining often thereof vnto his Nobility but most especially vnto Archbishop Rotherham lately released out of prison whereby the Prelate coniectured Queene Anne had not long to liue Then refrained he her bed vnder pretext of Penancy taking her defect as a scourge for his owne sinnes which day and night he sought to expiate by praiers His next pollicy was how her death might be wrought with the least suspect of wrong and how taken when shee was gone Therefore as an assay to the Peoples taste he caused it to be giuen forth that Queene Anne was dead which was so commonly divulged that the rumour thereof came to her owne eare and shee hauing had sufficient experience of her husbands proceedings feared this to be one of his plots mistrusting and not without cause that her life was in danger whereupon all dismaid with a lamentable countenance shee came to the King and with weeping teares demanded what offence shee had done that the sentence of death was giuen against her already Richard made it strange to see her so perplext and with louing words and smiling semblance bad her liue to scandalize report and to thinke that many
and a Tarquine intending to defile and carnally to know his owne Neece vnder pretext of holy Matrimony which Lady you are witnes I haue sworne shal be my wife This is the quarrell for which we are here this day assembled and for whose equity we craue God to be iudge a good beginning of his Protection we haue already seene in escaping the treasons laid for vs in Britaine the dangers of Seas and our safe arriuage vnto this place not hunted by anie but rather our selues hunting after that furious Bore who this day and in this place is so intangled in his owne toyle as his crooked tuskes shall not be able to gnaw the cords of his snare asunder nor himselfe haue power to free himselfe from his pursuers whose Iauelines I doubt not shall be died in the blood of this filthie swine and shall well rid the world of an vglie hogdbacked Monster which thing to accomplish ◅et vs remember that victory is not gotten by multitude but by manhood but the smaller number we bee the greater is our glory if we vanquish if vanquished fretting time shall neuer consume our memory that died to free our selues and Nation from the oppression of an vsurping Tyrant and thus I assure you that for so iust a cause you shall finde me this day rather a dead Carrion vpon the colde ground then a Carpet prisoner kept aliue for reproch Aduance therfore forward like true hearted Englishmen display your Banner in defence of your Countrey get the day and be Conquerors loose the Battell and be villaines God and Saint George giue vs a happy successe Which no sooner was said but that the Souldiers buckled their Helmes the Archers stript vp their sleeues bent their bowes and frushed their feathers attentiuely listening when the Trumpet should giue the sound of Battell 57 Betwixt both the Armies there lay a great marish which Earle Henry left vpon his right hand with purpose to haue that for a defence as also the Sunne at his backe and face of the enemy which when King Richard perceiued with found of trumpet and shout of his Army hee passed the Marish when the bow-men on both sides let freely flie their arrowes the rest comming to encounter with strokes but the Earle of Oxford fearing to be encompassed by the enemy commanded euery of his rankes to keepe within ten foot of his Standard which being accomplished and their fight a while stayed their opposites mistrusting some fraud or deceit ceased likewise from theirs many of them willing inough so to doe notwithstanding the L. Stanley at the same time ioyning with the Earle a cruell battell was againe begunne and manfully continued vpon either part Till lastly King Richard hauing intelligence that the Earle of Richmund was but slenderly accompanied with men of Armes and them also busied in their owne guardes meant by his incounter to finish the day as the onely man vpon whom stood all the hope of his enemies successe and therefore hauing the markes of Earle Henry made from the range of his owne battell and vpon the spur with his Speare in his Rest ranne violently towards him in a furious spleen in which rage at the first brunt hee bare downe and ouerthrew the Earles Standard and slew Sir William Brandon the bearer thereof next matching with Sir Iohn Che◅ney a man of great might manfully threw him to the ground thereby making an open passage by dint of sword vnto the Earle himselfe Richmund beholding the high valour of Richard most lion-like coped with this cruell Bore and held him maugre his tuskes at his sword point betwixt whom the fight was so desperate that Henrses company were strucke in great despaire at which very instant Sir William Stanley came in with three thousand tal fresh Souldiers who entred the battell with such courage and valour as they bare down all before them where they went whereat the Kings side began to faint and to giue ouer fight but the more resolute a while maintaining their ground and now mistrusting treason among themselues turned their backes and ran away whereby King Richard presently perceiued the downefall of his ill raised glory and the full period of his short raigne and all hope of resistance now past a swift horse was brought to escape the field with comforts that another day might set the victory on his side but with a mind vnmatchable in hatred against Henry or rather to haue his death registred in fames honorable role whose life had beene blotted with the penne of diuulged infamie hee hastily closed his helmet saying that that day should make an end of all battels or else in this now in trying he would finish his life which last was presently performed for thrusting into the middest of his enemies and there valiantly fighting among the thickest hee obtained more honor in this his two howres fight then he had gained by all the actions of his whole life 58 There died that day with him Iohn Duke of Norfolke Walter Lord Ferrers of Chartley Sir Richard Ratcliffe Knight Sir Robert Brakenbury Lieutenant of the Tower and not many Gentlemen more Sir William Catesby one of King Richards chiefe Counsellors with two others were taken and two daies after beheaded at Leicester among them that escaped were Frances Vicount Louell Humfrey and Thomas Stafford brethren which three tooke Sanctuary at S. Iohns in Glocester Thomas Howard Earle of Surrey though he submitted himselfe vnto Henry yet was hee committed to the Tower and therein a long time remained Vpon Earle He◅es part onely ten men were slaine as Sir Gilbert Talbot wrote the newes from the field whereof for note Sir William Brandon was the best in all to the number of foure thousand men This battell was fought the two and twentieth of August and yere of Christ Iesus 1485. in the field Redmore neere vnto Bosworth in the Countie of Leicester after which Earle Henry gaue thankes vnto God and commending his Souldiers with sufferance for them to take the spoiles of the field dubbed many of thē knights which his doings was so acceptable to the whole Army as with great applause th◅y all cryed King Henry King Henry whose forwardnesse to him-ward when the Lord Stanley perceiued hee tooke K. Richards Crowne found among the spoile of the field and set it vpon the Earle of Richmunds head thereby confirming the election of the people at which instant beganne the raigne of this new King 59 The slaine body of the vsurping Tyrant all tugged and torne naked and not so much as a clout left to couer his shame was trussed behind Blanch Seint Leger or White Bore a Purseuant at Armes like a hogge or Calfe his head and Armes hanging on the one side of the horse and his legges on the other and all besprinckled with mire and bloud was so brought into Leicester and there for a miserable spectacle the space of two
finally in establishing by a solemne Act the Crowne vpon him and his heires for euer 10 After dissolution of which Parliament the King redeemes such pledges as he had left in France for money borrowed and assumes into his Councel those two renowned agents in aduancing his fortunes Iohn Morton and Richard Foxe as the most necessarie parts and supports of his State the former of which not long after Thomas Bourchier dying was elected and enthronized Archbishop of Canterbury the latter was foorthwith aduanced to be Lord Keeper of his Priuy Seale successiuely preferred to the Bishoprickes of Exeter Bath and Welles Durham and Winchester 11 The most wished and most welcome day of marriage betweene King Henry and the Princesse Elizabeth being now come was celebrated by them with all religious and glorious magnificence and by the people with fires of ioy dancings songs and bankets through London all sorts and sexes beseeching Almightie God to send the King and Queene most prosperous successe and an infinite encrease of the common ioy by bestowing vpon them a young Prince and other Issue at his good pleasure Which prayers saith Andreas our Lord Iesus Christ vouchsafed to heare the Queene within a while after prouing with Child of whom shee was happily deliuered in the moneth of September following at Winchester which to the most fortunate King was a new happinesse to the Queene a great reioycement to the Church a soueraigne delight to the Court an exceeding pleasure and in briefe to the whole kingdome an incredible contentment Nor that without reason as it afterward appeared for if God had beene pleased to haue granted longer life not England onely but the whole world should in such a pledge haue had cause of eternall reioycement But God who gouernes all thinges and in whose hand are aswell the Scepters of Princes as dates of their liues disposed otherwise 12 Meanewhile there were not a few who did enuie to King Henry this vnexpected height of felicitie but they who first discouered themselues were certaine remaines of the late ouerthrow at Bosworth whose diffidence or euill will was greater then to relie vpon King Henries clemencie oâ—… to behold the dazeling brightnes of his new atchieued glorie and for that cause refused to forsake the Sanctuarie which they had taken at Colchester These were the Lord Louell Sir Humfrey Stafford and Thomas Stafford his brother Who while the King secure of dangers behind him was in his Progresse at Yorke meaning by affability bountie and other his wisest courses to gaine the good wils of the Northern people with whom the memory of King Richard was very deare and so to weaken the strengths and hopes of all future conspiracies forsooke their refuge and secretly in seuerall places gathered forces therewith to surprize and dethrone the King The Lord Louell raised his forces with such speed that the King who at Lincolne first heard of his escape and lightly regarded the same was no sooner setled in Yorke but certaine intelligence came that he approched fast with an Armie and withall that the Staffords had assembled forces in Worcestershire meaning to assault the City of * Worcester The extremity of the King who neuer dreamt of such a darling was not small for neither had he any sufficient numbers about him of his sure friends nor could iustly repose confidence in the Northern men whose loue to King Richard their late slaine Lord made them still suspected But danger quickeneth noble courages and therefore vpon due recollection of himselfe hee armes about three thousand men if tanned leather whereof the most of their breast-pieces for want of other stuffe were framed may be called armour and sends them vnder the leading of Iasper Duke of Bedford with commission to pardon or to fight The Duke offering pardon the Lord Louell fled by night to Sir Thomas Broughton into Lancashire where hee lurked certaine monthes the headlesse multitude yeeld without stroake and the felicity of King Henry preuailes in euery place for the Staffords hearing what had hapned to their Confederates disperse their Cloude of rebels and speedily take refuge at Colnham a village about two miles from Abingdon in Oxfordshire But the priuiledges of that place * being iuridically scand in the Kings Bench they were found vnable to afford protection to open traitors whereupon they were forceably taken thence and conueighed to the Tower of London from whence Sir Humfrey Stafford was drawne and executed at Tiburne but his brother Thomas by the Kings mercy had his pardon These short dangers and troubles by reason of their suddainty did worthily make the King wakefull euen ouer smaller accidents this blaze being kindled from so neglected sparkles But there followed deuises which in their owne nature were so strangely impudent and in their vent so strongly Bolstered that if Louels enterprise made him suspitious these other might iustly fill him with innumerable iealousies 13 The records are immortall which testifie that the erection of Idols and Counterfeits to dethrone them who are in possession is a verie olde Stratagem What troubles a Pseudo-Nero wrought by support of the Parthians who wonderfully fauoured Nero liuing the Romane writers teach vs. Neither hath the Diuell Father of Impostures any so solemne practise as Personation and Resemblances of true whether men or things Insomuch that some Diuines haue thought that as he can and often doth trans-shape himselfe into the forme of a Celestiall Angell so that he also deceiued our first mother vnder that resplendent but assumed habit And what mischiefs he wrought in this very kind of thrusting out into the world false pretenders the speech of wise Gamaliel testifieth who rehearseth the names of Theudas and Iudas Galilaus but the world hath since had more woefull experience hereof in that execrable Impostor Mahomet pretending to bee the Messiah In England it selfe before the time of this Henry what strange practises and conspiracies were set on foote vnder the title of a Pseudo-Richard in the raigne of Henry the fourth the former Histories haue sufficiently opened so that this Prince encountred nothing new in the Generall howsoeuer pestilent and extraordinarie in the particular Indeed his raigne more perhaps then any other of his predecessors afforded plentifull matter for such deuises to worke vpon there being many then who hauing beene conceaned as it were in the bowels of Sedition and nourished with the bitter and pernicious milke of dissention were not onely apt to embrace but also where they were not offered euen there to beget occasions of confounding all Men who could neither endure warre nor peace long nor any lowes in either as desirous to enioy the licentious violences of ciuill warre a misery which all wordes how wide soeuer want compasse to expresse The strange attempts of which kind of men or rather Monsters wee shall see exemplified in the subsequent tragedies Richard Simon an ambitious and
imposterous wretch and withall a Priest neither vnlearned the sacred shadow of which name the rather countenanced his practises in hope to make himselfe the principall Bishop of England plotted the aduancement of Lambert Symnell being his pupill in the Vniuersitie of Oxford to the Crown of England instigated thereto by the diuell and suborned by such as fauoured the White-rose faction vpon this occasion There went a rumour that Edward Earle of Warwicke sonne and heire to George the late vnfortunate Duke of Clarence second brother of King Edward was either already murthered or should shortly be This Architect of guile Simon hauing this Symnel in tuition the * sonne of a Baker or Shoomaker but a wel-faced and Princely-shaped youth of no * very euill nature but as it was corrupted by his Tutor meanes out of this rumors aerie substance to produce an apparition and prodigie which in Title behauiour and artificiall answers infused by his Tutors practises should resemble one of King Edwards children Here we must confesse that our authors leade vs into a perplexitie Some * affirming that this counterfet was exhibited to the world vnder the name of Edward Earle of Warwick sonne of the Duke of Clarence by the most turbulent and fatall Earle of Warwicke slaine at Barnet-field But hereunto reason seemes repugnant For what ground of claime could that Gentleman haue not onely for that his Father was attainted but much more for that the Queene of England then in being was the indubitate eldest daughter and heire of King Edward the fourth and sister and next heire to Edward the fifth Neither wants there ancienter authority then any of the others affirming that this Idoll did vsurpe the name of one of King Edwards sonnes many arguments concurring to buttresse this affirmation For if at the same time as Polydor writeth it was bruted that the sonnes of King Edward the fourth had not been murthered vnder their vsurping Vncle Richard but were escaped and liued in obscurity beyond the Sea how can that be true which Stow and the rest who follow Polydore therein affirm that Lambert was crowned King of England at Dublin in Ireland as heire to George Duke of Clarence For with what iniurie to the roiall brethren fained to be aliue was that Verily there seemes no coherence in the circumstances nor apparence of truth in the substance And how much stronger to the purpose of the Conspirators was the fiction of an Edward the Kings sonne and himselfe once proclaimed King then of an Edward who was but an Earle and a Duke of Clarences heire But you will aske what was the poore Earles part in this tragedie what other then that by rumoring his murther they might bring the person of King Henry into common detestation for his crueltie for clearing whereof the King publikelie afterward shewed the Earle to the view of all And albeit the vulgar fame is that Lambert was called Edward yet one who then liued saith directly that this Cypher was dubbed mounted from his owne meane ranke to the title of a King vnder the name of the second brother who for certaine was called Richard but what Record there is to the contrary is to vs as yet vnknowne for our vulgar Bookes extant can hardly passe with a Iury of ordinary Criticks and Censors for vnchallengeable euidence 14 This aery Typhon which grasped at the embracement of the two Kingdomes of England and Ireland thus throughly schooled and instructed is secretly conueighed by his Sinonian Tutor to Dublin the chiefe City of the Irish where he was confident of partakers as amongst the hereditary Clients and adherents of the house of Yorke which affection was first breathed into them by the cunning popularities of the Lord Richard Duke of Yorke the first of that line who publikely claimed the English Crowne His hopes deceiued him not for the Lord Chancellor of Ireland Thomas Fitz-Gerald of the noble Familie of the Geraldiâ—…s presently professed himselfe for the plot and by his authority and perswasions drew the generality of the Irish after him into it Messengers are hereupon dispatched vpon all hands both into England to such as they had hope of and into low Germany to the Lady Margaret sister of King Edward the fourth Dutchesse Dowager of Burgundy a most mortall enemy of the Lancastrian family In both places the lighted matches of sedition found powdry spirits and wonderfull correspondence There is flocking from all parts to support the quarrell and the Irish to haue the glory of giuing England a King proclaim reuerence this painted puffe flying bubble with royall Style and honors 15 Henrie seeing the fire so strangely kindled round about the wals of his best hopes strengths fals seriously to counsell at the Monastery of Carthusian Monkes neere Richmond where after exact deliberation it was decreed 1. That general pardon to stay the minds of as many as it was possible should without any exception bee proclaimed to such as from thenceforth should continue dutifull Which was principally done to temper and assure some priuate persons as Sir Thomas Broughton and others whose forces willes and wealth were held most in suspition 2. That Elizabeth late wife to Edward the fourth and mother in law to Henry now King of England should forfeit all her lands and goods for that contrary to her faith giuen to them who were in the plot for bringing in King Henry she had yeelded vp her daughters to the hands of the Tyrant Richard 3. That Edward Earle of Warwicke then Prisoner in the Tower should bee openly shewed aline in London All which was accordingly executed but without any great fruit for still â—…he plot went on 16 The condemnation of Elizabeth Queene Dowager rather moued enuy towards Henry then relieued his cause for to many the iustice of that sentence was doubtful the circumstance of a mother in law inferred a breach of pietie and the iudgement it selfe did also want example The iustice was doubtfull both in regard of the cause and of the proceeding Of the cause for how could shee haue defended her daughters by the priuiledge of sanctuary from such a Wolfe and Tyger as would haue infringed it for her sons had they not been quietly deliuered to his bloudie hands The same Tyrant doth now demand her daughters as to honour not to slaughter but if it had beene to slaughter what helpe she terrified with the motion after much deliberation yeelds them to him when shee neither could nor durst detain them But you say she violated her faith and hazarded thereby the liues and hopes of all that were in the plot for her cause A great crime certainely But Richard was in title and power a King and hung ouer her head with ineuitable terrors when Henry of Richmund was but an Earle and he farre off and in banishment and without any apparence of preuailing and her selfe a friendlesse widdow The manner
the spousall sheetes that ceremony seeming to amount to a Consummation Charles King of France notwithstanding these solemnities and his owne particular engagement with the Lady Margaret daughter of Maximilian whom for the purpose of marriage he had already entertained into France did so ambitiously and vehemently couet to gaine Britaine that vpon confidence of his force hee resolued to breake through all respects and not only to offend all his forreine friends but to make them his iust enemies rather then to faile in effectuation Instruments are therefore very secretly set on worke and batterie is placed with bags of gold at all the opportunities which might let in his purpose Ambassadors also the Lord Frances of Lutzenburg Charles Marinian and Robert Gagwine Generall of the Order of the holy Trinitie are dispatched to Henrie praying that with his good will he might dispose of the body of the Lady Anne in marriage according to the right which he had thereunto as the chiefe Lord of whom shee held the Dukedome Henry denied the request but yeelded notwithstanding to send Ambassadors into France there to Capitulate about a peace The French carried this affaire with notable Art for to diuert the world for looking into the depth of their drift King Charles still detained the young Lady Margaret Maximilians daughter so as at most it could be but suspected that Charles meant to match her with some of his blood and all the entercourse of Orators and Ambassadors vsed in the meane time tended but to hold the English busied vpon other obiects till they had wrought their feate in the Court of Britaine For Maximilian to let the world see what iniuries shall be offered euen to Kings that are not strong him they altogether neglected King Henry they plaied with and Ferdinando King of Castile who was ready to ioine with Maximilian and Henrie against the French they resolue to appease with rendring vp vnto him the Counties of Ruscinoon and Perpinian as accordingly they did without reembursement of one penny of those 300000. Crownes for which Iohn King of Arragon father to Ferdinando had morgaged them The young Ladies doubts rising either out of religion or point of honor his cunning Agents and Emissaries wipe away with these solutions That Maximilianâ—… daughter was not of yeeres to consent and therefore the contract betweene King Charles and her did not binde either in law or conscience That her owne contract with Maximilian was void for that it was done without the consent of her Soueraigne Lord King Charles whose ward or Client shee was The Ladie vanquished in her iudgement with these reasons attracted with the present greatnes of King Charles and loath by refusall to make her Countrey the seat of a long and miserable warre secretly yeelded to accept of another husband Thomas Goldstone Abbot of S. Augustines in Canterbury and Thomas Earle of Ormond in Ireland King Henries Ambassadors into France hauing beene dandled by the French during these illusiue practises returned without other fruite of their labors 29 What could now the most patient doe lesse then take sword in hand vpon so palpable and vnworthy illusion But Maximilians wrongs were too impudent and intollerable for Charles sent home the Lady Margaret and married the Inheretrix of Britaine annexing it to his owne Realme whereas King Henrie found himselfe rather mockt then otherwise empaired Iames Contibald hereupon comes Ambassador from Maximilian and obtained his request which was that they with ioynt forces should by a certaine day prefixed inuade the French in full reuenge of these their bold prouocations Maximilian for his part promising to support that warre with at least ten thousand men for two yeeres King Henry hauing formerly in abundant manner prouided himselfe of treasure was ready before the day with a roiall army but Maximilian whose will to worke the vttermost mischiefe to France was not doubted being sent vnto by King Henry signifying his forwardnes was found vtterly vnfurnished Causes of Maximilians weakenesse in state were the rebellions and dislikes of his Flemish Subiects cherished by the French the Iealousie of Princes neighbourhood making them vniustly glad either of others molestations For subduing whereof though King Henry had heretofore giuen him good and successefull assistance vnder the conduct of Giles Lord Dawbeney Gouernour of Callis the Lord Morley and others whereby he the rather ouercame yet was hee the feebler as then by reason of so fresh exhaustures King Henry with good cause was not a little troubled at these newes secretly signified by his trustie Almner Mr. Christopher Vrswick and Sir Richard Risley knight his Ambassadors to Maximilian For hee was very loath to vndergoe so great an Action vpon his particular strengths though he doubted not to finde a potent party among the Britaines whose affections were as yet but loosely setled toward King Charles and yet farre more loath to deceiue the expectation of his owne people who had so largely contributed Chiefly the City of London out of which euen in those daies he receiued for his furniture in that voiage almost ten thousand pounds from the Commoners and as it seemes by our Author two hundreth pounds besides from euery Alderman where the same King could not but with some difficulty leuie in the third yere of his Reigne a loane of foure thousand pounds whereof three of the best Companies are noted as for hauing done and deserued extraordinarily to haue lent aboue nine hundred And verily this wise King knowing how great a strength that rich City was vnto him humored that people with all forces of popularities for himselfe did not onely come among them and cause himselfe to be entred a brother in one of their Companies but ware the habite at a publike feast and sate as Maister as is verie credibly reported out of the Records of their Hall His wisdome therefore saw that in giuing ouer the inuasion of France he should sloathfully abandon a goodly occasion of making himselfe vniuersally acceptable to his people His resolutions therefore are by him at leastwise pretended to continue and for that cause he sufficiently encreaseth his numbers that he might seeme able to goe through with that enterprize alone and though the time of yeere were too farre spent for he landed not at Caleis till the sixth day of October yet marcheth he with his whole forces toward Boloigne being wel assured that with this trowell he should at once plaister two wals that is humor his English subiects and for a peace draw to himselfe store of Crownes from the French 30 He had with him besides the flower of his Nobility and Captaines answerable numbers of People fit for the seruice The most named persons were these Iasper Duke of Bedford Lieutenant Generall of the Army Thoâ—…as Marquesse Dorset the Earles of Arundell Oxford Suffolk Shrewsburie Derby Kent Deuonshire and Ormond sundry Barons as Dawbeney Abergenny Delaware South Hastings
Councell for the Commyn welthe ner slee ner murder for no enuye but in youre hertts put away all feare and dread and take afore you the Crosse of Criste and in your herts his faith the restitution of the Churche the subpression of these Herytyks and their opynyons by all the holle contents of this Booke And for the obseruation of this Oath heare another commande of the Commissioners as we find it recorded To the Bayliffes and Communes of the Towne of Skarboro Welbelouyd we Francys By god Knyghte and Iohn Halom yoman in the name of all the Communes commande anacharde you that ye assemble your selues together mediately vpon recepete hereof and so take thys othe wychys we here send vnto yow and then after in all haste possible to assist and hayde theis ower brethern wome wee sende to you to keepe and make sure the Castell Towne and Port of Skarboro that no man enter into the same Castell that belongys vnto Rafe Euers the yonger Knyghte nor any outher whiches did not take full parte with the Communes at ower first and last assemblynge in whoys name aethority or attorney soeuer they cume vnlesse they haue licence of all the communes in like manner yee shall truely keepe all sichys ordinance and shippe to the vse of the Communes wythe wyches wee charde you at our late being here and thys not to faile vpon payne of yower lyues yee shall refer credence vnto thys messyngeres thus in hast Fare yee well from Settrynton this Mondaye Sancte Mawris daye Francis Bigott Knight in the name and by Commandement of al the Communes Against these rout of Rebels George Earle of Shrewsbury not staying for the Kings commission mustred his men misdeemed of many that he meant to be a Pilgrime himselfe vnto which suspectors hee made a loyall Oration disclaiming all intention against their attempts how colourable so euer they laid their pretence which done he caused his Chaplen to minister him an Oath of his loyaltie before them in the Field It was likewise reported that the Earle of Darby was set forward towards them whome the Pilgrimes well hoped would haue sided with them as by their mandate sent to the Brethren appeares where is forbid that none of them should aide him vnlesse he tooke the Oath which he neuer meant to assay or sweare to 98 But true it is the King sent Thomas Duke of Norfolke Lord Generall against them accompanied with the Marquesse of Excester the Earles of Huntingdon and Rutland who ioining their powers made towards Doncaster where the Rebels then lay in their Randiuou in whose sight immediately they set vp their Tents and determined battell vpon the next day but on the night betwixt such fluds of water fell that the riuer Dun ouerflowed his bancke and admitted no passage ouer the Bridge which thing was taken as a token from God and thereupon the Lord Generall offered them Conference alleaging that the King was tender of his Subiects liues and very vnwilling to shed Christian blood that their cause should be fauourably heard and iust complaints redressed if with submission and duty of Subiects they would yeeld themselues affaires to the Kings mercy that this their rebellious proceedings was not onely the forerunning messenger of destruction to themselues and partakers but gaue also a great aduantage vnto the Scots the dangerous enemie vnto the Land and them all with these and the like perswasions the matter was so forwarded that a conference was appointed at Doncaster and foure pledges were sent from the Lord General vnto the Commons for the safe returnes of their assigned Commissioners which were these by name Lord Neuill Lord Darcy Lord Stressre Lord Lumley Lord Latimer Sir Thomas Percy Sir George Darcy Robert Aske Captaine Sir Raufe Clayer Seni. Sir Raufe Clayer Iun. Sir Raufe Euers Sir William Constable Sir Raufe Constable Sir Rich Tempest Sir Raufe Romemer Sir William Eustan Sir George Lawton Sir Thomas Hylton M. Robert Constable M. Richard Banner M. Wiseroppe Whose Articles and demands were these as followeth The instruction for Sir Thomas Hilton and other Companyons 1 First to declare to the Duke of Norfolke and other the Lordys that th entent of our meeting of our partie surely is meant and thought of assured troth without any manner of disceyte or male engyne 2 The second is to receiue the Kinges sâ—…ecundyth vnder the Brode Seale of Englonde and to deliuer our sâ—…ecundyth and promise vndre owre hands for the Lordys there 3 The thirde to entreate of owre generall perdon for all causys and all persons which be within the Realme wyche in herte word or deed assentyd edyter procured the furtherance in this our quarrell may be pardoned life lands goods and that in the sayd perdon nor other the Kings records we be not witon reputed ne taken as Rebylleous or tretors nor rehersyd in the same 4 The fourth that Thomas Cromwell nor any of his bande or serte bee not at owre metyng at Doncastre but abcente themselfe from the Councell 5 The fift to receiue the Kings answere by the declarations of the Lords and to certifie the vere eteâ—…t thereof to vs there Also to know what authority the Lords haue to etrete in promes with vs ther as well of owre promes of other things Also to know what plege the wyll deliuer for owr Capitans Also yf thys pertyculars be concluded then for to condyscend of other perticulars 1 The first touching our faith to haue the heresyes of Luther Wyclyf Hussee Melancton Ecolampadius Busyrs the Confession Germane the Applege of Melanqton the werke of Tyndale of Bernys Fryth of Marshall Rastell the Bookes of Sent Germane and such other of any manner Heresie without the Realme not to be kept but vtterly to be dystryed 2 The secund to haue the supreme of the Chyrch tâ—…ching cure of sowlle to be reseruyd to the See of Rome as byfore hyt whas accustomyd for to be and to haue the consecration of Byshoppys frâ—…e hym without any first frâ—…ts or pencyons to him to be paid out of thys Realme or ellys a pencion reasonable for the outwarde defence of our fayth Also we beseke humble our most drade Soueraign Lord that the Lady Mary may be legetymate and the estatutes contrary to the same to bee aâ—…lyd for the dome of the tytle that might incur to the Crown by Scotland and that to be by Parliament Also to haue the Abbeys that bee suppressed to be restoryd to their Lands Howsys and Goods Also to haue the Tents and first frâ—…ts clearely dischargyd onles the Clergy wyll of their selfys grâ—… a Rent or Charge to the augmentation of the Crown Also to haue the Freres obserâ—…s restoryd to their houses againe Also to haue the Heretiks Bishoppys and temporal men of their seete to haue condigne ponysment by fire or such other or ells to trie ther quarrell with vs and our partaker sin batell Also to haue the
 M Our Lady William de Buckingham confirmed by K. Edward 3.      VVARVVICKESHIRE Places Dedication Founder and Time Order Ualue     l. s. d. ob q Warwicke P Saint Sepulchers Richard Neuill Earle of Warwicke 0049 13 06 oo o Warwicke P Peter de Mountford Blacke Canons      Warwicke F Friers Preachers 0004 18 06 oo o Warwicke Eccles. Colleg. 0247 13 00 ob  Warwicke H Saint Michael 0010 01 10 oo o Warwicke H Sancta Baptista 0019 03 07 oo o Warwicke Saint George Robert de Deneby William Russell and Hugh Cooke for the state of the King and Anne the Queene Michael de la Poole and all their Brethren and Sisters and for Enne Prince of Wales A Fraternity      Warwicke Hongingate Chauntry Thomas Beanchampe Earle of Warwicke      Warwicke H Saint Iohn Thomas Beanchampe      Couentree P Saint Anne Frier Iohn of Northerbury a Carthusian Prior. Carthusians 0251 05 09 o o Couentree P Saint Mary King Canute and Leofricke Earle of Mercians A. D. 1043. Blacke Monkes      Couentree F Sir Iohn Poultney Knight Anno Domini 1332. Carmelites or White Friers 0007 13 04 oo o Couentree H S. Iohn Baptist. 0083 03 03 oo o Alcetter or Alnecester P S. Iohn Baptist. Blacke Monkes 0101 14 00 oo o Asteley C Thomas Lord Astley Deane and Secular Canons 0039 10 06 oo o Atherston F Augustine Friers 0001 10 02 oo o Auecater A Câ—…to Malâ—…rno Priorie in Worcestershire P 0034 08 00 oo o Babelacke C 0045 6 008 oo o Berdeslege M Beata Maria. White Monkes      Cadbury The Ancestors of Sir Ralph Botelar knight Baron and Lord of Sudley Treasurer of England      Combe M Saint Mary Camuils and Mowbraies White Monkes 0343 00 05 oo o Erneby or Erdebury P 0122 08 06 oo o Godscliffe C Richard Earle of Warwicke      Henwood N Saint Margaret Cethelbarne de la Laund Nunnes 0021 02 00 ob o Kenelworth M Geffrey Clinton Chamberlaine vnto King Henry the first Blacke Canons 0643 14 09 ob o Kingeswood N Blacke Nunnes      Knolle C Elizabeth wife to Iohn Lord Clinton 0018 05 06 oo o Maxstocke P 0129 11 08 ob o Meriuall M Saint Mary Robert Ferrars A. 1. H. 2. White Monkes 0303 10 00 oo o Nuneaton N Amice wife to Robert Bossu Earle of Leicester Nuns 0290 15 00 ob o Pollesworth N Saint Edith Modwena an Irish Virgin Repaired by R. Marâ—… a Nobleman Blacke Nunnes 0023 08 06 oo o Pynley N Nuns 0027 14 07 oo o Stoneley M K. Henry the second White Monkes 0578 02 05 oo o Stratford super Anon. Eccles. Colleg. Iohn of Stratford Archbishop of Canterbury 0123 11 09 oo o Studeley P Blacke Canons 0181 03 06 oo o Thelford The Lucies Knights Poore folke and Pilgrimes 0023 10 00 oo o Wroxhall N God and Saint Leonard Hugh de Hatton Blacke Nunnes 0078 10 01 ob o VVESTMORLAND Places Dedication Founder and Time Order Ualue     l. s. d. ob q Sharpe M Thomas the sonne of Gospatricke sonne of Ormes 0166 10 06 ob o VVILT-SHIRE Places Dedication Founder and Time Order Ualue     l. s. d. ob q. Salisbury EpaÌ„tus Saint Peter Osmond Bishoppe of Salisbury temp W. Rufi Anno Dom. 1091. Secular Canons      Salisbury C Saint Edith      Salisbury F King Edward the first and Robert Kilward by Archbishop of Canterbury Blacke Friers      Salisbury F Grey Friers      Iuxta Salisbury H Saint Michael Richard B. of Salisbury A. D. 1382. 0025 02 02 oo o Ambresbury M Alfritha King Edgars wife White Monkes 0558 10 02 oo o Ambresbury N King Etheldred Holy Virgins      Austy H 0081 08 05 ob o Bradnesioke P Saint Marie Walter the eldest sonne of Walter de Eureux Earle of Rosmar in Normandy Blacke Monkes 0270 10 08 oo o Bromhore or Bromere P Saint Mary S. Michael Banldwin Earle of Riuers and Deuonshire Blacke Canons      Brioptune P S. Mary Magd. Blacke Canons      Calne H 0002 02 08 oo o Crekelade H 0004 10 07 ob o Edoros P King Henry the second and after Henry the third Blacke Canons 0133 00 07 ob o Edindon P All-Saints William de Edindon Bishop of Winchester Bonis hominibus 0521 12 05 ob o Eston P Saint Trinity 0055 14 04 oo o Farleigh MonachoruÌ„ P S. Mary Magd. The Earle of Hereford or Hertford Blacke Monkes Cluniacenses 0217 00 04 ob o Fishhart F Mary Countesse of Norffolke Friers Preachers      Heitesbury Eccles-Collegiat Robert Lord Hungerford and Margaret      Henton N Dame Ela Countesse of Salisbury Nunnes      Kynton P Saint Mary S. Michael Nunnes 0038 03 10 oo o Lacocke M Saint Mary Dame Ela Countesse of Salisbury An. D 1232 0203 12 03 ob o Malmesbury M Saint Adelme Madulph an Irish Scot. Adelme his Scholler King Athelstan Blacke Monks 0803 17 07 oo o Middleton P King Athelstan      Marleburgh P Saint Margaret Edmund Earle of Cornwall Canons 0038 19 02 oo o Marleburgh F Iohn Goodwyn William Remsâ—…ich A. D. 1316 Carmelites or White Friers      Iuxta Marleburgh H S. Iohn Baptist. 0006 18 04 oo o Maiden-Bradley P Manasses Bisset Confirmed by King Iohn 0197 18 08 oo o Maiden Bradeley One of the Inheritrices of Manasses Bisset Leprosi      Stanley M Saint Mary White Monkes 0222 19 04 oo o Wilton N Saint Mary and Saint Edith Weolsthan Earle of Ellandanum or Wilton Edith wife of S. Edward Blacke Nunnes 0652 11 05 oo q Iuxta Wilton H Sant Egidius 0005 13 04 oo o Westchurch P      VVORCESTERSHIRE Places Dedication Founder and Time Order Ualue     l. s. d. ob q Worcester M now Eccl. Cath. Saint Marie Saint Wolstan Saint Katherin Sexwulph Bishoppe of the Mercians Anno Domini 680. Oswald Bishop of Worcester Wolstan Bishoppe there also Anno Domini 1090. These continued 500. yeers K. Henry the eight in stead of these placed in it a Dean Prebends ordained to it a Grammer Schoole Blacke Monkes 1386 12 10 ob q Worcester F Grey Friers      Worcester F William Beanchampe Blacke Friers      Worcester H Saint Wolstan 0063 18 10 oo o Alcetur Cellula 0075 07 00 oo q Bordelege P Saint Mary K. Henry the second and Maud the Empresse VVhite Monkes      Bredon M Offa king of the Mercians    Â
1346. * Grafton * Serres King Edwards Charity The French deuise to succour Calais The English victory at Potiers 19. Sep. 1356. * Serres Polyd. Vergâ—… saith his name was Innocentius * Serres The French king taken prisoner * Froissard * Serres * Fabian out of the French Chronicles * Ypod. Neust. * Serres The Prince doth things more commendable then his victory * Paul Aemyl * Poly. Verg lib. 19. * Holinsh. omnes * Bolyd Verg. lib. 19. * 5 Mâ—… A. D. 1357. Ypod. Neust. A Lord Maior feasted foure kings at once The two Prisoner kings lodged * Adam 〈◊〉 King Dauid set at liberty after 11 yeeres durance * Fourdon A. D. 1357. * 27. Nouemb. * Guil. Tilliâ—… * Serres Tillâ—… An. D. 1358 A. reg 32. * VVals in Edward 3. fol. 173. * Armacâ—… in Defensoriâ—… curatorâ—… Fox Martâ—…log in Edward 3. * 〈◊〉 iâ—… * Sabelli Ennead 9 l. 6. * Tho. Wals. in Edward 3. King Edward 2. gaine in France 24. October * Paul Aemil. * Serres * Paradiâ—… in les Annals de Burgo * Froissard Paulus Aemilius saith 100000. crownes * Iud. 19. 11. 25. and 26. * Tho. Wals. * Polyd. Verg. lib. 19. * Tho. VVals An. D. 1360. The English before Paris Foure hundred Knights made at one time * Polyd. Verg. * Serres and Polyd. Verg. * Paul Aemyl * Tho. VValsing * Serres Paul Aemyl * Tho. Wals. Ran. Cestr. * Fabian * Tiâ—… Articles of peace * Paul Aemyl 〈◊〉 Iohan. 〈◊〉 * Serres Fabian Holinsh. Paul Aemyl * Tho. Walsing * Paul Aemyl Polyd. Uerg. Froissard The huge ransome of Iohn King of France * Tho. VVals Fabian The City of Paris gaue toward this ransome one hundreth thousand roialâ—… Edw. Griâ—… his English Serres * 24. October 1360. * 〈◊〉 par 7. Caxton * Inuentorie of France in Charles the 5. Serrâ—… Paul Aemyl in Car. 5. * Serres rashly affirmes he did * Pol. Virg. in E. 3. The points charged vpon the English In Charles 5. Serres The dealings of the English defended against P. Aemilius An. D. 1369 Iohn Duke of Lancaster sent to inuade France * Polyd. Verg. in Edw. 3. Froissard * Ypod. Neust. * Polyd. Verg. l. 19 Holinsh. in Edw. 3. An. D. 1370 Sir Robert Knolles sent Generall into the parts about Britaine * Tho. Walsing in Edw. 3. * Paul Emyl in Car. 5. * Paul Emyl Iac. Meir Holinsh. * Tho. Walsing in fine Edw. 3. * Tho. Wals. in Edward 3. * Holinsh. * Serres * Holinshed * Serres an Author distrusted An. D. 1372 * Holinshed The Flemish Name distressed by the English * Ypod. Neust. Rochel besieged by the French The English Nauie distressed by the Castilian * Polyd. Verg. l. 19 King Edward at sea to relieue Rochel is blown backe * Tho. Walsin * Polyd. Verg. lib. 19. A. D. 1373 Rochel continueth English * Tho. VVals * Tho Wals. lib. 19. * 1. Tillius Chron. * Miller p. 992. * Idâ—… ib. * Lib. Eliens * Cambd. Erit in Essex * Milles. p. 381. Idem p. 428. * Milles. p. 441. * Idem p. 689. Monarch 50 Richard II. A. D. 1378. The Coronation of the King 〈◊〉 MS. apâ—…d Dâ—… Rob. Cotton Seruices by â—…a on of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Coroâ—…ion found and â—…ed in that 〈◊〉 The Court of higâ—… Sâ—…wardship A. D. 1379. The Britons dislike of the French Gouernment matter of new troubles The commons spared in the subsidie * Siâ—…plex Capellaâ—… Walsing A mâ—…morable example of a noble young gentlemans faith keeping Aids sent into Britain drowned Other aids pierce into Britaine from 〈◊〉 by land An. D. 1380. * Io. Tilâ—… in Chron. French troubles profitable to the English The Earle of Northumberland countermanded from pursuit of the Scots The Parliament at Northampton A. D. 1381. The Earle of Cambridge sent with an Armie into Portugall * Râ—…der Santiâ—… part 〈◊〉 hist. Hisp. cap. 2â—… * Polyd. Vergil 〈◊〉 l. â—…0 The dangerous rebellionâ—… of Wat. Tyler Iacke Straâ—… others * L. S. Alban MS * Hist. Ang. l. 20. * Ioh. Stow. VVat. Tyler the Idol of the Clownes Iohn Cumber-towne once Lord Maior of London confined and confiscated * Thoâ—… VValsing Ypod. p. 539. Polyder Vergil not to be rashly beleeued Sir Iohn Aâ—…eys reputation redeemed from slander * Reâ—… hee is called Ypod. Neust. Aâ—… 13â—…0 * Henry Knightoâ—… Can. of Lâ—…c Aâ—… apud Holinsh. * Thâ—… UUals. in Richard 2. Hatred increaseth betweene the Duke and Count Northumberland Berwick recouered by the Earle A. D. 1385. The Souereignty of Flanders offeâ—…red to king Richard by the Flemmings * Iohn Tylliâ—… in Chron. * Paul Aemyl saith 40000. in in fight and in â—…ight and that in those whole ciuill warres there perished â—…00000 * In Rich. 2. ad A. D. 1386. The Duke of Lancaster stands vpon his keâ—…ping Thâ—… VValsing in Rich. 2. ad â—…unc ann The French prepare an inuasion against England * Ex Record apâ—…d Tiliuâ—… * Paul Aâ—…myl * Polyd. Uerg. lib. bist Angl. 20. Paul Aemyl Frâ—…issard Iâ—… Meir * Paul Emyl Three hundreth thousand English men in armes together * Seruientes ad arma * Paul Aemyl in Carol. 6. The Kings mother dyeth being denied a pardon for her sonne the Lord Iohn Holland * Ypod Neust. The Duke of Lancaster suspected for perswading the King to passe the Scottish Sea The vertue of priuatâ—… men in the publikâ—… cause * Iohn Tilliâ—… The Portugeseâ—…â—…d the English * Iâ—… 〈◊〉 â—…xal S. Crâ—… 14. Septemb. The bad euent of this French designe for an inuasion The attempt of the Laity to dispossesse the Clergie of their temporall estates * Tâ—…o VVals King Richard the Clergies friend The first Marquesse made that euer was in England * Ex libr. Monast. de Melsa ex Record apud Guil Cambd. in Torkesh A. D. 1386. A. reg 6. * Ypod. Neust. * â—…olinsh * Tho. VValâ—… p. 321. The noble army of thâ—… Duke of Lancaster for Spaine * Heur Knighton Oklands Ang. prael * Holinsh. ex Hen. Knigh. p. 449. * Uigil S. Lauren. The Lord Henry Percie by-named Hotspur sent to Calis * Magister Gunnarius A Parallelization of the English and French States in these times * Paul Aemyl * Ypod. Neust. The first seeds of the ciuil wars * Sam. Dan. in his ciuill warres * Remaines * Tho. Walsing in Rich. 2. * Ypod. Neust. * Marâ—…al The Lord Maior of London refuseth to be of conspiracy against the Duke of Gloster An. D. 1387. * Aprilis 24. * Ypod Neust A description of King Richards chiefe fauorites Tho. VValsin in Richard 2. ad A. D. 13â—…6 The malignant construction made of the Earle of Arâ—…dels seruice The Duke of Ireland puts away his wife the Kings cosen * Tho. Walsin in Rich. 2. * Sellarij Filia a Sadlers daughter some aay a Ioyners Walsing A new â—…tion of the King how to bring the popular Lords to a triall The
Lawyers sent for to make treasons * At Shrewsburie saith Hist. Lecestrens Hist. Lecestrens * Fulthorp vide Booke of Statut. A. 11. Rich. 2. cap. 4. * Those Articles are set downe in the Book of Statu A. 21. R. 〈◊〉 c. 12 * In MS. it iâ—… ratis for Cratâ—… in likelihood Hâ—…st 〈◊〉 The popular Lords bold answere to the king The kings reply The Lords â—…harge the king with sundry matters An. D. 1388. An. Reg. 11. * Stat. Aâ—… 11. 〈◊〉 1 The rough and harsh behauiour of the Lords Persons remoued from about the King Historia Lecestren The Duke of new Troy or London * An. 10. 11. Rich. 2. A. D. 1389. A. reg 12. The King declares himselfe to be of age and takes the gouernment vpon him * He was founder of the two famous Colledges in Oxford and Winchester * Roder. Santius Archiep. Toletan Hist. Hisp. part 4 cap. 22. * Polyd. Verg. l. 20 Hist. Ang. * Froissard * Tho. Wals. The Duke of Lancaster in his distresse calleth vpon God and is heard * Roder. San. qua supra Conditions of perpetuall amity betweene the K. of Spaine and the Duke of Lancaster * Tho. VValsin in Ric. 2. * Fabian Caxton * Holinsh. pag. 450. * Ypod. Neust. * Holinshed The Duke of Lancaster doth good offices The Duke of Yorkes carriage worthily praised A. D. 1390. An. reg 13. The Duke of Lancaster made Duke of Aquitaine Henry of Bullingbroke seekes aduentures into Germany * A. R. 13. vid. lib. Stat. * Ypod. Neust. 544. ibid. p. 545. * 〈◊〉 frigore turbatâ—… A. D. 1391. * Ypod. Neust. * Râ—…mipetis * Ioh. Stow. cals him Earle of Northumberland A. D. 1392. London in disgrace with the King * Tho. VVals * Fabian Caxton but. Stow mistikes their additions of other disorders * Ypod. Neust. A. D. 1393. A. D. 1394. * Ypod. Neust. The death of Queene Anne and many great Ladies The famous Sir Iohn Hawkwood dieth * Paul 〈◊〉 in â—…log 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 * Iulius Feroldus * Tho. Walsin Ypod. Neust. An. D. 1396. * Doct. Tayler ex Autographâ—… ipsius A. D. 15â—… An excellent note concerning the vanity of worldly ambition in Princes * Froissard The Duke of Lancaster marries the Lady Katherine Swinford * Stow Holinsh. erreth in saying but three A peace and marriage with France A. D. 1397. A. reg 20. * Hist. Ang. lib. 20. * Ypod. Neust. Grafton Chron. * Fabian Concor Hist. * A French pamphlet apud Ioh. Stowe in Hollinsh pag. 488. Lanquets Epitoâ—… * Hist. Angl. li. 20. * Tho. VValsin * Grafton Io. Stow. Annal. * Milles. p. 427. * Ypod Neust. A. reg 21. * Libr. Statut. An. 21. Rich. 2. cap. 2. * 〈◊〉 brâ—…ad An. 10. 〈◊〉 * Holinsh. The Earle of Arandel beheaded The Duke of Glocester murthered A. D. 1398. Libr. Statu An. 21. Rich. 2. cap. 12. * Tho. Walsin * Book of statutâ—… A. Ric. 2. 21. ca. 12. artic 6. * Tho. Walsing The King Prince of Chester creates Dukes and other States * Hist. Ang. lib. 20. * Ypod Neust. An. D. 1399. An. Reg. 22. * Ypod Neust. * Tho. Wals. in R. 2. * Annal. Hibern apud Cambd. * Annal. Hibern apud Cambd. * Tho. VVals * Ed. 2. §. 33. 34. King Richard resignes vpon Michaelmas day A. D. 1340. * Holinsh. pa. 504 * D. Hayward iâ—… Hen. 4. * Fabia Concord hist. saith thirty and eight * Tho. Wals. * Ypod. Neust. * Ypodigma Neust. Ypod. Neust. * Fab. 1. Concord Hist. Holinsh. ex Fab. A necessary protestation * Mornay Myst. iniquit p. 482. * into Bohemia opera Io. Huss To. 2. * Walfi p. 205. p. 208. * Ibid. p. 285. * p. 327. * p. 285. * Câ—…lmen Sapientia scientia p. 201. * p. 286. * p. 201. * Bulla Gregorij ib. * Vide op Ioh. Huss 10. 2. * Nimio fauâ—…re Pâ—…ocerum militum VValsin p. 351. p. 328. * Ypod. Neust. p 552. ibid. * Varia Wicliffi M. S. in biblioth Oxon. * Tho. VVals p. 285. * ib. pag. 283. * An. 1385. * Walsi p. 312. Ypod. Neust. p. 537. * Atri Ditis is in M. S not in the printed copies Monarch 51 Henry IIII. * Tho. VValsin * Ex Anonym apud Io. Stow. Annal. Holinsh p. 515. Polyd. Verg. lib. 21. * Hall Chron. * Shellie as others haue it * Fab Conc. Hist. * Harst cap. 119. * Hall Chron. Holinsh. p. 516. * Tho. Walsing The late King Richard starued to death * Ypod. Neust. * Annal. in H. 4. * Sir Iohn Fâ—…rtescue * Chron. c. 200. * In Yorkshire pag. 567. * Hist. Angl. 20. in â—…in Rich. 2. The fiction of Tantâ—…lus verified in King Richard * Lanquets Chron. in Hen. 4. * Fab. Conc. Chron. * Holinsh. p. 517. * Lib. 16. A counterfet King Richard buried in Scotland Tho. VVals in Hen. 4. ad An. D. 1044. Richards dead body shewed openly at London From thence is carried to Langley and afterward to Westminster * Thom. Walsing in Henr. 4. * Fab. Conc. Hist. * Annal. * Ypod. Neust. * Hist. 51. li. 16. by Belindens diuision cap. 13 Owen Glendowr drawes the VVelsh into rebellion * Hist. of Wales D. Powel p. 385. 386. 387. * Sir Edw. Cooke Epist. part 3. report King Henrie enters North-VVales with an Armie VVarre 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 by 〈◊〉 Pâ—…e * * 〈◊〉 Sâ—… â—…4 an 2. c. â—…5 An. D. 1401. An. Reg. 2 * Polyd. Verg. Hist an 〈◊〉 21. * Tho. VVals * Holinsh. Chron. Frossard The forme of redeliuering Queen Iâ—…abel to the French The King in danger to be slaine or wounded An. 1402. * Fab. Chron. ad A. D. 1400. * In Hen. 4. * Polyd. Vergâ—… 21. * Holinsh. p. 520. The late king Richard though dead suffers not K. Henry to rest Tho. Wals. Ypod The Diuell appeares in Essex * Cambd in Northumb p. 675. * Pol. Verg. lib. 21. * Hect. Boet. l. 16. Henry Hotspurs fortunes against the Scots The incredible force of the olde English Archery The summe of the great victory at Halidown hil * Tho. Wals. Polyd. Verg. hath not a word in particular of this so great an action The Lord Mortimer dies a prisoner amongst the VVesh * Cambd. p. 675. in Northumberland A. D. 1403. * Ioh. Tilius Chr. * Ypod. Neust. in Histor. A strange presaging apparition of war * Heâ—… Boâ—… lib. 16. Causes of the Lord â—…rcies dangerous rebellion * Thom. Walsing * Cambd. in Northumberland The Kingdome of England to bee shared among the conspirators * Holinsh. p. 521. The late dead King Richard againe afflicteth Henry * Ypodig Neust. * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 lib. 〈◊〉 Thomas Percie Earle of Worce ster cause of the battell at Shrewsbury The terrible battel at Shrewsbury * Thomas Walsing Hoâ—…spurre and Dowglas onely seeke to encounter the Kinges person * Tho. Walsing * â—…ibr 16. * Many thousands together â—…aith VValsingham The King vseth his victory
battell at S. Aâ—…bans where the Queene is victorious and recouers the King * Tirel saith Rob. Fab. The King and Queene returne into the North. Orig. 35. Hen. 6. Monarch 54 Edward IIII Edward Duke of Yorke and Rich. Earle of Warwick come vnto London The City of London doubtfâ—… vnto whether part to yeeld Priâ—… Edward 〈◊〉 his right to the Crowne King Henry depriued of his Crowne Edward Duke of Yorke proclaimed King of England March 3. * He was borne A D. 1â—…41 April 29. The feares of the Londoners Walker a Citizen beheaded for wordâ—… Dangerous to meddle with a Crowne Grost * 18000. pounds King Edwards beginnings somewhat disliked K. Edwards expedition into the North. The Lord Fitzâ—…er and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Earle Warwicks approach and speech to King Edward The L. Clifford sâ—…ine with an headlesse arrow A. D. 14â—… Difference of Authors hath here bred some confusion of yeeres * March 29. K. Edwards proclamation much forwarded his seruice The battell aâ—… Touton A politicke practise in 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 K Henry 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Queene Margaret passeth into France A. D. 1461. King Edward crowned King Henry and Prince Edward disherited by Parliament A. D. 1462. Queene Margaret returned into Scotland Bastard Ogle ouercommeth the French An. D. 1463. Queene Margaret entreth Northumberland in hostile manner King Edward commeth to Tâ—…rks The skirmish vpon â—…egely More The saying of Sir Ralph Percie at his death 〈◊〉 victory at 〈◊〉 May. 15. Lordâ—… 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 The disgrading of Sir Ralph 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 King Henry 〈◊〉 to flight Rich. Grafton King Edwards care and prouisions King Henrie disguised commeth into England and is apprehended King Henry hardly vsed arrested and committed prisoner to the Tower King Edwards care of Iustice. The pride and abuse in shooâ—… Sheep transpore ted into Spâ—…e verie hurtfull vnto England King Edwards care for choice of his Queene His second proiect for a 〈◊〉 Rich. Grafton Cambden Rich. Grafton His third aâ—…y for a wife The allegations 〈◊〉 the 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Lady Bona fitte st Queene for Edward Neuil the great Earl of Warwick Rob. Fab. Warwicks wooing and entertainements in France K. Edwards last sodaine choise of his wife Ioh. Hardings 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The Lady Elizabeth Gray a supplicator to king Edward The beauty and feature of the Lady Elizabeth Gray K. Edwards mother seeketh to 〈◊〉 his loue The counsell and conference of the old Dutchesse of Yorke with her 〈◊〉 K. Edward 〈◊〉 vnto 〈◊〉 it was exâ—… 〈◊〉 a 〈◊〉 to marry K. Edwards reason for his 〈◊〉 free choise His â—…thers deuise 〈◊〉 crâ—… his purâ—… 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Lady 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of King Edward K. Edward married Lady Elizabeth Grey The descent and parentage of the Lady Elizabeth Grey Queene Elizabeth crowned The Queenes kindred highly preferred Earle Warwicke sore offended against K. Edward Temporizing betwixt the king and Earle of Warwicke Francis Goodwin Catal. of English Bishope Iohn Neuil created Marquesse Montacute Rich. Grafton A. D 1468. A marriage moued betwixt Earle Charles and Lady Margaret Philip. Com. l. 3. cap. 4. The mariage celebrated Earle Warwicke plotieth K. Edwards deposition Warwicke draweth Clarence into action against the King his brother Warwicke and Clarence make affinity A. D. 1469. The occasions found for a commotion Hulderne Captaine of the Commotion Two Captaines made by the rebels Sir Iohn Coniers chosen generall of the rebels The Lord Herbert Earle of Pembrooke made Lord generall Discontents betwixt Pembrooke and Warwicke The Lord Stafford repulsed K. Edward prepareth against the Earle of Warwicke Pembrooke and Stafford fall out for their Inne The valor of Pembrooke and of Sir Richard Herbert A. D. 〈◊〉 The Earle of 〈◊〉 with others beheaded Robert of Riddisdale captaine of the 〈◊〉 The Earle Riuers with his sonne Iohn surprised and beheaded Lord Stafford beheaded Io. Stâ—… Annal. King Edawrd taken at Wolney Is imprisoned in Middleham Castle King Edward escaped out of prison Warwicke sayings to make and vnmake kings Warres prepared vpon but 〈◊〉 partâ—… The miseries of ciuill warres The King and the Lords meet at London A. D. 1470 A commotion in Lincolnshire The Lord Wels and Sir Thomas Dimocke beheaded The battell at Stanford Sir Robert Wels taken Loscoat field Sir Robert Wels put to death Warwicke and Clarence flee into France Phil. Comines lib. 3. cap 4. The Dutches of Clarence deliuered of a son vpon shipboard The Duke of Burgundy bends himselfe against Earle Warwicke The double dealings of Vawcler Earle Warwicke saileth into Normandie King Lewis relieueth Warwicke Burgundy offended with Lewâ—… for relieuing his enemie Reiner of great stile and small power A marriage concluded betwixt Prince Edward and Anne daughter of Earle Warwicke King Edward driuen into his dumps Marques Montacute is taken into King Edwards fauor A maid Ambassador vnto the Duke of Clarence The conference of the damsell with the Duke of Clarence The Duke of Clarence inclineth to his brother Warwicke and Clarence returne into England Septemb. 13. A. reg 10. King Edwards security Earle Warwicke in the West proclaimeth king Henry K. Edwards opinion touching Warwickes approach Sunday after Michaelmas Stowel Annal. Doctor Godards sermon Marquesse Montacute reuolteth from K. Edward How vncertaine it is to stat on the 〈◊〉 K Edward is forced to flee England October 3. Edward in danger of taking on seas Queene Elizabeth tooke Sanctuarie in VVestminster Prince Edward boâ—…e in the Sanctuary The Kentish Commotioners doe much hurt about London Iohn Fortescue The States take K. Henry out of the Tower K. Henry againe restored goeth crowned to Pâ—… K. Edward debarred from gouernment by Parliament The Parliament Rowle Iohn Tiptoft Earle of Worcester beheaded The Crownes of England and France entailed to K. Henry George Duke of Clarence entailed to the Crowne Earles restored Earle Warwicke made gouernour of the Realme Queene Margaret hindred by tempest to come into England The Duke of Burgundy perplexed Phil. Com. lib. 3. Earl of Warwicks esteeme in Callis King Edward coueteth aide of his brother the Duke of Burgundy The Duke of Sommerset disswadeth Burgundy to aid K. Edward Burgundie temporizeth with his suites K. Edward passeth into England pretending no more then to be Duke of York A. D 1471. March 14. K. Edward straines his oath to winne the City of Yorke Earle Warwicke writes to his brother Marquesse to impeach King Edwards passage K Edwards Army encreased Iohn Stow. Warwicke taketh into the City Couentrie March 29. K. Edward challengeth Earle Warwick to fight K. Edward draweth towards London K Edward and his brother Clarence meet and are reconciled Clarence seeketh to draw Warwicke vnto K. Edward The words of Warwicke in answer to Clarence K. Edward marcheth forward London receiueth King Edward K. Henrie againe taken and sent to the Tower of London Ed. Hall Earle Warwicke commeth to S. Albans K. Edward carrieth K Henrie with him to battell Apr. 14. Barnet field fought vpon Easter day The orderings
of the battels Iâ—… Stow. A mistaking of the soulâ—…ieis which was the losse of the field Great Warwickâ—… slaine in fight Marques Montacute slaine in battell Nobles and others slaine at Barnet field Edw. Hast. Ioh. Stow. Rob. Fabian saith 1500. The Duke of Sommerset and the Faile of Oxford fled into Wales Rich. Grast Edward triumpheth and oâ—…eth his banner in S. Pauls Queene Margaret with Prince Edward landed at Weyâ—… The Lords comfort Queene Margaret Queenâ—… Margarets care for Prince Edward her sonne The opinions of the Lords King Edward prepareth against Queenâ—… Margaret King Henry committed to the Tower of London The ordering of Queene Margarets battels The ordering of K. Edwards battels The battell at Tewkesbury Edw. Hall This battell was fought vpon Saturday the 4. of May the 11. of K. Edwards raigne and yeere of Christ 1471. L. Wenlocke slain for not following Sommerset Lords slaine at Tewkesbury Prince Edward apprehended The Duke of Sommerset and others executed Prince Edward apprehended and 〈◊〉 answers Prince Edward most shamefully slaine Queene Margaret taken out of her Sanctuary The Northerne men submit vnto K. Edward Bastard Fanconbridge Captaine of the Lancastri Fauonbridge assaileth London The Citizens withstood his â—…ance Fauconbridge forced backe to his shipâ—… K. Edward with his Captiue Queene Margaret enter London King Henry â—…urthered in the Tower by Richard Duke of Glocester K. Henry carried bare-faced through the streetes of London Stowes Annals K. Henry bâ—…ied 〈◊〉 Chertsey and 〈◊〉 to Windsor The 〈◊〉 of K. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The vertues of K. Henry Holinshed Camb. Brit. in descript of Surrey Kings Colledge in Cambridge and Eaton in Barkshire found 〈◊〉 by K. Henry Queen Margaret ransoâ—… 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Bastard Fauconbridge with his vnruly crew yeeld to King Edward Bastard Fauconbridge pardoned of life and rewarded with Knighthood Rob. Fabian Bastard Fauconbridge beheaded A. D. 1472. Henry of Richmond fled into Britaine The storie of Iohn Earle of Oxford Waters brake out of the Earth Iohn Stow. Annals The Earle of Oxford sent prisoner into France The hard and inhumane vsage of the Countesse of Oxford The storie of Lord Henry Holland Duke of Excester Phil. Comines lib. 3. cap. 4. Ed. Hall The vnlouing parts of an vnlouing wiâ—…e Ioh. Sâ—…w The Lord Henrie supposed to haue been drowned The Archbishop of Yorkes goods seized vpon K. Edward sends into Britaine to recouer Richmond and Pembrooke K. Edward abrogates King Henries lawes Burgundie sends for aid into England against France A. D. 1474. K. Edwards expedition into France Phil. Comines lib. 4. cap. 5. The great preparation of King Edward King Edwards 〈◊〉 Lewis his conference with the English Herald Lewis his conference with the English Herald K. Lewis moneth Gartar to be a meanes for peace Phil. Com. lib. 4. cap. 7. A counterfeit Herald sent to K. Edward The Heralds perswasions An English Herald sent to King Lewis The Duke of Burgundy commeth to the King Edw. Hall â—…ol 231. Burgundies hot speech vnto K. Edward K Edwards reply to his brother of Burgundy Burgundy departeth displeased from King Edward The conference for peace 〈◊〉 Amiens Coâ—…ioners for peace Conditions of the peace Lewis his liberality for â—…oy of the peace Ph. Com. l. 4. c. 9. The kings of England and France dâ—… to see each others 〈◊〉 the 〈◊〉 place of the kings A. D. 1475. Aug. 29. The 〈◊〉 of the two kings The Kings swear the league K. Lewis loth that Edward should visite Paris A. D. 1475. Sept. 2â—… Henry Earle of Richmond â—…ught after by K. Edward An intent pretended which asâ—…r came to passe Ralph Holinsh. pag. 701. Henry â—…arle of Richmond taketh Sanctuary The English Ambassador complaineth to the Duke of Britaine His Answere Sir Tho. Moore King Edward beloued of his subiects and loueth his subiects Io. Stow. K. Edward sent for the Maior and Aldermen of London to his huntings K. Edward somwhat licention slie giuen K. Edwards three Concubines Thomas Burdet accused of treason Engâ—… Register of Gray-Friers Lâ—…don The story of George Duke of Clarence Tâ—… attainder of the Duke of Clarence Iohn Stow. A. D. 1478. Rich. Graft A false prophecie of G. E. Phil. Comin lib. 4. cap. 10. The Duke of Clarence is suiter vnto Marie the daughter of Burgundie Io. Serres Clarnce imprisoned by his brother King Edward George Duke of Claâ—…ce condemned by Parliament And drowned in a But of malmesay K. Edwards â—…pentance for his brothers death The Duke of Clarence his issue Edward and Margaret the children of Clarence beheaded King Edward deceiued in King Lewis 〈◊〉 Serres Lady Elizabeth called 〈◊〉 the Daulphin A. D. 1480. Io. Lesâ—… Lady Cicely motioned in matriage vnto 〈◊〉 Prince of Scotland Lewis King of France interposeth the contract betwixt Prince Iames and Ladie Margaret Iames King of Scotland much â—…dded to his 〈◊〉 will Alexander Duke of Albanie banished Scotland Iohn Earle of Marre bled to death K. Iames threatneth warre against England Richard Duke of Glocester made the Kings Lieutenant against Scotland The Duke of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Scotland 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to the 〈◊〉 Holinsh. p. 707. Phil. Comines lib. 6. chap. 2. and 9. King Lewis dallâ—…th with King Edward King Edward vvould not beleeue vvhat was confidently tolde him A 〈◊〉 pretâ—… ded against France King Edward falleth â—…ke Thom. More King Edwards speeches at his death The perils of discord Tender youth is 〈◊〉 infected Great variance for small causes King Edwards good counsell What the nature of ambition is King Edwards vsuall oath King Edwards last request The raigne and death of King Edward Phil. Com. lib. 4 cap. 10. King Edward described Ph. Com. l. 6. c. 2. 〈◊〉 A. D. 1478. Stow. Edward 5. Monarch 55 King Edwards raigne vnfortunate and 〈◊〉 Aprill 19. A. D. 1483. Richard Duke of Yorke Richard Duke of Gloucester an vnnaturall vncle vnto the young King and his brother Richard Duke of Yorke was the father of Richard Duke of Glocester Women commonly maligne their husbands 〈◊〉 The description of Richard Duke of Glocester Richard Crooke-backe a good souldier He vvas the cause of Clorence his death Richard of Gloucester intended to be King eâ—…en whiles K. Edward liued The speech of Pottier at King Edwards death The vncle contriueth the destruction of his Nephewes Richards deepe pollicy King Edwards care to set peace betwixt the Queenes kindred and his The Queenes iealousie against the Lord Câ—…berlaine King Edward repaireth towards London The Queenes kindred only about the Prince The Duke seeketh to displace the Prince The crafty complaints of Richard Duke of Gloucester The effect that his pollicy took The conclusion of his designes Another crafty pollicy of Duke Richard The Queene yeldeth to the Dukes perswasion The Lords meet at Northampton The Keyes of the Inne kept by Richard Duke of Glaucester The L. Riuers much troubled at the sodaine action The L. Riuers imprisoned in Northampton The Dukes come to the King A quarrell picked in the kings presence Accusations against the Queens kindred
The King excuseth his vncle The King is brought backe to Northampton The Duke of Glocester sends a dish of meat vnto the Lord Riuers The L. Riuers others beheaded Queene Elizabeth taketh Sanctuary The L. Chamberlaine sendeth the newes to the L. Chancellor The great heauinesse and confusion of the Queene and her seruants The Archbishops comforts to the Queene The L. Chancellour giues the great Seale to the Queene Great feare conceiued of the ouermuch murmuring made The L. Chancellour sendeth for the great Seale to the Queene Perswasions of the L. Hastings that nothing was extreamly meant L. Hastings somewhat dissembleth False imputation cast vpon the Lords of the Queenes bloud How soone the Commons are brought into fooles Paradise King Edward met by the Citizens and accompanied by them into London Richard Duke of Glocester made Protector of the King and Realm The great Seale is taken from the Archbishop of Yorke The Protectors perswasion to take out of Sanctuary the yong Duke of Yorke A â—…e â—…ch to fetch out the Duke The Protector would haue the Queene sent vnto If the Queene refuse to deliuer the Duke what is to be done All the Counsell allow of the Protectors speech A great offence to breake the Sanctuary S. Peters owne Cope was to be seen in Westminster The Duke of Buckinghams speech Queene Elizabeth held to haue a shrewd wit Not feare but frowardnes kept the yong Duke in Sanctuary A great feare without any great cause Buckinghams opinion of the Sanctuaries Much abuses suffered in Sanctuaries Westminster S. Martins The true vse of the Sanctuary The Duke of Yorke vncapable of Sanctuary Neither Pope nor King can allow Sanctuary men to consume other mens substance A man may take his wife out of Sanctuary without any offence to S. Peter Buckinghams conclusion The generall consent of them all The Cardinall doth his errand to the Queene The Queenes answere to the Cardinall Queene Elizabeth yeeldeth to deliuer the yong Duke The ambitious desire for a crowne Richard Duke of Yorke deliuered to the Cardinall A Iudâ—… kisse Buckingham priuie to the Protectors ploâ—… Suspicion without cause The couenants betwixt the Protector and the Duke of Buckingham Two counsels to diuers ends The mistrust of the times All flocke to the Protector Lord Stanleyes speach to the Lord Chamberlain * Catesby Catesby the cause of much mischiefe Catesby set to sound the Lord Hastings Lord Haestinge speeches concerning the plot Catesby false to his founder The counsel sate in the Tower for the ordering of the yong Kings Coronation The Protectors dissimulation The Protector now another man Lord Hastings speech to the Protectors question The Queene accused of Sorcery The withered aâ—…ne of the Protector by nature and not by 〈◊〉 The L. Chamberlain arrested The L. Staley wounded at Councell Table The L. Chamberlaine beheaded The L. Stanleys dreame The L. Hastings answere to the L. Stanleye meâ—…age Predictions towards the Lord Hastings The Lord Hastings speech to a Purseuant The vaine and suddain state of man The description of the Lord Hastings Citizens sent for into the Tower to the Protector The fained feare of the Lord Protector A Proclamation made to publish the Lord Hastings treasons The Protectors subtilty further knowne by his Proclamation The Schoole-masters opinion The Sheriffes of London carrie Shores wife to prison Shores wife did pennance All commend and pitie Shores vvife The description of Iane Shore Shee died the eighteene yeere of King Henry the eight saith Iohn Harding Shores wife did much good but no man hurt The Subiect not vnworthy to bee written The state of the world The Lords of the Queenes bloud beheaded at Pomfrait The Protector sought to strike whiles the yron was hote The Maior of London made of the Protectors counsell Shaa and Pinker two flattring Preachers Pinker preached at S Marie Hospitall and Dotor Shaa at Pauls Crosse. The plot and deuice how to entitle the Protector to the Crowne The sonne maketh the mother an adultresse K Edward and his children made bastards The text and contents of Doctor Shaas sermon Shaas shamlesse assertions TheÌ„ Preachers intention preuented Gods heauy punishment vpon the false flattering Preacher The Duke of Buckingham commeth to the Guildhall Buckinghams oration to the commons of London The fine glosings of the Duke of Buckingham King Edwards exactions made more then they were His tyranny towards his subiects exemplified by Burdet and Others No safety of goods or life as he falsely alledged The rage of ciuil wars cost EnglaÌ„d more blood then twice the winning of France had done Great dangers alledged and slenderly proued King Edwards wantonnesse set out to the full London the kings especiall Chamber The end of the Dukes errand The great modesty that the Duke pretendeth An author like the subiect The marriage oâ—… King Edward imputed a great mischiefe The Protector must be the only true heire to his father and so to the Crowne Scriptures abused The Dukes pithy perswasions vnto the Citizens The Londoners are mute and astonished at Buckinghams Oration Buckingham goeth ouer his lesson againe The reward of flattery The Recorder commanded to speake to the peopleâ—… The great silence of the people The Duke speaketh once more Prentices and Seruingmen the first proclamets of K. Richard The affection of the election seene by the faces of the Assembly The Nobles and Citizens assemble at Baynards Castle The Protector made it strange to speake with such a multitude Palpable dissembling betwixt the Protector and Buckingham The Protector intreated to accept of the Crowne The Protector saith nay and would haue it Buckingham vrgeth and threatneth the refusall Th Protor fauourably accepteth the Crowne Diuers opinions of the people The Raigne and age of King Edward Monarch 56 Richard III. All the Richards and Dukes of Glocester came to vntimely deathes Richard 1. flaine with an arrow Richard a murthered at Pomfrait Tho. Woodstocke 〈◊〉 herâ—…d to death Humfrey murdered aâ—… S. Edmondsbury Richard slaine at Bosworth held Duke Richard subtilely complotteth for the Crowne The Duke of Buckingham the onely raiser of the Protector By Persal Buckinghams secrete seruant The degrees by which the Protector ascended into the throne The Protector fitted himselfe to the peoples affections A Petition exhibited to the Protector to accept of the Crowne An Act of Parliment passed to establish K. Richards election All doubts taken away of King Richards election The petition of the kings election made lawfull and authorised by Parliament The forme of he 〈◊〉 exhibiâ—…d vnto the Protector Faire gloses vpon soule preteâ—…ses O time how dost thou turne and art turned Flattery feares not how to report How can Princes rule to shuâ—… reproach when they are dead The Queene her mother falsly standered K. Edward accused to haste been contracted to the Lady Elienor Butler The tongue of slander is a sharp arrow They haue taught their toâ—…gs to speake lies Ier. 9. 5. George Duke of Clarence and his heires made vncapable of
the crowne As bad his claim as his per on deformed but both made good by flatterers in Parliament Great pitie that so faire stemmes should being forth so bad a branch All promises were not kept as afterward it proued The Lord our God is a consuming fire Deut. 4. 24. A charitable minde in shew but in truth a crafty intent The effect of our English Parliaments The Crowne entailed to king Richard and his heires Prince Edward made heire apparant by Parliament What cannot the Parliament effect where all giue way to the sway of time Eccles. 9. 4. King Richard like vnto Galba a had Subiect but a good Prince King Richard accepteth the Crowne and beginneth his raigne with great applause The new Kings clemency and affability K. Richards dealings double construed The Northerne sent for to the Kings Coronation Iohn Harding Contâ—…er A. D. 1485. States 〈◊〉 by K Richard At Beere or Berry Ex Regist. Oxon. MS. A letter written for the Vniuersity oâ—… O â—…ra in the behalfe of D. Morton * Virgil. Paâ—…e Subiectâ—… c. Salust Dat. Oxâ—…ij in Eccles. S. Mariae Viâ—…g 4. Sexâ—… Bishop Morton committed to the custody of the Duke of Buckinghom The great estate of King Richards coronation Buckingham most richly attired at the kings coronation The order of the Kings proceedings to be crowned Rich. Groston The order of the Queenes proceedings to receiue the crown The King and Queene solemnly annointed and crowned Sir Thâ—… Mooe The time of King Richards raigne full of calamities 〈◊〉 made of the two Princes deathes King Richards progresse towards Glocester Remora a little fish iâ—… reported to haue such strength as it will stay the course of any ship vnder saile The feares of K. Richard King Richard complotteth the death of his Nephewes King Richard his letter to Sir Robert Brakenbury Sir Robert Brakenburies answere vnto Iohn Greene King Richards complaint of Ingratitude Iames Tirrell made the Instrument of murther The parts of Sir Iames Tirrel King Richard consuâ—…red vpon his Nephewes murders sitting on a homely seate Sir Iames ready to fulfil the kings mind in the murther of the Princes The words of Prince Edward when he heard that his â—…ncle should be King The faithfull seruants of the Prince remoued from him Sir Th. Moore Prince Edward and his brother murthered in a featherbed Their bodies were buried vnder a paire of staires The body of the two Princes remoued and buried no man knowes where Hardings continuer The murtherers confesse the deed and maner of their â—…th The report of Sir Tho. Moore The vnconstant state ofmans life Gods iustice and reuenge vpon the murtherers Io. Harding Ruenge of murder repaid The guilty conscience of King Richard Outward enemies arise against King Richard The forward affection of the Duke of Bckingham towards the Duke of Glocester The Duke of Buckingham fals in dislike of king Richard The occasions of the Kings and Dukes falling asunder Buckingham fained himselfe sick not to attend K. Henry The feares of the Duke of Buckingham No such suspition betwixt the King and the Duke as was said to be Sir Thomas Mores opinion of Buckingham The diuers opinions of the King and Dukes falling out The story of Bishop Morton Morton wâ—…d vnto King Edwards side The vnion of Lancaster and Yorke first set 〈◊〉 by Bishop Morton Morton made Archbishop of Canterbury Lord Chancellor and Cardinall His wisedome and experience The deepe polllicy of B. Morton The communication of the Duke and D. Morton Buckingham exciteth the Bishop to reueale his deepest secret It is dangerous to deale in Princes affaires A pretry tale pâ—…hily applied The desire of the Duke to know his meaning Edward â—…ll The Dukes protestation of secrecy The Bishop dealeth plainly with the Duke The dutie of all men towards their natiue countreys The change of state vnder the tyranny of the vsurper Blood cryeth for bloody vengeance The Bishop perswadeth the Duke to take the Crowne vnto himselfe The next dayes conference The Duke discloseth himselfe vnto the Bishop The Protector desired the crowne till the Prince came to the age of 24. yeeres The Protectors words to the Councell Change of State change of manners Why Buckingham fell from the Vsurper Margaret Countesse of Richmund The doubts of the Duke of Buckingham The great and waighty charge of a King Buckinghams resolution concerning the Crown The communication of the Countesse of Richmond with the Duke of Buckingham Henry Earle of Richmond and Ladie Elizabeth must make the vnion With whom and how to begin the intended desigues Reinold Bray the Instrument Bishop Morton escapeth from Brecknocke disguised Lewis a Phiâ—…tian another Instrument Lewis breaketh the intent vnto Queene Elizabeth The meanes to raise the Queens daughter to her right Queene Elizabeth readily receiueth the motion The Queene sendeth to the Countesse The two mothers agreede Vpon the vnion Many drawne into faction against K. Richard Vrswicke sent into Britaine Hugh Conway sent into Britaine Earle Richmund breaketh with the Duke of Dâ—…ine The Duke of Buckingham it sent for by the King The Duke of Buckingham refuseth to come to the Court. Commotions begun King Richards expedition towards 〈◊〉 The Duke prepareth against the King Great matters leâ—…ed that the complices could not 〈◊〉 The Duke of Buckingham â—…peth in sâ—…cres The 〈◊〉 dispersed Many fled into Brâ—…taine to Earle Henry A proclamation for the apprehension of the Duke of Buâ—…kingham Banister betraied his Lord the Duke of Buckingham Buckingham beheaded Banister looseth his reward but findeth punishments A Commotion in Kent King Richard sendeth to the Duke of Britain The Kings brother in law beheaded Earle Henry shipped for England A subtle traine laid for the Earl Earle Henry returneth into Britaine The Lords meet in Britaine The Lords svvear fealty vnto Henry Henry others attainted by Parliament William Collingborne executed for the time K Richard maketh peace with Scotland Iob de la Pole Earle of Lincolne proclaimed heire apparant Offers made to the Duke of Britaine Peter Landose Landose promised to deliuer the Earle Bishop Morton giueth Henry notice of his danger King Charles granteth his safe conduct to Henrie Earle Henry hardly escaped The Duke of Bri taine displeased at Landose The honorable dealings of the Duke of Britaine Iohn Earle of Oxford commeth to Earle Henry Iohn Earle of Oxford in great fauour with Henrie Bishop Fox in great fauor with King Henry The preferments of Bishop Fox Corpus Christi Colledge in Oxford founded by Bishop Fox King Richard intendeth to match with his Neece A subtill deuice Many faire promises intending foule ende Queene Elizabeth brought into 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 King Edwards fiue daughters deliuered to the Tyrant their vncle Queene Elizabeth sendeth for the Marquesse her sonne Queene Anne hindreth the purpose of the King King Richards fained sorrow * Of Canterbury King Richard refraineth his Queenes bed A report giuen foorth that Queene Anne was dead Queene Anne feareth her owne death Her death and buriall place
King Richard courteth Lady Elizabeth Leuit. 18. 14. Thomas Earle of Darby much suspected of the King George Lord Strange deliuered in pledge to King 〈◊〉 Haâ—…es beâ—…ged by the Garrison of Callis The Earle of Oxford freeth his old friends from Haâ—…es King Richards conceit Henry soliciâ—…h the French man by man Marquesse Dorset seeketh to escape froÌ„ Henry King Richard dischargeth his Nauie Earle Henry setteth forward his iourney A sudden feare Henry of Richmund ariueth at Milford hauen Henry sent word of ariuage to his Mother and others Sir Rice ap Thomas ioineth with Henry Sir Gilbert Talbot ioineth with Earle Henry Henry commeth to Lichfield King Richard at Notingham Iohn Duke of Norfolke Henry Earle of Northumberland Thâ—… Earle of Surrey sent for to the King Brakenbury 〈◊〉 Hungerford King Richard put incholler King Richard sets forward to meet his enemy King Richard coÌ„meth to Leicester Sir Thomas and Sir Walter Hungerford turne to Earle Henry Henry Earle of Richmund loseth his way Henries excuse King Richard ter rified with dreadfull dreames Richard set down his battel vpon 〈◊〉 Lord Stanleis answere vnto the Kings message The Lord Strâ—… commanded to be beheaded The order of R. Richards battell King Richardâ—… Oration vnto his Souldiers King Richard confefleth his fault The diuers opinious of King Richards host Lord Stanley sent for to Earle Henrie The Earle marshaleth his batâ—…alions The Earle of Oxford Captaine of the Archers Henry Earle of Richmonds oration The readiâ—… of Earle Henries souldiers The purpose of Earle Henry The fight begun The strength courage of King Richard The two Chieftaines cope together Sir William Stanley commeth in with new supplies The Kings side giue ouer fight The valiant courage of King Richard King Richard slaine Men slaine in the battell Câ—…tesby hâ—…headed The number slain at 〈◊〉 field Harding saith 〈◊〉 Henry proclamed king in the â—…eld Dead Richards body starke naked was trussed vp to 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 King Richard laid naked to be seene of all His badge defaced and torne downe K Richards monument K. Richards coâ—…â—…n ade a drinking trough A flying prophecy of King Richard With Richards death dieth the quarrell of Yorke and Lancaster Phil. Câ—… l. 1. 6. 7. The description of K. Richard Ioh. Hardings 〈◊〉 Iohn Stow. Iohn Rows Iob. Ross. Warwic Camb. Brit. Monarch 57 Henry VII A. D. 1485. 22. August The date of his raigâ—… commencement Gâ—… 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 this Prâ—… whole 〈◊〉 Conâ—… 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 K. Hâ—… 〈◊〉 * Fabian saith Richard fearing little prouided â—…ttle defence Plâ—… Iâ—… The description of K. Henries minde and qualities * Sir Fr. Bacon fâ—…g MS. * Ioh. Da of Hert. MS. * Act. and 〈◊〉 p. 909. * Io. Stow. iâ—… Hen. 7. * Ber. Andr. MS. Fabian Polyd. Verg. c. * Moâ—… at â—…st * Bernard 〈◊〉 Henries first actions after his victorie * Bern. Andr. * Fabian * Bern. Andr. MS. and vpon the 28. of Aug. saith Fabian * Fab. * Stow. His entrance into London * Latenter * See Camb. Mills c. * 30. October Mr. Stow. His Coronation His Marriage with the Lady Elizabeth debated * Holinsh. Edward Earle of Warwicke imprisoned * Bern. Andr. MS. Lady Elizabeth described * Bern. Andr. MS. * Sir Tho. Moore * Bern. Andr. MS. Het Christian Sâ—… chaste meditation about marriage * How then did Andreas know iâ—… either hee doth poetize heere or else had it from her after-relatiâ—… * Iohn Dâ—… of Hereford MS. Holinshed * P. Nouemb. * Hollinsh * The Kings Guard first instituted King Richard and others â—…ed * Holinshed The Crowne entailed vpon King Henry and his heires * 18. Ianuary 1486. The King marieth the Lady Elizabeth * Bern. Andr. MS. Prince Arthur borne * Ber. Andr. M. S. The attempts of the Kings malignats The Lord Louell and the Staffords rebell Hardings continuer saith they had taken Glocester Polyd. Verg. in Henry 7. Holinsh. * Polyd. Verg. Yeere-booke of Henry 7. Anno 2. Traitors taken from Sanctuary and punished He is called Lord Stafford by Hardings contiâ—…er Corn. Tacit. Histor. Suet. in Ner. cap. 57. Counter feit Princes erected to defeate the true * Act 5. Mantell executed in Queene Elizabeths daies for assuming the person of King Edward 6. * Io. Dâ—… M. 〈◊〉 * Polyd. Verg. iâ—… Henry 7. * Io. Dâ—… M. S. The first Idole erected against King Henry * Polyd. Verg. iâ—… Henry 7. A false Edward in the forge * Polyd. Verg. l. 26. Bern. Andr. M. S. Polyd. Verg. H. 7. * Polyd. Ver. ibid. Holinsh. Iohn Stow. Lambert Simâ—…ls Historie rectified and vindicated Bern. Andr. MS. * Iob. Stow was often heard to maintaine this opinion in seeming earnest * Ber. Andr. M. S. Lambert conuaied into Ireland and receiued * Polyd. Verg. Stow cals him Earle of Kildare and Lord Deputy of Ireland Lambert proclamed King of England Conclusions in the Councell of England vpon the fame of this conspiracy Queene Elizabeth depriued of her estate and condemned to a Monastery * Sir Fr. Bacon frog MS. A probable cause why King Henry dealt so rigorously with his â—…ther in law Iohn de la Pole Earle of Lincolne and others flie to the Dutchesse of Burgundy * Polyd. Verg. * Cambd. in Notting * 〈◊〉 Losâ—…e * Ber. Andr. * Phil. de Com. * Iohn Da. MS. * Polyd. Vergil saith he was 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Lambert crowned King of England 〈◊〉 Dublin 〈◊〉 Stow. Bern. Andr. King Henry prouides for battell * Camb. in Oxf. Lambert lands in Lancashire Nottingham the Rendeuow of K. Henries arâ—…y * Hist. Ang. l. 26. Great repaire of the noble and people to his 〈◊〉 Polyd. Uerg. * Polydor eals him Regulus mâ—…ning a Baron 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Polydor erroneously Cals him * These three seeme Barons as them whom he meanes by principes viri * Bern. Andr. King Henries Oration before the battell at Stoke Bernard Andr. The battell of Stoke or Stoke field * Polyd. Verg. l. 26. Bern. Andr. * Io. Strâ—… The King prâ—…â—… * Polyd. Vâ—… * Bern. Andr. The Earle of Lincolne and all the chiefe leaders of that side slaine in the field * Polyd. Verg. * Edâ—… Compian Hist. of Ireland * Cr. Salust is 〈◊〉 Catil * Polyd. Verg. But Bernard Andr. saith that very feâ—… were flaine * Frâ—… MS. * Vapulâ—… Bern. Andr. MS. * Io. Da. MS. * Thomas 〈◊〉 in H. 4 〈◊〉 * Polyd. Verg. 〈◊〉 who also followes Polydor. * Polyd. Verg. Io. Da. of Her MS. * Polyd. Verg. Lamberts fortunes * Io. Da. MS. * 16. 〈◊〉 A. D. 1487. A. Reg. 〈◊〉 * Bern. And. Ms. * Polyd. Verg. * A. Reg. 〈◊〉 Ambassadors into Scatland * Lâ—…st 〈◊〉 Iocob 3. Bishop Fâ—…xe first a great furtherer and now a chiefe preseruer of King Henries Regality * Bern. Andr. MS. The Dulchesse of Burgundies immortall malice * Polydor. Uirg * Bern. Andr. * 3. â—…mber Anno D. 1â—…87 * Add. to Fab. Elizabeth Crowned Queene of England A difficult case whether King Henry